Empirical and Perceived Utility of Text Boxes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benbassat, Danny; Underwood, Tim R.; Bailey, Brian P.; Albright, Charles; Chadwell, Brian J.

2008-01-01

This paper presents 2 studies that investigated the utility of textbook boxes. In the first study, 230 participants completed a perception questionnaire. The major finding was that professors and students rarely studied boxed text. In the second study, 177 participants read identical text with an insert that instructed them to stop reading and…

Sugar pine utilization: a 30-year transition.

Treesearch

Susan Willits; Thomas D. Fahey

1991-01-01

Utilization standards and measurement systems have changed since the first lumber recovery study was conducted on sugar pine in 1957. These changes prompted a new study to provide new information on lumber volume and value recovery and a comparison to older studies. Lumber volume and value recovery are presented for the recent study on a board- and cubic-foot bases....

Effective utility accommodation : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-12-08

The report presents research regarding methods to improve project delivery times and minimize construction delays due to utility coordination by conducting a study of the current best practices used by six (6) similar state transportation departments...

Health, Healthcare Utilization and Psychiatric Disorder in People with Intellectual Disability in Taiwan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, J. D.; Yen, C. F.; Li, C. W.; Wu, J. L.

2005-01-01

The aims of the present study were to examine health characteristics and healthcare utilization in relation to people with intellectual disability (ID) having psychiatric disorders in Taiwan. A cross-sectional study was employed; study subjects were recruited from the National Disability Registration Database. Taiwan, stratified by administrative…

Utility of Army Design Methodology in U.S. Coast Guard Counter Narcotic Interdiction Strategy

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-09

UTILITY OF ARMY DESIGN METHODOLOGY IN U.S. COAST GUARD COUNTER NARCOTIC INTERDICTION STRATEGY A thesis presented to the...Thesis 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) AUG 2016 – JUN 2017 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Utility of Army Design Methodology in U.S. Coast Guard Counter...Distribution is Unlimited 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 14. ABSTRACT This study investigates the utility of using Army Design Methodology (ADM) to

Methods for utilizing maximum power from a solar array

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Decker, D. K.

1972-01-01

A preliminary study of maximum power utilization methods was performed for an outer planet spacecraft using an ion thruster propulsion system and a solar array as the primary energy source. The problems which arise from operating the array at or near the maximum power point of its 1-V characteristic are discussed. Two closed loop system configurations which use extremum regulators to track the array's maximum power point are presented. Three open loop systems are presented that either: (1) measure the maximum power of each array section and compute the total array power, (2) utilize a reference array to predict the characteristics of the solar array, or (3) utilize impedance measurements to predict the maximum power utilization. The advantages and disadvantages of each system are discussed and recommendations for further development are made.

Complete utilization of spent coffee to biodiesel, bio-oil and biochar

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Energy production from renewable or waste biomass/material is a more attractive alternative compared to conventional feedstocks, such as corn and soybean. The objective of this study is to maximize utilization of any waste organic carbon material to produce renewable energy. This study presents tota...

Proceedings: 1989 electric utility franchise conference

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

Romo, R.G.

The primary purpose of the Conference was to present and discuss strategic issues related to franchising electric service. The theme for the conference was to both improve the management of existing franchises and the negotiation of new franchises. To promote a better understanding of the planning issues related to this theme, the following sessions were designed: (1) public utility franchising, (2) investor owned utility and community perspectives on franchising, (3) franchise case study presentations, (4) alternatives to franchise renewal: the public acquisition option, and (5) special franchise issues. The Conference combined results from research coupled with actual franchise negotiating experiences,more » and concepts and ideas considered or implemented by utilities, government agencies, consultants and others.« less

Social Phobia in Youth: The Diagnostic Utility of Feared Social Situations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Puliafico, Anthony C.; Comer, Jonathan S.; Kendall, Philip C.

2007-01-01

The present study evaluated the utility of parent- and child-reported social fears for reaching a diagnosis of social phobia in youth. The diagnostic utility of (a) the number of fears and (b) specific feared social situations was examined. The sample included 140 youth and their parents: youth diagnosed with social phobia (n = 50), youth…

Expected Utility Illustrated: A Graphical Analysis of Gambles with More than Two Possible Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Frederick H.

2010-01-01

The author presents a simple geometric method to graphically illustrate the expected utility from a gamble with more than two possible outcomes. This geometric result gives economics students a simple visual aid for studying expected utility theory and enables them to analyze a richer set of decision problems under uncertainty compared to what…

Integrated Utility Systems Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design at the University of Florida. Executive Summary.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kirmse, Dale W.; Manyimo, Steve B.

This executive summary presents a brief analysis of findings and recommendations. The concept of the Integrated Utility System (IUS) is to consider the interaction and mutual support of five utility subsystems needed by a campus complex of buildings. The subsystems are: (1) Electric power service; (2) Heating - ventilating - air conditioning and…

Facilities Inventory and Utilization Study, Fall of 1994; For the State of North Carolina. Twenty-Eighth Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Carolina Univ., Chapel Hill. Commission on Higher Education Facilities.

This study presents the results of the 28th annual inventory and utilization study concerning space in North Carolina institutions of higher education during the 1994 fall term. The study provides information on 113 institutions of higher education including the 16 public senior institutions which comprise the University of North Carolina (UNC),…

Facilities Inventory and Utilization Study. Fall of 1995 for the State of North Carolina. Twenty-Ninth Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Carolina Univ., Chapel Hill. Commission on Higher Education Facilities.

This study presents the results of the 29th annual inventory and utilization study concerning space in North Carolina institutions of higher education during the 1995 fall term. The study provides information on 113 institutions of higher education including the 16 public senior institutions which comprise the University of North Carolina (UNC),…

Perceptions of Pre-Service Chemistry Teachers on the Utilization of Productive Lesson Study as a Framework for Teaching and Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Espinosa, Allen A.; Datukan, Janir T.; Butron, Benilda R.; Tameta, Anna Danica C.

2018-01-01

The present study determined the perceptions of pre-service teachers on utilizing productive lesson study as a framework in teaching high school chemistry. Participants of the study were thirty (30) junior pre-service chemistry teachers from a state-funded teacher education institution in Manila, Philippines. Participants were exposed to a…

Volatile Extractor (PVEx) for Planetary In Situ Resource Utilization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zacny, K.; Morrison, P.; Vendiola, V.; Paz, A.

2017-02-01

Here we present a trade study and final approach for efficient extraction of volatiles from planetary regolith for the purpose of In Situ Resource Utilization. The project is SBIR funded and hardware is being fabricated.

Lattice Truss Structural Response Using Energy Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kenner, Winfred Scottson

1996-01-01

A deterministic methodology is presented for developing closed-form deflection equations for two-dimensional and three-dimensional lattice structures. Four types of lattice structures are studied: beams, plates, shells and soft lattices. Castigliano's second theorem, which entails the total strain energy of a structure, is utilized to generate highly accurate results. Derived deflection equations provide new insight into the bending and shear behavior of the four types of lattices, in contrast to classic solutions of similar structures. Lattice derivations utilizing kinetic energy are also presented, and used to examine the free vibration response of simple lattice structures. Derivations utilizing finite element theory for unique lattice behavior are also presented and validated using the finite element analysis code EAL.

There is No Free Lunch: Tradeoffs in the Utility of Learned Knowledge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kedar, Smadar T.; McKusick, Kathleen B.

1992-01-01

With the recent introduction of learning in integrated systems, there is a need to measure the utility of learned knowledge for these more complex systems. A difficulty arrises when there are multiple, possibly conflicting, utility metrics to be measured. In this paper, we present schemes which trade off conflicting utility metrics in order to achieve some global performance objectives. In particular, we present a case study of a multi-strategy machine learning system, mutual theory refinement, which refines world models for an integrated reactive system, the Entropy Reduction Engine. We provide experimental results on the utility of learned knowledge in two conflicting metrics - improved accuracy and degraded efficiency. We then demonstrate two ways to trade off these metrics. In each, some learned knowledge is either approximated or dynamically 'forgotten' so as to improve efficiency while degrading accuracy only slightly.

Utility of LiDAR for large area forest inventory applications

Treesearch

Nicholas S. Skowronski; Andrew J. Lister

2012-01-01

Multi-resource inventory data are used in conjunction with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data from the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resource's PAMAP Program to assess the utility of extensive LiDAR acquisitions for large area forest assessments. Background, justification, and initial study designs are presented. The proposed study will involve three...

A Study of the Change Process Utilized by Colorado High School Principals: The Concordance of Practice and Theory.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jacobus, Keith

A common theme in educational change literature is that principals do not truly understand the change process and therefore cannot successfully implement change. This paper presents findings of a study that examined the change processes that Colorado principals utilized when initiating and implementing change in their buildings. The study also…

Muck Utilization in Urban Transportation Tunneling Process

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1977-12-01

The purpose of this study is to develop a workable approach to muck utilization for transit tunnels, including cut and cover construction, in the urban area. This report presents the results of a detailed investigation into the potential for muck uti...

Effect of Warm-Up on Plasma Free Fatty Acid Response and Substrate Utilization During Submaximal Exercise.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hetzler, Ronald K.; And Others

1986-01-01

This study examined the effect of preliminary walking on free fatty acid responses and substrate utilization during a 40-minute treadmill run by experienced male distance runners. Conclusions are presented. (Author/MT)

Technology utilization in a non-urban region: Further impact and technique of the technology use studies center (3)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gold, H. C.; Moore, A. M.; Dodd, B. (Compiler); Dittmar, V. (Compiler)

1972-01-01

The activities of the Technology Utilization Center are reported. Data concerning the searches, and the types of firms requesting information are presented along with the dissemination and assistance by TUSC.

Evidence-based nursing practice: both state of the art in general and specific to pressure sores.

PubMed

Buss, I C; Halfens, R J; Abu-Saad, H H; Kok, G

1999-01-01

The importance of research-based practice in nursing has been frequently stressed, and a number of nursing studies have been conducted whose results enable nursing to improve knowledge and practice. This study reports a literature review in which the current status of knowledge and research utilization with regard to pressure sores is described. This review first gives an overview of studies on knowledge utilization in general and shows that the spontaneous diffusion of knowledge is inappropriate. Furthermore, an overview of planned research utilization activities focusing on pressure sore prevention and treatment in nursing is presented. The results of these studies show that planned research utilization activities performed in individual organizations lead to positive outcomes in almost all cases. Therefore, it could be concluded that implementing planned research utilization activities in individual health care institutions seems to be an effective strategy to decrease pressure sore incidence and prevalence rates.

ERDA's central receiver solar thermal power system studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lippy, L. J.; Heaton, T. R.

1977-01-01

The utilization of solar energy for electrical power production was studied. Efforts underway on the central receiver solar thermal power system are presented. Preliminary designs are included of pilot plant utilizing large numbers of heliostats in a collector field. Safety hazards are also discussed, as well as the most beneficial location of such a plant within the United States.

Digital Modeling in Design Foundation Coursework: An Exploratory Study of the Effectiveness of Conceptual Design Software

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guidera, Stan; MacPherson, D. Scot

2008-01-01

This paper presents the results of a study that was conducted to identify and document student perceptions of the effectiveness of computer modeling software introduced in a design foundations course that had previously utilized only conventional manually-produced representation techniques. Rather than attempt to utilize a production-oriented CAD…

Are They Paying Attention? Students' Lack of Motivation and Attention Potentially Threaten the Utility of Course Evaluations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bassett, Jonathan; Cleveland, Amanda; Acorn, Deborah; Nix, Marie; Snyder, Timothy

2017-01-01

Student evaluations are a common source of information used by instructors and administrators, but their utility depends on students' motivation and attention. This paper presents evidence from two studies indicating that insufficient effort responding and lack of motivation may be problems in course evaluations. In the first study, approximately…

Virginia Solar Pathways Project: Economic Study of Utility-Administered Solar Programs: Soft Costs, Community Solar, and Tax Normalization Considerations

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

Reiter, Emerson; Lowder, Travis; Mathur, Shivani

This report presents economic considerations for solar development in support of the Virginia Solar Pathways Project (VSPP), an effort funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative that seeks to develop a collaborative utility-administered solar strategy for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The results presented are intended to be considered alongside the results of other studies conducted under the VSPP that evaluate the impacts of solar energy on the electric distribution, transmission, and generation systems in Virginia.

Utilization and Expenditure of Hospital Admission in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: National Health Insurance Claims Database Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Jin-Ding; Hung, Wen-Jiu; Lin, Lan-Ping; Lai, Chia-Im

2011-01-01

There were not many studies to provide information on health access and health utilization of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The present study describes a general profile of hospital admission and the medical cost among people with ASD, and to analyze the determinants of medical cost. A retrospective study was employed to analyze…

Facilities Inventory and Utilization Study, Fall of 1992: For the State of North Carolina. Twenty-Sixth Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Carolina Univ., Chapel Hill. Commission on Higher Education Facilities.

This publication presents the results of the twenty-sixth annual inventory and utilization study of the status of space in North Carolina institutions of higher education at the end of the drop-add period of the 1992 fall term. The study provides data for 113 institutions, including the public institutions which comprise the University of North…

Facilities Inventory and Utilization Study, Fall of 1991, for the State of North Carolina. Twenty-Fifth Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Carolina Univ., Chapel Hill. Commission on Higher Education Facilities.

This publication presents the results of the 25th annual inventory and utilization study of the status of space in North Carolina institutions of higher education at the end of the fall term of 1991. The study provides data for 113 institutions including the public institutions which comprise the University of North Carolina, 39 private non-profit…

An exploratory study of cognitive load in diagnosing patient conditions.

PubMed

Workman, Michael; Lesser, Michael F; Kim, Joonmin

2007-06-01

To determine whether the ways in which information is presented to physicians will improve their ability to respond in a timely and accurate manner to acute care needs. The forms of the presentation compared traditional textual, chart and graph representations with equivalent symbolic language representations. To test this objective, our investigation involved two studies of interpreting patient conditions using two forms of information representation. The first assessed the level of cognitive effort (the outcome variable is known as cognitive load), and the second assessed the time and accuracy outcome variables. Our investigation consisted of two studies, the first study involved 3rd and 4th year medical students, and the second study involved three board certified physicians who worked in an intensive care unit of a metropolitan hospital. The first study utilized an all-within-subject design with repeated measures, where pretests were utilized as control covariate for prior learning and individual differences. The second study utilized a random sampling of records analyzed by two physicians and qualitatively evaluated by board-certified intensivists. The first study indicated that the cognitive load to interpret the symbolic representation was less than those presented in the more traditional textual, chart and graphic form. The second study suggests that experienced physicians may react in a more timely fashion with at least the same accuracy when the symbolic language was used than with traditional charts and graphs. The ways in which information is presented to physicians may affect the quality of acute care, such as in intensive, critical and emergency care units. When information can be presented in symbolic form, it may be cognitively processed more efficiently than when it is presented in the usual textual and chart form, potentially lowering errors in diagnosis and increasing the responsiveness to patient conditions.

Air Force Strategy Study 2020-2030

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

shocks (also known as “black swans”), having 2 │ introduction the potential to radically alter the utility of the capability, as a way of highlighting... utilized by its expeditionary air units.”5 The Air Force must present strategic and operational options along with forces capable of operating and...Emer- gency Management Agency (FEMA) regional staffs, in part representing the service and USNORTHCOM. The imagery analysts’ utility is largely due

More Useful, or Not so Bad? Evaluating the Effects of Interventions to Reduce Perceived Cost and Increase Utility Value with College Physics Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rosenzweig, Emily Quinn

2017-01-01

In the present study I developed and evaluated the effects of two interventions designed to target students' motivation to learn in an introductory college physics course. One intervention was designed to improve students' perceptions of utility value and the other was designed to reduce students' perceptions of cost. Utility value and cost both…

The Council of Industrial Boiler Owners special project on non-utility fossil fuel ash classification

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

Svendsen, R.L.

1996-12-31

Information is outlined on the Council of Industrial Boiler Owners (CIBO) special project on non-utility fossil fuel ash classification. Data are presented on; current (1996) regulatory status of fossil-fuel combustion wastes; FBC technology identified for further study; CIBO special project methods; Bevill amendment study factors; data collection; and CIBO special project status.

Solar power satellite system definition study. Volume 1, phase 2: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

A review of solar energy conversion and utilization is presented. The solar power satellite system is then described. Overall system definition and integration is discussed. Principal reference system study accomplishments and conclusions are presented.

A systematic review of utility values for chemotherapy-related adverse events.

PubMed

Shabaruddin, Fatiha H; Chen, Li-Chia; Elliott, Rachel A; Payne, Katherine

2013-04-01

Chemotherapy offers cancer patients the potential benefits of improved mortality and morbidity but may cause detrimental outcomes due to adverse drug events (ADEs), some of which requiring time-consuming, resource-intensive and costly clinical management. To appropriately assess chemotherapy agents in an economic evaluation, ADE-related parameters such as the incidence, (dis)utility and cost of ADEs should be reflected within the model parameters. To date, there has been no systematic summary of the existing literature that quantifies the utilities of ADEs due to healthcare interventions in general and chemotherapy treatments in particular. This review aimed to summarize the current evidence base of reported utility values for chemotherapy-related ADEs. A structured electronic search combining terms for utility, utility valuation methods and generic terms for cancer treatment was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE in June 2011. Inclusion criteria were: (1) elicitation of utility values for chemotherapy-related ADEs and (2) primary data. Two reviewers identified studies and extracted data independently. Any disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria from the 853 abstracts initially identified, collectively reporting 218 utility values for chemotherapy-related ADEs. All 18 studies used short descriptions (vignettes) to obtain the utility values, with nine studies presenting the vignettes used in the valuation exercises. Of the 218 utility values, 178 were elicited using standard gamble (SG) or time trade-off (TTO) approaches, while 40 were elicited using visual analogue scales (VAS). There were 169 utility values of specific chemotherapy-related ADEs (with the top ten being anaemia [34 values], nausea and/or vomiting [32 values], neuropathy [21 values], neutropenia [12 values], diarrhoea [12 values], stomatitis [10 values], fatigue [8 values], alopecia [7 values], hand-foot syndrome [5 values] and skin reaction [5 values]) and 49 of non-specific chemotherapy-related adverse events. In most cases, it was difficult to directly compare the utility values as various definitions and study-specific vignettes were used for the ADEs of interest. This review was designed to provide an overall description of existing literature reporting utility values for chemotherapy-related ADEs. The findings were not exhaustive and were limited to publications that could be identified using the search strategy employed and those reported in the English language. This review identified wide ranges in the utility values reported for broad categories of specific chemotherapy-related ADEs. There were difficulties in comparing the values directly as various study-specific definitions were used for these ADEs and most studies did not make the vignettes used in the valuation exercises available. It is recommended that a basic minimum requirement be developed for the transparent reporting of study designs eliciting utility values, incorporating key criteria such as reporting how the vignettes were developed and presenting the vignettes used in the valuation tasks as well as valuing and reporting the utility values of the ADE-free base states. It is also recommended, in the future, for studies valuing the utilities of chemotherapy-related ADEs to define the ADEs according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) definitions for chemotherapy-related ADEs as the use of the same definition across studies would ease the comparison and selection of utility values and make the overall inclusion of adverse events within economic models of chemotherapy agents much more straightforward.

A utility-theoretic model for QALYs and willingness to pay.

PubMed

Klose, Thomas

2003-01-01

Despite the widespread use of quality-adjusted life years (QALY) in economic evaluation studies, their utility-theoretic foundation remains unclear. A model for preferences over health, money, and time is presented in this paper. Under the usual assumptions of the original QALY-model, an additive separable presentation of the utilities in different periods exists. In contrast to the usual assumption that QALY-weights do solely depend on aspects of health-related quality of life, wealth-standardized QALY-weights might vary with the wealth level in the presented extension of the original QALY-model resulting in an inconsistent measurement of QALYs. Further assumptions are presented to make the measurement of QALYs consistent with lifetime preferences over health and money. Even under these strict assumptions, QALYs and WTP (which also can be defined in this utility-theoretic model) are not equivalent preference-based measures of the effects of health technologies on an individual level. The results suggest that the individual WTP per QALY can depend on the magnitude of the QALY-gain as well as on the disease burden, when health influences the marginal utility of wealth. Further research seems to be indicated on this structural aspect of preferences over health and wealth and to quantify its impact. Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The predictive utility of neuropsychological symptom validity testing as it relates to psychological presentation.

PubMed

Zakzanis, Konstantine K; Gammada, Emnet; Jeffay, Eliyas

2012-01-01

The present study examined the relationship between multiple neuropsychological symptom validity tests (SVTs) and psychological presentation. More formally, we set out to determine if performance on neuropsychological SVTs was related to psychological symptom credibility and which specific neuropsychological SVTs were most associated with noncredible psychological presentation. Archival records from 106 litigating examinees were utilized in this study. Our results illustrate that neuropsychological SVTs are modestly related to psychological symptom credibility and that specific neuropsychological SVTs are variably associated to this end. We conclude that when multiple, but not independent, neuropsychological SVTs are employed within the context of a neuropsychological examination, they do have clinical utility as it relates to credibility of psychological presentation and these constructs do share variance reciprocally in clinically meaningful ways. When independently employed, however, the observed relationship is modest at best. Hence, to place clinical opinion on firmer scientific grounds within the context of a neuropsychological examination, multiple cognitive SVTs, in hand with psychological test instruments that include validity indexes, are essential to derive opinion that is based on science rather than faith in the instance of litigation when an incentive to manifest disability for the sake of an external reward holds probable.

Assessment of the biophysical impacts of utility-scale photovoltaics through observations and modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Broadbent, A. M.; Georgescu, M.; Krayenhoff, E. S.; Sailor, D.

2017-12-01

Utility-scale solar power plants are a rapidly growing component of the solar energy sector. Utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar power generation in the United States has increased by 867% since 2012 (EIA, 2016). This expansion is likely to continue as the cost PV technologies decrease. While most agree that solar power can decrease greenhouse gas emissions, the biophysical effects of PV systems on surface energy balance (SEB), and implications for surface climate, are not well understood. To our knowledge, there has never been a detailed observational study of SEB at a utility-scale solar array. This study presents data from an eddy covariance observational tower, temporarily placed above a utility-scale PV array in Southern Arizona. Comparison of PV SEB with a reference (unmodified) site, shows that solar panels can alter the SEB and near surface climate. SEB observations are used to develop and validate a new and more complete SEB PV model. In addition, the PV model is compared to simpler PV modelling methods. The simpler PV models produce differing results to our newly developed model and cannot capture the more complex processes that influence PV SEB. Finally, hypothetical scenarios of PV expansion across the continental United States (CONUS) were developed using various spatial mapping criteria. CONUS simulations of PV expansion reveal regional variability in biophysical effects of PV expansion. The study presents the first rigorous and validated simulations of the biophysical effects of utility-scale PV arrays.

Using Knowledge Management to Revise Software-Testing Processes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nogeste, Kersti; Walker, Derek H. T.

2006-01-01

Purpose: This paper aims to use a knowledge management (KM) approach to effectively revise a utility retailer's software testing process. This paper presents a case study of how the utility organisation's customer services IT production support group improved their test planning skills through applying the American Productivity and Quality Center…

Analyzing Clinical Presentation, Service Utilization, and Clinical Outcome of Female Sexual Minority College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kay, Heather C.

2013-01-01

Researchers examining clinically-relevant trends for sexual minority women have found evidence of psychological distress and greater utilization of mental health services compared to heterosexually-identified women. However, the results of many research studies with this population have methodological limitations surrounding recruitment of…

Utilizing Action Research to Improve Counseling Education Course Work for Culturally Diverse Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Vries, Sabina; McDonald, Deirdre; Mayorga, Mary G.

2017-01-01

This article informs counselor educators and psychologists on how to utilize action research to evaluate diverse students, course work, and to improve classroom instruction. A paucity exists in research investigating educational needs of diverse counseling students. The present action research study examined educational experiences of diverse…

Received, Understanding and Satisfaction of National Health Insurance Premium Subsidy Scheme by Families of Children with Disabilities: A Census Study in Taipei City

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Jin-Ding; Lin, Ya-Wen; Yen, Chia-Feng; Loh, Ching-Hui; Chwo, Miao-Ju

2009-01-01

The purposes of the present study are to provide the first data on utilization, understanding and satisfaction of the National Health Insurance (NHI) premium subsidy for families of children with disabilities in Taipei. Data from the 2001 Taipei Early Intervention Utilization and Evaluation Survey for Aged 0-6 Children with Disabilities were…

Estimating Health-State Utility for Economic Models in Clinical Studies: An ISPOR Good Research Practices Task Force Report.

PubMed

Wolowacz, Sorrel E; Briggs, Andrew; Belozeroff, Vasily; Clarke, Philip; Doward, Lynda; Goeree, Ron; Lloyd, Andrew; Norman, Richard

Cost-utility models are increasingly used in many countries to establish whether the cost of a new intervention can be justified in terms of health benefits. Health-state utility (HSU) estimates (the preference for a given state of health on a cardinal scale where 0 represents dead and 1 represents full health) are typically among the most important and uncertain data inputs in cost-utility models. Clinical trials represent an important opportunity for the collection of health-utility data. However, trials designed primarily to evaluate efficacy and safety often present challenges to the optimal collection of HSU estimates for economic models. Careful planning is needed to determine which of the HSU estimates may be measured in planned trials; to establish the optimal methodology; and to plan any additional studies needed. This report aimed to provide a framework for researchers to plan the collection of health-utility data in clinical studies to provide high-quality HSU estimates for economic modeling. Recommendations are made for early planning of health-utility data collection within a research and development program; design of health-utility data collection during protocol development for a planned clinical trial; design of prospective and cross-sectional observational studies and alternative study types; and statistical analyses and reporting. Copyright © 2016 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Assessment and comparison of three high-aluminum fly ash utilization scenarios in Inner Mongolia, China using an eco-efficiency indicator.

PubMed

Yang, Shuo; Lin, Ling; Li, Shao Peng; Li, Qiang; Wang, Xiu Teng; Sun, Liang

2017-05-01

Utilization of fly ash is of great importance in China in the context of resource and environmental crises. Different fly ash utilization processes are proposed, and some have been practically applied. However, none of these fly ash utilization pathways has been evaluated comprehensively by integrating both environmental and economic perspectives. In this study, three high-aluminum fly ash utilization methods in Mongolia were assessed and compared based on the concept of eco-efficiency. The environmental assessment was conducted in accordance with life-cycle assessment principles, and a monetization-weighting approach was applied to obtain social willingness-to-pay as a reflection of environmental impact. The environmental assessment results revealed that the reuse of fly ash had significant advantage for saving primary resource, while solid waste, depletion of water, and global warming were the three highest environmental impacts from the life cycle perspective. The economic performance assessment showed positive net profits for fly ash utilization, but high value-added products were not necessarily indicative of better economic performance due to the relatively high operation cost. Comparison of the eco-efficiency indicators (EEIs) implied that the process of scenario 1#, which produced mullite ceramic and active calcium silicate, was the most recommended out of the three scenarios on the present scale. This judgment was consistent with the evaluation of the resource utilization rate. The present study showed that the EEI could be used to compare different fly ash utilization processes in a comprehensive and objective manner, thus providing definitive and insightful suggestions for decision-making and technical improvement.

Cost-utility and cost-effectiveness studies of telemedicine, electronic, and mobile health systems in the literature: a systematic review.

PubMed

de la Torre-Díez, Isabel; López-Coronado, Miguel; Vaca, Cesar; Aguado, Jesús Saez; de Castro, Carlos

2015-02-01

A systematic review of cost-utility and cost-effectiveness research works of telemedicine, electronic health (e-health), and mobile health (m-health) systems in the literature is presented. Academic databases and systems such as PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore were searched, using different combinations of terms such as "cost-utility" OR "cost utility" AND "telemedicine," "cost-effectiveness" OR "cost effectiveness" AND "mobile health," etc. In the articles searched, there were no limitations in the publication date. The search identified 35 relevant works. Many of the articles were reviews of different studies. Seventy-nine percent concerned the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine systems in different specialties such as teleophthalmology, telecardiology, teledermatology, etc. More articles were found between 2000 and 2013. Cost-utility studies were done only for telemedicine systems. There are few cost-utility and cost-effectiveness studies for e-health and m-health systems in the literature. Some cost-effectiveness studies demonstrate that telemedicine can reduce the costs, but not all. Among the main limitations of the economic evaluations of telemedicine systems are the lack of randomized control trials, small sample sizes, and the absence of quality data and appropriate measures.

Automation of learning-set testing - The video-task paradigm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Washburn, David A.; Hopkins, William D.; Rumbaugh, Duane M.

1989-01-01

Researchers interested in studying discrimination learning in primates have typically utilized variations in the Wisconsin General Test Apparatus (WGTA). In the present experiment, a new testing apparatus for the study of primate learning is proposed. In the video-task paradigm, rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) respond to computer-generated stimuli by manipulating a joystick. Using this apparatus, discrimination learning-set data for 2 monkeys were obtained. Performance on Trial 2 exceeded 80 percent within 200 discrimination learning problems. These data illustrate the utility of the video-task paradigm in comparative research. Additionally, the efficient learning and rich data that were characteristic of this study suggest several advantages of the present testing paradigm over traditional WGTA testing.

Variables affecting the financial viability of your practice: a case study.

PubMed

Binderman, J

2001-01-01

Utilizing the discussion of variables affecting practice financial viability, a case study is considered. The case study reveals the relative impact multiple variables have upon the bottom line, including: practice capacity, percentage of capitation, and fee-for-service in the practice, as well as patient visit rates and patient churning. This article presents basic financial information through a case study model, utilizing a series of worksheets that can be adapted to any practice situation to encourage improved financial viability.

The 2 × 2 Standpoints Model of Achievement Goals

PubMed Central

Korn, Rachel M.; Elliot, Andrew J.

2016-01-01

In the present research, we proposed and tested a 2 × 2 standpoints model of achievement goals grounded in the development-demonstration and approach-avoidance distinctions. Three empirical studies are presented. Study 1 provided evidence supporting the structure and psychometric properties of a newly developed measure of the goals of the 2 × 2 standpoints model. Study 2 documented the predictive utility of these goal constructs for intrinsic motivation: development-approach and development-avoidance goals were positive predictors, and demonstration-avoidance goals were a negative predictor of intrinsic motivation. Study 3 documented the predictive utility of these goal constructs for performance attainment: Demonstration-approach goals were a positive predictor and demonstration-avoidance goals were a negative predictor of exam performance. The conceptual and empirical contributions of the present research were discussed within the broader context of existing achievement goal theory and research. PMID:27242641

Yolo Bypass Juvenile Salmon Utilization Study 2016—Summary of acoustically tagged juvenile salmon and study fish release, Sacramento River, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Liedtke, Theresa L.; Hurst, William R.

2017-09-12

The Yolo Bypass is a flood control bypass in Sacramento Valley, California. Flood plain habitats may be used for juvenile salmon rearing, however, the potential value of such habitats can be difficult to evaluate because of the intermittent nature of inundation events. The Yolo Bypass Juvenile Salmon Utilization Study (YBUS) used acoustic telemetry to evaluate the movements and survival of juvenile salmon adjacent to and within the Yolo Bypass during the winter of 2016. This report presents numbers, size data, and release data (times, dates, and locations) for the 1,197 acoustically tagged juvenile salmon released for the YBUS from February 21 to March 18, 2016. Detailed descriptions of the surgical implantation of transmitters are also presented. These data are presented to support the collaborative, interagency analysis and reporting of the study findings.

[Health-related quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

PubMed

Ferreira, Lara Noronha; Ferreira, Pedro Lopes; Baleiro, Rita Rodrigues

2008-01-01

Rheumatoid arthritis RA is a chronic rheumatic disease of unknown aetiology and greater incidence among the elderly. It can lead to serious consequences regarding functional limitations and patient's ability to work. The purpose of this study was to assess the health-related quality of life in patients with RA. Portuguese version of SF-6D and Portuguese translations of EQ-5D and AIMS2-SF were self-administered in a postal survey to a representative sample of the Portuguese population with RA. Data concerning the patients' characteristics and the stage of the disease were also collected. The majority of the patients presented minor problems in some of the instruments dimensions. In a scale from 0.30 to 1.00 the average utility score was 0.77. The lowest utility scores were reported by women those who were divorced or separated individuals with lower educational levels who had lower incomes, were recently diagnosed and those who were not taking new biological therapies. Apart from these, patients who had a more severe RA and co-morbidity also report lower utility scores. The preference-based utility measures used in this study adequately discriminate across different RA severity and socio-demographic background. Assuming that these values represent the patients' preferences and the utility associated with their health state, the results presented in this paper may be used as an approximation to normative values for the SF-6D in economic evaluation studies as well as in clinical studies.

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

Bird, Lori; Cochran, Jaquelin; Wang, Xi

This report examines U.S. curtailment practices, with a particular emphasis on utilities in the Western states. The information presented here is based on a series of interviews conducted with utilities, system operators, wind energy developers, and non-governmental organizations. The report provides case studies of curtailment experience and examines the reasons for curtailment, curtailment procedures, compensation, and practices that can minimize curtailment.

Analysis of structural dynamic data from Skylab. Volume 1: Technical discussion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Demchak, L.; Harcrow, H.

1976-01-01

The results of a study to analyze data and document dynamic program highlights of the Skylab Program are presented. Included are structural model sources, illustration of the analytical models, utilization of models and the resultant derived data, data supplied to organization and subsequent utilization, and specifications of model cycles.

Complete utilization of spent coffee grounds to produce biodiesel, bio-oil and biochar

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

This study presents the complete utilization of spent coffee grounds to produce biodiesel, bio-oil and biochar. Lipids extracted from spent grounds were converted to biodiesel to evaluate neat and blended (B5 and B20) fuel properties against ASTM and EN standards. Although neat biodiesel displayed h...

Models of Evaluation Utilization: A Meta-Modeling Synthesis of the Literature.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, R. Burke

An integrative causal process model of evaluation utilization variables is presented. The model was developed through a traditional approach to literature review that lists results from published studies and relates these to the research topic, and through an approach that tries to integrate the models found in the literature search. Meta-modeling…

Using Strengthsfinder to Identify Relationships between Marketing Graduate Strengths and Career Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tomkovick, Chuck; Swanson, Scott

2014-01-01

The present study seeks to better understand how marketing graduates' strengths, and utilization of those strengths in the workplace, may be associated with a variety of academic and career outcomes. Respondents completed two different questionnaires. Findings suggest that marketing graduates whose strengths are not being utilized with their work…

JOB PERFORMANCE AIDS AND THEIR IMPACT ON MANPOWER UTILIZATION.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

CHALUPSKY, ALBERT B.; KOPF, THOMAS J.

THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS TO REVIEW AND SYNTHESIZE THE RESULTS OF RESEARCH ON JOB PERFORMANCE AIDS AND EXPLORE THEIR CURRENT AND POTENTIAL ON INDUSTRIAL MANPOWER UTILIZATION. JOB PERFORMANCE AIDS ARE AUXILIARY INFORMATION STORAGE DEVICES WHICH PRESENT JOB INSTRUCTIONS OR REFERENCE DATA FOR USE BY THE EMPLOYEE DURING THE COURSE OF HIS JOB…

Utility of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition, with Ethnically Diverse Preschoolers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dale, Brittany A.; Finch, Maria HernÁndez; Mcintosh, David E.; Rothlisberg, Barbara A.; Finch, W. Holmes

2014-01-01

Current research on the use of revisions of intelligence measures with ethnically diverse populations and younger children is limited. The present study investigated the utility of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition (SB5), with an ethnically diverse preschool sample. African American and Caucasian preschoolers, matched on age,…

Chicano Workers: Their Utilization and Development. Chicano Studies Center Publications Monograph No. 8.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Romero, Fred E.

Chicano human resources have never been properly utilized in the labor markets of the Southwest. The slow rate of Chicano economic growth can be attributed to underdevelopment of their skills, knowledge and talent and underutilization of their energies and capabilities. This book, a factual presentation of that underdevelopment and…

Utility of Policy Capturing as an Approach to Graduate Admissions Decision Making.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmidt, Frank L.; And Others

1978-01-01

The present study examined and evaluated the application of linear policy-capturing models to the real-world decision task of graduate admissions. Utility of the policy-capturing models was great enough to be of practical significance, and least-squares weights showed no predictive advantage over equal weights. (Author/CTM)

The Utility of the Prototype/Willingness Model in Predicting Alcohol Use among North American Indigenous Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Armenta, Brian E.; Hautala, Dane S.; Whitbeck, Les B.

2015-01-01

In the present study, we considered the utility of the prototype/willingness model in predicting alcohol use among North-American Indigenous adolescents. Specifically, using longitudinal data, we examined the associations among subjective drinking norms, positive drinker prototypes, drinking expectations (as a proxy of drinking willingness), and…

Clinical utility and validity of minoxidil response testing in androgenetic alopecia.

PubMed

Goren, Andy; Shapiro, Jerry; Roberts, Janet; McCoy, John; Desai, Nisha; Zarrab, Zoulikha; Pietrzak, Aldona; Lotti, Torello

2015-01-01

Clinical response to 5% topical minoxidil for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is typically observed after 3-6 months. Approximately 40% of patients will regrow hair. Given the prolonged treatment time required to elicit a response, a diagnostic test for ruling out nonresponders would have significant clinical utility. Two studies have previously reported that sulfotransferase enzyme activity in plucked hair follicles predicts a patient's response to topical minoxidil therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical utility and validity of minoxidil response testing. In this communication, the present authors conducted an analysis of completed and ongoing studies of minoxidil response testing. The analysis confirmed the clinical utility of a sulfotransferase enzyme test in successfully ruling out 95.9% of nonresponders to topical minoxidil for the treatment of AGA. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Circulating tumor cells: clinical validity and utility.

PubMed

Cabel, Luc; Proudhon, Charlotte; Gortais, Hugo; Loirat, Delphine; Coussy, Florence; Pierga, Jean-Yves; Bidard, François-Clément

2017-06-01

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are rare tumor cells and have been investigated as diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers in many types of cancer. Although CTCs are not currently used in clinical practice, CTC studies have accumulated a high level of clinical validity, especially in breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers. In this review, we present an overview of the current clinical validity of CTCs in metastatic and non-metastatic disease, and the main concepts and studies investigating the clinical utility of CTCs. In particular, this review will focus on breast, lung, colorectal and prostate cancer. Three major topics concerning the clinical utility of CTC are discussed-(1) treatment based on CTCs used as liquid biopsy, (2) treatment based on CTC count or CTC variations, and (3) treatment based on CTC biomarker expression. A summary of published or ongoing phase II and III trials is also presented.

Utility of Gram staining for diagnosis of Malassezia folliculitis.

PubMed

Tu, Wei-Ting; Chin, Szu-Ying; Chou, Chia-Lun; Hsu, Che-Yuan; Chen, Yu-Tsung; Liu, Donald; Lee, Woan-Ruoh; Shih, Yi-Hsien

2018-02-01

Malassezia folliculitis (MalF) mimics acne vulgaris and bacterial folliculitis in clinical presentations. The role of Gram staining in rapid diagnosis of MalF has not been well studied. In our study, 32 patients were included to investigate the utility of Gram staining for MalF diagnosis. The final diagnoses of MalF were determined according to clinical presentation, pathological result and treatment response to antifungal agents. Our results show that the sensitivity and specificity of Gram staining are 84.6% and 100%, respectively. In conclusion, Gram staining is a rapid, non-invasive, sensitive and specific method for MalF diagnosis. © 2017 Japanese Dermatological Association.

Internet Resources: Using Web Pages in Social Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dale, Jack

1999-01-01

Contends that students in social studies classes can utilize Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) as a presentation and collaborative tool by developing websites. Presents two activities where students submitted webpages for country case studies and created a timeline for the French Revolution. Describes how to use HTML by discussing the various tags.…

NASA In-Situ Resource Utilization Project-and Seals Challenges

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sacksteder, Kurt; Linne, Diane

2006-01-01

A viewgraph presentation on NASA's In-Situ Resource Utilization Project and Seals Challenges is shown. The topics include: 1) What Are Space Resources?; 2) Space Resource Utilization for Exploration; 3) ISRU Enables Affordable, Sustainable & Flexible Exploration; 4) Propellant from the Moon Could Revolutionize Space Transportation; 5) NASA ISRU Capability Roadmap Study, 2005; 6) Timeline for ISRU Capability Implementation; 7) Lunar ISRU Implementation Approach; 8) ISRU Technical-to-Mission Capability Roadmap; 9) ISRU Resources & Products of Interest; and 10) Challenging Seals Requirements for ISRU.

Estimation of utilities in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder for economic evaluations.

PubMed

Lloyd, Andrew; Hodgkins, Paul; Sasane, Rahul; Akehurst, Ron; Sonuga-Barke, Edmund J S; Fitzgerald, Patrick; Nixon, Annabel; Erder, Haim; Brazier, John

2011-01-01

Attempts to estimate the cost effectiveness of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatments in the past have relied on classifying ADHD patients as responders or non-responders to treatment. Responder status has been associated with a small gain in health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) [or utility, as measured using the generic QOL measure EQ-5D] of 0.06 (on a scale from 0 being dead to 1.0 being full health). The goal of the present study was to develop and validate several ADHD-related health states, and to estimate utility values measured amongst the general public for those states and to re-estimate utility values associated with responder status. Detailed qualitative interview data were collected from 20 young ADHD patients to characterize their HR-QOL. In addition, item-by-item clinical and HR-QOL data from a clinical trial were used to define and describe four health states (normal; borderline to mildly ill; moderately to markedly ill; and severely ill). ADHD experts assessed the content validity of the descriptions. The states were rated by 100 members of the UK general public using the time trade-off (TTO) interview and visual analog scale. Statistical mapping was also undertaken to estimate Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) utilities (i.e. response status) from Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) defined states. The mapping work estimated changes in utilities from study baseline to last visit for patients with a CGI-I score of ≤ 2 or ≤ 3. The validity of the four health states developed in this study was supported by in-depth interviews with ADHD experts and patients, and clinical trial data. TTO-derived utilities for the four health states ranged from 0.839 (CGI-S state 'normal') to 0.444 (CGI-S state 'severely ill'). From the mapping work, the change in utility for treatment responders was 0.19 for patients with a CGI-I score of ≤ 2 and 0.15 for patients with a CGI-I score of ≤ 3. The present study provides utilities for different severity levels of ADHD estimated in a TTO study. This approach provides a more granular assessment of the impact of ADHD on HR-QOL than binary approaches employed in previous economic analyses. Change in utility for responders and non-responders at different levels of CGI-I was estimated, and thus these utilities may be used to compare health gains of different ADHD interventions.

State Performance-Based Regulation Using Multiyear Rate Plans for U.S. Electric Utilities

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

Lowry, Mark Newton; Makos, Matt; Deason, Jeff

Electric utilities today must contain costs at a time when many need to modernize aging systems and all face major changes in technologies, customer preferences and competitive pressures.Most U.S. electric utility facilities are investor-owned, subject to rate and service regulation by state public utility commissions. Regulatory systems under which these utilities operate affect their performance and ability to meet these challenges. In this business environment, multiyear rate plans have some advantages over traditional rate regulation.The report focuses on key design issues and provides case studies of the multiyear rate plan approach, applicable to both vertically integrated and restructured states. Markmore » Newton Lowry and Matt Makos of Pacific Energy Group Research and Jeff Deason of Berkeley Lab authored the report; Lisa Schwartz, Berkeley Lab, was project manager and technical editor.The report is aimed primarily at state utility regulators and stakeholders in the state regulatory process. The multiyear rate approach also provides ideas on how to streamline oversight of public power utilities and rural electric cooperatives for their governing boards.Two key provisions of multiyear rate plans strengthen cost containment incentives and streamline regulation: 1. Reducing frequency of rate cases, typically to every four or five years 2. Using an attrition relief mechanism to escalate rates or revenue between rate cases to address cost pressures such as inflation and growth in number of customers, independently of the utility’s own cost Better utility performance can be achieved under well-designed multiyear rate plans while achieving lower regulatory costs. Benefits can be shared between utilities and their customers. But plans can be complex and involve significant changes in the regulatory system. Designing plans that stimulate utility performance without undue risk and share benefits fairly can be challenging.This report discusses the rationale for multiyear rate plans and their usefulness under modern business conditions. It then explains critical plan design issues and challenges and presents results from numerical research that considers the extra incentive power achieved under different plan provisions. Next, the report presents several case studies of utilities that have operated under formal multiyear rate plans or, for various reasons, have stayed out of rate cases for more than a decade. These studies consider the effect of multiyear rate plans and rate case frequency on utility cost, reliability and other performance dimensions.« less

Linear and non-linear contributions to oxygen transport and utilization during moderate random exercise in humans.

PubMed

Beltrame, T; Hughson, R L

2017-05-01

What is the central question of this study? The pulmonary oxygen uptake (pV̇O2) data used to study the muscle aerobic system dynamics during moderate-exercise transitions is classically described as a mono-exponential function controlled by a complex interaction of the oxygen delivery-utilization balance. This elevated complexity complicates the acquisition of relevant information regarding aerobic system dynamics based on pV̇O2 data during a varying exercise stimulus. What is the main finding and its importance? The elevated complexity of pV̇O2 dynamics is a consequence of a multiple-order interaction between muscle oxygen uptake and circulatory distortion. Our findings challenge the use of a first-order function to study the influences of the oxygen delivery-utilization balance over the pV̇O2 dynamics. The assumption of aerobic system linearity implies that the pulmonary oxygen uptake (pV̇O2) dynamics during exercise transitions present a first-order characteristic. The main objective of this study was to test the linearity of the oxygen delivery-utilization balance during random moderate exercise. The cardiac output (Q̇) and deoxygenated haemoglobin concentration ([HHb]) were measured to infer the central and local O 2 availability, respectively. Thirteen healthy men performed two consecutive pseudorandom binary sequence cycling exercises followed by an incremental protocol. The system input and the outputs pV̇O2, [HHb] and Q̇ were submitted to frequency-domain analysis. The linearity of the variables was tested by computing the ability of the response at a specific frequency to predict the response at another frequency. The predictability levels were assessed by the coefficient of determination. In a first-order system, a participant who presents faster dynamics at a specific frequency should also present faster dynamics at any other frequency. All experimentally obtained variables (pV̇O2, [HHb] and Q̇) presented a certainly degree of non-linearity. The local O 2 availability, evaluated by the ratio pV̇O2/[HHb], presented the most irregular behaviour. The overall [HHb] kinetics were faster than pV̇O2 and Q̇ kinetics. In conclusion, the oxygen delivery-utilization balance behaved as a non-linear phenomenon. Therefore, the elevated complexity of the pulmonary oxygen uptake dynamics is governed by a complex multiple-order interaction between the oxygen delivery and utilization systems. © 2017 The Authors. Experimental Physiology © 2017 The Physiological Society.

Experimental study on the 300W class planar type solid oxide fuel cell stack: Investigation for appropriate fuel provision control and the transient capability of the cell performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komatsu, Y.; Brus, G.; Kimijima, S.; Szmyd, J. S.

2012-11-01

The present paper reports the experimental study on the dynamic behavior of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The cell stack consists of planar type cells with standard power output 300W. A Major subject of the present study is characterization of the transient response to the electric current change, assuming load-following operation. The present studies particularly focus on fuel provision control to the load change. Optimized fuel provision improves power generation efficiency. However, the capability of SOFC must be restricted by a few operative parameters. Fuel utilization factor, which is defined as the ratio of the consumed fuel to the supplied fuel is adopted for a reference in the control scheme. The fuel flow rate was regulated to keep the fuel utilization at 50%, 60% and 70% during the current ramping. Lower voltage was observed with the higher fuel utilization, but achieved efficiency was higher. The appropriate mass flow control is required not to violate the voltage transient behavior. Appropriate fuel flow manipulation can contribute to moderate the overshoot on the voltage that may appear to the current change. The overshoot on the voltage response resulted from the gradual temperature behavior in the SOFC stack module.

Simultaneous ion sputter polishing and deposition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rutledge, S.; Banks, B.; Brdar, M.

1981-01-01

Results of experiments to study ion beam sputter polishing in conjunction with simultaneous deposition as a mean of polishing copper surfaces are presented. Two types of simultaneous ion sputter polishing and deposition were used in these experiments. The first type utilized sputter polishing simultaneous with vapor deposition, and the second type utilized sputter polishing simultaneous with sputter deposition. The etch and deposition rates of both techniques were studied, as well as the surface morphology and surface roughness.

Impact of Utility-Scale Distributed Wind on Transmission-Level System Operations

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

Brancucci Martinez-Anido, C.; Hodge, B. M.

2014-09-01

This report presents a new renewable integration study that aims to assess the potential for adding distributed wind to the current power system with minimal or no upgrades to the distribution or transmission electricity systems. It investigates the impacts of integrating large amounts of utility-scale distributed wind power on bulk system operations by performing a case study on the power system of the Independent System Operator-New England (ISO-NE).

The relationship between budget allocated and budget utilized of faculties in an academic institution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aziz, Wan Noor Hayatie Wan Abdul; Aziz, Rossidah Wan Abdul; Shuib, Adibah; Razi, Nor Faezah Mohamad

2014-06-01

Budget planning enables an organization to set priorities towards achieving certain goals and to identify the highest priorities to be accomplished with the available funds, thus allowing allocation of resources according to the set priorities and constraints. On the other hand, budget execution and monitoring enables allocated funds or resources to be utilized as planned. Our study concerns with investigating the relationship between budget allocation and budget utilization of faculties in a public university in Malaysia. The focus is on the university's operations management financial allocation and utilization based on five categories which are emolument expenditure, academic or services and supplies expenditure, maintenance expenditure, student expenditure and others expenditure. The analysis on financial allocation and utilization is performed based on yearly quarters. Data collected include three years faculties' budget allocation and budget utilization performance involving a sample of ten selected faculties of a public university in Malaysia. Results show that there are positive correlation and significant relationship between quarterly budget allocation and quarterly budget utilization. This study found that emolument give the highest contribution to the total allocation and total utilization for all quarters. This paper presents some findings based on statistical analysis conducted which include descriptive statistics and correlation analysis.

Evaluation utilization research--developing a theory and putting it to use.

PubMed

Neuman, Ari; Shahor, Neria; Shina, Ilan; Sarid, Anat; Saar, Zehava

2013-02-01

This article presents the findings of a two-stage study that had two key objectives: to develop a theory about evaluation utilization in an educational organization and to apply this theory to promote evaluation utilization within the organization. The first stage involved a theoretical conceptualization using a participatory method of concept mapping. This process identified the modes of evaluation utilization within the organization, produced a representation of the relationship between them and led to a theory. The second stage examined the practical implications of this conceptualization in terms of how different stakeholders in the organization perceive the actual and preferable state of evaluation utilization within the organization (i.e. to what extent is evaluation utilized and to what extent should it be utilized). The participatory process of the study promoted the evaluation utilization by involving stakeholders, thus giving them a sense of ownership and improving communication between the evaluation unit and the stakeholders. In addition, understanding the evaluation needs of the stakeholders in the organization helped generate relevant and realizable evaluation processes. On a practical level, the results are currently shaping the evaluation plan and the place of evaluations within the organization. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous utilization of soju industrial waste for silica production and its residue ash as effective cationic dye adsorbent

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Soju industrial waste is an important biomass resource. The present study is aimed to utilize soju industrial waste for silica extraction, and residual ash as a low cost adsorbent for the removal of Methylene Blue (MB) from aqueous solution. High percentage of pure amorphous nanosilica was obtained ...

Examining the Utility of Topic Models for Linguistic Analysis of Couple Therapy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doeden, Michelle A.

2012-01-01

This study examined the basic utility of topic models, a computational linguistics model for text-based data, to the investigation of the process of couple therapy. Linguistic analysis offers an additional lens through which to examine clinical data, and the topic model is presented as a novel methodology within couple and family psychology that…

The Utility of Brief Experimental Analysis and Extended Intervention Analysis in Selecting Effective Mathematics Interventions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mong, Michael D.; Mong, Kristi W.

2012-01-01

The present study evaluated the utility of brief experimental analysis (BEA) in predicting effective interventions for increasing the math fluency of 3 elementary students identified as having math skill deficits. Baseline data were collected followed by implementation of a BEA consisting of the following interventions: cover, copy, and compare,…

Utility of University Curricula in Contemporary Times: Perspectives of Employers in the Cape Coast Metropolis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dodoo, Joana Eva; Kuupole, Domwini Dabire

2017-01-01

The majority of studies and reports on university education in Africa have focused mainly on issues related to access, quality, teaching and learning environment, and so on. Although these issues are undoubtedly critical, even more germane to the discourse is the desired utility of university education to society. The authors present the…

Utilizing the M-Scan to Measure Standards-Based Mathematics Teaching Practices: Affordances and Limitations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walkowiak, Temple A.; Berry, Robert Q.; Pinter, Holly H.; Jacobson, Erik D.

2018-01-01

The Mathematics Scan (M-Scan), a content-specific observational measure, was utilized to examine the extent to which "standards-based mathematics teaching practices" were present in three focal lessons. While previous studies have provided evidence of validity of the inferences drawn from M-Scan data, no prior work has investigated the…

Methodological Research on Knowledge Use and School Improvement. Volume III. Measuring Knowledge Use: A Procedural Inventory.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dunn, William N.; And Others

This volume presents in one collection a systematic inventory of research and analytic procedures appropriate for generating information on knowledge production, diffusion, and utilization, gathered by the University of Pittsburgh Program for the Study of Knowledge Use. The main concern is with those procedures that focus on the utilization of…

The Utility of the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory for Teachers among In-Service Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kallio, Heli; Virta, Kalle; Kallio, Manne; Virta, Arja; Hjardemaal, Finn Rudolf; Sandven, Jostein

2017-01-01

The purpose of the present study is to explore the utility of the compressed version of the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory for Teachers (MAIT-18) among in-service teachers. Knowledge of teachers' awareness of metacognition is required to support students' self-regulation, with the aim of establishing modern learning methods and life-long…

Program Development and Outcomes Assessment of Social Emotional Curriculum Utilized with High School Special Education Population

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wedam, Allison

2012-01-01

The present study will assess the effectiveness of a social emotional learning curriculum implemented in a Midwestern high school with special education students. The specific social emotional curriculum utilized at this particular school was organized and delivered by the school psychologists at the high school, based on the Strong Teens…

Sexual Victimization and Health-Risk Behaviors: A Prospective Analysis of College Women

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gidycz, Christine A.; Orchowski, Lindsay M.; King, Carrie R.; Rich, Cindy L.

2008-01-01

The present study utilizes the National College Health Risk Behavior Survey to examine the relationship between health-risk behaviors and sexual victimization among a sample of college women. A prospective design is utilized to examine the relationship between health-risk behaviors as measured at baseline and sexual victimization during a 3-month…

Assessing removals for North Central forest inventories.

Treesearch

W. Brad Smith

1991-01-01

Discusses method used by the Forest Inventory and Analysis Unit for estimating timber removals. Presents the relationship of timber utilization studies, primary lumber mill studies, and forest inventory data.

Butyric acid production from lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates by engineered Clostridium tyrobutyricum overexpressing xylose catabolism genes for glucose and xylose co-utilization.

PubMed

Fu, Hongxin; Yang, Shang-Tian; Wang, Minqi; Wang, Jufang; Tang, I-Ching

2017-06-01

Clostridium tyrobutyricum can utilize glucose and xylose as carbon source for butyric acid production. However, xylose catabolism is inhibited by glucose, hampering butyric acid production from lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates containing both glucose and xylose. In this study, an engineered strain of C. tyrobutyricum Ct-pTBA overexpressing heterologous xylose catabolism genes (xylT, xylA, and xylB) was investigated for co-utilizing glucose and xylose present in hydrolysates of plant biomass, including soybean hull, corn fiber, wheat straw, rice straw, and sugarcane bagasse. Compared to the wild-type strain, Ct-pTBA showed higher xylose utilization without significant glucose catabolite repression, achieving near 100% utilization of glucose and xylose present in lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates in bioreactor at pH 6. About 42.6g/L butyrate at a productivity of 0.56g/L·h and yield of 0.36g/g was obtained in batch fermentation, demonstrating the potential of C. tyrobutyricum Ct-pTBA for butyric acid production from lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Shuttle/GPSPAC experimentation study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moses, J.; Flack, J. F.

1977-01-01

The utilization is discussed of the GPSPAC, which is presently being developed to be used on the low altitude host vehicle (LAHV), for possible use in the shuttle avionics system to evaluate shuttle/GPS navigation performance. Analysis and tradeoffs of the shuttle/GPS link, shuttle signal interface requirements, oscillator tradeoffs and GPSPAC mechanical modifications for shuttle are included. Only the on-orbit utilization of GPSPAC for the shuttle is discussed. Other phases are briefly touched upon. Recommendations are provided for using the present GPSPAC and the changes required to perform shuttle on-orbit navigation.

Strength of Ethnic Identification and Intergenerational Mobility Aspirations Among Mexican American Youth.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuvlesky, William P.; Patella, Victoria M.

Utilizing Talcott Parsons' data from a 1967 study of 4 South Texas counties, the present study involves 596 Mexican American high school sophomores and is based on Parsons' assertion that Spanish American subculture is characterized by the particularism-ascription value pattern. In keeping with this, the present study hypothesized that degree of…

Application of fuel cells with heat recovery for integrated utility systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shields, V.; King, J. M., Jr.

1975-01-01

This paper presents the results of a study of fuel cell powerplants with heat recovery for use in an integrated utility system. Such a design provides for a low pollution, noise-free, highly efficient integrated utility. Use of the waste heat from the fuel cell powerplant in an integrated utility system for the village center complex of a new community results in a reduction in resource consumption of 42 percent compared to conventional methods. In addition, the system has the potential of operating on fuels produced from waste materials (pyrolysis and digester gases); this would provide further reduction in energy consumption.

The impact of differences in EQ-5D and SF-6D utility scores on the acceptability of cost-utility ratios: results across five trial-based cost-utility studies.

PubMed

Joore, Manuela; Brunenberg, Danielle; Nelemans, Patricia; Wouters, Emiel; Kuijpers, Petra; Honig, Adriaan; Willems, Danielle; de Leeuw, Peter; Severens, Johan; Boonen, Annelies

2010-01-01

This article investigates whether differences in utility scores based on the EQ-5D and the SF-6D have impact on the incremental cost-utility ratios in five distinct patient groups. We used five empirical data sets of trial-based cost-utility studies that included patients with different disease conditions and severity (musculoskeletal disease, cardiovascular pulmonary disease, and psychological disorders) to calculate differences in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) based on EQ-5D and SF-6D utility scores. We compared incremental QALYs, incremental cost-utility ratios, and the probability that the incremental cost-utility ratio was acceptable within and across the data sets. We observed small differences in incremental QALYs, but large differences in the incremental cost-utility ratios and in the probability that these ratios were acceptable at a given threshold, in the majority of the presented cost-utility analyses. More specifically, in the patient groups with relatively mild health conditions the probability of acceptance of the incremental cost-utility ratio was considerably larger when using the EQ-5D to estimate utility. While in the patient groups with worse health conditions the probability of acceptance of the incremental cost-utility ratio was considerably larger when using the SF-6D to estimate utility. Much of the appeal in using QALYs as measure of effectiveness in economic evaluations is in the comparability across conditions and interventions. The incomparability of the results of cost-utility analyses using different instruments to estimate a single index value for health severely undermines this aspect and reduces the credibility of the use of incremental cost-utility ratios for decision-making.

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

Wear, Jr., John Edmund

The objective of this study was to examine the hypothesis that select functional groups of bacteria from pristine sites have an innate ability to degrade synthetic aromatics that often contaminate groundwater environments,due to exposure to naturally occurring recalcitrant aromatics in their environment. This study demonstrates that subsurface microbial communities are capable of utilizing lignin and humic acid breakdown products. Utilizers of these compounds were found to be present in most all the wells tested. Even the deepest aquifer tested had utilizers present for all six of the aromatics tested. Highest counts for the aromatics tested were observed with the naturallymore » occurring breakdown products of either lignin or humic acid. Carboxylic acids were found to be an important sole carbon source for groundwater bacteria possibly explained by the fact that they are produced by the oxidative cleavage of aromatic ring structures. The carbohydrate sole carbon sources that demonstrated the greatest densities were ones commonly associated with humics. This study indicates that utilization of naturally occurring aromatic compounds in the subsurface is an important nutritional source for groundwater bacteria. In addition, it suggests that adaptation to naturally occurring recalcitrant substrates is the origin of degradative pathways for xenobiotic compounds with analogous structure. This work has important implications for in situ bioremediation as a method of environmental cleanup.« less

NNP-LANL Utilities - Condition Assessment and Project Approach

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

Stewart, Grant Lorenz

2017-11-21

This report is a presentation on LANL Utilities & Transportation Asset Management; Utility Assets Overview; Condition Assessment; Utilities Project Nominations & Ranking; and Utilities Project Execution.

System Study at SUNY College Bookstore/Oswego

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeVita, Richard; And Others

1975-01-01

A system study of the textbook ordering department is presented including systems flow chart, chart of activities, and description of operations and procedures for utilizing the computer system. Changes based on the study are noted. (JT)

The effect of comorbidities upon ocular and systemic health-related quality of life.

PubMed

Real, F J; Brown, G C; Brown, H C; Brown, M M

2008-06-01

The purpose of the study was to assess whether, and to what degree, comorbidities affect patient quality of life. A cross-sectional, quality-of-life study of 170 consecutive vitreoretinal patients compared the utility associated with a participant's primary (most incapacitating) disease and the utility associated with a grouping of all of the participants' diseases. The ocular diseases present included diabetic retinopathy (44%), macular degeneration (30%), lattice degeneration/retinal tear (14%), retinal vascular obstruction (5%), uveitis, macular oedema, macular pucker (5%) and others (2%). Participants underwent interviewer-administered, time trade-off utility questions for each disease, then for a compilation of all diseases. Their primary disease was defined by the lowest utility reported for a single disease, while other health conditions were considered comorbidities. A two-tailed, paired t test was used to compare the means of the primary disease utilities and compilation utilities. The study was powered to have a 90% chance of detecting an 8% difference in mean utility between the two utility groups The mean lowest utility for the most disabling single health condition (primary disease) was 0.82 (SD 0.22; 95% CI 0.79 to 0.85. The mean utility for the grouping together of all diseases was 0.80 (SD 0.24, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.84). No significant difference was found between the mean utilities of the two groups (p = 0.56). The overall health-related quality of life of a patient in an ophthalmic population with serious diseases appears to be primarily determined by the single disease that most adversely affects the individual's quality of life. This conclusion has significant implications in clinical care and when considering the use of comorbidities in cost-utility analyses.

Renewable Electricity Futures (Presentation)

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

Hand, M.

2012-10-01

This presentation library summarizes findings of NREL's Renewable Electricity Futures study, published in June 2012. RE Futures investigated the challenges and impacts of achieving very high renewable electricity generation levels in the contiguous United States by 2050. It is being presented at the Utility Variable-Generation Integration Group Fall Technical Workshop on October 24, 2012.

Peer-Assessing Peers' Contribution to EFL Group Presentations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saito, Hidetoshi; Fujita, Tomoko

2009-01-01

The aim of this study is three-fold: (1) to examine the similarities and differences between instructor and peer assessments of EFL group presentations; (2) to understand the utility of peer assessment for discriminating each group member's contribution to group presentations in college EFL classrooms; and (3) to investigate the relationship…

Trading Water Conservation Credits: A Coordinative Approach for Enhanced Urban Water Reliability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonzales, P.; Ajami, N. K.

2016-12-01

Water utilities in arid and semi-arid regions are increasingly relying on water use efficiency and conservation to extend the availability of supplies. Despite spatial and institutional inter-dependency of many service providers, these demand-side management initiatives have traditionally been tackled by individual utilities operating in a silo. In this study, we introduce a new approach to water conservation that addresses regional synergies—a novel system of tradable water conservation credits. Under the proposed approach, utilities have the flexibility to invest in water conservation measures that are appropriate for their specific service area. When utilities have insufficient capacity for local cost-effective measures, they may opt to purchase credits, contributing to fund subsidies for utilities that do have that capacity and can provide the credits, while the region as whole benefits from more reliable water supplies. While similar programs have been used to address water quality concerns, to our knowledge this is one of the first studies proposing tradable credits for incentivizing water conservation. Through mathematical optimization, this study estimates the potential benefits of a trading program and demonstrates the institutional and economic characteristics needed for such a policy to be viable, including a proposed web platform to facilitate transparent regional planning, data-driven decision-making, and enhanced coordination of utilities. We explore the impacts of defining conservation targets tailored to local realities of utilities, setting credit prices, and different policy configurations. We apply these models to the case study of water utility members of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency. Preliminary work shows that the diverse characteristics of these utilities present opportunities for the region to achieve conservation goals while maximizing the benefits to individual utilities through more flexible coordinative efforts.

Study on each phase characteristics of the whole coal life cycle and their ecological risk assessment-a case of coal in China.

PubMed

Dai, Wenting; Dong, Jihong; Yan, Wanglin; Xu, Jiren

2017-01-01

The paper divided the whole coal life cycle, explained each phase characteristics, and took coal mine in China as a study case to assess the ecological risk in coal utilization phase. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) the whole coal life cycle is divided into coal mining, processing, transportation, utilization, and waste disposal. (2) The key points of production organization and characteristics in the five phases have great differences. The coal mining phase is characterized by the damage of the key ecological factors (water, soil, atmosphere, vegetation, etc.) damaged while the coal processing phase by discharging waste. The characteristics in coal transportation phase mainly performance as escaping and migration of atmospheric pollutants. In coal utilization phase, the main characteristics are aggravation of greenhouse effect. The main characteristics of waste disposal phase are accumulation of negative ecological effects on the land. (3) The ecological risk of soil heavy metals is serious in coal utilization phase. The potential ecological hazard coefficients of Pb and As in coal, residue and ash are all lower than 40, presenting low environmental impact on soil; the potential ecological risk coefficients of Cd are higher than 60, nearly half of their potential ecological risk coefficients are higher than 160, which presents high environmental pollution impact on soil; Hg's potential ecological risk coefficients are higher than 320, presenting the highest environmental pollution impact on soil; the comprehensive pollution indexes in coal, residue, and ash are relatively high, which means the pollution hazard potential to soil environment is high. (4) The ecological risk of the atmospheric solid suspended matter is relatively strong in coal utilization phase. The ecological risk of Cd and As in primary flue gas is both lower than net flue gas. The geoaccumulation indexes of Cd and Hg in primary flue gas and net flue gas are both higher than 5, presenting the very strong ecological risk; 50 % of the geoaccumulation index values of As are between 3 and 4, which has also presenting a strong ecological risk while Pb does not present the ecological risk characterization.

Urbanicity-Related Variation in Help-Seeking and Services Utilization among Preschool-Age Children with Autism in Taiwan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Chuan-Yu; Liu, Chieh-Yu; Su, Wen-Chuan; Huang, Su-Ling; Lin, Keh-Ming

2008-01-01

The present study examines urbanicity-related differences in help-seeking process among preschool children with autism and investigates the factors associated with utilization of autism-related services within the year of diagnosis. Using the 1997-2004 National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan, we identified a total of 3495…

An Epidemiologic Analysis of the Use of Dental Services and of Attitudes of Students at a Major University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blum, Steven; Tuthill, Robert W.

1977-01-01

Results are presented of an undergraduate and graduate student survey investigating (1) the state of oral pathology of the students, (2) utilization of dental services during the fifteen-months preceeding the study, (3) perceptions and utilization of local dental services, and (4) attitudes toward emergency and routine dental services at the…

Use of Evidence-Based Practice Resources and Empirically Supported Treatments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among University Counseling Center Psychologists

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Juel, Morgen Joray

2012-01-01

In the present study, an attempt was made to determine the degree to which psychologists at college and university counseling centers (UCCs) utilized empirically supported treatments with their posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) clients. In addition, an attempt was made to determine how frequently UCC psychologists utilized a number of…

The Contribution of Reasoning to the Utilization of Feedback from Software When Solving Mathematical Problems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olsson, Jan

2018-01-01

This study investigates how students' reasoning contributes to their utilization of computer-generated feedback. Sixteen 16-year-old students solved a linear function task designed to present a challenge to them using dynamic software, GeoGebra, for assistance. The data were analysed with respect both to character of reasoning and to the use of…

Students with Mild Disabilities in Regular Classrooms: The Development and Utility of the Student Perceptions of Classroom Support Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Rourke, John; Houghton, Stephen

2006-01-01

Background: There is a dearth of empirical research pertaining to the perceptions of students with mild disabilities of the academic and social outcomes of classroom support mechanisms. The absence of suitable measures is a primary issue contributing to this situation. Method: The present study reports the development and utility of the…

Human Resources & Demographics: Characteristics of People and Policy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Joint Economic Committee, Washington, DC.

The Human Resources and Demographics staff study for the Joint Economic Committee's Special Study on Economic Change presents demographic data to support the position that it will take a strong economy to enable the United States to utilize its human resources. Data are presented, in narrative format, on fertility, population, characteristics of…

Spacelab user implementation assessment study (software requirements analysis). Volume 1: Executive study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

The primary objective of this study was to develop an integrated approach for the development, implementation, and utilization of all software that is required to efficiently and cost-effectively support advanced technology laboratory flight and ground operations. It was recognized that certain aspects of the operations would be mandatory computerized services; computerization of other aspects would be optional. Thus, the analyses encompassed not only alternate computer utilization and implementations but trade studies of the programmatic effects of non-computerized versus computerized approaches to the operations. A general overview of the study is presented.

Estimation of utility weights for human papilloma virus-related health states according to disease severity.

PubMed

Ock, Minsu; Park, Jeong-Yeol; Son, Woo-Seung; Lee, Hyeon-Jeong; Kim, Seon-Ha; Jo, Min-Woo

2016-11-28

A cost-utility study of a human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine requires that the utility weights for HPV-related health states (i.e., cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), cervical cancer, and condyloma) be evaluated. The aim of the present study was to determine the utility weights for HPV-related health states. Hypothetical standardised health states related to HPV were developed based on patient education material and previous publications. To fully reflect disease progression from diagnosis to prognosis, each health state comprised four parts (diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, and progression and prognosis). Nine-hundred members from the Korean general population evaluated the HPV-related health states using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a standard gamble (SG) approach, which were administered face-to-face via computer-assisted interview. The mean utility values were calculated for each HPV-related health state. According to the VAS, the highest utility (0.73) was HPV-positive status, followed by condyloma (0.66), and CIN grade I (0.61). The lowest utility (0.18) was cervical cancer requiring chemotherapy without surgery, followed by cervical cancer requiring chemoradiation therapy (0.42). SG revealed that the highest utility (0.83) was HPV-positive status, followed by condyloma (0.78), and CIN grade I (0.77). The lowest utility (0.43) was cervical cancer requiring chemotherapy without surgery, followed by cervical cancer requiring chemoradiation therapy (0.60). This study was based on a large sample derived from the general Korean population; therefore, the calculated utility weights might be useful for evaluating the economic benefit of cancer screening and HPV vaccination programs.

Case studies in configuration control for redundant robots

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seraji, H.; Lee, T.; Colbaugh, R.; Glass, K.

1989-01-01

A simple approach to configuration control of redundant robots is presented. The redundancy is utilized to control the robot configuration directly in task space, where the task will be performed. A number of task-related kinematic functions are defined and combined with the end-effector coordinates to form a set of configuration variables. An adaptive control scheme is then utilized to ensure that the configuration variables track the desired reference trajectories as closely as possible. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the control scheme. The scheme has also been implemented for direct online control of a PUMA industrial robot, and experimental results are presented. The simulation and experimental results validate the configuration control scheme for performing various realistic tasks.

Economics of PPP-insulated pipe-type cable: Final report

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

Ernst, A.

1987-10-01

This study has been designed to establish the economic range of application and the potential cost advantage of PPP-insulated pipe-type cable compared with presently utilized paper-insulated designs. The study is in two parts. In the first part the electrical and thermal characteristics of a range of cable sizes are tabulated. This data can be utilized for planning and economic comparison purposes. In the second part 12 transmission load scenarios are studied to determine the relative cost of various designs considering materials, installation and the losses over a wide range of assumptions.

1975 Automotive Characteristics Data Base

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1976-10-01

A study of automobile characteristics as a supportive tool for auto energy consumption, fuel economy monitoring, and fleet analysis studies is presented. This report emphasizes the utility of efficient data retrieval methods in fuel economy analysis,...

A Practical Guide to Conducting a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Health State Utility Values.

PubMed

Petrou, Stavros; Kwon, Joseph; Madan, Jason

2018-05-10

Economic analysts are increasingly likely to rely on systematic reviews and meta-analyses of health state utility values to inform the parameter inputs of decision-analytic modelling-based economic evaluations. Beyond the context of economic evaluation, evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of health state utility values can be used to inform broader health policy decisions. This paper provides practical guidance on how to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of health state utility values. The paper outlines a number of stages in conducting a systematic review, including identifying the appropriate evidence, study selection, data extraction and presentation, and quality and relevance assessment. The paper outlines three broad approaches that can be used to synthesise multiple estimates of health utilities for a given health state or condition, namely fixed-effect meta-analysis, random-effects meta-analysis and mixed-effects meta-regression. Each approach is illustrated by a synthesis of utility values for a hypothetical decision problem, and software code is provided. The paper highlights a number of methodological issues pertinent to the conduct of meta-analysis or meta-regression. These include the importance of limiting synthesis to 'comparable' utility estimates, for example those derived using common utility measurement approaches and sources of valuation; the effects of reliance on limited or poorly reported published data from primary utility assessment studies; the use of aggregate outcomes within analyses; approaches to generating measures of uncertainty; handling of median utility values; challenges surrounding the disentanglement of utility estimates collected serially within the context of prospective observational studies or prospective randomised trials; challenges surrounding the disentanglement of intervention effects; and approaches to measuring model validity. Areas of methodological debate and avenues for future research are highlighted.

Utility-Marketing Partnerships: An Effective Strategy for Marketing Green Power?

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

Bird, L. A.; Brown, E. S.

This paper explores whether partnerships between utilities and independent marketers are an effective strategy for marketing green power. We present case studies of voluntary and mandatory partnerships covering green power program design and implementation in both regulated and restructured electricity markets. We also include perspectives (based on interviews) from utilities, marketers, and regulators involved in developing and implementing these partnerships. From these case studies and interviews, we describe lessons learned about developing effective partnerships, including such issues as respective roles in marketing and administration, product branding, and contract and incentive structures. Based on experience to date, strategic partnerships between utilitiesmore » and marketers can be an effective approach to marketing green power. Partnerships leverage the sales and resource procurement experience of marketers and the utility?s reputation and access to customers. Further, partnerships can create greater incentives for success because marketers have a vested financial interest in maximizing customer participation and green power sales.« less

Social Security Measures for Elderly Population in Delhi, India: Awareness, Utilization and Barriers.

PubMed

Kohli, Charu; Gupta, Kalika; Banerjee, Bratati; Ingle, Gopal Krishna

2017-05-01

World population of elderly is increasing at a fast pace. The number of elderly in India has increased by 54.77% in the last 15 years. A number of social security measures have been taken by Indian government. To assess awareness, utilization and barriers faced while utilizing social security schemes by elderly in a secondary care hospital situated in a rural area in Delhi, India. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 360 individuals aged 60 years and above in a secondary care hospital situated in a rural area in Delhi. A pre-tested, semi-structured schedule prepared in local language was used. Data was analysed using SPSS software (version 17.0). Chi-square test was used to observe any statistical association between categorical variables. The results were considered statistically significant if p-value was less than 0.05. A majority of study subjects were females (54.2%), Hindu (89.7%), married (60.3%) and were not engaged in any occupation (82.8%). Awareness about Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) was present among 286 (79.4%) and Annapurna scheme in 193 (53.6%) subjects. Among 223 subjects who were below poverty line, 179 (80.3%) were aware of IGNOAPS; while, 112 (50.2%) were utilizing the scheme. There was no association of awareness with education status, occupation, religion, family type, marital status and caste (p>0.05). Corruption and tedious administrative formalities were major barriers reported. Awareness generation, provision of information on how to approach the concerned authority for utilizing the scheme and ease of administrative procedures should be an integral part of any social security scheme or measure. In the present study, about 79.4% of elderly were aware and 45% of the eligible subjects were utilizing pension scheme. Major barriers reported in utilization of schemes were corruption and tedious administrative procedures.

Social Security Measures for Elderly Population in Delhi, India: Awareness, Utilization and Barriers

PubMed Central

Kohli, Charu; Banerjee, Bratati; Ingle, Gopal Krishna

2017-01-01

Introduction World population of elderly is increasing at a fast pace. The number of elderly in India has increased by 54.77% in the last 15 years. A number of social security measures have been taken by Indian government. Aim To assess awareness, utilization and barriers faced while utilizing social security schemes by elderly in a secondary care hospital situated in a rural area in Delhi, India. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 360 individuals aged 60 years and above in a secondary care hospital situated in a rural area in Delhi. A pre-tested, semi-structured schedule prepared in local language was used. Data was analysed using SPSS software (version 17.0). Chi-square test was used to observe any statistical association between categorical variables. The results were considered statistically significant if p-value was less than 0.05. Results A majority of study subjects were females (54.2%), Hindu (89.7%), married (60.3%) and were not engaged in any occupation (82.8%). Awareness about Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) was present among 286 (79.4%) and Annapurna scheme in 193 (53.6%) subjects. Among 223 subjects who were below poverty line, 179 (80.3%) were aware of IGNOAPS; while, 112 (50.2%) were utilizing the scheme. There was no association of awareness with education status, occupation, religion, family type, marital status and caste (p>0.05). Corruption and tedious administrative formalities were major barriers reported. Conclusion Awareness generation, provision of information on how to approach the concerned authority for utilizing the scheme and ease of administrative procedures should be an integral part of any social security scheme or measure. In the present study, about 79.4% of elderly were aware and 45% of the eligible subjects were utilizing pension scheme. Major barriers reported in utilization of schemes were corruption and tedious administrative procedures. PMID:28658811

Does performance evaluation help public managers? A Balanced Scorecard approach in urban waste services.

PubMed

Guimarães, Bernardo; Simões, Pedro; Marques, Rui Cunha

2010-12-01

The urban waste market has evolved significantly in the past decades, which among other changes, has led to the creation of new utilities and new business models. However, very few things have changed for the users. Urban waste collection remains mainly under the responsibility of local authorities and the charges paid by the users in most countries are very low compared to the provision costs. This situation forces the injection of public money into the system, encouraging the 'quiet-life' within the utilities and, therefore, inefficiency. The present study intends to analyze the potential for the application of the Balanced Scorecard (BSc) methodology into the waste utilities. After a comprehensive revision of the urban waste sector in Portugal, the methodology of BSc and its application in local public services is described and discussed. Focusing on implementation rather than on strategy, a set of performance indicators is proposed to be utilized in the different management models of waste utilities in Portugal: the municipalities, semi-autonomous utilities, municipal companies and mixed companies. This implementation is then exemplified through four case studies, one for each type of utility. This paper provides a flexible framework proposal to be applied to waste utilities operating both in Portugal and abroad. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Acetate transport and utilization in the rat brain.

PubMed

Deelchand, Dinesh K; Shestov, Alexander A; Koski, Dee M; Uğurbil, Kâmil; Henry, Pierre-Gilles

2009-05-01

Acetate, a glial-specific substrate, is an attractive alternative to glucose for the study of neuronal-glial interactions. The present study investigates the kinetics of acetate uptake and utilization in the rat brain in vivo during infusion of [2-13C]acetate using NMR spectroscopy. When plasma acetate concentration was increased, the rate of brain acetate utilization (CMR(ace)) increased progressively and reached close to saturation for plasma acetate concentration > 2-3 mM, whereas brain acetate concentration continued to increase. The Michaelis-Menten constant for brain acetate utilization (K(M)(util) = 0.01 +/- 0.14 mM) was much smaller than for acetate transport through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) (K(M)(t) = 4.18 +/- 0.83 mM). The maximum transport capacity of acetate through the BBB (V(max)(t) = 0.96 +/- 0.18 micromol/g/min) was nearly twofold higher than the maximum rate of brain acetate utilization (V(max)(util) = 0.50 +/- 0.08 micromol/g/min). We conclude that, under our experimental conditions, brain acetate utilization is saturated when plasma acetate concentrations increase above 2-3 mM. At such high plasma acetate concentration, the rate-limiting step for glial acetate metabolism is not the BBB, but occurs after entry of acetate into the brain.

Health economic studies: an introduction to cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and cost-utility analyses.

PubMed

Angevine, Peter D; Berven, Sigurd

2014-10-15

Narrative overview. To provide clinicians with a basic understanding of economic studies, including cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and cost-utility analyses. As decisions regarding public health policy, insurance reimbursement, and patient care incorporate factors other than traditional outcomes such as satisfaction or symptom resolution, health economic studies are increasingly prominent in the literature. This trend will likely continue, and it is therefore important for clinicians to have a fundamental understanding of the common types of economic studies and be able to read them critically. In this brief article, the basic concepts of economic studies and the differences between cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and cost-utility studies are discussed. An overview of the field of health economic analysis is presented. Cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and cost-utility studies all integrate cost and outcome data into a decision analysis model. These different types of studies are distinguished mainly by the way in which outcomes are valued. Obtaining accurate cost data is often difficult and can limit the generalizability of a study. With a basic understanding of health economic analysis, clinicians can be informed consumers of these important studies.

Sex Steroid Modulation of Fatty Acid Utilization and Fatty Acid Binding Protein Concentration in Rat Liver

PubMed Central

Ockner, Robert K.; Lysenko, Nina; Manning, Joan A.; Monroe, Scott E.; Burnett, David A.

1980-01-01

The mechanism by which sex steroids influence very low density hepatic lipoprotein triglyceride production has not been fully elucidated. In previous studies we showed that [14C]oleate utilization and incorporation into triglycerides were greater in hepatocyte suspensions from adult female rats than from males. The sex differences were not related to activities of the enzymes of triglyceride biosynthesis, whereas fatty acid binding protein (FABP) concentration in liver cytosol was greater in females. These findings suggested that sex differences in lipoprotein could reflect a sex steroid influence on the availability of fatty acids for hepatocellular triglyceride biosynthesis. In the present studies, sex steroid effects on hepatocyte [14C]oleate utilization and FABP concentration were investigated directly. Hepatocytes from immature (30-d-old) rats exhibited no sex differences in [14C]oleate utilization. With maturation, total [14C]oleate utilization and triglyceride biosynthesis increased moderately in female cells and decreased markedly in male cells; the profound sex differences in adults were maximal by age 60 d. Fatty acid oxidation was little affected. Rats were castrated at age 30 d, and received estradiol, testosterone, or no hormone until age 60 d, when hepatocyte [14C]oleate utilization was studied. Castration virtually eliminated maturational changes and blunted the sex differences in adults. Estradiol or testosterone largely reproduced the appropriate adult pattern of [14C]oleate utilization regardless of the genotypic sex of the treated animal. In immature females and males, total cytosolic FABP concentrations were similar. In 60-d-old animals, there was a striking correlation among all groups (females, males, castrates, and hormone-treated) between mean cytosolic FABP concentration on the one hand, and mean total [14C]oleate utilization (r = 0.91) and incorporation into triglycerides (r = 0.94) on the other. In 30-d-old animals rates of [14C]oleate utilization were greater, relative to FABP concentrations, than in 60-d-old animals. The sex differences that characterize fatty acid utilization in adult rat hepatocytes are not present in cells from immature animals, and reflect in part the influence of sex steroids. It remains to be determined whether the observed relationship of hepatic FABP concentration to [14C]oleate utilization in adult cells is causal or secondary to changes in cellular fatty acid uptake effected through another mechanism. In either case, modulation of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein production by six steroids appears to be mediated to a significant extent by their effects on hepatic fatty acid utilization. PMID:7364935

Thermal Orbital Environmental Parameter Study on the Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS) Using Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sharp, John R.; McConnaughey, Paul K. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

The natural thermal environmental parameters used on the Space Station Program (SSP 30425) were generated by the Space Environmental Effects Branch at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) utilizing extensive data from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE), a series of satellites which measured low earth orbit (LEO) albedo and outgoing long-wave radiation. Later, this temporal data was presented as a function of averaging times and orbital inclination for use by thermal engineers in NASA Technical Memorandum TM 4527. The data was not presented in a fashion readily usable by thermal engineering modeling tools and required knowledge of the thermal time constants and infrared versus solar spectrum sensitivity of the hardware being analyzed to be used properly. Another TM was recently issued as a guideline for utilizing these environments (NASA/TM-2001-211221) with more insight into the utilization by thermal analysts. This paper gives a top-level overview of the environmental parameters presented in the TM and a study of the effects of implementing these environments on an ongoing MSFC project, the Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS), compared to conventional orbital parameters that had been historically used.

Utilization of artificial intelligence techniques for the Space Station power system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Evatt, Thomas C.; Gholdston, Edward W.

1988-01-01

Due to the complexity of the Space Station Electrical Power System (EPS) as currently envisioned, artificial intelligence/expert system techniques are being investigated to automate operations, maintenance, and diagnostic functions. A study was conducted to investigate this technology as it applies to failure detection, isolation, and reconfiguration (FDIR) and health monitoring of power system components and of the total system. Control system utilization of expert systems for load scheduling and shedding operations was also researched. A discussion of the utilization of artificial intelligence/expert systems for Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for the Space Station effort is presented along with future plans at Rocketdyne for the utilization of this technology for enhanced Space Station power capability.

Photovoltaics and electric utilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bright, R.; Leigh, R.; Sills, T.

1981-12-01

The long term value of grid connected, residential photovoltaic (PV) systems is determined. The value of the PV electricity is defined as the full avoided cost in accordance with the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. The avoided cost is computed using a long range utility planning approach to measure revenue requirement changes in response to the time phased introduction of PV systems into the grid. A case study approach to three utility systems is used. The changing value of PV electricity over a twenty year period from 1985 is presented, and the fuel and capital savings due to FY are analyzed. These values are translated into measures of breakeven capital investment under several options of power interchange and pricing.

CVO driver fatigue and complex in-vehicle systems

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-10-01

As one of a series of studies aimed at gathering data to develop human factors design guidelines for Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) and Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO), the present study utilized a driving simulator to study CVO dri...

Army Contract Specialists’ Lack of Desire to Become Contracting Officers

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-01

management positions. In researching this matter, the author will utilize a mixed method research approach which employs both qualitative and...literature available and relevance. Chapter 3 presents the methods used to conduct the research and discusses why qualitative interviews and survey research ...This research study will utilize a qualitative method with roots in traditional ethnographic research , in helping to achieve the objective of

Morbidity of "DSM-IV" Axis I Disorders in Patients with Noncardiac Chest Pain: Psychiatric Morbidity Linked with Increased Pain and Health Care Utilization

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

White, Kamila S.; Raffa, Susan D.; Jakle, Katherine R.; Stoddard, Jill A.; Barlow, David H.; Brown, Timothy A.; Covino, Nicholas A.; Ullman, Edward; Gervino, Ernest V.

2008-01-01

The present study examined current and lifetime psychiatric morbidity, chest pain, and health care utilization in 229 patients with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP), angina-like pain in the absence of cardiac etiology. Diagnostic interview findings based on the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (4th ed.; "DSM-IV"; American…

Factors influencing utilization of hospital services by adult sickle cell disease patients: a systematic review.

PubMed

Benenson, Irina; Jadotte, Yuri; Echevarria, Mercedes

2017-03-01

Painful vaso-occlusive crisis is a hallmark of sickle cell disease (SCD) that commonly results in utilization of hospital services. Recurrent use of hospital services by SCD patients is associated with high healthcare costs and adverse clinical outcomes. Understanding the factors influencing the pattern of utilization is a first step in improving medical care of this patient population while reducing healthcare expenditures. The primary objective of this systematic review was to determine what modifiable and non-modifiable factors influence utilization of hospital services by adult SCD patients. Adult SCD patients of both sexes who utilized hospital services for acute or emergency care. Non-modifiable and modifiable factors influencing utilization of hospital services. Prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case-control and analytical cross-sectional studies. The primary outcome of interest was high utilization of hospital services by adult SCD patients based on non-modifiable and modifiable factors measured as an odds ratio (analytical outcome). The secondary outcome was the prevalence of non-modifiable and modifiable factors among SCD patients who utilized hospital services measured as an event rate (descriptive outcome). A comprehensive multi-step search was undertaken to find both published and unpublished studies. Only studies published in the English language were included. The search was not limited by year of publication. Retrieved papers were assessed for methodological quality using standardized critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument. Data were extracted using a researcher-developed tool. Included studies were combined in a statistical meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was based on a random effect model. For studies that did not allow statistical pooling, the findings have been presented in a narrative form. Fourteen studies were included in this review. The analysis demonstrated that male patients accounted for 40.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.370-0.447) of all utilizing patients. Sickle cell disease patients who were publically insured accounted for 76.5% (95% CI 0.632-0.861) of all patients who had hospital encounters. Patients aged 25-35 years had the highest rate of utilization, and the rate of utilization declined in patients older than 50 years. High utilizing patients had more diagnoses of acute chest syndrome and sepsis than patients who were moderate or low utilizers. The majority of SCD patients who utilized hospital services were women, young people and publically insured individuals. Patients with particularly high level of utilization had more frequent diagnoses of acute chest syndrome and sepsis.

Dental Service Utilization: Patterns and Barriers among Rural Elderly in Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh

PubMed Central

Koka, Krishna Mohan; Pachava, Srinivas; Sanikommu, Suresh; Ravoori, Srinivas; Chandu, Viswa Chaitanya

2016-01-01

Introduction The biological process of ageing is outside human control and has its own dynamics. It is a known fact that elderly people have more treatment needs compared to the younger population and at the same time elderly people are facing a multitude of barriers in utilization of health care as well as oral health care. Aim To identify the utilization patterns of oral health care and barriers for utilization among rural population. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was done on 621 rural elderly subjects to identify the utilization of oral health care services and the barriers for utilization. Using stratified cluster sampling study area was stratified into 13 rural clusters, fifty houses were randomly selected from each stratum. All the elderly subjects, as defined by the age criteria were considered for study. The data were analysed using SPSS 20 v and Chi-square tests were used to analyse the data. Results Only 31.9% of participants reported visiting a dentist in the past while 36.7% reported experiencing a dental problem at some point in their life. There were no significant differences in utilization of dental services based on gender, socio-economic status, age groups and religion. However, significant differences were found in utilization of dental services based on the response of participants to past experience of dental problems. Conclusion The present study results conclude that fear was one of the most commonly reported barriers for utilisation of dental services and there is a need for oral health education and promotion among elderly population. PMID:27135000

Study of Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center utility systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Redding, T. E.; Huber, W. C.

1977-01-01

The results of an engineering study of potential energy saving utility system modifications for the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center are presented. The objective of the study was to define and analyze utility options that would provide facility energy savings in addition to the approximately 25 percent already achieved through an energy loads reduction program. A systems engineering approach was used to determine total system energy and cost savings resulting from each of the ten major options investigated. The results reported include detailed cost analyses and cost comparisons of various options. Cost are projected to the year 2000. Also included are a brief description of a mathematical model used for the analysis and the rationale used for a site survey to select buildings suitable for analysis.

A Case Study of an Expert Problem Poser for Mathematics Competitions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kontorovich, Igor'; Koichu, Boris

2016-01-01

This paper is concerned with organizational principles of a pool of familiar problems of expert problem posers and the ways by which they are utilized for creating new problems. The presented case of Leo is part of a multiple-case study with expert problem posers for mathematics competitions. We present and inductively analyze the data collected…

Quality of life in patients with various Barrett's esophagus associated health states.

PubMed

Hur, Chin; Wittenberg, Eve; Nishioka, Norman S; Gazelle, G Scott

2006-08-02

The management of Barrett's esophagus (BE), particularly high grade dysplasia (HGD), is an area of much debate and controversy. Surgical esophagectomy, intensive endoscopic surveillance and mucosal ablative techniques, especially photodynamic therapy (PDT), have been proposed as possible management strategies. The purpose of this study was to determine the health related quality of life associated with Barrett's esophagus and many of the pivotal health states associated with Barrett's HGD management. 20 patients with Barrett's esophagus were enrolled in a pilot survey study at a large urban hospital. The utility of Barrett's esophagus without dysplasia (current health state) as well as various health states associated with HGD management (hypothetical states as the subject did not have HGD) were measured using a validated health utility instrument (Paper Standard Gamble). These specific health states were chosen for the study because they are considered pivotal in Barrett's HGD decision making. Information regarding Barrett's HGD was presented to the subject in a standardized format that was designed to be easily comprehendible. The average utility scores (0-1 with 0 = death and 1 = perfect health) for the various Barrett's esophagus associated states were: BE without dysplasia-0.95; Post-esophagectomy for HGD with dysphagia-0.92; Post-PDT for HGD with recurrence uncertainty-0.93; Post-PDT for HGD with recurrence uncertainty and dysphagia-0.91; Intensive endoscopic surveillance for HGD-0.90. We present the scores for utilities associated with Barrett's esophagus as well as various states associated with the management of HGD. The results of our study may be useful in advising patients and providers regarding expected outcomes of the various HGD management strategies as well as providing utility scores for future cost-effectiveness analyses.

Utility values associated with vitreous floaters.

PubMed

Wagle, Ajeet M; Lim, Wei-Yen; Yap, Tiong-Peng; Neelam, Kumari; Au Eong, Kah-Guan

2011-07-01

To ascertain the health-related quality of life associated with symptomatic degenerative vitreous floaters. Cross-sectional questionnaire survey. In this institution-based study, 311 outpatients aged 21 years and older who presented with symptoms of floaters were enrolled. Data from 266 patients (85.5%) who completed the questionnaire were analyzed. Utility values were assessed using a standardized utility value questionnaire. The time trade-off (TTO) and standard gamble (SG) for death and blindness techniques were used to calculate the utility values. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate analyses were performed using Stata Release 6.0. The mean age of the study population was 52.9 ± 12.02 years (range, 21-97). The mean utility values were 0.89, 0.89, and 0.93 for TTO, SG (death), and SG (blindness), respectively. Patients aged ≤55 years reported significantly lower SG (blindness) utility values when compared with patients above 55 years of age (age ≤55 = 0.92, age >55 = 0.94, P = .007). Utility measurements did not demonstrate significant relationship with any of the other socio-demographic variables examined in this study. The utility values did not demonstrate any significant relationship with other ocular characteristics such as duration of symptoms, presence of a posterior vitreous detachment, and presence or severity of myopia. Symptomatic degenerative vitreous floaters have a negative impact on health-related quality of life. Younger symptomatic patients are more likely to take a risk of blindness to get rid of the floaters than older patients. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Iron utilization and liver mineral concentrations in rats fed safflower oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil, or beef tallow in combination with different concentrations of dietary iron.

PubMed

Shotton, Andrea D; Droke, Elizabeth A

2004-03-01

Diets with a higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (i.e., linoleic acid) have decreased iron absorption and utilization compared with diets containing a higher proportion of the saturated fatty acid stearic acid (e.g., beef tallow). However, less is known regarding the influence of other polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fatty acids, along with higher dietary iron, on iron absorption and utilization. The present study was conducted to compare the effects of dietary fat sources known to vary in (n-3), (n-6), and (n-9) fatty acids on iron utilization and liver mineral concentrations. Male weanling rats were fed a diet containing 10, 35, or 100 microg/g iron in combination with safflower oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil, or beef tallow for 8 wk. Indicators of iron status, iron utilization, and liver iron concentrations were unaffected by an interaction between the fat source and iron concentration. Plasma copper was the only variable affected by an interaction between the fat source and dietary iron. Findings of this study demonstrate that flaxseed oil and olive oil may alter tissue minerals and affect iron utilization. Further studies should be conducted to establish the effect of varying (n-3), (n-6), and (n-9) fatty acids on trace mineral status and iron utilization.

Scientific ways to study intercessory prayer as an intervention in clinical research.

PubMed

Rath, Linda L

2009-01-01

The purpose of this article is to share a "research journey" to study the somewhat controversial subject of Christian intercessory prayer (CIP) utilized as a clinical intervention, and the knowledge gained along the way. This article will explore the steps in the development and implementation of clinical research to scientifically examine a phenomenon that many say cannot--and should not--be studied. The sequential steps in developing this area of study are detailed and explained from the conception of the initial idea through utilization of concept analysis and literature review to develop the researchable topic. The subsequent development of both qualitative and quantitative pilot studies to investigate CIP in depth is presented to illustrate how the intervention of CIP can successfully be incorporated into clinical research. This article provides guidelines for future researchers who may want to utilize CIP as an intervention.

Research on lunar and planet development and utilization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iwata, Tsutomu; Etou, Takao; Imai, Ryouichi; Oota, Kazuo; Kaneko, Yutaka; Maeda, Toshihide; Takano, Yutaka

1992-08-01

Status of the study on unmanned and manned lunar missions, unmanned Mars missions, lunar resource development and utilization missions, remote sensing exploration missions, survey and review to elucidate the problems of research and development for lunar resource development and utilization, and the techniques and equipment for lunar and planet exploration are presented. Following items were studied respectively: (1) spacecraft systems for unmanned lunar missions, such as lunar observation satellites, lunar landing vehicles, lunar surface rovers, lunar surface hoppers, and lunar sample retrieval; (2) spacecraft systems for manned lunar missions, such as manned lunar bases, lunar surface operation robots, lunar surface experiment systems, manned lunar take-off and landing vehicles, and lunar freight transportation ships; (3) spacecraft systems for Mars missions, such as Mars satellites, Phobos and Deimos sample retrieval vehicles, Mars landing explorers, Mars rovers, Mars sample retrieval; (4) lunar resource development and utilization; and (5) remote sensing exploration technologies.

Impacts and Benefits of a Satellite Power System on the Electric Utility Industry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winer, B. M.

1977-01-01

The purpose of this limited study was to investigate six specific issues associated with interfacing a Satellite Power System (5 GW) with large (by present standards) terrestrial power pools to a depth sufficient to determine if certain interface problems and/or benefits exist and what future studies of these problems are required. The issues investigated are as follows: (1) Stability of Power Pools Containing a 5 GWe SPS; (2) Extra Reserve Margin Required to Maintain the Reliability of Power Pools Containing a 5 GWe SPS; (3) Use of the SPS in Load Following Service (i.e. in two independent pools whose times of peak demand differ by three hours); (4) Ownership of the SPS and its effect on SPS Usage and Utility Costs; (5) Utility Sharing of SPS related RD and D Costs; (6) Utility Liability for SPS Related Hazards.

Socio-economic and locational determinants of accessibility and utilization of primary health-care.

PubMed

Field, K S; Briggs, D J

2001-09-01

Differences in levels of utilization vary and are a function of socio-economic and geographical factors. This paper presents the results of a questionnaire study involving twelve GP practices in Northamptonshire, UK, of factors which affect access and utilization in asthmatics and diabetics; these groups were selected to control for differences in utilization behaviour, as a result of different aetiologies. The questionnaire sought data on: residential location of patients, utilization characteristics of primary health-care, personal circumstances and mobility and hindrances to access and utilization. Key themes were identified relating to age, gender, social class, employment, ethnicity and proximity to the GP surgery. The young, elderly and females report higher rates of utilization, as do nonmanual workers and those who are unemployed. However, accessibility and utilization vary greatly in response to mobility and locational characteristics; these variations tend to be masked by data on overall rates of usage. Optimal scaling techniques were used to investigate the interactions between the factors affecting accessibility and utilization, and to characterize patients in terms of their levels of utilization. Results confirmed that current service provision afforded a differential level of service to patients, which does not directly reflect their level of need.

Gene expression of enzymes involved in utilization of xylooligosaccharides by Lactobacillus strains

PubMed Central

Maria, Ananieva; Margarita, Tzenova; IIlia, Iliev; Iskra, Ivanova

2014-01-01

Prebiotics are defined as food components that confer health benefits on the host through modulation of the microbiota. Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are non-digestible oligosaccharides that have recently received increasing attention as potential prebiotic candidates. XOS are sugar oligomers composed of 1,4-linked xylopyranosyl backbone and are obtained by either chemical or, more commonly, enzymatic hydrolysis of xylan polysaccharides, extracted from the plant cell wall. The bifidogenic effect of XOS was demonstrated by both in vitro studies and small-scale in vivo human studies. Some intestinal bacterial strains are able to grow on XOS, yet numerous studies have demonstrated that the ability to utilize these oligosaccharides varies considerably among these bacteria. The aim of this study is to investigate the ability of several strains Lactobacillus to use XOS. Fifteen Lactobacillus strains, allifiated to L. plantarum, L. brevis and L. sakei, were studied. Screening procedure was performed for the ability of the strains to utilize XOS as an alternative carbon source. Only some of them utilize XOS. The growth kinetics show the presence of two lag phases, indicating that these bacteria utilize probably some monosaccharides present in the used XOS. XOS were fermented with high specificity by Bifidobacteria strains, but Lactobacilli did not metabolize XOS efficiently. PMID:26019582

HIV-1 vaccine strategies utilizing viral vectors including antigen- displayed inoviral vectors.

PubMed

Hassapis, Kyriakos A; Kostrikis, Leondios G

2013-12-01

Antigen-presenting viral vectors have been extensively used as vehicles for the presentation of antigens to the immune system in numerous vaccine strategies. Particularly in HIV vaccine development efforts, two main viral vectors have been used as antigen carriers: (a) live attenuated vectors and (b) virus-like particles (VLPs); the former, although highly effective in animal studies, cannot be clinically tested in humans due to safety concerns and the latter have failed to induce broadly neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies. For more than two decades, Inoviruses (non-lytic bacterial phages) have also been utilized as antigen carriers in several vaccine studies. Inoviral vectors are important antigen-carriers in vaccine development due to their ability to present an antigen on their outer architecture in many copies and to their natural high immunogenicity. Numerous fundamental studies have been conducted, which have established the unique properties of antigen-displayed inoviral vectors in HIV vaccine efforts. The recent isolation of new, potent anti-HIV broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies provides a new momentum in this emerging technology.

Patient characteristics driving clinical utility in psychiatric pharmacogenetics: a reanalysis from the AB-GEN multicentric trial.

PubMed

Menchón, J M; Espadaler, J; Tuson, M; Saiz-Ruiz, J; Bobes, J; Vieta, E; Álvarez, E; Pérez, V

2018-05-04

Clinical utility of commercial multi-gene pharmacogenetic tests in depression is starting to be studied with some promising results on efficacy and tolerability. Among the next steps is the definition of the patient profile that is most likely to benefit from testing. Here we present a reanalysis of data from the AB-GEN randomized clinical trial showing that clinical utility of pharmacogenetic testing can be markedly influenced by patient characteristics such as age, baseline severity and duration of current depressive episode.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02529462.

Basic research for the geodynamics program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1984-01-01

Some objectives of this geodynamic program are: (1) optimal utilization of laser and VLBI observations as reference frames for geodynamics, (2) utilization of range difference observations in geodynamics, and (3) estimation techniques in crustal deformation analysis. The determination of Earth rotation parameters from different space geodetic systems is studied. Also reported on is the utilization of simultaneous laser range differences for the determination of baseline variation. An algorithm for the analysis of regional or local crustal deformation measurements is proposed along with other techniques and testing procedures. Some results of the reference from comparisons in terms of the pole coordinates from different techniques are presented.

Mashreq Arab interconnected power system potential for economic energy trading

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

Al-Shehri, A.M.; El-Amin, I.M.; Opoku, G.

1994-12-01

The Mashreq Arab countries covered in this study are Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. A feasibility study for the interconnection of the electrical networks of the Mashreq Arab countries, sponsored by the Arab Fund, was completed in June 1992. Each country is served by one utility except Saudi Arabia, which is served by four major utilities and some smaller utilities serving remote towns and small load centers. The major utilities are the Saudi consolidated electric Company in the Eastern Province (SCECO East), SCECO Center, SCECO West, and SCECO South. Thesemore » are the ones considered in this study. The Mashreq Arab region has a considerable mix of energy resources. Egypt and Syria have some limited amounts of hydropower resources, and the Arabian Gulf region is abundant in fossil fuel reserves. Owing to the differences in energy production costs, a potential exists for substantial energy trading between electric utilities in the region. The major objective of this project is to study the feasibility of electric energy trading between the Mashreq Arab countries. The basis, assumptions, and methodologies on which this energy trading study is based relate to the results and conclusions arising out of the previous study, power plant characteristics and costs, assumptions on economic parameters, rules for economy energy exchange, etc. This paper presents the basis, methodology, and major findings of the study.« less

Self-Disclosure as a Predictor of EAP Supervisory Utilization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Donohoe, Timothy L.; Johnson, James T.; Taquino, Maurice A.

1999-01-01

The value of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPS) has been cited in a variety of published papers and articles. An important managerial element relative to the assessment and referral of troubled employees has been supervisory training. There has been numerous studies highlighting the various factors and circumstances associated with supervisory behavior and EAP referrals. The inclusion of emotional awareness factors in EAP supervisory utilization has not been thoroughly investigated, although frequently found in the literature as a training and development objective for managers in business and education. The present study sought to determine what role supervisory denial and anxiety avoidance plays in confrontation of troubled employees and if admission of specific, internal emotional events is a characteristic among EAP utilizing supervisors.

Symptomatic complex partial status epilepticus manifesting as utilization behavior of a mobile phone.

PubMed

Carota, Antonio; Novy, Jan; Rossetti, Andrea O

2009-03-01

Utilization behavior (UB) consists of reaching out and using objects in the environment in an automatic manner and out of context. This behavior has been correlated to frontal lobe dysfunction, especially of the right hemisphere. We describe a 60-year-old woman, affected by a glioblastoma located in the right frontal region, who presented with intermittent UB of the mobile phone as the main clinical manifestation of partial complex status epilepticus. Video/EEG studies showed a striking correlation between mobile phone utilization and ictal epileptic activity. Clinical and EEG findings were markedly reduced after the introduction of antiepileptic drugs. This case study suggests that UB may be added to the symptoms described for partial seizures originating from frontal areas.

Metropolitan Forensic Anthropology Team (MFAT) studies in identification: 1. Race and sex assessment by discriminant function analysis of the postcranial skeleton.

PubMed

Taylor, J V; DiBennardo, R; Linares, G H; Goldman, A D; DeForest, P R

1984-07-01

A case study is presented to demonstrate the utility of the team approach to the identification of human remains, and to illustrate a methodological innovation developed by MFAT. Case 1 represents the first of several planned case studies, each designed to present new methodological solutions to standard problems in identification. The present case describes a test, by application, of race and sex assessment of the postcranial skeleton by discriminant function analysis.

HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein

DOEpatents

Caulfield, Michael; Cupo, Albert; Dean, Hansi; Hoffenberg, Simon; King, C. Richter; Klasse, P. J.; Marozsan, Andre; Moore, John P.; Sanders, Rogier W.; Ward, Andrew; Wilson, Ian; Julien, Jean-Philippe

2017-08-22

The present application relates to novel HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins, which may be utilized as HIV-1 vaccine immunogens, and antigens for crystallization, electron microscopy and other biophysical, biochemical and immunological studies for the identification of broad neutralizing antibodies. The present invention encompasses the preparation and purification of immunogenic compositions, which are formulated into the vaccines of the present invention.

The Value of Distributed Solar Electric Generation to San Antonio

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

Jones, Nic; Norris, Ben; Meyer, Lisa

2013-02-14

This report presents an analysis of value provided by grid-connected, distributed PV in San Antonio from a utility perspective. The study quantified six value components, summarized in Table ES- 1. These components represent the benefits that accrue to the utility, CPS Energy, in accepting solar onto the grid. This analysis does not treat the compensation of value, policy objectives, or cost-effectiveness from the retail consumer perspective.

A performance study of the time-varying cache behavior: a study on APEX, Mantevo, NAS, and PARSEC

DOE PAGES

Siddique, Nafiul A.; Grubel, Patricia A.; Badawy, Abdel-Hameed A.; ...

2017-09-20

Cache has long been used to minimize the latency of main memory accesses by storing frequently used data near the processor. Processor performance depends on the underlying cache performance. Therefore, significant research has been done to identify the most crucial metrics of cache performance. Although the majority of research focuses on measuring cache hit rates and data movement as the primary cache performance metrics, cache utilization is significantly important. We investigate the application’s locality using cache utilization metrics. In addition, we present cache utilization and traditional cache performance metrics as the program progresses providing detailed insights into the dynamic applicationmore » behavior on parallel applications from four benchmark suites running on multiple cores. We explore cache utilization for APEX, Mantevo, NAS, and PARSEC, mostly scientific benchmark suites. Our results indicate that 40% of the data bytes in a cache line are accessed at least once before line eviction. Also, on average a byte is accessed two times before the cache line is evicted for these applications. Moreover, we present runtime cache utilization, as well as, conventional performance metrics that illustrate a holistic understanding of cache behavior. To facilitate this research, we build a memory simulator incorporated into the Structural Simulation Toolkit (Rodrigues et al. in SIGMETRICS Perform Eval Rev 38(4):37–42, 2011). Finally, our results suggest that variable cache line size can result in better performance and can also conserve power.« less

A performance study of the time-varying cache behavior: a study on APEX, Mantevo, NAS, and PARSEC

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

Siddique, Nafiul A.; Grubel, Patricia A.; Badawy, Abdel-Hameed A.

Cache has long been used to minimize the latency of main memory accesses by storing frequently used data near the processor. Processor performance depends on the underlying cache performance. Therefore, significant research has been done to identify the most crucial metrics of cache performance. Although the majority of research focuses on measuring cache hit rates and data movement as the primary cache performance metrics, cache utilization is significantly important. We investigate the application’s locality using cache utilization metrics. In addition, we present cache utilization and traditional cache performance metrics as the program progresses providing detailed insights into the dynamic applicationmore » behavior on parallel applications from four benchmark suites running on multiple cores. We explore cache utilization for APEX, Mantevo, NAS, and PARSEC, mostly scientific benchmark suites. Our results indicate that 40% of the data bytes in a cache line are accessed at least once before line eviction. Also, on average a byte is accessed two times before the cache line is evicted for these applications. Moreover, we present runtime cache utilization, as well as, conventional performance metrics that illustrate a holistic understanding of cache behavior. To facilitate this research, we build a memory simulator incorporated into the Structural Simulation Toolkit (Rodrigues et al. in SIGMETRICS Perform Eval Rev 38(4):37–42, 2011). Finally, our results suggest that variable cache line size can result in better performance and can also conserve power.« less

Explaining the harmonic sequence paradox.

PubMed

Schmidt, Ulrich; Zimper, Alexander

2012-05-01

According to the harmonic sequence paradox, an expected utility decision maker's willingness to pay for a gamble whose expected payoffs evolve according to the harmonic series is finite if and only if his marginal utility of additional income becomes zero for rather low payoff levels. Since the assumption of zero marginal utility is implausible for finite payoff levels, expected utility theory - as well as its standard generalizations such as cumulative prospect theory - are apparently unable to explain a finite willingness to pay. This paper presents first an experimental study of the harmonic sequence paradox. Additionally, it demonstrates that the theoretical argument of the harmonic sequence paradox only applies to time-patient decision makers, whereas the paradox is easily avoided if time-impatience is introduced. ©2011 The British Psychological Society.

Commercial-scale utilization of greenhouse residues.

PubMed

Maroušek, Josef; Kondo, Yoshikazu; Ueno, Masami; Kawamitsu, Yoshinobu

2013-01-01

Development of techniques utilizing waste without any additional energy or rare catalysts is a starting point for becoming sustainable. In the present work, the complex utilization of greenhouse residues was studied on a commercial scale. Only the energy produced by the process (8%) was used to run the technology, thanks to multilevel heat recuperation and high methane yields (over 340 m(3) volatile solid t(-1) ). Manifestations of labile carbon in relation to available nitrogen, methane yields, and the formation of inhibitors were investigated in detail. The results sweep away many false beliefs about the ratios of carbon to nitrogen and highlight the role of the availability of carbon in phytomass utilization. © 2013 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

The Use of Interactive Computer Animations Based on POE as a Presentation Tool in Primary Science Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akpinar, Ercan

2014-01-01

This study investigates the effects of using interactive computer animations based on predict-observe-explain (POE) as a presentation tool on primary school students' understanding of the static electricity concepts. A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test control group design was utilized in this study. The experiment group consisted of 30…

Comparative Pessimism or Optimism: Depressed Mood, Risk-Taking, Social Utility and Desirability.

PubMed

Milhabet, Isabelle; Le Barbenchon, Emmanuelle; Cambon, Laurent; Molina, Guylaine

2015-03-05

Comparative optimism can be defined as a self-serving, asymmetric judgment of the future. It is often thought to be beneficial and socially accepted, whereas comparative pessimism is correlated with depression and socially rejected. Our goal was to examine the social acceptance of comparative optimism and the social rejection of comparative pessimism in two dimensions of social judgment, social desirability and social utility, considering the attributions of dysphoria and risk-taking potential (studies 2 and 3) on outlooks on the future. In three experiments, the participants assessed either one (study 1) or several (studies 2 and 3) fictional targets in two dimensions, social utility and social desirability. Targets exhibiting comparatively optimistic or pessimistic outlooks on the future were presented as non-depressed, depressed, or neither (control condition) (study 1); non-depressed or depressed (study 2); and non-depressed or in control condition (study 3). Two significant results were obtained: (1) social rejection of comparative pessimism in the social desirability dimension, which can be explained by its depressive feature; and (2) comparative optimism was socially accepted on the social utility dimension, which can be explained by the perception that comparatively optimistic individuals are potential risk-takers.

Research activities to improve the utilization of antibiotics in Africa.

PubMed

Massele, Amos; Tiroyakgosi, Celda; Matome, Matshediso; Desta, Abayneh; Muller, Arno; Paramadhas, Bene D Anand; Malone, Brighid; Kurusa, Gobuiwang; Didimalang, Thatayaone; Moyo, Mosana; Godman, Brian

2017-02-01

There is a need to improve the rational use of antibiotics across continents including Africa. This has resulted in initiatives in Botswana including treatment guidelines and the instigation of Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs). The next steps involve a greater understanding of current antibiotic utilization and resistance patterns (AMR). This resulted in a 2-day meeting involving key stakeholders principally from Botswana to discuss key issues including AMR rates as well as ASPs in both the public and private sectors. Following this, the findings will be used to plan future studies across Africa including point prevalence studies. The findings will be presented in July 2016 at the next Medicines Utilization Research in Africa meeting will ideally serve as a basis for planning future pertinent interventional studies to enhance the rational use of antibiotics in Botswana and wider.

Mining of high utility-probability sequential patterns from uncertain databases

PubMed Central

Zhang, Binbin; Fournier-Viger, Philippe; Li, Ting

2017-01-01

High-utility sequential pattern mining (HUSPM) has become an important issue in the field of data mining. Several HUSPM algorithms have been designed to mine high-utility sequential patterns (HUPSPs). They have been applied in several real-life situations such as for consumer behavior analysis and event detection in sensor networks. Nonetheless, most studies on HUSPM have focused on mining HUPSPs in precise data. But in real-life, uncertainty is an important factor as data is collected using various types of sensors that are more or less accurate. Hence, data collected in a real-life database can be annotated with existing probabilities. This paper presents a novel pattern mining framework called high utility-probability sequential pattern mining (HUPSPM) for mining high utility-probability sequential patterns (HUPSPs) in uncertain sequence databases. A baseline algorithm with three optional pruning strategies is presented to mine HUPSPs. Moroever, to speed up the mining process, a projection mechanism is designed to create a database projection for each processed sequence, which is smaller than the original database. Thus, the number of unpromising candidates can be greatly reduced, as well as the execution time for mining HUPSPs. Substantial experiments both on real-life and synthetic datasets show that the designed algorithm performs well in terms of runtime, number of candidates, memory usage, and scalability for different minimum utility and minimum probability thresholds. PMID:28742847

Association of Health Care Utilization With Rates of Perforated Appendicitis in Children 18 Years or Younger.

PubMed

Baxter, Katherine J; Nguyen, Hannah T M H; Wulkan, Mark L; Raval, Mehul V

2018-06-01

The pediatric perforated appendix rate is a quality metric measured by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) that reflects access to care. The association of health care utilization prior to presentation with appendicitis is unknown. To determine whether increased health care utilization prior to presentation with appendicitis is associated with lower perforated appendicitis rates in children. Retrospective cohort study of privately insured children drawn from large employer and insurance company administrative data found in the Truven MarketScan national insurance claims database. Cases of appendicitis were identified among 38 348 children 18 years or younger from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2013, with corresponding primary health care encounters from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2012. In all, 19 109 eligible children were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnosis codes for appendicitis after excluding those patients who did not have continuous insurance coverage during the study period. Statistical analysis was performed from September 1, 2016, to October 15, 2017. Health care utilization was determined by the number of outpatient clinic encounters for each patient in the 1 to 12 months before presentation with appendicitis. Perforated appendicitis was defined according to the AHRQ by using ICD-9 codes for perforation and hospital length of stay of 3 or more days. Logistic regression models were used for perforated appendicitis after adjustment for age, sex, income, gastrointestinal comorbidities, geographic region, and insurance type. We identified 38 348 children 18 years or younger with ICD-9 diagnosis codes for appendicitis, and 19 109 children remained for analysis after applying exclusion criteria. Of these, 11 422 were boys (59.8%); the mean (SD) age was 12.4 (3.9) years. Of the 19 109 children identified who underwent appendectomy, 5509 (28.8%) presented with perforated appendicitis. Children with perforation had lower outpatient health care utilization in the year before presentation compared with those diagnosed with acute appendicitis (4554 of 5509 children [82.7%] vs 11 937 of 13 600 [87.8%]; P < .001). In the adjusted model, outpatient health care utilization before presentation was associated with lower odds of perforated appendicitis (odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% CI, 0.58-0.69; P < .001). This association increased with visit frequency in the year before presentation (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77-0.95 for 1-2 visits, P = .003; OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.55-0.67 for 3-6 visits, P < .001; and OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.38-0.48 for ≥7 visits [5-18 years], P < .001). Covariates associated with perforation included younger age, geographic region, family income, and higher out-of-pocket insurance plans. Among insured children 18 years or younger, increased health care utilization was associated with lower rates of perforated appendicitis. Primary health care relationships may facilitate timely presentation or serve as a marker for health-related self-efficacy, thereby contributing to outcomes for acute surgical conditions.

Study on the Potential Development of Rainwater Utilization in the Hilly City of Southern China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Xiaoran; Liu, Jiahong; Shao, Weiwei; Zhang, Haixing

2017-12-01

Aimed at the current flood problems and the contradiction between supply and demand of water resources in the southern cities of China, the comprehensive utilization of Urban Rainwater Resources (URRs) is a significant solution. At present, the research on the comprehensive utilization system of urban rainwater resources in China is still immature, especially the lack of a comprehensive method for the comprehensive utilization of the rainwater and flood resources in the south. Based on the current mode for utilization of URRs at home and abroad, Fenghuang County in Hunan Province was taken as a case of study, which is a typical mountainous city in the southern China. And the potential development of URRs was simulated and evaluated with a comparison of before and after the exploitation and utilization of URRs in this paper. The reduction effect of flood and waterlogging on the ancient city area is analyzed from SWMM. The simulation results show that the potential of exploitation and utilization of URRs in Fenghuang county is remarkable under the mode of exploitation and utilization which is given priority to flood prevention and control, and the annual development potential is 4.865×105 m3. The rainwater utilization measures of flood control effect is obvious with this mode, and the relevant research results can provide theoretical and technical support for enhancing urban water security capability, water conservation capacity, and disaster mitigation of urban flood.

A mathematical model for the interactive behavior of sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogens during anaerobic digestion.

PubMed

Ahammad, S Ziauddin; Gomes, James; Sreekrishnan, T R

2011-09-01

Anaerobic degradation of waste involves different classes of microorganisms, and there are different types of interactions among them for substrates, terminal electron acceptors, and so on. A mathematical model is developed based on the mass balance of different substrates, products, and microbes present in the system to study the interaction between methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). The performance of major microbial consortia present in the system, such as propionate-utilizing acetogens, butyrate-utilizing acetogens, acetoclastic methanogens, hydrogen-utilizing methanogens, and SRB were considered and analyzed in the model. Different substrates consumed and products formed during the process also were considered in the model. The experimental observations and model predictions showed very good prediction capabilities of the model. Model prediction was validated statistically. It was observed that the model-predicted values matched the experimental data very closely, with an average error of 3.9%.

The political economy of United States multiutilities: The United States electric power industry and communication services

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quail, Christine M.

This study consists of a political economic analysis of the multiutility industry, the industry located at the confluence of electric utilities, telephone, cable, and Internet markets. The study uses a theoretical framework based in political economy and urban theory. Methodologies used include industrial analysis and instrumental analysis. A discussion of technological convergence establishes the technical means by which multiutilities developed. Refusing technological determinism, however, the study presents a critical analysis of the history, philosophy, and regulation of utilities. Distinctions are made between public and private ownership structures in the electric utility industry. Next, the study embarks on an industrial analysis of the multiutility industry. The industrial analysis includes a discussion of the industry's history, markets, ownership types, and legal struggles. Following the broad industrial overview, two case studies are presented: Hawarden Integrated Technology, Energy and Communications (HITEC), and Con Edison Communications, LLC. HITEC is a public multiutility in the City of Hawarden, Iowa. Con Edison Communications is a private multiutility, based in New York City. The case studies provide a vehicle by which theoretical and philosophical underpinnings, as well as general trends, in the multiutility industry are localized and concretized. Finally, the study draws conclusions about the nature, history, and future of public versus private control of multiutilities' converged communications infrastructures. Questions of democratic control of media infrastructures are raised.

WEB-BASED DATABASE ON RENEWAL TECHNOLOGIES ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

As U.S. utilities continue to shore up their aging infrastructure, renewal needs now represent over 43% of annual expenditures compared to new construction for drinking water distribution and wastewater collection systems (Underground Construction [UC], 2016). An increased understanding of renewal options will ultimately assist drinking water utilities in reducing water loss and help wastewater utilities to address infiltration and inflow issues in a cost-effective manner. It will also help to extend the service lives of both drinking water and wastewater mains. This research effort involved collecting case studies on the use of various trenchless pipeline renewal methods and providing the information in an online searchable database. The overall objective was to further support technology transfer and information sharing regarding emerging and innovative renewal technologies for water and wastewater mains. The result of this research is a Web-based, searchable database that utility personnel can use to obtain technology performance and cost data, as well as case study references. The renewal case studies include: technologies used; the conditions under which the technology was implemented; costs; lessons learned; and utility contact information. The online database also features a data mining tool for automated review of the technologies selected and cost data. Based on a review of the case study results and industry data, several findings are presented on tren

Personal Care Participation Assessment and Resource Tool: Clinical utility for inpatient rehabilitation.

PubMed

Darzins, Susan W; Imms, Christine; Stefano, Marilyn Di; Radia-George, Camilla A

2016-10-01

Evidence supports validity of the Personal Care Participation Assessment and Resource Tool (PC-PART), but clinical utility remains unverified. This study aimed to investigate occupational therapists' perceptions about the PC-PART's clinical utility for inpatient rehabilitation. Using mixed methods, occupational therapists who had used the PC-PART as part of a research study in an inpatient rehabilitation setting completed a questionnaire ( n = 9) and participated in a focus group ( n = 6) to explore their perspectives about its clinical utility. Quantitative data were summarized and qualitative data analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Quantitative data highlighted both positive and negative aspects of the PC-PART's clinical utility. Five themes emerged from the qualitative data: nature of information gathered; familiarity with the instrument; perceived time and effort; item phrasing, interpretation, and presentation; and external influences on clinical use. The PC-PART was perceived to support gathering of clinically useful information, helpful to intervention and discharge planning. Recommendations for improving some item phrasing, operational definitions, and instructions were identified. Although standardized assessments were valued, use in routine practice was challenging, requiring a knowledge translation strategy.

Negotiator's checklist: success through preparation

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

Wilds, L.J.

In gaining environmental approval for a hydro project, negotiation is a necessity. Strategies for maximizing the success of negotiations are presented. The case study of successful negotiations by the Kodiak Electric Association concerning the Terror Lake project on Kodiak Island, Alaska, is presented. The utility of bringing in professional mediators is discussed.

Use of Blackboard Collaborate for Creation of a Video Course Library

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mitzova-Vladinov, Greta; Bizzio-Knott, Rossana; Hooshmand, Mary; Hauglum, Shayne; Aziza, Khitam

2017-01-01

This case study examines an innovative way the Blackboard Collaborate video conferencing learning platform was used to record graduate student presentations for creating a course library utilized in individualized student teaching. The presentation recordings evolved into an innovative strategy for providing feedback and ultimately improvement in…

Teaching Linear Algebra: Must the Fog Always Roll In?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carlson, David

1993-01-01

Proposes methods to teach the more difficult concepts of linear algebra. Examines features of the Linear Algebra Curriculum Study Group Core Syllabus, and presents problems from the core syllabus that utilize the mathematical process skills of making conjectures, proving the results, and communicating the results to colleagues. Presents five…

Solar System Exploration Augmented by In-Situ Resource Utilization: Human Planetary Base Issues for Mercury and Saturn

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palaszewski, Bryan A.

2017-01-01

Human and robotic missions to Mercury and Saturn are presented and analyzed with a range of propulsion options. Historical studies of space exploration, planetary spacecraft, and astronomy, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), and industrialization all point to the vastness of natural resources in the solar system. Advanced propulsion benefitted from these resources in many ways. While advanced propulsion systems were proposed in these historical studies, further investigation of nuclear options using high power nuclear thermal and nuclear pulse propulsion as well as advanced chemical propulsion can significantly enhance these scenarios. Updated analyses based on these historical visions are presented. Nuclear thermal propulsion and ISRU enhanced chemical propulsion landers are assessed for Mercury missions. At Saturn, nuclear pulse propulsion with alternate propellant feed systems and Saturn moon exploration with chemical propulsion and nuclear electric propulsion options are discussed. Issues with using in-situ resource utilization on Mercury missions are discussed. At Saturn, the best locations for exploration and the use of the moons Titan and Enceladus as central locations for Saturn moon exploration is assessed.

Solar System Exploration Augmented by In-Situ Resource Utilization: Mercury and Saturn Propulsion Investigations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palaszewski, Bryan

2016-01-01

Human and robotic missions to Mercury and Saturn are presented and analyzed with a range of propulsion options. Historical studies of space exploration, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), and industrialization all point to the vastness of natural resources in the solar system. Advanced propulsion benefitted from these resources in many ways. While advanced propulsion systems were proposed in these historical studies, further investigation of nuclear options using high power nuclear thermal and nuclear pulse propulsion as well as advanced chemical propulsion can significantly enhance these scenarios. Updated analyses based on these historical visions will be presented. Nuclear thermal propulsion and ISRU enhanced chemical propulsion landers are assessed for Mercury missions. At Saturn, nuclear pulse propulsion with alternate propellant feed systems and Titan exploration with chemical propulsion options are discussed. In-situ resource utilization was found to be critical in making Mercury missions more amenable for human visits. At Saturn, refueling using local atmospheric mining was found to be difficult to impractical, while refueling the Saturn missions from Uranus was more practical and less complex.

Utilization of Multimedia Laboratory: An Acceptance Analysis using TAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Modeong, M.; Palilingan, V. R.

2018-02-01

Multimedia is often utilized by teachers to present a learning materials. Learning that delivered by multimedia enables people to understand the information of up to 60% of the learning in general. To applying the creative learning to the classroom, multimedia presentation needs a laboratory as a space that provides multimedia needs. This study aims to reveal the level of student acceptance on the multimedia laboratories, by explaining the direct and indirect effect of internal support and technology infrastructure. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is used as the basis of measurement on this research, through the perception of usefulness, ease of use, and the intention, it’s recognized capable of predicting user acceptance about technology. This study used the quantitative method. The data analysis using path analysis that focuses on trimming models, it’s performed to improve the model of path analysis structure by removing exogenous variables that have insignificant path coefficients. The result stated that Internal Support and Technology Infrastructure are well mediated by TAM variables to measure the level of technology acceptance. The implications suggest that TAM can measure the success of multimedia laboratory utilization in Faculty of Engineering UNIMA.

Dynamic Resource Management for Parallel Tasks in an Oversubscribed Energy-Constrained Heterogeneous Environment

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

Imam, Neena; Koenig, Gregory A; Machovec, Dylan

2016-01-01

Abstract: The worth of completing parallel tasks is modeled using utility functions, which monotonically-decrease with time and represent the importance and urgency of a task. These functions define the utility earned by a task at the time of its completion. The performance of such a system is measured as the total utility earned by all completed tasks over some interval of time (e.g., 24 hours). To maximize system performance when scheduling dynamically arriving parallel tasks onto a high performance computing (HPC) system that is oversubscribed and energy-constrained, we have designed, analyzed, and compared different heuristic techniques. Four utility-aware heuristics (i.e.,more » Max Utility, Max Utility-per-Time, Max Utility-per-Resource, and Max Utility-per-Energy), three FCFS-based heuristics (Conservative Backfilling, EASY Backfilling, and FCFS with Multiple Queues), and a Random heuristic were examined in this study. A technique that is often used with the FCFS-based heuristics is the concept of a permanent reservation. We compare the performance of permanent reservations with temporary place-holders to demonstrate the advantages that place-holders can provide. We also present a novel energy filtering technique that constrains the maximum energy-per-resource used by each task. We conducted a simulation study to evaluate the performance of these heuristics and techniques in an energy-constrained oversubscribed HPC environment. With place-holders, energy filtering, and dropping tasks with low potential utility, our utility-aware heuristics are able to significantly outperform the existing FCFS-based techniques.« less

Enhanced subarctic Pacific stratification and nutrient utilization during glacials over the last 1.2 Myr

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knudson, Karla P.; Ravelo, Ana Christina

2015-11-01

The relationship between climate, biological productivity, and nutrient flux is of considerable interest in the subarctic Pacific, which represents an important high-nitrate, low-chlorophyll region. While previous studies suggest that changes in iron supply and/or physical ocean stratification could hypothetically explain orbital-scale fluctuations in subarctic Pacific nutrient utilization and productivity, previous records of nutrient utilization are too short to evaluate these relationships over many glacial-interglacial cycles. We present new, high-resolution records of sedimentary δ15N, which offer the first opportunity to evaluate systematic, orbital-scale variations in subarctic Pacific nitrate utilization from 1.2 Ma. Nitrate utilization was enhanced during all glacials, varied with orbital-scale periodicity since the mid-Pleistocene transition, was strongly correlated with enhanced aeolian dust and low atmospheric CO2, but was not correlated with productivity. These results suggest that glacial stratification, rather than iron fertilization, systematically exerted an important regional control on nutrient utilization and air-sea carbon flux.

[Utilization of dental services for children: a review of the influencing factors and the possible improvements].

PubMed

Cheng, M L; Si, Y

2017-05-09

It has been reported that children's oral health conditions are correlated with their attendance to dental health services. Evaluating the influencing factors of utilization of dental services for children may give ways to improve the services per se, and furtherly the children's oral health. The present review retrieved and summarized domestic and foreign studies on the utilization of oral health services for children based on the Andersen behavior model. It was concluded that the utilization of dental services for children was affected by demographic characteristics, social structure, health belief, family factors, community factors and perceived/evaluated needs. To improve the utilization of dental services for children, effort should be made by means of changing caregivers' health belief, developing oral health insurance system, setting up regular oral health resources and increasing the financial support for oral health services by government.

[Social Studies in the Out of Doors].

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huchro, John; Fisch, Tom

Designed for instruction of emotionally handicapped children and youth, these six articles present concepts and activities relative to social studies and outdoor education. Defining social studies as the study of man and his relationship with his environment, the first article emphasizes a site analysis approach. Activity suggestions utilize a…

Development and Analysis of a Bi-Directional Tidal Turbine

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-01

commercial CFD software ANSYS CFX was utilized to build a turbine map. The basic turbine map was developed for a 25 blade bi-axial turbine under...directional turbine created for this purpose. In the present study, the commercial CFD software ANSYS CFX was utilized to build a turbine map. The...sheath C. PROBLEM SPECIFICATIONS AND BOUNDARY CONDITIONS The simulation definition was created using ANSYS CFX -Pre. The best measurements to determine

Selection and development of small solar thermal power applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bluhm, S. A.; Kuehn, T. J.; Gurfield, R. M.

1979-01-01

The paper discusses the approach of the JPL Point Focusing Thermal and Electric Power Applications Project to selecting and developing applications for point-focusing distributed-receiver solar thermal electric power systems. Six application categories are defined. Results of application studies of U.S. utilities are presented. The economic value of solar thermal power systems was found to range from $900 to $2100/kWe in small community utilities of the Southwest.

A Production Lab the Faculty Can Call Their Own.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilkening, Donald J.

1979-01-01

Presents a case study of the development of a faculty media production laboratory by Michigan State University's media center, describing funding, facilities, promotion, utilization, and future plans. (CMV)

A novel approach for documenting naming errors induced by navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation.

PubMed

Lioumis, Pantelis; Zhdanov, Andrey; Mäkelä, Niko; Lehtinen, Henri; Wilenius, Juha; Neuvonen, Tuomas; Hannula, Henri; Deletis, Vedran; Picht, Thomas; Mäkelä, Jyrki P

2012-03-15

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is widely used both in basic research and in clinical practice. TMS has been utilized in studies of functional organization of speech in healthy volunteers. Navigated TMS (nTMS) allows preoperative mapping of the motor cortex for surgical planning. Recording behavioral responses to nTMS in the speech-related cortical network in a manner that allows off-line review of performance might increase utility of nTMS both for scientific and clinical purposes, e.g., for a careful preoperative planning. Four subjects participated in the study. The subjects named pictures of objects presented every 2-3s on a computer screen. One-second trains of 5 pulses were applied by nTMS 300ms after the presentation of pictures. The nTMS and stimulus presentation screens were cloned. A commercial digital camera was utilized to record the subject's performance and the screen clones. Delays between presentation, audio and video signals were eliminated by carefully tested combination of displays and camera. An experienced neuropsychologist studied the videos and classified the errors evoked by nTMS during the object naming. Complete anomias, semantic, phonological and performance errors were observed during nTMS of left fronto-parieto-temporal cortical regions. Several errors were detected only in the video classification. nTMS combined with synchronized video recording provides an accurate monitoring tool of behavioral TMS experiments. This experimental setup can be particularly useful for high-quality cognitive paradigms and for clinical purposes. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Procedures and models for estimating preconstruction costs of highway projects.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-07-01

This study presents data driven and component based PE cost prediction models by utilizing critical factors retrieved from ten years of historical project data obtained from ODOT roadway division. The study used factor analysis of covariance and corr...

Maximum saliency bias in binocular fusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Yuhao; Stafford, Tom; Fox, Charles

2016-07-01

Subjective experience at any instant consists of a single ("unitary"), coherent interpretation of sense data rather than a "Bayesian blur" of alternatives. However, computation of Bayes-optimal actions has no role for unitary perception, instead being required to integrate over every possible action-percept pair to maximise expected utility. So what is the role of unitary coherent percepts, and how are they computed? Recent work provided objective evidence for non-Bayes-optimal, unitary coherent, perception and action in humans; and further suggested that the percept selected is not the maximum a posteriori percept but is instead affected by utility. The present study uses a binocular fusion task first to reproduce the same effect in a new domain, and second, to test multiple hypotheses about exactly how utility may affect the percept. After accounting for high experimental noise, it finds that both Bayes optimality (maximise expected utility) and the previously proposed maximum-utility hypothesis are outperformed in fitting the data by a modified maximum-salience hypothesis, using unsigned utility magnitudes in place of signed utilities in the bias function.

Association between switching antiepileptic drug products and healthcare utilization: A systematic review.

PubMed

Kwan, Patrick; Palmini, André

2017-08-01

There is ongoing concern whether switching between different antiepileptic drug (AED) products may compromise patient care. We systematically reviewed changes in healthcare utilization following AED switch. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE databases (1980-October 2016) for studies that assessed the effect of AED switching in patients with epilepsy on outpatient visits, emergency room visits, hospitalization and hospital stay duration. A total of 14 articles met the inclusion criteria. All were retrospective studies. Four provided findings for specific AEDs only (lamotrigine, topiramate, phenytoin and divalproex), 9 presented pooled findings from multiple AEDs, and 1 study provided both specific (lamotrigine, topiramate, oxcarbazepine, and levetiracetam) and pooled findings. Three studies found an association between a switch of topiramate and an increase in healthcare utilization. Another three studies found that a brand-to-generic lamotrigine switch was not associated with an increased risk of emergently treated events (ambulance use, ER visits or hospitalization). The outcomes of the pooled AED switch studies were inconsistent; 5 studies reported an increased healthcare utilization while 5 studies did not. Studies that have examined the association between an AED switch and a change in healthcare utilization report conflicting findings. Factors that may explain these inconsistent outcomes include inter-study differences in the type of analysis undertaken (pooled vs individual AED data), the covariates used for data adjustment, and the type of switch examined. Future medical claim database studies employing a prospective design are encouraged to address these and other factors in order to enhance inter-study comparability and extrapolation of findings. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Supersonic jet noise - Its generation, prediction and effects on people and structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Preisser, J. S.; Golub, R. A.; Seiner, J. M.; Powell, C. A.

1990-01-01

This paper presents the results of a study aimed at quantifying the effects of jet source noise reduction, increases in aircraft lift, and reduced aircraft thrust on the take-off noise associated with supersonic civil transports. Supersonic jet noise sources are first described, and their frequency and directivity dependence are defined. The study utilizes NASA's Aircraft Noise Prediction Program in a parametric study to weigh the relative benefits of several approaches to low noise. The baseline aircraft concept used in these predictions is the AST-205-1 powered by GE21/J11-B14A scaled engines. Noise assessment is presented in terms of effective perceived noise levels at the FAA's centerline and sideline measuring locations for current subsonic aircraft, and in terms of audiologically perceived sound of people and other indirect effects. The results show that significant noise benefit can be achieved through proper understanding and utilization of all available approaches.

Application of power transistors to residential and intermediate rating photovoltaic array power conditioners

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steigerwald, R. L.; Ferraro, A.; Turnbull, F. G.

1983-04-01

Power conditioning systems that interface with photovoltaic arrays are presently investigated for the cases of 5-30 kW residential systems interfacing with a 240-V single-phase utility connection, and 30-200 kW intermediate systems interfacing with a 480-V three-phase utility connection. Both systems require an isolation transformer between the array and the utility interface. A tradeoff study is conducted for numerous transistor and thyristor circuits and configurations, with weighting criteria that include full- and part-load efficiency, size, weight, reliability, ease of control, injected harmonics, reactive power requirements, and parts cost. On the basis of study results, a 10-kW high frequency transistor inverter feeding a high frequency isolation transformer with a sinusoidally shaped current wave was selected.

Frequent methamphetamine injection predicts emergency department utilization among street-involved youth

PubMed Central

Marshall, B.D.L.; Grafstein, E.; Buxton, J.A.; Qi, J.; Wood, E.; Shoveller, J.A.; Kerr, T.

2011-01-01

SUMMARY Objectives Methamphetamine (MA) use has been associated with health problems that commonly present in the emergency department (ED). This study sought to determine whether frequent MA injection was a risk factor for ED utilization among street-involved youth. Study design Prospective cohort study. Methods Data were derived from a street-involved youth cohort known as the ‘At Risk Youth Study’. Behavioural data including MA use were linked to ED records at a major inner-city hospital. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards methods were used to determine the risk factors for ED utilization. Results Between September 2005 and January 2007, 427 eligible participants were enrolled, among whom the median age was 21 (interquartile range 19–23) years and 154 (36.1%) were female. Within 1 year, 163 (38.2%) visited the ED, resulting in an incidence density of 53.7 per 100 person-years. ED utilization was significantly higher among frequent (i.e. ≥daily) MA injectors (log-rank P=0.004). In multivariate analysis, frequent MA injection was associated with an increased hazard of ED utilization (adjusted hazard ratio=1.84, 95% confidence interval 1.04–3.25; P=0.036). Conclusions Street-involved youth who frequently inject MA appear to be at increased risk of ED utilization. The integration of MA-specific addiction treatment services within emergency care settings for high-risk youth is recommended. PMID:22133669

Mental health service utilization of Somali adolescents: religion, community, and school as gateways to healing.

PubMed

Ellis, B Heidi; Lincoln, Alisa K; Charney, Meredith E; Ford-Paz, Rebecca; Benson, Molly; Strunin, Lee

2010-11-01

This mixed-method study examines the utility of the Gateway Provider Model (GPM) in understanding service utilization and pathways to help for Somali refugee adolescents. Somali adolescents living in the Northeastern United States, and their caregivers, were interviewed. Results revealed low rates of use of mental health services. However other sources of help, such as religious and school personnel, were accessed more frequently. The GPM provides a helpful model for understanding refugee youth access to services, and an elaborated model is presented showing how existing pathways to help could be built upon to improve refugee youth access to services.

Biodiesel production from low cost and renewable feedstock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gude, Veera G.; Grant, Georgene E.; Patil, Prafulla D.; Deng, Shuguang

2013-12-01

Sustainable biodiesel production should: a) utilize low cost renewable feedstock; b) utilize energy-efficient, nonconventional heating and mixing techniques; c) increase net energy benefit of the process; and d) utilize renewable feedstock/energy sources where possible. In this paper, we discuss the merits of biodiesel production following these criteria supported by the experimental results obtained from the process optimization studies. Waste cooking oil, non-edible (low-cost) oils (Jatropha curcas and Camelina Sativa) and algae were used as feedstock for biodiesel process optimization. A comparison between conventional and non-conventional methods such as microwaves and ultrasound was reported. Finally, net energy scenarios for different biodiesel feedstock options and algae are presented.

The impact of posttraumatic stress disorder on quality of life and health service utilization among veterans who have schizophrenia.

PubMed

Calhoun, Patrick S; Bosworth, Hayden B; Stechuchak, Karen A; Strauss, Jennifer; Butterfield, Marian I

2006-06-01

The present study examined the impact of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on health-related quality of life and objective measures of health service utilization in 165 male veterans who have primary schizophrenia. Comorbid PTSD was assessed with the PTSD Checklist. Comorbid PTSD was significantly associated with decreased quality of life and increased medical service utilization, including increased psychiatric hospitalization and increased outpatient physical health visits, even after controlling for other clinical and demographic variables among this sample of patients who had primary schizophrenia. Veterans who have schizophrenia should be screened carefully for exposure to trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder.

MERS-CoV and H5N1 influenza virus antagonize antigen presentation by altering the epigenetic landscape

DOE PAGES

Menachery, Vineet D.; Schafer, Alexandra; Burnum-Johnson, Kristin E.; ...

2018-01-16

Convergent evolution dictates that diverse groups of viruses will target both similar and distinct host pathways in order to manipulate the immune response and improve infection. In this study, we sought to leverage this uneven viral antagonism to identify critical host factors that govern disease outcome. Utilizing a systems based approach, we examined differential regulation of IFNγ dependent genes following infection with highly pathogenic viruses including influenza (H5N1-VN1203, H1N1-CA04) and coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV). Categorizing by function, we observed down regulation of genes associated with antigen presentation following both H5N1-VN1203 and MERS-CoV infection. Further examination revealed global down regulation of antigenmore » presentation genes and was confirmed by proteomics for both H5N1-VN1203 and MERS-CoV infection. Importantly, epigenetic analysis suggested that DNA methylation rather than histone modification plays a crucial role in MERS-CoV mediated antagonism of antigen presentation genes; in contrast, H5N1-VN1203 likely utilizes a combination of epigenetic mechanisms to target antigen presentation. Altogether, the results indicate a common approach utilized by H5N1-VN1203 and MERS-CoV to modulate antigen presentation and the host adaptive immune response.« less

MERS-CoV and H5N1 influenza virus antagonize antigen presentation by altering the epigenetic landscape

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

Menachery, Vineet D.; Schäfer, Alexandra; Burnum-Johnson, Kristin E.

Convergent evolution dictates that diverse groups of viruses will target both similar and distinct host pathways in order to manipulate the immune response and improve infection. In this study, we sought to leverage this uneven viral antagonism to identify critical host factors that govern disease outcome. Utilizing a systems based approach, we examined differential regulation of IFNγ dependent genes following infection with highly pathogenic viruses including influenza (H5N1-VN1203, H1N1-CA04) and coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV). Categorizing by function, we observed down regulation of genes associated with antigen presentation following both H5N1-VN1203 and MERS-CoV infection. Further examination revealed global down regulation of antigenmore » presentation genes and was confirmed by proteomics for both H5N1-VN1203 and MERS-CoV infection. Importantly, epigenetic analysis suggested that DNA methylation rather than histone modification plays a crucial role in MERS-CoV mediated antagonism of antigen presentation genes; in contrast, H5N1-VN1203 likely utilizes a combination of epigenetic mechanisms to target antigen presentation. Together, the results indicate a common approach utilized by H5N1-VN1203 and MERS-CoV to modulate antigen presentation and the host adaptive immune response.« less

Electric utility use of fireside additives. Final report

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

Locklin, D.W.; Krause, H.H.; Anson, D.

1980-01-01

Fireside additives have been used or proposed for use in fossil-fired utility boilers to combat a number of problems related to boiler performance and reliability. These problems include corrosion, fouling, superheat control, and acidic emissions. Fuel additives and other fireside additives have been used mainly with oil firing; however, there is growing experience with additives in coal-firing, especially for flyash conditioning to improve the performance of electrostatic precipitators. In decisions regarding the selection and use of additives, utilities have had to rely extensively on empiricism, due partly to an incomplete understanding of processes involved and partly to the limited amountmore » of quantitative data. The study reported here was sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute to assemble and analyze pertinent operating experience and to recommend guidelines for utility decisions on the use of additives. The combined results of the state-of-the-art review of technical literature and a special survey of utility experience are reported. A total of 38 utilities participated in the survey, providing information on trials conducted on 104 units in 93 different plants. Altogether, 445 separate trials were reported, each representing a unit/additive/fuel combination. Additives used in these trials included 90 different additive formulations, both pure compounds and proprietary products. These formulations were categorized into 37 generic classes according to their chemical constituents, and the results of the survey are presented by these generic classes. The findings are organized according to the operating problems for which fireside additives are used. Guidelines are presented for utility use in additive selection and in planning additive trials.« less

Developing a science of clinical utility in diagnostic classification systems field study strategies for ICD-11 mental and behavioral disorders.

PubMed

Keeley, Jared W; Reed, Geoffrey M; Roberts, Michael C; Evans, Spencer C; Medina-Mora, María Elena; Robles, Rebeca; Rebello, Tahilia; Sharan, Pratap; Gureje, Oye; First, Michael B; Andrews, Howard F; Ayuso-Mateos, José Luís; Gaebel, Wolfgang; Zielasek, Juergen; Saxena, Shekhar

2016-01-01

The World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse has developed a systematic program of field studies to evaluate and improve the clinical utility of the proposed diagnostic guidelines for mental and behavioral disorders in the Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11). The clinical utility of a diagnostic classification is critical to its function as the interface between health encounters and health information, and to making the ICD-11 be a more effective tool for helping the WHO's 194 member countries, including the United States, reduce the global disease burden of mental disorders. This article describes the WHO's efforts to develop a science of clinical utility in regard to one of the two major classification systems for mental disorders. We present the rationale and methodologies for an integrated and complementary set of field study strategies, including large international surveys, formative field studies of the structure of clinicians' conceptualization of mental disorders, case-controlled field studies using experimental methodologies to evaluate the impact of proposed changes to the diagnostic guidelines on clinicians' diagnostic decision making, and ecological implementation field studies of clinical utility in the global settings in which the guidelines will ultimately be implemented. The results of these studies have already been used in making decisions about the structure and content of ICD-11. If clinical utility is indeed among the highest aims of diagnostic systems for mental disorders, as their developers routinely claim, future revision efforts should continue to build on these efforts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Method for the Study of Category III Airborne Procedure Reliability

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1973-03-01

A method for the study of Category 3 airborne-procedure reliability is presented. The method, based on PERT concepts, is considered to have utility at the outset of a procedure-design cycle and during the early accumulation of actual performance data...

25 CFR 167.6 - Carrying capacities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Grazing Committee, and the Navajo Tribal Council for review and recommendations prior to presentation to...; recommendations for future adjustments to the established carrying capacities shall be made by Range Technicians based on the best information available through annual utilization studies and range condition studies...

25 CFR 167.6 - Carrying capacities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... Grazing Committee, and the Navajo Tribal Council for review and recommendations prior to presentation to...; recommendations for future adjustments to the established carrying capacities shall be made by Range Technicians based on the best information available through annual utilization studies and range condition studies...

Characterization of PTO and Idle Behavior for Utility Vehicles

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

Duran, Adam W.; Konan, Arnaud M.; Miller, Eric S.

This report presents the results of analyses performed on utility vehicle data composed primarily of aerial lift bucket trucks sampled from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Fleet DNA database to characterize power takeoff (PTO) and idle operating behavior for utility trucks. Two major data sources were examined in this study: a 75-vehicle sample of Odyne electric PTO (ePTO)-equipped vehicles drawn from multiple fleets spread across the United States and 10 conventional PTO-equipped Pacific Gas and Electric fleet vehicles operating in California. Novel data mining approaches were developed to identify PTO and idle operating states for each of the datasets usingmore » telematics and controller area network/onboard diagnostics data channels. These methods were applied to the individual datasets and aggregated to develop utilization curves and distributions describing PTO and idle behavior in both absolute and relative operating terms. This report also includes background information on the source vehicles, development of the analysis methodology, and conclusions regarding the study's findings.« less

The Genome Sequence of Bacillus cereus ATCC 10987 Reveals Metabolic Adaptations and a Large Plasmid Related to Bacillus anthracis pXO1

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-01-01

Flagellar genes Presentb Presentc Presentc Tagatose utilization genes Absent Present Partiald Functional PlcR Absente Presente Presente Mobile genetic...closely related and one that is divergent (Supplementary ®g. S3). dThere are similar tagatose utilization genes in B.cereus ATCC 14579; however, they...replacement responsible for the transport and utilization of the carbohydrate tagatose (BCE1896±BCE1912). The corres- ponding 5.0 kb region in

Removing user fees for basic health services: a pilot study and national roll-out in Afghanistan

PubMed Central

Steinhardt, Laura C; Aman, Iqbal; Pakzad, Iqbalshah; Kumar, Binay; Singh, Lakhwinder P; Peters, David H

2011-01-01

Background User fees for primary care tend to suppress utilization, and many countries are experimenting with fee removal. Studies show that additional inputs are needed after removing fees, although well-documented experiences are lacking. This study presents data on the effects of fee removal on facility quality and utilization in Afghanistan, based on a pilot experiment and subsequent nationwide ban on fees. Methods Data on utilization and observed structural and perceived overall quality of health care were compared from before-and-after facility assessments, patient exit interviews and catchment area household surveys from eight facilities where fees were removed and 14 facilities where fee levels remained constant, as part of a larger health financing pilot study from 2005 to 2007. After a national user fee ban was instituted in 2008, health facility administrative data were analysed to assess subsequent changes in utilization and quality. Results The pilot study analysis indicated that observed and perceived quality increased across facilities but did not differ by fee removal status. Difference-in-difference analysis showed that utilization at facilities previously charging both service and drug fees increased by 400% more after fee removal, prompting additional inputs from service providers, compared with facilities that previously only charged service fees or had no change in fees (P = 0.001). Following the national fee ban, visits for curative care increased significantly (P < 0.001), but institutional deliveries did not. Services typically free before the ban—immunization and antenatal care—had immediate increases in utilization but these were not sustained. Conclusion Both pilot and nationwide data indicated that curative care utilization increased following fee removal, without differential changes in quality. Concerns raised by non-governmental organizations, health workers and community leaders over the effects of lost revenue and increased utilization require continued effort to raise revenues, monitor health worker and patient perceptions, and carefully manage health facility performance. PMID:22027924

Contrasting the Use of Tools for Presentation and Critique: Some Cases from Architectural Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lymer, Gustav; Ivarsson, Jonas; Lindwall, Oskar

2009-01-01

This study investigates video recordings of design reviews in architectural education, focusing on how presentations and discussions of designs are contingent on the specific tools employed. In the analyzed recordings, three different setups are utilized: traditional posters, digital slide-show technologies, and combinations of the two. This range…

Contingent Faculty Composition and Utilization: Perspectives from Independent Colleges and Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morphew, Christopher; Ward, Kelly; Wolf-Wendel, Lisa

2017-01-01

This chapter presents a study that explores how faculty composition at independent colleges and universities in the United States has shifted from minimal representation of contingent faculty members in the past to a greater representation presently and the disproportionate expectations and roles placed on these faculty members. Based on the…

Conceptual design studies of 1985 commercial VTOL transports that utilized rotors, Volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Magee, J. P.; Clark, R.; Alexander, H. R.

1974-01-01

Results of conceptual design studies of tilt rotor and tandem helicopter aircraft for a 200 nautical mile commercial short haul transport mission are presented. The trade study data used in selecting the design point aircraft and technology details necessary to support the design conclusions are included.

Separating the signal from the noise: Expanding flow cytometry into the sub-micron range.

EPA Science Inventory

Cytometry Part A Special Section: Separating the signal from the noise: Expanding flow cytometry into the sub-micron range. The current Cytometry Part A Special Section presents three studies that utilize cytometers to study sub-micron particles. The three studies involve the 1...

Deriving health utilities from the MacNew Heart Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire.

PubMed

Chen, Gang; McKie, John; Khan, Munir A; Richardson, Jeff R

2015-10-01

Quality of life is included in the economic evaluation of health services by measuring the preference for health states, i.e. health state utilities. However, most intervention studies include a disease-specific, not a utility, instrument. Consequently, there has been increasing use of statistical mapping algorithms which permit utilities to be estimated from a disease-specific instrument. The present paper provides such algorithms between the MacNew Heart Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (MacNew) instrument and six multi-attribute utility (MAU) instruments, the Euroqol (EQ-5D), the Short Form 6D (SF-6D), the Health Utilities Index (HUI) 3, the Quality of Wellbeing (QWB), the 15D (15 Dimension) and the Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL-8D). Heart disease patients and members of the healthy public were recruited from six countries. Non-parametric rank tests were used to compare subgroup utilities and MacNew scores. Mapping algorithms were estimated using three separate statistical techniques. Mapping algorithms achieved a high degree of precision. Based on the mean absolute error and the intra class correlation the preferred mapping is MacNew into SF-6D or 15D. Using the R squared statistic the preferred mapping is MacNew into AQoL-8D. The algorithms reported in this paper enable MacNew data to be mapped into utilities predicted from any of six instruments. This permits studies which have included the MacNew to be used in cost utility analyses which, in turn, allows the comparison of services with interventions across the health system. © The European Society of Cardiology 2014.

State-of-the-art of high-speed propeller noise prediction - A multidisciplinary approach and comparison with measured data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dunn, Mark H.; Farassat, F.

1990-01-01

The results of NASA's Propeller Test Assessment program involving extensive flight tests of a large-scale advanced propeller are presented. This has provided the opportunity to evaluate the current capability of advanced propeller noise prediction utilizing principally the exterior acoustic measurements for the prediction of exterior noise. The principal object of this study was to evaluate the state-of-the-art of noise prediction for advanced propellers utilizing the best available codes of the disciplines involved. The effects of blade deformation on the aerodynamics and noise of advanced propellers were also studied. It is concluded that blade deformation can appreciably influence propeller noise and aerodynamics, and that, in general, centrifugal and blade forces must both be included in the calculation of blade forces. It is noted that the present capability for free-field noise prediction of the first three harmonics for advanced propellers is fairly good. Detailed data and diagrams of the test results are presented.

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

PubMed Central

White-Means, S I

1995-01-01

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

More Useful, or Not So Bad? Evaluating the Effects of Interventions to Reduce Perceived Cost and Increase Utility Value with College Physics Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenzweig, Emily Quinn

In the present study I developed and evaluated the effects of two interventions designed to target students' motivation to learn in an introductory college physics course. One intervention was designed to improve students' perceptions of utility value and the other was designed to reduce students' perceptions of cost. Utility value and cost both are central constructs from Eccles and colleagues' expectancy-value theory of motivation (Eccles-Parsons et al., 1983). Students (N = 148) were randomly assigned to receive the cost intervention, the utility value intervention, or one of two control conditions. Compared to a survey control condition, neither intervention impacted overall students' motivation, measured at 3 time points over the semester, or their course outcomes. In moderation analyses, neither intervention impacted any students' perceptions of utility value. However, both interventions impacted some students' perceptions of cost, competence-related beliefs, and course outcomes positively while impacting these variables for other students negatively. The cost intervention benefitted consistently and in different ways students who had low baseline competence-related beliefs, low prior achievement, strong malleable beliefs about intelligence, or who were female. However, the intervention showed consistent undermining effects on motivation and/or achievement for students with strong fixed beliefs about intelligence. The utility value intervention benefitted consistently the course outcomes of students who had low baseline competence-related beliefs, low prior achievement, or who were female. The intervention showed less consistent undermining effects on motivation for students with strong fixed beliefs about intelligence, high baseline competence-related beliefs, or high prior achievement. Prior researchers have shown that utility value interventions improve course outcomes for some students who are at risk for underachievement. The present study extends prior work by showing that utility value interventions benefit similar students in college physics courses. It also demonstrates that a cost intervention is a viable way to impact at-risk students' physics course outcomes. Future researchers should consider carefully moderating variables and how to mitigate potential undermining effects for some students when implementing future expectancy-value-theory-based interventions in college physics courses.

Study on Lexical Cohesion in English and Persian Research Articles (A Comparative Study)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mirzapour, Fatemeh; Ahmadi, Maryam

2011-01-01

The present study aims to analyze comparatively English and Persian research articles (Linguistics, Literature, and Library and Information disciplines) in terms of number and degree of utilization of sub-types of lexical cohesion in order to appreciate textualization processes in the two languages concerned. The study analyzes 60 research…

Classification of superficial lesions of the eye with an optical biopsy system: First trials with the Los Alamos instrument

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

Glickman, R.D.; Gritz, D.C.; Held, K.S.

the clinical diagnosis of a lesion often requires that a histological analysis be made of a physical specimen of the suspect tissue. In the present work, the authors have utilized an optical biopsy system (OBS) developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory which is safe for patient use and provides a large amount of optical data from the sampled tissue. An earlier version of this system has been used to study age-related changes in the ocular lens (10). The purpose of the present study is to establish the potential clinical utility of the OBS by determining if characteristic features in themore » optical signatures, obtained from a variety of ophthalmic lesions, are correlated with the histological features of tissue biopsies obtained from these patients.« less

Utilization of mechanical diagnosis and therapy (MDT) for the treatment of lumbar pain in the presence of known lumbar transverse process fractures: a case study

PubMed Central

Elenburg, J. L.; Foley, B. S.; Roberts, K.; Bayliss, A. J.

2016-01-01

Background Spinal fractures are typically considered a contraindication to mechanical diagnosis and therapy (MDT). Objective and importance The purpose of this case study is to illustrate how MDT was used safely and effectively to treat lumbar pain in a patient with multiple lumbar transverse process fractures. Clinical presentation The subject was a 24-year-old female with left L2-5 transverse process fractures, sustained 10 weeks prior in a pedestrian versus motor vehicle accident. Intervention (and technique) After collaboration with her physiatrist, an MDT examination revealed a presentation consistent with the lumbar derangement syndrome. Conclusion After three visits, utilizing patient generated forces with the extension principle of treatment, her pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, and function all improved. PMID:27559276

Flight prototype CO2 and humidity control system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rudy, K. M.

1977-01-01

A regenerable CO2 and humidity control system is presently being developed for potential use on the space shuttle as an alternative to the baseline lithium hydroxide system. The system utilizes a sorbent material (designated HS-C) to adsorb CO2 and water vapor from the cabin atmosphere and desorb the CO2 and water vapor overboard when exposed to a space vacuum. Continuous operation is achieved by utilizing two beds which are alternately cycled between adsorption and desorption. A shuttle vehicle integration study showed that the HS-C system offers substantial weight advantages compared to the baseline shuttle orbiter expendable lithium hydroxide CO2 removal system for extended missions beyond the nominal design of four men for seven days. This study defined a system packaging envelope in the area presently occupied by the LiOH cartridges.

Factors Affecting Utilization of Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services among Teachers in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia

PubMed Central

Bizuneh, Kelemu Dessie

2017-01-01

HIV/AIDS affects the basic educational sector which is the most productive segment of the population and vital to the creation of human capital. The loss of skilled and experienced teachers due to the problem is increasingly compromising the provision of quality education in most African countries. The study was proposed to determine the magnitude of VCT utilization and assess contributing factors that affect VCT service utilization among secondary school teachers in Awi Zone. A cross-sectional study design was conducted among 588 participants in 2014. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16, presented as frequencies and summary statistics, and tested for presence of significant association with odds ratio at 95% CI. More than half (53.6%) of study participants were tested for HIV. Those who had sexual intercourse, had good knowledge about VCT, were divorced/widowed, were in the age group of 20–29 years, and were married utilized VCT services two, three, four, three, and two times better than their counterparts, respectively. Actions targeting unmarried status, increase of educational level, and teachers with age groups above 30 years are necessary to follow their counterparts to utilize VCT service in order to save loss of teachers. PMID:28512582

Longitudinal analysis of inpatient care utilization among people with intellectual disabilities: 1999-2002.

PubMed

Loh, C-H; Lin, J-D; Choi, I-C; Yen, C-F; Hsu, S-W; Wu, J-L; Tang, C C

2007-02-01

There has been no longitudinal study in Taiwan to identify the nature and the scale of medical care utilization of people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) up to the present. The aim of this study is to describe inpatient utilization among people under ID care in institutions in order to identify the pattern of medical care needs and the factors affecting utilization in Taiwan. The subject cohort was 168 individuals with ID who were cared for by a large public disability institution from 1999 to 2002 in Taipei, Taiwan. On the examination of the inpatient care that these persons underwent, it was found that these individuals had a heightened need (inpatient rate: 10.1-14.9%) for inpatient care compared with the general population with disabilities (9.37%) in Taiwan. The main reasons for hospitalization were pneumonia, gastrointestinal disorders, cellulites, orthopaedic problems, epilepsy and bronchitis. Using the full model of Generalized Estimating Equations for inpatient care utilization, the factors including low income family, living in an institution, being a subject with cerebral palsy and being a high outpatient user all influenced the use of inpatient care. This study highlights that health authorities need to promote health planning more in order to ensure an excellent quality of health monitoring and health promotion among people with ID cared for by institutions.

Breast Density Legislation: Discussion of Patient Utilization and Subsequent Direct Financial Ramifications for Insurance Providers.

PubMed

Sobotka, John; Hinrichs, Clay

2015-10-01

Now that New Jersey has become the 14th state in the United States to enact legislation regarding dense breast screening, its patients are eligible to receive screening breast sonography coverage from their insurance carriers. This law is intended to improve breast cancer detection in patients with dense breasts and create awareness of unique issues that come with dense breast tissue, while reinforcing already present efforts to reduce the incidence of and morbidity related to the diagnosis of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to examine data from months preceding the effective date of this legislation in a community hospital setting and compare these data with data from months immediately after, and 6 months after, its enactment to present patient participation data and estimate the legislation's direct financial ramifications. Detractors of this type of legislation worry about overburdening the health care system with an influx of patients. Although there is a lack of present studies confirming this suspicion in other states with dense breast legislation, this study confirms a large increase in patient utilization after enactment, showing a minimum relative increase of 176.90% and a maximum relative increase of 335.56% in patient utilization of screening breast sonography. The investigators further include an estimation of an increased direct cost for insurers of $4,910,899.18 to $9,848,897.96 for a given month. Copyright © 2015 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Response of Selected Microorganisms to Experimental Planetary Environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foster, T. L.; Winans, L., Jr.

1977-01-01

Results of studies in anaerobic phosphorus metabolism are presented. Specific topics discussed include: (1) anaerobic utilization of PH3; (2) reduction of phosphate or phosphite; (3) isolation of organisms which utilize phosphite or phosphate anaerobically as a final hydrogen acceptor; and (4) the toxicity of PH3 to the organisms. Techniques of anaerobic microbiology associated with space hardware were also studied. These include: (1) the Brewer anaerobe jar/GasPak system; (2) a new procedure to grow aerobes and anaerobes simultaneously; (3) a culture medium to differentiate oblagate from facultative anaerobes; and (4) a procedure to quantitate O2 sensitivity of anaerobes.

A survey on the utilization of disposable quadrant articulators.

PubMed

Thornton, Linda J

2002-01-01

This study evaluated utilization of the six most popular disposable quadrant articulators presently used in crown fabrication. Most general practitioners and crown and bridge laboratory technicians reported that they frequently or always used disposable quadrant articulators for single units and simple three-unit fixed partial dentures. All evaluated articulators demonstrated an inability to maintain and repeat the centric stop position. The disposable quadrant articulator, used in combination with dual-arch impressions, is a viable method for fabricating single and short-span restorations. While a nonrepeatable centric stop was present in all six articulators evaluated, the method was considered a time-efficient and cost-saving alternative to traditional all-metal simple-hinge articulators.

The Green River and its utilization

USGS Publications Warehouse

Woolley, Ralf Rumel

1930-01-01

The purpose of this report is to present the facts regarding the available water supply of the Green River Basin and other data that will be helpful in planning to put this water to beneficial use. For some parts of the basin a mass of information is available; for other parts the data are less complete. An attempt is made in this report to present an analysis of all this information, supplemented by personal field studies, in such a way as to indicate the economic factors involved in utilizing the waters of the basin, and also to give facts from which the relative value of the irrigation and power projects may be readily deduced.

Postpartum contraception utilization among low-income women seeking immunization for infants in Mumbai, India

PubMed Central

Mody, Sheila K; Nair, Saritha; Dasgupta, Anindita; Raj, Anita; Donta, Balaiah; Saggurti, Niranjan; Naik, DD; Silverman, Jay G

2014-01-01

Objective To examine postpartum contraception utilization among Indian women seeking immunization for their infants in three low-income communities in Mumbai, India. Study Design We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire of low-income postpartum women seeking immunization for their infants at three large urban health centers in Mumbai. Contraceptive utilization data was collected as part of a larger study focused on the impact of postpartum domestic violence on maternal and infant health. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to describe and identify predictors of postpartum contraceptive utilization. Results Postpartum women aged 17–45 years (N=1049) completed the survey; 44.5% (n= 467) reported resuming sexual relations with their husbands. Among these women, the majority (65.3%; n=305) reported not currently using contraception. In multivariate analyses, women who did not discuss postpartum family planning with their husbands, had not used contraception previous to the recent birth, and who had experienced physical violence or forced sex were more likely to not use postpartum contraception (AORs = 1.47–1.77). Among the 162 women using contraception, the most common time to initiation of contraception was 5 weeks postpartum and the most common method used was condoms 77.8% (n=126). Conclusion Contraception non-use was common among urban, low-income postpartum women in India. This study highlights the importance of developing interventions to increase use of highly effective contraceptive methods postpartum, and that spousal violence and lack of marital communication may present barriers to postpartum contraception utilization. Infant immunization may represent an opportunity for provision of contraceptives and contraceptive counseling. Implications This original research study is a unique contribution to the literature because it presents data regarding the non-use of postpartum contraception among women seeking immunizations for their infants in urban centers in a developing country. It also reveals barriers to not using postpartum contraception and provides data for future interventions. PMID:24560478

Superintendents' Group Problem-Solving Processes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leithwood, Kenneth; And Others

Findings of a study that examined the collaborative problem-solving processes used by superintendents are presented in this paper. Based on information processing theory, the study utilizes a model composed of the following components: interpretation; goals; principles and values; constraints; solution processes; and mood. Data were derived from…

The Validity and Utility of the Positive Presentation Management and Negative Presentation Management Scales for the Revised NEO Personality Inventory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sellbom, Martin; Bagby, R. Michael

2008-01-01

Schinka, Kinder, and Kremer developed "validity" scales for the "Revised NEO Personality Inventory" (NEO PI-R; Costa & McCrae) to detect underreporting--the Positive Presentation Management (PPM) Scale and overreporting--the Negative Presentation Management (NPM) Scale. In this investigation, the clinical utility of these…

Utility of the response bias scale (RBS) and other MMPI-2 validity scales in predicting TOMM performance.

PubMed

Whitney, Kriscinda A; Davis, Jeremy J; Shepard, Polly H; Herman, Steven M

2008-01-01

The present study represents a replication and extension of the original Response Bias Scale (RBS) validation study. In addition to examining the relationship between the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM), RBS, and several other well-researched Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2) validity scales (i.e., F, Fb, Fp, and the Fake Bad Scale), the present study also included the recently developed Infrequency Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale and the Henry-Heilbronner Index (HHI) of the MMPI-2. Findings from this retrospective data analysis (N=46) demonstrated the superiority of the RBS, and to a certain extent the HHI, over other MMPI-2 validity scales in predicting TOMM failure within the outpatient Veterans Affairs population. Results of the current study confirm the clinical utility of the RBS and suggest that, particularly if the MMPI-2 is an existing part of the neuropsychological assessment, examination of RBS scores is an efficient means of detecting negative response bias.

Are implicit policy assumptions about climate adaptation trying to push drinking water utilities down an impossible path?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klasic, M. R.; Ekstrom, J.; Bedsworth, L. W.; Baker, Z.

2017-12-01

Extreme events such as wildfires, droughts, and flooding are projected to be more frequent and intense under a changing climate, increasing challenges to water quality management. To protect and improve public health, drinking water utility managers need to understand and plan for climate change and extreme events. This three year study began with the assumption that improved climate projections were key to advancing climate adaptation at the local level. Through a survey (N = 259) and interviews (N = 61) with California drinking water utility managers during the peak of the state's recent drought, we found that scientific information was not a key barrier hindering adaptation. Instead, we found that managers fell into three distinct mental models based on their interaction with, perceptions, and attitudes, towards scientific information and the future of water in their system. One of the mental models, "modeled futures", is a concept most in line with how climate change scientists talk about the use of information. Drinking water utilities falling into the "modeled future" category tend to be larger systems that have adequate capacity to both receive and use scientific information. Medium and smaller utilities in California, that more often serve rural low income communities, tend to fall into the other two mental models, "whose future" and "no future". We show evidence that there is an implicit presumption that all drinking water utility managers should strive to align with "modeled future" mental models. This presentation questions this assumption as it leaves behind many utilities that need to adapt to climate change (several thousand in California alone), but may not have the technical, financial, managerial, or other capacity to do so. It is clear that no single solution or pathway to drought resilience exists for water utilities, but we argue that a more explicit understanding and definition of what it means to be a resilient drinking water utility is necessary. By highlighting, then questioning, the assumption that all utility managers should strive to have "modeled future" mentalities, this presentation seeks to foster an open dialogue around which pathway or pathways are most feasible for supporting drinking water utility managers planning for climate change.

Moisture analysis from radiosonde and microwave spectrometer data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haydu, K. J.; Krishnamurti, T. N.

1981-01-01

A method for analysis of the horizontal and vertical distributions of the moisture field utilizing satellite, upper air and surface data is proposed in this paper. A brief overview of the microwave sensors on board Nimbus 5 and 6 is also presented. A technique is provided utilizing the radiosonde data sets to calibrate the satellite field of total precipitable water. Next, the calibrated satellite-derived field is utilized along with ship and coastal reports of moisture, and a vertical structure function to generate vertical distribution of moisture and thus provide a mapping of specific humidity at several levels in the troposphere. Utilizing these procedures, analyses for several case studies were performed. The resultant maps show detailed distribution of specific humidity along with some interesting climatological features. A reasonable acceptance of the available aerological data sets by the analysis scheme is demonstrated.

Solar thermal power plants in small utilities - An economic impact analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bluhm, S. A.; Ferber, R. R.; Mayo, L. G.

1979-01-01

A study was performed to assess the potential economic impact of small solar thermal electric power systems in statistically representative synthetic small utilities of the Southwestern United States. Power supply expansion plans were compared on the basis of present worth of future revenue requirements for 1980-2000 with and without solar thermal plants. Coal-fired and oil-fired municipal utility expansion plans with 5 percent solar penetration were 0.5 percent and 2.25 percent less expensive, respectively, than the corresponding conventional plan. At $969/kWe, which assumes the same low cost solar equipment but no improvement in site development costs, solar penetration of 5 percent in the oil-fired municipal reduced revenue requirements 0.88 percent. The paper concludes that some solar thermal plants are potentially economic in small community utilities of the Southwest.

Sociodemographic, perceived and objective need indicators of mental health treatment use and treatment-seeking intentions among primary care medical patients.

PubMed

Elhai, Jon D; Voorhees, Summer; Ford, Julian D; Min, Kyeong Sam; Frueh, B Christopher

2009-01-30

We explored sociodemographic and illness/need associations with both recent mental healthcare utilization intensity and self-reported behavioral intentions to seek treatment. Data were examined from a community sample of 201 participants presenting for medical appointments at a Midwestern U.S. primary care clinic, in a cross-sectional survey study. Using non-linear regression analyses accounting for the excess of zero values in treatment visit counts, we found that both sociodemographic and illness/need models were significantly predictive of both recent treatment utilization intensity and intentions to seek treatment. Need models added substantial variance in prediction, above and beyond sociodemographic models. Variables with the greatest predictive role in explaining past treatment utilization intensity were greater depression severity, perceived need for treatment, older age, and lower income. Robust variables in predicting intentions to seek treatment were greater depression severity, perceived need for treatment, and more positive treatment attitudes. This study extends research findings on mental health treatment utilization, specifically addressing medical patients and using statistical methods appropriate to examining treatment visit counts, and demonstrates the importance of both objective and subjective illness/need variables in predicting recent service use intensity and intended future utilization.

Chiropractic utilization in Taekwondo athletes

PubMed Central

Kazemi, Mohsen; Shearer, Heather

2008-01-01

The purpose of the present study was to examine chiropractic utilization following a sport-related injury among National Team members and other high level Taekwondo athletes. Methods Retrospective surveys were conducted among Canadian male and female Taekwondo athletes (Group A, n = 60) competing in a national tournament and National Taekwondo team athletes (Group B, n = 16) at a training camp. Results A response rate of 46.7% (Group A) and 100% (Group B) was achieved. Twenty five percent (n = 4) of Group A athletes reported never seen a doctor of chiropractic (DC) regarding their injuries. Over 12% (n = 2) reported visiting a DC often, while just over 6% (n = 1) reported that they usually visited the DC following an injury. When injured, over 36% (n = 7) of the National Team members visit their family physician, over 15% (n = 3) visit a chiropractor or physiotherapist and the remaining athletes (n = 6) equally visit osteopaths, massage therapists, or athletic therapist following an injury. Conclusion There is a lack of information surrounding chiropractic utilization in the majority of sports and minimal research published regarding the health care utilization of Taekwondo athletes. Chiropractors, and particularly those with extensive athlete contact, should endeavour to further utilization studies. PMID:18516286

An Active RBSE Framework to Generate Optimal Stimulus Sequences in a BCI for Spelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moghadamfalahi, Mohammad; Akcakaya, Murat; Nezamfar, Hooman; Sourati, Jamshid; Erdogmus, Deniz

2017-10-01

A class of brain computer interfaces (BCIs) employs noninvasive recordings of electroencephalography (EEG) signals to enable users with severe speech and motor impairments to interact with their environment and social network. For example, EEG based BCIs for typing popularly utilize event related potentials (ERPs) for inference. Presentation paradigm design in current ERP-based letter by letter typing BCIs typically query the user with an arbitrary subset characters. However, the typing accuracy and also typing speed can potentially be enhanced with more informed subset selection and flash assignment. In this manuscript, we introduce the active recursive Bayesian state estimation (active-RBSE) framework for inference and sequence optimization. Prior to presentation in each iteration, rather than showing a subset of randomly selected characters, the developed framework optimally selects a subset based on a query function. Selected queries are made adaptively specialized for users during each intent detection. Through a simulation-based study, we assess the effect of active-RBSE on the performance of a language-model assisted typing BCI in terms of typing speed and accuracy. To provide a baseline for comparison, we also utilize standard presentation paradigms namely, row and column matrix presentation paradigm and also random rapid serial visual presentation paradigms. The results show that utilization of active-RBSE can enhance the online performance of the system, both in terms of typing accuracy and speed.

The nature-disorder paradox: A perceptual study on how nature is disorderly yet aesthetically preferred.

PubMed

Kotabe, Hiroki P; Kardan, Omid; Berman, Marc G

2017-08-01

Natural environments have powerful aesthetic appeal linked to their capacity for psychological restoration. In contrast, disorderly environments are aesthetically aversive, and have various detrimental psychological effects. But in our research, we have repeatedly found that natural environments are perceptually disorderly. What could explain this paradox? We present 3 competing hypotheses: the aesthetic preference for naturalness is more powerful than the aesthetic aversion to disorder (the nature-trumps-disorder hypothesis ); disorder is trivial to aesthetic preference in natural contexts (the harmless-disorder hypothesis ); and disorder is aesthetically preferred in natural contexts (the beneficial-disorder hypothesis ). Utilizing novel methods of perceptual study and diverse stimuli, we rule in the nature-trumps-disorder hypothesis and rule out the harmless-disorder and beneficial-disorder hypotheses. In examining perceptual mechanisms, we find evidence that high-level scene semantics are both necessary and sufficient for the nature-trumps-disorder effect. Necessity is evidenced by the effect disappearing in experiments utilizing only low-level visual stimuli (i.e., where scene semantics have been removed) and experiments utilizing a rapid-scene-presentation procedure that obscures scene semantics. Sufficiency is evidenced by the effect reappearing in experiments utilizing noun stimuli which remove low-level visual features. Furthermore, we present evidence that the interaction of scene semantics with low-level visual features amplifies the nature-trumps-disorder effect-the effect is weaker both when statistically adjusting for quantified low-level visual features and when using noun stimuli which remove low-level visual features. These results have implications for psychological theories bearing on the joint influence of low- and high-level perceptual inputs on affect and cognition, as well as for aesthetic design. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Analysis of the evidence-practice gap to facilitate proper medical care for the elderly: investigation, using databases, of utilization measures for National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB).

PubMed

Nakayama, Takeo; Imanaka, Yuichi; Okuno, Yasushi; Kato, Genta; Kuroda, Tomohiro; Goto, Rei; Tanaka, Shiro; Tamura, Hiroshi; Fukuhara, Shunichi; Fukuma, Shingo; Muto, Manabu; Yanagita, Motoko; Yamamoto, Yosuke

2017-06-06

As Japan becomes a super-aging society, presentation of the best ways to provide medical care for the elderly, and the direction of that care, are important national issues. Elderly people have multi-morbidity with numerous medical conditions and use many medical resources for complex treatment patterns. This increases the likelihood of inappropriate medical practices and an evidence-practice gap. The present study aimed to: derive findings that are applicable to policy from an elucidation of the actual state of medical care for the elderly; establish a foundation for the utilization of National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB), and present measures for the utilization of existing databases in parallel with NDB validation.Cross-sectional and retrospective cohort studies were conducted using the NDB built by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan, private health insurance claims databases, and the Kyoto University Hospital database (including related hospitals). Medical practices (drug prescription, interventional procedures, testing) related to four issues-potential inappropriate medication, cancer therapy, chronic kidney disease treatment, and end-of-life care-will be described. The relationships between these issues and clinical outcomes (death, initiation of dialysis and other adverse events) will be evaluated, if possible.

Feasibility of geothermal heat use in the San Bernardino Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant. Final report, September 1980-June 1981

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

Racine, W.C.; Larson, T.C.; Stewart, C.A.

1981-06-01

A system was developed for utilizing nearby low temperature geothermal energy to heat two high-rate primary anaerobic digesters at the San Bernardino Wastewater Treatment Plant. The geothermal fluid would replace the methane currently burned to fuel the digesters. A summary of the work accomplished on the feasibility study is presented. The design and operation of the facility are examined and potentially viable applications selected for additional study. Results of these investigations and system descriptions and equipment specifications for utilizing geothermal energy in the selected processes are presented. The economic analyses conducted on the six engineering design cases are discussed. Themore » environmental setting of the project and an analysis of the environmental impacts that will result from construction and operation of the geothermal heating system are discussed. A Resource Development Plan describes the steps that the San Bernardino Municipal Water Department could follow in order to utilize the resource. A preliminary well program and rough cost estimates for the production and injection wells also are included. The Water Department is provided with a program and schedule for implementing a geothermal system to serve the wastewater treatment plant. Regulatory, financial, and legal issues that will impact the project are presented in the Appendix. An outline of a Public Awareness Program is included.« less

Instructional Developer as Content Specialist: Three Case Studies Utilizing the Instructional Development-Operations Research Model.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Faust, Stephen M.

1980-01-01

Presents a 3-phase model (content research, specification, delivery) for instructional development-operations research and describes its application in developing courses in zoology, geology, and paleontology. (MER)

Training-Dependent Associative Learning Induced Neocortical Structural Plasticity: A Trace Eyeblink Conditioning Analysis

PubMed Central

Chau, Lily S.; Prakapenka, Alesia V.; Zendeli, Liridon; Davis, Ashley S.; Galvez, Roberto

2014-01-01

Studies utilizing general learning and memory tasks have suggested the importance of neocortical structural plasticity for memory consolidation. However, these learning tasks typically result in learning of multiple different tasks over several days of training, making it difficult to determine the synaptic time course mediating each learning event. The current study used trace-eyeblink conditioning to determine the time course for neocortical spine modification during learning. With eyeblink conditioning, subjects are presented with a neutral, conditioned stimulus (CS) paired with a salient, unconditioned stimulus (US) to elicit an unconditioned response (UR). With multiple CS-US pairings, subjects learn to associate the CS with the US and exhibit a conditioned response (CR) when presented with the CS. Trace conditioning is when there is a stimulus free interval between the CS and the US. Utilizing trace-eyeblink conditioning with whisker stimulation as the CS (whisker-trace-eyeblink: WTEB), previous findings have shown that primary somatosensory (barrel) cortex is required for both acquisition and retention of the trace-association. Additionally, prior findings demonstrated that WTEB acquisition results in an expansion of the cytochrome oxidase whisker representation and synaptic modification in layer IV of barrel cortex. To further explore these findings and determine the time course for neocortical learning-induced spine modification, the present study utilized WTEB conditioning to examine Golgi-Cox stained neurons in layer IV of barrel cortex. Findings from this study demonstrated a training-dependent spine proliferation in layer IV of barrel cortex during trace associative learning. Furthermore, findings from this study showing that filopodia-like spines exhibited a similar pattern to the overall spine density further suggests that reorganization of synaptic contacts set the foundation for learning-induced neocortical modifications through the different neocortical layers. PMID:24760074

Impact of comorbidity and healthcare utilization on colorectal cancer stage at diagnosis: literature review

PubMed Central

Corkum, Mark; Urquhart, Robin; Burge, Fred; Porter, Geoffrey; Johnston, Grace

2013-01-01

Purpose Individuals diagnosed with cancer close to death have low access to enrollment in palliative care programs. The purpose of this literature review was to assess the usefulness of pre-diagnostic comorbidity and healthcare utilization as indicators of late-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis, to help with early identification of individuals who may benefit from palliative care. Methods A literature search was conducted in relevant databases using title/abstract terms which included “cancer,” “stage,” “diagnosis,” “determinants,” “predictors,” and “associated.” Included studies examined whether comorbidity and/or healthcare utilization had an impact on the stage at which CRC was diagnosed. A standardized data abstraction form was used to assess the eligibility of each study. Thirteen articles were included in the literature review. These studies were assessed and synthesized using qualitative methodology. Results We found much heterogeneity among study variables. The findings of this literature review point to the presence of comorbidity and non-emergent healthcare utilization as having no association with late-stage diagnosis. Conversely, emergency room presentation (ERP) was associated with late-stage diagnosis. Conclusions The results of this literature review did not find strong evidence to suggest that comorbidity and healthcare utilization are potential indicators of late-stage diagnosis. However, ERP may be useful as a flag for consideration of prompt referral to palliative care. Additional research is required to identify potential indicators of late-stage diagnosis that may be available in administrative databases, particularly in the area of healthcare utilization. PMID:22101505

Prevalence and Factors Associated with the Utilization of Dental Care Services among Factory Workers in Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate, Pathumthani Province, Thailand.

PubMed

Jaidee, Jeeratip; Ratanasiri, Amornrat; Chatrchaiwiwatana, Supaporn; Soonthon, Surasak

2015-07-01

The present study aimed to find out the utilization prevalence of dental care services among factory workers over a period of one year and factors associated with utilization of dental care services. This was a cross-sectional analytic study. The study population was factory workers in Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate randomly sampled using Probability Proportion to Size Cluster Sampling Method. The tool was a questionnaire about utilization of dental care services. Among the sample group of 1,500 workers from 16 factories, almost 2/3 (63.9%) had never used any dental care services in the previous year while only 36.1% did. A multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that workplace, accommodation, tooth decay, toothache history, transportation, experience in using social security fund for dental care services, availability and accessibility of dental care services, brushing teeth regularly after meals, using dental care services regularly in a dental clinic, and agreement with the idea that a tooth extraction and medication by a dentist could reduce the risk of progression of disease, statistical significance (p-value < 0.05), were factors associated with the utilization of dental care services at R2 (The Nagelkerke R Square) 0.38. That the prevalence of the factory workers who did not use dental care services during the last one year was 63.9 percent. This study identified three groups of factors associated with the utilization of dental care services as: 1) Predisposing factors, 2) Enabling factors, and 3) Need factors.

Reactor cell assembly for use in spectroscopy and microscopy applications

DOEpatents

Grindstaff, Quirinus; Stowe, Ashley Clinton; Smyrl, Norm; Powell, Louis; McLane, Sam

2015-08-04

The present disclosure provides a reactor cell assembly that utilizes a novel design and that is wholly or partially manufactured from Aluminum, such that reactions involving Hydrogen, for example, including solid-gas reactions and thermal decomposition reactions, are not affected by any degree of Hydrogen outgassing. This reactor cell assembly can be utilized in a wide range of optical and laser spectroscopy applications, as well as optical microscopy applications, including high-temperature and high-pressure applications. The result is that the elucidation of the role of Hydrogen in the reactions studied can be achieved. Various window assemblies can be utilized, such that high temperatures and high pressures can be accommodated and the signals obtained can be optimized.

Initial comparisons of modular-sized, integrated utility systems and conventional systems for several building types

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Benson, H. E.; Monford, L. G., Jr.

1976-01-01

The results of a study of the application of a modular integrated utility system to six typical building types are compared with the application of a conventional utility system to the same facilities. The effects of varying the size and climatic location of the buildings and the size of the powerplants are presented. Construction details of the six building types (garden apartments, a high rise office building, high rise apartments, a shopping center, a high school, and a hospital) and typical site and floor plans are provided. The environmental effects, the unit size determination, and the market potential are discussed. The cost effectiveness of the various design options is not considered.

Performance potential of combined cycles integrated with low-Btu gasifiers for future electric utility applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nainiger, J. J.; Burns, R. K.

1977-01-01

A comparison and an assessment of 10 advanced utility power systems on a consistent basis and to a common level of detail were analyzed. Substantial emphasis was given to a combined cycle systems integrated with low-Btu gasifiers. Performance and cost results from that study were presented for these combined cycle systems, together with a comparative evaluation. The effect of the gasifier type and performance and the interface between the gasifier and the power system were discussed.

Epoxy Nanocomposites Containing Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8.

PubMed

Liu, Cong; Mullins, Michael; Hawkins, Spencer; Kotaki, Masaya; Sue, Hung-Jue

2018-01-10

Zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) is utilized as a functional filler and a curing agent in the preparation of epoxy nanocomposites. The imidazole group on the surface of the ZIF-8 initiates epoxy curing, resulting in covalent bonding between the ZIF-8 crystals and epoxy matrix. A substantial reduction in dielectric constant and increase in tensile modulus were observed. The implication of the present study for utilization of metal-organic framework to improve physical and mechanical properties of polymeric matrixes is discussed.

An introduction to clinical microeconomic analysis: purposes and analytic methods.

PubMed

Weintraub, W S; Mauldin, P D; Becker, E R

1994-06-01

The recent concern with health care economics has fostered the development of a new discipline that is generally called clinical microeconomics. This is a discipline in which microeconomic methods are used to study the economics of specific medical therapies. It is possible to perform stand alone cost analyses, but more profound insight into the medical decision making process may be accomplished by combining cost studies with measures of outcome. This is most often accomplished with cost-effectiveness or cost-utility studies. In cost-effectiveness studies there is one measure of outcome, often death. In cost-utility studies there are multiple measures of outcome, which must be grouped together to give an overall picture of outcome or utility. There are theoretical limitations to the determination of utility that must be accepted to perform this type of analysis. A summary statement of outcome is quality adjusted life years (QALYs), which is utility time socially discounted survival. Discounting is used because people value a year of future life less than a year of present life. Costs are made up of in-hospital direct, professional, follow-up direct, and follow-up indirect costs. Direct costs are for medical services. Indirect costs reflect opportunity costs such as lost time at work. Cost estimates are often based on marginal costs, or the cost for one additional procedure of the same type. Finally an overall statistic may be generated as cost per unit increase in effectiveness, such as dollars per QALY.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carbon source utilization and inhibitor tolerance of 45 oleaginous yeast species

PubMed Central

Sitepu, Irnayuli; Selby, Tylan; Lin, Ting; Zhu, Shirley; Boundy-Mills, Kyria

2014-01-01

Conversion of lignocellulosic hydrolysates to lipids using oleaginous (high lipid) yeasts requires alignment of the hydrolysate composition with the characteristics of the yeast strain, including ability to utilize certain nutrients, ability to grow independently of costly nutrients such as vitamins, and ability to tolerate inhibitors. Some combination of these characteristics may be present in wild strains. In this study, 48 oleaginous yeast strains belonging to 45 species were tested for ability to utilize carbon sources associated with lignocellulosic hydrolysates, tolerate inhibitors, and grow in medium without supplemented vitamins. Some well-studied oleaginous yeast species, as well as some that have not been frequently utilized in research or industrial production, emerged as promising candidates for industrial use due to ability to utilize many carbon sources, including Cryptococcus aureus, Cryptococcus laurentii, Hanaella aff. zeae, Tremella encephala, and Trichosporon coremiiforme. Other species excelled in inhibitor tolerance, including Candida aff. tropicalis, Cyberlindnera jadinii, Metschnikowia pulcherrima Schwanniomyces occidentalis and Wickerhamomyces ciferii. No yeast tested could utilize all carbon sources and tolerate all inhibitors tested. These results indicate that yeast strains should be selected based on characteristics compatible with the composition of the targeted hydrolysate. Other factors to consider include the production of valuable co-products such as carotenoids, availability of genetic tools, biosafety level, and flocculation of the yeast strain. The data generated in this study will aid in aligning yeasts with compatible hydrolysates for conversion of carbohydrates to lipids to be used for biofuels and other oleochemicals. PMID:24818698

A Study of Language Arts Curriculum Effectiveness with Gifted Learners.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

VanTassel-Baska, Joyce; And Others

1996-01-01

This study of language arts curriculum effectiveness presents data supporting utilization of the Integrated Curriculum Model (ICM) with high-ability learners in various grouping contexts. Significant gains were demonstrated in literary analysis, persuasive writing, and linguistic competency for seven elementary classes using the ICM. Implications…

Modeling Individual Differences in Unfolding Preference Data: A Restricted Latent Class Approach.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bockenholt, Ulf; Bockenholt, Ingo

1990-01-01

A latent-class scaling approach is presented for modeling paired comparison and "pick any/t" data obtained in preference studies. The utility of this approach is demonstrated through analysis of data from studies involving consumer preference and preference for political candidates. (SLD)

Survey of electric utility demand for coal. [1972-1992; by utility and state

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

Asbury, J.G.; Caruso, J.V.; Kouvalis, A.

1979-08-01

This report presents the results of a survey of electric utility demand for coal in the United States. The sources of survey information are: (1) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Form 423 data on utility coal purchases during the period July 1972 through December 1978 and (2) direct telephone survey data on utility coal-purchase intentions for power plants to be constructed by 1992. Price and quantity data for coal used in existing plants are presented to illustrate price and market-share trends in individual coal-consuming states during recent years. Coal source, quality, quantity, and transportation data are reported for existing and plannedmore » generating plants.« less

Analysis on the adaptive countermeasures to ecological management under changing environment in the Tarim River Basin, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Fan; Xue, Lianqing; Zhang, Luochen; Chen, Xinfang; Chi, Yixia

2017-12-01

This article aims to explore the adaptive utilization strategies of flow regime versus traditional practices in the context of climate change and human activities in the arid area. The study presents quantitative analysis of climatic and anthropogenic factors to streamflow alteration in the Tarim River Basin (TRB) using the Budyko method and adaptive utilization strategies to eco-hydrological regime by comparing the applicability between autoregressive moving average model (ARMA) model and combined regression model. Our results suggest that human activities played a dominant role in streamflow deduction in the mainstream with contribution of 120.7%~190.1%. While in the headstreams, climatic variables were the primary determinant of streamflow by 56.5~152.6% of the increase. The comparison revealed that combined regression model performed better than ARMA model with the qualified rate of 80.49~90.24%. Based on the forecasts of streamflow for different purposes, the adaptive utilization scheme of water flow is established from the perspective of time and space. Our study presents an effective water resources scheduling scheme for the ecological environment and provides references for ecological protection and water allocation in the arid area.

Cost-Utility and Cost-Effectiveness Studies of Telemedicine, Electronic, and Mobile Health Systems in the Literature: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

López-Coronado, Miguel; Vaca, Cesar; Aguado, Jesús Saez; de Castro, Carlos

2015-01-01

Abstract Objective: A systematic review of cost-utility and cost-effectiveness research works of telemedicine, electronic health (e-health), and mobile health (m-health) systems in the literature is presented. Materials and Methods: Academic databases and systems such as PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore were searched, using different combinations of terms such as “cost-utility” OR “cost utility” AND “telemedicine,” “cost-effectiveness” OR “cost effectiveness” AND “mobile health,” etc. In the articles searched, there were no limitations in the publication date. Results: The search identified 35 relevant works. Many of the articles were reviews of different studies. Seventy-nine percent concerned the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine systems in different specialties such as teleophthalmology, telecardiology, teledermatology, etc. More articles were found between 2000 and 2013. Cost-utility studies were done only for telemedicine systems. Conclusions: There are few cost-utility and cost-effectiveness studies for e-health and m-health systems in the literature. Some cost-effectiveness studies demonstrate that telemedicine can reduce the costs, but not all. Among the main limitations of the economic evaluations of telemedicine systems are the lack of randomized control trials, small sample sizes, and the absence of quality data and appropriate measures. PMID:25474190

Utilization of Maternal and Child Health Care Services by Primigravida Females in Urban and Rural Areas of India

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Maternal complications and poor perinatal outcome are highly associated with nonutilisation of antenatal and delivery care services and poor socioeconomic conditions of the patient. It is essential that all pregnant women have access to high quality obstetric care throughout their pregnancies. Present longitudinal study was carried out to compare utilization of maternal and child health care services by urban and rural primigravida females. A total of 240 study participants were enrolled in this study. More illiteracy and less mean age at the time of marriage were observed in rural population. Poor knowledge about prelacteal feed, colostrums, tetanus injection and iron-follic acid tablet consumption was noted in both urban and rural areas. Very few study participants from both areas were counselled for HIV testing before pregnancy. More numbers of abortions (19.2%) were noted in urban study participants compared to rural area. Thus utilization of maternal and child health care (MCH) services was poor in both urban and rural areas. A sustained and focussed IEC campaign to improve the awareness amongst community on MCH will help in improving community participation. This may improve the quality, accessibility, and utilization of maternal health care services provided by the government agencies in both rural and urban areas. PMID:24977099

Impact of cigarette smoking on utilization of nursing home services.

PubMed

Warner, Kenneth E; McCammon, Ryan J; Fries, Brant E; Langa, Kenneth M

2013-11-01

Few studies have examined the effects of smoking on nursing home utilization, generally using poor data on smoking status. No previous study has distinguished utilization for recent from long-term quitters. Using the Health and Retirement Study, we assessed nursing home utilization by never-smokers, long-term quitters (quit >3 years), recent quitters (quit ≤3 years), and current smokers. We used logistic regression to evaluate the likelihood of a nursing home admission. For those with an admission, we used negative binomial regression on the number of nursing home nights. Finally, we employed zero-inflated negative binomial regression to estimate nights for the full sample. Controlling for other variables, compared with never-smokers, long-term quitters have an odds ratio (OR) for nursing home admission of 1.18 (95% CI: 1.07-1.2), current smokers 1.39 (1.23-1.57), and recent quitters 1.55 (1.29-1.87). The probability of admission rises rapidly with age and is lower for African Americans and Hispanics, more affluent respondents, respondents with a spouse present in the home, and respondents with a living child. Given admission, smoking status is not associated with length of stay (LOS). LOS is longer for older respondents and women and shorter for more affluent respondents and those with spouses present. Compared with otherwise identical never-smokers, former and current smokers have a significantly increased risk of nursing home admission. That recent quitters are at greatest risk of admission is consistent with evidence that many stop smoking because they are sick, often due to smoking.

Utilization of head CT during injury visits to United States emergency departments: 2012-2015.

PubMed

Yun, Brian J; Borczuk, Pierre; Zachrison, Kori S; Goldstein, Joshua N; Berlyand, Yosef; Raja, Ali S

2018-05-18

Studies have shown increasing utilization of head computed tomography (CT) imaging of emergency department (ED) patients presenting with an injury-related visit. Multiple initiatives, including the Choosing Wisely™ campaign and evidence-based clinical decision support based on validated decision rules, have targeted head CT use in patients with injuries. Therefore, we investigated national trends in the use of head CT during injury-related ED visits from 2012 to 2015. This was a secondary analysis of data from the annual United States (U.S.) National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2012 to 2015. The study population was defined as injury-related ED visits, and we sought to determine the percentage in which a head CT was ordered and, secondarily, to determine both the diagnostic yield of clinically significant intracranial findings and hospital characteristics associated with increased head CT utilization. Between 2012 and 2015, 12.25% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.48-13.02%) of injury-related visits received at least one head CT. Overall head CT utilization showed an increased trend during the study period (2012: 11.7%, 2015: 13.23%, p = 0.09), but the results were not statistically significant. The diagnostic yield of head CT for a significant intracranial injury over the period of four years was 7.4% (9.68% in 2012 vs. 7.67% in 2015, p = 0.23). Head CT use along with diagnostic yield has remained stable from 2012 to 2015 among patients presenting to the ED for an injury-related visit. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Teacher Training and Authentic Scientific Research Utilizing Cretaceous Fossil Resources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danch, J. M.

2016-12-01

The readily accessible Cretaceous fossil beds of central New Jersey provide an excellent opportunity for both teacher training in the utilization of paleontological resources in the classroom and authentic scientific student research at the middle and high school levels. Woodbridge Township New Jersey School District teachers participated in field trips to various fossiliferous sites to obtain photographic and video data and invertebrate and vertebrate fossil specimens for use in the classroom. Teachers were also presented with techniques allowing them to mentor students in performing authentic paleontological research. Students participated in multi-year research projects utilizing Cretaceous fossils collected in the field and presented their findings at science fairs and symposia. A workshop for K - 12 teachers statewide was developed for the New Jersey Science Convention providing information about New Jersey fossil resources and allowing participants to obtain, study and classify specimens. Additionally, the workshop provided participants with the information necessary for them to plan and conduct their own field trips.

Outcome of the second Medicines Utilisation Research in Africa Group meeting to promote sustainable and appropriate medicine use in Africa.

PubMed

Massele, Amos; Burger, Johanita; Kalemeera, Francis; Jande, Mary; Didimalang, Thatayaone; Kalungia, Aubrey Chichonyi; Matshotyana, Kidwell; Law, Michael; Malone, Brighid; Ogunleye, Olayinka; Oluka, Margaret; Paramadhas, Bene D; Rwegerera, Godfrey; Zinyowera, Sekesai; Godman, Brian

2017-04-01

The second Medicines Utilization Research in Africa (MURIA) group workshop and symposium again brought researchers together from across Africa to improve their knowledge of drug utilization (DU) methodologies and exchange ideas to further progress DU research in Africa. This built on extensive activities from the first conference including workshops and multiple publications. Anti-infectives were again the principal theme for the 2016 symposium following the workshops. This included presentations regarding strategies to improve antibiotic utilization among African countries, such as point-prevalence studies, as well as potential ways to reduce self-purchasing of antibiotics. There were also presentations on antiretrovirals including renal function and the impact of policy changes. Concerns with adherence in chronic treatments as well as drug-drug interactions and their implications were also discussed. The deliberations resulted in a number of agreed activities including joint publications before the next MURIA conference in Namibia in 2017.

Design requirements for operational earth resources ground data processing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baldwin, C. J.; Bradford, L. H.; Burnett, E. S.; Hutson, D. E.; Kinsler, B. A.; Kugle, D. R.; Webber, D. S.

1972-01-01

Realistic tradeoff data and evaluation techniques were studied that permit conceptual design of operational earth resources ground processing systems. Methodology for determining user requirements that utilize the limited information available from users is presented along with definitions of sensor capabilities projected into the shuttle/station era. A tentative method is presented for synthesizing candidate ground processing concepts.

A Computerized Information System Model for Decision Making for the Oklahoma State Department of Vocational and Technical Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Hubert Gene

The objectives of the study presented in the dissertation were to identify present and anticipated information requirements of the various departments within the Oklahoma State Department of Vocational and Technical Education, to design a computerized information system model utilizing an integrated systems concept to meet information…

The Utility of CDOM for Improving the Resolution of Riverine DOM Fluxes and Biogeochemical Function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spencer, R. G.; Aiken, G.; Mann, P. J.; Holmes, R. M.; Niggemann, J.; Dittmar, T.; Hernes, P.; Stubbins, A.

2014-12-01

A major historical limitation to geochemical studies assessing fluvial fluxes of dissolved organic matter (DOM) has been the issue of both temporal and spatial scaling. Examples will be presented from watersheds around the world highlighting how chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) measurements can be utilized as proxies for more intensive and expensive analytical analyses (e.g. molecular-level organic biomarkers). Utilizing these refined CDOM loads for terrigenous biomarkers results in improved temporal resolution and a significant change in flux estimates. Examining CDOM and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) flux data from an assortment of terrestrial biomes we establish a robust relationship between CDOM and DOC loads. The application of this relationship allows future studies to derive DOC loads from CDOM utilizing emerging in-situ or remote sensing technologies and thus refine river-to-ocean DOC fluxes, as well as exploit historic imagery to examine how fluxes may have changed. Calculated CDOM yields from a range of rivers are correlated to watershed percent wetland and highlight the importance of certain regions with respect to CDOM flux to the coastal ocean. This approach indicates that future studies might predict CDOM and DOC yields for different watershed types that could then be readily converted to loads providing for the estimation of CDOM and DOC export from ungauged watersheds. Examination of CDOM yields also highlights important geographical regions for future study with respect to the role of terrigenous CDOM in ocean color budgets and CDOM's role in biogeochemical processes. Finally, examples will be presented linking CDOM parameters to DOM composition and biogeochemical properties with the aim of providing measurements to improve the spatial and especially temporal resolution of the role DOM plays in fluvial networks.

Prediction of Adequate Prenatal Care Utilization Based on the Extended Parallel Process Model

PubMed Central

Hajian, Sepideh; Imani, Fatemeh; Riazi, Hedyeh; Salmani, Fatemeh

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Background: Pregnancy complications are one of the major public health concerns. One of the main causes of preventable complications is the absence of or inadequate provision of prenatal care. The present study was conducted to investigate whether Extended Parallel Process Model’s constructs can predict the utilization of prenatal care services. Methods: The present longitudinal prospective study was conducted on 192 pregnant women selected through the multi-stage sampling of health facilities in Qeshm, Hormozgan province, from April to June 2015. Participants were followed up from the first half of pregnancy until their childbirth to assess adequate or inadequate/non-utilization of prenatal care services. Data were collected using the structured Risk Behavior Diagnosis Scale. The analysis of the data was carried out in SPSS-22 using one-way ANOVA, linear regression and logistic regression analysis. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: Totally, 178 pregnant women with a mean age of 25.31±5.42 completed the study. Perceived self-efficacy (OR=25.23; P<0.001) and perceived susceptibility (OR=0.048; P<0.001) were two predictors of the intention to utilize prenatal care. Husband’s occupation in the labor market (OR=0.43; P=0.02), unwanted pregnancy (OR=0.352; P<0.001), and the need to care for the minors or elderly at home (OR=0.35; P=0.045) were associated with lower odds of receiving prenatal care. Conclusion: The model showed that when perceived efficacy of the prenatal care services overcame the perceived threat, the likelihood of prenatal care usage will increase. This study identified some modifiable factors associated with prenatal care usage by women, providing key targets for appropriate clinical interventions. PMID:29043280

A study on the utilization of forest policy to review from the aspect of climate change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ardhana, I. Putu Gede

2017-11-01

The purpose of this study was to review the utilization of forests from the policy aspects of climate change. This was then associated with the implementation of governmental commitment to carry out REDD+ to cope with the impact of climate change and to achieve sustainable development. Firstly, the author studied this problem from data and information about vast forest areas and conservative water areas in Indonesia. According to provincial governments, there have been several decision letters from the Minister of Forestry from different years ranging from 1999-2014. Comparing the forest areas in letters of 2005, 2008, and 2015, it can be suggested that the areas allocated as productive forest exceeded the areas of conserved or protected forest. This indicates that the utilization of forest as a development resource has occurred, and will continue to become an important element in Indonesia. Furthermore, Indonesian forests continue to suffer deforestation and forest degradation. Therefore, the author presented data and information about deforestation and forest degradation that occurred from forest damage and forest fires. Thirdly, the author presented data and information about the deforestation rate from 2000-2014. In 1989, rehabilitation activities were carried out for critical lands, and from 2012-2014, rehabilitation of forest and riverside areas occurred. This research uses descriptive methods with an approximation of legislation and an approach to librarianship. Then, this study is described in a narrative as well as an interpretive style, and compiled in the form of a working paper. From the results of this research, it can be concluded that Indonesian governmental policy regarding forest utilization has wide potential mitigations, and it is absolutely necessary to consistently implement a number of such programs related to climate change.

The Community College IR Shop and Accreditation: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnston, George

2011-01-01

This article presents results of a study the author recently conducted on the role of traditional institutional research (IR) offices in support of accreditation activities and institutional effectiveness. The purpose of the study was to confirm or disconfirm the utility of a theoretical model developed by Brittingham, O'Brien, and Alig (2008) of…

A Mental Health Training Format for Adult Education Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meek, Fiona; Specht, Jacqueline; Rodger, Susan

2017-01-01

The present study investigated the needs of adult education staff pertaining to adult students' mental health issues within a local school board. The study utilized mixed-methods design and was divided into progression of three separate studies. An initial focus group was conducted to identify the 12 participants' concerns and provide a direction…

The Fun Culture in Seniors' Online Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nimrod, Galit

2011-01-01

Purpose of the study: Previous research found that "fun on line" is the most dominant content in seniors' online communities. The present study aimed to further explore the "fun culture" in these communities and to discover its unique qualities. Design and Methods: The study applied an online ethnography (netnography) approach, utilizing a full…

Case Study of a Research Intervention: The University of Utah's Collaborative Approach.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Driscoll, Amy

A report is presented on the progress of the Applying Research to Teacher Education (ARTE) Research Utilization in Elementary Teacher Education (RUETE) study. The purpose of the study is to develop preservice instruction incorporating current research findings on effective instruction and effective schools and to assess the impact of the…

Renewable Electricity Futures (Presentation)

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

Hand, M. M.

2012-08-01

This presentation library summarizes findings of NREL's Renewable Electricity Futures study, published in June 2012. RE Futures investigated the challenges and impacts of achieving very high renewable electricity generation levels in the contiguous United States by 2050. It was presented to the 2012 Western Conference of Public Service Commissioners, during their June, 2012, meeting. The Western Conference of Public Service Commissioners is a regional association within the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).

Cost-utility analysis of an adjunctive recombinant activated factor VIIa for on-demand treatment of bleeding episodes in dengue haemorrhagic fever.

PubMed

Naing, Cho; Poovorawan, Yong; Mak, Joon Wah; Aung, Kyan; Kamolratankul, Pirom

2015-06-01

The present study aimed to assess the cost-utility analysis of using an adjunctive recombinant activated factor VIIa (rFVIIa) in children for controlling life-threatening bleeding in dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF)/dengue shock syndrome (DSS). We constructed a decision-tree model, comparing a standard care and the use of an additional adjuvant rFVIIa for controlling life-threatening bleeding in children with DHF/DSS. Cost and utility benefit were estimated from the societal perspective. The outcome measure was cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Overall, treatment with adjuvant rFVIIa gained QALYs, but the total cost was higher. The incremental cost-utility ratio for the introduction of adjuvant rFVIIa was $4241.27 per additional QALY. Sensitivity analyses showed the utility value assigned for calculation of QALY was the most sensitive parameter. We concluded that despite high cost, there is a role for rFVIIa in the treatment of life-threatening bleeding in patients with DHF/DSS.

Methods in pharmacoepidemiology: a review of statistical analyses and data reporting in pediatric drug utilization studies.

PubMed

Sequi, Marco; Campi, Rita; Clavenna, Antonio; Bonati, Maurizio

2013-03-01

To evaluate the quality of data reporting and statistical methods performed in drug utilization studies in the pediatric population. Drug utilization studies evaluating all drug prescriptions to children and adolescents published between January 1994 and December 2011 were retrieved and analyzed. For each study, information on measures of exposure/consumption, the covariates considered, descriptive and inferential analyses, statistical tests, and methods of data reporting was extracted. An overall quality score was created for each study using a 12-item checklist that took into account the presence of outcome measures, covariates of measures, descriptive measures, statistical tests, and graphical representation. A total of 22 studies were reviewed and analyzed. Of these, 20 studies reported at least one descriptive measure. The mean was the most commonly used measure (18 studies), but only five of these also reported the standard deviation. Statistical analyses were performed in 12 studies, with the chi-square test being the most commonly performed test. Graphs were presented in 14 papers. Sixteen papers reported the number of drug prescriptions and/or packages, and ten reported the prevalence of the drug prescription. The mean quality score was 8 (median 9). Only seven of the 22 studies received a score of ≥10, while four studies received a score of <6. Our findings document that only a few of the studies reviewed applied statistical methods and reported data in a satisfactory manner. We therefore conclude that the methodology of drug utilization studies needs to be improved.

Near-term hybrid vehicle program, phase 1. Appendix A: Mission analysis and performance specification studies report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

Results of a study leading to the preliminary design of a five passenger hybrid vehicle utilizing two energy sources (electricity and gasoline/diesel fuel) to minimize petroleum usage on a fleet basis are presented. The study methodology is described. Vehicle characterizations, the mission description, characterization, and impact on potential sales, and the rationale for the selection of the reference internal combustion engine vehicle are presented. Conclusions and recommendations of the mission analysis and performance specification report are included.

Preliminary Evaluation of an Aviation Safety Thesaurus' Utility for Enhancing Automated Processing of Incident Reports

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barrientos, Francesca; Castle, Joseph; McIntosh, Dawn; Srivastava, Ashok

2007-01-01

This document presents a preliminary evaluation the utility of the FAA Safety Analytics Thesaurus (SAT) utility in enhancing automated document processing applications under development at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC). Current development efforts at ARC are described, including overviews of the statistical machine learning techniques that have been investigated. An analysis of opportunities for applying thesaurus knowledge to improving algorithm performance is then presented.

Institutional delivery and postnatal care services utilizations in Abuna Gindeberet District, West Shewa, Oromiya Region, Central Ethiopia: A Community-based cross sectional study.

PubMed

Darega, Birhanu; Dida, Nagasa; Tafese, Fikru; Ololo, Shimeles

2016-07-07

Delivery at health institutions under the care of trained health-care providers and utilization of postnatal cares services plays vital roles in promoting child survival and reducing the risk of maternal mortality. More than 80 % of maternal deaths can be prevented if pregnant women access to essential maternity cares like antenatal care, institutional delivery and postnatal care services. Thus, this study aimed to assess institutional delivery and postnatal care services utilizations in Abuna Gindeberet District, West Shewa, Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed among 703 randomly identified mothers of Abuna Gindeberet district in March, 2013. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine prevalence and to identify associated factors with institutional delivery and postnatal care, considering p-value of less than 0.05 as significant. The results were presented in a narrative forms, tables and graphs. One hundred one (14.4 %) of mothers gave birth to their last baby in health institutions. From 556 (79.1 %) of respondents who heard about postnatal care services, only 223 (31.7 %) of them utilized postnatal care services for their recent childbirth. From the total postnatal care users, 204 (91.5 %) of them took the services from health extension workers. Decision-making styles, household distances from health institutions, household being model family and ANC services utilizations were found to be statistically significant with both institutional delivery and postnatal care services utilizations. But educational status of husbands was statistically significant with only postnatal care services utilizations. Both institutional delivery and postnatal care services utilizations from health institutions were low. Decision-making styles, household distances from health institutions, household being model family and ANC services utilizations were the common factors that affect institutional delivery and postnatal care services utilizations from health institutions. Therefore, giving attention to the identified factors could improve and sustain institutional delivery and postnatal care services utilizations from health institutions.

A Cross-Sectional Analytic Study of Postpartum Health Care Service Utilization in the Philippines

PubMed Central

Yamashita, Tadashi; Suplido, Sherri Ann; Ladines-Llave, Cecilia; Tanaka, Yuko; Senba, Naomi; Matsuo, Hiroya

2014-01-01

Background The maternal mortality ratio in the Philippines remains high; thus, it will be difficult to achieve the Millennium Development Goals 5 by 2015. Approximately two-thirds of all maternal deaths occur during the postpartum period. Therefore, we conducted the present study to examine the current state of postpartum health care service utilization in the Philippines, and identify challenges to accessing postpartum care. Methods A questionnaire and knowledge test were distributed to postpartum women in the Philippines. The questionnaire collected demographical characteristics and information about their utilization of health care services during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The knowledge test consisted of 11 questions regarding 6 topics related to possible physical and mental symptoms after delivery. Sixty-four questionnaires and knowledge tests were analyzed. Results The mean time of first postpartum health care visit was 5.1±5.2 days after delivery. Postpartum utilization of health care services was significantly correlated with delivery location (P<0.01). Women who delivered at home had a lower rate of postpartum health care service utilization than women who delivered at medical facilities. The majority of participants scored low on the knowledge test. Conclusion We found inadequate postpartum health care service utilization, especially for women who delivered at home. Our results also suggest that postpartum women lack knowledge about postpartum health concerns. In the Philippines, Barangay health workers may play a role in educating postpartum women regarding health care service utilization to improve their knowledge of possible concerns and their overall utilization of health care services. PMID:24465626

Study of dispersed small wind systems interconnected with a utility distribution system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Curtice, D.; Patton, J.; Bohn, J.; Sechan, N.

1980-03-01

Operating problems for various penetrations of small wind systems connected to the distribution system on a utility are defined. Protection equipment, safety hazards, feeder voltage regulation, line losses, and voltage flicker problems are studied, assuming different small wind systems connected to an existing distribution system. To identify hardware deficiencies, possible solutions provided by off-the-shelf hardware and equipment are assessed. Results of the study indicate that existing techniques are inadequate for detecting isolated operation of a small wind system. Potential safety hazards posed by small wind systems are adequately handled by present work procedures although these procedures require a disconnect device at synchronous generator and self commutated inverter small wind systems.

Proceedings of papers presented at the 2nd international symposium on applications of biotechnology to tree culture, protection, and utilization.

Treesearch

Charles H. Michler; Michael R. Becwar; Daniel Cullen; Warren L. Nance; Ronald R. Sederoff; James M. Silvicek

1994-01-01

Contains 38 oral presentation abstracts, 34 poster abstracts, and 18 manuscripts on applications of biotechnology to tree research in the areas of stress resistance, protection, and wood utilization presented at an international conference in Bloomington, Minnesota, October 2-6, 1994.

OSSA Space Station Freedom science utilization plans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cressy, Philip J.

Long duration exposure to an essentially zero-gravity environment is a phenomenon exclusive to the Space Station Freedom that cannot be duplicated on Earth. The Freedom Station will offer periods of time on orbit extending to weeks and months rather than hours or days, allowing for in-depth space based research and analysis to a degree never before achieved. OSSA remains committed to exploiting the unique capabilities provided by the Space Station as well as other space-based facilities to study the nature of physical, chemical, and biological processes in a low-gravity environment and to apply these studies to advance science and applications in such fields as biomedical research, plant and animal physiology, exobiology, biotechnology, materials science, fluid physics, and combustion science. The OSSA focus is on progressive science investigations, many requiring hands-on scientist involvement using sophisticated experiment hardware. OSSA science utilization planning for the Freedom Station is firmly established. For this presentation, this planning is discussed in three general areas: OSSA goals and overall approach, the current and on-going program, and plans for space station utilization. In the first area, OSSA addresses its overall approach to space science research, its commitment to transition to Space Station Freedom, and its top-level strategy for the utilization of Freedom. The current and on-going program is next discussed, focusing on the various Spacelab series of missions which are providing the stepping-stones to Space Station Freedom. Selected science results from SLS-1 and USML-1 are cited which underline the value of properly outfitted laboratories in space in which crew-intensive experiment interactions are possible. The presentation is concluded with a discussion of top-level goals and strategies for utilizing the Freedom Station by OSSA's Life Sciences Division and its Microgravity Science and Applications Division.

OSSA Space Station Freedom science utilization plans

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cressy, Philip J.

1992-01-01

Long duration exposure to an essentially zero-gravity environment is a phenomenon exclusive to the Space Station Freedom that cannot be duplicated on Earth. The Freedom Station will offer periods of time on orbit extending to weeks and months rather than hours or days, allowing for in-depth space based research and analysis to a degree never before achieved. OSSA remains committed to exploiting the unique capabilities provided by the Space Station as well as other space-based facilities to study the nature of physical, chemical, and biological processes in a low-gravity environment and to apply these studies to advance science and applications in such fields as biomedical research, plant and animal physiology, exobiology, biotechnology, materials science, fluid physics, and combustion science. The OSSA focus is on progressive science investigations, many requiring hands-on scientist involvement using sophisticated experiment hardware. OSSA science utilization planning for the Freedom Station is firmly established. For this presentation, this planning is discussed in three general areas: OSSA goals and overall approach, the current and on-going program, and plans for space station utilization. In the first area, OSSA addresses its overall approach to space science research, its commitment to transition to Space Station Freedom, and its top-level strategy for the utilization of Freedom. The current and on-going program is next discussed, focusing on the various Spacelab series of missions which are providing the stepping-stones to Space Station Freedom. Selected science results from SLS-1 and USML-1 are cited which underline the value of properly outfitted laboratories in space in which crew-intensive experiment interactions are possible. The presentation is concluded with a discussion of top-level goals and strategies for utilizing the Freedom Station by OSSA's Life Sciences Division and its Microgravity Science and Applications Division.

A Piloted Flight to a Near-Earth Object: A Feasibility Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Landis, Rob; Korsmeyer, Dave; Abell, Paul; Adamo, Dan; Morrison, Dave; Lu, Ed; Lemke, Larry; Gonzales, Andy; Jones, Tom; Gershman, Bob;

RPMIS: The Roswell Park Management Information System

PubMed Central

Priore, R.L.; Lane, W.W.; Edgerton, F.T.; Naeher, C.H.; Reese, P.A.

1978-01-01

This paper presents a generalized approach to data entry and editing utilizing formatted video computer terminals. The purpose of the system developed is to facilitate the creation of many small data bases, with a minimum of implementation time, while maintaining extensive editing capability and preserving ease of use by data entry personnel. RPMIS has demonstrated its utility in shortening the time between research activities and clinical application of results. The system allows entry and retrieval of overlapping subsets of the patient's record in an order and format most appropriate to the individual application. It is used for production of synoptic presentations of information from the labs, the ward and the clinic. RPMIS was designed for the clinical trials setting and has been well received and implemented for numerous such studies. Additional uses have included several registries, screening clinics, retrospective studies, and epidemiologic investigations. The system has found fortuitous use in maintaining curriculum vitae, publications lists and continuing medical education credits.

Analysis of System Margins on Missions Utilizing Solar Electric Propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oh, David Y.; Landau, Damon; Randolph, Thomas; Timmerman, Paul; Chase, James; Sims, Jon; Kowalkowski, Theresa

2008-01-01

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has conducted a study focused on the analysis of appropriate margins for deep space missions using solar electric propulsion (SEP). The purpose of this study is to understand the links between disparate system margins (power, mass, thermal, etc.) and their impact on overall mission performance and robustness. It is determined that the various sources of uncertainty and risk associated with electric propulsion mission design can be summarized into three relatively independent parameters 1) EP Power Margin, 2) Propellant Margin and 3) Duty Cycle Margin. The overall relationship between these parameters and other major sources of uncertainty is presented. A detailed trajectory analysis is conducted to examine the impact that various assumptions related to power, duty cycle, destination, and thruster performance including missed thrust periods have on overall performance. Recommendations are presented for system margins for deep space missions utilizing solar electric propulsion.

Solar System Exploration Augmented by In-Situ Resource Utilization: Human Mercury and Saturn Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palaszewski, Bryan

2015-01-01

Human and robotic missions to Mercury and Saturn are presented and analyzed. Unique elements of the local planetary environments are discussed and included in the analyses and assessments. Using historical studies of space exploration, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), and industrialization all point to the vastness of natural resources in the solar system. Advanced propulsion benefitted from these resources in many way. While advanced propulsion systems were proposed in these historical studies, further investigation of nuclear options using high power nuclear thermal and nuclear pulse propulsion as well as advanced chemical propulsion can significantly enhance these scenarios. Updated analyses based on these historical visions will be presented. Nuclear thermal propulsion and ISRU enhanced chemical propulsion landers are assessed for Mercury missions. At Saturn, nuclear pulse propulsion with alternate propellant feed systems and Titan exploration with chemical propulsion options are discussed.

Herding, minority game, market clearing and efficient markets in a simple spin model framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kristoufek, Ladislav; Vosvrda, Miloslav

2018-01-01

We present a novel approach towards the financial Ising model. Most studies utilize the model to find settings which generate returns closely mimicking the financial stylized facts such as fat tails, volatility clustering and persistence, and others. We tackle the model utility from the other side and look for the combination of parameters which yields return dynamics of the efficient market in the view of the efficient market hypothesis. Working with the Ising model, we are able to present nicely interpretable results as the model is based on only two parameters. Apart from showing the results of our simulation study, we offer a new interpretation of the Ising model parameters via inverse temperature and entropy. We show that in fact market frictions (to a certain level) and herding behavior of the market participants do not go against market efficiency but what is more, they are needed for the markets to be efficient.

Construction and Utilization of a Beowulf Computing Cluster: A User's Perspective

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woods, Judy L.; West, Jeff S.; Sulyma, Peter R.

2000-01-01

Lockheed Martin Space Operations - Stennis Programs (LMSO) at the John C Stennis Space Center (NASA/SSC) has designed and built a Beowulf computer cluster which is owned by NASA/SSC and operated by LMSO. The design and construction of the cluster are detailed in this paper. The cluster is currently used for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The CFD codes in use and their applications are discussed. Examples of some of the work are also presented. Performance benchmark studies have been conducted for the CFD codes being run on the cluster. The results of two of the studies are presented and discussed. The cluster is not currently being utilized to its full potential; therefore, plans are underway to add more capabilities. These include the addition of structural, thermal, fluid, and acoustic Finite Element Analysis codes as well as real-time data acquisition and processing during test operations at NASA/SSC. These plans are discussed as well.

Useful byproducts from cellulosic wastes of agriculture and food industry--a critical appraisal.

PubMed

Das, Himanish; Singh, Sudhir Kumar

2004-01-01

Cellulose, an important cell wall polysaccharide, which is replenished constantly in nature by photosynthesis, goes waste in a lion's share in the form of pre-harvest and post-harvest agricultural losses and wastes of food processing industry. These cellulose wastes have an immense potential to be utilized for the production and recovery of several products and ingredients in food application. In this present study, a wide spectrum of researches in the arena of properties of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin; their degradation; sources and composition of cellulosic and lignocellulosic wastes of agriculture and food industry; present status of converting them into value-added products of food applications; constraints in their conversions and future prospects therein has been reviewed in details. The study has encompassed production of biomass for various utilization and production and recovery of protein and amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, organic acids, foods & feeds and other miscellaneous products.

DCS - A global satellite environmental data collection system.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Claire, E. J.

1973-01-01

This paper presents a summary of the results of a comparative study of satellite data collection systems which utilize remote ground data collection platforms transmitting data directly to a satellite and down to low-cost direct read-out local user terminals. The general objective of the study was to evaluate cost and technical feasibility of five medium orbiting and six geo-synchronous satellite data collection system (DCS) configurations with varying degrees of spacecraft and local user terminal (LUT) complexity. The goal of trading spacecraft and LUT complexity was to determine practical feasible systems with low-cost terminals, yet with a reasonable overall system cost the would permit the broad worldwide utilization of a highly beneficial data collection system. Results presented include data collection system analyses, satellite and local user terminal designs, and estimated costs. A summary of the types of local users and their requirements is also included.

Ensuring Data Quality in Extension Research and Evaluation Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Radhakrishna, Rama; Tobin, Daniel; Brennan, Mark; Thomson, Joan

2012-01-01

This article presents a checklist as a guide for Extension professionals to use in research and evaluation studies they carry out. A total of 40 statements grouped under eight data quality components--relevance, objectivity, validity, reliability, integrity, generalizability, completeness, and utility--are identified to ensure that research…

Shyness and Emotion-Processing Skills in Preschoolers: A 6-Month Longitudinal Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strand, Paul S.; Cerna, Sandra; Downs, Andrew

2008-01-01

The present study utilized a short-term longitudinal research design to examine the hypothesis that shyness in preschoolers is differentially related to different aspects of emotion processing. Using teacher reports of shyness and performance measures of emotion processing, including (1) facial emotion recognition, (2) non-facial emotion…

Cognitive Appraisal of Dissertation Stress among Undergraduate Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Devonport, Tracey J.; Lane, Andrew M.

2006-01-01

The present study examined changes in primary and secondary appraisal, and coping strategies utilized in the final weeks leading to dissertation submission. Sixty volunteer Sports Studies dissertation students (male: n = 29; female: n = 31) completed an adapted Cognitive Appraisal of Health Scale (CAHS: Kessler, 1998), and Brief COPE (Carver,…

Assessment and Treatment of Tic Behavior: A Review and Case Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pray, Bruce, Jr.; And Others

1986-01-01

A discussion of the classification, differential diagnosis, etiology, assessment, and treatment of tic disorders is presented. A case study is included in which a school psychologist utilized behavioral consultation to assist a 9-year-old girl's parent and teacher in implementing a habit reversal program. (Author/LMO)

Sociodemographic correlates of cognition in the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA)

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Our objective was to describe the methodology utilized to evaluate cognitive function in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and to present preliminary results by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Cross-sectional measurements of a prospective observational cohort. Residents of 6 U.S. commun...

Teaching Agile Software Engineering Using Problem-Based Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

El-Khalili, Nuha H.

2013-01-01

Many studies have reported the utilization of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in teaching Software Engineering courses. However, these studies have different views of the effectiveness of PBL. This paper presents the design of an Advanced Software Engineering course for undergraduate Software Engineering students that uses PBL to teach them Agile…

Teacher Perceptions of Principals' Leadership Qualities: A Mixed Methods Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hauserman, Cal P.; Ivankova, Nataliya V.; Stick, Sheldon L.

2013-01-01

This mixed methods sequential explanatory study utilized the Multi-factor Leadership Questionnaire, responses to open-ended questions, and in-depth interviews to identify transformational leadership qualities that were present among principals in Alberta, Canada. The first quantitative phase consisted of a random sample of 135 schools (with…

Computers in the Gym: Friends and Assistants.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hurwitz, Dick

Designed to assist physical education teachers realize the benefits of microcomputer usage, this paper presents the case study of a hypothetical middle school teacher who utilizes Apple computers for record-keeping, planning, teaching, and coaching. The case study shows how the computers save time, assist in individualizing instruction, help…

A Utility Model for Teaching Load Decisions in Academic Departments.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Massey, William F.; Zemsky, Robert

1997-01-01

Presents a utility model for academic department decision making and describes the structural specifications for analyzing it. The model confirms the class-size utility asymmetry predicted by the authors' academic rachet theory, but shows that marginal utility associated with college teaching loads is always negative. Curricular structure and…

A Healthcare Utilization Analysis Framework for Hot Spotting and Contextual Anomaly Detection

PubMed Central

Hu, Jianying; Wang, Fei; Sun, Jimeng; Sorrentino, Robert; Ebadollahi, Shahram

2012-01-01

Patient medical records today contain vast amount of information regarding patient conditions along with treatment and procedure records. Systematic healthcare resource utilization analysis leveraging such observational data can provide critical insights to guide resource planning and improve the quality of care delivery while reducing cost. Of particular interest to providers are hot spotting: the ability to identify in a timely manner heavy users of the systems and their patterns of utilization so that targeted intervention programs can be instituted, and anomaly detection: the ability to identify anomalous utilization cases where the patients incurred levels of utilization that are unexpected given their clinical characteristics which may require corrective actions. Past work on medical utilization pattern analysis has focused on disease specific studies. We present a framework for utilization analysis that can be easily applied to any patient population. The framework includes two main components: utilization profiling and hot spotting, where we use a vector space model to represent patient utilization profiles, and apply clustering techniques to identify utilization groups within a given population and isolate high utilizers of different types; and contextual anomaly detection for utilization, where models that map patient’s clinical characteristics to the utilization level are built in order to quantify the deviation between the expected and actual utilization levels and identify anomalies. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the framework using claims data collected from a population of 7667 diabetes patients. Our analysis demonstrates the usefulness of the proposed approaches in identifying clinically meaningful instances for both hot spotting and anomaly detection. In future work we plan to incorporate additional sources of observational data including EMRs and disease registries, and develop analytics models to leverage temporal relationships among medical encounters to provide more in-depth insights. PMID:23304306

A healthcare utilization analysis framework for hot spotting and contextual anomaly detection.

PubMed

Hu, Jianying; Wang, Fei; Sun, Jimeng; Sorrentino, Robert; Ebadollahi, Shahram

2012-01-01

Patient medical records today contain vast amount of information regarding patient conditions along with treatment and procedure records. Systematic healthcare resource utilization analysis leveraging such observational data can provide critical insights to guide resource planning and improve the quality of care delivery while reducing cost. Of particular interest to providers are hot spotting: the ability to identify in a timely manner heavy users of the systems and their patterns of utilization so that targeted intervention programs can be instituted, and anomaly detection: the ability to identify anomalous utilization cases where the patients incurred levels of utilization that are unexpected given their clinical characteristics which may require corrective actions. Past work on medical utilization pattern analysis has focused on disease specific studies. We present a framework for utilization analysis that can be easily applied to any patient population. The framework includes two main components: utilization profiling and hot spotting, where we use a vector space model to represent patient utilization profiles, and apply clustering techniques to identify utilization groups within a given population and isolate high utilizers of different types; and contextual anomaly detection for utilization, where models that map patient's clinical characteristics to the utilization level are built in order to quantify the deviation between the expected and actual utilization levels and identify anomalies. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the framework using claims data collected from a population of 7667 diabetes patients. Our analysis demonstrates the usefulness of the proposed approaches in identifying clinically meaningful instances for both hot spotting and anomaly detection. In future work we plan to incorporate additional sources of observational data including EMRs and disease registries, and develop analytics models to leverage temporal relationships among medical encounters to provide more in-depth insights.

Rationalising the 'irrational': a think aloud study of discrete choice experiment responses.

PubMed

Ryan, Mandy; Watson, Verity; Entwistle, Vikki

2009-03-01

Stated preference methods assume respondents' preferences are consistent with utility theory, but many empirical studies report evidence of preferences that violate utility theory. This evidence is often derived from quantitative tests that occur naturally within, or are added to, stated preference tasks. In this study, we use qualitative methods to explore three axioms of utility theory: completeness, monotonicity, and continuity. We take a novel approach, adopting a 'think aloud' technique to identify violations of the axioms of utility theory and to consider how well the quantitative tests incorporated within a discrete choice experiment are able to detect these. Results indicate that quantitative tests classify respondents as being 'irrational' when qualitative statements would indicate they are 'rational'. In particular, 'non-monotonic' responses can often be explained by respondents inferring additional information beyond what is presented in the task, and individuals who appear to adopt non-compensatory decision-making strategies do so because they rate particular attributes very highly (they are not attempting to simplify the task). The results also provide evidence of 'cost-based responses': respondents assumed tests with higher costs would be of higher quality. The value of including in-depth qualitative validation techniques in the development of stated preference tasks is shown.

Considering Context, Place, and Culture: The National Latino and Asian American Study

PubMed Central

Alegria, Margarita; Takeuchi, David; Canino, Glorisa; Duan, Naihua; Shrout, Patrick; Meng, Xiao-Li; Vega, William; Zane, Nolan; Vila, Doryliz; Woo, Meghan; Vera, Mildred; Guarnaccia, Peter; Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio; Sue, Stanley; Escobar, Javier; Lin, Keh-Ming; Gong, Fong

2009-01-01

This paper provides a rationale and overview of procedures used to develop the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS). The NLAAS is nationally representative community household survey that estimates the prevalence of mental disorders and rates of mental health service utilization of Latinos and Asian Americans in the United States. The central aims of the NLAAS are to: 1) describe the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the rates of mental health services use for Latino and Asian American populations using nationwide representative samples of Latinos and Asian Americans, 2) assess the associations among social position, environmental context, and psychosocial factors with the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and utilization rates of mental health services, and 3) compare the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders, and utilization of mental health services of Latinos and Asian Americans with national representative samples of non-Latino whites (from the National Comorbidity Study-Replication; NCS-R) and African Americans (from the National Survey of American Life; NSAL). This paper presents new concepts and methods utilized in the development of the NLAAS to capture and investigate ethnic, cultural and environmental considerations that are often ignored in mental health research. PMID:15719529

Utility-based early modulation of processing distracting stimulus information.

PubMed

Wendt, Mike; Luna-Rodriguez, Aquiles; Jacobsen, Thomas

2014-12-10

Humans are selective information processors who efficiently prevent goal-inappropriate stimulus information to gain control over their actions. Nonetheless, stimuli, which are both unnecessary for solving a current task and liable to cue an incorrect response (i.e., "distractors"), frequently modulate task performance, even when consistently paired with a physical feature that makes them easily discernible from target stimuli. Current models of cognitive control assume adjustment of the processing of distractor information based on the overall distractor utility (e.g., predictive value regarding the appropriate response, likelihood to elicit conflict with target processing). Although studies on distractor interference have supported the notion of utility-based processing adjustment, previous evidence is inconclusive regarding the specificity of this adjustment for distractor information and the stage(s) of processing affected. To assess the processing of distractors during sensory-perceptual phases we applied EEG recording in a stimulus identification task, involving successive distractor-target presentation, and manipulated the overall distractor utility. Behavioral measures replicated previously found utility modulations of distractor interference. Crucially, distractor-evoked visual potentials (i.e., posterior N1) were more pronounced in high-utility than low-utility conditions. This effect generalized to distractors unrelated to the utility manipulation, providing evidence for item-unspecific adjustment of early distractor processing to the experienced utility of distractor information. Copyright © 2014 the authors 0270-6474/14/3416720-06$15.00/0.

Preferences and Utilities for Health States after Treatment of Olfactory Groove Meningioma: Endoscopic versus Open.

PubMed

Yao, Christopher M; Kahane, Alyssa; Monteiro, Eric; Gentili, Fred; Zadeh, Gelareh; de Almeida, John R

2017-08-01

Objectives  The purpose of this study is to report health utility scores for patients with olfactory groove meningiomas (OGM) treated with either the standard transcranial approach, or the expanded endonasal endoscopic approach. Design  The time trade-off technique was used to derive health utility scores. Setting  Healthy individuals without skull base tumors were surveyed. Main Outcome Measures  Participants reviewed and rated scenarios describing treatment (endoscopic, open, stereotactic radiation, watchful waiting), remission, recurrence, and complications associated with the management of OGMs. Results  There were 51 participants. The endoscopic approach was associated with higher utility scores compared with an open craniotomy approach (0.88 vs. 0.74; p  < 0.001) and watchful waiting (0.88 vs.0.74; p  = 0.002). If recurrence occurred, revision endoscopic resection continued to have a higher utility score compared with revision open craniotomy (0.68; p  = 0.008). On multivariate analysis, older individuals were more likely to opt for watchful waiting ( p  = 0.001), whereas participants from higher income brackets were more likely to rate stereotactic radiosurgery with higher utility scores ( p  = 0.017). Conclusion  The endoscopic approach was associated with higher utility scores than craniotomy for primary and revision cases. The present utilities can be used for future cost-utility analyses.

A multiple ion counter total evaporation (MICTE) method for precise analysis of plutonium by thermal ionization mass spectrometry

DOE PAGES

Inglis, Jeremy D.; Maassen, Joel; Kara, Azim; ...

2017-04-28

This study presents a total evaporation method for the analysis of sub-picogram quantities of Pu, utilizing an array of multiple ion counters. Data from three standards are presented to assess the utility of the technique. An external precision of 1.5% RSD (2σ) was achieved on aliquots approaching 100 fg for the minor 240Pu isotope. Accurate analysis of <1 femtogram of 240Pu, is achievable, with an external reproducibility of better than 10% RSD (2σ). Finally, this new technique represents a significant advance in the total evaporation method and will allow routine measurement of femtogram sized Pu samples by thermal ionization massmore » spectrometry.« less

A multiple ion counter total evaporation (MICTE) method for precise analysis of plutonium by thermal ionization mass spectrometry

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

Inglis, Jeremy D.; Maassen, Joel; Kara, Azim

This study presents a total evaporation method for the analysis of sub-picogram quantities of Pu, utilizing an array of multiple ion counters. Data from three standards are presented to assess the utility of the technique. An external precision of 1.5% RSD (2σ) was achieved on aliquots approaching 100 fg for the minor 240Pu isotope. Accurate analysis of <1 femtogram of 240Pu, is achievable, with an external reproducibility of better than 10% RSD (2σ). Finally, this new technique represents a significant advance in the total evaporation method and will allow routine measurement of femtogram sized Pu samples by thermal ionization massmore » spectrometry.« less

[Disease management programs: Difficulties in the analysis of benefit].

PubMed

Linder, Roland; Horenkamp-Sonntag, D; Bestmann, B; Battmer, U; Heilmann, T; Verheyen, F

2015-04-01

After an introduction to the theme with an overview of the implementation of the Disease Management Programs (DMP), accompanying documentation, present utilization and costs of the programs, the present article is primarily devoted to the issue of the analysis of the benefits of DMP. Following an assessment of the legally specified evaluation requirements, in the absence of a prospective, randomized, controlled trial (RCT), the results of three studies are first summarized, which, with the application of propensity score matching, utilize the routine data of the statutory health insurance schemes to form a control group. The overview concludes with a look at the planned changes in evaluation and the intended expansion of the DMP to programs for other chronic illnesses.

The effect of increasing the coinsurance rate on outpatient utilization of healthcare services in South Korea.

PubMed

Lee, Hyo Jung; Jang, Sung-In; Park, Eun-Cheol

2017-02-20

The Korean healthcare system is composed of costly and inefficient structures that fail to adequately divide the functions and roles of medical care organizations. To resolve this matter, the government reformed the cost-sharing policy in November of 2011 for the management of outpatients visiting general or tertiary hospitals with comparatively mild diseases. The purpose of the present study was to examine the impact of increasing the coinsurance rate of prescription drug costs for 52 mild diseases at general or tertiary hospitals on outpatient healthcare service utilization. The present study used health insurance claim data collected from 2010 to 2013. The study population consisted of 505,691 outpatients and was defined as those aged 20-64 years who had visited medical care organizations for the treatment of 52 diseases both before and after the program began. To examine the effect of the cost-sharing policy on outpatient healthcare service utilization (percentage of general or tertiary hospital utilization, number of outpatient visits, and outpatient medical costs), a segmented regression analysis was performed. After the policy to increase the coinsurance rate on prescription drug costs was implemented, the number of outpatient visits at general or tertiary hospitals decreased (β = -0.0114, p < 0.0001); however, the number increased at hospitals and clinics (β = 0.0580, p < 0.0001). Eventually, the number of outpatient visits to hospitals and clinics began to decrease after policy initiation (β = -0.0018, p < 0.0001). Outpatient medical costs decreased for both medical care organizations (general or tertiary hospitals: β = -2913.4, P < 0.0001; hospitals or clinics: β = -591.35, p < 0.0001), and this decreasing trend continued with time. It is not clear that decreased utilization of general or tertiary hospitals has transferred to that of clinics or hospitals due to the increased cost-sharing policy of prescription drug costs. This result indicates the cost-sharing policy, intended to change patient behaviors for healthcare service utilization, has had limited effects on rebuilding the healthcare system and the function of medical care organizations.

Improving Rutting Resistance of Pavement Structures Using Geosynthetics: An Overview

PubMed Central

Karim, Mohamed Rehan; Khodaii, Ali; Almasi, Mohammad Hadi

2014-01-01

A pavement structure consists of several layers for the primary purpose of transmitting and distributing traffic loads to the subgrade. Rutting is one form of pavement distresses that may influence the performance of road pavements. Geosynthetics is one type of synthetic materials utilized for improving the performance of pavements against rutting. Various studies have been conducted on using different geosynthetic materials in pavement structures by different researchers. One of the practices is a reinforcing material in asphalt pavements. This paper intends to present and discuss the discoveries from some of the studies on utilizing geosynthetics in flexible pavements as reinforcement against permanent deformation (rutting). PMID:24526919

Improving rutting resistance of pavement structures using geosynthetics: an overview.

PubMed

Mirzapour Mounes, Sina; Karim, Mohamed Rehan; Khodaii, Ali; Almasi, Mohammad Hadi

2014-01-01

A pavement structure consists of several layers for the primary purpose of transmitting and distributing traffic loads to the subgrade. Rutting is one form of pavement distresses that may influence the performance of road pavements. Geosynthetics is one type of synthetic materials utilized for improving the performance of pavements against rutting. Various studies have been conducted on using different geosynthetic materials in pavement structures by different researchers. One of the practices is a reinforcing material in asphalt pavements. This paper intends to present and discuss the discoveries from some of the studies on utilizing geosynthetics in flexible pavements as reinforcement against permanent deformation (rutting).

Towards 90-90-90 Target: Factors Influencing Availability, Access, and Utilization of HIV Services—A Qualitative Study in 19 Ugandan Districts

PubMed Central

Tumwebaze, Flora; Akakimpa, Denis; Kityo, Cissy; Mugyenyi, Peter; Abongomera, George

2018-01-01

Background UNAIDS has set a new target 90-90-90 by 2020. To achieve this target, current programs need to address challenges that limit access, availability, and utilization of HIV testing and treatment services. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the barriers that influence access, availability, and utilization of HIV services in rural Uganda within the setting of a large donor funded program. Methods We conducted key informant interviews with stakeholders at the district level, staff of existing HIV/AIDS projects, and health facilities in 19 districts. Data were also collected from focus group discussions comprised of clients presenting for HIV care and treatment. Data were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. Results. Barriers identified were as follows: (1) drug shortages including antiretroviral drugs at health facilities. Some patients were afraid to start ART because of worrying about shortages; (2) distance and (3) staffing shortages; (4) stigma persistence; (5) lack of social and economic support initiatives that enhance retention in treatment. Conclusions In conclusion, our study has identified several factors that influence access, availability, and utilization of HIV services. Programs need to address drug and staff shortages, HIV stigma, and long distances to health facilities to broaden access and utilization in order to realize the UNAIDS target. PMID:29750175

Load research manual. Volume 3: Load research for advanced technologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1980-11-01

Technical guidelines for electric utility load research are presented. Special attention is given to issues raised by the load reporting requirements of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 and to problems faced by smaller utilities that are initiating load research programs. The manual includes guides to load research literature and glossaries of load research and statistical terms. Special load research procedures are presented for solar, wind, and cogeneration technologies.

GeoGebra Assist Discovery Learning Model for Problem Solving Ability and Attitude toward Mathematics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murni, V.; Sariyasa, S.; Ardana, I. M.

2017-09-01

This study aims to describe the effet of GeoGebra utilization in the discovery learning model on mathematical problem solving ability and students’ attitude toward mathematics. This research was quasi experimental and post-test only control group design was used in this study. The population in this study was 181 of students. The sampling technique used was cluster random sampling, so the sample in this study was 120 students divided into 4 classes, 2 classes for the experimental class and 2 classes for the control class. Data were analyzed by using one way MANOVA. The results of data analysis showed that the utilization of GeoGebra in discovery learning can lead to solving problems and attitudes towards mathematics are better. This is because the presentation of problems using geogebra can assist students in identifying and solving problems and attracting students’ interest because geogebra provides an immediate response process to students. The results of the research are the utilization of geogebra in the discovery learning can be applied in learning and teaching wider subject matter, beside subject matter in this study.

Postpartum contraception utilization among low-income women seeking immunization for infants in Mumbai, India.

PubMed

Mody, Sheila K; Nair, Saritha; Dasgupta, Anindita; Raj, Anita; Donta, Balaiah; Saggurti, Niranjan; Naik, D D; Silverman, Jay G

2014-06-01

The objective was to examine postpartum contraception utilization among Indian women seeking immunization for their infants in three low-income communities in Mumbai, India. We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire of low-income postpartum women seeking immunization for their infants at three large urban health centers in Mumbai. Contraceptive utilization data were collected as part of a larger study focused on the impact of postpartum domestic violence on maternal and infant health. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to describe and identify predictors of postpartum contraceptive utilization. Postpartum women aged 17-45 years (N=1049) completed the survey; 44.5% (n=467) reported resuming sexual relations with their husbands. Among these women, the majority (65.3%; n=305) reported not currently using contraception. In multivariate analyses, women who did not discuss postpartum family planning with their husbands, had not used contraception previous to the recent birth, and had experienced physical violence or forced sex were more likely to not use postpartum contraception (adjusted odds ratios=1.47-1.77). Among the 162 women using contraception, the most common time to initiation of contraception was 5 weeks postpartum, and the most common method used was condoms 77.8% (n=126). Contraception nonuse was common among urban, low-income postpartum women in India. This study highlights the importance of developing interventions to increase use of highly effective contraceptive methods postpartum, and that spousal violence and lack of marital communication may present barriers to postpartum contraception utilization. Infant immunization may represent an opportunity for provision of contraceptives and contraceptive counseling. This original research study is a unique contribution to the literature because it presents data regarding the nonuse of postpartum contraception among women seeking immunizations for their infants in urban centers in a developing country. It also reveals barriers to not using postpartum contraception and provides data for future interventions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Utilization of calcium carbonate particles from eggshell waste as coating pigments for ink-jet printing paper.

PubMed

Yoo, Sukjoon; Hsieh, Jeffery S; Zou, Peter; Kokoszka, John

2009-12-01

The effective treatment and utilization of biowaste have been emphasized in our society for environmental and economic concerns. Recently, the eggshell waste in the poultry industry has been highlighted because of its reclamation potential. This study presents an economical treatment process to recover useful bioproducts from eggshell waste and their utilization in commercial products. We developed the dissolved air floatation (DAF) separation unit, which successfully recovered 96% of eggshell membrane and 99% of eggshell calcium carbonate (ECC) particles from eggshell waste within 2 h of operation. The recovered ECC particles were utilized as coating pigments for ink-jet printing paper and their impact on the ink density and paper gloss were investigated. The addition of the ECC particles as coating pigments enhances the optical density of cyan, magenta and yellow inks while decreasing the black ink density and the gloss of the coated paper.

Social curiosity and interpersonal perception: a judge x trait interaction.

PubMed

Hartung, Freda-Marie; Renner, Britta

2011-06-01

The present study examined the impact of social curiosity on the utilization of social information and the accuracy of personality judgments. In total, 182 individuals who never met each other before were asked to interact for 10 minutes and afterwards to evaluate the personality (Big Five) of their interaction partner. High socially curious judges were more accurate in evaluating the degree of Extraversion and Openness of their interaction partners. Interestingly, high and low curious judges differed significantly in the utilization of verbal and nonverbal cues displayed by their interaction partner. Specifically, high socially curious judges more often used valid cues for inferring Extraversion and Openness. No differences in interpersonal accuracy and cue utilization were found for Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness. The results suggest that high socially curious individuals are more accurate in judging visible traits and that this higher accuracy is grounded in a more comprehensive utilization of valid cues.

Assimilation and health service utilization of Korean immigrant women.

PubMed

Son, Juyeon

2013-11-01

In this case study, I present descriptive findings with regard to immigrant incorporation and health service utilization. Using focus groups and survey of Korean immigrant women in Wisconsin, I examine whether the ways in which they adapt to the U.S. society is relevant to their health services utilization and the alternatives they seek when available health services are less than satisfactory. The findings suggest that adherence to Korean identity appears to be associated with health service utilization. This is evident in the immigrants' evaluation of the U.S. health services as compared to those of Korea, and the consideration given by these immigrants to seeking health services in Korea instead of the United States. Such concerns on the part of these immigrants have important implications for health researchers, as they highlight the significance of immigrants' transnational experiences and their sense of personal agency in the use of health care.

[Cognitive aging mechanism of signaling effects on the memory for procedural sentences].

PubMed

Yamamoto, Hiroki; Shimada, Hideaki

2006-08-01

The aim of this study was to clarify the cognitive aging mechanism of signaling effects on the memory for procedural sentences. Participants were 60 younger adults (college students) and 60 older adults. Both age groups were assigned into two groups; half of each group was presented with procedural sentences with signals that highlighted their top-level structure and the other half with procedural sentences without them. Both groups were requested to perform the sentence arrangement task and the reconstruction task. Each task was composed of procedural sentences with or without signals. Results indicated that signaling supported changes in strategy utilization during the successive organizational processes and that changes in strategy utilization resulting from signaling improved the memory for procedural sentences. Moreover, age-related factors interfered with these signaling effects. This study clarified the cognitive aging mechanism of signaling effects in which signaling supports changes in the strategy utilization during organizational processes at encoding and this mediation promotes memory for procedural sentences, though disuse of the strategy utilization due to aging restrains their memory for procedural sentences.

Inhibition of Acetoclastic Methanogenesis in Crude Oil- and Creosote-Contaminated Groundwater

USGS Publications Warehouse

Warren, E.; Bekins, B.A.; Godsy, E.M.; Smith, V.K.

2003-01-01

The inhibition of acetoclastic methanogenesis in crude oil- and creosote-contaminated groundwater was studied. The crude oil and water-soluble components of creosote contributed to the inhibition of acetoclastic methanogens. Acetoclastic methanogenesis was much more susceptible to the toxic inhibition of crude oil and creosote than either hydrogen- or formate-utilizing methanogenesis. The effect of this toxic inhibition was apparent in the population of the methanogenic trophic groups near nonaqueous crude oil at the Bemidji, MN, site. At a crude oil-contaminated site, numbers of acetoclastic methanogens found close to crude oil were 100 times fewer than those of hydrogen- and formate-utilizing methanogens. In laboratory toxicity assays, crude oil collected from the site inhibited methane production from acetate but not from formate or hydrogen. Toxicity assays with aqueous creosote extract completely inhibited acetate utilization over the range of tested dilutions but only mildly affected formate and hydrogen utilization. Wastewater reactor studies indicated that this toxicity would result in a decrease in the biodegradation rate of contaminants at sites where toxic compounds are present.

An assessment of national risk: General concepts and overall approach. [carbon fiber utilization in commercial aviation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kalelkar, A. S.

1979-01-01

The analysis of risk presented by carbon fiber utilization in commercial aviation is reported. The discussion is presented in three parts: (1) general concepts; (2) overall approach; and (3) risk evaluation and perspective.

Communications Link Characterization Experiment (CLCE), volume 3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

The results of data which were acquired, reduced and analyzed as of June 1977, from the Communications Link Characterization Experiment while utilizing the Communications Link Characterization Experiment while utilizing the Communications Technology Satellite is presented. The long term yearly and worst month propagation data from both stations are presented for the defined yearly period and the test results of the Goddard Television Experiment are described. The data for the continuing path length analysis are updated. Progress on the continuing analysis of utilizing the weather radars for attenuation prediction is given and the concept of the weather radar ratio is presented.

Audio visual summary: Implementing PURPA in Mid-America

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

Not Available

The audio-visual presentation, Implementing PURPA in Mid-America, is a slide presentation designed to complement deliverable W-101-2, a booklet entitled Implementing PURPA in Mid-America: A Guide to the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act. The presentation lasts 10 to 12 min and explains the major sections of PURPA, the rules promulgated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to implement PURPA, and the implications of PURPA and its rules. It delineates the rights and responsibilities of citizens who want to sell electricity to utilities, explains the certification process, and discusses the rights and responsibilities of the utilities.

Interaction between cytotoxic effects of gamma-radiation and folate deficiency in relation to choline reserves.

PubMed

Batra, Vipen; Devasagayam, Thomas Paul Asir

2009-01-08

The search for non-toxic radio-protective drugs has yielded many potential agents but most of these compounds have certain amount of toxicity. Recent studies have indicated that bio-molecules such as folate and choline might be of radio-protective value as they are, within broad dose ranges, non-toxic to humans and experimental animals. The objective of the present study was to investigate choline dependent adaptive response to potential synergistic cytotoxic effect of folate deficiency and gamma-radiation. Male Swiss mice maintained on folate sufficient diet (FSD) and folate free diet (FFD) based on AIN-93M formula, were subjected to 1-4Gy total body gamma-irradiation. To investigate liver DNA damage, apurinic/apyrimidinic sites (AP sites) were quantified. A significant increase in liver DNA AP sites with concomitant depletion of liver choline reserves was observed when gamma-radiation was combined with folate deficiency. Further work in this direction suggested that cytotoxic interaction between folate deficiency and gamma radiation might induce utilization of choline and choline containing moieties by modifying levels of key regulatory enzymes dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and choline oxidase (ChoOx). Another major finding of these studies is that significant liver damage at higher doses of radiation (3-4Gy), might release considerable amounts of choline reserves to serum. In conclusion, a plausible interpretation of the present studies is that folate deprivation and gamma-radiation interact to mobilize additional choline reserves of hepatic tissue, for redistribution to other organs, which could not be utilized by folate deficiency alone. Present results clearly indicated a distinct choline pool in liver and kidney tissues that could be utilized by folate deficient animals only under radiation stress conditions.

Therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Pediatric Patients With Acute Recurrent and Chronic Pancreatitis: Data From the INSPPIRE (INternational Study group of Pediatric Pancreatitis: In search for a cuRE) Study.

PubMed

Troendle, David M; Fishman, Douglas S; Barth, Bradley A; Giefer, Matthew J; Lin, Tom K; Liu, Quin Y; Abu-El-Haija, Maisam; Bellin, Melena D; Durie, Peter R; Freedman, Steven D; Gariepy, Cheryl; Gonska, Tanja; Heyman, Melvin B; Himes, Ryan; Husain, Sohail Z; Kumar, Soma; Lowe, Mark E; Morinville, Veronique D; Ooi, Chee Y; Palermo, Joseph; Pohl, John F; Schwarzenberg, Sarah Jane; Werlin, Steven; Wilschanski, Michael; Zimmerman, M Bridget; Uc, Aliye

2017-07-01

The aim of this study was to characterize utilization and benefit of therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in children with acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) or chronic pancreatitis (CP). From August 2012 to February 2015, 301 children with ARP or CP were enrolled in the INSPPIRE (INternational Study group of Pediatric Pancreatitis: In search for a cuRE) study. Physicians reported utilization and benefit of therapeutic ERCP at enrollment. Differences were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. One hundred seventeen children (38.9%) underwent at least 1 therapeutic ERCP. The procedure was more commonly performed in children with CP compared with those with ARP (65.8% vs 13.5%, P < 0.0001). Utility of therapeutic ERCP was reported to be similar between ARP and CP (53% vs 56%, P = 0.81) and was found to be helpful for at least 1 indication in both groups (53/99 patients [53.5%]). Predictors for undergoing therapeutic ERCP were presence of obstructive factors in ARP and CP, Hispanic ethnicity, or white race in CP. Therapeutic ERCP is frequently utilized in children with ARP or CP and may offer benefit in selected cases, specifically if ductal obstruction is present. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the efficacy of therapeutic ERCP and to explore subgroups that might have increased benefit from such intervention.

The Influence of Unsteadiness on the Analysis of Pressure Gain Combustion Devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paxson, Daniel E.; Kaemming, Tom

2013-01-01

Pressure gain combustion (PGC) has been the object of scientific study for over a century due to its promise of improved thermodynamic efficiency. In many recent application concepts PGC is utilized as a component in an otherwise continuous, normally steady flow system, such as a gas turbine or ram jet engine. However, PGC is inherently unsteady. Failure to account for the effects of this periodic unsteadiness can lead to misunderstanding and errors in performance calculations. This paper seeks to provide some clarity by presenting a consistent method of thermodynamic cycle analysis for a device utilizing PGC technology. The incorporation of the unsteady PGC process into the conservation equations for a continuous flow device is presented. Most importantly, the appropriate method for computing the conservation of momentum is presented. It will be shown that proper, consistent analysis of cyclic conservation principles produces representative performance predictions.

Technical prospects for utilizing extraterrestrial propellants for space exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Linne, Diane L.; Meyer, Michael L.

1991-01-01

NASA's LeRC has supported several efforts to understand how lunar and Martian produced propellants can be used to their best advantage for space exploration propulsion. A discussion of these efforts and their results is presented. A Manned Mars Mission Analysis Study identified that a more thorough technology base for propellant production is required before the the net economic benefits of in situ propellants can be determined. Evaluation of the materials available on the moon indicated metal/oxygen combinations are the most promising lunar propellants. A hazard analysis determined that several lunar metal/LOX monopropellants could be safely worked with in small quantities, and a characterization study was initiated to determine the physical and chemical properties of potential lunar monopropellant formulations. A bipropellant metal/oxygen subscale test engine which utilizes pneumatic injection of powdered metal is being pursued as an alternative to the monopropellant systems. The technology for utilizing carbon monoxide/oxygen, a potential Martian propellant, was studied in subscale ignition and rocket performance experiments.

Prevalence of self-medication and associated factors in an elderly population: a systematic review.

PubMed

Jerez-Roig, Javier; Medeiros, Lucas F B; Silva, Victor A B; Bezerra, Camila L P A M; Cavalcante, Leandro A R; Piuvezam, Grasiela; Souza, Dyego L B

2014-12-01

The aging of the world populat ion together with changes in the epidemiological profile of diseases have led to increases in both the consumption of medicines and health expenses. In this context, self-medication has gained importance as a rapid treatment that bypasses bureaucracy and, in some instances, delays in obtaining medical assistance. Verification of self-medication prevalence and associated factors in the elderly, as well as identification of the main categories of non-prescription drugs utilized. The following databases were utilized: Cochrane, PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, SciELO, PAHO, MedCarib and WHOLIS. Studies on the prevalence of self-medication in community-dwelling elderly were included. Review studies were excluded, as well as MSc dissertations, PhD theses and research with convenience sampling. Community-dwelling individuals aged 60 years or over. A systematic review of population-based articles published up until September 1, 2014, is presented. The STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement was applied for critical assessment of the articles, and those with a minimum score of 60% were selected for inclusion in the review. Thirty-six articles were selected, of which 28 were included after critical reading. The prevalence of self-medication varied between 4 and 87%, and the majority of studies reported values between 20 and 60%. The mean prevalence reported in the articles was 38%, but several criteria were utilized to measure self-medication. The most commonly utilized non-prescription drugs were analgesics and antipyretics, followed by non-hormonal anti-inflammatories, cardiovascular agents, dietary complements and alternative medicine components. The variables that presented positive associations with self-medication were female sex, visits to pharmacists, depression, functional dependency, recent hospitalization, oral pain, restriction of activities and physical inactivity. The variables with negative associations were medical appointments, married status, use of health services, satisfaction with living arrangements, living in institutional settings and private health plans. Different definitions of self-medication were employed in the identified articles, which hindered the comparison between studies and meta-analysis. Only 15 studies analysed associated factors and a minority carried out multivariate data analysis. Self-medication is frequent among the elderly, with different prevalence values found in the selected studies, probably because of heterogeneity in definitions and samples. Future studies are necessary, utilizing a standard self-medication criterion to facilitate comparison and elucidate the factors associated with this behaviour.

Census Data: Geographic Significance and Classroom Utility. NCGE Pacesetters in Geography Series. No. 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dent, Bordon D., Ed.

The volume contains essays and classroom activities on a variety of U. S. and Canadian census materials. Designed to present census data in a less formidable manner than it is usually presented, it is intended for social studies teachers and college professors who want to introduce census materials in their classrooms. Essays treat various…

Successful Downsizing Strategies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khan, Marta

1987-01-01

Discusses techniques for reducing organizational staff while minimizing such harmful effects as layoffs, staff demoralization, and productivity losses. Case studies on the Petroleum Incentives Administration, the British Columbia Buildings Corporation, and the National Library of Canada present approaches to downsizing that utilized long range…

The Barium Hydroxide-Ammonium Thiocyanate Reaction: A Titrimetric Continuous Variations Experiment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Arlo D.

1979-01-01

Presents an experiment for inorganic, organic, or physical chemistry students utilizing acid-base titrimetry to study the stoichiometric of a solid state reaction. Time involved ranges from one to three, three-hour lab periods. (Author/SA)

Space resources. Volume 1: Scenarios

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mckay, Mary Fae (Editor); Mckay, David S. (Editor); Duke, Michael B. (Editor)

1992-01-01

A number of possible future paths for space exploration and development are presented. The topics covered include the following: (1) the baseline program; (2) alternative scenarios utilizing nonterrestrial resources; (3) impacts of sociopolitical conditions; (4) common technologies; and issues for further study.

Enzymatic bioremediation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons by fungal consortia enriched from petroleum contaminated soil and oil seeds.

PubMed

Balaji, V; Arulazhagan, P; Ebenezer, P

2014-05-01

The present study focuses on fungal strains capable of secreting extracellular enzymes by utilizing hydrocarbons present in the contaminated soil. Fungal strains were enriched from petroleum hydrocarbons contaminated soil samples collected from Chennai city, India. The potential fungi were isolated and screened for their enzyme secretion such as lipase, laccase, peroxidase and protease and also evaluated fungal enzyme mediated PAHs degradation. Total, 21 potential PAHs degrading fungi were isolated from PAHs contaminated soil, which belongs to 9 genera such as Aspergillus, Curvularia, Drechslera, Fusarium, Lasiodiplodia, Mucor Penicillium, Rhizopus, Trichoderma, and two oilseed-associated fungal genera such as Colletotrichum and Lasiodiplodia were used to test their efficacy in degradation of PAHs in polluted soil. Maximum lipase production was obtained with P. chrysogenum, M. racemosus and L. theobromae VBE1 under optimized cultural condition, which utilized PAHs in contaminated soil as sole carbon source. Fungal strains, P. chrysogenum, M. racemosus and L. theobromae VBE1, as consortia, used in the present study were capable of degrading branched alkane isoprenoids such as pristine (C17) and pyrene (C18) present in PAHs contaminated soil with high lipase production. The fungal consortia acts as potential candidate for bioremediation of PAHs contaminated environments.

Biomechanical analysis of loading/unloading a ladder on a truck.

PubMed

Moriguchi, Cristiane Shinohara; Carnaz, Leticia; de Miranda, Luiz Carlos; Marklin, Richard William; Coury, Helenice Jane Cote Gil

2012-01-01

Loading/unloading a ladder on vehicles are frequent tasks and involve overhead handling that may expose workers to risk factors of shoulder musculoskeletal disorders. The objective of the present study was to evaluate posture, forces required and perceived exertion when loading and unloading the ladder on a utility truck. Thirteen male overhead line workers from an electric utility in Brazil participated in this study. Shoulder elevation angle was measured using inclinometers. The required force to load/unload the ladder was measured by dynamometer. Subjective assessment of the perceived exertion was recorded to compare the exertion reported during the test conditions to the field conditions. The task of loading/unloading the ladder presented risks of shoulder musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) to workers because it requires high levels of force (approximately 60% of the maximal force) combined with overhead posture of the shoulders (more than 100° from the neutral posture). Age and height presented to interfere in biomechanical risks presented in load/unload task. There was no significant difference between the subjective exertion during the test conditions and handling the ladder in the field. Ergonomic intervention is recommended to reduce these risks for shoulder MSDs.

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: A Qualitative Interview Study of How and Why Youth Mentoring Relationships End

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spencer, Renée; Basualdo-Delmonico, Antoinette; Walsh, Jill; Drew, Alison L.

2017-01-01

Endings in youth mentoring relationships have received little empirical attention despite the fact that many relationships do end. The present study utilized qualitative interview data collected from participants in a longitudinal study of community-based mentoring relationships to examine how and why the relationships ended and how participants…

A Comparative Study of Male and Female Early Childhood Teachers' Job Satisfaction in Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sahin, Fatma Tezel; Sak, Ramazan

2016-01-01

The aim of the present study is to provide a comparative analysis of job satisfaction among male and female teachers in early childhood education. A total of 163 teachers participated in the study, which utilized Tahta's (An analysis of job satisfaction of preschool teachers, Hacettepe University, Ankara, 1995) Job Satisfaction Survey and a…

Studying the Practical Rationality of Mathematics Teaching: What Goes into "Installing" a Theorem in Geometry?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herbst, Patricio; Nachlieli, Talli; Chazan, Daniel

2011-01-01

This article presents a way of studying the rationality that mathematics teachers utilize in managing the teaching of theorems in high-school geometry. More generally, the study illustrates how to elicit the rationality that guides teachers in handling the demands of teaching practice. In particular, it illustrates how problematic classroom…

Job Demands and Resources as Antecedents of Work Engagement: A Longitudinal Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mauno, Saija; Kinnunen, Ulla; Ruokolainen, Mervi

2007-01-01

By utilizing a 2-year longitudinal design, the present study investigated the experience of work engagement and its antecedents among Finnish health care personnel (n = 409). The data were collected by questionnaires in 2003 (Time 1) and in 2005 (Time 2). The study showed that work engagement--especially vigor and dedication--was relatively…

Solar power satellite: System definition study. Part 1, volume 1: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

A study of the solar power satellite system, which represents a means of tapping baseload electric utility power from the sun on a large scale, was summarized. Study objectives, approach, and planning are presented along with an energy conversion evaluation. Basic requirements were considered in regard to space transportation, construction, and maintainability.

Study of a solid hydrogen cooler for spacecraft instruments and sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sherman, A.

1980-08-01

The results of tests and studies to investigate the utilization of solid hydrogen for cooling of spacecraft instruments and sensors are presented. The results are presented in two sections; the first describing the tests in which an existing single stage solid cooler was filled and tested with solid hydrogen and the second which describes the analysis and design of a catalytic converter which will be tested in the vent line of the cooler.

Study of a solid hydrogen cooler for spacecraft instruments and sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sherman, A.

1980-01-01

The results of tests and studies to investigate the utilization of solid hydrogen for cooling of spacecraft instruments and sensors are presented. The results are presented in two sections; the first describing the tests in which an existing single stage solid cooler was filled and tested with solid hydrogen and the second which describes the analysis and design of a catalytic converter which will be tested in the vent line of the cooler.

Simulation studies of the application of SEASAT data in weather and state of sea forecasting models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cardone, V. J.; Greenwood, J. A.

1979-01-01

The design and analysis of SEASAT simulation studies in which the error structure of conventional analyses and forecasts is modeled realistically are presented. The development and computer implementation of a global spectral ocean wave model is described. The design of algorithms for the assimilation of theoretical wind data into computers and for the utilization of real wind data and wave height data in a coupled computer system are presented.

The impact of demographic, health-related and social factors on dental services utilization: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Reda, Seif Magdy; Krois, Joachim; Reda, Sophie Franziska; Thomson, William Murray; Schwendicke, Falk

2018-04-16

Regular and/or preventive dental services utilization is an indicator of healthcare access and associated with improved health outcomes. We assessed the proportion of individuals regularly/preventively utilizing dental services, and how this was affected by demographic, health-related and social factors. Three electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Central) were searched (2005-2017). We included observational studies investigating the association between preventive/regular dental service utilization and age, oral and general health, edentulism, family structure and health literacy. The proportion of individuals with regular/preventive utilization overall and in different sub-groups were extracted. Random-effects meta-analyses, with subgroup analyses by region, were performed. Meta-regression was used to assess whether and how associations changed with time and countries' human developmental status (HDI). 103 studies on 7,395,697 participants from 28 countries were included. The global mean (95% CI) proportion of individuals regularly/preventively utilizing dental services was 54% (50-59%). In countries with higher HDI, more individuals regularly/preventively utilized services (p < 0.001). Age did not have a significant impact on utilization in adults (OR = 1.00; 0.89-1.12). Utilization was significantly lower in younger than older children (OR = 0.52; 0.46-0.59), individuals with poorer general health (OR = 0.73; 0.65-0.80) and poorer oral health (OR = 0.64; 0.52-0.75), edentulous individuals (OR = 0.32; 0.23-0.41), and individuals with less supportive family structures (OR = 0.81; 0.73-0.89) or poor health literacy (OR = 0.41; 0.01-0.81). The observed differences within populations did not significantly change with time and were universally present. Regular/preventive utilization varied widely between and within countries. Understanding and tackling the reasons underlying this may help to consistently improve utilization. Higher developmental status of countries is reflected in greater regular/preventive utilization of dental services. However, large demographic, health-related and social differences in utilization remain. These may contribute to dental health inequalities. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dental public health in India: An insight

PubMed Central

Gambhir, Ramandeep Singh; Kaur, Amanpreet; Singh, Arshdeep; Sandhu, Anmol Rattan Singh; Dhaliwal, Angad Prakash Singh

2016-01-01

Oral diseases are a major public health problem, and their burden is on increase in many low- and middle-income countries. Dental public health (DPH) aims to improve the oral health of the population through preventive and curative services. However, its achievements in India are being questioned probably because of lack of proficiency and skill among DPH personnel. The literature search for the present study was conducted utilizing various search engines and electronic databases such as PubMed and MEDLINE. Documents related to the Central and State Governments of India were also considered. Finally, 26 articles were selected for the present study from which relevant information can be extracted. The present study focuses on some of the important aspects relating to DPH in India such as priority for oral health, DPH workforce and curriculum, utilization of DPH personnel in providing primary oral health care, role of mobile dental vans, and research in DPH. It was concluded that more attention should be given toward preventive oral health care by employing more number of public health dentists in public sector, strengthening DPH education and research, and combining oral health programs with general health-care programs. PMID:28348984

GASP cloud- and particle-encounter statistics and their application to LFC aircraft studies. Volume 2: Appendixes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jasperson, W. H.; Nastron, G. D.; Davis, R. E.; Holdeman, J. D.

1984-01-01

Summary studies are presented for the entire cloud observation archive from the NASA Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP). Studies are also presented for GASP particle-concentration data gathered concurrently with the cloud observations. Cloud encounters are shown on about 15 percent of the data samples overall, but the probability of cloud encounter is shown to vary significantly with altitude, latitude, and distance from the tropopause. Several meteorological circulation features are apparent in the latitudinal distribution of cloud cover, and the cloud-encounter statistics are shown to be consistent with the classical mid-latitude cyclone model. Observations of clouds spaced more closely than 90 minutes are shown to be statistically dependent. The statistics for cloud and particle encounter are utilized to estimate the frequency of cloud encounter on long-range airline routes, and to assess the probability and extent of laminaar flow loss due to cloud or particle encounter by aircraft utilizing laminar flow control (LFC). It is shown that the probability of extended cloud encounter is too low, of itself, to make LFC impractical. This report is presented in two volumes. Volume I contains the narrative, analysis, and conclusions. Volume II contains five supporting appendixes.

Risk and utility in portfolio optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cohen, Morrel H.; Natoli, Vincent D.

2003-06-01

Modern portfolio theory (MPT) addresses the problem of determining the optimum allocation of investment resources among a set of candidate assets. In the original mean-variance approach of Markowitz, volatility is taken as a proxy for risk, conflating uncertainty with risk. There have been many subsequent attempts to alleviate that weakness which, typically, combine utility and risk. We present here a modification of MPT based on the inclusion of separate risk and utility criteria. We define risk as the probability of failure to meet a pre-established investment goal. We define utility as the expectation of a utility function with positive and decreasing marginal value as a function of yield. The emphasis throughout is on long investment horizons for which risk-free assets do not exist. Analytic results are presented for a Gaussian probability distribution. Risk-utility relations are explored via empirical stock-price data, and an illustrative portfolio is optimized using the empirical data.

Longitudinal predictive ability of mapping models: examining post-intervention EQ-5D utilities derived from baseline MHAQ data in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

PubMed

Kontodimopoulos, Nick; Bozios, Panagiotis; Yfantopoulos, John; Niakas, Dimitris

2013-04-01

The purpose of this methodological study was to to provide insight into the under-addressed issue of the longitudinal predictive ability of mapping models. Post-intervention predicted and reported utilities were compared, and the effect of disease severity on the observed differences was examined. A cohort of 120 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (60.0% female, mean age 59.0) embarking on therapy with biological agents completed the Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (MHAQ) and the EQ-5D at baseline, and at 3, 6 and 12 months post-intervention. OLS regression produced a mapping equation to estimate post-intervention EQ-5D utilities from baseline MHAQ data. Predicted and reported utilities were compared with t test, and the prediction error was modeled, using fixed effects, in terms of covariates such as age, gender, time, disease duration, treatment, RF, DAS28 score, predicted and reported EQ-5D. The OLS model (RMSE = 0.207, R(2) = 45.2%) consistently underestimated future utilities, with a mean prediction error of 6.5%. Mean absolute differences between reported and predicted EQ-5D utilities at 3, 6 and 12 months exceeded the typically reported MID of the EQ-5D (0.03). According to the fixed-effects model, time, lower predicted EQ-5D and higher DAS28 scores had a significant impact on prediction errors, which appeared increasingly negative for lower reported EQ-5D scores, i.e., predicted utilities tended to be lower than reported ones in more severe health states. This study builds upon existing research having demonstrated the potential usefulness of mapping disease-specific instruments onto utility measures. The specific issue of longitudinal validity is addressed, as mapping models derived from baseline patients need to be validated on post-therapy samples. The underestimation of post-treatment utilities in the present study, at least in more severe patients, warrants further research before it is prudent to conduct cost-utility analyses in the context of RA by means of the MHAQ alone.

Treatment Utilization and Unmet Treatment Need among Hispanics Following Brief Intervention

PubMed Central

Cochran, Gerald; Caetano, Raul

2012-01-01

Background In a large randomized trial examining ethnic differences in response to a brief alcohol intervention following an alcohol related injury, we showed that Hispanics, but not non-Hispanics, were more likely to reduce alcohol intake in comparison to treatment as usual (Field et al, 2010). The current study evaluates whether the observed improvements in drinking outcomes previously reported among Hispanics following brief intervention might be related to prior or subsequent treatment utilization. . Methods The present study is a secondary analysis of data collected in a randomized clinical trial that evaluated ethnic differences in the effect of a brief motivational intervention (BMI) on alcohol use among medical inpatients admitted for alcohol related injury. For the current study, statistical analyses were carried out to compare alcohol use, alcohol problems, treatment utilization and unmet treatment need between Hispanic (n=539) and White, non-Hispanic (n=667). In addition, we examined the relationship between prior treatment utilization and unmet treatment need and alcohol use outcomes following brief intervention and the impact of brief intervention on subsequent treatment utilization and unmet treatment need. Results In comparison to White, non-Hispanics, Hispanics at baseline reported heavier drinking, more alcohol problems, greater unmet treatment need and lower rates of treatment utilization. Among Hispanics, multilevel analyses showed that prior treatment utilization or unmet treatment need did not moderate the effect of BMI on alcohol outcomes. Furthermore, BMI did not significantly impact subsequent treatment utilization or unmet treatment need among Hispanics. Finally, treatment utilization and unmet treatment need at six-months were not significant mediators between BMI and alcohol use outcomes at follow up. Conclusion The benefits of brief intervention among Hispanics do not appear to be better explained by subsequent engagement in mutual help groups or formal substance abuse treatment. Prior history of treatment, regardless of the severity of alcohol problems, does not appear to influence the impact of brief intervention on alcohol use among Hispanics. These findings support prior results reporting the benefits of brief intervention among Hispanics and demonstrate that these improvements are not related to prior or subsequent treatment utilization. PMID:22823528

Financial statistics of major US investor-owned electric utilities 1992

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

Not Available

The Financial Statistics of Major US Investor-Owned Electric Utilities publication presents summary and detailed financial accounting data on the investor-owned electric utilities. The objective of the publication is to provide Federal and State governments, industry, and the general public with current and historical data that can be used for policymaking and decisionmaking purposes related to investor-owned electric utility issues. The Financial Statistics of Major US Investor-Owned Electric Utilities publication provides information about the financial results of operations of investor-owned electric utilities for use by government, industry, electric utilities, financial organizations and educational institutions in energy planning. In the private sector,more » the readers of this publication are researchers and analysts associated with the financial markets, the policymaking and decisionmaking members of electric utility companies, and economic development organizations. Other organizations that may be interested in the data presented in this publication include manufacturers of electric power equipment and marketing organizations. In the public sector, the readers of this publication include analysts, researchers, statisticians, and other professionals engaged in regulatory, policy, and program areas. These individuals are generally associated with the Congress, other legislative bodies, State public utility commissions, universities, and national strategic planning organizations.« less

Application of natural analog studies to exploration for ore deposits

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

Gustafson, D.L.

1995-09-01

Natural analogs are viewed as similarities in nature and are routinely utilized by exploration geologists in their search for economic mineral deposits. Ore deposit modeling is undertaken by geologists to direct their exploration activities toward favorable geologic environments and, therefore, successful programs. Two types of modeling are presented: (i) empirical model development based on the study of known ore deposit characteristics, and (ii) concept model development based on theoretical considerations and field observations that suggest a new deposit type, not known to exist in nature, may exist and justifies an exploration program. Key elements that are important in empirical modelmore » development are described, and examples of successful applications of these natural analogs to exploration are presented. A classical example of successful concept model development, the discovery of the McLaughlin gold mine in California, is presented. The utilization of natural analogs is an important facet of mineral exploration. Natural analogs guide explorationists in their search for new discoveries, increase the probability of success, and may decrease overall exploration expenditure.« less

Feasibility study for SOFC-GT hybrid locomotive power: Part I. Development of a dynamic 3.5 MW SOFC-GT FORTRAN model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martinez, Andrew S.; Brouwer, Jacob; Samuelsen, G. Scott

2012-09-01

This work presents the development of a dynamic SOFC-GT hybrid system model applied to a long-haul freight locomotive in operation. Given the expectations of the rail industry, the model is used to develop a preliminary analysis of the proposed system's operational capability on conventional diesel fuel as well as natural gas and hydrogen as potential fuels in the future. It is found that operation of the system on all three of these fuels is feasible with favorable efficiencies and reasonable dynamic response. The use of diesel fuel reformate in the SOFC presents a challenge to the electrochemistry, especially as it relates to control and optimization of the fuel utilization in the anode compartment. This is found to arise from the large amount of carbon monoxide in diesel reformate that is fed to the fuel cell, limiting the maximum fuel utilization possible. This presents an opportunity for further investigations into carbon monoxide electrochemical oxidation and/or system integration studies where the efficiency of the fuel reformer can be balanced against the needs of the SOFC.

Techno-environmental assessment of the green biorefinery concept: Combining process simulation and life cycle assessment at an early design stage.

PubMed

Corona, Andrea; Ambye-Jensen, Morten; Vega, Giovanna Croxatto; Hauschild, Michael Zwicky; Birkved, Morten

2018-09-01

The Green biorefinery (GBR) is a biorefinery concept that converts fresh biomass into value-added products. The present study combines a Process Flowsheet Simulation (PFS) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the technical and environmental performance of different GBR configurations and the cascading utilization of the GBR output. The GBR configurations considered in this study, test alternatives in the three main steps of green-biorefining: fractionation, precipitation, and protein separation. The different cascade utilization alternatives analyse different options for press-pulp utilization, and the LCA results show that the environmental profile of the GBR is highly affected by the utilization of the press-pulp and thus by the choice of conventional product replaced by the press-pulp. Furthermore, scenario analysis of different GBR configurations shows that higher benefits can be achieved by increasing product yields rather than lowering energy consumption. Green biorefining is shown to be an interesting biorefining concept, especially in a Danish context. Biorefining of green biomass is technically feasible and can bring environmental savings, when compared to conventional production methods. However, the savings will be determined by the processing involved in each conversion stage and on the cascade utilization of the different platform products. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Simulation of the hyperspectral data from multispectral data using Python programming language

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiwari, Varun; Kumar, Vinay; Pandey, Kamal; Ranade, Rigved; Agarwal, Shefali

2016-04-01

Multispectral remote sensing (MRS) sensors have proved their potential in acquiring and retrieving information of Land Use Land (LULC) Cover features in the past few decades. These MRS sensor generally acquire data within limited broad spectral bands i.e. ranging from 3 to 10 number of bands. The limited number of bands and broad spectral bandwidth in MRS sensors becomes a limitation in detailed LULC studies as it is not capable of distinguishing spectrally similar LULC features. On the counterpart, fascinating detailed information available in hyperspectral (HRS) data is spectrally over determined and able to distinguish spectrally similar material of the earth surface. But presently the availability of HRS sensors is limited. This is because of the requirement of sensitive detectors and large storage capability, which makes the acquisition and processing cumbersome and exorbitant. So, there arises a need to utilize the available MRS data for detailed LULC studies. Spectral reconstruction approach is one of the technique used for simulating hyperspectral data from available multispectral data. In the present study, spectral reconstruction approach is utilized for the simulation of hyperspectral data using EO-1 ALI multispectral data. The technique is implemented using python programming language which is open source in nature and possess support for advanced imaging processing libraries and utilities. Over all 70 bands have been simulated and validated using visual interpretation, statistical and classification approach.

Do patient expectations about arthroplasty at initial presentation for hip or knee pain differ by sex and ethnicity?

PubMed

Lavernia, Carlos J; Contreras, Juan S; Parvizi, Javad; Sharkey, Peter F; Barrack, Robert; Rossi, Mark D

2012-10-01

Many studies show gender and ethnic differences in healthcare utilization and outcomes. Patients' presurgical cognitions regarding surgical outcomes also may vary by gender and ethnicity and play a role in explaining utilization and outcome differences. However, it is unclear whether and to what extent gender and ethnicity play a role in patients' presurgical cognitions. Do gender and ethnicity influence outcome expectations? Is arthroplasty-related knowledge affected by gender and ethnicity? Do gender and ethnicity influence willingness to pay for surgery? In a prospective, multicenter study we gave 765 patients an anonymous questionnaire on expectations, arthroplasty knowledge, and preferences before their consultation for hip and/or knee pain, from March 2005 to July 2007. Six hundred seventy-two of the 765 patients (88%) completed questionnaires. Non-Hispanics and men were more likely to indicate they would be able to engage in more activities. Non-Hispanics and men had greater arthroplasty knowledge. Hispanics and women were more likely to report they would not pay for a total joint arthroplasty (TJA) relative to non-Hispanics and men. Sex and ethnic differences in patients presenting for their initial visit to the orthopaedists for hip or knee pain influence expectations, knowledge, and preferences concerning TJAs. Longitudinal study of relationships between patients' perceptions and utilization or outcomes regarding TJA is warranted.

A heuristic neural network initialization scheme for modeling nonlinear functions in engineering mechanics: continuous development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pei, Jin-Song; Mai, Eric C.

2007-04-01

This paper introduces a continuous effort towards the development of a heuristic initialization methodology for constructing multilayer feedforward neural networks to model nonlinear functions. In this and previous studies that this work is built upon, including the one presented at SPIE 2006, the authors do not presume to provide a universal method to approximate arbitrary functions, rather the focus is given to the development of a rational and unambiguous initialization procedure that applies to the approximation of nonlinear functions in the specific domain of engineering mechanics. The applications of this exploratory work can be numerous including those associated with potential correlation and interpretation of the inner workings of neural networks, such as damage detection. The goal of this study is fulfilled by utilizing the governing physics and mathematics of nonlinear functions and the strength of the sigmoidal basis function. A step-by-step graphical procedure utilizing a few neural network prototypes as "templates" to approximate commonly seen memoryless nonlinear functions of one or two variables is further developed in this study. Decomposition of complex nonlinear functions into a summation of some simpler nonlinear functions is utilized to exploit this prototype-based initialization methodology. Training examples are presented to demonstrate the rationality and effciency of the proposed methodology when compared with the popular Nguyen-Widrow initialization algorithm. Future work is also identfied.

On the hitchhiker Robot Operated Materials Processing System: Experiment data system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kizhner, Semion; Jenstrom, Del

1995-01-01

The Space Shuttle Discovery STS-64 mission carried the first American autonomous robot into space, the Robot Operated Materials Processing System (ROMPS). On this mission ROMPS was the only Hitchhiker experiment and had a unique opportunity to utilize all Hitchhiker space carrier capabilities. ROMPS conducted rapid thermal processing of the one hundred semiconductor material samples to study how micro gravity affects the resulting material properties. The experiment was designed, built and operated by a small GSFC team in cooperation with industry and university based principal investigators who provided the material samples and data interpretation. ROMPS' success presents some valuable lessons in such cooperation, as well as in the utilization of the Hitchhiker carrier for complex applications. The motivation of this paper is to share these lessons with the scientific community interested in attached payload experiments. ROMPS has a versatile and intelligent material processing control data system. This paper uses the ROMPS data system as the guiding thread to present the ROMPS mission experience. It presents an overview of the ROMPS experiment followed by considerations of the flight and ground data subsystems and their architecture, data products generation during mission operations, and post mission data utilization. It then presents the lessons learned from the development and operation of the ROMPS data system as well as those learned during post-flight data processing.

Data Mining Methods for Omics and Knowledge of Crude Medicinal Plants toward Big Data Biology

PubMed Central

Afendi, Farit M.; Ono, Naoaki; Nakamura, Yukiko; Nakamura, Kensuke; Darusman, Latifah K.; Kibinge, Nelson; Morita, Aki Hirai; Tanaka, Ken; Horai, Hisayuki; Altaf-Ul-Amin, Md.; Kanaya, Shigehiko

2013-01-01

Molecular biological data has rapidly increased with the recent progress of the Omics fields, e.g., genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics that necessitates the development of databases and methods for efficient storage, retrieval, integration and analysis of massive data. The present study reviews the usage of KNApSAcK Family DB in metabolomics and related area, discusses several statistical methods for handling multivariate data and shows their application on Indonesian blended herbal medicines (Jamu) as a case study. Exploration using Biplot reveals many plants are rarely utilized while some plants are highly utilized toward specific efficacy. Furthermore, the ingredients of Jamu formulas are modeled using Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) in order to predict their efficacy. The plants used in each Jamu medicine served as the predictors, whereas the efficacy of each Jamu provided the responses. This model produces 71.6% correct classification in predicting efficacy. Permutation test then is used to determine plants that serve as main ingredients in Jamu formula by evaluating the significance of the PLS-DA coefficients. Next, in order to explain the role of plants that serve as main ingredients in Jamu medicines, information of pharmacological activity of the plants is added to the predictor block. Then N-PLS-DA model, multiway version of PLS-DA, is utilized to handle the three-dimensional array of the predictor block. The resulting N-PLS-DA model reveals that the effects of some pharmacological activities are specific for certain efficacy and the other activities are diverse toward many efficacies. Mathematical modeling introduced in the present study can be utilized in global analysis of big data targeting to reveal the underlying biology. PMID:24688691

Effect of Psychotherapy on Health Care Utilization in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Depression.

PubMed

Keerthy, Divya; Youk, Ada; Srinath, Arvind I; Malas, Nasuh; Bujoreanu, Simona; Bousvaros, Athos; Keljo, David; DeMaso, David R; Szigethy, Eva M

2016-12-01

Pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at an increased risk of developing depression compared with community controls. Depression often negatively influences illness behaviors such as resource utilization. We sought to investigate the effects of treating depression on utilization of medical resources in depressed pediatric patients with IBD by comparing rates of health care utilization 1 year before and after psychotherapy. Two hundred seventeen subjects ages 9 to 17 years with IBD and depression received 3 months of psychotherapy for depression as part of a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Of these 217 subjects, 70 had utilization data available 1 year prior and 1 year after receiving 3 months of psychotherapy. Primary outcomes included frequency of hospitalizations, inpatient hospital days, outpatient gastrointestinal visits, and number of emergency room visits, radiological examinations, and endoscopies. Within subject analyses were completed comparing health care utilization 12 months before psychotherapy compared with the 12 months after the conclusion of psychotherapy. Fifty-one and 19 patients had CD and UC, respectively. A total of 55.7% of patients had major depression and 44.3% had minor depression. Overall, all study measures of health care utilization were significantly reduced after psychotherapy (P < 0.01)-including gastrointestinal-related (mean values) hospitalization frequency, inpatient days, outpatient visit, emergency room visits, radiological examinations, and endoscopies. Psychotherapy for comorbid depression in pediatric patients with IBD is associated with decreased GI-related health care utilization. The present study highlights the importance of screening for depression in a pediatric population with IBD, and that psychotherapy may be a reasonable adjunctive treatment for pediatric patients with IBD and comorbid depression.

Shoulder-to-Shoulder Research "with" Children: Methodological and Ethical Considerations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griffin, Krista M.; Lahman, Maria K. E.; Opitz, Michael F.

2016-01-01

This paper presents a methodological study with children where two different interview methods were utilized: the "walk-around" (a form of mobile interview) and the "shoulder-to-shoulder." The paper reviews the methodological aspects of the study then provides a brief review of the history of methods employed in research with…

Invisible Web and Academic Research: A Partnership for Quality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alyami, Huda Y.; Assiri, Eman A.

2018-01-01

The present study aims to identify the most significant roles of the invisible web in improving academic research and the main obstacles and challenges facing the use of the invisible web in improving academic research from the perspective of academics in Saudi universities. The descriptive analytical approach was utilized in this study. It…

The Design of Workshops for Asian Second Level Schools. Study 5.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khan, Khurshid A.; Vickery, D. J.

The utilization of workshop accomodations in the countries of the Asian Region are examined and the study concludes that, in most schools, a single multipurpose workshop is more economical than the separate workshops for separate crafts that are in common use at present. Design criteria are developed for multipurpose "industrial arts"…

A Feasibility Study for Mobile Marketing and Distribution Occupational Laboratories in North Dakota.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kohns, Donald P.

A study determined the feasibility of a mobile laboratory for marketing and distribution in North Dakota. It attempted to answer four questions: (1) What types of staffing, equipment, curriculum, and delivery systems are presently being utilized in mobile laboratories throughout the nation? (2) What significant information obtained from mobile…

Girls and Science Careers: The Role of Altruistic Values and Attitudes about Scientific Tasks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weisgram, Erica S.; Bigler, Rebecca S.

2006-01-01

Two studies examined the roles of altruistic values, egalitarianism, self-efficacy, and perceptions of utility in shaping children's interest in scientific fields. In Study 1, middle school girls attending an intervention program ("n"=617) heard presentations by female scientists (expected to increase egalitarianism), engaged in hands-on science…

The Effects of Professional Development Initiatives on EFL Teachers' Degree of Self Efficacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karimi, Mohammad Nabi

2011-01-01

Despite the importance of teacher efficacy, there has been little research on the effects of interventions intended to increase it. Thus, the present study considered the potential of Professional Development (PD) in enhancing teachers' beliefs about their teaching ability. The study was quantitative in nature and utilized the reliable survey…

A Mars orbiter mission design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castronuovo, Marco M.

1992-08-01

A preliminary study of a new orbiter mission to Mars using an earth gravity assist is presented. The trajectory resulting from this study has been evaluated utilizing Everhart's (1985) integrator RADAU. The mission sequences are described and compared to other proposed mission designs and some mission opportunities for the years 1997 to 2014 are discussed.

The Social Studies Teacher: An Exploration of Ethical Behavior.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ochoa, Anna S.

The ethics and conduct of social studies teachers are discussed and the values that should guide their classroom behavior are articulated. Two sources of values are integrated to derive the value base for ethical conduct. The first source utilizes the three criteria for education presented by the educational philosopher, R. S. Peters--character…

Understanding the College Choice Process of United States Military-Affiliated Transfer Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ives, Emily Joanne

2017-01-01

This study examined the college choice process of transfer student veterans who are currently enrolled in a public research university. The research presented in this dissertation utilized both quantitative and qualitative strategies to identify key factors in students' college choice process. This study focuses on the following two research…

College Prep and Access from the Perspective of Diversity College Admission Professionals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bethea, Kathryn A.

2016-01-01

Studies have found that there is a college access gap for students of color in P-16 education. I utilize Perna's (2006) integrated college access model in exploring college admission's knowledge of college preparation in education. The present study uses qualitative questionnaires to measure diversity college admission professionals' (DCAPs)…

Impact of a Web-Based Adaptive Supplemental Digital Resource on Student Mathematics Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharp, Laurie A.; Hamil, Marc

2018-01-01

Much literature has presented evidence that supplemental digital resources enhance student performance with mathematics. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of a web-adaptive digital resource, Think Through Math©, on student performance with state-mandated annual standardized mathematics assessments. This study utilized a…

Adolescents' Cyber Aggression Perpetration and Cyber Victimization: The Longitudinal Associations with School Functioning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wright, Michelle F.

2015-01-01

The literature on cyber aggression is advancing, revealing many risk factors associated with the involvement in these behaviors. Academic correlates, particularly academic performance, have received some attention, with few studies utilizing longitudinal designs. The present study examined these associations among 673 8th graders (51% female) from…

Pilot Study and Evaluation of Postgraduate Course on "The Interface Between Spirituality, Religion and Psychiatry"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grabovac, Andrea; Clark, Nancy; McKenna, Mario

2008-01-01

Objectives: Understanding the role of religion and spirituality is significant for psychiatric practice. Implementation of formal education and training on religious and spiritual issues, however, is lacking. Few psychiatric residencies offer mandatory courses or evaluation of course utility. The authors present findings from a pilot study of a…

Analogical Scaffolding and the Learning of Abstract Ideas in Physics: Empirical Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Podolefsky, Noah S.; Finkelstein, Noah D.

2007-01-01

Previously, we proposed a model of student reasoning which combines the roles of representation, analogy, and layering of meaning--analogical scaffolding [Podolefsky and Finkelstein, Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 3, 010109 (2007)]. The present empirical studies build on this model to examine its utility and demonstrate the vital intertwining of…

Computer Mathematics Games and Conditions for Enhancing Young Children's Learning of Number Sense

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kermani, Hengameh

2017-01-01

Purpose: The present study was designed to examine whether mathematics computer games improved young children's learning of number sense under three different conditions: when used individually, with a peer, and with teacher facilitation. Methodology: This study utilized a mixed methodology, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. A…

“SNP Snappy”: A Strategy for Fast Genome-Wide Association Studies Fitting a Full Mixed Model

PubMed Central

Meyer, Karin; Tier, Bruce

2012-01-01

A strategy to reduce computational demands of genome-wide association studies fitting a mixed model is presented. Improvements are achieved by utilizing a large proportion of calculations that remain constant across the multiple analyses for individual markers involved, with estimates obtained without inverting large matrices. PMID:22021386

Compilation of Case Studies: Exemplary Placement and Follow-Up Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dale, Jack

Examples of placement and follow-up conceptual models developed for a program of vocational education (kindergarten through university) are presented. Section 1 contains a historical overview of placement and follow-up activities in Florida and describes a comprehensive model. Section 2, describing a model for utilizing community resources for the…

Technology utilization in a non-urban region: Further impact and technique of the Technology Use Studies Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

Updated information is given pertaining to Technology Use Studies Center (TUSC) clients who are those that receive/use information as disseminated by the center. The client information is presented as a continuation of client data as set forth in the center's previous annual report.

Academic and Career Trajectories of African American Males in San Bernardino

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lyles, Lolita Laree

2013-01-01

A qualitative grounded theory approach is utilized to study the academic and career trajectories of twenty African American male collegiate students living in San Bernardino, California. There is limited research that explores the positive educational experiences of young adult African American males. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to…

Analysis of metabolic energy utilization in the Skylab astronauts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leonard, J. I.

1977-01-01

Skylab biomedical data regarding man's metabolic processes for extended periods of weightlessness is presented. The data was used in an integrated metabolic balance analysis which included analysis of Skylab water balance, electrolyte balance, evaporative water loss, and body composition. A theoretical analysis of energy utilization in man is presented. The results of the analysis are presented in tabular and graphic format.

Reformation of PURPA contracts: Strategies for success in power marketing

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

Scalzo, P.J.

With the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, real competition entered into the world of electric utilities. A slide presentations is given on reformation of Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) Contracts for success in power marketing strategies. Two ways to compete: Be the least cost provider or add value and `sell hard`. The PURPA vision was to increase efficiency in power generation, utilize renewable or waste fuels, and bolster the independent producers. Cogenerators and small power producers qualified. Utility planners predicted, avoided cost, utility loads, and oil and gas prices to increase. However, avoided costs, and oilmore » and gase prices declined. Two scenarios are discussed for contract reformation: Contract buyouts, and renegotiation of contracts. Options for for dealing with existing fuel agreements are presented.« less

Infrared Thermometers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schaefers, John

2006-01-01

An infrared (IR) thermometer lab offers the opportunity to give science students a chance to measure surface temperatures, utilizing off-the-shelf technology. Potential areas of study include astronomy (exoplanets), electromagnetic spectrum, chemistry, evaporation rates, anatomy, crystal formation, and water or liquids. This article presents one…

Fermentation: From Sensory Experience to Conceptual Understanding

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Eugene B.

1977-01-01

Presented is a laboratory exercise that utilizes the natural yeast carbonation method of making homemade root beer to study fermentation and the effect of variables upon the fermentation process. There are photographs, a sample data sheet, and procedural hints included. (Author/MA)

DNA-labeled micro- and nanoparticles: a new approach to study contaminant transport in the subsurface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNew, C.; Wang, C.; Kocis, T. N.; Murphy, N. P.; Dahlke, H. E.

2017-12-01

Though our understanding of contaminant behavior in the subsurface has improved, our ability to measure and predict complex contaminant transport pathways at hillslope to watershed scales is still lacking. By utilizing bio-molecular nanotechnology developed for nano-medicines and drug delivery, we are able to produce DNA-labeled micro- and nanoparticles for use in a myriad of environmental systems. Control of the fabrication procedure allows us to produce particles of custom size, charge, and surface functionality to mimic the transport properties of the particulate contaminant or colloid of interest. The use of custom sequenced DNA allows for the fabrication of an enormous number of unique particle labels (approximately 1.61 x 1060 unique sequences) and the ability to discern between varied spatial and temporal applications, or the transport effect of varied particle size, charge, or surface properties. To date, this technology has been utilized to study contaminant transport from lab to field scales, including surface and open channel flow applications, transport in porous media, soil retention, and even subglacial flow pathways. Here, we present the technology for production and detection of the DNA-labeled particles along with the results from a current hillslope study at the Sierra Foothills Research and Extension Center (SFREC). This field study utilizes spatial and temporal variations in DNA-labeled particle applications to identify subsurface pollutant transport pathways through the four distinct soil horizons present at the SFREC site. Results from this and previous studies highlight the tremendous potential of the DNA-labeled particle technology for studying contaminant transport through the subsurface.

Integrating knowledge generation with knowledge diffusion and utilization: a case study analysis of the Consortium for Applied Research and Evaluation in Mental Health.

PubMed

Vingilis, Evelyn; Hartford, Kathleen; Schrecker, Ted; Mitchell, Beth; Lent, Barbara; Bishop, Joan

2003-01-01

Knowledge diffusion and utilization (KDU) have become a key focus in the health research community because of the limited success to date of research findings to inform health policies, programs and services. Yet, evidence indicates that successful KDU is often predicated on the early involvement of potential knowledge users in the conceptualization and conduct of the research and on the development of a "partnership culture". This study describes the integration of KDU theory with practice via a case study analysis of the Consortium for Applied Research and Evaluation in Mental Health (CAREMH). This qualitative study, using a single-case design, included a number of data sources: proposals, meeting minutes, presentations, publications, reports and curricula vitae of CAREMH members. CAREMH has adopted the following operational strategies to increase KDU capacity: 1) viewing research as a means and not as an end; 2) bringing the university and researcher to the community; 3) using participatory research methods; 4) embracing transdisciplinary research and interactions; and 5) using connectors. Examples of the iterative process between researchers and potential knowledge users in their contribution to knowledge generation, diffusion and utilization are provided. This case study supports the importance of early and ongoing involvement of relevant potential knowledge users in research to enhance its utilization potential. It also highlights the need for re-thinking research funding approaches.

Integrated Biorefinery for Biofuels Production

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

Miller, Gabriel

This project has focused on very low grade fats, oil and greases found in municipal, commercial and industrial facilities around the country. These wastes are often disposed in landfills, wastewater treatment plants or farm fields or are blended illegally into animal feeds. Using any of these waste fatty materials that are unfit for human or animal nutrition as a clean alternative fuel makes good sense. This project defines the aforementioned wastes in terms of quality and prevalence in the US, then builds on specific promising pathways for utilizing these carbon neutral wastes. These pathways are discussed and researched at bench-scale,more » and in one instance, at pilot-scale. The three primary pathways are as follows: The production of Renewable Diesel Oil (RDO) as a stand-alone fuel or blended with standard distillate or residual hydrocarbons; The production of RDO as a platform for the further manufacture of Biodiesel utilizing acid esterification; The production of RDO as a platform for the manufacture of an ASTM Diesel Fuel using one or more catalysts to effect a decarboxylation of the carboxylics present in RDO This study shows that Biodiesel and ASTM Diesel produced at bench-scale (utilizing RDO made from grease trap waste as an input) could not meet industry specifications utilizing the technologies that were selected by the investigators. Details of these investigations are discussed in this report and will hopefully provide a starting point for other researchers interested in these pathways in future studies. Although results were inconclusive in finding ways to utilize RDO technology, in effect, as a pretreatment for commonly discussed technologies such as Biodiesel and ASTM Diesel, this study does shed light on the properties, performance and cost of utilizing waste greases directly as a retail liquid fuel (RDO). The utilization as a retail RDO as a boiler fuel, or for other such applications, is the most important finding of the study.« less

Application of solid-phase microextraction for in vivo laboratory and field sampling of pharmaceuticals in fish.

PubMed

Zhou, Simon Ningsun; Oakes, Ken D; Servos, Mark R; Pawliszyn, Janusz

2008-08-15

Previous field studies utilizing solid-phase microextraction (SPME) predominantly focused on volatile and semivolatile compounds in air or water. Earlier in vivo sampling studies utilizing SPME were limited to the liquid matrix (blood). The present study has expanded the SPME technique to semisolid tissues under laboratory and field conditions through the investigation of both theoretical and applied experimental approaches. Pre-equilibrium extraction and desorption were performed in vivo in two separate animals. Excellent linearity was found between the amounts extracted by SPME from the muscle of living fish and the waterborne concentrations of pharmaceuticals. A simple SPME method is also described to simultaneously determine free and total analyte concentrations in living tissue. The utility of in vivo SPME sampling was evaluated in wild fish collected from a number of different river locations under varying degrees of influence from municipal wastewater effluents. Diphenhydramine and diltiazem were detected in the muscle of fish downstream of a local wastewater treatment plant. Based on this study, SPME demonstrated several important advantages such as simplicity, sensitivity, and robustness under laboratory and in vivo field sampling conditions.

Emergency Department Frequent Utilization for Non-Emergent Presentments: Results from a Regional Urban Trauma Center Study

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Objectives First, to test a model of the drivers of frequent emergency department utilization conceptualized as falling within predisposing, enabling, and need dimensions. Second, to extend the model to include social networks and service quality as predictors of frequent utilization. Third, to illustrate the variation in thresholds that define frequent utilization in terms of the number of emergency department encounters by the predictors within the model. Data Source Primary data collection over an eight week period within a level-1 trauma urban hospital’s emergency department. Study Design Representative randomized sample of 1,443 adult patients triaged ESI levels 4–5. Physicians and research staff interviewed patients as they received services. Relationships with the outcome variable, utilization, were tested using logistic regression to establish odds-ratios. Principal Findings 70.6 percent of patients have two or more, 48.3 percent have three or more, 25.3 percent have four or more, and 14.9 percent have five or more emergency department visits within 12 months. Factors associated with frequent utilization include gender, race, poor mental health, mental health drugs, prescription drug abuse, social networks, employment, perceptions of service quality, seriousness of condition, persistence of condition, and previous hospital admittance. Conclusions Interventions targeting associated factors will change global emergency department encounters, although the mutability varies. Policy interventions to address predisposing factors such as substance abuse or access to mental health treatment as well as interventions that speak to enabling factors such as promoting the resiliency of social networks may result in decreased frequency of emergency department utilization. PMID:26784515

Trends in Gender-affirming Surgery in Insured Patients in the United States

PubMed Central

Ives, Graham C.; Sluiter, Emily C.; Waljee, Jennifer F.; Yao, Tsung-Hung; Hu, Hsou Mei

2018-01-01

Background: An estimated 0.6% of the U.S. population identifies as transgender and an increasing number of patients are presenting for gender-related medical and surgical services. Utilization of health care services, especially surgical services, by transgender patients is poorly understood beyond survey-based studies. In this article, our aim is 2-fold; first, we intend to demonstrate the utilization of datasets generated by insurance claims data as a means of analyzing gender-related health services, and second, we use this modality to provide basic demographic, utilization, and outcomes data about the insured transgender population. Methods: The Truven MarketScan Database, containing data from 2009 to 2015, was utilized, and a sample set was created using the Gender Identity Disorder diagnosis code. Basic demographic information and utilization of gender-affirming procedures was tabulated. Results: We identified 7,905 transgender patients, 1,047 of which underwent surgical procedures from 2009 to 2015. Our demographic results were consistent with previous survey-based studies, suggesting transgender patients are on average young adults (average age = 29.8), and geographically diverse. The most common procedure from 2009 to 2015 was mastectomy. Complications of all gender-affirming procedures was 5.8%, with the highest rate of complications occurring with phalloplasty. There was a marked year-by-year increase in utilization of surgical services. Conclusion: Transgender care and gender confirming surgery are an increasing component of health care in the United States. The data contained in existing databases can provide demographic, utilization, and outcomes data relevant to providers caring for the transgender patient population. PMID:29876180

Counterbalancing in smoking cue research: a critical analysis.

PubMed

Sayette, Michael A; Griffin, Kasey M; Sayers, W Michael

2010-11-01

Cue exposure research has been used to examine key issues in smoking research, such as predicting relapse, testing new medications, investigating the neurobiology of nicotine dependence, and examining reactivity among smokers with comorbid psychopathologies. Determining the order that cues are presented is one of the most critical steps in the design of these investigations. It is widely assumed that cue exposure studies should counterbalance the order in which smoking and control (neutral) cues are presented. This article examines the premises underlying the use of counterbalancing in experimental research, and it evaluates the degree to which counterbalancing is appropriate in smoking cue exposure studies. We reviewed the available literature on the use of counterbalancing techniques in human smoking cue exposure research. Many studies counterbalancing order of cues have not provided critical analyses to determine whether this approach was appropriate. Studies that have reported relevant data, however, suggest that order of cue presentation interacts with type of cue (smoking vs. control), which raises concerns about the utility of counterbalancing. Primarily, this concern arises from potential carryover effects, in which exposure to smoking cues affects subsequent responding to neutral cues. Cue type by order of cue interactions may compromise the utility of counterbalancing. Unfortunately, there is no obvious alternative that is optimal across studies. Strengths and limitations of several alternative designs are considered, and key questions are identified to advance understanding of the optimal conditions for conducting smoking cue exposure studies.

Rose Bengal Photothrombosis by Confocal Optical Imaging In Vivo: A Model of Single Vessel Stroke.

PubMed

Talley Watts, Lora; Zheng, Wei; Garling, R Justin; Frohlich, Victoria C; Lechleiter, James Donald

2015-06-23

In vivo imaging techniques have increased in utilization due to recent advances in imaging dyes and optical technologies, allowing for the ability to image cellular events in an intact animal. Additionally, the ability to induce physiological disease states such as stroke in vivo increases its utility. The technique described herein allows for physiological assessment of cellular responses within the CNS following a stroke and can be adapted for other pathological conditions being studied. The technique presented uses laser excitation of the photosensitive dye Rose Bengal in vivo to induce a focal ischemic event in a single blood vessel. The video protocol demonstrates the preparation of a thin-skulled cranial window over the somatosensory cortex in a mouse for the induction of a Rose Bengal photothrombotic event keeping injury to the underlying dura matter and brain at a minimum. Surgical preparation is initially performed under a dissecting microscope with a custom-made surgical/imaging platform, which is then transferred to a confocal microscope equipped with an inverted objective adaptor. Representative images acquired utilizing this protocol are presented as well as time-lapse sequences of stroke induction. This technique is powerful in that the same area can be imaged repeatedly on subsequent days facilitating longitudinal in vivo studies of pathological processes following stroke.

A preliminary typology of caregivers and effects on service utilization of caregiver counseling.

PubMed

Pepin, Renee; Williams, Ashley A; Anderson, Lindsay N; Qualls, Sara H

2013-01-01

Caregivers (CGs) of older adults have unique and diverse needs for intervention. The present studies describe the characteristics of CGs and caregiving situations and how these relate to CG therapy utilization patterns in a community mental health setting. Study 1: Through chart review, the researchers explored service utilization patterns and identified preliminary typologies of Caregiver Family Therapy (CFT) clients, N = 23. Study 2: By conducting a second chart review, the researchers sought to determine whether the categories that emerged in Study 1 applied to a second group of CFT clients, N = 36. Study 1: Four distinct categories of CGs emerged: High-Distress (high disorganization, high complexity), Resourceful but At-Risk (low disorganization, high complexity), Non-Committal (high disorganization, low complexity), and Model CGs (low disorganization, low complexity). Study 2: While the ability to classify CGs into category proved to have some inconsistencies, preliminary evidence suggests the ability to predict utilization once CGs were placed into category was good. In Study 2 a fifth category emerged: High Functioning but Static, which suggests CGs were on a continuum ranging from high to low on family organizational style and CG situation complexity. While caregiving situations vary widely among families and across time, this article provides a preliminary typology of CGs that may assist clinicians in tailoring CG interventions to meet the needs of their clients based on information garnered early in therapy, perhaps as early as the intake process.

A Preliminary Typology of Caregivers and Effects on Service Utilization of Caregiver Counseling

PubMed Central

Pepin, Renee; Williams, Ashley A.; Anderson, Lindsay N.; Qualls, Sara H.

2014-01-01

Objectives Caregivers (CGs) of older adults have unique and diverse needs for intervention. The present studies describe the characteristics of CGs and caregiving situations and how these relate to CG therapy utilization patterns in a community mental health setting. Method Study 1: Through chart review, the researchers explored service utilization patterns and identified preliminary typologies of Caregiver Family Therapy (CFT) clients, N = 23. Study 2: By conducting a second chart review, the researchers sought to determine whether the categories that emerged in Study 1 applied to a second group of CFT clients, N = 36. Results Study 1: Four distinct categories of caregivers emerged: High-Distress (high disorganization, high complexity), Resourceful but At-Risk (low disorganization, high complexity), Non-Committal (high disorganization, low complexity), and Model CGs (low disorganization, low complexity). Study 2: While the ability to classify CGs into category proved to have some inconsistencies, preliminary evidence suggests the ability to predict utilization once CGs were placed into category was good. In Study 2 a fifth category emerged: High Functioning but Static, which suggests CGs were on a continuum ranging from high to low on family organizational style and CG situation complexity. Conclusion While caregiving situations vary widely among families and across time, this paper provides a preliminary typology of CGs that may assist clinicians in tailoring CG interventions to meet the needs of their clients based on information garnered early in therapy, perhaps as early as the intake process. PMID:23336319

Substrate utilization profiles of bacterial strains in plankton from the River Warnow, a humic and eutrophic river in north Germany.

PubMed

Freese, Heike M; Eggert, Anja; Garland, Jay L; Schumann, Rhena

2010-01-01

Bacteria are very important degraders of organic substances in aquatic environments. Despite their influential role in the carbon (and many other element) cycle(s), the specific genetic identity of active bacteria is mostly unknown, although contributing phylogenetic groups had been investigated. Moreover, the degree to which phenotypic potential (i. e., utilization of environmentally relevant carbon substrates) is related to the genomic identity of bacteria or bacterial groups is unclear. The present study compared the genomic fingerprints of 27 bacterial isolates from the humic River Warnow with their ability to utilize 14 environmentally relevant substrates. Acetate was the only substrate utilized by all bacterial strains. Only 60% of the strains respired glucose, but this substrate always stimulated the highest bacterial activity (respiration and growth). Two isolates, both closely related to the same Pseudomonas sp., also had very similar substrate utilization patterns. However, similar substrate utilization profiles commonly belonged to genetically different strains (e.g., the substrate profile of Janthinobacterium lividum OW6/RT-3 and Flavobacterium sp. OW3/15-5 differed by only three substrates). Substrate consumption was sometimes totally different for genetically related isolates. Thus, the genomic profiles of bacterial strains were not congruent with their different substrate utilization profiles. Additionally, changes in pre-incubation conditions strongly influenced substrate utilization. Therefore, it is problematic to infer substrate utilization and especially microbial dissolved organic matter transformation in aquatic systems from bacterial molecular taxonomy.

Load research manual. Volume 3. Load research for advanced technologies

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

Brandenburg, L.; Clarkson, G.; Grund, Jr., C.

1980-11-01

This three-volume manual presents technical guidelines for electric utility load research. Special attention is given to issues raised by the load data reporting requirements of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 and to problems faced by smaller utilities that are initiating load research programs. The manual includes guides to load research literature and glossaries of load research and statistical terms. In Volume 3, special load research procedures are presented for solar, wind, and cogeneration technologies.

Current NASA Plans for Mars In Situ Resource Utilization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sanders, Gerald

2018-01-01

The presentation is to provide relevant information to the NASA funded Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES) Institute. The presentation cover the following: 1) What is In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), 2) What are the resources of interest at the Moon and Mars, 3) ISRU-related mission requirements and ISRU economics, 4) Challenges and Risk for ISRU, 5) Concept of Operation for Mars ISRU Systems, 6) Current State of the Art (SOA) in ISRU, and 7) Current ISRU development and mission status.

Discriminating performance parameters for 50 amp-hour and 60 amp-hour nickel-cadmium plates and battery cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Toft, Mark R.

1994-01-01

This is a follow-up of studies of the NASA standard 50 AH cell presented at the NASA battery workshop each of the last two years. This is a dynamic study. Data trends continue to be developed and analyzed for their utility in judging NiCd performance. The trends and parameters presented here may bear relevance to many designs of conventional NiCd batteries, not just the 50 AH and 60 AH sizes.

A study of pressure-based methodology for resonant flows in non-linear combustion instabilities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, H. Q.; Pindera, M. Z.; Przekwas, A. J.; Tucker, K.

1992-01-01

This paper presents a systematic assessment of a large variety of spatial and temporal differencing schemes on nonstaggered grids by the pressure-based methods for the problems of fast transient flows. The observation from the present study is that for steady state flow problems, pressure-based methods can be very competitive with the density-based methods. For transient flow problems, pressure-based methods utilizing the same differencing scheme are less accurate, even though the wave speeds are correctly predicted.

Results and conclusions: perception sensor study for high speed autonomous operations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, Anne; LaCelle, Zachary; Lacaze, Alberto; Murphy, Karl; Close, Ryan

2016-05-01

Previous research has presented work on sensor requirements, specifications, and testing, to evaluate the feasibility of increasing autonomous vehicle system speeds. Discussions included the theoretical background for determining sensor requirements, and the basic test setup and evaluation criteria for comparing existing and prototype sensor designs. This paper will present and discuss the continuation of this work. In particular, this paper will focus on analyzing the problem via a real-world comparison of various sensor technology testing results, as opposed to previous work that utilized more of a theoretical approach. LADAR/LIDAR, radar, visual, and infrared sensors are considered in this research. Results are evaluated against the theoretical, desired perception specifications. Conclusions for utilizing a suite of perception sensors, to achieve the goal of doubling ground vehicle speeds, is also discussed.

Technology assessment of portable energy RDT and P

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vanston, J. H., Jr.; Frisbie, W. P.; Poston, D. L.

1975-01-01

Results are presented of a workshop conducted to assess portable energy technology. The results were evaluated and areas for future research were considered. Several research categories were studied: increasing presently available fuel supplies, developing new fuel sources, utilization of new transportation fuels, improving conservation practices, and equitable distribution of fuel supplies. Several research projects were proposed, and work statements were constructed for those considered suitable.

Facilities Inventory and Utilization Study, Fall of 1987. Twenty-First Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Carolina Commission on Higher Education Facilities, Chapel Hill.

The status of space in North Carolina institutions of higher education at the end of the drop-add period of the 1987 fall term at each college is presented. Indications of the uses being made of the space are given, and norms and historical information are presented for the past 5 years to enable institutions to make their own assessments of their…

Lexical Decision with Left, Right and Center Visual Field Presentation: A Comparison between Dyslexic and Regular Readers by Means of Electrophysiological and Behavioral Measures

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shaul, Shelley

2012-01-01

This study examined the differences in processing between regular and dyslexic readers in a lexical decision task in different visual field presentations (left, right, and center). The research utilized behavioral measures that provide information on accuracy and reaction time and electro-physiological measures that permit the examination of brain…

Can a chronic disease management pulmonary rehabilitation program for COPD reduce acute rural hospital utilization?

PubMed

Rasekaba, T M; Williams, E; Hsu-Hage, B

2009-01-01

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) imposes a costly burden on healthcare. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is the best practice to better manage COPD to improve patient outcomes and reduce acute hospital care utilization. To evaluate the impact of a once-weekly, eight-week multidisciplinary PR program as an integral part of the COPD chronic disease management (CDM) Program at Kyabram District Health Services. The study compared two cohorts of COPD patients: CDM-PR Cohort (4-8 weeks) and Opt-out Cohort (0-3 weeks) between February 2006 and March 2007. The CDM-PR Program involved multidisciplinary patient education and group exercise training. Nonparametric statistical tests were used to compare acute hospital care utilization 12 months before and after the introduction of CDM-PR. The number of patients involved in the CDM-PR Cohort was 29 (n = 29), and that in the Opt-out Cohort was 24 (n = 24). The CDM-PR Cohort showed significant reductions in cumulative acute hospital care utilization indicators (95% emergency department presentations, 95% inpatient admissions, 99% length of stay; effect sizes = 0.62-0.66, P < 0.001) 12 months after the introduction of the CDM Program; in contrast, changes in the cumulative indicators were statistically insignificant for the Opt-out Cohort (emergency department presentations decreased by 5%, inpatient admissions decreased by 12%, length of stay increased by 30%; effect size = 0.14-0.40, P > 0.05). Total costs associated with the hospital care utilization decreased from $130,000 to $7,500 for the CDM-PR Cohort and increased from $77,700 to $101,200 for the Opt-out Cohort. Participation in the CDM-PR for COPD patients can significantly reduce acute hospital care utilization and associated costs in a small rural health service.

VIDEO BLOGGING AND ENGLISH PRESENTATION PERFORMANCE: A PILOT STUDY.

PubMed

Alan Hung, Shao-Ting; Danny Huang, Heng-Tsung

2015-10-01

This study investigated the utility of video blogs in improving EFL students' performance in giving oral presentations and, further, examined the students' perceptions toward video blogging. Thirty-six English-major juniors participated in a semester-long video blog project for which they uploaded their 3-min. virtual presentation clips over 18 weeks. Their virtual presentation clips were rated by three raters using a scale for speaking performance that contained 14 presentation skills. Data sources included presentation clips, reflections, and interviews. The results indicated that the students' overall presentation performance improved significantly. In particular, among the 14 presentation skills projection, intonation, posture, introduction, conclusion, and purpose saw the most substantial improvement. Finally, the qualitative data revealed that learners perceived that the video blog project facilitated learning but increased anxiety.

A Study of EL2 Pilots' Radio Communication in the General Aviation Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Estival, Dominique; Molesworth, Brett

2009-01-01

This paper reports on the preliminary stages of a project designed to investigate communication problems in General Aviation and assess the utility of language technologies as a means of mitigation. The study presented in this paper is the first of a three-part study, in which we aim to investigate the extent to which the English language…

Utilization of critical periods during development to study the effects of low levels of environmental agents

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

Russell, L. B.

1980-01-01

Careful definition of critical periods in the development of selected characters can result in experimental systems that may be highly useful in studying risk at low levels of exposure. Three examples are presented. Epidemiological investigations can lose much of their value unless critical periods are known for the end points being studied.

Child and Adolescent Affective and Behavioral Distress and Elevated Adult Body Mass Index

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McClure, Heather H.; Eddy, J. Mark; Kjellstrand, Jean M.; Snodgrass, J. Josh; Martinez, Charles R., Jr.

2012-01-01

Obesity rates throughout the world have risen rapidly in recent decades, and are now a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Several studies indicate that behavioral and affective distress in childhood may be linked to elevated adult body mass index (BMI). The present study utilizes data from a 20-year longitudinal study to examine the…

Using Dynamic Geometry Software To Add Contrast to Geometric Situations--A Case Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holzl, Reinhard

2001-01-01

Uses of Dynamic Geometry Software (DGS) are often limited purely to a verifying role. Presents a case study that emerged from a project in which DGS formed an integral part of the pedagogical arrangement. The study demonstrates how the contrasting power of DGS might be utilized in a guided discovery setting. (Contains 17 references.) (Author/ASK)

An Examination of Resource Allocation Strategies That Promote Student Achievement: Case Studies of Rural Elementary Schools in Hawaii

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Acopan-Tuasivi, C. K.

2012-01-01

This study presents case studies of rural elementary schools in Hawaii that examine resource allocation strategies that promote student achievement. The combined frame work of the Evidence Based Model (Odden & Picus, 2008) and the 10 Strategies for Doubling Student Performance (Odden, 2009) were utilized to compare actual school resources and…

Economic, Social and Embodied Cultural Capitals as Shapers and Predictors of Boys' Educational Aspirations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stockfelt, Shawanda

2016-01-01

The author presents the result of a quantitative survey as a part of a larger mixed-methods study conducted across two case study schools in urban Jamaica. It focuses on Black Caribbean boys' levels of educational aspirations in relation to their economic, social, and embodied cultural capital. The study utilizes Bourdieu's notions of capital,…

Foreign Language Learners' Motivation and Its Effects on Their Achievement: Implications for Effective Teaching of Students Studying Japanese at Universiti Brunei Darussalam

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keaney, Minako; Mundia, Lawrence

2014-01-01

An increasing number of students at the University of Brunei Darussalam are studying the Japanese language. However, research on the relationship between learners' motivation and their achievement has not been given sufficient attention in Japanese foreign language education compared to English in Brunei. The present study, which utilized a…

Market study for direct utilization of geothermal resources by selected sectors of economy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1980-08-01

A comprehensive analysis is presented of industrial markets potential for direct use of geothermal energy by a total of six industry sectors: food and kindred products; tobacco manufactures; textile mill products; lumber and wood products (except furniture); chemicals and allied products; and leather and leather products. Location determinants and potential for direct use of geothermal resources are presented. The data was gathered through interviews with 30 senior executives in the six sectors of economy selected for study. Probable locations of plants in geothermal resource areas and recommendations for geothermal resource marketing are presented.

A Scale Development for 21st Century Skills of Primary School Students: A Validity and Reliability Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boyaci, S. Dilek Belet; Atalay, Nurhan

2016-01-01

The objective of the present study is to develop a measurement tool to assess 21st Century learning and innovation skills of primary school students. Study data was collected from 632 fourth grade students in five different primary schools during 2014-2015 academic year and data obtained from 609 fourth grade students were utilized in the study.…

Analysis of wave motion in one-dimensional structures through fast-Fourier-transform-based wavelet finite element method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Wei; Li, Dongsheng; Zhang, Shuaifang; Ou, Jinping

2017-07-01

This paper presents a hybrid method that combines the B-spline wavelet on the interval (BSWI) finite element method and spectral analysis based on fast Fourier transform (FFT) to study wave propagation in One-Dimensional (1D) structures. BSWI scaling functions are utilized to approximate the theoretical wave solution in the spatial domain and construct a high-accuracy dynamic stiffness matrix. Dynamic reduction on element level is applied to eliminate the interior degrees of freedom of BSWI elements and substantially reduce the size of the system matrix. The dynamic equations of the system are then transformed and solved in the frequency domain through FFT-based spectral analysis which is especially suitable for parallel computation. A comparative analysis of four different finite element methods is conducted to demonstrate the validity and efficiency of the proposed method when utilized in high-frequency wave problems. Other numerical examples are utilized to simulate the influence of crack and delamination on wave propagation in 1D rods and beams. Finally, the errors caused by FFT and their corresponding solutions are presented.

AHP for Risk Management Based on Expected Utility Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azuma, Rumiko; Miyagi, Hayao

This paper presents a model of decision-making considering the risk assessment. The conventional evaluation in AHP is considered to be a kind of utility. When dealing with the risk, however, it is necessary to consider the probability of damage. In order to take risk into decision-making problem, we construct AHP based on expected utility. The risk is considered as a related element of criterion rather than criterion itself. The expected utility is integrated, considering that satisfaction is positive utility and damage by risk is negative utility. Then, evaluation in AHP is executed using the expected utility.

Theory of Collective Intelligence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wolpert, David H.

2003-01-01

In this chapter an analysis of the behavior of an arbitrary (perhaps massive) collective of computational processes in terms of an associated "world" utility function is presented We concentrate on the situation where each process in the collective can be viewed as though it were striving to maximize its own private utility function. For such situations the central design issue is how to initialize/update the collective's structure, and in particular the private utility functions, so as to induce the overall collective to behave in a way that has large values of the world utility. Traditional "team game" approaches to this problem simply set each private utility function equal to the world utility function. The "Collective Intelligence" (COIN) framework is a semi-formal set of heuristics that recently have been used to construct private utility. functions that in many experiments have resulted in world utility values up to orders of magnitude superior to that ensuing from use of the team game utility. In this paper we introduce a formal mathematics for analyzing and designing collectives. We also use this mathematics to suggest new private utilities that should outperform the COIN heuristics in certain kinds of domains. In accompanying work we use that mathematics to explain previous experimental results concerning the superiority of COIN heuristics. In that accompanying work we also use the mathematics to make numerical predictions, some of which we then test. In this way these two papers establish the study of collectives as a proper science, involving theory, explanation of old experiments, prediction concerning new experiments, and engineering insights.

Study of V/STOL aircraft implementation. Volume 2: Appendices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Androsky, A.; Miller, S. C.; Neiss, J. A.; Portenier, W. J.; Webb, H. M.

1972-01-01

An analysis of V/STOL aircraft implementation and utilization is presented. The subjects discussed are: (1) short haul air transportation requirements, (2) available aircraft technology, (3) aircraft production requirements, (4) airport requirements, (5) roles and responsibilities, and (6) cost and funding.

Discrimination of petroleum fluorescence spectra.

PubMed

Stelmaszewski, Adam

2007-01-01

This paper presents studies of the total spectra (fluorescence-excitation matrix) of petroleum with regard to the utilization of fluorescence for determining petroleum pollutants. Thorough testing of one group, comprising almost forty lubricating oils in the form of their hexane solutions, points out their discrimination.

Direct observation of safety belt use in Michigan : Fall 1997

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-10-01

The present survey reports the results of a direct observation survey of safety belt use conducted in the fall of 1997. In this study, 10,307 occupants traveling in four vehicle types (oassenger cars, sport-utility vehicles, vans, and pickup trucks) ...

Review of the windpower activities at the Brace Research Institute

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lawand, T. A.

1973-01-01

A chronology of windpower studies at the experimental station on Barbados is presented that includes the various development activities on wheeling windmills whose power output is utilized through electrical and electronic systems. A list of institute publications on windpower is included.

The Teen STAR Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klaus, Hanna

Since neither the provision of contraception, nor exhortations to preserve premarital chastity serve the adolescent's need to integrate their now-present biological capacity to procreate into their operational self concept, this study utilized experiential learning about fertility to facilitate the integration of biologic maturity with adolescent…

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ACTIVITIES UTILIZED DURING THE FIRST TWO SEASONS OF THE DEARS

EPA Science Inventory

Identification, recruitment, enrollment, and retention of participants in the Detroit Exposure and Aerosol Research Study (DEARS) presented many challenges. A population-based cohort was chosen to reduce participant selection bias. Contact information for nearly everyone who live...

Utilizing Microsoft[R] Office to Produce and Present Recursive Frame Analysis Findings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chenail, Ronald J.; Duffy, Maureen

2011-01-01

Although researchers conducting qualitative descriptive studies, ethnographies, phenomenologies, grounded theory, and narrative inquiries commonly use computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) to manage their projects and analyses, investigators conducting discursive methodologies such as discourse or conversation analysis seem…

Parallel Curves: Getting There and Getting Back

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agnew, A. F.; Mathews, J. H.

2006-01-01

This note takes up the issue of parallel curves while illustrating the utility of "Mathematica" in computations. This work complements results presented earlier. The presented treatment, considering the more general case of parametric curves, provides an analysis of the appearance of cusp singularities, and emphasizes the utility of symbolic…

Maximum propellant utilization in an electron bombardment thruster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaufman, H. R.; Cohen, A. J.

1971-01-01

Current theory and experimental data on propellant utilization in electron bombardment ion thrusters are reviewed. Because the majority of investigations have been conducted with mercury, the presentation emphasizes that propellant. The results are presented in as general a form as possible to facilitate use in areas other than space propulsion.

Effects of concentrate crude protein content on nutrient digestibility, energy utilization, and methane emissions in lactating dairy cows fed fresh-cut perennial grass.

PubMed

Hynes, D N; Stergiadis, S; Gordon, A; Yan, T

2016-11-01

Although many studies have investigated mitigation strategies for methane (CH 4 ) output from dairy cows fed a wide variety of diets, research on the effects of concentrate crude protein (CP) content on CH 4 emissions from dairy cows offered fresh grass is limited. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of cow genotype and concentrate CP level on nutrient digestibility, energy utilization, and CH 4 emissions in dairy cows offered fresh-grass diets. Twelve multiparous lactating dairy cows (6 Holstein and 6 Holstein × Swedish Red) were blocked into 3 groups for each breed and assigned to a low-, medium-, or high-CP concentrate diet [14.1, 16.1, and 18.1% CP on a dry matter (DM) basis, respectively], in a 3-period changeover study (25d per period). Total diets contained (DM basis) 32.8% concentrates and 67.2% perennial ryegrass, which was harvested daily. All measurements were undertaken during the final 6d of each period: digestibility measurements for 6d and calorimetric measurements in respiration chambers for 3d. Feed intake and milk production data were reported in a previous paper. We observed no significant interaction between concentrate CP level and cow genotype on any parameter. Concentrate CP level had no significant effect on any energy utilization parameter, except for urinary energy output, which was positively related to concentrate CP level. Similarly, concentrate CP content had no effect on CH 4 emission (g/d), CH 4 per kg feed intake, or nutrient digestibility. Cross breeding of Holstein cows significantly reduced gross energy, digestible energy, and metabolizable energy intake, heat production, and milk energy output. However, cow genotype had no significant effect on energy utilization efficiency or CH 4 parameters. Furthermore, the present study yielded a value for gross energy lost as CH 4 (5.6%) on fresh grass-based diets that was lower than the widely accepted value of 6.5%. The present findings indicate that reducing concentrate CP content from 18.1 to 14.1% may not be a successful way of alleviating CH 4 emissions from lactating dairy cows offered good-quality fresh grass, but grazing cows could be offered a low-CP concentrate without compromising energy utilization efficiency. Further research is needed to investigate whether larger differences in dietary CP content may yield positive results. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Financial statistics major US publicly owned electric utilities 1996

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

NONE

1998-03-01

The 1996 edition of The Financial Statistics of Major US Publicly Owned Electric Utilities publication presents 5 years (1992 through 1996) of summary financial data and current year detailed financial data on the major publicly owned electric utilities. The objective of the publication is to provide Federal and State governments, industry, and the general public with current and historical data that can be used for policymaking and decision making purposes related to publicly owned electric utility issues. Generator and nongenerator summaries are presented in this publication. Five years of summary financial data are provided. Summaries of generators for fiscal yearsmore » ending June 30 and December 31, nongenerators for fiscal years ending June 30 and December 31, and summaries of all respondents are provided. The composite tables present aggregates of income statement and balance sheet data, as well as financial indicators. Composite tables also display electric operation and maintenance expenses, electric utility plant, number of consumers, sales of electricity, and operating revenue, and electric energy account data. 2 figs., 32 tabs.« less

Estimating QALY gains in applied studies: a review of cost-utility analyses published in 2010.

PubMed

Wisløff, Torbjørn; Hagen, Gunhild; Hamidi, Vida; Movik, Espen; Klemp, Marianne; Olsen, Jan Abel

2014-04-01

Reimbursement agencies in several countries now require health outcomes to be measured in terms of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), leading to an immense increase in publications reporting QALY gains. However, there is a growing concern that the various 'multi-attribute utility' (MAU) instruments designed to measure the Q in the QALY yield disparate values, implying that results from different instruments are incommensurable. By reviewing cost-utility analyses published in 2010, we aim to contribute to improved knowledge on how QALYs are currently calculated in applied analyses; how transparently QALY measurement is presented; and how large the expected incremental QALY gains are. We searched Embase, MEDLINE and NHS EED for all cost-utility analyses published in 2010. All analyses that had estimated QALYs gained from health interventions were included. Of the 370 studies included in this review, 48% were pharmacoeconomic evaluations. Active comparators were used in 71% of studies. The median incremental QALY gain was 0.06, which translates to 3 weeks in best imaginable health. The EQ-5D-3L is the dominant instrument used. However, reporting of how QALY gains are estimated is generally inadequate. In 55% of the studies there was no reference to which MAU instrument or direct valuation method QALY data came from. The methods used for estimating expected QALY gains are not transparently reported in published papers. Given the wide variation in utility scores that different methodologies may assign to an identical health state, it is important for journal editors to require a more transparent way of reporting the estimation of incremental QALY gains.

GrDHP: a general utility function representation for dual heuristic dynamic programming.

PubMed

Ni, Zhen; He, Haibo; Zhao, Dongbin; Xu, Xin; Prokhorov, Danil V

2015-03-01

A general utility function representation is proposed to provide the required derivable and adjustable utility function for the dual heuristic dynamic programming (DHP) design. Goal representation DHP (GrDHP) is presented with a goal network being on top of the traditional DHP design. This goal network provides a general mapping between the system states and the derivatives of the utility function. With this proposed architecture, we can obtain the required derivatives of the utility function directly from the goal network. In addition, instead of a fixed predefined utility function in literature, we conduct an online learning process for the goal network so that the derivatives of the utility function can be adaptively tuned over time. We provide the control performance of both the proposed GrDHP and the traditional DHP approaches under the same environment and parameter settings. The statistical simulation results and the snapshot of the system variables are presented to demonstrate the improved learning and controlling performance. We also apply both approaches to a power system example to further demonstrate the control capabilities of the GrDHP approach.

Financial statistics of major U.S. publicly owned electric utilities 1997

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

NONE

1998-12-01

The 1997 edition of the ``Financial Statistics of Major U.S. Publicly Owned Electric Utilities`` publication presents 5 years (1993 through 1997) of summary financial data and current year detailed financial data on the major publicly owned electric utilities. The objective of the publication is to provide Federal and State governments, industry, and the general public with current and historical data that can be used for policymaking and decisionmaking purposes related to publicly owned electric utility issues. Generator (Tables 3 through 11) and nongenerator (Tables 12 through 20) summaries are presented in this publication. Five years of summary financial data aremore » provided (Tables 5 through 11 and 14 through 20). Summaries of generators for fiscal years ending June 30 and December 31, nongenerators for fiscal years ending June 30 and December 31, and summaries of all respondents are provided in Appendix C. The composite tables present aggregates of income statement and balance sheet data, as well as financial indicators. Composite tables also display electric operation and maintenance expenses, electric utility plant, number of consumers, sales of electricity, operating revenue, and electric energy account data. The primary source of publicly owned financial data is the Form EIA-412, ``Annual Report of Public Electric Utilities.`` Public electric utilities file this survey on a fiscal year basis, in conformance with their recordkeeping practices. The EIA undertook a review of the Form EIA-412 submissions to determine if alternative classifications of publicly owned electric utilities would permit the inclusion of all respondents. The review indicated that financial indicators differ most according to whether or not a publicly owned electric utility generates electricity. Therefore, the main body of the report provides summary information in generator/nongenerator classifications. 2 figs., 101 tabs.« less

Expected Utility Based Decision Making under Z-Information and Its Application.

PubMed

Aliev, Rashad R; Mraiziq, Derar Atallah Talal; Huseynov, Oleg H

2015-01-01

Real-world decision relevant information is often partially reliable. The reasons are partial reliability of the source of information, misperceptions, psychological biases, incompetence, and so forth. Z-numbers based formalization of information (Z-information) represents a natural language (NL) based value of a variable of interest in line with the related NL based reliability. What is important is that Z-information not only is the most general representation of real-world imperfect information but also has the highest descriptive power from human perception point of view as compared to fuzzy number. In this study, we present an approach to decision making under Z-information based on direct computation over Z-numbers. This approach utilizes expected utility paradigm and is applied to a benchmark decision problem in the field of economics.

Beyond the Flipped Classroom: A Highly Interactive Cloud-Classroom (HIC) Embedded into Basic Materials Science Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liou, Wei-Kai; Bhagat, Kaushal Kumar; Chang, Chun-Yen

2016-01-01

The present study compares the highly interactive cloud-classroom (HIC) system with traditional methods of teaching materials science that utilize crystal structure picture or real crystal structure model, in order to examine its learning effectiveness across three dimensions: knowledge, comprehension and application. The aim of this study was to…

Effect of Drama Instruction Method on Students' Turkish Verbal Skills and Speech Anxiety

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kardas, Mehmet Nuri; Koç, Rasit

2017-01-01

The objective of the present study is to determine the effect of the "drama" method on students' Turkish verbal skills and speech anxiety. Pretest-posttest experimental model with control group was utilized in the study. In the analysis of data obtained by Turkish Rhetorical Skills Scale (TRSS) and Speech Anxiety Scale (SAS), t-test…

The Impact of Concept Mapping on EFL Learners' Critical Thinking Ability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khodadady, Ebrahim; Ghanizadeh, Afsaneh

2011-01-01

The present study investigated the influence of concept mapping as a post-reading strategy on EFL learners' critical thinking ability. The study utilized a pretest-posttest control and experimental group design. To do so, thirty six EFL learners at upper intermediate and advanced levels were randomly assigned to experimental (n=18) and control…

Social Stratification and Mobility in a Rural Community (Mahi) in Gujarat, India.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Panchanadikar, K. C.; Panchanadikar, J.

Analyzing the interaction between factors that are stable and factors that initiate change re: promotion of social mobility or crystalization of existing social stratification, this paper presents a case study of Mahi, a rural village in Gujarat, India. Utilizing data derived from two field studies (1961-1962 and March 1967-June 1967), the stable…

Anger, Stress Proliferation, and Depressed Mood among Parents of Children with ASD: A Longitudinal Replication

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benson, Paul R.; Karlof, Kristie L.

2009-01-01

"Stress proliferation" (the tendency for stressors to create additional stressors) has been suggested as an important contributor to depression among caregivers. The present study utilized longitudinal data from 90 parents of children with ASD to replicate and extend a prior cross-sectional study on stress proliferation by Benson (J Autism Develop…

How Nonrecidivism Affects Predictive Accuracy: Evidence from a Cross-Validation of the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hilton, N. Zoe; Harris, Grant T.

2009-01-01

Prediction effect sizes such as ROC area are important for demonstrating a risk assessment's generalizability and utility. How a study defines recidivism might affect predictive accuracy. Nonrecidivism is problematic when predicting specialized violence (e.g., domestic violence). The present study cross-validates the ability of the Ontario…

Pivotal Response Treatment for Infants At-Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steiner, Amanda Mossman; Gengoux, Grace W.; Klin, Ami; Chawarska, Katarzyna

2013-01-01

Presently there is limited research to suggest efficacious interventions for infants at-risk for autism. Pivotal response treatment (PRT) has empirical support for use with preschool children with autism, but there are no reports in the literature utilizing this approach with infants. In the current study, a developmental adaptation of PRT was…

Teaching a Basic Religious Studies Course Using Guided Design and an Individualized Course Requirements Plan.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trobian, Helen R.

The religious studies course described in this paper is offered at Bennett College, a predominantly Black college for women. It utilizes an extensive book list and library reserves rather than a textbook, and emphasizes individualized research carried on concurrently with classroom presentations. Specific components of the course are listed and/or…

Current Trends in Microform Use by Secondary Schools: Four Case Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Thomas Graham

The case study section of this booklet discusses a number of current microform programs in secondary schools. The remainder of the booklet presents an overview of microform activity, including comments on the history of secondary school microform utilization and an up-to-date listing of microform selection aids. The amount of information available…

Prediction of Women's Utilization of Resistance Strategies in a Sexual Assault Situation: A Prospective Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gidycz, Christine A.; Van Wynsberghe, Amy; Edwards, Katie M.

2008-01-01

The present study prospectively explored the predictors of resistance strategies to a sexual assault situation. Participants were assessed at the beginning of an academic quarter on a number of variables, including past history of sexual victimization, perceived risk of sexual victimization, and intentions to use specific types of resistance…

Podcasts: Are They an Effective Tool to Enhance Student Learning? A Case Study from McMaster University, Hamilton Canada

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vajoczki, Susan; Watt, Susan; Marquis, Nick; Holshausen, Katherine

2010-01-01

As universities turn to technology to become more learner-centred and address challenges created by increasing class sizes, changing consumer expectations, and increasing numbers of disability accommodation requests it is important to test the utility of technology solutions. This presentation describes a study to determine the effects of…

Do High-Ability Students Disidentify with Science? A Descriptive Study of U.S. Ninth Graders in 2009

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andersen, Lori; Chen, Jason A.

2016-01-01

The present study describes science expectancy-value motivation classes within a nationally representative sample of students who were U.S. ninth graders in 2009. An expectancy-value model was the basis for science-specific profile indicators (self-efficacy, attainment value, utility value, interest-enjoyment value). Using exploratory latent class…

Utilizing Benchmarking to Study the Effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Implemented in a Community Setting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Self-Brown, Shannon; Valente, Jessica R.; Wild, Robert C.; Whitaker, Daniel J.; Galanter, Rachel; Dorsey, Shannon; Stanley, Jenelle

2012-01-01

Benchmarking is a program evaluation approach that can be used to study whether the outcomes of parents/children who participate in an evidence-based program in the community approximate the outcomes found in randomized trials. This paper presents a case illustration using benchmarking methodology to examine a community implementation of…

A Multilevel Perspective on the Climate of Bullying: Discrepancies among Students, School Staff, and Parents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waasdorp, Tracy Evian; Pas, Elise T.; O'Brennan, Lindsey M.; Bradshaw, Catherine P.

2011-01-01

Although many bullying prevention programs aim to involve multiple partners, few studies have examined perceptual differences regarding peer victimization and the broader bullying climate among students, staff, and parents. The present study utilized multilevel data from 11,674 students, 960 parents, and 1,027 staff at 44 schools to examine the…

Manpower Planning and Forecasting, Proceedings of the Annual Research Conference (10th, Beverly Hills, California, April 10-11, 1967).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

California Univ., Los Angeles. Inst. of Industrial Relations.

Five conference papers covering research studies and problems related to effective utilization of manpower in southern California are presented. "The Impact of Technological Change on Employees in the Southern California Aerospace Industry," by Paul Prasow, reports a longitudinal study of social and psychological adjustment factors…

Selective Energy Feasibility Study -- Richmond College, City University of New York

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Consulting Engineer, 1974

1974-01-01

A study of the presently available data on magnitude, duration, and coincidence of electrical demands determined that onsite electrical power generation in the form of a selective energy system should be incorporated within the central utilities plant projected for the Richmond College Campus of the City University of New York (CUNY). (Author/MLF)

Parenting Behaviors in the First Year of Life: A National Comparison of Latinos and Other Cultural Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barrueco, Sandra; Lopez, Michael L.; Miles, Jonathan C.

2007-01-01

The present study utilizes a nationally representative sample of infants and families (N = 10,498) to examine Latino parenting, building upon previous studies on book reading, storytelling, singing, and teaching behaviors. The findings suggest that, once factors pertaining to family resources and characteristics have been accounted for (e.g.,…

Cross Situational Consistency of Communication Behaviors: A Theoretical Overview, Apprehension, Androgyny, Organizational Relationships: Trust/Satisfaction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phelps, Lynn; And Others

Three studies tested the capability of three measurement instruments to predict a communication behavior across a variety of communication situations. The intent of these related studies was to demonstrate the utility of a self-presentation analysis of the concept of personality, an approach postulating that people strive to create the impression…

Web-Based Learning Programs: Use by Learners with Various Cognitive Styles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Ling-Hsiu

2010-01-01

To consider how Web-based learning program is utilized by learners with different cognitive styles, this study presents a Web-based learning system (WBLS) and analyzes learners' browsing data recorded in the log file to identify how learners' cognitive styles and learning behavior are related. In order to develop an adapted WBLS, this study also…

Personality and Social Problem-Solving: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koruklu, Nermin

2015-01-01

The purpose of the present study was to examine direct and indirect relationships among personality, selfesteem and social problem-solving, as well as the mediating role of self-esteem in the link between personality and social problem-solving among Turkish youth. The study utilized a cross-sectional design comprising several self-reports. Data…

Time Span of Discretion and Administrative Work in School Systems: Results of a Pilot Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allison, Derek J.; Morfitt, Grace

This paper presents findings of a study that utilized Elliott Jaques' theories of organizational depth structure and time span of discretion in administrative work to examine administrators' responsibilities in two Ontario (Canada) school systems. The theory predicts that the time-span of discretion associated with the administrative tasks will…

The Use of Ultrasound in Remediation of North American English /r/ in 2 Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adler-Bock, Marcy; Bernhardt, Barbara May; Gick, Bryan; Bacsfalvi, Penelope

2007-01-01

Purpose: Ultrasound can provide images of the tongue during speech production. The present study set out to examine the potential utility of ultrasound in remediation of North American English /r/. Method: The participants were 2 Canadian English-speaking adolescents who had not yet acquired /r/. The study included an initial period without…

A Comparison of Semantic and Syntactic Event Related Potentials Generated by Children and Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atchley, Ruth Ann; Rice, Mabel L.; Betz, Stacy K.; Kwasny, Kristin M.; Sereno, Joan A.; Jongman, Allard

2006-01-01

The present study employs event related potentials (ERPs) to verify the utility of using electrophysiological measures to study developmental questions within the field of language comprehension. Established ERP components (N400 and P600) that reflect semantic and syntactic processing were examined. Fifteen adults and 14 children (ages 8-13)…

Laser diagnostics for NTP fuel corrosion studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wantuck, Paul J.; Butt, D. P.; Sappey, A. D.

1993-01-01

Viewgraphs and explanations on laser diagnostics for nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) fuel corrosion studies are presented. Topics covered include: NTP fuels; U-Zr-C system corrosion products; planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF); utilization of PLIF for corrosion product characterization of nuclear thermal rocket fuel elements under test; ZrC emission spectrum; and PLIF imaging of ZrC plume.

Using Debate to Maximize Learning Potential: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Firmin, Michael W.; Vaughn, Aaron; Dye, Amanda

2007-01-01

Following a review of the literature, an educational case study is provided for the benefit of faculty preparing college courses. In particular, we provide a transcribed debate utilized in a General Psychology course as a best practice example of how to craft a debate which maximizes student learning. The work is presented as a model for the…

A photographic utilization guide for key riparian graminoids

Treesearch

John W. Kinney; Warren P. Clary

1994-01-01

Photographic guides are presented to help estimate grazing utilization of important riparian grasses and grasslike plants. Graphs showing the percent of a plant's weight that has been consumed based on the percent of its height left after grazing allow utilization estimates to be refined further.

Strategic considerations for support of humans in space and Moon/Mars exploration missions. Life sciences research and technology programs, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1992-01-01

Summary charts of the following topics are presented: the Percentage of Critical Questions in Constrained and Robust Programs; the Executive Committee and AMAC Disposition of Critical Questions for Constrained and Robust Programs; and the Requirements for Ground-based Research and Flight Platforms for Constrained and Robust Programs. Data Tables are also presented and cover the following: critical questions from all Life Sciences Division Discipline Science Plans; critical questions listed by category and criticality; all critical questions which require ground-based research; critical questions that would utilize spacelabs listed by category and criticality; critical questions that would utilize Space Station Freedom (SSF) listed by category and criticality; critical questions that would utilize the SSF Centrifuge; facility listed by category and criticality; critical questions that would utilize a Moon base listed by category and criticality; critical questions that would utilize robotic missions listed by category and criticality; critical questions that would utilize free flyers listed by category and criticality; and critical questions by deliverables.

Home-Based Screening for Biliary Atresia Using Infant Stool Color Cards in Canada: Quebec Feasibility Study.

PubMed

Morinville, Véronique; Ahmed, Najma; Ibberson, Cindy; Kovacs, Lajos; Kaczorowski, Janusz; Bryan, Stirling; Collet, Jean-Paul; Schreiber, Richard

2016-04-01

Biliary atresia (BA) is a leading cause of liver failure and liver transplantation in pediatrics. BA manifests by 3 weeks of life with jaundice and pale stools. Delayed diagnosis and surgical intervention with Kasai portoenterostomy after 3 months of age is significantly associated with poor prognosis for native liver survival. A national Taiwan infant stool color card (SCC) screening program has entirely eliminated late Kasai portoenterostomy >90 days of age and improved native liver survival. A recent large-scale prospective cohort study in British Columbia, Canada, indicated that distribution of SCC on the maternity ward was feasible, led to high utilization rate, and was cost-effective. The aim of the present study was to assess the generalizability of this screening strategy in another Canadian jurisdiction with a different sociodemographic profile. An SCC was distributed to families of newborns discharged at St Mary's Hospital Center, Montreal, Quebec. Families were instructed to monitor their infant's stool color for 21 days and then complete and mail the SCC to the study center. Phone surveys to families who did not return cards were used to estimate total card utilization rate. Two thousand two hundred forty-six infants were eligible for inclusion; 99.9% were enrolled. Mail SCC return rate was 63.3%. No cases of BA were identified. All of the 118 families who completed the phone survey reported that they had utilized the SCC. Conservative and optimistic estimates for total card utilization rates were 82% and 100%, respectively. The high enrollment and utilization rates in this screening study strongly support the feasibility of implementing a Canadian SCC screening program to improve outcomes of children with BA.

Ethnomedicinal practices in the highlands of central Nepal: a case study of Syaphru and Langtang village in Rasuwa district.

PubMed

Shrestha, Nawal; Prasai, Deepshikha; Shrestha, Krishna Kumar; Shrestha, Saugat; Zhang, Xian-Chun

2014-09-11

The present paper documents the utilization of medicinal plants for the treatment of various human ailments in two village development committees in the Rasuwa district of central Nepal. It also evaluates the ethnopharmacological significance of the documented reports and identifies species of high indigenous priority in local therapeutics. The ethnobotanical information was collected by interviews and group discussions using standard ethnobotanical procedures. The homogeneity of informant׳s knowledge was validated by Informant consensus factor (F(IC)) and the relative importance of a plant species used as medicine in the study area was calculated with the help of use value (UV). The present study identified a total of 46 medicinal plants belonging to 26 families used for the treatment of 38 human ailments. Besides medicinal uses, the study has also documented the culinary and cultural use of 13 species of medicinal plants. The most commonly used part was root constituting about 42% of the total utilized plants. The most commonly used form of preparation was paste (31.91%). We found new usage reports for 9 medicinal plants. The F(IC) value in the present study ranged from 0.66 to 1 with 84.6% values greater than 0.8 indicating high consensus among the informants. The most preferred species was Neopicrorhiza scrophulariflora (UV=0.96) and the lowest used value was found for Lyonia ovalifolia (UV=0.32). People of Rasuwa possess rich traditional knowledge in medicinal plants utilization with strong consensus among local people on the utilization of species evident by higher F(IC) values in different ailment categories. Strong pharmacological evidence for a majority of species being currently used as medicines shows that the plants used in local therapeutics are likely to be more effective in treating different medical ailments. The bioactive compounds extracted from these medicinal plants could subsequently be used in the creation of novel drugs to treat life threatening human diseases. The species with high use values are the ones likely to be more vulnerable because of high demand and high collection pressure. Therefore, it is imperative to prioritize such species for cultivation and sustainable management in order to ensure their long term availability. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The business case for payer support of a community-based health information exchange: a humana pilot evaluating its effectiveness in cost control for plan members seeking emergency department care.

PubMed

Tzeel, Albert; Lawnicki, Victor; Pemble, Kim R

2011-07-01

As emergency department utilization continues to increase, health plans must limit their cost exposure, which may be driven by duplicate testing and a lack of medical history at the point of care. Based on previous studies, health information exchanges (HIEs) can potentially provide health plans with the ability to address this need. To assess the effectiveness of a community-based HIE in controlling plan costs arising from emergency department care for a health plan's members. Albert Tzeel. The study design was observational, with an eligible population (N = 1482) of fully insured plan members who sought emergency department care on at least 2 occasions during the study period, from December 2008 through March 2010. Cost and utilization data, obtained from member claims, were matched to a list of persons utilizing the emergency department where HIE querying could have occurred. Eligible members underwent propensity score matching to create a test group (N = 326) in which the HIE database was queried in all emergency department visits, and a control group (N = 325) in which the HIE database was not queried in any emergency department visit. Post-propensity matching analysis showed that the test group achieved an average savings of $29 per emergency department visit compared with the control group. Decreased utilization of imaging procedures and diagnostic tests drove this cost-savings. When clinicians utilize HIE in the care of patients who present to the emergency department, the costs borne by a health plan providing coverage for these patients decrease. Although many factors can play a role in this finding, it is likely that HIEs obviate unnecessary service utilization through provision of historical medical information regarding specific patients at the point of care.

Comprehensive Peptide Ion Structure Studies Using Ion Mobility Techniques: Part 3. Relating Solution-Phase to Gas-Phase Structures.

PubMed

Kondalaji, Samaneh Ghassabi; Khakinejad, Mahdiar; Valentine, Stephen J

2018-06-01

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been utilized to study peptide ion conformer establishment during the electrospray process. An explicit water model is used for nanodroplets containing a model peptide and hydronium ions. Simulations are conducted at 300 K for two different peptide ion charge configurations and for droplets containing varying numbers of hydronium ions. For all conditions, modeling has been performed until production of the gas-phase ions and the resultant conformers have been compared to proposed gas-phase structures. The latter species were obtained from previous studies in which in silico candidate structures were filtered according to ion mobility and hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) reactivity matches. Results from the present study present three key findings namely (1) the evidence from ion production modeling supports previous structure refinement studies based on mobility and HDX reactivity matching, (2) the modeling of the electrospray process is significantly improved by utilizing initial droplets existing below but close to the calculated Rayleigh limit, and (3) peptide ions in the nanodroplets sample significantly different conformers than those in the bulk solution due to altered physicochemical properties of the solvent. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Implicit Theories, Expectancies, and Values Predict Mathematics Motivation and Behavior across High School and College.

PubMed

Priess-Groben, Heather A; Hyde, Janet Shibley

2017-06-01

Mathematics motivation declines for many adolescents, which limits future educational and career options. The present study sought to identify predictors of this decline by examining whether implicit theories assessed in ninth grade (incremental/entity) predicted course-taking behaviors and utility value in college. The study integrated implicit theory with variables from expectancy-value theory to examine potential moderators and mediators of the association of implicit theories with college mathematics outcomes. Implicit theories and expectancy-value variables were assessed in 165 American high school students (47 % female; 92 % White), who were then followed into their college years, at which time mathematics courses taken, course-taking intentions, and utility value were assessed. Implicit theories predicted course-taking intentions and utility value, but only self-concept of ability predicted courses taken, course-taking intentions, and utility value after controlling for prior mathematics achievement and baseline values. Expectancy for success in mathematics mediated associations between self-concept of ability and college outcomes. This research identifies self-concept of ability as a stronger predictor than implicit theories of mathematics motivation and behavior across several years: math self-concept is critical to sustained engagement in mathematics.

Utilization of emergency services for non-traumatic dental disease.

PubMed

Da Silva, Keith; Kunzel, Carol; Yoon, Richard K

2013-01-01

To identify and characterize children who utilize emergency dental services for non-traumatic dental disease. Caregivers of children under 12 years old who seek out emergency services for the treatment of non-traumatic dental disease will be surveyed regarding their child's current oral health status. Patient's clinical data will be obtained and they will be further followed for a period of 2 months to determine if they follow-up with recommendations for comprehensive dental care. One hundred and ninety-eight people participated in the study (97% response rate). Eighty-three percent of the children were diagnosed with dental caries. Seventy-four percent of patients of record presented with an emergency at least once before and 73% had a history of one or more broken appointments. Patients with a history of previous emergency visits (OR = 3.45, CI = 2.05, 5.81) or a history of missed appointments (OR = 2.21, CI = 1.42, 3.58) were significantly more likely to fail to return for comprehensive care (P < .01). This study shows that those who utilize emergency services more than once, or have a history of missed appointments are more likely to continue to utilize emergency dental services as their primary means for dental care.

Utilities and manufacturers: Pioneering partnerships and their lessons for the 21st century

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

Bartsch, C.; DeVaul, D.

1994-12-31

Manufacturers who, in partnership with utilities, improved their production process through energy efficiency and waste minimization strategies are discussed. Frequently these investments changed the corporate culture and resulted in a commitment to continuous improvement that may ensure the industrialists adapt to a rapidly evolving marketplace. The Northeast-Midwest Institute`s work to record these case studies developed out of the observation that older manufacturing facilities too often are run until no longer competitive, then closed, and new plants are built somewhere else - increasingly overseas. Unemployment, poverty, and cycles of economic and social deterioration too often follow if a new economic basemore » cannot be created. At the same time, inefficient industrial plants tend to emit large quantities of waste materials; industry produces more than 600 million tons of hazardous wastes and approximately 13 billion tons of solid wastes each year. To help identify how to avoid such pitfalls, the Institute sought out manufacturers who modernized successfully. Case studies are presented that show that utilities often are instrumental in catalyzing change in their industrial partners. In fact, much can be gained from utilities and industries working together. Many manufacturers need technical and financial assistance to maintain peak productivity.« less

Heat Transfer and Thermodynamics: a Compilation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1974-01-01

A compilation is presented for the dissemination of information on technological developments which have potential utility outside the aerospace and nuclear communities. Studies include theories and mechanical considerations in the transfer of heat and the thermodynamic properties of matter and the causes and effects of certain interactions.

21st Century Water Asset Accounting - Case Studies Report (WERF Report INFR6R12a)

EPA Science Inventory

America’s decaying water infrastructure presents significant financial and logistical challenges for water utilities. Green infrastructure has been gaining traction as a viable alternative and complement to traditional “grey” infrastructure for water management. Current accounti...

Team-Based Classroom Pedagogy Reframed: The Student Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schultz, Jennifer L.; Wilson, Joel R.; Hess, Kenneth C.

2010-01-01

Postsecondary learning environments often utilize team-based pedagogical practices to challenge and support student learning outcomes. This manuscript presents the findings of a qualitative research study that analyzed the viewpoints and perceptions of group or team-based projects among undergraduate business students. Results identified five…

Communication Technologies Promoting Educational Communities with Scholarship of Engagement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Georgakopoulos, Alexia; Hawkins, Steven T.

2013-01-01

Purpose: This study aims to present Dramatic Problem Solving Facilitation Model (DPSFM) and Interactive Management (IM) as innovative alternative dispute resolution approaches that incorporate communication technologies in recording and analyzing data. DPSFM utilizes performance-based actions with facilitation methods to help participants design…

Reliability and paste process optimization of eutectic and lead-free for mixed packaging

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramkumar, S. M.; Ganeshan, V.; Thenalur, K.; Ghaffarian, R.

2002-01-01

This paper reports the results of an experiment that utilized the JPL's area array consortium test vehicle design, containing a myriad of mixed technology components with an OSP finish. The details of the reliability study are presented in this paper.

Transcriptomic-based effects monitoring for endocrine active chemicals: Assessing relative contribution of treated wastewater to downstream pollution

EPA Science Inventory

The present study investigated whether combining of targeted analytical chemistry methods with unsupervised, data-rich methodologies (i.e. transcriptomics) can be utilized to evaluate relative contributions of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents to biological effects. The...

Virtually Usable: A Test of the Information Gardens

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Megan; Ochoa, Louise; Purpur, Geraldine

2007-01-01

This paper presents the results of a usability study conducted to determine the functionality of a desktop, three-dimensional virtual library designed and supported by the Appalachian State University Distance Learning Library Services team. Formative evaluations were performed with representative students utilizing Morae software. Results…

Demonstration of TRAF-NETSIM for traffic operations management : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1991-08-01

The utility of the simulation package TRAF-NETSIM to the traffic engineer is assessed and demonstrated by means of a case study. The methodology employed in performing the analysis is presented in a way that will aid future users of TRAF-NETSIM. The ...

Integrated Utilization of Sewage Sludge and Coal Gangue for Cement Clinker Products: Promoting Tricalcium Silicate Formation and Trace Elements Immobilization

PubMed Central

Yang, Zhenzhou; Zhang, Yingyi; Liu, Lili; Seetharaman, Seshadri; Wang, Xidong; Zhang, Zuotai

2016-01-01

The present study firstly proposed a method of integrated utilization of sewage sludge (SS) and coal gangue (CG), two waste products, for cement clinker products with the aim of heat recovery and environment protection. The results demonstrated that the incremental amounts of SS and CG addition was favorable for the formation of tricalcium silicate (C3S) during the calcinations, but excess amount of SS addition could cause the impediment effect on C3S formation. Furthermore, it was also observed that the C3S polymorphs showed the transition from rhombohedral to monoclinic structure as SS addition was increased to 15 wt %. During the calcinations, most of trace elements could be immobilized especially Zn and cannot be easily leached out. Given the encouraging results in the present study, the co-process of sewage sludge and coal gangue in the cement kiln can be expected with a higher quality of cement products and minimum pollution to the environment. PMID:28773400

Adopting Energy Efficiency in Connected Homes

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

Christensen, Dane T; Kemper, Emily

This presentation on connected homes was presented at the 11th Rocky Mountain Utility Efficiency Exchange on September 28, 2017. The discussion covered the integration of energy efficiency measures and practices with Internet of Things (IoT) awareness and adoption of smart technologies and services via WiFi/ Bluetooth enabled home and office equipment. The presentation also describes the benefits to the home and business and benefits/challenges for the utility/implementer.

Atmospheric and oceanographic research review, 1979

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

Papers generated by atmospheric, oceanographic, and climatological research performed during 1979 at the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences are presented. The GARP/global weather research is aimed at developing techniques for the utilization and analysis of the FGGE data sets. Observing system studies were aimed at developing a GLAS TIROS N sounding retrieval system and preparing for the joint NOAA/NASA AMTS simulation study. The climate research objective is to support the development and effective utilization of space acquired data systems by developing the GLAS GCM for short range climate predictions, studies of the sensitivity of climate to boundary conditions, and predictability studies. Ocean/air interaction studies concentrated on the development of models for the prediction of upper ocean currents, temperatures, sea state, mixed layer depths, and upwelling zones, and on studies of the interactions of the atmospheric and oceanic circulation systems on time scales of a month or more.

GASP cloud- and particle-encounter statistics and their application to LPC aircraft studies. Volume 1: Analysis and conclusions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jasperson, W. H.; Nastrom, G. D.; Davis, R. E.; Holdeman, J. D.

1984-01-01

Summary studies are presented for the entire cloud observation archieve from the NASA Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP). Studies are also presented for GASP particle concentration data gathered concurrently with the cloud observations. Cloud encounters are shown on about 15 percent of the data samples overall, but the probability of cloud encounter is shown to vary significantly with altitude, latitude, and distance from the tropopause. Several meteorological circulation features are apparent in the latitudinal distribution of cloud cover, and the cloud encounter statistics are shown to be consistent with the classical mid-latitude cyclone model. Observations of clouds spaced more closely than 90 minutes are shown to be statistically dependent. The statistics for cloud and particle encounter are utilized to estimate the frequency of cloud encounter on long range airline routes, and to assess the probability and extent of laminar flow loss due to cloud or particle encounter by aircraft utilizing laminar flow control (LFC). It is shown that the probability of extended cloud encounter is too low, of itself, to make LFC impractical.

Bioremediation of petroleum contaminated soil to combat toxicity on Withania somnifera through seed priming with biosurfactant producing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria.

PubMed

Das, Amar Jyoti; Kumar, Rajesh

2016-06-01

Soil contaminated by Petroleum oil cannot be utilized for agricultural purposes due to hydrocarbon toxicity. Oil contaminated soil induces toxicity affecting germination, growth and productivity. Several technologies have been proposed for bioremediation of oil contaminated sites, but remediation through biosurfactant producing plant growth promontory rhizobacteria (PGPR) is considered to be most promising methods. In the present study the efficacy of seed priming on growth and pigment of Withania somnifera under petroleum toxicity is explored. Seeds of W. somnifera were primed with biosurfactant producing Pseudomonas sp. AJ15 with plant growth promoting traits having potentiality to utilized petroleum as carbon source. Results indicates that plant arose from priming seeds under various petroleum concentration expressed high values for all the parameters studied namely germination, shoot length, root length, fresh and dry weight and pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoid) as compared to non primed seed. Hence, the present study signifies that petroleum degrarding biosurfactant producing PGPR could be further used for management and detoxification of petroleum contaminated soils for growing economically important crops. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Financial statistics of major US investor-owned electric utilities 1994

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

NONE

1995-12-01

The Financial Statistics of Major U.S. Investor-Owned Electric Utilities publication presents summary and detailed financial accounting data on the investor-owned electric utilities. The objective of the publication is to provide Federal and State Governments, industry, and the general public with current and historical data that can be used for making policy and decisions relating to investor-owned electric utility issues.

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

Bullard, F.M.

Current knowledge of volcanoes and their effect on the environment and the people of the earth is presented. The book is based on actual field studies around the world. Discussion is presented in three sections entitled: facts and fiction about volcanoes; types of volcanic eruptions; and theory, cycles, utilization, and environmental effects of volcanoes. A chapter in the third section is devoted to man's use of geothermal energy. Two appendices, a glossary, bibliography, and index are included. (JGB)

Financial statistics of major U.S. investor-owned electric utilities 1993

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

Not Available

1995-01-01

The Financial Statistics of Major US Investor-Owned Electric Utilities publication presents summary and detailed financial accounting data on the investor-owned electric utilities. The objective of the publication is to provide Federal and State governments, industry, and the general public with current and historical data that can be used for policymaking and decisionmaking purposes related to investor-owned electric utility issues.

Raster graphic helmet-mounted display study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beamon, William S.; Moran, Susanna I.

1990-01-01

A design of a helmet mounted display system is presented, including a design specification and development plan for the selected design approach. The requirements for the helmet mounted display system and a survey of applicable technologies are presented. Three helmet display concepts are then described which utilize lasers, liquid crystal display's (LCD's), and subminiature cathode ray tubes (CRT's), respectively. The laser approach is further developed in a design specification and a development plan.

A descriptive review of the methodologies used in household surveys on medicine utilization.

PubMed

Bertoldi, Andréa D; Barros, Aluísio J D; Wagner, Anita; Ross-Degnan, Dennis; Hallal, Pedro C

2008-10-31

Studies carried out in the community enable researchers to understand access to medicines, affordability, and barriers to use from the consumer's point of view, and may stimulate the development of adequate medicines policies. The aim of the present article was to describe methodological and analytical aspects of quantitative studies on medicine utilization carried out at the household level. Systematic review of original papers with data collected in studies in which the household was a sampling unit, published between 1995 and 2008. The electronic review was carried out in Medline/Pubmed, Scielo and Lilacs. The reference lists of the papers identified were examined, as well as other publications by their authors. Studies on the utilization of specific pharmacological groups, or those including only respondents with a given disease were excluded. Out of 4852 papers initially identified in the literature search, 61 fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Most studies were carried out in Europe and North America and used a cross-sectional approach. More than 80% used face-to-face interviews for data collection, and the most frequently used recall period for assessing medicine utilization was 14-15 days. In 59% of the studies, interviewers were trained to request the packaging of the medicines reported by the subjects; medical prescriptions were requested less frequently (15% of the studies). These data will be useful for updating researchers on what methods their peers are currently using. Such information may help overcome challenges in the planning and analyses of future studies. Moreover, this publication may contribute to the improvement of the quality of medicine use data obtained in household surveys.

Scheduling job shop - A case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abas, M.; Abbas, A.; Khan, W. A.

2016-08-01

The scheduling in job shop is important for efficient utilization of machines in the manufacturing industry. There are number of algorithms available for scheduling of jobs which depend on machines tools, indirect consumables and jobs which are to be processed. In this paper a case study is presented for scheduling of jobs when parts are treated on available machines. Through time and motion study setup time and operation time are measured as total processing time for variety of products having different manufacturing processes. Based on due dates different level of priority are assigned to the jobs and the jobs are scheduled on the basis of priority. In view of the measured processing time, the times for processing of some new jobs are estimated and for efficient utilization of the machines available an algorithm is proposed and validated.

Study of wavelength division multiplexing as a means of increasing the number of channels in multimode fiber optic communication links

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bates, Harry

1990-01-01

A number of optical communication lines are now in use at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for the transmission of voice, computer data, and video signals. Presently, all of these channels utilize a single carrier wavelength centered near 1300 nm. The theoretical bandwidth of the fiber far exceeds the utilized capacity. Yet, practical considerations limit the usable bandwidth. The fibers have the capability of transmitting a multiplicity of signals simultaneously in each of two separate bands (1300 and 1550 nm). Thus, in principle, the number of transmission channels can be increased without installing new cable if some means of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) can be utilized. The main goal of these experiments was to demonstrate that a factor of 2 increase in bandwidth utilization can share the same fiber in both a unidirectional configuration and a bidirectional mode of operation. Both signal and multimode fiber are installed at KSC. The great majority is multimode; therefore, this effort concentrated on multimode systems.

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

Bird, L.; Brown, E.

This report presents year-end 2005 data on utility green pricing programs, and examines trends in consumer response and program implementation over time. The data in this report, which were obtained via a questionnaire distributed to utility green pricing program managers, can be used by utilities to benchmark the success of their green power programs.

In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Capability Roadmap Progress Review

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sanders, Gerald B.; Duke, Michael

2005-01-01

A progress review on In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) capability is presented. The topics include: 1) In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Capability Roadmap: Level 1; 2) ISRU Emphasized Architecture Overview; 3) ISRU Capability Elements: Level 2 and below; and 4) ISRU Capability Roadmap Wrap-up.

Algebraic grid adaptation method using non-uniform rational B-spline surface modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, Jiann-Cherng; Soni, B. K.

1992-01-01

An algebraic adaptive grid system based on equidistribution law and utilized by the Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) surface for redistribution is presented. A weight function, utilizing a properly weighted boolean sum of various flow field characteristics is developed. Computational examples are presented to demonstrate the success of this technique.

An Observational Measure of Children's Behavioural Style: Evidence Supporting a Multi-Method Approach to Studying Temperament

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karp, Jennifer; Serbin, Lisa A.; Stack, Dale M.; Schwartzman, Alex E.

2004-01-01

This study demonstrates the potential utility of the Behavioural Style Observational System (BSOS) as a new observational measure of children's behavioural style. The BSOS is an objective, short and easy to use measure that can be readily adapted to a variety of home and laboratory situations. In the present study, 160 mother-child dyads from the…

An Illumination of the Roles of Hands-On Activities, Discussion, Text Reading, and Writing in Constructing Biology Knowledge in Seventh Grade

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wallace, Carolyn S.

2004-01-01

A previous study (Wallace, Yang, Hand, & Hohenshell, 2001) indicated that seventh-grade life science students using a learning tool known as the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) performed significantly better on conceptual test questions than did a control group. In the present study, the researcher studied more deeply how students utilized a…

Lunar NTR vehicle design and operations study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hodge, John

1993-01-01

The results of a lunar nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) vehicle design and operations study are presented in text and graphic form. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the potential applications of a specific NTR design to past and current (First Lunar Outpost) mission profiles for piloted and cargo lunar missions, and to assess the applicability of utilizing lunar vehicle design concepts for Mars missions.

Understanding Utilization of E-Journals through Usage Reports from Aggregators in a Distance Education University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tripathi, Manorama; Kumar, Sunil; Jeevan, V. K. J.

2012-01-01

The present study gives an account of how the e-resources in general and EBSCO, PROQUEST, Project MUSE, and JSTOR in particular were used in the Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India. It studies and highlights the access pattern of the patrons in an open university. The study suggests consistency and uniformity in computing and…

Alternate space shuttle concepts study. Part 2: Technical summary. Volume 2: Orbiter definition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1971-01-01

A study was conducted of a three-engined external hydrogen tank orbiter/heat sink booster utilizing 415 K sea level thrust engines. The results of the study, pertaining to the orbiter portion of the configuration, are presented. A complete summary of characteristics is given for the external tank configuration along with some comparative data for a conventional internal tank configuration.

Predicting High School Completion Using Student Performance in High School Algebra: A Mixed Methods Research Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chiado, Wendy S.

2012-01-01

Too many of our nation's youth have failed to complete high school. Determining why so many of our nation's students fail to graduate is a complex, multi-faceted problem and beyond the scope of any one study. The study presented herein utilized a thirteen-step mixed methods model developed by Leech and Onwuegbuzie (2007) to demonstrate within a…

A Framework for Organizing Current and Future Electric Utility Regulatory and Business Models

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

Satchwell, Andrew; Cappers, Peter; Schwartz, Lisa

In this report, we will present a descriptive and organizational framework for incremental and fundamental changes to regulatory and utility business models in the context of clean energy public policy goals. We will also discuss the regulated utility's role in providing value-added services that relate to distributed energy resources, identify the "openness" of customer information and utility networks necessary to facilitate change, and discuss the relative risks, and the shifting of risks, for utilities and customers.

Robust Microplate-Based Methods for Culturing and in Vivo Phenotypic Screening of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

PubMed Central

Haire, Timothy C.; Bell, Cody; Cutshaw, Kirstin; Swiger, Brendan; Winkelmann, Kurt; Palmer, Andrew G.

2018-01-01

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Cr), a unicellular alga, is routinely utilized to study photosynthetic biochemistry, ciliary motility, and cellular reproduction. Its minimal culture requirements, unicellular morphology, and ease of transformation have made it a popular model system. Despite its relatively slow doubling time, compared with many bacteria, it is an ideal eukaryotic system for microplate-based studies utilizing either, or both, absorbance as well as fluorescence assays. Such microplate assays are powerful tools for researchers in the areas of toxicology, pharmacology, chemical genetics, biotechnology, and more. However, while microplate-based assays are valuable tools for screening biological systems, these methodologies can significantly alter the conditions in which the organisms are cultured and their subsequent physiology or morphology. Herein we describe a novel method for the microplate culture and in vivo phenotypic analysis of growth, viability, and photosynthetic pigments of C. reinhardtii. We evaluated the utility of our assay by screening silver nanoparticles for their effects on growth and viability. These methods are amenable to a wide assortment of studies and present a significant advancement in the methodologies available for research involving this model organism. PMID:29623083

Robust Microplate-Based Methods for Culturing and in Vivo Phenotypic Screening of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

PubMed

Haire, Timothy C; Bell, Cody; Cutshaw, Kirstin; Swiger, Brendan; Winkelmann, Kurt; Palmer, Andrew G

2018-01-01

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Cr), a unicellular alga, is routinely utilized to study photosynthetic biochemistry, ciliary motility, and cellular reproduction. Its minimal culture requirements, unicellular morphology, and ease of transformation have made it a popular model system. Despite its relatively slow doubling time, compared with many bacteria, it is an ideal eukaryotic system for microplate-based studies utilizing either, or both, absorbance as well as fluorescence assays. Such microplate assays are powerful tools for researchers in the areas of toxicology, pharmacology, chemical genetics, biotechnology, and more. However, while microplate-based assays are valuable tools for screening biological systems, these methodologies can significantly alter the conditions in which the organisms are cultured and their subsequent physiology or morphology. Herein we describe a novel method for the microplate culture and in vivo phenotypic analysis of growth, viability, and photosynthetic pigments of C. reinhardtii . We evaluated the utility of our assay by screening silver nanoparticles for their effects on growth and viability. These methods are amenable to a wide assortment of studies and present a significant advancement in the methodologies available for research involving this model organism.

Metabolism and Resistance of Fusarium spp. to the Manzamine Alkaloids via a Putative Retro Pictet-Spengler Reaction and Utility of the Rational Design of Antimalarial and Antifungal Agents

PubMed Central

Farr, Lorelei Lucas; Gholipour, Abbas; Wedge, David E.; Hamann, Mark T.

2014-01-01

As a part of our continuing investigation of the manzamine alkaloids we studied the in vitro activity of the β-carboline containing manzamine alkaloids against Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporium, and Fusarium proliferatum by employing several bioassay techniques including one-dimensional direct bioautography, dilution, and plate susceptibility, and microtiter broth assays. In addition, we also studied the metabolism of the manzamine alkaloids by Fusarium spp. in order to facilitate the redesign of the compounds to prevent resistance of Fusarium spp. through metabolism. The present research reveals that the manzamine alkaloids are inactive against Fusarium spp. and the fungi transform manzamines via hydrolysis, reduction, and a retro Pictet-Spengler reaction. This is the first report to demonstrate an enzymatically retro Pictet-Spengler reaction. The results of this study reveal the utility of the rational design of metabolically stable antifungal agents from this class and the development of manzamine alkaloids as antimalarial drugs through the utilization of Fusarium’s metabolic products to reconstruct the molecule. PMID:24553735

Complementary health insurance, out- of- pocket expenditures, and health services utilization: A population- based survey.

PubMed

Homaie Rad, Enayatollah; Kavosi, Zahra; Moghadamnia, Mohammad Taghi; Arefnezhad, Masoud; Arefnezhad, Masoumeh; Felezi Nasiri, Banfashe

2017-01-01

Background: Studies have shown that people using complementary health insurances have more access to health services than others. In the present study, we aimed at finding the differences between out- of- pocket payments and health service utilizations in complementary health insurances (CHIs) users and nonusers. Methods: Propensity score matching was used to compare the 2 groups. First, confounder variables were identified, and then propensity score matching was used to compare out- of- pocket expenditures with dental, general physician, hospital inpatient, emergency services, nursing, midwifery, laboratory services, specialists and rehabilitation services utilization. Results: Our results revealed no significant differences between the 2 groups in out- of- pocket health expenditures. Also, the specialist visits, inpatient services at the hospital, and dental services were higher in people who used CHIs compared to nonusers. Conclusion: People did not change their budget share for health care services after using CHIs. The payments were equal for people who were not CHIs users due to the increase in the quantity of the services.

High Frequency Plasma Generators for Ion Thrusters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Divergilio, W. F.; Goede, H.; Fosnight, V. V.

1981-01-01

The results of a one year program to experimentally adapt two new types of high frequency plasma generators to Argon ion thrusters and to analytically study a third high frequency source concept are presented. Conventional 30 cm two grid ion extraction was utilized or proposed for all three sources. The two plasma generating methods selected for experimental study were a radio frequency induction (RFI) source, operating at about 1 MHz, and an electron cyclotron heated (ECH) plasma source operating at about 5 GHz. Both sources utilize multi-linecusp permanent magnet configurations for plasma confinement. The plasma characteristics, plasma loading of the rf antenna, and the rf frequency dependence of source efficiency and antenna circuit efficiency are described for the RFI Multi-cusp source. In a series of tests of this source at Lewis Research Center, minimum discharge losses of 220+/-10 eV/ion were obtained with propellant utilization of .45 at a beam current of 3 amperes. Possible improvement modifications are discussed.

The no-show patient in the model family practice unit.

PubMed

Dervin, J V; Stone, D L; Beck, C H

1978-12-01

Appointment breaking by patients causes problems for the physician's office. Patients who neither keep nor cancel their appointments are often referred to as "no shows." Twenty variables were identified as potential predictors of no-show behavior. These predictors were applied to 291 Family Practice Center patients during a one-month study in April 1977. A discriminant function and multiple regression procedure were utilized ascertain the predictability of the selected variables. Predictive accuracy of the variables was 67.4 percent compared to the presently utilized constant predictor technique, which is 73 percent accurate. Modification of appointment schedules based upon utilization of the variables studies as predictors of show/no-show behavior does not appear to be an effective strategy in the Family Practice Center of the Community Hospital of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, due to the high proportion of patients who do, in fact, show. In clinics with lower show rates, the technique may prove to be an effective strategy.

Reexamining the domain of hypochondriasis: comparing the Illness Attitudes Scale to other approaches.

PubMed

Fergus, Thomas A; Valentiner, David P

2009-08-01

The present study examined utility of the Illness Attitudes Scale (IAS; [Kellner, R. (1986). Somatization and hypochondriasis. New York: Praeger Publishers]) in a non-clinical college sample (N=235). Relationships among five recently identified IAS dimensions (fear of illness and pain, symptom effects, treatment experience, disease conviction, and health habits) and self-report measures of several anxiety-related constructs (health anxiety, body vigilance, intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety sensitivity, and non-specific anxiety symptoms) were examined. In addition, this study investigated the incremental validity of the IAS dimensions in predicting medical utilization. The fear of illness and pain dimension and the symptom effects dimension consistently shared stronger relations with the anxiety-related constructs compared to the other three IAS dimensions. The symptom effects dimension, the disease conviction dimension, and the health habits dimension showed incremental validity over the anxiety-related constructs in predicting medical utilization. Implications for the IAS and future conceptualizations of HC are discussed.

Self-rated imagery and encoding strategies in visual memory.

PubMed

Berger, G H; Gaunitz, S C

1979-02-01

The value of self-rated vividness of imagery in predicting performance was investigated, taking into account the mnemonic strategies utilized among subjects performing a visual-memory task. Subjects classified as 'good' or 'poor' imagers, according to their scores in the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ; Marks, 1972), were to detect as rapidly as possible differences between pairs of similar pictures presented consecutively. No coding instructions were given and the mnemonic strategies used were analysed by studying subjective reports and objective performance measurements. The results indicated that the subjects utilized two main strategies--a detail or an image strategy. The detail strategy was the more efficient. In accordance with a previous study (Berger & Gaunitz, 1977), it was found that the VVIQ did not discriminate between performance by 'good' and 'poor' imagers. However, among subjects who used the image strategy, 'good' imagers performed more rapidly than 'poor' imagers. Self-rated imagery may then have some value in predicting performance among individuals shown to have utilized an image strategy.