I Love to Rite! Spelling Checkers in the Writing Classroom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eiser, Leslie

1986-01-01

Highlights the advantages of word processors and spelling checkers in improving student writing skills. Explains how spelling checkers work and describes the types of available checkers. Also provides lists of Apple, IBM, and Commodore word processors and checkers. (ML)

A demonstration of CMOS VLSI circuit prototyping in support of the site facility using the 1.2 micron standard cell library developed by National Security Agency

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Edwyn D.

1991-01-01

Two silicon CMOS application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), a data generation chip, and a data checker chip were designed. The conversion of the data generator circuitry into a pair of CMOS ASIC chips using the 1.2 micron standard cell library is documented. The logic design of the data checker is discussed. The functions of the control circuitry is described. An accurate estimate of timing relationships is essential to make sure that the logic design performs correctly under practical conditions. Timing and delay information are examined.

Generalized Symbolic Execution for Model Checking and Testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khurshid, Sarfraz; Pasareanu, Corina; Visser, Willem; Kofmeyer, David (Technical Monitor)

2003-01-01

Modern software systems, which often are concurrent and manipulate complex data structures must be extremely reliable. We present a novel framework based on symbolic execution, for automated checking of such systems. We provide a two-fold generalization of traditional symbolic execution based approaches: one, we define a program instrumentation, which enables standard model checkers to perform symbolic execution; two, we give a novel symbolic execution algorithm that handles dynamically allocated structures (e.g., lists and trees), method preconditions (e.g., acyclicity of lists), data (e.g., integers and strings) and concurrency. The program instrumentation enables a model checker to automatically explore program heap configurations (using a systematic treatment of aliasing) and manipulate logical formulae on program data values (using a decision procedure). We illustrate two applications of our framework: checking correctness of multi-threaded programs that take inputs from unbounded domains with complex structure and generation of non-isomorphic test inputs that satisfy a testing criterion. Our implementation for Java uses the Java PathFinder model checker.

A Synthetic Study on the Resolution of 2D Elastic Full Waveform Inversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, C.; Wang, Y.

2017-12-01

Gradient based full waveform inversion is an effective method in seismic study, it makes full use of the information given by seismic records and is capable of providing a more accurate model of the interior of the earth at a relatively low computational cost. However, the strong non-linearity of the problem brings about many difficulties in the assessment of its resolution. Synthetic inversions are therefore helpful before an inversion based on real data is made. Checker-board test is a commonly used method, but it is not always reliable due to the significant difference between a checker-board and the true model. Our study aims to provide a basic understanding of the resolution of 2D elastic inversion by examining three main factors that affect the inversion result respectively: 1. The structural characteristic of the model; 2. The level of similarity between the initial model and the true model; 3. The spacial distribution of sources and receivers. We performed about 150 synthetic inversions to demonstrate how each factor contributes to quality of the result, and compared the inversion results with those achieved by checker-board tests. The study can be a useful reference to assess the resolution of an inversion in addition to regular checker-board tests, or to determine whether the seismic data of a specific region is sufficient for a successful inversion.

Press to Test: Shop-Built BJT Checker Is Easy to Use

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harman, Charles

2008-01-01

Whether a student or an instructor in an electronics lab, having the means to check the operation of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) at the proto-board stage is a blessing. Most students do not have the experience or knowledge that it takes to recognize whether or not a BJT is operating. With this handy BJT checker, a student or the instructor…

Is This Op-Amp Any Good?: Lab-Built Checker Removes All Doubt!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harman, Charles

2007-01-01

Electronics instructors and students find it very helpful to be able to check an operational amplifier at the proto-board stage. Most students lack the experience or knowledge that it takes to recognize whether an op-amp is operating normally or not. This article discusses a handy op-amp checker that allows one to check and/or test op-amps at the…

Design of parity generator and checker circuit using electro-optic effect of Mach-Zehnder interferometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Santosh; Chanderkanta; Amphawan, Angela

2016-04-01

Parity is an extra bit which is used to add in digital information to detect error at the receiver end. It can be even and odd parity. In case of even parity, the number of one's will be even included the parity and reverse in the case of odd parity. The circuit which is used to generate the parity at the transmitter side, called the parity generator and the circuit which is used to detect the parity at receiver side is called as parity checker. In this paper, an even and odd parity generator and checker circuits are designed using electro-optic effect inside lithium niobate based Mach-Zehnder Interferometers (MZIs). The MZIs structures collectively show powerful capability in switching an input optical signal to a desired output port from a collection of output ports. The paper constitutes a mathematical description of the proposed device and thereafter simulation using MATLAB. The study is verified using beam propagation method (BPM).

Authenticity in Education: From Narcissism and Freedom to the Messy Interplay of Self-Exploration and Acceptable Tension

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thompson, Merlin B.

2015-01-01

The problem with authenticity--the idea of being "true to one's self"--is that its somewhat checkered reputation garners a complete range of favorable and unfavorable reactions. In educational settings, authenticity is lauded as one of the top two traits students desire in their teachers. Yet, authenticity is criticized for its tendency…

Generating Test Templates via Automated Theorem Proving

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kancherla, Mani Prasad

1997-01-01

Testing can be used during the software development process to maintain fidelity between evolving specifications, program designs, and code implementations. We use a form of specification-based testing that employs the use of an automated theorem prover to generate test templates. A similar approach was developed using a model checker on state-intensive systems. This method applies to systems with functional rather than state-based behaviors. This approach allows for the use of incomplete specifications to aid in generation of tests for potential failure cases. We illustrate the technique on the cannonical triangle testing problem and discuss its use on analysis of a spacecraft scheduling system.

Does chess instruction improve mathematical problem-solving ability? Two experimental studies with an active control group.

PubMed

Sala, Giovanni; Gobet, Fernand

2017-12-01

It has been proposed that playing chess enables children to improve their ability in mathematics. These claims have been recently evaluated in a meta-analysis (Sala & Gobet, 2016, Educational Research Review, 18, 46-57), which indicated a significant effect in favor of the groups playing chess. However, the meta-analysis also showed that most of the reviewed studies used a poor experimental design (in particular, they lacked an active control group). We ran two experiments that used a three-group design including both an active and a passive control group, with a focus on mathematical ability. In the first experiment (N = 233), a group of third and fourth graders was taught chess for 25 hours and tested on mathematical problem-solving tasks. Participants also filled in a questionnaire assessing their meta-cognitive ability for mathematics problems. The group playing chess was compared to an active control group (playing checkers) and a passive control group. The three groups showed no statistically significant difference in mathematical problem-solving or metacognitive abilities in the posttest. The second experiment (N = 52) broadly used the same design, but the Oriental game of Go replaced checkers in the active control group. While the chess-treated group and the passive control group slightly outperformed the active control group with mathematical problem solving, the differences were not statistically significant. No differences were found with respect to metacognitive ability. These results suggest that the effects (if any) of chess instruction, when rigorously tested, are modest and that such interventions should not replace the traditional curriculum in mathematics.

Implementing a Rule-Based Contract Compliance Checker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strano, Massimo; Molina-Jimenez, Carlos; Shrivastava, Santosh

The paper describes the design and implementation of an independent, third party contract monitoring service called Contract Compliance Checker (CCC). The CCC is provided with the specification of the contract in force, and is capable of observing and logging the relevant business-to-business (B2B) interaction events, in order to determine whether the actions of the business partners are consistent with the contract. A contract specification language called EROP (for Events, Rights, Obligations and Prohibitions) for the CCC has been developed based on business rules, that provides constructs to specify what rights, obligation and prohibitions become active and inactive after the occurrence of events related to the execution of business operations. The system has been designed to work with B2B industry standards such as ebXML and RosettaNet.

Does It Work? 555-Timer Checker Leaves No Doubt

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harman, Charles

2009-01-01

This article details the construction and use of the 555-timer checker. The 555-timer checker allows the user to dynamically check a 555-timer, an integrated circuit device. Of its many applications, it provides timing applications that unijunction transistors once performed. (Contains 4 figures and 3 photos.)

My New Teaching Partner? Using the Grammar Checker in Writing Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Potter, Reva; Fuller, Dorothy

2008-01-01

Grammar checkers do not claim to teach grammar; they are tools to bring potential problems to the writer's attention. They also offer only formal and Standard English preferences, limiting the freer expression of some literary forms. Without guidance, students may misuse the checker, become frustrated, and feel discouraged. Users must be…

A UMLS-based spell checker for natural language processing in vaccine safety.

PubMed

Tolentino, Herman D; Matters, Michael D; Walop, Wikke; Law, Barbara; Tong, Wesley; Liu, Fang; Fontelo, Paul; Kohl, Katrin; Payne, Daniel C

2007-02-12

The Institute of Medicine has identified patient safety as a key goal for health care in the United States. Detecting vaccine adverse events is an important public health activity that contributes to patient safety. Reports about adverse events following immunization (AEFI) from surveillance systems contain free-text components that can be analyzed using natural language processing. To extract Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) concepts from free text and classify AEFI reports based on concepts they contain, we first needed to clean the text by expanding abbreviations and shortcuts and correcting spelling errors. Our objective in this paper was to create a UMLS-based spelling error correction tool as a first step in the natural language processing (NLP) pipeline for AEFI reports. We developed spell checking algorithms using open source tools. We used de-identified AEFI surveillance reports to create free-text data sets for analysis. After expansion of abbreviated clinical terms and shortcuts, we performed spelling correction in four steps: (1) error detection, (2) word list generation, (3) word list disambiguation and (4) error correction. We then measured the performance of the resulting spell checker by comparing it to manual correction. We used 12,056 words to train the spell checker and tested its performance on 8,131 words. During testing, sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) for the spell checker were 74% (95% CI: 74-75), 100% (95% CI: 100-100), and 47% (95% CI: 46%-48%), respectively. We created a prototype spell checker that can be used to process AEFI reports. We used the UMLS Specialist Lexicon as the primary source of dictionary terms and the WordNet lexicon as a secondary source. We used the UMLS as a domain-specific source of dictionary terms to compare potentially misspelled words in the corpus. The prototype sensitivity was comparable to currently available tools, but the specificity was much superior. The slow processing speed may be improved by trimming it down to the most useful component algorithms. Other investigators may find the methods we developed useful for cleaning text using lexicons specific to their area of interest.

A UMLS-based spell checker for natural language processing in vaccine safety

PubMed Central

Tolentino, Herman D; Matters, Michael D; Walop, Wikke; Law, Barbara; Tong, Wesley; Liu, Fang; Fontelo, Paul; Kohl, Katrin; Payne, Daniel C

2007-01-01

Background The Institute of Medicine has identified patient safety as a key goal for health care in the United States. Detecting vaccine adverse events is an important public health activity that contributes to patient safety. Reports about adverse events following immunization (AEFI) from surveillance systems contain free-text components that can be analyzed using natural language processing. To extract Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) concepts from free text and classify AEFI reports based on concepts they contain, we first needed to clean the text by expanding abbreviations and shortcuts and correcting spelling errors. Our objective in this paper was to create a UMLS-based spelling error correction tool as a first step in the natural language processing (NLP) pipeline for AEFI reports. Methods We developed spell checking algorithms using open source tools. We used de-identified AEFI surveillance reports to create free-text data sets for analysis. After expansion of abbreviated clinical terms and shortcuts, we performed spelling correction in four steps: (1) error detection, (2) word list generation, (3) word list disambiguation and (4) error correction. We then measured the performance of the resulting spell checker by comparing it to manual correction. Results We used 12,056 words to train the spell checker and tested its performance on 8,131 words. During testing, sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) for the spell checker were 74% (95% CI: 74–75), 100% (95% CI: 100–100), and 47% (95% CI: 46%–48%), respectively. Conclusion We created a prototype spell checker that can be used to process AEFI reports. We used the UMLS Specialist Lexicon as the primary source of dictionary terms and the WordNet lexicon as a secondary source. We used the UMLS as a domain-specific source of dictionary terms to compare potentially misspelled words in the corpus. The prototype sensitivity was comparable to currently available tools, but the specificity was much superior. The slow processing speed may be improved by trimming it down to the most useful component algorithms. Other investigators may find the methods we developed useful for cleaning text using lexicons specific to their area of interest. PMID:17295907

HiVy automated translation of stateflow designs for model checking verification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pingree, Paula

2003-01-01

tool set enables model checking of finite state machines designs. This is acheived by translating state-chart specifications into the input language of the Spin model checker. An abstract syntax of hierarchical sequential automata (HSA) is provided as an intermediate format tool set.

The Termination of Checking and the Role of Just Right Feelings: A Study of Obsessional Checkers Compared with Anxious and Non-clinical Controls.

PubMed

Salkovskis, Paul M; Millar, Josie; Gregory, James D; Wahl, Karina

2017-03-01

Repeated checking in OCD can be understood from a cognitive perspective as the motivated need to achieve certainty about the outcome of a potentially risky action, leading to the application of Elevated Evidence Requirements (EER) and overuse of subjective criteria. Twenty-four obsessional checkers, 22 anxious controls, and 26 non-clinical controls were interviewed about and rated recent episodes where they felt (a) they needed to check and (b) checked mainly out of habit (i.e. not obsessionally). Both subjective and objective criteria were rated as significantly more important in obsessional checkers than in controls; obsessional checkers also used more criteria overall for the termination of the check, and rated more criteria as "extremely important" than the control groups. The termination of the check was rated as more effortful for obsessional checkers than for the comparison groups. Analysis of the interview data was consistent with the ratings. Feelings of "rightness" were associated with the termination of a check for obsessional checkers but not for controls. Results were consistent with the proposal that the use of "just right feelings" to terminate checking are related to EER.

Electronic prescribing system design priorities for antimicrobial stewardship: a cross-sectional survey of 142 UK infection specialists.

PubMed

Hand, Kieran S; Cumming, Debbie; Hopkins, Susan; Ewings, Sean; Fox, Andy; Theminimulle, Sandya; Porter, Robert J; Parker, Natalie; Munns, Joanne; Sheikh, Adel; Keyser, Taryn; Puleston, Richard

2017-04-01

The implementation of electronic prescribing and medication administration (EPMA) systems is a priority for hospitals and a potential component of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). To identify software features within EPMA systems that could potentially facilitate AMS and to survey practising UK infection specialist healthcare professionals in order to assign priority to these software features. A questionnaire was developed using nominal group technique and transmitted via email links through professional networks. The questionnaire collected demographic data, information on priority areas and anticipated impact of EPMA. Responses from different respondent groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U -test. Responses were received from 164 individuals (142 analysable). Respondents were predominantly specialist infection pharmacists (48%) or medical microbiologists (37%). Of the pharmacists, 59% had experience of EPMA in their hospitals compared with 35% of microbiologists. Pharmacists assigned higher priority to indication prompt ( P  <   0.001), allergy checker ( P  =   0.003), treatment protocols ( P  =   0.003), drug-indication mismatch alerts ( P  =   0.031) and prolonged course alerts ( P  =   0.041) and lower priority to a dose checker for adults ( P  =   0.02) and an interaction checker ( P  <   0.05) than microbiologists. A 'soft stop' functionality was rated essential or high priority by 89% of respondents. Potential EPMA software features were expected to have the greatest impact on stewardship, treatment efficacy and patient safety outcomes with lowest impact on Clostridium difficile infection, antimicrobial resistance and drug expenditure. The survey demonstrates key differences in health professionals' opinions of potential healthcare benefits of EPMA, but a consensus of anticipated positive impact on patient safety and AMS. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Dr. William O. Coffee and his absorption cure for cataract.

PubMed

Ferry, A P

1989-08-01

Dr. William O. Coffee was an ophthalmologist who conducted an office and mail-order practice in the Midwest from the 1880s until 1927. His main stock in trade was a self-discovered absorption cure for a variety of ocular diseases, with particular emphasis on the medical cure of cataracts. Dr. Coffee's career was a checkered one, marked by dubious credentials, exuberant self-promotion, unlikely and exaggerated claims of medical successes, plagiarism, and rejection by the medical "establishment." Certain parallels may be drawn between his activities and some currently observed practices in ophthalmology.

Facial skin color measurement based on camera colorimetric characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Boquan; Zhou, Changhe; Wang, Shaoqing; Fan, Xin; Li, Chao

2016-10-01

The objective measurement of facial skin color and its variance is of great significance as much information can be obtained from it. In this paper, we developed a new skin color measurement procedure which includes following parts: first, a new skin tone color checker made of pantone Skin Tone Color Checker was designed for camera colorimetric characterization; second, the chromaticity of light source was estimated via a new scene illumination estimation method considering several previous algorithms; third, chromatic adaption was used to convert the input facial image into output facial image which appears taken under canonical light; finally the validity and accuracy of our method was verified by comparing the results obtained by our procedure with these by spectrophotometer.

COOPER, HERON, AND HEWARD'S APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (2ND ED.): CHECKERED FLAG FOR STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS, YELLOW FLAG FOR THE FIELD

PubMed Central

Friman, Patrick C

2010-01-01

At last, the field of applied behavior analysis has a beautifully crafted, true textbook that can proudly stand cover to cover and spine to spine beside any of the expensive, imposing, and ornately designed textbooks used by college instructors who teach courses in conventional areas of education or psychology. In this review, I fully laud this development, credit Cooper, Heron, and Heward for making it happen, argue that it signifies a checkered flag for students and professors, and recommend the book for classes in applied behavior analysis everywhere. Subsequently, I review its chapters, each of which could easily stand alone as publications in their own right. Finally, I supply a cautionary note, a yellow flag to accompany the well-earned checkered flag, by pointing out that, as is true with all general textbooks on applied behavior analysis, a major portion of the references involves research on persons who occupy only a tail of the normal distribution. To attain the mainstream role Skinner envisioned and most (if not all) behavior analysts desire, the field will have to increase its focus on persons who reside under the dome of that distribution.

Learning Game Evaluation Functions with a Compound Linear Machine.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-03-01

Comparison to Non-Learning Shannon Type Programs . . . 50 Comparison to Samuel’s Shannon Type Checker Program . 52 Comparison to an Advice-Taking Shannon...examples of programs or algorithms that play games. The most significant of these is usually held to be A. Samuel’s checker playing program because it is...his checker playing program (GRC, 1978:54-72). Another related study nl,. { .. . performed for the Air Force recommends researching computerized

Integrated Formal Analysis of Timed-Triggered Ethernet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dutertre, Bruno; Shankar, Nstarajan; Owre, Sam

2012-01-01

We present new results related to the verification of the Timed-Triggered Ethernet (TTE) clock synchronization protocol. This work extends previous verification of TTE based on model checking. We identify a suboptimal design choice in a compression function used in clock synchronization, and propose an improvement. We compare the original design and the improved definition using the SAL model checker.

FPGA-Based, Self-Checking, Fault-Tolerant Computers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Some, Raphael; Rennels, David

2004-01-01

A proposed computer architecture would exploit the capabilities of commercially available field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to enable computers to detect and recover from bit errors. The main purpose of the proposed architecture is to enable fault-tolerant computing in the presence of single-event upsets (SEUs). [An SEU is a spurious bit flip (also called a soft error) caused by a single impact of ionizing radiation.] The architecture would also enable recovery from some soft errors caused by electrical transients and, to some extent, from intermittent and permanent (hard) errors caused by aging of electronic components. A typical FPGA of the current generation contains one or more complete processor cores, memories, and highspeed serial input/output (I/O) channels, making it possible to shrink a board-level processor node to a single integrated-circuit chip. Custom, highly efficient microcontrollers, general-purpose computers, custom I/O processors, and signal processors can be rapidly and efficiently implemented by use of FPGAs. Unfortunately, FPGAs are susceptible to SEUs. Prior efforts to mitigate the effects of SEUs have yielded solutions that degrade performance of the system and require support from external hardware and software. In comparison with other fault-tolerant- computing architectures (e.g., triple modular redundancy), the proposed architecture could be implemented with less circuitry and lower power demand. Moreover, the fault-tolerant computing functions would require only minimal support from circuitry outside the central processing units (CPUs) of computers, would not require any software support, and would be largely transparent to software and to other computer hardware. There would be two types of modules: a self-checking processor module and a memory system (see figure). The self-checking processor module would be implemented on a single FPGA and would be capable of detecting its own internal errors. It would contain two CPUs executing identical programs in lock step, with comparison of their outputs to detect errors. It would also contain various cache local memory circuits, communication circuits, and configurable special-purpose processors that would use self-checking checkers. (The basic principle of the self-checking checker method is to utilize logic circuitry that generates error signals whenever there is an error in either the checker or the circuit being checked.) The memory system would comprise a main memory and a hardware-controlled check-pointing system (CPS) based on a buffer memory denoted the recovery cache. The main memory would contain random-access memory (RAM) chips and FPGAs that would, in addition to everything else, implement double-error-detecting and single-error-correcting memory functions to enable recovery from single-bit errors.

Distinguishing manifestations of anxiety: how do personality traits of compulsive checkers differ from other anxious individuals?

PubMed

Gershuny, B S; Sher, K J; Rossy, L; Bishop, A K

2000-03-01

To better understand relations between personality and anxiety in general, and personality differences between compulsive checkers and nonchecking anxious individuals in particular, the current study was conducted. Participants included a nonclinical undergraduate sample of 36 compulsive checkers, 33 nonchecking anxious controls and 33 nonchecking nonanxious controls who were compared on five basic personality dimensions: emotional stability, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and intellect (Goldberg, 1992). Results indicated that a combined group of all anxious individuals was less extraverted and less emotionally stable than nonchecking/nonanxious controls. Results further indicated that compulsive checkers were less emotionally stable and more conscientious than nonchecking anxious controls. The implications of these findings, as well as the impact of the order of personality item presentation, are considered and discussed.

The neXtProt peptide uniqueness checker: a tool for the proteomics community.

PubMed

Schaeffer, Mathieu; Gateau, Alain; Teixeira, Daniel; Michel, Pierre-André; Zahn-Zabal, Monique; Lane, Lydie

2017-11-01

The neXtProt peptide uniqueness checker allows scientists to define which peptides can be used to validate the existence of human proteins, i.e. map uniquely versus multiply to human protein sequences taking into account isobaric substitutions, alternative splicing and single amino acid variants. The pepx program is available at https://github.com/calipho-sib/pepx and can be launched from the command line or through a cgi web interface. Indexing requires a sequence file in FASTA format. The peptide uniqueness checker tool is freely available on the web at https://www.nextprot.org/tools/peptide-uniqueness-checker and from the neXtProt API at https://api.nextprot.org/. lydie.lane@sib.swiss. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.

Parity generator and parity checker in the modified trinary number system using savart plate and spatial light modulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, Amal K.

2010-09-01

The parity generators and the checkers are the most important circuits in communication systems. With the development of multi-valued logic (MVL), the proposed system with parity generators and checkers is the most required using the recently developed optoelectronic technology in the modified trinary number (MTN) system. This system also meets up the tremendous needs of speeds by exploiting the savart plates and spatial light modulators (SLM) in the optical tree architecture (OTA).

"Antelope": a hybrid-logic model checker for branching-time Boolean GRN analysis

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background In Thomas' formalism for modeling gene regulatory networks (GRNs), branching time, where a state can have more than one possible future, plays a prominent role. By representing a certain degree of unpredictability, branching time can model several important phenomena, such as (a) asynchrony, (b) incompletely specified behavior, and (c) interaction with the environment. Introducing more than one possible future for a state, however, creates a difficulty for ordinary simulators, because infinitely many paths may appear, limiting ordinary simulators to statistical conclusions. Model checkers for branching time, by contrast, are able to prove properties in the presence of infinitely many paths. Results We have developed Antelope ("Analysis of Networks through TEmporal-LOgic sPEcifications", http://turing.iimas.unam.mx:8080/AntelopeWEB/), a model checker for analyzing and constructing Boolean GRNs. Currently, software systems for Boolean GRNs use branching time almost exclusively for asynchrony. Antelope, by contrast, also uses branching time for incompletely specified behavior and environment interaction. We show the usefulness of modeling these two phenomena in the development of a Boolean GRN of the Arabidopsis thaliana root stem cell niche. There are two obstacles to a direct approach when applying model checking to Boolean GRN analysis. First, ordinary model checkers normally only verify whether or not a given set of model states has a given property. In comparison, a model checker for Boolean GRNs is preferable if it reports the set of states having a desired property. Second, for efficiency, the expressiveness of many model checkers is limited, resulting in the inability to express some interesting properties of Boolean GRNs. Antelope tries to overcome these two drawbacks: Apart from reporting the set of all states having a given property, our model checker can express, at the expense of efficiency, some properties that ordinary model checkers (e.g., NuSMV) cannot. This additional expressiveness is achieved by employing a logic extending the standard Computation-Tree Logic (CTL) with hybrid-logic operators. Conclusions We illustrate the advantages of Antelope when (a) modeling incomplete networks and environment interaction, (b) exhibiting the set of all states having a given property, and (c) representing Boolean GRN properties with hybrid CTL. PMID:22192526

Practical Formal Verification of Diagnosability of Large Models via Symbolic Model Checking

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cavada, Roberto; Pecheur, Charles

2003-01-01

This document reports on the activities carried out during a four-week visit of Roberto Cavada at the NASA Ames Research Center. The main goal was to test the practical applicability of the framework proposed, where a diagnosability problem is reduced to a Symbolic Model Checking problem. Section 2 contains a brief explanation of major techniques currently used in Symbolic Model Checking, and how these techniques can be tuned in order to obtain good performances when using Model Checking tools. Diagnosability is performed on large and structured models of real plants. Section 3 describes how these plants are modeled, and how models can be simplified to improve the performance of Symbolic Model Checkers. Section 4 reports scalability results. Three test cases are briefly presented, and several parameters and techniques have been applied on those test cases in order to produce comparison tables. Furthermore, comparison between several Model Checkers is reported. Section 5 summarizes the application of diagnosability verification to a real application. Several properties have been tested, and results have been highlighted. Finally, section 6 draws some conclusions, and outlines future lines of research.

Science of Cyber-Security

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-11-01

that a program is bug free. Also, and this is an important issue in getting people 29 to use them, static checkers tend to have false positives...enormous variety of non-standard dialects took a huge amount of work to get what they describe as full version-specific bug compatibility.) Model...coincident detection by T-cells. In- cidentally, this is why it is enough to get rid of T-cells that bind self-peptides without similarly culling B-cells

Model Checking Failed Conjectures in Theorem Proving: A Case Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pike, Lee; Miner, Paul; Torres-Pomales, Wilfredo

2004-01-01

Interactive mechanical theorem proving can provide high assurance of correct design, but it can also be a slow iterative process. Much time is spent determining why a proof of a conjecture is not forthcoming. In some cases, the conjecture is false and in others, the attempted proof is insufficient. In this case study, we use the SAL family of model checkers to generate a concrete counterexample to an unproven conjecture specified in the mechanical theorem prover, PVS. The focus of our case study is the ROBUS Interactive Consistency Protocol. We combine the use of a mechanical theorem prover and a model checker to expose a subtle flaw in the protocol that occurs under a particular scenario of faults and processor states. Uncovering the flaw allows us to mend the protocol and complete its general verification in PVS.

John Rogers: "Checkers Up at the Farm."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zeller, Terry

1987-01-01

Based on John Rogers' 1887 painted plaster sculpture called "Checkers Up at the Farm," this lesson seeks to introduce primary-level students to the idea of sculpture in the round and how sculpture can communicate ideas, emotions, and values. (JDH)

The KIT gene is associated with the english spotting coat color locus and congenital megacolon in Checkered Giant rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

PubMed

Fontanesi, Luca; Vargiolu, Manuela; Scotti, Emilio; Latorre, Rocco; Faussone Pellegrini, Maria Simonetta; Mazzoni, Maurizio; Asti, Martina; Chiocchetti, Roberto; Romeo, Giovanni; Clavenzani, Paolo; De Giorgio, Roberto

2014-01-01

The English spotting coat color locus in rabbits, also known as Dominant white spotting locus, is determined by an incompletely dominant allele (En). Rabbits homozygous for the recessive wild-type allele (en/en) are self-colored, heterozygous En/en rabbits are normally spotted, and homozygous En/En animals are almost completely white. Compared to vital en/en and En/en rabbits, En/En animals are subvital because of a dilated ("mega") cecum and ascending colon. In this study, we investigated the role of the KIT gene as a candidate for the English spotting locus in Checkered Giant rabbits and characterized the abnormalities affecting enteric neurons and c-kit positive interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the megacolon of En/En rabbits. Twenty-one litters were obtained by crossing three Checkered Giant bucks (En/en) with nine Checkered Giant (En/en) and two en/en does, producing a total of 138 F1 and backcrossed rabbits. Resequencing all coding exons and portions of non-coding regions of the KIT gene in 28 rabbits of different breeds identified 98 polymorphisms. A single nucleotide polymorphism genotyped in all F1 families showed complete cosegregation with the English spotting coat color phenotype (θ=0.00 LOD  =75.56). KIT gene expression in cecum and colon specimens of En/En (pathological) rabbits was 5-10% of that of en/en (control) rabbits. En/En rabbits showed reduced and altered c-kit immunolabelled ICC compared to en/en controls. Morphometric data on whole mounts of the ascending colon showed a significant decrease of HuC/D (P<0.05) and substance P (P<0.01) immunoreactive neurons in En/En vs. en/en. Electron microscopy analysis showed neuronal and ICC abnormalities in En/En tissues. The En/En rabbit model shows neuro-ICC changes reminiscent of the human non-aganglionic megacolon. This rabbit model may provide a better understanding of the molecular abnormalities underlying conditions associated with non-aganglionic megacolon.

The KIT Gene Is Associated with the English Spotting Coat Color Locus and Congenital Megacolon in Checkered Giant Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

PubMed Central

Fontanesi, Luca; Vargiolu, Manuela; Scotti, Emilio; Latorre, Rocco; Faussone Pellegrini, Maria Simonetta; Mazzoni, Maurizio; Asti, Martina; Chiocchetti, Roberto; Romeo, Giovanni; Clavenzani, Paolo; De Giorgio, Roberto

2014-01-01

The English spotting coat color locus in rabbits, also known as Dominant white spotting locus, is determined by an incompletely dominant allele (En). Rabbits homozygous for the recessive wild-type allele (en/en) are self-colored, heterozygous En/en rabbits are normally spotted, and homozygous En/En animals are almost completely white. Compared to vital en/en and En/en rabbits, En/En animals are subvital because of a dilated (“mega”) cecum and ascending colon. In this study, we investigated the role of the KIT gene as a candidate for the English spotting locus in Checkered Giant rabbits and characterized the abnormalities affecting enteric neurons and c-kit positive interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the megacolon of En/En rabbits. Twenty-one litters were obtained by crossing three Checkered Giant bucks (En/en) with nine Checkered Giant (En/en) and two en/en does, producing a total of 138 F1 and backcrossed rabbits. Resequencing all coding exons and portions of non-coding regions of the KIT gene in 28 rabbits of different breeds identified 98 polymorphisms. A single nucleotide polymorphism genotyped in all F1 families showed complete cosegregation with the English spotting coat color phenotype (θ = 0.00 LOD  = 75.56). KIT gene expression in cecum and colon specimens of En/En (pathological) rabbits was 5–10% of that of en/en (control) rabbits. En/En rabbits showed reduced and altered c-kit immunolabelled ICC compared to en/en controls. Morphometric data on whole mounts of the ascending colon showed a significant decrease of HuC/D (P<0.05) and substance P (P<0.01) immunoreactive neurons in En/En vs. en/en. Electron microscopy analysis showed neuronal and ICC abnormalities in En/En tissues. The En/En rabbit model shows neuro-ICC changes reminiscent of the human non-aganglionic megacolon. This rabbit model may provide a better understanding of the molecular abnormalities underlying conditions associated with non-aganglionic megacolon. PMID:24736498

Formal Verification of a Power Controller Using the Real-Time Model Checker UPPAAL

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Havelund, Klaus; Larsen, Kim Guldstrand; Skou, Arne

1999-01-01

A real-time system for power-down control in audio/video components is modeled and verified using the real-time model checker UPPAAL. The system is supposed to reside in an audio/video component and control (read from and write to) links to neighbor audio/video components such as TV, VCR and remote-control. In particular, the system is responsible for the powering up and down of the component in between the arrival of data, and in order to do so in a safe way without loss of data, it is essential that no link interrupts are lost. Hence, a component system is a multitasking system with hard real-time requirements, and we present techniques for modeling time consumption in such a multitasked, prioritized system. The work has been carried out in a collaboration between Aalborg University and the audio/video company B&O. By modeling the system, 3 design errors were identified and corrected, and the following verification confirmed the validity of the design but also revealed the necessity for an upper limit of the interrupt frequency. The resulting design has been implemented and it is going to be incorporated as part of a new product line.

Food Marketing: Cashier-Checker. Student Material. Competency Based Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Froelich, Larry; And Others

This curriculum for food marketing (cashier-checking) is designed to provide entry-level employment skills. It is organized into 13 units which contain one to ten competencies. A student competency sheet provided for each competency is organized into this format: unit and competency number and name, learning steps, learning activities, and…

Work-related symptoms and checkstand configuration: an experimental study.

PubMed

Harber, P; Bloswick, D; Luo, J; Beck, J; Greer, D; Peña, L F

1993-07-01

Supermarket checkers are known to be at risk of upper-extremity cumulative trauma disorders. Forty-two experienced checkers checked a standard "market basket" of items on an experimental checkstand. The counter height could be adjusted (high = 35.5, low = 31.5 inches), and the pre-scan queuing area length (between conveyor belt and laser scanner) could be set to "near" or "far" lengths. Each subject scanned under the high-near, high-far, low-near, and low-far conditions in random order. Seven ordinal symptom scales were used to describe comfort. Analysis showed that both counter height and queuing length had significant effects on symptoms. Furthermore, the height of the subject affected the degree and direction of the impact of the checkstand configuration differences. The study suggests that optimization of design may be experimentally evaluated, that modification of postural as well as frequency loading may be beneficial, and that adjustability for the individual may be advisable.

SimCheck: An Expressive Type System for Simulink

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roy, Pritam; Shankar, Natarajan

2010-01-01

MATLAB Simulink is a member of a class of visual languages that are used for modeling and simulating physical and cyber-physical systems. A Simulink model consists of blocks with input and output ports connected using links that carry signals. We extend the type system of Simulink with annotations and dimensions/units associated with ports and links. These types can capture invariants on signals as well as relations between signals. We define a type-checker that checks the wellformedness of Simulink blocks with respect to these type annotations. The type checker generates proof obligations that are solved by SRI's Yices solver for satisfiability modulo theories (SMT). This translation can be used to detect type errors, demonstrate counterexamples, generate test cases, or prove the absence of type errors. Our work is an initial step toward the symbolic analysis of MATLAB Simulink models.

Spot: A Programming Language for Verified Flight Software

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bocchino, Robert L., Jr.; Gamble, Edward; Gostelow, Kim P.; Some, Raphael R.

2014-01-01

The C programming language is widely used for programming space flight software and other safety-critical real time systems. C, however, is far from ideal for this purpose: as is well known, it is both low-level and unsafe. This paper describes Spot, a language derived from C for programming space flight systems. Spot aims to maintain compatibility with existing C code while improving the language and supporting verification with the SPIN model checker. The major features of Spot include actor-based concurrency, distributed state with message passing and transactional updates, and annotations for testing and verification. Spot also supports domain-specific annotations for managing spacecraft state, e.g., communicating telemetry information to the ground. We describe the motivation and design rationale for Spot, give an overview of the design, provide examples of Spot's capabilities, and discuss the current status of the implementation.

The "Checkers" Speech and Televised Political Communication.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flaningam, Carl

Richard Nixon's 1952 "Checkers" speech was an innovative use of television for political communication. Like television news itself, the campaign fund crisis behind the speech can be thought of in the same terms as other television melodrama, with the speech serving as its climactic episode. The speech adapted well to television because…

TechWriter: An Evolving System for Writing Assistance for Advanced Learners of English

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Napolitano, Diane M.; Stent, Amanda

2009-01-01

Writing assistance systems, from simple spelling checkers to more complex grammar and readability analyzers, can be helpful aids to nonnative writers of English. However, many writing assistance systems have two disadvantages. First, they are not designed to encourage skills learning and independence in their users; instead, users may begin to use…

Don't Lose Your Marbles!: Game Project Teaches Introductory Manufacturing Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kapur, Arjun; Carter, Horlin; Dillon, Dave

2006-01-01

This article describes a lab activity conducted in an introductory manufacturing class. In this good, simple, mass-production project, the students designed and produced a small game composed of a piece of plywood and 14 glass marbles. In appearance, the game is something like Chinese checkers, but it involves jumping over marbles, then removing…

Action-at-a-distance metamaterials: Distributed local actuation through far-field global forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hedayati, R.; Mirzaali, M. J.; Vergani, L.; Zadpoor, A. A.

2018-03-01

Mechanical metamaterials are a sub-category of designer materials where the geometry of the material at the small-scale is rationally designed to give rise to unusual properties and functionalities. Here, we propose the concept of "action-at-a-distance" metamaterials where a specific pattern of local deformation is programmed into the fabric of (cellular) materials. The desired pattern of local actuation could then be achieved simply through the application of one single global and far-field force. We proposed graded designs of auxetic and conventional unit cells with changing Poisson's ratios as a way of making "action-at-a-distance" metamaterials. We explored five types of graded designs including linear, two types of radial gradients, checkered, and striped. Specimens were fabricated with indirect additive manufacturing and tested under compression, tension, and shear. Full-field strain maps measured with digital image correlation confirmed different patterns of local actuation under similar far-field strains. These materials have potential applications in soft (wearable) robotics and exosuits.

A Fantasy Theme Analysis of Nixon's "Checkers" Speech.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wells, William T.

1996-01-01

Applies fantasy theme analysis to Richard Nixon's "Checkers" speech. States that three major themes emerge: Nixon as Moral Model, Nixon as the American Dream, and Nixon as Patriot. Points out that each issue responds to allegations of dishonesty that were leveled against him at the time. Argues that Nixon's speech was accepted and…

Universal Verification Methodology Based Register Test Automation Flow.

PubMed

Woo, Jae Hun; Cho, Yong Kwan; Park, Sun Kyu

2016-05-01

In today's SoC design, the number of registers has been increased along with complexity of hardware blocks. Register validation is a time-consuming and error-pron task. Therefore, we need an efficient way to perform verification with less effort in shorter time. In this work, we suggest register test automation flow based UVM (Universal Verification Methodology). UVM provides a standard methodology, called a register model, to facilitate stimulus generation and functional checking of registers. However, it is not easy for designers to create register models for their functional blocks or integrate models in test-bench environment because it requires knowledge of SystemVerilog and UVM libraries. For the creation of register models, many commercial tools support a register model generation from register specification described in IP-XACT, but it is time-consuming to describe register specification in IP-XACT format. For easy creation of register model, we propose spreadsheet-based register template which is translated to IP-XACT description, from which register models can be easily generated using commercial tools. On the other hand, we also automate all the steps involved integrating test-bench and generating test-cases, so that designers may use register model without detailed knowledge of UVM or SystemVerilog. This automation flow involves generating and connecting test-bench components (e.g., driver, checker, bus adaptor, etc.) and writing test sequence for each type of register test-case. With the proposed flow, designers can save considerable amount of time to verify functionality of registers.

The HTS barcode checker pipeline, a tool for automated detection of illegally traded species from high-throughput sequencing data.

PubMed

Lammers, Youri; Peelen, Tamara; Vos, Rutger A; Gravendeel, Barbara

2014-02-06

Mixtures of internationally traded organic substances can contain parts of species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). These mixtures often raise the suspicion of border control and customs offices, which can lead to confiscation, for example in the case of Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). High-throughput sequencing of DNA barcoding markers obtained from such samples provides insight into species constituents of mixtures, but manual cross-referencing of results against the CITES appendices is labor intensive. Matching DNA barcodes against NCBI GenBank using BLAST may yield misleading results both as false positives, due to incorrectly annotated sequences, and false negatives, due to spurious taxonomic re-assignment. Incongruence between the taxonomies of CITES and NCBI GenBank can result in erroneous estimates of illegal trade. The HTS barcode checker pipeline is an application for automated processing of sets of 'next generation' barcode sequences to determine whether these contain DNA barcodes obtained from species listed on the CITES appendices. This analytical pipeline builds upon and extends existing open-source applications for BLAST matching against the NCBI GenBank reference database and for taxonomic name reconciliation. In a single operation, reads are converted into taxonomic identifications matched with names on the CITES appendices. By inclusion of a blacklist and additional names databases, the HTS barcode checker pipeline prevents false positives and resolves taxonomic heterogeneity. The HTS barcode checker pipeline can detect and correctly identify DNA barcodes of CITES-protected species from reads obtained from TCM samples in just a few minutes. The pipeline facilitates and improves molecular monitoring of trade in endangered species, and can aid in safeguarding these species from extinction in the wild. The HTS barcode checker pipeline is available at https://github.com/naturalis/HTS-barcode-checker.

The HTS barcode checker pipeline, a tool for automated detection of illegally traded species from high-throughput sequencing data

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Mixtures of internationally traded organic substances can contain parts of species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). These mixtures often raise the suspicion of border control and customs offices, which can lead to confiscation, for example in the case of Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). High-throughput sequencing of DNA barcoding markers obtained from such samples provides insight into species constituents of mixtures, but manual cross-referencing of results against the CITES appendices is labor intensive. Matching DNA barcodes against NCBI GenBank using BLAST may yield misleading results both as false positives, due to incorrectly annotated sequences, and false negatives, due to spurious taxonomic re-assignment. Incongruence between the taxonomies of CITES and NCBI GenBank can result in erroneous estimates of illegal trade. Results The HTS barcode checker pipeline is an application for automated processing of sets of 'next generation’ barcode sequences to determine whether these contain DNA barcodes obtained from species listed on the CITES appendices. This analytical pipeline builds upon and extends existing open-source applications for BLAST matching against the NCBI GenBank reference database and for taxonomic name reconciliation. In a single operation, reads are converted into taxonomic identifications matched with names on the CITES appendices. By inclusion of a blacklist and additional names databases, the HTS barcode checker pipeline prevents false positives and resolves taxonomic heterogeneity. Conclusions The HTS barcode checker pipeline can detect and correctly identify DNA barcodes of CITES-protected species from reads obtained from TCM samples in just a few minutes. The pipeline facilitates and improves molecular monitoring of trade in endangered species, and can aid in safeguarding these species from extinction in the wild. The HTS barcode checker pipeline is available at https://github.com/naturalis/HTS-barcode-checker. PMID:24502833

Realising the Benefits of Adopting and Adapting Existing CF Metadata Conventions to a Broader Range of Geoscience Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Druken, K. A.; Trenham, C. E.; Wang, J.; Bastrakova, I.; Evans, B. J. K.; Wyborn, L. A.; Ip, A. I.; Poudjom Djomani, Y.

2016-12-01

The National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) hosts one of Australia's largest repositories (10+ PBytes) of research data, colocated with a petascale High Performance Computer and a highly integrated research cloud. Key to maximizing benefit of NCI's collections and computational capabilities is ensuring seamless interoperable access to these datasets. This presents considerable data management challenges across the diverse range of geoscience data; spanning disciplines where netCDF-CF is commonly utilized (e.g., climate, weather, remote-sensing), through to the geophysics and seismology fields that employ more traditional domain- and study-specific data formats. These data are stored in a variety of gridded, irregularly spaced (i.e., trajectories, point clouds, profiles), and raster image structures. They often have diverse coordinate projections and resolutions, thus complicating the task of comparison and inter-discipline analysis. Nevertheless, much can be learned from the netCDF-CF model that has long served the climate community, providing a common data structure for the atmospheric, ocean and cryospheric sciences. We are extending the application of the existing Climate and Forecast (CF) metadata conventions to NCI's broader geoscience data collections. We present simple implementations that can significantly improve interoperability of the research collections, particularly in the case of line survey data. NCI has developed a compliance checker to assist with the data quality across all hosted netCDF-CF collections. The tool is an extension to one of the main existing CF Convention checkers, that we have modified to incorporate the Attribute Convention for Data Discovery (ACDD) and ISO19115 standards, and to perform parallelised checks over collections of files, ensuring compliance and consistency across the NCI data collections as a whole. It is complemented by a checker that also verifies functionality against a range of scientific analysis, programming, and data visualisation tools. By design, these tests are not necessarily domain-specific, and demonstrate that verified data is accessible to end-users, thus allowing for seamless interoperability with other datasets across a wide range of fields.

Spacecraft command verification: The AI solution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fesq, Lorraine M.; Stephan, Amy; Smith, Brian K.

1990-01-01

Recently, a knowledge-based approach was used to develop a system called the Command Constraint Checker (CCC) for TRW. CCC was created to automate the process of verifying spacecraft command sequences. To check command files by hand for timing and sequencing errors is a time-consuming and error-prone task. Conventional software solutions were rejected when it was estimated that it would require 36 man-months to build an automated tool to check constraints by conventional methods. Using rule-based representation to model the various timing and sequencing constraints of the spacecraft, CCC was developed and tested in only three months. By applying artificial intelligence techniques, CCC designers were able to demonstrate the viability of AI as a tool to transform difficult problems into easily managed tasks. The design considerations used in developing CCC are discussed and the potential impact of this system on future satellite programs is examined.

Framework for Evaluating Loop Invariant Detection Games in Relation to Automated Dynamic Invariant Detectors

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-01

Detectability ...............................................................................................37 Figure 20. Excel VBA Codes for Checker...National Vulnerability Database OS Operating System SQL Structured Query Language VC Verification Condition VBA Visual Basic for Applications...checks each of these assertions for detectability by Daikon. The checker is an Excel Visual Basic for Applications ( VBA ) script that checks the

Apprendre l'orthographe avec un correcteur orthographique (Learning Spelling with a Spell-Checker?)?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Desmarais, Lise

1998-01-01

Reports a study with 27 adults, both native French-speakers and native English-speakers, on the effectiveness of using a spell-checker as the core element to teach French spelling. The method used authentic materials, individualized monitoring, screen and hard-copy text reading, and content sequencing based on errors. The approach generated…

Towards a Framework for Generating Tests to Satisfy Complex Code Coverage in Java Pathfinder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Staats, Matt

2009-01-01

We present work on a prototype tool based on the JavaPathfinder (JPF) model checker for automatically generating tests satisfying the MC/DC code coverage criterion. Using the Eclipse IDE, developers and testers can quickly instrument Java source code with JPF annotations covering all MC/DC coverage obligations, and JPF can then be used to automatically generate tests that satisfy these obligations. The prototype extension to JPF enables various tasks useful in automatic test generation to be performed, such as test suite reduction and execution of generated tests.

The Pattern and Range of Movement of a Checkered Beetle Predator Relative to its Bark Beetle Prey

Treesearch

James T. Cronin; John D. Reeve; Richard Wilkens; Peter Turchin

2000-01-01

Theoretical studies of predator-prey population dynamics have increasingly centered on the role of space and the movement of organisms. Yet empirical studies have been slow to follow suit. Herein, we quantified the long range movement of a checkered beetle Thanasimus dublus, which is an important predator of a pernicious forest pest the southern...

Effects of Spell Checkers on English as a Second Language Students' Incidental Spelling Learning: A Cognitive Load Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Po-Han; Liu, Tzu-Chien; Paas, Fred

2017-01-01

Computer-based spell checkers help to correct misspells instantly. Almost all the word processing devices are now equipped with a spell-check function that either automatically corrects errors or provides a list of intended words. However, it is not clear on how the reliance on this convenient technological solution affects spelling learning.…

Test SCRs and Triacs with a Lab-Built Checker

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harman, Charles

2010-01-01

Students enrolled in advanced electronics courses and/or industrial electronics classes at the high school level and at technical colleges ultimately learn about solid-state switches such as the SCR (silicon controlled rectifier) and the triac. Both the SCR and the triac are in a family of four-layer devices called thyristors. They are both…

Combining Static Analysis and Model Checking for Software Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brat, Guillaume; Visser, Willem; Clancy, Daniel (Technical Monitor)

2003-01-01

We present an iterative technique in which model checking and static analysis are combined to verify large software systems. The role of the static analysis is to compute partial order information which the model checker uses to reduce the state space. During exploration, the model checker also computes aliasing information that it gives to the static analyzer which can then refine its analysis. The result of this refined analysis is then fed back to the model checker which updates its partial order reduction. At each step of this iterative process, the static analysis computes optimistic information which results in an unsafe reduction of the state space. However we show that the process converges to a fired point at which time the partial order information is safe and the whole state space is explored.

Collaborative Platform for DFM

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-20

generation litho hotspot checkers have also been implemented in automated hotspot fixers that can automatically fix designs by making small changes...processing side (ex. new CMP models, etch models, litho models) and on the circuit side (ex. Process aware circuit analysis or yield optimization...Since final gate CD is a function of not only litho , but Post Exposure Bake, ashing, and etch, the processing module can be augmented with more

Didn't You Run the Spell Checker? Effects of Type of Spelling Error and Use of a Spell Checker on Perceptions of the Author

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Figueredo, Lauren; Varnhagen, Connie K.

2005-01-01

We investigated expectations regarding a writer's responsibility to proofread text for spelling errors when using a word processor. Undergraduate students read an essay and completed a questionnaire regarding their perceptions of the author and the quality of the essay. They then manipulated type of spelling error (no error, homophone error,…

The checkered puffer (Spheroides testudineus) and its helminths as bioindicators of chemical pollution in Yucatan coastal lagoons.

PubMed

Pech, Daniel; Vidal-Martínez, Víctor M; Aguirre-Macedo, M Leopoldina; Gold-Bouchot, Gerardo; Herrera-Silveira, Jorge; Zapata-Pérez, Omar; Marcogliese, David J

2009-03-15

The suitability of using helminth communities as bioindicators of environmental quality of the Yucatan coastal lagoons status was tested on the checkered puffer (Spheroides testudineus) in four coastal lagoons along the Yucatan coast. The concentration of chemical pollutants in sediments, water quality parameters, helminth infracommunity characteristics, as well as fish physiological biomarkers, including EROD (7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase) and catalase activities, were measured. Results from sediment analyses demonstrated the presence of hydrocarbons, organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls at varying concentrations, some of which exceeded the Probability Effect Level (PEL). Significant negative associations among organochlorine pesticides, infracommunity characteristics and fish physiological responses were observed in most of the lagoons. Results suggest that EROD activity and parasite infracommunity characteristics could be useful tools to evaluate the effects of chemical pollutants on the fish host and in the environment. Importantly, certain parasites appear to influence biomarker measurements, indicating that parasites should be considered in ecotoxicological studies.

Nanoscale on-chip all-optical logic parity checker in integrated plasmonic circuits in optical communication range

PubMed Central

Wang, Feifan; Gong, Zibo; Hu, Xiaoyong; Yang, Xiaoyu; Yang, Hong; Gong, Qihuang

2016-01-01

The nanoscale chip-integrated all-optical logic parity checker is an essential core component for optical computing systems and ultrahigh-speed ultrawide-band information processing chips. Unfortunately, little experimental progress has been made in development of these devices to date because of material bottleneck limitations and a lack of effective realization mechanisms. Here, we report a simple and efficient strategy for direct realization of nanoscale chip-integrated all-optical logic parity checkers in integrated plasmonic circuits in the optical communication range. The proposed parity checker consists of two-level cascaded exclusive-OR (XOR) logic gates that are realized based on the linear interference of surface plasmon polaritons propagating in the plasmonic waveguides. The parity of the number of logic 1s in the incident four-bit logic signals is determined, and the output signal is given the logic state 0 for even parity (and 1 for odd parity). Compared with previous reports, the overall device feature size is reduced by more than two orders of magnitude, while ultralow energy consumption is maintained. This work raises the possibility of realization of large-scale integrated information processing chips based on integrated plasmonic circuits, and also provides a way to overcome the intrinsic limitations of serious surface plasmon polariton losses for on-chip integration applications. PMID:27073154

Nanoscale on-chip all-optical logic parity checker in integrated plasmonic circuits in optical communication range.

PubMed

Wang, Feifan; Gong, Zibo; Hu, Xiaoyong; Yang, Xiaoyu; Yang, Hong; Gong, Qihuang

2016-04-13

The nanoscale chip-integrated all-optical logic parity checker is an essential core component for optical computing systems and ultrahigh-speed ultrawide-band information processing chips. Unfortunately, little experimental progress has been made in development of these devices to date because of material bottleneck limitations and a lack of effective realization mechanisms. Here, we report a simple and efficient strategy for direct realization of nanoscale chip-integrated all-optical logic parity checkers in integrated plasmonic circuits in the optical communication range. The proposed parity checker consists of two-level cascaded exclusive-OR (XOR) logic gates that are realized based on the linear interference of surface plasmon polaritons propagating in the plasmonic waveguides. The parity of the number of logic 1s in the incident four-bit logic signals is determined, and the output signal is given the logic state 0 for even parity (and 1 for odd parity). Compared with previous reports, the overall device feature size is reduced by more than two orders of magnitude, while ultralow energy consumption is maintained. This work raises the possibility of realization of large-scale integrated information processing chips based on integrated plasmonic circuits, and also provides a way to overcome the intrinsic limitations of serious surface plasmon polariton losses for on-chip integration applications.

Experimental Evaluation of a Planning Language Suitable for Formal Verification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Butler, Rick W.; Munoz, Cesar A.; Siminiceanu, Radu I.

2008-01-01

The marriage of model checking and planning faces two seemingly diverging alternatives: the need for a planning language expressive enough to capture the complexity of real-life applications, as opposed to a language simple, yet robust enough to be amenable to exhaustive verification and validation techniques. In an attempt to reconcile these differences, we have designed an abstract plan description language, ANMLite, inspired from the Action Notation Modeling Language (ANML) [17]. We present the basic concepts of the ANMLite language as well as an automatic translator from ANMLite to the model checker SAL (Symbolic Analysis Laboratory) [7]. We discuss various aspects of specifying a plan in terms of constraints and explore the implications of choosing a robust logic behind the specification of constraints, rather than simply propose a new planning language. Additionally, we provide an initial assessment of the efficiency of model checking to search for solutions of planning problems. To this end, we design a basic test benchmark and study the scalability of the generated SAL models in terms of plan complexity.

Design, Development, and Automated Verification of an Integrity-Protected Hypervisor

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-07-16

mechanism for implementing software virtualization. Since hypervisors execute at a very high privilege level, they must be secure. A fundamental security...using the CBMC model checker. CBMC verified XMHF?s implementation ? about 4700 lines of C code ? in about 80 seconds using less than 2GB of RAM. 15...Hypervisors are a popular mechanism for implementing software virtualization. Since hypervisors execute at a very high privilege level, they must be

Compositional schedulability analysis of real-time actor-based systems.

PubMed

Jaghoori, Mohammad Mahdi; de Boer, Frank; Longuet, Delphine; Chothia, Tom; Sirjani, Marjan

2017-01-01

We present an extension of the actor model with real-time, including deadlines associated with messages, and explicit application-level scheduling policies, e.g.,"earliest deadline first" which can be associated with individual actors. Schedulability analysis in this setting amounts to checking whether, given a scheduling policy for each actor, every task is processed within its designated deadline. To check schedulability, we introduce a compositional automata-theoretic approach, based on maximal use of model checking combined with testing. Behavioral interfaces define what an actor expects from the environment, and the deadlines for messages given these assumptions. We use model checking to verify that actors match their behavioral interfaces. We extend timed automata refinement with the notion of deadlines and use it to define compatibility of actor environments with the behavioral interfaces. Model checking of compatibility is computationally hard, so we propose a special testing process. We show that the analyses are decidable and automate the process using the Uppaal model checker.

A Scenario-Based Protocol Checker for Public-Key Authentication Scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saito, Takamichi

Security protocol provides communication security for the internet. One of the important features of it is authentication with key exchange. Its correctness is a requirement of the whole of the communication security. In this paper, we introduce three attack models realized as their attack scenarios, and provide an authentication-protocol checker for applying three attack-scenarios based on the models. We also utilize it to check two popular security protocols: Secure SHell (SSH) and Secure Socket Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS).

Adult Competency Education Kit. Basic Skills in Speaking, Math, and Reading for Employment. Part N. ACE Competency Based Job Descriptions: #65--Typist I; #67--Grocery Checker; #68--File Clerk; #69--Receptionist; #70--Bank Teller; #71--Clerk, General Office.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

San Mateo County Office of Education, Redwood City, CA. Career Preparation Centers.

This eleventh of fifteen sets of Adult Competency Education (ACE) Competency Based Job Descriptions in the ACE kit contains job descriptions for Typist I, Grocery Checker, File Clerk, Receptionist; Bank Teller; and Clerk, General Office. Each begins with a fact sheet that includes this information: occupational title, D.O.T. code, ACE number,…

Design and Testing of a Flexible Inclinometer Probe for Model Tests of Landslide Deep Displacement Measurement.

PubMed

Zhang, Yongquan; Tang, Huiming; Li, Changdong; Lu, Guiying; Cai, Yi; Zhang, Junrong; Tan, Fulin

2018-01-14

The physical model test of landslides is important for studying landslide structural damage, and parameter measurement is key in this process. To meet the measurement requirements for deep displacement in landslide physical models, an automatic flexible inclinometer probe with good coupling and large deformation capacity was designed. The flexible inclinometer probe consists of several gravity acceleration sensing units that are protected and positioned by silicon encapsulation, all the units are connected to a 485-comunication bus. By sensing the two-axis tilt angle, the direction and magnitude of the displacement for a measurement unit can be calculated, then the overall displacement is accumulated according to all units, integrated from bottom to top in turn. In the conversion from angle to displacement, two spline interpolation methods are introduced to correct and resample the data; one is to interpolate the displacement after conversion, and the other is to interpolate the angle before conversion; compared with the result read from checkered paper, the latter is proved to have a better effect, with an additional condition that the displacement curve move up half the length of the unit. The flexible inclinometer is verified with respect to its principle and arrangement by a laboratory physical model test, and the test results are highly consistent with the actual deformation of the landslide model.

Design and Testing of a Flexible Inclinometer Probe for Model Tests of Landslide Deep Displacement Measurement

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yongquan; Tang, Huiming; Li, Changdong; Lu, Guiying; Cai, Yi; Zhang, Junrong; Tan, Fulin

2018-01-01

The physical model test of landslides is important for studying landslide structural damage, and parameter measurement is key in this process. To meet the measurement requirements for deep displacement in landslide physical models, an automatic flexible inclinometer probe with good coupling and large deformation capacity was designed. The flexible inclinometer probe consists of several gravity acceleration sensing units that are protected and positioned by silicon encapsulation, all the units are connected to a 485-comunication bus. By sensing the two-axis tilt angle, the direction and magnitude of the displacement for a measurement unit can be calculated, then the overall displacement is accumulated according to all units, integrated from bottom to top in turn. In the conversion from angle to displacement, two spline interpolation methods are introduced to correct and resample the data; one is to interpolate the displacement after conversion, and the other is to interpolate the angle before conversion; compared with the result read from checkered paper, the latter is proved to have a better effect, with an additional condition that the displacement curve move up half the length of the unit. The flexible inclinometer is verified with respect to its principle and arrangement by a laboratory physical model test, and the test results are highly consistent with the actual deformation of the landslide model. PMID:29342902

Expert opinions on optimal enforcement of minimum purchase age laws for tobacco.

PubMed

Levy, D T; Chaloupka, F; Slater, S

2000-05-01

A questionnaire on how youth access laws should be enforced was sent to 20 experts who had administered and/or evaluated a youth access enforcement program. Respondents agreed on the need for a high level of retail compliance, checkers representative of the community, checks at least twice per year, a graduated penalty structure with license revocation, and bans on self-service and vending machines. Respondents indicated the need for research on the effects of ID use, frequency of checks, penalty structures, and the effects on smoking rates of youth access policies alone and in conjunction with other tobacco control policies.

Research in mathematical theory of computation. [computer programming applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccarthy, J.

1973-01-01

Research progress in the following areas is reviewed: (1) new version of computer program LCF (logic for computable functions) including a facility to search for proofs automatically; (2) the description of the language PASCAL in terms of both LCF and in first order logic; (3) discussion of LISP semantics in LCF and attempt to prove the correctness of the London compilers in a formal way; (4) design of both special purpose and domain independent proving procedures specifically program correctness in mind; (5) design of languages for describing such proof procedures; and (6) the embedding of ideas in the first order checker.

Test Input Generation for Red-Black Trees using Abstraction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Visser, Willem; Pasareanu, Corina S.; Pelanek, Radek

2005-01-01

We consider the problem of test input generation for code that manipulates complex data structures. Test inputs are sequences of method calls from the data structure interface. We describe test input generation techniques that rely on state matching to avoid generation of redundant tests. Exhaustive techniques use explicit state model checking to explore all the possible test sequences up to predefined input sizes. Lossy techniques rely on abstraction mappings to compute and store abstract versions of the concrete states; they explore under-approximations of all the possible test sequences. We have implemented the techniques on top of the Java PathFinder model checker and we evaluate them using a Java implementation of red-black trees.

High temperature solar thermal technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leibowitz, L. P.; Hanseth, E. J.; Peelgren, M. L.

1980-01-01

Some advanced technology concepts under development for high-temperature solar thermal energy systems to achieve significant energy cost reductions and performance gains and thus promote the application of solar thermal power technology are presented. Consideration is given to the objectives, current efforts and recent test and analysis results in the development of high-temperature (950-1650 C) ceramic receivers, thermal storage module checker stoves, and the use of reversible chemical reactions to transport collected solar energy. It is pointed out that the analysis and testing of such components will accelerate the commercial deployment of solar energy.

Proposed Methodology for Design of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Spike Anchors into Reinforced Concrete

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

MacFarlane, Eric Robert

The included methodology, calculations, and drawings support design of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) spike anchors for securing U-wrap CFRP onto reinforced concrete Tbeams. This content pertains to an installation in one of Los Alamos National Laboratory’s facilities. The anchors are part of a seismic rehabilitation to the subject facility. The information contained here is for information purposes only. The reader is encouraged to verify all equations, details, and methodology prior to usage in future projects. However, development of the content contained here complied with Los Alamos National Laboratory’s NQA-1 quality assurance program for nuclear structures. Furthermore, the formulations andmore » details came from the referenced published literature. This literature represents the current state of the art for FRP anchor design. Construction personnel tested the subject anchor design to the required demand level demonstrated in the calculation. The testing demonstrated the ability of the anchors noted to carry loads in excess of 15 kips in direct tension. The anchors were not tested to failure in part because of the hazards associated with testing large-capacity tensile systems to failure. The calculation, methodology, and drawing originator was Eric MacFarlane of Los Alamos National Laboratory’s (LANL) Office of Seismic Hazards and Risk Mitigation (OSHRM). The checker for all components was Mike Salmon of the LANL OSHRM. The independent reviewers of all components were Insung Kim and Loring Wyllie of Degenkolb Engineers. Note that Insung Kim contributed to the initial formulations in the calculations that pertained directly to his Doctoral research.« less

Tester Detects Steady-Short Or Intermittent-Open Circuits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, Bobby L.

1990-01-01

Momentary open circuits or steady short circuits trigger buzzer. Simple, portable, lightweight testing circuit sounds long-duration alarm when it detects steady short circuit or momentary open circuit in coaxial cable or other two-conductor transmission line. Tester sensitive to discontinuities lasting 10 microseconds or longer. Used extensively for detecting intermittent open shorts in accelerometer and extensometer cables. Also used as ordinary buzzer-type continuity checker to detect steady short or open circuits.

Verifying AI Plan Models: Even the Best Laid Plans Need to be Verified

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Margaret; Cucullu, Gordon; Holzmann, Gerard; Smith, Benjamin

2004-01-01

This viewgraph presentation reviews work on model checking, and specifically the SPIN model checker. The goal of this work is to retire a significant class of risks associated with the use of Artificial Intelligence (Al) Planners on Missions. This effort must provide tangible testing results to a mission using Al technology. It is hoped that the work should be possible to leverage the technique and tools throughout NASA

Formal verification of automated teller machine systems using SPIN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iqbal, Ikhwan Mohammad; Adzkiya, Dieky; Mukhlash, Imam

2017-08-01

Formal verification is a technique for ensuring the correctness of systems. This work focuses on verifying a model of the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) system against some specifications. We construct the model as a state transition diagram that is suitable for verification. The specifications are expressed as Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) formulas. We use Simple Promela Interpreter (SPIN) model checker to check whether the model satisfies the formula. This model checker accepts models written in Process Meta Language (PROMELA), and its specifications are specified in LTL formulas.

Performance of rapid test kits to assess household coverage of iodized salt.

PubMed

Gorstein, Jonathan; van der Haar, Frits; Codling, Karen; Houston, Robin; Knowles, Jacky; Timmer, Arnold

2016-10-01

The main indicator adopted to track universal salt iodization has been the coverage of adequately iodized salt in households. Rapid test kits (RTK) have been included in household surveys to test the iodine content in salt. However, laboratory studies of their performance have concluded that RTK are reliable only to distinguish between the presence and absence of iodine in salt, but not to determine whether salt is adequately iodized. The aim of the current paper was to examine the performance of RTK under field conditions and to recommend their most appropriate use in household surveys. Standard performance characteristics of the ability of RTK to detect the iodine content in salt at 0 mg/kg (salt with no iodine), 5 mg/kg (salt with any added iodine) and 15 mg/kg ('adequately' iodized salt) were calculated. Our analysis employed the agreement rate (AR) as a preferred metric of RTK performance. Setting/Subjects Twenty-five data sets from eighteen population surveys which assessed household iodized salt by both the RTK and a quantitative method (i.e. titration or WYD Checker) were obtained from Asian (nineteen data sets), African (five) and European (one) countries. In detecting iodine in salt at 0 mg/kg, the RTK had an AR>90 % in eight of twenty-three surveys, while eight surveys had an AR90 %. The RTK is not suited for assessment of adequately iodized salt coverage. Quantitative assessment, such as by titration or WYD Checker, is necessary for estimates of adequately iodized salt coverage.

Temperature sensitivity study of eddy current and digital gauge probes for nuclear fuel rod oxide measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beck, Faith R.; Lind, R. Paul; Smith, James A.

2018-04-01

Novel fuels are part of the nationwide effort to reduce the enrichment of Uranium for energy production. Performance of such fuels is determined by irradiating their surfaces. To test irradiated samples, the instrumentation must operate remotely. The plate checker used in this experiment at Idaho National Lab (INL) performs non-destructive testing on fuel rod and plate geometries with two different types of sensors: eddy current and digital thickness gauges. The sensors measure oxide growth and total sample thickness on research fuels, respectively. Sensor measurement accuracy is crucial because even 10 microns of error is significant when determining the viability of an experimental fuel. One parameter known to affect the eddy current and thickness gauge sensors is temperature. Since both sensor accuracies depend on the ambient temperature of the system, the plate checker has been characterized for these sensitivities. The manufacturer of the digital gauge probes has noted a rather large coefficient of thermal expansion for their linear scale. It should also be noted that the accuracy of the digital gauge probes are specified at 20°C, which is approximately 7°C cooler than the average hot-cell temperature. In this work, the effect of temperature on the eddy current and digital gauge probes is studied, and thickness measurements are given as empirical functions of temperature.

[A Method for Selecting Self-Adoptive Chromaticity of the Projected Markers].

PubMed

Zhao, Shou-bo; Zhang, Fu-min; Qu, Xing-hua; Zheng, Shi-wei; Chen, Zhe

2015-04-01

The authors designed a self-adaptive projection system which is composed of color camera, projector and PC. In detail, digital micro-mirror device (DMD) as a spatial light modulator for the projector was introduced in the optical path to modulate the illuminant spectrum based on red, green and blue light emitting diodes (LED). However, the color visibility of active markers is affected by the screen which has unknown reflective spectrum as well. Here active markers are projected spot array. And chromaticity feature of markers is sometimes submerged in similar spectral screen. In order to enhance the color visibility of active markers relative to screen, a method for selecting self-adaptive chromaticity of the projected markers in 3D scanning metrology is described. Color camera with 3 channels limits the accuracy of device characterization. For achieving interconversion of device-independent color space and device-dependent color space, high-dimensional linear model of reflective spectrum was built. Prior training samples provide additional constraints to yield high-dimensional linear model with more than three degrees of freedom. Meanwhile, spectral power distribution of ambient light was estimated. Subsequently, markers' chromaticity in CIE color spaces was selected via maximization principle of Euclidean distance. The setting values of RGB were easily estimated via inverse transform. Finally, we implemented a typical experiment to show the performance of the proposed approach. An 24 Munsell Color Checker was used as projective screen. Color difference in the chromaticity coordinates between the active marker and the color patch was utilized to evaluate the color visibility of active markers relative to the screen. The result comparison between self-adaptive projection system and traditional diode-laser light projector was listed and discussed to highlight advantage of our proposed method.

Locator-Checker-Scaler Object Tracking Using Spatially Ordered and Weighted Patch Descriptor.

PubMed

Kim, Han-Ul; Kim, Chang-Su

2017-08-01

In this paper, we propose a simple yet effective object descriptor and a novel tracking algorithm to track a target object accurately. For the object description, we divide the bounding box of a target object into multiple patches and describe them with color and gradient histograms. Then, we determine the foreground weight of each patch to alleviate the impacts of background information in the bounding box. To this end, we perform random walk with restart (RWR) simulation. We then concatenate the weighted patch descriptors to yield the spatially ordered and weighted patch (SOWP) descriptor. For the object tracking, we incorporate the proposed SOWP descriptor into a novel tracking algorithm, which has three components: locator, checker, and scaler (LCS). The locator and the scaler estimate the center location and the size of a target, respectively. The checker determines whether it is safe to adjust the target scale in a current frame. These three components cooperate with one another to achieve robust tracking. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed LCS tracker achieves excellent performance on recent benchmarks.

Logic Model Checking of Time-Periodic Real-Time Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Florian, Mihai; Gamble, Ed; Holzmann, Gerard

2012-01-01

In this paper we report on the work we performed to extend the logic model checker SPIN with built-in support for the verification of periodic, real-time embedded software systems, as commonly used in aircraft, automobiles, and spacecraft. We first extended the SPIN verification algorithms to model priority based scheduling policies. Next, we added a library to support the modeling of periodic tasks. This library was used in a recent application of the SPIN model checker to verify the engine control software of an automobile, to study the feasibility of software triggers for unintended acceleration events.

Design space exploration for early identification of yield limiting patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Helen; Zou, Elain; Lee, Robben; Hong, Sid; Liu, Square; Wang, JinYan; Du, Chunshan; Zhang, Recco; Madkour, Kareem; Ali, Hussein; Hsu, Danny; Kabeel, Aliaa; ElManhawy, Wael; Kwan, Joe

2016-03-01

In order to resolve the causality dilemma of which comes first, accurate design rules or real designs, this paper presents a flow for exploration of the layout design space to early identify problematic patterns that will negatively affect the yield. A new random layout generating method called Layout Schema Generator (LSG) is reported in this paper, this method generates realistic design-like layouts without any design rule violation. Lithography simulation is then used on the generated layout to discover the potentially problematic patterns (hotspots). These hotspot patterns are further explored by randomly inducing feature and context variations to these identified hotspots through a flow called Hotspot variation Flow (HSV). Simulation is then performed on these expanded set of layout clips to further identify more problematic patterns. These patterns are then classified into design forbidden patterns that should be included in the design rule checker and legal patterns that need better handling in the RET recipes and processes.

VLSI research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brodersen, R. W.

1984-04-01

A scaled version of the RISC II chip has been fabricated and tested and these new chips have a cycle time that would outperform a VAX 11/780 by about a factor of two on compiled integer C programs. The architectural work on a RISC chip designed for a Smalltalk implementation has been completed. This chip, called SOAR (Smalltalk On a RISC), should run program s4-15 times faster than the Xerox 1100 (Dolphin), a TTL minicomputer, and about as fast as the Xerox 1132 (Dorado), a $100,000 ECL minicomputer. The 1983 VLSI tools tape has been converted for use under the latest UNIX release (4.2). The Magic (formerly called Caddy) layout system will be a unified set of highly automated tools that cover all aspects of the layout process, including stretching, compaction, tiling and routing. A multiple window package and design rule checker for this system have just been completed and compaction and stretching are partially implemented. New slope-based timing models for the Crystal timing analyzer are now fully implemented and in regular use. In an accuracy test using a dozen critical paths from the RISC II processor and cache chips it was found that Crystal's estimates were within 5-10% of SPICE's estimates, while being a factor of 10,000 times faster.

Quality Assessment of Medical Apps that Target Medication-Related Problems.

PubMed

Loy, John Shiguang; Ali, Eskinder Eshetu; Yap, Kevin Yi-Lwern

2016-10-01

The advent of smartphones has enabled a plethora of medical apps for disease management. As of 2012, there are 40,000 health care-related mobile apps available in the market. Since most of these medical apps do not go through any stringent quality assessment, there is a risk of consumers being misinformed or misled by unreliable information. In this regard, apps that target medication-related problems (MRPs) are not an exception. There is little information on what constitutes quality in apps that target MRPs and how good the existing apps are. To develop a quality assessment tool for evaluating apps that target MRPs and assess the quality of such apps available in the major mobile app stores (iTunes and Google Play). The top 100 free and paid apps in the medical categories of iTunes and Google Play stores (total of 400 apps) were screened for inclusion in the final analysis. English language apps that targeted MRPs were downloaded on test devices to evaluate their quality. Apps intended for clinicians, patients, or both were eligible for evaluation. The quality assessment tool consisted of 4 sections (appropriateness, reliability, usability, privacy), which determined the overall quality of the apps. Apps that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were classified based on the presence of any 1 or more of the 5 features considered important for apps targeting MRPs (monitoring, interaction checker, dose calculator, medication information, medication record). Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney tests were used for analysis. Final analysis was based on 59 apps that fulfilled the study inclusion criteria. Apps with interaction checker (66.9%) and monitoring features (54.8%) had the highest and lowest overall qualities. Paid apps generally scored higher for usability than free apps (P = 0.006) but lower for privacy (P = 0.003). Half of the interaction checker apps were unable to detect interactions with herbal medications. Blood pressure and heart rate monitoring apps had the highest overall quality scores (67.7%), while apps that monitored visual, hearing, and temperature changes scored the lowest (35.5%). A quality assessment tool for evaluating medical apps targeting MRPs has been developed. Clinicians can use this tool to guide their assessments of medical apps that are appropriate for use in the health care setting. Although potentially useful apps were identified, many apps were found to have deficiencies in quality, among which was poor reliability scores for most of the apps. Continued assessments of the quality of apps targeting MRPs are recommended to ensure their usefulness for clinicians and patients. No outside funding supported this study. The authors have no conflicts of interests directly related to this study. Study concept and design were contributed by Loy and Yap. Loy collected the data and took the lead in data interpretation, along with Ali and Yap. The manuscript was primarily written by Loy, along with Yap, and revised primarily by Ali, along with Yap.

[Design and Implementation of Image Interpolation and Color Correction for Ultra-thin Electronic Endoscope on FPGA].

PubMed

Luo, Qiang; Yan, Zhuangzhi; Gu, Dongxing; Cao, Lei

This paper proposed an image interpolation algorithm based on bilinear interpolation and a color correction algorithm based on polynomial regression on FPGA, which focused on the limited number of imaging pixels and color distortion of the ultra-thin electronic endoscope. Simulation experiment results showed that the proposed algorithm realized the real-time display of 1280 x 720@60Hz HD video, and using the X-rite color checker as standard colors, the average color difference was reduced about 30% comparing with that before color correction.

A High-Level Language for Modeling Algorithms and Their Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akhtar, Sabina; Merz, Stephan; Quinson, Martin

Designers of concurrent and distributed algorithms usually express them using pseudo-code. In contrast, most verification techniques are based on more mathematically-oriented formalisms such as state transition systems. This conceptual gap contributes to hinder the use of formal verification techniques. Leslie Lamport introduced PlusCal, a high-level algorithmic language that has the "look and feel" of pseudo-code, but is equipped with a precise semantics and includes a high-level expression language based on set theory. PlusCal models can be compiled to TLA + and verified using the model checker tlc.

Introduction of Virtualization Technology to Multi-Process Model Checking

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leungwattanakit, Watcharin; Artho, Cyrille; Hagiya, Masami; Tanabe, Yoshinori; Yamamoto, Mitsuharu

2009-01-01

Model checkers find failures in software by exploring every possible execution schedule. Java PathFinder (JPF), a Java model checker, has been extended recently to cover networked applications by caching data transferred in a communication channel. A target process is executed by JPF, whereas its peer process runs on a regular virtual machine outside. However, non-deterministic target programs may produce different output data in each schedule, causing the cache to restart the peer process to handle the different set of data. Virtualization tools could help us restore previous states of peers, eliminating peer restart. This paper proposes the application of virtualization technology to networked model checking, concentrating on JPF.

Handheld detector using NIR for bottled liquid explosives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Itozaki, Hideo; Sato-Akaba, Hideo

2014-10-01

A handheld bottle checker for detection of liquid explosives is developed using near infrared technology. In order to make it compact, a LED light was used as a light source and a novel circuit board was developed for the device control instead of using a PC. This enables low power consumption and this handheld detector can be powered by a Li-ion battery without an AC power supply. This checker works well to analyze liquids, even using limited bandwidth of NIR by the LED. It is expected that it can be applied not only to airport security but also to wider applications because of its compactness and portability.

Propel: Tools and Methods for Practical Source Code Model Checking

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mansouri-Samani, Massoud; Mehlitz, Peter; Markosian, Lawrence; OMalley, Owen; Martin, Dale; Moore, Lantz; Penix, John; Visser, Willem

2003-01-01

The work reported here is an overview and snapshot of a project to develop practical model checking tools for in-the-loop verification of NASA s mission-critical, multithreaded programs in Java and C++. Our strategy is to develop and evaluate both a design concept that enables the application of model checking technology to C++ and Java, and a model checking toolset for C++ and Java. The design concept and the associated model checking toolset is called Propel. It builds upon the Java PathFinder (JPF) tool, an explicit state model checker for Java applications developed by the Automated Software Engineering group at NASA Ames Research Center. The design concept that we are developing is Design for Verification (D4V). This is an adaption of existing best design practices that has the desired side-effect of enhancing verifiability by improving modularity and decreasing accidental complexity. D4V, we believe, enhances the applicability of a variety of V&V approaches; we are developing the concept in the context of model checking. The model checking toolset, Propel, is based on extending JPF to handle C++. Our principal tasks in developing the toolset are to build a translator from C++ to Java, productize JPF, and evaluate the toolset in the context of D4V. Through all these tasks we are testing Propel capabilities on customer applications.

Progress in color reflection holography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bjelkhagen, Hans I.; Huang, Qiang; Jeong, Tung H.

1998-02-01

The recording technique of Denisyuk color reflection holograms has been simplified by using `white' laser light. The Slavich red-green-blue (RGB) sensitized ultra-high resolution silver halide emulsion was used for the hologram recording. The employed laser wavelengths were 633 nm, 531 nm, and 476 nm, generated by a helium-neon, a mixed argon- krypton ion, and an argon ion laser, respectively. A beam combination mechanism with dichroic filters enabled a simultaneously RGB exposure, which made the color balance and overall exposure energy easy to control as well as simplifying the recording procedure. Various approaches have been investigated in generating color hologram which have sufficiently high diffraction efficiency combined with improved color saturation. A specially designed test object consisting of the 1931 CIE chromaticity diagram, a rainbow ribbon cable, pure yellow dots, and a cloisonne elephant was used for color recording experiments. In addition, the Macbeth Color Checker chart was used. Both colorimetric evaluation and scattering noise measurements were performed using the PR-650 Photo Research SpectraScan SpectraCalorimeter.

Learning a Health Knowledge Graph from Electronic Medical Records.

PubMed

Rotmensch, Maya; Halpern, Yoni; Tlimat, Abdulhakim; Horng, Steven; Sontag, David

2017-07-20

Demand for clinical decision support systems in medicine and self-diagnostic symptom checkers has substantially increased in recent years. Existing platforms rely on knowledge bases manually compiled through a labor-intensive process or automatically derived using simple pairwise statistics. This study explored an automated process to learn high quality knowledge bases linking diseases and symptoms directly from electronic medical records. Medical concepts were extracted from 273,174 de-identified patient records and maximum likelihood estimation of three probabilistic models was used to automatically construct knowledge graphs: logistic regression, naive Bayes classifier and a Bayesian network using noisy OR gates. A graph of disease-symptom relationships was elicited from the learned parameters and the constructed knowledge graphs were evaluated and validated, with permission, against Google's manually-constructed knowledge graph and against expert physician opinions. Our study shows that direct and automated construction of high quality health knowledge graphs from medical records using rudimentary concept extraction is feasible. The noisy OR model produces a high quality knowledge graph reaching precision of 0.85 for a recall of 0.6 in the clinical evaluation. Noisy OR significantly outperforms all tested models across evaluation frameworks (p < 0.01).

Scanning-time evaluation of Digimarc Barcode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerlach, Rebecca; Pinard, Dan; Weaver, Matt; Alattar, Adnan

2015-03-01

This paper presents a speed comparison between the use of Digimarc® Barcodes and the Universal Product Code (UPC) for customer checkout at point of sale (POS). The recently introduced Digimarc Barcode promises to increase the speed of scanning packaged goods at POS. When this increase is exploited by workforce optimization systems, the retail industry could potentially save billions of dollars. The Digimarc Barcode is based on Digimarc's watermarking technology, and it is imperceptible, very robust, and does not require any special ink, material, or printing processes. Using an image-based scanner, a checker can quickly scan consumer packaged goods (CPG) embedded with the Digimarc Barcode without the need to reorient the packages with respect to the scanner. Faster scanning of packages saves money and enhances customer satisfaction. It reduces the length of the queues at checkout, reduces the cost of cashier labor, and makes self-checkout more convenient. This paper quantifies the increase in POS scanning rates resulting from the use of the Digimarc Barcode versus the traditional UPC. It explains the testing methodology, describes the experimental setup, and analyzes the obtained results. It concludes that the Digimarc Barcode increases number of items per minute (IPM) scanned at least 50% over traditional UPC.

Efficient Translation of LTL Formulae into Buchi Automata

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Giannakopoulou, Dimitra; Lerda, Flavio

2001-01-01

Model checking is a fully automated technique for checking that a system satisfies a set of required properties. With explicit-state model checkers, properties are typically defined in linear-time temporal logic (LTL), and are translated into B chi automata in order to be checked. This report presents how we have combined and improved existing techniques to obtain an efficient LTL to B chi automata translator. In particular, we optimize the core of existing tableau-based approaches to generate significantly smaller automata. Our approach has been implemented and is being released as part of the Java PathFinder software (JPF), an explicit state model checker under development at the NASA Ames Research Center.

Module generation for self-testing integrated systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanriessen, Ronald Pieter

Hardware used for self test in VLSI (Very Large Scale Integrated) systems is reviewed, and an architecture to control the test hardware in an integrated system is presented. Because of the increase of test times, the use of self test techniques has become practically and economically viable for VLSI systems. Beside the reduction in test times and costs, self test also provides testing at operational speeds. Therefore, a suitable combination of scan path and macrospecific (self) tests is required to reduce test times and costs. An expert system that can be used in a silicon compilation environment is presented. The approach requires a minimum of testability knowledge from a system designer. A user friendly interface was described for specifying and modifying testability requirements by a testability expert. A reason directed backtracking mechanism is used to solve selection failures. Both the hierarchical testable architecture and the design for testability expert system are used in a self test compiler. The definition of a self test compiler was given. A self test compiler is a software tool that selects an appropriate test method for every macro in a design. The hardware to control a macro test will be included in the design automatically. As an example, the integration of the self-test compiler in a silicon compilation system PIRAMID was described. The design of a demonstrator circuit by self test compiler is described. This circuit consists of two self testable macros. Control of the self test hardware is carried out via the test access port of the boundary scan standard.

Optical programmable Boolean logic unit.

PubMed

Chattopadhyay, Tanay

2011-11-10

Logic units are the building blocks of many important computational operations likes arithmetic, multiplexer-demultiplexer, radix conversion, parity checker cum generator, etc. Multifunctional logic operation is very much essential in this respect. Here a programmable Boolean logic unit is proposed that can perform 16 Boolean logical operations from a single optical input according to the programming input without changing the circuit design. This circuit has two outputs. One output is complementary to the other. Hence no loss of data can occur. The circuit is basically designed by a 2×2 polarization independent optical cross bar switch. Performance of the proposed circuit has been achieved by doing numerical simulations. The binary logical states (0,1) are represented by the absence of light (null) and presence of light, respectively.

Sandia Advanced MEMS Design Tools v. 3.0

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

Yarberry, Victor R.; Allen, James J.; Lantz, Jeffrey W.

This is a major revision to the Sandia Advanced MEMS Design Tools. It replaces all previous versions. New features in this version: Revised to support AutoCAD 2014 and 2015 This CD contains an integrated set of electronic files that: a) Describe the SUMMiT V fabrication process b) Provide enabling educational information (including pictures, videos, technical information) c) Facilitate the process of designing MEMS with the SUMMiT process (prototype file, Design Rule Checker, Standard Parts Library) d) Facilitate the process of having MEMS fabricated at Sandia National Laboratories e) Facilitate the process of having post-fabrication services performed. While there exists somemore » files on the CD that are used in conjunction with software package AutoCAD, these files are not intended for use independent of the CD. Note that the customer must purchase his/her own copy of AutoCAD to use with these files.« less

[Reflex epilepsy evoked by decision making: report of a case (author's transl)].

PubMed

Mutani, R; Ganga, A; Agnetti, V

1980-01-01

A 17-year-old girl with a story of Gran Mal attacks occurring during lessons of mathematics or solving mathematical problems, was investigated with prolonged EEG recordings. During the sessions, relax periods were alternated with arithmetical or mathematical testing, with card or checkers games and solution of puzzles and crossword problems, and with different neuropsychological tests. EGG recordings were characterized by the appearance, on a normal background, of bilaterally synchronous and symmetrical spike-and-wave and polispike-and-wave discharges, associated with loss of consciousness. During relax their mean frequency was one/54 min., it doubled during execution of tests involved with nonsequential decision making, and was eight times as high (one/7 min.) during tests involving sequential decision making. Some tension, challenge and complexity of the performance were also important as precipitating factors. Their lack deprived sequential tests of their efficacy, while on the contrary their presence sometimes gave nonsequential tests full efficacy.

Towards a Certified Lightweight Array Bound Checker for Java Bytecode

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pichardie, David

2009-01-01

Dynamic array bound checks are crucial elements for the security of a Java Virtual Machines. These dynamic checks are however expensive and several static analysis techniques have been proposed to eliminate explicit bounds checks. Such analyses require advanced numerical and symbolic manipulations that 1) penalize bytecode loading or dynamic compilation, 2) complexify the trusted computing base. Following the Foundational Proof Carrying Code methodology, our goal is to provide a lightweight bytecode verifier for eliminating array bound checks that is both efficient and trustable. In this work, we define a generic relational program analysis for an imperative, stackoriented byte code language with procedures, arrays and global variables and instantiate it with a relational abstract domain as polyhedra. The analysis has automatic inference of loop invariants and method pre-/post-conditions, and efficient checking of analysis results by a simple checker. Invariants, which can be large, can be specialized for proving a safety policy using an automatic pruning technique which reduces their size. The result of the analysis can be checked efficiently by annotating the program with parts of the invariant together with certificates of polyhedral inclusions. The resulting checker is sufficiently simple to be entirely certified within the Coq proof assistant for a simple fragment of the Java bytecode language. During the talk, we will also report on our ongoing effort to scale this approach for the full sequential JVM.

Model checking for linear temporal logic: An efficient implementation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sherman, Rivi; Pnueli, Amir

1990-01-01

This report provides evidence to support the claim that model checking for linear temporal logic (LTL) is practically efficient. Two implementations of a linear temporal logic model checker is described. One is based on transforming the model checking problem into a satisfiability problem; the other checks an LTL formula for a finite model by computing the cross-product of the finite state transition graph of the program with a structure containing all possible models for the property. An experiment was done with a set of mutual exclusion algorithms and tested safety and liveness under fairness for these algorithms.

Using Runtime Analysis to Guide Model Checking of Java Programs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Havelund, Klaus; Norvig, Peter (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

This paper describes how two runtime analysis algorithms, an existing data race detection algorithm and a new deadlock detection algorithm, have been implemented to analyze Java programs. Runtime analysis is based on the idea of executing the program once. and observing the generated run to extract various kinds of information. This information can then be used to predict whether other different runs may violate some properties of interest, in addition of course to demonstrate whether the generated run itself violates such properties. These runtime analyses can be performed stand-alone to generate a set of warnings. It is furthermore demonstrated how these warnings can be used to guide a model checker, thereby reducing the search space. The described techniques have been implemented in the b e grown Java model checker called PathFinder.

Diagnostic accuracy of clinical illness for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) diagnosis in beef cattle placed in feedlots: A systematic literature review and hierarchical Bayesian latent-class meta-analysis.

PubMed

Timsit, E; Dendukuri, N; Schiller, I; Buczinski, S

2016-12-01

Diagnosis of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in beef cattle placed in feedlots is typically based on clinical illness (CI) detected by pen-checkers. Unfortunately, the accuracy of this diagnostic approach (namely, sensitivity [Se] and specificity [Sp]) remains poorly understood, in part due to the absence of a reference test for ante-mortem diagnosis of BRD. Our objective was to pool available estimates of CI's diagnostic accuracy for BRD diagnosis in feedlot beef cattle while adjusting for the inaccuracy in the reference test. The presence of lung lesions (LU) at slaughter was used as the reference test. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify research articles comparing CI detected by pen-checkers during the feeding period to LU at slaughter. A hierarchical Bayesian latent-class meta-analysis was used to model test accuracy. This approach accounted for imperfections of both tests as well as the within and between study variability in the accuracy of CI. Furthermore, it also predicted the Se CI and Sp CI for future studies. Conditional independence between CI and LU was assumed, as these two tests are not based on similar biological principles. Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. Estimated pooled Se CI and Sp CI were 0.27 (95% Bayesian credible interval: 0.12-0.65) and 0.92 (0.72-0.98), respectively, whereas estimated pooled Se LU and Sp LU were 0.91 (0.82-0.99) and 0.67 (0.64-0.79). Predicted Se CI and Sp CI for future studies were 0.27 (0.01-0.96) and 0.92 (0.14-1.00), respectively. The wide credible intervals around predicted Se CI and Sp CI estimates indicated considerable heterogeneity among studies, which suggests that pooled Se CI and Sp CI are not generalizable to individual studies. In conclusion, CI appeared to have poor Se but high Sp for BRD diagnosis in feedlots. Furthermore, considerable heterogeneity among studies highlighted an urgent need to standardize BRD diagnosis in feedlots. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Design and analysis of DNA strand displacement devices using probabilistic model checking

PubMed Central

Lakin, Matthew R.; Parker, David; Cardelli, Luca; Kwiatkowska, Marta; Phillips, Andrew

2012-01-01

Designing correct, robust DNA devices is difficult because of the many possibilities for unwanted interference between molecules in the system. DNA strand displacement has been proposed as a design paradigm for DNA devices, and the DNA strand displacement (DSD) programming language has been developed as a means of formally programming and analysing these devices to check for unwanted interference. We demonstrate, for the first time, the use of probabilistic verification techniques to analyse the correctness, reliability and performance of DNA devices during the design phase. We use the probabilistic model checker prism, in combination with the DSD language, to design and debug DNA strand displacement components and to investigate their kinetics. We show how our techniques can be used to identify design flaws and to evaluate the merits of contrasting design decisions, even on devices comprising relatively few inputs. We then demonstrate the use of these components to construct a DNA strand displacement device for approximate majority voting. Finally, we discuss some of the challenges and possible directions for applying these methods to more complex designs. PMID:22219398

Genital Problems in Men

MedlinePlus

... Toddlers Kids and Teens Pregnancy and Childbirth Women Men Seniors Your Health Resources Healthcare Management End-of- ... chart for more information about genital problems in men. Our trusted Symptom Checker is written and reviewed ...

Model Checker for Java Programs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Visser, Willem

2007-01-01

Java Pathfinder (JPF) is a verification and testing environment for Java that integrates model checking, program analysis, and testing. JPF consists of a custom-made Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that interprets bytecode, combined with a search interface to allow the complete behavior of a Java program to be analyzed, including interleavings of concurrent programs. JPF is implemented in Java, and its architecture is highly modular to support rapid prototyping of new features. JPF is an explicit-state model checker, because it enumerates all visited states and, therefore, suffers from the state-explosion problem inherent in analyzing large programs. It is suited to analyzing programs less than 10kLOC, but has been successfully applied to finding errors in concurrent programs up to 100kLOC. When an error is found, a trace from the initial state to the error is produced to guide the debugging. JPF works at the bytecode level, meaning that all of Java can be model-checked. By default, the software checks for all runtime errors (uncaught exceptions), assertions violations (supports Java s assert), and deadlocks. JPF uses garbage collection and symmetry reductions of the heap during model checking to reduce state-explosion, as well as dynamic partial order reductions to lower the number of interleavings analyzed. JPF is capable of symbolic execution of Java programs, including symbolic execution of complex data such as linked lists and trees. JPF is extensible as it allows for the creation of listeners that can subscribe to events during searches. The creation of dedicated code to be executed in place of regular classes is supported and allows users to easily handle native calls and to improve the efficiency of the analysis.

Neck Swelling (Symptom Checker)

MedlinePlus

... Long-term Abdominal Pain (Stomach Pain), Short-term Ankle Problems Breast Problems in Men Breast Problems in Women Chest Pain in Infants and Children Chest Pain, Acute Chest Pain, Chronic Cold and Flu Cough Diarrhea ...

Testing Linear Temporal Logic Formulae on Finite Execution Traces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Havelund, Klaus; Rosu, Grigore; Norvig, Peter (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

We present an algorithm for efficiently testing Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) formulae on finite execution traces. The standard models of LTL are infinite traces, reflecting the behavior of reactive and concurrent systems which conceptually may be continuously alive. In most past applications of LTL. theorem provers and model checkers have been used to formally prove that down-scaled models satisfy such LTL specifications. Our goal is instead to use LTL for up-scaled testing of real software applications. Such tests correspond to analyzing the conformance of finite traces against LTL formulae. We first describe what it means for a finite trace to satisfy an LTL property. We then suggest an optimized algorithm based on transforming LTL formulae. The work is done using the Maude rewriting system. which turns out to provide a perfect notation and an efficient rewriting engine for performing these experiments.

Bartholin's Gland Cyst

MedlinePlus

... Exercise at Every AgeTics and Tourette SyndromeRead Article >>Tics and Tourette Syndrome Visit our interactive symptom checker ... age. There is a place for exercise at…Tics and Tourette SyndromeRead Article >>Exercise and FitnessTics and ...

Cervical Dysplasia

MedlinePlus

... Exercise at Every AgeTics and Tourette SyndromeRead Article >>Tics and Tourette Syndrome Visit our interactive symptom checker ... age. There is a place for exercise at…Tics and Tourette SyndromeRead Article >>Exercise and FitnessTics and ...

Kidney Cysts

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... Exercise at Every AgeTics and Tourette SyndromeRead Article >>Tics and Tourette Syndrome Visit our interactive symptom checker ... age. There is a place for exercise at…Tics and Tourette SyndromeRead Article >>Exercise and FitnessTics and ...

Eye Problems: Symptom Checker Flowchart

MedlinePlus

... Long-term Abdominal Pain (Stomach Pain), Short-term Ankle Problems Breast Problems in Men Breast Problems in Women Chest Pain in Infants and Children Chest Pain, Acute Chest Pain, Chronic Cold and Flu Cough Diarrhea ...

Shoulder Problems: Symptom Checker Flowchart

MedlinePlus

... Long-term Abdominal Pain (Stomach Pain), Short-term Ankle Problems Breast Problems in Men Breast Problems in Women Chest Pain in Infants and Children Chest Pain, Acute Chest Pain, Chronic Cold and Flu Cough Diarrhea ...

What Can Union Do with Its Towering, 16-Sided Victorian Masterpiece?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Biemiller, Lawrence

1987-01-01

Union College's Victorian-style Nott Memorial has mysterious and intriguing architectural features, a checkered history, and serious problems of neglect and underutilization. The college must resolve its future soon. (MSE)

Addressing Dynamic Issues of Program Model Checking

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lerda, Flavio; Visser, Willem

2001-01-01

Model checking real programs has recently become an active research area. Programs however exhibit two characteristics that make model checking difficult: the complexity of their state and the dynamic nature of many programs. Here we address both these issues within the context of the Java PathFinder (JPF) model checker. Firstly, we will show how the state of a Java program can be encoded efficiently and how this encoding can be exploited to improve model checking. Next we show how to use symmetry reductions to alleviate some of the problems introduced by the dynamic nature of Java programs. Lastly, we show how distributed model checking of a dynamic program can be achieved, and furthermore, how dynamic partitions of the state space can improve model checking. We support all our findings with results from applying these techniques within the JPF model checker.

Puff and bite: the relationship between the glucocorticoid stress response and anti-predator performance in checkered puffer (Sphoeroides testudineus).

PubMed

Cull, Felicia; O'Connor, Constance M; Suski, Cory D; Shultz, Aaron D; Danylchuk, Andy J; Cooke, Steven J

2015-04-01

Individual variation in the endocrine stress response has been linked to survival and performance in a variety of species. Here, we evaluate the relationship between the endocrine stress response and anti-predator behaviors in wild checkered puffers (Sphoeroides testudineus) captured at Eleuthera Island, Bahamas. The checkered puffer has a unique and easily measurable predator avoidance strategy, which is to inflate or 'puff' to deter potential predators. In this study, we measured baseline and stress-induced circulating glucocorticoid levels, as well as bite force, a performance measure that is relevant to both feeding and predator defence, and 'puff' performance. We found that puff performance and bite force were consistent within individuals, but generally decreased following a standardized stressor. Larger puffers were able to generate a higher bite force, and larger puffers were able to maintain a more robust puff performance following a standardized stressor relative to smaller puffers. In terms of the relationship between the glucocorticoid stress response and performance metrics, we found no relationship between post-stress glucocorticoid levels and either puff performance or bite force. However, we did find that baseline glucocorticoid levels predicted the ability of a puffer to maintain a robust puff response following a repeated stressor, and this relationship was more pronounced in larger individuals. Our work provides a novel example of how baseline glucocorticoids can predict a fitness-related anti-predator behavior. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Precise and Efficient Static Array Bound Checking for Large Embedded C Programs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Venet, Arnaud

2004-01-01

In this paper we describe the design and implementation of a static array-bound checker for a family of embedded programs: the flight control software of recent Mars missions. These codes are large (up to 250 KLOC), pointer intensive, heavily multithreaded and written in an object-oriented style, which makes their analysis very challenging. We designed a tool called C Global Surveyor (CGS) that can analyze the largest code in a couple of hours with a precision of 80%. The scalability and precision of the analyzer are achieved by using an incremental framework in which a pointer analysis and a numerical analysis of array indices mutually refine each other. CGS has been designed so that it can distribute the analysis over several processors in a cluster of machines. To the best of our knowledge this is the first distributed implementation of static analysis algorithms. Throughout the paper we will discuss the scalability setbacks that we encountered during the construction of the tool and their impact on the initial design decisions.

A Prototype Embedding of Bluespec System Verilog in the PVS Theorem Prover

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richards, Dominic; Lester, David

2010-01-01

Bluespec SystemVerilog (BSV) is a Hardware Description Language based on the guarded action model of concurrency. It has an elegant semantics, which makes it well suited for formal reasoning. To date, a number of BSV designs have been verified with hand proofs, but little work has been conducted on the application of automated reasoning. We present a prototype shallow embedding of BSV in the PVS theorem prover. Our embedding is compatible with the PVS model checker, which can automatically prove an important class of theorems, and can also be used in conjunction with the powerful proof strategies of PVS to verify a broader class of properties than can be achieved with model checking alone.

UTP and Temporal Logic Model Checking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, Hugh; Ciobanu, Gabriel; Freitas, Leo

In this paper we give an additional perspective to the formal verification of programs through temporal logic model checking, which uses Hoare and He Unifying Theories of Programming (UTP). Our perspective emphasizes the use of UTP designs, an alphabetised relational calculus expressed as a pre/post condition pair of relations, to verify state or temporal assertions about programs. The temporal model checking relation is derived from a satisfaction relation between the model and its properties. The contribution of this paper is that it shows a UTP perspective to temporal logic model checking. The approach includes the notion of efficiency found in traditional model checkers, which reduced a state explosion problem through the use of efficient data structures

Start-up and Self-sustain Test of 500 W Ultra-Micro Gas Turbine Generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seo, Jeong Min; Park, Jun Young; Seog Choi, Bum

2013-12-01

This paper provides the performance test for start-up and self-sustaining of 500W ultra-micro gas turbine (UMGT) generator. Each component of UMGT, a centrifugal compressor, a radial turbine, an annular combustor and a shaft is already designed, manufactured and tested to meet design requirements in previous researches. However, they are not tested to work in an integrate system. Currently, integrated test unit with a compressor, a combustor and a turbine, is developed to find the proper condition of start-up and self-sustain. Ignition sequence depending on rotating speed is designed. Performance test for start-up and self-sustain is designed based on the ignition possible condition. An air impingement starter and a hot bulb inginer are applied. LPG is used as main fuel.

Meniere's Disease

MedlinePlus

... Every AgeDiabetesRead Article >>DiabetesTics and Tourette SyndromeRead Article >>Tics and Tourette Syndrome Visit our interactive symptom checker ... t make or use the hormone insulin properly.Tics and Tourette SyndromeRead Article >>Family HealthTics and Tourette ...

Sexual Dysfunction in Women

MedlinePlus

... Exercise at Every AgeTics and Tourette SyndromeRead Article >>Tics and Tourette Syndrome Visit our interactive symptom checker ... age. There is a place for exercise at…Tics and Tourette SyndromeRead Article >>Exercise and FitnessTics and ...

Bladder Stones

MedlinePlus

... Every AgeDiabetesRead Article >>DiabetesTics and Tourette SyndromeRead Article >>Tics and Tourette Syndrome Visit our interactive symptom checker ... t make or use the hormone insulin properly.Tics and Tourette SyndromeRead Article >>Family HealthTics and Tourette ...

Six-man, self-contained carbon dioxide concentrator subsystem for Space Station Prototype (SSP) application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kostell, G. D.; Schubert, F. H.; Shumar, J. W.; Hallick, T. M.; Jensen, F. C.

1974-01-01

A six man, self contained, electrochemical carbon dioxide concentrating subsystem for space station prototype use was successfully designed, fabricated, and tested. A test program was successfully completed which covered shakedown testing, design verification testing, and acceptance testing.

Our Commitment to Reliable Health and Medical Information

MedlinePlus

... 000 visitors world-wide per day. HONcode Toolbar: search engine and checker of the certification status Automatically checks ... HONcode status when browsing health web sites. The search engine indexes only HONcode-certified sites. HONcodeHunt currently includes ...

Grinding patterns in migraine patients with sleep bruxism: a case-controlled study.

PubMed

Kato, Momoko; Saruta, Juri; Takeuchi, Mifumi; Sugimoto, Masahiro; Kamata, Yohei; Shimizu, Tomoko; To, Masahiro; Fuchida, Shinya; Igarashi, Hisaka; Kawata, Toshitsugu; Tsukinoki, Keiichi

2016-11-01

Details on grinding patterns and types of contact during sleep bruxism in association with migraine headache have not yet been elucidated. This study compared the characteristics of sleep bruxism between patients with migraine and controls. The study included 80 female patients who had been diagnosed with migraine and 52 women with no history of migraine. Grinding patterns were measured using the BruxChecker® (Scheu Dental, Iserlohn, Germany). There was a significant difference between the two groups in the distribution of grinding patterns at the laterotrusive side (p < 0.001). When the anterior teeth and premolar and molar regions in the two groups were compared, the proportion of the grinding area at all sites was significantly larger in the migraine group than in the control group (p < 0.001). The BruxChecker® showed that there was substantial grinding over a large area among migraine patients, particularly in the molar region.

Model Checking JAVA Programs Using Java Pathfinder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Havelund, Klaus; Pressburger, Thomas

2000-01-01

This paper describes a translator called JAVA PATHFINDER from JAVA to PROMELA, the "programming language" of the SPIN model checker. The purpose is to establish a framework for verification and debugging of JAVA programs based on model checking. This work should be seen in a broader attempt to make formal methods applicable "in the loop" of programming within NASA's areas such as space, aviation, and robotics. Our main goal is to create automated formal methods such that programmers themselves can apply these in their daily work (in the loop) without the need for specialists to manually reformulate a program into a different notation in order to analyze the program. This work is a continuation of an effort to formally verify, using SPIN, a multi-threaded operating system programmed in Lisp for the Deep-Space 1 spacecraft, and of previous work in applying existing model checkers and theorem provers to real applications.

Method and apparatus for checking fire detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clawson, G. T. (Inventor)

1974-01-01

A fire detector checking method and device are disclosed for nondestructively verifying the operation of installed fire detectors of the type which operate on the principle of detecting the rate of temperature rise of the ambient air to sound an alarm and/or which sound an alarm when the temperature of the ambient air reaches a preset level. The fire alarm checker uses the principle of effecting a controlled simulated alarm condition to ascertain wheather or not the detector will respond. The checker comprises a hand-held instrument employing a controlled heat source, e.g., an electric lamp having a variable input, for heating at a controlled rate an enclosed mass of air in a first compartment, which air mass is then disposed about the fire detector to be checked. A second compartment of the device houses an electronic circuit to sense and adjust the temperature level and heating rate of the heat source.

Formal Methods Tool Qualification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wagner, Lucas G.; Cofer, Darren; Slind, Konrad; Tinelli, Cesare; Mebsout, Alain

2017-01-01

Formal methods tools have been shown to be effective at finding defects in safety-critical digital systems including avionics systems. The publication of DO-178C and the accompanying formal methods supplement DO-333 allows applicants to obtain certification credit for the use of formal methods without providing justification for them as an alternative method. This project conducted an extensive study of existing formal methods tools, identifying obstacles to their qualification and proposing mitigations for those obstacles. Further, it interprets the qualification guidance for existing formal methods tools and provides case study examples for open source tools. This project also investigates the feasibility of verifying formal methods tools by generating proof certificates which capture proof of the formal methods tool's claim, which can be checked by an independent, proof certificate checking tool. Finally, the project investigates the feasibility of qualifying this proof certificate checker, in the DO-330 framework, in lieu of qualifying the model checker itself.

Software Certification for Temporal Properties With Affordable Tool Qualification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Xia, Songtao; DiVito, Benedetto L.

2005-01-01

It has been recognized that a framework based on proof-carrying code (also called semantic-based software certification in its community) could be used as a candidate software certification process for the avionics industry. To meet this goal, tools in the "trust base" of a proof-carrying code system must be qualified by regulatory authorities. A family of semantic-based software certification approaches is described, each different in expressive power, level of automation and trust base. Of particular interest is the so-called abstraction-carrying code, which can certify temporal properties. When a pure abstraction-carrying code method is used in the context of industrial software certification, the fact that the trust base includes a model checker would incur a high qualification cost. This position paper proposes a hybrid of abstraction-based and proof-based certification methods so that the model checker used by a client can be significantly simplified, thereby leading to lower cost in tool qualification.

A Web-Based Self-Testing System with Some Features of Web 2.0: Design and Primary Implementation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Xiaolei; Liu, Haitao; Bao, Zhen; Ju, Bo; Wang, Zhenghong

2010-01-01

Self-testing is a means to check learning effect. Besides time-space restriction, there are many deficiencies in traditional offline self-testing. With the development of information technology, learners can have self-testing on the Internet. Self-testing on Internet, namely, web-based self-testing, overcomes time-space limitation of traditional…

Leak checker data logging system

DOEpatents

Gannon, J.C.; Payne, J.J.

1996-09-03

A portable, high speed, computer-based data logging system for field testing systems or components located some distance apart employs a plurality of spaced mass spectrometers and is particularly adapted for monitoring the vacuum integrity of a long string of a superconducting magnets such as used in high energy particle accelerators. The system provides precise tracking of a gas such as helium through the magnet string when the helium is released into the vacuum by monitoring the spaced mass spectrometers allowing for control, display and storage of various parameters involved with leak detection and localization. A system user can observe the flow of helium through the magnet string on a real-time basis hour the exact moment of opening of the helium input valve. Graph reading can be normalized to compensate for magnet sections that deplete vacuum faster than other sections between testing to permit repetitive testing of vacuum integrity in reduced time. 18 figs.

Leak checker data logging system

DOEpatents

Gannon, Jeffrey C.; Payne, John J.

1996-01-01

A portable, high speed, computer-based data logging system for field testing systems or components located some distance apart employs a plurality of spaced mass spectrometers and is particularly adapted for monitoring the vacuum integrity of a long string of a superconducting magnets such as used in high energy particle accelerators. The system provides precise tracking of a gas such as helium through the magnet string when the helium is released into the vacuum by monitoring the spaced mass spectrometers allowing for control, display and storage of various parameters involved with leak detection and localization. A system user can observe the flow of helium through the magnet string on a real-time basis hour the exact moment of opening of the helium input valve. Graph reading can be normalized to compensate for magnet sections that deplete vacuum faster than other sections between testing to permit repetitive testing of vacuum integrity in reduced time.

Potential Drug-Drug Interactions among Patients prescriptions collected from Medicine Out-patient Setting.

PubMed

Farooqui, Riffat; Hoor, Talea; Karim, Nasim; Muneer, Mehtab

2018-01-01

To identify and evaluate the frequency, severity, mechanism and common pairs of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in prescriptions by consultants in medicine outpatient department. This cross sectional descriptive study was done by Pharmacology department of Bahria University Medical & Dental College (BUMDC) in medicine outpatient department (OPD) of a private hospital in Karachi from December 2015 to January 2016. A total of 220 prescriptions written by consultants were collected. Medications given with patient's diagnosis were recorded. Drugs were analyzed for interactions by utilizing Medscape drug interaction checker, drugs.com checker and stockley`s drug interactions index. Two hundred eleven prescriptions were selected while remaining were excluded from the study because of unavailability of the prescribed drugs in the drug interaction checkers. In 211 prescriptions, two common diagnoses were diabetes mellitus (28.43%) and hypertension (27.96%). A total of 978 medications were given. Mean number of medications per prescription was 4.6. A total of 369 drug-drug interactions were identified in 211 prescriptions (175%). They were serious 4.33%, significant 66.12% and minor 29.53%. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions were 37.94% and 51.21% respectively while 10.84% had unknown mechanism. Number wise common pairs of DDIs were Omeprazole-Losartan (S), Gabapentine- Acetaminophen (M), Losartan-Diclofenac (S). The frequency of DDIs is found to be too high in prescriptions of consultants from medicine OPD of a private hospital in Karachi. Significant drug-drug interactions were more and mostly caused by Pharmacodynamic mechanism. Number wise evaluation showed three common pairs of drugs involved in interactions.

Land-based crop phenotyping by image analysis: consistent canopy characterization from inconsistent field illumination.

PubMed

Chopin, Joshua; Kumar, Pankaj; Miklavcic, Stanley J

2018-01-01

One of the main challenges associated with image-based field phenotyping is the variability of illumination. During a single day's imaging session, or between different sessions on different days, the sun moves in and out of cloud cover and has varying intensity. How is one to know from consecutive images alone if a plant has become darker over time, or if the weather conditions have simply changed from clear to overcast? This is a significant problem to address as colour is an important phenotypic trait that can be measured automatically from images. In this work we use an industry standard colour checker to balance the colour in images within and across every day of a field trial conducted over four months in 2016. By ensuring that the colour checker is present in every image we are afforded a 'ground truth' to correct for varying illumination conditions across images. We employ a least squares approach to fit a quadratic model for correcting RGB values of an image in such a way that the observed values of the colour checker tiles align with their true values after the transformation. The proposed method is successful in reducing the error between observed and reference colour chart values in all images. Furthermore, the standard deviation of mean canopy colour across multiple days is reduced significantly after colour correction is applied. Finally, we use a number of examples to demonstrate the usefulness of accurate colour measurements in recording phenotypic traits and analysing variation among varieties and treatments.

Potential Drug-Drug Interactions among Patients prescriptions collected from Medicine Out-patient Setting

PubMed Central

Farooqui, Riffat; Hoor, Talea; Karim, Nasim; Muneer, Mehtab

2018-01-01

Objective: To identify and evaluate the frequency, severity, mechanism and common pairs of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in prescriptions by consultants in medicine outpatient department. Methods: This cross sectional descriptive study was done by Pharmacology department of Bahria University Medical & Dental College (BUMDC) in medicine outpatient department (OPD) of a private hospital in Karachi from December 2015 to January 2016. A total of 220 prescriptions written by consultants were collected. Medications given with patient's diagnosis were recorded. Drugs were analyzed for interactions by utilizing Medscape drug interaction checker, drugs.com checker and stockley`s drug interactions index. Two hundred eleven prescriptions were selected while remaining were excluded from the study because of unavailability of the prescribed drugs in the drug interaction checkers. Results: In 211 prescriptions, two common diagnoses were diabetes mellitus (28.43%) and hypertension (27.96%). A total of 978 medications were given. Mean number of medications per prescription was 4.6. A total of 369 drug-drug interactions were identified in 211 prescriptions (175%). They were serious 4.33%, significant 66.12% and minor 29.53%. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions were 37.94% and 51.21% respectively while 10.84% had unknown mechanism. Number wise common pairs of DDIs were Omeprazole-Losartan (S), Gabapentine- Acetaminophen (M), Losartan-Diclofenac (S). Conclusion: The frequency of DDIs is found to be too high in prescriptions of consultants from medicine OPD of a private hospital in Karachi. Significant drug-drug interactions were more and mostly caused by Pharmacodynamic mechanism. Number wise evaluation showed three common pairs of drugs involved in interactions. PMID:29643896

Self-acting seals for helicopter engines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lynwander, P.

1975-01-01

An experimental evaluation was conducted with NASA-designed self-acting face and circumferential seals for use in the main shaft positions of advanced gas turbine engines. The seals featured Rayleigh step pads (self-acting geometry) for lift augmentation. The tested seals incorporated design improvements over previous self-acting configurations. Self-acting face seals were tested to speeds of 214 m/s (700 ft/sec, 63700 rpm), air pressures of 216.8 N/sq cm abs (314.7 psia), and air temperatures of 688K (778 F). Self-acting circumferential seals were tested to speeds of 183 m/s (600 ft/sec, 47700 rpm), air pressures of 61.8 N/sq cm abs (89.7 psia), and air temperatures of 711 K (820 F). Self-acting face-seals are capable of operating at conditions exceeding conventional seal capability. The limit on speed capability was found to be the flatness of the seal-seat. The self-acting circumferential seal design tested requires further development for use in advanced engines.

Pinus ponderosa : A checkered past obscured four species

Treesearch

Ann Willyard; David S. Gernandt; Kevin Potter; Valerie Hipkins; Paula E. Marquardt; Mary Frances Mahalovich; Stephen K. Langer; Frank W. Telewski; Blake Cooper; Connor Douglas; Kristen Finch; Hassani H. Karemera; Julia Lefler; Payton Lea; Austin Wofford

2016-01-01

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Molecular genetic evidence can help delineate taxa in species complexes that lack diagnostic morphological characters. Pinus ponderosa (Pinaceae; subsection Ponderosae ) is recognized as a problematic taxon: plastid phylogenies of exemplars were paraphyletic, and mitochondrial phylogeography suggested at...

Visualization tool for human-machine interface designers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prevost, Michael P.; Banda, Carolyn P.

1991-06-01

As modern human-machine systems continue to grow in capabilities and complexity, system operators are faced with integrating and managing increased quantities of information. Since many information components are highly related to each other, optimizing the spatial and temporal aspects of presenting information to the operator has become a formidable task for the human-machine interface (HMI) designer. The authors describe a tool in an early stage of development, the Information Source Layout Editor (ISLE). This tool is to be used for information presentation design and analysis; it uses human factors guidelines to assist the HMI designer in the spatial layout of the information required by machine operators to perform their tasks effectively. These human factors guidelines address such areas as the functional and physical relatedness of information sources. By representing these relationships with metaphors such as spring tension, attractors, and repellers, the tool can help designers visualize the complex constraint space and interacting effects of moving displays to various alternate locations. The tool contains techniques for visualizing the relative 'goodness' of a configuration, as well as mechanisms such as optimization vectors to provide guidance toward a more optimal design. Also available is a rule-based design checker to determine compliance with selected human factors guidelines.

Games and machine learning: a powerful combination in an artificial intelligence course

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wallace, Scott A.; McCartney, Robert; Russell, Ingrid

2010-03-01

Project MLeXAI (Machine Learning eXperiences in Artificial Intelligence (AI)) seeks to build a set of reusable course curriculum and hands on laboratory projects for the artificial intelligence classroom. In this article, we describe two game-based projects from the second phase of project MLeXAI: Robot Defense - a simple real-time strategy game and Checkers - a classic turn-based board game. From the instructors' prospective, we examine aspects of design and implementation as well as the challenges and rewards of using the curricula. We explore students' responses to the projects via the results of a common survey. Finally, we compare the student perceptions from the game-based projects to non-game based projects from the first phase of Project MLeXAI.

Improvement of an enzyme immunosorbent assay for detecting antibodies against Dioctophyma renale.

PubMed

Pedrassani, Daniela; do Nascimento, Adjair Antonio; André, Marcos Rogério; Machado, Rosangela Zacarias

2015-09-15

An available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was studied for the detection of anti-Dioctophyma renale antibodies in the sera of dogs using, detection of parasite eggs in urine sediment as a reference test. ELISA uses a soluble antigenic preparation of esophagus of D. renale and the optimal dilutions of the antigen, serum and conjugate were determined by means of checker board titration, using positive (n=13) and negative (n=27) reference serum. The specificity and sensitivity of the ELISA were 93.8% and 92.3% respectively and the kappa index was good (0.76). These results suggest that ELISA described may prove to be an effective serological test for detecting dogs infected and exposed to this parasite mainly dogs that are not eliminating parasite eggs through their urine. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pinus ponderosa: A checkered past obscured four species.

PubMed

Willyard, Ann; Gernandt, David S; Potter, Kevin; Hipkins, Valerie; Marquardt, Paula; Mahalovich, Mary Frances; Langer, Stephen K; Telewski, Frank W; Cooper, Blake; Douglas, Connor; Finch, Kristen; Karemera, Hassani H; Lefler, Julia; Lea, Payton; Wofford, Austin

2017-01-01

Molecular genetic evidence can help delineate taxa in species complexes that lack diagnostic morphological characters. Pinus ponderosa (Pinaceae; subsection Ponderosae) is recognized as a problematic taxon: plastid phylogenies of exemplars were paraphyletic, and mitochondrial phylogeography suggested at least four subdivisions of P. ponderosa. These patterns have not been examined in the context of other Ponderosae species. We hypothesized that putative intraspecific subdivisions might each represent a separate taxon. We genotyped six highly variable plastid simple sequence repeats in 1903 individuals from 88 populations of P. ponderosa and related Ponderosae (P. arizonica, P. engelmannii, and P. jeffreyi). We used multilocus haplotype networks and discriminant analysis of principal components to test clustering of individuals into genetically and geographically meaningful taxonomic units. There are at least four distinct plastid clusters within P. ponderosa that roughly correspond to the geographic distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes. Some geographic regions have intermixed plastid lineages, and some mitochondrial and plastid boundaries do not coincide. Based on relative distances to other species of Ponderosae, these clusters diagnose four distinct taxa. Newly revealed geographic boundaries of four distinct taxa (P. benthamiana, P. brachyptera, P. scopulorum, and a narrowed concept of P. ponderosa) do not correspond completely with taxonomies. Further research is needed to understand their morphological and nuclear genetic makeup, but we suggest that resurrecting originally published species names would more appropriately reflect the taxonomy of this checkered classification than their current treatment as varieties of P. ponderosa. © 2017 Willyard et al. Published by the Botanical Society of America. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons public domain license (CC0 1.0).

Playing checkers: detection and eye hand coordination in simulated prosthetic vision

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dagnelie, Gislin; Walter, Matthias; Yang, Liancheng

2006-09-01

In order to assess the potential for visual inspection and eye hand coordination without tactile feedback under conditions that may be available to future retinal prosthesis wearers, we studied the ability of sighted individuals to act upon pixelized visual information at very low resolution, equivalent to 20/2400 visual acuity. Live images from a head-mounted camera were low-pass filtered and presented in a raster of 6 × 10 circular Gaussian dots. Subjects could either freely move their gaze across the raster (free-viewing condition) or the raster position was locked to the subject's gaze by means of video-based pupil tracking (gaze-locked condition). Four normally sighted and one severely visually impaired subject with moderate nystagmus participated in a series of four experiments. Subjects' task was to count 1 to 16 white fields randomly distributed across an otherwise black checkerboard (counting task) or to place a black checker on each of the white fields (placing task). We found that all subjects were capable of learning both tasks after varying amounts of practice, both in the free-viewing and in the gaze-locked conditions. Normally sighted subjects all reached very similar performance levels independent of the condition. The practiced performance level of the visually impaired subject in the free-viewing condition was indistinguishable from that of the normally sighted subjects, but required approximately twice the amount of time to place checkers in the gaze-locked condition; this difference is most likely attributable to this subject's nystagmus. Thus, if early retinal prosthesis wearers can achieve crude form vision, then on the basis of these results they too should be able to perform simple eye hand coordination tasks without tactile feedback.

Alcohol and Tobacco Sales to Underage Buyers in Dutch Supermarkets: Can the Use of Age Verification Systems Increase Seller's Compliance?

PubMed

Roodbeen, Ruud T J; Schelleman-Offermans, Karen; Lemmens, Paul H H M

2016-06-01

Age limits are effective in reducing alcohol- and tobacco-related harm, however, their effectiveness depends on the extent to which they are complied with. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of different age verification systems (AVSs) implemented by 400 Dutch supermarkets on requesting a valid age verification (ID) and on sellers' compliance. A mixed method design was used. Compliance was measured by 800 alcohol and tobacco purchase attempts by 17-year-old mystery shoppers. To analyze the effectiveness of AVSs, logistic regression analyses were performed. Insight into facilitating and hindering factors in the purchase process was obtained by 13 interviews with supermarket managers. Only a tendency toward a positive effect of the presence of the keying-on-date-of-birth AVS or ID swiper/checker was found on ID request for both alcohol and tobacco purchase attempts. The use of the keying-on-date-of-birth AVS or ID swiper/checker significantly increased the odds for compliance after an ID was requested, for both alcohol and tobacco purchase attempts. Managers indicated that ID requests and compliance could be facilitated by providing cashiers with sufficient managerial support, technical support, and regular training about the purchase process and use of the AVS. The usage of AVSs calculating and confirming whether the customer reached the legal purchase age for cashiers significantly increases the odds for cashiers to comply with age limits of alcohol and tobacco. Future research should gain insight into how usage of effective AVSs can be improved and explore the feasibility of implementation and effectiveness in other outlets. Copyright © 2016 The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

SU-F-T-552: A One-Year Evaluation of the QABeamChecker+ for Use with the CyberKnife System

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

Gersh, J; Spectrum Medical Physics, LLC, Greenville, SC

Purpose: By attaching an adapter plate with fiducial markers to the QA BeamChecker+ (Standard Imaging, Inc., Middleton, WI), the output of the CyberKnife can be accurately, efficiently, and consistently evaluated. The adapter plate, known as the Cutting Board, allows for automated alignment of the QABC+ using the CK’s stereoscopic kV image-based treatment localization system (TLS). Described herein is an evaluation of the system following a year of clinical utilization. Methods: Based on a CT scan of the QABC+ and CB, a treatment plan is generated which delivers a beam to each of the 5 plane-parallel ionization chambers. Following absolute calibrationmore » of the CK, the QA plan is delivered, and baseline measurements are acquired (and automatically corrected for temperature and pressure). This test was performed at the beginning of each treatment day for a year. A calibration evaluation (using a water-equivalent slab and short thimble chamber) is performed every four weeks, or whenever the QABC+ detects a deviation of more than 1.0%. Results: During baseline evaluation, repeat measurements (n=10) were performed, with an average output of 0.25% with an SD of 0.11%. As a test of the reposition of the QABC+ and CB, ten additional measurements were performed where between each acquisition, the entire system was removed and re-positioned using the TLS. The average output deviation was 0.30% with a SD of 0.13%. During the course of the year, 187 QABC+ measurements and 13 slab-based measurements were performed. The output measurements of the QABC+ correlated well with slab-based measurements (R2=0.909). Conclusion: By using the QABC+ and CB, daily output was evaluated accurately, efficiently, and consistently. From setup to break-down (including analysis), this test required 5 minutes instead of approximately 15 using traditional techniques (collimator-mounted ionization chambers). Additionally, by automatically saving resultant output deviation to a database, trend analysis was simplified. Spectrum Medical Physics, LLC of Greenville, SC has a consulting contract with Standard Imaging of Middleton, WI.« less

Online Self-Tests: A Powerful Tool for Self-Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Killedar, Manoj

2002-01-01

Examines vital design issues pertaining to the "Online Self-Test," a simple solution for dealing with concerns about lack of time and lack of motivation in distance education. Presents experiences gained during the implementation of the Online Self-Test Center for Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik, India, and…

SPIN or LURCH : a Comparative Assessment of Model Checking and Stochastic Search for Temporal Properties in Procedural Code

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powell, John D.; Owens, David; Menzies, Tim

2004-01-01

The difficulty of how to test large systems, such as the one on board a NASA robotic remote explorer (RRE) vehicle, is fundamentally a search issue: the global state space representing all possible has yet to be solved, even after many decades of work. Randomized algorithms have been known to outperform their deterministic counterparts for search problems representing a wide range of applications. In the case study presented here, the LURCH randomized algorithm proved to be adequate to the task of testing a NASA RRE vehicle. LURCH found all the errors found by an earlier analysis of a more complete method (SPIN). Our empirical results are that LURCH can scale to much larger models than standard model checkers like SMV and SPIN. Further, the LURCH analysis was simpler than the SPIN analysis. The simplicity and scalability of LURCH are two compelling reasons for experimenting further with this tool.

Gestational diabetes mellitus: Screening with fasting plasma glucose.

PubMed

Agarwal, Mukesh M

2016-07-25

Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) as a screening test for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has had a checkered history. During the last three decades, a few initial anecdotal reports have given way to the recent well-conducted studies. This review: (1) traces the history; (2) weighs the advantages and disadvantages; (3) addresses the significance in early pregnancy; (4) underscores the benefits after delivery; and (5) emphasizes the cost savings of using the FPG in the screening of GDM. It also highlights the utility of fasting capillary glucose and stresses the value of the FPG in circumventing the cumbersome oral glucose tolerance test. An understanding of all the caveats is crucial to be able to use the FPG for investigating glucose intolerance in pregnancy. Thus, all health professionals can use the patient-friendly FPG to simplify the onerous algorithms available for the screening and diagnosis of GDM - thereby helping each and every pregnant woman.

Model Checking Artificial Intelligence Based Planners: Even the Best Laid Plans Must Be Verified

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Margaret H.; Holzmann, Gerard J.; Cucullu, Gordon C., III; Smith, Benjamin D.

2005-01-01

Automated planning systems (APS) are gaining acceptance for use on NASA missions as evidenced by APS flown On missions such as Orbiter and Deep Space 1 both of which were commanded by onboard planning systems. The planning system takes high level goals and expands them onboard into a detailed of action fiat the spacecraft executes. The system must be verified to ensure that the automatically generated plans achieve the goals as expected and do not generate actions that would harm the spacecraft or mission. These systems are typically tested using empirical methods. Formal methods, such as model checking, offer exhaustive or measurable test coverage which leads to much greater confidence in correctness. This paper describes a formal method based on the SPIN model checker. This method guarantees that possible plans meet certain desirable properties. We express the input model in Promela, the language of SPIN and express the properties of desirable plans formally.

Style and Usage Software: Mentor, not Judge.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smye, Randy

Computer software style and usage checkers can encourage students' recursive revision strategies. For example, HOMER is based on the revision pedagogy presented in Richard Lanham's "Revising Prose," while Grammatik II focuses on readability, passive voice, and possibly misused words or phrases. Writer's Workbench "Style" (a UNIX program) provides…

22 CFR Appendix E to Part 62 - Unskilled Occupations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... Cleaners (10) Chauffeurs and Taxicab Drivers (11) Cleaners, Hotel and Motel (12) Clerks, General (13) Clerks, Hotel (14) Clerks and Checkers, Grocery Stores (15) Clerk Typist (16) Cooks, Short Order (17... Operators (21) Floorworkers (22) Groundskeepers (23) Guards (24) Helpers, any industry (25) Hotel Cleaners...

What Schools Are Doing. A Roundup of New and Unusual School Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nation's Schools, 1972

1972-01-01

Describes a teen-run cafeteria, a program of giving away obsolete texts, a short term investment plan (a programed approach to cash-flow budgeting), an emergency credit'' plan whereby teachers can acquire credit hours outside school, and an automated attendance checker system. (DN)

Student Online Plagiarism: How Do We Respond?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scanlon, Patrick M.

2003-01-01

The perception that Internet plagiarism by university students is on the rise has alarmed college teachers, leading to the adoption of electronic plagiarism checkers, among other responses. Although some recent studies suggest that estimates of online plagiarism may be exaggerated, cause for concern remains. This article reviews quantitative…

Choosing the Right Database Management Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vockell, Edward L.; Kopenec, Donald

1989-01-01

Provides a comparison of four database management programs commonly used in schools: AppleWorks, the DOS 3.3 and ProDOS versions of PFS, and MECC's Data Handler. Topics discussed include information storage, spelling checkers, editing functions, search strategies, graphs, printout formats, library applications, and HyperCard. (LRW)

Java PathFinder User Guide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Havelund, Klaus

1999-01-01

The JAVA PATHFINDER, JPF, is a translator from a subset of JAVA 1.0 to PROMELA, the programming language of the SPIN model checker. The purpose of JPF is to establish a framework for verification and debugging of JAVA programming based on model checking. The main goal is to automate program verification such that a programmer can apply it in the daily work without the need for a specialist to manually reformulate a program into a different notation in order to analyze the program. The system is especially suited for analyzing multi-threaded JAVA applications, where normal testing usually falls short. The system can find deadlocks and violations of boolean assertions stated by the programmer in a special assertion language. This document explains how to Use JPF.

Kate's Model Verification Tools

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morgan, Steve

1991-01-01

Kennedy Space Center's Knowledge-based Autonomous Test Engineer (KATE) is capable of monitoring electromechanical systems, diagnosing their errors, and even repairing them when they crash. A survey of KATE's developer/modelers revealed that they were already using a sophisticated set of productivity enhancing tools. They did request five more, however, and those make up the body of the information presented here: (1) a transfer function code fitter; (2) a FORTRAN-Lisp translator; (3) three existing structural consistency checkers to aid in syntax checking their modeled device frames; (4) an automated procedure for calibrating knowledge base admittances to protect KATE's hardware mockups from inadvertent hand valve twiddling; and (5) three alternatives for the 'pseudo object', a programming patch that currently apprises KATE's modeling devices of their operational environments.

Swarm Verification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holzmann, Gerard J.; Joshi, Rajeev; Groce, Alex

2008-01-01

Reportedly, supercomputer designer Seymour Cray once said that he would sooner use two strong oxen to plow a field than a thousand chickens. Although this is undoubtedly wise when it comes to plowing a field, it is not so clear for other types of tasks. Model checking problems are of the proverbial "search the needle in a haystack" type. Such problems can often be parallelized easily. Alas, none of the usual divide and conquer methods can be used to parallelize the working of a model checker. Given that it has become easier than ever to gain access to large numbers of computers to perform even routine tasks it is becoming more and more attractive to find alternate ways to use these resources to speed up model checking tasks. This paper describes one such method, called swarm verification.

Slicing AADL Specifications for Model Checking

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Odenbrett, Maximilian; Nguyen, Viet Yen; Noll, Thomas

2010-01-01

To combat the state-space explosion problem in model checking larger systems, abstraction techniques can be employed. Here, methods that operate on the system specification before constructing its state space are preferable to those that try to minimize the resulting transition system as they generally reduce peak memory requirements. We sketch a slicing algorithm for system specifications written in (a variant of) the Architecture Analysis and Design Language (AADL). Given a specification and a property to be verified, it automatically removes those parts of the specification that are irrelevant for model checking the property, thus reducing the size of the corresponding transition system. The applicability and effectiveness of our approach is demonstrated by analyzing the state-space reduction for an example, employing a translator from AADL to Promela, the input language of the SPIN model checker.

Game Board Artists.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Szekely, George

2000-01-01

Explores children's fascination with creating their own unique games as an art form. Focuses on different games, such as chess, checkers, pogs, and monopoly. States that observing children playing games offers a firsthand lesson in how children create. Discusses what it means to be an art teacher who promotes creative play with games. (CMK)

Federal Workplace Literacy Project. Internal Evaluation Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matuszak, David J.

This report describes the following components of the Nestle Workplace Literacy Project: six job task analyses, curricula for six workplace basic skills training programs, delivery of courses using these curricula, and evaluation of the process. These six job categories were targeted for training: forklift loader/checker, BB's processing systems…

Logic and Simulation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Straumanis, Joan

A major problem in teaching symbolic logic is that of providing individualized and early feedback to students who are learning to do proofs. To overcome this difficulty, a computer program was developed which functions as a line-by-line proof checker in Sentential Calculus. The program, DEMON, first evaluates any statement supplied by the student…

Device-Enabled Authorization in the Grey System

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-02-01

proof checker. Journal of Automated Reasoning 31(3-4):231–260, 2003. [7] D. Balfanz , D. Dean, and M. Spreitzer. A security infrastructure for...distributed Java applications. In Proceedings of the 21st IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, May 2002. [8] D. Balfanz and E. Felten. Hand-held computers

Hoosier Lawmaker? Vouchers, ALEC Legislative Puppets, and Indiana's Abdication of Democracy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shaffer, Michael B.; Ellis, John G.; Swensson, Jeff

2018-01-01

"Getting poor kids out of failing schools" sounds like an altruistic cause most Americans support. However, one policy mechanism utilized to achieve that result, parental choice vouchers, has a checkered past. This descriptive analysis explores the policy-bubble created when state legislators eschewed their constitutional responsibility…

Improving ESL Writing Using an Online Formulaic Sequence Word-Combination Checker

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grami, G. M. A.; Alkazemi, B. Y.

2016-01-01

Writing correct English sentences can be challenging. Furthermore, writing correct formulaic sequences can be especially difficult because accepted combinations do not follow clear rules governing which words appear together in a sequence. One solution is to provide examples of correct usage accompanied by statistical feedback from web-based…

Computer Language Settings and Canadian Spellings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shuttleworth, Roger

2011-01-01

The language settings used on personal computers interact with the spell-checker in Microsoft Word, which directly affects the flagging of spellings that are deemed incorrect. This study examined the language settings of personal computers owned by a group of Canadian university students. Of 21 computers examined, only eight had their Windows…

Troublemaker: The Education of Chester Finn

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Finn, Chester E., Jr.

2008-01-01

"Troublemaker," the memoir of "Education Next" senior editor and veteran education reformer Chester E. "Checker" Finn Jr., weaves into the chronicle of Finn's life and career the broader history of education reform, in which he has played a vital and sometimes rambunctious role. Currently president of the Thomas B.…

Writing Conferences Using the Microcomputer.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pufahl, John

1986-01-01

Describes a teaching strategy using Apple IIe computers in a sequence of individual conferences. Includes asking questions while scrolling through the paper, showing students how to elaborate ideas by entering suggested changes and prompts in capital letters during the conference, and using a spelling checker to prompt revision (e.g., by compiling…

Gallium arsenide pilot line for high performance components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1990-01-01

The Gallium Arsenide Pilot Line for High Performance Components (Pilot Line III) is to develop a facility for the fabrication of GaAs logic and memory chips. The first thirty months of this contract are now complete, and this report covers the period from March 27 through September 24, 1989. Similar to the PT-2M SRAM function for memories, the six logic circuits of PT-2L and PT-2M have served their functions as stepping stones toward the custom, standard cell, and cell array logic circuits. All but one of these circuits was right first time; the remaining circuit had a layout error due to a bug in the design rule checker that has since been fixed. The working devices all function over the full temperature range from -55 to 125 C. They all comfortably meet the 200 MHz requirement. They do not solidly conform to the required input and output voltage levels, particularly Vih. It is known that these circuits were designed with the older design models and that they came from an era where the DFET thresholds were often not on target.

Design of a Prototype Positive Ion Source with Slit Aperture Type Extraction System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Sanjeev K.; Vattilli, Prahlad; Choksi, Bhargav; Punyapu, Bharathi; Sidibomma, Rambabu; Bonagiri, Sridhar; Aggrawal, Deepak; Baruah, Ujjwal K.

2017-04-01

The neutral beam injector group at IPR aims at developing an experimental positive ion source capable of delivering H+ ion beam having energy of 30 - 40 keV and carrying an ion beam current of 5 A. The slit aperture based extraction system is chosen for extracting and accelerating the ions so as to achieve low divergence of the ion beam (< 0.5°). For producing H+ ions a magnetic multi-pole bucket type plasma chamber is selected. We calculated the magnetic field due to cusp magnets and trajectories (orbits) of the primary electrons to investigate the two magnetic configurations i.e. line cusp and checker board. Numerical simulation is also carried out by using OPERA-3D to study the characteristic performance of the slit aperture type extraction-acceleration system. We report here the results of the studies carried out on various aspects of the design of the slit aperture type positive ion source.

Teenage Cigarette Smoking Self Test and Discussion Leader's Guide. Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Public Health Service (DHHS), Rockville, MD.

This self test was designed to help teenagers understand their feelings about cigarette smoking. The book contains a leader's guide which describes how the test can be used as a self-administered, self-scored tool; as a basis for group discussion; or for research purposes. Also included are six duplicating masters which are perforated for easy…

eMBI: Boosting Gene Expression-based Clustering for Cancer Subtypes.

PubMed

Chang, Zheng; Wang, Zhenjia; Ashby, Cody; Zhou, Chuan; Li, Guojun; Zhang, Shuzhong; Huang, Xiuzhen

2014-01-01

Identifying clinically relevant subtypes of a cancer using gene expression data is a challenging and important problem in medicine, and is a necessary premise to provide specific and efficient treatments for patients of different subtypes. Matrix factorization provides a solution by finding checker-board patterns in the matrices of gene expression data. In the context of gene expression profiles of cancer patients, these checkerboard patterns correspond to genes that are up- or down-regulated in patients with particular cancer subtypes. Recently, a new matrix factorization framework for biclustering called Maximum Block Improvement (MBI) is proposed; however, it still suffers several problems when applied to cancer gene expression data analysis. In this study, we developed many effective strategies to improve MBI and designed a new program called enhanced MBI (eMBI), which is more effective and efficient to identify cancer subtypes. Our tests on several gene expression profiling datasets of cancer patients consistently indicate that eMBI achieves significant improvements in comparison with MBI, in terms of cancer subtype prediction accuracy, robustness, and running time. In addition, the performance of eMBI is much better than another widely used matrix factorization method called nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) and the method of hierarchical clustering, which is often the first choice of clinical analysts in practice.

eMBI: Boosting Gene Expression-based Clustering for Cancer Subtypes

PubMed Central

Chang, Zheng; Wang, Zhenjia; Ashby, Cody; Zhou, Chuan; Li, Guojun; Zhang, Shuzhong; Huang, Xiuzhen

2014-01-01

Identifying clinically relevant subtypes of a cancer using gene expression data is a challenging and important problem in medicine, and is a necessary premise to provide specific and efficient treatments for patients of different subtypes. Matrix factorization provides a solution by finding checker-board patterns in the matrices of gene expression data. In the context of gene expression profiles of cancer patients, these checkerboard patterns correspond to genes that are up- or down-regulated in patients with particular cancer subtypes. Recently, a new matrix factorization framework for biclustering called Maximum Block Improvement (MBI) is proposed; however, it still suffers several problems when applied to cancer gene expression data analysis. In this study, we developed many effective strategies to improve MBI and designed a new program called enhanced MBI (eMBI), which is more effective and efficient to identify cancer subtypes. Our tests on several gene expression profiling datasets of cancer patients consistently indicate that eMBI achieves significant improvements in comparison with MBI, in terms of cancer subtype prediction accuracy, robustness, and running time. In addition, the performance of eMBI is much better than another widely used matrix factorization method called nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) and the method of hierarchical clustering, which is often the first choice of clinical analysts in practice. PMID:25374455

Use of Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test in evaluating the hand dexterity in people with Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Mak, M K Y; Lau, E T L; Tam, V W K; Woo, C W Y; Yuen, S K Y

2015-01-01

To investigate the test-retest reliability of JTT in older patients with Parkinson's disease (PD); and to compare the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTT) scores between PD and healthy subjects. Cross-sectional comparative study. Fifteen PD and fifteen healthy subjects performed the JTT and the time taken to complete the JTT was recorded. Test-retest reliabilities of JTT subtests and total score of both dominant and non-dominant hand were good to excellent (ICCs = 0.77-0.97) except J5 checkers which had moderate reliability. PD subjects required significantly longer time to finish subtests and the whole JTT (p < 0.05), except the subtest J1 writing of dominant hand that showed marginal significance (p = 0.059). JTT is a reliable and easily available assessment tool for assessing the hand function of PD subjects. PD subjects took a longer time to complete the JTT, suggesting that they have deficits in gross and fine functional dexterity. Copyright © 2015 Hanley & Belfus. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Design and testing of a self-actuated shut down system for the protection of liquid metal fast breeder reactors (LMFBRs)

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

Josephson, J.; Sowa, E.S.

1977-04-01

The design and testing of a simple and reliable Self-Actuated Shutdown System (SASS) for the protection of Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactors (LMFBRs) is described. A ferromagnetic Curie temperature permanent magnet holding device has been selected for the design of the Self-Actuated Shutdown System in order to enhance the safety of liquid metal cooled fast reactors (LMFBRs). The self-actuated, self-contained device operates such that accident conditions, resulting in increased coolant temperature or neutron flux reduce the magnetic holding force suspending a neutron absorber above the core by raising the temperature of the trigger mechanism above the Curie point. Neutron absorbermore » material is then inserted into the core, under gravity, terminating the accident. Two possible design variations of the selected concept are presented.« less

Immunotherapy for glioblastoma: playing chess, not checkers.

PubMed

Jackson, Christopher M; Lim, Michael

2018-04-24

Patients with glioblastoma (GBM) exhibit a complex state of immune dysfunction involving multiple mechanisms of local, regional, and systemic immune suppression and tolerance. These pathways are now being identified and their relative contributions explored. Delineating how these pathways are interrelated is paramount to effectively implementing immunotherapy for GBM. Copyright ©2018, American Association for Cancer Research.

Checking the Grammar Checker: Integrating Grammar Instruction with Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McAlexander, Patricia J.

2000-01-01

Notes Rei Noguchi's recommendation of integrating grammar instruction with writing instruction and teaching only the most vital terms and the most frequently made errors. Presents a project that provides a review of the grammar lessons, applies many grammar rules specifically to the students' writing, and teaches students the effective use of the…

The Use of Board Games in Child Psychotherapy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oren, Ayala

2008-01-01

Playing checkers, football or more recently, computer games, is an important part of the latency child's culture. The ability to play games demands a level of emotional development similar to that needed to cope with the emotional/developmental demands characteristic of latency. A game shared by the therapist and child provides a picture of the…

Behavior and space utilization of two common fishes within Caribbean mangroves: implications for the protective function of mangrove habitats

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacDonald, J. A.; Shahrestani, S.; Weis, J. S.

2009-09-01

Behaviors, activity budgets, and spatial locations of reef-associated schoolmaster snapper ( Lutjanus apodus) and non-reef-associated checkered puffer ( Sphoeroides testudineus) were cataloged in mangrove forests in Caribbean Honduras to see how and where they spent their time and whether this changed as they grew. For schoolmasters, swimming was the most common behavior, while checkered puffers spent the majority of their time resting. Both remained completely within (as opposed to outside) the mangrove roots and in the lower half of the water column most of the time. However, as the size of the fish increased there was a clear decrease in the time spent both within the root system and closer to the substrate; the larger fish spent more time higher up in the water column and outside the root system. This was observed in both the schoolmaster and the puffer; the schoolmaster subsequently moves to reefs while the puffer does not. Coupled with limited feeding, the results suggest a primarily protective function for mangroves.

Usability test of KNRC self-feeding robot.

PubMed

Song, Won-Kyung; Song, Won-Jin; Kim, Yale; Kim, Jongbae

2013-06-01

Various assistive robots for supporting the activities of daily living have been developed. However, not many of these have been introduced into the market because they were found to be impractical in actual scenarios. In this paper, we report on the usability test results of an assistive robot designed for self-feeding for people having disabilities, which includes those having spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and traumatic brain injury. First, we present three versions of a novel self-feeding robot (KNRC self-feeding robot), which is suitable for use with Korean food, including sticky rice. These robots have been improved based on participatory action design over a period of three years. Next, we discuss the usability tests of the KNRC self-feeding robots. People with disabilities participated in comparative tests between the KNRC self-feeding robot and the commercialized product named My Spoon. The KNRC self-feeding robot showed positive results in relation to satisfaction and performance compared to the commercialized robot when users ate Korean food, including sticky rice.

Mechanical Design, Simulation, and Testing of Self-Aligning Gaussian Telescope and Stand for ITER LFS Reflectometer Diagnostic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Broughton, Rachel; Gomez, Michael; Zolfaghari, Ali; Morris, Lewis

2016-10-01

A self-aligning Gaussian telescope has been designed to compensate for the effect of movement in the ITER vacuum vessel on the transmission line. The purpose of the setup is to couple microwaves into and out of the vessel across the vacuum windows while allowing for both slow movements of the vessel, due to thermal growth, and rapid movements, due to vibrations and disruptions. Additionally, a test stand has been designed specifically to hold this telescope in order to imitate these movements. Consequently, this will allow for the assessment of the efficacy in applying the self-aligning Gaussian telescope approach. The motions of the test stand, as well as the stress on the telescope mechanism, have been virtually simulated using ANSYS workbench. A prototype of this test stand and self-aligning telescope will be built using a combination of custom machined parts and ordered parts. The completed mechanism will be tested at the lab in four different ways: slow single- and multi-direction movements, rapid multi-direction movement, functional laser alignment and self-aligning tests, and natural frequency tests. Once the prototype successfully passes all requirements, it will be tested with microwaves in the LFSR transmission line test stand at General Atomics. This work is supported by US DOE Contract No. DE-AC02-09CH11466.

Measuring Literary Reading Motivation: Questionnaires Design and Pilot Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chrysos, Michail

2017-01-01

This study aims to present the design and pilot testing procedures of the two specific self-report questionnaires were used to measure the two key aspects of reading motivation, self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation in the field of literary (narrative) reading, and the partial factors that jointly shape them. These instruments were outlined in…

One-Year Test-Retest Reliability of the Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury (ISAS)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glenn, Catherine R.; Klonsky, E. David

2011-01-01

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a growing public health problem among adolescents and young adults. The Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS) is a self-report measure designed to assess NSSI behaviors and functions. The current study examines the one-year test-retest reliability of the ISAS in a sample of young adult self-injurers.…

Checker Takes the Guesswork out of Diode Identification

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harman, Charles

2011-01-01

At technical colleges and secondary-level tech schools, students enrolled in basic electronics labs who have learned about diodes that do rectification are used to seeing power diodes like the 1N4001. When the students are introduced to low-power zener diodes and signal diodes, component identification gets more complex. If the small zeners are…

Check that JFET! Easy-to-Build Tester Makes It Simple

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harman, Charles

2008-01-01

This article describes an activity that will allow students to learn how to make a junction field effect transistor (JFET) checker. Most electronics students do not have the experience or knowledge that it takes to recognize whether a JFET is operating normally, and both instructors and students will find having the means to check the operation of…

Play It Again, Sam! Adapting Common Games into Multimedia Models Used for Student Reviews.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Metcalf, Karen K.; Barlow, Amy; Hudson, Lisa; Jones, Elizabeth; Lyons, Dennis; Piersall, James; Munfus, Laureen

1998-01-01

Provides guidelines on how to adapt common games such as checkers, tic tac toe, obstacle courses, and memory joggers into interactive games in multimedia courseware. Emphasizes creating generic games that can be recycled and used for multiple topics to save development time and keep costs low. Discusses topic themes, game structure, and…

Dave Moore: Taking Roundabout Path to Perovskite Fast Track | News | NREL

Science.gov Websites

energy of academia is awesome and contagious. It keeps you young to hang around young people and keep learning." Although he'd had a checkered high school academic career prior to stepping on the college ," Moore said. "That's where I first learned about the energy crisis." And that's when he

Protocol Programmability

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-01

First, any subproject that involved an implementation shared some implementation infrastructure with other subprojects. For example, the Plaid backend ...very same language. We followed this advice in Plaid, and we therefore implemented the compiler backend in Plaid (code generation, type checker, Æminim...programming language aimed at enforcing security properties in web and mobile applications [Nistor et al., 2013]. Wyvern therefore provides an excellent

Mountain Plains Learning Experience Guide: Marketing. Course: Cash Register Operation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Egan, B.

One of thirteen individualized courses included in a marketing curriculum, this course is on the fundamentals of operating a cash register. The course is comprised of four units: (1) Face of Cash Register, (2) Operating a Checkout Station, (3) Checker-Cashier Qualities, and (4) NCR 250 Electronic Cash Register. Each unit begins with a Unit…

To Kill a Messenger; Television News and the Real World.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Small, William

From his vantage point as News Director of CBS News in Washington, the author examines the role of television news in our society and gives an insider's view of the day-to-day process of selecting and presenting news. Highlighting the book are in-depth discussions of past and recent news events. The Nixon "Checkers" speech, John…

Studies Relating to Computer Use of Spelling and Grammar Checkers and Educational Achievement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Radi, Odette Bourjaili

2015-01-01

The content of this paper will focus on both language and computer practices and how school age students develop their literacy skills in the two domains of "language" and "computers." The term literacy is a broad concept that has attracted many interpretations over the years. Some of the concepts raised by the literature apply…

A Preliminary Report on a New Grammar Checker to Help Students of English as a Foreign Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lawley, Jim

2004-01-01

Whereas many pre-intermediate and intermediate level students of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) might benefit from receiving detailed feedback on mistakes in their written compositions, there are obvious practical limits to the amount of corrective feedback that teachers in schools and universities can provide. This article briefly describes…

Adding Statistical Machine Translation Adaptation to Computer-Assisted Translation

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-01

are automatically searched and used to suggest possible translations; (2) spell-checkers; (3) glossaries; (4) dictionaries ; (5) alignment and...matching against TMs to propose translations; spell-checking, glossary, and dictionary look-up; support for multiple file formats; regular expressions...on Telecommunications. Tehran, 2012, 822–826. Bertoldi, N.; Federico, M. Domain Adaptation for Statistical Machine Translation with Monolingual

Comprehension Monitoring by Elementary Students: When Does It Occur?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pace, Ann Jaffe

The effect of passage topic and task demands on elementary school students' monitoring of their own comprehension was examined. Second, fourth, and sixth grade students read a short passage about a well-known event (playing checkers) or one about which they had little existing information (making lye soap). Half of the students in each grade were…

Cerebral oximetry: a replacement for pulse oximetry?

PubMed

Frost, Elizabeth A M

2012-10-01

Cerebral oximetry has been around for some 3 decades but has had a somewhat checkered history regarding application and reliability. More recently several monitors have been approved in the United States and elsewhere and the technique is emerging as a useful tool for assessing not only adequate cerebral oxygenation but also tissue oxygenation and perfusion in other organs.

Puffed and bothered: Personality, performance, and the effects of stress on checkered pufferfish.

PubMed

Pleizier, Naomi; Wilson, Alexander D M; Shultz, Aaron D; Cooke, Steven J

2015-12-01

Although consistent individual-level differences in behaviour are widespread and potentially important in evolutionary and ecological processes, relatively few studies focus on the physiological mechanisms that might underlie and regulate these individual-level differences in wild populations. We conducted experiments to determine whether checkered pufferfish (Sphoeroides testudineus), which were collected from a dynamic (in terms of depth and water temperature) tidal mangrove creek environment in The Bahamas, have consistent individual-level differences in locomotor activity and the response to a simulated predator threat, as well as swimming performance and puffing in response to stressors. The relationships between personality and performance traits were evaluated to determine whether they represented stress-coping styles or syndromes. Subsequently, a displacement study was conducted to determine how personality and performance in the laboratory compared to movements in the field. In addition, we tested whether a physiological dose of the stress hormone cortisol would alter individual consistency in behavioural and performance traits. We found that pufferfish exhibited consistent individual differences in personality traits over time (e.g., activity and the duration of a response to a threat) and that performance was consistent between the lab and the natural enclosure. Locomotor activity and the duration of startled behaviour were not associated with swimming and puffing performance. Locomotor activity, puffing performance, and swimming performance were not related to whether fish returned to the tidal creek of capture after displacement. Similarly, a cortisol treatment did not modify behaviour or performance in the laboratory. The results reveal that consistent individual-level differences in behaviour and performance were present in a population from a fluctuating and physiologically challenging environment but that such traits are not necessarily correlated. We also determined that certain individual performance traits were repeatable between the lab and a natural enclosure. However, we found no evidence of a relationship between exogenous cortisol levels and behavioural traits or performance in these fish, which suggests that other internal and external mechanisms may underlie the behaviours and performance tested. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Performance, Cognition, and Physiological Responding in Test Anxiety.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holroyd, Kenneth A.; And Others

1978-01-01

This research was designed to clarify the role of autonomic response and evaluative self-awareness in test anxiety. Autonomic, self-report, and performance measures of anxiety were collected from both test-anxious and non-test-anxious individuals in an analogue testing situation under three experimental conditions. Results support cognitive…

Effects of a Web-Based Decision Aid Regarding Diagnostic Self-Testing. A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ickenroth, Martine H. P.; Grispen, J. E. J.; de Vries, N. K.; Dinant, G. J.; Ronda, G.; van der Weijden, T.

2016-01-01

Currently, there are many diagnostic self-tests on body materials available to consumers. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of an online decision aid on diagnostic self-testing for cholesterol and diabetes on knowledge among consumers with an intention to take these tests. A randomized controlled trial was designed. A total of 1259…

Monitoring Programs Using Rewriting

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Havelund, Klaus; Rosu, Grigore; Lan, Sonie (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

We present a rewriting algorithm for efficiently testing future time Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) formulae on finite execution traces, The standard models of LTL are infinite traces, reflecting the behavior of reactive and concurrent systems which conceptually may be continuously alive in most past applications of LTL, theorem provers and model checkers have been used to formally prove that down-scaled models satisfy such LTL specifications. Our goal is instead to use LTL for up-scaled testing of real software applications, corresponding to analyzing the conformance of finite traces against LTL formulae. We first describe what it means for a finite trace to satisfy an LTL property end then suggest an optimized algorithm based on transforming LTL formulae. We use the Maude rewriting logic, which turns out to be a good notation and being supported by an efficient rewriting engine for performing these experiments. The work constitutes part of the Java PathExplorer (JPAX) project, the purpose of which is to develop a flexible tool for monitoring Java program executions.

An Evaluation of Therapeutic Horseback Riding Programs for Adults with Physical Impairments.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farias-Tomaszewski, Sarah; Jenkins, Sharon Rae; Keller, Jean

2001-01-01

Assessed the outcome of a therapeutic horseback riding program for adults with physical disabilities. A one-group, pre- test/post-test design was used to evaluate changes on level of physical and global self-efficacy. Behavioral indices of self-confidence were also evaluated. Physical self-efficacy and behavioral self-confidence increased from…

jFuzz: A Concolic Whitebox Fuzzer for Java

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jayaraman, Karthick; Harvison, David; Ganesh, Vijay; Kiezun, Adam

2009-01-01

We present jFuzz, a automatic testing tool for Java programs. jFuzz is a concolic whitebox fuzzer, built on the NASA Java PathFinder, an explicit-state Java model checker, and a framework for developing reliability and analysis tools for Java. Starting from a seed input, jFuzz automatically and systematically generates inputs that exercise new program paths. jFuzz uses a combination of concrete and symbolic execution, and constraint solving. Time spent on solving constraints can be significant. We implemented several well-known optimizations and name-independent caching, which aggressively normalizes the constraints to reduce the number of calls to the constraint solver. We present preliminary results due to the optimizations, and demonstrate the effectiveness of jFuzz in creating good test inputs. The source code of jFuzz is available as part of the NASA Java PathFinder. jFuzz is intended to be a research testbed for investigating new testing and analysis techniques based on concrete and symbolic execution. The source code of jFuzz is available as part of the NASA Java PathFinder.

Increased circulating stem cells and better cognitive performance in traumatic brain injury subjects following hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

PubMed

Shandley, Sabrina; Wolf, E George; Schubert-Kappan, Christine M; Baugh, Laura M; Richards, Michael F; Prye, Jennifer; Arizpe, Helen M; Kalns, John

2017-01-01

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may cause persistent cognitive dysfunction. A pilot clinical study was performed to determine if hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) treatment improves cognitive performance. It was hypothesized that stem cells, mobilized by HBO₂ treatment, are recruited to repair damaged neuronal tissue. This hypothesis was tested by measuring the relative abundance of stem cells in peripheral blood and cognitive performance during this clinical trial. The subject population consisted of 28 subjects with persistent cognitive impairment caused by mild to moderate TBI suffered during military deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis was performed for stem cell markers in peripheral blood and correlated with variables resulting from standard tests of cognitive performance and post-traumatic stress disorder: ImPACT, BrainCheckers and PCL-M test results. HBO₂ treatment correlated with stem cell mobilization as well as increased cognitive performance. Together these results support the hypothesis that stem cell mobilization may be required for cognitive improvement in this population. Copyright© Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society.

Fault-tolerant corrector/detector chip for high-speed data processing

DOEpatents

Andaleon, David D.; Napolitano, Jr., Leonard M.; Redinbo, G. Robert; Shreeve, William O.

1994-01-01

An internally fault-tolerant data error detection and correction integrated circuit device (10) and a method of operating same. The device functions as a bidirectional data buffer between a 32-bit data processor and the remainder of a data processing system and provides a 32-bit datum is provided with a relatively short eight bits of data-protecting parity. The 32-bits of data by eight bits of parity is partitioned into eight 4-bit nibbles and two 4-bit nibbles, respectively. For data flowing towards the processor the data and parity nibbles are checked in parallel and in a single operation employing a dual orthogonal basis technique. The dual orthogonal basis increase the efficiency of the implementation. Any one of ten (eight data, two parity) nibbles are correctable if erroneous, or two different erroneous nibbles are detectable. For data flowing away from the processor the appropriate parity nibble values are calculated and transmitted to the system along with the data. The device regenerates parity values for data flowing in either direction and compares regenerated to generated parity with a totally self-checking equality checker. As such, the device is self-validating and enabled to both detect and indicate an occurrence of an internal failure. A generalization of the device to protect 64-bit data with 16-bit parity to protect against byte-wide errors is also presented.

Fault-tolerant corrector/detector chip for high-speed data processing

DOEpatents

Andaleon, D.D.; Napolitano, L.M. Jr.; Redinbo, G.R.; Shreeve, W.O.

1994-03-01

An internally fault-tolerant data error detection and correction integrated circuit device and a method of operating same is described. The device functions as a bidirectional data buffer between a 32-bit data processor and the remainder of a data processing system and provides a 32-bit datum with a relatively short eight bits of data-protecting parity. The 32-bits of data by eight bits of parity is partitioned into eight 4-bit nibbles and two 4-bit nibbles, respectively. For data flowing towards the processor the data and parity nibbles are checked in parallel and in a single operation employing a dual orthogonal basis technique. The dual orthogonal basis increase the efficiency of the implementation. Any one of ten (eight data, two parity) nibbles are correctable if erroneous, or two different erroneous nibbles are detectable. For data flowing away from the processor the appropriate parity nibble values are calculated and transmitted to the system along with the data. The device regenerates parity values for data flowing in either direction and compares regenerated to generated parity with a totally self-checking equality checker. As such, the device is self-validating and enabled to both detect and indicate an occurrence of an internal failure. A generalization of the device to protect 64-bit data with 16-bit parity to protect against byte-wide errors is also presented. 8 figures.

Software reliability experiments data analysis and investigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walker, J. Leslie; Caglayan, Alper K.

1991-01-01

The objectives are to investigate the fundamental reasons which cause independently developed software programs to fail dependently, and to examine fault tolerant software structures which maximize reliability gain in the presence of such dependent failure behavior. The authors used 20 redundant programs from a software reliability experiment to analyze the software errors causing coincident failures, to compare the reliability of N-version and recovery block structures composed of these programs, and to examine the impact of diversity on software reliability using subpopulations of these programs. The results indicate that both conceptually related and unrelated errors can cause coincident failures and that recovery block structures offer more reliability gain than N-version structures if acceptance checks that fail independently from the software components are available. The authors present a theory of general program checkers that have potential application for acceptance tests.

Certified In-lined Reference Monitoring on .NET

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-06-01

Introduction Language -based approaches to computer security have employed two major strategies for enforcing security policies over untrusted programs. • Low...automatically verify IRM’s using a static type-checker. Mobile (MOnitorable BIL with Effects) is an exten- sion of BIL (Baby Intermediate Language ) [15], a...AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for public release; distribution unlimited 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES Proceedings of the 2006 Programming Languages and

Improving Systematic Constraint-driven Analysis Using Incremental and Parallel Techniques

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-01

and modeling latency of a cloud based subsystem. Members of my research group provided useful comments and ideas on my work in group meetings and...122 5.7.1 One structurally complex argument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 5.7.2 Multiple independent arguments...Subject Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 6.1.1.1 JPF — Model Checker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 6.1.1.2 Alloy — Using a SAT

76 FR 36955 - West Los Angeles VA Medical Center Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998; Master Plan

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-23

... Brentwood School and MacArthur Field as part of the land use agreements for those spaces. A planned future..., the historic Rose Garden, will be completed in fall of 2011. This area, located just across the street from the Domiciliary, will include meditative gardens, tables for chess and checkers, and soothing...

Crowdsourcing quality control for Dark Energy Survey images

DOE PAGES

Melchior, P.

2016-07-01

We have developed a crowdsourcing web application for image quality control employed by the Dark Energy Survey. Dubbed the "DES exposure checker", it renders science-grade images directly to a web browser and allows users to mark problematic features from a set of predefined classes. Users can also generate custom labels and thus help identify previously unknown problem classes. User reports are fed back to hardware and software experts to help mitigate and eliminate recognized issues. We report on the implementation of the application and our experience with its over 100 users, the majority of which are professional or prospective astronomersmore » but not data management experts. We discuss aspects of user training and engagement, and demonstrate how problem reports have been pivotal to rapidly correct artifacts which would likely have been too subtle or infrequent to be recognized otherwise. We conclude with a number of important lessons learned, suggest possible improvements, and recommend this collective exploratory approach for future astronomical surveys or other extensive data sets with a sufficiently large user base. We also release open-source code of the web application and host an online demo versionat http://des-exp-checker.pmelchior.net« less

Crowdsourcing quality control for Dark Energy Survey images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Melchior, P.; Sheldon, E.; Drlica-Wagner, A.; Rykoff, E. S.; Abbott, T. M. C.; Abdalla, F. B.; Allam, S.; Benoit-Lévy, A.; Brooks, D.; Buckley-Geer, E.; Carnero Rosell, A.; Carrasco Kind, M.; Carretero, J.; Crocce, M.; D'Andrea, C. B.; da Costa, L. N.; Desai, S.; Doel, P.; Evrard, A. E.; Finley, D. A.; Flaugher, B.; Frieman, J.; Gaztanaga, E.; Gerdes, D. W.; Gruen, D.; Gruendl, R. A.; Honscheid, K.; James, D. J.; Jarvis, M.; Kuehn, K.; Li, T. S.; Maia, M. A. G.; March, M.; Marshall, J. L.; Nord, B.; Ogando, R.; Plazas, A. A.; Romer, A. K.; Sanchez, E.; Scarpine, V.; Sevilla-Noarbe, I.; Smith, R. C.; Soares-Santos, M.; Suchyta, E.; Swanson, M. E. C.; Tarle, G.; Vikram, V.; Walker, A. R.; Wester, W.; Zhang, Y.

2016-07-01

We have developed a crowdsourcing web application for image quality control employed by the Dark Energy Survey. Dubbed the "DES exposure checker", it renders science-grade images directly to a web browser and allows users to mark problematic features from a set of predefined classes. Users can also generate custom labels and thus help identify previously unknown problem classes. User reports are fed back to hardware and software experts to help mitigate and eliminate recognized issues. We report on the implementation of the application and our experience with its over 100 users, the majority of which are professional or prospective astronomers but not data management experts. We discuss aspects of user training and engagement, and demonstrate how problem reports have been pivotal to rapidly correct artifacts which would likely have been too subtle or infrequent to be recognized otherwise. We conclude with a number of important lessons learned, suggest possible improvements, and recommend this collective exploratory approach for future astronomical surveys or other extensive data sets with a sufficiently large user base. We also release open-source code of the web application and host an online demo version at http://des-exp-checker.pmelchior.net.

Crowdsourcing quality control for Dark Energy Survey images

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

Melchior, P.

We have developed a crowdsourcing web application for image quality control employed by the Dark Energy Survey. Dubbed the "DES exposure checker", it renders science-grade images directly to a web browser and allows users to mark problematic features from a set of predefined classes. Users can also generate custom labels and thus help identify previously unknown problem classes. User reports are fed back to hardware and software experts to help mitigate and eliminate recognized issues. We report on the implementation of the application and our experience with its over 100 users, the majority of which are professional or prospective astronomersmore » but not data management experts. We discuss aspects of user training and engagement, and demonstrate how problem reports have been pivotal to rapidly correct artifacts which would likely have been too subtle or infrequent to be recognized otherwise. We conclude with a number of important lessons learned, suggest possible improvements, and recommend this collective exploratory approach for future astronomical surveys or other extensive data sets with a sufficiently large user base. We also release open-source code of the web application and host an online demo versionat http://des-exp-checker.pmelchior.net« less

Psychometric testing on the NLN Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning, Simulation Design Scale, and Educational Practices Questionnaire using a sample of pre-licensure novice nurses.

PubMed

Franklin, Ashley E; Burns, Paulette; Lee, Christopher S

2014-10-01

In 2006, the National League for Nursing published three measures related to novice nurses' beliefs about self-confidence, scenario design, and educational practices associated with simulation. Despite the extensive use of these measures, little is known about their reliability and validity. The psychometric properties of the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale, Simulation Design Scale, and Educational Practices Questionnaire were studied among a sample of 2200 surveys completed by novice nurses from a liberal arts university in the southern United States. Psychometric tests included item analysis, confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses in randomly-split subsamples, concordant and discordant validity, and internal consistency. All three measures have sufficient reliability and validity to be used in education research. There is room for improvement in content validity with the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning and Simulation Design Scale. This work provides robust evidence to ensure that judgments made about self-confidence after simulation, simulation design and educational practices are valid and reliable. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Flight Guidance System Requirements Specification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, Steven P.; Tribble, Alan C.; Carlson, Timothy M.; Danielson, Eric J.

2003-01-01

This report describes a requirements specification written in the RSML-e language for the mode logic of a Flight Guidance System of a typical regional jet aircraft. This model was created as one of the first steps in a five-year project sponsored by the NASA Langley Research Center, Rockwell Collins Inc., and the Critical Systems Research Group of the University of Minnesota to develop new methods and tools to improve the safety of avionics designs. This model will be used to demonstrate the application of a variety of methods and techniques, including safety analysis of system and subsystem requirements, verification of key properties using theorem provers and model checkers, identification of potential sources mode confusion in system designs, partitioning of applications based on the criticality of system hazards, and autogeneration of avionics quality code. While this model is representative of the mode logic of a typical regional jet aircraft, it does not describe an actual or planned product. Several aspects of a full Flight Guidance System, such as recovery from failed sensors, have been omitted, and no claims are made regarding the accuracy or completeness of this specification.

Design of a fault tolerant airborne digital computer. Volume 1: Architecture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wensley, J. H.; Levitt, K. N.; Green, M. W.; Goldberg, J.; Neumann, P. G.

1973-01-01

This volume is concerned with the architecture of a fault tolerant digital computer for an advanced commercial aircraft. All of the computations of the aircraft, including those presently carried out by analogue techniques, are to be carried out in this digital computer. Among the important qualities of the computer are the following: (1) The capacity is to be matched to the aircraft environment. (2) The reliability is to be selectively matched to the criticality and deadline requirements of each of the computations. (3) The system is to be readily expandable. contractible, and (4) The design is to appropriate to post 1975 technology. Three candidate architectures are discussed and assessed in terms of the above qualities. Of the three candidates, a newly conceived architecture, Software Implemented Fault Tolerance (SIFT), provides the best match to the above qualities. In addition SIFT is particularly simple and believable. The other candidates, Bus Checker System (BUCS), also newly conceived in this project, and the Hopkins multiprocessor are potentially more efficient than SIFT in the use of redundancy, but otherwise are not as attractive.

THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF AN EXPERIMENTAL POLYSENSORY SELF-INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS ACQUIRE BASIC ELECTRICAL OCCUPATIONAL COMPETENCIES. FINAL REPORT NO. 19.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

HILL, EDWIN K.

AN EXPERIMENTAL POLYSENSORY SELF-INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM DESIGNED TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN ACQUIRING AND APPLYING KNOWLEDGE OF THE NATURE, CONVERSION, AND TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY AND OF PRINCIPLES OF SIMPLE EELECTRICAL CIRCUITS WAS DEVELOPED AND TESTED FOR EFFECTIVENESS. RELATED LABORATORY EXERCISES WERE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SYSTEM WHICH…

The Comparison of Two Forms of a Classroom Simulation Test Designed To Enhance Future Teachers Self-Definition and Teaching Style. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garrison, Jesse H.; Kersh, Bert Y.

The experiment reported in this document is based on the work of Garrison and others in developing a testing and interviewing procedure designed to enable increased self-definition on the part of prospective teachers and earlier development of appropriate and effective teaching styles. Three groups of elementary education majors were involved in…

Field Test Report of the Self-Directed, Interpretive, and Creative Reading Elements of the Wisconsin Design for Reading Skill Development. Technical Report No. 330.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chester, Robert; And Others

This study of the self-directed, interpretive, and creative reading elements of the Wisconsin Design for Reading Skill Development was conducted to gather descriptive data about implementation strategies being developed and practiced by field test teachers and to gather evaluative information about the usability of various management and…

Color silver halide hologram production and mastering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bjelkhagen, Hans I.; Huang, Qiang

1997-04-01

Color reflection holograms recorded with the Denisyuk geometry have been demonstrated by the recently formed HOLOS Corporation in New Hampshire. The Slavich red-green-blue (RGB) sensitized ultra-high resolution silver halide emulsion was used for the hologram recording. The employed laser wavelengths were 647 nm, 532 nm, and 476 nm, generated by an argon ion, a frequency doubled Nd:YAG, and a krypton ion laser, respectively. A beam combination mechanism with dichroic filters enabled a simultaneous RGB exposure, which made the color balance and overall exposure energy easy to control as well as simplifying the recording procedure. HOLOS has been producing limited edition color holograms in various sizes from 4' X 5' to 12' X 16'. A 30 foot long optical table and high power lasers will enable HOLOS to record color holograms up to the size of one meter square in the near future. Various approaches have been investigated in generating color hologram masters which have sufficiently high diffraction efficiency to contact copy the color images onto photopolymer materials. A specially designed test object including the 1931 CIE chromaticity diagram, a rainbow ribbon cable, pure yellow dots, and a cloisonne elephant was used for color recording experiments. In addition, the Macbeth Color Checker chart was used. Both colorimetric evaluation and scattering noise measurements were performed using the PR-650 Photo Research SpectraScan SpectraCalorimeter.

Control of rail integrity by self-adaptive scheduling of rail tests

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1990-06-01

A guide for the scheduling of in-service tests of rail to detect defects is presented. The guide is designed for self-adaptation to changing track conditions, as reflected by the total rate of defect occurrence per test, the rate of 'service' defect ...

Small High-Speed Self-Acting Shaft Seals for Liquid Rocket Engines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burcham, R. E.; Boynton, J. L.

1977-01-01

Design analysis, fabrication, and experimental evaluation were performed on three self-acting facetype LOX seal designs and one circumferential-type helium deal design. The LOX seals featured Rayleigh step lift pad and spiral groove geometry for lift augmentation. Machined metal bellows and piston ring secondary seal designs were tested. The helium purge seal featured floating rings with Rayleigh step lift pads. The Rayleigh step pad piston ring and the spiral groove LOX seals were successfully tested for approximately 10 hours in liquid oxygen. The helium seal was successfully tested for 24 hours. The shrouded Rayleigh step hydrodynamic lift pad LOX seal is feasible for advanced, small, high-speed oxygen turbopumps.

The effect of Think Pair Share (TPS) using scientific approach on students’ self-confidence and mathematical problem-solving

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rifa’i, A.; Lestari, H. P.

2018-03-01

This study was designed to know the effects of Think Pair Share using Scientific Approach on students' self-confidence and mathematical problem-solving. Quasi-experimental with pre-test post-test non-equivalent group method was used as a basis for design this study. Self-confidence questionnaire and problem-solving test have been used for measurement of the two variables. Two classes of the first grade in religious senior high school (MAN) in Indonesia were randomly selected for this study. Teaching sequence and series from mathematics book at control group in the traditional way and at experiment group has been in TPS using scientific approach learning method. For data analysis regarding students’ problem-solving skill and self-confidence, One-Sample t-Test, Independent Sample t-Test, and Multivariate of Variance (MANOVA) were used. The results showed that (1) TPS using a scientific approach and traditional learning had positive effects (2) TPS using scientific approach learning in comparative with traditional learning had a more significant effect on students’ self-confidence and problem-solving skill.

Self-tapping ability of carbon fibre reinforced polyetheretherketone suture anchors.

PubMed

Feerick, Emer M; Wilson, Joanne; Jarman-Smith, Marcus; Ó'Brádaigh, Conchur M; McGarry, J Patrick

2014-10-01

An experimental and computational investigation of the self-tapping ability of carbon fibre reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) has been conducted. Six CFR-PEEK suture anchor designs were investigated using PEEK-OPTIMA® Reinforced, a medical grade of CFR-PEEK. Experimental tests were conducted to investigate the maximum axial force and torque required for self-taping insertion of each anchor design. Additional experimental tests were conducted for some anchor designs using pilot holes. Computational simulations were conducted to determine the maximum stress in each anchor design at various stages of insertion. Simulations also were performed to investigate the effect of wall thickness in the anchor head. The maximum axial force required to insert a self-tapping CFR-PEEK suture anchor did not exceed 150 N for any anchor design. The maximum torque required to insert a self-tapping CFR-PEEK suture anchor did not exceed 0.8 Nm. Computational simulations reveal significant stress concentrations in the region of the anchor tip, demonstrating that a re-design of the tip geometry should be performed to avoid fracture during self-tapping, as observed in the experimental component of this study. This study demonstrates the ability of PEEK-OPTIMA Reinforced suture anchors to self-tap polyurethane foam bone analogue. This provides motivation to further investigate the self-tapping ability of CFR-PEEK suture anchors in animal/cadaveric bone. An optimised design for CFR-PEEK suture anchors offers the advantages of radiolucency, and mechanical properties similar to bone with the ability to self-tap. This may have positive implications for reducing surgery times and the associated costs with the procedure. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Investigating the influence of achievement on self-concept using an intra-class design and a comparison of the PASS and SDQ-1 self-concept tests.

PubMed

Hay, I; Ashman, A; van Kraayenoord, C E

1997-09-01

The formation and measurement of self-concept were the foci of this research. The study aimed to investigate the influence of achievement on academic self-concept and to compare the Perception of Ability Scale for Students (PASS, Boersma & Chapman, 1992) with the Self-Description Questionnaire-1 (SDQ-1, Marsh, 1988). The participants were 479 grade 5 (mean age 126.6 months) coeducational Australian students, located in 18 schools. An intra-class research design was used to investigate the influence of frame-of-reference on self-concept development. As students' academic scores rose above their class mean their self-concepts increased and as students' academic scores fell below their class mean their self-concepts decreased. Students' difference from class mean predicted their self-concept scores. This finding was consistently shown across the reading, spelling, and mathematics domains using test and teaching rating data. A comparison between the PASS and the SDQ-1 demonstrated concurrent validity across self-concept domains. The findings support the notions that the social environment is a significant agent that influences self-concept, and that teacher ratings and standardised tests of achievement and the PASS and the SDQ-1 are valid measures for self-concept research.

Self-esteem and apparel satisfaction with appropriate clothing: value of product attributes and support groups for mastectomy survivors.

PubMed

Chowdhary, Usha; Ryan, Lenoraann

2003-08-01

The study examined use of appropriately designed clothing for special needs of postmastectomy women, including associations with self-esteem and satisfaction with certain apparel. The study was also designed to identify the person and product attributes valued by postmastectomy women while shopping for apparel items. A pre-posttest research design was used to examine the association of intervention, the self-esteem, and apparel satisfaction of the sample. Descriptive statistics were used for general information, as well as person and product attributes, and t tests were applied to test the two hypotheses. Analysis indicated that the intervention enhanced apparel satisfaction; however, the differences were not significant for self-esteem. The participants used support groups and evaluated several product attributes before making the apparel purchases. Implications for education, research, and service are discussed.

Self Management Techniques and Disclosure of Sero Status

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Falaye, Ajibola; Afolayan, Joel Adeleke

2015-01-01

This study looked at using Self Management Technique (SMT) to promote self-disclosure of Sero status in Kwara State, Nigeria. A pre-test, post-test and control group quasi experimental design using a 2x2x2 factorial matrix was adopted. Sixty participants were sampled by balloting from two HIV/AIDS screening centres. Four instruments were used such…

Initial Usability and Feasibility Evaluation of a Personal Health Record-Based Self-Management System for Older Adults.

PubMed

Sheehan, Barbara; Lucero, Robert J

2015-01-01

Electronic personal health record-based (ePHR-based) self-management systems can improve patient engagement and have an impact on health outcomes. In order to realize the benefits of these systems, there is a need to develop and evaluate heath information technology from the same theoretical underpinnings. Using an innovative usability approach based in human-centered distributed information design (HCDID), we tested an ePHR-based falls-prevention self-management system-Self-Assessment via a Personal Health Record (i.e., SAPHeR)-designed using HCDID principles in a laboratory. And we later evaluated SAPHeR's use by community-dwelling older adults at home. The innovative approach used in this study supported the analysis of four components: tasks, users, representations, and functions. Tasks were easily learned and features such as text-associated images facilitated task completion. Task performance times were slow, however user satisfaction was high. Nearly seven out of every ten features desired by design participants were evaluated in our usability testing of the SAPHeR system. The in vivo evaluation suggests that older adults could improve their confidence in performing indoor and outdoor activities after using the SAPHeR system. We have applied an innovative consumer-usability evaluation. Our approach addresses the limitations of other usability testing methods that do not utilize consistent theoretically based methods for designing and testing technology. We have successfully demonstrated the utility of testing consumer technology use across multiple components (i.e., task, user, representational, functional) to evaluate the usefulness, usability, and satisfaction of an ePHR-based self-management system.

"New Skills and Abilities to Enable Me to Support My Pupils in a Forward Thinking Positive Way:" A Self-Discovery Programme for Teachers in Mainstream School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Powell, Lesley; Cheshire, Anna

2008-01-01

The purpose of this study is to adapt, deliver, and pilot test the Self-discovery Programme (SDP) for teachers in mainstream school. The study used a pre-test post-test design. Quantitative data were collected by self-administered questionnaires given to teachers at two points in time: baseline (immediately pre-SDP) and immediately post-SDP.…

Mandibular condylar morphology for bruxers with different grinding patterns.

PubMed

Tao, Jianxiang; Wu, Junhua; Zhang, Xuying

2015-12-29

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mandibular condylar morphology for bruxers with different grinding patterns. Condylar sectional morphology and condylar position of 30 subjects were determined by two viewers using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) image data sets. The grinding patterns during sleep bruxism (SB) were determined objectively using a Brux-checker device.Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis for the condylar morphology type between different tooth grinding patterns. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used for correlation analysis between condylar position and the canine guidance area during SB. Theincidence of condylarmorphologicaldivergence from idealwas35%.There isa significant difference in distribution of condylar morphology type between the group grinding (GG) and GG combined with mediotrusive side grinding (MG) (Pv 0.05). There was no significant correlation between condylar position and canine guidance area during bruxism. MG during SB is associated with condylar morphology that is considered not to be ideal.

Mandibular condylar morphology for bruxers with different grinding patterns.

PubMed

Tao, Jianxiang; Wu, Junhua; Zhang, Xuying

2016-07-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mandibular condylar morphology for bruxers with different grinding patterns. Condylar sectional morphology and condylar position of 30 subjects were determined by two viewers using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) image data sets. The grinding patterns during sleep bruxism (SB) were determined objectively using a Brux-checker device.Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis for the condylar morphology type between different tooth grinding patterns. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used for correlation analysis between condylar position and the canine guidance area during SB. Theincidence of condylarmorphologicaldivergence from idealwas35%.There isa significant difference in distribution of condylar morphology type between the group grinding (GG) and GG combined with mediotrusive side grinding (MG) (p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between condylar position and canine guidance area during bruxism. MG during SB is associated with condylar morphology that is considered not to be ideal.

The Impact of Inquiry Based Instruction on Science Process Skills and Self-Efficacy Perceptions of Pre-Service Science Teachers at a University Level Biology Laboratory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sen, Ceylan; Sezen Vekli, Gülsah

2016-01-01

The aim of this study is to determine the influence of inquiry-based teaching approach on pre-service science teachers' laboratory self-efficacy perceptions and scientific process skills. The quasi experimental model with pre-test-post-test control group design was used as an experimental design in this research. The sample of this study included…

Self-cutting blades and their influence on primary stability of tapered dental implants in a simulated low-density bone model: a laboratory study.

PubMed

Kim, Duck-Rae; Lim, Young-Jun; Kim, Myung-Joo; Kwon, Ho-Beom; Kim, Sung-Hun

2011-11-01

This study tested the hypothesis that there would be differences in primary stability due to the presence of self cutting blades. We investigated the effect of a self-cutting blade implant design on the primary stability of tapered dental implants in a simulated low-density bone model. Implant fixtures with 2 different designs, one with self-cutting blades and the other without self-cutting blades, were fabricated in the same implant system. Insertion torque, resonance frequency analysis, reverse torque, and pull-out and push-in tests were evaluated in grade no. 10 solid rigid polyurethane foam. All 5 assessments of the group without self-cutting blades were significantly higher than those of the self-cutting group (P < .001). The implants without self-cutting blades create a lateral compression with increased contact surface area and consequently improve the primary stability in a simulated low-density bone model. Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

U.S. Navy Fault-Tolerant Microcomputer.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-07-01

105 8929 SEPULVEDA BLVD. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90045 To: DEFENSE TECHNICAL INFORMATION CENTER Fal-ae Technoog Corporation MILITARY STANDARD FAULT...maintainability. Com- puter errors at any significant level can be disastrous in terms of human injury, aborted missions, loss of critical information and...employed to resolve the question "who checks the checker?" The IOC votes on information received from the bus and outputs the maiority decision. Thus no

Parallel Software Model Checking

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-08

checker. This project will explore this strategy to parallelize the generalized PDR algorithm for software model checking. It belongs to TF1 due to its ... focus on formal verification . Generalized PDR. Generalized Property Driven Rechability (GPDR) i is an algorithm for solving HORN-SMT reachability...subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. 1. REPORT DATE 08

Making Microscopic Cubes Of Boron

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Faulkner, Joseph M.

1993-01-01

Production of finely divided cubes of boron involves vacuum-deposition technology and requires making of template. Template supports pattern of checkered squares 25 micrometers on side, which are etched 25 micrometers into template material. Template coasted uniformly with paralyene or some similar vacuum coating with low coefficient of adhesion. Intended application to solid rocket fuels, explosives, and pyrotechnics; process used for other applications, from manufacture of pharmaceuticals to processing of nuclear materials.

A Study on Run Time Assurance for Complex Cyber Physical Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-18

safety verification approach was applied to synchronization of distributed local clocks of the nodes on a CAN bus by Jiang et al. [36]. The class of...mode of interaction between the instrumented system and the checker, we distin- guish between synchronous and asynchronous monitoring. In synchronous ...occurred. Synchronous monitoring may deliver a higher degree of assurance than the asynchronous one, because it can block a dangerous action. However

Effects of Online Translation on Morphosyntactic and Lexical-Pragmatic Accuracy in Essay Writing in Spanish as a Foreign Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fredholm, Kent

2014-01-01

The use of online translation (OT) is increasing as more pupils receive laptops from their schools. This study investigates OT use in two groups of Swedish pupils (ages 17-18) studying Spanish as an L3: one group (A) having free Internet access and the spelling and grammar checker of Microsoft Word, the other group (B) using printed dictionaries…

AIDE - Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment

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

Smith, Cathy L.

2013-04-28

Would you like to know when someone has dropped an undesirable executable binary on our system? What about something less malicious such as a software installation by a user? What about the user who decides to install a newer version of mod_perl or PHP on your web server without letting you know beforehand? Or even something as simple as when an undocumented config file change is made by another member of the admin group? Do you even want to know about all the changes that happen on a daily basis on your server? The purpose of an intrusion detection systemmore » (IDS) is to detect unauthorized, possibly malicious activity. The purpose of a host-based IDS, or file integrity checker, is check for unauthorized changes to key system files, binaries, libraries, and directories on the system. AIDE is an Open Source file and directory integrity checker. AIDE will let you know when a file or directory has been added, deleted, modified. It is included with the Red Hat Enterprise 6. It is available for other Linux distros. This is a case study describing the process of configuring AIDE on an out of the box RHEL6 installation. Its goal is to illustrate the thinking and the process by which a useful AIDE configuration is built.« less

Correlation between near infrared spectroscopy and electrical techniques in measuring skin moisture content

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohamad, M.; Sabbri, A. R. M.; Mat Jafri, M. Z.; Omar, A. F.

2014-11-01

Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy technique serves as an important tool for the measurement of moisture content of skin owing to the advantages it has over the other techniques. The purpose of the study is to develop a correlation between NIR spectrometer with electrical conventional techniques for skin moisture measurement. A non-invasive measurement of moisture content of skin was performed on different part of human face and hand under control environment (temperature 21 ± 1 °C, relative humidity 45 ± 5 %). Ten healthy volunteers age between 21-25 (male and female) participated in this study. The moisture content of skin was measured using DermaLab® USB Moisture Module, Scalar Moisture Checker and NIR spectroscopy (NIRQuest). Higher correlation was observed between NIRQuest and Dermalab moisture probe with a coefficient of determination (R2) above 70 % for all the subjects. However, the value of R2 between NIRQuest and Moisture Checker was observed to be lower with the R2 values ranges from 51.6 to 94.4 %. The correlation of NIR spectroscopy technique successfully developed for measuring moisture content of the skin. The analysis of this correlation can help to establish novel instruments based on an optical system in clinical used especially in the dermatology field.

The Effectiveness of Problem-Based Learning Approach Based on Multiple Intelligences in Terms of Student’s Achievement, Mathematical Connection Ability, and Self-Esteem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kartikasari, A.; Widjajanti, D. B.

2017-02-01

The aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness of learning approach using problem-based learning based on multiple intelligences in developing student’s achievement, mathematical connection ability, and self-esteem. This study is experimental research with research sample was 30 of Grade X students of MIA III MAN Yogyakarta III. Learning materials that were implemented consisting of trigonometry and geometry. For the purpose of this study, researchers designed an achievement test made up of 44 multiple choice questions with respectively 24 questions on the concept of trigonometry and 20 questions for geometry. The researcher also designed a connection mathematical test and self-esteem questionnaire that consisted of 7 essay questions on mathematical connection test and 30 items of self-esteem questionnaire. The learning approach said that to be effective if the proportion of students who achieved KKM on achievement test, the proportion of students who achieved a minimum score of high category on the results of both mathematical connection test and self-esteem questionnaire were greater than or equal to 70%. Based on the hypothesis testing at the significance level of 5%, it can be concluded that the learning approach using problem-based learning based on multiple intelligences was effective in terms of student’s achievement, mathematical connection ability, and self-esteem.

Software Quality Control at Belle II

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ritter, M.; Kuhr, T.; Hauth, T.; Gebard, T.; Kristof, M.; Pulvermacher, C.; Belle Software Group, II

2017-10-01

Over the last seven years the software stack of the next generation B factory experiment Belle II has grown to over one million lines of C++ and Python code, counting only the part included in offline software releases. There are several thousand commits to the central repository by about 100 individual developers per year. To keep a coherent software stack of high quality that it can be sustained and used efficiently for data acquisition, simulation, reconstruction, and analysis over the lifetime of the Belle II experiment is a challenge. A set of tools is employed to monitor the quality of the software and provide fast feedback to the developers. They are integrated in a machinery that is controlled by a buildbot master and automates the quality checks. The tools include different compilers, cppcheck, the clang static analyzer, valgrind memcheck, doxygen, a geometry overlap checker, a check for missing or extra library links, unit tests, steering file level tests, a sophisticated high-level validation suite, and an issue tracker. The technological development infrastructure is complemented by organizational means to coordinate the development.

Preferences for oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing among social media-using young black, Hispanic, and white men-who-have-sex-with-men (YMSM): implications for future interventions

PubMed Central

Merchant, R.C.; Clark, M.A.; Liu, T.; Rosenberger, J.G.; Romanoff, J.; Bauermeister, J.; Mayer, K.H.

2016-01-01

Objectives We assessed preferences of social media-using young black, Hispanic and white men-who-have-sex-with-men (YMSM) for oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing, as compared with other currently available HIV testing options. We also identified aspects of the oral fluid rapid HIV self-test that might influence preferences for using this test instead of other HIV testing options and determined if consideration of HIV testing costs and the potential future availability of fingerstick rapid HIV self-testing change HIV testing preferences. Study design Anonymous online survey. Methods HIV-uninfected YMSM across the United States recruited from multiple social media platforms completed an online survey about willingness to use, opinions about and their preferences for using oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing and five other currently available HIV testing options. In a pre/post questionnaire format design, participants first indicated their preferences for using the six HIV testing options (pre) before answering questions that asked their experience with and opinions about HIV testing. Although not revealed to participants and not apparent in the phrasing of the questions or responses, the opinion questions concerned aspects of oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing (e.g. its possible advantages/disadvantages, merits/demerits, and barriers/facilitators). Afterward, participants were queried again about their HIV testing preferences (post). After completing these questions, participants were asked to re-indicate their HIV testing preferences when considering they had to pay for HIV testing and if fingerstick blood sample rapid HIV self-testing were an additional testing option. Aspects about the oral fluid rapid HIV self-test associated with influencing increased the preference for using the test (post assessment vs pre-assessment of opinion topics) were identified through multivariable regression models that adjusted for participant characteristics. Results Of the 1975 YMSM participants, the median age was 22 years (IQR 20–23); 19% were black, 36% Hispanic, and 45% white; and 18% previously used an oral fluid rapid HIV self-test. Although views about oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing test were favorable, few intended to use the test. Aspects about the oral fluid rapid HIV self-test associated with an increased preference for using the test were its privacy features, that it motivated getting tested more often or as soon as possible, and that it conferred feelings of more control over one’s sexual health. Preferences for the oral fluid rapid HIV self-test were lower when costs were considered, yet these YMSM were much more interested in fingerstick blood sampling than oral fluid sampling rapid HIV self-testing. Conclusions Despite the perceived advantages of the oral fluid rapid HIV self-test and favorable views about it by this population, prior use as well as future intention in using the test were low. Aspects about oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing identified as influential in this study might assist in interventions aimed to increase its use among this high HIV risk population as a means of encouraging regular HIV testing, identifying HIV-infected persons, and linking them to care. Although not yet commercially available in the United States, fingerstick rapid HIV self-testing might help motivate YMSM to be tested more than oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing. PMID:28359394

Development of a Self-contained Heat Rejection Module (SHRM), phase 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fleming, M. L.

1976-01-01

The laboratory prototype test hardware and testing of the Self-Contained Heat Rejection Module are discussed. The purpose of the test was to provide operational and design experience for application to a flight prototype design. It also provided test evaluation of several of the actual components which were to be used in the flight prototype hardware. Several changes were made in the flight prototype design due to these tests including simpler line routing, relocation of remote operated valves to a position upstream of the expansion valves, and shock mounting of the compressor. The concept of heat rejection control by compressor speed reduction was verified and the liquid receiver, accumulator, remote control valves, oil separator and power source were demonstrated as acceptable. A procedure for mode changes between pumped fluid and vapor compression was developed.

24 CFR 100.141 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...) Secured by residential real estate. Self-test means any program, practice or study a lender voluntarily conducts or authorizes which is designed and used specifically to determine the extent or effectiveness of compliance with the Fair Housing Act. The self-test must create data or factual information that is not...

24 CFR 100.141 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

...) Secured by residential real estate. Self-test means any program, practice or study a lender voluntarily conducts or authorizes which is designed and used specifically to determine the extent or effectiveness of compliance with the Fair Housing Act. The self-test must create data or factual information that is not...

24 CFR 100.141 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

...) Secured by residential real estate. Self-test means any program, practice or study a lender voluntarily conducts or authorizes which is designed and used specifically to determine the extent or effectiveness of compliance with the Fair Housing Act. The self-test must create data or factual information that is not...

24 CFR 100.141 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

...) Secured by residential real estate. Self-test means any program, practice or study a lender voluntarily conducts or authorizes which is designed and used specifically to determine the extent or effectiveness of compliance with the Fair Housing Act. The self-test must create data or factual information that is not...

24 CFR 100.141 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

...) Secured by residential real estate. Self-test means any program, practice or study a lender voluntarily conducts or authorizes which is designed and used specifically to determine the extent or effectiveness of compliance with the Fair Housing Act. The self-test must create data or factual information that is not...

The Self-Evaluation Scale-Self-Report (SES-S) Version: Studies of Reliability and Validity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Erford, Bradley T.; Bardhoshi, Gerta; Duncan, Kelly; Voucas, Stephanie; Dewlin, Emily

2017-01-01

The Self-Evaluation Scale-Self-Report version was designed to assess self-concept in students aged 10 to 17 years. Coefficient a was 0.94, and test-retest was 0.87. A unidimensional construct emerged with strong convergent validity with scores on the Piers-Harris 2 (r = 0.77) and Self-Efficacy Self-Report Scale (r = 0.70).

Submicron Systems Architecture Project

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-11-01

This project is concerned with the architecture , design , and testing of VLSI Systems. The principal activities in this report period include: The Tree Machine; COPE, The Homogeneous Machine; Computational Arrays; Switch-Level Model for MOS Logic Design; Testing; Local Network and Designer Workstations; Self-timed Systems; Characterization of Deadlock Free Resource Contention; Concurrency Algebra; Language Design and Logic for Program Verification.

New name can sharpen a hospital's image--or diffuse checkered past.

PubMed

Burns, J

1992-06-22

Hospitals change their names for a variety of reasons. Some seek a new identity that conveys a wider range of services; others need a new moniker as a result of a merger; still others hope a change can help the facility erase past problems. Whatever the case may be, a hospital's decision to change its name has evolved from a mere technical formality to a competitive, and often costly, marketing strategy.

CAN YOU MAKE A PICTURE TO SUGGEST, A MANUAL OF IDEAS AND MATERIALS FOR A CONTEMPORARY CLASSROOM MATH RESEARCH CENTER.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

BUCKS COUNTY SCHOOL STUDY COUNCIL

A MATH RESEARCH CENTER MAY BE SET UP IN A CORNER OF A ROOM, PERFERABLY WITH A CHALK BOARD. CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO CREATE MANY OF THE GAMES, CHARTS AND STORIES TO BE USED IN SUCH A CENTER. THE CENTER MAY BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH BOOKS, GAMES, BLOCKS, POPPIT BEADS, COUNTERS, CHECKERS, AND NUMBER LINE CHARTS. ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO A WIDE VARIETY OF…

Implementation of a Loosely-Coupled Lockstep Approach in the Xilinx Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC for High Consequence Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-03-01

Implementation of a Loosely-Coupled Lockstep Approach in the Xilinx Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC™ for High Consequence Applications Ryan D...sandia.gov Abstract: For high consequence applications requiring information assurance, the architecture of the Xilinx Zynq- 7000 All Programmable ...transaction checker residing in the Programmable Logic portion of the Zynq device will be discussed along with implementation results and latency

Green Flight Challenge

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-09-28

CAFE Foundation Hanger Boss Mike Fenn waves the speed competition checkered flag for the PhoEnix aircraft during the 2011 Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google, at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011. NASA and the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation are having the challenge with the goal to advance technologies in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions with cleaner renewable fuels and electric aircraft. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Green Flight Challenge

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-09-28

CAFE Foundation Hanger Boss Mike Fenn waves the speed competition checkered flag for the EcoEagle aircraft during the 2011 Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google, at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011. NASA and the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation are having the challenge with the goal to advance technologies in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions with cleaner renewable fuels and electric aircraft. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Green Flight Challenge

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-09-28

CAFE Foundation Hanger Boss Mike Fenn waves the speed competition checkered flag for the e-Genius aircraft during the 2011 Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google, at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011. NASA and the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation are having the challenge with the goal to advance technologies in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions with cleaner renewable fuels and electric aircraft. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

A Methodology for Formal Hardware Verification, with Application to Microprocessors.

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-08-29

concurrent programming lan- guages. Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Logics and Models of Concurrent Systems ( Colle - sur - Loup , France, 8-19...restricted class of formu- las . Bose and Fisher [26] developed a symbolic model checker based on a Cosmos switch-level model. Their modeling approach...verification using SDVS-the method and a case study. 17th Anuual Microprogramming Workshop (New Orleans, LA , 30 October-2 November 1984). Published as

Specification and Verification of Web Applications in Rewriting Logic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alpuente, María; Ballis, Demis; Romero, Daniel

This paper presents a Rewriting Logic framework that formalizes the interactions between Web servers and Web browsers through a communicating protocol abstracting HTTP. The proposed framework includes a scripting language that is powerful enough to model the dynamics of complex Web applications by encompassing the main features of the most popular Web scripting languages (e.g. PHP, ASP, Java Servlets). We also provide a detailed characterization of browser actions (e.g. forward/backward navigation, page refresh, and new window/tab openings) via rewrite rules, and show how our models can be naturally model-checked by using the Linear Temporal Logic of Rewriting (LTLR), which is a Linear Temporal Logic specifically designed for model-checking rewrite theories. Our formalization is particularly suitable for verification purposes, since it allows one to perform in-depth analyses of many subtle aspects related to Web interaction. Finally, the framework has been completely implemented in Maude, and we report on some successful experiments that we conducted by using the Maude LTLR model-checker.

Apollo 9 Mission image - S0-65 Multispectral Photography - Mexico

NASA Image and Video Library

2009-02-19

AS09-26A-3781A (11 March 1969) --- Colored infrared photograph of the mouth of the Colorado River in northern Baja California and Sonora, Mexico, as seen from Apollo 9 spacecraft during its 121st revolution of Earth. Photographed from an altitude of 130 nautical miles, at 16:14 GMT, on March 11, 1969. Color infrared film is designed to render healthy green foliage as tones of red, such as the red checker-board patterns in the irrigated farm lands along the Colorado River. Red hues of vegetation can be seen in the valleys and on the slopes of the San Pedro Martia and Juarez Mountains, at left. White ribbon-like salt lakes near the river mouth and the wide expanse of sand dunes in the Great Desert, at right, are evidence of the arid climate. Light colors of silt bands in the waters of the Gulf of California reflect currents and water depths. The town of San Felipe is on the Gulf coast at lower left.

Measures of Cultural Competence in Nurses: An Integrative Review

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background. There is limited literature available identifying and describing the instruments that measure cultural competence in nursing students and nursing professionals. Design. An integrative review was undertaken to identify the characteristics common to these instruments, examine their psychometric properties, and identify the concepts these instruments are designed to measure. Method. There were eleven instruments identified that measure cultural competence in nursing. Of these eleven instruments, four had been thoroughly tested in either initial development or in subsequent testing, with developers providing extensive details of the testing. Results. The current literature identifies that the instruments to assess cultural competence in nurses and nursing students are self-administered and based on individuals' perceptions. The instruments are commonly utilized to test the effectiveness of educational programs designed to increase cultural competence. Conclusions. The reviewed instruments measure nurses' self-perceptions or self-reported level of cultural competence but offer no objective measure of culturally competent care from a patient's perspective which can be problematic. Comparison of instruments reveals that they are based on a variety of conceptual frameworks and that multiple factors should be considered when deciding which instrument to use. PMID:23818818

Formal Analysis of the Remote Agent Before and After Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Havelund, Klaus; Lowry, Mike; Park, SeungJoon; Pecheur, Charles; Penix, John; Visser, Willem; White, Jon L.

2000-01-01

This paper describes two separate efforts that used the SPIN model checker to verify deep space autonomy flight software. The first effort occurred at the beginning of a spiral development process and found five concurrency errors early in the design cycle that the developers acknowledge would not have been found through testing. This effort required a substantial manual modeling effort involving both abstraction and translation from the prototype LISP code to the PROMELA language used by SPIN. This experience and others led to research to address the gap between formal method tools and the development cycle used by software developers. The Java PathFinder tool which directly translates from Java to PROMELA was developed as part of this research, as well as automatic abstraction tools. In 1999 the flight software flew on a space mission, and a deadlock occurred in a sibling subsystem to the one which was the focus of the first verification effort. A second quick-response "cleanroom" verification effort found the concurrency error in a short amount of time. The error was isomorphic to one of the concurrency errors found during the first verification effort. The paper demonstrates that formal methods tools can find concurrency errors that indeed lead to loss of spacecraft functions, even for the complex software required for autonomy. Second, it describes progress in automatic translation and abstraction that eventually will enable formal methods tools to be inserted directly into the aerospace software development cycle.

Two for one: a self-management plan coupled with a prescription sheet for children with asthma.

PubMed

Ducharme, Francine M; Noya, Francisco; McGillivray, David; Resendes, Sandy; Ducharme-Bénard, Stéphanie; Zemek, Roger; Bhogal, Sanjit Kaur; Rouleau, Rachel

2008-10-01

Despite strong recommendations in the asthma guidelines, the use of written self-management plans remains low among asthmatic patients. To develop a written self-management plan, based on scientific evidence and expert opinions, in a format intended to facilitate its dispensing by health care professionals, and to test the perception of its relevance and clarity by asthmatic children, adolescents and adults. Inspired by previously tested self-management plans, surveys of asthma educators, expert opinions and the 2004 Canadian Asthma Guidelines, the authors simultaneously developed French and English versions of a written self-management plan that coupled with a prescription. The self-management plan was tested in parents and their asthmatic children (aged one to 17 years), and it was revised until 85% clarity and perceived relevance was achieved. Ninety-seven children and their parents were interviewed. Twenty per cent had a self-management plan. On the final revision, nearly all items were clear and perceived relevant by 85% or more of the interviewees. Two self-management plans were designed for clinics and acute care settings, respectively. The plans are divided into three control zones identified by symptoms with optional peak flow values and symbolized by traffic light colours. They are designed in triplicate format with a prescription slip, a medical chart copy and a patient copy. The written self-management plans, based on available scientific evidence and expert opinions, are clear and perceived to be relevant by children, adolescents and their parents. By incorporating the prescription and chart copies, they were designed to facilitate dispensing by physicians in both clinics and acute care settings.

Development and Validation of the Personality Assessment Questionnaire: Test Manual.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rohner, Ronald P.; And Others

Data are presented evaluating the validity and reliability of the Personality Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ), a self-report questionnaire designed to elicit respondents' perceptions of themselves with respect to seven personality and behavioral dispositions: hostility and aggression, dependence, self-esteem, self-adequacy, emotional…

Testing the Role of Parental Debt Attitudes, Student Income, Dependency Status, and Financial Knowledge Have in Shaping Financial Self-Efficacy among College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heckman, Stuart J.; Grable, John E.

2011-01-01

This study was designed to evaluate the determinants of personal finance knowledge among college students and to test how this knowledge affects students' perceived self-efficacy beliefs in dealing with personal financial issues. In this study, a test of parental attitudes towards debt, students' income level, and dependency status related to…

Longitudinal Test of Self-Determination Theory's Motivation Mediation Model in a Naturally Occurring Classroom Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jang, Hyungshim; Kim, Eun Joo; Reeve, Johnmarshall

2012-01-01

This study provides the first longitudinally designed, classroom-based empirical test of self-determination theory's motivation mediation model. Measures of perceived autonomy support, motivation (autonomy need satisfaction), engagement, and achievement were collected from 500 (257 females, 243 males) 8th-grade students in Korea in a 3-wave…

Assessing the Use of Employment Screening for Sexual Assault Prevention

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-01-01

designed to address. For example, one meta-analysis found the average validity coefficient, or association, between integrity tests and job performance...or a more-general trait), and the group that is tested . For example, one meta-analysis found stronger associations between integrity tests and self... Tests Overt and personality-based integrity tests use questions designed to address somewhat different but overlapping content areas ( Ones

The Effectiveness of the Harm Reduction Group Therapy Based on Bandura's Self-Efficacy Theory on Risky Behaviors of Drug-Dependent Sex Worker Women.

PubMed

Rabani-Bavojdan, Marjan; Rabani-Bavojdan, Mozhgan; Rajabizadeh, Ghodratollah; Kaviani, Nahid; Bahramnejad, Ali; Ghaffari, Zohreh; Shafiei-Bafti, Mehdi

2017-07-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the harm reduction group therapy based on Bandura's self-efficacy theory on risky behaviors of sex workers in Kerman, Iran. A quasi-experimental two-group design (a random selection with pre-test and post-test) was used. A risky behaviors questionnaire was used to collect. The sample was selected among sex workers referring to drop-in centers in Kerman. Subjects were allocated to two groups and were randomly classified into two experimental and control groups. The sample group consisted of 56 subjects. The experimental design was carried out during 12 sessions, and the post-test was performed one month and two weeks after the completion of the sessions. The results were analyzed statistically. By reducing harm based on Bandura's self-efficacy theory, the risky behaviors of the experimental group, including injection behavior, sexual behavior, violence, and damage to the skin, were significantly reduced in the pre-test compared to the post-test (P < 0.010). The harm reduction group therapy based on Bandura's self-efficacy theory can reduce the risky behaviors of sex workers.

The Stylist: A Pascal Program for Analyzing Prose Style

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-01

words from various periods of English literature, using a primitive tabulating device that spit out reels of paper. His results, however, proved little ...LITERATURE REVIEW When I first conceived of The Stylist, I believed that a "style checker" was a completely original idea. Little did I know that major...sonic coillec. P1C.Style, however, had little to recoinwimid itself besi~des.-this 1Ituro, It relics upon a readability rormula. It also attempts somle

The PlusCal Algorithm Language

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lamport, Leslie

Algorithms are different from programs and should not be described with programming languages. The only simple alternative to programming languages has been pseudo-code. PlusCal is an algorithm language that can be used right now to replace pseudo-code, for both sequential and concurrent algorithms. It is based on the TLA + specification language, and a PlusCal algorithm is automatically translated to a TLA + specification that can be checked with the TLC model checker and reasoned about formally.

Green Flight Challenge

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-09-28

CAFE Foundation Hanger Boss Mike Fenn waves the speed competition checkered flag for the Taurus G4 aircraft during the 2011 Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google, at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011. NASA and the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation are having the challenge with the goal to advance technologies in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions with cleaner renewable fuels and electric aircraft. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Green Flight Challenge

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-09-27

The checkered flag is waved as the PhoEnix aircraft crosses the finish line of the miles per gallon (MPG) flight during the 2011 Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google, at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011. NASA and the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation are having the challenge with the goal to advance technologies in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions with cleaner renewable fuels and electric aircraft. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Aspect: A Formal Specification Language for Detecting Bugs

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-06-01

the Aspect state from Chapter 6 and, below it, the definition of the approximating state used by the checker. The additional component Multilocs marks...stages. First, each collection object in Multilocs is expanded into a set of objects whose dependency and value sets are subsets of those of the... Multilocs x Prelocs Env = Var ý7 PLoc x PSource Store = Loc x Aspect F-k Val x PSource Vat = Unknown + PLoc Aspect = PlainAspect + Pointer + Collection

Improvement of older driver safety through self-evaluation : the development of a self-evaluation instrument

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-03-01

This research project was designed to increase safety in the older driver population by developing and testing a self-evaluation instrument. The instrument is intended for drivers who may be starting to experience declines in driving abilities or los...

Spectral imaging using consumer-level devices and kernel-based regression.

PubMed

Heikkinen, Ville; Cámara, Clara; Hirvonen, Tapani; Penttinen, Niko

2016-06-01

Hyperspectral reflectance factor image estimations were performed in the 400-700 nm wavelength range using a portable consumer-level laptop display as an adjustable light source for a trichromatic camera. Targets of interest were ColorChecker Classic samples, Munsell Matte samples, geometrically challenging tempera icon paintings from the turn of the 20th century, and human hands. Measurements and simulations were performed using Nikon D80 RGB camera and Dell Vostro 2520 laptop screen as a light source. Estimations were performed without spectral characteristics of the devices and by emphasizing simplicity for training sets and estimation model optimization. Spectral and color error images are shown for the estimations using line-scanned hyperspectral images as the ground truth. Estimations were performed using kernel-based regression models via a first-degree inhomogeneous polynomial kernel and a Matérn kernel, where in the latter case the median heuristic approach for model optimization and link function for bounded estimation were evaluated. Results suggest modest requirements for a training set and show that all estimation models have markedly improved accuracy with respect to the DE00 color distance (up to 99% for paintings and hands) and the Pearson distance (up to 98% for paintings and 99% for hands) from a weak training set (Digital ColorChecker SG) case when small representative training data were used in the estimation.

Expert system validation in prolog

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stock, Todd; Stachowitz, Rolf; Chang, Chin-Liang; Combs, Jacqueline

1988-01-01

An overview of the Expert System Validation Assistant (EVA) is being implemented in Prolog at the Lockheed AI Center. Prolog was chosen to facilitate rapid prototyping of the structure and logic checkers and since February 1987, we have implemented code to check for irrelevance, subsumption, duplication, deadends, unreachability, and cycles. The architecture chosen is extremely flexible and expansible, yet concise and complementary with the normal interactive style of Prolog. The foundation of the system is in the connection graph representation. Rules and facts are modeled as nodes in the graph and arcs indicate common patterns between rules. The basic activity of the validation system is then a traversal of the connection graph, searching for various patterns the system recognizes as erroneous. To aid in specifying these patterns, a metalanguage is developed, providing the user with the basic facilities required to reason about the expert system. Using the metalanguage, the user can, for example, give the Prolog inference engine the goal of finding inconsistent conclusions among the rules, and Prolog will search the graph intantiations which can match the definition of inconsistency. Examples of code for some of the checkers are provided and the algorithms explained. Technical highlights include automatic construction of a connection graph, demonstration of the use of metalanguage, the A* algorithm modified to detect all unique cycles, general-purpose stacks in Prolog, and a general-purpose database browser with pattern completion.

Instructional design considerations promoting engineering design self-efficacy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson, Andrew M.

Engineering design activities are frequently included in technology and engineering classrooms. These activities provide an open-ended context for practicing critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and innovation---collectively part of the 21st Century Skills which are increasingly needed for success in the workplace. Self-efficacy is a perceptual belief that impacts learning and behavior. It has been shown to directly impact each of these 21st Century Skills but its relation to engineering design is only recently being studied. The purpose of this study was to examine how instructional considerations made when implementing engineering design activities might affect student self-efficacy outcomes in a middle school engineering classroom. Student responses to two self-efficacy inventories related to design, the Engineering Design Self-Efficacy Instrument and Creative Thinking Self-Efficacy Inventory, were collected before and after participation in an engineering design curriculum. Students were also answered questions on specific factors of their experience during the curriculum which teachers may exhibit control over: teamwork and feedback. Results were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficients, paired and independent t-tests, and structural equation modeling to better understand patterns for self-efficacy beliefs in students. Results suggested that design self-efficacy and creative thinking self-efficacy are significantly correlated, r(1541) = .783, p < .001, and increased following participation in a design curriculum, M diff = 1.32, t(133) = 7.60, p < .001 and Mdiff = 0.79, t(124) = 4.19, p < .001 respectively. Structural models also showed that students perceive team inclusion and feedback as significant contributors to their self-efficacy beliefs, while team diversity was not related to self-efficacy. Separate models for each predictor demonstrated good fit. Recommendations are made based on the corresponding nature of engineering design self-efficacy and creative thinking self-efficacy: strategies encouraging self-efficacy in these domains may be transferrable. Instructors are made aware of the significant impact of classroom strategies for increasing self-efficacy and given specific recommendations related to teamwork and feedback to support students. Finally, although there were weaknesses in the study related to the survey administration, future research opportunities are presented which may build from this work.

High-Pressure Hot-Gas Self-Acting Floating Ring Shaft Seal for Liquid Rocket Turbopumps. [tapered bore seals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burcham, R. E.; Diamond, W. A.

1980-01-01

Design analysis, detail design, fabrication, and experimental evaluation was performed on two self acting floating ring shaft seals for a rocket engine turbopump high pressure 24132500 n/sq m (3500 psig) hot gas 533 K 9500 F) high speed 3142 rad/sec (30000 rmp) turbine. The initial design used Rayleigh step hydrodynamic lift pads to assist in centering the seal ring with minimum rubbing contact. The final design used a convergent tapered bore to provide hydrostatic centering force. The Rayleigh step design was tested for 107 starts and 4.52 hours total. The leakage was satisfactory; however, the design was not acceptable due to excessive wear caused by inadequate centering force and failure of the sealing dam caused by erosion damage. The tapered bore design was tested for 370 starts and 15.93 hours total. Satisfactory performance for the required life of 7.5 hours per seal was successfully demonstrated.

Effects of a Peer Helping Training Program on Helping Skills and Self-Growth of Peer Helpers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aladag, Mine; Tezer, Esin

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop a peer helping training program for university students in Turkey and to examine its effectiveness in improving the helping skills and self-growth of peer helpers. A pre-test, post-test, follow-up-test experimental design, involving a treatment and control group, was carried out with a total sample of 31…

Development of gas-to-gas lift pad dynamic seals, volumes 1 and 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pope, A. N.; Pugh, D. W.

1987-01-01

Dynamic tests were performed on self acting (hydrodynamic) carbon face rotary shaft seals to assess their potential, relative to presently used labyrinth seals, for improving performance of aircraft gas turbine engines by reducing air leakage flow rate at compressor end seal locations. Three self acting bearing configurations, designed to supply load support at the interface of the stationary carbon seal and rotating seal race, were tested. Two configurations, the shrouded taper and shrouded flat step, were incorporated on the face of the stationary carbon seal element. The third configuration, inward pumping spiral grooves, was incorporated on the hard faced surface of the rotating seal race. Test results demonstrated seal leakage air flow rates from 75 to 95% lower that can be achieved with best state-of-the-art labyrinth designs and led to identification of the need for a more geometrically stable seal design configuration which is presently being manufactured for subsequent test evaluation.

Measuring self-esteem after spinal cord injury: Development, validation and psychometric characteristics of the SCI-QOL Self-esteem item bank and short form

PubMed Central

Kalpakjian, Claire Z.; Tate, Denise G.; Kisala, Pamela A.; Tulsky, David S.

2015-01-01

Objective To describe the development and psychometric properties of the Spinal Cord Injury-Quality of Life (SCI-QOL) Self-esteem item bank. Design Using a mixed-methods design, we developed and tested a self-esteem item bank through the use of focus groups with individuals with SCI and clinicians with expertise in SCI, cognitive interviews, and item-response theory- (IRT) based analytic approaches, including tests of model fit, differential item functioning (DIF) and precision. Setting We tested a pool of 30 items at several medical institutions across the United States, including the University of Michigan, Kessler Foundation, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, the University of Washington, Craig Hospital, and the James J. Peters/Bronx Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. Participants A total of 717 individuals with SCI completed the self-esteem items. Results A unidimensional model was observed (CFI = 0.946; RMSEA = 0.087) and measurement precision was good (theta range between −2.7 and 0.7). Eleven items were flagged for DIF; however, effect sizes were negligible with little practical impact on score estimates. The final calibrated item bank resulted in 23 retained items. Conclusion This study indicates that the SCI-QOL Self-esteem item bank represents a psychometrically robust measurement tool. Short form items are also suggested and computer adaptive tests are available. PMID:26010972

A Method of Self-Evaluation for Counselor Education. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Donald G.

A pretest-posttest control group design was used to test the value of employing four psychotherapeutic interaction scales for self-evaluation. Self-evaluation of the counselor-offered conditions empathy, positive regard, genuineness and intensity of interpersonal contact during the live counseling sessions of 44 counselors were compared with the…

Effects of Formative Assessment on Prospective Teachers' Achievement, Attitudes and Self-Regulation Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kincal, Remzi Y.; Ozan, Ceyhun

2018-01-01

The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of formative assessment on prospective teachers' academic achievement, attitudes towards educational measurement and self-regulation skills. In the study, quasi-experimental design including non-equivalent pre-test and post-test control group. There are 40 prospective teachers in each one of the…

Microteaching and Pre-Service Teachers' Sense of Self-Efficacy in Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arsal, Zeki

2014-01-01

This study examined the effect of microteaching on pre-service teachers' sense of self-efficacy in teaching using a pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental design. The sample of the study consisted of 70 pre-service teachers on a special education teacher preparation programme. The pre-service teachers in the experimental group were exposed to…

Self streamlining wind tunnel: Low speed testing and transonic test section design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wolf, S. W. D.; Goodyer, M. J.

1977-01-01

Comprehensive aerodynamic data on an airfoil section were obtained through a wide range of angles of attack, both stalled and unstalled. Data were gathered using a self streamlining wind tunnel and were compared to results obtained on the same section in a conventional wind tunnel. The reduction of wall interference through streamline was demonstrated.

Improving Senior Secondary School Students' Attitude towards Mathematics through Self and Cooperative-Instructional Strategies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ifamuyiwa, S. A.; Akinsola, M. K.

2008-01-01

This study investigated the effects of self and cooperative-instructional strategies on senior secondary school students' attitude towards Mathematics. The moderating effects of locus of control and gender were also investigated. The study adopted pre-test and post-test, control group quasi-experimental design using a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial matrix…

Spelling Instruction in Spanish: A Comparison of Self-Correction, Visual Imagery and Copying

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gaintza, Zuriñe; Goikoetxea, Edurne

2016-01-01

Two randomised control experiments examined spelling outcomes in a repeated measures design (pre-test, post-tests; 1-day, 1-month follow-up, 5-month follow-up), where students learned Spanish irregular words through (1) immediate feedback using self-correction, (2) visual imagery where children imagine and represent words using movement, and (3)…

Low literacy self-care management patient education for a multi-lingual heart failure population: Results of a pilot study.

PubMed

Dickson, Victoria Vaughan; Chyun, Deborah; Caridi, Cristina; Gregory, Jill K; Katz, Stuart

2016-02-01

The purpose of this pilot study was to test the impact of language-free, low literacy self-care management patient education materials in an ethnically diverse multilingual heart failure (HF) population. A one group pre-test-post-test design measured changes in self-care, knowledge and health-related quality of life (HRQL) after a 1 month intervention using language-free, low literacy self-care management patient education materials and delivered by a health educator. The ethnically diverse sample (n=21) was predominately male (72%), 48% Black, 42% Hispanic, and 28% marginal/inadequate literacy. There were significant improvements in self-care and knowledge but not HRQL. Language-free, low literacy self-care patient education may facilitate improved self-care and knowledge in diverse populations who are at risk for poor HF outcomes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Designing and Testing of Self-Cleaning Recirculating Zebrafish Tanks.

PubMed

Nema, Shubham; Bhargava, Yogesh

2016-08-01

Maintenance of large number of zebrafish in captive conditions is a daunting task. This can be eased by the use of recirculating racks with self-cleaning zebrafish tanks. Commercially available systems are costly, and compatibility of intercompany products has never been investigated. Although various cost-effective designs and methods of construction of custom-made recirculating zebrafish racks are available in literature, the design of self-cleaning zebrafish tanks is still not available. In this study, we report the design and method of construction of the self-cleaning unit, which can be fitted in any zebrafish tank. We validated the design by investigating sediment cleaning process in rectangular and cylindrical tank geometries using time lapse imaging. Our results suggest that for both tank geometries, the tanks fitted with self-cleaning unit provided superior sediment cleaning than the tanks fitted with overflow-drain unit. Although the self-cleaning unit could clean the sediment completely from both geometries over prolonged period, the cleaning of sediments was faster in the cylindrical tank than the rectangular tank. In conclusion, cost and efforts of zebrafish maintenance could be significantly reduced through the installation of our self-cleaning unit in any custom-made zebrafish tank.

Retention of basic life support knowledge, self-efficacy and chest compression performance in Thai undergraduate nursing students.

PubMed

Partiprajak, Suphamas; Thongpo, Pichaya

2016-01-01

This study explored the retention of basic life support knowledge, self-efficacy, and chest compression performance among Thai nursing students at a university in Thailand. A one-group, pre-test and post-test design time series was used. Participants were 30 nursing students undertaking basic life support training as a care provider. Repeated measure analysis of variance was used to test the retention of knowledge and self-efficacy between pre-test, immediate post-test, and re-test after 3 months. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the difference in chest compression performance two times. Basic life support knowledge was measured using the Basic Life Support Standard Test for Cognitive Knowledge. Self-efficacy was measured using the Basic Life Support Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. Chest compression performance was evaluated using a data printout from Resusci Anne and Laerdal skillmeter within two cycles. The training had an immediate significant effect on the knowledge, self-efficacy, and skill of chest compression; however, the knowledge and self-efficacy significantly declined after post-training for 3 months. Chest compression performance after training for 3 months was positively retaining compared to the first post-test but was not significant. Therefore, a retraining program to maintain knowledge and self-efficacy for a longer period of time should be established after post-training for 3 months. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Measure of Significance of Holotropic Breathwork in the Development of Self-Awareness.

PubMed

Miller, Tanja; Nielsen, Laila

2015-12-01

To investigate whether Holotropic Breathwork™ (HB; Grof Transpersonal Training, Mill Valley, CA) has any significance in the development of self-awareness. A quasi-experiment design and multiple case studies. A single case design was replicated. The statistical design was a related within-subject and repeated-measures design (pre-during-post design). The study was conducted in Denmark. The participants (n = 20) were referred from Danish HB facilitators. Nine were novices and 11 had experience with HB. Four HB sessions. The novices (n = 9) underwent positive temperament changes and the experienced participants (n = 11) underwent positive changes in character. Overall, positive self-awareness changes were indicated; the participants' (n = 20) scores for persistence temperament, interpersonal problems, overly accommodating, intrusive/needy, and hostility were reduced. Changes in temperament were followed by changes in paranoid ideation scale, indicating a wary phase. Participants (n = 20) experienced reductions in their persistence temperament scores. The pretest mean (mean ± standard deviation, 114.15 ± 16.884) decreased at post-test (110.40 ± 16.481; pre-during-test p = 0.046, pre-post-test p = 0.048, pre-post-test effect size [d] = 0.2). Temperament changes were followed by an increase in paranoid ideation; the pre-test mean (47.45 ± 8.88) at post-test had increased to a higher but normal score (51.55 ± 7.864; pre-during-test p = 0.0215, pre-post-test p = 0.021, pre-post-test d = 0.5). Pre-test hostility mean (50.50 ± 10.395) decreased at post-test (47.20 ± 9.001; p = 0.0185; d = 0.3). The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems total pre-test mean (59.05 ± 17.139) was decreased at post-test (54.8 ± 12.408; p = 0.044; d = 0.2). Overly accommodating pre-test mean (56.00 ± 12.303) was decreased at post-test (51.55 ± 7.797; p = 0.0085; d = 0.4). The intrusive/needy pre-test score (57.25 ± 13.329) was decreased at post-test (52.85 ± 10.429; p = 0.005; d = 0.4). The theoretical conclusion is that HB can induce very beneficial temperament changes, which can have positive effects on development of character, measured as an increase in self-awareness.

An Evaluation of Portable Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Monitor Accuracy.

PubMed

Cooper, Earl; Grundstein, Andrew; Rosen, Adam; Miles, Jessica; Ko, Jupil; Curry, Patrick

2017-12-01

  Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) is the gold standard for assessing environmental heat stress during physical activity. Many manufacturers of commercially available instruments fail to report WBGT accuracy.   To determine the accuracy of several commercially available WBGT monitors compared with a standardized reference device.   Observational study.   Field test.   Six commercially available WBGT devices.   Data were recorded for 3 sessions (1 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon) at 2-minute intervals for at least 2 hours. Mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), mean bias error (MBE), and the Pearson correlation coefficient ( r) were calculated to determine instrument performance compared with the reference unit.   The QUESTemp° 34 (MAE = 0.24°C, RMSE = 0.44°C, MBE = -0.64%) and Extech HT30 Heat Stress Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Meter (Extech; MAE = 0.61°C, RMSE = 0.79°C, MBE = 0.44%) demonstrated the least error in relation to the reference standard, whereas the General WBGT8778 Heat Index Checker (General; MAE = 1.18°C, RMSE = 1.34°C, MBE = 4.25%) performed the poorest. The QUESTemp° 34 and Kestrel 4400 Heat Stress Tracker units provided conservative measurements that slightly overestimated the WBGT provided by the reference unit. Finally, instruments using the psychrometric wet bulb temperature (General, REED Heat Index WBGT Meter, and WBGT-103 Heat Stroke Checker) tended to underestimate the WBGT, and the resulting values more frequently fell into WBGT-based activity categories with fewer restrictions as defined by the American College of Sports Medicine.   The QUESTemp° 34, followed by the Extech, had the smallest error compared with the reference unit. Moreover, the QUESTemp° 34, Extech, and Kestrel units appeared to offer conservative yet accurate assessments of the WBGT, potentially minimizing the risk of allowing physical activity to continue in stressful heat environments. Instruments using the psychrometric wet bulb temperature tended to underestimate WBGT under low wind-speed conditions. Accurate WBGT interpretations are important to enable clinicians to guide activities in hot and humid weather conditions.

Layout pattern analysis using the Voronoi diagram of line segments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dey, Sandeep Kumar; Cheilaris, Panagiotis; Gabrani, Maria; Papadopoulou, Evanthia

2016-01-01

Early identification of problematic patterns in very large scale integration (VLSI) designs is of great value as the lithographic simulation tools face significant timing challenges. To reduce the processing time, such a tool selects only a fraction of possible patterns which have a probable area of failure, with the risk of missing some problematic patterns. We introduce a fast method to automatically extract patterns based on their structure and context, using the Voronoi diagram of line-segments as derived from the edges of VLSI design shapes. Designers put line segments around the problematic locations in patterns called "gauges," along which the critical distance is measured. The gauge center is the midpoint of a gauge. We first use the Voronoi diagram of VLSI shapes to identify possible problematic locations, represented as gauge centers. Then we use the derived locations to extract windows containing the problematic patterns from the design layout. The problematic locations are prioritized by the shape and proximity information of the design polygons. We perform experiments for pattern selection in a portion of a 22-nm random logic design layout. The design layout had 38,584 design polygons (consisting of 199,946 line segments) on layer Mx, and 7079 markers generated by an optical rule checker (ORC) tool. The optical rules specify requirements for printing circuits with minimum dimension. Markers are the locations of some optical rule violations in the layout. We verify our approach by comparing the coverage of our extracted patterns to the ORC-generated markers. We further derive a similarity measure between patterns and between layouts. The similarity measure helps to identify a set of representative gauges that reduces the number of patterns for analysis.

Analysis of mathematical literacy ability based on self-efficacy in model eliciting activities using metaphorical thinking approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Setiani, C.; Waluya, S. B.; Wardono

2018-03-01

The purposes of this research are: (1) to identify learning quality in Model Eliciting Activities (MEAs) using a Metaphorical Thinking (MT) approach regarding qualitative and quantitative; (2) to analyze mathematical literacy of students based on Self-Efficacy (SE). This research is mixed method concurrent embedded design with qualitative research as the primary method. The quantitative research used quasi-experimental with non-equivalent control group design. The population is VIII grade students of SMP Negeri 3 Semarang Indonesia. Quantitative data is examined by conducting completeness mean test, standard completeness test, mean differentiation test and proportional differentiation test. Qualitative data is analyzed descriptively. The result of this research shows that MEAs learning using MT approach accomplishes good criteria both quantitatively and qualitatively. Students with low self-efficacy can identify problems, but they are lack ability to arrange problem-solving strategy on mathematical literacy questions. Students with medium self-efficacy can identify information provided in issues, but they find difficulties to use math symbols in making a representation. Students with high self-efficacy are excellent to represent problems into mathematical models as well as figures by using appropriate symbols and tools, so they can arrange strategy easily to solve mathematical literacy questions.

Effects of Source Self-Interest and Induced Similarity/Dissimilarity on Opinion Change, Credibility, and Likability.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dennis, Harry S., III

A laboratory experiment, using videotape, was designed to test the self-interest hypothesis, that is, that a subject will increase his effectiveness if he argues in favor of a position that is opposed to his best interests. Four hundred fifty-nine subjects participated in a Solomon Four-Group design for primary data acquisition. Strong opinion…

Measure of Significance of Holotropic Breathwork in the Development of Self-Awareness

PubMed Central

Miller, Tanja

2015-01-01

Abstract Objectives: To investigate whether Holotropic Breathwork™ (HB; Grof Transpersonal Training, Mill Valley, CA) has any significance in the development of self-awareness. Design: A quasi-experiment design and multiple case studies. A single case design was replicated. The statistical design was a related within-subject and repeated-measures design (pre-during-post design). Setting/location: The study was conducted in Denmark. Participants: The participants (n = 20) were referred from Danish HB facilitators. Nine were novices and 11 had experience with HB. Intervention: Four HB sessions. Outcome measures: The novices (n = 9) underwent positive temperament changes and the experienced participants (n = 11) underwent positive changes in character. Overall, positive self-awareness changes were indicated; the participants' (n = 20) scores for persistence temperament, interpersonal problems, overly accommodating, intrusive/needy, and hostility were reduced. Changes in temperament were followed by changes in paranoid ideation scale, indicating a wary phase. Results: Participants (n = 20) experienced reductions in their persistence temperament scores. The pretest mean (mean ± standard deviation, 114.15 ± 16.884) decreased at post-test (110.40 ± 16.481; pre–during-test p = 0.046, pre–post-test p = 0.048, pre–post-test effect size [d] = 0.2). Temperament changes were followed by an increase in paranoid ideation; the pre-test mean (47.45 ± 8.88) at post-test had increased to a higher but normal score (51.55 ± 7.864; pre–during-test p = 0.0215, pre–post-test p = 0.021, pre–post-test d = 0.5). Pre-test hostility mean (50.50 ± 10.395) decreased at post-test (47.20 ± 9.001; p = 0.0185; d = 0.3). The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems total pre-test mean (59.05 ± 17.139) was decreased at post-test (54.8 ± 12.408; p = 0.044; d = 0.2). Overly accommodating pre-test mean (56.00 ± 12.303) was decreased at post-test (51.55 ± 7.797; p = 0.0085; d = 0.4). The intrusive/needy pre-test score (57.25 ± 13.329) was decreased at post-test (52.85 ± 10.429; p = 0.005; d = 0.4). Conclusions: The theoretical conclusion is that HB can induce very beneficial temperament changes, which can have positive effects on development of character, measured as an increase in self-awareness. PMID:26565611

On the development of OpenFOAM solvers based on explicit and implicit high-order Runge-Kutta schemes for incompressible flows with heat transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Alessandro, Valerio; Binci, Lorenzo; Montelpare, Sergio; Ricci, Renato

2018-01-01

Open-source CFD codes provide suitable environments for implementing and testing low-dissipative algorithms typically used to simulate turbulence. In this research work we developed CFD solvers for incompressible flows based on high-order explicit and diagonally implicit Runge-Kutta (RK) schemes for time integration. In particular, an iterated PISO-like procedure based on Rhie-Chow correction was used to handle pressure-velocity coupling within each implicit RK stage. For the explicit approach, a projected scheme was used to avoid the "checker-board" effect. The above-mentioned approaches were also extended to flow problems involving heat transfer. It is worth noting that the numerical technology available in the OpenFOAM library was used for space discretization. In this work, we additionally explore the reliability and effectiveness of the proposed implementations by computing several unsteady flow benchmarks; we also show that the numerical diffusion due to the time integration approach is completely canceled using the solution techniques proposed here.

Empowering Older Patients to Engage in Self Care: Designing an Interactive Robotic Device

PubMed Central

Tiwari, Priyadarshi; Warren, Jim; Day, Karen

2011-01-01

Objectives: To develop and test an interactive robot mounted computing device to support medication management as an example of a complex self-care task in older adults. Method: A Grounded Theory (GT), Participatory Design (PD) approach was used within three Action Research (AR) cycles to understand design requirements and test the design configuration addressing the unique task requirements. Results: At the end of the first cycle a conceptual framework was evolved. The second cycle informed architecture and interface design. By the end of third cycle residents successfully interacted with the dialogue system and were generally satisfied with the robot. The results informed further refinement of the prototype. Conclusion: An interactive, touch screen based, robot-mounted information tool can be developed to support healthcare needs of older people. Qualitative methods such as the hybrid GT-PD-AR approach may be particularly helpful for innovating and articulating design requirements in challenging situations. PMID:22195203

Empowering older patients to engage in self care: designing an interactive robotic device.

PubMed

Tiwari, Priyadarshi; Warren, Jim; Day, Karen

2011-01-01

To develop and test an interactive robot mounted computing device to support medication management as an example of a complex self-care task in older adults. A Grounded Theory (GT), Participatory Design (PD) approach was used within three Action Research (AR) cycles to understand design requirements and test the design configuration addressing the unique task requirements. At the end of the first cycle a conceptual framework was evolved. The second cycle informed architecture and interface design. By the end of third cycle residents successfully interacted with the dialogue system and were generally satisfied with the robot. The results informed further refinement of the prototype. An interactive, touch screen based, robot-mounted information tool can be developed to support healthcare needs of older people. Qualitative methods such as the hybrid GT-PD-AR approach may be particularly helpful for innovating and articulating design requirements in challenging situations.

Relationships among constructivist learning environment perceptions, motivational beliefs, self-regulation and science achievement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kingir, Sevgi; Tas, Yasemin; Gok, Gulsum; Sungur Vural, Semra

2013-11-01

Background. There are attempts to integrate learning environment research with motivation and self-regulation research that considers social context influences an individual's motivation, self-regulation and, in turn, academic performance. Purpose. This study explored the relationships among constructivist learning environment perception variables (personal relevance, uncertainty, shared control, critical voice, student negotiation), motivational beliefs (self-efficacy, intrinsic interest, goal orientation), self-regulation, and science achievement. Sample. The sample for this study comprised 802 Grade 8 students from 14 public middle schools in a district of Ankara in Turkey. Design and methods. Students were administered 4 instruments: Constructivist Learning Environment Survey, Goal Achievement Questionnaire, Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, and Science Achievement Test. LISREL 8.7 program with SIMPLIS programming language was used to test the conceptual model. Providing appropriate fit indices for the proposed model, the standardized path coefficients for direct effects were examined. Results. At least one dimension of the constructivist learning environment was associated with students' intrinsic interest, goal orientation, self-efficacy, self-regulation, and science achievement. Self-efficacy emerged as the strongest predictor of both mastery and performance avoidance goals rather than the approach goals. Intrinsic value was found to be significantly linked to science achievement through its effect on self-regulation. The relationships between self-efficacy and self-regulation and between goal orientation and science achievement were not significant. Conclusion. In a classroom environment supporting student autonomy and control, students tend to develop higher interest in tasks, use more self-regulatory strategies, and demonstrate higher academic performance. Science teachers are highly recommended to consider these findings when designing their lessons. For the creation of such a learning environment, teachers can design open-ended inquiry activities in which students have opportunities to take responsibility, reflect on their views, and accomplish challenging tasks.

To Receive from the Rich or the Poor: Effects on the Recipient’s Self Esteem and Subsequent Self-Help Behavior.

DTIC Science & Technology

A 2 (aid vs. no aid) x 2 (high vs. low resource potential donor) factorial design tested the effects of aid and donor resources on recipient self ...to self - esteem inherent in aid and subsequent self -help is discussed in terms of self - esteem theory. (Modified author abstract)...perceptions and subsequent self -help behavior. The results were characterized by interactions between the two factors. The relationship between threat

Implementation and Performance Analysis of Parallel Assignment Algorithms on a Hypercube Computer.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-12-01

coupled pro- cessors because of the degree of interaction between processors imposed by the global memory [HwB84]. Another sub-class of MIMD... interaction between the individual processors [MuA87]. Many of the commercial MIMD computers available today are loosely coupled [HwB84]. 2.1.3 The Hypercube...Alpha-beta is a method usually employed in the solution of two-person zero-sum games like chess and checkers [Qui87]. The ha sic approach of the alpha

Solving the AI Planning Plus Scheduling Problem Using Model Checking via Automatic Translation from the Abstract Plan Preparation Language (APPL) to the Symbolic Analysis Laboratory (SAL)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Butler, Ricky W.; Munoz, Cesar A.; Siminiceanu, Radu I.

2007-01-01

This paper describes a translator from a new planning language named the Abstract Plan Preparation Language (APPL) to the Symbolic Analysis Laboratory (SAL) model checker. This translator has been developed in support of the Spacecraft Autonomy for Vehicles and Habitats (SAVH) project sponsored by the Exploration Technology Development Program, which is seeking to mature autonomy technology for the vehicles and operations centers of Project Constellation.

ANSYS duplicate finite-element checker routine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ortega, R.

1995-01-01

An ANSYS finite-element code routine to check for duplicated elements within the volume of a three-dimensional (3D) finite-element mesh was developed. The routine developed is used for checking floating elements within a mesh, identically duplicated elements, and intersecting elements with a common face. A space shuttle main engine alternate turbopump development high pressure oxidizer turbopump finite-element model check using the developed subroutine is discussed. Finally, recommendations are provided for duplicate element checking of 3D finite-element models.

Experimental Validation of a Time-Accurate Finite Element Model for Coupled Multibody Dynamics and Liquid Sloshing

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-04-16

velocity of the fluid mesh, P is the relative pressure, xr is the position vector, τ is the deviatoric stress tensor, D is the rate of deformation...corresponds to a slip factor of zero. The slip factor determines how much of the fluid and structure forces are mutually exchanged. Equations 22 and 23...updated from last to first. viii.Average the fluid pressure (This step eliminates the pressure checker-boarding effect and allows use of equal

Evolution of Control Programs for a Swarm of Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-03-01

Game of Checkers,” IBM Journal of Research and Development , 3 (3):210–229 (July 1959). 91. Serway , R. A. Physics for Scientists and Engineers (Fourth...incomplete physics model is used for this research. Ignoring mass and the effects of gravity and friction greatly simplifies the model. At the same...of work on GAs [9, 60, 53]. The seminal work in GAs is the 1975 book Adaptation in Natural and Artificial Systems by John H. Holland [41]. In a GA

Green Flight Challenge

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-09-27

CAFE Foundation Hanger Boss Mike Fenn waves the checkered flag as aircraft pass the finish line of the miles per gallon (MPG) flight during the 2011 Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google, at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011. NASA and the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation are having the challenge with the goal to advance technologies in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions with cleaner renewable fuels and electric aircraft. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Java PathFinder: A Translator From Java to Promela

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Havelund, Klaus

1999-01-01

JAVA PATHFINDER, JPF, is a prototype translator from JAVA to PROMELA, the modeling language of the SPIN model checker. JPF is a product of a major effort by the Automated Software Engineering group at NASA Ames to make model checking technology part of the software process. Experience has shown that severe bugs can be found in final code using this technique, and that automated translation from a programming language to a modeling language like PROMELA can help reducing the effort required.

49 CFR 229.27 - Annual tests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Annual tests. 229.27 Section 229.27 Transportation... TRANSPORTATION RAILROAD LOCOMOTIVE SAFETY STANDARDS Inspections and Tests § 229.27 Annual tests. (a) All testing... of air pressure electronically shall be tested by comparison with a test gauge or self-test designed...

Effects of a Metacognitive Intervention on Students' Approaches to Learning and Self-Efficacy in a First Year Medical Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Papinczak, Tracey; Young, Louise; Groves, Michele; Haynes, Michele

2008-01-01

Aim: To determine the influence of metacognitive activities within the PBL tutorial environment on the development of deep learning approach, reduction in surface approach, and enhancement of individual learning self-efficacy. Method: Participants were first-year medical students (N = 213). A pre-test, post-test design was implemented with…

Effect of Self-Instruction Strategy on the Achievement in Algebra of Students with Learning Difficulty in Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adani, Anthony; Eskay, Michael; Onu, Victoria

2012-01-01

This quasi-experimental study examined the effect of self-instruction strategy on the achievement in algebra of students with learning difficulty in mathematics. Two research questions and one null hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a non-randomized pre-test and post-test control group design with one experimental…

The Relationship between Self-Perceptions of Accountability by High School Principals and Student Test Scores

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koester, Edward L.

2010-01-01

The high school principalship has been designated an area of professional shortage by many states. Resignations and terminations have been numerous as a result of poor student test performance. The purpose of this ex post facto correlation study was to investigate the self-perceptions of accountability by high school principals as they related to…

The Effect of Scratch-Based Game Activities on Students' Attitudes, Self-Efficacy and Academic Achievement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Korkmaz, Özgen

2016-01-01

The purpose of the present research is to designate the effects of Scratch-based game activities on students' attitudes towards learning computer programming, self-efficacy beliefs and levels of academic achievement. The research was conducted through a pre-test-post-test control group quasi-experimental study. The study group consists of 49…

An Examination of Shared Variance in Self-Report and Objective Measures of Attention in the Incarcerated Adult Population

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Asbjornsen, Arve E.; Jones, Lise O.; Munkvold, Linda H.; Obrzut, John E.; Manger, Terje

2010-01-01

Objective: The present study was designed to test some assumptions about screening procedures for ADHD in adults. Method: Twenty-eight incarcerated male adults completed a self report scale of attention deficits as a part of an examination of attention and reading skills. Further assessment of attention included a battery of tests that assessed…

The Effect of the Digital Classroom on Academic Success and Online Technologies Self-Efficacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ozerbas, Mehmet Arif; Erdogan, Bilge Has

2016-01-01

This study aimed to observe whether the learning environment created by digital classroom technologies has any effect on the academic success and online technologies self-efficacy of 7th grade students. In this study, an experimental design with a pre-test/post-test control group was used. The research was conducted with 58 students in a secondary…

Effects of Concept Cartoons on Mathematics Self-Efficacy of 7th Grade Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sengul, Sare

2011-01-01

The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of concept cartoons on the students' perception of their levels of self-efficacy towards mathematics. The research has been designed as the pre-test post-test with quasi experimental control group. The research participants are composed of 94 7th grade students attending an elementary school…

Effects of Regulatory Self-Questioning on Secondary-Level Students' Problem-Solving Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pate, Michael L.; Miller, Greg

2011-01-01

A randomized posttest-only control group experimental design was used to determine the effects of regulatory self-questioning on secondary-level career and technical education students' electrical circuit theory test scores. Students who participated in the self-questioning group were asked to answer a list of regulatory questions as they solved…

Initial Teacher Education: Does Self-Efficacy Influence Candidate Teacher Academic Achievement and Future Career Performance?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shawer, Saad F.

2013-01-01

This quantitative investigation examined the influence of low and high self-efficacy on candidate teacher academic performance in a foreign language teaching methodology course through testing the speculation that high self-efficacy levels would improve pedagogical-content knowledge (PCK). Positivism guided the research design at the levels of…

Design and Testing of a Smartphone Application for Real-Time Self-Tracking Diabetes Self-Management Behaviors.

PubMed

Groat, Danielle; Soni, Hiral; Grando, Maria Adela; Thompson, Bithika; Kaufman, David; Cook, Curtiss B

2018-04-01

 Type 1 diabetes (T1D) care requires multiple daily self-management behaviors (SMBs). Preliminary studies on SMBs rely mainly on self-reported survey and interview data. There is little information on adult T1D SMBs, along with corresponding compensation techniques (CTs), gathered in real-time.  The article aims to use a patient-centered approach to design iDECIDE, a smartphone application that gathers daily diabetes SMBs and CTs related to meal and alcohol intake and exercise in real-time, and contrast patients' actual behaviors against those self-reported with the app.  Two usability studies were used to improve iDECIDE's functionality. These were followed by a 30-day pilot test of the redesigned app. A survey designed to capture diabetes SMBs and CTs was administered prior to the 30-day pilot test. Survey results were compared against iDECIDE logs.  Usability studies revealed that participants desired advanced features for self-tracking meals and alcohol intake. Thirteen participants recorded over 1,200 CTs for carbohydrates during the 30-day study. Participants also recorded 76 alcohol and 166 exercise CTs. Comparisons of survey responses and iDECIDE logs showed mean% (standard deviation) concordance of 77% (25) for SMBs related to meals, where concordance of 100% indicates a perfect match. There was low concordance of 35% (35) and 46% (41) for alcohol and exercise events, respectively.  The high variability found in SMBs and CTs highlights the need for real-time diabetes self-tracking mechanisms to better understand SMBs and CTs. Future work will use the developed app to collect SMBs and CTs and identify patient-specific diabetes adherence barriers that could be addressed with individualized education interventions. Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart.

An Evaluation of the My ParticipACTION Campaign to Increase Self-Efficacy for Being More Physically Active.

PubMed

Craig, Cora Lynn; Bauman, Adrian; Latimer-Cheung, Amy; Rhodes, Ryan E; Faulkner, Guy; Berry, Tanya R; Tremblay, Mark S; Spence, John C

2015-01-01

The objective of the My ParticipACTION campaign was to inspire Canadian adults to increase their physical activity through messaging that was relevant, engaging, and designed to build self-efficacy to be more active. This research examined the communication effects of the campaign according to the a priori Hierarchy of Effects Model (saliency → cognitive engagement → self-efficacy to become more active → trial behavior) and investigated how these effects related to overall self-efficacy for physical activity, intention to be active, and current activity level. Participants (N = 1,110) were recruited from an existing panel of Canadian adults 18 years and older and completed a short online questionnaire about the potential communication effects. Logistic regression models were constructed to test the communication effects adjusting for age, gender, and education. The relations were consistent with those hypothesized in the model. In addition, some earlier outcomes in the sequence of effects were associated with other outcomes further down the progression. When intention to be active was included, the initial relation between ad-specific self-efficacy and current physical activity disappeared. This analysis suggested that the campaign was successful in increasing self-efficacy to be more active and that using the Hierarchy of Effects Model was useful in guiding the design of campaign messages and assessing communication effects. Given the limited amount of theoretical testing of the Hierarchy of Effects Model, future research employing longitudinal designs is required to further confirm the communication effects of such an intervention and further test the model.

One-man, self-contained CO2 concentrating system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wynveen, R. A.; Schubert, F. H.; Powell, J. D.

1972-01-01

A program to design, fabricate, and test a 1-man, self-contained, electrochemical CO2 concentrating system is described. The system was designed with electronic controls and instrumentation to regulate performance, to analyze and display performance trends, and to detect and isolate faults. Ground support accessories were included to provide power, fluids, and a Parametric Data Display allowing real time indication of operating status in engineering units.

Testing the utility of three social-cognitive models for predicting objective and self-report physical activity in adults with type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Plotnikoff, Ronald C; Lubans, David R; Penfold, Chris M; Courneya, Kerry S

2014-05-01

Theory-based interventions to promote physical activity (PA) are more effective than atheoretical approaches; however, the comparative utility of theoretical models is rarely tested in longitudinal designs with multiple time points. Further, there is limited research that has simultaneously tested social-cognitive models with self-report and objective PA measures. The primary aim of this study was to test the predictive ability of three theoretical models (social cognitive theory, theory of planned behaviour, and protection motivation theory) in explaining PA behaviour. Participants were adults with type 2 diabetes (n = 287, 53.8% males, mean age = 61.6 ± 11.8 years). Theoretical constructs across the three theories were tested to prospectively predict PA behaviour (objective and self-report) across three 6-month time intervals (baseline-6, 6-12, 12-18 months) using structural equation modelling. PA outcomes were steps/3 days (objective) and minutes of MET-weighted PA/week (self-report). The mean proportion of variance in PA explained by these models was 6.5% for objective PA and 8.8% for self-report PA. Direct pathways to PA outcomes were stronger for self-report compared with objective PA. These theories explained a small proportion of the variance in longitudinal PA studies. Theory development to guide interventions for increasing and maintaining PA in adults with type 2 diabetes requires further research with objective measures. Theory integration across social-cognitive models and the inclusion of ecological levels are recommended to further explain PA behaviour change in this population. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Social-cognitive theories are able to explain partial variance for physical activity (PA) behaviour. What does this study add? The testing of three theories in a longitudinal design over 3, 6-month time intervals. The parallel use and comparison of both objective and self-report PA measures in testing these theories. © 2013 The British Psychological Society.

The effect of education given before surgery on self-esteem and body image in women undergoing hysterectomy

PubMed Central

Yaman, Şengül; Ayaz, Sultan

2015-01-01

Objective: To evaluate the effect of information provided before surgery on the self-esteem and body image of women undergoing hysterectomy. Materials and Methods: The study had a semi-experimental design with pre-post tests. A total of 60 women were included in the study and divided into two groups, the intervention group (n=30) and control group (n=30). A questionnaire, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and the body image scale were used to collect data. Results: The pre- and post-test body image scores were similar in the intervention group patients, but the post-test scores were significantly higher in the control group (p<0.05). The pre- and post-test self-esteem scores were again similar in the intervention group, but the post-test scores were significantly lower in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed that health education given to patients prior to hysterectomy protects body image and consequently self-esteem. PMID:28913071

Development of an MR seat suspension with self-powered generation capability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, S. S.; Ning, D. H.; Yang, J.; Du, H.; Zhang, S. W.; Li, W. H.; Nakano, M.

2017-08-01

This paper proposes a self-powered magnetorheological (MR) seat suspension on the basis of a rotary MR damper and an electromagnetic induction device. By applying the self-powering component to the MR seat suspension, the operation cost of the semi-active seat is much cheaper because no external energy is required to control the MR damper. In this paper, the structure, design and analysis of the seat suspension were presented following the introduction section. The property tests of the self-powered seat suspension were conducted using an MTS machine. A robust control algorithm was developed to control the self-powered MR seat suspension and the vibration attenuation performance of the seat suspension was tested under two different vibration excitations, i.e. harmonic excitation and random excitation. The testing result verifies that the self-powered MR seat suspension under proper control can improve the ride comfort for passengers and drivers.

Train in vain: the role of the self in claimed self-handicapping strategies.

PubMed

Finez, Lucie; Sherman, David K

2012-10-01

Two field studies investigate the role of self in the tendency of athletes to engage in claimed handicapping strategies during training (anticipatively claiming that handicaps may interfere with their performance). Study 1 tested the relationship between trait self-esteem and athletes' engagement in claimed self-handicapping. As hypothesized, low physical self-esteem athletes claimed more handicaps than high physical self-esteem athletes. For stronger evidence for the causal role of the self, Study 2 tested whether securing athletes' self-worth through self-affirmation would lead to decreased claimed self-handicapping by using a mixed model design that allows for both between-subjects (affirmation vs. control condition) and within-subject comparisons (before vs. after self-affirmation intervention). Self-affirmed athletes had decreased levels of claimed self-handicapping. Studies 1 and 2 also demonstrate that athletes engage in claimed self-handicapping during training, which could have deleterious effects on subsequent performance. Discussion centers on theoretical implications and applications for coaches, sport teachers, and sport psychologists.

Self-adjusting wind turbine rotors: a concept

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

Jordan, P.F.

A conceptual design is described for wind turbine rotor blades that can react to changing wind conditions. Studies indicate that self-adjusting rotors will be more economical to operate with large rotors, although there are still mechanical problems of scaling-up to be solved. Details of the design specifications, accompanied by a schematic drawing, are explained in terms of the aerodynamic test performance date obtained and the expected effect on overall performance. The segmented design concept will make the turbine blades easier to manufacture, transport, erect, and maintain.

Contextual information management: An example of independent-checking in the review of laboratory-based bloodstain pattern analysis.

PubMed

Osborne, Nikola K P; Taylor, Michael C

2018-05-01

This article describes a New Zealand forensic agency's contextual information management protocol for bloodstain pattern evidence examined in the laboratory. In an effort to create a protocol that would have minimal impact on current work-flow, while still effectively removing task-irrelevant contextual information, the protocol was designed following an in-depth consultation with management and forensic staff. The resulting design was for a protocol of independent-checking (i.e. blind peer-review) where the checker's interpretation of the evidence is conducted in the absence of case information and the original examiner's notes or interpretation(s). At the conclusion of a ten-case trial period, there was widespread agreement that the protocol had minimal impact on the number of people required, the cost, or the time to complete an item examination. The agency is now looking to adopt the protocol into standard operating procedures and in some cases the protocol has been extended to cover other laboratory-based examinations (e.g. fabric damage, shoeprint examination, and physical fits). The protocol developed during this trial provides a useful example for agencies seeking to adopt contextual information management into their workflow. Copyright © 2018 The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Role of Academic Self-efficacy and Social Support on Nursing Students' Test Anxiety.

PubMed

Warshawski, Sigalit; Bar-Lev, Oshra; Barnoy, Sivia

2018-05-25

Associations between test anxiety, academic self-efficacy (ASE), and social support through social media have not been fully explored. The purposes were to explore associations between test anxiety, ASE, and social support from social media and to examine differences in test anxiety by students' year of studies and cultural background. This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive design. The sample comprised first- and fourth-year nursing students (n = 240) attending a baccalaureate nursing program in Israel. Higher ASE and support through social media were related to lower test anxiety. Fourth-year students and Jewish students had higher ASE than first-year and Arab students, who received more support on social media than Jewish students. Developing learning strategies designed to increase students' ASE and reduce test anxiety is warranted. Social media as an educational tool can be adopted for this purpose.

Studies on Flat Sandwich-type Self-Powered Detectors for Flux Measurements in ITER Test Blanket Modules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raj, Prasoon; Angelone, Maurizio; Döring, Toralf; Eberhardt, Klaus; Fischer, Ulrich; Klix, Axel; Schwengner, Ronald

2018-01-01

Neutron and gamma flux measurements in designated positions in the test blanket modules (TBM) of ITER will be important tasks during ITER's campaigns. As part of the ongoing task on development of nuclear instrumentation for application in European ITER TBMs, experimental investigations on self-powered detectors (SPD) are undertaken. This paper reports the findings of neutron and photon irradiation tests performed with a test SPD in flat sandwich-like geometry. Whereas both neutrons and gammas can be detected with appropriate optimization of geometries, materials and sizes of the components, the present sandwich-like design is more sensitive to gammas than 14 MeV neutrons. Range of SPD current signals achievable under TBM conditions are predicted based on the SPD sensitivities measured in this work.

Effects of Immediate Feedback and Pacing of Item Presentation on Ability Test Performance and Psychological Reactions to Testing.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-02-01

3 Design ..................................................................... 3 Independent Variables...Prestwood & Weiss, 1978), which were designed to assess the effects of KR, the provision of "KR wa ; onf.,tidod with paring of item presentation...ach Item. -3- The present study was designed to separately examine the effects of KR and of computer- versus self-pacing of item presentation in order

HOME - An application of fault-tolerant techniques and system self-testing. [independent computer for helicopter flight control command monitoring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holden, D. G.

1975-01-01

Hard Over Monitoring Equipment (HOME) has been designed to complement and enhance the flight safety of a flight research helicopter. HOME is an independent, highly reliable, and fail-safe special purpose computer that monitors the flight control commands issued by the flight control computer of the helicopter. In particular, HOME detects the issuance of a hazardous hard-over command for any of the four flight control axes and transfers the control of the helicopter to the flight safety pilot. The design of HOME incorporates certain reliability and fail-safe enhancement design features, such as triple modular redundancy, majority logic voting, fail-safe dual circuits, independent status monitors, in-flight self-test, and a built-in preflight exerciser. The HOME design and operation is described with special emphasis on the reliability and fail-safe aspects of the design.

Self-efficacy as a predictor of dietary change in a low-socioeconomic-status southern adult population.

PubMed

Shannon, J; Kirkley, B; Ammerman, A; Keyserling, T; Kelsey, K; DeVellis, R; Simpson, R J

1997-06-01

There is an increasing emphasis on designing health promotion interventions for low-socioeconomic-status (SES) individuals. However, many previously developed behavior change tools have not been tested in this population. Self-efficacy was measured at pre- and postintervention as part of a randomized clinical trial to reduce cholesterol levels in rural low-SES Southern adults. A 22-item scale was designed and validated to measure subjects' confidence in their abilities to make dietary changes. High mean self-efficacy was noted in both control and intervention subjects at pre- and postintervention. Mean self-efficacy score was a significant predictor of dietary change at both preintervention and postintervention. This study demonstrates that self-efficacy is a predictor of ability to make dietary changes in a low-SES rural population. This finding is of significance to researchers and practitioners wishing to design theory-based health promotion interventions in this population.

Managing fatigue after cancer treatment: development of RESTORE, a web-based resource to support self-management.

PubMed

Foster, C; Calman, L; Grimmett, C; Breckons, M; Cotterell, P; Yardley, L; Joseph, J; Hughes, S; Jones, R; Leonidou, C; Armes, J; Batehup, L; Corner, J; Fenlon, D; Lennan, E; Morris, C; Neylon, A; Ream, E; Turner, L; Richardson, A

2015-08-01

The aim of this study is to co-create an evidence-based and theoretically informed web-based intervention (RESTORE) designed to enhance self-efficacy to live with cancer-related fatigue (CRF) following primary cancer treatment. A nine-step process informed the development of the intervention: (1) review of empirical literature; (2) review of existing patient resources; (3) establish theoretical framework; (4) establish design team with expertise in web-based interventions, CRF and people affected by cancer; (5) develop prototype intervention; (6) user testing phase 1; (7) refinement of prototype; (8) user testing phase 2; and (9) develop final intervention. Key stakeholders made a critical contribution at every step of intervention development, and user testing, which involved an iterative process and resulted in the final intervention. The RESTORE intervention has five sessions; sessions 1 and 2 include an introduction to CRF and goal setting. Sessions 3-5 can be tailored to user preference and are designed to cover areas of life where CRF may have an impact: home and work life, personal relationships and emotional adjustment. It is feasible to systematically 'co-create' an evidence-based and theory-driven web-based self-management intervention to support cancer survivors living with the consequences of cancer and its treatment. This is the first account of the development of a web-based intervention to support self-efficacy to manage CRF. An exploratory trial to test the feasibility and acceptability of RESTORE is now warranted. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Effects of Quality Books for Children and the Metacognitive Strategy on Students' Self-Esteem Levels

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cer, Erkan; Sahin, Ertugrul

2017-01-01

Using a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test control groups, 93 eighth grade students were randomly assigned either to the experimental or to the control group and responded to the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale two weeks before and after the intervention. While the students in the experimental group were instructed in quality books…

A Novel, Self-Guided, Home-Based Intervention to Improve Condom Use among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Emetu, Roberta E.; Marshall, Alexandra; Sanders, Stephanie A.; Yarber, William L.; Milhausen, Robin R.; Crosby, Richard A.; Graham, Cynthia A.

2014-01-01

Objective: This pilot study tested the efficacy of a brief, novel, theory-driven, self-guided, home-based intervention designed to promote condom use among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Participants: Thirty YMSM were recruited from a large public US midwestern university during spring of 2012. Methods: The intervention was tested using a…

The Effects of High Scientific Literacy, Self-Efficacy, and Achievement Motivation on Teachers' Ability to Compose Effective Tests: Case Study from Manado, Indonesia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Poluakan, Cosmas

2012-01-01

This research was conducted to determine the effects of high scientific literacy, self-efficacy, and achievement motivation on teachers' ability to compose effective tests. It was conducted among junior high school science teachers in Manado, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, from April to September 2011, using a cross-sectional survey design.…

The Effects of Using Collaborative Assessment with Students Going Abroad: Intercultural Competence Development, Self-Understanding, Self-Confidence, and Stages of Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schnabel, Deborah B. L.; Kelava, Augustin; van de Vijver, Fons J. R.

2016-01-01

For this study we examined collaborative assessment in counseling 820 German students who were going abroad and who were exposed to the Test to Measure Intercultural Competence (TMIC). A randomized pretest-posttest control group design was used. The control group did not get any test feedback. The remaining groups received written feedback or…

A Tool that Can be Effective in the Self-Regulated Learning of Pre-Service Teachers: The Mind Map

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tanriseven, Isil

2014-01-01

The aim of this study is to analyse the effect of task planning with mind maps on the self-regulation strategies and motivational beliefs of pre-service teachers. A quasi-experimental design, with a pre-test and post-test control group, was applied in the research. The research group comprised of 60 pre-service teachers taking "Teaching…

The Effect of Time-Management Training on Test-Anxiety and Self-Efficacy of Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Behnam, Biook; Jenani, Shalaleh; Ahangari, Saeideh

2014-01-01

The present study aimed to examine the effect of time-management training on Iranian EFL learners' test-anxiety and self-efficacy. A quasi-experimental design was used. The study was carried out in Tabriz Azad University and University of Applied Sciences and Technology. Thirty-eight BA students majoring in TEFL who enrolled in the above mentioned…

Evaluation of a teen parent program designed to reduce child abuse and neglect and to strengthen families.

PubMed

Marshall, E; Buckner, E; Powell, K

1991-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a teen parent program designed to increase parents' self-esteem, improve parenting skills, and increase parental knowledge about child development. Subjects (n = 30) in the program were referred from public health services. Control subjects (n = 30) were served by a local health department. Subjects were tested before and on completion of the program (or 6-9 months later for controls) using the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI), the Inventory of Parents' Experiences (IPE), and the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST). Findings included (a) intervention subjects scored lower than control subjects on the pretesting in self-esteem (p less than 0.05), parental role satisfaction (p less than 0.05), and community support (p less than 0.0001); (b) control subjects scored lower on satisfaction with intimate relationships (p less than 0.0001); (c) at post-test, there were no statistically significant differences, and intervention subjects recorded self-esteem scores had increased to control levels; and (d) no developmental delays were detected in newborns at either pre- or post-testing. Implications of this study include (a) data support effectiveness of the program in enhancing self-esteem, maintaining satisfaction in parental role, and increasing community support for teen parents; and (b) evaluation of teen parent programs' effects should be done every 3-6 months to reduce subject attrition.

The Law of Teacher Evaluation: A Self-Assessment Handbook.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zirkel, Perry A.

Detailed explanations of the legal issues involved in teacher evaluation are discussed in this concise handbook. The basis for discussion is a self-assessment designed for response by the reader. The answers to the self-assessment instrument and explanations of them are discussed under 13 headings: (1) The Use of Test Scores; (2) Negotiability and…

Self-Regulated Learning Using Multimedia Programs in Dentistry Postgraduate Students: A Multimethod Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lloret, Miguel; Aguila, Estela; Lloret, Alejandro

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to study the effect of a multimedia computing program on the production of activities and self-regulated learning processes in 18 students of the Dentistry postdegree (Celaya, Mexico). A multi-method design (quasi-experimental, pretest-post-test and qualitative: Think aloud protocol) was used. Self-regulated…

Learning Arithmetic Outdoors in Junior High School--Influence on Performance and Self-Regulating Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fägerstam, Emilia; Samuelsson, Joakim

2014-01-01

This study aims to explore the influence of outdoor teaching among students, aged 13, on arithmetic performance and self-regulation skills as previous research concerning outdoor mathematics learning is limited. This study had a quasi-experimental design. An outdoor and a traditional group answered a test and a self-regulation skills questionnaire…

A Longitudinal, Mixed Method Evaluation of Self-Awareness Training in the Workplace

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sutton, Anna; Williams, Helen M.; Allinson, Christopher W.

2015-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether self-awareness, which is associated with general well-being and positive life outcomes, is also of specific benefit in the workplace. The authors tested the relationship between self-awareness and job-related well-being, and evaluated two different interventions designed to improve…

Real reproduction and evaluation of color based on BRDF method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Feng; Yang, Weiping; Yang, Jia; Li, Hongning; Luo, Yanlin; Long, Hongli

2013-12-01

It is difficult to reproduce the original color of targets really in different illuminating environment using the traditional methods. So a function which can reconstruct the characteristics of reflection about every point on the surface of target is required urgently to improve the authenticity of color reproduction, which known as the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function(BRDF). A method of color reproduction based on the BRDF measurement is introduced in this paper. Radiometry is combined with the colorimetric theories to measure the irradiance and radiance of GretagMacbeth 24 ColorChecker by using PR-715 Radiation Spectrophotometer of PHOTO RESEARCH, Inc, USA. The BRDF and BRF (Bidirectional Reflectance Factor) values of every color piece corresponding to the reference area are calculated according to irradiance and radiance, thus color tristimulus values of 24 ColorChecker are reconstructed. The results reconstructed by BRDF method are compared with values calculated by the reflectance using PR-715, at last, the chromaticity coordinates in color space and color difference between each other are analyzed. The experimental result shows average color difference and sample standard deviation between the method proposed in this paper and traditional reconstruction method depended on reflectance are 2.567 and 1.3049 respectively. The conclusion indicates that the method of color reproduction based on BRDF has the more obvious advantages to describe the color information of object than the reflectance in hemisphere space through the theoretical and experimental analysis. This method proposed in this paper is effective and feasible during the research of reproducing the chromaticity.

Self-cleaning and self-sanitizing coatings on plastic fabrics: design, manufacture and performance.

PubMed

Barletta, M; Vesco, S; Tagliaferri, V

2014-08-01

Self-cleaning and self-sanitizing coatings are of utmost interest in several manufacturing domains. In particular, fabrics and textile materials are often pre-treated by impregnation or incorporation with antimicrobial pesticides for protection purposes against bacteria and fungi that are pathogenic for man or other animals. In this respect, the present investigation deals with the design and manufacture of self-cleaning and self-sanitizing coatings on plastic fabrics. The functionalization of the coatings was yield by incorporating active inorganic matter alone (i.e., photo-catalytic TiO2 anatase and Ag(+) ions) inside an organic inorganic hybrid binder. The achieved formulations were deposited on coextruded polyvinylchloride-polyester fabrics by air-mix spraying and left to dry at ambient temperature. The performance of the resulting coatings were characterized for their self-cleaning and self-sanitizing ability according to standardized testing procedure and/or applicable international regulations. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Feasibility study of self-powered magnetorheological damper systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chao; Liao, Wei-Hsin

2012-04-01

This paper is aimed to provide a feasibility study of self-powered magnetorheological (MR) damper systems, which could convert vibration and shock energy into electrical energy to power itself under control. The self-powered feature could bring merits such as higher reliability, energy saving, and less maintenance for the MR damper systems. A self-powered MR damper system is proposed and modeled. The criterion whether the MR damper system is self-powered or not is proposed. A prototype of MR damper with power generation is designed, fabricated, and tested. The modeling of this damper is experimentally validated. Then the damper is applied to a 2 DOF suspension system under on-off skyhook controller, to obtain the self-powered working range and vibration control performance. Effects of key factors on the self-powered MR damper systems are studied. Design considerations are given in order to increase the self-powered working range.

Strengthening quitter self-identity: An experimental study.

PubMed

Meijer, Eline; Gebhardt, Winifred A; van Laar, Colette; van den Putte, Bas; Evers, Andrea W M

2018-06-10

Smoking-related self-identity processes are important for smoking cessation. We examined whether quitter self-identity (i.e. identification with quitting smoking) could be strengthened through a writing exercise, and whether expected social support for quitting, manipulated through vignettes, could facilitate identification with quitting. Participants (N = 339 daily smokers) were randomly assigned to a 2 (identity: strengthened quitter self-identity vs. control) × 3 (social support: present vs. absent vs. neutral control) between-participants design. The main outcome was post-test quitter self-identity. Post-test quitter self-identity was not strengthened successfully. Only a small and marginally significant intervention effect was found on quitter self-identity, which did not generalise to positively influence quit-intention or behaviour. The social support manipulation did not facilitate quitter self-identity. Secondary content analyses showed that quitter self-identity was strengthened among participants who linked quitting smoking to their lifestyle, wanted to become quitters for health reasons, and whose reasons for becoming quitters included approach of positive aspects of quitting, but not among participants who linked quitter self-identity to their self-perceptions. Results provide insight into the content of smokers' self-conceptualizations as quitters. Writing exercises should be improved and tested to eventually successfully strengthen quitter identities.

A telecommunications intervention for frontier patients with diabetes.

PubMed

Wagnild, Gail; MacCart, John G; Mitchell, Scot; Tyabah, Kiran; Leenknecht, Cindy; Meszaros, Jane Fitch

2008-10-01

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a telecommunications diabetes self-management (DSM) intervention would improve health-related outcomes among frontier participants with diabetes. A one-group pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental design with two groups of participants was used. Differences between pre and post-test periods on measures of physical and emotional health, knowledge of diabetes, and self-care behaviors were measured. Overall, participants did better along measures of blood pressure, HbA(1c), self-efficacy, knowledge of diabetes, understanding of DSM, monitoring behaviors, and reported less personal and social disruption from diabetes. Six-month follow-up results showed continued positive outcomes.

Interactive Digital e-Health Game for Heart Failure Self-Management: A Feasibility Study.

PubMed

Radhakrishnan, Kavita; Toprac, Paul; O'Hair, Matt; Bias, Randolph; Kim, Miyong T; Bradley, Paul; Mackert, Michael

2016-12-01

To develop and test the prototype of a serious digital game for improving community-dwelling older adults' heart failure (HF) knowledge and self-management behaviors. The serious game innovatively incorporates evidence-based HF guidelines with contemporary game technology. The study included three phases: development of the game prototype, its usability assessment, and evaluation of the game's functionality. Usability testing included researchers' usability assessment, followed by research personnel's observations of participants playing the game, and participants' completion of a usability survey. Next, in a pretest-post-test design, validated instruments-the Atlanta Heart Failure Knowledge Test and the Self Care for Heart Failure Index-were used to measure improvement in HF self-management knowledge and behaviors related to HF self-maintenance, self-management, and self-efficacy, respectively. A postgame survey assessed participants' perceptions of the game. During usability testing, with seven participants, 100%, 100%, and 86% found the game easy to play, enjoyable, and helpful for learning about HF, respectively. In the subsequent functionality testing, with 19 participants, 89% found the game interesting, enjoyable, and easy to play. Playing the game resulted in a significant improvement in HF self-management knowledge, a nonsignificant improvement in self-reported behaviors related to HF self-maintenance, and no difference in HF self-efficacy scores. Participants with lower education level and age preferred games to any other medium for receiving information. It is feasible to develop a serious digital game that community-dwelling older adults with HF find both satisfying and acceptable and that can improve their self-management knowledge.

Interactive Digital e-Health Game for Heart Failure Self-Management: A Feasibility Study

PubMed Central

Toprac, Paul; O'Hair, Matt; Bias, Randolph; Kim, Miyong T.; Bradley, Paul; Mackert, Michael

2016-01-01

Abstract Objective: To develop and test the prototype of a serious digital game for improving community-dwelling older adults' heart failure (HF) knowledge and self-management behaviors. The serious game innovatively incorporates evidence-based HF guidelines with contemporary game technology. Materials and Methods: The study included three phases: development of the game prototype, its usability assessment, and evaluation of the game's functionality. Usability testing included researchers' usability assessment, followed by research personnel's observations of participants playing the game, and participants' completion of a usability survey. Next, in a pretest–post-test design, validated instruments—the Atlanta Heart Failure Knowledge Test and the Self Care for Heart Failure Index—were used to measure improvement in HF self-management knowledge and behaviors related to HF self-maintenance, self-management, and self-efficacy, respectively. A postgame survey assessed participants' perceptions of the game. Results: During usability testing, with seven participants, 100%, 100%, and 86% found the game easy to play, enjoyable, and helpful for learning about HF, respectively. In the subsequent functionality testing, with 19 participants, 89% found the game interesting, enjoyable, and easy to play. Playing the game resulted in a significant improvement in HF self-management knowledge, a nonsignificant improvement in self-reported behaviors related to HF self-maintenance, and no difference in HF self-efficacy scores. Participants with lower education level and age preferred games to any other medium for receiving information. Conclusion: It is feasible to develop a serious digital game that community-dwelling older adults with HF find both satisfying and acceptable and that can improve their self-management knowledge. PMID:27976955

The Value of Being a Conscientious Learner: Examining the Effects of the Big Five Personality Traits on Self-Reported Learning from Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woods, Stephen A.; Patterson, Fiona C.; Koczwara, Anna; Sofat, Juilitta A.

2016-01-01

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of personality traits of the Big Five model on training outcomes to help explain variation in training effectiveness. Design/Methodology/ Approach: Associations of the Big Five with self-reported learning following training were tested in a pre- and post-design in a field sample of junior…

Prediction of Mean and Design Fatigue Lives of Self Compacting Concrete Beams in Flexure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goel, S.; Singh, S. P.; Singh, P.; Kaushik, S. K.

2012-02-01

In this paper, result of an investigation conducted to study the flexural fatigue characteristics of self compacting concrete (SCC) beams in flexure are presented. An experimental programme was planned in which approximately 60 SCC beam specimens of size 100 × 100 × 500 mm were tested under flexural fatigue loading. Approximately 45 static flexural tests were also conducted to facilitate fatigue testing. The flexural fatigue and static flexural strength tests were conducted on a 100 kN servo-controlled actuator. The fatigue life data thus obtained have been used to establish the probability distributions of fatigue life of SCC using two-parameter Weibull distribution. The parameters of the Weibull distribution have been obtained by different methods of analysis. Using the distribution parameters, the mean and design fatigue lives of SCC have been estimated and compared with Normally vibrated concrete (NVC), the data for which have been taken from literature. It has been observed that SCC exhibits higher mean and design fatigue lives compared to NVC.

Model Checking Real Time Java Using Java PathFinder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lindstrom, Gary; Mehlitz, Peter C.; Visser, Willem

2005-01-01

The Real Time Specification for Java (RTSJ) is an augmentation of Java for real time applications of various degrees of hardness. The central features of RTSJ are real time threads; user defined schedulers; asynchronous events, handlers, and control transfers; a priority inheritance based default scheduler; non-heap memory areas such as immortal and scoped, and non-heap real time threads whose execution is not impeded by garbage collection. The Robust Software Systems group at NASA Ames Research Center has JAVA PATHFINDER (JPF) under development, a Java model checker. JPF at its core is a state exploring JVM which can examine alternative paths in a Java program (e.g., via backtracking) by trying all nondeterministic choices, including thread scheduling order. This paper describes our implementation of an RTSJ profile (subset) in JPF, including requirements, design decisions, and current implementation status. Two examples are analyzed: jobs on a multiprogramming operating system, and a complex resource contention example involving autonomous vehicles crossing an intersection. The utility of JPF in finding logic and timing errors is illustrated, and the remaining challenges in supporting all of RTSJ are assessed.

Conversion of LARSYS III.1 to an IBM 370 computer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, G. N.; Leggett, J.; Hascall, G. A.

1975-01-01

A software system for processing multispectral aircraft or satellite data (LARSYS) was designed and written at the Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing at Purdue University. This system, being implemented on an IBM 360/67 computer utilizing the Cambridge Monitor System, is of an interactive nature. TAMU LARSYS maintains the essential capabilities of Purdue's LARSYS. The machine configuration for which it has been converted is an IBM-compatible Amdahl 470V/6 computer utilizing the time sharing option of the currently implemented OS/VS2 Operating System. Due to TSO limitations, the NASA-JSC deliverable TAMU LARSYS is comprised of two parts. Part one is a TSO Control Card Checker for LARSYS control cards, and part two is a batch version of LARSYS. Used together, they afford most of the capabilities of the original LARSYS III.1. Additionally, two programs have been written by TAMU to support LARSYS processing. The first is an ERTS-to-MIST conversion program used to convert ERTS data to the LARSYS input form, the MIST tape. The second is a system runtable code which maintains tape/file location information for the MIST data sets.

Real-time PCR array as a universal platform for the detection of genetically modified crops and its application in identifying unapproved genetically modified crops in Japan.

PubMed

Mano, Junichi; Shigemitsu, Natsuki; Futo, Satoshi; Akiyama, Hiroshi; Teshima, Reiko; Hino, Akihiro; Furui, Satoshi; Kitta, Kazumi

2009-01-14

We developed a novel type of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array with TaqMan chemistry as a platform for the comprehensive and semiquantitative detection of genetically modified (GM) crops. Thirty primer-probe sets for the specific detection of GM lines, recombinant DNA (r-DNA) segments, endogenous reference genes, and donor organisms were synthesized, and a 96-well PCR plate was prepared with a different primer-probe in each well as the real-time PCR array. The specificity and sensitivity of the array were evaluated. A comparative analysis with the data and publicly available information on GM crops approved in Japan allowed us to assume the possibility of unapproved GM crop contamination. Furthermore, we designed a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet application, Unapproved GMO Checker version 2.01, which helps process all the data of real-time PCR arrays for the easy assumption of unapproved GM crop contamination. The spreadsheet is available free of charge at http://cse.naro.affrc.go.jp/jmano/index.html .

Self pressuring HTP feed systems

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

Whitehead, J.

1999-10-14

Hydrogen peroxide tanks can be pressurized with decomposed HTP (high test hydrogen peroxide) originating in the tank itself. In rocketry, this offers the advantage of eliminating bulky and heavy inert gas storage. Several prototype self-pressurizing HTP systems have recently been designed and tested. Both a differential piston tank and a small gas-driven pump have been tried to obtain the pressure boost needed for flow through a gas generator and back to the tank. Results include terrestrial maneuvering tests of a prototype microsatellite, including warm gas attitude control jets.

The development and impact of active learning strategies on self-confidence in a newly designed first-year self-care pharmacy course - outcomes and experiences.

PubMed

Smith, Kathryn J; Grundmann, Oliver; Li, Robin Moorman

2018-04-01

The primary objective of this investigation was to determine the effectiveness of different active learning exercises in a newly-designed flipped-classroom self-care course in applying newly acquired knowledge of self-care and improving the confidence of first-year pharmacy students to recommend self-care treatments and counsel patients. The early development of these skills is essential for the subsequent Community Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (CIPPE). An unpaired anonymous survey was administered to students, pre- and post-course, to ascertain their opinions on the effectiveness of various teaching strategies and active learning exercises on learning and on their confidence in treatment-planning and patient counseling for self-care patients. Comparison between pre- and post-course Likert scores was conducted using a one-way ANOVA followed by a post-hoc Tukey's test with significance at p = 0.05. All other tests of significance were conducted using a student's t-test with significance at p = 0.05. Students' self-confidence in developing treatment plans and in counseling for non-prescription drugs and dietary supplements significantly improved from the beginning to the end of this self-care course. The response rate was high in both the pre- (N = 208, 88.1%) and post- (N = 198, 83.9%) course surveys. The positive change in confidence was not reflected in increased performance on the final exam represented by a lower average score than the midterm exam. Active learning sessions and the flipped classroom approach in this first-year pharmacy self-care course contributed to increased self-confidence in making recommendations and counseling patients on proper use of nonprescription medications and dietary supplements. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Usability and Interoperability Improvements for an EASE-Grid 2.0 Passive Microwave Data Product Using CF Conventions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hardman, M.; Brodzik, M. J.; Long, D. G.

2017-12-01

Beginning in 1978, the satellite passive microwave data record has been a mainstay of remote sensing of the cryosphere, providing twice-daily, near-global spatial coverage for monitoring changes in hydrologic and cryospheric parameters that include precipitation, soil moisture, surface water, vegetation, snow water equivalent, sea ice concentration and sea ice motion. Historical versions of the gridded passive microwave data sets were produced as flat binary files described in human-readable documentation. This format is error-prone and makes it difficult to reliably include all processing and provenance. Funded by NASA MEaSUREs, we have completely reprocessed the gridded data record that includes SMMR, SSM/I-SSMIS and AMSR-E. The new Calibrated Enhanced-Resolution Brightness Temperature (CETB) Earth System Data Record (ESDR) files are self-describing. Our approach to the new data set was to create netCDF4 files that use standard metadata conventions and best practices to incorporate file-level, machine- and human-readable contents, geolocation, processing and provenance metadata. We followed the flexible and adaptable Climate and Forecast (CF-1.6) Conventions with respect to their coordinate conventions and map projection parameters. Additionally, we made use of Attribute Conventions for Dataset Discovery (ACDD-1.3) that provided file-level conventions with spatio-temporal bounds that enable indexing software to search for coverage. Our CETB files also include temporal coverage and spatial resolution in the file-level metadata for human-readability. We made use of the JPL CF/ACDD Compliance Checker to guide this work. We tested our file format with real software, for example, netCDF Command-line Operators (NCO) power tools for unlimited control on spatio-temporal subsetting and concatenation of files. The GDAL tools understand the CF metadata and produce fully-compliant geotiff files from our data. ArcMap can then reproject the geotiff files on-the-fly and work with other geolocated data such as coastlines, with no special work required. We expect this combination of standards and well-tested interoperability to significantly improve the usability of this important ESDR for the Earth Science community.

Improved self-contained breathing apparatus concept. Final report Oct 80-Jun 82

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

White, L.; Walker, J.

1982-08-01

Past operational experiences of USAF fire fighting and rescue teams have indicated the need for an improved self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). In October 1980, a contract was awarded to Electronic Data Systems, Panama City, Florida, to design and develop a prototype SCBA that would meet Air Force technical requirements. A prototype was designed, developed, and tested through a subcontract with Reimers Consultants, Falls Church, Virginia. This report describes the technical requirements, a detailed technical description of the unit, and the unmanned test procedures and results. The unmanned testing demonstrate that the prototype SCBA meets all performance requirements, except for weight.more » The fully charged prototype weights 34 pounds, the maximum acceptable weight is 30 pounds. With the other performance requirements either met or exceeded, manned testing of the SCBA can proceed.« less

Effect of Instruction in Emotional Intelligence Skills on Locus of Control and Academic Self-Efficacy among Junior Secondary School Students in Niger State, Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Umaru, Yunusa; Umma, Abdulwahid

2015-01-01

This study investigated the effect of instruction in emotional intelligence Skills on locus of control and academic self-efficacy among junior secondary school students in Niger state, Nigeria. This study employed a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group, pre-test - post-test design. The population of this study was 105,034 secondary…

Academic self-handicapping: relationships with learning specific and general self-perceptions and academic performance over time.

PubMed

Gadbois, Shannon A; Sturgeon, Ryan D

2011-06-01

Academic self-handicapping (ASH) tendencies, strategies students employ that increase their chances of failure on assessments while protecting self-esteem, are correlated with classroom goal structures and to learners' general self-perceptions and learning strategies. In particular, greater ASH is related to poorer academic performance but has yet to be examined with respect to learners' performance across a series of tests. This research was designed to examine the relationship between students' ASH tendencies and their self-concept clarity, learning strategies, and performance on a series of tests in a university course. A total of 209 (153 female; 56 male) Canadian university psychology students participated in this study. Participants' ASH tendencies, self-concept clarity, approaches to learning, and self-regulatory learning strategies were assessed along with expected grades and hours of study in the course from which they were recruited. Finally, students' grades were obtained for the three tests for the course from which they were recruited. Students reporting greater self-handicapping tendencies reported lower self-concept clarity, lower academic self-efficacy, greater test anxiety, more superficial learning strategies, and scored lower on all tests in the course. The relationships of ASH scores and learner variables with performance varied across the three performance indices. In particular, ASH scores were more strongly related to second and third tests, and prior performances were accounted for. ASH scores accounted for a relatively small but significant proportion of variance for all three tests. These results showed that ASH is a unique contributing factor in student performance outcomes, and may be particularly important after students complete the initial assessment in a course. ©2010 The British Psychological Society.

Web-based assessments of physical activity in youth: considerations for design and scale calibration.

PubMed

Saint-Maurice, Pedro F; Welk, Gregory J

2014-12-01

This paper describes the design and methods involved in calibrating a Web-based self-report instrument to estimate physical activity behavior. The limitations of self-report measures are well known, but calibration methods enable the reported information to be equated to estimates obtained from objective data. This paper summarizes design considerations for effective development and calibration of physical activity self-report measures. Each of the design considerations is put into context and followed by a practical application based on our ongoing calibration research with a promising online self-report tool called the Youth Activity Profile (YAP). We first describe the overall concept of calibration and how this influences the selection of appropriate self-report tools for this population. We point out the advantages and disadvantages of different monitoring devices since the choice of the criterion measure and the strategies used to minimize error in the measure can dramatically improve the quality of the data. We summarize strategies to ensure quality control in data collection and discuss analytical considerations involved in group- vs individual-level inference. For cross-validation procedures, we describe the advantages of equivalence testing procedures that directly test and quantify agreement. Lastly, we introduce the unique challenges encountered when transitioning from paper to a Web-based tool. The Web offers considerable potential for broad adoption but an iterative calibration approach focused on continued refinement is needed to ensure that estimates are generalizable across individuals, regions, seasons and countries.

Longitudinal Tests of Competing Factor Structures for the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Traits, Ephemeral Artifacts, and Stable Response Styles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marsh, Herbert W.; Scalas, L. Francesca; Nagengast, Benjamin

2010-01-01

Self-esteem, typically measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), is one of the most widely studied constructs in psychology. Nevertheless, there is broad agreement that a simple unidimensional factor model, consistent with the original design and typical application in applied research, does not provide an adequate explanation of RSE…

Self streamlining wind tunnel: Further low speed testing and final design studies for the transonic facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wolf, S. W. D.

1977-01-01

Work has continued with the low speed self streamlining wind tunnel (SSWT) using the NACA 0012-64 airfoil in an effort to explain the discrepancies between the NASA Langley low turbulence pressure tunnel (LTPT) and SSWT results obtained with the airfoil stalled. Conventional wind tunnel corrections were applied to straight wall SSWT airfoil data, to illustrate the inadequacy of standard correction techniques in circumstances of high blockage. Also one SSWT test was re-run at different air speeds to investigate the effects of such changes on airfoil data and wall contours. Mechanical design analyses for the transonic self streamlining wind tunnel (TSWT) were completed by the application of theoretical airfoil flow field data to the elastic beam and streamline analysis. The control system for the transonic facility is outlined.

Investigating the Longer-Term Impact of the CREST Inquiry-Based Learning Programme on Student Self-regulated Processes and Related Motivations: Views of Students and Teachers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moote, Julie

2017-07-01

This study investigates the impact of participation in the CREativity in Science and Technology (CREST) programme on student self-regulated processes and related motivations. The CREST scheme, a student-run science project managed by the British Science Association, is currently being implemented in schools across the UK to increase student engagement and motivation in science. Through implementing a rigorous quasi-experimental research design using two intervention conditions and one control group with immediate as well as 3-month delayed post-test data, the results documented both the immediate and longer-term positive impact of CREST participation on students' self-reported levels of self-regulation. The present study also investigates changes in teachers' perceptions of students' self-regulated learning through CREST programme participation. Group differences regarding changes in student self-reported self-regulation were not matched when looking at the teacher-reported self-regulated learning results at both immediate post-test and delayed post-test. These discrepancies are discussed in relation to analyses conducted on the other motivational constructs measured.

Aircraft Environmental Systems Mechanic. Part 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chanute AFB Technical Training Center, IL.

This packet contains learning modules designed for a self-paced course in aircraft environmental systems mechanics that was developed for the Air Force. Learning modules consist of some or all of the following materials: objectives, instructions, equipment, procedures, information sheets, handouts, workbooks, self-tests with answers, review…

Assessment of an educational intervention on nurses' knowledge and retention of heart failure self-care principles and the Teach Back method.

PubMed

Mahramus, Tara; Penoyer, Daleen Aragon; Frewin, Sarah; Chamberlain, Lyne; Wilson, Debra; Sole, Mary Lou

2014-01-01

Nurses must have optimum knowledge of heart failure self-care principles to adequately prepare patients for self-care at home. However, study findings demonstrate that nurses have knowledge deficits in self-care concepts for heart failure. A quasi-experimental, repeated measures design was used to assess nurses' knowledge of heart failure self-care before, immediately after, and 3-months following an educational intervention, which also included the Teach Back method. Follow-up reinforcement was provided after the educational intervention. One hundred fifty nurses participated in the study. Significant differences were found between pre-test (65.1%) and post-test (80.6%) scores (p < 0.001). Teach Back proficiency was achieved by 98.3%. Only 61 participants completed the 3-month assessment of knowledge. In this group, mean knowledge scores increased significantly across all three measurements (p < 0.001): 66.5% (pre-test); 82.1% (post-test); 89.5% (follow up post-test). Participation in a comprehensive educational program resulted in increased nurses' knowledge of heart failure self-care principles and the knowledge was sustained and increased over time. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

JAVA PathFinder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mehhtz, Peter

2005-01-01

JPF is an explicit state software model checker for Java bytecode. Today, JPF is a swiss army knife for all sort of runtime based verification purposes. This basically means JPF is a Java virtual machine that executes your program not just once (like a normal VM), but theoretically in all possible ways, checking for property violations like deadlocks or unhandled exceptions along all potential execution paths. If it finds an error, JPF reports the whole execution that leads to it. Unlike a normal debugger, JPF keeps track of every step how it got to the defect.

Oregon Forests

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-10-22

This 39 by 47 km ASTER sub-scene was acquired on May 20, 2000 and shows an area along the west side of the Cascade Range in west central Oregon. Bands 4, 3, and 2 were combined as red, green, and blue. In this composite, snow appears blue, forests are green, and clear-cut areas are orange-pink. The magnitude of logging operations is quite obvious, appearing as a checker board pattern. The image is centered at 44.6 degrees north latitude, 122.2 degrees west longitude. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA11165

USAFA/8086 - A State of the Art Microprocessor System. Volume II. Software Documentation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-06-01

34 /* THE THREE FOLLOWING STRUCTU2RES APE NECESSARY TO MLLLO ThE OPERATING SYTEM TO HAVE INDIRECT ACCESS TL 41EMOP *. 13- ** _3_ -- - , -- K k"" , PijPL...FILLJ$ ERROR$ ONE IOPB CHECKER LINK$IN$ DIR$IN$ ABM $IN$ DATA$IN$ OUT OUT OUT OUT DisK86 MODUlE FiGuRE 8. DATA TRANSFER UTILITIE.S 62 In addition to...SUPPORT ROUTINES. Table 3 shows the functions of these routines. TABLE 3. SUPPORT PROCEDURES ROUTINE FUNCTION ABM $ZERO Makes a given sector on a

Simultaneous adaptation to size, distance, and curvature underwater.

PubMed

Vernoy, M W

1989-02-01

Perceptual adaptation to underwater size, distance, and curvature distortion was measured for four different adaptation conditions. These conditions consisted of (a) playing Chinese checkers underwater, (b) swimming with eyes open underwater, (c) viewing a square underwater, and (d) an air control. Significant adaptation to underwater distortions was recorded in all except the air control condition. In the viewing square condition a positive correlation between size and distance adaptation was noted. It was suggested that adaptation to curvature may have mediated the positive correlation. Possible applications for the training of divers are discussed.

Launching "the evolution of cooperation".

PubMed

Axelrod, Robert

2012-04-21

This article describes three aspects of the author's early work on the evolution of the cooperation. First, it explains how the idea for a computer tournament for the iterated Prisoner's Dilemma was inspired by the artificial intelligence research on computer checkers and computer chess. Second, it shows how the vulnerability of simple reciprocity of misunderstanding or misimplementation can be eliminated with the addition of some degree of generosity or contrition. Third, it recounts the unusual collaboration between the author, a political scientist, and William D. Hamilton, an evolutionary biologist. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

EDAC Test Collection Catalogue: A Description of Tests for Use in Bilingual Education Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolfsfeld, Lynn

The descriptions of 200 tests for a variety of language groups are designed for use with the test file maintained by the Evaluation, Dissemination, and Assessment Center for Bilingual Education (EDAC). The content areas covered include reading, mathematics, self-concept, language dominance, language proficiency, and intelligence. Tests are…

Context-Sensitive Spelling Correction of Consumer-Generated Content on Health Care

PubMed Central

Chen, Rudan; Zhao, Xianyang; Xu, Wei; Cheng, Wenqing; Lin, Simon

2015-01-01

Background Consumer-generated content, such as postings on social media websites, can serve as an ideal source of information for studying health care from a consumer’s perspective. However, consumer-generated content on health care topics often contains spelling errors, which, if not corrected, will be obstacles for downstream computer-based text analysis. Objective In this study, we proposed a framework with a spelling correction system designed for consumer-generated content and a novel ontology-based evaluation system which was used to efficiently assess the correction quality. Additionally, we emphasized the importance of context sensitivity in the correction process, and demonstrated why correction methods designed for electronic medical records (EMRs) failed to perform well with consumer-generated content. Methods First, we developed our spelling correction system based on Google Spell Checker. The system processed postings acquired from MedHelp, a biomedical bulletin board system (BBS), and saved misspelled words (eg, sertaline) and corresponding corrected words (eg, sertraline) into two separate sets. Second, to reduce the number of words needing manual examination in the evaluation process, we respectively matched the words in the two sets with terms in two biomedical ontologies: RxNorm and Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine -- Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT). The ratio of words which could be matched and appropriately corrected was used to evaluate the correction system’s overall performance. Third, we categorized the misspelled words according to the types of spelling errors. Finally, we calculated the ratio of abbreviations in the postings, which remarkably differed between EMRs and consumer-generated content and could largely influence the overall performance of spelling checkers. Results An uncorrected word and the corresponding corrected word was called a spelling pair, and the two words in the spelling pair were its members. In our study, there were 271 spelling pairs detected, among which 58 (21.4%) pairs had one or two members matched in the selected ontologies. The ratio of appropriate correction in the 271 overall spelling errors was 85.2% (231/271). The ratio of that in the 58 spelling pairs was 86% (50/58), close to the overall ratio. We also found that linguistic errors took up 31.4% (85/271) of all errors detected, and only 0.98% (210/21,358) of words in the postings were abbreviations, which was much lower than the ratio in the EMRs (33.6%). Conclusions We conclude that our system can accurately correct spelling errors in consumer-generated content. Context sensitivity is indispensable in the correction process. Additionally, it can be confirmed that consumer-generated content differs from EMRs in that consumers seldom use abbreviations. Also, the evaluation method, taking advantage of biomedical ontology, can effectively estimate the accuracy of the correction system and reduce manual examination time. PMID:26232246

Context-Sensitive Spelling Correction of Consumer-Generated Content on Health Care.

PubMed

Zhou, Xiaofang; Zheng, An; Yin, Jiaheng; Chen, Rudan; Zhao, Xianyang; Xu, Wei; Cheng, Wenqing; Xia, Tian; Lin, Simon

2015-07-31

Consumer-generated content, such as postings on social media websites, can serve as an ideal source of information for studying health care from a consumer's perspective. However, consumer-generated content on health care topics often contains spelling errors, which, if not corrected, will be obstacles for downstream computer-based text analysis. In this study, we proposed a framework with a spelling correction system designed for consumer-generated content and a novel ontology-based evaluation system which was used to efficiently assess the correction quality. Additionally, we emphasized the importance of context sensitivity in the correction process, and demonstrated why correction methods designed for electronic medical records (EMRs) failed to perform well with consumer-generated content. First, we developed our spelling correction system based on Google Spell Checker. The system processed postings acquired from MedHelp, a biomedical bulletin board system (BBS), and saved misspelled words (eg, sertaline) and corresponding corrected words (eg, sertraline) into two separate sets. Second, to reduce the number of words needing manual examination in the evaluation process, we respectively matched the words in the two sets with terms in two biomedical ontologies: RxNorm and Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine -- Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT). The ratio of words which could be matched and appropriately corrected was used to evaluate the correction system's overall performance. Third, we categorized the misspelled words according to the types of spelling errors. Finally, we calculated the ratio of abbreviations in the postings, which remarkably differed between EMRs and consumer-generated content and could largely influence the overall performance of spelling checkers. An uncorrected word and the corresponding corrected word was called a spelling pair, and the two words in the spelling pair were its members. In our study, there were 271 spelling pairs detected, among which 58 (21.4%) pairs had one or two members matched in the selected ontologies. The ratio of appropriate correction in the 271 overall spelling errors was 85.2% (231/271). The ratio of that in the 58 spelling pairs was 86% (50/58), close to the overall ratio. We also found that linguistic errors took up 31.4% (85/271) of all errors detected, and only 0.98% (210/21,358) of words in the postings were abbreviations, which was much lower than the ratio in the EMRs (33.6%). We conclude that our system can accurately correct spelling errors in consumer-generated content. Context sensitivity is indispensable in the correction process. Additionally, it can be confirmed that consumer-generated content differs from EMRs in that consumers seldom use abbreviations. Also, the evaluation method, taking advantage of biomedical ontology, can effectively estimate the accuracy of the correction system and reduce manual examination time.

Design Thinking for mHealth Application Co-Design to Support Heart Failure Self-Management.

PubMed

Woods, Leanna; Cummings, Elizabeth; Duff, Jed; Walker, Kim

2017-01-01

Heart failure is a prevalent, progressive chronic disease costing in excess of $1billion per year in Australia alone. Disease self-management has positive implications for the patient and decreases healthcare usage. However, adherence to recommended guidelines is challenging and existing literature reports sub-optimal adherence. mHealth applications in chronic disease education have the potential to facilitate patient enablement for disease self-management. To the best of our knowledge no heart failure self-management application is available for safe use by our patients. In this paper, we present the process established to co-design a mHealth application in support of heart-failure self-management. For this development, an interdisciplinary team systematically proceeds through the phases of Stanford University's Design Thinking process; empathise, define, ideate, prototype and test with a user-centred philosophy. Using this clinician-led heart failure app research as a case study, we describe a sequence of procedures to engage with local patients, carers, software developers, eHealth experts and clinical colleagues to foster rigorously developed and locally relevant patient-facing mHealth solutions. Importantly, patients are engaged in each stage with ethnographic interviews, a series of workshops and multiple re-design iterations.

Development and preliminary testing of a web-based, self-help application for disaster-affected families

PubMed Central

Yuen, Erica K; Gros, Kirstin; Welsh, Kyleen E; McCauley, Jenna; Resnick, Heidi S; Danielson, Carla K; Price, Matthew; Ruggiero, Kenneth J

2015-01-01

Technology-based self-help interventions have the potential to increase access to evidence-based mental healthcare, especially for families affected by natural disasters. However, development of these interventions is a complex process and poses unique challenges. Usability testing, which assesses the ability of individuals to use an application successfully, can have a significant impact on the quality of a self-help intervention. This article describes (a) the development of a novel web-based multi-module self-help intervention for disaster-affected adolescents and their parents and (b) a mixed-methods formal usability study to evaluate user response. A total of 24 adolescents were observed, videotaped, and interviewed as they used the depressed mood component of the self-help intervention. Quantitative results indicated an above-average user experience, and qualitative analysis identified 120 unique usability issues. We discuss the challenges of developing self-help applications, including design considerations and the value of usability testing in technology-based interventions, as well as our plan for widespread dissemination. PMID:25933798

Effectively teaching self-assessment: preparing the dental hygiene student to provide quality care.

PubMed

Jackson, Sarah C; Murff, Elizabeth J Tipton

2011-02-01

Literature on self-assessment presents substantial evidence regarding the impact of self-assessment on dental practitioners and quality of care. Related dental hygiene research documents a need to enhance self-assessment curricula; however, no published curriculum module exists to effectively teach self-assessment. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of a self-assessment educational module for dental hygiene curricula designed using adult learning principles. This module was implemented with thirty-three dental hygiene students in their junior year using a one-group, pretest-posttest design. Results analyzed using matched pairs Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated the self-assessment module was effective (p<0.01 corresponding to a Bonferroni FWER of 0.20) in improving some aspects of the students' perceptions and voluntary clinical application of self-assessment. No statistically significant relationship was found between the students' perceptions and their application of self-assessment using Pearson's correlation. The quality of self-assessment comments on the students' daily clinical evaluation forms was also enhanced after module implementation (p<0.05). This change in quality after module implementation was demonstrated by a quantitative analysis using a self-designed rubric and a qualitative thematic analysis of student comments to identify predominant themes. Students also were surveyed to determine which module components were most effective. Findings indicate a self-assessment educational module enhanced these dental hygiene students' self-assessment perceptions and skills.

Improved sensitivity of vaginal self-collection and high-risk human papillomavirus testing.

PubMed

Belinson, Jerome L; Du, Hui; Yang, Bin; Wu, Ruifang; Belinson, Suzanne E; Qu, Xinfeng; Pretorius, Robert G; Yi, Xin; Castle, Philip E

2012-04-15

Self-collected vaginal specimens tested for high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) have been shown to be less sensitive for the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or cancer (≥CIN 3) than physician-collected endocervical specimens. To increase the sensitivity of self-collected specimens, we studied a self-sampling device designed to obtain a larger specimen from the upper vagina (POI/NIH self-sampler) and a more sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based HR-HPV assay. Women (10,000) were screened with cervical cytology and HR-HPV testing of vaginal self-collected and endocervical physician-collected specimens. Women were randomly assigned to use either a novel self-collection device (POI/NIH self-sampler) or conical-shaped brush (Qiagen). The self-collected and clinician-collected specimens were assayed by Cervista (Hologic) and the research only PCR-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF). Women with any abnormal screening test underwent colposcopy and biopsy. Women (8,556), mean age of 38.9, had complete data; 1.6% had ≥ CIN 3. For either HR-HPV assay, the sensitivity was similar for the two self-collection devices. Tested with Cervista, the sensitivity for ≥CIN 3 of self-collected specimens was 70.9% and for endocervical specimens was 95.0% (p = 0.0001). Tested with MALDI-TOF, the sensitivity for ≥CIN 3 of self-collected specimens was 94.3% and for endocervical specimens was also 94.3% (p = 1.0). A self-collected sample using a PCR-based assay with the capability of very high throughput has similar sensitivity as a direct endocervical specimen obtained by a physician. Large population-based screening "events" in low-resource settings could be achieved by promoting self-collection and centralized high-throughput, low-cost testing by PCR-based MALDI-TOF. Copyright © 2011 UICC.

The effects of non-evaluative feedback on drivers' self-evaluation and performance.

PubMed

Dogan, Ebru; Steg, Linda; Delhomme, Patricia; Rothengatter, Talib

2012-03-01

Drivers' tend to overestimate their competences, which may result in risk taking behavior. Providing drivers with feedback has been suggested as one of the solutions to overcome drivers' inaccurate self-evaluations. In practice, many tests and driving simulators provide drivers with non-evaluative feedback, which conveys information on the level of performance but not on what caused the performance. Is this type of feedback indeed effective in reducing self-enhancement biases? The current study aimed to investigate the effect of non-evaluative performance feedback on drivers' self-evaluations using a computerized hazard perception test. A between-subjects design was used with one group receiving feedback on performance in the hazard perception test while the other group not receiving any feedback. The results indicated that drivers had a robust self-enhancement bias in their self-evaluations regardless of the presence of performance feedback and that they systematically estimated their performance to be higher than they actually achieved in the test. Furthermore, they devalued the credibility of the test instead of adjusting their self-evaluations in order to cope with the negative feelings following the failure feedback. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these counterproductive effects of non-evaluative feedback. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Effects of a group counseling integration program on self-determination and Internet addiction in high school students with tendency to Internet addiction].

PubMed

Park, Gyeong Ran; Kim, Hee Sook

2011-10-01

In this study the effects of a Group Counseling Integration Program for students with a tendency to Internet addiction were examined. Thirty-seven students who were in a vocational high school in G city participated in a survey, which was carried out from October 12 to November 12, 2009. To test the effects of the Group Counseling Integration Program, the participants were divided into two groups, an experimental group (18) and a control group (19). The research design used in this study was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized pre-posttest quasi-experimental research design. The research tools included a self-determination scale and an internet addiction scale. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, t-test, and ANCOVA with the SPSS/WIN 14.0 program. Significant differences were found in self-determination scores and internet addiction scores between the experimental group and the control group (F=5.99, p=.020) (t=-2.53, p=.016). The results indicate that Group Counseling Integration Programs are an effective nursing intervention for improving self-determination and decreasing Internet addiction in students with a tendency to Internet addiction.

Color blindness and contrast perception in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) determined by a visual sensorimotor assay.

PubMed

Mäthger, Lydia M; Barbosa, Alexandra; Miner, Simon; Hanlon, Roger T

2006-05-01

We tested color perception based upon a robust behavioral response in which cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) respond to visual stimuli (a black and white checkerboard) with a quantifiable, neurally controlled motor response (a body pattern). In the first experiment, we created 16 checkerboard substrates in which 16 grey shades (from white to black) were paired with one green shade (matched to the maximum absorption wavelength of S. officinalis' sole visual pigment, 492 nm), assuming that one of the grey shades would give a similar achromatic signal to the tested green. In the second experiment, we created a checkerboard using one blue and one yellow shade whose intensities were matched to the cuttlefish's visual system. In both assays it was tested whether cuttlefish would show disruptive coloration on these checkerboards, indicating their ability to distinguish checkers based solely on wavelength (i.e., color). Here, we show clearly that cuttlefish must be color blind, as they showed non-disruptive coloration on the checkerboards whose color intensities were matched to the Sepia visual system, suggesting that the substrates appeared to their eyes as uniform backgrounds. Furthermore, we show that cuttlefish are able to perceive objects in their background that differ in contrast by approximately 15%. This study adds support to previous reports that S. officinalis is color blind, yet the question of how cuttlefish achieve "color-blind camouflage" in chromatically rich environments still remains.

Seismic Travel Time Tomography in Modeling Low Velocity Anomalies between the Boreholes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Octova, A.; Sule, R.

2018-04-01

Travel time cross-hole seismic tomography is applied to describing the structure of the subsurface. The sources are placed at one borehole and some receivers are placed in the others. First arrival travel time data that received by each receiver is used as the input data in seismic tomography method. This research is devided into three steps. The first step is reconstructing the synthetic model based on field parameters. Field parameters are divided into 24 receivers and 45 receivers. The second step is applying inversion process for the field data that consists of five pairs bore holes. The last step is testing quality of tomogram with resolution test. Data processing using FAST software produces an explicit shape and resemble the initial model reconstruction of synthetic model with 45 receivers. The tomography processing in field data indicates cavities in several place between the bore holes. Cavities are identified on BH2A-BH1, BH4A-BH2A and BH4A-BH5 with elongated and rounded structure. In resolution tests using a checker-board, anomalies still can be identified up to 2 meter x 2 meter size. Travel time cross-hole seismic tomography analysis proves this mothod is very good to describing subsurface structure and boundary layer. Size and anomalies position can be recognized and interpreted easily.

Application of self-balanced loading test to socketed pile in weak rock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Ye; Gong, Weiming; Dai, Guoliang; Wu, JingKun

2008-11-01

Method of self-balanced loading test differs from the traditional methods of pile test. The key equipment of the test is a cell. The cell specially designed is used to exert load which is placed in pile body. During the test, displacement values of the top plate and the bottom plate of the cell are recorded according to every level of load. So Q-S curves can be obtained. In terms of test results, the bearing capacity of pile can be judged. Equipments of the test are simply and cost of it is low. Under some special conditions, the method will take a great advantage. In Guangxi Province, tertiary mudstone distributes widely which is typical weak rock. It is usually chosen as the bearing stratum of pile foundation. In order to make full use of its high bearing capacity, pile is generally designed as belled pile. Foundations of two high-rise buildings which are close to each other are made up of belled socketed piles in weak rock. To obtain the bearing capacity of the belled socketed pile in weak rock, loading test in situ should be taken since it is not reasonable that experimental compression strength of the mudstone is used for design. The self-balanced loading test was applied to eight piles of two buildings. To get the best test effect, the assembly of cell should be taken different modes in terms of the depth that pile socketed in rock and the dimension of the enlarged toe. The assembly of cells had been taken three modes, and tests were carried on successfully. By the self-balanced loading test, the large bearing capacities of belled socketed piles were obtained. Several key parameters required in design were achieved from the tests. For the data of tests had been analyzed, the bearing performance of pile tip, pile side and whole pile was revealed. It is further realized that the bearing capacity of belled socketed pile in the mudstone will decrease after the mudstone it socketed in has been immerged. Among kinds of mineral ingredient in the mudstone, montmorillonite is much. And in the size composition, content of cosmid is high. For specific surface area of cosmid is large and water intake capacity of it is strong, water content has great effect on strength of the mudstone. Along with water content increasing, strength of the mudstone declines nonlinear apparently. Since effective measures had been taken, the mudstone was prohibited from being immerged during construction. And valuable experience has been accumulated for similar projects construction henceforth.

Philosophic Heuristic Instruction (PHI)--III.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coole, Walter A.

This publication contains a course outline, syllabus, and self-study units finished and partly tested in the Open Classroom, an auto-tutorial learning laboratory at Skagit Valley College (Washington). This self-contained course in elementary formal logic is designed for use in conjunction with Kalish and Montague's "Logic--Techniques of…

78 FR 76350 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-17

... switch port in the test environment. The test environment is designed to closely mirror the live equity... Change To Establish Fees Under the PHLX Pricing Schedule for Use of the Carteret Testing Facility Test... establish fees under the Pricing Schedule for use of the Testing Facility (``NTF'') test environment located...

[Nutritional self-care promotion in community-dwelling older people: a protocol of mixed method research].

PubMed

Raffaele, Barbara; Matarese, Maria; Piredda, Michela; De Marinis, Maria Grazia

2016-01-01

To describe a research protocol designed to promote nutritional self-care in older people. The aims of the research are: a) to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutritional education intervention in changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors; b) to describe the nutritional self-care ability and activities; c) to identify the promoting factors and barriers that influence the changes in nutritional knowledge, behaviors and attitudes in home-dwelling older people. Sequential explanatory mixed method design. The study will enroll 50 people aged 65 years and over. In the first quantitative phase, a pre-test and post-test design will be used to deliver a nutritional intervention aimed to change knowledge, behaviors and attitudes toward nutrition. Using the quantitative study results, the qualitative study phase will be conducted by interviews in sub-groups of older people. In a third phase, the quantitative and qualitative study results will be integrated. Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and qualitative data will be analyzed through content analysis. The study will provide new knowledge on nutritional self-care in home-dwelling older adults and the factors promoting nutritional self-care. Nutritional self-care promotion is of pivotal importance for the nursing care provided to home-dwelling older people. Educational programs aimed at the maintenance of proper nutrition in the older adults may reduce malnutrition and the related diseases. Nutrition educational programs should be based on knowledge derived from research to tailor individualized nutritional interventions and to realize effective educational programs.

A Randomized Trial of a Web-based Intervention to Improve Migraine Self-Management and Coping

PubMed Central

Bromberg, Jonas; Wood, Mollie E.; Black, Ryan A.; Surette, Daniel A.; Zacharoff, Kevin L.; Chiauzzi, Emil J.

2011-01-01

Objective Test the clinical efficacy of a web-based intervention designed to increase patient self-efficacy to perform headache self-management activities and symptom management strategies; and reduce migraine-related psychological distress. Background In spite of their demonstrated efficacy, behavioral interventions are used infrequently as an adjunct in medical treatment of migraine. Little clinical attention is paid to the behavioral factors that can help manage migraine more effectively, improve the quality of care, and improve quality of life. Access to evidenced-based, tailored, behavioral treatment is limited for many people with migraine. Design The study is a parallel group design with two conditions, (1) an experimental group exposed to the web intervention, and (2) a no-treatment control group that was not exposed to the intervention. Assessments for both groups were conducted at baseline (T1), 1-month (T2), 3-months (T3), and 6-months (T4). Results Compared to controls, participants in the experimental group reported significantly: increased headache self-efficacy, increased use of relaxation, increased use of social support, decreased pain catastrophizing, decreased depression, and decreased stress. The hypothesis that the intervention would reduce pain could not be tested. Conclusions Demonstrated increases in self-efficacy to perform headache self-management, increased use of positive symptom management strategies, and reported decreased migraine-related depression and stress, suggest that the intervention may be a useful behavioral adjunct to a comprehensive medical approach to managing migraine. PMID:22413151

78 FR 71011 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-27

... order imbalance tests are designed to ensure that the security price is reasonably stable at the time... rules that enhance an existing test, which is designed to ensure that securities in a halted state are... permitted under subparagraph (A). In the case of subparagraph (B), any order imbalance during the Pre-Launch...

Trait self-esteem and claimed self-handicapping motives in sports situations.

PubMed

Finez, Lucie; Berjot, Sophie; Rosnet, Elisabeth; Cleveland, Christena; Tice, Dianne M

2012-12-01

We examined the relationship between physical self-esteem and claimed self-handicapping among athletes by taking motives into consideration. In Study 1, 99 athletes were asked to report their tendency to engage in claimed self-handicapping for self-protective and self-enhancement motives (trait measures). Low self-esteem athletes reported a higher tendency to engage in claimed self-handicapping for these two motives compared with high self-esteem athletes. Neither low nor high self-esteem athletes reported a preference for one motive over the other. In Study 2, 107 athletes participated in a test that was ostensibly designed to assess high physical abilities - and thus to encourage self-handicapping for self-enhancement motives (success-meaningful condition) - or to assess low physical abilities, and thus to encourage self-handicapping for self-protective motives (failure-meaningful condition). Before starting the test, athletes were given the opportunity to claim handicaps that could impair their performance. Low self-esteem athletes claimed more handicaps than high self-esteem athletes in both conditions. Findings suggest that low physical self-esteem athletes engage more in claimed handicapping regardless of motives, relative to high physical self-esteem athletes.

VIPER project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kershaw, John

1990-01-01

The VIPER project has so far produced a formal specification of a 32 bit RISC microprocessor, an implementation of that chip in radiation-hard SOS technology, a partial proof of correctness of the implementation which is still being extended, and a large body of supporting software. The time has now come to consider what has been achieved and what directions should be pursued in the future. The most obvious lesson from the VIPER project was the time and effort needed to use formal methods properly. Most of the problems arose in the interfaces between different formalisms, e.g., between the (informal) English description and the HOL spec, between the block-level spec in HOL and the equivalent in ELLA needed by the low-level CAD tools. These interfaces need to be made rigorous or (better) eliminated. VIPER 1A (the latest chip) is designed to operate in pairs, to give protection against breakdowns in service as well as design faults. We have come to regard redundancy and formal design methods as complementary, the one to guard against normal component failures and the other to provide insurance against the risk of the common-cause failures which bedevil reliability predictions. Any future VIPER chips will certainly need improved performance to keep up with increasingly demanding applications. We have a prototype design (not yet specified formally) which includes 32 and 64 bit multiply, instruction pre-fetch, more efficient interface timing, and a new instruction to allow a quick response to peripheral requests. Work is under way to specify this device in MIRANDA, and then to refine the spec into a block-level design by top-down transformations. When the refinement is complete, a relatively simple proof checker should be able to demonstrate its correctness. This paper is presented in viewgraph form.

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 efficacy of video feedback for learning the golf swing.

PubMed

Guadagnoli, M; Holcomb, W; Davis, M

2002-08-01

This study was designed to examine the efficacy of video instruction relative to that of verbal and self-guided instruction. Before training, 30 golfers were assigned at random to one of three groups: video, verbal or self-guided instruction. Video instruction was defined as a practice session in which the teacher was aided by the use of video. Verbal instruction was defined as practising with the teacher providing verbal feedback. Self-guided practice was defined as practising without the aid of a teacher. The participants had a pre-test, four 90 min practice sessions, an immediate post-test and a 2 week delayed post-test. During the pre-test and post-tests, all participants were required to strike 15 golf balls, with a 7-iron, from an artificial turf mat for distance and accuracy. The results showed that all groups were equal on the pre-test. On the first post-test, the two instruction groups performed worse than the self-guided group. However, on the second post-test, the two instruction groups performed better than the self-guided group, with the video group performing best. We interpret these results to mean that video analysis is an effective means of practice, but that the positive effects may take some time to develop.

User-centered design of a web-based self-management site for individuals with type 2 diabetes – providing a sense of control and community

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background To design and test a web-based self-management tool for patients with type 2 diabetes for its usability and feasibility. Methods An evidence-based, theory-driven website was created for patients with type 2 diabetes. Twenty-three patients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥ 25 years were recruited from 2 diabetes care centers in Toronto, Canada. We employed focus group methodology to assess acceptability, sustainability, strengths and weaknesses of the self-management website. Based on these results, revisions were made to the website. Three cycles of individual usability testing sessions using cognitive task analysis were conducted with patients with type 2 diabetes. Revisions to the website were made based on results from this testing. Results We identified five themes concerning participants’ experiences of health care and related unmet needs: 1) Desire for information and for greater access to timely and personalized care to gain a sense of control of their disease; 2) Desire for community (sharing experiences with others) to fulfill practical and emotional needs; 3) Potential roles of an online self-management website in self-empowerment, behavior change, self-management and health care delivery; 4) Importance of a patient-centered perspective in presenting content (e.g. common assumptions, medical nomenclature, language, messaging, sociocultural context); 5) Barriers and facilitators to use of a self-management website (including perceived relevance of content, incorporation into usual routine, availability for goal-directed use, usability issues). Conclusions Participants outlined a series of unmet health care needs, and stated that they wanted timely access to tailored knowledge about their condition, mechanisms to control and track their disease, and opportunities to share experiences with other patients. These findings have implications for patients with type 2 diabetes of diverse ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and disease severity, as well as to the design of other computer-based resources for chronic disease management. PMID:25056379

User-centered design of a web-based self-management site for individuals with type 2 diabetes - providing a sense of control and community.

PubMed

Yu, Catherine H; Parsons, Janet A; Hall, Susan; Newton, David; Jovicic, Aleksandra; Lottridge, Danielle; Shah, Baiju R; Straus, Sharon E

2014-07-23

To design and test a web-based self-management tool for patients with type 2 diabetes for its usability and feasibility. An evidence-based, theory-driven website was created for patients with type 2 diabetes. Twenty-three patients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥ 25 years were recruited from 2 diabetes care centers in Toronto, Canada. We employed focus group methodology to assess acceptability, sustainability, strengths and weaknesses of the self-management website. Based on these results, revisions were made to the website. Three cycles of individual usability testing sessions using cognitive task analysis were conducted with patients with type 2 diabetes. Revisions to the website were made based on results from this testing. We identified five themes concerning participants' experiences of health care and related unmet needs: 1) Desire for information and for greater access to timely and personalized care to gain a sense of control of their disease; 2) Desire for community (sharing experiences with others) to fulfill practical and emotional needs; 3) Potential roles of an online self-management website in self-empowerment, behavior change, self-management and health care delivery; 4) Importance of a patient-centered perspective in presenting content (e.g. common assumptions, medical nomenclature, language, messaging, sociocultural context); 5) Barriers and facilitators to use of a self-management website (including perceived relevance of content, incorporation into usual routine, availability for goal-directed use, usability issues). Participants outlined a series of unmet health care needs, and stated that they wanted timely access to tailored knowledge about their condition, mechanisms to control and track their disease, and opportunities to share experiences with other patients. These findings have implications for patients with type 2 diabetes of diverse ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and disease severity, as well as to the design of other computer-based resources for chronic disease management.

Self-Efficacy Is Associated with Less Burden and More Gains from Behavioral Problems of Alzheimer's Disease in Hong Kong Chinese Caregivers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheng, Sheung-Tak; Lam, Linda C. W.; Kwok, Timothy; Ng, Natalie S. S.; Fung, Ada W. T.

2013-01-01

Purpose: To test the effects of different self-efficacy beliefs on caregiver appraisals and depressive symptoms. We hypothesized that self-efficacy has a direct effect on depression while moderating the effects of behavioral problems on both negative (i.e., burden) and positive (i.e., uplifting) appraisals. Design and Methods: Ninety-nine Chinese…

Triggers of self-conscious emotions in the sexually transmitted infection testing process

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Self-conscious emotions (shame, guilt and embarrassment) are part of many individuals' experiences of seeking STI testing. These emotions can have negative impacts on individuals' interpretations of the STI testing process, their willingness to seek treatment and their willingness to inform sexual partners in light of positive STI diagnoses. Because of these impacts, researchers have called for more work to be completed on the connections between shame, guilt, embarrassment and STI testing. We examine the specific events in the STI testing process that trigger self-conscious emotions in young adults who seek STI testing; and to understand what it is about these events that triggers these emotions. Semi-structured interviews with 30 adults (21 women, 9 men) in the Republic of Ireland. Findings Seven specific triggers of self-conscious emotions were identified. These were: having unprotected sex, associated with the initial reason for seeking STI testing; talking to partners and peers about the intention to seek STI testing; the experience of accessing STI testing facilities and sitting in clinic waiting rooms; negative interactions with healthcare professionals; receiving a positive diagnosis of an STI; having to notify sexual partners in light of a positive STI diagnosis; and accessing healthcare settings for treatment for an STI. Self-conscious emotions were triggered in each case by a perceived threat to respondents' social identities. Conclusion There are multiple triggers of self-conscious emotions in the STI testing process, ranging from the initial decision to seek testing, right through to the experience of accessing treatment. The role of self-conscious emotions needs to be considered in each component of service design from health promotion approaches, through facility layout to the training of all professionals involved in the STI testing process. PMID:20716339

Self-acting geometry for noncontact seals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, G. P.

1981-01-01

Performance ot two self acting seal designs for a liquid oxygen (LOX) turbopump was predicted over ranges of pressure differential and speed. Predictions were compared with test results. Performance of a radial face seal for LOX was predicted up to 448 N/cu cm and 147 m/sec. Performance of a segmented circumferential seal for helium was predicted up to 69 N/cu cm and 189 m/sec. Results confirmed predictions of noncontact operation. Qualitative agreement between test and analysis was found. The LOX face seal evidently operated with mostly liquid in the self acting geometry and mostly gas across the dam.

A Verification Method for MASOES.

PubMed

Perozo, N; Aguilar Perozo, J; Terán, O; Molina, H

2013-02-01

MASOES is a 3agent architecture for designing and modeling self-organizing and emergent systems. This architecture describes the elements, relationships, and mechanisms, both at the individual and the collective levels, that favor the analysis of the self-organizing and emergent phenomenon without mathematically modeling the system. In this paper, a method is proposed for verifying MASOES from the point of view of design in order to study the self-organizing and emergent behaviors of the modeled systems. The verification criteria are set according to what is proposed in MASOES for modeling self-organizing and emerging systems and the principles of the wisdom of crowd paradigm and the fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) theory. The verification method for MASOES has been implemented in a tool called FCM Designer and has been tested to model a community of free software developers that works under the bazaar style as well as a Wikipedia community in order to study their behavior and determine their self-organizing and emergent capacities.

Zambian Peer Educators for HIV Self-Testing (ZEST) study: rationale and design of a cluster randomised trial of HIV self-testing among female sex workers in Zambia.

PubMed

Oldenburg, Catherine E; Ortblad, Katrina F; Chanda, Michael M; Mwanda, Kalasa; Nicodemus, Wendy; Sikaundi, Rebecca; Fullem, Andrew; Barresi, Leah G; Harling, Guy; Bärnighausen, Till

2017-04-20

HIV testing and knowledge of status are starting points for HIV treatment and prevention interventions. Among female sex workers (FSWs), HIV testing and status knowledge remain far from universal. HIV self-testing (HIVST) is an alternative to existing testing services for FSWs, but little evidence exists how it can be effectively and safely implemented. Here, we describe the rationale and design of a cluster randomised trial designed to inform implementation and scale-up of HIVST programmes for FSWs in Zambia. The Zambian Peer Educators for HIV Self-Testing (ZEST) study is a 3-arm cluster randomised trial taking place in 3 towns in Zambia. Participants (N=900) are eligible if they are women who have exchanged sex for money or goods in the previous 1 month, are HIV negative or status unknown, have not tested for HIV in the previous 3 months, and are at least 18 years old. Participants are recruited by peer educators working in their communities. Participants are randomised to 1 of 3 arms: (1) direct distribution (in which they receive an HIVST from the peer educator directly); (2) fixed distribution (in which they receive a coupon with which to collect the HIVST from a drug store or health post) or (3) standard of care (referral to existing HIV testing services only, without any offer of HIVST). Participants are followed at 1 and 4 months following distribution of the first HIVST. The primary end point is HIV testing in the past month measured at the 1-month and 4-month visits. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, USA and ERES Converge in Lusaka, Zambia. The findings of this trial will be presented at local, regional and international meetings and submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication. Pre-results; NCT02827240. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Fostering Pre-Service Teachers' Self-Determined Environmental Motivation through Green Chemistry Experiments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karpudewan, Mageswary; Ismail, Zurida; Roth, Wolff-Michael

2012-01-01

The global environmental crisis intensifies particularly in developing nations. Environmental educators have begun to understand that changing the environmental impact requires not only changes in pro-environmental knowledge and attitudes but also in associated, self-determined motivation. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that a…

Using New Health Research. Teenage Health Teaching Modules. Field Tested and Revised.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Education Development Center, Inc., Newton, MA.

The Teenage Health Teaching Modules (THTM) program is a health education curriculum for adolescents. Each THTM module frames an adolescent health task emphasizing development of self-assessment, communication, decision making, health advocacy, and self-management. This module is designed to improve students' ability to evaluate health research…

An Assertiveness Inventory for Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gay, Melvin L.; And Others

1975-01-01

The Adult Self-Expression Scale is a 48-item, self-report measure of assertiveness designed for use with adults in general. Scale was found to have high test-retest reliability and moderate-to-high construct validity, as established by correlations with Adjective Check List scales and by a discriminant analysis procedure. (Author)

Self streamlining wind tunnel: Further low speed testing and final design studies for the transonic facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wolf, S. W. D.

1978-01-01

Work was continued with the low speed self streamlining wind tunnel (SSWT) using the NACA 0012-64 airfoil in an effort to explain the discrepancies between the NASA Langley low turbulence pressure tunnel (LTPT) and SSWT results obtained with the airfoil stalled. Conventional wind tunnel corrections were applied to straight wall SSWT airfoil data, to illustrate the inadequacy of standard correction techniques in circumstances of high blockage. Also one SSWT test was re-run at different air speeds to investigate the effects of such changes (perhaps through changes in Reynold's number and freestream turbulence levels) on airfoil data and wall contours. Mechanical design analyses for the transonic self-streamlining wind tunnel (TSWT) were completed by the application of theoretical airfoil flow field data to the elastic beam and streamline analysis. The control system for the transonic facility, which will eventually allow on-line computer operation of the wind tunnel, was outlined.

Testing the Theory of Self-care Management for sickle cell disease.

PubMed

Jenerette, Coretta M; Murdaugh, Carolyn

2008-08-01

Factors predicting health outcomes in persons with sickle cell disease (SCD) were investigated within the framework of the theory of self-care management for SCD, which proposes that vulnerability factors negatively affect health care outcomes and self-care management resources and positively mediate the relationship between vulnerability factors and health care outcomes. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to test the model with a sample of 232 African American adults with SCD. Results supported the negative effect of vulnerability factors on health outcomes. The overall model was supported, however, self-care management resources did not mediate the relationship between vulnerability and health care outcomes. The findings provide support for interventions to increase self-care management resources to improve health care outcomes. 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

The relationship between academic self-concept, intrinsic motivation, test anxiety, and academic achievement among nursing students: mediating and moderating effects.

PubMed

Khalaila, Rabia

2015-03-01

The impact of cognitive factors on academic achievement is well documented. However, little is known about the mediating and moderating effects of non-cognitive, motivational and situational factors on academic achievement among nursing students. The aim of this study is to explore the direct and/or indirect effects of academic self-concept on academic achievement, and examine whether intrinsic motivation moderates the negative effect of test anxiety on academic achievement. This descriptive-correlational study was carried out on a convenience sample of 170 undergraduate nursing students, in an academic college in northern Israel. Academic motivation, academic self-concept and test anxiety scales were used as measuring instruments. Bootstrapping with resampling strategies was used for testing multiple mediators' model and examining the moderator effect. A higher self-concept was found to be directly related to greater academic achievement. Test anxiety and intrinsic motivation were found to be significant mediators in the relationship between self-concept and academic achievement. In addition, intrinsic motivation significantly moderated the negative effect of test anxiety on academic achievement. The results suggested that institutions should pay more attention to the enhancement of motivational factors (e.g., self-concept and motivation) and alleviate the negative impact of situational factors (e.g., test anxiety) when offering psycho-educational interventions designed to improve nursing students' academic achievements. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A comparison of color fidelity metrics for light sources using simulation of color samples under lighting conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwon, Hyeokjun; Kang, Yoojin; Jang, Junwoo

2017-09-01

Color fidelity has been used as one of indices to evaluate the performance of light sources. Since the Color Rendering Index (CRI) was proposed at CIE, many color fidelity metrics have been proposed to increase the accuracy of the metric. This paper focuses on a comparison of the color fidelity metrics in an aspect of accuracy with human visual assessments. To visually evaluate the color fidelity of light sources, we made a simulator that reproduces the color samples under lighting conditions. In this paper, eighteen color samples of the Macbeth color checker under test light sources and reference illuminant for each of them are simulated and displayed on a well-characterized monitor. With only a spectrum set of the test light source and reference illuminant, color samples under any lighting condition can be reproduced. In this paper, the spectrums of the two LED and two OLED light sources that have similar values of CRI are used for the visual assessment. In addition, the results of the visual assessment are compared with the two color fidelity metrics that include CRI and IES TM-30-15 (Rf), proposed by Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) in 2015. Experimental results indicate that Rf outperforms CRI in terms of the correlation with visual assessment.

Pragmatic, Randomized Controlled Trials of the Girls on the Go! Program to Improve Self-Esteem in Girls.

PubMed

Tirlea, Loredana; Truby, Helen; Haines, Terry P

2016-03-01

To test the effectiveness of an intervention delivered by health professionals outside the school environment to girls identified with issues such as poor body image, low self-esteem, low self-confidence, nonparticipation in sports, or being overweight or underweight. The study's design was a stepped-wedge randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of an intervention on self-esteem, impairment induced by eating disorders, self-efficacy, body satisfaction, and dieting behaviors. The study took place at the community health center located in a culturally diverse area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Participants were 122 primary and secondary school girls between 10 and 16 years of age. Girls on the Go! is a 10-week program designed to improve self-esteem, body image, and confidence, using an empowerment model that involved interactive and experiential learning approaches. Weekly themes included body image and self-esteem, safety and assertiveness, a healthy mind, physical activity, healthy eating, trust and confidence, and connections. Measurements were made using Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, clinical interview assessment, health self-efficacy (included mental health and physical health self-efficacy scales), body esteem scale, and the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire for Children. A linear mixed model was used. The intervention led to a significant increase (p < .05) in self-esteem and self-efficacy (mental and physical health self-efficacy subscales), for both primary and secondary school-aged participants and reduced dieting behaviors (secondary school participants). These gains were retained after 6 months of follow-up. This group-based, low-dose intervention, which, although targeting girls with a range of psychological issues and including both overweight and underweight participants, is a successful means of improving self-esteem among girls from diverse cultural backgrounds. © The Author(s) 2016.

78 FR 69485 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-19

... in the test environment. The test environment is designed to closely mirror the live trading... Test Environment November 13, 2013. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934... fees under Rule 7030(d) for use of the NASDAQ Testing Facility (``NTF'') test environment located in...

Self-Developed Testing System for Determining the Temperature Behavior of Concrete.

PubMed

Zhu, He; Li, Qingbin; Hu, Yu

2017-04-16

Cracking due to temperature and restraint in mass concrete is an important issue. A temperature stress testing machine (TSTM) is an effective test method to study the mechanism of temperature cracking. A synchronous closed loop federated control TSTM system has been developed by adopting the design concepts of a closed loop federated control, a detachable mold design, a direct measuring deformation method, and a temperature deformation compensation method. The results show that the self-developed system has the comprehensive ability of simulating different restraint degrees, multiple temperature and humidity modes, and closed-loop control of multi-TSTMs during one test period. Additionally, the direct measuring deformation method can obtain a more accurate deformation and restraint degree result with little local damage. The external temperature deformation affecting the concrete specimen can be eliminated by adopting the temperature deformation compensation method with different considerations of steel materials. The concrete quality of different TSTMs can be guaranteed by being vibrated on the vibrating stand synchronously. The detachable mold design and assembled method has greatly overcome the difficulty of eccentric force and deformation.

Self-Developed Testing System for Determining the Temperature Behavior of Concrete

PubMed Central

Zhu, He; Li, Qingbin; Hu, Yu

2017-01-01

Cracking due to temperature and restraint in mass concrete is an important issue. A temperature stress testing machine (TSTM) is an effective test method to study the mechanism of temperature cracking. A synchronous closed loop federated control TSTM system has been developed by adopting the design concepts of a closed loop federated control, a detachable mold design, a direct measuring deformation method, and a temperature deformation compensation method. The results show that the self-developed system has the comprehensive ability of simulating different restraint degrees, multiple temperature and humidity modes, and closed-loop control of multi-TSTMs during one test period. Additionally, the direct measuring deformation method can obtain a more accurate deformation and restraint degree result with little local damage. The external temperature deformation affecting the concrete specimen can be eliminated by adopting the temperature deformation compensation method with different considerations of steel materials. The concrete quality of different TSTMs can be guaranteed by being vibrated on the vibrating stand synchronously. The detachable mold design and assembled method has greatly overcome the difficulty of eccentric force and deformation. PMID:28772778

Do physical habitat complexity and predator cues influence the baseline and stress-induced glucocorticoid levels of a mangrove-associated fish?

PubMed

Magel, Jennifer M T; Pleizier, Naomi; Wilson, Alexander D M; Shultz, Aaron D; Vera Chang, Marilyn N; Moon, Thomas W; Cooke, Steven J

2017-01-01

As human populations continue to expand, increases in coastal development have led to the alteration of much of the world's mangrove habitat, creating problems for the multitude of species that inhabit these unique ecosystems. Habitat alteration often leads to changes in habitat complexity and predation risk, which may serve as additional stressors for those species that rely on mangroves for protection from predators. However, few studies have been conducted to date to assess the effects of these specific stressors on glucocorticoid (GC) stress hormone levels in wild fish populations. Using the checkered puffer as a model, our study sought to examine the effects of physical habitat complexity and predator environment on baseline and acute stress-induced GC levels. This was accomplished by examining changes in glucose and cortisol concentrations of fish placed in artificial environments for short periods (several hours) where substrate type and the presence of mangrove roots and predator cues were manipulated. Our results suggest that baseline and stress-induced GC levels are not significantly influenced by changes in physical habitat complexity or the predator environment using the experimental protocol that we applied. Although more research is required, the current study suggests that checkered puffers may be capable of withstanding changes in habitat complexity and increases in predation risk without experiencing adverse GC-mediated physiological effects, possibly as a result of the puffers' unique morphological and chemical defenses that help them to avoid predation in the wild. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Using software security analysis to verify the secure socket layer (SSL) protocol

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powell, John D.

2004-01-01

nal Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have tens of thousands of networked computer systems and applications. Software Security vulnerabilities present risks such as lost or corrupted data, information the3, and unavailability of critical systems. These risks represent potentially enormous costs to NASA. The NASA Code Q research initiative 'Reducing Software Security Risk (RSSR) Trough an Integrated Approach '' offers, among its capabilities, formal verification of software security properties, through the use of model based verification (MBV) to address software security risks. [1,2,3,4,5,6] MBV is a formal approach to software assurance that combines analysis of software, via abstract models, with technology, such as model checkers, that provide automation of the mechanical portions of the analysis process. This paper will discuss: The need for formal analysis to assure software systems with respect to software and why testing alone cannot provide it. The means by which MBV with a Flexible Modeling Framework (FMF) accomplishes the necessary analysis task. An example of FMF style MBV in the verification of properties over the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) communication protocol as a demonstration.

PolyCheck: Dynamic Verification of Iteration Space Transformations on Affine Programs

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

Bao, Wenlei; Krishnamoorthy, Sriram; Pouchet, Louis-noel

2016-01-11

High-level compiler transformations, especially loop transformations, are widely recognized as critical optimizations to restructure programs to improve data locality and expose parallelism. Guaranteeing the correctness of program transformations is essential, and to date three main approaches have been developed: proof of equivalence of affine programs, matching the execution traces of programs, and checking bit-by-bit equivalence of the outputs of the programs. Each technique suffers from limitations in either the kind of transformations supported, space complexity, or the sensitivity to the testing dataset. In this paper, we take a novel approach addressing all three limitations to provide an automatic bug checkermore » to verify any iteration reordering transformations on affine programs, including non-affine transformations, with space consumption proportional to the original program data, and robust to arbitrary datasets of a given size. We achieve this by exploiting the structure of affine program control- and data-flow to generate at compile-time lightweight checker code to be executed within the transformed program. Experimental results assess the correctness and effectiveness of our method, and its increased coverage over previous approaches.« less

Primary stability and self-tapping blades: biomechanical assessment of dental implants in medium-density bone.

PubMed

Kim, Yung-Soo; Lim, Young-Jun

2011-10-01

The aim of this biomechanical study was to assess the influence of self-tapping blades in terms of primary implant stability between implants with self-tapping blades and implants without self-tapping blades using five different analytic methods, especially in medium-density bone. Two different types of dental implants (4 × 10 mm) were tested: self-tapping and non-self-tapping. The fixture design including thread profiles was exactly the same between the two groups; the only difference was the presence of cutting blades on one half of the apical portion of the implant body. Solid rigid polyurethane blocks with corresponding densities were selected to simulate medium-density bone. Five mechanical assessments (insertion torque, resonance frequency analysis [RFA], reverse torque, pull-out and push in test) were performed for primary stability. Implants without self-tapping blades showed significantly higher values (P<0.001) in four biomechanical assessments, except RFA (P=0.684). However, a statistically significant correlation could not be detected between insertion torque values with the four different outcome variables (P>0.05). The outcomes of the present study indicate that the implant body design without self-tapping blades has a good primary stability compared with that with self-tapping blades in medium-density bone. Considering the RFA, a distinct layer of cortical bone on marginal bone will yield implant stability quotient values similar to those in medium-bone density when implants have the same diameter. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Preferences for oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing among social media-using young black, Hispanic, and white men-who-have-sex-with-men (YMSM): implications for future interventions.

PubMed

Merchant, R C; Clark, M A; Liu, T; Rosenberger, J G; Romanoff, J; Bauermeister, J; Mayer, K H

2017-04-01

We assessed preferences of social media-using young black, Hispanic and white men-who-have-sex-with-men (YMSM) for oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing, as compared to other currently available HIV testing options. We also identified aspects of the oral fluid rapid HIV self-test that might influence preferences for using this test instead of other HIV testing options and determined if consideration of HIV testing costs and the potential future availability of fingerstick rapid HIV self-testing change HIV testing preferences. Anonymous online survey. HIV-uninfected YMSM across the United States recruited from multiple social media platforms completed an online survey about willingness to use, opinions about and their preferences for using oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing and five other currently available HIV testing options. In a pre/post questionnaire format design, participants first indicated their preferences for using the six HIV testing options (pre) before answering questions that asked their experience with and opinions about HIV testing. Although not revealed to participants and not apparent in the phrasing of the questions or responses, the opinion questions concerned aspects of oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing (e.g. its possible advantages/disadvantages, merits/demerits, and barriers/facilitators). Afterward, participants were queried again about their HIV testing preferences (post). After completing these questions, participants were asked to re-indicate their HIV testing preferences when considering they had to pay for HIV testing and if fingerstick blood sample rapid HIV self-testing were an additional testing option. Aspects about the oral fluid rapid HIV self-test associated with increased preference for using the test (post-assessment vs pre-assessment of opinion topics) were identified through multivariable regression models that adjusted for participant characteristics. Of the 1975 YMSM participants, the median age was 22 years (IQR 20-23); 19% were black, 36% Hispanic, and 45% white; and 18% previously used an oral fluid rapid HIV self-test. Although views about oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing test were favorable, few intended to use the test. Aspects about the oral fluid rapid HIV self-test associated with an increased preference for using the test were its privacy features, that it motivated getting tested more often or as soon as possible, and that it conferred feelings of more control over one's sexual health. Preferences for the oral fluid rapid HIV self-test were lower when costs were considered, yet these YMSM were much more interested in fingerstick blood sampling than oral fluid sampling rapid HIV self-testing. Despite the perceived advantages of the oral fluid rapid HIV self-test and favorable views about it by this population, prior use as well as future intention in using the test were low. Aspects about oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing identified as influential in this study might assist in interventions aimed to increase its use among this high HIV risk population as a means of encouraging regular HIV testing, identifying HIV-infected persons, and linking them to care. Although not yet commercially available in the United States, fingerstick rapid HIV self-testing might help motivate YMSM to be tested more than oral fluid rapid HIV self-testing. Copyright © 2016 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Beyond self-esteem: influence of multiple motives on identity construction.

PubMed

Vignoles, Vivian L; Regalia, Camillo; Manzi, Claudia; Golledge, Jen; Scabini, Eugenia

2006-02-01

Diverse theories suggest that people are motivated to maintain or enhance feelings of self-esteem, continuity, distinctiveness, belonging, efficacy, and meaning in their identities. Four studies tested the influence of these motives on identity construction, by using a multilevel regression design. Participants perceived as more central those identity elements that provided a greater sense of self-esteem, continuity, distinctiveness, and meaning; this was found for individual, relational, and group levels of identity, among various populations, and by using a prospective design. Motives for belonging and efficacy influenced identity definition indirectly through their direct influences on identity enactment and through their contributions to self-esteem. Participants were happiest about those identity elements that best satisfied motives for self-esteem and efficacy. These findings point to the need for an integrated theory of identity motivation. Copyright 2006 APA, all rights reserved.

Building a Better Workforce: A Case Study in Management Simulations and Experiential Learning in the Construction Industry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Douglas-Lenders, Rachel Claire; Holland, Peter Jeffrey; Allen, Belinda

2017-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of experiential simulation-based learning of employee self-efficacy. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research approach is an exploratory case study of a group of trainees from the same organisation. Using a quasi-experiment, one group, pre-test-post-test design (Tharenou et al., 2007), a…

Building a Better Workforce: A Case Study in Management Simulations and Experiential Learning in the Construction Industry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Douglas-Lenders, Rachel Claire; Holland, Peter Jeffrey; Allen, Belinda

2017-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of experiential simulation-based learning of employee self-efficacy. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research approach is an exploratory case study of a group of trainees from the same organisation. Using a quasi-experiment, one group, pre-test-post-test design (Tharenou et al., 2007), a…

Impact of a Six-Month Empowerment-Based Exercise Intervention Programme in Non-Physically Active Adolescent Swedish Girls

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindgren, Eva-Carin; Baigi, Amir; Apitzsch, Erwin; Bergh, Hakan

2011-01-01

Objective: This study evaluated changes in self-efficacy in non-physically active adolescent girls (13-19 years old) who participated in a six-month, empowerment-based exercise intervention programme (EIP). Design: The study used a pre- and post-test randomized group design and included one pre- and one post-test (at six months) and non-physically…

The Effect of Motion Pictures Portraying Black Models on the Self-Concept of Black Elementary Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dimas, Chris

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of motion pictures utilizing black models on the self-concept of black fourth and sixth grade students; that perhaps, mediated black models may be effective in bringing about a more positive self-concept among black students. The design of this study was of the post-test form only. This was…

A patient self-assessment tool for cardiac rehabilitation.

PubMed

Phelan, C; Finnell, M D; Mottla, K A

1989-01-01

A patient self-assessment tool was designed, tested, and implemented to promote cardiac-specific data collection, based on Gordon's Functional Health Patterns, to maximize patient/family involvement in determining a plan of care, and to streamline primary nurses' documentation requirements. Retrospective and concurrent chart reviews provided data for quality assurance monitoring. The results of the monitoring demonstrated that the self-assessment tool markedly improved the patient-specific data base.

Teachers' Self-Efficacy in Mathematics and Teaching Mathematics, Instructional Practices, and the Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition for Mathematics in Grades 3-5

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yates, Tracy Hardwell

2014-01-01

The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship among the mathematical self-efficacies, mathematical teaching self-efficacies, and instructional practices of elementary teachers. This study was also designed to determine how these variables influence an individual teacher's QDI in relation to MCT2 math scores in grades 3-5.…

Unsuccessful attempts to replicate effects of self control operations and glucose on ego-depletion pose an interesting research question that demands explanation.

PubMed

Chatzisarantis, Nikos L D; Hagger, Martin S

2015-01-01

The hypothesis that sugar-containing drinks counteract depletion of self-control or ego resources is elegant and provocative because it entails that the origins of ego-energy and self-control operations can be traced to a physiological substrate. However, this hypothesis has not withstood scientific scrutiny. Lange and Eggert presented two unsuccessful attempts to replicate effects of glucose on ego-depletion. Chatzisarantis and Hagger argued that inconsistent findings may be due to experimental designs that expose participants to similar acts of self-control. This methodology may not provide a rigorous test of the counteracting effects of glucose on ego-depletion because it does not control for factors (i.e., motivation) that interfere with glucose effects. In this article, we address Lange's comments and explore the possibility that findings reported by Lange and Eggert's and Hagger and Chatzisarantis' studies are consistent. In addition, we discuss a factor that researchers may wish to take into consideration when designing experiments that aim to test effects of glucose, or glucose rinsing, on ego-depletion. This factor is related to ego-depleting value of self-control tasks. Crown Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

CD-ROM Based Multimedia Homework Solutions and Self Test Generator.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rhodes, Jeffrey M.; Bell, Christopher C.

1998-01-01

Discusses a prototype multimedia application that was designed to help college students solve problems and generate practice tests for an economics textbook. Highlights include step-by-step problem solving; a friendly interface; student tracking; inexpensive development costs; examples of screen displays; and generating random, scored tests on…

78 FR 42581 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-16

... practice of including ``pre-test'' questions on certain qualification examinations, which is designed to..., the examination includes 10 additional, unidentified pre-test questions that do not contribute towards... scored. The 10 pre-test questions are randomly distributed throughout the examination. Availability of...

Shake-table testing of a self-centering precast reinforced concrete frame with shear walls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Xilin; Yang, Boya; Zhao, Bin

2018-04-01

The seismic performance of a self-centering precast reinforced concrete (RC) frame with shear walls was investigated in this paper. The lateral force resistance was provided by self-centering precast RC shear walls (SPCW), which utilize a combination of unbonded prestressed post-tensioned (PT) tendons and mild steel reinforcing bars for flexural resistance across base joints. The structures concentrated deformations at the bottom joints and the unbonded PT tendons provided the self-centering restoring force. A 1/3-scale model of a five-story self-centering RC frame with shear walls was designed and tested on a shake-table under a series of bi-directional earthquake excitations with increasing intensity. The acceleration response, roof displacement, inter-story drifts, residual drifts, shear force ratios, hysteresis curves, and local behaviour of the test specimen were analysed and evaluated. The results demonstrated that seismic performance of the test specimen was satisfactory in the plane of the shear wall; however, the structure sustained inter-story drift levels up to 2.45%. Negligible residual drifts were recorded after all applied earthquake excitations. Based on the shake-table test results, it is feasible to apply and popularize a self-centering precast RC frame with shear walls as a structural system in seismic regions.

77 FR 10291 - Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Commercial Refrigeration Equipment

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-21

... designed for holding temperature applications, as well as self-contained refrigerators with transparent doors designed for pull-down applications. (42 U.S.C. 6313(c)(2)-(3)) EPCA also requires DOE to develop... designed for ice-cream application. 71 FR 71357 (Dec. 8, 2006). Therefore, in the December 2006 en masse...

An implementation of 7E Learning Cycle Model to Improve Student Self-esteem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Firdaus, F.; Priatna, N.; Suhendra, S.

2017-09-01

One of the affective factors that affect student learning outcomes is student self-esteem in mathematics, learning achievement and self-esteem influence each other. The purpose of this research is to know whether self-esteem students who get 7E learning cycle model is better than students who get conventional learning. This research method is a non-control group design. Based on the results obtained that the normal and homogeneous data so that the t test and from the test results showed there are significant differences in self-esteem students learning with 7E learning cycle model compared with students who get conventional learning. The implications of the results of this study are that students should be required to conduct many discussions, presentations and evaluations on classroom activities as these learning stages can improve students’ self-esteem especially pride in the results achieved.

Motorless flight research, 1972. [glider design, airframes, and soaring flight developments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nash-Webber, J. L. (Editor)

1973-01-01

The proceedings of a symposium on motorless flight research are presented. The subjects discussed are: (1) glider aerodynamic and design, (2) instrumentation, (3) structural concepts and materials, (4) soaring meteorology, (5) self-launching and ultralight sailplanes, and (6) performance testing.

Effects of a self-esteem intervention program on school-age children.

PubMed

Dalgas-Pelish, Peggy

2006-01-01

Self-esteem is essential for school-aged children's optimum health. High self-esteem is linked to increased school performance, improved health, and productive behavior. This study reports on the effects of a four-lesson self-esteem enhancement program for six groups of 5th and 6th grade children (N=98). The interactive lessons dealt with an overview of self-esteem, media influences, hiding emotions, and changes in self-esteem. Using a pre-test/ post-test design, Coopersmith's Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI) was used to measure self-esteem. The self-esteem subscales dealing with general and social areas were found to significantly increase over time (p<.05). Girls had more significant changes than boys in the general subscale score and the total self-esteem score. Mean scores showed that children who had friends had more significant changes than those who did not have friends. Children with lower socioeconomic status had lower scores at both the pre and post testing with significance in the general and social subscales. No significance was found related to racial group, family make-up, or the number of household chores or activities. This study supports the effectiveness of a self-esteem enhancement program for girls, those children with friends, and those in lower socioeconomic status. Future research is needed to understand what contributes to the self-esteem of children who report that they do not have friends.

The dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist quinpirole increases checking-like behaviour in an operant observing response task with uncertain reinforcement: A novel possible model of OCD?

PubMed Central

Eagle, Dawn M.; Noschang, Cristie; d’Angelo, Laure-Sophie Camilla; Noble, Christie A.; Day, Jacob O.; Dongelmans, Marie Louise; Theobald, David E.; Mar, Adam C.; Urcelay, Gonzalo P.; Morein-Zamir, Sharon; Robbins, Trevor W.

2014-01-01

Excessive checking is a common, debilitating symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In an established rodent model of OCD checking behaviour, quinpirole (dopamine D2/3-receptor agonist) increased checking in open-field tests, indicating dopaminergic modulation of checking-like behaviours. We designed a novel operant paradigm for rats (observing response task (ORT)) to further examine cognitive processes underpinning checking behaviour and clarify how and why checking develops. We investigated i) how quinpirole increases checking, ii) dependence of these effects on D2/3 receptor function (following treatment with D2/3 receptor antagonist sulpiride) and iii) effects of reward uncertainty. In the ORT, rats pressed an ‘observing’ lever for information about the location of an ‘active’ lever that provided food reinforcement. High- and low-checkers (defined from baseline observing) received quinpirole (0.5 mg/kg, 10 treatments) or vehicle. Parametric task manipulations assessed observing/checking under increasing task demands relating to reinforcement uncertainty (variable response requirement and active-lever location switching). Treatment with sulpiride further probed the pharmacological basis of long-term behavioural changes. Quinpirole selectively increased checking, both functional observing lever presses (OLPs) and non-functional extra OLPs (EOLPs). The increase in OLPs and EOLPs was long-lasting, without further quinpirole administration. Quinpirole did not affect the immediate ability to use information from checking. Vehicle and quinpirole-treated rats (VEH and QNP respectively) were selectively sensitive to different forms of uncertainty. Sulpiride reduced non-functional EOLPs in QNP rats but had no effect on functional OLPs. These data have implications for treatment of compulsive checking in OCD, particularly for serotonin-reuptake-inhibitor treatment-refractory cases, where supplementation with dopamine receptor antagonists may be beneficial. PMID:24406720

Technical Adequacy of the Disruptive Behavior Rating Scale-2nd Edition--Self-Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Erford, Bradley T.; Miller, Emily M.; Isbister, Katherine

2015-01-01

This study provides preliminary analysis of the Disruptive Behavior Rating Scale-2nd Edition--Self-Report, which was designed to screen individuals aged 10 years and older for anxiety and behavior symptoms. Score reliability and internal and external facets of validity were good for a screening-level test.

Optimizing Classroom Instruction through Self-Paced Learning Prototype

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bautista, Romiro G.

2015-01-01

This study investigated the learning impact of self-paced learning prototype in optimizing classroom instruction towards students' learning in Chemistry. Two sections of 64 Laboratory High School students in Chemistry were used as subjects of the study. The Quasi-Experimental and Correlation Research Design was used in the study: a pre-test was…

Development of a Drug Use Resistance Self-Efficacy (DURSE) Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carpenter, Carrie M.; Howard, Donna

2009-01-01

Objectives: To develop and evaluate psychometric properties of a new instrument, the drug use resistance self-efficacy (DURSE) scale, designed for young adolescents. Methods: Scale construction occurred in 3 phases: (1) initial development, (2) pilot testing of preliminary items, and (3) final scale administration among a sample of seventh graders…

Interests, Self-Efficacy, and Choice Goals: An Experimental Manipulation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bonitz, Verena S.; Larson, Lisa M.; Armstrong, Patrick Ian

2010-01-01

An experimental design was used to test the hypothesis that vocational interests can be a precursor to the development of self-efficacy. Participants (n = 180) rated job descriptions for careers in the domains of information technology, sales, and teaching that contained information on activities and work values. Participants rated those job…

Self-Report Measure of Psychological Abuse of Older Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Conrad, Kendon J.; Iris, Madelyn; Ridings, John W.; Langley, Kate; Anetzberger, Georgia J.

2011-01-01

Purpose: This study tested key psychometric properties of the Older Adult Psychological Abuse Measure (OAPAM), one self-report scale of the Older Adult Mistreatment Assessment (OAMA). Design and Methods: Items and theory were developed in a prior concept mapping study. Subsequently, the measures were administered to 226 substantiated clients by 22…

Simulation verification techniques study: Simulation self test hardware design and techniques report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1974-01-01

The final results are presented of the hardware verification task. The basic objectives of the various subtasks are reviewed along with the ground rules under which the overall task was conducted and which impacted the approach taken in deriving techniques for hardware self test. The results of the first subtask and the definition of simulation hardware are presented. The hardware definition is based primarily on a brief review of the simulator configurations anticipated for the shuttle training program. The results of the survey of current self test techniques are presented. The data sources that were considered in the search for current techniques are reviewed, and results of the survey are presented in terms of the specific types of tests that are of interest for training simulator applications. Specifically, these types of tests are readiness tests, fault isolation tests and incipient fault detection techniques. The most applicable techniques were structured into software flows that are then referenced in discussions of techniques for specific subsystems.

Educational needs for improving self-care in heart failure patients with diabetes.

PubMed

Cha, EunSeok; Clark, Patricia C; Reilly, Carolyn Miller; Higgins, Melinda; Lobb, Maureen; Smith, Andrew L; Dunbar, Sandra B

2012-01-01

To explore the need for self-monitoring and self-care education in heart failure patients with diabetes (HF- DM patients) by describing cognitive and affective factors to provide guidance in developing effective self-management education. A cross-sectional correlation design was employed using baseline patient data from a study testing a 12-week patient and family dyad intervention to improve dietary and medication-taking self-management behaviors in HF patients. Data from 116 participants recruited from metropolitan Atlanta area were used. Demographic and comorbidities, physical function, psychological distress, relationship with health care provider, self-efficacy (medication taking and low sodium diet), and behavioral outcomes (medications, dietary habits) were assessed. Descriptive statistics and a series of chi-square tests, t tests, or Mann-Whitney tests were performed to compare HF patients with and without DM. HF-DM patients were older and heavier, had more comorbidities, and took more daily medications than HF patients. High self-efficacy on medication and low-sodium diet was reported in both groups with no significant difference. Although HF-DM patients took more daily medications than HF, both groups exhibited high HF medication-taking behaviors. The HF-DM patients consumed significantly lower total sugar than HF patients but clinically higher levels of sodium. Diabetes educators need to be aware of potential conflicts of treatment regimens to manage 2 chronic diseases. Special and integrated diabetes self-management education programs that incorporate principles of HF self-management should be developed to improve self-management behavior in HF-DM patients.

Evaluation of load carriage systems used by active duty police officers: Relative effects on walking patterns and perceived comfort.

PubMed

Ramstrand, Nerrolyn; Zügner, Roland; Larsen, Louise Bæk; Tranberg, Roy

2016-03-01

This study aimed to examine the effects of two different load carriage systems on gait kinematics, temporospatial gait parameters and self-reported comfort in Swedish police. 21 active duty police officers were recruited for this crossover study design. Biomechanical and self-report data was collected on two testing occasions. On occasion 1, three dimensional kinematic data was collected while police wore a/no equipment (control), b/their standard issues belt and ballistic protection vest and c/a load bearing vest with ballistic protection vest. Police then wore the load bearing vest for a minimum of 3 months before the second testing occasion. The load bearing vest was associated with a significant reduction in range of motion of the trunk, pelvis and hip joints. Biomechanical changes associated with the load bearing vest appeared to reduce with increased wear time. In both the standard issue belt condition and the load bearing vest condition, police walked with the arms held in a significantly greater degree of abduction. Self-report data indicated a preference for the load bearing vest. The two load carriage designs tested in this study were found to significantly alter gait kinematics. The load bearing vest design was associated with the greatest number of kinematic compensations however these reduced over time as police became more accustomed to the design. Results from this study do not support selection of one load carriage design over the other and providing individuals with the option to choose a load carriage design is considered appropriate. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved.

The Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test (CAST): Test-Retest Reliability in a High Scoring Sample

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allison, Carrie; Williams, Jo; Scott, Fiona; Stott, Carol; Bolton, Patrick; Baron-Cohen, Simon; Brayne, Carol

2007-01-01

The Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test (CAST) is a 37-item parental self-completion questionnaire designed to screen for high-functioning autism spectrum conditions in epidemiological research. The CAST has previously demonstrated good accuracy for use as a screening test, with high sensitivity in studies with primary school aged children in…

[Development and Effects of a Motivational Interviewing Self-management Program for Elderly Patients with Diabetes Mellitus].

PubMed

Kang, Hye Yeon; Gu, Mee Ock

2015-08-01

This study was conducted to develop and test the effects of a motivational interviewing self-management program for use with elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The participants were 42 elderly diabetic patients (experimental group: 21, control group: 21). The motivational interviewing self-management program for elders with diabetes mellitus developed in this study consisted of a 12-week program in total (8 weeks for group motivational interviewing and education and 4 weeks for individual motivational interviewing on the phone). Data were collected between February 13 and May 3, 2013 and were analyzed using t-test, paired t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA with SPSS/WIN 18.0. For the experimental group, significant improvement was found for self-efficacy, self-care behavior, glycemic control and quality of life (daily life satisfaction, influence of disease) as compared to the control group. The study findings indicate that the motivational interviewing self-management program is effective and can be recommended as a nursing intervention for elderly patients with diabetes mellitus.

Development and preliminary testing of a web-based, self-help application for disaster-affected families.

PubMed

Yuen, Erica K; Gros, Kirstin; Welsh, Kyleen E; McCauley, Jenna; Resnick, Heidi S; Danielson, Carla K; Price, Matthew; Ruggiero, Kenneth J

2016-09-01

Technology-based self-help interventions have the potential to increase access to evidence-based mental healthcare, especially for families affected by natural disasters. However, development of these interventions is a complex process and poses unique challenges. Usability testing, which assesses the ability of individuals to use an application successfully, can have a significant impact on the quality of a self-help intervention. This article describes (a) the development of a novel web-based multi-module self-help intervention for disaster-affected adolescents and their parents and (b) a mixed-methods formal usability study to evaluate user response. A total of 24 adolescents were observed, videotaped, and interviewed as they used the depressed mood component of the self-help intervention. Quantitative results indicated an above-average user experience, and qualitative analysis identified 120 unique usability issues. We discuss the challenges of developing self-help applications, including design considerations and the value of usability testing in technology-based interventions, as well as our plan for widespread dissemination. © The Author(s) 2015.

Web-based oral health promotion program for older adults: Development and preliminary evaluation.

PubMed

Mariño, Rodrigo J; Marwaha, Parul; Barrow, Su-Yan

2016-07-01

This study reports on the impact evaluation of a Web-based oral health promotion programme aimed at improving the oral health knowledge, attitudes, practices and self-efficacy of independent-living older adults from Melbourne, Australia. With ethics approval from the University of Melbourne, a convenience sample of volunteers 55 years or older was invited to participate in a study to test a web-based oral health promotion program. Consenting volunteers were asked to undergo a structured interview as part of the pre-intervention data collection. The intervention was based on the ORHIS (Oral Health Information Seminars/Sheets) Model and involved computer interaction with six oral health presentations, with no direct oral health professional input. A one group pre-test-post-test quasi-experimental design was chosen to evaluate the intervention. A series of paired t-tests were used to compare pre-test with post-test results. Forty-seven active, independent-living older adults participated in this evaluation. After the intervention participants responded with higher levels of achievement than before participating in this Web-based oral health program. Participants showed significant improvements in oral health attitudes (4.10 vs. 4.94; p<0.01), knowledge (18.37 vs. 23.83; p<0.0001), and self-efficacy (84.37 vs.89.23; p<0.01), as well as, self-reported oral hygiene practices (i.e., frequency of use of dental floss) (p<0.05). The e-ORHIS approach was successful in improving oral health knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy. As such, it represents a helpful approach for the design of (oral) health interventions in older adults. Further evaluation with a larger sample is required to test the long-term impact including the economic evaluation of the e-ORHIS approach. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model on promoting self-care behaviors of type-2 diabetes patients.

PubMed

Shabibi, Parisa; Zavareh, Mohammad Sadegh Abedzadeh; Sayehmiri, Kourosh; Qorbani, Mostafa; Safari, Omid; Rastegarimehr, Babak; Mansourian, Morteza

2017-12-01

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which patients require lifelong self-care behaviors. The present study offset to determine the effect of educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on promoting self-care behaviors of type 2 diabetes patients in Ilam, Iran 2014. A quasi-experimental research was conducted based on HBM in which 70 type 2 diabetic patients from Ilam, western Iran in 2014 were selected by multi-stage random sampling. A self-designed questionnaire was used, and pre-test was administered, subsequently, the educational intervention sessions were provided in the form of presentation, questions and answers, group discussion, and practical demonstrations in four sessions over a period of one month. Two months after the intervention, the post-tests were administered. The data were analyzed via SPSS 20 applying independent samples t-test, paired samples t-test, and univariate and multivariate regressions at a significance level of less than 0.05. The mean scores of susceptibility, severity, perceived benefits and barriers, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors were at average and lower levels before the intervention; nonetheless, after the educational intervention, the mean score of each HBM construct and the self-care behaviors significantly increased (p<0.001). Health education through HBM promotes the self-care behaviors of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Utilized social support and self-esteem mediate the relationship between perceived social support and suicide ideation. A test of a multiple mediator model.

PubMed

Kleiman, Evan M; Riskind, John H

2013-01-01

While perceived social support has received considerable research as a protective factor for suicide ideation, little attention has been given to the mechanisms that mediate its effects. We integrated two theoretical models, Joiner's (2005) interpersonal theory of suicide and Leary's (Leary, Tambor, Terdal, & Downs, 1995) sociometer theory of self-esteem to investigate two hypothesized mechanisms, utilization of social support and self-esteem. Specifically, we hypothesized that individuals must utilize the social support they perceive that would result in increased self-esteem, which in turn buffers them from suicide ideation. Participants were 172 college students who completed measures of social support, self-esteem, and suicide ideation. Tests of simple mediation indicate that utilization of social support and self-esteem may each individually help to mediate the perceived social support/suicide ideation relationship. Additionally, a test of multiple mediators using bootstrapping supported the hypothesized multiple-mediator model. The use of a cross-sectional design limited our ability to find true cause-and-effect relationships. Results suggested that utilized social support and self-esteem both operate as individual moderators in the social support/self-esteem relationship. Results further suggested, in a comprehensive model, that perceived social support buffers suicide ideation through utilization of social support and increases in self-esteem.

Proving the correctness of the flight director program EADIFD, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, F. J.; Maurer, W. D.

1977-01-01

EADIFD is written in symbolic assembly language for execution on the C4000 airborne computer. It is a subprogram of an aircraft navigation and guidance program and is used to generate pitch and roll command signals for use in terminal airspace. The proof of EADIFD was carried out by an inductive assertion method consisting of two parts, a verification condition generator and a source language independent proof checker. With the specifications provided by NASA, EADIFD was proved correct. The termination of the program is guaranteed and the program contains no instructions that can modify it under any conditions.

Safety Verification of a Fault Tolerant Reconfigurable Autonomous Goal-Based Robotic Control System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Braman, Julia M. B.; Murray, Richard M; Wagner, David A.

2007-01-01

Fault tolerance and safety verification of control systems are essential for the success of autonomous robotic systems. A control architecture called Mission Data System (MDS), developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, takes a goal-based control approach. In this paper, a method for converting goal network control programs into linear hybrid systems is developed. The linear hybrid system can then be verified for safety in the presence of failures using existing symbolic model checkers. An example task is simulated in MDS and successfully verified using HyTech, a symbolic model checking software for linear hybrid systems.

Earth observation photo taken by JPL with the Shuttle Imaging Radar-A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1981-01-01

Earth observation photo taken by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) with the Shuttle Imaging Radar-A (SIR-A). This image shows a 50 by 100 kilometer (30 by 60 mile) area of the Imperial Valley in Southern California and neighboring Mexico. The checkered patterns represent agricultural fields where different types of crops in different stages of growth are cultivated. The very bright areas are (top left to lower right) the U.S. towns of Brawley, Imperial, El Centro, Calexico and the Mexican city of Mexicali. The bright L-shaped line (upper right) is the All-American water canal.

Earth observations taken from shuttle orbiter Columbia

NASA Image and Video Library

1995-11-02

STS073-745-055 (2 November 1995) --- This photograph in color infrared highlights the different vegetation zones on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The dark red tropical forests live on the steep volcanic slopes on the north side of the island, and the fertile lowlands support large sugar cane plantations, which are the red and black checkered pattern. The Wailuku and Kahului area near the center on the north shore of the island was formerly a whaling center. Much of the eastern part of the island is Haleakala National Park, including the spectacular Haleakala Crater (under clouds).

Is your ED a medical department or a business? Survey says...both.

PubMed

2009-07-01

Taking a solid business-like approach to the management of your ED involves--but is certainly not limited to--getting a handle on revenues and expenses. Here are a few strategies some ED managers say help them run a tighter, and better, ship: Have a clinical audit specialist review charts, and have a clerical person "check the checker." Use a "cultural fit" interview with prospective staff members to ensure you're on the same page when it comes to service. Develop a charge structure with numerical values for clinical activities and services, to help ensure optimal reimbursement.

Influence of different luting protocols on shear bond strength of computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing resin nanoceramic material to dentin

PubMed Central

Poggio, Claudio; Pigozzo, Marco; Ceci, Matteo; Scribante, Andrea; Beltrami, Riccardo; Chiesa, Marco

2016-01-01

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of three different luting protocols on shear bond strength of computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) resin nanoceramic (RNC) material to dentin. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, 30 disks were milled from RNC blocks (Lava Ultimate/3M ESPE) with CAD/CAM technology. The disks were subsequently cemented to the exposed dentin of 30 recently extracted bovine permanent mandibular incisors. The specimens were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 10 teeth each. In Group 1, disks were cemented using a total-etch protocol (Scotchbond™ Universal Etchant phosphoric acid + Scotchbond Universal Adhesive + RelyX™ Ultimate conventional resin cement); in Group 2, disks were cemented using a self-etch protocol (Scotchbond Universal Adhesive + RelyX™ Ultimate conventional resin cement); in Group 3, disks were cemented using a self-adhesive protocol (RelyX™ Unicem 2 Automix self-adhesive resin cement). All cemented specimens were placed in a universal testing machine (Instron Universal Testing Machine 3343) and submitted to a shear bond strength test to check the strength of adhesion between the two substrates, dentin, and RNC disks. Specimens were stressed at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance and post-hoc Tukey's test at a level of significance of 0.05. Results: Post-hoc Tukey testing showed that the highest shear strength values (P < 0.001) were reported in Group 2. The lowest data (P < 0.001) were recorded in Group 3. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, conventional resin cements (coupled with etch and rinse or self-etch adhesives) showed better shear strength values compared to self-adhesive resin cements. Furthermore, conventional resin cements used together with a self-etch adhesive reported the highest values of adhesion. PMID:27076822

Influence of different luting protocols on shear bond strength of computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing resin nanoceramic material to dentin.

PubMed

Poggio, Claudio; Pigozzo, Marco; Ceci, Matteo; Scribante, Andrea; Beltrami, Riccardo; Chiesa, Marco

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of three different luting protocols on shear bond strength of computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) resin nanoceramic (RNC) material to dentin. In this in vitro study, 30 disks were milled from RNC blocks (Lava Ultimate/3M ESPE) with CAD/CAM technology. The disks were subsequently cemented to the exposed dentin of 30 recently extracted bovine permanent mandibular incisors. The specimens were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 10 teeth each. In Group 1, disks were cemented using a total-etch protocol (Scotchbond™ Universal Etchant phosphoric acid + Scotchbond Universal Adhesive + RelyX™ Ultimate conventional resin cement); in Group 2, disks were cemented using a self-etch protocol (Scotchbond Universal Adhesive + RelyX™ Ultimate conventional resin cement); in Group 3, disks were cemented using a self-adhesive protocol (RelyX™ Unicem 2 Automix self-adhesive resin cement). All cemented specimens were placed in a universal testing machine (Instron Universal Testing Machine 3343) and submitted to a shear bond strength test to check the strength of adhesion between the two substrates, dentin, and RNC disks. Specimens were stressed at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance and post-hoc Tukey's test at a level of significance of 0.05. Post-hoc Tukey testing showed that the highest shear strength values (P < 0.001) were reported in Group 2. The lowest data (P < 0.001) were recorded in Group 3. Within the limitations of this in vitro study, conventional resin cements (coupled with etch and rinse or self-etch adhesives) showed better shear strength values compared to self-adhesive resin cements. Furthermore, conventional resin cements used together with a self-etch adhesive reported the highest values of adhesion.

Older Adult Experience of Online Diagnosis: Results From a Scenario-Based Think-Aloud Protocol

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Searching for online information to interpret symptoms is an increasingly prevalent activity among patients, even among older adults. As older adults typically have complex health care needs, their risk of misinterpreting symptoms via online self-diagnosis may be greater. However, limited research has been conducted with older adults in the areas of symptom interpretation and human-computer interaction. Objective The intent of the study was to describe the processes that a sample of older adults may use to diagnose symptoms online as well as the processes that predict accurate diagnosis. Methods We conducted a series of “think-aloud” protocols with 79 adults aged 50 years or older. Participants received one of two vignettes that depicted symptoms of illness. Participants talked out loud about their thoughts and actions while attempting to diagnose the symptoms with and without the help of common Internet tools (Google and WebMD’s Symptom Checker). Think-aloud content was categorized using an adapted Q-sort and general inductive approach. We then compared the think-aloud content of participants who were accurate in their diagnosis with those who were not. Results Nineteen descriptive codes were identified from the think-aloud content. The codes touched upon Web navigation, attempts to organize and evaluate online health information, and strategies to diagnose symptoms. Participants most frequently relied on a strategy where they reviewed and then rejected the online diagnoses if they contained additional symptoms than those that were depicted in the vignette. Finally, participants who were inaccurate in their diagnosis reported being confused by the diagnosis task, lacking confidence in their diagnosis, and using their past experiences with illness to guide diagnosis more frequently than those participants who accurately diagnosed the symptoms. Conclusions Older adult participants tended to rely on matching strategies to interpret symptoms, but many still utilized existing medical knowledge and previous illness experiences as a guide for diagnosis. Many participants also had difficulty navigating the Internet tools, which suggests an increased need for navigation aids in Web design. Furthermore, participants who were inaccurate in their diagnosis had more difficulty with the Internet tools and confusion with the task than those who were accurate. Future work in this area may want to utilize additional study design such as eye-tracking to further understand the coordination between Web navigation, online symptom information processing, and diagnostic strategies. PMID:24434479

Development and Reliability of Items Measuring the Nonmedical Use of Prescription Drugs for the Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Results Froman Initial Pilot Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howard, Melissa M.; Weiler, Robert M.; Haddox, J. David

2009-01-01

Background: The purpose of this study was to develop and test the reliability of self-report survey items designed to monitor the nonmedical use of prescription drugs among adolescents. Methods: Eighteen nonmedical prescription drug items designed to be congruent with the substance abuse items in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's…

Tank Pressure Control Experiment (TPCE)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bentz, Mike

1992-01-01

The Tank Pressure Control Experiment (TPCE) is a small self-contained STS payload designed to test a jet mixer for cryogenic fluid pressure control. Viewgraphs are presented that describe project organization, experiment objectives and approach, risk management, payload concept and mission plan, and initial test data.

Qualification test unit slide stainer (Beckman P/N 673753)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bernier, P. S.

1972-01-01

Specifications for a slide stainer unit for the Skylab program are presented. The qualification test slide stainer was designed to be a self-contained system capable of performing an eight-step Gram stain of microorganisms and a Wright's stain of blood smears.

Entrepreneurship Education Materials.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Muzzo, John F., Ed.; And Others

This annotated bibliography is intended to provide instructors and trainers with a variety of materials that may be used to design or supplement a self-employment/small business management training program. The materials listed include lesson plans, handbooks, workbooks, textbooks, tests, test keys, instruction guides, videocassettes, pamphlets,…

The Making of a Self-Neglect Severity Scale

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Scott M.; Dyer, C. B.; Pavlik, V. N.; Kelly, P. A.; Lee, J.; Doody, R. S.; Regev, C.; Pickens, C.; Burnett, J.

2006-01-01

Research in elder self-neglect has lagged behind that of other forms of mistreatment, despite the fact that self-neglect is the most common allegation reported to Adult Protective Service agencies throughout the US. The lack of a gold-standard to measure self-neglect has hampered efforts to study this phenomenon. Researchers designed the Self-neglect Severity Scale (SSS) based on interviews with Adult Protective Service workers and a national expert panel. The SSS is based on observation and interview and is administered in the home to include an environmental assessment. It was piloted, extensively field tested and then revised. The CREST SSS was developed using survey data and consultation with experts in the field. This instrument utilizes observer ratings, interview responses, and assesses subjects physical and environmental domains. It also assesses functional status as it relates to health and safety issues. After field and pilot testing the SSS was finalized and is currently undergoing reliability and validity testing. The CREST SSS was developed as a state scale to provide a common language for describing cases of self-neglect. It is the first self-neglect severity scale available to researchers. If found to be both reliable and valid it can be used in future intervention studies.

The making of a self-neglect severity scale.

PubMed

Dyer, Carmel Bitondo; Kelly, P Adam; Pavlik, Valory N; Lee, Jessica; Doody, Rachelle S; Regev, Tziona; Pickens, Sabrina; Burnett, Jason; Smith, Scott M

2006-01-01

Research in elder self-neglect has lagged behind that of other forms of mistreatment, despite the fact that self-neglect is the most common allegation reported to Adult Protective Service agencies throughout the US. The lack of a gold standard to measure self-neglect has hampered efforts to study this phenomenon. Researchers designed the Self-Neglect Severity Scale (SSS) based on interviews with Adult Protective Service workers and a national expert panel. The SSS is based on observation and interview and is administered in the home to include an environmental assessment. It was piloted, extensively field tested and then revised. The CREST SSS was developed using survey data and consultation with experts in the field. This instrument utilizes observer ratings, interview responses, and assesses subjects' physical and environmental domains. It also assesses functional status as it relates to health and safety issues. After field and pilot testing, the SSS was finalized and is currently undergoing reliability and validity testing. The CREST SSS was developed as a state scale to provide a common language for describing cases of self-neglect. It is the first self-neglect severity scale available to researchers. If found to be both reliable and valid, it may be used in future intervention studies.

The efficacy of a self-management programme for people with diabetes, after a special training programme for healthcare workers in Taiwan: a quasi-experimental design.

PubMed

Wu, Shu-Fang Vivienne; Liang, Shu-Yuan; Lee, Mei-Chen; Yu, Neng-Chun; Kao, Mu-Jung

2014-09-01

To analyse the efficacy of improving disease management after implementing a self-management programme for people with type 2 diabetes administered by healthcare workers who have received special training. The needs for diabetic care include increased training for healthcare providers to enhance their confidence and skills in managing patients, both physically and mentally. Quasi-experimental design. This study recruited participants from outpatient clinics in 10 hospitals in Taiwan. In 2010, purposive sampling was used to recruit 228 participants from two medical centres, five regional hospitals and three district hospitals. Participants were enrolled in a 'diabetes self-management programme' (watching patient videos, reading a diabetes self-care handbook, participating in four consultation courses of diabetes self-efficacy improvement, telephone follow-up and positive reinforcement). Efficacy analysis of post-test diabetes outcome variables of the experimental group was carried out. Sex, age and pretest score were used as the control variables for ancova test. Patients in the experimental group had significant improvement in body mass index (p < 0·01), waistline circumference (p < 0·001), haemoglobin A1C levels (p < 0·001), degrees of anxiety and depression (p < 0·001), self-efficacy (p < 0·001) and levels of self-care (p < 0·001). Self-efficacy of people with diabetes can be effectively improved by planned implementation of a 'diabetes self-management programme' by trained healthcare workers. The diabetes care professionals are provided the self-management programme to strengthen the awareness and importance of self-management in diabetes care. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

49 CFR Appendix A to Subpart D of... - Guidelines for Civil Penalties

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... transportation in a self-certified packaging that has not been subjected to design qualification testing: 178.601... for transportation that minimally deviates from an approved design in a manner that does not impact... $5,000. 6. Failure to meet one or more of the general design requirements for a package used to ship...

49 CFR Appendix A to Subpart D of... - Guidelines for Civil Penalties

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... transportation in a self-certified packaging that has not been subjected to design qualification testing: 178.601... for transportation that minimally deviates from an approved design in a manner that does not impact... $5,000. 6. Failure to meet one or more of the general design requirements for a package used to ship...

Job Design for Learning in Work Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lantz, Annika; Brav, Agneta

2007-01-01

Purpose--What is required of job design and production planning, if they are to result in a work group taking a self-starting approach and going beyond what is formally required of it? This paper aims to contribute to group research by testing a theoretical model of relations between job design on the one hand (captured as completeness, demand on…

A Low Cost, Self Acting, Liquid Hydrogen Boil-Off Recovery System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pelfrey, Joy W.; Sharp, Kirk V. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The purpose of this research was to develop a prototype liquid hydrogen boll-off recovery system. Perform analyses to finalize recovery system cycle, design detail components, fabricate hardware, and conduct sub-component, component, and system level tests leading to the delivery of a prototype system. The design point and off-design analyses identified cycle improvements to increase the robustness of the system by adding a by-pass heat exchanger. Based on the design, analysis, and testing conducted, the recovery system will liquefy 31% of the gaseous boil off from a liquid hydrogen storage tank. All components, including a high speed, miniature turbocompressor, were designed and manufacturing drawings were created. All hardware was fabricated and tests were conducted in air, helium, and hydrogen. Testing validated the design, except for the turbocompressor. A rotor-to-stator clearance issue was discovered as a result of a concentricity tolerance stack-up.

Reciprocal feedback between self-concept and goal pursuit in daily life.

PubMed

Wong, Alexander E; Vallacher, Robin R

2018-06-01

We hypothesized that self-knowledge and goal perseverance are mutually reinforcing because of the roles of self-knowledge in directing goal pursuit, and of goal pursuit in structuring the self-concept. To test this hypothesis, we used a daily diary design with 97 college-aged participants for 40 days to assess whether daily self-concept clarity and grit predict one another's next-day levels. Data were analyzed using multilevel cross-lagged panel modeling. Results indicated that daily self-concept clarity and grit had positive and symmetric associations with each other across time, while controlling for their respective previous values. Similar crossed results were also found when testing the model using individual daily self-concept clarity and grit items. The results are the first to indicate the existence of reinforcing feedback loops between self-concept clarity and grit, such that fluctuations in the clarity of self-knowledge are associated with fluctuations in goal resolve, and vice versa. Discussion centers on the implications of these results for the functional link between mind and action and on the study's heuristic value for subsequent research. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The effectiveness of collaborative problem based physics learning (CPBPL) model to improve student’s self-confidence on physics learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prahani, B. K.; Suprapto, N.; Suliyanah; Lestari, N. A.; Jauhariyah, M. N. R.; Admoko, S.; Wahyuni, S.

2018-03-01

In the previous research, Collaborative Problem Based Physic Learning (CPBPL) model has been developed to improve student’s science process skills, collaborative problem solving, and self-confidence on physics learning. This research is aimed to analyze the effectiveness of CPBPL model towards the improvement of student’s self-confidence on physics learning. This research implemented quasi experimental design on 140 senior high school students who were divided into 4 groups. Data collection was conducted through questionnaire, observation, and interview. Self-confidence measurement was conducted through Self-Confidence Evaluation Sheet (SCES). The data was analyzed using Wilcoxon test, n-gain, and Kruskal Wallis test. Result shows that: (1) There is a significant score improvement on student’s self-confidence on physics learning (α=5%), (2) n-gain value student’s self-confidence on physics learning is high, and (3) n-gain average student’s self-confidence on physics learning was consistent throughout all groups. It can be concluded that CPBPL model is effective to improve student’s self-confidence on physics learning.

Integrating self-determined needs into the relationship among product design, willingness-to-pay a premium, and word-of-mouth: a cross-cultural gender-specific study.

PubMed

Gilal, Faheem Gul; Zhang, Jian; Gilal, Naeem Gul; Gilal, Rukhsana Gul

2018-01-01

The present study integrates self-determined needs satisfaction into a relationship between product design (eg, aesthetic, functional, and symbolic design) and consumer behavior (eg, willingness-to-pay [WTP] a premium and negative word-of-mouth [WOM]) and to explore whether gender can differentiate the effects of aesthetic, functional, and symbolic product designs on self-determined needs satisfaction. To this end, participants from Pakistan and China were recruited, and the hypotheses for this study were tested using structural equation modeling and SPSS-PROCESS. The effects of three product designs on self-determined needs satisfaction were significantly positive across samples. The results further show that self-determined needs satisfaction had the strongest positive effect on WTP a premium and the strongest negative effect on vindictive WOM for Pakistanis. Self-determined needs frustration had the strongest negative effect on the WTP a premium for Chinese participants and an equivalent magnitude effect on vindictive WOM for Pakistani and Chinese participants. The cross-cultural gender-specific findings revealed that Pakistani men are more aesthetic and hedonic than women in Pakistan. Surprisingly, Chinese women resemble Pakistani men in the sense that they prefer aesthetically pleasing products. Chinese men resemble Pakistani women in terms of little interest in symbolic products, whereas Chinese women and Pakistani men respond similarly regarding their decisions to choose symbolic products. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the present study is one of the initial attempts to integrate self-determined needs into the relationship between product design and consumer WTP a premium and WOM, and further explore cross-cultural gender-specific differences across Pakistan and China. The findings of the present study may help international marketers in terms of segmenting, targeting, and positioning their markets.

Effectiveness of online and mobile telephone applications ('apps') for the self-management of suicidal ideation and self-harm: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Witt, Katrina; Spittal, Matthew J; Carter, Gregory; Pirkis, Jane; Hetrick, Sarah; Currier, Dianne; Robinson, Jo; Milner, Allison

2017-08-15

Online and mobile telephone applications ('apps') have the potential to improve the scalability of effective interventions for suicidal ideation and self-harm. The aim of this review was therefore to investigate the effectiveness of digital interventions for the self-management of suicidal ideation or self-harm. Seven databases (Applied Science & Technology; CENTRAL; CRESP; Embase; Global Health; PsycARTICLES; PsycINFO; Medline) were searched to 31 March, 2017. Studies that examined the effectiveness of digital interventions for suicidal ideation and/or self-harm, or which reported outcome data for suicidal ideation and/or self-harm, within a randomised controlled trial (RCT), pseudo-RCT, or observational pre-test/post-test design were included in the review. Fourteen non-overlapping studies were included, reporting data from a total of 3,356 participants. Overall, digital interventions were associated with reductions for suicidal ideation scores at post-intervention. There was no evidence of a treatment effect for self-harm or attempted suicide. Most studies were biased in relation to at least one aspect of study design, and particularly the domains of participant, clinical personnel, and outcome assessor blinding. Performance and detection bias therefore cannot be ruled out. Digital interventions for suicidal ideation and self-harm may be more effective than waitlist control. It is unclear whether these reductions would be clinically meaningful at present. Further evidence, particularly with regards to the potential mechanisms of action of these interventions, as well as safety, is required before these interventions could recommended.

Translating research into practice: targeting negative thinking as a modifiable risk factor for depression prevention in the college student population.

PubMed

Buchanan, Jenna L

2013-06-01

This article describes the effects of an evidence-based depression prevention intervention on the depressive symptomatology, negative thinking, and self-esteem in college students. A feasibility study was conducted using pre-test post-test design sampling a total of 12 college students. Participants underwent 4-weeks of psychological treatment using Peden's cognitive behavioral group intervention. The Beck Depression Inventory, Crandell Cognitions Inventory, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were administered at two time points: prior to the intervention (T1) and 4weeks later (T2). Paired t-test analysis found participants had significantly decreased depressive symptoms and negative thinking, and significantly increased self-esteem from T1 to T2. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of firefighters' self-contained breathing apparatus' weight and its harness design on the physiological and subjective responses.

PubMed

Bakri, Ilham; Lee, Joo-Young; Nakao, Kouhei; Wakabayashi, Hitoshi; Tochihara, Yutaka

2012-01-01

To examine the effects of firefighters' self-contained breathing apparatus' (SCBA) weight and its harness design on the physiological and subjective responses, eight male students performed treadmill exercise under four conditions: the 8 kg firefighter protective clothing (PC) (Control), the PC + an 11 kg SCBA with an old harness (Test A), the PC + a 6.4 kg SCBA with an old harness (Test B) and the PC + a 6.4 kg SCBA with a new harness (Test C), at ambient temperatures (T(a)) of 22°C and 32°C. Besides highlighting the fact that a heavy SCBA had a significant effect on the oxygen consumption and metabolic rate, this experiment also found that in a T(a) of 32°C, in particular, the combined effect of 4.7 kg lighter SCBA and new harness design could reduce metabolic rate and improved subjective muscle fatigue and thermal discomfort. An effort to alleviate the physiological and subjective burden of firefighters by reducing the weight of SCBA and by using the new harness design has provided satisfactory results in reduced oxygen consumption and in improved subjective responses in a hot air environment.

Preparedness for use of the rapid result HIV self-test by gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM): a mixed methods exploratory study among MSM and those involved in HIV prevention and care.

PubMed

Flowers, P; Riddell, J; Park, C; Ahmed, B; Young, I; Frankis, J; Davis, M; Gilbert, M; Estcourt, C; Wallace, L; McDaid, L M

2017-04-01

The aim of the study was to explore preparedness for the HIV self-test among men who have sex with men (MSM) and those involved in HIV prevention and care. A mixed methods exploratory research design was employed, detailing awareness and willingness to use the self-test and the perceived barriers and facilitators to implementation. Quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis were completed in parallel. Descriptive and inferential analysis of cross-sectional bar-based survey data collected from MSM through a self-completed questionnaire and oral fluid specimen collection (n = 999) was combined with qualitative, thematic, analysis of data collected through 12 expert focus groups (n = 55) consisting of gay men, National Health Service (NHS) staff, community organizations, entrepreneurs and activists. Findings were subsequently combined and assessed for synergies. Among MSM, self-test awareness was moderate (55%). Greater awareness was associated with increased educational attainment [adjusted odds ratio 1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-2.30; P = 0.05] and previous history of sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing (adjusted odds ratio 1.63; 95% CI 1.11-2.39; P = 0.01). Willingness to use the test was high (89%) and associated with meeting sexual partners online (unadjusted odds ratio 1.96; 95% CI 1.31-2.94; P < 0.001). Experts highlighted the overall acceptability of self-testing; it was understood as convenient, discreet, accessible, and with a low burden to services. However, some ambivalence towards self-testing was reported; it could reduce opportunities to engage with wider services, wider health issues and the determinants of risk. Self-testing represents an opportunity to reduce barriers to HIV testing and enhance prevention and access to care. Levels of awareness are moderate but willingness to use is high. Self-testing may amplify health inequalities. © 2016 The Authors. HIV Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British HIV Association.

7 CFR 4280.112 - Evaluation of grant applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... primarily for self-use by the agricultural producer or rural small business and will provide energy.... (D) Design and engineering (maximum score of 30 points). The applicant has described the design, engineering, and testing needed for the proposed project. The description supports that the system will be...

7 CFR 4280.112 - Evaluation of grant applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... primarily for self-use by the agricultural producer or rural small business and will provide energy.... (D) Design and engineering (maximum score of 30 points). The applicant has described the design, engineering, and testing needed for the proposed project. The description supports that the system will be...

Is self-regard a sociometer or a hierometer? Self-esteem tracks status and inclusion, narcissism tracks status.

PubMed

Mahadevan, Nikhila; Gregg, Aiden P; Sedikides, Constantine

2018-04-02

What adaptive function does self-regard serve? Sociometer theory predicts that it positively tracks social inclusion. A new theory, hierometer theory, predicts that it positively tracks social status. We tested both predictions with respect to two types of self-regard: self-esteem and narcissism. Study 1 (N = 940), featuring a cross-sectional design, found that both status and inclusion covaried positively with self-esteem, but that status alone covaried positively with narcissism. These links held independently of gender, age, and the Big Five personality traits. Study 2 (N = 627), a preregistered cross-sectional study, obtained similar results with alternative measures of self-esteem and narcissism. Studies 3-4 featured experimental designs in which status and inclusion were orthogonally manipulated. Study 3 (N = 104) found that both higher status and higher inclusion promoted higher self-esteem, whereas only higher status promoted higher narcissism. Study 4 (N = 259) obtained similar results with alternative measures of self-esteem and narcissism. The findings suggest that self-esteem operates as both sociometer and hierometer, positively tracking both status and inclusion, whereas narcissism operates primarily as a hierometer, positively tracking status. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

An empirical evaluation of two theoretically-based hypotheses on the directional association between self-worth and hope.

PubMed

McDavid, Lindley; McDonough, Meghan H; Smith, Alan L

2015-06-01

Fostering self-worth and hope are important goals of positive youth development (PYD) efforts, yet intervention design is complicated by contrasting theoretical hypotheses regarding the directional association between these constructs. Therefore, within a longitudinal design we tested: (1) that self-worth predicts changes in hope (self theory; Harter, 1999), and (2) that hope predicts changes in self-worth (hope theory; Snyder, 2002) over time. Youth (N = 321; Mage = 10.33 years) in a physical activity-based PYD program completed surveys 37-45 days prior to and on the second day and third-to-last day of the program. A latent variable panel model that included autoregressive and cross-lagged paths indicated that self-worth was a significant predictor of change in hope, but hope did not predict change in self-worth. Therefore, the directional association between self-worth and hope is better explained by self-theory and PYD programs should aim to enhance perceptions of self-worth to build perceptions of hope. Copyright © 2015 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development and evaluation of iManage: A self-management app co-designed by adolescents with sickle cell disease.

PubMed

Crosby, Lori E; Ware, Russell E; Goldstein, Alana; Walton, Ashley; Joffe, Naomi E; Vogel, Craig; Britto, Maria T

2017-01-01

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with sickle cell disease (SCD) are a vulnerable population with high risk of morbidity that could be decreased with effective self-management. Previous research suggests that mobile applications (apps) may facilitate AYA engagement in health-promoting behaviors. The objectives of this study were: (i) describe Internet access and use in AYA with SCD; (ii) identify barriers for self-management in this population; (iii) collaborate with AYA to co-design a mobile app that would minimize barriers; and (iv) evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the app. In phase 1, 46 AYAs with SCD 16-24 years of age completed a survey of Internet access and use. During phase 2, 19 AYAs with SCD (average age 20 ± 2.5 years) and eight healthcare providers participated in interviews to identify barriers and co-design sessions to develop the app. In phase 3, five AYAs with SCD completed app feasibility and usability testing. AYAs with SCD had daily Internet access (69%) using their computers (84%) or mobile phones (70%). Participants went online for health information (71%) and preferred Web sites with interactive/social features (83%). Barriers to self-management included failing to believe that their health would suffer, lack of tailored self-management support, lack of a mechanism to visualize self-management progress, and limited opportunities for peer interaction around self-management. The prototype app (iManage) was rated as highly feasible and beneficial. A mobile app prototype co-designed by AYAs with SCD may be a useful tool for engaging them in self-management strategies designed to improve health. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effects of Augmented Reality on Student Achievement and Self-Efficacy in Vocational Education and Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sirakaya, Mustafa; Cakmak, Ebru Kilic

2018-01-01

This study aimed to test the impact of augmented reality (AR) use on student achievement and self-efficacy in vocational education and training. For this purpose, a marker-based AR application, called HardwareAR, was developed. HardwareAR provides information about characteristics of hardware components, ports and assembly. The research design was…

Reactions. [Individualized Learning System (ILS) Chemistry Pac No. 5.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Torop, William

This booklet is one of a set of eight designed to be used in a self-paced introductory chemistry course in conjunction with specified textbooks and computer-assisted instruction (CAI) modules. Each topic is introduced with a textbook reading assignment and additional readings are provided in the booklet. Also included are self-tests (and answers),…

The Development of TPACK, Technology Integrated Self-Efficacy and Instructional Technology Outcome Expectations of Pre-Service Physical Education Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cengiz, Cevdet

2015-01-01

The purpose of this intervention has been to improve pre-service physical education teachers' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK or TPACK), Technology Integrated Self-Efficacy (TISE), and Instructional Technology Outcome Expectations (ITOE). A pre-/post-test design without a control group was used in the study. Participants were…

Does Negative Mood Influence Self-Report Assessment of Individual and Relational Measures? An Experimental Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heene, Els; De Raedt, Rudi; Buysse, Ann; Van Oost, Paulette

2007-01-01

The present study was designed to test the influence of negative mood on the self-report of individual and relational correlates of depression and marital distress. The authors applied a combined experimental mood induction procedure, based on music, autobiographical recall, and environmental manipulation. Results showed that the mood manipulation…

Military Curricula for Vocational & Technical Education. Club Food Service, 9-7.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Army Quartermaster School, Ft. Lee, VA.

One of a number of military-developed curriculum packages selected for adaptation to vocational instruction and curriculum development in a civilian setting, this subcourse covers information on food service in a club and is designed for student self-study with objectives, text, and self-graded tests and answers. Five lessons included in this…

Carbon. [Individualized Learning System (ILS) Chemistry Pac No. 7.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Torop, William

This booklet is one of a set of eight designed to be used in a self-paced introductory chemistry course in conjunction with specified textbooks and computer-assisted instruction (CAI) modules. Each topic is introduced with a textbook reading assignment and additional readings are provided in the booklet. Also included are self-tests (and answers),…

Flipping the Classroom: Embedding Self-Regulated Learning Prompts in Videos

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moos, Daniel C.; Bonde, Caitlin

2016-01-01

This study examined the effectiveness of embedding self-regulated learning (SRL) prompts in a video designed for the flipped class model. The sample included 32 undergraduate participants who were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: control (video) or experimental (video + SRL prompts). Prior knowledge was measured with a pre-test, SRL was…