Purposeful Sampling for Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis in Mixed Method Implementation Research.

PubMed

Palinkas, Lawrence A; Horwitz, Sarah M; Green, Carla A; Wisdom, Jennifer P; Duan, Naihua; Hoagwood, Kimberly

2015-09-01

Purposeful sampling is widely used in qualitative research for the identification and selection of information-rich cases related to the phenomenon of interest. Although there are several different purposeful sampling strategies, criterion sampling appears to be used most commonly in implementation research. However, combining sampling strategies may be more appropriate to the aims of implementation research and more consistent with recent developments in quantitative methods. This paper reviews the principles and practice of purposeful sampling in implementation research, summarizes types and categories of purposeful sampling strategies and provides a set of recommendations for use of single strategy or multistage strategy designs, particularly for state implementation research.

Architecture of the parallel hierarchical network for fast image recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Timchenko, Leonid; Wójcik, Waldemar; Kokriatskaia, Natalia; Kutaev, Yuriy; Ivasyuk, Igor; Kotyra, Andrzej; Smailova, Saule

2016-09-01

Multistage integration of visual information in the brain allows humans to respond quickly to most significant stimuli while maintaining their ability to recognize small details in the image. Implementation of this principle in technical systems can lead to more efficient processing procedures. The multistage approach to image processing includes main types of cortical multistage convergence. The input images are mapped into a flexible hierarchy that reflects complexity of image data. Procedures of the temporal image decomposition and hierarchy formation are described in mathematical expressions. The multistage system highlights spatial regularities, which are passed through a number of transformational levels to generate a coded representation of the image that encapsulates a structure on different hierarchical levels in the image. At each processing stage a single output result is computed to allow a quick response of the system. The result is presented as an activity pattern, which can be compared with previously computed patterns on the basis of the closest match. With regard to the forecasting method, its idea lies in the following. In the results synchronization block, network-processed data arrive to the database where a sample of most correlated data is drawn using service parameters of the parallel-hierarchical network.

Private Universities in Kenya Seek Alternative Ways to Manage Change in Teacher Education Curriculum in Compliance with the Commission for University Education Reforms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Amimo, Catherine Adhiambo

2016-01-01

This study investigated management of change in teacher education curriculum in Private universities in Kenya. The study employed a concurrent mixed methods design that is based on the use of both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A multi-stage sampling process which included purposive, convenience, cluster, and snowball sampling methods…

Relationship between the Religious Attitude, Self-Efficacy, and Life Satisfaction in High School Teachers of Mahshahr City

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bigdeloo, Masoomeh; Bozorgi, Zahra Dasht

2016-01-01

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the religious attitude, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction in high school teachers of Mahshahr City. To this end, 253 people of all high school teachers in Mahshahr City, in Iran were selected as the sample using the multistage cluster sampling method. For data collection, Glock and Stark's…

Self-Reported Health among Older Bangladeshis: How Good a Health Indicator Is It?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rahman, M. Omar; Barsky, Arthur J.

2003-01-01

Purpose: This study examines the value of self-reported health (SRH) as an indicator of underlying health status in a developing country setting. Design and Methods: Logistic regression methods with adjustments for multistage sampling are used to examine the factors associated with SRH in 2,921 men and women aged 50 and older in rural Bangladesh.…

Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research

PubMed Central

Palinkas, Lawrence A.; Horwitz, Sarah M.; Green, Carla A.; Wisdom, Jennifer P.; Duan, Naihua; Hoagwood, Kimberly

2013-01-01

Purposeful sampling is widely used in qualitative research for the identification and selection of information-rich cases related to the phenomenon of interest. Although there are several different purposeful sampling strategies, criterion sampling appears to be used most commonly in implementation research. However, combining sampling strategies may be more appropriate to the aims of implementation research and more consistent with recent developments in quantitative methods. This paper reviews the principles and practice of purposeful sampling in implementation research, summarizes types and categories of purposeful sampling strategies and provides a set of recommendations for use of single strategy or multistage strategy designs, particularly for state implementation research. PMID:24193818

Alcohol and Sexual Consent Scale: Development and Validation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ward, Rose Marie; Matthews, Molly R.; Weiner, Judith; Hogan, Kathryn M.; Popson, Halle C.

2012-01-01

Objective: To establish a short measure of attitudes toward sexual consent in the context of alcohol consumption. Methods: Using a multistage and systematic measurement development process, the investigators developed the Alcohol and Sexual Consent Scale using a sample of college students. Results: The resulting 12-item scale, the Alcohol and…

Forestry inventory based on multistage sampling with probability proportional to size

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, D. C. L.; Hernandez, P., Jr.; Shimabukuro, Y. E.

1983-01-01

A multistage sampling technique, with probability proportional to size, is developed for a forest volume inventory using remote sensing data. The LANDSAT data, Panchromatic aerial photographs, and field data are collected. Based on age and homogeneity, pine and eucalyptus classes are identified. Selection of tertiary sampling units is made through aerial photographs to minimize field work. The sampling errors for eucalyptus and pine ranged from 8.34 to 21.89 percent and from 7.18 to 8.60 percent, respectively.

Determination of the Alternaria mycotoxin tenuazonic acid in cereals by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization ion-trap multistage mass spectrometry after derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine.

PubMed

Siegel, David; Rasenko, Tatjana; Koch, Matthias; Nehls, Irene

2009-05-22

Tenuazonic acid (TA) is a major Alternaria mycotoxin. In the present work a novel approach for the detection of TA in cereals by liquid chromatography-ion-trap multistage mass spectrometry after derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine is described. The product of the derivatization reaction and its major MS(2) fragments were characterised by Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance tandem mass spectrometry. Without preconcentration, the established method features a limit of detection of 10 microg/kg using 2g of sample in a rapid workup procedure. Accuracy, precision and linearity were evaluated in the working range of 50-5000 microg/kg. TA was detected in 13 and quantified in 3 out of 27 cereal samples obtained from a local supermarket, the average content being 49 microg/kg (highest incidence: 851+/-41 microg/kg).

Low-Dead-Volume Inlet for Vacuum Chamber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Naylor, Guy; Arkin, C.

2010-01-01

Gas introduction from near-ambient pressures to high vacuum traditionally is accomplished either by multi-stage differential pumping that allows for very rapid response, or by a capillary method that allows for a simple, single-stage introduction, but which often has a delayed response. Another means to introduce the gas sample is to use the multi-stage design with only a single stage. This is accomplished by using a very small conductance limit. The problem with this method is that a small conductance limit will amplify issues associated with dead -volume. As a result, a high -vacuum gas inlet was developed with low dead -volume, allowing the use of a very low conductance limit interface. Gas flows through the ConFlat flange at a relatively high flow rate at orders of magnitude greater than through the conductance limit. The small flow goes through a conductance limit that is a double-sided ConFlat.

Low-Dead-Volume Inlet for Vacuum Chamber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Naylor, Guy; Arkin, C.

2011-01-01

Gas introduction from near-ambient pressures to high vacuum traditionally is accomplished either by multi-stage differential pumping that allows for very rapid response, or by a capillary method that allows for a simple, single-stage introduction, but which often has a delayed response. Another means to introduce the gas sample is to use the multi-stage design with only a single stage. This is accomplished by using a very small conductance limit. The problem with this method is that a small conductance limit will amplify issues associated with dead-volume. As a result, a high-vacuum gas inlet was developed with low dead-volume, allowing the use of a very low conductance limit interface. Gas flows through the ConFlat flange at a relatively high flow rate at orders of magnitude greater than through the conductance limit. The small flow goes through a conductance limit that is a double-sided ConFlat.

Longitudinal Multistage Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pohl, Steffi

2013-01-01

This article introduces longitudinal multistage testing (lMST), a special form of multistage testing (MST), as a method for adaptive testing in longitudinal large-scale studies. In lMST designs, test forms of different difficulty levels are used, whereas the values on a pretest determine the routing to these test forms. Since lMST allows for…

Family Functioning, Identity Formation, and the Ability of Conflict Resolution among Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kiani, Behnaz; Hojatkhah, Seyed Mohsen; Torabi-Nami, Mohammad

2016-01-01

Family is perhaps the most influential system in individuals' life in which various behaviors are learnt. Family functioning refers to the ability of family to meet its responsibilities. The present correlation study used a multi-stage cluster sampling method to recruit 686 subjects including 338 males and 348 females from all high school students…

Students' Commitment, Engagement and Locus of Control as Predictor of Academic Achievement at Higher Education Level

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sarwar, Muhammad; Ashrafi, Ghulam Muhammad

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to analyze Students' Commitment, Engagement and Locus of Control as predictors of Academic Achievement at Higher Education Level. We used analytical model and conclusive research approach to conduct study and survey method for data collection. We selected 369 students using multistage sampling technique from three…

Age of Alcohol-Dependence Onset: Associations with Severity of Dependence and Seeking Treatment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hingson, Ralph W.; Heeren, Timothy; Winter, Michael R.

2007-01-01

Objective: We explored whether people who become alcohol dependent at younger ages are more likely to seek alcohol-related help or treatment or experience chronic relapsing dependence. Methods: In 2001-2002 the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism completed a face-to-face interview survey with a multistage probability sample of 43…

A multistage stochastic programming model for a multi-period strategic expansion of biofuel supply chain under evolving uncertainties

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

Xie, Fei; Huang, Yongxi

Here, we develop a multistage, stochastic mixed-integer model to support biofuel supply chain expansion under evolving uncertainties. By utilizing the block-separable recourse property, we reformulate the multistage program in an equivalent two-stage program and solve it using an enhanced nested decomposition method with maximal non-dominated cuts. We conduct extensive numerical experiments and demonstrate the application of the model and algorithm in a case study based on the South Carolina settings. The value of multistage stochastic programming method is also explored by comparing the model solution with the counterparts of an expected value based deterministic model and a two-stage stochastic model.

A multistage stochastic programming model for a multi-period strategic expansion of biofuel supply chain under evolving uncertainties

DOE PAGES

Xie, Fei; Huang, Yongxi

2018-02-04

Here, we develop a multistage, stochastic mixed-integer model to support biofuel supply chain expansion under evolving uncertainties. By utilizing the block-separable recourse property, we reformulate the multistage program in an equivalent two-stage program and solve it using an enhanced nested decomposition method with maximal non-dominated cuts. We conduct extensive numerical experiments and demonstrate the application of the model and algorithm in a case study based on the South Carolina settings. The value of multistage stochastic programming method is also explored by comparing the model solution with the counterparts of an expected value based deterministic model and a two-stage stochastic model.

Handling Imbalanced Data Sets in Multistage Classification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

López, M.

Multistage classification is a logical approach, based on a divide-and-conquer solution, for dealing with problems with a high number of classes. The classification problem is divided into several sequential steps, each one associated to a single classifier that works with subgroups of the original classes. In each level, the current set of classes is split into smaller subgroups of classes until they (the subgroups) are composed of only one class. The resulting chain of classifiers can be represented as a tree, which (1) simplifies the classification process by using fewer categories in each classifier and (2) makes it possible to combine several algorithms or use different attributes in each stage. Most of the classification algorithms can be biased in the sense of selecting the most populated class in overlapping areas of the input space. This can degrade a multistage classifier performance if the training set sample frequencies do not reflect the real prevalence in the population. Several techniques such as applying prior probabilities, assigning weights to the classes, or replicating instances have been developed to overcome this handicap. Most of them are designed for two-class (accept-reject) problems. In this article, we evaluate several of these techniques as applied to multistage classification and analyze how they can be useful for astronomy. We compare the results obtained by classifying a data set based on Hipparcos with and without these methods.

Health condition identification of multi-stage planetary gearboxes using a mRVM-based method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, Yaguo; Liu, Zongyao; Wu, Xionghui; Li, Naipeng; Chen, Wu; Lin, Jing

2015-08-01

Multi-stage planetary gearboxes are widely applied in aerospace, automotive and heavy industries. Their key components, such as gears and bearings, can easily suffer from damage due to tough working environment. Health condition identification of planetary gearboxes aims to prevent accidents and save costs. This paper proposes a method based on multiclass relevance vector machine (mRVM) to identify health condition of multi-stage planetary gearboxes. In this method, a mRVM algorithm is adopted as a classifier, and two features, i.e. accumulative amplitudes of carrier orders (AACO) and energy ratio based on difference spectra (ERDS), are used as the input of the classifier to classify different health conditions of multi-stage planetary gearboxes. To test the proposed method, seven health conditions of a two-stage planetary gearbox are considered and vibration data is acquired from the planetary gearbox under different motor speeds and loading conditions. The results of three tests based on different data show that the proposed method obtains an improved identification performance and robustness compared with the existing method.

The Effect of Instructional Analogies in Interaction with Logical Thinking Ability on Achievement and Attitude toward Chemistry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eskandar, Fathi-Azar; Bayrami, Mansor; Vahedi, Shahram; Ansar, Vahideh Abdollahi Adli

2013-01-01

We investigated the effect of instructional analogies in interaction with logical thinking ability on achievement and attitude towards chemistry. The participants were 147 female students from 6 8th grade classes in three public junior high schools selected by using a random multistage sampling method from five education districts in Tabriz, a…

Gender Differences in Mathematics Achievement and Retention Scores: A Case of Problem-Based Learning Method

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ajai, John T.; Imoko, Benjamin I.

2015-01-01

This study was undertaken to assess gender differences in mathematics achievement and retention by using Problem-Based Learning (PBL). The design of the study was pre-posttest quasi-experimental. Four hundred and twenty eight senior secondary one (SS I) students using multistage sampling from ten grant-aided and government schools were involved in…

The Sampling Design of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS)

PubMed Central

Xie, Yu; Lu, Ping

2018-01-01

The China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) is an on-going, nearly nationwide, comprehensive, longitudinal social survey that is intended to serve research needs on a large variety of social phenomena in contemporary China. In this paper, we describe the sampling design of the CFPS sample for its 2010 baseline survey and methods for constructing weights to adjust for sampling design and survey nonresponses. Specifically, the CFPS used a multi-stage probability strategy to reduce operation costs and implicit stratification to increase efficiency. Respondents were oversampled in five provinces or administrative equivalents for regional comparisons. We provide operation details for both sampling and weights construction. PMID:29854418

Patient safety culture and job stress among nurses in Mazandaran, Iran.

PubMed

Asefzadeh, Saeed; Kalhor, Rohollah; Tir, Mohammad

2017-12-01

Paying attention to patient safety is a basic right and a necessary issue in providing medical care, and failure to observe it leads to irreparable damage. One of the factors affecting an individuals' performance in an organization is stress, which also endangers their health. To determine the relationship between patient safety culture and levels of job stress among the nurses working in the hospitals affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. The present study was carried out using a cross-sectional method in the hospitals affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in 2016. A multistage stratified sampling method using a Morgan Table was employed to select 380 nurses as the study sample from among 3,180 nurses. They were selected by a multistage stratified sampling method. The study instruments were Stinemetz Standard Job Stress Questionnaire and Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC). After the required data were collected, they were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods (Pearson correlation, independent-samples t-test, and ANOVA) through SPSS version 23. The results of the present study showed that 75% of the nurses experienced average and high levels of stress. Among different dimensions of safety culture, organizational learning and handoffs and transitions obtained the highest and the lowest scores, respectively (72.5 and 24.5). The mean score of safety culture dimensions was 51.52. The results of the Pearson correlation test showed that there was a direct significant relationship between different dimensions of safety culture among nurses and the level of stress (p≤0.05). According to the findings, patient safety should be considered as a strategic priority for the senior managers of the health system. In order to enhance patient safety, managers should pay special attention to evaluating safety culture in organizations that deliver health service, especially hospitals.

The usefulness of Skylab/EREP S-190 and S-192 imagery in multistage forest surveys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Langley, P. G.; Vanroessel, J. (Principal Investigator)

1976-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. The RMSE of point location achieved with the annotation system on S190A imagery was 100 m and 90 m in the x and y direction, respectively. Potential gains in sampling precision attributable to space derived imagery ranged from 4.9 to 43.3 percent depending on the image type, interpretation method, time of year, and sampling method applied. Seasonal variation was significant. S190A products obtained in September yielded higher gains than those obtained in June. Using 100 primary sample units as a base under simple random sampling, the revenue made available for incorporating space acquired data into the sample design to estimate timber volume was as high as $39,400.00.

Calculation of recovery plasticity in multistage hot forging under isothermal conditions.

PubMed

Zhbankov, Iaroslav G; Perig, Alexander V; Aliieva, Leila I

2016-01-01

A widely used method for hot forming steels and alloys, especially heavy forging, is the process of multistage forging with pauses between stages. The well-known effect which accompanies multistage hot forging is metal plasticity recovery in comparison with monotonic deformation. A method which takes into consideration the recovery of plasticity in pauses between hot deformations of a billet under isothermal conditions is proposed. This method allows the prediction of billet forming limits as a function of deformation during the forging stage and the duration of the pause between the stages. This method takes into account the duration of pauses between deformations and the magnitude of subdivided deformations. A hot isothermal upsetting process with pauses was calculated by the proposed method. Results of the calculations have been confirmed with experimental data.

SSAIS: A Program to Assess Adverse Impact in Multistage Selection Decisions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Corte, Wilfried

2004-01-01

The article describes a Windows program to estimate the expected value and sampling distribution function of the adverse impact ratio for general multistage selections. The results of the program can also be used to predict the risk that a future selection decision will result in an outcome that reflects the presence of adverse impact. The method…

Adaptation of Decoy Fusion Strategy for Existing Multi-Stage Search Workflows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivanov, Mark V.; Levitsky, Lev I.; Gorshkov, Mikhail V.

2016-09-01

A number of proteomic database search engines implement multi-stage strategies aiming at increasing the sensitivity of proteome analysis. These approaches often employ a subset of the original database for the secondary stage of analysis. However, if target-decoy approach (TDA) is used for false discovery rate (FDR) estimation, the multi-stage strategies may violate the underlying assumption of TDA that false matches are distributed uniformly across the target and decoy databases. This violation occurs if the numbers of target and decoy proteins selected for the second search are not equal. Here, we propose a method of decoy database generation based on the previously reported decoy fusion strategy. This method allows unbiased TDA-based FDR estimation in multi-stage searches and can be easily integrated into existing workflows utilizing popular search engines and post-search algorithms.

Reentry trajectory optimization based on a multistage pseudospectral method.

PubMed

Zhao, Jiang; Zhou, Rui; Jin, Xuelian

2014-01-01

Of the many direct numerical methods, the pseudospectral method serves as an effective tool to solve the reentry trajectory optimization for hypersonic vehicles. However, the traditional pseudospectral method is time-consuming due to large number of discretization points. For the purpose of autonomous and adaptive reentry guidance, the research herein presents a multistage trajectory control strategy based on the pseudospectral method, capable of dealing with the unexpected situations in reentry flight. The strategy typically includes two subproblems: the trajectory estimation and trajectory refining. In each processing stage, the proposed method generates a specified range of trajectory with the transition of the flight state. The full glide trajectory consists of several optimal trajectory sequences. The newly focused geographic constraints in actual flight are discussed thereafter. Numerical examples of free-space flight, target transition flight, and threat avoidance flight are used to show the feasible application of multistage pseudospectral method in reentry trajectory optimization.

Reentry Trajectory Optimization Based on a Multistage Pseudospectral Method

PubMed Central

Zhou, Rui; Jin, Xuelian

2014-01-01

Of the many direct numerical methods, the pseudospectral method serves as an effective tool to solve the reentry trajectory optimization for hypersonic vehicles. However, the traditional pseudospectral method is time-consuming due to large number of discretization points. For the purpose of autonomous and adaptive reentry guidance, the research herein presents a multistage trajectory control strategy based on the pseudospectral method, capable of dealing with the unexpected situations in reentry flight. The strategy typically includes two subproblems: the trajectory estimation and trajectory refining. In each processing stage, the proposed method generates a specified range of trajectory with the transition of the flight state. The full glide trajectory consists of several optimal trajectory sequences. The newly focused geographic constraints in actual flight are discussed thereafter. Numerical examples of free-space flight, target transition flight, and threat avoidance flight are used to show the feasible application of multistage pseudospectral method in reentry trajectory optimization. PMID:24574929

Effect of multi-stage inoculation on the bacterial and fungal community structure during organic municipal solid wastes composting.

PubMed

Xi, Beidou; He, Xiaosong; Dang, Qiuling; Yang, Tianxue; Li, Mingxiao; Wang, Xiaowei; Li, Dan; Tang, Jun

2015-11-01

In this study, PCR-DGGE method was applied to investigate the impact of multi-stage inoculation treatment on the community composition of bacterial and fungal during municipal solid wastes (MSW) composting process. The results showed that the high temperature period was extended by the multi-stage inoculation treatment, 1day longer than initial-stage inoculation treatment, and 5days longer than non-inoculation treatment. The temperature of the secondary fermentation increased to 51°C with multi-stage inoculation treatment. The multi-stage inoculation method improved the community diversity of bacteria and fungi that the diversity indexes reached the maximum on the 17days and 20days respectively, avoided the competition between inoculations and indigenous microbes, and enhanced the growth of dominant microorganisms. The DNA sequence indicated that various kinds of uncultured microorganisms with determined ratios were detected, which were dominant microbes during the whole fermentation process. These findings call for further researches of compost microbial cultivation technology. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sampling Methods in Cardiovascular Nursing Research: An Overview.

PubMed

Kandola, Damanpreet; Banner, Davina; O'Keefe-McCarthy, Sheila; Jassal, Debbie

2014-01-01

Cardiovascular nursing research covers a wide array of topics from health services to psychosocial patient experiences. The selection of specific participant samples is an important part of the research design and process. The sampling strategy employed is of utmost importance to ensure that a representative sample of participants is chosen. There are two main categories of sampling methods: probability and non-probability. Probability sampling is the random selection of elements from the population, where each element of the population has an equal and independent chance of being included in the sample. There are five main types of probability sampling including simple random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, and multi-stage sampling. Non-probability sampling methods are those in which elements are chosen through non-random methods for inclusion into the research study and include convenience sampling, purposive sampling, and snowball sampling. Each approach offers distinct advantages and disadvantages and must be considered critically. In this research column, we provide an introduction to these key sampling techniques and draw on examples from the cardiovascular research. Understanding the differences in sampling techniques may aid nurses in effective appraisal of research literature and provide a reference pointfor nurses who engage in cardiovascular research.

Effectiveness of Family, Child, and Family-Child Based Intervention on ADHD Symptoms of Students with Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malekpour, Mokhtar; Aghababaei, Sara; Hadi, Samira

2014-01-01

The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the effectiveness of family, child, and family-child based intervention on the rate of ADHD symptoms in third grade students. The population for this study was all of students with ADHD diagnoses in the city of Isfahan, Iran. The multistage random sampling method was used to select the 60…

Community Health Centers: Providers, Patients, and Content of Care

MedlinePlus

... Statistics (NCHS). NAMCS uses a multistage probability sample design involving geographic primary sampling units (PSUs), physician practices ... 05 level. To account for the complex sample design during variance estimation, all analyses were performed using ...

Method of and apparatus for testing the integrity of filters

DOEpatents

Herman, R.L.

1985-05-07

A method of and apparatus are disclosed for testing the integrity of individual filters or filter stages of a multistage filtering system including a diffuser permanently mounted upstream and/or downstream of the filter stage to be tested for generating pressure differentials to create sufficient turbulence for uniformly dispersing trace agent particles within the airstream upstream and downstream of such filter stage. Samples of the particle concentration are taken upstream and downstream of the filter stage for comparison to determine the extent of particle leakage past the filter stage. 5 figs.

Method of and apparatus for testing the integrity of filters

DOEpatents

Herman, Raymond L [Richland, WA

1985-01-01

A method of and apparatus for testing the integrity of individual filters or filter stages of a multistage filtering system including a diffuser permanently mounted upstream and/or downstream of the filter stage to be tested for generating pressure differentials to create sufficient turbulence for uniformly dispersing trace agent particles within the airstream upstream and downstream of such filter stage. Samples of the particle concentration are taken upstream and downstream of the filter stage for comparison to determine the extent of particle leakage past the filter stage.

Methods of and apparatus for testing the integrity of filters

DOEpatents

Herman, R.L.

1984-01-01

A method of and apparatus for testing the integrity of individual filters or filter stages of a multistage filtering system including a diffuser permanently mounted upstream and/or downstream of the filter stage to be tested for generating pressure differentials to create sufficient turbulence for uniformly dispersing trace agent particles within the airstram upstream and downstream of such filter stage. Samples of the particel concentration are taken upstream and downstream of the filter stage for comparison to determine the extent of particle leakage past the filter stage.

DNA pooling: a comprehensive, multi-stage association analysis of ACSL6 and SIRT5 polymorphisms in schizophrenia.

PubMed

Chowdari, K V; Northup, A; Pless, L; Wood, J; Joo, Y H; Mirnics, K; Lewis, D A; Levitt, P R; Bacanu, S-A; Nimgaonkar, V L

2007-04-01

Many candidate gene association studies have evaluated incomplete, unrepresentative sets of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), producing non-significant results that are difficult to interpret. Using a rapid, efficient strategy designed to investigate all common SNPs, we tested associations between schizophrenia and two positional candidate genes: ACSL6 (Acyl-Coenzyme A synthetase long-chain family member 6) and SIRT5 (silent mating type information regulation 2 homologue 5). We initially evaluated the utility of DNA sequencing traces to estimate SNP allele frequencies in pooled DNA samples. The mean variances for the DNA sequencing estimates were acceptable and were comparable to other published methods (mean variance: 0.0008, range 0-0.0119). Using pooled DNA samples from cases with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders edition IV criteria) and controls (n=200, each group), we next sequenced all exons, introns and flanking upstream/downstream sequences for ACSL6 and SIRT5. Among 69 identified SNPs, case-control allele frequency comparisons revealed nine suggestive associations (P<0.2). Each of these SNPs was next genotyped in the individual samples composing the pools. A suggestive association with rs 11743803 at ACSL6 remained (allele-wise P=0.02), with diminished evidence in an extended sample (448 cases, 554 controls, P=0.062). In conclusion, we propose a multi-stage method for comprehensive, rapid, efficient and economical genetic association analysis that enables simultaneous SNP detection and allele frequency estimation in large samples. This strategy may be particularly useful for research groups lacking access to high throughput genotyping facilities. Our analyses did not yield convincing evidence for associations of schizophrenia with ACSL6 or SIRT5.

A false sense of security? Can tiered approach be trusted to accurately classify immunogenicity samples?

PubMed

Jaki, Thomas; Allacher, Peter; Horling, Frank

2016-09-05

Detecting and characterizing of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) against a protein therapeutic are crucially important to monitor the unwanted immune response. Usually a multi-tiered approach that initially rapidly screens for positive samples that are subsequently confirmed in a separate assay is employed for testing of patient samples for ADA activity. In this manuscript we evaluate the ability of different methods used to classify subject with screening and competition based confirmatory assays. We find that for the overall performance of the multi-stage process the method used for confirmation is most important where a t-test is best when differences are moderate to large. Moreover we find that, when differences between positive and negative samples are not sufficiently large, using a competition based confirmation step does yield poor classification of positive samples. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The influence of microwave-assisted drying techniques on the rehydration behavior of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.).

PubMed

Zielinska, Magdalena; Markowski, Marek

2016-04-01

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of: (a) different drying methods, (b) hot air temperature in a convection oven, and (c) the moisture content of fruits dehydrated by multi-stage drying which involves a transition between different stages of drying, on the rehydration kinetics of dry blueberries. Models describing rehydration kinetics were also studied. Blueberries dehydrated by multi-stage microwave-assisted drying, which involved a hot air pre-drying step at 80 °C until the achievement of a moisture content of 1.95 kg H2O kg(-1)DM, were characterized by significantly higher rates of initial and successive rehydration as well as smaller initial loss of soluble solids in comparison with the samples dried by other methods. The highest initial rehydration rate and the smallest loss of soluble solids after 30 min of soaking were determined at 0.46 min(-1) and 0.29 kg DM kg(-1)DM, respectively. The Peleg model and the first-order-kinetic model fit the experimental data well. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Using lot quality-assurance sampling and area sampling to identify priority areas for trachoma control: Viet Nam.

PubMed

Myatt, Mark; Mai, Nguyen Phuong; Quynh, Nguyen Quang; Nga, Nguyen Huy; Tai, Ha Huy; Long, Nguyen Hung; Minh, Tran Hung; Limburg, Hans

2005-10-01

To report on the use of lot quality-assurance sampling (LQAS) surveys undertaken within an area-sampling framework to identify priority areas for intervention with trachoma control activities in Viet Nam. The LQAS survey method for the rapid assessment of the prevalence of active trachoma was adapted for use in Viet Nam with the aim of classifying individual communes by the prevalence of active trachoma among children in primary school. School-based sampling was used; school sites to be sampled were selected using an area-sampling approach. A total of 719 communes in 41 districts in 18 provinces were surveyed. Survey staff found the LQAS survey method both simple and rapid to use after initial problems with area-sampling methods were identified and remedied. The method yielded a finer spatial resolution of prevalence than had been previously achieved in Viet Nam using semiquantitative rapid assessment surveys and multistage cluster-sampled surveys. When used with area-sampling techniques, the LQAS survey method has the potential to form the basis of survey instruments that can be used to efficiently target resources for interventions against active trachoma. With additional work, such methods could provide a generally applicable tool for effective programme planning and for the certification of the elimination of trachoma as a blinding disease.

Multistage degradation modeling for BLDC motor based on Wiener process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Qingyang; Li, Xiaogang; Gao, Yuankai

2018-05-01

Brushless DC motors are widely used, and their working temperatures, regarding as degradation processes, are nonlinear and multistage. It is necessary to establish a nonlinear degradation model. In this research, our study was based on accelerated degradation data of motors, which are their working temperatures. A multistage Wiener model was established by using the transition function to modify linear model. The normal weighted average filter (Gauss filter) was used to improve the results of estimation for the model parameters. Then, to maximize likelihood function for parameter estimation, we used numerical optimization method- the simplex method for cycle calculation. Finally, the modeling results show that the degradation mechanism changes during the degradation of the motor with high speed. The effectiveness and rationality of model are verified by comparison of the life distribution with widely used nonlinear Wiener model, as well as a comparison of QQ plots for residual. Finally, predictions for motor life are gained by life distributions in different times calculated by multistage model.

Shock and vibration response of multistage structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, S. Y.; Liyeos, J. G.; Tang, S. S.

1968-01-01

Study of the shock and vibration response of a multistage structure employed analytically, lumped-mass, continuous-beam, multimode, and matrix-iteration methods. The study was made on the load paths, transmissibility, and attenuation properties along a longitudinal axis of a long, slender structure with increasing degree of complexity.

Environmental and human monitoring of Americium-241 utilizing extraction chromatography and alpha-spectrometry.

PubMed

Goldstein, S J; Hensley, C A; Armenta, C E; Peters, R J

1997-03-01

Recent developments in extraction chromatography have simplified the separation of americium from complex matrices in preparation for alpha-spectroscopy relative to traditional methods. Here we present results of procedures developed/adapted for water, air, and bioassay samples with less than 1 g of inorganic residue. Prior analytical methods required the use of a complex, multistage procedure for separation of americium from these matrices. The newer, simplified procedure requires only a single 2 mL extraction chromatographic separation for isolation of Am and lanthanides from other components of the sample. This method has been implemented on an extensive variety of "real" environmental and bioassay samples from the Los Alamos area, and consistently reliable and accurate results with appropriate detection limits have been obtained. The new method increases analytical throughput by a factor of approximately 2 and decreases environmental hazards from acid and mixed-waste generation relative to the prior technique. Analytical accuracy, reproducibility, and reliability are also significantly improved over the more complex and laborious method used previously.

An Analysis of the Impact of the Research Utilization Project on Principals' Attitudes and on the Use of Information Services By Teachers and Other Field Personnel in 16 Target Elementary Schools of the District of Columbia.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robinson, Erika L.

Bridging the gap between the research resources and field personnel becomes an increasingly important problem. This study investigated the impact of the Research Utilization Project (RUP) on public elementary schools in the District of Columbia. In the 16 schools selected by a multistage stratified sampling method, the total number of information…

A Multistage Approach for Image Registration.

PubMed

Bowen, Francis; Hu, Jianghai; Du, Eliza Yingzi

2016-09-01

Successful image registration is an important step for object recognition, target detection, remote sensing, multimodal content fusion, scene blending, and disaster assessment and management. The geometric and photometric variations between images adversely affect the ability for an algorithm to estimate the transformation parameters that relate the two images. Local deformations, lighting conditions, object obstructions, and perspective differences all contribute to the challenges faced by traditional registration techniques. In this paper, a novel multistage registration approach is proposed that is resilient to view point differences, image content variations, and lighting conditions. Robust registration is realized through the utilization of a novel region descriptor which couples with the spatial and texture characteristics of invariant feature points. The proposed region descriptor is exploited in a multistage approach. A multistage process allows the utilization of the graph-based descriptor in many scenarios thus allowing the algorithm to be applied to a broader set of images. Each successive stage of the registration technique is evaluated through an effective similarity metric which determines subsequent action. The registration of aerial and street view images from pre- and post-disaster provide strong evidence that the proposed method estimates more accurate global transformation parameters than traditional feature-based methods. Experimental results show the robustness and accuracy of the proposed multistage image registration methodology.

Forest inventory using multistage sampling with probability proportional to size. [Brazil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parada, N. D. J. (Principal Investigator); Lee, D. C. L.; Hernandezfilho, P.; Shimabukuro, Y. E.; Deassis, O. R.; Demedeiros, J. S.

1984-01-01

A multistage sampling technique, with probability proportional to size, for forest volume inventory using remote sensing data is developed and evaluated. The study area is located in the Southeastern Brazil. The LANDSAT 4 digital data of the study area are used in the first stage for automatic classification of reforested areas. Four classes of pine and eucalypt with different tree volumes are classified utilizing a maximum likelihood classification algorithm. Color infrared aerial photographs are utilized in the second stage of sampling. In the third state (ground level) the time volume of each class is determined. The total time volume of each class is expanded through a statistical procedure taking into account all the three stages of sampling. This procedure results in an accurate time volume estimate with a smaller number of aerial photographs and reduced time in field work.

Using lot quality-assurance sampling and area sampling to identify priority areas for trachoma control: Viet Nam.

PubMed Central

Myatt, Mark; Mai, Nguyen Phuong; Quynh, Nguyen Quang; Nga, Nguyen Huy; Tai, Ha Huy; Long, Nguyen Hung; Minh, Tran Hung; Limburg, Hans

2005-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To report on the use of lot quality-assurance sampling (LQAS) surveys undertaken within an area-sampling framework to identify priority areas for intervention with trachoma control activities in Viet Nam. METHODS: The LQAS survey method for the rapid assessment of the prevalence of active trachoma was adapted for use in Viet Nam with the aim of classifying individual communes by the prevalence of active trachoma among children in primary school. School-based sampling was used; school sites to be sampled were selected using an area-sampling approach. A total of 719 communes in 41 districts in 18 provinces were surveyed. FINDINGS: Survey staff found the LQAS survey method both simple and rapid to use after initial problems with area-sampling methods were identified and remedied. The method yielded a finer spatial resolution of prevalence than had been previously achieved in Viet Nam using semiquantitative rapid assessment surveys and multistage cluster-sampled surveys. CONCLUSION: When used with area-sampling techniques, the LQAS survey method has the potential to form the basis of survey instruments that can be used to efficiently target resources for interventions against active trachoma. With additional work, such methods could provide a generally applicable tool for effective programme planning and for the certification of the elimination of trachoma as a blinding disease. PMID:16283052

THE NORTH CAROLINA HERALD PILOT STUDY

EPA Science Inventory

The sampling design for the National Children's Study (NCS) calls for a population-based, multi-stage, clustered household sampling approach. The full sample is designed to be representative of both urban and rural births in the United States, 2007-2011. While other sur...

RECRUITING FOR A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF CHILDREN'S HEALTH USING A HOUSEHOLD-BASED PROBABILITY SAMPLING APPROACH

EPA Science Inventory

The sampling design for the National Children¿s Study (NCS) calls for a population-based, multi-stage, clustered household sampling approach (visit our website for more information on the NCS : www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov). The full sample is designed to be representative of ...

An evaluation of the utility of ERTS-1 data for mapping and developing natural resources of Iran

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ebtehadj, K. (Principal Investigator)

1973-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Significant results are reported in the creation of an Iranian photomosaic from ERTS-1 imagery; in tectonic and structural mapping and interpretation, including discovery of significant new fault patterns in Iran; in river and lake mapping; in wetlands and fisheries nursery delineation and mapping; in range and agricultural surveys and inventories using multi-stage sample methods; and in the computer analysis of ERTS-1 digital tapes for urban land use.

Developing optimum sample size and multistage sampling plans for Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) larval infestation and injury in northern Greece.

PubMed

Ifoulis, A A; Savopoulou-Soultani, M

2006-10-01

The purpose of this research was to quantify the spatial pattern and develop a sampling program for larvae of Lobesia botrana Denis and Schiffermüller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), an important vineyard pest in northern Greece. Taylor's power law and Iwao's patchiness regression were used to model the relationship between the mean and the variance of larval counts. Analysis of covariance was carried out, separately for infestation and injury, with combined second and third generation data, for vine and half-vine sample units. Common regression coefficients were estimated to permit use of the sampling plan over a wide range of conditions. Optimum sample sizes for infestation and injury, at three levels of precision, were developed. An investigation of a multistage sampling plan with a nested analysis of variance showed that if the goal of sampling is focusing on larval infestation, three grape clusters should be sampled in a half-vine; if the goal of sampling is focusing on injury, then two grape clusters per half-vine are recommended.

New generation of universal modeling for centrifugal compressors calculation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galerkin, Y.; Drozdov, A.

2015-08-01

The Universal Modeling method is in constant use from mid - 1990th. Below is presented the newest 6th version of the Method. The flow path configuration of 3D impellers is presented in details. It is possible to optimize meridian configuration including hub/shroud curvatures, axial length, leading edge position, etc. The new model of vaned diffuser includes flow non-uniformity coefficient based on CFD calculations. The loss model was built from the results of 37 experiments with compressors stages of different flow rates and loading factors. One common set of empirical coefficients in the loss model guarantees the efficiency definition within an accuracy of 0.86% at the design point and 1.22% along the performance curve. The model verification was made. Four multistage compressors performances with vane and vaneless diffusers were calculated. As the model verification was made, four multistage compressors performances with vane and vaneless diffusers were calculated. Two of these compressors have quite unusual flow paths. The modeling results were quite satisfactory in spite of these peculiarities. One sample of the verification calculations is presented in the text. This 6th version of the developed computer program is being already applied successfully in the design practice.

Multistage Spectral Relaxation Method for Solving the Hyperchaotic Complex Systems

PubMed Central

Saberi Nik, Hassan; Rebelo, Paulo

2014-01-01

We present a pseudospectral method application for solving the hyperchaotic complex systems. The proposed method, called the multistage spectral relaxation method (MSRM) is based on a technique of extending Gauss-Seidel type relaxation ideas to systems of nonlinear differential equations and using the Chebyshev pseudospectral methods to solve the resulting system on a sequence of multiple intervals. In this new application, the MSRM is used to solve famous hyperchaotic complex systems such as hyperchaotic complex Lorenz system and the complex permanent magnet synchronous motor. We compare this approach to the Runge-Kutta based ode45 solver to show that the MSRM gives accurate results. PMID:25386624

Diabat Interpolation for Polymorph Free-Energy Differences.

PubMed

Kamat, Kartik; Peters, Baron

2017-02-02

Existing methods to compute free-energy differences between polymorphs use harmonic approximations, advanced non-Boltzmann bias sampling techniques, and/or multistage free-energy perturbations. This work demonstrates how Bennett's diabat interpolation method ( J. Comput. Phys. 1976, 22, 245 ) can be combined with energy gaps from lattice-switch Monte Carlo techniques ( Phys. Rev. E 2000, 61, 906 ) to swiftly estimate polymorph free-energy differences. The new method requires only two unbiased molecular dynamics simulations, one for each polymorph. To illustrate the new method, we compute the free-energy difference between face-centered cubic and body-centered cubic polymorphs for a Gaussian core solid. We discuss the justification for parabolic models of the free-energy diabats and similarities to methods that have been used in studies of electron transfer.

A Comparison of IRT Proficiency Estimation Methods under Adaptive Multistage Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Sooyeon; Moses, Tim; Yoo, Hanwook

2015-01-01

This inquiry is an investigation of item response theory (IRT) proficiency estimators' accuracy under multistage testing (MST). We chose a two-stage MST design that includes four modules (one at Stage 1, three at Stage 2) and three difficulty paths (low, middle, high). We assembled various two-stage MST panels (i.e., forms) by manipulating two…

Aerodynamic Analysis of Multistage Turbomachinery Flows in Support of Aerodynamic Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adamczyk, John J.

1999-01-01

This paper summarizes the state of 3D CFD based models of the time average flow field within axial flow multistage turbomachines. Emphasis is placed on models which are compatible with the industrial design environment and those models which offer the potential of providing credible results at both design and off-design operating conditions. The need to develop models which are free of aerodynamic input from semi-empirical design systems is stressed. The accuracy of such models is shown to be dependent upon their ability to account for the unsteady flow environment in multistage turbomachinery. The relevant flow physics associated with some of the unsteady flow processes present in axial flow multistage machinery are presented along with procedures which can be used to account for them in 3D CFD simulations. Sample results are presented for both axial flow compressors and axial flow turbines which help to illustrate the enhanced predictive capabilities afforded by including these procedures in 3D CFD simulations. Finally, suggestions are given for future work on the development of time average flow models.

Multi-stage classification method oriented to aerial image based on low-rank recovery and multi-feature fusion sparse representation.

PubMed

Ma, Xu; Cheng, Yongmei; Hao, Shuai

2016-12-10

Automatic classification of terrain surfaces from an aerial image is essential for an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing at an unprepared site by using vision. Diverse terrain surfaces may show similar spectral properties due to the illumination and noise that easily cause poor classification performance. To address this issue, a multi-stage classification algorithm based on low-rank recovery and multi-feature fusion sparse representation is proposed. First, color moments and Gabor texture feature are extracted from training data and stacked as column vectors of a dictionary. Then we perform low-rank matrix recovery for the dictionary by using augmented Lagrange multipliers and construct a multi-stage terrain classifier. Experimental results on an aerial map database that we prepared verify the classification accuracy and robustness of the proposed method.

A timer inventory based upon manual and automated analysis of ERTS-1 and supporting aircraft data using multistage probability sampling. [Plumas National Forest, California

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nichols, J. D.; Gialdini, M.; Jaakkola, S.

1974-01-01

A quasi-operational study demonstrating that a timber inventory based on manual and automated analysis of ERTS-1, supporting aircraft data and ground data was made using multistage sampling techniques. The inventory proved to be a timely, cost effective alternative to conventional timber inventory techniques. The timber volume on the Quincy Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest was estimated to be 2.44 billion board feet with a sampling error of 8.2 percent. Costs per acre for the inventory procedure at 1.1 cent/acre compared favorably with the costs of a conventional inventory at 25 cents/acre. A point-by-point comparison of CALSCAN-classified ERTS data with human-interpreted low altitude photo plots indicated no significant differences in the overall classification accuracies.

Environmental and human monitoring of Americium-241 utilizing extraction chromatography and {alpha}-Spectrometry

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

Goldstein, S.J.; Hensley, C.A.; Armenta, C.E.

1997-03-01

Recent developments in extraction chromatography have simplified the separation of americium from complex matrices in preparation for {alpha}-spectroscopy relative to traditional methods. Here we present results of procedures developed/adapted for water, air, and bioassay samples with less than 1 g of inorganic residue. Prior analytical methods required the use of a complex, multistage procedure for separation of americium from these matrices. The newer, simplified procedure requires only a single 2 mL extraction chromatographic separation for isolation of Am and lanthanides from other components of the sample. This method has been implemented on an extensive variety of `real` environmental and bioassaymore » samples from the Los Alamos area, and consistently reliable and accurate results with appropriate detection limits have been obtained. The new method increases analytical throughput by a factor of {approx}2 and decreases environmental hazards from acid and mixed-waste generation relative to the prior technique. Analytical accuracy, reproducibility, and reliability are also significantly improved over the more complex and laborious method used previously. 24 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.« less

Numerical solutions of 2-D multi-stage rotor/stator unsteady flow interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, R.-J.; Lin, S.-J.

1991-01-01

The Rai method of single-stage rotor/stator flow interaction is extended to handle multistage configurations. In this study, a two-dimensional Navier-Stokes multi-zone approach was used to investigate unsteady flow interactions within two multistage axial turbines. The governing equations are solved by an iterative, factored, implicit finite-difference, upwind algorithm. Numerical accuracy is checked by investigating the effect of time step size, the effect of subiteration in the Newton-Raphson technique, and the effect of full viscous versus thin-layer approximation. Computer results compared well with experimental data. Unsteady flow interactions, wake cutting, and the associated evolution of vortical entities are discussed.

Dynamic analysis for solid waste management systems: an inexact multistage integer programming approach.

PubMed

Li, Yongping; Huang, Guohe

2009-03-01

In this study, a dynamic analysis approach based on an inexact multistage integer programming (IMIP) model is developed for supporting municipal solid waste (MSW) management under uncertainty. Techniques of interval-parameter programming and multistage stochastic programming are incorporated within an integer-programming framework. The developed IMIP can deal with uncertainties expressed as probability distributions and interval numbers, and can reflect the dynamics in terms of decisions for waste-flow allocation and facility-capacity expansion over a multistage context. Moreover, the IMIP can be used for analyzing various policy scenarios that are associated with different levels of economic consequences. The developed method is applied to a case study of long-term waste-management planning. The results indicate that reasonable solutions have been generated for binary and continuous variables. They can help generate desired decisions of system-capacity expansion and waste-flow allocation with a minimized system cost and maximized system reliability.

An assessment of Lot Quality Assurance Sampling to evaluate malaria outcome indicators: extending malaria indicator surveys

PubMed Central

Biedron, Caitlin; Pagano, Marcello; Hedt, Bethany L; Kilian, Albert; Ratcliffe, Amy; Mabunda, Samuel; Valadez, Joseph J

2010-01-01

Background Large investments and increased global prioritization of malaria prevention and treatment have resulted in greater emphasis on programme monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in many countries. Many countries currently use large multistage cluster sample surveys to monitor malaria outcome indicators on a regional and national level. However, these surveys often mask local-level variability important to programme management. Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) has played a valuable role for local-level programme M&E. If incorporated into these larger surveys, it would provide a comprehensive M&E plan at little, if any, extra cost. Methods The Mozambique Ministry of Health conducted a Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) in June and July 2007. We applied LQAS classification rules to the 345 sampled enumeration areas to demonstrate identifying high- and low-performing areas with respect to two malaria program indicators—‘household possession of any bednet’ and ‘household possession of any insecticide-treated bednet (ITN)’. Results As shown by the MIS, no province in Mozambique achieved the 70% coverage target for household possession of bednets or ITNs. By applying LQAS classification rules to the data, we identify 266 of the 345 enumeration areas as having bednet coverage severely below the 70% target. An additional 73 were identified with low ITN coverage. Conclusions This article demonstrates the feasibility of integrating LQAS into multistage cluster sampling surveys and using these results to support a comprehensive national, regional and local programme M&E system. Furthermore, in the recommendations we outlined how to integrate the Large Country-LQAS design into macro-surveys while still obtaining results available through current sampling practices. PMID:20139435

Suicide Prevention among High School Students: Evaluation of a Nonrandomized Trial of a Multi-Stage Suicide Screening Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Torcasso, Gina; Hilt, Lori M.

2017-01-01

Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death among youth. Suicide screening programs aim to identify mental health issues and prevent death by suicide. Objective: The present study evaluated outcomes of a multi-stage screening program implemented over 3 school years in a moderately-sized Midwestern high school. Methods: One hundred ninety-three…

A posteriori error estimation for multi-stage Runge–Kutta IMEX schemes

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

Chaudhry, Jehanzeb H.; Collins, J. B.; Shadid, John N.

Implicit–Explicit (IMEX) schemes are widely used for time integration methods for approximating solutions to a large class of problems. In this work, we develop accurate a posteriori error estimates of a quantity-of-interest for approximations obtained from multi-stage IMEX schemes. This is done by first defining a finite element method that is nodally equivalent to an IMEX scheme, then using typical methods for adjoint-based error estimation. Furthermore, the use of a nodally equivalent finite element method allows a decomposition of the error into multiple components, each describing the effect of a different portion of the method on the total error inmore » a quantity-of-interest.« less

A posteriori error estimation for multi-stage Runge–Kutta IMEX schemes

DOE PAGES

Chaudhry, Jehanzeb H.; Collins, J. B.; Shadid, John N.

2017-02-05

Implicit–Explicit (IMEX) schemes are widely used for time integration methods for approximating solutions to a large class of problems. In this work, we develop accurate a posteriori error estimates of a quantity-of-interest for approximations obtained from multi-stage IMEX schemes. This is done by first defining a finite element method that is nodally equivalent to an IMEX scheme, then using typical methods for adjoint-based error estimation. Furthermore, the use of a nodally equivalent finite element method allows a decomposition of the error into multiple components, each describing the effect of a different portion of the method on the total error inmore » a quantity-of-interest.« less

Variability of Mercury Content in Coal Matter From Coal Seams of The Upper Silesia Coal Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wierzchowski, Krzysztof; Chećko, Jarosław; Pyka, Ireneusz

2017-12-01

The process of identifying and documenting the quality parameters of coal, as well as the conditions of coal deposition in the seam, is multi-stage and extremely expensive. The taking and analyzing of seam samples is the method of assessment of the quality and quantity parameters of coals in deep mines. Depending on the method of sampling, it offers quite precise assessment of the quality parameters of potential commercial coals. The main kind of seam samples under consideration are so-called "documentary seam samples", which exclude dirt bands and other seam contaminants. Mercury content in coal matter from the currently accessible and exploited coal seams of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) was assessed. It was noted that the mercury content in coal seams decreases with the age of the seam and, to a lesser extent, seam deposition depth. Maps of the variation of mercury content in selected lithostratigraphic units (layers) of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin have been created.

Statistical methods for efficient design of community surveys of response to noise: Random coefficients regression models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tomberlin, T. J.

1985-01-01

Research studies of residents' responses to noise consist of interviews with samples of individuals who are drawn from a number of different compact study areas. The statistical techniques developed provide a basis for those sample design decisions. These techniques are suitable for a wide range of sample survey applications. A sample may consist of a random sample of residents selected from a sample of compact study areas, or in a more complex design, of a sample of residents selected from a sample of larger areas (e.g., cities). The techniques may be applied to estimates of the effects on annoyance of noise level, numbers of noise events, the time-of-day of the events, ambient noise levels, or other factors. Methods are provided for determining, in advance, how accurately these effects can be estimated for different sample sizes and study designs. Using a simple cost function, they also provide for optimum allocation of the sample across the stages of the design for estimating these effects. These techniques are developed via a regression model in which the regression coefficients are assumed to be random, with components of variance associated with the various stages of a multi-stage sample design.

Efficient Multi-Stage Time Marching for Viscous Flows via Local Preconditioning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kleb, William L.; Wood, William A.; vanLeer, Bram

1999-01-01

A new method has been developed to accelerate the convergence of explicit time-marching, laminar, Navier-Stokes codes through the combination of local preconditioning and multi-stage time marching optimization. Local preconditioning is a technique to modify the time-dependent equations so that all information moves or decays at nearly the same rate, thus relieving the stiffness for a system of equations. Multi-stage time marching can be optimized by modifying its coefficients to account for the presence of viscous terms, allowing larger time steps. We show it is possible to optimize the time marching scheme for a wide range of cell Reynolds numbers for the scalar advection-diffusion equation, and local preconditioning allows this optimization to be applied to the Navier-Stokes equations. Convergence acceleration of the new method is demonstrated through numerical experiments with circular advection and laminar boundary-layer flow over a flat plate.

Disdrometer-based C-Band Radar Quantitative Precipitation Estimation (QPE) in a highly complex terrain region in tropical Colombia.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sepúlveda, J.; Hoyos Ortiz, C. D.

2017-12-01

An adequate quantification of precipitation over land is critical for many societal applications including agriculture, hydroelectricity generation, water supply, and risk management associated with extreme events. The use of rain gauges, a traditional method for precipitation estimation, and an excellent one, to estimate the volume of liquid water during a particular precipitation event, does not allow to fully capture the highly spatial variability of the phenomena which is a requirement for almost all practical applications. On the other hand, the weather radar, an active remote sensing sensor, provides a proxy for rainfall with fine spatial resolution and adequate temporary sampling, however, it does not measure surface precipitation. In order to fully exploit the capabilities of the weather radar, it is necessary to develop quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) techniques combining radar information with in-situ measurements. Different QPE methodologies are explored and adapted to local observations in a highly complex terrain region in tropical Colombia using a C-Band radar and a relatively dense network of rain gauges and disdrometers. One important result is that the expressions reported in the literature for extratropical locations are not representative of the conditions found in the tropical region studied. In addition to reproducing the state-of-the-art techniques, a new multi-stage methodology based on radar-derived variables and disdrometer data is proposed in order to achieve the best QPE possible. The main motivation for this new methodology is based on the fact that most traditional QPE methods do not directly take into account the different uncertainty sources involved in the process. The main advantage of the multi-stage model compared to traditional models is that it allows assessing and quantifying the uncertainty in the surface rain rate estimation. The sub-hourly rainfall estimations using the multi-stage methodology are realistic compared to observed data in spite of the many sources of uncertainty including the sampling volume, the different physical principles of the sensors, the incomplete understanding of the microphysics of precipitation and, the most important, the rapidly varying droplet size distribution.

Speech coding at low to medium bit rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leblanc, Wilfred Paul

1992-09-01

Improved search techniques coupled with improved codebook design methodologies are proposed to improve the performance of conventional code-excited linear predictive coders for speech. Improved methods for quantizing the short term filter are developed by employing a tree search algorithm and joint codebook design to multistage vector quantization. Joint codebook design procedures are developed to design locally optimal multistage codebooks. Weighting during centroid computation is introduced to improve the outlier performance of the multistage vector quantizer. Multistage vector quantization is shown to be both robust against input characteristics and in the presence of channel errors. Spectral distortions of about 1 dB are obtained at rates of 22-28 bits/frame. Structured codebook design procedures for excitation in code-excited linear predictive coders are compared to general codebook design procedures. Little is lost using significant structure in the excitation codebooks while greatly reducing the search complexity. Sparse multistage configurations are proposed for reducing computational complexity and memory size. Improved search procedures are applied to code-excited linear prediction which attempt joint optimization of the short term filter, the adaptive codebook, and the excitation. Improvements in signal to noise ratio of 1-2 dB are realized in practice.

General theory of the multistage geminate reactions of the isolated pairs of reactants. II. Detailed balance and universal asymptotes of kinetics.

PubMed

Kipriyanov, Alexey A; Doktorov, Alexander B

2014-10-14

The analysis of general (matrix) kinetic equations for the mean survival probabilities of any of the species in a sample (or mean concentrations) has been made for a wide class of the multistage geminate reactions of the isolated pairs. These kinetic equations (obtained in the frame of the kinetic approach based on the concept of "effective" particles in Paper I) take into account various possible elementary reactions (stages of a multistage reaction) excluding monomolecular, but including physical and chemical processes of the change in internal quantum states carried out with the isolated pairs of reactants (or isolated reactants). The general basic principles of total and detailed balance have been established. The behavior of the reacting system has been considered on macroscopic time scales, and the universal long-term kinetics has been determined.

General theory of multistage geminate reactions of isolated pairs of reactants. I. Kinetic equations.

PubMed

Doktorov, Alexander B; Kipriyanov, Alexey A

2014-05-14

General matrix approach to the consideration of multistage geminate reactions of isolated pairs of reactants depending on reactant mobility is formulated on the basis of the concept of "effective" particles. Various elementary reactions (stages of multistage reaction including physicochemical processes of internal quantum state changes) proceeding with the participation of isolated pairs of reactants (or isolated reactants) are taken into account. Investigation has been made in terms of kinetic approach implying the derivation of general (matrix) kinetic equations for local and mean probabilities of finding any of the reaction species in the sample under study (or for local and mean concentrations). The recipes for the calculation of kinetic coefficients of the equations for mean quantities in terms of relative coordinates of reactants have been formulated in the general case of inhomogeneous reacting systems. Important specific case of homogeneous reacting systems is considered.

Multistage Electrophoretic Separators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, Nathan; Doyle, John F.; Kurk, Andy; Vellinger, John C.; Todd, Paul

2006-01-01

A multistage electrophoresis apparatus has been invented for use in the separation of cells, protein molecules, and other particles and solutes in concentrated aqueous solutions and suspensions. The design exploits free electrophoresis but overcomes the deficiencies of prior free-electrophoretic separators by incorporating a combination of published advances in mathematical modeling of convection, sedimentation, electro-osmotic flow, and the sedimentation and aggregation of droplets. In comparison with other electrophoretic separators, these apparatuses are easier to use and are better suited to separation in relatively large quantities characterized in the art as preparative (in contradistinction to smaller quantities characterized in the art as analytical). In a multistage electrophoretic separator according to the invention, an applied vertical steady electric field draws the electrically charged particles of interest from within a cuvette to within a collection cavity that has been moved into position of the cuvette. There are multiple collection cavities arranged in a circle; each is aligned with the cuvette for a prescribed short time. The multistage, short-migration-path character of the invention solves, possibly for the first time, the fluid-instability problems associated with free electrophoresis. The figure shows a prototype multistage electrophoretic separator that includes four sample stations and five collection stages per sample. At each sample station, an aqueous solution or suspension containing charged species to be separated is loaded into a cuvette, which is machined into a top plate. The apparatus includes a lower plate, into which 20 collection cavities have been milled. Each cavity is filled with an electrophoresis buffer solution. For the collection of an electrophoretic fraction, the lower plate is rotated to move a designated collection cavity into alignment with the opening of the cuvette. An electric field is then applied between a non-gassing electrode in the collection cavity and an electrolyte compartment, which is separated from the cuvette by a semipermeable membrane. The electrolyte is refreshed by circulation by use of a peristaltic pump. In subsequent steps, the lower plate is rotated to collect other electrophoretic fractions. Later, the collected fractions are removed from the collection cavities through ports that have threaded plugs. The base of the apparatus contains power supplies and a computer interface. The design includes provisions for monitoring and feedback control of cavity position, electric field, and temperature. The operation of the apparatus can easily be automated, as demonstrated by use of software that has already been written for this purpose.

Multistage variable probability forest volume inventory. [the Defiance Unit of the Navajo Nation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, J. E. (Principal Investigator)

1979-01-01

An inventory scheme based on the use of computer processed LANDSAT MSS data was developed. Output from the inventory scheme provides an estimate of the standing net saw timber volume of a major timber species on a selected forested area of the Navajo Nation. Such estimates are based on the values of parameters currently used for scaled sawlog conversion to mill output. The multistage variable probability sampling appears capable of producing estimates which compare favorably with those produced using conventional techniques. In addition, the reduction in time, manpower, and overall costs lend it to numerous applications.

Operation of staged membrane oxidation reactor systems

DOEpatents

Repasky, John Michael

2012-10-16

A method of operating a multi-stage ion transport membrane oxidation system. The method comprises providing a multi-stage ion transport membrane oxidation system with at least a first membrane oxidation stage and a second membrane oxidation stage, operating the ion transport membrane oxidation system at operating conditions including a characteristic temperature of the first membrane oxidation stage and a characteristic temperature of the second membrane oxidation stage; and controlling the production capacity and/or the product quality by changing the characteristic temperature of the first membrane oxidation stage and/or changing the characteristic temperature of the second membrane oxidation stage.

Optimizing Integrated Terminal Airspace Operations Under Uncertainty

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bosson, Christabelle; Xue, Min; Zelinski, Shannon

2014-01-01

In the terminal airspace, integrated departures and arrivals have the potential to increase operations efficiency. Recent research has developed geneticalgorithm- based schedulers for integrated arrival and departure operations under uncertainty. This paper presents an alternate method using a machine jobshop scheduling formulation to model the integrated airspace operations. A multistage stochastic programming approach is chosen to formulate the problem and candidate solutions are obtained by solving sample average approximation problems with finite sample size. Because approximate solutions are computed, the proposed algorithm incorporates the computation of statistical bounds to estimate the optimality of the candidate solutions. A proof-ofconcept study is conducted on a baseline implementation of a simple problem considering a fleet mix of 14 aircraft evolving in a model of the Los Angeles terminal airspace. A more thorough statistical analysis is also performed to evaluate the impact of the number of scenarios considered in the sampled problem. To handle extensive sampling computations, a multithreading technique is introduced.

Multiresidue analysis of 22 sulfonamides and their metabolites in animal tissues using quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe extraction and high resolution mass spectrometry (hybrid linear ion trap-Orbitrap).

PubMed

Abdallah, H; Arnaudguilhem, C; Jaber, F; Lobinski, R

2014-08-15

A new high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) method was developed for a simultaneous multi-residue analysis of 22 sulfonamides (SAs) and their metabolites in edible animal (pig, beef, sheep and chicken) tissues. Sample preparation was optimized on the basis of the "QuEChERS" protocol. The analytes were identified using their LC retention times and accurate mass; the identification was further confirmed by multi-stage high mass accuracy (<5ppm) mass spectrometry. The performance of the method was evaluated according to the EU guidelines for the validation of screening methods for the analysis of veterinary drugs residues. Acceptable values were obtained for: linearity (R(2)<0.99), limit of detection (LOD, 3-26μg/kg), limit of quantification (LOQ, 11-88μg/kg), accuracy (recovery 88-112%), intra- and inter-day precision 1-14 and 1-17%, respectively, decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) around the maximum residue limits (MRL) of SAs (100μg/kg). The method was validated by analysis of a reference material FAPAS-02188 "Pig kidney" with ǀ Z-scoreǀ<0.63. The method was applied to various matrices (kidney, liver, muscle) originated from pig, beef, sheep, and chicken) allowing the simultaneous quantification of target sulfonamides at concentration levels above the MRL/2 and the identification of untargeted compounds such as N(4)-acetyl metabolites using multi-stage high mass accuracy mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Relative importance index (RII) in ranking of procrastination factors among university students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aziz, Nazrina; Zain, Zakiyah; Mafuzi, Raja Muhammad Zahid Raja; Mustapa, Aini Mastura; Najib, Nur Hasibah Mohd; Lah, Nik Fatihah Nik

2016-08-01

Procrastination is the action of delaying or postponing something such as making a decision or starting or completing some tasks or activities. According to previous studies, students who have a strong tendency to procrastinate get low scores in their tests, resulting in poorer academic performance compared to those who do not procrastinate. This study aims to identify the procrastination factors in completing assignments among three groups of undergraduate students. The relative importance of procrastination factors was quantified by the relative importance index (RII) method prior to ranking. A multistage sampling technique was used in selecting the sample. The findings revealed that `too many works in one time' is one of the top three factors contributing to procrastination in all groups.

Effectiveness of Item Response Theory (IRT) Proficiency Estimation Methods under Adaptive Multistage Testing. Research Report. ETS RR-15-11

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Sooyeon; Moses, Tim; Yoo, Hanwook Henry

2015-01-01

The purpose of this inquiry was to investigate the effectiveness of item response theory (IRT) proficiency estimators in terms of estimation bias and error under multistage testing (MST). We chose a 2-stage MST design in which 1 adaptation to the examinees' ability levels takes place. It includes 4 modules (1 at Stage 1, 3 at Stage 2) and 3 paths…

Kinetic analysis of non-isothermal solid-state reactions: multi-stage modeling without assumptions in the reaction mechanism.

PubMed

Pomerantsev, Alexey L; Kutsenova, Alla V; Rodionova, Oxana Ye

2017-02-01

A novel non-linear regression method for modeling non-isothermal thermogravimetric data is proposed. Experiments for several heating rates are analyzed simultaneously. The method is applicable to complex multi-stage processes when the number of stages is unknown. Prior knowledge of the type of kinetics is not required. The main idea is a consequent estimation of parameters when the overall model is successively changed from one level of modeling to another. At the first level, the Avrami-Erofeev functions are used. At the second level, the Sestak-Berggren functions are employed with the goal to broaden the overall model. The method is tested using both simulated and real-world data. A comparison of the proposed method with a recently published 'model-free' deconvolution method is presented.

Direct Analysis in Real Time-Mass Spectrometry for the Rapid Detection of Metabolites of Aconite Alkaloids in Intestinal Bacteria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xue; Hou, Guangyue; Xing, Junpeng; Song, Fengrui; Liu, Zhiqiang; Liu, Shuying

2014-12-01

In the present work, direct analysis of real time ionization combined with multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry (DART-MSn) was used to investigate the metabolic profile of aconite alkaloids in rat intestinal bacteria. A total of 36 metabolites from three aconite alkaloids were identified by using DART-MSn, and the feasibility of quantitative analysis of these analytes was examined. Key parameters of the DART ion source, such as helium gas temperature and pressure, the source-to-MS distance, and the speed of the autosampler, were optimized to achieve high sensitivity, enhance reproducibility, and reduce the occurrence of fragmentation. The instrument analysis time for one sample can be less than 10 s for this method. Compared with ESI-MS and UPLC-MS, the DART-MS is more efficient for directly detecting metabolic samples, and has the advantage of being a simple, high-speed, high-throughput method.

Direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry for the rapid detection of metabolites of aconite alkaloids in intestinal bacteria.

PubMed

Li, Xue; Hou, Guangyue; Xing, Junpeng; Song, Fengrui; Liu, Zhiqiang; Liu, Shuying

2014-12-01

In the present work, direct analysis of real time ionization combined with multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry (DART-MS(n)) was used to investigate the metabolic profile of aconite alkaloids in rat intestinal bacteria. A total of 36 metabolites from three aconite alkaloids were identified by using DART-MS(n), and the feasibility of quantitative analysis of these analytes was examined. Key parameters of the DART ion source, such as helium gas temperature and pressure, the source-to-MS distance, and the speed of the autosampler, were optimized to achieve high sensitivity, enhance reproducibility, and reduce the occurrence of fragmentation. The instrument analysis time for one sample can be less than 10 s for this method. Compared with ESI-MS and UPLC-MS, the DART-MS is more efficient for directly detecting metabolic samples, and has the advantage of being a simple, high-speed, high-throughput method.

Types of Bullying in the Senior High Schools in Ghana

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Antiri, Kwasi Otopa

2016-01-01

The main objective of the study was to examine the types of bullying that were taking place in the senior high schools in Ghana. A multi-stage sampling procedure, comprising purposive, simple random and snowball sampling technique, was used in the selection of the sample. A total of 354 respondents were drawn six schools in Ashanti, Central and…

Alternatives to Three-Mode Factor Analysis: A Case Study with Data Evaluating Perceived Barriers to Medical School Training.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomson, William A.; And Others

While educational researchers frequently collect data from a sample of individuals on a sample of variables, they sometimes collect data involving samples of: (1) subjects; (2) variables; and (3) occasions of measurement. A multistage procedure for analyzing such three-mode data is presented, focusing on effect sizes and graphic confidence…

Midwives Performance in Early Detection of Growth and Development Irregularities of Children Based on Task Commitment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Utami, Sri; Nursalam; Hargono, Rachmat; Susilaningrum, Rekawati

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to analyze the performance of midwives based on the task commitment. This was an observational analytic with cross sectional approach. Multistage random sampling was used to determine the public health center, proportional random sampling to selected participants. The samples were 222 midwives in the public health…

Multiple reaction monitoring with multistage fragmentation (MRM3) detection enhances selectivity for LC-MS/MS analysis of plasma free metanephrines.

PubMed

Wright, Michael J; Thomas, Rebecca L; Stanford, Phoebe E; Horvath, Andrea R

2015-03-01

LC-MS/MS with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) is a powerful tool for quantifying target analytes in complex matrices. However, the technique lacks selectivity when plasma free metanephrines are measured. We propose the use of multistage fragmentation (MRM(3)) to improve the analytical selectivity of plasma free metanephrine measurement. Metanephrines were extracted from plasma with weak cation exchange solid-phase extraction before separation by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography. We quantified normetanephrine and metanephrine by either MRM or MRM(3) transitions m/z 166→134→79 and m/z 180→149→121, respectively. Over a 6-month period, approximately 1% (n = 21) of patient samples showed uncharacterized coeluting substances that interfered with the routine assay, resulting in an inability to report results. Quantification with MRM(3) removed these interferences and enabled measurement of the target compounds. For patient samples unaffected by interferences, Deming regression analysis demonstrated a correlation between MRM(3) and MRM methods of y = 1.00x - 0.00 nmol/L for normetanephrine and y = 0.99x + 0.03 nmol/L for metanephrine. Between the MRM(3) method and the median of all LC-MS/MS laboratories enrolled in a quality assurance program, the correlations were y = 0.97x + 0.03 nmol/L for normetanephrine and y = 1.03x - 0.04 nmol/L for metanephrine. Imprecision for the MRM(3) method was 6.2%-7.0% for normetanephrine and 6.1%-9.9% for metanephrine (n = 10). The lower limits of quantification for the MRM(3) method were 0.20 nmol/L for normetanephrine and 0.16 nmol/L for metanephrine. The use of MRM(3) technology improves the analytical selectivity of plasma free metanephrine quantification by LC-MS/MS while demonstrating sufficient analytical sensitivity and imprecision. © 2014 American Association for Clinical Chemistry.

Current status of contraceptive use among rural married women in Anhui Province of China.

PubMed

Zhang, X-J; Wang, G-Y; Shen, Q; Yu, Y-L; Sun, Y-H; Yu, G-B; Zhao, D; Ye, D-Q

2009-11-01

This study aims to explore the current status of married women in regard of their use of contraceptive methods (permanent methods versus non-permanent methods) and to find out factors that affect the use of contraceptive methods in rural areas of Anhui Province of China. Survey. Anhui, China. A total of 53,652 married women aged 18-49 years. A multistage probability sampling method was used to identify a representative sample of 53,652 married women aged 18-49 years. All women were asked to provide detailed information by completing detailed questionnaires. Contraceptive prevalence and influence factors. The total birth control rate of the sample was 95.2%. Samples choosing the permanent and nonpermanent contraceptive methods have taken up 46.7 and 48.5% respectively. Female sterilisation was the first choice with a usage rate of 43.6%, followed by intrauterine device (IUD), which was used by 41.1% of samples. Single-variable analysis showed that the choice of contraceptive methods was associated with age, education level, parity, frequency of sex intercourses in a month, contraceptive knowledge, RTI symptom and the gender of the last child of rural married women. A significant increase in contraceptive use of rural married women in Anhui Province of China. Female sterilisation and IUD still play the dominant role. Effective family planning methods should be advocated through adequate counselling on the correct use and proper management, with consideration of the background of custom and belief.

Multi-stage 3D-2D registration for correction of anatomical deformation in image-guided spine surgery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ketcha, M. D.; De Silva, T.; Uneri, A.; Jacobson, M. W.; Goerres, J.; Kleinszig, G.; Vogt, S.; Wolinsky, J.-P.; Siewerdsen, J. H.

2017-06-01

A multi-stage image-based 3D-2D registration method is presented that maps annotations in a 3D image (e.g. point labels annotating individual vertebrae in preoperative CT) to an intraoperative radiograph in which the patient has undergone non-rigid anatomical deformation due to changes in patient positioning or due to the intervention itself. The proposed method (termed msLevelCheck) extends a previous rigid registration solution (LevelCheck) to provide an accurate mapping of vertebral labels in the presence of spinal deformation. The method employs a multi-stage series of rigid 3D-2D registrations performed on sets of automatically determined and increasingly localized sub-images, with the final stage achieving a rigid mapping for each label to yield a locally rigid yet globally deformable solution. The method was evaluated first in a phantom study in which a CT image of the spine was acquired followed by a series of 7 mobile radiographs with increasing degree of deformation applied. Second, the method was validated using a clinical data set of patients exhibiting strong spinal deformation during thoracolumbar spine surgery. Registration accuracy was assessed using projection distance error (PDE) and failure rate (PDE  >  20 mm—i.e. label registered outside vertebra). The msLevelCheck method was able to register all vertebrae accurately for all cases of deformation in the phantom study, improving the maximum PDE of the rigid method from 22.4 mm to 3.9 mm. The clinical study demonstrated the feasibility of the approach in real patient data by accurately registering all vertebral labels in each case, eliminating all instances of failure encountered in the conventional rigid method. The multi-stage approach demonstrated accurate mapping of vertebral labels in the presence of strong spinal deformation. The msLevelCheck method maintains other advantageous aspects of the original LevelCheck method (e.g. compatibility with standard clinical workflow, large capture range, and robustness against mismatch in image content) and extends capability to cases exhibiting strong changes in spinal curvature.

The Impact of Education on Rural Women's Participation in Political and Economic Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bishaw, Alemayehu

2014-01-01

This study endeavored to investigate the impact of education on rural women's participation in political and economic activities. Six hundred rural women and 12 gender Activists were selected for this study from three Zones of Amhara Region, Ethiopia using multi-stage random sampling technique and purposeful sampling techniques respectively.…

Investigation to develop a multistage forest sampling inventory system using ERTS-1 imagery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Langley, P. G.; Vanroessel, J. W. (Principal Investigator); Wert, S. L.

1975-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. The annotation system produced a RMSE of about 200 m ground distance in the MSS data system with the control data used. All the analytical MSS interpretation models tried were highly significant. However, the gains in forest sampling efficiency that can be achieved by using the models vary from zero to over 50 percent depending on the area to which they are applied and the sampling method used. Among the sampling methods tried, regression sampling yielded substantial and the most consistent gains. The single most significant variable in the interpretation model was the difference between bands 5 and 7. The contrast variable, computed by the Hadamard transform was significant but did not contribute much to the interpretation model. Forest areas containing very large timber volumes because of large tree sizes were not separable from areas of similar crown cover but containing smaller trees using ERTS image interpretation only. All correlations between space derived timber volume predictions and estimates obtained from aerial and ground sampling were relatively low but significant and stable. There was a much stronger relationship between variables derived from MSS and U2 data than between U2 and ground data.

Development of a three-dimensional multistage inverse design method for aerodynamic matching of axial compressor blading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Rooij, Michael P. C.

Current turbomachinery design systems increasingly rely on multistage Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as a means to assess performance of designs. However, design weaknesses attributed to improper stage matching are addressed using often ineffective strategies involving a costly iterative loop between blading modification, revision of design intent, and evaluation of aerodynamic performance. A design methodology is presented which greatly improves the process of achieving design-point aerodynamic matching. It is based on a three-dimensional viscous inverse design method which generates the blade camber surface based on prescribed pressure loading, thickness distribution and stacking line. This inverse design method has been extended to allow blading analysis and design in a multi-blade row environment. Blade row coupling was achieved through a mixing plane approximation. Parallel computing capability in the form of MPI has been implemented to reduce the computational time for multistage calculations. Improvements have been made to the flow solver to reach the level of accuracy required for multistage calculations. These include inclusion of heat flux, temperature-dependent treatment of viscosity, and improved calculation of stress components and artificial dissipation near solid walls. A validation study confirmed that the obtained accuracy is satisfactory at design point conditions. Improvements have also been made to the inverse method to increase robustness and design fidelity. These include the possibility to exclude spanwise sections of the blade near the endwalls from the design process, and a scheme that adjusts the specified loading area for changes resulting from the leading and trailing edge treatment. Furthermore, a pressure loading manager has been developed. Its function is to automatically adjust the pressure loading area distribution during the design calculation in order to achieve a specified design objective. Possible objectives are overall mass flow and compression ratio, and radial distribution of exit flow angle. To supplement the loading manager, mass flow inlet and exit boundary conditions have been implemented. Through appropriate combination of pressure or mass flow inflow/outflow boundary conditions and loading manager objectives, increased control over the design intent can be obtained. The three-dimensional multistage inverse design method with pressure loading manager was demonstrated to offer greatly enhanced blade row matching capabilities. Multistage design allows for simultaneous design of blade rows in a mutually interacting environment, which permits the redesigned blading to adapt to changing aerodynamic conditions resulting from the redesign. This ensures that the obtained blading geometry and performance implied by the prescribed pressure loading distribution are consistent with operation in the multi-blade row environment. The developed methodology offers high aerodynamic design quality and productivity, and constitutes a significant improvement over existing approaches used to address design-point aerodynamic matching.

Multi-phase arrival tracking using tetrahedral cells within a 3D layered titled transversely isotropic anisotropic model involving undulating topography and irregular interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xing-Wang; Bai, Chao-Ying; Yue, Xiao-Peng; Greenhalgh, Stewart

2018-02-01

To overcome a major problem in current ray tracing methods, which are only capable of tracing first arrivals, and occasionally primary reflections (or mode conversions) in regular cell models, we extend in this paper the multistage triangular shortest-path method (SPM) into 3D titled transversely isotropic (TTI) anisotropic media. The proposed method is capable of tracking multi-phase arrivals composed of any kind of combinations of transmissions, mode conversions and reflections. In model parameterization, five elastic parameters, plus two angles defining the titled axis of symmetry of TTI media are sampled at the primary nodes of the tetrahedral cell, and velocity value at secondary node positions are linked by a tri-linear velocity interpolation function to the primary node velocity value of that of a tetrahedral cell, from which the group velocities of the three wave modes (qP, qSV and qSH) are computed. The multistage triangular SPM is used to track multi-phase arrivals. The uniform anisotropic test indicates that the numerical solution agrees well with the analytic solution, thus verifying the accuracy of the methodology. Several simulations and comparison results for heterogeneous models show that the proposed algorithm is able to efficiently and accurately approximate undulating surface topography and irregular subsurface velocity discontinuities. It is suitable for any combination of multi-phase arrival tracking in arbitrary tilt angle TTI media and can accommodate any magnitude of anisotropy.

Adventures in Uncertainty: An Empirical Investigation of the Use of a Taylor's Series Approximation for the Assessment of Sampling Errors in Educational Research.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Mark

This study investigates the accuracy of the Woodruff-Causey technique for estimating sampling errors for complex statistics. The technique may be applied when data are collected by using multistage clustered samples. The technique was chosen for study because of its relevance to the correct use of multivariate analyses in educational survey…

Cosmic ray exposure histories of Apollo 14, Apollo 15, and Apollo 16 rocks

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

Eugster, O.; Eberhardt, P.

1984-02-15

The regolith exposure history of six rocks returned by the Apollo 14, 15, and 16 missions is studied based on the cosmogenic noble gas isotopes. For each sample, the complete set of all stable noble gas isotopes and the radiaoctive isotope Kr-81 were measured. Kr-81-Kr exposure ages are calculated for rocks for which a single-stage exposure can be demonstrated. A two-stage model exposure history is derived for multistage-exposure basalt 14310 based on the amounts and isotopic ratios of the cosmogenic noble gases. The apparent Kr-81-Kr age, the depth-sensitive isostopic ratios, and fission Xe-136 results lead to the conclusion that thismore » sample was preexposed 1.75 AE ago to cosmic rays for a duration of 350 m.y. Basalt 15058 and anorthosite 15415 also reveal multistage exposures. 44 references.« less

Investigating Robustness of Item Response Theory Proficiency Estimators to Atypical Response Behaviors under Two-Stage Multistage Testing. ETS GRE® Board Research Report. ETS GRE®-16-03. ETS Research Report No. RR-16-22

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Sooyeon; Moses, Tim

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the extent to which item response theory (IRT) proficiency estimation methods are robust to the presence of aberrant responses under the "GRE"® General Test multistage adaptive testing (MST) design. To that end, a wide range of atypical response behaviors affecting as much as 10% of the test items…

Multi-contaminant analysis of organophosphate and halogenated flame retardants in food matrices using ultrasonication and vacuum assisted extraction, multi-stage cleanup and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Xu, Fuchao; García-Bermejo, Ángel; Malarvannan, Govindan; Gómara, Belén; Neels, Hugo; Covaci, Adrian

2015-07-03

A multi-residue analytical method was developed for the determination of a range of flame retardants (FRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), emerging halogenated FRs (EFRs) and organophosphate FRs (PFRs), in food matrices. An ultrasonication and vacuum assisted extraction (UVAE), followed by a multi-stage clean-up procedure, enabled the removal of up to 1g of lipid from 2.5 g of freeze-dried food samples and significantly reduce matrix effects. UVAE achieves a waste factor (WF) of about 10%, while the WFs of classical QuEChERS methods range usually between 50 and 90%. The low WF of UVAE leads to a dramatic improvement in the sensitivity along with saving up to 90% of spiking (internal) standards. Moreover, a two-stage clean-up on Florisil and aminopropyl silica was introduced after UVAE, for an efficient removal of pigments and residual lipids, which led to cleaner extracts than normally achieved by dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE). In this way, the extracts could be concentrated to low volumes, e.g. <100 μL and the equivalent matrix concentrations were up to 100g ww/mL. The final analysis of PFRs was performed on GC-EI-MS, while PBDEs and EFRs were measured by GC-ECNI-MS. Validation tests were performed with three food matrices (lean beef, whole chicken egg and salmon filet), obtaining acceptable recoveries (66-135%) with good repeatability (RSD 1-24%, mean 7%). Method LOQs ranged between 0.008 and 0.04 ng/g dw for PBDEs, between 0.08 and 0.20 ng/g dw for EFRs, and between 1.4 and 3.6 ng/g dw for PFRs. The method was further applied to eight types of food samples (including meat, eggs, fish, and seafood) with lipid contents ranging from 0.1 to 22%. Various FRs were detected above MLOQ levels, demonstrating the wide-range applicability of our method. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first method reported for simultaneous analysis of brominated and organophosphate FRs in food matrices. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Predicting Personality Resiliency by Psychological Well-Being and Its Components in Girl Students of Islamic Azad University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kajbafnezhad, Hadi; Khaneh Keshi, Ali

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to predict psychological resilience by psychological well-being and its components. The research sample consisted of 216 girl students who were selected through multistage random sampling. The data were collected by implementing psychological resilience and psychological well-being questionnaire and analyzed by using…

The Relationship between Utilization of Computer Games and Spatial Abilities among High School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Motamedi, Vahid; Yaghoubi, Razeyah Mohagheghyan

2015-01-01

This study aimed at investigating the relationship between computer game use and spatial abilities among high school students. The sample consisted of 300 high school male students selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. Data gathering tools consisted of a researcher made questionnaire (to collect information on computer game usage) and the…

Validity, Reliability and Difficulty Indices for Instructor-Built Exam Questions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jandaghi, Gholamreza; Shaterian, Fatemeh

2008-01-01

The purpose of the research is to determine college Instructor's skill rate in designing exam questions in chemistry subject. The statistical population was all of chemistry exam sheets for two semesters in one academic year from which a sample of 364 exam sheets was drawn using multistage cluster sampling. Two experts assessed the sheets and by…

Socio-Economic Background and Access to Internet as Correlates of Students' Achievement in Agricultural Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adegoke, Sunday Paul; Osokoya, Modupe M.

2015-01-01

This study investigated access to internet and socio-economic background as correlates of students' achievement in Agricultural Science among selected Senior Secondary Schools Two Students in Ogbomoso South and North Local Government Areas. The study adopted multi-stage sampling technique. Simple random sampling was used to select 30 students from…

Multi-stage responsive 4D printed smart structure through varying geometric thickness of shape memory polymer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teoh, Joanne Ee Mei; Zhao, Yue; An, Jia; Chua, Chee Kai; Liu, Yong

2017-12-01

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) have gained a presence in additive manufacturing due to their role in 4D printing. They can be printed either in multi-materials for multi-stage shape recovery or in a single material for single-stage shape recovery. When printed in multi-materials, material or material-based design is used as a controlling factor for multi-stage shape recovery. However, when printed in a single material, it is difficult to design multi-stage shape recovery due to the lack of a controlling factor. In this research, we explore the use of geometric thickness as a controlling factor to design smart structures possessing multi-stage shape recovery using a single SMP. L-shaped hinges with a thickness ranging from 0.3-2 mm were designed and printed in four different SMPs. The effect of thickness on SMP’s response time was examined via both experiment and finite element analysis using Ansys transient thermal simulation. A method was developed to accurately measure the response time in millisecond resolution. Temperature distribution and heat transfer in specimens during thermal activation were also simulated and discussed. Finally, a spiral square and an artificial flower consisting of a single SMP were designed and printed with appropriate thickness variation for the demonstration of a controlled multi-stage shape recovery. Experimental results indicated that smart structures printed using single material with controlled thickness parameters are able to achieve controlled shape recovery characteristics similar to those printed with multiple materials and uniform geometric thickness. Hence, the geometric parameter can be used to increase the degree of freedom in designing future smart structures possessing complex shape recovery characteristics.

Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: United States, 2011-2014

MedlinePlus

... sample is selected through a complex, multistage probability design. In 2011–2012 and 2013–2014, non-Hispanic ... All variance estimates accounted for the complex survey design by using Taylor series linearization. Pregnant females were ...

Inspection logistics planning for multi-stage production systems with applications to semiconductor fabrication lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Kyle Dakai

Since the market for semiconductor products has become more lucrative and competitive, research into improving yields for semiconductor fabrication lines has lately received a tremendous amount of attention. One of the most critical tasks in achieving such yield improvements is to plan the in-line inspection sampling efficiently so that any potential yield problems can be detected early and eliminated quickly. We formulate a multi-stage inspection planning model based on configurations in actual semiconductor fabrication lines, specifically taking into account both the capacity constraint and the congestion effects at the inspection station. We propose a new mixed First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS) and Last-Come-First-Serve (LCFS) discipline for serving the inspection samples to expedite the detection of potential yield problems. Employing this mixed FCFS and LCFS discipline, we derive approximate expressions for the queueing delays in yield problem detection time and develop near-optimal algorithms to obtain the inspection logistics planning policies. We also investigate the queueing performance with this mixed type of service discipline under different assumptions and configurations. In addition, we conduct numerical tests and generate managerial insights based on input data from actual semiconductor fabrication lines. To the best of our knowledge, this research is novel in developing, for the first time in the literature, near-optimal results for inspection logistics planning in multi-stage production systems with congestion effects explicitly considered.

Perceptions of rural women about contraceptive usage in district Khushab, Punjab.

PubMed

Tabassum, Aqeela; Manj, Yasir Nawaz; Gunjial, Tahira Rehman; Nazir, Salma

2016-12-01

To identify the perceptions of rural women about modern contraceptive methods and to ascertain the psycho-social and economic attitude of women about family planning methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan, from December 2014 to March 2015, and comprised married women. The sample was selected using multistage sampling technique through Fitzgibbon table. They were interviewed regarding use of family planning methods. . SPSS 16 was used for data analysis. Of the 500 women, 358(71.6%) were never-users and 142(28.4%) were past-users of family planning methods. Moreover, 52(14.5%) of never-users did not know about a single modern contraceptive method. Of the past-users, 43(30.3%) knew about 1-3 methods and 99(69.7%) about 4 or more methods. Furthermore, 153(30.6%) respondents graded condoms as good, 261(55.2%) agreed that family planning helped in improving one's standard of living to a great extent while 453(90.6%) indicated that family planning methods were not expensive. Besides, 366(71.2%) respondents believed that using contraceptive method caused infertility. Dissatisfaction with methods, method failure, bad experiences with side effects, privacy concerns and different myths associated to the methods were strongly related to the non-usage of modern contraceptive methods.

Design and Weighting Methods for a Nationally Representative Sample of HIV-infected Adults Receiving Medical Care in the United States-Medical Monitoring Project

PubMed Central

Iachan, Ronaldo; H. Johnson, Christopher; L. Harding, Richard; Kyle, Tonja; Saavedra, Pedro; L. Frazier, Emma; Beer, Linda; L. Mattson, Christine; Skarbinski, Jacek

2016-01-01

Background: Health surveys of the general US population are inadequate for monitoring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection because the relatively low prevalence of the disease (<0.5%) leads to small subpopulation sample sizes. Objective: To collect a nationally and locally representative probability sample of HIV-infected adults receiving medical care to monitor clinical and behavioral outcomes, supplementing the data in the National HIV Surveillance System. This paper describes the sample design and weighting methods for the Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) and provides estimates of the size and characteristics of this population. Methods: To develop a method for obtaining valid, representative estimates of the in-care population, we implemented a cross-sectional, three-stage design that sampled 23 jurisdictions, then 691 facilities, then 9,344 HIV patients receiving medical care, using probability-proportional-to-size methods. The data weighting process followed standard methods, accounting for the probabilities of selection at each stage and adjusting for nonresponse and multiplicity. Nonresponse adjustments accounted for differing response at both facility and patient levels. Multiplicity adjustments accounted for visits to more than one HIV care facility. Results: MMP used a multistage stratified probability sampling design that was approximately self-weighting in each of the 23 project areas and nationally. The probability sample represents the estimated 421,186 HIV-infected adults receiving medical care during January through April 2009. Methods were efficient (i.e., induced small, unequal weighting effects and small standard errors for a range of weighted estimates). Conclusion: The information collected through MMP allows monitoring trends in clinical and behavioral outcomes and informs resource allocation for treatment and prevention activities. PMID:27651851

Quantitative Research on the Outcomes of China's Inland Tibetan Classes and Schools Policy: A Survey of Graduates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xiaorong, Wu

2015-01-01

Under the Inland Tibetan Classes and Schools Policy, China has trained a large number of personnel to facilitate the social, economic, and cultural development of Tibet. This study used a multistage, random sample survey to collect data on the comprehensive qualities of two sample groups of personnel in Tibet: graduates and nongraduates of inland…

The Role of Socio-Cognitive Variables in Predicting Learning Satisfaction in Smart Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Firoozi, Mohammad Reza; Kazemi, Ali; Jokar, Maryam

2017-01-01

The present study aimed to investigate the role of Socio-Cognitive variables in predicting learning satisfaction in Smart Schools. The population was all the primary school students studying in smart schools in the city of Shiraz in the school year 2014-2015. The sample, randomly chosen through multi-stage cluster sampling, was 383 primary school…

Teachers' Methodologies and Sources of Information on HIV/AIDS for Students with Visual Impairments in Selected Residential and Integrated Schools in Ghana

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hayford, Samuel K.; Ocansey, Frederick

2017-01-01

This study reports part of a national survey on sources of information, education and communication materials on HIV/AIDS available to students with visual impairments in residential, segregated, and integrated schools in Ghana. A multi-staged stratified random sampling procedure and a purposive and simple random sampling approach, where…

Multistage estimation of received carrier signal parameters under very high dynamic conditions of the receiver

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kumar, Rajendra (Inventor)

1991-01-01

A multistage estimator is provided for the parameters of a received carrier signal possibly phase-modulated by unknown data and experiencing very high Doppler, Doppler rate, etc., as may arise, for example, in the case of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) where the signal parameters are directly related to the position, velocity and jerk of the GPS ground-based receiver. In a two-stage embodiment of the more general multistage scheme, the first stage, selected to be a modified least squares algorithm referred to as differential least squares (DLS), operates as a coarse estimator resulting in higher rms estimation errors but with a relatively small probability of the frequency estimation error exceeding one-half of the sampling frequency, provides relatively coarse estimates of the frequency and its derivatives. The second stage of the estimator, an extended Kalman filter (EKF), operates on the error signal available from the first stage refining the overall estimates of the phase along with a more refined estimate of frequency as well and in the process also reduces the number of cycle slips.

Multistage estimation of received carrier signal parameters under very high dynamic conditions of the receiver

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kumar, Rajendra (Inventor)

1990-01-01

A multistage estimator is provided for the parameters of a received carrier signal possibly phase-modulated by unknown data and experiencing very high Doppler, Doppler rate, etc., as may arise, for example, in the case of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) where the signal parameters are directly related to the position, velocity and jerk of the GPS ground-based receiver. In a two-stage embodiment of the more general multistage scheme, the first stage, selected to be a modified least squares algorithm referred to as differential least squares (DLS), operates as a coarse estimator resulting in higher rms estimation errors but with a relatively small probability of the frequency estimation error exceeding one-half of the sampling frequency, provides relatively coarse estimates of the frequency and its derivatives. The second stage of the estimator, an extended Kalman filter (EKF), operates on the error signal available from the first stage refining the overall estimates of the phase along with a more refined estimate of frequency as well and in the process also reduces the number of cycle slips.

An integrated experimental and theoretical reaction path search: analyses of the multistage reaction of an ionized diethylether dimer involving isomerization, proton transfer, and dissociation.

PubMed

Matsuda, Yoshiyuki; Xie, Min; Fujii, Asuka

2018-05-30

An ionization-induced multistage reaction of an ionized diethylether (DEE) dimer involving isomerization, proton transfer, and dissociation is investigated by combining infrared (IR) spectroscopy, tandem mass spectrometry, and a theoretical reaction path search. The vertically-ionized DEE dimer isomerizes to a hydrogen-bonded cluster of protonated DEE and the [DEE-H] radical through barrierless intermolecular proton transfer from the CH bond of the ionized moiety. This isomerization process is confirmed by IR spectroscopy and the theoretical reaction path search. The multiple dissociation pathways following the isomerization are analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. The isomerized cluster dissociates stepwise into a [protonated DEE-acetaldehyde (AA)] cluster, protonated DEE, and protonated AA. The structure of the fragment ion is also analyzed by IR spectroscopy. The reaction map of the multistage processes is revealed through a harmony of these experimental and theoretical methods.

Simulation of 3-D viscous compressible flow in multistage turbomachinery by finite element methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sleiman, Mohamad

1999-11-01

The flow in a multistage turbomachinery blade row is compressible, viscous, and unsteady. Complex flow features such as boundary layers, wake migration from upstream blade rows, shocks, tip leakage jets, and vortices interact together as the flow convects through the stages. These interactions contribute significantly to the aerodynamic losses of the system and degrade the performance of the machine. The unsteadiness also leads to blade vibration and a shortening of its life. It is therefore difficult to optimize the design of a blade row, whether aerodynamically or structurally, in isolation, without accounting for the effects of the upstream and downstream rows. The effects of axial spacing, blade count, clocking (relative position of follow-up rotors with respect to wakes shed by upstream ones), and levels of unsteadiness may have a significance on performance and durability. In this Thesis, finite element formulations for the simulation of multistage turbomachinery are presented in terms of the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations for three-dimensional steady or unsteady, viscous, compressible, turbulent flows. Three methodologies are presented and compared. First, a steady multistage analysis using a a-mixing- plane model has been implemented and has been validated against engine data. For axial machines, it has been found that the mixing plane simulation methods match very well the experimental data. However, the results for a centrifugal stage, consisting of an impeller followed by a vane diffuser of equal pitch, show flagrant inconsistency with engine performance data, indicating that the mixing plane method has been found to be inappropriate for centrifugal machines. Following these findings, a more complete unsteady multistage model has been devised for a configuration with equal number of rotor and stator blades (equal pitches). Non-matching grids are used at the rotor-stator interface and an implicit interpolation procedure devised to ensure continuity of fluxes across. This permits the rotor and stator equations to be solved in a fully- coupled manner, allowing larger time steps in attaining a time-periodic solution. This equal pitch approach has been validated on the complex geometry of a centrifugal stage. Finally, for a stage configuration with unequal pitches, the time-inclined method, developed by Giles (1991) for 2-D viscous compressible flow, has been extended to 3-D and formulated in terms of the physical solution vector U, rather than Q, a non-physical one. The method has been evaluated for unsteady flow through a rotor blade passage of the power turbine of a turboprop.

Quantification of nanoparticle concentration in colloidal suspensions by a non-destructive optical method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clement, Sandhya; Gardner, Brint; Razali, Wan Aizuddin W.; Coleman, Victoria A.; Jämting, Åsa K.; Catchpoole, Heather J.; Goldys, Ewa M.; Herrmann, Jan; Zvyagin, Andrei

2017-11-01

The estimation of nanoparticle number concentration in colloidal suspensions is a prerequisite in many procedures, and in particular in multi-stage, low-yield reactions. Here, we describe a rapid, non-destructive method based on optical extinction and dynamic light scattering (DLS), which combines measurements using common bench-top instrumentation with a numerical algorithm to calculate the particle size distribution (PSD) and concentration. These quantities were derived from Mie theory applied to measurements of the optical extinction spectrum of homogeneous, non-absorbing nanoparticles, and the relative PSD of a colloidal suspension. The work presents an approach to account for PSDs achieved by DLS which, due to the underlying model, may not be representative of the true sample PSD. The presented approach estimates the absolute particle number concentration of samples with mono-, bi-modal and broad size distributions with <50% precision. This provides a convenient and practical solution for number concentration estimation required during many applications of colloidal nanomaterials.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Levels among U.S. Youth Aged 12-15 Years: United States, 1999-2004 and 2012

MedlinePlus

... use a complex, stratified, multistage probability cluster sampling design. NHANES data collection is based on a nationally ... conjunction with the 2012 NHANES and the survey design was based on the design for NHANES, with ...

Dietary Supplement Use Among U.S. Adults Has Increased Since NHANES III (1988-1994)

MedlinePlus

... uses a complex, stratified, multistage probability cluster sampling design and oversamples in order to increase precision in estimates for certain groups. NHANES III was one in a series of periodic surveys conducted in two cycles during ...

Sequencing Cyclic Peptides by Multistage Mass Spectrometry

PubMed Central

Mohimani, Hosein; Yang, Yu-Liang; Liu, Wei-Ting; Hsieh, Pei-Wen; Dorrestein, Pieter C.; Pevzner, Pavel A.

2012-01-01

Some of the most effective antibiotics (e.g., Vancomycin and Daptomycin) are cyclic peptides produced by non-ribosomal biosynthetic pathways. While hundreds of biomedically important cyclic peptides have been sequenced, the computational techniques for sequencing cyclic peptides are still in their infancy. Previous methods for sequencing peptide antibiotics and other cyclic peptides are based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, and require large amount (miligrams) of purified materials that, for most compounds, are not possible to obtain. Recently, development of mass spectrometry based methods has provided some hope for accurate sequencing of cyclic peptides using picograms of materials. In this paper we develop a method for sequencing of cyclic peptides by multistage mass spectrometry, and show its advantages over single stage mass spectrometry. The method is tested on known and new cyclic peptides from Bacillus brevis, Dianthus superbus and Streptomyces griseus, as well as a new family of cyclic peptides produced by marine bacteria. PMID:21751357

Evaluation method of membrane performance in membrane distillation process for seawater desalination.

PubMed

Chung, Seungjoon; Seo, Chang Duck; Choi, Jae-Hoon; Chung, Jinwook

2014-01-01

Membrane distillation (MD) is an emerging desalination technology as an energy-saving alternative to conventional distillation and reverse osmosis method. The selection of appropriate membrane is a prerequisite for the design of an optimized MD process. We proposed a simple approximation method to evaluate the performance of membranes for MD process. Three hollow fibre-type commercial membranes with different thicknesses and pore sizes were tested. Experimental results showed that one membrane was advantageous due to the highest flux, whereas another membrane was due to the lowest feed temperature drop. Regression analyses and multi-stage calculations were used to account for the trade-offeffects of flux and feed temperature drop. The most desirable membrane was selected from tested membranes in terms of the mean flux in a multi-stage process. This method would be useful for the selection of the membranes without complicated simulation techniques.

Laboratory research of fracture geometry in multistage HFF in triaxial state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bondarenko, T. M.; Hou, B.; Chen, M.; Yan, L.

2017-05-01

Multistage hydraulic fracturing of formation (HFF) in wells with horizontal completion is an efficientmethod for intensifying oil extraction which, as a rule, is used to develop nontraditional collectors. It is assumed that the complicated character of HFF fractures significantly influences the fracture geometry in the rock matrix. Numerous theoretical models proposed to predict the fracture geometry and the character of interaction of mechanical stresses in the multistage HFF have not been proved experimentally. In this paper, we present the results of laboratory modeling of the multistage HFF performed on a contemporary laboratory-scale plant in the triaxial stress state by using a gel-solution as the HFF agent. As a result of the experiment, a fracturing pattern was formed in the cubic specimen of the model material. The laboratory results showed that a nearly plane fracture is formed at the firstHFF stage, while a concave fracture is formed at the second HFF stage. The interaction of the stress fields created by the two principal HFF fractures results in the growth of secondary fractures whose directions turned out to be parallel to the modeled well bore. But this stress interference leads to a decrease in the width of the second principal fracture. It is was discovered that the penny-shaped fracture model is more appropriate for predicting the geometry of HFF fractures in horizontal wells than the two-dimensional models of fracture propagation (PKN model, KGD model). A computational experiment based on the boundary element method was carried out to obtain the qualitative description of the multistage HFF processes. As a result, a mechanical model of fracture propagation was constructed,which was used to obtain the mechanical stress field (the stress contrast) and the fracture opening angle distribution over fracture length and fracture orientation direction. The conclusions made in the laboratory modeling of the multistage HFF technology agree well with the conclusions made in the computational experiment. Special attention must be paid to the design of the HFF stage spacing density in the implementation of the multistage HFF in wells with horizontal completion.

Multi-Stage Convex Relaxation Methods for Machine Learning

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

Many problems in machine learning can be naturally formulated as non-convex optimization problems. However, such direct nonconvex formulations have...original nonconvex formulation. We will develop theoretical properties of this method and algorithmic consequences. Related convex and nonconvex machine learning methods will also be investigated.

[HPLC-ESI-MS(n) analysis of the water soluble extracts of Fructus Choerospondiatis].

PubMed

Shi, Run-ju; Dai, Yun; Fang, Min-feng; Zhao, Xin; Zheng, Jian-bin; Zheng, Xiao-hui

2007-03-01

To establish an HPLC-ESI-MS(n) method for analyzing the chemical ingredients in the water soluble extracts of Fructus Choerospondiatis. Water-solvable extracts of Fructus Choerospondiatis are obtained by heating recirculation. Multi-stage reaction mode (MRM) of the HPLC-ESI-MS(n) was used to determine the content of Gallic acid, the MS(n) technology was used to obtain the information of characteristic multistage fragment ions so as to identify the chemical structure of peaks in the total current spectrum. Eleven compounds were identified, and one of them is a new unknown ingredient. The method, which has high recovery and specificity, can offer the experimental evidences for the further research of the chemical ingredients extracted from the Fructus Choerospondiatis.

A Profile of Puerto Rican Health in the United States: Data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1982-84.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Munoz, Eric; And Others

The health conditions and health status of Hispanic Americans will assume increased importance as their population increases. The goal of this book of charts is to present data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) on Puerto Ricans. The Puerto Rican HHANES sampling procedure is a multi-stage probability sample of…

Student Assessment of Quality of Access at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Inegbedion, Juliet O.; Adu, Folorunso I.; Ofulue, Christine Y.

2016-01-01

This paper presents a study conducted by Inegbedion, Adu and Ofulue from the National Open University of Nigeria. The study focused on the quality of access (admission and registration) at NOUN from a student perspective. A survey design was used for the study while a multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the sample size. All the…

A Gender Based Study on Job Satisfaction among Higher Secondary School Heads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, (Pakistan)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mumtaz, Safina; Suleman, Qaiser; Ahmad, Zubair

2016-01-01

The purpose of the study was to analyze and compare the job satisfaction with twenty dimensions of male and female higher secondary school heads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A total of 108 higher secondary school heads were selected from eleven districts as sample through multi-stage sampling technique in which 66 were male and 42 were female. The study…

Achieving Integration in Mixed Methods Designs—Principles and Practices

PubMed Central

Fetters, Michael D; Curry, Leslie A; Creswell, John W

2013-01-01

Mixed methods research offers powerful tools for investigating complex processes and systems in health and health care. This article describes integration principles and practices at three levels in mixed methods research and provides illustrative examples. Integration at the study design level occurs through three basic mixed method designs—exploratory sequential, explanatory sequential, and convergent—and through four advanced frameworks—multistage, intervention, case study, and participatory. Integration at the methods level occurs through four approaches. In connecting, one database links to the other through sampling. With building, one database informs the data collection approach of the other. When merging, the two databases are brought together for analysis. With embedding, data collection and analysis link at multiple points. Integration at the interpretation and reporting level occurs through narrative, data transformation, and joint display. The fit of integration describes the extent the qualitative and quantitative findings cohere. Understanding these principles and practices of integration can help health services researchers leverage the strengths of mixed methods. PMID:24279835

Achieving integration in mixed methods designs-principles and practices.

PubMed

Fetters, Michael D; Curry, Leslie A; Creswell, John W

2013-12-01

Mixed methods research offers powerful tools for investigating complex processes and systems in health and health care. This article describes integration principles and practices at three levels in mixed methods research and provides illustrative examples. Integration at the study design level occurs through three basic mixed method designs-exploratory sequential, explanatory sequential, and convergent-and through four advanced frameworks-multistage, intervention, case study, and participatory. Integration at the methods level occurs through four approaches. In connecting, one database links to the other through sampling. With building, one database informs the data collection approach of the other. When merging, the two databases are brought together for analysis. With embedding, data collection and analysis link at multiple points. Integration at the interpretation and reporting level occurs through narrative, data transformation, and joint display. The fit of integration describes the extent the qualitative and quantitative findings cohere. Understanding these principles and practices of integration can help health services researchers leverage the strengths of mixed methods. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

American Healthy Homes Survey: A National Study of Residential Pesticides Measured from Floor Wipes.

EPA Science Inventory

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in collaboration with the United States Environmental Protection Agency conducted a survey measuring lead, allergens, and insecticides in a randomly selected nationally representative sample of resodential homes. Multistage sa...

Work Adjustment of Vocational Education Teachers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Muncrief, Martha Crawford

To investigate work adjustment of vocational education teachers, a nation-wide study was conducted focusing on vocational needs, job satisfaction, and job success. The study involved 180 secondary teachers from three vocational areas, business, home economics, and industrial education. A multistage sampling process was utilized to select…

ERTS data user investigation to develop a multistage forest sampling inventory system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Langley, P. G.; Vanroessel, J. W. (Principal Investigator)

1973-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. A unique digital timber volume estimation system was developed for use with the MSS CCT tapes. The system was tested on a 64-square mile area in Northern California's Trinity Alps. The outcome of a systematic experiment, in which several possible combinations of bands 5 and 7 and a contrast measure were tried, showed that an estimated gain in precision of 50% can be obtained in a multistage sampling design. The difference between bands 5 and 7 proved to be of special importance for the estimation of biomass in the form of timber volume. In addition, an interpretation model for high flight U2 photographs was developed. A maximum multiple correlation coefficient of 0.74 was obtained for the regression model, explaining 55% of the variation in timber volume as estimated from aerial photos and ground measurments. An interpretation model for MSS color composites is in the testing stage.

A microprocessor-based automation test system for the experiment of the multi-stage compressor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Huisheng; Lin, Chongping

1991-08-01

An automation test system that is controlled by the microprocessor and used in the multistage compressor experiment is described. Based on the analysis of the compressor experiment performances, a complete hardware system structure is set up. It is composed of a IBM PC/XT computer, a large scale sampled data system, the moving machine with three directions, the scanners, the digital instrumentation and some output devices. A program structure of real-time software system is described. The testing results show that this test system can take the measure of many parameter magnitudes in the blade row places and on a boundary layer in different states. The automatic extent and the accuracy of experiment is increased and the experimental cost is reduced.

SAS procedures for designing and analyzing sample surveys

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stafford, Joshua D.; Reinecke, Kenneth J.; Kaminski, Richard M.

2003-01-01

Complex surveys often are necessary to estimate occurrence (or distribution), density, and abundance of plants and animals for purposes of re-search and conservation. Most scientists are familiar with simple random sampling, where sample units are selected from a population of interest (sampling frame) with equal probability. However, the goal of ecological surveys often is to make inferences about populations over large or complex spatial areas where organisms are not homogeneously distributed or sampling frames are in-convenient or impossible to construct. Candidate sampling strategies for such complex surveys include stratified,multistage, and adaptive sampling (Thompson 1992, Buckland 1994).

Enzyme-regulated the changes of pH values for assembling a colorimetric and multistage interconnection logic network with multiple readouts.

PubMed

Huang, Yanyan; Ran, Xiang; Lin, Youhui; Ren, Jinsong; Qu, Xiaogang

2015-04-22

Based on enzymatic reactions-triggered changes of pH values and biocomputing, a novel and multistage interconnection biological network with multiple easy-detectable signal outputs has been developed. Compared with traditional chemical computing, the enzyme-based biological system could overcome the interference between reactions or the incompatibility of individual computing gates and offer a unique opportunity to assemble multicomponent/multifunctional logic circuitries. Our system included four enzyme inputs: β-galactosidase (β-gal), glucose oxidase (GOx), esterase (Est) and urease (Ur). With the assistance of two signal transducers (gold nanoparticles and acid-base indicators) or pH meter, the outputs of the biological network could be conveniently read by the naked eyes. In contrast to current methods, the approach present here could realize cost-effective, label-free and colorimetric logic operations without complicated instrument. By designing a series of Boolean logic operations, we could logically make judgment of the compositions of the samples on the basis of visual output signals. Our work offered a promising paradigm for future biological computing technology and might be highly useful in future intelligent diagnostics, prodrug activation, smart drug delivery, process control, and electronic applications. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Eyeglasses Lens Contour Extraction from Facial Images Using an Efficient Shape Description

PubMed Central

Borza, Diana; Darabant, Adrian Sergiu; Danescu, Radu

2013-01-01

This paper presents a system that automatically extracts the position of the eyeglasses and the accurate shape and size of the frame lenses in facial images. The novelty brought by this paper consists in three key contributions. The first one is an original model for representing the shape of the eyeglasses lens, using Fourier descriptors. The second one is a method for generating the search space starting from a finite, relatively small number of representative lens shapes based on Fourier morphing. Finally, we propose an accurate lens contour extraction algorithm using a multi-stage Monte Carlo sampling technique. Multiple experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. PMID:24152926

Proportion of elementary school pupils’ anthropometric characteristics with dimensions of classroom furniture in Isfahan, Iran

PubMed Central

Habibi, Ehsanollah; Asaadi, Zahra; Hosseini, Seyed Mohsen

2011-01-01

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed to examine the appropriacy of school furniture to Iranian pupils′ anthropometric features. METHODS: The participants in this cross-sectional study were 493 boys and 489 girls with the age-range of 7 to 12 years who were selected through a multistage random cluster sampling procedure. Age, weight, height, and anthropometric dimensions were determined. RESULTS: This study indicates that there is a significant difference between the minimum and maximum acceptable dimensions and those of the available furniture (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In designing suitable furniture for pupils the anthropometric differences of age and gender must be taken into account. PMID:21448391

Health and Human Rights in Chin State, Western Burma: A Population-Based Assessment Using Multistaged Household Cluster Sampling

PubMed Central

Sollom, Richard; Richards, Adam K.; Parmar, Parveen; Mullany, Luke C.; Lian, Salai Bawi; Iacopino, Vincent; Beyrer, Chris

2011-01-01

Background The Chin State of Burma (also known as Myanmar) is an isolated ethnic minority area with poor health outcomes and reports of food insecurity and human rights violations. We report on a population-based assessment of health and human rights in Chin State. We sought to quantify reported human rights violations in Chin State and associations between these reported violations and health status at the household level. Methods and Findings Multistaged household cluster sampling was done. Heads of household were interviewed on demographics, access to health care, health status, food insecurity, forced displacement, forced labor, and other human rights violations during the preceding 12 months. Ratios of the prevalence of household hunger comparing exposed and unexposed to each reported violation were estimated using binomial regression, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were constructed. Multivariate models were done to adjust for possible confounders. Overall, 91.9% of households (95% CI 89.7%–94.1%) reported forced labor in the past 12 months. Forty-three percent of households met FANTA-2 (Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance II project) definitions for moderate to severe household hunger. Common violations reported were food theft, livestock theft or killing, forced displacement, beatings and torture, detentions, disappearances, and religious and ethnic persecution. Self reporting of multiple rights abuses was independently associated with household hunger. Conclusions Our findings indicate widespread self-reports of human rights violations. The nature and extent of these violations may warrant investigation by the United Nations or International Criminal Court. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary PMID:21346799

American Healthy Homes Survey: A National Study of Residential Phthalates Measured from Floor Wipes

EPA Science Inventory

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), conducted a survey measuring phthalates in randomly selected residential homes throughout the U.S. Multistage sampling with clustering w...

Pathways between Acculturation and Health: Does the Measure Matter?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miranda, Patricia Y.; Gonzalez, Hector M.; Tarraf, Wassim

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between acculturation and functional health using multiple proxies of acculturation to examine explanatory pathways to clarify disparate health findings. A population-based cross-sectional, multistage probability sample from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies…

Entrepreneurial Attributes among Postgraduate Students of a Pakistani University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ali, Akhtar; Topping, Keith J.; Tariq, Riaz H.

2010-01-01

This paper explores entrepreneurial attributes among the students of The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, a public sector Pakistani university. Multistage sampling was employed to maximize the representation. Five hundred and twenty one master's level students from thirty departments returned completed questionnaires. Three factors emerged: self…

Health and Dietary Patterns of the Elderly in Botswana

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maruapula, Segametsi; Chapman-Novakofski, Karen

2007-01-01

Objective: To describe associations among socioeconomic conditions and dietary patterns of Botswana elderly. Design: Secondary analysis from a cross-sectional nationwide survey. Participants: Subjects (N = 1086, 60-99 years old) were selected after multistage sampling. Main Outcome Measures: Dietary patterns were dependent variables; health and…

SOURCE SAMPLING FINE PARTICULATE MATTER: WOOD-FIRED INDUSTRIAL BOILER

EPA Science Inventory

The report provides a profile for a wood-fired industrial boiler equipped with a multistage electrostatic precipitator control device. Along with the profile of emissions of fine particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM-2.5), data are also provide...

End-pumped 300 W continuous-wave ytterbium-doped all-fiber laser with master oscillator multi-stage power amplifiers configuration.

PubMed

Yin, Shupeng; Yan, Ping; Gong, Mali

2008-10-27

An end-pumped ytterbium-doped all-fiber laser with 300 W output in continuous regime was reported, which was based on master oscillator multi-stage power amplifiers configuration. Monolithic fiber laser system consisted of an oscillator stage and two amplifier stages. Total optical-optical efficiency of monolithic fiber laser was approximately 65%, corresponding to 462 W of pump power coupled into laser system. We proposed a new method to connect power amplifier stage, which was crucial for the application of end-pumped combiner in high power MOPAs all-fiber laser.

Multistage morphological segmentation of bright-field and fluorescent microscopy images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korzyńska, A.; Iwanowski, M.

2012-06-01

This paper describes the multistage morphological segmentation method (MSMA) for microscopic cell images. The proposed method enables us to study the cell behaviour by using a sequence of two types of microscopic images: bright field images and/or fluorescent images. The proposed method is based on two types of information: the cell texture coming from the bright field images and intensity of light emission, done by fluorescent markers. The method is dedicated to the image sequences segmentation and it is based on mathematical morphology methods supported by other image processing techniques. The method allows for detecting cells in image independently from a degree of their flattening and from presenting structures which produce the texture. It makes use of some synergic information from the fluorescent light emission image as the support information. The MSMA method has been applied to images acquired during the experiments on neural stem cells as well as to artificial images. In order to validate the method, two types of errors have been considered: the error of cell area detection and the error of cell position using artificial images as the "gold standard".

Assessment of Validity, Reliability and Difficulty Indices for Teacher-Built Physics Exam Questions in First Year High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jandaghi, Gholamreza

2010-01-01

The purpose of the research is to determine high school teachers' skill rate in designing exam questions in physics subject. The statistical population was all of physics exam shits for two semesters in one school year from which a sample of 364 exam shits was drawn using multistage cluster sampling. Two experts assessed the shits and by using…

Multi-Stage Target Tracking with Drift Correction and Position Prediction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xin; Ren, Keyan; Hou, Yibin

2018-04-01

Most existing tracking methods are hard to combine accuracy and performance, and do not consider the shift between clarity and blur that often occurs. In this paper, we propound a multi-stage tracking framework with two particular modules: position prediction and corrective measure. We conduct tracking based on correlation filter with a corrective measure module to increase both performance and accuracy. Specifically, a convolutional network is used for solving the blur problem in realistic scene, training methodology that training dataset with blur images generated by the three blur algorithms. Then, we propose a position prediction module to reduce the computation cost and make tracker more capable of fast motion. Experimental result shows that our tracking method is more robust compared to others and more accurate on the benchmark sequences.

Self-Reported and Network Scale-Up Estimates of Substance Use Prevalence among University Students in Kerman, Iran.

PubMed

Zahedi, Razieh; Noroozi, Alireza; Hajebi, Ahmad; Haghdoost, Ali Akbar; Baneshi, Mohammad Reza; Sharifi, Hamid; Mirzazadeh, Ali

2018-04-30

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of substance use among university students measured by direct and indirect methods, and to calculate the visibility factor (VF) defined as ratio of indirect to direct estimates of substance use prevalence. A cross-sectional study. Using a multistage non-random sampling approach, we recruited 2157 students from three universities in Kerman, Iran, in 2016. We collected data on substance use by individual face-to-face interview using direct (i.e. self-report of their own behaviors) and indirect (NSU: Network scale up) methods. All estimates from direct and indirect methods were weighted based on inverse probability weight of sampling university. The response rate was 83.6%. The last year prevalence of water pipe, alcohol, and cigarettes indirect method was 44.6%, 18.1%, and 13.2% respectively. Corresponding figures in NSU analysis were 36.4%, 18.2%, and 16.5% respectively. In the female population, VF for all types of substance was less than male. Considerable numbers of university students used substances like a water pipe, alcohol, and cigarettes. NSU seems a promising method, especially among male students. Among female students, direct method provided more reliable results mainly due to transmission and prestige biases.

A new multistage groundwater transport inverse method: presentation, evaluation, and implications

USGS Publications Warehouse

Anderman, Evan R.; Hill, Mary C.

1999-01-01

More computationally efficient methods of using concentration data are needed to estimate groundwater flow and transport parameters. This work introduces and evaluates a three‐stage nonlinear‐regression‐based iterative procedure in which trial advective‐front locations link decoupled flow and transport models. Method accuracy and efficiency are evaluated by comparing results to those obtained when flow‐ and transport‐model parameters are estimated simultaneously. The new method is evaluated as conclusively as possible by using a simple test case that includes distinct flow and transport parameters, but does not include any approximations that are problem dependent. The test case is analytical; the only flow parameter is a constant velocity, and the transport parameters are longitudinal and transverse dispersivity. Any difficulties detected using the new method in this ideal situation are likely to be exacerbated in practical problems. Monte‐Carlo analysis of observation error ensures that no specific error realization obscures the results. Results indicate that, while this, and probably other, multistage methods do not always produce optimal parameter estimates, the computational advantage may make them useful in some circumstances, perhaps as a precursor to using a simultaneous method.

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

Zhang, Qibin; Petyuk, Vladislav A.; Schepmoes, Athena A.

Non-enzymatic glycation of tissue proteins has important implications in the development of complications of diabetes mellitus. While electron transfer dissociation (ETD) has been shown to outperform collision-induced dissociation (CID) in sequencing glycated peptides by tandem mass spectrometry, ETD instrumentation is not yet available in all laboratories. In this study, we evaluated different advanced CID techniques (i.e., neutral-loss triggered MS3 and multi-stage activation) during LC-MSn analyses of Amadori-modified peptides enriched from human serum glycated in vitro. During neutral-loss triggered MS3 experiments, MS3 scans triggered by neutral-losses of 3 H2O or 3 H2O + HCHO produced similar results in terms of glycatedmore » peptide identifications. However, neutral losses of 3 H2O resulted in significantly more glycated peptide identifications during multi-stage activation experiments. Overall, the multi-stage activation approach produced more glycated peptide identifications, while the neutral-loss triggered MS3 approach resulted in much higher specificity. Both techniques offer a viable alternative to ETD for identifying glycated peptides when that method is unavailable.« less

Multi-stage circulating fluidized bed syngas cooling

DOEpatents

Liu, Guohai; Vimalchand, Pannalal; Guan, Xiaofeng; Peng, WanWang

2016-10-11

A method and apparatus for cooling hot gas streams in the temperature range 800.degree. C. to 1600.degree. C. using multi-stage circulating fluid bed (CFB) coolers is disclosed. The invention relates to cooling the hot syngas from coal gasifiers in which the hot syngas entrains substances that foul, erode and corrode heat transfer surfaces upon contact in conventional coolers. The hot syngas is cooled by extracting and indirectly transferring heat to heat transfer surfaces with circulating inert solid particles in CFB syngas coolers. The CFB syngas coolers are staged to facilitate generation of steam at multiple conditions and hot boiler feed water that are necessary for power generation in an IGCC process. The multi-stage syngas cooler can include internally circulating fluid bed coolers, externally circulating fluid bed coolers and hybrid coolers that incorporate features of both internally and externally circulating fluid bed coolers. Higher process efficiencies can be realized as the invention can handle hot syngas from various types of gasifiers without the need for a less efficient precooling step.

[Design of the National Surveillance of Nutritional Indicators (MONIN), Peru 2007-2010].

PubMed

Campos-Sánchez, Miguel; Ricaldi-Sueldo, Rita; Miranda-Cuadros, Marianella

2011-06-01

To describe the design and methods of the national surveillance of nutritional indicators (MONIN) 2007-2010, carried out by INS/CENAN. MONIN was designed as a continuous (repeated cross-sectional) survey, with stratified multi-stage random sampling, considering the universe as all under five children and pregnant women residing in Peru, divided into 5 geographical strata and 6 trimesters (randomly permuted weeks, about 78% of the time between November 19, 2007 and April 2, 2010). The total sample was 3,827 children in 361 completed clusters. The dropout rate was 8.4% in clusters, 1.8% in houses, and 13.2% in households. Dropout was also 4.2, 13.3, 21.2, 55% and 29% in anthropometry, hemoglobin, food intake, retinol and ioduria measurements, respectively. The MONIN design is feasible and useful for the estimation of indicators of childhood malnutrition.

Evaluation of usefulness of Skylab EREP S-190 and S-192 imagery in multistage forest surveys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Langley, P. G. (Principal Investigator)

1973-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. A unique digital timber volume estimation system with digital data for two ERTS-1 MSS bands was tested. The system was tested on a 64-square mile area in Northern California's Trinity Alps. The outcome of a systematic experiment in which possible combinations of the two bands (MSS 5 and 7) were tried, showed than an estimated gain in precision of 50% can be obtained in a multistage sampling design. Especially the difference between the two bands proved to be of major importance for the estimation of biomass in the form of timber volume. Identical tests as the one performed will be conducted with various S-192 bands when the digital data become available.

Novel product ions of 2-aminoanilide and benzimidazole Ag(I) complexes using electrospray ionization with multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Johnson, Byron S; Burinsky, David J; Burova, Svetlana A; Davis, Roman; Fitzgerald, Russ N; Matsuoka, Richard T

2012-05-15

The 2-aminoaniline scaffold is of significant value to the pharmaceutical industry and is embedded in a number of pharmacophores including 2-aminoanilides and benzimidazoles. A novel application of coordination ion spray mass spectrometry (CIS-MS) for interrogating the silver ion (Ag(+)) complexes of a homologous series of these compounds using multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry is described. Unlike the ubiquitous alkali metal ion complexes, Ag(+) complexes of 2-aminoanilides and benzimidazoles were found to yield [M - H](+) ions in significant abundance via gas-phase elimination of the metal hydride (AgH) resulting in unique product ion cascades. Sample introduction was by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry analysis performed on a hybrid linear ion trap/orbitrap instrument capable of high-resolution measurements. Rigorous structural characterization by multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry using [M +  H](+), [M - H](-) and [M - H](+) precursor ions derived from ESI and CIS experiments was performed for the homologous series of 2-aminoanilide and benzimidazole compounds. A full tabular comparison of structural information resulting from these product ion cascades was produced. Multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry of [M - H](+) ions resulting from Ag(+) complexes of 2-aminoanilides and benzimidazoles in CIS-MS experiments produced unique product ion cascades that exhibited complementary structural information to that obtained from tandem mass spectrometry of [M  +  H](+) and [M - H](-) ions by electrospray ionization (ESI). These observations may be broadly applicable to other compounds that are observed to form Ag(+) complexes and eliminate AgH. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A new method for assessing the contribution of Primary Biological Atmospheric Particles to the mass concentration of the atmospheric aerosol.

PubMed

Perrino, Cinzia; Marcovecchio, Francesca

2016-02-01

Primary Biologic Atmospheric Particles (PBAPs) constitute an interesting and poorly investigated component of the atmospheric aerosol. We have developed and validated a method for evaluating the contribution of overall PBAPs to the mass concentration of atmospheric particulate matter (PM). The method is based on PM sampling on polycarbonate filters, staining of the collected particles with propidium iodide, observation at epifluorescence microscope and calculation of the bioaerosol mass using a digital image analysis software. The method has been also adapted to the observation and quantification of size-segregated aerosol samples collected by multi-stage impactors. Each step of the procedure has been individually validated. The relative repeatability of the method, calculated on 10 pairs of atmospheric PM samples collected side-by-side, was 16%. The method has been applied to real atmospheric samples collected in the vicinity of Rome, Italy. Size distribution measurements revealed that PBAPs was mainly in the coarse fraction of PM, with maxima in the range 5.6-10 μm. 24-h samples collected during different period of the year have shown that the concentration of bioaerosol was in the range 0.18-5.3 μg m(-3) (N=20), with a contribution to the organic matter in PM10 in the range 0.5-31% and to the total mass concentration of PM10 in the range 0.3-18%. The possibility to determine the concentration of total PBAPs in PM opens up interesting perspectives in terms of studying the health effects of these components and of increasing our knowledge about the composition of the organic fraction of the atmospheric aerosol. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Experimental and theoretical rotordynamic stiffness coefficients for a three-stage brush seal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pugachev, A. O.; Deckner, M.

2012-08-01

Experimental and theoretical results are presented for a multistage brush seal. Experimental stiffness is obtained from integrating circumferential pressure distribution measured in seal cavities. A CFD analysis is used to predict seal performance. Bristle packs are modeled by the porous medium approach. Leakage is predicted well by the CFD method. Theoretical stiffness coefficients are in reasonable agreement with the measurements. Experimental results are also compared with a three-teeth-on-stator labyrinth seal. The multistage brush seal gives about 60% leakage reduction over the labyrinth seal. Rotordynamic stiffness coefficients are also improved: the brush seal has positive direct stiffness and smaller cross-coupled stiffness.

Pulsed depressed collector

DOEpatents

Kemp, Mark A

2015-11-03

A high power RF device has an electron beam cavity, a modulator, and a circuit for feed-forward energy recovery from a multi-stage depressed collector to the modulator. The electron beam cavity include a cathode, an anode, and the multi-stage depressed collector, and the modulator is configured to provide pulses to the cathode. Voltages of the electrode stages of the multi-stage depressed collector are allowed to float as determined by fixed impedances seen by the electrode stages. The energy recovery circuit includes a storage capacitor that dynamically biases potentials of the electrode stages of the multi-stage depressed collector and provides recovered energy from the electrode stages of the multi-stage depressed collector to the modulator. The circuit may also include a step-down transformer, where the electrode stages of the multi-stage depressed collector are electrically connected to separate taps on the step-down transformer.

Removal of hazardous gaseous pollutants from industrial flue gases by a novel multi-stage fluidized bed desulfurizer.

PubMed

Mohanty, C R; Adapala, Sivaji; Meikap, B C

2009-06-15

Sulfur dioxide and other sulfur compounds are generated as primary pollutants from the major industries such as sulfuric acid plants, cupper smelters, catalytic cracking units, etc. and cause acid rain. To remove the SO(2) from waste flue gas a three-stage counter-current multi-stage fluidized bed adsorber was developed as desulfurization equipment and operated in continuous bubbling fluidization regime for the two-phase system. This paper represents the desulfurization of gas mixtures by chemical sorption of sulfur dioxide on porous granular calcium oxide particles in the reactor at ambient temperature. The advantages of the multi-stage fluidized bed reactor are of high mass transfer and high gas-solid residence time that can enhance the removal of acid gas at low temperature by dry method. Experiments were carried out in the bubbling fluidization regime supported by visual observation. The effects of the operating parameters such as sorbent (lime) flow rate, superficial gas velocity, and the weir height on SO(2) removal efficiency in the multistage fluidized bed are reported. The results have indicated that the removal efficiency of the sulfur dioxide was found to be 65% at high solid flow rate (2.0 kg/h) corresponding to lower gas velocity (0.265 m/s), wier height of 70 mm and SO(2) concentration of 500 ppm at room temperature.

Performance Improvement of a Return Channel in a Multistage Centrifugal Compressor Using Multiobjective Optimization.

PubMed

Nishida, Yoshifumi; Kobayashi, Hiromi; Nishida, Hideo; Sugimura, Kazuyuki

2013-05-01

The effect of the design parameters of a return channel on the performance of a multistage centrifugal compressor was numerically investigated, and the shape of the return channel was optimized using a multiobjective optimization method based on a genetic algorithm to improve the performance of the centrifugal compressor. The results of sensitivity analysis using Latin hypercube sampling suggested that the inlet-to-outlet area ratio of the return vane affected the total pressure loss in the return channel, and that the inlet-to-outlet radius ratio of the return vane affected the outlet flow angle from the return vane. Moreover, this analysis suggested that the number of return vanes affected both the loss and the flow angle at the outlet. As a result of optimization, the number of return vane was increased from 14 to 22 and the area ratio was decreased from 0.71 to 0.66. The radius ratio was also decreased from 2.1 to 2.0. Performance tests on a centrifugal compressor with two return channels (the original design and optimized design) were carried out using two-stage test apparatus. The measured flow distribution exhibited a swirl flow in the center region and a reversed swirl flow near the hub and shroud sides. The exit flow of the optimized design was more uniform than that of the original design. For the optimized design, the overall two-stage efficiency and pressure coefficient were increased by 0.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Moreover, the second-stage efficiency and pressure coefficient were respectively increased by 1.0% and 3.2%. It is considered that the increase in the second-stage efficiency was caused by the increased uniformity of the flow, and the rise in the pressure coefficient was caused by a decrease in the residual swirl flow. It was thus concluded from the numerical and experimental results that the optimized return channel improved the performance of the multistage centrifugal compressor.

The transect of happiness and community’s capability in urbanizing Yogyakarta

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pramono, RWD

2018-03-01

The idea of this paper is that happy-friendly city is it that able to support capability. In addition to factors affixed to an individual, an important element determining someone’s happiness is the quality of a place. This research tries to explain the role of quality of place formed by urbanization process by taking Yogyakarta case as the sample. The importance of variation of particular area caused by urbanization is revealed using transect method. This method showed the shifting gradation from the very center of the city that first experienced urbanization up to the peripheral that experienced it last. The initial result of this clustered-multistage random sampling shows a gradation in capability. It also describes the similar tendency regarding self-evaluation against happiness although not very clear. Further analysis is conducted to define influencing factors. They consist of 40 capability assets that belong to Individual Tangible Asset, Public Tangible Asset, Individual Intangible Asset, Social Institutional Asset, and Economic Institutional Asset. However, the focus of analysis will be on variables included in Public Tangible Asset, Social Institutional Asset, and Economic Institutional Asset called as place-attached assets.

Maladaptive Personality and Neuropsychological Features of Highly Relationally Aggressive Adolescent Girls

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Savage, Michael; DiBiase, Anne-Marie

2016-01-01

The maladaptive personality and neuropsychological features of highly relationally aggressive females were examined in a group of 30 grade 6, 7, and 8 girls and group-matched controls. Employing a multistage cluster sampling procedure, a group of highly, yet almost exclusively, relationally aggressive females were identified and matched on a…

Students' Readiness for E-Learning Application in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rasouli, Atousa; Rahbania, Zahra; Attaran, Mohammad

2016-01-01

The main goal of this research was to investigate the readiness of art students in applying e-learning. This study adopted a survey research design. From three public Iranian Universities (Alzahra, Tarbiat Modares, and Tehran), 347 students were selected by multistage cluster sampling and via Morgan Table. Their readiness for E-learning…

Impact Evaluation of Further Mathematics Curriculum in Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Odili, Godwin Alo; Asuru, Vincent A.

2011-01-01

This research was a perceptual survey study carried out to determine whether the goals of Further Mathematics Curriculum (FMC) are being achieved at the Senior Secondary School level. The sample for the study consisted of 240 FM final year students, 45 FM teachers and 180 undergraduates who were selected by a multistage stratified random sampling…

Behavioural Problems of Juvenile Street Hawkers in Uyo Metropolis, Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Udoh, Nsisong A.; Joseph, Eme U.

2012-01-01

The study sought the opinions of Faculty of Education Students of University of Uyo on the behavioural problems of juvenile street hawkers in Uyo metropolis. Five research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. This cross-sectional survey employed multi-stage random sampling technique in selecting 200 regular undergraduate students in the…

Removing a Nail from the Boot Camp Coffin: An Outcome Evaluation of Minnesota's Challenge Incarceration Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duwe, Grant; Kerschner, Deborah

2008-01-01

Using a retrospective, quasiexperimental design, this study evaluates Minnesota's Challenge Incarceration Program (CIP), examining whether it has lowered recidivism and saved money. In addition to utilizing a lengthy follow-up period and multiple measures of recidivism and participation, a multistage sampling design was employed to create a…

A Methodology to Teach Advanced A/D Converters, Combining Digital Signal Processing and Microelectronics Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Quintans, C.; Colmenar, A.; Castro, M.; Moure, M. J.; Mandado, E.

2010-01-01

ADCs (analog-to-digital converters), especially Pipeline and Sigma-Delta converters, are designed using complex architectures in order to increase their sampling rate and/or resolution. Consequently, the learning of ADC devices also encompasses complex concepts such as multistage synchronization, latency, oversampling, modulation, noise shaping,…

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following Ethnoreligious Conflict in Jos, Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Obilom, Rose E.; Thacher, Tom D.

2008-01-01

In September 2001, ethnoreligious rioting occurred in Jos, Nigeria. Using a multistage cluster sampling technique, 290 respondents were recruited in Jos 7 to 9 months after the riots. Data were collected regarding demographics, exposure to traumatic events, and psychological symptoms. Resting pulse and blood pressure were recorded. A total of 145…

Assessing Students' Metacognitive Awareness of Learning Strategies among Secondary School Students in Edo State, Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Okoza, Jolly; Aluede, Oyaziwo; Owens-Sogolo, Osasere

2013-01-01

This study examined metacognitive awareness of learning strategies among Secondary School Students in Edo State, Nigeria. The study was an exploratory one, which utilized descriptive statistics. A total number of 1200 students drawn through multistage proportionate random sampling technique participated in the study. The study found that secondary…

An evaluation of the utility of ERTS-1 data for mapping and developing natural resources of Iran

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ebtehadj, K. (Principal Investigator)

1974-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Results are reported in structural mapping leading to tectonic interpretation; in surficial deposits mapping; in analysis of salt diapirism in southwest Iran; in updating and correcting existing hydrological maps; in monitoring fluctuations of water in some intermittent lakes; in the delineation of wetland areas and the study of fluvial suspended load of the head of the Persian Gulf in relation to the fishing industry; in exercises in soil mapping; in range and agricultural surveys and inventory using multistage sampling methods, and in the computer analysis of ERTS-1 digital tapes for urban land use. The completion of a 1:1,000,000 false color photomosaic of Iran is also discussed.

Forecasting peak asthma admissions in London: an application of quantile regression models.

PubMed

Soyiri, Ireneous N; Reidpath, Daniel D; Sarran, Christophe

2013-07-01

Asthma is a chronic condition of great public health concern globally. The associated morbidity, mortality and healthcare utilisation place an enormous burden on healthcare infrastructure and services. This study demonstrates a multistage quantile regression approach to predicting excess demand for health care services in the form of asthma daily admissions in London, using retrospective data from the Hospital Episode Statistics, weather and air quality. Trivariate quantile regression models (QRM) of asthma daily admissions were fitted to a 14-day range of lags of environmental factors, accounting for seasonality in a hold-in sample of the data. Representative lags were pooled to form multivariate predictive models, selected through a systematic backward stepwise reduction approach. Models were cross-validated using a hold-out sample of the data, and their respective root mean square error measures, sensitivity, specificity and predictive values compared. Two of the predictive models were able to detect extreme number of daily asthma admissions at sensitivity levels of 76 % and 62 %, as well as specificities of 66 % and 76 %. Their positive predictive values were slightly higher for the hold-out sample (29 % and 28 %) than for the hold-in model development sample (16 % and 18 %). QRMs can be used in multistage to select suitable variables to forecast extreme asthma events. The associations between asthma and environmental factors, including temperature, ozone and carbon monoxide can be exploited in predicting future events using QRMs.

Forecasting peak asthma admissions in London: an application of quantile regression models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soyiri, Ireneous N.; Reidpath, Daniel D.; Sarran, Christophe

2013-07-01

Asthma is a chronic condition of great public health concern globally. The associated morbidity, mortality and healthcare utilisation place an enormous burden on healthcare infrastructure and services. This study demonstrates a multistage quantile regression approach to predicting excess demand for health care services in the form of asthma daily admissions in London, using retrospective data from the Hospital Episode Statistics, weather and air quality. Trivariate quantile regression models (QRM) of asthma daily admissions were fitted to a 14-day range of lags of environmental factors, accounting for seasonality in a hold-in sample of the data. Representative lags were pooled to form multivariate predictive models, selected through a systematic backward stepwise reduction approach. Models were cross-validated using a hold-out sample of the data, and their respective root mean square error measures, sensitivity, specificity and predictive values compared. Two of the predictive models were able to detect extreme number of daily asthma admissions at sensitivity levels of 76 % and 62 %, as well as specificities of 66 % and 76 %. Their positive predictive values were slightly higher for the hold-out sample (29 % and 28 %) than for the hold-in model development sample (16 % and 18 %). QRMs can be used in multistage to select suitable variables to forecast extreme asthma events. The associations between asthma and environmental factors, including temperature, ozone and carbon monoxide can be exploited in predicting future events using QRMs.

Remote sensing of effects of land-use practices on water quality. [environmental surveys using Landsat satellites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Graves, D. H.

1975-01-01

Research efforts are presented for the use of remote sensing in environmental surveys in Kentucky. Ground truth parameters were established that represent the vegetative cover of disturbed and undisturbed watersheds in the Cumberland Plateau of eastern Kentucky. Several water quality parameters were monitored of the watersheds utilized in the establishment of ground truth data. The capabilities of multistage-multispectral aerial photography and satellite imagery were evaluated in detecting various land use practices. The use of photographic signatures of known land use areas utilizing manually-operated spot densitometers was studied. The correlation of imagery signature data to water quality data was examined. Potential water quality predictions were developed from forested and nonforested watersheds based upon the above correlations. The cost effectiveness of predicting water quality values was evaluated using multistage and satellite imagery sampling techniques.

Identification of a New Susceptibility Locus for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus on Chromosome 12 in Individuals of European Ancestry

PubMed Central

Demirci, F. Yesim; Wang, Xingbin; Kelly, Jennifer A.; Morris, David L.; Barmada, M. Michael; Feingold, Eleanor; Kao, Amy H.; Sivils, Kathy L.; Bernatsky, Sasha; Pineau, Christian; Clarke, Ann; Ramsey-Goldman, Rosalind; Vyse, Timothy J.; Gaffney, Patrick M.; Manzi, Susan; Kamboh, M. Ilyas

2016-01-01

Objective Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in individuals of European ancestry identified a number of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility loci using earlier versions of high-density genotyping platforms. Follow-up studies on suggestive GWAS regions using larger samples and more markers identified additional SLE loci in European-descent subjects. Here we report the results of a multi-stage study that we performed to identify novel SLE loci. Methods In Stage 1, we conducted a new GWAS of SLE in a North American case-control sample of European ancestry (n=1,166) genotyped on Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0. In Stage 2, we further investigated top new suggestive GWAS hits by in silico evaluation and meta-analysis using an additional dataset of European-descent subjects (>2,500 individuals), followed by replication of top meta-analysis findings in another dataset of European-descent subjects (>10,000 individuals) in Stage 3. Results As expected, our GWAS revealed most significant associations at the major histocompatibility complex locus (6p21), which easily surpassed genome-wide significance threshold (P<5×10−8). Several other SLE signals/loci previously implicated in Caucasians and/or Asians were also supported in Stage 1 discovery sample and strongest signals were observed at 2q32/STAT4 (P=3.6×10−7) and at 8p23/BLK (P=8.1×10−6). Stage 2 meta-analyses identified a new genome-wide significant SLE locus at 12q12 (meta P=3.1×10−8), which was replicated in Stage 3. Conclusion Our multi-stage study identified and replicated a new SLE locus that warrants further follow-up in additional studies. Publicly available databases suggest that this new SLE signal falls within a functionally relevant genomic region and near biologically important genes. PMID:26316170

A Correction to the Stress-Strain Curve During Multistage Hot Deformation of 7150 Aluminum Alloy Using Instantaneous Friction Factors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Fulin; Tang, Jie; Fu, Dinfa; Huang, Jianping; Zhang, Hui

2018-04-01

Multistage stress-strain curve correction based on an instantaneous friction factor was studied for axisymmetric uniaxial hot compression of 7150 aluminum alloy. Experimental friction factors were calculated based on continuous isothermal axisymmetric uniaxial compression tests at various deformation parameters. Then, an instantaneous friction factor equation was fitted by mathematic analysis. After verification by comparing single-pass flow stress correction with traditional average friction factor correction, the instantaneous friction factor equation was applied to correct multistage stress-strain curves. The corrected results were reasonable and validated by multistage relative softening calculations. This research provides a broad potential for implementing axisymmetric uniaxial compression in multistage physical simulations and friction optimization in finite element analysis.

40 CFR 600.316-78 - Multistage manufacture.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 29 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Multistage manufacture. 600.316-78 Section 600.316-78 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) ENERGY POLICY... and Later Model Year Automobiles-Labeling § 600.316-78 Multistage manufacture. Where more than one...

Three-dimensional turbopump flowfield analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sharma, O. P.; Belford, K. A.; Ni, R. H.

1992-01-01

A program was conducted to develop a flow prediction method applicable to rocket turbopumps. The complex nature of a flowfield in turbopumps is described and examples of flowfields are discussed to illustrate that physics based models and analytical calculation procedures based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are needed to develop reliable design procedures for turbopumps. A CFD code developed at NASA ARC was used as the base code. The turbulence model and boundary conditions in the base code were modified, respectively, to: (1) compute transitional flows and account for extra rates of strain, e.g., rotation; and (2) compute surface heat transfer coefficients and allow computation through multistage turbomachines. Benchmark quality data from two and three-dimensional cascades were used to verify the code. The predictive capabilities of the present CFD code were demonstrated by computing the flow through a radial impeller and a multistage axial flow turbine. Results of the program indicate that the present code operated in a two-dimensional mode is a cost effective alternative to full three-dimensional calculations, and that it permits realistic predictions of unsteady loadings and losses for multistage machines.

Exposure Control Using Adaptive Multi-Stage Item Bundles.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luecht, Richard M.

This paper presents a multistage adaptive testing test development paradigm that promises to handle content balancing and other test development needs, psychometric reliability concerns, and item exposure. The bundled multistage adaptive testing (BMAT) framework is a modification of the computer-adaptive sequential testing framework introduced by…

A Review of the Suppression of Secondary Electron Emission from the Electrodes of Multistage Collectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dayton, James A., Jr.

1998-01-01

A review is presented of more than 20 years of research conducted at NASA Lewis Research Center on the suppression of secondary electron emission (SEE) for the enhancement of the efficiency of vacuum electron devices with multistage depressed collectors. This paper will include a description of measurement techniques, data from measurements of SEE on a variety of materials of engineering interest and methods of surface treatment for the suppression of SEE. In the course of this work the lowest secondary electron yield ever reported was achieved for ion textured graphite, and, in a parallel line of research, the highest yield was obtained for chemical vapor deposited thin diamond films.

Tracking fluorescent dissolved organic matter in multistage rivers using EEM-PARAFAC analysis: implications of the secondary tributary remediation for watershed management.

PubMed

Nie, Zeyu; Wu, Xiaodong; Huang, Haomin; Fang, Xiaomin; Xu, Chen; Wu, Jianyu; Liang, Xinqiang; Shi, Jiyan

2016-05-01

Profound understanding of behaviors of organic matter from sources to multistage rivers assists watershed management for improving water quality of river networks in rural areas. Ninety-one water samples were collected from the three orders of receiving rivers in a typical combined polluted subcatchment (diffuse agricultural pollutants and domestic sewage) located in China. Then, the fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) information for these samples was determined by the excitation-emission matrix coupled with parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC). Consequently, two typical humic-like (C1 and C2) and other two protein-like (C3 and C4) components were separated. Their fluorescence peaks were located at λ ex/em = 255(360)/455, <250(320)/395, 275/335, and <250/305 nm, which resembled the traditional peaks of A + C, A + M, T, and B, respectively. In addition, C1 and C2 accounted for the dominant contributions to FDOM (>60 %). Principal component analysis (PCA) further demonstrated that, except for the autochthonous produced C4, the allochthonous components (C1 and C2) had the same terrestrial origins, but C3 might possess the separate anthropogenic and biological sources. Moreover, the spatial heterogeneity of contamination levels was noticeable in multistage rivers, and the allochthonous FDOM was gradually homogenized along the migration directions. Interestingly, the average content of the first three PARAFAC components in secondary tributaries and source pollutants had significantly higher levels than that in subsequent receiving rivers, thus suggesting that the supervision and remediation for secondary tributaries would play a prominent role in watershed management works.

Young People's Expressed Needs for Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Ecuadorian Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Castillo Nuñez, Jessica; Derluyn, Ilse; Valcke, Martin

2018-01-01

This study analyses the expressed sexuality education needs of young people from Azuay, a region of Ecuador characterised by a large proportion of young people whose parents have migrated abroad, a group often considered at risk to developing of sexual health problems. Multi-stage stratified cluster sampling was used to recruit young people aged…

Psycho-Demographic Correlates of Behaviour towards Seeking Counselling Intervention among Workers in Lagos, Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gesinde, Abiodun Matthew; Sanu, Oluwafunto Jolade

2015-01-01

This study sought to examine the impact which age, gender and psychological adjustment have on behaviour towards seeking professional counselling intervention. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select a total of three hundred workers across Lagos metropolis. The ex post facto research design was adopted for the study. Inventory of…

Causal Factors Influencing Adversity Quotient of Twelfth Grade and Third-Year Vocational Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pangma, Rachapoom; Tayraukham, Sombat; Nuangchalerm, Prasart

2009-01-01

Problem statement: The aim of this research was to study the causal factors influencing students' adversity between twelfth grade and third-year vocational students in Sisaket province, Thailand. Six hundred and seventy two of twelfth grade and 376 third-year vocational students were selected by multi-stage random sampling techniques. Approach:…

Texas School Survey of Substance Abuse: Grades 7-12. 1992.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Liang Y.; Fredlund, Eric V.

The 1992 Texas School Survey results for secondary students are based on data collected from a sample of 73,073 students in grades 7 through 12. Students were randomly selected from school districts throughout the state using a multi-stage probability design. The procedure ensured that students living in metropolitan and rural areas of Texas are…

Socioeconomic Situations of the Elderly within the Context of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wahab, Elias Olukorede

2011-01-01

It is still unknown how the MDGs have impacted the socioeconomic situations of the elderly in Nigeria. This has become essential to appraise the attainability of the MDGs in Nigeria. Quantitative data were collected through an individual-based questionnaire. Multistage sampling was employed to select local government areas, enumeration areas, and…

Teacher Use of Data to Guide Instructional Practice in Elementary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burrows, Debra C.

2011-01-01

This descriptive study focused on the degree to which data-driven decision making as envisioned by the NCLB legislation was actually occurring in the elementary schools studied. A multi-stage random sample of six Pennsylvania school districts out of 19 located within the service area of Pennsylvania Intermediate Unit #17, one of 29 regional…

A Population-Based Study of Job Stress in Mexican Americans, Non-Hispanic Blacks, and Non-Hispanic Whites

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perez, Norma; Franzini, Luisa; Freeman, Daniel H.; Ju, Hyunsu; Peek, Kristen

2011-01-01

There is little known about the association between socioeconomic status and job stress in Mexican Americans. To address this issue, data were originated on a community level using personal interviews from working Mexican Americans using a multistage probability sample. In this study we described the population's sociodemographic characteristics,…

Multistage remote sensing: toward an annual national inventory

Treesearch

Raymond L. Czaplewski

1999-01-01

Remote sensing can improve efficiency of statistical information. Landsat data can identify and map a few broad categories of forest cover and land use. However, more-detailed information requires a sample of higher-resolution imagery, which costs less than field data but considerably more than Landsat data. A national remote sensing program would be a major...

A Chondrule from the Mokoia (CV3) Chondrite with Anomalously Low 26Mg*: Evidence for a Multi-Stage History-

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Claydon, J. L.; Elliott, T.; Coath, C. D.; Chen, H. W.; Taylor, C. A.; Russell, S. S.

2015-07-01

MC-ICP-MS measurements of Mg isotopes in chondrule MOK13B reveal that it may have formed from low-Al/Mg material that underwent chemical fractionation to increase Al/Mg after decay of 26-Al, or it may sample a region with anomalous Al or Mg isotopes.

How to Classify the Diversity of Seventh Grade Students' Mathematical Process Skills: An Application of Latent Profile Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaosa-ard, Chanapat; Erawan, Waraporn; Damrongpanit, Suntonrapot; Suksawang, Poonpong

2015-01-01

The researcher applied latent profile analysis to study the difference of the students' mathematical process skill. These skills are problem solving skills, reasoning skills, communication and presentation skills, connection knowledge skills, and creativity skills. Samples were 2,485 seventh-grade students obtained from Multi-stage Random…

Do Human-Figure Drawings of Children and Adolescents Mirror Their Cognitive Style and Self-Esteem?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dey, Anindita; Ghosh, Paromita

2016-01-01

The investigation probed relationships among human-figure drawing, field-dependent-independent cognitive style and self-esteem of 10-15 year olds. It also attempted to predict human-figure drawing scores of participants based on their field-dependence-independence and self-esteem. Area, stratified and multi-stage random sampling were used to…

What Puts Women at Risk of Violence from Their Husbands? Findings from a Large, Nationally Representative Survey in Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yuksel-Kaptanoglu, Ilknur; Turkyilmaz, Ahmet Sinan; Heise, Lori

2012-01-01

A large, nationally representative, cross-sectional survey was conducted in Turkey in 2008. In this survey, which used the WHO (World Health Organization) study module on violence, information about lifetime and current violence (past 12 months) was obtained using weighted, stratified, and multistage cluster sampling. This article describes…

An assessment of Lot Quality Assurance Sampling to evaluate malaria outcome indicators: extending malaria indicator surveys.

PubMed

Biedron, Caitlin; Pagano, Marcello; Hedt, Bethany L; Kilian, Albert; Ratcliffe, Amy; Mabunda, Samuel; Valadez, Joseph J

2010-02-01

Large investments and increased global prioritization of malaria prevention and treatment have resulted in greater emphasis on programme monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in many countries. Many countries currently use large multistage cluster sample surveys to monitor malaria outcome indicators on a regional and national level. However, these surveys often mask local-level variability important to programme management. Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) has played a valuable role for local-level programme M&E. If incorporated into these larger surveys, it would provide a comprehensive M&E plan at little, if any, extra cost. The Mozambique Ministry of Health conducted a Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) in June and July 2007. We applied LQAS classification rules to the 345 sampled enumeration areas to demonstrate identifying high- and low-performing areas with respect to two malaria program indicators-'household possession of any bednet' and 'household possession of any insecticide-treated bednet (ITN)'. As shown by the MIS, no province in Mozambique achieved the 70% coverage target for household possession of bednets or ITNs. By applying LQAS classification rules to the data, we identify 266 of the 345 enumeration areas as having bednet coverage severely below the 70% target. An additional 73 were identified with low ITN coverage. This article demonstrates the feasibility of integrating LQAS into multistage cluster sampling surveys and using these results to support a comprehensive national, regional and local programme M&E system. Furthermore, in the recommendations we outlined how to integrate the Large Country-LQAS design into macro-surveys while still obtaining results available through current sampling practices.

System, methods and apparatus for program optimization for multi-threaded processor architectures

DOEpatents

Bastoul, Cedric; Lethin, Richard A; Leung, Allen K; Meister, Benoit J; Szilagyi, Peter; Vasilache, Nicolas T; Wohlford, David E

2015-01-06

Methods, apparatus and computer software product for source code optimization are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a first custom computing apparatus is used to optimize the execution of source code on a second computing apparatus. In this embodiment, the first custom computing apparatus contains a memory, a storage medium and at least one processor with at least one multi-stage execution unit. The second computing apparatus contains at least two multi-stage execution units that allow for parallel execution of tasks. The first custom computing apparatus optimizes the code for parallelism, locality of operations and contiguity of memory accesses on the second computing apparatus. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

A multistage gene normalization system integrating multiple effective methods.

PubMed

Li, Lishuang; Liu, Shanshan; Li, Lihua; Fan, Wenting; Huang, Degen; Zhou, Huiwei

2013-01-01

Gene/protein recognition and normalization is an important preliminary step for many biological text mining tasks. In this paper, we present a multistage gene normalization system which consists of four major subtasks: pre-processing, dictionary matching, ambiguity resolution and filtering. For the first subtask, we apply the gene mention tagger developed in our earlier work, which achieves an F-score of 88.42% on the BioCreative II GM testing set. In the stage of dictionary matching, the exact matching and approximate matching between gene names and the EntrezGene lexicon have been combined. For the ambiguity resolution subtask, we propose a semantic similarity disambiguation method based on Munkres' Assignment Algorithm. At the last step, a filter based on Wikipedia has been built to remove the false positives. Experimental results show that the presented system can achieve an F-score of 90.1%, outperforming most of the state-of-the-art systems.

Multi-stage fuel cell system method and apparatus

DOEpatents

George, Thomas J.; Smith, William C.

2000-01-01

A high efficiency, multi-stage fuel cell system method and apparatus is provided. The fuel cell system is comprised of multiple fuel cell stages, whereby the temperatures of the fuel and oxidant gas streams and the percentage of fuel consumed in each stage are controlled to optimize fuel cell system efficiency. The stages are connected in a serial, flow-through arrangement such that the oxidant gas and fuel gas flowing through an upstream stage is conducted directly into the next adjacent downstream stage. The fuel cell stages are further arranged such that unspent fuel and oxidant laden gases too hot to continue within an upstream stage because of material constraints are conducted into a subsequent downstream stage which comprises a similar cell configuration, however, which is constructed from materials having a higher heat tolerance and designed to meet higher thermal demands. In addition, fuel is underutilized in each stage, resulting in a higher overall fuel cell system efficiency.

CFD-Modeling of the Multistage Gasifier Capacity of 30 KW

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levin, A. A.; Kozlov, A. N.; Svishchev, D. A.; Donskoy, I. G.

2017-11-01

Single-stage fuel gasification processes have been developed and widely studied in Russia and abroad throughout the 20th century. They are fundamental to the creation and design of modern gas generator equipment. Many studies have shown that single-stage gasification process, have already reached the limit of perfection, which was a significant improvement in their performance becomes impossible and unprofitable. The most fully meet modern technical requirements of multistage gasification technology. In the first step of the process, is organized allothermic biomass pyrolysis using heat of exhaust gas and generating power plant. At this stage, the yield of volatile products (gas and tar) of fuel. In the second step, the layer of fuel is, the tar is decomposed by the action of hot air and steam, steam-gas mixture is formed further reacts with the charcoal in the third process stage. The paper presents a model developed by the authors of the multi-stage gasifier for wood chips. The model is made with the use of CFD-modeling software package (COMSOL Multiphisics). To describe the kinetics of wood pyrolysis and gasification of charcoal studies were carried out using a set of simultaneous thermal analysis. For this complex developed original methods of interpretation of measurements, including methods of technical analysis of fuels and determine the parameters of the detailed kinetics and mechanism of pyrolysis.

Axial and Centrifugal Compressor Mean Line Flow Analysis Method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Veres, Joseph P.

2009-01-01

This paper describes a method to estimate key aerodynamic parameters of single and multistage axial and centrifugal compressors. This mean-line compressor code COMDES provides the capability of sizing single and multistage compressors quickly during the conceptual design process. Based on the compressible fluid flow equations and the Euler equation, the code can estimate rotor inlet and exit blade angles when run in the design mode. The design point rotor efficiency and stator losses are inputs to the code, and are modeled at off design. When run in the off-design analysis mode, it can be used to generate performance maps based on simple models for losses due to rotor incidence and inlet guide vane reset angle. The code can provide an improved understanding of basic aerodynamic parameters such as diffusion factor, loading levels and incidence, when matching multistage compressor blade rows at design and at part-speed operation. Rotor loading levels and relative velocity ratio are correlated to the onset of compressor surge. NASA Stage 37 and the three-stage NASA 74-A axial compressors were analyzed and the results compared to test data. The code has been used to generate the performance map for the NASA 76-B three-stage axial compressor featuring variable geometry. The compressor stages were aerodynamically matched at off-design speeds by adjusting the variable inlet guide vane and variable stator geometry angles to control the rotor diffusion factor and incidence angles.

A Testlet Assembly Design for Adaptive Multistage Tests

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luecht, Richard; Brumfield, Terry; Breithaupt, Krista

2006-01-01

This article describes multistage tests and some practical test development considerations related to the design and implementation of a multistage test, using the Uniform CPA (certified public accountant) Examination as a case study. The article further discusses the use of automated test assembly procedures in an operational context to produce…

Risky Business: An Ecological Analysis of Intimate Partner Violence Disclosure

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alaggia, Ramona; Regehr, Cheryl; Jenney, Angelique

2012-01-01

Objective: A multistage, mixed-methods study using grounded theory with descriptive data was conducted to examine factors in disclosure of intimate partner violence (IPV). Method: In-depth interviews with individuals and focus groups were undertaken to collect data from 98 IPV survivors and service providers to identify influential factors.…

The Development of MST Test Information for the Prediction of Test Performances

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Park, Ryoungsun; Kim, Jiseon; Chung, Hyewon; Dodd, Barbara G.

2017-01-01

The current study proposes novel methods to predict multistage testing (MST) performance without conducting simulations. This method, called MST test information, is based on analytic derivation of standard errors of ability estimates across theta levels. We compared standard errors derived analytically to the simulation results to demonstrate the…

Calculating stage duration statistics in multistage diseases.

PubMed

Komarova, Natalia L; Thalhauser, Craig J

2011-01-01

Many human diseases are characterized by multiple stages of progression. While the typical sequence of disease progression can be identified, there may be large individual variations among patients. Identifying mean stage durations and their variations is critical for statistical hypothesis testing needed to determine if treatment is having a significant effect on the progression, or if a new therapy is showing a delay of progression through a multistage disease. In this paper we focus on two methods for extracting stage duration statistics from longitudinal datasets: an extension of the linear regression technique, and a counting algorithm. Both are non-iterative, non-parametric and computationally cheap methods, which makes them invaluable tools for studying the epidemiology of diseases, with a goal of identifying different patterns of progression by using bioinformatics methodologies. Here we show that the regression method performs well for calculating the mean stage durations under a wide variety of assumptions, however, its generalization to variance calculations fails under realistic assumptions about the data collection procedure. On the other hand, the counting method yields reliable estimations for both means and variances of stage durations. Applications to Alzheimer disease progression are discussed.

Multi-stage approach for structural damage detection problem using basis pursuit and particle swarm optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerist, Saleheh; Maheri, Mahmoud R.

2016-12-01

In order to solve structural damage detection problem, a multi-stage method using particle swarm optimization is presented. First, a new spars recovery method, named Basis Pursuit (BP), is utilized to preliminarily identify structural damage locations. The BP method solves a system of equations which relates the damage parameters to the structural modal responses using the sensitivity matrix. Then, the results of this stage are subsequently enhanced to the exact damage locations and extents using the PSO search engine. Finally, the search space is reduced by elimination of some low damage variables using micro search (MS) operator embedded in the PSO algorithm. To overcome the noise present in structural responses, a method known as Basis Pursuit De-Noising (BPDN) is also used. The efficiency of the proposed method is investigated by three numerical examples: a cantilever beam, a plane truss and a portal plane frame. The frequency response is used to detect damage in the examples. The simulation results demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method in detecting multiple damage cases and exhibit its robustness regarding noise and its advantages compared to other reported solution algorithms.

Multistage Planetary Power Transmissions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hadden, G. B.; Dyba, G. J.; Ragen, M. A.; Kleckner, R. J.; Sheynin, L.

1986-01-01

PLANETSYS simulates thermomechanical performance of multistage planetary performance of multistage planetary power transmission. Two versions of code developed, SKF version and NASA version. Major function of program: compute performance characteristics of planet bearing for any of six kinematic inversions. PLANETSYS solves heat-balance equations for either steadystate or transient thermal conditions, and produces temperature maps for mechanical system.

Modeling of Unsteady Three-dimensional Flows in Multistage Machines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hall, Kenneth C.; Pratt, Edmund T., Jr.; Kurkov, Anatole (Technical Monitor)

2003-01-01

Despite many years of development, the accurate and reliable prediction of unsteady aerodynamic forces acting on turbomachinery blades remains less than satisfactory, especially when viewed next to the great success investigators have had in predicting steady flows. Hall and Silkowski (1997) have proposed that one of the main reasons for the discrepancy between theory and experiment and/or industrial experience is that many of the current unsteady aerodynamic theories model a single blade row in an infinitely long duct, ignoring potentially important multistage effects. However, unsteady flows are made up of acoustic, vortical, and entropic waves. These waves provide a mechanism for the rotors and stators of multistage machines to communicate with one another. In other words, wave behavior makes unsteady flows fundamentally a multistage (and three-dimensional) phenomenon. In this research program, we have has as goals (1) the development of computationally efficient computer models of the unsteady aerodynamic response of blade rows embedded in a multistage machine (these models will ultimately be capable of analyzing three-dimensional viscous transonic flows), and (2) the use of these computer codes to study a number of important multistage phenomena.

Multistage variable probability forest volume inventory. [Defiance Unit of the Navajo Nation in Arizona and Colorado

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, J. E. (Principal Investigator)

1979-01-01

The net board foot volume (Scribner log rule) of the standing Ponderosa pine timber on the Defiance Unit of the Navajo Nation's forested land was estimated using a multistage forest volume inventory scheme with variable sample selection probabilities. The inventory designed to accomplish this task required that both LANDSAT MSS digital data and aircraft acquired data be used to locate one acre ground splits, which were subsequently visited by ground teams conducting detailed tree measurements using an optical dendrometer. The dendrometer measurements were then punched on computer input cards and were entered in a computer program developed by the U.S. Forest Service. The resulting individual tree volume estimates were then expanded through the use of a statistically defined equation to produce the volume estimate for the entire area which includes 192,026 acres and is approximately a 44% the total forested area of the Navajo Nation.

SU-E-T-480: Radiobiological Dose Comparison of Single Fraction SRS, Multi-Fraction SRT and Multi-Stage SRS of Large Target Volumes Using the Linear-Quadratic Formula

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

Ding, C; Hrycushko, B; Jiang, S

2014-06-01

Purpose: To compare the radiobiological effect on large tumors and surrounding normal tissues from single fraction SRS, multi-fractionated SRT, and multi-staged SRS treatment. Methods: An anthropomorphic head phantom with a centrally located large volume target (18.2 cm{sup 3}) was scanned using a 16 slice large bore CT simulator. Scans were imported to the Multiplan treatment planning system where a total prescription dose of 20Gy was used for a single, three staged and three fractionated treatment. Cyber Knife treatment plans were inversely optimized for the target volume to achieve at least 95% coverage of the prescription dose. For the multistage plan,more » the target was segmented into three subtargets having similar volume and shape. Staged plans for individual subtargets were generated based on a planning technique where the beam MUs of the original plan on the total target volume are changed by weighting the MUs based on projected beam lengths within each subtarget. Dose matrices for each plan were export in DICOM format and used to calculate equivalent dose distributions in 2Gy fractions using an alpha beta ratio of 10 for the target and 3 for normal tissue. Results: Singe fraction SRS, multi-stage plan and multi-fractionated SRT plans had an average 2Gy dose equivalent to the target of 62.89Gy, 37.91Gy and 33.68Gy, respectively. The normal tissue within 12Gy physical dose region had an average 2Gy dose equivalent of 29.55Gy, 16.08Gy and 13.93Gy, respectively. Conclusion: The single fraction SRS plan had the largest predicted biological effect for the target and the surrounding normal tissue. The multi-stage treatment provided for a more potent biologically effect on target compared to the multi-fraction SRT treatments with less biological normal tissue than single-fraction SRS treatment.« less

Multi-stage internal gear/turbine fuel pump

DOEpatents

Maier, Eugen; Raney, Michael Raymond

2004-07-06

A multi-stage internal gear/turbine fuel pump for a vehicle includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a motor disposed in the housing. The multi-stage internal gear/turbine fuel pump also includes a shaft extending axially and disposed in the housing. The multi-stage internal gear/turbine fuel pump further includes a plurality of pumping modules disposed axially along the shaft. One of the pumping modules is a turbine pumping module and another of the pumping modules is a gerotor pumping module for rotation by the motor to pump fuel from the inlet to the outlet.

Adolescent Experiences with the Vaginal Ring

PubMed Central

Epstein, Laura B.; Sokal-Gutierrez, Karen; Ivey, Susan L.; Raine, Tina; Auerswald, Colette

2011-01-01

Purpose To understand racial/ethnic minority adolescent females’ experiences with the vaginal ring. Methods We conducted in-depth interviews with a clinic-based sample of 32 young women aged 15–24 years who had used the vaginal ring. Results Qualitative analysis using grounded theory revealed that adolescents undergo a multi-stage process when trying the ring and adopting ring use. These stages include hearing about the ring, initial reactions, first experiences with insertion and removal, and first sexual experiences. Adolescents subsequently enter an assessment and adjustment stage in which they decide whether to adopt or discontinue ring use. Ultimately they share their experiences with friends. Conclusions The model developed provides a context within which providers may advise adolescents as they begin use of the ring. Some specific recommendations are offered. PMID:18565439

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Female Adolescents in Jordan: A comparison between Two International Reference Standards

PubMed Central

O. Musaiger, Abdulrahman; Al-Mannai, Mariam; Tayyem, Reema

2013-01-01

Objective: To find out the prevalence of overweight and obesity among female adolescents in Jordan. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey on females aged 15–18 in Amman, Jordan, was carried out using a multistage stratified random sampling method. The total sample size was 475 girls. Weight and height were measured and body mass index for age was used to determine overweight and obesity using the IOTF and WHO international standards. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity decreased with age. The highest prevalence of overweight and obesity was reported at age 15 (24.4% and 8.9%, respectively). The WHO standard showed a higher prevalence of obesity than the IOTF standard in all age groups. Conclusions: Overweight and obesity are serious public health problems among adolescents in Jordan, using both international standards. A program to combat obesity among schoolchildren, therefore, should be given a high priority in school health policy in Jordan. PMID:24353605

[Correspondence analysis of association between types of unintentional injuries and influential factors among rural rear pupils].

PubMed

Dou, Dongmei; Wang, Peixi

2015-07-01

To explore the association between types of unintentional injuries and influential factors among rural rear pupils. The multistage stratified sampling method was used to select the study participant and thus 594 rural pupils were sampled, 292 rear pupils were confirmed and measured with unintentional injuries and influential factors of rural rear pupils scale. Binary logistic regression analysis indicate that the risk facts related to unintentional injury were left-behind status (OR = 2.68, 95% CI 1.06-6.79), gender (OR = 5.12, 95% C2.68-9.79) and surrounding environment (OR = 3.44, 95% CI 1.37-8.70). Correspondence analysis showed living with father, middle personality and low age were related possibly with traffic accident injury. Living with grandparents, extrovert personality and elder pupils were related possibly with unintentional falls injury. Living with mother, introvert personality and middle-age pupils were related possibly with animmal injury. The personality, ages and guardian types of rural rear pupils are correlated with types of unintentional injuries.

The New Performance Calculation Method of Fouled Axial Flow Compressor

PubMed Central

Xu, Hong

2014-01-01

Fouling is the most important performance degradation factor, so it is necessary to accurately predict the effect of fouling on engine performance. In the previous research, it is very difficult to accurately model the fouled axial flow compressor. This paper develops a new performance calculation method of fouled multistage axial flow compressor based on experiment result and operating data. For multistage compressor, the whole compressor is decomposed into two sections. The first section includes the first 50% stages which reflect the fouling level, and the second section includes the last 50% stages which are viewed as the clean stage because of less deposits. In this model, the performance of the first section is obtained by combining scaling law method and linear progression model with traditional stage stacking method; simultaneously ambient conditions and engine configurations are considered. On the other hand, the performance of the second section is calculated by averaged infinitesimal stage method which is based on Reynolds' law of similarity. Finally, the model is successfully applied to predict the 8-stage axial flow compressor and 16-stage LM2500-30 compressor. The change of thermodynamic parameters such as pressure ratio, efficiency with the operating time, and stage number is analyzed in detail. PMID:25197717

[Prevalence of Variants in the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) Gene in a General Population of Adults from an Urban Area of Medellin (Antioquia)].

PubMed

Arango Viana, Juan Carlos; Valencia, Ana Victoria; Páez, Ana Lucía; Montoya Gómez, Nilton; Palacio, Carlos; Arbeláez, María Patricia; Bedoya Berrío, Gabriel; García Valencia, Jenny

2014-01-01

To determine the allelic and genotype frequencies of apolipoproteine E (APOE) gene in a representative sample of the adult population of Medellin in 2010. A representative sample of the adult population of Medellin, was obtained by means of a multi-stage, stratified, conglomerate based sampling method. APOE genotyping was carried out on each of the participants. The sampling design was taken into consideration for the frequencies and association analysis. The frequencies of the APOE alleles E2, E3 and E4 were 3.9, 92.0 and 4.1%, respectively. The frequencies of the different APOE genotypes were as follows: 2/2, 0.2%; 2/3, 6.8%; 2/4, 0.6%; 3/3, 85.0%; 3/4, 7.2%, and 4/4, 0.3%. The allelic and genotype frequencies of APOE in an adult population of Medellin did not differ substantially from other series reported in South America. These data are important to determine the real impact of APOE on the population risk of several psychiatric diseases. Copyright © 2013 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

The Hispanic Americans Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS): Acculturation, Birthplace and Alcohol-Related Social Problems across Hispanic National Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caetano, Raul; Vaeth, Patrice A. C.; Rodriguez, Lori A.

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between acculturation, birthplace, and alcohol-related social problems across Hispanic national groups. A total of 5,224 Hispanic adults (18+ years) were interviewed using a multistage cluster sample design in Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Los Angeles. Multivariate analysis…

Farmers' Participation in Extension Programs and Technology Adoption in Rural Nepal: A Logistic Regression Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Suvedi, Murari; Ghimire, Raju; Kaplowitz, Michael

2017-01-01

Purpose: This paper examines the factors affecting farmers' participation in extension programs and adoption of improved seed varieties in the hills of rural Nepal. Methodology/approach: Cross-sectional farm-level data were collected during July and August 2014. A sample of 198 farm households was selected for interviewing by using a multistage,…

Testing a Multi-Stage Screening System: Predicting Performance on Australia's National Achievement Test Using Teachers' Ratings of Academic and Social Behaviors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kettler, Ryan J.; Elliott, Stephen N.; Davies, Michael; Griffin, Patrick

2012-01-01

This study addresses the predictive validity of results from a screening system of academic enablers, with a sample of Australian elementary school students, when the criterion variable is end-of-year achievement. The investigation included (a) comparing the predictive validity of a brief criterion-referenced nomination system with more…

Empirical Validation of Indices for Consideration in the Revision of Recommended Senior School Financial Accounting Textbooks in Southwestern Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oyetoro, Oyebode Stephen; Ojo, Oloyede Ezekiel

2017-01-01

The study determined a significant difference in teachers' overall evaluations of six recommended Financial Accounting Textbooks in Southwestern Nigeria. It also assessed the specific evaluation parameters that account for the difference. It adopted the survey research design. The multistage sampling technique was used to select a total of 80…

Measured Effect of Sexual Activities, Alcohol Consumption, Smoking and Aggression on Health Risk of Students in Rural Communities in Ikenne, Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ezeokoli, Rita; Ofole, Ndidi M.

2015-01-01

This study examined the joint and relative contribution of sexual activities, alcohol consumption, smoking and aggression to the prediction of health risk of students in rural communities in Ogun State. Descriptive research design of correlational type was adopted. Multi-stage sampling Technique was used to draw 300 respondents from an…

Analysis of the chemical composition of ultrafine particles from two domestic solid biomass fired room heaters under simulated real-world use

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozgen, Senem; Becagli, Silvia; Bernardoni, Vera; Caserini, Stefano; Caruso, Donatella; Corbella, Lorenza; Dell'Acqua, Manuela; Fermo, Paola; Gonzalez, Raquel; Lonati, Giovanni; Signorini, Stefano; Tardivo, Ruggero; Tosi, Elisa; Valli, Gianluigi; Vecchi, Roberta; Marinovich, Marina

2017-02-01

Two common types of wood (beech and fir) were burned in commercial pellet (11.1 kW) and wood (8.2 kW) stoves following a combustion cycle simulating the behavior of a real-world user. Ultrafine particulate matter (UFP, dp < 100 nm) was sampled with three parallel multistage impactors and analyzed for metals, main water soluble ions, anhydrosugars, total carbon, and PAH content. The measurement of the number concentration and size distribution was also performed by a fourth multistage impactor. UFP mass emission factors averaged to 424 mg/kgfuel for all the tested stove and wood type (fir, beech) combinations except for beech log burning in the wood stove (838 mg/kgfuel). Compositional differences were observed for pellets and wood UFP samples, where high TC levels characterize the wood log combustion and potassium salts are dominant in every pellet sample. Crucial aspects determining the UFP composition in the wood stove experiments are critical situations in terms of available oxygen (a lack or an excess of combustion air) and high temperatures. Whereas for the automatically controlled pellets stove local situations (e.g., hindered air-fuel mixing due to heaps of pellets on the burner pot) determine the emission levels and composition. Wood samples contain more potentially carcinogenic PAHs with respect to pellets samples. Some diagnostic ratios related to PAH isomers and anhydrosugars compiled from experimental UFP data in the present study and compared to literature values proposed for the emission source discrimination for atmospheric aerosol, extend the evaluation usually limited to higher particle size fractions also to UFP.

Comparing the Effect of Thinking Maps Training Package Developed by the Thinking Maps Method on the Reading Performance of Dyslexic Students.

PubMed

Faramarzi, Salar; Moradi, Mohammadreza; Abedi, Ahmad

2018-06-01

The present study aimed to develop the thinking maps training package and compare its training effect with the thinking maps method on the reading performance of second and fifth grade of elementary school male dyslexic students. For this mixed method exploratory study, from among the above mentioned grades' students in Isfahan, 90 students who met the inclusion criteria were selected by multistage sampling and randomly assigned into six experimental and control groups. The data were collected by reading and dyslexia test and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-fourth edition. The results of covariance analysis indicated a significant difference between the reading performance of the experimental (thinking maps training package and thinking maps method groups) and control groups ([Formula: see text]). Moreover, there were significant differences between the thinking maps training package group and thinking maps method group in some of the subtests ([Formula: see text]). It can be concluded that thinking maps training package and the thinking maps method exert a positive influence on the reading performance of dyslexic students; therefore, thinking maps can be used as an effective training and treatment method.

A multi-stage oil-water-separating process design for the sea oil spill recovery robot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Min-ge; Wu, Jian-guo; Lin, Xinhua; Wang, Xiao-ming

2018-03-01

Oil spill have the most common pollution to the marine ecological environment. In the late stage of physical method recovery, because of the thin oil and the strong sea breeze, the recovery vessels has low efficiency and high energy consumption. This paper develops a multi-stage oil-water-separating process carried by the sea oil spill recovery robot in severe conditions. This design consists of three separation process, among which both the first and third process adopt corrugated sheets horizontal oil-water separator, while the second is hydraulic rotary breaker. This design also equiptment with rectifier and cyclone separator and other important components. This process has high flexibility and high recovery efficiency. The implement effect is significant.

Jakarta socio-cultural ecology: a sustainable architecture concept in urban neighbourhood

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wijaksono, Sigit; Sasmoko; Indrianti, Y.; Widhoyoko, SA

2017-12-01

As a metropolitan city with densely populated and fast residential development Jakarta should be able to implement a concept that is Jakarta socio-cultural ecology Architecture as the basis of settlement development. The concept of Jakarta socio-cultural ecology architecture is characterized by residential development capabilities that reflect and express the indigenous culture, the settlements built by linking the social and economic activities of the people of Jakarta and the settlements built by maintaining the building with the value of existing heritage. The objectives of this research are 1) to find a relevant construct to housing condition in Jakarta which then called Jakarta socio-cultural ecology, and 2) to see the tendency of complex condition of Jakarta socio-cultural ecology settlement. This research uses Neuroresearch method, which is one of mix-method research method as a mixture research method between qualitative research (exploration) and quantitative research method (explanatory and confirmatory). The population of research as well as unit analysis are all settlements in Jakarta. Sampling technique using probability sampling that is with multistage sampling. The results show that nowadays the Jakarta residential complex tends to lead to socio-cultural ecology and rather reflects and expresses the indigenous culture, the residential complex in Jakarta tends to form the building has been linked fully with the social and economic activities of Jakarta society but tends to occasionally maintain buildings with existing heritage values. This study also found that indigenous culture is a significant determinant of the formation of the condition of Jakarta socio-cultural ecology.

Accurate calculation of conformational free energy differences in explicit water: the confinement-solvation free energy approach.

PubMed

Esque, Jeremy; Cecchini, Marco

2015-04-23

The calculation of the free energy of conformation is key to understanding the function of biomolecules and has attracted significant interest in recent years. Here, we present an improvement of the confinement method that was designed for use in the context of explicit solvent MD simulations. The development involves an additional step in which the solvation free energy of the harmonically restrained conformers is accurately determined by multistage free energy perturbation simulations. As a test-case application, the newly introduced confinement/solvation free energy (CSF) approach was used to compute differences in free energy between conformers of the alanine dipeptide in explicit water. The results are in excellent agreement with reference calculations based on both converged molecular dynamics and umbrella sampling. To illustrate the general applicability of the method, conformational equilibria of met-enkephalin (5 aa) and deca-alanine (10 aa) in solution were also analyzed. In both cases, smoothly converged free-energy results were obtained in agreement with equilibrium sampling or literature calculations. These results demonstrate that the CSF method may provide conformational free-energy differences of biomolecules with small statistical errors (below 0.5 kcal/mol) and at a moderate computational cost even with a full representation of the solvent.

Phase-I monitoring of standard deviations in multistage linear profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalaei, Mahdiyeh; Soleimani, Paria; Niaki, Seyed Taghi Akhavan; Atashgar, Karim

2018-03-01

In most modern manufacturing systems, products are often the output of some multistage processes. In these processes, the stages are dependent on each other, where the output quality of each stage depends also on the output quality of the previous stages. This property is called the cascade property. Although there are many studies in multistage process monitoring, there are fewer works on profile monitoring in multistage processes, especially on the variability monitoring of a multistage profile in Phase-I for which no research is found in the literature. In this paper, a new methodology is proposed to monitor the standard deviation involved in a simple linear profile designed in Phase I to monitor multistage processes with the cascade property. To this aim, an autoregressive correlation model between the stages is considered first. Then, the effect of the cascade property on the performances of three types of T 2 control charts in Phase I with shifts in standard deviation is investigated. As we show that this effect is significant, a U statistic is next used to remove the cascade effect, based on which the investigated control charts are modified. Simulation studies reveal good performances of the modified control charts.

Consumption of psychoactive substances in educational institutions: an inquiry into the state of affairs in the schools of Córdoba.

PubMed

Lucchese, M S M; Burrone, M S; Enders, J E; Fernández, A R

2014-01-01

This study describes and analyses the consumption of psychoactive substances in educational institutions, the school environment conditions and its relation to the school standing of the students. In the first stage, a quantitative evaluation was performed, based on the records of the Second National Survey of Secondary School Students carried out in Córdoba in 2005; the second stage used a qualitative approach. A multistage probabilistic sample of 4593 students was used for the quantitative assessment. The analysis comprised summary measurements, multivariate and factorial correspondence analysis, in all cases with a significance level of p < 0.05. For the qualitative stage, an ethnographic approach was applied. The state schools were chosen using an intentional, cumulative and sequential sampling method. Ten in-depth interviews were carried out to gather qualitative data that was analyzed using the comparative constant method. Results evince that consumption is lower among morning-shift students and that grade repetition and behavior problems are associated to consumption of illegal drugs. Furthermore, it was detected that students in night-shift schools with low academic and disciplinary demand standards have a higher probability of consumption. It is clear that as academic standards decrease, consumption increases.

A multistage framework for dismount spectral verification in the VNIR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosario, Dalton

2013-05-01

A multistage algorithm suite is proposed for a specific target detection/verification scenario, where a visible/near infrared hyperspectral (HS) sample is assumed to be available as the only cue from a reference image frame. The target is a suspicious dismount. The suite first applies a biometric based human skin detector to focus the attention of the search. Using as reference all of the bands in the spectral cue, the suite follows with a Bayesian Lasso inference stage designed to isolate pixels representing the specific material type cued by the user and worn by the human target (e.g., hat, jacket). In essence, the search focuses on testing material types near skin pixels. The third stage imposes an additional constraint through RGB color quantization and distance metric checking, limiting even further the search for material types in the scene having visible color similar to the target visible color. Using the proposed cumulative evidence strategy produced some encouraging range-invariant results on real HS imagery, dramatically reducing to zero the false alarm rate on the example dataset. These results were in contrast to the results independently produced by each one of the suite's stages, as the spatial areas of each stage's high false alarm outcome were mutually exclusive in the imagery. These conclusions also apply to results produced by other standard methods, in particular the kernel SVDD (support vector data description) and matched filter, as shown in the paper.

Development of design technique for vacuum insulation in large size multi-aperture multi-grid accelerator for nuclear fusion.

PubMed

Kojima, A; Hanada, M; Tobari, H; Nishikiori, R; Hiratsuka, J; Kashiwagi, M; Umeda, N; Yoshida, M; Ichikawa, M; Watanabe, K; Yamano, Y; Grisham, L R

2016-02-01

Design techniques for the vacuum insulation have been developed in order to realize a reliable voltage holding capability of multi-aperture multi-grid (MAMuG) accelerators for fusion application. In this method, the nested multi-stage configuration of the MAMuG accelerator can be uniquely designed to satisfy the target voltage within given boundary conditions. The evaluation of the voltage holding capabilities of each acceleration stages was based on the previous experimental results about the area effect and the multi-aperture effect. Since the multi-grid effect was found to be the extension of the area effect by the total facing area this time, the total voltage holding capability of the multi-stage can be estimated from that per single stage by assuming the stage with the highest electric field, the total facing area, and the total apertures. By applying these consideration, the analysis on the 3-stage MAMuG accelerator for JT-60SA agreed well with the past gap-scan experiments with an accuracy of less than 10% variation, which demonstrated the high reliability to design MAMuG accelerators and also multi-stage high voltage bushings.

Development of design technique for vacuum insulation in large size multi-aperture multi-grid accelerator for nuclear fusion

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

Kojima, A., E-mail: kojima.atsushi@jaea.go.jp; Hanada, M.; Tobari, H.

Design techniques for the vacuum insulation have been developed in order to realize a reliable voltage holding capability of multi-aperture multi-grid (MAMuG) accelerators for fusion application. In this method, the nested multi-stage configuration of the MAMuG accelerator can be uniquely designed to satisfy the target voltage within given boundary conditions. The evaluation of the voltage holding capabilities of each acceleration stages was based on the previous experimental results about the area effect and the multi-aperture effect. Since the multi-grid effect was found to be the extension of the area effect by the total facing area this time, the total voltagemore » holding capability of the multi-stage can be estimated from that per single stage by assuming the stage with the highest electric field, the total facing area, and the total apertures. By applying these consideration, the analysis on the 3-stage MAMuG accelerator for JT-60SA agreed well with the past gap-scan experiments with an accuracy of less than 10% variation, which demonstrated the high reliability to design MAMuG accelerators and also multi-stage high voltage bushings.« less

Advances in the application of genetic manipulation methods to apicomplexan parasites

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Apicomplexan parasites such as Babesia, Theileria, Cryptosporidium, and Toxoplasma have a high negative impact on animal health globally, and improved, cost-effective measures to control them are urgently required. These parasites have complex multi-stage life cycles including obligate intracellular...

Ray tracing of multiple transmitted/reflected/converted waves in 2-D/3-D layered anisotropic TTI media and application to crosswell traveltime tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Chao-Ying; Huang, Guo-Jiao; Li, Xiao-Ling; Zhou, Bing; Greenhalgh, Stewart

2013-11-01

To overcome the deficiency of some current grid-/cell-based ray tracing algorithms, which are only able to handle first arrivals or primary reflections (or conversions) in anisotropic media, we have extended the functionality of the multistage irregular shortest-path method to 2-D/3-D tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) media. The new approach is able to track multiple transmitted/reflected/converted arrivals composed of any kind of combinations of transmissions, reflections and mode conversions. The basic principle is that the seven parameters (five elastic parameters plus two polar angles defining the tilt of the symmetry axis) of the TTI media are sampled at primary nodes, and the group velocity values at secondary nodes are obtained by tri-linear interpolation of the primary nodes across each cell, from which the group velocities of the three wave modes (qP, qSV and qSH) are calculated. Finally, we conduct grid-/cell-based wave front expansion to trace multiple transmitted/reflected/converted arrivals from one region to the next. The results of calculations in uniform anisotropic media indicate that the numerical results agree with the analytical solutions except in directions of SV-wave triplications, at which only the lowest velocity value is selected at the singularity points by the multistage irregular shortest-path anisotropic ray tracing method. This verifies the accuracy of the methodology. Several simulation results show that the new method is able to efficiently and accurately approximate situations involving continuous velocity variations and undulating discontinuities, and that it is suitable for any combination of multiple transmitted/reflected/converted arrival tracking in TTI media of arbitrary strength and tilt. Crosshole synthetic traveltime tomographic tests have been performed, which highlight the importance of using such code when the medium is distinctly anisotropic.

Optimal placement of water-lubricated rubber bearings for vibration reduction of flexible multistage rotor systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Shibing; Yang, Bingen

2017-10-01

Flexible multistage rotor systems with water-lubricated rubber bearings (WLRBs) have a variety of engineering applications. Filling a technical gap in the literature, this effort proposes a method of optimal bearing placement that minimizes the vibration amplitude of a WLRB-supported flexible rotor system with a minimum number of bearings. In the development, a new model of WLRBs and a distributed transfer function formulation are used to define a mixed continuous-and-discrete optimization problem. To deal with the case of uncertain number of WLRBs in rotor design, a virtual bearing method is devised. Solution of the optimization problem by a real-coded genetic algorithm yields the locations and lengths of water-lubricated rubber bearings, by which the prescribed operational requirements for the rotor system are satisfied. The proposed method is applicable either to preliminary design of a new rotor system with the number of bearings unforeknown or to redesign of an existing rotor system with a given number of bearings. Numerical examples show that the proposed optimal bearing placement is efficient, accurate and versatile in different design cases.

Transfer Function of Multi-Stage Active Filters: A Solution Based on Pascal's Triangle and a General Expression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Levesque, Luc

2012-01-01

A method is proposed to simplify analytical computations of the transfer function for electrical circuit filters, which are made from repetitive identical stages. A method based on the construction of Pascal's triangle is introduced and then a general solution from two initial conditions is provided for the repetitive identical stage. The present…

Enhancing Community Knowledge and Health Behaviors to Eliminate Blinding Trachoma in Mali Using Radio Messaging as a Strategy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bamani, Sanoussi; Toubali, Emily; Diarra, Sadio; Goita, Seydou; Berte, Zana; Coulibaly, Famolo; Sangare, Hama; Tuinsma, Marjon; Zhang, Yaobi; Dembele, Benoit; Melvin, Palesa; MacArthur, Chad

2013-01-01

The National Blindness Prevention Program in Mali has broadcast messages on the radio about trachoma as part of the country's trachoma elimination strategy since 2008. In 2011, a radio impact survey using multi-stage cluster sampling was conducted in the regions of Kayes and Segou to assess radio listening habits, coverage of the broadcasts,…

Assessing insect-induced tree mortality across large areas with high-resolution aerial photography in a multistage sample

Treesearch

Randy Hamilton; Kevin Megown; James Ellenwood; Henry Lachowski; Paul Maus

2010-01-01

In recent years, unprecedented tree mortality has occurred throughout the national forests owing to insect infestations and disease outbreaks. The magnitude and extent of mortality, coupled with the lack of routine monitoring in some areas, has made it difficult to assess the damage, associated ecological impact, and fire hazard in a timely and cost-effective manner....

Teacher Self-Efficacy Enhancement and School Location: Implication for Students' Achievement in Economics in Senior Secondary School in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Durowoju, Esther O.; Onuka, Adams O. U.

2015-01-01

The paper investigated the effect of teacher self-efficacy enhancement and school location on students' achievement in Economics in Senior Secondary School in Ibadan Metropolis of Oyo State, Nigeria. Three hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted in the study. Four Local Government Areas (two…

Multi-stage methodology to detect health insurance claim fraud.

PubMed

Johnson, Marina Evrim; Nagarur, Nagen

2016-09-01

Healthcare costs in the US, as well as in other countries, increase rapidly due to demographic, economic, social, and legal changes. This increase in healthcare costs impacts both government and private health insurance systems. Fraudulent behaviors of healthcare providers and patients have become a serious burden to insurance systems by bringing unnecessary costs. Insurance companies thus develop methods to identify fraud. This paper proposes a new multistage methodology for insurance companies to detect fraud committed by providers and patients. The first three stages aim at detecting abnormalities among providers, services, and claim amounts. Stage four then integrates the information obtained in the previous three stages into an overall risk measure. Subsequently, a decision tree based method in stage five computes risk threshold values. The final decision stating whether the claim is fraudulent is made by comparing the risk value obtained in stage four with the risk threshold value from stage five. The research methodology performs well on real-world insurance data.

Centrifugal and Axial Pump Design and Off-Design Performance Prediction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Veres, Joseph P.

1995-01-01

A meanline pump-flow modeling method has been developed to provide a fast capability for modeling pumps of cryogenic rocket engines. Based on this method, a meanline pump-flow code PUMPA was written that can predict the performance of pumps at off-design operating conditions, given the loss of the diffusion system at the design point. The design-point rotor efficiency and slip factors are obtained from empirical correlations to rotor-specific speed and geometry. The pump code can model axial, inducer, mixed-flow, and centrifugal pumps and can model multistage pumps in series. The rapid input setup and computer run time for this meanline pump flow code make it an effective analysis and conceptual design tool. The map-generation capabilities of the code provide the information needed for interfacing with a rocket engine system modeling code. The off-design and multistage modeling capabilities of PUMPA permit the user to do parametric design space exploration of candidate pump configurations and to provide head-flow maps for engine system evaluation.

Automatic variance analysis of multistage care pathways.

PubMed

Li, Xiang; Liu, Haifeng; Zhang, Shilei; Mei, Jing; Xie, Guotong; Yu, Yiqin; Li, Jing; Lakshmanan, Geetika T

2014-01-01

A care pathway (CP) is a standardized process that consists of multiple care stages, clinical activities and their relations, aimed at ensuring and enhancing the quality of care. However, actual care may deviate from the planned CP, and analysis of these deviations can help clinicians refine the CP and reduce medical errors. In this paper, we propose a CP variance analysis method to automatically identify the deviations between actual patient traces in electronic medical records (EMR) and a multistage CP. As the care stage information is usually unavailable in EMR, we first align every trace with the CP using a hidden Markov model. From the aligned traces, we report three types of deviations for every care stage: additional activities, absent activities and violated constraints, which are identified by using the techniques of temporal logic and binomial tests. The method has been applied to a CP for the management of congestive heart failure and real world EMR, providing meaningful evidence for the further improvement of care quality.

Automotive System for Remote Surface Classification.

PubMed

Bystrov, Aleksandr; Hoare, Edward; Tran, Thuy-Yung; Clarke, Nigel; Gashinova, Marina; Cherniakov, Mikhail

2017-04-01

In this paper we shall discuss a novel approach to road surface recognition, based on the analysis of backscattered microwave and ultrasonic signals. The novelty of our method is sonar and polarimetric radar data fusion, extraction of features for separate swathes of illuminated surface (segmentation), and using of multi-stage artificial neural network for surface classification. The developed system consists of 24 GHz radar and 40 kHz ultrasonic sensor. The features are extracted from backscattered signals and then the procedures of principal component analysis and supervised classification are applied to feature data. The special attention is paid to multi-stage artificial neural network which allows an overall increase in classification accuracy. The proposed technique was tested for recognition of a large number of real surfaces in different weather conditions with the average accuracy of correct classification of 95%. The obtained results thereby demonstrate that the use of proposed system architecture and statistical methods allow for reliable discrimination of various road surfaces in real conditions.

Automotive System for Remote Surface Classification

PubMed Central

Bystrov, Aleksandr; Hoare, Edward; Tran, Thuy-Yung; Clarke, Nigel; Gashinova, Marina; Cherniakov, Mikhail

2017-01-01

In this paper we shall discuss a novel approach to road surface recognition, based on the analysis of backscattered microwave and ultrasonic signals. The novelty of our method is sonar and polarimetric radar data fusion, extraction of features for separate swathes of illuminated surface (segmentation), and using of multi-stage artificial neural network for surface classification. The developed system consists of 24 GHz radar and 40 kHz ultrasonic sensor. The features are extracted from backscattered signals and then the procedures of principal component analysis and supervised classification are applied to feature data. The special attention is paid to multi-stage artificial neural network which allows an overall increase in classification accuracy. The proposed technique was tested for recognition of a large number of real surfaces in different weather conditions with the average accuracy of correct classification of 95%. The obtained results thereby demonstrate that the use of proposed system architecture and statistical methods allow for reliable discrimination of various road surfaces in real conditions. PMID:28368297

ERTS data user investigation to develop a multistage forest sampling inventory system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Langley, P. G.; Vanroessel, J. W. (Principal Investigator); Wert, S. L.

1973-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. A system to provide precision annotation of predetermined forest inventory sampling units on the ERTS-1 MSS images was developed. In addition, an annotation system for high altitude U2 photographs was completed. MSS bulk image accuracy is good enough to allow the use of one square mile sampling units. IMANCO image analyzer interpretation work for small scale images demonstrated the need for much additional analyses. Continuing image interpretation work for the next reporting period is concentrated on manual image interpretation work as well as digital interpretation system development using the computer compatible tapes.

Neighborhoods, Social and Cultural Correlates of Obesity Risk among Latinos living on the U.S.-Mexico border in Southern California.

PubMed

Baquero, Barbara; Molina, Marisa; Elder, John P; Norman, Gregory J; Ayala, Guadalupe X

2016-01-01

We explored the relationship between obesity and neighborhood-related, social, and cultural variables and possible moderation by acculturation and cross-national practices. We obtained data from the 2009 San Diego Prevention Research Center's community survey, which used multistage sampling methods to recruit 397 adult respondents and conducted multilevel logistic analytic methods. Nearly half of the respondents were obese. Respondents had low acculturation scores and reported crossing the U.S.-Mexico border about three times per month, mostly to visit family and friends. Neighborhoods where respondents lived were predominantly Latino and had 27% home ownership. A significant cross-level interaction emerged: those who reported crossing the border and reported higher levels of collective efficacy were more likely to be obese than those who had not crossed. Study findings provide evidence of the complex relationship among obesity risk factors in a U.S.-Mexico border community that warrant further examination to prevent and control obesity.

Knowledge and use of emergency contraception among students of public secondary schools in Ilorin, Nigeria

PubMed Central

Babatunde, Oluwole Adeyemi; Ibirongbe, Demilade Olusola; Omede, Owen; Babatunde, Olubukola Oluwakemi; Durowade, Kabir Adekunle; Salaudeen, Adekunle Ganiyu; Akande, Tanimola Makanjuola

2016-01-01

Introduction Unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion pose a major reproductive health challenge to adolescents. Emergency contraception is safe and effective in preventing unplanned pregnancy. The objective of this study was to assess the student's knowledge and use of emergency contraception. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out in Ilorin, Nigeria, using multi-stage sampling method. Data was collected using pre-tested semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge was scored and analysed. SPSS version 21.0 was used for data analysis. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results 27.8% of the respondents had good knowledge of emergency contraception. Majority of respondents (87.2%) had never used emergency contraception. Majority of those who had ever used emergency contraception (85.7%) used it incorrectly, using it more than 72 hours after sexual intercourse (p=0.928). Conclusion Knowledge about Emergency contraception and prevalence of use were low. Contraceptive education should be introduced early in the school curriculum for adolescents. PMID:27217897

Mixture-based gatekeeping procedures in adaptive clinical trials.

PubMed

Kordzakhia, George; Dmitrienko, Alex; Ishida, Eiji

2018-01-01

Clinical trials with data-driven decision rules often pursue multiple clinical objectives such as the evaluation of several endpoints or several doses of an experimental treatment. These complex analysis strategies give rise to "multivariate" multiplicity problems with several components or sources of multiplicity. A general framework for defining gatekeeping procedures in clinical trials with adaptive multistage designs is proposed in this paper. The mixture method is applied to build a gatekeeping procedure at each stage and inferences at each decision point (interim or final analysis) are performed using the combination function approach. An advantage of utilizing the mixture method is that it enables powerful gatekeeping procedures applicable to a broad class of settings with complex logical relationships among the hypotheses of interest. Further, the combination function approach supports flexible data-driven decisions such as a decision to increase the sample size or remove a treatment arm. The paper concludes with a clinical trial example that illustrates the methodology by applying it to develop an adaptive two-stage design with a mixture-based gatekeeping procedure.

Simulation of multistage turbine flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adamczyk, John J.; Mulac, Richard A.

1987-01-01

A flow model has been developed for analyzing multistage turbomachinery flows. This model, referred to as the average passage flow model, describes the time-averaged flow field with a typical passage of a blade row embedded within a multistage configuration. Computer resource requirements, supporting empirical modeling, formulation code development, and multitasking and storage are discussed. Illustrations from simulations of the space shuttle main engine (SSME) fuel turbine performed to date are given.

The design and development of transonic multistage compressors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ball, C. L.; Steinke, R. J.; Newman, F. A.

1988-01-01

The development of the transonic multistage compressor is reviewed. Changing trends in design and performance parameters are noted. These changes are related to advances in compressor aerodynamics, computational fluid mechanics and other enabling technologies. The parameters normally given to the designer and those that need to be established during the design process are identified. Criteria and procedures used in the selection of these parameters are presented. The selection of tip speed, aerodynamic loading, flowpath geometry, incidence and deviation angles, blade/vane geometry, blade/vane solidity, stage reaction, aerodynamic blockage, inlet flow per unit annulus area, stage/overall velocity ratio, and aerodynamic losses are considered. Trends in these parameters both spanwise and axially through the machine are highlighted. The effects of flow mixing and methods for accounting for the mixing in the design process are discussed.

Least reliable bits coding (LRBC) for high data rate satellite communications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vanderaar, Mark; Budinger, James; Wagner, Paul

1992-01-01

LRBC, a bandwidth efficient multilevel/multistage block-coded modulation technique, is analyzed. LRBC uses simple multilevel component codes that provide increased error protection on increasingly unreliable modulated bits in order to maintain an overall high code rate that increases spectral efficiency. Soft-decision multistage decoding is used to make decisions on unprotected bits through corrections made on more protected bits. Analytical expressions and tight performance bounds are used to show that LRBC can achieve increased spectral efficiency and maintain equivalent or better power efficiency compared to that of BPSK. The relative simplicity of Galois field algebra vs the Viterbi algorithm and the availability of high-speed commercial VLSI for block codes indicates that LRBC using block codes is a desirable method for high data rate implementations.

Deep Vein Thrombosis After Complex Posterior Spine Surgery: Does Staged Surgery Make a Difference?

PubMed

Edwards, Charles C; Lessing, Noah L; Ford, Lisa; Edwards, Charles C

Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database. To assess the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) associated with single- versus multistage posterior-only complex spinal surgeries. Dividing the physiologic burden of spinal deformity surgery into multiple stages has been suggested as a potential means of reducing perioperative complications. DVT is a worrisome complication owing to its potential to lead to pulmonary embolism. Whether or not staging affects DVT incidence in this population is unknown. Consecutive patients undergoing either single- or multistage posterior complex spinal surgeries over a 12-year period at a single institution were eligible. All patients received lower extremity venous duplex ultrasonographic (US) examinations 2 to 4 days postoperatively in the single-stage group and 2 to 4 days postoperatively after each stage in the multistage group. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the independent contribution of staging to developing a DVT. A total of 107 consecutive patients were enrolled-26 underwent multistage surgery and 81 underwent single-stage surgery. The single-stage group was older (63 years vs. 45 years; p < .01) and had a higher Charlson comorbidity index (2.25 ± 1.27 vs. 1.23 ± 1.58; p < .01). More multistage patients had positive US tests than single-stage patients (5 of 26 vs. 6 of 81; 19% vs. 7%; p = .13). Adjusting for all the above-mentioned covariates, a multistage surgery was 8.17 (95% CI 0.35-250.6) times more likely to yield a DVT than a single-stage surgery. Patients who undergo multistage posterior complex spine surgery are at a high risk for developing a DVT compared to those who undergo single-stage procedures. The difference in DVT incidence may be understated as the multistage group had a lower pre- and intraoperative risk profile with a younger age, lower medical comorbidities, and less per-stage blood loss. Copyright © 2017 Scoliosis Research Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Improved traveling wave tubes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buck, E.

1980-01-01

After a brief description of how a typical TWT works, multi-stage depressed collectors (MDC) are discussed. A quick method for computing the expected efficiency of a well engineered TWT is outlined to aid in estimating power supply needs. Applications of improved TWTs and a new power supply are suggested.

Manmade target extraction based on multistage decision and its application for change detection in polarimetric synthetic aperture radar image

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cong, Runmin; Han, Ping; Li, Chongyi; He, Jiaji; Zhang, Zaiji

2016-09-01

Targets of interest are different in various applications in which manmade targets, such as aircraft, ships, and buildings, are given more attention. Manmade target extraction methods using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images are designed in response to various demands, which include civil uses, business purposes, and military industries. This plays an increasingly vital role in monitoring, military reconnaissance, and precision strikes. Achieving accurate and complete results through traditional methods is becoming more challenging because of the scattered complexity of polarization in polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) image. A multistage decision-based method is proposed composed of power decision, dominant scattering mechanism decision, and reflection symmetry decision. In addition, the theories of polarimetric contrast enhancement, generalized Y decomposition, and maximum eigenvalue ratio are applied to assist the decision. Fully PolSAR data are adopted to evaluate and verify the approach. Experimental results show that the method can achieve an effective result with a lower false alarm rate and clear contours. Finally, on this basis, a universal framework of change detection for manmade targets is presented as an application of our method. Two sets of measured data are also used to evaluate and verify the effectiveness of the change-detection algorithm.

A multigrid method for steady Euler equations on unstructured adaptive grids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Riemslagh, Kris; Dick, Erik

1993-01-01

A flux-difference splitting type algorithm is formulated for the steady Euler equations on unstructured grids. The polynomial flux-difference splitting technique is used. A vertex-centered finite volume method is employed on a triangular mesh. The multigrid method is in defect-correction form. A relaxation procedure with a first order accurate inner iteration and a second-order correction performed only on the finest grid, is used. A multi-stage Jacobi relaxation method is employed as a smoother. Since the grid is unstructured a Jacobi type is chosen. The multi-staging is necessary to provide sufficient smoothing properties. The domain is discretized using a Delaunay triangular mesh generator. Three grids with more or less uniform distribution of nodes but with different resolution are generated by successive refinement of the coarsest grid. Nodes of coarser grids appear in the finer grids. The multigrid method is started on these grids. As soon as the residual drops below a threshold value, an adaptive refinement is started. The solution on the adaptively refined grid is accelerated by a multigrid procedure. The coarser multigrid grids are generated by successive coarsening through point removement. The adaption cycle is repeated a few times. Results are given for the transonic flow over a NACA-0012 airfoil.

Purification and Quantification of an Isomeric Compound in a Mixture by Collisional Excitation in Multistage Mass Spectrometry Experiments.

PubMed

Jeanne Dit Fouque, Dany; Maroto, Alicia; Memboeuf, Antony

2016-11-15

The differentiation, characterization, and quantification of isomers and/or isobars in mixtures is a recurrent problem in mass spectrometry and more generally in analytical chemistry. Here we present a new strategy to assess the purity of a compound that is susceptible to be contaminated with another isomeric side-product in trace levels. Providing one of the isomers is available as pure sample, this new strategy allows the detection of isomeric contamination. This is done thanks to a "gas-phase collisional purification" inside an ion trap mass spectrometer paving the way for an improved analysis of at least similar samples. This strategy consists in using collision induced dissociation (CID) multistage mass spectrometry (MS 2 and MS 3 ) experiments and the survival yield (SY) technique. It has been successfully applied to mixtures of cyclic poly( L -lactide) (PLA) with increasing amounts of its linear topological isomer. Purification in gas phase of PLA mixtures was established based on SY curves obtained in MS 3 mode: all samples gave rise to the same SY curve corresponding then to the pure cyclic component. This new strategy was sensitive enough to detect traces of linear PLA (<3%) in a sample of cyclic PLA that was supposedly pure according to other characterization techniques ( 1 H NMR, MALDI-HRMS, and size-exclusion chromatography). Moreover, in this case, the presence of linear isomer was undetectable according to MS/MS or MS/MS/MS analysis only as fragment ions are also of the same m/z values. This type of approach could easily be implemented in hyphenated mass spectrometric techniques to improve the structural and quantitative analysis of complex samples.

Novel strategy for the determination of illegal adulterants in health foods and herbal medicines using high-performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Wang, Zhe; Wu, Caisheng; Wang, Gangli; Zhang, Qingsheng; Zhang, Jinlan

2015-03-01

The detection, confirmation, and quantification of multiple illegal adulterants in health foods and herbal medicines by using a single analytical method are a challenge. This paper reports on a new strategy to meet this challenge by employing high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry and a mass spectral tree similarity filter technique. This analytical method can rapidly collect high-resolution, high-accuracy, optionally multistage mass data for compounds in samples. After a preliminary screening by retention time and high-resolution mass spectral data, known illegal adulterants can be detected. The mass spectral tree similarity filter technique has been applied to rapidly confirm these adulterants and simultaneously discover unknown ones. By using full-scan mass spectra as stem and data-dependent subsequent stage mass spectra to form branches, mass spectrometry data from detected compounds are converted into mass spectral trees. The known or unknown illegal adulterants in the samples are confirmed or discovered based on the similarity between their mass spectral trees and those of the references in a library, and they are finally quantified against standard curves. This new strategy has been tested by using 50 samples, and the illegal adulterants were rapidly and effectively detected, confirmed and quantified. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Oil seal effects and subsynchronous vibrations in high-speed compressors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allaire, P. E.; Kocur, J. A., Jr.

1985-01-01

Oil seals are commonly used in high speed multistage compressors. If the oil seal ring becomes locked up against the fixed portion of the seal, high oil film crosscoupled stiffnesses can result. A method of analysis for determining if the oil seals are locked up or not is discussed. The method is then applied to an oil seal in a compressor with subsynchronous vibration problems.

Long-term mental wellbeing of adolescents and young adults diagnosed with venous thromboembolism: results from a multistage mixed methods study.

PubMed

Højen, A A; Sørensen, E E; Dreyer, P S; Søgaard, M; Larsen, T B

2017-12-01

Essentials Long-term mental wellbeing of adolescents and young adults with venous thromboembolism is unclear. This multistage mixed methods study was based on Danish nationwide registry data and interviews. Mental wellbeing is negatively impacted in the long-term and uncertainty of recurrence is pivotal. The perceived health threat is more important than disease severity for long-term mental wellbeing. Background Critical and chronic illness in youth can lead to impaired mental wellbeing. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a potentially traumatic and life-threatening condition. Nonetheless, the long-term mental wellbeing of adolescents and young adults (AYAS) with VTE is unclear. Objectives To investigate the long-term mental wellbeing of AYAS (aged 13-33 years) diagnosed with VTE. Methods We performed a multistage mixed method study based on data from the Danish nationwide health registries, and semistructured interviews with 12 AYAS diagnosed with VTE. An integrated mixed methods interpretation of the findings was conducted through narrative weaving and joint displays. Results The integrated mixed methods interpretation showed that the mental wellbeing of AYAS with VTE had a chronic perspective, with a persistently higher risk of psychotropic drug purchase among AYAS with a first-time diagnosis of VTE than among sex-matched and age-matched population controls and AYAS with a first-time diagnosis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Impaired mental wellbeing was largely connected to a fear of recurrence and concomitant uncertainty. Therefore, it was important for the long-term mental wellbeing to navigate uncertainty. The perceived health threat played a more profound role in long-term mental wellbeing than disease severity, as the potential life threat was the pivot which pointed back to the initial VTE and forward to the perception of future health threat and the potential risk of dying of a recurrent event. Conclusion Our findings show that the long-term mental wellbeing of AYAS diagnosed with VTE is negatively affected, and highlights these patients' need for adequate support. © 2017 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Impact of healthy work environments and multistage nurse residency programs on retention of newly licensed RNs.

PubMed

Kramer, Marlene; Halfer, Diana; Maguire, Pat; Schmalenberg, Claudia

2012-03-01

The objective of the study was to examine effects of nurse-confirmed healthy unit work environments and multistage nurse residency programs (NRPs) on retention rates of newly licensed RNs (NLRNs). Establishing a culture of retention and healthy clinical nurse practice environments are two major challenges confronting nurse leaders today. Nurse residency programs are a major component of NLRN work environments and have been shown to be effective in abating nurse turnover. Sample for this study consisted of 5,316 new graduates in initial RN roles in 28 Magnet® hospitals. There were no differences in retention rates by education or patient population on clinical unit. NLRN retention rate was higher in community than in academic hospitals. More than half of NLRNs were placed on units with very healthy work environments. Newly licensed RNs on units with work environments needing improvement resigned at a significantly higher rate than did other NLRNs. The quality of clinical unit work environments is the most important factor in NLRN retention.

Yellow fever risk assessment in the Central African Republic

PubMed Central

Staples, J. Erin; Diallo, Mawlouth; Janusz, Kristen B.; Manengu, Casimir; Lewis, Rosamund F.; Perea, William; Yactayo, Sergio; Sall, Amadou A.

2015-01-01

Background Starting in 2008, the Central African Republic (CAR) experienced an unprecedented number of reported yellow fever (YF) cases. A risk assessment of YF virus (YFV) activity was conducted to estimate potential disease risk and vaccine needs. Methods A multistage cluster sampling design was used to sample humans, non-human primates, and mosquitoes in distinct ecologic zones. Humans and non-human primates were tested for YFV-specific antibodies; mosquitoes were tested for YFV RNA. Results Overall, 13.3% (125/938) of humans were found to have naturally-acquired YFV antibodies. Antibody levels were higher in zones in the southern and south central regions of CAR. All sampled non-human primates (n=56) were known YFV reservoirs; one tested positive for YFV antibodies. Several known YF vectors were identified including Aedes africanus, Ae. aegypti, Ae. luteocephalus, and Ae. simpsoni. Several more urban locations were found to have elevated Breateau and Container indices for Ae. aegypti. Conclusions A country-wide assessment of YF risk found YFV to be endemic in CAR. The potential for future YF cases and outbreaks, however, varied by ecologic zone. Improved vaccination coverage through mass campaign and childhood immunization was recommended to mitigate the YF risk. PMID:24947520

[Personality profile among cocaine users].

PubMed

Sánchez Huesca, R; Guisa Cruz, V M; Cedillo González, A; Pascual Blanco, Y

2002-01-01

Due to the psychiatric comorbidity seen among cocaine addicts, it is of clinical interest to know the personality traits associated to the use of this substance. Personality-profile comparative study of cocaine users and multiple-substance users obtained through the Multistage Personality Inventory. The study analyzed a sample of 30 cocaine users and 26 users of various substances who asked for treatment at a specialized institution. Results show the same profile for both groups, with high 8-4-2 scales. According to the Multistage Personality Inventory, this profile corresponds to an antisocial personality disorder with depressive and schizoid traits. The fact that there is a single profile for different drug users leads us to the hypothesis that there are addictive personality characteristics rather than specific traits related to the use of each substance. These subjects' personality characteristics suggest that the fear to relate to others could make it very difficult to establish a therapeutic link. This, in addition to the acting up tendency seen among users, constitutes a call of alert in terms of their likely abandonment of treatment. Further more, as they take impulses into actions, they build a barrier before words. This could be called acting up, doing instead of saying, which can become an obstacle for the appropriate development of the therapeutic process. The result must consider the size of the sample.

A Novel High School Chemistry Camp as an Outreach Model for Regional Colleges and Universities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Exstrom, Christopher L.; Mosher, Michael D.

2000-01-01

Describes the summer chemistry camp offered by the University of Nebraska at Kearney which consists of multistage open-ended laboratory projects. Focuses on introducing high school students to principles, methods, and equipment used in academic and professional chemistry laboratories. (Contains 19 references.) (YDS)

Multi-stage decoding for multi-level block modulation codes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Shu; Kasami, Tadao

1991-01-01

Various types of multistage decoding for multilevel block modulation codes, in which the decoding of a component code at each stage can be either soft decision or hard decision, maximum likelihood or bounded distance are discussed. Error performance for codes is analyzed for a memoryless additive channel based on various types of multi-stage decoding, and upper bounds on the probability of an incorrect decoding are derived. It was found that, if component codes of a multi-level modulation code and types of decoding at various stages are chosen properly, high spectral efficiency and large coding gain can be achieved with reduced decoding complexity. It was found that the difference in performance between the suboptimum multi-stage soft decision maximum likelihood decoding of a modulation code and the single stage optimum decoding of the overall code is very small, only a fraction of dB loss in SNR at the probability of an incorrect decoding for a block of 10(exp -6). Multi-stage decoding of multi-level modulation codes really offers a way to achieve the best of three worlds, bandwidth efficiency, coding gain, and decoding complexity.

Bio-inspired approach to multistage image processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Timchenko, Leonid I.; Pavlov, Sergii V.; Kokryatskaya, Natalia I.; Poplavska, Anna A.; Kobylyanska, Iryna M.; Burdenyuk, Iryna I.; Wójcik, Waldemar; Uvaysova, Svetlana; Orazbekov, Zhassulan; Kashaganova, Gulzhan

2017-08-01

Multistage integration of visual information in the brain allows people to respond quickly to most significant stimuli while preserving the ability to recognize small details in the image. Implementation of this principle in technical systems can lead to more efficient processing procedures. The multistage approach to image processing, described in this paper, comprises main types of cortical multistage convergence. One of these types occurs within each visual pathway and the other between the pathways. This approach maps input images into a flexible hierarchy which reflects the complexity of the image data. The procedures of temporal image decomposition and hierarchy formation are described in mathematical terms. The multistage system highlights spatial regularities, which are passed through a number of transformational levels to generate a coded representation of the image which encapsulates, in a computer manner, structure on different hierarchical levels in the image. At each processing stage a single output result is computed to allow a very quick response from the system. The result is represented as an activity pattern, which can be compared with previously computed patterns on the basis of the closest match.

System and method for air temperature control in an oxygen transport membrane based reactor

DOEpatents

Kelly, Sean M

2016-09-27

A system and method for air temperature control in an oxygen transport membrane based reactor is provided. The system and method involves introducing a specific quantity of cooling air or trim air in between stages in a multistage oxygen transport membrane based reactor or furnace to maintain generally consistent surface temperatures of the oxygen transport membrane elements and associated reactors. The associated reactors may include reforming reactors, boilers or process gas heaters.

System and method for temperature control in an oxygen transport membrane based reactor

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

Kelly, Sean M.

A system and method for temperature control in an oxygen transport membrane based reactor is provided. The system and method involves introducing a specific quantity of cooling air or trim air in between stages in a multistage oxygen transport membrane based reactor or furnace to maintain generally consistent surface temperatures of the oxygen transport membrane elements and associated reactors. The associated reactors may include reforming reactors, boilers or process gas heaters.

A New Finite Difference Q-compensated RTM Algorithm in Tilted Transverse Isotropic (TTI) Media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, T.; Hu, W.; Ning, J.

2017-12-01

Attenuating anisotropic geological body is difficult to image with conventional migration methods. In such kind of scenarios, recorded seismic data suffer greatly from both amplitude decay and phase distortion, resulting in degraded resolution, poor illumination and incorrect migration depth in imaging results. To efficiently obtain high quality images, we propose a novel TTI QRTM algorithm based on Generalized Standard Linear Solid model combined with a unique multi-stage optimization technique to simultaneously correct the decayed amplitude and the distorted phase velocity. Numerical tests (shown in the figure) demonstrate that our TTI QRTM algorithm effectively corrects migration depth, significantly improves illumination, and enhances resolution within and below the low Q regions. The result of our new method is very close to the reference RTM image, while QRTM without TTI cannot get a correct image. Compared to the conventional QRTM method based on a pseudo-spectral operator for fractional Laplacian evaluation, our method is more computationally efficient for large scale applications and more suitable for GPU acceleration. With the current multi-stage dispersion optimization scheme, this TTI QRTM method best performs in the frequency range 10-70 Hz, and could be used in a wider frequency range. Furthermore, as this method can also handle frequency dependent Q, it has potential to be applied in imaging deep structures where low Q exists, such as subduction zones, volcanic zones or fault zones with passive source observations.

Prevalence and associated factors of induced abortion among rural married women: a cross-sectional survey in Anhui, China.

PubMed

Gao, Guo-Peng; Zhang, Ren-Jie; Zhang, Xiu-Jun; Jia, Xiao-Min; Li, Xiu-De; Li, Xiang; Wang, Cheng-Cheng; Tong, Fei; Sun, Ye-Huan

2015-03-01

This study aims to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with induced abortion among married women in rural areas of Anhui Province, China. A multistage probability sampling method was used to identify a representative sample of 53,652 married women aged 18-49 years in rural areas of Anhui Province, China. All women were interviewed in the form of a standardized questionnaire. We found that 32.0% (16,800) of these women had had at least one induced abortion: 21.1% (11,090) of women had had one; 7.6% (3976) of women had had two; and 4.1% (1734) of women had had at least three. The number of induced abortions per 100 pregnancies was found to be 22.0. Multivariate analysis showed that education, the age of a woman at her first marriage, number of total births, number of total pregnancies, and contraceptive methods were significant predictors for induced abortion after controlling for women's current age, employment and family yearly income. The study shows that the prevalence of induced abortion is still very high among married women in rural China, and highly effective methods of contraception (sterilization, intrauterine device) decrease women's recourse to induced abortion. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research © 2014 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

[The treatment of extremity bone fractures in the cases of combined injuries].

PubMed

Peshekhonov, E V; Galin, V I; Zudilin, A V; Zubok, D N

2006-12-01

The experience of treatment of 76 injured with fractures of two or more extremities in combination with affection of other anatomical areas (head, abdomen, breast, pelvis) was summarized. The extrafocal osteosynthesis was preferable because this method is characterized by low traumatism, minimal blood loss, adequate reposition, stable immobilization and possibility of early load in the apparatus of external fixation. Immersed osteosynthesis is used with great caution as it can cause the development of fat embolism. One-stage operations were performed in 26.3% victims. Their treatment periods were significantly shorter than during the multi-stage operations. One-stage operations for polytrauma have the following advantages over the multi-stage operations: single narcosis, simplified treatment in reanimation department, one post-operation period, quick rehabilitation and economic benefit. The extrafocal osteosynthesis causes less purulent complications.

Vibration signature analysis of multistage gear transmission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choy, F. K.; Tu, Y. K.; Savage, M.; Townsend, D. P.

1989-01-01

An analysis is presented for multistage multimesh gear transmission systems. The analysis predicts the overall system dynamics and the transmissibility to the gear box or the enclosed structure. The modal synthesis approach of the analysis treats the uncoupled lateral/torsional model characteristics of each stage or component independently. The vibration signature analysis evaluates the global dynamics coupling in the system. The method synthesizes the interaction of each modal component or stage with the nonlinear gear mesh dynamics and the modal support geometry characteristics. The analysis simulates transient and steady state vibration events to determine the resulting torque variations, speeds, changes, rotor imbalances, and support gear box motion excitations. A vibration signature analysis examines the overall dynamic characteristics of the system, and the individual model component responses. The gear box vibration analysis also examines the spectral characteristics of the support system.

Noise reduction techniques for Bayer-matrix images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalevo, Ossi; Rantanen, Henry

2002-04-01

In this paper, some arrangements to apply Noise Reduction (NR) techniques for images captured by a single sensor digital camera are studied. Usually, the NR filter processes full three-color component image data. This requires that raw Bayer-matrix image data, available from the image sensor, is first interpolated by using Color Filter Array Interpolation (CFAI) method. Another choice is that the raw Bayer-matrix image data is processed directly. The advantages and disadvantages of both processing orders, before (pre-) CFAI and after (post-) CFAI, are studied with linear, multi-stage median, multistage median hybrid and median-rational filters .The comparison is based on the quality of the output image, the processing power requirements and the amount of memory needed. Also the solution, which improves preservation of details in the NR filtering before the CFAI, is proposed.

Estimating survival probabilities by exposure levels: utilizing vital statistics and complex survey data with mortality follow-up.

PubMed

Landsman, V; Lou, W Y W; Graubard, B I

2015-05-20

We present a two-step approach for estimating hazard rates and, consequently, survival probabilities, by levels of general categorical exposure. The resulting estimator utilizes three sources of data: vital statistics data and census data are used at the first step to estimate the overall hazard rate for a given combination of gender and age group, and cohort data constructed from a nationally representative complex survey with linked mortality records, are used at the second step to divide the overall hazard rate by exposure levels. We present an explicit expression for the resulting estimator and consider two methods for variance estimation that account for complex multistage sample design: (1) the leaving-one-out jackknife method, and (2) the Taylor linearization method, which provides an analytic formula for the variance estimator. The methods are illustrated with smoking and all-cause mortality data from the US National Health Interview Survey Linked Mortality Files, and the proposed estimator is compared with a previously studied crude hazard rate estimator that uses survey data only. The advantages of a two-step approach and possible extensions of the proposed estimator are discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Multipurpose image watermarking algorithm based on multistage vector quantization.

PubMed

Lu, Zhe-Ming; Xu, Dian-Guo; Sun, Sheng-He

2005-06-01

The rapid growth of digital multimedia and Internet technologies has made copyright protection, copy protection, and integrity verification three important issues in the digital world. To solve these problems, the digital watermarking technique has been presented and widely researched. Traditional watermarking algorithms are mostly based on discrete transform domains, such as the discrete cosine transform, discrete Fourier transform (DFT), and discrete wavelet transform (DWT). Most of these algorithms are good for only one purpose. Recently, some multipurpose digital watermarking methods have been presented, which can achieve the goal of content authentication and copyright protection simultaneously. However, they are based on DWT or DFT. Lately, several robust watermarking schemes based on vector quantization (VQ) have been presented, but they can only be used for copyright protection. In this paper, we present a novel multipurpose digital image watermarking method based on the multistage vector quantizer structure, which can be applied to image authentication and copyright protection. In the proposed method, the semi-fragile watermark and the robust watermark are embedded in different VQ stages using different techniques, and both of them can be extracted without the original image. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm in terms of robustness and fragility.

Vibration based condition monitoring of a multistage epicyclic gearbox in lifting cranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Assaad, Bassel; Eltabach, Mario; Antoni, Jérôme

2014-01-01

This paper proposes a model-based technique for detecting wear in a multistage planetary gearbox used by lifting cranes. The proposed method establishes a vibration signal model which deals with cyclostationary and autoregressive models. First-order cyclostationarity is addressed by the analysis of the time synchronous average (TSA) of the angular resampled vibration signal. Then an autoregressive model (AR) is applied to the TSA part in order to extract a residual signal containing pertinent fault signatures. The paper also explores a number of methods commonly used in vibration monitoring of planetary gearboxes, in order to make comparisons. In the experimental part of this study, these techniques are applied to accelerated lifetime test bench data for the lifting winch. After processing raw signals recorded with an accelerometer mounted on the outside of the gearbox, a number of condition indicators (CIs) are derived from the TSA signal, the residual autoregressive signal and other signals derived using standard signal processing methods. The goal is to check the evolution of the CIs during the accelerated lifetime test (ALT). Clarity and fluctuation level of the historical trends are finally considered as a criteria for comparing between the extracted CIs.

Configuration of management accounting information system for multi-stage manufacturing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mkrtychev, S. V.; Ochepovsky, A. V.; Enik, O. A.

2018-05-01

The article presents an approach to configuration of a management accounting information system (MAIS) that provides automated calculations and the registration of normative production losses in multi-stage manufacturing. The use of MAIS with the proposed configuration at the enterprises of textile and woodworking industries made it possible to increase the accuracy of calculations for normative production losses and to organize accounting thereof with the reference to individual stages of the technological process. Thus, high efficiency of multi-stage manufacturing control is achieved.

Multi-megavolt low jitter multistage switch

DOEpatents

Humphreys, D.R.; Penn, K.J. Jr.

1985-06-19

It is one object of the present invention to provide a multistage switch capable of holding off numerous megavolts, until triggered, from a particle beam accelerator of the type used for inertial confinement fusion. The invention provides a multistage switch having low timing jitter and capable of producing multiple spark channels for spreading current over a wider area to reduce electrode damage and increase switch lifetime. The switch has fairly uniform electric fields and a short spark gap for laser triggering and is engineered to prevent insulator breakdowns.

GLS-Finder: A Platform for Fast Profiling of Glucosinolates in Brassica Vegetables.

PubMed

Sun, Jianghao; Zhang, Mengliang; Chen, Pei

2016-06-01

Mass spectrometry combined with related tandem techniques has become the most popular method for plant secondary metabolite characterization. We introduce a new strategy based on in-database searching, mass fragmentation behavior study, formula predicting for fast profiling of glucosinolates, a class of important compounds in brassica vegetables. A MATLAB script-based expert system computer program, "GLS-Finder", was developed. It is capable of qualitative and semi-quantitative analyses of glucosinolates in samples using data generated by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution accurate mass with multi-stage mass fragmentation (UHPLC-HRAM/MS(n)). A suite of bioinformatic tools was integrated into the "GLS-Finder" to perform raw data deconvolution, peak alignment, glucosinolate putative assignments, semi-quantitation, and unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA). GLS-Finder was successfully applied to identify intact glucosinolates in 49 commonly consumed Brassica vegetable samples in the United States. It is believed that this work introduces a new way of fast data processing and interpretation for qualitative and quantitative analyses of glucosinolates, where great efficacy was improved in comparison to identification manually.

Open Port Probe Sampling Interface for the Direct Coupling of Biocompatible Solid-Phase Microextraction to Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

PubMed

Gómez-Ríos, Germán Augusto; Liu, Chang; Tascon, Marcos; Reyes-Garcés, Nathaly; Arnold, Don W; Covey, Thomas R; Pawliszyn, Janusz

2017-04-04

In recent years, the direct coupling of solid phase microextraction (SPME) and mass spectrometry (MS) has shown its great potential to improve limits of quantitation, accelerate analysis throughput, and diminish potential matrix effects when compared to direct injection to MS. In this study, we introduce the open port probe (OPP) as a robust interface to couple biocompatible SPME (Bio-SPME) fibers to MS systems for direct electrospray ionization. The presented design consisted of minimal alterations to the front-end of the instrument and provided better sensitivity, simplicity, speed, wider compound coverage, and high-throughput in comparison to the LC-MS based approach. Quantitative determination of clenbuterol, fentanyl, and buprenorphine was successfully achieved in human urine. Despite the use of short extraction/desorption times (5 min/5 s), limits of quantitation below the minimum required performance levels (MRPL) set by the world antidoping agency (WADA) were obtained with good accuracy (≥90%) and linearity (R 2 > 0.99) over the range evaluated for all analytes using sample volumes of 300 μL. In-line technologies such as multiple reaction monitoring with multistage fragmentation (MRM 3 ) and differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) were used to enhance the selectivity of the method without compromising analysis speed. On the basis of calculations, once coupled to high throughput, this method can potentially yield preparation times as low as 15 s per sample based on the 96-well plate format. Our results demonstrated that Bio-SPME-OPP-MS efficiently integrates sampling/sample cleanup and atmospheric pressure ionization, making it an advantageous configuration for several bioanalytical applications, including doping in sports, in vivo tissue sampling, and therapeutic drug monitoring.

The Linear Quadratic Gaussian Multistage Game with Nonclassical Information Pattern Using a Direct Solution Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clemens, Joshua William

Game theory has application across multiple fields, spanning from economic strategy to optimal control of an aircraft and missile on an intercept trajectory. The idea of game theory is fascinating in that we can actually mathematically model real-world scenarios and determine optimal decision making. It may not always be easy to mathematically model certain real-world scenarios, nonetheless, game theory gives us an appreciation for the complexity involved in decision making. This complexity is especially apparent when the players involved have access to different information upon which to base their decision making (a nonclassical information pattern). Here we will focus on the class of adversarial two-player games (sometimes referred to as pursuit-evasion games) with nonclassical information pattern. We present a two-sided (simultaneous) optimization solution method for the two-player linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) multistage game. This direct solution method allows for further interpretation of each player's decision making (strategy) as compared to previously used formal solution methods. In addition to the optimal control strategies, we present a saddle point proof and we derive an expression for the optimal performance index value. We provide some numerical results in order to further interpret the optimal control strategies and to highlight real-world application of this game-theoretic optimal solution.

Contraception Use among Egyptian Women: Results from Egypt Demographic and Health Survey in 2005

PubMed Central

Awadalla, Hala Ibrahim

2012-01-01

Background The reports of a rise in contraceptive practices have not been matched by a similar decrease in population: therefore, there is a need to look into the causes of this discrepancy. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of different methods of contraception used by Egyptian women, to compare different contraception methods used among various socio-demographic groups and, finally, to identify the main decision makers of contraception use within Egyptian families. Methods The 2005 Egypt Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) is a nationally representative household survey of 18134 married women aged 15–49 years. The 2005 EDHS provides a wealth of information on fertility, family planning, maternal and child health and nutrition, and violence against women. The study sample was selected using a multistage sampling technique. A face-to-face structured interview was conducted with each of the selected women. The response rate was 99.5% for completing the questionnaires. Results The prevalence of contraception was 57.5%, nearly one third of the participants (33.1%) used IUD as a method of contraception. Both male and female were responsible for decision making regarding the use of contraception among different educational levels. Most women reporting use of contraceptive methods were 30–39 years old, were employed, were rich, educated and belonged to urban governorates. Conclusion More than half of the participants used contraception while IUDs and pills were the most commonly used methods. Whatever the level of education, the majority of women thought that family planning decisions should be made by both partners. PMID:23926542

Prevalence of Nocturnal Enuresis and Its Associated Factors in Primary School and Preschool Children of Khorramabad in 2013

PubMed Central

Bakhtiar, Katayoun; Pournia, Yadollah; Ebrahimzadeh, Farzad; Farhadi, Ali; Shafizadeh, Fathollah; Hosseinabadi, Reza

2014-01-01

Background. Nocturnal enuresis refers to an inability to control urination during sleep. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nocturnal enuresis and its associated factors in children in the city of Khorramabad. Materials and Methods. In this descriptive-analytic, cross-sectional study, 710 male and female children were divided into two groups with equal numbers. The samples were selected from the schools of Khorramabad using the multistage cluster and stratified random sampling methods based on the diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV. The data was analyzed using the logistic regression. Results. The results showed that 8% of the children had nocturnal enuresis, including 5.2% of primary nocturnal enuresis and 2.8% of secondary nocturnal enuresis. The prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in the boys (10.7%) was higher compared with that in the girls (5.4%) (P = 0.009). There were statistically significant relationships between nocturnal enuresis and history of nocturnal enuresis in siblings (P = 0.023), respiratory infections (P = 0.036), deep sleep (P = 0.007), corporal punishment at school (P = 0.036), anal itching (P = 0.043), and history of seizures (P = 0.043). Conclusion. This study showed that the prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in the boys was higher compared with that in the girls. PMID:25374608

Concordance of obesity classification between body mass index and percent body fat among school children in Saudi Arabia.

PubMed

Al-Mohaimeed, Abdulrahman; Ahmed, Saifuddin; Dandash, Khadiga; Ismail, Mohammed Saleh; Saquib, Nazmus

2015-03-05

In Saudi Arabia, where childhood obesity is a major public health issue, it is important to identify the best tool for obesity classification. Hence, we compared two field methods for their usefulness in epidemiological studies. The sample consisted of 874 primary school (grade I-IV) children, aged 6-10 years, and was obtained through a multi-stage random sampling procedure. Weight and height were measured, and BMI (kg/m(2)) was calculated. Percent body fat was determined with a Futrex analyzer that uses near infrared reactance (NIR) technology. Method specific cut-off values were used for obesity classification. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were determined for BMI, and the agreement between BMI and percent body fat was calculated. Compared to boys, the mean BMI was higher in girls whereas the mean percent body fat was lower (p-values < 0.0001). According to BMI, the prevalence of overweight or obesity was significantly higher in girls (34.3% vs. 17.3%); as oppose to percent body fat, which was similar between the sexes (6.6% vs. 7.0%). The sensitivity of BMI to classify overweight or obesity was high (boys = 93%, girls = 100%); and its false-positive detection rate was also high (boys = 63%, girls = 81%). The agreement rate was low between these two methods (boys = 0.48, girls =0.24). There is poor agreement in obesity classification between BMI and percent body fat, using NIR method, among Saudi school children.

Perceptions of clinical years’ medical students and interns towards assessment methods used in King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah

PubMed Central

Ibrahim, Nahla Khamis; Al-Sharabi, Budoor Mohammed; Al-Asiri, Rasha Abdullah; Alotaibi, Najat Abdullah; Al-Husaini, Wejdan Ibrahim; Al-Khajah, Hussa Adel; Rakkah, Reem Mohammad; Turkistani, Afnan Mohammed

2015-01-01

Objectives: The study was done to determine the perception of clinical years’ medical students and interns about assessment methods used in Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted during the educational year 2012/2013. A multistage stratified random sample method was used to select 600 senior medical students (4th-6th) and interns. Perception of medical students and interns about different assessment formats was inquired using 3 points Likert scale. Results: About two-fifths of participants agreed that assessment methods are comprehensive, reflecting what they taught, and challenging them. MCQs were the commonest (56.8%) preferred written assessment format. OSCE (74.1%) and OSPE (70.6%) were seen as good tools for assessing clinical competencies. Students had good perceptions towards peer assessment, log-book and open book exams. Males preferred peer assessment method more than females, with a statistical significant difference (χ2 = 6.43, p< 0.05). Conclusion: Assessment plan needs further improvements and should be designed prospectively along with learning outcomes, as only about 40 % of participants agreed with assessment items. The current development of the faculty Assessment Unit will provide much help. This will lead to better preparation of medical students for their future responsibility as tomorrow’s doctors. PMID:26430398

Regional agriculture surveys using ERTS-1 data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Draeger, W. C.; Nichols, J. D.; Benson, A. S.; Larrabee, D. G.; Jenkus, W. M.; Hay, C. M.

1974-01-01

The Center for Remote Sensing Research has conducted studies designed to evaluate the potential application of ERTS data in performing agricultural inventories, and to develop efficient methods of data handling and analysis useful in the operational context for performing large area surveys. This work has resulted in the development of an integrated system utilizing both human and computer analysis of ground, aerial, and space imagery, which has been shown to be very efficient for regional crop acreage inventories. The technique involves: (1) the delineation of ERTS images into relatively homogeneous strata by human interpreters, (2) the point-by-point classification of the area within each strata on the basis of crop type using a human/machine interactive digital image processing system; and (3) a multistage sampling procedure for the collection of supporting aerial and ground data used in the adjustment and verification of the classification results.

[Study on the influencing factors related to suicide ideation among undergraduates in Anhui province].

PubMed

Fan, Yin-Guang; Xiao, Qin; Wang, Qian; Li, Wen-Xian; Dong, Ma-Xia; Ye, Dong-Qing

2008-03-01

To explore the relationships between quality of life, negative life events, social support and suicide ideation among undergraduates in colleges. 3517 undergraduates in colleges were recruited by multistage stratified random clustered sampling method. Factors associated with suicide ideation were analyzed with logistic regression by scores of Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation(BSSI), Generic Quality of Life Inventory (GQOLI), Adolescent Self-rate Life Events Checklist (ASLEC), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and a questionnaire on background information. The rate of suicide ideation within 7 days was 14.1%, especially in females (15.96%), with single parent (23.79%) and disabled undergraduates (25.00%). The primary risk factors for suicide ideation were with low psychological function, material life, family/social support, lower availability of support and more negative life events. The prevalence of suicide ideation among these undergraduates was high, appropriate measures focusing on these risk factors should be implemented.

The Priorities of Iranian Male Adolescents Health Needs.

PubMed

Zare, Elham; Simbar, Masoumeh; Shahhosseini, Zohreh; Alavi Majd, Hamid

2017-07-01

Health in the adolescence period guarantees the next generation's health. The assessment of health needs is the first stage for the implementation of health promotion interventions. This study aimed to assess the priorities of male adolescent's health needs in Tehran, Iran, in year 2015. This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with 1,200 male adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years. Single male adolescents studying in public guidance and high schools in Tehran, Iran, in year 2015 were chosen using a random multistage sampling method. Data were collected using the male adolescent health need assessment scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. It was found that while the lowest score was for the domain of sexual health, other domains had average or higher than average scores. More attention should be paid to the sexual health needs of male adolescents. Policy makers need to design strategies that help meet the health needs of male adolescents.

Real-Time Detection and Measurement of Eye Features from Color Images

PubMed Central

Borza, Diana; Darabant, Adrian Sergiu; Danescu, Radu

2016-01-01

The accurate extraction and measurement of eye features is crucial to a variety of domains, including human-computer interaction, biometry, and medical research. This paper presents a fast and accurate method for extracting multiple features around the eyes: the center of the pupil, the iris radius, and the external shape of the eye. These features are extracted using a multistage algorithm. On the first stage the pupil center is localized using a fast circular symmetry detector and the iris radius is computed using radial gradient projections, and on the second stage the external shape of the eye (of the eyelids) is determined through a Monte Carlo sampling framework based on both color and shape information. Extensive experiments performed on a different dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. In addition, this work provides eye annotation data for a publicly-available database. PMID:27438838

Turbomachinery Design Using CFD (La Conception des Turbomachines par l’Aerodynamique Numerique).

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-05-01

Method for Flow Calculations in Turbomachines", Vrije Thompkins, W.T.,1981, "A Fortran Program for Calcu- Univ.Brussel, Dienst Stromingsmechanica, VUB- STR ...Model Equation for Simulating Flows in mung um Profile Multistage Turbomachinery MBB-Bericht Nr. UFE 1352, 1977 ASME paper 85-GT-226, Houston, March

Automated Simultaneous Assembly of Multistage Testlets for a High-Stakes Licensing Examination

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Breithaupt, Krista; Hare, Donovan R.

2007-01-01

Many challenges exist for high-stakes testing programs offering continuous computerized administration. The automated assembly of test questions to exactly meet content and other requirements, provide uniformity, and control item exposure can be modeled and solved by mixed-integer programming (MIP) methods. A case study of the computerized…

Imagery and Verbal Counseling Methods in Stress Inoculation Training for Pain Control.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Worthington, Everett L., Jr.; Shumate, Michael

1981-01-01

Pleasant imagery relieves pain and may account for much of the effectiveness of stress inoculation training. Women who used imagery controlled their pain better; women who did not use imagery had longer tolerance when they heard pain conceptualized as a multistage process. Self-instruction did not affect pain control. (Author)

Traumatic Events and Suicide-Related Outcomes among Mexico City Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Borges, Guilherme; Benjet, Corina; Medina-Mora, Maria Elena; Orozco, Ricardo; Molnar, Beth E.; Nock, Matthew K.

2008-01-01

Background: We report the prevalence and associations between traumatic events and suicidal ideation, suicide plans and suicide attempts among Mexican adolescents. Methods: The data are from a representative multistage probability household survey of 3,005 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years residing in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area that was…

A Study to Find Out the Full Immunization Coverage of 12 to 23-month old Children and Areas of Under-Performance using LQAS Technique in a Rural Area of Tripura

PubMed Central

Baidya, Subrata; Datta, Srabani; Mog, Chanda; Das, Shampa

2017-01-01

Introduction It is very important to analyze the factors which acts as obstacle in achieving 100% immunization among children. Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) is one of the effective method to assess such barriers. Aim To assess the full immunization coverage among 12 to 23-month old children of rural field practice area under Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College and identify the factors for failure of full immunization. Materials and Methods A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2013 to October 2014 on children aged 12 to 23 months old of area under Mohanpur Community health centre. Using LQAS technique 330 samples were selected with multi-stage sampling, each sub-centre being one lot and two calculated to be the decision value. Data was collected using pre-designed pre-tested questionnaire during home visit and verifying immunization card and analysed by computer software SPSS version 21.0. Results The full immunization coverage among 12 to 23 months old children of Mohanpur area was found as 91.67%. Out of all the 22 sub-centres, 36.36% was found under performing as per pre-fixed criteria and the main reasons for failure of full immunization in those areas are unawareness of need of subsequent doses of vaccines and illness of the children. Conclusion LQAS is an effective method to identify areas of under-performance even though overall full immunization coverage is high. PMID:28384892

A Systematic Approach to Determining the Identifiability of Multistage Carcinogenesis Models.

PubMed

Brouwer, Andrew F; Meza, Rafael; Eisenberg, Marisa C

2017-07-01

Multistage clonal expansion (MSCE) models of carcinogenesis are continuous-time Markov process models often used to relate cancer incidence to biological mechanism. Identifiability analysis determines what model parameter combinations can, theoretically, be estimated from given data. We use a systematic approach, based on differential algebra methods traditionally used for deterministic ordinary differential equation (ODE) models, to determine identifiable combinations for a generalized subclass of MSCE models with any number of preinitation stages and one clonal expansion. Additionally, we determine the identifiable combinations of the generalized MSCE model with up to four clonal expansion stages, and conjecture the results for any number of clonal expansion stages. The results improve upon previous work in a number of ways and provide a framework to find the identifiable combinations for further variations on the MSCE models. Finally, our approach, which takes advantage of the Kolmogorov backward equations for the probability generating functions of the Markov process, demonstrates that identifiability methods used in engineering and mathematics for systems of ODEs can be applied to continuous-time Markov processes. © 2016 Society for Risk Analysis.

a Fractal Analysis for Net Present Value of Multi-Stage Hydraulic Fractured Horizontal Well

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Hong-Lin; Zhang, Ji-Jun; Tan, Xiao-Hua; Li, Xiao-Ping; Zhao, Jia-Hui

Because of the low permeability, multi-stage hydraulic fractured horizontal wells (MHFHWs) occupy a dominant position among production wells in tight gas reservoir. However, net present value (NPV) estimation method for MHFHW in tight gas reservoirs often ignores the effect of heterogeneity in microscopic pore structure. Apart from that, a new fractal model is presented for NPV of MHFHW, based on the fractal expressions of formation parameters. First, with the aid of apparent permeability model, a pseudo pressure expression considering both reservoir fractal features and slippage effect is derived, contributing to establish the productivity model. Secondly, economic assessment method is built based on the fractal productivity model, in order to obtain the NPV of MHFHW. Thirdly, the type curves are illustrated and the influences of different fractal parameters are discussed. The pore fractal dimensions Df and the capillary tortuosity fractal dimensions DT have significant effects on the NPV of an MHFHW. Finally, the proposed model in this paper provides a new methodology for analyzing and predicting the NPV of an MHFHW and may be conducive to a better understanding of the optimal design of MHFHW.

Comorbid Visual and Psychiatric Disabilities Among the Chinese Elderly: A National Population-Based Survey.

PubMed

Guo, Chao; Wang, Zhenjie; Li, Ning; Chen, Gong; Zheng, Xiaoying

2017-12-01

To estimate the prevalence of, and association between, co-morbid visual and psychiatric disabilities among elderly (>65 years-of-age) persons in China. Random representative samples were obtained using multistage, stratified, cluster sampling, with probabilities proportional to size. Standard weighting procedures were used to construct sample weights that reflected this multistage, stratified cluster sampling survey scheme. Logistic regression models were used to elucidate associations between visual and psychiatric disabilities. Among the Chinese elderly, >160,000 persons have co-morbid visual and psychiatric disabilities. The weighted prevalence among this cohort is 123.7 per 100,000 persons. A higher prevalence of co-morbid visual and psychiatric disabilities was found in the oldest-old (p<0.001); women (65-79 years-of-age, p=0.001; ≥80 years-of-age, p=0.004); illiterate (65-79 years-of-age, p<0.001; ≥80 years-of-age, p=0.02); and single elders (65-79 years-of-age, p=0.01; ≥80 years-of-age, p=0.001). Presence of a visual disability was significantly associated with a higher risk of having a psychiatric disability among persons aged ≥80 years-of-age [adjusted odds ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.54]. A significant number of Chinese elderly persons were living with co-morbid visual and psychiatric disabilities. To address the challenge of these co-morbid disorders among Chinese elders, it is incumbent upon the government to implement additional and more comprehensive prevention and rehabilitation strategies for health-care systems, reinforce health promotion among the elderly, and improve accessibility to health-care services.

Hierarchical multistage MCMC follow-up of continuous gravitational wave candidates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashton, G.; Prix, R.

2018-05-01

Leveraging Markov chain Monte Carlo optimization of the F statistic, we introduce a method for the hierarchical follow-up of continuous gravitational wave candidates identified by wide-parameter space semicoherent searches. We demonstrate parameter estimation for continuous wave sources and develop a framework and tools to understand and control the effective size of the parameter space, critical to the success of the method. Monte Carlo tests of simulated signals in noise demonstrate that this method is close to the theoretical optimal performance.

Changes in Cartilage Biomarker Levels During a Transcontinental Multistage Footrace Over 4486 km.

PubMed

Mündermann, Annegret; Klenk, Christopher; Billich, Christian; Nüesch, Corina; Pagenstert, Geert; Schmidt-Trucksäss, Arno; Schütz, Uwe

2017-09-01

Cartilage turnover and load-induced tissue changes are frequently assessed by quantifying concentrations of cartilage biomarkers in serum. To date, information on the effects of ultramarathon running on articular cartilage is scarce. Serum concentrations of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, COL2-3/4C long mono (C2C), procollagen type II C-terminal propeptide (CPII), and C2C:CPII will increase throughout a multistage ultramarathon. Descriptive laboratory study. Blood samples were collected from 36 runners (4 female; mean age, 49.0 ± 10.7 years; mean body mass index, 23.1 ± 2.3 kg/m 2 [start] and 21.4 ± 1.9 kg/m 2 [finish]) before (t 0 ) and during (t 1 : 1002 km; t 2 : 2132 km; t 3 : 3234 km; t 4 : 4039 km) a 4486-km multistage ultramarathon. Serum COMP, MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, C2C, and CPII levels were assessed using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Linear mixed models were used to detect significant changes in serum biomarker levels over time with the time-varying covariates of body weight, running speed, and daily running time. Serum concentrations of COMP, MMP-9, and MMP-3 changed significantly throughout the multistage ultramarathon. On average, concentrations increased during the first measurement interval (MI1: t 1 -t 0 ) by 22.5% for COMP (95% CI, 0.29-0.71 ng/mL), 22.3% for MMP-3 (95% CI, 0.24-15.37 ng/mL), and 95.6% for MMP-9 (95% CI, 81.7-414.5 ng/mL) and remained stable throughout MI2, MI3, and MI4. Serum concentrations of MMP-1, C2C, CPII, and C2C:CPII did not change significantly throughout the multistage ultramarathon. Changes in MMP-3 were statistically associated with changes in COMP throughout the ultramarathon race (MMP-3: Wald Z = 3.476, P = .001). Elevated COMP levels indicate increased COMP turnover in response to extreme running, and the association between load-induced changes in MMP-3 and changes in COMP suggests the possibility that MMP-3 may be involved in the degradation of COMP. These results suggest that articular cartilage is able to adapt even to extreme physical activity, possibly explaining why the risk of degenerative joint disease is not elevated in the running population.

Multi-stage versus single-stage inflation and deflation cycle for alternating low pressure air mattresses to prevent pressure ulcers in hospitalised patients: a randomised-controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Demarré, L; Beeckman, D; Vanderwee, K; Defloor, T; Grypdonck, M; Verhaeghe, S

2012-04-01

The duration and the amount of pressure and shear must be reduced in order to minimize the risk of pressure ulcer development. Alternating low pressure air mattresses with multi-stage inflation and deflation cycle of the air cells have been developed to relieve pressure by sequentially inflating and deflating the air cells. Evidence about the effectiveness of this type of mattress in clinical practice is lacking. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of an alternating low pressure air mattress that has a standard single-stage inflation and deflation cycle of the air cells with an alternating low pressure air mattress with multi-stage inflation and deflation cycle of the air cells. A randomised controlled trial was performed in a convenience sample of 25 wards in five hospitals in Belgium. In total, 610 patients were included and randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=298) or the control group (n=312). In the experimental group, patients were allocated to an alternating low pressure air mattress with multi-stage inflation and deflation cycle of the air cells. In the control group, patients were allocated to an alternating low pressure air mattress with a standard single-stage inflation and deflation cycle of the air cells. The outcome was defined as cumulative pressure ulcer incidence (Grade II-IV). An intention-to-treat analysis was performed. There was no significant difference in cumulative pressure ulcer incidence (Grade II-IV) between both groups (Exp.=5.7%, Contr.=5.8%, p=0.97). When patients developed a pressure ulcer, the median time was 5.0 days in the experimental group (IQR=3.0-8.5) and 8.0 days in the control group (IQR=3.0-8.5) (Mann-Whitney U-test=113, p=0.182). The probability to remain pressure ulcer free during the observation period in this trial did not differ significantly between the experimental group and the control group (log-rank χ(2)=0.013, df=1, p=0.911). An alternating low pressure air mattress with multi-stage inflation and deflation of the air cells does not result in a significantly lower pressure ulcer incidence compared to an alternating low pressure air mattress with a standard single-stage inflation and deflation cycle of the air cells. Both alternating mattress types are equally effective to prevent pressure ulcer development. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Multi-stage decoding for multi-level block modulation codes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Shu

1991-01-01

In this paper, we investigate various types of multi-stage decoding for multi-level block modulation codes, in which the decoding of a component code at each stage can be either soft-decision or hard-decision, maximum likelihood or bounded-distance. Error performance of codes is analyzed for a memoryless additive channel based on various types of multi-stage decoding, and upper bounds on the probability of an incorrect decoding are derived. Based on our study and computation results, we find that, if component codes of a multi-level modulation code and types of decoding at various stages are chosen properly, high spectral efficiency and large coding gain can be achieved with reduced decoding complexity. In particular, we find that the difference in performance between the suboptimum multi-stage soft-decision maximum likelihood decoding of a modulation code and the single-stage optimum decoding of the overall code is very small: only a fraction of dB loss in SNR at the probability of an incorrect decoding for a block of 10(exp -6). Multi-stage decoding of multi-level modulation codes really offers a way to achieve the best of three worlds, bandwidth efficiency, coding gain, and decoding complexity.

Multistage Estimation Of Frequency And Phase

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kumar, Rajendra

1991-01-01

Conceptual two-stage software scheme serves as prototype of multistage scheme for digital estimation of phase, frequency, and rate of change of frequency ("Doppler rate") of possibly phase-modulated received sinusoidal signal in communication system in which transmitter and/or receiver traveling rapidly, accelerating, and/or jerking severely. Each additional stage of multistage scheme provides increasingly refined estimate of frequency and phase of signal. Conceived for use in estimating parameters of signals from spacecraft and high dynamic GPS signal parameters, also applicable, to terrestrial stationary/mobile (e.g., cellular radio) and land-mobile/satellite communication systems.

Multi-level scanning method for defect inspection

DOEpatents

Bokor, Jeffrey; Jeong, Seongtae

2002-01-01

A method for performing scanned defect inspection of a collection of contiguous areas using a specified false-alarm-rate and capture-rate within an inspection system that has characteristic seek times between inspection locations. The multi-stage method involves setting an increased false-alarm-rate for a first stage of scanning, wherein subsequent stages of scanning inspect only the detected areas of probable defects at lowered values for the false-alarm-rate. For scanning inspection operations wherein the seek time and area uncertainty is favorable, the method can substantially increase inspection throughput.

Factorial versus multi-arm multi-stage designs for clinical trials with multiple treatments.

PubMed

Jaki, Thomas; Vasileiou, Despina

2017-02-20

When several treatments are available for evaluation in a clinical trial, different design options are available. We compare multi-arm multi-stage with factorial designs, and in particular, we will consider a 2 × 2 factorial design, where groups of patients will either take treatments A, B, both or neither. We investigate the performance and characteristics of both types of designs under different scenarios and compare them using both theory and simulations. For the factorial designs, we construct appropriate test statistics to test the hypothesis of no treatment effect against the control group with overall control of the type I error. We study the effect of the choice of the allocation ratios on the critical value and sample size requirements for a target power. We also study how the possibility of an interaction between the two treatments A and B affects type I and type II errors when testing for significance of each of the treatment effects. We present both simulation results and a case study on an osteoarthritis clinical trial. We discover that in an optimal factorial design in terms of minimising the associated critical value, the corresponding allocation ratios differ substantially to those of a balanced design. We also find evidence of potentially big losses in power in factorial designs for moderate deviations from the study design assumptions and little gain compared with multi-arm multi-stage designs when the assumptions hold. © 2016 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. © 2016 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Using Fourier transform IR spectroscopy to analyze biological materials

PubMed Central

Baker, Matthew J; Trevisan, Júlio; Bassan, Paul; Bhargava, Rohit; Butler, Holly J; Dorling, Konrad M; Fielden, Peter R; Fogarty, Simon W; Fullwood, Nigel J; Heys, Kelly A; Hughes, Caryn; Lasch, Peter; Martin-Hirsch, Pierre L; Obinaju, Blessing; Sockalingum, Ganesh D; Sulé-Suso, Josep; Strong, Rebecca J; Walsh, Michael J; Wood, Bayden R; Gardner, Peter; Martin, Francis L

2015-01-01

IR spectroscopy is an excellent method for biological analyses. It enables the nonperturbative, label-free extraction of biochemical information and images toward diagnosis and the assessment of cell functionality. Although not strictly microscopy in the conventional sense, it allows the construction of images of tissue or cell architecture by the passing of spectral data through a variety of computational algorithms. Because such images are constructed from fingerprint spectra, the notion is that they can be an objective reflection of the underlying health status of the analyzed sample. One of the major difficulties in the field has been determining a consensus on spectral pre-processing and data analysis. This manuscript brings together as coauthors some of the leaders in this field to allow the standardization of methods and procedures for adapting a multistage approach to a methodology that can be applied to a variety of cell biological questions or used within a clinical setting for disease screening or diagnosis. We describe a protocol for collecting IR spectra and images from biological samples (e.g., fixed cytology and tissue sections, live cells or biofluids) that assesses the instrumental options available, appropriate sample preparation, different sampling modes as well as important advances in spectral data acquisition. After acquisition, data processing consists of a sequence of steps including quality control, spectral pre-processing, feature extraction and classification of the supervised or unsupervised type. A typical experiment can be completed and analyzed within hours. Example results are presented on the use of IR spectra combined with multivariate data processing. PMID:24992094

Design of Multistage Axial-Flow Compressors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crouse, J. E.; Gorrell, W. T.

1983-01-01

Program developed for computing aerodynamic design of multistage axialflow compressor and associated blading geometry input for internal flow analysis. Aerodynamic solution gives velocity diagrams on selected streamlines of revolution at blade row edges. Program written in FORTRAN IV.

The influence of the "cage" effect on the mechanism of reversible bimolecular multistage chemical reactions proceeding from different sites in solutions.

PubMed

Doktorov, Alexander B

2016-08-28

Manifestations of the "cage" effect at the encounters of reactants have been theoretically treated on the example of multistage reactions (including bimolecular exchange reactions as elementary stages) proceeding from different active sites in liquid solutions. It is shown that for reactions occurring near the contact of reactants, consistent consideration of quasi-stationary kinetics of such multistage reactions (possible in the framework of the encounter theory only) can be made on the basis of chemical concepts of the "cage complex," just as in the case of one-site model described in the literature. Exactly as in the one-site model, the presence of the "cage" effect gives rise to new channels of reactant transformation that cannot result from elementary event of chemical conversion for the given reaction mechanism. Besides, the multisite model demonstrates new (as compared to one-site model) features of multistage reaction course.

Computer program for aerodynamic and blading design of multistage axial-flow compressors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crouse, J. E.; Gorrell, W. T.

1981-01-01

A code for computing the aerodynamic design of a multistage axial-flow compressor and, if desired, the associated blading geometry input for internal flow analysis codes is presented. Compressible flow, which is assumed to be steady and axisymmetric, is the basis for a two-dimensional solution in the meridional plane with viscous effects modeled by pressure loss coefficients and boundary layer blockage. The radial equation of motion and the continuity equation are solved with the streamline curvature method on calculation stations outside the blade rows. The annulus profile, mass flow, pressure ratio, and rotative speed are input. A number of other input parameters specify and control the blade row aerodynamics and geometry. In particular, blade element centerlines and thicknesses can be specified with fourth degree polynomials for two segments. The output includes a detailed aerodynamic solution and, if desired, blading coordinates that can be used for internal flow analysis codes.

Effects of gear box vibration and mass imbalance on the dynamics of multi-stage gear transmissions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choy, Fred K.; Tu, Yu K.; Zakrajsek, James J.; Townsend, Dennis P.

1991-01-01

The dynamic behavior of multistage gear transmission system, with the effects of gear-box-induced vibrations and rotor mass-imbalances is analyzed. The model method, using undamped frequencies and planar mode shapes, is used to reduce the degree-of-freedom of the system. The various rotor-bearing stages as well as lateral and torsional vibrations of each individual stage are coupled through localized gear-mesh-tooth interactions. Gear-box vibrations are coupled to the gear stage dynamics through bearing support forces. Transient and steady state dynamics of lateral and torsional vibrations of the geared system are examined in both time and frequency domain. A typical three-staged geared system is used as an example. Effects of mass-imbalance and gear box vibrations on the system dynamic behavior are presented in terms of modal excitation functions for both lateral and torsional vibrations. Operational characteristics and conclusions are drawn from the results presented.

Multistage electronic nematic transitions in cuprate superconductors: A functional-renormalization-group analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsuchiizu, Masahisa; Kawaguchi, Kouki; Yamakawa, Youichi; Kontani, Hiroshi

2018-04-01

Recently, complex rotational symmetry-breaking phenomena have been discovered experimentally in cuprate superconductors. To find the realized order parameters, we study various unconventional charge susceptibilities in an unbiased way by applying the functional-renormalization-group method to the d -p Hubbard model. Without assuming the wave vector of the order parameter, we reveal that the most dominant instability is the uniform (q =0 ) charge modulation on the px and py orbitals, which possesses d symmetry. This uniform nematic order triggers another nematic p -orbital density wave along the axial (Cu-Cu) direction at Qa≈(π /2 ,0 ) . It is predicted that uniform nematic order is driven by the spin fluctuations in the pseudogap region, and another nematic density-wave order at q =Qa is triggered by the uniform order. The predicted multistage nematic transitions are caused by Aslamazov-Larkin-type fluctuation-exchange processes.

Effects of gear box vibration and mass imbalance on the dynamics of multistage gear transmission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choy, F. K.; Tu, Y. K.; Zakrajsek, J. J.; Townsend, D. P.

1991-01-01

The dynamic behavior of multistage gear transmission system, with the effects of gear-box-induced vibrations and rotor mass-imbalances is analyzed. The model method, using undamped frequencies and planar mode shapes, is used to reduce the degree-of-freedom of the system. The various rotor-bearing stages as well as lateral and torsional vibrations of each individual stage are coupled through localized gear-mesh-tooth interactions. Gear-box vibrations are coupled to the gear stage dynamics through bearing support forces. Transient and steady state dynamics of lateral and torsional vibrations of the geared system are examined in both time and frequency domain. A typical three-staged geared system is used as an example. Effects of mass-imbalance and gear box vibrations on the system dynamic behavior are presented in terms of modal excitation functions for both lateral and torsional vibrations. Operational characteristics and conclusions are drawn from the results presented.

Fashion sketch design by interactive genetic algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mok, P. Y.; Wang, X. X.; Xu, J.; Kwok, Y. L.

2012-11-01

Computer aided design is vitally important for the modern industry, particularly for the creative industry. Fashion industry faced intensive challenges to shorten the product development process. In this paper, a methodology is proposed for sketch design based on interactive genetic algorithms. The sketch design system consists of a sketch design model, a database and a multi-stage sketch design engine. First, a sketch design model is developed based on the knowledge of fashion design to describe fashion product characteristics by using parameters. Second, a database is built based on the proposed sketch design model to define general style elements. Third, a multi-stage sketch design engine is used to construct the design. Moreover, an interactive genetic algorithm (IGA) is used to accelerate the sketch design process. The experimental results have demonstrated that the proposed method is effective in helping laypersons achieve satisfied fashion design sketches.

Identification of Poly-N-Acetyllactosamine-Carrying Glycoproteins from HL-60 Human Promyelocytic Leukemia Cells Using a Site-Specific Glycome Analysis Method, Glyco-RIDGE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Togayachi, Akira; Tomioka, Azusa; Fujita, Mika; Sukegawa, Masako; Noro, Erika; Takakura, Daisuke; Miyazaki, Michiyo; Shikanai, Toshihide; Narimatsu, Hisashi; Kaji, Hiroyuki

2018-04-01

To elucidate the relationship between the protein function and the diversity and heterogeneity of glycans conjugated to the protein, glycosylation sites, glycan variation, and glycan proportions at each site of the glycoprotein must be analyzed. Glycopeptide-based structural analysis technology using mass spectrometry has been developed; however, complicated analyses of complex spectra obtained by multistage fragmentation are necessary, and sensitivity and throughput of the analyses are low. Therefore, we developed a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (MS)-based glycopeptide analysis method to reveal the site-specific glycome (Glycan heterogeneity-based Relational IDentification of Glycopeptide signals on Elution profile, Glyco-RIDGE). This method used accurate masses and retention times of glycopeptides, without requiring MS2, and could be applied to complex mixtures. To increase the number of identified peptide, fractionation of sample glycopeptides for reduction of sample complexity is required. Therefore, in this study, glycopeptides were fractionated into four fractions by hydrophilic interaction chromatography, and each fraction was analyzed using the Glyco-RIDGE method. As a result, many glycopeptides having long glycans were enriched in the highest hydrophilic fraction. Based on the monosaccharide composition, these glycans were thought to be poly-N-acetyllactosamine (polylactosamine [pLN]), and 31 pLN-carrier proteins were identified in HL-60 cells. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that pLN carriers included many molecules related to signal transduction, receptors, and cell adhesion. Thus, these findings provided important insights into the analysis of the glycoproteome using our novel Glyco-RIDGE method. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

TADS: A CFD-Based Turbomachinery Analysis and Design System with GUI: Methods and Results. 2.0

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koiro, M. J.; Myers, R. A.; Delaney, R. A.

1999-01-01

The primary objective of this study was the development of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based turbomachinery airfoil analysis and design system, controlled by a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The computer codes resulting from this effort are referred to as TADS (Turbomachinery Analysis and Design System). This document is the Final Report describing the theoretical basis and analytical results from the TADS system developed under Task 10 of NASA Contract NAS3-27394, ADPAC System Coupling to Blade Analysis & Design System GUI, Phase II-Loss, Design and. Multi-stage Analysis. TADS couples a throughflow solver (ADPAC) with a quasi-3D blade-to-blade solver (RVCQ3D) or a 3-D solver with slip condition on the end walls (B2BADPAC) in an interactive package. Throughflow analysis and design capability was developed in ADPAC through the addition of blade force and blockage terms to the governing equations. A GUI was developed to simplify user input and automate the many tasks required to perform turbomachinery analysis and design. The coupling of the various programs was done in such a way that alternative solvers or grid generators could be easily incorporated into the TADS framework. Results of aerodynamic calculations using the TADS system are presented for a multistage compressor, a multistage turbine, two highly loaded fans, and several single stage compressor and turbine example cases.

A Study to Find Out the Full Immunization Coverage of 12 to 23-month old Children and Areas of Under-Performance using LQAS Technique in a Rural Area of Tripura.

PubMed

Datta, Anjan; Baidya, Subrata; Datta, Srabani; Mog, Chanda; Das, Shampa

2017-02-01

It is very important to analyze the factors which acts as obstacle in achieving 100% immunization among children. Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) is one of the effective method to assess such barriers. To assess the full immunization coverage among 12 to 23-month old children of rural field practice area under Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College and identify the factors for failure of full immunization. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2013 to October 2014 on children aged 12 to 23 months old of area under Mohanpur Community health centre. Using LQAS technique 330 samples were selected with multi-stage sampling, each sub-centre being one lot and two calculated to be the decision value. Data was collected using pre-designed pre-tested questionnaire during home visit and verifying immunization card and analysed by computer software SPSS version 21.0. The full immunization coverage among 12 to 23 months old children of Mohanpur area was found as 91.67%. Out of all the 22 sub-centres, 36.36% was found under performing as per pre-fixed criteria and the main reasons for failure of full immunization in those areas are unawareness of need of subsequent doses of vaccines and illness of the children. LQAS is an effective method to identify areas of under-performance even though overall full immunization coverage is high.

Comparative Stress Levels among Residents in Three Chinese Provincial Capitals, 2001 and 2008

PubMed Central

Yang, Tingzhong; Wu, Dan; Zhang, Weifang; Cottrell, Randall R.; Rockett, Ian R. H.

2012-01-01

Objectives To compare stress levels among residents in large Chinese cities between 2001 and 2008. Methods Survey data were collected in three mainland Chinese capital cities in two waves, in 2001 and 2008, respectively. Participants were recruited through a multi-stage stratified sampling process. Stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale, Chinese version (CPSS). Descriptive methods were used to estimate mean stress levels and associated 95% confidence intervals. Estimates were adjusted by post-stratification weights. Results Indicating stable stress levels, respective adjusted mean stress scores for the combined samples of study participants were 23.90 (95%CI: 23.68–24.12) in 2001 and 23.69 (95%CI: 23.38–24.01) in 2008. A lower stress level in 2008 than in 2001 manifested among residents who were under 25 years of age; female; with a college or higher level education; divorced, widowed, or separated; members of the managerial and clerical group; students or army personnel; or with an annual income of at least 30,000 RMB. Conclusion The overall stress level did not change among the combined sample of residents in the three Chinese study cities between 2001 and 2008. However, levels remained high and varied across social strata, and may have reflected a national trend among urban residents. Findings indicate a need for a new health policy, and call for the design and implementation of evidence-based interventions that target the highest-risk groups. PMID:23152832

Multi-stage Mass Spectrometry of Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and Its Vinyl Succinimide Copolymer Formed upon Exposure to Sodium Hypochlorite

PubMed Central

Fouquet, Thierry; Torimura, Masaki; Sato, Hiroaki

2016-01-01

The degradation routes of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) exposed to sodium hypochlorite (bleach) have been previously investigated using chemical analyses such as infrared spectroscopy. So far, no reports have proposed mass spectrometry (MS) as an alternative tool despite its capability to provide molecular and structural information using its single stage electrospray (ESI) or matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) and multi stage (MSn) configurations, respectively. The present study thus reports on the characterization of PVP after its exposure to bleach by high resolution MALDI spiralTOF-MS and Kendrick mass defect analysis providing clues as to the formation of a vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl succinimide copolymeric degradation product. A thorough investigation of the fragmentation pathways of PVP adducted with sodium and proton allows one main route to be described—namely the release of the pyrrolidone pendant group in a charge remote and charge driven mechanism, respectively. Extrapolating this fragmentation pathway, the oxidation of vinyl pyrrolidone into vinyl succinimide hypothesized from the single stage MS is validated by the detection of an alternative succinimide neutral loss in lieu of the pyrrolidone release in the ESI-MSn spectra of the aged PVP sample. It constitutes an example of application of multi-stage mass spectrometry for the characterization of the degradation of polymeric samples at a molecular level. PMID:27800293

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

Spitz, A.H.; Boynton, W.V.

Six ureilites (ALHA77257, ALHA81101, ALH82130, PCA82506, Kanna, and Novo Urei) were analyzed using neutron activation analysis for Ca, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Ga, REE, W, Re, Os, Ir, and Au. The authors examined bulk samples as well as acid-treated samples. In bulk samples the refractory siderophiles' concentrations range from approximately 0.1 to 1.0 times CI chondrites while the volatile siderophiles' concentrations range from approximately 0.1 to 1.0 times CI chondrites while the volatile siderophiles range from about 0.07 to 0.3 times CI chondrites. Rare earth elements (REEs) in ureilites are quite depleted and display light and heavymore » rare earth enrichments. The Antarctic meteorites display either much less pronounced v-shaped patterns or no enrichment in the light rare earths at all. In terms of the new trace-element results, ureilites do not fall into the coherent groups that other workers have defined by chemical or petrographic characteristics. Trace elements do provide additional constraints on the models for the petrogenesis of ureilites. In particular, the siderophile element abundances call for simplified models of chemical processing rather than the complex, multistage processing called for in silicate fractionation models. REE concentrations, on the other hand, imply multistage processing to produce the ureilites. None of the ureilite petrogenesis models extant account for the trace element data. These new data and the considerations of them with respect to the proposed ureilite petrogenesis models indicate that the direction of modeling should be toward contemplation of mixtures and how the components the authors observe in ureilites behave under such conditions.« less

Design and operation of the national home health aide survey: 2007-2008.

PubMed

Bercovitz, Anita; Moss, Abigail J; Sengupta, Manisha; Harris-Kojetin, Lauren D; Squillace, Marie R; Emily, Rosenoff; Branden, Laura

2010-03-01

This report provides an overview of the National Home Health Aide Survey (NHHAS), the first national probability survey of home health aides. NHHAS was designed to provide national estimates of home health aides who provided assistance in activities of daily living (ADLs) and were directly employed by agencies that provide home health and/or hospice care. This report discusses the need for and objectives of the survey, the design process, the survey methods, and data availability. METHODS NHHAS, a multistage probability sample survey, was conducted as a supplement to the 2007 National Home and Hospice Care Survey (NHHCS). Agencies providing home health and/or hospice care were sampled, and then aides employed by these agencies were sampled and interviewed by telephone. Survey topics included recruitment, training, job history, family life, client relations, work-related injuries, and demographics. NHHAS was virtually identical to the 2004 National Nursing Assistant Survey of certified nursing assistants employed in sampled nursing homes with minor changes to account for differences in workplace environment and responsibilities. RESULTS From September 2007 to April 2008, interviews were completed with 3,416 aides. A public-use data file that contains the interview responses, sampling weights, and design variables is available. The NHHAS overall response rate weighted by the inverse of the probability of selection was 41 percent. This rate is the product of the weighted first-stage agency response rate of 57 percent (i.e., weighted response rate of 59 percent for agency participation in NHHCS times the weighted response rate of 97 percent for agencies participating in NHHCS that also participated in NHHAS) and the weighted second-stage aide response rate of 72 percent to NHHAS.

Rapid resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection for metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies of ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one.

PubMed

Zhao, Ying-Yong; Qin, Xiang-Yang; Cheng, Xian-Long; Liu, Xue-Ying; Lin, Rui-Chao; Zhang, Yongmin; Li, Xiao-Ye; Sun, Xiao-Li; Sun, Wen-Ji

2010-08-24

Ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (ergone) from many medicinal plants has been demonstrated to possess a variety of pharmacological activities in vivo and in vitro, including cytotoxic, diuretic and immunosuppressive activity. Metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies on rat were conducted for ergone. Rapid resolution liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem multi-stage mass spectrometry (RRLC-APCI-MS(n)) and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) methods were applied for the identification and quantification of ergone and its metabolite from rat plasma, faeces and urine. A metabolite was identified by RRLC-DAD-APCI-MS(n): 22,23-epoxy-ergosta-4,6,8(14)-triaen-3-one (epoxyergone). The concentrations of the analyte with its metabolites were determined by HPLC-FLD at excitation wavelength of 370 nm and emission wavelength of 485 nm. The samples were deproteinized with methanol after addition of camptothecin as internal standard (IS). The analysis was performed on a Diamonsil C18 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm x 5 microm) with a mobile phase gradient consisting of methanol and water at a flow rate of 1 mL min(-1). The assay was linear over the concentration range of 42-1500, 36-7500 and 42-1500 ng mL(-1) for plasma, faecal homogenate and urine respectively. The absolute recoveries were found to be 97.0+/-1.2%, 98.1+/-0.7% and 96.6+/-1.8% for plasma, faecal homogenate and urine respectively. The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSD) were less than 10%. The previous HPLC-MS/MS method is not affordable for most laboratories because of the specialty requirement and high equipment cost. However, the HPLC-FLD method is economic and operating simply for quantitative determination of ergone and its metabolite in rat plasma, faeces and urine. In addition, liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap multi-stage mass spectrometry is becoming a useful technique for ergone metabolite identification. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Attitudes Toward Domestic Violence and Corporal Punishment Among Former Soviet Union Immigrants in Israel.

PubMed

Enosh, Guy; Leshem, Elazar; Buchbinder, Eli

2016-10-01

The study regards attitudes of Russian immigrants in Israel toward wife abuse and corporal punishment. The sample consisted of 1,028 participants, based on a multistage cluster sampling. The study used a questionnaire related to immigration, acculturation, and attitudinal issues. The findings indicate a dual-causal model, in which corporal punishment attitudes contribute to wife abuse attitudes and vice versa. However, the effect of attitudes supporting corporal punishment was stronger than the effect of wife abuse attitudes, indicating that the attitudinal system as a precursor of violent behavior is already merging the two types of violence. © The Author(s) 2016.

Predictors and correlations of emotional intelligence among medical students at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah

PubMed Central

Ibrahim, Nahla Khamis; Algethmi, Wafaa Ali; Binshihon, Safia Mohammad; Almahyawi, Rawan Aesh; Alahmadi, Razan Faisal; Baabdullah, Maha Yousef

2017-01-01

Objectives: To determine the predictors of Emotional Intelligence (EI), and its relationship with academic performance, leadership capacity, self-efficacy and the perceived stress between medical students at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 540 students selected through a multi-stage stratified random sampling method during 2015/2016. A standardized, confidential data collection sheet was used. It included Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence (SSREI) scale, Authentic Leadership questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Scale and the short version of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4). Both descriptive and inferential statistics were done, and a multiple linear regression model was constructed. Results: The predictors of high EI were gender (female), increasing age, and being non-smoker. EI was positively associated with better academic performance, leadership capacity and self-efficacy. It was negatively correlated to perceived-stress. Conclusion: Female gender, age, non-smoking were the predictors of high EI. Conduction of holistic training programs on EI, leadership and self-efficacy are recommended. More smoking control programs and stress management courses are required. PMID:29142542

Data collection and assessment of commonly consumed foods and recipes in six geo-political zones in Nigeria: important for the development of a National Food Composition Database and Dietary Assessment.

PubMed

Ene-Obong, Henrietta N; Sanusi, Rasaki A; Udenta, Elizabeth A; Williams, Ima O; Anigo, Kola M; Chibuzo, Elizabeth C; Aliyu, Hassan M; Ekpe, Onot O; Davidson, Gloria I

2013-10-01

A cross-sectional study was undertaken to collect and assess commonly consumed foods/recipes from the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria for the production of food composition database (FCDB) for dietary assessment. Communities used were selected using a multi-stage sampling plan. Focus group discussions, interviews, recipe documentation, food preparations and literature reviews were employed. Qualitative methods were used to analyse and present data. SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis was used to evaluate the project. A total of 322 recipes were collected out of which 110 were soups. Food consumption patterns across the geographical zones were found to be changing. Variations in recipes and methods of preparation of similar foods were observed. Factors to be considered in the development of a country-specific FCDB were identified. There were challenges with the use of values reported in literature for Nigerian foods. The study justifies the need for a country-specific FCDB that will include traditional recipes. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The relationship between consanguineous marriage and death in fetus and infants.

PubMed

Mohammadi, Majid Mehr; Hooman, Heidar Ali; Afrooz, Gholam Ali; Daramadi, Parviz Sharifi

2012-05-01

Given the high prevalence of consanguineous marriages in rural and urban areas of Iran, the aim of this study was to identify its role in increasing fetal and infant deaths. This was a cross-sectional study in which 494 mothers with more than one exceptional child (mentally retarded and physically-dynamically disabled) or with normal children were selected based on multi-stage random sampling method. Data was gathered using the features of parents with more than one exceptional child questionnaire. The validity and reliability of this questionnaire was acceptable. Hierarchical log-linear method was used for statistical analysis. Consanguineous marriage significantly increased the number of births of exceptional children. Moreover, there was a significant relation between the history of fetal/infant death and belonging to the group. There was a significant relation between consanguineous marriage and the history of fetal/infant death which means consanguineous marriage increased the prevalence of fetal/infant death in parents with exceptional children rather than in parents with normal children. The rate of fetal/infant death in exceptional births of consanguineous marriages was higher than that of non-consanguineous marriages.

The relationship between consanguineous marriage and death in fetus and infants

PubMed Central

Mohammadi, Majid Mehr; Hooman, Heidar Ali; Afrooz, Gholam Ali; Daramadi, Parviz Sharifi

2012-01-01

Background: Given the high prevalence of consanguineous marriages in rural and urban areas of Iran, the aim of this study was to identify its role in increasing fetal and infant deaths. Materials ans Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 494 mothers with more than one exceptional child (mentally retarded and physically-dynamically disabled) or with normal children were selected based on multi-stage random sampling method. Data was gathered using the features of parents with more than one exceptional child questionnaire. The validity and reliability of this questionnaire was acceptable. Hierarchical log-linear method was used for statistical analysis. Results: Consanguineous marriage significantly increased the number of births of exceptional children. Moreover, there was a significant relation between the history of fetal/infant death and belonging to the group. There was a significant relation between consanguineous marriage and the history of fetal/infant death which means consanguineous marriage increased the prevalence of fetal/infant death in parents with exceptional children rather than in parents with normal children. Conclusions: The rate of fetal/infant death in exceptional births of consanguineous marriages was higher than that of non-consanguineous marriages. PMID:23626609

Developing a Measure of Stigma by Association with African American Adolescents Whose Mothers Have HIV

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mason, Sally; Berger, Barbara; Ferrans, Carol Estwing; Sultzman, Vickey; Fendrich, Michael

2010-01-01

Objectives: African American urban adolescents are one of the fastest growing groups of children affected by their mother's HIV status. These children experience HIV stigma by association with their HIV-positive mothers. Stigma may contribute to adverse outcomes for these teens. Methods: The authors describe a multistage process of scale…

Predicting the Performance of an Axial-Flow Compressor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steinke, R. J.

1986-01-01

Stage-stacking computer code (STGSTK) developed for predicting off-design performance of multi-stage axial-flow compressors. Code uses meanline stagestacking method. Stage and cumulative compressor performance calculated from representative meanline velocity diagrams located at rotor inlet and outlet meanline radii. Numerous options available within code. Code developed so user modify correlations to suit their needs.

Spatial dynamics of large-scale, multistage crab (Callinectes sapidus) dispersal: Determinants and consequences for recruitment

USGS Publications Warehouse

Etherington, L.L.; Eggleston, D.B.

2003-01-01

We assessed determinants and consequences of multistage dispersal on spatial recruitment of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, within the Croatan, Albemarle, Pamlico Estuarine System (CAPES), North Carolina, U.S.A. Large-scale sampling of early juvenile crabs over 4 years indicated that spatial abundance patterns were size-dependent and resulted from primary post-larval dispersal (pre-settlement) and secondary juvenile dispersal (early post-settlement). In general, primary dispersal led to high abundances within more seaward habitats, whereas secondary dispersal (which was relatively consistent) expanded the distribution of juveniles, potentially increasing the estuarine nursery capacity. There were strong relationships between juvenile crab density and specific wind characteristics; however, these patterns were spatially explicit. Various physical processes (e.g., seasonal wind events, timing and magnitude of tropical cyclones) interacted to influence dispersal during multiple stages and determined crab recruitment patterns. Our results suggest that the nursery value of different habitats is highly dependent on the dispersal potential (primary and secondary dispersal) to and from these areas, which is largely determined by the relative position of habitats within the estuarine landscape.

Removal of CO2 in a multistage fluidized bed reactor by diethanol amine impregnated activated carbon.

PubMed

Das, Dipa; Samal, Debi Prasad; Meikap, Bhim C

2016-07-28

To mitigate the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), we have developed and designed a four-stage fluidized bed reactor. There is a counter current exchange between solid adsorbent and gas flow. In this present investigation diethanol amine (DEA) impregnated activated carbon made from green coconut shell was used as adsorbent. This type of adsorbent not only adsorbs CO2 due to the presence of pore but also chemically reacts with CO2 and form secondary zwitterions. Sampling and analysis of CO2 was performed using Orsat apparatus. The effect of initial CO2 concentration, gas velocity, solid rate, weir height etc. on removal efficiency of CO2 have been investigated and presented. The percentage removal of CO2 has been found close to 80% under low gas flow rate (0.188 m/s), high solid flow rate (4.12 kg/h) and weir height of 50 mm. From this result it has been found out that multistage fluidized bed reactor may be a suitable equipment for removal of CO2 from flue gas.

Mars integrated transportation system multistage Mars mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

In accordance with the objective of the Mars Integrated Transport System (MITS) program, the Multistage Mars Mission (MSMM) design team developed a profile for a manned mission to Mars. The purpose of the multistage mission is to send a crew of five astronauts to the martian surface by the year 2019. The mission continues man's eternal quest for exploration of new frontiers. This mission has a scheduled duration of 426 days that includes experimentation en route as well as surface exploration and experimentation. The MSMM is also designed as a foundation for a continuing program leading to the colonization of the planet Mars.

[Advances in studies on multi-stage countercurrent extraction technology in traditional Chinese medicine].

PubMed

Xie, Zhi-Peng; Liu, Xue-Song; Chen, Yong; Cai, Ming; Qu, Hai-Bin; Cheng, Yi-Yu

2007-05-01

Multi-stage countercurrent extraction technology, integrating solvent extraction, repercolation with dynamic and countercurrent extraction, is a novel extraction technology for the traditional Chinese medicine. This solvent-saving, energy-saving and high-extraction-efficiency technology can at the most drive active compounds to diffuse from the herbal materials into the solvent stage by stage by creating concentration differences between the herbal materials and the solvents. This paper reviewed the basic principle, the influence factors and the research progress and trends of the equipments and the application of the multi-stage countercurrent extraction.

Full 3D Analysis of the GE90 Turbofan Primary Flowpath

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Turner, Mark G.

2000-01-01

The multistage simulations of the GE90 turbofan primary flowpath components have been performed. The multistage CFD code, APNASA, has been used to analyze the fan, fan OGV and booster, the 10-stage high-pressure compressor and the entire turbine system of the GE90 turbofan engine. The code has two levels of parallel, and for the 18 blade row full turbine simulation has 87.3 percent parallel efficiency with 121 processors on an SGI ORIGIN. Grid generation is accomplished with the multistage Average Passage Grid Generator, APG. Results for each component are shown which compare favorably with test data.

Application of the theory of reasoned action to promoting breakfast consumption

PubMed Central

Hosseini, Zahra; Gharlipour Gharghani, Zabihollah; Mansoori, Anahita; Aghamolaei, Teamur; Mohammadi Nasrabadi, Maryam

2015-01-01

Background: Breakfast is the most important daily meal, but neglected more than other meals by children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention, based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to increase breakfast consumption among school children in Bandar Abbas, Iran. Methods: In this quasi experimental study which was conducted in 2012, 88 students of four secondary schools in Bandar Abbas, south of Iran, were enrolled. Multi-stage cluster sampling was performed with random allocation of interventional and control groups. The study tool was a questionnaire which was filled by the students before and two months after the educational intervention. For data analysis, statistical tests including paired-samples t-test, independent samples t-test, Wilcoxon test, and Mann-Whitney test were used through SPSS v.18 software. Results: The result of the study showed that application of TRA significantly increased scores of behavior of breakfast consumption (p<0.01). After the intervention, a significant increase was revealed in all nutrition intakes, except for fat and sugar (p<0.01). Conclusion: The findings support application of the TRA in improving the intention and behavior of breakfast consumption. Applying this theory for designing interventions to increase breakfast eating is recommended. PMID:26913252

Identifying Factors Associated with Risk Assessment Competencies of Public Health Emergency Responders.

PubMed

Hao, Jiejing; Ren, Jiaojiao; Wu, Qunhong; Hao, Yanhua; Sun, Hong; Ning, Ning; Ding, Ding

2017-06-04

This study aimed to better understand the current situation of risk assessment and identify the factors associated with competence of emergency responders in public health risk assessment. The participants were selected by a multi-stage, stratified cluster sampling method in Heilongjiang Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The questionnaires that measured their perceptions on risk assessment competences were administered through the face-to-face survey. A final sample of 1889 staff was obtained. Of this sample, 78.6% of respondents rated their own risk assessment competences as "relatively low", contrasting with 21.4% rated as "relatively high". Most of the respondents (62.7%) did not participate in any risk assessment work. Only 13.7% and 42.7% of respondents reported participating in risk assessment training and were familiar with risk assessment tools. There existed statistical significance between risk assessment-related characteristics of respondents and their self-rated competences scores. Financial support from the government and administrative attention were regarded as the important factors contributing to risk assessment competences of CDC responders. Higher attention should be given to risk assessment training and enhancing the availability of surveillance data. Continuous efforts should be made to remove the financial and technical obstacles to improve the competences of risk assessment for public health emergency responders.

Identifying Factors Associated with Risk Assessment Competencies of Public Health Emergency Responders

PubMed Central

Hao, Jiejing; Ren, Jiaojiao; Wu, Qunhong; Hao, Yanhua; Sun, Hong; Ning, Ning; Ding, Ding

2017-01-01

This study aimed to better understand the current situation of risk assessment and identify the factors associated with competence of emergency responders in public health risk assessment. The participants were selected by a multi-stage, stratified cluster sampling method in Heilongjiang Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The questionnaires that measured their perceptions on risk assessment competences were administered through the face-to-face survey. A final sample of 1889 staff was obtained. Of this sample, 78.6% of respondents rated their own risk assessment competences as “relatively low”, contrasting with 21.4% rated as “relatively high”. Most of the respondents (62.7%) did not participate in any risk assessment work. Only 13.7% and 42.7% of respondents reported participating in risk assessment training and were familiar with risk assessment tools. There existed statistical significance between risk assessment-related characteristics of respondents and their self-rated competences scores. Financial support from the government and administrative attention were regarded as the important factors contributing to risk assessment competences of CDC responders. Higher attention should be given to risk assessment training and enhancing the availability of surveillance data. Continuous efforts should be made to remove the financial and technical obstacles to improve the competences of risk assessment for public health emergency responders. PMID:28587226

Design considerations for a pressure-driven multi-stage rocket

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sauerwein, Steven Craig

2002-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of using propellant tank pressurization to eliminate the use of high-pressure turbopumps in multi-stage liquid-fueled satellite launchers. Several new technologies were examined to reduce the mass of such a rocket. Composite materials have a greater strength-to-weight ratio than metals and can be used to reduce the weight of rocket propellant tanks and structure. Catalytically combined hydrogen and oxygen can be used to heat pressurization gas, greatly reducing the amount of gas required. Ablatively cooled rocket engines can reduce the complexity and cost of the rocket. Methods were derived to estimate the mass of the various rocket components. These included a method to calculate the amount of gas needed to pressurize a propellant tank by modeling the behavior of the pressurization gas as the liquid propellant flows out of the tank. A way to estimate the mass and size of a ablatively cooled composite cased rocket engine. And a method to model the flight of such a rocket through the atmosphere in conjunction with optimization of the rockets trajectory. The results show that while a liquid propellant rocket using tank pressurization are larger than solid propellant rockets and turbopump driven liquid propellant rockets, they are not impractically large.

Development of a spatial sampling protocol using GIS to measure health disparities in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, a medium-sized African city.

PubMed

Kassié, Daouda; Roudot, Anna; Dessay, Nadine; Piermay, Jean-Luc; Salem, Gérard; Fournet, Florence

2017-04-18

Many cities in developing countries experience an unplanned and rapid growth. Several studies have shown that the irregular urbanization and equipment of cities produce different health risks and uneven exposure to specific diseases. Consequently, health surveys within cities should be carried out at the micro-local scale and sampling methods should try to capture this urban diversity. This article describes the methodology used to develop a multi-stage sampling protocol to select a population for a demographic survey that investigates health disparities in the medium-sized city of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. It is based on the characterization of Bobo-Dioulasso city typology by taking into account the city heterogeneity, as determined by analysis of the built environment and of the distribution of urban infrastructures, such as healthcare structures or even water fountains, by photo-interpretation of aerial photographs and satellite images. Principal component analysis and hierarchical ascendant classification were then used to generate the city typology. Five groups of spaces with specific profiles were identified according to a set of variables which could be considered as proxy indicators of health status. Within these five groups, four sub-spaces were randomly selected for the study. We were then able to survey 1045 households in all the selected sub-spaces. The pertinence of this approach is discussed regarding to classical sampling as random walk method for example. This urban space typology allowed to select a population living in areas representative of the uneven urbanization process, and to characterize its health status in regards to several indicators (nutritional status, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and anaemia). Although this method should be validated and compared with more established methods, it appears as an alternative in developing countries where geographic and population data are scarce.

[Ioduria and iodine concentration in table salt in Peruvian elementary schoolchildren].

PubMed

Tarqui-Mamani, Carolina; Alvarez-Dongo, Doris; Fernández-Tinco, Inés

2016-01-01

To determine the ioduria and iodine concentration in table salt in Peruvian elementary schoolchildren. A cross-sectional study was performed. A total of 8,023 elementary schoolchildren, who voluntarily participated, were included. Multistage stratified probability sampling was performed, and the sample was obtained by systematic selection. Ioduria was determined via spectrophotometry (Sandell-Kolthoff method), and the amount of iodine in salt was evaluated volumetrically. The data were processed by means of analysis for complex samples with a weighting factor. Medians, percentiles, and confidence intervals were calculated, and the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were used, where appropriate. Nationwide, the median ioduria in schoolchildren was 258.53 ug/L, being higher in boys (265.90 ug/L) than in girls (250.77 ug/L). The median ioduria in urban areas was higher (289.89 ug/L) than that in rural areas (199.67 ug/L), while it was 315.48 ug/L in private schools and 241.56 ug/L in public schools (p<0.001). The median iodine concentration in table salt was 28.69 mg/kg. Of the total salt samples, 23.1% contained less than 15 mg/kg of iodine. The median ioduria in elementary schoolchildren exceeded normal levels, according to the criteria of the World Health Organization, with differences between urban and rural areas and public and private schools.

Psychometric Properties of a Screening Instrument for Domestic Violence in a Sample of Iranian Women

PubMed Central

Azadarmaki, Taghi; Kassani, Aziz; Menati, Rostam; Hassanzadeh, Jafar; Menati, Walieh

2016-01-01

Background Domestic violence against women is regarded as an important health problem among women and a serious concern in issues related to human rights. To date, a few screening tools for domestic violence exist for Iranian married women, but they assess only some of the domestic violence components. Objectives The present study aimed to design and determine the validity and reliability of a screening instrument for domestic violence in a sample of Iranian women. Materials and Methods The present study was a cross-sectional psychometric evaluation conducted on 350 married women in Ilam, Iran, in 2014. The samples were selected through multistage sampling and the main method was cluster sampling. A 20-item, self-administered questionnaire was validated by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). An Eigen value > 1 and a loading factor > 0.3 for each component were considered as indices for extracting domestic violence components. Reliability was calculated by test-retest and Cronbach’s alpha. Also, the content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR) were used to measure content validity. The data were analyzed using SPSS-13 and LISREL 8.8 software programs. Results The self-administered instrument was completed by 334 women. The CFA and EFA methods confirmed embedding items and the three-factor structure of the instrument including psychological, physical, and sexual violence, which explained 66% of the total variance of the domestic violence. The ICC and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were > 0.7 for the components of the questionnaire. The test-retest also revealed strong correlations for each of the domestic violence components (r > 0.6). Conclusions The used instrument for measuring domestic violence had desirable validity and reliability and can be used as a suitable instrument in health and social researches in the local population. PMID:27331052

Multi-stage separations based on dielectrophoresis

DOEpatents

Mariella, Jr., Raymond P.

2004-07-13

A system utilizing multi-stage traps based on dielectrophoresis. Traps with electrodes arranged transverse to the flow and traps with electrodes arranged parallel to the flow with combinations of direct current and alternating voltage are used to trap, concentrate, separate, and/or purify target particles.

SOX OUT ON A LIMB (LIMESTONE INJECTION MULTISTAGE BURNER)

EPA Science Inventory

The paper describes the most recent results from the Limestone Injection Multistage Burner (LIMB) program, covering results from the wall-fired demonstration. Tests were conducted to determine the efficacy of commercial calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) and of calcium-lignosulfonate-mo...

DEVELOPMENTS IN LIMB (LIMESTONE INJECTION MULTISTAGE BURNER) TECHNOLOGY

EPA Science Inventory

The paper describes the most recent results from the Limestone Injection Multistage Burner (LIMB) program, results from the wall-fired demonstration. Tests were conducted to determine the efficacy of commercial calcium hydroxide--Ca(OH)2--supplied by Marblehead Lime Co. and of ca...

Seismic wavefield propagation in 2D anisotropic media: Ray theory versus wave-equation simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Chao-ying; Hu, Guang-yi; Zhang, Yan-teng; Li, Zhong-sheng

2014-05-01

Despite the ray theory that is based on the high frequency assumption of the elastic wave-equation, the ray theory and the wave-equation simulation methods should be mutually proof of each other and hence jointly developed, but in fact parallel independent progressively. For this reason, in this paper we try an alternative way to mutually verify and test the computational accuracy and the solution correctness of both the ray theory (the multistage irregular shortest-path method) and the wave-equation simulation method (both the staggered finite difference method and the pseudo-spectral method) in anisotropic VTI and TTI media. Through the analysis and comparison of wavefield snapshot, common source gather profile and synthetic seismogram, it is able not only to verify the accuracy and correctness of each of the methods at least for kinematic features, but also to thoroughly understand the kinematic and dynamic features of the wave propagation in anisotropic media. The results show that both the staggered finite difference method and the pseudo-spectral method are able to yield the same results even for complex anisotropic media (such as a fault model); the multistage irregular shortest-path method is capable of predicting similar kinematic features as the wave-equation simulation method does, which can be used to mutually test each other for methodology accuracy and solution correctness. In addition, with the aid of the ray tracing results, it is easy to identify the multi-phases (or multiples) in the wavefield snapshot, common source point gather seismic section and synthetic seismogram predicted by the wave-equation simulation method, which is a key issue for later seismic application.

[New design of the Health Survey of Catalonia (Spain, 2010-2014): a step forward in health planning and evaluation].

PubMed

Alcañiz-Zanón, Manuela; Mompart-Penina, Anna; Guillén-Estany, Montserrat; Medina-Bustos, Antonia; Aragay-Barbany, Josep M; Brugulat-Guiteras, Pilar; Tresserras-Gaju, Ricard

2014-01-01

This article presents the genesis of the Health Survey of Catalonia (Spain, 2010-2014) with its semiannual subsamples and explains the basic characteristics of its multistage sampling design. In comparison with previous surveys, the organizational advantages of this new statistical operation include rapid data availability and the ability to continuously monitor the population. The main benefits are timeliness in the production of indicators and the possibility of introducing new topics through the supplemental questionnaire as a function of needs. Limitations consist of the complexity of the sample design and the lack of longitudinal follow-up of the sample. Suitable sampling weights for each specific subsample are necessary for any statistical analysis of micro-data. Accuracy in the analysis of territorial disaggregation or population subgroups increases if annual samples are accumulated. Copyright © 2013 SESPAS. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Development of novel general equation for multistage epicyclic gearset with corrected teeth: non-constrained approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kijanka, Piotr; Jablonski, Adam; Dziedziech, Kajetan; Dworakowski, Ziemowit; Uhl, Tadeusz

2016-04-01

A large number of commercial systems for condition monitoring of most common planetary gearboxes used in wind turbines and mining machinery have been developed for years. However nowadays, multistage constructions are encountered in industries. These are not necessarily planetary, but generally epicyclic. Current state of the art, according to the authors knowledge, does not give general equations for a case where multistage systems are considered, where some of the gears consist all moving parts. Hence, currently available CMS systems are not suitable for condition monitoring of these kinds of systems. The paper presents a new general equation, which allows calculating the characteristic frequencies of any kind of multistage gear sets, as a result of theoretical investigation. Illustrated solution does not assume a fixed speed of any element. Moreover, presented equation takes into account corrected teeth, making developed equations most general from all available in tribology science. Presented scientific development is currently implemented in a modern European CMS.

On use of the multistage dose-response model for assessing laboratory animal carcinogenicity

PubMed Central

Nitcheva, Daniella; Piegorsch, Walter W.; West, R. Webster

2007-01-01

We explore how well a statistical multistage model describes dose-response patterns in laboratory animal carcinogenicity experiments from a large database of quantal response data. The data are collected from the U.S. EPA’s publicly available IRIS data warehouse and examined statistically to determine how often higher-order values in the multistage predictor yield significant improvements in explanatory power over lower-order values. Our results suggest that the addition of a second-order parameter to the model only improves the fit about 20% of the time, while adding even higher-order terms apparently does not contribute to the fit at all, at least with the study designs we captured in the IRIS database. Also included is an examination of statistical tests for assessing significance of higher-order terms in a multistage dose-response model. It is noted that bootstrap testing methodology appears to offer greater stability for performing the hypothesis tests than a more-common, but possibly unstable, “Wald” test. PMID:17490794

Influence of dispatching rules on average production lead time for multi-stage production systems.

PubMed

Hübl, Alexander; Jodlbauer, Herbert; Altendorfer, Klaus

2013-08-01

In this paper the influence of different dispatching rules on the average production lead time is investigated. Two theorems based on covariance between processing time and production lead time are formulated and proved theoretically. Theorem 1 links the average production lead time to the "processing time weighted production lead time" for the multi-stage production systems analytically. The influence of different dispatching rules on average lead time, which is well known from simulation and empirical studies, can be proved theoretically in Theorem 2 for a single stage production system. A simulation study is conducted to gain more insight into the influence of dispatching rules on average production lead time in a multi-stage production system. We find that the "processing time weighted average production lead time" for a multi-stage production system is not invariant of the applied dispatching rule and can be used as a dispatching rule independent indicator for single-stage production systems.

Multistage Polymeric Lens Structures Integrated into Silica Waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tate, Atsushi; Suzuki, Takanori; Tsuda, Hiroyuki

2006-08-01

A waveguide lens, composed of multistage polymer-filled thin grooves in a silica planar lightwave circuit (PLC) is proposed and a low-loss structure has been designed. A waveguide lens in a silica slab waveguide has been fabricated using reactive ion etching (RIE) and formed by filling with polymer. Both an imagding optical system and a Fourier-transform optical system can be configured in a PLC using a waveguide lens. It renders the PLC functional and its design flexible. To obtain a shorter focal length with a low insertion loss, it is more effective to use a multistage lens structure. An imaging optical system and a Fourier-transform optical system with a focal length of less than 1000 μm were fabricated in silica waveguides using a multistage lens structure. The lens imaging waveguides incorporate a 16-24-stage lens, with insertion losses of 4-7 dB. A 4 × 4 optical coupler, using a Fourier-transform optical system, utilizes a 6-stage lens with losses of 2-4 dB.

Breast cancer screening (breast self-examination, clinical breast exam, and mammography) in women referred to health centers in Tabriz, Iran.

PubMed

Khalili, Azizeh Farshbaf; Shahnazi, Mahnaz

2010-04-01

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the most common cause of death in Iranian women aged 35-55 years. Breast cancer screening comprises breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography. The study aimed to examine the performance of screening methods among women referring to health centers of Tabriz, Iran. This was a descriptive-analytical research carried out on 400 women aged 20-50 years. The samples were chosen through random multistage sampling among health centers of Tabriz then active records of women. A questionnaire and observational checklist was used to elicit socio-demographic information and performance of women towards breast cancer screening methods. Descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square and Fisher's exact test) were used to analyze the data. Only 18.8% of women did breast self-examination, 19.1% had clinical breast examination and 3.3% had mammogram. Statistical test showed a significant relationship between performing BSE and educational level, employment, income, number of children, breastfeeding history, breastfeeding quality and family history of breast cancer. There was a significant correlation between performing CBE and history of breast tumor and also, between performing the mammography and family history of breast cancer and history of breast tumor (P < 0.05). The findings showed that the performance of breast cancer screening methods was not satisfactory. Performance in high risk women was very desirable than others. The presentation of imperative education about breast cancer screening methods through health staff especially in pregnancy, post-partum and even in pre marriage counseling periods seems necessary.

The Indian Council of Medical Research–India Diabetes (ICMR–INDIAB) Study: Methodological Details

PubMed Central

Anjana, Ranjit Mohan; Pradeepa, Rajendra; Deepa, Mohan; Datta, Manjula; Sudha, Vasudevan; Unnikrishnan, Ranjit; Nath, Lalith M; Das, Ashok Kumar; Madhu, Sri Venkata; Rao, Paturi Vishnupriya; Shukla, Deepak Kumar; Kaur, Tanvir; Ali, Mohammed K; Mohan, Viswanathan

2011-01-01

Background Currently available estimates of diabetes prevalence in India are based on published data derived from very few studies. The Indian Council of Medical Research–India Diabetes (ICMR–INDIAB) study is a community-based survey conceived with the aim of obtaining the prevalence rates of diabetes in India as a whole, covering all 28 states, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and two of the union territories in the mainland of India, with a total sample size of 124,000 individuals. Methods A stratified multistage sampling design has been used. In all study subjects, a structured questionnaire was administered and anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were measured. Fasting capillary blood glucose was first determined using a glucose meter. An oral glucose load was then administered to all subjects except those with self-reported diabetes, and the 2 h post-load capillary blood glucose was estimated. In every fifth subject, a fasting venous sample was collected for measurement of lipids and creatinine, a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram was performed, and dietary assessment questionnaire was administered. In all diabetic subjects, an additional diabetes questionnaire was used and a fasting venous sample drawn for glycated hemoglobin. Results All biological samples collected were analyzed in a central laboratory. All data collected were stored electronically. Quality control was achieved through multiple tiers of checks. Conclusions The ICMR–INDIAB study is the first of its kind attempting to provide accurate and comprehensive state- and national-level data on diabetes prevalence in India. PMID:21880233

Integrated Multidisciplinary Design of High Pressure Multistage Compressor Systems (la Conception integree des compresseurs multi-etage a haute performance)

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-09-01

development ONERA and SNECMA and is described in [Nicoud, 91]. This methodology [ Karadimas , 1997]. The aim of all efforts method solves the Quasi-3D...computer power, 1994 2-11 BERTHILLIER, M., DUPONT, C., MONDAL, R., KARADIMAS , G. : New Ways for the Design the BARRAU, J.J. : Blade Forced Response

Reducing dislocations in semiconductors utilizing repeated thermal cycling during multistage epitaxial growth

DOEpatents

Fan, John C. C.; Tsaur, Bor-Yeu; Gale, Ronald P.; Davis, Frances M.

1992-02-25

Dislocation densities are reduced in growing semiconductors from the vapor phase by employing a technique of interrupting growth, cooling the layer so far deposited, and then repeating the process until a high quality active top layer is achieved. The method of interrupted growth, coupled with thermal cycling, permits dislocations to be trapped in the initial stages of epitaxial growth.

Reducing dislocations in semiconductors utilizing repeated thermal cycling during multistage epitaxial growth

DOEpatents

Fan, John C. C.; Tsaur, Bor-Yeu; Gale, Ronald P.; Davis, Frances M.

1986-12-30

Dislocation densities are reduced in growing semiconductors from the vapor phase by employing a technique of interrupting growth, cooling the layer so far deposited, and then repeating the process until a high quality active top layer is achieved. The method of interrupted growth, coupled with thermal cycling, permits dislocations to be trapped in the initial stages of epitaxial growth.

Maisotsenko cycle applications in multi-stage ejector recycling module for chemical production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levchenko, D. O.; Artyukhov, A. E.; Yurko, I. V.

2017-08-01

The article is devoted to the theoretical bases of multistage (multi-level) utilization modules as part of chemical plants (on the example of the technological line for obtaining nitrogen fertilizers). The possibility of recycling production waste (ammonia vapors, dust and substandard nitrogen fertilizers) using ejection devices and waste heat using Maisotsenko cycle technology (Maisotsenko heat and mass exchanger (HMX), Maisotsenko power cycles and recuperators, etc.) is substantiated. The principle of operation of studied recycling module and prospects for its implementation are presented. An improved technological scheme for obtaining granular fertilizers and granules with porous structure with multistage (multi-level) recycling module is proposed.

Multi-stage decoding of multi-level modulation codes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Shu; Kasami, Tadao; Costello, Daniel J., Jr.

1991-01-01

Various types of multi-stage decoding for multi-level modulation codes are investigated. It is shown that if the component codes of a multi-level modulation code and types of decoding at various stages are chosen properly, high spectral efficiency and large coding gain can be achieved with reduced decoding complexity. Particularly, it is shown that the difference in performance between the suboptimum multi-stage soft-decision maximum likelihood decoding of a modulation code and the single-stage optimum soft-decision decoding of the code is very small, only a fraction of dB loss in signal to noise ratio at a bit error rate (BER) of 10(exp -6).

Unified theory for inhomogeneous thermoelectric generators and coolers including multistage devices.

PubMed

Gerstenmaier, York Christian; Wachutka, Gerhard

2012-11-01

A novel generalized Lagrange multiplier method for functional optimization with inclusion of subsidiary conditions is presented and applied to the optimization of material distributions in thermoelectric converters. Multistaged devices are considered within the same formalism by inclusion of position-dependent electric current in the legs leading to a modified thermoelectric equation. Previous analytical solutions for maximized efficiencies for generators and coolers obtained by Sherman [J. Appl. Phys. 31, 1 (1960)], Snyder [Phys. Rev. B 86, 045202 (2012)], and Seifert et al. [Phys. Status Solidi A 207, 760 (2010)] by a method of local optimization of reduced efficiencies are recovered by independent proof. The outstanding maximization problems for generated electric power and cooling power can be solved swiftly numerically by solution of a differential equation-system obtained within the new formalism. As far as suitable materials are available, the inhomogeneous TE converters can have increased performance by use of purely temperature-dependent material properties in the thermoelectric legs or by use of purely spatial variation of material properties or by a combination of both. It turns out that the optimization domain is larger for the second kind of device which can, thus, outperform the first kind of device.

Mean Line Pump Flow Model in Rocket Engine System Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Veres, Joseph P.; Lavelle, Thomas M.

2000-01-01

A mean line pump flow modeling method has been developed to provide a fast capability for modeling turbopumps of rocket engines. Based on this method, a mean line pump flow code PUMPA has been written that can predict the performance of pumps at off-design operating conditions, given the loss of the diffusion system at the design point. The pump code can model axial flow inducers, mixed-flow and centrifugal pumps. The code can model multistage pumps in series. The code features rapid input setup and computer run time, and is an effective analysis and conceptual design tool. The map generation capability of the code provides the map information needed for interfacing with a rocket engine system modeling code. The off-design and multistage modeling capabilities of the code permit parametric design space exploration of candidate pump configurations and provide pump performance data for engine system evaluation. The PUMPA code has been integrated with the Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) code and an expander rocket engine system has been simulated. The mean line pump flow code runs as an integral part of the NPSS rocket engine system simulation and provides key pump performance information directly to the system model at all operating conditions.

Household Food Insecurity, Mother's Feeding Practices, and the Early Childhood's Iron Status

PubMed Central

Salarkia, Nahid; Neyestani, Tirang R.; Omidvar, Nasrin; Zayeri, Farid

2015-01-01

Background: Health consequences of food insecurity among infants and toddlers have not been fully examined. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between household food insecurity, mother's infant feeding practices and iron status of 6–24 months children. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 423 mother-child pairs were randomly selected by multistage sampling method. Children blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations. Household food security was evaluated using a validated Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. The mother's feeding practices were evaluated using Infant and Young Child Feeding practice variables including: The duration of breastfeeding and the time of introducing of complementary feeding. Results: Based on the results, of the studied households only 47.7% were food secure. Mild and moderate-severe household food insecurity was 39.5% and 12.8%, respectively. Anemia, iron deficiency (ID), and iron deficiency anemia were seen in 29.1%, 12.2%, and 4.8% of children, respectively. There was no significant association between household food insecurity; mother's feeding practices and child ID with or without anemia. Conclusions: We found no association between household food insecurity and the occurrence of anemia in the 6–24 months children. However, these findings do not rule out the possibility of other micronutrient deficiencies among the food-insecure household children. PMID:26445633

Exploring breast cancer preventive lifestyle and social support of Iranian women: a study protocol for a mixed-methods approach.

PubMed

Khazaee-Pool, Maryam; Pashaei, Tahereh; Jahangiry, Leila; Ponnet, Koen; Gholami, Ali

2017-06-07

It is widely accepted that a healthy lifestyle may decrease the probability of developing cancer. This study aimed to describe a study protocol that makes it possible to explore preventive health lifestyles of Iranian women and their received social support for the purpose of developing cultural strategies to increase breast cancer prevention. A mixed-methods study will be accomplished in two sequential parts. First, a cross-sectional study will be conducted in which 2,250 Iranian women are recruited by using a random multistage cluster sampling of 20 health care centers. Structured face-to-face interviews will be conducted to obtain information on the participants' health lifestyle and perceived social support. Data will be analyzed using both multivariate regression and structural equation modeling techniques. Then, a qualitative study will be conducted among employed women using a purposive sampling design. Data will be collected by means of focus groups and semi-structured interviews and will be analyzed using a conventional content analysis approach. The results of the quantitative and qualitative study will be used to develop breast cancer preventive strategies. Researchers need to acquire knowledge regarding the lifestyle and perceived social support of Iranian women that will foster culturally competent approaches to promote healthy lifestyles to develop breast cancer preventive strategies. Examining breast cancer preventive lifestyles provides valuable information for designing applicable intervention programs for improving women's health.

Automated Simultaneous Assembly for Multistage Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Breithaupt, Krista; Ariel, Adelaide; Veldkamp, Bernard P.

2005-01-01

This article offers some solutions used in the assembly of the computerized Uniform Certified Public Accountancy (CPA) licensing examination as practical alternatives for operational programs producing large numbers of forms. The Uniform CPA examination was offered as an adaptive multistage test (MST) beginning in April of 2004. Examples of…

Microfiltration of thin stillage: Process simulation and economic analyses

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

In plant scale operations, multistage membrane systems have been adopted for cost minimization. We considered design optimization and operation of a continuous microfiltration (MF) system for the corn dry grind process. The objectives were to develop a model to simulate a multistage MF system, optim...

40 CFR 600.316-08 - Multistage manufacture.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Multistage manufacture. 600.316-08 Section 600.316-08 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) ENERGY POLICY FUEL ECONOMY AND GREENHOUSE GAS EXHAUST EMISSIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLES Fuel Economy Labeling § 600.316-08...

40 CFR 600.316-08 - Multistage manufacture.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Multistage manufacture. 600.316-08 Section 600.316-08 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) ENERGY POLICY FUEL ECONOMY AND GREENHOUSE GAS EXHAUST EMISSIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLES Fuel Economy Labeling § 600.316-08...

40 CFR 600.316-08 - Multistage manufacture.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Multistage manufacture. 600.316-08 Section 600.316-08 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) ENERGY POLICY FUEL ECONOMY AND GREENHOUSE GAS EXHAUST EMISSIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLES Fuel Economy Labeling § 600.316-08...

Chaotic Time Series Analysis Method Developed for Stall Precursor Identification in High-Speed Compressors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1997-01-01

A new technique for rotating stall precursor identification in high-speed compressors has been developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center. This pseudo correlation integral method uses a mathematical algorithm based on chaos theory to identify nonlinear dynamic changes in the compressor. Through a study of four various configurations of a high-speed compressor stage, a multistage compressor rig, and an axi-centrifugal engine test, this algorithm, using only a single pressure sensor, has consistently predicted the onset of rotating stall.

Systems perspective: understanding care giving of the elderly in India.

PubMed

Gupta, Rashmi

2009-12-01

In this article I propose a systems model of elder care giver burden among Indian care givers. The systems model specifies the effects of elder characteristics, family structure, and personal characteristics of the care giver on care giver burden. Sampling was conducted using a multistage probability method to generate a sample of 259 care givers. The care giver burden questionnaire was translated from English to Hindi and then back into English and pilot tested before implementation. The care givers were interviewed via face-to-face interviews. Regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of the hypothesized determinants on care giver burden. The r square explained 46% of the variance in care giver burden. The following variables were significant from three dimensions: personal characteristics, elder characteristics, and family level. Personal characteristics of the care giver included whether they adhered to Asian cultural norms, the age of the care giver, and gender. Elder characteristics included behavioral problems of the elder. Family functional variables included number of care giving tasks provided by the care giver, and level of family income. Social work practice issues are discussed in the context of this study.

Multi-stage volcanic island flank collapses with coeval explosive caldera-forming eruptions.

PubMed

Hunt, James E; Cassidy, Michael; Talling, Peter J

2018-01-18

Volcanic flank collapses and explosive eruptions are among the largest and most destructive processes on Earth. Events at Mount St. Helens in May 1980 demonstrated how a relatively small (<5 km 3 ) flank collapse on a terrestrial volcano could immediately precede a devastating eruption. The lateral collapse of volcanic island flanks, such as in the Canary Islands, can be far larger (>300 km 3 ), but can also occur in complex multiple stages. Here, we show that multistage retrogressive landslides on Tenerife triggered explosive caldera-forming eruptions, including the Diego Hernandez, Guajara and Ucanca caldera eruptions. Geochemical analyses were performed on volcanic glasses recovered from marine sedimentary deposits, called turbidites, associated with each individual stage of each multistage landslide. These analyses indicate only the lattermost stages of subaerial flank failure contain materials originating from respective coeval explosive eruption, suggesting that initial more voluminous submarine stages of multi-stage flank collapse induce these aforementioned explosive eruption. Furthermore, there are extended time lags identified between the individual stages of multi-stage collapse, and thus an extended time lag between the initial submarine stages of failure and the onset of subsequent explosive eruption. This time lag succeeding landslide-generated static decompression has implications for the response of magmatic systems to un-roofing and poses a significant implication for ocean island volcanism and civil emergency planning.

Thermal analysis applied to irradiated propolis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuda, Andrea Harumi; Machado, Luci Brocardo; del Mastro, Nélida Lucia

2002-03-01

Propolis is a resinous hive product, collected by bees. Raw propolis requires a decontamination procedure and irradiation appears as a promising technique for this purpose. The valuable properties of propolis for food and pharmaceutical industries have led to increasing interest in its technological behavior. Thermal analysis is a chemical analysis that gives information about changes on heating of great importance for technological applications. Ground propolis samples were 60Co gamma irradiated with 0 and 10 kGy. Thermogravimetry curves shown a similar multi-stage decomposition pattern for both irradiated and unirradiated samples up to 600°C. Similarly, through differential scanning calorimetry , a coincidence of melting point of irradiated and unirradiated samples was found. The results suggest that the irradiation process do not interfere on the thermal properties of propolis when irradiated up to 10 kGy.

Structure-property relations and modeling of small crack fatigue behavior of various magnesium alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernard, Jairus Daniel

Lightweight structural components are important to the automotive and aerospace industries so that better fuel economy can be realized. Magnesium alloys in particular are being examined to fulfill this need due to their attractive stiffness- and strength-to-weight ratios when compared to other materials. However, when introducing a material into new roles, one needs to properly characterize its mechanical properties. Fatigue behavior is especially important considering aerospace and automotive component applications. Therefore, quantifying the structure-property relationships and accurately predicting the fatigue behavior for these materials are vital. This study has two purposes. The first is to quantify the structure-property relationships for the fatigue behavior in an AM30 magnesium alloy. The second is to use the microstructural-based MultiStage Fatigue (MSF) model in order to accurately predict the fatigue behavior of three magnesium alloys: AM30, Elektron 21, and AZ61. While some studies have previously quantified the MSF material constants for several magnesium alloys, detailed research into the fatigue regimes, notably the microstructurally small crack (MSC) region, is lacking. Hence, the contribution of this work is the first of its kind to experimentally quantify the fatigue crack incubation and MSC regimes that are used for the MultiStage Fatigue model. Using a multi-faceted experimental approach, these regimes were explored with a replica method that used a dual-stage silicone based compound along with previously published in situ fatigue tests. These observations were used in calibrating the MultiStage Fatigue model.

Young adults' decision making surrounding heavy drinking: a multi-staged model of planned behaviour.

PubMed

Northcote, Jeremy

2011-06-01

This paper examines the real life contexts in which decisions surrounding heavy drinking are made by young adults (that is, on occasions when five or more alcoholic drinks are consumed within a few hours). It presents a conceptual model that views such decision making as a multi-faceted and multi-staged process. The mixed method study draws on purposive data gathered through direct observation of eight social networks consisting of 81 young adults aged between 18 and 25 years in Perth, Western Australia, including in-depth interviews with 31 participants. Qualitative and some basic quantitative data were gathered using participant observation and in-depth interviews undertaken over an eighteen month period. Participants explained their decision to engage in heavy drinking as based on a variety of factors. These elements relate to socio-cultural norms and expectancies that are best explained by the theory of planned behaviour. A framework is proposed that characterises heavy drinking as taking place in a multi-staged manner, with young adults having: 1. A generalised orientation to the value of heavy drinking shaped by wider influences and norms; 2. A short-term orientation shaped by situational factors that determines drinking intentions for specific events; and 3. An evaluative orientation shaped by moderating factors. The value of qualitative studies of decision making in real life contexts is advanced to complement the mostly quantitative research that dominates research on alcohol decision making. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity and some associated factors among adult residents of northeast China: a cross-sectional study

PubMed Central

Zhang, Peng; Gao, Chunshi; Li, Zhijun; Lv, Xin; Song, Yuanyuan; Yu, Yaqin; Li, Bo

2016-01-01

Objectives This study aims to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and determine potential influencing factors among adults in northeast China. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jilin Province, northeast China, in 2012. A total of 9873 men and 10 966 women aged 18–79 years from the general population were included using a multistage stratified random cluster sampling design. Data were obtained from face-to-face interview and physical examination. After being weighted according to a complex sampling scheme, the sample was used to estimate the prevalence of overweight (body mass index (BMI) 24–27.9 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI >28 kg/m2) in Jilin Province, and analyse influencing factors through corresponding statistical methods based on complex sampling design behaviours. Results The overall prevalence of overweight was 32.3% (male 34.3%; female 30.2%), and the prevalence of obesity was 14.6% (male 16.3%; female 12.8%) in Jilin Province. The prevalence of both overweight and obesity were higher in men than women (p<0.001). Influencing factors included sex, age, marriage status, occupation, smoking, drinking, diet and hours of sleep (p<0.05). Conclusions This study estimated that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adult residents of Jilin Province, northeast China, were high. The results of this study will be submitted to the Health Department of Jilin Province and other relevant departments as a reference, which should inform policy makers in developing education and publicity to prevent and control the occurrence of overweight and obesity. PMID:27456326

Activities of daily living, instrumental activities for daily living and predictors of functional capacity of older men in Jamaica

PubMed Central

Bourne, Paul Andrew

2009-01-01

Background: An extensive search of the literature found no studies that have examined functional capacity [Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities for Daily Living (I) ADL)] of Jamaican older men as well as factors that determine their functional capacity. Aims: The current study examines 1) ADL, 2) (I) ADL), 3) self-reported health status, 4) functional capacity, and 5) factors that determine functional capacity of older men. Methods and Method: Stratified multistage probability sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 2,000 55+ year men. A132-item questionnaire was used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics provide background information on the sample, cross tabulations were used to examine non-metric variables and logistic regression provides a model of predictors of functional capacity. Result: Fifty-five percent of sample indicated good current health status. Four percent was mostly satisfied with life; 21.7% had moderate dependence; 77.1% had high dependence (i.e. independence); 1.2% had low dependence; 21.9% were ages 75 years and older; 35.6% were ages 65 to 74 years and 42.6% reported ages 55 to 64 years. Functional capacity can be determined by church attendance (β=0.245; 95% CI: 0.264, 1.291); social support (β=0.129; 95% CI: 0.129, 0.258), area of residence (β=-0.060; 95% CI: -0.427, -0.061) and lastly by age of respondents. Conclusion: Ageing in explains deterioration in their (I) ADL, suggesting the challenges of ageing men's independence. More rural men were rarely satisfied with life; but more of them had a greater functional capacity than urban men. Depression was found to negatively relate to functional capacity, and church attendees had a greater functional status than non-attendees. PMID:22666693

KINETIC STUDIES RELATED TO THE LIMB (LIMESTONE INJECTION MULTISTAGE BURNER) BURNER

EPA Science Inventory

The report gives results of theoretical and experimental studies of subjects related to the limestone injection multistage burner (LIMB). The main findings include data on the rate of evolution of H2S from different coals and on the dependence of the rate of evolution on the dist...

Optimal Testlet Pool Assembly for Multistage Testing Designs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ariel, Adelaide; Veldkamp, Bernard P.; Breithaupt, Krista

2006-01-01

Computerized multistage testing (MST) designs require sets of test questions (testlets) to be assembled to meet strict, often competing criteria. Rules that govern testlet assembly may dictate the number of questions on a particular subject or may describe desirable statistical properties for the test, such as measurement precision. In an MST…

Test Information Targeting Strategies for Adaptive Multistage Testing Designs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luecht, Richard M.; Burgin, William

Adaptive multistage testlet (MST) designs appear to be gaining popularity for many large-scale computer-based testing programs. These adaptive MST designs use a modularized configuration of preconstructed testlets and embedded score-routing schemes to prepackage different forms of an adaptive test. The conditional information targeting (CIT)…

Multi-stage Continuous Culture Fermentation of Glucose-Xylose Mixtures to Fuel Ethanol using Genetically Engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae 424A

EPA Science Inventory

Multi-stage continuous (chemostat) culture fermentation (MCCF) with variable fermentor volumes was carried out to study utilizing glucose and xylose for ethanol production by means of mixed sugar fermentation (MSF). Variable fermentor volumes were used to enable enhanced sugar u...

Prevalence and Correlates of Direct Self-Injurious Behavior among Chinese Adolescents: Findings from a Multicenter and Multistage Survey.

PubMed

Xin, Xiuhong; Wang, Yuping; Fang, Jianqun; Ming, Qingsen; Yao, Shuqiao

2017-05-01

Direct self-injurious behavior (DSIB) has become an important focus due to its perniciousness and perplexity. Little is known about its prevalence and correlative factors in Chinese adolescents, including how data may differ according to gender. A multicenter, multistage stratified cluster random sampling was used to examine the previous 12-month prevalence of DSIB, as well as the possible correlates of demographics, risky behaviors, suicidality, and psychosocial factors associated with DSIB in a school-based sample of 11,880 students (49.5 % boys and 50.5 % girls). Approximately 30 % of the adolescents in the sample reported at least one incident of DSIB in the past 12-month period. After controlling for demographic variables, analyses of the independent relationships of DSIB with risky behaviors, suicidality, and psychosocial factors were conducted for each gender. Smoking, binge drinking, running away from home, suicide ideation, suicide plans, positive affect, and physical symptoms were identified as common factors associated with DSIB for both genders in the final model. In addition, truancy, fighting, physical inactivity, motor impulsiveness, and depressed affect were found to be related to DSIB in boys, whereas suicide attempts and somatic complaints were found to be related to DSIB in girls. Separation anxiety and social anxiety associated negatively with DSIB in boys and girls, respectively. DSIB was not found to independently relate to attention impulsiveness, non-planned impulsiveness, self-esteem, or harm avoidance in either genders. DSIB was prevalent in Chinese adolescents. Programs intended to promote physical and mental health in adolescents should take into account gender differences in DSIB-associated factors, including risky behaviors, suicidality, and psychosocial factors.

Multistage Stochastic Programming and its Applications in Energy Systems Modeling and Optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golari, Mehdi

Electric energy constitutes one of the most crucial elements to almost every aspect of life of people. The modern electric power systems face several challenges such as efficiency, economics, sustainability, and reliability. Increase in electrical energy demand, distributed generations, integration of uncertain renewable energy resources, and demand side management are among the main underlying reasons of such growing complexity. Additionally, the elements of power systems are often vulnerable to failures because of many reasons, such as system limits, weak conditions, unexpected events, hidden failures, human errors, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters. One common factor complicating the operation of electrical power systems is the underlying uncertainties from the demands, supplies and failures of system components. Stochastic programming provides a mathematical framework for decision making under uncertainty. It enables a decision maker to incorporate some knowledge of the intrinsic uncertainty into the decision making process. In this dissertation, we focus on application of two-stage and multistage stochastic programming approaches to electric energy systems modeling and optimization. Particularly, we develop models and algorithms addressing the sustainability and reliability issues in power systems. First, we consider how to improve the reliability of power systems under severe failures or contingencies prone to cascading blackouts by so called islanding operations. We present a two-stage stochastic mixed-integer model to find optimal islanding operations as a powerful preventive action against cascading failures in case of extreme contingencies. Further, we study the properties of this problem and propose efficient solution methods to solve this problem for large-scale power systems. We present the numerical results showing the effectiveness of the model and investigate the performance of the solution methods. Next, we address the sustainability issue considering the integration of renewable energy resources into production planning of energy-intensive manufacturing industries. Recently, a growing number of manufacturing companies are considering renewable energies to meet their energy requirements to move towards green manufacturing as well as decreasing their energy costs. However, the intermittent nature of renewable energies imposes several difficulties in long term planning of how to efficiently exploit renewables. In this study, we propose a scheme for manufacturing companies to use onsite and grid renewable energies provided by their own investments and energy utilities as well as conventional grid energy to satisfy their energy requirements. We propose a multistage stochastic programming model and study an efficient solution method to solve this problem. We examine the proposed framework on a test case simulated based on a real-world semiconductor company. Moreover, we evaluate long-term profitability of such scheme via so called value of multistage stochastic programming.

High-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionization multi-stage mass spectrometric screening of an insect/plant system: the case of Spodoptera littoralis/Lycopersicon esculentum phenolics and alkaloids.

PubMed

Ferreres, Federico; Taveira, Marcos; Gil-Izquierdo, Angel; Oliveira, Luísa; Teixeira, Tânia; Valentão, Patrícia; Simões, Nelson; Andrade, Paula B

2011-07-30

High-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionization multi-stage mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS(n)) is considered to be a very valuable tool for the characterization of compounds found in trace amounts in natural matrices, as their previous isolation and clean-up steps can be avoided. Micro-scale separation increases the potential of this analytical technique, allowing the determination of compounds in reduced samples. Spodoptera littoralis represents a major challenge to Solanaceae plants, as it is one of the most deleterious pests. The S. littoralis/Lycopersicon esculentum system was studied for the first time concerning glycoalkaloids and phenolics. Using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS(n) we were able to characterize 15 phenolic compounds in L. esculentum leaves. Nine of them are reported for the first time. Some differences were found between leaves of cerasiforme and 'Bull's heart' varieties. However, in the materials of S. littoralis (larvae, adults, exuviae and excrements) reared in both L. esculentum leaves no phenolics were identified. α-Tomatine was the main glycoalkaloid in the host plant. The glycoalkaloid composition of the different S. littoralis materials was distinct, with α-tomatine and dehydrotomatine being the main detected compounds in larvae and excrements. These results add knowledge to the ecological interaction in this insect/plant duo, for which it is hard to obtain considerable sample amounts. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Epidemiology of Psychiatric Disorders in Iranian Children and Adolescents (IRCAP) and Its Relationship with Social Capital, Life Style and Parents' Personality Disorders: Study Protocol.

PubMed

Mohammadi, Mohammad Reza; Ahmadi, Nastaran; Kamali, Koorosh; Khaleghi, Ali; Ahmadi, Ameneh

2017-01-01

Objective: We aimed at designing a cross sectional study to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Iranian children and adolescents (IRCAP) and to determine its relationship with social capital, life style, and parents' personality disorders. Method: This cross sectional study was a national project implemented in all provinces of Iran. In this community-based study, using ‎multistage cluster sampling method, we selected 1000 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years in each province. The total sample size reached to 31 000. ‎We randomly collected 170 blocks. Then, of each cluster head, we selected 6 cases including 3 cases of each gender in ‎different age groups (6- 9 years, 10- 14 years, and 15- 18 years). The clinical psychologists instructed the participants to complete the Persian version of Kiddie-Sads-‎Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). In addition, demographic data (gender, age, education, parent education, and economic situation) and information on lifestyle, social capital, and parents' personality disorders were obtained from the participants. Discussion: IRCAP study presents a protocol for an epidemiological survey on the first estimates for the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents across the country. This large body of data, on a range of individual behavioural and emotional items and scores, allows us to compare the rates and patterns of deviance between urban and rural places of residence in 31 provinces of Iran with non Iranian samples surveyed with the same measures.

An FPGA-based DS-CDMA multiuser demodulator employing adaptive multistage parallel interference cancellation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xinhua; Song, Zhenyu; Zhan, Yongjie; Wu, Qiongzhi

2009-12-01

Since the system capacity is severely limited, reducing the multiple access interfere (MAI) is necessary in the multiuser direct-sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) system which is used in the telecommunication terminals data-transferred link system. In this paper, we adopt an adaptive multistage parallel interference cancellation structure in the demodulator based on the least mean square (LMS) algorithm to eliminate the MAI on the basis of overviewing various of multiuser dectection schemes. Neither a training sequence nor a pilot signal is needed in the proposed scheme, and its implementation complexity can be greatly reduced by a LMS approximate algorithm. The algorithm and its FPGA implementation is then derived. Simulation results of the proposed adaptive PIC can outperform some of the existing interference cancellation methods in AWGN channels. The hardware setup of mutiuser demodulator is described, and the experimental results based on it demonstrate that the simulation results shows large performance gains over the conventional single-user demodulator.

Contact force and mechanical loss of multistage cable under tension and bending

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ru, Yanyun; Yong, Huadong; Zhou, Youhe

2016-10-01

A theoretical model for calculating the stress and strain states of cabling structures with different loadings has been developed in this paper. We solve the problem for the first- and second-stage cable with tensile or bending strain. The contact and friction forces between the strands are presented by two-dimensional contact model. Several theoretical models have been proposed to verify the results when the triplet subjected to the tensile strain, including contact force, contact stresses, and mechanical loss. It is found that loadings will affect the friction force and the mechanical loss of the triplet. The results show that the contact force and mechanical loss are dependent on the twist pitch. A shorter twist pitch can lead to higher contact force, while the trend of mechanical loss with twist pitch is complicated. The mechanical loss may be reduced by adjusting the twist pitch reasonably. The present model provides a simple analysis method to investigate the mechanical behaviors in multistage-structures under different loads.

Multi-stage combustion using nitrogen-enriched air

DOEpatents

Fischer, Larry E.; Anderson, Brian L.

2004-09-14

Multi-stage combustion technology combined with nitrogen-enriched air technology for controlling the combustion temperature and products to extend the maintenance and lifetime cycles of materials in contact with combustion products and to reduce pollutants while maintaining relatively high combustion and thermal cycle efficiencies. The first stage of combustion operates fuel rich where most of the heat of combustion is released by burning it with nitrogen-enriched air. Part of the energy in the combustion gases is used to perform work or to provide heat. The cooled combustion gases are reheated by additional stages of combustion until the last stage is at or near stoichiometric conditions. Additional energy is extracted from each stage to result in relatively high thermal cycle efficiency. The air is enriched with nitrogen using air separation technologies such as diffusion, permeable membrane, absorption, and cryogenics. The combustion method is applicable to many types of combustion equipment, including: boilers, burners, turbines, internal combustion engines, and many types of fuel including hydrogen and carbon-based fuels including methane and coal.

Paleo- and Neoproterozoic magmatic and tectonometamorphic evolution of the Isla Cristalina de Rivera (Nico Pérez Terrane, Uruguay)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oyhantçabal, Pedro; Wagner-Eimer, Martin; Wemmer, Klaus; Schulz, Bernhard; Frei, Robert; Siegesmund, Siegfried

2012-10-01

The Isla Cristalina de Rivera crystalline complex in northeastern Uruguay underwent a multistage magmatic and metamorphic evolution. Based on SHRIMP U-Pb zircon, Th-U-Pb monazite (CHIME-EPMA method) and K-Ar age data from key units several events can be recognized: (1) multistage magmatism at 2,171-2,114 Ma, recorded on zircon of the granulitic orthogneisses and their 2,093-2,077 Ma overgrowths; (2) a distinct amphibolite facies metamorphism at ~1,980 Ma, recorded by monazite; (3) greenschist facies reworking and shearing at ca. 606 Ma (monazite and K-Ar on muscovite) along the Rivera Shear Zone, and finally (4) intrusion of the post-tectonic Sobresaliente and Las Flores granites at around 585 Ma. Lithological similarities, geographic proximity and coeval magmatic and metamorphic events indicate a similar tectonometamorphic evolution for the Isla Cristalina de Rivera, the Valentines Block in Uruguay and the Santa María Chico Granulitic Complex in southern Brazil, since at least 2.1 Ga.

Loading, Release, Biodegradation, and Biocompatibility of a Nanovector Delivery System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferrai, Mauro; Tasciotti, Ennio

2012-01-01

A nanovector multistage system has been created to overcome or bypass sequential barriers within the human body, in order to deliver a therapeutic or imaging agent to a specific location. This innovation consists of a composition that includes two or more stages of particles, such that smaller, later-stage particles are contained in the larger, early-stage particles. An active agent, such as a therapeutic agent or imaging agent, is preferentially delivered and/or localized to a particular target site in the body of a subject. The multistage composition overcomes multiple biological barriers in the body. The multistage composition also allows for simultaneous delivery and localization at the same or different target sites of multiple active agents.

Limitations Of The Current State Space Modelling Approach In Multistage Machining Processes Due To Operation Variations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abellán-Nebot, J. V.; Liu, J.; Romero, F.

2009-11-01

The State Space modelling approach has been recently proposed as an engineering-driven technique for part quality prediction in Multistage Machining Processes (MMP). Current State Space models incorporate fixture and datum variations in the multi-stage variation propagation, without explicitly considering common operation variations such as machine-tool thermal distortions, cutting-tool wear, cutting-tool deflections, etc. This paper shows the limitations of the current State Space model through an experimental case study where the effect of the spindle thermal expansion, cutting-tool flank wear and locator errors are introduced. The paper also discusses the extension of the current State Space model to include operation variations and its potential benefits.

The Application of the Real Options Method for the Evaluation of High-Rise Construction Projects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Izotov, Aleksandr; Rostova, Olga; Dubgorn, Alissa

2018-03-01

The paper is devoted to the problem of evaluation of high-rise construction projects in a rapidly changing environment. The authors proposed an algorithm for constructing and embedding real options in high-rise construction projects, which makes it possible to increase the flexibility of managing multi-stage projects that have the ability to adapt to changing conditions of implementation.

The Effects of a Goal Setting Intervention on Aerobic Fitness in Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDonald, Samantha M.; Trost, Stewart G.

2015-01-01

Purpose: This study evaluated the effects of a goal setting intervention on aerobic fitness (AF) in 6 to 8 grade students. Method: Students at the intervention school received a lesson on SMART goal setting. Students in the comparison school served as a measurement-only group. AF was assessed via the PACER multi-stage shuttle run test pre and post…

The Effect of Crop Insurance on Technical Efficiency of Wheat Farmers in Kermanshah Province: A Corrected Ordinary Least Square Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agahi, Hossein; Zarafshani, Kiumars; Behjat, Amir-Mohsen

The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of crop insurance on agricultural production among dry wheat farmers in Kermanshah province. The population of this study consisted of dry wheat farmers. Data used in this study was collected using stratified multi-stage cluster sampling method and face to face interview with 251 farmers in three different climate regions: tropical, temperate and cold during 2003-2004 crop years. The procedures used for determining farmers' technical efficiency was Corrected Ordinary Least Square (COLS). Findings revealed that crop insurance has positive effect on temperate and tropical regions. However, the production difference between insured and uninsured farmers in cold region was non-significant. It is therefore concluded that technical efficiency of agricultural production in Kermanshah province is a function of crop insurance as well as other variables such as crop management practices, personal characteristics and fair distribution of agricultural inputs.

Knowledge and use of emergency contraception among students of public secondary schools in Ilorin, Nigeria.

PubMed

Babatunde, Oluwole Adeyemi; Ibirongbe, Demilade Olusola; Omede, Owen; Babatunde, Olubukola Oluwakemi; Durowade, Kabir Adekunle; Salaudeen, Adekunle Ganiyu; Akande, Tanimola Makanjuola

2016-01-01

Unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion pose a major reproductive health challenge to adolescents. Emergency contraception is safe and effective in preventing unplanned pregnancy. The objective of this study was to assess the student's knowledge and use of emergency contraception. This cross-sectional study was carried out in Ilorin, Nigeria, using multi-stage sampling method. Data was collected using pre-tested semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge was scored and analysed. SPSS version 21.0 was used for data analysis. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. 27.8% of the respondents had good knowledge of emergency contraception. Majority of respondents (87.2%) had never used emergency contraception. Majority of those who had ever used emergency contraception (85.7%) used it incorrectly, using it more than 72 hours after sexual intercourse (p=0.928). Knowledge about Emergency contraception and prevalence of use were low. Contraceptive education should be introduced early in the school curriculum for adolescents.

Prevalence of Mental Disorders in 6–16-Year-Old Students in Sichuan Province, China

PubMed Central

Qu, Yuan; Jiang, Hongyun; Zhang, Ni; Wang, Dahai; Guo, Lanting

2015-01-01

To investigate the point prevalence of mental disorders in school students, multistage cluster stratified random sampling and two-phase survey methods were used to identify 40 primary and middle schools. The students were screened using the Chinese version of the Child Behavior Checklist and diagnosed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. The prevalence of behavioral problems was 19.13%. The prevalence of behavioral problems significantly differed by sex, age, city of residence, and caretaker. The six-month prevalence of any mental disorder was 15.24% (95% CI: 15.49%–16.97%). Psychiatric disorders were more prevalent in boys (17.33%) relative to girls (13.11%; p < 0.01). The prevalence of mental disorders significantly differed by community and caretaker, and 36.46% of students exhibited comorbidity. Results demonstrated important mental health issues, with a high incidence of comorbidities, in this population. Students’ mental health requires increased attention, particularly in poverty-stricken areas and left-behind children and adolescents. PMID:25985310

Influence of family size, household food security status, and child care practices on the nutritional status of under-five children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

PubMed

Ajao, K O; Ojofeitimi, E O; Adebayo, A A; Fatusi, A O; Afolabi, O T

2010-12-01

Fertility pattern and reproductive behaviours affect infant death in Nigeria. Household food insecurity and poor care practices also place children at risk of morbidity and mortality. The objectives of this study were to assess the influence of family size, household food security status, and child care practices on the nutritional status of under-five children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 423 mothers of under-five children and their children in the households selected through multistage sampling methods. Food-insecure households were five times more likely than secure households to have wasted children (crude OR = 5.707, 95 percent CI = 1.31-24.85). Children with less educated mothers were significantly more likely to be stunted. The prevalence of food insecurity among households in Ile-Ife was high. Households with food insecurity and less educated mothers were more likely to have malnourished children.

Prevalence of mental disorders in 6-16-year-old students in Sichuan province, China.

PubMed

Qu, Yuan; Jiang, Hongyun; Zhang, Ni; Wang, Dahai; Guo, Lanting

2015-05-13

To investigate the point prevalence of mental disorders in school students, multistage cluster stratified random sampling and two-phase survey methods were used to identify 40 primary and middle schools. The students were screened using the Chinese version of the Child Behavior Checklist and diagnosed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. The prevalence of behavioral problems was 19.13%. The prevalence of behavioral problems significantly differed by sex, age, city of residence, and caretaker. The six-month prevalence of any mental disorder was 15.24% (95% CI: 15.49%-16.97%). Psychiatric disorders were more prevalent in boys (17.33%) relative to girls (13.11%; p < 0.01). The prevalence of mental disorders significantly differed by community and caretaker, and 36.46% of students exhibited comorbidity. Results demonstrated important mental health issues, with a high incidence of comorbidities, in this population. Students' mental health requires increased attention, particularly in poverty-stricken areas and left-behind children and adolescents.

Returns and determinants of technical efficiency in small-scale Malabari goat production units in Kerala, India.

PubMed

Alex, Rani; Kunniyoor Cheemani, Raghavan; Thomas, Naicy

2013-11-01

A stochastic frontier production function was employed to measure technical efficiency and its determinants in smallholder Malabari goat production units in Kerala, India. Data were obtained from 100 goat farmers in northern Kerala, selected using multistage random sampling. The parameters of the stochastic frontier production function were estimated using the maximum likelihood method. Cost and return analysis showed that the major expenditure was feed and fodder, and veterinary expenses were secondary. The chief returns were the sale of live animals, milk and manure. Individual farm technical efficiency ranged from 0.34 to 0.97 with a mean of 0.88. The study found herd size (number of animal units) and centre (locality of farm) significantly affected technical efficiency, but sex of farmer, education, land size and family size did not. Technical efficiency decreased as herd size increased; half the units with five or more adult animals had technical efficiency below 60 %.

Assessing the use of the NANDA-International nursing diagnoses at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile Ife, Nigeria.

PubMed

Olaogun, Adenike; Oginni, Monisola; Oyedeji, Tinuke Abimbola; Nnahiwe, Blessing; Olatubi, Idowu

2011-01-01

This study assessed the use of the NANDA-I nursing diagnoses in a Nigerian hospital. A multi-stage sampling method was used to select seven wards and 67 nursing process booklets from the Medical, Surgical, Orthopedic, and Mental Health Units of the hospital. A total of 154 nursing diagnoses were made: 50.7% were made within the first 48 hours of admission, while 35.8% were made on reassessments. The most frequently used nursing diagnoses were self-care deficit, pain, and anxiety. The NANDA-I nursing diagnoses are in use in Nigeria, adding support to the global use of the NANDA-I taxonomy, but findings also suggest a need for an assessment framework informed by nursing. Nurses in Nigeria would benefit from training programs organized by NANDA-I and national institutions to further refine their use of the nursing process. © 2011, The Authors. International Journal of Nursing Terminologies and Classifications © 2011, NANDA International.

Risk of disordered eating attitudes among male adolescents in five Emirates of the United Arab Emirates.

PubMed

Musaiger, Abdulrahman O; Al-Mannai, Mariam; Al-Lalla, Osama

2014-12-01

The aim of this study was to highlight the prevalence of disordered eating attitudes among male adolescents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A multistage stratified sampling method was used to select 731 male students aged 15-18 years from five Emirates of the UAE. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was used to determine the prevalence of disordered eating attitudes in students. The findings revealed that the proportion of disordered eating attitudes in the UAE was relatively high compared with many developing and developed countries and ranged from 33.1% to 49.1%. Moreover, students living in the Emirates of Dubai and Al-Fujairah have double the risk of having disordered eating attitudes compared with students living in the other Emirates. The results suggest the need for screening adolescents for eating disorders, as well as for increased awareness and understanding of eating disorders and their associated risk factors in all male adolescents in the UAE. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Mortality among elder abuse victims in rural Malaysia: A two-year population-based descriptive study.

PubMed

Yunus, Raudah Mohd; Hairi, Noran Naqiah; Choo, Wan Yuen; Hairi, Farizah Mohd; Sooryanarayana, Rajini; Ahmad, Sharifah Nor; Abdul Razak, Inayah; Peramalah, Devi; Abdul Aziz, Suriyati; Mohammad, Zaiton Lal; Mohamad, Rosmala; Mohd Ali, Zainudin; Bulgiba, Awang

2017-01-01

Our study aims at describing mortality among reported elder abuse experiences in rural Malaysia. This is a population-based cohort study with a multistage cluster sampling method. Older adults in Kuala Pilah (n = 1,927) were interviewed from November 2013 to May 2014. Mortality was traced after 2 years using the National Registration Department database. Overall, 139 (7.2%) respondents died. Fifteen (9.6%) abuse victims died compared to 124 (7.0%) not abused. Mortality was highest with financial abuse (13%), followed by psychological abuse (10.8%). There was a dose-response relationship between mortality and clustering of abuse: 7%, 7.7%, and 14.0% for no abuse, one type, and two types or more, respectively. Among abuse victims, 40% of deaths had ill-defined causes, 33% were respiratory-related, and 27% had cardiovascular and metabolic origin. Results suggest a link between abuse and mortality. Death proportions varied according to abuse subtypes and gender.

Pathways linking racial/ethnic discrimination and sleep among U.S.-born and foreign-born Latinxs.

PubMed

Garcini, Luz M; Chirinos, Diana A; Murdock, Kyle W; Seiler, Annina; LeRoy, Angie S; Peek, Kristen; Cutchin, Malcom P; Fagundes, Christopher

2018-06-01

This study examined the association between racial/ethnic discrimination and sleep through psychological distress and body mass index (BMI), and determined whether the aforementioned associations vary between U.S. and foreign-born Latinxs. Participants were 1332 Latinx adults enrolled in the Texas City Stress and Health Study. Multistage sampling methods were used to select participants. A model linking racial/ethnic discrimination with sleep disturbances through direct and indirect (i.e., psychological distress and BMI) paths demonstrated good fit. Greater racial/ethnic discrimination was associated with greater psychological distress and higher BMI. Psychological distress and BMI were also significant predictors of sleep disturbances. The indirect path from racial/ethnic discrimination to sleep disturbances via psychological distress was significant. A model with parameters constrained to be equal between U.S.-born and foreign-born Latinxs suggested associations were comparable between these groups. Our study demonstrated the relevance of racial/ethnic discrimination to sleep disturbances, particularly its association via psychological distress among Latinxs.

A Top-Down Approach to Designing the Computerized Adaptive Multistage Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luo, Xiao; Kim, Doyoung

2018-01-01

The top-down approach to designing a multistage test is relatively understudied in the literature and underused in research and practice. This study introduced a route-based top-down design approach that directly sets design parameters at the test level and utilizes the advanced automated test assembly algorithm seeking global optimality. The…

Multi-stage flash degaser

DOEpatents

Rapier, P.M.

1980-06-26

A multi-stage flash degaser is incorporated in an energy conversion system having a direct-contact, binary-fluid heat exchanger to remove essentially all of the noncondensable gases from geothermal brine ahead of the direct-contact binary-fluid heat exchanger in order that the heat exchanger and a turbine and condenser of the system can operate at optimal efficiency.

Panel Design Variations in the Multistage Test Using the Mixed-Format Tests

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Jiseon; Chung, Hyewon; Dodd, Barbara G.; Park, Ryoungsun

2012-01-01

This study compared various panel designs of the multistage test (MST) using mixed-format tests in the context of classification testing. Simulations varied the design of the first-stage module. The first stage was constructed according to three levels of test information functions (TIFs) with three different TIF centers. Additional computerized…

A Multi-Stage Maturity Model for Long-Term IT Outsourcing Relationship Success

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luong, Ming; Stevens, Jeff

2015-01-01

The Multi-Stage Maturity Model for Long-Term IT Outsourcing Relationship Success, a theoretical stages-of-growth model, explains long-term success in IT outsourcing relationships. Research showed the IT outsourcing relationship life cycle consists of four distinct, sequential stages: contract, transition, support, and partnership. The model was…

Development of JSTAMP-Works/NV and HYSTAMP for Multipurpose Multistage Sheet Metal Forming Simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umezu, Yasuyoshi; Watanabe, Yuko; Ma, Ninshu

2005-08-01

Since 1996, Japan Research Institute Limited (JRI) has been providing a sheet metal forming simulation system called JSTAMP-Works packaged the FEM solvers of LS-DYNA and JOH/NIKE, which might be the first multistage system at that time and has been enjoying good reputation among users in Japan. To match the recent needs, "faster, more accurate and easier", of process designers and CAE engineers, a new metal forming simulation system JSTAMP-Works/NV is developed. The JSTAMP-Works/NV packaged the automatic healing function of CAD and had much more new capabilities such as prediction of 3D trimming lines for flanging or hemming, remote control of solver execution for multi-stage forming processes and shape evaluation between FEM and CAD. On the other way, a multi-stage multi-purpose inverse FEM solver HYSTAMP is developed and will be soon put into market, which is approved to be very fast, quite accurate and robust. Lastly, authors will give some application examples of user defined ductile damage subroutine in LS-DYNA for the estimation of material failure and springback in metal forming simulation.

First demonstration of an emulsion multi-stage shifter for accelerator neutrino experiments in J-PARC T60

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamada, K.; Aoki, S.; Cao, S.; Chikuma, N.; Fukuda, T.; Fukuzawa, Y.; Gonin, M.; Hayashino, T.; Hayato, Y.; Hiramoto, A.; Hosomi, F.; Inoh, T.; Iori, S.; Ishiguro, K.; Kawahara, H.; Kim, H.; Kitagawa, N.; Koga, T.; Komatani, R.; Komatsu, M.; Matsushita, A.; Mikado, S.; Minamino, A.; Mizusawa, H.; Matsumoto, T.; Matsuo, T.; Morimoto, Y.; Morishima, K.; Morishita, M.; Naganawa, N.; Nakamura, K.; Nakamura, M.; Nakamura, Y.; Nakano, T.; Nakatsuka, Y.; Nakaya, T.; Nishio, A.; Ogawa, S.; Oshima, H.; Quilain, B.; Rokujo, H.; Sato, O.; Seiya, Y.; Shibuya, H.; Shiraishi, T.; Suzuki, Y.; Tada, S.; Takahashi, S.; Yokoyama, M.; Yoshimoto, M.

2017-06-01

We describe the first ever implementation of a clock-based, multi-stage emulsion shifter in an accelerator neutrino experiment. The system was installed in the neutrino monitoring building at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex as part of a test experiment, T60, and stable operation was maintained for a total of 126.6 days. By applying time information to emulsion films, various results were obtained. Time resolutions of 5.3-14.7 s were evaluated in an operation spanning 46.9 days (yielding division numbers of 1.4-3.8×105). By using timing and spatial information, reconstruction of coincident events consisting of high-multiplicity and vertex-contained events, including neutrino events, was performed. Emulsion events were matched to events observed by INGRID, one of the on-axis near detectors of the T2K experiment, with high reliability (98.5%), and hybrid analysis of the emulsion and INGRID events was established by means of the multi-stage shifter. The results demonstrate that the multi-stage shifter can feasibly be used in neutrino experiments.

The influence of the "cage effect" on the mechanism of reversible bimolecular multistage chemical reactions in solutions.

PubMed

Doktorov, Alexander B

2015-08-21

Manifestations of the "cage effect" at the encounters of reactants are theoretically treated by the example of multistage reactions in liquid solutions including bimolecular exchange reactions as elementary stages. It is shown that consistent consideration of quasi-stationary kinetics of multistage reactions (possible only in the framework of the encounter theory) for reactions proceeding near reactants contact can be made on the basis of the concepts of a "cage complex." Though mathematically such a consideration is more complicated, it is more clear from the standpoint of chemical notions. It is established that the presence of the "cage effect" leads to some important effects not inherent in reactions in gases or those in solutions proceeding in the kinetic regime, such as the appearance of new transition channels of reactant transformation that cannot be caused by elementary event of chemical conversion for the given mechanism of reaction. This results in that, for example, rate constant values of multistage reaction defined by standard kinetic equations of formal chemical kinetics from experimentally measured kinetics can differ essentially from real values of these constants.

A multistage selective weighting method for improved microwave breast tomography.

PubMed

Shahzad, Atif; O'Halloran, Martin; Jones, Edward; Glavin, Martin

2016-12-01

Microwave tomography has shown potential to successfully reconstruct the dielectric properties of the human breast, thereby providing an alternative to other imaging modalities used in breast imaging applications. Considering the costly forward solution and complex iterative algorithms, computational complexity becomes a major bottleneck in practical applications of microwave tomography. In addition, the natural tendency of microwave inversion algorithms to reward high contrast breast tissue boundaries, such as the skin-adipose interface, usually leads to a very slow reconstruction of the internal tissue structure of human breast. This paper presents a multistage selective weighting method to improve the reconstruction quality of breast dielectric properties and minimize the computational cost of microwave breast tomography. In the proposed two stage approach, the skin layer is approximated using scaled microwave measurements in the first pass of the inversion algorithm; a numerical skin model is then constructed based on the estimated skin layer and the assumed dielectric properties of the skin tissue. In the second stage of the algorithm, the skin model is used as a priori information to reconstruct the internal tissue structure of the breast using a set of temporal scaling functions. The proposed method is evaluated on anatomically accurate MRI-derived breast phantoms and a comparison with the standard single-stage technique is presented. Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Sampling bias in an international internet survey of diversion programs in the criminal justice system.

PubMed

Hartford, Kathleen; Carey, Robert; Mendonca, James

2007-03-01

Despite advances in the storage and retrieval of information within health care systems, health researchers conducting surveys for evaluations still face technical barriers that may lead to sampling bias. The authors describe their experience in administering a Web-based, international survey to English-speaking countries. Identifying the sample was a multistage effort involving (a) searching for published e-mail addresses, (b) conducting Web searches for publicly funded agencies, and (c) performing literature searches, personal contacts, and extensive Internet searches for individuals. After pretesting, the survey was converted into an electronic format accessible by multiple Web browsers. Sampling bias arose from (a) system incompatibility, which did not allow potential respondents to open the survey, (b) varying institutional gate-keeping policies that "recognized" the unsolicited survey as spam, (c) culturally unique program terminology, which confused some respondents, and (d) incomplete sampling frames. Solutions are offered to the first three problems, and the authors note that sampling bias remains a crucial problem.

Talent identification model for sprinter using discriminant factor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kusnanik, N. W.; Hariyanto, A.; Herdyanto, Y.; Satia, A.

2018-01-01

The main purpose of this study was to identify young talented sprinter using discriminant factor. The research was conducted in 3 steps including item pool, screening of item pool, and trial of instruments at the small and big size of samples. 315 male elementary school students participated in this study with mean age of 11-13 years old. Data were collected by measuring anthropometry (standing height, sitting height, body mass, and leg length); testing physical fitness (40m sprint for speed, shuttle run for agility, standing broad jump for power, multistage fitness test for endurance). Data were analyzed using discriminant factor. The result of this study found that there were 5 items that selected as an instrument to identify young talented sprinter: sitting height, body mass, leg length, sprint 40m, and multistage fitness test. Model of Discriminant for talent identification in sprinter was D = -24,497 + (0,155 sitting height) + (0,080 body mass) + (0,148 leg length) + (-1,225 Sprint 40m) + (0,563 MFT). The conclusion of this study: instrument tests that have been selected and discriminant model that have been found can be applied to identify young talented as a sprinter.

Task III: Development of an Effective Computational Methodology for Body Force Representation of High-speed Rotor 37

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tan, Choon-Sooi; Suder, Kenneth (Technical Monitor)

2003-01-01

A framework for an effective computational methodology for characterizing the stability and the impact of distortion in high-speed multi-stage compressor is being developed. The methodology consists of using a few isolated-blade row Navier-Stokes solutions for each blade row to construct a body force database. The purpose of the body force database is to replace each blade row in a multi-stage compressor by a body force distribution to produce same pressure rise and flow turning. To do this, each body force database is generated in such a way that it can respond to the changes in local flow conditions. Once the database is generated, no hrther Navier-Stokes computations are necessary. The process is repeated for every blade row in the multi-stage compressor. The body forces are then embedded as source terms in an Euler solver. The method is developed to have the capability to compute the performance in a flow that has radial as well as circumferential non-uniformity with a length scale larger than a blade pitch; thus it can potentially be used to characterize the stability of a compressor under design. It is these two latter features as well as the accompanying procedure to obtain the body force representation that distinguish the present methodology from the streamline curvature method. The overall computational procedures have been developed. A dimensional analysis was carried out to determine the local flow conditions for parameterizing the magnitudes of the local body force representation of blade rows. An Euler solver was modified to embed the body forces as source terms. The results from the dimensional analysis show that the body forces can be parameterized in terms of the two relative flow angles, the relative Mach number, and the Reynolds number. For flow in a high-speed transonic blade row, they can be parameterized in terms of the local relative Mach number alone.

Aerodynamic Design Study of Advanced Multistage Axial Compressor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Larosiliere, Louis M.; Wood, Jerry R.; Hathaway, Michael D.; Medd, Adam J.; Dang, Thong Q.

2002-01-01

As a direct response to the need for further performance gains from current multistage axial compressors, an investigation of advanced aerodynamic design concepts that will lead to compact, high-efficiency, and wide-operability configurations is being pursued. Part I of this report describes the projected level of technical advancement relative to the state of the art and quantifies it in terms of basic aerodynamic technology elements of current design systems. A rational enhancement of these elements is shown to lead to a substantial expansion of the design and operability space. Aerodynamic design considerations for a four-stage core compressor intended to serve as a vehicle to develop, integrate, and demonstrate aerotechnology advancements are discussed. This design is biased toward high efficiency at high loading. Three-dimensional blading and spanwise tailoring of vector diagrams guided by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are used to manage the aerodynamics of the high-loaded endwall regions. Certain deleterious flow features, such as leakage-vortex-dominated endwall flow and strong shock-boundary-layer interactions, were identified and targeted for improvement. However, the preliminary results were encouraging and the front two stages were extracted for further aerodynamic trimming using a three-dimensional inverse design method described in part II of this report. The benefits of the inverse design method are illustrated by developing an appropriate pressure-loading strategy for transonic blading and applying it to reblade the rotors in the front two stages of the four-stage configuration. Multistage CFD simulations based on the average passage formulation indicated an overall efficiency potential far exceeding current practice for the front two stages. Results of the CFD simulation at the aerodynamic design point are interrogated to identify areas requiring additional development. In spite of the significantly higher aerodynamic loadings, advanced CFD-based tools were able to effectively guide the design of a very efficient axial compressor under state-of-the-art aeromechanical constraints.

The Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 (NEMESIS-2): design and methods.

PubMed

de Graaf, Ron; Ten Have, Margreet; van Dorsselaer, Saskia

2010-09-01

The psychiatric epidemiological population study NEMESIS-2 (Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2) replicates and expands the first Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS-1) conducted from 1996 to 1999. The main objectives of the new study are to provide up-to-date figures on the prevalence, incidence, course and consequences of mental disorders, and to study trends in mental disorders and service use, with the use of a new sample. New topics not included in NEMESIS-1 were added, e.g. impulse-control disorders, and genetic correlates of mental disorders through gathering DNA from saliva samples. This paper gives an overview of the design of NEMESIS-2, especially of its recently completed first wave. NEMESIS-2 is a prospective study among Dutch-speaking subjects aged 18-64 years from the general Dutch population. Its baseline wave included 6646 subjects. Three waves are planned with three year-intervals between the waves. A multistage, stratified random sampling procedure was applied. The baseline wave of NEMESIS-2 was performed between November 2007 and July 2009. Face-to-face interviews were administered with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) 3.0. The response rate was 65.1%, and 76.4% of the respondents donated saliva. The sample was reasonably nationally representative, but younger subjects were somewhat underrepresented. In conclusion, we were able to build a comprehensive dataset of good quality, permitting several topics to be studied in the future.

Approximate median regression for complex survey data with skewed response.

PubMed

Fraser, Raphael André; Lipsitz, Stuart R; Sinha, Debajyoti; Fitzmaurice, Garrett M; Pan, Yi

2016-12-01

The ready availability of public-use data from various large national complex surveys has immense potential for the assessment of population characteristics using regression models. Complex surveys can be used to identify risk factors for important diseases such as cancer. Existing statistical methods based on estimating equations and/or utilizing resampling methods are often not valid with survey data due to complex survey design features. That is, stratification, multistage sampling, and weighting. In this article, we accommodate these design features in the analysis of highly skewed response variables arising from large complex surveys. Specifically, we propose a double-transform-both-sides (DTBS)'based estimating equations approach to estimate the median regression parameters of the highly skewed response; the DTBS approach applies the same Box-Cox type transformation twice to both the outcome and regression function. The usual sandwich variance estimate can be used in our approach, whereas a resampling approach would be needed for a pseudo-likelihood based on minimizing absolute deviations (MAD). Furthermore, the approach is relatively robust to the true underlying distribution, and has much smaller mean square error than a MAD approach. The method is motivated by an analysis of laboratory data on urinary iodine (UI) concentration from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. © 2016, The International Biometric Society.

A survey of computational methods and error rate estimation procedures for peptide and protein identification in shotgun proteomics

PubMed Central

Nesvizhskii, Alexey I.

2010-01-01

This manuscript provides a comprehensive review of the peptide and protein identification process using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data generated in shotgun proteomic experiments. The commonly used methods for assigning peptide sequences to MS/MS spectra are critically discussed and compared, from basic strategies to advanced multi-stage approaches. A particular attention is paid to the problem of false-positive identifications. Existing statistical approaches for assessing the significance of peptide to spectrum matches are surveyed, ranging from single-spectrum approaches such as expectation values to global error rate estimation procedures such as false discovery rates and posterior probabilities. The importance of using auxiliary discriminant information (mass accuracy, peptide separation coordinates, digestion properties, and etc.) is discussed, and advanced computational approaches for joint modeling of multiple sources of information are presented. This review also includes a detailed analysis of the issues affecting the interpretation of data at the protein level, including the amplification of error rates when going from peptide to protein level, and the ambiguities in inferring the identifies of sample proteins in the presence of shared peptides. Commonly used methods for computing protein-level confidence scores are discussed in detail. The review concludes with a discussion of several outstanding computational issues. PMID:20816881

Approximate Median Regression for Complex Survey Data with Skewed Response

PubMed Central

Fraser, Raphael André; Lipsitz, Stuart R.; Sinha, Debajyoti; Fitzmaurice, Garrett M.; Pan, Yi

2016-01-01

Summary The ready availability of public-use data from various large national complex surveys has immense potential for the assessment of population characteristics using regression models. Complex surveys can be used to identify risk factors for important diseases such as cancer. Existing statistical methods based on estimating equations and/or utilizing resampling methods are often not valid with survey data due to complex survey design features. That is, stratification, multistage sampling and weighting. In this paper, we accommodate these design features in the analysis of highly skewed response variables arising from large complex surveys. Specifically, we propose a double-transform-both-sides (DTBS) based estimating equations approach to estimate the median regression parameters of the highly skewed response; the DTBS approach applies the same Box-Cox type transformation twice to both the outcome and regression function. The usual sandwich variance estimate can be used in our approach, whereas a resampling approach would be needed for a pseudo-likelihood based on minimizing absolute deviations (MAD). Furthermore, the approach is relatively robust to the true underlying distribution, and has much smaller mean square error than a MAD approach. The method is motivated by an analysis of laboratory data on urinary iodine (UI) concentration from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. PMID:27062562

A cross-sectional study of contraceptive use among married women living in rural China.

PubMed

He, Dian; Zhang, Ying; Ji, Ning; Zhou, You; Mao, Qunxia; Cheng, Yimin

2012-08-01

To examine the prevalence of contraceptive use in rural China and to determine factors that influence choice of contraceptive method. A cross-sectional study was conducted using multistage cluster sampling to identify married women aged 20-49 years residing in Shaanxi Province, China. Data on demographics and contraceptive use were collected via detailed questionnaire. The prevalence of contraceptive use in the study population was 93.9% (19 599/20 878 eligible women). Among the women using contraceptives, 10 408 (53.1%) used sterilization (female and male) and 6947 (35.4%) chose an intrauterine device. In total, 2244 (11.4%) women used short-acting contraceptive (SAC) methods: condoms and pills accounted for 8.7% (n=1712) and 1.0% (n=216), respectively. Young age; high level of education; low parity; increased number of abortions; low frequency of sexual intercourse; long duration between marriage and delivery; and marriage after 1994 were all associated with SAC usage. Although contraceptive use was high in rural China, the participants' awareness of free selection of contraceptive method and the rate of SAC use were both low. Appropriate and diverse family-planning services should be provided to meet the needs of women living in rural areas. Copyright © 2012 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nucleation barrier reconstruction via the seeding method in a lattice model with competing nucleation pathways.

PubMed

Lifanov, Yuri; Vorselaars, Bart; Quigley, David

2016-12-07

We study a three-species analogue of the Potts lattice gas model of nucleation from solution in a regime where partially disordered solute is a viable thermodynamic phase. Using a multicanonical sampling protocol, we compute phase diagrams for the system, from which we determine a parameter regime where the partially disordered phase is metastable almost everywhere in the temperature-fugacity plane. The resulting model shows non-trivial nucleation and growth behaviour, which we examine via multidimensional free energy calculations. We consider the applicability of the model in capturing the multi-stage nucleation mechanisms of polymorphic biominerals (e.g., CaCO 3 ). We then quantitatively explore the kinetics of nucleation in our model using the increasingly popular "seeding" method. We compare the resulting free energy barrier heights to those obtained via explicit free energy calculations over a wide range of temperatures and fugacities, carefully considering the propagation of statistical error. We find that the ability of the "seeding" method to reproduce accurate free energy barriers is dependent on the degree of supersaturation, and severely limited by the use of a nucleation driving force Δμ computed for bulk phases. We discuss possible reasons for this in terms of underlying kinetic assumptions, and those of classical nucleation theory.

Multistage, multiseasonal and multiband imagery to identify and qualify non-forest vegetation resources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Driscoll, R. S.; Francis, R. E.

1970-01-01

A description of space and supporting aircraft photography for the interpretation and analyses of non-forest (shrubby and herbaceous) native vegetation is presented. The research includes the development of a multiple sampling technique to assign quantitative area values of specific plant community types included within an assigned space photograph map unit. Also, investigations of aerial film type, scale, and season of photography for identification and quantity measures of shrubby and herbaceous vegetation were conducted. Some work was done to develop automated interpretation techniques with film image density measurement devices.

The Great Smoky Mountains Study of Youth. Goals, design, methods, and the prevalence of DSM-III-R disorders.

PubMed

Costello, E J; Angold, A; Burns, B J; Stangl, D K; Tweed, D L; Erkanli, A; Worthman, C M

1996-12-01

The Great Smoky Mountains Study of youth focuses on the relationship between the development of psychiatric disorder and the need for and use of mental health services. A multistage, overlapping cohorts design was used, in which 4500 of the 11758 children aged 9, 11, and 13 years in an 11-county area of the southeastern United States were randomly selected for screening for psychiatric symptoms. Children who scored in the top 25% on the screening questionnaire, together with a 1 in 10 random sample of the rest, were recruited for 4 waves of intensive, annual interviews (n = 1015 at wave 1). In a parallel study, all American Indian children aged 9, 11, and 13 years were recruited (N = 323 at wave 1). The 3-month prevalence (+/-SE) of any DSM-III-R axis I disorder in the main sample, weighted to reflect population prevalence rates, was 20.3% +/- 1.7%. The most common diagnoses were anxiety disorders (5.7% +/- 1.0%), enuresis (5.1% +/- 1.0%), tic disorders (4.2% +/- 0.9%), conduct disorder (3.3% +/- 0.6%), oppositional defiant disorder (2.7% +/- 0.4%), and hyperactivity (1.9% +/- 0.4%). The prevalence of psychiatric disorder in this rural sample was similar to rates reported in other recent studies. Poverty was the strongest demographic correlate of diagnosis, in both urban and rural children.

Comparative stress levels among residents in three Chinese provincial capitals, 2001 and 2008.

PubMed

Yang, Tingzhong; Wu, Dan; Zhang, Weifang; Cottrell, Randall R; Rockett, Ian R H

2012-01-01

To compare stress levels among residents in large Chinese cities between 2001 and 2008. Survey data were collected in three mainland Chinese capital cities in two waves, in 2001 and 2008, respectively. Participants were recruited through a multi-stage stratified sampling process. Stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale, Chinese version (CPSS). Descriptive methods were used to estimate mean stress levels and associated 95% confidence intervals. Estimates were adjusted by post-stratification weights. Indicating stable stress levels, respective adjusted mean stress scores for the combined samples of study participants were 23.90 (95%CI: 23.68-24.12) in 2001 and 23.69 (95%CI: 23.38-24.01) in 2008. A lower stress level in 2008 than in 2001 manifested among residents who were under 25 years of age; female; with a college or higher level education; divorced, widowed, or separated; members of the managerial and clerical group; students or army personnel; or with an annual income of at least 30,000 RMB. The overall stress level did not change among the combined sample of residents in the three Chinese study cities between 2001 and 2008. However, levels remained high and varied across social strata, and may have reflected a national trend among urban residents. Findings indicate a need for a new health policy, and call for the design and implementation of evidence-based interventions that target the highest-risk groups.

Development of extractive electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry for in vivo breath analysis.

PubMed

Ding, Jianhua; Yang, Shuiping; Liang, Dapeng; Chen, Huanwen; Wu, Zhuanzhang; Zhang, Lili; Ren, Yulin

2009-10-01

In metabolomics studies and clinical diagnosis, interest is increasing in the rapid analysis of exhaled breath. In vivo breath analysis offers a unique, unobtrusive, non-invasive method of investigating human metabolism. To analyze breath in vivo, we constructed a novel platform of extractive electrospray ionization (EESI) ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS) using a home-made EESI source coupled to a linear trap quadrupole mass spectrometer. A reference compound (authentic n-octyl amine) was used to evaluate effects of systematically varying selected characteristics of the EESI source on signal intensity. Under the optimized working conditions, metabolic changes of human bodies were in vivo followed by performing rapid breath analysis using the multi-stage EESI-ITMS tandem mass spectrometry platform. For nicotine, a limit of determination was found to be 0.05 fg mL(-1) (S/N = 3, RSD = 5.0 %, n = 10) for nicotine in aerosol standard samples; the dynamic response range was from 0.0155 pg mL(-1) to 155 pg mL(-1). The concentration of nicotine in the exhaled breath of a regular smoker was in vivo determined to be 5.8 pg mL(-1), without any sample pre-treatment. Our results show that EESI-ITMS is a powerful analytical platform to provide high sensitivity, high specificity and high throughput for semi-quantitative analysis of complex samples in life science, particularly for in vivo metabolomics studies.

Systematic investigation of gastrointestinal diseases in China (SILC): validation of survey methodology

PubMed Central

2009-01-01

Background Symptom-based surveys suggest that the prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases is lower in China than in Western countries. The aim of this study was to validate a methodology for the epidemiological investigation of gastrointestinal symptoms and endoscopic findings in China. Methods A randomized, stratified, multi-stage sampling methodology was used to select 18 000 adults aged 18-80 years from Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an, Wuhan and Guangzhou. Participants from Shanghai were invited to provide blood samples and undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. All participants completed Chinese versions of the Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ) and the modified Rome II questionnaire; 20% were also invited to complete the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The psychometric properties of the questionnaires were evaluated statistically. Results The study was completed by 16 091 individuals (response rate: 89.4%), with 3219 (89.4% of those invited) completing the SF-36 and ESS. All 3153 participants in Shanghai provided blood samples and 1030 (32.7%) underwent endoscopy. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.89, 0.89, 0.80 and 0.91, respectively, for the RDQ, modified Rome II questionnaire, ESS and SF-36, supporting internal consistency. Factor analysis supported construct validity of all questionnaire dimensions except SF-36 psychosocial dimensions. Conclusion This population-based study has great potential to characterize the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and endoscopic findings in China. PMID:19925662

[National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012: design and coverage].

PubMed

Romero-Martínez, Martín; Shamah-Levy, Teresa; Franco-Núñez, Aurora; Villalpando, Salvador; Cuevas-Nasu, Lucía; Gutiérrez, Juan Pablo; Rivera-Dommarco, Juan Ángel

2013-01-01

To describe the design and population coverage of the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012 (NHNS 2012). The design of the NHNS 2012 is reported, as a probabilistic population based survey with a multi-stage and stratified sampling, as well as the sample inferential properties, the logistical procedures, and the obtained coverage. Household response rate for the NHNS 2012 was 87%, completing data from 50,528 households, where 96 031 individual interviews selected by age and 14,104 of ambulatory health services users were also obtained. The probabilistic design of the NHNS 2012 as well as its coverage allowed to generate inferences about health and nutrition conditions, health programs coverage, and access to health services. Because of their complex designs, all estimations from the NHNS 2012 must use the survey design: weights, primary sampling units, and stratus variables.

Payment for Health Care and Perception of the National Health Insurance Scheme in a Rural Area in Southwest Nigeria

PubMed Central

Adewole, David A.; Adebayo, Ayodeji M.; Udeh, Emeka I.; Shaahu, Vivian N.; Dairo, Magbagbeola D.

2015-01-01

Health insurance coverage of the informal sector is a challenge in Nigeria. This study assessed the methods of payment for health care and awareness about the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) among members of selected households in a rural area in the southwest of Nigeria. Using a multistage sampling technique, a semi-structured, pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 345 households. The majority of the people still pay for health care by out-of-pocket (OOP) method. Awareness about the NHIS in Nigeria was poor, but attitude to it was encouraging; and from the responses obtained, the people implied that they were willing to enroll in the scheme if the opportunity is offered. However, lack of trust in government social policies, religious belief, and poverty were some of the factors that might impede the implementation and expansion of the NHIS in the informal sector. Stakeholders should promote socioculturally appropriate awareness program about the NHIS and its benefits. Factors that might present challenges to the scheme should be adequately addressed by the government and other stakeholders associated with prepayment schemes in Nigeria. PMID:26195464

Payment for Health Care and Perception of the National Health Insurance Scheme in a Rural Area in Southwest Nigeria.

PubMed

Adewole, David A; Adebayo, Ayodeji M; Udeh, Emeka I; Shaahu, Vivian N; Dairo, Magbagbeola D

2015-09-01

Health insurance coverage of the informal sector is a challenge in Nigeria. This study assessed the methods of payment for health care and awareness about the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) among members of selected households in a rural area in the southwest of Nigeria. Using a multistage sampling technique, a semi-structured, pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 345 households. The majority of the people still pay for health care by out-of-pocket (OOP) method. Awareness about the NHIS in Nigeria was poor, but attitude to it was encouraging; and from the responses obtained, the people implied that they were willing to enroll in the scheme if the opportunity is offered. However, lack of trust in government social policies, religious belief, and poverty were some of the factors that might impede the implementation and expansion of the NHIS in the informal sector. Stakeholders should promote socioculturally appropriate awareness program about the NHIS and its benefits. Factors that might present challenges to the scheme should be adequately addressed by the government and other stakeholders associated with prepayment schemes in Nigeria. © The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

An Investigation on Computer-Adaptive Multistage Testing Panels for Multidimensional Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Xinrui

2013-01-01

The computer-adaptive multistage testing (ca-MST) has been developed as an alternative to computerized adaptive testing (CAT), and been increasingly adopted in large-scale assessments. Current research and practice only focus on ca-MST panels for credentialing purposes. The ca-MST test mode, therefore, is designed to gauge a single scale. The…

A Fair Comparison of the Performance of Computerized Adaptive Testing and Multistage Adaptive Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Keyin

2017-01-01

The comparison of item-level computerized adaptive testing (CAT) and multistage adaptive testing (MST) has been researched extensively (e.g., Kim & Plake, 1993; Luecht et al., 1996; Patsula, 1999; Jodoin, 2003; Hambleton & Xing, 2006; Keng, 2008; Zheng, 2012). Various CAT and MST designs have been investigated and compared under the same…

"MSTGen": Simulated Data Generator for Multistage Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Han, Kyung T.

2013-01-01

Multistage testing, or MST, was developed as an alternative to computerized adaptive testing (CAT) for applications in which it is preferable to administer a test at the level of item sets (i.e., modules). As with CAT, the simulation technique in MST plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of tests. "MSTGen," a new MST…

Identifying Differential Item Functioning in Multi-Stage Computer Adaptive Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gierl, Mark J.; Lai, Hollis; Li, Johnson

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of CATSIB (Computer Adaptive Testing-Simultaneous Item Bias Test) for detecting differential item functioning (DIF) when items in the matching and studied subtest are administered adaptively in the context of a realistic multi-stage adaptive test (MST). MST was simulated using a 4-item…

The Effects of Routing and Scoring within a Computer Adaptive Multi-Stage Framework

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dallas, Andrew

2014-01-01

This dissertation examined the overall effects of routing and scoring within a computer adaptive multi-stage framework (ca-MST). Testing in a ca-MST environment has become extremely popular in the testing industry. Testing companies enjoy its efficiency benefits as compared to traditionally linear testing and its quality-control features over…

Fractional Multistage Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Biomass and Catalytic Conversion into Hydrocarbons

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

Cortright, Randy; Rozmiarek, Robert; Dally, Brice

2017-08-31

The objective of this project was to develop an improved multistage process for the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of biomass to serve as a new front-end, deconstruction process ideally suited to feed Virent’s well-proven catalytic technology, which is already being scaled up. This process produced water soluble, partially de-oxygenated intermediates that are ideally suited for catalytic finishing to fungible distillate hydrocarbons. Through this project, Virent, with its partners, demonstrated the conversion of pine wood chips to drop-in hydrocarbon distillate fuels using a multi-stage fractional conversion system that is integrated with Virent’s BioForming® process. The majority of work was in the liquefactionmore » task and included temperature scoping, solvent optimization, and separations.« less

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome - a review of supportive percutaneous treatment.

PubMed

Moszura, Tomasz; Góreczny, Sebastian; Dryżek, Paweł

2014-01-01

Due to the complex anatomical and haemodynamic consequences of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), patients with the condition require multistage surgical and supportive interventional treatment. Percutaneous interventions may be required between each stage of surgical palliation, sometimes simultaneously with surgery as hybrid interventions, or after completion of multistage treatment. Recent advances in the field of interventional cardiology, including new devices and techniques, have significantly contributed to improving results of multistage HLHS palliation. Knowledge of the potential interventional options as well as the limitation of percutaneous interventions will enable the creation of safe and effective treatment protocols in this highly challenging group of patients. In this comprehensive review we discuss the types, goals, and potential complications of transcatheter interventions in patients with HLHS.

Multi-Stage System for Automatic Target Recognition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chao, Tien-Hsin; Lu, Thomas T.; Ye, David; Edens, Weston; Johnson, Oliver

2010-01-01

A multi-stage automated target recognition (ATR) system has been designed to perform computer vision tasks with adequate proficiency in mimicking human vision. The system is able to detect, identify, and track targets of interest. Potential regions of interest (ROIs) are first identified by the detection stage using an Optimum Trade-off Maximum Average Correlation Height (OT-MACH) filter combined with a wavelet transform. False positives are then eliminated by the verification stage using feature extraction methods in conjunction with neural networks. Feature extraction transforms the ROIs using filtering and binning algorithms to create feature vectors. A feedforward back-propagation neural network (NN) is then trained to classify each feature vector and to remove false positives. The system parameter optimizations process has been developed to adapt to various targets and datasets. The objective was to design an efficient computer vision system that can learn to detect multiple targets in large images with unknown backgrounds. Because the target size is small relative to the image size in this problem, there are many regions of the image that could potentially contain the target. A cursory analysis of every region can be computationally efficient, but may yield too many false positives. On the other hand, a detailed analysis of every region can yield better results, but may be computationally inefficient. The multi-stage ATR system was designed to achieve an optimal balance between accuracy and computational efficiency by incorporating both models. The detection stage first identifies potential ROIs where the target may be present by performing a fast Fourier domain OT-MACH filter-based correlation. Because threshold for this stage is chosen with the goal of detecting all true positives, a number of false positives are also detected as ROIs. The verification stage then transforms the regions of interest into feature space, and eliminates false positives using an artificial neural network classifier. The multi-stage system allows tuning the detection sensitivity and the identification specificity individually in each stage. It is easier to achieve optimized ATR operation based on its specific goal. The test results show that the system was successful in substantially reducing the false positive rate when tested on a sonar and video image datasets.

Study of gas production from shale reservoirs with multi-stage hydraulic fracturing horizontal well considering multiple transport mechanisms.

PubMed

Guo, Chaohua; Wei, Mingzhen; Liu, Hong

2018-01-01

Development of unconventional shale gas reservoirs (SGRs) has been boosted by the advancements in two key technologies: horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing. A large number of multi-stage fractured horizontal wells (MsFHW) have been drilled to enhance reservoir production performance. Gas flow in SGRs is a multi-mechanism process, including: desorption, diffusion, and non-Darcy flow. The productivity of the SGRs with MsFHW is influenced by both reservoir conditions and hydraulic fracture properties. However, rare simulation work has been conducted for multi-stage hydraulic fractured SGRs. Most of them use well testing methods, which have too many unrealistic simplifications and assumptions. Also, no systematical work has been conducted considering all reasonable transport mechanisms. And there are very few works on sensitivity studies of uncertain parameters using real parameter ranges. Hence, a detailed and systematic study of reservoir simulation with MsFHW is still necessary. In this paper, a dual porosity model was constructed to estimate the effect of parameters on shale gas production with MsFHW. The simulation model was verified with the available field data from the Barnett Shale. The following mechanisms have been considered in this model: viscous flow, slip flow, Knudsen diffusion, and gas desorption. Langmuir isotherm was used to simulate the gas desorption process. Sensitivity analysis on SGRs' production performance with MsFHW has been conducted. Parameters influencing shale gas production were classified into two categories: reservoir parameters including matrix permeability, matrix porosity; and hydraulic fracture parameters including hydraulic fracture spacing, and fracture half-length. Typical ranges of matrix parameters have been reviewed. Sensitivity analysis have been conducted to analyze the effect of the above factors on the production performance of SGRs. Through comparison, it can be found that hydraulic fracture parameters are more sensitive compared with reservoir parameters. And reservoirs parameters mainly affect the later production period. However, the hydraulic fracture parameters have a significant effect on gas production from the early period. The results of this study can be used to improve the efficiency of history matching process. Also, it can contribute to the design and optimization of hydraulic fracture treatment design in unconventional SGRs.

Study of gas production from shale reservoirs with multi-stage hydraulic fracturing horizontal well considering multiple transport mechanisms

PubMed Central

Wei, Mingzhen; Liu, Hong

2018-01-01

Development of unconventional shale gas reservoirs (SGRs) has been boosted by the advancements in two key technologies: horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing. A large number of multi-stage fractured horizontal wells (MsFHW) have been drilled to enhance reservoir production performance. Gas flow in SGRs is a multi-mechanism process, including: desorption, diffusion, and non-Darcy flow. The productivity of the SGRs with MsFHW is influenced by both reservoir conditions and hydraulic fracture properties. However, rare simulation work has been conducted for multi-stage hydraulic fractured SGRs. Most of them use well testing methods, which have too many unrealistic simplifications and assumptions. Also, no systematical work has been conducted considering all reasonable transport mechanisms. And there are very few works on sensitivity studies of uncertain parameters using real parameter ranges. Hence, a detailed and systematic study of reservoir simulation with MsFHW is still necessary. In this paper, a dual porosity model was constructed to estimate the effect of parameters on shale gas production with MsFHW. The simulation model was verified with the available field data from the Barnett Shale. The following mechanisms have been considered in this model: viscous flow, slip flow, Knudsen diffusion, and gas desorption. Langmuir isotherm was used to simulate the gas desorption process. Sensitivity analysis on SGRs’ production performance with MsFHW has been conducted. Parameters influencing shale gas production were classified into two categories: reservoir parameters including matrix permeability, matrix porosity; and hydraulic fracture parameters including hydraulic fracture spacing, and fracture half-length. Typical ranges of matrix parameters have been reviewed. Sensitivity analysis have been conducted to analyze the effect of the above factors on the production performance of SGRs. Through comparison, it can be found that hydraulic fracture parameters are more sensitive compared with reservoir parameters. And reservoirs parameters mainly affect the later production period. However, the hydraulic fracture parameters have a significant effect on gas production from the early period. The results of this study can be used to improve the efficiency of history matching process. Also, it can contribute to the design and optimization of hydraulic fracture treatment design in unconventional SGRs. PMID:29320489

Performance improvement of multi-stage pulse tube cryocoolers with a self-precooled pulse tube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiu, L. M.; Zhi, X. Q.; Han, L.; Cao, Q.; Gan, Z. H.

2012-10-01

Reducing the pulse tube losses is significant for improving the cooling performance of pulse tube cryocoolers (PTCs) in particular for multi-stage ones, although ignored to a certain extent. A simple method called self-precooled pulse tube for multi-stage PTCs is comprehensively studied in order to reduce the entropy flow inside the pulse tube. Different from the complex multi-bypass or extra cryocooler or cryogens for precooling, the key of the idea is to directly precool some part of the lower stage pulse tube by using a small amount of cooling power from the upper stage through a thermal bridge. A two-stage separate Stirling PTC was chosen to demonstrate the effects of self-precooled pulse tube. Theoretical calculation showed that both the precooling temperature and position of the pulse tube affected the performance of the cryocooler. The experiment results showed that the cooling performance of the second stage with self-precooled pulse tube was remarkably improved as the bottom temperature decreased from 26.60 K to 18.02 K. The cooling power was notably increased with minor performance reduction of the first stage. By further optimizing the operation parameters, a no-load temperature of 15.87 K was achieved, which is the lowest temperature ever obtained by a two-stage Stirling PTC with only an inertance shifter. The study proves that the precooled pulse tube can help hot end heat exchanger reject the heat inside pulse tube, reduce the heat losses of the cold end and consequently improve the cooling performance of the cryocooler.

A sampling procedure to guide the collection of narrow-band, high-resolution spatially and spectrally representative reflectance data. [satellite imagery of earth resources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brand, R. R.; Barker, J. L.

1983-01-01

A multistage sampling procedure using image processing, geographical information systems, and analytical photogrammetry is presented which can be used to guide the collection of representative, high-resolution spectra and discrete reflectance targets for future satellite sensors. The procedure is general and can be adapted to characterize areas as small as minor watersheds and as large as multistate regions. Beginning with a user-determined study area, successive reductions in size and spectral variation are performed using image analysis techniques on data from the Multispectral Scanner, orbital and simulated Thematic Mapper, low altitude photography synchronized with the simulator, and associated digital data. An integrated image-based geographical information system supports processing requirements.

Discovery of novel Pim-1 kinase inhibitors by a hierarchical multistage virtual screening approach based on SVM model, pharmacophore, and molecular docking.

PubMed

Ren, Ji-Xia; Li, Lin-Li; Zheng, Ren-Lin; Xie, Huan-Zhang; Cao, Zhi-Xing; Feng, Shan; Pan, You-Li; Chen, Xin; Wei, Yu-Quan; Yang, Sheng-Yong

2011-06-27

In this investigation, we describe the discovery of novel potent Pim-1 inhibitors by employing a proposed hierarchical multistage virtual screening (VS) approach, which is based on support vector machine-based (SVM-based VS or SB-VS), pharmacophore-based VS (PB-VS), and docking-based VS (DB-VS) methods. In this approach, the three VS methods are applied in an increasing order of complexity so that the first filter (SB-VS) is fast and simple, while successive ones (PB-VS and DB-VS) are more time-consuming but are applied only to a small subset of the entire database. Evaluation of this approach indicates that it can be used to screen a large chemical library rapidly with a high hit rate and a high enrichment factor. This approach was then applied to screen several large chemical libraries, including PubChem, Specs, and Enamine as well as an in-house database. From the final hits, 47 compounds were selected for further in vitro Pim-1 inhibitory assay, and 15 compounds show nanomolar level or low micromolar inhibition potency against Pim-1. In particular, four of them were found to have new scaffolds which have potential for the chemical development of Pim-1 inhibitors.

Degree of deacetylation chitosan from pen shell (Atrina pectinata) with multistage deacetylation process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pursetyo, Kustiawan Tri; Purbowati, Pinta; Sulmartiwi, Laksmi

2017-02-01

The utilization of pen shell (Atrina pectinata) generally in some areas only as edible portion adductor muscle (meat) so the shells become fishery waste. Shells are raw materials that contain chitin and chitosan. Benefits of chitin and chitosan in various fields of modern industry are quite a lot, including in the pharmaceutical industry, biochemistry, biotechnology, biomedical, food, nutrition, paper, textile, agriculture, cosmetics, and healthcare membrane. Quality of chitosan is influenced by deacetylation degree which is one of the most important chemical characteristics. Deacetylation degree gives affect in application of chitosan, due to the value of amina chain and used to differentiate between chitin and chitosan. Deacetylation degrees of chitosan are determined by several factors such as NaOH concentration, temperature and time process. In addition, treatment of deacetylation process of chitin can give effect to deacetylation degree value of chitosan. The method that was used in this research was an experimental method with a statistical analysis of the data. The results showed that stage deacetylation process of chitin have the effect to increase deacetylation degree of chitosan. Multistage deacetylation process of chitin with 3 stage process was capable to make the deacetylation degree on average 75% with 82.91% of solubility. The increase result of deacetylation degree of chitosan is directly proportional with the increase in solubility

Catalytic multi-stage liquefaction of coal at HTI: Bench-scale studies in coal/waste plastics coprocessing

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

Pradhan, V.R.; Lee, L.K.; Stalzer, R.H.

1995-12-31

The development of Catalytic Multi-Stage Liquefaction (CMSL) at HTI has focused on both bituminous and sub-bituminous coals using laboratory, bench and PDU scale operations. The crude oil equivalent cost of liquid fuels from coal has been curtailed to about $30 per barrel, thus achieving over 30% reduction in the price that was evaluated for the liquefaction technologies demonstrated in the late seventies and early eighties. Contrary to the common belief, the new generation of catalytic multistage coal liquefaction process is environmentally very benign and can produce clean, premium distillates with a very low (<10ppm) heteroatoms content. The HTI Staff hasmore » been involved over the years in process development and has made significant improvements in the CMSL processing of coals. A 24 month program (extended to September 30, 1995) to study novel concepts, using a continuous bench scale Catalytic Multi-Stage unit (30kg coal/day), has been initiated since December, 1992. This program consists of ten bench-scale operations supported by Laboratory Studies, Modelling, Process Simulation and Economic Assessments. The Catalytic Multi-Stage Liquefaction is a continuation of the second generation yields using a low/high temperature approach. This paper covers work performed between October 1994- August 1995, especially results obtained from the microautoclave support activities and the bench-scale operations for runs CMSL-08 and CMSL-09, during which, coal and the plastic components for municipal solid wastes (MSW) such as high density polyethylene (HDPE)m, polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polythylene terphthlate (PET) were coprocessed.« less

[Study on the method for the determination of trace boron, molybdenum, silver, tin and lead in geochemical samples by direct current arc full spectrum direct reading atomic emission spectroscopy (DC-Arc-AES)].

PubMed

Hao, Zhi-hong; Yao, Jian-zhen; Tang, Rui-ling; Zhang, Xue-mei; Li, Wen-ge; Zhang, Qin

2015-02-01

The method for the determmation of trace boron, molybdenum, silver, tin and lead in geochemical samples by direct current are full spectrum direct reading atomic emission spectroscopy (DC-Arc-AES) was established. Direct current are full spectrum direct reading atomic emission spectrometer with a large area of solid-state detectors has functions of full spectrum direct reading and real-time background correction. The new electrodes and new buffer recipe were proposed in this paper, and have applied for national patent. Suitable analytical line pairs, back ground correcting points of elements and the internal standard method were selected, and Ge was used as internal standard. Multistage currents were selected in the research on current program, and each current set different holding time to ensure that each element has a good signal to noise ratio. Continuous rising current mode selected can effectively eliminate the splash of the sample. Argon as shielding gas can eliminate CN band generating and reduce spectral background, also plays a role in stabilizing the are, and argon flow 3.5 L x min(-1) was selected. Evaporation curve of each element was made, and it was concluded that the evaporation behavior of each element is consistent, and combined with the effects of different spectrographic times on the intensity and background, the spectrographic time of 35s was selected. In this paper, national standards substances were selected as a standard series, and the standard series includes different nature and different content of standard substances which meet the determination of trace boron, molybdenum, silver, tin and lead in geochemical samples. In the optimum experimental conditions, the detection limits for B, Mo, Ag, Sn and Pb are 1.1, 0.09, 0.01, 0.41, and 0.56 microg x g(-1) respectively, and the precisions (RSD, n=12) for B, Mo, Ag, Sn and Pb are 4.57%-7.63%, 5.14%-7.75%, 5.48%-12.30%, 3.97%-10.46%, and 4.26%-9.21% respectively. The analytical accuracy was validated by national standards and the results are in agreement with certified values. The method is simple, rapid, is an advanced analytical method for the determination of trace amounts of geochemical samples' boron, molybdenum, silver, tin and lead, and has a certain practicality.

Protocol for Reliability Assessment of Structural Health Monitoring Systems Incorporating Model-assisted Probability of Detection (MAPOD) Approach

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

a quality evaluation with limited data, a model -based assessment must be...that affect system performance, a multistage approach to system validation, a modeling and experimental methodology for efficiently addressing a ...affect system performance, a multistage approach to system validation, a modeling and experimental methodology for efficiently addressing a wide range

A Multi-Stage Longitudinal Comparative Design Stage II Evaluation of the Changing Lives Program: The Life Course Interview (RDA-LCI)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arango, Lisa Lewis; Kurtines, William M.; Montgomery, Marilyn J.; Ritchie, Rachel

2008-01-01

The study reported in this article, a Multi-Stage Longitudinal Comparative Design Stage II evaluation conducted as a planned preliminary efficacy evaluation (psychometric evaluation of measures, short-term controlled outcome studies, etc.) of the Changing Lives Program (CLP), provided evidence for the reliability and validity of the qualitative…

Interaction between Gaming and Multistage Guiding Strategies on Students' Field Trip Mobile Learning Performance and Motivation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Chih-Hung; Liu, Guan-Zhi; Hwang, Gwo-Jen

2016-01-01

In this study, an integrated gaming and multistage guiding approach was proposed for conducting in-field mobile learning activities. A mobile learning system was developed based on the proposed approach. To investigate the interaction between the gaming and guiding strategies on students' learning performance and motivation, a 2 × 2 experiment was…

Multi-stage flash degaser

DOEpatents

Rapier, Pascal M.

1982-01-01

A multi-stage flash degaser (18) is incorporated in an energy conversion system (10) having a direct-contact, binary-fluid heat exchanger to remove essentially all of the noncondensable gases from geothermal brine ahead of the direct-contact binary-fluid heat exchanger (22) in order that the heat exchanger (22) and a turbine (48) and condenser (32) of the system (10) can operate at optimal efficiency.

Analysis of non-enzymatically glycated peptides: neutral-loss-triggered MS3 versus multi-stage activation tandem mass spectrometry

PubMed Central

Zhang, Qibin; Petyuk, Vladislav A.; Schepmoes, Athena A.; Orton, Daniel J.; Monroe, Matthew E.; Yang, Feng; Smith, Richard D.; Metz, Thomas O.

2009-01-01

Non-enzymatic glycation of tissue proteins has important implications in the development of complications of diabetes mellitus. While electron transfer dissociation (ETD) has been shown to outperform collision-induced dissociation (CID) in sequencing glycated peptides by tandem mass spectrometry, ETD instrumentation is not yet widely available and often suffers from significantly lower sensitivity than CID. In this study, we evaluated different advanced CID techniques (i.e., neutral-loss-triggered MS3 and multi-stage activation) during liquid chromatography/multi-stage mass spectrometric (LC/MSn) analyses of Amadori-modified peptides enriched from human serum glycated in vitro. During neutral-loss-triggered MS3 experiments, MS3 scans triggered by neutral losses of 3 H2O or 3 H2O + HCHO produced similar results in terms of glycated peptide identifications. However, neutral losses of 3 H2O resulted in significantly more glycated peptide identifications during multi-stage activation experiments. Overall, the multi-stage activation approach produced more glycated peptide identifications, while the neutral-loss-triggered MS3 approach resulted in much higher specificity. Both techniques are viable alternatives to ETD for identifying glycated peptides. PMID:18763275

The relationship between patients' knowledge of diabetes therapeutic goals and self-management behaviour, including adherence.

PubMed

Waheedi, Mohammad; Awad, Abdelmoneim; Hatoum, Hind T; Enlund, Hannes

2017-02-01

Background The Middle East region has one the highest prevalence rates of diabetes in the world. Little is known about the determinants of adherence and the role of knowledge in diabetes self-management within these populations. Objective To investigate the relationship between patients knowledge of diabetes therapeutic targets with adherence to self-care measures in a sample of patients with type 2 diabetes in Kuwait. Setting Primary care chronic care clinics within the Ministry of Health of Kuwait. Methods A cross sectional survey was carried out with 238 patients from six clinics. A multistage stratified clustered sampling method was used to first randomly select the clinics and the patients. Self-reported adherence to three behaviours: medication taking, diet and physical activity. Results Respondents were able to correctly report a mean (SD) of 1.6 (1.3) out of 5 of the pre-specified treatment targets. Optimal adherence to physical activity, diet and medications was reported in 25, 33 and 47 % of the study cohort, respectively. A structural equation model analysis showed better knowledge of therapeutic goals and own current levels translated into better adherence to medications, diet and physical activity. Conclusion Knowledge of therapeutic goals and own recent levels is associated with adherence to medications, diet, or physical activity in this Kuwaiti cohort of patients with diabetes. Low adherence to self-care management and poor overall knowledge of diabetes is a big challenge to successful diabetes care in Kuwait.

Using formative research to design a context-specific behaviour change strategy to improve infant and young child feeding practices and nutrition in Nepal.

PubMed

Locks, Lindsey M; Pandey, Pooja R; Osei, Akoto K; Spiro, David S; Adhikari, Debendra P; Haselow, Nancy J; Quinn, Victoria J; Nielsen, Jennifer N

2015-10-01

Global recommendations on strategies to improve infant feeding, care and nutrition are clear; however, there is limited literature that explains methods for tailoring these recommendations to the local context where programmes are implemented. This paper aims to: (1) highlight the individual, cultural and environmental factors revealed by formative research to affect infant and young child feeding and care practices in Baitadi district of Far Western Nepal; and (2) outline how both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to design a context-specific behaviour change strategy to improve child nutrition. Quantitative data on 750 children aged 12-23 months and their families were collected via surveys administered to mothers. The participants were selected using a multistage cluster sampling technique. The survey asked about knowledge, attitude and behaviours relating to infant and young child feeding. Qualitative data on breastfeeding and complementary feeding beliefs and practices were also collected from a separate sample via focus group discussions with mothers, and key informant interviews with mothers-in-law and husbands. Key findings revealed gaps in knowledge among many informants resulting in suboptimal infant and young child feeding practices - particularly with relation to duration of exclusive breastfeeding and dietary diversity of complementary foods. The findings from this research were then incorporated into a context-specific nutrition behaviour change communication strategy. © 2013 Helen Keller International © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Anaemia and associated factors among under-fives and their mothers in Bushenyi district, Western Uganda.

PubMed

Kikafunda, Joyce K; Lukwago, Fred B; Turyashemererwa, Florence

2009-12-01

To determine the prevalence of anaemia and associated factors among under-fives and their mothers in a rural area of Western Uganda. A cross-sectional investigation using both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Stratified multistage sampling methods were used to select the study sample. A haemoglobinometer was used to assess Hb levels in the blood. A rural district in Western Uganda. Children aged 6-59 months and their mothers aged 15-49 years. The overall prevalence of Fe-deficiency anaemia among children and their mothers was 26.2 % and 17.9 %, respectively. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.5, P = 0.008) between the Hb levels of the mothers and their children. Place of birth, age of the child, factors related to complementary foods, and formal education and nutrition knowledge of the mother were major factors that were significantly associated (r = 0.05, P = 0.05) with low Hb levels among the children. The most important factors that were associated with low Hb levels of the mothers were their formal education, nutrition knowledge and health status. Fe-deficiency anaemia was found to be a major problem in this cohort of children and their mothers. Dietary factors and sociodemographic factors were the major factors associated with high levels of anaemia among the children and their mothers. It is therefore recommended that rural mothers should be sensitized on best practices for prevention of anaemia among both women and children.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to various definitions and hypertriglyceridemic-waist in malaysian adults.

PubMed

Zainuddin, Laila Ruwaida Mohd; Isa, Nurfirdaus; Muda, Wan Manan Wan; Mohamed, Hamid Jan

2011-10-01

Metabolic syndrome can be diagnosed according to several different criteria such as the latest International Diabetes Federation (IDF), National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Program III (NCEP ATPIII), and World Health Organization (WHO). The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the concordance between the above mentioned definition, and hypertriglyceridemic-waist criteria. This cross sectional study was done in Bachok, Malaysia and involved 298 respondents aged between 18 to 70 years. Multistage random sampling method was used to identify study locations while convenient random sampling method was applied to select individuals. Hypertriglyceridemic waist was defined from an internationally acceptable cut-off criterion. Kappa statistic (κ test) was used to determine the concordance between various definitions and hypertriglyceridemic-waist. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome based on different definitions was 32.2% (IDF), 28.5% (NCEP ATP III) and 12.4% (modified WHO). The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemic-waist was 19.7% and based on the IDF criteria a total of 97.5% participants with hypertriglyceridemic-waist had metabolic syndrome. The IDF criteria showed the highest concordance with NCEP ATPIII criteria (κ = 0.63), followed by hypertriglyceridemic-waist criteria (κ = 0.62) and WHO criteria (κ = 0.26). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was highest using the IDF criteria compared to NCEP ATPIII, modified WHO and hypertriglyceridemic-waist. There was a good concordance of IDF criteria with NCEP ATP III and hypertriglyceridemic-waist criteria.

Job Satisfaction Differences between Primary Health Care and Treatment Sectors: An Experience from Iran

PubMed Central

Bagheri, Shokoufe; Janati, Ali; Kousha, Ahmad; Sadeghi-Bazargani, Homayoun; Asghari-Jafarabadi, Mohammad; Farahbakhsh, Mostafa

2013-01-01

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the levels of job satisfaction and its predictors among primary health care and treatment sectors' staff in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Methods: This comparative study was conducted in East Azerbaijan Province,Iran in 2011. A questionnaire survey was performed on 420 staff from health care and treatment sectors using multi-stage proportional cluster sampling method. Job satisfaction was measured in five aspects namely: structural and managerial; individual; social; work-itself; environmental and welfare job satisfaction factors.The job satisfaction measurement score was normalized to fall into a range of zero to 100. Statistical analyses were performed using Friedman and independent sample t-tests. Results: Overall satisfaction in health and treatment sectors was moderate with a mean score above 50. Hospital General Practitioners reported significantly higher job satisfaction score (mean ± SD=57.34 ± 17.02) compared to health care center General Practitioners (mean ± SD= 31.74±14.99). The highest satisfaction scores belonged to individual factors both in health care sector staff (64.83±18.50) and treatment sector staff (63.55±17.44). The lowest job satisfaction was observed with environmental and welfare factors (38.47±19.86 and 36.83±19.86, respectively). Conclusion: The job satisfaction significantly differs between primary health care and treatment sectors. Based on the results, environmental and welfare factors may be targeted to improve the job satisfaction in public health care system. PMID:24688957

Spectroscopic Chemical Analysis Methods and Apparatus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hug, William F.; Reid, Ray D.

2012-01-01

This invention relates to non-contact spectroscopic methods and apparatus for performing chemical analysis and the ideal wavelengths and sources needed for this analysis. It employs deep ultraviolet (200- to 300-nm spectral range) electron-beam-pumped wide bandgap semiconductor lasers, incoherent wide bandgap semiconductor lightemitting devices, and hollow cathode metal ion lasers. Three achieved goals for this innovation are to reduce the size (under 20 L), reduce the weight [under 100 lb (.45 kg)], and reduce the power consumption (under 100 W). This method can be used in microscope or macroscope to provide measurement of Raman and/or native fluorescence emission spectra either by point-by-point measurement, or by global imaging of emissions within specific ultraviolet spectral bands. In other embodiments, the method can be used in analytical instruments such as capillary electrophoresis, capillary electro-chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, flow cytometry, and related instruments for detection and identification of unknown analytes using a combination of native fluorescence and/or Raman spectroscopic methods. This design provides an electron-beampumped semiconductor radiation-producing method, or source, that can emit at a wavelength (or wavelengths) below 300 nm, e.g. in the deep ultraviolet between about 200 and 300 nm, and more preferably less than 260 nm. In some variations, the method is to produce incoherent radiation, while in other implementations it produces laser radiation. In some variations, this object is achieved by using an AlGaN emission medium, while in other implementations a diamond emission medium may be used. This instrument irradiates a sample with deep UV radiation, and then uses an improved filter for separating wavelengths to be detected. This provides a multi-stage analysis of the sample. To avoid the difficulties related to producing deep UV semiconductor sources, a pumping approach has been developed that uses ballistic electron beam injection directly into the active region of a wide bandgap semiconductor material.

Design of the South East Asian Nutrition Survey (SEANUTS): a four-country multistage cluster design study.

PubMed

Schaafsma, Anne; Deurenberg, Paul; Calame, Wim; van den Heuvel, Ellen G H M; van Beusekom, Christien; Hautvast, Jo; Sandjaja; Bee Koon, Poh; Rojroongwasinkul, Nipa; Le Nguyen, Bao Khanh; Parikh, Panam; Khouw, Ilse

2013-09-01

Nutrition is a well-known factor in the growth, health and development of children. It is also acknowledged that worldwide many people have dietary imbalances resulting in over- or undernutrition. In 2009, the multinational food company FrieslandCampina initiated the South East Asian Nutrition Survey (SEANUTS), a combination of surveys carried out in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, to get a better insight into these imbalances. The present study describes the general study design and methodology, as well as some problems and pitfalls encountered. In each of these countries, participants in the age range of 0·5-12 years were recruited according to a multistage cluster randomised or stratified random sampling methodology. Field teams took care of recruitment and data collection. For the health status of children, growth and body composition, physical activity, bone density, and development and cognition were measured. For nutrition, food intake and food habits were assessed by questionnaires, whereas in subpopulations blood and urine samples were collected to measure the biochemical status parameters of Fe, vitamins A and D, and DHA. In Thailand, the researchers additionally studied the lipid profile in blood, whereas in Indonesia iodine excretion in urine was analysed. Biochemical data were analysed in certified laboratories. Study protocols and methodology were aligned where practically possible. In December 2011, data collection was finalised. In total, 16,744 children participated in the present study. Information that will be very relevant for formulating nutritional health policies, as well as for designing innovative food and nutrition research and development programmes, has become available.

Health and human rights in Chin State, Western Burma: a population-based assessment using multistaged household cluster sampling.

PubMed

Sollom, Richard; Richards, Adam K; Parmar, Parveen; Mullany, Luke C; Lian, Salai Bawi; Iacopino, Vincent; Beyrer, Chris

2011-02-08

The Chin State of Burma (also known as Myanmar) is an isolated ethnic minority area with poor health outcomes and reports of food insecurity and human rights violations. We report on a population-based assessment of health and human rights in Chin State. We sought to quantify reported human rights violations in Chin State and associations between these reported violations and health status at the household level. Multistaged household cluster sampling was done. Heads of household were interviewed on demographics, access to health care, health status, food insecurity, forced displacement, forced labor, and other human rights violations during the preceding 12 months. Ratios of the prevalence of household hunger comparing exposed and unexposed to each reported violation were estimated using binomial regression, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were constructed. Multivariate models were done to adjust for possible confounders. Overall, 91.9% of households (95% CI 89.7%-94.1%) reported forced labor in the past 12 months. Forty-three percent of households met FANTA-2 (Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance II project) definitions for moderate to severe household hunger. Common violations reported were food theft, livestock theft or killing, forced displacement, beatings and torture, detentions, disappearances, and religious and ethnic persecution. Self reporting of multiple rights abuses was independently associated with household hunger. Our findings indicate widespread self-reports of human rights violations. The nature and extent of these violations may warrant investigation by the United Nations or International Criminal Court. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

Stator Indexing in Multistage Compressors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barankiewicz, Wendy S.

1997-01-01

The relative circumferential location of stator rows (stator indexing) is an aspect of multistage compressor design that has not yet been explored for its potential impact on compressor aerodynamic performance. Although the inlet stages of multistage compressors usually have differing stator blade counts, the aft stages of core compressors can often have stage blocks with equal stator blade counts in successive stages. The potential impact of stator indexing is likely greatest in these stages. To assess the performance impact of stator indexing, researchers at the NASA Lewis Research Center used the 4 ft diameter, four-stage NASA Low Speed Axial Compressor for detailed experiments. This compressor has geometrically identical stages that can circumferentially index stator rows relative to each other in a controlled manner; thus it is an ideal test rig for such investigations.

Willingness to pay for improved public health care services in Saudi Arabia: a contingent valuation study among heads of Saudi households.

PubMed

Al-Hanawi, Mohammed K; Alsharqi, Omar; Vaidya, Kirit

2018-06-04

The bulk of health care service provision in Saudi Arabia is undertaken by the public health care sector through the Ministry of Health, which is funded annually by the total government budget, which, in turn, is derived primarily from oil revenue. Public health care services in Saudi Arabia are characterised by an overload, overuse, and shortage of medical personnel, which can result in dissatisfaction with the quality of the current public health care services. This study uses a contingent valuation method to investigate the willingness of Saudi people to pay for improvements to the quality of public health care services. This study also determines the association between the willingness to pay for quality improvements and respondents' demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 1187 heads of household in Jeddah Province over a five-month period. Multi-stage sampling was employed to recruit participants. Partial Tobit regression and corresponding marginal effects analyses were used to analyse the data. These empirical analyses show that the majority of the sample was willing to pay for quality improvements in the public health care services. The results of this study might be of use to policymakers to help with both priority setting and fund allocation.

Revictimization of Violence Suffered by Those Diagnosed with Alcohol Dependence in the General Population

PubMed Central

Quintana, M. I.; Bressan, R. A.; Mello, M. F.; Andreoli, S. B.

2015-01-01

Objective. To verify the association between violence and alcohol dependence syndrome in sample populations. Method. Population-wide survey with multistage probabilistic sample. 3,744 individuals of both genders, aged from 15 to 75 years, were interviewed from the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 2.1). Results. In both cities, alcohol dependence was associated with the male gender, having suffered violence related to criminality, and having suffered familial violence. In both cities, urban violence, in more than 50% of cases, and familial violence, in more than 90% of cases, preceded alcohol dependence. The reoccurrence of traumatic events occurred in more than half of individuals dependent on alcohol. In São Paulo, having been diagnosed with PTSD is associated with violence revictimization (P = 0.014; Odds = 3.33). Conclusion. Alcohol dependence syndrome is complexly related to urban and familial violence in the general population. Violence frequently precedes alcoholism, but this relationship is dependent on residence and traumatic events. This vicious cycle contributes to perpetuating the high rates of alcoholism and violence in the cities. Politicians ordering the reduction of violence in the large metropolises can, potentially, reduce alcoholism and contribute to the break of this cycle. PMID:26000304

Household Food Insecurity Is Associated with Nutritional Status among Iranian Children.

PubMed

Shahraki, Soudabeh Hamedi; Amirkhizi, Farshad; Amirkhizi, Behzad; Hamedi, Sousan

2016-01-01

This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine household food security status and sociodemographic factors influencing it and to examine whether food insecurity of household is a risk factor for underweight, stunting, and thinness in primary school children of Sistan and Baluchestan Province in southeastern Iran. A sample of 610 students aged 7-11 years was selected by a multistage cluster random sampling method during December 2013-May 2014. Using U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Security questionnaire, 42.3% of households showed some degree of food insecurity. Food insecurity was positively associated with household size (p = .002) and number of children per household (p = .001) and negatively associated with mother's and father's education level (p = .005 and p = .042, respectively), father's occupation status, and household income (p < .0001). Children living in food insecure with severe hunger households were 10.13, 10.07, and 4.54 times as likely to be underweight, stunted, and thin, respectively, as counterparts from food secure households. The findings showed food insecurity was prevalent and associated with sociodemographic factors among households with schoolchildren in southeastern Iran. Nutritional status of children was also associated with food security status of their households.

Household Food Insecurity, Mother's Feeding Practices, and the Early Childhood's Iron Status.

PubMed

Salarkia, Nahid; Neyestani, Tirang R; Omidvar, Nasrin; Zayeri, Farid

2015-01-01

Health consequences of food insecurity among infants and toddlers have not been fully examined. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between household food insecurity, mother's infant feeding practices and iron status of 6-24 months children. In this cross-sectional study, 423 mother-child pairs were randomly selected by multistage sampling method. Children blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations. Household food security was evaluated using a validated Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. The mother's feeding practices were evaluated using Infant and Young Child Feeding practice variables including: The duration of breastfeeding and the time of introducing of complementary feeding. Based on the results, of the studied households only 47.7% were food secure. Mild and moderate-severe household food insecurity was 39.5% and 12.8%, respectively. Anemia, iron deficiency (ID), and iron deficiency anemia were seen in 29.1%, 12.2%, and 4.8% of children, respectively. There was no significant association between household food insecurity; mother's feeding practices and child ID with or without anemia. We found no association between household food insecurity and the occurrence of anemia in the 6-24 months children. However, these findings do not rule out the possibility of other micronutrient deficiencies among the food-insecure household children.

Determinants of Prelacteal Feeding in Rural Northern India

PubMed Central

Roy, Manas Pratim; Mohan, Uday; Singh, Shivendra Kumar; Singh, Vijay Kumar; Srivastava, Anand Kumar

2014-01-01

Background: Prelacteal feeding is an underestimated problem in a developing country like India, where infant mortality rate is quite high. The present study tried to find out the factors determining prelacteal feeding in rural areas of north India. Methods: A crosssectional study was conducted among recently delivered women of rural Uttar Pradesh, India. Multistage random sampling was used for selecting villages. From them, 352 recently delivered women were selected as the subjects, following systematic random sampling. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to find out the predictors for prelacteal feeding. Results: Overall, 40.1% of mothers gave prelacteal feeding to their newborn. Factors significantly associated with such practice, after simple logistic regression, were age, caste, socioeconomic status, and place of delivery. At multivariate level, age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13-2.74), caste and place of delivery (OR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.21-4.10) were found to determine prelacteal feeding significantly, indicating that young age, high caste, and home deliveries could affect the practice positively. Conclusions: The problem of prelacteal feeding is still prevalent in rural India. Age, caste, and place of delivery were associated with the problem. For ensuring neonatal health, the problem should be addressed with due gravity, with emphasis on exclusive breast feeding. PMID:24932400

The Prevalence of Selected Potentially Hazardous Workplace Exposures in the US: Findings From the 2010 National Health Interview Survey

PubMed Central

Calvert, Geoffrey M.; Luckhaupt, Sara E.; Sussell, Aaron; Dahlhamer, James M.; Ward, Brian W.

2015-01-01

Objective Assess the national prevalence of current workplace exposure to potential skin hazards, secondhand smoke (SHS), and outdoor work among various industry and occupation groups. Also, assess the national prevalence of chronic workplace exposure to vapors, gas, dust, and fumes (VGDF) among these groups. Methods Data were obtained from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). NHIS is a multistage probability sample survey of the civilian non-institutionalized population of the US. Prevalence rates and their variances were calculated using SUDAAN to account for the complex NHIS sample design. Results The data for 2010 were available for 17,524 adults who worked in the 12 months that preceded interview. The highest prevalence rates of hazardous workplace exposures were typically in agriculture, mining, and construction. The prevalence rate of frequent handling of or skin contact with chemicals, and of non-smokers frequently exposed to SHS at work was highest in mining and construction. Outdoor work was most common in agriculture (85%), construction (73%), and mining (65%). Finally, frequent occupational exposure to VGDF was most common among mining (67%), agriculture (53%), and construction workers (51%). Conclusion We identified industries and occupations with the highest prevalence of potentially hazardous workplace exposures, and provided targets for investigation and intervention activities. PMID:22821700

CareTrack Kids—part 2. Assessing the appropriateness of the healthcare delivered to Australian children: study protocol for a retrospective medical record review

PubMed Central

Hooper, Tamara D; Hibbert, Peter D; Mealing, Nicole; Wiles, Louise K; Jaffe, Adam; White, Les; Cowell, Christopher T; Runciman, William B; Goldstein, Stan; Hallahan, Andrew R; Wakefield, John G; Murphy, Elisabeth; Lau, Annie; Wheaton, Gavin; Williams, Helena M; Hughes, Clifford; Braithwaite, Jeffrey

2015-01-01

Introduction Australian and international clinical practice guidelines are available for common paediatric conditions. Yet there is evidence that there are substantial variations between the guidelines, recommendations (appropriate care) and the care delivered. This paper describes a study protocol to determine the appropriateness of the healthcare delivered to Australian children for 16 common paediatric conditions in acute and primary healthcare settings. Methods and analysis A random sample of 6000–8000 medical records representing a cross-section of the Australian paediatric population will be reviewed for appropriateness of care against a set of indicators within three Australian states (New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia) using multistage, stratified sampling. Medical records of children aged <16 years who presented with at least one of the study conditions during 2012 and 2013 will be reviewed. Ethics and dissemination Human Research Ethics Committee approvals have been received from the Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service and Women's and Children's Hospital Network (South Australia). An application is under review for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. The authors will submit the results of the study to relevant journals and offer oral presentations to researchers, clinicians and policymakers at national and international conferences. PMID:25854977

Knowledge of cervical cancer and acceptance of HPV vaccination among secondary school students in Sarawak, Malaysia.

PubMed

Rashwan, Hesham; Lubis, Syarif Husin; Ni, Kiat Aun

2011-01-01

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women in peninsular Malaysia and very prevalent worldwide. HPV vaccination and routine Pap smear testing are the best preventive measures. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge level of secondary school students from Sarawak, East Malaysia regarding cervical cancer and its prevention. Multistage random sampling with various methods in each step was employed to select the sample of 76 students. Results showed that 61.8% had poor knowledge level of cervical cancer and its prevention. There were 60.5% of students who were aware of cervical cancer with Chinese and form four students showing significantly the highest awareness (p<0.05). The main source of cervical cancer information was from their parents (25.9%). HPV vaccination acceptance among students was 22.3% and an association was found between knowledge of cervical cancer with race and HPV vaccination acceptance (p<0.05). In conclusion, the students had poor knowledge level of cervical cancer, its prevention and HPV vaccination acceptance. More efforts should be made to improve cervical cancer knowledge and awareness of the public especially secondary school students in Sarawak. This in turn will enhance the practice of prevention against cervical cancer among students.

Elevated incidence rates of diabetes in Peru: report from PERUDIAB, a national urban population-based longitudinal study

PubMed Central

Seclen, Segundo Nicolas; Rosas, Moises Ernesto; Arias, Arturo Jaime; Medina, Cecilia Alexandra

2017-01-01

Objective A recent report from a non-nationally representative, geographically diverse sample in four separate communities in Peru suggests an unusually high diabetes incidence. We aimed to estimate the national diabetes incidence rate using PERUDIAB, a probabilistic, national urban population-based longitudinal study. Research design and methods 662 subjects without diabetes, selected by multistage, cluster, random sampling of households, representing the 24 administrative and the 3 (coast, highlands and jungle) natural regions across the country, from both sexes, aged 25+ years at baseline, enrolled in 2010–2012, were followed for 3.8 years. New diabetes cases were defined as fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL or on medical diabetes treatment. Results There were 49 cases of diabetes in 2408 person-years follow-up. The weighted cumulative incidence of diabetes was 7.2% while the weighted incidence rate was estimated at 19.5 (95% CI 13.9 to 28.3) new cases per 1000 person-years. Older age, obesity and technical or higher education were statistically associated with the incidence of diabetes. Conclusion Our results confirm that the incidence of diabetes in Peru is among the highest reported globally. The fast economic growth in the last 20 years, high overweight and obesity rates may have triggered this phenomenon. PMID:28878935

Positive and negative perfectionism and their relationship with anxiety and depression in Iranian school students

PubMed Central

Afshar, Hamid; Roohafza, Hamidreza; Sadeghi, Masoumeh; Saadaty, Alireza; Salehi, Mehrdad; Motamedi, Masoud; Matinpour, Mohammad; Isfahani, Homayoun Naji; Asadollahi, Ghorbanali

2011-01-01

BACKGROUND: Although many studies have investigated the relationship between perfectionism, anxiety, and depression among the adults, little is known about the manifestations of perfectionism among schoolage youths. This study has investigated this relationship in an Iranian sample. METHODS: Using multistage cluster random sampling, 793 Iranian school students in 2007 were studied. Data of demographic characteristics, children's depression inventory, revised children's manifest anxiety scale, and the positive and negative perfectionism scales were obtained using questionnaires. RESULTS: The results indicated that both aspects of perfectionism are associated with depression and anxiety. Negative and positive perfectionism have positive and negative associations, respectively, with depression and anxiety. The interaction of anxiety and depression with perfectionism reveals that depression is in association with lower scores of positive perfectionism, whereas in students with higher scores of negative perfectionism, the anxiety scores are also higher. Moreover, the accompaniment of anxiety with depression is in association with relatively lower levels of negative perfectionism. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that negative perfectionism is a risk factor for both depression and anxiety, while positive perfectionism is a protective factor. However, the interventions which encourage the positive aspects of perfectionism and decrease its negative aspects may be able to diminish psychopathological subsequence. PMID:21448388

Fitness and Adiposity Are Independently Associated with Cardiometabolic Risk in Youth

PubMed Central

Buchan, Duncan S.; Young, John D.; Boddy, Lynne M.; Malina, Robert M.; Baker, Julien S.

2013-01-01

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to examine the independent associations of adiposity and cardiorespiratory fitness with clustered cardiometabolic risk. Methods. A cross-sectional sample of 192 adolescents (118 boys), aged 14–16 years, was recruited from a South Lanarkshire school in the West of Scotland. Anthropometry and blood pressure were measured, and blood samples were taken. The 20 m multistage fitness test was the indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). A clustered cardiometabolic risk score was constructed from HDL-C (inverted), LDL-C, HOMA, systolic blood pressure, and triglycerides. Interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and adiponectin were also measured and examined relative to the clustered cardiometabolic risk score, CRF, and adiposity. Results. Although significant, partial correlations between BMI and waist circumference (WC) and both CRF and adiponectin were negative and weak to moderate, while correlations between the BMI and WC and CRP were positive but weak to moderate. Weak to moderate negative associations were also evident for adiponectin with CRP, IL-6, and clustered cardiometabolic risk. WC was positively associated while CRF was negatively associated with clustered cardiometabolic risk. With the additional adjustment for either WC or CRF, the independent associations with cardiometabolic risk persisted. Conclusion. WC and CRF are independently associated with clustered cardiometabolic risk in Scottish adolescents. PMID:23984329

High-efficiency Gaussian key reconciliation in continuous variable quantum key distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, ZengLiang; Wang, XuYang; Yang, ShenShen; Li, YongMin

2016-01-01

Efficient reconciliation is a crucial step in continuous variable quantum key distribution. The progressive-edge-growth (PEG) algorithm is an efficient method to construct relatively short block length low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. The qua-sicyclic construction method can extend short block length codes and further eliminate the shortest cycle. In this paper, by combining the PEG algorithm and qua-si-cyclic construction method, we design long block length irregular LDPC codes with high error-correcting capacity. Based on these LDPC codes, we achieve high-efficiency Gaussian key reconciliation with slice recon-ciliation based on multilevel coding/multistage decoding with an efficiency of 93.7%.

Optical control of multi-stage thin film solar cell production

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

Li, Jian; Levi, Dean H.; Contreras, Miguel A.

2016-05-17

Embodiments include methods of depositing and controlling the deposition of a film in multiple stages. The disclosed deposition and deposition control methods include the optical monitoring of a deposition matrix to determine a time when at least one transition point occurs. In certain embodiments, the transition point or transition points are a stoichiometry point. Methods may also include controlling the length of time in which material is deposited during a deposition stage or controlling the amount of the first, second or subsequent materials deposited during any deposition stage in response to a determination of the time when a selected transitionmore » point occurs.« less

Effects of Single-Session Group Mantra-meditation on Salivary Immunoglobulin A and Affective State: A Psychoneuroimmunology Viewpoint.

PubMed

Torkamani, Fatemeh; Aghayousefi, Alireza; Alipour, Ahmad; Nami, Mohammad

Based on existing psychoneuroimmunological insights, the present study aimed at investigating possible effects of a single-session group mantra-meditation on salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) and affective states. A controlled pretest-posttest study enrolled 30 healthy women (mean age 44 ± 3 years) through a multi-stage random sampling method from yoga clubs in Shiraz (Feb-Dec, 2016). Subjects were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups. Participants in both the groups attended a structured introductory lecture about mantra-meditation after which those in the experimental group meditated for 20min. Saliva samples were collected after the intervention, and the participants' affective states were examined by a qualified clinical psychologist blinded to the intervention using the positive and negative affect schedule questionnaire at sequential time-points, i.e., baseline, post-meditation, and one hour later. Similar assessments were done for the control group subjects. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to test saliva samples for the IgA titer. The s-IgA and the positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) test results were statistically evaluated using an analysis of variance. The mean s-IgA titer in the experimental group at 'post-meditation' and '1-hour later' time-points were found to be statistically different from those of the control group (P < .05). In addition, results indicated a significant change in affect among experimental group subjects as compared to controls (P < .05). Our findings suggest that "group mantra-meditation" training even for a single session may positively influence some immunological components and improve affective states. As a simple and low-cost psychoneurobehavioral intervention, this method may offer mental-health benefits at nursing homes as well as group-therapies. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Research on Aero-Thermodynamic Distortion Induced Structural Dynamic Response of Multi-Stage Compressor Blading.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-01-15

However. only very engineering limited experimental data exists to assess the Director, Thermal Sciences and range of validity and to direct the... experimental results of Goldstein et. al. "A 1111 and also the Navier Stokes numerical solutions of Morihara 1121. Diffuser The predicted stream function...Unsteady Aerodynamic Interactions in a Multistage Compressor............................................................ 53 I APPENDIX VI. Experimental

Body Mass and Circumference of Upper Arm Are Associated with Race Performance in Ultraendurance Runners in a Multistage Race--The Isarrun 2006

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knechtle, Beat; Duff, Brida; Welzel, Ulrich; Kohler, Gotz

2009-01-01

In the present study, we investigated the association of anthropometric parameters with race performance in ultraendurance runners in a multistage ultraendurance run, in which athletes had to run 338 km within 5 consecutive days. In 17 male successful finishers, calculations of body mass, body height, skinfold thicknesses, extremity circumference,…

Multistage aerospace craft. [perspective drawings of conceptual design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kelly, D. L. (Inventor)

1973-01-01

A conceptual design of a multi-stage aerospace craft is presented. Two perspective views of the vehicle are developed to show the two component configuration with delta wing, four vertical tail surfaces, tricycle landing gear, and two rocket exhaust nozzles at the rear of the fuselage. Engines for propulsion in the atmosphere are mounted on the fuselage in front of the wing root attachment.

Preliminary Experience with High Response Pressure Measurements in a Multistage, High Speed Compressor

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-05-01

MEASUREMENTS IN A MULTISTAGE, HIGH SPEED COMPRESSOR by M. A. Cherrett J. D. Bryce SUMMARY The investigation of unsteady aerodynamic phenomena within high...X Vli 1. Siurii-nue. Initials 9Ia. Author 2 9b. Authors 3. 4 ... 10. Date l’ag,- ReI\\ ’ Cherrett , M.A. Bryce, J.D. May i 4 1988 4 It I

The task of validation of gas-dynamic characteristics of a multistage centrifugal compressor for a natural gas booster compressor station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danilishin, A. M.; Kozhukhov, Y. V.; Neverov, V. V.; Malev, K. G.; Mironov, Y. R.

2017-08-01

The aim of this work is the validation study for the numerical modeling of characteristics of a multistage centrifugal compressor for natural gas. In the research process was the analysis used grid interfaces and software systems. The result revealed discrepancies between the simulated and experimental characteristics and outlined the future work plan.

Modeling Complex Dynamic Interactions of Nonlinear, Aeroelastic, Multistage, and Localization Phenomena in Turbine Engines

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-02-25

fast method of predicting the number of iterations needed for converged results. A new hybrid technique is proposed to predict the convergence history...interchanging between the modes, whereas a smaller veering (or crossing) region shows fast mode switching. Then, the nonlinear vibration re- sponse of the...problems of interest involve dynamic ( fast ) crack propagation, then the nodes selected by the proposed approach at some time instant might not

Development of a Multistage Reliability-Based Design Optimization Method

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

expressed using Eq. (7), where nx is the number of design variables P a0 þ Xnx i¼1 aini þ bið Þxi 0 " # a (7) Figures 3(a)–3(c) illustrates the...constraint equation can be expressed in the gen- eral form of Eq. (16), where again nx is the number of design variables P a0;j þ Xnx i¼1 ai;jnixi

Ram-air sample collection device for a chemical warfare agent sensor

DOEpatents

Megerle, Clifford A.; Adkins, Douglas R.; Frye-Mason, Gregory C.

2002-01-01

In a surface acoustic wave sensor mounted within a body, the sensor having a surface acoustic wave array detector and a micro-fabricated sample preconcentrator exposed on a surface of the body, an apparatus for collecting air for the sensor, comprising a housing operatively arranged to mount atop the body, the housing including a multi-stage channel having an inlet and an outlet, the channel having a first stage having a first height and width proximate the inlet, a second stage having a second lower height and width proximate the micro-fabricated sample preconcentrator, a third stage having a still lower third height and width proximate the surface acoustic wave array detector, and a fourth stage having a fourth height and width proximate the outlet, where the fourth height and width are substantially the same as the first height and width.

Remote sensing-aided systems for snow qualification, evapotranspiration estimation, and their application in hydrologic models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Korram, S.

1977-01-01

The design of general remote sensing-aided methodologies was studied to provide the estimates of several important inputs to water yield forecast models. These input parameters are snow area extent, snow water content, and evapotranspiration. The study area is Feather River Watershed (780,000 hectares), Northern California. The general approach involved a stepwise sequence of identification of the required information, sample design, measurement/estimation, and evaluation of results. All the relevent and available information types needed in the estimation process are being defined. These include Landsat, meteorological satellite, and aircraft imagery, topographic and geologic data, ground truth data, and climatic data from ground stations. A cost-effective multistage sampling approach was employed in quantification of all the required parameters. The physical and statistical models for both snow quantification and evapotranspiration estimation was developed. These models use the information obtained by aerial and ground data through appropriate statistical sampling design.

Stackable differential mobility analyzer for aerosol measurement

DOEpatents

Cheng, Meng-Dawn [Oak Ridge, TN; Chen, Da-Ren [Creve Coeur, MO

2007-05-08

A multi-stage differential mobility analyzer (MDMA) for aerosol measurements includes a first electrode or grid including at least one inlet or injection slit for receiving an aerosol including charged particles for analysis. A second electrode or grid is spaced apart from the first electrode. The second electrode has at least one sampling outlet disposed at a plurality different distances along its length. A volume between the first and the second electrode or grid between the inlet or injection slit and a distal one of the plurality of sampling outlets forms a classifying region, the first and second electrodes for charging to suitable potentials to create an electric field within the classifying region. At least one inlet or injection slit in the second electrode receives a sheath gas flow into an upstream end of the classifying region, wherein each sampling outlet functions as an independent DMA stage and classifies different size ranges of charged particles based on electric mobility simultaneously.

Dermoscopic Image Segmentation via Multistage Fully Convolutional Networks.

PubMed

Bi, Lei; Kim, Jinman; Ahn, Euijoon; Kumar, Ashnil; Fulham, Michael; Feng, Dagan

2017-09-01

Segmentation of skin lesions is an important step in the automated computer aided diagnosis of melanoma. However, existing segmentation methods have a tendency to over- or under-segment the lesions and perform poorly when the lesions have fuzzy boundaries, low contrast with the background, inhomogeneous textures, or contain artifacts. Furthermore, the performance of these methods are heavily reliant on the appropriate tuning of a large number of parameters as well as the use of effective preprocessing techniques, such as illumination correction and hair removal. We propose to leverage fully convolutional networks (FCNs) to automatically segment the skin lesions. FCNs are a neural network architecture that achieves object detection by hierarchically combining low-level appearance information with high-level semantic information. We address the issue of FCN producing coarse segmentation boundaries for challenging skin lesions (e.g., those with fuzzy boundaries and/or low difference in the textures between the foreground and the background) through a multistage segmentation approach in which multiple FCNs learn complementary visual characteristics of different skin lesions; early stage FCNs learn coarse appearance and localization information while late-stage FCNs learn the subtle characteristics of the lesion boundaries. We also introduce a new parallel integration method to combine the complementary information derived from individual segmentation stages to achieve a final segmentation result that has accurate localization and well-defined lesion boundaries, even for the most challenging skin lesions. We achieved an average Dice coefficient of 91.18% on the ISBI 2016 Skin Lesion Challenge dataset and 90.66% on the PH2 dataset. Our extensive experimental results on two well-established public benchmark datasets demonstrate that our method is more effective than other state-of-the-art methods for skin lesion segmentation.

A Multi-Stage Reverse Logistics Network Problem by Using Hybrid Priority-Based Genetic Algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jeong-Eun; Gen, Mitsuo; Rhee, Kyong-Gu

Today remanufacturing problem is one of the most important problems regarding to the environmental aspects of the recovery of used products and materials. Therefore, the reverse logistics is gaining become power and great potential for winning consumers in a more competitive context in the future. This paper considers the multi-stage reverse Logistics Network Problem (m-rLNP) while minimizing the total cost, which involves reverse logistics shipping cost and fixed cost of opening the disassembly centers and processing centers. In this study, we first formulate the m-rLNP model as a three-stage logistics network model. Following for solving this problem, we propose a Genetic Algorithm pri (GA) with priority-based encoding method consisting of two stages, and introduce a new crossover operator called Weight Mapping Crossover (WMX). Additionally also a heuristic approach is applied in the 3rd stage to ship of materials from processing center to manufacturer. Finally numerical experiments with various scales of the m-rLNP models demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach by comparing with the recent researches.

The development of deep karst in the anticlinal aquifer structure based on the coupling of multistage flow systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, M.; Zhong, L.; Yang, Y.

2017-12-01

Under the background of neotectonics, the multistage underground flow system has been form due the different responses of main stream and tributaries to crust uplift. The coupling of multistage underground flow systems influences the development of karst thoroughly. At first, the research area is divided into vadose area, shunted area and exorheic area based on the development characteristics of transverse valley. Combining the controlling-drain action with topographic index and analyzing the coupling features of multistage underground flow system. And then, based on the coupling of multistage underground flow systems, the characteristics of deep karst development were verified by the lossing degree of surface water, water bursting and karst development characteristics of tunnels. The vadose area is regional water system based, whose deep karst developed well. It resulted the large water inflow of tunnels and the surface water drying up. The shunted area, except the region near the transverse valleys, is characterized by regional water system. The developed deep karst make the surface water connect with deep ground water well, Which caused the relatively large water flow of tunnels and the serious leakage of surface water. The deep karst relatively developed poor in the regions near transverse valleys which is characterized by local water system. The exorheic area is local water system based, whose the deep karst developed poor, as well as the connection among surface water and deep ground water. It has result in the poor lossing of the surface water under the tunnel construction. This study broadens the application field of groundwater flow systems theory, providing a new perspective for the study of Karst development theory. Meanwhile it provides theoretical guidance for hazard assessment and environmental negative effect in deep-buried Karst tunnel construction.

Long-term Outcomes With Planned Multistage Reduced Dose Repeat Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Treatment of Inoperable High-Grade Arteriovenous Malformations: An Observational Retrospective Cohort Study.

PubMed

Marciscano, Ariel E; Huang, Judy; Tamargo, Rafael J; Hu, Chen; Khattab, Mohamed H; Aggarwal, Sameer; Lim, Michael; Redmond, Kristin J; Rigamonti, Daniele; Kleinberg, Lawrence R

2017-07-01

There is no consensus regarding the optimal management of inoperable high-grade arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). This long-term study of 42 patients with high-grade AVMs reports obliteration and adverse event (AE) rates using planned multistage repeat stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). To evaluate the efficacy and safety of multistage SRS with treatment of the entire AVM nidus at each treatment session to achieve complete obliteration of high-grade AVMs. Patients with high-grade Spetzler-Martin (S-M) III-V AVMs treated with at least 2 multistage SRS treatments from 1989 to 2013. Clinical outcomes of obliteration rate, minor/major AEs, and treatment characteristics were collected. Forty-two patients met inclusion criteria (n = 26, S-M III; n = 13, S-M IV; n = 3, S-M V) with a median follow-up was 9.5 yr after first SRS. Median number of SRS treatment stages was 2, and median interval between stages was 3.5 yr. Twenty-two patients underwent pre-SRS embolization. Complete AVM obliteration rate was 38%, and the median time to obliteration was 9.7 yr. On multivariate analysis, higher S-M grade was significantly associated ( P = .04) failure to achieve obliteration. Twenty-seven post-SRS AEs were observed, and the post-SRS intracranial hemorrhage rate was 0.027 events per patient year. Treatment of high-grade AVMs with multistage SRS achieves AVM obliteration in a meaningful proportion of patients with acceptable AE rates. Lower obliteration rates were associated with higher S-M grade and pre-SRS embolization. This approach should be considered with caution, as partial obliteration does not protect from hemorrhage. Copyright © 2017 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons

Multi-stage mixing in subduction zone: Application to Merapi volcano, Indonesia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debaille, V.; Doucelance, R.; Weis, D.; Schiano, P.

2003-04-01

Basalts sampling subduction zone volcanism (IAB) often show binary mixing relationship in classical Sr-Nd, Pb-Pb, Sr-Pb isotopic diagrams, generally interpreted as reflecting the involvement of two components in their source. However, several authors have highlighted the presence of minimum three components in such a geodynamical context: mantle wedge, subducted and altered oceanic crust and subducted sediments. The overlying continental crust can also contribute by contamination and assimilation in magma chambers and/or during magma ascent. Here we present a multi-stage model to obtain a two end-member mixing from three components (mantle wedge, altered oceanic crust and sediments). The first stage of the model considers the metasomatism of the mantle wedge by fluids and/or melts released by subducted materials (altered oceanic crust and associated sediments), considering mobility and partition coefficient of trace elements in hydrated fluids and silicate melts. This results in the generation of two distinct end-members, reducing the number of components (mantle wedge, oceanic crust, sediments) from three to two. The second stage of the model concerns the binary mixing of the two end-members thus defined: mantle wedge metasomatized by slab-derived fluids and mantle wedge metasomatized by sediment-derived fluids. This model has been applied on a new isotopic data set (Sr, Nd and Pb, analyzed by TIMS and MC-ICP-MS) of Merapi volcano (Java island, Indonesia). Previous studies have suggested three distinct components in the source of indonesian lavas: mantle wedge, subducted sediments and altered oceanic crust. Moreover, it has been shown that crustal contamination does not significantly affect isotopic ratios of lavas. The multi-stage model proposed here is able to reproduce the binary mixing observed in lavas of Merapi, and a set of numerical values of bulk partition coefficient is given that accounts for the genesis of lavas.

Dynamical analysis of the avian-human influenza epidemic model using the semi-analytical method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jabbari, Azizeh; Kheiri, Hossein; Bekir, Ahmet

2015-03-01

In this work, we present a dynamic behavior of the avian-human influenza epidemic model by using efficient computational algorithm, namely the multistage differential transform method(MsDTM). The MsDTM is used here as an algorithm for approximating the solutions of the avian-human influenza epidemic model in a sequence of time intervals. In order to show the efficiency of the method, the obtained numerical results are compared with the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method (RK4M) and differential transform method(DTM) solutions. It is shown that the MsDTM has the advantage of giving an analytical form of the solution within each time interval which is not possible in purely numerical techniques like RK4M.

Multistage Schemes with Multigrid for Euler and Navier-Strokes Equations: Components and Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swanson, R. C.; Turkel, Eli

1997-01-01

A class of explicit multistage time-stepping schemes with centered spatial differencing and multigrids are considered for the compressible Euler and Navier-Stokes equations. These schemes are the basis for a family of computer programs (flow codes with multigrid (FLOMG) series) currently used to solve a wide range of fluid dynamics problems, including internal and external flows. In this paper, the components of these multistage time-stepping schemes are defined, discussed, and in many cases analyzed to provide additional insight into their behavior. Special emphasis is given to numerical dissipation, stability of Runge-Kutta schemes, and the convergence acceleration techniques of multigrid and implicit residual smoothing. Both the Baldwin and Lomax algebraic equilibrium model and the Johnson and King one-half equation nonequilibrium model are used to establish turbulence closure. Implementation of these models is described.

Multi-stage learning aids applied to hands-on software training.

PubMed

Rother, Kristian; Rother, Magdalena; Pleus, Alexandra; Upmeier zu Belzen, Annette

2010-11-01

Delivering hands-on tutorials on bioinformatics software and web applications is a challenging didactic scenario. The main reason is that trainees have heterogeneous backgrounds, different previous knowledge and vary in learning speed. In this article, we demonstrate how multi-stage learning aids can be used to allow all trainees to progress at a similar speed. In this technique, the trainees can utilize cards with hints and answers to guide themselves self-dependently through a complex task. We have successfully conducted a tutorial for the molecular viewer PyMOL using two sets of learning aid cards. The trainees responded positively, were able to complete the task, and the trainer had spare time to respond to individual questions. This encourages us to conclude that multi-stage learning aids overcome many disadvantages of established forms of hands-on software training.

Influence of spatial beam inhomogeneities on the parameters of a petawatt laser system based on multi-stage parametric amplification

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

Frolov, S A; Trunov, V I; Pestryakov, Efim V

2013-05-31

We have developed a technique for investigating the evolution of spatial inhomogeneities in high-power laser systems based on multi-stage parametric amplification. A linearised model of the inhomogeneity development is first devised for parametric amplification with the small-scale self-focusing taken into account. It is shown that the application of this model gives the results consistent (with high accuracy and in a wide range of inhomogeneity parameters) with the calculation without approximations. Using the linearised model, we have analysed the development of spatial inhomogeneities in a petawatt laser system based on multi-stage parametric amplification, developed at the Institute of Laser Physics, Siberianmore » Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ILP SB RAS). (control of laser radiation parameters)« less

Remote sensing advances in agricultural inventories

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dragg, J. L.; Bizzell, R. M.; Trichel, M. C.; Hatch, R. E.; Phinney, D. E.; Baker, T. C.

1984-01-01

As the complexity of the world's agricultural industry increases, more timely and more accurate world-wide agricultural information is required to support production and marketing decisions, policy formulation, and technology development. The Inventory Technology Development Project of the AgRISTARS Program has developed new automated technology that uses data sets acquired by spaceborne remote sensors. Research has emphasized the development of multistage, multisensor sampling and estimation techniques for use in global environments where reliable ground observations are not available. This paper presents research results obtained from data sets acquired by four different sensors: Landsat MSS, Landsat TM, Shuttle-Imaging Radar and environmental satellite (AVHRR).

Prayer Attendance and General Health in the Iranian Adult Urban Population.

PubMed

Sotodehasl, Nemat; Ghorbani, Raheb; Mahdavi-Nejad, Gholamhosein; Haji-Aghajani, Saeed; Mehdizadeh, Jamileh

2016-02-01

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between prayer attendance and general health among adult urban population in Iran. A total of 470 males older than 17 years, chosen by multistage sampling, were investigated. The results showed that people who did not perform prayers compared to those who said prayers on time and performed Nafilahs (supererogatory prayers) were 2.87 (OR 2.87, 95 % CI 1.23-6.70, p = 0.015) times at risk of general health problems. In conclusion, the findings show that increasing the degree of people's belief in prayer can lead to improve general health.

Handwritten numeral databases of Indian scripts and multistage recognition of mixed numerals.

PubMed

Bhattacharya, Ujjwal; Chaudhuri, B B

2009-03-01

This article primarily concerns the problem of isolated handwritten numeral recognition of major Indian scripts. The principal contributions presented here are (a) pioneering development of two databases for handwritten numerals of two most popular Indian scripts, (b) a multistage cascaded recognition scheme using wavelet based multiresolution representations and multilayer perceptron classifiers and (c) application of (b) for the recognition of mixed handwritten numerals of three Indian scripts Devanagari, Bangla and English. The present databases include respectively 22,556 and 23,392 handwritten isolated numeral samples of Devanagari and Bangla collected from real-life situations and these can be made available free of cost to researchers of other academic Institutions. In the proposed scheme, a numeral is subjected to three multilayer perceptron classifiers corresponding to three coarse-to-fine resolution levels in a cascaded manner. If rejection occurred even at the highest resolution, another multilayer perceptron is used as the final attempt to recognize the input numeral by combining the outputs of three classifiers of the previous stages. This scheme has been extended to the situation when the script of a document is not known a priori or the numerals written on a document belong to different scripts. Handwritten numerals in mixed scripts are frequently found in Indian postal mails and table-form documents.