Sample records for proposed minimum skill

  1. Proposed English Standards Promote Aviation Safety.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Chatham, Robert L.; Thomas, Shelley

    2000-01-01

    Discusses the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Air Navigation's Commission approval of a task to develop minimum skill level requirements in English for air traffic control. The ICAO collaborated with the Defense Language Institute English Language Center to propose a minimum standard for English proficiency for international…

  2. 78 FR 26437 - Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-06

    ...This proposed rule would update the payment rates used under the prospective payment system (PPS) for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for fiscal year (FY) 2014, would revise and rebase the SNF market basket, and would make certain technical and conforming revisions in the regulations text. This proposed rule also includes a proposed policy for reporting the SNF market basket forecast error correction in certain limited circumstances and a proposed new item for the Minimum Data Set (MDS), Version 3.0.

  3. [Strategy for educating senior dermatological residents in mycology].

    PubMed

    Mochizuki, Takashi; Tsuboi, Ryoji; Sei, Yoshihiro; Hiruma, Masataro; Watanabe, Shinichi; Makimura, Koichi

    2012-01-01

    To improve the ability of dermatologists to diagnose cutaneous mycoses, we have proposed a list of the minimum mycological knowledge and skills required by senior residents of dermatology. The list includes ability to select the most appropriate sampling method, knowledge of the basic method of potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination and skill in performing fungal cultures and identifying the most prevalent fungal species isolated from skin lesions. It is not possible for the Japanese Society of Medical Mycology to train every senior resident directly, and it is difficult for them to acquire sufficient expertise independently. Consequently, training and advice given by instructors in residents' home institutes is essential. A project of an advanced course for instructors, who are in charge of educating senior residents in their own institute, may be possible. Therefore, we have proposed here a list for instructors of the knowledge and skills required to educate senior residents. Employing this list should realize improved skill in dermatologists.

  4. Basic Learning Skills Grades K-6. Minimum Statewide Educational Objectives Approved by the Board of Education May 27, 1977.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Virginia State Dept. of Education, Richmond. Div. of Elementary Education.

    The specific educational objectives or basic learning skills are listed for the Virginia elementary school grades. Minimum skills are listed in reading, communications, and mathematics. Terminal objectives for reading include skills in word identification or decoding, comprehension, and study skills. Communication skills include listening,…

  5. A cross-validation study of the TGMD-2: The case of an adolescent population.

    PubMed

    Issartel, Johann; McGrane, Bronagh; Fletcher, Richard; O'Brien, Wesley; Powell, Danielle; Belton, Sarahjane

    2017-05-01

    This study proposes an extension of a widely used test evaluating fundamental movement skills proficiency to an adolescent population, with a specific emphasis on validity and reliability for this older age group. Cross-sectional observational study. A total of 844 participants (n=456 male, 12.03±0.49) participated in this study. The 12 fundamental movement skills of the TGMD-2 were assessed. Inter-rater reliability was examined to ensure a minimum of 95% consistency between coders. Confirmatory factor analysis was undertaken with a one-factor model (all 12 skills) and two-factor model (6 locomotor skills and 6 object-control skills) as proposed by Ulrich et al. (2000). The model fit was examined using χ 2 , TLI, CFI and RMSEA. Test-retest reliability was carried out with a subsample of 35 participants. The test-retest reliability reached Intraclass Correlation Coefficient of 0.78 (locomotor), 0.76 (object related) and 0.91 (gross motor skill proficiency). The confirmatory factor analysis did not display a good fit for either the one-factor or two-factor model due to a really low contribution of several skills. A reduction in the number of skills to just seven (run, gallop, hop, horizontal jump, bounce, kick and roll) revealed an overall good fit by TLI, CFI and RMSEA measures. The proposed new model offers the possibility of longitudinal studies to track the maturation of fundamental movement skills across the child and adolescent spectrum, while also giving researchers a valid assessment to tool to evaluate adolescent fundamental movement skills proficiency level. Copyright © 2016 Sports Medicine Australia. All rights reserved.

  6. Policy Developments: Debate.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ottersten, Eugenia Kazamaki; Steedman, Hilary; Schneeberger, Arthur; Carneiro, Roberto

    2000-01-01

    Three articles debate the findings of a study: "Low-Skilled People on the European Labor Market: Towards a Minimum Learning Platform?" (Ottersen, Steedman); "The Concept of a Minimum Learning Platform Educational Contents and Methods for Improving the Low-Skilled" (Schneeberger); and "Achieving a Minimum Learning Platform…

  7. An evaluation of Appalachian Trail hikers' knowledge of minimum impact skills and practices

    Treesearch

    Peter Newman; Robert Manning; Jim Bacon; Alan Graefe; Gerard Kyle

    2002-01-01

    As the number of visitors to national parks and related areas continues to rise and the types of visitors and activities continue to diversify, educating visitors in minimum skills can help to protect parks and related areas. Educating visitors in these skills can be a challenge, especially on the Appalachian Trail (AT) that travels through state, federal, municipal...

  8. Minimum Knowledge and Skills Objectives for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Teaching.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    American Psychiatric Association, Hartford, CT.

    This publication brings together statements concerning the minimum knowledge and skills objectives in alcohol and other drug abuse determined by the professional organizations of six medical specialties: pediatrics; emergency medicine; obstetrics and gynecology; psychiatry; general internal medicine; and family medicine for undergraduate,…

  9. Gaining competence in needle-knife fistulotomy – can I begin on my own?

    PubMed Central

    Lopes, Luís; Dinis-Ribeiro, Mário; Rolanda, Carla

    2016-01-01

    Background: While there are guidelines for appropriate training in ERCP, these are non-existent for needle-knife precut. The aim of this study was: (1) evaluate the experience curve of three endoscopists in needle-knife fistulotomy (NKF); (2) propose a minimum number of NKF procedures to attest proficiency. Methods: Between November 1997 and March 2011, the first 120 consecutive NKF performed by three endoscopists (A, B, and C) were selected (360 patients) from three centers. Each group of 120 patients was chronologically ordered into three subgroups of 40. The main outcomes were: NKF use, NKF success, and post-ERCP adverse events. Results: The need for NKF did not decrease over time. The NKF success rate in the first attempt for endoscopist A and C in each of the three subgroups was 85 %/85 %, 87.5 %/87.5 %, and 87.5 %/90 %, respectively. Furthermore, both demonstrated a high NKF success in their initial 20 NKFs (85 % and 80 %, respectively). Endoscopist B however presented a different pattern as the success rate initiated at 60 %, then rose to 82.5 % and 85 % for the last group (P = 0.03). Adverse events were mild (28 of the 32 occurrences) with no clear reduction with increased experience. Conclusions: A skillful endoscopist may expect to master NKF easily with few adverse events. While some endoscopists could begin on their own because of their innate skills, a minimal training is needed for all, as we cannot predict skills in advance. We propose a minimum of 20 NKF precuts to attest a trainee’s competence in this procedure. PMID:27092315

  10. Recent Immigrants as Labor Market Arbitrageurs: Evidence from the Minimum Wage.

    PubMed

    Cadena, Brian C

    2014-03-01

    This paper investigates the local labor supply effects of changes to the minimum wage by examining the response of low-skilled immigrants' location decisions. Canonical models emphasize the importance of labor mobility when evaluating the employment effects of the minimum wage; yet few studies address this outcome directly. Low-skilled immigrant populations shift toward labor markets with stagnant minimum wages, and this result is robust to a number of alternative interpretations. This mobility provides behavior-based evidence in favor of a non-trivial negative employment effect of the minimum wage. Further, it reduces the estimated demand elasticity using teens; employment losses among native teens are substantially larger in states that have historically attracted few immigrant residents.

  11. 49 CFR 384.229 - Skills test examiner auditing and monitoring.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... overt monitoring must be performed at least once every year; (c) Establish and maintain a database to...; (d) Establish and maintain a database of all third party testers and examiners, which at a minimum... examiner; (e) Establish and maintain a database of all State CDL skills examiners, which at a minimum...

  12. 49 CFR 384.229 - Skills test examiner auditing and monitoring.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... overt monitoring must be performed at least once every year; (c) Establish and maintain a database to...; (d) Establish and maintain a database of all third party testers and examiners, which at a minimum... examiner; (e) Establish and maintain a database of all State CDL skills examiners, which at a minimum...

  13. Recent Immigrants as Labor Market Arbitrageurs: Evidence from the Minimum Wage*

    PubMed Central

    Cadena, Brian C.

    2014-01-01

    This paper investigates the local labor supply effects of changes to the minimum wage by examining the response of low-skilled immigrants’ location decisions. Canonical models emphasize the importance of labor mobility when evaluating the employment effects of the minimum wage; yet few studies address this outcome directly. Low-skilled immigrant populations shift toward labor markets with stagnant minimum wages, and this result is robust to a number of alternative interpretations. This mobility provides behavior-based evidence in favor of a non-trivial negative employment effect of the minimum wage. Further, it reduces the estimated demand elasticity using teens; employment losses among native teens are substantially larger in states that have historically attracted few immigrant residents. PMID:24999288

  14. 49 CFR 384.229 - Skills test examiner auditing and monitoring.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... must be performed at least once every year; (c) Establish and maintain a database to track pass/fail... maintain a database of all third party testers and examiners, which at a minimum tracks the dates and... and maintain a database of all State CDL skills examiners, which at a minimum tracks the dates and...

  15. 49 CFR 384.229 - Skills test examiner auditing and monitoring.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... must be performed at least once every year; (c) Establish and maintain a database to track pass/fail... maintain a database of all third party testers and examiners, which at a minimum tracks the dates and... and maintain a database of all State CDL skills examiners, which at a minimum tracks the dates and...

  16. Impact of Land Surface Initialization Approach on Subseasonal Forecast Skill: a Regional Analysis in the Southern Hemisphere

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hirsch, Annette L.; Kala, Jatin; Pitman, Andy J.; Carouge, Claire; Evans, Jason P.; Haverd, Vanessa; Mocko, David

    2014-01-01

    The authors use a sophisticated coupled land-atmosphere modeling system for a Southern Hemisphere subdomain centered over southeastern Australia to evaluate differences in simulation skill from two different land surface initialization approaches. The first approach uses equilibrated land surface states obtained from offline simulations of the land surface model, and the second uses land surface states obtained from reanalyses. The authors find that land surface initialization using prior offline simulations contribute to relative gains in subseasonal forecast skill. In particular, relative gains in forecast skill for temperature of 10%-20% within the first 30 days of the forecast can be attributed to the land surface initialization method using offline states. For precipitation there is no distinct preference for the land surface initialization method, with limited gains in forecast skill irrespective of the lead time. The authors evaluated the asymmetry between maximum and minimum temperatures and found that maximum temperatures had the largest gains in relative forecast skill, exceeding 20% in some regions. These results were statistically significant at the 98% confidence level at up to 60 days into the forecast period. For minimum temperature, using reanalyses to initialize the land surface contributed to relative gains in forecast skill, reaching 40% in parts of the domain that were statistically significant at the 98% confidence level. The contrasting impact of the land surface initialization method between maximum and minimum temperature was associated with different soil moisture coupling mechanisms. Therefore, land surface initialization from prior offline simulations does improve predictability for temperature, particularly maximum temperature, but with less obvious improvements for precipitation and minimum temperature over southeastern Australia.

  17. The Implications of the National Minimum Wage for Training Practices and Skill Utilisation in the United Kingdom Hospitality Industry

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Norris, Gill; Williams, Steve; Adam-Smith, Derek

    2003-01-01

    Two key issues thrown up by the 1999 introduction of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) in the United Kingdom are its likely impact on employers' training practices in low paying sectors of the economy and the implications for skills. Based on a study of the hospitality industry, this article assesses the limited significance of the differential,…

  18. Minimum Wages and Skill Acquisition: Another Look at Schooling Effects.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Neumark, David; Wascher, William

    2003-01-01

    Examines the effects of minimum wage on schooling, seeking to reconcile some of the contradictory results in recent research using Current Population Survey data from the late 1970s through the 1980s. Findings point to negative effects of minimum wages on school enrollment, bolstering the findings of negative effects of minimum wages on enrollment…

  19. Minimum Wage Effects in the Longer Run

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Neumark, David; Nizalova, Olena

    2007-01-01

    Exposure to minimum wages at young ages could lead to adverse longer-run effects via decreased labor market experience and tenure, and diminished education and training, while beneficial longer-run effects could arise if minimum wages increase skill acquisition. Evidence suggests that as individuals reach their late 20s, they earn less the longer…

  20. A survey of resident perspectives on surgical case minimums and the impact on milestones, graduation, credentialing, and preparation for practice: AOA critical issues.

    PubMed

    Jeray, Kyle J; Frick, Steven L

    2014-12-03

    Residency education continues to evolve. Several major changes have occurred in the past several years, including emphasis on core competencies, duty-hour restrictions, and call. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Next Accreditation System (NAS) implemented educational milestones in orthopaedic surgery in July 2013. Additionally, the Residency Review Committee for orthopaedic surgery published suggested surgical case minimums in 2012, which overlap with several of the milestones.We conducted a survey to assess the opinions of orthopaedic residents regarding the ACGME-suggested surgical case minimums and the effects that these may have on resident education and potential future privileges in hospitals. The survey was sent via e-mail to all of the residents participating in the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) Resident Leadership Forum for both 2011 and 2012. Participants in the Resident Leadership Forum are in either postgraduate year 4 or postgraduate year 5, are selected by the program directors as resident leaders, and represent 80% of the orthopaedic residency programs in the United States. The survey was completed by 157 of the 314 participants. Sixty-nine percent of the participants believed that case logs with minimum numbers of surgical procedures were an effective way to monitor the work but were not necessarily the only way to monitor the educational progress of the residents. Thirty-two percent believed that the minimums should not be required. Overwhelmingly, there was agreement that important cases were missing from the currently proposed sixteen core surgical minimums. Specifically, the residents believed that a minimum number of cases are necessary for distal radial fracture fixation and proximal humeral fracture fixation and possibly have a milestone to reflect the progress of the residents for each fixation.Most residents thought that surgical case minimums are an effective tool in monitoring the progress of residents and measuring the effectiveness of residency programs. However, the surgical ability of an individual resident should not be evaluated on case minimums alone. The development of the milestones to assess competency should continue, but, as surgical skill is not a specific core competency, perhaps other methods for assessing surgical proficiency need to be developed rather than case minimums. Surgical skills laboratories and proctoring residents independently performing procedures may help to assess surgical proficiency, in addition to traditional faculty and 360° evaluations. Combining these types of assessments with surgical case logs documenting the residents' educational experience seems to be the best path going forward in assessing the development of young surgeons. Copyright © 2014 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.

  1. 14 CFR 121.919 - Certification.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... shows competence in required technical knowledge and skills (e.g., piloting or other) and crew resource management (e.g., CRM or DRM) knowledge and skills in scenarios (i.e., LOE) that test both types of knowledge... evaluation of required knowledge and skills under the AQP must meet minimum certification and rating criteria...

  2. 14 CFR 121.919 - Certification.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... shows competence in required technical knowledge and skills (e.g., piloting or other) and crew resource management (e.g., CRM or DRM) knowledge and skills in scenarios (i.e., LOE) that test both types of knowledge... evaluation of required knowledge and skills under the AQP must meet minimum certification and rating criteria...

  3. 14 CFR 121.919 - Certification.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... shows competence in required technical knowledge and skills (e.g., piloting or other) and crew resource management (e.g., CRM or DRM) knowledge and skills in scenarios (i.e., LOE) that test both types of knowledge... evaluation of required knowledge and skills under the AQP must meet minimum certification and rating criteria...

  4. Threshold to Transfer Writing Skills from L1 to L2

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ito, Fumihiko

    2009-01-01

    Background: It has been hypothesized that L2 (second language) readers are not able to draw on their L1 (first language) reading skills for the successful development of L2 reading skills until they develop a certain proficiency in L2 because a lack of proficiency blocks transfer of L1 reading skills to the reading of L2 texts. This minimum degree…

  5. Competency-Based Framework and Continuing Education for Preparing a Skilled School Health Workforce for Asthma Care: The Colorado Experience.

    PubMed

    Cicutto, Lisa; Gleason, Melanie; Haas-Howard, Christy; Jenkins-Nygren, Lynn; Labonde, Susan; Patrick, Kathy

    2017-08-01

    School health teams commonly address the needs of students with asthma, which requires specific knowledge and skills. To develop a skilled school health team, a competency-based framework for managing asthma in schools was developed. A modified Delphi with 31 panelists was completed. Consensus (≥80% agreement) was reached for all 148 items regarding the appropriateness as a minimum competency for asthma care in schools. The resultant Colorado Competency Framework for Asthma Care in Schools guided the development and pilot testing of a continuing education curriculum for school nurses. Pre- and postassessments demonstrated significant improvements in knowledge and self-confidence related to asthma care in schools and inhaler technique skills. This work is the first to use a consensus process to identify a framework of minimum competencies for providing asthma care in schools. This framework informed a continuing education curriculum that resulted in improved knowledge, confidence, and skills for school nurses.

  6. International Continence Society supported pelvic physiotherapy education guideline.

    PubMed

    Bakker, Els; Shelly, Beth; Esch, Fetske H; Frawley, Helena; McClurg, Doreen; Meyers, Peter

    2018-02-01

    To provide a guideline of desired knowledge, clinical skills and education levels in Pelvic Physiotherapy (PT). Physiotherapy (PT) involves "using knowledge and skills unique to physiotherapists" and, "is the service only provided by, or under the direction and supervision of a physiotherapist." 1 METHODS: The PT Committee, within the body of the International Continence Society (ICS), collected information regarding existing educational levels for pelvic floor PT. Through face to face and on on-line discussion consensus was reached which was summarized in three progressive educational levels based on knowledge and skills and brought together in a guideline. The guideline was submitted to all physiotherapists and the Educational Committee of the ICS, and after approval, submitted to the Executive Board of the ICS. The guideline lists, in a progressive way, knowledge areas and skills to be achieved by education. It is broad and allows for individual interpretation based on local situations regarding education and healthcare possibilities. It is intended to be dynamic and updated on a regular basis. The proposed Pelvic PT education guideline is a dynamic document that allows course creators to plan topics for continuing course work and to recognize educational level of a therapist in the field of Pelvic PT. This education guideline can be used to set minimum worldwide standards resulting in higher skill levels for local pelvic physiotherapists and thereby better patient care outcome. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  7. Associations Between Minimum Wage Policy and Access to Health Care: Evidence From the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1996–2007

    PubMed Central

    Zimmerman, Frederick J.; Ralston, James D.; Martin, Diane P.

    2011-01-01

    Objectives. We examined whether minimum wage policy is associated with access to medical care among low-skilled workers in the United States. Methods. We used multilevel logistic regression to analyze a data set consisting of individual-level indicators of uninsurance and unmet medical need from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and state-level ecological controls from the US Census, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and several other sources in all 50 states and the District of Columbia between 1996 and 2007. Results. Higher state-level minimum wage rates were associated with significantly reduced odds of reporting unmet medical need after control for the ecological covariates, substate region fixed effects, and individual demographic and health characteristics (odds ratio = 0.853; 95% confidence interval = 0.750, 0.971). Minimum wage rates were not significantly associated with being uninsured. Conclusions. Higher minimum wages may be associated with a reduced likelihood of experiencing unmet medical need among low-skilled workers, and do not appear to be associated with uninsurance. These findings appear to refute the suggestion that minimum wage laws have detrimental effects on access to health care, as opponents of the policies have suggested. PMID:21164102

  8. Associations between minimum wage policy and access to health care: evidence from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1996-2007.

    PubMed

    McCarrier, Kelly P; Zimmerman, Frederick J; Ralston, James D; Martin, Diane P

    2011-02-01

    We examined whether minimum wage policy is associated with access to medical care among low-skilled workers in the United States. We used multilevel logistic regression to analyze a data set consisting of individual-level indicators of uninsurance and unmet medical need from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and state-level ecological controls from the US Census, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and several other sources in all 50 states and the District of Columbia between 1996 and 2007. Higher state-level minimum wage rates were associated with significantly reduced odds of reporting unmet medical need after control for the ecological covariates, substate region fixed effects, and individual demographic and health characteristics (odds ratio = 0.853; 95% confidence interval = 0.750, 0.971). Minimum wage rates were not significantly associated with being uninsured. Higher minimum wages may be associated with a reduced likelihood of experiencing unmet medical need among low-skilled workers, and do not appear to be associated with uninsurance. These findings appear to refute the suggestion that minimum wage laws have detrimental effects on access to health care, as opponents of the policies have suggested.

  9. THE “NURSING CRISIS”

    PubMed Central

    McVeagh, Thos. C.

    1949-01-01

    Three concrete proposals are made for the improvement of the present nursing situation: 1. Make nursing education more easily available by holding the prerequisites to a minimum and concentrating upon the real essentials of nursing, granting the student the R.N. degree when she has completed this basic and essential training. 2. Utilize more fully the principles of group nursing as applied to “specialing” whether in the home or in the hospital. 3. Completely avoid the use of sub-standard nurses, while furnishing to the nurse such non-technical service (through the use of maid assistants or others) as shall make practicable the complete utilization of her skill and training. PMID:18144757

  10. 49 CFR Appendix E to Part 240 - Recommended Procedures for Conducting Skill Performance Tests

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... experience difficulty in establishing an objective method of measuring an individual's skill level. Any... employ a written aid to help record events and procedures that as a minimum should be observed for when... developing such a written aid so as to ensure meaningful testing. When conducting a skills performance test...

  11. 49 CFR Appendix E to Part 240 - Recommended Procedures for Conducting Skill Performance Tests

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... experience difficulty in establishing an objective method of measuring an individual's skill level. Any... employ a written aid to help record events and procedures that as a minimum should be observed for when... developing such a written aid so as to ensure meaningful testing. When conducting a skills performance test...

  12. 49 CFR Appendix E to Part 240 - Recommended Procedures for Conducting Skill Performance Tests

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... experience difficulty in establishing an objective method of measuring an individual's skill level. Any... employ a written aid to help record events and procedures that as a minimum should be observed for when... developing such a written aid so as to ensure meaningful testing. When conducting a skills performance test...

  13. Auto Service. Vocational Preparation Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Usoro, Hogan

    Intended for instructors serving the occupational needs of disadvantaged and handicapped students, this curriculum guide contains 21 units for an auto service program. Its purposes are to provide minimum skills for students entering the mainstream, supplement vocational skills of students already mainstreamed, and provide vocational instructional…

  14. 29 CFR 520.300 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... sixteen years of age unless a higher minimum age standard is otherwise fixed by law, who is employed to learn a skilled trade through a registered apprenticeship program. Training is provided through... customarily recognized as an apprenticeable trade, for which skill, dexterity and judgment must be learned and...

  15. Vocational Preparation Curriculum: Plumbing.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Usoro, Hogan

    This document is a curriculum guide for instructors teaching vocational preparation for plumbing to special needs students. The purpose of the curriculum guide is to provide minimum skills for disadvantaged and handicapped students entering the mainstream; to supplement vocational skills of those students already in a regular training program…

  16. State Minimum Competencies for High School Graduation. Technical Note.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lawlor, Joseph

    This paper contains descriptions of mandated minimum competency programs in 13 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Vermont. Each description provides the skills assessed in the state, the assessment instruments used, and the overall purposes of…

  17. The Development and Implementation of a Minimum Objective System in the Hinesburg Elementary School. Hinesburg Elementary School Minimum Objectives for Science, Physical Education, Music, Library. Appendix B: Vol. 3.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Morse, Margaret; And Others

    The appendix to the report of the minimum objective system of the Hinesburg Elementary School (Vermont) includes objectives for science, physical education, music, and library skills, from the kindergarten through grade 6 levels. Most objectives are presented in the format of condition (or task), student behavior, and criteria. Also included are…

  18. A national curriculum for ophthalmology residency training

    PubMed Central

    Grover, Ashok Kumar; Honavar, Santosh G; Azad, Rajvardhan; Verma, Lalit

    2018-01-01

    We present a residency curriculum for Ophthalmology in India. The document derives from a workshop by the All India Ophthalmological Society (AlOS) which adapted the International Council of Ophthalmology residency curriculum and refined and customized it based on inputs by the residency program directors who participated in the work shop. The curriculum describes the course content, lays down the minimum requirements of infrastructure and mandates diagnostic and therapeutic procedures required for optimal training. It emphasises professionalism, management, research methodology, community ophthalmology as integral to the curriculum. The proposed national ophthalmology residency curriculum for India incorporates the required knowledge and skills for effective and safe practice of ophthalmology and takes into account the specific needs of the country. PMID:29785982

  19. Telemarketing. Curriculum Guides & Content Outlines for Telemarketing: Telemarketing Specialist.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Shepard, Del

    This curriculum guide and content outline for the telemarketing specialist contains seven sections: (1) specialized telemarketing tasks; (2) telemarketing selling skills; (3) marketing tasks; (4) business-related tasks; (5) business-specific tasks; (6) personnel/human resources related; and (7) communications and minimum skill tasks. Each section…

  20. Vocational Preparation Curriculum: Electrical Wiring.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Usoro, Hogan

    This document is a curriculum guide for instructors teaching vocational preparation for electrical wiring to special needs students. The purpose of the curriculum guide is to provide minimum skills for disadvantaged and handicapped students entering the mainstream; to supplement vocational skills of those students already in a regular training…

  1. 75 FR 68814 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Minimum Property Standards for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-11-09

    ... Proposed Information Collection to OMB Minimum Property Standards for Multifamily and Care-Type Occupancy... Lists the Following Information Title of Proposal: Minimum Property Standards for Multifamily and Care-Type Occupancy Housing. OMB Approval Number: 2502-0321. Form Numbers: None. Description of the Need for...

  2. The Round-Robin Mock Interview: Maximum Learning in Minimum Time

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Marks, Melanie; O'Connor, Abigail H.

    2006-01-01

    Interview skills is critical to a job seeker's success in obtaining employment. However, learning interview skills takes time. This article offers an activity for providing students with interview practice while sacrificing only a single classroom period. The authors begin by reviewing relevant literature. Then, they outline the process of…

  3. School Bus Driver Instructional Program. Instructor's Guide.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Department of Transportation, Washington, DC. National Highway Safety Bureau.

    A standardized and comprehensive school bus driver instructional program has been developed under contract with the Federal Government. The course has been organized to provide in one package a program for developing the minimum skills and knowledge needed by the school bus driver instructor, as well as those supplemental skills and knowledge…

  4. Reading and Writing Competencies of Adolescents with Learning Disabilities.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Algozzine, Bob; And Others

    1988-01-01

    The study analyzed communication performance of tenth grade learning disabled (LD) students (N=1,098) on the Florida State Student Assessment Test-II (a minimum competency test). LD students demonstrated better literal communication skills and poorer interpretive and written communication skills. Employers (N=240) also supported the importance of…

  5. Assessment and College Course Placement: Matching Students with Appropriate Instruction.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Noble, Julie P.; Schiel, Jeff L.; Sawyer, Richard L.

    College course placement systems match students with instruction that is appropriate to their academic preparation and other characteristics. At a minimum, course placement involves assessing students' academic skills and providing them with instruction that is appropriate to their skills. Upon entry to college, students might encounter different…

  6. Remediation of Content/Skill Deficiencies in Middle Level Students.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Price, John L.; And Others

    A remediation approach developed by the Vilonia public schools (Arkansas) to remediate content/skill deficiencies in middle level students resulted from three conditions: state laws and regulations regarding minimum competency testing; more awareness of problems with at-risk students; and recognition of the need to reach students academically…

  7. 20 CFR 229.85 - Substantial gainful activity by blind employee or child.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACT SOCIAL SECURITY OVERALL MINIMUM GUARANTEE Miscellaneous Deductions and... substantial gainful activity that does not require skills or ability used in his or her previous work. However... in any type of substantial gainful activity which requires skills or abilities comparable to those of...

  8. Helping Your Child Learn Self-Care.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Murphy, Linda; Corte, Suzanne Della

    1987-01-01

    Practical advice for parents of handicapped children is the focus of this issue on self-care skills including self-feeding, dressing, and personal hygiene. Ten initial tips for teaching skills to children include constant repetition, modeling, and keeping verbal instruction to a minimum. The section on self-feeding addresses the topics of…

  9. [Will inpatient care still be financeable? Effects of the minimum wage to operators].

    PubMed

    Meyer, Dirk

    2010-11-01

    Due to demographic and social developments nursing service will continueto be a growth industry in the long run. The requirement for this is the political volition of a sufficient funding. A minimum wage in nursing service tends to increase prices of the offered services. Stated justifications for a minimum wage are wage dumping protection (inter alia against the background of the upcoming opening of the single market in 2011) as well as raising rivals' costs. Protection is focused on the 266,000 non-skilled workers in basic care owing to the strong tightening of the labour market for caregivers. Operative minimum wages will lead to adjustments by optimising operations, intensification of work, and rationalisation of workflow by increased employment of capital as well as technical substitution of relatively expensive non-skilled workers. In addition there will be increased pressure on prices for nursing services and private co-payments. There will be an increased supply and demand for illegal services. Suppliers who had been tied to collective contracts so far will achieve a relative advantage in competition.

  10. Application of an improved minimum entropy deconvolution method for railway rolling element bearing fault diagnosis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cheng, Yao; Zhou, Ning; Zhang, Weihua; Wang, Zhiwei

    2018-07-01

    Minimum entropy deconvolution is a widely-used tool in machinery fault diagnosis, because it enhances the impulse component of the signal. The filter coefficients that greatly influence the performance of the minimum entropy deconvolution are calculated by an iterative procedure. This paper proposes an improved deconvolution method for the fault detection of rolling element bearings. The proposed method solves the filter coefficients by the standard particle swarm optimization algorithm, assisted by a generalized spherical coordinate transformation. When optimizing the filters performance for enhancing the impulses in fault diagnosis (namely, faulty rolling element bearings), the proposed method outperformed the classical minimum entropy deconvolution method. The proposed method was validated in simulation and experimental signals from railway bearings. In both simulation and experimental studies, the proposed method delivered better deconvolution performance than the classical minimum entropy deconvolution method, especially in the case of low signal-to-noise ratio.

  11. 78 FR 7467 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-01

    ... Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Minimum Volume Orders January 28, 2013. Pursuant to Section... to codify the ``Minimum Volume Order.'' The text of the proposed rule change is provided below... Circular. (a)-(v) No changes. (w) Minimum Volume Order. A minimum volume order is an order represented in...

  12. State Requirements for High School Graduation: Communication Skills. Technical Note.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lawlor, Joseph

    This paper contains descriptions of documents setting forth the minimum communications skills competencies required for high school graduation in seven states: Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Utah. It then describes the procedures used to compile a synthesized list from those documents for use in a project to assess…

  13. The History of Interest Inventories and Career Assessments in Career Counseling

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Harrington, Thomas; Long, Jennifer

    2013-01-01

    Interest inventories and career assessments continue to be used to support practitioners as they work to uncover client interests, abilities, skills, motivations, values, and other personal factors that help individuals self-define and construct their career. The skilled use of career inventories and assessments remains a minimum competency of…

  14. American Literature: Performance Objectives and Classroom Activities.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ascher, Hope; And Others

    This guide is a sampler of ideas and activities based on 22 minimum objectives in speech, reading, writing, and research that have been identified for American literature study. Many of the activities involve an integration of several skills that are cross-referenced to other skills in the margins of the guide. A separate section on research…

  15. Writing Readiness: Perspectives on Learning to Write.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stallard, Charles K.

    Writing readiness is defined in this paper as the skills and understandings necessary for minimum success in completing a writing task. The skills discussed are divided into three areas of need: to give students a clear, operational concept of the function and structure of composition that includes the concepts of paragraphs, sentences,…

  16. Teaching Hands-on Plumbing in a County Facility: A Working Plumber's Experience.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mattucci, Robert F.; Johnson, Meghan W.

    2003-01-01

    A plumbing program teaches minimum-security inmates technical skills, decision making, motivation, and teamwork. In New York, 80 inmates have completed the program and 2 have become apprentices upon release. The course, combined with substance abuse treatment and high school equivalency, seeks to counteract recidivism with practical life skills.…

  17. K-3 Essential/Exit Skills.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Arizona State Dept. of Education, Phoenix.

    Described in this document are the minimum competency requirements that Arizona students must master before they can leave third grade. These requirements were mandated by the K-3 Improvement Plan first implemented in the 1986-87 school year. The first section of the document, which discusses revision of the K-3 skills list, covers background…

  18. The Minimum Data Set Depression Quality Indicator: Does It Reflect Differences in Care Processes?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Simmons, S.F.; Cadogan, M.P.; Cabrera, G.R.; Al-Samarrai, N.R.; Jorge, J.S.; Levy-Storms, L.; Osterweil, D.; Schnelle, J.F.

    2004-01-01

    Purpose. The objective of this work was to determine if nursing homes that score differently on prevalence of depression, according to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) quality indicator, also provide different processes of care related to depression. Design and Methods. A cross-sectional study with 396 long-term residents in 14 skilled nursing…

  19. Minimum Objectives: A Measurement System to Provide Evaluation of Special Education in Regular Classrooms.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Christie, Lu S.; McKenzie, Hugh S.

    Discussed is the use of minimum behavioral objectives to provide evaluation of special education in regular classrooms. Literature which supports the mainstreaming of moderately handicapped children is reviewed briefly. Application of the behavioral model of education on the community level is considered in terms of the basic skills which comprise…

  20. Reading Skill and the Minimum Distance Principle: A Comparison of Sentence Comprehension in Context and in Isolation.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Goldman, Susan R.

    The comprehension of the Minimum Distance Principle was examined in three experiments, using the "tell/promise" sentence construction. Experiment one compared the listening and reading comprehension of singly presented sentences, e.g. "John tells Bill to bake the cake" and "John promises Bill to bake the cake." The…

  1. Minimum Requirements for Core Competency in Pediatric Pharmacy Practice.

    PubMed

    Boucher, Elizabeth A; Burke, Margaret M; Johnson, Peter N; Klein, Kristin C; Miller, Jamie L

    2015-01-01

    Colleges of pharmacy provide varying amounts of didactic and clinical hours in pediatrics resulting in variability in the knowledge, skills, and perceptions of new graduates toward pediatric pharmaceutical care. The Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group (PPAG) endorses the application of a minimum set of core competencies for all pharmacists involved in the care of hospitalized children.

  2. State Flexibility: The Minimum Wage and Welfare Reform.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Employment Policies Inst., Washington, DC.

    In 1999, Congress for the first time, is debating a federal minimum wage hike that will affect low-skilled people who have dramatically fewer options if they cannot find work. This public policy debate has been occasioned by the new state focus on welfare reform that, to some, suggests that a state flexibility approach be applied to the minimum…

  3. 78 FR 11793 - Minimum Internal Control Standards

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-20

    ... Internal Control Standards AGENCY: National Indian Gaming Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) proposes to amend its minimum internal control standards for Class... NIGC published a final rule in the Federal Register called Minimum Internal Control Standards. 64 FR...

  4. Skills acquired in research and public health in the specialty of family and community nursing in the Valencian Community.

    PubMed

    García-Martínez, Pedro; Lozano-Vidal, Ruth; Herraiz-Ortiz, María Del Carmen; Collado-Boira, Eladio

    To evaluate the acquisition of skills in research and public health specialists in family and community nursing. Descriptive and analytical study on a population of specialist nurse members of with the Valencian Primary Nurse Society. Measured with anonymous self-administered questionnaire on activities implemented and turnaround time in the training period. The questionnaire was conducted and reviewed based on the training programme of the specialty. Sixteen of the 41 specialists responded. The four year groups of nurses who had finished their training were represented as well as seven national teaching units. The results show high heterogeneity in the activities developed in the training. The average rotation in public health is 7.07 weeks, with range of 0 to 16 weeks. The mean number of educational sessions is 2.69 in the two years. The average number of research projects is 1.19. The result shows a specialisation process with training gaps in the skills of research and public health that could be remedied. Some practitioners claim that they finish their specialisation without undertaking research activities or completing the minimum proposed shifts. There is no process of improvement in the four year groups studied. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  5. 77 FR 32444 - Minimum Internal Control Standards

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-06-01

    ... Internal Control Standards AGENCY: National Indian Gaming Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) proposes to amend its minimum internal control standards for Class... the Federal Register called Minimum Internal Control Standards. 64 FR 590. The rule added a new part...

  6. Writing with Computers in ESL Classroom: Enhancing ESL Learners' Motivation, Confidence and Writing Proficiency

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hadi, Marham Jupri

    2013-01-01

    Researcher's observation on his ESL class indicates the main issues concerning the writing skills: learners' low motivation to write, minimum interaction in writing, and poor writing skills. These limitations have led them to be less confidence to write in English. This article discusses how computers can be used for the purpose of increasing…

  7. Texas Assessment of Basic Skills (TABS). Austin Independent School District. Final Report, 1985.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Defino, Maria E.

    This report presents the Austin (Texas) Independent School District's 1985 test results on the Texas Assessment of Basic Skills (TABS). It was administered to all third, fifth, and ninth grade students and to high school students not meeting ninth grade state-set mastery criteria, the minimum competency requirement for graduation. Results are…

  8. Skills Conversion Project: Chapter 9, Security Systems and Criminal Justice. Final Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    National Society of Professional Engineers, Washington, DC.

    This report provides the findings of two skills conversion research teams on the placement of displaced aerospace and defense engineers, scientists, and technicians in the fields of security systems and criminal justice. The teams, located in Philadelphia and San Jose, concluded independently that a minimum of 2,000 positions could be created in…

  9. Techniques of Differentiation and Integration, Mathematics (Experimental): 5297.27.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Forrester, Gary B.

    This guidebook on minimum course content was designed for students who have mastered the skills and concepts of analytic geometry. It is a short course in the basic techniques of calculus recommended for the student who has need of these skills in other courses such as beginning physics, economics or statistics. The course does not intend to teach…

  10. External High School Diploma Program Evaluation Project. Final Report, October 1, 1979-June 30, 1980. Part III: Competency Comparison.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hole, Wanda Clements; Seggerson, Sharon Corcoran

    The purpose of this portion of a project was to compare External High School Diploma (EHSDP) competencies at Waukesha County (Wisconsin) Technical Institute with minimum high school competency requirements in (1) local school districts and (2) selected states. Testing focused on basic skills of mathematics, reading, and writing. Minimum competency…

  11. The Unexpected Long-Run Impact of the Minimum Wage: An Educational Cascade. NBER Working Paper No. 16355

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sutch, Richard

    2010-01-01

    Neglected, but significant, the long-run consequence of the minimum wage--which was made national policy in the United States in 1938--is its stimulation of capital deepening. This took two forms. First, the engineered shortage of low-skill, low-paying jobs induced teenagers to invest in additional human capital--primarily by extending their…

  12. 77 FR 76979 - Pesticides; Revisions to Minimum Risk Exemption

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-12-31

    ...EPA is proposing to more clearly describe the active and inert ingredients permitted in products eligible for the exemption from regulation for minimum risk pesticides. EPA is proposing to reorganize these lists with a focus on clarity and transparency by adding specific chemical identifiers. The identifiers would make it clearer to manufacturers; the public; and Federal, state, and tribal inspectors which ingredients are permitted in minimum risk pesticide products. EPA is also proposing to modify the label requirements in the exemption to require the use of specific common chemical names in lists of ingredients on minimum risk pesticide product labels, and to require producer contact information on the label. Once final, these proposed changes would maintain the availability of minimum risk pesticide products while providing more consistent information for consumers, clearer regulations for producers, and easier identification by states, tribes and EPA as to whether a product is in compliance with the exemption.

  13. New Jersey Statewide Minimum Standards: Results from the Program's Second Year. Occasional Papers in Education.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Koffler, Stephen L.

    Results of the second year of the New Jersey Minimum Basic Skills Tests in reading and mathematics, mandated by the New Jersey Public School Education Act of 1975, are summarized. Approximately 397,000 students in grades three, six, nine, and eleven were tested. Results of the tests showed that a smaller percentage of sixth-grade students met…

  14. 77 FR 33607 - Horse Protection Act; Requiring Horse Industry Organizations To Assess and Enforce Minimum...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-06-07

    ... context of the proposed rule's minimum penalty requirements. Two commenters stated that the law is clear... appeal process without being able to appeal the decisions to the Secretary or a court of law. As... court of law, which is why, the commenters stated, the USDA has proposed the minimum penalties to be...

  15. Validation of the Kp Geomagnetic Index Forecast at CCMC

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Frechette, B. P.; Mays, M. L.

    2017-12-01

    The Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) Space Weather Research Center (SWRC) sub-team provides space weather services to NASA robotic mission operators and science campaigns and prototypes new models, forecasting techniques, and procedures. The Kp index is a measure of geomagnetic disturbances for space weather in the magnetosphere such as geomagnetic storms and substorms. In this study, we performed validation on the Newell et al. (2007) Kp prediction equation from December 2010 to July 2017. The purpose of this research is to understand the Kp forecast performance because it's critical for NASA missions to have confidence in the space weather forecast. This research was done by computing the Kp error for each forecast (average, minimum, maximum) and each synoptic period. Then to quantify forecast performance we computed the mean error, mean absolute error, root mean square error, multiplicative bias and correlation coefficient. A contingency table was made for each forecast and skill scores were computed. The results are compared to the perfect score and reference forecast skill score. In conclusion, the skill score and error results show that the minimum of the predicted Kp over each synoptic period from the Newell et al. (2007) Kp prediction equation performed better than the maximum or average of the prediction. However, persistence (reference forecast) outperformed all of the Kp forecasts (minimum, maximum, and average). Overall, the Newell Kp prediction still predicts within a range of 1, even though persistence beats it.

  16. The skills and experience of GRADE methodologists can be assessed with a simple tool.

    PubMed

    Norris, Susan L; Meerpohl, Joerg J; Akl, Elie A; Schünemann, Holger J; Gartlehner, Gerald; Chen, Yaolong; Whittington, Craig

    2016-11-01

    To suggest approaches for guideline developers on how to assess a methodologist's expertise with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methods and tasks and to provide a set of minimum skills and experience required to perform specific tasks related to guideline development using GRADE. We used an iterative and consensus-based process involving individuals with in-depth experience with GRADE. We considered four main tasks: (1) development of key questions; (2) assessment of the certainty of effect estimates; (3) development of recommendations; and (4) teaching GRADE. There are three basic approaches to determine a methodologist's skill set. First, self-report of knowledge, skills, and experience with a standardized "GRADE curriculum vitae (CV)" focused on each of the GRADE-related tasks; second, demonstration of skills using worked examples; third, a formal evaluation using a written or oral test. We suggest that the GRADE CV is likely to be useful and feasible to implement. We also suggest minimum training including attendance at one or more full-day workshops and familiarity with the main GRADE publications and the GRADE handbook. The selection of a GRADE methodologist must be a thoughtful, reasoned decision, informed by the criteria suggested in this article and tailored to the specific project. Our suggested approaches need further pilot testing and validation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Anesthesiologists' perceptions of minimum acceptable work habits of nurse anesthetists.

    PubMed

    Logvinov, Ilana I; Dexter, Franklin; Hindman, Bradley J; Brull, Sorin J

    2017-05-01

    Work habits are non-technical skills that are an important part of job performance. Although non-technical skills are usually evaluated on a relative basis (i.e., "grading on a curve"), validity of evaluation on an absolute basis (i.e., "minimum passing score") needs to be determined. Survey and observational study. None. None. The theme of "work habits" was assessed using a modification of Dannefer et al.'s 6-item scale, with scores ranging from 1 (lowest performance) to 5 (highest performance). E-mail invitations were sent to all consultant and fellow anesthesiologists at Mayo Clinic in Florida, Arizona, and Minnesota. Because work habits expectations can be generational, the survey was designed for adjustment based on all invited (responding or non-responding) anesthesiologists' year of graduation from residency. The overall mean±standard deviation of the score for anesthesiologists' minimum expectations of nurse anesthetists' work habits was 3.64±0.66 (N=48). Minimum acceptable scores were correlated with the year of graduation from anesthesia residency (linear regression P=0.004). Adjusting for survey non-response using all N=207 anesthesiologists, the mean of the minimum acceptable work habits adjusted for year of graduation was 3.69 (standard error 0.02). The minimum expectations for nurse anesthetists' work habits were compared with observational data obtained from the University of Iowa. Among 8940 individual nurse anesthetist work habits scores, only 2.6% were <3.69. All N=65 of the Iowa nurse anesthetists' mean work habits scores were significantly greater than the Mayo estimate (3.69) for the minimum expectations; all P<0.00024. Our results suggest that routinely evaluated work habits of nurse anesthetists within departments should not be compared with an appropriate minimum score (i.e., of 3.69). Instead, work habits scores should be analyzed based on relative reporting among anesthetists. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Modifications of the One-More-Than Technique: A Comparison of Two Strategies for Teaching Purchasing Skills to Students with Intellectual Disability in Taiwan

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hsu, Guo-Liang; Tang, Jung-Chang; Hwang, Wu-Yuin; Li, Yung-Chang; Hwang, Wu-Yuin; Li, Yung-Chang; Hung, Jung-Chao; Wei, Chun-Hwa

    2016-01-01

    The demands of money-counting skills potentially limit individuals with intellectual disability (ID) to master the one-more-than technique, particularly in Taiwan, which requires high daily minimum living expense for supporting an individual's daily life. Employing a multiple treatment design across price ranges and settings, this study compared…

  19. National Sexuality Education Standards: Core Content and Skills, K-12. A Special Publication of the Journal of School Health. Special Report

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    American School Health Association (NJ1), 2012

    2012-01-01

    The goal of this paper, "National Sexuality Education Standards: Core Content and Skills, K-12," is to provide clear, consistent and straightforward guidance on the "essential minimum, core content" for sexuality education that is developmentally and age-appropriate for students in grades K-12. The development of these standards is a result of an…

  20. Civilian Pilot Training Skills, Curricula, and Costs; Defense and Commercial Pilot Procurement, Training and Career Systems. Interim Report. Volume I and Volume II, March 1968.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Logistics Management Inst., Washington, DC.

    The Federal Aviation Administration of the Department of Transportation controls civilian pilot training. Through its regulations and testing and licensing procedures, the FAA sets minimum criteria for course content and knowledge and skill acquisition. Since few training organizations have the economic resources required to do original research…

  1. Learning to Change: Does Life Skills Training Lead to Reduced Incident Reports among Inmates in a Medium/Minimum Correctional Facility?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hunte, Rose S.

    2010-01-01

    There have been numerous research on the effect of education on behavior as it relates to recidivism. However, the base of knowledge is lacking in research discussing the effect of education on the behavior of inmates in an Omaha correctional institution. This study hypothesized that inmates engaging in life skills training would demonstrate a…

  2. Moving National Breastfeeding Policies into Practice: A Plea to Integrate Lactation Education and Training into Nutrition and Dietetics Programs in the United States.

    PubMed

    Theurich, Melissa Ann; McCool, Megan Elizabeth

    2016-08-01

    In 2011, the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding called on all health professional organizations, medical schools, and credentialing boards to establish and incorporate minimum lactation education and training requirements into their credentialing, licensing, and certification processes and to include breastfeeding education in undergraduate and graduate education and training programs. Given the commonalities between the fields of nutrition and breastfeeding, it has been proposed that nutrition professionals are an underutilized resource in the field of lactation management. Considering the lack of breastfeeding knowledge and skills among health professionals, nutrition professionals should be afforded opportunities to learn lactation management during their studies. The United States Breastfeeding Committee published Core Competencies in Breastfeeding Care and Services for All Health Professionals in 2010. However, professional nutrition and lactation credentialing boards should cooperate to integrate mandatory minimum standards of lactation education for nutrition professionals. Undergraduate and graduate programs in nutrition and dietetics should incorporate lactation content into their core curricula to comply with such standards. In addition, dietetics programs should offer optional clinical lactation experiences for students who aspire to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. © The Author(s) 2016.

  3. Implications of Liebig’s law of the minimum for tree-ring reconstructions of climate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stine, A. R.; Huybers, P.

    2017-11-01

    A basic principle of ecology, known as Liebig’s Law of the Minimum, is that plant growth reflects the strongest limiting environmental factor. This principle implies that a limiting environmental factor can be inferred from historical growth and, in dendrochronology, such reconstruction is generally achieved by averaging collections of standardized tree-ring records. Averaging is optimal if growth reflects a single limiting factor and noise but not if growth also reflects locally variable stresses that intermittently limit growth. In this study a collection of Arctic tree ring records is shown to follow scaling relationships that are inconsistent with the signal-plus-noise model of tree growth but consistent with Liebig’s Law acting at the local level. Also consistent with law-of-the-minimum behavior is that reconstructions based on the least-stressed trees in a given year better-follow variations in temperature than typical approaches where all tree-ring records are averaged. Improvements in reconstruction skill occur across all frequencies, with the greatest increase at the lowest frequencies. More comprehensive statistical-ecological models of tree growth may offer further improvement in reconstruction skill.

  4. A Training Program to Enhance Postgraduate Students' Research Skills in Preparing a Research Proposal in the Field of Curriculum and Instruction Methods of Arabic Language

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Alfakih, Ahmed Hassan

    2017-01-01

    The study examined the impact of a training program on enhancing postgraduate students' research skills in preparing a research proposal. The nature of the skills required to prepare a research proposal were first determined using a questionnaire. A training program for improving such skills was then constructed and seven postgraduate students in…

  5. Teaching good communication/proposal-writing skills: Overcoming one deficit of our educational system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reif-Lehrer, Liane

    1992-09-01

    Good communication skills require: (1) an understanding of one's audience and the subtle interactions between writer and reader, (2) organizational skills to methodically progress through the necessary stages of a project (e.g., writing a proposal), and (3) certain basic communication (writing/speaking) skills, i.e., a facility with the basic elements of transmitting information clearly. The task of writing a grant proposal in response to a specific set of instructions is used to illustrate the analysis and responses necessary to complete a major written communication project. The concept of focusing on—and writing for—the reader (in this case, the proposal reviewer) is emphasized. Although good communication skills affect life-styles, productivity, and economics in our society, the communication skills of the American pubic are sorely lacking—even among people with high levels of education—because students receive little training in these skills in the United States educational system. However, such skills can be taught to younger students as well as to adults.

  6. Minimum-Time Consensus-Based Approach for Power System Applications

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

    Yang, Tao; Wu, Di; Sun, Yannan

    2016-02-01

    This paper presents minimum-time consensus based distributed algorithms for power system applications, such as load shedding and economic dispatch. The proposed algorithms are capable of solving these problems in a minimum number of time steps instead of asymptotically as in most of existing studies. Moreover, these algorithms are applicable to both undirected and directed communication networks. Simulation results are used to validate the proposed algorithms.

  7. 76 FR 78057 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-12-15

    ...\\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\\2\\ a proposed rule change to introduce the Minimum Life Order as new order... proposes, by amending its rules to add Rule 3301(f)(11), to introduce the Minimum Life Order as a new order...-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified...

  8. AGORA--IV. The Low-Skilled on the European Labour Market: Prospects and Policy Options. Towards a Minimum Learning Platform (Thessaloniki, Greece, October 29-30, 1998). CEDEFOP Panorama.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Thessaloniki (Greece).

    This booklet describes the proceedings of the fourth AGORA conference in Greece conducted by a European team of the Newskills project. (The Newskills project examines the employment prospects of those with a low level of formal education in Europe, and aims to raise awareness of the importance of a minimum learning platform after consultation with…

  9. Pediatric emergency and essential surgical care in Zambian hospitals: a nationwide study.

    PubMed

    Bowman, Kendra G; Jovic, Goran; Rangel, Shawn; Berry, William R; Gawande, Atul A

    2013-06-01

    Pediatric surgical care in developing countries is not well studied. We sought to identify the range of pediatric surgery available, the barriers to provision, and level of safety of surgery performed for the entire pediatric population in Zambia. In cooperation with the Ministry of Health, we validated and adapted a World Health Organization instrument. During onsite visits, the availability of 32 emergency and essential surgical procedures relevant to children was surveyed. The availability of basic World Health Organization surgical safety criteria was determined. A single interviewer visited 103 (95%) of 108 surgical hospitals in Zambia and carried out 495 interviews. An average of 68% of the 32 emergency and essential surgical procedures was available (range 32%-100%). Lack of surgical skill was the primary reason for referral in 72% of procedure types, compared with 24%, 2% and 3% due to lack of equipment, supplies and anesthesia skills, respectively (p<0.001). Minimum pediatric surgical safety criteria were met by 14% of hospitals. The primary limitation to providing pediatric surgical care in Zambia is lack of surgical skills. Minimum safety standards were met by 14% of hospitals. Efforts to improve pediatric surgery should prioritize teaching surgical skills to expand access and providing safety training, equipment and supplies to increase safety. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. 7 CFR 785.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... procedures, but has no authoritative decision making power. Mediator means a neutral individual who functions... has attended a minimum of 40 hours of core mediator knowledge and skills training and, to remain in a...

  11. 25 CFR 36.24 - Standard IX-Secondary instructional program.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... STANDARDS FOR THE BASIC EDUCATION OF INDIAN CHILDREN AND NATIONAL CRITERIA FOR DORMITORY SITUATIONS Minimum... technology, industry and business, as well as required special skills and the training requisites. Programs...

  12. 25 CFR 36.24 - Standard IX-Secondary instructional program.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... STANDARDS FOR THE BASIC EDUCATION OF INDIAN CHILDREN AND NATIONAL CRITERIA FOR DORMITORY SITUATIONS Minimum... technology, industry and business, as well as required special skills and the training requisites. Programs...

  13. 25 CFR 36.24 - Standard IX-Secondary instructional program.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... STANDARDS FOR THE BASIC EDUCATION OF INDIAN CHILDREN AND NATIONAL CRITERIA FOR DORMITORY SITUATIONS Minimum... technology, industry and business, as well as required special skills and the training requisites. Programs...

  14. 25 CFR 36.24 - Standard IX-Secondary instructional program.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... STANDARDS FOR THE BASIC EDUCATION OF INDIAN CHILDREN AND NATIONAL CRITERIA FOR DORMITORY SITUATIONS Minimum... technology, industry and business, as well as required special skills and the training requisites. Programs...

  15. 25 CFR 36.24 - Standard IX-Secondary instructional program.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... STANDARDS FOR THE BASIC EDUCATION OF INDIAN CHILDREN AND NATIONAL CRITERIA FOR DORMITORY SITUATIONS Minimum... technology, industry and business, as well as required special skills and the training requisites. Programs...

  16. 7 CFR 785.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... mediation process in which the mediator will not disclose to any person oral or written communications... has attended a minimum of 40 hours of core mediator knowledge and skills training and, to remain in a...

  17. 7 CFR 785.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... mediation process in which the mediator will not disclose to any person oral or written communications... has attended a minimum of 40 hours of core mediator knowledge and skills training and, to remain in a...

  18. 7 CFR 785.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... mediation process in which the mediator will not disclose to any person oral or written communications... has attended a minimum of 40 hours of core mediator knowledge and skills training and, to remain in a...

  19. 34 CFR 668.148 - Additional criteria for the approval of certain tests.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... quantitative problem-solving skills, the test publisher must provide— (i) A minimum of four parallel forms of... the American Educational Research Association, the American Psychological Association, and the...

  20. Brief Report: Investigating Uncertainty in the Minimum Mortality Temperature: Methods and Application to 52 Spanish Cities.

    PubMed

    Tobías, Aurelio; Armstrong, Ben; Gasparrini, Antonio

    2017-01-01

    The minimum mortality temperature from J- or U-shaped curves varies across cities with different climates. This variation conveys information on adaptation, but ability to characterize is limited by the absence of a method to describe uncertainty in estimated minimum mortality temperatures. We propose an approximate parametric bootstrap estimator of confidence interval (CI) and standard error (SE) for the minimum mortality temperature from a temperature-mortality shape estimated by splines. The coverage of the estimated CIs was close to nominal value (95%) in the datasets simulated, although SEs were slightly high. Applying the method to 52 Spanish provincial capital cities showed larger minimum mortality temperatures in hotter cities, rising almost exactly at the same rate as annual mean temperature. The method proposed for computing CIs and SEs for minimums from spline curves allows comparing minimum mortality temperatures in different cities and investigating their associations with climate properly, allowing for estimation uncertainty.

  1. 12 CFR 1777.20 - Capital classifications.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... notice of proposed capital classification, holds core capital equaling or exceeding the minimum capital... classification, holds core capital equaling or exceeding the minimum capital level. (3) Significantly... the date specified in the notice of proposed capital classification, holds core capital less than the...

  2. Learning Activity Packets for Minimal Mathematics Competencies in Vocational Education. Exemplary Project in Vocational Education Conducted under Public Law 90-576, Section 132 of P.L. 94-482. Final Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dorchester Vocational Center, SC.

    Project activities were conducted to accomplish three major objectives: (1) to develop a definition of minimum mathematical skills necessary to complete vocational skill training in fifteen areas, (2) to develop learning activity packets relevant to each vocational area, and (3) to make the process and packets available to other vocational…

  3. Relationships between social skills and self-esteem in nurses: a questionnaire study.

    PubMed

    Losa-Iglesias, Marta Elena; López López, Daniel; Rodriguez Vazquez, Rocío; Becerro de Bengoa-Vallejo, Ricardo

    2017-12-01

    Our study attempts to evaluate whether nurses' social skills are related to their self-concept and self-esteem. A descriptive survey study was developed to 464 nurses who had worked for a minimum of one year in adult or pediatric services. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) and the Scale of Social Skills (SSS) by Gismero were used to measure nurses' self-esteem and social skills, respectively. Evaluation of self-esteem and social skills revealed no significant associations between sex and specific nursing speciality, (p > .05). Significant differences were observed based on the marital status for RSE and SSS Factor 1 (RSE, p = .013; SSS-F1, p = .033). Correlation and regression analyses demonstrated a significant correlation between nurse self-esteem and some social skills factors. This study shows that there exists a relationship between higher self-esteem and self-concept among nurses and this issue can affect effective communication with patients.

  4. 77 FR 40693 - 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: DS-5506, Local U.S. Citizen Skills/Resources...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-07-10

    ..., Local U.S. Citizen Skills/Resources Survey ACTION: Notice of request for public comment and submission... Skills/Resources Survey. OMB Control Number: OMB No. 1405-0188. Type of Request: Revision. Originating... reporting burden on those who are to respond. Abstract of Proposed Collection The Local U.S. Citizen Skills...

  5. 75 FR 37825 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request; Minimum Property Standards for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-06-30

    ... Information Collection: Comment Request; Minimum Property Standards for Multifamily and Care-Type Facilities...: Minimum Property Standards for Multifamily and Care-type facilities. OMB Control Number, if applicable... Housing and Urban Development (HUD) developed the Minimum Property Standards (MPS) program in order to...

  6. Recommendations for UAS Crew Ratings. Pilot Ratings and Authorization Requirements for UAS

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2005-01-01

    This position paper is intended to recommend the minimum certificate and rating requirements for a pilot to operate an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) in the National Airspace System. The paper will recommend the minimum requirements based on the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) required of a UAS pilot and show how those compare to the KSAs required by regulation for manned-aircraft pilots. The paper will provide substantiation based on studies conducted using analyses, simulation and flight experience. The paper is not yet complete; only initial working material is included. The material provided describes the body of work completed thus far and the plan for remaining tasks to complete the recommendation. The HSI Pilot KSA document provides an analysis of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for UAS operation in the NAS. It is the source document used for the position paper.

  7. Implications of Domain-General "Psychological Support Skills" for Transfer of Skill and Acquisition of Expertise

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Eccles, David W.; Feltovich, Paul J.

    2008-01-01

    The article proposes that individuals who acquire certain psychological support skills may experience accelerated learning and enhanced performance in many domains. In support of this proposal, we present evidence that these skills enhance learning and performance, that they are domain-general in that they can be applied in a variety of domains,…

  8. 76 FR 24831 - Alternative to Minimum Days Off Requirements

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-05-03

    ... NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 10 CFR Part 26 RIN 3150-AI94 [NRC-2011-0058] Alternative to Minimum Days Off Requirements AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule; correction. SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is correcting a proposed rule that appeared in the...

  9. General medical training in gastroenterology: views from specialist trainees on the challenges of dual accreditation.

    PubMed

    Neale, James R; Basford, Peter J

    2015-02-01

    Higher specialist training in general internal medicine (GIM) and the medical specialties has been subject to many changes and increasing subspecialisation in recent years. The 'Shape of Training' review proposes 'broad-based specialty training', shortening of training by one year, and subspecialisation to be undertaken after the certificate of specialty training is obtained. All higher level gastroenterology trainees based in the UK were invited to complete an online survey between July and September 2012 to assess their experience of gastroenterology and GIM training. Overall, 72.7% of trainees expressed satisfaction with their training in gastroenterology but significantly fewer (43.5%) expressed satisfaction with their training in GIM. Satisfaction with gastroenterology training thus is good, but satisfaction with GIM training is lower and levels of dissatisfaction have increased significantly since 2008. Up to 50% of trainees are not achieving the minimum recommended number of colonoscopy procedures for their stage of training. Experience in GIM is seen as service orientated, with a lack of training opportunities. There is a worrying difficulty in gaining the minimum required experience in endoscopy. If the length of specialist training is shortened and generalised, training in key core specialist skills such as endoscopy may be compromised further. © 2015 Royal College of Physicians.

  10. Medicare program; prospective payment system and consolidated billing for skilled nursing facilities for FY 2010; minimum data set, version 3.0 for skilled nursing facilities and Medicaid nursing facilities. Final rule.

    PubMed

    2009-08-11

    This final rule updates the payment rates used under the prospective payment system (PPS) for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), for fiscal year (FY) 2010. In addition, it recalibrates the case-mix indexes so that they more accurately reflect parity in expenditures related to the implementation of case-mix refinements in January 2006. It also discusses the results of our ongoing analysis of nursing home staff time measurement data collected in the Staff Time and Resource Intensity Verification project, as well as a new Resource Utilization Groups, version 4 case-mix classification model for FY 2011 that will use the updated Minimum Data Set 3.0 resident assessment for case-mix classification. In addition, this final rule discusses the public comments that we have received on these and other issues, including a possible requirement for the quarterly reporting of nursing home staffing data, as well as on applying the quality monitoring mechanism in place for all other SNF PPS facilities to rural swing-bed hospitals. Finally, this final rule revises the regulations to incorporate certain technical corrections.

  11. 78 FR 57585 - Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-09-19

    ... specific minimum number of training hours. Instead, these commenters support a performance-based approach... support a minimum hours-based approach to training. They stated that FMCSA must specify the minimum number...\\ Additionally, some supporters of an hours-based training approach believed that the Agency's proposal did not...

  12. Combining item response theory with multiple imputation to equate health assessment questionnaires.

    PubMed

    Gu, Chenyang; Gutman, Roee

    2017-09-01

    The assessment of patients' functional status across the continuum of care requires a common patient assessment tool. However, assessment tools that are used in various health care settings differ and cannot be easily contrasted. For example, the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is used to evaluate the functional status of patients who stay in inpatient rehabilitation facilities, the Minimum Data Set (MDS) is collected for all patients who stay in skilled nursing facilities, and the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) is collected if they choose home health care provided by home health agencies. All three instruments or questionnaires include functional status items, but the specific items, rating scales, and instructions for scoring different activities vary between the different settings. We consider equating different health assessment questionnaires as a missing data problem, and propose a variant of predictive mean matching method that relies on Item Response Theory (IRT) models to impute unmeasured item responses. Using real data sets, we simulated missing measurements and compared our proposed approach to existing methods for missing data imputation. We show that, for all of the estimands considered, and in most of the experimental conditions that were examined, the proposed approach provides valid inferences, and generally has better coverages, relatively smaller biases, and shorter interval estimates. The proposed method is further illustrated using a real data set. © 2016, The International Biometric Society.

  13. Driver license testing of young novice drivers : traffic tech.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2010-11-01

    Driver license tests are designed to ensure that people using : public roadways have a minimum level of driving skill and : an awareness of safe driving practices and road laws. License : applicants proceed through the administrative processes of : t...

  14. Current and Proposed Regulations Related to Minimum Risk Pesticides

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Minimum risk pesticides are exempted from requirements for registration with EPA but are still subject to certain criteria to qualify as minimum risk and may be further regulated by states. See links to the key regulatory citations.

  15. Optimization of memory use of fragment extension-based protein-ligand docking with an original fast minimum cost flow algorithm.

    PubMed

    Yanagisawa, Keisuke; Komine, Shunta; Kubota, Rikuto; Ohue, Masahito; Akiyama, Yutaka

    2018-06-01

    The need to accelerate large-scale protein-ligand docking in virtual screening against a huge compound database led researchers to propose a strategy that entails memorizing the evaluation result of the partial structure of a compound and reusing it to evaluate other compounds. However, the previous method required frequent disk accesses, resulting in insufficient acceleration. Thus, more efficient memory usage can be expected to lead to further acceleration, and optimal memory usage could be achieved by solving the minimum cost flow problem. In this research, we propose a fast algorithm for the minimum cost flow problem utilizing the characteristics of the graph generated for this problem as constraints. The proposed algorithm, which optimized memory usage, was approximately seven times faster compared to existing minimum cost flow algorithms. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  16. Morphological identification of animal hairs: Myths and misconceptions, possibilities and pitfalls.

    PubMed

    Tridico, S R; Houck, M M; Kirkbride, K Paul; Smith, M E; Yates, B C

    2014-05-01

    The examination of hair collected from crime scenes is an important and highly informative discipline relevant to many forensic investigations. However, the forensic identification of animal (non-human) hairs requires different skill sets and competencies to those required for human hair comparisons. The aim of this is paper is not only to highlight the intrinsic differences between forensic human hair comparison and forensic animal hair identification, but also discuss the utility and reliability of the two in the context of possibilities and pitfalls. It also addresses and dispels some of the more popular myths and misconceptions surrounding the microscopical examination of animal hairs. Furthermore, future directions of this discipline are explored through the proposal of recommendations for minimum standards for the morphological identification of animal hairs and the significance of the newly developed guidelines by SWGWILD is discussed. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Hypnosis control based on the minimum concentration of anesthetic drug for maintaining appropriate hypnosis.

    PubMed

    Furutani, Eiko; Nishigaki, Yuki; Kanda, Chiaki; Takeda, Toshihiro; Shirakami, Gotaro

    2013-01-01

    This paper proposes a novel hypnosis control method using Auditory Evoked Potential Index (aepEX) as a hypnosis index. In order to avoid side effects of an anesthetic drug, it is desirable to reduce the amount of an anesthetic drug during surgery. For this purpose many studies of hypnosis control systems have been done. Most of them use Bispectral Index (BIS), another hypnosis index, but it has problems of dependence on anesthetic drugs and nonsmooth change near some particular values. On the other hand, aepEX has an ability of clear distinction between patient consciousness and unconsciousness and independence of anesthetic drugs. The control method proposed in this paper consists of two elements: estimating the minimum effect-site concentration for maintaining appropriate hypnosis and adjusting infusion rate of an anesthetic drug, propofol, using model predictive control. The minimum effect-site concentration is estimated utilizing the property of aepEX pharmacodynamics. The infusion rate of propofol is adjusted so that effect-site concentration of propofol may be kept near and always above the minimum effect-site concentration. Simulation results of hypnosis control using the proposed method show that the minimum concentration can be estimated appropriately and that the proposed control method can maintain hypnosis adequately and reduce the total infusion amount of propofol.

  18. Laparoscopic insertion of the Moss feeding tube.

    PubMed

    Albrink, M H; Hagan, K; Rosemurgy, A S

    1993-12-01

    Placement of enteral feeding tubes is an important part of a surgeon's skill base. Surgical insertion of feeding tubes has been performed safely for many years with very few modifications. With the recent surge in interest and applicability of other laparoscopic procedures, it is well within the skills of the average laparoscopic surgeon to insert feeding tubes. We describe herein a simple technique for the insertion of the Moss feeding tube. The procedure described has a minimum of invasion, along with simplicity, safety, and accuracy.

  19. Terrapin technologies manned Mars mission proposal

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Amato, Michael; Bryant, Heather; Coleman, Rodney; Compy, Chris; Crouse, Patrick; Crunkleton, Joe; Hurtado, Edgar; Iverson, Eirik; Kamosa, Mike; Kraft, Lauri (Editor)

    1990-01-01

    A Manned Mars Mission (M3) design study is proposed. The purpose of M3 is to transport 10 personnel and a habitat with all required support systems and supplies from low Earth orbit (LEO) to the surface of Mars and, after an eight-man surface expedition of 3 months, to return the personnel safely to LEO. The proposed hardware design is based on systems and components of demonstrated high capability and reliability. The mission design builds on past mission experience, but incorporates innovative design approaches to achieve mission priorities. Those priorities, in decreasing order of importance, are safety, reliability, minimum personnel transfer time, minimum weight, and minimum cost. The design demonstrates the feasibility and flexibility of a Waverider transfer module.

  20. 76 FR 30177 - Proposed collection; comment request; Web-Based Skills Training for SBIRT (Screening Brief...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-05-24

    ... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health Proposed collection; comment request; Web-Based Skills Training for SBIRT (Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment... Collection Title: Web-based Skills Training for SBIRT (Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment...

  1. Electrical Distribution Program Guide.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Georgia Univ., Athens. Dept. of Vocational Education.

    This program guide contains the standard electrical distribution curriculum for technical institutes in Georgia. The curriculum encompasses the minimum competencies required for entry-level workers in the electrical distribution field, and in job skills such as construction, maintenance, and repair of overhead and underground electrical…

  2. 49 CFR 383.135 - Minimum passing scores.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE... score on such knowledge test. (b) To achieve a passing score on the skills test, the driver applicant...

  3. 75 FR 168 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change Amending...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-01-04

    ... lower the minimum component stock weight requirement from 90% to 70% of the weight of the underlying... component stock trading volumes are determined on a global basis. Finally, as an option for meeting the... minimize potential manipulation. The Commission also believes that the proposed use of minimum notional...

  4. 76 FR 37867 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Order Approving...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-28

    ..., as Modified by Amendment No. 1, to Reduce the Minimum Size of the Nominating and Governance Committee... proposed rule change to reduce the minimum size of the Nominating and Governance Committee (``NGC'') from... the original proposed rule change, it had not yet obtained formal approval from its Board of Directors...

  5. 76 FR 30243 - Minimum Security Devices and Procedures

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-05-24

    ... DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of Thrift Supervision Minimum Security Devices and Procedures.... Title of Proposal: Minimum Security Devices and Procedures. OMB Number: 1550-0062. Form Number: N/A. Description: The requirement that savings associations establish a written security program is necessitated by...

  6. Dynamics and control of robot for capturing objects in space

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Panfeng

    Space robots are expected to perform intricate tasks in future space services, such as satellite maintenance, refueling, and replacing the orbital replacement unit (ORU). To realize these missions, the capturing operation may not be avoided. Such operations will encounter some challenges because space robots have some unique characteristics unfound on ground-based robots, such as, dynamic singularities, dynamic coupling between manipulator and space base, limited energy supply and working without a fixed base, and so on. In addition, since contacts and impacts may not be avoided during capturing operation. Therefore, dynamics and control problems of space robot for capturing objects are significant research topics if the robots are to be deployed for the space services. A typical servicing operation mainly includes three phases: capturing the object, berthing and docking the object, then repairing the target. Therefore, this thesis will focus on resolving some challenging problems during capturing the object, berthing and docking, and so on. In this thesis, I study and analyze the dynamics and control problems of space robot for capturing objects. This work has potential impact in space robotic applications. I first study the contact and impact dynamics of space robot and objects. I specifically focus on analyzing the impact dynamics and mapping the relationship of influence and speed. Then, I develop the fundamental theory for planning the minimum-collision based trajectory of space robot and designing the configuration of space robot at the moment of capture. To compensate for the attitude of the space base during the capturing approach operation, a new balance control concept which can effectively balance the attitude of the space base using the dynamic couplings is developed. The developed balance control concept helps to understand of the nature of space dynamic coupling, and can be readily applied to compensate or minimize the disturbance to the space base. After capturing the object, the space robot must complete the following two tasks: one is to berth the object, and the other is to re-orientate the attitude of the whole robot system for communication and power supply. Therefore, I propose a method to accomplish these two tasks simultaneously using manipulator motion only. The ultimate goal of space services is to realize the capture and manipulation autonomously. Therefore, I propose an affective approach based on learning human skill to track and capture the objects automatically in space. With human-teaching demonstration, the space robot is able to learn and abstract human tracking and capturing skill using an efficient neural-network learning architecture that combines flexible Cascade Neural Networks with Node Decoupled Extended Kalman Filtering (CNN-NDEKF). The simulation results attest that this approach is useful and feasible in tracking trajectory planning and capturing of space robot. Finally I propose a novel approach based on Genetic Algorithms (GAs) to optimize the approach trajectory of space robots in order to realize effective and stable operations. I complete the minimum-torque path planning in order to save the limited energy in space, and design the minimum jerk trajectory for the stabilization of the space manipulator and its space base. These optimal algorithms are very important and useful for the application of space robot.

  7. Novel Driving Control of Power Assisted Wheelchair Based on Minimum Jerk Trajectory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Seki, Hirokazu; Sugimoto, Takeaki; Tadakuma, Susumu

    This paper describes a novel trajectory control scheme for power assisted wheelchair. Human input torque patterns are always intermittent in power assisted wheelchairs, therefore, the suitable trajectories must be generated also after the human decreases his/her input torque. This paper tries to solve this significant problem based on minimum jerk model minimizing the changing rate of acceleration. The proposed control system based on minimum jerk trajectory is expected to improve the ride quality, stability and safety. Some experiments show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

  8. Scheduling optimization of design stream line for production research and development projects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Qinming; Geng, Xiuli; Dong, Ming; Lv, Wenyuan; Ye, Chunming

    2017-05-01

    In a development project, efficient design stream line scheduling is difficult and important owing to large design imprecision and the differences in the skills and skill levels of employees. The relative skill levels of employees are denoted as fuzzy numbers. Multiple execution modes are generated by scheduling different employees for design tasks. An optimization model of a design stream line scheduling problem is proposed with the constraints of multiple executive modes, multi-skilled employees and precedence. The model considers the parallel design of multiple projects, different skills of employees, flexible multi-skilled employees and resource constraints. The objective function is to minimize the duration and tardiness of the project. Moreover, a two-dimensional particle swarm algorithm is used to find the optimal solution. To illustrate the validity of the proposed method, a case is examined in this article, and the results support the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm.

  9. Automated surgical skill assessment in RMIS training.

    PubMed

    Zia, Aneeq; Essa, Irfan

    2018-05-01

    Manual feedback in basic robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery (RMIS) training can consume a significant amount of time from expert surgeons' schedule and is prone to subjectivity. In this paper, we explore the usage of different holistic features for automated skill assessment using only robot kinematic data and propose a weighted feature fusion technique for improving score prediction performance. Moreover, we also propose a method for generating 'task highlights' which can give surgeons a more directed feedback regarding which segments had the most effect on the final skill score. We perform our experiments on the publicly available JHU-ISI Gesture and Skill Assessment Working Set (JIGSAWS) and evaluate four different types of holistic features from robot kinematic data-sequential motion texture (SMT), discrete Fourier transform (DFT), discrete cosine transform (DCT) and approximate entropy (ApEn). The features are then used for skill classification and exact skill score prediction. Along with using these features individually, we also evaluate the performance using our proposed weighted combination technique. The task highlights are produced using DCT features. Our results demonstrate that these holistic features outperform all previous Hidden Markov Model (HMM)-based state-of-the-art methods for skill classification on the JIGSAWS dataset. Also, our proposed feature fusion strategy significantly improves performance for skill score predictions achieving up to 0.61 average spearman correlation coefficient. Moreover, we provide an analysis on how the proposed task highlights can relate to different surgical gestures within a task. Holistic features capturing global information from robot kinematic data can successfully be used for evaluating surgeon skill in basic surgical tasks on the da Vinci robot. Using the framework presented can potentially allow for real-time score feedback in RMIS training and help surgical trainees have more focused training.

  10. Dental Assisting Program Guide.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Georgia Univ., Athens. Dept. of Vocational Education.

    This program guide contains the standard dental assisting curriculum for technical institutes in Georgia. The curriculum encompasses the minimum competencies required for entry-level dental assistants, and includes job skills in the technical areas of preventive dentistry; four-handed dentistry; chairside assisting with emphasis in diagnostics,…

  11. 14 CFR 121.919 - Certification.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 14 Aeronautics and Space 3 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Certification. 121.919 Section 121.919 Aeronautics and Space FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) AIR CARRIERS... evaluation of required knowledge and skills under the AQP must meet minimum certification and rating criteria...

  12. 14 CFR 121.919 - Certification.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 14 Aeronautics and Space 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Certification. 121.919 Section 121.919 Aeronautics and Space FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) AIR CARRIERS... evaluation of required knowledge and skills under the AQP must meet minimum certification and rating criteria...

  13. Competent Reasoning with Rational Numbers.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Smith, John P. III

    1995-01-01

    Analyzed students' reasoning with fractions. Found that skilled students applied strategies specifically tailored to restricted classes of fractions and produced reliable solutions with a minimum of computation effort. Results suggest that competent reasoning depends on a knowledge base that includes numerically specific and invented strategies,…

  14. 29 CFR 1926.1427 - Operator qualification and certification.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... determination that industry recognized criteria for written testing materials, practical examinations, test... tests that: (A) Assess the operator applicant regarding, at a minimum, the knowledge and skills listed... an operator applicant fails a test or is decertified. (iv) Have testing procedures for re...

  15. 29 CFR 1926.1427 - Operator qualification and certification.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... determination that industry recognized criteria for written testing materials, practical examinations, test... tests that: (A) Assess the operator applicant regarding, at a minimum, the knowledge and skills listed... an operator applicant fails a test or is decertified. (iv) Have testing procedures for re...

  16. 29 CFR 1926.1427 - Operator qualification and certification.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... determination that industry recognized criteria for written testing materials, practical examinations, test... tests that: (A) Assess the operator applicant regarding, at a minimum, the knowledge and skills listed... an operator applicant fails a test or is decertified. (iv) Have testing procedures for re...

  17. 29 CFR 1926.1427 - Operator qualification and certification.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... determination that industry recognized criteria for written testing materials, practical examinations, test... tests that: (A) Assess the operator applicant regarding, at a minimum, the knowledge and skills listed... an operator applicant fails a test or is decertified. (iv) Have testing procedures for re...

  18. 14 CFR 171.161 - Maintenance and operations requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... meet at a minimum the Federal Communications Commission's licensing requirements and show that he has the special knowledge and skills needed to maintain the facility, including proficiency in maintenance... facility. (2) Maintenance and operations by authorized persons only. (3) Federal Communications Commission...

  19. 14 CFR 171.161 - Maintenance and operations requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... meet at a minimum the Federal Communications Commission's licensing requirements and show that he has the special knowledge and skills needed to maintain the facility, including proficiency in maintenance... facility. (2) Maintenance and operations by authorized persons only. (3) Federal Communications Commission...

  20. 14 CFR 171.161 - Maintenance and operations requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... meet at a minimum the Federal Communications Commission's licensing requirements and show that he has the special knowledge and skills needed to maintain the facility, including proficiency in maintenance... facility. (2) Maintenance and operations by authorized persons only. (3) Federal Communications Commission...

  1. 14 CFR 171.161 - Maintenance and operations requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... meet at a minimum the Federal Communications Commission's licensing requirements and show that he has the special knowledge and skills needed to maintain the facility, including proficiency in maintenance... facility. (2) Maintenance and operations by authorized persons only. (3) Federal Communications Commission...

  2. 76 FR 15368 - Minimum Security Devices and Procedures

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-03-21

    ... DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of Thrift Supervision Minimum Security Devices and Procedures... concerning the following information collection. Title of Proposal: Minimum Security Devices and Procedures... establish a written security program is necessitated by the Bank Protection Act (12 U.S.C. 1881-1884), which...

  3. Job/Task Analysis: Enhancing the Commercial Building Workforce Through the Development of Foundational Materials; Preprint

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

    Studer, D.; Kemkar, S.

    2012-09-01

    For many commercial building operation job categories, industry consensus has not been reached on the knowledge, skills, and abilities that practitioners should possess. The goal of this guidance is to help streamline the minimum competencies taught or tested by organizations catering to building operations and maintenance personnel while providing a basis for developing and comparing new and existing training programs in the commercial building sector. The developed JTAs will help individuals identify opportunities to enhance their professional skills, enable industry to identify an appropriately skilled workforce, and allow training providers to ensure that they are providing the highest quality productmore » possible.« less

  4. Core competencies for scientific editors of biomedical journals: consensus statement.

    PubMed

    Moher, David; Galipeau, James; Alam, Sabina; Barbour, Virginia; Bartolomeos, Kidist; Baskin, Patricia; Bell-Syer, Sally; Cobey, Kelly D; Chan, Leighton; Clark, Jocalyn; Deeks, Jonathan; Flanagin, Annette; Garner, Paul; Glenny, Anne-Marie; Groves, Trish; Gurusamy, Kurinchi; Habibzadeh, Farrokh; Jewell-Thomas, Stefanie; Kelsall, Diane; Lapeña, José Florencio; MacLehose, Harriet; Marusic, Ana; McKenzie, Joanne E; Shah, Jay; Shamseer, Larissa; Straus, Sharon; Tugwell, Peter; Wager, Elizabeth; Winker, Margaret; Zhaori, Getu

    2017-09-11

    Scientific editors are responsible for deciding which articles to publish in their journals. However, we have not found documentation of their required knowledge, skills, and characteristics, or the existence of any formal core competencies for this role. We describe the development of a minimum set of core competencies for scientific editors of biomedical journals. The 14 key core competencies are divided into three major areas, and each competency has a list of associated elements or descriptions of more specific knowledge, skills, and characteristics that contribute to its fulfillment. We believe that these core competencies are a baseline of the knowledge, skills, and characteristics needed to perform competently the duties of a scientific editor at a biomedical journal.

  5. 77 FR 23770 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-04-20

    ... to Proposed Rule Change To Amend FINRA Rule 6433 (Minimum Quotation Size Requirements for OTC Equity... proposed rule change to amend FINRA Rule 6433 (Minimum Quotation Size Requirements for OTC Equity... investors, three from an inter-dealer quotation system and two from a member firm.\\4\\ FINRA responded to...

  6. Prediction of summer maximum and minimum temperature over the central and western United States: the roles of soil moisture and sea surface temperature

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Alfaro, Eric J.; Gershunov, Alexander; Cayan, Daniel R.

    2006-01-01

    A statistical model based on canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was used to explore climatic associations and predictability of June–August (JJA) maximum and minimum surface air temperatures (Tmax and Tmin) as well as the frequency of Tmax daily extremes (Tmax90) in the central and western United States (west of 90°W). Explanatory variables are monthly and seasonal Pacific Ocean SST (PSST) and the Climate Division Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) during 1950–2001. Although there is a positive correlation between Tmax and Tmin, the two variables exhibit somewhat different patterns and dynamics. Both exhibit their lowest levels of variability in summer, but that of Tmax is greater than Tmin. The predictability of Tmax is mainly associated with local effects related to previous soil moisture conditions at short range (one month to one season), with PSST providing a secondary influence. Predictability of Tmin is more strongly influenced by large-scale (PSST) patterns, with PDSI acting as a short-range predictive influence. For both predictand variables (Tmax and Tmin), the PDSI influence falls off markedly at time leads beyond a few months, but a PSST influence remains for at least two seasons. The maximum predictive skill for JJA Tmin, Tmax, and Tmax90 is from May PSST and PDSI. Importantly, skills evaluated for various seasons and time leads undergo a seasonal cycle that has maximum levels in summer. At the seasonal time frame, summer Tmax prediction skills are greatest in the Midwest, northern and central California, Arizona, and Utah. Similar results were found for Tmax90. In contrast, Tmin skill is spread over most of the western region, except for clusters of low skill in the northern Midwest and southern Montana, Idaho, and northern Arizona.

  7. 77 FR 52791 - Regulatory Capital Rules: Regulatory Capital, Implementation of Basel III, Minimum Regulatory...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-08-30

    ...The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) (collectively, the agencies) are seeking comment on three Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) that would revise and replace the agencies' current capital rules. In this NPR, the agencies are proposing to revise their risk-based and leverage capital requirements consistent with agreements reached by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) in ``Basel III: A Global Regulatory Framework for More Resilient Banks and Banking Systems'' (Basel III). The proposed revisions would include implementation of a new common equity tier 1 minimum capital requirement, a higher minimum tier 1 capital requirement, and, for banking organizations subject to the advanced approaches capital rules, a supplementary leverage ratio that incorporates a broader set of exposures in the denominator measure. Additionally, consistent with Basel III, the agencies are proposing to apply limits on a banking organization's capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments if the banking organization does not hold a specified amount of common equity tier 1 capital in addition to the amount necessary to meet its minimum risk- based capital requirements. This NPR also would establish more conservative standards for including an instrument in regulatory capital. As discussed in the proposal, the revisions set forth in this NPR are consistent with section 171 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act), which requires the agencies to establish minimum risk-based and leverage capital requirements. In connection with the proposed changes to the agencies' capital rules in this NPR, the agencies are also seeking comment on the two related NPRs published elsewhere in today's Federal Register. The two related NPRs are discussed further in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

  8. Learning and Skills: Opportunities or Threats for Disabled Learners? FEDA Responds.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mace, Jackie, Ed.

    Challenges will be created by proposed changes to post-school education and training for people with learning difficulties and disabilities. Two important bills have been proposed. The Learning and Skills Bill (LSB) changes the whole architecture of the post-school education and training sector. LSB sets up the Learning and Skills Council (LSC)…

  9. Design and performance evaluation of a master controller for endovascular catheterization.

    PubMed

    Guo, Jin; Guo, Shuxiang; Tamiya, Takashi; Hirata, Hideyuki; Ishihara, Hidenori

    2016-01-01

    It is difficult to manipulate a flexible catheter to target a position within a patient's complicated and delicate vessels. However, few researchers focused on the controller designs with much consideration of the natural catheter manipulation skills obtained from manual catheterization. Also, the existing catheter motion measurement methods probably lead to the difficulties in designing the force feedback device. Additionally, the commercially available systems are too expensive which makes them cost prohibitive to most hospitals. This paper presents a simple and cost-effective master controller for endovascular catheterization that can allow the interventionalists to apply the conventional pull, push and twist of the catheter used in current practice. A catheter-sensing unit (used to measure the motion of the catheter) and a force feedback unit (used to provide a sense of resistance force) are both presented. A camera was used to allow a contactless measurement avoiding additional friction, and the force feedback in the axial direction was provided by the magnetic force generated between the permanent magnets and the powered coil. Performance evaluation of the controller was evaluated by first conducting comparison experiments to quantify the accuracy of the catheter-sensing unit, and then conducting several experiments to evaluate the force feedback unit. From the experimental results, the minimum and the maximum errors of translational displacement were 0.003 mm (0.01 %) and 0.425 mm (1.06 %), respectively. The average error was 0.113 mm (0.28 %). In terms of rotational angles, the minimum and the maximum errors were 0.39°(0.33 %) and 7.2°(6 %), respectively. The average error was 3.61°(3.01 %). The force resolution was approximately 25 mN and a maximum current of 3A generated an approximately 1.5 N force. Based on analysis of requirements and state-of-the-art computer-assisted and robot-assisted training systems for endovascular catheterization, a new master controller with force feedback interface was proposed to maintain the natural endovascular catheterization skills of the interventionalists.

  10. Emergency Medical Services Program Guide.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Georgia Univ., Athens. Dept. of Vocational Education.

    This program guide contains the standard emergency medical services curriculum for technical institutes in Georgia. The curriculum encompasses the minimum competencies required for entry-level workers in the emergency medical services field, and includes job skills in six emergency medical services divisions outlined in the national curriculum:…

  11. The Cost of Becoming an Outdoor Instructor.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cashel, Chris

    This article describes instructor criteria in three outdoor organizations: Outward Bound (OB), the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), and the Wilderness Education Association (WEA). Common requirements for outdoor leadership programs are outdoor experience and skills, advanced first aid, CPR, and a minimum age requirement. Traditionally…

  12. Maintaining Small Engines. Vocational Preparation Curriculum.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Herd, Amon

    Intended for instructors serving the occupational needs of disadvantaged and handicapped students, this curriculum guide contains 16 units for a small engine maintenance program. Its purposes are to provide minimum skills of students already mainstreamed, and provide vocational instructional materials for the modified classroom. Teachers should…

  13. 76 FR 39018 - Commercial Driver's License Testing and Commercial Learner's Permit Standards; Corrections

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-07-05

    ... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 49 CFR Parts 383 and 384... Permit Standards; Corrections AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION... (CDL) knowledge and skills testing standards and establishes new minimum Federal standards for States...

  14. 77 FR 26989 - Commercial Driver's License Testing and Commercial Learner's Permit Standards

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-05-08

    ... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 49 CFR Parts 384 and 385... Permit Standards AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), (DOT). ACTION: Correcting... skills testing standards and established new minimum Federal standards for States to issue the commercial...

  15. Alzheimer Classification Using a Minimum Spanning Tree of High-Order Functional Network on fMRI Dataset

    PubMed Central

    Guo, Hao; Liu, Lei; Chen, Junjie; Xu, Yong; Jie, Xiang

    2017-01-01

    Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is one of the most useful methods to generate functional connectivity networks of the brain. However, conventional network generation methods ignore dynamic changes of functional connectivity between brain regions. Previous studies proposed constructing high-order functional connectivity networks that consider the time-varying characteristics of functional connectivity, and a clustering method was performed to decrease computational cost. However, random selection of the initial clustering centers and the number of clusters negatively affected classification accuracy, and the network lost neurological interpretability. Here we propose a novel method that introduces the minimum spanning tree method to high-order functional connectivity networks. As an unbiased method, the minimum spanning tree simplifies high-order network structure while preserving its core framework. The dynamic characteristics of time series are not lost with this approach, and the neurological interpretation of the network is guaranteed. Simultaneously, we propose a multi-parameter optimization framework that involves extracting discriminative features from the minimum spanning tree high-order functional connectivity networks. Compared with the conventional methods, our resting-state fMRI classification method based on minimum spanning tree high-order functional connectivity networks greatly improved the diagnostic accuracy for Alzheimer's disease. PMID:29249926

  16. Probabilistic Forecasting of Arctic Sea Ice Extent

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Slater, A. G.

    2013-12-01

    Sea ice in the Arctic is changing rapidly. Most noticeable has been the series of record, or near-record, annual minimums in sea ice extent in the past six years. The changing regime of sea ice has prompted much interest in seasonal prediction of sea ice extent, particularly as opportunities for Arctic shipping and resource exploration or extraction increase. This study presents a daily sea ice extent probabilistic forecast method with a 50-day lead time. A base projection is made from historical data and near-real-time sea ice concentration is assimilated on the issue date of the forecast. When considering the September mean ice extent for the period 1995-2012, the performance of the 50-day lead time forecast is very good: correlation=0.94, Bias = 0.14 ×106 km^2 and RMSE = 0.36 ×106 km^2. Forecasts for the daily minimum contains equal skill levels. The system is highly competitive with any of the SEARCH Sea Ice Outlook estimates. The primary finding of this study is that large amounts of forecast skill can be gained from knowledge of the initial conditions of concentration (perhaps more than previously thought). Given the simplicity of the forecast model, improved skill should be available from system refinement and with suitable proxies for large scale atmosphere and ocean circulation.

  17. FaceTOON: a unified platform for feature-based cartoon expression generation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zaharia, Titus; Marre, Olivier; Prêteux, Françoise; Monjaux, Perrine

    2008-02-01

    This paper presents the FaceTOON system, a semi-automatic platform dedicated to the creation of verbal and emotional facial expressions, within the applicative framework of 2D cartoon production. The proposed FaceTOON platform makes it possible to rapidly create 3D facial animations with a minimum amount of user interaction. In contrast with existing commercial 3D modeling softwares, which usually require from the users advanced 3D graphics skills and competences, the FaceTOON system is based exclusively on 2D interaction mechanisms, the 3D modeling stage being completely transparent for the user. The system takes as input a neutral 3D face model, free of any facial feature, and a set of 2D drawings, representing the desired facial features. A 2D/3D virtual mapping procedure makes it possible to obtain a ready-for-animation model which can be directly manipulated and deformed for generating expressions. The platform includes a complete set of dedicated tools for 2D/3D interactive deformation, pose management, key-frame interpolation and MPEG-4 compliant animation and rendering. The proposed FaceTOON system is currently considered for industrial evaluation and commercialization by the Quadraxis company.

  18. Expert agreed standards for the selection and development of cancer support group leaders: an online reactive Delphi study.

    PubMed

    Pomery, Amanda; Schofield, Penelope; Xhilaga, Miranda; Gough, Karla

    2018-01-01

    The aim of this study was to develop pragmatic, consensus-based minimum standards for the role of a cancer support group leader. Secondly, to produce a structured interview designed to assess the knowledge, skills and attributes of the individuals who seek to undertake the role. An expert panel of 73 academics, health professionals, cancer agency workers and cancer support group leaders were invited to participate in a reactive online Delphi study involving three online questionnaire rounds. Participants determined and ranked requisite knowledge, skills and attributes (KSA) for cancer support group leaders, differentiated ideal from required KSA to establish minimum standards, and agreed on a method of rating KSA to determine suitability and readiness. Forty-five experts (62%) participated in round 1, 36 (49%) in round 2 and 23 (31%) in round 3. In round 1, experts confirmed 59 KSA identified via a systemic review and identified a further 55 KSA. In round 2, using agreement ≥75%, 52 KSA emerged as minimum standards for support group leaders. In round 3, consensus was reached on almost every aspect of the content and structure of a structured interview. Panel member comments guided refinement of wording, re-ordering of questions and improvement of probing questions. Alongside a novel structured interview, the first consensus-based minimum standards have been developed for cancer support group leaders, incorporating expert consensus and pragmatic considerations. Pilot and field testing will be used to appraise aspects of clinical utility and establish a rational scoring model for the structured interview.

  19. Implementation of cooperative learning through collaboration with foreign lecturer to improve students' understanding and soft skills in the course of drug delivery system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Syukri, Yandi; Nugroho, Bambang Hernawan

    2017-03-01

    The course of Drug Delivery Systems is an elective that supports the development of new products in pharmaceutical industry. The existing learning process has been in the form of one-direction face-to-face lecturing. During the lecture, students find it difficult to follow or understand the materials, so they become passive. Also, class effectiveness is low because it cannot develop students' active participation during the learning process. To improve the learning outcomes and to achieve the desired competence, innovations in the learning process should be attempted. This learning model aimed to improve students' understanding of and soft skills in the course of Drug Delivery Systems through a cooperative learning method and collaboration with foreign lecturers. The order of cooperative learning included explaining the desired learning outcomes of each topic, providing reading materials for students to learn when preparing their papers, instructing students to work on group assignments and to help each other to master the lesson through question-answer sessions and discussions among group members, encouraging group presentations, and evaluating through quizzes. The foreign lecturers played a role in enriching teaching materials and providing an international class atmosphere. The students' hard skills assessed from the quiz, midterm exam, and final semester exam showed a minimum score of 70 > 80% in the quiz and final semester exam components, while the midterm exam value with a minimum of 70 > 80% was only 6%. The assessment of soft skills obtained from the students' independence in constructing knowledge to complete assignments and resolve problems indicated such outcomes as each group's better ability to access relevant journals, their active participation in group discussions, discipline to submit assignments, discipline to be punctual, and good communication skills. It can be concluded that cooperative learning method could improve the soft skills of students, and the role of foreign lecturers was successful in providing an international class atmosphere.

  20. [Medical image segmentation based on the minimum variation snake model].

    PubMed

    Zhou, Changxiong; Yu, Shenglin

    2007-02-01

    It is difficult for traditional parametric active contour (Snake) model to deal with automatic segmentation of weak edge medical image. After analyzing snake and geometric active contour model, a minimum variation snake model was proposed and successfully applied to weak edge medical image segmentation. This proposed model replaces constant force in the balloon snake model by variable force incorporating foreground and background two regions information. It drives curve to evolve with the criterion of the minimum variation of foreground and background two regions. Experiments and results have proved that the proposed model is robust to initial contours placements and can segment weak edge medical image automatically. Besides, the testing for segmentation on the noise medical image filtered by curvature flow filter, which preserves edge features, shows a significant effect.

  1. Biology II Curriculum Guide. Bulletin 1820.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Louisiana State Dept. of Education, Baton Rouge. Div. of Academic Programs.

    In 1986, the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education requested that an advanced course in Biology II be developed. The resulting curriculum guide contains grade appropriate goals, skills, and competencies; suggested activities; suggested materials of instruction; and minimum time allotments for instruction. Biology II is a…

  2. Surgical Technology Program Guide.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Georgia Univ., Athens. Dept. of Vocational Education.

    This surgical technology program guide presents the standard curriculum for technical institutes in Georgia. The curriculum addresses the minimum competencies for a surgical technology program. The program guide is designed to relate primarily to the development of those skills needed by individuals in the field to provide services in the…

  3. 49 CFR 384.202 - Test standards.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 5 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Test standards. 384.202 Section 384.202... COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE PROGRAM Minimum Standards for Substantial Compliance by States § 384.202 Test... driving skills test for the operation of a CMV in accordance with part 383 of this title. ...

  4. "The Student Athlete": Too Little, Too Late.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nyquist, Ewald B.

    1982-01-01

    There are vast differences in life experiences and advantages for all college students, not just student athletes; to shunt off the super athlete lacking minimum skills into a second-rate educational training is inexcusable. Institutions that have "turned professional" have become football franchises dabbling in education. (MLW)

  5. Building Trades. Carpentry, Electrical Wiring, Plumbing.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Missouri Univ., Columbia. Instructional Materials Lab.

    This curriculum guide contains 21 units of self-paced, self-contained instructional materials in the complete building trades curriculum. It is divided into vocational areas of carpentry, electrical wiring, and plumbing. The purpose of the curriculum is to provide minimum skills for disadvantaged and handicapped students entering mainstream…

  6. Knowledge, skills and attitude of evidence-based medicine among obstetrics and gynaecology trainees: a questionnaire survey.

    PubMed

    Jeve, Yadava Bapurao; Doshani, Angi; Singhal, Tanu; Konje, Justin

    2013-12-01

    To determine current evidence-based medicine skills and practice among trainees. Questionnaire study. Electronic survey was sent to all obstetrics and gynaecology trainees in East Midlands South Deanery, and responses collected were anonymous. All obstetrics and gynaecology trainees in East Midland South Deanery. Self-reported attitude, skills and knowledge in various components of evidence-based medicine. 69 trainees were included in the study of which 35 responded. Among all respondents, almost 72% of trainees use non-evidence-based methods to find answers for their clinical questions, whereas only 18% use appropriate evidence-based medicine practice for such queries. Just 35% of trainees have minimum skills of literature searching. Most of the trainees struggle to understand various components of evidence-based medicine. Nearly 80% of trainees do not have formal education or training with regard to evidence-based medicine. This study highlights the inadequacy of evidence-based medicine skills among trainees and urges that evidence-based medicine be incorporated in formal training along with specialty study modules.

  7. Communication skills in individuals with spastic diplegia.

    PubMed

    Lamônica, Dionísia Aparecida Cusin; Paiva, Cora Sofia Takaya; Abramides, Dagma Venturini Marques; Biazon, Jamile Lozano

    2015-01-01

    To assess communication skills in children with spastic diplegia. The study included 20 subjects, 10 preschool children with spastic diplegia and 10 typical matched according to gender, mental age, and socioeconomic status. Assessment procedures were the following: interviews with parents, Stanford - Binet method, Gross Motor Function Classification System, Observing the Communicative Behavior, Vocabulary Test by Peabody Picture, Denver Developmental Screening Test II, MacArthur Development Inventory on Communicative Skills. Statistical analysis was performed using the values of mean, median, minimum and maximum value, and using Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and Paired t-test. Individuals with spastic diplegia, when compared to their peers of the same mental age, presented no significant difference in relation to receptive and expressive vocabulary, fine motor skills, adaptive, personal-social, and language. The most affected area was the gross motor skills in individuals with spastic cerebral palsy. The participation in intervention procedures and the pairing of participants according to mental age may have approximated the performance between groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison between groups, showing appropriate communication skills, although the experimental group has not behaved homogeneously.

  8. Biology Curriculum Guide. Bulletin 1646.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Louisiana State Dept. of Education, Baton Rouge. Div. of Academic Programs.

    This curriculum guide, developed to establish statewide curriculum standards for the Louisiana Competency-based Education Program, contains the minimum competencies and process skills that should be included in a biology course. It consists of: (1) a rationale for an effective science program; (2) a list and description of four major goals of…

  9. Physics Curriculum Guide. Bulletin 1661.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Louisiana State Dept. of Education, Baton Rouge. Div. of Academic Programs.

    This curriculum guide, developed to establish statewide curriculum standards for the Louisiana Competency-based Education Program, contains the minimum competencies and process skills that should be included in a physics course. It consists of: (1) a rationale for an effective science program; (2) a list and description of four major goals of…

  10. Accreditation of University Undergraduate Programs in Nigeria from 2001-2012: Implications for Graduates Employability

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dada, M. S.; Imam, Hauwa

    2015-01-01

    This study analysed accreditation exercises of universities undergraduate programs in Nigeria from 2001-2013. Accreditation is a quality assurance mechanism to ensure that undergraduate programs offered in Nigeria satisfies benchmark minimum academic standards for producing graduates with requisite skills for employability. The study adopted the…

  11. Life Science Curriculum Guide. Bulletin 1614.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Louisiana State Dept. of Education, Baton Rouge. Div. of Academic Programs.

    This curriculum guide, developed to establish statewide curriculum standards for the Louisiana Competency-based Education Program, contains the minimum competencies and process skills that should be included in a life science course. It consists of: (1) a rationale for an effective science program; (2) a list and description of four major goals of…

  12. Preparing for College: A Planning Guide for Junior High Students.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    South Dakota State Dept. of Education and Cultural Affairs, Pierre.

    This booklet identifies the minimum entrance requirements necessary for college admission in South Dakota's public universities and recommends specific content for each course in the curriculum, as well as additional experiences and skills that would smooth the transition to a higher education course. The following topics, targeted to students…

  13. State Competencies for Writing: Grades K-6. Technical Note.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lawlor, Joseph

    This paper contains descriptions of mandated minimum competency documents from seven states: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Each description provides a picture of the general nature of the state requirements and a discussion of the specific writing skills requirements. The procedures used to compile a…

  14. Specification for Qualification and Certification for Entry Level Welders.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    American Welding Society, Miami, FL.

    This document provides a standard that defines the requirements and program for the American Welding Society to certify entry-level welders. The certification of entry-level welders requires performance qualification and practical knowledge tests that require a minimum of reading, computation, and manual skills to complete. The Entry-Level Welder…

  15. Library Skills and Resources for Business Research.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lyle, Stanley P.; Ashbaugh, Donald L.

    This independent study module is intended to introduce business administration students and managers to business information available in books, periodicals, and other library sources, and to teach library search strategies for the acquisition of needed information with a minimum expenditure of time. The module consists of six parts. The first…

  16. Content Area Textbooks. Reading Education Report No. 23.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Armbruster, Bonnie B.; Anderson, Thomas H.

    Focusing on what authors can do to facilitate learning from content area textbooks, this report labels authors as "considerate," providing text that readers can understand with a minimum of cognitive effort, or as "inconsiderate," creating text that requires a conscientious, highly skilled effort if readers are to comprehend…

  17. Chemistry Curriculum Guide. Bulletin 1660.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Louisiana State Dept. of Education, Baton Rouge. Div. of Academic Programs.

    This curriculum guide, developed to establish statewide curriculum standards for the Louisiana Competency-based Education Program, contains the minimum competencies and process skills that should be included in a chemistry course. It consists of: (1) a rationale for an effective science program; (2) a list and description of four major goals of…

  18. 1984 TABS Final Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

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

    This report presents Austin Independent School District 1984 test results on the Texas Assessment of Basics Skills (TABS). It was administered to all third, fifth and ninth grade students and to high school students not meeting ninth grade state-set mastery criteria, the minimum competency requirement for graduation. Results are presented as…

  19. Standards for Medical Library Technicians, Medical Library Association.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Medical Library Association, Chicago, IL.

    A medical library technician is a semiprofessional library employee whose duties require knowledge and skill based on a minimum of two years' general college education that includes library instruction beyond the clerical level. The medical library technician must have a practical knowledge of library functions and services, an understanding of…

  20. Telemarketing. Curriculum Guides and Content Outlines for Telemarketing: Entry-Level Position.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Shepard, Del

    This curriculum guide and content outline for the telemarketing entry-level position contains seven sections: (1) specialized telemarketing tasks; (2) telemarketing selling skills; (3) marketing tasks; (4) business-related tasks; (5) business-specific tasks; (6) personnel/human resources-related tasks; and (7) communications and minimum skill…

  1. Medical Assisting Program Guide.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Georgia Univ., Athens. Dept. of Vocational Education.

    This guide presents the standard curriculum for technical institutes in Georgia. The curriculum addresses the minimum competencies for a medical assisting program. The program guide is designed to relate primarily to the development of those skills needed by individuals in the medical assisting field, such as medical law and ethics, typing,…

  2. Adults Who Read Like Children: The Psycholinguistic Bases. Final Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Read, Charles

    A study examined basic reading skills among men in prison, comparing poor and adequate readers with respect to comprehension, decoding, short-term memory, and speech perception. Subjects, 88 inmates of normal intelligence, normal hearing, and no significant speech abnormalities, at a minimum-security prison, were given reading comprehension tests…

  3. Achievement Testing--A Look at Trends.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bligh, Harold F.

    The strengths and weakness of standardized tests, and trends in achievement testing in the last 15 years are examined. The discussion of achievement tests includes survey, instructional, diagnostic, and basic skills tests, as well as tests used for formative and summative evaluation. Minimum competency tests are not examined in detail. Advantages…

  4. A Solution Method of Scheduling Problem with Worker Allocation by a Genetic Algorithm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Osawa, Akira; Ida, Kenichi

    In a scheduling problem with worker allocation (SPWA) proposed by Iima et al, the worker's skill level to each machine is all the same. However, each worker has a different skill level for each machine in the real world. For that reason, we propose a new model of SPWA in which a worker has the different skill level to each machine. To solve the problem, we propose a new GA for SPWA consisting of the following new three procedures, shortening of idle time, modifying infeasible solution to feasible solution, and a new selection method for GA. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is clarified by numerical experiments using benchmark problems for job-shop scheduling.

  5. Functional grouping of similar genes using eigenanalysis on minimum spanning tree based neighborhood graph.

    PubMed

    Jothi, R; Mohanty, Sraban Kumar; Ojha, Aparajita

    2016-04-01

    Gene expression data clustering is an important biological process in DNA microarray analysis. Although there have been many clustering algorithms for gene expression analysis, finding a suitable and effective clustering algorithm is always a challenging problem due to the heterogeneous nature of gene profiles. Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) based clustering algorithms have been successfully employed to detect clusters of varying shapes and sizes. This paper proposes a novel clustering algorithm using Eigenanalysis on Minimum Spanning Tree based neighborhood graph (E-MST). As MST of a set of points reflects the similarity of the points with their neighborhood, the proposed algorithm employs a similarity graph obtained from k(') rounds of MST (k(')-MST neighborhood graph). By studying the spectral properties of the similarity matrix obtained from k(')-MST graph, the proposed algorithm achieves improved clustering results. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm on 12 gene expression datasets. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm performs better than the standard clustering algorithms. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. Associations between state minimum wage policy and health care access: a multi-level analysis of the 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor survey.

    PubMed

    McCarrier, Kelly P; Martin, Diane P; Ralston, James D; Zimmerman, Frederick J

    2010-05-01

    Minimum wage policies have been advanced as mechanisms to improve the economic conditions of the working poor. Both positive and negative effects of such policies on health care access have been hypothesized, but associations have yet to be thoroughly tested. To examine whether the presence of minimum wage policies in excess of the federal standard of $5.15 per hour was associated with health care access indicators among low-skilled adults of working age, a cross-sectional analysis of 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data was conducted. Self-reported health insurance status and experience with cost-related barriers to needed medical care were adjusted in multi-level logistic regression models to control for potential confounding at the state, county, and individual levels. State-level wage policy was not found to be associated with insurance status or unmet medical need in the models, providing early evidence that increased minimum wage rates may neither strengthen nor weaken access to care as previously predicted.

  7. Fully invariant wavelet enhanced minimum average correlation energy filter for object recognition in cluttered and occluded environments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tehsin, Sara; Rehman, Saad; Riaz, Farhan; Saeed, Omer; Hassan, Ali; Khan, Muazzam; Alam, Muhammad S.

    2017-05-01

    A fully invariant system helps in resolving difficulties in object detection when camera or object orientation and position are unknown. In this paper, the proposed correlation filter based mechanism provides the capability to suppress noise, clutter and occlusion. Minimum Average Correlation Energy (MACE) filter yields sharp correlation peaks while considering the controlled correlation peak value. Difference of Gaussian (DOG) Wavelet has been added at the preprocessing stage in proposed filter design that facilitates target detection in orientation variant cluttered environment. Logarithmic transformation is combined with a DOG composite minimum average correlation energy filter (WMACE), capable of producing sharp correlation peaks despite any kind of geometric distortion of target object. The proposed filter has shown improved performance over some of the other variant correlation filters which are discussed in the result section.

  8. Construction of Protograph LDPC Codes with Linear Minimum Distance

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Divsalar, Dariush; Dolinar, Sam; Jones, Christopher

    2006-01-01

    A construction method for protograph-based LDPC codes that simultaneously achieve low iterative decoding threshold and linear minimum distance is proposed. We start with a high-rate protograph LDPC code with variable node degrees of at least 3. Lower rate codes are obtained by splitting check nodes and connecting them by degree-2 nodes. This guarantees the linear minimum distance property for the lower-rate codes. Excluding checks connected to degree-1 nodes, we show that the number of degree-2 nodes should be at most one less than the number of checks for the protograph LDPC code to have linear minimum distance. Iterative decoding thresholds are obtained by using the reciprocal channel approximation. Thresholds are lowered by using either precoding or at least one very high-degree node in the base protograph. A family of high- to low-rate codes with minimum distance linearly increasing in block size and with capacity-approaching performance thresholds is presented. FPGA simulation results for a few example codes show that the proposed codes perform as predicted.

  9. 13 CFR 120.473 - Procedures for determining individual minimum capital requirement.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ...) Decision. After the close of the SBLC's response period, the AA/CA will decide, based on a review of SBA... requirement by the specified date, either the SBLC or the AA/CA may propose to the other a change in the... determining individual minimum capital requirement. (a) Notice. When SBA determines that an individual minimum...

  10. 77 FR 51602 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-08-24

    ... minimum share price for a sustained period, and for at least 30 of the most recent 60 trading days, prior... address concerns that the potential for manipulation of the security to meet the minimum price... successfully used to meet the Exchange's minimum share price requirements. In addition, the Commission believes...

  11. Construction of a competence-based curriculum for internship in obstetrics and gynecology within the medical course at the Federal University of Ceará (Sobral campus).

    PubMed

    Linhares, José Juvenal; Dutra, Bárbara de Araújo Lima; Ponte, Maycon Fellipe da; Tofoli, Luis Fernando Farah de; Távora, Priscila Campos; Macedo, Filipe Sancho de; Arruda, Guarany Mont'Alverne de

    2015-01-01

    This research project arose from a proposal made to the teachers by the students of a medical course at a federal university in Brazil, from their personal experiences regarding the skills and competencies that should be developed during the obstetrics and gynecology (OBG) stage of the internship. The objective here was to develop the matrix of skills necessary for training good general physicians in the medical course. Exploratory qualitative study conducted in a federal university in Brazil. The basis for developing these competencies among OBG interns was "The Competency Matrix for Medical Internship" developed by Bollela and Machado. The instrument was presented to, analyzed by and modified by a set of OBG specialists, at two sessions. The specific competencies expected from students over the internship in OBG were framed within overall topics that had previously been determined and listed: healthcare, decision-making, communication and interpersonal relationships, management and organization of the Brazilian National Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS) and professionalism. A competency matrix that standardizes the minimum requirements that interns should be capable of putting into practice after concluding the OBG stage is a valuable tool for ensuring student performance and a fair and rigorous assessment for them, thereby seeking to train good general physicians who meet the community's needs.

  12. Improving Test-Taking Skills of LD Adolescents.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Markel, Geraldine

    1981-01-01

    A multicomponent model to improve test taking skills of learning disabled (LD) adolescents is proposed to encourage anxiety management, problem solving skills, assertiveness, study skills, and student confidence and control. The role of the LD consultant in this process is described. (CL)

  13. A social skills analysis in childhood and adolescence using symbolic interactionism.

    PubMed

    Russell, A

    1984-02-01

    Support is obtained from the literature about the need for advances in the conceptualization of "social skills." There is agreement that much is known about how to improve social skills, but less attention has been given to what to change or improve. The present article outlines a model of social skills in childhood and adolescence using the concepts and literature on symbolic interactionism in an attempt to provide a possible conceptual framework for social skills. The proposed model is organized around the concepts of role-taking, role-making, definition of the situation, and self. Each concept is taken in turn and how it could contribute to the analysis or understanding of social skills in childhood and adolescence is shown. The article concludes with a discussion of ways in which the proposed scheme might be used in one area of social skills - friendship making. Some possible difficulties and limitations in the model are noted.

  14. CAN WE COMPETE?--The Implications of the Proposed Revised New Jersey Statewide Testing Program for Vocational Students.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Merkel-Keller, Claudia

    The State of New Jersey has proposed moving its competency test of basic skills from the 9th to the 11th grade, in order to allow for more content learning, more maturity, and more test-taking skills on the part of students. Since vocational students are more likely than other students to score low on the basic skills competency test, having the…

  15. Teleportation of a two-mode entangled coherent state encoded with two-qubit information

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mishra, Manoj K.; Prakash, Hari

    2010-09-01

    We propose a scheme to teleport a two-mode entangled coherent state encoded with two-qubit information, which is better than the two schemes recently proposed by Liao and Kuang (2007 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 40 1183) and by Phien and Nguyen (2008 Phys. Lett. A 372 2825) in that our scheme gives higher value of minimum assured fidelity and minimum average fidelity without using any nonlinear interactions. For involved coherent states | ± αrang, minimum average fidelity in our case is >=0.99 for |α| >= 1.6 (i.e. |α|2 >= 2.6), while previously proposed schemes referred above report the same for |α| >= 5 (i.e. |α|2 >= 25). Since it is very challenging to produce superposed coherent states of high coherent amplitude (|α|), our teleportation scheme is at the reach of modern technology.

  16. Mathematics Objectives and Measurement Specifications 1986-1990. Exit Level. Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills (TEAMS).

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Texas Education Agency, Austin. Div. of Educational Assessment.

    This document lists the objectives for the Texas educational assessment program in mathematics. Eighteen objectives for exit level mathematics are listed, by category: number concepts (4); computation (3); applied computation (5); statistical concepts (3); geometric concepts (2); and algebraic concepts (1). Then general specifications are listed…

  17. The Coach-of-Coaches Model for Preparing Rural Special Education Teachers.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cegelka, Patricia Thomas; Fitch, Suzanne; Alvarado, Jose Luis

    San Diego State University (California) has developed a coach-of-coaches model of providing support, assistance, and supervision to intern-teachers in its rural special education alternative credential program. Coaches, who are fully credentialed teachers with supervisory skills, make a minimum of nine direct and indirect (video analysis)…

  18. Development and Validation of a Survey Instrument for Detecting Basic Motor Competencies in Elementary School Children

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Scheuer, Claude; Bund, Andreas; Becker, Werner; Herrmann, Christian

    2017-01-01

    Basic motor competencies (in German: Motorische Basiskompetenzen; MOBAK) are motor performance dispositions formulated as minimum standards that empower children to participate in the culture of human movement. In opposition to movement-specific and process-oriented fundamental movement skills assessing the quality of movement execution, basic…

  19. SPARK RttT: Year Two Fidelity and Implementation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Grossman, Liz; Purses, Teresa; O'Neill, Adrienne; Gelb, Adele; Ross, Kimberly; Ughrin, Christina

    2016-01-01

    Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) is a school readiness program for children ages three to five that assists families with preparing their children for kindergarten in the areas of reading, language, and social skills. Program completion is determined by the presentation and facilitation of a minimum of eight lessons taught…

  20. International WIL Placements: Their Influence on Student Professional Development, Personal Growth and Cultural Competence

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gribble, Nigel; Dender, Alma; Lawrence, Emma; Manning, Kirrily; Falkmer, Torbjorn

    2014-01-01

    In the increasingly global world, skills in cultural competence now form part of the minimum standards of practice required for allied health professionals. During an international work-integrated learning (WIL) placement, allied health students' cultural competence is expected to be enhanced. The present study scrutinized reflective journals of…

  1. Resource Manual for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Education in Emergency Medicine.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    American Coll. of Emergency Physicians, Dallas, TX.

    The curriculum guide and bibliography identifies the minimum skills, knowledge, and attitudes that emergency physicians should have relative to drug and alcohol abuse and identifies appropriate educational materials and strategies for medical schools to include in their training programs. Objectives were based on 73 survey responses from medical…

  2. Wege zur Festigung der Fachlexik (Ways of Building a Technical Vocabulary)

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kalmykowa, Elena

    1974-01-01

    Learning to read foreign technical texts requires (a) a minimum vocabulary and (b) effective drill. The following are suggested: translation, question-answer method, definition exercises, exercises to develop skill in the use of reference works, schematic presentations and tables, annotating and making reports and summaries. (Text is in German.)…

  3. Child Development and Emergent Literacy.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Whitehurst, Grover J.; Lonigan, Christopher J.

    1998-01-01

    Offers a typology of emergent literacy skills, reviews research relating emergent literacy to reading, and reviews evidence linking emergent literacy environments and development of emergent literacy skills. Proposes that emergent literacy consists of inside-out skills and outside-in skills that are influential at different times during reading…

  4. 76 FR 78215 - Possession, Use, and Transfer of Select Agents and Toxins; Biennial Review; Proposed Rule

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-12-16

    ... agents and toxins list; whether minimum standards for personnel reliability, physical and cyber security... toxins list; (3) whether minimum standards for personnel reliability, physical and cyber security should...

  5. Minimum cause--maximum effect: the travelogue of a bullet.

    PubMed

    Hartert, Marc; Dahm, Manfred; Neufang, Achim; Vahl, Christian-Friedrich

    2010-11-01

    This case report involves a 57-year-old male, accidentally shot in the chest with a small bore firearm. The bullet entered the left hemithorax, disrupting the left internal mammarian artery. It then penetrated the anterior wall of the right ventricle causing a pericardial tamponade. After leaving the base of the right heart it perforated the diaphragm, the liver, the spleen and the pancreas. Finally, it penetrated the abdominal aorta 3 cm proximally to the coeliac trunk and reached its final position paravertebrally. This case report illustrates that the management of even minimum gunshot wounds requires a maximum variety of surgical skills.

  6. International Management Skills for Success in Asia: A Needs-Based Determination of Skills for Foreign Managers and Local Managers

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Neupert, Kent E.; Baughn, C. Cristopher; Dao, Thi Thanh Lam

    2005-01-01

    Purpose: This paper identifies skills necessary in order to succeed in Vietnam and proposes a training program to develop such skills. Design/methodology/approach: To determine necessary skills, 74 managers were interviewed using critical incident methodology to identify training needs. Critical incident approach asks respondents to describe the…

  7. Curriculum Providing Cognitive Knowledge and Problem-Solving Skills for Anesthesia Systems-Based Practice

    PubMed Central

    Wachtel, Ruth E.; Dexter, Franklin

    2010-01-01

    Background Residency programs accredited by the ACGME are required to teach core competencies, including systems-based practice (SBP). Projects are important for satisfying this competency, but the level of knowledge and problem-solving skills required presupposes a basic understanding of the field. The responsibilities of anesthesiologists include the coordination of patient flow in the surgical suite. Familiarity with this topic is crucial for many improvement projects. Intervention A course in operations research for surgical services was originally developed for hospital administration students. It satisfies 2 of the Institute of Medicine's core competencies for health professionals: evidence-based practice and work in interdisciplinary teams. The course lasts 3.5 days (eg, 2 weekends) and consists of 45 cognitive objectives taught using 7 published articles, 10 lectures, and 156 computer-assisted problem-solving exercises based on 17 case studies. We tested the hypothesis that the cognitive objectives of the curriculum provide the knowledge and problem-solving skills necessary to perform projects that satisfy the SBP competency. Standardized terminology was used to define each component of the SBP competency for the minimum level of knowledge needed. The 8 components of the competency were examined independently. Findings Most cognitive objectives contributed to at least 4 of the 8 core components of the SBP competency. Each component of SBP is addressed at the minimum requirement level of exemplify by at least 6 objectives. There is at least 1 cognitive objective at the level of summarize for each SBP component. Conclusions A curriculum in operating room management can provide the knowledge and problem-solving skills anesthesiologists need for participation in projects that satisfy the SBP competency. PMID:22132289

  8. Incremental cost of postacute care in nursing homes.

    PubMed

    Spector, William D; Limcangco, Maria Rhona; Ladd, Heather; Mukamel, Dana

    2011-02-01

    To determine whether the case mix index (CMI) based on the 53-Resource Utilization Groups (RUGs) captures all the cross-sectional variation in nursing home (NH) costs or whether NHs that have a higher percent of Medicare skilled care days (%SKILLED) have additional costs. DATA AND SAMPLE: Nine hundred and eighty-eight NHs in California in 2005. Data are from Medicaid cost reports, the Minimum Data Set, and the Economic Census. We estimate hybrid cost functions, which include in addition to outputs, case mix, ownership, wages, and %SKILLED. Two-stage least-square (2SLS) analysis was used to deal with the potential endogeneity of %SKILLED and CMI. On average 11 percent of NHs days were due to skilled care. Based on the 2SLS model, %SKILLED is associated with costs even when controlling for CMI. The marginal cost of a one percentage point increase in %SKILLED is estimated at U.S.$70,474 or about 1.2 percent of annual costs for the average cost facility. Subanalyses show that the increase in costs is mainly due to additional expenses for nontherapy ancillaries and rehabilitation. The 53-RUGs case mix does not account completely for all the variation in actual costs of care for postacute patients in NHs. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

  9. Incremental Cost of Postacute Care in Nursing Homes

    PubMed Central

    Spector, William D; Limcangco, Maria Rhona; Ladd, Heather; Mukamel, Dana A

    2011-01-01

    Objectives To determine whether the case mix index (CMI) based on the 53-Resource Utilization Groups (RUGs) captures all the cross-sectional variation in nursing home (NH) costs or whether NHs that have a higher percent of Medicare skilled care days (%SKILLED) have additional costs. Data and Sample Nine hundred and eighty-eight NHs in California in 2005. Data are from Medicaid cost reports, the Minimum Data Set, and the Economic Census. Research Design We estimate hybrid cost functions, which include in addition to outputs, case mix, ownership, wages, and %SKILLED. Two-stage least-square (2SLS) analysis was used to deal with the potential endogeneity of %SKILLED and CMI. Results On average 11 percent of NHs days were due to skilled care. Based on the 2SLS model, %SKILLED is associated with costs even when controlling for CMI. The marginal cost of a one percentage point increase in %SKILLED is estimated at U.S.$70,474 or about 1.2 percent of annual costs for the average cost facility. Subanalyses show that the increase in costs is mainly due to additional expenses for nontherapy ancillaries and rehabilitation. Conclusion The 53-RUGs case mix does not account completely for all the variation in actual costs of care for postacute patients in NHs. PMID:21029085

  10. A new concept of feature-based gauge for coordinate measuring arm evaluation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cuesta, E.; González-Madruga, D.; Alvarez, B. J.; Barreiro, J.

    2014-06-01

    Articulated arm coordinate measuring machines (AACMM or CMA) have conquered a market share in the actual dimensional metrology field, overall when their role implies the inspection of geometrical and dimensional tolerances in an accurate 3D environment for medium-size parts. However, the unavoidable fact of AACMM manual operation constrains its reliability to a great extent, avoiding rigorous evaluation and casting doubt upon the usefulness of external calibration. In this research, a dimensional gauge especially aimed at AACMM evaluation has been developed. Furthermore, the operator skill will be revealed through the use of this gauge. A set of geometrical features, some of them oriented to evaluate the operator and others the equipment, have been collected for the gauge. The proposed evaluation methodology clearly distinguishes between dimensional and geometrical tolerances (with or without datum references), whereas actual verification standards only consider the former. Next, quality indicators deduced from the measurement results are proposed in order to compare AACMM versus coordinate measuring machine (CMM) performance, assuming that CMM possess the maximum accuracy that AACMM could reach, because CMM combines maximum contact accuracy with minimum operator influence. As a result, AACMM evaluation time could be significantly reduced since this gauge allows us to perform a customized evaluation of only those specific tolerances of interest to the user.

  11. Quality and Equality: Basic Skill Requirements at the University Level.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Guskin, Alan E.; Greenebaum, Ben

    1979-01-01

    The University of Wisconsin-Parkside's comprehensive collegiate skills program is described from proposal to implementation. Junior year students must demonstrate competence in: writing, reading, mathematics, research paper writing, and library skills. (MLW)

  12. Protograph based LDPC codes with minimum distance linearly growing with block size

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Divsalar, Dariush; Jones, Christopher; Dolinar, Sam; Thorpe, Jeremy

    2005-01-01

    We propose several LDPC code constructions that simultaneously achieve good threshold and error floor performance. Minimum distance is shown to grow linearly with block size (similar to regular codes of variable degree at least 3) by considering ensemble average weight enumerators. Our constructions are based on projected graph, or protograph, structures that support high-speed decoder implementations. As with irregular ensembles, our constructions are sensitive to the proportion of degree-2 variable nodes. A code with too few such nodes tends to have an iterative decoding threshold that is far from the capacity threshold. A code with too many such nodes tends to not exhibit a minimum distance that grows linearly in block length. In this paper we also show that precoding can be used to lower the threshold of regular LDPC codes. The decoding thresholds of the proposed codes, which have linearly increasing minimum distance in block size, outperform that of regular LDPC codes. Furthermore, a family of low to high rate codes, with thresholds that adhere closely to their respective channel capacity thresholds, is presented. Simulation results for a few example codes show that the proposed codes have low error floors as well as good threshold SNFt performance.

  13. Position Between Trunk and Pelvis During Gait Depending on the Gross Motor Function Classification System.

    PubMed

    Sanz-Mengibar, Jose Manuel; Altschuck, Natalie; Sanchez-de-Muniain, Paloma; Bauer, Christian; Santonja-Medina, Fernando

    2017-04-01

    To understand whether there is a trunk postural control threshold in the sagittal plane for the transition between the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels measured with 3-dimensional gait analysis. Kinematics from 97 children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy from spine angles according to Plug-In Gait model (Vicon) were plotted relative to their GMFCS level. Only average and minimum values of the lumbar spine segment correlated with GMFCS levels. Maximal values at loading response correlated independently with age at all functional levels. Average and minimum values were significant when analyzing age in combination with GMFCS level. There are specific postural control patterns in the average and minimum values for the position between trunk and pelvis in the sagittal plane during gait, for the transition among GMFCS I-III levels. Higher classifications of gross motor skills correlate with more extended spine angles.

  14. Grant Writing Skill Building: A Business Administration Curriculum Proposal

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Blankenship, Dianna; Jones, Irma; Lovett, Marvin

    2010-01-01

    This paper reviews the need for grant writing skills within various types of organizations and the resulting proposal for including grant writing within business administration curriculum at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels. An introduction precedes the results of a survey regarding current grant writing courses within AACSB schools of…

  15. Is the National Guideline Clearinghouse a Trustworthy Source of Practice Guidelines for Child and Youth Anxiety and Depression?

    PubMed

    Duda, Stephanie; Fahim, Christine; Szatmari, Peter; Bennett, Kathryn

    2017-07-01

    Innovative strategies that facilitate the use of high quality practice guidelines (PG) are needed. Accordingly, repositories designed to simplify access to PGs have been proposed as a critical component of the network of linked interventions needed to drive increased PG implementation. The National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) is a free, international online repository. We investigated whether it is a trustworthy source of child and youth anxiety and depression PGs. English language PGs published between January 2009 and February 2016 relevant to anxiety or depression in children and adolescents (≤ 18 years of age) were eligible. Two trained raters assessed PG quality using Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II). Scores on at least three AGREE II domains (stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, and editorial independence) were used to designate PGs as: i) minimum quality (≥ 50%); and ii) high quality (≥ 70%). Eight eligible PGs were identified (depression, n=6; anxiety and depression, n=1; social anxiety disorder, n=1). Four of eight PGs met minimum quality criteria; three of four met high quality criteria. At present, NGC users without the time and special skills required to evaluate PG quality may unknowingly choose flawed PGs to guide decisions about child and youth anxiety and depression. The recent NGC decision to explore the inclusion of PG quality profiles based on Institute of Medicine standards provides needed leadership that can strengthen PG repositories, prevent harm and wasted resources, and build PG developer capacity.

  16. 76 FR 23631 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-04-27

    ... non-compliance with the Commission's minimum performance standards regarding registered transfer agents, and (2) to assure that issuers are aware of certain problems and poor performances with respect... notice of a registered transfer agent's failure to comply with the Commission's minimum performance...

  17. Personal Insect Repellents and Minimum Risk Pesticides

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    An exempt pesticide product may not bear claims to control rodent, insect or microbial pests in a way that links the pests with specific disease. We are considering a proposal to remove personal mosquito and tick repellents from the minimum risk exemption.

  18. Continuing education needs for fishery professionals: a survey of North American fisheries administrators

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Rassam, G.N.; Eisler, R.

    2001-01-01

    North American fishery professionals? continuing education needs were investigated in an American Fisheries Society questionnaire sent to 111 senior fishery officials in winter 2000. Based on a response rate of 52.2% (N = 58), a minimum of 2,967 individuals would benefit from additional training, especially in the areas of statistics and analysis (83% endorsement rate), restoration and enhancement (81%), population dynamics (81%), multi-species interactions (79%), and technical writing (79%). Other skills and techniques recommended by respondents included computer skills (72%), fishery modeling (69%), habitat modification (67%), watershed processes (66%), fishery management (64%), riparian and stream ecology (62%), habitat management (62%), public administration (62%), nonindigenous species (57%), and age and growth (55%). Additional comments by respondents recommended new technical courses, training in various communications skills, and courses to more effectively manage workloads.

  19. Working Memory Deficits in Children with Specific Learning Disorders

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Schuchardt, Kirsten; Maehler, Claudia; Hasselhorn, Marcus

    2008-01-01

    This article examines working memory functioning in children with specific developmental disorders of scholastic skills as defined by ICD-10. Ninety-seven second to fourth graders with a minimum IQ of 80 are compared using a 2 x 2 factorial (dyscalculia vs. no dyscalculia; dyslexia vs. no dyslexia) design. An extensive test battery assesses the…

  20. AMERICAN STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR MAKING BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES ACCESSIBLE TO, AND USABLE BY, THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    National Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults, Chicago, IL.

    THIS STANDARD IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO BE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ALL BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES AND FOR ADOPTION AND ENFORCEMENT BY ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES IN ORDER TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS WITH PERMANENT PHYSICAL DISABILITIES TO PURSUE THEIR INTERESTS AND ASPIRATIONS, DEVELOP THEIR TALENTS, AND EXERCISE THEIR SKILLS.…

  1. 34 CFR 366.63 - What evidence must a center present to demonstrate that it is in minimum compliance with the...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ...) Provides IL services to eligible individuals or groups of individuals without restrictions based on the particular type or types of significant disability of an individual or group of individuals, unless the... skills training. (ii) Peer counseling (including cross-disability peer counseling). (iii) Individual and...

  2. Designing Higher Education Curriculum to Increase Graduate Outcomes and Work Readiness: The Assessment and Mentoring Program (AMP)

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jenkinson, Kate A.; Benson, Amanda C.

    2016-01-01

    Pre-service teacher programs have a responsibility to equip graduating students with more than the minimum skill sets required by governing bodies. The Assessment and Mentoring Program (AMP) is a four-way collaborative mentoring learning community underpinned by social constructivism. Conducted in Victoria, Australia during the 2014-2016 academic…

  3. 45 CFR 2522.100 - What are the minimum requirements that every AmeriCorps program, regardless of type, must meet?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... experiences to help participants achieve the skills and education needed for productive, active citizenship..., upon which self-assessment and Corporation-assessment of progress can rest. Such assessment will be used to help determine the extent to which the program has had a positive impact: (1) On communities...

  4. 45 CFR 2522.100 - What are the minimum requirements that every AmeriCorps program, regardless of type, must meet?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... experiences to help participants achieve the skills and education needed for productive, active citizenship..., upon which self-assessment and Corporation-assessment of progress can rest. Such assessment will be used to help determine the extent to which the program has had a positive impact: (1) On communities...

  5. 45 CFR 2522.100 - What are the minimum requirements that every AmeriCorps program, regardless of type, must meet?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... experiences to help participants achieve the skills and education needed for productive, active citizenship..., upon which self-assessment and Corporation-assessment of progress can rest. Such assessment will be used to help determine the extent to which the program has had a positive impact: (1) On communities...

  6. Developing Digital Immigrants' Computer Literacy: The Case of Unemployed Women

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ktoridou, Despo; Eteokleous-Grigoriou, Nikleia

    2011-01-01

    Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a 40-hour computer course for beginners provided to a group of unemployed women learners with no/minimum computer literacy skills who can be characterized as digital immigrants. The aim of the study is to identify participants' perceptions and experiences regarding technology,…

  7. Educational Opportunity: The Illinois Dilemma

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Verstegen, Deborah A.; Driscoll, Lisa G.

    2008-01-01

    This is a watershed era in education as the states and the nation move from the old equity and adequacy of minimums and basic skills to the new equity and adequacy of excellence in education and proficiency outcomes for all children and at all schools. This is being driven by the requirements of the knowledge society, global economy, and…

  8. 28 CFR 58.33 - Minimum qualifications providers shall meet to become and remain approved providers.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... size otherwise used in the solicitation; (iv) Any such solicitations include only logos, seals, or similar marks that are substantially dissimilar to the logo, seal, or similar mark of any agency or court...-making skills required to distinguish between wants and needs, and to comparison shop for goods and...

  9. An Empirical System for Assessing the Impact of Aptitude Requirement Adjustments on Air Force Initial Skills Training.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mumford, Michael D.; And Others

    A multivariate modeling approach was developed to assess the impact of changes in aptitude requirement minimums on U.S. Air Force technical training outcomes. Initially, interviews were conducted with technical training personnel to identify significant student inputs, course content, and training outcome variables. Measures of these variables…

  10. A Simple and Effective Protein Folding Activity Suitable for Large Lectures

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    White, Brian

    2006-01-01

    This article describes a simple and inexpensive hands-on simulation of protein folding suitable for use in large lecture classes. This activity uses a minimum of parts, tools, and skill to simulate some of the fundamental principles of protein folding. The major concepts targeted are that proteins begin as linear polypeptides and fold to…

  11. Communication scheme based on evolutionary spatial 2×2 games

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ziaukas, Pranas; Ragulskis, Tautvydas; Ragulskis, Minvydas

    2014-06-01

    A visual communication scheme based on evolutionary spatial 2×2 games is proposed in this paper. Self-organizing patterns induced by complex interactions between competing individuals are exploited for hiding and transmitting secret visual information. Properties of the proposed communication scheme are discussed in details. It is shown that the hiding capacity of the system (the minimum size of the detectable primitives and the minimum distance between two primitives) is sufficient for the effective transmission of digital dichotomous images. Also, it is demonstrated that the proposed communication scheme is resilient to time backwards, plain image attacks and is highly sensitive to perturbations of private and public keys. Several computational experiments are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed communication scheme.

  12. Geographic market definition: the case of Medicare-reimbursed skilled nursing facility care.

    PubMed

    Bowblis, John R; North, Phillip

    2011-01-01

    Correct geographic market definition is important to study the impact of competition. In the nursing home industry, most studies use geopolitical boundaries to define markets. This paper uses the Minimum Data Set to generate an alternative market definition based on patient flows for Medicare skilled nursing facilities. These distances are regressed against a range of nursing home and area characteristics to determine what influences market size. We compared Herfindahl-Hirschman Indices based on county and resident-flow measures of geographic market definition. Evidence from this comparison suggests that using the county for the market definition is not appropriate across all states.

  13. Concept-Mapping Tools and the Development of Students' Critical-Thinking Skills

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tseng, Sheng-Shiang

    2015-01-01

    Developing students' critical-thinking skills has recently received attention at all levels of education. This article proposes the use of concept-mapping tools to improve students' critical-thinking skills. The article introduces a Web-based concept-mapping tool--Popplet--and demonstrates its application for teaching critical-thinking skills in…

  14. Higher Order Skills, Job Design, and Incentives: An Analysis and Proposal.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hannaway, Jane

    1992-01-01

    The current imbalance between teaching basic skills and higher order skills can be addressed by redesigning teaching into two specialized areas. Using the principal-agent model and applying ideas from organization theory, the advantages of restructuring teaching to increase emphasis on problem-solving and higher order skills are discussed. (SLD)

  15. A Simple Accurate Alternative to the Minimum-Deviation Method for the Determination of the Refractive Index of a Prism.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Waldenstrom, S.; Naqvi, K. Razi

    1978-01-01

    Proposes an alternative to the classical minimum-deviation method for determining the refractive index of a prism. This new "fixed angle of incidence method" may find applications in research. (Author/GA)

  16. Development of Foundational Movement Skills: A Conceptual Model for Physical Activity Across the Lifespan.

    PubMed

    Hulteen, Ryan M; Morgan, Philip J; Barnett, Lisa M; Stodden, David F; Lubans, David R

    2018-03-09

    Evidence supports a positive association between competence in fundamental movement skills (e.g., kicking, jumping) and physical activity in young people. Whilst important, fundamental movement skills do not reflect the broad diversity of skills utilized in physical activity pursuits across the lifespan. Debate surrounds the question of what are the most salient skills to be learned which facilitate physical activity participation across the lifespan. In this paper, it is proposed that the term 'fundamental movement skills' be replaced with 'foundational movement skills'. The term 'foundational movement skills' better reflects the broad range of movement forms that increase in complexity and specificity and can be applied in a variety of settings. Thus, 'foundational movement skills' includes both traditionally conceptualized 'fundamental' movement skills and other skills (e.g., bodyweight squat, cycling, swimming strokes) that support physical activity engagement across the lifespan. A proposed conceptual model outlines how foundational movement skill competency can provide a direct or indirect pathway, via specialized movement skills, to a lifetime of physical activity. Foundational movement skill development is hypothesized to vary according to culture and/or geographical location. Further, skill development may be hindered or enhanced by physical (i.e., fitness, weight status) and psychological (i.e., perceived competence, self-efficacy) attributes. This conceptual model may advance the application of motor development principles within the public health domain. Additionally, it promotes the continued development of human movement in the context of how it leads to skillful performance and how movement skill development supports and maintains a lifetime of physical activity engagement.

  17. Setting the Standards; The Importance of the Language Audit.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Greensmith, Catherine

    It is proposed that business language training be based on results of a "language audit," designed to identify the skill levels required to carry out specific tasks, propose training solutions, and monitor progress. A British organization has established a framework for assessing five levels of language skill in this context. These standards…

  18. Development of the Austrian Nursing Minimum Data Set (NMDS-AT): the third Delphi Round, a quantitative online survey.

    PubMed

    Ranegger, Renate; Hackl, Werner O; Ammenwerth, Elske

    2015-01-01

    A Nursing Minimum Data Set (NMDS) aims at systematically describing nursing care in terms of patient problems, nursing activities, and patient outcomes. In an earlier Delphi study, 56 data elements were proposed to be included in an Austrian Nursing Minimum Data Set (NMDS-AT). To identify the most important data elements of this list, and to identify appropriate coding systems. Online Delphi-based survey with 88 experts. 43 data elements were rated as relevant for an NMDS-AT (strong agreement of more than half of the experts): nine data elements concerning the institution, patient demographics, and medical condition; 18 data elements concerning patient problems by using nursing diagnosis; seven data elements concerning nursing outcomes, and nine data elements concerning nursing interventions. As classification systems, national classification systems were proposed besides ICNP, NNN, and nursing-sensitive indicators. The resulting proposal for an NMDS-AT will now be tested with routine data.

  19. Boosting antenatal care attendance and number of hospital deliveries among pregnant women in rural communities: a community initiative in Ghana based on mobile phones applications and portable ultrasound scans.

    PubMed

    Amoah, Benjamin; Anto, Evelyn A; Osei, Prince K; Pieterson, Kojo; Crimi, Alessandro

    2016-06-14

    The World Health Organization has recommended at least four antenatal care (ANC) visits and skilled attendants at birth. Most pregnant women in rural communities in low-income countries do not achieve the minimum recommended visits and deliver without skilled attendants. With the aim of increasing number of ANC visits, reducing home deliveries, and supplementing care given by ANC clinics, a proposed system based on low-cost mobile phones and portable ultrasound scan machines was piloted. A sample of 323 pregnant women from four rural communities in the Central Region of Ghana were followed within a 11-month project. In each community, at least one health worker was trained and equipped with a mobile phone to promote ANC and hospital deliveries in her own community. If women cannot attend ANC, technicians acquired scans by using portable ultrasound machines in her community directly and sent them almost in real time to be analyzed by a gynecologist in an urban hospital. A preliminary survey to assess ANC status preceding the pilot study was conducted. During this, one hundred women who had had pregnancies within five years prior to the study were interviewed. The preliminary survey showed that women who attended ANC were less likely to have a miscarriage and more likely to have delivery at hospital or clinic than those who did not, and women who attained at least four ANC visits were less likely to practice self-medication. Among the women involved in the project, 40 gave birth during the period of observation. The proposed prenatal care approach showed that 62.5 % of pregnant women who gave birth during the observation period included in the project (n=40) had their labor attended in clinics or hospitals as against 37.5 % among the cases reported in the pre-survey. One case of ectopic and two cases of breech pregnancies were detected during the pilot through the proposed approach, and appropriate medical interventions were sought. Our results show that the proposed prenatal care approach can make quality ANC accessible in rural communities where pregnant women have not been able to access proper ANC.

  20. Using Reading Circles Strategy for Developing Preparatory Students' Critical Reading Skills and Social Skills

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Abdelrasoul, Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim

    2014-01-01

    The present study aimed at developing the necessary critical reading skills and social skills of the Egyptian EFL second year preparatory school students, through a proposed program based on using reading circles strategy. The study participants were 44 students from Sohag Experimental Preparatory School in Sohag Governorate. Instruments of the…

  1. 77 FR 24247 - 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: DS-5506, Local U.S. Citizen Skills/Resources...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-04-23

    ..., Local U.S. Citizen Skills/Resources Survey ACTION: Notice of request for public comments. SUMMARY: The... of 1995. Title of Information Collection: Local U.S. Citizen Skills/Resources Survey. OMB Control... Collection The Local U.S. Citizen Skills/Resources Survey is a systematic method of gathering information...

  2. Understanding Writing Problems in Young Children: Contributions of Cognitive Skills to the Development of Written Expression

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Childress, Amy

    2011-01-01

    While several models of adult writing have been proposed and studied, the development of writing skills in young children has only recently garnered attention. Using measures of fine-motor, language, working memory, and attention/executive functions, the current study explored motor and cognitive skills that may contribute to writing skill in…

  3. Extended score interval in the assessment of basic surgical skills.

    PubMed

    Acosta, Stefan; Sevonius, Dan; Beckman, Anders

    2015-01-01

    The Basic Surgical Skills course uses an assessment score interval of 0-3. An extended score interval, 1-6, was proposed by the Swedish steering committee of the course. The aim of this study was to analyze the trainee scores in the current 0-3 scored version compared to a proposed 1-6 scored version. Sixteen participants, seven females and nine males, were evaluated in the current and proposed assessment forms by instructors, observers, and learners themselves during the first and second day. In each assessment form, 17 tasks were assessed. The inter-rater reliability between the current and the proposed score sheets were evaluated with intraclass correlation (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The distribution of scores for 'knot tying' at the last time point and 'bowel anastomosis side to side' given by the instructors in the current assessment form showed that the highest score was given in 31 and 62%, respectively. No ceiling effects were found in the proposed assessment form. The overall ICC between the current and proposed score sheets after assessment by the instructors increased from 0.38 (95% CI 0.77-0.78) on Day 1 to 0.83 (95% CI 0.51-0.94) on Day 2. A clear ceiling effect of scores was demonstrated in the current assessment form, questioning its validity. The proposed score sheet provides more accurate scores and seems to be a better feedback instrument for learning technical surgical skills in the Basic Surgical Skills course.

  4. Extended score interval in the assessment of basic surgical skills.

    PubMed

    Acosta, Stefan; Sevonius, Dan; Beckman, Anders

    2015-01-01

    Introduction The Basic Surgical Skills course uses an assessment score interval of 0-3. An extended score interval, 1-6, was proposed by the Swedish steering committee of the course. The aim of this study was to analyze the trainee scores in the current 0-3 scored version compared to a proposed 1-6 scored version. Methods Sixteen participants, seven females and nine males, were evaluated in the current and proposed assessment forms by instructors, observers, and learners themselves during the first and second day. In each assessment form, 17 tasks were assessed. The inter-rater reliability between the current and the proposed score sheets were evaluated with intraclass correlation (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results The distribution of scores for 'knot tying' at the last time point and 'bowel anastomosis side to side' given by the instructors in the current assessment form showed that the highest score was given in 31 and 62%, respectively. No ceiling effects were found in the proposed assessment form. The overall ICC between the current and proposed score sheets after assessment by the instructors increased from 0.38 (95% CI 0.77-0.78) on Day 1 to 0.83 (95% CI 0.51-0.94) on Day 2. Discussion A clear ceiling effect of scores was demonstrated in the current assessment form, questioning its validity. The proposed score sheet provides more accurate scores and seems to be a better feedback instrument for learning technical surgical skills in the Basic Surgical Skills course.

  5. An appraisal of the literature on teaching physical examination skills.

    PubMed

    Easton, Graham; Stratford-Martin, James; Atherton, Helen

    2012-07-01

    To discover which models for teaching physical examination skills have been proposed, and to appraise the evidence for each. We conducted a narrative review of relevant literature from 1990-2010. We searched the databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and ERIC (The Education Resource Information Centre) for the terms: 'physical examination' AND 'teaching' as both MESH terms and keyword searches. We excluded web-based or video teaching, non-physical examination skills (e.g. communication skills), and articles about simulated patients or models. We identified five relevant articles. These five studies outlined several approaches to teaching physical examination skills, including Peyton's 4-step model, an adaptation of his model to a 6-step model; the silent run through; and collaborative discovery. There was little evidence to support one method over others. One controlled trial suggested that silent run-through could improve performance of complex motor tasks, and another suggested that collaborative discovery improves students' ability to recognise key findings in cardiac examinations. There are several models for teaching physical examinations, but few are designed specifically for that purpose and there is little evidence to back any one model over another. We propose an approach which adopts several key features of these models. Future research could usefully evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed models, or develop innovative practical models for teaching examination skills.

  6. The Emergent European Model in Skill Formation: Comparing Higher Education and Vocational Training in the Bologna and Copenhagen Processes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Powell, Justin J. W.; Bernhard, Nadine; Graf, Lukas

    2012-01-01

    Proposing an alternative to the American model, intergovernmental reform initiatives in Europe have developed and promote a comprehensive European model of skill formation. What ideals, standards, and governance are proposed in this new pan-European model? This model responds to heightened global competition among "knowledge societies"…

  7. The Use of Poster Sessions to Develop Professionalism, Domain Five of the Ecuadorian National English Teachers' Standards

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Morales J., María V.; Morales J., María A.

    2017-01-01

    This study describes the presence of professional skills found in poster session proposals in order to consider the use of poster sessions for developing the skills required by the 2012 Ecuadorian Standards for English teachers, specifically related to the fifth domain professionalism. Thirteen poster session proposals for a national English…

  8. Associations of Emotion-Related Regulation with Language Skills, Emotion Knowledge, and Academic Outcomes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Eisenberg, Nancy; Sadovsky, Adrienne; Spinrad, Tracy L.

    2005-01-01

    Research suggests that the development of emotional regulation in early childhood is interrelated with emotional understanding and language skills. Heuristic models are proposed on how these factors influence children's emerging academic motivation and skills. (Contains 2 figures.)

  9. A new method of optimal capacitor switching based on minimum spanning tree theory in distribution systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, H. W.; Pan, Z. Y.; Ren, Y. B.; Wang, J.; Gan, Y. L.; Zheng, Z. Z.; Wang, W.

    2018-03-01

    According to the radial operation characteristics in distribution systems, this paper proposes a new method based on minimum spanning trees method for optimal capacitor switching. Firstly, taking the minimal active power loss as objective function and not considering the capacity constraints of capacitors and source, this paper uses Prim algorithm among minimum spanning trees algorithms to get the power supply ranges of capacitors and source. Then with the capacity constraints of capacitors considered, capacitors are ranked by the method of breadth-first search. In term of the order from high to low of capacitor ranking, capacitor compensation capacity based on their power supply range is calculated. Finally, IEEE 69 bus system is adopted to test the accuracy and practicality of the proposed algorithm.

  10. Low Streamflow Forcasting using Minimum Relative Entropy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cui, H.; Singh, V. P.

    2013-12-01

    Minimum relative entropy spectral analysis is derived in this study, and applied to forecast streamflow time series. Proposed method extends the autocorrelation in the manner that the relative entropy of underlying process is minimized so that time series data can be forecasted. Different prior estimation, such as uniform, exponential and Gaussian assumption, is taken to estimate the spectral density depending on the autocorrelation structure. Seasonal and nonseasonal low streamflow series obtained from Colorado River (Texas) under draught condition is successfully forecasted using proposed method. Minimum relative entropy determines spectral of low streamflow series with higher resolution than conventional method. Forecasted streamflow is compared to the prediction using Burg's maximum entropy spectral analysis (MESA) and Configurational entropy. The advantage and disadvantage of each method in forecasting low streamflow is discussed.

  11. Embodied conversational agents for multimodal automated social skills training in people with autism spectrum disorders.

    PubMed

    Tanaka, Hiroki; Negoro, Hideki; Iwasaka, Hidemi; Nakamura, Satoshi

    2017-01-01

    Social skills training, performed by human trainers, is a well-established method for obtaining appropriate skills in social interaction. Previous work automated the process of social skills training by developing a dialogue system that teaches social communication skills through interaction with a computer avatar. Even though previous work that simulated social skills training only considered acoustic and linguistic information, human social skills trainers take into account visual and other non-verbal features. In this paper, we create and evaluate a social skills training system that closes this gap by considering the audiovisual features of the smiling ratio and the head pose (yaw and pitch). In addition, the previous system was only tested with graduate students; in this paper, we applied our system to children or young adults with autism spectrum disorders. For our experimental evaluation, we recruited 18 members from the general population and 10 people with autism spectrum disorders and gave them our proposed multimodal system to use. An experienced human social skills trainer rated the social skills of the users. We evaluated the system's effectiveness by comparing pre- and post-training scores and identified significant improvement in their social skills using our proposed multimodal system. Computer-based social skills training is useful for people who experience social difficulties. Such a system can be used by teachers, therapists, and social skills trainers for rehabilitation and the supplemental use of human-based training anywhere and anytime.

  12. Embodied conversational agents for multimodal automated social skills training in people with autism spectrum disorders

    PubMed Central

    Negoro, Hideki; Iwasaka, Hidemi; Nakamura, Satoshi

    2017-01-01

    Social skills training, performed by human trainers, is a well-established method for obtaining appropriate skills in social interaction. Previous work automated the process of social skills training by developing a dialogue system that teaches social communication skills through interaction with a computer avatar. Even though previous work that simulated social skills training only considered acoustic and linguistic information, human social skills trainers take into account visual and other non-verbal features. In this paper, we create and evaluate a social skills training system that closes this gap by considering the audiovisual features of the smiling ratio and the head pose (yaw and pitch). In addition, the previous system was only tested with graduate students; in this paper, we applied our system to children or young adults with autism spectrum disorders. For our experimental evaluation, we recruited 18 members from the general population and 10 people with autism spectrum disorders and gave them our proposed multimodal system to use. An experienced human social skills trainer rated the social skills of the users. We evaluated the system’s effectiveness by comparing pre- and post-training scores and identified significant improvement in their social skills using our proposed multimodal system. Computer-based social skills training is useful for people who experience social difficulties. Such a system can be used by teachers, therapists, and social skills trainers for rehabilitation and the supplemental use of human-based training anywhere and anytime. PMID:28796781

  13. Dynamic association rules for gene expression data analysis.

    PubMed

    Chen, Shu-Chuan; Tsai, Tsung-Hsien; Chung, Cheng-Han; Li, Wen-Hsiung

    2015-10-14

    The purpose of gene expression analysis is to look for the association between regulation of gene expression levels and phenotypic variations. This association based on gene expression profile has been used to determine whether the induction/repression of genes correspond to phenotypic variations including cell regulations, clinical diagnoses and drug development. Statistical analyses on microarray data have been developed to resolve gene selection issue. However, these methods do not inform us of causality between genes and phenotypes. In this paper, we propose the dynamic association rule algorithm (DAR algorithm) which helps ones to efficiently select a subset of significant genes for subsequent analysis. The DAR algorithm is based on association rules from market basket analysis in marketing. We first propose a statistical way, based on constructing a one-sided confidence interval and hypothesis testing, to determine if an association rule is meaningful. Based on the proposed statistical method, we then developed the DAR algorithm for gene expression data analysis. The method was applied to analyze four microarray datasets and one Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) dataset: the Mice Apo A1 dataset, the whole genome expression dataset of mouse embryonic stem cells, expression profiling of the bone marrow of Leukemia patients, Microarray Quality Control (MAQC) data set and the RNA-seq dataset of a mouse genomic imprinting study. A comparison of the proposed method with the t-test on the expression profiling of the bone marrow of Leukemia patients was conducted. We developed a statistical way, based on the concept of confidence interval, to determine the minimum support and minimum confidence for mining association relationships among items. With the minimum support and minimum confidence, one can find significant rules in one single step. The DAR algorithm was then developed for gene expression data analysis. Four gene expression datasets showed that the proposed DAR algorithm not only was able to identify a set of differentially expressed genes that largely agreed with that of other methods, but also provided an efficient and accurate way to find influential genes of a disease. In the paper, the well-established association rule mining technique from marketing has been successfully modified to determine the minimum support and minimum confidence based on the concept of confidence interval and hypothesis testing. It can be applied to gene expression data to mine significant association rules between gene regulation and phenotype. The proposed DAR algorithm provides an efficient way to find influential genes that underlie the phenotypic variance.

  14. Hyperspectral feature mapping classification based on mathematical morphology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Chang; Li, Junwei; Wang, Guangping; Wu, Jingli

    2016-03-01

    This paper proposed a hyperspectral feature mapping classification algorithm based on mathematical morphology. Without the priori information such as spectral library etc., the spectral and spatial information can be used to realize the hyperspectral feature mapping classification. The mathematical morphological erosion and dilation operations are performed respectively to extract endmembers. The spectral feature mapping algorithm is used to carry on hyperspectral image classification. The hyperspectral image collected by AVIRIS is applied to evaluate the proposed algorithm. The proposed algorithm is compared with minimum Euclidean distance mapping algorithm, minimum Mahalanobis distance mapping algorithm, SAM algorithm and binary encoding mapping algorithm. From the results of the experiments, it is illuminated that the proposed algorithm's performance is better than that of the other algorithms under the same condition and has higher classification accuracy.

  15. The pediatric hematology/oncology educational laboratory in-training examination (PHOELIX): A formative evaluation of laboratory skills for Canadian pediatric hematology/oncology trainees.

    PubMed

    Leung, Elaine; Dix, David; Ford, Jason; Barnard, Dorothy; McBride, Eileen

    2015-11-01

    Pediatric hematologists/oncologists need to be skilled clinicians, and must also be adept and knowledgeable in relevant areas of laboratory medicine. Canadian training programs in this subspecialty have a minimum requirement for 6 months of training in acquiring "relevant laboratory diagnostic skills." The Canadian pediatric hematology/oncology (PHO) national specialty society, C17, recognized the need for an assessment method in laboratory skills for fellows graduating from PHO training programs. Canadian pediatric hematologists/oncologists were surveyed regarding what were felt to be the essential laboratory-related knowledge and skills deemed necessary for graduating pediatric hematology/oncology trainees. The PHOELIX (Pediatric hematology/oncology educational laboratory in-training examination) was then developed to provide an annual formative evaluation of laboratory skills in Canadian PHO trainees. The majority of PHO respondents (89%) felt that laboratory skills are important in clinical practice. An annual formative examination including review of glass slides was implemented starting in 2010; this provides feedback regarding knowledge of laboratory medicine to both trainees and program directors (PDs). We have successfully created a formative examination that can be used to evaluate and educate trainees, as well as provide PDs with a tool to gauge the effectiveness of their laboratory training curriculum. Feedback has been positive from both trainees and PDs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  16. Comparison of anaesthesia 'Day 1 skills' expectations between veterinary anaesthetists and general practitioners.

    PubMed

    Duncan, J C; Ross, M; Rhind, S; Clutton, E; Shaw, D J

    2015-02-28

    Day One Skills (DOS) were introduced by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in 2006 as a guideline for minimum skills required by a veterinary graduate. However, the RCVS anaesthesia DOS are broad and do not specify differences in skills required for different species. The aims of this study were: (1) to determine which anaesthesia skills were considered essential for day one practice by UK-based veterinary practitioners (GPs) and anaesthetists; and (2) to explore current opinions on veterinary undergraduate anaesthesia training. Questionnaires for veterinary GPs (QGPs) and veterinary anaesthetists (QVAs) were developed which asked general information on expectations of anaesthesia skills as well as specific expectations for the common veterinary species. Fifty-five UK-based members of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists responded, with a random sample of veterinary practices stratified by UK county generating 234 responses and a convenience sample targeted at more specialist veterinary specialities in the UK generating 161 responses. There was close overall agreement between the two groups of GPs and anaesthetists on essential anaesthesia DOS. However, expectations varied with species-greatest in cats and dogs, lowest in exotics. Many respondents commented that new veterinary graduates lack practical skills and should not be expected to be omnicompetent across all species. In conclusion, anaesthesia undergraduate training should prioritise essential practical DOS. British Veterinary Association.

  17. Weighting of Amplitude and Formant Rise Time Cues by School-Aged Children: A Mismatch Negativity Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Varghese, Peter; Kalashnikova, Marina; Burnham, Denis

    2018-01-01

    Purpose: An important skill in the development of speech perception is to apply optimal weights to acoustic cues so that phonemic information is recovered from speech with minimum effort. Here, we investigated the development of acoustic cue weighting of amplitude rise time (ART) and formant rise time (FRT) cues in children as measured by mismatch…

  18. Improving Employment Prospects in the Slovak Republic: Building on Past Reforms. OECD Economics Department Working Papers, No. 579

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fuentes, Andres

    2007-01-01

    While employment growth has accelerated, allowing unemployment to fall significantly since 2005, many low-skilled workers are still unemployed and the duration of unemployment spells is still long. The introduction of an in-work benefit for workers in low-income households, subject to a minimum of hours worked, could lower barriers to higher…

  19. On-the-Job Orientation of Unemployed Negro Skill Center Trainees and Their Supervisors. Final Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rosen, Hjalmar

    The problems inherent in employing hard-core unemployed Negroes and the optimal locus of on-the-job orientation to integrate such employees into thework force were subjects of this study. It focused on young Negro females who, because of their inability to meet selections minimums for job entry, had a high potential for chronic unemployment. Among…

  20. School-Entry Policies and Skill Accumulation across Directly and Indirectly Affected Individuals

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bedard, Kelly; Dhuey, Elizabeth

    2012-01-01

    During the past half-century, there has been a trend toward increasing the minimum age a child must reach before entering school in the United States. States have accomplished this by moving the school-entry cutoff date earlier in the school year. The evidence presented in this paper shows that these law changes increased human capital…

  1. Revisiting the Potential of Melt Pond Fraction as a Predictor for the Seasonal Arctic Sea Ice Extent Minimum

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Liu, Jiping; Song, Mirong; Horton, Radley M.; Hu, Yongyun

    2015-01-01

    The rapid change in Arctic sea ice in recent decades has led to a rising demand for seasonal sea ice prediction. A recent modeling study that employed a prognostic melt pond model in a stand-alone sea ice model found that September Arctic sea ice extent can be accurately predicted from the melt pond fraction in May. Here we show that satellite observations show no evidence of predictive skill in May. However, we find that a significantly strong relationship (high predictability) first emerges as the melt pond fraction is integrated from early May to late June, with a persistent strong relationship only occurring after late July. Our results highlight that late spring to mid summer melt pond information is required to improve the prediction skill of the seasonal sea ice minimum. Furthermore, satellite observations indicate a much higher percentage of melt pond formation in May than does the aforementioned model simulation, which points to the need to reconcile model simulations and observations, in order to better understand key mechanisms of melt pond formation and evolution and their influence on sea ice state.

  2. 13 CFR 301.4 - Investment rates.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 13 Business Credit and Assistance 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Investment rates. 301.4 Section... ELIGIBILITY, INVESTMENT RATE AND PROPOSAL AND APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS Investment Rates and Matching Share Requirements § 301.4 Investment rates. (a) Minimum Investment Rate. There is no minimum Investment Rate for a...

  3. Video and accelerometer-based motion analysis for automated surgical skills assessment.

    PubMed

    Zia, Aneeq; Sharma, Yachna; Bettadapura, Vinay; Sarin, Eric L; Essa, Irfan

    2018-03-01

    Basic surgical skills of suturing and knot tying are an essential part of medical training. Having an automated system for surgical skills assessment could help save experts time and improve training efficiency. There have been some recent attempts at automated surgical skills assessment using either video analysis or acceleration data. In this paper, we present a novel approach for automated assessment of OSATS-like surgical skills and provide an analysis of different features on multi-modal data (video and accelerometer data). We conduct a large study for basic surgical skill assessment on a dataset that contained video and accelerometer data for suturing and knot-tying tasks. We introduce "entropy-based" features-approximate entropy and cross-approximate entropy, which quantify the amount of predictability and regularity of fluctuations in time series data. The proposed features are compared to existing methods of Sequential Motion Texture, Discrete Cosine Transform and Discrete Fourier Transform, for surgical skills assessment. We report average performance of different features across all applicable OSATS-like criteria for suturing and knot-tying tasks. Our analysis shows that the proposed entropy-based features outperform previous state-of-the-art methods using video data, achieving average classification accuracies of 95.1 and 92.2% for suturing and knot tying, respectively. For accelerometer data, our method performs better for suturing achieving 86.8% average accuracy. We also show that fusion of video and acceleration features can improve overall performance for skill assessment. Automated surgical skills assessment can be achieved with high accuracy using the proposed entropy features. Such a system can significantly improve the efficiency of surgical training in medical schools and teaching hospitals.

  4. Assessment of procedural skills in residents working in a research and training institute: An effort to ensure patient safety and quality control.

    PubMed

    Kumari, Kamlesh; Samra, Tanvir; Naik, B Naveen; Saini, Vikas

    2018-01-01

    To ensure patient safety, it is important to regularly assess the knowledge and practical skills of anesthesia trainees. This study was conducted to evaluate the competency of the residents and the impact of various corrective measures in the form of didactic lectures and clinical skill demonstrations on the conduct of various procedural skills by the residents. Ninety-five junior residents were enrolled in this study. Assessment of competency of 1 st , 2 nd , and 3 rd year residents in performing various procedure skills of anesthesia was done in two stages using procedure specific checklist (PSC) and Global Rating Scales (GRSs). Preliminary results of the first assessment (Score 1) were discussed with the residents; deficiencies were identified and corrective measures suggested by didactic lectures and clinical skill demonstrations which were followed by a subsequent assessment after 3 months (Score 2). There was a statistically significant improvement in the PSC and GRS scores after corrective measures for all the procedural interventions studied. Percentage increase in scores was maximum in 1 st year (42.98 ± 6.62) followed by 2 nd year (34.62 ± 5.49) and minimum in 3 rd year residents (18.06 ± 3.69). The percentage increase of scores was almost similar for all subset of procedural skills; low, intermediate, and high skill anesthetic procedures. For assessment of procedural skills of residents, use of PSC and GRS scores should be incorporated and the same should be used to monitor the impact of various corrective measures (didactic lectures and clinical skill demonstrations) on the conduct of various procedural skills by the resident.

  5. Using NCLab-karel to improve computational thinking skill of junior high school students

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kusnendar, J.; Prabawa, H. W.

    2018-05-01

    Increasingly human interaction with technology and the increasingly complex development of digital technology world make the theme of computer science education interesting to study. Previous studies on Computer Literacy and Competency reveal that Indonesian teachers in general have fairly high computational skill, but their skill utilization are limited to some applications. This engenders limited and minimum computer-related learning for the students. On the other hand, computer science education is considered unrelated to real-world solutions. This paper attempts to address the utilization of NCLab- Karel in shaping the computational thinking in students. This computational thinking is believed to be able to making learn students about technology. Implementation of Karel utilization provides information that Karel is able to increase student interest in studying computational material, especially algorithm. Observations made during the learning process also indicate the growth and development of computing mindset in students.

  6. Will Increasing Alcohol Availability By Lowering the Minimum Legal Drinking Age Decrease Drinking and Related Consequences Among Youths?

    PubMed Central

    Wechsler, Henry

    2010-01-01

    Alcohol use health consequences are considerable; prevention efforts are needed, particularly for adolescents and college students. The national minimum legal drinking age of 21 years is a primary alcohol-control policy in the United States. An advocacy group supported by some college presidents seeks public debate on the minimum legal drinking age and proposes reducing it to 18 years. We reviewed recent trends in drinking and related consequences, evidence on effectiveness of the minimum legal drinking age of 21 years, research on drinking among college students related to the minimum legal drinking age, and the case to lower the minimum legal drinking age. Evidence supporting the minimum legal drinking age of 21 years is strong and growing. A wide range of empirically supported interventions is available to reduce underage drinking. Public health professionals can play a role in advocating these interventions. PMID:20395573

  7. Do minimum wages improve early life health? Evidence from developing countries.

    PubMed

    Majid, Muhammad Farhan; Mendoza Rodríguez, José M; Harper, Sam; Frank, John; Nandi, Arijit

    2016-06-01

    The impact of legislated minimum wages on the early-life health of children living in low and middle-income countries has not been examined. For our analyses, we used data from the Demographic and Household Surveys (DHS) from 57 countries conducted between 1999 and 2013. Our analyses focus on height-for-age z scores (HAZ) for children under 5 years of age who were surveyed as part of the DHS. To identify the causal effect of minimum wages, we utilized plausibly exogenous variation in the legislated minimum wages during each child's year of birth, the identifying assumption being that mothers do not time their births around changes in the minimum wage. As a sensitivity exercise, we also made within family comparisons (mother fixed effect models). Our final analysis on 49 countries reveal that a 1% increase in minimum wages was associated with 0.1% (95% CI = -0.2, 0) decrease in HAZ scores. Adverse effects of an increase in the minimum wage were observed among girls and for children of fathers who were less than 35 years old, mothers aged 20-29, parents who were married, parents who were less educated, and parents involved in manual work. We also explored heterogeneity by region and GDP per capita at baseline (1999). Adverse effects were concentrated in lower-income countries and were most pronounced in South Asia. By contrast, increases in the minimum wage improved children's HAZ in Latin America, and among children of parents working in a skilled sector. Our findings are inconsistent with the hypothesis that increases in the minimum wage unconditionally improve child health in lower-income countries, and highlight heterogeneity in the impact of minimum wages around the globe. Future work should involve country and occupation specific studies which can explore not only different outcomes such as infant mortality rates, but also explore the role of parental investments in shaping these effects. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Preparing for the data revolution: identifying minimum health information competencies among the health workforce.

    PubMed

    Whittaker, Maxine; Hodge, Nicola; Mares, Renata E; Rodney, Anna

    2015-04-01

    Health information is required for a variety of purposes at all levels of a health system, and a workforce skilled in collecting, analysing, presenting, and disseminating such information is essential to fulfil these demands. While it is established that low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are facing shortages in human resources for health (HRH), there has been little systematic attention focussed on non-clinical competencies. In response, we developed a framework that defines the minimum health information competencies required by health workers at various levels of a health system. Using the Delphi method, we consulted with leading global health information system (HIS) experts. An initial list of competencies and draft framework were developed based on results of a systematic literature review. During the second half of 2012, we sampled 38 experts with broad-based HIS knowledge and extensive development experience. Two rounds of consultation were carried out with the same group to establish validity of the framework and gain feedback on the draft competencies. Responses from consultations were analysed using Qualtrics® software and content analysis. In round one, 17 experts agreed to participate in the consultation and 11 (65%) completed the survey. In the second round, 11 experts agreed to participate and eight (73%) completed the survey. Overall, respondents agreed that there is a need for all health workers to have basic HIS competencies and that the concept of a minimum HIS competency framework is valid. Consensus was reached around the inclusion of 68 competencies across four levels of a health system. This consultation is one of the first to identify the HIS competencies required among general health workers, as opposed to specialist HIS roles. It is also one of the first attempts to develop a framework on minimum HIS competencies needed in LMICs, highlighting the skills needed at each level of the system, and identifying potential gaps in current training to allow a more systematic approach to HIS capacity-building.

  9. The Future of US Nuclear Deterrence and the Impact of the Global Zero Movement

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-02-10

    The most appealing GZC recommendation is for a de facto minimum deterrence model en route to GZ. To its detriment, however, the GZC proposal relies...difficult to dispute that this path leads, at least eventually, to a minimum deterrence model . It is likely that the US can continue to wield a...instead, a capable, credible deterrent is critical to countering these threats and is especially so in a minimum deterrence model . Two key

  10. 77 FR 8896 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0036

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-02-15

    ... request for Surface Mining Permit Applications--Minimum Requirements for Reclamation and Operation Plan... Permit Applications-- Minimum Requirements for Reclamation and Operation Plan. OSM is requesting a 3-year... Requirements for Reclamation and Operation Plan. OMB Control Number: 1029-0036. SUMMARY: Sections 507(b), 508(a...

  11. Proposal for Support of Miami Inner City Marine Summer Intern Program, Dade County.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-12-21

    employer NUMBER OF POSITIONS ONE MINIMUM AGE 16 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS * General Science * Basic knowledge of library orncedures, an interest in library ... science in helpful * Minimum Grade Point Average 3.0 DRESS REQUIREMENTS Discuss with employer JOB DESCRIPTION p. * Catalogs and files new sets of

  12. 75 FR 6151 - Minimum Capital

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-02-08

    ... (FHFA) is issuing and seeking comment on a proposed rule to effect a provision of the Federal Housing... imposing a temporary increase, for rescinding such an increase and a time frame for review of such an... longer justify the temporary level.\\8\\ To effect the higher temporary minimum capital level, the Director...

  13. 76 FR 34294 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 8827

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-13

    ... 8827, Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax-Corporations. DATES: Written comments should be received on or before August 12, 2011 to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Yvette B....gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax-Corporations. OMB Number...

  14. 77 FR 47851 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-08-10

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

  15. 77 FR 64343 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-19

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

  16. Minimum Essential Requirements and Standards in Medical Education.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wojtczak, Andrzej; Schwarz, M. Roy

    2000-01-01

    Reviews the definition of standards in general, and proposes a definition of standards and global minimum essential requirements for use in medical education. Aims to serve as a tool for the improvement of quality and international comparisons of basic medical programs. Explains the IIME (Institute for International Medical Education) project…

  17. 78 FR 29433 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 8801

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-20

    ..., Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 8801, Credit For Prior Year Minimum Tax--Individuals, Estates and Trusts. DATES: Written comments... . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Credit For Prior Year Minimum Tax--Individuals, Estates and Trusts. OMB Number...

  18. Using a cognitive architecture for general purpose service robot control

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Puigbo, Jordi-Ysard; Pumarola, Albert; Angulo, Cecilio; Tellez, Ricardo

    2015-04-01

    A humanoid service robot equipped with a set of simple action skills including navigating, grasping, recognising objects or people, among others, is considered in this paper. By using those skills the robot should complete a voice command expressed in natural language encoding a complex task (defined as the concatenation of a number of those basic skills). As a main feature, no traditional planner has been used to decide skills to be activated, as well as in which sequence. Instead, the SOAR cognitive architecture acts as the reasoner by selecting which action the robot should complete, addressing it towards the goal. Our proposal allows to include new goals for the robot just by adding new skills (without the need to encode new plans). The proposed architecture has been tested on a human-sized humanoid robot, REEM, acting as a general purpose service robot.

  19. Developing a Constructivist Proposal for Primary Teachers to Teach Science Process Skills: "Extended" Simple Science Experiments (ESSE)

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hirça, Necati

    2015-01-01

    Although science experiments are the basis of teaching science process skills (SPS), it has been observed that a large number of prospective primary teachers (PPTs), by virtue of their background, feel anxious about doing science experiments. To overcome this problem, a proposal was suggested for primary school teachers (PSTs) to teach science and…

  20. Improving Learning Achievements, Motivations and Problem-Solving Skills through a Peer Assessment-Based Game Development Approach

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hwang, Gwo-Jen; Hung, Chun-Ming; Chen, Nian-Shing

    2014-01-01

    In this study, a peer assessment-based game development approach is proposed for improving students' learning achievements, motivations and problem-solving skills. An experiment has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in a science course at an elementary school. A total of 167 sixth graders participated in…

  1. 77 FR 49817 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-08-17

    ... and Resources for Emotion and Social skill promotion (CARES) project: Tracking Participants. OMB No... skill promotion (CARES) project is an evaluation of three social emotional program enhancements within... providers will need if they are to increase Head Start's capacity to improve the social and emotional skills...

  2. Skill set development of doctoral and post-doctoral graduates in life sciences.

    PubMed

    Kanwar, R S

    2010-01-01

    Doctoral and post-doctoral training programs at leading research universities in the USA are highly important in generating the much needed knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for keeping rural and urban economies strong and societies healthy and prosperous. In addition, innovative graduate and post doctoral research programs are the driving engines of the success of U.S. economy and have made the U.S. the most successful model of generating new knowledge in the broader areas of life sciences (and agricultural education, research, and extension). We need to do everything in our power to make these training programs innovative, collaborative, independent, and resourceful so that students are trained in different disciplines making them more flexible within a range of challenges and opportunities. The training programs must empower students to solve complex and interdisciplinary problems of the society in 21st century and make our students competitive within a global economic system, to improve the health of the nation's economy. If our land grant schools and institutions of higher learning are not preparing doctoral students to be globally competitive scientists to create new knowledge and technologies to solve complex and interdisciplinary problems of the 21st century, then either we need to redefine the mission of our land grant system or we risk losing our role to serve the public and industry effectively. Doctoral and post doctoral students should be given the needed skills and experiences to prepare them for tenure track faculty jobs at leading US Universities in the 21st century as well as prepare them for the world outside of academia. I would say minimum competency skills are needed as "bare survival skills" for all doctoral students to become successful after obtaining PhD degrees. Today's PhD students will be working in a global but highly competitive, rapidly changing, and complex world. It is no longer enough to be a good researcher and a good teacher; researchers and teachers must be good team players and leaders to lead interdisciplinary research programs, and exceptional managers to effectively manage their research staff, MS and PhD students, and post doctoral researchers. Doctoral students have exceptional opportunities during their PhD degree programs to acquire these skills from their world class supervisors and participate in available workshops on how to develop successful and winning grant proposals, improving communication skills, and participate in "future faculty programs" on their campuses.

  3. Alternatives to animal testing: A review.

    PubMed

    Doke, Sonali K; Dhawale, Shashikant C

    2015-07-01

    The number of animals used in research has increased with the advancement of research and development in medical technology. Every year, millions of experimental animals are used all over the world. The pain, distress and death experienced by the animals during scientific experiments have been a debating issue for a long time. Besides the major concern of ethics, there are few more disadvantages of animal experimentation like requirement of skilled manpower, time consuming protocols and high cost. Various alternatives to animal testing were proposed to overcome the drawbacks associated with animal experiments and avoid the unethical procedures. A strategy of 3 Rs (i.e. reduction, refinement and replacement) is being applied for laboratory use of animals. Different methods and alternative organisms are applied to implement this strategy. These methods provide an alternative means for the drug and chemical testing, up to some levels. A brief account of these alternatives and advantages associated is discussed in this review with examples. An integrated application of these approaches would give an insight into minimum use of animals in scientific experiments.

  4. Alternatives to animal testing: A review

    PubMed Central

    Doke, Sonali K.; Dhawale, Shashikant C.

    2013-01-01

    The number of animals used in research has increased with the advancement of research and development in medical technology. Every year, millions of experimental animals are used all over the world. The pain, distress and death experienced by the animals during scientific experiments have been a debating issue for a long time. Besides the major concern of ethics, there are few more disadvantages of animal experimentation like requirement of skilled manpower, time consuming protocols and high cost. Various alternatives to animal testing were proposed to overcome the drawbacks associated with animal experiments and avoid the unethical procedures. A strategy of 3 Rs (i.e. reduction, refinement and replacement) is being applied for laboratory use of animals. Different methods and alternative organisms are applied to implement this strategy. These methods provide an alternative means for the drug and chemical testing, up to some levels. A brief account of these alternatives and advantages associated is discussed in this review with examples. An integrated application of these approaches would give an insight into minimum use of animals in scientific experiments. PMID:26106269

  5. Monthly ENSO Forecast Skill and Lagged Ensemble Size

    PubMed Central

    DelSole, T.; Tippett, M.K.; Pegion, K.

    2018-01-01

    Abstract The mean square error (MSE) of a lagged ensemble of monthly forecasts of the Niño 3.4 index from the Climate Forecast System (CFSv2) is examined with respect to ensemble size and configuration. Although the real‐time forecast is initialized 4 times per day, it is possible to infer the MSE for arbitrary initialization frequency and for burst ensembles by fitting error covariances to a parametric model and then extrapolating to arbitrary ensemble size and initialization frequency. Applying this method to real‐time forecasts, we find that the MSE consistently reaches a minimum for a lagged ensemble size between one and eight days, when four initializations per day are included. This ensemble size is consistent with the 8–10 day lagged ensemble configuration used operationally. Interestingly, the skill of both ensemble configurations is close to the estimated skill of the infinite ensemble. The skill of the weighted, lagged, and burst ensembles are found to be comparable. Certain unphysical features of the estimated error growth were tracked down to problems with the climatology and data discontinuities. PMID:29937973

  6. Monthly ENSO Forecast Skill and Lagged Ensemble Size

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Trenary, L.; DelSole, T.; Tippett, M. K.; Pegion, K.

    2018-04-01

    The mean square error (MSE) of a lagged ensemble of monthly forecasts of the Niño 3.4 index from the Climate Forecast System (CFSv2) is examined with respect to ensemble size and configuration. Although the real-time forecast is initialized 4 times per day, it is possible to infer the MSE for arbitrary initialization frequency and for burst ensembles by fitting error covariances to a parametric model and then extrapolating to arbitrary ensemble size and initialization frequency. Applying this method to real-time forecasts, we find that the MSE consistently reaches a minimum for a lagged ensemble size between one and eight days, when four initializations per day are included. This ensemble size is consistent with the 8-10 day lagged ensemble configuration used operationally. Interestingly, the skill of both ensemble configurations is close to the estimated skill of the infinite ensemble. The skill of the weighted, lagged, and burst ensembles are found to be comparable. Certain unphysical features of the estimated error growth were tracked down to problems with the climatology and data discontinuities.

  7. Proposed qualification requirements for selected railroad jobs

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1975-01-01

    This report proposes minimum safety-related knowledge, performance and training requirements for the jobs of railroad engineer, conductor, brakeman and train dispatchers. Analyses performed were primarily based upon job and task analytic documentatio...

  8. New stimulation pattern design to improve P300-based matrix speller performance at high flash rate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Polprasert, Chantri; Kukieattikool, Pratana; Demeechai, Tanee; Ritcey, James A.; Siwamogsatham, Siwaruk

    2013-06-01

    Objective. We propose a new stimulation pattern design for the P300-based matrix speller aimed at increasing the minimum target-to-target interval (TTI). Approach. Inspired by the simplicity and strong performance of the conventional row-column (RC) stimulation, the proposed stimulation is obtained by modifying the RC stimulation through alternating row and column flashes which are selected based on the proposed design rules. The second flash of the double-flash components is then delayed for a number of flashing instants to increase the minimum TTI. The trade-off inherited in this approach is the reduced randomness within the stimulation pattern. Main results. We test the proposed stimulation pattern and compare its performance in terms of selection accuracy, raw and practical bit rates with the conventional RC flashing paradigm over several flash rates. By increasing the minimum TTI within the stimulation sequence, the proposed stimulation has more event-related potentials that can be identified compared to that of the conventional RC stimulations, as the flash rate increases. This leads to significant performance improvement in terms of the letter selection accuracy, the raw and practical bit rates over the conventional RC stimulation. Significance. These studies demonstrate that significant performance improvement over the RC stimulation is obtained without additional testing or training samples to compensate for low P300 amplitude at high flash rate. We show that our proposed stimulation is more robust to reduced signal strength due to the increased flash rate than the RC stimulation.

  9. The Dyslexia Spectrum: Continuities between Reading, Speech, and Language Impairments

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Snowling, Margaret J.; Hayiou-Thomas, Marianna E.

    2006-01-01

    D. V. M. Bishop and M. J. Snowling (2004) proposed that 2 dimensions of language are required to conceptualize the relationship between dyslexia and specific language impairment: phonological skills and wider language skills beyond phonology (grammatical, semantic, and pragmatic skills). In this article, we discuss the commonalities between…

  10. 76 FR 50233 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Web-Based Skills Training for SBIRT (Screening Brief...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-08-12

    ... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Web-Based Skills Training for SBIRT (Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to... currently valid OMB control number. Proposed Collection Title: Web-based Skills Training for SBIRT...

  11. Skill Development: How Brain Research Can Inform Music Teaching

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Walter, Donald J.; Walter, Jennifer S.

    2015-01-01

    Practice is a major element in cultivating musical skill. Some psychologists have proposed that deliberate practice, a specific framework for structuring practice activities, creates the kind of practice necessary to increase skill and develop expertise. While psychologists have been observing behavior, neurologists have studied how the brain…

  12. Impact of Rate Design Alternatives on Residential Solar Customer Bills: Increased Fixed Charges, Minimum Bills and Demand-Based Rates

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

    McLaren, Joyce; Davidson, Carolyn; Miller, John

    Utilities are proposing changes to residential rate structures to address concerns about lost revenue due to increased adoption of distributed solar generation. An investigation of the impacts of increased fixed charges, minimum bills and residential demand charges on PV and non-PV customer bills suggests that minimum bills more accurately capture utilities' revenue requirement than fixed charges, while not acting as a disincentive to efficiency or negatively impacting low-income customers.

  13. AN 8-WEEK SUMMER INSTITUTE TRAINING PROGRAM TO RETRAIN OFFICE EDUCATION TEACHERS FOR TEACHING BUSINESS ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    CARTER, FOREST C.

    AN 8-WEEK SEMINAR WAS HELD TO RETRAIN TEACHERS WITH A MINIMUM OF 3-YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS OR OFFICE EDUCATION TO TEACH BUSINESS DATA PROCESSING AND PROGRAMING TECHNIQUES. THE OBJECTIVES WERE TO ASSIST IN THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT NECESSARY FOR PREPARING COMPUTER PROGRAMERS AND APPLICATION ANALYSTS, AND TO DEVELOP COURSE MATERIAL,…

  14. A Study of the Impact of Educational Reform on At-Risk Students in Texas: Preliminary Findings.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Texas Education Agency, Austin.

    A study was conducted to gain a better understanding of how the term "at-risk" is defined and applied in the schools and to assess the intended and unintended consequences of four policies: attendance, the Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills exit-level examination, the no pass/no play rule, and the driver's license law on…

  15. Accreditation of Prior Learning as a Lever for Lifelong Learning: Lessons Learnt from the New Opportunities Initiative, Portugal

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Carneiro, Roberto, Ed.

    2011-01-01

    The New Opportunities Initiative (NOI) is a Portuguese flagship programme to recognise and accredit prior learning (RPL, APL) and to endow low-skilled adults with upper secondary qualifications, which is defined as the minimum entry threshold to the exercise of a full citizenship in a knowledge-rich society. NOI's major achievement has been its…

  16. A student-centred feedback model for educators.

    PubMed

    Rudland, Joy; Wilkinson, Tim; Wearn, Andy; Nicol, Pam; Tunny, Terry; Owen, Cathy; O'Keefe, Maree

    2013-04-01

    Effective feedback is instrumental to effective learning. Current feedback models tend to be educator driven rather than learner-centred, with the focus on how the supervisor should give feedback rather than on the role of the learner in requesting and responding to feedback. An alternative approach emphasising the theoretical principles of student-centred and self-regulated learning is offered, drawing upon the literature and also upon the experience of the authors. The proposed feedback model places the student in the centre of the feedback process, and stresses that the attainment of student learning outcomes is influenced by the students themselves. This model emphasises the attributes of the student, particularly responsiveness, receptiveness and reflection, whilst acknowledging the important role that the context and attributes of the supervisor have in influencing the quality of feedback. Educational institutions should consider strategies to encourage and enable students to maximise the many feedback opportunities available to them. As a minimum, educators should remind students about their central role in the feedback process, and support them to develop confidence in meeting this role. In addition, supervisors may need support to develop the skills to shift the balance of responsibility and support students in precipitating feedback moments. Research is also required to validate the proposed model and to determine how to support students to adopt self-regulatory learning, with feedback as a central platform. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2013.

  17. Learn, see, practice, prove, do, maintain: an evidence-based pedagogical framework for procedural skill training in medicine.

    PubMed

    Sawyer, Taylor; White, Marjorie; Zaveri, Pavan; Chang, Todd; Ades, Anne; French, Heather; Anderson, JoDee; Auerbach, Marc; Johnston, Lindsay; Kessler, David

    2015-08-01

    Acquisition of competency in procedural skills is a fundamental goal of medical training. In this Perspective, the authors propose an evidence-based pedagogical framework for procedural skill training. The framework was developed based on a review of the literature using a critical synthesis approach and builds on earlier models of procedural skill training in medicine. The authors begin by describing the fundamentals of procedural skill development. Then, a six-step pedagogical framework for procedural skills training is presented: Learn, See, Practice, Prove, Do, and Maintain. In this framework, procedural skill training begins with the learner acquiring requisite cognitive knowledge through didactic education (Learn) and observation of the procedure (See). The learner then progresses to the stage of psychomotor skill acquisition and is allowed to deliberately practice the procedure on a simulator (Practice). Simulation-based mastery learning is employed to allow the trainee to prove competency prior to performing the procedure on a patient (Prove). Once competency is demonstrated on a simulator, the trainee is allowed to perform the procedure on patients with direct supervision, until he or she can be entrusted to perform the procedure independently (Do). Maintenance of the skill is ensured through continued clinical practice, supplemented by simulation-based training as needed (Maintain). Evidence in support of each component of the framework is presented. Implementation of the proposed framework presents a paradigm shift in procedural skill training. However, the authors believe that adoption of the framework will improve procedural skill training and patient safety.

  18. Reactive Power Compensation Method Considering Minimum Effective Reactive Power Reserve

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gong, Yiyu; Zhang, Kai; Pu, Zhang; Li, Xuenan; Zuo, Xianghong; Zhen, Jiao; Sudan, Teng

    2017-05-01

    According to the calculation model of minimum generator reactive power reserve of power system voltage stability under the premise of the guarantee, the reactive power management system with reactive power compensation combined generator, the formation of a multi-objective optimization problem, propose a reactive power reserve is considered the minimum generator reactive power compensation optimization method. This method through the improvement of the objective function and constraint conditions, when the system load growth, relying solely on reactive power generation system can not meet the requirement of safe operation, increase the reactive power reserve to solve the problem of minimum generator reactive power compensation in the case of load node.

  19. 78 FR 25909 - Minimum Value of Eligible Employer-Sponsored Plans and Other Rules Regarding the Health Insurance...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-03

    ... Minimum Value of Eligible Employer-Sponsored Plans and Other Rules Regarding the Health Insurance Premium.... SUMMARY: This document contains proposed regulations relating to the health insurance premium tax credit... who enroll in qualified health plans through Affordable Insurance Exchanges (Exchanges) and claim the...

  20. 78 FR 61416 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-10-03

    ... zero or the lowest Minimum Trading Increment or (ii) the Expanded Quote Range has been calculated as zero. The proposal codifies existing functionality during the Exchange's Opening Process. Specifically... either zero or the lowest Minimum Trading Increment and market order sell interest has a quantity greater...

  1. 78 FR 45001 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Order Approving...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-25

    ... a minimum participation allocation of at least one (1) contract. Specifically, the proposal ensures that the DLMM will be allocated a minimum of one contract in situations where, due to the Exchange's... DLMM being allocated zero contracts. \\5\\ A ``Directed Order'' is an order entered into the System by an...

  2. 77 FR 1723 - Proposed Concession Contract for Shenandoah National Park-Alternative Formula for Calculating...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-01-11

    ... we include in concession contracts a franchise fee payable to the Government that is based upon... establish the required minimum franchise fee for the new contract, that fee will reflect speculative... concessioner offers to meet or exceed the minimum franchise fee that we would establish under the standard LSI...

  3. 78 FR 19155 - Shared Responsibility Payment for Not Maintaining Minimum Essential Coverage

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-29

    ... DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Internal Revenue Service 26 CFR Part 1 [REG-148500-12] RIN 1545-BL36 Shared Responsibility Payment for Not Maintaining Minimum Essential Coverage Correction In proposed rule document 2013-2141 appearing on pages 7314-7331 in the issue of Monday, February 1, 2013, make the...

  4. Energy-efficient algorithm for broadcasting in ad hoc wireless sensor networks.

    PubMed

    Xiong, Naixue; Huang, Xingbo; Cheng, Hongju; Wan, Zheng

    2013-04-12

    Broadcasting is a common and basic operation used to support various network protocols in wireless networks. To achieve energy-efficient broadcasting is especially important for ad hoc wireless sensor networks because sensors are generally powered by batteries with limited lifetimes. Energy consumption for broadcast operations can be reduced by minimizing the number of relay nodes based on the observation that data transmission processes consume more energy than data reception processes in the sensor nodes, and how to improve the network lifetime is always an interesting issue in sensor network research. The minimum-energy broadcast problem is then equivalent to the problem of finding the minimum Connected Dominating Set (CDS) for a connected graph that is proved NP-complete. In this paper, we introduce an Efficient Minimum CDS algorithm (EMCDS) with help of a proposed ordered sequence list. EMCDS does not concern itself with node energy and broadcast operations might fail if relay nodes are out of energy. Next we have proposed a Minimum Energy-consumption Broadcast Scheme (MEBS) with a modified version of EMCDS, and aimed at providing an efficient scheduling scheme with maximized network lifetime. The simulation results show that the proposed EMCDS algorithm can find smaller CDS compared with related works, and the MEBS can help to increase the network lifetime by efficiently balancing energy among nodes in the networks.

  5. A novel cell weighing method based on the minimum immobilization pressure for biological applications

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

    Zhao, Qili; Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071; Shirinzadeh, Bijan

    2015-07-28

    A novel weighing method for cells with spherical and other regular shapes is proposed in this paper. In this method, the relationship between the cell mass and the minimum aspiration pressure to immobilize the cell (referred to as minimum immobilization pressure) is derived for the first time according to static theory. Based on this relationship, a robotic cell weighing process is established using a traditional micro-injection system. Experimental results on porcine oocytes demonstrate that the proposed method is able to weigh cells at an average speed of 16.3 s/cell and with a success rate of more than 90%. The derived cellmore » mass and density are in accordance with those reported in other published results. The experimental results also demonstrated that this method is able to detect less than 1% variation of the porcine oocyte mass quantitatively. It can be conducted by a pair of traditional micropipettes and a commercial pneumatic micro-injection system, and is expected to perform robotic operation on batch cells. At present, the minimum resolution of the proposed method for measuring the cell mass can be 1.25 × 10{sup −15 }kg. Above advantages make it very appropriate for quantifying the amount of the materials injected into or moved out of the cells in the biological applications, such as nuclear enucleations and embryo microinjections.« less

  6. 75 FR 13210 - Proposed Information Collection (Service Data Manual) Activity: Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-03-18

    ... equipment and devices or mechanical equipment. DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed... mechanical equipment are provided to VA. This clause sets forth those requirements and the minimum standards...

  7. 75 FR 59315 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a Proposed...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-09-27

    ... Organizations; The Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Enhance Quotation... amend its rules to enhance quotation requirements for market makers. The text of this proposed rule... rules to enhance minimum quotation requirements for market makers. Under the proposal, the Exchange will...

  8. Symbols Build Communication and Thought: The Role of Gestures and Words in the Development of Engagement Skills and Social-Emotional Concepts during Toddlerhood

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Vallotton, Claire D.; Ayoub, Catherine C.

    2010-01-01

    Social skills and symbol skills are positively associated in middle childhood, but the relation between these domains is less clear in newly verbal toddlers. Vygotsky proposed that symbols are both tools for interaction and mental tools for thought. Do symbols help even very young children build skills for interacting with and conceptualizing the…

  9. Fuzzy α-minimum spanning tree problem: definition and solutions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhou, Jian; Chen, Lu; Wang, Ke; Yang, Fan

    2016-04-01

    In this paper, the minimum spanning tree problem is investigated on the graph with fuzzy edge weights. The notion of fuzzy ? -minimum spanning tree is presented based on the credibility measure, and then the solutions of the fuzzy ? -minimum spanning tree problem are discussed under different assumptions. First, we respectively, assume that all the edge weights are triangular fuzzy numbers and trapezoidal fuzzy numbers and prove that the fuzzy ? -minimum spanning tree problem can be transformed to a classical problem on a crisp graph in these two cases, which can be solved by classical algorithms such as the Kruskal algorithm and the Prim algorithm in polynomial time. Subsequently, as for the case that the edge weights are general fuzzy numbers, a fuzzy simulation-based genetic algorithm using Prüfer number representation is designed for solving the fuzzy ? -minimum spanning tree problem. Some numerical examples are also provided for illustrating the effectiveness of the proposed solutions.

  10. 76 FR 66169 - Office of Advocacy and Outreach Federal Financial Assistance Programs

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-26

    ...) Information about how to obtain proposal forms and the instructions for completing such forms. (14...) Regulatory information. (8) Definitions. (9) Minimum and maximum budget requests and whether proposals... Content of a proposal. The RFP provides instructions on how to access a funding opportunity. The funding...

  11. A method of minimum volume simplex analysis constrained unmixing for hyperspectral image

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zou, Jinlin; Lan, Jinhui; Zeng, Yiliang; Wu, Hongtao

    2017-07-01

    The signal recorded by a low resolution hyperspectral remote sensor from a given pixel, letting alone the effects of the complex terrain, is a mixture of substances. To improve the accuracy of classification and sub-pixel object detection, hyperspectral unmixing(HU) is a frontier-line in remote sensing area. Unmixing algorithm based on geometric has become popular since the hyperspectral image possesses abundant spectral information and the mixed model is easy to understand. However, most of the algorithms are based on pure pixel assumption, and since the non-linear mixed model is complex, it is hard to obtain the optimal endmembers especially under a highly mixed spectral data. To provide a simple but accurate method, we propose a minimum volume simplex analysis constrained (MVSAC) unmixing algorithm. The proposed approach combines the algebraic constraints that are inherent to the convex minimum volume with abundance soft constraint. While considering abundance fraction, we can obtain the pure endmember set and abundance fraction correspondingly, and the final unmixing result is closer to reality and has better accuracy. We illustrate the performance of the proposed algorithm in unmixing simulated data and real hyperspectral data, and the result indicates that the proposed method can obtain the distinct signatures correctly without redundant endmember and yields much better performance than the pure pixel based algorithm.

  12. Evaluation of a Music Therapy Social Skills Development Program for Youth with Limited Resources.

    PubMed

    Pasiali, Varvara; Clark, Cherie

    2018-05-21

    Children living in low-resource communities are at risk for poorer socio-emotional development and academic performance. Emerging evidence supports use of group music therapy experiences to support social development through community afterschool programming. To examine the potential benefit of a music therapy social skills development program to improve social skills and academic performance of school-aged children with limited resources in an afterschool program. We used a single-group pre/post-test design, and recruited 20 students (11 females, 9 males), ages 5 to 11 years, from an afterschool program. The music therapy social skills program consisted of eight 50-minute sessions, and we measured social competence and antisocial behavior using the Home & Community Social Behavioral Scale (HCSBS; Merrell & Caldarella, 2008), and social skills, problem behaviors, and academic competence using the Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS; Gresham & Elliot, 2008a, 2008b). Only students who attended a minimum of six sessions (N = 14) were included in data analysis. Results showed no significant change in individual HBSC subscale scores; however, the total number of low-performance/high-risk skills significantly decreased. SSIS teacher results indicated significant improvement in communication, significant decrease of hyperactivity, autistic behavioral tendencies and overall problem behaviors, and marginal decreases in internalization. Parent ratings mirrored, in part, those of the teacher. Results indicated that music therapy has the potential of being an effective intervention for promoting social competence of school-aged children with limited resources, particularly in the areas of communication and low-performance/high-risk behaviors. Teaching skills through song lyrics and improvisation emerged as salient interventions.

  13. Structured Case Analysis: Developing Critical Thinking Skills in a Marketing Case Course

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Klebba, Joanne M.; Hamilton, Janet G.

    2007-01-01

    Structured case analysis is a hybrid pedagogy that flexibly combines diverse instructional methods with comprehensive case analysis as a mechanism to develop critical thinking skills. An incremental learning framework is proposed that allows instructors to develop and monitor content-specific theory and the corresponding critical thinking skills.…

  14. Higher-Order Thinking Development through Adaptive Problem-Based Learning

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Raiyn, Jamal; Tilchin, Oleg

    2015-01-01

    In this paper we propose an approach to organizing Adaptive Problem-Based Learning (PBL) leading to the development of Higher-Order Thinking (HOT) skills and collaborative skills in students. Adaptability of PBL is expressed by changes in fixed instructor assessments caused by the dynamics of developing HOT skills needed for problem solving,…

  15. A Matter of Time: Rapid Motor Memory Stabilization in Childhood

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Adi-Japha, Esther; Badir, Rodayna; Dorfberger, Shoshi; Karni, Avi

    2014-01-01

    Are children better than adults in acquiring new skills ("how-to" knowledge) because of a difference in skill memory consolidation? Here we tested the proposal that, as opposed to adults, children's memories for newly acquired skills are immune to interference by subsequent experience. The establishment of long-term memory for a…

  16. From Recurrent Choice to Skill Learning: A Reinforcement-Learning Model

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fu, Wai-Tat; Anderson, John R.

    2006-01-01

    The authors propose a reinforcement-learning mechanism as a model for recurrent choice and extend it to account for skill learning. The model was inspired by recent research in neurophysiological studies of the basal ganglia and provides an integrated explanation of recurrent choice behavior and skill learning. The behavior includes effects of…

  17. Aligning Professional Skills and Active Learning Methods: An Application for Information and Communications Technology Engineering

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Llorens, Ariadna; Berbegal-Mirabent, Jasmina; Llinàs-Audet, Xavier

    2017-01-01

    Engineering education is facing new challenges to effectively provide the appropriate skills to future engineering professionals according to market demands. This study proposes a model based on active learning methods, which is expected to facilitate the acquisition of the professional skills most highly valued in the information and…

  18. National Health Care Skill Standards.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Far West Lab. for Educational Research and Development, San Francisco, CA.

    This booklet contains draft national health care skill standards that were proposed during the National Health Care Skill Standards Project on the basis of input from more than 1,000 representatives of key constituencies of the health care field. The project objectives and structure are summarized in the introduction. Part 1 examines the need for…

  19. Parkour as a Donor Sport for Athletic Development in Youth Team Sports: Insights Through an Ecological Dynamics Lens.

    PubMed

    Strafford, Ben William; van der Steen, Pawel; Davids, Keith; Stone, Joseph Antony

    2018-05-24

    Analyses of talent development in sport have identified that skill can be enhanced through early and continued involvement in donor sports which share affordances (opportunities for action) with a performer's main target sport. Aligning key ideas of the Athletic Skills Model and ecological dynamics theory, we propose how the sport of parkour could provide a representative and adaptive platform for developing athletic skill (e.g. coordination, timing, balance, agility, spatial awareness and muscular strength). We discuss how youth sport development programmes could be (re) designed to include parkour-style activities, in order to develop general athletic skills in affordance-rich environments. It is proposed that team sports development programmes could particularly benefit from parkour-style training since it is exploratory and adaptive nature shapes utilisation of affordances for innovative and autonomous performance by athletes. Early introduction to varied, relevant activities for development of athleticism and skill, in a diversified training programme, would provide impetus for a fundamental shift away from the early specialisation approach favoured by traditional theories of skill acquisition and expertise in sport.

  20. Teaching the Urban Student as a Whole: Utilizing Universal Skills in Science and Social Studies Interdisciplinary Curricula

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Berg, Christianna

    The purpose for this project is to utilize interdisciplinary curricula to emphasize transferable skills across the four main subject areas: reading, mathematics, science, and social studies. This project aims to provide a background for the creation of an interdisciplinary curricula that can be adjusted to current instructional programs being used in any classroom. The proposed curriculum is intended for a science and social studies elementary classroom where students rotate to a different mathematics and language arts classroom, but it could be applied to older grades or to self-contained classes. The proposed curriculum emphasizes problem solving, reading, and writing skills.

  1. Attitudes to proposed assessment of pharmacy skills in Korean pharmacist licensure examination.

    PubMed

    Kim, Joo Hee; Lee, Ju-Yeun; Lee, Young Sook; Yong, Chul-Soon; Han, Nayoung; Gwak, Hye Sun; Oh, Jungmi; Lee, Byung Koo; Lee, Sukhyang

    2017-01-01

    The survey aimed to obtain opinions about a proposed implementation of pharmacy skills assessment in Korean pharmacist licensure examination (KPLE). A 16-question survey was distributed electronically to 2,738 people including 570 pharmacy professors of 35 pharmacy schools, 550 preceptors from 865 practice sites and 1,618 students who graduated in 2015. The survey solicited responses concerning the adequacy of the current KPLE in assessing pharmacy knowledge/skills/attitudes, deficiencies of pharmacy skills testing in assessing the professional competencies necessary for pharmacists, plans for pharmacy skills tests in the current KPLE, and subject areas of pharmacy practice. A total of 466 surveys were returned. The current exam is not adequate for assessing skills and attitudes according to 42%-48% of respondents. Sixty percent felt that skills test is necessary to assess qualifications and professional competencies. Almost two-thirds of participants stated that testing should be implemented within 5 years. More than 60% agreed that candidates should be graduates and that written and skills test scores can be combined for pass-fail decisions. About 70% of respondents felt that the test should be less than 2 hours in duration. Over half of the respondents thought that the assessor should be a pharmacy faculty member with at least 5 years of clinical experience. Up to 70% stated that activities related to patient care were appropriate and practical for the scope of skills test. Pharmacy skills assessment was supported by the majority of respondents.

  2. Attitudes to proposed assessment of pharmacy skills in Korean pharmacist licensure examination

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    Purpose The survey aimed to obtain opinions about a proposed implementation of pharmacy skills assessment in Korean pharmacist licensure examination (KPLE). Methods A 16-question survey was distributed electronically to 2,738 people including 570 pharmacy professors of 35 pharmacy schools, 550 preceptors from 865 practice sites and 1,618 students who graduated in 2015. The survey solicited responses concerning the adequacy of the current KPLE in assessing pharmacy knowledge/skills/attitudes, deficiencies of pharmacy skills testing in assessing the professional competencies necessary for pharmacists, plans for pharmacy skills tests in the current KPLE, and subject areas of pharmacy practice. Results A total of 466 surveys were returned. The current exam is not adequate for assessing skills and attitudes according to 42%–48% of respondents. Sixty percent felt that skills test is necessary to assess qualifications and professional competencies. Almost two-thirds of participants stated that testing should be implemented within 5 years. More than 60% agreed that candidates should be graduates and that written and skills test scores can be combined for pass-fail decisions. About 70% of respondents felt that the test should be less than 2 hours in duration. Over half of the respondents thought that the assessor should be a pharmacy faculty member with at least 5 years of clinical experience. Up to 70% stated that activities related to patient care were appropriate and practical for the scope of skills test. Conclusion Pharmacy skills assessment was supported by the majority of respondents. PMID:28352065

  3. An ILP based memetic algorithm for finding minimum positive influence dominating sets in social networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lin, Geng; Guan, Jian; Feng, Huibin

    2018-06-01

    The positive influence dominating set problem is a variant of the minimum dominating set problem, and has lots of applications in social networks. It is NP-hard, and receives more and more attention. Various methods have been proposed to solve the positive influence dominating set problem. However, most of the existing work focused on greedy algorithms, and the solution quality needs to be improved. In this paper, we formulate the minimum positive influence dominating set problem as an integer linear programming (ILP), and propose an ILP based memetic algorithm (ILPMA) for solving the problem. The ILPMA integrates a greedy randomized adaptive construction procedure, a crossover operator, a repair operator, and a tabu search procedure. The performance of ILPMA is validated on nine real-world social networks with nodes up to 36,692. The results show that ILPMA significantly improves the solution quality, and is robust.

  4. Exploiting geo-distributed clouds for a e-health monitoring system with minimum service delay and privacy preservation.

    PubMed

    Shen, Qinghua; Liang, Xiaohui; Shen, Xuemin; Lin, Xiaodong; Luo, Henry Y

    2014-03-01

    In this paper, we propose an e-health monitoring system with minimum service delay and privacy preservation by exploiting geo-distributed clouds. In the system, the resource allocation scheme enables the distributed cloud servers to cooperatively assign the servers to the requested users under the load balance condition. Thus, the service delay for users is minimized. In addition, a traffic-shaping algorithm is proposed. The traffic-shaping algorithm converts the user health data traffic to the nonhealth data traffic such that the capability of traffic analysis attacks is largely reduced. Through the numerical analysis, we show the efficiency of the proposed traffic-shaping algorithm in terms of service delay and privacy preservation. Furthermore, through the simulations, we demonstrate that the proposed resource allocation scheme significantly reduces the service delay compared to two other alternatives using jointly the short queue and distributed control law.

  5. An effective visualization technique for depth perception in augmented reality-based surgical navigation.

    PubMed

    Choi, Hyunseok; Cho, Byunghyun; Masamune, Ken; Hashizume, Makoto; Hong, Jaesung

    2016-03-01

    Depth perception is a major issue in augmented reality (AR)-based surgical navigation. We propose an AR and virtual reality (VR) switchable visualization system with distance information, and evaluate its performance in a surgical navigation set-up. To improve depth perception, seamless switching from AR to VR was implemented. In addition, the minimum distance between the tip of the surgical tool and the nearest organ was provided in real time. To evaluate the proposed techniques, five physicians and 20 non-medical volunteers participated in experiments. Targeting error, time taken, and numbers of collisions were measured in simulation experiments. There was a statistically significant difference between a simple AR technique and the proposed technique. We confirmed that depth perception in AR could be improved by the proposed seamless switching between AR and VR, and providing an indication of the minimum distance also facilitated the surgical tasks. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  6. Sexual Risk Among African American Women: Psychological Factors and the Mediating Role of Social Skills

    PubMed Central

    Curran, Timothy M.; Monahan, Jennifer L.; Samp, Jennifer A.; Coles, Valerie B.; DiClemente, Ralph J.; Sales, Jessica

    2016-01-01

    Prior research demonstrates a positive association between mental health problems and sexual risk for African American women. Using the social skills deficit hypothesis, we proposed that social skills mediate this relationship. African American women (n = 557, M age = 20.58) completed measures of depression, stress, emotional dysregulation, sexual risk behaviors, and perceptions of their social skills with their primary sexual partner. Social skills mediated the link between the mental health assessments and a composite sexual risk index. Theoretical implications of extending the social skill deficit hypothesis are discussed as well as implications for interventions. PMID:28490827

  7. You Can Be a Skilled Group Helper

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tamminen, Armas W.; Smaby, Marlowe H.

    1978-01-01

    The authors propose a two-phase model of group counseling that is structured and involves simultaneously teaching and applying counseling skills to real-life problems of the members of the group. (Author)

  8. Can Japanese students embrace learner-centered methods for teaching medical interviewing skills? Focus groups.

    PubMed

    Saiki, Takuya; Mukohara, Kei; Otani, Takashi; Ban, Nobutaro

    2011-01-01

    Students' perceptions of learner-centered methods for teaching medical interviewing skills have not been fully explored. To explore Japanese students' perceptions of learner-centered methods for teaching medical interviewing skills such as role play with student-created scenarios, peer-assisted video reviews, and student-led small group debriefing. We conducted three focus groups with a total of 15 students who participated in the learner-centered seminars on medical interviewing skills at the Nagoya University School of Medicine. The transcripts were analyzed by two authors independently. Keywords and concepts were identified and a thematic framework was developed. Overall, students valued the experience of writing their own scenarios for role play, but some questioned their realism. Many students commented that peer-assisted video reviews provided them with more objective perspectives on their performance. However, some students expressed concerns about competitiveness during the video reviews. While students appreciated teachers' minimum involvement in the group debriefing, some criticized that teachers did not explain the objectives of the seminar clearly. Many students had difficulties in exchanging constructive feedback. We were able to gain new insights into positive and negative perceptions of students about learner-centered methods for teaching medical interviewing skills at one medical school in Japan.

  9. 78 FR 28692 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX Options Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-15

    ... standard SPY options, (2) codify the minimum contract threshold requirement for the execution of Jumbo SPY... Fund (``IWM''). QQQQ, SPY and IWM are quoted in $0.01 increments for all options series. This proposed... Exchange believes that by reducing the minimum trading increments for Jumbo SPY Options to $0.01, the...

  10. Robust Means and Covariance Matrices by the Minimum Volume Ellipsoid (MVE).

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Blankmeyer, Eric

    P. Rousseeuw and A. Leroy (1987) proposed a very robust alternative to classical estimates of mean vectors and covariance matrices, the Minimum Volume Ellipsoid (MVE). This paper describes the MVE technique and presents a BASIC program to implement it. The MVE is a "high breakdown" estimator, one that can cope with samples in which as…

  11. 76 FR 35503 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-17

    ... Price Reporting Authority (``OPRA''), the Consolidated Tape Association (``CTA'') tape and/or the Market... equal to $100. The minimum price variation shall be established on a class-by- class basis by the..., the proposal permits the Exchange to designate $0.01 as the minimum price variation for quotes and...

  12. Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Nuclear Deterrence Skills

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-09-01

    entail modeling and simulation capability analogous to that for weapon design. A minimum “national” nuclear weapons effects simulator enterprise...systems programs (design, develop, produce, deploy, and sustain) relies 18 I C HA P TE R 3 upon a variety of management models . For example, the Air...entry vehicle design, modeling and simulation efforts, command and control, launch system infrastructure, intermediate-range missile concepts, advanced

  13. Minimum Competency Testing: An Analysis of Student Outcomes for Those Not Mastering Mandated Testing Standards.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jonas, Edward D., Jr.; Hayes-Wallace, Lamarian

    The effects of failing to pass a high school exit exam were examined for the Georgia Basic Skills Test (GBST). Data were collected on a random sample of students who were tenth graders in 1983 and in 1984. The following issues were studied: (1) impact of failure on self esteem, as measured by the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale (P-H);…

  14. Intrinsically motivated reinforcement learning for human-robot interaction in the real-world.

    PubMed

    Qureshi, Ahmed Hussain; Nakamura, Yutaka; Yoshikawa, Yuichiro; Ishiguro, Hiroshi

    2018-03-26

    For a natural social human-robot interaction, it is essential for a robot to learn the human-like social skills. However, learning such skills is notoriously hard due to the limited availability of direct instructions from people to teach a robot. In this paper, we propose an intrinsically motivated reinforcement learning framework in which an agent gets the intrinsic motivation-based rewards through the action-conditional predictive model. By using the proposed method, the robot learned the social skills from the human-robot interaction experiences gathered in the real uncontrolled environments. The results indicate that the robot not only acquired human-like social skills but also took more human-like decisions, on a test dataset, than a robot which received direct rewards for the task achievement. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Impacts of Stratospheric Dynamics on Atmospheric Behavior from the Ground to Space Solar Minimum and Solar Maximum

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-12-15

    from the ground to space solar minimum and solar maximum 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER BAA-76-11-01 5b. GRANT NUMBER N00173-12-1G010 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT...atmospheric behavior from the ground to space under solar minimum and solar maximum conditions (Contract No.: N00173-12-1-G010 NRL) Project Summary...Dynamical response to solar radiative forcing is a crucial and poorly understood mechanisms. We propose to study the impacts of large dynamical events

  16. Enhancing Arithmetic and Word-Problem Solving Skills Efficiently by Individualized Computer-Assisted Practice

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Schoppek, Wolfgang; Tulis, Maria

    2010-01-01

    The fluency of basic arithmetical operations is a precondition for mathematical problem solving. However, the training of skills plays a minor role in contemporary mathematics instruction. The authors proposed individualization of practice as a means to improve its efficiency, so that the time spent with the training of skills is minimized. As a…

  17. Using the Dynamic Model to Identify Stages of Teacher Skills in Assessment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Christoforidou, Margarita; Xirafidou, Elisavet

    2014-01-01

    The article presents the results of two cross-sectional studies that investigate teachers' skills in using various techniques of assessment in mathematics by taking into account the four phases of assessment. The five dimensions of the dynamic model are also taken into account in proposing a framework for measuring teacher skills in assessment.…

  18. Effects of a Peer Assessment System Based on a Grid-Based Knowledge Classification Approach on Computer Skills Training

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hsu, Ting-Chia

    2016-01-01

    In this study, a peer assessment system using the grid-based knowledge classification approach was developed to improve students' performance during computer skills training. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, an experiment was conducted in a computer skills certification course. The participants were divided into three…

  19. An Exploratory Investigation of Requisite Skills Needed by Developers of E-Commerce Systems.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Aladwani, Adel M.

    The aim of this exploratory study is to identify the skills needed by developers of Electronic Commerce (e-Commerce) systems. The paper proposes a framework pertaining to three categories of e-Commerce development knowledge: technical, human, and organizational. The initial findings reveal that there are some 16 possible e-Commerce skills tapping…

  20. The Gain-Loss Model: A Probabilistic Skill Multimap Model for Assessing Learning Processes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Robusto, Egidio; Stefanutti, Luca; Anselmi, Pasquale

    2010-01-01

    Within the theoretical framework of knowledge space theory, a probabilistic skill multimap model for assessing learning processes is proposed. The learning process of a student is modeled as a function of the student's knowledge and of an educational intervention on the attainment of specific skills required to solve problems in a knowledge…

  1. A Method for Extracting Sensory Motor Skills and Designing a Training System

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Doyo, Daisuke; Ohara, Atushi; Shida, Keisuke; Matsumoto, Toshiyuki; Otomo, Kazuo

    2009-01-01

    Two years ago, the rapid retirement of the "baby boomer artisans" in vast numbers threatened to erode the competitiveness of Japanese manufacturers (i.e., the 2007 problem). This study proposes a practical process for extracting skills and designing a training system, to accelerate the learning of skills in production fields by younger…

  2. Framework and Implementation for Improving Physics Essential Skills via Computer-Based Practice: Vector Math

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mikula, Brendon D.; Heckler, Andrew F.

    2017-01-01

    We propose a framework for improving accuracy, fluency, and retention of basic skills essential for solving problems relevant to STEM introductory courses, and implement the framework for the case of basic vector math skills over several semesters in an introductory physics course. Using an iterative development process, the framework begins with…

  3. Self-Help Training System for Nursing Students to Learn Patient Transfer Skills

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Huang, Zhifeng; Nagata, Ayanori; Kanai-Pak, Masako; Maeda, Jukai; Kitajima, Yasuko; Nakamura, Mitsuhiro; Aida, Kyoko; Kuwahara, Noriaki; Ogata, Taiki; Ota, Jun

    2014-01-01

    This paper describes the construction and evaluation of a self-help skill training system for assisting student nurses in learning skills involving the transfer of patients from beds to wheelchairs. We have proposed a feedback method that is based on a checklist and video demonstrations. To help trainees efficiently check their performance and…

  4. 76 FR 814 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change To...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-01-06

    ... proposes to establish new minimum performance standards for specialist units.\\12\\ Specifically, new Rule... Streamline the Process for Specialist Evaluations and Clarify the Time Within Which SQTs and RSQTs Must Begin...-4 thereunder,\\2\\ a proposed rule change to update and streamline the process for specialist...

  5. 76 FR 43360 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-07-20

    .... The text of the proposed rule change is set forth below. Proposed new language is italicized; proposed... methodology approved by FINRA as announced in a Regulatory Notice (``approved margin methodology''). The... an Approved Margin Methodology. Members shall require as a minimum for computing customer or broker...

  6. 75 FR 1669 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-01-12

    ... NYSE Rule 18 (``Compensation in Relation to Exchange System Failure'') to eliminate the $500 minimum... failure. The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange, the Commission's Public... Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Rule 18 (``Compensation in Relation to Exchange System Failure'') to...

  7. Bar Coding the U. S. Government Bill of Lading and the Material Inspection and Receiving Report.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-12-01

    of respondents K because some of the replies did not respond to this question.) TABLE 3-2. DD 250 PROCESSING CAPABILITIES AUTOMiATED - BAR CODE...Proposed minimum data elements (both human readable and bar coded) required and why? (3) Proposed signature requirement changes and why? (4) Proposed

  8. More active pre-school children have better motor competence at school starting age: an observational cohort study.

    PubMed

    Barnett, Lisa M; Salmon, Jo; Hesketh, Kylie D

    2016-10-10

    Almost half of young children do not achieve minimum recommendations of 60 daily minutes in physical activity. Physical activity is potentially an important determinant of the development of motor competence in children. This study is one of very few longitudinal studies in this area and the first to investigate early childhood physical activity as a predictor of subsequent motor skill competence. Children were assessed as part of the Melbourne InFANT Program longitudinal cohort study at 19 months, 3.5 years and 5 years. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (accelerometry) was assessed at each time point. At age 5, children were also assessed in actual (Test of Gross Motor Development-2) and perceived motor competence (Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence). General linear models were performed with all 12 skills (six object control and six locomotor skills), both actual and perceived, at age 5 as the respective outcome variables. Predictor variables alternated between MVPA at 19 months, 3.5 years and 5 years. Based on standardized TGMD-2 scores most children were average or below in their skill level at age 5. MVPA at 19 months was not a predictor of actual or perceived skill at age 5. MVPA at 3.5 years was associated with actual locomotor skill (B = 0.073, p = 0.033) and perceived total skill at 5 years of age (B = 0.059, p = 0.044). MVPA was not a predictor of actual or perceived object control skill at any age. Parents and preschool staff should be informed that more time in MVPA as a preschool child contributes to locomotor skill and to perceptions of skill ability in a child of school starting age. Understanding this relationship will assist in intervention development.

  9. Testing a Nested Skills Model of the Relations among Invented Spelling, Accurate Spelling, and Word Reading, from Kindergarten to Grade 1

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sénéchal, Monique

    2017-01-01

    The goal was to assess the role of invented spelling to subsequent reading and spelling as proposed by the Nested Skills Model of Early Literacy Acquisition. 107 English-speaking children were tested at the beginning of kindergarten and grade 1, and at the end of grade 1. The findings provided support for the proposed model. First, the role played…

  10. AQBE — QBE Style Queries for Archetyped Data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sachdeva, Shelly; Yaginuma, Daigo; Chu, Wanming; Bhalla, Subhash

    Large-scale adoption of electronic healthcare applications requires semantic interoperability. The new proposals propose an advanced (multi-level) DBMS architecture for repository services for health records of patients. These also require query interfaces at multiple levels and at the level of semi-skilled users. In this regard, a high-level user interface for querying the new form of standardized Electronic Health Records system has been examined in this study. It proposes a step-by-step graphical query interface to allow semi-skilled users to write queries. Its aim is to decrease user effort and communication ambiguities, and increase user friendliness.

  11. A Shot Number Based Approach to Performance Analysis in Table Tennis

    PubMed Central

    Yoshida, Kazuto; Yamada, Koshi

    2017-01-01

    Abstract The current study proposes a novel approach that improves the conventional performance analysis in table tennis by introducing the concept of frequency, or the number of shots, of each shot number. The improvements over the conventional method are as follows: better accuracy of the evaluation of skills and tactics of players, additional insights into scoring and returning skills and ease of understanding the results with a single criterion. The performance analysis of matches played at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London was conducted using the proposed method. The results showed some effects of the shot number and gender differences in table tennis. Furthermore, comparisons were made between Chinese players and players from other countries, what threw light on the skills and tactics of the Chinese players. The present findings demonstrate that the proposed method provides useful information and has some advantages over the conventional method. PMID:28210334

  12. Seasonal prediction skill of winter temperature over North India

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tiwari, P. R.; Kar, S. C.; Mohanty, U. C.; Dey, S.; Kumari, S.; Sinha, P.

    2016-04-01

    The climatology, amplitude error, phase error, and mean square skill score (MSSS) of temperature predictions from five different state-of-the-art general circulation models (GCMs) have been examined for the winter (December-January-February) seasons over North India. In this region, temperature variability affects the phenological development processes of wheat crops and the grain yield. The GCM forecasts of temperature for a whole season issued in November from various organizations are compared with observed gridded temperature data obtained from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for the period 1982-2009. The MSSS indicates that the models have skills of varying degrees. Predictions of maximum and minimum temperature obtained from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) climate forecast system model (NCEP_CFSv2) are compared with station level observations from the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE). It has been found that when the model temperatures are corrected to account the bias in the model and actual orography, the predictions are able to delineate the observed trend compared to the trend without orography correction.

  13. Speedup of minimum discontinuity phase unwrapping algorithm with a reference phase distribution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Yihang; Han, Yu; Li, Fengjiao; Zhang, Qican

    2018-06-01

    In three-dimensional (3D) shape measurement based on phase analysis, the phase analysis process usually produces a wrapped phase map ranging from - π to π with some 2 π discontinuities, and thus a phase unwrapping algorithm is necessary to recover the continuous and nature phase map from which 3D height distribution can be restored. Usually, the minimum discontinuity phase unwrapping algorithm can be used to solve many different kinds of phase unwrapping problems, but its main drawback is that it requires a large amount of computations and has low efficiency in searching for the improving loop within the phase's discontinuity area. To overcome this drawback, an improvement to speedup of the minimum discontinuity phase unwrapping algorithm by using the phase distribution on reference plane is proposed. In this improved algorithm, before the minimum discontinuity phase unwrapping algorithm is carried out to unwrap phase, an integer number K was calculated from the ratio of the wrapped phase to the nature phase on a reference plane. And then the jump counts of the unwrapped phase can be reduced by adding 2K π, so the efficiency of the minimum discontinuity phase unwrapping algorithm is significantly improved. Both simulated and experimental data results verify the feasibility of the proposed improved algorithm, and both of them clearly show that the algorithm works very well and has high efficiency.

  14. An Adaptive Pheromone Updation of the Ant-System using LMS Technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paul, Abhishek; Mukhopadhyay, Sumitra

    2010-10-01

    We propose a modified model of pheromone updation for Ant-System, entitled as Adaptive Ant System (AAS), using the properties of basic Adaptive Filters. Here, we have exploited the properties of Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm for the pheromone updation to find out the best minimum tour for the Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP). TSP library has been used for the selection of benchmark problem and the proposed AAS determines the minimum tour length for the problems containing large number of cities. Our algorithm shows effective results and gives least tour length in most of the cases as compared to other existing approaches.

  15. Combined feedforward and model-assisted active disturbance rejection control for non-minimum phase system.

    PubMed

    Sun, Li; Li, Donghai; Gao, Zhiqiang; Yang, Zhao; Zhao, Shen

    2016-09-01

    Control of the non-minimum phase (NMP) system is challenging, especially in the presence of modelling uncertainties and external disturbances. To this end, this paper presents a combined feedforward and model-assisted Active Disturbance Rejection Control (MADRC) strategy. Based on the nominal model, the feedforward controller is used to produce a tracking performance that has minimum settling time subject to a prescribed undershoot constraint. On the other hand, the unknown disturbances and uncertain dynamics beyond the nominal model are compensated by MADRC. Since the conventional Extended State Observer (ESO) is not suitable for the NMP system, a model-assisted ESO (MESO) is proposed based on the nominal observable canonical form. The convergence of MESO is proved in time domain. The stability, steady-state characteristics and robustness of the closed-loop system are analyzed in frequency domain. The proposed strategy has only one tuning parameter, i.e., the bandwidth of MESO, which can be readily determined with a prescribed robustness level. Some comparative examples are given to show the efficacy of the proposed method. This paper depicts a promising prospect of the model-assisted ADRC in dealing with complex systems. Copyright © 2016 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. 45 CFR 286.80 - What information on minimum work participation requirements must a Tribe include in its Tribal...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ...) For each fiscal year covered by the plan, the Tribe's proposed minimum number of hours per week that... the hours of work participation, it must so indicate in its TFAP along with a definition of... the purposes of TANF; (3) The work activities that count towards these work requirements; (4) Any...

  17. Proposed minimum reporting standards for chemical analysis Chemical Analysis Working Group (CAWG) Metabolomics Standards Initiative (MSI)

    PubMed Central

    Amberg, Alexander; Barrett, Dave; Beale, Michael H.; Beger, Richard; Daykin, Clare A.; Fan, Teresa W.-M.; Fiehn, Oliver; Goodacre, Royston; Griffin, Julian L.; Hankemeier, Thomas; Hardy, Nigel; Harnly, James; Higashi, Richard; Kopka, Joachim; Lane, Andrew N.; Lindon, John C.; Marriott, Philip; Nicholls, Andrew W.; Reily, Michael D.; Thaden, John J.; Viant, Mark R.

    2013-01-01

    There is a general consensus that supports the need for standardized reporting of metadata or information describing large-scale metabolomics and other functional genomics data sets. Reporting of standard metadata provides a biological and empirical context for the data, facilitates experimental replication, and enables the re-interrogation and comparison of data by others. Accordingly, the Metabolomics Standards Initiative is building a general consensus concerning the minimum reporting standards for metabolomics experiments of which the Chemical Analysis Working Group (CAWG) is a member of this community effort. This article proposes the minimum reporting standards related to the chemical analysis aspects of metabolomics experiments including: sample preparation, experimental analysis, quality control, metabolite identification, and data pre-processing. These minimum standards currently focus mostly upon mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy due to the popularity of these techniques in metabolomics. However, additional input concerning other techniques is welcomed and can be provided via the CAWG on-line discussion forum at http://msi-workgroups.sourceforge.net/ or http://Msi-workgroups-feedback@lists.sourceforge.net. Further, community input related to this document can also be provided via this electronic forum. PMID:24039616

  18. MSEBAG: a dynamic classifier ensemble generation based on `minimum-sufficient ensemble' and bagging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Lei; Kamel, Mohamed S.

    2016-01-01

    In this paper, we propose a dynamic classifier system, MSEBAG, which is characterised by searching for the 'minimum-sufficient ensemble' and bagging at the ensemble level. It adopts an 'over-generation and selection' strategy and aims to achieve a good bias-variance trade-off. In the training phase, MSEBAG first searches for the 'minimum-sufficient ensemble', which maximises the in-sample fitness with the minimal number of base classifiers. Then, starting from the 'minimum-sufficient ensemble', a backward stepwise algorithm is employed to generate a collection of ensembles. The objective is to create a collection of ensembles with a descending fitness on the data, as well as a descending complexity in the structure. MSEBAG dynamically selects the ensembles from the collection for the decision aggregation. The extended adaptive aggregation (EAA) approach, a bagging-style algorithm performed at the ensemble level, is employed for this task. EAA searches for the competent ensembles using a score function, which takes into consideration both the in-sample fitness and the confidence of the statistical inference, and averages the decisions of the selected ensembles to label the test pattern. The experimental results show that the proposed MSEBAG outperforms the benchmarks on average.

  19. 78 FR 17731 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-22

    ...-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Minimum... Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have...'' proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \\3\\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,\\4...

  20. 75 FR 35828 - Youthbuild Program

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-06-23

    ... subject proposal. The Youthbuild Program provides disadvantaged youth, predominately high school dropouts, with educational opportunities and job skills training. Beginning with fiscal year (FY) 2007, this..., predominately high school dropouts, with educational opportunities and job skills training. Beginning with...

  1. Group Facilitation: Functions and Skills.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Anderson, L. Frances; Robertson, Sharon E.

    1985-01-01

    Discusses a model based on a specific set of assumptions about causality and effectiveness in interactional groups. Discusses personal qualities of group facilitators and proposes five major functions and seven skill clusters central to effective group facilitation. (Author/BH)

  2. Tools used to assess medical students competence in procedural skills at the end of a primary medical degree: a systematic review.

    PubMed

    Morris, Marie C; Gallagher, Tom K; Ridgway, Paul F

    2012-01-01

    The objective was to systematically review the literature to identify and grade tools used for the end point assessment of procedural skills (e.g., phlebotomy, IV cannulation, suturing) competence in medical students prior to certification. The authors searched eight bibliographic databases electronically - ERIC, Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, Psychinfo, PsychLIT, EBM Reviews and the Cochrane databases. Two reviewers independently reviewed the literature to identify procedural assessment tools used specifically for assessing medical students within the PRISMA framework, the inclusion/exclusion criteria and search period. Papers on OSATS and DOPS were excluded as they focused on post-registration assessment and clinical rather than simulated competence. Of 659 abstracted articles 56 identified procedural assessment tools. Only 11 specifically assessed medical students. The final 11 studies consisted of 1 randomised controlled trial, 4 comparative and 6 descriptive studies yielding 12 heterogeneous procedural assessment tools for analysis. Seven tools addressed four discrete pre-certification skills, basic suture (3), airway management (2), nasogastric tube insertion (1) and intravenous cannulation (1). One tool used a generic assessment of procedural skills. Two tools focused on postgraduate laparoscopic skills and one on osteopathic students and thus were not included in this review. The levels of evidence are low with regard to reliability - κ = 0.65-0.71 and minimum validity is achieved - face and content. In conclusion, there are no tools designed specifically to assess competence of procedural skills in a final certification examination. There is a need to develop standardised tools with proven reliability and validity for assessment of procedural skills competence at the end of medical training. Medicine graduates must have comparable levels of procedural skills acquisition entering the clinical workforce irrespective of the country of training.

  3. A theoretical model to describe progressions and regressions for exercise rehabilitation.

    PubMed

    Blanchard, Sam; Glasgow, Phil

    2014-08-01

    This article aims to describe a new theoretical model to simplify and aid visualisation of the clinical reasoning process involved in progressing a single exercise. Exercise prescription is a core skill for physiotherapists but is an area that is lacking in theoretical models to assist clinicians when designing exercise programs to aid rehabilitation from injury. Historical models of periodization and motor learning theories lack any visual aids to assist clinicians. The concept of the proposed model is that new stimuli can be added or exchanged with other stimuli, either intrinsic or extrinsic to the participant, in order to gradually progress an exercise whilst remaining safe and effective. The proposed model maintains the core skills of physiotherapists by assisting clinical reasoning skills, exercise prescription and goal setting. It is not limited to any one pathology or rehabilitation setting and can adapted by any level of skilled clinician. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. A Proposal for Overcoming Problems in Teaching Interviewing Skills to Medical Students

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Benbassat, Jochanan; Baumal, Reuben

    2009-01-01

    The objective of this paper is to draw attention to four features that distinguish the pedagogy of patient interviewing from the teaching of other clinical skills: (a) students are not naive to the skill to be learned, (b) they encounter role models with a wide variability in interviewing styles, (c) clinical teachers are not usually specialists…

  5. The Impact of Adaptive Complex Assessment on the HOT Skill Development of Students

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Raiyn, Jamal; Tilchin, Oleg

    2016-01-01

    In this paper we propose a method for the adaptive complex assessment (ACA) of the higher-order thinking (HOT) skills needed by students for problem solving, and we examine the impact of the method on the development of HOT skills in a problem-based learning (PBL) environment. Complexity in the assessment is provided by initial, formative, and…

  6. Taxonomy of Lecture Note-Taking Skills and Subskills

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Al-Musalli, Alaa M.

    2015-01-01

    Note taking (NT) in lectures is as active a skill as listening, which stimulates it, and as challenging as writing, which is the end product. Literature on lecture NT misses an integration of the processes involved in listening with those in NT. In this article, a taxonomy is proposed of lecture NT skills and subskills based on a similar list…

  7. The Utilization of Psychologists for Staff Development in a Large Public School System: A Staff Development Director's Perspective.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stone, James L., Jr.

    This model proposes the TAP Team approach as an on-site delivery system for local school staff development in large, urban school systems. TAP emphasizes in-service training for both upgrading skills of staff and for helping staff acquire new skills in the areas of coping strategies, classroom management, communication skills, instructional…

  8. Exploring the Importance of Soft and Hard Skills as Perceived by IT Internship Students and Industry: A Gap Analysis

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Patacsil, Frederick F.; Tablatin, Christine Lourrine S.

    2017-01-01

    The research paper proposes a skills gap methodology that utilized the respondent experiences in the internship program to measure the importance of the Information Technology (IT) skills gap as perceived by IT students and the industry. The questionnaires were formulated based on previous studies, however, was slightly modified, validated and…

  9. Supply- and Demand-Side Factors Influencing Utilization of Infant and Young Child Feeding Counselling Services in Viet Nam.

    PubMed

    Nguyen, Phuong H; Kim, Sunny S; Nguyen, Tuan T; Tran, Lan M; Hajeebhoy, Nemat; Frongillo, Edward A; Ruel, Marie T; Rawat, Rahul; Menon, Purnima

    2016-01-01

    Adequate utilization of services is critical to maximize the impact of counselling on infant and young child feeding (IYCF), but little is known about factors affecting utilization. Our study examined supply- and demand-side factors associated with the utilization of IYCF counselling services in Viet Nam. We used survey data from mothers with children <2y (n = 1,008) and health staff (n = 60) from the evaluation of a program that embedded IYCF counseling into the existing government health system. The frequency of never users, one-time users, repeat users, and achievers of the recommended minimum number of visits at health facilities were 45.1%, 13.0%, 28.4% and 13.5%, respectively. Poisson regression showed that demand-generation strategies, especially invitation cards, were the key factors determining one-time use (Prevalence ratio, PR 3.0, 95% CI: 2.2-4.2), repeated use (PR 3.2, 95% CI: 2.4-4.2), and achievement of minimum visits (PR 5.5, 95% CI: 3.6-8.4). Higher maternal education was associated with higher utilization both for one-time and repeated use. Being a farmer, belonging to an ethnic minority, and having a wasted child were associated with greater likelihood of achieving the minimum recommended number of visits, whereas child stunting or illness were not. Distance to health center was a barrier to repeated visits. Among supply-side factors, good counselling skills (PR: 1.3-1.8) was the most important factor associated with any service use, whereas longer employment duration and greater work pressure of health center staff were associated with lower utilization. Population attributable risk estimations showed that an additional 25% of the population would have achieved the minimum number of visits if exposed to three demand-generation strategies, and further increased to 49% if the health staff had good counseling skills and low work pressure. Our study provides evidence that demand-generation strategies are essential to increase utilization of facility-based IYCF counselling services in Viet Nam, and may be relevant for increasing and sustaining use of nutrition services in similar contexts.

  10. Supply- and Demand-Side Factors Influencing Utilization of Infant and Young Child Feeding Counselling Services in Viet Nam

    PubMed Central

    Nguyen, Phuong H.; Kim, Sunny S.; Nguyen, Tuan T.; Tran, Lan M.; Hajeebhoy, Nemat; Frongillo, Edward A.; Ruel, Marie T.; Rawat, Rahul; Menon, Purnima

    2016-01-01

    Adequate utilization of services is critical to maximize the impact of counselling on infant and young child feeding (IYCF), but little is known about factors affecting utilization. Our study examined supply- and demand-side factors associated with the utilization of IYCF counselling services in Viet Nam. We used survey data from mothers with children <2y (n = 1,008) and health staff (n = 60) from the evaluation of a program that embedded IYCF counseling into the existing government health system. The frequency of never users, one-time users, repeat users, and achievers of the recommended minimum number of visits at health facilities were 45.1%, 13.0%, 28.4% and 13.5%, respectively. Poisson regression showed that demand-generation strategies, especially invitation cards, were the key factors determining one-time use (Prevalence ratio, PR 3.0, 95% CI: 2.2–4.2), repeated use (PR 3.2, 95% CI: 2.4–4.2), and achievement of minimum visits (PR 5.5, 95% CI: 3.6–8.4). Higher maternal education was associated with higher utilization both for one-time and repeated use. Being a farmer, belonging to an ethnic minority, and having a wasted child were associated with greater likelihood of achieving the minimum recommended number of visits, whereas child stunting or illness were not. Distance to health center was a barrier to repeated visits. Among supply-side factors, good counselling skills (PR: 1.3–1.8) was the most important factor associated with any service use, whereas longer employment duration and greater work pressure of health center staff were associated with lower utilization. Population attributable risk estimations showed that an additional 25% of the population would have achieved the minimum number of visits if exposed to three demand-generation strategies, and further increased to 49% if the health staff had good counseling skills and low work pressure. Our study provides evidence that demand-generation strategies are essential to increase utilization of facility-based IYCF counselling services in Viet Nam, and may be relevant for increasing and sustaining use of nutrition services in similar contexts. PMID:26962856

  11. Evaluation of Precipitation Detection over Various Surfaces from Passive Microwave Imagers and Sounders

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Munchak, S. Joseph; Skofronick-Jackson, Gail

    2012-01-01

    During the middle part of this decade a wide variety of passive microwave imagers and sounders will be unified in the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission to provide a common basis for frequent (3 hr), global precipitation monitoring. The ability of these sensors to detect precipitation by discerning it from non-precipitating background depends upon the channels available and characteristics of the surface and atmosphere. This study quantifies the minimum detectable precipitation rate and fraction of precipitation detected for four representative instruments (TMI, GMI, AMSU-A, and AMSU-B) that will be part of the GPM constellation. Observations for these instruments were constructed from equivalent channels on the SSMIS instrument on DMSP satellites F16 and F17 and matched to precipitation data from NOAA's National Mosaic and QPE (NMQ) during 2009 over the continuous United States. A variational optimal estimation retrieval of non-precipitation surface and atmosphere parameters was used to determine the consistency between the observed brightness temperatures and these parameters, with high cost function values shown to be related to precipitation. The minimum detectable precipitation rate, defined as the lowest rate for which probability of detection exceeds 50%, and the detected fraction of precipitation, are reported for each sensor, surface type (ocean, coast, bare land, snow cover) and precipitation type (rain, mix, snow). The best sensors over ocean and bare land were GMI (0.22 mm/hr minimum threshold and 90% of precipitation detected) and AMSU (0.26 mm/hr minimum threshold and 81% of precipitation detected), respectively. Over coasts (0.74 mm/hr threshold and 12% detected) and snow-covered surfaces (0.44 mm/hr threshold and 23% detected), AMSU again performed best but with much lower detection skill, whereas TMI had no skill over these surfaces. The sounders (particularly over water) benefited from the use of re-analysis data (vs. climatology) to set the a-priori atmospheric state and all instruments benefit from the use of a conditional snow cover emissivity database over land. It is recommended that real-time sources of these data be used in the operational GPM precipitation algorithms.

  12. 75 FR 59316 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-09-27

    ... To Enhance Quotation Requirements for Market Makers September 20, 2010. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1... amend NSX Rule 11.8 to enhance quotation requirements for market makers. The text of the proposed rule... Maker Quote Obligations: The Exchange proposes to adopt rules to enhance minimum quotation requirements...

  13. 76 FR 27125 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-05-10

    ... Change To Reduce the Minimum Size of the Nominating and Governance Committee May 4, 2011. Pursuant to... size of the CBOE Nominating and Governance Committee. The text of the proposed amendments to CBOE's... proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these...

  14. Skill networks and measures of complex human capital

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    We propose a network-based method for measuring worker skills. We illustrate the method using data from an online freelance website. Using the tools of network analysis, we divide skills into endogenous categories based on their relationship with other skills in the market. Workers who specialize in these different areas earn dramatically different wages. We then show that, in this market, network-based measures of human capital provide additional insight into wages beyond traditional measures. In particular, we show that workers with diverse skills earn higher wages than those with more specialized skills. Moreover, we can distinguish between two different types of workers benefiting from skill diversity: jacks-of-all-trades, whose skills can be applied independently on a wide range of jobs, and synergistic workers, whose skills are useful in combination and fill a hole in the labor market. On average, workers whose skills are synergistic earn more than jacks-of-all-trades. PMID:29133397

  15. 45 CFR 286.80 - What information on minimum work participation requirements must a Tribe include in its Tribal...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... proposal include, but are not limited to: poverty, unemployment, jobless and job surplus rates; education... following: (1) For each fiscal year covered by the plan, the Tribe's proposed participation rate(s) for all...

  16. 45 CFR 286.80 - What information on minimum work participation requirements must a Tribe include in its Tribal...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... proposal include, but are not limited to: poverty, unemployment, jobless and job surplus rates; education... following: (1) For each fiscal year covered by the plan, the Tribe's proposed participation rate(s) for all...

  17. 45 CFR 286.80 - What information on minimum work participation requirements must a Tribe include in its Tribal...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... proposal include, but are not limited to: poverty, unemployment, jobless and job surplus rates; education... following: (1) For each fiscal year covered by the plan, the Tribe's proposed participation rate(s) for all...

  18. 78 FR 19734 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-02

    ... and Enforcement. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork... information for Permit Applications--Minimum Requirements for Legal, Financial, Compliance, and Related... expected burden and cost. DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received by June 3...

  19. 48 CFR 815.404-1 - Proposal analysis techniques.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... technical reviews. (See 801.602-70.) (b) Contracting officers determine the level of technical analyses... under them, and contract modifications. Contracting officers must request technical analyses of the proposals from the appropriate technical personnel. The technical analyses must address, as a minimum, the...

  20. 48 CFR 815.404-1 - Proposal analysis techniques.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... technical reviews. (See 801.602-70.) (b) Contracting officers determine the level of technical analyses... under them, and contract modifications. Contracting officers must request technical analyses of the proposals from the appropriate technical personnel. The technical analyses must address, as a minimum, the...

  1. Defining and quantifying users' mental Imagery-based BCI skills: a first step.

    PubMed

    Lotte, Fabien; Jeunet, Camille

    2018-05-17

    While promising for many applications, Electroencephalography (EEG)-based Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) are still scarcely used outside laboratories, due to a poor reliability. It is thus necessary to study and fix this reliability issue. Doing so requires the use of appropriate reliability metrics to quantify both the classification algorithm and the BCI user's performances. So far, Classification Accuracy (CA) is the typical metric used for both aspects. However, we argue in this paper that CA is a poor metric to study BCI users' skills. Here, we propose a definition and new metrics to quantify such BCI skills for Mental Imagery (MI) BCIs, independently of any classification algorithm. Approach: We first show in this paper that CA is notably unspecific, discrete, training data and classifier dependent, and as such may not always reflect successful self-modulation of EEG patterns by the user. We then propose a definition of MI-BCI skills that reflects how well the user can self-modulate EEG patterns, and thus how well he could control an MI-BCI. Finally, we propose new performance metrics, classDis, restDist and classStab that specifically measure how distinct and stable the EEG patterns produced by the user are, independently of any classifier. Main results: By re-analyzing EEG data sets with such new metrics, we indeed confirmed that CA may hide some increase in MI-BCI skills or hide the user inability to self-modulate a given EEG pattern. On the other hand, our new metrics could reveal such skill improvements as well as identify when a mental task performed by a user was no different than rest EEG. Significance: Our results showed that when studying MI-BCI users' skills, CA should be used with care, and complemented with metrics such as the new ones proposed. Our results also stressed the need to redefine BCI user training by considering the different BCI subskills and their measures. To promote the complementary use of our new metrics, we provide the Matlab code to compute them for free and open-source. © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd.

  2. A minimum albedo aerosol retrieval method for the new-generation geostationary meteorological satellite Himawari-8

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yan, Xing; Li, Zhanqing; Luo, Nana; Shi, Wenzhong; Zhao, Wenji; Yang, Xingchuan; Jin, Jiannan

    2018-07-01

    Aerosol properties, including aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and fine-mode fraction (FMF), are important physical data and are fundamental for climate studies. A minimum albedo aerosol retrieval method (MAARM) was developed for the retrieval of aerosol properties based on the new-generation geostationary meteorological satellite Himawari-8. This method is based on the albedo data which is directly obtained from the Himawari-8 and can successfully output AOT, FMF, and the Ångström exponent (AE) directly. As part of the MAARM, a modified radiative transfer equation was proposed that considers the impact of aerosol multiple scattering. Through comparisons with output from the Second Simulation of a Satellite Signal in the Solar Spectrum (6S) radiative transfer code, the modified radiative transfer equation achieved a high accuracy for the aerosol reflectance calculation ( 5%). Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) data from three sites in Beijing and its surrounding area for the year 2016 were used to validate MAARM aerosol retrievals. Fifty-seven percent, 57%, and 56% of derived AOT values fell within the estimated error envelope at the Beijing, the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences (CAMS), and Xianghe AERONET stations, respectively. In addition, 36% (58%) of MAARM-derived FMF values fell within the ±10%AERONET FMF envelope (the ±25%AERONET FMF envelope). Overall, an improvement was achieved by the MAARM in retrieving AOT, FMF, and AE compared with Himawari-8 standard aerosol property retrievals; however, there remains a distinct lack of skills in determining FMF and AE and their use from the MAARM retrieval is not recommended at this time. Given that the Himawari-8 satellite provides observations at 10-min intervals, the MAARM is capable of monitoring the spatial distribution of and variation in AOT with a high temporal resolution.

  3. Organizational Knowledge Transfer Using Ontologies and a Rule-Based System

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Okabe, Masao; Yoshioka, Akiko; Kobayashi, Keido; Yamaguchi, Takahira

    In recent automated and integrated manufacturing, so-called intelligence skill is becoming more and more important and its efficient transfer to next-generation engineers is one of the urgent issues. In this paper, we propose a new approach without costly OJT (on-the-job training), that is, combinational usage of a domain ontology, a rule ontology and a rule-based system. Intelligence skill can be decomposed into pieces of simple engineering rules. A rule ontology consists of these engineering rules as primitives and the semantic relations among them. A domain ontology consists of technical terms in the engineering rules and the semantic relations among them. A rule ontology helps novices get the total picture of the intelligence skill and a domain ontology helps them understand the exact meanings of the engineering rules. A rule-based system helps domain experts externalize their tacit intelligence skill to ontologies and also helps novices internalize them. As a case study, we applied our proposal to some actual job at a remote control and maintenance office of hydroelectric power stations in Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. We also did an evaluation experiment for this case study and the result supports our proposal.

  4. Metameric MIMO-OOK transmission scheme using multiple RGB LEDs.

    PubMed

    Bui, Thai-Chien; Cusani, Roberto; Scarano, Gaetano; Biagi, Mauro

    2018-05-28

    In this work, we propose a novel visible light communication (VLC) scheme utilizing multiple different red green and blue triplets each with a different emission spectrum of red, green and blue for mitigating the effect of interference due to different colors using spatial multiplexing. On-off keying modulation is considered and its effect on light emission in terms of flickering, dimming and color rendering is discussed so as to demonstrate how metameric properties have been considered. At the receiver, multiple photodiodes with color filter-tuned on each transmit light emitting diode (LED) are employed. Three different detection mechanisms of color zero forcing, minimum mean square error estimation and minimum mean square error equalization are then proposed. The system performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated both with computer simulations and tests with an Arduino board implementation.

  5. A hierarchical two-phase framework for selecting genes in cancer datasets with a neuro-fuzzy system.

    PubMed

    Lim, Jongwoo; Wang, Bohyun; Lim, Joon S

    2016-04-29

    Finding the minimum number of appropriate biomarkers for specific targets such as a lung cancer has been a challenging issue in bioinformatics. We propose a hierarchical two-phase framework for selecting appropriate biomarkers that extracts candidate biomarkers from the cancer microarray datasets and then selects the minimum number of appropriate biomarkers from the extracted candidate biomarkers datasets with a specific neuro-fuzzy algorithm, which is called a neural network with weighted fuzzy membership function (NEWFM). In this context, as the first phase, the proposed framework is to extract candidate biomarkers by using a Bhattacharyya distance method that measures the similarity of two discrete probability distributions. Finally, the proposed framework is able to reduce the cost of finding biomarkers by not receiving medical supplements and improve the accuracy of the biomarkers in specific cancer target datasets.

  6. Optimizing congestion and emissions via tradable credit charge and reward scheme without initial credit allocations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhu, Wenlong; Ma, Shoufeng; Tian, Junfang

    2017-01-01

    This paper investigates the revenue-neutral tradable credit charge and reward scheme without initial credit allocations that can reassign network traffic flow patterns to optimize congestion and emissions. First, we prove the existence of the proposed schemes and further decentralize the minimum emission flow pattern to user equilibrium. Moreover, we design the solving method of the proposed credit scheme for minimum emission problem. Second, we investigate the revenue-neutral tradable credit charge and reward scheme without initial credit allocations for bi-objectives to obtain the Pareto system optimum flow patterns of congestion and emissions; and present the corresponding solutions are located in the polyhedron constituted by some inequalities and equalities system. Last, numerical example based on a simple traffic network is adopted to obtain the proposed credit schemes and verify they are revenue-neutral.

  7. [Evaluation of practical skills in echocardiography for intensivists].

    PubMed

    Giraud, Raphael; Siegenthaler, Nils; Tagan, Damien; Bendjelid, Karim

    2009-12-09

    In 2009, the Critical Care NetWork of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) in partnership with La Société de réanimation de langue française (SRLF) selected a panel of experts to characterize competence in critical care ultrasonography (CCUS) and suggest a consensus statement on competence in CCUS. CCUS may be divided into general CCUS (thoracic, abdominal, and vascular), and echocardiography (basic and advanced). For each component, the experts defined the specific skills that the intensivist should acquire to be competent in that aspect of CCUS. They, also, defined a reasonable minimum standard statement to serve as a guide for the intensivist in achieving proficiency in the field. The present article focuses on the consensus statement concerning the evaluation of the competences (basic level) in critical care echocardiography.

  8. Minimum reporting standards for clinical research on groin pain in athletes

    PubMed Central

    Delahunt, Eamonn; Thorborg, Kristian; Khan, Karim M; Robinson, Philip; Hölmich, Per; Weir, Adam

    2015-01-01

    Groin pain in athletes is a priority area for sports physiotherapy and sports medicine research. Heterogeneous studies with low methodological quality dominate research related to groin pain in athletes. Low-quality studies undermine the external validity of research findings and limit the ability to generalise findings to the target patient population. Minimum reporting standards for research on groin pain in athletes are overdue. We propose a set of minimum reporting standards based on best available evidence to be utilised in future research on groin pain in athletes. Minimum reporting standards are provided in relation to: (1) study methodology, (2) study participants and injury history, (3) clinical examination, (4) clinical assessment and (5) radiology. Adherence to these minimum reporting standards will strengthen the quality and transparency of research conducted on groin pain in athletes. This will allow an easier comparison of outcomes across studies in the future. PMID:26031644

  9. Shared responsibility payment for not maintaining minimum essential coverage. Final regulations.

    PubMed

    2013-08-30

    This document contains final regulations on the requirement to maintain minimum essential coverage enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, as amended by the TRICARE Affirmation Act and Public Law 111-173. These final regulations provide guidance to individual taxpayers on the liability under section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code for the shared responsibility payment for not maintaining minimum essential coverage and largely finalize the rules in the notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on February 1, 2013.

  10. Medical Students’ Clinical Skills Do Not Match Their Teachers’ Expectations: Survey at Zagreb University School of Medicine, Croatia

    PubMed Central

    Sičaja, Mario; Romić, Dominik; Prka, Željko

    2006-01-01

    Aim To evaluate self-assessed level of clinical skills of graduating medical students at Zagreb University School of Medicine and compare them with clinical skill levels expected by their teachers and those defined by a criterion standard. Method The study included all medical students (n = 252) graduating from the Zagreb University School of Medicine in the 2004-2005 academic year and faculty members (n = 129) teaching clinical skills. The participants completed anonymous questionnaire listing 99 clinical skills divided into nine groups. Students were asked to assess their clinical skills on a 0-5 scale, and faculty members were asked to assess the minimum necessary level of clinical skills expected from graduating medical students, using the same 0-5 scale. We compared the assessment scores of faculty members with students’ self-assessment scores. Participants were grouped according to their descriptive characteristics for further comparison. Results The response rate was 91% for students and 70% for faculty members. Students’ self-assessment scores in all nine groups of clinical skills ranged from 2.2 ± 0.8 to 3.8 ± 0.5 and were lower than those defined by the criterion standard (3.0-4.0) and those expected by teachers (from 3.1 ± 1.0 to 4.4 ± 0.5) (P<0.001 for all). Students who had additional clinical skills training had higher scores in all groups of skills, ranging from 2.6 ± 0.9 to 4.0 ± 0.5 (P<0.001 for all). Male students had higher scores than female students in emergency (P<0.001), neurology (P = 0.017), ear, nose, and throat (P = 0.002), urology (P = 0.003), and surgery skills (P = 0.002). Teachers’ expectations did not vary according to their sex, academic position, or specialty. Conclusion Students’ self-assessed level of clinical skills was lower than that expected by their teachers. Education during clinical rotations is not focused on acquiring clinical skills, and additional clinical skills training has a positive influence on students’ self-assessed level of clinical skills. There was no consensus among teachers on the required level of students’ clinical skills. PMID:16489711

  11. Youth Employment and the Minimum Wage. Hearing before the Joint Economic Committee, Congress of the United States, Ninety-Eighth Congress, Second Session.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Joint Economic Committee, Washington, DC.

    This congressional hearing contains testimony about the problem of youth unemployment and about the relationship between youth employment opportunities and the minimum wage. A special focus is the administration's proposal for the enactment of a youth employment opportunity wage, under which youth below the age of 20 could be paid 75 percent of…

  12. Optimized Assistive Human-Robot Interaction Using Reinforcement Learning.

    PubMed

    Modares, Hamidreza; Ranatunga, Isura; Lewis, Frank L; Popa, Dan O

    2016-03-01

    An intelligent human-robot interaction (HRI) system with adjustable robot behavior is presented. The proposed HRI system assists the human operator to perform a given task with minimum workload demands and optimizes the overall human-robot system performance. Motivated by human factor studies, the presented control structure consists of two control loops. First, a robot-specific neuro-adaptive controller is designed in the inner loop to make the unknown nonlinear robot behave like a prescribed robot impedance model as perceived by a human operator. In contrast to existing neural network and adaptive impedance-based control methods, no information of the task performance or the prescribed robot impedance model parameters is required in the inner loop. Then, a task-specific outer-loop controller is designed to find the optimal parameters of the prescribed robot impedance model to adjust the robot's dynamics to the operator skills and minimize the tracking error. The outer loop includes the human operator, the robot, and the task performance details. The problem of finding the optimal parameters of the prescribed robot impedance model is transformed into a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) problem which minimizes the human effort and optimizes the closed-loop behavior of the HRI system for a given task. To obviate the requirement of the knowledge of the human model, integral reinforcement learning is used to solve the given LQR problem. Simulation results on an x - y table and a robot arm, and experimental implementation results on a PR2 robot confirm the suitability of the proposed method.

  13. Crew Skills and Training

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jones, Thomas; Burbank, Daniel C.; Eppler, Dean; Garrison, Robert; Harvey, Ralph; Hoffman, Paul; Schmitt, Harrison

    1998-01-01

    One of the major focus points for the workshop was the topic of crew skills and training necessary for the Mars surface mission. Discussions centered on the mix of scientific skills necessary to accomplish the proposed scientific goals, and the training environment that can bring the ground and flight teams to readiness. Subsequent discussion resulted in recommendations for specific steps to begin the process of training an experienced Mars exploration team.

  14. A novel minimum cost maximum power algorithm for future smart home energy management.

    PubMed

    Singaravelan, A; Kowsalya, M

    2017-11-01

    With the latest development of smart grid technology, the energy management system can be efficiently implemented at consumer premises. In this paper, an energy management system with wireless communication and smart meter are designed for scheduling the electric home appliances efficiently with an aim of reducing the cost and peak demand. For an efficient scheduling scheme, the appliances are classified into two types: uninterruptible and interruptible appliances. The problem formulation was constructed based on the practical constraints that make the proposed algorithm cope up with the real-time situation. The formulated problem was identified as Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) problem, so this problem was solved by a step-wise approach. This paper proposes a novel Minimum Cost Maximum Power (MCMP) algorithm to solve the formulated problem. The proposed algorithm was simulated with input data available in the existing method. For validating the proposed MCMP algorithm, results were compared with the existing method. The compared results prove that the proposed algorithm efficiently reduces the consumer electricity consumption cost and peak demand to optimum level with 100% task completion without sacrificing the consumer comfort.

  15. 77 FR 75946 - Radio Broadcasting Services; Dove Creek, CO

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-12-26

    ...]. Radio Broadcasting Services; Dove Creek, CO AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed... service at Dove Creek, Colorado. Channel 229C3 can be allotted at Dove Creek, Colorado, in compliance with the Commission's minimum distance separation requirements, at the proposed reference coordinates: 37...

  16. Cost-efficient scheduling of FAST observations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Luo, Qi; Zhao, Laiping; Yu, Ce; Xiao, Jian; Sun, Jizhou; Zhu, Ming; Zhong, Yi

    2018-03-01

    A cost-efficient schedule for the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) requires to maximize the number of observable proposals and the overall scientific priority, and minimize the overall slew-cost generated by telescope shifting, while taking into account the constraints including the astronomical objects visibility, user-defined observable times, avoiding Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). In this contribution, first we solve the problem of maximizing the number of observable proposals and scientific priority by modeling it as a Minimum Cost Maximum Flow (MCMF) problem. The optimal schedule can be found by any MCMF solution algorithm. Then, for minimizing the slew-cost of the generated schedule, we devise a maximally-matchable edges detection-based method to reduce the problem size, and propose a backtracking algorithm to find the perfect matching with minimum slew-cost. Experiments on a real dataset from NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) show that, the proposed scheduler can increase the usage of available times with high scientific priority and reduce the slew-cost significantly in a very short time.

  17. Three-dimensional holoscopic image coding scheme using high-efficiency video coding with kernel-based minimum mean-square-error estimation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Deyang; An, Ping; Ma, Ran; Yang, Chao; Shen, Liquan; Li, Kai

    2016-07-01

    Three-dimensional (3-D) holoscopic imaging, also known as integral imaging, light field imaging, or plenoptic imaging, can provide natural and fatigue-free 3-D visualization. However, a large amount of data is required to represent the 3-D holoscopic content. Therefore, efficient coding schemes for this particular type of image are needed. A 3-D holoscopic image coding scheme with kernel-based minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimation is proposed. In the proposed scheme, the coding block is predicted by an MMSE estimator under statistical modeling. In order to obtain the signal statistical behavior, kernel density estimation (KDE) is utilized to estimate the probability density function of the statistical modeling. As bandwidth estimation (BE) is a key issue in the KDE problem, we also propose a BE method based on kernel trick. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme can achieve a better rate-distortion performance and a better visual rendering quality.

  18. Blind Channel Equalization with Colored Source Based on Constrained Optimization Methods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Yunhua; DeBrunner, Linda; DeBrunner, Victor; Zhou, Dayong

    2008-12-01

    Tsatsanis and Xu have applied the constrained minimum output variance (CMOV) principle to directly blind equalize a linear channel—a technique that has proven effective with white inputs. It is generally assumed in the literature that their CMOV method can also effectively equalize a linear channel with a colored source. In this paper, we prove that colored inputs will cause the equalizer to incorrectly converge due to inadequate constraints. We also introduce a new blind channel equalizer algorithm that is based on the CMOV principle, but with a different constraint that will correctly handle colored sources. Our proposed algorithm works for channels with either white or colored inputs and performs equivalently to the trained minimum mean-square error (MMSE) equalizer under high SNR. Thus, our proposed algorithm may be regarded as an extension of the CMOV algorithm proposed by Tsatsanis and Xu. We also introduce several methods to improve the performance of our introduced algorithm in the low SNR condition. Simulation results show the superior performance of our proposed methods.

  19. Simulation-based Mastery Learning Improves Cardiac Auscultation Skills in Medical Students

    PubMed Central

    McGaghie, William C.; Cohen, Elaine R.; Kaye, Marsha; Wayne, Diane B.

    2010-01-01

    Background Cardiac auscultation is a core clinical skill. However, prior studies show that trainee skills are often deficient and that clinical experience is not a proxy for competence. Objective To describe a mastery model of cardiac auscultation education and evaluate its effectiveness in improving bedside cardiac auscultation skills. Design Untreated control group design with pretest and posttest. Participants Third-year students who received a cardiac auscultation curriculum and fourth year students who did not. Intervention A cardiac auscultation curriculum consisting of a computer tutorial and a cardiac patient simulator. All third-year students were required to meet or exceed a minimum passing score (MPS) set by an expert panel at posttest. Measurements Diagnostic accuracy with simulated heart sounds and actual patients. Results Trained third-year students (n = 77) demonstrated significantly higher cardiac auscultation accuracy compared to untrained fourth year students (n = 31) in assessment of simulated heart sounds (93.8% vs. 73.9%, p < 0.001) and with real patients (81.8% vs. 75.1%, p = 0.003). USMLE scores correlated modestly with a computer-based multiple choice assessment using simulated heart sounds but not with bedside skills on real patients. Conclusions A cardiac auscultation curriculum consisting of deliberate practice with a computer-based tutorial and a cardiac patient simulator resulted in improved assessment of simulated heart sounds and more accurate examination of actual patients. PMID:20339952

  20. Enhanced encrypted reversible data hiding algorithm with minimum distortion through homomorphic encryption

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhardwaj, Rupali

    2018-03-01

    Reversible data hiding means embedding a secret message in a cover image in such a manner, to the point that in the midst of extraction of the secret message, the cover image and, furthermore, the secret message are recovered with no error. The goal of by far most of the reversible data hiding algorithms is to have improved the embedding rate and enhanced visual quality of stego image. An improved encrypted-domain-based reversible data hiding algorithm to embed two binary bits in each gray pixel of original cover image with minimum distortion of stego-pixels is employed in this paper. Highlights of the proposed algorithm are minimum distortion of pixel's value, elimination of underflow and overflow problem, and equivalence of stego image and cover image with a PSNR of ∞ (for Lena, Goldhill, and Barbara image). The experimental outcomes reveal that in terms of average PSNR and embedding rate, for natural images, the proposed algorithm performed better than other conventional ones.

  1. ESP for Engineers: A Reassessment.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yin, Koh Moy

    1988-01-01

    Many foreign engineering undergraduates already have adequate English skills for the technical part of their academic and professional purposes, but still have problems with communication and interactive skills. Conventional ESP courses may not meet their needs, so an alternate program is proposed. (Author/LMO)

  2. 76 FR 64949 - Notice of the Award of a Single-Source Grant to The WorkPlace, Inc., in Bridgeport, CT

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-19

    .... The city of Bridgeport, CT, faces high levels of unemployment. The WorkPlace, Inc., proposes working... life skills training, supportive services, and occupational skills training. If performance by the...

  3. Lessons Learned from Application of System and Software Level RAMS Analysis to a Space Control System

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Silva, N.; Esper, A.

    2012-01-01

    The work presented in this article represents the results of applying RAMS analysis to a critical space control system, both at system and software levels. The system level RAMS analysis allowed the assignment of criticalities to the high level components, which was further refined by a tailored software level RAMS analysis. The importance of the software level RAMS analysis in the identification of new failure modes and its impact on the system level RAMS analysis is discussed. Recommendations of changes in the software architecture have also been proposed in order to reduce the criticality of the SW components to an acceptable minimum. The dependability analysis was performed in accordance to ECSS-Q-ST-80, which had to be tailored and complemented in some aspects. This tailoring will also be detailed in the article and lessons learned from the application of this tailoring will be shared, stating the importance to space systems safety evaluations. The paper presents the applied techniques, the relevant results obtained, the effort required for performing the tasks and the planned strategy for ROI estimation, as well as the soft skills required and acquired during these activities.

  4. Safety culture in the operating room of a public hospital in the perception of healthcare professionals1

    PubMed Central

    Carvalho, Paloma Aparecida; Göttems, Leila Bernarda Donato; Pires, Maria Raquel Gomes Maia; de Oliveira, Maria Liz Cunha

    2015-01-01

    Objective: to evaluate the perception of healthcare professionals about the safety culture in the operating room of a public hospital, large-sized, according to the domains of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ). Method: descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative research, with the application of the SAQ to 226 professionals. Descriptive data analysis, instrument consistency and exploratory factor analysis. Results: participants were distributed homogeneously between females (49.6%) and males (50.4%); mean age of 39.6 (SD±9.9) years and length of professional experience of 9.9 (SD±9.2) years. And Cronbach's ( of 0.84. It was identified six domains proposed in the questionnaire: stress perception (74.5) and job satisfaction (70.7) showed satisfactory results; teamwork environment (59.1) and climate of security (48.9) presented scores below the minimum recommended (75); unit's management perceptions (44.5), hospital management perceptions (34.9) and working conditions (41.9) presented the lowest averages. Conclusions: the results showed that, from the perspective of the professionals, there is weakness in the values, attitudes, skills and behaviors that determine the safety culture in a healthcare organization. PMID:26625994

  5. 36 CFR 51.16 - How will the Director evaluate proposals and select the best one?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... factor will be scored from zero to four (with a score of one for agreeing to the minimum franchise fee... evaluate proposals and select the best one? 51.16 Section 51.16 Parks, Forests, and Public Property... Procedures § 51.16 How will the Director evaluate proposals and select the best one? (a) The Director will...

  6. 75 FR 32529 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-06-08

    ... the requirements of Exchange Act Rule 15c3-1. The Exchange has conducted an analysis of financial.... 78a. \\3\\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4. I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 6.82 by revising the minimum financial...

  7. Particle tracking by using single coefficient of Wigner-Ville distribution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Widjaja, J.; Dawprateep, S.; Chuamchaitrakool, P.; Meemon, P.

    2016-11-01

    A new method for extracting information from particle holograms by using a single coefficient of Wigner-Ville distribution (WVD) is proposed to obviate drawbacks of conventional numerical reconstructions. Our previous study found that analysis of the holograms by using the WVD gives output coefficients which are mainly confined along a diagonal direction intercepted at the origin of the WVD plane. The slope of this diagonal direction is inversely proportional to the particle position. One of these coefficients always has minimum amplitude, regardless of the particle position. By detecting position of the coefficient with minimum amplitude in the WVD plane, the particle position can be accurately measured. The proposed method is verified through computer simulations.

  8. Proposed regulations submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency to the FAA: moise abatement minimum altitudes for turbojet-powered airplanes in terminal areas; turbojet-powered airplanes. Decision not to prescribe requlations: delayed landing flap procedure

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

    Not Available

    1976-11-29

    The Federal Aviation Administration has determined not to prescribe the proposed amendment to the FAA Regulations as submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency (40 F.R. 1072) on January 6, 1975, regarding noise abatement minimum altitudes for civil turbojet-powered airplanes. Instead, an internal directive is being issued aimed at the air traffic control function, which is designed to firmly integrate safety, fuel conservation, and noise abatement objectives into a single national program. It provides the flexibility needed to allow and encourage change with experience. (PCS)

  9. Protograph LDPC Codes with Node Degrees at Least 3

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Divsalar, Dariush; Jones, Christopher

    2006-01-01

    In this paper we present protograph codes with a small number of degree-3 nodes and one high degree node. The iterative decoding threshold for proposed rate 1/2 codes are lower, by about 0.2 dB, than the best known irregular LDPC codes with degree at least 3. The main motivation is to gain linear minimum distance to achieve low error floor. Also to construct rate-compatible protograph-based LDPC codes for fixed block length that simultaneously achieves low iterative decoding threshold and linear minimum distance. We start with a rate 1/2 protograph LDPC code with degree-3 nodes and one high degree node. Higher rate codes are obtained by connecting check nodes with degree-2 non-transmitted nodes. This is equivalent to constraint combining in the protograph. The condition where all constraints are combined corresponds to the highest rate code. This constraint must be connected to nodes of degree at least three for the graph to have linear minimum distance. Thus having node degree at least 3 for rate 1/2 guarantees linear minimum distance property to be preserved for higher rates. Through examples we show that the iterative decoding threshold as low as 0.544 dB can be achieved for small protographs with node degrees at least three. A family of low- to high-rate codes with minimum distance linearly increasing in block size and with capacity-approaching performance thresholds is presented. FPGA simulation results for a few example codes show that the proposed codes perform as predicted.

  10. Industry Use Cases and the Underlying Content Analytics Technology used in Big Data and Predictive Analytics (Briefing Charts)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-05-01

    high-demand degrees and skills, essential concepts and methodologies, and required programming languages and product knowledge Benefits • Gained...According to ·finance report I’BM Corp. ’s EPS increased by according corporation Increase 10.1% preposition noun( singular ) noun( sing ,ular...used for other languages too (e.g. French, Spanish, etc.) Need to identify phrasal expressions by scanning minimum number of tokens I Need to

  11. 7 CFR 1450.201 - Project area proposal submission requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... CREDIT CORPORATION, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS, PURCHASES, AND OTHER OPERATIONS BIOMASS CROP... a proposal to CCC that includes, at a minimum: (1) A description of the sources of renewable biomass... commitment from a biomass conversion facility stating that the facility will use, for BCAP purposes, eligible...

  12. 7 CFR 1450.201 - Project area proposal submission requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... CREDIT CORPORATION, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS, PURCHASES, AND OTHER OPERATIONS BIOMASS CROP... a proposal to CCC that includes, at a minimum: (1) A description of the sources of renewable biomass... commitment from a biomass conversion facility stating that the facility will use, for BCAP purposes, eligible...

  13. 7 CFR 1450.201 - Project area proposal submission requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... CREDIT CORPORATION, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS, PURCHASES, AND OTHER OPERATIONS BIOMASS CROP... a proposal to CCC that includes, at a minimum: (1) A description of the sources of renewable biomass... commitment from a biomass conversion facility stating that the facility will use, for BCAP purposes, eligible...

  14. 7 CFR 1450.201 - Project area proposal submission requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... CREDIT CORPORATION, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS, PURCHASES, AND OTHER OPERATIONS BIOMASS CROP... a proposal to CCC that includes, at a minimum: (1) A description of the sources of renewable biomass... commitment from a biomass conversion facility stating that the facility will use, for BCAP purposes, eligible...

  15. 78 FR 16299 - Proposed Extension of the Approval of Information Collection Requirements

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-14

    ... Federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards of most general... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Wage and Hour Division RIN 1235-0018 Proposed Extension of the Approval of Information Collection Requirements AGENCY: Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor. ACTION: Notice...

  16. Effects of regulated river flows on habitat suitability for the robust redhorse

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Fisk, J. M.; Kwak, Thomas J.; Heise, R. J.

    2015-01-01

    The Robust Redhorse Moxostoma robustum is a rare and imperiled fish, with wild populations occurring in three drainages from North Carolina to Georgia. Hydroelectric dams have altered the species’ habitat and restricted its range. An augmented minimum-flow regime that will affect Robust Redhorse habitat was recently prescribed for Blewett Falls Dam, a hydroelectric facility on the Pee Dee River, North Carolina. Our objective was to quantify suitable spawning and nonspawning habitat under current and proposed minimum-flow regimes. We implanted radio transmitters into 27 adult Robust Redhorses and relocated the fish from spring 2008 to summer 2009, and we described habitat at 15 spawning capture locations. Nonspawning habitat consisted of deep, slow-moving pools (mean depth D 2.3 m; mean velocity D 0.23 m/s), bedrock and sand substrates, and boulders or coarse woody debris as cover. Spawning habitat was characterized as shallower, faster-moving water (mean depth D 0.84 m; mean velocity D 0.61 m/s) with gravel and cobble as substrates and boulders as cover associated with shoals. Telemetry relocations revealed two behavioral subgroups: a resident subgroup (linear range [mean § SE] D 7.9 § 3.7 river kilometers [rkm]) that remained near spawning areas in the Piedmont region throughout the year; and a migratory subgroup (linear range D 64.3 § 8.4 rkm) that migrated extensively downstream into the Coastal Plain region. Spawning and nonspawning habitat suitability indices were developed based on field microhabitat measurements and were applied to model suitable available habitat (weighted usable area) for current and proposed augmented minimum flows. Suitable habitat (both spawning and nonspawning) increased for each proposed seasonal minimum flow relative to former minimum flows, with substantial increases for spawning sites. Our results contribute to an understanding of how regulated flows affect available habitats for imperiled species. Flow managers can use these findings to regulate discharge more effectively and to create and maintain important habitats during critical periods for priority species.

  17. 77 FR 6565 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-02-08

    ... and Resources for Emotion and Social skill promotion (CARES) project: Impact and Implementation Studies--Extension. OMB No.: 0970-0364. Description: The Head Start Classroom-based Approaches and Resources for Emotion and Social skill promotion (CARES) project is evaluating social emotional program...

  18. Developing a minimum dataset for nursing team leader handover in the intensive care unit: A focus group study.

    PubMed

    Spooner, Amy J; Aitken, Leanne M; Corley, Amanda; Chaboyer, Wendy

    2018-01-01

    Despite increasing demand for structured processes to guide clinical handover, nursing handover tools are limited in the intensive care unit. The study aim was to identify key items to include in a minimum dataset for intensive care nursing team leader shift-to-shift handover. This focus group study was conducted in a 21-bed medical/surgical intensive care unit in Australia. Senior registered nurses involved in team leader handovers were recruited. Focus groups were conducted using a nominal group technique to generate and prioritise minimum dataset items. Nurses were presented with content from previous team leader handovers and asked to select which content items to include in a minimum dataset. Participant responses were summarised as frequencies and percentages. Seventeen senior nurses participated in three focus groups. Participants agreed that ISBAR (Identify-Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendations) was a useful tool to guide clinical handover. Items recommended to be included in the minimum dataset (≥65% agreement) included Identify (name, age, days in intensive care), Situation (diagnosis, surgical procedure), Background (significant event(s), management of significant event(s)) and Recommendations (patient plan for next shift, tasks to follow up for next shift). Overall, 30 of the 67 (45%) items in the Assessment category were considered important to include in the minimum dataset and focused on relevant observations and treatment within each body system. Other non-ISBAR items considered important to include related to the ICU (admissions to ICU, staffing/skill mix, theatre cases) and patients (infectious status, site of infection, end of life plan). Items were further categorised into those to include in all handovers and those to discuss only when relevant to the patient. The findings suggest a minimum dataset for intensive care nursing team leader shift-to-shift handover should contain items within ISBAR along with unit and patient specific information to maintain continuity of care and patient safety across shift changes. Copyright © 2017 Australian College of Critical Care Nurses Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Employment through Lifelong Learning. A Project Demonstrating Long-Term Simultaneous Training in Academic, Vocational, and Self-Awareness Skills. Final Report. Project Operation Dates: January 1, 1980 to September 30, 1980.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Conti, Gary J.; Giles, Wayne E.

    This project, conducted by Spoon River College (Canton, Illinois), demonstrated the feasibility of a theoretical model developed by Wayne Giles and Gary Conti for training Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) clients. The model proposed the interfacing of long-term simultaneous training in academic skills, vocational skills, and…

  20. Does Teaching Problem-Solving Skills Matter? An Evaluation of Problem-Solving Skills Training for the Treatment of Social and Behavioral Problems in Children

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bushman, Bryan B.; Peacock, Gretchen Gimpel

    2010-01-01

    Problem-solving skills training (PSST) has been proposed as a potentially effective addition to behavioral parent training (PT). However, it is not clear whether PSST specifically increases the benefits provided by PT. In this study, PT + PSST was compared to PT + nondirective therapy in a sample of 26 families. All parents received PT. Following…

  1. Understanding the impact of simulated patients on health care learners' communication skills: a systematic review.

    PubMed

    Kaplonyi, Jessica; Bowles, Kelly-Ann; Nestel, Debra; Kiegaldie, Debra; Maloney, Stephen; Haines, Terry; Williams, Cylie

    2017-12-01

    Effective communication skills are at the core of good health care. Simulated patients (SPs) are increasingly engaged as an interactive means of teaching, applying and practising communication skills with immediate feedback. There is a large body of research into the use of manikin-based simulation but a gap exists in the body of research on the effectiveness of SP-based education to teach communication skills that impact patient outcomes. The aim of this systematic review was to critically analyse the existing research, investigating whether SP-based communication skills training improves learner-patient communication, how communication skill improvement is measured, and who measures these improvements. The databases Medline, ProQuest (Health & Medical Complete, Nursing and Allied Health Source) and CINAHL (EBSCOhost) Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC) were searched for articles that investigated the effects of SP-based education on the communication skills of medical, nursing and allied health learners. There were 60 studies included in the review. Only two studies reported direct patient outcomes, one reporting some negative impact, and no studies included an economic analysis. Many studies reported statistically significant third-party ratings of improved communication effectiveness following SP-based education; however, studies were unable to be pooled for meta-analysis because of the outcome collection methods. There were a small number of studies comparing SP with no training at all and there were no differences between communication skills, contradicting the results from studies reporting benefits. Of the 60 studies included for analysis, 54 (90%) met the minimum quality score of 7/11, with four articles (7%) scoring 11/11. SP-based education is widely accepted as a valuable and effective means of teaching communication skills but there is limited evidence of how this translates to patient outcomes and no indication of economic benefit for this type of training over another method. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and The Association for the Study of Medical Education.

  2. Valuing Diversity

    PubMed Central

    Fryer, Roland G.; Loury, Glenn C.

    2014-01-01

    This paper explores the economics of diversity-enhancing policies. A model is proposed in which heterogeneous agents, distinguished by skill level and social identity, purchase productive opportunities in a competitive market. We analyze policies designed to raise the status of a disadvantaged identity group. When agent identity is contractible, efficient policy grants preferred access to slots but offers no direct assistance for acquiring skills. When identity is not contractible, efficient policy provides universal subsidies to skill development when the fraction of the disadvantaged group at the skill development margin is larger than their share at the slot assignment margin. PMID:25525280

  3. The evaluation of a framework for measuring the non-technical ward round skills of final year nursing students: An observational study.

    PubMed

    Murray, Kara; McKenzie, Karen; Kelleher, Michael

    2016-10-01

    The importance of non-technical skills (NTS) to patient outcomes is increasingly being recognised, however, there is limited research into how such skills can be taught and evaluated in student nurses in relation toward rounds. This pilot study describes an evaluation of a NTS framework that could potentially be used to measure ward round skills of student nurses. The study used an observational design. Potential key NTS were identified from existing literature and NTS taxonomies. The proposed framework was then used to evaluate whether the identified NTS were evident in a series of ward round simulations that final year general nursing students undertook as part of their training. Finally, the views of a small group of qualified nurse educators, qualified nurses and general nursing students were sought about whether the identified NTS were important and relevant to practice. The proposed NTS framework included seven categories: Communication, Decision Making, Situational Awareness, Teamwork and Task Management, Student Initiative and Responsiveness to Patient. All were rated as important and relevant to practice. The pilot study suggests that the proposed NTS framework could be used as a means of evaluating student nurse competencies in respect of many non-technical skills required for a successful ward round. Further work is required to establish the validity of the framework in educational settings and to determine the extent to which it is of use in a non-simulated ward round setting. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Meaningful Assessment of Robotic Surgical Style using the Wisdom of Crowds.

    PubMed

    Ershad, M; Rege, R; Fey, A Majewicz

    2018-07-01

    Quantitative assessment of surgical skills is an important aspect of surgical training; however, the proposed metrics are sometimes difficult to interpret and may not capture the stylistic characteristics that define expertise. This study proposes a methodology for evaluating the surgical skill, based on metrics associated with stylistic adjectives, and evaluates the ability of this method to differentiate expertise levels. We recruited subjects from different expertise levels to perform training tasks on a surgical simulator. A lexicon of contrasting adjective pairs, based on important skills for robotic surgery, inspired by the global evaluative assessment of robotic skills tool, was developed. To validate the use of stylistic adjectives for surgical skill assessment, posture videos of the subjects performing the task, as well as videos of the task were rated by crowd-workers. Metrics associated with each adjective were found using kinematic and physiological measurements through correlation with the crowd-sourced adjective assignment ratings. To evaluate the chosen metrics' ability in distinguishing expertise levels, two classifiers were trained and tested using these metrics. Crowd-assignment ratings for all adjectives were significantly correlated with expertise levels. The results indicate that naive Bayes classifier performs the best, with an accuracy of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] when classifying into four, three, and two levels of expertise, respectively. The proposed method is effective at mapping understandable adjectives of expertise to the stylistic movements and physiological response of trainees.

  5. Beliefs and social behavior in a multi-period ultimatum game

    PubMed Central

    Azar, Ofer H.; Lahav, Yaron; Voslinsky, Alisa

    2015-01-01

    We conduct a multi-period ultimatum game in which we elicit players' beliefs. Responders do not predict accurately the amount that will be offered to them, and do not get better in their predictions over time. At the individual level we see some effect of the mistake in expectations in the previous period on the responder's expectation about the offer in the current period, but this effect is relatively small. The proposers' beliefs about the minimum amount that responders will accept is significantly higher than the minimum amount responders believe will be accepted by other responders. The proposer's belief about the minimal acceptable offer does not change following a rejection. Nevertheless, the proposer's offer in the next period does increase following a rejection. The probability of rejection increases when the responder has higher expectations about the amount that will be offered to him or higher beliefs about the minimal amount that other responders will accept. PMID:25762909

  6. Blind Channel Equalization Using Constrained Generalized Pattern Search Optimization and Reinitialization Strategy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zaouche, Abdelouahib; Dayoub, Iyad; Rouvaen, Jean Michel; Tatkeu, Charles

    2008-12-01

    We propose a global convergence baud-spaced blind equalization method in this paper. This method is based on the application of both generalized pattern optimization and channel surfing reinitialization. The potentially used unimodal cost function relies on higher- order statistics, and its optimization is achieved using a pattern search algorithm. Since the convergence to the global minimum is not unconditionally warranted, we make use of channel surfing reinitialization (CSR) strategy to find the right global minimum. The proposed algorithm is analyzed, and simulation results using a severe frequency selective propagation channel are given. Detailed comparisons with constant modulus algorithm (CMA) are highlighted. The proposed algorithm performances are evaluated in terms of intersymbol interference, normalized received signal constellations, and root mean square error vector magnitude. In case of nonconstant modulus input signals, our algorithm outperforms significantly CMA algorithm with full channel surfing reinitialization strategy. However, comparable performances are obtained for constant modulus signals.

  7. Application of genetic algorithm in the evaluation of the profile error of archimedes helicoid surface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhu, Lianqing; Chen, Yunfang; Chen, Qingshan; Meng, Hao

    2011-05-01

    According to minimum zone condition, a method for evaluating the profile error of Archimedes helicoid surface based on Genetic Algorithm (GA) is proposed. The mathematic model of the surface is provided and the unknown parameters in the equation of surface are acquired through least square method. Principle of GA is explained. Then, the profile error of Archimedes Helicoid surface is obtained through GA optimization method. To validate the proposed method, the profile error of an Archimedes helicoid surface, Archimedes Cylindrical worm (ZA worm) surface, is evaluated. The results show that the proposed method is capable of correctly evaluating the profile error of Archimedes helicoid surface and satisfy the evaluation standard of the Minimum Zone Method. It can be applied to deal with the measured data of profile error of complex surface obtained by three coordinate measurement machines (CMM).

  8. Camera calibration based on the back projection process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gu, Feifei; Zhao, Hong; Ma, Yueyang; Bu, Penghui

    2015-12-01

    Camera calibration plays a crucial role in 3D measurement tasks of machine vision. In typical calibration processes, camera parameters are iteratively optimized in the forward imaging process (FIP). However, the results can only guarantee the minimum of 2D projection errors on the image plane, but not the minimum of 3D reconstruction errors. In this paper, we propose a universal method for camera calibration, which uses the back projection process (BPP). In our method, a forward projection model is used to obtain initial intrinsic and extrinsic parameters with a popular planar checkerboard pattern. Then, the extracted image points are projected back into 3D space and compared with the ideal point coordinates. Finally, the estimation of the camera parameters is refined by a non-linear function minimization process. The proposed method can obtain a more accurate calibration result, which is more physically useful. Simulation and practical data are given to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed method.

  9. Decentralized and cost-effective solar water purification system for remote communities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abd-ur-Rehman, Hafiz M.; Shakir, Sehar; Atta-ur-Razaq; Saqib, Hamza; Tahir, Saad

    2018-05-01

    In this study, a modified stepped solar still is proposed for water desalination. The overall objective of this work is to develop and test the proposed still design to identify the productivity enhancement as compared to conventional basin type solar still. The proposed design takes the advantage of its stepped configuration that allows the water stream to maintain a minimum desirable water column height and the water flow through the stages under the force of gravity. A minimum water depth in the still results in a higher rate of evaporation. The still is also incorporated with Fresnel lens to increase the water temperature that eventually increases the rate of water evaporation. Another important aspect of this design is the incorporation of phase-change-material (PCM) to increase the operational hours of the solar still. Consequently, daily productivity of fresh water is increased.

  10. A new fast algorithm for solving the minimum spanning tree problem based on DNA molecules computation.

    PubMed

    Wang, Zhaocai; Huang, Dongmei; Meng, Huajun; Tang, Chengpei

    2013-10-01

    The minimum spanning tree (MST) problem is to find minimum edge connected subsets containing all the vertex of a given undirected graph. It is a vitally important NP-complete problem in graph theory and applied mathematics, having numerous real life applications. Moreover in previous studies, DNA molecular operations usually were used to solve NP-complete head-to-tail path search problems, rarely for NP-hard problems with multi-lateral path solutions result, such as the minimum spanning tree problem. In this paper, we present a new fast DNA algorithm for solving the MST problem using DNA molecular operations. For an undirected graph with n vertex and m edges, we reasonably design flexible length DNA strands representing the vertex and edges, take appropriate steps and get the solutions of the MST problem in proper length range and O(3m+n) time complexity. We extend the application of DNA molecular operations and simultaneity simplify the complexity of the computation. Results of computer simulative experiments show that the proposed method updates some of the best known values with very short time and that the proposed method provides a better performance with solution accuracy over existing algorithms. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  11. Mathematical Modeling of Extinction of Inhomogeneous Populations

    PubMed Central

    Karev, G.P.; Kareva, I.

    2016-01-01

    Mathematical models of population extinction have a variety of applications in such areas as ecology, paleontology and conservation biology. Here we propose and investigate two types of sub-exponential models of population extinction. Unlike the more traditional exponential models, the life duration of sub-exponential models is finite. In the first model, the population is assumed to be composed clones that are independent from each other. In the second model, we assume that the size of the population as a whole decreases according to the sub-exponential equation. We then investigate the “unobserved heterogeneity”, i.e. the underlying inhomogeneous population model, and calculate the distribution of frequencies of clones for both models. We show that the dynamics of frequencies in the first model is governed by the principle of minimum of Tsallis information loss. In the second model, the notion of “internal population time” is proposed; with respect to the internal time, the dynamics of frequencies is governed by the principle of minimum of Shannon information loss. The results of this analysis show that the principle of minimum of information loss is the underlying law for the evolution of a broad class of models of population extinction. Finally, we propose a possible application of this modeling framework to mechanisms underlying time perception. PMID:27090117

  12. Determining size and dispersion of minimum viable populations for land management planning and species conservation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lehmkuhl, John F.

    1984-03-01

    The concept of minimum populations of wildlife and plants has only recently been discussed in the literature. Population genetics has emerged as a basic underlying criterion for determining minimum population size. This paper presents a genetic framework and procedure for determining minimum viable population size and dispersion strategies in the context of multiple-use land management planning. A procedure is presented for determining minimum population size based on maintenance of genetic heterozygosity and reduction of inbreeding. A minimum effective population size ( N e ) of 50 breeding animals is taken from the literature as the minimum shortterm size to keep inbreeding below 1% per generation. Steps in the procedure adjust N e to account for variance in progeny number, unequal sex ratios, overlapping generations, population fluctuations, and period of habitat/population constraint. The result is an approximate census number that falls within a range of effective population size of 50 500 individuals. This population range defines the time range of short- to long-term population fitness and evolutionary potential. The length of the term is a relative function of the species generation time. Two population dispersion strategies are proposed: core population and dispersed population.

  13. The Proposal Project

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Pierce, Elizabeth

    2007-01-01

    The proposal project stretches over a significant portion of the semester-long sophomore course Professional Communication (ENG 250) at Monroe Community College. While developing their proposal project, students need to use time management skills to successfully complete a quality project on time. In addition, excellent oral and written…

  14. Skill networks and measures of complex human capital.

    PubMed

    Anderson, Katharine A

    2017-11-28

    We propose a network-based method for measuring worker skills. We illustrate the method using data from an online freelance website. Using the tools of network analysis, we divide skills into endogenous categories based on their relationship with other skills in the market. Workers who specialize in these different areas earn dramatically different wages. We then show that, in this market, network-based measures of human capital provide additional insight into wages beyond traditional measures. In particular, we show that workers with diverse skills earn higher wages than those with more specialized skills. Moreover, we can distinguish between two different types of workers benefiting from skill diversity: jacks-of-all-trades, whose skills can be applied independently on a wide range of jobs, and synergistic workers, whose skills are useful in combination and fill a hole in the labor market. On average, workers whose skills are synergistic earn more than jacks-of-all-trades. Copyright © 2017 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.

  15. The savant syndrome: intellectual impairment and exceptional skill.

    PubMed

    Miller, L K

    1999-01-01

    Occasionally, people with developmental disability display skills at a level inconsistent with their general intellectual functioning, so-called "savant" behavior. Studies of savant behavior are reviewed to determine their relevance to notions about the importance of general intellective functions in the development of exceptional skill. It is concluded that (a) the skill exhibited by savants shares many characteristics with that in people without disability, (b) the skill is usually accompanied by normative levels of performance on at least some subtests of standardized measures of cognitive achievement, and (c) it is unclear whether savants have distinctive cognitive strengths or motivational dispositions, though their relative prevalence among people with certain kinds of disability suggests predisposing constraints. The author proposes that these skills typically reflect highly elaborated preconceptual representational systems.

  16. 40 CFR 35.937-6 - Cost and price considerations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Cost and price considerations. 35.937-6...) shall apply. (1) The candidate(s) selected for negotiation shall submit to the grantee for review...) Cost review. (1) The grantee shall review proposed subagreement costs. (2) As a minimum, proposed...

  17. 40 CFR 35.937-6 - Cost and price considerations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Cost and price considerations. 35.937-6...) shall apply. (1) The candidate(s) selected for negotiation shall submit to the grantee for review...) Cost review. (1) The grantee shall review proposed subagreement costs. (2) As a minimum, proposed...

  18. 76 FR 35363 - Proposed Amendment to Class B Airspace; Seattle, WA

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-17

    ...: This action proposes to modify Class B airspace in Seattle, WA to contain aircraft conducting... surrounding airports with high density air traffic operations by providing an area, in which all aircraft are... in higher airport arrival acceptance rates during IFR minimums, but requires aircraft to be...

  19. 76 FR 6088 - Installed Systems and Equipment for Use by the Flightcrew

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-02-03

    ... requirements proposed here with the intent of achieving that balance. General Discussion of the Proposal..., ``General requirements.'' Under that section, the FAA is charged with prescribing regulations and minimum... appropriate balance is needed among them. There have been cases in the past where design characteristics known...

  20. 43 CFR 10010.45 - Time periods.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 43 Public Lands: Interior 2 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Time periods. 10010.45 Section 10010.45... Environmental Impact Statements § 10010.45 Time periods. (a) The minimum review period for a draft EIS will be... proposed reductions in time periods or any extensions of time periods proposed by those agencies. ...

  1. 43 CFR 10010.45 - Time periods.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 43 Public Lands: Interior 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Time periods. 10010.45 Section 10010.45... Environmental Impact Statements § 10010.45 Time periods. (a) The minimum review period for a draft EIS will be... proposed reductions in time periods or any extensions of time periods proposed by those agencies. ...

  2. 43 CFR 10010.45 - Time periods.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 43 Public Lands: Interior 2 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Time periods. 10010.45 Section 10010.45... Environmental Impact Statements § 10010.45 Time periods. (a) The minimum review period for a draft EIS will be... proposed reductions in time periods or any extensions of time periods proposed by those agencies. ...

  3. Strategies to Foster Emotional Intelligence in Christian Higher Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gliebe, Sudi Kate

    2012-01-01

    This article proposes five initiatives to foster emotional intelligence (EI) education throughout institutions of Christian higher education. Goleman (1995) identifies self-awareness, managing emotions, motivation, empathy, and social intelligence as the hallmark skills of emotional intelligence. The importance of mastering these skills and their…

  4. Cognitive Diagnostic Analysis Using Hierarchically Structured Skills

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Su, Yu-Lan

    2013-01-01

    This dissertation proposes two modified cognitive diagnostic models (CDMs), the deterministic, inputs, noisy, "and" gate with hierarchy (DINA-H) model and the deterministic, inputs, noisy, "or" gate with hierarchy (DINO-H) model. Both models incorporate the hierarchical structures of the cognitive skills in the model estimation…

  5. 78 FR 26621 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-07

    ... provide funding for students to study abroad to improve their cultural and language skills in areas... Defense for Personnel and Readiness provides Boren scholarships and fellowships for students to study abroad to improve their cultural and language skills in areas critical to national security. In exchange...

  6. An Integrated Behavioral Approach to Transfer of Interpersonal Leadership Skills.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fleming, Richard K.

    1992-01-01

    Academic institutions need to prepare management students by teaching interpersonal leadership skills. This article reviews current experimental methods in management education, presents an operant conceptualization of transfer, illustrates applications of behavior instruction to management and other fields, and proposes a field-based behavioral…

  7. Predictive analysis and data mining among the employment of fresh graduate students in HEI

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rahman, Nor Azziaty Abdul; Tan, Kian Lam; Lim, Chen Kim

    2017-10-01

    Management of higher education have a problem in producing 100% of graduates who can meet the needs of industry while industry is also facing the problem of finding skilled graduates who suit their needs partly due to the lack of an effective method in assessing problem solving skills as well as weaknesses in the assessment of problem-solving skills. The purpose of this paper is to propose a suitable classification model that can be used in making prediction and assessment of the attributes of the student's dataset to meet the selection criteria of work demanded by the industry of the graduates in the academic field. Supervised and unsupervised Machine Learning Algorithms were used in this research where; K-Nearest Neighbor, Naïve Bayes, Decision Tree, Neural Network, Logistic Regression and Support Vector Machine. The proposed model will help the university management to make a better long-term plans for producing graduates who are skilled, knowledgeable and fulfill the industry needs as well.

  8. Minimal Magnetic States of the Sun and the Solar Wind: Implications for the Origin of the Slow Solar Wind

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cliver, E. W.; von Steiger, R.

    2017-09-01

    During the last decade it has been proposed that both the Sun and the solar wind have minimum magnetic states, lowest order levels of magnetism that underlie the 11-yr cycle as well as longer-term variability. Here we review the literature on basal magnetic states at the Sun and in the heliosphere and draw a connection between the two based on the recent deep 2008-2009 minimum between cycles 23 and 24. In particular, we consider the implications of the low solar activity during the recent minimum for the origin of the slow solar wind.

  9. The assessment of surgical skills as a complement to the training method. Revision.

    PubMed

    Sánchez-Fernández, J; Bachiller-Burgos, J; Serrano-Pascual, Á; Cózar-Olmo, J M; Díaz-Güemes Martín-Portugués, I; Pérez-Duarte, F J; Hernández-Hurtado, L; Álvarez-Ossorio, J L; Sánchez-Margallo, F M

    2016-01-01

    The acquisition and improvement of surgical skills constitute a fundamental element in the training of any practitioner. At present, however, the assessment of these skills is a scarcely developed area of research. The aim of this study was to analyse the peculiarities of the various assessment systems and establish the minimum criteria that a skills and knowledge assessment system should meet as a method for assessing surgical skills in urological surgery. Scientific literature review aimed at the various currently available assessment systems for skills and competencies (technical and nontechnical), with a special focus on the systematic reviews and prospective studies. After conducting the review, we found that the various assessment systems for surgical competence have, in our opinion, a number of shortcomings. There is a certain degree of subjectivity in the assessment of surgeons by the evaluators. The assessment of nontechnical competencies is not formally recorded. There is no description of a follow-up assessment or any basic parameters associated with healthcare quality. There is no registration of associated competencies associated with the various surgical techniques. There is also no ranking of these competencies and the specific peculiarities for their application. We believe that the development of a new assessment system for surgical competencies (technical and nontechnical) aimed at assessing urologists in the various surgical techniques is necessary. To this end, our team has worked on developing the Evaluation System for Surgical Competencies on Laparoscopy, which is based on the definition, ranking and assessment of competencies demonstrated by surgeons. Copyright © 2015 AEU. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  10. Validation of a virtual reality-based robotic surgical skills curriculum.

    PubMed

    Connolly, Michael; Seligman, Johnathan; Kastenmeier, Andrew; Goldblatt, Matthew; Gould, Jon C

    2014-05-01

    The clinical application of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is rapidly increasing. The da Vinci Surgical System™ is currently the only commercially available RAS system. The skills necessary to perform robotic surgery are unique from those required for open and laparoscopic surgery. A validated laparoscopic surgical skills curriculum (fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery or FLS™) has transformed the way surgeons acquire laparoscopic skills. There is a need for a similar skills training and assessment tool specific for robotic surgery. Based on previously published data and expert opinion, we developed a robotic skills curriculum. We sought to evaluate this curriculum for evidence of construct validity (ability to discriminate between users of different skill levels). Four experienced surgeons (>20 RAS) and 20 novice surgeons (first-year medical students with no surgical or RAS experience) were evaluated. The curriculum comprised five tasks utilizing the da Vinci™ Skills Simulator (Pick and Place, Camera Targeting 2, Peg Board 2, Matchboard 2, and Suture Sponge 3). After an orientation to the robot and a period of acclimation in the simulator, all subjects completed three consecutive repetitions of each task. Computer-derived performance metrics included time, economy of motion, master work space, instrument collisions, excessive force, distance of instruments out of view, drops, missed targets, and overall scores (a composite of all metrics). Experienced surgeons significantly outperformed novice surgeons in most metrics. Statistically significant differences were detected for each task in regards to mean overall scores and mean time (seconds) to completion. The curriculum we propose is a valid method of assessing and distinguishing robotic surgical skill levels on the da Vinci Si™ Surgical System. Further study is needed to establish proficiency levels and to demonstrate that training on the simulator with the proposed curriculum leads to improved robotic surgical performance in the operating room.

  11. A Perspective on the Effect of the 80-Hour Work Week: Has It Changed the Graduating Orthopaedic Resident?

    PubMed

    Pellegrini, Vincent D

    2017-06-01

    Orthopaedic residency education has changed substantially in recent decades because of the imposition of the 80-hour work week, a decrease in quality and quantity of general surgical education, regulations mandating closer trainee supervision, and an expansion of orthopaedic subspecialty rotations. These factors pose a challenge in efforts to prepare competent, confident, cautious, caring, and communicative orthopaedic residents within the traditional 5-year program. Evidence suggests that contemporary graduates are more intelligent, better balanced in life and work, and more in touch with humanistic aspects of medicine than were earlier graduates. Yet insufficient competence and confidence in surgical skills after residency and a lack of "ownership" of patient care have become an increasing concern of educators and trainees. The concept of 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to achieve mastery of a technical skill applies to orthopaedic residency education. A different approach to graduate medical education must address the critical minimum training time required to achieve the necessary skills to support independent medical and surgical practice.

  12. Medicare program; prospective payment system and consolidated billing for skilled nursing facilities for FY 2014. Final rule.

    PubMed

    2013-08-06

    This final rule updates the payment rates used under the prospective payment system for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for fiscal year (FY) 2014. In addition, it revises and rebases the SNF market basket, revises and updates the labor related share, and makes certain technical and conforming revisions in the regulations text. This final rule also includes a policy for reporting the SNF market basket forecast error in certain limited circumstances and adds a new item to the Minimum Data Set (MDS), Version 3.0 for reporting the number of distinct therapy days. Finally, this final rule adopts a change to the diagnosis code used to determine which residents will receive the AIDS add-on payment, effective for services provided on or after the October 1, 2014 implementation date for conversion to ICD-10-CM.

  13. 48 CFR 2052.216-72 - Task order procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ...; (5) Technical skills required; and (6) Estimated level of effort. (b) Task order technical proposal. By the date specified in the TORFP, the contractor shall deliver to the contracting officer a written or verbal (as specified in the TORFP technical proposal submittal instructions) technical proposal...

  14. Impact of Awareness Raising about Listening Micro-Skills on the Listening Comprehension Enhancement: An Exploration of the Listening Micro-Skills in EFL Classes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rezaei, Amir; Hashim, Fatimah

    2013-01-01

    It is common practice in the classes that teachers focus on the outcome of listening rather than the listening process itself. Based on the interventionist view of language teaching, one of the ways proposed for teaching listening is to break it into smaller micro-skills and give learners awareness about them. But before giving awareness, it is…

  15. 77 FR 53887 - Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-09-04

    ... limited to, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, behavioral intentions, practices, behaviors, skills, self-efficacy, and health information needs and sources. The proposed generic clearance is needed for DGMQ to...

  16. The Selective Task Trainer: The Expert Solution.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gerson, Charles W.

    1995-01-01

    Examines simulator classification and design in light of new technology, current research, and a changing focus for using flight simulators in the military, and proposes a selective task trainer that addresses the expert's performance needs. Highlights include motor skill physiology; retention; automaticity skills; the novice to expert…

  17. Expanding the Profession: Ideas for Change.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Boileau, Don M.

    This paper proposes a high school curriculum that incorporates education in oral communication as an essential graduation skill--a skill taught systematically by trained instructors in a communication course. The paper points out, however, that other innovative arrangements are possible as long as the instruction is systematic; follows…

  18. Motor Skill Learning in Children.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gabbard, Carl P.

    The purpose of this article is to briefly describe schema theory and indicate its relevance to early childhood development, with specific reference to children's acquisition of motor skills. Schema theory proposes an explanation of how individuals learn and perform a seemingly endless variety of movements. According to Schmidt (1975), goal…

  19. 76 FR 12749 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 1660-0044...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-03-08

    ... concerning knowledge and skills gained through emergency management related courses. DATES: Comments must be... the Emergency Management Institute to self-assess the knowledge and skills gained through emergency... DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal Emergency Management Agency [Docket ID: FEMA-2011-0008...

  20. Adaptation of Professional Skills in the Unit Operations Laboratory

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rende, Deniz; Rende, Sevinc; Baysal, Nihat

    2012-01-01

    We introduce the design of three consecutive unit operations laboratory (UOL) courses that retain the academic rigor of the course while incorporating skills essential for professional careers, such as ability to propose ideas, develop practical solutions, participate in teamwork, meet deadlines, establish communication between technical support…

  1. Skill in Expert Dogs

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Helton, William S.

    2007-01-01

    The motor control of novice participants is often cognitively demanding and susceptible to interference by other tasks. As people develop expertise, their motor control becomes less susceptible to interference from other tasks. Researchers propose a transition in human motor skill from active control to automaticity. This progression may also be…

  2. Broaden Engineering Technology students' knowledge through hands-on with motion robotics

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The skills and knowledge that employers value most are not always well-aligned with undergraduate engineering technology programs. With the support of a federal grant, we identify and propose to broaden the undergraduate student experience to include training in transferable skills with agricultura...

  3. Nursing work directions in Australia: does evidence drive the policy?

    PubMed

    Roche, Michael; Duffield, Christine; Aisbett, Chris; Diers, Donna; Stasa, Helen

    2012-01-01

    A significant body of research has shown a relationship between nurse staffing (in particular, skill-mix: the proportion of Registered Nurses [RNs]) and both morbidity and mortality. This relationship is typically investigated by measuring the incidence of Nursing Sensitive Outcomes (NSOs) under different skill-mix levels. Yet whilst the evidence suggests that richer skill-mix is associated with a lower incidence of NSOs, recent Australian policy reforms have proposed the replacement of Registered Nurses with less qualified staff. The present study sought to examine the relationship between staffing, skill-mix, and incidence of NSOs at two hospitals in one Australian state. The study sought to determine the rate of occurrence of several NSOs, the relationship of skill-mix to that rate, and the number of patients affected per annum. It was found that the current rate of NSOs across wards ranged from 0.17% to 1.05%, and that there was an inverse relationship between the proportion of hours worked by RNs and NSO rates: an increase of 10% in the proportion of hours worked by RNs was linked to a decrease in NSO rates by between 11% and 45%. It was estimated that increasing the RN staffing percentage by 10% would mean 160 fewer adverse outcomes for patients per year across these two hospitals. Importantly, increases in nursing hours overall (without increases in skill-mix) had no significant effect on patient outcomes. These findings challenge current policy recommendations, which propose increasing the number of unregistered staff without increasing skill-mix.

  4. Consumer and relationship factors associated with shared decision making in mental health consultations.

    PubMed

    Matthias, Marianne S; Fukui, Sadaaki; Kukla, Marina; Eliacin, Johanne; Bonfils, Kelsey A; Firmin, Ruth L; Oles, Sylwia K; Adams, Erin L; Collins, Linda A; Salyers, Michelle P

    2014-12-01

    This study explored the association between shared decision making and consumers' illness management skills and consumer-provider relationships. Medication management appointments for 79 consumers were audio recorded. Independent coders rated overall shared decision making, minimum level of shared decision making, and consumer-provider agreement for 63 clients whose visit included a treatment decision. Mental health diagnoses, medication adherence, patient activation, illness management, working alliance, and length of consumer-provider relationships were also assessed. Correlation analyses were used to determine relationships among measures. Overall shared decision making was not associated with any variables. Minimum levels of shared decision making were associated with higher scores on the bond subscale of the Working Alliance Inventory, indicating a higher degree of liking and trust, and with better medication adherence. Agreement was associated with shorter consumer-provider relationships. Consumer-provider relationships and shared decision making might have a more nuanced association than originally thought.

  5. Development of an accelerated reliability test schedule for terrestrial solar cells

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lathrop, J. W.; Prince, J. L.

    1981-01-01

    An accelerated test schedule using a minimum amount of tests and a minimum number of cells has been developed on the basis of stress test results obtained from more than 1500 cells of seven different cell types. The proposed tests, which include bias-temperature, bias-temperature-humidity, power cycle, thermal cycle, and thermal shock tests, use as little as 10 and up to 25 cells, depending on the test type.

  6. C-semiring Frameworks for Minimum Spanning Tree Problems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bistarelli, Stefano; Santini, Francesco

    In this paper we define general algebraic frameworks for the Minimum Spanning Tree problem based on the structure of c-semirings. We propose general algorithms that can compute such trees by following different cost criteria, which must be all specific instantiation of c-semirings. Our algorithms are extensions of well-known procedures, as Prim or Kruskal, and show the expressivity of these algebraic structures. They can deal also with partially-ordered costs on the edges.

  7. Barriers and dispersal surfaces in minimum-time interception. [for optimizing aircraft flight paths

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rajan, N.; Ardema, M. D.

    1984-01-01

    A method is proposed for mapping the barrier, dispersal, and control-level surfaces for a class of minimum-time interception and pursuit-evasion problems. Minimum-time interception of a target moving in a horizontal plane is formulated in a coordinate system whose origin is at the interceptor's terminal position and whose x-axis is along the terminal line of sight. This approach makes it possible to discuss the nature of the interceptor's extremals, using its extremal trajectory maps (ETMs), independently of target motion. The game surfaces are constructed by drawing sections of the isochrones, or constant minimum-time loci, from the interceptor and target ETMs. In this way, feedback solutions for the optimal controls are obtained. An example involving the interception of a target moving in a straight line at constant speed is presented.

  8. High resolution miniaturized stepper ultrasonic motor using differential composite motion.

    PubMed

    Chu, Xiangcheng; Xing, Zengping; Li, Longtu; Gui, Zhilun

    2004-03-01

    Experiments show that there is a limited minimum stepped angle in ultrasonic motors (USM). The research on the minimum angle of stepper USM with 15 mm in diameter and wobbling mode is being carried out. This paper presents a novel way to decrease the minimum stepped angle of USM based on the principle of differential composite motion (DCM), i.e. clockwise and counterclockwise rotation. The prototype was fabricated and experiments proved that this method is useful and also keeps a high torque for a large stepped angle. The stator of the prototype is steel, and rotor is fiberglass, antifriction material or steel. The prototype can operate well over 150 h with a 5 kHz wide frequency band. The minimum stepped angle is 46" using a coventional method while 12" using DCM method proposed in this paper.

  9. A step-up test procedure to find the minimum effective dose.

    PubMed

    Wang, Weizhen; Peng, Jianan

    2015-01-01

    It is of great interest to find the minimum effective dose (MED) in dose-response studies. A sequence of decreasing null hypotheses to find the MED is formulated under the assumption of nondecreasing dose response means. A step-up multiple test procedure that controls the familywise error rate (FWER) is constructed based on the maximum likelihood estimators for the monotone normal means. When the MED is equal to one, the proposed test is uniformly more powerful than Hsu and Berger's test (1999). Also, a simulation study shows a substantial power improvement for the proposed test over four competitors. Three R-codes are provided in Supplemental Materials for this article. Go to the publishers online edition of Journal of Biopharmaceutical Statistics to view the files.

  10. Promoting interdisciplinary project-based learning to build the skill sets for research and development of medical devices in academia.

    PubMed

    Krishnan, Shankar

    2013-01-01

    The worldwide need for rapid expansion and diversification of medical devices and the corresponding requirements in industry pose arduous challenges for educators to train undergraduate biomedical engineering (BME) students. Preparing BME students for working in the research and development (R&D) in medical device industry is not easily accomplished by adopting traditional pedagogical methods. Even with the inclusion of the design and development elements in capstone projects, medical device industry may be still experience a gap in fulfilling their needs in R&D. This paper proposes a new model based on interdisciplinary project-based learning (IDPBL) to address the requirements of building the necessary skill sets in academia for carrying out R&D in medical device industry. The proposed model incorporates IDPBL modules distributed in a stepwise fashion through the four years of a typical BME program. The proposed model involves buy-in and collaboration from faculty as well as students. The implementation of the proposed design in an undergraduate BME program is still in process. However, a variant of the proposed IDPBL method has been attempted at a limited scale at the postgraduate level and has shown some success. Extrapolating the previous results, the adoption of the IDPBL to BME training seems to suggest promising outcomes. Despite numerous implementation challenges, with continued efforts, the proposed IDPBL will be valuable n academia for skill sets building for medical device R&D.

  11. Early motor skill competence as a mediator of child and adult physical activity

    PubMed Central

    Loprinzi, Paul D.; Davis, Robert E.; Fu, Yang-Chieh

    2015-01-01

    Objective: In order to effectively promote physical activity (PA) during childhood, and across the lifespan, a better understanding of the role of early motor skill development on child and adult PA is needed. Methods: Here, we propose a conceptual model delineating the hypothesized influence of motor skill development on child and adult PA, while providing an overview of the current empirical research related to this model. Results: There is consistent and emerging evidence showing that adequate motor skill competence, particularly locomotor and gross motor skills, is associated with increased PA levels during the preschool, child, and adolescent years, with early motor skill development also influencing enjoyment of PA as well as long-term PA and motor skill performance. The physical education setting appears to be a well-suited environment for motor skill development. Conclusion: Employing appropriate strategies to target motor skill development across the childhood years is of paramount interest in helping shape children's PA behavior, their experiences related to PA, as well as maintain their PA. PMID:26844157

  12. Western Australian Public Opinions of a Minimum Pricing Policy for Alcohol: Study Protocol

    PubMed Central

    Keatley, David A; Daube, Mike; Hardcastle, Sarah J

    2015-01-01

    Background Excessive alcohol consumption has significant adverse economic, social, and health outcomes. Recent estimates suggest that the annual economic costs of alcohol in Australia are up to AUD $36 billion. Policies influencing price have been demonstrated to be very effective in reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harms. Interest in minimum pricing has gained traction in recent years. However, there has been little research investigating the level of support for the public interest case of minimum pricing in Australia. Objective This article describes protocol for a study exploring Western Australian (WA) public knowledge, understanding, and reaction to a proposed minimum price policy per standard drink. Methods The study will employ a qualitative methodological design. Participants will be recruited from a wide variety of backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, blue and white collar workers, unemployed, students, and elderly/retired populations to participate in focus groups. Focus group participants will be asked about their knowledge of, and initial reactions to, the proposed policy and encouraged to discuss how such a proposal may affect their own alcohol use and alcohol consumption at the population level. Participants will also be asked to discuss potential avenues for increasing acceptability of the policy. The focus groups will adopt a semi-structured, open-ended approach guided by a question schedule. The schedule will be based on feedback from pilot samples, previous research, and a steering group comprising experts in alcohol policy and pricing. Results The study is expected to take approximately 14 months to complete. Conclusions The findings will be of considerable interest and relevance to government officials, policy makers, researchers, advocacy groups, alcohol retail and licensed establishments and organizations, city and town planners, police, and other stakeholder organizations. PMID:26582408

  13. Western Australian Public Opinions of a Minimum Pricing Policy for Alcohol: Study Protocol.

    PubMed

    Keatley, David A; Carragher, Natacha; Chikritzhs, Tanya; Daube, Mike; Hardcastle, Sarah J; Hagger, Martin S

    2015-11-18

    Excessive alcohol consumption has significant adverse economic, social, and health outcomes. Recent estimates suggest that the annual economic costs of alcohol in Australia are up to AUD $36 billion. Policies influencing price have been demonstrated to be very effective in reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harms. Interest in minimum pricing has gained traction in recent years. However, there has been little research investigating the level of support for the public interest case of minimum pricing in Australia. This article describes protocol for a study exploring Western Australian (WA) public knowledge, understanding, and reaction to a proposed minimum price policy per standard drink. The study will employ a qualitative methodological design. Participants will be recruited from a wide variety of backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, blue and white collar workers, unemployed, students, and elderly/retired populations to participate in focus groups. Focus group participants will be asked about their knowledge of, and initial reactions to, the proposed policy and encouraged to discuss how such a proposal may affect their own alcohol use and alcohol consumption at the population level. Participants will also be asked to discuss potential avenues for increasing acceptability of the policy. The focus groups will adopt a semi-structured, open-ended approach guided by a question schedule. The schedule will be based on feedback from pilot samples, previous research, and a steering group comprising experts in alcohol policy and pricing. The study is expected to take approximately 14 months to complete. The findings will be of considerable interest and relevance to government officials, policy makers, researchers, advocacy groups, alcohol retail and licensed establishments and organizations, city and town planners, police, and other stakeholder organizations.

  14. Equal status in Ultimatum Games promotes rational sharing.

    PubMed

    Han, Xiao; Cao, Shinan; Bao, Jian-Zhang; Wang, Wen-Xu; Zhang, Boyu; Gao, Zi-You; Sánchez, Angel

    2018-01-19

    Experiments on the Ultimatum Game (UG) repeatedly show that people's behaviour is far from rational. In UG experiments, a subject proposes how to divide a pot and the other can accept or reject the proposal, in which case both lose everything. While rational people would offer and accept the minimum possible amount, in experiments low offers are often rejected and offers are typically larger than the minimum, and even fair. Several theoretical works have proposed that these results may arise evolutionarily when subjects act in both roles and there is a fixed interaction structure in the population specifying who plays with whom. We report the first experiments on structured UG with subjects playing simultaneously both roles. We observe that acceptance levels of responders approach rationality and proposers accommodate their offers to their environment. More precisely, subjects keep low acceptance levels all the time, but as proposers they follow a best-response-like approach to choose their offers. We thus find that status equality promotes rational sharing while the influence of structure leads to fairer offers compared to well-mixed populations. Our results are far from what is observed in single-role UG experiments and largely different from available predictions based on evolutionary game theory.

  15. Regularized magnetotelluric inversion based on a minimum support gradient stabilizing functional

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiang, Yang; Yu, Peng; Zhang, Luolei; Feng, Shaokong; Utada, Hisashi

    2017-11-01

    Regularization is used to solve the ill-posed problem of magnetotelluric inversion usually by adding a stabilizing functional to the objective functional that allows us to obtain a stable solution. Among a number of possible stabilizing functionals, smoothing constraints are most commonly used, which produce spatially smooth inversion results. However, in some cases, the focused imaging of a sharp electrical boundary is necessary. Although past works have proposed functionals that may be suitable for the imaging of a sharp boundary, such as minimum support and minimum gradient support (MGS) functionals, they involve some difficulties and limitations in practice. In this paper, we propose a minimum support gradient (MSG) stabilizing functional as another possible choice of focusing stabilizer. In this approach, we calculate the gradient of the model stabilizing functional of the minimum support, which affects both the stability and the sharp boundary focus of the inversion. We then apply the discrete weighted matrix form of each stabilizing functional to build a unified form of the objective functional, allowing us to perform a regularized inversion with variety of stabilizing functionals in the same framework. By comparing the one-dimensional and two-dimensional synthetic inversion results obtained using the MSG stabilizing functional and those obtained using other stabilizing functionals, we demonstrate that the MSG results are not only capable of clearly imaging a sharp geoelectrical interface but also quite stable and robust. Overall good performance in terms of both data fitting and model recovery suggests that this stabilizing functional is effective and useful in practical applications.[Figure not available: see fulltext.

  16. BDNF polymorphism predicts the rate of decline in skilled task performance and hippocampal volume in healthy individuals

    PubMed Central

    Sanchez, M Millan; Das, D; Taylor, J L; Noda, A; Yesavage, J A; Salehi, A

    2011-01-01

    Numerous studies have indicated a link between the presence of polymorphism in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cognitive and affective disorders. However, only a few have studied these effects longitudinally along with structural changes in the brain. This study was carried out to investigate whether valine-to-methionine substitution at position 66 (val66met) of pro-BDNF could be linked to alterations in the rate of decline in skilled task performance and structural changes in hippocampal volume. Participants consisted of 144 healthy Caucasian pilots (aged 40–69 years) who completed a minimum of 3 consecutive annual visits. Standardized flight simulator score (SFSS) was measured as a reliable and quantifiable indicator for skilled task performance. In addition, a subset of these individuals was assessed for hippocampal volume alterations using magnetic resonance imaging. We found that val66met substitution in BDNF correlated longitudinally with the rate of decline in SFSS. Structurally, age-dependent hippocampal volume changes were also significantly altered by this substitution. Our study suggests that val66met polymorphism in BDNF can be linked to the rate of decline in skilled task performance. Furthermore, this polymorphism could be used as a predictor of the effects of age on the structure of the hippocampus in healthy individuals. Such results have implications for understanding possible disabilities in older adults performing skilled tasks who are at a higher risk for cognitive and affective disorders. PMID:22833197

  17. Simulation-based education with mastery learning improves residents' lumbar puncture skills

    PubMed Central

    Cohen, Elaine R.; Caprio, Timothy; McGaghie, William C.; Simuni, Tanya; Wayne, Diane B.

    2012-01-01

    Objective: To evaluate the effect of simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) on internal medicine residents' lumbar puncture (LP) skills, assess neurology residents' acquired LP skills from traditional clinical education, and compare the results of SBML to traditional clinical education. Methods: This study was a pretest-posttest design with a comparison group. Fifty-eight postgraduate year (PGY) 1 internal medicine residents received an SBML intervention in LP. Residents completed a baseline skill assessment (pretest) using a 21-item LP checklist. After a 3-hour session featuring deliberate practice and feedback, residents completed a posttest and were expected to meet or exceed a minimum passing score (MPS) set by an expert panel. Simulator-trained residents' pretest and posttest scores were compared to assess the impact of the intervention. Thirty-six PGY2, 3, and 4 neurology residents from 3 medical centers completed the same simulated LP assessment without SBML. SBML posttest scores were compared to neurology residents' baseline scores. Results: PGY1 internal medicine residents improved from a mean of 46.3% to 95.7% after SBML (p < 0.001) and all met the MPS at final posttest. The performance of traditionally trained neurology residents was significantly lower than simulator-trained residents (mean 65.4%, p < 0.001) and only 6% met the MPS. Conclusions: Residents who completed SBML showed significant improvement in LP procedural skills. Few neurology residents were competent to perform a simulated LP despite clinical experience with the procedure. PMID:22675080

  18. Pre-attentive auditory discrimination skill in Indian classical vocal musicians and non-musicians.

    PubMed

    Sanju, Himanshu Kumar; Kumar, Prawin

    2016-09-01

    To test for pre-attentive auditory discrimination skills in Indian classical vocal musicians and non-musicians. Mismatch negativity (MMN) was recorded to test for pre-attentive auditory discrimination skills with a pair of stimuli of /1000 Hz/ and /1100 Hz/, with /1000 Hz/ as the frequent stimulus and /1100 Hz/ as the infrequent stimulus. Onset, offset and peak latencies were the considered latency parameters, whereas peak amplitude and area under the curve were considered for amplitude analysis. Exactly 50 participants, out of which the experimental group had 25 adult Indian classical vocal musicians and 25 age-matched non-musicians served as the control group, were included in the study. Experimental group participants had a minimum professional music experience in Indian classic vocal music of 10 years. However, control group participants did not have any formal training in music. Descriptive statistics showed better waveform morphology in the experimental group as compared to the control. MANOVA showed significantly better onset latency, peak amplitude and area under the curve in the experimental group but no significant difference in the offset and peak latencies between the two groups. The present study probably points towards the enhancement of pre-attentive auditory discrimination skills in Indian classical vocal musicians compared to non-musicians. It indicates that Indian classical musical training enhances pre-attentive auditory discrimination skills in musicians, leading to higher peak amplitude and a greater area under the curve compared to non-musicians.

  19. A Proposed Design for the Business Capstone Course with Emphasis on Improving Students' Information Competency

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gilinsky, Armand, Jr.; Robison, Richard

    2008-01-01

    Business school accrediting agencies and employers increasingly demand evidence that students are mastering information competency (IC) skills. The authors present an innovative approach to inculcate IC skills in the strategic management "capstone" class, integrating cross-departmental student training in using electronic information sources,…

  20. Finding Details, Main Ideas, & Good Sources: How Information Literate Are NZ Students?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Brown, Gavin; Dunn, Karyn

    Designed to be used with the New Zealand curriculum framework, this slide presentation defines "information literacy," gives an information literacy overview, proposes 10 questions that students need to ask themselves, and provides student educational objectives for information skills. The report presents an essential skills assessment…

  1. Design and Implementation of an Intelligent Virtual Environment for Improving Speaking and Listening Skills

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hassani, Kaveh; Nahvi, Ali; Ahmadi, Ali

    2016-01-01

    In this paper, we present an intelligent architecture, called intelligent virtual environment for language learning, with embedded pedagogical agents for improving listening and speaking skills of non-native English language learners. The proposed architecture integrates virtual environments into the Intelligent Computer-Assisted Language…

  2. How Does Knowledge Promote Memory? The Distinctiveness Theory of Skilled Memory

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rawson, Katherine A.; Van Overschelde, James P.

    2008-01-01

    The robust effects of knowledge on memory for domain-relevant information reported in previous research have largely been attributed to improved organizational processing. The present research proposes the distinctiveness theory of skilled memory, which states that knowledge improves memory not only through improved organizational processing but…

  3. Communication Incompetencies: A Theory of Training Oral Performance Behavior.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Phillips, Gerald M.

    Arguing that the most effective method to help shy people develop essential social and communication skills is a modification of the way these people perform, this book proposes a system which includes skills training, cognitive restructuring, and systematic relaxation. The book's 12 chapters are as follows: (1) Understanding Communication…

  4. 30 CFR 716.3 - Mountaintop removal.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ..., agricultural, residential, or public facility (including recreational facilities) use is proposed for the..., except where engineering data substantiates and the regulatory authority finds that a minimum static...

  5. 30 CFR 716.3 - Mountaintop removal.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ..., agricultural, residential, or public facility (including recreational facilities) use is proposed for the..., except where engineering data substantiates and the regulatory authority finds that a minimum static...

  6. 30 CFR 716.3 - Mountaintop removal.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ..., agricultural, residential, or public facility (including recreational facilities) use is proposed for the..., except where engineering data substantiates and the regulatory authority finds that a minimum static...

  7. 78 FR 35082 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-11

    ... Organizations; Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule... designated threshold.\\5\\ In addition, the Exchange adopted security-type specific parameter values, such as..., Threshold Away Amount, Minimum Duration and N mult , will be made through proposed fee filings pursuant to...

  8. 5 CFR 890.1006 - Notice of proposed mandatory debarment.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 30 days prior to the proposed effective date. (b) Contents of the notice. The notice shall contain information indicating the: (1) Effective date of the debarment; (2) Minimum length of the debarment; (3... business days after it was sent. (f) Procedures if notice cannot be delivered. (1) If OPM learns that a...

  9. 5 CFR 890.1006 - Notice of proposed mandatory debarment.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 30 days prior to the proposed effective date. (b) Contents of the notice. The notice shall contain information indicating the: (1) Effective date of the debarment; (2) Minimum length of the debarment; (3... business days after it was sent. (f) Procedures if notice cannot be delivered. (1) If OPM learns that a...

  10. 5 CFR 890.1006 - Notice of proposed mandatory debarment.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 30 days prior to the proposed effective date. (b) Contents of the notice. The notice shall contain information indicating the: (1) Effective date of the debarment; (2) Minimum length of the debarment; (3... business days after it was sent. (f) Procedures if notice cannot be delivered. (1) If OPM learns that a...

  11. 5 CFR 890.1006 - Notice of proposed mandatory debarment.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 30 days prior to the proposed effective date. (b) Contents of the notice. The notice shall contain information indicating the: (1) Effective date of the debarment; (2) Minimum length of the debarment; (3... business days after it was sent. (f) Procedures if notice cannot be delivered. (1) If OPM learns that a...

  12. 5 CFR 890.1006 - Notice of proposed mandatory debarment.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 30 days prior to the proposed effective date. (b) Contents of the notice. The notice shall contain information indicating the: (1) Effective date of the debarment; (2) Minimum length of the debarment; (3... business days after it was sent. (f) Procedures if notice cannot be delivered. (1) If OPM learns that a...

  13. 78 FR 20997 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-08

    .... Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members...-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending Its Option Trading Rules to Extend the Operation of Its Pilot Program Regarding Minimum...

  14. 76 FR 11164 - Removing References to Credit Ratings in Regulations; Proposing Alternatives to the Use of Credit...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-03-01

    ... of the regulations governing the investment activities of natural person Federal credit unions (FCUs..., investment activities, and capital risk-weighting of corporate credit unions. 12 CFR part 704. There is also... regulations. For investments, the proposal generally replaces the minimum credit rating requirement with a...

  15. 78 FR 23253 - Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-18

    ... extension for three years, without revision, of the following report: Report title: Reporting and Disclosure... 7(a) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(a)). Together, these statutory provisions... environment and, at a minimum, reviewed by the system every two years. Proposal to approve under OMB delegated...

  16. Prefabricated foldable lunar base modular systems for habitats, offices, and laboratories

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hijazi, Yousef

    1992-01-01

    The first habitat and work station on the lunar surface undoubtedly has to be prefabricated, self-erecting, and self-contained. The building structure should be folded and compacted to the minimum size and made of materials of minimum weight. It must also be designed to provide maximum possible habitable and usable space on the Moon. For this purpose the concept of multistory, foldable structures was further developed. The idea is to contain foldable structural units in a cylinder or in a capsule adapted for launching. Upon landing on the lunar surface, the cylinder of the first proposal in this paper will open in two hinge-connected halves while the capsule of the second proposal will expand horizontally and vertically in all directions. In both proposals, the foldable structural units will self-erect providing a multistory building with several room enclosures. The solar radiation protection is maintained through regolith-filled pneumatic structures as in the first proposal, or two regolith-filled expandable capsule shells as in the second one, which provide the shielding while being supported by the erected internal skeletal structure.

  17. Fast adaptive diamond search algorithm for block-matching motion estimation using spatial correlation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Park, Sang-Gon; Jeong, Dong-Seok

    2000-12-01

    In this paper, we propose a fast adaptive diamond search algorithm (FADS) for block matching motion estimation. Many fast motion estimation algorithms reduce the computational complexity by the UESA (Unimodal Error Surface Assumption) where the matching error monotonically increases as the search moves away from the global minimum point. Recently, many fast BMAs (Block Matching Algorithms) make use of the fact that global minimum points in real world video sequences are centered at the position of zero motion. But these BMAs, especially in large motion, are easily trapped into the local minima and result in poor matching accuracy. So, we propose a new motion estimation algorithm using the spatial correlation among the neighboring blocks. We move the search origin according to the motion vectors of the spatially neighboring blocks and their MAEs (Mean Absolute Errors). The computer simulation shows that the proposed algorithm has almost the same computational complexity with DS (Diamond Search), but enhances PSNR. Moreover, the proposed algorithm gives almost the same PSNR as that of FS (Full Search), even for the large motion with half the computational load.

  18. Brief Report: An Exploratory Study Comparing Diagnostic Outcomes for Autism Spectrum Disorders under DSM-IV-TR with the Proposed DSM-5 Revision

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gibbs, Vicki; Aldridge, Fiona; Chandler, Felicity; Witzlsperger, Ellen; Smith, Karen

    2012-01-01

    The proposed revision for Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-5) represents a shift from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). As the proposed DSM-5 criteria require a higher minimum number of symptoms to be…

  19. Minimum expected delay-based routing protocol (MEDR) for Delay Tolerant Mobile Sensor Networks.

    PubMed

    Feng, Yong; Liu, Ming; Wang, Xiaomin; Gong, Haigang

    2010-01-01

    It is a challenging work to develop efficient routing protocols for Delay Tolerant Mobile Sensor Networks (DTMSNs), which have several unique characteristics such as sensor mobility, intermittent connectivity, energy limit, and delay tolerability. In this paper, we propose a new routing protocol called Minimum Expected Delay-based Routing (MEDR) tailored for DTMSNs. MEDR achieves a good routing performance by finding and using the connected paths formed dynamically by mobile sensors. In MEDR, each sensor maintains two important parameters: Minimum Expected Delay (MED) and its expiration time. According to MED, messages will be delivered to the sensor that has at least a connected path with their hosting nodes, and has the shortest expected delay to communication directly with the sink node. Because of the changing network topology, the path is fragile and volatile, so we use the expiration time of MED to indicate the valid time of the path, and avoid wrong transmissions. Simulation results show that the proposed MEDR achieves a higher message delivery ratio with lower transmission overhead and data delivery delay than other DTMSN routing approaches.

  20. Handling performance control for hybrid 8-wheel-drive vehicle and simulation verification

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ni, Jun; Hu, Jibin

    2016-08-01

    In order to improve handling performance of a hybrid 8-Wheel-Drive vehicle, the handling performance control strategy was proposed. For armoured vehicle, besides handling stability in high speed, the minimum steer radius in low speed is also a key tactical and technical index. Based on that, the proposed handling performance control strategy includes 'Handling Stability' and 'Radius Minimization' control modes. In 'Handling Stability' control mode, 'Neutralsteer Radio' is defined to adjust the steering characteristics to satisfy different demand in different speed range. In 'Radius Minimization' control mode, the independent motors are controlled to provide an additional yaw moment to decrease the minimum steer radius. In order to verify the strategy, a simulation platform was built including engine and continuously variable transmission systems, generator and battery systems, independent motors and controllers systems, vehicle dynamic and tyre mechanical systems. The simulation results show that the handling performance of the vehicle can be enhanced significantly, and the minimum steer radius can be decreased by 20% which is significant improvement compared to the common level of main battle armoured vehicle around the world.

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