Impaired social decision making in patients with major depressive disorder.

PubMed

Wang, Yun; Zhou, Yuan; Li, Shu; Wang, Peng; Wu, Guo-Wei; Liu, Zhe-Ning

2014-01-23

Abnormal decision-making processes have been observed in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, it is unresolved whether MDD patients show abnormalities in decision making in a social interaction context, in which decisions have actual influences on both the self-interests of the decision makers per se and those of their partners. Using a well-studied ultimatum game (UG), which is frequently used to investigate social interaction behavior, we examined whether MDD can be associated with abnormalities in social decision-making behavior by comparing the acceptance rates of MDD patients (N = 14) with those of normal controls (N = 19). The acceptance rates of the patients were lower than those of the normal controls. Additionally, unfair proposals were accepted at similar rates from computer partners and human partners in the MDD patients, unlike the acceptance rates in the normal controls, who were able to discriminatively treat unfair proposals from computer partners and human partners. Depressed patients show abnormal decision-making behavior in a social interaction context. Several possible explanations, such as increased sensitivity to fairness, negative emotional state and disturbed affective cognition, have been proposed to account for the abnormal social decision-making behavior in patients with MDD. This aberrant social decision-making behavior may provide a new perspective in the search to find biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of MDD.

Employment and choice-making for adults with intellectual disability, autism, and down syndrome.

PubMed

Bush, Kelsey L; Tassé, Marc J

2017-06-01

Adults with disabilities are employed at a significantly lower rate than adults without disabilities. Of adults with disabilities in the workforce, more individuals work in a facility setting rather than a community setting, despite efforts to improve community inclusion. Choice-making has been proposed as a predictive factor for employment for individuals with disabilities. The purpose of this research was to examine the current state of employment for three groups of adults with intellectual disability (ID): individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), individuals with Down syndrome (DS), and individuals with idiopathic ID. Choice-making and its relation to improved employment outcomes was explored. This study used National Core Indicator's Adult Consumer Survey datasets from years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. Factor analyses revealed latent variables from six choice-making questions in the Adult Consumer Survey. Ordinal logistic regression was used to identify factors related to employment status. Adults with DS had the highest rates of paid community jobs, but adults with ID had the highest rates of choice-making. ID severity level and short-term choice-making had the greatest effects on employment status in all three groups. Employment rates remain low despite national efforts to find jobs for people with disabilities. Choice-making is a unique factor that was found to be associated with employment status and provides a target for interventions to increase employability. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantifying Risk of Financial Incapacity and Financial Exploitation in Community-dwelling Older Adults: Utility of a Scoring System for the Lichtenberg Financial Decision-making Rating Scale.

PubMed

Lichtenberg, Peter A; Gross, Evan; Ficker, Lisa J

2018-06-08

This work examines the clinical utility of the scoring system for the Lichtenberg Financial Decision-making Rating Scale (LFDRS) and its usefulness for decision making capacity and financial exploitation. Objective 1 was to examine the clinical utility of a person centered, empirically supported, financial decision making scale. Objective 2 was to determine whether the risk-scoring system created for this rating scale is sufficiently accurate for the use of cutoff scores in cases of decisional capacity and cases of suspected financial exploitation. Objective 3 was to examine whether cognitive decline and decisional impairment predicted suspected financial exploitation. Two hundred independently living, non-demented community-dwelling older adults comprised the sample. Participants completed the rating scale and other cognitive measures. Receiver operating characteristic curves were in the good to excellent range for decisional capacity scoring, and in the fair to good range for financial exploitation. Analyses supported the conceptual link between decision making deficits and risk for exploitation, and supported the use of the risk-scoring system in a community-based population. This study adds to the empirical evidence supporting the use of the rating scale as a clinical tool assessing risk for financial decisional impairment and/or financial exploitation.

The effects of working memory load and attention refocusing on delay discounting rates in alcohol use disorder with comorbid antisocial personality disorder.

PubMed

Gunn, Rachel L; Gerst, Kyle R; Lake, Allison J; Finn, Peter R

2018-02-01

Executive working memory capacity (eWMC) is central to adaptive decision-making. Research has revealed reduced eWMC and higher rates of impulsive decision making in individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUDs: DSM-IV Alcohol Dependence of Alcohol Abuse) and antisocial psychopathology (AP). Recent work has shown that placing a load on working memory (WM) further increases impulsive decision making on the delay discounting (DD) task in those with AUDs and AP. The current study examined the effects of an attention refocusing manipulation to offset the effects of this WM-load on DD rates in control subjects, those with AUDs without AP, and AUDs with AP (AUD-AP). Results revealed that 1) the AUD-AP group had higher DD rates (i.e., more impulsive decision-making) than the AUD group, followed by controls, and 2) attention refocusing after a load is placed on WM was associated with lower DD rates compared to the load without refocusing in both AUD groups, but not controls. Results suggest that refocusing attention after a cognitive load may be an effective cognitive strategy for reducing the impulsivity-enhancing effects of cognitive load on decision making in individuals with AUDs and AP. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Parental decision making in pediatric otoplasty: The role of shared decision making in parental decisional conflict and decisional regret.

PubMed

Hong, Paul; Gorodzinsky, Ayala Y; Taylor, Benjamin A; Chorney, Jill MacLaren

2016-07-01

To date, there has been little research on shared decision making and decisional outcomes in pediatric surgery. The objectives of this study were to describe the level of decisional conflict and decisional regret experienced by parents considering otoplasty for their children, and to determine if they are related to perceptions of shared decision making. Prospective cohort clinical study. Sixty-five consecutive parents of children who underwent surgical consultation for otoplasty were prospectively enrolled. Participants completed the Demographic Form, the Decisional Conflict Scale, and the Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire after the consultation visit. The consulting surgeons completed the physician version of the Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire. Six months after surgery, parents completed the Decisional Regret Scale. The median decisional conflict was 15.63; 21 (32.8%) parents scored 25 or above, a previously defined cutoff indicating clinically significant decisional conflict. Parent ratings of shared decision making and decisional conflict were significantly negatively correlated (P < 0.001); however, there was no significant correlation between physician ratings of shared decision making and parental decisional conflict. Significant decisional regret was reported in two (3.2%) participants. Decisional regret and parent and physician ratings of shared decision making were both significantly negatively correlated (P = 0.044 and P = 0.001, respectively). Decisional regret and decisional conflict scores were significantly positively correlated (P = 0.001). Parent and physician ratings of shared decision making were correlated (intraclass correlation = 0.625, P < 0.001). Many parents experienced significant decisional conflict when making decisions about their child's elective surgical treatment. Fewer parents experienced significant decisional regret after the procedure. Parents who perceived themselves as being more involved in the decision making process reported less decisional conflict and decisional regret. Parents and physicians had varied perceptions of the degree of shared decision making. Future research should develop interventions to increase parents' involvement in decision making and explore the influence of significant decisional conflict and decisional regret on health outcomes. 2b. Laryngoscope, 126:S5-S13, 2016. © 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Informed decision-making in elective major vascular surgery: analysis of 145 surgeon-patient consultations.

PubMed

Etchells, Edward; Ferrari, Michel; Kiss, Alex; Martyn, Nikki; Zinman, Deborah; Levinson, Wendy

2011-06-01

Prior studies show significant gaps in the informed decision-making process, a central goal of surgical care. These studies have been limited by their focus on low-risk decisions, single visits rather than entire consultations, or both. Our objectives were, first, to rate informed decision-making for major elective vascular surgery based on audiotapes of actual physician-patient conversations and, second, to compare ratings of informed decision-making for first visits to ratings for multiple visits by the same patient over time. We prospectively enrolled patients for whom vascular surgical treatment was a potential option at a tertiary care outpatient vascular surgery clinic. We audio-taped all surgeon-patient conversations, including multiple visits when necessary, until a decision was made. Using an existing method, we evaluated the transcripts for elements of decision-making, including basic elements (e.g., an explanation of the clinical condition), intermediate elements (e.g., risks and benefits) and complex elements (e.g., uncertainty around the decision). We analyzed 145 surgeon-patient consultations. Overall, 45% of consultations contained complex elements, whereas 23% did not contain the basic elements of decision-making. For the 67 consultations that involved multiple visits, ratings were significantly higher when evaluating all visits (50% complex elements) compared with evaluating only the first visit (33% complex elements, p < 0.001.) We found that 45% of consultations contained complex elements, which is higher than prior studies with similar methods. Analyzing decision-making over multiple visits yielded different results than analyzing decision-making for single visits.

A general theory of intertemporal decision-making and the perception of time.

PubMed

Namboodiri, Vijay M K; Mihalas, Stefan; Marton, Tanya M; Hussain Shuler, Marshall G

2014-01-01

Animals and humans make decisions based on their expected outcomes. Since relevant outcomes are often delayed, perceiving delays and choosing between earlier vs. later rewards (intertemporal decision-making) is an essential component of animal behavior. The myriad observations made in experiments studying intertemporal decision-making and time perception have not yet been rationalized within a single theory. Here we present a theory-Training-Integrated Maximized Estimation of Reinforcement Rate (TIMERR)-that explains a wide variety of behavioral observations made in intertemporal decision-making and the perception of time. Our theory postulates that animals make intertemporal choices to optimize expected reward rates over a limited temporal window which includes a past integration interval-over which experienced reward rate is estimated-as well as the expected delay to future reward. Using this theory, we derive mathematical expressions for both the subjective value of a delayed reward and the subjective representation of the delay. A unique contribution of our work is in finding that the past integration interval directly determines the steepness of temporal discounting and the non-linearity of time perception. In so doing, our theory provides a single framework to understand both intertemporal decision-making and time perception.

A general theory of intertemporal decision-making and the perception of time

PubMed Central

Namboodiri, Vijay M. K.; Mihalas, Stefan; Marton, Tanya M.; Hussain Shuler, Marshall G.

2014-01-01

Animals and humans make decisions based on their expected outcomes. Since relevant outcomes are often delayed, perceiving delays and choosing between earlier vs. later rewards (intertemporal decision-making) is an essential component of animal behavior. The myriad observations made in experiments studying intertemporal decision-making and time perception have not yet been rationalized within a single theory. Here we present a theory—Training-Integrated Maximized Estimation of Reinforcement Rate (TIMERR)—that explains a wide variety of behavioral observations made in intertemporal decision-making and the perception of time. Our theory postulates that animals make intertemporal choices to optimize expected reward rates over a limited temporal window which includes a past integration interval—over which experienced reward rate is estimated—as well as the expected delay to future reward. Using this theory, we derive mathematical expressions for both the subjective value of a delayed reward and the subjective representation of the delay. A unique contribution of our work is in finding that the past integration interval directly determines the steepness of temporal discounting and the non-linearity of time perception. In so doing, our theory provides a single framework to understand both intertemporal decision-making and time perception. PMID:24616677

Training & Personnel Systems Technology. R&D Program Description FY 84-85.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-04-01

performance requirements in terms of rapid response times, high rates of information processing, and complex decision making that tax the capabilities...makers to make linguistic and format changes to texts to enhance general literacy rates , (d) begin integrating human and animal data on stress ;ffects...systems are being Integrated Into the force at unprecedented rates , arrival of this sophisticated, high-technology equipment will coincide with increased

Neurally Constrained Modeling of Perceptual Decision Making

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Purcell, Braden A.; Heitz, Richard P.; Cohen, Jeremiah Y.; Schall, Jeffrey D.; Logan, Gordon D.; Palmeri, Thomas J.

2010-01-01

Stochastic accumulator models account for response time in perceptual decision-making tasks by assuming that perceptual evidence accumulates to a threshold. The present investigation mapped the firing rate of frontal eye field (FEF) visual neurons onto perceptual evidence and the firing rate of FEF movement neurons onto evidence accumulation to…

37 CFR 382.3 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... royalty fees. 382.3 Section 382.3 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND... SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES Preexisting Subscription Services § 382.3 Terms for making payment of...

37 CFR 382.3 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... royalty fees. 382.3 Section 382.3 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND... SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES Preexisting Subscription Services § 382.3 Terms for making payment of...

37 CFR 382.3 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... royalty fees. 382.3 Section 382.3 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND... SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES Preexisting Subscription Services § 382.3 Terms for making payment of...

Measuring the involvement of people with HIV in treatment decision making using the control preferences scale.

PubMed

Kremer, Heidemarie; Ironson, Gail

2008-01-01

Since 1983, HIV patients have been advocating for participatory decision making. This study measures the involvement that HIV-positive people perceive in treatment decision making. A secondary objective is to assess the validity of the instrument used to examine decisional roles, the Control Preferences Scale (CPS). The authors interviewed 79 HIV-positive people, a sub-sample of a study on long survival with HIV, diverse with respect to ethnicity, age, gender, and sexual orientation. They compared the self- and researcher-rated decisional roles of participants on the CPS. They also assessed how well the CPS corresponds with Charles's paternalistic, shared- and informed-choice models of decision making about treatment based on decisional roles and information exchange. Most participants (75%) perceived collaborative/active involvement in decision making. Agreement (Kendall's tau-b) between self- and researcher-rated decisional roles on the CPS was 0.82, whereas agreement between self-ratings on the CPS and researcher ratings on Charles's classification was 0.60. Charles's classification was difficult if participants had chosen not to take their prescribed medication without being adequately informed about the risky consequences of this decision. In this study, HIV-positive people perceived a high level of involvement in decision making. Reliability and convergent validity of the CPS was high. Charles's classification was problematic because decisional roles and information exchange are distinct dimensions. Some people make risky treatment decisions on their own without being adequately informed. The CPS is a useful instrument to measure decisional role perceptions of HIV-positive people but needs to be complemented by an instrument measuring treatment knowledge.

40 CFR 307.32 - Verification, award, and administrative hearings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... acceptance of the claim for evaluation. (d) EPA may adjust claims and in making a determination whether costs... Circular A-122; States and political subdivisions—OMB Circular A-87; profit-making organizations—48 CFR... judicial decision. (4) The rate of interest paid on a claim is the rate of interest on investments of the...

National study of the impact of patient information and involvement in decision-making on immediate breast reconstruction rates.

PubMed

Frisell, A; Lagergren, J; de Boniface, J

2016-11-01

Reconstructive alternatives should be discussed with women facing mastectomy for breast cancer. These include immediate and delayed reconstruction, which both have inherent advantages and disadvantages. Immediate reconstruction rates vary considerably in Swedish healthcare regions, and the aim of the study was to analyse reasons for this disparity. All women who underwent mastectomy for primary breast cancer in Sweden in 2013 were included. Tumour data were retrieved from the Swedish National Breast Cancer Registry and from questionnaires regarding patient information and involvement in preoperative decision-making sent to women who were still alive in 2015. Of 2929 women who had undergone 2996 mastectomies, 2906 were still alive. The questionnaire response rate was 76·3 per cent. Immediate reconstruction rates varied regionally, between 3·0 and 26·4 per cent. Tumour characteristics impacted on reconstruction rates but did not explain regional differences. Patient participation in decision-making, availability of plastic surgery services and patient information, however, were independent predictors of immediate breast reconstruction, and varied significantly between regions. Even in younger patients with low-risk tumours, rates of patient information ranged between 34·3 and 83·3 per cent. Significant regional differences in immediate reconstruction rates were not explained by differences in tumour characteristics, but by disparities in patient information, availability of plastic surgery services and involvement in decision-making. © 2016 The Authors. BJS published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of BJS Society Ltd.

Quality improvement in multidisciplinary cancer teams: an investigation of teamwork and clinical decision-making and cross-validation of assessments.

PubMed

Lamb, B W; Sevdalis, N; Mostafid, H; Vincent, C; Green, J S A

2011-12-01

Teamworking and clinical decision-making are important in multidisciplinary cancer teams (MDTs). Our objective is to assess the quality of information presentation and MDT members' contribution to decision-making via expert observation and self-report, aiming to cross-validate the two methods and assess the insight of MDT members into their own team performance. Behaviors were scored using (i) a validated observational tool employing Likert scales with objective anchors, and (ii) a 29-question online self-report tool. Data were collected from observation of 164 cases in five MDTs, and 47 surveys from MDT members (response rate 70%). Presentation of information (case history, radiological, pathological, comorbidities, psychosocial, and patients' views) and quality of contribution to decision-making of MDT members (surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, nurses, and MDT coordinators) were analyzed via descriptive statistics and the Jonckheere-Terpstra test. Correlation between observational and self-report assessments was assessed with Spearman's correlations. Quality of information presentation: Case histories and radiology information rated highest; patients' views and comorbidities/psychosocial issues rated lowest (observed: Z = 14.80, P ≤ 0.001; self-report: Z = 3.70, P < 0.001). Contribution to decision-making: Surgeons and oncologists rated highest, nurses and MDT coordinators rated lowest, and others in between (observed: Z = 20.00, P ≤ 0.001; self-report: Z = 8.10, P < 0.001). Correlations between observational and self-report assessments: Median Spearman's rho = 0.74 (range = 0.66-0.91; P < 0.05). The quality of teamworking and clinical decision-making in MDTs can reliably be assessed using observational and self-report metrics. MDT members have good insight into their own team performance. Such robust assessment methods could provide the basis of a toolkit for MDT team evaluation and improvement.

What counts as a decision? Predictors of perceived decision making.

PubMed

Chapman, G B; Niedermayer, L Y

2001-09-01

We examined lay perceptions of what counts as a decision. Eighty-six subjects read 10 scenarios that described clear decisions (e.g., choosing a graduate school), clear "nondecisions" (e.g., an accidental wrong turn), or ambiguous actions (e.g., eating a donut when on a diet or allowing someone else to make the decision). The subjects rated each scenario as to whether the actor had made a decision and also rated six other attributes. The scenarios were rated as clearly illustrating a decision if the actor engaged in a lot of thought and did not act reflexively. Consideration of consequences and having alternatives were moderately related to decision ratings, whereas having self-control problems and the influence of physiological drives showed little relationship with decision ratings. Thus, lay concepts of decision making differ from decision theory in that thoughtful, intentional behavior is more important in defining a decision than are decision theoretic components, such as alternatives and consequences.

[Factors influencing electrocardiogram results in workers exposed to noise in steel-making and steel-rolling workshops of an iron and steel plant].

PubMed

Li, Y H; Yu, S F; Gu, G Z; Chen, G S; Zhou, W H; Wu, H; Jiao, J

2016-02-20

To investigate the factors influencing the electrocardiogram results in the workers exposed to noise in steel-making and steel rolling workshops of an iron and steel plant. From September to December, 2013, cluster sampling was used to select 3 150 workers exposed to noise in the steel-making and steel-rolling workshops of an iron and steel plant, and a questionnaire survey and physical examinations were performed. The number of valid workers was 2 915, consisting of 1 606 workers in the steel-rolling workshop and 1 309 in the steel-making workshop. The electrocardiogram results of the workers in steel-making and steel-rolling workshops were analyzed. The overall abnormal rate of electrocardiogram was 26.35%, and the workers in the steel-making workshop had a significantly higher abnormal rate of electrocardiogram than those in the steel-rolling workshop(32.24% vs 21.54%, P<0.05). Male workers had a significantly higher abnormal rate of electrocardiogram than female workers(27.59% vs 18.61%, P<0.05). The workers with a drinking habit had a significantly higher abnormal rate of electrocardiogram than those who did not drink(28.17% vs 23.75%, P<0.05). The workers exposed to high temperature had a significantly higher abnormal rate of electrocardiogram than those who were not exposed to high temperature(29.43% vs 20.14%, P<0.05). The abnormal rates of electrocardiogram in the workers with cumulative noise exposure levels of <90, 90~94, 95~99, 100~104, and 105~113 dB(A)·year were 21.21%, 21.76%, 26.50%, 27.27%, and 32.16%, respectively, with significant differences between any two groups(P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a cumulative noise exposure of 105-113 dB(A)·year(OR=1.36, 95% CI: 1.03~1.80), a drinking habit(OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.01~1.43), and high temperature(OR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.32~1.92) were the risk factors for abnormal electrocardiogram results. High cumulative noise exposure, alcohol consumption, and high temperature may affect the abnormal rate of electrocardiogram in the workers exposed to noise in steel-making and steel-rolling workshops.

7 CFR 1717.301 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717.301 Policy. (a) RUS makes and... condition to making or guaranteeing any loans to power supply borrowers, that the borrower enter into RUS... the power supply borrower to make payments on account of all indebtedness of the power supply borrower...

7 CFR 1717.301 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717.301 Policy. (a) RUS makes and... condition to making or guaranteeing any loans to power supply borrowers, that the borrower enter into RUS... the power supply borrower to make payments on account of all indebtedness of the power supply borrower...

Decision-case mix model for analyzing variation in cesarean rates.

PubMed

Eldenburg, L; Waller, W S

2001-01-01

This article contributes a decision-case mix model for analyzing variation in c-section rates. Like recent contributions to the literature, the model systematically takes into account the effect of case mix. Going beyond past research, the model highlights differences in physician decision making in response to obstetric factors. Distinguishing the effects of physician decision making and case mix is important in understanding why c-section rates vary and in developing programs to effect change in physician behavior. The model was applied to a sample of deliveries at a hospital where physicians exhibited considerable variation in their c-section rates. Comparing groups with a low versus high rate, the authors' general conclusion is that the difference in physician decision tendencies (to perform a c-section), in response to specific obstetric factors, is at least as important as case mix in explaining variation in c-section rates. The exact effects of decision making versus case mix depend on how the model application defines the obstetric condition of interest and on the weighting of deliveries by their estimated "risk of Cesarean." The general conclusion is supported by an additional analysis that uses the model's elements to predict individual physicians' annual c-section rates.

Heart-Rate and Breath-Rate Monitor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cooper, T. G.

1983-01-01

Circuit requiring only four integrated circuits (IC's) measures both heart rate and breath rate. Phase-locked loops lock on heart-rate and respiration-rate input signals. Each loop IC contains two phase comparators. Positive-edge-triggered circuit used in making monitors insensitive to dutycycle variations.

Information Needs of Older Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer When Making Radiation Therapy Decisions.

PubMed

Wang, Shi-Yi; Kelly, Gabrielle; Gross, Cary; Killelea, Brigid K; Mougalian, Sarah; Presley, Carolyn; Fraenkel, Liana; Evans, Suzanne B

2017-07-15

To identify the information older women with early-stage breast cancer need when making radiation therapy decisions, and who patients identify as the main decision maker. We surveyed (through face-to-face interview, telephone, or mail) women aged ≥65 years who received lumpectomy and were considering or receiving adjuvant radiation therapy for early-stage breast cancer. The survey instrument was constructed with input from patient and professional advisory committees, including breast cancer survivors, advocates of breast cancer care and aging, clinicians, and researchers. Participants rated the importance (on a 4-point scale) of 24 statements describing the benefits, side effects, impact on daily life, and other issues of radiation therapy in relation to radiation therapy decision making. Participants also designated who was considered the key decision maker. The response rate was 56.4% (93 of 165). Mean age was 72.5 years, ranging from 65 to 93 years. More than 96% of participants indicated they were the main decision maker on receiving radiation therapy. There was wide variation in information needs regarding radiation therapy decision making. Participants rated a mean of 18 (range, 3-24) items as "essential." Participants rated items related to benefits highest, followed by side effects. Participants who were older than 75 years rated 13.9 questions as essential, whereas participants aged ≤74 years rated 18.7 as essential (P=.018). Older women desire information and have more agency and input in the decision-making process than prior literature would suggest. The variation in information needs indicates that future decision support tools should provide options to select what information would be of interest to the participants. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ecological relevance of the Iowa gambling task in patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.

PubMed

Jacus, J-P; Gély-Nargeot, M-C; Bayard, S

2018-05-01

In spite of their extensive use, the ecological relevance of tasks dedicated to assessing real-world decision-making in a laboratory setting remains unclear. Our study aimed to evaluate the relationship between decision-making and behavioral competency and awareness of limitations. A total of 20 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 20 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and 20 healthy controls (HC) were assessed for decision-making using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Behavioral competency was evaluated by the Patient Competency Rating Scale (PCRS), which requires each participant and a relative to answer the same 30 questions on participant's competency and to rate each item, while awareness of limitations was evaluated by subtracting the self-rated score from the relative-rated score. Using the median-split approach, the proportion of disadvantageous decision-makers was higher in both the MCI and AD groups than in HC (P=0.02 and P=0.03, respectively), with no differences between clinical groups. The percentage of participants with poorer behavioral competency was also higher in the MCI and AD than in the HC (self-rated: P=0.025 and P=0.01, respectively; relative-rated: P=0.008 and P=0.008, respectively), again with no differences between MCI and AD. All groups were comparable in awareness. For all participants, disadvantageous decision-making was associated with both reduced behavioral competency and poor awareness of limitations (OR: 3.47, P=0.03 and OR: 5.4, P=0.004, respectively). Our findings support the ecological relevance of the IGT. Behavioral competency integrity and awareness of limitations are both associated with advantageous decision-making profiles. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Target-present guessing as a function of target prevalence and accumulated information in visual search.

PubMed

Peltier, Chad; Becker, Mark W

2017-05-01

Target prevalence influences visual search behavior. At low target prevalence, miss rates are high and false alarms are low, while the opposite is true at high prevalence. Several models of search aim to describe search behavior, one of which has been specifically intended to model search at varying prevalence levels. The multiple decision model (Wolfe & Van Wert, Current Biology, 20(2), 121--124, 2010) posits that all searches that end before the observer detects a target result in a target-absent response. However, researchers have found very high false alarms in high-prevalence searches, suggesting that prevalence rates may be used as a source of information to make "educated guesses" after search termination. Here, we further examine the ability for prevalence level and knowledge gained during visual search to influence guessing rates. We manipulate target prevalence and the amount of information that an observer accumulates about a search display prior to making a response to test if these sources of evidence are used to inform target present guess rates. We find that observers use both information about target prevalence rates and information about the proportion of the array inspected prior to making a response allowing them to make an informed and statistically driven guess about the target's presence.

Examining Teacher Evaluation Validity and Leadership Decision Making within a Standards-Based Evaluation System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kimball, Steven M.; Milanowski, Anthony

2009-01-01

Purpose: The article reports on a study of school leader decision making that examined variation in the validity of teacher evaluation ratings in a school district that has implemented a standards-based teacher evaluation system. Research Methods: Applying mixed methods, the study used teacher evaluation ratings and value-added student achievement…

Patient Decision Control and the Use of Cardiac Catheterization

PubMed Central

Paasche-Orlow, Michael K.; Orner, Michelle B.; Stewart, Sabrina K.; Kressin, Nancy R.

2015-01-01

Background: Shared decision-making is a key determinant of patient-centered care. A lack of patient involvement in treatment decisions may explain persistent racial disparities in rates of cardiac catheterization (CCATH). To date, limited evidence exists to demonstrate whether patients who engage in shared decision-makingare more or less likely to undergo non-emergency CCATH. Objective: To assess the relationship between participation in the decision to undergo a CCATH and the use of CCATH. We also examined whether preference for or actual engagement in decision-making varied by patient race. Methods: We analyzed data from 826 male Veterans Administration patients for whom CCATH was indicated and who participated in the Cardiac Decision Making Study. Results: After controlling for confounders, patients reporting any degree of decision control were more likely to receive CCATH compared with those reporting no control (doctor made decision without patient input) (54% vs 39%, P<.0001). Across racial groups, patients were equally likely to report a preference for control over decision-making (P=.53) as well as to experience discordance between their preference for control and their perception of the actual decision-making process (P=.59). Therefore, these factors did not mediate racial disparities in rates of CCATH use. Conclusion: Shared decision-making is an essential feature of whole-person care. While participation in decision-making may not explain disparities in CCATH rates, further work is required to identify strategies to improve congruence between patients' desire for and actual control over decision-making to actualize patient-centered care. PMID:26331101

Everything you always wanted to hear about rate making but were afraid to ask

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

Cady, W.A.

1983-08-04

Rate making is a complicated and time-consuming procedure. That it could benefit from judiciously chosen reforms is beyond question. This article covers several major areas of contention within the regulatory arena, all of which have been the subject of considerable debate in recent years. In an effort to find a compromise position between extremes, the author makes three specific suggestions that, if adopted, could enable parties involved to devote their time and resources to more fundamental questions regarding the regulated utility industries. 3 references.

Savings sharing: rewarding staff for responsible decision-making.

PubMed

Jones, Debi

2005-04-01

Shortages of professional nurses create a "buyer's market" in which nurses accept temporary assignments for the highest rates and offer little additional time to the primary employer. Use of temporary personnel use salary dollars at an inordinate rate while offering little continuity or support for the organization's standards. Methods for placing decision-making in the hands of the nurses are needed along with a reward system for establishing a pattern of sound decision-making. The author describes a savings sharing program that is gaining credibility in one organization for addressing both objectives.

Unique Features of Halophilic Proteins.

PubMed

Arakawa, Tsutomu; Yamaguchi, Rui; Tokunaga, Hiroko; Tokunaga, Masao

2017-01-01

Proteins from moderate and extreme halophiles have unique characteristics. They are highly acidic and hydrophilic, similar to intrinsically disordered proteins. These characteristics make the halophilic proteins soluble in water and fold reversibly. In addition to reversible folding, the rate of refolding of halophilic proteins from denatured structure is generally slow, often taking several days, for example, for extremely halophilic proteins. This slow folding rate makes the halophilic proteins a novel model system for folding mechanism analysis. High solubility and reversible folding also make the halophilic proteins excellent fusion partners for soluble expression of recombinant proteins.

To Achieve or Not To Achieve: A Self-Regulation Perspective on Adolescents' Academic Decision Making.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, David C.; Byrnes, James P.

2001-01-01

This study investigated the utility of the self-regulation model of decision making for explaining and predicting adolescents' academic decision making. Measures included an assessment of decision-making skill; academic goals; select scales of Learning and Study Strategies Inventory; and teacher ratings of achievement behavior. Adolescents'…

Single neuropsychological test scores associated with rate of cognitive decline in early Alzheimer disease.

PubMed

Parikh, Mili; Hynan, Linda S; Weiner, Myron F; Lacritz, Laura; Ringe, Wendy; Cullum, C Munro

2014-01-01

Alzheimer disease (AD) characteristically begins with episodic memory impairment followed by other cognitive deficits; however, the course of illness varies, with substantial differences in the rate of cognitive decline. For research and clinical purposes it would be useful to distinguish between persons who will progress slowly from persons who will progress at an average or faster rate. Our objective was to use neurocognitive performance features and disease-specific and health information to determine a predictive model for the rate of cognitive decline in participants with mild AD. We reviewed the records of a series of 96 consecutive participants with mild AD from 1995 to 2011 who had been administered selected neurocognitive tests and clinical measures. Based on Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) of functional and cognitive decline over 2 years, participants were classified as Faster (n = 45) or Slower (n = 51) Progressors. Stepwise logistic regression analyses using neurocognitive performance features, disease-specific, health, and demographic variables were performed. Neuropsychological scores that distinguished Faster from Slower Progressors included Trail Making Test - A, Digit Symbol, and California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) Total Learned and Primacy Recall. No disease-specific, health, or demographic variable predicted rate of progression; however, history of heart disease showed a trend. Among the neuropsychological variables, Trail Making Test - A best distinguished Faster from Slower Progressors, with an overall accuracy of 68%. In an omnibus model including neuropsychological, disease-specific, health, and demographic variables, only Trail Making Test - A distinguished between groups. Several neuropsychological performance features were associated with the rate of cognitive decline in mild AD, with baseline Trail Making Test - A performance best separating those who declined at an average or faster rate from those who showed slower progression.

78 FR 44459 - Rate Regulation Reforms

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-24

... the interest rate. A simple multiplication of the nominal rate by the portion of the year covered by... makes technical changes to the full and simplified rate procedures; changes the interest rate that... allocation methodology for cross-over traffic. Part IV sets out the change in the interest rate carriers must...

How do clinical competency committees use different sources of data to assess residents' performance on the internal medicine milestones?A mixed methods pilot study.

PubMed

Ekpenyong, Andem; Baker, Elizabeth; Harris, Ilene; Tekian, Ara; Abrams, Richard; Reddy, Shalini; Park, Yoon Soo

2017-10-01

This study examines how Clinical Competency Committees (CCCs) synthesize assessment data to make judgments about residents' clinical performances. Between 2014 and 2015, after four six-month reporting periods to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), 7 of 16 CCC faculty at Rush University Medical Center completed questionnaires focused on their perspectives about rating residents on their achievement of the milestones and participated in a focus group. Qualitative data were analyzed using grounded theory. Milestones ratings for two six-month ACGME reporting cycles (n = 100 categorical residents) were also analyzed. CCC members weighted resident rotation ratings highest (weight = 37%), followed by faculty rotation comments (weight = 27%) and personal experience with residents (weight = 14%) for making judgments about learner's milestone levels. Three assessment issues were identified from qualitative analyses: (1) "design issues" (e.g. problems with available data or lack thereof); (2) "synthesis issues" (e.g. factors influencing ratings and decision-making processes) and (3) "impact issues" (e.g. how CCC generated milestones ratings are used). Identifying factors that affect assessment at all stages of the CCC process can contribute to improving assessment systems, including support for faculty development for CCCs. Recognizing challenges in synthesizing first and second-hand assessment data is an important step in understanding the CCC decision-making process.

Mental fatigue impairs soccer-specific decision-making skill.

PubMed

Smith, Mitchell R; Zeuwts, Linus; Lenoir, Matthieu; Hens, Nathalie; De Jong, Laura M S; Coutts, Aaron J

2016-07-01

This study aimed to investigate the impact of mental fatigue on soccer-specific decision-making. Twelve well-trained male soccer players performed a soccer-specific decision-making task on two occasions, separated by at least 72 h. The decision-making task was preceded in a randomised order by 30 min of the Stroop task (mental fatigue) or 30 min of reading from magazines (control). Subjective ratings of mental fatigue were measured before and after treatment, and mental effort (referring to treatment) and motivation (referring to the decision-making task) were measured after treatment. Performance on the soccer-specific decision-making task was assessed using response accuracy and time. Visual search behaviour was also assessed throughout the decision-making task. Subjective ratings of mental fatigue and effort were almost certainly higher following the Stroop task compared to the magazines. Motivation for the upcoming decision-making task was possibly higher following the Stroop task. Decision-making accuracy was very likely lower and response time likely higher in the mental fatigue condition. Mental fatigue had unclear effects on most visual search behaviour variables. The results suggest that mental fatigue impairs accuracy and speed of soccer-specific decision-making. These impairments are not likely related to changes in visual search behaviour.

Are Sex Effects on Ethical Decision-Making Fake or Real? A Meta-Analysis on the Contaminating Role of Social Desirability Response Bias.

PubMed

Yang, Jianfeng; Ming, Xiaodong; Wang, Zhen; Adams, Susan M

2017-02-01

A meta-analysis of 143 studies was conducted to explore how the social desirability response bias may influence sex effects on ratings on measures of ethical decision-making. Women rated themselves as more ethical than did men; however, this sex effect on ethical decision-making was no longer significant when social desirability response bias was controlled. The indirect questioning approach was compared with the direct measurement approach for effectiveness in controlling social desirability response bias. The indirect questioning approach was found to be more effective.

13 CFR 120.425 - What are the minimum elements that SBA will require before consenting to a securitization?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... the accuracy of the data used to make the Currency Rate calculation. [64 FR 6508, Feb. 10, 1999, as... compliance with this section if it meets the definition of “well capitalized” used by its bank regulator. SBA... used to make the Loss Rate calculation. (c) PLP Privilege Suspension. (1) Suspension: If a securitizer...

The Effects of Assistant Principals' Decision-Making Processes on Advanced Diploma Rates in Long Island High Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murillo, Leo

2017-01-01

The purpose of this causal comparative study is to determine whether the assistant principal decision-making process and their years of experience influence the advanced diploma rates in high schools on Long Island, New York. The subjects for this study were 75 assistant principals in Long Island high schools during 2016. Assistant principals'…

Cooling time of porous asphalt pavement affecting compaction process due to various raining condition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hashim, W.; Noor, M. N. M.; Shaffie, E.; Rahman, Z. A.; Arshad, A. K.

2018-04-01

While bright sunshine and warm temperatures make for the best paving weather, construction projects can get a bit rough in adverse weather conditions. In this case, porous asphalt is used on paving. Light sprinkles can usually be handled without any serious problems. Moderate rainfall events, on the other hand, will generally require the paving project to be postponed. Steady downpours will cool the porous asphalt mix and make proper compaction extremely difficult to obtain. For the viability of the project, contractors will always wait until the sky clears up. According to the JKR Specification 4(Clause 4.2.6.4), it clearly states that no pavement work should be done during rain. The rain is a cold medium where it will actually cools down everything that make contact with the water. Whereas, the mix porous asphalt (PA) is a hot medium. When these two elements combined, the surface and the PA will harden at a stage where it will not be well compacted. This will cause problems in the future. The test is conducted by pouring water onto the pavement(through raining simulation).Since the rain intensity can be determined by the size of the rain drops, the difference in the shower hole size is good enough to create different rain intensities to predict the PA cooling rate when it makes contact with water. These two variables will work as a comparison in this study between raining and no rain condition. As a result, whenever the water make a contact with the PA, the rates of cooling drops 98% from the normal rates of cooling of PA (without rain)giving the Time Available for Compaction (TAC) to be less than 60 seconds. This study may be a knowledge on how the rates of cooling work if the PA make contact with water. It can also be used as future reference on the study of cooling rates of porous pavement during raining condition.

7 CFR 1717.305 - Pre-emption.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717.305 Pre-emption. (a) Inadequate rates. State regulatory authority jurisdiction over a power supply borrower's rates shall be pre-empted by the...

7 CFR 1717.305 - Pre-emption.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717.305 Pre-emption. (a) Inadequate rates. State regulatory authority jurisdiction over a power supply borrower's rates shall be pre-empted by the...

Colorectal cancer patients' attitudes towards involvement in decision making.

PubMed

Beaver, Kinta; Campbell, Malcolm; Craven, Olive; Jones, David; Luker, Karen A; Susnerwala, Shabbir S

2009-03-01

To design and administer an attitude rating scale, exploring colorectal cancer patients' views of involvement in decision making. To examine the impact of socio-demographic and/or treatment-related factors on decision making. To conduct principal components analysis to determine if the scale could be simplified into a number of factors for future clinical utility. An attitude rating scale was constructed based on previous qualitative work and administered to colorectal cancer patients using a cross-sectional survey approach. 375 questionnaires were returned (81.7% response). For patients it was important to be informed and involved in the decision-making process. Information was not always used to make decisions as patients placed their trust in medical expertise. Women had more positive opinions on decision making and were more likely to want to make decisions. Written information was understood to a greater degree than verbal information. The scale could be simplified to a number of factors, indicating clinical utility. Few studies have explored the attitudes of colorectal cancer patients towards involvement in decision making. This study presents new insights into how patients view the concept of participation; important when considering current policy imperatives in the UK of involving service users in all aspects of care and treatment.

Graduation Rate Watch: Making Minority Student Success a Priority

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carey, Kevin

2008-01-01

College graduation rates for minority students are often shockingly low. Most institutions have significantly lower graduation rates for black students than for white students. This report demonstrates that these high-failure rates are not inevitable: Some institutions are graduating black students at a higher rate than white students. The report…

Information transmission using non-poisson regular firing.

PubMed

Koyama, Shinsuke; Omi, Takahiro; Kass, Robert E; Shinomoto, Shigeru

2013-04-01

In many cortical areas, neural spike trains do not follow a Poisson process. In this study, we investigate a possible benefit of non-Poisson spiking for information transmission by studying the minimal rate fluctuation that can be detected by a Bayesian estimator. The idea is that an inhomogeneous Poisson process may make it difficult for downstream decoders to resolve subtle changes in rate fluctuation, but by using a more regular non-Poisson process, the nervous system can make rate fluctuations easier to detect. We evaluate the degree to which regular firing reduces the rate fluctuation detection threshold. We find that the threshold for detection is reduced in proportion to the coefficient of variation of interspike intervals.

Can teachers' global ratings identify children with academic problems?

PubMed

Glascoe, F P

2001-06-01

Physicians often elicit ratings from teachers when making diagnostic, treatment, or referral decisions. The purpose of this study was to view the relationship between teachers' ratings and children's academic skills, assess the utility of teacher ratings in detecting academic problems, and thus determine whether physicians can depend on teacher ratings when making decisions about patients' needs. Subjects were a national sample of 80 teachers and 934 children between 6 and 13 years of age participating in a test standardization study. Families were representative of United States demographics in terms of parental level of education, income, and ethnicity, and sites were geographically diverse elementary schools. Children were administered the Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills--Revised (CIBS-R), a diagnostic academic achievement test. Teachers rated children's academic performance on a five-point scale ranging from far above average to far below average and were blinded to the results of the CIBS-R. Teacher ratings varied significantly with children's performance for all academic domains. Logistic regression revealed that teacher ratings were best predicted by children's performance in basic reading skills, followed by math skills, and were not influenced by race, parents' level of education, history of retention, or gender. Participation in Title I services, testing in winter or spring, and parents who spoke a language other than English produced significantly lower ratings. Nevertheless, teachers rated as average many students with mild to moderate academic difficulties. School system personnel and health care providers should avoid sole dependence on global teacher ratings when deciding which students need special education referrals or other services. Supplementing teacher ratings with standardized screening test results is needed to ensure accurate decision-making.

Sex and Career Decision-Making Styles.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lunneborg, Patricia W.

1978-01-01

Tested the hypothesis of greater reliance on the intuitive style by females and on the planning style by males in making career decisions. There were no sex differences in these high school and college samples for stage or style of decision making, vocational self-concept crystallization, or self-rated vocational decisiveness. (Author/BEF)

Movies with smoking make less money.

PubMed

Glantz, Stanton A; Polansky, Jonathan R

2012-11-01

To determine the relationship between presence of smoking in films and total box office receipts. Regression analysis of box office receipts as a function of film rating, production budget, year of release and presence of smoking for 1232 films released in the USA between 2002 and 2010. R-rated films made, on average, 87% (95% CI 83% to 90%) of what PG-13 films of similar smoking status made and smoking films made 87% (95% CI 79% to 96%) of what comparably rated smoke-free films made. Larger budget films made more money. There was no significant effect of release year or G/PG rating compared with PG-13-rated movies. Because PG-13 films without smoking (median $48.6 million) already make 41% more money at the box office than R-rated movies with smoking (median $34.4 million), implementing an R rating for smoking to remove it from youth-rated films will not conflict with the economic self-interest of producer-distributors.

Inconsistencies in patient perceptions and observer ratings of shared decision making: the case of colorectal cancer screening.

PubMed

Wunderlich, Tracy; Cooper, Gregory; Divine, George; Flocke, Susan; Oja-Tebbe, Nancy; Stange, Kurt; Lafata, Jennifer Elston

2010-09-01

To compare patient-reported and observer-rated shared decision making (SDM) use for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and evaluate patient, physician and patient-reported relational communication factors associated with patient-reported use of shared CRC screening decisions. Study physicians are salaried primary care providers. Patients are insured, aged 50-80 and due for CRC screening. Audio-recordings from 363 primary care visits were observer-coded for elements of SDM. A post-visit patient survey assessed patient-reported decision-making processes and relational communication during visit. Association of patient-reported SDM with observer-rated elements of SDM, as well as patient, physician and relational communication factors were evaluated using generalized estimating equations. 70% of patients preferred SDM for preventive health decisions, 47% of patients reported use of a SDM process, and only one of the screening discussions included all four elements of SDM per observer ratings. Patient report of SDM use was not associated with observer-rated elements of SDM, but was significantly associated with female physician gender and patient-reported relational communication. Inconsistencies exist between patient reports and observer ratings of SDM for CRC screening. Future studies are needed to understand whether SDM that is patient-reported, observer-rated or both are associated with informed and value-concordant CRC screening decisions. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inconsistencies in Patient Perceptions and Observer Ratings of Shared Decision Making: The Case of Colorectal Cancer Screening

PubMed Central

Wunderlich, Tracy; Cooper, Gregory; Divine, George; Flocke, Susan; Oja-Tebbe, Nancy; Stange, Kurt; Lafata, Jennifer Elston

2010-01-01

Objective To compare patient-reported and observer-rated shared decision making (SDM) use for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and evaluate patient, physician and patient-reported relational communication factors associated with patient-reported use of shared CRC screening decisions. Methods Study physicians are salaried primary care providers. Patients are insured, aged 50-80 and due for CRC screening. Audio-recordings from 363 primary care visits were observer-coded for elements of SDM. A post-visit patient survey assessed patient-reported decision-making processes and relational communication during visit. Association of patient-reported SDM with observer-rated elements of SDM, as well as patient, physician and relational communication factors were evaluated using generalized estimating equations. Results 70% of patients preferred SDM for preventive health decisions, 47% of patients reported use of a SDM process, and only one of the screening discussions included all four elements of SDM per observer ratings. Patient report of SDM use was not associated with observer-rated elements of SDM, but was significantly associated with female physician gender and patient-reported relational communication. Conclusion Inconsistencies exist between patient reports and observer ratings of SDM for CRC screening. Practice Implications Future studies are needed to understand whether SDM that is patient-reported, observer-rated or both are associated with informed and value-concordant CRC screening decisions. PMID:20667678

Good Thinking or Gut Feeling? Cognitive Reflection and Intuition in Traders, Bankers and Financial Non-Experts

PubMed Central

Thoma, Volker; White, Elliott; Panigrahi, Asha; Strowger, Vanessa; Anderson, Irina

2015-01-01

The current study investigated differences in decision-making style and risk-taking between financial traders, non-trading bank employees, and people not working in finance. Traders scored significantly higher than participants in the other two groups on the cognitive reflection test (CRT) which measures the tendency to inhibit automatic but frequently false responses in reasoning tasks. Scores for traders compared to people outside the banking sector were also higher on a self-rated scale for reflective thinking in decision-making, but there were no differences in self-rated intuitive thinking between groups. Financial risk-taking correlated with cognitive reflection scores and was significantly lower in the non-expert group compared to the other groups working in financial services. Traders in the current study showed no elevated preference to use ‘intuition’ in their decision-making compared to other groups. Overall, these results indicate that compared to non-expert participants financial traders have a higher self-rated tendency for reflective thinking and a greater propensity to inhibit the use of mental shortcuts (heuristics) in decision-making. PMID:25875674

Risk Decision Making Model for Reservoir Floodwater resources Utilization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, X.

2017-12-01

Floodwater resources utilization(FRU) can alleviate the shortage of water resources, but there are risks. In order to safely and efficiently utilize the floodwater resources, it is necessary to study the risk of reservoir FRU. In this paper, the risk rate of exceeding the design flood water level and the risk rate of exceeding safety discharge are estimated. Based on the principle of the minimum risk and the maximum benefit of FRU, a multi-objective risk decision making model for FRU is constructed. Probability theory and mathematical statistics method is selected to calculate the risk rate; C-D production function method and emergy analysis method is selected to calculate the risk benefit; the risk loss is related to flood inundation area and unit area loss; the multi-objective decision making problem of the model is solved by the constraint method. Taking the Shilianghe reservoir in Jiangsu Province as an example, the optimal equilibrium solution of FRU of the Shilianghe reservoir is found by using the risk decision making model, and the validity and applicability of the model are verified.

'Capital ideas' for health care in 2015.

PubMed

Payne, Christopher T

2015-05-01

Key factors in planning for healthcare financing in 2015 include: New rules related to municipal advisors. Long-term interest rates and the cost of traditional versus synthetic fixed-rate debt. Ways to use interest-rate swaps to take advantage of synthetic fixed-rate debt. Lesser-known structures that may make variable-rate financing advantageous.

Noise in Attractor Networks in the Brain Produced by Graded Firing Rate Representations

PubMed Central

Webb, Tristan J.; Rolls, Edmund T.; Deco, Gustavo; Feng, Jianfeng

2011-01-01

Representations in the cortex are often distributed with graded firing rates in the neuronal populations. The firing rate probability distribution of each neuron to a set of stimuli is often exponential or gamma. In processes in the brain, such as decision-making, that are influenced by the noise produced by the close to random spike timings of each neuron for a given mean rate, the noise with this graded type of representation may be larger than with the binary firing rate distribution that is usually investigated. In integrate-and-fire simulations of an attractor decision-making network, we show that the noise is indeed greater for a given sparseness of the representation for graded, exponential, than for binary firing rate distributions. The greater noise was measured by faster escaping times from the spontaneous firing rate state when the decision cues are applied, and this corresponds to faster decision or reaction times. The greater noise was also evident as less stability of the spontaneous firing state before the decision cues are applied. The implication is that spiking-related noise will continue to be a factor that influences processes such as decision-making, signal detection, short-term memory, and memory recall even with the quite large networks found in the cerebral cortex. In these networks there are several thousand recurrent collateral synapses onto each neuron. The greater noise with graded firing rate distributions has the advantage that it can increase the speed of operation of cortical circuitry. PMID:21931607

The use of think-aloud protocols to identify a decision-making process of community pharmacists aimed at improving CMS Star Ratings scores.

PubMed

George, David L; Smith, Michael J; Draugalis, JoLaine R; Tolma, Eleni L; Keast, Shellie L; Wilson, Justin B

2018-03-01

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created the Star Rating system based on multiple measures that indicate the overall quality of health plans. Community pharmacists can impact certain Star Ratings measure scores through medication adherence and patient safety interventions. To explore methods, needs, and workflow issues of community pharmacists to improve CMS Star Ratings measures. Think-aloud protocols (TAPs) were conducted with active community retail pharmacists in Oklahoma. Each TAP was audio recorded and transcribed to documents for analysis. Analysts agreed on common themes, illuminated differences in findings, and saturation of the data gathered. Methods, needs, and workflow themes of community pharmacists associated with improving Star Ratings measures were compiled and organized to exhibit a decision-making process. Five TAPs were performed among three independent pharmacy owners, one multi-store owner, and one chain-store administrator. A thematically common 4-step process to monitor and improve CMS Star Ratings scores among participants was identified. To improve Star Ratings measures, pharmacists: 1) used technology to access scores, 2) analyzed data to strategically set goals, 3) assessed individual patient information for comprehensive assessment, and 4) decided on interventions to best impact Star Ratings scores. Participants also shared common needs, workflow issues, and benefits associated with methods used in improving Star Ratings. TAPs were useful in exploring processes of pharmacists who improve CMS Star Ratings scores. Pharmacists demonstrated and verbalized their methods, workflow issues, needs, and benefits related to performing the task. The themes and decision-making process identified to improving CMS Star Ratings scores will assist in the development of training and education programs for pharmacists in the community setting. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Where Is the Rate in the Rule?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herbert, Sandra

2008-01-01

A well-developed understanding of rate is foundational to conceptual understanding of introductory calculus. Many students achieve procedural competence with the application of rules for differentiation without developing an awareness of the connection between derivative and rate. In addition, rate-related reasoning is needed to make informed…

Feasibility of a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of decision boxes on shared decision-making processes.

PubMed

Giguere, Anik Mc; Labrecque, Michel; Légaré, France; Grad, Roland; Cauchon, Michel; Greenway, Matthew; Haynes, R Brian; Pluye, Pierre; Syed, Iqra; Banerjee, Debi; Carmichael, Pierre-Hugues; Martin, Mélanie

2015-02-25

Decision boxes (DBoxes) are two-page evidence summaries to prepare clinicians for shared decision making (SDM). We sought to assess the feasibility of a clustered Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to evaluate their impact. A convenience sample of clinicians (nurses, physicians and residents) from six primary healthcare clinics who received eight DBoxes and rated their interest in the topic and satisfaction. After consultations, their patients rated their involvement in decision-making processes (SDM-Q-9 instrument). We measured clinic and clinician recruitment rates, questionnaire completion rates, patient eligibility rates, and estimated the RCT needed sample size. Among the 20 family medicine clinics invited to participate in this study, four agreed to participate, giving an overall recruitment rate of 20%. Of 148 clinicians invited to the study, 93 participated (63%). Clinicians rated an interest in the topics ranging 6.4-8.2 out of 10 (with 10 highest) and a satisfaction with DBoxes of 4 or 5 out of 5 (with 5 highest) for 81% DBoxes. For the future RCT, we estimated that a sample size of 320 patients would allow detecting a 9% mean difference in the SDM-Q-9 ratings between our two arms (0.02 ICC; 0.05 significance level; 80% power). Clinicians' recruitment and questionnaire completion rates support the feasibility of the planned RCT. The level of interest of participants for the DBox topics, and their level of satisfaction with the Dboxes demonstrate the acceptability of the intervention. Processes to recruit clinics and patients should be optimized.

Conceptual and Empirical Approaches to Financial Decision-making by Older Adults: Results from a Financial Decision-making Rating Scale.

PubMed

Lichtenberg, Peter A; Ocepek-Welikson, Katja; Ficker, Lisa J; Gross, Evan; Rahman-Filipiak, Analise; Teresi, Jeanne A

2018-01-01

The objectives of this study were threefold: (1) to empirically test the conceptual model proposed by the Lichtenberg Financial Decision-making Rating Scale (LFDRS); (2) to examine the psychometric properties of the LFDRS contextual factors in financial decision-making by investigating both the reliability and convergent validity of the subscales and total scale, and (3) extending previous work on the scale through the collection of normative data on financial decision-making. A convenience sample of 200 independent function and community dwelling older adults underwent cognitive and financial management testing and were interviewed using the LFDRS. Confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency measures, and hierarchical regression were used in a sample of 200 community-dwelling older adults, all of whom were making or had recently made a significant financial decision. Results confirmed the scale's reliability and supported the conceptual model. Convergent validity analyses indicate that as hypothesized, cognition is a significant predictor of risk scores. Financial management scores, however, were not predictive of decision-making risk scores. The psychometric properties of the LFDRS support the scale's use as it was proposed. The LFDRS instructions and scale are provided for clinicians to use in financial capacity assessments.

The impact of failing to identify suspect effort in patients undergoing adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment.

PubMed

Marshall, Paul S; Hoelzle, James B; Heyerdahl, Danielle; Nelson, Nathaniel W

2016-10-01

[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 28(10) of Psychological Assessment (see record 2016-22725-001). In the article, the penultimate sentence of the abstract should read “These results suggest that a significant percentage of those making a suspect effort will be diagnosed with ADHD using the most commonly employed assessment methods: an interview alone (71%); an interview and ADHD behavior rating scales combined (65%); and an interview, behavior rating scales, and most continuous performance tests combined (62%).” All versions of this article have been corrected.] This retrospective study examines how many adult patients would plausibly receive a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) if performance and symptom validity measures were not administered during neuropsychological evaluations. Five hundred fifty-four patients were extracted from an archival clinical dataset. A total of 102 were diagnosed with ADHD based on cognitive testing, behavior rating scales, effort testing, and clinical interview; 115 were identified as putting forth suspect effort in accordance with the Slick, Sherman, and Iverson (1999) criteria. From a clinical decision-making perspective, suspect effort and ADHD groups were nearly indistinguishable on ADHD behavior, executive function, and functional impairment rating scales, as well as on cognitive testing and key clinical interview questions. These results suggest that a significant percentage of those making a suspect effort will be diagnosed with ADHD using the most commonly employed assessment methods: an interview alone (71%); an interview and ADHD behavior rating scales combined (65%); and an interview, behavior rating scales, and most continuous performance tests combined (62%) [corrected]. This research makes clear that it is essential to evaluate task engagement and possible symptom amplification during clinical evaluations. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved

Rating and analysis of continuous girder bridges.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1980-01-01

Federal regulations prompted as a result of bridge failures require the rating of bridge structures for which federal funds will be utilized for rehabilitation and replacement. The large number of bridges in Virginia subject to being rated makes such...

Social Identity and Preferences*

PubMed Central

Benjamin, Daniel J.; Choi, James J.; Strickland, A. Joshua

2009-01-01

Social identities prescribe behaviors for people. We identify the marginal behavioral effect of these norms on discount rates and risk aversion by measuring how laboratory subjects’ choices change when an aspect of social identity is made salient. When we make ethnic identity salient to Asian-American subjects, they make more patient choices. When we make racial identity salient to black subjects, non-immigrant blacks (but not immigrant blacks) make more patient choices. Making gender identity salient has no effect on intertemporal or risk choices. PMID:20871741

14 CFR Appendix C to Part 141 - Instrument Rating Course

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... rating appropriate to the instrument rating for which the course applies prior to enrolling in the flight...) of this section appropriate to the instrument rating for which the course applies: (1) 30 hours of...) Aeronautical decision making and judgment; and (10) Crew resource management, to include crew communication and...

7 CFR 1717.307 - Distribution members' rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Federal Pre-emption in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717.307 Distribution... affairs of the power supply borrower and over the rates of its distribution members: Provided, however, that the state regulatory authority shall treat any RUS approved rate for the power supply borrower as...

7 CFR 1717.307 - Distribution members' rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Federal Pre-emption in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717.307 Distribution... affairs of the power supply borrower and over the rates of its distribution members: Provided, however, that the state regulatory authority shall treat any RUS approved rate for the power supply borrower as...

7 CFR 764.304 - Rates and terms.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 7 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Rates and terms. 764.304 Section 764.304 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) FARM SERVICE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SPECIAL PROGRAMS DIRECT LOAN MAKING Youth Loan Program § 764.304 Rates and terms. (a) Rates. (1) The...

7 CFR 764.304 - Rates and terms.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 7 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Rates and terms. 764.304 Section 764.304 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) FARM SERVICE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SPECIAL PROGRAMS DIRECT LOAN MAKING Youth Loan Program § 764.304 Rates and terms. (a) Rates. (1) The...

Colorectal cancer patients’ attitudes towards involvement in decision making

PubMed Central

Beaver, Kinta; Campbell, Malcolm; Craven, Olive; Jones, David; Luker, Karen A.; Susnerwala, Shabbir S.

2009-01-01

Abstract Objectives  To design and administer an attitude rating scale, exploring colorectal cancer patients’ views of involvement in decision making. To examine the impact of socio‐demographic and/or treatment‐related factors on decision making. To conduct principal components analysis to determine if the scale could be simplified into a number of factors for future clinical utility. Methods  An attitude rating scale was constructed based on previous qualitative work and administered to colorectal cancer patients using a cross‐sectional survey approach. Results  375 questionnaires were returned (81.7% response). For patients it was important to be informed and involved in the decision‐making process. Information was not always used to make decisions as patients placed their trust in medical expertise. Women had more positive opinions on decision making and were more likely to want to make decisions. Written information was understood to a greater degree than verbal information. The scale could be simplified to a number of factors, indicating clinical utility. Conclusion  Few studies have explored the attitudes of colorectal cancer patients towards involvement in decision making. This study presents new insights into how patients view the concept of participation; important when considering current policy imperatives in the UK of involving service users in all aspects of care and treatment. PMID:19250150

[A multi-measure analysis of the similarity, attraction, and compromise effects in multi-attribute decision making].

PubMed

Tsuzuki, Takashi; Matsui, Hiroshi; Kikuchi, Manabu

2012-12-01

In multi-attribute decision making, the similarity, attraction, and compromise effects warrant specific investigation as they cause violations of principles in rational choice. In order to investigate these three effects simultaneously, we assigned 145 undergraduates to three context effect conditions. We requested them to solve the same 20 hypothetical purchase problems, each of which had three alternatives described along two attributes. We measured their choices, confidence ratings, and response times. We found that manipulating the third alternative had significant context effects for choice proportions and confidence ratings in all three conditions. Furthermore, the attraction effect was the most prominent with regard to choice proportions. In the compromise effect condition, although the choice proportion of the third alternative was high, the confidence rating was low and the response time was long. These results indicate that the relationship between choice proportions and confidence ratings requires further theoretical investigation. They also suggest that a combination of experimental and modeling studies is imperative to reveal the mechanisms underlying the context effects in multi-attribute, multi-alternative decision making.

Exploring the use of Option Grid™ patient decision aids in a sample of clinics in Poland.

PubMed

Scalia, Peter; Elwyn, Glyn; Barr, Paul; Song, Julia; Zisman-Ilani, Yaara; Lesniak, Monika; Mullin, Sarah; Kurek, Krzysztof; Bushell, Matt; Durand, Marie-Anne

2018-05-29

Research on the implementation of patient decision aids to facilitate shared decision making in clinical settings has steadily increased across Western countries. A study which implements decision aids and measures their impact on shared decision making has yet to be conducted in the Eastern part of Europe. To study the use of Option Grid TM patient decision aids in a sample of Grupa LUX MED clinics in Warsaw, Poland, and measure their impact on shared decision making. We conducted a pre-post interventional study. Following a three-month period of usual care, clinicians from three Grupa LUX MED clinics received a one-hour training session on how to use three Option Grid TM decision aids and were provided with copies for use for four months. Throughout the study, all eligible patients were asked to complete the three-item CollaboRATE patient-reported measure of shared decision making after their clinical encounter. CollaboRATE enables patients to assess the efforts clinicians make to: (i) inform them about their health issues; (ii) listen to 'what matters most'; (iii) integrate their treatment preference in future plans. A Hierarchical Logistic Regression model was performed to understand which variables had an effect on CollaboRATE. 2,048 patients participated in the baseline phase; 1,889 patients participated in the intervention phase. Five of the thirteen study clinicians had a statistically significant increase in their CollaboRATE scores (p<.05) when comparing baseline phase to intervention phase. All five clinicians were located at the same clinic, the only clinic where an overall increase (non-significant) in the mean CollaboRATE top score percentage occurred from baseline phase (M=60 %, SD=0.49; 95 % CI [57-63 %]) to intervention phase (M=62 %, SD=0.49; 95% CI [59-65%]). Only three of those five clinicians who had a statistically significant increase had a clinically significant difference. The implementation of Option Grid TM helped some clinicians practice shared decision making as reflected in CollaboRATE scores, but most clinicians did not have a significant increase in their scores. Our study indicates that the effect of these interventions may be dependent on clinic contexts and clinician engagement. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

Dispositional optimism, self-framing and medical decision-making.

PubMed

Zhao, Xu; Huang, Chunlei; Li, Xuesong; Zhao, Xin; Peng, Jiaxi

2015-03-01

Self-framing is an important but underinvestigated area in risk communication and behavioural decision-making, especially in medical settings. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship among dispositional optimism, self-frame and decision-making. Participants (N = 500) responded to the Life Orientation Test-Revised and self-framing test of medical decision-making problem. The participants whose scores were higher than the middle value were regarded as highly optimistic individuals. The rest were regarded as low optimistic individuals. The results showed that compared to the high dispositional optimism group, participants from the low dispositional optimism group showed a greater tendency to use negative vocabulary to construct their self-frame, and tended to choose the radiation therapy with high treatment survival rate, but low 5-year survival rate. Based on the current findings, it can be concluded that self-framing effect still exists in medical situation and individual differences in dispositional optimism can influence the processing of information in a framed decision task, as well as risky decision-making. © 2014 International Union of Psychological Science.

What makes rating systems tick

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

Vories, R.

How can home buyers tell how much they are going to have to spend on utilities when they buy houses How can a lender determine if a home should be rewarded for its energy efficiency potential How can a real estate agent show a buyer the energy features of a home Home energy rating system (HERS) are one of the most-effective and comprehensive ways of addressing the problem of how to make energy efficiency and its economic impacts more visible and understandable. They attract participation because they make it easier for everyone involved to recognize energy efficiency and weigh itmore » into their decision-making processes. This article describes seven HERS created by localities interested in helping community members better compare the energy efficiency of their current homes or homes for sale. All seven systems were developed primarily for existing homes. Not all are still alive, but their experience is nevertheless worthwhile. Comparing them to each other reveals factors that makes HERS effective. 1 ref.« less

Age-based disparities in end-of-life decisions in Belgium: a population-based death certificate survey

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background A growing body of scientific research is suggesting that end-of-life care and decision making may differ between age groups and that elderly patients may be the most vulnerable to exclusion of due care at the end of life. This study investigates age-related disparities in the rate of end-of-life decisions with a possible or certain life shortening effect (ELDs) and in the preceding decision making process in Flanders, Belgium in 2007, where euthanasia was legalised in 2002. Comparing with data from an identical survey in 1998 we also study the plausibility of the ‘slippery slope’ hypothesis which predicts a rise in the rate of administration of life ending drugs without patient request, especially among elderly patients, in countries where euthanasia is legal. Method We performed a post-mortem survey among physicians certifying a large representative sample (n = 6927) of death certificates in 2007, identical to a 1998 survey. Response rate was 58.4%. Results While the rates of non-treatment decisions (NTD) and administration of life ending drugs without explicit request (LAWER) did not differ between age groups, the use of intensified alleviation of pain and symptoms (APS) and euthanasia/assisted suicide (EAS), as well as the proportion of euthanasia requests granted, was bivariately and negatively associated with patient age. Multivariate analysis showed no significant effects of age on ELD rates. Older patients were less often included in decision making for APS and more often deemed lacking in capacity than were younger patients. Comparison with 1998 showed a decrease in the rate of LAWER in all age groups except in the 80+ age group where the rate was stagnant. Conclusion Age is not a determining factor in the rate of end-of-life decisions, but is in decision making as patient inclusion rates decrease with old age. Our results suggest there is a need to focus advance care planning initiatives on elderly patients. The slippery slope hypothesis cannot be confirmed either in general or among older people, as since the euthanasia law fewer LAWER cases were found. PMID:22708727

Age-based disparities in end-of-life decisions in Belgium: a population-based death certificate survey.

PubMed

Chambaere, Kenneth; Rietjens, Judith A C; Smets, Tinne; Bilsen, Johan; Deschepper, Reginald; Pasman, H Roeline W; Deliens, Luc

2012-06-18

A growing body of scientific research is suggesting that end-of-life care and decision making may differ between age groups and that elderly patients may be the most vulnerable to exclusion of due care at the end of life. This study investigates age-related disparities in the rate of end-of-life decisions with a possible or certain life shortening effect (ELDs) and in the preceding decision making process in Flanders, Belgium in 2007, where euthanasia was legalised in 2002. Comparing with data from an identical survey in 1998 we also study the plausibility of the 'slippery slope' hypothesis which predicts a rise in the rate of administration of life ending drugs without patient request, especially among elderly patients, in countries where euthanasia is legal. We performed a post-mortem survey among physicians certifying a large representative sample (n = 6927) of death certificates in 2007, identical to a 1998 survey. Response rate was 58.4%. While the rates of non-treatment decisions (NTD) and administration of life ending drugs without explicit request (LAWER) did not differ between age groups, the use of intensified alleviation of pain and symptoms (APS) and euthanasia/assisted suicide (EAS), as well as the proportion of euthanasia requests granted, was bivariately and negatively associated with patient age. Multivariate analysis showed no significant effects of age on ELD rates. Older patients were less often included in decision making for APS and more often deemed lacking in capacity than were younger patients. Comparison with 1998 showed a decrease in the rate of LAWER in all age groups except in the 80+ age group where the rate was stagnant. Age is not a determining factor in the rate of end-of-life decisions, but is in decision making as patient inclusion rates decrease with old age. Our results suggest there is a need to focus advance care planning initiatives on elderly patients. The slippery slope hypothesis cannot be confirmed either in general or among older people, as since the euthanasia law fewer LAWER cases were found.

Winds from stripped low-mass helium stars and Wolf-Rayet stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vink, Jorick S.

2017-11-01

We present mass-loss predictions from Monte Carlo radiative transfer models for helium (He) stars as a function of stellar mass, down to 2 M⊙. Our study includes both massive Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars and low-mass He stars that have lost their envelope through interaction with a companion. For these low-mass He stars we predict mass-loss rates that are an order of magnitude smaller than by extrapolation of empirical WR mass-loss rates. Our lower mass-loss rates make it harder for these elusive stripped stars to be discovered via line emission, and we should attempt to find these stars through alternative methods instead. Moreover, lower mass-loss rates make it less likely that low-mass He stars provide stripped-envelope supernovae (SNe) of type Ibc. We express our mass-loss predictions as a function of L and Z and not as a function of the He abundance, as we do not consider this physically astute given our earlier work. The exponent of the M⊙ versus Z dependence is found to be 0.61, which is less steep than relationships derived from recent empirical atmospheric modelling. Our shallower exponent will make it more challenging to produce "heavy" black holes of order 40 M⊙, as recently discovered in the gravitational wave event GW 150914, making low metallicity for these types of events even more necessary.

Clinical Utilisation and Usefullness of the Rating Scale of Mixed States, ("Gt-Msrs"): a Multicenter Study.

PubMed

Tavormina, Giuseppe; Franza, Francesco; Stranieri, Giuseppe; Juli, Luigi; Juli, Maria Rosaria

2017-09-01

The rating scale "G.T. MSRS" has been designed to improve the clinical effectiveness of the clinician psychiatrists, by enabling them to make an early "general" diagnosis of mixed states. The knowledge of the clinical features of the mixed states and of the symptoms of the "mixity" of mood disorders is crucial: to mis-diagnose or mis-treat patients with these symptoms may increase the suicide risk and make worse the evolution of mood disorders going to the dysphoric state. This study is the second validation study of the "G.T. MSRS" rating scale, in order to demonstrate its usefullness.

How to improve colon cancer screening rates

PubMed Central

Alberti, Luiz Ronaldo; Garcia, Diego Paim Carvalho; Coelho, Debora Lucciola; De Lima, David Correa Alves; Petroianu, Andy

2015-01-01

Colorectal carcinoma is a common cause of death throughout the world and may be prevented by routine control, which can detect precancerous neoplasms and early cancers before they undergo malignant transformation or metastasis. Three strategies may improve colon cancer screening rates: convince the population about the importance of undergoing a screening test; achieve higher efficacy in standard screening tests and make them more available to the community and develop new more sensitive and efficacious screening methods and make them available as routine tests. In this light, the present study seeks to review these three means through which to increase colon cancer screening rates. PMID:26688708

Search Recipes

MedlinePlus

... Creole-inspired dish uses chili sauce and cayenne pepper to spice it up. Tomatoes, green pepper, celery, onions and garlic spices also surround the ... Cookbook Make your own pizza topped with green peppers, mushrooms, or other vegetables. Rating: Total Cost: Makes: ...

Shared Decision-Making in the Management of Congenital Vascular Malformations.

PubMed

Horbach, Sophie E R; Ubbink, Dirk T; Stubenrouch, Fabienne E; Koelemay, Mark J W; van der Vleuten, Carine J M; Verhoeven, Bas H; Reekers, Jim A; Schultze Kool, Leo J; van der Horst, Chantal M A M

2017-03-01

In shared decision-making, clinicians and patients arrive at a joint treatment decision, by incorporating best available evidence and the patients' personal values and preferences. Little is known about the role of shared decision-making in managing patients with congenital vascular malformations, for which preference-sensitive decision-making seems obvious. The authors investigated preferences regarding decision-making and current shared decision-making behavior during physician-patient encounters. In two Dutch university hospitals, adults and children with congenital vascular malformations facing a treatment-related decision were enrolled. Before the consultation, patients (or parents of children) expressed their preference regarding decision-making (Control Preferences Scale). Afterward, participants completed shared decision-making-specific questionnaires (nine-item Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire, CollaboRATE, and satisfaction), and physicians completed the Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire-Physician questionnaire. Consultations were audiotaped and patient involvement was scored by two independent researchers using the five-item Observing Patient Involvement instrument. All questionnaire results were expressed on a scale of 0 to 100 (optimum shared decision-making). Fifty-five participants (24 parents and 31 adult patients) were included. Two-thirds preferred the shared decision-making approach (Control Preferences Scale). Objective five-item Observing Patient Involvement scores were low (mean ± SD, 31 ± 15), whereas patient and physician Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire scores were high, with means of 68 ± 18 and 68 ± 19, respectively. The median CollaboRATE score was 93. There was no clear relationship between shared decision-making and satisfaction scores. Although adults and parents of children with vascular malformations express a strong desire for shared decision-making, objective shared decision-making behavior is still lacking, most likely because of poor awareness of the shared decision-making concept among patients, parents, and physicians. To improve shared decision-making practice, targeted interventions (e.g., decision aids, staff training) are essential.

Shared Decision Making in Local School Planning: An Urban School System's Experience.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elenbogen, Janet C.; Hiestand, Nancy I.

The practices and perceptions of a shared planning team decision-making model and the effects on student achievement and attendance are examined in this study. Survey results, test scores, and background data on schools were utilized to analyze the relationships among the degree of shared decision-making and planning effectiveness ratings, student…

The Matter of New Media Making: An Intra-Action Analysis of Adolescents Making a Digital Book Trailer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ehret, Christian; Hollett, Ty; Jocius, Robin

2016-01-01

Representational logic cannot account for the entanglements of all that matters in making new media: feeling bodies, vibrant matter, feeling bodies and vibrant matter all moving and at different rates. In the currently shifting communicative landscape, where mobile technologies are the primary means for youths' digital production, all this…

Assessing the Decision-Making Capacity of Terminally Ill Patients with Cancer.

PubMed

Kolva, Elissa; Rosenfeld, Barry; Saracino, Rebecca

2018-05-01

Despite the clinical, ethical, and legal magnitude of end-of-life decision-making, the capacity of terminally ill patients to make the medical decisions they often face is largely unknown. In practice, clinicians are responsible for determining when their patients are no longer competent to make treatment decisions, yet the accuracy of these assessments is unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore decision-making capacity and its assessment in terminally ill cancer patients. Fifty-five patients with advanced cancer receiving inpatient palliative care and 50 healthy adults were administered the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T) to evaluate decision-making capacity with regard to the four most commonly used legal standards: Choice, Understanding, Appreciation, and Reasoning. Participants made a hypothetical treatment decision about whether to accept artificial nutrition and hydration for treatment of cachexia. Participants' physicians independently rated their decision-making capacity. Terminally ill participants were significantly more impaired than healthy adults on all MacCAT-T subscales. Most terminally ill participants were able to express a treatment choice (85.7%), but impairment was common on the Understanding (44.2%), Appreciation (49.0%), and Reasoning (85.4%) subscales. Agreement between physician-rated capacity and performance on the MacCAT-T subscales was poor. The use of the MacCAT-T revealed high rates of decisional impairment in terminally ill participants. Participants' physicians infrequently detected impairment identified by the MacCAT-T. The findings from the present study reinforce the need for engagement in advance care planning for patients with advanced cancer. Copyright © 2018 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

What factors do patients consider most important in making lung cancer screening decisions? Findings from a demonstration project conducted in the Veterans Health Administration.

PubMed

Lillie, Sarah E; Fu, Steven S; Fabbrini, Angela E; Rice, Kathryn L; Clothier, Barbara; Nelson, David B; Doro, Elizabeth A; Moughrabieh, M Anas; Partin, Melissa R

2017-02-01

The National Lung Screening Trial recently reported that annual low-dose computed tomography screening is associated with decreased lung cancer mortality in high-risk smokers. This study sought to identify the factors patients consider important in making lung cancer screening (LCS) decisions, and explore variations by patient characteristics and LCS participation. This observational survey study evaluated the Minneapolis VA LCS Clinical Demonstration Project in which LCS-eligible Veterans (N=1388) were randomized to either Direct LCS Invitation (mailed with decision aid, N=926) or Usual Care (provider referral, N=462). We surveyed participants three months post-randomization (response rate 44%) and report the proportion of respondents rating eight decision-making factors (benefits, harms, and neutral factors) as important by condition, patient characteristics, and LCS completion. Overall, the most important factor was personal risk of lung cancer and the least important factor was health risks from LCS. The reported importance varied by patient characteristics, including smoking status, health status, and education level. Overall, the potential harms of LCS were reported less important than the benefits or the neutral decision-making factors. Exposure to Direct LCS Invitation (with decision aid) increased Veterans' attention to specific decision-making factors; compared to Usual Care respondents, a larger proportion of Direct LCS Invitation respondents rated the chance of false-positive results, LCS knowledge, LCS convenience, and anxiety as important. Those completing LCS considered screening harms less important, with the exception of incidental findings. Decision tools influence Veterans' perceptions about LCS decision-making factors. As the factors important to LCS decision making vary by patient characteristics, targeted materials for specific subgroups may be warranted. Attention should be paid to how LCS incidental findings are communicated. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Predicting Higher Education Outcomes and Implications for a Postsecondary Institution Ratings System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walker, Eddie G., II

2016-01-01

The accountability of colleges and universities is a high priority for those making policy decisions. The purpose of this study was to determine institutional characteristics predicting retention rates, graduation rates and transfer-out rates using publicly available data from the US Department of Education. Using regression analysis, it was…

46 CFR 298.20 - Term, redemptions, and interest rate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 8 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Term, redemptions, and interest rate. 298.20 Section 298... OBLIGATION GUARANTEES Guarantees § 298.20 Term, redemptions, and interest rate. (a) In general. The maturity... security for the Guarantees. (c) Interest rate. We will make a determination as to the reasonableness of...

29 CFR 4007.12 - Liability for single-employer premiums.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... of the plan administrator as the person required to make flat-rate and variable-rate premium filings... liable for flat-rate and variable-rate premium payments, and, if the contributing sponsor is a member of a controlled group, each member of the controlled group is jointly and severally liable for the...

Representing Rate Equations for Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ault, Addison

2011-01-01

Rate equations for enzyme-catalyzed reactions are derived and presented in a way that makes it easier for the nonspecialist to see how the rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction depends upon kinetic constants and concentrations. This is done with distribution equations that show how the rate of the reaction depends upon the relative quantities of…

29 CFR 511.2 - Initiation of proceedings; notices of hearings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., giving notice of hearings by industry committees to recommend the minimum rate or rates of wages to be... the minimum rate or rates of wages for all industry in American Samoa. All such orders will make... Section 511.2 Labor Regulations Relating to Labor (Continued) WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR...

Assessment of spatial variation of risks in small populations.

PubMed Central

Riggan, W B; Manton, K G; Creason, J P; Woodbury, M A; Stallard, E

1991-01-01

Often environmental hazards are assessed by examining the spatial variation of disease-specific mortality or morbidity rates. These rates, when estimated for small local populations, can have a high degree of random variation or uncertainty associated with them. If those rate estimates are used to prioritize environmental clean-up actions or to allocate resources, then those decisions may be influenced by this high degree of uncertainty. Unfortunately, the effect of this uncertainty is not to add "random noise" into the decision-making process, but to systematically bias action toward the smallest populations where uncertainty is greatest and where extreme high and low rate deviations are most likely to be manifest by chance. We present a statistical procedure for adjusting rate estimates for differences in variability due to differentials in local area population sizes. Such adjustments produce rate estimates for areas that have better properties than the unadjusted rates for use in making statistically based decisions about the entire set of areas. Examples are provided for county variation in bladder, stomach, and lung cancer mortality rates for U.S. white males for the period 1970 to 1979. PMID:1820268

MICROBIAL TRANSFORMATION RATE CONSTANTS OF STRUCTURALLY DIVERSE MAN-MADE CHEMICALS

EPA Science Inventory

To assist in estimating microbially mediated transformation rates of man-made chemicals from their chemical structures, all second order rate constants that have been measured under conditions that make the values comparable have been extracted from the literature and combined wi...

37 CFR 385.17 - Effect of rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Section 385.17 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND... MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Interactive Streaming, Other Incidental Digital Phonorecord Deliveries and Limited Downloads § 385.17 Effect of rates. In any future proceedings...

37 CFR 385.17 - Effect of rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Section 385.17 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND... MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Interactive Streaming, Other Incidental Digital Phonorecord Deliveries and Limited Downloads § 385.17 Effect of rates. In any future proceedings...

37 CFR 385.17 - Effect of rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Section 385.17 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND... MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Interactive Streaming, Other Incidental Digital Phonorecord Deliveries and Limited Downloads § 385.17 Effect of rates. In any future proceedings...

37 CFR 385.17 - Effect of rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Section 385.17 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND... MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Interactive Streaming, Other Incidental Digital Phonorecord Deliveries and Limited Downloads § 385.17 Effect of rates. In any future proceedings...

GRADE guidelines: 10. Considering resource use and rating the quality of economic evidence.

PubMed

Brunetti, Massimo; Shemilt, Ian; Pregno, Silvia; Vale, Luke; Oxman, Andrew D; Lord, Joanne; Sisk, Jane; Ruiz, Francis; Hill, Suzanne; Guyatt, Gordon H; Jaeschke, Roman; Helfand, Mark; Harbour, Robin; Davoli, Marina; Amato, Laura; Liberati, Alessandro; Schünemann, Holger J

2013-02-01

In this article, we describe how to include considerations about resource utilization when making recommendations according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. We focus on challenges with rating the confidence in effect estimates (quality of evidence) and incorporating resource use into evidence profiles and Summary of Findings (SoF) tables. GRADE recommends that important differences in resource use between alternative management strategies should be included along with other important outcomes in the evidence profile and SoF table. Key steps in considering resources in making recommendations with GRADE are the identification of items of resource use that may differ between alternative management strategies and that are potentially important to decision makers, finding evidence for the differences in resource use, making judgments regarding confidence in effect estimates using the same criteria used for health outcomes, and valuing the resource use in terms of costs for the specific setting for which recommendations are being made. With our framework, decision makers will have access to concise summaries of recommendations, including ratings of the quality of economic evidence, and better understand the implications for clinical decision making. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Counterfactual Evaluation of Outcomes in Social Risk Decision-Making Situations: The Cognitive Developmental Paradox Revisited.

PubMed

Padrón, Iván; Rodrigo, María Jose; de Vega, Manuel

2016-01-01

We report a study that examined the existence of a cognitive developmental paradox in the counterfactual evaluation of decision-making outcomes. According to this paradox adolescents and young adults could be able to apply counterfactual reasoning and, yet, their counterfactual evaluation of outcomes could be biased in a salient socio-emotional context. To this aim, we analyzed the impact of health and social feedback on the counterfactual evaluation of outcomes in a laboratory decision-making task involving short narratives with the presence of peers. Forty risky (e.g., taking or refusing a drug), forty neutral decisions (e.g., eating a hamburger or a hotdog), and emotions felt following positive or negative outcomes were examined in 256 early, mid- and late adolescents, and young adults, evenly distributed. Results showed that emotional ratings to negative outcomes (regret and disappointment) but not to positive outcomes (relief and elation) were attenuated when feedback was provided. Evidence of development of cognitive decision-making capacities did also exist, as the capacity to perform faster emotional ratings and to differentially allocate more resources to the elaboration of emotional ratings when no feedback information was available increased with age. Overall, we interpret these findings as challenging the traditional cognitive developmental assumption that development necessarily proceeds from lesser to greater capacities, reflecting the impact of socio-emotional processes that could bias the counterfactual evaluation of social decision-making outcomes.

Clinical Decision Making in the Management of Patients With Cervicogenic Dizziness: A Case Series.

PubMed

Jung, Francis C; Mathew, Sherin; Littmann, Andrew E; MacDonald, Cameron W

2017-11-01

Study Design Case series. Background Although growing recognition of cervicogenic dizziness (CGD) is emerging, there is still no gold standard for the diagnosis of CGD. The purpose of this case series is to describe the clinical decision making utilized in the management of 7 patients presenting with CGD. Case Description Patients presenting with neck pain and accompanying subjective symptoms, including dizziness, unsteadiness, light-headedness, and visual disturbance, were selected. Clinical evidence of a temporal relationship between neck pain and dizziness, with or without sensorimotor disturbances, was assessed. Clinical decision making followed a 4-step process, informed by the current available best evidence. Outcome measures included the numeric rating scale for dizziness and neck pain, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Patient-Specific Functional Scale, and global rating of change. Outcomes Seven patients (mean age, 57 years; range, 31-86 years; 7 female) completed physical therapy management at an average of 13 sessions (range, 8-30 sessions) over a mean of 7 weeks. Clinically meaningful improvements were observed in the numeric rating scale for dizziness (mean difference, 5.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.0, 7.5), neck pain (mean difference, 5.4; 95% CI: 3.8, 7.1), and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (mean difference, 32.6; 95% CI: 12.9, 52.2) at discontinuation. Patients also demonstrated overall satisfaction via the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (mean difference, 9) and global rating of change (mean, +6). Discussion This case series describes the physical therapist decision making, management, and outcomes in patients with CGD. Further investigation is warranted to develop a valid clinical decision-making guideline to inform management of patients with CGD. Level of Evidence Diagnosis, therapy, level 4. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2017;47(11):874-884. Epub 9 Oct 2017. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.7425.

37 CFR 385.17 - Effect of rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Effect of rates. 385.17 Section 385.17 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND... MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Interactive Streaming and Limited Downloads...

37 CFR 385.26 - Effect of rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Effect of rates. 385.26 Section 385.26 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND... MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Limited Offerings, Mixed Service Bundles...

First-Year Student Experiences in Community College: Making Transitions, Forming Connections, and Developing Perceptions of Student Learning. Draft.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jalomo, Romero Espinoza, Jr.

This paper provides theoretical background and methodology for a focus group study of influences on first-time Latino community college students. The first chapter identifies the need for research on Latino students, citing high attrition rates and focusing on three critical dynamics: making the transition to college, making connections on campus…

Relying on Your Own Best Judgment: Imputing Values to Missing Information in Decision Making.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Richard D.; And Others

Processes involved in making estimates of the value of missing information that could help in a decision making process were studied. Hypothetical purchases of ground beef were selected for the study as such purchases have the desirable property of quantifying both the price and quality. A total of 150 students at the University of Iowa rated the…

Structured assessment of mental capacity to make financial decisions in Chinese older persons with mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer disease.

PubMed

Lui, Victor W C; Lam, Linda C W; Chau, Rachel C M; Fung, Ada W T; Wong, Billy M L; Leung, Grace T Y; Leung, K F; Chiu, Helen F K; Karlawish, Jason H T; Appelbaum, Paul S

2013-06-01

Previous studies suggested that patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia can have impaired and declining financial skills and abilities. The purpose of this study is to test a clinically applicable method, based on the contemporary legal standard, to examine directly the mental capacity to make financial decisions and its component decision-making abilities among patients with MCI and early dementia. A total of 90 patients with mild Alzheimer disease (AD), 92 participants with MCI, and 93 cognitively normal control participants were recruited for this study. Their mental capacity to make everyday financial decisions was assessed by clinician ratings and the Chinese version of the Assessment of Capacity for Everyday Decision-Making (ACED). Based on the clinician ratings, only 53.5% were found to be mentally competent in the AD group, compared with 94.6% in the MCI group. However, participants with MCI had mild but significant impairment in understanding, appreciating, and reasoning abilities as measured by the ACED. The ACED provided a reliable and clinically applicable structured framework for assessment of mental capacity to make financial decisions.

Breast Conservation Therapy Versus Mastectomy: Shared Decision-Making Strategies and Overcoming Decisional Conflicts in Your Patients.

PubMed

Margenthaler, Julie A; Ollila, David W

2016-10-01

Although breast-conserving therapy is considered the preferred treatment for the majority of women with early-stage breast cancer, mastectomy rates in this group remain high. The patient, physician, and systems factors contributing to a decision for mastectomy are complicated. Understanding the individual patient's values and goals when making this decision is paramount to providing a shared decision-making process that will yield the desired outcome. The cornerstones of this discussion include education of the patient, access to decision-aid tools, and time to make an informed decision. However, it is also paramount for the physician to understand that a significant majority of women with an informed and complete understanding of their surgical choices will still prefer mastectomy. The rates of breast conservation versus mastectomy should not be considered a quality measure alone. Rather, the extent by which patients are informed, involved in decision-making, and undergoing treatments that reflect their goals is the true test of quality. Here we explore some of the factors that impact the patient preference for breast conservation versus mastectomy and how shared decision-making can be maximized for patient satisfaction.

MAKING THE CASE FOR Biotechnology Reinsurance (BIO-RE)

PubMed Central

PYENSON, BRUCE

2008-01-01

The inherent difficulty of sustaining the rate of growth in healthcare spending may make biologics a touchstone for government intervention. The author proposes a combined cost-management and care-delivery standard that could lessen that threat. PMID:22478739

Cathodic protection evaluation.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-10-01

This research investigates the effectiveness of a new corrosion rate test instrument in making field evaluations of the corrosion condition of : several conventionally reinforced concrete coastal bridges. The instrument is the Gecor 9 Corrosion Rate ...

31 CFR Appendix B to Part 359 - Composite Semiannual Rate Period Table

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Composite Semiannual Rate Period... SAVINGS BONDS, SERIES I Pt. 359, App. B Appendix B to Part 359—Composite Semiannual Rate Period Table 1. What months make up the composite semiannual rate period? You may use the following table to find when...

Comparing Two Approaches to the Rate of Return to Investment in Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kara, Orhan

2010-01-01

The economic value of investment in education has typically been measured by its rate of return, frequently estimated by the internal rate of return or the earning function approach. Given the importance of the rate of return estimates for individuals and countries, especially developing countries, in making decision on educational investment, we…

12 CFR 617.7130 - What initial disclosures must a qualified lender make to a borrower?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... CREDIT SYSTEM BORROWER RIGHTS Disclosure of Effective Interest Rates § 617.7130 What initial disclosures... must disclose in writing: (1) The interest rate on the loan; (2) The effective interest rate of the... connection with the loan and included in the calculation of the effective interest rate of the loan; (4) All...

On the social rate of discount: the case for macroenvironmental policy

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

Doeleman, J.A.

Concern for the rapidly growing scale and intensity of the human exploitation of the environment, in particular the alienation of natural ecosystems, but also resource exhaustion, pollution, and congestion, leads one to wonder about the short time horizons allowed for in decision making. Time preference is dictated by the rate of interest, allowing in practice a horizon often not exceeding several decades. I argue that this is unsatisfactory. Some minimal social rate of discount should not be enforced. Instead, it is more feasible to set absolute environmental standards, thereby introducing quantity constraints on our decision making, within which time preferencemore » can be permitted to find its own level. This acknowledges that the myopia of human vision may not be a flaw but rather a biological design which has served us well in evolution. It may, therefore, be better to change the rules by introducing self-imposed collective constraints than to try to change the shortsightedness of people in their day-to-day grass-roots decision making.« less

Differences in Risk Aversion between Young and Older Adults.

PubMed

Albert, Steven M; Duffy, John

2012-01-15

Research on decision-making strategies among younger and older adults suggests that older adults may be more risk averse than younger people in the case of potential losses. These results mostly come from experimental studies involving gambling paradigms. Since these paradigms involve substantial demands on memory and learning, differences in risk aversion or other features of decision-making attributed to age may in fact reflect age-related declines in cognitive abilities. In the current study, older and younger adults completed a simpler, paired lottery choice task used in the experimental economics literature to elicit risk aversion. A similar approach was used to elicit participants' discount rates. The older adult group was more risk averse than younger adults (p < .05) and also had a higher discount rate (15.6-21.0% vs. 10.3-15.5%, p < .01), indicating lower expected utility from future income. Risk aversion and implied discount rates were weakly correlated. It may be valuable to investigate developmental changes in neural correlates of decision-making across the lifespan.

Differences in Risk Aversion between Young and Older Adults

PubMed Central

Albert, Steven M.; Duffy, John

2013-01-01

Research on decision-making strategies among younger and older adults suggests that older adults may be more risk averse than younger people in the case of potential losses. These results mostly come from experimental studies involving gambling paradigms. Since these paradigms involve substantial demands on memory and learning, differences in risk aversion or other features of decision-making attributed to age may in fact reflect age-related declines in cognitive abilities. In the current study, older and younger adults completed a simpler, paired lottery choice task used in the experimental economics literature to elicit risk aversion. A similar approach was used to elicit participants' discount rates. The older adult group was more risk averse than younger adults (p < .05) and also had a higher discount rate (15.6-21.0% vs. 10.3-15.5%, p < .01), indicating lower expected utility from future income. Risk aversion and implied discount rates were weakly correlated. It may be valuable to investigate developmental changes in neural correlates of decision-making across the lifespan. PMID:24319671

31 CFR 351.30 - What are interest rates and monthly accruals for Series EE bonds with issue dates of May 1, 1997...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false What are interest rates and monthly... are interest rates and monthly accruals for Series EE bonds with issue dates of May 1, 1997, through... making up the semiannual rate period during which interest is earned at the announced rate (disregarding...

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Raising Rates To Raise Wages. A How-To Book on Raising Rates.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boyer, Margaret, Ed.; And Others

The Child Care Workers Alliance takes the position that child care professionals have the right to raise rates to a level at which they can make a living wage without feeling guilty. This booklet provides ideas and strategies for raising rates. Introductory materials provide background information, steps to raising rates, and a rationale for…

7 CFR 1717.300 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717.300 Purpose. This subpart contains... of rates to be charged by power supply borrowers for the sale of electric power and energy. This... are not exclusive, of the regulation of a power supply borrower's rates by a state regulatory...

7 CFR 1717.300 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717.300 Purpose. This subpart contains... of rates to be charged by power supply borrowers for the sale of electric power and energy. This... are not exclusive, of the regulation of a power supply borrower's rates by a state regulatory...

Adding Apples and Oranges: Telecourses Are Both Different and Important.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoffman, Leon C.

1982-01-01

Discusses advantages of offering telecourses at the college level and offers suggestions to make the courses first-rate educational offerings and first-rate learning experiences for students. (Author/JN)

Area and shape metrics of rainfall fields associated with tropical cyclones landfalling over the western Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Y.

2017-12-01

The rainfall associated with TCs making landfall over western Gulf Coast and Caribbean Sea Coast caused numerous fatalities and divesting damage, however, few studies have been done over these regions. This study examines spatial pattern of rain fields associated with TCs making landfall over western Gulf Coast and Caribbean Sea Coast during 1998-2015 through a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based analysis of satellite-estimated rain rates. Regions of light rainfall (rain rate > 2.5 mm/h) and moderate rainfall (rain rate > 5.0 mm/h) during entire life cycle of each TC are converted into polygons and measurements are made of their area, dispersion and displacement during entire life cycle. The metric of dispersion is calculated for the entire rain field as defined by outlining light and moderate rain rates. The displacement to east and north is calculated by area weighted methods. There are three main objectives of this study. The first goal is to measure the area and spatial distribution of rain fields of TCs making landfall over the western Gulf and Caribbean Sea coastlines. We examine in which regions, the light and moderate rainfall area, dispersion and displacement of rainfall have higher values, and how they change during the entire TC life cycle. The second goal is to determine to determine which environmental conditions are associated with the spatial configuration of light and moderate rain rates. The conditions include storm intensity, motion direction and speed, total precipitable water and wind shear. Last, we determine the time that rainfall reaches land relative to the time that the storm's center makes landfall and durations of rainfall from TCs over land.

Use of a parallel path nebulizer for capillary-based microseparation techniques coupled with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer for speciation measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanes, Enrique G.; Miller-Ihli, Nancy J.

2004-06-01

A low flow, parallel path Mira Mist CE nebulizer designed for capillary electrophoresis (CE) was evaluated as a function of make-up solution flow rate, composition, and concentration, as well as the nebulizer gas flow rate. This research was conducted in support of a project related to the separation and quantification of cobalamin (vitamin B-12) species using microseparation techniques combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection. As such, Co signals were monitored during the nebulizer characterization process. Transient effects in the ICP were studied to evaluate the suitability of using gradients for microseparations and the benefit of using methanol for the make-up solution was demonstrated. Co signal response changed significantly as a function of changing methanol concentrations of the make-up solution and maximum signal enhancement was seen at 20% methanol with a 15 μl/min flow rate. Evaluation of the effect of changing the nebulizer gas flow rates showed that argon flows from 0.8 to 1.2 l/min were equally effective. The Mira Mist CE parallel path nebulizer was then evaluated for interfacing capillary microseparation techniques including capillary electrophoresis (CE) and micro high performance liquid chromatography (μHPLC) to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A mixture of four cobalamin species standards (cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, methylcobalamin, and 5' deoxyadenosylcobalamin) and the corrinoid analogue cobinamide dicyanide were successfully separated using both CE-ICP-MS and μHPLC-ICP-MS using the parallel path nebulizer with a make-up solution containing 20% methanol with a flow rate of 15 μl/min.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatic tumours: factors affecting technical failure of artificial ascites formation using an angiosheath.

PubMed

Kang, T W; Lee, M W; Hye, M J; Song, K D; Lim, S; Rhim, H; Lim, H K; Cha, D I

2014-12-01

To evaluate the technical feasibility of artificial ascites formation using an angiosheath before percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatic tumours and to determine predictive factors affecting the technical failure of artificial ascites formation. This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. One hundred and thirteen patients underwent percutaneous RFA of hepatic tumours after trying to make artificial ascites using an angiosheath to avoid collateral thermal damage. The technical success rate of making artificial ascites using an angiosheath and conversion rate to other techniques after initial failure of making artificial ascites were evaluated. The technical success rate for RFA was assessed. In addition, potential factors associated with technical failure including previous history of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or RFA, type of abdominal surgery, and adjacent perihepatic structures were reviewed. Predictive factors for the technical failure of artificial ascites formation were analysed using multivariate analysis. The technical success rates of artificial ascites formation by angiosheath and that of RFA were 84.1% (95/113) and 97.3% (110/113), respectively. The conversion rate to other techniques after the failure of artificial ascites formation using an angiosheath was 15.9% (18/113). Previous hepatic resection was the sole independent predictive factor affecting the technical failure of artificial ascites formation (p<0.001, odds ratio = 29.03, 95% confidence interval: 4.56-184.69). Making artificial ascites for RFA of hepatic tumours using an angiosheath was technically feasible in most cases. However, history of hepatic resection was a significant predictive factor affecting the technical failure of artificial ascites formation. Copyright © 2014 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

37 CFR 255.7 - Future proceedings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Section 255.7 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT... and terms for the making of digital phonorecord deliveries during the periods beginning January 1... new rates and terms for the making of digital phonorecord deliveries during the periods beginning...

37 CFR 255.7 - Future proceedings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Section 255.7 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT... and terms for the making of digital phonorecord deliveries during the periods beginning January 1... new rates and terms for the making of digital phonorecord deliveries during the periods beginning...

37 CFR 255.7 - Future proceedings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Section 255.7 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT... and terms for the making of digital phonorecord deliveries during the periods beginning January 1... new rates and terms for the making of digital phonorecord deliveries during the periods beginning...

37 CFR 255.7 - Future proceedings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Section 255.7 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT... and terms for the making of digital phonorecord deliveries during the periods beginning January 1... new rates and terms for the making of digital phonorecord deliveries during the periods beginning...

37 CFR 385.25 - Reproduction and distribution rights covered.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR USE OF MUSICAL WORKS UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Limited Offerings, Mixed...

37 CFR 380.4 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees and statements of account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR CERTAIN... not previously made eligible nonsubscription transmissions, noninteractive digital audio transmissions...

37 CFR 385.16 - Reproduction and distribution rights covered.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR USE OF MUSICAL WORKS UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Interactive Streaming and...

37 CFR 380.4 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees and statements of account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR CERTAIN... has not previously made eligible nonsubscription transmissions, noninteractive digital audio...

37 CFR 380.4 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees and statements of account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR CERTAIN... not previously made eligible nonsubscription transmissions, noninteractive digital audio transmissions...

37 CFR 380.4 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees and statements of account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR CERTAIN... not previously made eligible nonsubscription transmissions, noninteractive digital audio transmissions...

Student Evaluation of Instruction: A Validity Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pezzullo, Thomas R.; And Others

The use of student ratings of college instructors has steadily increased, with an attendant increase in the use of these student ratings in decision-making related to merit increases, promotion, tenure, and institutional severance. While a substantial body of research on student rating of instruction exists, the ambiguous or actually conflicting…

37 CFR 255.5 - Royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Royalty rate for digital..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING PHONORECORDS § 255.5 Royalty rate for digital...

37 CFR 255.5 - Royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Royalty rate for digital..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING PHONORECORDS § 255.5 Royalty rate for digital...

37 CFR 255.5 - Royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Royalty rate for digital..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING PHONORECORDS § 255.5 Royalty rate for digital...

37 CFR 255.5 - Royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Royalty rate for digital..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING PHONORECORDS § 255.5 Royalty rate for digital...

STARS Proceedings (3-4 December 1991)

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-12-04

PROJECT PROCESS OBJECTIVES & ASSOCIATED METRICS: Prioritize ECPs: complexity & error-history measures 0 Make vs Buy decisions: Effort & Quality (or...history measures, error- proneness and past histories of trouble with particular modules are very useful measures. Make vs Buy decisions: Does the...Effort offset the gain in Quality relative to buy ... Effort and Quality (or defect rate) histories give helpful indications of how to make this decision

Eclampsia a 5 years retrospective review of 216 cases managed in two teaching hospitals in Addis Ababa.

PubMed

Abate, Misganaw; Lakew, Zufan

2006-01-01

to measure the magnitude of eclampsia and its maternal and perinatal outcome. A 5 years retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 216 eclamptic cases diagnosed, admitted and managed from October 1994 to September 1999 in the two teaching hospitals of Addis Ababa; namely Tikur Anbessa and St Paul's Hospitals. There were 257 mothers with eclampsia treated in the given period and 35741 deliveries making the incidence of eclampsia 7.1/1000 deliveries. Eighty-four women (38.9%) had any antenatal care, 157 (72.7%) were nulli-parous and 69 (31.8%) were aged below 20. Convulsion occurred ante-partum in 133 (61.6%), intrapartum in 49 (22.7%) and postpartum in 34 (15.7%) mothers. The most frequently sited symptoms before convulsion include headache in 83.8%, visual disturbance in 41.6% and epigastric pain in 38.4% of the cases. Ninety nine (45.8%) women were delivered by cesarean section making the cesarean section rate among eclamptic mothers significantly higher than the rate among the general population, which was 16.6% at the same period. (P = 0.0001). The multiple pregnancy rate was 5.7%, which was significantly higher than the rate among the general population of 1.5% at the same time. Seventy-four mothers had repeated convulsion after admission to the hospitals and initiation of the standard treatment. Twenty-eight mothers with eclampsia died making the case fatality rate 13%. Seven mothers (3.2%) died before delivery. Forty-four Stillbirths and twenty-five early neonatal deaths occurred making the perinatal mortality rate 312.2/1000 deliveries. Eclampsia is a common complication still associated with high level of maternal and perinatal mortality as well as morbidity. ANC coverage should be strengthened to detect preclampsia, and prevent eclampsia. Management in the hospital should be optimized to prevent recurrent convulsions and complications after admission.

Oregon's On-Time High School Graduation Rate Shows Strong Growth in 2014-15. Research Brief

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oregon Department of Education, 2016

2016-01-01

Oregon continues to make gains in its on-time high school graduation rate. The rate increased to 74% for the 2014-15 school year--up from 72% the year before. The graduation rate for almost all student groups rose, led by Hispanic students (2.4 percentage points) and Black students (2.4 percentage points). The rate for economically disadvantaged…

Facial Attractiveness Ratings from Video-Clips and Static Images Tell the Same Story

PubMed Central

Rhodes, Gillian; Lie, Hanne C.; Thevaraja, Nishta; Taylor, Libby; Iredell, Natasha; Curran, Christine; Tan, Shi Qin Claire; Carnemolla, Pia; Simmons, Leigh W.

2011-01-01

Most of what we know about what makes a face attractive and why we have the preferences we do is based on attractiveness ratings of static images of faces, usually photographs. However, several reports that such ratings fail to correlate significantly with ratings made to dynamic video clips, which provide richer samples of appearance, challenge the validity of this literature. Here, we tested the validity of attractiveness ratings made to static images, using a substantial sample of male faces. We found that these ratings agreed very strongly with ratings made to videos of these men, despite the presence of much more information in the videos (multiple views, neutral and smiling expressions and speech-related movements). Not surprisingly, given this high agreement, the components of video-attractiveness were also very similar to those reported previously for static-attractiveness. Specifically, averageness, symmetry and masculinity were all significant components of attractiveness rated from videos. Finally, regression analyses yielded very similar effects of attractiveness on success in obtaining sexual partners, whether attractiveness was rated from videos or static images. These results validate the widespread use of attractiveness ratings made to static images in evolutionary and social psychological research. We speculate that this validity may stem from our tendency to make rapid and robust judgements of attractiveness. PMID:22096491

West Virginia College Going Rates by County and High School, Fall 2003. A Policy Commission Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, 2004

2004-01-01

The improvement of literacy rates, educational levels, and college-going rates are important goals for the betterment of West Virginia and its economy. The college going rate echoes the successes of the Governor, legislators, government agencies, students, and parents in contributing to the State's education system as a whole. This report makes an…

BEING EMOTIONAL DURING DECISION MAKING—GOOD OR BAD? AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

PubMed Central

SEO, MYEONG-GU; BARRETT, LISA FELDMAN

2008-01-01

This paper examines the link between affective experience and decision-making performance. In a stock investment simulation, 101 stock investors rated their feelings on an Internet Web site while making investment decisions each day for 20 consecutive business days. Contrary to the popular belief that feelings are generally bad for decision making, we found that individuals who experienced more intense feelings achieved higher decision-making performance. Moreover, individuals who were better able to identify and distinguish among their current feelings achieved higher decision-making performance via their enhanced ability to control the possible biases induced by those feelings. PMID:18449361

High-rate overcharge-protection separators for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and the method of making the same

DOEpatents

Chen, Guoying; Richardson, Thomas J.

2016-12-20

This invention relates to low-cost, electroactive-polymer incorporated fine-fiber composite membranes for use as overcharge and/or overdischarge protection separators in non-aqueous electrochemical cells and the methods for making such membranes.

28 CFR 54.515 - Compensation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Judicial Administration DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (CONTINUED) NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES RECEIVING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Discrimination on the Basis of Sex... not make or enforce any policy or practice that, on the basis of sex: (a) Makes distinctions in rates...

Decades of Fertilization Increase Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Great Sippewissett Marsh, Cape Cod, USA

EPA Science Inventory

Coastal wetlands’ ecological and biogeochemical characteristics make them important sites of carbon sequestration and nitrogen interception and transformation. In coastal wetlands, decomposition rates are low and productivity is high, making these systems net sinks of carb...

Galaxy Packs Big Star-Making Punch

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-23

The tiny red spot in this image is one of the most efficient star-making galaxies ever observed, converting gas into stars at the maximum possible rate. The galaxy is shown here is from NASA WISE, which first spotted the rare galaxy in infrared light.

37 CFR 255.7 - Future proceedings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Section 255.7 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights U.S. COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT... and terms for the making of digital phonorecord deliveries during the periods beginning January 1... new rates and terms for the making of digital phonorecord deliveries during the periods beginning...

11 CFR 9405.9 - Fees in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... at the salary rate(s) (basic pay plus 16 percent) of the employee(s) making the search. (c) Computer... responsive to a FOIA request and operator/programmer salary apportionable to the search. (d) Review of...

11 CFR 9405.9 - Fees in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... at the salary rate(s) (basic pay plus 16 percent) of the employee(s) making the search. (c) Computer... responsive to a FOIA request and operator/programmer salary apportionable to the search. (d) Review of...

37 CFR 380.4 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees and statements of account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR CERTAIN... that has not previously made eligible nonsubscription transmissions, noninteractive digital audio...

37 CFR 385.12 - Calculation of royalty payments in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR USE OF MUSICAL WORKS UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Interactive Streaming and...

Making the decoy-state measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution practically useful

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Yi-Heng; Yu, Zong-Wen; Wang, Xiang-Bin

2016-04-01

The relatively low key rate seems to be the major barrier to its practical use for the decoy-state measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD). We present a four-intensity protocol for the decoy-state MDI-QKD that hugely raises the key rate, especially in the case in which the total data size is not large. Also, calculations show that our method makes it possible for secure private communication with fresh keys generated from MDI-QKD with a delay time of only a few seconds.

Family physicians' beliefs about genetic contributions to racial/ethnic and gender differences in health and clinical decision-making.

PubMed

Warshauer-Baker, Esther; Bonham, Vence L; Jenkins, Jean; Stevens, Nancy; Page, Zintesia; Odunlami, Adebola; McBride, Colleen M

2008-01-01

Greater attention towards genetics as a contributor to group health differences may lead to inappropriate use of race/ethnicity and gender as genetic heuristics and exacerbate health disparities. As part of a web-based survey, 1,035 family physicians (FPs) rated the contribution of genetics and environment to racial/ethnic and gender differences in health outcomes, and the importance of race/ethnicity and gender in their clinical decision-making. FPs attributed racial/ethnic and gender differences in health outcomes equally to environment and genetics. These beliefs were not associated with rated importance of race/ethnicity or gender in clinical decision-making. FPs appreciate the complexity of genetic and environmental influences on health differences by race/ethnicity and gender. Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Practical scheme to share a secret key through a quantum channel with a 27.6% bit error rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chau, H. F.

2002-12-01

A secret key shared through quantum key distribution between two cooperative players is secure against any eavesdropping attack allowed by the laws of physics. Yet, such a key can be established only when the quantum channel error rate due to eavesdropping or imperfect apparatus is low. Here, a practical quantum key distribution scheme by making use of an adaptive privacy amplification procedure with two-way classical communication is reported. Then, it is proven that the scheme generates a secret key whenever the bit error rate of the quantum channel is less than 0.5-0.1(5)≈27.6%, thereby making it the most error resistant scheme known to date.

Predicting rates of interspecific interaction from phylogenetic trees.

PubMed

Nuismer, Scott L; Harmon, Luke J

2015-01-01

Integrating phylogenetic information can potentially improve our ability to explain species' traits, patterns of community assembly, the network structure of communities, and ecosystem function. In this study, we use mathematical models to explore the ecological and evolutionary factors that modulate the explanatory power of phylogenetic information for communities of species that interact within a single trophic level. We find that phylogenetic relationships among species can influence trait evolution and rates of interaction among species, but only under particular models of species interaction. For example, when interactions within communities are mediated by a mechanism of phenotype matching, phylogenetic trees make specific predictions about trait evolution and rates of interaction. In contrast, if interactions within a community depend on a mechanism of phenotype differences, phylogenetic information has little, if any, predictive power for trait evolution and interaction rate. Together, these results make clear and testable predictions for when and how evolutionary history is expected to influence contemporary rates of species interaction. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd/CNRS.

ATLAS trigger operations: Upgrades to ``Xmon'' rate prediction system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myers, Ava; Aukerman, Andrew; Hong, Tae Min; Atlas Collaboration

2017-01-01

We present ``Xmon,'' a tool to monitor trigger rates in the Control Room of the ATLAS Experiment. We discuss Xmon's recent (1) updates, (2) upgrades, and (3) operations. (1) Xmon was updated to modify the tool written for the three-level trigger architecture in Run-1 (2009-2012) to adapt to the new two-level system for Run-2 (2015-current). The tool takes as input the beam luminosity to make a rate prediction, which is compared with incoming rates to detect anomalies that occur both globally throughout a run and locally within a run. Global offsets are more commonly caught by the predictions based upon past runs, where offline processing allows for function adjustments and fit quality through outlier rejection. (2) Xmon was upgraded to detect local offsets using on-the-fly predictions, which uses a sliding window of in-run rates to make predictions. (3) Xmon operations examples are given. Future work involves further automation of the steps to provide the predictive functions and for alerting shifters.

School Principals' Decision-Making Behaviour in the Management of Innovation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGeown, Vincent

1979-01-01

A rating scale operationalized a model for the adoption and implementation of educational innovation. Phases were designated: creating a climate for change; analyzing antecedent conditions; generating alternatives; initiating change adoption; implementing change; and evaluating change outcomes. Principals' decision-making behavior was the best…

40 CFR 5.515 - Compensation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY GENERAL NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES RECEIVING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Discrimination on the Basis of Sex... not make or enforce any policy or practice that, on the basis of sex: (a) Makes distinctions in rates...

29 CFR 37.4 - What definitions apply to this part?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... (TDDs/TTYs), videotext displays, or other effective means of making aurally delivered materials..., brailled materials, large print materials, or other effective means of making visually delivered materials... employment-related training; (5) Participation in upward mobility programs; (6) Deciding rates of pay or...

29 CFR 37.4 - What definitions apply to this part?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... (TDDs/TTYs), videotext displays, or other effective means of making aurally delivered materials..., brailled materials, large print materials, or other effective means of making visually delivered materials... employment-related training; (5) Participation in upward mobility programs; (6) Deciding rates of pay or...

29 CFR 37.4 - What definitions apply to this part?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... (TDDs/TTYs), videotext displays, or other effective means of making aurally delivered materials..., brailled materials, large print materials, or other effective means of making visually delivered materials... employment-related training; (5) Participation in upward mobility programs; (6) Deciding rates of pay or...

29 CFR 37.4 - What definitions apply to this part?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... (TDDs/TTYs), videotext displays, or other effective means of making aurally delivered materials..., brailled materials, large print materials, or other effective means of making visually delivered materials... employment-related training; (5) Participation in upward mobility programs; (6) Deciding rates of pay or...

40 CFR 5.515 - Compensation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY GENERAL NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES RECEIVING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Discrimination on the Basis of Sex... not make or enforce any policy or practice that, on the basis of sex: (a) Makes distinctions in rates...

Conceptual and Empirical Approaches to Financial Decision-making by Older Adults: Results from a Financial Decision-Making Rating Scale

PubMed Central

Lichtenberg, Peter A.; Ocepek-Welikson, Katja; Ficker, Lisa J.; Gross, Evan; Rahman-Filipiak, Analise; Teresi, Jeanne A.

2017-01-01

Objectives The objectives of this study were threefold: (1) to empirically test the conceptual model proposed by the Lichtenberg Financial Decision Rating Scale (LFDRS); (2) to examine the psychometric properties of the LFDRS contextual factors in financial decision-making by investigating both the reliability and convergent validity of the subscales and total scale, and (3) extending previous work on the scale through the collection of normative data on financial decision-making. Methods A convenience sample of 200 independent function and community dwelling older adults underwent cognitive and financial management testing and were interviewed using the LFDRS. Confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency measures, and hierarchical regression were used in a sample of 200 community-dwelling older adults, all of whom were making or had recently made a significant financial decision. Results Results confirmed the scale’s reliability and supported the conceptual model. Convergent validity analyses indicate that as hypothesized, cognition is a significant predictor of risk scores. Financial management scores, however, were not predictive of decision-making risk scores. Conclusions The psychometric properties of the LFDRS support the scale’s use as it was proposed in Lichtenberg et al., 2015. Clinical Implications The LFDRS instructions and scale are provided for clinicians to use in financial capacity assessments. PMID:29077531

Behavioural and physiological expression of arousal during decision-making in laying hens☆

PubMed Central

Davies, A.C.; Radford, A.N.; Nicol, C.J.

2014-01-01

Human studies suggest that prior emotional responses are stored within the brain as associations called somatic markers and are recalled to inform rapid decision-making. Consequently, behavioural and physiological indicators of arousal are detectable in humans when making decisions, and influence decision outcomes. Here we provide the first evidence of anticipatory arousal around the time of decision-making in non-human animals. Chickens were subjected to five experimental conditions, which varied in the number (one versus two), type (mealworms or empty bowl) and choice (same or different) of T-maze goals. As indicators of arousal, heart-rate and head movements were measured when goals were visible but not accessible; latency to reach the goal indicated motivation. We found a greater increase in heart-rate from baseline to the goal-viewing period, more head movements and shorter latencies in all conditions including mealworms compared to those with empty bowls. More head movements when two mealworm bowls were available compared to just one, and prior to occasions when hens accessed an empty bowl rather than declining to move, showed that arousal preceded and influenced decision-making. Our results provide an important foundation for investigating arousal during animal decision-making and suggest that the somatic-marker hypothesis might not only apply to humans. PMID:24432355

Heuristic Processes in Ratings of Leader Behavior: Assessing Item-Induced Availability Biases.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Binning, John F.; Fernandez, Guadalupe

Since observers' memory-based ratings of organizational phenomena provide data in research and decision-making contexts, bias in observers' judgments must be examined. A study was conducted to explore the extent to which leader behavior ratings are more generally biased by the availability heuristic. The availability heuristic is operative when a…

Comparison of field theory models of interest rates with market data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baaquie, Belal E.; Srikant, Marakani

2004-03-01

We calibrate and test various variants of field theory models of the interest rate with data from Eurodollar futures. Models based on psychological factors are seen to provide the best fit to the market. We make a model independent determination of the volatility function of the forward rates from market data.

The Balancing Act: How Utility Rates Are Decided. Teacher/Facilitator's Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Gas Association, Arlington, VA. Educational Services.

Designed for secondary level students, this guide describes the process of establishing utility rates for gas, electricity, telephone, or water services. Insights are presented into the parties and interests involved in rate changes, along with procedures and issues that influence decision-making. The goals of this teaching guide include: (1)…

Evolution & the Cesarean Section Rate

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walsh, Joseph A.

2008-01-01

"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." This was the title of an essay by geneticist Theodosius Dobzhansky writing in 1973. Many causes have been given for the increased Cesarean section rate in developed countries, but biologic evolution has not been one of them. The C-section rate will continue to rise, because the…

Predictions of cell damage rates for Lifesat missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cucinotta, Francis A.; Atwell, William; Hardy, Alva C.; Golightly, Michael J.; Wilson, John W.; Townsend, Lawrence W.; Shinn, Judy; Nealy, John E.; Katz, Robert

1990-01-01

The track model of Katz is used to make predictions of cell damage rates for possible Lifesat experiments. Contributions from trapped protons and electrons and galactic cosmic rays are considered for several orbits. Damage rates for survival and transformation of C3HT10-1/2 cells are predicted for various spacecraft shields.

What Response Rates Are Needed to Make Reliable Inferences from Student Evaluations of Teaching?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zumrawi, Abdel Azim; Bates, Simon P.; Schroeder, Marianne

2014-01-01

This paper addresses the determination of statistically desirable response rates in students' surveys, with emphasis on assessing the effect of underlying variability in the student evaluation of teaching (SET). We discuss factors affecting the determination of adequate response rates and highlight challenges caused by non-response and lack of…

7 CFR 1717.306 - RUS required rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...-emption in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717.306 RUS required rates. (a) Upon... of RUS that are sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the RUS wholesale power contract and other... with terms of the RUS wholesale power contract and other RUS documents in a timely fashion, RUS may...

7 CFR 1717.306 - RUS required rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...-emption in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717.306 RUS required rates. (a) Upon... of RUS that are sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the RUS wholesale power contract and other... with terms of the RUS wholesale power contract and other RUS documents in a timely fashion, RUS may...

37 CFR 385.23 - Royalty rates and subscriber-based royalty floors for specific types of services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND... DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Limited Offerings, Mixed Service Bundles, Music Bundles, Paid Locker Services and... expensed for the rights to make the relevant permanent digital downloads and ringtones. (b) Computation of...

BLAST for Behind-the-Meter Applications Lite Tool | Transportation Research

Science.gov Websites

provided by NREL's PV Watts calculator. A generic utility rate structure framework makes it possible to the BLAST documentation for proper CSV formatting. Rate structure values Define demand charges and energy costs to best represent your utility rate structure of interest. Demand charges and energy costs

77 FR 48448 - Connect America Fund; A National Broadband Plan for Our Future; Establishing Just and Reasonable...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-14

... to the total reduction required in 2012. In addition, the Bureau clarifies that non-commercial mobile... than their functionally equivalent interstate rates in making this transition. 6. Carriers and state... functionally equivalent interstate switched access rate element rates. Other of the carrier's intrastate...

7 CFR 1717.308 - RUS approval of nonconforming rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Federal Pre-emption in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717.308 RUS approval of... of the RUS wholesale power contract and other RUS documents if RUS determines, in its sole discretion...

7 CFR 1717.308 - RUS approval of nonconforming rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Federal Pre-emption in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717.308 RUS approval of... of the RUS wholesale power contract and other RUS documents if RUS determines, in its sole discretion...

37 CFR 382.4 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees and statements of account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL... SERVICES AND PREEXISTING SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES Preexisting Subscription Services § 382.4...

37 CFR 382.4 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees and statements of account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL... SERVICES AND PREEXISTING SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES Preexisting Subscription Services § 382.4...

45 CFR 2522.470 - What other factors or information may the Corporation consider in making final funding decisions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... diverse and includes innovative programs, and projects in rural, high poverty, and economically distressed... poverty rate, unemployment rate, labor force participation, and median household income; (ii) Information...

45 CFR 2522.470 - What other factors or information may the Corporation consider in making final funding decisions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... diverse and includes innovative programs, and projects in rural, high poverty, and economically distressed... poverty rate, unemployment rate, labor force participation, and median household income; (ii) Information...

45 CFR 2522.470 - What other factors or information may the Corporation consider in making final funding decisions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... diverse and includes innovative programs, and projects in rural, high poverty, and economically distressed... poverty rate, unemployment rate, labor force participation, and median household income; (ii) Information...

45 CFR 2522.470 - What other factors or information may the Corporation consider in making final funding decisions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... diverse and includes innovative programs, and projects in rural, high poverty, and economically distressed... poverty rate, unemployment rate, labor force participation, and median household income; (ii) Information...

Mice learn to avoid regret.

PubMed

Sweis, Brian M; Thomas, Mark J; Redish, A David

2018-06-01

Regret can be defined as the subjective experience of recognizing that one has made a mistake and that a better alternative could have been selected. The experience of regret is thought to carry negative utility. This typically takes two distinct forms: augmenting immediate postregret valuations to make up for losses, and augmenting long-term changes in decision-making strategies to avoid future instances of regret altogether. While the short-term changes in valuation have been studied in human psychology, economics, neuroscience, and even recently in nonhuman-primate and rodent neurophysiology, the latter long-term process has received far less attention, with no reports of regret avoidance in nonhuman decision-making paradigms. We trained 31 mice in a novel variant of the Restaurant Row economic decision-making task, in which mice make decisions of whether to spend time from a limited budget to achieve food rewards of varying costs (delays). Importantly, we tested mice longitudinally for 70 consecutive days, during which the task provided their only source of food. Thus, decision strategies were interdependent across both trials and days. We separated principal commitment decisions from secondary reevaluation decisions across space and time and found evidence for regret-like behaviors following change-of-mind decisions that corrected prior economically disadvantageous choices. Immediately following change-of-mind events, subsequent decisions appeared to make up for lost effort by altering willingness to wait, decision speed, and pellet consumption speed, consistent with past reports of regret in rodents. As mice were exposed to an increasingly reward-scarce environment, we found they adapted and refined distinct economic decision-making strategies over the course of weeks to maximize reinforcement rate. However, we also found that even without changes in reinforcement rate, mice transitioned from an early strategy rooted in foraging to a strategy rooted in deliberation and planning that prevented future regret-inducing change-of-mind episodes from occurring. These data suggest that mice are learning to avoid future regret, independent of and separate from reinforcement rate maximization.

Logging production rates in young-growth, mixed-conifer stands in north central California

Treesearch

Philip M. McDonald

1972-01-01

To quantify production rates for small trees, this study examined the components of log-making and tractor yarding at the Challenge Experimental Forest, Yuba County, California. Rates were calculated over a range of 12 to 40 inches d.b.h. The rate for incense-cedar was lowest; for ponderosa pine it was intermediate; and for Douglas-fir, white fir, and sugar pine...

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Brussels nuclear reaction rate library (Aikawa+, 2005)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aikawa, M.; Arnould, M.; Goriely, S.; Jorissen, A.; Takahashi, K.

2005-07-01

The present data is part of the Brussels nuclear reaction rate library (BRUSLIB) for astrophysics applications and concerns nuclear reaction rate predictions calculated within the statistical Hauser-Feshbach approximation and making use of global and coherent microscopic nuclear models for the quantities (nuclear masses, nuclear structure properties, nuclear level densities, gamma-ray strength functions, optical potentials) entering the rate calculations. (4 data files).

Making the Most of the "Daphnia" Heart Rate Lab: Optimizing the Use of Ethanol, Nicotine & Caffeine

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Corotto, Frank; Ceballos, Darrel; Lee, Adam; Vinson, Lindsey

2010-01-01

Students commonly test the effects of chemical agents on the heart rate of the crustacean "Daphnia" magna, but the procedure has never been optimized. We determined the effects of three concentrations of ethanol, nicotine, and caffeine and of a control solution on heart rate in "Daphnia." Ethanol at 5% and 10% (v/v) reduced mean heart rate to…

Distinguishing plant population and variety with UAV-derived vegetation indices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oakes, Joseph; Balota, Maria

2017-05-01

Variety selection and seeding rate are two important choice that a peanut grower must make. High yielding varieties can increase profit with no additional input costs, while seeding rate often determines input cost a grower will incur from seed costs. The overall purpose of this study was to examine the effect that seeding rate has on different peanut varieties. With the advent of new UAV technology, we now have the possibility to use indices collected with the UAV to measure emergence, seeding rate, growth rate, and perhaps make yield predictions. This information could enable growers to make management decisions early in the season based on low plant populations due to poor emergence, and could be a useful tool for growers to use to estimate plant population and growth rate in order to help achieve desired crop stands. Red-Green-Blue (RGB) and near-infrared (NIR) images were collected from a UAV platform starting two weeks after planting and continued weekly for the next six weeks. Ground NDVI was also collected each time aerial images were collected. Vegetation indices were derived from both the RGB and NIR images. Greener area (GGA- the proportion of green pixels with a hue angle from 80° to 120°) and a* (the average red/green color of the image) were derived from the RGB images while Normalized Differential Vegetative Index (NDVI) was derived from NIR images. Aerial indices were successful in distinguishing seeding rates and determining emergence during the first few weeks after planting, but not later in the season. Meanwhile, these aerial indices are not an adequate predictor of yield in peanut at this point.

The role of interest and inflation rates in life-cycle cost analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eisenberger, I.; Remer, D. S.; Lorden, G.

1978-01-01

The effect of projected interest and inflation rates on life cycle cost calculations is discussed and a method is proposed for making such calculations which replaces these rates by a single parameter. Besides simplifying the analysis, the method clarifies the roles of these rates. An analysis of historical interest and inflation rates from 1950 to 1976 shows that the proposed method can be expected to yield very good projections of life cycle cost even if the rates themselves fluctuate considerably.

Measuring hunger and satiety in primary school children. Validation of a new picture rating scale.

PubMed

Bennett, Carmel; Blissett, Jackie

2014-07-01

Measuring hunger and satiety in children is essential to many studies of childhood eating behaviour. Few validated measures currently exist that allow children to make accurate and reliable ratings of hunger/satiety. Three studies aimed to validate the use of a new categorical rating scale in the context of estimated and real eating episodes. Forty-seven 6- to 8-year-olds participated in Study 1, which used a between-participant design. Results indicated that the majority of children were able to make estimated hunger/satiety ratings for a story character using the scale. No significant differences in the ratings of hunger/satiety of children measured before and after lunch were observed and likely causes are discussed. To account for inter-individual differences in hunger/satiety perceptions Study 2 employed a within-participant design. Fifty-four 5- to 7-year-olds participated and made estimated hunger/satiety ratings for a story character and real hunger/satiety ratings before and after lunch. The results indicated that the majority of children were able to use the scale to make estimated and real hunger and satiety ratings. Children were found to be significantly hungrier before compared to after lunch. As it was not possible to establish the types and quantities of food children ate for lunch a third study was carried out in a controlled laboratory environment. Thirty-six 6- to 9-year-olds participated in Study 3 and made hunger/satiety ratings before and after ingesting an ad libitum snack of known composition and quantity. Results indicated that children felt hungrier before than after the snack and that pre-snack hunger/satiety, and changes in hunger/satiety, were associated with snack intake. Overall, the studies indicate that the scale has potential for use with primary school children. Implications of the findings are discussed. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Medical Decision-Making Among Elderly People in Long Term Care.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tymchuk, Alexander J.; And Others

1988-01-01

Presented informed consent information on high and low risk medical procedures to elderly persons in long term care facility in standard, simplified, or storybook format. Comprehension was significantly better for simplified and storybook formats. Ratings of decision-making ability approximated comprehension test results. Comprehension test…

Effects of seawater flow rate and evaporation temperature on performance of Sherbet type ice making machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Son, C. H.; Yoon, J. I.; Choi, K. H.; Lee, H. K.; Lee, K. S.; Moon, C. G.; Seol, S. H.

2018-01-01

This study analyzes performance of the sherbet type ice making machine using seawater with respect to seawater volumetric flow rate, evaporation temperature, cooling water inlet and seawater inlet temperature as variables. Cooling water inlet and seawater inlet temperature are set considering average temperature of South Korea and the equator regions. Volumetric flow rate of seawater range is 0.75-1.75 LPM in this experiment. The results obtained from the experiment are as follows. As the seawater volumetric flow rate increases, or seawater inlet temperature increases, evaporation capacity tends to increase. At the point of seawater inlet temperature of 27°C and volumetric flow rate of 1.0LPM, evaporation capacity is over 2kW. On the other hand, results of COP change tendency are different from that of evaporation capacity. It appears to increase until volumetric flow rate of 1.0LPM, and decrease gradually from volumetric flow rate of 1.5LPM. This is due to the increase of compressor work to keep the evaporation pressure in accordance with the temperature of heat source. As the evaporation temperature decreases from -8 to -15°C, the evaporation capacity increases, but the COP decreases.

Secular trends in consultations for asthma in early childhood, the 16 administrative regions of Morocco, 2004-2012.

PubMed

Sadeq, Mina; Abouqal, Redouane; ElMarnissi, Abdelilah

2015-09-17

Little is known about asthma trend in Morocco, particularly in early childhood. Furthermore, when dealing with asthma related environmental risk factors in Morocco, decision-making focus is in one region R9, while 16 regions make up the country. This work aims at studying 9-year trends in consultations for asthma in under-5 children in the 16 individual regions with respect to area and age group. Direct method use, based on the only available national data from the open access files of the ministry of health, standardizing data for three age groups (0-11 ; 12-23 and 24-59 months). We compared age-adjusted rates, stratified by area (urban and rural areas) within each region (Wilcoxon's signed ranks test), and between all regions emphasizing on R9. Secular trends are examined (Kendall's rank correlation test). We also compared directly standardized rates as a rate ratio for two study populations (that of R9 and any region with highest rates). We finally compared rates by age group in selected regions. Secular increase in prevalence rates was shown in both urban and rural Morocco, particularly in urban areas of R10, R14, R16 and R5, and in rural areas of R14 and R16. In urban area of R10 (the highest age-adjusted prevalence rates area) the rates showed secular increase from 6.82 at 95 % CI = [6.44 to 7.19] per 1000 childhood population in 2004 to 20.91 at 95 % CI = [20.26 to 21.56] per 1000 childhood population in 2012 (P = 0.001). Rates were higher in urban than rural Morocco, particularly in R8, R9, R10, R14, R15 ; R6 was an exception. Rates in R10 were 1.63 higher than that in R9 in 2004 and rose to be 2.55 higher in 2012 ; rates in urban area of R14, about 3 times lower than that in R9 in 2004, increased to be similar in 2012. The highest-prevalence age group varied according to region and area. The regions that worth decision making attention are the urban areas of R10 (the highest prevalence rates Moroccan area, showing continuous increase), of R9, of R14 and the rural area of R6. The rates in the urban area of R9 (a current continuous decision making focus) remained high but stable within the study period and less important than those in R10. Environmental factors (biological particules, non-biological particules or gazes) are suspected.The potential unavailability of treatment at regular basis at the primary health care centers may reduce frequency of consultations for asthma in early childhood : outpatients may consult only if asthma causes problems in an attempt to get free medicines ; chances of outpatients' follow-up by the primary health care center's physicians are therefore reduced and optimal asthma control is not achieved. Social, health care policy and environmental factors, to which decision-making has to be responsive, are suspected to be affecting both frequency of and time secular trend in consultations for asthma in early childhood in Morocco.

The relationship between sap-flow rate and sap volume in dormant sugar maples

Treesearch

William J. Gabriel; Russell S. Walters; Donald W. Seegrist

1972-01-01

Sap-flow rate is closely correlated with the sap volume produced by dormant sugar maple trees (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and could be used in making phenotypic selections of trees for superior sap production.

Synthesis study on transverse variable asphalt application rates for seal coats.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-06-01

This report documents a cooperative effort to collect, process, and make available information about successful methods of varying seal coat asphalt application rates across treated roadways to optimize aggregate retention and avoid wheel path flushi...

37 CFR 385.14 - Promotional royalty rate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

....14 Section 385.14 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS... FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Interactive Streaming, Other Incidental Digital Phonorecord Deliveries and Limited Downloads § 385.14 Promotional royalty rate. (a...

37 CFR 385.14 - Promotional royalty rate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

....14 Section 385.14 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS... FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Interactive Streaming, Other Incidental Digital Phonorecord Deliveries and Limited Downloads § 385.14 Promotional royalty rate. (a...

Potential barge transportation for inbound corn and grain

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-12-31

This research develops a model for estimating future barge and rail rates for decision making. The Box-Jenkins and the Regression Analysis with ARIMA errors forecasting methods were used to develop appropriate models for determining future rates. A s...

Measuring Shared Decision Making in Psychiatric Care

PubMed Central

Salyers, Michelle P.; Matthias, Marianne S.; Fukui, Sadaaki; Holter, Mark C.; Collins, Linda; Rose, Nichole; Thompson, John; Coffman, Melinda; Torrey, William C.

2014-01-01

Objective Shared decision making is widely recognized to facilitate effective health care; tools are needed to measure the level of shared decision making in psychiatric practice. Methods A coding scheme assessing shared decision making in medical settings (1) was adapted, including creation of a manual. Trained raters analyzed 170 audio recordings of psychiatric medication check-up visits. Results Inter-rater reliability among three raters for a subset of 20 recordings ranged from 67% to 100% agreement for the presence of each of nine elements of shared decision making and 100% for the overall agreement between provider and consumer. Just over half of the decisions met minimum criteria for shared decision making. Shared decision making was not related to length of visit after controlling for complexity of decision. Conclusions The shared decision making rating scale appears to reliably assess shared decision making in psychiatric practice and could be helpful for future research, training, and implementation efforts. PMID:22854725

The effect of public reporting presentation on patients' decision making: An experimental survey in Yunan Province, China.

PubMed

Liu, Chenxi; Tang, Yuqing; Wang, Dan; Zhang, Xinping

2017-06-01

Public reporting of comparative performance information (PRCPI) influence patients' decision making and optimal presentation of PRCPI is urgently required for successful patients' engagement and quality improvement. This study was to explore the presentation of PRCPI impacting on consumers' decision making.This research applied a controlled design, with participants allocated randomly to 6 groups, and a total of 515 participants were recruited in Yunnan province. Five aspects of PRCPI presentations were evaluated, including display (star rating vs numeric information), and whether information was simplified, interpreted, overload, or ranked. Participants were stimulated to identify the best or worst physicians with a hypothetical scenario. Main outcome measures were correct choices rate of best/worst physicians, indicating participants fully understood and correctly used PRCPI. χ test and logistic regression were applied to assess the effect between different presentations on consumers' decision making.The correct choices rate is only 48.93%. Compared with star rating, numerical information helped participants differentiate low-performance physicians (OR = 2.573, P = .029), including low-performance physicians in antibiotics (OR = 2.974, P = .031) and low-performance physicians in injections (OR = 2.369, P = .035). Disordered information impeded participants to fully understand and correctly use PRCPI (OR = 0.519, P = .041). The effect was mainly reflected on participants differentiating low-performance physicians (OR = 0.491, P = .039) and low-performance physicians in injections (OR = 0.440, P = .016). Other aspects of PRCPI showed nonsignificant impacts on consumers' decision making.Presentation, including information display and ranking, can influence patients' correct usage of PRCPI and the effect was mainly observed when the patients were identifying poorly performing physicians. The present study demonstrated that numerical and ranked PRCPI, combined with sufficient patient education, could be most effective to facilitate patient use.

Exchange Service Station Gasoline Pumping Operation Simulation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-06-01

an event step simulation model of the Naval operation.s The model has been developed as a management tool and aid to decision making. The environment...has been developed as a management tool and aid to decision making. The environment in which the system operates is discussed and the significant...of the variables such as arrival rates; while others are primarily controlled by managerial decision making, for example the number of pumps available

Evaluating the impact of an educational intervention on documentation of decision-making capacity in an emergency medical services system.

PubMed

Riley, Jennifer; Burgess, Rob; Schwartz, Brian

2004-07-01

To compare the documentation of decision-making capacity by advanced life support (ALS) providers and signature acquisition before, one month after, and one year after an educational intervention. The intervention comprised a one-and-a-half-hour module on assessment and documentation of decision-making capacity. Ambulance call reports were reviewed for all ALS calls occurring during three two-month periods, and refusals of transport were recorded. Provider compliance with documentation of decision-making capacity and signature acquisition were determined from a convenience sample of 75 reports from each period. Reviewers were blinded to study period. Twenty-percent double data entry was undertaken to evaluate accuracy. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals were calculated to compare frequencies of cancelled calls and documentation. From the emergency medical services database, 7,744 calls before the intervention, 7,444 immediately after, and 7,604 one year later were identified. Documentation rates in the second and third periods did not differ from that prior to the intervention (1.3% vs. 0.0% and 0.0% in subsequent periods), nor did the rates of signature acquisition differ (85.3% vs. 85.3% and 78.6%). The accuracy of data entry was 92.6%. However, the frequency of call refusals decreased significantly after the intervention (from 9.0% to 2.0% and 6.6% in the respective periods). An educational intervention resulted in no change in the rate of decision-making capacity documentation or signature acquisition by ALS providers for refusal of transport. There was a temporary increase in the number of transported patients.

The effects of fatigue on decision making and shooting skill performance in water polo players.

PubMed

Royal, Kylie A; Farrow, Damian; Mujika, Iñigo; Halson, Shona L; Pyne, David; Abernethy, Bruce

2006-08-01

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of fatigue on decision making and goal shooting skill in water polo. Fourteen junior elite male players (age 17.2 +/- 0.5 years; mass 84.2 +/- 7.6 kg; height 1.85 +/- 0.05 m) completed four sets of eight repetitions of an approximately 18 s maximal water polo specific drill. Progressively declining rest ratios for each successive set of the drill were employed to induce increasing fatigue and reflect the demands of match-play. A video-based temporally occluded decision-making task (verbalized response to various tactical situations) or goal shooting skill test (qualitative and quantitative analysis of goal shooting) was performed after each set. Heart rate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and blood lactate concentration were recorded. Heart rate (159 +/- 12, 168 +/- 13, 176 +/- 12, 181 +/- 12 Deats min-1; P < 0.001) and RPE (13.1 +/- 2.2, 15.5 +/- 1.7, 17.3 +/- 1.6, 19.1 +/- 1.1; P < 0.001) increased with declining rest ratios. At very high fatigue, decision-making accuracy was 18.0 +/- 21.8% better than at low fatigue (P = 0.008). Shooting accuracy and velocity were unaffected by incremental fatigue; however, skill proficiency (technique) decreased by 43 +/- 24% between the pre-test and high-fatigue conditions (P < 0.001). In conclusion, incremental increases in fatigue differentially influenced decision making (improved) relative to the technical performance (declined), accuracy and speed of the ball (unchanged) of a water polo goal shot.

Application of decision-making theory to the regulation of muscular work rate during self-paced competitive endurance activity.

PubMed

Renfree, Andrew; Martin, Louise; Micklewright, Dominic; St Clair Gibson, Alan

2014-02-01

Successful participation in competitive endurance activities requires continual regulation of muscular work rate in order to maximise physiological performance capacities, meaning that individuals must make numerous decisions with regards to the muscular work rate selected at any point in time. Decisions relating to the setting of appropriate goals and the overall strategic approach to be utilised are made prior to the commencement of an event, whereas tactical decisions are made during the event itself. This review examines current theories of decision-making in an attempt to explain the manner in which regulation of muscular work is achieved during athletic activity. We describe rational and heuristic theories, and relate these to current models of regulatory processes during self-paced exercise in an attempt to explain observations made in both laboratory and competitive environments. Additionally, we use rational and heuristic theories in an attempt to explain the influence of the presence of direct competitors on the quality of the decisions made during these activities. We hypothesise that although both rational and heuristic models can plausibly explain many observed behaviours in competitive endurance activities, the complexity of the environment in which such activities occur would imply that effective rational decision-making is unlikely. However, at present, many proposed models of the regulatory process share similarities with rational models. We suggest enhanced understanding of the decision-making process during self-paced activities is crucial in order to improve the ability to understand regulation of performance and performance outcomes during athletic activity.

Kinetics of Acid Reactions: Making Sense of Associated Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tan, Kim Chwee Daniel; Treagust, David F.; Chandrasegaran, A. L.; Mocerino, Mauro

2010-01-01

In chemical kinetics, in addition to the concepts related to kinetics, stoichiometry, chemical equilibrium and the characteristics of the reactants are often involved when comparing the rates of different reactions, making such comparisons very challenging for students at all levels, as well as for pre-service science teachers. Consequently, four…

Making Invisible Histories Visible

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hanssen, Ana Maria

2012-01-01

This article features Omaha Public Schools' "Making Invisible Histories Visible" program, or MIHV. Omaha's schools have a low failure rate among 8th graders but a high one among high school freshmen. MIHV was created to help at-risk students "adjust to the increased demands of high school." By working alongside teachers and…

Seasonal weather-related decision making for cattle production in the Northern Great Plains

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

High inter-annual variability of seasonal weather patterns can greatly affect forage and therefore livestock production in the Northern Great Plains. This variability can make it difficult for ranchers to set yearly stocking rates, particularly in advance of the grazing season. To better understand ...

The Adoption Alternative for Pregnant Adolescents: Decision Making, Consequences, and Policy Implications.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sobol, Michael P.; Daly, Kerry J.

1992-01-01

Reviews issues surrounding adoption as an option for resolving teen crisis pregnancies. Examines the decision-making processes and social psychological consequences of adoption as a distinct phenomenon, including adoption rates and characteristics, factors influencing the adoption decision, birth mother response to adoption placement, and social…

Career Development Strivings: Assessing Goals and Motivation in Career Decision-Making and Planning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dik, Bryan J.; Sargent, Adam M.; Steger, Michael F.

2008-01-01

This article describes and demonstrates a novel approach to assessing goals and motives among individuals engaged in the career decision-making and planning process. Participants generated five career development strivings, rated each striving along several dimensions (self-efficacy, outcome expectations, sense of calling, spiritual significance,…

5 CFR 2502.12 - Fees to be charged-general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... programs (see definition in § 2502.11(b)), such as the NTIS, OA should inform requestors of the steps... salary rate(s) (i.e., basic pay plus 16 percent) of the employee(s) making the search. (b) Computer... duplicated at a rate of $.15 per page. For copies prepared by computer such as tapes or printouts, OA shall...

5 CFR 2502.12 - Fees to be charged-general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... programs (see definition in § 2502.11(b)), such as the NTIS, OA should inform requestors of the steps... salary rate(s) (i.e., basic pay plus 16 percent) of the employee(s) making the search. (b) Computer... duplicated at a rate of $.15 per page. For copies prepared by computer such as tapes or printouts, OA shall...

5 CFR 2502.12 - Fees to be charged-general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... programs (see definition in § 2502.11(b)), such as the NTIS, OA should inform requestors of the steps... salary rate(s) (i.e., basic pay plus 16 percent) of the employee(s) making the search. (b) Computer... duplicated at a rate of $.15 per page. For copies prepared by computer such as tapes or printouts, OA shall...

78 FR 49420 - Parties Asked To Refresh the Record Regarding Property Records for Rate-of-Return Carriers

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-14

...] Parties Asked To Refresh the Record Regarding Property Records for Rate-of-Return Carriers AGENCY: Federal... changes the Commission can make to the property record rules that would reduce record-keeping burdens for...) (``property record rules'') to price cap carriers. However, it denied forbearance from those rules to rate-of...

Patient-Rated Alliance as a Measure of Therapist Performance in Two Clinical Settings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Imel, Zac E.; Hubbard, Rebecca A.; Rutter, Carolyn M.; Simon, Gregory

2013-01-01

Objective: The ability to form a strong therapeutic alliance is considered a foundational skill across psychotherapies. Patient-rated measures of the alliance are now being used to make judgments about a therapist's tendency to build alliances with their patients. However, whether a patient-rated alliance measure provides a useful index of a…

Determining the rate of value increase for oaks

Treesearch

Paul S. DeBald; Joseph J. Mendel

1971-01-01

A method used to develop rate of value increase is described as an aid to management decision-making. Regional rates of value increase and financial maturity diameters for ten species common to the oak-hickory type are outlined, and the economic principles involved are explained to show how they apply to either individual trees or stands.

Private and Social Rates of Return to Higher Education in Science and Technology in a Caribbean Economy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bourne, Compton; Dass, Anand

2003-01-01

Estimates private and social rates of return for university science and technology graduates in Trinidad and Tobago. Makes comparisons with other fields of study such as agriculture, natural sciences, engineering, and humanities. Concludes that rates of return are inconsistent with the allocative preferences of policymakers. (Authors/PKP)

National Incorporation of Global Human Rights: Worldwide Expansion of National Human Rights Institutions, 1966-2004

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koo, Jeong-Woo; Ramirez, Francisco O.

2009-01-01

Using an event history framework we analyze the adoption rate of national human rights institutions. Neo-realist perspective predicts adoption rates to be positively influenced by favorable national profiles that lower the costs and make it more reasonable to establish these institutions. From a world polity perspective adoption rates will be…

Practice Bulletin No. 161 Summary: External Cephalic Version.

PubMed

2016-02-01

In the United States, there is a widespread belief that the overall cesarean delivery rate is higher than necessary. Efforts are being directed toward decreasing the number of these procedures, in part by encouraging physicians to make changes in their management practices. Because breech presentations are associated with a high rate of cesarean delivery, there is renewed interest in techniques such as external cephalic version (ECV) and vaginal breech delivery. The purpose of this document is to provide information about ECV by summarizing the relevant evidence presented in published studies and to make recommendations regarding its use in obstetric practice.

Practice Bulletin No. 161: External Cephalic Version.

PubMed

2016-02-01

In the United States, there is a widespread belief that the overall cesarean delivery rate is higher than necessary. Efforts are being directed toward decreasing the number of these procedures, in part by encouraging physicians to make changes in their management practices. Because breech presentations are associated with a high rate of cesarean delivery, there is renewed interest in techniques such as external cephalic version (ECV) and vaginal breech delivery. The purpose of this document is to provide information about ECV by summarizing the relevant evidence presented in published studies and to make recommendations regarding its use in obstetric practice.

Communication nonaccommodation in family conversations about end-of-life health decisions.

PubMed

Scott, Allison M; Caughlin, John P

2015-01-01

Furthering our understanding of how communication can improve end-of-life decision making requires a shift in focus from whether people talk to how people talk about end-of-life health decisions. This study used communication accommodation theory to examine the extent to which communication nonaccommodation distinguished more from less successful end-of-life conversations among family members. We analyzed elicited conversations about end-of-life health decisions from 121 older parent/adult child dyads using outside ratings of communication over- and underaccommodation and self-reported conversational outcomes. Results of multilevel linear modeling revealed that outside ratings of underaccommodation predicted self-reported and partner-reported uncertainty, and ratings of overaccommodation predicted self-reported decision-making efficacy and change in concordance accuracy. We discuss the methodological, theoretical, and practical implications of these findings.

Escherichia coli survival in waters: Temperature dependence

EPA Science Inventory

Knowing the survival rates of water-borne Escherichia coli is important in evaluating microbial contamination and making appropriate management decisions. E. coli survival rates are dependent on temperature, a dependency that is routinely expressed using an analogue of the Q10 mo...

37 CFR 383.3 - Royalty fees for public performances of sound recordings and the making of ephemeral recordings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY.... Royalty rates for the public performance of sound recordings by eligible digital transmissions made over a...

0-6760 : improved trip generation data for Texas using workplace and special generator surveys.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-08-01

Trip generation rates play an important role in : transportation planning, which can help in : making informed decisions about future : transportation investment and design. However, : sometimes the rates are derived from small : sample sizes or may ...

Impaired decision-making and impulse control in Internet gaming addicts: evidence from the comparison with recreational Internet game users.

PubMed

Wang, Yifan; Wu, Lingdan; Wang, Lingxiao; Zhang, Yifen; Du, Xiaoxia; Dong, Guangheng

2017-11-01

Although Internet games have been proven to be addictive, only a few game players develop online gaming addiction. A large number of players play online games recreationally without being addicted to it. These individuals are defined as recreational Internet gaming users (RGU). So far, no research has investigated decision-making and impulse control in RGU. In the current study, we used delay discounting (DD) task and probabilistic discounting (PD) task to examine decision-making and impulse control in 20 healthy controls, 20 subjects with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and 23 RGU during fMRI scanning. At the behavioral level, RGU showed lower DD rate and higher PD rate than subjects with IGD and there was no significant difference between RGU and healthy controls on the DD and PD rates. At the neural level, RGU showed increased neural response in the parahippocampal gyrus, the anterior cingulate cortex, the medial frontal gyrus and the inferior frontal gyrus as compared with subjects with IGD. These brain regions may play an important role in preventing RGU from developing addiction. The results suggest that the RGU are capable of inhibiting impulse due to additional cognitive endeavor and the subjects with IGD have deficit in decision-making and impulsive control, which are associated with brain dysfunction. © 2016 Society for the Study of Addiction.

Informed and patient-centered decision-making in the primary care visits of African Americans with depression.

PubMed

Hines, Anika L; Roter, Debra; Ghods Dinoso, Bri K; Carson, Kathryn A; Daumit, Gail L; Cooper, Lisa A

2018-02-01

We examined the prevalence and extent of informed decision-making (IDM) and patient-centered decision-making (PCDM) in primary care visits of African Americans with depression. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of audiotaped clinical encounters and post-visit surveys of 76 patients and their clinicians. We used RIAS to characterize patient-centeredness of visit dialogue. IDM entailed discussion of 3 components: the nature of the decision, alternatives, and pros/cons. PCDM entailed discussion of: lifestyle/coping strategies, knowledge/beliefs, or treatment concerns. We examined the association of IDM and PCDM with visit duration, overall patient-centeredness, and patient/clinician interpersonal ratings. Approximately one-quarter of medication and counseling decisions included essential IDM elements and 40% included at least one PCDM element. In high patient-centered visits, IDM was associated with patients feeling respected in counseling and liking clinicians in medication decisions. IDM was not related to clinician ratings. In low patient-centered visits, PCDM in counseling decisions was positively associated with patients feeling respected and clinicians respecting patients. The associations between IDM and PCDM with interpersonal ratings was moderated by overall patient-centeredness of the visit, which may be indicative of broader cross-cultural communication issues. Strengthening partnerships between depressed African Americans and their clinicians may improve patient-engaged decision-making. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Acute psychosocial stress and everyday moral decision-making in young healthy men: The impact of cortisol.

PubMed

Singer, Nina; Sommer, Monika; Döhnel, Katrin; Zänkert, Sandra; Wüst, Stefan; Kudielka, Brigitte M

2017-07-01

In everyday life, moral decisions must frequently be made under acute stress. Although there is increasing evidence that both stress and cortisol affect moral judgment and behavior as well as decision-making in various domains unrelated to morality, surprisingly few attempts have been made to explore the effects of stress on everyday moral decision-making. Therefore, in the present study, we exposed 50 young healthy men to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or its non-stressful placebo version (PTSST). We investigated the impact of acute stress exposure and stress-related cortisol levels on decision-making, decision certainty, and emotions in 28 everyday moral conflict situations with altruistic versus egoistic response alternatives. Results showed that the TSST-exposed group made more altruistic decisions than the non-stress control group, while groups did not differ in decision certainty and emotion ratings. Moreover, in correlational as well as regression analyses, additionally controlling for confounding variables, we observed significant positive associations between cortisol levels and altruistic decision-making. Further analyses revealed that altruistic decisions came along with significantly higher decision certainty and significantly more positive emotion ratings than egoistic decisions. Notably, our data also raise the idea that the personality trait agreeableness plays an important role in everyday moral decision-making. In sum, our findings provide initial evidence that both acute stress exposure and cortisol levels have prosocial effects on everyday moral decision-making in young healthy men. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

What matters most? The content and concordance of patients' and providers' information priorities for contraceptive decision making.

PubMed

Donnelly, Kyla Z; Foster, Tina C; Thompson, Rachel

2014-09-01

The objective of this study was to identify women's and health care providers' information priorities for contraceptive decision making and counseling, respectively. Cross-sectional surveys were administered online to convenience samples of 417 women and 188 contraceptive care providers residing in the United States. Participants were provided with a list of 34 questions related to the features of contraceptive options and rated the importance of each. Participants also ranked the questions in descending order of importance. For both women and providers, we calculated the mean importance rating for each question and the proportion that ranked each question in their three most important questions. The average importance ratings given by women and providers were similar for 18 questions, but dissimilar for the remaining 16 questions. The question rated most important for women was "How does it work to prevent pregnancy?" whereas, for providers, "How often does a patient need to remember to use it?" and "How is it used?" were rated equally. The eight questions most frequently selected in the top three by women and/or providers were related to the safety of the method, mechanism of action, mode of use, side effects, typical- and perfect-use effectiveness, frequency of administration and when it begins to prevent pregnancy. Although we found considerable concordance between women's and provider's information priorities, the presence of some inconsistencies highlights the importance of patient-centered contraceptive counseling and, in particular, shared contraceptive decision making. This study provides insights into the information priorities of women for their contraceptive decision making and health care providers for contraceptive counseling. These insights are critical both to inform the development of decision support tools for implementation in contraceptive care and to guide the delivery of patient-centered care. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

E. coli survival in waters: temperature dependence

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Knowing the survival rates of water-borne Escherichia coli is important for evaluating microbial contamination and in making appropriate management decisions. E. coli survival rates are dependent on temperature; this dependency is routinely expressed using an analog of the Q10 model. This suggestion...

Global canopy interception from satellite observations

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A new methodology for retrieving rainfall interception rates from multi satellite observations is presented. The approach makes use of the daily productof the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) as driving data and applies Gash’s analytical model to derive interception rates at global sc...

"The impact of failing to identify suspect effort in patients undergoing adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment": Correction to Marshall et al. (2016).

PubMed

2016-10-01

Reports an error in "The Impact of Failing to Identify Suspect Effort in Patients Undergoing Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Assessment" by Paul S. Marshall, James B. Hoelzle, Danielle Heyerdahl and Nathaniel W. Nelson ( Psychological Assessment , Advanced Online Publication, Jan 11, 2016, np). In the article, the penultimate sentence of the abstract should read “These results suggest that a significant percentage of those making a suspect effort will be diagnosed with ADHD using the most commonly employed assessment methods: an interview alone (71%); an interview and ADHD behavior rating scales combined (65%); and an interview, behavior rating scales, and most continuous performance tests combined (62%).” All versions of this article have been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2016-00618-001.) This retrospective study examines how many adult patients would plausibly receive a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) if performance and symptom validity measures were not administered during neuropsychological evaluations. Five hundred fifty-four patients were extracted from an archival clinical dataset. A total of 102 were diagnosed with ADHD based on cognitive testing, behavior rating scales, effort testing, and clinical interview; 115 were identified as putting forth suspect effort in accordance with the Slick, Sherman, and Iverson (1999) criteria. From a clinical decision-making perspective, suspect effort and ADHD groups were nearly indistinguishable on ADHD behavior, executive function, and functional impairment rating scales, as well as on cognitive testing and key clinical interview questions. These results suggest that a significant percentage of those making a suspect effort will be diagnosed with ADHD using the most commonly employed assessment methods: an interview alone (71%); an interview and ADHD behavior rating scales combined (65%); and an interview, behavior rating scales, and most continuous performance tests combined (57%). This research makes clear that it is essential to evaluate task engagement and possible symptom amplification during clinical evaluations. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved

Choosing spouses and houses: Impaired congruence between preference and choice following damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

PubMed

Bowren, Mark D; Croft, Katie E; Reber, Justin; Tranel, Daniel

2018-03-01

A well-documented effect of focal ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) damage is a deficit in real-world decision making. An important aspect of this deficit may be a deficiency in "internal consistency" during social decision making-that is, impaired congruence between expressed preferences versus actual behavioral choices. An example of low internal consistency would be if one expressed the desire to marry someone with impeccable moral character, yet proceeded to marry someone convicted of multiple felonies. Here, we used a neuropsychological approach to investigate neural correlates of internal consistency in complex decision making. Sixteen individuals with focal vmPFC lesions, 16 brain damage comparison individuals, and 16 normal comparison individuals completed a 3-option forced-choice preference task in which choices were made using attribute sets. Participants also completed visual-analogue preference ratings to indicate how much they liked each option, and rated the influence of each attribute on their decision making. Options were either social (potential spouses) or nonsocial (potential houses). Internal consistency for a trial was defined as agreement between the choice and the most positively rated option. A mixed design analysis of variance revealed that internal consistency between choices and preferences derived from summed attribute ratings was significantly lower for the vmPFC group relative to comparison participants, but only in the social condition (pη2 = .09), 95% CI [.002, .163]. Internal consistency during social decisions may be deficient in patients with vmPFC damage, leading to a discrepancy between preferences and choices. The vmPFC may provide an important neural mechanism for aligning behavioral choices with expressed preferences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Choosing Spouses and Houses: Impaired Congruence Between Preference and Choice Following Damage to the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex

PubMed Central

Bowren, Mark D.; Croft, Katie E.; Reber, Justin; Tranel, Daniel

2017-01-01

Objective A well-documented effect of focal ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) damage is a deficit in real-world decision-making. An important aspect of this deficit may be a deficiency in “internal consistency” during social decision-making – that is, impaired congruence between expressed preferences versus actual behavioral choices. An example of low internal consistency would be if one expressed the desire to marry someone with impeccable moral character,” yet proceeded to marry someone convicted of multiple felonies. Here, we used a neuropsychological approach to investigate neural correlates of internal consistency in complex decision-making. Method Sixteen individuals with focal vmPFC lesions, 16 brain-damage comparison individuals, and 16 normal comparison individuals completed a three-option forced-choice preference task in which choices were made using attribute sets. Participants also completed visual-analogue preference ratings to indicate how much they liked each option, and rated the influence of each attribute on their decision-making. Options were either social (potential spouses) or non-social (potential houses). Internal consistency for a trial was defined as agreement between the choice and the most positively rated option. Results A mixed design ANOVA revealed that internal consistency between choices and preferences derived from summed attribute ratings was significantly lower for the vmPFC group relative to comparison participants, but only in the social condition (pη2 = .09), 95% CI [.002, .163]. Conclusions Internal consistency during social decisions may be deficient in patients with vmPFC damage, leading to a discrepancy between preferences and choices. The vmPFC may provide an important neural mechanism for aligning behavioral choices with expressed preferences. PMID:29620403

Error-associated behaviors and error rates for robotic geology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, Robert C.; Thomas, Geb; Wagner, Jacob; Glasgow, Justin

2004-01-01

This study explores human error as a function of the decision-making process. One of many models for human decision-making is Rasmussen's decision ladder [9]. The decision ladder identifies the multiple tasks and states of knowledge involved in decision-making. The tasks and states of knowledge can be classified by the level of cognitive effort required to make the decision, leading to the skill, rule, and knowledge taxonomy (Rasmussen, 1987). Skill based decisions require the least cognitive effort and knowledge based decisions require the greatest cognitive effort. Errors can occur at any of the cognitive levels.

Validation of Quality Rating and Improvement Systems for Early Care and Education and School-Age Care. Research-to-Policy, Research-to-Practice Brief. OPRE 2012-29

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zellman, Gail L.; Fiene, Richard

2012-01-01

Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) for early care and education and school age care programs are designed to collect information about quality and to use that information to produce program-level ratings, which are the foundation of a QRIS. The ratings are intended to make program quality transparent for parents and other stakeholders…

Emotional reactions in moral decision-making are influenced by empathy and alexithymia.

PubMed

Cecchetto, Cinzia; Korb, Sebastian; Rumiati, Raffaella Ida; Aiello, Marilena

2018-04-01

The role of emotional processes in driving moral choices remains debated. In particular, diminished emotional processing and reduced empathy have been associated with unusual high rates of utilitarian responses in moral judgments while, to date, the effects of diminished emotional processing and empathy on moral decision-making have been only partially considered. In this study, we investigated the influence of empathy and alexithymia on behavior and emotional responses while participants performed a moral decision task. Self-report (valence and arousal ratings) and physiological (skin conductance and heart rate) measures were collected during the task. Results showed that empathy and alexithymia shaped emotional reactions to moral decisions but did not bias moral choices. The more empathic the participants, the more dilemmas were perceived as unpleasant and arousing, and the greater the increase in skin conductance. Conversely, alexithymia was characterized by a reduced physiological activation during moral decisions, but normal self-report ratings. Heart rate was not modulated by empathy or alexithymia. These results add new evidence to the field of moral decision showing that empathy and alexithymia modulate emotional reactions to moral decision.

Creating Abbreviated Rating Scales to Monitor Classroom Inattention-Overactivity, Aggression, and Peer Conflict: Reliability, Validity, and Treatment Sensitivity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Volpe, Robert J.; Gadow, Kenneth D.

2010-01-01

Rating scales developed to measure child emotional and behavioral problems typically are so long as to make their use in progress monitoring impractical in typical school settings. This study examined two methods of selecting items from existing rating scales to create shorter instruments for use in assessing response to intervention. The…

A Ministudy of employee turnover in US hospitals.

PubMed

Collins, Sandra K; McKinnies, Richard C; Matthews, Eric P; Collins, Kevin S

2015-01-01

A ministudy was conducted to collect self-reported employee turnover rates in US hospitals. The results indicate many hospitals are struggling with high employee turnover rates. Widespread variances in ratings were observed across hospitals, which may be due to lack of consistency in how they each calculate their employee turnover. This makes benchmarking for the purposes of performance improvement challenging.

Compendium of Quality Rating Systems and Evaluations: The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tout, Kathryn; Starr, Rebecca; Soli, Margaret; Moodie, Shannon; Kirby, Gretchen; Boller, Kimberly

2010-01-01

Quality Rating Systems (QRS) are currently operating, under development, or being piloted in over 25 states or local areas. As the QRS model becomes integrated into the landscape of child care and education service delivery, policy, and the decisions parents make about child care across the United States, there is an increasing need for…

7 CFR 1786.27 - Definitions and rules of construction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... issued by RUS to FFB pursuant to the RE Act for an FFB loan made on or before July 2, 1986. Fees means... due on loans made or guaranteed under the RE Act, and is making a good faith effort to increase rates... average interest rate (stated as an annual percentage rate) on a loan; (3) The final maturity date of a...

7 CFR 1786.27 - Definitions and rules of construction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... issued by RUS to FFB pursuant to the RE Act for an FFB loan made on or before July 2, 1986. Fees means... due on loans made or guaranteed under the RE Act, and is making a good faith effort to increase rates... average interest rate (stated as an annual percentage rate) on a loan; (3) The final maturity date of a...

7 CFR 1786.27 - Definitions and rules of construction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... issued by RUS to FFB pursuant to the RE Act for an FFB loan made on or before July 2, 1986. Fees means... due on loans made or guaranteed under the RE Act, and is making a good faith effort to increase rates... average interest rate (stated as an annual percentage rate) on a loan; (3) The final maturity date of a...

High Resolution Measurement of the Glycolytic Rate

PubMed Central

Bittner, Carla X.; Loaiza, Anitsi; Ruminot, Iván; Larenas, Valeria; Sotelo-Hitschfeld, Tamara; Gutiérrez, Robin; Córdova, Alex; Valdebenito, Rocío; Frommer, Wolf B.; Barros, L. Felipe

2010-01-01

The glycolytic rate is sensitive to physiological activity, hormones, stress, aging, and malignant transformation. Standard techniques to measure the glycolytic rate are based on radioactive isotopes, are not able to resolve single cells and have poor temporal resolution, limitations that hamper the study of energy metabolism in the brain and other organs. A new method is described in this article, which makes use of a recently developed FRET glucose nanosensor to measure the rate of glycolysis in single cells with high temporal resolution. Used in cultured astrocytes, the method showed for the first time that glycolysis can be activated within seconds by a combination of glutamate and K+, supporting a role for astrocytes in neurometabolic and neurovascular coupling in the brain. It was also possible to make a direct comparison of metabolism in neurons and astrocytes lying in close proximity, paving the way to a high-resolution characterization of brain energy metabolism. Single-cell glycolytic rates were also measured in fibroblasts, adipocytes, myoblasts, and tumor cells, showing higher rates for undifferentiated cells and significant metabolic heterogeneity within cell types. This method should facilitate the investigation of tissue metabolism at the single-cell level and is readily adaptable for high-throughput analysis. PMID:20890447

A Mixed Methodological Analysis of the Role of Culture in the Clinical Decision-Making Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hays, Danica G.; Prosek, Elizabeth A.; McLeod, Amy L.

2010-01-01

Even though literature indicates that particular cultural groups receive more severe diagnoses at disproportionate rates, there has been minimal research that addresses how culture interfaces specifically with clinical decision making. This mixed methodological study of 41 counselors indicated that cultural characteristics of both counselors and…

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Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-17

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Naturally Occurring Opportunities for Preschool Children with or without Disabilities To Make Choices.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jolivette, Kristine; Stichter, Janine Peck; Sibilsky, Sara; Scott, Terrance M.; Ridgley, Robyn

2002-01-01

A study involving 14 preschool children (7 with disabilities) found that the children with disabilities were provided with more choices than the children without disabilities. Children both with and without disabilities, however, initiated choice making opportunities at the same rate. Female children were provided with more opportunities to make…

Opportunities for Young Children to Make Choices in a Model Interdisciplinary and Inclusive Preschool Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jolivette, Kristine; McCormick, Katherine; McLaren, Elizabeth; Steed, Elizabeth A.

2009-01-01

The provision of choice making is frequently cited as an indicator of developmentally appropriate practice for young children with and without disabilities; however, there is little empirical evidence regarding the rate of delivery of choices within the preschool classroom. The delivery of intervention strategies by a classroom-based…

Supplemental Flashcard Drill Methods for Efficiently Helping At-Risk Kindergartners Make Letter-Sound Correspondences: Does Presentation Arrangement of Words Matter?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griffin, Crystal; Joseph, Laurice M.

2015-01-01

Variations of supplemental flashcard drill and practice instructional procedures (i.e., massed practice and interspersal presentation arrangements of words) were examined for six kindergartners who struggled making letter-sound correspondences. Findings revealed that the children demonstrated the highest learning rates when the presentation…

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2010-07-01

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The Structure of Knowledge and Departmental Social Organization.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adkinson, Judith

1979-01-01

This case study of three university departments was designed to generate substantive theory about decision-making in academic departments. Homans' social systems theory was used as a framework, and it is shown that the rate of interaction affects the crystallization of norm structures and processes of influence and decision-making. (Author/LBH)

Contrast Experiment on Advanced Treatment of Pharmaceutical and Paper-making Wastewater through Cinder Fenton-like Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiaofeng, Jia; Xiaoyu, Chen; Wenning, Mai

2018-06-01

The Fenton-like process of catalyzing H2O2 with Fe2+ and cinder is adopted to subject pharmaceutical and paper-making wastewater to advanced treatment. The influence of each factor is determined using orthogonal experiment and single factor test. The optimal combination of influencing factors is 0.3mmol · L-1 of FeSO4 · 7H2O, [H2O2]:[Fe2+]=8:1 and 10g · L-1 of pyrites cinder. The reaction time in pharmaceutical wastewater and paper-making wastewater is 30min and 60min respectively, testifying to the fact that the reaction in pharmaceutical wastewater is faster than that in paper-making wastewater and the lower utilization rate of cinder in pharmaceutical wastewater. Under the optimal reaction condition, the COD removal rate of these two kinds of wastewater can reach as high as 65% and 72%. Characterized by simple operation and requiring less reagent dosage, this method does not have to regulate the pH of flooding water and allows the repeated usage of cinder.

Neural antecedents of social decision-making in a partner choice task.

PubMed

Cartmell, Samuel C D; Chun, Marvin M; Vickery, Timothy J

2014-11-01

Experiments in financial decision-making point to two complementary processes that encode prospective gain and loss preceding the choice to purchase consumer goods. These processes involve the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and the right anterior insula, respectively. The current experiment used functional MRI to investigate whether these regions served a similar function during an analogous social decision-making task without the influence of monetary outcomes. In this task, subjects chose partners based on face stimuli of varying attractiveness (operationalizing value) and ratings of compatibility with the participant (operationalizing likelihood of rejection). The NAcc responded to anticipated gain; the right anterior insula responded to compatibility, but not in a manner that suggests an analogy to anticipated cost. Logistic regression modeling demonstrated that both regions predicted subsequent choice above and beyond the influence of group attractiveness ratings or compatibility alone. Although the function of the insula may differ between tasks, these results suggest that financial and social decision-making recruit a similar network of brain regions. © The Author (2013). Published by Oxford University Press. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Decision-Making Quality in Parents Considering Adenotonsillectomy or Tympanostomy Tube Insertion for Their Children.

PubMed

Hong, Paul; Maguire, Erin; Purcell, Mary; Ritchie, Krista C; Chorney, Jill

2017-03-01

Shared decision making is a process in which clinicians and patients make health care decisions in a collaborative manner using the most up-to-date evidence, while considering patient values and preferences. Shared decision making is thought to have a positive influence on the decision-making process in medicine. To describe the level of decisional conflict and decisional regret experienced by parents considering surgery for their children and to determine relations among decisional conflict, decisional regret, and shared decision making. A prospective cohort study was conducted at an academic pediatric otolaryngology clinic. Participants included 126 parents of children younger than 6 years who underwent consultation for adenotonsillectomy or tympanostomy tube insertion. Parent participants completed the Shared Decision Making Questionnaire-Parent version, Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS), and Decisional Regret Scale (DRS). Surgeons completed the Shared Decision Making Questionnaire-Physician version. This study included 126 parents; 102 women (mean [SD] age, 33.2 [5.1] years) and 24 men (mean [SD] age, 35.6 [6.3] years). Overall, 34 parents (26%) reported clinically significant decisional conflict. Only 1 parent experienced moderate to strong decisional regret; 28 parents (43.7%) had mild decisional regret. Both parent and physician ratings of shared decision making were significantly negatively correlated with total DCS scores. Parent SDM-Q-9 and total DCS scores were significantly negatively correlated (rs[118] = -0.582; P < .001). Similarly, physician SDM-Q-Doc and total DCS scores were also significantly negatively correlated (rs[118] = -0.221; P = .04). Only parent ratings of shared decision making were significantly negatively correlated with total DRS scores (rs[63] = -0.254; P = .045). Those parents with clinically significant decisional conflict had significantly higher DRS scores (P = .02). Many parents experienced significant decisional conflict when making decisions about their child's elective surgical treatment. Parents who perceived themselves as being more involved in the decision-making process reported less decisional conflict and decisional regret. Future research should explore the influence of decision quality on health outcomes and develop methods to improve shared decision making.

Factors considered in end-of-life care decision making by health care professionals.

PubMed

Foo, Wei Ting; Zheng, Yiliang; Kwee, Ann K; Yang, Grace M; Krishna, Lalit

2013-06-01

To explore the importance of factors influencing the end-of-life care decision making of health care professionals (HCPs) in Singapore. This cross-sectional survey encompassed facets of patient, family, and HCP-related care considerations. In total, 187 questionnaires were distributed to physicians and nurses and had a response rate of 78.6%. The respondents rated patients' wishes (96.6%), their clinical symptoms (93.9%), and patients' beliefs (91.1%) very high. In all, 94.6% of the HCPs would respect a competent patient's wishes over the family's wishes when goals conflict. However, 59.9% of HCPs would abide by the family's wishes when the patient loses capacity even if the patient's previously expressed wishes are known. End-of-life care decision making by HCPs appears largely patient centered, although familial determination still wields significant influence with implications for advance care planning.

Estimation of heart rate variability using a compact radiofrequency motion sensor.

PubMed

Sugita, Norihiro; Matsuoka, Narumi; Yoshizawa, Makoto; Abe, Makoto; Homma, Noriyasu; Otake, Hideharu; Kim, Junghyun; Ohtaki, Yukio

2015-12-01

Physiological indices that reflect autonomic nervous activity are considered useful for monitoring peoples' health on a daily basis. A number of such indices are derived from heart rate variability, which is obtained by a radiofrequency (RF) motion sensor without making physical contact with the user's body. However, the bulkiness of RF motion sensors used in previous studies makes them unsuitable for home use. In this study, a new method to measure heart rate variability using a compact RF motion sensor that is sufficiently small to fit in a user's shirt pocket is proposed. To extract a heart rate related component from the sensor signal, an algorithm that optimizes a digital filter based on the power spectral density of the signal is proposed. The signals of the RF motion sensor were measured for 29 subjects during the resting state and their heart rate variability was estimated from the measured signals using the proposed method and a conventional method. A correlation coefficient between true heart rate and heart rate estimated from the proposed method was 0.69. Further, the experimental results showed the viability of the RF sensor for monitoring autonomic nervous activity. However, some improvements such as controlling the direction of sensing were necessary for stable measurement. Copyright © 2015 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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14 CFR 302.709 - Scope of conferences.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

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Negative and positive pretrial publicity affect juror memory and decision making.

PubMed

Ruva, Christine L; McEvoy, Cathy

2008-09-01

The experiment examined the effects of exposure to pretrial publicity (PTP) and delay on juror memory and decision-making. Mock jurors read news articles containing negative PTP, positive PTP, or unrelated articles. Five days later, they viewed a videotaped murder trial, after which they made decisions about guilt. Finally, all participants independently attributed specific information as having been presented during the trial or in the news articles. Half of the jurors rendered their verdicts and completed the source-memory test immediately after the trial, while the other half did so after a 2-day delay. Exposure to PTP significantly affected guilty verdicts, perceptions of defendant credibility, juror ratings of the prosecuting and defense attorneys, and misattributions of PTP as having been presented as trial evidence. Similar effects were obtained for negative and positive PTP. Delay significantly increased source-memory errors but did not influence guilt ratings. Defendant's credibility and juror ratings of prosecuting and defense attorneys significantly mediated the effect of PTP on guilt ratings. (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved.

Making sense of sparse rating data in collaborative filtering via topographic organization of user preference patterns.

PubMed

Polcicová, Gabriela; Tino, Peter

2004-01-01

We introduce topographic versions of two latent class models (LCM) for collaborative filtering. Latent classes are topologically organized on a square grid. Topographic organization of latent classes makes orientation in rating/preference patterns captured by the latent classes easier and more systematic. The variation in film rating patterns is modelled by multinomial and binomial distributions with varying independence assumptions. In the first stage of topographic LCM construction, self-organizing maps with neural field organized according to the LCM topology are employed. We apply our system to a large collection of user ratings for films. The system can provide useful visualization plots unveiling user preference patterns buried in the data, without loosing potential to be a good recommender model. It appears that multinomial distribution is most adequate if the model is regularized by tight grid topologies. Since we deal with probabilistic models of the data, we can readily use tools from probability and information theories to interpret and visualize information extracted by our system.

[Association between psychosocial aspects of work and quality of life among motorcycle taxi drivers].

PubMed

Teixeira, Jules Ramon Brito; Boery, Eduardo Nagib; Casotti, Cezar Augusto; Araújo, Tânia Maria de; Pereira, Rafael; Ribeiro, Ícaro José Santos; Rios, Marcela Andrade; Amorim, Camila Rego; Moreira, Ramon Missias; Boery, Rita Narriman Silva de Oliveira; Sales, Zenilda Nogueira

2015-01-01

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life of motorcycle taxi drivers and the association with psychosocial characteristics of their work. This was a cross-sectional epidemiological study with a sample of 400 motorcycle taxi drivers in Jequié, Bahia State, Brazil. The study used a form containing demographic and socioeconomic data, WHO Quality of Life-Bref Questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref), and the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Motorcycle taxi drivers with greater decision-making control over their work showed better self-rated quality of life in the psychological domain; those with high psychological demands presented better self-rated quality of life in the social relations and environmental domains; those with high strain and active work showed better self-rated quality of life in the social and environmental domains. The psychosocial work environment and especially decision-making autonomy were thus important determinants of self-rated quality of life in this group of motorcycle taxi drivers.

Treatment decision-making and the form of risk communication: results of a factorial survey.

PubMed

Hembroff, Larry A; Holmes-Rovner, Margaret; Wills, Celia E

2004-11-16

Prospective users of preventive therapies often must evaluate complex information about therapeutic risks and benefits. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of relative and absolute risk information on patient decision-making in scenarios typical of health information for patients. Factorial experiments within a telephone survey of the Michigan adult, non-institutionalized, English-speaking population. Average interview lasted 23 minutes. Subjects and sample design: 952 randomly selected adults within a random-digit dial sample of Michigan households. Completion rate was 54.3%. When presented hypothetical information regarding additional risks of breast cancer from a medication to prevent a bone disease, respondents reduced their willingness to recommend a female friend take the medication compared to the baseline rate (66.8% = yes). The decrease was significantly greater with relative risk information. Additional benefit information regarding preventing heart disease from the medication increased willingness to recommend the medication to a female friend relative to the baseline scenario, but did not differ between absolute and relative risk formats. When information about both increased risk of breast cancer and reduced risk of heart disease were provided, typical respondents appeared to make rational decisions consistent with Expected Utility Theory, but the information presentation format affected choices. Those 11% - 33% making decisions contrary to the medical indications were more likely to be Hispanic, older, more educated, smokers, and to have children in the home. In scenarios typical of health risk information, relative risk information led respondents to make non-normative decisions that were "corrected" when the frame used absolute risk information. This population sample made generally rational decisions when presented with absolute risk information, even in the context of a telephone interview requiring remembering rates given. The lack of effect of gender and race suggests that a standard strategy of presenting absolute risk information may improve patient decision-making.

Are normally sighted, visually impaired, and blind pedestrians accurate and reliable at making street crossing decisions?

PubMed

Hassan, Shirin E

2012-05-04

The purpose of this study is to measure the accuracy and reliability of normally sighted, visually impaired, and blind pedestrians at making street crossing decisions using visual and/or auditory information. Using a 5-point rating scale, safety ratings for vehicular gaps of different durations were measured along a two-lane street of one-way traffic without a traffic signal. Safety ratings were collected from 12 normally sighted, 10 visually impaired, and 10 blind subjects for eight different gap times under three sensory conditions: (1) visual plus auditory information, (2) visual information only, and (3) auditory information only. Accuracy and reliability in street crossing decision-making were calculated for each subject under each sensory condition. We found that normally sighted and visually impaired pedestrians were accurate and reliable in their street crossing decision-making ability when using either vision plus hearing or vision only (P > 0.05). Under the hearing only condition, all subjects were reliable (P > 0.05) but inaccurate with their street crossing decisions (P < 0.05). Compared to either the normally sighted (P = 0.018) or visually impaired subjects (P = 0.019), blind subjects were the least accurate with their street crossing decisions under the hearing only condition. Our data suggested that visually impaired pedestrians can make accurate and reliable street crossing decisions like those of normally sighted pedestrians. When using auditory information only, all subjects significantly overestimated the vehicular gap time. Our finding that blind pedestrians performed significantly worse than either the normally sighted or visually impaired subjects under the hearing only condition suggested that they may benefit from training to improve their detection ability and/or interpretation of vehicular gap times.

Are Normally Sighted, Visually Impaired, and Blind Pedestrians Accurate and Reliable at Making Street Crossing Decisions?

PubMed Central

Hassan, Shirin E.

2012-01-01

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to measure the accuracy and reliability of normally sighted, visually impaired, and blind pedestrians at making street crossing decisions using visual and/or auditory information. Methods. Using a 5-point rating scale, safety ratings for vehicular gaps of different durations were measured along a two-lane street of one-way traffic without a traffic signal. Safety ratings were collected from 12 normally sighted, 10 visually impaired, and 10 blind subjects for eight different gap times under three sensory conditions: (1) visual plus auditory information, (2) visual information only, and (3) auditory information only. Accuracy and reliability in street crossing decision-making were calculated for each subject under each sensory condition. Results. We found that normally sighted and visually impaired pedestrians were accurate and reliable in their street crossing decision-making ability when using either vision plus hearing or vision only (P > 0.05). Under the hearing only condition, all subjects were reliable (P > 0.05) but inaccurate with their street crossing decisions (P < 0.05). Compared to either the normally sighted (P = 0.018) or visually impaired subjects (P = 0.019), blind subjects were the least accurate with their street crossing decisions under the hearing only condition. Conclusions. Our data suggested that visually impaired pedestrians can make accurate and reliable street crossing decisions like those of normally sighted pedestrians. When using auditory information only, all subjects significantly overestimated the vehicular gap time. Our finding that blind pedestrians performed significantly worse than either the normally sighted or visually impaired subjects under the hearing only condition suggested that they may benefit from training to improve their detection ability and/or interpretation of vehicular gap times. PMID:22427593

Anhedonia and anxiety underlying depressive symptomatology have distinct effects on reward-based decision-making.

PubMed

Harlé, Katia M; Guo, Dalin; Zhang, Shunan; Paulus, Martin P; Yu, Angela J

2017-01-01

Depressive pathology, which includes both heightened negative affect (e.g., anxiety) and reduced positive affect (e.g., anhedonia), is known to be associated with sub-optimal decision-making, particularly in uncertain environments. Here, we use a computational approach to quantify and disambiguate how individual differences in these affective measures specifically relate to different aspects of learning and decision-making in reward-based choice behavior. Fifty-three individuals with a range of depressed mood completed a two-armed bandit task, in which they choose between two arms with fixed but unknown reward rates. The decision-making component, which chooses among options based on current expectations about reward rates, is modeled by two different decision policies: a learning-independent Win-stay/Lose-shift (WSLS) policy that ignores all previous experiences except the last trial, and Softmax, which prefers the arm with the higher expected reward. To model the learning component for the Softmax choice policy, we use a Bayesian inference model, which updates estimated reward rates based on the observed history of trial outcomes. Softmax with Bayesian learning better fits the behavior of 55% of the participants, while the others are better fit by a learning-independent WSLS strategy. Among Softmax "users", those with higher anhedonia are less likely to choose the option estimated to be most rewarding. Moreover, the Softmax parameter mediates the inverse relationship between anhedonia and overall monetary gains. On the other hand, among WSLS "users", higher state anxiety correlates with increasingly better ability of WSLS, relative to Softmax, to explain subjects' trial-by-trial choices. In summary, there is significant variability among individuals in their reward-based, exploratory decision-making, and this variability is at least partly mediated in a very specific manner by affective attributes, such as hedonic tone and state anxiety.

Commercialization and Industrial Development for the Fetal Hear Rate Monitor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zahorian, Stephen

2000-01-01

The primary objectives for this task were to continue the development and testing of the NASA/ODU passive acoustic fetal heart rate monitor, with the goal of transferring the technology to the commercial sector. Areas of work included: 1. To assist in the development of a new hardware front end electronics box for the fetal heart rate monitor, so as to reduce the size of the electronics box, and also to provide for a "low-frequency" and "high-frequency" mode of operation. To make necessary changes in the operating software to support the two modes of operation. 2. To provide an option for a strip chart recording for the system, so that medical personnel could more easily make comparisons with ultra sound strip chart recordings. and 3. To help with continued testing of the system.

[Analysis of Foetal Heart Rate Data using Complex Software: Comparison of Recurrence Plot of Foetal Heart Rate with the Course of Pregnancy -].

PubMed

Jörn, H; Morgenstern, B; Wassenberg, B; Rath, W

2004-08-01

Is it useful to further analyse foetal heart rate to improve the prediction of pregnancy complications? The analysis of the foetal heart rate is usually based on the variability of the heart rate, i. e. the more variable the heart rate presents - except a decrease - the better the condition of the foetus is. The same concept is applied in our own analysis which differs only in the presentation of the data. We analysed 25 non-stress-tests from unselected third trimester pregnancies using sophisticated software. The recurrence plot (RP) is able to rearrange data from foetal heart rate monitoring in order to make the heart rate variability visible. We developed criteria for a normal and an abnormal test result describing the structure of the diagram to predict an uneventful and a high-risk pregnancy, respectively. 11 out of 11 patients with uneventful course and outcome of pregnancy showed a coarse and blurred RP pattern. 12 out of 14 (86 %) patients developing either intrauterine growth retardation or preeclampsia and requiring caesarean section because of foetal heart rate abnormalities showed a fine and clear RP pattern. Our preliminary results show that it makes sense to further evaluate foetal heart rate variability in order to predict pregnancy complications. Computer programs including the algorithms needed (calculation of the recurrence plot) are not expensive and easy to handle. A widespread use of these programs represents the basis requirement for large controlled clinical trials.

The biological effect of prolonged radiation and ways of selecting new anti-radiation drugs effective in this kind of radiation injury

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rogozkin, V. D.; Chertkov, K. S.; Nikolov, I.

1974-01-01

The basic characteristics of prolonged radiation - increased tolerance of radiation injury - are attributed to cellular kinetics; as dose rate is reduced, the population rate is not disturbed, particularly that of stem cells which makes it possible for the organism to tolerate higher radiation loads. It is concluded that this effect makes approved radio protectors, whose effect contains an established cytostatic component, unsuitable for prolonged radiation. It is better to correct the stem pool formation process by either accelerating the proliferation of cells or limiting the effect of stimuli causing cells to lose colony forming properties.

Ship detection in panchromatic images: a new method and its DSP implementation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Yuan; Jiang, Zhiguo; Zhang, Haopeng; Wang, Mengfei; Meng, Gang

2016-03-01

In this paper, a new ship detection method is proposed after analyzing the characteristics of panchromatic remote sensing images and ship targets. Firstly, AdaBoost(Adaptive Boosting) classifiers trained by Haar features are utilized to make coarse detection of ship targets. Then LSD (Line Segment Detector) is adopted to extract the line features in target slices to make fine detection. Experimental results on a dataset of panchromatic remote sensing images with a spatial resolution of 2m show that the proposed algorithm can achieve high detection rate and low false alarm rate. Meanwhile, the algorithm can meet the needs of practical applications on DSP (Digital Signal Processor).

FRAMING EFFECTS ON PHYSICIANS' JUDGMENT AND DECISION MAKING.

PubMed

Bui, Thanh C; Krieger, Heather A; Blumenthal-Barby, Jennifer S

2015-10-01

This study aimed to assess physicians' susceptibility to framing effects in clinical judgment and decision making. A survey was administered online to 159 general internists in the United States. Participants were randomized into two groups, in which clinical scenarios varied in their framings: frequency vs percentage, with cost information vs without, female patient vs male patient, and mortality vs survival. Results showed that physicians' recommendations for patients in hypothetical scenarios were significantly different when the predicted probability of the outcomes was presented in frequency versus percentage form and when it was presented in mortality rate vs survival rate of the same magnitude. Physicians' recommendations were not different for other framing effects.

Clinical utilisation of the "G.T. MSRS", the rating scale for mixed states: 35 cases report.

PubMed

Tavormina, Giuseppe

2015-09-01

The knowledge of the clinical features of the mixed states and of the symptoms of the "mixity" of mood disorders is crucial: to mis-diagnose or mis-treat patients with these symptoms may increase the suicide risk and make worse the evolution of mood disorders. The rating scale "G.T. MSRS" has been designed to improve the clinical effectiveness of both psychiatrists and GPs by enabling them to make an early "general" diagnosis of mixed states. This study presents some cases in which the "G.T. MSRS" scale has been used, in order to demonstrate its usefullness.

Macroeconomic Fluctuations and Mortality in Postwar Japan

PubMed Central

TAPIA GRANADOS, JOSÉ A.

2008-01-01

Recent research has shown that after long-term declining trends are excluded, mortality rates in industrial countries tend to rise in economic expansions and fall in economic recessions. In the present work, co-movements between economic fluctuations and mortality changes in postwar Japan are investigated by analyzing time series of mortality rates and eight economic indicators. To eliminate spurious associations attributable to trends, series are detrended either via Hodrick-Prescott filtering or through differencing. As previously found in other industrial economies, general mortality and age-specific death rates in Japan tend to increase in expansions and drop in recessions, for both males and females. The effect, which is slightly stronger for males, is particularly noticeable in those aged 45–64. Deaths attributed to heart disease, pneumonia, accidents, liver disease, and senility—making up about 41% of total mortality—tend to fluctuate procyclically, increasing in expansions. Suicides, as well as deaths attributable to diabetes and hypertensive disease, make up about 4% of total mortality and fluctuate countercyclically, increasing in recessions. Deaths attributed to other causes, making up about half of total deaths, don’t show a clearly defined relationship with the fluctuations of the economy. PMID:18613484

Macroeconomic fluctuations and mortality in postwar Japan.

PubMed

Granados, José A Tapia

2008-05-01

Recent research has shown that after long-term declining trends are excluded, mortality rates in industrial countries tend to rise in economic expansions and fall in economic recessions. In the present work, co-movements between economic fluctuations and mortality changes in postwar Japan are investigated by analyzing time series of mortality rates and eight economic indicators. To eliminate spurious associations attributable to trends, series are detrended either via Hodrick-Prescott filtering or through differencing. As previously found in other industrial economies, general mortality and age-specific death rates in Japan tend to increase in expansions and drop in recessions, for both males and females. The effect, which is slightly stronger for males, is particularly noticeable in those aged 45-64. Deaths attributed to heart disease, pneumonia, accidents, liver disease, and senility--making up about 41% of total mortality--tend to fluctuate procyclically, increasing in expansions. Suicides, as well as deaths attributable to diabetes and hypertensive disease, make up about 4% of total mortality and fluctuate countercyclically, increasing in recessions. Deaths attributed to other causes, making up about half of total deaths, don't show a clearly defined relationship with the fluctuations of the economy.

Brain areas consistently linked to individual differences in perceptual decision-making in younger as well as older adults before and after training.

PubMed

Kühn, Simone; Schmiedek, Florian; Schott, Björn; Ratcliff, Roger; Heinze, Hans-Jochen; Düzel, Emrah; Lindenberger, Ulman; Lövden, Martin

2011-09-01

Perceptual decision-making performance depends on several cognitive and neural processes. Here, we fit Ratcliff's diffusion model to accuracy data and reaction-time distributions from one numerical and one verbal two-choice perceptual-decision task to deconstruct these performance measures into the rate of evidence accumulation (i.e., drift rate), response criterion setting (i.e., boundary separation), and peripheral aspects of performance (i.e., nondecision time). These theoretical processes are then related to individual differences in brain activation by means of multiple regression. The sample consisted of 24 younger and 15 older adults performing the task in fMRI before and after 100 daily 1-hr behavioral training sessions in a multitude of cognitive tasks. Results showed that individual differences in boundary separation were related to striatal activity, whereas differences in drift rate were related to activity in the inferior parietal lobe. These associations were not significantly modified by adult age or perceptual expertise. We conclude that the striatum is involved in regulating response thresholds, whereas the inferior parietal lobe might represent decision-making evidence related to letters and numbers.

Measurement of tectonic surface uplift rate in a young collisional mountain belt

USGS Publications Warehouse

Abbott, L.D.; Silver, E.A.; Anderson, R. Scott; Smith, R.; Ingle, J.C.; Kling, S.A.; Haig, D.; Small, E.; Galewsky, J.; Sliter, W.

1997-01-01

Measurement of the rate of tectonically driven surface uplift is crucial to a complete understanding of mountain building dynamics. The lack of a suitable rock record typically prevents determination of this quantity, but the unusual geology of Papua New Guinea's Finisterre mountains makes measurement of this rate possible. The tectonic surface uplift rate at the Finisterre range is 0.8-2.1 mm yr-1, approximately that expected to arise from crustal thickening.

Patient Decision Aids Improve Decision Quality and Patient Experience and Reduce Surgical Rates in Routine Orthopaedic Care: A Prospective Cohort Study.

PubMed

Sepucha, Karen; Atlas, Steven J; Chang, Yuchiao; Dorrwachter, Janet; Freiberg, Andrew; Mangla, Mahima; Rubash, Harry E; Simmons, Leigh H; Cha, Thomas

2017-08-02

Patient decision aids are effective in randomized controlled trials, yet little is known about their impact in routine care. The purpose of this study was to examine whether decision aids increase shared decision-making when used in routine care. A prospective study was designed to evaluate the impact of a quality improvement project to increase the use of decision aids for patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis, lumbar disc herniation, or lumbar spinal stenosis. A usual care cohort was enrolled before the quality improvement project and an intervention cohort was enrolled after the project. Participants were surveyed 1 week after a specialist visit, and surgical status was collected at 6 months. Regression analyses adjusted for clustering of patients within clinicians and examined the impact on knowledge, patient reports of shared decision-making in the visit, and surgical rates. With 550 surveys, the study had 80% to 90% power to detect a difference in these key outcomes. The response rates to the 1-week survey were 70.6% (324 of 459) for the usual care cohort and 70.2% (328 of 467) for the intervention cohort. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in any patient characteristic between the 2 cohorts. More patients received decision aids in the intervention cohort at 63.6% compared with the usual care cohort at 27.3% (p = 0.007). Decision aid use was associated with higher knowledge scores, with a mean difference of 18.7 points (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.4 to 26.1 points; p < 0.001) for the usual care cohort and 15.3 points (95% CI, 7.5 to 23.0 points; p = 0.002) for the intervention cohort. Patients reported more shared decision-making (p = 0.009) in the visit with their surgeon in the intervention cohort, with a mean Shared Decision-Making Process score (and standard deviation) of 66.9 ± 27.5 points, compared with the usual care cohort at 62.5 ± 28.6 points. The majority of patients received their preferred treatment, and this did not differ by cohort or decision aid use. Surgical rates were lower in the intervention cohort for those who received the decision aids at 42.3% compared with 58.8% for those who did not receive decision aids (p = 0.023) and in the usual care cohort at 44.3% for those who received decision aids compared with 55.7% for those who did not receive them (p = 0.45). The quality improvement project successfully integrated patient decision aids into a busy orthopaedic clinic. When used in routine care, decision aids are associated with increased knowledge, more shared decision-making, and lower surgical rates. There is increasing pressure to design systems of care that inform and involve patients in decisions about elective surgery. In this study, the authors found that patient decision aids, when used as part of routine orthopaedic care, were associated with increased knowledge, more shared decision-making, higher patient experience ratings, and lower surgical rates.

Dynamic afferent synapses to decision-making networks improve performance in tasks requiring stimulus associations and discriminations

PubMed Central

Bourjaily, Mark A.

2012-01-01

Animals must often make opposing responses to similar complex stimuli. Multiple sensory inputs from such stimuli combine to produce stimulus-specific patterns of neural activity. It is the differences between these activity patterns, even when small, that provide the basis for any differences in behavioral response. In the present study, we investigate three tasks with differing degrees of overlap in the inputs, each with just two response possibilities. We simulate behavioral output via winner-takes-all activity in one of two pools of neurons forming a biologically based decision-making layer. The decision-making layer receives inputs either in a direct stimulus-dependent manner or via an intervening recurrent network of neurons that form the associative layer, whose activity helps distinguish the stimuli of each task. We show that synaptic facilitation of synapses to the decision-making layer improves performance in these tasks, robustly increasing accuracy and speed of responses across multiple configurations of network inputs. Conversely, we find that synaptic depression worsens performance. In a linearly nonseparable task with exclusive-or logic, the benefit of synaptic facilitation lies in its superlinear transmission: effective synaptic strength increases with presynaptic firing rate, which enhances the already present superlinearity of presynaptic firing rate as a function of stimulus-dependent input. In linearly separable single-stimulus discrimination tasks, we find that facilitating synapses are always beneficial because synaptic facilitation always enhances any differences between inputs. Thus we predict that for optimal decision-making accuracy and speed, synapses from sensory or associative areas to decision-making or premotor areas should be facilitating. PMID:22457467

Berk's Law: Start Spreading the News--Use Multiple Sources of Evidence to Evaluate Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berk, Ronald A.

2018-01-01

Student ratings are not leaving today or anytime soon. However, as the title of this article indicates, student ratings are not the only option to provide evidence in the evaluation of teaching. There is a broad range of alternatives to consider beyond student ratings in the delicate decision-making processes to improve teaching and determine the…

78 FR 64183 - Change to Existing Regulation Concerning the Interest Rate Paid on Cash Deposited To Secure...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-28

... Account. These funds are held ``in trust'' for the obligor and currently earn simple interest at the rate..., the Government has paid simple interest at the rate of 3 percent per year on cash deposited by bond... #0;notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in #0;the rule making prior to...

Speech Rate as a Sticky Switch: A Multiple Lesion Case Analysis of Mutism and Hyperlalia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Braun, Claude M. J.; Dumont, Mathieu; Duval, Julie; Hamel-Hebert, Isabelle

2004-01-01

Though it has long been known on the basis of clinical associations and serendipitous observation that speech rate is related to mood and psychomotor baseline, it is less known that speech rate is also related to libido and to immune function. We make the case for a bipolar phenomenon of ''psychic tonus,'' encompassing all these dimensions. The…

Effect of Listeners' Linguistic Background on Perceptual Judgements of Hypernasality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Alice; Brown, Susanna; Gibbon, Fiona E.

2008-01-01

Background: Many speech and language therapists work in a multilingual environment, making cross-linguistic studies of speech disorders clinically and theoretically important. Aims: To investigate the effect of listeners' linguistic background on their perceptual ratings of hypernasality and the reliability of the ratings. Methods &…

E. coli survival in waters: applicability of the Arrhenius equation

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

E. coli is an important microorganism indicator used to show the presence of pathogens and fecal contamination in waters. Knowing E. coli survival rates is important for assessing the severity of contamination that has occurred and making appropriate management evaluations. E. coli survival rates ...

16 CFR 309.13 - Certification.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... Distributors of Non-Liquid Alternative Vehicle Fuels (other Than Electricity) and of Electric Vehicle Fuel... fuel (other than electricity), you must certify the fuel rating of the fuel in each transfer you make... (other than electricity), you must certify consistent with the fuel rating certified to you. If you blend...

37 CFR 385.12 - Calculation of royalty payments in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR USE OF MUSICAL WORKS UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Interactive Streaming, Other Incidental Digital Phonorecord Deliveries and Limited Downloads § 385.12 Calculation of royalty...

37 CFR 385.12 - Calculation of royalty payments in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR USE OF MUSICAL WORKS UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Interactive Streaming, Other Incidental Digital Phonorecord Deliveries and Limited Downloads § 385.12 Calculation of royalty...

78 FR 15973 - Fee Rate

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-13

... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Indian Gaming Commission Fee Rate Correction In notice document 2013-05334, appearing on page 14821 in the issue of Thursday, March 7, 2013, make the following correction: On page 14821, in the second column, in the eighth line from the bottom of the page, ``Dated...

[Growth rate and bone maturation in celiac disease (author's transl)].

PubMed

Martínez Sopena, M J; Calvo Romero, M C; Bedate Calderón, P; Alonso Franch, M; Sánchez Villares, E

1978-05-01

The growth and bone maturation of 43 celiac patients were analyzed. A significant correlation between gluten intake and growth rate was found. The authors suggest this is a good parameter to advise the best moment to make the control biopsie and the provocation test.

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.

Shared decision-making in medication management: development of a training intervention

PubMed Central

Stead, Ute; Morant, Nicola; Ramon, Shulamit

2017-01-01

Shared decision-making is a collaborative process in which clinicians and patients make treatment decisions together. Although it is considered essential to patient-centred care, the adoption of shared decision-making into routine clinical practice has been slow, and there is a need to increase implementation. This paper describes the development and delivery of a training intervention to promote shared decision-making in medication management in mental health as part of the Shared Involvement in Medication Management Education (ShIMME) project. Three stakeholder groups (service users, care coordinators and psychiatrists) received training in shared decision-making, and their feedback was evaluated. The programme was mostly well received, with all groups rating interaction with peers as the best aspect of the training. This small-scale pilot shows that it is feasible to deliver training in shared decision-making to several key stakeholders. Larger studies will be required to assess the effectiveness of such training. PMID:28811918

Shared decision-making in medication management: development of a training intervention.

PubMed

Stead, Ute; Morant, Nicola; Ramon, Shulamit

2017-08-01

Shared decision-making is a collaborative process in which clinicians and patients make treatment decisions together. Although it is considered essential to patient-centred care, the adoption of shared decision-making into routine clinical practice has been slow, and there is a need to increase implementation. This paper describes the development and delivery of a training intervention to promote shared decision-making in medication management in mental health as part of the Shared Involvement in Medication Management Education (ShIMME) project. Three stakeholder groups (service users, care coordinators and psychiatrists) received training in shared decision-making, and their feedback was evaluated. The programme was mostly well received, with all groups rating interaction with peers as the best aspect of the training. This small-scale pilot shows that it is feasible to deliver training in shared decision-making to several key stakeholders. Larger studies will be required to assess the effectiveness of such training.

Is There a Conjunction Fallacy in Legal Probabilistic Decision Making?

PubMed

Wojciechowski, Bartosz W; Pothos, Emmanuel M

2018-01-01

Classical probability theory (CPT) has represented the rational standard for decision making in human cognition. Even though CPT has provided many descriptively excellent decision models, there have also been some empirical results persistently problematic for CPT accounts. The tension between the normative prescription of CPT and human behavior is particularly acute in cases where we have higher expectations for rational decisions. One such case concerns legal decision making from legal experts, such as attorneys and prosecutors and, more so, judges. In the present research we explore one of the most influential CPT decision fallacies, the conjunction fallacy (CF), in a legal decision making task, involving assessing evidence that the same suspect had committed two separate crimes. The information for the two crimes was presented consecutively. Each participant was asked to provide individual ratings for the two crimes in some cases and conjunctive probability rating for both crimes in other cases, after all information had been presented. Overall, 360 probability ratings for guilt were collected from 120 participants, comprised of 40 judges, 40 attorneys and prosecutors, and 40 individuals without legal education. Our results provide evidence for a double conjunction fallacy (in this case, a higher probability of committing both crimes than the probability of committing either crime individually), in the group of individuals without legal education. These results are discussed in terms of their applied implications and in relation to a recent framework for understanding such results, quantum probability theory (QPT).

Is There a Conjunction Fallacy in Legal Probabilistic Decision Making?

PubMed Central

Wojciechowski, Bartosz W.; Pothos, Emmanuel M.

2018-01-01

Classical probability theory (CPT) has represented the rational standard for decision making in human cognition. Even though CPT has provided many descriptively excellent decision models, there have also been some empirical results persistently problematic for CPT accounts. The tension between the normative prescription of CPT and human behavior is particularly acute in cases where we have higher expectations for rational decisions. One such case concerns legal decision making from legal experts, such as attorneys and prosecutors and, more so, judges. In the present research we explore one of the most influential CPT decision fallacies, the conjunction fallacy (CF), in a legal decision making task, involving assessing evidence that the same suspect had committed two separate crimes. The information for the two crimes was presented consecutively. Each participant was asked to provide individual ratings for the two crimes in some cases and conjunctive probability rating for both crimes in other cases, after all information had been presented. Overall, 360 probability ratings for guilt were collected from 120 participants, comprised of 40 judges, 40 attorneys and prosecutors, and 40 individuals without legal education. Our results provide evidence for a double conjunction fallacy (in this case, a higher probability of committing both crimes than the probability of committing either crime individually), in the group of individuals without legal education. These results are discussed in terms of their applied implications and in relation to a recent framework for understanding such results, quantum probability theory (QPT). PMID:29674983

Patient-centered communication, ratings of care, and concordance of patient and physician race.

PubMed

Cooper, Lisa A; Roter, Debra L; Johnson, Rachel L; Ford, Daniel E; Steinwachs, Donald M; Powe, Neil R

2003-12-02

African-American patients who visit physicians of the same race rate their medical visits as more satisfying and participatory than do those who see physicians of other races. Little research has investigated the communication process in race-concordant and race-discordant medical visits. To compare patient-physician communication in race-concordant and race-discordant visits and examine whether communication behaviors explain differences in patient ratings of satisfaction and participatory decision making. Cohort study with follow-up using previsit and postvisit surveys and audiotape analysis. 16 urban primary care practices. 252 adults (142 African-American patients and 110 white patients) receiving care from 31 physicians (of whom 18 were African-American and 13 were white). Audiotape measures of patient-centeredness, patient ratings of physicians' participatory decision-making styles, and overall satisfaction. Race-concordant visits were longer (2.15 minutes [95% CI, 0.60 to 3.71]) and had higher ratings of patient positive affect (0.55 point, [95% CI, 0.04 to 1.05]) compared with race-discordant visits. Patients in race-concordant visits were more satisfied and rated their physicians as more participatory (8.42 points [95% CI, 3.23 to 13.60]). Audiotape measures of patient-centered communication behaviors did not explain differences in participatory decision making or satisfaction between race-concordant and race-discordant visits. Race-concordant visits are longer and characterized by more patient positive affect. Previous studies link similar communication findings to continuity of care. The association between race concordance and higher patient ratings of care is independent of patient-centered communication, suggesting that other factors, such as patient and physician attitudes, may mediate the relationship. Until more evidence is available regarding the mechanisms of this relationship and the effectiveness of intercultural communication skills programs, increasing ethnic diversity among physicians may be the most direct strategy to improve health care experiences for members of ethnic minority groups.

Disclosure of Individual Surgeon's Performance Rates During Informed Consent

PubMed Central

Burger, Ingrid; Schill, Kathryn; Goodman, Steven

2007-01-01

Objective: The purpose of the paper is to examine the ethical arguments for and against disclosing surgeon-specific performance rates to patients during informed consent, and to examine the challenges that generating and using performance rates entail. Methods: Ethical, legal, and statistical theory is explored to approach the question of whether, when, and how surgeons should disclosure their personal performance rates to patients. The main ethical question addressed is what type of information surgeons owe their patients during informed consent. This question comprises 3 related, ethically relevant considerations that are explored in detail: 1) Does surgeon-specific performance information enhance patient decision-making? 2) Do patients want this type of information? 3) How do the potential benefits of disclosure balance against the risks? Results: Calculating individual performance measures requires tradeoffs and involves inherent uncertainty. There is a lack of evidence regarding whether patients want this information, whether it facilitates their decision-making for surgery, and how it is best communicated to them. Disclosure of personal performance rates during informed consent has the potential benefits of enhancing patient autonomy, improving patient decision-making, and improving quality of care. The major risks of disclosure include inaccurate and misleading performance rates, avoidance of high-risk cases, unjust damage to surgeon's reputations, and jeopardized patient trust. Conclusion: At this time, we think that, for most conditions, surgical procedures, and outcomes, the accuracy of surgeon- and patient-specific performance rates is illusory, obviating the ethical obligation to communicate them as part of the informed consent process. Nonetheless, the surgical profession has the duty to develop information systems that allow for performance to be evaluated to a high degree of accuracy. In the meantime, patients should be informed of the quantity of procedures their surgeons have performed, providing an idea of the surgeon's experience and qualitative idea of potential risk. PMID:17414595

Decision Making Methods in Space Economics and Systems Engineering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shishko, Robert

2006-01-01

This viewgraph presentation reviews various methods of decision making and the impact that they have on space economics and systems engineering. Some of the methods discussed are: Present Value and Internal Rate of Return (IRR); Cost-Benefit Analysis; Real Options; Cost-Effectiveness Analysis; Cost-Utility Analysis; Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT); and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).

Better marking means cheaper pruning.

Treesearch

Kenneth R. Eversole

1953-01-01

Careful selection of trees to be pruned can make the difference between profit and loss on the pruning investment, especially in stands where no thinning is contemplated. Expert marking is required to make sure that the pruned trees will grow rapidly. The most important variable influencing the cost of clear wood produced by pruning is growth rate. For example, at 3...

Providing and Funding Financial Literacy Programs for Low Income Adults and Youth. Strategy Brief

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Friedman, Pamela

2005-01-01

Making effective financial decisions and knowing how to manage money are skills critical to enjoying a secure financial future. Yet many individuals and families lack the knowledge necessary to make sound financial choices, as evidenced by falling savings rates, mounting consumer debt, and a growing dependence on alternative banking institutions.…

Finding Their Way on: Career Decision-Making Processes of Urban Science Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rinke, Carol R.

2009-01-01

This article reports on a research study investigating the career decision-making processes of urban science teachers as one element central to understanding the high rates of attrition in the field. Using a longitudinal, prospective, context- and subject-specific approach, this study followed the career decisions of case study teachers over a…

Using a model and forecasted weather to predict forage and livestock production for making stocking decisions in the coming growing season

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Forecasting peak standing crop (PSC) for the coming grazing season can help ranchers make appropriate stocking decisions to reduce enterprise risks. Previously developed PSC predictors were based on short-term experimental data (<15 yr) and limited stocking rates (SR) without including the effect of...

The Making Choices Program: Impact of Social-Emotional Skills Training on the Risk Status of Third Graders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fraser, Mark W.; Thompson, Aaron M.; Day, Steven H.; Macy, Rebecca J.

2014-01-01

The findings reported here describe the effects from a cohort-controlled trial of Making Choices (MC), a universal social-emotional skills training program. From teacher ratings, 688 third-grade students were classified into 4 risk profiles using measures of aggression, social competence, classroom concentration, and peer relations. High-risk…

Smoot Cosmology Group

Science.gov Websites

orbit around L2, the second Lagrange point of the Earth-Sun system, which is about 1.5 million orbits L2, it makes one rotation about the Sun per year. The spacecraft spin axis has to be rotated at the same rate in order to remain Sun pointed. This is achieved by making regular manoeuvres that will

Normative arguments from experts and peers reduce delay discounting.

PubMed

Senecal, Nicole; Wang, Teresa; Thompson, Elizabeth; Kable, Joseph W

2012-09-01

When making decisions that involve tradeoffs between the quality and timing of desirable outcomes, people consistently discount the value of future outcomes. A puzzling finding regarding such decisions is the extremely high rate at which people discount future monetary outcomes. Most economists would argue that decision-makers should only turn down rates of return that are lower than those available to them elsewhere. Yet the vast majority of studies find discount rates that are significantly higher than market interest rates (Frederick et al., 2002). Here we ask whether a lack of knowledge about the normative strategy can explain high discount rates. In an initial experiment, we find that nearly half of subjects do not spontaneously cite elements of the normative strategy when asked how people should make intertemporal monetary decisions. In two follow-up experiments, we find that after subjects read a "financial guide" detailing the normative strategy, discount rates declined by up to 85%, but were still higher than market interest rates. This decline persisted, though attenuated, for at least one month. In a final experiment, we find that peer-generated advice influences discount rates in a similar manner to "expert" advice, and that arguments focusing on normative considerations are at least as effective as others. These studies show that part of the explanation for high discount rates is a lack of knowledge regarding the normative strategy, and quantify how much discount rates are reduced in response to normative arguments. Given the high level of discounting that remains, however, there are other contributing factors to high discount rates that remain to be quantified.

Normative arguments from experts and peers reduce delay discounting

PubMed Central

Senecal, Nicole; Wang, Teresa; Thompson, Elizabeth; Kable, Joseph W

2013-01-01

When making decisions that involve tradeoffs between the quality and timing of desirable outcomes, people consistently discount the value of future outcomes. A puzzling finding regarding such decisions is the extremely high rate at which people discount future monetary outcomes. Most economists would argue that decision-makers should only turn down rates of return that are lower than those available to them elsewhere. Yet the vast majority of studies find discount rates that are significantly higher than market interest rates (Frederick et al., 2002). Here we ask whether a lack of knowledge about the normative strategy can explain high discount rates. In an initial experiment, we find that nearly half of subjects do not spontaneously cite elements of the normative strategy when asked how people should make intertemporal monetary decisions. In two follow-up experiments, we find that after subjects read a “financial guide” detailing the normative strategy, discount rates declined by up to 85%, but were still higher than market interest rates. This decline persisted, though attenuated, for at least one month. In a final experiment, we find that peer-generated advice influences discount rates in a similar manner to “expert” advice, and that arguments focusing on normative considerations are at least as effective as others. These studies show that part of the explanation for high discount rates is a lack of knowledge regarding the normative strategy, and quantify how much discount rates are reduced in response to normative arguments. Given the high level of discounting that remains, however, there are other contributing factors to high discount rates that remain to be quantified. PMID:23596504

Diagnosing Expertise: Human Capital, Decision Making, and Performance among Physicians

PubMed Central

Currie, Janet; MacLeod, W. Bentley

2017-01-01

Expert performance is often evaluated assuming that good experts have good outcomes. We examine expertise in medicine and develop a model that allows for two dimensions of physician performance: decision making and procedural skill. Better procedural skill increases the use of intensive procedures for everyone, while better decision making results in a reallocation of procedures from fewer low-risk to high-risk cases. We show that poor diagnosticians can be identified using administrative data and that improving decision making improves birth outcomes by reducing C-section rates at the bottom of the risk distribution and increasing them at the top of the distribution. PMID:29276336

Chinese immigrant parents' vaccination decision making for children: a qualitative analysis.

PubMed

Wang, Linda D L; Lam, Wendy W T; Wu, Joseph T; Liao, Qiuyan; Fielding, Richard

2014-02-07

While immunization coverage rates for childhood routine vaccines in Hong Kong are almost 100%, the uptake rates of optional vaccines remain suboptimal. Understanding parental decision-making for children's vaccination is important, particularly among minority groups who are most vulnerable and underserved. This study explored how a subsample of new immigrant mothers from mainland China, a rapidly-growing subpopulation in Hong Kong, made decisions on various childhood and adolescent vaccines for their offspring, and identified key influences affecting their decision making. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 23 Chinese new immigrant mothers recruited by purposive sampling. All interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and analyzed using a Grounded Theory approach. Participants' conversation revealed five underlying themes which influenced parents' vaccination decision-making: (1) Institutional factors, (2) Insufficient vaccination knowledge and advice, (3) Affective impacts on motivation, (4) Vaccination barriers, and (5) Social influences. The role of social norms appeared overwhelmingly salient influencing parents' vaccination decision making. Institutional factors shaped parent's perceptions of vaccination necessity. Fear of vaccine-targeted diseases was a key motivating factor for parents adopting vaccination. Insufficient knowledge about vaccines and targeted diseases, lack of advice from health professionals and, if provided, suspicions regarding the motivations for such advice were common issues. Vaccination cost was a major barrier for many new immigrant parents. Social norms play a key role influencing parental vaccination decision-making. Insight gained from this study will help inform healthcare providers in vaccination communication and policymakers in future vaccination programme.

A Social Ecology of Hyperactive Boys: Medication Effects in Structured Classroom Environments.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whalen, Carol K.; And Others

1979-01-01

Among the findings were that hyperactive Ss on placebo showed lower rates of task attention and higher rates of gross motor movement, regular and negative verbalization, noise making, physical contact, social initiation, and other responses than did normal Ss and hyperactive Ss on Ritalin. (Author/DLS)

Vanishing Black College Students?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malveaux, Julianne

2005-01-01

This article asserts low graduation rates, a lack of information for those who do graduate, and a perceived hostile environment on some campuses cut the college matriculation rates of African American students, making them an endangered species on some campuses. It discusses the root causes and effects of the low population of African American…

The arrhenius equation as means to simulate E. Coli survival in waters

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

E. coli is an important microorganism indicator used to show the presence of pathogens and fecal contamination in waters. Knowing E. coli survival rates is important for assessing the severity of contamination that has occurred and making appropriate management evaluations. E. coli survival rates ...

Principal Selection Decisions Made by Teachers: The Influence of Principal Candidate Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winter, Paul A.; Jaeger, Mary Grace

2004-01-01

Public school teachers (N = 189) role-played as members of school councils making principal selection decisions by rating simulated candidates for principal vacancies. The independent variables were principal candidate job experience, candidate person characteristics, and teacher school level. The dependent variable was teacher rating of the job…

Particulate Matter Emissions for Fires in the Palmetto-Gallberry Fuel Type

Treesearch

Darold E. Ward

1983-01-01

Fire management specialists in the southeastern United States needing guides for predicting or assessing particulate matter emission factors, emission rates, and heat release rate can use the models presented in this paper for making these predictions as a function of flame length in the palmetto-gallberry fuel type.

30 CFR 203.5 - What is MMS's authority to collect information?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS REVENUE MANAGEMENT RELIEF OR REDUCTION IN ROYALTY RATES General... 203, Relief or Reduction in Royalty Rates.” (b) The MMS collects this information to make decisions on the economic viability of leases requesting a suspension or elimination of royalty or net profit share...

Frequency and Intensity of Anxiety in University Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Janisse, Michel Pierre; Palys, T. S.

1976-01-01

One thousand and ninety-seven university students (455 males; 642 females) named, "...three situations that make you anxious..." and rated the intensity of the anxiety in each situation. Correlations between frequency of occurrence and rated intensity for situations named more than once were negligible for both sexes. The correlations…

Retirement Wealth, Income, and Decision Making in Higher Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewis, W. Cris

1996-01-01

Retirement programs for college faculty are evaluated in terms of both their wealth-creation attributes and the incentives they provide for retirement. Wealth accumulation and relative cash flow from working compared to retirement are evaluated at various ages under alternative assumptions about rates of return and contribution rates. The nature…

The Role of Measurement Interval in Rate of Improvement Calculation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Runge, Timothy J.; Bennyhoff, Caitlin F.; Ferchalk, Matthew R.; McCrea, Andrew E.

2017-01-01

Assessing a student's level and rate of improvement on an academic skill is a contemporary approach to the identification of specific learning disabilities. This approach, broadly categorized as responsiveness to intervention, however, does not obviate educators from scrutinizing the psychometric qualities of the data used to make important…

Entrepreneurship Education: Experiences in Selected Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bakar, Rosni; Islam, Md Aminul; Lee, Jocelyne

2015-01-01

Entrepreneurship and education play a role in enhancing the country's economic state. Entrepreneurship helps the economy by providing job opportunities. The lack of job opportunities has caused unemployment rates to increase tremendously throughout the years making the development rate of a country slow down. One way for the economy to improve is…

76 FR 53699 - Labor Surplus Area Classification Under Executive Orders 12073 and 10582

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-29

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration Labor Surplus Area Classification Under... estimates provided to ETA by the Bureau of Labor Statistics are used in making these classifications. The... classification criteria include a ``floor unemployment rate'' (6.0%) and a ``ceiling unemployment rate'' (10.0...

The Mystique of University Endowments.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kemeny, John G.

1983-01-01

Whether a university has a "balanced budget" is influenced by board decisions on investment, endowment utilization, and allocation of unrestricted gifts. One can only hope to protect endowment against inflation under economic conditions that make it possible to achieve a total return rate significantly higher than the rate of inflation.…

7 CFR 4280.311 - Loan provisions for Agency loans to microlenders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... administer by making and servicing microloans in one or more rural areas. (b) Eligible activities... the microlender's lending policies and procedures shall limit the microlender's loan to the... will accrue interest at a rate of 1 or 2 percent based on the ultimate interest rate on the loan...

7 CFR 4280.311 - Loan provisions for Agency loans to microlenders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... administer by making and servicing microloans in one or more rural areas. (b) Eligible activities... the microlender's lending policies and procedures shall limit the microlender's loan to the... will accrue interest at a rate of 1 or 2 percent based on the ultimate interest rate on the loan...

Black Male Graduation Rates in Community Colleges: Do Institutional Characteristics Make a Difference

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vasquez Urias, Marissa; Wood, J. Luke

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate Black male graduation rates in public two-year, degree-granting institutions. Specifically, the researchers were interested in determining the influence (if any) of select institutional characteristics (e.g., attendance intensity, degree of urbanization, geographic region, institutional size) on…

37 CFR 382.13 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees and statements of account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND THE REPRODUCTION OF EPHEMERAL RECORDINGS BY PREEXISTING SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES AND PREEXISTING SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES Preexisting Satellite Digital...

37 CFR 385.22 - Calculation of royalty payments in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR USE OF MUSICAL WORKS UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PHONORECORDS Limited Offerings, Mixed..., permanent digital download, ringtone) in accordance with the ratios that the standalone published prices of...

37 CFR 382.13 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees and statements of account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND THE REPRODUCTION OF EPHEMERAL RECORDINGS BY PREEXISTING SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES AND PREEXISTING SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES Preexisting Satellite Digital...

37 CFR 382.13 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees and statements of account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND THE REPRODUCTION OF EPHEMERAL RECORDINGS BY PREEXISTING SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES AND PREEXISTING SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES Preexisting Satellite Digital...

37 CFR 382.13 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees and statements of account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND THE REPRODUCTION OF EPHEMERAL RECORDINGS BY PREEXISTING SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES AND PREEXISTING SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES Preexisting Satellite Digital...

37 CFR 382.13 - Terms for making payment of royalty fees and statements of account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND THE REPRODUCTION OF EPHEMERAL RECORDINGS BY PREEXISTING SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES AND PREEXISTING SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES Preexisting Satellite Digital...

76 FR 590 - Adjustment or Determination of Compulsory License Rates for Making and Distributing Phonorecords

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-05

... LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Copyright Royalty Board [Docket No. 2011-3 CRB Phonorecords II] Adjustment or... Board, Library of Congress. ACTION: Notice announcing commencement of proceeding with request for... proceeding was captioned as ``DPRA'' (which stands for ``Digital Phonorecord Rate Adjustment''). Hereinafter...

Making the Grade

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stewart, Pearl

2012-01-01

At San Diego State University, retention and graduation rates garner national attention. The author discusses SDSU's intensive efforts to improve its graduation and retention rates and to close the achievement gap. San Diego State has been lauded nationally for its success on closing the achievement gap. An article titled "Walking the Walk on…

5 CFR 532.307 - Determinating whether a dominant industry exists in a wage area.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS Determining Rates for Principal Types of Positions... survey is conducted so that organizations and individuals may submit written recommendations and... opportunity to make such recommendations. (b)(1) Before conducting a full-scale wage survey an occupational...

The Relative Importance of Physician Communication, Participatory Decision Making, and Patient Understanding in Diabetes Self-management

PubMed Central

Heisler, Michele; Bouknight, Reynard R; Hayward, Rodney A; Smith, Dylan M; Kerr, Eve A

2002-01-01

OBJECTIVE Patients' self-management practices have substantial consequences on morbidity and mortality in diabetes. While the quality of patient-physician relations has been associated with improved health outcomes and functional status, little is known about the impact of different patient-physician interaction styles on patients' diabetes self-management. This study assessed the influence of patients' evaluation of their physicians' participatory decision-making style, rating of physician communication, and reported understanding of diabetes self-care on their self-reported diabetes management. DESIGN We surveyed 2,000 patients receiving diabetes care across 25 Veterans' Affairs facilities. We measured patients' evaluation of provider participatory decision making with a 4-item scale (Provider Participatory Decision-making Style [PDMstyle]; α = 0.96), rating of providers' communication with a 5-item scale (Provider Communication [PCOM]; α = 0.93), understanding of diabetes self-care with an 8-item scale (α = 0.90), and patients' completion of diabetes self-care activities (self-management) in 5 domains (α = 0.68). Using multivariable linear regression, we examined self-management with the independent associations of PDMstyle, PCOM, and Understanding. RESULTS Sixty-six percent of the sample completed the surveys (N = 1,314). Higher ratings in PDMstyle and PCOM were each associated with higher self-management assessments (P < .01 in all models). When modeled together, PCOM remained a significant independent predictor of self-management (standardized β: 0.18; P < .001), but PDMstyle became nonsignificant. Adding Understanding to the model diminished the unique effect of PCOM in predicting self-management (standardized β: 0.10; P = .004). Understanding was strongly and independently associated with self-management (standardized β: 0.25; P < .001). CONCLUSION For these patients, ratings of providers' communication effectiveness were more important than a participatory decision-making style in predicting diabetes self-management. Reported understanding of self-care behaviors was highly predictive of and attenuated the effect of both PDMstyle and PCOM on self-management, raising the possibility that both provider styles enhance self-management through increased patient understanding or self-confidence. PMID:11972720

Every Last Penny: Are You Using All of Your E-Rate Dollars? A Well-Equipped District Offers Tips on How to Make the Most of Your Award

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riley, Sheila

2006-01-01

In a time when districts are scraping for every penny, it seems almost unthinkable that they would let E-Rate funds get away. But the truth is, a lot of money is being left behind. In fact, districts' use of awarded E-rate funds declined from 80 percent in 2000 to 55 percent in 2004, according to E-Rate consulting firm Funds for Learning. Wise…

A framework for designing and analyzing binary decision-making strategies in cellular systems†

PubMed Central

Porter, Joshua R.; Andrews, Burton W.; Iglesias, Pablo A.

2015-01-01

Cells make many binary (all-or-nothing) decisions based on noisy signals gathered from their environment and processed through noisy decision-making pathways. Reducing the effect of noise to improve the fidelity of decision-making comes at the expense of increased complexity, creating a tradeoff between performance and metabolic cost. We present a framework based on rate distortion theory, a branch of information theory, to quantify this tradeoff and design binary decision-making strategies that balance low cost and accuracy in optimal ways. With this framework, we show that several observed behaviors of binary decision-making systems, including random strategies, hysteresis, and irreversibility, are optimal in an information-theoretic sense for various situations. This framework can also be used to quantify the goals around which a decision-making system is optimized and to evaluate the optimality of cellular decision-making systems by a fundamental information-theoretic criterion. As proof of concept, we use the framework to quantify the goals of the externally triggered apoptosis pathway. PMID:22370552

Modeling storms improves estimates of long-term shoreline change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frazer, L. Neil; Anderson, Tiffany R.; Fletcher, Charles H.

2009-10-01

Large storms make it difficult to extract the long-term trend of erosion or accretion from shoreline position data. Here we make storms part of the shoreline change model by means of a storm function. The data determine storm amplitudes and the rate at which the shoreline recovers from storms. Historical shoreline data are temporally sparse, and inclusion of all storms in one model over-fits the data, but a probability-weighted average model shows effects from all storms, illustrating how model averaging incorporates information from good models that might otherwise have been discarded as un-parsimonious. Data from Cotton Patch Hill, DE, yield a long-term shoreline loss rate of 0.49 ± 0.01 m/yr, about 16% less than published estimates. A minimum loss rate of 0.34 ± 0.01 m/yr is given by a model containing the 1929, 1962 and 1992 storms.

Position of women in the Ladiya society: demographic perspectives.

PubMed

Adak, Dipak Kumar; Bharati, Premananda

2011-06-01

Position of women has been assessed in terms of demographic perspectives among an offshoot population of a depressed class, namely the Ladiya of Pathariya Jat village of Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh, India. Fertility as well as infant mortality both is found to be considerably high among the womenfolk. It reveals that the Ladiya mothers opt for frequent child bearing in order to make up the loss due to infant mortality, despite the consequent risk of their health as well as survival. The present study, however, inferred that to improve overall status of the women, effort should be made to improve their level of educational attainment and increase their active participation in economic activities for better employment. This will help the women to have more autonomy in decision making to overcome the high rate of infant mortality and birth rate--as well as natural growth rate of the study population.

Attention in selective mutism--an exploratory case-control study.

PubMed

Oerbeck, Beate; Kristensen, Hanne

2008-01-01

The aim of the study was to explore the association between selective mutism (SM) and attention. In SM social anxiety seems central but language impairment and motor problems are also reported. Attention problems have been described in parental behavioral ratings, while neuropsychological studies are lacking. A neuropsychological test (the Trail Making Test) and parental ratings of attention- and anxiety problems were administered to a clinical sample of 23 children with SM (aged 7-16 years, 12 boys and 11 girls) and 46 non-referred matched controls. The SM group differed from controls on the Trail Making Test, but the group difference disappeared, when controlling for motor function and IQ. Parental ratings of attention problems were not significantly associated with the neuropsychological attention measure. Neuropsychological studies of attention controlled for IQ and motor function are needed as well as tests that measure different aspects of attention.

Effects of Cultural Assimilation in a Cross-Border M&A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ito, Satoshi; Tamiya, Toshihiko; Fujimura, Shuzo

2010-06-01

This paper examines a merger of two companies with respect to the assimilation of corporate culture differences, particularly quality culture. The study aims to clarify the root cause of declines in quality ratings from customers after a merger despite maintaining products and services as they were before the merger, and whether cultural differences affect decision-making in a newly merged company. Examination is reported of the relationship between actions taken to assimilate quality culture and the resulting quality ratings given by customers, and analyzed is the time required to address quality incidents and the progress of cultural assimilation. A total of 301 incidents in the 5 years after a merger were analyzed, focusing on the time required to resolve the incidents. These empirical analyses reveal that the extent of cultural assimilation is associated with the speed of organizational decision-making and affects the quality ratings given by customers.

Attitudes to the right- and left: frontal ERP asymmetries associated with stimulus valence and processing goals.

PubMed

Cunningham, William A; Espinet, Stacey D; DeYoung, Colin G; Zelazo, Philip David

2005-12-01

We used dense-array event-related potentials (ERP) to examine the time course and neural bases of evaluative processing. Participants made good vs. bad (evaluative) and abstract vs. concrete (nonevaluative) judgments of socially relevant concepts (e.g., "murder," "welfare"), and then rated all concepts for goodness and badness. Results revealed a late positive potential (LPP) beginning at about 475 ms post-stimulus and maximal over anterior sites. The LPP was lateralized (higher amplitude and shorter latency) on the right for concepts later rated bad, and on the left for concepts later rated good. Moreover, the degree of lateralization for the amplitude but not the latency was larger when participants were making evaluative judgments than when they were making nonevaluative judgments. These data are consistent with a model in which discrete regions of prefrontal cortex (PFC) are specialized for the evaluative processing of positive and negative stimuli.

Changes in the divorce rate and age distribution in China since the 1980s.

PubMed

Zeng, Y; Wu, D

1997-01-01

"The divorce rate in China during the 1980s was much higher than before for a number of reasons. In order to understand this phenomenon, the authors will make a comparison between the divorce rates, and the age and duration of the marriage at the time of divorce in the early 1980s and in the late 1980s and early 1990s." excerpt

Analysis of Undesignated Work

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-04-01

the other elements are allocated . PM/CM/FM and OUS hours are computed for each workcenter by applying productivity allowances and make-ready/put...BA trends Source: TFMMS. During the transitions (GENDET to rated and rated to PACT), SMEs worked together to allocate GENDET BA to ratings and...to allocate BA. SMEs, drawn from the Enlisted Community Managers, NAVMAC, PERs 4010, and N13, used empirical data from SME experience to select

Stochastic population dynamics under resource constraints

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

Gavane, Ajinkya S., E-mail: ajinkyagavane@gmail.com; Nigam, Rahul, E-mail: rahul.nigam@hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in

This paper investigates the population growth of a certain species in which every generation reproduces thrice over a period of predefined time, under certain constraints of resources needed for survival of population. We study the survival period of a species by randomizing the reproduction probabilities within a window at same predefined ages and the resources are being produced by the working force of the population at a variable rate. This randomness in the reproduction rate makes the population growth stochastic in nature and one cannot predict the exact form of evolution. Hence we study the growth by running simulations formore » such a population and taking an ensemble averaged over 500 to 5000 such simulations as per the need. While the population reproduces in a stochastic manner, we have implemented a constraint on the amount of resources available for the population. This is important to make the simulations more realistic. The rate of resource production then is tuned to find the rate which suits the survival of the species. We also compute the mean life time of the species corresponding to different resource production rate. Study for these outcomes in the parameter space defined by the reproduction probabilities and rate of resource production is carried out.« less

Attentional state modulates the effect of an irrelevant stimulus dimension on perception.

PubMed

Herrmann, Björn; Johnsrude, Ingrid S

2018-01-01

Covariations of acoustic features provide redundancy in rapidly changing soundscapes: Hearing one feature enables a listener to infer another if these 2 features normally covary. However, it is unknown whether situational demands affect the degree to which covariations influence perceptual inferences. We exploited a perceptual interdependency between modulation rate and frequency and examined, in 6 experiments, whether challenging situations would alter the degree to which people rely on frequency information to make decisions about modulation rate. Participants listened to amplitude-modulated (AM) sounds with modulation rates (∼5 Hz) either decreasing or increasing over time and identified the direction of the rate change. Participants were instructed to ignore carrier frequency, which either decreased or increased (∼1,300 Hz) over time. We observed that participants were more likely to perceive the modulation rate as slowing down when frequency decreased and as speeding up when frequency increased (AM-rate change illusion). The magnitude of the illusion increased when uninformative cues (compared with informative cues) prohibited regulation of attention to sounds, and under distraction introduced by a concurrent visual motion-tracking task. The evidence suggests that the attentional state affects how strongly people rely on featural covariations to make perceptual inferences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Investigation of Chemical Exchange at Intermediate Exchange Rates using a Combination of Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) and Spin-Locking methods (CESTrho)

PubMed Central

Kogan, Feliks; Singh, Anup; Cai, Keija; Haris, Mohammad; Hariharan, Hari; Reddy, Ravinder

2011-01-01

Proton exchange imaging is important as it allows for visualization and quantification of the distribution of specific metabolites with conventional MRI. Current exchange mediated MRI methods suffer from poor contrast as well as confounding factors that influence exchange rates. In this study we developed a new method to measure proton exchange which combines chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) and T1ρ magnetization preparation methods (CESTrho). We demonstrated that this new CESTrho sequence can detect proton exchange in the slow to intermediate exchange regimes. It has a linear dependence on proton concentration which allows it to be used to quantitatively measure changes in metabolite concentration. Additionally, the magnetization scheme of this new method can be customized to make it insensitive to changes in exchange rate while retaining its dependency on solute concentration. Finally, we showed the feasibility of using CESTrho in vivo. This sequence is able to detect proton exchange at intermediate exchange rates and is unaffected by the confounding factors that influence proton exchange rates thus making it ideal for the measurement of metabolites with exchangeable protons in this exchange regime. PMID:22009759

Predictors of outcome after treatment of mild traumatic brain injury: a pilot study.

PubMed

Leininger, Shelley; Strong, Carrie-Ann H; Donders, Jacobus

2014-01-01

To determine factors affecting outcome of comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation of individuals who sustained a mild traumatic brain injury. From a 4-year series of referrals, 49 nonconsecutive participants met criteria for mild traumatic brain injury (ie, loss of consciousness <30 minutes, Glasgow Coma Scale score >12). Outpatient, community-based postconcussion clinic at a rehabilitation hospital. Participants and therapy staff completed the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory-Fourth Edition (MPAI-4) at the initiation and conclusion of treatment. Participants were also administered the Trail Making Test at the start of treatment. Participants generally gave poorer adaptability ratings than staff at the beginning and discharge of treatment. Regression analyses revealed that after controlling for baseline ratings, psychiatric history was associated with worse participant-rated MPAI-4 Adjustment scores at treatment discharge, whereas better Trail Making Test Part B performance at initiation of treatment predicted better participant-rated MPAI-4 Ability at treatment discharge. Premorbid demographic and baseline neurocognitive factors should be taken into account prior to comprehensive treatment of mild traumatic brain injury, as they can influence long-term outcomes. Adaptability ratings from both staff and participants can be useful in gaining different perspectives and assessing factors affecting recovery.

Investigation of chemical exchange at intermediate exchange rates using a combination of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) and spin-locking methods (CESTrho).

PubMed

Kogan, Feliks; Singh, Anup; Cai, Keija; Haris, Mohammad; Hariharan, Hari; Reddy, Ravinder

2012-07-01

Proton exchange imaging is important as it allows for visualization and quantification of the distribution of specific metabolites with conventional MRI. Current exchange mediated MRI methods suffer from poor contrast as well as confounding factors that influence exchange rates. In this study we developed a new method to measure proton exchange which combines chemical exchange saturation transfer and T(1)(ρ) magnetization preparation methods (CESTrho). We demonstrated that this new CESTrho sequence can detect proton exchange in the slow to intermediate exchange regimes. It has a linear dependence on proton concentration which allows it to be used to quantitatively measure changes in metabolite concentration. Additionally, the magnetization scheme of this new method can be customized to make it insensitive to changes in exchange rate while retaining its dependency on solute concentration. Finally, we showed the feasibility of using CESTrho in vivo. This sequence is able to detect proton exchange at intermediate exchange rates and is unaffected by the confounding factors that influence proton exchange rates thus making it ideal for the measurement of metabolites with exchangeable protons in this exchange regime. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Measurement of flying and diving metabolic rate in wild animals: Review and recommendations.

PubMed

Elliott, Kyle H

2016-12-01

Animals' abilities to fly long distances and dive to profound depths fascinate earthbound researchers. Due to the difficulty of making direct measurements during flying and diving, many researchers resort to modeling so as to estimate metabolic rate during each of those activities in the wild, but those models can be inaccurate. Fortunately, the miniaturization, customization and commercialization of biologgers has allowed researchers to increasingly follow animals on their journeys, unravel some of their mysteries and test the accuracy of biomechanical models. I provide a review of the measurement of flying and diving metabolic rate in the wild, paying particular attention to mass loss, doubly-labelled water, heart rate and accelerometry. Biologgers can impact animal behavior and influence the very measurements they are designed to make, and I provide seven guidelines for the ethical use of biologgers. If biologgers are properly applied, quantification of metabolic rate across a range of species could produce robust allometric relationships that could then be generally applied. As measuring flying and diving metabolic rate in captivity is difficult, and often not directly translatable to field conditions, I suggest that applying multiple techniques in the field to reinforce one another may be a viable alternative. The coupling of multi-sensor biologgers with biomechanical modeling promises to improve precision in the measurement of flying and diving metabolic rate in wild animals. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Patient-centered Approach to Evaluate the Information Needs of Women With Ductal Carcinoma In Situ.

PubMed

Lo, Andrea C; Olson, Robert; Feldman-Stewart, Deb; Truong, Pauline T; Aquino-Parsons, Christina; Bottorff, Joan L; Carolan, Hannah

2017-12-01

To evaluate the information needs of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients. Four focus groups involving 24 previously treated DCIS patients were conducted to develop a comprehensive list of questions they felt were important to have answered at the time of diagnosis. Using a survey, a separate group of patients treated for DCIS then rated the importance of having each of these questions addressed before treatment decision making. Response options were "essential," "desired," "not important," "no opinion," and "avoid." For each essential/desired question, respondents specified how addressing it would help them: "understand," "decide," "plan," "not sure," or "other." Focus group participants generated 117 questions used in the survey. Fifty-seven patients completed the survey (55% response rate). Respondents rated a median of 66 questions as essential. The most commonly cited reason for rating a question essential was to "understand," followed by to "decide." The top questions women deemed essential to help them understand were disease specific, whereas the top questions deemed essential to help women decide were predominantly treatment specific, pertaining to available options, recurrence and survival outcomes, and timelines to decide and start treatment. DCIS patients want a large number of questions answered, mostly for understanding, and also for deciding and planning. A core set of questions that most patients consider essential for decision making has been formulated and may be used in the clinical setting and in research to develop educational resources and decision-making tools specific to DCIS.

Faculty Integration of Technology into Instruction and Students' Perceptions of Computer Technology to Improve Student Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keengwe, Jared

2007-01-01

There has been a remarkable improvement in access and rate of adoption of technology in higher education. Even so, reports indicate that faculty members are not integrating technology into instruction in ways that make a difference in student learning (Cuban, 2001; McCannon & Crews, 2000). To help faculty make informed decisions on student…

The Protective Role of Religious Coping in Adolescents' Responses to Poverty and Sexual Decision-Making in Rural Kenya

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Puffer, Eve S.; Watt, Melissa H.; Sikkema, Kathleen J.; Ogwang-Odhiambo, Rose A.; Broverman, Sherryl A.

2012-01-01

In this study, we explored how adolescents in rural Kenya apply religious coping in sexual decision-making in the context of high rates of poverty and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 adolescents. One-third (13) reported religious coping related to economic stress, HIV, or sexual…

"A Reversal of Fortune": Georgia Legislative Update 1992-2012

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sielke, Catherine C.

2011-01-01

In the 1990s, teachers' and other educators' salaries increased enough to make Georgia number one in salaries in the South and solidly in the Midwest across the nation. Since 2004, school districts have been trying to make do with much less as this recession continues to force more cuts. Georgia has a very high unemployment rate of 10.25%, a high…

48 CFR 252.216-7003 - Economic price adjustment-wage rates or material prices controlled by a foreign government.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Controlled by a Foreign Government (JUN 1997) (a) The Contractor represents that the prices set forth in this... revised by the government named in paragraph (a) of this clause, the Contracting Officer shall make an... set by the government named in paragraph (a) of this clause. The Contractor shall make available its...

48 CFR 252.216-7003 - Economic price adjustment-wage rates or material prices controlled by a foreign government.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Controlled by a Foreign Government (JUN 1997) (a) The Contractor represents that the prices set forth in this... revised by the government named in paragraph (a) of this clause, the Contracting Officer shall make an... set by the government named in paragraph (a) of this clause. The Contractor shall make available its...

Black Men: Left Out and Locked Up

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nealy, Michelle J.

2008-01-01

There are estimated 1.5 million Black men in prison and another 3.5 million on probation. Black males make up more than 70 percent of the total prison population, even though they make up only 6 percent of the U.S. Population. The alarming incarceration rates of Black men is not a new phenomenon, but one that has reverberated in news headlines and…

Productivity Assessment and Improvement Measurement of Decision Making Units--An Application for Ranking Cities in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hadad, Yossi; Keren, Baruch; Ben-Yair, Avner

2010-01-01

In this paper we will demonstrate how productivity and improvement rate of urban organizational units (called also Decision Making Units--DMUs) may be assessed when measured along several time periods. The assessment and subsequent ranking of cities is achieved by means of the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology to determine DMU's…

78 FR 25515 - Order Making Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Adjustments to Transaction Fee Rates

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-01

... appropriation for fiscal year 2013. To make the adjustment, the Commission must project the aggregate dollar....0102 and [sigma] = 0.122, respectively. 4. Assume that the natural logarithm of ADS follows a random... given by exp ([mu] + [sigma]\\2\\/2), or on average ADS t = 1.0178 x ADS t-1 . 6. For March 2013, this...

Financial decision-making abilities and financial exploitation in older African Americans: Preliminary validity evidence for the Lichtenberg Financial Decision Rating Scale (LFDRS).

PubMed

Lichtenberg, Peter A; Ficker, Lisa J; Rahman-Filipiak, Annalise

2016-01-01

This study examines preliminary evidence for the Lichtenberg Financial Decision Rating Scale (LFDRS), a new person-centered approach to assessing capacity to make financial decisions, and its relationship to self-reported cases of financial exploitation in 69 older African Americans. More than one third of individuals reporting financial exploitation also had questionable decisional abilities. Overall, decisional ability score and current decision total were significantly associated with cognitive screening test and financial ability scores, demonstrating good criterion validity. Study findings suggest that impaired decisional abilities may render older adults more vulnerable to financial exploitation, and that the LFDRS is a valid tool.

Seasonality in communication and collective decision-making in ants.

PubMed

Stroeymeyt, N; Jordan, C; Mayer, G; Hovsepian, S; Giurfa, M; Franks, N R

2014-04-07

The ability of animals to adjust their behaviour according to seasonal changes in their ecology is crucial for their fitness. Eusocial insects display strong collective behavioural seasonality, yet the mechanisms underlying such changes are poorly understood. We show that nest preference by emigrating Temnothorax albipennis ant colonies is influenced by a season-specific modulatory pheromone that may help tune decision-making according to seasonal constraints. The modulatory pheromone triggers aversion towards low-quality nests and enhances colony cohesion in summer and autumn, but not after overwintering-in agreement with reports that field colonies split in spring and reunite in summer. Interestingly, we show that the pheromone acts by downgrading the perceived value of marked nests by informed and naive individuals. This contrasts with theories of collective intelligence, stating that accurate collective decision-making requires independent evaluation of options by individuals. The violation of independence highlighted here was accordingly shown to increase error rate during emigrations. However, this is counterbalanced by enhanced cohesion and the transmission of valuable information through the colony. Our results support recent claims that optimal decisions are not necessarily those that maximize accuracy. Other criteria-such as cohesion or reward rate-may be more relevant in animal decision-making.

Subjective costs drive overly patient foraging strategies in rats on an intertemporal foraging task.

PubMed

Wikenheiser, Andrew M; Stephens, David W; Redish, A David

2013-05-14

Laboratory studies of decision making often take the form of two-alternative, forced-choice paradigms. In natural settings, however, many decision problems arise as stay/go choices. We designed a foraging task to test intertemporal decision making in rats via stay/go decisions. Subjects did not follow the rate-maximizing strategy of choosing only food items associated with short delays. Instead, rats were often willing to wait for surprisingly long periods, and consequently earned a lower rate of food intake than they might have by ignoring long-delay options. We tested whether foraging theory or delay discounting models predicted the behavior we observed but found that these models could not account for the strategies subjects selected. Subjects' behavior was well accounted for by a model that incorporated a cost for rejecting potential food items. Interestingly, subjects' cost sensitivity was proportional to environmental richness. These findings are at odds with traditional normative accounts of decision making but are consistent with retrospective considerations having a deleterious influence on decisions (as in the "sunk-cost" effect). More broadly, these findings highlight the utility of complementing existing assays of decision making with tasks that mimic more natural decision topologies.

Subjective costs drive overly patient foraging strategies in rats on an intertemporal foraging task

PubMed Central

Wikenheiser, Andrew M.; Stephens, David W.; Redish, A. David

2013-01-01

Laboratory studies of decision making often take the form of two-alternative, forced-choice paradigms. In natural settings, however, many decision problems arise as stay/go choices. We designed a foraging task to test intertemporal decision making in rats via stay/go decisions. Subjects did not follow the rate-maximizing strategy of choosing only food items associated with short delays. Instead, rats were often willing to wait for surprisingly long periods, and consequently earned a lower rate of food intake than they might have by ignoring long-delay options. We tested whether foraging theory or delay discounting models predicted the behavior we observed but found that these models could not account for the strategies subjects selected. Subjects’ behavior was well accounted for by a model that incorporated a cost for rejecting potential food items. Interestingly, subjects’ cost sensitivity was proportional to environmental richness. These findings are at odds with traditional normative accounts of decision making but are consistent with retrospective considerations having a deleterious influence on decisions (as in the “sunk-cost” effect). More broadly, these findings highlight the utility of complementing existing assays of decision making with tasks that mimic more natural decision topologies. PMID:23630289

The Medication Recommendation Tracking Form: a novel tool for tracking changes in prescribed medication, clinical decision making, and use in comparative effectiveness research.

PubMed

Reilly-Harrington, Noreen A; Sylvia, Louisa G; Leon, Andrew C; Shesler, Leah W; Ketter, Terence A; Bowden, Charles L; Calabrese, Joseph R; Friedman, Edward S; Ostacher, Michael J; Iosifescu, Dan V; Rabideau, Dustin J; Thase, Michael E; Nierenberg, Andrew A

2013-11-01

This paper describes the development and use of the Medication Recommendation Tracking Form (MRTF), a novel method for capturing physician prescribing behavior and clinical decision making. The Bipolar Trials Network developed and implemented the MRTF in a comparative effectiveness study for bipolar disorder (LiTMUS). The MRTF was used to assess the frequency, types, and reasons for medication adjustments. Changes in treatment were operationalized by the metric Necessary Clinical Adjustments (NCA), defined as medication adjustments to reduce symptoms, optimize treatment response and functioning, or to address intolerable side effects. Randomized treatment groups did not differ in rates of NCAs, however, responders had significantly fewer NCAs than non-responders. Patients who had more NCAs during their previous visit had significantly lower odds of responding at the current visit. For each one-unit increase in previous CGI-BP depression score and CGI-BP overall severity score, patients had an increased NCA rate of 13% and 15%, respectively at the present visit. Ten-unit increases in previous Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) scores resulted in an 18% and 14% increase in rates of NCAs, respectively. Patients with fewer NCAs had increased quality of life and decreased functional impairment. The MRTF standardizes the reporting and rationale for medication adjustments and provides an innovative metric for clinical effectiveness. As the first tool in psychiatry to track the types and reasons for medication changes, it has important implications for training new clinicians and examining clinical decision making. (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00667745). Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Making electronic prescribing alerts more effective: scenario-based experimental study in junior doctors

PubMed Central

Shah, Priya; Wyatt, Jeremy C; Makubate, Boikanyo; Cross, Frank W

2011-01-01

Objective Expert authorities recommend clinical decision support systems to reduce prescribing error rates, yet large numbers of insignificant on-screen alerts presented in modal dialog boxes persistently interrupt clinicians, limiting the effectiveness of these systems. This study compared the impact of modal and non-modal electronic (e-) prescribing alerts on prescribing error rates, to help inform the design of clinical decision support systems. Design A randomized study of 24 junior doctors each performing 30 simulated prescribing tasks in random order with a prototype e-prescribing system. Using a within-participant design, doctors were randomized to be shown one of three types of e-prescribing alert (modal, non-modal, no alert) during each prescribing task. Measurements The main outcome measure was prescribing error rate. Structured interviews were performed to elicit participants' preferences for the prescribing alerts and their views on clinical decision support systems. Results Participants exposed to modal alerts were 11.6 times less likely to make a prescribing error than those not shown an alert (OR 11.56, 95% CI 6.00 to 22.26). Those shown a non-modal alert were 3.2 times less likely to make a prescribing error (OR 3.18, 95% CI 1.91 to 5.30) than those not shown an alert. The error rate with non-modal alerts was 3.6 times higher than with modal alerts (95% CI 1.88 to 7.04). Conclusions Both kinds of e-prescribing alerts significantly reduced prescribing error rates, but modal alerts were over three times more effective than non-modal alerts. This study provides new evidence about the relative effects of modal and non-modal alerts on prescribing outcomes. PMID:21836158

Dynamic fluctuations in dopamine efflux in the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens during risk-based decision making.

PubMed

St Onge, Jennifer R; Ahn, Soyon; Phillips, Anthony G; Floresco, Stan B

2012-11-21

Mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) has been implicated in cost/benefit decision making about risks and rewards. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) are two DA terminal regions that contribute to decision making in distinct manners. However, how fluctuations of tonic DA levels may relate to different aspects of decision making remains to be determined. The present study measured DA efflux in the PFC and NAc with microdialysis in well trained rats performing a probabilistic discounting task. Selection of a small/certain option always delivered one pellet, whereas another, large/risky option yielded four pellets, with probabilities that decreased (100-12.5%) or increased (12.5-100%) across four blocks of trials. Yoked-reward groups were also included to control for reward delivery. PFC DA efflux during decision making decreased or increased over a session, corresponding to changes in large/risky reward probabilities. Similar profiles were observed from yoked-rewarded rats, suggesting that fluctuations in PFC DA reflect changes in the relative rate of reward received. NAc DA efflux also showed decreasing/increasing trends over the session during both tasks. However, DA efflux was higher during decision making on free- versus forced-choice trials and during periods of greater reward uncertainty. Moreover, changes in NAc DA closely tracked shifts in choice biases. These data reveal dynamic and dissociable fluctuations in PFC and NAc DA transmission associated with different aspects of risk-based decision making. PFC DA may signal changes in reward availability that facilitates modification of choice biases, whereas NAc DA encodes integrated signals about reward rates, uncertainty, and choice, reflecting implementation of decision policies.

Mapping the Decision-Making Process for Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer: The Role of Decisional Resolve.

PubMed

Beryl, Louise L; Rendle, Katharine A S; Halley, Meghan C; Gillespie, Katherine A; May, Suepattra G; Glover, Jennifer; Yu, Peter; Chattopadhyay, Runi; Frosch, Dominick L

2017-01-01

Studies show adjuvant endocrine therapy increases survival and decreases risk of breast cancer recurrence for hormone receptor-positive tumors. Yet studies also suggest that adherence rates among women taking this therapy may be as low as 50% owing largely to adverse side effects. Despite these rates, research on longitudinal patient decision making regarding this therapy is scant. We sought to map the decision-making process for women considering and initiating adjuvant endocrine therapy, paying particular attention to patterns of uncertainty and decisional change over time. A longitudinal series of semistructured interviews conducted at a multispecialty health care organization in Northern California with 35 newly diagnosed patients eligible for adjuvant endocrine therapy were analyzed. Analysis led to the identification and indexing of 3 new decision-making constructs-decisional phase, decisional direction, and decisional resolve-which were then organized using a visual matrix and examined for patterns characterizing the decision-making process. Our data reveal that most patients do not make a single, discrete decision to take or not take hormone therapy but rather traverse multiple decisional states, characterized by 1) phase, 2) direction, and 3) strength of resolve. Our analysis tracks these decisional states longitudinally using a grayscale-coded matrix. Our data show that decisional resolve wavers not just when considering therapy, as the existing concept of decisional conflict suggests, but even after initiating it, which may signal future decisions to forgo therapy. Adjuvant endocrine therapy, like other chronic care decisions, has a longer decision-making process and implementation period. Thus, theoretical, empirical, and clinical approaches should consider further exploring the new concept and measurement of decisional resolve, as it may help to improve subsequent medication adherence. © The Author(s) 2016.

Trial outcomes and information for clinical decision-making: a comparative study of opinions of health professionals.

PubMed

McNair, Angus G K; Brookes, Sara T; Whistance, Robert N; Forsythe, Rachael O; Macefield, Rhiannon; Rees, Jonathan; Jones, James; Smith, George; Pullyblank, Anne M; Avery, Kerry N L; Thomas, Michael G; Sylvester, Paul A; Russell, Anne; Oliver, Alfred; Morton, Dion; Kennedy, Robin; Jayne, David G; Huxtable, Richard; Hackett, Rowland; Dutton, Susan J; Coleman, Mark G; Card, Mia; Brown, Julia; Blazeby, Jane M

2016-07-25

Trials are robust sources of data for clinical practice; however, trial outcomes may not reflect what is important to communicate for decision-making. The study compared clinicians' views of outcomes to include in a core outcome set for colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery, with what clinicians considered important information for clinical practice (core information). Potential outcome/information domains were identified through systematic literature reviews, reviews of hospital information leaflets and interviews with patients. These were organized into six categories and used to design a questionnaire survey that asked surgeons and nurses from a sample of CRC centers to rate the importance of each domain as an outcome or as information on a nine-point Likert scale. Respondents were re-surveyed (round 2) following group feedback (Delphi methods). Comparisons were made by calculating the difference in mean scores between the outcomes and information domains, and paired t tests were used to explore the difference between mean scores of the six outcome/information categories. Data sources identified 1216 outcome/information items for CRC surgery that informed a 94-item questionnaire. First-round questionnaires were returned from 63/81 (78 %) of centers. Clinicians rated 76/94 (84 %) domains of higher importance to measure in trials than information to communicate to patients in round 1. This was reduced to 24/47 (51 %) in round 2. The greatest difference was evident in domains regarding survival, which was rated much more highly as a trial outcome than an important piece of information for decision-making (difference in mean 2.3, 95 % CI 1.9 to 2.8, p <0.0001). Specific complications and quality-of-life domains were rated similarly (difference in mean 0.18, 95 % CI -0.1 to 0.4, p = 0.2 and difference in mean 0.2, 95 % CI -0.1 to 0.5, p = 0.2, respectively). Whilst clinicians want to measure key outcomes in trials, they rate these as less important to communicate in decision-making with patients. This discrepancy needs to be explored and addressed to maximize the impact of trials on clinical practice.

Altered economic decision-making in abstinent heroin addicts: Evidence from the ultimatum game.

PubMed

Hou, Yu; Zhao, Liyan; Yao, Qi; Ding, Lixiang

2016-08-03

The development and persistence of drug addiction has been suggested to involve decision-making deficits. The Ultimatum Game is a widely used economic decision-making paradigm that illustrates the tension between financial self-interest and fairness motives. The behavior of responders in the Ultimatum Game has been associated with emotional reactions and cognitive control abilities, both of which are dysregulated in drug addicts. In this study, we investigated whether this economic decision-making process that involves considerations of social norms is affected by heroin addiction. Heroin addicts (n=17) and demographically matched healthy control subjects (n=18) were recruited to play the part of responders in the Ultimatum Game, during which they decided to accept or reject the monetary offers proposed by strangers. The offers were manipulated by varying the stake sizes and fairness scales. The rejection rates of all of the offer categories, response times, fairness judgments, and impulsivity were compared between heroin addicts and healthy controls. Compared with healthy subjects, the rejection rates of most unfair offers in the Ultimatum Game were significantly higher under low-offer-size conditions among heroin addicts. In contrast, the most unfair offers were more likely to be accepted by heroin addicts in the high-offer-size condition than by healthy subjects. The ratings of unfairness were equal in both conditions although the rejection rates were different. Heroin addicts had higher scores on BIS attentional/cognitive impulsivity and non-planning impulsivity, but not in motor impulsivity. Rejection rates to most unfair offers under low-offer-size conditions significantly correlated with score on BIS non-planning impulsivity and total score of impulsivity. Heroin addicts differentially responded under different stake-level conditions in the Ultimatum Game, with emotional impulses in low-offer-size conditions and selfish motives in the face of high monetary reward. These findings indicate that Ultimatum Game may be associated with heroin addiction and provide a productive new target for enhancing treatment for heroin addiction. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

The attitude-behavior discrepancy in medical decision making.

PubMed

He, Fei; Li, Dongdong; Cao, Rong; Zeng, Juli; Guan, Hao

2014-12-01

In medical practice, the dissatisfaction of patients about medical decisions made by doctors is often regarded as the fuse of doctor-patient conflict. However, a few studies have looked at why there are such dissatisfactions. This experimental study aimed to explore the discrepancy between attitude and behavior within medical situations and its interaction with framing description. A total of 450 clinical undergraduates were randomly assigned to six groups and investigated using the classic medical decision making problem, which was described either in a positive or a negative frame (2) × decision making behavior\\attitude to risky plan\\attitude to conservative plan (3). A discrepancy between attitude and behavior did exist in medical situations. Regarding medical dilemmas, if the mortality rate was described, subjects had a significant tendency to choose a conservative plan (t = 3.55, P < 0.01) yet if the survival rate was described, there was no such preference (t = -1.48, P > 0.05). However, regardless of the plan chosen by the doctor, the subjects had a significant opposing attitude (P < .05). Framing description had a significant impact on both decision making behavior and attitude (t behavior = -3.24, P < 0.01；t attitude to surgery = 4.08，P < 0.01；t attitude to radiation = -2.15，P < 0.05). A discrepancy of attitude-behavior does exist in medical situations. The framing of a description has an impact on medical decision-making.

How attention influences perceptual decision making: Single-trial EEG correlates of drift-diffusion model parameters

PubMed Central

Nunez, Michael D.; Vandekerckhove, Joachim; Srinivasan, Ramesh

2016-01-01

Perceptual decision making can be accounted for by drift-diffusion models, a class of decision-making models that assume a stochastic accumulation of evidence on each trial. Fitting response time and accuracy to a drift-diffusion model produces evidence accumulation rate and non-decision time parameter estimates that reflect cognitive processes. Our goal is to elucidate the effect of attention on visual decision making. In this study, we show that measures of attention obtained from simultaneous EEG recordings can explain per-trial evidence accumulation rates and perceptual preprocessing times during a visual decision making task. Models assuming linear relationships between diffusion model parameters and EEG measures as external inputs were fit in a single step in a hierarchical Bayesian framework. The EEG measures were features of the evoked potential (EP) to the onset of a masking noise and the onset of a task-relevant signal stimulus. Single-trial evoked EEG responses, P200s to the onsets of visual noise and N200s to the onsets of visual signal, explain single-trial evidence accumulation and preprocessing times. Within-trial evidence accumulation variance was not found to be influenced by attention to the signal or noise. Single-trial measures of attention lead to better out-of-sample predictions of accuracy and correct reaction time distributions for individual subjects. PMID:28435173

How attention influences perceptual decision making: Single-trial EEG correlates of drift-diffusion model parameters.

PubMed

Nunez, Michael D; Vandekerckhove, Joachim; Srinivasan, Ramesh

2017-02-01

Perceptual decision making can be accounted for by drift-diffusion models, a class of decision-making models that assume a stochastic accumulation of evidence on each trial. Fitting response time and accuracy to a drift-diffusion model produces evidence accumulation rate and non-decision time parameter estimates that reflect cognitive processes. Our goal is to elucidate the effect of attention on visual decision making. In this study, we show that measures of attention obtained from simultaneous EEG recordings can explain per-trial evidence accumulation rates and perceptual preprocessing times during a visual decision making task. Models assuming linear relationships between diffusion model parameters and EEG measures as external inputs were fit in a single step in a hierarchical Bayesian framework. The EEG measures were features of the evoked potential (EP) to the onset of a masking noise and the onset of a task-relevant signal stimulus. Single-trial evoked EEG responses, P200s to the onsets of visual noise and N200s to the onsets of visual signal, explain single-trial evidence accumulation and preprocessing times. Within-trial evidence accumulation variance was not found to be influenced by attention to the signal or noise. Single-trial measures of attention lead to better out-of-sample predictions of accuracy and correct reaction time distributions for individual subjects.

Changing Teacher Preparation for California's Changing Secondary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farnan, Nancy; Hudis, Paula M.; LaPlante, Arlene

2014-01-01

In this article, the authors describe how one group of California teacher educators has responded to the call for high school dropout rates with new thinking and action in regard to making teacher preparation a key strategy for reducing the dropout rates, raising student academic achievement, and eliminating the pervasive inequities in learning…

10 CFR 1004.9 - Fees for providing records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... inform requesters of the procedures to obtain records from those sources. (1) Manual searches for records. Whenever feasible, the DOE will charge for manual searches for records at the salary rate(s) (i.e. basic pay plus 16 percent) of the employee(s) making the search. (2) Computer searches for records. The DOE...

10 CFR 1004.9 - Fees for providing records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... inform requesters of the procedures to obtain records from those sources. (1) Manual searches for records. Whenever feasible, the DOE will charge for manual searches for records at the salary rate(s) (i.e. basic pay plus 16 percent) of the employee(s) making the search. (2) Computer searches for records. The DOE...

10 CFR 1004.9 - Fees for providing records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... inform requesters of the procedures to obtain records from those sources. (1) Manual searches for records. Whenever feasible, the DOE will charge for manual searches for records at the salary rate(s) (i.e. basic pay plus 16 percent) of the employee(s) making the search. (2) Computer searches for records. The DOE...

Pair Comparison Study of the Relevance of Nine Basic Science Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spilman, Edra L.; Spilman, Helen W.

1975-01-01

Reports a survey study in which basic science courses were rated according to relevance. Notes approaches for making the anatomy disciplines more relevant because results showed them of lowest relevancy compared with physiology, pathology, and pharmacology which were rated of highest relevance and with biochemistry and microbiology which fell…

77 FR 57990 - Interest Rate Risk Policy and Program

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-19

... NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 12 CFR Part 741 RIN 3133-AD66 Interest Rate Risk Policy and Program Correction In rule document 2012-02091, appearing on pages 55155-5167 in the issue of Thursday, February 2, 2012, make the following corrections: 1. On page 5157, in the second column, in the first line...

Making Long-Lasting Changes with the Environment Rating Scales

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harms, Thelma

2010-01-01

An assessment with the Environment Rating Scales (ERS) is designed to give early childhood administrators and teaching staff much more than a set of quality scores. Appropriately used, an ERS assessment can provide a blueprint for planning and carrying out both immediate and long-range program improvements. Unfortunately, programs often complete…

Extreme Vertical Gusts in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-07-01

significant effect on the statistics of the rare, extreme gusts. In the lowest 5,000 ft, boundary layer effects make small to moderate vertical...4 2.4 Effects of Gust Shape ............................................................................................... 5... Definitions Adiabatic Lapse Rate The rate of change of temperature with altitude that would occur if a parcel of air was transported sufficiently

77 FR 48045 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Disqualified Recipient Reporting and Computer Matching...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-13

... false positive match rate of 10 percent. Making the match mandatory for the States who did not perform... number of prisoners from 1995 to 2013 and assumed a 10 percent false positive match rate. Finally, we... matches are false positives. We estimate that mandatory matches at certification will identify an...

ACDOS2: an improved neutron-induced dose rate code

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

Lagache, J.C.

1981-06-01

To calculate the expected dose rate from fusion reactors as a function of geometry, composition, and time after shutdown a computer code, ACDOS2, was written, which utilizes up-to-date libraries of cross-sections and radioisotope decay data. ACDOS2 is in ANSI FORTRAN IV, in order to make it readily adaptable elsewhere.

Suicides in the Developing World: Case Study from Pakistan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khan, Murad Moosa; Hyder, Adnan Ali

2006-01-01

There are no official data on suicide from Pakistan, a conservative South Asian Islamic country with traditionally low suicide rates. Both suicide and attempted suicide are illegal acts, as well as socially and religiously condemned, making research in this area difficult. Recent reports suggest an increase in suicide rates. In this study, police…

Internal Consistency and Cross-Informant Agreement of the Lithuanian-Translated Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sointu, Erkko T.; Geležiniene, Renata; Lambert, Matthew C.; Nordness, Philip D.

2015-01-01

Educational professionals need assessments that yield psychometrically sound scores to assess students' behavioral and emotional functioning in order to guide data-driven decision-making processes. Rating scales have been found to be effective and economical, and often multiple informant perspectives can be obtained. The agreement between multiple…

Teacher Induction in Australia: A Sample of What's Really Happening

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hudson, Sue; Beutel, Denise; Hudson, Peter

2009-01-01

Retention rates and stress levels of beginning teachers are of concern. Well-planned induction programs can assist beginning teachers to make the transition successfully into the profession, which may increase retention rates. This qualitative, year-long study aims to explore and describe the induction experiences of eight beginning teachers as…

7 CFR 1717.304 - State regulatory authority rate jurisdiction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... GUARANTEED ELECTRIC LOANS Federal Pre-emption in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717... terms of the RUS wholesale power contract or other RUS documents may be subject to the approval of a state regulatory authority, the power supply borrower shall seek such required approval in a timely...

7 CFR 1717.304 - State regulatory authority rate jurisdiction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... GUARANTEED ELECTRIC LOANS Federal Pre-emption in Rate Making in Connection With Power Supply Borrowers § 1717... terms of the RUS wholesale power contract or other RUS documents may be subject to the approval of a state regulatory authority, the power supply borrower shall seek such required approval in a timely...

18 CFR 35.3 - Notice requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY REGULATIONS UNDER THE FEDERAL POWER ACT FILING OF RATE SCHEDULES AND TARIFFS Application... thereof shall be tendered for filing with the Commission and posted not less than sixty days nor more than... effective under an initial rate schedule or tariff or the date on which the filing party proposes to make...

12 CFR 617.7115 - How should a qualified lender disclose loan origination charges?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... BORROWER RIGHTS Disclosure of Effective Interest Rates § 617.7115 How should a qualified lender disclose... for making a loan must be included in the effective interest rate as a loan origination charge. These include, but are not limited to, loan origination fees, application fees, and conversion fees. Loan...

37 CFR 382.12 - Royalty fees for the public performance of sound recordings and the making of ephemeral recordings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND THE REPRODUCTION OF EPHEMERAL RECORDINGS BY PREEXISTING SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES AND PREEXISTING SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES...

37 CFR 382.12 - Royalty fees for the public performance of sound recordings and the making of ephemeral recordings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND THE REPRODUCTION OF EPHEMERAL RECORDINGS BY PREEXISTING SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES AND PREEXISTING SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES...

37 CFR 382.12 - Royalty fees for the public performance of sound recordings and the making of ephemeral recordings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND THE REPRODUCTION OF EPHEMERAL RECORDINGS BY PREEXISTING SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES AND PREEXISTING SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES...

37 CFR 382.12 - Royalty fees for the public performance of sound recordings and the making of ephemeral recordings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND THE REPRODUCTION OF EPHEMERAL RECORDINGS BY PREEXISTING SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES AND PREEXISTING SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES...

37 CFR 382.12 - Royalty fees for the public performance of sound recordings and the making of ephemeral recordings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND THE REPRODUCTION OF EPHEMERAL RECORDINGS BY PREEXISTING SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES AND PREEXISTING SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES...

A Quantitative Study: Enhancing the Productivity of the Emotionally Challenged High School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mammen, John

2013-01-01

This quantitative, causal-comparative study examined the degree of influence the parent teacher relationship can make on the grade point averages and graduation rates of students in an alternative school setting. Findings of this study revealed that the active parent teacher communication had direct relationship with the success rate of…

5 CFR 532.237 - Review by the local wage survey committee.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... REGULATIONS PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS Prevailing Rate Determinations § 532.237 Review by the local wage survey... to the lead agency together with a report of its recommendations concerning the use of the data. The local wage survey committee may make any other recommendations concerning the wage survey which it...

Making Sense of Disparities in Mathematics Remediation: What Is the Role of Student Retention?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bahr, Peter Riley

2011-01-01

Recent research on mathematics remediation in community colleges indicates that there are large differences in the rate of successful remediation between students of differing levels of initial math deficiency. One might presume that these "skill gaps" in successful remediation are a result of differing rates of student retention. That…

Gender as a moderator in predicting re-arrest among treated drug-involved offenders.

PubMed

Yang, Yang; Knight, Kevin; Joe, George W; Rowan, Grace A; Lehman, Wayne E K; Flynn, Patrick M

2015-02-01

The primary aim of the current study is to explore gender differences on the relationships of pre-treatment risk factors and psychosocial functioning with time to re-arrest following termination from prison. The sample consisted of 384 males and 313 females who were admitted to four prison-based substance abuse treatment programs. Results showed that female inmates experienced a longer time to re-arrest than male inmates. Higher self-reported ratings of decision making confidence and peer support were associated with a lower likelihood of re-arrest for males. Males with higher self-esteem ratings were more likely to be re-arrested than males who reported lower self-esteem. Females with more self-reported criminal involvement had a higher rate of re-arrest than did those with less criminal involvement. In contrast to males, females with relatively high self-reported self-esteem had a lower rate of re-arrest than their counterparts who reported low self-esteem. Clinical implications include the importance of enhancing decision-making confidence and peer support for males and self-esteem for females. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Supplemental Coverage Associated With More Rapid Spending Growth For Medicare Beneficiaries

PubMed Central

Golberstein, Ezra; Walsh, Kayo; He, Yulei; Chernew, Michael E.

2013-01-01

Lowering both Medicare spending and the rate of Medicare spending growth is important for the nation’s fiscal health. Policy makers in search of ways to achieve these reductions have looked at the role that supplemental coverage for Medicare beneficiaries plays in Medicare spending. Supplemental coverage makes health care more affordable for beneficiaries but also makes beneficiaries insensitive to the cost of their care, thereby increasing the demand for care. Ours is the first empirical study to investigate whether supplemental Medicare coverage is associated with higher rates of spending growth over time. We found that supplemental insurance coverage was associated with significantly higher rates of overall spending growth. Specifically, employer-sponsored and self-purchased supplemental coverage were associated with annual total spending growth rates of 7.17 percent and 7.18 percent, respectively, compared to 6.08 percent annual growth for beneficiaries without supplemental coverage. Results for Medicare program spending were more equivocal, however. Our results are consistent with the belief that current trends away from generous employer-sponsored supplemental coverage and efforts to restrict the generosity of supplemental coverage may slow spending growth. PMID:23650320

Barely legal: is attraction and estimated age of young female faces disrupted by alcohol use, make up, and the sex of the observer?

PubMed

Egan, Vincent; Cordan, Giray

2009-05-01

One 'reasonable ground' for unlawful sex with a minor is mistaken age. Alcohol consumption and make-up are often deemed further influences on impaired perception. Two hundred and forty persons in bars and cafes rated the attractiveness of composite faces of immature and mature females with and without additional makeup, alcohol users having their concurrent blood-alcohol level measured using a breathalyser. A non-sex-specific preference for immature faces over sexually mature faces was found. Alcohol and make-up did not inflate attractiveness ratings in immature faces. While alcohol consumption significantly inflated attractiveness ratings for participants viewing made-up sexually mature faces, greater alcohol consumption itself did not lead to overestimation of age. Although alcohol limited the processing of maturity cues in female observers, it had no effect on the age perceptions of males viewing female faces, suggesting male mate preferences are not easily disrupted. Participants consistently overestimated the age of sexually immature- and sexually mature-faces by an average of 3.5 years. Our study suggests that even heavy alcohol consumption does not interfere with age-perception tasks in men, so is not of itself an excuse for apparent mistaken age in cases of unlawful sex with a minor.

Critical factors in career decision making for women medical graduates.

PubMed

Lawrence, Joanna; Poole, Phillippa; Diener, Scott

2003-04-01

Within the next 30 years there will be equal numbers of women and men in the medical workforce. Indications are that women are increasing their participation in specialties other than general practice, although at a slower rate than their participation in the workforce as a whole. To inform those involved in training and employment of medical women, this study investigated the influencing factors in career decision making for female medical graduates. A total of 305 women medical graduates from the University of Auckland responded to a mail survey (73% response rate) which examined influences on decision making, in both qualitative and quantitative ways, as part of a larger survey. Most women were satisfied with their careers. The principal component analysis of the influencing factors identified four distinct factors important in career choice - interest, flexibility, women friendliness and job security, although the first two of these were rated more highly than the others. Barriers to full participation by medical women in training and employment need to be systematically examined and removed. This is not only to allow women themselves to reach their full potential, but for workforce and socio-economic reasons. Initiatives that allow and value more flexible training and work practices, particularly through the years of child raising, are necessary for women and the health care workforce at large.

Are patients with schizophrenia rational maximizers? Evidence from an ultimatum game study.

PubMed

Csukly, Gábor; Polgár, Patrícia; Tombor, László; Réthelyi, János; Kéri, Szabolcs

2011-05-15

Schizophrenia is associated with impaired social cognition and community functioning. Social decision-making strategies of healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia were compared by using the ultimatum game (UG). In this game two players have to split a sum of money. The proposer offers a portion to the responder, who decides to either accept or reject the offer. Rejection results in no income to either of the parties. Unfair proposals are frequently rejected by nonclinical individuals, a phenomenon described as altruistic punishment. Patients and controls participated in a series of UG interactions as responders in a computerized test setting. We also tested the effect of the proposer's facial expression on decision-making. Our results indicate that patients with schizophrenia accepted unfair offers at a significantly higher rate than did healthy controls. In contrast, at fair proposals, the acceptance rate was lower in patients compared with controls. At higher offers, the proposer's facial expression (positive/negative) significantly influenced the acceptance rate (positive facial expression increased the likelihood of acceptance) in the control group. This effect was not observed in the patient group. These results suggest that schizophrenia patients are impaired in socioeconomic interactions requiring emotion recognition and decision-making, which may result in unstable behavioral strategies. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The tell-tale heart: heart rate fluctuations index objective and subjective events during a game of chess.

PubMed

Leone, María J; Petroni, Agustín; Fernandez Slezak, Diego; Sigman, Mariano

2012-01-01

During a decision-making process, the body changes. These somatic changes have been related to specific cognitive events and also have been postulated to assist decision-making indexing possible outcomes of different options. We used chess to analyze heart rate (HR) modulations on specific cognitive events. In a chess game, players have a limited time-budget to make about 40 moves (decisions) that can be objectively evaluated and retrospectively assigned to specific subjectively perceived events, such as setting a goal and the process to reach a known goal. We show that HR signals events: it predicts the conception of a plan, the concrete analysis of variations or the likelihood to blunder by fluctuations before to the move, and it reflects reactions, such as a blunder made by the opponent, by fluctuations subsequent to the move. Our data demonstrate that even if HR constitutes a relatively broad marker integrating a myriad of physiological variables, its dynamic is rich enough to reveal relevant episodes of inner thought.

Data quality system using reference dictionaries and edit distance algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karbarz, Radosław; Mulawka, Jan

2015-09-01

The real art of management it is important to make smart decisions, what in most of the cases is not a trivial task. Those decisions may lead to determination of production level, funds allocation for investments etc. Most of the parameters in decision-making process such as: interest rate, goods value or exchange rate may change. It is well know that these parameters in the decision-making are based on the data contained in datamarts or data warehouse. However, if the information derived from the processed data sets is the basis for the most important management decisions, it is required that the data is accurate, complete and current. In order to achieve high quality data and to gain from them measurable business benefits, data quality system should be used. The article describes the approach to the problem, shows the algorithms in details and their usage. Finally the test results are provide. Test results show the best algorithms (in terms of quality and quantity) for different parameters and data distribution.

Consumer Outcomes After Implementing CommonGround as an Approach to Shared Decision Making.

PubMed

Salyers, Michelle P; Fukui, Sadaaki; Bonfils, Kelsey A; Firmin, Ruth L; Luther, Lauren; Goscha, Rick; Rapp, Charles A; Holter, Mark C

2017-03-01

The authors examined consumer outcomes before and after implementing CommonGround, a computer-based shared decision-making program. Consumers with severe mental illness (N=167) were interviewed prior to implementation and 12 and 18 months later to assess changes in active treatment involvement, symptoms, and recovery-related attitudes. Providers also rated consumers on level of treatment involvement. Most consumers used CommonGround at least once (67%), but few used the program regularly. Mixed-effects regression analyses showed improvement in self-reported symptoms and recovery attitudes. Self-reported treatment involvement did not change; however, for a subset of consumers with the same providers over time (N=83), the providers rated consumers as more active in treatment. This study adds to the growing literature on tools to support shared decision making, showing the potential benefits of CommonGround for improving recovery outcomes. More work is needed to better engage consumers in CommonGround and to test the approach with more rigorous methods.

Influence of branding on preference-based decision making.

PubMed

Philiastides, Marios G; Ratcliff, Roger

2013-07-01

Branding has become one of the most important determinants of consumer choices. Intriguingly, the psychological mechanisms of how branding influences decision making remain elusive. In the research reported here, we used a preference-based decision-making task and computational modeling to identify which internal components of processing are affected by branding. We found that a process of noisy temporal integration of subjective value information can model preference-based choices reliably and that branding biases are explained by changes in the rate of the integration process itself. This result suggests that branding information and subjective preference are integrated into a single source of evidence in the decision-making process, thereby altering choice behavior.

Age and expertise effects in aviation decision making and flight control in a flight simulator.

PubMed

Kennedy, Quinn; Taylor, Joy L; Reade, Gordon; Yesavage, Jerome A

2010-05-01

Age (due to declines in cognitive abilities necessary for navigation) and level of aviation expertise are two factors that may affect aviation performance and decision making under adverse weather conditions. We examined the roles of age, expertise, and their relationship on aviation decision making and flight control performance during a flight simulator task. Seventy-two IFR-rated general aviators, aged 19-79 yr, made multiple approach, holding pattern entry, and landing decisions while navigating under Instrument Flight Rules weather conditions. Over three trials in which the fog level varied, subjects decided whether or not to land the aircraft. They also completed two holding pattern entries. Subjects' flight control during approaches and holding patterns was measured. Older pilots (41+ yr) were more likely than younger pilots to land when visibility was inadequate (older pilots' mean false alarm rate: 0.44 vs 0.25). They also showed less precise flight control for components of the approach, performing 0.16 SD below mean approach scores. Expertise attenuated an age-related decline in flight control during holding patterns: older IFR/CFI performed 0.73 SD below mean score; younger IFR/CFI, younger CFII/ATP, older CFII/ATP: 0.32, 0.26, 0.03 SD above mean score. Additionally, pilots with faster processing speed (by median split) had a higher mean landing decision false alarm rate (0.42 vs 0.28), yet performed 0.14 SD above the mean approach control score. Results have implications regarding specialized training for older pilots and for understanding processes involved in older adults' real world decision making and performance.

Informed Decision-Making and Satisfaction with a Church-Based Men's Health Workshop Series for African-American Men: Men-Only vs. Mixed-Gender Format.

PubMed

Holt, Cheryl L; Le, Daisy; Saunders, Darlene R; Wang, Min Qi; Slade, Jimmie L; Muwwakkil, Bettye; Williams, Ralph; Atkinson, Nancy L; Whitehead, Tony L; Naslund, Michael

2015-09-01

Prostate cancer incidence and mortality are highest among African-American men, and coupled with the controversy around routine prostate cancer screening, reaching African-American men with interventions to help them make an informed decision about whether or not to be screened is critical. This study compares two approaches to delivering a church-based peer community health advisor intervention consisting of a series of four men's health workshops on informed decision-making for prostate cancer screening. In the men-only group, male community health advisors teach group workshops consisting only of men. In the health partner group, male-female pairs of community health advisors teach workshops in a mixed-gender format in which enrolled men are asked to invite a significant woman in their lives (e.g., wife/partner, sister, daughter, friend) with them to the workshops. Eighteen African-American churches were randomized to receive one of the two approaches, and 283 eligible men enrolled in the intervention. Main findings suggested that the workshops had an impact on stage of decision-making, and this increased significantly over time in the health partner group only. The intervention was highly rated by men in both groups, and these ratings increased over time, with some study group differences. Within-workshop study group differences favored the health partner group in some instances; however, men in the men-only groups reported greater increases in their ratings of trust in the workshops over time. The health partner intervention strategy appears to be promising for reaching men of color with health information.

The Pathways fertility preservation decision aid website for women with cancer: development and field testing.

PubMed

Woodard, Terri L; Hoffman, Aubri S; Covarrubias, Laura A; Holman, Deborah; Schover, Leslie; Bradford, Andrea; Hoffman, Derek B; Mathur, Aakrati; Thomas, Jerah; Volk, Robert J

2018-02-01

To improve survivors' awareness and knowledge of fertility preservation counseling and treatment options, this study engaged survivors and providers to design, develop, and field-test Pathways: a fertility preservation patient decision aid website for young women with cancer©. Using an adapted user-centered design process, our stakeholder advisory group and research team designed and optimized the Pathways patient decision aid website through four iterative cycles of review and revision with clinicians (n = 21) and survivors (n = 14). Field-testing (n = 20 survivors) assessed post-decision aid scores on the Fertility Preservation Knowledge Scale, feasibility of assessing women's decision-making values while using the website, and website usability/acceptability ratings. Iterative stakeholder engagement optimized the Pathways decision aid website to meet survivors' and providers' needs, including providing patient-friendly information and novel features such as interactive value clarification exercises, testimonials that model shared decision making, financial/referral resources, and a printable personal summary. Survivors scored an average of 8.2 out of 13 (SD 1.6) on the Fertility Preservation Knowledge Scale. They rated genetic screening and having a biological child as strong factors in their decision-making, and 71% indicated a preference for egg freezing. Most women (> 85%) rated Pathways favorably, and all women (100%) said they would recommend it to other women. The Pathways decision aid is a usable and acceptable tool to help women learn about fertility preservation. The Pathways decision aid may help women make well-informed values-based decisions and prevent future infertility-related distress.

Integrated analysis for population estimation, management impact evaluation, and decision-making for a declining species

USGS Publications Warehouse

Crawford, Brian A.; Moore, Clinton; Norton, Terry M.; Maerz, John C.

2018-01-01

A challenge for making conservation decisions is predicting how wildlife populations respond to multiple, concurrent threats and potential management strategies, usually under substantial uncertainty. Integrated modeling approaches can improve estimation of demographic rates necessary for making predictions, even for rare or cryptic species with sparse data, but their use in management applications is limited. We developed integrated models for a population of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) impacted by road-associated threats to (i) jointly estimate demographic rates from two mark-recapture datasets, while directly estimating road mortality and the impact of management actions deployed during the study; and (ii) project the population using population viability analysis under simulated management strategies to inform decision-making. Without management, population extirpation was nearly certain due to demographic impacts of road mortality, predators, and vegetation. Installation of novel flashing signage increased survival of terrapins that crossed roads by 30%. Signage, along with small roadside barriers installed during the study, increased population persistence probability, but the population was still predicted to decline. Management strategies that included actions targeting multiple threats and demographic rates resulted in the highest persistence probability, and roadside barriers, which increased adult survival, were predicted to increase persistence more than other actions. Our results support earlier findings showing mitigation of multiple threats is likely required to increase the viability of declining populations. Our approach illustrates how integrated models may be adapted to use limited data efficiently, represent system complexity, evaluate impacts of threats and management actions, and provide decision-relevant information for conservation of at-risk populations.

Anxiety, attention, and decision making: The moderating role of heart rate variability.

PubMed

Ramírez, Encarnación; Ortega, Ana Raquel; Reyes Del Paso, Gustavo A

2015-12-01

The current exploratory research examined whether high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) modulates the association between anxiety and (1) executive attentional control during situations involving neutral stimuli, in which the distractor stimuli are in conflict with the target stimulus, and (2) risk aversion in decision making. Forty-five participants (21 with low and 24 with high trait-anxiety) performed a modified version of the Attention Network Test to measure attentional control, and the Balloon Analog Risk Task to measure risk aversion. HF-HRV was recorded during a rest period before completion of the tasks. Results showed that individuals with high anxiety and low HF-HRV have worse attentional control in the face of conflicting information as well as greater risk aversion, in comparison with individuals with both high anxiety and high HF-HRV or low anxiety (regardless of HF-HRV). HF-HRV was positively associated with attentional control and negatively associated with risk aversion. Furthermore, a strong negative association was observed between attentional control and risk aversion. These results suggest that HF-HRV modulates the influence of anxiety on both attentional control to neutral stimuli, and risk aversion in decision making. Greater HF-HRV appears to fulfill a protective role in highly anxious individuals. The associations observed also suggest that executive control of attention plays a relevant role in decision making. These results support the relevance of the autonomic nervous system in sustained cognition and are in accordance with theories in which vagal-mediated heart rate variability is taken as an indicator of prefrontal cortex inhibitory influences. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Neutron Absorbing Alloys

DOEpatents

Zhong, Yuanzhen , Parikh, Hemant; Smith, Terry E.

2002-05-28

A process for making homogeneous copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone (VP) and vinyl acetate (VA) which form clear aqueous solutions and have high cloud points. The process involves precharging VP and VA monomers in a predetermined ratio, and then feeding VP and VA at a predetermined rate, the ratio of the components in the initial charge and the feeding rates for the monomer being selected in accordance with the reactivity rates of the monomers towards copolymerization as opposed to homopolymerization.

Biological electric fields and rate equations for biophotons.

PubMed

Alvermann, M; Srivastava, Y N; Swain, J; Widom, A

2015-04-01

Biophoton intensities depend upon the squared modulus of the electric field. Hence, we first make some general estimates about the inherent electric fields within various biosystems. Generally, these intensities do not follow a simple exponential decay law. After a brief discussion on the inapplicability of a linear rate equation that leads to strict exponential decay, we study other, nonlinear rate equations that have been successfully used for biosystems along with their physical origins when available.

In-Flight Decision-Making by General Aviation Pilots Operating in Areas of Extreme Thunderstorms.

PubMed

Boyd, Douglas D

2017-12-01

General aviation (comprised mainly of noncommercial, light aircraft) accounts for 94% of civil aviation fatalities in the United States. Although thunderstorms are hazardous to light aircraft, little research has been undertaken on in-flight pilot decision-making regarding their avoidance. The study objectives were: 1) to determine if the thunderstorm accident rate has declined over the last two decades; and 2) assess in-flight (enroute/landing) airman decision-making regarding adherence to FAA separation minima from thunderstorms. Thunderstorm-related accidents were identified from the NTSB database. To determine en route/arriving aircraft real-time thunderstorm proximity/relative position and airplane location, using a flight-tracking (Flight Aware®) website, were overlaid on a graphical weather image. Statistics employed Poisson and Chi-squared analyses. The thunderstorm-related accident rate was undiminished over the 1996-2014 period. In a prospective analysis the majority (enroute 77%, landing 93%) of flights violated the FAA-recommended separation distance from extreme convection. Of these, 79 and 69% (en route and landing, respectively) selected a route downwind of the thunderstorm rather than a less hazardous upwind flight path. Using a mathematical product of binary (separation distance, relative aircraft-thunderstorm position) and nominal (thunderstorm-free egress area) parameters, airmen were more likely to operate in the thunderstorm hazard zone for landings than en route operations. The thunderstorm-related accident rate, carrying a 70% fatality rate, remains unabated, largely reflecting nonadherence to the FAA-recommended separation minima and selection of a more hazardous route (downwind) for circumnavigation of extreme convective weather. These findings argue for additional emphasis in ab initio pilot training/recurrency on thunderstorm hazards and safe practices (separation distance and flight path).Boyd DD. In-flight decision-making by general aviation pilots operating in areas of extreme thunderstorms. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(12):1066-1072.

A proposed approach for quantitative benefit-risk assessment in diagnostic radiology guideline development: the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria Example.

PubMed

Agapova, Maria; Bresnahan, Brian B; Higashi, Mitchell; Kessler, Larry; Garrison, Louis P; Devine, Beth

2017-02-01

The American College of Radiology develops evidence-based practice guidelines to aid appropriate utilization of radiological procedures. Panel members use expert opinion to weight trade-offs and consensus methods to rate appropriateness of imaging tests. These ratings include an equivocal range, assigned when there is disagreement about a technology's appropriateness and the evidence base is weak or for special circumstances. It is not clear how expert consensus merges with the evidence base to arrive at an equivocal rating. Quantitative benefit-risk assessment (QBRA) methods may assist decision makers in this capacity. However, many methods exist and it is not clear which methods are best suited for this application. We perform a critical appraisal of QBRA methods and propose several steps that may aid in making transparent areas of weak evidence and barriers to consensus in guideline development. We identify QBRA methods with potential to facilitate decision making in guideline development and build a decision aid for selecting among these methods. This study identified 2 families of QBRA methods suited to guideline development when expert opinion is expected to contribute substantially to decision making. Key steps to deciding among QBRA methods involve identifying specific benefit-risk criteria and developing a state-of-evidence matrix. For equivocal ratings assigned for reasons other than disagreement or weak evidence base, QBRA may not be needed. In the presence of disagreement but the absence of a weak evidence base, multicriteria decision analysis approaches are recommended; and in the presence of weak evidence base and the absence of disagreement, incremental net health benefit alone or combined with multicriteria decision analysis is recommended. Our critical appraisal further extends investigation of the strengths and limitations of select QBRA methods in facilitating diagnostic radiology clinical guideline development. The process of using the decision aid exposes and makes transparent areas of weak evidence and barriers to consensus. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Estimating energy expenditure from heart rate in older adults: a case for calibration.

PubMed

Schrack, Jennifer A; Zipunnikov, Vadim; Goldsmith, Jeff; Bandeen-Roche, Karen; Crainiceanu, Ciprian M; Ferrucci, Luigi

2014-01-01

Accurate measurement of free-living energy expenditure is vital to understanding changes in energy metabolism with aging. The efficacy of heart rate as a surrogate for energy expenditure is rooted in the assumption of a linear function between heart rate and energy expenditure, but its validity and reliability in older adults remains unclear. To assess the validity and reliability of the linear function between heart rate and energy expenditure in older adults using different levels of calibration. Heart rate and energy expenditure were assessed across five levels of exertion in 290 adults participating in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Correlation and random effects regression analyses assessed the linearity of the relationship between heart rate and energy expenditure and cross-validation models assessed predictive performance. Heart rate and energy expenditure were highly correlated (r=0.98) and linear regardless of age or sex. Intra-person variability was low but inter-person variability was high, with substantial heterogeneity of the random intercept (s.d. =0.372) despite similar slopes. Cross-validation models indicated individual calibration data substantially improves accuracy predictions of energy expenditure from heart rate, reducing the potential for considerable measurement bias. Although using five calibration measures provided the greatest reduction in the standard deviation of prediction errors (1.08 kcals/min), substantial improvement was also noted with two (0.75 kcals/min). These findings indicate standard regression equations may be used to make population-level inferences when estimating energy expenditure from heart rate in older adults but caution should be exercised when making inferences at the individual level without proper calibration.

Pitfalls in the statistical examination and interpretation of the correspondence between physician and patient satisfaction ratings and their relevance for shared decision making research

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background The correspondence of satisfaction ratings between physicians and patients can be assessed on different dimensions. One may examine whether they differ between the two groups or focus on measures of association or agreement. The aim of our study was to evaluate methodological difficulties in calculating the correspondence between patient and physician satisfaction ratings and to show the relevance for shared decision making research. Methods We utilised a structured tool for cardiovascular prevention (arriba™) in a pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial. Correspondence between patient and physician satisfaction ratings after individual primary care consultations was assessed using the Patient Participation Scale (PPS). We used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the marginal homogeneity test, Kendall's tau-b, weighted kappa, percentage of agreement, and the Bland-Altman method to measure differences, associations, and agreement between physicians and patients. Results Statistical measures signal large differences between patient and physician satisfaction ratings with more favourable ratings provided by patients and a low correspondence regardless of group allocation. Closer examination of the raw data revealed a high ceiling effect of satisfaction ratings and only slight disagreement regarding the distributions of differences between physicians' and patients' ratings. Conclusions Traditional statistical measures of association and agreement are not able to capture a clinically relevant appreciation of the physician-patient relationship by both parties in skewed satisfaction ratings. Only the Bland-Altman method for assessing agreement augmented by bar charts of differences was able to indicate this. Trial registration ISRCTN: ISRCT71348772 PMID:21592337

The impact of patients' gender, race, and age on health care professionals' pain management decisions: an online survey using virtual human technology.

PubMed

Wandner, Laura D; Heft, Marc W; Lok, Benjamin C; Hirsh, Adam T; George, Steven Z; Horgas, Anne L; Atchison, James W; Torres, Calia A; Robinson, Michael E

2014-05-01

Previous literature indicates that biases exist in pain ratings. Healthcare professionals have been found to use patient demographic cues such as sex, race, and age when making decisions about pain treatment. However, there has been little research comparing healthcare professionals' (i.e., physicians and nurses) pain decision policies based on patient demographic cues. The current study used virtual human technology to examine the impact of patients' sex, race, and age on healthcare professionals' pain ratings. One hundred and ninety-three healthcare professionals (nurses and physicians) participated in this online study. Healthcare professionals assessed virtual human patients who were male and African American to be experiencing greater pain intensity and were more willing to administer opioid analgesics to them than to their demographic counterparts. Similarly, nurses were more willing to administer opioids make treatment decisions than physicians. There was also a significant virtual human-sex by healthcare professional interaction for pain assessment and treatment decisions. The sex difference (male>female) was greater for nurses than physicians. Results replicated findings of previous studies using virtual human patients to assess the effect of sex, race, and age in pain decision-making. In addition, healthcare professionals' pain ratings differed depending on healthcare profession. Nurses were more likely to rate pain higher and be more willing to administer opioid analgesics than were physicians. Healthcare professionals rated male and African American virtual human patients as having higher pain in most pain assessment and treatment domains compared to their demographic counterparts. Similarly the virtual human-sex difference ratings were more pronounced for nurses than physicians. Given the large number of patients seen throughout the healthcare professionals' careers, these pain practice biases have important public health implications. This study suggests attention to the influence of patient demographic cues in pain management education is needed. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

THE IMPACT OF PATIENTS’ GENDER, RACE, AND AGE ON HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS’ PAIN MANAGEMENT DECISIONS: AN ONLINE SURVEY USING VIRTUAL HUMAN TECHNOLOGY

PubMed Central

Wandner, Laura D.; Heft, Marc W.; Lok, Benjamin C.; Hirsh, Adam T.; George, Steven Z.; Horgas, Anne L.; Atchison, James W.; Torres, Calia A.; Robinson, Michael E.

2013-01-01

Background Previous literature indicates that biases exist in pain ratings. Healthcare professionals have been found to use patient demographic cues such as sex, race, and age when making decisions about pain treatment. However, there has been little research comparing healthcare professionals’ (i.e., physicians and nurses) pain decision policies based on patient demographic cues. Methods The current study used virtual human technology to examine the impact of patients’ sex, race, and age on healthcare professionals’ pain ratings. One hundred and ninety-three healthcare professionals (nurses and physicians) participated in this online study. Results Healthcare professionals assessed virtual human patients who were male and African American to be experiencing greater pain intensity and were more willing to administer opioid analgesics to them than to their demographic counterparts. Similarly, nurses were more willing to administer opioids make treatment decisions than physicians. There was also a significant virtual human-sex by healthcare professional interaction for pain assessment and treatment decisions. The sex difference (male > female) was greater for nurses than physicians. Conclusions Results replicated findings of previous studies using virtual human patients to assess the effect of sex, race, and age in pain decision-making. In addition, healthcare professionals” pain ratings differed depending on healthcare profession. Nurses were more likely to rate pain higher and be more willing to administer opioid analgesics than were physicians. Healthcare professionals rated male and African American virtual human patients as having higher pain in most pain assessment and treatment domains compared to their demographic counterparts. Similarly the virtual human-sex difference ratings were more pronounced for nurses than physicians. Given the large number of patients seen throughout the healthcare professionals’ careers, these pain practice biases have important public health implications. This study suggests attention to the influence of patient demographic cues in pain management education is needed. PMID:24128374

What Pertussis Mortality Rates Make Maternal Acellular Pertussis Immunization Cost-Effective in Low- and Middle-Income Countries? A Decision Analysis

PubMed Central

Russell, Louise B.; Pentakota, Sri Ram; Toscano, Cristiana Maria; Cosgriff, Ben; Sinha, Anushua

2016-01-01

Background. Despite longstanding infant vaccination programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), pertussis continues to cause deaths in the youngest infants. A maternal monovalent acellular pertussis (aP) vaccine, in development, could prevent many of these deaths. We estimated infant pertussis mortality rates at which maternal vaccination would be a cost-effective use of public health resources in LMICs. Methods. We developed a decision model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of maternal aP immunization plus routine infant vaccination vs routine infant vaccination alone in Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Brazil. For a range of maternal aP vaccine prices, one-way sensitivity analyses identified the infant pertussis mortality rates required to make maternal immunization cost-effective by alternative benchmarks ($100, 0.5 gross domestic product [GDP] per capita, and GDP per capita per disability-adjusted life-year [DALY]). Probabilistic sensitivity analysis provided uncertainty intervals for these mortality rates. Results. Infant pertussis mortality rates necessary to make maternal aP immunization cost-effective exceed the rates suggested by current evidence except at low vaccine prices and/or cost-effectiveness benchmarks at the high end of those considered in this report. For example, at a vaccine price of $0.50/dose, pertussis mortality would need to be 0.051 per 1000 infants in Bangladesh, and 0.018 per 1000 in Nigeria, to cost 0.5 per capita GDP per DALY. In Brazil, a middle-income country, at a vaccine price of $4/dose, infant pertussis mortality would need to be 0.043 per 1000 to cost 0.5 per capita GDP per DALY. Conclusions. For commonly used cost-effectiveness benchmarks, maternal aP immunization would be cost-effective in many LMICs only if the vaccine were offered at less than $1–$2/dose. PMID:27838677

[Treatment Decision-Making Process of Cancer Patients].

PubMed

Lee, Shiu-Yu C Katie

2016-10-01

The decision-making process that is used by cancer patients to determine their treatment has become more multi-foci, difficult and complicated in recent years. This has in part been attributed to the increasing incidence rate of cancer in Taiwan and the rapid development of medical technologies and treatment modalities. Oncology nurses must assist patients and family to make informed and value-based treatment decisions. Decision-making is an information process that involves appraising one's own expectation and values based on his/her knowledge on cancer and treatment options. Because cancer treatment involves risks and uncertainties, and impacts quality of life, the treatment decision-making for cancer is often stressful, or even conflicting. This paper discusses the decision-making behaviors of cancer patients and the decisional conflict, participation, and informational needs that are involved in cancer treatment. The trend toward shared decision-making and decisional support will be also explored in order to facilitate the future development of appropriate clinical interventions and research.

Chinese immigrant parents’ vaccination decision making for children: a qualitative analysis

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background While immunization coverage rates for childhood routine vaccines in Hong Kong are almost 100%, the uptake rates of optional vaccines remain suboptimal. Understanding parental decision-making for children’s vaccination is important, particularly among minority groups who are most vulnerable and underserved. This study explored how a subsample of new immigrant mothers from mainland China, a rapidly-growing subpopulation in Hong Kong, made decisions on various childhood and adolescent vaccines for their offspring, and identified key influences affecting their decision making. Methods Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 23 Chinese new immigrant mothers recruited by purposive sampling. All interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and analyzed using a Grounded Theory approach. Results Participants’ conversation revealed five underlying themes which influenced parents’ vaccination decision-making: (1) Institutional factors, (2) Insufficient vaccination knowledge and advice, (3) Affective impacts on motivation, (4) Vaccination barriers, and (5) Social influences. The role of social norms appeared overwhelmingly salient influencing parents’ vaccination decision making. Institutional factors shaped parent’s perceptions of vaccination necessity. Fear of vaccine-targeted diseases was a key motivating factor for parents adopting vaccination. Insufficient knowledge about vaccines and targeted diseases, lack of advice from health professionals and, if provided, suspicions regarding the motivations for such advice were common issues. Vaccination cost was a major barrier for many new immigrant parents. Conclusions Social norms play a key role influencing parental vaccination decision-making. Insight gained from this study will help inform healthcare providers in vaccination communication and policymakers in future vaccination programme. PMID:24507384

Foundations and Public Information: Sunshine or Shadow? Preliminary Findings from a Study of the Public Information Accountability of the Country's Largest Foundations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruce, Ellen; And Others

The types of written information that the largest foundations in the United States voluntarily make available to the public were studied. Of the 208 foundations contacted, 150 were the largest grant-making foundations, 30 were the largest community foundations, and 28 were the largest corporate foundations. The response rate to written and…

Effects of alkalinity on ammonia removal, carbon dioxide stripping, and system pH in semi-commercial scale water recirculating aquaculture systems operated with moving bed bioreactors

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

When operating water recirculating systems (RAS) with high make-up water flushing rates in locations that have low alkalinity in the raw water, such as Norway, knowledge about the required RAS alkalinity concentration is important. Flushing RAS with make-up water containing low alkalinity washes out...

Examining the Prospective Effects of Making a Virginity Pledge among Males across Their 4 Years of College

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Samantha; Thompson, Martie P.

2013-01-01

Objectives: The authors examined prospective associations of making a virginity pledge on sexual behaviors among male college students. Participants: A sample of 795 males was followed for 4 years (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), with response rates ranging from 72% to 82% across the follow-up years. Methods: Males were surveyed at the end of each of…

Adjusted Poverty Measures and the Distribution of Title I Aid: Does Title I Really Make the Rich States Richer?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Bruce D.; Taylor, Lori; Levin, Jesse; Chambers, Jay; Blankenship, Charles

2013-01-01

Federal and state governments in the United States make extensive use of student poverty rates in compensatory aid programs like Title I. Unfortunately, the measures of student poverty that drive funding allocations under such programs are biased because they fail to reflect geographic differences in the cost of living. In this study, we construct…

Tobacco Cessation Behaviors Among Older Homeless Adults: Results From the HOPE HOME Study.

PubMed

Vijayaraghavan, Maya; Tieu, Lina; Ponath, Claudia; Guzman, David; Kushel, Margot

2016-08-01

Tobacco-attributable deaths contribute significantly to the increased mortality observed among homeless adults aged 50 years or more. Little is known about the epidemiology of tobacco use among older homeless individuals. This longitudinal cohort study examines smoking behaviors and factors associated with smoking cessation among homeless individuals aged 50 years or more. We recruited a prospective cohort of 350 homeless individuals sampled from the community in Oakland, California. At 6 months follow-up, participants reported their cigarette quit attempts and 30-day abstinence. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine factors associated with making a quit attempt at follow-up, hypothesizing that heavier smokers would be less likely to make a quit attempt. Of the 272 ever-smokers, 229 (84.2%) were current smokers (quit ratio 15.8). Among current smokers at enrollment who had a follow-up interview at 6 months, 43.6% (n = 71) reported making a quit attempt during the follow-up. Of those who reported making a quit attempt, 14.3% (n = 10) reported 30-day abstinence at follow-up. Among those who had reported making a quit attempt at follow-up, 22.5% had used nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Staying in shelters (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-5.8) was associated with higher odds of making a quit attempt at follow-up. Higher cigarette consumption was associated with lower odds of making a quit attempt (AOR = 0.9, 95% CI = 0.8-0.9). In this study of tobacco use in older homeless adults, rates of quit attempts were similar to that observed in the general population, but successful quitting was lower. The current study is among the first studies to focus specifically on tobacco use and cessation behaviors among older homeless adults. The high prevalence of smoking and the low rates of successful quitting highlight numerous opportunities to intervene to increase quitting rates among this population. Among these, increasing access to smoke-free living environments and identifying effective cessation therapies will be critical to reducing tobacco-related disease burden among older homeless adults. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

An Update on Teen Pregnancy.

PubMed

Ahern, Nancy R; Bramlett, Traci

2016-02-01

After years of high teen birth rates, there is currently a decline in U.S. pregnancy and birth rates among teens. Nevertheless, these rates continue to be higher than those of most global counterparts, and psychosocial and physical adversities still occur for pregnant teens and their children. The declining birth rates may be due to teens making better choices about contraceptive use and sexual behaviors. Psychiatric-mental health nurses are in key positions to enhance pregnancy prevention for teens. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 54(2), 25-28.]. Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.

On the upper ocean turbulent dissipation rate due to microscale breakers and small whitecaps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banner, Michael L.; Morison, Russel P.

2018-06-01

In ocean wave modelling, accurately computing the evolution of the wind-wave spectrum depends on the source terms and the spectral bandwidth used. The wave dissipation rate source term which spectrally quantifies wave breaking and other dissipative processes remains poorly understood, including the spectral bandwidth needed to capture the essential model physics. The observational study of Sutherland and Melville (2015a) investigated the relative dissipation rate contributions of breaking waves, from large-scale whitecaps to microbreakers. They concluded that a large fraction of wave energy was dissipated by microbreakers. However, in strong contrast with their findings, our analysis of their data and other recent data sets shows that for young seas, microbreakers and small whitecaps contribute only a small fraction of the total breaking wave dissipation rate. For older seas, we find microbreakers and small whitecaps contribute a large fraction of the breaking wave dissipation rate, but this is only a small fraction of the total dissipation rate, which is now dominated by non-breaking contributions. Hence, for all the wave age conditions observed, microbreakers make an insignificant contribution to the total wave dissipation rate in the wave boundary layer. We tested the sensitivity of the results to the SM15a whitecap analysis methodology by transforming the SM15a breaking data using our breaking crest processing methodology. This resulted in the small-scale breaking waves making an even smaller contribution to the total wave dissipation rate, and so the result is independent of the breaker processing methodology. Comparison with other near-surface total TKE dissipation rate observations also support this conclusion. These contributions to the spectral dissipation rate in ocean wave models are small and need not be explicitly resolved.

Assessing predicted age-specific breast cancer mortality rates in 27 European countries by 2020.

PubMed

Clèries, R; Rooney, R M; Vilardell, M; Espinàs, J A; Dyba, T; Borras, J M

2018-03-01

We assessed differences in predicted breast cancer (BC) mortality rates, across Europe, by 2020, taking into account changes in the time trends of BC mortality rates during the period 2000-2010. BC mortality data, for 27 European Union (EU) countries, were extracted from the World Health Organization mortality database. First, we compared BC mortality data between time periods 2000-2004 and 2006-2010 through standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and carrying out a graphical assessment of the age-specific rates. Second, making use of the base period 2006-2012, we predicted BC mortality rates by 2020. Finally, making use of the SMRs and the predicted data, we identified a clustering of countries, assessing differences in the time trends between the areas defined in this clustering. The clustering approach identified two clusters of countries: the first cluster were countries where BC predicted mortality rates, in 2020, might slightly increase among women aged 69 and older compared with 2010 [Greece (SMR 1.01), Croatia (SMR 1.02), Latvia (SMR 1.15), Poland (SMR 1.14), Estonia (SMR 1.16), Bulgaria (SMR 1.13), Lithuania (SMR 1.03), Romania (SMR 1.13) and Slovakia (SMR 1.06)]. The second cluster was those countries where BC mortality rates level off or decrease in all age groups (remaining countries). However, BC mortality rates between these clusters might diminish and converge to similar figures by 2020. For the year 2020, our predictions have shown a converging pattern of BC mortality rates between European regions. Reducing disparities, in access to screening and treatment, could have a substantial effect in countries where a non-decreasing trend in age-specific BC mortality rates has been predicted.

Evaluating the Mn/Ca Ratio of Foraminiferal Calcite Determined by Flow-Through ICP-MS as a Proxy for Terrigenous Input, Upwelling, and Carbon Rain Rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klinkhammer, G. P.; Mix, A. C.; Benway, H. M.; Haley, B. A.

2004-12-01

The Mn/Ca ratio of the biogenic calcite preserved in deep-sea sediments has potential as a tracer of terrestrial input, upwelling, and carbon rain rate over geologic time scales. The basis for this potential lies in features of the Mn cycle in the oceans, which are well known. Manganese is a biogeochemically reactive element, but has a lower affinity for dissolved oxygen and organic matter than iron, making it more stable over short time scales, and less affected by speciation. Depth profiles of Mn in oligotrophic ocean waters show a sharp contrast between low concentrations in deep water (0.20 nM) and relatively high concentrations in the mixed layer (2-5 nM). Mn oxides are stable in high oxygen environments but reduced in the suboxic conditions found in the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). This behavior makes the intermediate water to surface water concentration ratio of Mn sensitive to the intensity of the OMZ, an artifact of the carbon rain rate, and dust/river input. In sediments, suboxic dissolution is balanced by the formation of carbonate making Mn highly reactive during early diagenesis. These features of the Mn cycle in seawater make the Mn/Ca ratio of foraminifera an attractive paleoproxy, but only if the primary signature can be recovered after diagenetic alteration. Recently our laboratory developed a flow-through extraction system that gives us fresh insight into this problem by making it possible to separate mineral phases associated with the foraminiferal fraction by differences in their solubilities. This paper examines foraminiferal Mn/Ca ratios in core tops and down core records from the eastern equatorial Pacific determined with this new technique. We access the potential of flow-through Mn/Ca by comparing its record to those of Mg/Ca and stable isotopes.

77 FR 18288 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.; Notice of Filing and Order...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-27

... amendments to rules dealing with outsourcing to third parties. CME will also make corresponding changes to... in order for eligible clearing members to receive risk offsets across CME's listed interest rate... rate products that will be eligible for this program will be those with price risks that are [[Page...

The Reliability of Methodological Ratings for speechBITE Using the PEDro-P Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murray, Elizabeth; Power, Emma; Togher, Leanne; McCabe, Patricia; Munro, Natalie; Smith, Katherine

2013-01-01

Background: speechBITE (http://www.speechbite.com) is an online database established in order to help speech and language therapists gain faster access to relevant research that can used in clinical decision-making. In addition to containing more than 3000 journal references, the database also provides methodological ratings on the PEDro-P (an…

Applying Social Psychology to Reveal a Major (But Correctable) Flaw in Student Evaluations of Teaching.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greenwald, Anthony G.

Higher education relies on student ratings to evaluate faculty teaching, partly because the alternatives (expert peer appraisals or objective performance criteria) are costly or unavailable. Because student ratings are crucial not only to improving instruction, but also in making or breaking faculty careers, it is important to assure that they…

Human Capital and Rates of Return: Brilliant Ideas or Ideological Dead Ends?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klees, Steven J.

2016-01-01

Human capital theory and rate of return methodology have long been a dominant framework in comparative and international education and other fields. While there have been criticisms since its inception, it has been ubiquitous and widely accepted as an important mechanism for educational planning, evaluation, and policy making. In this article, I…

Context Effects in Multi-Alternative Decision Making: Empirical Data and a Bayesian Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hawkins, Guy; Brown, Scott D.; Steyvers, Mark; Wagenmakers, Eric-Jan

2012-01-01

For decisions between many alternatives, the benchmark result is Hick's Law: that response time increases log-linearly with the number of choice alternatives. Even when Hick's Law is observed for response times, divergent results have been observed for error rates--sometimes error rates increase with the number of choice alternatives, and…

It Matters Whether Reading Comprehension Is Conceptualised as Rate or Accuracy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rønberg, Louise Flensted; Petersen, Dorthe Klint

2016-01-01

This study shows that it makes a difference whether accuracy measures or rate measures are used when assessing reading comprehension. When the outcome is reading comprehension accuracy (i.e., the number of correct responses), word reading skills (measured as access to orthographic representations) account for a modest amount of the variance in the…

Making Hawai'i's Kids Count. Issue Paper Number 3.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hawaii Univ., Manoa. Center on the Family.

This issue paper from Hawai'i Kids Count addresses the issue of teen pregnancy and birth rates. The paper notes that teen pregnancy and birth rates are declining both nationally and in Hawaii and describes key risk factors associated with having a baby before age 20: (1) early school failure; (2) early behavioral problems; (3) family dysfunction;…

Moving up the Education Ladder: Second-Generation Dominicans in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lopez, Christina

2011-01-01

Second-generation Dominicans have been able to make remarkable gains in college completion rates over the last twenty years, and have higher rates of obtaining a bachelor's degree than native-born Blacks and Puerto Ricans who live within their same under-resourced communities (Hernandez and Stevens-Acevedo, 2004). Also, Dominicans are known to…

43 CFR 3212.15 - Will my lease remain in effect if I cease production and I do not have an approved suspension?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE LEASING Lease Suspensions, Cessation of Production, Royalty Rate Reductions, and Energy Policy Act Royalty Rate Conversions § 3212.15 Will my lease remain in... commercial quantities; (iii) Continue to make diligent efforts to utilize the geothermal resource; and (iv...

Automated Pilot Performance Assessment in the T-37: A Feasibility Study. Final Report (May 1968-April 1971).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knoop, Patricia A.; Welde, William L.

Air Force investigators conducted a three year program to develop a capability for automated quantification and assessment of in-flight pilot performance. Such a capability enhances pilot training by making ratings more objective, valid, reliable and sensitive, and by freeing instructors from rating responsibilities, allowing them to concentrate…

37 CFR 382.3 - Royalty fees for the digital performance of sound recordings and the making of ephemeral...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Royalty fees for the digital.... 382.3 Section 382.3 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND...

37 CFR 382.2 - Royalty fees for the digital performance of sound recordings and the making of ephemeral...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Royalty fees for the digital.... 382.2 Section 382.2 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND...

37 CFR 382.2 - Royalty fees for the digital performance of sound recordings and the making of ephemeral...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Royalty fees for the digital.... 382.2 Section 382.2 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND...

37 CFR 382.2 - Royalty fees for the digital performance of sound recordings and the making of ephemeral...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Royalty fees for the digital.... 382.2 Section 382.2 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND...

37 CFR 382.3 - Royalty fees for the digital performance of sound recordings and the making of ephemeral...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Royalty fees for the digital.... 382.3 Section 382.3 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT ROYALTY BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES RATES AND TERMS FOR DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS OF SOUND RECORDINGS AND...

Applying Models to National Surveys of Undergraduate Science Students: What Affects Ratings of Satisfaction?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Langan, Anthony Mark; Dunleavy, Peter; Fielding, Alan

2013-01-01

Many countries use national-level surveys to capture student opinions about their university experiences. It is necessary to interpret survey results in an appropriate context to inform decision-making at many levels. To provide context to national survey outcomes, we describe patterns in the ratings of science and engineering subjects from the…

Education for All or Profit for Few? Analyzing the Behavior of College-Going Students Attending For-Profit Colleges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodriguez, Bryan Adan

2014-01-01

Under proposed gainful employment regulations, for-profit career colleges must disclose admissions information to prospective students regarding program costs, loan default rates, and completion rates. This study investigates whether students at for-profit colleges consider gainful employment criteria when making a decision to enroll in school.…

Use of the Titles Ms., Miss or Mrs.: Does It Make a Difference?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Conner, Jane; And Others

1986-01-01

People in a shopping mall were asked to read a paragraph about an achieving woman given the title Miss, Mrs., Ms., or not given a title. Readers of Ms titled paragraph rated her less honest. No effects obtained for other rating dimensions. Results may indicate public acceptance of Ms title. (MCK)

77 FR 13663 - Order Making Fiscal Year 2012 Mid-Year Adjustments to Transaction Fee Rates

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-07

... the Exchange Act establish a new method for annually adjusting the fee rates applicable under Sections... 31(j)(2) specifies the method for determining the mid-year adjustment for fiscal 2012. Specifically... the month ($4,797,592,302,406). Repeat the method to generate forecasts for subsequent months. \\14...

An Analysis of Female Representation and Marines Performance in Aviation and Logistics Occupations

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-01

entering the occfield who are women and the male and female retention rates. If male and female retention rates are the same but women make up a small...gender but men have higher (lower) retention rates than women , then female representation will be low (high). In the next two sections, we...trends for pilots/NFOs, non- pilot/non-NFO aviation officers, and logistics officers, highlighting any differences between men and women . Retention

Mapping Autonomous System’s Router Level Topology in IPv6

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-06-01

useful and is called rate limiting. Rate limiting sends enough probes to one of the alias addresses to cause the router to begin rate limiting the...network. The second key capability required was alias and anonymous resolution: if there was no method of making these functions happen then any graph...command, then port unreachable responses were received by probes through d5 to interface d13 or d5. Again, it is believed that this happened

Overdistribution illusions: Categorical judgments produce them, confidence ratings reduce them.

PubMed

Brainerd, C J; Nakamura, K; Reyna, V F; Holliday, R E

2017-01-01

Overdistribution is a form of memory distortion in which an event is remembered as belonging to too many episodic states, states that are logically or empirically incompatible with each other. We investigated a response formatting method of suppressing 2 basic types of overdistribution, disjunction and conjunction illusions, which parallel some classic illusions in the judgment and decision making literature. In this method, subjects respond to memory probes by rating their confidence that test cues belong to specific episodic states (e.g., presented on List 1, presented on List 2), rather than by making the usual categorical judgments about those states. The central prediction, which was derived from the task calibration principle of fuzzy-trace theory, was that confidence ratings should reduce overdistribution by diminishing subjects' reliance on noncompensatory gist memories. The data of 3 experiments agreed with that prediction. In Experiment 1, there were reliable disjunction illusions with categorical judgments but not with confidence ratings. In Experiment 2, both response formats produced reliable disjunction illusions, but those for confidence ratings were much smaller than those for categorical judgments. In Experiment 3, there were reliable conjunction illusions with categorical judgments but not with confidence ratings. Apropos of recent controversies over confidence-accuracy correlations in memory, such correlations were positive for hits, negative for correct rejections, and the 2 types of correlations were of equal magnitude. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Overdistribution Illusions: Categorical Judgments Produce Them, Confidence Ratings Reduce Them

PubMed Central

Brainerd, C. J.; Nakamura, K.; Reyna, V. F.; Holliday, R. E.

2017-01-01

Overdistribution is a form of memory distortion in which an event is remembered as belonging to too many episodic states, states that are logically or empirically incompatible with each other. We investigated a response formatting method of suppressing two basic types of overdistribution, disjunction and conjunction illusions, which parallel some classic illusions in the judgment and decision making literature. In this method, subjects respond to memory probes by rating their confidence that test cues belong to specific episodic states (e.g., presented on List 1, presented on List 2), rather than by making the usual categorical judgments about those states. The central prediction, which was derived from the task calibration principle of fuzzy-trace theory, was that confidence ratings should reduce overdistribution by diminishing subjects’ reliance on noncompensatory gist memories. The data of three experiments agreed with that prediction. In Experiment 1, there were reliable disjunction illusions with categorical judgments but not with confidence ratings. In Experiment 2, both response formats produced reliable disjunction illusions, but those for confidence ratings were much smaller than those for categorical judgments. In Experiment 3, there were reliable conjunction illusions with categorical judgments but not with confidence ratings. Apropos of recent controversies over confidence-accuracy correlations in memory, such correlations were positive for hits, negative for correct rejections, and the two types of correlations were of equal magnitude. PMID:28054811

The problem is not just sample size: the consequences of low base rates in policing experiments in smaller cities.

PubMed

Hinkle, Joshua C; Weisburd, David; Famega, Christine; Ready, Justin

2013-01-01

Hot spots policing is one of the most influential police innovations, with a strong body of experimental research showing it to be effective in reducing crime and disorder. However, most studies have been conducted in major cities, and we thus know little about whether it is effective in smaller cities, which account for a majority of police agencies. The lack of experimental studies in smaller cities is likely in part due to challenges designing statistically powerful tests in such contexts. The current article explores the challenges of statistical power and "noise" resulting from low base rates of crime in smaller cities and provides suggestions for future evaluations to overcome these limitations. Data from a randomized experimental evaluation of broken windows policing in hot spots are used to illustrate the challenges that low base rates present for evaluating hot spots policing programs in smaller cities. Analyses show low base rates make it difficult to detect treatment effects. Very large effect sizes would be required to reach sufficient power, and random fluctuations around low base rates make detecting treatment effects difficult, irrespective of power, by masking differences between treatment and control groups. Low base rates present strong challenges to researchers attempting to evaluate hot spots policing in smaller cities. As such, base rates must be taken directly into account when designing experimental evaluations. The article offers suggestions for researchers attempting to expand the examination of hot spots policing and other microplace-based interventions to smaller jurisdictions.

Handwritten digits recognition using HMM and PSO based on storks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Liao; Jia, Zhenhong; Yang, Jie; Pang, Shaoning

2010-07-01

A new method for handwritten digits recognition based on hidden markov model (HMM) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) is proposed. This method defined 24 strokes with the sense of directional, to make up for the shortage that is sensitive in choice of stating point in traditional methods, but also reduce the ambiguity caused by shakes. Make use of excellent global convergence of PSO; improving the probability of finding the optimum and avoiding local infinitesimal obviously. Experimental results demonstrate that compared with the traditional methods, the proposed method can make most of the recognition rate of handwritten digits improved.

Effect of surface tension on global modes of confined wake flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tammisola, Outi; Lundell, Fredrik; Söderberg, L. Daniel

2011-01-01

Many wake flows are susceptible to self-sustained oscillations, such as the well-known von Kármán vortex street behind a cylinder that makes a rope beat against a flagpole at a distinct frequency on a windy day. One appropriate method to study these global instabilities numerically is to look at the growth rates of the linear temporal global modes. If all growth rates for all modes are negative for a certain flow field then a self-sustained oscillation should not occur. On the other hand, if one growth rate for one mode is slightly positive, the oscillation will approximately obtain the frequency and shape of this global mode. In our study, we first introduce surface tension between two fluids to the wake-flow problem. Then we investigate its effects on the global linear instability of a spatially developing wake with two co-flowing immiscible fluids. The inlet profile consists of two uniform layers, which makes the problem easily parametrizable. The fluids are assumed to have the same density and viscosity, with the result that the interface position becomes dynamically important solely through the action of surface tension. Two wakes with different parameter values and surface tension are studied in detail. The results show that surface tension has a strong influence on the oscillation frequency, growth rate, and shape of the global mode(s). Finally, we make an attempt to confirm and explain the surface-tension effect based on a local stability analysis of the same flow field in the streamwise position of maximum reverse flow.

Societal preferences in the treatment of pediatric medulloblastoma: Balancing risk of death and quality of life.

PubMed

Khakban, Amir; Mohammadi, Tima; Lynd, Larry D; Mabbott, Don; Bouffet, Eric; Gastonguay, Louise; Zafari, Zafar; Malkin, David; Taylor, Michael; Marra, Carlo A

2017-06-01

Medulloblastoma is the most prevalent childhood brain cancer. Children with medulloblastoma typically receive a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The survival rate is high but survivors often have sequelae from radiotherapy of the entire developing brain and spinal cord. Ongoing genetic studies have suggested that decreasing the dose of radiation might be possible among children with favorable molecular variants; however, this may result in an increased disease recurrence. As such, there is a need to investigate the nature of trade-offs that individuals are willing to make regarding the treatment of medulloblastoma. We used best-worst scaling to estimate the importance of attributes affecting the general public's decision making around the treatment of medulloblastoma. After conducting focus groups, we selected three relevant attributes: (1) the accuracy of the genetic test; (2) the probability of serious adverse effects of the treatment(s); and (3) the survival rate. Using the paired method, we applied a conditional logit model to estimate preferences. In total, 3,006 respondents (51.3% female) with an average age of 43 years answered the questionnaires. All coefficients were statistically significantly different from zero and the attribute levels of adverse effects and the survival rate had the most impact on individuals' stated decision making. Overall, respondents showed high sensitivity to children experiencing disability particularly in the setting of a good prognosis. However, among children with poor prognostic molecular variants, participants showed tolerance about having a child with mild and partial disability compared to a low rate of survival. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Pilot study of oxygen transport rate of banked red blood cells.

PubMed

Buchwald, H; Menchaca, H J; Michalek, V N; Rudser, K D; Rohde, T D; O'Dea, T; Connett, J E; Gorlin, J

2009-01-01

Dynamic oximetry provides a new way to assess the effect of blood storage on the oxygen transport rate (OTR). In dynamic oximetry, the rate at which oxyhemoglobin becomes deoxyhemoglobin is measured optically, thereby, indirectly measuring the rate at which oxygen leaves the red blood cell (RBC) making it available for transfer to tissues. Extending the physiologic diffusion time in an in vitro apparatus, consisting of a diffusion system and gas exchanger capable of controlling the surface area and the time of exposure for oxygenation and deoxygenation, makes OTR measurement feasible. Eight normal blood donor units, collected in adenine, dextrose, sorbitol, sodium chloride and mannitol , were stored for 8 weeks under standard conditions and serially sampled for OTR. We report that the OTR at the time of blood bank donation appears to be singular for each donor, that the interdonor differences are maintained over time, and that the individual OTR increased 1.72-fold (95% CI 1.51, 1.95) over 8 weeks, adjusting for sex, age and plasma cholesterol level. Oxygen transport rate increases during storage; blood units with similar haemoglobin content may have significant differences in OTR. Studies examining blood parameters at the time of donation and blood storage on patient outcomes should consider measuring OTR, as it may contribute to differences in observed efficacy of tissue oxygenation.

Acquisition of decision making criteria: reward rate ultimately beats accuracy.

PubMed

Balci, Fuat; Simen, Patrick; Niyogi, Ritwik; Saxe, Andrew; Hughes, Jessica A; Holmes, Philip; Cohen, Jonathan D

2011-02-01

Speed-accuracy trade-offs strongly influence the rate of reward that can be earned in many decision-making tasks. Previous reports suggest that human participants often adopt suboptimal speed-accuracy trade-offs in single session, two-alternative forced-choice tasks. We investigated whether humans acquired optimal speed-accuracy trade-offs when extensively trained with multiple signal qualities. When performance was characterized in terms of decision time and accuracy, our participants eventually performed nearly optimally in the case of higher signal qualities. Rather than adopting decision criteria that were individually optimal for each signal quality, participants adopted a single threshold that was nearly optimal for most signal qualities. However, setting a single threshold for different coherence conditions resulted in only negligible decrements in the maximum possible reward rate. Finally, we tested two hypotheses regarding the possible sources of suboptimal performance: (1) favoring accuracy over reward rate and (2) misestimating the reward rate due to timing uncertainty. Our findings provide support for both hypotheses, but also for the hypothesis that participants can learn to approach optimality. We find specifically that an accuracy bias dominates early performance, but diminishes greatly with practice. The residual discrepancy between optimal and observed performance can be explained by an adaptive response to uncertainty in time estimation.

"Spin-dependent" \\varvec{μ → e} conversion on light nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davidson, Sacha; Kuno, Yoshitaka; Saporta, Albert

2018-02-01

The experimental sensitivity to μ → e conversion will improve by four or more orders of magnitude in coming years, making it interesting to consider the "spin-dependent" (SD) contribution to the rate. This process does not benefit from the atomic-number-squared enhancement of the spin-independent (SI) contribution, but probes different operators. We give details of our recent estimate of the spin-dependent rate, expressed as a function of operator coefficients at the experimental scale. Then we explore the prospects for distinguishing coefficients or models by using different targets, both in an EFT perspective, where a geometric representation of different targets as vectors in coefficient space is introduced, and also in three leptoquark models. It is found that comparing the rate on isotopes with and without spin could allow one to detect spin-dependent coefficients that are at least a factor of few larger than the spin-independent ones. Distinguishing among the axial, tensor and pseudoscalar operators that induce the SD rate would require calculating the nuclear matrix elements for the second two. Comparing the SD rate on nuclei with an odd proton vs. odd neutron could allow one to distinguish operators involving u quarks from those involving d quarks; this is interesting because the distinction is difficult to make for SI operators.

Prospective Analysis of Decision Making During Joint Cardiology Cardiothoracic Conference in Treatment of 107 Consecutive Children with Congenital Heart Disease.

PubMed

Duignan, Sophie; Ryan, Aedin; O'Keeffe, Dara; Kenny, Damien; McMahon, Colin J

2018-05-12

The complexity and potential biases involved in decision making have long been recognised and examined in both the aviation and business industries. More recently, the medical community have started to explore this concept and its particular importance in our field. Paediatric cardiology is a rapidly expanding field and for many of the conditions we treat, there is limited evidence available to support our decision-making. Variability exists within decision-making in paediatric cardiology and this may influence outcomes. There are no validated tools available to support and examine consistent decision-making for various treatment strategies in children with congenital heart disease in a multidisciplinary cardiology and cardiothoracic institution. Our primary objective was to analyse the complexity of decision-making for children with cardiac conditions in the context of our joint cardiology and cardiothoracic conference (JCC). Two paediatric cardiologists acted as investigators by observing the weekly joint cardiology-cardiothoracic surgery conference and prospectively evaluating the degree of complexity of decision-making in the management of 107 sequential children with congenital heart disease discussed. Additionally, the group consensus on the same patients was prospectively assessed to compare this to the independent observers. Of 107 consecutive children discussed at our JCC conference 32 (27%) went on to receive surgical intervention, 20 (17%) underwent catheterisation and 65 (56%) received medical treatment. There were 53 (50%) cases rated as simple by one senior observer, while 54 (50%) were rated as complex to some degree. There was high inter-observer agreement with a Krippendorff's alpha of ≥ 0.8 between 2 observers and between 2 observers and the group consensus as a whole for grading of the complexity of decision-making. Different decisions were occasionally made on patients with the same data set. Discussions revisiting the same patient, in complex cases, resulted in different management decisions being reached in this series. Anchoring of decision-making was witnessed in certain cases. Potential application of decision making algorithms is discussed in making decisions in paediatric cardiology patients. Decision-making in our institution's joint cardiology-cardiothoracic conference proved to be complex in approximately half of our patients. Inconsistency in decision-making for patients with the same diagnosis, and different decisions made for the same complex patient at different time points confounds the reliability of the decision-making process. These novel data highlight the absence of evidence-based medicine for many decisions, occasional lack of consistency and the impact of anchoring, heuristics and other biases in complex cases. Validated decision-making algorithms may assist in providing consistency to decision-making in this setting.

Different effects of dopaminergic medication on perceptual decision-making in Parkinson's disease as a function of task difficulty and speed-accuracy instructions.

PubMed

Huang, Yu-Ting; Georgiev, Dejan; Foltynie, Tom; Limousin, Patricia; Speekenbrink, Maarten; Jahanshahi, Marjan

2015-08-01

When choosing between two options, sufficient accumulation of information is required to favor one of the options over the other, before a decision is finally reached. To establish the effect of dopaminergic medication on the rate of accumulation of information, decision thresholds and speed-accuracy trade-offs, we tested 14 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) on and off dopaminergic medication and 14 age-matched healthy controls on two versions of the moving-dots task. One version manipulated the level of task difficulty and hence effort required for decision-making and the other the urgency, requiring decision-making under speed vs. accuracy instructions. The drift diffusion model was fitted to the behavioral data. As expected, the reaction time data revealed an effect of task difficulty, such that the easier the perceptual decision-making task was, the faster the participants responded. PD patients not only made significantly more errors compared to healthy controls, but interestingly they also made significantly more errors ON than OFF medication. The drift diffusion model indicated that PD patients had lower drift rates when tested ON compared to OFF medication, indicating that dopamine levels influenced the quality of information derived from sensory information. On the speed-accuracy task, dopaminergic medication did not directly influence reaction times or error rates. PD patients OFF medication had slower RTs and made more errors with speed than accuracy instructions compared to the controls, whereas such differences were not observed ON medication. PD patients had lower drift rates and higher response thresholds than the healthy controls both with speed and accuracy instructions and ON and OFF medication. For the patients, only non-decision time was higher OFF than ON medication and higher with accuracy than speed instructions. The present results demonstrate that when task difficulty is manipulated, dopaminergic medication impairs perceptual decision-making and renders it more errorful in PD relative to when patients are tested OFF medication. In contrast, for the speed/accuracy task, being ON medication improved performance by eliminating the significantly higher errors and slower RTs observed for patients OFF medication compared to the HC group. There was no evidence of dopaminergic medication inducing impulsive decisions when patients were acting under speed pressure. For the speed-accuracy instructions, the sole effect of dopaminergic medication was on non-decision time, which suggests that medication primarily affected processes tightly coupled with the motor symptoms of PD. Interestingly, the current results suggest opposite effects of dopaminergic medication on the levels of difficulty and speed-accuracy versions of the moving dots task, possibly reflecting the differential effect of dopamine on modulating drift rate (levels of difficulty task) and non-decision time (speed-accuracy task) in the process of perceptual decision making. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Strategic larval decision-making in a bivoltine butterfly.

PubMed

Friberg, Magne; Dahlerus, Josefin; Wiklund, Christer

2012-07-01

In temperate areas, insect larvae must decide between entering winter diapause or developing directly and reproducing in the same season. Long daylength and high temperature promote direct development, which is generally associated with a higher growth rate. In this work, we investigated whether the larval pathway decision precedes the adjustment of growth rate (state-independent), or whether the pathway decision is conditional on the individual's growth rate (state-dependent), in the butterfly Pieris napi. This species typically makes the pathway decision in the penultimate instar. We measured growth rate throughout larval development under two daylengths: slightly shorter and slightly longer than the critical daylength. Results indicate that the pathway decision can be both state-independent and state-dependent; under the shorter daylength condition, most larvae entered diapause, and direct development was chosen exclusively by a small subset of larvae showing the highest growth rates already in the early instars; under the longer daylength condition, most larvae developed directly, and the diapause pathway was chosen exclusively by a small subset of slow-growing individuals. Among the remainder, the choice of pathway was independent of the early growth rate; larvae entering diapause under the short daylength grew as fast as or faster than the direct developers under the longer daylength in the early instars, whereas the direct developers grew faster than the diapausers only in the ultimate instar. Hence, the pathway decision was state-dependent in a subset with a very high or very low growth rate, whereas the decision was state-independent in the majority of the larvae, which made the growth rate adjustment downstream from the pathway decision.

Estimating implied rates of discount in healthcare decision-making.

PubMed

West, R R; McNabb, R; Thompson, A G H; Sheldon, T A; Grimley Evans, J

2003-01-01

To consider whether implied rates of discounting from the perspectives of individual and society differ, and whether implied rates of discounting in health differ from those implied in choices involving finance or "goods". The study comprised first a review of economics, health economics and social science literature and then an empirical estimate of implied rates of discounting in four fields: personal financial, personal health, public financial and public health, in representative samples of the public and of healthcare professionals. Samples were drawn in the former county and health authority district of South Glamorgan, Wales. The public sample was a representative random sample of men and women, aged over 18 years and drawn from electoral registers. The health professional sample was drawn at random with the cooperation of professional leads to include doctors, nurses, professions allied to medicine, public health, planners and administrators. The literature review revealed few empirical studies in representative samples of the population, few direct comparisons of public with private decision-making and few direct comparisons of health with financial discounting. Implied rates of discounting varied widely and studies suggested that discount rates are higher the smaller the value of the outcome and the shorter the period considered. The relationship between implied discount rates and personal attributes was mixed, possibly reflecting the limited nature of the samples. Although there were few direct comparisons, some studies found that individuals apply different rates of discount to social compared with private comparisons and health compared with financial. The present study also found a wide range of implied discount rates, with little systematic effect of age, gender, educational level or long-term illness. There was evidence, in both samples, that people chose a lower rate of discount in comparisons made on behalf of society than in comparisons made for themselves. Both public and health professional samples tended to choose lower discount rates in health-related comparisons than in finance-related comparisons. It was also suggested that implied rates of discount, derived from responses to hypothetical questions, can be influenced by detail of question framing. The study suggested that both the lay public and healthcare professionals consider that the discount rate appropriate for public decisions is lower than that for private decisions. This finding suggests that lay people as well as healthcare professionals, used to making decisions on behalf of others, recognise that society is not simply an aggregate of individuals. It also implies a general appreciation that society is more stable and has a more predictable future than does the individual. There is fairly general support for this view in the theoretical literature and limited support in the few previous direct comparisons. Further research is indicated, possibly involving more in-depth interviewing and drawing inference on real, rather than hypothetical choices.

Comparisons of client and clinician views of the importance of factors in client-clinician interaction in hearing aid purchase decisions.

PubMed

Poost-Foroosh, Laya; Jennings, Mary Beth; Cheesman, Margaret F

2015-03-01

Despite clinical recognition of the adverse effects of acquired hearing loss, only a small proportion of adults who could benefit use hearing aids. Hearing aid adoption has been studied in relationship to client-related and hearing aid technology-related factors. The influence of the client-clinician interaction in the decision to purchase hearing aids has not been explored in any depth. Importance ratings of a sample of adults having a recent hearing aid recommendation (clients) and hearing healthcare professionals (clinicians) from across Canada were compared on factors in client-clinician interactions that influence hearing aid purchase decisions. A cross-sectional approach was used to obtain online and paper-based concept ratings. Participants were 43 adults (age range, 45-85 yr) who had received a first hearing aid recommendation in the 3 mo before participation. A total of 54 audiologists and 20 hearing instrument practitioners from a variety of clinical settings who prescribed or dispensed hearing aids completed the concept-rating task. The task consisted of 122 items that had been generated via concept mapping in a previous study and which resulted in the identification of eight concepts that may influence hearing aid purchase decisions. Participants rated "the importance of each of the statements in a person's decision to purchase a hearing aid" on a 5-point Likert scale, from 1 = minimally important to 5 = extremely important. For the initial data analysis, the ratings for each of the items included in each concept were averaged for each participant to provide an estimate of the overall importance rating of each concept. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare the mean importance ratings of the clients to the clinicians. Ratings of individual statements were also compared in order to investigate the directionality of the importance ratings within concepts. There was a significant difference in the mean ratings for clients and clinicians for the concepts understanding and meeting client needs, conveying device information by clinician, supporting choices and shared decision making, and factors in client readiness. Three concepts-understanding and meeting client needs, conveying device information by clinician, and supporting choices and shared decision making-were rated as more important by clients than by clinicians. One concept (ie, factors in client readiness) was rated as more important by clinicians than by clients. The concepts rated as most important by clients and clinicians are consistent with components of several existing models of client-centered and patient-centered care. These concepts reflect the clients' perception of the importance of their involvement in the decision-making process. A preliminary model of client-centered care within the hearing aid uptake process and implications for clinical audiology are described. American Academy of Audiology.

Ethical Principles for Physician Rating Sites

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

During the last 5 years, an ethical debate has emerged, often in public media, about the potential positive and negative effects of physician rating sites and whether physician rating sites created by insurance companies or government agencies are ethical in their current states. Due to the lack of direct evidence of physician rating sites’ effects on physicians’ performance, patient outcomes, or the public’s trust in health care, most contributions refer to normative arguments, hypothetical effects, or indirect evidence. This paper aims, first, to structure the ethical debate about the basic concept of physician rating sites: allowing patients to rate, comment, and discuss physicians’ performance, online and visible to everyone. Thus, it provides a more thorough and transparent starting point for further discussion and decision making on physician rating sites: what should physicians and health policy decision makers take into account when discussing the basic concept of physician rating sites and its possible implications on the physician–patient relationship? Second, it discusses where and how the preexisting evidence from the partly related field of public reporting of physician performance can serve as an indicator for specific needs of evaluative research in the field of physician rating sites. This paper defines the ethical principles of patient welfare, patient autonomy, physician welfare, and social justice in the context of physician rating sites. It also outlines basic conditions for a fair decision-making process concerning the implementation and regulation of physician rating sites, namely, transparency, justification, participation, minimization of conflicts of interest, and openness for revision. Besides other issues described in this paper, one trade-off presents a special challenge and will play an important role when deciding about more- or less-restrictive physician rating sites regulations: the potential psychological and financial harms for physicians that can result from physician rating sites need to be contained without limiting the potential benefits for patients with respect to health, health literacy, and equity. PMID:22146737

Road map to Title I of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978

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

Partridge, W.

1979-01-18

Within the next two years all electric utilities retailing over 500 million kilowatts per year will be forced into rate-making proceedings or public hearings to meet the requirements of Title I of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. In these proceedings they will be required to consider the application of Federal requirements for lifeline rates, class rates based on cost of service, declining block rates, time-of-day rates, seasonal rates, interruptible rates, load management techniques, prohibitions on master metering, restrictions on use of automatic adjustment clauses, provision of consumer information, termination procedures, and restrictions on advertising. The act hasmore » immediate, significant implications for electric utility management.« less

2001 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-12-01

northwest passing over the central Philippine Islands then into the South China Sea before dissipating off western Luzon on 22 February. (3) Reuters...hours prior to making landfall in Southern Taiwan. (2) Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau (CWB) indicated that rainfall rates in the Pingtung County...1) Attained peak intensity of 100 kts at approximately 1800Z 29 July after making landfall. (2) The Taipei Central News Agency reported 72 fatalities

"I Make Sure I Am Safe and I Make Sure I Have Myself in Every Way Possible": African-American Youth Perspectives on Sexuality Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kimmel, Allison; Williams, Terrinieka T.; Veinot, Tiffany C.; Campbell, Bettina; Campbell, Terrance R.; Valacak, Mark; Kruger, Daniel J.

2013-01-01

High rates of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections play a major role in the physical, mental, and emotional health of young people. Despite efforts to provide sexuality education through diverse channels, we know little about the ways in which young people perceive school- and community-based efforts to educate them about sexual health.…

Medical Patients’ Treatment Decision Making Capacity: A Report from a General Hospital in Greece

PubMed Central

Bilanakis, Nikolaos; Vratsista, Aikaterini; Athanasiou, Eleni; Niakas, Dimitris; Peritogiannis, Vaios

2014-01-01

This study aimed to assess the decision-making capacity for treatment of patients hospitalized in an internal medicine ward of a General Hospital in Greece, and to examine the views of treating physicians regarding patients’ capacity. All consecutive admissions to an internal medicine ward within a month were evaluated. A total of 134 patients were approached and 78 patients were interviewed with the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T) and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) questionnaire. Sixty-eight out of 134 patients (50.7%) were incompetent to decide upon their treatment. The majority of them (n=56, 41.8%) were obviously incapable because they were unconscious, or had such marked impairment that they could not give their own names, and the rest (n=12, 8.9%) were rated as incompetent according to their performance in the MacCAT-T. Neurological disorders, old age and altered cognitive function according to MMSE were negatively correlated with decision making capacity. Physicians sometimes failed to recognize patients’ incapacity. Rates of decision-making incapacity for treatment in medical inpatients are high, and incapacity may go unrecognized by treating physicians. Combined patient evaluation with the use of the MacCAT-T and MMSE, could be useful for the determination of incapable patients. PMID:25505489

The Attitude-Behavior Discrepancy in Medical Decision Making

PubMed Central

He, Fei; Li, Dongdong; Cao, Rong; Zeng, Juli; Guan, Hao

2014-01-01

Background: In medical practice, the dissatisfaction of patients about medical decisions made by doctors is often regarded as the fuse of doctor-patient conflict. However, a few studies have looked at why there are such dissatisfactions. Objectives: This experimental study aimed to explore the discrepancy between attitude and behavior within medical situations and its interaction with framing description. Patients and Methods: A total of 450 clinical undergraduates were randomly assigned to six groups and investigated using the classic medical decision making problem, which was described either in a positive or a negative frame (2) × decision making behavior\\attitude to risky plan\\attitude to conservative plan (3). Results: A discrepancy between attitude and behavior did exist in medical situations. Regarding medical dilemmas, if the mortality rate was described, subjects had a significant tendency to choose a conservative plan (t = 3.55, P < 0.01) yet if the survival rate was described, there was no such preference (t = -1.48, P > 0.05). However, regardless of the plan chosen by the doctor, the subjects had a significant opposing attitude (P < .05). Framing description had a significant impact on both decision making behavior and attitude (t behavior = -3.24, P < 0.01；t attitude to surgery = 4.08，P < 0.01；t attitude to radiation = -2.15，P < 0.05). Conclusions: A discrepancy of attitude-behavior does exist in medical situations. The framing of a description has an impact on medical decision-making. PMID:25763230

Risk assessment and decision making about in-labour transfer from rural maternity care: a social judgment and signal detection analysis

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background The importance of respecting women’s wishes to give birth close to their local community is supported by policy in many developed countries. However, persistent concerns about the quality and safety of maternity care in rural communities have been expressed. Safe childbirth in rural communities depends on good risk assessment and decision making as to whether and when the transfer of a woman in labour to an obstetric led unit is required. This is a difficult decision. Wide variation in transfer rates between rural maternity units have been reported suggesting different decision making criteria may be involved; furthermore, rural midwives and family doctors report feeling isolated in making these decisions and that staff in urban centres do not understand the difficulties they face. In order to develop more evidence based decision making strategies greater understanding of the way in which maternity care providers currently make decisions is required. This study aimed to examine how midwives working in urban and rural settings and obstetricians make intrapartum transfer decisions, and describe sources of variation in decision making. Methods The study was conducted in three stages. 1. 20 midwives and four obstetricians described factors influencing transfer decisions. 2. Vignettes depicting an intrapartum scenario were developed based on stage one data. 3. Vignettes were presented to 122 midwives and 12 obstetricians who were asked to assess the level of risk in each case and decide whether to transfer or not. Social judgment analysis was used to identify the factors and factor weights used in assessment. Signal detection analysis was used to identify participants’ ability to distinguish high and low risk cases and personal decision thresholds. Results When reviewing the same case information in vignettes midwives in different settings and obstetricians made very similar risk assessments. Despite this, a wide range of transfer decisions were still made, suggesting that the main source of variation in decision making and transfer rates is not in the assessment but the personal decision thresholds of clinicians. Conclusions Currently health care practice focuses on supporting or improving decision making through skills training and clinical guidelines. However, these methods alone are unlikely to be effective in improving consistency of decision making. PMID:23114289

Interest rate swaps: financial tool of the '90s.

PubMed

Woodard, M A

1993-11-01

The implementation of prospective payment for capital costs makes it more necessary than ever for healthcare financial managers to be able to creatively balance capital costs with risk. A new financial management tool--the interest rate swap (a contractual agreement in which one party with a fixed interest rate payment liability and another party with a variable interest payment liability agree to trade those obligations)--is proving to be a solution for a growing number of hospital managers. This article describes the uses of interest rate swaps and discusses the variables to be considered when evaluating whether the benefits of an interest rate swap offset the additional risk.

Individual differences in heart rate variability are associated with the avoidance of negative emotional events.

PubMed

Katahira, Kentaro; Fujimura, Tomomi; Matsuda, Yoshi-Taka; Okanoya, Kazuo; Okada, Masato

2014-12-01

Although the emotional outcome of a choice generally affects subsequent decisions, humans can inhibit the influence of emotion. Heart rate variability (HRV) has emerged as an objective measure of individual differences in the capacity for inhibitory control. In the present study, we investigated how individual differences in HRV at rest are associated with the emotional effects of the outcome of a choice on subsequent decision making using a decision-making task in which emotional pictures appeared as decision outcomes. We used a reinforcement learning model to characterize the observed behaviors according to several parameters, namely, the learning rate and the motivational value of positive and negative pictures. Consequently, we found that individuals with a lower resting HRV exhibited a greater negative motivational value in response to negative pictures, suggesting that these individuals tend to avoid negative pictures compared with individuals with a higher resting HRV. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tuning the speed-accuracy trade-off to maximize reward rate in multisensory decision-making.

PubMed

Drugowitsch, Jan; DeAngelis, Gregory C; Angelaki, Dora E; Pouget, Alexandre

2015-06-19

For decisions made under time pressure, effective decision making based on uncertain or ambiguous evidence requires efficient accumulation of evidence over time, as well as appropriately balancing speed and accuracy, known as the speed/accuracy trade-off. For simple unimodal stimuli, previous studies have shown that human subjects set their speed/accuracy trade-off to maximize reward rate. We extend this analysis to situations in which information is provided by multiple sensory modalities. Analyzing previously collected data (Drugowitsch et al., 2014), we show that human subjects adjust their speed/accuracy trade-off to produce near-optimal reward rates. This trade-off can change rapidly across trials according to the sensory modalities involved, suggesting that it is represented by neural population codes rather than implemented by slow neuronal mechanisms such as gradual changes in synaptic weights. Furthermore, we show that deviations from the optimal speed/accuracy trade-off can be explained by assuming an incomplete gradient-based learning of these trade-offs.

Evaluation of an Agricultural Meteorological Disaster Based on Multiple Criterion Decision Making and Evolutionary Algorithm

PubMed Central

Yu, Xiaobing; Yu, Xianrui; Lu, Yiqun

2018-01-01

The evaluation of a meteorological disaster can be regarded as a multiple-criteria decision making problem because it involves many indexes. Firstly, a comprehensive indexing system for an agricultural meteorological disaster is proposed, which includes the disaster rate, the inundated rate, and the complete loss rate. Following this, the relative weights of the three criteria are acquired using a novel proposed evolutionary algorithm. The proposed algorithm consists of a differential evolution algorithm and an evolution strategy. Finally, a novel evaluation model, based on the proposed algorithm and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), is presented to estimate the agricultural meteorological disaster of 2008 in China. The geographic information system (GIS) technique is employed to depict the disaster. The experimental results demonstrated that the agricultural meteorological disaster of 2008 was very serious, especially in Hunan and Hubei provinces. Some useful suggestions are provided to relieve agriculture meteorological disasters. PMID:29597243

The effect of social categorization on trust decisions in a trust game paradigm.

PubMed

Cañadas, Elena; Rodríguez-Bailón, Rosa; Lupiáñez, Juan

2015-01-01

This study investigates whether participants use categorical or individual knowledge about others in order to make cooperative decisions in an adaptation of the trust game paradigm. Concretely, participants had to choose whether to cooperate or not with black and white unknown partners as a function of expected partners' reciprocity rates. Reciprocity rates were manipulated by associating three out of four members of an ethnic group (blacks or whites consistent members) with high (or low) reciprocity rates, while the remaining member of the ethnic group is associated with the reciprocity of the other ethnic group (inconsistent member). Results show opposite performance's patterns for white and black partners. Participants seemed to categorize white partners, by making the same cooperation decision with all the partners, that is, they cooperated equally with consistent and inconsistent white partners. However, this effect was not found for black partners, suggesting a tendency to individuate them. Results are discussed in light of the implications of these categorization-individuation processes for intergroup relations and cooperative economic behavior.

Information-seeking bias in social anxiety disorder.

PubMed

Aderka, Idan M; Haker, Ayala; Marom, Sofi; Hermesh, Haggai; Gilboa-Schechtman, Eva

2013-02-01

In the present study, we sought to examine information seeking among individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD, n = 31) and nonanxious controls (n = 32) during an impression-formation task. Participants were given an initial description of a protagonist that included polarized information on the social rank dimension (i.e., dominant or submissive) or on the affiliation dimension (i.e., friendly or unfriendly). Participants were told that their task was to rate the protagonist on social rank and affiliation traits and were given the opportunity to obtain additional information in order to make their decisions. Results indicated that compared to controls, individuals with SAD sought less information before making social rank ratings. In addition, individuals with SAD rated dominant protagonists as higher in social rank than did controls. These findings suggest that even in nonevaluative conditions, individuals with SAD may have an information-seeking bias. In addition, individuals with SAD may have a bias in forming impressions of dominant others. Implications for cognitive and interpersonal models of SAD are discussed. 2013 APA, all rights reserved

Rate dependence of cell-to-cell variations of lithium-ion cells.

PubMed

An, Fuqiang; Chen, Lufan; Huang, Jun; Zhang, Jianbo; Li, Ping

2016-10-11

Lithium-ion cells are commonly used in a multicell configuration in power devices and electric vehicles, making the cell-to-cell variation (CtCV) a key factor to consider in system design and management. Previous studies on CtCV have two major limitations: the number of cells is usually less than one hundred, and the cells are usually commercial cells already subjected to cell-screenings. In this article, we first make a statistical analysis on the CtCV of 5473 fresh cells from an automotive battery manufacturer before the cell-screening process. Secondly, 198 cells are randomly selected from these 5473 cells and the rate dependence of the CtCV is examined, focusing on the correlations of capacity versus weight and capacity versus resistance, corresponding to thermodynamic and kinetic factors, respectively. The rate dependence of these two correlations is explained from a phenomenological model. Finally, eight cells from the 198 cells are further characterized with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy method to elucidate the kinetic origins of the CtCV.

Financial Decision-making Abilities and Financial Exploitation in Older African Americans: Preliminary Validity Evidence for the Lichtenberg Financial Decision Rating Scale (LFDRS)

PubMed Central

Ficker, Lisa J.; Rahman-Filipiak, Annalise

2015-01-01

This study examines preliminary evidence for the Lichtenberg Financial Decision Rating Scale (LFDRS), a new person-centered approach to assessing capacity to make financial decisions, and its relationship to self-reported cases of financial exploitation in 69 older African Americans. More than one third of individuals reporting financial exploitation also had questionable decisional abilities. Overall, decisional ability score and current decision total were significantly associated with cognitive screening test and financial ability scores, demonstrating good criterion validity. Financially exploited individuals, and non-exploited individuals, showed mean group differences on the Mini Mental State Exam, Financial Situational Awareness, Psychological Vulnerability, Current Decisional Ability, and Susceptibility to undue influence subscales, and Total Lichtenberg Financial Decision Rating Scale Score. Study findings suggest that impaired decisional abilities may render older adults more vulnerable to financial exploitation, and that the LFDRS is a valid tool for measuring both decisional abilities and financial exploitation. PMID:26285038

The role of total elbow arthroplasty in traumatology.

PubMed

Mansat, P; Bonnevialle, N; Rongières, M; Bonnevialle, P

2014-10-01

Fractures of the distal humerus account for 5% of osteoporotic fractures in subjects older than 60 years. A history of osteoporosis, co-morbidities, and joint comminution make their management difficult. The therapeutic options are limited to functional treatments, osteosynthesis, or either partial or total arthroplasty. Functional treatment of distal humerus fractures in the elderly subject provide inconsistent results, often with persistence of pain with a stiff or unstable elbow. Osteosynthesis remains the reference treatment for these fractures, following the principle of stable and rigid osteosynthesis allowing early mobilization. However, joint comminution and a history of osteoporosis occasionally make it impossible to meet this objective, with a considerable rate of complications and surgical revisions. Total elbow arthroplasty remains an alternative to osteosynthesis with very satisfactory immediate results restoring a painless, stable, and functional elbow. These results seem reproducible and sustainable over time. The complication rate is not uncommon with an approximately 10% surgical revision rate. Elbow hemiarthroplasty remains to be validated in this indication. V. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

The role of public policies in reducing smoking and deaths caused by smoking in Vietnam: results from the Vietnam tobacco policy simulation model.

PubMed

Levy, David T; Bales, Sarah; Lam, Nguyen T; Nikolayev, Leonid

2006-04-01

A simulation model is developed for Vietnam to project smoking prevalence and associated premature mortality. The model examines independently and as a package the effects of five types of tobacco control policies: tax increases, clean air laws, mass media campaigns, advertising bans, and youth access policies. Predictions suggest that the largest reductions in smoking rates will result from implementing a comprehensive tobacco control policy package. Significant inroads may be achieved through tax increases. A media campaign along with programs to publicize and enforce clean air laws, advertising bans and youth access laws would further reduce smoking rates. Tobacco control policies have the potential to make large dents in smoking rates, which in turn could lead to many lives saved. In the absence of these measures, deaths from smoking will increase. The model also helps to identify information gaps pertinent both to modeling and policy-making.

Effective multiple stages continuous acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation by immobilized bioreactors: Making full use of fresh corn stalk.

PubMed

Chang, Zhen; Cai, Di; Wang, Yong; Chen, Changjing; Fu, Chaohui; Wang, Guoqing; Qin, Peiyong; Wang, Zheng; Tan, Tianwei

2016-04-01

In order to make full use of the fresh corn stalk, the sugar containing juice was used as the sole substrate for acetone-butanol-ethanol production without any nutrients supplement, and the bagasse after squeezing the juice was used as the immobilized carrier. A total 21.34g/L of ABE was produced in batch cells immobilization system with ABE yield of 0.35g/g. A continuous fermentation containing three stages with immobilized cells was conducted and the effect of dilution rate on fermentation was investigated. As a result, the productivity and ABE solvents concentration reached 0.80g/Lh and 19.93g/L, respectively, when the dilution rate in each stage was 0.12/h (corresponding to a dilution rate of 0.04/h in the whole system). And the long-term operation indicated the continuous multiple stages ABE fermentation process had good stability and showed the great potential in future industrial applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rate dependence of cell-to-cell variations of lithium-ion cells

PubMed Central

An, Fuqiang; Chen, Lufan; Huang, Jun; Zhang, Jianbo; Li, Ping

2016-01-01

Lithium-ion cells are commonly used in a multicell configuration in power devices and electric vehicles, making the cell-to-cell variation (CtCV) a key factor to consider in system design and management. Previous studies on CtCV have two major limitations: the number of cells is usually less than one hundred, and the cells are usually commercial cells already subjected to cell-screenings. In this article, we first make a statistical analysis on the CtCV of 5473 fresh cells from an automotive battery manufacturer before the cell-screening process. Secondly, 198 cells are randomly selected from these 5473 cells and the rate dependence of the CtCV is examined, focusing on the correlations of capacity versus weight and capacity versus resistance, corresponding to thermodynamic and kinetic factors, respectively. The rate dependence of these two correlations is explained from a phenomenological model. Finally, eight cells from the 198 cells are further characterized with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy method to elucidate the kinetic origins of the CtCV. PMID:27725767