Simulation 󈨔 Symposium.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-11-21

defensive , and both the question and the answer seemed to generate supporting reactions from the audience. Discrete Event Simulation The session on...R. Toscano / A. Maceri / F. Maceri (Italy) Analyse numerique de quelques problemes de contact en theorie des membranes 3:40 - 4:00 p.m. COFFEE BREAK...Switzerland Stockage de chaleur faible profondeur : Simulation par elements finis 3:40 - 4:00 p.m. A. Rizk Abu El-Wafa / M. Tawfik / M.S. Mansour (Egypt) Digital

Quelques applications de la decomposition de l'entropie en psychologie et pedagogie (Some Applications of the Resolution of Entropy in Psychology and Pedagogy)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gillet, Louis

1971-01-01

Psychological and educational measurement is carried out according to the type of model used and data collected. The H entropy which shows the dispersion of the data can be divided into intragroup and intergroup entropy. Choice of colors, sociometrical choice, and the communications are three situations where this resolution can be applied. (MF)

Le grand séisme de Huaxian (1556) : quelques documents chinois

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poirier, Jean-Paul

2017-03-01

The strong earthquake that struck Shaanxi, Shanxi and several other Chinese provinces in 1556 is generally considered as the deadliest of all earthquakes. It is said that the Chinese annals reported 830,000 casualties. We give here a translation into French of the relevant passage of the annals, as well as of a testimony of a survivor Qin Keda, and of a text engraved on a stela.

Quelques aspects du folklore de la region Roannaise autour de 1950 (Some Aspects of Folklore of the Roanne Region about 1950).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Long, Jacqueline

1971-01-01

This article examines several aspects of folklore characteristic of the region of Roanne, France, during the 1950's. The town of Roanne, located between Clermont Ferrand and Lyon on the Loire River, is described in terms of its festive activities during serveral key holidays. The erosion of various customs and traditions, an inevitable result of…

The Role of Information and Research in Educational Decision-Making: Some Questions. Le Role De L'Information Et De La Recherche Dans La Prise De Decisions En Matiere D'Education: Quelques Questions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Paris (France).

This paper, one of a series of Unesco technical information reports, looks at the educational decision makers in developing nations and examines their access to and use of information and research results. Written in English and in French, the paper consists of five parts. Part one discusses problems encountered by educational policy-makers and…

Flight Control Design - Best Practices

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-12-01

n’était pas universellement disponible à l’époque. La première partie du rapport donne quelques exemples de problèmes de commandes de vol. Ils...pitch axis. We can infer a lesson learned in the form of design guidance for control allocation or priority. Rigorous analysis is required to define...flight excitation and data gathering manoeuvres are safe and are sufficient to produce the required information. BP9.5 Time must be allocated in the

Sidération myocardique au cours d'une intoxication au monoxyde de carbone (CO) chez une femme enceinte

PubMed Central

Coulibaly, Mahamadoun; Berdai, Mohamed Adnane; Labib, Smael; Harandou, Mustapha

2015-01-01

L'intoxication au monoxyde de carbone (CO) est la première cause de décès par intoxication en France. La littérature est ancienne et peu connue. Les signes les plus fréquents de l'intoxication sont la triade: Céphalées; asthénie, faiblesse musculaire surtout des membres inférieurs. Ses conséquences sont potentiellement graves pour le fœtus quand elle survient chez la femme enceinte, il est particulièrement exposé au risque d'hypoxie en raison de la forte affinité de son hémoglobine pour le CO qui traverse aisément le placenta. Les événements cardiovasculaires ne sont pas rares et peuvent être responsable d'une morbi-mortalité assez importante qui peuvent être d'apparition rapide ou secondaire mais régressent habituellement en quelques jours. Des SCA peuvent survenir lors d'une une intoxication au CO avec à l'extrême infarctus myocardique avec surélévation du segment ST. Il paraît légitime de proposer pour toutes les patientes: l’éloignement maternel de la source de CO; l'oxygénothérapie à 100% au masque facial par les services de secours et pendant le transfert; le traitement par oxygénothérapie hyperbare pour toutes les femmes enceintes, le plus rapidement possible et quelque soit l’âge gestationnel. PMID:26405502

Absorption of Some Mineral Salts by Root System of Different Woody Species and Accumulation over a Whole Vegetative Cycle; ABSORPTION DE QUELQUES SELS PAR L'APPAREIL RADICULAIRE DE DIFFERENTES ESPECES LIGNEUSES ET ACCUMULATION AU COURS D'UN CYCLE VEGETATIF COMPLET

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

Gagnaire, J.

1963-01-01

The concentration power of plant tissues and the translocation speed of mineral salts vary considerably with the absorbed salt, the botanical species, the considered tissue, and the part of the vegetative cycle. In Grenoble, with Picea excelsa, the true dormance is short and is accompanied by a pre-dormance period and a post dormance period. In the vegetative period, Picea excelsa leaves concentrate less mineral salt than Acer campestris leaves (coefficient 2 for Ca--3 for phosphates) and Populus nigra leaves (coefficient 3 for Ca, coefficient 5 for phosphates). Results of tracer studies are tabulated. (C.H.)

C3I for Crisis, Emergency and Consequence Management (C3I pour la gestion des crises, des urgences et de leurs consequences)

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-05-01

Quelque soit le contexte, l’aide à la décision passe par une analyse en profondeur de trois (3) aspects importants interdépendants, à savoir le...information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense , Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information...type de menace, nécessite en effet d’adopter une approche collective de la sécurité étendue à une coopération avec de multiples organisations civiles

Instabilités et chaos dans les oscillateurs paramétriques optiques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amon, A.; Suret, P.; Bielawski, S.; Derozier, D.; Zemmouri, J.; Lefranc, M.; Nizette, M.; Erneux, T.

2004-11-01

Nous discutons quelques mécanismes d'instabilité récemment observés dans un oscillateur paramétrique optique (OPO) : d'une part des instabilités opto-thermiques où le système oscille autour des courbes de résonance d'un ou plusieurs modes, d'autre part des oscillations rapides résultant de l'interaction de plusieurs modes transverses. La première observation expérimentale de chaos déterministe dans un OPO est également présentée.

Dislocations et propriétés mécaniques des matériaux céramiques: Quelques problèmes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castaing, J.; Dominguez Rodriguez, A.

1995-11-01

The study of plastic deformation of ceramic materials raised new problems on low temperature dislocation glide and high temperature dislocation climb. Mechanical behaviour can be explained. In this paper, we review some examples related to oxides which are linked to the activity of J. Philibert. L'étude de la déformation plastique de matériaux céramiques monocristallins a donné l'occasion de poser des nouveaux problèmes sur le glissement des dislocations à basse température et sur leur montée à haute température. Le comportement mécanique peut ainsi être expliqué. Nous passons en revue des cas concernant les oxydes dans lesquels J. Philibert a joué un rôle important.

Decrire et enseigner une competence de communication: remarques sur quelques solutions de continuite. L'Enseignement de la competence de communication en langues secondes. (Describing and Teaching Communicative Competence: Some Remarks on Solutions of Continuity. The Teaching of Communicative Competence in Second Languages.) Acts of the Colloquium of the Swiss Interuniversity Commission for Applied Linguistics. CILA Bulletin.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coste, Daniel

Two projects of the Ecole Normale Superieure de Saint-Cloud (CREDIF) are described and critically analyzed in this paper: the definition of a threshold level, "Niveau-seuil," in French and a learning module, "Looking for Work," intended to teach necessary written French to migrant workers. The threshold level section is a…

Silent Ship Research Applications and Operation. Volume 2. Unclassified Papers. Proceedings of a Conference Held at SACLANTCEN on 2-4 October 1984

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-01-15

moyennes calculees sur 62 bateaux sont priesnteesdans le tableau suivznt aoy’?nno mowvuw. desma yonn des mayavw dom % aupentation genral: bate"u A bateaux 5...i coque en bois, acier ou polyester. Le decoupaqe des variables en classes pernet de bitir deux matrices *un - tableau disjonctif complet", *un...pr6sentents quelques expertises ac oustiques provenant de deux t~tudes lr~alis~es .par le G.E.R.B.A.M. .I *la premiý-re, sur 95 thoniers ligneurs

Un cosmologiste oublié: Jean Henri Lambert

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Débarbat, Suzanne; Lévy, Jacques

Si les travaux de Kepler ont eu une large influence sure les progrès réalisés en astronomie au cours du 17e siècle, le Siècle de lumières a vu apparaître de nouvelles conceptions. La court vie de J.H. lambert s'inscrit dans le 18e siècle. Il s'agit d'un nom bien connu dans différents domaines (photométrie, projections cartographiques, mathématiques appliquées, etc.); mais il n'est guàre mentionné en cosmologie, alors que Lambert y a fourni une contribution originale offrant quelques suprenantes anticipations...

A Selection of Test Cases for the Validation of Large-Eddy Simulations of Turbulent Flows (Quelques cas d’essai pour la validation de la simulation des gros tourbillons dans les ecoulements turbulents)

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-04-01

they approach the more useful (higher) Reynolds numbers. 8.6 SUMMARY OF COMPLEX FLOWS SQUARE DUCT CMPO00 UDOv 6.5 x 10’i E Yokosawa ei al. 164] pg...Sheets for: Chapter 8. Complex Flows 184 185 CMPOO: Flow in a square duct - Experiments Yokosawa , Fujita, Hirota, & Iwata 1. Description of the flow...These are the experiments of Yokosawa ei al (1989). Air was blown through a flow meter and a settling chamber into a square duct. Measuremsents were

Reconstruction du Flux d'Energie et Recherche de Squarks et Gluinos dans l'Experience D0 (in French)

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

Ridel, Melissa

2002-01-01

Le modèle standard décrit la matière et les interactions fondamentales qui la gouvernent (électromagnétique, faible et forte). L'analyse des données accumulées jusqu'à présent conffrme ces prédictions notamment les mesures de précision effectuées à LEP. Malgré tout, il doit se confronter à quelques dicultés théoriques qui laisseraient penser que le Modèle Standard n'est que la théorie effective d'une autre théorie à plus haute énergie....

Magnetic levitation and MHD propulsion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tixador, P.

1994-04-01

Magnetic levitation and MHD propulsion are now attracting attention in several countries. Different superconducting MagLev and MHD systems will be described concentrating on, above all, the electromagnetic aspect. Some programmes occurring throughout the world will be described. Magnetic levitated trains could be the new high speed transportation system for the 21st century. Intensive studies involving MagLev trains using superconductivity have been carried out in Japan since 1970. The construction of a 43 km long track is to be the next step. In 1991 a six year programme was launched in the United States to evaluate the performances of MagLev systems for transportation. The MHD (MagnetoHydroDynamic) offers some interesting advantages (efficiency, stealth characteristics, ...) for naval propulsion and increasing attention is being paid towards it nowadays. Japan is also up at the top with the tests of Yamato I, a 260 ton MHD propulsed ship. Depuis quelques années nous assistons à un redémarrage de programmes concernant la lévitation et la propulsion supraconductrices. Différents systèmes supraconducteurs de lévitation et de propulsion seront décrits en examinant plus particulièrement l'aspect électromagnétique. Quelques programmes à travers le monde seront abordés. Les trains à sustentation magnétique pourraient constituer un nouveau mode de transport terrestre à vitesse élevée (500 km/h) pour le 21^e siècle. Les japonais n'ont cessé de s'intéresser à ce système avec bobine supraconductrice. Ils envisagent un stade préindustriel avec la construction d'une ligne de 43 km. En 1991 un programme américain pour une durée de six ans a été lancé pour évaluer les performances des systèmes à lévitation pour le transport aux Etats Unis. La MHD (Magnéto- Hydro-Dynamique) présente des avantages intéressants pour la propulsion navale et un regain d'intérêt apparaît à l'heure actuelle. Le japon se situe là encore à la pointe des développements actuels avec en particulier les premiers essais en rade de Kobe de Yamato I, navire de 260 tonnes, entraîné par MHD.

Andrei Sakharov

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

None

2006-07-07

Ce discours donné par Mons.Jonauch qui est né en Tchécoslovaquie et a fait ses études à Leningrad, Moscou et Prague, est organisé par le comité Youri Orlov. Le conférencier parle de Andrei Sakharov, ce physicien et homme soviétique qui fit ses études à Moscou, effectua des recherches sur les armes thermonucléaires et entra à l'Académie des Sciences d'URSS en 1953. Il participa à la mise au point de la bombe à hydrogène, mais s'opposa quelques années plus tard à la poursuite des expériences nucléaires. Il créa en 1970 le comité pour la défense des droits de l'homme ce que luimore » valut le prix Nobel de la paix en 1975.« less

Paralysie flasque en début de grossesse: penser à l'hypokaliémie due aux vomissements gravidiques, à propos de deux observations dans un pays en voie de développement

PubMed Central

Fall, Maouly

2015-01-01

Les vomissements gravidiques peuvent être responsables de rares complications neuromusculaires mais graves notamment la paralysie hypokaliémique. Nous rapportons des observations de deux jeunes femmes d'origine guinéenne, sans histoires familiales ni antécédents particuliers, admises pour paralysie flasque des quatre membres dans un contexte de vomissements incoercibles en début de grossesse. Le bilan retrouvait une hypokaliémie majeure associée à quelques troubles électro-cardiographiques. L'apport de potassium par voie parentérale avait permis une récupération motrice totale. La paralysie hypokaliémique est une complication rare des vomissements gravidiques. Une supplémentation potassique prudente avec une surveillance électro-cardiographique et biologique permet une disparition spectaculaire des troubles neuromusculaires. PMID:26327956

ÉTUDE de la Capture ÉLECTRONIQUE dans la DÉSINTÉGRATION du Nuclide 23Na

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Charpak, G.

L'étude de 22Na est faite avec un compteur Geiger 4π. On met en évidence l'émission d'un rayonnement de très basse énergle, indépendant des rayons β+, complètement absorbé dans un film de quelques microgrammes par centimètre carré d'aluminium on de matière plastique LC 600 et attribué aux électrons Auger d'énergie maximum 0,85 keV, qui suivent la capture électronique. En raison du très faible parcours de ces électrons , nous sommes amené à discuter particulièrement une méthode simple de préparation de sources radloactives minces et uniformes. Nous obtenons la valeta du rapport [ Capture Λ/Emission β+ = (6,5±0,9) pour 100.

Les cooperatives et l'electrification rurale du Quebec, 1945--1964

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dorion, Marie-Josee

Cette these est consacree a l'histoire de l'electrification rurale du Quebec, et, plus particulierement, a l'histoire des cooperatives d'electricite. Fondees par vagues successives a partir de 1945, les cooperatives rurales d'electricite ont ete actives dans plusieurs regions du Quebec et elles ont electrifie une partie significative des zones rurales. Afin de comprendre le contexte de la creation des cooperatives d'electricite, notre these debute (premiere partie) par une analyse du climat sociopolitique des annees precedant la naissance du systeme cooperatif d'electrification rurale. Nous y voyons de quelle facon l'electrification rurale devient progressivement, a partir de la fin des annees 1920, une question d'actualite a laquelle les divers gouvernements qui se succedent tentent de trouver une solution, sans engager---ou si peu---les fonds de l'Etat. En ce sens, la premiere etatisation et la mise sur pied d'Hydro-Quebec, en 1944, marquent une rupture quant au mode d'action privilegie jusque-la. La nouvelle societe d'Etat se voit cependant retirer son mandat d'electrifier le monde rural un an apres sa fondation, car le gouvernement Duplessis, de retour au pouvoir, prefere mettre en place son propre modele d'electrification rurale. Ce systeme repose sur des cooperatives d'electricite, soutenues par un organisme public, l'Office de l'electrification rurale (OER). L'OER suscite de grandes attentes de la part des ruraux et c'est par centaines qu'ils se manifestent. Cet engouement pour les cooperatives complique la tache de l'OER, qui doit superviser de nouvelles societes tout en assurant sa propre organisation. Malgre des hesitations et quelques delais introduits par un manque de connaissances techniques et de personnel qualifie, les commissaires de l'OER se revelent perspicaces et parviennent a mettre sur pied un systeme cooperatif d'electrification rurale qui produit des resultats rapides. Il leur faudra cependant compter sur l'aide des autres acteurs engages dans l'electrification, les organismes publics et les compagnies privees d'electricite. Cette periode de demarrage et d'organisation, traitee dans la deuxieme partie de la these, se termine en 1947-48, au moment ou l'OER et les cooperatives raffermissent leur maitrise du systeme cooperatif d'electrification rurale. Les annees 1948 a 1955 (troisieme partie de these) correspondent a une periode de croissance pour le mouvement cooperatif. Cette partie scrute ainsi le developpement des cooperatives, les vastes chantiers de construction et l'injection de millions de dollars dans l'electrification rurale. Cette troisieme partie prend egalement acte des premiers signes que quelque chose ne va pas si bien dans le monde cooperatif. Nous y verrons egalement les ruraux a l'oeuvre: comme membres, d'abord, mais aussi en tant que benevoles, puis a l'emploi des cooperatives. La quatrieme et derniere partie, les annees 1956 a 1964, aborde les changements majeurs qui ont cours dans l'univers cooperatif; il s'agit d'une ere nouvelle et difficile pour le mouvement cooperatif, dont les reseaux paraissent inadaptes aux changements de profil de la consommation d'electricite des usagers. L'OER sent alors le besoin de raffermir son controle des cooperatives, car il pressent les problemes et les defis auxquels elles auront a faire face. Notre etude se termine par l'acquisition des cooperatives par Hydro-Quebec, en 1963-64. Fondee sur des sources riches et variees, notre demarche propose un eclairage inedit sur une dimension importante de l'histoire de l'electricite au Quebec. Elle permet, ce faisant, de saisir les rouages et l'action de l'Etat sous un angle particulier, avant sa profonde transformation amorcee au cours des annees 1960. De meme, elle apporte quelques cles nouvelles pour une meilleure comprehension de la dynamique des milieux ruraux de cette periode.

La genèse du concept de champ quantique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darrigol, O.

This is a historical study of the roots of a concept which has proved to be essential in modern particle physics : the concept of quantum field. The first steps were accomplished by two young theoreticians : Pascual Jordan quantized the free electromagnetic field in 1925 by means of the formal rules of the just discovered matrix mechanics, and Paul Dirac quantized the whole system charges + field in 1927. Using Dirac's equation for electrons (1928) and Jordan's idea of quantized matter waves (second quantization), Werner Heisenberg and Wolfgang Pauli provided in 1929-1930 an extension of Dirac's radiation theory and the proof of its relativistic invariance. Meanwhile Enrico Fermi discovered independently a more elegant and pedagogical formulation. To appreciate the degree of historical necessity of the quantization of fields, and the value of contemporaneous critics to this approach, it was necessary to investigate some of the history of the old radiation theory. We present the various arguments however provisional or naïve or wrong they could be in retrospect. So we hope to contribute to a more vivid picture of notions which, once deprived of their historical setting, might seem abstruse to the modern user. Nous présentons une étude historique des origines d'un concept devenu essentiel dans la physique moderne des particules : le concept de champ quantique. Deux jeunes théoriciens franchirent les premières étapes : Pascual Jordan quantifia le champ électromagnétique en 1925 grâce aux règles formelles de la mécanique des matrices naissante, et Paul Dirac quantifia le système complet charges + champ en 1927. Au moyen de l'équation de l'électron de Dirac (1928) et de l'idée de Jordan d'ondes de matière quantifiées (deuxième quantification), Werner Heisenberg et Wolfgang Pauli donnèrent en 1929-1930 une extension de la théorie du rayonnement de Dirac et la preuve de son invariance relativiste. Pendant ce temps Enrico Fermi découvrit indépendamment une formulation plus élégante et plus pédagogique. Pour apprécier le degré de nécessité historique de la quantification des champs et la valeur des critiques contemporaines à cette approche, nous avons dû analyser quelques points de l'histoire de l'ancienne théorie du rayonnement. Nous présentons les divers arguments quelque provisoires, naïfs ou faux qu'ils puissent sembler aujourd'hui. Ainsi nous espérons brosser un tableau plus vivant de notions menacées d'hermétisme si l'on oublie leurs fondements historiques.

Etude spectroscopique des collisions moleculaires (hydrogene-azote et hydrogene-oxygene) a des energies de quelques MeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plante, Jacinthe

1998-09-01

Les resultats presentes ici proviennent d'une etude systematique portant sur les collisions a vitesse constante, entre les projectiles d'hydrogene (H+, H2+ et H3+ a 1 MeV/nucleon) et deux cibles gazeuses (N2 et O2), soumises a differentes pressions. Les collisions sont analysees a l'aide des spectres d'emission (de 400 A a 6650 A) et des graphiques intensite/pression. Les spectres ont revele la presence des raies d'azote atomique, d'azote moleculaire, d'oxygene atomique, d'oxygene moleculaire et d'hydrogene atomique. Les raies d'hydrogene sont observees seulement avec les projectiles H2+ et H3+. Donc les processus responsables de la formation de ces raies sont des mecanismes de fragmentation des projectiles. Pour conclure, il existe une difference notable entre les projectiles et les differentes pressions. Les raies d'azote et d'oxygene augmentent selon la pression et les raies d'hydrogene atomique presentent une relation non lineaire avec la pression.

Diffraction des neutrons : principe, dispositifs expérimentaux et applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muller, C.

2003-02-01

La diffraction de neutrons, sur monocristal ou sur échantillon polycristallin (ou poudre), est une technique très largement utilisée, en science des matériaux comme en biologie, lorsque l'on souhaite déterminer la structure cristalline d'un composé ou d'une molécule. Toutefois, le degré de précision de la détermination structurale est très corrélé au choix de l'instrument utilisé. Il s'en suit que la question “comment choisir l'instrument le mieux adapté au composé et à la problématique ?" apparaît comme fondamentale. L'objectif de ce cours est de tenter de répondre à cette question en décrivant brièvement les caractéristiques instrumentales de différents diffractomètres, en exposant les avantages spécifiques des expériences de diffraction de neutrons et en donnant quelques exemples d'application.

Andrei Sakharov

ScienceCinema

None

2017-12-09

Ce discours donné par Mons.Jonauch qui est né en Tchécoslovaquie et a fait ses études à Leningrad, Moscou et Prague, est organisé par le comité Youri Orlov. Le conférencier parle de Andrei Sakharov, ce physicien et homme soviétique qui fit ses études à Moscou, effectua des recherches sur les armes thermonucléaires et entra à l'Académie des Sciences d'URSS en 1953. Il participa à la mise au point de la bombe à hydrogène, mais s'opposa quelques années plus tard à la poursuite des expériences nucléaires. Il créa en 1970 le comité pour la défense des droits de l'homme ce que lui valut le prix Nobel de la paix en 1975.

Inelastic neutron scattering study of icosahedral AlFeCu quasicrystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quilichini, M.; Hennion, B.; Heger, G.; Lefebvre, S.; Quivy, A.

1992-02-01

Dynamical properties of quasiperiodic structures are rather tricky and far from being understood. For quasicrystals only little information is available both theoretically and experimentally. In this paper we present new experimental results obtained by inelastic neutron scattering on a monodomain quasicrystal of Al{63}Cu{25}Fe{12} already investigated in a previous study [1]. In section 1 we recall the basic features of the quasiperiodic structures and briefly review theoretical works on the dynamics of quasicrystals which can be of some help to appreciate the experimental data presented in section 2 and discussed in section 3. Les propriétés dynamiques des structures quasipériodiques sont complexes et pas encore complètement comprises. Pour les quasicristaux on ne possède que peu d'études dynamiques tant du point de vue théorique qu'expérimental. Dans cette lettre nous présentons des nouveaux résultats obtenus par diffusion inélastique de neutrons avec un quasicristal monodomaine de Al{63}Cu{25}Fe{12} que nous avions déjà étudié [1]. Dans la partie 1 nous rappelons quelques propriétés spécifiques des structures quasipériodiques et nous résumons brièvement les travaux théoriques qui nous permettent une interprétation qualitative des données expérimentales présentées dans la partie 2 et discutées dans la partie 3.

Excitations Élémentaires au Voisinage de la Surface de Séparation d'un Métal Normal et d'un Métal Supraconducteur

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saint-James, Par D.

On étudie le spectre d'excitation pour une couche de métal normal déposée sur un supraconducteur. On montre que si l'interaction attractive électron-électron est négligeable dans le métal normal, il n'y a pas de gap d'énergie dans le spectre d'excitation, même si l'épaisseur de la couche normale est petite. Une étude analogue, conduisant à une conclusion similaire, est menée pour deux supraconducteurs accolés et pour des sphères de métal normal baignant dans un supraconducteur. L'effet prévu pourrait expliquer quelques résultats particuliers observés dans des mesures d'effet tunnel dans des supraconducteurs durs. The excitation spectrum of a layer of normal metal (N) deposited on a superconducting substrate (S) is discussed. It is shown that if the electron-electron attractive interaction is negligibly small in (N) there is no energy gap in the excitation spectrum even if the thickness of the layer (N) is small. A similar study, with equivalent conclusions, has been carried out for two superconductors and for normal metal spheres embedded in a superconductor. The effect may possibly explain some peculiar results of tunnelling experiments on hard superconductors.

Quelques facteurs sociaux agissant sur la formation permanente et l'education informelle en Algerie

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haddab, Mustapha

1994-05-01

This article attempts an analysis of the conditions under which a certain degree of educational pluralism has begun, tentatively, to be seen in Algeria in association with the political and socio-economic changes that have taken place since 1988. After a long period of centralism codified in the National Charter of 1976, during which the public education system had become all but the only provider of education, in demand largely on account of the diplomas and certificates which it awarded, various social factors (including growth in unemployment among young people and those with qualifications, development of voluntary associations, inflexibility of public schools, various effects of the "language conflict" on the educational system, etc.) have since led to the appearance of varying educational activities. Some of these make up for the inadequacy of the public schools; others, less well established, respond to the emergence of the need for "lifelong education" or provide complementary training for social groups which may have a political or religious motivation. These tendencies are limited to the development of voluntary associations in Algeria.

Modélisation par éléments finis 3D du champ magnétostatique dans les enroulements des réactances cuirassées de grande puissance. Comparaison avec le calcul en 2D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ngnegueu, Triomphant; Terme, Claude; Mailhot, Michel

1993-03-01

In this paper, the finite element method is applied for the computation of the magnetostatic field in the windings of a shell-form reactor. The modeling is carried out in 3D, using FLUX3D, a software developed at the Laboratoire d'Electrotechnique de Grenoble. The results are compared to those obtained in 2D. These calculation results are also compared to some test results. Dans cet article, nous décrivons une application de la méthode des éléments finis pour la modélisation du champ magnétostatique dans les enroulements d'une réactance cuirassée de grande puissance. La modélisation est conduite en 3D, en utilisant le logiciel FLUX3D. Les résultats du calcul sont comparés avec ceux obtenus en 2D. Quelques comparaisons sont aussi effectuées avec des résultats de mesure.

Lasers solides pompés par diode émettant des impulsions picosecondes à haute cadence dans l'ultraviolet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balembois, F.; Forget, S.; Papadopoulos, D.; Druon, F.; Georges, P.; Devilder, P.-J.; Lefort, L.

2005-06-01

De nombreuses applications requièrent des sources lasers impulsionnelles ultraviolettes, présentant des durées d'impulsion et des cadences spécifiques. Grâce à l'utilisation de structures d'oscillateurs et d'amplificateurs originales il est possible de réaliser de telles sources à partir de lasers solides pompés par diodes et de profiter ainsi de la compacité, de l'efficacité et de la robustesse de ces sources. Nous présentons ici la réalisation d'un laser à verrouillage de modes et d'un microlaser déclenché permettant d'obtenir des impulsions ultraviolettes picosecondes à une cadence de quelques MHz en vue d'application à la microscopie de fluorescence résolue en temps, ainsi que la mise en œuvre pour le traitement des matériaux d'un système oscillateur-amplificateur produisant plus de 600 mW de rayonnement UV à 266 ou 355 nm avec des impulsions sub-nanosecondes.

In Praise of Sociology.

PubMed

Connell, Raewyn

2017-08-01

This reflection on the relevance of sociology starts with the different forms of social knowledge, and some autobiographical reflection on my engagement with the discipline. A research-based social science is made urgent by the prevalence of distortion and pseudoscience in the public realm. However, the research-based knowledge formation is embedded in a global economy of knowledge that centers on a privileged group of institutions and produces major imbalances on a world scale. Sociological data collection has important uses in policy and public discussion. But data need to be embedded in a larger project of understanding the world; this is what gives excitement to the work. Sociology has a potential future of marginality or triviality in the neoliberal economy and its university system. There are better trajectories into the future-but they have to be fought for. Cette réflexion sur l'utilité de la sociologie commence avec les différentes formes de savoir social, ainsi que quelques réflexions biographiques sur mon engagement avec la discipline. Le besoin d'une science sociale orientée vers la recherche est devenue nécessaire suite à la prédominance de la distorsion et de la pseudoscience dans la sphère publique. Par contre, ce savoir centré sur la recherche est lié à une économie globale de la connaissance qui est proche d'un groupe privilégié d'institutions et produit des déséquilibres majeurs au niveau mondial. La collecte de données sociologiques a une grande utilité en politique et dans les discussions publiques. Mais ces données doivent être liées à un projet plus large de compréhension du monde ; c'est ce qui rend ce travail excitant. La sociologie risque la marginalisation ou la trivialité dans une économie néo-libérale et son système universitaire. Il existe de meilleures trajectoires pour l'avenir - mais elles doivent être défendues. © 2017 Canadian Sociological Association/La Société canadienne de sociologie.

Acides gras oméga-3 et dyslexie

PubMed Central

Zelcer, Michal; Goldman, Ran D.

2015-01-01

Résumé Question À la lumière de la hausse du nombre d’enfants d’âge scolaire ayant reçu un diagnostic de dyslexie, quel est le rôle des suppléments d’acides gras oméga-3 dans la prise en charge de cette affection? Réponse La dyslexie est le trouble d’apprentissage le plus répandu et elle est connue pour ses causes multifactorielles. De récentes données probantes pointent vers une corrélation entre le métabolisme défectueux des acides gras polyinsaturés et les troubles de neurodéveloppement, tels que la dyslexie. Bien que l’administration de suppléments d’acides gras oméga-3 aux enfants dyslexiques ait fait l’objet d’études, les données probantes sont limitées. Les critères diagnostiques homogènes de dyslexie, les mesures objectives de carence en acides gras et la surveillance étroite de l’apport alimentaire ne sont que quelques-uns des facteurs pouvant améliorer la qualité de la recherche dans ce domaine.

Cancer métaplasique du sein: à propos d'un cas

PubMed Central

Babahabib, Moulay Abdellah; Chennana, Adil; Hachi, Aymen; Kouach, Jaoud; Moussaoui, Driss; Dhayni, Mohammed

2014-01-01

Les carcinomes métaplasiques du sein sont des tumeurs rares. Ils constituent un groupe hétérogène de tumeurs définis selon l'organisation mondiale de la santé comme étant un carcinome canalaire infiltrant mais comportant des zones de remaniements métaplasiques (de type épidermoïde, à cellules fusiformes, chondroïde et osseux ou mixte), qui varient de quelques foyers microscopiques à un remplacement glandulaire complet. Les aspects cliniques et radiologiques ne sont pas spécifiques. Le traitement associe la chirurgie, la radiothérapie et la chimiothérapie. L'hormonothérapie n'a pas de place. Le pronostic est sombre. L'histopathologie combinée à l'immunohistochimie permet de poser un diagnostic sure. Etant donné que la prise en charge thérapeutique est limitée, une nouvelle approche moléculaire pourrait modifier cette contribution faible et mal cernée des traitements systémiques classiques. Les patientes atteintes de carcinome métaplasique mammaire pourraient bénéficier de traitements ciblés, ce qui reste à confirmer par des essais cliniques. PMID:25870723

Potentialités des lasers à fibre dans la génération de rayonnement cohérent UV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martel, G.; Hideur, A.; Ortaç, B.; Lecourt, J.-B.; Chédot, C.; Brunel, M.; Chéron, B.; Limpert, J.; Tunnermann, T.; Grelu, Ph.; Gicquel-Guézo, M.; Labbé, C.; Loualiche, S.; Roussignol, Ph.; Sanchez, F.; Leblond, H.

2006-12-01

Le premier laser à fibre dopé aux ions de terres rares fonctionna au tout début des années 60. Il fournissait quelques milliwatts autour de 1 μm. Les décades suivantes virent très peu d'améliorations tant du côté des laboratoires que du point de vue industriel. La dernière décennie (1995/2005) vit se concrétiser la seconde révolution des lasers à fibres. Déjà kilowatt en continu, ils atteignent désormais les 1013 watts/cm2 avec des impulsions de la centaine de femtoseconde. Lors de cette présentation nous passerons en revue les potentialités des lasers à fibre. Nous décrirons les verrous technologiques qui ont été levés ces dix dernières années pour les régimes CW mais aussi femtosecondes. Nous montrerons également comment la prochaine génération de fibres optiques actuellement en développement permettra d'offrir des sources stables et de très haute puissance pour l'avenir proche.

L'astronomie au féminin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nazé, Yaël

2006-03-01

Qui détient le record des découvertes de comètes ? Une femme. Qui a permis de comprendre comment est organisée la population des étoiles ? Une femme. Qui a découvert la loi permettant d'arpenter l'Univers, a trouvé des phares dans l'espace, a compris le fonctionnement des forges stellaires et a bouleversé notre vision de l'Univers ? Encore et toujours une femme... Pourtant, quand on doit citer un astronome -- historique -- au hasard, on pense le plus souvent -- des hommes : Ptolémée, Galilée, Copernic ou, plus près de nous par exemple, Hubble. Certes, au cours des siècles, les femmes n'ont guère eu accès aux sciences en général et -- l'astronomie en particulier mais ce n'est pas une raison pour croire en l'absence totale de contributions dues au beau sexe ! C'est ce que dévoile ici l'auteur. Loin de toute forme de féminisme enragé, on suivra le parcours de quelques scientifiques importantes qui ont par hasard en commun une même particularité : leur sexe.

X-ray scattering by edge-dislocations in the S_A phase of mesomorphic side chain polyacrylates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davidson, P.; Pansu, B.; Levelut, A. M.; Strzelecki, L.

1991-01-01

The X-ray diffraction patterns of mesomorphic side chain polymers in the S_A phase present diffuse streaks in shape of “butterfly wings”. We show that this diffuse scattering may be due to the presence of edge dislocations. On the basis of a previous description of edge dislocations within the framework of the elastic continuum theory of the S_A phase given by De Gennes, we have calculated the Fourier transform of the deformation field. Optical diffraction experiments on sketches of defects have also been made to reproduce the X-ray scattering patterns. Both methods show that this diffuse scattering may indeed be due to the presence of edge dislocations. Their density may be roughly estimated to some 10^8/cm^2. The size of their cores should be only a few Ångströms. From the decay of their elastic deformation field, a typical length λ = (K/B)^{1/2}≈ 1,5 Å can be obtained which shows that the elastic constant B of compression of the layers should be about two orders of magnitude larger in the “polymeric” S_A phase than in the “conventional” one. Les clichés de diffraction des rayons X par des polymères mésomorphes en peigne, en phase S_A, présentent des trainées diffuses en forme d'“ ailes de papillon ”. Nous montrons que cette diffusion diffuse peut s'expliquer par la présence de dislocations-coin. En partant de la description des dislocations-coin donnée par De Gennes dans le cadre de la théorie du continuum élastique de la phase S_A, nous avons calculé la transformée de Fourier du champ de déformation. Des expériences de diffraction optique sur des modèles de défauts ont aussi été effectuées afin de reproduire les clichés de diffraction des rayons X. Les deux méthodes montrent que cette diffusion diffuse peut en effet bien s'expliquer par la présence de dislocations-coin. Leur densité a été grossièrement estimée à quelques 10^8/cm^2. La taille de leurs coeurs ne devrait pas dépasser quelques Ångströms. D'après l'allure du champ de déformation élastique, on peut tirer une longueur typique λ = (K/B)^{1/2}≈ 1,5 Å, ce qui montre que la constante élastique B de compression des couches devrait être environ 100 fois plus élevée en phase S_A “ polymérique ” qu'en phase S_A “ usuelle ”.

Antisuperconductors: Properties of Layered Compounds with Coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carton, J.-P.; Lammert, P. E.; Prost, J.

1995-11-01

In this note, we consider properties of a hypothetical superconductor composed of Josephson-coupled microscopic layers with tunneling energy minimized at a phase difference of π. The non-zero phase offset in the ground state engenders an intriguing interplay between the superconductive ordering and structural lattice defects. Unusual magnetic properties are expected in the case of highly disordered crystals, which are consistent with observations of a “paramagnetic Meissner” or “Wohlleben” effect in high-T_c cuprate superconductors. Dans cette note, nous considérons les propriétés d'un supraconducteur hypothétique composé de couches microscopiques, couplées par effet Josephson, mais dont l'énergie de couplage est minimisée pour une différence de phase de π. L'état de base a des propriétés fascinantes dues à l'effet combiné de l'ordre supraconducteur et des défauts structuraux du cristal. Dans le cas de cristaux très désordonnés, on attend des propriétés magnétiques exceptionnelles, qui sont compatibles avec les observations dans quelques supraconducteurs cuprate haute-T_c d'un effet “Meissner paramagnétique” ou “Wohlleben”.

Peut-on améliorer la motivation des étudiants en médecine pour un cours fondamental de physiologie en intégrant à l’exposé magistral quelques méthodes pédagogiques actives?

PubMed Central

Bentata, Yassamine; Delfosse, Catherine

2017-01-01

La motivation des étudiants est une condition essentielle à l’apprentissage et la perception qu’a l’étudiant de la valeur qu’il accorde à une activité est l’une des trois composantes majeures de cette motivation. Comment amener les étudiants à percevoir l’utilité et l’intérêt de leurs cours universitaires tout en suscitant leur motivation ? L’objectif de l’étude est de déterminer la perception de la valeur attribuée par les étudiants au cours fondamental de physiologie et d’évaluer l’impact de l’intégration de quelques méthodes d’apprentissage actif aux exposés magistraux sur la motivation des étudiants du premier cycle des études médicales dans une jeune faculté. Cette étude prospective, a concerné les étudiants de deuxième année de médecine (PCEM2). Nous avons procédé initialement à une appréciation de la perception de la motivation des étudiants pour les cours universitaires via un premier questionnaire, après nous avons intégré deux activités pédagogiques: l’étude de cas et la réalisation de carte conceptuelle aux exposés magistraux du module de physiologie et à la fin nous avons évalué via un deuxième questionnaire l’impact de ces deux activités sur la motivation des étudiants. 131 et 109 étudiants ont rempli et rendu respectivement le 1er et le 2ème questionnaire parmi les 249 étudiants inscrits en PCEM2. La motivation de nos étudiants à l’égard de leurs cours universitaires était globalement très favorable, même si la motivation pour le cours de physiologie (70,8%) était légèrement moins importante que pour l’ensemble des cours (80%). Nos étudiants avaient apprécié les deux activités proposées et seulement 13% (pour l’étude de cas) et 16,8% (pour la carte) ne se montraient pas satisfaits. 40,9% des étudiants avaient réalisé une carte conceptuelle et la qualité de ces productions, jugée sur l’identification des concepts et des liens inter concepts, était globalement satisfaisante pour une première expérience. Influencée par de multiples facteurs internes et externes, la motivation des étudiants reste une grande problématique en milieu universitaire. Dans ce contexte, une planification rigoureuse d’activités pédagogiques diversifiées et actives est l’une des principales portes offertes à l’enseignant pouvant susciter cette motivation. PMID:29721145

Pharmacogénétique: qu'en est-il au Maroc?

PubMed Central

Idrissi, Meryem Janati; Ouldim, Karim; Amarti, Afaf; El Hassouni, Mohamed; Khabbal, Youssef

2013-01-01

La pharmacogénétique est l’étude de l'influence des variations génétiques interindividuelles sur la réponse aux médicaments, avec le but d'améliorer la prise en charge des patients en visant une médecine personnalisée. Au fait le génome de deux personnes ne diffère que par 0.1% des 3.2 milliards de paires de bases, ce qui implique les effets indésirables des médicaments, qui ont un très important impact sur le plan clinique que sur le plan économique. Or cette dernière décennie ces effets indésirables ont pu être évités grâce aux tests pharmacogénétiques. Au Maroc, la recherche en pharmacogénétique commence à susciter l'intérêt des chercheurs avec quelques études. Une toute première étude en 1986, sur l'acétylation de l'isoniazide chez la population marocaine, suivie par deux autres en 2011 se focalisant sur le métabolisme du tacrolimus et des anti-vitamines K. Ainsi l'espoir maintenant est d'identifier les majoritaires polymorphismes génétiques affectant les patients marocains, afin de leur fournir une prise en charge adaptée. PMID:23785548

La neurobrucellose: une cause curable de surdité neurosensorielle à ne pas méconnaitre

PubMed Central

Malhi, Alae Bezzari; Ridal, Mohamed; Bouchal, Siham; Belahsen, Mohammed Faouzi; El Alami, Mohamed-Nourdine

2015-01-01

La brucellose est une zoonose ubiquitaire touchant en particulier les pays méditerranéens et le Moyen-Orient. Les manifestations neurologiques sont assez diverses. Nous rapportons l'observation d'un patient âgé de 45 ans, agriculteur, ayant consulté pour une surdité profonde bilatérale depuis 2 mois associée à des céphalées, des épisodes d'hémiparésie à bascule, de trouble de langage, spontanément résolutifs en quelques minutes et des sensations vertigineuses intermittentes depuis 09 mois. Les résultats de la ponction lombaire, de l'imagerie par résonnance magnétique et surtout la sérologie ont permis de conclure à une neurobrucellose. L’évolution sous bi-antibiothérapie a été favorable, avec régression des signes neurologiques, normalisation du LCR et amélioration de la surdité. La neurobrucellose est une affection grave dont le pronostic dépend de la précocité du diagnostic et du traitement. Nous pensons qu'un tableau clinique associant une surdité neurosensorielle et une symptomatologie neurologique progressive doit évoquer en premier une neurobrucellose, d'autant plus que le patient est à risque et dans les pays où cette maladie est endémique. PMID:26889303

Étude de la structure des alliages vitreux Ag-As2S3 par diffraction de rayons X

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popescu, M.; Sava, F.; Cornet, A.; Broll, N.

2002-07-01

The structure of several silver alloyed arsenic chalocgenide has been determined by X-ray diffraction. For low silver doping the disordered layer structure, characteristic to the glassy AS2S3 is retained as demonstrated by the well developed first sharp diffraction peak in the X-ray diffraction pattern. For high amount of silver introduced in the As2S3 matrix, the disoredered layer configurations disappear, as shown by the diminishing and even disappearance of the first sharp diffraction peak in the X-ray patterns. A three-dimensional structure based on Ag2S -type configuration is formed. La structure de quelques alliages sulfure d'arsenic - argent a été determinée par diffraction de rayons X. Pour de faibles dopages à l'argent on conserve la structure desordonnées caractéristique des couches atomique d'As2S3 vitreux ; ceci est prouvé par la forte intensité du premier pic étroit de diffraction. Pour des plus grandes proportions d'argent la structure de l'alliage vitreux fait apparaître des unités structurales caractéristiques du cristal d'Ag2S et la configuration atomique avec des couches desordonnées disparaît (le premier pic étroit de diffraction s'évanouit) en faisant place à une structure tridimensionelle.

La dysplasie fibreuse: état des lieux

PubMed Central

Akasbi, Nessrine; Abourazzak, Fatima Ezzahra; Talbi, Sofia; Tahiri, Latifa; Harzy, Taoufik

2015-01-01

La dysplasie fibreuse des os est une affection osseuse bénigne congénitale mais non héréditaire, où l'os normal est remplacé par un tissu fibreux renfermant une ostéogenèse immature. Elle est due à une mutation du gène GNAS 1sur le chromosome 20q13, une mutation activatrice de la sous-unité α de la protéine G. C'est une pathologie qui est le plus souvent silencieuse, de découverte fortuite sur une radiographie standard ou révélée par une douleur osseuse ou une fracture pathologique. L'imagerie et l'histologie, quand elle est nécessaire, permettent d’établir le diagnostic. Bien qu'il ne s'agisse pas d'une tumeur, elle est souvent classée dans la catégorie des tumeurs osseuses bénignes pour des raisons de diagnostic différentiel radiographique et anatomopathologique. Elle peut être monostotique ou polyostotique. L'approche thérapeutique est essentiellement symptomatique. Quelques publications récentes ont suggéré l'intérêt majeur d'un bisphosphonate, en particulier le pamidronate, qui diminuerait les douleurs et stimulerait une reminéralisation progressive des zones ostéolytiques chez les patients traités. D'autres traitements tels que la thérapie ciblée sont en cours d’évaluation. PMID:26401215

Avant Propos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cornet, Alain; Broll, Norbert; Denier, Philippe

2002-07-01

Le quatrième colloque Rayons X et Matière (RX 2001) s'est tenu à Strasbourg du 4 au 7 décembre 2001. Comme lors des colloques précédents (1995, 1997 et 1999) nous avons pu réunir de nombreux chercheurs, industriels et constructeurs concernés par la caractérisation des matériaux. Cette manifestation qui se déroule tous les deux ans a pour objectifs de rendre compte périodiquement des avancées faites dans le domaine des techniques X et plus particulièrement de l'ingénierie des surfaces. Cette année nous avons ajouté deux nouveaux thèmes : étude des nanomatériaux et techniques des microfaisceaux. André GUINIER était avec nous lors du premier colloque (colloque 1995, consacré à la commémoration du centenaire de la découverte des rayons X). Nous sommes attristés par son décès et nous lui dédions le Colloque RX 2001. Les premiers articles de cet ouvrage rappellent sa vie de scientifique et ses principaux travaux. En même temps que nous écrivons ces quelques lignes, nous nous préparons à lancer le colloque RX 2003. Ces colloques ont lieu grâce à la participation constante des chercheurs et l'engagement des constructeurs et distributeurs de matériels ; nous les en remercions vivement et nous leur donnons rendez-vous à Strasbourg, en décembre 2003.

Influence des conditions climatiques saisonnières sur quelques paramètres physiologiques dès boucs Créoles alimentés avec de l'ensilage de banane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fauconneau, B.; Xande, A.

1986-06-01

Response of three groups of 12 male creole goats (weighing about 10 kg) to environmental variations was tested in Guadeloupe (French West Indies) respectively at three times in the year: end of humid season (October November), dry season (February March) and beginning of humid season (July August). Voluntary free intake of banana silage (silage of mixed green banana, bagassa, wheat bran and urea complemented with molasse) was not significantly affected by climatic variations. Three physiological parameters: rectal temperature, respiratory frequency and cardiac frequency were measured. These parameters were correlated with heat production dependent factors such as metabolic body weight, body weight gain and voluntary free intake. Rectal temperature increased all through the day until sunset and then decreased during the night. Both minimal rectal temperature and daily increase of rectal temperature were correlated with ambient temperature. Cardiac frequency increased during feeding. Generally cardiac frequency seemed to be correlated with activity of animals and so with behavioural response to environmental variations. Respiratory frequency was the most sensitive index of goat response to climate. The daily increase of respiratory frequency was important at the end of the humid season but was not observed in dry season. This increase was dependent on ambient temperature increase but also on air humidity characteristics and air velocity. These points are discussed according to integration of those physiological parameters in thermoregulation.

Statistical Physics on the Eve of the 21st Century: in Honour of J B McGuire on the Occasion of His 65th Birthday

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Batchelor, Murray T.; Wille, Luc T.

The Table of Contents for the book is as follows: * Preface * Modelling the Immune System - An Example of the Simulation of Complex Biological Systems * Brief Overview of Quantum Computation * Quantal Information in Statistical Physics * Modeling Economic Randomness: Statistical Mechanics of Market Phenomena * Essentially Singular Solutions of Feigenbaum- Type Functional Equations * Spatiotemporal Chaotic Dynamics in Coupled Map Lattices * Approach to Equilibrium of Chaotic Systems * From Level to Level in Brain and Behavior * Linear and Entropic Transformations of the Hydrophobic Free Energy Sequence Help Characterize a Novel Brain Polyprotein: CART's Protein * Dynamical Systems Response to Pulsed High-Frequency Fields * Bose-Einstein Condensates in the Light of Nonlinear Physics * Markov Superposition Expansion for the Entropy and Correlation Functions in Two and Three Dimensions * Calculation of Wave Center Deflection and Multifractal Analysis of Directed Waves Through the Study of su(1,1)Ferromagnets * Spectral Properties and Phases in Hierarchical Master Equations * Universality of the Distribution Functions of Random Matrix Theory * The Universal Chiral Partition Function for Exclusion Statistics * Continuous Space-Time Symmetries in a Lattice Field Theory * Quelques Cas Limites du Problème à N Corps Unidimensionnel * Integrable Models of Correlated Electrons * On the Riemann Surface of the Three-State Chiral Potts Model * Two Exactly Soluble Lattice Models in Three Dimensions * Competition of Ferromagnetic and Antiferromagnetic Order in the Spin-l/2 XXZ Chain at Finite Temperature * Extended Vertex Operator Algebras and Monomial Bases * Parity and Charge Conjugation Symmetries and S Matrix of the XXZ Chain * An Exactly Solvable Constrained XXZ Chain * Integrable Mixed Vertex Models Ftom the Braid-Monoid Algebra * From Yang-Baxter Equations to Dynamical Zeta Functions for Birational Tlansformations * Hexagonal Lattice Directed Site Animals * Direction in the Star-Triangle Relations * A Self-Avoiding Walk Through Exactly Solved Lattice Models in Statistical Mechanics

Extraction of water and solutes from argillaceous rocks for geochemical characterisation: Methods, processes and current understanding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sacchi, Elisa; Michelot, Jean-Luc; Pitsch, Helmut; Lalieux, Philippe; Aranyossy, Jean-François

2001-01-01

This paper summarises the results of a comprehensive critical review, initiated by the OECD/NEA "Clay Club," of the extraction techniques available to obtain water and solutes from argillaceous rocks. The paper focuses on the mechanisms involved in the extraction processes, the consequences on the isotopic and chemical composition of the extracted pore water and the attempts made to reconstruct its original composition. Finally, it provides some examples of reliable techniques and information, as a function of the purpose of the geochemical study. Résumé. Cet article résume les résultats d'une synthèse critique d'ensemble, lancée par le OECD/NEA "Clay Club", sur les techniques d'extraction disponibles pour obtenir l'eau et les solutés de roches argileuses. L'article est consacré aux mécanismes impliqués dans les processus d'extraction, aux conséquences sur la composition isotopique et chimique de l'eau porale extraite et aux tentatives faites pour reconstituer sa composition originelle. Finalement, il donne quelques exemples de techniques fiables et d'informations, en fonction du but de l'étude géochimique. Resúmen. Este artículo resume los resultados de una revisión crítica exhaustiva (iniciada por el "Clay Club" OECD/NEA) de las técnicas de extracción disponibles para obtener agua y solutos en rocas arcillosas. El artículo se centra en los mecanismos involucrados en los procesos extractivos, las consecuencias en la composición isotópica y química del agua intersticial extraída, y en los intentos realizados para reconstruir su composición original. Finalmente, se presentan algunos ejemplos de técnicas fiables e información, en función del propósito del estudio geoquímico.

Détection et prise en charge efficace à l’urgence d’une luxation de Lisfranc à faible vélocité

PubMed Central

Mayich, D. Joshua; Mayich, Michael S.; Daniels, Timothy R.

2012-01-01

Résumé Objectif Améliorer la capacité des médecins de soins primaires de reconnaître les mécanismes et les présentations courantes des luxations de Lisfranc à basse vélocité (LLF) et mieux faire comprendre le rôle de l’imagerie et les principes des soins primaires dans les cas de LLF à basse vélocité. Sources des données Une recension des ouvrages spécialisés dans MEDLINE a été effectuée et les résultats ont été résumés, concernant notamment l’anatomie et les mécanismes, les diagnostics cliniques et par imagerie et les principes de la prise en charge en milieu de soins primaires. Message principal Les LLF à basse vélocité sont le résultat de divers mécanismes et, à l’examen clinique et à l’imagerie, les signes révélateurs sont très peu perceptibles. Il faut donc un fort degré de suspicion et de prudence dans la prise en charge de ce type de blessure. Conclusion Si on met en pratique quelques principes thérapeutiques dans la prise en charge des LLF à basse vélocité, qui sont potentiellement dévastatrices si elles ne sont pas reconnues, et ce, dès leur présentation, il est possible d’optimiser l’issue de telles blessures.

Détermination des densités de charge d'espace dans les isolants solides par la méthode de l'onde thermique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toureille, A.; Reboul, J.-P.; Merle, P.

1991-01-01

A non-destructive method for the measurement of space charge densities in solid insulating materials is described. This method called “ the thermal step technique ” is concerned with the diffusion of a step of heat applied to one side of the sample and with the resulting nonuniform thermal expansion. From the solution of the equation of heat, we have set up the relations between the measured current and the space charge densities. The deconvolution procedure leading to these charge densities is presented. Some results obtained with this method on XLPE and polypropylene slabs are given. Une nouvelle méthode non destructive, pour la mesure des densités de charges d'espace dans les isolants solides, est décrite. Cette méthode, dite de “ l'onde thermique ” est basée sur la diffusion d'un front de chaleur appliqué à une des faces de l'éprouvette et sur la dilatation non uniforme qui en résulte. A partir de la résolution de l'équation de la chaleur, nous avons établi les relations entre le courant mesuré et les densités de charges. Nous indiquons ensuite un procédé de déconvolution permettant de calculer ces densités de charge. Quelques résultats obtenus par cette méthode, sur des plaques de polyéthylène réticulé et polypropylène sont donnés.

Maladie de Takayasu et polyarthrite rhumatoïde: une association rare - à propos d'une observation

PubMed Central

Frikha, Faten; Maazoun, Fatma; Snoussi, Mouna; Abid, Leila; Abid, Hanen; Bouassida, Walid; Kaddour, Neila; Bahloul, Zouhir

2012-01-01

L'artérite de Takayasu ou maladie de Takayasu (MT) et la polyarthrite rhumatoïde (PR) et sont deux maladies inflammatoires chroniques et leur association a été rapportée dans la littérature à travers quelques observations de cas sporadiques. Nous rapportons une nouvelle observation d'une telle association. Une patiente âgée de 44 ans, diagnostiquée avec une polyarthrite rhumatoïde à facteur rhumatoïde positif, qui a développé des céphalées avec des vertiges de caractère permanent. L'examen révélait un pouls radial et huméral abolis à droite, un souffle carotidien bilatéral et une tension artérielle imprenable à droite. L'artériographie a confirmé la présence d'une atteinte de l'arc aortique type MT. Le diagnostic d'une maladie de Takayasu associée à une polyarthrite rhumatoïde était retenu. La patiente était traitée par une corticothérapie (prednisone à la dose de 0,5 mg/kg par jour) et un traitement de fond par Méthotrexate avec une bonne réponse initiale. A travers notre observation et une revue de la littérature, les caractéristiques épidémiologiques, étiopathogéniques, cliniques, thérapeutiques et évolutives de cette association seront discutées. PMID:22937201

Multiferroic RMnO3 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fontcuberta, Josep

2015-03-01

Multiferroic materials have received an astonishing attention in the last decades due to expectations that potential coupling between distinct ferroic orders could inspire new applications and new device concepts. As a result, a new knowledge on coupling mechanisms and materials science has dramatically emerged. Multiferroic RMnO3 perovskites are central to this progress, providing a suitable platform to tailor spin-spin and spin-lattice interactions. With views towards applications, the development of thin films of multiferroic materials have also progressed enormously and nowadays thin-film manganites are available, with properties mimicking those of bulk compounds. Here we review achievements on the growth of hexagonal and orthorhombic RMnO3 epitaxial thin films and the characterization of their magnetic and ferroelectric properties, we discuss some challenging issues, and we suggest some guidelines for future research and developments. En ce qui concerne les applications, le développement de films minces de matériaux multiferroïques a aussi énormément progressé, et de nos jours des films minces de manganites avec des propriétés similaires à celles des matériaux massifs existent. Nous passons en revue ici les résultats obtenus dans le domaine de la croissance de couches minces épitaxiés de RMnO3 hexagonal et orthorhombique et de la caractérisation de leurs propriétés magnétiques et ferroélectriques. Nous discutons certains enjeux et proposons quelques idées pour des recherches et développements futurs.

Static electricity as a hazard in industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Laar, Ir. G. F. M.

1991-08-01

Looking at the German and Dutch statistics, the percentage of dust explosions in all industries dealing with explosible dust-air mixtures which have been ignited by electrostatic discharges is about 8-10%. However, in the plastics industry this value is much higher: 25%. In particular in the last few years some rather large industrial incidents probably have been caused by electrostatic charges. To understand why accidents may happen due to static electricity the several dangerous electrostatic discharges will be discussed briefly in connection with dust explosion hazards. In particular the propagating brush discharge and the cone or " Maurer " discharge are important. Ignitions are caused mainly in the case of easily ignitable powders or hybrid mixtures (powders in combination with flammable vapours) due to isolated conductors and non-conducting materials as the product itself or such process parts as flexible hoses, internally coated silos and ducts. To illustrate how hazards by electrostatic discharges may develop in real life both on a small and a large scale a few examples will be briefly discussed. Une consultation des statistiques allemandes et néerlandaises révèle que dans toutes les industries traitant des mélanges poussière-air explosifs le pourcentage des explosions de poussière qui se sont produites par des décharges électrostatiques ne s'élève qu'à environ 8-10 %. Dans l'industrie des matières plastiques cependant, ce pourcentage est bien plus grand: 25 %. Les dernières années en particulier nous ont rapporté plusieurs incidents industriels assez graves qui sont probablement causés par des charges électrostatiques. Pour comprendre comment des accidents pareils dus à l'électricité statique peuvent se produire, les différentes décharges électrostatiques dangereuses pouvant produire des explosions de poussière se discuteront brièvement. Ce sont surtout la décharge brosse de surface et la décharge " Maurer " qui sont d'une importance considérable. Les inflammations se font principalement en cas de poussières combustibles ou mélanges hybrides (des poudres en combinaison avec des vapeurs combustibles) par des conducteurs isolés et des matériaux non conductibles comme le produit même ou par des éléments concernés comme des tuyaux flexibles, des silos couverts à l'intérieur et des tubes. Afin d'illustrer comment des dangers par décharges électrostatiques sur petite comme sur grande échelle pourraient se développer dans la vie quotidienne, quelques exemples seront donnés.

Quelle place pour l’anesthésie locorégionale chez les brûlés?

PubMed Central

Chaibdraa, A.; Medjelekh, M.S.; Saouli, A.; Bentakouk, M.C.

2015-01-01

Summary La pratique de l’anesthésie locorégionale chez les brûlés est limitée par de nombreux facteurs. Elle est considérée comme marginale dans l’approche multimodale du traitement de la douleur par excès de nociception. Ce travail rétrospectif, sur une période de 3 années, porte sur les anesthésies locorégionales (ALR) réalisées. Les résultats obtenus vont permettre, en regard de la rareté des données de la littérature, de formuler quelques suggestions sur la place de cette technique. Il a été recensé 634 ALR, dont 96% chez des adultes. Les membres inférieurs sont les plus concernés (76%). Des anesthésies rachidiennes ont été pratiquées chez 32 patients dont 4 enfants. Les incidents sont peu fréquents (3%) et sans gravité. L’ALR peut représenter une option utile dans la stratégie multimodale de prise en charge de la douleur, la réhabilitation passive précoce et la chirurgie de recouvrement par la greffe de peau. Elle mérite d’être explorée en ambulatoire, dans la mesure où 95% des brûlés ne sont pas hospitalisés. La place de l’anesthésie-locorégionale chez les brûlés devrait susciter plus d’intérêts, pour permettre d’établir des protocoles fondés sur une réflexion pluridisciplinaire. PMID:27279806

Propriétés électriques d'hétérostructures a-GaAs/c-GaAs(n) et de structures de type MIS a-GaAsN/c-GaAs(n)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguir, K.; Fennouh, A.; Carchano, H.; Lollman, D.

1995-10-01

Heterojunctions were fabricated by deposit of amorphous GaAs and GaAsN on c-GaAs. I(V) and C(V) measurements were performed to determine electrical properties of these structures. The a-GaAs/c-GaAs(n) heterojunctions present a p-n junction like behaviour. The characteristics of the a-GaAsN/c-GaAs(n) heterojunctions present a MIS like structure behaviour with some imperfections. A fixed positive charge was detected and a density of interface states of about 10^{11} eV^{-1}cm^{-2} was evaluated. L'étude porte sur des couches minces de GaAs et de GaAsN amorphes déposées par pulvérisation cathodique RF réactive sur des substrats de GaAs cristallin. Les caractéristiques électriques I(V) et C(V) ont été mesurées. Les hétérojonctions a-GaAs/c-GaAs(n) présentent un effet redresseur. Cet effet laisse place à une caractéristique symétrique avec une forte atténuation de l'intensité du courant pour les structures a-GaAsN/cGaAs(n). Les structures réalisées ont alors un comportement semblable à celui d'une structure MIS imparfaite. L'existence d'une charge positive fixe dans le a-GaAsN a été mise en évidence. La densité des états d'interface au milieu de la bande interdite est évaluée à quelques 10^{11} cm^{-2}eV^{-1}.

Photoémission de Csl induite par une impulsion laser intense femtoseconde

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belsky, A.; Vasil'Ev, A.; Yatsenko, B.; Bachau, H.; Martin, P.; Geoffroy, G.; Guizard, S.

2003-06-01

Nous avons mesuré pour la première fois les spectres de photoélectrons émis par un cristal isolant à large bande interdite, Csl, avec une dynamique de 10^6 coups/s, excité par la source laser haute cadence du C.E.L.I.A (800 nm, 40 fs, 1 kHz, 1 TW). L'émission d'électrons jusqu'à des énergies de quelques dizaines d'électrons-volts a été observée pour des impulsions d'éclairement compris entre 0.5 et 3 TW/cm^2, relativement faible donc par comparaison aux éclairements utilisés pour accélérer les électrons d'un atome aux mêmes énergies. Ces spectres contiennent tous, en particulier, deux bandes dans le domaine des basses énergies d'électrons (<5 eV), également observées lors d'études précédentes. Les électrons les plus énergétiques forment un plateau intense légèrement structuré et limité par une coupure exponentielle. Pour des impulsions de 3 TW/cm^2 cette coupure est située à 27 eV. L'insuffisance du mécanisme électron-photon-phonon, considéré jusqu'à présent comme le principal processus d'échauffement des électrons dans les solides en interaction non destructrice avec un champ laser, nous a poussé à proposer un mécanisme alternatif. Ce modèle met en évidence les transitions directes multiphotoniques dans la bande de conduction du solide qui sont incontournables du fait de sa structure électronique multi-branches

Microscopie par rayons X dans la fenêtre de l'eau : faisabilité et intérêt pour la biologie d'un instrument de laboratoire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adam, J. F.; Moy, J. P.

2005-06-01

La biologie étudie des structures ou des phénomènes sub-cellulaires. Pour cela la microscopie est la technique d'observation privilégiée. La résolution spatiale de la microscopie optique s'avère bien souvent insuffisante pour de telles observations. Les techniques plus résolvantes, comme la microscopie électronique par transmission sont souvent destructrices et d'une complexité peu adaptée aux besoins des biologistes. La microscopie par rayons X dans la fenêtre de l'eau permet l'imagerie rapide de cellules dans leur milieu naturel, nécessite peu de préparation et offre des résolutions de quelques dizaines de nanomètres. De plus, il existe un bon contraste naturel entre les structures carbonées (protéines, lipides) et l'eau. Actuellement cette technique est limitée aux centres de rayonnement synchrotron, ce qui impose une planification et des déplacements incompatibles avec les besoins de la biologie. Un tel microscope fonctionnant avec uns source de laboratoire serait d'une grande utilité. Ce document présente un état de l'art de la microscopie par rayons X dans la fenêtre de l'eau. Un cahier des charges détaillé pour un appareil de laboratoire ayant les performances optiques requises par les biologistes est présenté et confronté aux microscopes X de laboratoire déjà existants. Des solutions concernant la source et les optiques sont également discutées.

Tensions entre rationalité technique et intérêts politiques : l’exemple de la mise en œuvre de la Loi sur les agences de développement de réseaux locaux de services de santé et de services sociaux au Québec

PubMed Central

Contandriopoulos, D.; Hudon, Raymond; Martin, Elisabeth; Thompson, Daniel

2013-01-01

Sommaire L’objet de cet article est constitué par les processus décisionnels entourant la mise en œuvre de la Loi sur les agences de développement de réseaux locaux de services de santé et de services sociaux (Loi 25). Nous entendons mettre en lumière les stratégies des groupes ou institutions de diverses natures qui ont fait valoir leurs préférences et ont tenté, avec un succès inégal, d’influencer les décisions relatives à cette réforme majeure de la structure du système de santé québécois. Au plan théorique, nous nous appuyons principalement sur les modèles d’analyse du lobbying qui, depuis les travaux fondateurs de Milbrath (1960, 1963), présentent cette pratique comme un processus fondamental d’échange d’information. Selon les données colligées dans les retranscriptions d’entrevues, les stratégies observées correspondent effectivement aux caractéristiques constitutives du lobbying et, dans quelques situations, à celles du patronage. La combinaison de ces divers éléments révèle que la mise en œuvre de la Loi 25 s’avère être avant tout un processus proprement politique. Ainsi, furent relégués au second plan les arguments techniques qui composaient initialement les objectifs de la Loi. PMID:23509412

In-Situ Survey System of Resistive and Thermoelectric Properties of Either Pure or Mixed Materials in Thin Films Evaporated Under Ultra High Vacuum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lechevallier, L.; Le Huerou, J.-Y.; Richon, G.; Sarrau, J.-M.; Gouault, J.

1995-04-01

The study of thermoelectric and resistive in situ behaviours depending on temperature for thin films of either pure or composite materials obtained under ultra-high vacuum, is very interesting, since they can be used as strain gauges or superficial resistances. However, studies become particularly difficult when the measurements generate very low-level electrical signals. Indeed, these turn out to be hardly detectable because of the perturbations brought by the experimental environment. The apparatus described below allows for the measurement of resistance with a relative uncertainty of 2×10^{-4}, resistance variation with an absolute uncertainty of 2 mΩ and thermoelectric e.m.f. of about 2 μV. Films studied in the laboratory generally exhibit resistances lower than 100 Ω and resistance variations due to temperature variations of about a few ohms. So this device has sufficient technical characteristics for our studies. It can be connected to a PC, which allows for easy data collection and treatment. L'étude des comportements résistif et thermoélectrique in situ en fonction de la température de couches minces de matériaux simples ou composites obtenus en milieu raréfié s'avére intéressante en vue d'applications comme jauge de contrainte ou résistance superficielle mais particulièrement délicate lorsque les mesures donnent naissance à des signaux électriques de très faible amplitude. Ces derniers deviennent en effet difficilement décelables en raison des perturbations apportées par l'environnement expérimental. Le système qui est décrit ici permet de mesurer des résistances avec une certitude relative de 2×10^{-4} et d'apprécier des variations de résistance de 2 mΩ et des f.e.m. thermoélectriques de l'ordre de 2 μV. Les couches étudiées au laboratoire présentent généralement des résistances inférieures à 100 Ω et des variations de résistance dues aux variations de température de l'ordre de quelques Ω. Le dispositif de mesure présente donc des caractéristiques techniques suffisantes pour nos études. Connecté à un PC il permet l'acquisition des données et un traitement rapide.

Do Plot Scale Studies Yield Useful Data When Assessing Field Scale Practices?

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Plot scale data has been used to develop models used to assess field and watershed scale nutrient losses. The objective of this study was to determine if phosphorus (P) loss results from plot scale rainfall simulation studies are “directionally correct” when compared to field scale P losses. Two fie...

A scaling theory for linear systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brockett, R. W.; Krishnaprasad, P. S.

1980-01-01

A theory of scaling for rational (transfer) functions in terms of transformation groups is developed. Two different four-parameter scaling groups which play natural roles in studying linear systems are identified and the effect of scaling on Fisher information and related statistical measures in system identification are studied. The scalings considered include change of time scale, feedback, exponential scaling, magnitude scaling, etc. The scaling action of the groups studied is tied to the geometry of transfer functions in a rather strong way as becomes apparent in the examination of the invariants of scaling. As a result, the scaling process also provides new insight into the parameterization question for rational functions.

Geometry and Reynolds-Number Scaling on an Iced Business-Jet Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Sam; Ratvasky, Thomas P.; Thacker, Michael; Barnhart, Billy P.

2005-01-01

A study was conducted to develop a method to scale the effect of ice accretion on a full-scale business jet wing model to a 1/12-scale model at greatly reduced Reynolds number. Full-scale, 5/12-scale, and 1/12-scale models of identical airfoil section were used in this study. Three types of ice accretion were studied: 22.5-minute ice protection system failure shape, 2-minute initial ice roughness, and a runback shape that forms downstream of a thermal anti-ice system. The results showed that the 22.5-minute failure shape could be scaled from full-scale to 1/12-scale through simple geometric scaling. The 2-minute roughness shape could be scaled by choosing an appropriate grit size. The runback ice shape exhibited greater Reynolds number effects and could not be scaled by simple geometric scaling of the ice shape.

Learner Autonomy Scale: A Scale Development Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Orakci, Senol; Gelisli, Yücel

2017-01-01

The goal of the study is to develop a scale named "Learner Autonomy Scale" (LAS) for determining the learner autonomy of the students toward English lesson. The proposal scale, composed of 29 items, was applied to two study groups in Turkey. The group of Exploratory Factor Analysis that aims to determine the psychometric properties…

Conceptual design and analysis of a dynamic scale model of the Space Station Freedom

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, D. A.; Gronet, M. J.; Tan, M. K.; Thorne, J.

1994-01-01

This report documents the conceptual design study performed to evaluate design options for a subscale dynamic test model which could be used to investigate the expected on-orbit structural dynamic characteristics of the Space Station Freedom early build configurations. The baseline option was a 'near-replica' model of the SSF SC-7 pre-integrated truss configuration. The approach used to develop conceptual design options involved three sets of studies: evaluation of the full-scale design and analysis databases, conducting scale factor trade studies, and performing design sensitivity studies. The scale factor trade study was conducted to develop a fundamental understanding of the key scaling parameters that drive design, performance and cost of a SSF dynamic scale model. Four scale model options were estimated: 1/4, 1/5, 1/7, and 1/10 scale. Prototype hardware was fabricated to assess producibility issues. Based on the results of the study, a 1/4-scale size is recommended based on the increased model fidelity associated with a larger scale factor. A design sensitivity study was performed to identify critical hardware component properties that drive dynamic performance. A total of 118 component properties were identified which require high-fidelity replication. Lower fidelity dynamic similarity scaling can be used for non-critical components.

Which symptom assessments and approaches are uniquely appropriate for paediatric concussion?

PubMed

Gioia, G A; Schneider, J C; Vaughan, C G; Isquith, P K

2009-05-01

To (a) identify post-concussion symptom scales appropriate for children and adolescents in sports; (b) review evidence for reliability and validity; and (c) recommend future directions for scale development. Quantitative and qualitative literature review of symptom rating scales appropriate for children and adolescents aged 5 to 22 years. Literature identified via search of Medline, Ovid-Medline and PsycInfo databases; review of reference lists in identified articles; querying sports concussion specialists. 29 articles met study inclusion criteria. 5 symptom scales examined in 11 studies for ages 5-12 years and in 25 studies for ages 13-22. 10 of 11 studies for 5-12-year-olds presented validity evidence for three scales; 7 studies provided reliability evidence for two scales; 7 studies used serial administrations but no reliable change metrics. Two scales included parent-reports and one included a teacher report. 24 of 25 studies for 13-22 year-olds presented validity evidence for five measures; seven studies provided reliability evidence for four measures with 18 studies including serial administrations and two examining Reliable Change. Psychometric evidence for symptom scales is stronger for adolescents than for younger children. Most scales provide evidence of concurrent validity, discriminating concussed and non-concussed groups. Few report reliability and evidence for validity is narrow. Two measures include parent/teacher reports. Few scales examine reliable change statistics, limiting interpretability of temporal changes. Future studies are needed to fully define symptom scale psychometric properties with the greatest need in younger student-athletes.

Application of fundamental principles to mineral scale reduction : case studies

Treesearch

Peter W. Hart; Alan W. Rudie

2005-01-01

This paper will present several successful case studies where scale has been eliminated in mills including calcium carbonate scale in a white liquor strainer, calcium oxalate scale in the D0 stage, enzymatic treatment of brown stock to eliminate oxalate scale, and control of barium sulfate scale.

A Meta-Analysis of the Reliability of Free and For-Pay Big Five Scales.

PubMed

Hamby, Tyler; Taylor, Wyn; Snowden, Audrey K; Peterson, Robert A

2016-01-01

The present study meta-analytically compared coefficient alpha reliabilities reported for free and for-pay Big Five scales. We collected 288 studies from five previous meta-analyses of Big Five traits and harvested 1,317 alphas from these studies. We found that free and for-pay scales measuring Big Five traits possessed comparable reliabilities. However, after we controlled for the numbers of items in the scales with the Spearman-Brown formula, we found that free scales possessed significantly higher alpha coefficients than for-pay scales for each of the Big Five traits. Thus, the study offers initial evidence that Big Five scales that are free more efficiently measure these traits for research purposes than do for-pay scales.

Development and Validation of Supervisory Behaviour Description Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Unal, Ali

2013-01-01

The aim of this study is to develop a scale which will describe how education supervisors' behaviours are perceived. Four separate studies have been conducted in order to develop the scale. In the first study the scale that was developed is applied to a working group consisting of 704 teachers. The factor structure of the scale is examined by…

Evaluation of Reading Habits of Teacher Candidates: Study of Scale Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Erkan, Senem Seda Sahenk; Dagal, Asude Balaban; Tezcan, Özlem

2016-01-01

The main purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable scale for printed and digital competencies ("The Printed and Digital Reading Habits Scale"). The problem statement of this research can be expressed as: "The Printed and Digital Reading Habits Scale: is a valid and reliable scale?" In this study, the scale…

Comparison of alternative versions of the job demand-control scales in 17 European cohort studies: the IPD-Work consortium.

PubMed

Fransson, Eleonor I; Nyberg, Solja T; Heikkilä, Katriina; Alfredsson, Lars; Bacquer, De Dirk; Batty, G David; Bonenfant, Sébastien; Casini, Annalisa; Clays, Els; Goldberg, Marcel; Kittel, France; Koskenvuo, Markku; Knutsson, Anders; Leineweber, Constanze; Magnusson Hanson, Linda L; Nordin, Maria; Singh-Manoux, Archana; Suominen, Sakari; Vahtera, Jussi; Westerholm, Peter; Westerlund, Hugo; Zins, Marie; Theorell, Töres; Kivimäki, Mika

2012-01-20

Job strain (i.e., high job demands combined with low job control) is a frequently used indicator of harmful work stress, but studies have often used partial versions of the complete multi-item job demands and control scales. Understanding whether the different instruments assess the same underlying concepts has crucial implications for the interpretation of findings across studies, harmonisation of multi-cohort data for pooled analyses, and design of future studies. As part of the 'IPD-Work' (Individual-participant-data meta-analysis in working populations) consortium, we compared different versions of the demands and control scales available in 17 European cohort studies. Six of the 17 studies had information on the complete scales and 11 on partial scales. Here, we analyse individual level data from 70 751 participants of the studies which had complete scales (5 demand items, 6 job control items). We found high Pearson correlation coefficients between complete scales of job demands and control relative to scales with at least three items (r > 0.90) and for partial scales with two items only (r = 0.76-0.88). In comparison with scores from the complete scales, the agreement between job strain definitions was very good when only one item was missing in either the demands or the control scale (kappa > 0.80); good for job strain assessed with three demand items and all six control items (kappa > 0.68) and moderate to good when items were missing from both scales (kappa = 0.54-0.76). The sensitivity was > 0.80 when only one item was missing from either scale, decreasing when several items were missing in one or both job strain subscales. Partial job demand and job control scales with at least half of the items of the complete scales, and job strain indices based on one complete and one partial scale, seemed to assess the same underlying concepts as the complete survey instruments.

Comparison of alternative versions of the job demand-control scales in 17 European cohort studies: the IPD-Work consortium

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Job strain (i.e., high job demands combined with low job control) is a frequently used indicator of harmful work stress, but studies have often used partial versions of the complete multi-item job demands and control scales. Understanding whether the different instruments assess the same underlying concepts has crucial implications for the interpretation of findings across studies, harmonisation of multi-cohort data for pooled analyses, and design of future studies. As part of the 'IPD-Work' (Individual-participant-data meta-analysis in working populations) consortium, we compared different versions of the demands and control scales available in 17 European cohort studies. Methods Six of the 17 studies had information on the complete scales and 11 on partial scales. Here, we analyse individual level data from 70 751 participants of the studies which had complete scales (5 demand items, 6 job control items). Results We found high Pearson correlation coefficients between complete scales of job demands and control relative to scales with at least three items (r > 0.90) and for partial scales with two items only (r = 0.76-0.88). In comparison with scores from the complete scales, the agreement between job strain definitions was very good when only one item was missing in either the demands or the control scale (kappa > 0.80); good for job strain assessed with three demand items and all six control items (kappa > 0.68) and moderate to good when items were missing from both scales (kappa = 0.54-0.76). The sensitivity was > 0.80 when only one item was missing from either scale, decreasing when several items were missing in one or both job strain subscales. Conclusions Partial job demand and job control scales with at least half of the items of the complete scales, and job strain indices based on one complete and one partial scale, seemed to assess the same underlying concepts as the complete survey instruments. PMID:22264402

A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Reilly's Role Overload Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thiagarajan, Palaniappan; Chakrabarty, Subhra; Taylor, Ronald D.

2006-01-01

In 1982, Reilly developed a 13-item scale to measure role overload. This scale has been widely used, but most studies did not assess the unidimensionality of the scale. Given the significance of unidimensionality in scale development, the current study reports a confirmatory factor analysis of the 13-item scale in two samples. Based on the…

Rural to Urban Population Density Scaling of Crime and Property Transactions in English and Welsh Parliamentary Constituencies.

PubMed

Hanley, Quentin S; Lewis, Dan; Ribeiro, Haroldo V

2016-01-01

Urban population scaling of resource use, creativity metrics, and human behaviors has been widely studied. These studies have not looked in detail at the full range of human environments which represent a continuum from the most rural to heavily urban. We examined monthly police crime reports and property transaction values across all 573 Parliamentary Constituencies in England and Wales, finding that scaling models based on population density provided a far superior framework to traditional population scaling. We found four types of scaling: i) non-urban scaling in which a single power law explained the relationship between the metrics and population density from the most rural to heavily urban environments, ii) accelerated scaling in which high population density was associated with an increase in the power-law exponent, iii) inhibited scaling where the urban environment resulted in a reduction in the power-law exponent but remained positive, and iv) collapsed scaling where transition to the high density environment resulted in a negative scaling exponent. Urban scaling transitions, when observed, took place universally between 10 and 70 people per hectare. This study significantly refines our understanding of urban scaling, making clear that some of what has been previously ascribed to urban environments may simply be the high density portion of non-urban scaling. It also makes clear that some metrics undergo specific transitions in urban environments and these transitions can include negative scaling exponents indicative of collapse. This study gives promise of far more sophisticated scale adjusted metrics and indicates that studies of urban scaling represent a high density subsection of overall scaling relationships which continue into rural environments.

Rural to Urban Population Density Scaling of Crime and Property Transactions in English and Welsh Parliamentary Constituencies

PubMed Central

Hanley, Quentin S.; Lewis, Dan; Ribeiro, Haroldo V.

2016-01-01

Urban population scaling of resource use, creativity metrics, and human behaviors has been widely studied. These studies have not looked in detail at the full range of human environments which represent a continuum from the most rural to heavily urban. We examined monthly police crime reports and property transaction values across all 573 Parliamentary Constituencies in England and Wales, finding that scaling models based on population density provided a far superior framework to traditional population scaling. We found four types of scaling: i) non-urban scaling in which a single power law explained the relationship between the metrics and population density from the most rural to heavily urban environments, ii) accelerated scaling in which high population density was associated with an increase in the power-law exponent, iii) inhibited scaling where the urban environment resulted in a reduction in the power-law exponent but remained positive, and iv) collapsed scaling where transition to the high density environment resulted in a negative scaling exponent. Urban scaling transitions, when observed, took place universally between 10 and 70 people per hectare. This study significantly refines our understanding of urban scaling, making clear that some of what has been previously ascribed to urban environments may simply be the high density portion of non-urban scaling. It also makes clear that some metrics undergo specific transitions in urban environments and these transitions can include negative scaling exponents indicative of collapse. This study gives promise of far more sophisticated scale adjusted metrics and indicates that studies of urban scaling represent a high density subsection of overall scaling relationships which continue into rural environments. PMID:26886219

Determining pain scale preference in a veteran population experiencing chronic pain.

PubMed

Douglas, Mary E; Randleman, Mary L; DeLane, Alice M; Palmer, Glen A

2014-09-01

The purpose of this study was to determine veteran pain scale preference of four common pain scales: the Faces Scale, the Visual Analog Scale, the Numeric Rating Scale, and the Mankoski Pain Scale. The study also examined the reliability and validity of the Mankoski Pain Scale with the other three scales. A sample of veterans (N = 200) with chronic pain receiving treatment in a residential rehabilitation treatment program (RRTP) and a surgical and specialty care (SSC) outpatient clinic at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center participated in the study. There was a significant difference between scales in regard to preference, χ2(3) = 64.59, p < .001. A large percentage of the sample preferred the Mankoski Pain Scale (46%). Test-retest of the reliability was comparable for all the scales. Validity of the Mankoski scale was excellent, as it correlated very well with the Numeric (r = .84, p < .001), Analog (r = .83, p < .001), and Faces (r = .78, p < .001) scales. The findings indicate that the Mankoski Pain Scale is a valid and reliable tool for pain with veterans, and it was the preferred scale by veterans for use when describing pain. Published by Elsevier Inc.

[Translation and Validation of the FOUR Scale for Children and its Use as Outcome Predictor: A Pilot Study].

PubMed

Ferreira, Sofia Simões; Meireles, Daniel; Pinto, Alexandra; Abecasis, Francisco

2017-09-29

The Full Outline of UnResponsiveness - FOUR scale has been previously validated to assess impaired consciousness in the adult population. The aim of this study is the translation into Portuguese and validation of the FOUR scale in the pediatric population. The study also compares the FOUR scale and Glasgow coma scale score ratings and the clinical outcome of patients hospitalized in Pediatric Intensive Care Units. This study prospectively rated patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Units with impaired consciousness during one year. Both scales were applied daily to patients by three types of examiners: intensivists, residents and nurses, from the moment of admission until clinical discharge. Neurological sequelae was evaluated using the King's Outcome Scale for Childhood Head Injury - KOSCHI. Twenty seven patients between one and 17 years of age were included. Both scales are reliable and inter-rater reliability was greater for the FOUR score. Glasgow coma scale showed a minimum score in eight evaluations, whereas the FOUR scale obtained the minimum score in only two of these evaluations. In both scales there was a strong association between the admission score and the patient's outcome (area under curve FOUR = 0.939, versus Glasgow coma scale = 0.925). The FOUR scale provides more neurological information than Glasgow coma scale in patients with impaired consciousness and has prognostic interest. The FOUR scale can be applied in patients admitted with impaired consciousness in Pediatric Intensive Care Units. We think that a multicenter study would be very beneficial for confirming and generalizing these results.

Scale and scaling in agronomy and environmental sciences

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Scale is of paramount importance in environmental studies, engineering, and design. The unique course covers the following topics: scale and scaling, methods and theories, scaling in soils and other porous media, scaling in plants and crops; scaling in landscapes and watersheds, and scaling in agro...

Scale-down/scale-up studies leading to improved commercial beer fermentation.

PubMed

Nienow, Alvin W; Nordkvist, Mikkel; Boulton, Christopher A

2011-08-01

Scale-up/scale-down techniques are vital for successful and safe commercial-scale bioprocess design and operation. An example is given in this review of recent studies related to beer production. Work at the bench scale shows that brewing yeast is not compromised by mechanical agitation up to 4.5 W/kg; and that compared with fermentations mixed by CO(2) evolution, agitation ≥ 0.04 W/kg is able to reduce fermentation time by about 20%. Work at the commercial scale in cylindroconical fermenters shows that, without mechanical agitation, most of the yeast sediments into the cone for about 50% of the fermentation time, leading to poor temperature control. Stirrer mixing overcomes these problems and leads to a similar reduction in batch time as the bench-scale tests and greatly reduces its variability, but is difficult to install in extant fermenters. The mixing characteristics of a new jet mixer, a rotary jet mixer, which overcomes these difficulties, are reported, based on pilot-scale studies. This change enables the advantages of stirring to be achieved at the commercial scale without the problems. In addition, more of the fermentable sugars are converted into ethanol. This review shows the effectiveness of scale-up/scale-down studies for improving commercial operations. Suggestions for further studies are made: one concerning the impact of homogenization on the removal of vicinal diketones and the other on the location of bubble formation at the commercial scale. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Scales and Exercises with Aksak Meters in Flute Education: A Study with Turkish and Italian Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sakin, Ajda Senol; Öztürk, Ferda Gürgan

2016-01-01

Musical scale and exercise studies in instrumental education are considered as a fundamental component of music education. During an analysis of methods prepared for instrumental education, it was detected that scale and exercise studies for Aksak meters generally did not exist. This study was conducted to identify the effects of scales and…

Efficiency of professional tooth brushing before ultrasonic scaling.

PubMed

Kim, M J; Noh, H; Oh, H Y

2015-05-01

This study aimed to examine the effect of dental plaque biofilm removal with a toothbrush, an interdental brush and dental floss by a dental hygienist prior to ultrasonic scaling on treatment times and client satisfaction. This study was conducted among adults who received scaling after agreeing to participate in this study at a dental clinic in Seoul, Korea, from July to September 2012. Thirty-seven subjects received modified scaling (M-scaling) which is ultrasonic scaling after plaque control with a toothbrush and dental floss by a dental hygienist, and 37 subjects received routine ultrasonic scaling (R-scaling). Univariate and multivariate analyses and chi-squared and t-tests were conducted using SAS. This study was approved by the Kangwon Institutional Review Board. Significant differences were found between the outcomes of M- and R-scaling for both the ultrasonic scaling time (M-scaling, 7.41 ± 6.18 min; R-scaling, 23.22 ± 6.92 min) and the total tooth cleaning time (M-scaling, 15.92 ± 7.70 min; R-scaling, 23.22 ± 6.92 min) (P < 0.001). Subject satisfaction with the scaling process was not significantly different between M-scaling (4.54 ± 0.80) and R-scaling (4.84 ± 0.44). These findings indicated that removing the dental plaque biofilm with a toothbrush and dental floss by a hygienist before scaling with an ultrasonic device was more effective in reducing the working time of the dental hygienist. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Mineral scale management. Part 1, Case studies

Treesearch

Peter W. Hart; Alan W. Rudie

2006-01-01

Mineral scale increases operating costs, extends downtime, and increases maintenance requirements. This paper presents several successful case studies detailing how mills have eliminated scale. Cases presented include calcium carbonate scale in a white liquor strainer, calcium oxalate scale in the D0 stage of the bleach plant, enzymatic treatment of brown stock to...

SMR Re-Scaling and Modeling for Load Following Studies

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

Hoover, K.; Wu, Q.; Bragg-Sitton, S.

2016-11-01

This study investigates the creation of a new set of scaling parameters for the Oregon State University Multi-Application Small Light Water Reactor (MASLWR) scaled thermal hydraulic test facility. As part of a study being undertaken by Idaho National Lab involving nuclear reactor load following characteristics, full power operations need to be simulated, and therefore properly scaled. Presented here is the scaling analysis and plans for RELAP5-3D simulation.

Linking plot, field, and watershed runoff and water quality in Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Most water quality studies are conducted at the plot, field, or watershed scale; however, studies that integrate the three scales provide information to scale results obtained at one scale to a greater area. The objective of this study was to analyze runoff and water quality measured (1997-2001) fr...

Turkish Adaptation of the Mentorship Effectiveness Scale: A Validity and Reliability Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yirci, Ramazan; Karakose, Turgut; Uygun, Harun; Ozdemir, Tuncay Yavuz

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study is to adapt the Mentoring Relationship Effectiveness Scale to Turkish, and to conduct validity and reliability tests regarding the scale. The study group consisted of 156 university science students receiving graduate education. Construct validity and factor structure of the scale was analyzed first through exploratory…

Electromagnetic properties of a modular MHD thruster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kom, C. H.; Brunet, Y.

1999-04-01

The magnetic field of an annular MHD thruster made of independent superconducting modules has been studied with analytical and numerical methods. This configuration allows to obtain large magnetized volumes and high induction levels with rapidly decreasing stray fields. When some inductors are out of order, the thruster remains still operational, but the stray fields increase in the vicinity of the failure. For given structural materials and superconductors, it is possible to determine the size of the conductor in order to reduce the electromagnetic forces and the peak field supported by the conductors. For an active field of 10 T in a 6 m ray annular active channel of a thruster with 24 modules, the peak field is exactly 15.6 T in the Nb3Sn conductors and the structure has to sustain 10^8 N/m forces. The necessity to place some magnetic or superconducting shield is discussed, particularly when the thruster is in a degraded regime. Nous présentons une étude analytique et numérique du champ magnétique d'un propulseur MHD naval annulaire, constitué de secteurs inducteurs supraconducteurs. Cette configuration nécessite des champs magnétiques élevés dans des volumes importants, et permet une décroissance rapide des champs de fuite. Lorsque quelques inducteurs sont en panne, le propulseur reste toujours opérationnel, mais les champs de fuite sont importants aux environs des modules hors service. Étant donné un matériau supraconducteur, il est possible de déterminer la forme des inducteurs dans le but de réduire à la fois les forces électromagnétiques et le surchamp supporté par le bobinage. Pour un propulseur annulaire constitué de 24 modules inducteurs, et un champ actif de 10 T au centre de la partie active du canal (r = 6 m) on obtient avec du Nb3Sn un champ maximun sur le conducteur de 15,5 T et la structure supporte une force de 10^8 N/m. De plus, la nécessité de placer des écrans magnétique ou supraconducteur en régime dégradé (mise hors service d'un ou de plusieurs modules inducteurs) est discutée.

Dynamique des ressources naturelles dans le Parc national de Manda: Cartographie et analyse pour le Développement durable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ballah Solkam, Rosalie; Médard, Ndoutorlengar

2018-05-01

Au Tchad, le réseau d'aires protégées couvre près de 10,2% de la surface du pays et reste globalement représentatif de toute la diversité des écosystèmes de la région. Cependant, ce réseau n'est pas constitué d'écosystèmes intacts car de nombreuses altérations y ont été apportés (certaines espèces sont déjà au seuil critique d'extinction (Addax, gazelle dama, lamantin), voire ont disparu (Rhinocéros noir et blanc, Oryx)) surtout dans les parcs nationaux. Ce qui nous amène à nous interroger sur la dynamique des ressources naturelles et le degré de conservation du parc national de Manda? Une évaluation de la diversité biologique et des ressources hydrographiques de 1951 à 1999 sur la base de la bibliographie existante, de la carte topographique de 1956, des images satellitaires Landsat 5 et 7 TM et ETM+ de 2 périodes (1986, 1999), complétée par des interviews semi-structurés et des transects sur le terrain, permettra de mieux appréhender la dynamique des ressources et les actions de conservation de la biodiversité réalisées à cet effet. Les résultats montrent une dynamique progressive de la faune de 1951 à 1970, puis une dynamique régressive de 1970 à 1989. Après cette tumultueuse période, un repeuplement du parc s'opère de 1989 à 2002. Par contre, la flore est relativement bien conservée avec quelques cours d'eau, des mares, champs et plantations. Et cela grâce aux multiples projets de conservation de la biodiversité. La promotion de l'écotourisme serait une alternative au développement durable de ce parc.

Etats excites en couche interne de haut spin de neon hautement ionise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lapierre, Alain

En plus d'être observés lors de plusieurs phénomènes d'interactions multi- électroniques et multi-atomiques, la description des états excités en couche interne est un test sensible à celle de la corrélation électronique. Suivant une spectroscopie faisceau- lame effectuée antérieurement des régions spectrales de l'ultraviolet et du visible (1800-5300 Å) de néon à 10 MeV, des raies spectrales (d'émission) satellites de celles des transitions hydrogéniques (l = n - 1) et l < n - 1, n = 6 - n' = 7, n = 7 - n' = 8 et n = 8 - n' = 9 du néon lithiumoïde (Ne VIII) sont assignées à l'aide de calculs Hartree-Fock, à des transitions de mêmes nombres quantiques principaux entre des états quadruplet dont le cœur est excité en 1s2s 3S. Quelques raies sont assignées à des transitions entre des niveaux n = 3 pour le Ne VI, VII et IX. Par la suite, les transitions quadruplet, quintuplet et sextuplet n = 2 - n' = 3 et n = 2 - n' = 4 du néon lithiumoïde, bérylliumoïde (Ne VII) et boroïde (Ne VI), respectivement, ont été investiguées par spectroscopie faisceau-lame dans la région spectrale des XUV (60-125 Å). Ces investigations sont supportées par des calculs Hartree-Fock et des régressions linéaires sur les séquences isoélectroniques, effectués en parallèle. Des mesures de la durée de vie moyenne de termes n = 3 ont été réalisées et plusieurs raies sont nouvellement identifiées à des transitions de Ne VI à IX.

Le recours aux modeles dans l'enseignement de la biologie au secondaire : Conceptions d'enseignantes et d'enseignants et modes d'utilisation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varlet, Madeleine

Le recours aux modeles et a la modelisation est mentionne dans la documentation scientifique comme un moyen de favoriser la mise en oeuvre de pratiques d'enseignement-apprentissage constructivistes pour pallier les difficultes d'apprentissage en sciences. L'etude prealable du rapport des enseignantes et des enseignants aux modeles et a la modelisation est alors pertinente pour comprendre leurs pratiques d'enseignement et identifier des elements dont la prise en compte dans les formations initiale et disciplinaire peut contribuer au developpement d'un enseignement constructiviste des sciences. Plusieurs recherches ont porte sur ces conceptions sans faire de distinction selon les matieres enseignees, telles la physique, la chimie ou la biologie, alors que les modeles ne sont pas forcement utilises ou compris de la meme maniere dans ces differentes disciplines. Notre recherche s'est interessee aux conceptions d'enseignantes et d'enseignants de biologie au secondaire au sujet des modeles scientifiques, de quelques formes de representations de ces modeles ainsi que de leurs modes d'utilisation en classe. Les resultats, que nous avons obtenus au moyen d'une serie d'entrevues semi-dirigees, indiquent que globalement leurs conceptions au sujet des modeles sont compatibles avec celle scientifiquement admise, mais varient quant aux formes de representations des modeles. L'examen de ces conceptions temoigne d'une connaissance limitee des modeles et variable selon la matiere enseignee. Le niveau d'etudes, la formation prealable, l'experience en enseignement et un possible cloisonnement des matieres pourraient expliquer les differentes conceptions identifiees. En outre, des difficultes temporelles, conceptuelles et techniques peuvent freiner leurs tentatives de modelisation avec les eleves. Toutefois, nos resultats accreditent l'hypothese que les conceptions des enseignantes et des enseignants eux-memes au sujet des modeles, de leurs formes de representation et de leur approche constructiviste en enseignement representent les plus grands obstacles a la construction des modeles en classe. Mots-cles : Modeles et modelisation, biologie, conceptions, modes d'utilisation, constructivisme, enseignement, secondaire.

Vibrations et relaxations dans les molécules biologiques. Apports de la diffusion incohérente inélastique de neutrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zanotti, J.-M.

2005-11-01

Le présent document ne se veut pas un article de revue mais plutôt un élément d'initiation à une technique encore marginale en Biologie. Le lecteur est supposé être un non spécialiste de la diffusion de neutrons poursuivant une thématique à connotation biologique ou biophysique mettant en jeu des phénomènes dynamiques. En raison de la forte section de diffusion incohérente de l'atome d'hydrogène et de l'abondance de cet élément dans les protéines, la diffusion incohérente inélastique de neutrons est une technique irremplaçable pour sonder la dynamique interne des macromolécules biologiques. Après un rappel succinct des éléments théoriques de base, nous décrivons le fonctionnement de différents types de spectromètres inélastiques par temps de vol sur source continue ou pulsée et discutons leurs mérites respectifs. Les deux alternatives utilisées pour décrire la dynamique des protéines sont abordées: (i)l'une en termes de physique statistique, issue de la physique des verres, (ii) la seconde est une interprétation mécanistique. Nous montrons dans ce cas, comment mettre à profit les complémentarités de domaines en vecteur de diffusion et de résolution en énergie de différents spectromètres inélastiques de neutrons (temps de vol, backscattering et spin-écho) pour accéder, à l'aide d'un modèle physique simple, à la dynamique des protéines sur une échelle de temps allant d'une fraction de picoseconde à quelques nanosecondes.

An Investigation of Islamic Well-Being and Mental Health.

PubMed

Eryilmaz, Ali; Kula, Naci

2018-03-02

The overall aim of this study was to develop the Islamic Well-Being Scale and examine the relationship between mental health and Islamic well-being. In this study, four sub-studies were performed to create the one-factor Islamic Well-Being Scale, perform a confirmatory factor analysis and validate the Islamic Well-Being Scale, differentially predict ill-being and well-being outcomes using the Islamic Well-Being Scale, and compare individuals with different Islamic belief levels using the Islamic Well-Being Scale. In total, 170 adults, 209 adults, 216 theological faculty students and 152 undergraduate educational faculty students participated in each sub-study. Several scales related to well-being and ill-being were used in this study. The Islamic Well-Being Scale was found to be valid and reliable. Islamic well-being was related to certain indicators of well-being and ill-being.

Curriculum Design Orientations Preference Scale of Teachers: Validity and Reliability Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bas, Gokhan

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable scale for preferences of teachers in regard of their curriculum design orientations. Because there was no scale development study similar to this one in Turkey, it was considered as an urgent need to develop such a scale in the study. The sample of the research consisted of 300…

Study of structural colour of Hebomoia glaucippe butterfly wing scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shur, V. Ya; Kuznetsov, D. K.; Pryakhina, V. I.; Kosobokov, M. S.; Zubarev, I. V.; Boymuradova, S. K.; Volchetskaya, K. V.

2017-10-01

Structural colours of Hebomoia glaucippe butterfly wing scales have been studied experimentally using high resolution scanning electron microscopy. Visualization of scales structures and computer simulation allowed distinguishing correlation between nanostructures on the scales and their colour.

[Evaluation of a revised "Ikigai" scale and the relationship between motivation for achievement of a purpose and mental health in senior high school students].

PubMed

Yoshida, K

1994-12-01

The term "ikigai" describes the state in which people have a positive purpose, a sense of being full and social support. In order to measure this condition and its effects on mental and physical health, an Ikigai scale was constructed. In this study, the Ikigai scale was revised by altering the number of choices for each item, and the revised scale was applied to a group of senior high school students. The purpose of the present study is to discuss the revised scale by comparing its results with those from the original scale. In addition, the relationship between motivation for achievement of a purpose and depression which is an index of mental health is studied. The results of this study are summarized as follows: 1) The revised Ikigai scale was more reliable than the original scale. 2) The correlation between the Ikigai scale and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) demonstrated that our revised scale had greater validity than the original. 3) Male students who had strong motivation for achievement of a purpose were significantly less depressed than those who had no motivation. From these results, it is concluded that the revised Ikigai scale is better than the original scale and in male students, motivation for achievement of a purpose correlates to mental health.

Geographical ecology of the palms (Arecaceae): determinants of diversity and distributions across spatial scales

PubMed Central

Eiserhardt, Wolf L.; Svenning, Jens-Christian; Kissling, W. Daniel; Balslev, Henrik

2011-01-01

Background The palm family occurs in all tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Palms are of high ecological and economical importance, and display complex spatial patterns of species distributions and diversity. Scope This review summarizes empirical evidence for factors that determine palm species distributions, community composition and species richness such as the abiotic environment (climate, soil chemistry, hydrology and topography), the biotic environment (vegetation structure and species interactions) and dispersal. The importance of contemporary vs. historical impacts of these factors and the scale at which they function is discussed. Finally a hierarchical scale framework is developed to guide predictor selection for future studies. Conclusions Determinants of palm distributions, composition and richness vary with spatial scale. For species distributions, climate appears to be important at landscape and broader scales, soil, topography and vegetation at landscape and local scales, hydrology at local scales, and dispersal at all scales. For community composition, soil appears important at regional and finer scales, hydrology, topography and vegetation at landscape and local scales, and dispersal again at all scales. For species richness, climate and dispersal appear to be important at continental to global scales, soil at landscape and broader scales, and topography at landscape and finer scales. Some scale–predictor combinations have not been studied or deserve further attention, e.g. climate on regional to finer scales, and hydrology and topography on landscape and broader scales. The importance of biotic interactions – apart from general vegetation structure effects – for the geographic ecology of palms is generally underexplored. Future studies should target scale–predictor combinations and geographic domains not studied yet. To avoid biased inference, one should ideally include at least all predictors previously found important at the spatial scale of investigation. PMID:21712297

SUPERFUND TREATABILITY CLEARINGHOUSE: BENGART AND MEMEL (BENCH-SCALE), GULFPORT (BENCH AND PILOT-SCALE), MONTANA POLE (BENCH-SCALE), AND WESTERN PROCESSING (BENCH-SCALE) TREATABILITY STUDIES

EPA Science Inventory

This document presents summary data on the results of various treatability studies (bench and pilot scale), conducted at three different sites where soils were contaminated with dioxins or PCBs. The synopsis is meant to show rough performance levels under a variety of differen...

Monitoring and assessment of soil erosion at micro-scale and macro-scale in forests affected by fire damage in northern Iran.

PubMed

Akbarzadeh, Ali; Ghorbani-Dashtaki, Shoja; Naderi-Khorasgani, Mehdi; Kerry, Ruth; Taghizadeh-Mehrjardi, Ruhollah

2016-12-01

Understanding the occurrence of erosion processes at large scales is very difficult without studying them at small scales. In this study, soil erosion parameters were investigated at micro-scale and macro-scale in forests in northern Iran. Surface erosion and some vegetation attributes were measured at the watershed scale in 30 parcels of land which were separated into 15 fire-affected (burned) forests and 15 original (unburned) forests adjacent to the burned sites. The soil erodibility factor and splash erosion were also determined at the micro-plot scale within each burned and unburned site. Furthermore, soil sampling and infiltration studies were carried out at 80 other sites, as well as the 30 burned and unburned sites, (a total of 110 points) to create a map of the soil erodibility factor at the regional scale. Maps of topography, rainfall, and cover-management were also determined for the study area. The maps of erosion risk and erosion risk potential were finally prepared for the study area using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) procedure. Results indicated that destruction of the protective cover of forested areas by fire had significant effects on splash erosion and the soil erodibility factor at the micro-plot scale and also on surface erosion, erosion risk, and erosion risk potential at the watershed scale. Moreover, the results showed that correlation coefficients between different variables at the micro-plot and watershed scales were positive and significant. Finally, assessment and monitoring of the erosion maps at the regional scale showed that the central and western parts of the study area were more susceptible to erosion compared with the western regions due to more intense crop-management, greater soil erodibility, and more rainfall. The relationships between erosion parameters and the most important vegetation attributes were also used to provide models with equations that were specific to the study region. The results of this paper can be useful for better understanding erosion processes at the micro-scale and macro-scale in any region having similar vegetation attributes to the forests of northern Iran.

On the scaling of small-scale jet noise to large scale

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Soderman, Paul T.; Allen, Christopher S.

1992-01-01

An examination was made of several published jet noise studies for the purpose of evaluating scale effects important to the simulation of jet aeroacoustics. Several studies confirmed that small conical jets, one as small as 59 mm diameter, could be used to correctly simulate the overall or perceived noise level (PNL) noise of large jets dominated by mixing noise. However, the detailed acoustic spectra of large jets are more difficult to simulate because of the lack of broad-band turbulence spectra in small jets. One study indicated that a jet Reynolds number of 5 x 10(exp 6) based on exhaust diameter enabled the generation of broad-band noise representative of large jet mixing noise. Jet suppressor aeroacoustics is even more difficult to simulate at small scale because of the small mixer nozzles with flows sensitive to Reynolds number. Likewise, one study showed incorrect ejector mixing and entrainment using a small-scale, short ejector that led to poor acoustic scaling. Conversely, fairly good results were found with a longer ejector and, in a different study, with a 32-chute suppressor nozzle. Finally, it was found that small-scale aeroacoustic resonance produced by jets impacting ground boards does not reproduce at large scale.

On the scaling of small-scale jet noise to large scale

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Soderman, Paul T.; Allen, Christopher S.

1992-01-01

An examination was made of several published jet noise studies for the purpose of evaluating scale effects important to the simulation of jet aeroacoustics. Several studies confirmed that small conical jets, one as small as 59 mm diameter, could be used to correctly simulate the overall or PNL noise of large jets dominated by mixing noise. However, the detailed acoustic spectra of large jets are more difficult to simulate because of the lack of broad-band turbulence spectra in small jets. One study indicated that a jet Reynolds number of 5 x 10 exp 6 based on exhaust diameter enabled the generation of broad-band noise representative of large jet mixing noise. Jet suppressor aeroacoustics is even more difficult to simulate at small scale because of the small mixer nozzles with flows sensitive to Reynolds number. Likewise, one study showed incorrect ejector mixing and entrainment using small-scale, short ejector that led to poor acoustic scaling. Conversely, fairly good results were found with a longer ejector and, in a different study, with a 32-chute suppressor nozzle. Finally, it was found that small-scale aeroacoustic resonance produced by jets impacting ground boards does not reproduce at large scale.

Improving the Factor Structure of Psychological Scales

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xijuan; Savalei, Victoria

2015-01-01

Many psychological scales written in the Likert format include reverse worded (RW) items in order to control acquiescence bias. However, studies have shown that RW items often contaminate the factor structure of the scale by creating one or more method factors. The present study examines an alternative scale format, called the Expanded format, which replaces each response option in the Likert scale with a full sentence. We hypothesized that this format would result in a cleaner factor structure as compared with the Likert format. We tested this hypothesis on three popular psychological scales: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale, the Conscientiousness subscale of the Big Five Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory II. Scales in both formats showed comparable reliabilities. However, scales in the Expanded format had better (i.e., lower and more theoretically defensible) dimensionalities than scales in the Likert format, as assessed by both exploratory factor analyses and confirmatory factor analyses. We encourage further study and wider use of the Expanded format, particularly when a scale’s dimensionality is of theoretical interest. PMID:27182074

The reliability and validity of three questionnaires: The Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale, Simulation Design Scale, and Educational Practices Questionnaire.

PubMed

Unver, Vesile; Basak, Tulay; Watts, Penni; Gaioso, Vanessa; Moss, Jacqueline; Tastan, Sevinc; Iyigun, Emine; Tosun, Nuran

2017-02-01

The purpose of this study was to adapt the "Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale" (SCLS), "Simulation Design Scale" (SDS), and "Educational Practices Questionnaire" (EPQ) developed by Jeffries and Rizzolo into Turkish and establish the reliability and the validity of these translated scales. A sample of 87 nursing students participated in this study. These scales were cross-culturally adapted through a process including translation, comparison with original version, back translation, and pretesting. Construct validity was evaluated by factor analysis, and criterion validity was evaluated using the Perceived Learning Scale, Patient Intervention Self-confidence/Competency Scale, and Educational Belief Scale. Cronbach's alpha values were found as 0.77-0.85 for SCLS, 0.73-0.86 for SDS, and 0.61-0.86 for EPQ. The results of this study show that the Turkish versions of all scales are validated and reliable measurement tools.

Evaluation of the utility of Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale in the diagnosis of social anxiety, impulsivity and depression.

PubMed

Tyrała, Kinga; Seweryn, Mariusz; Bonk, Magdalena; Bulska, Weronika; Orszulak, Kamila; Bratek, Agnieszka; Krysta, Krzysztof

2015-09-01

Often mental disorders are serious problems concerning psychological well-being. They require comprehensive and specialized psychiatric and psychological help, but there are no public methods of controlling your mental state. The aim of study was the evaluation of the utility of Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale in the diagnosis of social anxiety, impulsivity and depression. The study included 85 persons. The study group had 34 patients treated in an open ward of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. The control group included 51 persons without mental disorders. Three self-rating questionnaires were used: Beck Depression Inventory, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Statistica v10 Statsoft software was used for statistical analysis. The analyzed groups had significant differences in terms of Beck Scale (U Mann-Whitney test p=0.000001). Average score in study group: 22.94±12.50; in control group: 7.15±6.44. Groups had significant differences in terms of Liebowitz Scale (U test Mann-Whitney test, p=0.000164). Average score in the study group: 60.41±30.30; in control group: 35.01±23.94. Groups had significant differences in terms of Barratt Scale (t-student test p=0.000601). Average in study group: 66.35±9,49; in control group: 59.54±7.87. Significant positive correlation was observed between the results of Beck Scale and Liebowitz Scale (r=0.64465). Correlation was not observed between the results of the Liebowitz and Barrat (r=0.12091 and Beck and Barrat (r=0.21482). The intensity of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale is directly proportional to the severity of depression according to the Beck Depression Inventory. The degree of impulsivity by Barrat Impulsiveness Scale does not correlate with the level of depression according to Beck Depression Inventory. The analyzed scales are relevant in the diagnosis of mental disorders.

The justification of studies in genetic epidemiology - political scaling in China Medical City.

PubMed

Sleeboom-Faulkner, Margaret

2018-04-01

Genetic epidemiology examines the role of genetic factors in determining health and disease in families and in populations to help addressing health problems in a responsible manner. This paper uses a case study of genetic epidemiology in Taizhou, China, to explore ways in which anthropology can contribute to the validation of studies in genetic epidemiology. It does so, first, by identifying potential overgeneralizations of data, often due to mismatching scale and, second, by examining it's embedding in political, historical and local contexts. The example of the longitudinal cohort study in Taizhou illustrates dimensions of such 'political scaling'. Political scaling is a notion used here to refer to the effects of scaling biases in relation to the justification of research in terms of relevance, reach and research ethics. The justification of a project on genetic epidemiology involves presenting a maximum of benefits and a minimum of burden for the population. To facilitate the delineation of political scaling, an analytical distinction between donating and benefiting communities was made using the notions of 'scaling of relevance', 'scaling of reach' and 'scaling of ethics'. Political scaling results at least partly from factors external to research. By situating political scaling in the context of historical, political and local discourses, anthropologists can play a complementary role in genetic epidemiology.

Peer Bullying among High School Students: Turkish Version of Bullying Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arslan, Nihan

2017-01-01

The aim of study was to conduct the reliability and validity studies of the Turkish version of The Forms of Bullying Scale (FBS; Shaw at el., 2013). The Turkish form of the scale was applied on 357 high school students. Scale was examined by the reliability analysis and confirmatory factor analysis within the scope of the adaptation study.…

A Scale for Measuring Teachers' Mathematics-Related Beliefs: A Validity and Reliability Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Purnomo,Yoppy Wahyu

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a scale of teacher beliefs related to mathematics, namely, beliefs about the nature of mathematics, mathematics teaching, and assessment in mathematics learning. A scale development study was used to achieve it. The draft scale consisted of 54 items in which 16 items related to beliefs about…

Metacommunity versus Biogeography: A Case Study of Two Groups of Neotropical Vegetation-Dwelling Arthropods

PubMed Central

Gonçalves-Souza, Thiago; Romero, Gustavo Q.; Cottenie, Karl

2014-01-01

Biogeography and metacommunity ecology provide two different perspectives on species diversity. Both are spatial in nature but their spatial scales do not necessarily match. With recent boom of metacommunity studies, we see an increasing need for clear discrimination of spatial scales relevant for both perspectives. This discrimination is a necessary prerequisite for improved understanding of ecological phenomena across scales. Here we provide a case study to illustrate some spatial scale-dependent concepts in recent metacommunity studies and identify potential pitfalls. We presented here the diversity patterns of Neotropical lepidopterans and spiders viewed both from metacommunity and biogeographical perspectives. Specifically, we investigated how the relative importance of niche- and dispersal-based processes for community assembly change at two spatial scales: metacommunity scale, i.e. within a locality, and biogeographical scale, i.e. among localities widely scattered along a macroclimatic gradient. As expected, niche-based processes dominated the community assembly at metacommunity scale, while dispersal-based processes played a major role at biogeographical scale for both taxonomical groups. However, we also observed small but significant spatial effects at metacommunity scale and environmental effects at biogeographical scale. We also observed differences in diversity patterns between the two taxonomical groups corresponding to differences in their dispersal modes. Our results thus support the idea of continuity of processes interactively shaping diversity patterns across scales and emphasize the necessity of integration of metacommunity and biogeographical perspectives. PMID:25549332

Can we really use available scales for child and adolescent psychopathology across cultures? A systematic review of cross-cultural measurement invariance data.

PubMed

Stevanovic, Dejan; Jafari, Peyman; Knez, Rajna; Franic, Tomislav; Atilola, Olayinka; Davidovic, Nikolina; Bagheri, Zahra; Lakic, Aneta

2017-02-01

In this systematic review, we assessed available evidence for cross-cultural measurement invariance of assessment scales for child and adolescent psychopathology as an indicator of cross-cultural validity. A literature search was conducted using the Medline, PsychInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Cross-cultural measurement invariance data was available for 26 scales. Based on the aggregation of the evidence from the studies under review, none of the evaluated scales have strong evidence for cross-cultural validity and suitability for cross-cultural comparison. A few of the studies showed a moderate level of measurement invariance for some scales (such as the Fear Survey Schedule for Children-Revised, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale, Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, Mood and Feelings Questionnaire, and Disruptive Behavior Rating Scale), which may make them suitable in cross-cultural comparative studies. The remainder of the scales either showed weak or outright lack of measurement invariance. This review showed only limited testing for measurement invariance across cultural groups of scales for pediatric psychopathology, with evidence of cross-cultural validity for only a few scales. This study also revealed a need to improve practices of statistical analysis reporting in testing measurement invariance. Implications for future research are discussed.

Plant systems biology: network matters.

PubMed

Lucas, Mikaël; Laplaze, Laurent; Bennett, Malcolm J

2011-04-01

Systems biology is all about networks. A recent trend has been to associate systems biology exclusively with the study of gene regulatory or protein-interaction networks. However, systems biology approaches can be applied at many other scales, from the subatomic to the ecosystem scales. In this review, we describe studies at the sub-cellular, tissue, whole plant and crop scales and highlight how these studies can be related to systems biology. We discuss the properties of system approaches at each scale as well as their current limits, and pinpoint in each case advances unique to the considered scale but representing potential for the other scales. We conclude by examining plant models bridging different scales and considering the future prospects of plant systems biology. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Length scale effects and multiscale modeling of thermally induced phase transformation kinetics in NiTi SMA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frantziskonis, George N.; Gur, Sourav

2017-06-01

Thermally induced phase transformation in NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) shows strong size and shape, collectively termed length scale effects, at the nano to micrometer scales, and that has important implications for the design and use of devices and structures at such scales. This paper, based on a recently developed multiscale model that utilizes molecular dynamics (MDs) simulations at small scales and MD-verified phase field (PhF) simulations at larger scales, reports results on specific length scale effects, i.e. length scale effects in martensite phase fraction (MPF) evolution, transformation temperatures (martensite and austenite start and finish) and in the thermally cyclic transformation between austenitic and martensitic phase. The multiscale study identifies saturation points for length scale effects and studies, for the first time, the length scale effect on the kinetics (i.e. developed internal strains) in the B19‧ phase during phase transformation. The major part of the work addresses small scale single crystals in specific orientations. However, the multiscale method is used in a unique and novel way to indirectly study length scale and grain size effects on evolution kinetics in polycrystalline NiTi, and to compare the simulation results to experiments. The interplay of the grain size and the length scale effect on the thermally induced MPF evolution is also shown in this present study. Finally, the multiscale coupling results are employed to improve phenomenological material models for NiTi SMA.

Predictive validity of the Braden Scale, Norton Scale, and Waterlow Scale in the Czech Republic.

PubMed

Šateková, Lenka; Žiaková, Katarína; Zeleníková, Renáta

2017-02-01

The aim of this study was to determine the predictive validity of the Braden, Norton, and Waterlow scales in 2 long-term care departments in the Czech Republic. Assessing the risk for developing pressure ulcers is the first step in their prevention. At present, many scales are used in clinical practice, but most of them have not been properly validated yet (for example, the Modified Norton Scale in the Czech Republic). In the Czech Republic, only the Braden Scale has been validated so far. This is a prospective comparative instrument testing study. A random sample of 123 patients was recruited. The predictive validity of the pressure ulcer risk assessment scales was evaluated based on sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. The data were collected from April to August 2014. In the present study, the best predictive validity values were observed for the Norton Scale, followed by the Braden Scale and the Waterlow Scale, in that order. We recommended that the above 3 pressure ulcer risk assessment scales continue to be evaluated in the Czech clinical setting. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

The BARRIERS scale -- the barriers to research utilization scale: A systematic review

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background A commonly recommended strategy for increasing research use in clinical practice is to identify barriers to change and then tailor interventions to overcome the identified barriers. In nursing, the BARRIERS scale has been used extensively to identify barriers to research utilization. Aim and objectives The aim of this systematic review was to examine the state of knowledge resulting from use of the BARRIERS scale and to make recommendations about future use of the scale. The following objectives were addressed: To examine how the scale has been modified, to examine its psychometric properties, to determine the main barriers (and whether they varied over time and geographic locations), and to identify associations between nurses' reported barriers and reported research use. Methods Medline (1991 to September 2009) and CINHAL (1991 to September 2009) were searched for published research, and ProQuest® digital dissertations were searched for unpublished dissertations using the BARRIERS scale. Inclusion criteria were: studies using the BARRIERS scale in its entirety and where the sample was nurses. Two authors independently assessed the study quality and extracted the data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Results Sixty-three studies were included, with most using a cross-sectional design. Not one study used the scale for tailoring interventions to overcome identified barriers. The main barriers reported were related to the setting, and the presentation of research findings. Overall, identified barriers were consistent over time and across geographic locations, despite varying sample size, response rate, study setting, and assessment of study quality. Few studies reported associations between reported research use and perceptions of barriers to research utilization. Conclusions The BARRIERS scale is a nonspecific tool for identifying general barriers to research utilization. The scale is reliable as reflected in assessments of internal consistency. The validity of the scale, however, is doubtful. There is no evidence that it is a useful tool for planning implementation interventions. We recommend that no further descriptive studies using the BARRIERS scale be undertaken. Barriers need to be measured specific to the particular context of implementation and the intended evidence to be implemented. PMID:20420696

Effective strategies for scaling up evidence-based practices in primary care: a systematic review.

PubMed

Ben Charif, Ali; Zomahoun, Hervé Tchala Vignon; LeBlanc, Annie; Langlois, Léa; Wolfenden, Luke; Yoong, Sze Lin; Williams, Christopher M; Lépine, Roxanne; Légaré, France

2017-11-22

While an extensive array of existing evidence-based practices (EBPs) have the potential to improve patient outcomes, little is known about how to implement EBPs on a larger scale. Therefore, we sought to identify effective strategies for scaling up EBPs in primary care. We conducted a systematic review with the following inclusion criteria: (i) study design: randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, before-and-after (with/without control), and interrupted time series; (ii) participants: primary care-related units (e.g., clinical sites, patients); (iii) intervention: any strategy used to scale up an EBP; (iv) comparator: no restrictions; and (v) outcomes: no restrictions. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library from database inception to August 2016 and consulted clinical trial registries and gray literature. Two reviewers independently selected eligible studies, then extracted and analyzed data following the Cochrane methodology. We extracted components of scaling-up strategies and classified them into five categories: infrastructure, policy/regulation, financial, human resources-related, and patient involvement. We extracted scaling-up process outcomes, such as coverage, and provider/patient outcomes. We validated data extraction with study authors. We included 14 studies. They were published since 2003 and primarily conducted in low-/middle-income countries (n = 11). Most were funded by governmental organizations (n = 8). The clinical area most represented was infectious diseases (HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, n = 8), followed by newborn/child care (n = 4), depression (n = 1), and preventing seniors' falls (n = 1). Study designs were mostly before-and-after (without control, n = 8). The most frequently targeted unit of scaling up was the clinical site (n = 11). The component of a scaling-up strategy most frequently mentioned was human resource-related (n = 12). All studies reported patient/provider outcomes. Three studies reported scaling-up coverage, but no study quantitatively reported achieving a coverage of 80% in combination with a favorable impact. We found few studies assessing strategies for scaling up EBPs in primary care settings. It is uncertain whether any strategies were effective as most studies focused more on patient/provider outcomes and less on scaling-up process outcomes. Minimal consensus on the metrics of scaling up are needed for assessing the scaling up of EBPs in primary care. This review is registered as PROSPERO CRD42016041461 .

A scale for measuring hygiene behavior: development, reliability and validity.

PubMed

Stevenson, Richard J; Case, Trevor I; Hodgson, Deborah; Porzig-Drummond, Renata; Barouei, Javad; Oaten, Megan J

2009-09-01

There is currently no general self-report measure for assessing hygiene behavior. This article details the development and testing of such a measure. In studies 1 to 4, a total of 855 participants were used for scale and subscale development and for reliability and validity testing. The latter involved establishing the relationships between self-reported hygiene behavior and existing measures, hand hygiene behavior, illness rates, and a physiological marker of immune function. In study 5, a total of 507 participants were used to assess the psychometric properties of the final revised version of the scale. The final 23-item scale comprised 5 subscales: general, household, food-related, handwashing technique, and personal hygiene. Studies 1 to 4 confirmed the scale's reliability and validity, and study 5 confirmed the scale's 5-factor structure. The scale is potentially suitable for multiple uses, in various settings, and for experimental and correlational approaches.

Improving the Factor Structure of Psychological Scales: The Expanded Format as an Alternative to the Likert Scale Format

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Xijuan; Savalei, Victoria

2016-01-01

Many psychological scales written in the Likert format include reverse worded (RW) items in order to control acquiescence bias. However, studies have shown that RW items often contaminate the factor structure of the scale by creating one or more method factors. The present study examines an alternative scale format, called the Expanded format,…

A Bayesian method for assessing multiscalespecies-habitat relationships

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stuber, Erica F.; Gruber, Lutz F.; Fontaine, Joseph J.

2017-01-01

ContextScientists face several theoretical and methodological challenges in appropriately describing fundamental wildlife-habitat relationships in models. The spatial scales of habitat relationships are often unknown, and are expected to follow a multi-scale hierarchy. Typical frequentist or information theoretic approaches often suffer under collinearity in multi-scale studies, fail to converge when models are complex or represent an intractable computational burden when candidate model sets are large.ObjectivesOur objective was to implement an automated, Bayesian method for inference on the spatial scales of habitat variables that best predict animal abundance.MethodsWe introduce Bayesian latent indicator scale selection (BLISS), a Bayesian method to select spatial scales of predictors using latent scale indicator variables that are estimated with reversible-jump Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling. BLISS does not suffer from collinearity, and substantially reduces computation time of studies. We present a simulation study to validate our method and apply our method to a case-study of land cover predictors for ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) abundance in Nebraska, USA.ResultsOur method returns accurate descriptions of the explanatory power of multiple spatial scales, and unbiased and precise parameter estimates under commonly encountered data limitations including spatial scale autocorrelation, effect size, and sample size. BLISS outperforms commonly used model selection methods including stepwise and AIC, and reduces runtime by 90%.ConclusionsGiven the pervasiveness of scale-dependency in ecology, and the implications of mismatches between the scales of analyses and ecological processes, identifying the spatial scales over which species are integrating habitat information is an important step in understanding species-habitat relationships. BLISS is a widely applicable method for identifying important spatial scales, propagating scale uncertainty, and testing hypotheses of scaling relationships.

Reynolds number trend of hierarchies and scale interactions in turbulent boundary layers.

PubMed

Baars, W J; Hutchins, N; Marusic, I

2017-03-13

Small-scale velocity fluctuations in turbulent boundary layers are often coupled with the larger-scale motions. Studying the nature and extent of this scale interaction allows for a statistically representative description of the small scales over a time scale of the larger, coherent scales. In this study, we consider temporal data from hot-wire anemometry at Reynolds numbers ranging from Re τ ≈2800 to 22 800, in order to reveal how the scale interaction varies with Reynolds number. Large-scale conditional views of the representative amplitude and frequency of the small-scale turbulence, relative to the large-scale features, complement the existing consensus on large-scale modulation of the small-scale dynamics in the near-wall region. Modulation is a type of scale interaction, where the amplitude of the small-scale fluctuations is continuously proportional to the near-wall footprint of the large-scale velocity fluctuations. Aside from this amplitude modulation phenomenon, we reveal the influence of the large-scale motions on the characteristic frequency of the small scales, known as frequency modulation. From the wall-normal trends in the conditional averages of the small-scale properties, it is revealed how the near-wall modulation transitions to an intermittent-type scale arrangement in the log-region. On average, the amplitude of the small-scale velocity fluctuations only deviates from its mean value in a confined temporal domain, the duration of which is fixed in terms of the local Taylor time scale. These concentrated temporal regions are centred on the internal shear layers of the large-scale uniform momentum zones, which exhibit regions of positive and negative streamwise velocity fluctuations. With an increasing scale separation at high Reynolds numbers, this interaction pattern encompasses the features found in studies on internal shear layers and concentrated vorticity fluctuations in high-Reynolds-number wall turbulence.This article is part of the themed issue 'Toward the development of high-fidelity models of wall turbulence at large Reynolds number'. © 2017 The Author(s).

Development and Validation of the Short Use of Creative Cognition Scale in Studying

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rogaten, Jekaterina; Moneta, Giovanni B.

2015-01-01

This paper reports the development and validation of a short Use of Creative Cognition Scale in Studying (UCCS) that was inspired by the Cognitive Processes Associated with Creativity (CPAC) scale. In Study 1, items from two of the six subscales of the CPAC were excluded due to conceptual and psychometric issues to create a 21-item CPAC scale,…

The Scaling of Loss Pathways and Heat Transfer in Small Scale Internal Combustion Engines

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-16

less than 5%. Two factors drove the high short-circuiting observed in the 405 studied engines: excess fresh charge delivered to the engines beyond...losses do not begin to increase substantially until engine displacement decreases below 10 cm3. The objective concluded with a parametric study ...81 4.1. Why Loss Pathways in ICEs Scale ................................................................ 82 4.2. Scaling Studies

A Validity and Reliability Study on the Development of the Values Scale in Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dilmac, Bulent; Aricak, Osman Tolga; Cesur, Sevim

2014-01-01

The purpose of the present study is to examine the initial psychometric properties of the Values Scale for adults. While developing the first stage of the Values Scale, open-ended data on the values held by 216 university students were obtained. During the second stage, the validity and reliability studies of the 60-item Values Scale obtained by…

Indirect scaling methods for testing quantitative emotion theories.

PubMed

Junge, Martin; Reisenzein, Rainer

2013-01-01

Two studies investigated the utility of indirect scaling methods, based on graded pair comparisons, for the testing of quantitative emotion theories. In Study 1, we measured the intensity of relief and disappointment caused by lottery outcomes, and in Study 2, the intensity of disgust evoked by pictures, using both direct intensity ratings and graded pair comparisons. The stimuli were systematically constructed to reflect variables expected to influence the intensity of the emotions according to theoretical models of relief/disappointment and disgust, respectively. Two probabilistic scaling methods were used to estimate scale values from the pair comparison judgements: Additive functional measurement (AFM) and maximum likelihood difference scaling (MLDS). The emotion models were fitted to the direct and indirect intensity measurements using nonlinear regression (Study 1) and analysis of variance (Study 2). Both studies found substantially improved fits of the emotion models for the indirectly determined emotion intensities, with their advantage being evident particularly at the level of individual participants. The results suggest that indirect scaling methods yield more precise measurements of emotion intensity than rating scales and thereby provide stronger tests of emotion theories in general and quantitative emotion theories in particular.

The Positivity Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caprara, Gian Vittorio; Alessandri, Guido; Eisenberg, Nancy; Kupfer, A.; Steca, Patrizia; Caprara, Maria Giovanna; Yamaguchi, Susumu; Fukuzawa, Ai; Abela, John

2012-01-01

Five studies document the validity of a new 8-item scale designed to measure "positivity," defined as the tendency to view life and experiences with a positive outlook. In the first study (N = 372), the psychometric properties of Positivity Scale (P Scale) were examined in accordance with classical test theory using a large number of…

Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children: psychometric testing of the Chinese version.

PubMed

Li, Ho Cheung William; Chung, Oi Kwan Joyce; Ho, Ka Yan

2010-11-01

This paper is a report of psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children. The availability of a valid and reliable instrument that accurately detects depressive symptoms in children is crucial before any psychological intervention can be appropriately planned and evaluated. There is no such an instrument for Chinese children. A test-retest, within-subjects design was used. A total of 313 primary school students between the ages of 8 and 12 years were invited to participate in the study in 2009. Participants were asked to respond to the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children, short form of the State Anxiety Scale for Children and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale. The internal consistency, content validity and construct validity and test-retest reliability of the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children were assessed. The newly-translated scale demonstrated adequate internal consistency, good content validity and appropriate convergent and discriminant validity. Confirmatory factor analysis added further evidence of the construct validity of the scale. Results suggest that the newly-translated scale can be used as a self-report assessment tool in detecting depressive symptoms of Chinese children aged between 8 and 12 years. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Identifying Careless Responding With the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised Validity Scales.

PubMed

Marcus, David K; Church, Abere Sawaqdeh; O'Connell, Debra; Lilienfeld, Scott O

2018-01-01

The Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R) includes validity scales that assess Deviant Responding (DR), Virtuous Responding, and Inconsistent Responding. We examined the utility of these scales for identifying careless responding using data from two online studies that examined correlates of psychopathy in college students (Sample 1: N = 583; Sample 2: N = 454). Compared with those below the cut scores, those above the cut on the DR scale yielded consistently lower validity coefficients when PPI-R scores were correlated with corresponding scales from the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure. The other three PPI-R validity scales yielded weaker and less consistent results. Participants who completed the studies in an inordinately brief amount of time scored significantly higher on the DR and Virtuous Responding scales than other participants. Based on the findings from the current studies, researchers collecting PPI-R data online should consider identifying and perhaps screening out respondents with elevated scores on the DR scale.

[Development of a Japanese version of the TALE scale].

PubMed

Ochiai, Tsutomu; Oguchi, Takashi

2013-12-01

The Thinking About Life Experiences (TALE) Scale (Bluck & Alea, 2011) has three subscales that assess the self, social, and directive functions of autobiographical memory. This study constructs a Japanese version of the TALE Scale and examines its reliability and validity. Fifteen items that assess the three functions of autobiographical memory were translated into Japanese. We conducted an online investigation with 600 men and women between 20-59 years of age. In Study 1, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis identified that the three-factor structure of the Japanese version of the TALE Scale was the same as the original TALE Scale. Sufficient internal consistency of the scale was found, and the construct validity of the scale was supported by correlation analysis. Study 2 confirmed that the test-retest reliabilities of the three subscales were sufficient. Thus, this Japanese version of the TALE Scale is useful to assess autobiographical memory functions in Japan.

Preliminary design, analysis, and costing of a dynamic scale model of the NASA space station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gronet, M. J.; Pinson, E. D.; Voqui, H. L.; Crawley, E. F.; Everman, M. R.

1987-01-01

The difficulty of testing the next generation of large flexible space structures on the ground places an emphasis on other means for validating predicted on-orbit dynamic behavior. Scale model technology represents one way of verifying analytical predictions with ground test data. This study investigates the preliminary design, scaling and cost trades for a Space Station dynamic scale model. The scaling of nonlinear joint behavior is studied from theoretical and practical points of view. Suspension system interaction trades are conducted for the ISS Dual Keel Configuration and Build-Up Stages suspended in the proposed NASA/LaRC Large Spacecraft Laboratory. Key issues addressed are scaling laws, replication vs. simulation of components, manufacturing, suspension interactions, joint behavior, damping, articulation capability, and cost. These issues are the subject of parametric trades versus the scale model factor. The results of these detailed analyses are used to recommend scale factors for four different scale model options, each with varying degrees of replication. Potential problems in constructing and testing the scale model are identified, and recommendations for further study are outlined.

The scale invariant generator technique for quantifying anisotropic scale invariance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewis, G. M.; Lovejoy, S.; Schertzer, D.; Pecknold, S.

1999-11-01

Scale invariance is rapidly becoming a new paradigm for geophysics. However, little attention has been paid to the anisotropy that is invariably present in geophysical fields in the form of differential stratification and rotation, texture and morphology. In order to account for scaling anisotropy, the formalism of generalized scale invariance (GSI) was developed. Until now there has existed only a single fairly ad hoc GSI analysis technique valid for studying differential rotation. In this paper, we use a two-dimensional representation of the linear approximation to generalized scale invariance, to obtain a much improved technique for quantifying anisotropic scale invariance called the scale invariant generator technique (SIG). The accuracy of the technique is tested using anisotropic multifractal simulations and error estimates are provided for the geophysically relevant range of parameters. It is found that the technique yields reasonable estimates for simulations with a diversity of anisotropic and statistical characteristics. The scale invariant generator technique can profitably be applied to the scale invariant study of vertical/horizontal and space/time cross-sections of geophysical fields as well as to the study of the texture/morphology of fields.

Cross-Scale: a multi-spacecraft mission to study cross-scale coupling in space plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujimoto, M.; Schwartz, S.; Horbury, T.; Louarn, P.; Baumjohann, W.

Collisionless astrophysical plasmas exhibit complexity on many scales if we are to understand their properties and effects we must measure this complexity We can identify a small number of processes and phenomena one of which is dominant in almost every space plasma region of interest shocks reconnection turbulence and boundaries These processes act to transfer energy between locations scales and modes However this transfer is characterised by variability and 3D structures on at least three scales electron kinetic ion kinetic and fluid It is the interaction between physical processes at these scales that is the key to understanding these phenomena and predicting their effects However current and planned multi-spacecraft missions such as Cluster and MMS only study variations on one scale in 3D at any given time We must measure the three scales simultaneously completely to understand the energy transfer processes ESA fs Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 exercise revealed a broad consensus for a mission to study these issues commonly known as M3 In parallel Japanese scientists have been studying a similar mission concept SCOPE We have taken ideas from both of these mission proposals and produced a concept called Cross-Scale Cross-Scale would comprise three nested groups each consisting of four spacecraft with similar instrumentation Each group would have a different spacecraft separation at approximately the electron and ion gyroradii and a larger MHD scale We would therefore be able to measure variations on all three important physical scales

Identifying the scale-dependent motifs in atmospheric surface layer by ordinal pattern analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qinglei; Fu, Zuntao

2018-07-01

Ramp-like structures in various atmospheric surface layer time series have been long studied, but the presence of motifs with the finer scale embedded within larger scale ramp-like structures has largely been overlooked in the reported literature. Here a novel, objective and well-adapted methodology, the ordinal pattern analysis, is adopted to study the finer-scaled motifs in atmospheric boundary-layer (ABL) time series. The studies show that the motifs represented by different ordinal patterns take clustering properties and 6 dominated motifs out of the whole 24 motifs account for about 45% of the time series under particular scales, which indicates the higher contribution of motifs with the finer scale to the series. Further studies indicate that motif statistics are similar for both stable conditions and unstable conditions at larger scales, but large discrepancies are found at smaller scales, and the frequencies of motifs "1234" and/or "4321" are a bit higher under stable conditions than unstable conditions. Under stable conditions, there are great changes for the occurrence frequencies of motifs "1234" and "4321", where the occurrence frequencies of motif "1234" decrease from nearly 24% to 4.5% with the scale factor increasing, and the occurrence frequencies of motif "4321" change nonlinearly with the scale increasing. These great differences of dominated motifs change with scale can be taken as an indicator to quantify the flow structure changes under different stability conditions, and motif entropy can be defined just by only 6 dominated motifs to quantify this time-scale independent property of the motifs. All these results suggest that the defined scale of motifs with the finer scale should be carefully taken into consideration in the interpretation of turbulence coherent structures.

The inter-rater reliability and prognostic value of coma scales in Nepali children with acute encephalitis syndrome.

PubMed

Ray, Stephen; Rayamajhi, Ajit; Bonnett, Laura J; Solomon, Tom; Kneen, Rachel; Griffiths, Michael J

2018-02-01

Background Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a common cause of coma in Nepali children. The Glasgow coma scale (GCS) is used to assess the level of coma in these patients and predict outcome. Alternative coma scales may have better inter-rater reliability and prognostic value in encephalitis in Nepali children, but this has not been studied. The Adelaide coma scale (ACS), Blantyre coma scale (BCS) and the Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive scale (AVPU) are alternatives to the GCS which can be used. Methods Children aged 1-14 years who presented to Kanti Children's Hospital, Kathmandu with AES between September 2010 and November 2011 were recruited. All four coma scales (GCS, ACS, BCS and AVPU) were applied on admission, 48 h later and on discharge. Inter-rater reliability (unweighted kappa) was measured for each. Correlation and agreement between total coma score and outcome (Liverpool outcome score) was measured by Spearman's rank and Bland-Altman plot. The prognostic value of coma scales alone and in combination with physiological variables was investigated in a subgroup (n = 22). A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted by backward stepwise. Results Fifty children were recruited. Inter-rater reliability using the variables scales was fair to moderate. However, the scales poorly predicted clinical outcome. Combining the scales with physiological parameters such as systolic blood pressure improved outcome prediction. Conclusion This is the first study to compare four coma scales in Nepali children with AES. The scales exhibited fair to moderate inter-rater reliability. However, the study is inadequately powered to answer the question on the relationship between coma scales and outcome. Further larger studies are required.

The use of observational scales to monitor symptom control and depth of sedation in patients requiring palliative sedation: a systematic review.

PubMed

Brinkkemper, Tijn; van Norel, Arjanne M; Szadek, Karolina M; Loer, Stephan A; Zuurmond, Wouter W A; Perez, Roberto S G M

2013-01-01

Palliative sedation is the intentional lowering of consciousness of a patient in the last phase of life to relieve suffering from refractory symptoms such as pain, delirium and dyspnoea. In this systematic review, we evaluated the use of monitoring scales to assess the degree of control of refractory symptoms and/or the depth of the sedation. A database search of PubMed and Embase was performed up to January 2010 using the search terms 'palliative sedation' OR 'terminal sedation'. Retro- and prospective studies as well as reviews and guidelines containing information about monitoring of palliative sedation, written in the English, German or Dutch language were included. The search yielded 264 articles of which 30 were considered relevant. Most studies focused on monitoring refractory symptoms (pain, fatigue or delirium) or the level of awareness to control the level of sedation. Four prospective and one retrospective study used scales validated in other settings: the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, the Visual Analogue Scale, the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale, the Communication Capacity Scale and Agitation Distress Scale. Only the Community Capacity Scale was partially validated for use in a palliative sedation setting. One guideline described the use of a scale validated in another setting. A minority of studies reported the use of observational scales to monitor the effect of palliative sedation. Future studies should be focused on establishing proper instruments, most adequate frequency and timing of assessment, and interdisciplinary evaluation of sedation depth and symptom control for palliative sedation.

A Prescriptive, Intergenerational-Tension Ageism Scale: Succession, Identity, and Consumption (SIC)

PubMed Central

North, Michael S.; Fiske, Susan T.

2014-01-01

We introduce a novel ageism scale, focusing on prescriptive beliefs concerning potential intergenerational tensions: active, envied resource Succession, symbolic Identity avoidance, and passive, shared-resource Consumption (SIC). Four studies (2,010 total participants) developed the scale. EFA formed an initial 20-item, three-factor solution (Study 1). The scale converges appropriately with other prejudice measures and diverges from other social control measures (Study 2). It diverges from anti-youth ageism (Study 3). Study 4’s experiment yielded both predictive and divergent validity apropos another ageism measure. Structural equation modeling confirmed model fit across all studies. Per an intergenerational-tension focus, younger people consistently scored the highest. As generational equity issues intensify, the scale provides a contemporary tool for current and future ageism research. PMID:23544391

[Application and prospect of scale measurement and appraisal in the assessment in TCM therapeutic efficacy evaluation].

PubMed

Liu, Feng-Bin

2007-12-01

The assessing contents of the health related quality of life (HRQOL) and the patient reported outcomes (PRO) are identical with the inquiry of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which are uniformly soft indicators which could be evaluated with the scales for instruments. The assessing method for the soft indicator in the HRQOL and PRO was gradually accepted by TCM practitioners and applied in evaluating the curative effect of TCM. The applying scale in the assessment of curative effect of TCM and the developing scale with the TCM features just started in the TCM field. There was much inadequacy in the scale study, such as no penetrating understanding of the theory and connotation of the scale in the HRQOL and PRO, on scale system for TCM, no direction in selecting scale, not standardizing in the design of the study with scale in the practice. So, it is necessary that the international guideline of developing scale applied for worldwide should be carried out in the study for developing scale. Meanwhile, it must also be under the guidance of TCM theory in the whole course. It will promote the normalization development of applying scale in the assessment of curative effect in the TCM practice.

The Structure and Climate of Size: Small Scale Schooling in an Urban District

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LeChasseur, Kimberly

2009-01-01

This study explores mechanisms involved in small scale schooling and student engagement. Specifically, this study questions the validity of arguments for small scale schooling reforms that confound the promised effects of small scale schooling "structures" (such as smaller enrollments, schools-within-schools, and smaller class sizes)…

A Confirmatory Study of Rating Scale Category Effectiveness for the Coaching Efficacy Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Myers, Nicholas D.; Feltz, Deborah L.; Wolfe, Edward W.

2008-01-01

This study extended validity evidence for measures of coaching efficacy derived from the Coaching Efficacy Scale (CES) by testing the rating scale categorizations suggested in previous research. Previous research provided evidence for the effectiveness of a four-category (4-CAT) structure for high school and collegiate sports coaches; it also…

Reflective Thinking Scale: A Validity and Reliability Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Basol, Gulsah; Evin Gencel, Ilke

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to adapt Reflective Thinking Scale to Turkish and investigate its validity and reliability over a Turkish university students' sample. Reflective Thinking Scale (RTS) is a 5 point Likert scale (ranging from 1 corresponding Agree Completely, 3 to Neutral, and 5 to Not Agree Completely), purposed to measure reflective…

Perceived Coach Attitudes and Behaviors Scale: Development and Validation Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Üzüm, Hanifi; Karli, Ünal; Yildiz, Nuh Osman

2018-01-01

The purpose of the study was to develop a scale, which will serve to determine how attitudes and behaviors of the coaches are perceived by the athletes. The scale, named as "Perceived Coach Attitudes and Behaviors Scale" (PCABS) was developed through various processes including exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Following the…

Development and Validation of Academic Dishonesty Scale (ADS): Presenting a Multidimensional Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bashir, Hilal; Bala, Ranjan

2018-01-01

The purpose of the study was to develop a scale measuring academic dishonesty of undergraduate students. The sample of the study constitutes nine hundred undergraduate students selected via random sampling technique. After receiving expert's opinions for the face and content validity of the scale, the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and…

Manual of Scaling Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bond, Thomas H. (Technical Monitor); Anderson, David N.

2004-01-01

This manual reviews the derivation of the similitude relationships believed to be important to ice accretion and examines ice-accretion data to evaluate their importance. Both size scaling and test-condition scaling methods employing the resulting similarity parameters are described, and experimental icing tests performed to evaluate scaling methods are reviewed with results. The material included applies primarily to unprotected, unswept geometries, but some discussion of how to approach other situations is included as well. The studies given here and scaling methods considered are applicable only to Appendix-C icing conditions. Nearly all of the experimental results presented have been obtained in sea-level tunnels. Recommendations are given regarding which scaling methods to use for both size scaling and test-condition scaling, and icing test results are described to support those recommendations. Facility limitations and size-scaling restrictions are discussed. Finally, appendices summarize the air, water and ice properties used in NASA scaling studies, give expressions for each of the similarity parameters used and provide sample calculations for the size-scaling and test-condition scaling methods advocated.

DNA unzipping with asymmetric periodic forces: Robustness of the scaling behavior of hysteresis loop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pal, Tanmoy; Kumar, Sanjay

2018-01-01

We study the effect of periodic unzipping forces (symmetric and asymmetric) on the steady-state hysteresis loop area of force-extension curves of DNA. For the triangular force, we get back the previously reported scaling exponents but for the ratchet force, we find that the scaling exponents deviate from the reported ones. We also study the temperature dependence of the scaling exponents for the triangular force. At the low-frequency regime, the choice of the scaling form determines whether the scaling exponents depend on the temperature or not.

What is the threshold for symptomatic response and remission for major depressive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder?

PubMed

Bandelow, Borwin; Baldwin, David S; Dolberg, Ornah T; Andersen, Henning Friis; Stein, Dan J

2006-09-01

Symptom-free remission is a goal for treatment in depression and anxiety disorders, but there is no consensus regarding the threshold for determining remission in individual disorders. We sought to determine these thresholds by comparing, in a post hoc analysis, scores on the Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI) and disorder-specific symptom severity rating scales from all available studies of the treatment of major depressive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder with the same medication (escitalopram). We also sought to compare the standardized effect sizes of escitalopram for these 4 psychiatric disorders. Raw data from all randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, acute treatment studies sponsored by H. Lundbeck A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark) or Forest Laboratories, Inc. (New York, N.Y.), published through March 1, 2004, with patients treated with escitalopram for DSM-IV major depressive disorder (5 studies), panic disorder (1 study), generalized anxiety disorder (4 studies), or social anxiety disorder (2 studies) were compared with regard to the standardized effect sizes of change in CGI score and scores on rating scales that represent the "gold standard" for assessment of these disorders (the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, respectively). In all indications, treatment with escitalopram showed differences from placebo in treatment effect from 0.32 to 0.59 on the CGI-S and CGI-I and standardized effect sizes from 0.32 to 0.50 on the standard rating scales. There were no significant differences among the different disorders. Moderate to high correlations were found between scores on the CGI and the standard scales. The corresponding standard scale scores for CGI-defined "response" and "remission" were determined. Comparison of scores on the standard scales and scores on the CGI suggest that the traditional definition of response (i.e., a 50% reduction in a standard scale) may be too conservative.

Sex Differences in Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales—A Meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Miettunen, Jouko; Jääskeläinen, Erika

2010-01-01

Previous single studies have found inconsistent results on sex differences in positive schizotypy, women scoring mainly higher than men, whereas in negative schizotypy studies have often found that men score higher than women. However, information on the overall effect is unknown. In this study, meta-analytic methods were used to estimate sex differences in Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales developed to measure schizotypal traits and psychosis proneness. We also studied the effect of the sample characteristics on possible differences. Studies on healthy populations were extensively collected; the required minimum sample size was 50. According to the results, men scored higher on the scales of negative schizotypy, ie, in the Physical Anhedonia Scale (n = 23 studies, effect size, Cohen d = 0.59, z test P < .001) and Social Anhedonia Scale (n = 14, d = 0.44, P < .001). Differences were virtually nonexistent in the measurements of the positive schizotypy, ie, the Magical Ideation Scale (n = 29, d = −0.01, P = .74) and Perceptual Aberration Scale (n = 22, d = −0.08, P = .05). The sex difference was larger in studies with nonstudent and older samples on the Perceptual Aberration Scale (d = −0.19 vs d = −0.03, P < .05). This study was the first one to pool studies on sex differences in these scales. The gender differences in social anhedonia both in nonclinical samples and in schizophrenia may relate to a broader aspect of social and interpersonal deficits. The results should be taken into account in studies using these instruments. PMID:18644855

Dysautonomia rating scales in Parkinson's disease: sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation--critique and recommendations by movement disorders task force on rating scales for Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Evatt, Marian L; Chaudhuri, K Ray; Chou, Kelvin L; Cubo, Ester; Hinson, Vanessa; Kompoliti, Katie; Yang, Chengwu; Poewe, Werner; Rascol, Olivier; Sampaio, Cristina; Stebbins, Glenn T; Goetz, Christopher G

2009-04-15

Upper and lower gastrointestinal dysautonomia symptoms (GIDS)--sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and often socially as well as physically disabling for patients. Available invasive quantitative measures for assessing these symptoms and their response to therapy are time-consuming, require specialized equipment, can cause patient discomfort and present patients with risk. The Movement Disorders Society commissioned a task force to assess available clinical rating scales, critique their clinimetric properties, and make recommendations regarding their clinical utility. Six clinical researchers and a biostatistician systematically searched the literature for scales of sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation, evaluated the scales' previous use, performance parameters, and quality of validation data (if available). A scale was designated "Recommended" if the scale was used in clinical studies beyond the group that developed it, has been specifically used in PD reports, and clinimetric studies have established that it is a valid, reliable, and sensitive. "Suggested" scales met at least part of the above criteria, but fell short of meeting all. Based on the systematic review, scales for individual symptoms of sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation were identified along with three global scales that include these symptoms in the context of assessing dysautonomia or nonmotor symptoms. Three sialorrhea scales met criteria for Suggested: Drooling Severity and Frequency Scale (DSFS), Drooling Rating Scale, and Sialorrhea Clinical Scale for PD (SCS-PD). Two dysphagia scales, the Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire (SDQ) and Dysphagia-Specific Quality of Life (SWAL-QOL), met criteria for Suggested. Although Rome III constipation module is widely accepted in the gastroenterology community, and the earlier version from the Rome II criteria has been used in a single study of PD patients, neither met criteria for Suggested or Recommended. Among the global scales, the Scales for Outcomes in PD-Autonomic (SCOPA-AUT) and Nonmotor Symptoms Questionnaire for PD (NMSQuest) both met criteria for Recommended, and the Nonmotor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) met criteria for Suggested; however, none specifically focuses on the target gastrointestinal symptoms (sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation) of this report. A very small number of rating scales have been applied to studies of gastrointestinal-related dysautonomia in PD. Only two scales met "Recommended" criteria and neither focuses specifically on the symptoms of sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation. Further scale testing in PD among the scales that focus on these symptoms is warranted, and no new scales are needed until the available scales are fully tested clinimetrically.

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

PubMed

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

2008-01-01

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

[Report of Internal Consistency of the Scales in Research Published in the Colombian Journal of Psychiatry].

PubMed

Campo-Arias, Adalberto

2013-03-01

Establishment of the frequency of reporting internal consistency of the scales in research published in the Colombian Journal of Psychiatry (CJP) between 2006 and 2010. A descriptive study was carried out which computes the report of internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) of scales in research published as original papers in the CJP. Validation studies were excluded. A total of 114 articles were published and 30 of them were included in the analysis. Researchers applied 67 scales for measuring some variables and Cronbach alpha of 20 (29.8%) scales was reported in the participating population. In the CJP, few published studies that apply measuring scales for variables report internal consistency in the analyzed sample. It is necessary for authors to report the internal consistency of used scales in the study population to guarantee the validity of conclusions. Copyright © 2013 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

Procrastination and predictor variables among a group of dental students in Turkey.

PubMed

Atalayin, Cigdem; Balkis, Murat; Tezel, Huseyin; Kayrak, Gul

2018-07-01

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of procrastination among a group of Turkish dental students and to determine the predictors and consequences of procrastination. A total number of 273 females and 179 males (aged between 18 and 28) were included in the study. Tuckman procrastination scale, Academic Life Satisfaction Scale, Concern over Mistake Scale, Poor Time Management Scale, Self-Doubt Scale, Irrational Beliefs about Studying Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and Life Satisfaction Scale were used to gather data. Results indicated that 50% of participants were more likely to procrastinate their academic assignments or tasks. Procrastination score did not differ according to gender. The findings suggested that procrastinating students had a higher level of poor time management, self-doubt and irrational beliefs about studying, and poor academic performance and well-being than their non-procrastinating counterparts. Preventive strategies are necessary to overcome procrastination which affects the academic achievement, satisfaction, and well-being of dental students.

Karst groundwater: a challenge for new resources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bakalowicz, Michel

2005-03-01

Karst aquifers have complex and original characteristics which make them very different from other aquifers: high heterogeneity created and organised by groundwater flow; large voids, high flow velocities up to several hundreds of m/h, high flow rate springs up to some tens of m3/s. Different conceptual models, known from the literature, attempt to take into account all these particularities. The study methods used in classical hydrogeology—bore hole, pumping test and distributed models—are generally invalid and unsuccessful in karst aquifers, because the results cannot be extended to the whole aquifer nor to some parts, as is done in non-karst aquifers. Presently, karst hydrogeologists use a specific investigation methodology (described here), which is comparable to that used in surface hydrology. Important points remain unsolved. Some of them are related to fundamental aspects suc h as the void structure - only a conduit network, or a conduit network plus a porous matrix -, the functioning - threshold effects and non-linearities -, the modeling of the functioning - double or triple porosity, or viscous flow in conduits - and of karst genesis. Some other points deal with practical aspects, such as the assessment of aquifer storage capacity or vulnerability, or the prediction of the location of highly productive zones. Los acuíferos kársticos tienen características originales y complejas que los hacen muy diferentes de otros acuíferos: alta heterogeneidad creada y organizada por el flujo de agua subterránea, espacios grandes, velocidades altas de flujo de hasta varios cientos de m/h, manantiales con ritmo alto de flujo de hasta algunas decenas de m3/s. Diferentes modelos conceptuales que se conocen en la literatura tratan de tomar en cuenta todas estas particularidades. Los métodos de estudio usados en hidrogeología clásica- pozos, pruebas de bombeo y modelos distribuidos- son generalmente inválidos y no exitosos en acuíferos kársticos, debido a que los resultados no pueden extenderse a todo el acuífero ni a alguna de sus partes, como se hace en acuíferos no kársticos. Actualmente los hidrogeólogos kársticos usan una metodología de investigación específica, que se des cribe aquí, la cual es comparable con la que se utiliza en hidrología superficial. Puntos importantes permanecen sin resolverse. Algunos de ellos se relacionan con aspectos fundamentales tal como la estructura de espacios- solo una red de conductos, ouna red de conductos más una matriz porosa-, el funcionamiento-efectos threshold y no-linealidades-, el modelizado del funcionamiento-porosidad dobleo triple, o flujo viscoso en conductos- y génesis del karst. Algunos otros puntos se relacionan con aspectos prácticos, tal como la evaluación de la capacidad de almacenamiento del acuífero o la vulnerabilidad, o la predicción de la localización de zonas altamente productivas. Les aquifères karstiques présentent des caractères originaux complexes qui les distinguent profondément de tous les autres milieux aquifères: forte hétérogénéité créée et organisée par les écoulements souterrains eux-mêmes, vides de très grandes dimensions, vitesses d'écoulement pouvant atteindre quelques centaines de mètres par heure, sources à débit pouvant atteindre quelques dizaines de m3/s. Différents modèles conceptuels tentent de prendre en compte ces particularités. Les méthodes d'étude de l'hydrogéologie classique—forage, essai de pompage et modèles maillés - ne sont en général pas adaptés aux aquifères karstiques, parce que les résultats obtenus ne peuvent pas être étendus à l'aquifère tout entier, ou à certaines de ses parties, comme cela est fait pour les aquifères non karstiques. Actuellement les hydrogéologues du karst ont recours à une méthodologie d'étude spécifique décrite ici, comparable à celle utilisée en hydrologie de surface. Des points importants restent à résoudre. Certains concernent des aspects fondamentaux, comme la structure des vides - réseau de conduits uniquement, ou bien réseau de conduits et matrice poreuse -, le fonctionnement - problèmes de seuil et plus généralement les non-linéarités -, la modélisation du fonctionnement - double porosité ou écoulement visqueux en conduits - et de la genèse du karst. D'autres points portent sur des aspects pratiques, comme l'évaluation de la capacité de stockage ou de la vulnérabilité de l'aquifère, et la prédiction des zones à haute productivité.

Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale (Sheehan-STS)

PubMed Central

2009-01-01

Objective: Accurate and prospective assessments of treatment-emergent suicidal thoughts and behaviors are essential to both clinical care and randomized clinical trials. The Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale is a prospective, patient self-report or clinician-administered rating scale that tracks both treatment-emergent suicidal ideation and behaviors. The Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale was incorporated into a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and active comparator study examining the efficacy of an experimental corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist (BMS-562086) for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Method: The Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale was administered to subjects at baseline, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 8 or early termination. Subjects completed theSheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale by self report. The Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale was designated as an exploratory outcome measure in the study protocol, and post-hoc analyses were performed to examine the performance of the Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale. Results: A total of 82 subjects completed the Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale during the course of the study. Altogether, these subjects provided 297 completed Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale ratings across the study time points. Sixty-one subjects (n=25 placebo, n=24 BMS-562086, and n=12 escitalopram) had a baseline and at least one post-baseline Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale measurement. The mean change from baseline at Week 8 in the Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale total score was -0.10, -0.02, and -0.06 for escitalopram, placebo, and BMS-562086 groups, respectively. The sensitivity of the Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale and HAM-D Item #3 (suicide) for identifying subjects with suicidal thoughts or behaviors was 100 percent and 63 percent, respectively. Conclusions: The Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale may be a sensitive psychometric tool to prospectively assess for treatment-emergent suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Despite the small sample size and low occurrence of suicidal ideation during the course of this clinical trial, the self-reported Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale demonstrated increased sensitivity over the rater administered HAM-D Item #3 in identifying suicide related ideations and behaviors. Further research in larger study samples as well as in other psychiatric disorders are needed. PMID:19724740

Braden scale (ALB) for assessing pressure ulcer risk in hospital patients: A validity and reliability study.

PubMed

Chen, Hong-Lin; Cao, Ying-Juan; Zhang, Wei; Wang, Jing; Huai, Bao-Sha

2017-02-01

The inter-rater reliability of Braden Scale is not so good. We modified the Braden(ALB) scale by defining nutrition subscale based on serum albumin, then assessed it's the validity and reliability in hospital patients. We designed a retrospective study for validity analysis, and a prospective study for reliability analysis. Receiver operating curve (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the predictive validity. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to investigate the inter-rater reliability. Two thousand five hundred twenty-five patients were included for validity analysis, 76 patients (3.0%) developed pressure ulcer. Positive correlation was found between serum albumin and nutrition score in Braden scale (Spearman's coefficient 0.2203, P<0.0001). The AUCs for Braden scale and Braden(ALB) scale predicting pressure ulcer risk were 0.813 (95% CI 0.797-0.828; P<0.0001), and 0.859 (95% CI 0.845-0.872; P<0.0001), respectively. The Braden(ALB) scale was even more valid than the Braden scale (z=1.860, P=0.0628). In different age subgroups, the Braden(ALB) scale seems also more valid than the original Braden scale, but no statistically significant differences were found (P>0.05). The inter-rater reliability study showed the ICC-value for nutrition increased 45.9%, and increased 4.3% for total score. The Braden(ALB) scale has similar validity compared with the original Braden scale for in hospital patients. However, the inter-rater reliability was significantly increased. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Multimodal dispersal during the range expansion of the tropical house gecko Hemidactylus mabouia

PubMed Central

Short, Kristen H; Petren, Kenneth

2011-01-01

Dispersal influences both the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of range expansion. While some studies have demonstrated a role for human-mediated dispersal during invasion, the genetic effects of such dispersal remain to be understood, particularly in terrestrial range expansions. In this study, we investigated multimodal dispersal during the range expansion of the invasive gecko Hemidactylus mabouia in Florida using 12 microsatellite loci. We investigated dispersal patterns at the regional scale (metropolitan areas), statewide scale (state of Florida), and global scale (including samples from the native range). Dispersal was limited at the smallest, regional scale, within metropolitan areas, as reflected by the presence of genetic structure at this scale, which is in agreement with a previous study in this same invasion at even smaller spatial scales. Surprisingly, there was no detectable genetic structure at the intermediate statewide scale, which suggests dispersal is not limited across the state of Florida. There was evidence of genetic differentiation between Florida and other areas where H. mabouia occurs, so we concluded that at the largest scale, dispersal was limited. Humans likely contributed to patterns of dispersal at all three scales but in different ways. Infrequent low-volume dispersal has occurred within regions, frequent high-volume dispersal has occurred across the state, and infrequent long-distance dispersal has occurred among continents at the global scale. This study highlights the importance of considering different modes of dispersal at multiple spatial scales to understand the dynamics of invasion and range expansion. PMID:22393494

Service Quality Assessment Scale (SQAS): An Instrument for Evaluating Service Quality of Health-Fitness Clubs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lam, Eddie T. C.; Zhang, James J.; Jensen, Barbara E.

2005-01-01

This study was designed to develop the Service Quality Assessment Scale to evaluate the service quality of health-fitness clubs. Through a review of literature, field observations, interviews, modified application of the Delphi technique, and a pilot study, a preliminary scale with 46 items was formulated. The preliminary scale was administered to…

Classroom Teacher Candidates' Perceptions of Teacher Self-Efficacy in Developing Students' Reading, Writing and Verbal Skills: Scale Development Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Canbulat, Ayse Nur Kutluca

2017-01-01

This work uses exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to study Verbal Skills Development Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale (VSDTS), Reading Skills Development Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale (RSDTS) and Writing Skills Development Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale (WSDTS) developed to identify classroom teacher candidates' perceptions of teacher…

Measuring Students' Writing Ability on a Computer-Analytic Developmental Scale: An Exploratory Validity Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burdick, Hal; Swartz, Carl W.; Stenner, A. Jackson; Fitzgerald, Jill; Burdick, Don; Hanlon, Sean T.

2013-01-01

The purpose of the study was to explore the validity of a novel computer-analytic developmental scale, the Writing Ability Developmental Scale. On the whole, collective results supported the validity of the scale. It was sensitive to writing ability differences across grades and sensitive to within-grade variability as compared to human-rated…

Value-Eroding Teacher Behaviors Scale: A Validity and Reliability Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arseven, Zeynep; Kiliç, Abdurrahman; Sahin, Seyma

2016-01-01

In the present study, it is aimed to develop a valid and reliable scale for determining value-eroding behaviors of teachers, hence their values of judgment. The items of the "Value-eroding Teacher Behaviors Scale" were designed in the form of 5-point likert type rating scale. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to…

Rating Scale Impact on EFL Essay Marking: A Mixed-Method Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barkaoui, Khaled

2007-01-01

Educators often have to choose among different types of rating scales to assess second-language (L2) writing performance. There is little research, however, on how different rating scales affect rater performance. This study employed a mixed-method approach to investigate the effects of two different rating scales on EFL essay scores, rating…

SCALE-UP OF RAPID SMALL-SCALE ADSORPTION TESTS TO FIELD-SCALE ADSORBERS: THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BASIS

EPA Science Inventory

Design of full-scale adsorption systems typically includes expensive and time-consuming pilot studies to simulate full-scale adsorber performance. Accordingly, the rapid small-scale column test (RSSCT) was developed and evaluated experimentally. The RSSCT can simulate months of f...

Developing Interest in Art Scale and Determining the Relation between Personality Type of Teacher Candidates and Their Interest in Art

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taskesen, Orhan

2014-01-01

The goal of this study is to develop a scale that measures individuals' interest in art and to test if there is a relation between this scale and personality types. For this aim, in the first stage of the study, a scale that can measure university students' interest in art is developed. Draft scale, which is made of 25 items, is conducted on 171…

Developing Academic Motivation Scale for Learning Information Technology (AMSLIT): A Study of Validity and Reliability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schreglmann, Sinan

2018-01-01

This study aimed to develop Academic Motivation Scale for Learning Information Technology for university students. For this purpose, 120 randomly selected university students studying in different classes and faculties at KSU were invited to the study during the 2016-2017 academic year. To define the scale indicators students were asked to answer…

Dysautonomia Rating Scales in Parkinson’s Disease: Sialorrhea, Dysphagia, and Constipation—Critique and Recommendations by Movement Disorders Task Force on Rating Scales for Parkinson’s Disease

PubMed Central

Evatt, Marian L.; Chaudhuri, K. Ray; Chou, Kelvin L.; Cubo, Ester; Hinson, Vanessa; Kompoliti, Katie; Yang, Chengwu; Poewe, Werner; Rascol, Olivier; Sampaio, Cristina; Stebbins, Glenn T.; Goetz, Christopher G.

2015-01-01

Upper and lower gastrointestinal dysautonomia symptoms (GIDS)—sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and often socially as well as physically disabling for patients. Available invasive quantitative measures for assessing these symptoms and their response to therapy are time-consuming, require specialized equipment, can cause patient discomfort and present patients with risk. The Movement Disorders Society commissioned a task force to assess available clinical rating scales, critique their clinimetric properties, and make recommendations regarding their clinical utility. Six clinical researchers and a biostatistician systematically searched the literature for scales of sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation, evaluated the scales’ previous use, performance parameters, and quality of validation data (if available). A scale was designated “Recommended” if the scale was used in clinical studies beyond the group that developed it, has been specifically used in PD reports, and clinimetric studies have established that it is a valid, reliable, and sensitive. “Suggested” scales met at least part of the above criteria, but fell short of meeting all. Based on the systematic review, scales for individual symptoms of sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation were identified along with three global scales that include these symptoms in the context of assessing dysautonomia or nonmotor symptoms. Three sialorrhea scales met criteria for Suggested: Drooling Severity and Frequency Scale (DSFS), Drooling Rating Scale, and Sialorrhea Clinical Scale for PD (SCS-PD). Two dysphagia scales, the Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire (SDQ) and Dysphagia-Specific Quality of Life (SWAL-QOL), met criteria for Suggested. Although Rome III constipation module is widely accepted in the gastroenterology community, and the earlier version from the Rome II criteria has been used in a single study of PD patients, neither met criteria for Suggested or Recommended. Among the global scales, the Scales for Outcomes in PD-Autonomic (SCOPA-AUT) and Nonmotor Symptoms Questionnaire for PD (NMSQuest) both met criteria for Recommended, and the Nonmotor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) met criteria for Suggested; however, none specifically focuses on the target gastrointestinal symptoms (sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation) of this report. A very small number of rating scales have been applied to studies of gastrointestinal-related dysautonomia in PD. Only two scales met “Recommended” criteria and neither focuses specifically on the symptoms of sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation. Further scale testing in PD among the scales that focus on these symptoms is warranted, and no new scales are needed until the available scales are fully tested clinimetrically. PMID:19205066

Measuring positive and negative affect and physiological hyperarousal among Serbian youth.

PubMed

Stevanovic, Dejan; Laurent, Jeff; Lakic, Aneta

2013-01-01

This study extended previous cross-cultural work regarding the tripartite model of anxiety and depression by developing Serbian translations of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children (PANAS-C), the Physiological Hyperarousal Scale for Children (PH-C), and the Affect and Arousal Scale (AFARS). Characteristics of the scales were examined using 449 students (M age = 12.61 years). Applying item retention criteria established in other studies, PH-C, PANAS-C, and AFARS translations with psychometric properties similar to English-language versions were identified. Preliminary validation of the scales was conducted using a subset of 194 students (M age = 12.37 years) who also completed measures of anxiety and depression. Estimates of reliability, patterns of correlations among scales, and age and gender differences were consistent with previous studies with English-speaking samples. Findings regarding scale validity were mixed, although consistent with existing literature. Serbian translations of the PH-C, PANAS-C, and AFARS mirror the original English-language scales in terms of both strengths and weaknesses.

A priori study of subgrid-scale flux of a passive scalar in isotropic homogeneous turbulence.

PubMed

Chumakov, Sergei G

2008-09-01

We perform a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of forced homogeneous isotropic turbulence with a passive scalar that is forced by mean gradient. The DNS data are used to study the properties of subgrid-scale flux of a passive scalar in the framework of large eddy simulation (LES), such as alignment trends between the flux, resolved, and subgrid-scale flow structures. It is shown that the direction of the flux is strongly coupled with the subgrid-scale stress axes rather than the resolved flow quantities such as strain, vorticity, or scalar gradient. We derive an approximate transport equation for the subgrid-scale flux of a scalar and look at the relative importance of the terms in the transport equation. A particular form of LES tensor-viscosity model for the scalar flux is investigated, which includes the subgrid-scale stress. Effect of different models for the subgrid-scale stress on the model for the subgrid-scale flux is studied.

Bicultural Work Motivation Scale for Asian American College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Yung-Lung; Fouad, Nadya A.

2016-01-01

The bicultural work motivations of Asian Americans have not yet been comprehensively captured by contemporary vocational constructs and scales. For this study, we conducted two studies on the initial reliability and validity of the Bicultural Work Motivation Scale (BWMS) by combining qualitative and quantitative methods. First, a pilot study was…

Observing relationships in Finnish adoptive families: Oulu Family Rating Scale.

PubMed

Tienari, Pekka; Wynne, Lyman C; Sorri, Anneli; Lahti, Ilpo; Moring, Juha; Nieminen, Pentti; Joukamaa, Matti; Naarala, Mikko; Seitamaa, Markku; Wahlberg, Karl-Erik; Miettunen, Jouko

2005-01-01

Adoption studies were intended to separate genetic from environmental "causal" factors. In earlier adoption studies, psychiatric diagnostic labels for the adoptive parents were used as a proxy for the multiple dimensions of the family rearing environment. In the Finnish Adoption Study, research design provided the opportunity to study directly the adoptive family rearing environment. For this purpose 33 sub-scales were selected creating what we call Oulu Family Rating Scale (OPAS, Oulun PerheArviointiSkaala). In this paper, the manual for scoring of these sub-scales is presented.

High Agreement was Obtained Across Scores from Multiple Equated Scales for Social Anxiety Disorder using Item Response Theory.

PubMed

Sunderland, Matthew; Batterham, Philip; Calear, Alison; Carragher, Natacha; Baillie, Andrew; Slade, Tim

2018-04-10

There is no standardized approach to the measurement of social anxiety. Researchers and clinicians are faced with numerous self-report scales with varying strengths, weaknesses, and psychometric properties. The lack of standardization makes it difficult to compare scores across populations that utilise different scales. Item response theory offers one solution to this problem via equating different scales using an anchor scale to set a standardized metric. This study is the first to equate several scales for social anxiety disorder. Data from two samples (n=3,175 and n=1,052), recruited from the Australian community using online advertisements, were utilised to equate a network of 11 self-report social anxiety scales via a fixed parameter item calibration method. Comparisons between actual and equated scores for most of the scales indicted a high level of agreement with mean differences <0.10 (equivalent to a mean difference of less than one point on the standardized metric). This study demonstrates that scores from multiple scales that measure social anxiety can be converted to a common scale. Re-scoring observed scores to a common scale provides opportunities to combine research from multiple studies and ultimately better assess social anxiety in treatment and research settings. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

A Preliminary Case Study of SCALE Activities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison: Factors Influencing Change Initiatives in STEM Undergraduate Education, Teacher Training, and Partnerships with K-12 Districts. WCER Working Paper No. 2007-2

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hora, Matthew T.; Millar, Susan B.

2007-01-01

This report on the SCALE Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) Case Studies line of work provides preliminary findings about SCALE activities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison). This study focuses on the structural and behavioral dynamics influencing the implementation of the four core SCALE strategies for effecting change in…

Centeredness Theory: Understanding and Measuring Well-Being Across Core Life Domains

PubMed Central

Bloch-Jorgensen, Zephyr T.; Cilione, Patrick J.; Yeung, William W. H.; Gatt, Justine M.

2018-01-01

Background: Centeredness Theory (CT) is proposed as a new mental health paradigm that focuses on well-being at a systems-level, across the core life domains of the self, the family unit, relationships, community, and work. The current studies aimed to validate the psychometric properties of a new scale that measures CT against existing well-being and mental health measures. Methods: Study 1 included 488 anonymous online respondents (46% females, 28% males, 25% unknown with median age between 31 and 35 years) across 38 countries who completed the CT scale. Study 2 included 49 first-year psychology students (90% females, mean age of 19 years) from Sydney Australia that completed the CT scale and other well-being and mental health questionnaires at baseline and 2-weeks follow-up. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses resulted in a refined 60-item CT scale with five domains, each with four sub-domains. The CT scale demonstrated good internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability, and showed evidence of convergent validity against other well-being measures (e.g., COMPAS-W Wellbeing Scale, SWLS scale, and Ryff's Psychological Well-being scale). Conclusions: The CT scale appears to be a reliable measure of well-being at a systems-level. Future studies need to confirm these findings in larger heterogeneous samples. PMID:29765344

A comparison of working in small-scale and large-scale nursing homes: A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative evidence.

PubMed

Vermeerbergen, Lander; Van Hootegem, Geert; Benders, Jos

2017-02-01

Ongoing shortages of care workers, together with an ageing population, make it of utmost importance to increase the quality of working life in nursing homes. Since the 1970s, normalised and small-scale nursing homes have been increasingly introduced to provide care in a family and homelike environment, potentially providing a richer work life for care workers as well as improved living conditions for residents. 'Normalised' refers to the opportunities given to residents to live in a manner as close as possible to the everyday life of persons not needing care. The study purpose is to provide a synthesis and overview of empirical research comparing the quality of working life - together with related work and health outcomes - of professional care workers in normalised small-scale nursing homes as compared to conventional large-scale ones. A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies. A systematic literature search (April 2015) was performed using the electronic databases Pubmed, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL and Web of Science. References and citations were tracked to identify additional, relevant studies. We identified 825 studies in the selected databases. After checking the inclusion and exclusion criteria, nine studies were selected for review. Two additional studies were selected after reference and citation tracking. Three studies were excluded after requesting more information on the research setting. The findings from the individual studies suggest that levels of job control and job demands (all but "time pressure") are higher in normalised small-scale homes than in conventional large-scale nursing homes. Additionally, some studies suggested that social support and work motivation are higher, while risks of burnout and mental strain are lower, in normalised small-scale nursing homes. Other studies found no differences or even opposing findings. The studies reviewed showed that these inconclusive findings can be attributed to care workers in some normalised small-scale homes experiencing isolation and too high job demands in their work roles. This systematic review suggests that normalised small-scale homes are a good starting point for creating a higher quality of working life in the nursing home sector. Higher job control enables care workers to manage higher job demands in normalised small-scale homes. However, some jobs would benefit from interventions to address care workers' perceptions of too low social support and of too high job demands. More research is needed to examine strategies to enhance these working life issues in normalised small-scale settings. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Bedford Alzheimer nursing-severity scale to assess dementia severity in advanced dementia: a nonparametric item response analysis and a study of its psychometric characteristics.

PubMed

Galindo-Garre, Francisca; Hendriks, Simone A; Volicer, Ladislav; Smalbrugge, Martin; Hertogh, Cees M P M; van der Steen, Jenny T

2014-02-01

The Bedford Alzheimer Nursing-Severity Scale (BANS-S) assesses disease severity in patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease. Since Alzheimer is a progressive disease, studying the hierarchy of the items in the scale can be useful to evaluate the progression of the disease. Data from 164 Alzheimer's patients and 186 patients with other dementia were analyzed using the Mokken Scaling Methodology to determine whether respondents can be ordered in the trait dementia severity, and to study whether an ordering between the items exist. The scalability of the scale was evaluated by the H coefficient. Results showed that the BANS-S is a reliable and medium scale (0.4≤H<0.5) for the Alzheimer group. All items with the exception of the item about mobility could be ordered. When later item was eliminated from the scale, the H coefficient decreased indicating that the scalability of the scale in the original form is more accurate than in the shorter version. For the other dementia group, the BANS-S did not fit any of the Mokken Scaling models because the scale was not unidimensional. In this group, a shorter version of the scale without the sleeping cycle item and the mobility item has better reliability and scalability properties than the original scale.

Medical student and junior doctors' tolerance of ambiguity: development of a new scale.

PubMed

Hancock, Jason; Roberts, Martin; Monrouxe, Lynn; Mattick, Karen

2015-03-01

The practice of medicine involves inherent ambiguity, arising from limitations of knowledge, diagnostic problems, complexities of treatment and outcome and unpredictability of patient response. Research into doctors' tolerance of ambiguity is hampered by poor conceptual clarity and inadequate measurement scales. We aimed to create and pilot a measurement scale for tolerance of ambiguity in medical students and junior doctors that addresses the limitations of existing scales. After defining tolerance of ambiguity, scale items were generated by literature review and expert consultation. Feedback on the draft scale was sought and incorporated. 411 medical students and 75 foundation doctors in Exeter, UK were asked to complete the scale. Psychometric analysis enabled further scale refinement and comparison of scale scores across subgroups. The pilot study achieved a 64% response rate. The final 29 item version of the Tolerance of Ambiguity in Medical Students and Doctors (TAMSAD) scale had good internal reliability (Cronbach's α 0.80). Tolerance of ambiguity was higher in foundation year 2 doctors than first, third and fourth year medical students (-5.23, P = 0.012; -5.98, P = 0.013; -4.62, P = 0.035, for each year group respectively). The TAMSAD scale offers a valid and reliable alternative to existing scales. Further work is required in different settings and in longitudinal studies but this study offers intriguing provisional insights.

Multi-scale Slip Inversion Based on Simultaneous Spatial and Temporal Domain Wavelet Transform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, W.; Yao, H.; Yang, H. Y.

2017-12-01

Finite fault inversion is a widely used method to study earthquake rupture processes. Some previous studies have proposed different methods to implement finite fault inversion, including time-domain, frequency-domain, and wavelet-domain methods. Many previous studies have found that different frequency bands show different characteristics of the seismic rupture (e.g., Wang and Mori, 2011; Yao et al., 2011, 2013; Uchide et al., 2013; Yin et al., 2017). Generally, lower frequency waveforms correspond to larger-scale rupture characteristics while higher frequency data are representative of smaller-scale ones. Therefore, multi-scale analysis can help us understand the earthquake rupture process thoroughly from larger scale to smaller scale. By the use of wavelet transform, the wavelet-domain methods can analyze both the time and frequency information of signals in different scales. Traditional wavelet-domain methods (e.g., Ji et al., 2002) implement finite fault inversion with both lower and higher frequency signals together to recover larger-scale and smaller-scale characteristics of the rupture process simultaneously. Here we propose an alternative strategy with a two-step procedure, i.e., firstly constraining the larger-scale characteristics with lower frequency signals, and then resolving the smaller-scale ones with higher frequency signals. We have designed some synthetic tests to testify our strategy and compare it with the traditional one. We also have applied our strategy to study the 2015 Gorkha Nepal earthquake using tele-seismic waveforms. Both the traditional method and our two-step strategy only analyze the data in different temporal scales (i.e., different frequency bands), while the spatial distribution of model parameters also shows multi-scale characteristics. A more sophisticated strategy is to transfer the slip model into different spatial scales, and then analyze the smooth slip distribution (larger scales) with lower frequency data firstly and more detailed slip distribution (smaller scales) with higher frequency data subsequently. We are now implementing the slip inversion using both spatial and temporal domain wavelets. This multi-scale analysis can help us better understand frequency-dependent rupture characteristics of large earthquakes.

Why small-scale cannabis growers stay small: five mechanisms that prevent small-scale growers from going large scale.

PubMed

Hammersvik, Eirik; Sandberg, Sveinung; Pedersen, Willy

2012-11-01

Over the past 15-20 years, domestic cultivation of cannabis has been established in a number of European countries. New techniques have made such cultivation easier; however, the bulk of growers remain small-scale. In this study, we explore the factors that prevent small-scale growers from increasing their production. The study is based on 1 year of ethnographic fieldwork and qualitative interviews conducted with 45 Norwegian cannabis growers, 10 of whom were growing on a large-scale and 35 on a small-scale. The study identifies five mechanisms that prevent small-scale indoor growers from going large-scale. First, large-scale operations involve a number of people, large sums of money, a high work-load and a high risk of detection, and thus demand a higher level of organizational skills than for small growing operations. Second, financial assets are needed to start a large 'grow-site'. Housing rent, electricity, equipment and nutrients are expensive. Third, to be able to sell large quantities of cannabis, growers need access to an illegal distribution network and knowledge of how to act according to black market norms and structures. Fourth, large-scale operations require advanced horticultural skills to maximize yield and quality, which demands greater skills and knowledge than does small-scale cultivation. Fifth, small-scale growers are often embedded in the 'cannabis culture', which emphasizes anti-commercialism, anti-violence and ecological and community values. Hence, starting up large-scale production will imply having to renegotiate or abandon these values. Going from small- to large-scale cannabis production is a demanding task-ideologically, technically, economically and personally. The many obstacles that small-scale growers face and the lack of interest and motivation for going large-scale suggest that the risk of a 'slippery slope' from small-scale to large-scale growing is limited. Possible political implications of the findings are discussed. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Measuring Credibility Perceptions in CSR Communication: A Scale Development to Test Readers’ Perceived Credibility of CSR Reports

PubMed Central

Lock, Irina; Seele, Peter

2017-01-01

Credibility is central to communication but often jeopardized by “credibility gaps.” This is especially true for communication about corporate social responsibility (CSR). To date, no tool has been available to analyze stakeholders’ credibility perceptions of CSR communication. This article presents a series of studies conducted to develop a scale to assess the perceived credibility of CSR reports, one of CSR communication’s most important tools. The scale provides a novel operationalization of credibility using validity claims of Habermas’s ideal speech situation as subdimensions. The scale development process, carried out in five studies including a literature review, a Delphi study, and three validation studies applying confirmatory factor analysis, resulted in the 16-item Perceived Credibility (PERCRED) scale. The scale shows convergent, discriminant, concurrent, and nomological validity and is the first validated measure for analyzing credibility perceptions of CSR reports. PMID:29278260

Mokken scaling analysis of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in individuals with cardiovascular disease.

PubMed

Cosco, Theodore D; Doyle, Frank; Watson, Roger; Ward, Mark; McGee, Hannah

2012-01-01

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a prolifically used scale of anxiety and depression. The original bidimensional anxiety-depression latent structure of the HADS has come under significant scrutiny, with previous studies revealing one-, two-, three- and four-dimensional structures. The current study examines the latent structure of the HADS using a non-parametric item response theory method. Using data conglomerated from four independent studies of cardiovascular disease employing the HADS (n=893), Mokken scaling procedure was conducted to assess the latent structure of the HADS. A single scale consisting of 12 of 14 HADS items was revealed, indicating a unidimensional latent HADS structure. The HADS was initially intended to measure mutually exclusive levels of anxiety and depression; however, the current study indicates that a single dimension of general psychological distress is captured. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Measuring Credibility Perceptions in CSR Communication: A Scale Development to Test Readers' Perceived Credibility of CSR Reports.

PubMed

Lock, Irina; Seele, Peter

2017-11-01

Credibility is central to communication but often jeopardized by "credibility gaps." This is especially true for communication about corporate social responsibility (CSR). To date, no tool has been available to analyze stakeholders' credibility perceptions of CSR communication. This article presents a series of studies conducted to develop a scale to assess the perceived credibility of CSR reports, one of CSR communication's most important tools. The scale provides a novel operationalization of credibility using validity claims of Habermas's ideal speech situation as subdimensions. The scale development process, carried out in five studies including a literature review, a Delphi study, and three validation studies applying confirmatory factor analysis, resulted in the 16-item Perceived Credibility (PERCRED) scale. The scale shows convergent, discriminant, concurrent, and nomological validity and is the first validated measure for analyzing credibility perceptions of CSR reports.

Examination of factor structure for the consumers' responses to the Value Consciousness Scale.

PubMed

Conrad, C A; Williams, J R

2000-12-01

The psychometric properties of the Value Consciousness Scale developed by Lichtenstein, Netemeyer, and Burton in 1990 were examined in a retail grocery study (N = 497). Original assessment of scale properties was undertaken using two convenience samples in a nonretail setting and additional scale performance has been documented by the scale authors. This study furthers previous research by (1) examining performance on the items in the retail grocery setting and (2) utilizing an appropriately rigorous sampling procedure. A confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the Value Consciousness Scale does not exhibit unidimensional properties, and one must be cautious if this scale is used in applications of market segmentation until further clarification can be provided.

[Reliability and validity of depression scales of Chinese version: a systematic review].

PubMed

Sun, X Y; Li, Y X; Yu, C Q; Li, L M

2017-01-10

Objective: Through systematically reviewing the reliability and validity of depression scales of Chinese version in adults in China to evaluate the psychometric properties of depression scales for different groups. Methods: Eligible studies published before 6 May 2016 were retrieved from the following database: CNKI, Wanfang, PubMed and Embase. The HSROC model of the diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) for Meta-analysis was used to calculate the pooled sensitivity and specificity of the PHQ-9. Results: A total of 44 papers evaluating the performance of depression scales were included. Results showed that the reliability and validity of the common depression scales were eligible, including the Beck depression inventory (BDI), the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), the center epidemiological studies depression scale (CES-D), the patient health questionnaire (PHQ) and the Geriatric depression scale (GDS). The Cronbach' s coefficient of most tools were larger than 0.8, while the test-retest reliability and split-half reliability were larger than 0.7, indicating good internal consistency and stability. The criterion validity, convergent validity, discrimination validity and screening validity were acceptable though different cut-off points were recommended by different studies. The pooled sensitivity of the 11 studies evaluating PHQ-9 was 0.88 (95 %CI : 0.85-0.91) while the pooled specificity was 0.89 (95 %CI : 0.82-0.94), which demonstrated the applicability of PHQ-9 in screening depression. Conclusion: The reliability and validity of different depression scales of Chinese version are acceptable. The characteristics of different tools and study population should be taken into consideration when choosing a specific scale.

Development of a performance anxiety scale for music students.

PubMed

Çirakoğlu, Okan Cem; Şentürk, Gülce Çoskun

2013-12-01

In the present research, the Performance Anxiety Scale for Music Students (PASMS) was developed in three successive studies. In Study 1, the factor structure of PASMS was explored and three components were found: fear of stage (FES), avoidance (AVD) and symptoms (SMP). The internal consistency of the subscales of PASMS, which consisted of 27 items, varied between 0.89 and 0.91. The internal consistency for the whole scale was found to be 0.95. The correlations among PASMS and other anxiety-related measures were significant and in the expected direction, indicating that the scale has convergent validity. The construct validity of the scale was assessed in Study 2 by confirmatory factor analysis. After several revisions, the final tested model achieved acceptable fits. In Study 3, the 14-day test-retest reliability of the final 24-item version of PASMS was tested and found to be extremely high (0.95). In all three studies, the whole scale and subscale scores of females were significantly higher than for males.

[Silhouette scales and body satisfaction in adolescents: a systematic literature review].

PubMed

Côrtes, Marcela Guimarães; Meireles, Adriana Lúcia; Friche, Amélia Augusta de Lima; Caiaffa, Waleska Teixeira; Xavier, César Coelho

2013-03-01

The purpose of this study was to summarize studies on adolescents' body satisfaction, focusing on the use of silhouette scales. A systematic review was carried out on MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO, and in unpublished papers. The final analysis included 36 studies. The majority adopted the scale proposed by Stunkard et al., self-administered, presented in ascending order and on a single sheet of paper. Most studies compared characteristics on satisfaction and dissatisfaction, used the chi-square test, and did not test for confounding. Among 18 studies included in the meta-analysis, prevalence of body dissatisfaction ranged from 32.2% to 83%. The review showed wide heterogeneity between studies (p-value = 0.000; I(2) = 87.39) even after sub-group analysis and the absence of relevant information for proper comparison of studies. The article concludes by recommending greater rigor in application of the scales and presentation of study methods on body satisfaction assessed by silhouette scales, in addition to new methodological studies and those that elucidate factors related to body satisfaction.

Scaling Characteristics of Mesoscale Wind Fields in the Lower Atmospheric Boundary Layer: Implications for Wind Energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiliyanpilakkil, Velayudhan Praju

Atmospheric motions take place in spatial scales of sub-millimeters to few thousands of kilometers with temporal changes in the atmospheric variables occur in fractions of seconds to several years. Consequently, the variations in atmospheric kinetic energy associated with these atmospheric motions span over a broad spectrum of space and time. The mesoscale region acts as an energy transferring regime between the energy generating synoptic scale and the energy dissipating microscale. Therefore, the scaling characterizations of mesoscale wind fields are significant in the accurate estimation of the atmospheric energy budget. Moreover, the precise knowledge of the scaling characteristics of atmospheric mesoscale wind fields is important for the validation of the numerical models those focus on wind forecasting, dispersion, diffusion, horizontal transport, and optical turbulence. For these reasons, extensive studies have been conducted in the past to characterize the mesoscale wind fields. Nevertheless, the majority of these studies focused on near-surface and upper atmosphere mesoscale regimes. The present study attempt to identify the existence and to quantify the scaling of mesoscale wind fields in the lower atmospheric boundary layer (ABL; in the wind turbine layer) using wind observations from various research-grade instruments (e.g., sodars, anemometers). The scaling characteristics of the mesoscale wind speeds over diverse homogeneous flat terrains, conducted using structure function based analysis, revealed an altitudinal dependence of the scaling exponents. This altitudinal dependence of the wind speed scaling may be attributed to the buoyancy forcing. Subsequently, we use the framework of extended self-similarity (ESS) to characterize the observed scaling behavior. In the ESS framework, the relative scaling exponents of the mesoscale atmospheric boundary layer wind speed exhibit quasi-universal behavior; even far beyond the inertial range of turbulence (Delta t within 10 minutes to 6 hours range). The ESS framework based study is extended further to enquire its validity over complex terrain. This study, based on multiyear wind observations, demonstrate that the ESS holds for the lower ABL wind speed over the complex terrain as well. Another important inference from this study is that the ESS relative scaling exponents corresponding to the mesoscale wind speed closely matches the scaling characteristics of the inertial range turbulence, albeit not exactly identical. The current study proposes benchmark using ESS-based quasi-universal wind speed scaling characteristics in the ABL for the mesoscale modeling community. Using a state-of-the-art atmospheric mesoscale model in conjunction with different planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization schemes, multiple wind speed simulations have been conducted. This study reveals that the ESS scaling characteristics of the model simulated wind speed time series in the lower ABL vary significantly from their observational counterparts. The study demonstrate that the model simulated wind speed time series for the time intervals Delta t < 2 hours do not capture the ESS-based scaling characteristics. The detailed analysis of model simulations using different PBL schemes lead to the conclusion that there is a need for significant improvements in the turbulent closure parameterizations adapted in the new-generation atmospheric models. This study is unique as the ESS framework has never been reported or examined for the validation of PBL parameterizations.

Religion and Wellbeing: Concurrent Validation of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bufford, Rodger K.; Parker, Thomas G., Jr.

This study was designed to explore the concurrent validity of the Spiritual Well-being Scale (SWB). Ninety first-year student volunteers at an evangelical seminary served as subjects. As part of a larger study, the students completed the SWB and the Interpersonal Behavior Survey (IBS). The SWB Scale is a 20-item self-report scale. Ten items…

Rasch Analysis for Psychometric Improvement of Science Attitude Rating Scales

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oon, Pey-Tee; Fan, Xitao

2017-01-01

Students' attitude towards science (SAS) is often a subject of investigation in science education research. Survey of rating scale is commonly used in the study of SAS. The present study illustrates how Rasch analysis can be used to provide psychometric information of SAS rating scales. The analyses were conducted on a 20-item SAS scale used in an…

The Development, Validity, and Reliability of the Barriers to Seeking Psychological Help Scale for College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Topkaya, Nursel; Sahin, Ertugrul; Meydan, Betül

2017-01-01

The aim of this study was to develop a scale to determine the barriers affecting psychological help-seeking in college students. In line with this purpose, the validity and reliability of the scale were examined in five different studies. Exploratory factor analysis results suggested that the scale consists of five dimensions, labeled as…

The Development, Validity and Reliability of TPACK-Deep: A Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yurdakul, Isil Kabakci; Odabasi, Hatice Ferhan; Kilicer, Kerem; Coklar, Ahmet Naci; Birinci, Gurkay; Kurt, Adile Askim

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study is to develop a TPACK (technological pedagogical content knowledge) scale based on the centered component of TPACK framework in order to measure preservice teachers' TPACK. A systematic and step-by-step approach was followed for the development of the scale. The validity and reliability studies of the scale were carried…

Gender Effect According to Item Directionality on the Perceived Stress Scale for Adults with Multiple Sclerosis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gitchel, W. Dent; Roessler, Richard T.; Turner, Ronna C.

2011-01-01

Assessment is critical to rehabilitation practice and research, and self-reports are a commonly used form of assessment. This study examines a gender effect according to item wording on the "Perceived Stress Scale" for adults with multiple sclerosis. Past studies have demonstrated two-factor solutions on this scale and other scales measuring…

Examining related influential factors for dental calculus scaling utilization among people with disabilities in Taiwan, a nationwide population-based study.

PubMed

Lai, Hsien-Tang; Kung, Pei-Tseng; Su, Hsun-Pi; Tsai, Wen-Chen

2014-09-01

Limited studies with large samples have been conducted on the utilization of dental calculus scaling among people with physical or mental disabilities. This study aimed to investigate the utilization of dental calculus scaling among the national disabled population. This study analyzed the utilization of dental calculus scaling among the disabled people, using the nationwide data between 2006 and 2008. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were performed to analyze related influential factors for dental calculus scaling utilization. The dental calculus scaling utilization rate among people with physical or mental disabilities was 16.39%, and the annual utilization frequency was 0.2 times. Utilization rate was higher among the female and non-aboriginal samples. Utilization rate decreased with increased age and disability severity while utilization rate increased with income, education level, urbanization of residential area and number of chronic illnesses. Related influential factors for dental calculus scaling utilization rate were gender, age, ethnicity (aboriginal or non-aboriginal), education level, urbanization of residence area, income, catastrophic illnesses, chronic illnesses, disability types, and disability severity significantly influenced the dental calculus scaling utilization rate. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Visualization and Analysis of Light Pollution: a Case Study in Hong Kong

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, B.; Wong, H.

2012-07-01

The effects of light pollution problems in metropolitan areas are investigated in this study. Areas of Hong Kong are used as the source of three typical study cases. One case represents the regional scale, a second represents the district scale, and a third represents the street scale. Two light pollution parameters, Night Sky Brightness (NSB) and Street Light Level (SLL), are the focus of the analyses. Light pollution visualization approaches in relation to the different scales include various light pollution maps. They provide straightforward presentations of the light pollution situations in the study areas. The relationship between light pollution and several social-economic factors such as land use, household income, and types of outdoor lighting in the scale areas given, are examined. Results show that: (1) Land use may be one factor affecting light pollution in the regional scale; (2) A relatively strong correlation exists between light pollution and household income in the district scale; (3) The heaviest light pollution in the street scale is created by spotlights and also the different types of lighting from shops. The impact of the latter is in relation to the shop profile and size.

Validity and reliability analysis of the planned behavior theory scale related to the testicular self-examination in a Turkish context.

PubMed

Iyigun, Emine; Tastan, Sevinc; Ayhan, Hatice; Kose, Gulsah; Acikel, Cengizhan

2016-06-01

This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability levels of the Planned Behavior Theory Scale as related to a testicular self-examination. The study was carried out in a health-profession higher-education school in Ankara, Turkey, from April to June 2012. The study participants comprised 215 male students. Study data were collected by using a questionnaire, a planned behavior theory scale related to testicular self-examination, and Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS). The sub-dimensions of the planned behavior theory scale, namely those of intention, attitude, subjective norms and self-efficacy, were found to have Cronbach's alpha values of between 0.81 and 0.89. Exploratory factor analysis showed that items of the scale had five factors that accounted for 75% of the variance. Of these, the sub-dimension of intention was found to have the highest level of contribution. A significant correlation was found between the sub-dimensions of the testicular self-examination planned behavior theory scale and those of CHBMS (p < 0.05). The findings suggest that the Turkish version of the testicular self-examination Planned Behavior Theory Scale is a valid and reliable measurement for Turkish society.

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the School Bullying Scales: A Rasch Measurement Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheng, Ying-Yao; Chen, Li-Ming; Liu, Kun-Shia; Chen, Yi-Ling

2011-01-01

The study aims to develop three school bullying scales--the Bully Scale, the Victim Scale, and the Witness Scale--to assess secondary school students' bullying behaviors, including physical bullying, verbal bullying, relational bullying, and cyber bullying. The items of the three scales were developed from viewpoints of bullies, victims, and…

The development and psychometric testing of a theory-based instrument to evaluate nurses' perception of clinical reasoning competence.

PubMed

Liou, Shwu-Ru; Liu, Hsiu-Chen; Tsai, Hsiu-Min; Tsai, Ying-Huang; Lin, Yu-Ching; Chang, Chia-Hao; Cheng, Ching-Yu

2016-03-01

The purpose of the study was to develop and psychometrically test the Nurses Clinical Reasoning Scale. Clinical reasoning is an essential skill for providing safe and quality patient care. Identifying pre-graduates' and nurses' needs and designing training courses to improve their clinical reasoning competence becomes a critical task. However, there is no instrument focusing on clinical reasoning in the nursing profession. Cross-sectional design was used. This study included the development of the scale, a pilot study that preliminary tested the readability and reliability of the developed scale and a main study that implemented and tested the psychometric properties of the developed scale. The Nurses Clinical Reasoning Scale was developed based on the Clinical Reasoning Model. The scale includes 15 items using a Likert five-point scale. Data were collected from 2013-2014. Two hundred and fifty-one participants comprising clinical nurses and nursing pre-graduates completed and returned the questionnaires in the main study. The instrument was tested for internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Its validity was tested with content, construct and known-groups validity. One factor emerged from the factor analysis. The known-groups validity was confirmed. The Cronbach's alpha for the entire instrument was 0·9. The reliability and validity of the Nurses Clinical Reasoning Scale were supported. The scale is a useful tool and can be easily administered for the self-assessment of clinical reasoning competence of clinical nurses and future baccalaureate nursing graduates. Study limitations and further recommendations are discussed. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effect of Variable Spatial Scales on USLE-GIS Computations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patil, R. J.; Sharma, S. K.

2017-12-01

Use of appropriate spatial scale is very important in Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) based spatially distributed soil erosion modelling. This study aimed at assessment of annual rates of soil erosion at different spatial scales/grid sizes and analysing how changes in spatial scales affect USLE-GIS computations using simulation and statistical variabilities. Efforts have been made in this study to recommend an optimum spatial scale for further USLE-GIS computations for management and planning in the study area. The present research study was conducted in Shakkar River watershed, situated in Narsinghpur and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh, India. Remote Sensing and GIS techniques were integrated with Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) to predict spatial distribution of soil erosion in the study area at four different spatial scales viz; 30 m, 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m. Rainfall data, soil map, digital elevation model (DEM) and an executable C++ program, and satellite image of the area were used for preparation of the thematic maps for various USLE factors. Annual rates of soil erosion were estimated for 15 years (1992 to 2006) at four different grid sizes. The statistical analysis of four estimated datasets showed that sediment loss dataset at 30 m spatial scale has a minimum standard deviation (2.16), variance (4.68), percent deviation from observed values (2.68 - 18.91 %), and highest coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.874) among all the four datasets. Thus, it is recommended to adopt this spatial scale for USLE-GIS computations in the study area due to its minimum statistical variability and better agreement with the observed sediment loss data. This study also indicates large scope for use of finer spatial scales in spatially distributed soil erosion modelling.

Developing the Irrational Beliefs in Mathematics Scale (IBIMS): A Validity and Reliability Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaya, Deniz

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study is developing a valid and reliable scale intended to determine the irrational beliefs of students in mathematics. The study was conducted with a study group consisting of 700 students in 2015-2016 academic year. Expert opinions were received for the content and face validity of the scale, and the Exploratory Factor…

Higher Education Teachers' Descriptions of Their Own Learning: A Large-Scale Study of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Töytäri, Aija; Piirainen, Arja; Tynjälä, Päivi; Vanhanen-Nuutinen, Liisa; Mäki, Kimmo; Ilves, Vesa

2016-01-01

In this large-scale study, higher education teachers' descriptions of their own learning were examined with qualitative analysis involving application of principles of phenomenographic research. This study is unique: it is unusual to use large-scale data in qualitative studies. The data were collected through an e-mail survey sent to 5960 teachers…

Nonlinear Analysis and Scaling Laws for Noncircular Composite Structures Subjected to Combined Loads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hilburger, Mark W.; Rose, Cheryl A.; Starnes, James H., Jr.

2001-01-01

Results from an analytical study of the response of a built-up, multi-cell noncircular composite structure subjected to combined internal pressure and mechanical loads are presented. Nondimensional parameters and scaling laws based on a first-order shear-deformation plate theory are derived for this noncircular composite structure. The scaling laws are used to design sub-scale structural models for predicting the structural response of a full-scale structure representative of a portion of a blended-wing-body transport aircraft. Because of the complexity of the full-scale structure, some of the similitude conditions are relaxed for the sub-scale structural models. Results from a systematic parametric study are used to determine the effects of relaxing selected similitude conditions on the sensitivity of the effectiveness of using the sub-scale structural model response characteristics for predicting the full-scale structure response characteristics.

Measuring Chinese psychological well-being with Western developed instruments.

PubMed

Zhang, Jie; Norvilitis, Jill M

2002-12-01

We explored the possibility of applying 4 psychological scales developed and commonly used in the West to Chinese culture. The participants, 273 Chinese and 302 Americans, completed measures of self-esteem (Self-Esteem Scale; Rosenberg, 1965), depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale; Radloff, 1977), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, & Farley, 1988), and suicidal ideation (Scale for Suicide Ideation; Beck, Kovacs, & Weissman, 1979). All scales were found to be reliable and valid cross culturally. Comparative analyses suggest that gender differences on all 4 scales are smaller among the Chinese than the Americans. Americans were more likely to score higher on the socially desirable scales (self-esteem and social support) and lower on the socially undesirable scale (suicidal ideation). However, no cultural differences were found in this study on the measure of depression. Results suggest that, with a few considerations or potential modifications, the current measures could be used in Chinese culture.

Global-Mindedness and Intercultural Competence: A Quantitative Study of Pre-Service Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cui, Qi

2013-01-01

This study assessed pre-service teachers' levels of global-mindedness and intercultural competence using the Global-Mindedness Scale (GMS) and the Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS) and investigated the correlation between the two. The study examined whether the individual scale factors such as gender, perceived competence in non-native language or…

Multisite Studies and Scaling up in Educational Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harwell, Michael

2012-01-01

A scale-up study in education typically expands the sample of students, schools, districts, and/or practices or materials used in smaller studies in ways that build in heterogeneity. Yet surprisingly little is known about the factors that promote successful scaling up efforts in education, in large part due to the absence of empirically supported…

The detection of content-based invalid responding: a meta-analysis of the MMPI-2-Restructured Form's (MMPI-2-RF) over-reporting validity scales.

PubMed

Ingram, Paul B; Ternes, Michael S

2016-05-01

This study synthesized research evaluation of the effectiveness of the over-reporting validity scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) for detecting intentionally feigned over-endorsements of symptoms using a moderated meta-analysis. After identifying experimental and quasi-experimental studies for inclusion (k = 25) in which the validity scales of the MMPI-2-RF were compared between groups of respondents, moderated meta-analyses were conducted for each of its five over-reporting scales. These meta-analyses explored the general effectiveness of each scale across studies, as well as the impact that several moderators had on scale performance, including comparison group, study type (i.e. real versus simulation), age, education, sex, and diagnosis. The over-reporting scales of the MMPI-2-RF act as effective general measures for the detection of malingering and over endorsement of symptoms with individual scales ranging in effectiveness from an effect size of 1.08 (Symptom Validity; FBS-r) to 1.43 (Infrequent Pathology; Fp-r), each with different patterns of moderating influence. The MMPI-2-RF validity scales effectively discriminate between groups of respondents presenting in either an honest manner or with patterned exaggeration and over-endorsement of symptoms. The magnitude of difference observed between honest and malingering groups was substantially narrower than might be expected using traditional cut-scores for the validity scales, making interpretation within the evaluation context particularly important. While all over-reporting scales are effective, the FBS-r and RBS scales are those least influenced by common and context specific moderating influences, such as respondent or comparison grouping.

Effect of spatial and temporal scales on habitat suitability modeling: A case study of Ommastrephes bartramii in the northwest pacific ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Caixia; Chen, Xinjun; Gao, Feng; Tian, Siquan

2014-12-01

Temporal and spatial scales play important roles in fishery ecology, and an inappropriate spatio-temporal scale may result in large errors in modeling fish distribution. The objective of this study is to evaluate the roles of spatio-temporal scales in habitat suitability modeling, with the western stock of winter-spring cohort of neon flying squid ( Ommastrephes bartramii) in the northwest Pacific Ocean as an example. In this study, the fishery-dependent data from the Chinese Mainland Squid Jigging Technical Group and sea surface temperature (SST) from remote sensing during August to October of 2003-2008 were used. We evaluated the differences in a habitat suitability index model resulting from aggregating data with 36 different spatial scales with a combination of three latitude scales (0.5°, 1° and 2°), four longitude scales (0.5°, 1°, 2° and 4°), and three temporal scales (week, fortnight, and month). The coefficients of variation (CV) of the weekly, biweekly and monthly suitability index (SI) were compared to determine which temporal and spatial scales of SI model are more precise. This study shows that the optimal temporal and spatial scales with the lowest CV are month, and 0.5° latitude and 0.5° longitude for O. bartramii in the northwest Pacific Ocean. This suitability index model developed with an optimal scale can be cost-effective in improving forecasting fishing ground and requires no excessive sampling efforts. We suggest that the uncertainty associated with spatial and temporal scales used in data aggregations needs to be considered in habitat suitability modeling.

Spatial connections in regional climate model rainfall outputs at different temporal scales: Application of network theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naufan, Ihsan; Sivakumar, Bellie; Woldemeskel, Fitsum M.; Raghavan, Srivatsan V.; Vu, Minh Tue; Liong, Shie-Yui

2018-01-01

Understanding the spatial and temporal variability of rainfall has always been a great challenge, and the impacts of climate change further complicate this issue. The present study employs the concepts of complex networks to study the spatial connections in rainfall, with emphasis on climate change and rainfall scaling. Rainfall outputs (during 1961-1990) from a regional climate model (i.e. Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model that downscaled the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts, ECMWF ERA-40 reanalyses) over Southeast Asia are studied, and data corresponding to eight different temporal scales (6-hr, 12-hr, daily, 2-day, 4-day, weekly, biweekly, and monthly) are analyzed. Two network-based methods are applied to examine the connections in rainfall: clustering coefficient (a measure of the network's local density) and degree distribution (a measure of the network's spread). The influence of rainfall correlation threshold (T) on spatial connections is also investigated by considering seven different threshold levels (ranging from 0.5 to 0.8). The results indicate that: (1) rainfall networks corresponding to much coarser temporal scales exhibit properties similar to that of small-world networks, regardless of the threshold; (2) rainfall networks corresponding to much finer temporal scales may be classified as either small-world networks or scale-free networks, depending upon the threshold; and (3) rainfall spatial connections exhibit a transition phase at intermediate temporal scales, especially at high thresholds. These results suggest that the most appropriate model for studying spatial connections may often be different at different temporal scales, and that a combination of small-world and scale-free network models might be more appropriate for rainfall upscaling/downscaling across all scales, in the strict sense of scale-invariance. The results also suggest that spatial connections in the studied rainfall networks in Southeast Asia are weak, especially when more stringent conditions are imposed (i.e. when T is very high), except at the monthly scale.

Modeling nutrient in-stream processes at the watershed scale using Nutrient Spiralling metrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marcé, R.; Armengol, J.

2009-01-01

One of the fundamental problems of using large-scale biogeochemical models is the uncertainty involved in aggregating the components of fine-scale deterministic models in watershed applications, and in extrapolating the results of field-scale measurements to larger spatial scales. Although spatial or temporal lumping may reduce the problem, information obtained during fine-scale research may not apply to lumped categories. Thus, the use of knowledge gained through fine-scale studies to predict coarse-scale phenomena is not straightforward. In this study, we used the nutrient uptake metrics defined in the Nutrient Spiralling concept to formulate the equations governing total phosphorus in-stream fate in a watershed-scale biogeochemical model. The rationale of this approach relies on the fact that the working unit for the nutrient in-stream processes of most watershed-scale models is the reach, the same unit used in field research based on the Nutrient Spiralling concept. Automatic calibration of the model using data from the study watershed confirmed that the Nutrient Spiralling formulation is a convenient simplification of the biogeochemical transformations involved in total phosphorus in-stream fate. Following calibration, the model was used as a heuristic tool in two ways. First, we compared the Nutrient Spiralling metrics obtained during calibration with results obtained during field-based research in the study watershed. The simulated and measured metrics were similar, suggesting that information collected at the reach scale during research based on the Nutrient Spiralling concept can be directly incorporated into models, without the problems associated with upscaling results from fine-scale studies. Second, we used results from our model to examine some patterns observed in several reports on Nutrient Spiralling metrics measured in impaired streams. Although these two exercises involve circular reasoning and, consequently, cannot validate any hypothesis, this is a powerful example of how models can work as heuristic tools to compare hypotheses and stimulate research in ecology.

Psychometric properties of a scale to measure alexithymia.

PubMed

Blanchard, E B; Arena, J G; Pallmeyer, T P

1981-01-01

Four studies were conducted on a sample of 230 undergraduates to determine the psychometric properties of a measure of alexithymia, the Schalling-Sifneos Scale. In the first study it was found that scores on the scale are approximately normally distributed for each sex with 8.2% of males and 1.8% of females in the alexithymia range. In the second study a factor analysis of the scale revealed three distinct factors: (1) 'difficulty in expression of feelings'; (2) 'the importance of feelings especially about people'; (3) 'day-dreaming or introspection'. In the second factor analytic study, scores from several standard psychological tests on the same subjects were introduced with the scale items. Two factors in this analysis were comprised almost entirely of the other test scores: a 'general psychological distress factor' and a 'concerns about physical symptoms factor'. The other two factors were similar to factors 1 and 2 above in terms of items. The Rathus Assertiveness Scale loaded positively on the equivalent of factor 1. In the lst study, it was shown that Schalling-Sifneos Scale score is relatively orthogonal to other psychological tests with the exception of a Psychosomatic Symptom Checklist and thus is measuring something other than depression, anxiety, etc.

Comparison of fall prediction by the Hessisch Oldendorf Fall Risk Scale and the Fall Risk Scale by Huhn in neurological rehabilitation: an observational study.

PubMed

Hermann, Olena; Schmidt, Simone B; Boltzmann, Melanie; Rollnik, Jens D

2018-05-01

To calculate scale performance of the newly developed Hessisch Oldendorf Fall Risk Scale (HOSS) for classifying fallers and non-fallers in comparison with the Risk of Falling Scale by Huhn (FSH), a frequently used assessment tool. A prospective observational trail was conducted. The study was performed in a large specialized neurological rehabilitation facility. The study population ( n = 690) included neurological and neurosurgery patients during neurological rehabilitation with varying levels of disability. Around the half of the study patients were independent and dependent in the activities of daily living (ADL), respectively. Fall risk of each patient was assessed by HOSS and FSH within the first seven days after admission. Event of fall during rehabilitation was compared with HOSS and FSH scores as well as the according fall risk. Scale performance including sensitivity and specificity was calculated for both scales. A total of 107 (15.5%) patients experienced at least one fall. In general, fallers were characterized by an older age, a prolonged length of stay, and a lower Barthel Index (higher dependence in the ADL) on admission than non-fallers. The verification of fall prediction for both scales showed a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 64% for the HOSS scale, and a sensitivity of 98% with a specificity of 12% for the FSH scale, respectively. The HOSS shows an adequate sensitivity, a higher specificity and therefore a better scale performance than the FSH. Thus, the HOSS might be superior to existing assessments.

Length scale effects of friction in particle compaction using atomistic simulations and a friction scaling model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stone, T. W.; Horstemeyer, M. F.

2012-09-01

The objective of this study is to illustrate and quantify the length scale effects related to interparticle friction under compaction. Previous studies have shown as the length scale of a specimen decreases, the strength of a single crystal metal or ceramic increases. The question underlying this research effort continues the thought—If there is a length scale parameter related to the strength of a material, is there a length scale parameter related to friction? To explore the length scale effects of friction, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using an embedded atom method potential were performed to analyze the compression of two spherical FCC nickel nanoparticles at different contact angles. In the MD model study, we applied a macroscopic plastic contact formulation to determine the normal plastic contact force at the particle interfaces and used the average shear stress from the MD simulations to determine the tangential contact forces. Combining this information with the Coulomb friction law, we quantified the MD interparticle coefficient of friction and showed good agreement with experimental studies and a Discrete Element Method prediction as a function of contact angle. Lastly, we compared our MD simulation friction values to the tribological predictions of Bhushan and Nosonovsky (BN), who developed a friction scaling model based on strain gradient plasticity and dislocation-assisted sliding that included a length scale parameter. The comparison revealed that the BN elastic friction scaling model did a much better job than the BN plastic scaling model of predicting the coefficient of friction values obtained from the MD simulations.

Validation of two scales for measuring participation and perceived stigma in Chinese community-based rehabilitation programs.

PubMed

Chung, Eva Yin-Han; Lam, Gigi

2018-05-29

The World Health Organization has asserted the importance of enhancing participation of people with disabilities within the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework. Participation is regarded as a vital outcome in community-based rehabilitation. The actualization of the right to participate is limited by social stigma and discrimination. To date, there is no validated instrument for use in Chinese communities to measure participation restriction or self-perceived stigma. This study aimed to translate and validate the Participation Scale and the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC) Stigma Scale for use in Chinese communities with people with physical disabilities. The Chinese versions of the Participation Scale and the EMIC stigma scale were administered to 264 adults with physical disabilities. The two scales were examined separately. The reliability analysis was studied in conjunction with the construct validity. Reliability analysis was conducted to assess the internal consistency and item-total correlation. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to investigate the latent patterns of relationships among variables. A Rasch model analysis was conducted to test the dimensionality, internal validity, item hierarchy, and scoring category structure of the two scales. Both the Participation Scale and the EMIC stigma scale were confirmed to have good internal consistency and high item-total correlation. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the factor structure of the two scales, which demonstrated the fitting of a pattern of variables within the studied construct. The Participation Scale was found to be multidimensional, whereas the EMIC stigma scale was confirmed to be unidimensional. The item hierarchies of the Participation Scale and the EMIC stigma scale were discussed and were regarded as compatible with the cultural characteristics of Chinese communities. The Chinese versions of the Participation Scale and the EMIC stigma scale were thoroughly tested in this study to demonstrate their robustness and feasibility in measuring the participation restriction and perceived stigma of people with physical disabilities in Chinese communities. This is crucial as it provides valid measurements to enable comprehensive understanding and assessment of the participation and stigma among people with physical disabilities in Chinese communities.

Developing the Cyber Victimization Experiences and Cyberbullying Behaviors Scales.

PubMed

Betts, Lucy R; Spenser, Karin A

2017-01-01

The reported prevalence rates of cyber victimization experiences and cyberbullying behaviors vary. Part of this variation is likely due to the diverse definitions and operationalizations of the constructs adopted in previous research and the lack of psychometrically robust measures. Through 2 studies, the authors developed (Study 1) and evaluated (Study 2) the cyber victimization experiences and cyberbullying behaviors scales. Participants in Study 1 were 393 (122 boys, 171 girls) and in Study 2 were 345 (153 boys, 192 girls) 11-15-year-olds who completed measures of cyber victimization experiences, cyberbullying behaviors, face-to-face victimization experiences, face-to-face bullying behaviors, and social desirability. The 3-factor cyber victimization experiences scale comprised threat, shared images, and personal attack. The 3-factor cyberbullying behaviors scale comprised sharing images, gossip, and personal attack. Both scales demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and convergent validity.

Assessing Communication Skills of Medical Students in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) - A Systematic Review of Rating Scales

PubMed Central

Cömert, Musa; Zill, Jördis Maria; Christalle, Eva; Dirmaier, Jörg; Härter, Martin; Scholl, Isabelle

2016-01-01

Background Teaching and assessment of communication skills have become essential in medical education. The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) has been found as an appropriate means to assess communication skills within medical education. Studies have demonstrated the importance of a valid assessment of medical students’ communication skills. Yet, the validity of the performance scores depends fundamentally on the quality of the rating scales used in an OSCE. Thus, this systematic review aimed at providing an overview of existing rating scales, describing their underlying definition of communication skills, determining the methodological quality of psychometric studies and the quality of psychometric properties of the identified rating scales. Methods We conducted a systematic review to identify psychometrically tested rating scales, which have been applied in OSCE settings to assess communication skills of medical students. Our search strategy comprised three databases (EMBASE, PsycINFO, and PubMed), reference tracking and consultation of experts. We included studies that reported psychometric properties of communication skills assessment rating scales used in OSCEs by examiners only. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the COnsensus based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. The quality of psychometric properties was evaluated using the quality criteria of Terwee and colleagues. Results Data of twelve studies reporting on eight rating scales on communication skills assessment in OSCEs were included. Five of eight rating scales were explicitly developed based on a specific definition of communication skills. The methodological quality of studies was mainly poor. The psychometric quality of the eight rating scales was mainly intermediate. Discussion Our results reveal that future psychometric evaluation studies focusing on improving the methodological quality are needed in order to yield psychometrically sound results of the OSCEs assessing communication skills. This is especially important given that most OSCE rating scales are used for summative assessment, and thus have an impact on medical students’ academic success. PMID:27031506

Assessing Communication Skills of Medical Students in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE)--A Systematic Review of Rating Scales.

PubMed

Cömert, Musa; Zill, Jördis Maria; Christalle, Eva; Dirmaier, Jörg; Härter, Martin; Scholl, Isabelle

2016-01-01

Teaching and assessment of communication skills have become essential in medical education. The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) has been found as an appropriate means to assess communication skills within medical education. Studies have demonstrated the importance of a valid assessment of medical students' communication skills. Yet, the validity of the performance scores depends fundamentally on the quality of the rating scales used in an OSCE. Thus, this systematic review aimed at providing an overview of existing rating scales, describing their underlying definition of communication skills, determining the methodological quality of psychometric studies and the quality of psychometric properties of the identified rating scales. We conducted a systematic review to identify psychometrically tested rating scales, which have been applied in OSCE settings to assess communication skills of medical students. Our search strategy comprised three databases (EMBASE, PsycINFO, and PubMed), reference tracking and consultation of experts. We included studies that reported psychometric properties of communication skills assessment rating scales used in OSCEs by examiners only. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the COnsensus based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. The quality of psychometric properties was evaluated using the quality criteria of Terwee and colleagues. Data of twelve studies reporting on eight rating scales on communication skills assessment in OSCEs were included. Five of eight rating scales were explicitly developed based on a specific definition of communication skills. The methodological quality of studies was mainly poor. The psychometric quality of the eight rating scales was mainly intermediate. Our results reveal that future psychometric evaluation studies focusing on improving the methodological quality are needed in order to yield psychometrically sound results of the OSCEs assessing communication skills. This is especially important given that most OSCE rating scales are used for summative assessment, and thus have an impact on medical students' academic success.

Urdu translation and validation of shorter version of Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) on Pakistani bank employees.

PubMed

Akhter, Noreen

2017-10-01

To translate, adapt and validate shorter version of positive affect and negative affect scale on Pakistani corporate employees. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi from October 2014 to December 2015. The study was completed into two independent parts. In part one, the scale was translated by forward translation. Then it was pilot-tested and administered on customer services employees from commercial banks and the telecommunication sector. Data of the pilot study was analysed by using exploratory factor analysis to extract the initial factor of positive affect and negative affect scale. Part two comprised the main study. Commercial bank employees were included in the sample using convenient sampling technique. Data of the main study was analysed using confirmatory factor analysis in order to establish construct validity of positive affect and negative affect scale. There were145 participants in the first part of the study and 495 in the second. Results of confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure of positive affect and negative affect scale suggesting that the scale has two distinct domains, i.e. positive affect and negative affect. The shorter version of positive affect and negative affect scale was found to be a valid and reliable measure.

An Exploratory Study on Socio Economic Status Scales in a Rural and Urban Setting

PubMed Central

Ramesh Masthi, N.R.; Gangaboraiah; Kulkarni, Praveen

2013-01-01

Background: There are many different scales to measure socioeconomic status (SES). The present study was conducted with the objective to compare the most commonly used SES in rural and urban setting. Materials and Methods: This exploratory study was conducted in the rural and urban field practice area of a medical college situated in Bangalore for a period of 3 months between January and April 2010. Statistical Analysis Used: To measure the agreement between the scales spearman's rank correlations was applied. Results: A total of 120 families were included in the study. Among the 60 families surveyed at rural setting, it was observed that, majority 40 (67%) belonged to high class when the Standard of Living Index (SLI) scale was applied. Among the 60 families surveyed at urban setting, majority 30 (50%) belonged to high class when the SLI scale was applied. Conclusions: The SLI scale gives a more accurate and realistic picture of the SES of the family and hence should be the scale recommended for classification of SES in urban and rural setting. PMID:24479048

Occupational Stress among Teachers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Albertson, Larry M.; Kagan, Dona M.

1987-01-01

Two studies were conducted to investigate the degree to which occupational stress among teachers could be attributed to personal characteristics of the individuals themselves. The first study developed dispositional stress scales. The second examined correlations between these scales, occupational stress scales, and teachers' attitudes toward…

Adaptation of Self-Control and Self-Management Scale (SCMS) into Turkish Culture: A Study on Reliability and Validity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ercoskun, Muhammet Hanifi

2016-01-01

The aim of this study is to adapt self-control and self-management scale (SCMS) developed by Mezo into Turkish and to test it considering gender and academic achievement variables. The scale was translated from English to Turkish for linguistic validity and then this scale was translated into English using back translation. The original and…

Environmental Affective Dispositions Scale (EADS): The Study of Validity and Reliability and Adaptation to Turkish

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fettahlioglu, Pinar; Timur, Serkan; Timur, Betül

2016-01-01

The aim of this study is to conduct a research under circumstances of Turkey about the validity and reliability of the Affective Tendencies towards Environmental Scale prepared by Yavetz, Goldman and Pe'er (2009). The translation of this scale to Turkish was done by the researchers and language specialists. And then, the scale was evaluated by the…

Preparing Attitude Scale to Define Students' Attitudes about Environment, Recycling, Plastic and Plastic Waste

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Avan, Cagri; Aydinli, Bahattin; Bakar, Fatma; Alboga, Yunus

2011-01-01

The aim of this study is to introduce an attitude scale in order to define students? attitudes about environment, recycling, plastics, plastic waste. In this study, 80 attitude sentences according to 5-point Likert-type scale were prepared and applied to 492 students of 6th grade in the Kastamonu city center of Turkey. The scale consists of…

Micro-CT Pore Scale Study Of Flow In Porous Media: Effect Of Voxel Resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shah, S.; Gray, F.; Crawshaw, J.; Boek, E.

2014-12-01

In the last few years, pore scale studies have become the key to understanding the complex fluid flow processes in the fields of groundwater remediation, hydrocarbon recovery and environmental issues related to carbon storage and capture. A pore scale study is often comprised of two key procedures: 3D pore scale imaging and numerical modelling techniques. The essence of a pore scale study is to test the physics implemented in a model of complicated fluid flow processes at one scale (microscopic) and then apply the model to solve the problems associated with water resources and oil recovery at other scales (macroscopic and field). However, the process of up-scaling from the pore scale to the macroscopic scale has encountered many challenges due to both pore scale imaging and modelling techniques. Due to the technical limitations in the imaging method, there is always a compromise between the spatial (voxel) resolution and the physical volume of the sample (field of view, FOV) to be scanned by the imaging methods, specifically X-ray micro-CT (XMT) in our case In this study, a careful analysis was done to understand the effect of voxel size, using XMT to image the 3D pore space of a variety of porous media from sandstones to carbonates scanned at different voxel resolution (4.5 μm, 6.2 μm, 8.3 μm and 10.2 μm) but keeping the scanned FOV constant for all the samples. We systematically segment the micro-CT images into three phases, the macro-pore phase, an intermediate phase (unresolved micro-pores + grains) and the grain phase and then study the effect of voxel size on the structure of the macro-pore and the intermediate phases and the fluid flow properties using lattice-Boltzmann (LB) and pore network (PN) modelling methods. We have also applied a numerical coarsening algorithm (up-scale method) to reduce the computational power and time required to accurately predict the flow properties using the LB and PN method.

Pilot-scale cooling tower to evaluate corrosion, scaling, and biofouling control strategies for cooling system makeup water.

PubMed

Chien, S H; Hsieh, M K; Li, H; Monnell, J; Dzombak, D; Vidic, R

2012-02-01

Pilot-scale cooling towers can be used to evaluate corrosion, scaling, and biofouling control strategies when using particular cooling system makeup water and particular operating conditions. To study the potential for using a number of different impaired waters as makeup water, a pilot-scale system capable of generating 27,000 kJ∕h heat load and maintaining recirculating water flow with a Reynolds number of 1.92 × 10(4) was designed to study these critical processes under conditions that are similar to full-scale systems. The pilot-scale cooling tower was equipped with an automatic makeup water control system, automatic blowdown control system, semi-automatic biocide feeding system, and corrosion, scaling, and biofouling monitoring systems. Observed operational data revealed that the major operating parameters, including temperature change (6.6 °C), cycles of concentration (N = 4.6), water flow velocity (0.66 m∕s), and air mass velocity (3660 kg∕h m(2)), were controlled quite well for an extended period of time (up to 2 months). Overall, the performance of the pilot-scale cooling towers using treated municipal wastewater was shown to be suitable to study critical processes (corrosion, scaling, biofouling) and evaluate cooling water management strategies for makeup waters of complex quality.

The spatial and temporal domains of modern ecology.

PubMed

Estes, Lyndon; Elsen, Paul R; Treuer, Timothy; Ahmed, Labeeb; Caylor, Kelly; Chang, Jason; Choi, Jonathan J; Ellis, Erle C

2018-05-01

To understand ecological phenomena, it is necessary to observe their behaviour across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Since this need was first highlighted in the 1980s, technology has opened previously inaccessible scales to observation. To help to determine whether there have been corresponding changes in the scales observed by modern ecologists, we analysed the resolution, extent, interval and duration of observations (excluding experiments) in 348 studies that have been published between 2004 and 2014. We found that observational scales were generally narrow, because ecologists still primarily use conventional field techniques. In the spatial domain, most observations had resolutions ≤1 m 2 and extents ≤10,000 ha. In the temporal domain, most observations were either unreplicated or infrequently repeated (>1 month interval) and ≤1 year in duration. Compared with studies conducted before 2004, observational durations and resolutions appear largely unchanged, but intervals have become finer and extents larger. We also found a large gulf between the scales at which phenomena are actually observed and the scales those observations ostensibly represent, raising concerns about observational comprehensiveness. Furthermore, most studies did not clearly report scale, suggesting that it remains a minor concern. Ecologists can better understand the scales represented by observations by incorporating autocorrelation measures, while journals can promote attentiveness to scale by implementing scale-reporting standards.

Euthanasia attitude; A comparison of two scales

PubMed Central

Aghababaei, Naser; Farahani, Hojjatollah; Hatami, Javad

2011-01-01

The main purposes of the present study were to see how the term “euthanasia” influences people’s support for or opposition to euthanasia; and to see how euthanasia attitude relates to religious orientation and personality factors. In this study two different euthanasia attitude scales were compared. 197 students were selected to fill out either the Euthanasia Attitude Scale (EAS) or Wasserman’s Attitude Towards Euthanasia scale (ATE scale). The former scale includes the term “euthanasia”, the latter does not. All participants filled out 50 items of International Personality Item Pool, 16 items of the the HEXACO openness, and 14 items of Religious Orientation Scale-Revised. Results indicated that even though the two groups were not different in terms of gender, age, education, religiosity and personality, mean score on the ATE scale was significantly higher than that of the EAS. Euthanasia attitude was negatively correlated with religiosity and conscientiousness and it was positively correlated with psychoticism and openness. It can be concluded that analyzing the attitude towards euthanasia with the use of EAS rather than the ATE scale results in lower levels of opposition against euthanasia. This study raises the question of whether euthanasia attitude scales should contain definitions and concepts of euthanasia or they should describe cases of it. PMID:23908751

Fundamental studies of stress distributions and stress relaxation in oxide scales on high temperature alloys. [Final progress report

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

Shores, D.A.; Stout, J.H.; Gerberich, W.W.

1993-06-01

This report summarizes a three-year study of stresses arising in the oxide scale and underlying metal during high temperature oxidation and of scale cracking. In-situ XRD was developed to measure strains during oxidation over 1000{degrees}C on pure metals. Acoustic emission was used to observe scale fracture during isothermal oxidation and cooling, and statistical analysis was used to infer mechanical aspects of cracking. A microscratch technique was used to measure the fracture toughness of scale/metal interface. A theoretical model was evaluated for the development and relaxation of stresses in scale and metal substrate during oxidation.

The Denver II Scales and the Griffiths Scales of Mental Development: a correlational study.

PubMed

Luiz, Dolores M; Foxcroft, Cheryl D; Tukulu, Abigail N

2004-10-01

Screening measures aim to minimise the number of children being diagnosed incorrectly; however, many of these measures have been based on the "normal" white population. This study identified the need for a valid developmental assessment of black preschool children. The general aim of the study was to investigate the use of the Denver II and the Griffiths Scales on a pre-school black Xhosa-speaking sample. Specifically, the aim was to investigate the relationship between the Denver II Scales and the Griffiths Scales, in order to provide the first step in establishing the validity of the Denver II Scales on a South African black population. A correlational design was used and the sample was comprised of 60 Xhosa-speaking children between the ages of 3 and 6 years. The findings revealed that there was a significant relationship between the overall performance of the Denver II and the Griffiths Scales. However, the Personal-Social Scale of the Denver II appeared to have items that were culturally biased. Further, the Denver II further identified a higher percentage of the sample to have abnormal or questionable protocols than the Griffiths Scales did.

Impact of the nursing home scale on residents' social engagement in South Korea.

PubMed

Yoon, Ju Young; Kim, Hongsoo; Jung, Young-Il; Ha, Jung-Hwa

2016-12-01

This study aimed to describe the levels of social engagement and to examine the relationship between the nursing home scale groups and social engagement in nursing homes in South Korea. A total of 314 residents were randomly selected from rosters provided by 10 nursing homes located in three metropolitan areas in South Korea. The outcome variable was social engagement measured by the Revised Index of Social Engagement (RISE), and the key independent variable was the nursing home scale (small, medium, and large). Individual factors (age, gender, activities of daily living and cognitive function, and depressive symptoms) and organizational factors (location, ownership, and staffing levels) were controlled in the model as covariates. Multilevel logistic regression was used in this study. About half of the residents (46%) in this study were not socially engaged in the nursing home (RISE=0) where they resided. Controlling for individual- and organizational-level factors, the nursing home facility size was a significant factor to predict the likelihood of residents' social engagement, with that the residents in large-scale nursing homes being less likely to be socially engaged than those in medium-scale nursing homes (odds ratio = 0.457; p-value = 0.005). This study supports evidence from previous studies that smaller-scale nursing homes are likely to provide more person-centered care compared to larger-scale nursing homes. Subsequent quality studies are needed to examine how the mechanisms for how smaller-scale nursing homes can enhance residents' social engagement in terms of care delivery processes.

[Reliability and validity of the Braden Scale for predicting pressure sore risk].

PubMed

Boes, C

2000-12-01

For more accurate and objective pressure sore risk assessment various risk assessment tools were developed mainly in the USA and Great Britain. The Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk is one such example. By means of a literature analysis of German and English texts referring to the Braden Scale the scientific control criteria reliability and validity will be traced and consequences for application of the scale in Germany will be demonstrated. Analysis of 4 reliability studies shows an exclusive focus on interrater reliability. Further, even though examination of 19 validity studies occurs in many different settings, such examination is limited to the criteria sensitivity and specificity (accuracy). The range of sensitivity and specificity level is 35-100%. The recommended cut off points rank in the field of 10 to 19 points. The studies prove to be not comparable with each other. Furthermore, distortions in these studies can be found which affect accuracy of the scale. The results of the here presented analysis show an insufficient proof for reliability and validity in the American studies. In Germany, the Braden scale has not yet been tested under scientific criteria. Such testing is needed before using the scale in different German settings. During the course of such testing, construction and study procedures of the American studies can be used as a basis as can the problems be identified in the analysis presented below.

Need for cognition and cognitive performance from a cross-cultural perspective: examples of academic success and solving anagrams.

PubMed

Gülgöz, S

2001-01-01

The cross-cultural validity of the Need for Cognition Scale and its relationship with cognitive performance were investigated in two studies. In the first study, the relationships between the scale and university entrance scores, course grades, study skills, and social desirability were examined. Using the short form of the Turkish version of the Need for Cognition Scale (S. Gülöz & C. J. Sadowski, 1995) no correlation with academic performance was found but there was significant correlation with a study skills scale and a social desirability scale created for this study. When regression analysis was used to predict grade point average, the Need for Cognition Scale was a significant predictor. In the second study, participants low or high in need for cognition solved multiple-solution anagrams. The instructions preceding the task set the participants' expectations regarding task difficulty. An interaction between expectation and need for cognition indicated that participants with low need for cognition performed worse when they expected difficult problems. Results of the two studies showed that need for cognition has cross-cultural validity and that its effect on cognitive performance was mediated by other variables.

Desensitizing Agent Reduces Dentin Hypersensitivity During Ultrasonic Scaling: A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Suda, Tomonari; Akiyama, Toshiharu; Takano, Takuya; Gokyu, Misa; Sudo, Takeaki; Khemwong, Thatawee; Izumi, Yuichi

2015-01-01

Background Dentin hypersensitivity can interfere with optimal periodontal care by dentists and patients. The pain associated with dentin hypersensitivity during ultrasonic scaling is intolerable for patient and interferes with the procedure, particularly during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) for patients with gingival recession. Aim This study proposed to evaluate the desensitizing effect of the oxalic acid agent on pain caused by dentin hypersensitivity during ultrasonic scaling. Materials and Methods This study involved 12 patients who were incorporated in SPT program and complained of dentin hypersensitivity during ultrasonic scaling. We examined the availability of the oxalic acid agent to compare the degree of pain during ultrasonic scaling with or without the application of the dentin hypersensitivity agent. Evaluation of effects on dentin hypersensitivity was determined by a questionnaire and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores after ultrasonic scaling. The statistical analysis was performed using the paired Student t-test and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Results The desensitizing agent reduced the mean VAS pain score from 69.33 ± 16.02 at baseline to 26.08 ± 27.99 after application. The questionnaire revealed that >80% patients were satisfied and requested the application of the desensitizing agent for future ultrasonic scaling sessions. Conclusion This study shows that the application of the oxalic acid agent considerably reduces pain associated with dentin hypersensitivity experienced during ultrasonic scaling. This pain control treatment may improve patient participation and treatment efficiency. PMID:26501012

Desensitizing Agent Reduces Dentin Hypersensitivity During Ultrasonic Scaling: A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Suda, Tomonari; Kobayashi, Hiroaki; Akiyama, Toshiharu; Takano, Takuya; Gokyu, Misa; Sudo, Takeaki; Khemwong, Thatawee; Izumi, Yuichi

2015-09-01

Dentin hypersensitivity can interfere with optimal periodontal care by dentists and patients. The pain associated with dentin hypersensitivity during ultrasonic scaling is intolerable for patient and interferes with the procedure, particularly during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) for patients with gingival recession. This study proposed to evaluate the desensitizing effect of the oxalic acid agent on pain caused by dentin hypersensitivity during ultrasonic scaling. This study involved 12 patients who were incorporated in SPT program and complained of dentin hypersensitivity during ultrasonic scaling. We examined the availability of the oxalic acid agent to compare the degree of pain during ultrasonic scaling with or without the application of the dentin hypersensitivity agent. Evaluation of effects on dentin hypersensitivity was determined by a questionnaire and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores after ultrasonic scaling. The statistical analysis was performed using the paired Student t-test and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The desensitizing agent reduced the mean VAS pain score from 69.33 ± 16.02 at baseline to 26.08 ± 27.99 after application. The questionnaire revealed that >80% patients were satisfied and requested the application of the desensitizing agent for future ultrasonic scaling sessions. This study shows that the application of the oxalic acid agent considerably reduces pain associated with dentin hypersensitivity experienced during ultrasonic scaling. This pain control treatment may improve patient participation and treatment efficiency.

Multi-scale habitat selection modeling: A review and outlook

Treesearch

Kevin McGarigal; Ho Yi Wan; Kathy A. Zeller; Brad C. Timm; Samuel A. Cushman

2016-01-01

Scale is the lens that focuses ecological relationships. Organisms select habitat at multiple hierarchical levels and at different spatial and/or temporal scales within each level. Failure to properly address scale dependence can result in incorrect inferences in multi-scale habitat selection modeling studies.

The allometric exponent for scaling clearance varies with age: a study on seven propofol datasets ranging from preterm neonates to adults.

PubMed

Wang, Chenguang; Allegaert, Karel; Peeters, Mariska Y M; Tibboel, Dick; Danhof, Meindert; Knibbe, Catherijne A J

2014-01-01

For scaling clearance between adults and children, allometric scaling with a fixed exponent of 0.75 is often applied. In this analysis, we performed a systematic study on the allometric exponent for scaling propofol clearance between two subpopulations selected from neonates, infants, toddlers, children, adolescents and adults. Seven propofol studies were included in the analysis (neonates, infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, adults1 and adults2). In a systematic manner, two out of the six study populations were selected resulting in 15 combined datasets. In addition, the data of the seven studies were regrouped into five age groups (FDA Guidance 1998), from which four combined datasets were prepared consisting of one paediatric age group and the adult group. In each of these 19 combined datasets, the allometric scaling exponent for clearance was estimated using population pharmacokinetic modelling (nonmem 7.2). The allometric exponent for propofol clearance varied between 1.11 and 2.01 in cases where the neonate dataset was included. When two paediatric datasets were analyzed, the exponent varied between 0.2 and 2.01, while it varied between 0.56 and 0.81 when the adult population and a paediatric dataset except for neonates were selected. Scaling from adults to adolescents, children, infants and neonates resulted in exponents of 0.74, 0.70, 0.60 and 1.11 respectively. For scaling clearance, ¾ allometric scaling may be of value for scaling between adults and adolescents or children, while it can neither be used for neonates nor for two paediatric populations. For scaling to neonates an exponent between 1 and 2 was identified. © 2013 The British Pharmacological Society.

Investigating measurement equivalence of visual analogue scales and Likert-type scales in Internet-based personality questionnaires.

PubMed

Kuhlmann, Tim; Dantlgraber, Michael; Reips, Ulf-Dietrich

2017-12-01

Visual analogue scales (VASs) have shown superior measurement qualities in comparison to traditional Likert-type response scales in previous studies. The present study expands the comparison of response scales to properties of Internet-based personality scales in a within-subjects design. A sample of 879 participants filled out an online questionnaire measuring Conscientiousness, Excitement Seeking, and Narcissism. The questionnaire contained all instruments in both answer scale versions in a counterbalanced design. Results show comparable reliabilities, means, and SDs for the VAS versions of the original scales, in comparison to Likert-type scales. To assess the validity of the measurements, age and gender were used as criteria, because all three constructs have shown non-zero correlations with age and gender in previous research. Both response scales showed a high overlap and the proposed relationships with age and gender. The associations were largely identical, with the exception of an increase in explained variance when predicting age from the VAS version of Excitement Seeking (B10 = 1318.95, ΔR(2) = .025). VASs showed similar properties to Likert-type response scales in most cases.

A variance-decomposition approach to investigating multiscale habitat associations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lawler, J.J.; Edwards, T.C.

2006-01-01

The recognition of the importance of spatial scale in ecology has led many researchers to take multiscale approaches to studying habitat associations. However, few of the studies that investigate habitat associations at multiple spatial scales have considered the potential effects of cross-scale correlations in measured habitat variables. When cross-scale correlations in such studies are strong, conclusions drawn about the relative strength of habitat associations at different spatial scales may be inaccurate. Here we adapt and demonstrate an analytical technique based on variance decomposition for quantifying the influence of cross-scale correlations on multiscale habitat associations. We used the technique to quantify the variation in nest-site locations of Red-naped Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) and Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus) associated with habitat descriptors at three spatial scales. We demonstrate how the method can be used to identify components of variation that are associated only with factors at a single spatial scale as well as shared components of variation that represent cross-scale correlations. Despite the fact that no explanatory variables in our models were highly correlated (r < 0.60), we found that shared components of variation reflecting cross-scale correlations accounted for roughly half of the deviance explained by the models. These results highlight the importance of both conducting habitat analyses at multiple spatial scales and of quantifying the effects of cross-scale correlations in such analyses. Given the limits of conventional analytical techniques, we recommend alternative methods, such as the variance-decomposition technique demonstrated here, for analyzing habitat associations at multiple spatial scales. ?? The Cooper Ornithological Society 2006.

An evaluation of a pre-scaling gel (SofScale) on the ease of supragingival calculus removal.

PubMed

Smith, S R; Foyle, D M; Daniels, J

1994-09-01

SofScale is a pre-scaling gel, containing disodium EDTA and sodium lauryl sulphate, which is claimed to soften calculus and therefore facilitate its removal. 31 subjects were treated in a double blind randomised placebo controlled split mouth study to evaluate this product. Test or placebo gels were applied to the lingual surfaces of the mandibular teeth for 4 min and the time taken to complete the removal of supragingival calculus recorded. The operator recorded on which side the calculus was considered easier to remove and the patient indicated how comfortable the scaling had been. The mean calculus index was 1.99 for the SofScale group and 1.97 for the placebo. The mean time taken to complete scaling was 5.31 min for both groups. Using the Student t-test, there were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.7) between either the calculus index or time taken to complete the scaling between the groups. The operator did not consider SofScale to facilitate calculus removal and patients did not find calculus removal more comfortable when SofScale had been used. There was no increased sensitivity in the SofScale group following scaling. The results of this study do not support the use of SofScale as an adjunct to scaling.

Adaptation of Organizational Justice in Sport Scale into Turkish Language: Validity and Reliability Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sayin, Ayfer; Sahin, Mustafa Yasar

2017-01-01

The present study aimed to provide a Turkish adaptation of the Organizational Justice in Sport Scale and perform reliability and validity studies. Answers provided by 260 participants who work as football, male basketball and female basketball coaches in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) were analysed using the original scale that…

The Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS): The Study of Validity and Reliability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akin, Ahmet; Cetin, Bayram

2007-01-01

This study investigated the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS). The sample of the study consisted of 590 university students, 121 English teachers and 136 emotionally disturbed individuals who sought treatment in various clinics and counseling centers. Factor loadings of the scale ranged…

A Reliability Generalization Study of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beretvas, S, Natasha; Meyers, Jason L.; Leite, Walter L.

2002-01-01

Conducted a reliability generalization study of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (D. Crowne and D. Marlowe, 1960). Analysis of 93 studies show that the predicted score reliability for male adolescents was 0.53, and reliability for men's responses was lower than for women's. Discusses the need for further analysis of the scale. (SLD)

Developing Attitude Scale, Reliability and Validity for Pre-Service Teachers towards Drama Lesson

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Çelik, Özkan; Bozdemir, Hafife; Uyanik, Gökhan

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study is to develop an attitude scale for pre-service teachers towards drama lesson. Survey model was used in study. The sample of study consisted of 258 pre-service teachers. "Attitude scale towards drama lesson for pre-service teachers" was developed and used as data collection tool. Exploratory and confirmatory…

Emergency department triage scales and their components: a systematic review of the scientific evidence.

PubMed

Farrohknia, Nasim; Castrén, Maaret; Ehrenberg, Anna; Lind, Lars; Oredsson, Sven; Jonsson, Håkan; Asplund, Kjell; Göransson, Katarina E

2011-06-30

Emergency department (ED) triage is used to identify patients' level of urgency and treat them based on their triage level. The global advancement of triage scales in the past two decades has generated considerable research on the validity and reliability of these scales. This systematic review aims to investigate the scientific evidence for published ED triage scales. The following questions are addressed: 1. Does assessment of individual vital signs or chief complaints affect mortality during the hospital stay or within 30 days after arrival at the ED?2. What is the level of agreement between clinicians' triage decisions compared to each other or to a gold standard for each scale (reliability)? 3. How valid is each triage scale in predicting hospitalization and hospital mortality? A systematic search of the international literature published from 1966 through March 31, 2009 explored the British Nursing Index, Business Source Premier, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed. Inclusion was limited to controlled studies of adult patients (≥ 15 years) visiting EDs for somatic reasons. Outcome variables were death in ED or hospital and need for hospitalization (validity). Methodological quality and clinical relevance of each study were rated as high, medium, or low. The results from the studies that met the inclusion criteria and quality standards were synthesized applying the internationally developed GRADE system. Each conclusion was then assessed as having strong, moderately strong, limited, or insufficient scientific evidence. If studies were not available, this was also noted.We found ED triage scales to be supported, at best, by limited and often insufficient evidence.The ability of the individual vital signs included in the different scales to predict outcome is seldom, if at all, studied in the ED setting. The scientific evidence to assess interrater agreement (reliability) was limited for one triage scale and insufficient or lacking for all other scales. Two of the scales yielded limited scientific evidence, and one scale yielded insufficient evidence, on which to assess the risk of early death or hospitalization in patients assigned to the two lowest triage levels on a 5-level scale (validity).

Emergency Department Triage Scales and Their Components: A Systematic Review of the Scientific Evidence

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Emergency department (ED) triage is used to identify patients' level of urgency and treat them based on their triage level. The global advancement of triage scales in the past two decades has generated considerable research on the validity and reliability of these scales. This systematic review aims to investigate the scientific evidence for published ED triage scales. The following questions are addressed: 1. Does assessment of individual vital signs or chief complaints affect mortality during the hospital stay or within 30 days after arrival at the ED? 2. What is the level of agreement between clinicians' triage decisions compared to each other or to a gold standard for each scale (reliability)? 3. How valid is each triage scale in predicting hospitalization and hospital mortality? A systematic search of the international literature published from 1966 through March 31, 2009 explored the British Nursing Index, Business Source Premier, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed. Inclusion was limited to controlled studies of adult patients (≥15 years) visiting EDs for somatic reasons. Outcome variables were death in ED or hospital and need for hospitalization (validity). Methodological quality and clinical relevance of each study were rated as high, medium, or low. The results from the studies that met the inclusion criteria and quality standards were synthesized applying the internationally developed GRADE system. Each conclusion was then assessed as having strong, moderately strong, limited, or insufficient scientific evidence. If studies were not available, this was also noted. We found ED triage scales to be supported, at best, by limited and often insufficient evidence. The ability of the individual vital signs included in the different scales to predict outcome is seldom, if at all, studied in the ED setting. The scientific evidence to assess interrater agreement (reliability) was limited for one triage scale and insufficient or lacking for all other scales. Two of the scales yielded limited scientific evidence, and one scale yielded insufficient evidence, on which to assess the risk of early death or hospitalization in patients assigned to the two lowest triage levels on a 5-level scale (validity). PMID:21718476

Well-being measurement and the WHO health policy Health 2010: systematic review of measurement scales.

PubMed

Lindert, Jutta; Bain, Paul A; Kubzansky, Laura D; Stein, Claudia

2015-08-01

Subjective well-being (SWB) contributes to health and mental health. It is a major objective of the new World Health Organization health policy framework, 'Health 2020'. Various approaches to defining and measuring well-being exist. We aimed to identify, map and analyse the contents of self-reported well-being measurement scales for use with individuals more than 15 years of age to help researchers and politicians choose appropriate measurement tools. We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed for studies published between 2007 and 2012, with additional hand-searching, to identify empirical studies that investigated well-being using a measurement scale. For each eligible study, we identified the measurement tool and reviewed its components, number of items, administration time, validity, reliability, responsiveness and sensitivity. The literature review identified 60 unique measurement scales. Measurement scales were either multidimensional (n = 33) or unidimensional (n = 14) and assessed multiple domains. The most frequently encountered domains were affects (39 scales), social relations (17 scales), life satisfaction (13 scales), physical health (13 scales), meaning/achievement (9 scales) and spirituality (6 scales). The scales included between 1 and 100 items; the administration time varied from 1 to 15 min. Well-being is a higher order construct. Measures seldom reported testing for gender or cultural sensitivity. The content and format of scales varied considerably. Effective monitoring and comparison of SWB over time and across geographic regions will require further work to refine definitions of SWB. We recommend concurrent evaluation of at least three self-reported SWB measurement scales, including evaluation for gender or cultural sensitivity. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

A parallel form of the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale.

PubMed

Gudjonsson, G H

1987-09-01

The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to present a parallel form of the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (GSS, Form 1); (2) to study test-retest reliabilities of interrogative suggestibility. Three groups of subjects were administered the two suggestibility scales in a counterbalanced order. Group 1 (28 normal subjects) and Group 2 (32 'forensic' patients) completed both scales within the same testing session, whereas Group 3 (30 'forensic' patients) completed the two scales between one week and eight months apart. All the correlations were highly significant, giving support for high 'temporal consistency' of interrogative suggestibility.

Reliability and Validity of the KIPPPI: An Early Detection Tool for Psychosocial Problems in Toddlers

PubMed Central

Kruizinga, Ingrid; Jansen, Wilma; de Haan, Carolien L.; Raat, Hein

2012-01-01

Background The KIPPPI (Brief Instrument Psychological and Pedagogical Problem Inventory) is a Dutch questionnaire that measures psychosocial and pedagogical problems in 2-year olds and consists of a KIPPPI Total score, Wellbeing scale, Competence scale, and Autonomy scale. This study examined the reliability, validity, screening accuracy and clinical application of the KIPPPI. Methods Parents of 5959 2-year-old children in the Rotterdam area, the Netherlands, were invited to participate in the study. Parents of 3164 children (53.1% of all invited parents) completed the questionnaire. The internal consistency was evaluated and in subsamples the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity with regard to the Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL). Discriminative validity was evaluated by comparing scores of parents who worried about their child’s upbringing and parent’s that did not. Screening accuracy of the KIPPPI was evaluated against the CBCL by calculating the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. The clinical application was evaluated by the relation between KIPPPI scores and the clinical decision made by the child health professionals. Results Psychometric properties of the KIPPPI Total score, Wellbeing scale, Competence scale and Autonomy scale were respectively: Cronbach’s alphas: 0.88, 0.86, 0.83, 0.58. Test-retest correlations: 0.80, 0.76, 0.73, 0.60. Concurrent validity was as hypothesised. The KIPPPI was able to discriminate between parents that worried about their child and parents that did not. Screening accuracy was high (>0.90) for the KIPPPI Total score and for the Wellbeing scale. The KIPPPI scale scores and clinical decision of the child health professional were related (p<0.05), indicating a good clinical application. Conclusion The results in this large-scale study of a diverse general population sample support the reliability, validity and clinical application of the KIPPPI Total score, Wellbeing scale and Competence scale. Also, the screening accuracy of the KIPPPI Total score and Wellbeing scale were supported. The Autonomy scale needs further study. PMID:23185388

Consensus Conference Follow-up: Inter-rater Reliability Assessment of the Best Evidence in Emergency Medicine (BEEM) Rater Scale, a Medical Literature Rating Tool for Emergency Physicians

PubMed Central

Worster, Andrew; Kulasegaram, Kulamakan; Carpenter, Christopher R.; Vallera, Teresa; Upadhye, Suneel; Sherbino, Jonathan; Haynes, R. Brian

2011-01-01

Background Studies published in general and specialty medical journals have the potential to improve emergency medicine (EM) practice, but there can be delayed awareness of this evidence because emergency physicians (EPs) are unlikely to read most of these journals. Also, not all published studies are intended for or ready for clinical practice application. The authors developed “Best Evidence in Emergency Medicine” (BEEM) to ameliorate these problems by searching for, identifying, appraising, and translating potentially practice-changing studies for EPs. An initial step in the BEEM process is the BEEM rater scale, a novel tool for EPs to collectively evaluate the relative clinical relevance of EM-related studies found in more than 120 journals. The BEEM rater process was designed to serve as a clinical relevance filter to identify those studies with the greatest potential to affect EM practice. Therefore, only those studies identified by BEEM raters as having the highest clinical relevance are selected for the subsequent critical appraisal process and, if found methodologically sound, are promoted as the best evidence in EM. Objectives The primary objective was to measure inter-rater reliability (IRR) of the BEEM rater scale. Secondary objectives were to determine the minimum number of EP raters needed for the BEEM rater scale to achieve acceptable reliability and to compare performance of the scale against a previously published evidence rating system, the McMaster Online Rating of Evidence (MORE), in an EP population. Methods The authors electronically distributed the title, conclusion, and a PubMed link for 23 recently published studies related to EM to a volunteer group of 134 EPs. The volunteers answered two demographic questions and rated the articles using one of two randomly assigned seven-point Likert scales, the BEEM rater scale (n = 68) or the MORE scale (n = 66), over two separate administrations. The IRR of each scale was measured using generalizability theory. Results The IRR of the BEEM rater scale ranged between 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.86 to 0.93) to 0.92 (95% CI = 0.89 to 0.94) across administrations. Decision studies showed a minimum of 12 raters is required for acceptable reliability of the BEEM rater scale. The IRR of the MORE scale was 0.82 to 0.84. Conclusions The BEEM rater scale is a highly reliable, single-question tool for a small number of EPs to collectively rate the relative clinical relevance within the specialty of EM of recently published studies from a variety of medical journals. It compares favorably with the MORE system because it achieves a high IRR despite simply requiring raters to read each article’s title and conclusion. PMID:22092904

The Relationship between the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III Scales and Subtests for Gifted Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sabatino, David A.; And Others

1995-01-01

This study determines the comparability of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III in relation to gifted children. Results indicate that both tests produce remarkably similar scale and subtest scores when administered under clinical conditions. (JPS)

[The effects of self-anger on rumination and on mental health].

PubMed

Katsumata, Yuina

2015-10-01

This study investigated the effects of self-anger on rumination and mental health (depression and anxiety). In study 1, a scale to measure self-anger was developed by the review of previous studies and survey interviews. Exploratory factor analysis identified one factor of self-anger. The reliability and validity of the scale were confirmed by internal consistency measures and correlations with other anger-related scales. In study 2, which used the self-anger scale developed in study 1, undergraduate and graduate students completed a set of scales to measure self-anger, rumination, depression, anxiety, and five-factor personality traits. The results of mediation analysis indicated that self-anger effects depression and anxiety directly or through mediating rumination excluding the effect of sex and neuroticism. Finally, the possibility that self-anger management leads to the reduction of rumination and improvement of mental health was discussed.

Assessing Latina/o Undergraduates' Depressive Symptomatology: Comparisons of the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, and the Self-Report Depression Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gloria, Alberta M.; Castellanos, Jeanett; Kanagui-Munoz, Marlen; Rico, Melissa A.

2012-01-01

The use of depression scales as screening tools at university and college centers is increasing and thus, the question of whether scales are culturally valid for different student groups is increasingly more relevant with increased severity of depression for students and changing student demographics. As such, this study examined the reliability…

The Swedish Version of the Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale: Revised (RAADS-R). A Validation Study of a Rating Scale for Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andersen, Lisa M. J.; Naswall, Katharina; Manouilenko, Irina; Nylander, Lena; Edgar, Johan; Ritvo, Riva Ariella; Ritvo, Edward; Bejerot, Susanne

2011-01-01

There is a paucity of diagnostic instruments for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study evaluates the psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R), an 80-item self-rating scale designed to assist clinicians diagnosing ASD in adults. It was administered to 75…

The birth satisfaction scale: Turkish adaptation, validation and reliability study

PubMed Central

Cetin, Fatma Cosar; Sezer, Ayse; Merih, Yeliz Dogan

2015-01-01

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the validity and the reliability of Birth Satisfaction Scale (BSS) and to adapt it into the Turkish language. This scale is used for measuring maternal satisfaction with birth in order to evaluate women’s birth perceptions. METHODS: In this study there were 150 women who attended to inpatient postpartum clinic. The participants filled in an information form and the BSS questionnaire forms. The properties of the scale were tested by conducting reliability and validation analyses. RESULTS: BSS entails 30 Likert-type questions. It was developed by Hollins Martin and Fleming. Total scale scores ranged between 30–150 points. Higher scores from the scale mean increases in birth satisfaction. Three overarching themes were identified in Scale: service provision (home assessment, birth environment, support, relationships with health care professionals); personal attributes (ability to cope during labour, feeling in control, childbirth preparation, relationship with baby); and stress experienced during labour (distress, obstetric injuries, receiving sufficient medical care, obstetric intervention, pain, prolonged labour and baby’s health). Cronbach’s alfa coefficient was 0.62. CONCLUSION: According to the present study, BSS entails 30 Likert-type questions and evaluates women’s birth perceptions. The Turkish version of BSS has been proven to be a valid and a reliable scale. PMID:28058355

[Validation of food security and social support scales in an Afro-Colombian community: application on a prevalence study of nutritional status in children aged 6 to 18 months].

PubMed

Alvarado, Beatriz Eugenia; Zunzunegui, María Victoria; Delisle, Helene

2005-01-01

We conducted a cross-sectional study on 193 mothers of children 6 to 18 months of age in an African-Colombian community, with the objectives: (1) to adapt and validate the Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project scale, the DUKE-UNC-11 social support scale, and the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD) partner support scale, and (2) to identify any existent relationship between nutritional status in infancy and both food insecurity and social support. We determined construct validity using factor analysis and theoretical models-based non-parametric correlations. Length-for-age and weight-for-length Z-results were calculated. Factor analyses reduced the hunger scale to one factor, the DUKE-UNC-11 scale to two factors, and the QLSCD scale to one factor. The Cronbach's alpha test ranged between 0.70 and 0.90. Both food insecurity and social support scales were correlated with mother's social conditions, and social support was positively associated with social networks and mother's self-perceived health status. Food insecurity, emotional-social support, and partner's negative support were associated with lower height-to-age and therefore a higher ratio of chronic malnutrition. The study supports the appropriateness of the instruments to measure the expressed concepts.

Monitoring acute equine visceral pain with the Equine Utrecht University Scale for Composite Pain Assessment (EQUUS-COMPASS) and the Equine Utrecht University Scale for Facial Assessment of Pain (EQUUS-FAP): A validation study.

PubMed

VanDierendonck, Machteld C; van Loon, Johannes P A M

2016-10-01

This study presents the validation of two recently described pain scales, the Equine Utrecht University Scale for Composite Pain Assessment (EQUUS-COMPASS) and the Equine Utrecht University Scale for Facial Assessment of Pain (EQUUS-FAP), in horses with acute colic. A follow-up cohort study of 46 adult horses (n = 23 with acute colic; n = 23 healthy control horses) was performed for validation and refinement of the constructed scales. Both pain scales showed statistically significant differences between horses with colic and healthy control horses, and between horses with colic that could be treated conservatively and those that required surgical treatment or were euthanased. Sensitivity and specificity were good for both EQUUS-COMPASS (87% and 71%, respectively) and EQUUS-FAP (77% and 100%, respectively) and were not substantially influenced by applying weighting factors to the individual parameters. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Inter-Rater Reliability of Total Body Score-A Scale for Quantification of Corpse Decomposition.

PubMed

Nawrocka, Marta; Frątczak, Katarzyna; Matuszewski, Szymon

2016-05-01

The degree of body decomposition can be quantified using Total Body Score (TBS), a scale frequently used in taphonomic or entomological studies of decomposition. Here, the inter-rater reliability of the scale is analyzed. The study was made on 120 laymen, which were trained in the use of the scale. Participants scored decomposition of pig carcasses from photographs. It was found that the scale, when used by different people, gives homogeneous results irrespective of the user qualifications (the Krippendorff's alfa for all participants was 0.818). The study also indicated that carcasses in advanced decomposition receive significantly less accurate scores. Moreover, it was found that scores for cadavers in mosaic decomposition (i.e., representing signs of at least two stages of decomposition) are less accurate. These results demonstrate that the scale may be regarded as inter-rater reliable. Some propositions for refinement of the scale were also discussed. © 2016 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

FACTOR ANALYSIS OF A SOCIAL SKILLS SCALE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

PubMed

Wang, H-Y; Lin, C-K

2015-10-01

The objective of this study was to develop a social skills scale for high school students in Taiwan. This study adopted stratified random sampling. A total of 1,729 high school students were included. The students ranged in age from 16 to 18 years. A Social Skills Scale was developed for this study and was designed for classroom teachers to fill out. The test-retest reliability of this scale was tested by Pearson's correlation coefficient. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine construct validity. The Social Skills Scale had good overall test-retest reliability of .92, and the internal consistency of the five subscales was above .90. The results of the factor analysis showed that the Social Skills Scale covered the five domains of classroom learning skills, communication skills, individual initiative skills, interaction skills, and job-related social skills, and the five factors explained 68.34% of the variance. Thus, the Social Skills Scale had good reliability and validity and would be applicable to and could be promoted for use in schools.

Colony-Level Differences in the Scaling Rules Governing Wood Ant Compound Eye Structure.

PubMed

Perl, Craig D; Niven, Jeremy E

2016-04-12

Differential organ growth during development is essential for adults to maintain the correct proportions and achieve their characteristic shape. Organs scale with body size, a process known as allometry that has been studied extensively in a range of organisms. Such scaling rules, typically studied from a limited sample, are assumed to apply to all members of a population and/or species. Here we study scaling in the compound eyes of workers of the wood ant, Formica rufa, from different colonies within a single population. Workers' eye area increased with body size in all the colonies showing a negative allometry. However, both the slope and intercept of some allometric scaling relationships differed significantly among colonies. Moreover, though mean facet diameter and facet number increased with body size, some colonies primarily increased facet number whereas others increased facet diameter, showing that the cellular level processes underlying organ scaling differed among colonies. Thus, the rules that govern scaling at the organ and cellular levels can differ even within a single population.

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids.

PubMed

Dahlberg, Jerry; Tkacik, Peter T; Mullany, Brigid; Fleischhauer, Eric; Shahinian, Hossein; Azimi, Farzad; Navare, Jayesh; Owen, Spencer; Bisel, Tucker; Martin, Tony; Sholar, Jodie; Keanini, Russell G

2017-12-04

An analog, macroscopic method for studying molecular-scale hydrodynamic processes in dense gases and liquids is described. The technique applies a standard fluid dynamic diagnostic, particle image velocimetry (PIV), to measure: i) velocities of individual particles (grains), extant on short, grain-collision time-scales, ii) velocities of systems of particles, on both short collision-time- and long, continuum-flow-time-scales, iii) collective hydrodynamic modes known to exist in dense molecular fluids, and iv) short- and long-time-scale velocity autocorrelation functions, central to understanding particle-scale dynamics in strongly interacting, dense fluid systems. The basic system is composed of an imaging system, light source, vibrational sensors, vibrational system with a known media, and PIV and analysis software. Required experimental measurements and an outline of the theoretical tools needed when using the analog technique to study molecular-scale hydrodynamic processes are highlighted. The proposed technique provides a relatively straightforward alternative to photonic and neutron beam scattering methods traditionally used in molecular hydrodynamic studies.

Case studies of the legal and institutional obstacles and incentives to the development of small-scale hydroelectric power: Bull Run, Portland, Oregon

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

None

1980-05-01

The National Conference of State Legislatures' Small-Scale Hydroelectric Policy Project is designed to assist selected state legislatures in looking at the benefits that a state can derive from the development of small-scale hydro, and in carrying out a review of state laws and regulations that affect the development of the state's small-scale hydro resources. The successful completion of the project should help establish state statutes and regulations that are consistent with the efficient development of small-scale hydro. As part of the project's work with state legislatures, seven case studies of small-scale hydro sites were conducted to provide a general analysismore » and overview of the significant problems and opportunities for the development of this energy resource. The case study approach was selected to expose the actual difficulties and advantages involved in developing a specific site. Such an examination of real development efforts will clearly reveal the important aspects about small-scale hydro development which could be improved by statutory or regulatory revision. Moreover, the case study format enables the formulation of generalized opportunities for promoting small-scale hydro based on specific development experiences. The case study for small-scale hydro power development at the City of Portland's water reserve in the Bull Run Forest is presented with information included on the Bull Run hydro power potential, current water usage, hydro power regulations and plant licensing, technical and economic aspects of Bull Run project, and the environmental impact. (LCL)« less

Investigating the Impact of Surface Heterogeneity on the Convective Boundary Layer Over Urban Areas Through Coupled Large-Eddy Simulation and Remote Sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dominguez, Anthony; Kleissl, Jan P.; Luvall, Jeffrey C.

2011-01-01

Large-eddy Simulation (LES) was used to study convective boundary layer (CBL) flow through suburban regions with both large and small scale heterogeneities in surface temperature. Constant remotely sensed surface temperatures were applied at the surface boundary at resolutions of 10 m, 90 m, 200 m, and 1 km. Increasing the surface resolution from 1 km to 200 m had the most significant impact on the mean and turbulent flow characteristics as the larger scale heterogeneities became resolved. While previous studies concluded that scales of heterogeneity much smaller than the CBL inversion height have little impact on the CBL characteristics, we found that further increasing the surface resolution (resolving smaller scale heterogeneities) results in an increase in mean surface heat flux, thermal blending height, and potential temperature profile. The results of this study will help to better inform sub-grid parameterization for meso-scale meteorological models. The simulation tool developed through this study (combining LES and high resolution remotely sensed surface conditions) is a significant step towards future studies on the micro-scale meteorology in urban areas.

Depression and anxiety in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: prevalence rates based on a comparison of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) and the hospital, Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

PubMed

Covic, Tanya; Cumming, Steven R; Pallant, Julie F; Manolios, Nick; Emery, Paul; Conaghan, Philip G; Tennant, Alan

2012-01-24

While it is recognised that depression is prevalent in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), recent studies have also highlighted significant levels of anxiety in RA patients. This study compared two commonly used scales, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), in relation to their measurement range and cut points to consider the relative prevalence of both constructs, and if prevalence rates may be due to scale-specific case definition. Patients meeting the criteria for RA were recruited in Leeds, UK and Sydney, Australia and asked to complete a survey that included both scales. The data was analysed using the Rasch measurement model. A total of 169 RA patients were assessed, with a repeat subsample, resulting in 323 cases for analysis. Both scales met Rasch model expectations. Using the 'possible+probable' cut point from the HADS, 58.3% had neither anxiety nor depression; 13.5% had anxiety only; 6.4% depression only and 21.8% had both 'possible+probable' anxiety and depression. Cut points for depression were comparable across the two scales while a lower cut point for anxiety in the DASS was required to equate prevalence. This study provides further support for high prevalence of depression and anxiety in RA. It also shows that while these two scales provide a good indication of possible depression and anxiety, the estimates of prevalence so derived could vary, particularly for anxiety. These findings are discussed in terms of comparisons across studies and selection of scales for clinical use.

Depression and anxiety in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: prevalence rates based on a comparison of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) and the hospital, Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background While it is recognised that depression is prevalent in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), recent studies have also highlighted significant levels of anxiety in RA patients. This study compared two commonly used scales, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), in relation to their measurement range and cut points to consider the relative prevalence of both constructs, and if prevalence rates may be due to scale-specific case definition. Methods Patients meeting the criteria for RA were recruited in Leeds, UK and Sydney, Australia and asked to complete a survey that included both scales. The data was analysed using the Rasch measurement model. Results A total of 169 RA patients were assessed, with a repeat subsample, resulting in 323 cases for analysis. Both scales met Rasch model expectations. Using the 'possible+probable' cut point from the HADS, 58.3% had neither anxiety nor depression; 13.5% had anxiety only; 6.4% depression only and 21.8% had both 'possible+probable' anxiety and depression. Cut points for depression were comparable across the two scales while a lower cut point for anxiety in the DASS was required to equate prevalence. Conclusions This study provides further support for high prevalence of depression and anxiety in RA. It also shows that while these two scales provide a good indication of possible depression and anxiety, the estimates of prevalence so derived could vary, particularly for anxiety. These findings are discussed in terms of comparisons across studies and selection of scales for clinical use. PMID:22269280

Development and psychometric validation of a brief comprehensive health status assessment scale in older patients with hematological malignancies: The GAH Scale.

PubMed

Bonanad, S; De la Rubia, J; Gironella, M; Pérez Persona, E; González, B; Fernández Lago, C; Arnan, M; Zudaire, M; Hernández Rivas, J A; Soler, A; Marrero, C; Olivier, C; Altés, A; Valcárcel, D; Hernández, M T; Oiartzabal, I; Fernández Ordoño, R; Arnao, M; Esquerra, A; Sarrá, J; González-Barca, E; González, J; Calvo, X; Nomdedeu, M; García Guiñón, A; Ramírez Payer, A; Casado, A; López, S; Durán, M; Marcos, M; Cruz-Jentoft, A J

2015-09-01

The purpose of this study was to develop a new brief, comprehensive geriatric assessment scale for older patients diagnosed with different hematological malignancies, the Geriatric Assessment in Hematology (GAH scale), and to determine its psychometric properties. The 30-item GAH scale was designed through a multi-step process to cover 8 relevant dimensions. This is an observational study conducted in 363 patients aged≥65years, newly diagnosed with different hematological malignancies (myelodysplasic syndrome/acute myeloblastic leukemia, multiple myeloma, or chronic lymphocytic leukemia), and treatment-naïve. The scale psychometric validation process included the analyses of feasibility, floor and ceiling effect, validity and reliability criteria. Mean time taken to complete the GAH scale was 11.9±4.7min that improved through a learning-curve effect. Almost 90% of patients completed all items, and no floor or ceiling effects were identified. Criterion validity was supported by reasonable correlations between the GAH scale dimensions and three contrast variables (global health visual analogue scale, ECOG and Karnofsky), except for comorbidities. Factor analysis (supported by the scree plot) revealed nine factors that explained almost 60% of the total variance. Moderate internal consistency reliability was found (Cronbach's α: 0.610), and test-retest was excellent (ICC coefficients, 0.695-0.928). Our study suggests that the GAH scale is a valid, internally reliable and a consistent tool to assess health status in older patients with different hematological malignancies. Future large studies should confirm whether the GAH scale may be a tool to improve clinical decision-making in older patients with hematological malignancies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

North Carolina Linking Study: A Study of the Alignment of the NWEA RIT Scale with the North Carolina State End of Grade (EOG) Testing Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Northwest Evaluation Association, 2014

2014-01-01

Recently, the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) completed a study to connect the scale of the North Carolina State End of Grade (EOG) Testing Program used for North Carolina's mathematics and reading assessments with NWEA's Rausch Interval Unit (RIT) scale. Information from the state assessments was used in a study to establish…

Sexual compulsivity scale: adaptation and validation in the spanish population.

PubMed

Ballester-Arnal, Rafael; Gómez-Martínez, Sandra; Llario, M Dolores-Gil; Salmerón-Sánchez, Pedro

2013-01-01

Sexual compulsivity has been studied in relation to high-risk behavior for sexually transmitted infections. The aim of this study was the adaptation and validation of the Sexual Compulsivity Scale to a sample of Spanish young people. This scale was applied to 1,196 (891 female, 305 male) Spanish college students. The results of principal components factor analysis using a varimax rotation indicated a two-factor solution. The reliability of the Sexual Compulsivity Scale was found to be high. Moreover, the scale showed good temporal stability. External correlates were examined through Pearson correlations between the Sexual Compulsivity Scale and other constructs related with HIV prevention. The authors' results suggest that the Sexual Compulsivity Scale is an appropriate measure for assessing sexual compulsivity, showing adequate psychometric properties in the Spanish population.

A reliability generalization meta-analysis of coefficient alpha and test-retest coefficient for the aging males' symptoms (AMS) scale.

PubMed

Lee, Chin-Pang; Chiu, Yu-Wen; Chu, Chun-Lin; Chen, Yu; Jiang, Kun-Hao; Chen, Jiun-Liang; Chen, Ching-Yen

2016-12-01

The aging males' symptoms (AMS) scale is an instrument used to determine the health-related quality of life in adult and elderly men. The purpose of this study was to synthesize internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability for the AMS scale and its three subscales. Of the 123 studies reviewed, 12 provided alpha coefficients which were then used in the meta-analyses of internal consistency. Seven of the 12 included studies provided test-retest coefficients, and these were used in the meta-analyses of test-retest reliability. The AMS scale had excellent internal consistency [α = 0.89 (95% CI 0.88-0.90)]; the mean alpha estimates across the AMS subscales ranged from 0.79 to 0.82. The AMS scale also had good test-retest reliability [r = 0.85 (95% CI 0.82-0.88]; the test-retest reliability coefficients of the AMS subscales ranged from 0.76 to 0.83. There was significant heterogeneity among the included studies. The AMS scale and the three subscales had fairly good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Future psychometric studies of the AMS scale should report important characteristics of the participants, details of item scores, and test-retest reliability.

Assessing Predictive Validity of Pressure Ulcer Risk Scales- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PubMed Central

PARK, Seong-Hi; LEE, Hea Shoon

2016-01-01

Background: The purpose of this study was to present a scientific reason for pressure ulcer risk scales: Cubbin& Jackson modified Braden, Norton, and Waterlow, as a nursing diagnosis tool by utilizing predictive validity of pressure sores. Methods: Articles published between 1966 and 2013 from periodicals indexed in the Ovid Medline, Embase, CINAHL, KoreaMed, NDSL, and other databases were selected using the key word “pressure ulcer”. QUADAS-II was applied for assessment for internal validity of the diagnostic studies. Selected studies were analyzed using meta-analysis with MetaDisc 1.4. Results: Seventeen diagnostic studies with high methodological quality, involving 5,185 patients, were included. In the results of the meta-analysis, sROC AUC of Braden, Norton, and Waterflow scale was over 0.7, showing moderate predictive validity, but they have limited interpretation due to significant differences between studies. In addition, Waterlow scale is insufficient as a screening tool owing to low sensitivity compared with other scales. Conclusion: The contemporary pressure ulcer risk scale is not suitable for uninform practice on patients under standardized criteria. Therefore, in order to provide more effective nursing care for bedsores, a new or modified pressure ulcer risk scale should be developed upon strength and weaknesses of existing tools. PMID:27114977

Rasch Analysis of the Malaysian Secondary School Student Leadership Inventory (M3SLI).

PubMed

Ling, Mei-Teng

The importance of instilling leadership skills in students has always been a main subject of discussion in Malaysia. Malaysian Secondary School Students Leadership Inventory (M3SLI) is an instrument which has been piloted tested in year 2013. The main purpose of this study is to examine and optimize the functioning of the rating scale categories in M3SLI by investigating the rating scale category counts, average and expected rating scale category measures, and steps calibrations. In detail, the study was aimed to (1) identify whether the five-point rating scale was functioning as intended and (2) review the effect of a rating scale category revision on the psychometric characteristics of M3SLI. The study was carried out on students aged between 13 to 18 years (2183 students) by stratified random sampling in 26 public schools in Sabah, Malaysia, with the results analysed using Winsteps. This study found that the rating scale of Personality and Values constructs needed to be modified while the scale for Leadership Skills was maintained. For future studies, other aspects of psychometric properties like differential item functioning (DIF) based on demographic variables such as gender, school locations and forms should be researched on prior to the use of the instrument.

The Construct Validity of Attitudes toward Career Counseling Scale for Korean College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nam, Suk Kyung; In Park, Hyung

2015-01-01

This study aimed to examine the construct validity of the Attitudes Toward Career Counseling Scale (ATCCS) in Korea. In Study 1, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used for testing the factor structure of the scale. The results supported a two-factor (value and stigma) model, which was theoretically driven from the original study. Results of…

Emotional Autonomy versus Susceptibility to Peer Pressure: A Case Study of Hong Kong Adolescent Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chan, Kwok-Wai; Chan, Siu-Mui

2008-01-01

A questionnaire consisting of two scales was administered to 550 Hong Kong secondary students to examine their emotional autonomy and susceptibility to peer pressure. Emotional autonomy was studied by the scale (EAS) developed by Steinberg and Silverberg (1986) and susceptibility to peer pressure was studied by the scale developed by Sim and Koh…

A Perception Scale on the Use of Webquests in Mathematics Teaching: A Study of Scale Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Demir, Mevhibe Kobak; Gür, Hülya

2016-01-01

This study was aimed to develop a valid and reliable perception scale in order to determine the perceptions of pre-service teachers towards the use of WebQuest in mathematics teaching. The study was conducted with 115 junior and senior pre-service teachers at Balikesir University's Faculty of Education, Computer Education and Instructional…

Developing the Attitude Scale for Islamic Law Lesson

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ersoy, Mustafa; Izci, Eyüp

2017-01-01

This study was conducted for the purpose of developing an attitude scale in order to be able to measure the attitudes of students towards Islamic Law Lesson in a valid and reliable way. The sampling of the study consisted of 198 students who studied at 4th Grade at Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Theology, and who answered the measurement scale.…

Cyber Victim and Bullying Scale: A Study of Validity and Reliability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cetin, Bayram; Yaman, Erkan; Peker, Adem

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study is to develop a reliable and valid scale, which determines cyber victimization and bullying behaviors of high school students. Research group consisted of 404 students (250 male, 154 male) in Sakarya, in 2009-2010 academic years. In the study sample, mean age is 16.68. Content validity and face validity of the scale was…

Assessing the changes in E. coli levels and nutrient dynamics during vermicomposting of food waste under lab and field scale conditions.

PubMed

Cao, Wenlong; Vaddella, Venkata; Biswas, Sagor; Perkins, Katherine; Clay, Cameron; Wu, Tong; Zheng, Yawen; Ndegwa, Pius; Pandey, Pramod

2016-11-01

Vermicomposting (VC) has proven to be a promising method for treating garden, household, and municipal wastes. Although the VC has been used extensively for converting wastes into fertilizers, pathogens such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) survival during this process is not well documented. In this study, both lab and field scale experiments were conducted assessing the impacts of earthworms in reducing E. coli concentration during VC of food waste. In addition, other pertinent parameters such as temperature, carbon and nitrogen content, moisture content, pH, volatile solids, micronutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, and S), and heavy metals (Zn, Mn, Fe, and Cu) were monitored during the study. The lab and field scale experiments were conducted for 107 and 103 days, respectively. The carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) decreased by 54 % in the lab scale study and by 36 % in the field study. Results showed that VC was not significantly effective in reducing E. coli levels in food waste under both lab and field scale settings. The carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) decreased by 54 % in the lab scale study and by 36 % in the field study.

Relevance of multiple spatial scales in habitat models: A case study with amphibians and grasshoppers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altmoos, Michael; Henle, Klaus

2010-11-01

Habitat models for animal species are important tools in conservation planning. We assessed the need to consider several scales in a case study for three amphibian and two grasshopper species in the post-mining landscapes near Leipzig (Germany). The two species groups were selected because habitat analyses for grasshoppers are usually conducted on one scale only whereas amphibians are thought to depend on more than one spatial scale. First, we analysed how the preference to single habitat variables changed across nested scales. Most environmental variables were only significant for a habitat model on one or two scales, with the smallest scale being particularly important. On larger scales, other variables became significant, which cannot be recognized on lower scales. Similar preferences across scales occurred in only 13 out of 79 cases and in 3 out of 79 cases the preference and avoidance for the same variable were even reversed among scales. Second, we developed habitat models by using a logistic regression on every scale and for all combinations of scales and analysed how the quality of habitat models changed with the scales considered. To achieve a sufficient accuracy of the habitat models with a minimum number of variables, at least two scales were required for all species except for Bufo viridis, for which a single scale, the microscale, was sufficient. Only for the European tree frog ( Hyla arborea), at least three scales were required. The results indicate that the quality of habitat models increases with the number of surveyed variables and with the number of scales, but costs increase too. Searching for simplifications in multi-scaled habitat models, we suggest that 2 or 3 scales should be a suitable trade-off, when attempting to define a suitable microscale.

Internalized HIV Stigma and Disclosure Concerns: Development and Validation of Two Scales in Spanish-Speaking Populations.

PubMed

Hernansaiz-Garrido, Helena; Alonso-Tapia, Jesús

2017-01-01

Internalized stigma and disclosure concerns are key elements for the study of mental health in people living with HIV. Since no measures of these constructs were available for Spanish population, this study sought to develop such instruments, to analyze their reliability and validity and to provide a short version. A heterogeneous sample of 458 adults from different Spanish-speaking countries completed the HIV-Internalized Stigma Scale and the HIV-Disclosure Concerns Scale, along with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale and other socio-demographic variables. Reliability and correlation analyses, exploratory factor analyses, path analyses with latent variables, and ANOVAs were conducted to test the scales' psychometric properties. The scales showed good reliability in terms of internal consistency and temporal stability, as well as good sensitivity and factorial and criterion validity. The HIV-Internalized Stigma Scale and the HIV-Disclosure Concerns Scale are reliable and valid means to assess these variables in several contexts.

Origins of individual differences in anxiety proneness: a twin/adoption study of the anxiety-related scales from the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP).

PubMed

Gustavsson, J P; Pedersen, N L; Asberg, M; Schalling, D

1996-06-01

The genetic and environmental origins of individual differences in scores on the anxiety-proneness scales from the Karolinska Scales of Personality were explored using a twin/adoption study design in a sample consisting of 15 monozygotic twin pairs reared apart, and 26 monozygotic and 29 dizygotic twin pairs reared together. The results showed that genetic factors accounted for individual differences in scores on the psychasthenia and somatic anxiety scales. The genetic determinants were not specific to each scale, but were common to both scales. Shared-rearing environmental determinants were important for individual differences in lack of assertiveness and psychic anxiety, and were common to both scales. Individual differences in muscular tension were found to be attributable to the effects of correlated environments. The most important factor explaining individual differences for all scales was the non-shared environment component. The evidence for an aetiologically heterogeneous anxiety-proneness construct emphasizes the appropriateness of a multi-dimensional approach to anxiety proneness.

Life history of the lake herring (Leucichthys artedi Le Sueur) of Lake Huron as revealed by its scales, with a critique of the scale method

USGS Publications Warehouse

Van Oosten, John

1928-01-01

This study shows that the structural characters of the scales of the coregonid fishes of Lake Huron are so clearly recognizable as to permit their use by the scale method. It shows, further, that the fundamental assumptions underlying the scale method are warranted in so far as they apply to the lake herring (Leucichthys artedi Le Sueur). The scale method is therefore valid when applied in a study fo the life history of the lake herring. The life history of the lake herring that occur in Lake Huron is described in detail in this paper for the first time.

Tooth brushing inhibits oral bacteria in dogs.

PubMed

Watanabe, Kazuhiro; Hayashi, Kotaro; Kijima, Saku; Nonaka, Chie; Yamazoe, Kazuaki

2015-10-01

In this study, scaling, polishing and daily tooth brushing were performed in 20 beagle dogs, and the number of oral bacteria was determined using a bacterial counter. The dogs were randomized into the scaling (S), scaling + polishing (SP), scaling + tooth daily brushing (SB) and scaling + polishing + tooth daily brushing (SPB) groups. Samples were collected from the buccal surface of the maxillary fourth premolars of the dogs immediately after scaling and every week thereafter from weeks 1 to 8. Throughout the study, the number of bacteria was significantly lower in the SB and SPB groups compared with the S group. The findings suggest that daily tooth brushing inhibited oral bacterial growth in the dogs.

Voice, Schooling, Inequality, and Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Collins, James

2013-01-01

The rich studies in this collection show that the investigation of voice requires analysis of "recognition" across layered spatial-temporal and sociolinguistic scales. I argue that the concepts of voice, recognition, and scale provide insight into contemporary educational inequality and that their study benefits, in turn, from paying attention to…

Community shifts under climate change: mechanisms at multiple scales.

PubMed

Gornish, Elise S; Tylianakis, Jason M

2013-07-01

Processes that drive ecological dynamics differ across spatial scales. Therefore, the pathways through which plant communities and plant-insect relationships respond to changing environmental conditions are also expected to be scale-dependent. Furthermore, the processes that affect individual species or interactions at single sites may differ from those affecting communities across multiple sites. We reviewed and synthesized peer-reviewed literature to identify patterns in biotic or abiotic pathways underpinning changes in the composition and diversity of plant communities under three components of climate change (increasing temperature, CO2, and changes in precipitation) and how these differ across spatial scales. We also explored how these changes to plants affect plant-insect interactions. The relative frequency of biotic vs. abiotic pathways of climate effects at larger spatial scales often differ from those at smaller scales. Local-scale studies show variable responses to climate drivers, often driven by biotic factors. However, larger scale studies identify changes to species composition and/or reduced diversity as a result of abiotic factors. Differing pathways of climate effects can result from different responses of multiple species, habitat effects, and differing effects of invasions at local vs. regional to global scales. Plant community changes can affect higher trophic levels as a result of spatial or phenological mismatch, foliar quality changes, and plant abundance changes, though studies on plant-insect interactions at larger scales are rare. Climate-induced changes to plant communities will have considerable effects on community-scale trophic exchanges, which may differ from the responses of individual species or pairwise interactions.

Validation of Normalizations, Scaling, and Photofading Corrections for FRAP Data Analysis

PubMed Central

Kang, Minchul; Andreani, Manuel; Kenworthy, Anne K.

2015-01-01

Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) has been a versatile tool to study transport and reaction kinetics in live cells. Since the fluorescence data generated by fluorescence microscopy are in a relative scale, a wide variety of scalings and normalizations are used in quantitative FRAP analysis. Scaling and normalization are often required to account for inherent properties of diffusing biomolecules of interest or photochemical properties of the fluorescent tag such as mobile fraction or photofading during image acquisition. In some cases, scaling and normalization are also used for computational simplicity. However, to our best knowledge, the validity of those various forms of scaling and normalization has not been studied in a rigorous manner. In this study, we investigate the validity of various scalings and normalizations that have appeared in the literature to calculate mobile fractions and correct for photofading and assess their consistency with FRAP equations. As a test case, we consider linear or affine scaling of normal or anomalous diffusion FRAP equations in combination with scaling for immobile fractions. We also consider exponential scaling of either FRAP equations or FRAP data to correct for photofading. Using a combination of theoretical and experimental approaches, we show that compatible scaling schemes should be applied in the correct sequential order; otherwise, erroneous results may be obtained. We propose a hierarchical workflow to carry out FRAP data analysis and discuss the broader implications of our findings for FRAP data analysis using a variety of kinetic models. PMID:26017223

Relative importance of climate changes at different time scales on net primary productivity-a case study of the Karst area of northwest Guangxi, China.

PubMed

Liu, Huiyu; Zhang, Mingyang; Lin, Zhenshan

2017-10-05

Climate changes are considered to significantly impact net primary productivity (NPP). However, there are few studies on how climate changes at multiple time scales impact NPP. With MODIS NPP product and station-based observations of sunshine duration, annual average temperature and annual precipitation, impacts of climate changes at different time scales on annual NPP, have been studied with EEMD (ensemble empirical mode decomposition) method in the Karst area of northwest Guangxi, China, during 2000-2013. Moreover, with partial least squares regression (PLSR) model, the relative importance of climatic variables for annual NPP has been explored. The results show that (1) only at quasi 3-year time scale do sunshine duration and temperature have significantly positive relations with NPP. (2) Annual precipitation has no significant relation to NPP by direct comparison, but significantly positive relation at 5-year time scale, which is because 5-year time scale is not the dominant scale of precipitation; (3) the changes of NPP may be dominated by inter-annual variabilities. (4) Multiple time scales analysis will greatly improve the performance of PLSR model for estimating NPP. The variable importance in projection (VIP) scores of sunshine duration and temperature at quasi 3-year time scale, and precipitation at quasi 5-year time scale are greater than 0.8, indicating important for NPP during 2000-2013. However, sunshine duration and temperature at quasi 3-year time scale are much more important. Our results underscore the importance of multiple time scales analysis for revealing the relations of NPP to changing climate.

Cross-validation of clinical characteristics and treatment patterns associated with phenotypes for lithium response defined by the Alda scale.

PubMed

Scott, Jan; Geoffroy, Pierre Alexis; Sportiche, Sarah; Brichant-Petit-Jean, Clara; Gard, Sebastien; Kahn, Jean-Pierre; Azorin, Jean-Michel; Henry, Chantal; Etain, Bruno; Bellivier, Frank

2017-01-15

It is increasingly recognised that reliable and valid assessments of lithium response are needed in order to target more efficiently the use of this medication in bipolar disorders (BD) and to identify genotypes, endophenotypes and biomarkers of response. In a large, multi-centre, clinically representative sample of 300 cases of BD, we assess external clinical validators of lithium response phenotypes as defined using three different recommended approaches to scoring the Alda lithium response scale. The scale comprises an A scale (rating lithium response) and a B scale (assessing confounders). Analysis of the two continuous scoring methods (A scale score minus the B scale score, or A scale score in those with a low B scale score) demonstrated that 21-23% of the explained variance in lithium response was accounted for by a positive family history of BD I and the early introduction of lithium. Categorical definitions of response suggest poor response is also associated with a positive history of alcohol and/or substance use comorbidities. High B scale scores were significantly associated with longer duration of illness prior to receiving lithium and the presence of psychotic symptoms. The original sample was not recruited specifically to study lithium response. The Alda scale is designed to assess response retrospectively. This cross-validation study identifies different clinical phenotypes of lithium response when defined by continuous or categorical measures. Future clinical, genetic and biomarker studies should report both the findings and the method employed to assess lithium response according to the Alda scale. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Assessment of Protective Behavioral Strategies: Comparing the Absolute Frequency and Contingent Frequency Response Scales

PubMed Central

Kite, Benjamin A.; Pearson, Matthew R.; Henson, James M.

2016-01-01

The purpose of the present studies was to examine the effects of response scale on the observed relationships between protective behavioral strategies (PBS) measures and alcohol-related outcomes. We reasoned that an ‘absolute frequency’ scale (stem: “how many times…”; response scale: 0 times to 11+ times) conflates the frequency of using PBS with the frequency of consuming alcohol; thus, we hypothesized that the use of an absolute frequency response scale would result in positive relationships between types of PBS and alcohol-related outcomes. Alternatively, a ‘contingent frequency’ scale (stem: “When drinking…how often…”; response scale: never to always) does not conflate frequency of alcohol use with use of PBS; therefore, we hypothesized that use of a contingent frequency scale would result in negative relationships between use of PBS and alcohol-related outcomes. Two published measures of PBS were used across studies: the Protective Behavioral Strategies Survey (PBSS) and the Strategy Questionnaire (SQ). Across three studies, we demonstrate that when measured using a contingent frequency response scale, PBS measures relate negatively to alcohol-related outcomes in a theoretically consistent manner; however, when PBS measures were measured on an absolute frequency response scale, they were non-significantly or positively related to alcohol-related outcomes. We discuss the implications of these findings for the assessment of PBS. PMID:23438243

Construction and Validation of the Perceived Opportunity to Craft Scale.

PubMed

van Wingerden, Jessica; Niks, Irene M W

2017-01-01

We developed and validated a scale to measure employees' perceived opportunity to craft (POC) in two separate studies conducted in the Netherlands (total N = 2329). POC is defined as employees' perception of their opportunity to craft their job. In Study 1, the perceived opportunity to craft scale (POCS) was developed and tested for its factor structure and reliability in an explorative way. Study 2 consisted of confirmatory analyses of the factor structure and reliability of the scale as well as examination of the discriminant and criterion-related validity of the POCS. The results indicated that the scale consists of one dimension and could be reliably measured with five items. Evidence was found for the discriminant validity of the POCS. The scale also showed criterion-related validity when correlated with job crafting (+), job resources (autonomy +; opportunities for professional development +), work engagement (+), and the inactive construct cynicism (-). We discuss the implications of these findings for theory and practice.

The three scales of submarine groundwater flow and discharge across passive continental margins

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bratton, John F.

2010-01-01

Increased study of submarine groundwater systems in recent years has provided a wealth of new data and techniques, but some ambiguity has been introduced by insufficient distinguishing of the relevant spatial scales of the phenomena studied. Submarine groundwater flow and discharge on passive continental margins can be most productively studied and discussed by distinct consideration of the following three spatial scales: (1) the nearshore scale, spanning approximately 0–10 m offshore and including the unconfined surficial aquifer; (2) the embayment scale, spanning approximately 10 m to as much as 10 km offshore and including the first confined submarine aquifer and its terminus; and (3) the shelf scale, spanning the width and thickness of the aquifers of the entire continental shelf, from the base of the first confined aquifer downward to the basement, and including influences of geothermal convection and glacio-eustatic change in sea level.

Developing an Assessment Method of Active Aging: University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging Scale.

PubMed

Rantanen, Taina; Portegijs, Erja; Kokko, Katja; Rantakokko, Merja; Törmäkangas, Timo; Saajanaho, Milla

2018-01-01

To develop an assessment method of active aging for research on older people. A multiphase process that included drafting by an expert panel, a pilot study for item analysis and scale validity, a feedback study with focus groups and questionnaire respondents, and a test-retest study. Altogether 235 people aged 60 to 94 years provided responses and/or feedback. We developed a 17-item University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging Scale with four aspects in each item (goals, ability, opportunity, and activity; range 0-272). The psychometric and item properties are good and the scale assesses a unidimensional latent construct of active aging. Our scale assesses older people's striving for well-being through activities pertaining to their goals, abilities, and opportunities. The University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging Scale provides a quantifiable measure of active aging that may be used in postal questionnaires or interviews in research and practice.

[Development of Autogenic Training Clinical Effectiveness Scale (ATCES)].

PubMed

Ikezuki, Makoto; Miyauchi, Yuko; Yamaguchi, Hajime; Koshikawa, Fusako

2002-02-01

The purpose of the present study was to develop a scale measuring clinical effectiveness of autogenic training. In Study 1, 167 undergraduates completed a survey of items concerning physical and mental states, which were thought to vary in the course of autogenic training. With item and factor analyses, 20 items were selected, and the resulting scale (ATCES) had high discrimination and clear factor structure. In Study 2, reliability and concurrent and clinical validity of the scale were examined with three groups of respondents: 85 mentally healthy, 31 control, 13 clinical persons. The scale showed a high test-retest correlation (r = .83) and alpha coefficient (alpha = .86). ATCES had a Pearson correlation coefficient of r = .56 with General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and r = .73 with trait anxiety (STAI-T). And ATCES successfully discriminated the mentally healthy and clinical groups in terms of clinical effectiveness. These results demonstrated high reliability and sufficient concurrent and clinical validity of the new scale.

Measurement Scales of Suicidal Ideation and Attitudes: A Systematic Review Article

PubMed Central

Ghasemi, Parvin; Shaghaghi, Abdolreza; Allahverdipour, Hamid

2015-01-01

Background: The main aim of this study was to accumulate research evidence that introduce validated scales to measure suicidal attitudes and ideation and provide an empirical framework for adopting a relevant assessment tool in studies on suicide and suicidal behaviors. Methods: Medical Subject Headings’ (MeSH) terms were used to search Ovid Medline, PROQUEST, Wiley online library, Science Direct and PubMed for the published articles in English that reported application of an scale to measure suicidal attitudes and ideation from January 1974 onward. Results: Fourteen suicidal attitude scale and 15 scales for assessing suicidal ideation were identified in this systematic review. No gold standard approach was recognized to study suicide related attitudes and ideations. Conclusion: Special focus on generally agreed dimensions of suicidal ideation and attitudes and cross-cultural validation of the introduced scales to be applicable in different ethnic and socially diverse populations could be a promising area of research for scholars. PMID:26634193

Developing scale for colleague solidarity among nurses in Turkey.

PubMed

Uslusoy, Esin Cetinkaya; Alpar, Sule Ecevit

2013-02-01

There is a need for an appropriate instrument to measure colleague solidarity among nurses. This study was carried out to develop a Colleague Solidarity of Nurses' Scale (CSNS). This study was planned to be descriptive and methodological. The CSNS examined content validity, construct validity, test-retest reliability and internal consistency reliability. The trial form of the CSNS, which was composed of 44 items, was given to 200 nurses, followed by validity and reliability analyses. Following the analyses, 21 items were excluded from the scale, leaving an attitude scale made up of 23 items. Factor analysis of the data showed that the scale has a three sub-factor structure: emotional solidarity, academic solidarity and negative opinions about solidarity. The Cronbach's alpha reliability of the whole scale was 0.80. This study provides evidence that the CSNS possesses robust solidarity among nurses. © 2013 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Test-retest reliability and responsiveness of the Barthel Index-based Supplementary Scales in patients with stroke.

PubMed

Lee, Ya-Chen; Yu, Wan-Hui; Hsueh, I-Ping; Chen, Sheng-Shiung; Hsieh, Ching-Lin

2017-10-01

A lack of evidence on the test-retest reliability and responsiveness limits the utility of the BI-based Supplementary Scales (BI-SS) in both clinical and research settings. To examine the test-retest reliability and responsiveness of the BI-based Supplementary Scales (BI-SS) in patients with stroke. A repeated-assessments design (1 week apart) was used to examine the test-retest reliability of the BI-SS. For the responsiveness study, the participants were assessed with the BI-SS and BI (treated as an external criterion) at admission to and discharge from rehabilitation wards. Seven outpatient rehabilitation units and one inpatient rehabilitation unit. Outpatients with chronic stroke. Eighty-four outpatients with chronic stroke participated in the test-retest reliability study. Fifty-seven inpatients completed baseline and follow-up assessments in the responsiveness study. For the test-retest reliability study, the values of the intra-class correlation coefficient and the overall percentage of minimal detectable change for the Ability Scale and Self-perceived Difficulty Scale were 0.97, 12.8%, and 0.78, 35.8%, respectively. For the responsiveness study, the standardized effect size and standardized response mean (representing internal responsiveness) of the Ability Scale and Self-perceived Difficulty Scale were 1.17 and 1.56, and 0.78 and 0.89, respectively. Regarding external responsiveness, the change in score of the Ability Scale had significant and moderate association with that of the BI (r=0.61, P<0.001). The change in score of the Self-perceived Difficulty Scale had non-significant and weak association with that of the BI (r=0.23, P=0.080). The Ability Scale of the BI-SS has satisfactory test-retest reliability and sufficient responsiveness for patients with stroke. However, the Self-perceived Difficulty Scale of the BI-SS has substantial random measurement error and insufficient external responsiveness, which may affect its utility in clinical settings. The findings of this study provide empirical evidence of psychometric properties of the BI-SS for assessing ability and self-perceived difficulty of ADL in patients with stroke.

Validity and reliability of a self-report instrument to assess social support and physical environmental correlates of physical activity in adolescents

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background The purpose of this study was to examine the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity and predictive validity of a new German self-report instrument to assess the influence of social support and the physical environment on physical activity in adolescents. Methods Based on theoretical consideration, the short scales on social support and physical environment were developed and cross-validated in two independent study samples of 9 to 17 year-old girls and boys. The longitudinal sample of Study I (n = 196) was recruited from a German comprehensive school, and subjects in this study completed the questionnaire twice with a between-test interval of seven days. Cronbach’s alphas were computed to determine the internal consistency of the factors. Test-retest reliability of the latent factors was assessed using intra-class coefficients. Factorial validity of the scales was assessed using principle components analysis. Construct validity was determined using a cross-validation technique by performing confirmatory factor analysis with the independent nationwide cross-sectional sample of Study II (n = 430). Correlations between factors and three measures of physical activity (objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), self-reported habitual MVPA and self-reported recent MVPA) were calculated to determine the predictive validity of the instrument. Results Construct validity of the social support scale (two factors: parental support and peer support) and the physical environment scale (four factors: convenience, public recreation facilities, safety and private sport providers) was shown. Both scales had moderate test-retest reliability. The factors of the social support scale also had good internal consistency and predictive validity. Internal consistency and predictive validity of the physical environment scale were low to acceptable. Conclusions The results of this study indicate moderate to good reliability and construct validity of the social support scale and physical environment scale. Predictive validity was only confirmed for the social support scale but not for the physical environment scale. Hence, it remains unclear if a person’s physical environment has a direct or an indirect effect on physical activity behavior or a moderation function. PMID:22928865

Validity and reliability of a self-report instrument to assess social support and physical environmental correlates of physical activity in adolescents.

PubMed

Reimers, Anne K; Jekauc, Darko; Mess, Filip; Mewes, Nadine; Woll, Alexander

2012-08-29

The purpose of this study was to examine the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity and predictive validity of a new German self-report instrument to assess the influence of social support and the physical environment on physical activity in adolescents. Based on theoretical consideration, the short scales on social support and physical environment were developed and cross-validated in two independent study samples of 9 to 17 year-old girls and boys. The longitudinal sample of Study I (n = 196) was recruited from a German comprehensive school, and subjects in this study completed the questionnaire twice with a between-test interval of seven days. Cronbach's alphas were computed to determine the internal consistency of the factors. Test-retest reliability of the latent factors was assessed using intra-class coefficients. Factorial validity of the scales was assessed using principle components analysis. Construct validity was determined using a cross-validation technique by performing confirmatory factor analysis with the independent nationwide cross-sectional sample of Study II (n = 430). Correlations between factors and three measures of physical activity (objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), self-reported habitual MVPA and self-reported recent MVPA) were calculated to determine the predictive validity of the instrument. Construct validity of the social support scale (two factors: parental support and peer support) and the physical environment scale (four factors: convenience, public recreation facilities, safety and private sport providers) was shown. Both scales had moderate test-retest reliability. The factors of the social support scale also had good internal consistency and predictive validity. Internal consistency and predictive validity of the physical environment scale were low to acceptable. The results of this study indicate moderate to good reliability and construct validity of the social support scale and physical environment scale. Predictive validity was only confirmed for the social support scale but not for the physical environment scale. Hence, it remains unclear if a person's physical environment has a direct or an indirect effect on physical activity behavior or a moderation function.

Development and assessment of the validity and reliability of a scale for measuring the mentoring competencies of Japanese clinical midwives: An exploratory quantitative research study.

PubMed

Hishinuma, Yuri; Horiuchi, Shigeko; Yanai, Haruo

2016-06-01

Midwives are always involved in educational activities whenever novice midwives are present. Although various scales for measuring the educational competencies of nurses have already been developed in previous studies, a scale for the educational competencies particular to midwives has yet to be developed, or even no previous studies have revealed their functions as clinical educators. The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to measure the mentoring competencies of clinical midwives (MCCM Scale) and to confirm its validity and reliability. An exploratory quantitative research study. Questionnaires were distributed to 1,645 midwives at 148 facilities who had previously instructed novice midwives. 1,004 midwives (61.0%) voluntarily returned valid responses and 296 (18.0%) voluntarily agreed to participate in the survey for test-retest reliability. Exploratory factor analyses were performed over 41 items and the following seven factors were extracted with a reliability coefficient (Cronbach's α) of 0.953: (i) supporting experimental study, (ii) personal characteristics particularly in clinical educators, (iii) thoughtfulness and empathy for new midwives, (iv) self-awareness and self-reflection for finding confidence, (v) making effective use of the new midwives' own experience, (vi) commitment to educational activities, and (vii) sharing their midwifery practice. Test-retest reliability was measured based on a convenience sample of 246 (83.1%). Pearson's test-retest correlation coefficient for the entire scale was r=0.863. The factor loadings of each item on its respective factor were 0.313-0.925. The total score of the MCCM Scale was positively correlated with that of the Quality of Nurses' Occupational Experience Scale (r=0.641, p=0.000) and was negatively correlated with the total score of the Japanese Burnout Scale (r=-0.480, p=0.000). The MCCM Scale is composed of 41 items and three subscales measured from a total of seven factors. The validity and reliability of the MCCM Scale was supported by the statistical analyses. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Proactive and Reactive Composite Scales for the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walters, Glenn D.

2006-01-01

The purpose of this study was to construct composite scales for the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) from the PICTS thinking style, factor, and content scales designed to provide general estimates of criminal thinking. The Entitlement thinking style scale, Self-Assertion/Deception factor scale, and Historical content…

IRT Item Parameter Scaling for Developing New Item Pools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kang, Hyeon-Ah; Lu, Ying; Chang, Hua-Hua

2017-01-01

Increasing use of item pools in large-scale educational assessments calls for an appropriate scaling procedure to achieve a common metric among field-tested items. The present study examines scaling procedures for developing a new item pool under a spiraled block linking design. The three scaling procedures are considered: (a) concurrent…

Application of Psychometric Theory to the Measurement of Voice Quality Using Rating Scales

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shrivastav, Rahul; Sapienza, Christine M.; Nandur, Vuday

2005-01-01

Rating scales are commonly used to study voice quality. However, recent research has demonstrated that perceptual measures of voice quality obtained using rating scales suffer from poor interjudge agreement and reliability, especially in the midrange of the scale. These findings, along with those obtained using multidimensional scaling (MDS), have…

Validation of the "Pain Block" concrete ordinal scale for children aged 4 to 7 years.

PubMed

Jung, Jin Hee; Lee, Jin Hee; Kim, Do Kyun; Jung, Jae Yun; Chang, Ikwan; Kwon, Hyuksool; Shin, Jonghwan; Paek, So Hyun; Oh, Sohee; Kwak, Young Ho

2018-04-01

Pain scales using faces are commonly used tools for assessing pain in children capable of communicating. However, some children require other types of pain scales because they have difficulties in understanding faces pain scales. The goal of this study was to develop and validate the "Pain Block" concrete ordinal scale for 4- to 7-year-old children. This was a multicenter prospective observational study in the emergency department. Psychometric properties (convergent validity, discriminative validity, responsivity, and reliability) were compared between the "Pain Block" pain scale and the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) to assess the validity of the "Pain Block" scale. A total of 163 children (mean age, 5.5 years) were included in this study. The correlation coefficient between the FPS-R and the Pain Block scale was 0.82 for all participants which increased with age. Agreement between the 2 pain scales was acceptable, with 95.0% of the values within the predetermined limit. The differences in mean scores between the painful group and nonpainful group were 3.3 (95% confidence interval, 2.6-4.1) and 3.8 (95% confidence interval, 3.1-4.6) for FPR-S and Pain Block, respectively. The pain scores for both pain scales were significantly decreased when analgesics or pain-relieving procedures were administered (difference in Pain Block, 2.4 [1.4-3.3]; and difference in FPS-R, 2.3 [1.3-3.3]). The Pain Block pain scale could be used to assess pain in 4- to 7-year-old children capable of understanding and counting up to the number 5, even if they do not understand the FPS-R pain scale.

Up-scaling of multi-variable flood loss models from objects to land use units at the meso-scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kreibich, Heidi; Schröter, Kai; Merz, Bruno

2016-05-01

Flood risk management increasingly relies on risk analyses, including loss modelling. Most of the flood loss models usually applied in standard practice have in common that complex damaging processes are described by simple approaches like stage-damage functions. Novel multi-variable models significantly improve loss estimation on the micro-scale and may also be advantageous for large-scale applications. However, more input parameters also reveal additional uncertainty, even more in upscaling procedures for meso-scale applications, where the parameters need to be estimated on a regional area-wide basis. To gain more knowledge about challenges associated with the up-scaling of multi-variable flood loss models the following approach is applied: Single- and multi-variable micro-scale flood loss models are up-scaled and applied on the meso-scale, namely on basis of ATKIS land-use units. Application and validation is undertaken in 19 municipalities, which were affected during the 2002 flood by the River Mulde in Saxony, Germany by comparison to official loss data provided by the Saxon Relief Bank (SAB).In the meso-scale case study based model validation, most multi-variable models show smaller errors than the uni-variable stage-damage functions. The results show the suitability of the up-scaling approach, and, in accordance with micro-scale validation studies, that multi-variable models are an improvement in flood loss modelling also on the meso-scale. However, uncertainties remain high, stressing the importance of uncertainty quantification. Thus, the development of probabilistic loss models, like BT-FLEMO used in this study, which inherently provide uncertainty information are the way forward.

[Modeling continuous scaling of NDVI based on fractal theory].

PubMed

Luan, Hai-Jun; Tian, Qing-Jiu; Yu, Tao; Hu, Xin-Li; Huang, Yan; Du, Ling-Tong; Zhao, Li-Min; Wei, Xi; Han, Jie; Zhang, Zhou-Wei; Li, Shao-Peng

2013-07-01

Scale effect was one of the very important scientific problems of remote sensing. The scale effect of quantitative remote sensing can be used to study retrievals' relationship between different-resolution images, and its research became an effective way to confront the challenges, such as validation of quantitative remote sensing products et al. Traditional up-scaling methods cannot describe scale changing features of retrievals on entire series of scales; meanwhile, they are faced with serious parameters correction issues because of imaging parameters' variation of different sensors, such as geometrical correction, spectral correction, etc. Utilizing single sensor image, fractal methodology was utilized to solve these problems. Taking NDVI (computed by land surface radiance) as example and based on Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) image, a scheme was proposed to model continuous scaling of retrievals. Then the experimental results indicated that: (a) For NDVI, scale effect existed, and it could be described by fractal model of continuous scaling; (2) The fractal method was suitable for validation of NDVI. All of these proved that fractal was an effective methodology of studying scaling of quantitative remote sensing.

language and Adjustment Scales for the Thematic Apperception Test for Children 6-11 Years.

PubMed

Neman, R S; Brown, T S; Sells, S B

1973-12-01

This report summarizes research on the development of objectively scored language and emotionality scales for a five-card, orally administered and tape- reqorded version of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) used in the Health Examination Survey (HES) of children conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics in 1963-65. National norms for children ages 6-11 are presented for these scales. Two studies were carried out to develop the scales and national norms. Study I involved the development of scoring manuals, criterion measures, and TAT scales, as well as validation studies in which the TAT scales were treated as independent variables and the criteria as dependent variables. In that study major emphasis was placed on creation of usable scales. The sample of 1,224 cases employed was chosen on the basis of completeness and quality of TAT protocol from among the children examined in the first 19 of the 40 Iocations or "stands" in which examinations took place in the national survey. All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

Adaptation of the ESPA29 Parental Socialization Styles Scale to the Basque language: evidence of validity.

PubMed

López-Jáuregui, Alicia; Oliden, Paula Elosua

2009-11-01

The aim of this study is to adapt the ESPA29 scale of parental socialization styles in adolescence to the Basque language. The study of its psychometric properties is based on the search for evidence of internal and external validity. The first focuses on the assessment of the dimensionality of the scale by means of exploratory factor analysis. The relationship between the dimensions of parental socialization styles and gender and age guarantee the external validity of the scale. The study of the equivalence of the adapted and original versions is based on the comparisons of the reliability coefficients and on factor congruence. The results allow us to conclude the equivalence of the two scales.

Quantifying drivers of wild pig movement across multiple spatial and temporal scales.

PubMed

Kay, Shannon L; Fischer, Justin W; Monaghan, Andrew J; Beasley, James C; Boughton, Raoul; Campbell, Tyler A; Cooper, Susan M; Ditchkoff, Stephen S; Hartley, Steve B; Kilgo, John C; Wisely, Samantha M; Wyckoff, A Christy; VerCauteren, Kurt C; Pepin, Kim M

2017-01-01

The movement behavior of an animal is determined by extrinsic and intrinsic factors that operate at multiple spatio-temporal scales, yet much of our knowledge of animal movement comes from studies that examine only one or two scales concurrently. Understanding the drivers of animal movement across multiple scales is crucial for understanding the fundamentals of movement ecology, predicting changes in distribution, describing disease dynamics, and identifying efficient methods of wildlife conservation and management. We obtained over 400,000 GPS locations of wild pigs from 13 different studies spanning six states in southern U.S.A., and quantified movement rates and home range size within a single analytical framework. We used a generalized additive mixed model framework to quantify the effects of five broad predictor categories on movement: individual-level attributes, geographic factors, landscape attributes, meteorological conditions, and temporal variables. We examined effects of predictors across three temporal scales: daily, monthly, and using all data during the study period. We considered both local environmental factors such as daily weather data and distance to various resources on the landscape, as well as factors acting at a broader spatial scale such as ecoregion and season. We found meteorological variables (temperature and pressure), landscape features (distance to water sources), a broad-scale geographic factor (ecoregion), and individual-level characteristics (sex-age class), drove wild pig movement across all scales, but both the magnitude and shape of covariate relationships to movement differed across temporal scales. The analytical framework we present can be used to assess movement patterns arising from multiple data sources for a range of species while accounting for spatio-temporal correlations. Our analyses show the magnitude by which reaction norms can change based on the temporal scale of response data, illustrating the importance of appropriately defining temporal scales of both the movement response and covariates depending on the intended implications of research (e.g., predicting effects of movement due to climate change versus planning local-scale management). We argue that consideration of multiple spatial scales within the same framework (rather than comparing across separate studies post-hoc ) gives a more accurate quantification of cross-scale spatial effects by appropriately accounting for error correlation.

Rating scales for musician's dystonia

PubMed Central

Berque, Patrice; Jabusch, Hans-Christian; Altenmüller, Eckart; Frucht, Steven J.

2013-01-01

Musician's dystonia (MD) is a focal adult-onset dystonia most commonly involving the hand. It has much greater relative prevalence than non-musician’s focal hand dystonias, exhibits task specificity at the level of specific musical passages, and is a particularly difficult form of dystonia to treat. For most MD patients, the diagnosis confirms the end of their music performance careers. Research on treatments and pathophysiology is contingent upon measures of motor function abnormalities. In this review, we comprehensively survey the literature to identify the rating scales used in MD and the distribution of their use. We also summarize the extent to which the scales have been evaluated for their clinical utility, including reliability, validity, sensitivity, specificity to MD, and practicality for a clinical setting. Out of 135 publications, almost half (62) included no quantitative measures of motor function. The remaining 73 studies used a variety of choices from among 10 major rating scales. Most used subjective scales involving either patient or clinician ratings. Only 25% (18) of the studies used objective scales. None of the scales has been completely and rigorously evaluated for clinical utility. Whether studies involved treatments or pathophysiologic assays, there was a heterogeneous choice of rating scales used with no clear standard. As a result, the collective interpretive value of those studies is limited because the results are confounded by measurement effects. We suggest that the development and widespread adoption of a new clinically useful rating scale is critical for accelerating basic and clinical research in MD. PMID:23884039

[Development and Testing of the Taiwanese Hospital Nurses' Job Satisfaction Scale].

PubMed

Tzeng, Wen-Chii; Lin, Chiou-Fen; Lin, Lih-Ying; Lu, Meei-Shiow; Chiang, Li-Chi

2017-04-01

In the context of professional nursing, the concept of job satisfaction includes the degree to which a nurse is satisfied with the nursing profession, his/her personal adaptation to this profession, and his/her current working environment. No validated scale that addresses the job satisfaction of nurses working in hospitals currently exists in Taiwan. To develop a reliable and validated scale for measuring the job satisfaction of hospital nurses in Taiwan. A three-phase, cross-sectional study design was used. First, a literature review and expert focus group discussion were conducted to develop the initial scale items. Second, experts were invited to validate the content of the draft scale. Finally, convenience sampling was used to recruit 427 hospital nurses from 6 hospitals. These nurses completed the scale and the results were analyzed using item analysis, factor analysis, and internal consistency analysis. The 31-item Taiwanese hospital nurse job satisfaction scale developed in the present study addresses 5 factors, including supportive working environment, professional autonomy and growth, interpersonal interaction and collaboration, leadership style, and nursing workload. The overall Cronbach's α was .96. The results indicate that the developed scale provides good reliability and validity. This study confirms the validity and reliability of the developed scale. It may be used to measure the job satisfaction of nurses working in hospitals.

A French validation study of the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R).

PubMed

Schnakers, Caroline; Majerus, Steve; Giacino, Joseph; Vanhaudenhuyse, Audrey; Bruno, Marie-Aurelie; Boly, Melanie; Moonen, Gustave; Damas, Pierre; Lambermont, Bernard; Lamy, Maurice; Damas, Francois; Ventura, Manfredi; Laureys, Steven

2008-09-01

The aim of the present study was to explore the concurrent validity, inter-rater agreement and diagnostic sensitivity of a French adaptation of the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) as compared to other coma scales such as the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the Full Outline of UnResponsiveness scale (FOUR) and the Wessex Head Injury Matrix (WHIM). Multi-centric prospective study. To test concurrent validity and diagnostic sensitivity, the four behavioural scales were administered in a randomized order in 77 vegetative and minimally conscious patients. Twenty-four clinicians with different professional backgrounds, levels of expertise and CRS-R experience were recruited to assess inter-rater agreement. Good concurrent validity was obtained between the CRS-R and the three other standardized behavioural scales. Inter-rater reliability for the CRS-R total score and sub-scores was good, indicating that the scale yields reproducible findings across examiners and does not appear to be systematically biased by profession, level of expertise or CRS-R experience. Finally, the CRS-R demonstrated a significantly higher sensitivity to detect MCS patients, as compared to the GCS, the FOUR and the WHIM. The results show that the French version of the CRS-R is a valid and sensitive scale which can be used in severely brain damaged patients by all members of the medical staff.

Studies on scaling of flow noise received at the stagnation point of an axisymmetric body

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arakeri, V. H.; Satyanarayana, S. G.; Mani, K.; Sharma, S. D.

1991-05-01

A description of the studies related to the problem of scaling of flow noise received at the stagnation point of axisymmetric bodies is provided. The source of flow noise under consideration is the transitional/turbulent regions of the boundary layer flow on the axisymmetric body. Lauchle has recently shown that the noise measured in the laminar region (including the stagnation point) corresponds closely to the noise measured in the transition region, provided that the acoustic losses due to diffraction are accounted for. The present study includes experimental measurement of flow noise at the stagnation point of three different shaped axisymmetric headforms. One of the body shapes chosen is that used by Lauchle in similar studies. This was done to establish the effect of body size on flow noise. The results of the experimental investigations clearly show that the flow noise received at the stagnation point is a strong function of free stream velocity, a moderately strong function of body scale but a weak function of boundary layer thickness. In addition, there is evidence that when body scale change is involved, flow noise amplitude scales but no frequency shift is involved. A scaling procedure is proposed based on the present observations along with those of Lauchle. At a given frequency, the amplitude of noise level obtained under model testing conditions is first scaled to account for differences in the velocity and size corresponding to the prototype conditions; then a correction to this is applied to account for losses due to diffraction, which are estimated on the basis of the geometric theory of diffraction (GTD) with the source being located at the predicted position of turbulent transition. Use of the proposed scaling law to extrapolate presently obtained noise levels to two other conditions involving larger-scale bodies show good agreement with actually measured levels, in particular at higher frequencies. Since model scale results have been used successfully to predict levels on larger-sized bodies tested in a totally different environment, the present data along with the proposed scaling procedure can be used to predict the expected flow noise levels at prototype scales during preliminary design studies.

A randomization approach to handling data scaling in nuclear medicine.

PubMed

Bai, Chuanyong; Conwell, Richard; Kindem, Joel

2010-06-01

In medical imaging, data scaling is sometimes desired to handle the system complexity, such as uniformity calibration. Since the data are usually saved in short integer, conventional data scaling will first scale the data in floating point format and then truncate or round the floating point data to short integer data. For example, when using truncation, scaling of 9 by 1.1 results in 9 and scaling of 10 by 1.1 results in 11. When the count level is low, such scaling may change the local data distribution and affect the intended application of the data. In this work, the authors use an example gated cardiac SPECT study to illustrate the effect of conventional scaling by factors of 1.1 and 1.2. The authors then scaled the data with the same scaling factors using a randomization approach, in which a random number evenly distributed between 0 and 1 is generated to determine how the floating point data will be saved as short integer data. If the random number is between 0 and 0.9, then 9.9 will be saved as 10, otherwise 9. In other words, the floating point value 9.9 will be saved in short integer value as 10 with 90% probability or 9 with 10% probability. For statistical analysis of the performance, the authors applied the conventional approach with rounding and the randomization approach to 50 consecutive gated studies from a clinical site. For the example study, the image reconstructed from the original data showed an apparent perfusion defect at the apex of the myocardium. The defect size was noticeably changed by scaling with 1.1 and 1.2 using the conventional approaches with truncation and rounding. Using the randomization approach, in contrast, the images from the scaled data appeared identical to the original image. Line profile analysis of the scaled data showed that the randomization approach introduced the least change to the data as compared to the conventional approaches. For the 50 gated data sets, significantly more studies showed quantitative differences between the original images and the images from the data scaled by 1.2 using the rounding approach than the randomization approach [46/50 (92%) versus 3/50 (6%), p < 0.05]. Likewise, significantly more studies showed visually noticeable differences between the original images and the images from the data scaled by 1.2 using the rounding approach than randomization [29/50 (58%) versus 1/50 (2%), p < 0.05]. In conclusion, the proposed randomization approach minimizes the scaling-introduced local data change as compared to the conventional approaches. It is preferred for nuclear medicine data scaling.

The efficacy of cognitive prosthetic technology for people with memory impairments: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Jamieson, Matthew; Cullen, Breda; McGee-Lennon, Marilyn; Brewster, Stephen; Evans, Jonathan J

2014-01-01

Technology can compensate for memory impairment. The efficacy of assistive technology for people with memory difficulties and the methodology of selected studies are assessed. A systematic search was performed and all studies that investigated the impact of technology on memory performance for adults with impaired memory resulting from acquired brain injury (ABI) or a degenerative disease were included. Two 10-point scales were used to compare each study to an ideally reported single case experimental design (SCED) study (SCED scale; Tate et al., 2008 ) or randomised control group study (PEDro-P scale; Maher, Sherrington, Herbert, Moseley, & Elkins, 2003 ). Thirty-two SCED (mean = 5.9 on the SCED scale) and 11 group studies (mean = 4.45 on the PEDro-P scale) were found. Baseline and intervention performance for each participant in the SCED studies was re-calculated using non-overlap of all pairs (Parker & Vannest, 2009 ) giving a mean score of 0.85 on a 0 to 1 scale (17 studies, n = 36). A meta-analysis of the efficacy of technology vs. control in seven group studies gave a large effect size (d = 1.27) (n = 147). It was concluded that prosthetic technology can improve performance on everyday tasks requiring memory. There is a specific need for investigations of technology for people with degenerative diseases.

The Culturally Responsive Teacher Preparedness Scale: An Exploratory Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hsiao, Yun-Ju

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the competencies of culturally responsive teaching and construct a Culturally Responsive Teacher Preparedness Scale (CRTPS) for the use of teacher preparation programs and preservice teachers. Competencies listed in the scale were identified through literature reviews and input from experts. The…

A subcontinental view of forest plant invasions

Treesearch

Christopher M. Oswalt; Songlin Fei; Qinfeng Guo; Basil V. Iannone III; Sonja N. Oswalt; Bryan C. Pijanowski; Kevin M. Potter

2015-01-01

Over the last few decades, considerable attention has focused on small-scale studies of invasive plants and invaded systems. Unfortunately, small scale studies rarely provide comprehensive insight into the complexities of biological invasions at macroscales. Systematic and repeated monitoring of biological invasions at broad scales are rare. In this report, we...

Protective Factors for Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: Interpersonal Relationships and Perceived Social Support

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luo, Yun; Xiang, Zhoulei; Zhang, Hui; Wang, Zhenhong

2017-01-01

The association between interpersonal relationships, perceived social support, and depressive symptoms in adolescents was investigated in the present study. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depressive Symptoms Scale (CES-D-SF), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Interpersonal Relationship Scale (IRS) were…

Using the Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Attitude Scales with Lower-Primary Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ren, Lixin; Green, Jennifer L.; Smith, Wendy M.

2016-01-01

The Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Attitude Scales (FSMAS) are among the most popular instruments used in studies of attitudes toward mathematics. However, the FSMAS has been mainly used among student populations and rarely used with teachers. In the present study, three scales from the FSMAS--"Confidence," "Effectance…

The Development and Validation of a Scale Measuring Teacher Autonomous Behaviour

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Evers, Arnoud T.; Verboon, Peter; Klaeijsen, Andrea

2017-01-01

In the current study a multi-dimensional scale that measures teacher autonomous behaviour is presented. The scale is applicable across the following educational sectors: primary education, secondary education and vocational education. Based on an elaborate literature study, four theoretically relevant dimensions of teacher autonomous behaviour…

Human Factors in the Large: Experiences from Denmark, Finland and Canada in Moving Towards Regional and National Evaluations of Health Information System Usability. Contribution of the IMIA Human Factors Working Group.

PubMed

Kushniruk, A; Kaipio, J; Nieminen, M; Hyppönen, H; Lääveri, T; Nohr, C; Kanstrup, A M; Berg Christiansen, M; Kuo, M-H; Borycki, E

2014-08-15

The objective of this paper is to explore approaches to understanding the usability of health information systems at regional and national levels. Several different methods are discussed in case studies from Denmark, Finland and Canada. They range from small scale qualitative studies involving usability testing of systems to larger scale national level questionnaire studies aimed at assessing the use and usability of health information systems by entire groups of health professionals. It was found that regional and national usability studies can complement smaller scale usability studies, and that they are needed in order to understand larger trends regarding system usability. Despite adoption of EHRs, many health professionals rate the usability of the systems as low. A range of usability issues have been noted when data is collected on a large scale through use of widely distributed questionnaires and websites designed to monitor user perceptions of usability. As health information systems are deployed on a widespread basis, studies that examine systems used regionally or nationally are required. In addition, collection of large scale data on the usability of specific IT products is needed in order to complement smaller scale studies of specific systems.

Human Factors in the Large: Experiences from Denmark, Finland and Canada in Moving Towards Regional and National Evaluations of Health Information System Usability

PubMed Central

Kaipio, J.; Nieminen, M.; Hyppönen, H.; Lääveri, T.; Nohr, C.; Kanstrup, A. M.; Berg Christiansen, M.; Kuo, M.-H.; Borycki, E.

2014-01-01

Summary Objectives The objective of this paper is to explore approaches to understanding the usability of health information systems at regional and national levels. Methods Several different methods are discussed in case studies from Denmark, Finland and Canada. They range from small scale qualitative studies involving usability testing of systems to larger scale national level questionnaire studies aimed at assessing the use and usability of health information systems by entire groups of health professionals. Results It was found that regional and national usability studies can complement smaller scale usability studies, and that they are needed in order to understand larger trends regarding system usability. Despite adoption of EHRs, many health professionals rate the usability of the systems as low. A range of usability issues have been noted when data is collected on a large scale through use of widely distributed questionnaires and websites designed to monitor user perceptions of usability. Conclusion As health information systems are deployed on a widespread basis, studies that examine systems used regionally or nationally are required. In addition, collection of large scale data on the usability of specific IT products is needed in order to complement smaller scale studies of specific systems. PMID:25123725

The Berg Balance Scale has high intra- and inter-rater reliability but absolute reliability varies across the scale: a systematic review.

PubMed

Downs, Stephen; Marquez, Jodie; Chiarelli, Pauline

2013-06-01

What is the intra-rater and inter-rater relative reliability of the Berg Balance Scale? What is the absolute reliability of the Berg Balance Scale? Does the absolute reliability of the Berg Balance Scale vary across the scale? Systematic review with meta-analysis of reliability studies. Any clinical population that has undergone assessment with the Berg Balance Scale. Relative intra-rater reliability, relative inter-rater reliability, and absolute reliability. Eleven studies involving 668 participants were included in the review. The relative intrarater reliability of the Berg Balance Scale was high, with a pooled estimate of 0.98 (95% CI 0.97 to 0.99). Relative inter-rater reliability was also high, with a pooled estimate of 0.97 (95% CI 0.96 to 0.98). A ceiling effect of the Berg Balance Scale was evident for some participants. In the analysis of absolute reliability, all of the relevant studies had an average score of 20 or above on the 0 to 56 point Berg Balance Scale. The absolute reliability across this part of the scale, as measured by the minimal detectable change with 95% confidence, varied between 2.8 points and 6.6 points. The Berg Balance Scale has a higher absolute reliability when close to 56 points due to the ceiling effect. We identified no data that estimated the absolute reliability of the Berg Balance Scale among participants with a mean score below 20 out of 56. The Berg Balance Scale has acceptable reliability, although it might not detect modest, clinically important changes in balance in individual subjects. The review was only able to comment on the absolute reliability of the Berg Balance Scale among people with moderately poor to normal balance. Copyright © 2013 Australian Physiotherapy Association. Published by .. All rights reserved.

Development of a nursing care problems coping scale for male caregivers for people with dementia living at home.

PubMed

Nishio, Midori; Ono, Mitsu

2015-01-01

The number of male caregivers has increased, but male caregivers face several problems that reduce their quality of life and psychological condition. This study focused on the coping problems of men who care for people with dementia at home. It aimed to develop a coping scale for male caregivers so that they can continue caring for people with dementia at home and improve their own quality of life. The study also aimed to verify the reliability and validity of the scale. The subjects were 759 men who care for people with dementia at home. The Care Problems Coping Scale consists of 21 questions based on elements of questions extracted from a pilot study. Additionally, subjects completed three self-administered questionnaires: the Japanese version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, the Depressive Symptoms and the Self-esteem Emotional Scale, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. There were 274 valid responses (36.1% response rate). Regarding the answer distribution, each average value of the 21 items ranged from 1.56 to 2.68. The median answer distribution of the 21 items was 39 (SD = 6.6). Five items had a ceiling effect, and two items had a floor effect. The scale stability was about 50%, and Cronbach's α was 0.49. There were significant correlations between the Care Problems Coping Scale and total scores of the Japanese version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, the Depressive Symptoms and Self-esteem Emotional Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The answers provided on the Care Problems Coping Scale questionnaire indicated that male caregivers experience care problems. In terms of validity, there were significant correlations between the external questionnaires and 19 of the 21 items in this scale. This scale can therefore be used to measure problems with coping for male caregivers who care for people with dementia at home.

Predictive accuracy of risk scales following self-harm: multicentre, prospective cohort study.

PubMed

Quinlivan, Leah; Cooper, Jayne; Meehan, Declan; Longson, Damien; Potokar, John; Hulme, Tom; Marsden, Jennifer; Brand, Fiona; Lange, Kezia; Riseborough, Elena; Page, Lisa; Metcalfe, Chris; Davies, Linda; O'Connor, Rory; Hawton, Keith; Gunnell, David; Kapur, Nav

2017-06-01

Background Scales are widely used in psychiatric assessments following self-harm. Robust evidence for their diagnostic use is lacking. Aims To evaluate the performance of risk scales (Manchester Self-Harm Rule, ReACT Self-Harm Rule, SAD PERSONS scale, Modified SAD PERSONS scale, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale); and patient and clinician estimates of risk in identifying patients who repeat self-harm within 6 months. Method A multisite prospective cohort study was conducted of adults aged 18 years and over referred to liaison psychiatry services following self-harm. Scale a priori cut-offs were evaluated using diagnostic accuracy statistics. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to determine optimal cut-offs and compare global accuracy. Results In total, 483 episodes of self-harm were included in the study. The episode-based 6-month repetition rate was 30% ( n = 145). Sensitivity ranged from 1% (95% CI 0-5) for the SAD PERSONS scale, to 97% (95% CI 93-99) for the Manchester Self-Harm Rule. Positive predictive values ranged from 13% (95% CI 2-47) for the Modified SAD PERSONS Scale to 47% (95% CI 41-53) for the clinician assessment of risk. The AUC ranged from 0.55 (95% CI 0.50-0.61) for the SAD PERSONS scale to 0.74 (95% CI 0.69-0.79) for the clinician global scale. The remaining scales performed significantly worse than clinician and patient estimates of risk ( P <0.001). Conclusions Risk scales following self-harm have limited clinical utility and may waste valuable resources. Most scales performed no better than clinician or patient ratings of risk. Some performed considerably worse. Positive predictive values were modest. In line with national guidelines, risk scales should not be used to determine patient management or predict self-harm. © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2017.

Research of the effectiveness of parallel multithreaded realizations of interpolation methods for scaling raster images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vnukov, A. A.; Shershnev, M. B.

2018-01-01

The aim of this work is the software implementation of three image scaling algorithms using parallel computations, as well as the development of an application with a graphical user interface for the Windows operating system to demonstrate the operation of algorithms and to study the relationship between system performance, algorithm execution time and the degree of parallelization of computations. Three methods of interpolation were studied, formalized and adapted to scale images. The result of the work is a program for scaling images by different methods. Comparison of the quality of scaling by different methods is given.

The usefulness of assessing suggestibility and compliance in prisoners with unidentified intellectual disabilities.

PubMed

Søndenaa, Erik; Rasmussen, Kirsten; Palmstierna, Tom; Nøttestad, Jim Aage

2010-10-01

This present study explored the relationship of interrogative suggestibility (n = 133) and compliance (n = 118) to intellectual functioning among prison inmates. The Norwegian versions of the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (GSS) and the Gudjonsson Compliance Scale (GCS) were used. The results supported previous findings of a negative correlation between the Gudjonsson scales and IQ, and the scales were found useful throughout the IQ range. The impact of a memory artifact was discussed in the light of recent studies and criticism of the scales. © 2010 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology © 2010 The Scandinavian Psychological Associations.

[Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the internalized stigma of mental illness scale].

PubMed

Ersoy, Mehmet Akif; Varan, Azmi

2007-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI) in patients with psychiatric disorders. The study included 203 patients diagnosed with various psychiatric disorders in a psychiatry outpatient clinic of a university hospital. The reliability of the scale was assessed by investigation of its internal consistency and split-half reliability. The convergent validity of the scale was demonstrated by the relationship between the Turkish form of the ISMI and various criteria scales. Cronbach's alpha value was 0.93 for the entire scale and ranged between 0.63 and 0.87 for the 5 subscales of the ISMI. In terms of convergent validity, the total score of the Turkish ISMI significantly correlated with the Beck Depression Inventory, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Clinical Global Impression Scale, and Global Assessment of Functioning Scale scores. All values were in the expected direction. In the light of the findings, it was concluded that the Turkish version of ISMI could be used as a reliable and valid tool in assessing internalized stigma of the Turkish psychiatric patients.

Development and Validity of a Scale of Perception of Velocity in Resistance Exercise

PubMed Central

Bautista, Iker J.; Chirosa, Ignacio J.; Chirosa, Luis J.; Martín, Ignacio; González, Andrés; Robertson, Robert J.

2014-01-01

This aims of this study were twofold; 1) to development a new scale of perceived velocity in the bench press exercise and 2) to examine the scales concurrent validity. Twenty one physically active males with mean ±SD age, height and weights of: 27.5 ± 4.7 years, 1.77 ± 0.07 m, and 79.8 ± 10.3 kg respectively, took part in the study. The criterion variable used to test the validity of the new scale was the mean execution velocity (Velreal) of the bench press exercise. Three intensities (light loads [< 40% 1RM], medium loads [40% -70% 1RM] and heavy loads [> 70% 1RM]) were measured randomly during 5 days of testing. Perceived velocity (Velscale) was measured immediately after each exercise set using the new scale. A positive linear correlation (r range = 0.69 to 0.81) was found in all three intensities, analyzed individually, between the Velreal and Velscale. Pearson correlations showed a greater frequency of scale use resulted higher correlation values (range r = 0.88 to 0.96). This study provides evidence of the concurrent validity of a new scale of perceived velocity in the bench press exercise in trained adult males. These results suggest the exercise intensity of the bench press can be quantified quickly and effective using this new scale of perceived velocity, particularly when training for maximum power. Key Points Measurement of perception of velocity can complement other scales of perception such as the 15 category Borg scale or the OMNI-RES. The results obtained in this study show that there was a positive correlation between the perceived velocity measured by the scale and actual velocity Regular use of the new scale of perceived velocity in external resistance training provides athletes with continuous feedback of execution velocity in each repetition and set, especially with high power loads PMID:25177180

Development and validity of a scale of perception of velocity in resistance exercise.

PubMed

Bautista, Iker J; Chirosa, Ignacio J; Chirosa, Luis J; Martín, Ignacio; González, Andrés; Robertson, Robert J

2014-09-01

This aims of this study were twofold; 1) to development a new scale of perceived velocity in the bench press exercise and 2) to examine the scales concurrent validity. Twenty one physically active males with mean ±SD age, height and weights of: 27.5 ± 4.7 years, 1.77 ± 0.07 m, and 79.8 ± 10.3 kg respectively, took part in the study. The criterion variable used to test the validity of the new scale was the mean execution velocity (Velreal) of the bench press exercise. Three intensities (light loads [< 40% 1RM], medium loads [40% -70% 1RM] and heavy loads [> 70% 1RM]) were measured randomly during 5 days of testing. Perceived velocity (Velscale) was measured immediately after each exercise set using the new scale. A positive linear correlation (r range = 0.69 to 0.81) was found in all three intensities, analyzed individually, between the Velreal and Velscale. Pearson correlations showed a greater frequency of scale use resulted higher correlation values (range r = 0.88 to 0.96). This study provides evidence of the concurrent validity of a new scale of perceived velocity in the bench press exercise in trained adult males. These results suggest the exercise intensity of the bench press can be quantified quickly and effective using this new scale of perceived velocity, particularly when training for maximum power. Key PointsMeasurement of perception of velocity can complement other scales of perception such as the 15 category Borg scale or the OMNI-RES.The results obtained in this study show that there was a positive correlation between the perceived velocity measured by the scale and actual velocityRegular use of the new scale of perceived velocity in external resistance training provides athletes with continuous feedback of execution velocity in each repetition and set, especially with high power loads.

A comparative scanning electron microscopy study between hand instrument, ultrasonic scaling and erbium doped:Yttirum aluminum garnet laser on root surface: A morphological and thermal analysis

PubMed Central

Mishra, Mitul Kumar; Prakash, Shobha

2013-01-01

Background and Objectives: Scaling and root planing is one of the most commonly used procedures for the treatment of periodontal diseases. Removal of calculus using conventional hand instruments is incomplete and rather time consuming. In search of more efficient and less difficult instrumentation, investigators have proposed lasers as an alternative or as adjuncts to scaling and root planing. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of erbium doped: Yttirum aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser scaling and root planing alone or as an adjunct to hand and ultrasonic instrumentation. Subjects and Methods: A total of 75 freshly extracted periodontally involved single rooted teeth were collected. Teeth were randomly divided into five treatment groups having 15 teeth each: Hand scaling only, ultrasonic scaling only, Er:YAG laser scaling only, hand scaling + Er:YAG laser scaling and ultrasonic scaling + Er:YAG laser scaling. Specimens were subjected to scanning electron microscopy and photographs were evaluated by three examiners who were blinded to the study. Parameters included were remaining calculus index, loss of tooth substance index, roughness loss of tooth substance index, presence or absence of smear layer, thermal damage and any other morphological damage. Results: Er:YAG laser treated specimens showed similar effectiveness in calculus removal to the other test groups whereas tooth substance loss and tooth surface roughness was more on comparison with other groups. Ultrasonic treated specimens showed better results as compared to other groups with different parameters. However, smear layer presence was seen more with hand and ultrasonic groups. Very few laser treated specimens showed thermal damage and morphological change. Interpretation and Conclusion: In our study, ultrasonic scaling specimen have shown root surface clean and practically unaltered. On the other hand, hand instrument have produced a plane surface, but removed more tooth structure. The laser treated specimens showed rough surfaces without much residual deposit or any other sign of morphological change. PMID:24015009

Relations Between Coastal Catchment Attributes and Submarine Groundwater Discharge at Different Scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moosdorf, N.; Langlotz, S. T.

2016-02-01

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) has been recognized as a relevant field of coastal research in the last years. Its implications on local scale have been documented by an increasing number of studies researching individual locations with SGD. The local studies also often emphasize its large variability. On the other end, global scale studies try to estimate SGD related fluxes of e.g. carbon (Cole et al., 2007) and nitrogen (Beusen et al., 2013). These studies naturally use a coarse resolution, too coarse to represent the aforementioned local variability of SGD (Moosdorf et al., 2015). A way to transfer information of the local variability of SGD to large scale flux estimates is needed. Here we discuss the upscaling of local studies based on the definition and typology of coastal catchments. Coastal catchments are those stretches of coast that do not drain into major rivers but directly into the sea. Their attributes, e.g. climate, topography, land cover, or lithology can be used to extrapolate from the local scale to larger scales. We present first results of a typology, compare coastal catchment attributes to SGD estimates from field studies and discuss upscaling as well as the associated uncertainties. This study aims at bridging the gap between the scales and enabling an improved representation of local scale variability on continental to global scale. With this, it can contribute to a recent initiative to model large scale SGD fluxes (NExT SGD). References: Beusen, A.H.W., Slomp, C.P., Bouwman, A.F., 2013. Global land-ocean linkage: direct inputs of nitrogen to coastal waters via submarine groundwater discharge. Environmental Research Letters, 8(3): 6. Cole, J.J., Prairie, Y.T., Caraco, N.F., McDowell, W.H., Tranvik, L.J., Striegl, R.G., Duarte, C.M., Kortelainen, P., Downing, J.A., Middelburg, J.J., Melack, J., 2007. Plumbing the global carbon cycle: Integrating inland waters into the terrestrial carbon budget. Ecosystems, 10(1): 171-184. Moosdorf, N., Stieglitz, T., Waska, H., Durr, H.H., Hartmann, J., 2015. Submarine groundwater discharge from tropical islands: a review. Grundwasser, 20(1): 53-67.

Study on Thermal Decomposition Characteristics of Ammonium Nitrate Emulsion Explosive in Different Scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Qiujie; Tan, Liu; Xu, Sen; Liu, Dabin; Min, Li

2018-04-01

Numerous accidents of emulsion explosive (EE) are attributed to uncontrolled thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate emulsion (ANE, the intermediate of EE) and EE in large scale. In order to study the thermal decomposition characteristics of ANE and EE in different scales, a large-scale test of modified vented pipe test (MVPT), and two laboratory-scale tests of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC) were applied in the present study. The scale effect and water effect both play an important role in the thermal stability of ANE and EE. The measured decomposition temperatures of ANE and EE in MVPT are 146°C and 144°C, respectively, much lower than those in DSC and ARC. As the size of the same sample in DSC, ARC, and MVPT successively increases, the onset temperatures decrease. In the same test, the measured onset temperature value of ANE is higher than that of EE. The water composition of the sample stabilizes the sample. The large-scale test of MVPT can provide information for the real-life operations. The large-scale operations have more risks, and continuous overheating should be avoided.

Studying time of flight imaging through scattering media across multiple size scales (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Velten, Andreas

2017-05-01

Light scattering is a primary obstacle to optical imaging in a variety of different environments and across many size and time scales. Scattering complicates imaging on large scales when imaging through the atmosphere when imaging from airborne or space borne platforms, through marine fog, or through fog and dust in vehicle navigation, for example in self driving cars. On smaller scales, scattering is the major obstacle when imaging through human tissue in biomedical applications. Despite the large variety of participating materials and size scales, light transport in all these environments is usually described with very similar scattering models that are defined by the same small set of parameters, including scattering and absorption length and phase function. We attempt a study of scattering and methods of imaging through scattering across different scales and media, particularly with respect to the use of time of flight information. We can show that using time of flight, in addition to spatial information, provides distinct advantages in scattering environments. By performing a comparative study of scattering across scales and media, we are able to suggest scale models for scattering environments to aid lab research. We also can transfer knowledge and methodology between different fields.

Architectural Optimization of Digital Libraries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Biser, Aileen O.

1998-01-01

This work investigates performance and scaling issues relevant to large scale distributed digital libraries. Presently, performance and scaling studies focus on specific implementations of production or prototype digital libraries. Although useful information is gained to aid these designers and other researchers with insights to performance and scaling issues, the broader issues relevant to very large scale distributed libraries are not addressed. Specifically, no current studies look at the extreme or worst case possibilities in digital library implementations. A survey of digital library research issues is presented. Scaling and performance issues are mentioned frequently in the digital library literature but are generally not the focus of much of the current research. In this thesis a model for a Generic Distributed Digital Library (GDDL) and nine cases of typical user activities are defined. This model is used to facilitate some basic analysis of scaling issues. Specifically, the calculation of Internet traffic generated for different configurations of the study parameters and an estimate of the future bandwidth needed for a large scale distributed digital library implementation. This analysis demonstrates the potential impact a future distributed digital library implementation would have on the Internet traffic load and raises questions concerning the architecture decisions being made for future distributed digital library designs.

We will make you like our research: The development of a susceptibility-to-persuasion scale.

PubMed

Modic, David; Anderson, Ross; Palomäki, Jussi

2018-01-01

Psychological and other persuasive mechanisms across diverse contexts are well researched, with many studies of the effectiveness of specific persuasive techniques on distinct types of human behaviour. In the present paper, our specific interest lies in the development of a generalized modular psychometric tool to measure individuals' susceptibility to persuasion. The scale is constructed using items from previously developed and validated particulate scales established in the domains of social psychology and behavioural economics. In the first study we establish the Susceptibility to Persuasion-II (StP-II) scale, containing 54 items, 10 subscales and further 6 sub-sub scales. In Study 2 we establish the scale's construct validity and reconfirm its reliability. We present a valid and reliable modular psychometric tool that measures general susceptibility to persuasive techniques. Since its inception, we have successfully implemented the StP-II scale to measure susceptibility to persuasion of IT security officers, the role of psychology of persuasion in cybercrime victims and general persuadability levels of Facebook users; these manuscripts are in preparation. We argue that the StP-II scale shows promise in measuring individual differences in susceptibility to persuasion, and is applicable across diverse contexts such as Internet security and cybercrime.

FLARE: a New User Facility for Studies of Magnetic Reconnection Through Simultaneous, in-situ Measurements on MHD Scales, Ion Scales and Electron Scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, H.; Bhattacharjee, A.; Goodman, A.; Prager, S.; Daughton, W. S.; Cutler, R.; Fox, W.; Hoffmann, F.; Kalish, M.; Kozub, T.; Jara-Almonte, J.; Myers, C. E.; Ren, Y.; Sloboda, P.; Yamada, M.; Yoo, J.; Bale, S. D.; Carter, T.; Dorfman, S. E.; Drake, J. F.; Egedal, J.; Sarff, J.; Wallace, J.

2017-12-01

The FLARE device (Facility for Laboratory Reconnection Experiments; flare.pppl.gov) is a new laboratory experiment under construction at Princeton for the studies of magnetic reconnection in the multiple X-line regimes directly relevant to space, solar, astrophysical, and fusion plasmas, as guided by a reconnection phase diagram [Ji & Daughton, (2011)]. The whole device has been successfully assembled with rough leak check completed. The first plasmas are expected in the fall to winter. The main diagnostic is an extensive set of magnetic probe arrays to cover multiple scales from local electron scales ( ˜2 mm), to intermediate ion scales ( ˜10 cm), and global MHD scales ( ˜1 m), simultaneously providing in-situ measurements over all these relevant scales. By using these laboratory data, not only the detailed spatial profiles around each reconnecting X-line are available for direct comparisons with spacecraft data, but also the global conditions and consequences of magnetic reconnection, which are often difficult to quantify in space, can be controlled or studied systematically. The planned procedures and example topics as a user facility will be discussed in detail.

Preliminary Validation of the Perceived Locus of Causality Scale for Academic Motivation in the Context of University Studies (PLOC-U)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sánchez de Miguel, Manuel; Lizaso, Izarne; Hermosilla, Daniel; Alcover, Carlos-Maria; Goudas, Marios; Arranz-Freijó, Enrique

2017-01-01

Background: Research has shown that self-determination theory can be useful in the study of motivation in sport and other forms of physical activity. The Perceived Locus of Causality (PLOC) scale was originally designed to study both. Aim: The current research presents and validates the new PLOC-U scale to measure academic motivation in the…

Development of a Measure of Mood State for Children: The MINIMOOD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lynch, Mervin D.; Foley-Peres, Kathleen; Sullivan, Stefanie

2008-01-01

The purposes of the present study were to develop and validate a mood scale measure for elementary grade school children. Graduate students generated a sampling of mood state items, 30 to use in a pilot study and 60 to use in a study to develop and validate this scale. Ratings were obtained on five point scale choices on each of the items from a…

Validity and Reliability Studies on the Scale of the Reasons for Academic Procrastination

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yesil, Rustu

2012-01-01

The objective of this study is to develop a scale in order to determine the reasons why students delay academic tasks and the levels that they are affected from these reasons. The study group was composed of a total of 447 students from the faculty of education. The KMO value of this scale composed of 43 items collected under six factors was…

An Investigation of Psychometric Properties of Coping Styles Scale Brief Form: A Study of Validity and Reliability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bacanli, Hasan; Surucu, Mustafa; Ilhan, Tahsin

2013-01-01

The aim of the current study was to develop a short form of Coping Styles Scale based on COPE Inventory. A total of 275 undergraduate students (114 female, and 74 male) were administered in the first study. In order to test factors structure of Coping Styles Scale Brief Form, principal components factor analysis and direct oblique rotation was…

Safety and tolerability of vortioxetine (15 and 20 mg) in patients with major depressive disorder: results of an open-label, flexible-dose, 52-week extension study.

PubMed

Jacobsen, Paula L; Harper, Linda; Chrones, Lambros; Chan, Serena; Mahableshwarkar, Atul R

2015-09-01

Vortioxetine is approved for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder. This open-label extension (OLE) study evaluated the safety and tolerability of vortioxetine in the long-term treatment of major depressive disorder patients, as well as evaluated its effectiveness using measures of depression, anxiety, and overall functioning. This was a 52-week, flexible-dose, OLE study in patients who completed one of three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 8-week vortioxetine trials. All patients were switched to 10 mg/day vortioxetine for week 1, then adjusted between 15 and 20 mg for the remainder of the study, but not downtitrated below 15 mg. Safety and tolerability were assessed on the basis of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), vital signs, laboratory values, physical examination, and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Efficacy measures included the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, the Clinical Global Impression Scale-Severity of Illness, and the Sheehan Disability Scale. Of the 1075 patients enrolled, 1073 received at least one dose of vortioxetine and 538 (50.0%) completed the study. A total of 537 patients withdrew early, with 115 (10.7% of the original study population) withdrawing because of TEAEs. Long-term treatment with vortioxetine was well tolerated; the most common TEAEs (≥10%) were nausea and headache. Laboratory values, vital signs, and physical examinations revealed no trends of clinical concern. The mean Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale total score was 19.9 at the start of the extension study and 9.0 after 52 weeks of treatment (observed cases). Similar improvements were observed with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (Δ-4.2), the Clinical Global Impression Scale-Severity of Illness (Δ-1.2), and the Sheehan Disability Scale (Δ-4.7) total scores after 52 weeks of treatment (observed case). In this 52-week, flexible-dose OLE study, 15 and 20 mg vortioxetine were safe and well tolerated. After entry into this study, patients continued to show improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as overall functioning, throughout the treatment period.

The Scale Invariant Synchrotron Jet of Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, L. M.; Bai, J. M.; Xie, Z. H.; Yi, T. F.; Xu, Y. B.; Xue, R.; Wang, X. H.

2015-06-01

In this paper, the scale invariance of the synchrotron jet of Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars has been studied using a sample of combined sources from FKM04 and from SDSS DR3 catalogue. Since the research of scale invariance has been focused on sub-Eddington cases that can be fitted onto the fundamental plane, while near-Eddington sources such as FSRQs have not been explicitly studied. The extracted physical properties of synchrotron jet of FSRQs have been shown to be scale invariant using our sample. The results are in good agreement with theoretical expectations of Heinz & Sunyaev (2003). Therefore, the jet synchrotron is shown to be scale independent, regardless of the accretion modes. Results in this article thus lend support to the scale invariant model of the jet synchrotron throughout the mass scale of black hole systems.

[Reliability and validity of marital love scale in middle- aged and elderly couples].

PubMed

Ito, Yuko; Sagara, Junko

2012-08-01

A marital love scale was created to study the marital quality of middle-aged and elderly couples, and the scale's reliability and validity were examined. In this study, 888 middle-aged and elderly married participants completed the marital love scale questionnaire as well as answering questions regarding marriage satisfaction and husband-wife communication. In all age groups, men scored higher than women on the marital love scale. The marital love score gradually increased from the middle-aged to the senior period, and like the marriage satisfaction score, the marital love score showed a U-shaped curve in the whole married life. The results also showed that the scale was highly correlated with marriage satisfaction and spousal self-disclosure. Thus, the validity and internal consistency of the marital love scale were confirmed.

Can We Predict Foraging Success in a Marine Predator from Dive Patterns Only? Validation with Prey Capture Attempt Data

PubMed Central

Viviant, Morgane; Monestiez, Pascal; Guinet, Christophe

2014-01-01

Predicting how climatic variations will affect marine predator populations relies on our ability to assess foraging success, but evaluating foraging success in a marine predator at sea is particularly difficult. Dive metrics are commonly available for marine mammals, diving birds and some species of fish. Bottom duration or dive duration are usually used as proxies for foraging success. However, few studies have tried to validate these assumptions and identify the set of behavioral variables that best predict foraging success at a given time scale. The objective of this study was to assess if foraging success in Antarctic fur seals could be accurately predicted from dive parameters only, at different temporal scales. For this study, 11 individuals were equipped with either Hall sensors or accelerometers to record dive profiles and detect mouth-opening events, which were considered prey capture attempts. The number of prey capture attempts was best predicted by descent and ascent rates at the dive scale; bottom duration and descent rates at 30-min, 1-h, and 2-h scales; and ascent rates and maximum dive depths at the all-night scale. Model performances increased with temporal scales, but rank and sign of the factors varied according to the time scale considered, suggesting that behavioral adjustment in response to prey distribution could occur at certain scales only. The models predicted the foraging intensity of new individuals with good accuracy despite high inter-individual differences. Dive metrics that predict foraging success depend on the species and the scale considered, as verified by the literature and this study. The methodology used in our study is easy to implement, enables an assessment of model performance, and could be applied to any other marine predator. PMID:24603534

[Adaptation and psychometric proprieties study for the Portuguese version of the Adolescent Coping Scale - Escala de Coping para Adolescentes].

PubMed

Guerreiro, Diogo Frasquilho; Cruz, Diana; Figueira, Maria Luísa; Sampaio, Daniel

2014-01-01

Coping is a psychological process that prompts the individual to adapt to stressful situations. The Adolescent Coping Scale is a widely used research and clinical tool. This study aimed to develop a Portuguese version of the Adolescent Coping Scale and to analyze the strategies and coping styles of young people in our sample. An anonymous questionnaire comprising the Adolescent Coping Scale was submitted and replied by 1 713 students (56% female, from 12 to 20 years, average age 16) The validity study of the scale included: principal component and reliability analysis; confirmatory analysis using structural equation modelling Subsequently, a gender comparison of both the strategies and the coping styles was conducted through independent samples t tests. The final structure of the Adolescent Coping Scale adaptation retained 70 items assessing 16 coping strategies grouped into three major styles. The scales showed good internal consistency (Cronbach alpha values between 0.63. and 0.86, with the exception of one dimension that as shown a value of 0.55) and the confirmatory model showed a good fit (goodness of fit index values between 0.94 e 0.96). Two coping strategies were eliminated on statistical grounds (insufficient saturations of items in the corresponding dimensions). We found that the style of coping focused on problem solving is the most used by youths from our sample, in both sexes. Females had higher mean values in non-productive coping style and reference to others. This adapted version has high similarity with the original scale, with expectable minor changes, given that coping is influenced by cultural, geographical and socio-economic variables. The present study represents an important part of the validation protocol Portuguese Adolescent Coping Scale, including its linguistic adaptation and its internal consistency and factor structure studies.

The Prolo Scale: history, evolution and psychometric properties.

PubMed

Vanti, Carla; Prosperi, Donatella; Boschi, Marco

2013-12-01

The Prolo Scale (PS) is a widely accepted assessment tool for lumbar spinal surgery results. Nevertheless, in the literature there is a dearth of consensus about its application, interpretation and accuracy. The purpose of this review is to investigate the evolution of the PS from its introduction in 1986 to the present, including an analysis of different versions of the scale and research on the existing studies investigating its psychometric properties. PubMed, Cochrane Library and PEDro databases were searched. Studies in English, Italian, French, Spanish and German published from 1986 to December 2012 were analyzed. The original lumbar surgery outcome scale consisted of two Likert-type scales (economic and functional). There are three more versions of the scale: Schnee proposed one consisting of 10 items, Brantigan made one with 20 items and introduced 2 more subscales (pain and medication), and Davis adapted the scale for the cervical spine. PS is often mentioned without any specific reference to the version used; therefore, a homogeneous comparison of studies is difficult to achieve. Several authors agree on the need to embrace a multidimensional measuring system to evaluate low back pain (LBP), but there is still no consensus regarding the most reliable tool. To date, PS has been mostly used as secondary outcome measure in association with validated primary measures for LBP. The Prolo Scale has been adopted for clinical examination for 20 years because it is easy to administer and useful to compare significant amounts of data from surgical studies carried out at different times. Although several authors demonstrated the scale sensitivity among a battery of tests, no thorough validation study was found in the current literature.

Differences in quantitative methods for measuring subjective cognitive decline - results from a prospective memory clinic study.

PubMed

Vogel, Asmus; Salem, Lise Cronberg; Andersen, Birgitte Bo; Waldemar, Gunhild

2016-09-01

Cognitive complaints occur frequently in elderly people and may be a risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline. Results from studies on subjective cognitive decline are difficult to compare due to variability in assessment methods, and little is known about how different methods influence reports of cognitive decline. The Subjective Memory Complaints Scale (SMC) and The Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q) were applied in 121 mixed memory clinic patients with mild cognitive symptoms (mean MMSE = 26.8, SD 2.7). The scales were applied independently and raters were blinded to results from the other scale. Scales were not used for diagnostic classification. Cognitive performances and depressive symptoms were also rated. We studied the association between the two measures and investigated the scales' relation to depressive symptoms, age, and cognitive status. SMC and MAC-Q were significantly associated (r = 0.44, N = 121, p = 0.015) and both scales had a wide range of scores. In this mixed cohort of patients, younger age was associated with higher SMC scores. There were no significant correlations between cognitive test performances and scales measuring subjective decline. Depression scores were significantly correlated to both scales measuring subjective decline. Linear regression models showed that age did not have a significant contribution to the variance in subjective memory beyond that of depressive symptoms. Measures for subjective cognitive decline are not interchangeable when used in memory clinics and the application of different scales in previous studies is an important factor as to why studies show variability in the association between subjective cognitive decline and background data and/or clinical results. Careful consideration should be taken as to which questions are relevant and have validity when operationalizing subjective cognitive decline.

On the Scaling Behavior of Reliability-Resilience-Vulnerability ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Risk indices such as reliability-resilience-vulnerability (R-R-V) have been proposed to assess watershed health. In this study, the spatial scaling behavior of R-R-V indices has been explored for five agricultural watersheds in the midwestern United States. The study was conducted using two different measures of spatial scale: (i) the ratio of contributing upland area to area required for channel initiation (FA), and (ii) Strahler stream order. It was found that R-R-V indices do change with spatial scale, but a representative watershed-specific threshold FA value exists for these indices to achieve stable values. Scaling with Strahler stream order is feasible if the watershed possesses a tree-like stream network. As an example of anthropogenic influences, this study also examined the role of BMPs placed within an agricultural watershed via a cost-effective optimization scheme on the evolution of R-R-V values with scale. While the placement of BMPs acheived reductions in concentrations and/or loads of constituents, they may not significantly change watershed risk measures, but are likely to cause significant reduction in vulnerability. If primarily upland BMPs are placed in a diffuse manner throughout the watershed, there might not be a significant change in the scaling behavior of R-R-V values. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the effect of spatial scale on risk-based watershed health assessment. A related objective is to examine wh

Infusion phlebitis assessment measures: a systematic review

PubMed Central

Ray-Barruel, Gillian; Polit, Denise F; Murfield, Jenny E; Rickard, Claire M

2014-01-01

Rationale, aims and objectives Phlebitis is a common and painful complication of peripheral intravenous cannulation. The aim of this review was to identify the measures used in infusion phlebitis assessment and evaluate evidence regarding their reliability, validity, responsiveness and feasibility. Method We conducted a systematic literature review of the Cochrane library, Ovid MEDLINE and EBSCO CINAHL until September 2013. All English-language studies (randomized controlled trials, prospective cohort and cross-sectional) that used an infusion phlebitis scale were retrieved and analysed to determine which symptoms were included in each scale and how these were measured. We evaluated studies that reported testing the psychometric properties of phlebitis assessment scales using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines. Results Infusion phlebitis was the primary outcome measure in 233 studies. Fifty-three (23%) of these provided no actual definition of phlebitis. Of the 180 studies that reported measuring phlebitis incidence and/or severity, 101 (56%) used a scale and 79 (44%) used a definition alone. We identified 71 different phlebitis assessment scales. Three scales had undergone some psychometric analyses, but no scale had been rigorously tested. Conclusion Many phlebitis scales exist, but none has been thoroughly validated for use in clinical practice. A lack of consensus on phlebitis measures has likely contributed to disparities in reported phlebitis incidence, precluding meaningful comparison of phlebitis rates. PMID:24401116

Infusion phlebitis assessment measures: a systematic review.

PubMed

Ray-Barruel, Gillian; Polit, Denise F; Murfield, Jenny E; Rickard, Claire M

2014-04-01

Phlebitis is a common and painful complication of peripheral intravenous cannulation. The aim of this review was to identify the measures used in infusion phlebitis assessment and evaluate evidence regarding their reliability, validity, responsiveness and feasibility. We conducted a systematic literature review of the Cochrane library, Ovid MEDLINE and EBSCO CINAHL until September 2013. All English-language studies (randomized controlled trials, prospective cohort and cross-sectional) that used an infusion phlebitis scale were retrieved and analysed to determine which symptoms were included in each scale and how these were measured. We evaluated studies that reported testing the psychometric properties of phlebitis assessment scales using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines. Infusion phlebitis was the primary outcome measure in 233 studies. Fifty-three (23%) of these provided no actual definition of phlebitis. Of the 180 studies that reported measuring phlebitis incidence and/or severity, 101 (56%) used a scale and 79 (44%) used a definition alone. We identified 71 different phlebitis assessment scales. Three scales had undergone some psychometric analyses, but no scale had been rigorously tested. Many phlebitis scales exist, but none has been thoroughly validated for use in clinical practice. A lack of consensus on phlebitis measures has likely contributed to disparities in reported phlebitis incidence, precluding meaningful comparison of phlebitis rates. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Stability of Rasch Scales over Time

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taylor, Catherine S.; Lee, Yoonsun

2010-01-01

Item response theory (IRT) methods are generally used to create score scales for large-scale tests. Research has shown that IRT scales are stable across groups and over time. Most studies have focused on items that are dichotomously scored. Now Rasch and other IRT models are used to create scales for tests that include polytomously scored items.…

Assessing Attitude towards Religion: The Astley-Francis Scale of Attitude towards Theistic Faith

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Astley, Jeff; Francis, Leslie J.; Robbins, Mandy

2012-01-01

This study builds on the research tradition modelled by the Francis Scale of Attitude towards Christianity, the Katz-Francis Scale of Attitude towards Judaism, the Sahin-Francis Scale of Attitude towards Islam and the Santosh-Francis Scale of Attitude towards Hinduism to propose a generic instrument concerned with attitudes towards theistic faith.…

Validation of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale and the Social Phobia Scale across the Anxiety Disorders.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Elissa J.; And Others

1997-01-01

The psychometric adequacy of the Social Interaction Scale and the Social Phobia Scale (both by R. P. Mattick and J. C. Clark, 1989) was studied with 165 patients with anxiety disorders and 21 people without anxiety. Results support the usefulness of the scales for screening and treatment design and evaluation. (SLD)

The Relationship Between the ATDP and ATHI Scales for Assessing Attitudes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stodden, Robert; And Others

Studied was the relationship between the Attitude Toward Disabled Persons (ATDP) scale and the Attitude Towards Handicapped Individuals (ATHI) scale. These scales were administered to 82 college students. Also determined was the coefficient of stability of the ATHI using a test-retest after 2 weeks with 54 Ss. The ATHI scale was thought to be more…

Structural Validity of the MACI Psychopathy and Narcissism Scales: Evidence of Multidimensionality and Implications for Use in Research and Screening

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Penney, Stephanie R.; Moretti, Marlene M.; Da Silva, Kimberley S.

2008-01-01

This study investigated the psychometric properties and predictive validity of three self-report scales (the Psychopathy Content Scale, the Psychopathy-16 scale, and the Egotistic scale) derived from the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI) to screen for the presence of psychopathic and narcissistic personality characteristics. Exploratory…

Substance Use Scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory: An Exploration of Score Reliability via Meta-Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Christopher S.; Shields, Alan L.; Campfield, Delia; Wallace, Kim A.; Weiss, Roger D.

2007-01-01

Three drug and alcohol use screening scales are embedded within the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory--2: the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC) and its revised version (MAC-R), the Addiction Acknowledgement Scale (AAS), and the Addiction Potential Scale (APS). The current study evaluated the reliability reporting practices among 210…

The Role of Computer Technology in Teaching Reading and Writing: Preschool Teachers' Beliefs and Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ihmeideh, Fathi

2010-01-01

This study investigated preschool teachers' beliefs and practices regarding the use of computer technology in teaching reading and writing in Jordan. The researcher developed a questionnaire consisting of two scales--Teachers' Beliefs Scale (TB Scale) and Teachers' Practices Scale (TP Scale)--to examine the role of computer technology in teaching…

Accuracy of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) to detect developmental delay of gross motor skills in preterm infants: a systematic review.

PubMed

de Albuquerque, Plínio Luna; Lemos, Andrea; Guerra, Miriam Queiroz de Farias; Eickmann, Sophie Helena

2015-02-01

To assess, through a systematic review, the ability of Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) to diagnose delayed motor development in preterm infants. Systematic searches identified five studies meeting inclusion criteria. These studies were evaluated in terms of: participants' characteristics, main results and risk of bias. The risk of bias was assessed with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies--second edition (QUADAS-2). All five studies included a high risk of bias in at least one of the assessed fields. The most frequent biases included were presented in patient selection and lost follow up. All studies used the Pearson correlation coefficient to assess the diagnostic capability of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale. None of the assessed studies used psychometric measures to analyze the data. Given the evidence, the research supporting the ability of Alberta Infant Motor Scale to diagnose delayed motor development in preterm infants presents limitations. Further studies are suggested in order to avoid the above-mentioned biases to assess the Alberta Infant Motor Scale accuracy in preterm babies.

[Scales to evaluate pain in elderly patients suffering from dementia. Help-tools for the physiotherapist, doctor, nurse and occupational therapist].

PubMed

Rodríguez-Mansilla, Juan; Jiménez-Palomares, María; González-López-Arza, María Victoria

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine which scales are being used to evaluate pain in old people suffering from dementia. A search strategy was developed to retrieve all articles (randomized controlled trials and clinical trials without randomization) published in MEDLINE, Cochrane Library Plus, PEDro and Dialnet and BMC Geriatrics from January 2000 to January 2012. Exclusion criteria were articles that did not use scales for evaluating pain in elderly patients suffering from dementia, and other type of articles (case studies, reviews...). Finally, 13 studies were included in this review. From the results obtained it appears that more studies are needed to confirm the pain scales used for the elderly suffering from dementia. Observational scales may be useful to evaluate pain in these patients. Copyright © 2012 SEGG. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Stigma and its correlates in patients with schizophrenia attending a general hospital psychiatric unit

PubMed Central

Singh, Aakanksha; Mattoo, Surendra K.; Grover, Sandeep

2016-01-01

Background: Very few studies from India have studied stigma experienced by patients with schizophrenia. Aim of the Study: To study stigma in patients with schizophrenia (in the form of internalized stigma, perceived stigma and social-participation-restriction stigma) and its relationship with specified demographic and clinical variables (demographic variables, clinical profile, level of psychopathology, knowledge about illness, and insight). Materials and Methods: Selected by purposive random sampling, 100 patients with schizophrenia in remission were evaluated on internalized stigma of mental illness scale (ISMIS), explanatory model interview catalog stigma scale, participation scale (P-scale), positive and negative syndrome scale for schizophrenia, global assessment of functioning scale, scale to assess unawareness of mental disorder, and knowledge of mental illness scale. Results: On ISMIS scale, 81% patients experienced alienation and 45% exhibited stigma resistance. Stereotype endorsement was seen in 26% patients, discrimination experience was faced by 21% patients, and only 16% patients had social withdrawal. Overall, 29% participants had internalized stigma when total ISMIS score was taken into consideration. On P-scale, 67% patients experienced significant restriction, with a majority reporting moderate to mild restriction. In terms of associations between stigma and sociodemographic variables, no consistent correlations emerged, except for those who were not on paid job, had higher participation restriction. Of the clinical variables, level of functioning was the only consistent predictor of stigma. While better knowledge about the disorder was associated with lower level of stigma, there was no association between stigma and insight. Conclusion: Significant proportion of patients with schizophrenia experience stigma and stigma is associated with lower level of functioning and better knowledge about illness is associated with lower level of stigma. PMID:28066007

The Play Experience Scale: development and validation of a measure of play.

PubMed

Pavlas, Davin; Jentsch, Florian; Salas, Eduardo; Fiore, Stephen M; Sims, Valerie

2012-04-01

A measure of play experience in video games was developed through literature review and two empirical validation studies. Despite the considerable attention given to games in the behavioral sciences, play experience remains empirically underexamined. One reason for this gap is the absence of a scale that measures play experience. In Study 1, the initial Play Experience Scale (PES) was tested through an online validation that featured three different games (N = 203). In Study 2, a revised PES was assessed with a serious game in the laboratory (N = 77). Through principal component analysis of the Study 1 data, the initial 20-item PES was revised, resulting in the 16-item PES-16. Study 2 showed the PES-16 to be a robust instrument with the same patterns of correlations as in Study 1 via (a) internal consistency estimates, (b) correlations with established scales of motivation, (c) distributions of PES-16 scores in different game conditions, and (d) examination of the average variance extracted of the PES and the Intrinsic Motivation Scale. We suggest that the PES is appropriate for use in further validation studies. Additional examinations of the scale are required to determine its applicability to other contexts and its relationship with other constructs. The PES is potentially relevant to human factors undertakings involving video games, including basic research into play, games, and learning; prototype testing; and exploratory learning studies.

Impression management ("lie") scales are associated with interpersonally oriented self-control, not other-deception.

PubMed

Uziel, Liad

2014-06-01

This article explores the status of impression management (IM) scales ("lie scales," notably, BIDR-IM) as measures of response bias, offers theory-driven substantive meaning to them, and compares them with self-deception enhancement (SDE). Study 1 (N = 99) compared self-descriptions of actual self and ideal self given in a non-anonymous setting. High similarity indicates self-enhancement. Study 2 (70 dyads) analyzed self-other agreement about IM and SDE. Agreement indicates substantive basis to the scales' scores. Study 3 (N = 182) explored the centrality of self-control in the self-perception of individuals varying in IM and SDE. Study 4 (95 dyads) corroborated self-reports about self-control using informants' reports. In Study 1, IM was associated with relative humility, whereas SDE was associated with self-enhancement. In Study 2, strong self-other agreement was found only for IM, indicating that high IM (but not SDE) is grounded in real-life behavior. In Study 3, self-control was central in the self-perception of high IM and high SDE individuals. In Study 4, strong relations with self-control were corroborated by informants only for IM. IM scales measure substantive content associated with self-control aimed at social adaptation, whereas the SDE scale depicts individuals with a grandiose self-perception, who fail to impress knowledgeable others. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Manipulating measurement scales in medical statistical analysis and data mining: A review of methodologies

PubMed Central

Marateb, Hamid Reza; Mansourian, Marjan; Adibi, Peyman; Farina, Dario

2014-01-01

Background: selecting the correct statistical test and data mining method depends highly on the measurement scale of data, type of variables, and purpose of the analysis. Different measurement scales are studied in details and statistical comparison, modeling, and data mining methods are studied based upon using several medical examples. We have presented two ordinal–variables clustering examples, as more challenging variable in analysis, using Wisconsin Breast Cancer Data (WBCD). Ordinal-to-Interval scale conversion example: a breast cancer database of nine 10-level ordinal variables for 683 patients was analyzed by two ordinal-scale clustering methods. The performance of the clustering methods was assessed by comparison with the gold standard groups of malignant and benign cases that had been identified by clinical tests. Results: the sensitivity and accuracy of the two clustering methods were 98% and 96%, respectively. Their specificity was comparable. Conclusion: by using appropriate clustering algorithm based on the measurement scale of the variables in the study, high performance is granted. Moreover, descriptive and inferential statistics in addition to modeling approach must be selected based on the scale of the variables. PMID:24672565

A study of the usefulness of Skylab EREP data for earth resources studies in Australia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lambert, B. P.; Benson, M. L.; Borough, C. J.; Myers, B. J.; Maffi, C. E.; Simpson, C. J.; Perry, W. J.; Burns, K. L.; Shepherd, J.; Beattie, R. (Principal Investigator)

1975-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. In subhumid, vegetated areas, S190B photography: (1) has a potentially operational role in detecting lineaments in 1:100,000 scale geological mapping and in major civil engineering surveys; (2) is of limited value for regional lithological mapping at 1:500,000 scale; and (3) provided much useful synoptic information and some detailed information of direct value to the mapping of nonmineral natural resources such as vegetation, land soil, and water. In arid, well exposed areas, S190B photography could be used: (1) with a limited amount of field traverses, to produce reliable 1:500,000 scale geological maps of sedimentary sequences; (2) to update superficial geology on 1:250,000 scale maps; and (3) together with the necessary field studies, to prepare landform, soil, and vegetation maps at 1:1,000,000 scale. Skylab photography was found to be more useful than LANDSAT images for small scale mapping of geology and land types, and for the revision of topographic maps at 1:100,000 scale, because of superior spatial resolution and stereoscopic coverage.

Validating Common Measures of Self-Efficacy and Career Attitudes within Informal Health Education for Middle and High School Students.

PubMed

Peterman, Karen; Withy, Kelley; Boulay, Rachel

2018-06-01

A common challenge in the evaluation of K-12 science education is identifying valid scales that are an appropriate fit for both a student's age and the educational outcomes of interest. Though many new scales have been validated in recent years, there is much to learn about the appropriate educational contexts and audiences for these measures. This study investigated two such scales, the DEVISE Self-Efficacy for Science scale and the Career Interest Questionnaire (CIQ), within the context of two related health sciences projects. Consistent patterns were found in the reliability of each scale across three age groups (middle school, high school, early college) and within the context of each project. As expected, self-efficacy and career interest, as measured through these scales, were found to be correlated. The pattern of results for CIQ scores was also similar to that reported in other literature. This study provides examples of how practitioners can validate established measures for new and specific contexts and provides some evidence to support the use of the scales studied in health science education contexts.

Psychometric properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) in depressed clinical samples.

PubMed

Page, Andrew C; Hooke, Geoffrey R; Morrison, David L

2007-09-01

The psychometric properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995a) were examined in depressed psychiatric hospital samples. Three studies administered the DASS and other symptom measures at admission and discharge to consecutive adult hospital patients with a primary diagnosis of depression. Study 3 aimed to address problems with the DASS by extending the response options. Study 1 found that the DASS had good reliability and validity, was moderately sensitive to change, but the Depression Scale exhibited a ceiling effect. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analysis supported a three-factor structure and the DASS continued to demonstrate good psychometric properties, but the ceiling effect was replicated. Study 3 found that by extending the response scale to include an additional option, the factor structure of the instrument as a whole was maintained, the sensitivity to treatment was increased, but the ceiling effect was only marginally reduced. The psychometric properties of the DASS were sound in clinically depressed samples, but the Depression Scale exhibited a ceiling effect that could not be resolved with minor changes to the scale. Suggestions for revisions of the DASS are made.

Scale effects in wind tunnel modeling of an urban atmospheric boundary layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozmar, Hrvoje

2010-03-01

Precise urban atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) wind tunnel simulations are essential for a wide variety of atmospheric studies in built-up environments including wind loading of structures and air pollutant dispersion. One of key issues in addressing these problems is a proper choice of simulation length scale. In this study, an urban ABL was reproduced in a boundary layer wind tunnel at different scales to study possible scale effects. Two full-depth simulations and one part-depth simulation were carried out using castellated barrier wall, vortex generators, and a fetch of roughness elements. Redesigned “Counihan” vortex generators were employed in the part-depth ABL simulation. A hot-wire anemometry system was used to measure mean velocity and velocity fluctuations. Experimental results are presented as mean velocity, turbulence intensity, Reynolds stress, integral length scale of turbulence, and power spectral density of velocity fluctuations. Results suggest that variations in length-scale factor do not influence the generated ABL models when using similarity criteria applied in this study. Part-depth ABL simulation compares well with two full-depth ABL simulations indicating the truncated vortex generators developed for this study can be successfully employed in urban ABL part-depth simulations.

New methods of MR image intensity standardization via generalized scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madabhushi, Anant; Udupa, Jayaram K.

2005-04-01

Image intensity standardization is a post-acquisition processing operation designed for correcting acquisition-to-acquisition signal intensity variations (non-standardness) inherent in Magnetic Resonance (MR) images. While existing standardization methods based on histogram landmarks have been shown to produce a significant gain in the similarity of resulting image intensities, their weakness is that, in some instances the same histogram-based landmark may represent one tissue, while in other cases it may represent different tissues. This is often true for diseased or abnormal patient studies in which significant changes in the image intensity characteristics may occur. In an attempt to overcome this problem, in this paper, we present two new intensity standardization methods based on the concept of generalized scale. In reference 1 we introduced the concept of generalized scale (g-scale) to overcome the shape, topological, and anisotropic constraints imposed by other local morphometric scale models. Roughly speaking, the g-scale of a voxel in a scene was defined as the largest set of voxels connected to the voxel that satisfy some homogeneity criterion. We subsequently formulated a variant of the generalized scale notion, referred to as generalized ball scale (gB-scale), which, in addition to having the advantages of g-scale, also has superior noise resistance properties. These scale concepts are utilized in this paper to accurately determine principal tissue regions within MR images, and landmarks derived from these regions are used to perform intensity standardization. The new methods were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated on a total of 67 clinical 3D MR images corresponding to four different protocols and to normal, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and brain tumor patient studies. The generalized scale-based methods were found to be better than the existing methods, with a significant improvement observed for severely diseased and abnormal patient studies.

The impact of variation in scaling factors on the estimation of internal dose metrics: a case study using bromodichloromethane (BDCM)

EPA Science Inventory

Many physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models include values for metabolic rate parameters extrapolated from in vitro metabolism studies using scaling factors such as mg of microsomal protein per gram of liver (MPPGL) and liver mass (FVL). Variation in scaling factor ...

Critical Multicultural Education Competencies Scale: A Scale Development Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Acar-Ciftci, Yasemin

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study is to develop a scale in order to identify the critical mutlicultural education competencies of teachers. For this reason, first of all, drawing on the knowledge in the literature, a new conceptual framework was created with deductive method based on critical theory, critical race theory and critical multicultural…

Cognitive Age: A New Multidimensional Approach to Measuring Age Identity.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barak, Benny

1987-01-01

Conducted exploratory field study to examine how age-concepts are experienced and to assess relationship of age identities to each other. Proposes Cognitive Age as a new multidimensional age scale that merges the standard scale, Identity Age, and Personal Age. Study results attest to Cognitive Age scale's reliability and validity. (Author/NB)

Developing a New Computer Game Attitude Scale for Taiwanese Early Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Eric Zhi-Feng; Lee, Chun-Yi; Chen, Jen-Huang

2013-01-01

With ever increasing exposure to computer games, gaining an understanding of the attitudes held by young adolescents toward such activities is crucial; however, few studies have provided scales with which to accomplish this. This study revisited the Computer Game Attitude Scale developed by Chappell and Taylor in 1997, reworking the overall…

Spatial dependence of predictions from image segmentation: A variogram-based method to determine appropriate scales for producing land-management information

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A significant challenge in ecological studies has been defining scales of observation that correspond to the relevant ecological scales for organisms or processes of interest. Remote sensing has become commonplace in ecological studies and management, but the default resolution of imagery often used...

The Job Responsibilities Scale: Invariance in a Longitudinal Prospective Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ludlow, Larry H.; Lunz, Mary E.

1998-01-01

The degree of invariance of the Job Responsibilities Scale for medical technologists was studied for 1993 and 1995, conducting factor analyses of data from each year (1063 and 665 individuals, respectively). Nearly identical factor patterns were found, and Rasch rating scale analyses found nearly identical pairs of item estimates. Implications are…

Teachers' Attitudes, Beliefs and Self-Efficacy about Multicultural Education: A Scale Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yildirim, Soner; Tezci, Erdogan

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study is to develop a scale--acceptable to potential studies in the context of multicultural education--for determining teachers' attitudes, self-efficacy perceptions and beliefs regarding necessity of multicultural education. The items of the scale which were developed according to opinions of experts and literature were…

PILOT-SCALE STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF BROMINE ADDITION ON THE EMISSIONS OF CHLORINATED ORGANIC COMBUSTION BY-PRODUCTS

EPA Science Inventory

The paper reports on a study to evaluate organic combustion by-product emissions while feeding varying amounts of bromine (Br) and chlorine (Cl) into a pilot-scale incinerator burning surrogate waste materials. (NOTE: Adding brominated organic compounds to a pilot-scale incinerat...

Development and Assessment of the Social Issues Advocacy Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nilsson, Johanna E.; Marszalek, Jacob M.; Linnemeyer, Rachel M.; Bahner, Angela D.; Misialek, Leah Hanson

2011-01-01

This article describes the development and the initial psychometric evaluation of the Social Issues Advocacy Scale in two studies. In the first study, an exploratory factor analysis (n = 278) revealed a four-factor scale, accounting for 71.4% of the variance, measuring different aspects of social issue advocacy: Political and Social Advocacy,…

A Scale of Mobbing Impacts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yaman, Erkan

2012-01-01

The aim of this research was to develop the Mobbing Impacts Scale and to examine its validity and reliability analyses. The sample of study consisted of 509 teachers from Sakarya. In this study construct validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliabilities and item analysis of the scale were examined. As a result of factor analysis for…

The Relationship of Class Size Effects and Teacher Salary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peevely, Gary; Hedges, Larry; Nye, Barbara A.

2005-01-01

The effects of class size on academic achievement have been studied for decades. Although the results of small-scale, randomized experiments and large-scale, econometric studies point to positive effects of small classes, some scholars see the evidence as ambiguous. Recent analyses from a 4-year, large-scale, randomized experiment on the effects…

Turkish Metalinguistic Awareness Scale: A Validity and Reliability Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Varisoglu, Behice

2018-01-01

The aim of this study is to develop a useful, valid and reliable measurement tool that will help teacher candidates determine their Turkish metalinguistic awareness. During the development of the scale, a pool of items was created by scanning the relevant literature and examining other awareness scales. The materials prepared were re-examined…

A Structural Equation Modelling of the Academic Self-Concept Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matovu, Musa

2014-01-01

The study aimed at validating the academic self-concept scale by Liu and Wang (2005) in measuring academic self-concept among university students. Structural equation modelling was used to validate the scale which was composed of two subscales; academic confidence and academic effort. The study was conducted on university students; males and…

The Development of the Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Canel, Azize Nilgun

2013-01-01

In this study, the process of developing the Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS) aiming to support studies in the field of marital satisfaction and to obtain information about couples in a short time through psychological counseling is discussed. The scale including 101 yes-no items aiming to reveal couples' opinions about their marriages was…

Validity Studies of the Filial Anxiety Scale.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murray, Paul D.; And Others

1996-01-01

Factor analytic and construct validity studies were conducted to explore the validity of Cicirelli's 13-item Filial Anxiety Scale (FAS). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale were a part of the investigation. Results offer support for the validity of the FAS subscales and the FAS' usefulness as an…

The Development of a Recycling Awareness Scale for Prospective Science Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aksan, Zeynep; Çelikler, Dilek

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop a scale for measuring prospective science teachers' awareness of waste recycling. The study was conducted with the participation of 382 prospective teachers attending a university located in northern Turkey. The five-point Likert type scale that was developed contained 82 items relating to prospective…

Forest Ecosystem Analysis Using a GIS

Treesearch

S.G. McNulty; W.T. Swank

1996-01-01

Forest ecosystem studies have expanded spatially in recent years to address large scale environmental issues. We are using a geographic information system (GIS) to understand and integrate forest processes at landscape to regional spatial scales. This paper presents three diverse research studies using a GIS. First, we used a GIS to develop a landscape scale model to...

Digital Reading Disposition Scale: A Study of Validity and Reliability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bulut, Berker; Karasakaloglu, Nuri

2018-01-01

In this study, "a Digital Reading Disposition Scale" was developed to determine undergraduate pre-service teacher students' dispositions towards digital reading, opposed to a preference for printed reading material. Initially, a 20-items trial version of the scale was administered to a total sample of N = 301 undergraduate pre-service…

Measuring Self-Regulation in Self-Paced Open and Distance Learning Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kocdar, Serpil; Karadeniz, Abdulkadir; Bozkurt, Aras; Buyuk, Koksal

2018-01-01

Previous studies have described many scales for measuring self-regulation; however, no scale has been developed specifically for self-paced open and distance learning environments. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a scale for determining the self-regulated learning skills of distance learners in selfpaced open and distance learning…

Multiscale analysis of the fracture pattern in granite, example of Tamariu's granite, Catalunya.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertrand, L.; LeGarzic, E.; Géraud, Y.; Diraison, M.

2012-04-01

Crystalline rocks can be the host of important fluid flow and therefore they can provide a good reservoir potential. In this kind of rocks, the matrice porosity is in general low and a large part of the permeability is governed by the fracture pattern. Thus, they are the first interest of studies in order to characterize and model the fluid flows. Actual reservoirs are underground, and the only access to the fracture pattern is with boreholes and seismic lines. Those methods are investigating different scales and dimensions: seismic is in 3D at a global scale whereas boreholes are 1D at a localized scale. To make the link between the different data, it is necessary to study field analogues where such fractured rocks are outcropping. Tamariu's granite, in Catalunya, has recently been studied as a field analogue of a fractured reservoir. The previous studies have lead to define structural blocks at different scales, linked to the regional deformation. This study's aim is to characterize the internal fracturation of a single structural block with a statistical analysis. We used one dimension scan lines at the scale of a block and 2 dimensions mapping at a more precise scale until the grain scale. The data highlighted that the fracture and fault lengths have a power law relation in 8 orders of scales. So this power law is stretching between seismic and borehole scales. Therefore, the data fit with a very good trust in the power law exponent, which is very well defined. The link between the reservoir scale faults and the internal block fracturation has also been defined in term of the structures orientation. Finally, a comparison between the 1D and 2D measurement could be done. The 1D scan lines show correctly the different fractures families but samples incompletely a part the fracture pattern, whereas the 2D maps which show more the global trends of the fractures and could lose some minor trends orientations.

Allometric scaling of microbial fuel cells and stacks: The lifeform case for scale-up

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greenman, John; Ieropoulos, Ioannis A.

2017-07-01

This case study reports for the first time on the comparison between allometric scaling of lifeforms and scale-up of microbial fuel cell entities; enlarging individual units in volume, footprint and electrode surface area but also multiplying a static size/footprint and electrode surface area to scale-up by stacking. A study published in 2010 by DeLong et al. showed for the first time that Kleiber's law does not apply uniformly to all lifeforms, and that in fact growth rate for prokaryotes is superlinear, for protists is linear and for metazoa is sublinear. The current study, which is utilising data from previous experiments, is showing for the first time that for individual MFC units, which are enlarged, growth rate/power is sublinear, whereas for stacks this is superlinear.

Large-scale dynamo action precedes turbulence in shearing box simulations of the magnetorotational instability

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

Bhat, Pallavi; Ebrahimi, Fatima; Blackman, Eric G.

Here, we study the dynamo generation (exponential growth) of large-scale (planar averaged) fields in unstratified shearing box simulations of the magnetorotational instability (MRI). In contrast to previous studies restricted to horizontal (x–y) averaging, we also demonstrate the presence of large-scale fields when vertical (y–z) averaging is employed instead. By computing space–time planar averaged fields and power spectra, we find large-scale dynamo action in the early MRI growth phase – a previously unidentified feature. Non-axisymmetric linear MRI modes with low horizontal wavenumbers and vertical wavenumbers near that of expected maximal growth, amplify the large-scale fields exponentially before turbulence and high wavenumbermore » fluctuations arise. Thus the large-scale dynamo requires only linear fluctuations but not non-linear turbulence (as defined by mode–mode coupling). Vertical averaging also allows for monitoring the evolution of the large-scale vertical field and we find that a feedback from horizontal low wavenumber MRI modes provides a clue as to why the large-scale vertical field sustains against turbulent diffusion in the non-linear saturation regime. We compute the terms in the mean field equations to identify the individual contributions to large-scale field growth for both types of averaging. The large-scale fields obtained from vertical averaging are found to compare well with global simulations and quasi-linear analytical analysis from a previous study by Ebrahimi & Blackman. We discuss the potential implications of these new results for understanding the large-scale MRI dynamo saturation and turbulence.« less

Resilience, sense of coherence, purpose in life and self-transcendence in relation to perceived physical and mental health among the oldest old.

PubMed

Nygren, B; Aléx, L; Jonsén, E; Gustafson, Y; Norberg, A; Lundman, B

2005-07-01

Different concepts have been presented which denote driving forces and strengths that contribute to a person's ability to meet and handle adversities, and keep or regain health. The aim of this study, which is a part of The Umeå 85+ study, was to describe resilience, sense of coherence, purpose in life and self-transcendence in relation to perceived physical and mental health in a sample of the oldest old. The study sample consisted of 125 participants 85 years of age or older, who ranked themselves on the Resilience Scale, Sense of Coherence Scale, Purpose in Life Scale and Self-Transcendence Scale and answered the SF-36 Health Survey questionnaire. The findings showed significant correlations between scores on the Resilience Scale, the Sense of Coherence Scale, the Purpose in Life Test, and the Self-Transcendence Scale. Significant correlations were also found between these scales and the SF-36 Mental Health Summary among women but not among men. There was no significant correlation between perceived physical and mental health. The mean values of the different scales showed that the oldest old have the same or higher scores than younger age groups. Regression analyses also revealed sex differences regarding mental health. The conclusions are that, the correlation between scores on the different scales suggests that the scales measure some dimension of inner strength and that the oldest old have this strength at least in the same extent as younger adults. Another conclusion is that the dimensions that constitute mental health differ between women and men.

Analysis of Frequency of Use of Different Scar Assessment Scales Based on the Scar Condition and Treatment Method

PubMed Central

Bae, Seong Hwan

2014-01-01

Analysis of scars in various conditions is essential, but no consensus had been reached on the scar assessment scale to select for a given condition. We reviewed papers to determine the scar assessment scale selected depending on the scar condition and treatment method. We searched PubMed for articles published since 2000 with the contents of the scar evaluation using a scar assessment scale with a Journal Citation Report impact factor >0.5. Among them, 96 articles that conducted a scar evaluation using a scar assessment scale were reviewed and analyzed. The scar assessment scales were identified and organized by various criteria. Among the types of scar assessment scales, the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) was found to be the most frequently used scale. As for the assessment of newly developed operative scars, the POSAS was most used. Meanwhile, for categories depending on the treatment methods for preexisting scars, the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used in 6 studies following a laser treatment, the POSAS was used in 7 studies following surgical treatment, and the POSAS was used in 7 studies following a conservative treatment. Within the 12 categories of scar status, the VSS showed the highest frequency in 6 categories and the POSAS showed the highest frequency in the other 6 categories. According to our reviews, the POSAS and VSS are the most frequently used scar assessment scales. In the future, an optimal, universal scar scoring system is needed in order to better evaluate and treat pathologic scarring. PMID:24665417

Large-scale dynamo action precedes turbulence in shearing box simulations of the magnetorotational instability

DOE PAGES

Bhat, Pallavi; Ebrahimi, Fatima; Blackman, Eric G.

2016-07-06

Here, we study the dynamo generation (exponential growth) of large-scale (planar averaged) fields in unstratified shearing box simulations of the magnetorotational instability (MRI). In contrast to previous studies restricted to horizontal (x–y) averaging, we also demonstrate the presence of large-scale fields when vertical (y–z) averaging is employed instead. By computing space–time planar averaged fields and power spectra, we find large-scale dynamo action in the early MRI growth phase – a previously unidentified feature. Non-axisymmetric linear MRI modes with low horizontal wavenumbers and vertical wavenumbers near that of expected maximal growth, amplify the large-scale fields exponentially before turbulence and high wavenumbermore » fluctuations arise. Thus the large-scale dynamo requires only linear fluctuations but not non-linear turbulence (as defined by mode–mode coupling). Vertical averaging also allows for monitoring the evolution of the large-scale vertical field and we find that a feedback from horizontal low wavenumber MRI modes provides a clue as to why the large-scale vertical field sustains against turbulent diffusion in the non-linear saturation regime. We compute the terms in the mean field equations to identify the individual contributions to large-scale field growth for both types of averaging. The large-scale fields obtained from vertical averaging are found to compare well with global simulations and quasi-linear analytical analysis from a previous study by Ebrahimi & Blackman. We discuss the potential implications of these new results for understanding the large-scale MRI dynamo saturation and turbulence.« less

Effects of a blended learning module on self-reported learning performances in baccalaureate nursing students.

PubMed

Hsu, Li-Ling; Hsieh, Suh-Ing

2011-11-01

This article is a report of a quasi-experimental study of the effects of blended modules on nursing students' learning of ethics course content. There is yet to be an empirically supported mix of strategies on which a working blended learning model can be built for nursing education. This was a two-group pretest and post-test quasi-experimental study in 2008 involving a total of 233 students. Two of the five clusters were designated the experimental group to experience a blended learning model, and the rest were designated the control group to be given classroom lectures only. The Case Analysis Attitude Scale, Case Analysis Self-Evaluation Scale, Blended Learning Satisfaction Scale, and Metacognition Scale were used in pretests and post-tests for the students to rate their own performance. In this study, the experimental group did not register significantly higher mean scores on the Case Analysis Attitude Scale at post-test and higher mean ranks on the Case Analysis Self-Evaluation Scale, the Blended Learning Satisfaction Scale, and the Metacognition Scale at post-test than the control group. Moreover, the experimental group registered significant progress in the mean ranks on the Case Analysis Self-Evaluation Scale and the Metacognition Scale from pretest to post-test. No between-subjects effects of four scales at post-test were found. Newly developed course modules, be it blended learning or a combination of traditional and innovative components, should be tested repeatedly for effectiveness and popularity for the purpose of facilitating the ultimate creation of a most effective course module for nursing education. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21): further examination of dimensions, scale reliability, and correlates.

PubMed

Osman, Augustine; Wong, Jane L; Bagge, Courtney L; Freedenthal, Stacey; Gutierrez, Peter M; Lozano, Gregorio

2012-12-01

We conducted two studies to examine the dimensions, internal consistency reliability estimates, and potential correlates of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). Participants in Study 1 included 887 undergraduate students (363 men and 524 women, aged 18 to 35 years; mean [M] age = 19.46, standard deviation [SD] = 2.17) recruited from two public universities to assess the specificity of the individual DASS-21 items and to evaluate estimates of internal consistency reliability. Participants in a follow-up study (Study 2) included 410 students (168 men and 242 women, aged 18 to 47 years; M age = 19.65, SD = 2.88) recruited from the same universities to further assess factorial validity and to evaluate potential correlates of the original DASS-21 total and scale scores. Item bifactor and confirmatory factor analyses revealed that a general factor accounted for the greatest proportion of common variance in the DASS-21 item scores (Study 1). In Study 2, the fit statistics showed good fit for the bifactor model. In addition, the DASS-21 total scale score correlated more highly with scores on a measure of mixed depression and anxiety than with scores on the proposed specific scales of depression or anxiety. Coefficient omega estimates for the DASS-21 scale scores were good. Further investigations of the bifactor structure and psychometric properties of the DASS-21, specifically its incremental and discriminant validity, using known clinical groups are needed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Measurement of alienation among adolescents: construct validity of three scales on powerlessness, meaninglessness and social isolation.

PubMed

Rayce, Signe Boe; Kreiner, Svend; Damsgaard, Mogens Trab; Nielsen, Tine; Holstein, Bjørn Evald

2017-01-01

Psychological alienation is an important concept in the study of adolescents' health and behavior but no gold standard for measuring alienation among adolescents exists. There is a need for new scales with high validity for use in adolescent health and social research. The purpose of the present study was to develop and validate alienation scales in accordance with Seeman's conceptualization of alienation focusing on three independent variants specifically relevant in adolescent health research: powerlessness, meaninglessness and social isolation. Cross-sectional data from 3083 adolescents aged 13 to 15 years from the Danish contribution to the cross-national study Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) were used. We identified and developed items, addressed content and face validity through interviews, and examined the criterion-related construct validity of the scales using graphical loglinear Rasch models (GLLRM). The three scales each comprised three to five face valid items. The powerlessness scale reflected the adolescent's expectancy as to whether his/her behavior can determine the outcome or reinforcement he/she seeks. The meaninglessness scale reflected the expectancy as to whether satisfactory predictions regarding the effects of one's behavior are possible. Finally, the social isolation scale reflected whether the adolescent had a low expectancy for inclusion and social acceptance. All scales contained some uniform local dependency and differential item functioning. However, only to a limited degree, which could be accounted for using GLLRM. Thus the scales fitted GLLRMs and can therefore be considered to be essentially construct valid and essentially objective. The three alienation scales appear to be content and face valid and fulfill the psychometric properties of a good construct valid reflective scale. This suggests that the scales may be appropriate in future large-scale surveys to examine the relation between alienation and a range of adolescent health outcomes such as health, behavior and wellbeing.

Multi-scale Pore Imaging Techniques to Characterise Heterogeneity Effects on Flow in Carbonate Rock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shah, S. M.

2017-12-01

Digital rock analysis and pore-scale studies have become an essential tool in the oil and gas industry to understand and predict the petrophysical and multiphase flow properties for the assessment and exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves. Carbonate reservoirs, accounting for majority of the world's hydrocarbon reserves, are well known for their heterogeneity and multiscale pore characteristics. The pore sizes in carbonate rock can vary over orders of magnitudes, the geometry and topology parameters of pores at different scales have a great impact on flow properties. A pore-scale study is often comprised of two key procedures: 3D pore-scale imaging and numerical modelling techniques. The fundamental problem in pore-scale imaging and modelling is how to represent and model the different range of scales encountered in porous media, from the pore-scale to macroscopic petrophysical and multiphase flow properties. However, due to the restrictions of image size vs. resolution, the desired detail is rarely captured at the relevant length scales using any single imaging technique. Similarly, direct simulations of transport properties in heterogeneous rocks with broad pore size distributions are prohibitively expensive computationally. In this study, we present the advances and review the practical limitation of different imaging techniques varying from core-scale (1mm) using Medical Computed Tomography (CT) to pore-scale (10nm - 50µm) using Micro-CT, Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) and Focussed Ion Beam (FIB) to characterise the complex pore structure in Ketton carbonate rock. The effect of pore structure and connectivity on the flow properties is investigated using the obtained pore scale images of Ketton carbonate using Pore Network and Lattice-Boltzmann simulation methods in comparison with experimental data. We also shed new light on the existence and size of the Representative Element of Volume (REV) capturing the different scales of heterogeneity from the pore-scale imaging.

Hypoxia-elicited impairment of cell wall integrity, glycosylation precursor synthesis, and growth in scaled-up high-cell density fed-batch cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PubMed

Aon, Juan C; Sun, Jianxin; Leighton, Julie M; Appelbaum, Edward R

2016-08-15

In this study we examine the integrity of the cell wall during scale up of a yeast fermentation process from laboratory scale (10 L) to industrial scale (10,000 L). In a previous study we observed a clear difference in the volume fraction occupied by yeast cells as revealed by wet cell weight (WCW) measurements between these scales. That study also included metabolite analysis which suggested hypoxia during scale up. Here we hypothesize that hypoxia weakens the yeast cell wall during the scale up, leading to changes in cell permeability, and/or cell mechanical resistance, which in turn may lead to the observed difference in WCW. We tested the cell wall integrity by probing the cell wall sensitivity to Zymolyase. Also exometabolomics data showed changes in supply of precursors for the glycosylation pathway. The results show a more sensitive cell wall later in the production process at industrial scale, while the sensitivity at early time points was similar at both scales. We also report exometabolomics data, in particular a link with the protein glycosylation pathway. Significantly lower levels of Man6P and progressively higher GDP-mannose indicated partially impaired incorporation of this sugar nucleotide during co- or post-translational protein glycosylation pathways at the 10,000 L compared to the 10 L scale. This impairment in glycosylation would be expected to affect cell wall integrity. Although cell viability from samples obtained at both scales were similar, cells harvested from 10 L bioreactors were able to re-initiate growth faster in fresh shake flask media than those harvested from the industrial scale. The results obtained help explain the WCW differences observed at both scales by hypoxia-triggered weakening of the yeast cell wall during the scale up.

The Ostomy Adjustment Scale: translation into Norwegian language with validation and reliability testing.

PubMed

Indrebø, Kirsten Lerum; Andersen, John Roger; Natvig, Gerd Karin

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to adapt the Ostomy Adjustment Scale to a Norwegian version and to assess its construct validity and 2 components of its reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability). One hundred fifty-eight of 217 patients (73%) with a colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy participated in the study. Slightly more than half (56%) were men. Their mean age was 64 years (range, 26-91 years). All respondents had undergone ostomy surgery at least 3 months before participation in the study. The Ostomy Adjustment Scale was translated into Norwegian according to standard procedures for forward and backward translation. The questionnaire was sent to the participants via regular post. The Cronbach alpha and test-retest were computed to assess reliability. Construct validity was evaluated via correlations between each item and score sums; correlations were used to analyze relationships between the Ostomy Adjustment Scale and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, the Quality of Life Scale, the Hospital Anxiety & Depression Scale, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. The Cronbach alpha was 0.93, and test-retest reliability r was 0.69. The average correlation quotient item to sum score was 0.49 (range, 0.31-0.73). Results showed moderate negative correlations between the Ostomy Adjustment Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (-0.37 and -0.40), and moderate positive correlations between the Ostomy Adjustment Scale and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, the Quality of Life Scale, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (0.30-0.45) with the exception of the pain domain in the Short Form 36 (0.28). Regression analysis showed linear associations between the Ostomy Adjustment Scale and sociodemographic and clinical variables with the exception of education. The Norwegian language version of the Ostomy Adjustment Scale was found to possess construct validity, along with internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The instrument is sensitive for sociodemographic and clinical variables pertinent to persons with urostomies, colostomies, and ileostomies.

The Experience of Cognitive Intrusion of Pain: scale development and validation

PubMed Central

Attridge, Nina; Crombez, Geert; Van Ryckeghem, Dimitri; Keogh, Edmund; Eccleston, Christopher

2015-01-01

Abstract Patients with chronic pain often report their cognition to be impaired by pain, and this observation has been supported by numerous studies measuring the effects of pain on cognitive task performance. Furthermore, cognitive intrusion by pain has been identified as one of 3 components of pain anxiety, alongside general distress and fear of pain. Although cognitive intrusion is a critical characteristic of pain, no specific measure designed to capture its effects exists. In 3 studies, we describe the initial development and validation of a new measure of pain interruption: the Experience of Cognitive Intrusion of Pain (ECIP) scale. In study 1, the ECIP scale was administered to a general population sample to assess its structure and construct validity. In study 2, the factor structure of the ECIP scale was confirmed in a large general population sample experiencing no pain, acute pain, or chronic pain. In study 3, we examined the predictive value of the ECIP scale in pain-related disability in fibromyalgia patients. The ECIP scale scores followed a normal distribution with good variance in a general population sample. The scale had high internal reliability and a clear 1-component structure. It differentiated between chronic pain and control groups, and it was a significant predictor of pain-related disability over and above pain intensity. Repairing attentional interruption from pain may become a novel target for pain management interventions, both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic. PMID:26067388

Development of four self-report measures of job stressors and strain: Interpersonal Conflict at Work Scale, Organizational Constraints Scale, Quantitative Workload Inventory, and Physical Symptoms Inventory.

PubMed

Spector, P E; Jex, S M

1998-10-01

Despite the widespread use of self-report measures of both job-related stressors and strains, relatively few carefully developed scales for which validity data exist are available. In this article, we discuss 3 job stressor scales (Interpersonal Conflict at Work Scale, Organizational Constraints Scale, and Quantitative Workload Inventory) and 1 job strain scale (Physical Symptoms Inventory). Using meta-analysis, we combined the results of 18 studies to provide estimates of relations between our scales and other variables. Data showed moderate convergent validity for the 3 job stressor scales, suggesting some objectively to these self-reports. Norms for each scale are provided.

Change in quality of life and predictors of change among patients with multiple sclerosis: a prospective cohort study.

PubMed

Tepavcevic, Darija Kisic; Pekmezovic, Tatjana; Stojsavljevic, Nebojsa; Kostic, Jelena; Basuroski, Irena Dujmovic; Mesaros, Sarlota; Drulovic, Jelena

2014-04-01

The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and predictors of change among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) at 3 and 6 years during the follow-up period. A group of 109 consecutive MS patients (McDonald's criteria) referred to the Clinic of Neurology, Belgrade, were enrolled in the study. At three time points during the study (baseline, and at 3 and 6 years during the follow-up period), the HRQoL (measured by MSQoL-54), Expanded Disability Status Scale, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Fatigue Severity Scale were assessed. During the study period, 93 patients provided both follow-up assessments. Statistically significant deterioration in the HRQoL at each subsequent time point was detected for all scales of the MSQoL-54 except for the pain and change in health scales. A higher level of education was a significant prognostic factor for a better HRQoL on the cognitive function scale throughout the entire period of observation, while marital status (single, including divorced and widowed) and increased age at the onset of MS had significant predictive values of poorer quality-of-life scores on the overall quality-of-life scale at 6-year follow-up. Higher levels of physical disability and depression at baseline were statistically significant prognostic markers for deterioration in HRQoL for the majority of MSQoL-54 scales during the entire follow-up period. Our study suggests that baseline demographic and clinical characteristics could be applied as prognostic markers of the HRQOL for patients diagnosed with MS.

Relations of Water Quality to Agricultural Chemical Use and Environmental Setting at Various Scales - Results from Selected Studies of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program

USGS Publications Warehouse

,

2008-01-01

In 1991, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began studies of 51 major river basins and aquifers across the United States as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program to provide scientifically sound information for managing the Nation's water resources. The major goals of the NAWQA Program are to assess the status and long-term trends of the Nation's surface- and ground-water quality and to understand the natural and human factors that affect it (Gilliom and others, 1995). In 2001, the NAWQA Program began a second decade of intensive water-quality assessments. The 42 study units for this second decade were selected to represent a wide range of important hydrologic environments and potential contaminant sources. These NAWQA studies continue to address the goals of the first decade of the assessments to determine how water-quality conditions are changing over time. In addition to local- and regional-scale studies, NAWQA began to analyze and synthesize water-quality status and trends at the principal aquifer and major river-basin scales. This fact sheet summarizes results from four NAWQA studies that relate water quality to agricultural chemical use and environmental setting at these various scales: * Comparison of ground-water quality in northern and southern High Plains agricultural settings (principal aquifer scale); * Distribution patterns of pesticides and degradates in rain (local scale); * Occurrence of pesticides in shallow ground water underlying four agricultural areas (local and regional scales); and * Trends in nutrients and sediment over time in the Missouri River and its tributaries (major river-basin scale).

Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Community-Scale Solar Feasibility Study

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

Rapp, Jim; Knight, Tawnie

2014-01-30

Parametrix Inc. conducted a feasibility study for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to determine whether or not a community-scale solar farm would be feasible for the community. The important part of the study was to find where the best fit for the solar farm could be. In the end, a 3MW community-scale solar farm was found best fit with the location of two hayfield sites.

The Development of the Digital Addiction Scale for the University Students: Reliability and Validity Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kesici, Ahmet; Tunç, Nazenin Fidan

2018-01-01

This study was carried out to develop a scale for determining the level of digital addiction of the youth. In this study carried out with a group of 687 students from Siirt, Dicle and Erzincan Universities, a draft scale of 28 items based on the interviews with two students who spent a long time with digital tools and their friends, and on the…

Behavioral self-organization underlies the resilience of a coastal ecosystem.

PubMed

de Paoli, Hélène; van der Heide, Tjisse; van den Berg, Aniek; Silliman, Brian R; Herman, Peter M J; van de Koppel, Johan

2017-07-25

Self-organized spatial patterns occur in many terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems. Theoretical models and observational studies suggest self-organization, the formation of patterns due to ecological interactions, is critical for enhanced ecosystem resilience. However, experimental tests of this cross-ecosystem theory are lacking. In this study, we experimentally test the hypothesis that self-organized pattern formation improves the persistence of mussel beds ( Mytilus edulis ) on intertidal flats. In natural beds, mussels generate self-organized patterns at two different spatial scales: regularly spaced clusters of mussels at centimeter scale driven by behavioral aggregation and large-scale, regularly spaced bands at meter scale driven by ecological feedback mechanisms. To test for the relative importance of these two spatial scales of self-organization on mussel bed persistence, we conducted field manipulations in which we factorially constructed small-scale and/or large-scale patterns. Our results revealed that both forms of self-organization enhanced the persistence of the constructed mussel beds in comparison to nonorganized beds. Small-scale, behaviorally driven cluster patterns were found to be crucial for persistence, and thus resistance to wave disturbance, whereas large-scale, self-organized patterns facilitated reformation of small-scale patterns if mussels were dislodged. This study provides experimental evidence that self-organization can be paramount to enhancing ecosystem persistence. We conclude that ecosystems with self-organized spatial patterns are likely to benefit greatly from conservation and restoration actions that use the emergent effects of self-organization to increase ecosystem resistance to disturbance.

Behavioral self-organization underlies the resilience of a coastal ecosystem

PubMed Central

de Paoli, Hélène; van der Heide, Tjisse; van den Berg, Aniek; Silliman, Brian R.; Herman, Peter M. J.

2017-01-01

Self-organized spatial patterns occur in many terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems. Theoretical models and observational studies suggest self-organization, the formation of patterns due to ecological interactions, is critical for enhanced ecosystem resilience. However, experimental tests of this cross-ecosystem theory are lacking. In this study, we experimentally test the hypothesis that self-organized pattern formation improves the persistence of mussel beds (Mytilus edulis) on intertidal flats. In natural beds, mussels generate self-organized patterns at two different spatial scales: regularly spaced clusters of mussels at centimeter scale driven by behavioral aggregation and large-scale, regularly spaced bands at meter scale driven by ecological feedback mechanisms. To test for the relative importance of these two spatial scales of self-organization on mussel bed persistence, we conducted field manipulations in which we factorially constructed small-scale and/or large-scale patterns. Our results revealed that both forms of self-organization enhanced the persistence of the constructed mussel beds in comparison to nonorganized beds. Small-scale, behaviorally driven cluster patterns were found to be crucial for persistence, and thus resistance to wave disturbance, whereas large-scale, self-organized patterns facilitated reformation of small-scale patterns if mussels were dislodged. This study provides experimental evidence that self-organization can be paramount to enhancing ecosystem persistence. We conclude that ecosystems with self-organized spatial patterns are likely to benefit greatly from conservation and restoration actions that use the emergent effects of self-organization to increase ecosystem resistance to disturbance. PMID:28696313

Pain point system scale (PPSS): a method for postoperative pain estimation in retrospective studies

PubMed Central

Gkotsi, Anastasia; Petsas, Dimosthenis; Sakalis, Vasilios; Fotas, Asterios; Triantafyllidis, Argyrios; Vouros, Ioannis; Saridakis, Evangelos; Salpiggidis, Georgios; Papathanasiou, Athanasios

2012-01-01

Purpose Pain rating scales are widely used for pain assessment. Nevertheless, a new tool is required for pain assessment needs in retrospective studies. Methods The postoperative pain episodes, during the first postoperative day, of three patient groups were analyzed. Each pain episode was assessed by a visual analog scale, numerical rating scale, verbal rating scale, and a new tool – pain point system scale (PPSS) – based on the analgesics administered. The type of analgesic was defined based on the authors’ clinic protocol, patient comorbidities, pain assessment tool scores, and preadministered medications by an artificial neural network system. At each pain episode, each patient was asked to fill the three pain scales. Bartlett’s test and Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin criterion were used to evaluate sample sufficiency. The proper scoring system was defined by varimax rotation. Spearman’s and Pearson’s coefficients assessed PPSS correlation to the known pain scales. Results A total of 262 pain episodes were evaluated in 124 patients. The PPSS scored one point for each dose of paracetamol, three points for each nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug or codeine, and seven points for each dose of opioids. The correlation between the visual analog scale and PPSS was found to be strong and linear (rho: 0.715; P < 0.001 and Pearson: 0.631; P < 0.001). Conclusion PPSS correlated well with the known pain scale and could be used safely in the evaluation of postoperative pain in retrospective studies. PMID:23152699

[Measurement of unemployment-related psychological stress: Validation of the Unemployment Stress (USS)].

PubMed

Szabóné Kapuvári, Virág; Martos, Tamás

2016-01-01

Nowadays the theme of unemployment and the given answers of it are up to date questions in psychology. In spite of this fact, the psychological methods measuring this phenomenon are often missing. That is why the Unemployment Stress Scale (USS) is presented in this article. The aim of our study is to develop a scale called USS and test it's validity and reliability. There were 287 adult unemployed persons asked in this study. Besides the USS we used the Beck Depression Scale, the Spielberger Anxiety Scale (TRAIT), the Sense of Coherence Scale (Hungarian version) and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale. According to our results, USS has showed an excellent criterion and construct validity. A useful scale has been formed according to test-retest results. (Cronbach-alfa: 0.88 and 0.86 according to the samples). Moreover our scale has a strong correlation with the Spielberger Anxiety Scale (TRAIT) and the Beck Depression Scale. These chracteristics of the new scale proved that we fond a factor, independent from the self esteem and the sense of coherence, which represents the stress level in the situation of unemployment. This scale is a professional construction to measure stress contributed to unemployment. The USS can be a useful scale in clinical practice because after measuring with this scale we can protect the personality of the unemployed by representing the actual unemployment stress level. That is why professionals can help earlier in a crisis like this.

Correlates of Jealousy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bringle, Robert G.; And Others

The Self-Report Jealousy Scale was developed to measure individual differences regarding a person's propensity to reach in a jealous manner to a variety of jealousy-evoking situations. The scale possesses good psychometric properties. Studies are reported which administered the Self-Report Jealousy Scale with various personality scales. The…

Measure Twice, Build Once: Bench-Scale Testing to Evaluate Bioretention Media Design

EPA Science Inventory

The paper discusses the utility of conducting bench-scale testing on selected bioretention media and media amendments to validate hydrologic properties before installing media and amendments in larger pilot- or full-scale rain garden installations. The bench-scale study conclude...

Scaling effects in the impact response of graphite-epoxy composite beams

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jackson, Karen E.; Fasanella, Edwin L.

1989-01-01

In support of crashworthiness studies on composite airframes and substructure, an experimental and analytical study was conducted to characterize size effects in the large deflection response of scale model graphite-epoxy beams subjected to impact. Scale model beams of 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6, and full scale were constructed of four different laminate stacking sequences including unidirectional, angle ply, cross ply, and quasi-isotropic. The beam specimens were subjected to eccentric axial impact loads which were scaled to provide homologous beam responses. Comparisons of the load and strain time histories between the scale model beams and the prototype should verify the scale law and demonstrate the use of scale model testing for determining impact behavior of composite structures. The nonlinear structural analysis finite element program DYCAST (DYnamic Crash Analysis of STructures) was used to model the beam response. DYCAST analysis predictions of beam strain response are compared to experimental data and the results are presented.

Development and Testing of the Nurse Manager EBP Competency Scale.

PubMed

Shuman, Clayton J; Ploutz-Snyder, Robert J; Titler, Marita G

2018-02-01

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of an instrument to measure nurse manager competencies regarding evidence-based practice (EBP). The Nurse Manager EBP Competency Scale consists of 16 items for respondents to indicate their perceived level of competency on a 0 to 3 Likert-type scale. Content validity was demonstrated through expert panel review and pilot testing. Principal axis factoring and Cronbach's alpha evaluated construct validity and internal consistency reliability, respectively. Eighty-three nurse managers completed the scale. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 16-item scale with two subscales, EBP Knowledge ( n = 6 items, α = .90) and EBP Activity ( n = 10 items, α = .94). Cronbach's alpha for the entire scale was .95. The Nurse Manager EBP Competency Scale is a brief measure of nurse manager EBP competency with evidence of validity and reliability. The scale can enhance our understanding in future studies regarding how nurse manager EBP competency affects implementation.

Evaluation of constant-Weber-number scaling for icing tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, David N.

1996-01-01

Previous studies showed that for conditions simulating an aircraft encountering super-cooled water droplets the droplets may splash before freezing. Other surface effects dependent on the water surface tension may also influence the ice accretion process. Consequently, the Weber number appears to be important in accurately scaling ice accretion. A scaling method which uses a constant-Weber-number approach has been described previously; this study provides an evaluation of this scaling method. Tests are reported on cylinders of 2.5 to 15-cm diameter and NACA 0012 airfoils with chords of 18 to 53 cm in the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel (IRT). The larger models were used to establish reference ice shapes, the scaling method was applied to determine appropriate scaled test conditions using the smaller models, and the ice shapes were compared. Icing conditions included warm glaze, horn glaze and mixed. The smallest size scaling attempted was 1/3, and scale and reference ice shapes for both cylinders and airfoils indicated that the constant-Weber-number scaling method was effective for the conditions tested.

Dimensions of functional social support and psychological symptoms.

PubMed

Schonfeld, I S

1991-11-01

In the summer following graduation a sample of 125 female college graduates (mean age = 28) completed Cohen & Wills' ISEL (1985) which includes scales measuring four social support functions: belonging (social companionship), appraisal (availability of confidants), tangible (instrumental), and self-esteem support. In the summer and fall subject status on two outcome scales was ascertained: the Psychophysiologic Symptom Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Reliability of the difference scores suggested that the ISEL scales do not measure entirely different constructs and the ISEL Self-esteem Scale is operationally redundant with the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale and the CES-D. Cross-sectional analyses indicated that the ISEL scales were related to symptoms. By contrast, standard longitudinal and prospective MLR analyses indicated that only the Belonging Scale was significantly related to future symptoms. The issues of confounding support with symptoms and the dimensionality of the subscales were discussed. The study suggests that specific functions of support take on greater importance during major life transitions and that any one supportive behaviour often serves multiple functions.

The Conscientious Responders Scale Helps Researchers Verify the Integrity of Personality Questionnaire Data.

PubMed

Marjanovic, Zdravko; Bajkov, Lisa; MacDonald, Jennifer

2018-01-01

The Conscientious Responders Scale is a five-item embeddable validity scale that differentiates between conscientious and indiscriminate responding in personality-questionnaire data (CR & IR). This investigation presents further evidence of its validity and generalizability across two experiments. Study 1 tests its sensitivity to questionnaire length, a known cause of IR, and tries to provoke IR by manipulating psychological reactance. As expected, short questionnaires produced higher Conscientious Responders Scale scores than long questionnaires, and Conscientious Responders Scale scores were unaffected by reactance manipulations. Study 2 tests concerns that the Conscientious Responders Scale's unusual item content could potentially irritate and baffle responders, ironically increasing rates of IR. We administered two nearly identical questionnaires: one with an embedded Conscientious Responders Scale and one without the Conscientious Responders Scale. Psychometric comparisons revealed no differences across questionnaires' means, variances, interitem response consistencies, and Cronbach's alphas. In sum, the Conscientious Responders Scale is highly sensitive to questionnaire length-a known correlate of IR-and can be embedded harmlessly in questionnaires without provoking IR or changing the psychometrics of other measures.

Why PeV scale left-right symmetry is a good thing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yajnik, Urjit A.

2017-10-01

Left-right symmetric gauge theory presents a minimal paradigm to accommodate massive neutrinos with all the known conserved symmetries duly gauged. The work presented here is based on the argument that the see-saw mechanism does not force the new right-handed symmetry scale to be very high, and as such some of the species from the spectrum of the new gauge and Higgs bosons can have masses within a few orders of magnitude of the TeV scale. The scale of the left-right parity breaking in turn can be sequestered from the Planck scale by supersymmetry. We have studied several formulations of such just beyond Standard Model (JBSM) theories for their consistency with cosmology. Specifically, the need to eliminate phenomenologically undesirable domain walls gives many useful clues. The possibility that the exact left-right symmetry breaks in conjunction with supersymmetry has been explored in the context of gauge mediation, placing restrictions on the available parameter space. Finally, we have also studied a left-right symmetric model in the context of metastable supersymmetric vacua and obtained constraints on the mass scale of right-handed symmetry. In all the cases studied, the mass scale of the right-handed neutrino M_R remains bounded from above, and in some of the cases the scale 10^9 GeV favourable for supersymmetric thermal leptogenesis is disallowed. On the other hand, PeV scale remains a viable option, and the results warrant a more detailed study of such models for their observability in collider and astroparticle experiments.

The Chinese version of the Outcome Expectations for Exercise scale: validation study.

PubMed

Lee, Ling-Ling; Chiu, Yu-Yun; Ho, Chin-Chih; Wu, Shu-Chen; Watson, Roger

2011-06-01

Estimates of the reliability and validity of the English nine-item Outcome Expectations for Exercise (OEE) scale have been tested and found to be valid for use in various settings, particularly among older people, with good internal consistency and validity. Data on the use of the OEE scale among older Chinese people living in the community and how cultural differences might affect the administration of the OEE scale are limited. To test the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Outcome Expectations for Exercise scale among older people. A cross-sectional validation study was designed to test the Chinese version of the OEE scale (OEE-C). Reliability was examined by testing both the internal consistency for the overall scale and the squared multiple correlation coefficient for the single item measure. The validity of the scale was tested on the basis of both a traditional psychometric test and a confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modelling. The Mokken Scaling Procedure (MSP) was used to investigate if there were any hierarchical, cumulative sets of items in the measure. The OEE-C scale was tested in a group of older people in Taiwan (n=108, mean age=77.1). There was acceptable internal consistency (alpha=.85) and model fit in the scale. Evidence of the validity of the measure was demonstrated by the tests for criterion-related validity and construct validity. There was a statistically significant correlation between exercise outcome expectations and exercise self-efficacy (r=.34, p<.01). An analysis of the Mokken Scaling Procedure found that nine items of the scale were all retained in the analysis and the resulting scale was reliable and statistically significant (p=.0008). The results obtained in the present study provided acceptable levels of reliability and validity evidence for the Chinese Outcome Expectations for Exercise scale when used with older people in Taiwan. Future testing of the OEE-C scale needs to be carried out to see whether these results are generalisable to older Chinese people living in urban areas. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Correlations between Beck's suicidal ideation scale, suicidal risk assessment scale RSD and Hamilton's depression rating scale].

PubMed

Ducher, J-L; Dalery, J

2008-04-01

Most of the people who will attempt suicide, talk about it beforehand. Therefore, recognition of suicidal risk is not absolutely impossible. Beck's suicidal ideation scale and Ducher's suicidal risk assessment scale (RSD) are common tools to help practicians in this way. These scales and the Hamilton's depression scale were included in an international multicentric, phase IV, double-blind study, according to two parallel groups who had been administered a fixed dose of fluvoxamin or fluoxetin for six weeks. This allowed examination of the correlations between these scales and the relations, which could possibly exist between suicidal risk, depression and anxiety. (a) Relationships between the Beck's suicidal ideation scale, the suicidal risk assessment scale RSD and Hamilton's depression before treatment. Before treatment, the analysis was conducted with 108 male and female depressive outpatients, aged 18 or over. Results revealed a significant positive correlation (with a Pearson's correlation coefficient r equal to 0.69 and risk p<0.0001) between Beck's suicidal ideation scale and the suicidal risk assessment scale RSD. These scales correlate less consistently with Hamilton's depression (Beck/Hamilton's depression: r=0.34; p=0.0004-RSD/Hamilton's depression: r=0.35; p=0.0002). We observed that the clinical anxiety scale by Snaith is also strongly correlated to these two suicidal risk assessment scales (Beck/CAS: r=0.48; p<0.0001-RSD/CAS: r=0.35; p=0.0005). Besides, the item "suicide" of Hamilton's depression scale accounts for more than a third of the variability of Beck's suicidal ideation scale and the suicidal risk assessment scale RSD. According to these results, the suicidal risk evaluated by these two scales seems to be significantly correlated with anxiety as much as with depression. On the other hand, the Clinical Global Impression is fairly significantly correlated with Beck's suicidal ideation scale (r=0.22; p=0.02), unlike the suicidal risk assessment scale RSD (r=0.42; p<0.0001) and Hamilton's depression scale (r=0.58; p<0.0001); (b) Relationships between Beck's suicidal ideation scale, the suicidal risk assessment scale RSD and Hamilton's depression under treatment. The follow-up under treatment (fluvoxamin or fluoxetin) during six weeks revealed the significantly better sensitivity of the RSD in comparison with Beck's suicidal ideation scale and Hamilton's depression scale, showing the significantly faster improvement in the RSD (p<0.0001). There was no significant difference between the evolution of Beck's suicidal ideation scale and Hamilton's depression scale. So, under treatment with fluvoxamin or fluoxetin, the improvement in suicidal risk appears to be as rapid as the improvement in depression. If we look at the treatment prescribed, only the suicidal risk assessment scale RSD revealed a significant difference between the two molecules, with more rapid improvement with fluvoxamin (p=0.015) from D14. In conclusion, the results of this study hypothesize that the suicidal risk, as assessed by Beck's suicidal ideation scale and the suicidal risk assessment scale RSD, appears to be consistently correlated with both the level of anxiety and depression. The study also suggests that all antidepressants may not be equally effective on suicidal risk.

A study of complex scaling transformation using the Wigner representation of wavefunctions.

PubMed

Kaprálová-Ždánská, Petra Ruth

2011-05-28

The complex scaling operator exp(-θ ̂x̂p/ℏ), being a foundation of the complex scaling method for resonances, is studied in the Wigner phase-space representation. It is shown that the complex scaling operator behaves similarly to the squeezing operator, rotating and amplifying Wigner quasi-probability distributions of the respective wavefunctions. It is disclosed that the distorting effect of the complex scaling transformation is correlated with increased numerical errors of computed resonance energies and widths. The behavior of the numerical error is demonstrated for a computation of CO(2+) vibronic resonances. © 2011 American Institute of Physics

Convergent Validity with the BERS-2 Teacher Rating Scale and the Achenbach Teacher's Report Form: A Replication and Extension

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benner, Gregory J.; Beaudoin, Kathleen; Mooney, Paul; Uhing, Brad M.; Pierce, Corey D.

2008-01-01

In the present study, we sought to extend instrument validation research for a strength-based emotional and behavior rating scale, the "Teacher Rating Scale of the Behavior and Emotional Rating Scale-Second Edition" (BERS-2; Epstein, M. H. (2004). "Behavioral and emotional rating scale" (2nd ed.). Austin, TX: PRO-ED) through…

A Study on the Relationship between College Students' Boredom Tendency and Attribution Style as Well as Achievement Motivation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yan, Shunqin

2016-01-01

Aim: This thesis discusses the relationship between college students' boredom tendency and attribution style as well as achievement motivation. Method: The author uses scale assessment on college students of boredom tendency scale, the inner-control scale, internality-powerful others scale and chance scale draw up by Leveson, as well as…

Validation of Empirically Derived Rating Scales for a Story Retelling Speaking Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hirai, Akiyo; Koizumi, Rie

2013-01-01

In recognition of the rating scale as a crucial tool of performance assessment, this study aims to establish a rating scale suitable for a Story Retelling Speaking Test (SRST), which is a semidirect test of speaking ability in English as a foreign language for classroom use. To identify an appropriate scale, three rating scales, all of which have…

Intra- and Inter-Observer Reliability of the Trunk Impairment Scale for Children with Cerebral Palsy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saether, Rannei; Jorgensen, Lone

2011-01-01

Standardized scales to evaluate qualities of trunk movements in children with dysfunction are sparse. An examination of the reliability of scales that may be useful in the clinic is important. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability of the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Standardized scales are…

Initial eccentricity and constituent quark number scaling of elliptic flow in ideal and viscous dynamics

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

Chaudhuri, A. K.

2010-04-15

In the Israel-Stewart theory of dissipative hydrodynamics, the scaling properties of elliptic flow in Au+Au collisions are studied. The initial energy density of the fluid was fixed to reproduce STAR data on phi-meson multiplicity in 0-5% Au+Au collisions such that, irrespective of fluid viscosity, entropy at the freeze-out is similar in ideal or in viscous evolution. The initial eccentricity or constituent quark number scaling is only approximate in ideal or minimally viscous (eta/s=1/4pi) fluid. Eccentricity scaling becomes nearly exact in more viscous fluid (eta/s>=0.12). However, in more viscous fluid, constituent quark number scaled elliptic flow for mesons and baryons splitsmore » into separate scaling functions. Simulated flows also do not exhibit 'universal scaling'; that is, elliptic flow scaled by the constituent quark number and charged particles v{sub 2} is not a single function of transverse kinetic energy scaled by the quark number. From a study of the violation of universal scaling, we obtain an estimate of quark-gluon plasma viscosity, eta/s=0.12+-0.03. The error is statistical only. The systematic error in eta/s could be as large.« less

Scaling the Non-linear Impact Response of Flat and Curved Composite Panels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ambur, Damodar R.; Chunchu, Prasad B.; Rose, Cheryl A.; Feraboli, Paolo; Jackson, Wade C.

2005-01-01

The application of scaling laws to thin flat and curved composite panels exhibiting nonlinear response when subjected to low-velocity transverse impact is investigated. Previous research has shown that the elastic impact response of structural configurations exhibiting geometrically linear response can be effectively scaled. In the present paper, a preliminary experimental study is presented to assess the applicability of the scaling laws to structural configurations exhibiting geometrically nonlinear deformations. The effect of damage on the scalability of the structural response characteristics, and the effect of scale on damage development are also investigated. Damage is evaluated using conventional methods including C-scan, specimen de-plying and visual inspection of the impacted panels. Coefficient of restitution and normalized contact duration are also used to assess the extent of damage. The results confirm the validity of the scaling parameters for elastic impacts. However, for the panels considered in the study, the extent and manifestation of damage do not scale according to the scaling laws. Furthermore, the results indicate that even though the damage does not scale, the overall panel response characteristics, as indicated by contact force profiles, do scale for some levels of damage.

Spatiotemporal property and predictability of large-scale human mobility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hai-Tao; Zhu, Tao; Fu, Dongfei; Xu, Bowen; Han, Xiao-Pu; Chen, Duxin

2018-04-01

Spatiotemporal characteristics of human mobility emerging from complexity on individual scale have been extensively studied due to the application potential on human behavior prediction and recommendation, and control of epidemic spreading. We collect and investigate a comprehensive data set of human activities on large geographical scales, including both websites browse and mobile towers visit. Numerical results show that the degree of activity decays as a power law, indicating that human behaviors are reminiscent of scale-free random walks known as Lévy flight. More significantly, this study suggests that human activities on large geographical scales have specific non-Markovian characteristics, such as a two-segment power-law distribution of dwelling time and a high possibility for prediction. Furthermore, a scale-free featured mobility model with two essential ingredients, i.e., preferential return and exploration, and a Gaussian distribution assumption on the exploration tendency parameter is proposed, which outperforms existing human mobility models under scenarios of large geographical scales.

Psychometric properties of the social phobia and social interaction anxiety scales: evidence of construct equivalence in an African American sample.

PubMed

Carter, Michele M; Sbrocco, Tracy; Tang, Dickson; Rekrut, Frances M; Condit, Caitlin

2014-10-01

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Social Phobia Scale and Social Interaction Anxiety scale in a community sample of African Americans. We conducted a confirmatory factor analysis of the combined scales comparing the data to 2- and 3-factor solutions commonly reported in the literature. The results indicated that neither solution produce an adequate fit to the data in this study. We then proceeded to conduct an exploratory factor analysis within a confirmatory framework of both scales. While we were able to extract a 2-factor solution from the data, the item composition of the factors was somewhat different for African Americans than what is typically reported in non-Hispanic White samples. While we conclude that use of the two social anxiety scales is warranted, we make recommendations regarding the interpretation of both scales with African Americans. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Numerical evaluation of the scale problem on the wind flow of a windbreak

PubMed Central

Liu, Benli; Qu, Jianjun; Zhang, Weimin; Tan, Lihai; Gao, Yanhong

2014-01-01

The airflow field around wind fences with different porosities, which are important in determining the efficiency of fences as a windbreak, is typically studied via scaled wind tunnel experiments and numerical simulations. However, the scale problem in wind tunnels or numerical models is rarely researched. In this study, we perform a numerical comparison between a scaled wind-fence experimental model and an actual-sized fence via computational fluid dynamics simulations. The results show that although the general field pattern can be captured in a reduced-scale wind tunnel or numerical model, several flow characteristics near obstacles are not proportional to the size of the model and thus cannot be extrapolated directly. For example, the small vortex behind a low-porosity fence with a scale of 1:50 is approximately 4 times larger than that behind a full-scale fence. PMID:25311174

Coloration mechanisms and phylogeny of Morpho butterflies.

PubMed

Giraldo, M A; Yoshioka, S; Liu, C; Stavenga, D G

2016-12-15

Morpho butterflies are universally admired for their iridescent blue coloration, which is due to nanostructured wing scales. We performed a comparative study on the coloration of 16 Morpho species, investigating the morphological, spectral and spatial scattering properties of the differently organized wing scales. In numerous previous studies, the bright blue Morpho coloration has been fully attributed to the multi-layered ridges of the cover scales' upper laminae, but we found that the lower laminae of the cover and ground scales play an important additional role, by acting as optical thin film reflectors. We conclude that Morpho coloration is a subtle combination of overlapping pigmented and/or unpigmented scales, multilayer systems, optical thin films and sometimes undulated scale surfaces. Based on the scales' architecture and their organization, five main groups can be distinguished within the genus Morpho, largely agreeing with the accepted phylogeny. © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Reliability and validity of the Parenting Scale of Inconsistency.

PubMed

Yoshizumi, Takahiro; Murase, Satomi; Murakami, Takashi; Takai, Jiro

2006-08-01

The purposes of the present study were to develop a Parenting Scale of Inconsistency and to evaluate its initial reliability and validity. The 12 items assess the inconsistency among parents' moods, behaviors, and attitudes toward children. In the primary study, 517 participants completed three measures: the new Parenting Scale of Inconsistency, the Parental Bonding Instrument, and the Depression Scale of the General Health Questionnaire. The Parenting Scale of Inconsistency had good test-retest reliability of .85 and internal consistency of .88 (Cronbach coefficient alpha). Construct validity was good as Inconsistency scores were significantly correlated with the Care and Overprotection scores of the Parental Bonding Instrument and with the Depression scores. Moreover, Inconsistency scores' relation with a dimension of parenting style distinct from Care and Overprotection suggested that the Parenting Scale of Inconsistency had factorial validity. This scale seems a potential measure for examining the relationships between inconsistent parenting and the mental health of children.

A longitudinal evaluation of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D) in a Rheumatoid Arthritis Population using Rasch Analysis

PubMed Central

Covic, Tanya; Pallant, Julie F; Conaghan, Philip G; Tennant, Alan

2007-01-01

Background The aim of this study was to test the internal validity of the total Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale using Rasch analysis in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) population. Methods CES-D was administered to 157 patients with RA over three time points within a 12 month period. Rasch analysis was applied using RUMM2020 software to assess the overall fit of the model, the response scale used, individual item fit, differential item functioning (DIF) and person separation. Results Pooled data across three time points was shown to fit the Rasch model with removal of seven items from the original 20-item CES-D scale. It was necessary to rescore the response format from four to three categories in order to improve the scale's fit. Two items demonstrated some DIF for age and gender but were retained within the 13-item CES-D scale. A new cut point for depression score of 9 was found to correspond to the original cut point score of 16 in the full CES-D scale. Conclusion This Rasch analysis of the CES-D in a longstanding RA cohort resulted in the construction of a modified 13-item scale with good internal validity. Further validation of the modified scale is recommended particularly in relation to the new cut point for depression. PMID:17629902

Validity and cultural equivalence of the standard Greene Climacteric Scale in Hong Kong.

PubMed

Chen, Run Qiu; Davis, Susan R; Wong, Chit Ming; Lam, Tai Hing

2010-01-01

The aim of this study was to translate the standard Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS) and a urogenital symptom scale into colloquial Chinese (Hong Kong) and test their validity and reliability in Hong Kong Chinese women. The scales were translated with standard techniques, and cross-cultural construct validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and responsiveness were tested on samples of women aged 40 to 60 years recruited from the community. A total of 611 women, with mean (SD) age of 48.9 (5.3) years, provided completed scales for the study. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated construct validity of the translated standard GCS. The items were found to have good homogeneity in measuring the scale concepts (Cronbach alpha > 0.7). But the three-item urogenital scale had poor internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.43), and a combination of this scale with the standard GCS resulted in a reduced model fit to the data. Test-retest reliability for the GCS was good on women recruited for a retest (n = 52). The translated GCS was found to be responsive to change over time (effect size, 0.59; n = 19). The Chinese (Hong Kong) version of the standard GCS is a valid and cultural-equivalent instrument. Our data do not support inclusion of the urogenital scale to the standard GCS. Measurement of urogenital symptoms is subject to further study.

Model of the Dynamic Construction Process of Texts and Scaling Laws of Words Organization in Language Systems

PubMed Central

Li, Shan; Lin, Ruokuang; Bian, Chunhua; Ma, Qianli D. Y.

2016-01-01

Scaling laws characterize diverse complex systems in a broad range of fields, including physics, biology, finance, and social science. The human language is another example of a complex system of words organization. Studies on written texts have shown that scaling laws characterize the occurrence frequency of words, words rank, and the growth of distinct words with increasing text length. However, these studies have mainly concentrated on the western linguistic systems, and the laws that govern the lexical organization, structure and dynamics of the Chinese language remain not well understood. Here we study a database of Chinese and English language books. We report that three distinct scaling laws characterize words organization in the Chinese language. We find that these scaling laws have different exponents and crossover behaviors compared to English texts, indicating different words organization and dynamics of words in the process of text growth. We propose a stochastic feedback model of words organization and text growth, which successfully accounts for the empirically observed scaling laws with their corresponding scaling exponents and characteristic crossover regimes. Further, by varying key model parameters, we reproduce differences in the organization and scaling laws of words between the Chinese and English language. We also identify functional relationships between model parameters and the empirically observed scaling exponents, thus providing new insights into the words organization and growth dynamics in the Chinese and English language. PMID:28006026

Model of the Dynamic Construction Process of Texts and Scaling Laws of Words Organization in Language Systems.

PubMed

Li, Shan; Lin, Ruokuang; Bian, Chunhua; Ma, Qianli D Y; Ivanov, Plamen Ch

2016-01-01

Scaling laws characterize diverse complex systems in a broad range of fields, including physics, biology, finance, and social science. The human language is another example of a complex system of words organization. Studies on written texts have shown that scaling laws characterize the occurrence frequency of words, words rank, and the growth of distinct words with increasing text length. However, these studies have mainly concentrated on the western linguistic systems, and the laws that govern the lexical organization, structure and dynamics of the Chinese language remain not well understood. Here we study a database of Chinese and English language books. We report that three distinct scaling laws characterize words organization in the Chinese language. We find that these scaling laws have different exponents and crossover behaviors compared to English texts, indicating different words organization and dynamics of words in the process of text growth. We propose a stochastic feedback model of words organization and text growth, which successfully accounts for the empirically observed scaling laws with their corresponding scaling exponents and characteristic crossover regimes. Further, by varying key model parameters, we reproduce differences in the organization and scaling laws of words between the Chinese and English language. We also identify functional relationships between model parameters and the empirically observed scaling exponents, thus providing new insights into the words organization and growth dynamics in the Chinese and English language.

Genome-wide Linkage Scan of Antisocial Behavior, Depression and Impulsive Substance Use in the UCSF Family Alcoholism Study

PubMed Central

Gizer, Ian R.; Ehlers, Cindy L.; Vieten, Cassandra; Feiler, Heidi S.; Gilder, David A.; Wilhelmsen, Kirk C.

2012-01-01

OBJECTIVE Epidemiological and clinical studies suggest that rates of antisocial behavior, depression, and impulsive substance use are increased among individuals diagnosed with alcohol dependence relative to those who are not. Thus, the present study conducted genome-wide linkage scans of antisocial behavior, depression, and impulsive substance use in the University of California at San Francisco Family Alcoholism Study. METHODS Antisocial behavior, depressive symptoms, and impulsive substance use were assessed using three scales from the MMPI-2, the Antisocial Practices content scale (ASP), the Depression content scale (DEP), and the revised MacAndrew Alcoholism scale (MAC-R). Linkage analyses were conducted using a variance components approach. RESULTS Suggestive evidence of linkage to three genomic regions independent of alcohol and cannabis dependence diagnostic status was observed: the ASP scale showed evidence of linkage to chromosome 13 at 11 cM, the MAC-R scale showed evidence of linkage to chromosome 15 at 47 cM, and all 3 scales showed evidence of linkage to chromosome 17 at 57–58 cM. CONCLUSIONS Each of these regions has shown prior evidence of linkage and association to substance dependence as well as other psychiatric disorders such as mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD, and schizophrenia thus suggesting potentially broad relations between these regions and psychopathology. PMID:22517380

Translating chimpanzee personality to humans: Investigating the transportability of chimpanzee-derived personality scales to humans.

PubMed

Latzman, Robert D; Sauvigné, Katheryn C; Hopkins, William D

2016-06-01

There is a growing interest in the study of personality in chimpanzees with repeated findings of a similar structure of personality in apes to that found in humans. To date, however, the direct translational value of instruments used to assess chimpanzee personality to humans has yet to be explicitly tested. As such, in the current study we sought to determine the transportability of factor analytically-derived chimpanzee personality scales to humans in a large human sample (N = 301). Human informants reporting on target individuals they knew well completed chimpanzee-derived and human-derived measures of personality from the two most widely studied models of human personality: Big Five and Big Three. The correspondence between informant-reported chimpanzee- and human-derived personality scales was then investigated. Results indicated high convergence for corresponding scales across most chimpanzee- and human-derived personality scales. Findings from the current study provide evidence that chimpanzee-derived scales translate well to humans and operate quite similarly to the established human-derived personality scales in a human sample. This evidence of transportability lends support to the translational nature of chimpanzee personality research suggesting clear relevance of this growing literature to humans. Am. J. Primatol. 78:601-609, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Consistency and interpretation of changes in millimeter-scale cortical intrinsic curvature across three independent datasets in schizophrenia☆

PubMed Central

Ronan, Lisa; Voets, Natalie L.; Hough, Morgan; Mackay, Clare; Roberts, Neil; Suckling, John; Bullmore, Edward; James, Anthony; Fletcher, Paul C.

2012-01-01

Several studies have sought to test the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia through analysis of cortical gyrification. However, to date, results have been inconsistent. A possible reason for this is that gyrification measures at the centimeter scale may be insensitive to subtle morphological changes at smaller scales. The lack of consistency in such studies may impede further interpretation of cortical morphology as an aid to understanding the etiology of schizophrenia. In this study we developed a new approach, examining whether millimeter-scale measures of cortical curvature are sensitive to changes in fundamental geometric properties of the cortical surface in schizophrenia. We determined and compared millimeter-scale and centimeter-scale curvature in three separate case–control studies; specifically two adult groups and one adolescent group. The datasets were of different sizes, with different ages and gender-spreads. The results clearly show that millimeter-scale intrinsic curvature measures were more robust and consistent in identifying reduced gyrification in patients across all three datasets. To further interpret this finding we quantified the ratio of expansion in the upper and lower cortical layers. The results suggest that reduced gyrification in schizophrenia is driven by a reduction in the expansion of upper cortical layers. This may plausibly be related to a reduction in short-range connectivity. PMID:22743195

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

PubMed

Hergüner, Sabri; Harmancı, Hatice; Toy, Harun

2015-01-01

Several studies suggest that androgens are involved in the etiology of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this study, we investigated the ADHD symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a complex endocrine, hormonal, and metabolic condition associated with hyperandrogenism. Forty women between the ages of 18 and 35 years with PCOS were recruited for the study group. For comparison, 40 healthy women who had regular menses were included. Current and childhood ADHD symptoms were assessed by using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale and Wender-Utah Rating Scale, respectively. Women with PCOS had higher total Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale and total Wender-Utah Rating Scale scores than controls. According to the Wender-Utah Rating Scale, the frequency of childhood ADHD was significantly higher in PCOS group than the control. Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale: Hyperactivity-Impulsivity and Wender-Utah Rating Scale: Behavioral Problems/Impulsivity scores were significantly higher in women with PCOS. However, there were no significant differences between groups in both current and childhood inattention scores. We found no correlations between ADHD symptoms and serum hormone levels including testosterone in women with PCOS. These results suggest that women with PCOS have higher ADHD symptoms. Further studies are needed to investigate the association between PCOS and ADHD. © The Author(s) 2015.

Aspects cliniques, électrocardiographiques et échocardiographiques de l’hypertendu âgé au Sénégal

PubMed Central

Sarr, Simon Antoine; Babaka, Kana; Mboup, Mouhamadou Cherif; Fall, Pape Diadie; Dia, Khadidiatou; Bodian, Malick; Ndiaye, Mouhamadou Bamba; Kane, Adama; Diao, Maboury; Ba, Serigne Abdou

2016-01-01

Introduction L’hypertension artérielle (HTA) du sujet âgé est un facteur indépendant de maladie cardio-vasculaire. Nos objectifs étaient de décrire les aspects cliniques, électrocardiographique et échocardiographiques de l’HTA du sujet âgé. Méthodes Nous avons mené une étude descriptive et transversale de Janvier à Septembre 2013. Etaient inclus les sujets hypertendus âgés d’au moins 60 ans suivis en ambulatoire au service de cardiologie de l’Hôpital Principal de Dakar. Les données statistiques étaient analysées par le logiciel Epi Info 7 et une valeur de p < 0,05 était retenue comme significative. Résultats Au total, 208 patients étaient inclus. L’âge moyen était de 69,9 ans avec une prédominance féminine (sex-ratio de 0,85). La pression artérielle moyenne était de 162/90mmHg. L’HTA était contrôlée dans 13% des cas. A l’électrocardiogramme, on notait un trouble du rythme (17,78%), une hypertrophie auriculaire gauche (45,19%), une hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche (28,85%) et 2 cas de bloc auriculo-ventriculaire complet. Le Holter ECG révélait 4 cas de tachycardie ventriculaire non soutenue (IVb de Lown), 6 cas de fibrillation atriale paroxystique et 1 cas de flutter atrial paroxystique. L’échocardiographie réalisée chez 140 patients retrouvait une HVG à prédominance concentrique chez 25 patients, plus fréquente chez les hommes (p=0,04) et une dilatation de l’oreillette gauche dans 56,42% des cas, plus fréquente chez les patients plus âgés (p= 0,01). Conclusion Les aspects électrocardiographiques et échocardiographiques dans la population hypertendue âgée sont caractérisés par l’hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche notamment concentrique, la fréquence des arythmies révélées quelques fois par l’enregistrement électrocardiographique de longue durée. PMID:28292040

Bases anatomiques des lésions de l’artère pudendale externe lors de la chirurgie des varices du membre pelvien

PubMed Central

Gaye, Magaye; Ndiaye, Assane; Dieng, Papa Adama; Ndiaye, Aynina; Ba, Papa Salmane; Diatta, Souleymane; Ciss, Amadou Gabriel; Ndoye, Jean Marc Ndiaga; Diop, Mamadou; Ndiaye, Abdoulaye; Ndiaye, Mouhamadou; Dia, Abdarahmane

2016-01-01

Introduction L’artère pudendale externe est une branche collatérale de l’artère fémorale commune qui est destinée à la vascularisation du pénis ou du clitoris. Ses rapports avec la crosse de la grande veine saphène et de ses afférences, dans le trigone fémoral, sont très étroits. Cette situation fait qu’elle est souvent lésée lors de la crossectomie et de l’éveinage de la grande veine saphène. Ces lésions peuvent être à l’origine d’une dysfonction sexuelle. Méthodes Il s’agit d’une dissection de 22 régions inguinales chez 13 hommes et 9 femmes qui ont bénéficié d’un abord chirurgical du trigone fémoral. La distribution et les rapports de l’artère pudendale externe par rapport à la crosse de la grande veine saphène sont étudiés. Résultats L’artère pudendale externe unique est la plus fréquente. Toutes les artères pudendales externes ont pour origine l’artère fémorale commune. Le rapport le plus fréquent est le sous croisement de la crosse de la grande veine saphène par une artère pudendale externe unique. Par ailleurs, on a un précroisement, un croisement alterné et des rapports avec la veine fémorale commune et des afférences de la crosse de la grande veine saphène. Certaines techniques chirurgicales exposent plus ou moins à une lésion de l’artère pudendale externe. Conclusion Ce travail confirme les données antérieures mais montre encore quelques particularités sur les rapports entre la crosse de la grande veine saphène et l’artère pudendale externe. PMID:27795794

Traduire encore Bertin aujourd'hui : pourquoi faire ? Les nouvelles faces cachées de la Sémiologie Graphique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhieb, Mohsen

2018-05-01

La « Sémiologie Graphique » de Bertin est un ouvrage majeur de la cartographie contemporaine. Cependant, dès sa parution en 1967, cet ouvrage a suscité autant d'intérêt que de méfiance : l'ouvrage n'était pas dans le « moule » de la littérature cartographique en vigueur. Pourtant, si plusieurs de ses principes et concepts fondateurs ont été adoptés, plusieurs autres ne sont pas bien passés ou n'ont pas été mis en pratique. Il y a comme un fossé entre certains énoncés théoriques de l'ouvrage et leur mise en pratique. Certaines affirmations de Bertin peuvent paraître obsolètes aujourd'hui à l'heure du numérique, comme la non prise en compte de l'aspect dynamique ou interactif de la carte. L'avènement récent des SIG, de la géomatique et des systèmes de Cartographie Assistée par Ordinateur a relégué les vieilles méthodes de traitement graphique de l'information au second rang. Dès lors pourquoi traduire encore aujourd'hui, à l'heure du numérique, la « Sémiologie Graphique » ? Justement, d'abord, parce que certains principes restent, en substance, peu connus ; plusieurs aspects demeurent encore à explorer ; certaines méthodes et techniques manuelles délaissées peuvent être revisitées et remises en marche grâce à la visualisation ; des innovations n'ont pas été expérimentées ou implémentées par les moyens numériques. Dans le monde arabe, peu de recherches se sont imprégnées de sémiologie graphique. Lors de la traduction de l'ouvrage en arabe, des points restés obscurs ont été décelés. Ce sont ces quelques idées et réflexions qui nous ont poussés à revivre cette formidable aventure.

Conductivite dans le modele de Hubbard bi-dimensionnel a faible couplage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergeron, Dominic

Le modele de Hubbard bi-dimensionnel (2D) est souvent considere comme le modele minimal pour les supraconducteurs a haute temperature critique a base d'oxyde de cuivre (SCHT). Sur un reseau carre, ce modele possede les phases qui sont communes a tous les SCHT, la phase antiferromagnetique, la phase supraconductrice et la phase dite du pseudogap. Il n'a pas de solution exacte, toutefois, plusieurs methodes approximatives permettent d'etudier ses proprietes de facon numerique. Les proprietes optiques et de transport sont bien connues dans les SCHT et sont donc de bonne candidates pour valider un modele theorique et aider a comprendre mieux la physique de ces materiaux. La presente these porte sur le calcul de ces proprietes pour le modele de Hubbard 2D a couplage faible ou intermediaire. La methode de calcul utilisee est l'approche auto-coherente a deux particules (ACDP), qui est non-perturbative et inclue l'effet des fluctuations de spin et de charge a toutes les longueurs d'onde. La derivation complete de l'expression de la conductivite dans l'approche ACDP est presentee. Cette expression contient ce qu'on appelle les corrections de vertex, qui tiennent compte des correlations entre quasi-particules. Pour rendre possible le calcul numerique de ces corrections, des algorithmes utilisant, entre autres, des transformees de Fourier rapides et des splines cubiques sont developpes. Les calculs sont faits pour le reseau carre avec sauts aux plus proches voisins autour du point critique antiferromagnetique. Aux dopages plus faibles que le point critique, la conductivite optique presente une bosse dans l'infrarouge moyen a basse temperature, tel qu'observe dans plusieurs SCHT. Dans la resistivite en fonction de la temperature, on trouve un comportement isolant dans le pseudogap lorsque les corrections de vertex sont negligees et metallique lorsqu'elles sont prises en compte. Pres du point critique, la resistivite est lineaire en T a basse temperature et devient progressivement proportionnelle a T 2 a fort dopage. Quelques resultats avec sauts aux voisins plus eloignes sont aussi presentes. Mots-cles: Hubbard, point critique quantique, conductivite, corrections de vertex

Les effets des interfaces sur les proprietes magnetiques et de transport des multicouches nickel/iron et cobalt/silver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veres, Teodor

Cette these est consacree a l'etude de l'evolution structurale des proprietes magnetiques et de transport des multicouches Ni/Fe et nanostructures a base de Co et de l'Ag. Dans une premiere partie, essentiellement bibliographique, nous introduisons quelques concepts de base relies aux proprietes magnetiques et de transport des multicouches metalliques. Ensuite, nous presentons une breve description des methodes d'analyse des resultats. La deuxieme partie est consacree a l'etude des proprietes magnetiques et de transport des multicouches ferromagnetiques/ferromagnetiques Ni/Fe. Nous montrerons qu'une interpretation coherente de ces proprietes necessite la prise en consideration des effets des interfaces. Nous nous attacherons a mettre en evidence, a evaluer et a etudier les effets de ces interfaces ainsi que leur evolution, et ce, suite a des traitements thermiques tel que le depot a temperature elevee et l'irradiation ionique. Les analyses correlees de la structure et de la magnetoresistance nous permettront d'emettre des conclusions sur l'influence des couches tampons entre l'interface et le substrat ainsi qu'entre les couches elles-memes sur le comportement magnetique des couches F/F. La troisieme partie est consacree aux systemes a Magneto-Resistance Geante (MRG) a base de Co et Ag. Nous allons etudier l'evolution de la microstructure suite a l'irradiation avec des ions Si+ ayant une energie de 1 MeV, ainsi que les effets de ces changements sur le comportement magnetique. Cette partie debutera par l'analyse des proprietes d'une multicouche hybride, intermediaire entre les multicouches et les materiaux granulaires. Nous analyserons a l'aide des mesures de diffraction, de relaxation superparamagnetique et de magnetoresistance, les evolutions structurales produites par l'irradiation ionique. Nous etablirons des modeles qui nous aideront a interpreter les resultats pour une serie des multicouches qui couvrent un large eventail de differents comportements magnetiques et ceci en fonction de l'epaisseur de la couche magnetique de Co. Nous verrons que dans ces systemes les effets de l'irradiation ionique sont fortement influences par l'energie de surface ainsi que par l'enthalpie de formation, largement positive pour le systeme Co/Ag.

Violences conjugales à Antananarivo (Madagascar): un enjeu de santé publique

PubMed Central

Gastineau, Bénédicte; Gathier, Lucy

2012-01-01

Introduction La violence conjugale a été étudiée dans beaucoup de pays développés mais peu en Afrique subsaharienne. Madagascar est un pays où ce phénomène est peu documenté. Méthodes En 2007, une enquête sur la violence conjugale à Antananarivo (ELVICA) a été menée sur la violence conjugale envers les femmes dans la capitale malgache. ELVICA a interrogé 400 femmes en union, de 15 à 59 ans. Des informations sur les caractéristiques démographiques, socioéconomiques des couples ont été collectées ainsi que sur les actes de violences physiques des hommes sur leurs épouses. L’objectif de cet article est d’identifier les facteurs de risques de la violence conjugale grave, celle qui a des conséquences sur la santé physique des femmes. Résultats Trente-cinq pour cent des femmes qui ont déclaré avoir subi au moins une forme de violence physique au cours des 12 mois précédent l’enquête. Presque la moitié (46%) des femmes violentées ont déclaré avoir déjà eu des hématomes, et environ un quart (23%) des plaies avec saignement. Vingt-deux pour cent ont déjà dû consulter un médecin. Parmi les nombreuses variables socioéconomiques et démographiques testées, quelques-unes sont associées positivement au risque de violence conjugale grave: le fait pour une femme d’être en union consensuelle et d’avoir une activité professionnelle. Il y aussi un lien entre la violence subie et l’autonomie des femmes (liberté accordée par le mari de travailler, de circuler, de voir sa famille). Conclusion A Madagascar, comme ailleurs, la lutte contre les violences conjugales est un élément majeur de l’amélioration du statut et de la santé des femmes. PMID:22514757

Traitement de surface par explosif du cuivre polycristallin : caractérisation microstructurale et comportement en fatigue plastique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerland, M.; Dufour, J. P.; Presles, H. N.; Violan, P.; Mendez, J.

1991-10-01

A new surface treatment technique with a primary explosive deposited in thin layer was applied to a polycrystalline pure copper. After treatment, surface roughness remains of high quality especially when compared to shot peened surfaces. The treated zone extends over several hundreds microns in depth and the microhardness profile exhibits a significant increasing of hardness with a maximum reaching 100% at the surface. The transmission electron microscopy shows a microstructure which changes with depth : below the surface, there is a thin recrystallized layer with very small grains followed by a region with numerous mechanical twins the density of which decreases when depth increases. Tested in fatigue with a constant plastic strain amplitude, the treated copper specimens exhibit a strong hardening from the first cycles compared to the untreated specimen ; however this initial hardening erases after 2% of the fatigue life. The fatigue resistance is not modified by the treatment. Une nouvelle technique de traitement de surface à l'aide d'un explosif primaire déposé en couche mince a été utilisée sur du cuivre pur polycristallin. L'état de surface après traitement reste de très bonne qualité, surtout comparé aux surfaces grenaillées. La zone traitée s'étend sur une profondeur de quelques centaines de microns et le profil de microdureté montre une importante augmentation de dureté avec un maximum en surface pouvant atteindre 100%. La micrcrostructure, observée par microscopie électronique en transmission, est caractérisée par une fine recristallisation en surface, puis par un abondant maclage dont la densité décroît lorsque la profondeur augmente. Testé en fatigue à déformation plastique imposée, le cuivre traité présente un fort écrouissage initial dès les premiers cycles, mais qui s'efface progressivement au cours du cyclage après 2% de la durée de vie, cette dernière n'étant pas modifiée par le traitement.

Conséquences macroéconomiques du vieillissement de la population 1

PubMed Central

Lee, Ronald; Mason, Andrew

2017-01-01

Résumé La baisse de la fécondité et l’allongement de la durée de la vie amènent au vieillissement de la population et au ralentissement ou même à la baisse de la croissance démographique. Tandis que le ralentissement de la croissance démographique réduit la nécessité d’épargner, le vieillissement de la population impose des coûts liés à la dépendance des personnes âgées qui sont particulièrement lourds pour le secteur public. Le taux de fécondité est-il trop faible ? Le projet des Comptes de transferts nationaux (National Transfer Accounts ou NTA) fournit des données permettant de quantifier les coûts liés à la dépendance. Au vu de la répartition par âge actuelle des impôts et prestations dans les pays à revenu élevé et à revenu moyen supérieur, un taux d’environ trois naissances par femme permettrait de maximiser le ratio de soutien public. Les profils d’âge inclusifs de consommation et de revenus du travail sont toutefois plus pertinents en termes de niveau de vie. Les ratios de soutien correspondants sont maximisés par un taux de fécondité légèrement supérieur à deux naissances par femme. En allant un peu plus loin et en prenant en compte la baisse de l’épargne, un taux égal à 1,5 naissance par femme dans les pays à revenu moyen supérieur et à 1,8 naissance par femme dans les pays riches industrialisés permettrait de maximiser le niveau de vie. Au sein d’économies ouvertes, ces résultats seraient légèrement différents. Par ailleurs, la prise en compte du capital humain influerait également quelque peu sur ces résultats. PMID:28804226

Séroprévalence du virus de l'herpès humain-8 chez des patients VIH positif à l'hôpital général de Yaoundé – Cameroun

PubMed Central

Jacky, Njiki Bikoï; Paul, Ndom; Lilian, Mupang; Sylvie, Agokeng Demanou

2015-01-01

L'épidémiologie de l'infection par le virus herpès humain de type 8 (HHV8) associée à celle à VIH, reste encore méconnue au Cameroun, bien que le pays soit considéré comme une zone endémique pour ces deux virus. L'objectif de ce travail était de ressortir le profil de la séroprévalence du HHV8 au sein de notre population d'étude. 57 personnes ont été recrutées à l'Hôpital Général de Yaoundé et suivies sur une durée 12 mois. Des anticorps IgG anti-HHV8 ont été déterminés par ELISA. Des paramètres autres, tels que l'âge, le sexe, le stade des maladies (SK et VIH/SIDA), le protocole ARV, ainsi que les taux de CD4 ont été utilisés pour déterminer les variables associées à la séropositivité au HHV8. Cette association a été évaluée par le test khi carré. La séroprévalence du HHV8 était de 90% dans notre population en début d'étude et de 74% douze mois plus tard, une séroprévalence qui restait élevée quelque soit le profil clinique, la tranche d'âge, le sexe ou le taux de CD4+ de l'individu. Aucune variable de l'étude n'était significativement associée à la séropositivité du HHV8. Le virus HHV8 semblait circuler au sein de notre population d'étude. Cependant l'on constate, douze mois plus tard, l'absence de manifestations cliniques du SK chez les patients VIH+ positifs, malgré des titres très élevés en IgG anti-HHV8. PMID:26090027

Le bégaiement

PubMed Central

Perez, Hector R.; Stoeckle, James H.

2016-01-01

Résumé Objectif Fournir une mise à jour sur l’épidémiologie, l’hérédité, la physiopathologie, le diagnostic et le traitement du bégaiement développemental. Qualité des données Une recherche d’études récentes ou non portant sur l’épidémiologie, l’hérédité, la physiopathologie, le diagnostic et le traitement du bégaiement développemental a été effectuée dans les bases de données MEDLINE et Cochrane. La plupart des recommandations s’appuient sur des études de petite envergure, des données probantes de qualité limitée ou des consensus. Message principal Le bégaiement est un trouble d’élocution fréquent chez les personnes de tous âges, il altère la fluidité verbale normale et l’enchaînement du discours. Le bégaiement a été lié à des différences de l’anatomie, du fonctionnement et de la régulation dopaminergique du cerveau qui seraient de source génétique. Il importe de poser le diagnostic avec attention et de faire les recommandations qui conviennent chez les enfants, car de plus en plus, le consensus veut que l’intervention précoce par un traitement d’orthophonie soit cruciale chez les enfants bègues. Chez les adultes, le bégaiement est lié à une morbidité psychosociale substantielle, dont l’anxiété sociale et une piètre qualité de vie. Les traitements pharmacologiques ont soulevé l’intérêt depuis quelques années, mais les données cliniques sont limitées. Le traitement des enfants et des adultes repose sur l’orthophonie. Conclusion De plus en plus de recherches ont tenté de lever le voile sur la physiopathologie du bégaiement. La meilleure solution pour les enfants et les adultes bègues demeure la recommandation à un traitement d’orthophonie.

Prévalence et caractéristiques de l'automédication chez les étudiants de 18 à 35 ans résidant au Campus de la Kasapa de l'Université de Lubumbashi

PubMed Central

Chiribagula, Valentin Bashige; Mboni, Henry Manya; Amuri, Salvius Bakari; kamulete, Grégoire Sangwa; Byanga, Joh Kahumba; Duez, Pierre; Simbi, Jean Baptiste Lumbu

2015-01-01

Introduction L'automédication est devenue un phénomène émergeant et menaçant de plus en plus la santé publique. La présente étude objective de déterminer la prévalence et les caractéristiques dans le campus Universitaire Kasapa de l'Université de Lubumbashi. Méthodes L'interview indirecte a servi à la collecte des données qui ont été traitées par le logiciel Graphpad version 5. Résultats De 515 étudiants consultés, l'automédication présente une prévalence de 99%, une partie des sujets l'ayant débutée à l'adolescence (35%). Des répondants, 78,8% reconnaissent que l'automédication peut conduire à un échec thérapeutique et que des erreurs de dose, un traitement inadapté, des effets secondaires et des erreurs diagnostiques sont plausibles. Cette pratique est acceptée pour autant qu'elle permette de prendre en charge des maladies ou symptômes présumés bénins et connus avec pour avantages, discrétion et économie de temps et d'argent. La malaria (82,4%), la fièvre (65,5%), les maux de tête (65,5%) en constituent les trois premières causes. L'amoxicilline (98,2%), le paracétamol (97,5%), l'acide ascorbique (91,6%) et la quinine (79,4%) sont les quatre premiers médicaments les plus consommés. L'association la plus utilisée est paracétamol’ vitamine(s) (88,8%) et la plus aberrante amoxycilline -Erytromycine (25,5%). Le comprimé (37%) constitue la forme la plus utilisée. La plupart des sujets (84,9%), recourent aux plantes médicinales. Conclusion Dans ce milieu, il existe une forte prévalence de l'automédication largement dans un but antipalustre avec quelques abus. PMID:26327945

La pubalgie du sportif: mise au point à propos d'une étude rétrospective de 128 joueurs

PubMed Central

Mahmoudi, Ammar; Frioui, Samia; Jemni, Sonia; Khachnaoui, Faycel; Dahmene, Younes

2015-01-01

La pubalgie du sportif de haut niveau représente une entité nosologique à part entière, tant en raison du mécanisme à l'origine de la pathologie que des lésions objectivables au niveau de la paroi abdominale. C'est un syndrome douloureux de la région inguino-pubienne qui touche particulièrement les footballeurs. Son étiologie est attribuée à la répétition de mouvements des membres inférieurs et du tronc associant rotation et adduction forcées. Son incidence est nettement plus élevée chez les hommes. Après avoir écarté une pathologie d'organe, le patient devrait bénéficier tout au début de son traitement conservateur d'une IRM afin d'effectuer un bilan lésionnel complet qui, selon les situations, permet d’écourter le traitement conservateur et de proposer un traitement chirurgical optimal. Le traitement doit être résolument conservateur pendant 3 mois. La rééducation est le plus souvent le traitement de première intention. Les patients présentant une persistance des symptômes sont candidats à la chirurgie. L'intervention de Nesovic est le traitement de choix chez les sportifs de haut niveau et qui permet, dans la très grande majorité des cas, une reprise sans aucune limitation de l'activité sportive antérieure. La technique de Bassini semble être moins lourde que celle de Nesovic, puisqu'elle est moins invasive. Une prise en charge multidisciplinaire centrée sur l'athlète avant et après l'intervention permet un retour aux activités physiques après quelques mois. Nous rapportons l'expérience de la prise en charge de 128 joueurs opérés selon la technique de Bassini et nous comparons nos résultats avec celles de la littérature. PMID:26966484

Troubles des conduites alimentaires et tempérament cyclothymique: étude transversale à propos de 107 étudiants Tunisiens

PubMed Central

Jaweher, Masmoudi; Sonda, Trabelsi; Uta, Ouali; Inès, Feki; Rim, Sallemi; Imene, Baati; Abdelaziz, Jaoua

2014-01-01

Introduction Les objectifs de notre étude ont été d'estimer la prévalence des troubles des conduites alimentaires (TCA) chez les jeunes tunisiens et étudier la relation entre le tempérament cyclothymique et les TCA. Méthodes Nous avons ainsi mené une étude transversale descriptive et analytique. Elle a concerné 107 étudiants de l'Institut de Presse et des Sciences de l'Information de la Manouba, Tunisie. Pour l’évaluation des TCA, nous avons procédé par la passation de l'auto questionnaire EAT 40, dans sa version validée en Tunisie. C'est l'outil le plus utilisé pour le dépistage des TCA dans le monde. Pour l’évaluation du tempérament cyclothymique, nous avons utilisé le TEMPS A dans sa version arabe validée. Une fiche épidémiologique associée a permis de recueillir quelques facteurs sociodémographiques et hygiéno-diététiques. Résultats La prévalence des troubles de conduites alimentaires a été de 24,3%. Le pourcentage des étudiants ayant un score de tempérament cyclothymique ≥14 a été de 37,4%. Une association a été trouvée entre les troubles de conduites alimentaires et le tempérament affectif cyclothymique que ce soit selon l'approche dimensionnelle (p=0,005) ou selon celle catégorielle (p=0,046). Le tempérament cyclothymique multiplie par deux le risque de développer un TCA chez les étudiants de sexe féminin (p=0,04). Conclusion Es TCA sont fréquents chez nos étudiants particulièrement de sexe féminin. De plus, la présence d'un tempérament cyclothymique associé permettrait de suspecter doublement une appartenance au spectre bipolaire et devrait conduire à une attention particulière de la part du clinicien pour définir au mieux les stratégies thérapeutiques. PMID:25404977

Gestion des déchets ménagers dans l’aire de santé Bulaska à Mbuji-Mayi en République Démocratique du Congo

PubMed Central

Kangoy, Kasangye; Ngoyi, John; Mudimbiyi, Olive

2016-01-01

Introduction La présence des déchets ménagers dans les voies publiques a une influence sur l’hygiène de l’environnement, ils entrainent l’insalubrité et peuvent être facteurs des certaines maladies dont quelques-unes peuvent être épidémiques. Au cours des deux dernières décennies, la question de la gestion des déchets est devenue de plus en plus complexe autant pour les pays développés que ceux sous-développés. L’objectif de cette étude était de déterminer les types de déchets et le mode de gestion des déchets génère par les ménages. Méthodes Cette étude est descriptive transversale, réalisée dans l’aire de sante Bulaska, Kasaï oriental, c’est une approche prospective appuyée par l’interview et l’observation active. Le questionnaire a été adressé au responsable du ménage ou au délègue, du 21 au 25 juin 2010, sur 170 ménages ce qui constituent un échantillon de convenance. Résultats Cette étude a révélé ce qui suit: 94,7% des enquêtes qui avaient répondu a notre questionnaire étaient de sexe féminin; 47% des enquêtes avaient un niveau d’étude primaire; 41,1% des enquêtes étaient des ménagères; la taille médiane de ménage était de 7 personnes par ménage; dans 83,5% des cas les déchets génères étaient solides; 50% des ménages de l’aire de sante utilisent la voie publique comme poubelle. Conclusion Eu égard au résultat de cette étude, développer plus les programmes de sensibilisation sur l’assainissement de l’environnement s’avère nécessaire. PMID:27800105

Multiple regression and inverse moments improve the characterization of the spatial scaling behavior of daily streamflows in the Southeast United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Farmer, William H.; Over, Thomas M.; Vogel, Richard M.

2015-01-01

Understanding the spatial structure of daily streamflow is essential for managing freshwater resources, especially in poorly-gaged regions. Spatial scaling assumptions are common in flood frequency prediction (e.g., index-flood method) and the prediction of continuous streamflow at ungaged sites (e.g. drainage-area ratio), with simple scaling by drainage area being the most common assumption. In this study, scaling analyses of daily streamflow from 173 streamgages in the southeastern US resulted in three important findings. First, the use of only positive integer moment orders, as has been done in most previous studies, captures only the probabilistic and spatial scaling behavior of flows above an exceedance probability near the median; negative moment orders (inverse moments) are needed for lower streamflows. Second, assessing scaling by using drainage area alone is shown to result in a high degree of omitted-variable bias, masking the true spatial scaling behavior. Multiple regression is shown to mitigate this bias, controlling for regional heterogeneity of basin attributes, especially those correlated with drainage area. Previous univariate scaling analyses have neglected the scaling of low-flow events and may have produced biased estimates of the spatial scaling exponent. Third, the multiple regression results show that mean flows scale with an exponent of one, low flows scale with spatial scaling exponents greater than one, and high flows scale with exponents less than one. The relationship between scaling exponents and exceedance probabilities may be a fundamental signature of regional streamflow. This signature may improve our understanding of the physical processes generating streamflow at different exceedance probabilities. 

A cross-national study on the multidimensional characteristics of the five-item psychological demands scale of the Job Content Questionnaire.

PubMed

Choi, BongKyoo; Kawakami, Norito; Chang, SeiJin; Koh, SangBaek; Bjorner, Jakob; Punnett, Laura; Karasek, Robert

2008-01-01

The five-item psychological demands scale of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) has been assumed to be one-dimensional in practice. To examine whether the scale has sufficient internal consistency and external validity to be treated as a single scale, using the cross-national JCQ datasets from the United States, Korea, and Japan. Exploratory factor analyses with 22 JCQ items, confirmatory factor analyses with the five psychological demands items, and correlations analyses with mental health indexes. Generally, exploratory factor analyses displayed the predicted demand/control/support structure with three and four factors extracted. However, at more detailed levels of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, the demands scale showed clear evidence of multi-factor structure. The correlations of items and subscales of the demands scale with mental health indexes were similar to those of the full scale in the Korean and Japanese datasets, but not in the U.S. data. In 4 out of 16 sub-samples of the U.S. data, several significant correlations of the components of the demands scale with job dissatisfaction and life dissatisfaction were obscured by the full scale. The multidimensionality of the psychological demands scale should be considered in psychometric analysis and interpretation, occupational epidemiologic studies, and future scale extension.

Spatial Analysis of Rice Blast in China at Three Different Scales.

PubMed

Guo, Fangfang; Chen, Xinglong; Lu, Minghong; Yang, Li; Wang, Shi Wei; Wu, Bo Ming

2018-05-22

In this study, spatial analyses were conducted at three different scales to better understand the epidemiology of rice blast, a major rice disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae. At regional scale, across the major rice production regions in China, rice blast incidence was monitored on 101 dates at 193 stations from June 10 th to Sep. 10 th during 2009-2014, and surveyed in 143 fields in September, 2016; at county scale, 3 surveys were done covering 1-5 counties in 2015-2016; and at field scale, blast was evaluated in 6 fields in 2015-2016. Spatial cluster and hot spot analyses were conducted in GIS on the geographical pattern of the disease at regional scale, and geostatistical analysis performed at all the three scales. Cluster and hot spot analyses revealed that high-disease areas were clustered in mountainous areas in China. Geostatistical analyses detected spatial dependence of blast incidence with influence ranges of 399 to 1080 km at regional scale, and 5 to 10 m at field scale, but not at county scale. The spatial patterns at different scales might be determined by inherent properties of rice blast and environmental driving forces, and findings from this study provide helpful information to sampling and management of rice blast.

Accuracy and Reliability of Marker-Based Approaches to Scale the Pelvis, Thigh, and Shank Segments in Musculoskeletal Models.

PubMed

Kainz, Hans; Hoang, Hoa X; Stockton, Chris; Boyd, Roslyn R; Lloyd, David G; Carty, Christopher P

2017-10-01

Gait analysis together with musculoskeletal modeling is widely used for research. In the absence of medical images, surface marker locations are used to scale a generic model to the individual's anthropometry. Studies evaluating the accuracy and reliability of different scaling approaches in a pediatric and/or clinical population have not yet been conducted and, therefore, formed the aim of this study. Magnetic resonance images (MRI) and motion capture data were collected from 12 participants with cerebral palsy and 6 typically developed participants. Accuracy was assessed by comparing the scaled model's segment measures to the corresponding MRI measures, whereas reliability was assessed by comparing the model's segments scaled with the experimental marker locations from the first and second motion capture session. The inclusion of joint centers into the scaling process significantly increased the accuracy of thigh and shank segment length estimates compared to scaling with markers alone. Pelvis scaling approaches which included the pelvis depth measure led to the highest errors compared to the MRI measures. Reliability was similar between scaling approaches with mean ICC of 0.97. The pelvis should be scaled using pelvic width and height and the thigh and shank segment should be scaled using the proximal and distal joint centers.

[Reliability and Validity of the Scale for Homophobia in Medicine Students].

PubMed

Campo-Arias, Adalberto; Lafaurie, María Mercedes; Gaitán-Duarte, Hernando G

2012-12-01

There are several scales to quantify homophobia in different populations. However, the reliability and validity of these instruments among Colombian students are unknown. Consequently, this work is intended to assess reliability (inner consistency) as well as the validity of the Scale for Homophobia in Medicine students from a private university in Bogotá (Colombia). Methodological study with 199 Medicine students from 1st to 5th semester that filled out the Homophobia Scale form, the general welfare questionnaire, the Attitude Towards Gays and Lesbians Scale (ATGL), WHO-5 (divergent validity) and the Francis Scale of Attitude Toward Christianity (nomologic validity). Pearson's correlations were computed, the Cronbach's alfa coefficient, the omega coefficient (construct's reliability) and confirmatory factorial analysis. The Scale for Homophobia showed an alpha Cronbach coefficient of 0,785, an omega coefficient of 0,790 and a Pearson correlation with the ATGL of 0,844; with WHO-5, -0,059; and a Francis Scale of Attitude Toward Christianity, 0,187. The Scale toward Homophobia exhibited a relevant factor of 44,7% of the total variance. The Scale for Homophobia showed acceptable reliability and validity. New studies should investigate the stability of the scale and the nomologic validity regarding other constructs. Copyright © 2012 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

The Correlation Between Schizophrenic Patients' Level of Internalized Stigma and Their Level of Hope.

PubMed

Olçun, Zeynep; Şahin Altun, Özlem

2017-08-01

The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between schizophrenic patients' level of internalized stigma and their level of hope. The population of the study consisted of patients who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and also met the study inclusion criteria. The study sample selection from the population was not further divided; the study was conducted with 76 patients. The data of the study were collected using a personal information form, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) Scale, and Herth Hope Scale. The patients' mean score on the Internalized Stigma Scale was 72.78±16.05. Their score on the Hope Scale is 50.36±11.91. A significant negative correlation was found between the total mean scores of ISMI and the Herth Hope Scale (r=-0.360, p<0.01). A significant positive correlation was found between the stigma resistance subscale mean score of ISMI and the total mean score of the Herth Hope Scale (r=0.510, p<0.01). The internalized stigma levels of schizophrenic patients were found to be high, whereas their hope levels were found to be moderate. A significant negative correlation was found between internalized stigma and hope. This study also found a significant positive correlation between the stigma resistance of patients and their hope levels. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The observed life cycle of a baroclinic instability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Randel, W. J.; Stanford, J. L.

1985-01-01

Medium-scale waves (zonal wavenumbers 4-7) frequently dominate Southern Hemisphere summer circulation patterns. Randel and Stanford have studied the dynamics of these features, demonstrating that the medium-scale waves result from baroclinic excitation and exhibit well-defined life cycles. This study details the evolution of the medium-scale waves during a particular life cycle. The specific case chosen exhibits a high degree of zonal symmetry, prompting study based upon zonally averaged diagnostics. An analysis of the medium-scale wave energetics reveals a well-defined life cycle of baroclinic growth, maturity, and barotropic decay. Eliassen-Palm flux diagrams detail the daily wave structure and its interaction with the zonally-averaged flow.

Adaptation and validation of the Spanish version of the Dieting Peer Competitiveness Scale to adolescents of both genders.

PubMed

Pamies-Aubalat, Lidia; Quiles-Marcos, Yolanda; Núñez-Núñez, Rosa M

2013-12-01

This study examined the Dieting Peer Competitiveness Scale; it is an instrument for evaluating this social comparison in young people. This instrumental study has two aims: The objective of the first aim was to present preliminary psychometric data from the Spanish version of the Dieting Peer Competitiveness Scale, including statistical item analysis, research about this instrument's internal structure, and a reliability analysis, from a sample of 1067 secondary school adolescents. The second objective of the study corresponds to confirmatory factor analysis of the scale's internal structure, as well as analysis for evidence of validity from a sample of 1075 adolescents.

Room temperature stretch forming of scale space shuttle external tank dome gores. Volume 1: Technical

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blunck, R. D.; Krantz, D. E.

1974-01-01

An account of activities and data gathered in the Room Temperature Stretch Forming of One-third Scale External Tank Bulkhead Gores for space shuttle study, and a tooling design and production cost study are reported. The following study phases are described: (1) the stretch forming of three approximately one-third scale external tank dome gores from single sheets of 2219-T37 aluminum alloy; (2) the designing of a full scale production die, including a determination of tooling requirements; and (3) the determination of cost per gore at the required production rates, including manufacturing, packaging, and shipping.

Development and applications of the SWAN rating scale for assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a literature review.

PubMed

Brites, C; Salgado-Azoni, C A; Ferreira, T L; Lima, R F; Ciasca, S M

2015-11-01

This study reviewed the use of the Strengths and Weaknesses of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity-symptoms and Normal-behaviors (SWAN) rating scale in diagnostic and evolutive approaches to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and in correlational studies of the disorder. A review of articles published in indexed journals from electronic databases was conducted and 61 articles on the SWAN scale were analyzed. From these, 27 were selected to a) examine use of SWAN in research on attention disorders and b) verify evidence of its usefulness in the areas of genetics, neuropsychology, diagnostics, psychiatric comorbidities, neuroimaging, pharmacotherapy, and to examine its statistical reliability and validity in studies of diverse populations. This review of articles indicated a growing use of the SWAN scale for diagnostic purposes, for therapy, and in research on areas other than ADHD, especially when compared with other reliable scales. Use of the scale in ADHD diagnosis requires further statistical testing to define its psychometric properties.

A Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Model of Triarchic Psychopathy Constructs: Development and Initial Validation

PubMed Central

Latzman, Robert D.; Drislane, Laura E.; Hecht, Lisa K.; Brislin, Sarah J.; Patrick, Christopher J.; Lilienfeld, Scott O.; Freeman, Hani J.; Schapiro, Steven J.; Hopkins, William D.

2015-01-01

The current work sought to operationalize constructs of the triarchic model of psychopathy in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), a species well-suited for investigations of basic biobehavioral dispositions relevant to psychopathology. Across three studies, we generated validity evidence for scale measures of the triarchic model constructs in a large sample (N=238) of socially-housed chimpanzees. Using a consensus-based rating approach, we first identified candidate items for the chimpanzee triarchic (CHMP-Tri) scales from an existing primate personality instrument and refined these into scales. In Study 2, we collected data for these scales from human informants (N=301), and examined their convergent and divergent relations with scales from another triarchic inventory developed for human use. In Study 3, we undertook validation work examining associations between CHMP-Tri scales and task measures of approach-avoidance behavior (N=73) and ability to delay gratification (N=55). Current findings provide support for a chimpanzee model of core dispositions relevant to psychopathy and other forms of psychopathology. PMID:26779396

Psychometric characteristics of the BRIEF scale for the assessment of executive functions in Spanish clinical population.

PubMed

García Fernández, Trinidad; González-Pienda, Julio Antonio; Rodríguez Pérez, Celestino; Álvarez García, David; Álvarez Pérez, Luis

2014-01-01

The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF) scale, completed by families, is widely known in the assessment of executive functions in children and adolescents. However, its application is limited to English-speaking population. This study analyzes the preliminary results from its application in a Spanish clinical sample, comprising 125 participants aged 5-18 years. Internal structure and reliability of the translated scale were analyzed, as well as its relationship with other behavioral measures through the analysis of their correlations with the Assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Scale (EDAH). The results were compared with those from the original validation study. The data revealed the presence of the same internal structure, as well as acceptable internal consistency and significant correlations with the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity components of the EDAH scale. This study provides preliminary evidence of the utility of the BRIEF scale in cultural contexts different from the original, particularly in Spanish clinical population.

FLARE: A New User Facility for Studies of Multiple-Scale Physics of Magnetic Reconnection and Related Phenomena Through in-situ Measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Hantao; Bhattacharjee, A.; Goodman, A.; Prager, S.; Daughton, W.; Cutler, R.; Fox, W.; Hoffmann, F.; Kalish, M.; Kozub, T.; Jara-Almonte, J.; Myers, C.; Ren, Y.; Sloboda, P.; Yamada, M.; Yoo, J.; Bale, S. D.; Carter, T.; Dorfman, S.; Drake, J.; Egedal, J.; Sarff, J.; Wallace, J.

2017-10-01

The FLARE device (Facility for Laboratory Reconnection Experiments; flare.pppl.gov) is a new laboratory experiment under construction at Princeton for the studies of magnetic reconnection in the multiple X-line regimes directly relevant to space, solar, astrophysical, and fusion plasmas, as guided by a reconnection phase diagram. The whole device have been assembled with first plasmas expected in the fall of 2017. The main diagnostics is an extensive set of magnetic probe arrays, currently under construction, to cover multiple scales from local electron scales ( 2 mm), to intermediate ion scales ( 10 cm), and global MHD scales ( 1 m), simultaneously providing in-situ measurements over all these relevant scales. The planned procedures and example topics as a user facility will be discussed.

Psychometric data for a Farsi translation of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale.

PubMed

Bayani, Ali Asghar

2009-08-01

This study examined the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity of a Farsi version of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale, with a sample of 306 undergraduate students (123 men, 183 women) ages 18 to 51 years. Participants completed Farsi versions of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Analysis confirmed the preliminary reliabilities and construct validity of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale.

Development of a Scale to Measure Learners' Perceived Preferences and Benefits of Data-Driven Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mizumoto, Atsushi; Chujo, Kiyomi; Yokota, Kenji

2016-01-01

In spite of researchers' and practitioners' increasing attention to data-driven learning (DDL) and increasing numbers of DDL studies, a multi-item scale to measure learners' attitude toward DDL has not been developed thus far. In the present study, we developed and validated a psychometric scale to measure learners' perceived preferences and…

Zooming in on Spatial Scaling: Preschool Children and Adults Use Mental Transformations to Scale Spaces

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Möhring, Wenke; Newcombe, Nora S.; Frick, Andrea

2014-01-01

Spatial scaling is an important prerequisite for many spatial tasks and involves an understanding of how distances in different-sized spaces correspond. Previous studies have found evidence for such an understanding in preschoolers; however, the mental processes involved remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether children and…

Adaptation of Sport Brand Personality Scale to Turkish

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Görgüt, Ilyas; Özbal, Ayse Feray

2018-01-01

Validity and reliability of Turkish form of sport brand personality scale, which was developed by Mitsis and Leckie (2016), was presented in this study. Scale was designed to reflect the impact of individuals' favorite athletes on them in other words the strength of the role model factor. In study, participants were tried to reach through an…

Factor Structure of Child Behavior Scale Scores in Peruvian Preschoolers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meyer, Erin L.; Schaefer, Barbara A.; Soto, Cesar Merino; Simmons, Crystal S.; Anguiano, Rebecca; Brett, Jeremy; Holman, Alea; Martin, Justin F.; Hata, Heidi K.; Roberts, Kimberly J.; Mello, Zena R.; Worrell, Frank C.

2011-01-01

Behavior rating scales aid in the identification of problem behaviors, as well as the development of interventions to reduce such behavior. Although scores on many behavior rating scales have been validated in the United States, there have been few such studies in other cultural contexts. In this study, the structural validity of scores on a…

Measuring Student Graduateness: Reliability and Construct Validity of the Graduate Skills and Attributes Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coetzee, Melinde

2014-01-01

This study reports the development and validation of the Graduate Skills and Attributes Scale which was initially administered to a random sample of 272 third-year-level and postgraduate-level, distance-learning higher education students. The data were analysed using exploratory factor analysis. In a second study, the scale was administered to a…

Developing Attitudes Scale towards German Reading: A Study on Reliability and Validity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arslan Çavusoglu, Ayse; Tepebasili, Fatih

2017-01-01

The main purpose of this study is to develop a scale for German teacher candidates' attitude towards the German reading. The scale was applied to 156 students who were enrolled in the Foreign Language Teaching Department of the Ahmet Kelesoglu Education Faculty, Necmettin Erbakan University. Out of 156 students, %14.1 (n = 22) were preparation…

Validation of the Treatment Motivation Scales for Forensic Outpatient Treatment (TMS-F)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Drieschner, Klaus H.; Boomsma, Anne

2008-01-01

The validity of the Treatment Motivation Scales for outpatient offender treatment (TMS-F), a self-report questionnaire with scales for the motivation of patients to engage in the treatment and six cognitive and emotional determinants of this motivation, is evaluated in two studies. In Study 1 (N = 620), the "construct validity" of the…

Development of a Scale to Measure Educators' Practice in Teaching Self-Determination

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chao, Pen-Chiang

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop a scale for assessing teachers' self-determination instruction and to test the validity and reliability of this tool. The subjects included 315 teachers recruited from elementary and junior high schools nationwide in Taiwan. The Teaching Self-Determination Scale (TSDS) developed in this study aimed at…

A Study of Developing an Attitude Scale towards Authentic Learning Environments and Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Çetinkaya, Murat

2018-01-01

The aim of the research is to improve a valid and reliable attributing scale which identifies authentic learning environments and evaluation attributes of the science teacher candidates. The study has been designed on the base of validity and reliability of the scale developed to evaluate the authentic learning environments. The research group is…

Development of a Scale to Determine Enrollment Barriers into Allied Health Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barfield, J. P.; Folio, M. Rhonda; Lam, Eddie T. C.; Zhang, James J.

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop the Scale of Allied Health Education Barriers to identify factors limiting enrollment in college/university allied health education programs. Development of the Scale of Allied Health Education Barriers was conducted through the following four stages: (1) review of literature, (2) focus group studies, (3)…

The Validity and Reliability of the Mobbing Scale (MS)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yaman, Erkan

2009-01-01

The aim of this research is to develop the Mobbing Scale and examine its validity and reliability. The sample of the study consisted of 515 persons from Sakarya and Bursa. In this study, construct validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and item analysis of the scale were examined. As a result of factor analysis for construct…

Self-Regulation in Three Types of Online Interaction: A Scale Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cho, Moon-Heum; Cho, YoonJung

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop a scale with which to examine students' self-regulation (SR) in three types of online interaction. Using scale development steps, we constructed the online self-regulation questionnaire (OSRQ), a self-report survey. A total of 799 online students participated in the study. Data from 400 randomly selected…

Development of Teachers' Attitude Scale towards Science Fair

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tortop, Hasan Said

2013-01-01

This study was conducted to develop a new scale for measuring teachers' attitude towards science fair. Teacher Attitude Scale towards Science Fair (TASSF) is an inventory made up of 19 items and five dimensions. The study included such stages as literature review, the preparation of the item pool and the reliability and validity analysis. First of…

Development and Validation of Social Provision Scale on First Year Undergraduate Psychological Adjustment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oluwatomiwo, Oladunmoye Enoch

2015-01-01

This study examined the development and validation of socio provision scale on first year undergraduates adjustment among institution in Ibadan metropolis. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. A sample of 300 participants was randomly selected across institutions in Ibadan. Data were collected using socio provision scale (a =0.76),…

Bully-Victimization Scale: Using Rasch Modeling in the Analysis of a Qualitative Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lehto, Marybeth

2009-01-01

The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether the data from the qualitative study fit Rasch model requirements for the definition of a measure, as well as to address concern in the extant literature regarding the appropriate number of items needed in analysis to assure unidimensionality. The self-report victimization scale was…

Investigating Invariant Item Ordering in Personality and Clinical Scales: Some Empirical Findings and a Discussion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meijer, Rob R.; Egberink, Iris J. L.

2012-01-01

In recent studies, different methods were proposed to investigate invariant item ordering (IIO), but practical IIO research is an unexploited field in questionnaire construction and evaluation. In the present study, the authors explored the usefulness of different IIO methods to analyze personality scales and clinical scales. From the authors'…

Direct Behavior Rating Instrumentation: Evaluating the Impact of Scale Formats

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Faith G.; Riley-Tillman, T. Chris; Chafouleas, Sandra M.; Schardt, Alyssa A.

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of two different Direct Behavior Rating--Single Item Scale (DBR-SIS) formats on rating accuracy. A total of 119 undergraduate students participated in one of two study conditions, each utilizing a different DBR-SIS scale format: one that included percentage of time anchors on the DBR-SIS…

Micro-computed tomography pore-scale study of flow in porous media: Effect of voxel resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shah, S. M.; Gray, F.; Crawshaw, J. P.; Boek, E. S.

2016-09-01

A fundamental understanding of flow in porous media at the pore-scale is necessary to be able to upscale average displacement processes from core to reservoir scale. The study of fluid flow in porous media at the pore-scale consists of two key procedures: Imaging - reconstruction of three-dimensional (3D) pore space images; and modelling such as with single and two-phase flow simulations with Lattice-Boltzmann (LB) or Pore-Network (PN) Modelling. Here we analyse pore-scale results to predict petrophysical properties such as porosity, single-phase permeability and multi-phase properties at different length scales. The fundamental issue is to understand the image resolution dependency of transport properties, in order to up-scale the flow physics from pore to core scale. In this work, we use a high resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanner to image and reconstruct three dimensional pore-scale images of five sandstones (Bentheimer, Berea, Clashach, Doddington and Stainton) and five complex carbonates (Ketton, Estaillades, Middle Eastern sample 3, Middle Eastern sample 5 and Indiana Limestone 1) at four different voxel resolutions (4.4 μm, 6.2 μm, 8.3 μm and 10.2 μm), scanning the same physical field of view. Implementing three phase segmentation (macro-pore phase, intermediate phase and grain phase) on pore-scale images helps to understand the importance of connected macro-porosity in the fluid flow for the samples studied. We then compute the petrophysical properties for all the samples using PN and LB simulations in order to study the influence of voxel resolution on petrophysical properties. We then introduce a numerical coarsening scheme which is used to coarsen a high voxel resolution image (4.4 μm) to lower resolutions (6.2 μm, 8.3 μm and 10.2 μm) and study the impact of coarsening data on macroscopic and multi-phase properties. Numerical coarsening of high resolution data is found to be superior to using a lower resolution scan because it avoids the problem of partial volume effects and reduces the scaling effect by preserving the pore-space properties influencing the transport properties. This is evidently compared in this study by predicting several pore network properties such as number of pores and throats, average pore and throat radius and coordination number for both scan based analysis and numerical coarsened data.

Translation and psychometric evaluation of Persian versions of Burn Specific Pain Anxiety Scale and Impact of Event Scale.

PubMed

Ghezeljeh, Tahereh Najafi; Ardebili, Fatimah Mohades; Rafii, Forough; Hagani, Hamid

2013-09-01

Burn as a traumatic life incident manifests severe pain and psychological problems. Specific instruments are needed to evaluate burn patients' psychological issues related to the injury. The aim of this study was to translate and evaluate the reliability and validity of the Persian versions of Impact of Burn Specific Pain Anxiety scale (BSPAS) and Impact of Event Scale (IES). In this cross-sectional study, convenience sampling method was utilized to select 55 Iranian hospitalized burn patients. Combined translation was utilized for translating scales. Alpha cronbach, item-total correlation, convergent and discriminative validity were evaluated. The Cronbach's α for both BSPAS- and IES-Persian version was 0.96. Item-total correlation coefficients ranged from 0.70 to 0.90. Convergent construct validity was confirmed by indicating high correlation between the scales designed to measure the same concepts. The mean score of BSPAS- and IES-Persian version was lower for individuals with a lower TBSA burn percentage which assessed discriminative construct validity of scales. BSPAS- and IES-Persian version showed high internal consistency and good validity for the assessment of burn psychological outcome in hospitalized burn patients. Future studies are needed to determine repeatability, factor structure, sensitivity and specificity of the scales. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

A comprehensive approach to psychometric assessment of instruments used in dementia educational interventions for health professionals: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Wang, Yao; Xiao, Lily Dongxia; He, Guo-Ping

2015-02-01

Suboptimal care for people with dementia in hospital settings has been reported and is attributed to the lack of knowledge and inadequate attitudes in dementia care among health professionals. Educational interventions have been widely used to improve care outcomes; however, Chinese-language instruments used in dementia educational interventions for health professionals are lacking. The aims of this study were to select, translate and evaluate instruments used in dementia educational interventions for Chinese health professionals in acute-care hospitals. A cross-sectional study design was used. A modified stratified random sampling was used to recruit 442 participants from different levels of hospitals in Changsha, China. Dementia care competence was used as a framework for the selection and evaluation of Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale and Dementia Care Attitudes Scale for health professionals in the study. These two scales were translated into Chinese using forward and back translation method. Content validity, test-retest reliability and internal consistency were assessed. Construct validity was tested using exploratory factor analysis. Known-group validity was established by comparing scores of Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale and Dementia Care Attitudes Scale in two sub-groups. A person-centred care scale was utilised as a gold standard to establish concurrent validity of these two scales. Results demonstrated acceptable content validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and concurrent validity. Exploratory factor analysis presented a single-factor structure of the Chinese Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale and a two-factor structure of the Chinese Dementia Care Attitudes Scale, supporting the conceptual dimensions of the original scales. The Chinese Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale and Chinese Dementia Care Attitudes Scale demonstrated known-group validity evidenced by significantly higher scores identified from the sub-group with a longer work experience compared to those in the sub-group with less work experience. The use of dementia care competence as a framework to inform the selection and evaluation of instruments used in dementia educational interventions for health professionals has wide applicability in other areas. The results support that Chinese Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale and Chinese Dementia Care Attitudes Scale are reliable and valid instruments for health professionals to use in acute-care settings. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reliability of instruments in a cooperative, multisite study: employment intervention demonstration program.

PubMed

Salyers, M P; McHugo, G J; Cook, J A; Razzano, L A; Drake, R E; Mueser, K T

2001-09-01

Reliability of well-known instruments was examined in 202 people with severe mental illness participating in a multisite vocational study. We examined interrater reliability of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the PANSS, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36), and the Quality of Life Interview. Most scales had good levels of reliability, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and coefficient alphas above .70. However, the SF-36 scales were generally less stable over time, particularly Social Functioning (ICC = .55). Test-retest reliability was lower among less educated respondents and among ethnic minorities. We recommend close monitoring of psychometric issues in future multisite studies.

Development and testing of a scale for assessing the quality of home nursing.

PubMed

Chiou, Chii-Jun; Wang, Hsiu-Hung; Chang, Hsing-Yi

2016-03-01

To develop a home nursing quality scale and to evaluate its psychometric properties. This was a 3-year study. In the first year, 19 focus group interviews with caregivers of people using home nursing services were carried out in northern, central and southern Taiwan. Content analysis was carried out and a pool of questionnaire items compiled. In the second year (2007), study was carried out on a stratified random sample selected from home nursing organizations covered by the national health insurance scheme in southern Taiwan. The study population was the co-resident primary caregivers of home care nursing service users. Item analysis and exploratory factor analysis were carried out on data from 365 self-administered questionnaires collected from 13 selected home care organizations. In the third year (2008), a random sample of participants was selected from 206 hospital-based home care nursing organizations throughout Taiwan, resulting in completion of 294 questionnaires from 27 organizations. Confirmatory factor analysis was then carried out on the scale, and the validity and reliability of the scale assessed. The present study developed a reliable and valid home nursing quality scale from the perspective of users of home nursing services. The scale comprised three factors: dependability, communication skills and service usefulness. This scale is of practical value for the promotion of long-term community care aging in local policies. The scale is ready to be used to assess the quality of services provided by home care nursing organizations. © 2015 Japan Geriatrics Society.

Translation and cultural adaptation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Behavioral Pain Scale.

PubMed

Morete, Márcia Carla; Mofatto, Sarah Camargo; Pereira, Camila Alves; Silva, Ana Paula; Odierna, Maria Tereza

2014-01-01

The objective of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the Behavioral Pain Scale to Brazilian Portuguese and to evaluate the psychometric properties of this scale. This study was conducted in two phases: the Behavioral Pain Scale was translated and culturally adapted to Brazilian Portuguese and the psychometric properties of this scale were subsequently assessed (reliability and clinical utility). The study sample consisted of 100 patients who were older than 18 years of age, admitted to an intensive care unit, intubated, mechanically ventilated, and subjected or not to sedation and analgesia from July 2012 to December 2012. Pediatric and non-intubated patients were excluded. The study was conducted at a large private hospital that was situated in the city of São Paulo (SP). Regarding reproducibility, the results revealed that the observed agreement between the two evaluators was 92.08% for the pain descriptor "adaptation to mechanical ventilation", 88.1% for "upper limbs", and 90.1% for "facial expression". The kappa coefficient of agreement for "adaptation to mechanical ventilation" assumed a value of 0.740. Good agreement was observed between the evaluators with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.807 (95% confidence interval: 0.727-0.866). The Behavioral Pain Scale was easy to administer and reproduce. Additionally, this scale had adequate internal consistency. The Behavioral Pain Scale was satisfactorily adapted to Brazilian Portuguese for the assessment of pain in critically ill patients.

Field-scale effective matrix diffusion coefficient for fractured rock: results from literature survey.

PubMed

Zhou, Quanlin; Liu, Hui-Hai; Molz, Fred J; Zhang, Yingqi; Bodvarsson, Gudmundur S

2007-08-15

Matrix diffusion is an important mechanism for solute transport in fractured rock. We recently conducted a literature survey on the effective matrix diffusion coefficient, D(m)(e), a key parameter for describing matrix diffusion processes at the field scale. Forty field tracer tests at 15 fractured geologic sites were surveyed and selected for the study, based on data availability and quality. Field-scale D(m)(e) values were calculated, either directly using data reported in the literature, or by reanalyzing the corresponding field tracer tests. The reanalysis was conducted for the selected tracer tests using analytic or semi-analytic solutions for tracer transport in linear, radial, or interwell flow fields. Surveyed data show that the scale factor of the effective matrix diffusion coefficient (defined as the ratio of D(m)(e) to the lab-scale matrix diffusion coefficient, D(m), of the same tracer) is generally larger than one, indicating that the effective matrix diffusion coefficient in the field is comparatively larger than the matrix diffusion coefficient at the rock-core scale. This larger value can be attributed to the many mass-transfer processes at different scales in naturally heterogeneous, fractured rock systems. Furthermore, we observed a moderate, on average trend toward systematic increase in the scale factor with observation scale. This trend suggests that the effective matrix diffusion coefficient is likely to be statistically scale-dependent. The scale-factor value ranges from 0.5 to 884 for observation scales from 5 to 2000 m. At a given scale, the scale factor varies by two orders of magnitude, reflecting the influence of differing degrees of fractured rock heterogeneity at different geologic sites. In addition, the surveyed data indicate that field-scale longitudinal dispersivity generally increases with observation scale, which is consistent with previous studies. The scale-dependent field-scale matrix diffusion coefficient (and dispersivity) may have significant implications for assessing long-term, large-scale radionuclide and contaminant transport events in fractured rock, both for nuclear waste disposal and contaminant remediation.

Application of multivariate analysis and mass transfer principles for refinement of a 3-L bioreactor scale-down model--when shake flasks mimic 15,000-L bioreactors better.

PubMed

Ahuja, Sanjeev; Jain, Shilpa; Ram, Kripa

2015-01-01

Characterization of manufacturing processes is key to understanding the effects of process parameters on process performance and product quality. These studies are generally conducted using small-scale model systems. Because of the importance of the results derived from these studies, the small-scale model should be predictive of large scale. Typically, small-scale bioreactors, which are considered superior to shake flasks in simulating large-scale bioreactors, are used as the scale-down models for characterizing mammalian cell culture processes. In this article, we describe a case study where a cell culture unit operation in bioreactors using one-sided pH control and their satellites (small-scale runs conducted using the same post-inoculation cultures and nutrient feeds) in 3-L bioreactors and shake flasks indicated that shake flasks mimicked the large-scale performance better than 3-L bioreactors. We detail here how multivariate analysis was used to make the pertinent assessment and to generate the hypothesis for refining the existing 3-L scale-down model. Relevant statistical techniques such as principal component analysis, partial least square, orthogonal partial least square, and discriminant analysis were used to identify the outliers and to determine the discriminatory variables responsible for performance differences at different scales. The resulting analysis, in combination with mass transfer principles, led to the hypothesis that observed similarities between 15,000-L and shake flask runs, and differences between 15,000-L and 3-L runs, were due to pCO2 and pH values. This hypothesis was confirmed by changing the aeration strategy at 3-L scale. By reducing the initial sparge rate in 3-L bioreactor, process performance and product quality data moved closer to that of large scale. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Approaches for advancing scientific understanding of macrosystems

USGS Publications Warehouse

Levy, Ofir; Ball, Becky A.; Bond-Lamberty, Ben; Cheruvelil, Kendra S.; Finley, Andrew O.; Lottig, Noah R.; Surangi W. Punyasena,; Xiao, Jingfeng; Zhou, Jizhong; Buckley, Lauren B.; Filstrup, Christopher T.; Keitt, Tim H.; Kellner, James R.; Knapp, Alan K.; Richardson, Andrew D.; Tcheng, David; Toomey, Michael; Vargas, Rodrigo; Voordeckers, James W.; Wagner, Tyler; Williams, John W.

2014-01-01

The emergence of macrosystems ecology (MSE), which focuses on regional- to continental-scale ecological patterns and processes, builds upon a history of long-term and broad-scale studies in ecology. Scientists face the difficulty of integrating the many elements that make up macrosystems, which consist of hierarchical processes at interacting spatial and temporal scales. Researchers must also identify the most relevant scales and variables to be considered, the required data resources, and the appropriate study design to provide the proper inferences. The large volumes of multi-thematic data often associated with macrosystem studies typically require validation, standardization, and assimilation. Finally, analytical approaches need to describe how cross-scale and hierarchical dynamics and interactions relate to macroscale phenomena. Here, we elaborate on some key methodological challenges of MSE research and discuss existing and novel approaches to meet them.

Feasibility study for thermal treatment of solid tire wastes in Bangladesh by using pyrolysis technology

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

Islam, M.R., E-mail: mrislam1985@yahoo.com; Joardder, M.U.H.; Hasan, S.M.

2011-09-15

In this study on the basis of lab data and available resources in Bangladesh, feasibility study has been carried out for pyrolysis process converting solid tire wastes into pyrolysis oils, solid char and gases. The process considered for detailed analysis was fixed-bed fire-tube heating pyrolysis reactor system. The comparative techno-economic assessment was carried out in US$ for three different sizes plants: medium commercial scale (144 tons/day), small commercial scale (36 tons/day), pilot scale (3.6 tons/day). The assessment showed that medium commercial scale plant was economically feasible, with the lowest unit production cost than small commercial and pilot scale plants formore » the production of crude pyrolysis oil that could be used as boiler fuel oil and for the production of upgraded liquid-products.« less

Determinants of felt stigma in epilepsy.

PubMed

Aydemir, N; Kaya, B; Yıldız, G; Öztura, I; Baklan, B

2016-05-01

The present study aimed to determine the level of felt stigma, overprotection, concealment, and concerns related to epilepsy in different life domains by using culturally-specific scales for Turkish individuals with epilepsy. Also, it aimed to detect relations among the study variables and to determine the variables which predict felt stigma. For this purpose, felt stigma scale, overprotection scale, concealment of epilepsy scale, and concerns of epilepsy scale were administered to two hundred adult persons with epilepsy (PWE). The results showed that almost half of the participants reported felt stigma, overprotection, concealment of epilepsy, concerns related to future occupation, and concerns related to social life. Almost all the study variables show correlations with each other. Concealment of epilepsy, concerns related to social life, and concerns related to future occupation were found as the predictors of felt stigma. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

FLARE: A New User Facility for Laboratory Studies of Multiple-Scale Physics of Magnetic Reconnection and Related Phenomena in Heliophysics and Astrophysics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, H.; Bhattacharjee, A.; Goodman, A.; Prager, S.; Daughton, W.; Cutler, R.; Fox, W.; Hoffmann, F.; Kalish, M.; Kozub, T.; Jara-Almonte, J.; Myers, C.; Ren, Y.; Sloboda, P.; Yamada, M.; Yoo, J.; Bale, S. D.; Carter, T.; Dorfman, S.; Drake, J.; Egedal, J.; Sarff, J.; Wallace, J.

2017-10-01

The FLARE device (Facility for Laboratory Reconnection Experiments; flare.pppl.gov) is a new laboratory experiment under construction at Princeton with first plasmas expected in the fall of 2017, based on the design of Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX; mrx.pppl.gov) with much extended parameter ranges. Its main objective is to provide an experimental platform for the studies of magnetic reconnection and related phenomena in the multiple X-line regimes directly relevant to space, solar, astrophysical and fusion plasmas. The main diagnostics is an extensive set of magnetic probe arrays, simultaneously covering multiple scales from local electron scales ( 2 mm), to intermediate ion scales ( 10 cm), and global MHD scales ( 1 m). Specific example space physics topics which can be studied on FLARE will be discussed.