A survey of the economics of materials processing in space. [accenting biomedical materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, B. P.

1975-01-01

A survey of the economics of space materials processing has been performed with the objectives of identifying those areas of space materials processing that give preliminary indication of significant economic potential, and to identify possible approaches to quantify the economic potential. It is concluded that limited economic studies have been performed to date, primarily in the area of the processing of inorganic materials, but that the economics of space processing of biological material has not received adequate attention. Specific studies are recommended to evaluate the economic impact of human lymphocyte subgroup separation on organ transplantation, and on the separation and concentration of urokinase producing cells.

Office for Civil Rights Survey Redesign: A Feasibility Survey. Contractor Report. Statistical Analysis Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mansfield, Wendy; Farris, Elizabeth

This report provides results of a Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics for the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The OCR wanted input for their decision-making process on possible modifications to their biennial survey of a national sample of public school districts (PSDs). The survey, the…

The School Counselor Leadership Survey: Instrument Development and Exploratory Factor Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Young, Anita; Bryan, Julia

2015-01-01

This study examined the factor structure of the School Counselor Leadership Survey (SCLS). Survey development was a threefold process that resulted in a 39-item survey of 801 school counselors and school counselor supervisors. The exploratory factor analysis indicated a five-factor structure that revealed five key dimensions of school counselor…

Evaluation of Components of Residential Treatment by Medicaid ICF-MR Surveys: A Validity Assessment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reid, Dennis H.; And Others

1991-01-01

Four studies found serious problems with components of the federal Medicaid program's survey process for evaluating intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded--surveys did not discriminate between certified and noncertified units, direct-care staff behavior was very reactive to the survey's presence, and service providers had divergent…

75 FR 1648 - MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-NEW Study of Sharing To Assess Community Resilience...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-12

... be reminded that they are assured anonymity through the survey design and process. Public Disclosure... survey, Study of Sharing to Assess Community Resilience. DATES: Submit written comments by March 15, 2010..., to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the survey that requires the subject collection of information. For...

The Use of Online Surveys to Measure Satisfaction in Job Training and Workforce Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmidt, Steve; Strachota, Elaine; Conceicao, Simone

2006-01-01

This paper examines two empirical studies that used online surveys to collect data to measure satisfaction in job training and workforce development. A description of each study, findings related to response rate, the processes used in online survey development and implementation, as well as recommendations for the future use of online surveys…

Cooperative studies between the United States of America and the People's Republic of China on applications of remote sensing to surveying and mapping

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lauer, Donald T.; Chu, Liangcai

1992-01-01

A Protocol established between the National Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, People's Republic of China (PRC) and the U.S. Geological Survey, United States of America (US), resulted in the exchange of scientific personnel, technical training, and exploration of the processing of remotely sensed data. These activities were directed toward the application of remotely sensed data to surveying and mapping. Data were processed and various products were generated for the Black Hills area in the US and the Ningxiang area of the PRC. The results of these investigations defined applicable processes in the creation of satellite image maps, land use maps, and the use of ancillary data for further map enhancements.

Fuel quality/processing study. Volume 2: Appendix. Task 1 literature survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ohara, J. B.; Bela, A.; Jentz, N. E.; Klumpe, H. W.; Kessler, H. E.; Kotzot, H. T.; Loran, B. L.

1981-01-01

The results of a literature survey of fuel processing and fuel quality are given. Liquid synfuels produced from coal and oil shale are discussed. Gas turbine fuel property specifications are discussed. On-site fuel pretreatment and emissions from stationary gas turbines are discussed. Numerous data tables and abstracts are given.

Beyond Sexual Assault Surveys: A Model for Comprehensive Campus Climate Assessments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McMahon, Sarah; Stepleton, Kate; Cusano, Julia; O'Connor, Julia; Gandhi, Khushbu; McGinty, Felicia

2018-01-01

The White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault identified campus climate surveys as "the first step" for addressing campus sexual violence. Through a process case study, this article presents one model for engaging in a comprehensive, action-focused campus climate assessment process. Rooted in principles of…

A Note on Improving Process Efficiency in Panel Surveys with Paradata

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kreuter, Frauke; Müller, Gerrit

2015-01-01

Call scheduling is a challenge for surveys around the world. Unlike cross-sectional surveys, panel surveys can use information from prior waves to enhance call-scheduling algorithms. Past observational studies showed the benefit of calling panel cases at times that had been successful in the past. This article is the first to experimentally assign…

A Study of General Education Astronomy Students' Understandings of Cosmology. Part I. Development and Validation of Four Conceptual Cosmology Surveys

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wallace, Colin S.; Prather, Edward E.; Duncan, Douglas K.

2011-01-01

This is the first in a series of five articles describing a national study of general education astronomy students' conceptual and reasoning difficulties with cosmology. In this paper, we describe the process by which we designed four new surveys to assess general education astronomy students' conceptual cosmology knowledge. These surveys focused…

The composing process in technical communications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hertz, V. L.

1981-01-01

The theoretical construct under which technical writing exercises operate and results from a survey distributed to a random sample of teachers of technical writing are described. The survey, part of a study to develop materials that did not stress prescriptive formats, drew on diverse elements in report writing to enhance writing as a process. Areas of agreement and disagreement related to problem solving, paper evaluation, and individualizing instruction were surveyed. Areas of concern in contemplating the composition process include: (1) the need to create an environment that helps students want to succeed, (2) the role of peer group activity in helping some students who might not respond through lecture or individual study, and (3) encouraging growth in abilities and helping motivate students' interest in writing projects through relevant assignments or simulations students perceive as relevant.

An Exploration of the Superintendent Hiring Process in Texas Used by School Boards That Utilized Search Consultants

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beagle, Steven W.

2012-01-01

This study explored the superintendent hiring process in Texas. Participating school board presidents were part of a target population who used search consultants and hired a superintendent during 2011. Using survey research methods, data were collected from 17 school board presidents. The Superintendent Profile survey was used to measure how…

Community Needs Assessment Survey Report, Fall 1990.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gainesville Coll., GA. Office of Planning and Institutional Research.

As part of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools self-study process for reaffirmation of accreditation, Gainesville College (GC) conducted its second decennial needs assessment survey in fall 1990 to obtain data to assist in college planning and program improvement. Separate survey instruments were developed to gather data from…

Man Versus Machine: Comparing Double Data Entry and Optical Mark Recognition for Processing CAHPS Survey Data.

PubMed

Fifolt, Matthew; Blackburn, Justin; Rhodes, David J; Gillespie, Shemeka; Bennett, Aleena; Wolff, Paul; Rucks, Andrew

Historically, double data entry (DDE) has been considered the criterion standard for minimizing data entry errors. However, previous studies considered data entry alternatives through the limited lens of data accuracy. This study supplies information regarding data accuracy, operational efficiency, and cost for DDE and Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) for processing the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems 5.0 survey. To assess data accuracy, we compared error rates for DDE and OMR by dividing the number of surveys that were arbitrated by the total number of surveys processed for each method. To assess operational efficiency, we tallied the cost of data entry for DDE and OMR after survey receipt. Costs were calculated on the basis of personnel, depreciation for capital equipment, and costs of noncapital equipment. The cost savings attributed to this method were negated by the operational efficiency of OMR. There was a statistical significance between rates of arbitration between DDE and OMR; however, this statistical significance did not create a practical significance. The potential benefits of DDE in terms of data accuracy did not outweigh the operational efficiency and thereby financial savings of OMR.

Usefulness of a survey on underage drinking in a rural American Indian community health clinic.

PubMed

Gilder, David A; Luna, Juan A; Roberts, Jennifer; Calac, Daniel; Grube, Joel W; Moore, Roland S; Ehlers, Cindy L

2013-01-01

This study examined the usefulness of a survey on underage drinking in a rural American Indian community health clinic. One hundred ninety-seven youth (90 male, 107 female; age range 8-20 years) were recruited from clinic waiting rooms and through community outreach. The study revealed that the usefulness of the survey was twofold: Survey results could be used by clinic staff to screen for underage drinking and associated problems in youth served by the clinic, and the process of organizing, evaluating, and implementing the survey results accomplished several important goals of community-based participatory research.

Meat consumption in São Paulo-Brazil: trend in the last decade.

PubMed

de Carvalho, Aline Martins; César, Chester Luiz Galvão; Fisberg, Regina Mara; Marchioni, Dirce Maria

2014-01-01

To characterize trends in meat consumption, and verify the percentage of excessive red and processed meat consumption in the last decade in São Paulo, Brazil. Cross-sectional weighted data from the Health Survey for São Paulo, conducted in São Paulo, Brazil among people aged 12 years and older. Diet was assessed by two 24-hour recalls in each survey. Usual meat consumption was estimated by Multiple Source Method. Wald tests were used to compare means across survey years. Data were collected from adolescents, adults, and elderly using a representative, complex, multistage probability-based survey in 2003 and in 2008 in São Paulo, southeast of Brazil. 2631 Brazilians were studied in 2003 and 1662 in 2008. Daily mean of red and processed meat consumption was 100 g/day in 2003, and 113 g/day in 2008. Excessive red and processed meat consumption was observed in almost 75% of the subjects, especially among adolescents in both surveys. Beef represented the largest proportion of meat consumed, followed by poultry, pork and fish in both surveys. Daily red and processed meat consumption was higher in 2008 than in 2003, and almost the entire population consumed more than what is recommended by World Cancer Research Fund. Public health strategies are needed, in order to reduce red and processed meat consumption to the recommended amounts, for a healthy diet.

National Household Education Surveys Program of 2012: Data File User's Manual. Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey. Early Childhood Program Participation Survey. NCES 2015-030

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McPhee, C.; Bielick, S.; Masterton, M.; Flores, L.; Parmer, R.; Amchin, S.; Stern, S.; McGowan, H.

2015-01-01

The 2012 National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES:2012) Data File User's Manual provides documentation and guidance for users of the NHES:2012 data files. The manual provides information about the purpose of the study, the sample design, data collection procedures, data processing procedures, response rates, imputation, weighting and…

Survey research: it's just a few questions, right?

PubMed

Tait, Alan R; Voepel-Lewis, Terri

2015-07-01

While most anesthesiologists and other physician- or nurse-scientists are familiar with traditional descriptive, observational, and interventional study design, survey research has typically remained the preserve of the social scientists. To that end, this article provides a basic overview of the elements of good survey design and offers some rules of thumb to help guide investigators through the survey process. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The Investigation of Science Process Skills of Science Teachers in Terms of Some Variables

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aydogdu, Bülent

2015-01-01

This study aimed to investigate basic process skills, integrated process skills and overall science process skills of science teachers in terms of some variables. This study had a survey design. The study population consisted of 170 science teachers from a province located in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The study data were obtained from…

A cross-sectional study to identify organisational processes associated with nurse-reported quality and patient safety

PubMed Central

Tvedt, Christine; Sjetne, Ingeborg Strømseng; Helgeland, Jon; Bukholm, Geir

2012-01-01

Objectives The purpose of this study was to identify organisational processes and structures that are associated with nurse-reported patient safety and quality of nursing. Design This is an observational cross-sectional study using survey methods. Setting Respondents from 31 Norwegian hospitals with more than 85 beds were included in the survey. Participants All registered nurses working in direct patient care in a position of 20% or more were invited to answer the survey. In this study, 3618 nurses from surgical and medical wards responded (response rate 58.9). Nurses' practice environment was defined as organisational processes and measured by the Nursing Work Index Revised and items from Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture. Outcome measures Nurses' assessments of patient safety, quality of nursing, confidence in how their patients manage after discharge and frequency of adverse events were used as outcome measures. Results Quality system, nurse–physician relation, patient safety management and staff adequacy were process measures associated with nurse-reported work-related and patient-related outcomes, but we found no associations with nurse participation, education and career and ward leadership. Most organisational structures were non-significant in the multilevel model except for nurses’ affiliations to medical department and hospital type. Conclusions Organisational structures may have minor impact on how nurses perceive work-related and patient-related outcomes, but the findings in this study indicate that there is a considerable potential to address organisational design in improvement of patient safety and quality of care. PMID:23263021

Operations research methods improve chemotherapy patient appointment scheduling.

PubMed

Santibáñez, Pablo; Aristizabal, Ruben; Puterman, Martin L; Chow, Vincent S; Huang, Wenhai; Kollmannsberger, Christian; Nordin, Travis; Runzer, Nancy; Tyldesley, Scott

2012-12-01

Clinical complexity, scheduling restrictions, and outdated manual booking processes resulted in frequent clerical rework, long waitlists for treatment, and late appointment notification for patients at a chemotherapy clinic in a large cancer center in British Columbia, Canada. A 17-month study was conducted to address booking, scheduling and workload issues and to develop, implement, and evaluate solutions. A review of scheduling practices included process observation and mapping, analysis of historical appointment data, creation of a new performance metric (final appointment notification lead time), and a baseline patient satisfaction survey. Process improvement involved discrete event simulation to evaluate alternative booking practice scenarios, development of an optimization-based scheduling tool to improve scheduling efficiency, and change management for implementation of process changes. Results were evaluated through analysis of appointment data, a follow-up patient survey, and staff surveys. Process review revealed a two-stage scheduling process. Long waitlists and late notification resulted from an inflexible first-stage process. The second-stage process was time consuming and tedious. After a revised, more flexible first-stage process and an automated second-stage process were implemented, the median percentage of appointments exceeding the final appointment notification lead time target of one week was reduced by 57% and median waitlist size decreased by 83%. Patient surveys confirmed increased satisfaction while staff feedback reported reduced stress levels. Significant operational improvements can be achieved through process redesign combined with operations research methods.

Use of the Illinois 5Essentials Survey Data. Policy Research: IERC 2014-2

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klostermann, Brenda K.; White, Bradford R.; Lichtenberger, Eric J.; Holt, Janet K.

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study is to examine how Illinois school districts are utilizing the Illinois 5Essentials Survey results, particularly for school improvement, to determine challenges to successful implementation, and to make recommendations for improvements to the 5E Survey and implementation process for statewide use. We also summarize…

Technology and research needs to support soil change studies in reserach and soil survey

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Soil survey products must evolve to address the effects of management practices on the soil resource. There is a rising demand by soil survey customers interested in sustainable use of natural resources for information about land-use impacts on soil quality, ecological processes, and soil function. ...

Development of a Survey to Assess Local Health Department Organizational Processes and Infrastructure for Supporting Obesity Prevention.

PubMed

Xiao, Ting; Stamatakis, Katherine A; McVay, Allese B

Local health departments (LHDs) have an important function in controlling the growing epidemic of obesity in the United States. Data are needed to gain insight into the existence of routine functions and structures of LHDs that support and sustain obesity prevention efforts. The purpose of this study was to develop and examine the reliability of measures to assess foundational LHD organizational processes and functions specific to obesity prevention. Survey measures were developed using a stratified, random sample of US LHDs to assess supportive organizational processes and infrastructure for obesity prevention representing different domains. Data were analyzed using weighted κ and intraclass correlation coefficient for assessing test-retest reliability. Most items and summary indices in the majority of survey domains had moderate/substantial or almost perfect reliability. The overall findings support this survey instrument to be a reliable measurement tool for a large number of processes and functions that comprise obesity prevention-related capacity in LHDs.

76 FR 10598 - Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Approval of the Joint Commission for Deeming Authority for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-25

... complaints against accredited facilities; and (5) survey review and decision-making process for accreditation... Commission's survey processes to: + Determine the composition of the survey team, surveyor qualifications... Commission's processes to those of State survey agencies, including survey frequency, and the ability to...

Current status on the application of image processing of digital intraoral radiographs amongst general dental practitioners.

PubMed

Tohidast, Parisa; Shi, Xie-Qi

2016-01-01

The objectives of this study were to present the subjective knowledge level and the use of image processing on digital intraoral radiographs amongst general dental practitioners at Distriktståndvrden AB, Stockholm. A questionnaire, consisting of12 questions, was sent to 12 dental prac- tices in Stockholm. Additionally, 2000 radiographs were randomly selected from these clinics for evaluation of applied image processing and its effect on image quality. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were applied to present the current status of the use of image proces- sing alternatives for the dentists' daily clinical work. 50 out of 53 dentists participated in the survey.The survey showed that most of dentists in.this study had received education on image processing at some stage of their career. No correlations were found between application of image processing on one side and educa- tion received with regards to image processing, previous working experience, age and gender on the other. Image processing in terms of adjusting brightness and contrast was frequently used. Overall, in this study 24.5% of the 200 images were actually image processed in practice, in which 90% of the images were improved or maintained in image quality. According to our survey, image processing is experienced to be frequently used by the dentists at Distriktstandvåden AB for diagnosing anatomical and pathological changes using intraoral radiographs. 24.5% of the 200 images were actually image processed in terms of adjusting brightness and/or contrast. In the present study we did not found that the dentists' age, gender, previous working experience and education in image processing influence their viewpoint towards the application of image processing.

Undertaking the first online sexuality survey among private university students in Lebanon – Process, challenges, and lessons learned.

PubMed

Yasmine, Rola; Ghandour, Lilian; El Kak, Faysal

2016-01-01

The taboo surrounding reproductive and sexual health in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region, specifically among unmarried youth, has resulted in an incomplete and inaccurate documentation of the status of youth sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Documenting regional research processes and successes can support SRH researchers in promoting evidence-based services and local policies. This paper describes the process, challenges and lessons learned during the first online research study in the MENA to assess university students’ sexual practices, values and perceptions. An online survey was completed by 2,182 university students attending the 4th largest private university in Lebanon. An online SRH survey among Arab youth must be carefully developed with the cultural context and its prevailing issues in mind. Careful attention must be paid to any translation process specifically regarding tone and choice of certain sexual terms. The online program/software must be thoroughly piloted for possible technical flaws, language support, and web browser compatibility. Inter-disciplinary collaboration between the research team, IT and IRB offices is crucial in order to conduct an ethicallyappropriate technically-functional online survey. Online survey methods hold great promise for surveying SRH and other sensitive topics in Lebanon and the MENA.

Development and Validation of a Questionnaire to Detect Behavior Change in Multiple Advance Care Planning Behaviors

PubMed Central

Sudore, Rebecca L.; Stewart, Anita L.; Knight, Sara J.; McMahan, Ryan D.; Feuz, Mariko; Miao, Yinghui; Barnes, Deborah E.

2013-01-01

Introduction Advance directives have traditionally been considered the gold standard for advance care planning. However, recent evidence suggests that advance care planning involves a series of multiple discrete behaviors for which people are in varying stages of behavior change. The goal of our study was to develop and validate a survey to measure the full advance care planning process. Methods The Advance Care Planning Engagement Survey assesses “Process Measures” of factors known from Behavior Change Theory to affect behavior (knowledge, contemplation, self-efficacy, and readiness, using 5-point Likert scales) and “Action Measures” (yes/no) of multiple behaviors related to surrogate decision makers, values and quality of life, flexibility for surrogate decision making, and informed decision making. We administered surveys at baseline and 1 week later to 50 diverse, older adults from San Francisco hospitals. Internal consistency reliability of Process Measures was assessed using Cronbach's alpha (only continuous variables) and test-retest reliability of Process and Action Measures was examined using intraclass correlations. For discriminant validity, we compared Process and Action Measure scores between this cohort and 20 healthy college students (mean age 23.2 years, SD 2.7). Results Mean age was 69.3 (SD 10.5) and 42% were non-White. The survey took a mean of 21.4 minutes (±6.2) to administer. The survey had good internal consistency (Process Measures Cronbach's alpha, 0.94) and test-retest reliability (Process Measures intraclass correlation, 0.70; Action Measures, 0.87). Both Process and Action Measure scores were higher in the older than younger group, p<.001. Conclusion A new Advance Care Planning Engagement Survey that measures behavior change (knowledge, contemplation, self-efficacy, and readiness) and multiple advance care planning actions demonstrates good reliability and validity. Further research is needed to assess whether survey scores improve in response to advance care planning interventions and whether scores are associated with receipt of care consistent with one's wishes. PMID:24039772

Lessons Learned: Cultural and linguistic enhancement of surveys through community-based participatory research

PubMed Central

Formea, Christine M.; Mohamed, Ahmed A.; Hassan, Abdullahi; Osman, Ahmed; Weis, Jennifer A.; Sia, Irene G.; Wieland, Mark L.

2014-01-01

Background Surveys are frequently implemented in community-based participatory research (CBPR), but adaptation and translation of surveys can be logistically and methodologically challenging when working with immigrant and refugee populations. Objective To describe a process of participatory survey adaptation and translation. Methods Within an established CBPR partnership, a survey about diabetes was adapted for health literacy and local relevance and then translated through a process of forward translation, group deliberation, and back translation. Lessons Learned The group deliberation process was the most time-intensive and important component of the process. The process enhanced community ownership of the larger project while maximizing local applicability of the product. Conclusions A participatory process of survey adaptation and translation resulted in significant revisions to approximate semantic, cultural, and conceptual equivalence with the original surveys. This approach is likely to enhance community acceptance of the survey instrument during the implementation phase. PMID:25435559

Decision maker perceptions of resource allocation processes in Canadian health care organizations: a national survey.

PubMed

Smith, Neale; Mitton, Craig; Bryan, Stirling; Davidson, Alan; Urquhart, Bonnie; Gibson, Jennifer L; Peacock, Stuart; Donaldson, Cam

2013-07-02

Resource allocation is a key challenge for healthcare decision makers. While several case studies of organizational practice exist, there have been few large-scale cross-organization comparisons. Between January and April 2011, we conducted an on-line survey of senior decision makers within regional health authorities (and closely equivalent organizations) across all Canadian provinces and territories. We received returns from 92 individual managers, from 60 out of 89 organizations in total. The survey inquired about structures, process features, and behaviours related to organization-wide resource allocation decisions. We focus here on three main aspects: type of process, perceived fairness, and overall rating. About one-half of respondents indicated that their organization used a formal process for resource allocation, while the others reported that political or historical factors were predominant. Seventy percent (70%) of respondents self-reported that their resource allocation process was fair and just over one-half assessed their process as 'good' or 'very good'. This paper explores these findings in greater detail and assesses them in context of the larger literature. Data from this large-scale cross-jurisdictional survey helps to illustrate common challenges and areas of positive performance among Canada's health system leadership teams.

Strategic survey framework for the Northwest Forest Plan survey and manage program.

Treesearch

Randy Molina; Dan McKenzie; Robin Lesher; Jan Ford; Jim Alegria; Richard Cutler

2003-01-01

This document outlines an iterative process for assessing the information needs for all Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) survey and manage species, designing and implementing strategic surveys (including field surveys and other information-gathering processes), and analyzing that information for use in the NWFP annual species review and adaptive-management processes. The...

Survey Satisficing Inflates Stereotypical Responses in Online Experiment: The Case of Immigration Study

PubMed Central

Miura, Asako; Kobayashi, Tetsuro

2016-01-01

Though survey satisficing, grudging cognitive efforts required to provide optimal answers in the survey response process, poses a serious threat to the validity of online experiments, a detailed explanation of the mechanism has yet to be established. Focusing on attitudes toward immigrants, we examined the mechanism by which survey satisficing distorts treatment effect estimates in online experiments. We hypothesized that satisficers would display more stereotypical responses than non-satisficers would when presented with stereotype-disconfirming information about an immigrant. Results of two experiments largely supported our hypotheses. Satisficers, whom we identified through an instructional manipulation check (IMC), processed information about immigrants' personality traits congruently with the stereotype activated by information provided about nationality. The significantly shorter vignette reading time of satisficers corroborates their time-efficient impression formation based on stereotyping. However, the shallow information processing of satisficers can be rectified by alerting them to their inattentiveness through use of a repeated IMC. PMID:27803680

Quality assessment of medical education at faculty of medicine of sarajevo university - comparison of assessment between students in bologna process and old system of studying.

PubMed

Masic, Izet

2013-01-01

NONE DECLARED. The quality of the teaching-learning process at the universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad depends mainly of infrastructure that includes an optimal teaching space, personnel and equipment, in accordance with existing standards and norms. For the assessment of teaching at the faculties, the opinion of students is very important (4, 5). Students are often unhappy with the educational process. To compare the results of the teaching process evaluation between students studying according to the Bologna system and the old system of education. We used the questionnaire as a carrier of data created with variables relevant for assessing the success of the educational process at the Medical Faculty in Sarajevo. The survey was conducted among students of the sixth year of the Medical Faculty in Sarajevo. There were 103 students surveyed, of which 32 were studying according to the Bologna and 71 by the old concept of studies. Results of survey which measured students satisfaction with the educational process (theoretical and practical instruction, interactive learning, testing, use of IT and technical aids in teaching, availability of instructional literature etc.) lead us to the conclusion that the lowest satisfaction is associated with factors depending on financial resources, specifically related to library funds and the degree of computerization of educational process, and also with the level of teachers capability to convey knowledge to students with the application of modern medical information technology and technical teaching aids.

USEFULNESS OF A SURVEY ON UNDERAGE DRINKING IN A RURAL AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC

PubMed Central

Gilder, David A.; Luna, Juan A.; Roberts, Jennifer; Calac, Daniel; Grube, Joel W.; Moore, Roland S.

2013-01-01

This study examined the usefulness of a survey on underage drinking in a rural American Indian community health clinic. One hundred ninety-seven youth (90 male, 107 female; age range 8–20 years) were recruited from clinic waiting rooms and through community outreach. The study revealed that the usefulness of the survey was twofold: Survey results could be used by clinic staff to screen for underage drinking and associated problems in youth served by the clinic, and the process of organizing, evaluating, and implementing the survey results accomplished several important goals of community-based participatory research. PMID:23824640

Timeseries Signal Processing for Enhancing Mobile Surveys: Learning from Field Studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Risk, D. A.; Lavoie, M.; Marshall, A. D.; Baillie, J.; Atherton, E. E.; Laybolt, W. D.

2015-12-01

Vehicle-based surveys using laser and other analyzers are now commonplace in research and industry. In many cases when these studies target biologically-relevant gases like methane and carbon dioxide, the minimum detection limits are often coarse (ppm) relative to the analyzer's capabilities (ppb), because of the inherent variability in the ambient background concentrations across the landscape that creates noise and uncertainty. This variation arises from localized biological sinks and sources, but also atmospheric turbulence, air pooling, and other factors. Computational processing routines are widely used in many fields to increase resolution of a target signal in temporally dense data, and offer promise for enhancing mobile surveying techniques. Signal processing routines can both help identify anomalies at very low levels, or can be used inversely to remove localized industrially-emitted anomalies from ecological data. This presentation integrates learnings from various studies in which simple signal processing routines were used successfully to isolate different temporally-varying components of 1 Hz timeseries measured with laser- and UV fluorescence-based analyzers. As illustrative datasets, we present results from industrial fugitive emission studies from across Canada's western provinces and other locations, and also an ecological study that aimed to model near-surface concentration variability across different biomes within eastern Canada. In these cases, signal processing algorithms contributed significantly to the clarity of both industrial, and ecological processes. In some instances, signal processing was too computationally intensive for real-time in-vehicle processing, but we identified workarounds for analyzer-embedded software that contributed to an improvement in real-time resolution of small anomalies. Signal processing is a natural accompaniment to these datasets, and many avenues are open to researchers who wish to enhance existing, and future datasets.

Factors that influence parental decisions to participate in clinical research: consenters vs nonconsenters.

PubMed

Hoberman, Alejandro; Shaikh, Nader; Bhatnagar, Sonika; Haralam, Mary Ann; Kearney, Diana H; Colborn, D Kathleen; Kienholz, Michelle L; Wang, Li; Bunker, Clareann H; Keren, Ron; Carpenter, Myra A; Greenfield, Saul P; Pohl, Hans G; Mathews, Ranjiv; Moxey-Mims, Marva; Chesney, Russell W

2013-06-01

A child's health, positive perceptions of the research team and consent process, and altruistic motives play significant roles in the decision-making process for parents who consent for their child to enroll in clinical research. This study identified that nonconsenting parents were better educated, had private insurance, showed lower levels of altruism, and less understanding of study design. To determine the factors associated with parental consent for their child's participation in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Cross-sectional survey conducted from July 2008 to May 2011. The survey was an ancillary study to the Randomized Intervention for Children with VesicoUreteral Reflux Study. Seven children's hospitals participating in a randomized trial evaluating management of children with vesicoureteral reflux. Parents asked to provide consent for their child's participation in the randomized trial were invited to complete an anonymous online survey about factors influencing their decision. A total of 120 of the 271 (44%) invited completed the survey; 58 of 125 (46%) who had provided consent and 62 of 144 (43%) who had declined consent completed the survey. A 60-question survey examining child, parent, and study characteristics; parental perception of the study; understanding of the design; external influences; and decision-making process. RESULTS Having graduated from college and private health insurance were associated with a lower likelihood of providing consent. Parents who perceived the trial as having a low degree of risk, resulting in greater benefit to their child and other children, causing little interference with standard care, or exhibiting potential for enhanced care, or who perceived the researcher as professional were significantly more likely to consent to participate. Higher levels of understanding of the randomization process, blinding, and right to withdraw were significantly positively associated with consent to participate. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Parents who declined consent had a relatively higher socioeconomic status, had more anxiety about their decision, and found it harder to make their decision compared with consenting parents, who had higher levels of trust and altruism, perceived the potential for enhanced care, reflected better understanding of randomization, and exhibited low decisional uncertainty. Consideration of the factors included in the conceptual model should enhance the quality of the informed consent process and improve participation in pediatric clinical trials.

A Nationwide Survey of Disability Support Personnel regarding Transition and Services for Postsecondary Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Muenke, Raychel C.

2011-01-01

The purpose of this exploratory study was to analyze the perceptions (through survey data) of Disability Support Services (DSS) personnel regarding the transition process for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from secondary to postsecondary institutions. Participants from 408 postsecondary institutions completed the survey with 60.4%…

76 FR 4152 - Proposed Information Collection (Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Voice of the Veteran (VOV...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-24

... needs and perceived gaps in current processes. Surveys are designed to address those needs. VBA has... research studies conducted by J.D. Power. The model will allow J.D. Power to quantify, based on the survey... (Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Voice of the Veteran (VOV) Pilot Surveys) Activity: Comment Request...

Survey Analysis of Materials Processing Experiments Aboard STS-47: Spacelab J

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sharpe, R. J.; Wright, M. D.

2009-01-01

This Technical Memorandum (TM) is a survey outline of materials processing experiments aboard Space Shuttle Mission STS-47: Spacelab J, a joint venture between NASA and the National Space Development Agency of Japan. The mission explored materials processing experiments including electronics and crystal growth materials, metals and alloys, glasses and ceramics, and fluids. Experiments covered include Growth of Silicone Spherical Crystals and Surface Oxidation, Growth Experiment of Narrow Band-Gap Semiconductor Lead-Tin-Tellurium Crystals in Space, Study on Solidification of Immiscible Alloys, Fabrication of Very-Low-Density, High-Stiffness Carbon Fiber/Aluminum Hybridized Composites, High Temperature Behavior of Glass, and Study of Bubble Behavior. The TM underscores the historical significance of these experiments in the context of materials processing in space.

Directions of the US Geological Survey Landslide Hazards Reduction Program

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wieczorek, G.F.

1993-01-01

The US Geological Survey (USGS) Landslide Hazards Reduction Program includes studies of landslide process and prediction, landslide susceptibility and risk mapping, landslide recurrence and slope evolution, and research application and technology transfer. Studies of landslide processes have been recently conducted in Virginia, Utah, California, Alaska, and Hawaii, Landslide susceptibility maps provide a very important tool for landslide hazard reduction. The effects of engineering-geologic characteristics of rocks, seismic activity, short and long-term climatic change on landslide recurrence are under study. Detailed measurement of movement and deformation has begun on some active landslides. -from Author

Galaxy Transformation Under Extreme Conditions: The Evolution of Galaxies in the Largest Structures in the High Redshift Universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lemaux, Brian Clark

This dissertation describes research performed in the field of observational astrophysics as part of the Observations of Redshift Evolution in Large Scale Environment (ORELSE) survey. The general motivation of the research presented in this dissertation is to investigate the processes responsible for the evolution of galaxies in a wide range of physical conditions over cosmic time. Throughout this dissertation, galaxy populations will be considered in the very nearby universe (i.e., within one billion light years from Earth), the middle-aged universe (i.e., eight billion years ago), and in the very early universe (i.e., just one billion years after the beginning of the universe). In each chapter I present unique data from observations taken and analyzed specifically for the ORELSE survey. In the first part of this dissertation I describe the context, aims, and current state of the ORELSE survey. The studies presented in this dissertation span a large range of galaxy samples and investigate a variety of different astrophysical phenomena. As all of these studies fall under the context of galaxy evolution, these initial sections will set the framework for the variety of studies presented in this thesis. In the second part of this dissertation I present four studies undertaken to investigate various aspects of galaxy evolution. The first of these studies is an investigation of a large population of very distant galaxies detected in one of the ORELSE fields. The survey in this field represents the deepest survey of a particular kind of very distant galaxy population known as Lymanalpha Emitter (LAEs). The number of LAEs found in this survey far exceeded expectations for such galaxies and are shown to be in excess of every other survey of similar galaxies at similar distances. This result has important consequences for galaxy evolution studies, as it suggests that faint LAEs may be much more numerous than previously thought. This work also has important consequences for a process in the early universe known as reionization, which is the subject of much debate amongst astronomers. The second and third of these studies are investigations using near-infrared spectroscopy of X-ray bright and red galaxies that exhibit optical spectra with prominent emission features. These studies are the first systematic investigations of both galaxy populations in the middle-aged universe using near-infrared spectroscopy. In both studies I conclude the dominant mechanism giving rise to optical emission line features are processes associated with the presence of an Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) rather than normal star formation. This result has important consequences for galaxy evolutionary scenarios, as the two processes are typically difficult to separate observationally and are thought to be related. The final study in this presentation is a full investigation of the processes driving galaxy evolution in one of the ORELSE fields, the Cl1604 supercluster. In this study I present the wealth of astronomical observations available to the ORELSE survey on the member galaxies of this supercluster. Several transitional populations of galaxies are detected in the supercluster environment, and their properties are analyzed in the context of galaxy evolution. Processing of the galaxy population is found to be significant in both the densest environments in the supercluster and the lower-density regions. One of the major conclusions of this work relates to the efficiency of these transformative processes and the global environment in which a galaxy resides. I present evidence for a process termed "dynamical downsizing", in which efficient transforming of galaxies occurs earliest in structures of galaxies that are observed to be relaxed (i.e., virialized) in their dynamics.

A Survey and Analysis of Military Computer-Based Training Systems: A Two Part Study. Volume I: A Survey and Annotated Bibliography of Authoring Aids for Instructional Systems Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Logan, Robert S.

The authoring process and authoring aids which facilitate development of instructional materials have recently emerged as an area of concern in the field of instructional systems development (ISD). This process includes information gathering, its conversion to learning packages, its revision, and its formal publication. The purpose of this…

Survey of risks and benefits communication strategies by research nurses.

PubMed

Nusbaum, Lika; Douglas, Brenda; Estrella-Luna, Neenah; Paasche-Orlow, Michael; Damus, Karla

2017-01-01

An ethical, informed consent process requires that potential participants understand the study, their rights, and the risks and benefits. Yet, despite strategies to improve communication, many participants still lack understanding of potential risks and benefits. Investigating attitudes and practices of research nurses can identify ways to improve the informed consent process. What are the attitudes, practices, and preparedness of nurses involved in the informed consent process regarding communication of risks and benefits? A survey was developed and administered online to a national purposive sample of 107 research nurses with experience obtaining informed consent for clinical trials. Survey responses stratified by selected work-related characteristics were analyzed. Ethical considerations: Participants were instructed they need not answer each question and could stop at any time. They consented by clicking "accept" on the email which linked to the survey. The study was approved by the Northeastern University Institutional Review Board, Boston, Massachusetts (NU-IRB Protocol #: 13-06-17). Most research nurses (87%) used a teach-back method to assess participant comprehension, while 72% relied on their intuition. About one-third did not feel prepared to communicate related statistics. About 20% did not feel prepared to tailor information, and half did not feel competent using supplemental materials to enhance risks and benefits comprehension. Only 70% had received training in the informed consent process which included in-person training (84%), case studies (69%), online courses (57%), feedback during practice sessions (54%), and simulation, such as role playing (49%) and viewing videos (45%). Perceived preparedness was significantly associated with greater informed consent experience and training. Research nurses may have inadequate training to encourage, support, and reinforce communication of risks and benefits during the informed consent process. Relevant purposeful education and training should help to improve and standardize the ethical informed consent process.

Methods of practice and guidelines for using survey-grade global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) to establish vertical datum in the United States Geological Survey

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rydlund, Jr., Paul H.; Densmore, Brenda K.

2012-01-01

Geodetic surveys have evolved through the years to the use of survey-grade (centimeter level) global positioning to perpetuate and post-process vertical datum. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) uses Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) technology to monitor natural hazards, ensure geospatial control for climate and land use change, and gather data necessary for investigative studies related to water, the environment, energy, and ecosystems. Vertical datum is fundamental to a variety of these integrated earth sciences. Essentially GNSS surveys provide a three-dimensional position x, y, and z as a function of the North American Datum of 1983 ellipsoid and the most current hybrid geoid model. A GNSS survey may be approached with post-processed positioning for static observations related to a single point or network, or involve real-time corrections to provide positioning "on-the-fly." Field equipment required to facilitate GNSS surveys range from a single receiver, with a power source for static positioning, to an additional receiver or network communicated by radio or cellular for real-time positioning. A real-time approach in its most common form may be described as a roving receiver augmented by a single-base station receiver, known as a single-base real-time (RT) survey. More efficient real-time methods involving a Real-Time Network (RTN) permit the use of only one roving receiver that is augmented to a network of fixed receivers commonly known as Continually Operating Reference Stations (CORS). A post-processed approach in its most common form involves static data collection at a single point. Data are most commonly post-processed through a universally accepted utility maintained by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), known as the Online Position User Service (OPUS). More complex post-processed methods involve static observations among a network of additional receivers collecting static data at known benchmarks. Both classifications provide users flexibility regarding efficiency and quality of data collection. Quality assurance of survey-grade global positioning is often overlooked or not understood and perceived uncertainties can be misleading. GNSS users can benefit from a blueprint of data collection standards used to ensure consistency among USGS mission areas. A classification of GNSS survey qualities provide the user with the ability to choose from the highest quality survey used to establish objective points with low uncertainties, identified as a Level I, to a GNSS survey for general topographic control without quality assurance, identified as a Level IV. A Level I survey is strictly limited to post-processed methods, whereas Level II, Level III, and Level IV surveys integrate variations of a RT approach. Among these classifications, techniques involving blunder checks and redundancy are important, and planning that involves the assessment of the overall satellite configuration, as well as terrestrial and space weather, are necessary to ensure an efficient and quality campaign. Although quality indicators and uncertainties are identified in post-processed methods using CORS, the accuracy of a GNSS survey is most effectively expressed as a comparison to a local benchmark that has a high degree of confidence. Real-time and post-processed methods should incorporate these "trusted" benchmarks as a check during any campaign. Global positioning surveys are expected to change rapidly in the future. The expansion of continuously operating reference stations, combined with newly available satellite signals, and enhancements to the conterminous geoid, are all sufficient indicators for substantial growth in real-time positioning and quality thereof.

77 FR 35059 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Job Corps...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-12

... for OMB Review; Comment Request; Job Corps Process Study ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of... collection request (ICR) proposal titled, ``Job Corps Process Study,'' to the Office of Management and Budget... conduct site visits to Job Corps centers and a survey of center directors for a process study of the Job...

Predicting Survey Responses: How and Why Semantics Shape Survey Statistics on Organizational Behaviour

PubMed Central

Arnulf, Jan Ketil; Larsen, Kai Rune; Martinsen, Øyvind Lund; Bong, Chih How

2014-01-01

Some disciplines in the social sciences rely heavily on collecting survey responses to detect empirical relationships among variables. We explored whether these relationships were a priori predictable from the semantic properties of the survey items, using language processing algorithms which are now available as new research methods. Language processing algorithms were used to calculate the semantic similarity among all items in state-of-the-art surveys from Organisational Behaviour research. These surveys covered areas such as transformational leadership, work motivation and work outcomes. This information was used to explain and predict the response patterns from real subjects. Semantic algorithms explained 60–86% of the variance in the response patterns and allowed remarkably precise prediction of survey responses from humans, except in a personality test. Even the relationships between independent and their purported dependent variables were accurately predicted. This raises concern about the empirical nature of data collected through some surveys if results are already given a priori through the way subjects are being asked. Survey response patterns seem heavily determined by semantics. Language algorithms may suggest these prior to administering a survey. This study suggests that semantic algorithms are becoming new tools for the social sciences, opening perspectives on survey responses that prevalent psychometric theory cannot explain. PMID:25184672

Predicting survey responses: how and why semantics shape survey statistics on organizational behaviour.

PubMed

Arnulf, Jan Ketil; Larsen, Kai Rune; Martinsen, Øyvind Lund; Bong, Chih How

2014-01-01

Some disciplines in the social sciences rely heavily on collecting survey responses to detect empirical relationships among variables. We explored whether these relationships were a priori predictable from the semantic properties of the survey items, using language processing algorithms which are now available as new research methods. Language processing algorithms were used to calculate the semantic similarity among all items in state-of-the-art surveys from Organisational Behaviour research. These surveys covered areas such as transformational leadership, work motivation and work outcomes. This information was used to explain and predict the response patterns from real subjects. Semantic algorithms explained 60-86% of the variance in the response patterns and allowed remarkably precise prediction of survey responses from humans, except in a personality test. Even the relationships between independent and their purported dependent variables were accurately predicted. This raises concern about the empirical nature of data collected through some surveys if results are already given a priori through the way subjects are being asked. Survey response patterns seem heavily determined by semantics. Language algorithms may suggest these prior to administering a survey. This study suggests that semantic algorithms are becoming new tools for the social sciences, opening perspectives on survey responses that prevalent psychometric theory cannot explain.

Print versus electronic journals: a preliminary investigation into the effect of journal format on research processes*

PubMed Central

Sathe, Nila A.; Grady, Jenifer L.; Giuse, Nunzia B.

2002-01-01

Purpose: To begin investigating the impact of electronic journals on research processes such as information seeking, the authors conducted a pilot journal-use study to test the hypothesis that patrons use print and electronic journals differently. Methodology: We placed fifteen high-use print titles also available in electronic format behind the circulation desk; patrons were asked to complete a survey upon requesting a journal. We also conducted a parallel survey of patrons using library computers. Both surveys asked patrons to identify themselves by user category and queried them about their journal use. Results: During the month-long study, patrons completed sixty-nine surveys of electronic and ninety surveys of print journal use. Results analysis indicated that fellows, students, and residents preferred electronic journals, and faculty preferred print journals. Patrons used print journals for reading articles and scanning contents; they employed electronic journals for printing articles and checking references. Users considered electronic journals easier to access and search than print journals; however, they reported that print journals had higher quality text and figures. Discussion/Conclusion: This study is an introductory step in examining how electronic journals affect research processes. Our data revealed that there were distinct preferences in format among categories. In addition to collection management implications for libraries, these data also have implications for publishers and educators; current electronic formats do not facilitate all types of uses and thus may be changing learning patterns as well. PMID:11999183

Automated data processing architecture for the Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jason J.; Perrin, Marshall D.; Savransky, Dmitry; Arriaga, Pauline; Chilcote, Jeffrey K.; De Rosa, Robert J.; Millar-Blanchaer, Maxwell A.; Marois, Christian; Rameau, Julien; Wolff, Schuyler G.; Shapiro, Jacob; Ruffio, Jean-Baptiste; Maire, Jérôme; Marchis, Franck; Graham, James R.; Macintosh, Bruce; Ammons, S. Mark; Bailey, Vanessa P.; Barman, Travis S.; Bruzzone, Sebastian; Bulger, Joanna; Cotten, Tara; Doyon, René; Duchêne, Gaspard; Fitzgerald, Michael P.; Follette, Katherine B.; Goodsell, Stephen; Greenbaum, Alexandra Z.; Hibon, Pascale; Hung, Li-Wei; Ingraham, Patrick; Kalas, Paul; Konopacky, Quinn M.; Larkin, James E.; Marley, Mark S.; Metchev, Stanimir; Nielsen, Eric L.; Oppenheimer, Rebecca; Palmer, David W.; Patience, Jennifer; Poyneer, Lisa A.; Pueyo, Laurent; Rajan, Abhijith; Rantakyrö, Fredrik T.; Schneider, Adam C.; Sivaramakrishnan, Anand; Song, Inseok; Soummer, Remi; Thomas, Sandrine; Wallace, J. Kent; Ward-Duong, Kimberly; Wiktorowicz, Sloane J.

2018-01-01

The Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey (GPIES) is a multiyear direct imaging survey of 600 stars to discover and characterize young Jovian exoplanets and their environments. We have developed an automated data architecture to process and index all data related to the survey uniformly. An automated and flexible data processing framework, which we term the Data Cruncher, combines multiple data reduction pipelines (DRPs) together to process all spectroscopic, polarimetric, and calibration data taken with GPIES. With no human intervention, fully reduced and calibrated data products are available less than an hour after the data are taken to expedite follow up on potential objects of interest. The Data Cruncher can run on a supercomputer to reprocess all GPIES data in a single day as improvements are made to our DRPs. A backend MySQL database indexes all files, which are synced to the cloud, and a front-end web server allows for easy browsing of all files associated with GPIES. To help observers, quicklook displays show reduced data as they are processed in real time, and chatbots on Slack post observing information as well as reduced data products. Together, the GPIES automated data processing architecture reduces our workload, provides real-time data reduction, optimizes our observing strategy, and maintains a homogeneously reduced dataset to study planet occurrence and instrument performance.

Decision maker perceptions of resource allocation processes in Canadian health care organizations: a national survey

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Resource allocation is a key challenge for healthcare decision makers. While several case studies of organizational practice exist, there have been few large-scale cross-organization comparisons. Methods Between January and April 2011, we conducted an on-line survey of senior decision makers within regional health authorities (and closely equivalent organizations) across all Canadian provinces and territories. We received returns from 92 individual managers, from 60 out of 89 organizations in total. The survey inquired about structures, process features, and behaviours related to organization-wide resource allocation decisions. We focus here on three main aspects: type of process, perceived fairness, and overall rating. Results About one-half of respondents indicated that their organization used a formal process for resource allocation, while the others reported that political or historical factors were predominant. Seventy percent (70%) of respondents self-reported that their resource allocation process was fair and just over one-half assessed their process as ‘good’ or ‘very good’. This paper explores these findings in greater detail and assesses them in context of the larger literature. Conclusion Data from this large-scale cross-jurisdictional survey helps to illustrate common challenges and areas of positive performance among Canada’s health system leadership teams. PMID:23819598

Assessing Daily Stress Processes in Social Surveys by Combining Stressor Exposure and Salivary Cortisol

PubMed Central

Almeida, David M.; McGonagle, Katherine; King, Heather

2010-01-01

This paper presents a research method for assessing stress and mental health in ongoing population-based social surveys that combines self-reports of naturally occurring daily stressors with a primary marker of stress physiology, salivary cortisol. We first discuss the relevance of stress processes to mental health and introduce a model for examining daily stress processes, which highlights multiple components of daily stressor exposure. A primary aim of this approach is to capture variability across stressful situations, between persons of different groups, or within persons over a period of time. Next, we describe how the assessment of diurnal salivary cortisol is a promising approach to examining naturally occurring stress physiology in large social surveys. We then present findings from the National Study of Daily Experiences (a substudy of the Midlife in the United States Study) that document the feasibility and reliability of the collection of daily stressors and salivary diurnal cortisol and provide examples of research findings linking stressor exposure to diurnal cortisol. The final portion of the paper describes ways that this approach can leverage the strengths of various features of longitudinal social surveys to extend research on stress and mental health. PMID:20183906

Mineral surveys by the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines of Bureau of Land Management Wilderness Study Areas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Beikman, Helen M.; Hinkle, Margaret E.; Frieders, Twila; Marcus, Susan M.; Edward, James R.

1983-01-01

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 instructed the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to review all public lands under its jurisdiction and to determine their suitability or nonsuitability for wilderness designation. As part of this process, the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines conduct mineral surveys of areas for which a preliminary determination of wilderness suitability has been made. The BLM has completed its wilderness inventory phase and has found that 23.2 million acres deserve further study for wilderness consideration. These 23.2 million acres of wilderness study areas include 1 million acres of natural and primitive areas (Instant Study Areas), 5.7 million acres in the California Desert Conservation Area, and 16.5 million acres in other wilderness study areas. Mineral surveys on all areas recommended for wilderness will be completed by 1990.

Study of Former Students of the Word Processing Program. Volume XXIII, No. 5.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lucas, John A.; Zilkowski, Robert R.

As part of the program evaluation and review process at William Rainey Harper College (WRHC) in Illinois, a follow-up study was conducted of students who had enrolled in the college's Word Processing Program between summer 1989 and spring 1994. A survey was mailed to 500 former students, receiving a response rate of 37.6%. Study findings included…

42 CFR 422.157 - Accreditation organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... requirements or survey process. If the organization implements the changes before or without CMS approval, CMS... requirements and processes when— (i) CMS imposes new requirements or changes its survey process; (ii) An accreditation organization proposes to adopt new standards or changes in its survey process; or (iii) The term...

42 CFR 422.157 - Accreditation organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... requirements or survey process. If the organization implements the changes before or without CMS approval, CMS... requirements and processes when— (i) CMS imposes new requirements or changes its survey process; (ii) An accreditation organization proposes to adopt new standards or changes in its survey process; or (iii) The term...

42 CFR 422.157 - Accreditation organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... requirements or survey process. If the organization implements the changes before or without CMS approval, CMS... requirements and processes when— (i) CMS imposes new requirements or changes its survey process; (ii) An accreditation organization proposes to adopt new standards or changes in its survey process; or (iii) The term...

Survey of the State-of-the-Art and Likely Future Trends of University Management in Europe: Austria-Germany-the Netherlands.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bender, Ignaz; Henning, Wolfgang

The management of universities in Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands was studied as part of a 1979 survey of the present and future trends of university management in Europe. The survey addressed the organization of the university and its administration, the structure and process of decision-making, and the opinions of students, teachers, and…

Can schools reduce bullying? The relationship between school characteristics and the prevalence of bullying behaviours.

PubMed

Muijs, Daniel

2017-06-01

Bullying remains a persistent phenomenon in schools, but the extent to which day-to-day policies and practices relate to bullying prevalence has not been widely studied. In this study, we use an educational effectiveness framework to interrogate this relationship. The aim was to study the relationship between school factors and prevalence of bullying in primary schools. We hypothesize that school conditions (e.g., size), school policies (e.g., behaviour policies), and school processes (e.g., teaching quality) are related to bullying prevalence. Surveys were administered to pupils in 35 primary schools in four local authorities in England. Pupils (N = 1,411) and teachers (N = 68) in the final year of primary school (year 6) were surveyed. This study drew on the following data sources: A pupil survey on bullying behaviours A survey of teachers on school policies and processes Analysis of data on school processes from school inspection reports Analysis of secondary data on school conditions and pupil characteristics. Three-level multilevel models were used to analyse the data. Results show a substantial school- and classroom-level effect on prevalence of bullying. Effective school policies were found to be related to levels of bullying. The study provides support for the importance of schools' embedded policies and practices in relation to bullying prevalence and provides evidence for policy on the importance of focusing on a broad range of outcomes. © 2017 The British Psychological Society.

Values, the Key to a Community.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burkholder, Suzanne; And Others

1981-01-01

The Echo method, the Rokeach Value Survey, and the Survey on Teaching of Morals, Values, and Ethics were utilized in a recent study to identify community values. The process of values assessment serves to restore a sense of shared values to the school community. (Author/WD)

Impact of nowcasting on the production and processing of agricultural crops. [in the US

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dancer, W. S.; Tibbitts, T. W.

1973-01-01

The value was studied of improved weather information and weather forecasting to farmers, growers, and agricultural processing industries in the United States. The study was undertaken to identify the production and processing operations that could be improved with accurate and timely information on changing weather patterns. Estimates were then made of the potential savings that could be realized with accurate information about the prevailing weather and short term forecasts for up to 12 hours. This weather information has been termed nowcasting. The growing, marketing, and processing operations of the twenty most valuable crops in the United States were studied to determine those operations that are sensitive to short-term weather forecasting. Agricultural extension specialists, research scientists, growers, and representatives of processing industries were consulted and interviewed. The value of the crops included in this survey and their production levels are given. The total value for crops surveyed exceeds 24 billion dollars and represents more than 92 percent of total U.S. crop value.

Walk-through survey report: Control technology for integrated circuit fabrication, Xerox Corporation, El Segundo, California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mihlan, G. J.; Ungers, L. J.; Smith, R. K.; Mitchell, R. I.; Jones, J. H.

1983-05-01

A preliminary control technology assessment survey was conducted at the facility which manufactures N-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) integrated circuits. The facility has industrial hygiene review procedures for evaluating all new and existing process equipment. Employees are trained in safety, use of personal protective equipment, and emergency response. Workers potentially exposed to arsenic are monitored for urinary arsenic levels. The facility should be considered a candidate for detailed study based on the diversity of process operations encountered and the use of state-of-the-art technology and process equipment.

School Process and Teacher Job Satisfaction at Alternative Schools: A Multilevel Study Using SASS 2007-08 Data

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xia, Jiangang; Izumi, Masashi; Gao, Xingyuan

2015-01-01

This study examined the associations between public alternative schools' teacher job satisfaction and school processes. Based on a multilevel analysis of the national School and Staffing Survey 2007-08 data, we found that among the seven school processes, public alternative schools' administrative support, staff collegiality, career and working…

Market Assessment of Brooke Army Medical Center - A Strategy for Today and the Future

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-08-01

Marketing Research .......... . . ............ 38 Delphi Study ......... .................... 39 Survey Process ......... ................... 41 Survey...Study Strategic marketing is a balanced mix of marketing information and marketing research which is tailored to the objectives of an insti- tution...marketing information and (b) recommendations which resulted from the marketing research conducted of the beneficiary population (see nos. 13 and 14 above

Influence of Gender in Choosing a Career amongst Engineering Fields: A Survey Study from Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bucak, Seyda; Kadirgan, Neset

2011-01-01

The aim of this study is to understand the motivating factors behind students' choices in their decision-making process and also get an insight on their perception of different engineering branches. A survey was prepared and the results were evaluated amongst 1163 answers. Two major influences on student's decision in their professional choices…

76 FR 19976 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of EDA Grant Process Improvement

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-11

...; Comment Request; Survey of EDA Grant Process Improvement AGENCY: Economic Development Administration.... In 2010, EDA made improvements in its grant application process. The proposed short survey of five to... improvements to the grant application process and to make any necessary adjustments. EDA would like to conduct...

Improving Informed Consent with Minority Participants: Results from Researcher and Community Surveys

PubMed Central

Quinn, Sandra Crouse; Garza, Mary A.; Butler, James; Fryer, Craig S.; Casper, Erica T.; Thomas, Stephen B.; Barnard, David; Kim, Kevin H.

2013-01-01

Strengthening the informed consent process is one avenue for improving recruitment of minorities into research. This study examines that process from two different perspectives, that of researchers and that of African American and Latino community members. Through the use of two separate surveys, we compared strategies used by researchers with the preferences and attitudes of community members during the informed consent process. Our data suggest that researchers can improve the informed consent process by incorporating methods preferred by the community members along with methods shown in the literature for increasing comprehension. With this approach, the informed consent process may increase both participants’ comprehension of the material and overall satisfaction, fostering greater trust in research and openness to future research opportunities. PMID:23324203

A Study on Basic Process Skills of Turkish Primary School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aydogdu, Bulent

2017-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out primary school students' basic process skills (BPSs) in terms of select variables. In addition, this study aims to investigate the relationship between BPSs and academic achievement. Research Methods: The study had a survey design and was conducted with 1272 primary school students. The study data…

ESUPPO: Next Generation

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-12-01

sessions were correlated quantitatively by the web-based survey , identifying the need to update eSUPPO with specific icons such as Innovation...focus groups and surveys , assesses how well the mobile app meets the needs of the Supply Corps community. The analysis begins by understanding the...the app. After a complete analysis of eSUPPO’s current “As-Is” processes, the study takes the information gathered from both the survey and focus

Fact-finding survey of actual garbage discharged from dormitory and its biological anaerobic-aerobic treatment.

PubMed

Imai, T; Ukita, M; Sekine, M; Fukagawa, M; Nakanishi, H

2000-01-01

The objective of this study is to find a possibility of complete treatment of garbage and resource recovery (production of methane from available utility of carbon resource in garbage) by biological treatment process. As the first step, a fact-finding survey of actual garbage discharged from the dormitory of the Ube National College of Technology (equivalent to 300 population) was carried out. Second, the combined biological anaerobic-aerobic treatment, i.e. combination of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process and aerobic membrane bioreactor (AMB) process, was applied to the garbage treatment. The applicability and efficiency of this system were investigated in this study. The survey results showed that the composition and quantity of garbage from a student dormitory changed slightly during a week due to the change of the menu, however, they remained almost unchanged during the entire experimental period. The experimental results showed high biodegradability of the garbage, and demonstrated its suitability for methane production. The soluble nitrogen removal was high: over 97%. No excess sludge was wasted from the system. A high treatment efficiency of simultaneous organic carbon and nitrogen was obtained. The possibility of complete treatment of garbage with this process has been positively demonstrated by this study.

PERSPECTIVES ON MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM PROCESSES AMONG HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES: PROCESSES THAT FACILITATE TEAM EFFECTIVENESS.

PubMed

Landry, Amy; Erwin, Cathleen

2015-01-01

Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are used in healthcare organizations to address both clinical and managerial functions. Despite their prevalence, little is known about how team processes work to facilitate effectiveness among MDT leadership teams. This study explores perceptions of MDT participation experienced by organizational leaders in healthcare organizations in the United States. A survey of American College of Healthcare Executives members was conducted to assess involvement and perceptions of MDTs among health care management professionals. Descriptive statistics, independent T-Tests and Chi-square analyses were used to examine participation in MDTs, perception of MDT processes, and the association of participation and perceived processes with employee and organizational characteristics. The survey yielded a sample comprised of 492 healthcare executive or executive-track employees. An overwhelming majority indicated participation in MDTs. The study identified team processes that could use improvement including communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution. The study provides evidence that can help guide the development of training programs that focus on providing managerial leaders with strategies aimed at improving communication, coordination, and conflict resolution that will improve the effectiveness of MDT functioning in healthcare organizations.

The Perception and Costs of the Interview Process for Plastic Surgery Residency Programs: Can the Process Be Streamlined?

PubMed

Susarla, Srinivas M; Swanson, Edward W; Slezak, Sheri; Lifchez, Scott D; Redett, Richard J

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to assess applicant perceptions and costs associated with the interview process for plastic surgery residency positions. This was a cross-sectional survey of applicants to the integrated- and independent-track residencies at the authors' institution. All applicants who were interviewed were invited to complete a Web-based survey on costs and perceptions of various components of the interview process. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed to compare applicants to the two program tracks. Fifty-three applicants were interviewed for residency positions; 48 completed a survey (90.5 percent response rate). Thirty-four applicants were candidates for the integrated program; 16 applicants were candidates for the independent program. The program spent $2763 per applicant interviewed; 63 percent of applicants spent more than $5000 on the interview process. More than 70 percent of applicants missed more than 7 days of work to attend interviews. Independent applicants felt less strongly that interviews were critical to the selection process and placed less value on physically visiting the hospital and direct, in-person interaction. Applicants placed little value on program informational talks. Applicants who had experience with virtual interviews felt more positively about the format of a video interview relative to those who did not. The residency interview process is resource intensive for programs and applicants. Removing informational talks may improve the process. Making physical tours and in-person interviews optional are other alternatives that merit future study.

VEGAS-SSS: A VST Programme to Study the Satellite Stellar Systems around Bright Early-type Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cantiello, M.; Capaccioli, M.; Napolitano, N.; Grado, A.; Limatola, L.; Paolillo, M.; Iodice, E.; Romanowsky, A. J.; Forbes, D. A.; Raimondo, G.; Spavone, M.; La Barbera, F.; Puzia, T. H.; Schipani, P.

2015-03-01

The VEGAS-SSS programme is devoted to studying the properties of small stellar systems (SSSs) in and around bright galaxies, built on the VLT Survey Telescope early-type galaxy survey (VEGAS), an ongoing guaranteed time imaging survey distributed over many semesters (Principal Investigator: Capaccioli). On completion, the VEGAS survey will have collected detailed photometric information of ~ 100 bright early-type galaxies to study the properties of diffuse light (surface brightness, colours, surface brightness fluctuations, etc.) and the distribution of clustered light (compact ''small'' stellar systems) out to previously unreached projected galactocentric radii. VEGAS-SSS will define an accurate and homogeneous dataset that will have an important legacy value for studies of the evolution and transformation processes taking place in galaxies through the fossil information provided by SSSs.

The automated data processing architecture for the GPI Exoplanet Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jason J.; Perrin, Marshall D.; Savransky, Dmitry; Arriaga, Pauline; Chilcote, Jeffrey K.; De Rosa, Robert J.; Millar-Blanchaer, Maxwell A.; Marois, Christian; Rameau, Julien; Wolff, Schuyler G.; Shapiro, Jacob; Ruffio, Jean-Baptiste; Graham, James R.; Macintosh, Bruce

2017-09-01

The Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey (GPIES) is a multi-year direct imaging survey of 600 stars to discover and characterize young Jovian exoplanets and their environments. We have developed an automated data architecture to process and index all data related to the survey uniformly. An automated and flexible data processing framework, which we term the GPIES Data Cruncher, combines multiple data reduction pipelines together to intelligently process all spectroscopic, polarimetric, and calibration data taken with GPIES. With no human intervention, fully reduced and calibrated data products are available less than an hour after the data are taken to expedite follow-up on potential objects of interest. The Data Cruncher can run on a supercomputer to reprocess all GPIES data in a single day as improvements are made to our data reduction pipelines. A backend MySQL database indexes all files, which are synced to the cloud, and a front-end web server allows for easy browsing of all files associated with GPIES. To help observers, quicklook displays show reduced data as they are processed in real-time, and chatbots on Slack post observing information as well as reduced data products. Together, the GPIES automated data processing architecture reduces our workload, provides real-time data reduction, optimizes our observing strategy, and maintains a homogeneously reduced dataset to study planet occurrence and instrument performance.

Household availability of ultra-processed foods and obesity in nineteen European countries.

PubMed

Monteiro, Carlos Augusto; Moubarac, Jean-Claude; Levy, Renata Bertazzi; Canella, Daniela Silva; Louzada, Maria Laura da Costa; Cannon, Geoffrey

2018-01-01

To assess household availability of NOVA food groups in nineteen European countries and to analyse the association between availability of ultra-processed foods and prevalence of obesity. Ecological, cross-sectional study. Europe. Estimates of ultra-processed foods calculated from national household budget surveys conducted between 1991 and 2008. Estimates of obesity prevalence obtained from national surveys undertaken near the budget survey time. Across the nineteen countries, median average household availability amounted to 33·9 % of total purchased dietary energy for unprocessed or minimally processed foods, 20·3 % for processed culinary ingredients, 19·6 % for processed foods and 26·4 % for ultra-processed foods. The average household availability of ultra-processed foods ranged from 10·2 % in Portugal and 13·4 % in Italy to 46·2 % in Germany and 50·4 % in the UK. A significant positive association was found between national household availability of ultra-processed foods and national prevalence of obesity among adults. After adjustment for national income, prevalence of physical inactivity, prevalence of smoking, measured or self-reported prevalence of obesity, and time lag between estimates on household food availability and obesity, each percentage point increase in the household availability of ultra-processed foods resulted in an increase of 0·25 percentage points in obesity prevalence. The study contributes to a growing literature showing that the consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with an increased risk of diet-related non-communicable diseases. Its findings reinforce the need for public policies and actions that promote consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed foods and make ultra-processed foods less available and affordable.

Quality Assessment of College Admissions Processes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fisher, Caroline; Weymann, Elizabeth; Todd, Amy

2000-01-01

This study evaluated the admissions process for a Master's in Business Administration Program using such quality improvement techniques as customer surveys, benchmarking, and gap analysis. Analysis revealed that student dissatisfaction with the admissions process may be a factor influencing declining enrollment. Cycle time and number of student…

What is the Process Approvals for Survey Research in the Department of Defense (DoD)

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-04-26

MDW/SGVU SUBJECT: Professional Presentation Approval 11APR 2017 1. Your paper, entitled What is the Process? Approvals for Survey Research in the...approval.) NA 6. TITLE OF MATERIAL TO BE PUBLISHED OR PRESENTED: What is the Process? Approvals for Survey Research in the Department of Defense (DoD...PREVIOUS EDITIONS ARE OBSOLETE 50. DATE I Page 3 of 3 Pages W_hat is the process? Approval of Survey Research in the Department of Defense (DoD

Improving Students' Study Habits by Demonstrating the Mnemonic Benefits of Semantic Processing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bugg, Julie M.; DeLosh, Edward L.; McDaniel, Mark A.

2008-01-01

This article describes an in-class exercise that illustrates the advantage of semantic over nonsemantic study habits. The exercise includes a survey of students' current study strategies, followed by the presentation of an abbreviated version of Craik and Tulving's(1975) classic levels-of-processing experiment. We observed significant benefits of…

Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) in Poland 2009-2010--study strengths, limitations and lessons learned.

PubMed

Kaleta, Dorota; Usidame, Bukola; Biliński, Przemysław; Raciborski, Filip; Samoliński, Bolesław; Wojtyła, Andrzej; Fronczak, Adam

2012-01-01

A tobacco surveillance system is crucial for improving the planning and implementation of effective tobacco control policies. The purpose of the presented study was to describe a review of the process of implementation and methodological assumption of a Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted in Poland. The study strengths and limitations are evaluated, as well as some recommendations given for further tobacco surveillance activities in Poland. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) was implemented in Poland between 2008-2010. The survey population selection process was based on a three-stage stratified geographically-clustered sample of a non-institutional population aged 15 years and over. Those who lived in institutions were not surveyed. The GATS questionnaire was very detailed and provides a significant amount of data. The filed work was preceded by several training sessions for all survey staff and the pretest. Questionnaires were administered in respondents' homes during the face-to-face interviews. Of the 14,000 households selected for the survey, 8,948 (63.9%) households and 7,840 (93.9%) sampled individuals completed the interviews. The total survey response rate was 65.1%. GATS was an important step towards obtaining representative, current data on the tobacco epidemic in Poland. Basic results of the study are currently available. More in-depth analysis will provide useful data for public health experts and policymakers to assign resources and establish health priorities. Unfortunately, competing targets and lack of awareness on the part of stakeholders still constrains the financial resources available to those undertaking tobacco control research in Poland. The circumscribed capacity to undertake multidisciplinary policy research limits both the quality and quantity of such studies. There is an urgent need to establish a nationally coordinated plan for surveillance of data collection, use, access and dissemination, with defined institutional roles for each of these functions and the funds dedicated to the research.

Counselor Wellness and Impairment: A National Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lawson, Gerard

2007-01-01

Counselor wellness has a direct impact on the quality of services clients receive, but little is known about the overall wellness of counselors. This study begins the process of better understanding counselor wellness by examining responses to a national survey that assessed both counselor wellness and impairment variables. (Contains 2 tables.)

The Agile Approach with Doctoral Dissertation Supervision

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tengberg, Lars Göran Wallgren

2015-01-01

Several research findings conclude that many doctoral students fail to complete their studies within the allowable time frame, in part because of problems related to the research and supervision process. Surveys show that most doctoral students are generally satisfied with their dissertation supervision. However, these surveys also reveal some…

[Methodological Aspects of the Sampling Design for the 2015 National Mental Health Survey].

PubMed

Rodríguez, Nelcy; Rodríguez, Viviana Alejandra; Ramírez, Eugenia; Cediel, Sandra; Gil, Fabián; Rondón, Martín Alonso

2016-12-01

The WHO has encouraged the development, implementation and evaluation of policies related to mental health all over the world. In Colombia, within this framework and promoted by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, as well as being supported by Colciencias, the fourth National Mental Health Survey (NMHST) was conducted using a observational cross sectional study. According to the context and following the guidelines and sampling design, a summary of the methodology used for this sampling process is presented. The fourth NMHST used the Homes Master Sample for Studies in Health from the National System of Studies and Population Surveys for Health to calculate its sample. This Master Sample was developed and implemented in the year 2013 by the Ministry of Social Protection. This study included non-institutionalised civilian population divided into four age groups: children 7-11 years, adolescent 12-17 years, 18-44 years and 44 years old or older. The sample size calculation was based on the reported prevalences in other studies for the outcomes of mental disorders, depression, suicide, associated morbidity, and alcohol use. A probabilistic, cluster, stratified and multistage selection process was used. Expansions factors to the total population were calculated. A total of 15,351 completed surveys were collected and were distributed according to the age groups: 2727, 7-11 years, 1754, 12-17 years, 5889, 18-44 years, and 4981, ≥45 years. All the surveys were distributed in five regions: Atlantic, Oriental, Bogotá, Central and Pacific. A sufficient number of surveys were collected in this study to obtain a more precise approximation of the mental problems and disorders at the regional and national level. Copyright © 2016 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

Industry and Patient Perspectives on Child Participation in Clinical Trials: The Pediatric Assent Initiative Survey Report.

PubMed

Lombardi, Donald; Squires, Liza; Sjostedt, Philip; Eichler, Irmgard; Turner, Mark A; Thompson, Charles

2018-01-01

Obtaining assent from children participating in clinical trials acknowledges autonomy and developmental ability to contribute to the consent process. This critical step in pediatric drug development remains poorly understood, with significant room for improving the clarity, efficiency, and implementation of the assent process. Beyond ethical necessity of informing children about their treatment, the assent process provides the advantages of including children in discussions about their diagnosis and treatment-allowing greater understanding of interventions included in the study. A formalized assent process acknowledges the child as a volunteer and provides a forum for questions and feedback. Legal, cultural, and social differences have historically prevented the development of clear, concise, and accessible materials to ensure children understand the clinical trial design. Published guidelines on obtaining pediatric assent are vague, with many decisions left to local institutional review boards and ethics committees, underscoring the need for collaboratively designed standards. To address this need, 2 surveys were conducted to quantify perspectives on assent in pediatric clinical trials. Two digital surveys were circulated in the United States and internationally (October 2014 to January 2015). The first survey targeted children, parents, and/or caregivers. The second polled clinical trial professionals on their organizations' experience and policies regarding pediatric assent. Forty-five respondents completed the child and parent/caregiver survey; 57 respondents completed the industry survey. Respondents from both surveys detailed experiences with clinical trials and the impediments to securing assent, offering potential solutions to attaining assent in pediatric patients. An important opportunity exists for standardized practices and tools to ensure pediatric patients make well-informed decisions regarding their participation in clinical trials, using materials appropriate to their level of understanding. These tools would establish a baseline standard for the assent process and be made available to researchers, improving their ability to secure assent from young patients.

Discourse Processes and Products: Land Surveyors in Hong Kong

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheng, Winnie; Mok, Esmond

2008-01-01

The study reported in this paper aims to provide a description of professional communication pertaining to land surveying project management in Hong Kong, achieved through a comprehensive analysis of both workplace discourse processes and products. The study, situated in Hong Kong, represents a collaborative effort between English and Land…

Development and Implementation of a Telecommuting Evaluation Framework, and Modeling the Executive Telecommuting Adoption Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vora, V. P.; Mahmassani, H. S.

2002-02-01

This work proposes and implements a comprehensive evaluation framework to document the telecommuter, organizational, and societal impacts of telecommuting through telecommuting programs. Evaluation processes and materials within the outlined framework are also proposed and implemented. As the first component of the evaluation process, the executive survey is administered within a public sector agency. The survey data is examined through exploratory analysis and is compared to a previous survey of private sector executives. The ordinal probit, dynamic probit, and dynamic generalized ordinal probit (DGOP) models of telecommuting adoption are calibrated to identify factors which significantly influence executive adoption preferences and to test the robustness of such factors. The public sector DGOP model of executive willingness to support telecommuting under different program scenarios is compared with an equivalent private sector DGOP model. Through the telecommuting program, a case study of telecommuting travel impacts is performed to further substantiate research.

Bathymetric comparisons adjacent to the Louisiana barrier islands: Processes of large-scale change

USGS Publications Warehouse

List, J.H.; Jaffe, B.E.; Sallenger, A.H.; Hansen, M.E.

1997-01-01

This paper summarizes the results of a comparative bathymetric study encompassing 150 km of the Louisiana barrier-island coast. Bathymetric data surrounding the islands and extending to 12 m water depth were processed from three survey periods: the 1880s, the 1930s, and the 1980s. Digital comparisons between surveys show large-scale, coherent patterns of sea-floor erosion and accretion related to the rapid erosion and disintegration of the islands. Analysis of the sea-floor data reveals two primary processes driving this change: massive longshore transport, in the littoral zone and at shoreface depths; and increased sediment storage in ebb-tidal deltas. Relative sea-level rise, although extraordinarily high in the study area, is shown to be an indirect factor in causing the area's rapid shoreline retreat rates.

Histologic processing and reporting of cutaneous pigmented lesions: recommendations based on a survey of 94 dermatopathologists.

PubMed

Kolman, Olga; Hoang, Mai P; Piris, Adriano; Mihm, Martin C; Duncan, Lyn M

2010-10-01

Standard operating procedures for laboratory processing and reporting of margins of cutaneous pigmented lesions do not exist. We conducted a survey of 94 dermatopathologists to evaluate these practices. We sought to: (1) identify dominant practices among dermatopathologists; (2) determine the impact of the procedure, intent to excise, and histologic diagnosis on the process of margin evaluation; and (3) propose guidelines based on these findings. The survey consisted of 44 questions focused on the impact of procedure (punch, shave, or ellipse), intent (excision or biopsy), and histologic diagnosis (common nevus, congenital nevus, atypical nevus, melanoma) on processing and margin reporting. For ellipses, or specimens indicated as excisions, the majority practice (76%-98%) was to ink the specimens. Although more than 90% of observers report the margins on all melanomas and atypical nevi, fewer than 50% of respondents report margins on all nonatypical nevi. The study consists of a survey sample of dermatopathologists and does not represent the practices of those who did not respond to the survey. Based on the results of this survey we have arrived at the following recommendations: (1) ink all specimens that are ellipses or designated as excisions; (2) tips should be evaluated separately if the specimen is an ellipse; (3) obtain levels in cases with tumor in the tip but not at ink if the specimen is an ellipse or excision and the diagnosis is atypical nevus or melanoma; and (4) report margins on all atypical nevi and melanomas. Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

The QUIRO Study (assurance of quality and innovation in radiooncology): methodology, instruments and practices.

PubMed

Dunst, J; Willich, N; Sack, H; Engenhart-Cabillic, R; Budach, V; Popp, W

2014-02-01

The QUIRO study aimed to establish a secure level of quality and innovation in radiation oncology. Over 6 years, 27 specific surveys were conducted at 24 radiooncological departments. In all, 36 renowned experts from the field of radiation oncology (mostly head physicians and full professors) supported the realization of the study. A salient feature of the chosen methodological approach is the "process" as a means of systematizing diversified medical-technical procedures according to standardized criteria. On the one hand, "processes" as a tool of translation are adapted for creating and transforming standards into concrete clinical and medical actions; on the other hand, they provide the basis for standardized instruments and methods to determine the required needs of physicians, staff, and equipment. In the foreground of the collection and measurement of resource requirements were the processes of direct service provision which were subdivided into modules for reasons of clarity and comprehensibility. Overhead tasks (i.e., participation in quality management) were excluded from the main study and examined in a separate survey with appropriate methods. After the exploration of guidelines, tumor- or indication-specific examination and treatment processes were developed in expert workshops. Moreover, those specific modules were defined which characterize these entities and indications in a special degree. Afterwards, these modules were compiled according to their time and resources required in the "reference institution", i.e., in specialized and as competent recognized departments (mostly from the university area), by various suitable survey methods. The significance of the QUIRO study and the validity of the results were optimized in a process of constant improvements and comprehensive checks. As a consequence, the QUIRO study yields representative results concerning the resource requirement for specialized, qualitatively and technologically highly sophisticated radiooncologic treatment in Germany.

Resident choice and the survey process: the need for standardized observation and transparency.

PubMed

Schnelle, John F; Bertrand, Rosanna; Hurd, Donna; White, Alan; Squires, David; Feuerberg, Marvin; Hickey, Kelly; Simmons, Sandra F

2009-08-01

To describe a standardized observation protocol to determine if nursing home (NH) staff offer choice to residents during 3 morning activities of daily living (ADL) and compare the observational data with deficiency statements cited by state survey staff. Morning ADL care was observed in 20 NHs in 5 states by research staff using a standardized observation protocol. The number of observations in which choice was not offered was documented for 3 morning ADL care activities and compared with deficiency statements made by surveyors. Staff failed to offer choice during morning ADL care delivery for at least 1 of 3 ADL care activities in all 20 NHs. Observational data showed residents were not offered choice about when to get out of bed (11%), what to wear (25%), and breakfast dining location (39%). In comparison, survey staff issued only 2 deficiencies in all 20 NHs relevant to choice in the targeted ADL care activities, and neither deficiency was based on observational data. Survey interpretative guidelines instruct surveyors to observe if residents are offered choice during daily care provision, but standardized observation protocols are not provided to surveyors to make this determination. The use of a standardized observation protocol in the survey process similar to that used by research staff in this study would improve the accuracy and transparency of the survey process.

18 CFR 708.5 - Program objectives implementation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... opinion, methods, shall include but not be limited to survey research. (1) The survey research process... significant actions prior to decision-making. Survey research methods and other procedures will be used to... participation elicited from each of the process phases—public meetings, public hearings, survey research, direct...

18 CFR 708.5 - Program objectives implementation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... opinion, methods, shall include but not be limited to survey research. (1) The survey research process... significant actions prior to decision-making. Survey research methods and other procedures will be used to... participation elicited from each of the process phases—public meetings, public hearings, survey research, direct...

18 CFR 708.5 - Program objectives implementation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... opinion, methods, shall include but not be limited to survey research. (1) The survey research process... significant actions prior to decision-making. Survey research methods and other procedures will be used to... participation elicited from each of the process phases—public meetings, public hearings, survey research, direct...

18 CFR 708.5 - Program objectives implementation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... opinion, methods, shall include but not be limited to survey research. (1) The survey research process... significant actions prior to decision-making. Survey research methods and other procedures will be used to... participation elicited from each of the process phases—public meetings, public hearings, survey research, direct...

18 CFR 708.5 - Program objectives implementation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... opinion, methods, shall include but not be limited to survey research. (1) The survey research process... significant actions prior to decision-making. Survey research methods and other procedures will be used to... participation elicited from each of the process phases—public meetings, public hearings, survey research, direct...

Usability Evaluation of an Unstructured Clinical Document Query Tool for Researchers.

PubMed

Hultman, Gretchen; McEwan, Reed; Pakhomov, Serguei; Lindemann, Elizabeth; Skube, Steven; Melton, Genevieve B

2018-01-01

Natural Language Processing - Patient Information Extraction for Researchers (NLP-PIER) was developed for clinical researchers for self-service Natural Language Processing (NLP) queries with clinical notes. This study was to conduct a user-centered analysis with clinical researchers to gain insight into NLP-PIER's usability and to gain an understanding of the needs of clinical researchers when using an application for searching clinical notes. Clinical researcher participants (n=11) completed tasks using the system's two existing search interfaces and completed a set of surveys and an exit interview. Quantitative data including time on task, task completion rate, and survey responses were collected. Interviews were analyzed qualitatively. Survey scores, time on task and task completion proportions varied widely. Qualitative analysis indicated that participants found the system to be useful and usable in specific projects. This study identified several usability challenges and our findings will guide the improvement of NLP-PIER 's interfaces.

VEGAS-SSS: A VST Early-Type GAlaxy Survey: Analysis of Small Stellar System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cantiello, M.

VEGAS-SSS is a program devoted to study the properties of small stellar systems (SSSs) around bright galaxies, built on the VEGAS survey. At completion, the survey will have collected detailed photometric information of ˜ 100 bright early-type galaxies to study the properties of diffuse light (surface brightness, colours, SBF, etc.) and the clustered light (compact stellar systems) out to previously unreached projected galactocentric radii. VEGAS-SSS will define an accurate and homogeneous dataset that will have an important legacy value for studies of the evolution and transformation processes taking place in galaxies through the fossil information provided by SSSs.

Monitoring of health care personnel employee and occupational health immunization program practices in the United States.

PubMed

Carrico, Ruth M; Sorrells, Nikka; Westhusing, Kelly; Wiemken, Timothy

2014-01-01

Recent studies have identified concerns with various elements of health care personnel immunization programs, including the handling and management of the vaccine. The purpose of this study was to assess monitoring processes that support evaluation of the care of vaccines in health care settings. An 11-question survey instrument was developed for use in scripted telephone surveys. State health departments in all 50 states in the United States and the District of Columbia were the target audience for the surveys. Data from a total of 47 states were obtained and analyzed. No states reported an existing monitoring process for evaluation of health care personnel immunization programs in their states. Our assessment indicates that vaccine evaluation processes for health care facilities are rare to nonexistent in the United States. Identifying existing practice gaps and resultant opportunities for improvements may be an important safety initiative that protects patients and health care personnel. Copyright © 2014 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Social Workers' Orientation Toward the Evidence-Based Practice Process: A Dutch Survey.

PubMed

van der Zwet, Renske J M; Kolmer, Deirdre M Beneken Genaamd; Schalk, René

2016-10-01

This study assesses social workers' orientation toward the evidence-based practice (EBP) process and explores which specific variables (e.g. age) are associated. Data were collected from 341 Dutch social workers through an online survey which included a Dutch translation of the EBP Process Assessment Scale (EBPPAS), along with 13 background/demographic questions. The overall level of orientation toward the EBP process is relatively low. Although respondents are slightly familiar with it and have slightly positive attitudes about it, their intentions to engage in it and their actual engagement are relatively low. Respondents who followed a course on the EBP process as a student are more oriented toward it than those who did not. Social workers under 29 are more familiar with the EBP process than those over 29. We recommend educators to take a more active role in teaching the EBP process to students and social workers.

Comparison of Science Process Skills with STEM Career Interests of Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zorlu, Fulya; Zorlu, Yusuf

2017-01-01

This study was aimed to examine the relation between the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) career interests and science process skills of middle school seventh grade students. Method of this study was the relational survey method. The study was conducted on the basis of voluntariness and participants were 133 seventh grade…

Education in the Workplace: Bridging the Gap.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Karen L.

A study surveyed owners of 20 small businesses in North County, San Diego, to determine evidence of teaching and learning. A 13-question survey instrument gathered information regarding whether training and/or education for employees was available, what education was offered, how it fit into the evaluation process, and how business owners saw…

A Nationwide Survey of Disability Support Personnel Regarding Transition, Documentation, and Services for Postsecondary Students with Invisible Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wadlington, Charles

2012-01-01

The purpose of this exploratory study was to analyze the perceptions (through survey data) of Disability Support Services (DSS) personnel regarding the transition process, documentation requirements to receive services, and services for students with invisible disabilities (Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD], Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder…

A Comparison between Quantity Surveying and Information Technology Students on Web Application in Learning Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keng, Tan Chin; Ching, Yeoh Kah

2015-01-01

The use of web applications has become a trend in many disciplines including education. In view of the influence of web application in education, this study examines web application technologies that could enhance undergraduates' learning experiences, with focus on Quantity Surveying (QS) and Information Technology (IT) undergraduates. The…

Rehabilitation Professionals' Participation Intensity and Expectations of Transition Roles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oertle, Kathleen Marie

2009-01-01

In this mixed-methods study, an on-line survey and interviews were utilized to gather data regarding the level of participation and expectations rehabilitation professionals have of teachers, youth with disabilities, parents, and themselves during the transition process. The survey response rate was 73.0% (N = 46). Six were selected for interviews…

Theoretical survey on positronium formation and ionisation in positron atom scattering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Basu, Madhumita; Ghosh, A. S.

1990-01-01

The recent theoretical studies are surveyed and reported on the formation of exotic atoms in positron-hydrogen, positron-helium and positron-lithium scattering specially at intermediate energy region. The ionizations of these targets by positron impact was also considered. Theoretical predictions for both the processes are compared with existing measured values.

Customized-Language Voice Survey on Mobile Devices for Text and Image Data Collection Among Ethnic Groups in Thailand: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

PubMed

Jandee, Kasemsak; Lawpoolsri, Saranath; Taechaboonsermsak, Pimsurang; Khamsiriwatchara, Amnat; Wansatid, Peerawat; Kaewkungwal, Jaranit

2014-03-06

Public health surveys are often conducted using paper-based questionnaires. However, many problems are associated with this method, especially when collecting data among ethnic groups who speak a different language from the survey interviewer. The process can be time-consuming and there is the risk of missing important data due to incomplete surveys. This study was conducted as a proof-of-concept to develop a new electronic tool for data collection, and compare it with standard paper-based questionnaire surveys using the research setting of assessing Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) toward the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) among 6 ethnic groups in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. The two data collection methods were compared on data quality in terms of data completeness and time consumed in collecting the information. In addition, the initiative assessed the participants' satisfaction toward the use of a smartphone customized-language voice-based questionnaire in terms of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Following a cross-over design, all study participants were interviewed using two data collection methods after a one-week washout period. Questions in the paper-based questionnaires in Thai language were translated to each ethnic language by the interviewer/translator when interviewing the study participant. The customized-language voice-based questionnaires were programmed to a smartphone tablet in six, selectable dialect languages and used by the trained interviewer when approaching participants. The study revealed positive data quality outcomes when using the smartphone, voice-based questionnaire survey compared with the paper-based questionnaire survey, both in terms of data completeness and time consumed in data collection process. Since the smartphone questionnaire survey was programmed to ask questions in sequence, no data was missing and there were no entry errors. Participants had positive attitudes toward answering the smartphone questionnaire; 69% (48/70) reported they understood the questions easily, 71% (50/70) found it convenient, and 66% (46/70) reported a reduced time in data collection. The smartphone data collection method was acceptable by both the interviewers and by the study participants of different ethnicities. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that the application of specific features of mobile devices like smartphone tablets (including dropdown choices, capturing pictures, and voiced questions) can be successfully used for data collection. The mobile device can be effectively used for capturing photos of secondary data and collecting primary data with customized-language and voiced questionnaire survey. Using smartphone questionnaires can minimize or eliminate missing data and reduce the time consumed during the data collection process. Smartphone customized-language, voice-based questionnaires for data collection can be an alternative and better approach than standard translated paper-based questionnaires for public health surveys, especially when collecting data among ethnic and hard-to-reach groups residing in multilanguage-speaking settings.

Advising Medical Students for the Match: A National Survey of Pediatrics Clerkship Directors.

PubMed

Ryan, Michael S; Levine, Leonard J; Colbert-Getz, Jorie M; Spector, Nancy D; Fromme, H Barrett

2015-01-01

To describe the role and perspectives of pediatrics clerkship directors (CDs) who provide advice to students who apply to Pediatrics residency training programs. We developed a survey based on previous studies and data from the 2012 National Residency Matching Program- Program Director (NRMP-PD) survey. Topics included CDs roles and confidence in advising, perspectives on applicants' competitiveness, and resources used to inform advising practice. This survey was disseminated as part of the 2013 Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics annual survey. CDs from 63 (45%) Liaison Committee for Medical Education-accredited medical schools in the United States responded. All CDs had some advising role, and most (68%) served in a formal advising capacity. Most (58%) also participated in the intern selection process at their institution. Those with formal advising roles were not significantly more confident in their advising than those without formal roles. CDs relied heavily on subjective resources and most did not use the NRMP-PD survey data. Despite this, the perspectives of CDs were similar to those of program directors based on the most recent NRMP-PD survey. Pediatrics CDs uniformly serve in advising capacities and have perspectives that compare favorably with those of program directors. Despite this concordance, the high reliance on subjective resources and the frequency in which CDs participate in intern selection raises concern. The results of this study have several implications for key stakeholders in the residency selection process. Copyright © 2015 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Behaviors in Advance Care Planning and ACtions Survey (BACPACS): development and validation part 1.

PubMed

Kassam, Aliya; Douglas, Maureen L; Simon, Jessica; Cunningham, Shannon; Fassbender, Konrad; Shaw, Marta; Davison, Sara N

2017-11-22

Although advance care planning (ACP) is fairly well understood, significant barriers to patient participation remain. As a result, tools to assess patient behaviour are required. The objective of this study was to improve the measurement of patient engagement in ACP by detecting existing survey design issues and establishing content and response process validity for a new survey entitled Behaviours in Advance Care Planning and ACtions Survey (BACPACS). We based our new tool on that of an existing ACP engagement survey. Initial item reduction was carried out using behavior change theories by content and design experts to help reduce response burden and clarify questions. Thirty-two patients with chronic diseases (cancer, heart failure or renal failure) were recruited for the think aloud cognitive interviewing with the new, shortened survey evaluating patient engagement with ACP. Of these, n = 27 had data eligible for analysis (n = 8 in round 1 and n = 19 in rounds 2 and 3). Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed using the constant comparison method. Three reviewers independently listened to the interviews, summarized findings and discussed discrepancies until consensus was achieved. Item reduction from key content expert review and conversation analysis helped decrease number of items from 116 in the original ACP Engagement Survey to 24-38 in the new BACPACS depending on branching of responses. For the think aloud study, three rounds of interviews were needed until saturation for patient clarity was achieved. The understanding of ACP as a construct, survey response options, instructions and terminology pertaining to patient engagement in ACP warranted further clarification. Conversation analysis, content expert review and think aloud cognitive interviewing were useful in refining the new survey instrument entitled BACPACS. We found evidence for both content and response process validity for this new tool.

Improving Visual Survey Capabilities for Marine Mammal Studies

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-30

presence of air- breathing mammals, and they can be conducted from ships, aircraft, or land . For ship- and land -based surveys, powerful, pedestal-mounted...part of the ONR-and NRL-funded Air- Sea Interactions in the Northern Indian Ocean Regional Initiative (ASIRI) program, a physical oceanographic...research effort to study upper ocean processes and air- sea interactions that regulate the Asian monsoons. We will use the DURIP-funded big-eye

Sensor Acquisition for Water Utilities: Survey, Down Selection Process, and Technology List

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

Alai, M; Glascoe, L; Love, A

2005-06-29

The early detection of the biological and chemical contamination of water distribution systems is a necessary capability for securing the nation's water supply. Current and emerging early-detection technology capabilities and shortcomings need to be identified and assessed to provide government agencies and water utilities with an improved methodology for assessing the value of installing these technologies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has tasked a multi-laboratory team to evaluate current and future needs to protect the nation's water distribution infrastructure by supporting an objective evaluation of current and new technologies. The LLNL deliverable from this Operational Technology Demonstration (OTD) wasmore » to assist the development of a technology acquisition process for a water distribution early warning system. The technology survey includes a review of previous sensor surveys and current test programs and a compiled database of relevant technologies. In the survey paper we discuss previous efforts by governmental agencies, research organizations, and private companies. We provide a survey of previous sensor studies with regard to the use of Early Warning Systems (EWS) that includes earlier surveys, testing programs, and response studies. The list of sensor technologies was ultimately developed to assist in the recommendation of candidate technologies for laboratory and field testing. A set of recommendations for future sensor selection efforts has been appended to this document, as has a down selection example for a hypothetical water utility.« less

78 FR 53149 - Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Continued Approval of American Osteopathic Association/Healthcare...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-28

...) survey review and decision-making process for accreditation. The comparison of AOA/HFAP's accreditation... September 25, 2013. II. Application Approval Process Section 1865(a)(3)(A) of the Act provides a statutory... survey process to: ++ Determine the composition of the survey team, surveyor qualifications, and AOA/HFAP...

A Cost Benefit Analysis of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Implementation at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Dudley Knox Library

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-12-01

anecdotal. Even a study of California libraries conducted by Engel, which aimed primarily at providing guidance to future users by surveying the...only. This study has both quantitative and qualitative analyses. A Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) was conducted using data gathered from research which...included personal interviews, site visits, and a survey questionnaire. Time and motion studies of selected library processes were conducted at DKL

The importance of standardized observations to evaluate nutritional care quality in the survey process.

PubMed

Schnelle, John F; Bertrand, Rosanna; Hurd, Donna; White, Alan; Squires, David; Feuerberg, Marvin; Hickey, Kelly; Simmons, Sandra F

2009-10-01

Guidelines written for government surveyors who assess nursing home (NH) compliance with federal standards contain instructions to observe the quality of mealtime assistance. However, these instructions are vague and no protocol is provided for surveyors to record observational data. This study compared government survey staff observations of mealtime assistance quality to observations by research staff using a standardized protocol that met basic standards for accurate behavioral measurement. Survey staff used either the observation instructions in the standard survey process or those written for the revised Quality Improvement Survey (QIS). Trained research staff observed mealtime care in 20 NHs in 5 states during the same time period that survey staff evaluated care in the same facilities, although it could not be determined if survey and research staff observed the same residents during the same meals. Ten NHs were evaluated by government surveyors using the QIS survey instructions and 10 NHs were evaluated by surveyors using the standard survey instructions. Research staff observations using a standardized observation protocol identified a higher proportion of residents receiving inadequate feeding assistance during meals relative to survey staff using either the standard or QIS survey instructions. For example, more than 50% of the residents who ate less than half of their meals based on research staff observation were not offered an alternative to the served meal, and the lack of alternatives, or meal substitutions, was common in all 20 NHs. In comparison, the QIS survey teams documented only 2 instances when meal substitutes were not offered in 10 NHs and the standard survey teams documented no instances in 10 NHs. Standardized mealtime observations by research staff revealed feeding assistance care quality issues in all 20 study NHs. Surveyors following the instructions in either the standard or revised QIS surveys did not detect most of these care quality issues. Survey staff instructions for observation of nutritional care are not clearly written; thus, these instructions do not permit accurate behavioral measurement. These instructions should be revised in consideration of basic principles that guide accurate behavioral measurement and shared with NH providers to enable them to effectively implement quality improvement programs.

Field Survey - A Journey of Exploration and Discovery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jadhav, Kiran

2017-04-01

You can teach a student a lesson a day but if you teach him to learn by creating curiosity ,he will continue the learning process for life.This abstract is a manifestation of my innate desire as an educator to build students cognitive level of thinking and refine their processes to gain knowledge from the environment ,process it and put it to optimum use. This field survey has been planned and conducted for students of 12th grade (+16yrs). At this level students are introduced to various aspects of Human geography and how human intervention has harnessed environmental resources for its growth and development. They are also encouraged to observe how humans have adapted to the environment and in this process also modified it to satisfy their needs and demands. Students are also sensitized to the understand how geography has evolved as a scientific subject of enquiry. Hence it calls for a deeper understanding and analysis of issues from the local to the global level. Through the pedagogical approach of field survey, they have been oriented to the process of conducting Research -as a well-defined procedure. It involves three phases 1. Planning and preliminary preparation before the survey, 2. During the field survey 3. After the survey compilation, computation and presentation. This activity has been planned over a period of 3 months and as of now the topic and area of case study have been selected. The general concern was studying low rainfall and agriculturally less productive regions hence a case study of a drought prone village- Hiware Bazaar in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra was undertaken. The site Hiware Bazar has been selected as it is based on the principles of sustainable development and water shed development programme to combat severe drought. The statement of the problem has been defined along with the outlined objectives ,scope of study and the time frame needed to gather the information. The field visit spanned over 5 days for data collection has been conducted .The choice of using a questionnaire as a tool for acquisition of data has been implemented for this research followed by conducting interviews with several families in the village. The process of tabulating information using a spreadsheet is in progress. The appropriate graphical methods for data representation will be chosen. The major part of their report will then be devoted to the interpretation,analysis of information gathered,computation along with supportive facts like statistical diagrams ,graphs, maps, pictures, photographs , newspaper clippings and drawing inferences and references. The rough draft will be presented for scrutiny followed by submission of the final written report. It was an experiential learning journey for the students and a much recommended methodology at this level.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hydrographic survey data used in a U.S. Geological Survey regional geologic framework study along the Delmarva Peninsula

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pendleton, Elizabeth A.; Brothers, Laura L.; Thieler, E. Robert; Danforth, William W.; Parker, Castle E.

2014-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey obtained raw Reson multibeam data files from Science Applications International Corporation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for 20 hydrographic surveys and extracted backscatter data using the Fledermaus Geocoder Toolbox from Quality Positioning Service. The backscatter mosaics produced by the U.S. Geological Survey for the inner continental shelf of the Delmarva Peninsula using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data increased regional geophysical surveying efficiency, collaboration among government agencies, and the area over which geologic data can be interpreted by the U.S. Geological Survey. This report describes the methods by which the backscatter data were extracted and processed and includes backscatter mosaics and interpolated bathymetric surfaces.

Making sense of sexual orientation measures: findings from a cognitive processing study with adolescents on health survey questions.

PubMed

Austin, S Bryn; Conron, Kerith; Patel, Aarti; Freedner, Naomi

2007-01-01

To carry out a study using cognitive processing interview methods to explore ways in which adolescents understand sexual orientation questions currently used on epidemiologic surveys. In-depth, individual interviews were conducted to probe cognitive processes involved in answering four self-report survey questions assessing sexual identity, sexual attraction, and sex of sexual partners.A semi-structured interview guide was used to explore variation in question interpretation, information retrieval patterns and problems, item clarity, valence of reactions to items (positive, negative, neutral), respondent burden, and perceived threat associated with the measures. Thirty adolescents aged 15 to 21 of diverse sexual orientations and race/ethnicities participated in the study, including female, male, and transgender youth. A question on sexual attraction was the most consistently understood and thus was easy for nearly all youth to answer. In contrast, a measure of sexual identity with options heterosexual, bisexual, gay/lesbian, and unsure was the most difficult to answer. Most preferred a sexual identity item that also provided the intermediate options mostly heterosexual and mostly homosexual, which many said reflected their experience of feeling between categories. Participants had varying and inconsistent interpretations of sexual behavior terms, such as sex and sexual intercourse, used in assessing the sex of sexual partners. Differences in understanding could affect interpretation of survey data in important ways. Development of valid measures of sexual orientation will be essential to better monitor health disparities.

Shifting the focus to practice quality improvement in radiation oncology.

PubMed

Crozier, Cheryl; Erickson-Wittmann, Beth; Movsas, Benjamin; Owen, Jean; Khalid, Najma; Wilson, J Frank

2011-09-01

To demonstrate how the American College of Radiology, Quality Research in Radiation Oncology (QRRO) process survey database can serve as an evidence base for assessing quality of care in radiation oncology. QRRO has drawn a stratified random sample of radiation oncology facilities in the USA and invited those facilities to participate in a Process Survey. Information from a prior QRRO Facilities Survey has been used along with data collected under the current National Process Survey to calculate national averages and make statistically valid inferences for national process measures for selected cancers in which radiation therapy plays a major role. These measures affect outcomes important to patients and providers and measure quality of care. QRRO's survey data provides national benchmark data for numerous quality indicators. The Process Survey is "fully qualified" as a Practice Quality Improvement project by the American Board of Radiology under its Maintenance of Certification requirements for radiation oncology and radiation physics. © 2011 National Association for Healthcare Quality.

The impact of national accreditation reform on survey reliability: a 2-year investigation of survey coordinators' perspectives.

PubMed

Greenfield, David; Hogden, Anne; Hinchcliff, Reece; Mumford, Virginia; Pawsey, Marjorie; Debono, Deborah; Westbrook, Johanna I; Braithwaite, Jeffrey

2016-10-01

Accrediting health care organizations against standards is a recognized safety and quality intervention. The credibility of an accreditation programme relies on surveying reliability. We investigated accreditation survey coordinators' perceptions of reliability issues and their continued relevancy, during a period of national accreditation reform. In 2013 and 2014, questionnaire surveys were developed using survey coordinators' feedback of their experiences and concerns regarding the accreditation process. Each year, a purpose-designed questionnaire survey was administered during the accrediting agency survey coordinator training days. Participants reported that survey reliability was informed by five categories of issues: the management of the accreditation process, including standards and health care organizational issues; surveyor workforce management; survey coordinator role; survey team; and individual surveyors. A new accreditation system and programme did not alter the factors reported to shape survey reliability. However, across the reform period, there was a noted change within each category of the specific issues that were of concern. Furthermore, consensus between coordinators that existed in 2013 appears to have diminished in 2014. Across all categories, in 2014 there was greater diversity of opinion than in 2013. The known challenges to the reliability of an accreditation programme retained their potency and relevancy during a period of reform. The diversity of opinion identified across the coordinator workforce could potentially place the credibility and reliability of the new scheme at risk. The study highlights that reliability of an accreditation scheme is an ongoing achievement, not a one-off attainment. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Sense of Classroom Community and Team Development Process in Online Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Erdem Aydin, Irem; Gumus, Salih

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a relationship between Turkish online learners' sense of classroom community, perceptions of success in team development process and their preferences of studying in teams. A survey instrument included the Sense of Classroom Community Scale, Tuckman's Teamwork Questionnaire and some other…

Gender Matters: Exploring the Process of Developing Resilience through Outdoor Adventure

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Overholt, Jillisa R.; Ewert, Alan

2015-01-01

This two-phase study investigates the process of developing resilience through participation in outdoor adventure programming. In this study, resilience is conceptualized as experiencing growth through a disruptive event. In the first phase, a pre-post survey measure was used to assess resilience in university students who were enrolled in a…

Results of our national survey. Current formulary decision-making strategies and new factors influencing the process.

PubMed

1995-08-01

Formulary recently conducted a survey of 2,000 of its readers to uncover what forces are at play in their formulary decision-making processes. Topics included general philosophies toward formulary decision making, philosophies toward adding and deleting products, influences on the process, trends related to product reviews, formulary management strategies, drug information educational strategies, and new approaches to the formulary decision-making process. Some 295 surveys (14.75%) were returned. Highlights and analyses of the survey findings are presented for your review and comparison with your practice setting's approaches.

Determinants of job stress in chemical process industry: A factor analysis approach.

PubMed

Menon, Balagopal G; Praveensal, C J; Madhu, G

2015-01-01

Job stress is one of the active research domains in industrial safety research. The job stress can result in accidents and health related issues in workers in chemical process industries. Hence it is important to measure the level of job stress in workers so as to mitigate the same to avoid the worker's safety related problems in the industries. The objective of this study is to determine the job stress factors in the chemical process industry in Kerala state, India. This study also aims to propose a comprehensive model and an instrument framework for measuring job stress levels in the chemical process industries in Kerala, India. The data is collected through a questionnaire survey conducted in chemical process industries in Kerala. The collected data out of 1197 surveys is subjected to principal component and confirmatory factor analysis to develop the job stress factor structure. The factor analysis revealed 8 factors that influence the job stress in process industries. It is also found that the job stress in employees is most influenced by role ambiguity and the least by work environment. The study has developed an instrument framework towards measuring job stress utilizing exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling.

Current practice and perspectives in CRO oversight based on a survey performed among members of the German Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa)

PubMed Central

Hennig, Michael; Hundt, Ferdinand; Busta, Susanne; Mikus, Stefan; Sanden, Per-Holger; Sörgel, Andrea; Ruppert, Thorsten

2017-01-01

In recent years, the number and scope of outsourced activities in the pharmaceutical industry have increased heavily. In addition, also the type of outsourcing has changed significantly in that time. This raises the question of whether and how sponsors retain the capability to select and to control the contract research organizations (CROs) involved and what expertise still has to be present in the development department as well as other relevant departments to ensure adequate oversight, also in line with the expectations of regulators and health authorities. In order to answer these questions, a survey was conducted among the German vfa member companies. The survey describes the latest developments and experiences in outsourcing by 18 German vfa member companies. It concentrates on measures how to implement Quality Assurance (QA) when performing outsourced clinical studies. This study shows that the majority of companies apply a full-outsourcing, preferred-provider model of clinical trial services, with the clinical research department playing the major role in this process. A large amount of guiding documents, processes and tools are used to ensure an adequate oversight of the services performed by the CRO(s). Finally the guiding principles for all oversight processes should be transparent communication, a clearly established expectation for quality, a precise definition of accountability and responsibility while avoiding silo mentality, and a comprehensive documentation of the oversight’s evidence. For globally acting and outsourcing sponsors, oversight processes need to be aligned with regards to local and global perspectives. This survey shows that the current implementation of oversight processes in the participating companies covers all relevant areas to ensure highest quality and integrity of the data produced by the outsourced clinical trial. PMID:28163667

Current practice and perspectives in CRO oversight based on a survey performed among members of the German Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa).

PubMed

Hennig, Michael; Hundt, Ferdinand; Busta, Susanne; Mikus, Stefan; Sanden, Per-Holger; Sörgel, Andrea; Ruppert, Thorsten

2017-01-01

In recent years, the number and scope of outsourced activities in the pharmaceutical industry have increased heavily. In addition, also the type of outsourcing has changed significantly in that time. This raises the question of whether and how sponsors retain the capability to select and to control the contract research organizations (CROs) involved and what expertise still has to be present in the development department as well as other relevant departments to ensure adequate oversight, also in line with the expectations of regulators and health authorities. In order to answer these questions, a survey was conducted among the German vfa member companies. The survey describes the latest developments and experiences in outsourcing by 18 German vfa member companies. It concentrates on measures how to implement Quality Assurance (QA) when performing outsourced clinical studies. This study shows that the majority of companies apply a full-outsourcing, preferred-provider model of clinical trial services, with the clinical research department playing the major role in this process. A large amount of guiding documents, processes and tools are used to ensure an adequate oversight of the services performed by the CRO(s). Finally the guiding principles for all oversight processes should be transparent communication, a clearly established expectation for quality, a precise definition of accountability and responsibility while avoiding silo mentality, and a comprehensive documentation of the oversight's evidence. For globally acting and outsourcing sponsors, oversight processes need to be aligned with regards to local and global perspectives. This survey shows that the current implementation of oversight processes in the participating companies covers all relevant areas to ensure highest quality and integrity of the data produced by the outsourced clinical trial.

78 FR 57001 - Proposed Collection of Information; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-16

.... Customer Modality Administrative Survey, VA Form 10-0151. b. VA Form Letter 10-491 & HEC Online Survey, 10... processes. The goal of the Customer Modality Survey is to implement a survey process that allows the organization to be proactive in caring for Veterans prior to them receiving services. DATES: Written comments...

Ophthalmology resident selection: current trends in selection criteria and improving the process.

PubMed

Nallasamy, Sudha; Uhler, Tara; Nallasamy, Nambi; Tapino, Paul J; Volpe, Nicholas J

2010-05-01

To document and assess current ophthalmology resident selection practices as well as to initiate discussion on how best to improve the process. Online survey comprising 56 questions. Program directors, chairpersons, or members of the resident selection committee representing 65 United States ophthalmology residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education. Study participants completed an online, anonymous survey consisting primarily of multiple choice questions, with single or multiple answers. Ophthalmology resident selection practices were evaluated and included: screening of applications, interview processes, selection factors, and formation of rank lists; recommendations given to applicants; and respondent satisfaction with the current selection process. As a group, survey respondents deemed the following factors most important in resident selection: interview performance (95.4%), clinical course grades (93.9%), letters of recommendation (83.1%), and board scores (80%). Statistical analyses deemed that the best predictors of resident performance are interviews, clinical course grades, recommendation letters, and ophthalmology rotation performance. Ophthalmology resident selection is a relatively subjective process, continuing to rely heavily on cognitive factors. Because these factors are not always indicative of ultimate resident quality, it would be helpful if ophthalmology training programs improved selection practices to discern who most likely will become a successful resident and future ophthalmologist. Long-term studies correlating applicant attributes with residency and postresidency success are needed to recommend guidelines for a more standardized selection process. Copyright 2010 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Emotional exhaustion and medication administration work-arounds: the moderating role of nurse satisfaction with medication administration.

PubMed

Halbesleben, Jonathon R B; Rathert, Cheryl; Williams, Eric S

2013-01-01

Burnout is very common and has significant negative outcomes for both nurses and patients. However, this literature has only recently begun to address the processes that explain why health care provider burnout leads to negative patient outcomes. This article extends that literature by examining how satisfaction with work processes impacts the link between nurse burnout and work-arounds. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between emotional exhaustion and potentially unsafe work practices (work-arounds) in the context of nursing administration of medication. The data were collected using online survey software and pencil-and-paper surveys returned directly to the researchers. The study was conducted among nurses in 2 acute care hospitals in the Midwestern United States. For one of the samples, data on work-arounds were provided by the nurses' supervisors. For the other sample, data were collected at a 6-month interval. The survey included measures of emotional exhaustion (the Maslach Burnout Inventory), work-arounds, and nurse satisfaction with medication administration processes. We found that exhaustion was associated with greater use of work-arounds of medication administration processes. We also found that when nurses were more satisfied with the medication administration process, exhausted nurses were less likely to engage in work-arounds. The findings suggest that although exhaustion in nurses can lead to potentially unsafe practices, satisfaction with the work process can either exacerbate or reduce the problem.

Data processing workflows from low-cost digital survey to various applications: three case studies of Chinese historic architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Z.; Cao, Y. K.

2015-08-01

The paper focuses on the versatility of data processing workflows ranging from BIM-based survey to structural analysis and reverse modeling. In China nowadays, a large number of historic architecture are in need of restoration, reinforcement and renovation. But the architects are not prepared for the conversion from the booming AEC industry to architectural preservation. As surveyors working with architects in such projects, we have to develop efficient low-cost digital survey workflow robust to various types of architecture, and to process the captured data for architects. Although laser scanning yields high accuracy in architectural heritage documentation and the workflow is quite straightforward, the cost and portability hinder it from being used in projects where budget and efficiency are of prime concern. We integrate Structure from Motion techniques with UAV and total station in data acquisition. The captured data is processed for various purposes illustrated with three case studies: the first one is as-built BIM for a historic building based on registered point clouds according to Ground Control Points; The second one concerns structural analysis for a damaged bridge using Finite Element Analysis software; The last one relates to parametric automated feature extraction from captured point clouds for reverse modeling and fabrication.

New Mission Concept Study: Energetic X-Ray Imaging Survey Telescope (EXIST)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1998-01-01

This Report summarizes the activity carried out under the New Mission Concept (NMC) study for a mission to conduct a sensitive all-sky imaging survey in the hard x-ray (HX) band (approximately 10-600 keV). The Energetic X-ray Imaging Survey Telescope (EXIST) mission was originally proposed for this NMC study and was then subsequently proposed for a MIDEX mission as part of this study effort. Development of the EXIST (and related) concepts continues for a future flight proposal. The hard x-ray band (approximately 10-600 keV) is nearly the final band of the astronomical spectrum still without a sensitive imaging all-sky survey. This is despite the enormous potential of this band to address a wide range of fundamental and timely objectives - from the origin and physical mechanisms of cosmological gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) to the processes on strongly magnetic neutron stars that produce soft gamma-repeaters and bursting pulsars; from the study of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and quasars to the origin and evolution of the hard x-ray diffuse background; from the nature and number of black holes and neutron stars and the accretion processes onto them to the extreme non-thermal flares of normal stars; and from searches for expected diffuse (but relatively compact) nuclear line (Ti-44) emission in uncatalogued supernova remnants to diffuse non-thermal inverse Compton emission from galaxy clusters. A high sensitivity all-sky survey mission in the hard x-ray band, with imaging to both address source confusion and time-variable background radiations, is very much needed.

Determination of Nutrient Intakes by a Modified Visual Estimation Method and Computerized Nutritional Analysis for Dietary Assessments

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-09-01

a useful average for population studies, do not delay data processing , and is relatively Inexpensive. Using MVEN and observing recipe preparation...for population studies, do not delay data processing , and is relatively inexpensive. Using HVEM and observing recipe preparation procedures improve the...extensive review of the procedures and problems in design, collection, analysis, processing and interpretation of dietary survey data for individuals

Benchmarking can add up for healthcare accounting.

PubMed

Czarnecki, M T

1994-09-01

In 1993, a healthcare accounting and finance benchmarking survey of hospital and nonhospital organizations gathered statistics about key common performance areas. A low response did not allow for statistically significant findings, but the survey identified performance measures that can be used in healthcare financial management settings. This article explains the benchmarking process and examines some of the 1993 study's findings.

Lonely Days and Lonely Nights: Completing the Doctoral Dissertation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Germeroth, Darla

A study examined areas of the doctoral dissertation process that are often problematic for the Ph.D./Ed.D. candidate in the field of communication. Subjects, 250 randomly selected Speech Communication Association members holding a Ph.D. or an Ed.D. were surveyed. Of the 250 surveys mailed, 137 were returned, representing a 54.8% return rate.…

Los Angeles County Office Survey, Research Study Number 80-9.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rudnitsky, Andrea

A survey of area employers was conducted by Los Angeles City College in Fall 1979 to determine: (1) the skill requirements for entry-level secretarial and clerical workers, (2) the salaries earned by these employees, (3) the word processing equipment commonly used by employers, (4) future employment trends in secretarial/clerical fields, and (5)…

Improving Library Service Quality to Graduate Students: LibQual+[TM] Survey Results in a Practical Setting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jankowska, Maria Anna; Hertel, Karen; Young, Nancy J.

2006-01-01

The LibQUAL+[TM] survey was conducted to determine user satisfaction and expectations concerning library service quality. The results of the "22 items and a box" constituted a rich source of information for the University of Idaho (UI) Library's strategic planning process. Focusing on graduate students, this study used three…

Measuring Social Relations in New Classroom Spaces: Development and Validation of the Social Context and Learning Environments (SCALE) Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walker, J. D.; Baepler, Paul

2017-01-01

This study addresses the need for reliable and valid information concerning how innovative classrooms on college and university campuses affect teaching and learning. The Social Context and Learning Environments (SCALE) survey was developed though a three-stage process involving approximately 1300 college students. Exploratory and confirmatory…

National Household Education Survey of 1993. School Safety and Discipline Data File User's Manual.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brick, J. Michael; And Others

This manual provides documentation and guidance for users of the public release data file for the School Safety and Discipline component of the 1993 National Household Education Survey (NHES:93). Information about the purpose of the study, the data collection instruments, the sample design, and data collection and processing is presented. The…

Constructing and Validating the Foreign Language Attitudes and Goals Survey (FLAGS)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cid, Eva; Granena, Gisela; Tragant, Elsa

2009-01-01

The present study describes the process that was followed in the construction and validation of the foreign language attitudes and goals survey (FLAGS), a new questionnaire based on qualitative data from Tragant and Munoz [Tragant, Munoz, C., 2000. "La motivacion y su relacion con la edad en un contexto escolar de aprendizaje de una lengua…

Teachers' Perceptions of National Board Certification as Professional Development and Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tingle, Scot M.

2014-01-01

The purpose of the study was to investigate and describe the perceptions of recently NBPTS certified teachers in Maryland of the NBPTS certification process as both a professional development activity and as an evaluation instrument to identify teaching excellence. This descriptive survey used an online survey to collect data from 125 teachers for…

77 FR 2567 - Proposed Collection of Information for the Job Corps Process Study; New Collection

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-18

... students and (2) a Web-based survey of all Job Corps center directors. The centers for visits will be... 16 Students 64 Center Director Survey 375 TOTAL 927 Comments submitted in response to this comment... program designed to assist eligible disadvantaged youth aged 16 to 24 through intensive education and...

Skills Matter: Further Results from the Survey of Adult Skills. OECD Skills Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kankaraš, Miloš; Montt, Guillermo; Paccagnella, Marco; Quintini, Glenda; Thorn, William

2016-01-01

In the wake of the technological revolution that began in the last decades of the 20th century, labour market demand for information-processing and other high-level cognitive and interpersonal skills is growing substantially. The "Survey of Adult Skills," a product of the OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult…

Quality Matters[TM] Accessibility Survey: Institutional Practices and Policies for Online Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frey, Barbara A.; King, Denise K.

2011-01-01

Quality Matters (QM) is a professional organization that offers a faculty-centered, peer review process to certify the quality of online and blended courses. The purpose of this white paper is to share the results of a Quality Matters accessibility benchmarking study administered to 84 subscriber institutions. The primary goal of the survey was to…

The American Teacher, 1984-1995, Metropolitan Life Survey. Old Problems, New Challenges.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris (Louis) and Associates, Inc., New York, NY.

During the past decade there have been considerable efforts to reform the American public school system. This survey, based on 15-minute telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,011 public school teachers in the United States, duplicates the sampling and interviewing process used in a similar study in 1984 and 1985. In…

Development and Validation of the Primary Care Team Dynamics Survey

PubMed Central

Song, Hummy; Chien, Alyna T; Fisher, Josephine; Martin, Julia; Peters, Antoinette S; Hacker, Karen; Rosenthal, Meredith B; Singer, Sara J

2015-01-01

Objective To develop and validate a survey instrument designed to measure team dynamics in primary care. Data Sources/Study Setting We studied 1,080 physician and nonphysician health care professionals working at 18 primary care practices participating in a learning collaborative aimed at improving team-based care. Study Design We developed a conceptual model and administered a cross-sectional survey addressing team dynamics, and we assessed reliability and discriminant validity of survey factors and the overall survey's goodness-of-fit using structural equation modeling. Data Collection We administered the survey between September 2012 and March 2013. Principal Findings Overall response rate was 68 percent (732 respondents). Results support a seven-factor model of team dynamics, suggesting that conditions for team effectiveness, shared understanding, and three supportive processes are associated with acting and feeling like a team and, in turn, perceived team effectiveness. This model demonstrated adequate fit (goodness-of-fit index: 0.91), scale reliability (Cronbach's alphas: 0.71–0.91), and discriminant validity (average factor correlations: 0.49). Conclusions It is possible to measure primary care team dynamics reliably using a 29-item survey. This survey may be used in ambulatory settings to study teamwork and explore the effect of efforts to improve team-based care. Future studies should demonstrate the importance of team dynamics for markers of team effectiveness (e.g., work satisfaction, care quality, clinical outcomes). PMID:25423886

A study of methods to predict and measure the transmission of sound through the walls of light aircraft. A survey of techniques for visualization of noise fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marshall, S. E.; Bernhard, R.

1984-01-01

A survey of the most widely used methods for visualizing acoustic phenomena is presented. Emphasis is placed on acoustic processes in the audible frequencies. Many visual problems are analyzed on computer graphic systems. A brief description of the current technology in computer graphics is included. The visualization technique survey will serve as basis for recommending an optimum scheme for displaying acoustic fields on computer graphic systems.

Airborne electromagnetic and magnetic geophysical survey data of the Yukon Flats and Fort Wainwright areas, central Alaska, June 2010

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ball, Lyndsay B.; Smith, Bruce D.; Minsley, Burke J.; Abraham, Jared D.; Voss, Clifford I.; Astley, Beth N.; Deszcz-Pan, Maria; Cannia, James C.

2011-01-01

In June 2010, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted airborne electromagnetic and magnetic surveys of the Yukon Flats and Fort Wainwright study areas in central Alaska. These data were collected to estimate the three-dimensional distribution of permafrost at the time of the survey. These data were also collected to evaluate the effectiveness of these geophysical methods at mapping permafrost geometry and to better define the physical properties of the subsurface in discontinuous permafrost areas. This report releases digital data associated with these surveys. Inverted resistivity depth sections are also provided in this data release, and data processing and inversion methods are discussed.

Airborne geophysical surveys conducted in western Nebraska, 2010: contractor reports and data

USGS Publications Warehouse

,

2014-01-01

This report contains three contractor reports and data files for an airborne electromagnetic survey flown from June 28 to July 7, 2010. The first report; “SkyTEM Survey: Nebraska, USA, Data” describes data aquisition and processing from a time-domain electromagnetic and magnetic survey performed by SkyTEM Canada, Inc. (the North American SkyTEM subsidiary), in western Nebraska, USA. Digital data for this report are given in Appendix 1. The airborne geophysical data from the SkyTEM survey subsequently were processed and inverted by Aarhus Geophysics ApS, Aarhus, Denmark, to produce resistivity depth sections along each flight line. The result of that processing is described in two reports presented in Appendix 2, “Processing and inversion of SkyTEM data from USGS Area UTM–13” and “Processing and inversion of SkyTEM data from USGS Area UTM–14.” Funding for these surveys was provided by the North Platte Natural Resources District, the South Platte Natural Resources District, and the Twin Platte Natural Resources District, in Scottsbluff, Sidney, and North Platte, Nebraska, respectively. Any additional information concerning the geophysical data may be obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey Crustal Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center, Denver Colorado.

Survey Instrument Validity Part I: Principles of Survey Instrument Development and Validation in Athletic Training Education Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burton, Laura J.; Mazerolle, Stephanie M.

2011-01-01

Context: Instrument validation is an important facet of survey research methods and athletic trainers must be aware of the important underlying principles. Objective: To discuss the process of survey development and validation, specifically the process of construct validation. Background: Athletic training researchers frequently employ the use of…

Modeling the process leading to abortion: an application to French survey data.

PubMed

Rossier, Clémentine; Michelot, François; Bajos, Nathalie

2007-09-01

In this study, we model women's recourse to induced abortion as resulting from a process that starts with sexual intercourse and contraceptive use (or nonuse), continues with the occurrence of an unintended pregnancy, and ends with the woman's decision to terminate the pregnancy and her access to abortion services. Our model includes two often-neglected proximate determinants of abortion: sexual practices and access to abortion services. We relate three sociodemographic characteristics--women's educational level, their relationship status, and their age--step by step to the stages of the abortion process. We apply our framework using data from the COCON survey, a national survey on reproductive health conducted in France in 2000. Our model shows that sociodemographic variables may have opposite impacts as the abortion process unfolds. For example, women's educational level can be positively linked to the probability of practicing contraception but negatively linked to the propensity to carry the unintended pregnancy to term. This conceptual framework brings together knowledge that is currently dispersed in the literature and helps to identify the source of abortion-rate differentials.

Topographic lidar survey of the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, February 6, 2012

USGS Publications Warehouse

Guy, Kristy K.; Plant, Nathaniel G.; Bonisteel-Cormier, Jamie M.

2014-01-01

This Data Series Report contains lidar elevation data collected February 6, 2012, for Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana. Point cloud data in lidar data exchange format (LAS) and bare earth digital elevation models (DEMs) in ERDAS Imagine raster format (IMG) are available as downloadable files. The point cloud data—data points described in three dimensions—were processed to extract bare earth data; therefore, the point cloud data are organized into the following classes: 1– and 17–unclassified, 2–ground, 9–water, and 10–breakline proximity. Digital Aerial Solutions, LLC, (DAS) was contracted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to collect and process these data. The lidar data were acquired at a horizontal spacing (or nominal pulse spacing) of 0.5 meters (m) or less. The USGS conducted two ground surveys in small areas on the Chandeleur Islands on February 5, 2012. DAS calculated a root mean square error (RMSEz) of 0.034 m by comparing the USGS ground survey point data to triangulated irregular network (TIN) models built from the lidar elevation data. This lidar survey was conducted to document the topography and topographic change of the Chandeleur Islands. The survey supports detailed studies of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama barrier islands that resolve annual and episodic changes in beaches, berms and dunes associated with processes driven by storms, sea-level rise, and even human restoration activities. These lidar data are available to Federal, State and local governments, emergency-response officials, resource managers, and the general public.

[Work process and working conditions in poultry processing plants: report of a survey on occupational health surveillance].

PubMed

Oliveira, Paulo Antonio Barros; Mendes, Jussara Maria Rosa

2014-12-01

This article presents the report of a survey on health surveillance activities performed in poultry processing plants in the south of Brazil. It aims to contribute to an understanding of the work process developed, the growth of the sector, the organization of labor and the confrontation with the economic model of this sector, which has been exposing employees to working conditions that undermine their health. The working conditions identified are considered largely incompatible with health and human dignity. The study supports interinstitutional intervention, especially with the Public Ministry of Labor, criticizes the weak implementation of specific government interventions in health conditions in the industry and introduces the new Regulatory Standard 36 as a positive perspective for the near future.

The impact of the BP Baker report.

PubMed

Rodríguez, Jennifer M; Payne, Stephanie C; Bergman, Mindy E; Beus, Jeremy M

2011-06-01

This study examined the impact of the British Petroleum (BP) Baker Panel Report, reviewing the March 2005 BP-Texas City explosion, on the field of process safety. Three hundred eighty-four subscribers of a process safety listserv responded to a survey two years after the BP Baker Report was published. Results revealed respondents in the field of process safety are familiar with the BP Baker Report, feel it is important to the future safety of chemical processing, and believe that the findings are generalizable to other plants beyond BP-Texas City. Respondents indicated that few organizations have administered the publicly available BP Process Safety Culture Survey. Our results also showed that perceptions of contractors varied depending on whether respondents were part of processing organizations (internal perspective) or government or consulting agencies (external perspective). This research provides some insight into the beliefs of chemical processing personnel regarding the transportability and generalizability of lessons learned from one organization to another. This study has implications for both organizational scientists and engineers in that it reveals perceptions about the primary mechanism used to share lessons learned within one industry about one major catastrophe (i.e., investigation reports). This study provides preliminary information about the perceived impact of a report such as this one. Copyright © 2011 National Safety Council and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The process of development of a prioritization tool for a clinical decision support build within a computerized provider order entry system: Experiences from St Luke's Health System.

PubMed

Wolf, Matthew; Miller, Suzanne; DeJong, Doug; House, John A; Dirks, Carl; Beasley, Brent

2016-09-01

To establish a process for the development of a prioritization tool for a clinical decision support build within a computerized provider order entry system and concurrently to prioritize alerts for Saint Luke's Health System. The process of prioritizing clinical decision support alerts included (a) consensus sessions to establish a prioritization process and identify clinical decision support alerts through a modified Delphi process and (b) a clinical decision support survey to validate the results. All members of our health system's physician quality organization, Saint Luke's Care as well as clinicians, administrators, and pharmacy staff throughout Saint Luke's Health System, were invited to participate in this confidential survey. The consensus sessions yielded a prioritization process through alert contextualization and associated Likert-type scales. Utilizing this process, the clinical decision support survey polled the opinions of 850 clinicians with a 64.7 percent response rate. Three of the top rated alerts were approved for the pre-implementation build at Saint Luke's Health System: Acute Myocardial Infarction Core Measure Sets, Deep Vein Thrombosis Prophylaxis within 4 h, and Criteria for Sepsis. This study establishes a process for developing a prioritization tool for a clinical decision support build within a computerized provider order entry system that may be applicable to similar institutions. © The Author(s) 2015.

Optimising UAV topographic surveys processed with structure-from-motion: Ground control quality, quantity and bundle adjustment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

James, Mike R.; Robson, Stuart; d'Oleire-Oltmanns, Sebastian; Niethammer, Uwe

2016-04-01

Structure-from-motion (SfM) algorithms are greatly facilitating the production of detailed topographic models based on images collected by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, SfM-based software does not generally provide the rigorous photogrammetric analysis required to fully understand survey quality. Consequently, error related to problems in control point data or the distribution of control points can remain undiscovered. Even if these errors are not large in magnitude, they can be systematic, and thus have strong implications for the use of products such as digital elevation models (DEMs) and orthophotos. Here, we develop a Monte Carlo approach to (1) improve the accuracy of products when SfM-based processing is used and (2) reduce the associated field effort by identifying suitable lower density deployments of ground control points. The method highlights over-parameterisation during camera self-calibration and provides enhanced insight into control point performance when rigorous error metrics are not available. Processing was implemented using commonly-used SfM-based software (Agisoft PhotoScan), which we augment with semi-automated and automated GCPs image measurement. We apply the Monte Carlo method to two contrasting case studies - an erosion gully survey (Taurodont, Morocco) carried out with an fixed-wing UAV, and an active landslide survey (Super-Sauze, France), acquired using a manually controlled quadcopter. The results highlight the differences in the control requirements for the two sites, and we explore the implications for future surveys. We illustrate DEM sensitivity to critical processing parameters and show how the use of appropriate parameter values increases DEM repeatability and reduces the spatial variability of error due to processing artefacts.

Collection, Processing and Accuracy of Mobile Terrestrial Lidar Survey Data in the Coastal Environment

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-04-01

ER D C/ CH L TR -1 7- 5 Coastal Field Data Collection Program Collection, Processing, and Accuracy of Mobile Terrestrial Lidar Survey ... Survey Data in the Coastal Environment Nicholas J. Spore and Katherine L. Brodie Field Research Facility U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development...value to a mobile lidar survey may misrepresent some of the spatially variable error throughout the survey , and further work should incorporate full

Collection, Processing, and Accuracy of Mobile Terrestrial Lidar Survey Data in the Coastal Environment

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-04-01

ER D C/ CH L TR -1 7- 5 Coastal Field Data Collection Program Collection, Processing, and Accuracy of Mobile Terrestrial Lidar Survey ... Survey Data in the Coastal Environment Nicholas J. Spore and Katherine L. Brodie Field Research Facility U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development...value to a mobile lidar survey may misrepresent some of the spatially variable error throughout the survey , and further work should incorporate full

Tier 2 Reading Interventions, K-2nd Grade Practices and Processes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allison, Tamara Alice

2016-01-01

Due to variation that exists in providing Tier 2 reading intervention instruction, the purpose of the study was to identify processes and instructional strategies currently being utilized by K-2 teachers of the Gallup, New Mexico elementary schools. 17 teachers from 9 of the 10 elementary schools participated in the study. A survey instrument was…

Pre-Service Science and Primary School Teachers' Identification of Scientific Process Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Birinci Konur, Kader; Yildirim, Nagihan

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of pre-service primary school and science teachers' identification of scientific process skills. The study employed the survey method, and the sample included 95 pre-service science teachers and 95 pre-service primary school teachers from the Faculty of Education at Recep Tayyip…

The Management Skills of Exam Process for Undergraduate Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cetin, Filiz; Cetin, Saban

2017-01-01

This study aims to identify to what degree undergraduate students are able to manage the exam process to be successful in exams. The study group of the research, which utilizes the survey model, consists of 350 students in total, 185 female and 165 male, attending 4 different teaching programs in Faculty of Education, Gazi University. "The…

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

Vinick, Charles; Riccobono, Antonino, MS; Messing, Charles G., Ph.D.

Dehlsen Associates, LLC was awarded a grant by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Golden Field Office for a project titled 'Siting Study Framework and Survey Methodology for Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy Project in Offshore Southeast Florida,' corresponding to DOE Grant Award Number DE-EE0002655 resulting from DOE funding Opportunity Announcement Number DE-FOA-0000069 for Topic Area 2, and it is referred to herein as 'the project.' The purpose of the project was to enhance the certainty of the survey requirements and regulatory review processes for the purpose of reducing the time, efforts, and costs associated with initial siting efforts ofmore » marine and hydrokinetic energy conversion facilities that may be proposed in the Atlantic Ocean offshore Southeast Florida. To secure early input from agencies, protocols were developed for collecting baseline geophysical information and benthic habitat data that can be used by project developers and regulators to make decisions early in the process of determining project location (i.e., the siting process) that avoid or minimize adverse impacts to sensitive marine benthic habitat. It is presumed that such an approach will help facilitate the licensing process for hydrokinetic and other ocean renewable energy projects within the study area and will assist in clarifying the baseline environmental data requirements described in the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (formerly Minerals Management Service) final regulations on offshore renewable energy (30 Code of Federal Regulations 285, published April 29, 2009). Because projects generally seek to avoid or minimize impacts to sensitive marine habitats, it was not the intent of this project to investigate areas that did not appear suitable for the siting of ocean renewable energy projects. Rather, a two-tiered approach was designed with the first step consisting of gaining overall insight about seabed conditions offshore southeastern Florida by conducting a geophysical survey of pre-selected areas with subsequent post-processing and expert data interpretation by geophysicists and experienced marine biologists knowledgeable about the general project area. The second step sought to validate the benthic habitat types interpreted from the geophysical data by conducting benthic video and photographic field surveys of selected habitat types. The goal of this step was to determine the degree of correlation between the habitat types interpreted from the geophysical data and what actually exists on the seafloor based on the benthic video survey logs. This step included spot-checking selected habitat types rather than comprehensive evaluation of the entire area covered by the geophysical survey. It is important to note that non-invasive survey methods were used as part of this study and no devices of any kind were either temporarily or permanently attached to the seabed as part of the work conducted under this project.« less

Improving fault image by determination of optimum seismic survey parameters using ray-based modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saffarzadeh, Sadegh; Javaherian, Abdolrahim; Hasani, Hossein; Talebi, Mohammad Ali

2018-06-01

In complex structures such as faults, salt domes and reefs, specifying the survey parameters is more challenging and critical owing to the complicated wave field behavior involved in such structures. In the petroleum industry, detecting faults has become crucial for reservoir potential where faults can act as traps for hydrocarbon. In this regard, seismic survey modeling is employed to construct a model close to the real structure, and obtain very realistic synthetic seismic data. Seismic modeling software, the velocity model and parameters pre-determined by conventional methods enable a seismic survey designer to run a shot-by-shot virtual survey operation. A reliable velocity model of structures can be constructed by integrating the 2D seismic data, geological reports and the well information. The effects of various survey designs can be investigated by the analysis of illumination maps and flower plots. Also, seismic processing of the synthetic data output can describe the target image using different survey parameters. Therefore, seismic modeling is one of the most economical ways to establish and test the optimum acquisition parameters to obtain the best image when dealing with complex geological structures. The primary objective of this study is to design a proper 3D seismic survey orientation to achieve fault zone structures through ray-tracing seismic modeling. The results prove that a seismic survey designer can enhance the image of fault planes in a seismic section by utilizing the proposed modeling and processing approach.

A pilot study on the feasibility of European harmonized human biomonitoring: Strategies towards a common approach, challenges and opportunities

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

Casteleyn, L., E-mail: Ludwine.Casteleyn@med.kuleuven.be; Dumez, B.; Becker, K.

In 2004 the European Commission and Member States initiated activities towards a harmonized approach for Human Biomonitoring surveys throughout Europe. The main objective was to sustain environmental health policy by building a coherent and sustainable framework and by increasing the comparability of data across countries. A pilot study to test common guidelines for setting up surveys was considered a key step in this process. Through a bottom-up approach that included all stakeholders, a joint study protocol was elaborated. From September 2011 till February 2012, 17 European countries collected data from 1844 mother–child pairs in the frame of DEMOnstration of amore » study to COordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale (DEMOCOPHES). Mercury in hair and urinary cadmium and cotinine were selected as biomarkers of exposure covered by sufficient analytical experience. Phthalate metabolites and Bisphenol A in urine were added to take into account increasing public and political awareness for emerging types of contaminants and to test less advanced markers/markers covered by less analytical experience. Extensive efforts towards chemo-analytical comparability were included. The pilot study showed that common approaches can be found in a context of considerable differences with respect to experience and expertize, socio-cultural background, economic situation and national priorities. It also evidenced that comparable Human Biomonitoring results can be obtained in such context. A European network was built, exchanging information, expertize and experiences, and providing training on all aspects of a survey. A key challenge was finding the right balance between a rigid structure allowing maximal comparability and a flexible approach increasing feasibility and capacity building. Next steps in European harmonization in Human Biomonitoring surveys include the establishment of a joint process for prioritization of substances to cover and biomarkers to develop, linking biomonitoring surveys with health examination surveys and with research, and coping with the diverse implementations of EU regulations and international guidelines with respect to ethics and privacy. - Highlights: • A common European Human Biomonitoring (HBM) survey protocol was developed through a bottom-up approach. • A joint process for prioritization was established to select a limited set of biomarkers, some covered by experience and others for emerging substances. • The protocol was tested in a pilot study, resulting in HBM results comparable on a European scale which sustained environmental health policy. • Ethics and privacy regulations were not an obstacle for transnational harmonization.« less

Energy conservation investment program, FY95 limited energy study area B nitric acid production facilities Holston Army Ammunition Plant Kingsport, Tennessee

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

NONE

1995-12-31

In June 1995, Affiliated Engineers SE, Inc. (AESE) was retained by the Mobile District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform a Limited Energy Study for Holston Army Ammunition Plant, Kingsport, Tennessee. The field survey of existing conditions was completed in July 1995. The results of this field survey were subsequently tabulated and used to generate single line process flow diagrams on Autocad. A subsequent one day field survey was conducted in August 1995. This report summarizes the results obtained from field investigation and the analysis of various alternative Energy Conservation Opportunities (ECO`s).

Quality Measurements in Radiology: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Survey of Radiology Benefit Management Groups.

PubMed

Narayan, Anand; Cinelli, Christina; Carrino, John A; Nagy, Paul; Coresh, Josef; Riese, Victoria G; Durand, Daniel J

2015-11-01

As the US health care system transitions toward value-based reimbursement, there is an increasing need for metrics to quantify health care quality. Within radiology, many quality metrics are in use, and still more have been proposed, but there have been limited attempts to systematically inventory these measures and classify them using a standard framework. The purpose of this study was to develop an exhaustive inventory of public and private sector imaging quality metrics classified according to the classic Donabedian framework (structure, process, and outcome). A systematic review was performed in which eligibility criteria included published articles (from 2000 onward) from multiple databases. Studies were double-read, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. For the radiology benefit management group (RBM) survey, the six known companies nationally were surveyed. Outcome measures were organized on the basis of standard categories (structure, process, and outcome) and reported using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The search strategy yielded 1,816 citations; review yielded 110 reports (29 included for final analysis). Three of six RBMs (50%) responded to the survey; the websites of the other RBMs were searched for additional metrics. Seventy-five unique metrics were reported: 35 structure (46%), 20 outcome (27%), and 20 process (27%) metrics. For RBMs, 35 metrics were reported: 27 structure (77%), 4 process (11%), and 4 outcome (11%) metrics. The most commonly cited structure, process, and outcome metrics included ACR accreditation (37%), ACR Appropriateness Criteria (85%), and peer review (95%), respectively. Imaging quality metrics are more likely to be structural (46%) than process (27%) or outcome (27%) based (P < .05). As national value-based reimbursement programs increasingly emphasize outcome-based metrics, radiologists must keep pace by developing the data infrastructure required to collect outcome-based quality metrics. Copyright © 2015 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Recruiting migrants for health research through social network sites: an online survey among chinese migrants in australia.

PubMed

Hu, Jie; Wong, Kam Cheong; Wang, Zhiqiang

2015-04-27

Traditionally, postal surveys or face to face interviews are the main approaches for health researchers to obtain essential research data. However, with the prevalence of information technology and Internet, Web-based surveys are gaining popularity in health research. This study aims to report the process and outcomes of recruiting Chinese migrants through social network sites in Australia and to examine the sample characteristics of online recruitment by comparing the sample which was recruited by an online survey to a sample of Australian Chinese migrants collected by a postal survey. Descriptive analyses were performed to describe and compare the process and outcomes of online recruitment with postal survey questionnaires. Chi square tests and t tests were performed to assess the differences between the two samples for categorical and continuous variables respectively. In total, 473 Chinese migrants completed the online health survey from July to October 2013. Out of 426 participants recruited through the three Chinese social network sites in Australia, over 86.6% (369/426) were recruited within six weeks. Participants of the Web-based survey were younger, with a higher education level or had resided in Australia for less time compared to those recruited via a postal survey. However, there was no significant difference in gender, marital status, and professional occupation. The recruitment of Chinese migrants through social network sites in our online survey was feasible. Compared to a postal survey of Chinese migrants, the online survey attracted different group of Chinese migrants who may have diverse health needs and concerns. Our findings provided insightful information for researchers who are considering employing a Web-based approach to recruit migrants and ethnic minority participants.

Single Particle Orientation and Rotational Tracking (SPORT) in biophysical studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Yan; Ha, Ji Won; Augspurger, Ashley E.; Chen, Kuangcai; Zhu, Shaobin; Fang, Ning

2013-10-01

The single particle orientation and rotational tracking (SPORT) techniques have seen rapid development in the past 5 years. Recent technical advances have greatly expanded the applicability of SPORT in biophysical studies. In this feature article, we survey the current development of SPORT and discuss its potential applications in biophysics, including cellular membrane processes and intracellular transport.The single particle orientation and rotational tracking (SPORT) techniques have seen rapid development in the past 5 years. Recent technical advances have greatly expanded the applicability of SPORT in biophysical studies. In this feature article, we survey the current development of SPORT and discuss its potential applications in biophysics, including cellular membrane processes and intracellular transport. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Three supplementary movies and an experimental section. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr02254d

The Quebec Rural Emergency Department Project: A Cross-Sectional Study of a Potential Two-Pronged Strategy in the Knowledge Transfer Process

PubMed Central

Poitras, Julien; Chauny, Jean-Marc; Lévesque, Jean-Frédéric; Ouimet, Mathieu; Dupuis, Gilles; Tanguay, Alain; Simard-Racine, Geneviève

2015-01-01

Introduction Health services research generates useful knowledge. Promotion of implementation of this knowledge in medical practice is essential. Prior to initiation of a major study on rural emergency departments (EDs), we deployed two knowledge transfer strategies designed to generate interest and engagement from potential knowledge users. The objective of this paper was to review: 1) a combined project launch and media press release strategy, and 2) a pre-study survey designed to survey potential knowledge users’ opinions on the proposed study variables. Materials and Methods We evaluated the impact of the project launch (presentation at two conferences hosted by key stakeholders) and media press release via a survey of participants/stakeholders and by calculating the number of media interview requests and reports generated. We used a pre-study survey to collect potential key stakeholder’ opinions on the study variables. Results Twenty-one of Quebec’s 26 rural EDs participated in the pre-study survey (81% participation rate). The press release about the study generated 51 press articles and 20 media request for interviews, and contributed to public awareness of a major rural research initiative. In the pre-study survey, thirteen participants (46%) mentioned prior knowledge of the research project. Results from the pre-study survey revealed that all of the potential study variables were considered to be relevant for inclusion in the research project. Respondents also proposed additional variables of interest, including factors promoting retention of human resources. Conclusions The present study demonstrated the potential utility of a two-pronged knowledge transfer strategy, including a combined formal launch and press release, and a pre-study survey designed to ensure that the included variables were of interest to participants and stakeholders. PMID:25849328

Introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination into national immunisation schedules in Europe: Results of the VENICE 2007 survey.

PubMed

King, L A; Lévy-Bruhl, D; O'Flanagan, D; Bacci, S; Lopalco, P L; Kudjawu, Y; Salmaso, S

2008-08-14

The European Union Member States are simultaneously considering introducing HPV vaccination into their national immunisation schedules. The Vaccine European New Integrated Collaboration Effort (VENICE) project aims to develop a collaborative European vaccination network. A survey was undertaken to describe the decision status and the decision-making process regarding the potential introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in to their national immunisation schedules. A web-based questionnaire was developed and completed online in 2007 by 28 countries participating in VENICE. As of 31 October 2007,five countries had decided to introduce HPV vaccination into the national immunisation schedule, while another seven had started the decision-making process with a recommendation favouring introduction. Varying target populations were selected by the five countries which had introduced the vaccination. Half of the surveyed countries had undertaken at least one ad hoc study to support the decision-making process. According to an update of the decision-status from January 2008, the number of countries which had made a decision or recommendation changed to 10 and 5 respectively. This survey demonstrates the rapidly evolving nature of HPV vaccine introduction in Europe and the existence of expertise and experience among EU Member States. The VENICE network is capable of following this process and supporting countries in making vaccine introduction decisions. A VENICE collaborative web-space is being developed as a European resource for the decision-making process for vaccine introduction.

An Analysis of Metal Finishing Technology and its Status in Industrial Teacher-Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singletary, Thomas Alexander

The purposes of this study were to analyze and describe metal finishing processes and to ascertain the extent to which these processes are taught in industrial teacher education programs. Handbooks and industrial literature were reviewed, and a survey of 165 teacher education departments was made to collect the data. Finishing processes were…

Collaboration and Conflict: Insights regarding Reducing Barriers to Participation through a Survey Study of Parents and School Administrators during Special Education Planning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tucker, Vanessa E.

2009-01-01

Parents and school administrators are both stakeholders in the IEP (Individualized Education Plan) process. While the inclusion of parents in the process as full members is mandated by IDEA 2004 there remains a growing problem of conflict within this process. Research has reviewed the process of conflict during the IEP meeting and other…

Information Processing of Trauma.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hartman, Carol R.; Burgess, Ann W.

1993-01-01

This paper presents a neuropsychosocial model of information processing to explain a victimization experience, specifically child sexual abuse. It surveys the relation of sensation, perception, and cognition as a systematic way to provide a framework for studying human behavior and describing human response to traumatic events. (Author/JDD)

Photometric redshifts for the next generation of deep radio continuum surveys - II. Gaussian processes and hybrid estimates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duncan, Kenneth J.; Jarvis, Matt J.; Brown, Michael J. I.; Röttgering, Huub J. A.

2018-07-01

Building on the first paper in this series (Duncan et al. 2018), we present a study investigating the performance of Gaussian process photometric redshift (photo-z) estimates for galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) detected in deep radio continuum surveys. A Gaussian process redshift code is used to produce photo-z estimates targeting specific subsets of both the AGN population - infrared (IR), X-ray, and optically selected AGNs - and the general galaxy population. The new estimates for the AGN population are found to perform significantly better at z > 1 than the template-based photo-z estimates presented in our previous study. Our new photo-z estimates are then combined with template estimates through hierarchical Bayesian combination to produce a hybrid consensus estimate that outperforms both of the individual methods across all source types. Photo-z estimates for radio sources that are X-ray sources or optical/IR AGNs are significantly improved in comparison to previous template-only estimates - with outlier fractions and robust scatter reduced by up to a factor of ˜4. The ability of our method to combine the strengths of the two input photo-z techniques and the large improvements we observe illustrate its potential for enabling future exploitation of deep radio continuum surveys for both the study of galaxy and black hole coevolution and for cosmological studies.

Groundwater contaminant science activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in New England

USGS Publications Warehouse

Weiskel, Peter K.

2016-03-23

Aquifers in New England provide water for human needs and natural ecosystems. In some areas, however, aquifers have been degraded by contaminants from geologic and human sources. In recent decades, the U.S. Geological Survey has been a leader in describing contaminant occurrence in the bedrock and surficial aquifers of New England. In cooperation with Federal, State, and local agencies, the U.S. Geological Survey has also studied the vulnerability of groundwater to contaminants, the factors affecting the geographic distribution of contaminants, and the geochemical processes controlling contaminant transport and fate. This fact sheet describes some of the major science needs in the region related to groundwater contaminants and highlights recent U.S. Geological Survey studies that provide a foundation for future investigations.

US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'S NATIONAL SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION OF NEAR REAL-TIME HYDROLOGICAL DATA.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Shope, William G.; ,

1987-01-01

The US Geological Survey is utilizing a national network of more than 1000 satellite data-collection stations, four satellite-relay direct-readout ground stations, and more than 50 computers linked together in a private telecommunications network to acquire, process, and distribute hydrological data in near real-time. The four Survey offices operating a satellite direct-readout ground station provide near real-time hydrological data to computers located in other Survey offices through the Survey's Distributed Information System. The computerized distribution system permits automated data processing and distribution to be carried out in a timely manner under the control and operation of the Survey office responsible for the data-collection stations and for the dissemination of hydrological information to the water-data users.

Six sigma tools in integrating internal operations of a retail pharmacy: a case study.

PubMed

Kumar, Sameer; Kwong, Anthony M

2011-01-01

This study was initiated to integrate information and enterprise-wide healthcare delivery system issues specifically within an inpatient retail pharmacy operation in a U.S. community hospital. Six Sigma tools were used to examine the effects to an inpatient retail pharmacy service process. Some of the tools used include service blueprints, cause-effect diagram, gap analysis derived from customer and employee surveys, mistake proofing was applied in various business situations and results were analyzed to identify and propose process improvements and integration. The research indicates that the Six Sigma tools in this discussion are very applicable and quite effective in helping to streamline and integrate the pharmacy process flow. Additionally, gap analysis derived from two different surveys was used to estimate the primary areas of focus to increase customer and employee satisfaction. The results of this analysis were useful in initiating discussions of how to effectively narrow these service gaps. This retail pharmaceutical service study serves as a framework for the process that should occur for successful process improvement tool evaluation and implementation. Pharmaceutical Service operations in the U.S. that use this integration framework must tailor it to their individual situations to maximize their chances for success.

Landsat surface reflectance data

USGS Publications Warehouse

,

2015-01-01

Landsat satellite data have been produced, archived, and distributed by the U.S. Geological Survey since 1972. Users rely on these data for historical study of land surface change and require consistent radiometric data processed to the highest science standards. In support of the guidelines established through the Global Climate Observing System, the U.S. Geological Survey has embarked on production of higher-level Landsat data products to support land surface change studies. One such product is Landsat surface reflectance.

Measuring hospital care from the patients' perspective: an overview of the CAHPS Hospital Survey development process.

PubMed

Goldstein, Elizabeth; Farquhar, Marybeth; Crofton, Christine; Darby, Charles; Garfinkel, Steven

2005-12-01

To describe the developmental process for the CAHPS Hospital Survey. A pilot was conducted in three states with 19,720 hospital discharges. A rigorous, multi-step process was used to develop the CAHPS Hospital Survey. It included a public call for measures, multiple Federal Register notices soliciting public input, a review of the relevant literature, meetings with hospitals, consumers and survey vendors, cognitive interviews with consumer, a large-scale pilot test in three states and consumer testing and numerous small-scale field tests. The current version of the CAHPS Hospital Survey has survey items in seven domains, two overall ratings of the hospital and five items used for adjusting for the mix of patients across hospitals and for analytical purposes. The CAHPS Hospital Survey is a core set of questions that can be administered as a stand-alone questionnaire or combined with a broader set of hospital specific items.

Survey of Youth Needs in Southwest Portland. Research Report No. 1.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Portland State Univ., OR. School of Urban Affairs.

This report provides the results of a survey conducted by the Southwest Research Team whose goal was to provide information concerning the issues and concerns of young people in Southwest Portland. The study was part of an attempt to set a foundation for an on-going process of involving Southwest Portland youth in the planning activities of the…

Rural-Urban Migration in Sierra Leone: Determinants and Policy Implications. African Rural Economy Paper No. 13.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Byerlee, Derek; And Others

Study objectives were to: increase the understanding of rural to urban migration processes in Africa and Sierra Leone; develop and test a theoretical schema and survey methodology for migration research; and evaluate the effects of policy on migration. The migration survey was conducted in rural areas, urban areas, and again in the rural areas…

Public Perceptions of Child Care in Alberta, Canada: Evidence for Policies and Practice from a Cross-Sectional Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tough, Suzanne; Rikhy, Shivani; Benzies, Karen; Vekved, Monica; Kehler, Heather; Johnston, David W.

2013-01-01

Research Findings: This study assessed public perceptions of child care and its providers in a Canadian province where government funding for child care includes subsidies and a voluntary accreditation process. In 2007-2008, 1,443 randomly selected adults in Alberta, Canada, completed a telephone survey. Individuals were eligible to participate if…

Survey of New Jersey Public School Districts Using Computers and Data Entry Equipment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gaydos, Irvin A.

The twelve tables in this study represent the results of a Fall 1975 survey of the 589 operating school districts in the State of New Jersey to determine the status of computer and data entry equipment utilization. Results show that the number of users of this equipment increased noticeably, primarily in administrative processing areas such as…

Approaches and Tools Used to Teach the Computer Input/Output Subsystem: A Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Larraza-Mendiluze, Edurne; Garay-Vitoria, Nestor

2015-01-01

This paper surveys how the computer input/output (I/O) subsystem is taught in introductory undergraduate courses. It is important to study the educational process of the computer I/O subsystem because, in the curricula recommendations, it is considered a core topic in the area of knowledge of computer architecture and organization (CAO). It is…

A Study of Urban-Rural Differences in College Student Employment--Based on National College Sample Survey Data

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xulu, Zhang; Cheng, Jiang; Lili, Li

2017-01-01

Using large sample data from the 2013 National College Graduate Employment Survey, this article compares and analyzes differences in the job-seeking process and results for college students with urban and rural household registrations and uses a measurement model to explore factors affecting the starting salaries of college students. The research…

Basis and methods of NASA airborne topographic mapper lidar surveys for coastal studies

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brock, John C.; Wright, C. Wayne; Sallenger, Asbury H.; Krabill, William B.; Swift, Robert N.

2002-01-01

This paper provides an overview of the basic principles of airborne laser altimetry for surveys of coastal topography, and describes the methods used in the acquisition and processing of NASA Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) surveys that cover much of the conterminous US coastline. This form of remote sensing, also known as "topographic lidar", has undergone extremely rapid development during the last two decades, and has the potential to contribute within a wide range of coastal scientific investigations. Various airborne laser surveying (ALS) applications that are relevant to coastal studies are being pursued by researchers in a range of Earth science disciplines. Examples include the mapping of "bald earth" land surfaces below even moderately dense vegetation in studies of geologic framework and hydrology, and determination of the vegetation canopy structure, a key variable in mapping wildlife habitats. ALS has also proven to be an excellent method for the regional mapping of geomorphic change along barrier island beaches and other sandy coasts due to storms or long-term sedimentary processes. Coastal scientists are adopting ALS as a basic method in the study of an array of additional coastal topics. ALS can provide useful information in the analysis of shoreline change, the prediction and assessment of landslides along seacliffs and headlands, examination of subsidence causing coastal land loss, and in predicting storm surge and tsunami inundation.

Satellite-aided survey sampling and implementation in low- and middle-income contexts: a low-cost/low-tech alternative.

PubMed

Haenssgen, Marco J

2015-01-01

The increasing availability of online maps, satellite imagery, and digital technology can ease common constraints of survey sampling in low- and middle-income countries. However, existing approaches require specialised software and user skills, professional GPS equipment, and/or commercial data sources; they tend to neglect spatial sampling considerations when using satellite maps; and they continue to face implementation challenges analogous to conventional survey implementation methods. This paper presents an alternative way of utilising satellite maps and digital aides that aims to address these challenges. The case studies of two rural household surveys in Rajasthan (India) and Gansu (China) compare conventional survey sampling and implementation techniques with the use of online map services such as Google, Bing, and HERE maps. Modern yet basic digital technology can be integrated into the processes of preparing, implementing, and monitoring a rural household survey. Satellite-aided systematic random sampling enhanced the spatial representativeness of the village samples and entailed savings of approximately £4000 compared to conventional household listing, while reducing the duration of the main survey by at least 25 %. This low-cost/low-tech satellite-aided survey sampling approach can be useful for student researchers and resource-constrained research projects operating in low- and middle-income contexts with high survey implementation costs. While achieving transparent and efficient survey implementation at low costs, researchers aiming to adopt a similar process should be aware of the locational, technical, and logistical requirements as well as the methodological challenges of this strategy.

Enhanced Sidescan-Sonar Imagery Offshore of Southeastern Massachusetts

USGS Publications Warehouse

Poppe, Lawrence J.; McMullen, Kate Y.; Williams, S. Jeffress; Ackerman, Seth D.; Glomb, K.A.; Forfinski, N.A.

2008-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) have been working cooperatively to map and study the coastal sea floor. The sidescan-sonar imagery collected during NOAA hydrographic surveys has been included as part of these studies. However, the original sonar imagery contains tonal artifacts from environmental noise (for example, sea state), equipment settings (for example, power and gain changes), and processing (for example, inaccurate cross-track and line-to-line normalization), which impart a quilt-like patchwork appearance to the mosaics. These artifacts can obscure the normalized backscatter properties of the sea floor. To address this issue, sidescan-sonar imagery from surveys H11076 and H11079 offshore of southeastern Massachusetts was enhanced by matching backscatter tones of adjacent sidescan-sonar lines. These mosaics provide continuous grayscale perspectives of the backscatter, more accurately reveal the sea-floor geologic trends, and minimize the environment-, acquisition-, and processing-related noise.

Design and methodology of a mixed methods follow-up study to the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey.

PubMed

Staveteig, Sarah; Aryeetey, Richmond; Anie-Ansah, Michael; Ahiadeke, Clement; Ortiz, Ladys

2017-01-01

The intended meaning behind responses to standard questions posed in large-scale health surveys are not always well understood. Systematic follow-up studies, particularly those which pose a few repeated questions followed by open-ended discussions, are well positioned to gauge stability and consistency of data and to shed light on the intended meaning behind survey responses. Such follow-up studies require extensive coordination and face challenges in protecting respondent confidentiality during the process of recontacting and reinterviewing participants. We describe practical field strategies for undertaking a mixed methods follow-up study during a large-scale health survey. The study was designed as a mixed methods follow-up study embedded within the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). The study was implemented in 13 clusters. Android tablets were used to import reference data from the parent survey and to administer the questionnaire, which asked a mixture of closed- and open-ended questions on reproductive intentions, decision-making, and family planning. Despite a number of obstacles related to recontacting respondents and concern about respondent fatigue, over 92 percent of the selected sub-sample were successfully recontacted and reinterviewed; all consented to audio recording. A confidential linkage between GDHS data, follow-up tablet data, and audio transcripts was successfully created for the purpose of analysis. We summarize the challenges in follow-up study design, including ethical considerations, sample size, auditing, filtering, successful use of tablets, and share lessons learned for future such follow-up surveys.

Survey of perceived influence of the conceptual design model of interactive television advertising towards impulse purchase tendency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarif, Siti Mahfuzah; Omar, Azizah Che; Shiratuddin, Norshuhada

2016-08-01

With the proliferation of technology assisted shopping, there is growing evidence that impulse buying is an emerging phenomenon, which has been the focus of this study. Literatures indicate that studies related to impulse purchase for interactive television (iTV) advertising are highly scarce. It was found that most of the existing impulse purchase elements are mainly focusing on traditional retail store, website advertising, and traditional TV advertising, but not on iTV advertising. Due to that, through a systematic process, a design model for developing iTV advertising with influence towards impulse purchase tendency was developed and tested in this study. The design model is named as iTVAdIP and comprises of three main components; technology, impulse purchase components, and development process. This paper describes the survey, which measures the influence of iTVAdIP design model towards impulse purchase tendency. 37 potential advertising designers were involved in the survey. The results indicate that the iTVAdIP is practical and workable in developing iTV advertisement that could influence consumer to buy the advertised product.

NSF final project report planning and implementation of the U.S. Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (U.S. JGOFS)

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

Livingston, Hugh D.

1996-07-01

Conducted planning and implementation of ocean carbon dioxide hydrographic surveys ocean process studies, time-series studies of Bermuda and Hawaii, and sponsored scientific workshops for those activities.

Network design and quality checks in automatic orientation of close-range photogrammetric blocks.

PubMed

Dall'Asta, Elisa; Thoeni, Klaus; Santise, Marina; Forlani, Gianfranco; Giacomini, Anna; Roncella, Riccardo

2015-04-03

Due to the recent improvements of automatic measurement procedures in photogrammetry, multi-view 3D reconstruction technologies are becoming a favourite survey tool. Rapidly widening structure-from-motion (SfM) software packages offer significantly easier image processing workflows than traditional photogrammetry packages. However, while most orientation and surface reconstruction strategies will almost always succeed in any given task, estimating the quality of the result is, to some extent, still an open issue. An assessment of the precision and reliability of block orientation is necessary and should be included in every processing pipeline. Such a need was clearly felt from the results of close-range photogrammetric surveys of in situ full-scale and laboratory-scale experiments. In order to study the impact of the block control and the camera network design on the block orientation accuracy, a series of Monte Carlo simulations was performed. Two image block configurations were investigated: a single pseudo-normal strip and a circular highly-convergent block. The influence of surveying and data processing choices, such as the number and accuracy of the ground control points, autofocus and camera calibration was investigated. The research highlights the most significant aspects and processes to be taken into account for adequate in situ and laboratory surveys, when modern SfM software packages are used, and evaluates their effect on the quality of the results of the surface reconstruction.

The Automation and Exoplanet Orbital Characterization from the Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jinfei Wang, Jason; Graham, James; Perrin, Marshall; Pueyo, Laurent; Savransky, Dmitry; Kalas, Paul; arriaga, Pauline; Chilcote, Jeffrey K.; De Rosa, Robert J.; Ruffio, Jean-Baptiste; Sivaramakrishnan, Anand; Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey Collaboration

2018-01-01

The Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) Exoplanet Survey (GPIES) is a multi-year 600-star survey to discover and characterize young Jovian exoplanets and their planet forming environments. For large surveys like GPIES, it is critical to have a uniform dataset processed with the latest techniques and calibrations. I will describe the GPI Data Cruncher, an automated data processing framework that is able to generate fully reduced data minutes after the data are taken and can also reprocess the entire campaign in a single day on a supercomputer. The Data Cruncher integrates into a larger automated data processing infrastructure which syncs, logs, and displays the data. I will discuss the benefits of the GPIES data infrastructure, including optimizing observing strategies, finding planets, characterizing instrument performance, and constraining giant planet occurrence. I will also discuss my work in characterizing the exoplanets we have imaged in GPIES through monitoring their orbits. Using advanced data processing algorithms and GPI's precise astrometric calibration, I will show that GPI can achieve one milliarcsecond astrometry on the extensively-studied planet Beta Pic b. With GPI, we can confidently rule out a possible transit of Beta Pic b, but have precise timings on a Hill sphere transit, and I will discuss efforts to search for transiting circumplanetary material this year. I will also discuss the orbital monitoring of other exoplanets as part of GPIES.

Quick Response codes for surgical safety: a prospective pilot study.

PubMed

Dixon, Jennifer L; Smythe, William Roy; Momsen, Lara S; Jupiter, Daniel; Papaconstantinou, Harry T

2013-09-01

Surgical safety programs have been shown to reduce patient harm; however, there is variable compliance. The purpose of this study is to determine if innovative technology such as Quick Response (QR) codes can facilitate surgical safety initiatives. We prospectively evaluated the use of QR codes during the surgical time-out for 40 operations. Feasibility and accuracy were assessed. Perceptions of the current time-out process and the QR code application were evaluated through surveys using a 5-point Likert scale and binomial yes or no questions. At baseline (n = 53), survey results from the surgical team agreed or strongly agreed that the current time-out process was efficient (64%), easy to use (77%), and provided clear information (89%). However, 65% of surgeons felt that process improvements were needed. Thirty-seven of 40 (92.5%) QR codes scanned successfully, of which 100% were accurate. Three scan failures resulted from excessive curvature or wrinkling of the QR code label on the body. Follow-up survey results (n = 33) showed that the surgical team agreed or strongly agreed that the QR program was clearer (70%), easier to use (57%), and more accurate (84%). Seventy-four percent preferred the QR system to the current time-out process. QR codes accurately transmit patient information during the time-out procedure and are preferred to the current process by surgical team members. The novel application of this technology may improve compliance, accuracy, and outcomes. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Categorization of Survey Text Utilizing Natural Language Processing and Demographic Filtering

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-09-01

SURVEY TEXT UTILIZING NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING AND DEMOGRAPHIC FILTERING by Christine M. Cairoli September 2017 Thesis Advisor: Lyn...DATE September 2017 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED Master’s thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE CATEGORIZATION OF SURVEY TEXT UTILIZING NATURAL...words) Thousands of Navy survey free text comments are overlooked every year because reading and interpreting comments is expensive, time consuming

Relationships between Climate, Process, and Performance in Continuous Quality Improvement Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilkens, Roxanne; London, Manuel

2006-01-01

This study examined relationships between group climate (participants' learning orientation, feelings of psychological safety, and self-disclosure), process (feedback and conflict), and performance in continuous quality improvement groups. Forty-nine participants in eight hospital groups were surveyed as the groups neared completion. Groups were…

Special Education Teachers' Attitudes and Perceptions of Teamwork

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malone, D. Michael; Gallagher, Peggy A.

2010-01-01

One hundred and eighty-four special education teachers serving school-based intervention teams completed the "Attitudes About Teamwork Survey", the "Team Characteristics Survey", and the "Team Process Perception Survey". Respondents' regard for the team process in planning and implementing supports for children with disabilities was generally…

Clearing the Highest Hurdle: Human-Based Case Studies Broaden Students' Knowledge of Core Evolutionary Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Werth, Alexander J.

2009-01-01

An anonymous survey instrument was used for a ten year study to gauge college student attitudes toward evolution. Results indicate that students are most likely to accept evolution as a historical process for change in physical features of non-human organisms. They are less likely to accept evolution as an ongoing process that shapes all traits…

Membrane separation systems---A research and development needs assessment

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

Baker, R.W.; Cussler, E.L.; Eykamp, W.

1990-04-01

Industrial separation processes consume a significant portion of the energy used in the United States. A 1986 survey by the Office of Industrial Programs estimated that about 4.2 quads of energy are expended annually on distillation, drying and evaporation operations. This survey also concluded that over 0.8 quads of energy could be saved in the chemical, petroleum and food industries alone if these industries adopted membrane separation systems more widely. Membrane separation systems offer significant advantages over existing separation processes. In addition to consuming less energy than conventional processes, membrane systems are compact and modular, enabling easy retrofit to existingmore » industrial processes. The present study was commissioned by the Department of Energy, Office of Program Analysis, to identify and prioritize membrane research needs in light of DOE's mission. Each report will be individually cataloged.« less

Challenges of Making a Diagnosis in the Outpatient Setting: A Multi-Site Survey of Primary Care Physicians

PubMed Central

Sarkar, Urmimala; Bonacum, Doug; Strull, William; Spitzmueller, Christiane; Jin, Nancy; Lopez, Andrea; Giardina, Traber Davis; Meyer, Ashley N.D.; Singh, Hardeep

2013-01-01

Background Although misdiagnosis in the outpatient setting leads to significant patient harm and wasted resources, it is not well studied. We surveyed primary care physicians (PCPs) about barriers to timely diagnosis in the outpatient setting and assessed their perceptions of diagnostic difficulty. Methods We conducted a survey of general internists and family physicians practicing in an integrated health system across 10 geographically dispersed states in 2005. The survey elicited information on key cognitive failures (such as in clinical knowledge or judgment) for a specific case, and solicited strategies for reducing diagnostic delays. Content analysis was used to categorize cognitive failures and strategies for improvement. We examined the extent and predictors of diagnostic difficulty, defined as reporting >5% patients difficult to diagnose. Results Of 1817 physicians surveyed, 1054 (58%) responded; 848 (80%) respondents primarily practiced in outpatient settings and had an assigned patient panel (inclusion sample). Inadequate knowledge (19.9%) was the most commonly reported cognitive factor. Half reported >5% of their patients were difficult to diagnose; more experienced physicians reported less diagnostic difficulty. In adjusted analyses, problems with information processing (information availability and time to review it) and the referral process, were associated with greater diagnostic difficulty. Strategies for improvement most commonly involved workload issues (panel size, non-visit tasks). Conclusions PCPs report a variety of reasons for diagnostic difficulties in primary care practice. In our study, knowledge gaps appear to be a prominent concern. Interventions that address these gaps as well as practice level issues such as time to process diagnostic information and better subspecialty input may reduce diagnostic difficulties in primary care. PMID:22626738

Assessment of pictographs developed through a participatory design process using an online survey tool.

PubMed

Kim, Hyeoneui; Nakamura, Carlos; Zeng-Treitler, Qing

2009-02-24

Inpatient discharge instructions are a mandatory requirement of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The instructions include all the information relevant to post-discharge patient care. Prior studies show that patients often cannot fully understand or remember all the instructions. To address this issue, we have previously conducted a pilot study in which pictographs were created through a participatory design process to facilitate the comprehension and recall of discharge instructions. The main objective of this study was to verify the individual effectiveness of pictographs created through a participatory design process. In this study, we included 20 pictographs developed by our group and 20 pictographs developed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as a reference baseline for pictographic recognition. To assess whether the participants could recognize the meaning of the pictographs, we designed an asymmetrical pictograph-text label-linking test. Data collection lasted for 7 days after the email invitation. A total of 44 people accessed the survey site. We excluded 7 participants who completed less than 50% of the survey. A total of 719 answers from 37 participants were analyzed. The analysis showed that the participants recognized the pictographs developed in-house significantly better than those included in the study as a baseline (P< .001). This trend was true regardless of the participant's gender, age, and education level. The results also revealed that there is a large variance in the quality of the pictographs developed using the same design process-the recognition rate ranged from below 50% to above 90%. This study confirmed that the majority of the pictographs developed in a participatory design process involving a small number of nurses and consumers were recognizable by a larger number of consumers. The variance in recognition rates suggests that pictographs should be assessed individually before being evaluated within the context of an application.

Quality of data in multiethnic health surveys.

PubMed Central

Pasick, R. J.; Stewart, S. L.; Bird, J. A.; D'Onofrio, C. N.

2001-01-01

OBJECTIVE: There has been insufficient research on the influence of ethno-cultural and language differences in public health surveys. Using data from three independent studies, the authors examine methods to assess data quality and to identify causes of problematic survey questions. METHODS: Qualitative and quantitative methods were used in this exploratory study, including secondary analyses of data from three baseline surveys (conducted in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Vietnamese). Collection of additional data included interviews with investigators and interviewers; observations of item development; focus groups; think-aloud interviews; a test-retest assessment survey; and a pilot test of alternatively worded questions. RESULTS: The authors identify underlying causes for the 12 most problematic variables in three multiethnic surveys and describe them in terms of ethnic differences in reliability, validity, and cognitive processes (interpretation, memory retrieval, judgment formation, and response editing), and differences with regard to cultural appropriateness and translation problems. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple complex elements affect measurement in a multiethnic survey, many of which are neither readily observed nor understood through standard tests of data quality. Multiethnic survey questions are best evaluated using a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods that reveal different types and causes of problems. PMID:11889288

Rapid Topographic Mapping Using TLS and UAV in a Beach-dune-wetland Environment: Case Study in Freeport, Texas, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, J.; Wang, G.; Xiong, L.; Zhou, X.; England, E.

2017-12-01

Coastal regions are naturally vulnerable to impact from long-term coastal erosion and episodic coastal hazards caused by extreme weather events. Major geomorphic changes can occur within a few hours during storms. Prediction of storm impact, costal planning and resilience observation after natural events all require accurate and up-to-date topographic maps of coastal morphology. Thus, the ability to conduct rapid and high-resolution-high-accuracy topographic mapping is of critical importance for long-term coastal management and rapid response after natural hazard events. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) techniques have been frequently applied to beach and dune erosion studies and post hazard responses. However, TLS surveying is relatively slow and costly for rapid surveying. Furthermore, TLS surveying unavoidably retains gray areas that cannot be reached by laser pulses, particularly in wetland areas where lack of direct access in most cases. Aerial mapping using photogrammetry from images taken by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) has become a new technique for rapid topographic mapping. UAV photogrammetry mapping techniques provide the ability to map coastal features quickly, safely, inexpensively, on short notice and with minimal impact. The primary products from photogrammetry are point clouds similar to the LiDAR point clouds. However, a large number of ground control points (ground truth) are essential for obtaining high-accuracy UAV maps. The ground control points are often obtained by GPS survey simultaneously with the TLS survey in the field. The GPS survey could be a slow and arduous process in the field. This study aims to develop methods for acquiring a huge number of ground control points from TLS survey and validating point clouds obtained from photogrammetry with the TLS point clouds. A Rigel VZ-2000 TLS scanner was used for developing laser point clouds and a DJI Phantom 4 Pro UAV was used for acquiring images. The aerial images were processed with the Photogrammetry mapping software Agisoft PhotoScan. A workflow for conducting rapid TLS and UAV survey in the field and integrating point clouds obtained from TLS and UAV surveying will be introduced. Key words: UAV photogrammetry, ground control points, TLS, coastal morphology, topographic mapping

A Longitudinal Study of Total Quality Management Processes in Business Colleges.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vazzana, Gary; Elfrink, John; Bachmann, Duane P.

2000-01-01

Surveys of business school deans in 1995 (n=243) and 1998 (n=151) regarding total quality management (TQM) practices revealed increases in mission and strategy development, goal setting, and use of advisory boards and cross-functional teams. Few are using TQM to manage core learning processes. (SK)

Survey study of the efficiency and economics of hydrogen liquefaction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

The production of liquid hydrogen, with coal as the starting material, is reported. The minimum practicable energy and cost for liquefaction of gaseous hydrogen in the 1985-2000 time period is presented to investigate the possible benefits of the integration of coal gasification processes with the liquefaction process.

Tenure and Promotion Experiences of Academic Librarians of Color

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Damasco, Ione T.; Hodges, Dracine

2012-01-01

This study broadly examines factors impacting work-life experiences of library faculty of color within the framework of tenure policies and processes. An online survey was sent out to academic librarians of color to gauge perceptions of tenure and promotion policies and processes, professional activities and productivity, organizational climate…

How High School Students Select a College.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gilmour, Joseph E., Jr.; And Others

The college selection process used by high school students was studied and a paradigm that describes the process was developed, based on marketing theory concerning consumer behavior. Primarily college freshmen and high school seniors were interviewed, and a few high school juniors and upper-level college students were surveyed to determine…

The Impact of Flagging on the Admission Process.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cahalan-Laitusis, Cara; Mandinach, Ellen B.; Camara, Wayne J.

2003-01-01

Study explored issues surrounding flagging test scores taken under non-standard conditions and how the admission process could better serve students with disabilities. Respondents to survey felt current system was not adequately serving subgroups of students, believing some non-disabled students were manipulating the system to gain an advantage on…

Occupational/Career Decision-Making Thought Processes of Adolescents of High Intellectual Ability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jung, Jae Yup

2017-01-01

Three competing models of the career decision-making thought processes of adolescents of high intellectual ability were tested in this study. Survey data were collected from 664 intellectually gifted Australian adolescents and analyzed using structural equation modeling procedures. The finally accepted, optimal model suggested that, regardless of…

Analysis of SURRGO Data and Obtaining Soil Texture Classifications for Simulating Hydrologic Processes

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-07-01

Note (CHETN) describes a method using the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Soil Survey Geographic...the general texture classifications. 2. Another source for soil information, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO...science studies such as agriculture , geology, geomorphology, engineering, biology, history, etc. (Soil Survey Division Staff 1993). The procedure pulls

Teachers Use of Writing to Support Students' Learning in Middle School: A National Survey in the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ray, Amber B.; Graham, Steve; Houston, Julia D.; Harris, Karen R.

2016-01-01

A random sample of middle school teachers (grades 6-9) from across the United States was surveyed about their use of writing to support students' learning. The selection process was stratified so there were an equal number of English language arts, social studies, and science teachers. More than one-half of the teachers reported applying 15 or…

Linking Errors in Trend Estimation in Large-Scale Surveys: A Case Study. Research Report. ETS RR-10-10

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xu, Xueli; von Davier, Matthias

2010-01-01

One of the major objectives of large-scale educational surveys is reporting trends in academic achievement. For this purpose, a substantial number of items are carried from one assessment cycle to the next. The linking process that places academic abilities measured in different assessments on a common scale is usually based on a concurrent…

Te Pikaunga-Mahi Me Te Kohukihuki (Workload and Stress)=A National Survey of Maori Aste Te Hau Takitini O Aotearoa Members.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sisley, Renee; Waiti, Danica

In 1996 a national survey was undertaken of 24 Maori members of the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education in New Zealand. It followed an earlier study and sought to investigate further the workloads of Maori staff members and related issues. The research process gave fundamental priority to ensuring culturally appropriate research practices.…

Key Features of Academic Detailing: Development of an Expert Consensus Using the Delphi Method.

PubMed

Yeh, James S; Van Hoof, Thomas J; Fischer, Michael A

2016-02-01

Academic detailing is an outreach education technique that combines the direct social marketing traditionally used by pharmaceutical representatives with unbiased content summarizing the best evidence for a given clinical issue. Academic detailing is conducted with clinicians to encourage evidence-based practice in order to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes. The adoption of academic detailing has increased substantially since the original studies in the 1980s. However, the lack of standard agreement on its implementation makes the evaluation of academic detailing outcomes challenging. To identify consensus on the key elements of academic detailing among a group of experts with varying experiences in academic detailing. This study is based on an online survey of 20 experts with experience in academic detailing. We used the Delphi process, an iterative and systematic method of developing consensus within a group. We conducted 3 rounds of online surveys, which addressed 72 individual items derived from a previous literature review of 5 features of academic detailing, including (1) content, (2) communication process, (3) clinicians targeted, (4) change agents delivering intervention, and (5) context for intervention. Nonrespondents were removed from later rounds of the surveys. For most questions, a 4-point ordinal scale was used for responses. We defined consensus agreement as 70% of respondents for a single rating category or 80% for dichotomized ratings. The overall survey response rate was 95% (54 of 57 surveys) and nearly 92% consensus agreement on the survey items (66 of 72 items) by the end of the Delphi exercise. The experts' responses suggested that (1) focused clinician education offering support for clinical decision-making is a key component of academic detailing, (2) detailing messages need to be tailored and provide feasible strategies and solutions to challenging cases, and (3) academic detailers need to develop specific skill sets required to overcome barriers to changing clinician behavior. Consensus derived from this Delphi exercise can serve as a useful template of general principles in academic detailing initiatives and evaluation. The study findings are limited by the lack of standard definitions of certain terms used in the Delphi process.

Key Features of Academic Detailing: Development of an Expert Consensus Using the Delphi Method

PubMed Central

Yeh, James S.; Van Hoof, Thomas J.; Fischer, Michael A.

2016-01-01

Background Academic detailing is an outreach education technique that combines the direct social marketing traditionally used by pharmaceutical representatives with unbiased content summarizing the best evidence for a given clinical issue. Academic detailing is conducted with clinicians to encourage evidence-based practice in order to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes. The adoption of academic detailing has increased substantially since the original studies in the 1980s. However, the lack of standard agreement on its implementation makes the evaluation of academic detailing outcomes challenging. Objective To identify consensus on the key elements of academic detailing among a group of experts with varying experiences in academic detailing. Methods This study is based on an online survey of 20 experts with experience in academic detailing. We used the Delphi process, an iterative and systematic method of developing consensus within a group. We conducted 3 rounds of online surveys, which addressed 72 individual items derived from a previous literature review of 5 features of academic detailing, including (1) content, (2) communication process, (3) clinicians targeted, (4) change agents delivering intervention, and (5) context for intervention. Nonrespondents were removed from later rounds of the surveys. For most questions, a 4-point ordinal scale was used for responses. We defined consensus agreement as 70% of respondents for a single rating category or 80% for dichotomized ratings. Results The overall survey response rate was 95% (54 of 57 surveys) and nearly 92% consensus agreement on the survey items (66 of 72 items) by the end of the Delphi exercise. The experts' responses suggested that (1) focused clinician education offering support for clinical decision-making is a key component of academic detailing, (2) detailing messages need to be tailored and provide feasible strategies and solutions to challenging cases, and (3) academic detailers need to develop specific skill sets required to overcome barriers to changing clinician behavior. Conclusion Consensus derived from this Delphi exercise can serve as a useful template of general principles in academic detailing initiatives and evaluation. The study findings are limited by the lack of standard definitions of certain terms used in the Delphi process. PMID:27066195

The Palomar Transient Factory: High Quality Realtime Data Processing in a Cost-Constrained Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Surace, J.; Laher, R.; Masci, F.; Grillmair, C.; Helou, G.

2015-09-01

The Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) is a synoptic sky survey in operation since 2009. PTF utilizes a 7.1 square degree camera on the Palomar 48-inch Schmidt telescope to survey the sky primarily at a single wavelength (R-band) at a rate of 1000-3000 square degrees a night. The data are used to detect and study transient and moving objects such as gamma ray bursts, supernovae and asteroids, as well as variable phenomena such as quasars and Galactic stars. The data processing system at IPAC handles realtime processing and detection of transients, solar system object processing, high photometric precision processing and light curve generation, and long-term archiving and curation. This was developed under an extremely limited budget profile in an unusually agile development environment. Here we discuss the mechanics of this system and our overall development approach. Although a significant scientific installation in of itself, PTF also serves as the prototype for our next generation project, the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). Beginning operations in 2017, ZTF will feature a 50 square degree camera which will enable scanning of the entire northern visible sky every night. ZTF in turn will serve as a stepping stone to the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), a major NSF facility scheduled to begin operations in the early 2020s.

Organizational and leadership perceptions assessment: opportunities and challenges using the Baldrige companion surveys.

PubMed

Colombo, Lisa M; Perla, Rocco J; Carifio, James; Bernhardt, Jean M; Slayton, Val W

2011-01-01

Combining the use of employee perception surveys with sound analytical techniques and models is critical to capturing high quality data from which effective decisions can be made in complex healthcare settings. This study used the Baldrige Award companion surveys with an analysis of variance (ANOVA) framework to identify discordant perceptions of hospital staff and leadership in the areas of customer focus, knowledge management, and results that were significant at the 0.05 and 0.01 levels. Senior leaders in the organization found the ANOVA framework helpful as they interpreted results from the Baldrige companion surveys and planned future improvement activities. During the execution of our study a number of difficulties and challenges arose that are not uncommon to survey administration in smaller settings, such as community hospitals, or in larger hospital settings with no research staff or research staff with relevant psychometric expertise. Our experience suggests that the Baldrige companion survey process would be enhanced by providing organizations with general guidance and protocols for optimal survey administration and data analysis. The purpose of this article is to outline the ANOVA model we used with the Baldrige companion surveys and to provide guidance related to the administration and analysis of these companion surveys for those that use them. © 2010 National Association for Healthcare Quality.

New Inversion and Interpretation of Public-Domain Electromagnetic Survey Data from Selected Areas in Alaska

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, B. D.; Kass, A.; Saltus, R. W.; Minsley, B. J.; Deszcz-Pan, M.; Bloss, B. R.; Burns, L. E.

2013-12-01

Public-domain airborne geophysical surveys (combined electromagnetics and magnetics), mostly collected for and released by the State of Alaska, Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (DGGS), are a unique and valuable resource for both geologic interpretation and geophysical methods development. A new joint effort by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the DGGS aims to add value to these data through the application of novel advanced inversion methods and through innovative and intuitive display of data: maps, profiles, voxel-based models, and displays of estimated inversion quality and confidence. Our goal is to make these data even more valuable for interpretation of geologic frameworks, geotechnical studies, and cryosphere studies, by producing robust estimates of subsurface resistivity that can be used by non-geophysicists. The available datasets, which are available in the public domain, include 39 frequency-domain electromagnetic datasets collected since 1993, and continue to grow with 5 more data releases pending in 2013. The majority of these datasets were flown for mineral resource purposes, with one survey designed for infrastructure analysis. In addition, several USGS datasets are included in this study. The USGS has recently developed new inversion methodologies for airborne EM data and have begun to apply these and other new techniques to the available datasets. These include a trans-dimensional Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique, laterally-constrained regularized inversions, and deterministic inversions which include calibration factors as a free parameter. Incorporation of the magnetic data as an additional constraining dataset has also improved the inversion results. Processing has been completed in several areas, including Fortymile and the Alaska Highway surveys, and continues in others such as the Styx River and Nome surveys. Utilizing these new techniques, we provide models beyond the apparent resistivity maps supplied by the original contractors, allowing us to produce a variety of products, such as maps of resistivity as a function of depth or elevation, cross section maps, and 3D voxel models, which have been treated consistently both in terms of processing and error analysis throughout the state. These products facilitate a more fruitful exchange between geologists and geophysicists and a better understanding of uncertainty, and the process results in iterative development and improvement of geologic models, both on small and large scales.

Implementation of a national anti-tuberculosis drug resistance survey in Tanzania.

PubMed

Chonde, Timothy M; Doulla, Basra; van Leth, Frank; Mfinanga, Sayoki G M; Range, Nyagosya; Lwilla, Fred; Mfaume, Saidi M; van Deun, Armand; Zignol, Matteo; Cobelens, Frank G; Egwaga, Saidi M

2008-12-30

A drug resistance survey is an essential public health management tool for evaluating and improving the performance of National Tuberculosis control programmes. The current manuscript describes the implementation of the first national drug resistance survey in Tanzania. Description of the implementation process of a national anti-tuberculosis drug resistance survey in Tanzania, in relation to the study protocol and Standard Operating Procedures. Factors contributing positively to the implementation of the survey were a continuous commitment of the key stakeholders, the existence of a well organized National Tuberculosis Programme, and a detailed design of cluster-specific arrangements for rapid sputum transportation. Factors contributing negatively to the implementation were a long delay between training and actual survey activities, limited monitoring of activities, and an unclear design of the data capture forms leading to difficulties in form-filling. Careful preparation of the survey, timing of planned activities, a strong emphasis on data capture tools and data management, and timely supervision are essential for a proper implementation of a national drug resistance survey.

Customer satisfaction survey with clinical laboratory and phlebotomy services at a tertiary care unit level.

PubMed

Koh, Young Rae; Kim, Shine Young; Kim, In Suk; Chang, Chulhun L; Lee, Eun Yup; Son, Han Chul; Kim, Hyung Hoi

2014-09-01

We performed customer satisfaction surveys for physicians and nurses regarding clinical laboratory services, and for outpatients who used phlebotomy services at a tertiary care unit level to evaluate our clinical laboratory and phlebotomy services. Thus, we wish to share our experiences with the customer satisfaction survey for clinical laboratory and phlebotomy services. Board members of our laboratory designed a study procedure and study population, and developed two types of questionnaire. A satisfaction survey for clinical laboratory services was conducted with 370 physicians and 125 nurses by using an online or paper questionnaire. The satisfaction survey for phlebotomy services was performed with 347 outpatients who received phlebotomy services by using computer-aided interviews. Mean satisfaction scores of physicians and nurses was 58.1, while outpatients' satisfaction score was 70.5. We identified several dissatisfactions with our clinical laboratory and phlebotomy services. First, physicians and nurses were most dissatisfied with the specimen collection and delivery process. Second, physicians and nurses were dissatisfied with phlebotomy services. Third, molecular genetic and cytogenetic tests were found more expensive than other tests. This study is significant in that it describes the first reference survey that offers a survey procedure and questionnaire to assess customer satisfaction with clinical laboratory and phlebotomy services at a tertiary care unit level.

Customer Satisfaction Survey With Clinical Laboratory and Phlebotomy Services at a Tertiary Care Unit Level

PubMed Central

Koh, Young Rae; Kim, Shine Young; Kim, In Suk; Chang, Chulhun L.; Lee, Eun Yup; Son, Han Chul

2014-01-01

We performed customer satisfaction surveys for physicians and nurses regarding clinical laboratory services, and for outpatients who used phlebotomy services at a tertiary care unit level to evaluate our clinical laboratory and phlebotomy services. Thus, we wish to share our experiences with the customer satisfaction survey for clinical laboratory and phlebotomy services. Board members of our laboratory designed a study procedure and study population, and developed two types of questionnaire. A satisfaction survey for clinical laboratory services was conducted with 370 physicians and 125 nurses by using an online or paper questionnaire. The satisfaction survey for phlebotomy services was performed with 347 outpatients who received phlebotomy services by using computer-aided interviews. Mean satisfaction scores of physicians and nurses was 58.1, while outpatients' satisfaction score was 70.5. We identified several dissatisfactions with our clinical laboratory and phlebotomy services. First, physicians and nurses were most dissatisfied with the specimen collection and delivery process. Second, physicians and nurses were dissatisfied with phlebotomy services. Third, molecular genetic and cytogenetic tests were found more expensive than other tests. This study is significant in that it describes the first reference survey that offers a survey procedure and questionnaire to assess customer satisfaction with clinical laboratory and phlebotomy services at a tertiary care unit level. PMID:25187892

The statistical validity of nursing home survey findings.

PubMed

Woolley, Douglas C

2011-11-01

The Medicare nursing home survey is a high-stakes process whose findings greatly affect nursing homes, their current and potential residents, and the communities they serve. Therefore, survey findings must achieve high validity. This study looked at the validity of one key assessment made during a nursing home survey: the observation of the rate of errors in administration of medications to residents (med-pass). Statistical analysis of the case under study and of alternative hypothetical cases. A skilled nursing home affiliated with a local medical school. The nursing home administrators and the medical director. Observational study. The probability that state nursing home surveyors make a Type I or Type II error in observing med-pass error rates, based on the current case and on a series of postulated med-pass error rates. In the common situation such as our case, where med-pass errors occur at slightly above a 5% rate after 50 observations, and therefore trigger a citation, the chance that the true rate remains above 5% after a large number of observations is just above 50%. If the true med-pass error rate were as high as 10%, and the survey team wished to achieve 75% accuracy in determining that a citation was appropriate, they would have to make more than 200 med-pass observations. In the more common situation where med pass errors are closer to 5%, the team would have to observe more than 2000 med-passes to achieve even a modest 75% accuracy in their determinations. In settings where error rates are low, large numbers of observations of an activity must be made to reach acceptable validity of estimates for the true rates of errors. In observing key nursing home functions with current methodology, the State Medicare nursing home survey process does not adhere to well-known principles of valid error determination. Alternate approaches in survey methodology are discussed. Copyright © 2011 American Medical Directors Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'S NATIONAL REAL-TIME HYDROLOGIC INFORMATION SYSTEM USING GOES SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Shope, William G.

1987-01-01

The U. S. Geological Survey maintains the basic hydrologic data collection system for the United States. The Survey is upgrading the collection system with electronic communications technologies that acquire, telemeter, process, and disseminate hydrologic data in near real-time. These technologies include satellite communications via the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, Data Collection Platforms in operation at over 1400 Survey gaging stations, Direct-Readout Ground Stations at nine Survey District Offices and a network of powerful minicomputers that allows data to be processed and disseminate quickly.

A SURVEY OF LABORATORY AND STATISTICAL ISSUES RELATED TO FARMWORKER EXPOSURE STUDIES

EPA Science Inventory

Developing internally valid, and perhaps generalizable, farmworker exposure studies is a complex process that involves many statistical and laboratory considerations. Statistics are an integral component of each study beginning with the design stage and continuing to the final da...

Gravity Survey of the Rye Patch KGRA, Rye Patch, Nevada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mcdonald, M. R.; Gosnold, W. D.

2011-12-01

The Rye Patch Known Geothermal Resource Area (KGRA) is located in Pershing County Nevada on the west side of the Humboldt Range and east of the Rye Patch Reservoir approximately 200 km northeast of Reno, Nevada. Previous studies include an earlier gravity survey, 3-D seismic reflection, vertical seismic profiling (VSP) on a single well, 3-D seismic imaging, and a report of the integrated seismic studies. Recently, Presco Energy conducted an aeromagnetic survey and is currently in the process of applying 2-D VSP methods to target exploration and production wells at the site. These studies have indicated that geothermal fluid flow primarily occurs along faults and fractures and that two potential aquifers include a sandstone/siltstone member of the Triassic Natchez Pass Formation and a karst zone that occurs at the interface between Mesozoic limestone and Tertiary volcanics. We hypothesized that addition of a high-resolution gravity survey would better define the locations, trends, lengths, and dip angles of faults and possible solution cavity features. The gravity survey encompassed an area of approximately 78 km2 (30 mi2) within the boundary of the KGRA along with portions of 8 sections directly to the west and 8 sections directly to the east. The survey included 203 stations that were spaced at 400 m intervals. The simple Bouguer anomaly patterns were coincident with elevation, and those patterns remained after terrain corrections were performed. To remove this signal, the data were further processed using wave-length (bandpass) filtering techniques. The results of the filtering and comparison with the recent aeromagnetic survey indicate that the location and trend of major fault systems can be identified using this technique. Dip angles can be inferred by the anomaly contour gradients. By further reductions in the bandpass window, other features such as possible karst solution channels may also be recognizable. Drilling or other geophysical methods such as a magnetotelluric survey may assist in confirming the results. However, lengths of the features were difficult to interpret as the wavelength filtering tends to truncate features in accordance with the bandpass window. Additional gravity measurements would aid in providing higher resolution for the identification and interpretation of features, particularly in the vicinity of the Humboldt House to the north and in an area located to the south of the study area where a large feature was identified in both the aeromagnetic and gravity surveys.

Improving Survey Methods with Cognitive Interviews in Small- and Medium-Scale Evaluations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ryan, Katherine; Gannon-Slater, Nora; Culbertson, Michael J.

2012-01-01

Findings derived from self-reported, structured survey questionnaires are commonly used in evaluation and applied research to inform policy-making and program decisions. Although there are a variety of issues related to the quality of survey evidence (e.g., sampling precision), the validity of response processes--how respondents process thoughts…

Information Processing, Personnel Survey, 1968.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nehama, Isaac D.; Davis, Malcolm R.

The principal objectives of the survey were: (1) to obtain data characterizing the professional make-up of the members of the participating societies. The data was to be descriptive of professional categories, activities and other factors of employment in the field of information processing and (2) to make the results of the survey available to…

Design and methodology of a mixed methods follow-up study to the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey

PubMed Central

Staveteig, Sarah; Aryeetey, Richmond; Anie-Ansah, Michael; Ahiadeke, Clement; Ortiz, Ladys

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Background: The intended meaning behind responses to standard questions posed in large-scale health surveys are not always well understood. Systematic follow-up studies, particularly those which pose a few repeated questions followed by open-ended discussions, are well positioned to gauge stability and consistency of data and to shed light on the intended meaning behind survey responses. Such follow-up studies require extensive coordination and face challenges in protecting respondent confidentiality during the process of recontacting and reinterviewing participants. Objectives: We describe practical field strategies for undertaking a mixed methods follow-up study during a large-scale health survey. Methods: The study was designed as a mixed methods follow-up study embedded within the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). The study was implemented in 13 clusters. Android tablets were used to import reference data from the parent survey and to administer the questionnaire, which asked a mixture of closed- and open-ended questions on reproductive intentions, decision-making, and family planning. Results: Despite a number of obstacles related to recontacting respondents and concern about respondent fatigue, over 92 percent of the selected sub-sample were successfully recontacted and reinterviewed; all consented to audio recording. A confidential linkage between GDHS data, follow-up tablet data, and audio transcripts was successfully created for the purpose of analysis. Conclusions: We summarize the challenges in follow-up study design, including ethical considerations, sample size, auditing, filtering, successful use of tablets, and share lessons learned for future such follow-up surveys. PMID:28145817

Survey of English Teaching and Learning Process in Maritme Education and Training in Indonesia: A Case Study in Private MET in Indonesia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dirgayasa, I Wy.

2014-01-01

This paper intends to evaluate the process of teaching and learning of Maritime English in private Maritime Education and Training (MET) in Indonesia. This study was conducted in three private MET such as Maritime Academy Indonesia Medan (AMI-Medan), Maritime Academy Belawan (AMB-Belawan,), and Maritime Academy Sapta Samudra Padang (AMSSP-Padang).…

Development and validation of the primary care team dynamics survey.

PubMed

Song, Hummy; Chien, Alyna T; Fisher, Josephine; Martin, Julia; Peters, Antoinette S; Hacker, Karen; Rosenthal, Meredith B; Singer, Sara J

2015-06-01

To develop and validate a survey instrument designed to measure team dynamics in primary care. We studied 1,080 physician and nonphysician health care professionals working at 18 primary care practices participating in a learning collaborative aimed at improving team-based care. We developed a conceptual model and administered a cross-sectional survey addressing team dynamics, and we assessed reliability and discriminant validity of survey factors and the overall survey's goodness-of-fit using structural equation modeling. We administered the survey between September 2012 and March 2013. Overall response rate was 68 percent (732 respondents). Results support a seven-factor model of team dynamics, suggesting that conditions for team effectiveness, shared understanding, and three supportive processes are associated with acting and feeling like a team and, in turn, perceived team effectiveness. This model demonstrated adequate fit (goodness-of-fit index: 0.91), scale reliability (Cronbach's alphas: 0.71-0.91), and discriminant validity (average factor correlations: 0.49). It is possible to measure primary care team dynamics reliably using a 29-item survey. This survey may be used in ambulatory settings to study teamwork and explore the effect of efforts to improve team-based care. Future studies should demonstrate the importance of team dynamics for markers of team effectiveness (e.g., work satisfaction, care quality, clinical outcomes). © Health Research and Educational Trust.

42 CFR 423.168 - Accreditation organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... any proposed changes in its accreditation standards or requirements or survey process. If the... application and enforcement of those standards to the comparable CMS requirements and processes when— (i) CMS imposes new requirements or changes its survey process; (ii) An accreditation organization proposes to...

42 CFR 423.168 - Accreditation organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... any proposed changes in its accreditation standards or requirements or survey process. If the... application and enforcement of those standards to the comparable CMS requirements and processes when— (i) CMS imposes new requirements or changes its survey process; (ii) An accreditation organization proposes to...

42 CFR 423.168 - Accreditation organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... any proposed changes in its accreditation standards or requirements or survey process. If the... application and enforcement of those standards to the comparable CMS requirements and processes when— (i) CMS imposes new requirements or changes its survey process; (ii) An accreditation organization proposes to...

42 CFR 423.168 - Accreditation organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... any proposed changes in its accreditation standards or requirements or survey process. If the... application and enforcement of those standards to the comparable CMS requirements and processes when— (i) CMS imposes new requirements or changes its survey process; (ii) An accreditation organization proposes to...

Integrated Survey Procedures for the Virtual Reading and Fruition of Historical Buildings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scandurra, S.; Pulcrano, M.; Cirillo, V.; Campi, M.; di Luggo, A.; Zerlenga, O.

2018-05-01

This paper presents the developments of research related to the integration of digital survey methodologies with reference to image-based and range-based technologies. Starting from the processing of point clouds, the data were processed for both the geometric interpretation of the space as well as production of three-dimensional models that describe the constitutive and morphological relationships. The subject of the study was the church of San Carlo all'Arena in Naples (Italy), with a HBIM model being produced that is semantically consistent with the real building. Starting from the data acquired, a visualization system was created for the virtual exploration of the building.

Investigation of test methods, material properties, and processes for solar cell encapsulants. Encapsulation task of the low-cost silicon solar array project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

During this quarter, flat-plate solar collector systems were considered and six basic construction elements were identified: outer coatings, superstrates, pottants, substrates, undercoats, and adhesives. Materials surveys were then initiated to discover either generic classes or/and specific products to function as each construction element. Cost data included in the surveys permit ready evaluation of each material. Silicones, fluorocarbons, glass, and acrylic polymers have the highest inherent weatherability of materials studied to date. Only acrylics, however, combine low costs, environmental resistance, and potential processability. This class will receive particular emphasis.

Status and Path Forward for the Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR) Mission Concept Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crooke, Julie A.; Roberge, Aki; Domagal-Goldman, Shawn D.; Mandell, Avram M.; Bolcar, Matthew R.; Rioux, Norman M.; Perez, Mario R.; Smith, Erin C.

2016-01-01

In preparation of the 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has commenced a process for the astronomical community to study several large mission concepts leveraging the lessons learned from past Decadal Surveys. This will enable the Decadal Survey committee to make more informed recommendations to NASA on its astrophysics science and mission priorities with respect to cost and risk. Four astrophysics large mission concepts were identified. Each of them had a Science and Technology Definition Teem(STDT) chartered to produce scientifically compelling, feasible, and executable design reference mission (DRM)concepts to present to the 2020 Decadal Survey. In addition, The Aerospace Corporation will perform an independent cost and technical evaluation (CATE) of each of these mission concept studies in advance of the 2020 Decadal Survey by interacting with the STDTs to provide detailed technical details on certain areas for which deep dives are appropriate. This paper presents the status and path forward for one of the four large mission concepts, namely, the Large UltraViolet, Optical, InfraRed surveyor (LUVOIR).

Status and path forward for the large ultraviolet/optical/infrared surveyor (LUVOIR) mission concept study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crooke, Julie A.; Roberge, Aki; Domagal-Goldman, Shawn D.; Mandell, Avi M.; Bolcar, Matthew R.; Rioux, Norman M.; Perez, Mario R.; Smith, Erin C.

2016-07-01

In preparation of the 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has commenced a process for the astronomical community to study several large mission concepts leveraging the lessons learned from past Decadal Surveys. This will enable the Decadal Survey committee to make more informed recommendations to NASA on its astrophysics science and mission priorities with respect to cost and risk. Four astrophysics large mission concepts were identified. Each of them had a Science and Technology Definition Teem (STDT) chartered to produce scientifically compelling, feasible, and executable design reference mission (DRM) concepts to present to the 2020 Decadal Survey. In addition, The Aerospace Corporation will perform an independent cost and technical evaluation (CATE) of each of these mission concept studies in advance of the 2020 Decadal Survey, by interacting with the STDTs to provide detailed technical details on certain areas for which "deep dives" are appropriate. This paper presents the status and path forward for one of the four large mission concepts, namely, the Large UltraViolet, Optical, InfraRed surveyor (LUVOIR).

1995 American travel survey : an overview of the survey design and methodology

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-01-01

This paper describes the methods used in the 1995 ATS. The introduction provides an overview of : the purpose and objectives of the survey followed by a description of the survey and sample designs, survey field operations, and processing of survey d...

Physician performance feedback in a Canadian academic center.

PubMed

Garvin, Dennis; Worthington, James; McGuire, Shaun; Burgetz, Stephanie; Forster, Alan J; Patey, Andrea; Gerin-Lajoie, Caroline; Turnbull, Jeffrey; Roth, Virginia

2017-10-02

Purpose This paper aims at the implementation and early evaluation of a comprehensive, formative annual physician performance feedback process in a large academic health-care organization. Design/methodology/approach A mixed methods approach was used to introduce a formative feedback process to provide physicians with comprehensive feedback on performance and to support professional development. This initiative responded to organization-wide engagement surveys through which physicians identified effective performance feedback as a priority. In 2013, physicians primarily affiliated with the organization participated in a performance feedback process, and physician satisfaction and participant perceptions were explored through participant survey responses and physician leader focus groups. Training was required for physician leaders prior to conducting performance feedback discussions. Findings This process was completed by 98 per cent of eligible physicians, and 30 per cent completed an evaluation survey. While physicians endorsed the concept of a formative feedback process, process improvement opportunities were identified. Qualitative analysis revealed the following process improvement themes: simplify the tool, ensure leaders follow process, eliminate redundancies in data collection (through academic or licensing requirements) and provide objective quality metrics. Following physician leader training on performance feedback, 98 per cent of leaders who completed an evaluation questionnaire agreed or strongly agreed that the performance feedback process was useful and that training objectives were met. Originality/value This paper introduces a physician performance feedback model, leadership training approach and first-year implementation outcomes. The results of this study will be useful to health administrators and physician leaders interested in implementing physician performance feedback or improving physician engagement.

Side-scan sonar mapping: Pseudo-real-time processing and mosaicking techniques

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

Danforth, W.W.; Schwab, W.C.; O'Brien, T.F.

1990-05-01

The US Geological Survey (USGS) surveyed 1,000 km{sup 2} of the continental shelf off San Francisco during a 17-day cruise, using a 120-kHz side-scan sonar system, and produced a digitally processed sonar mosaic of the survey area. The data were processed and mosaicked in real time using software developed at the Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory and modified by the USGS, a substantial task due to the enormous amount of data produced by high-resolution side-scan systems. Approximately 33 megabytes of data were acquired every 1.5 hr. The real-time sonar images were displayed on a PC-based workstation and the data were transferred tomore » a UNIX minicomputer where the sonar images were slant-range corrected, enhanced using an averaging method of desampling and a linear-contrast stretch, merged with navigation, geographically oriented at a user-selected scale, and finally output to a thermal printer. The hard-copy output was then used to construct a mosaic of the survey area. The final product of this technique is a UTM-projected map-mosaic of sea-floor backscatter variations, which could be used, for example, to locate appropriate sites for sediment sampling to ground truth the sonar imagery while still at sea. More importantly, reconnaissance surveys of this type allow for the analysis and interpretation of the mosaic during a cruise, thus greatly reducing the preparation time needed for planning follow-up studies of a particular area.« less

Developing a test-bed for robust research governance of geoengineering: the contribution of ocean iron biogeochemistry

PubMed Central

Bressac, Matthieu

2016-01-01

Geoengineering to mitigate climate change has long been proposed, but remains nebulous. Exploration of the feasibility of geoengineering first requires the development of research governance to move beyond the conceptual towards scientifically designed pilot studies. Fortuitously, 12 mesoscale (approx. 1000 km2) iron enrichments, funded to investigate how ocean iron biogeochemistry altered Earth's carbon cycle in the geological past, provide proxies to better understand the benefits and drawbacks of geoengineering. The utility of these iron enrichments in the geoengineering debate is enhanced by the GEOTRACES global survey. Here, we outline how GEOTRACES surveys and process studies can provide invaluable insights into geoengineering. Surveys inform key unknowns including the regional influence and magnitude of modes of iron supply, and stimulate iron biogeochemical modelling. These advances will enable quantification of interannual variability of iron supply to assess whether any future purposeful multi-year iron-fertilization meets the principle of ‘additionality’ (sensu Kyoto protocol). Process studies address issues including upscaling of geoengineering, and how differing iron-enrichment strategies could stimulate wide-ranging biogeochemical outcomes. In summary, the availability of databases on both mesoscale iron-enrichment studies and the GEOTRACES survey, along with modelling, policy initiatives and legislation have positioned the iron-enrichment approach as a robust multifaceted test-bed to assess proposed research into climate intervention. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Biological and climatic impacts of ocean trace element chemistry’. PMID:29035263

Developing a test-bed for robust research governance of geoengineering: the contribution of ocean iron biogeochemistry.

PubMed

Boyd, Philip W; Bressac, Matthieu

2016-11-28

Geoengineering to mitigate climate change has long been proposed, but remains nebulous. Exploration of the feasibility of geoengineering first requires the development of research governance to move beyond the conceptual towards scientifically designed pilot studies. Fortuitously, 12 mesoscale (approx. 1000 km 2 ) iron enrichments, funded to investigate how ocean iron biogeochemistry altered Earth's carbon cycle in the geological past, provide proxies to better understand the benefits and drawbacks of geoengineering. The utility of these iron enrichments in the geoengineering debate is enhanced by the GEOTRACES global survey. Here, we outline how GEOTRACES surveys and process studies can provide invaluable insights into geoengineering. Surveys inform key unknowns including the regional influence and magnitude of modes of iron supply, and stimulate iron biogeochemical modelling. These advances will enable quantification of interannual variability of iron supply to assess whether any future purposeful multi-year iron-fertilization meets the principle of 'additionality' ( sensu Kyoto protocol). Process studies address issues including upscaling of geoengineering, and how differing iron-enrichment strategies could stimulate wide-ranging biogeochemical outcomes. In summary, the availability of databases on both mesoscale iron-enrichment studies and the GEOTRACES survey, along with modelling, policy initiatives and legislation have positioned the iron-enrichment approach as a robust multifaceted test-bed to assess proposed research into climate intervention.This article is part of the themed issue 'Biological and climatic impacts of ocean trace element chemistry'. © 2016 The Author(s).

A Survey of Adverse Event Reporting Practices Among US Healthcare Professionals.

PubMed

Stergiopoulos, Stella; Brown, Carrie A; Felix, Thomas; Grampp, Gustavo; Getz, Kenneth A

2016-11-01

The under-reporting of adverse drug events (ADEs) is an international health concern. A number of studies have assessed the root causes but, to our knowledge, little information exists relating under-reporting to practices and systems used for the recording and tracking of drug-related adverse event observations in ambulatory settings, institutional settings, and retail pharmacies. Our objective was to explore the process for reporting ADEs in US hospitals, ambulatory settings, and retail pharmacies; to explore gaps and inconsistencies in the reporting process; and to identify the causes of under-reporting ADEs in these settings. The Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (Tufts CSDD) interviewed 11 thought leaders and conducted a survey between May and August 2014 among US-based healthcare providers (HCPs) in diverse settings to assess their experiences with, and processes for, reporting ADEs. A total of 123 individuals completed the survey (42 % were pharmacists; 27 % were nurses; 15 % were physicians; and 16 % were classified as 'other'). HCPs indicated that the main reasons for under-reporting were difficulty in determining the cause of the ADE, given that most patients receive multiple therapies simultaneously (66 % of respondents); that HCPs lack sufficient time to report ADEs (63 % of respondents); poor integration of ADE-reporting systems (53 % of respondents); and uncertainty about reporting procedures (52 % of respondents). The results of this pilot study identify that key factors contributing to the under-reporting of ADEs relate to a lack of standardized process, a lack of training and education, and a lack of integrated health information technologies.

Evaluation of feedback interventions for improving the quality assurance of cancer screening in Japan: study design and report of the baseline survey.

PubMed

Machii, Ryoko; Saika, Kumiko; Higashi, Takahiro; Aoki, Ayako; Hamashima, Chisato; Saito, Hiroshi

2012-02-01

The importance of quality assurance in cancer screening has recently gained increasing attention in Japan. To evaluate and improve quality, checklists and process indicators have been developed. To explore effective methods of enhancing quality in cancer screening, we started a randomized control study of the methods of evaluation and feedback for cancer control from 2009 to 2014. We randomly assigned 1270 municipal governments, equivalent to 71% of all Japanese municipal governments that performed screening programs, into three groups. The high-intensity intervention groups (n = 425) were individually evaluated using both checklist performance and process indicator values, while the low-intensity intervention groups (n= 421) were individually evaluated on the basis of only checklist performance. The control group (n = 424) received only a basic report that included the national average of checklist performance scores. We repeated the survey for each municipality's quality assurance activity performance using checklists and process indicators. In this paper, we report our study design and the result of the baseline survey. The checklist adherence rates were especially low in the checklist elements related to invitation of individuals, detailed monitoring of process indicators such as cancer detection rates according to screening histories and appropriate selection of screening facilities. Screening rate and percentage of examinees who underwent detailed examination tended to be lower for large cities when compared with smaller cities for all cancer sites. The performance of the Japanese cancer screening program in 2009 was identified for the first time.

The composing process of technical writers: A preliminary study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mair, D.; Roundy, N.

1981-01-01

The assumption that technical writers compose as do other writers is tested. The literature on the composing process, not limited to the pure or applied sciences, was reviewed, yielding three areas of general agreement. The composing process (1) consists of several stages, (2) is reflexive, and (3) may be mastered by means of strategies. Data on the ways technical writers compose were collected, and findings were related to the three areas of agreement. Questionnaires and interviews surveying 70 writers were used. The disciplines represented by these writers included civil, chemical, agricultural, geological, mechanical, electrical, and petroleum engineering, chemistry, hydrology, geology, and biology. Those providing consulting services, or performing research. No technical editors or professional writers were surveyed, only technicians, engineers, and researchers whose jobs involved composing reports. Three pedagogical implications are included.

Choices and changes: Eccles' Expectancy-Value model and upper-secondary school students' longitudinal reflections about their choice of a STEM education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lykkegaard, Eva; Ulriksen, Lars

2016-03-01

During the past 30 years, Eccles' comprehensive social-psychological Expectancy-Value Model of Motivated Behavioural Choices (EV-MBC model) has been proven suitable for studying educational choices related to Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics (STEM). The reflections of 15 students in their last year in upper-secondary school concerning their choice of tertiary education were examined using quantitative EV-MBC surveys and repeated qualitative interviews. This article presents the analyses of three cases in detail. The analytical focus was whether the factors indicated in the EV-MBC model could be used to detect significant changes in the students' educational choice processes. An important finding was that the quantitative EV-MBC surveys and the qualitative interviews gave quite different results concerning the students' considerations about the choice of tertiary education, and that significant changes in the students' reflections were not captured by the factors of the EV-MBC model. This questions the validity of the EV-MBC surveys. Moreover, the quantitative factors from the EV-MBC model did not sufficiently explain students' dynamical educational choice processes where students in parallel considered several different potential educational trajectories. We therefore call for further studies of the EV-MBC model's use in describing longitudinal choice processes and especially in investigating significant changes.

Textural Analysis and Substrate Classification in the Nearshore Region of Lake Superior Using High-Resolution Multibeam Bathymetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dennison, Andrew G.

Classification of the seafloor substrate can be done with a variety of methods. These methods include Visual (dives, drop cameras); mechanical (cores, grab samples); acoustic (statistical analysis of echosounder returns). Acoustic methods offer a more powerful and efficient means of collecting useful information about the bottom type. Due to the nature of an acoustic survey, larger areas can be sampled, and by combining the collected data with visual and mechanical survey methods provide greater confidence in the classification of a mapped region. During a multibeam sonar survey, both bathymetric and backscatter data is collected. It is well documented that the statistical characteristic of a sonar backscatter mosaic is dependent on bottom type. While classifying the bottom-type on the basis on backscatter alone can accurately predict and map bottom-type, i.e a muddy area from a rocky area, it lacks the ability to resolve and capture fine textural details, an important factor in many habitat mapping studies. Statistical processing of high-resolution multibeam data can capture the pertinent details about the bottom-type that are rich in textural information. Further multivariate statistical processing can then isolate characteristic features, and provide the basis for an accurate classification scheme. The development of a new classification method is described here. It is based upon the analysis of textural features in conjunction with ground truth sampling. The processing and classification result of two geologically distinct areas in nearshore regions of Lake Superior; off the Lester River,MN and Amnicon River, WI are presented here, using the Minnesota Supercomputer Institute's Mesabi computing cluster for initial processing. Processed data is then calibrated using ground truth samples to conduct an accuracy assessment of the surveyed areas. From analysis of high-resolution bathymetry data collected at both survey sites is was possible to successfully calculate a series of measures that describe textural information about the lake floor. Further processing suggests that the features calculated capture a significant amount of statistical information about the lake floor terrain as well. Two sources of error, an anomalous heave and refraction error significantly deteriorated the quality of the processed data and resulting validate results. Ground truth samples used to validate the classification methods utilized for both survey sites, however, resulted in accuracy values ranging from 5 -30 percent at the Amnicon River, and between 60-70 percent for the Lester River. The final results suggest that this new processing methodology does adequately capture textural information about the lake floor and does provide an acceptable classification in the absence of significant data quality issues.

Peer review in hematopoietic cell transplantation: are we doing our fair share?

PubMed

Giralt, S; Korngold, R; Lazarus, H M

2016-09-01

Peer review is believed to be important in maintaining the quality and integrity of research in academic endeavors. Recently, the value of the current peer review process, which is more than 100 years old has come into question. In the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), peer review was unable to prevent the publication of the largest and most notorious scientific fraud in our field. In order to assess how the HCT community views and how engaged it is with the peer review process, the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation conducted a survey of all of its members in 2014. The survey was sent to all active members through multiple email communications in August and September 2014. Of a total of 1183 members, 149 responded. Almost all of the respondents had participated in the peer review process, with few respondents declining ever to review manuscripts. The most common cause for declining review requests was lack of time. Most respondents (68%) thought that the current peer review process was relatively fair and unbiased, whereas only 9% of the respondents stated that they did not believe in the peer review process. In conclusion, among the respondents of this survey most felt the peer review process to be valuable and fair, however, the lack of response suggests that further study into improving the peer review process in the field of HCT is warranted in the era of electronic publishing and communication.

Institutional Conservation Program evaluation project: Results of elementary and secondary education survey pretest

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

Collins, N.E.; Carroll, W.L.; Gaines, L.L.

As part of a study of energy conservation efforts in schools and hospitals and an evaluation of the Institutional Conservation Program sponsored by the US Department of Energy, survey instruments that will be sent to large numbers of elementary and secondary schools and school districts were pretested. The survey instruments solicit information on energy conservation activities, decision-making processes, and energy use. The pretest had several purposes, including identification of problems in the survey instruments' formats and in the wording of instructions and questions; it also helped in establishing the sampling strategy for the survey itself. Both site visits and mailingsmore » were used in the pretest. This report covers all aspects of the pretest. Characteristics of the pretest schools, districts, and interviewees are discussed in narrative summaries. Pretest procedures are described and responses to some of the survey questions are provided.« less

HTA and decision-making processes in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe: Results from a survey.

PubMed

García-Mochón, Leticia; Espín Balbino, Jaime; Olry de Labry Lima, Antonio; Caro Martinez, Araceli; Martin Ruiz, Eva; Pérez Velasco, Román

2017-03-31

To gain knowledge and insights on health technology assessment (HTA) and decision-making processes in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe (CESEE) countries. A cross-sectional study was performed. Based on the literature, a questionnaire was developed in a multi-stage process. The questionnaire was arranged according to 5 broad domains: (i) introduction/country settings; (ii) use of HTA in the country; (iii) decision-making process; (iv) implementation of decisions; and (v) HTA and decision-making: future challenges. Potential survey respondents were identified through literature review-with a total of 118 contacts from the 24 CESEE countries. From March to July 2014, the survey was administered via e-mail. A total of 22 questionnaires were received generating an 18.6% response rate, including 4 responses indicating that their institutions had no involvement in HTA. Most of the CESEE countries have entities under government mandates with advisory functions and different responsibilities for decision-making, but mainly in charge of the reimbursement and pricing of medicines. Other areas where discrepancies across countries were found include criteria for selecting technologies to be assessed, stakeholder involvement, evidence requirements, use of economic evaluation, and timeliness of HTA. A number of CESEE countries have created formal decision-making processes for which HTA is used. However, there is a high level of heterogeneity related to the degree of development of HTA structures, and the methods and processes followed. Further studies focusing on the countries from which information is scarcer and on the HTA of health technologies other than medicines are warranted. Reviews/comparative analyses. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

What motivates professionals to engage in the accreditation of healthcare organizations?

PubMed

Greenfield, David; Pawsey, Marjorie; Braithwaite, Jeffrey

2011-02-01

Motivated staff are needed to improve quality and safety in healthcare organizations. Stimulating and engaging staff to participate in accreditation processes is a considerable challenge. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of health executives, managers and frontline clinicians who participated in organizational accreditation processes: what motivated them to engage, and what benefits accrued? The setting was a large public teaching hospital undergoing a planned review of its accreditation status. A research protocol was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 30 staff with varied organizational roles, from different professions, to discuss their involvement in accreditation. Thematic analysis of the data was undertaken. The analysis identified three categories, each with sub-themes: accreditation response (reactions to accreditation and the value of surveys); survey issues (participation in the survey, learning through interactions and constraints) and documentation issues (self-assessment report, survey report and recommendations). Participants' occupational role focuses their attention to prioritize aspects of the accreditation process. Their motivations to participate and the benefits that accrue to them can be positively self-reinforcing. Participants have a desire to engage collaboratively with colleagues to learn and validate their efforts to improve. Participation in the accreditation process promoted a quality and safety culture that crossed organizational boundaries. The insights into worker motivation can be applied to engage staff to promote learning, overcome organizational boundaries and improve services. The findings can be applied to enhance involvement with accreditation and, more broadly, to other quality and safety activities.

Survey of United States neurosurgical residency program directors.

PubMed

Lunsford, L Dade; Kassam, Amin; Chang, Yue-Fang

2004-02-01

The field of neurosurgery in the United States faces many challenges. Neurosurgical program directors in the United States represent a logical source for inquiries about manpower issues, the training process, and Residency Review Committee (RRC) oversight. Ninety-one active residency program directors were sent an anonymous 31-question survey. The respondents were given the option of adding additional comments. The questions were designed to address issues related to manpower, the training process, and RRC governance. Sixty-one responses were returned before an email reminder and 11 after the reminder (a total response rate of 79%). The data were entered into a database, and a descriptive analysis, with frequency distribution, was performed. The purpose of this review was to gain a preliminary understanding of the perceptions of program directors regarding the neurosurgical training process, the RRC, the oversight process, and projected manpower needs. A 79% response rate is high for a mail survey and likely reflects heightened concern and interest in such issues. The survey responses indicate general satisfaction with the role and governance of the RRC, significantly divergent perceptions of resident output and available positions, and serious concerns regarding the current training process. This survey suggests that a broader discussion of resident training issues would be valuable, perhaps using validated survey instruments.

First-Term Reenlistment Quality Study (FITREQUEST).

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-11-01

Nonsupport of Family Trainability Recycled During Initial Unit Inspections Entry Training*I Reports of Survey Resists Authority Retraining 8DE (GRAD...will constitute and chair a SAG to monitor study process. (3) ODCSPER will prepare ad submit DD Porn 1498 and final study documents to WIC. d

Automated management for pavement inspection system (AMPIS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Hung Chi; Girardello, Roberto; Soeller, Tony; Shinozuka, Masanobu

2003-08-01

An automated in-situ road surface distress surveying and management system, AMPIS, has been developed on the basis of video images within the framework of GIS software. Video image processing techniques are introduced to acquire, process and analyze the road surface images obtained from a moving vehicle. ArcGIS platform is used to integrate the routines of image processing and spatial analysis in handling the full-scale metropolitan highway surface distress detection and data fusion/management. This makes it possible to present user-friendly interfaces in GIS and to provide efficient visualizations of surveyed results not only for the use of transportation engineers to manage road surveying documentations, data acquisition, analysis and management, but also for financial officials to plan maintenance and repair programs and further evaluate the socio-economic impacts of highway degradation and deterioration. A review performed in this study on fundamental principle of Pavement Management System (PMS) and its implementation indicates that the proposed approach of using GIS concept and its tools for PMS application will reshape PMS into a new information technology-based system providing a convenient and efficient pavement inspection and management.

GIS-based automated management of highway surface crack inspection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Hung-Chi; Shinozuka, Masanobu; Soeller, Tony; Girardello, Roberto

2004-07-01

An automated in-situ road surface distress surveying and management system, AMPIS, has been developed on the basis of video images within the framework of GIS software. Video image processing techniques are introduced to acquire, process and analyze the road surface images obtained from a moving vehicle. ArcGIS platform is used to integrate the routines of image processing and spatial analysis in handling the full-scale metropolitan highway surface distress detection and data fusion/management. This makes it possible to present user-friendly interfaces in GIS and to provide efficient visualizations of surveyed results not only for the use of transportation engineers to manage road surveying documentations, data acquisition, analysis and management, but also for financial officials to plan maintenance and repair programs and further evaluate the socio-economic impacts of highway degradation and deterioration. A review performed in this study on fundamental principle of Pavement Management System (PMS) and its implementation indicates that the proposed approach of using GIS concept and its tools for PMS application will reshape PMS into a new information technology-based system that can provide convenient and efficient pavement inspection and management.

University Strategic Planning: A Process for Change in a Principal Preparation Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guerra, Federico R.; Zamora, Roberto; Hernandez, Rosalinda; Menchaca, Velma

2017-01-01

This study describes a strategic planning process used for developing an educational leadership program that prepares principals for leading 21st century schools. The plan is based on recommendations received from the External reviewers representing Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Texas Education Agency, survey responses received…

The Cognitive Processes Associated with Occupational/Career Indecision: A Model for Gifted Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jung, Jae Yup

2013-01-01

This study developed and tested a new model of the cognitive processes associated with occupational/career indecision for gifted adolescents. A survey instrument with rigorous psychometric properties, developed from a number of existing instruments, was administered to a sample of 687 adolescents attending three academically selective high schools…

Information Competencies and Their Implementation in the Educational Process of Polish Universities Exploratory Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tonakiewicz-Kolosowska, Anna; Socik, Iwona; Gajewska, Monika

2016-01-01

The authors present the development and perspectives of improving the quality of Information Literacy programmes in Polish technical universities, considering the Bologna Process and the general conditions of the Polish higher education system. The survey conducted in selected technical and medical universities provided an overview of changes…

Does ERP Hands-On Experience Help Students Learning Business Process Concepts?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rienzo, Thomas; Han, Bernard

2011-01-01

Over the past decade, more and more business schools are attempting to teach business processes (BPs) by using enterprise resource planning (ERP) software in their curricula. Currently, most studies involving ERP software in the academy have concentrated on learning and teaching via self-assessment surveys or curriculum integration. This research…

Active Parent Consent for Health Surveys with Urban Middle School Students: Processes and Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Secor-Turner, Molly; Sieving, Renee; Widome, Rachel; Plowman, Shari; Vanden Berk, Eric

2010-01-01

Background: To achieve high participation rates and a representative sample, active parent consent procedures require a significant investment of study resources. The purpose of this article is to describe processes and outcomes of utilizing active parent consent procedures with sixth-grade students from urban, ethnically diverse, economically…

Survey Methods for Educators: Collaborative Survey Development (Part 1 of 3). REL 2016-163

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Irwin, Clare W.; Stafford, Erin T.

2016-01-01

This guide describes a five-step collaborative process that educators can use with other educators, researchers, and content experts to write or adapt questions and develop surveys for education contexts. This process allows educators to leverage the expertise of individuals within and outside of their organization to ensure a high-quality survey…

Knowledge and Attitudes of Produce and Seafood Processors and Food Safety Educators Regarding Nonthermal Processes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pivarnik, Lori F.; Richard, Nicole L.; Gable, Robert K.; Worobo, Randy W.

2016-01-01

A needs assessment survey was designed and administered to measure knowledge of and attitudes toward food safety impacts of nonthermal processing technologies of shellfish and produce industry personnel and extension educators. An online survey was sent via e-mail notification with the survey link through professional listserves. The survey…

Views of elementary school teachers towards students with cochlear implants inclusion in the process of education.

PubMed

Dulcić, Adinda; Bakota, Koraljka

2009-06-01

The paper reveals views of teachers in some regular elementary schools in the Republic of Croatia where students with cochlear implants, who are also rehabilitants of SUVAG Polyclinic, are educated. Survey aimed to research the views of teachers towards education. Survey included 98 teachers. Likert type scale was applied in order to identify the views of teachers towards students with hearing impairment. The survey was carried out in May 2007. Data were processed by SPSS for Windows program, version 13. Methods of descriptive statistics were applied to process frequencies of responds on variables for total sample and 3 statistically significant factors emerged by factor analysis. Results of this survey reveal that teachers have positive views towards inclusive education as a process which offers students with cochlear implants the possibility to socialize and achieve intellectual and emotional development. The survey suggests that the way of inclusion enforcement mostly satisfies the criteria specified for successful inclusion.

Exploring Vocational Evaluation Practices following Traumatic Brain Injury.

PubMed

Dillahunt-Aspillaga, Christina; Jorgensen Smith, Tammy; Hanson, Ardis; Ehlke, Sarah; Stergiou-Kita, Mary; Dixon, Charlotte G; Quichocho, Davina

2015-01-01

Individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) face many challenges when attempting to return to work (RTW). Vocational evaluation (VE) is a systematic process that involves assessment and appraisal of an individual's current work-related characteristics and abilities. The aims of this study are to (1) examine demographic and employment characteristics of vocational rehabilitation providers (VRPs), (2) identify the specific evaluation methods that are used in the VE of individuals with TBI, and (3) examine the differences in assessment method practices based upon evaluator assessment preferences. This exploratory case study used a forty-six-item online survey which was distributed to VRPs. One hundred and nine VRPs accessed the survey. Of these, 74 completed the survey. A majority of respondents were female (79.7%), Caucasian (71.6%), and holding a master's degree (74.3%), and more than half (56.8%) were employed as state vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRCs). In addition, over two-thirds (67.6%) were certified rehabilitation counselors (CRCs). Respondents reported using several specific tools and assessments during the VE process. Study findings reveal differences in use of and rationales for specific assessments amongst VRPs. Understanding VRP assessment practices and use of an evidence-based framework for VE following TBI may inform and improve VE practice.

A proposed model to conduct process and outcome evaluations and implementation research of child health programs in Africa using integrated community case management as an example.

PubMed

Diaz, Theresa; Guenther, Tanya; Oliphant, Nicholas P; Muñiz, Maria

2014-12-01

To use a newly devised set of criteria to review the study design and scope of collection of process, outcomes and contextual data for evaluations and implementation research of integrated community case management (iCCM) in Sub-Saharan African. We examined 24 program evaluations and implementation research studies of iCCM in sub-Saharan Africa conducted in the last 5 years (2008-2013), assessed the design used and categorized them according to whether or not they collected sufficient information to conduct process and outcome evaluations. Five of the 24 studies used a stepped wedge design and two were randomized control trials. The remaining 17 were quasi-experimental of which 10 had comparison areas; however, not all comparison areas had a pre and post household survey. With regard to process data, 22 of the studies collected sufficient information to report on implementation strength, and all, except one, could report on program implementation. Most common missing data elements were health facility treatments, service costs, and qualitative data to assess demand. For the measurement of program outcomes, 7 of the 24 studies had a year or less of implementation at scale before the endline survey, 6 of the household surveys did not collect point of service, 10 did not collect timeliness (care seeking within 24 hours of symptoms) and 12 did not have socioeconomic (SES) information. Among the 16 studies with comparison areas, only 5 randomly selected comparison areas, while 10 had appropriate comparison areas. Several evaluations were done too soon after implementation, lacked information on health facility treatments, costs, demand, timeliness or SES and/or did not have a counterfactual. We propose several study designs and minimal data elements to be collected to provide sufficient information to assess whether iCCM increased timely coverage of treatment for the neediest children in a cost-efficient manner.

Aeromagnetic map compilation: Procedures for merging and an example from Washington

USGS Publications Warehouse

Finn, C.

1999-01-01

Rocks in Antarctica and offshore have widely diverse magnetic properties. Consequently, aeromagnetic data collected there can improve knowledge of the geologic, tectonic and geothermal characteristics of the region. Aeromagnetic data can map concealed structures such as faults, folds and dikes, ascertain basin thickness and locate buried volcanic, as well as some intrusive and metamorphic rocks. Gridded, composite data sets allow a view of continental-scale trends that individual data sets do not provide and link widely-separated areas of outcrop and disparate geologic studies. Individual magnetic surveys must be processed so that they match adjacent surveys prior to merging. A consistent representation of the Earth's magnetic field (International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF)) must be removed from each data set. All data sets need to be analytically continued to the same flight elevation with their datums shifted to match adjacent data. I advocate minimal processing to best represent the individual surveys in the merged compilation. An example of a compilation of aeromagnetic surveys from Washington illustrates the utility of aeromagnetic maps for providing synoptic views of regional tectonic features.

Near-real-time mosaics from high-resolution side-scan sonar

USGS Publications Warehouse

Danforth, William W.; O'Brien, Thomas F.; Schwab, W.C.

1991-01-01

High-resolution side-scan sonar has proven to be a very effective tool for stuyding and understanding the surficial geology of the seafloor. Since the mid-1970s, the US Geological Survey has used high-resolution side-scan sonar systems for mapping various areas of the continental shelf. However, two problems typically encountered included the short range and the high sampling rate of high-resolution side-scan sonar systems and the acquisition and real-time processing of the enormous volume of sonar data generated by high-resolution suystems. These problems were addressed and overcome in August 1989 when the USGS conducted a side-scan sonar and bottom sampling survey of a 1000-sq-km section of the continental shelf in the Gulf of Farallones located offshore of San Francisco. The primary goal of this survey was to map an area of critical interest for studying continental shelf sediment dynamics. This survey provided an opportunity to test an image processing scheme that enabled production of a side-scan sonar hard-copy mosaic during the cruise in near real-time.

Voice Blog: An Exploratory Study of Language Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sun, Yu-Chih

2009-01-01

This study uses voice blogs as a platform for an extensive study of language learners' speaking skills. To triangulate the findings, the study collected data by surveying the learners' blogging processes, investigating learning strategies, and conducting retrospective interviews. The results revealed that students (a) developed a series of…

Partnering with health care systems to assess tobacco treatment practices and beliefs among clinicians: evaluating the process.

PubMed

Celestin, Michael D; Hart, Alton; Moody-Thomas, Sarah

2014-05-29

Tobacco is a major cause of preventable illness and death. However, clinician use of an evidence-based guideline for treatment of tobacco use is low. This case study describes the process for conducting a pre-intervention assessment of clinician practices and beliefs regarding treatment of tobacco use. Louisiana State University Health System, one of the largest safety-net public hospital systems in the United States, consists of 10 facilities in population centers across the state of Louisiana. The system serves a large proportion of the state's underinsured and uninsured, low-income, and racial/ethnic minority populations, groups that have high rates of tobacco use. Activities included 1) partnering with hospital administrators to generate support for conducting a clinician assessment, 2) identifying and adapting a survey tool to assess clinicians' practices and beliefs regarding treatment of tobacco use, 3) developing a survey protocol and obtaining approval from the institutional review board, and 4) administering the survey electronically, using the hospital's e-mail system. Existing partnerships and system resources aided survey administration. Use of the hospital's internal e-mail system and distribution of an online survey were effective means to engage clinicians. Following notification, 43.6% of 4,508 clinicians opened their e-mail containing the invitation letter with a Web link to the survey; of these, 83.1% (1,634) completed the survey. Partnering with stakeholders and using existing resources within the health care system are essential to successful implementation of a system-wide survey of clinician practices and beliefs regarding treatment of tobacco use.

Using Systems Theory to Examine Patient and Nurse Structures, Processes, and Outcomes in Centralized and Decentralized Units.

PubMed

Real, Kevin; Fay, Lindsey; Isaacs, Kathy; Carll-White, Allison; Schadler, Aric

2018-01-01

This study utilizes systems theory to understand how changes to physical design structures impact communication processes and patient and staff design-related outcomes. Many scholars and researchers have noted the importance of communication and teamwork for patient care quality. Few studies have examined changes to nursing station design within a systems theory framework. This study employed a multimethod, before-and-after, quasi-experimental research design. Nurses completed surveys in centralized units and later in decentralized units ( N = 26 pre , N = 51 post ). Patients completed surveys ( N = 62 pre ) in centralized units and later in decentralized units ( N = 49 post ). Surveys included quantitative measures and qualitative open-ended responses. Patients preferred the decentralized units because of larger single-occupancy rooms, greater privacy/confidentiality, and overall satisfaction with design. Nurses had a more complex response. Nurses approved the patient rooms, unit environment, and noise levels in decentralized units. However, they reported reduced access to support spaces, lower levels of team/mentoring communication, and less satisfaction with design than in centralized units. Qualitative findings supported these results. Nurses were more positive about centralized units and patients were more positive toward decentralized units. The results of this study suggest a need to understand how system components operate in concert. A major contribution of this study is the inclusion of patient satisfaction with design, an important yet overlooked fact in patient satisfaction. Healthcare design researchers and practitioners may consider how changing system interdependencies can lead to unexpected changes to communication processes and system outcomes in complex systems.

Development and Implementation of Culturally Tailored Offline Mobile Health Surveys.

PubMed

McIntosh, Scott; Pérez-Ramos, José; Demment, Margaret M; Vélez Vega, Carmen; Avendaño, Esteban; Ossip, Deborah J; Dye, Timothy D

2016-06-02

In low and middle income countries (LMICs), and other areas with low resources and unreliable access to the Internet, understanding the emerging best practices for the implementation of new mobile health (mHealth) technologies is needed for efficient and secure data management and for informing public health researchers. Innovations in mHealth technology can improve on previous methods, and dissemination of project development details and lessons learned during implementation are needed to provide lessons learned to stakeholders in both the United States and LMIC settings. The aims of this paper are to share implementation strategies and lessons learned from the development and implementation stages of two survey research projects using offline mobile technology, and to inform and prepare public health researchers and practitioners to implement new mobile technologies in survey research projects in LMICs. In 2015, two survey research projects were developed and piloted in Puerto Rico and pre-tested in Costa Rica to collect face-to-face data, get formative evaluation feedback, and to test the feasibility of an offline mobile data collection process. Fieldwork in each setting involved survey development, back translation with cultural tailoring, ethical review and approvals, data collector training, and piloting survey implementation on mobile tablets. Critical processes and workflows for survey research projects in low resource settings were identified and implemented. This included developing a secure mobile data platform tailored to each survey, establishing user accessibility, and training and eliciting feedback from data collectors and on-site LMIC project partners. Formative and process evaluation strategies are necessary and useful for the development and implementation of survey research projects using emerging mHealth technologies in LMICs and other low resource settings. Lessons learned include: (1) plan institutional review board (IRB) approvals in multiple countries carefully to allow for development, implementation, and feedback, (2) in addition to testing the content of survey instruments, allow time and consideration for testing the use of novel mHealth technology (hardware and software), (3) incorporate training for and feedback from project staff, LMIC partner staff, and research participants, and (4) change methods accordingly, including content, as mHealth technology usage influences and is influenced by the content and structure of the survey instrument. Lessons learned from early phases of LMIC research projects using emerging mHealth technologies are critical for informing subsequent research methods and study designs.

Nursing perception of patient transitions from hospitals to home with home health.

PubMed

Smith, Shannon Bright; Alexander, Judith W

2012-01-01

The study's purpose was to determine nurses' opinions of sending patients from the hospital to home with home health services. The study occurred in the Charleston, South Carolina, Tricounty area (Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties). Home health agencies and hospitals were invited to participate. The study used a survey design to gather information on nursing perceptions of current practices and needed changes to improve transition of patients. The population was nurses (licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs)) employed at inpatient hospitals or home health agencies in the area. Thirty-four RNs responded with no LPNs respondents. Agency administrators/chief nursing officers agreed for their agencies to participate and distributed the survey using a Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) Internet-based survey tool. Using the survey results and information from a literature review, the study developed a list of propositions, which participating administrators reviewed, for improving transitions to home. Both home health and hospital nurses reported a need to improve the process of sending patients from hospital to home with home health services. This study provides hospitals and home health agencies with propositions to facilitate the establishment of a process to communicate effectively patients care needs and streamline the discharging patients from the hospital to home health care; thus, improving patient transition. Case managers and discharge planners will need interagency collaboration along with evidence-based interventions to transition patients from the hospital to home with home health services with various populations. Direct patient care nurses in both hospital and home health settings should share the same accountability as case managers to ensure successful transitions.

Perceptions of the laryngology Match: A survey of program directors and recent trainees.

PubMed

Formeister, Eric J; Courey, Mark S; Yung, Katherine C

2017-12-01

Evaluate program director and recent trainee perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of the laryngology Match. Web-based survey study. A Web-based survey study was distributed to program directors and recent laryngology trainees to evaluate perceptions of the laryngology Match. A 15-item questionnaire with free-form, Likert, and multiple selection answers was emailed to 115 recent/current trainees and 22 laryngology directors. Fifty-nine percent (13/22) of the program directors and 47% (54/115) of the recent trainees responded to the survey. There were significant increases in the number of programs applied to, interview offers received, and interviews attended by laryngology trainees who applied after adoption of the Match compared to those who applied prior to the Match. Seventy-one percent (22/31) of applicants after 2012 participated in the Match; those who did not accepted positions outside of the Match. Ninety-five percent (21/22) who applied through the Match successfully matched. Two-thirds of recent trainees and three-quarters of directors believe the Match process primarily benefits the applicant. The number of candidates interviewed per program approximately doubled from three to six after institution of the Match. Overall, both program directors and recent or current laryngology trainees have a positive perception of the laryngology match process. The Match process increased the number of applicants and interviews per year, which both directors and trainees believe increases an applicant's chance at successfully matching. NA. Laryngoscope, 127:2818-2822, 2017. © 2017 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Family Formation Processes: Assessing the Need for a New Nationally Representative Household Panel Survey in the United States

PubMed Central

Manning, Wendy D.

2015-01-01

The American family has undergone rapid transformation. Careful measurement attention to family formation is important because families are at the heart of numerous decisions, roles, and responsibilities with implications for understanding the well-being of families, adults and children. This paper considers whether there is a need for a new household panel study that addresses family formation. This paper consists of a review of the recent body of population-based, American surveys and finds a considerable gap in the ability to study the implications of families for the health and well-being of Americans. Earlier panel surveys used to assess family life anchored questions around marital events, but changes in family patterns require attention to a more diverse set of family forms. The paper concludes with recommendations for a multi-purpose panel study. The key challenge is to keep to pace with complexity and changes in American family life while at the same time maintaining a parsimonious set of survey questions. PMID:26612969

Delegation knowledge and practice among rehabilitation nurses.

PubMed

White, Mary Joe; Gutierrez, Ann; Davis, Kerry; Olson, Rhonda; McLaughlin, Celeste

2011-01-01

Delegation is an essential process that allows nurses to function more effectively and efficiently. The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses' (ARN) Southeast Texas Chapter research committee developed a survey to study registered nurses (RN) practices and knowledge of delegation to unlicensed assistive personnel. State boards of nursing determine delegation practices, so the survey was sent only to Texas ARN members. Benners' Novice to Expert theory was used to study delegation practices based on years of experience, certification, and education. Survey Monkey was used with a questionnaire developed by the research committee. Descriptive statistics analyzed data from the survey's 73 respondents, and chi-square measured significance of differences based on years of experience and certification (yes or no). Data show that delegation knowledge does not necessarily translate to practice, especially when looking at specific tasks performed by certified rehabilitation registered nurses (CRRNs) and non-CRRNs. The data support continued study of this important issue; 93.7% of respondents say delegation requires further discussion.

Measuring Advance Care Planning: Optimizing the Advance Care Planning Engagement Survey.

PubMed

Sudore, Rebecca L; Heyland, Daren K; Barnes, Deborah E; Howard, Michelle; Fassbender, Konrad; Robinson, Carole A; Boscardin, John; You, John J

2017-04-01

A validated 82-item Advance Care Planning (ACP) Engagement Survey measures a broad range of behaviors. However, concise surveys are needed. The objective of this study was to validate shorter versions of the survey. The survey included 57 process (e.g., readiness) and 25 action items (e.g., discussions). For item reduction, we systematically eliminated questions based on face validity, item nonresponse, redundancy, ceiling effects, and factor analysis. We assessed internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and construct validity with cross-sectional correlations and the ability of the progressively shorter survey versions to detect change one week after exposure to an ACP intervention (Pearson correlation coefficients). Five hundred one participants (four Canadian and three US sites) were included in item reduction (mean age 69 years [±10], 41% nonwhite). Because of high correlations between readiness and action items, all action items were removed. Because of high correlations and ceiling effects, two process items were removed. Successive factor analysis then created 55-, 34-, 15-, nine-, and four-item versions; 664 participants (from three US ACP clinical trials) were included in validity analysis (age 65 years [±8], 72% nonwhite, 34% Spanish speaking). Cronbach's alphas were high for all versions (four items 0.84-55 items 0.97). Compared with the original survey, cross-sectional correlations were high (four items 0.85; 55 items 0.97) as were delta correlations (four items 0.68; 55 items 0.93). Shorter versions of the ACP Engagement Survey are valid, internally consistent, and able to detect change across a broad range of ACP behaviors for English and Spanish speakers. Shorter ACP surveys can efficiently measure broad ACP behaviors in research and clinical settings. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Physician Practice Participation in Accountable Care Organizations: The Emergence of the Unicorn

PubMed Central

Shortell, Stephen M; McClellan, Sean R; Ramsay, Patricia P; Casalino, Lawrence P; Ryan, Andrew M; Copeland, Kennon R

2014-01-01

Objective To provide the first nationally based information on physician practice involvement in ACOs. Data Sources/Study Setting Primary data from the third National Survey of Physician Organizations (January 2012–May 2013). Study Design We conducted a 40-minute phone survey in a sample of physician practices. A nationally representative sample of practices was surveyed in order to provide estimates of organizational characteristics, care management processes, ACO participation, and related variables for four major chronic illnesses. Data Collection/Extraction Methods We evaluated the associations between ACO participation, organizational characteristics, and a 25-point index of patient-centered medical home processes. Principal Findings We found that 23.7 percent of physician practices (n = 280) reported joining an ACO; 15.7 percent (n = 186) were planning to become involved within the next 12 months and 60.6 percent (n = 717) reported no involvement and no plans to become involved. Larger practices, those receiving patients from an IPA and/or PHO, those that were physician-owned versus hospital/health system-owned, those located in New England, and those with greater patient-centered medical home (PCMH) care management processes were more likely to have joined an ACO. Conclusions Physician practices that are currently participating in ACOs appear to be relatively large, or to be members of an IPA or PHO, are less likely to be hospital-owned and are more likely to use more care management processes than nonparticipating practices. PMID:24628449

Evidence of biased processing of natural resource-related information: A study of attitudes toward drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Treesearch

Tara L. Teel; Alan D. Bright; Michael J. Manfredo; Jeffrey J. Brooks

2006-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which individuals process natural resource-related information in a biased manner. Data were gathered using surveys administered to students enrolled in undergraduate classes at Colorado State University. Students' attitudes toward Arctic drilling were evaluated both before and after they were exposed to...

Online questionnaire development: using film to engage participants and then gather attitudes towards the sharing of genomic data.

PubMed

Middleton, A; Bragin, E; Morley, K I; Parker, M

2014-03-01

How can a researcher engage a participant in a survey, when the subject matter may be perceived as 'challenging' or even be totally unfamiliar to the participant? The Genomethics study addressed this via the creation and delivery of a novel online questionnaire containing 10 integrated films. The films documented various ethical dilemmas raised by genomic technologies and the survey ascertained attitudes towards these. Participants were recruited into the research using social media, traditional media and email invitation. The film-survey strategy was successful: 11,336 initial hits on the survey website led to 6944 completed surveys. Participants included from those who knew nothing of the subject matter through to experts in the field of genomics (61% compliance rate), 72% of participants answered every single question. This paper summarises the survey design process and validation methods applied. The recruitment strategy and results from the survey are presented elsewhere. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Online questionnaire development: Using film to engage participants and then gather attitudes towards the sharing of genomic data☆

PubMed Central

Middleton, A.; Bragin, E.; Morley, K.I.; Parker, M

2014-01-01

How can a researcher engage a participant in a survey, when the subject matter may be perceived as ‘challenging’ or even be totally unfamiliar to the participant? The Genomethics study addressed this via the creation and delivery of a novel online questionnaire containing 10 integrated films. The films documented various ethical dilemmas raised by genomic technologies and the survey ascertained attitudes towards these. Participants were recruited into the research using social media, traditional media and email invitation. The film-survey strategy was successful: 11,336 initial hits on the survey website led to 6944 completed surveys. Participants included from those who knew nothing of the subject matter through to experts in the field of genomics (61% compliance rate), 72% of participants answered every single question. This paper summarises the survey design process and validation methods applied. The recruitment strategy and results from the survey are presented elsewhere. PMID:24468445

Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation Study: Quality Assurance Project Plan

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This supplement describes QA/QC aspects of the implementation of the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air's BASE protocol including: recruitment of study buildings, execution of field studies in each building, and the processing and coordination of each building's ata for final submittal to EPA.

SETI prototype system for NASA's Sky Survey microwave observing project - A progress report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klein, M. J.; Gulkis, S.; Wilck, H. C.

1990-01-01

Two complementary search strategies, a Targeted Search and a Sky Survey, are part of NASA's SETI microwave observing project scheduled to begin in October of 1992. The current progress in the development of hardware and software elements of the JPL Sky Survey data processing system are presented. While the Targeted Search stresses sensitivity allowing the detection of either continuous or pulsed signals over the 1-3 GHz frequency range, the Sky Survey gives up sensitivity to survey the 99 percent of the sky that is not covered by the Targeted Search. The Sky Survey spans a larger frequency range from 1-10 GHz. The two searches will deploy special-purpose digital signal processing equipment designed and built to automate the observing and data processing activities. A two-million channel digital wideband spectrum analyzer and a signal processor system will serve as a prototype for the SETI Sky Survey processor. The design will permit future expansion to meet the SETI requirement that the processor concurrently search for left and right circularly polarized signals.

Time-lapse electrical surveys to locate infiltration zones in weathered hard rock tropical areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wubda, M.; Descloitres, M.; Yalo, N.; Ribolzi, O.; Vouillamoz, J. M.; Boukari, M.; Hector, B.; Séguis, L.

2017-07-01

In West Africa, infiltration and groundwater recharge processes in hard rock areas are depending on climatic, surface and subsurface conditions, and are poorly documented. Part of the reason is that identification, location and monitoring of these processes is still a challenge. Here, we explore the potential for time-lapse electrical surveys to bring additional information on these processes for two different climate situations: a semi-arid Sahelian site (north of Burkina and a humid Sudanian site (north of Benin), respectively focusing on indirect (localized) and direct (diffuse) recharge processes. The methodology is based on surveys in dry season and rainy season on typical pond or gully using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and frequency electromagnetic (FEM) apparent conductivity mapping. The results show that in the Sahelian zone an indirect recharge occurs as expected, but infiltration doesn't takes place at the center of the pond to the aquifer, but occurs laterally in the banks. In Sudanian zone, the ERT survey shows a direct recharge process as expected, but also a complicated behavior of groundwater dilution, as well as the role of hardpans for fast infiltration. These processes are ascertained by groundwater monitoring in adjacent observing wells. At last, FEM time lapse mapping is found to be difficult to quantitatively interpreted due to the non-uniqueness of the model, clearly evidenced comparing FEM result to auger holes monitoring. Finally, we found that time-lapse ERT can be an efficient way to track infiltration processes across ponds and gullies in both climatic conditions, the Sahelian setting providing results easier to interpret, due to significant resistivity contrasts between dry and rain seasons. Both methods can be used for efficient implementation of punctual sensors for complementary studies. However, FEM time-lapse mapping remains difficult to practice without external information that renders this method less attractive for quantitative interpretation purposes.

Development and validation of Neonatal Satisfaction Survey--NSS-13.

PubMed

Hagen, Inger H; Vadset, Tove B; Barstad, Johan; Svindseth, Marit F

2015-06-01

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a survey to investigate parents' satisfaction with neonatal wards in a population of parents of children with a gestation age of ≥24 weeks to 3 months after full-term birth. We explored the literature and conducted three focus groups: two with expert health personnel and one with parents. We tested the survey in a parent population (N = 105) and report the different stages in the validation process along with the full survey, the Neonatal Satisfaction Survey - 13 categories (NSS-13). We found 13 subcategories in the Neonatal Satisfaction Survey. The subcategories measure parents' satisfaction with neonatal units based on staff, admission, nurses, anxiety, siblings (parents' perceptions of caring for the siblings of the newborn), information, timeout, doctors, facilities, nutrition, preparation for discharge, trust and visitors. Each subcategory showed acceptable internal consistency. The full version of the Neonatal Satisfaction Survey presents 69 items, and each subcategory contains two to eleven items. The Neonatal Satisfaction Survey seems suitable to measure parents' satisfaction with neonatal units and can be used in full, but it can also measure subcategories. Parents' satisfaction with neonatal units can be used to improve the quality in such wards. We consider this study as the first in a series to validate the NSS-13. The full survey with subcategories is presented in this paper. © 2014 Nordic College of Caring Science.

Multimethod Strategy for Assessing Program Fidelity: The National Evaluation of the Revised G.R.E.A.T. Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Esbensen, Finn-Aage; Matsuda, Kristy N.; Taylor, Terrance J.; Peterson, Dana

2011-01-01

This study reports the results of the process evaluation component of the Process and Outcome Evaluation of the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program. The process evaluation consisted of multiple methods to assess program fidelity: (a) observations of G.R.E.A.T. Officer Trainings (G.O.T); (b) surveys and interviews of…

Survey Methods for Educators: Selecting Samples and Administering Surveys (Part 2 of 3). REL 2016-160

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pazzaglia, Angela M.; Stafford, Erin T.; Rodriguez, Sheila M.

2016-01-01

This guide describes a five-step collaborative process that educators can use with other educators, researchers, and content experts to write or adapt questions and develop surveys for education contexts. This process allows educators to leverage the expertise of individuals within and outside of their organization to ensure a high-quality survey…

Survey Methods for Educators: Analysis and Reporting of Survey Data (Part 3 of 3). REL 2016-164

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pazzaglia, Angela M.; Stafford, Erin T.; Rodriguez, Sheila M.

2016-01-01

This guide describes a five-step collaborative process that educators can use with other educators, researchers, and content experts to write or adapt questions and develop surveys for education contexts. This process allows educators to leverage the expertise of individuals within and outside of their organization to ensure a high-quality survey…

Assessing risk of draft survey by AHP method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Guangcheng; Zhao, Kuimin; Zuo, Zhaoying; Liu, Gang; Jian, Binguo; Lin, Yan; Fan, Yukun; Wang, Fei

2018-04-01

The paper assesses the risks of vessel floating in the seawater for draft survey by using the analytic hierarchy process. On this basis, the paper established draft survey risk index from the view of draft reading, ballast water, fresh water, and calculation process and so on. Then the paper proposes the method to deal with risk assessment using one concrete sample.

Survey Instrument Validity Part II: Validation of a Survey Instrument Examining Athletic Trainers' Knowledge and Practice Beliefs Regarding Exertional Heat Stroke

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burton, Laura J.; Mazerolle, Stephanie M.

2011-01-01

Objective: The purpose of this article is to discuss the process of developing and validating an instrument to investigate an athletic trainer's attitudes and behaviors regarding the recognition and treatment of exertional heat stroke. Background: Following up from our initial paper, which discussed the process of survey instrument design and…

The process and organizational characteristics of memory clinics in Israel in 2007.

PubMed

Werner, Perla; Goldstein, Dovrat; Heinik, Jeremia

2009-01-01

We previously described the characteristics and activities of 25 memory clinics in Israel in 1998 using a mail survey. Questionnaires assessing the administrative structure of the clinics, patient characteristics, processes and methods used, and outcomes of the assessment were mailed again in 2007 to 35 memory clinics. Overall, the general operating characteristics of the clinics in 2007 were found to be similar to those reported in the previous survey conducted in 1998. The assessment process in 2007 was shorter than in 1998 (mean time=1.92 and 3.12 h, respectively), although both surveys were based on an interdisciplinary team, including a physician, a nurse and a social worker. However, in 2007 the teams were more wide-ranging. A wider variety of instruments were reported in the more recent survey. Most of the clinics in both surveys reported that family members were involved at all stages of the assessment. Medication treatment was the main outcome reported by the clinics in both surveys. There has been a development in the process and organizational characteristics of memory clinics in Israel over the years, probably as a consequence of the development of knowledge in the area of cognitive deterioration.

Assessing and addressing the library needs of health care personnel in a large regional hospital.

PubMed Central

Crabtree, A B; Crawford, J H

1997-01-01

A needs assessment survey was conducted by the Medical Library staff of St. John's Health System, Inc., in Springfield, Missouri, to document the library needs of non-physician health care personnel. The intended use of the survey was threefold: first, to collect baseline data from non-physician health care employees; second, to gather recommendations from both library users and non-users to be included in library planning and improvements; and third, to promote the library during the survey process. Study results, along with an implementation report detailing actions taken to enhance strengths and address weaknesses identified in the needs assessment survey, are presented. Opportunities for further investigation of library needs are also reported. PMID:9160154

[Description of the process of preparation and response of local health authorities facing the introduction of the Chikungunya virus in Colombia, 2014].

PubMed

Alarcón-Cruz, Ángela P; Prieto-Suárez, Edgar

2016-06-01

Objective To describe the process of preparation and response of local health authorities in key public health issues while facing the introduction stage of an unusual virus: Chikungunya in Colombia in 2014. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a survey that was developed for this study and sent to Public Health coordinators and to the person in charge of vector borne-diseases in the country's territorial entities. Results 23 out of the 35 territories at risk from the transmission of Chikungunya agreed to answer the survey. A global review of the survey scores for each evaluated section shows better performances in the areas of knowledge management, comprehensive patient care, epidemiological intelligence, and health promotion. According to the results of this study, the epidemiological surveillance system during the Chikungunya epidemic had a low acceptability and flexibility, possibly contributing to the underreporting of cases. Conclusions In general, knowledge and implementation by local authorities of the Integrated Health Strategy- EGI (Estrategia de Gestión Integral, by its Spanish acronym)- for vector-borne diseases was evident from the themes evaluated in this study. However, it is necessary to reinforce the communication of risks, laboratory, and outbreak and contingencies management areas faced during the introduction of new viruses.

The National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS-72) Fifth Follow-Up (1986) Data File User's Manual. Contractor Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tourangeau, Roger; And Others

This manual was produced to familiarize data users with the procedures followed in data collection and processing of the fifth follow-up survey of the National Longitudinal Survey of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS-72) and to provide documentation for use of the file. The data file is a computerized data base, which is available on magnetic…

TU-D-201-02: Medical Physics Practices for Plan and Chart Review: Results of AAPM Task Group 275 Survey

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

Fong de los Santos, L; Dong, L; Greener, A

Purpose: AAPM Task Group (TG) 275 is charged with developing riskbased guidelines for plan and chart review clinical processes. As part of this work an AAPM-wide survey was conducted to gauge current practices. Methods: The survey consisted of 103 multiple-choice questions covering the following review processes for external beam including protons: 1) Initial Plan Check, 2) On-Treatment and 3) End-of-Treatment Chart Check. The survey was designed and validated by TG members with the goal of providing an efficient and easy response process. The survey, developed and deployed with the support of AAPM headquarters, was released to all AAPM members whomore » have self-reported as working in the radiation oncology field and it was kept open for 7 weeks. Results: There are an estimated 4700 eligible participants. At the time of writing, 962 completed surveys have been collected with an average completion time of 24 minutes. Participants are mainly from community hospitals (40%), academicaffiliated hospitals (31%) and free-standing clinics (18%). Among many other metrics covered on the survey, results so far indicate that manual review is an important component on the plan and chart review process (>90%) and that written procedures and checklists are widely used (>60%). However, the details of what is reviewed or checked are fairly heterogeneous among the sampled medical physics community. Conclusion: The data gathered from the survey gauging current practices will be used by TG 275 to develop benchmarks and recommendations for the type and extent of checks to perform effective physics plan and chart review processes.« less

Exploring how to increase response rates to surveys of older people.

PubMed

Palonen, Mira; Kaunonen, Marja; Åstedt-Kurki, Päivi

2016-05-01

To address the special considerations that need to be taken into account when collecting data from older people in healthcare research. An objective of all research studies is to ensure there is an adequate sample size. The final sample size will be influenced by methods of recruitment and data collection, among other factors. There are some special considerations that need to be addressed when collecting data among older people. Quantitative surveys of people aged 60 or over in 2009-2014 were analysed using statistical methods. A quantitative study of patients aged 75 or over in an emergency department was used as an example. A methodological approach to analysing quantitative studies concerned with older people. The best way to ensure high response rates in surveys involving people aged 60 or over is to collect data in the presence of the researcher; response rates are lowest in posted surveys and settings where the researcher is not present when data are collected. Response rates do not seem to vary according to the database from which information about the study participants is obtained or according to who is responsible for recruitment to the survey. Implications for research/practice To conduct coherent studies with older people, the data collection process should be carefully considered.

Initiating an ergonomic analysis. A process for jobs with highly variable tasks.

PubMed

Conrad, K M; Lavender, S A; Reichelt, P A; Meyer, F T

2000-09-01

Occupational health nurses play a vital role in addressing ergonomic problems in the workplace. Describing and documenting exposure to ergonomic risk factors is a relatively straightforward process in jobs in which the work is repetitive. In other types of work, the analysis becomes much more challenging because tasks may be repeated infrequently, or at irregular time intervals, or under different environmental and temporal conditions, thereby making it difficult to observe a "representative" sample of the work performed. This article describes a process used to identify highly variable job tasks for ergonomic analyses. The identification of tasks for ergonomic analysis was a two step process involving interviews and a survey of firefighters and paramedics from a consortium of 14 suburban fire departments. The interviews were used to generate a list of frequently performed, physically strenuous job tasks and to capture clear descriptions of those tasks and associated roles. The goals of the survey were to confirm the interview findings across the entire target population and to quantify the frequency and degree of strenuousness of each task. In turn, the quantitative results from the survey were used to prioritize job tasks for simulation. Although this process was used to study firefighters and paramedics, the approach is likely to be suitable for many other types of occupations in which the tasks are highly variable in content and irregular in frequency.

Exploring the Web : The Active Galaxy Population in the ORELSE Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lubin, Lori

What are the physical processes that trigger starburst and nuclear activity in galaxies and drive galaxy evolution? Studies aimed at understanding this complex issue have largely focused on the cores of galaxy clusters or on field surveys, leaving underexplored intermediate-density regimes where rapid evolution occurs. As a result, we are conducting the ORELSE survey, a search for structure on scales > 10 Mpc around 18 clusters at 0.6 < z < 1.3. The survey covers 5 sq. deg., all targeted at high-density regions, making it comparable to field surveys such as DEEP2 and COSMOS. ORELSE is unmatched, with no other cluster survey having comparable breadth, depth, precision, and multi-band coverage. As such, ORELSE overcomes critical problems with previous high-redshift studies, including cosmic variance, restricted environmental ranges, sparse cluster samples, inconsistent star formation rate measures, and limited spectroscopy. From its initial spectral and photometric components, ORELSE already contains wellmeasured properties such as redshift, color, stellar mass, and star formation rate for a statistical sample of 7000 field+cluster galaxies. Because X-ray and mid-IR observations are crucial for a complete census of the active galaxy population, we propose to use the wealth of archival Chandra, Spitzer, and Herschel data in the ORELSE fields to map AGN and starburst galaxies over large scales. When complete, our sample will exceed by more than an order of magnitude the current samples of spectroscopically-confirmed active galaxies in high-redshift clusters and their environs. Combined with our numerical simulations plus galaxy formation models, we will provide a robust census of the active galaxy population in intermediate and high-density environments at z = 1, constrain the physical processes (e.g., merging, intracluster gas interactions, AGN feedback) responsible for triggering/quenching starburst and nuclear activity, and estimate their associated timescales.

Attitudes towards chemistry among engineering students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olivo Delgado, Carlos J.

The attitudes towards chemistry of the engineering students enrolled in an introductory course at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico were explored (n = 115). A mixed methodology was used in an exploratory-oriented research approach. The first stage consisted of the administration of a Likert scale attitudinal survey which was validated during the study's design process. The survey allowed collecting information about the participant's attitudes towards their personal opinion, their perspectives about peer's or relatives' opinion, relevant aspects of the discipline, and difficulty-increasing factors in the chemistry course. The scale internal reliability was measured in a pilot study with a convenience simple, obtaining an acceptable coefficient (Cronbach alpha = 0.731). Survey results evidenced a mainly neutral attitude towards the chemistry course, not highly negative or highly positive, in contrast with other studies in this field. On the other hand, the normality hypothesis was tested for the scores obtained by participants in the survey. Although the pilot study sample had an approximately normal distribution, the scores in obtained by the participants in the survey failed the normality test criteria. The second stage of the study was accomplished using a case study. Among the survey participants, some students were invited to in-depth interviews to elucidate the reasons why they have certain attitudes towards chemistry. Study time, instructor, motivation, term of study, and course schedule are the factors that interviewees agreed as contributors to success or failure in the chemistry course. Interview's participants emphasized that study time is determinant to pass the class. This methodological approach, quantitative followed by qualitative, was useful in describing the attitudes towards chemistry among university students of engineering.

Smoking cessation: Exploration of perceived technology-related information value.

PubMed

Reychav, Iris; McHaney, Roger; Hirak, Eyal; Merker, Ben

2018-01-01

This study describes a unique approach to information transfer affecting the perceived value of this information and related impact on smoker behavior. Data were collected via survey, sampling approximately 120 participants. An online survey tool was used for the survey creation, data collection and monitoring. Another online tool was used by participants to create short animation videos as a means of increasing their engagement with information in an experiential fashion. Study findings included that the process experienced by the test group was influential and facilitated participants' change of mind regarding enrollment in a smoking cessation workshop. This was partly attributable to the IKEA effect. The study provides evidence that a change in habits crucial to improve health and enhance positive lifestyle choices can be stimulated through active engagement with artifact creation in a technology-mediated environment.

Development of a low cost method to estimate the seismic signature of a geothermal field from ambient seismic noise analysis, Authors: Tibuleac, I. M., J. Iovenitti, S. Pullammanapallil, D. von Seggern, F.H. Ibser, D. Shaw and H. McLahlan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tibuleac, I. M.; Iovenitti, J. L.; Pullammanappallil, S. K.; von Seggern, D. H.; Ibser, H.; Shaw, D.; McLachlan, H.

2015-12-01

A new, cost effective and non-invasive exploration method using ambient seismic noise has been tested at Soda Lake, NV, with promising results. Seismic interferometry was used to extract Green's Functions (P and surface waves) from 21 days of continuous ambient seismic noise. With the advantage of S-velocity models estimated from surface waves, an ambient noise seismic reflection survey along a line (named Line 2), although with lower resolution, reproduced the results of the active survey, when the ambient seismic noise was not contaminated by strong cultural noise. Ambient noise resolution was less at depth (below 1000m) compared to the active survey. Useful information could be recovered from ambient seismic noise, including dipping features and fault locations. Processing method tests were developed, with potential to improve the virtual reflection survey results. Through innovative signal processing techniques, periods not typically analyzed with high frequency sensors were used in this study to obtain seismic velocity model information to a depth of 1.4km. New seismic parameters such as Green's Function reflection component lateral variations, waveform entropy, stochastic parameters (Correlation Length and Hurst number) and spectral frequency content extracted from active and passive surveys showed potential to indicate geothermal favorability through their correlation with high temperature anomalies, and showed potential as fault indicators, thus reducing the uncertainty in fault identification. Geothermal favorability maps along ambient seismic Line 2 were generated considering temperature, lithology and the seismic parameters investigated in this study and compared to the active Line 2 results. Pseudo-favorability maps were also generated using only the seismic parameters analyzed in this study.

Hydrographic processing considerations in the “Big Data” age: An overview of technology trends in ocean and coastal surveys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holland, M.; Hoggarth, A.; Nicholson, J.

2016-04-01

The quantity of information generated by survey sensors for ocean and coastal zone mapping has reached the “Big Data” age. This is influenced by the number of survey sensors available to conduct a survey, high data resolution, commercial availability, as well as an increased use of autonomous platforms. The number of users of sophisticated survey information is also growing with the increase in data volume. This is leading to a greater demand and broader use of the processed results, which includes marine archeology, disaster response, and many other applications. Data processing and exchange techniques are evolving to ensure this increased accuracy in acquired data meets the user demand, and leads to an improved understanding of the ocean environment. This includes the use of automated processing, models that maintain the best possible representation of varying resolution data to reduce duplication, as well as data plug-ins and interoperability standards. Through the adoption of interoperable standards, data can be exchanged between stakeholders and used many times in any GIS to support an even wider range of activities. The growing importance of Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI) is also contributing to the increased access of marine information to support sustainable use of ocean and coastal environments. This paper offers an industry perspective on trends in hydrographic surveying and processing, and the increased use of marine spatial data.

Domestic Abuse and Child Contact: Positioning Children in the Decision-Making Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holt, Stephanie

2011-01-01

Drawing on a three-year Irish research study, this paper focuses on the decision-making process in child contact, specifically the assessment and management of risk of continuing abuse to young people previously exposed to domestic abuse. A mixed methodological approach involved the completion of survey questionnaires by 219 mothers and the…

Parents' "Hard" Knowledge of Admission Criteria and Acceptance in Philadelphia's High School Choice Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haxton, Clarisse L.; Neild, Ruth Curran

2012-01-01

We examine parents' knowledge of discrete, verifiable facts--what we call "hard knowledge"--in a high school application process. Using parent survey data (n = 658) from the School District of Philadelphia, this study examines whether parents knew the admission criteria and acceptance rate at the high school they most wanted their child…

A National Research Survey of Technology Use in the BSW Teaching and Learning Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buquoi, Brittany; McClure, Carli; Kotrlik, Joseph W.; Machtmes, Krisanna; Bunch, J. C.

2013-01-01

The purpose of this descriptive-correlational research study was to assess the overall use of technology in the teaching and learning process (TLP) by BSW educators. The accessible and target population included all full-time, professorial-rank, BSW faculty in Council on Social Work Education--accredited BSW programs at land grant universities.…

The Experiences in Processing Policies and Contracts by Adult ESL Readers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abiog, Evalyn B.

2017-01-01

The present study describes the experiences of adult English as a Second Language (ESL) readers in processing legal texts prior to entering a financial agreement. A preliminary survey was conducted to determine the commonly read policies and contracts of adult ESL reader-consumers, which revealed those of banks and life-insurance companies; hence,…

Evaluation of Factors that Contribute to Improving Academic Achievement of Career and Technical Education Students in Rhode Island

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marsella, Anthony J.

2010-01-01

The primary purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of career and technical education in Rhode Island utilizing Program Approval Process: Standards, Instruments, and Protocols. The process establishes standards for quality career and technical education. The population surveyed provided data on Standard Two: Curriculum and…

Challenges of Teaching Computer Science in Transition Countries: Albanian University Case

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sotirofski, Kseanela; Kukeli, Agim; Kalemi, Edlira

2010-01-01

The main objective of our study is to determine the challenges faced during the process of teaching Computer Science in a university of a country in transition and make suggestions to improve this teaching process by perfecting the necessary conditions. Our survey builds on the thesis that we live in an information age; information technology is…

Examining the Instructional Planning Process Taught in Agricultural Education Teacher Preparation Programs: Perspectives of University Faculty

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greiman, Bradley C.; Bedtke, Mary Anne

2008-01-01

Instructional planning is a curricular topic in teacher preparation programs, but limited research in agricultural education has been conducted in this area. The purpose of this study was to examine aspects of the instructional planning process that are taught to agricultural education preservice teachers. Survey research and content analysis of…

Approaching the Affective Factors of Information Seeking: The Viewpoint of the Information Search Process Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Savolainen, Reijo

2015-01-01

Introduction: The article contributes to the conceptual studies of affective factors in information seeking by examining Kuhlthau's information search process model. Method: This random-digit dial telephone survey of 253 people (75% female) living in a rural, medically under-serviced area of Ontario, Canada, follows-up a previous interview study…

Implementation of a national anti-tuberculosis drug resistance survey in Tanzania

PubMed Central

Chonde, Timothy M; Doulla, Basra; van Leth, Frank; Mfinanga, Sayoki GM; Range, Nyagosya; Lwilla, Fred; Mfaume, Saidi M; van Deun, Armand; Zignol, Matteo; Cobelens, Frank G; Egwaga, Saidi M

2008-01-01

Background A drug resistance survey is an essential public health management tool for evaluating and improving the performance of National Tuberculosis control programmes. The current manuscript describes the implementation of the first national drug resistance survey in Tanzania. Methods Description of the implementation process of a national anti-tuberculosis drug resistance survey in Tanzania, in relation to the study protocol and Standard Operating Procedures. Results Factors contributing positively to the implementation of the survey were a continuous commitment of the key stakeholders, the existence of a well organized National Tuberculosis Programme, and a detailed design of cluster-specific arrangements for rapid sputum transportation. Factors contributing negatively to the implementation were a long delay between training and actual survey activities, limited monitoring of activities, and an unclear design of the data capture forms leading to difficulties in form-filling. Conclusion Careful preparation of the survey, timing of planned activities, a strong emphasis on data capture tools and data management, and timely supervision are essential for a proper implementation of a national drug resistance survey. PMID:19116022

Learning and Study Practices of Postsecondary American Indian/Alaska Native Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aragon, Steven R.

2004-01-01

This study examined the learning and study practices of postsecondary American Indian/Alaska Native students attending community colleges in the southwest. Using a survey design, students completed the Kagan Matching Familiar Figures Test, the Schmeck, Ribich, and Ramanaiah Inventory of Learning Processes, and the Weinstein, Palmer, and Schulte…

Teacher Evaluations in Leisure Studies Programs: An Old Issue with a New Slant.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Butts, Frank B.; Swearingen, Tommy

1994-01-01

This paper examines teacher evaluation practices in leisure studies programs, noting the perceived effectiveness of rating instruments. Surveys of leisure studies professors nationwide indicated many institutions used evaluation instruments and processes that were not statistically validated; key decisions were often made on the basis of these…

[Regulatory policies and public opinion: the case of smoking].

PubMed

Saltó, Esteve; Joan R, Villalbí; Valverde, Araceli; Baranda, Lucía; Plasencia, Antoni

2006-01-01

Collecting and disseminating information about the public opinion on a regulatory process gives visibility to the silent social support and facilitates the process, which often confronts resistance from interest groups. This paper presents a survey about a proposed legislation on tobacco in its final stages and its results, and some considerations on the use of this sort of information in change processes. Cross sectional descriptive study. In December 2005 a brief telephone survey was made to a population sample of 18 and more years of age (N=830) in Catalonia (Spain). The questionnaire explored opinions on the proposed regulations under discussion. We present the degree of support and the rating of nine regulatory measures, stratified by the respondents use of tobacco. Daily smokers are 26.3% of the surveyed population. Awareness and general support for tobacco regulation are very high. Aspects with wider support include bans on sales to minors (97.3%), smoking in enclosed public places (92.8%) and workplaces (89%), and publicity (90.8%). The aspect with less social support is banning smoking in bars and cafes (80.2%). The population supports widely tobacco regulation. This reinforces the process and weakens the arguments of those against it. Although smokers are less supportive, most of them accept the regulations, except for limitations in bars and cafes.

Data Resource Profile: Cross-national and cross-study sociodemographic and health-related harmonized domains from SAGE plus ELSA, HRS and SHARE (SAGE+, Wave 1)

PubMed Central

Minicuci, Nadia; Naidoo, Nirmala; Chatterji, Somnath; Kowal, Paul

2016-01-01

Four longitudinal studies were included in this rigorous harmonization process: the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE); English Longitudinal Study on Ageing (ELSA); US Health and Retirement Study (HRS); and Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). An ex-post harmonized process was applied to nine health-related thematic domains (socio-demographic and economic, health states, overall self-report of health and mental state, health examinations, physical and mental performance tests, risk factors, chronic conditions, social network and subjective well-being) for data from the 2004 wave of each study. Large samples of adults aged 50 years and older were available from each study: SAGE, n = 18 886; ELSA, n = 9181; HRS, n = 19 303; and SHARE, n = 29 917. The microdata, along with further details about the harmonization process and all metadata, are available through the World Health Organization (WHO) data archive at [http://apps.who.int/healthinfo/systems/surveydata/index.php/catalog]. Further information and enquiries can be made to [sagesurvey@who.int] or the corresponding author. The data resource will continue to be updated with data across additional waves of these surveys and new waves. PMID:27794522

Walk-through survey report: control technology for fermentation processes at Wyeth Laboratories, Inc. , West Chester, Pennsylvania

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

Martinez, K.F.

A walk-through survey was conducted at Wyeth Laboratories, Incorporated, West Chester, Pennsylvania in November, 1983. The purpose of the survey was to evaluate the control technology for the fermentation processes. The facility produced penicillin-V and penicillin-G using the microbial strain Penicillium-chrysogenum. Medical examinations were available for fermentation and extraction process workers. Safety shoes and glasses and disposable dust respirators were provided. The author concludes that Wyeth has in operation an apparently effective system of control measures.

Post-sampling mortality and non-response patterns in the English Cancer Patient Experience Survey: Implications for epidemiological studies based on surveys of cancer patients.

PubMed

Abel, Gary A; Saunders, Catherine L; Lyratzopoulos, Georgios

2016-04-01

Surveys of the experience of cancer patients are increasingly being introduced in different countries and used in cancer epidemiology research. Sampling processes, post-sampling mortality and survey non-response can influence the representativeness of cancer patient surveys. We examined predictors of post-sampling mortality and non-response among patients initially included in the sampling frame of the English Cancer Patient Experience Survey. We also compared the respondents' diagnostic case-mix to other relevant populations of cancer patients, including incident and prevalent cases. Of 109,477 initially sampled cancer patients, 6273 (5.7%) died between sampling and survey mail-out. Older age and diagnosis of brain, lung and pancreatic cancer were associated with higher risk of post-sampling mortality. The overall response rate was 67% (67,713 respondents), being >70% for the most affluent patients and those diagnosed with colon or breast cancer and <50% for Asian or Black patients, those under 35 and those diagnosed with brain cancer. The diagnostic case-mix of respondents varied substantially from incident or prevalent cancer cases. Respondents to the English Cancer Patient Experience Survey represent a population of recently treated cancer survivors. Although patient survey data can provide unique insights for improving cancer care quality, features of survey populations need to be acknowledged when analysing and interpreting findings from studies using such data. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

A pilot study on the feasibility of European harmonized human biomonitoring: Strategies towards a common approach, challenges and opportunities.

PubMed

Casteleyn, L; Dumez, B; Becker, K; Kolossa-Gehring, M; Den Hond, E; Schoeters, G; Castaño, A; Koch, H M; Angerer, J; Esteban, M; Exley, K; Sepai, O; Bloemen, L; Horvat, M; Knudsen, L E; Joas, A; Joas, R; Biot, P; Koppen, G; Dewolf, M-C; Katsonouri, A; Hadjipanayis, A; Cerná, M; Krsková, A; Schwedler, G; Fiddicke, U; Nielsen, J K S; Jensen, J F; Rudnai, P; Közepésy, S; Mulcahy, M; Mannion, R; Gutleb, A C; Fischer, M E; Ligocka, D; Jakubowski, M; Reis, M F; Namorado, S; Lupsa, I-R; Gurzau, A E; Halzlova, K; Jajcaj, M; Mazej, D; Tratnik Snoj, J; Posada, M; López, E; Berglund, M; Larsson, K; Lehmann, A; Crettaz, P; Aerts, D

2015-08-01

In 2004 the European Commission and Member States initiated activities towards a harmonized approach for Human Biomonitoring surveys throughout Europe. The main objective was to sustain environmental health policy by building a coherent and sustainable framework and by increasing the comparability of data across countries. A pilot study to test common guidelines for setting up surveys was considered a key step in this process. Through a bottom-up approach that included all stakeholders, a joint study protocol was elaborated. From September 2011 till February 2012, 17 European countries collected data from 1844 mother-child pairs in the frame of DEMOnstration of a study to COordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale (DEMOCOPHES).(1) Mercury in hair and urinary cadmium and cotinine were selected as biomarkers of exposure covered by sufficient analytical experience. Phthalate metabolites and Bisphenol A in urine were added to take into account increasing public and political awareness for emerging types of contaminants and to test less advanced markers/markers covered by less analytical experience. Extensive efforts towards chemo-analytical comparability were included. The pilot study showed that common approaches can be found in a context of considerable differences with respect to experience and expertize, socio-cultural background, economic situation and national priorities. It also evidenced that comparable Human Biomonitoring results can be obtained in such context. A European network was built, exchanging information, expertize and experiences, and providing training on all aspects of a survey. A key challenge was finding the right balance between a rigid structure allowing maximal comparability and a flexible approach increasing feasibility and capacity building. Next steps in European harmonization in Human Biomonitoring surveys include the establishment of a joint process for prioritization of substances to cover and biomarkers to develop, linking biomonitoring surveys with health examination surveys and with research, and coping with the diverse implementations of EU regulations and international guidelines with respect to ethics and privacy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An analysis of elementary teachers' perceptions of teaching science as inquiry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Domjan, Heather Nicole

The purpose of this study is to describe elementary school teachers' perceptions of science as inquiry in science instruction. A descriptive survey research design was used to collect data regarding elementary science teachers' knowledge and beliefs related to inquiry and its role in science education. The written section of the survey was analyzed and interpreted descriptively through phenomenological data and the constant comparative method (Glaser & Strauss, 1967; Lincoln & Guba, 1985). The researcher used the constant comparative method to identify statements, perceptions, and impressions that occurred over time during the study (Janesick, 1994). Ninety-two elementary school teachers who teach science in a large suburban district southwest of Houston, Texas were administered a three part Understanding Science as Inquiry Survey (USAI) developed by the researcher. Participants communicated in writing personal definitions of inquiry in elementary science as well as determined to what extent inquiry was used in four elementary science classroom scenarios. The survey items were based on the following four components of inquiry described by Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards (2000): (1) conceptual knowledge, (2) process skills, (3) nature of science, and (4) affect. The study describes elementary school teachers' perceptions about science as inquiry. Conclusions for Part A of the USAI Survey indicate that participants define inquiry as: mostly process skills, some conceptual knowledge, and very little affect with no perception of the nature of science. The Likert scale ratings for the scenarios in Part B of the USAI Survey reveal that participants have varied perceptions regarding teaching science as inquiry. The written section of Part B reveals participants' perceptions to be similar to that of their Likert scale ratings except in scenario one. The researcher concludes that the participants in this study appear to have an incomplete understanding of teaching science as inquiry. This study suggests that elementary teachers might benefit from increased and sustained professional development programs centered on inquiry teaching strategies. Professional development activities on teaching science as inquiry create opportunities for teachers to confront and develop ways of thinking about inquiry and ultimately enhance inquiry-based teaching in their classrooms.

Delivering Bad News: Attitudes, Feelings, and Practice Characteristics Among Speech-Language Pathologists.

PubMed

Gold, Rinat; Gold, Azgad

2018-02-06

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes, feelings, and practice characteristics of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Israel regarding the subject of delivering bad news. One hundred and seventy-three Israeli SLPs answered an online survey. Respondents represented SLPs in Israel in all stages of vocational experience, with varying academic degrees, from a variety of employment settings. The survey addressed emotions involved in the process of delivering bad news, training on this subject, and background information of the respondents. Frequency distributions of the responses of the participants were determined, and Pearson correlations were computed to determine the relation between years of occupational experience and the following variables: frequency of delivering bad news, opinions regarding training, and emotions experienced during the process of bad news delivery. Our survey showed that bad news delivery is a task that most participants are confronted with from the very beginning of their careers. Participants regarded training in the subject of delivering bad news as important but, at the same time, reported receiving relatively little training on this subject. In addition, our survey showed that negative emotions are involved in the process of delivering bad news. Training SLPs on specific techniques is required for successfully delivering bad news. The emotional burden associated with breaking bad news in the field of speech-language pathology should be noticed and addressed.

The STRATAFORM Project: U.S. Geological Survey geotechnical studies

USGS Publications Warehouse

Minasian, Diane L.; Lee, Homa J.; Locat, Jaques; Orzech, Kevin M.; Martz, Gregory R.; Israel, Kenneth

2001-01-01

This report presents physical property logs of core samples from an offshore area near Eureka, CA. The cores were obtained as part of the STRATAFORM Program (Nittrouer and Kravitz, 1995, 1996), a study investigating how present sedimentation and sediment transport processes influence long-term stratigraphic sequences preserved in the geologic record. The core samples were collected during four separate research cruises to the northern California study area, and data shown in the logs of the cores were collected using a multi-sensor whole core logger. The physical properties collected are useful in identifying stratigraphic units, ground-truthing acoustic imagery and sub-bottom profiles, and in understanding mass movement processes. STRATA FORmation on Margins was initiated in 1994 by the Office of Naval Research, Marine Geology and Geophysics Department as a coordinated multi-investigator study of continental-margin sediment transport processes and stratigraphy (Nittrouer and Kravitz, 1996). The program is investigating the stratigraphic signature of the shelf and slope parts of the continental margins, and is designed to provide a better understanding of the sedimentary record and a better prediction of strata. Specifically, the goals of the STRATAFORM Program are to (Nittrouer and Kravitz, 1995): - determine the geological relevance of short-term physical processes that erode, transport, and deposit particles and those processes that subsequently rework the seabed over time scales - improve capabilities for identifying the processes that form the strata observed within the upper ~100 m of the seabed commonly representing 104-106 years of sedimentation. - synthesize this knowledge and bridge the gap between time scales of sedimentary processes and those of sequence stratigraphy. The STRATAFORM Program is divided into studies of the continental shelf and the continental slope; the geotechnical group within the U.S. Geological Survey provides support to both parts of the project.

Study Skills and Learning Strategies. Technical Report No. 104.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Thomas H.

The process of studying text material is a criteria-related, self-directed form of reading involving three phases: prereading, reading, and postreading. Prereading consists of clarifying the criteria for study, constructing a study guide, and surveying the text to determine how much is already known, how interesting it is, and how difficult or…

Study of optical techniques for the Ames unitary wind tunnel: Digital image processing, part 6

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, George

1993-01-01

A survey of digital image processing techniques and processing systems for aerodynamic images has been conducted. These images covered many types of flows and were generated by many types of flow diagnostics. These include laser vapor screens, infrared cameras, laser holographic interferometry, Schlieren, and luminescent paints. Some general digital image processing systems, imaging networks, optical sensors, and image computing chips were briefly reviewed. Possible digital imaging network systems for the Ames Unitary Wind Tunnel were explored.

Automation of Survey Data Processing, Documentation and Dissemination: An Application to Large-Scale Self-Reported Educational Survey.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shim, Eunjae; Shim, Minsuk K.; Felner, Robert D.

Automation of the survey process has proved successful in many industries, yet it is still underused in educational research. This is largely due to the facts (1) that number crunching is usually carried out using software that was developed before information technology existed, and (2) that the educational research is to a great extent trapped…

Developing questionnaires for educational research: AMEE Guide No. 87

PubMed Central

La Rochelle, Jeffrey S.; Dezee, Kent J.; Gehlbach, Hunter

2014-01-01

In this AMEE Guide, we consider the design and development of self-administered surveys, commonly called questionnaires. Questionnaires are widely employed in medical education research. Unfortunately, the processes used to develop such questionnaires vary in quality and lack consistent, rigorous standards. Consequently, the quality of the questionnaires used in medical education research is highly variable. To address this problem, this AMEE Guide presents a systematic, seven-step process for designing high-quality questionnaires, with particular emphasis on developing survey scales. These seven steps do not address all aspects of survey design, nor do they represent the only way to develop a high-quality questionnaire. Instead, these steps synthesize multiple survey design techniques and organize them into a cohesive process for questionnaire developers of all levels. Addressing each of these steps systematically will improve the probabilities that survey designers will accurately measure what they intend to measure. PMID:24661014

Developing questionnaires for educational research: AMEE Guide No. 87.

PubMed

Artino, Anthony R; La Rochelle, Jeffrey S; Dezee, Kent J; Gehlbach, Hunter

2014-06-01

In this AMEE Guide, we consider the design and development of self-administered surveys, commonly called questionnaires. Questionnaires are widely employed in medical education research. Unfortunately, the processes used to develop such questionnaires vary in quality and lack consistent, rigorous standards. Consequently, the quality of the questionnaires used in medical education research is highly variable. To address this problem, this AMEE Guide presents a systematic, seven-step process for designing high-quality questionnaires, with particular emphasis on developing survey scales. These seven steps do not address all aspects of survey design, nor do they represent the only way to develop a high-quality questionnaire. Instead, these steps synthesize multiple survey design techniques and organize them into a cohesive process for questionnaire developers of all levels. Addressing each of these steps systematically will improve the probabilities that survey designers will accurately measure what they intend to measure.

The Dark Energy Survey Image Processing Pipeline

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morganson, E.; Gruendl, R. A.; Menanteau, F.; Carrasco Kind, M.; Chen, Y.-C.; Daues, G.; Drlica-Wagner, A.; Friedel, D. N.; Gower, M.; Johnson, M. W. G.; Johnson, M. D.; Kessler, R.; Paz-Chinchón, F.; Petravick, D.; Pond, C.; Yanny, B.; Allam, S.; Armstrong, R.; Barkhouse, W.; Bechtol, K.; Benoit-Lévy, A.; Bernstein, G. M.; Bertin, E.; Buckley-Geer, E.; Covarrubias, R.; Desai, S.; Diehl, H. T.; Goldstein, D. A.; Gruen, D.; Li, T. S.; Lin, H.; Marriner, J.; Mohr, J. J.; Neilsen, E.; Ngeow, C.-C.; Paech, K.; Rykoff, E. S.; Sako, M.; Sevilla-Noarbe, I.; Sheldon, E.; Sobreira, F.; Tucker, D. L.; Wester, W.; DES Collaboration

2018-07-01

The Dark Energy Survey (DES) is a five-year optical imaging campaign with the goal of understanding the origin of cosmic acceleration. DES performs a ∼5000 deg2 survey of the southern sky in five optical bands (g, r, i, z, Y) to a depth of ∼24th magnitude. Contemporaneously, DES performs a deep, time-domain survey in four optical bands (g, r, i, z) over ∼27 deg2. DES exposures are processed nightly with an evolving data reduction pipeline and evaluated for image quality to determine if they need to be retaken. Difference imaging and transient source detection are also performed in the time domain component nightly. On a bi-annual basis, DES exposures are reprocessed with a refined pipeline and coadded to maximize imaging depth. Here we describe the DES image processing pipeline in support of DES science, as a reference for users of archival DES data, and as a guide for future astronomical surveys.

Results from a national survey of Crown prosecutors and defense counsel on impaired driving in Canada: a "System Improvements" perspective.

PubMed

Robertson, Robyn; Vanlaar, Ward; Simpson, Herb; Boase, Paul

2009-01-01

This article summarizes the main findings from a study designed to examine the legal process in Canada as it applies to alcohol-impaired driving from the point of view of Crown prosecutors and defense counsel, and to identify evidentiary or procedural factors that may impact the legal process, the rights of the accused, and interactions of all parts in the legal process. The data in this study were collected by means of a survey that was mailed out to the population of Crown prosecutors and defense counsel in Canada. In total, 765 prosecutors and 270 defense lawyers or an estimated 33% of all Canadian prosecutors and 15% of defense lawyers completed and returned the questionnaire. The "systems improvement" paradigm was used to interpret the findings and draw conclusions. Such an approach acknowledges the importance of the context in which countermeasures are implemented and delivered and the structures or entities used to deliver countermeasures to a designated target group. Results on type of charges and breath alcohol concentration, caseload, case outcomes, case preparation time, conviction rate at trial and overall conviction rate, reasons for acquittals and time to resolve cases are described. The findings from this national survey suggest that there are important challenges within the criminal justice system that impede the effective and efficient processing of impaired driving cases. Some of these challenges occur as a function of practices and policies, while others occur as a function of legislation. This study illustrates that a "system improvements" approach that acknowledges the importance of all elements of the criminal justice system and the interaction between those elements, can be beneficial in overcoming the alcohol-impaired driving problem.

Speak Up Speak Out Coalition Survey Results | Science ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Comprehensive planning is a visionary planning process that integrates community values and land use policy. The Mayor of Duluth, Minnesota, directed the inclusion of two new values into the City’s comprehensive planning process to direct the community’s future, process: health and fairness. In order to understand the meanings of health and fairness that residents of the city hold, the Community Planning Department included questions in a city-wide survey of planning priorities. As a community organization reviewed the survey results that would inform the new directives, they realized that overburdened communities were underrepresented in the survey responses. To address this deficiency, the community organization asked the City of Duluth if they could conduct a survey of the underrepresented voices to ensure their input was included in the process. The Health in All Policies Coalition contacted the USEPA Office of Research and Development in Duluth, MN at the advice of the Planning Department. The support USEPA provided ensured that the Coalition could make recommendations to the City of Duluth based on systematically collected and analyzed data. This presentation will share the results of the survey. This presentation of the Speak Up Speak Out survey data represents support for local decision-making, technical assistance and data analysis. The data were collected and analyzed through advice and consultation with USEPA Office of Research and Development, an

2010-2012 Minneapolis - St. Paul Travel Behavior Inventory |

Science.gov Websites

-St. Paul area conducted the survey. Methodology The TBI consists of a paper-based survey and a wearable global positioning system (GPS) survey. The data-collection process for these two surveys was independent, and the results are not intended to function together. Survey Records Survey records include

Tailoring an educational program on the AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators to meet stakeholder needs: lessons learned in the VA.

PubMed

Shin, Marlena H; Rivard, Peter E; Shwartz, Michael; Borzecki, Ann; Yaksic, Enzo; Stolzmann, Kelly; Zubkoff, Lisa; Rosen, Amy K

2018-02-14

Given that patient safety measures are increasingly used for public reporting and pay-for performance, it is important for stakeholders to understand how to use these measures for improvement. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) are one particularly visible set of measures that are now used primarily for public reporting and pay-for-performance among both private sector and Veterans Health Administration (VA) hospitals. This trend generates a strong need for stakeholders to understand how to interpret and use the PSIs for quality improvement (QI). The goal of this study was to develop an educational program and tailor it to stakeholders' needs. In this paper, we share what we learned from this program development process. Our study population included key VA stakeholders involved in reviewing performance reports and prioritizing and initiating quality/safety initiatives. A pre-program formative evaluation through telephone interviews and web-based surveys assessed stakeholders' educational needs/interests. Findings from the formative evaluation led to development and implementation of a cyberseminar-based program, which we tailored to stakeholders' needs/interests. A post-program survey evaluated program participants' perceptions about the PSI educational program. Interview data confirmed that the concepts we had developed for the interviews could be used for the survey. Survey results informed us on what program delivery mode and content topics were of high interest. Six cyberseminars were developed-three of which focused on two content areas that were noted of greatest interest: learning how to use PSIs for monitoring trends and understanding how to interpret PSIs. We also used snapshots of VA PSI reports so that participants could directly apply learnings. Although initial interest in the program was high, actual attendance was low. However, post-program survey results indicated that perceptions about the program were positive. Conducting a formative evaluation was a highly important process in program development. The useful information that we collected through the interviews and surveys allowed us to tailor the program to stakeholders' needs and interests. Our experiences, particularly with the formative evaluation process, yielded valuable lessons that can guide others when developing and implementing similar educational programs.

The Dynamics of Curriculum Revision.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LaPorte, Diane Howard; LaPorte, Ronald E.

This research study was undertaken in order to understand the dynamics of curriculum revision. The study examines reasons for change, persons involved in revision, frequency of revision, ways of evaluating a revised curriculum, and consistency of revision processes across school districts. Information was obtained through surveys distributed to…

Foreign Language, the Classics, and College Admissions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LaFleur, Richard A.

1993-01-01

This article reports the results of a survey, funded by the American Classical League (ACL) and conducted during 1990-91, that assessed attitudes toward high school foreign-language study, in particular the study of Latin and Greek, in the college admissions process. (21 references) (VWL)

Planning for Curriculum Development in Independent Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kleiber, Pamela B.; Zhu, Lillian

1995-01-01

The strategic planning process of the University System of Georgia Independent Study program includes assessment of undergraduate curriculum, credit equivalency, and enrollment rate; nationwide, faculty, and student surveys on technology in course delivery; and environmental scanning. Negotiation of various interests is an important part. (SK)

Sensor Acquisition for Water Utilities: A Survey and Technology List

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

Alai, M; Glascoe, L; Love, A

2005-03-07

The early detection of the deliberate biological and chemical contamination of water distribution systems is a necessary capability for securing the nation's water supply. Current and emerging early-detection technology capabilities and shortcomings need to be identified and assessed to provide government agencies and water utilities with an improved methodology for assessing the value of installing these technologies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has tasked a multi-laboratory team to evaluate current and future needs to protect the nation's water distribution infrastructure by supporting an objective evaluation of current and new technologies. The primary deliverables from this Operational Technology Demonstration (OTD)more » are the following: (1) establishment of an advisory board for review and approval of testing protocols, technology acquisition processes and recommendations for technology test and evaluation in laboratory and field settings; (2) development of a technology acquisition process; (3) creation of laboratory and field testing and evaluation capability; and (4) testing of candidate technologies for insertion into a water early warning system. The initial phase of this study involves the development of two separate but complementary strategies to be reviewed by the advisory board: (1) a technology acquisition strategy, and (2) a technology evaluation strategy. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories are tasked with the first strategy, while Los Alamos, Pacific Northwest, and Oak Ridge National Laboratories are tasked with the second strategy. The first goal of the acquisition strategy is the development of a technology survey process that includes a review of previous sensor surveys and current test programs and then the development of a method to solicit and select existing and emerging sensor technologies for evaluation and testing. In this paper we discuss a survey of previous efforts by governmental agencies and private companies with the aim of facilitating a water sensor technology acquisition procedure. We provide a survey of previous sensor studies with regard to the use of Early Warning Systems (EWS) including earlier surveys, testing programs, and response studies. In the project we extend this earlier work by developing a list of important sensor specifications that are then used to help assemble a sensor selection criteria. A list of sensor technologies with their specifications is appended to this document. This list will assist the second goal of the project which is a recommendation of candidate technologies for laboratory and field testing.« less

The experience of international doctoral education in nursing: an exploratory survey of staff and international nursing students in a British university.

PubMed

Evans, Catrin

2007-07-01

As part of the internationalization of higher education, increasing numbers of international doctoral students are coming to study in British nursing schools. This paper reports on a small-scale exploratory survey that sought to investigate the educational experiences of these students and their supervisors in one British School of Nursing. Both staff and students saw great value in international education. However both groups identified the need for greater support to facilitate adjustment in a number of areas, including: understanding the PhD process, studying in a second language, working within a different academic culture, managing the supervision relationship, and finding a sense of community. This was a small study, but the findings confirm key issues identified in the limited available literature. Recommendations include staff training and the development of additional in-puts for students. Future research should include qualitative, longitudinal and multi-site studies to more thoroughly assess the process and outcomes of international doctoral education in nursing.

NGS' GRAV-D Project Brings Advances in Aerogravimetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Childers, V. A.; Preaux, S. A.; Diehl, T. M.; Li, X.; Weil, C.

2011-12-01

NOAA's National Geodetic Survey has undertaken an extensive airborne gravity campaign to help replace the nation's vertical datum by 2022. After receiving Congressional funding in FY10 &11, the GRAV-D project has now surveyed 13.45% of the total area (as of abstract submittal time). The survey has now worked on a number of aircraft, both jets and turboprops. Early work was performed at 35,000 ft and 280 kts. Since summer of 2009, the survey altitude has been lowered to 20,000 ft to enhance signal recovery and to reduce the amplitude enhancement of noise in the downward continuation needed for gravity field blending. The high altitude and speed of the survey has forced a re-evaluation of all aspects of the airborne gravity processing methodology. This presentation will update the community on the progress of the project, summarize the various processing improvements implemented, and discuss the magnitude of their effects. Improvements and research include: a new in-house gravity processing software package called "Newton", kinematic GPS processing variables and their impacts on final gravity products, and evaluation of gravimeter off-level corrections, among other topics.

A survey of signal processing algorithms in brain-computer interfaces based on electrical brain signals.

PubMed

Bashashati, Ali; Fatourechi, Mehrdad; Ward, Rabab K; Birch, Gary E

2007-06-01

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) aim at providing a non-muscular channel for sending commands to the external world using the electroencephalographic activity or other electrophysiological measures of the brain function. An essential factor in the successful operation of BCI systems is the methods used to process the brain signals. In the BCI literature, however, there is no comprehensive review of the signal processing techniques used. This work presents the first such comprehensive survey of all BCI designs using electrical signal recordings published prior to January 2006. Detailed results from this survey are presented and discussed. The following key research questions are addressed: (1) what are the key signal processing components of a BCI, (2) what signal processing algorithms have been used in BCIs and (3) which signal processing techniques have received more attention?

TOPICAL REVIEW: A survey of signal processing algorithms in brain computer interfaces based on electrical brain signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bashashati, Ali; Fatourechi, Mehrdad; Ward, Rabab K.; Birch, Gary E.

2007-06-01

Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) aim at providing a non-muscular channel for sending commands to the external world using the electroencephalographic activity or other electrophysiological measures of the brain function. An essential factor in the successful operation of BCI systems is the methods used to process the brain signals. In the BCI literature, however, there is no comprehensive review of the signal processing techniques used. This work presents the first such comprehensive survey of all BCI designs using electrical signal recordings published prior to January 2006. Detailed results from this survey are presented and discussed. The following key research questions are addressed: (1) what are the key signal processing components of a BCI, (2) what signal processing algorithms have been used in BCIs and (3) which signal processing techniques have received more attention?

Ground-based structure from motion - multi view stereo (SFM-MVS) for upland soil erosion assessment.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McShane, Gareth; James, Mike; Quniton, John; Farrow, Luke; Glendell, Miriam; Jones, Lee; Kirkham, Matthew; Morgan, David; Evans, Martin; Anderson, Karen; Lark, Murray; Rawlins, Barry; Rickson, Jane; Quine, Timothy; Benaud, Pia; Brazier, Richard

2016-04-01

In upland environments, quantifying soil loss through erosion processes at a high resolution can be time consuming, costly and logistically difficult. In this pilot study 'A cost effective framework for monitoring soil erosion in England and Wales', funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), we evaluate the use of annually repeated ground-based photography surveys, processed using structure-from-motion and multi-view stereo (SfM-MVS) 3-D reconstruction software (Agisoft Photoscan). The aim is to enable efficient but detailed site-scale studies of erosion forms in inaccessible UK upland environments, in order to quantify dynamic processes, such as erosion and mass movement. The evaluation of the SfM-MVS technique is particularly relevant in upland landscapes, where the remoteness and inaccessibility of field sites may render some of the more established survey techniques impractical. We present results from 5 upland sites across the UK, acquired over a 2-year period. Erosion features of varying width (3 m to 35 m) and length (20 m to 60 m), representing a range of spatial scales (from 100 m2 to 1000 m2) were surveyed, in upland habitats including bogs, peatland, upland grassland and moorland. For each feature, around 150 to 600 ground-based photographs were taken at oblique angles over a 10 to 20 minute period, using an uncalibrated Canon 600D SLR camera with a 28 mm lens (focal length set to infinity). Camera settings varied based upon light conditions (exposure 100-400 ISO, aperture F4.5 to F8, shutter speed 1/100 to 1/250 second). For inter-survey comparisons, models were geo-referenced using 20 to 30 ground control points (numbered black markers with a white target) placed around and within the feature, with their co-ordinates measured by survey-grade differential GNSS (Trimble R4). Volumetric estimates of soil loss were quantified using digital surface models (DSMs) derived from the repeat survey data and subtracted from a modelled pre-erosion surface (CloudCompare, Golden Software Surfer). We discuss the survey performance achieved in terms of the time required and the precisions delivered, and consider the practical application of SfM-MVS for long-term upland erosion monitoring.

The Archaeology and History of Lake Ray Roberts. Volume 1. Cultural Resources Survey.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-03-01

the survey have rendered the information they contain through the recording process and should be determined ineligible for further study. Fifty-five...clay features were actually human hearths ( Heizer and Brooks 1965), and the possibility that the Clovis point was planted ( Heizer 1974). Recent research...15:157-172. Hart, John Fraser 1976 The look of the land. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. * 9-5 Heizer , R.F. 1974 Some thoughts on hoaxes

Similarities and differences of systematic consensus on disaster mental health services between Japanese and European experts.

PubMed

Fukasawa, Maiko; Suzuki, Yuriko; Nakajima, Satomi; Narisawa, Tomomi; Kim, Yoshiharu

2013-04-01

We recently developed new disaster mental health guidelines in Japan through the Delphi process, a method for building consensus among experts, using as a reference the guidelines developed by The European Network for Traumatic Stress (TENTS) in Europe. We included in our survey 30 items used in the TENTS survey, 20 of which achieved positive consensus in that survey. Here we report on the extent of agreement of 95 Japanese experts on each of these 30 items and examine the reasons for disagreements with the TENTS survey results based on the comments obtained from the participants of our survey. Of the 20 items, 12 also gained consensus in our survey and 1 additional item achieved consensus that did not achieve it in the TENTS survey. Items that did not gain consensus in our survey, but did in the TENTS survey, were recommendations for close collaboration with the media, screening volunteers for their suitability, and withholding formal screening of the affected population. The need for specialist care for specific populations was endorsed in our survey, but not in the TENTS survey. Overall, the opinion of Japanese experts was congruent with that of Western experts, but some guideline amendments would be beneficial. Copyright © 2013 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Cross-cultural validation of instruments measuring health beliefs about colorectal cancer screening among Korean Americans.

PubMed

Lee, Shin-Young; Lee, Eunice E

2015-02-01

The purpose of this study was to report the instrument modification and validation processes to make existing health belief model scales culturally appropriate for Korean Americans (KAs) regarding colorectal cancer (CRC) screening utilization. Instrument translation, individual interviews using cognitive interviewing, and expert reviews were conducted during the instrument modification phase, and a pilot test and a cross-sectional survey were conducted during the instrument validation phase. Data analyses of the cross-sectional survey included internal consistency and construct validity using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The main issues identified during the instrument modification phase were (a) cultural and linguistic translation issues and (b) newly developed items reflecting Korean cultural barriers. Cross-sectional survey analyses during the instrument validation phase revealed that all scales demonstrate good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha=.72~.88). Exploratory factor analysis showed that susceptibility and severity loaded on the same factor, which may indicate a threat variable. Items with low factor loadings in the confirmatory factor analysis may relate to (a) lack of knowledge about fecal occult blood testing and (b) multiple dimensions of the subscales. Methodological, sequential processes of instrument modification and validation, including translation, individual interviews, expert reviews, pilot testing and a cross-sectional survey, were provided in this study. The findings indicate that existing instruments need to be examined for CRC screening research involving KAs.

Topographic lidar survey of Dauphin Island, Alabama and Chandeleur, Stake, Grand Gosier and Breton Islands, Louisiana, July 12-14, 2013

USGS Publications Warehouse

Guy, Kristy K.; Plant, Nathaniel G.

2014-01-01

This Data Series Report contains lidar elevation data collected on July 12 and 14, 2013, for Dauphin Island, Alabama, and Chandeleur, Stake, Grand Gosier and Breton Islands, Louisiana. Classified point cloud data—data points described in three dimensions—in lidar data exchange format (LAS) and bare earth digital elevation models (DEMs) in ERDAS Imagine raster format (IMG) are available as downloadable files. Photo Science, Inc., was contracted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to collect and process these data. The lidar data were acquired at a horizontal spacing (or nominal pulse spacing) of 1 meter (m) or less. The USGS surveyed points within the project area from July 14–23, 2013, for use in ground control and accuracy assessment. Photo Science, Inc., calculated a vertical root mean square error (RMSEz) of 0.012 m by comparing 10 surveyed points to an interpolated elevation surface of unclassified lidar data. The USGS also checked the data using 80 surveyed points and unclassified lidar point elevation data and found an RMSEz of 0.073 m. The project specified an RMSEz of 0.0925 m or less. The lidar survey was acquired to document the short- and long-term changes of several different barrier island systems. Specifically, this survey supports detailed studies of Chandeleur and Dauphin Islands that resolve annual changes in beaches, berms and dunes associated with processes driven by storms, sea-level rise, and even human restoration activities. These lidar data are available to Federal, State and local governments, emergency-response officials, resource managers, and the general public.

Defining and evaluating novel procedures for involving patients in Core Outcome Set research: creating a meaningful long list of candidate outcome domains.

PubMed

Smith, Harriet; Horobin, Adele; Fackrell, Kathryn; Colley, Veronica; Thacker, Brian; Hall, Deborah A

2018-01-01

Outcome domains are aspects of a condition that matter to patients and clinicians and can be measured to assess treatment effects. For tinnitus, examples include 'tinnitus loudness' and 'ability to concentrate'. This study focuses on the first stage of agreeing which outcome domains should be measured in all clinical trials of tinnitus. Crucially, it involves identifying outcome domains, prior to a voting process. This article describes how we effectively involved patients in that study design process, and reflects on the impact of their input.The study first compiled a long list of all possible outcome domains before asking interested parties, including patients, to vote which ones to include. Ensuring patients fully participate in this process holds unique challenges as it can be long, repetitive and its purpose far removed from their needs. These challenges may be addressed by involving patients in designing the research. There is evidence that other research teams are doing this, but its reporting is not detailed enough to guide others. Our paper seeks to address this.We describe how we involved patients (people living with tinnitus) in creating a long list of outcome domains that we included in our study. We also reflect on the benefits this brought. Two patients partnered with us in designing the survey. We also consulted an independent patient review panel. Involving patients reduced the list of domains included in the survey and made domain names and associated descriptions clearer. Our resulting survey performed well in recruiting and retaining patients as participants. Background Tinnitus is a complex audiological condition affecting many different domains of everyday life. Clinical trials of tinnitus interventions measure and report those outcome domains inconsistently and this hinders direct comparison between study findings. To address this problem, an ongoing project is developing a Core Outcome Set; an agreed list of outcome domains to be measured and reported in all future trials. Part of this project uses a consensus methodology ('Delphi' survey), whereby all relevant stakeholders identify important and critical outcome domains from a long list of candidates. This article addresses a gap in the patient involvement literature by describing and reflecting on our involvement of patients to create a meaningful long list of candidate outcome domains. Methods Two Public Research Partners with lived experience of tinnitus reviewed an initial list of 124 outcome domains over two face-to-face workshops. With the Study Management Team, they interpreted each candidate outcome domain and generated a plain language description. Following this, the domain names and descriptions underwent an additional lay review by 14 patients and 5 clinical experts, via an online survey platform. Results Insights gained from the workshops and survey feedback prompted substantial, unforeseen modifications to the long list. These included the reduction of the number of outcome domains (from 124 to 66) via the exclusion of broad concepts and consolidation of equivalent domains or domains outside the scope of the study. Reviewers also applied their lived experience of tinnitus to bring clarity and relevance to domain names and plain language descriptions. Four impacts on the Delphi survey were observed: recruitment exceeded the target by 171%, there were equivalent numbers of patient and professional participants ( n  = 358 and n  = 312, respectively), feedback was mostly positive, and retention was high (87%). Conclusions Patient involvement was an integral and transformative step of the study design process. Patient involvement was impactful because the online Delphi survey was successful in recruiting and retaining participants, and there were many comments about a positive participatory experience. Seven general methodological features are highlighted which fit with general principles of good patient involvement. These can benefit other Core Outcome Set developers.

Acculturation and Health of Korean American Adults.

PubMed

Shin, Cha-Nam; Lach, Helen W

2014-07-01

Increasing cultural diversity in the United States and significant health disparities among immigrant populations make acculturation an important concept to measure in health research. The purpose of this cross-sectional, descriptive study was to examine acculturation and health of Korean American adults. A convenience sample of 517 Korean American adults in a Midwestern city completed a survey in either English or Korean. All four groups of Berry's acculturation model were identified using cluster analysis with Lee's Acculturation Scale. Assimilation, integration, and separation were found in the English survey sample, whereas integration, separation, and marginalization were found in the Korean survey sample. Moreover, the findings revealed that acculturation is a bidimensional process, and the unique nature of samples may determine acculturation groups. Physical health and mental health were significantly related to acculturation in the English survey sample. However, there was not a significant relationship between health and acculturation in the Korean survey sample. © The Author(s) 2014.

Three-Dimensional Integrated Survey for Building Investigations.

PubMed

Costantino, Domenica; Angelini, Maria Giuseppa

2015-11-01

The study shows the results of a survey aimed to represent a building collapse and the feasibility of the modellation as a support of structure analysis. An integrated survey using topographic, photogrammetric, and terrestrial laser techniques was carried out to obtain a three-dimensional (3D) model of the building, plans and prospects, and the particulars of the collapsed area. Authors acquired, by a photogrammetric survey, information about regular parties of the structure; while using laser scanner data they reconstructed a set of more interesting architectural details and areas with higher surface curvature. Specifically, the process of texture provided a detailed 3D structure of the areas under investigation. The analysis of the data acquired resulted to be very useful both in identifying the causes of the disaster and also in helping the reconstruction of the collapsed corner showing the contribution that the integrated surveys can give in preserving architectural and historic heritage. © 2015 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

An Investigation on the Crustal Deformations in Istanbul after Eastern Marmara Earthquakes in 1999

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozludemir, M.; Ozyasar, M.

2008-12-01

Since the introduction of the GPS technique in mid 1970's there has been great advances in positioning activities. Today such Global Navigational Satellite Systems (GNSS) based positioning techniques are widely used in daily geodetic applications. High order geodetic network measurements are one of such geodetic applications. Such networks are established to provide reliable infrastructures for all kind of geodetic work from the production of cadastral plans to the surveying processes during the construction of engineering structures. In fact such positional information obtained in such engineering surveys could be useful for other studies as well. One of such fields is geodynamic studies where such positional information could be valuable to understand the characteristics of tectonic movements. In Turkey being located in a tectonically active zones and having major earthquakes quite frequently, the positional information obtained in engineering surveys could be very useful for earthquake related studies. In this paper an example of such engineering surveys is discussed. This example is the Istanbul GPS (Global Positioning System) Network, first established in 1997 and remeasured in 2005. Between these two measurement processes two major earthquakes took place, on August 17 and November 12, 1999 with magnitudes of 7.4 and 7.2, respectively. In the first measurement campaign in 1997, a network of about 700 points was measured, while in the second campaign in 2005 more than 1800 points were positioned. In these two campaigns are existing common points. The network covers the whole Istanbul area of about 6000 km2. All network points are located on the Eurasian plate to the north of the North Anatolian Fault Zone. In this study, the horizontal and vertical movements are presented and compared with the results obtained in geodynamic studies.

Construction of a Calibrated Probabilistic Classification Catalog: Application to 50k Variable Sources in the All-Sky Automated Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richards, Joseph W.; Starr, Dan L.; Miller, Adam A.; Bloom, Joshua S.; Butler, Nathaniel R.; Brink, Henrik; Crellin-Quick, Arien

2012-12-01

With growing data volumes from synoptic surveys, astronomers necessarily must become more abstracted from the discovery and introspection processes. Given the scarcity of follow-up resources, there is a particularly sharp onus on the frameworks that replace these human roles to provide accurate and well-calibrated probabilistic classification catalogs. Such catalogs inform the subsequent follow-up, allowing consumers to optimize the selection of specific sources for further study and permitting rigorous treatment of classification purities and efficiencies for population studies. Here, we describe a process to produce a probabilistic classification catalog of variability with machine learning from a multi-epoch photometric survey. In addition to producing accurate classifications, we show how to estimate calibrated class probabilities and motivate the importance of probability calibration. We also introduce a methodology for feature-based anomaly detection, which allows discovery of objects in the survey that do not fit within the predefined class taxonomy. Finally, we apply these methods to sources observed by the All-Sky Automated Survey (ASAS), and release the Machine-learned ASAS Classification Catalog (MACC), a 28 class probabilistic classification catalog of 50,124 ASAS sources in the ASAS Catalog of Variable Stars. We estimate that MACC achieves a sub-20% classification error rate and demonstrate that the class posterior probabilities are reasonably calibrated. MACC classifications compare favorably to the classifications of several previous domain-specific ASAS papers and to the ASAS Catalog of Variable Stars, which had classified only 24% of those sources into one of 12 science classes.

CONSTRUCTION OF A CALIBRATED PROBABILISTIC CLASSIFICATION CATALOG: APPLICATION TO 50k VARIABLE SOURCES IN THE ALL-SKY AUTOMATED SURVEY

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

Richards, Joseph W.; Starr, Dan L.; Miller, Adam A.

2012-12-15

With growing data volumes from synoptic surveys, astronomers necessarily must become more abstracted from the discovery and introspection processes. Given the scarcity of follow-up resources, there is a particularly sharp onus on the frameworks that replace these human roles to provide accurate and well-calibrated probabilistic classification catalogs. Such catalogs inform the subsequent follow-up, allowing consumers to optimize the selection of specific sources for further study and permitting rigorous treatment of classification purities and efficiencies for population studies. Here, we describe a process to produce a probabilistic classification catalog of variability with machine learning from a multi-epoch photometric survey. In additionmore » to producing accurate classifications, we show how to estimate calibrated class probabilities and motivate the importance of probability calibration. We also introduce a methodology for feature-based anomaly detection, which allows discovery of objects in the survey that do not fit within the predefined class taxonomy. Finally, we apply these methods to sources observed by the All-Sky Automated Survey (ASAS), and release the Machine-learned ASAS Classification Catalog (MACC), a 28 class probabilistic classification catalog of 50,124 ASAS sources in the ASAS Catalog of Variable Stars. We estimate that MACC achieves a sub-20% classification error rate and demonstrate that the class posterior probabilities are reasonably calibrated. MACC classifications compare favorably to the classifications of several previous domain-specific ASAS papers and to the ASAS Catalog of Variable Stars, which had classified only 24% of those sources into one of 12 science classes.« less

Examining the implementation of NICE guidance: cross-sectional survey of the use of NICE interventional procedures guidance by NHS Trusts.

PubMed

Lowson, Karin; Jenks, Michelle; Filby, Alexandra; Carr, Louise; Campbell, Bruce; Powell, John

2015-06-30

In the UK, NHS hospitals receive large amounts of evidence-based recommendations for care delivery from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and other organisations. Little is known about how NHS organisations implement such guidance and best practice for doing so. This study was therefore designed to examine the dissemination, decision-making, and monitoring processes for NICE interventional procedures (IP) guidance and to investigate the barriers and enablers to the implementation of such guidance. A cross-sectional survey questionnaire was developed and distributed to individuals responsible for managing the processes around NICE guidance in all 181 acute NHS hospitals in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A review of acute NHS hospital policies for implementing NICE guidance was also undertaken using information available in the public domain and from organisations' websites. The response rate to the survey was 75 % with 135 completed surveys received. Additionally, policies from 25 % of acute NHS hospitals were identified and analysed. NHS acute hospitals typically had detailed processes in place to implement NICE guidance, although organisations recognised barriers to implementation including organisational process barriers, clinical engagement and poor targeting with a large number of guidance issued. Examples of enablers to, and good practice for, implementation of guidance were found, most notably the value of shared learning experiences between NHS hospitals. Implications for NICE were also identified. These included making improvements to the layout of guidance, signposting on the website and making better use of their shared learning platform. Most organisations have robust processes in place to deal with implementing guidance. However, resource limitations and the scope of guidance received by organisations create barriers relating to organisational processes, clinician engagement and financing of new procedures. Guidance implementation can be facilitated through encouragement of shared learning by organisations such as NICE and open knowledge transfer between organisations.

Reconciling research and community priorities in participatory trials: application to Padres Informados/Jovenes Preparados.

PubMed

Allen, Michele L; Garcia-Huidobro, Diego; Bastian, Tiana; Hurtado, G Ali; Linares, Roxana; Svetaz, María Veronica

2017-06-01

Participatory research (PR) trials aim to achieve the dual, and at times competing, demands of producing an intervention and research process that address community perspectives and priorities, while establishing intervention effectiveness. To identify research and community priorities that must be reconciled in the areas of collaborative processes, study design and aim and study implementation quality in order to successfully conduct a participatory trial. We describe how this reconciliation was approached in the smoking prevention participatory trial Padres Informados/Jovenes Preparados (Informed Parents/Prepared Youth) and evaluate the success of our reconciled priorities. Data sources to evaluate success of the reconciliations included a survey of all partners regarding collaborative group processes, intervention participant recruitment and attendance and surveys of enrolled study participants assessing intervention outcomes. While we successfully achieved our reconciled collaborative processes and implementation quality goals, we did not achieve our reconciled goals in study aim and design. Due in part to the randomized wait-list control group design chosen in the reconciliation process, we were not able to demonstrate overall efficacy of the intervention or offer timely services to families in need of support. Achieving the goals of participatory trials is challenging but may yield community and research benefits. Innovative research designs are needed to better support the complex goals of participatory trials. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Profiles of and practices in crisis resolution and home treatment teams in Norway: a longitudinal survey study

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Crisis resolution and home treatment (CRHT) is one of the more recent modes of delivering acute mental health care in the community. The objective of the study was to describe the standardizations and variations in the CRHT teams in Norway in order to gain knowledge regarding the structures and processes of CRHT teams. Methods A longitudinal survey of five CRHT teams in Norway was carried out for a period of 18 months with two sets of questionnaires-one for CRHT team profiles for a bi-yearly survey and the other for services and practices of CRHT teams for a monthly survey. Results The five CRHT teams were configured by a set of common basic characteristics in their operations, while at the same time were variant in several areas of the teams' structures and processes. Significant differences among the teams were evident in terms of the structural aspects such as service locality, staffing and team make-up, caseload, service hours, and travel time, and the process aspects such as the number of referrals received, referral source, admission, service duration, and discharge destination. These variations are reflected upon the perspectives regarding the nature of mental health crisis, the conflicting policies in mental health services, and the nature of home-based mental health care. Conclusions The diversity in the way CRHT teams are established and operate needs to be examined further in order to understand the reasons for such variations and their impact on the quality of services to service users and in relation to the total mental health service system in a community. PMID:21878115

Seismic Characterization of Basalt Topography at Two Candidate Sites for the INL Remote-Handled Low-Level Waste Disposal Project

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

Jeff Sondrup; Gail Heath; Trent Armstrong

2011-04-01

This report presents the seismic refraction results from the depth to bed rock surveys for two areas being considered for the Remote-Handled Low-Level Waste (RH-LLW) disposal facility at the Idaho National Laboratory. The first area (Site 5) surveyed is located southwest of the Advanced Test Reactor Complex and the second (Site 34) is located west of Lincoln Boulevard near the southwest corner of the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC). At Site 5, large area and smaller-scale detailed surveys were performed. At Site 34, a large area survey was performed. The purpose of the surveys was to define themore » topography of the interface between the surficial alluvium and underlying basalt. Seismic data were first collected and processed using seismic refraction tomographic inversion. Three-dimensional images for both sites were rendered from the data to image the depth and velocities of the subsurface layers. Based on the interpreted top of basalt data at Site 5, a more detailed survey was conducted to refine depth to basalt. This report briefly covers relevant issues in the collection, processing and inversion of the seismic refraction data and in the imaging process. Included are the parameters for inversion and result rendering and visualization such as the inclusion of physical features. Results from the processing effort presented in this report include fence diagrams of the earth model, for the large area surveys and iso-velocity surfaces and cross sections from the detailed survey.« less

Urban Expansion Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1985-01-01

Under an Egyptian government contract, PADCO studies urban growth in the Nile Area. They were assisted by LANDSAT survey maps and measurements provided by TAC. TAC had classified the raw LANDSAT data and processed it into various categories to detail urban expansion. PADCO crews spot checked the results, and correlations were established.

[Patient's Experience with Living Donation: A Questionnaire-Based Survey of 144 Living Kidney Donors].

PubMed

Schieber, Katharina; Gaag, Sonja; Heller, Katharina; Erim, Yesim

2018-05-01

Living organ donation becomes more and more important as the number of patients needing organ transplantation is increasing. The University Hospital of Erlangen initiated a survey of living kidney donors to improve the process of living donation. The survey aimed to assess the donor's needs and experiences during the process of living kidney donation. From 2003 to 2014 n=199 living kidney donations were registered at the University Hospital of Erlangen. A total of n=144 living kidney donors (65.3% females, mean age M=58.7 years) participated in the study. In general, the majority of the living kidney donors were satisfied with the process of donation. Almost all of them (98%) confirmed to donate again, if it was possible. A large part of the living kidney donors denied any negative physical or psychological consequences of the donation. However, around 25% reported still physical problems for example wound healing, pain or long-term hypertension. Furthermore, a lack of pre- and post-operative psychological care or a regular medical follow-up care was reported. Thus, clinical practice needs to be further developed to meet the patient's needs. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Applicant Perspectives on the Otolaryngology Residency Application Process.

PubMed

Ward, Matthew; Pingree, Christian; Laury, Adrienne M; Bowe, Sarah N

2017-08-01

It has been nearly 25 years since medical students were queried regarding their perspectives on otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) residency selection. Understanding this viewpoint is critical to improving the current application process. To evaluate the perceptions of 2016 OHNS residency applicants regarding the application process and offer suggestions for reform. In this cross-sectional study of anonymous online survey data, a 14-question survey was designed based on resources obtained from a computerized PubMed, Ovid, and GoogleScholar database search of the English language from January 1, 1990, through December 31, 2015, was conducted using the following search terms: (medical student OR applicant) AND (application OR match) AND otolaryngology. The survey was administered to 2016 OHNS residency applicants to examine 4 primary areas: current attitudes toward the match, effect of the new Otolaryngology Program Directors Organization personal statement mandate, sources of advice and information, and suggestions for improvement. In January 2016, an email was sent to 100 program directors asking them to distribute the survey to current OHNS applicants at their institution. One follow-up reminder email was sent in February 2016. A link to the survey was posted on the Otomatch.com homepage on January 28, 2016, with the last response received on March 28, 2016. Survey responses regarding the residency application process. A total of 150 of 370 residency applicants (40.5%) responded to the survey. Of these, 125 respondents (90.6%) noted applying to programs in which they had no specific interest simply to improve their chances of matching. Applicants intended to apply to more programs than they actually did (63.6 vs 60.8; r = 0.19; 95% CI, -0.03 to 0.40). Program directors advised fewer applications than other sources; however, 58 respondents (38.7%) did not receive advice from a program director. A total of 121 respondents (80.7%) found online program information to be insufficient. Finally, 90 of 140 respondents (64.3%) noted that they would agree to a hard cap on applications, among other suggestions for improvement. Several main themes emerged from the data, providing a foundation for process improvement opportunities: careful consideration to applicant mentorship, including peers; uniform set of criteria for residency program websites; and investigating alternative match platforms, which may allow hard caps, flagging programs of higher interest, or wave application cycles. Overall, the otolaryngology applicant provides a unique perspective regarding the current state of the match and potential opportunities for system-wide improvement.

2002-2015 Texas Regional Travel Surveys | Transportation Secure Data

Science.gov Websites

have passed through NREL's drive cycle processing and filtering routines. Survey Records Survey records include 5,825 households. More Information Survey reports are available for the following areas: Abilene . Transportation data are available as zipped files. Download Winzip. Abilene Full Survey Data (excluding any GPS

Automated face detection for occurrence and occupancy estimation in chimpanzees.

PubMed

Crunchant, Anne-Sophie; Egerer, Monika; Loos, Alexander; Burghardt, Tilo; Zuberbühler, Klaus; Corogenes, Katherine; Leinert, Vera; Kulik, Lars; Kühl, Hjalmar S

2017-03-01

Surveying endangered species is necessary to evaluate conservation effectiveness. Camera trapping and biometric computer vision are recent technological advances. They have impacted on the methods applicable to field surveys and these methods have gained significant momentum over the last decade. Yet, most researchers inspect footage manually and few studies have used automated semantic processing of video trap data from the field. The particular aim of this study is to evaluate methods that incorporate automated face detection technology as an aid to estimate site use of two chimpanzee communities based on camera trapping. As a comparative baseline we employ traditional manual inspection of footage. Our analysis focuses specifically on the basic parameter of occurrence where we assess the performance and practical value of chimpanzee face detection software. We found that the semi-automated data processing required only 2-4% of the time compared to the purely manual analysis. This is a non-negligible increase in efficiency that is critical when assessing the feasibility of camera trap occupancy surveys. Our evaluations suggest that our methodology estimates the proportion of sites used relatively reliably. Chimpanzees are mostly detected when they are present and when videos are filmed in high-resolution: the highest recall rate was 77%, for a false alarm rate of 2.8% for videos containing only chimpanzee frontal face views. Certainly, our study is only a first step for transferring face detection software from the lab into field application. Our results are promising and indicate that the current limitation of detecting chimpanzees in camera trap footage due to lack of suitable face views can be easily overcome on the level of field data collection, that is, by the combined placement of multiple high-resolution cameras facing reverse directions. This will enable to routinely conduct chimpanzee occupancy surveys based on camera trapping and semi-automated processing of footage. Using semi-automated ape face detection technology for processing camera trap footage requires only 2-4% of the time compared to manual analysis and allows to estimate site use by chimpanzees relatively reliably. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Parental Choice of Schooling, Learning Processes and Inter-Ethnic Friendship Patterns: The Case of Malay Students in Chinese Primary Schools in Malaysia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sua, Tan Yao; Ngah, Kamarudin; Darit, Sezali Md.

2013-01-01

This study surveys 200 Malay students enrolled in three Chinese primary schools in relation to three issues, i.e., parental choice of schooling, learning processes and inter-ethnic friendship patterns. The three issues are explored through a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Parental expectations for their…

Difficulties Facing the Educational Supervision Processes in the Public Schools of the Governorate of Jarash Directorate of Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Badah, Ahmad; AL-Awawdeh, Amal; Akroush, Lubna; Al Shobaki, Nayfah

2013-01-01

This study attempts to identify the difficulties facing the educational supervision processes in the public schools of the Directorate of Education at Jarash Governorate, Jordan, by surveying the principals of these schools. The sample size consisted of (143) male and female principals in the Governorate of Jarash Directorate of Education. In…

Are Principal Background and School Processes Related to Teacher Job Satisfaction? A Multilevel Study Using Schools and Staffing Survey 2003-04

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shen, Jianping; Leslie, Jeffrey M.; Spybrook, Jessaca K.; Ma, Xin

2012-01-01

Using nationally representative samples for public school teachers and principals, the authors inquired into whether principal background and school processes are related to teacher job satisfaction. Employing hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), the authors were able to control for background characteristics at both the teacher and school levels.…

Process Study of Sorted Patterns on Arctic Soils

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-03-01

thick layer of a coarse mixture of beach sediments . INSTRUMENTATION Based on our past work we were able to design instrumentation that...Washburn, A.L., 1980. Geocryologv: a Survey of Periglacial Processes and Environments, 406 pp., John Wiley and Sons, New York. 17 PUBLICATIONS...38 pages. Submitted for inclusion in Periglacial Geomorphology. Proceedings of the 1991 Binghampton Geomorphology Symposium, to be

Analysing the Opportunities and Challenges to Use of Information and Communication Technology Tools in Teaching-Learning Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dastjerdi, Negin Barat

2016-01-01

The research aims at the evaluation of ICT use in teaching-learning process to the students of Isfahan elementary schools. The method of this research is descriptive-surveying. The statistical population of the study was all teachers of Isfahan elementary schools. The sample size was determined 350 persons that selected through cluster sampling…

Assessment of the Practicum by Students from the Perspective of the Induction Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pacios, Ana R.

2013-01-01

This article shows the assessments made by students from the Carlos III University of Madrid of the induction period in the practicum they performed during their courses of study, and their perceptions of and attitudes towards it. The method used was a survey comprising 6 questions about the induction process, which was carried out among 359…

User-Oriented Quality for OER: Understanding Teachers' Views on Re-Use, Quality, and Trust

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clements, K. I.; Pawlowski, J. M.

2012-01-01

We analysed how teachers as users of open educational resources (OER) repositories act in the re-use process and how they perceive quality. Based on a quantitative empirical study, we also surveyed which quality requirements users have and how they would contribute to the quality process. Trust in resources, organizations, and technologies seem to…

Use of ePortfolios in K-12 Teacher Hiring in North Carolina: Perspectives of School Principals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ndoye, Abdou; Ritzhaupt, Albert Dieter; Parker, Michele A.

2012-01-01

This study explored the perceptions of principals involved in the hiring process of K-12 teachers in 11 counties in southeastern North Carolina. Forty-nine principals responded to a survey on ePortfolio use in the hiring process: the pros and cons, desirable artifacts, stage of use, preferred delivery method, and improvements that can increase…

Measuring End-of-Life Care Processes in Nursing Homes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Temkin-Greener, Helena; Zheng, Nan; Norton, Sally A.; Quill, Timothy; Ladwig, Susan; Veazie, Peter

2009-01-01

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to develop measures of end-of-life (EOL) care processes in nursing homes and to validate the instrument for measuring them. Design and Methods: A survey of directors of nursing was conducted in 608 eligible nursing homes in New York State. Responses were obtained from 313 (51.5% response rate) facilities.…

Evaluating Adult's Competency: Application of the Competency Assessment Process

PubMed Central

Tétreault, Sylvie; Landry, Marie-Pier

2015-01-01

Competency assessment of adults with cognitive impairment or mental illness is a complex process that can have significant consequences for their rights. Some models put forth in the scientific literature have been proposed to guide health and social service professionals with this assessment process, but none of these appear to be complete. A new model, the Competency Assessment Process (CAP), was presented and validated in other studies. This paper adds to this corpus by presenting both the CAP model and the results of a survey given to health and social service professionals on its practical application in their clinical practice. The survey was administered to 35 participants trained in assessing competency following the CAP model. The results show that 40% of participants use the CAP to guide their assessment and the majority of those who do not yet use it plan to do so in the future. A large majority of participants consider this to be a relevant model and believe that all interdisciplinary teams should use it. These results support the relevance of the CAP model. Further research is planned to continue the study of the application of CAP in healthcare facilities. PMID:26257978

Biomedical journal speed and efficiency: a cross-sectional pilot survey of author experiences.

PubMed

Wallach, Joshua D; Egilman, Alexander C; Gopal, Anand D; Swami, Nishwant; Krumholz, Harlan M; Ross, Joseph S

2018-01-01

Although the peer review process is believed to ensure scientific rigor, enhance research quality, and improve manuscript clarity, many investigators are concerned that the process is too slow, too expensive, too unreliable, and too static. In this feasibility study, we sought to survey corresponding authors of recently published clinical research studies on the speed and efficiency of the publication process. Web-based survey of corresponding authors of a 20% random sample of clinical research studies in MEDLINE-indexed journals with Ovid MEDLINE entry dates between December 1 and 15, 2016. Survey addressed perceived manuscript importance before first submission, approximate first submission and final acceptance dates, and total number of journal submissions, external peer reviews, external peer reviewers, and revisions requested, as well as whether authors would have considered publicly sharing their manuscript on an online platform instead of submitting to a peer-reviewed journal. Of 1780 surveys distributed, 27 corresponding authors opted out or requested that we stop emailing them and 149 emails failed (e.g., emails that bounced n  = 64, returned with an away from office message n  = 70, or were changed/incorrect n  = 15), leaving 1604 respondents, of which 337 completed the survey (21.0%). Respondents and non-respondents were similar with respect to study type and publication journals' impact factor, although non-respondent authors had more publications ( p  = 0.03). Among respondents, the median impact factor of the publications' journal was 2.7 (interquartile range (IQR), 2.0-3.6) and corresponding authors' median h-index and number of publications was 9 (IQR, 3-20) and 27 (IQR, 10-77), respectively. The median time from first submission to journal acceptance and publication was 5 months (IQR, 3-8) and 7 months (IQR, 5-12), respectively. Most respondents (62.0%, n  = 209) rated the importance of their research as a 4 or 5 (5-point scale) prior to submission. Median number of journal submissions was 1 (IQR, 1-2), external peer reviews was 1 (IQR, 1-2), external peer reviewers was 3 (IQR, 2-4), and revisions requested was 1 (IQR, 1-1). Sharing manuscripts to a public online platform, instead of submitting to a peer-reviewed journal, would have been considered by 55.2% ( n  = 186) of respondents. Corresponding authors have high perceptions of their research and reported requiring few manuscript submissions prior to journal acceptance, most commonly by lower impact factor journals.

End-of-Life Care Planning in Accountable Care Organizations: Associations with Organizational Characteristics and Capabilities.

PubMed

Ahluwalia, Sangeeta C; Harris, Benjamin J; Lewis, Valerie A; Colla, Carrie H

2018-06-01

To measure the extent to which accountable care organizations (ACOs) have adopted end-of-life (EOL) care planning processes and characterize those ACOs that have established processes related to EOL. This study uses data from three waves (2012-2015) of the National Survey of ACOs. Respondents were 397 ACOs participating in Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial ACO contracts. This is a cross-sectional survey study using multivariate ordered logit regression models. We measured the extent to which the ACO had adopted EOL care planning processes as well as organizational characteristics, including care management, utilization management, health informatics, and shared decision-making capabilities, palliative care, and patient-centered medical home experience. Twenty-one percent of ACOs had few or no EOL care planning processes, 60 percent had some processes, and 19.6 percent had advanced processes. ACOs with a hospital in their system (OR: 3.07; p = .01), and ACOs with advanced care management (OR: 1.43; p = .02), utilization management (OR: 1.58, p = .00), and shared decision-making capabilities (OR: 16.3, p = .000) were more likely to have EOL care planning processes than those with no hospital or few to no capabilities. There remains considerable room for today's ACOs to increase uptake of EOL care planning, possibly by leveraging existing care management, utilization management, and shared decision-making processes. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center coral reef research

USGS Publications Warehouse

Poore, Richard Z.; Kuffner, Ilsa B.; Kellogg, Christina A.

2010-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coral Reef Ecosystem STudies (CREST) Project specifically addresses priorities identified in the 'Facing tomorrow's challenges' U.S. Geological Survey science in the decade 2007-2017' document (USGS, 2007). Research includes a blend of historical, monitoring, and process studies aimed at improving our understanding of the development, current status and function, as well as likely future changes in coral ecosystems. Topics such as habitat characterization and distribution, coral disease, and trends in biogenic calcification are major focus areas. We seek to increase the understanding of reef structure, ecological integrity, and responses to global change.

Exploring Vocational Evaluation Practices following Traumatic Brain Injury

PubMed Central

Dillahunt-Aspillaga, Christina; Jorgensen Smith, Tammy; Hanson, Ardis; Ehlke, Sarah; Stergiou-Kita, Mary; Dixon, Charlotte G.; Quichocho, Davina

2015-01-01

Background. Individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) face many challenges when attempting to return to work (RTW). Vocational evaluation (VE) is a systematic process that involves assessment and appraisal of an individual's current work-related characteristics and abilities. Objective. The aims of this study are to (1) examine demographic and employment characteristics of vocational rehabilitation providers (VRPs), (2) identify the specific evaluation methods that are used in the VE of individuals with TBI, and (3) examine the differences in assessment method practices based upon evaluator assessment preferences. Methods. This exploratory case study used a forty-six-item online survey which was distributed to VRPs. Results. One hundred and nine VRPs accessed the survey. Of these, 74 completed the survey. A majority of respondents were female (79.7%), Caucasian (71.6%), and holding a master's degree (74.3%), and more than half (56.8%) were employed as state vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRCs). In addition, over two-thirds (67.6%) were certified rehabilitation counselors (CRCs). Respondents reported using several specific tools and assessments during the VE process. Conclusions. Study findings reveal differences in use of and rationales for specific assessments amongst VRPs. Understanding VRP assessment practices and use of an evidence-based framework for VE following TBI may inform and improve VE practice. PMID:26494945

Human values in the team leader selection process.

PubMed

Rovira, Núria; Ozgen, Sibel; Medir, Magda; Tous, Jordi; Alabart, Joan Ramon

2012-03-01

The selection process of team leaders is fundamental if the effectiveness of teams is to be guaranteed. Human values have proven to be an important factor in the behaviour of individuals and leaders. The aim of this study is twofold. The first is to validate Schwartz's survey of human values. The second is to determine whether there are any relationships between the values held by individuals and their preferred roles in a team. Human values were measured by the items of the Schwartz Value Survey (SVS) and the preferred roles in a team were identified by the Belbin Self Perception Inventory (BSPI). The two questionnaires were answered by two samples of undergraduate students (183 and 177 students, respectively). As far as the first objective is concerned, Smallest Space Analysis (SSA) was performed at the outset to examine how well the two-dimensional circular structure, as postulated by Schwartz, was represented in the study population. Then, the results of this analysis were compared and contrasted with those of two other published studies; one by Schwartz (2006) and one by Ros and Grad (1991). As for the second objective, Pearson correlation coefficients were computed to assess the associations between the ratings on the SVS survey items and the ratings on the eight team roles as measured by the BSPI.

76 FR 34087 - Broad Stakeholder Survey

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-10

... DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY [Docket No. DHS-2011-0027] Broad Stakeholder Survey AGENCY... Survey. DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until August 9, 2011. This process is... Stakeholder Survey is designed to gather stakeholder feedback on the effectiveness of OEC services and to...

77 FR 50144 - Broad Stakeholder Survey

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-20

... DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY [Docket No. DHS-2012-0042] Broad Stakeholder Survey AGENCY... Survey. DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until October 19, 2012. This process is.... The Broad Stakeholder Survey is designed to gather stakeholder feedback on the effectiveness of OEC...

Adding Confidence to Knowledge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goodson, Ludwika Aniela; Slater, Don; Zubovic, Yvonne

2015-01-01

A "knowledge survey" and a formative evaluation process led to major changes in an instructor's course and teaching methods over a 5-year period. Design of the survey incorporated several innovations, including: a) using "confidence survey" rather than "knowledge survey" as the title; b) completing an instructional…

The Influence of Aspirations on Higher Education Choice: A Telecommunication Engineering Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cubillo-Pinilla, Jose Maria; Sanchez-Herrera, Joaquin; Perez-Aguir, Waldo S.

2006-01-01

This paper analyses the influence of external factors that affect the decision-making process in the selection of telecommunications engineering studies. Particularly, we have studied the influence of factors related to the generation of expectations about the studies. A survey was conducted on a sample of 701 male and female telecommunications…

High-Redshift Astrophysics Using Every Photon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breysse, Patrick; Kovetz, Ely; Rahman, Mubdi; Kamionkowski, Marc

2017-01-01

Large galaxy surveys have dramatically improved our understanding of the complex processes which govern gas dynamics and star formation in the nearby universe. However, we know far less about the most distant galaxies, as existing high-redshift observations can only detect the very brightest sources. Intensity mapping surveys provide a promising tool to access this poorly-studied population. By observing emission lines with low angular resolution, these surveys can make use of every photon in a target line to study faint emitters which are inaccessible using traditional techniques. With upcoming carbon monoxide experiments in mind, I will demonstrate how an intensity map can be used to measure the luminosity function of a galaxy population, and in turn how these measurements will allow us to place robust constraints on the cosmic star formation history. I will then show how cross-correlating CO isotopologue lines will make it possible to study gas dynamics within the earliest galaxies in unprecedented detail.

AIPS technology survey report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ogletree, Glenn (Editor)

1984-01-01

The results of a technology survey conducted for the NASA/JSC by the CSDL during Phase 1 of the NASA Advanced Information Processing System (AIPS) program at the CSDL are discussed. The purpose of the survey was to ensure that all technology relevant to the configuration, design, development, verification, implementation, and validation of an advanced information processing system, whether existing or under development and soon to be available, would be duly considered in the development of the AIPS. The emphasis in the survey was on technology items which were clearly relevant to the AIPS. Requirements were developed which guided the planning of contacts with the outside sources to be surveyed, and established practical limits on the scope and content of the Technology Survey. Subjects surveyed included architecture, software, hardware, methods for evaluation of reliability and performance, and methods for the verification of the AIPS design and the validation of the AIPS implementation. Survey requirements and survey results in each of these areas are presented, including analyses of the potential effects on the AIPS development process of using or not using the surveyed technology items. Another output of the survey was the identification of technology areas of particular relevance to the AIPS and for which further development, in some cases by the CSDL and in some cases by the NASA, would be fruitful. Appendices are provided in which are presented: (1) reports of some of the actual survey interactions with industrial and other outside information sources; (2) the literature list from the comprehensive literature survey which was conducted; (3) reduced-scale images of an excerpt ('Technology Survey' viewgraphs) from the set of viewgraphs used at the 14 April 1983 Preliminary Requirements Review by the CSDL for the NASA; and (4) reduced-scale images of the set of viewgraphs used in the AIPS Technology Survey Review presentation to the NASA monitors by the CSDL at the NASA Langley Research Center on 28 Sep. 1983.

Development, Evaluation and Use of a Student Experience Survey in Undergraduate Science Laboratories: The Advancing Science by Enhancing Learning in the Laboratory Student Laboratory Learning Experience Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barrie, Simon C.; Bucat, Robert B.; Buntine, Mark A.; Burke da Silva, Karen; Crisp, Geoffrey T.; George, Adrian V.; Jamie, Ian M.; Kable, Scott H.; Lim, Kieran F.; Pyke, Simon M.; Read, Justin R.; Sharma, Manjula D.; Yeung, Alexandra

2015-07-01

Student experience surveys have become increasingly popular to probe various aspects of processes and outcomes in higher education, such as measuring student perceptions of the learning environment and identifying aspects that could be improved. This paper reports on a particular survey for evaluating individual experiments that has been developed over some 15 years as part of a large national Australian study pertaining to the area of undergraduate laboratories-Advancing Science by Enhancing Learning in the Laboratory. This paper reports on the development of the survey instrument and the evaluation of the survey using student responses to experiments from different institutions in Australia, New Zealand and the USA. A total of 3153 student responses have been analysed using factor analysis. Three factors, motivation, assessment and resources, have been identified as contributing to improved student attitudes to laboratory activities. A central focus of the survey is to provide feedback to practitioners to iteratively improve experiments. Implications for practitioners and researchers are also discussed.

Studying Abroad as a Sorting Criterion in the Recruitment Process: A Field Experiment among German Employers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Petzold, Knut

2017-01-01

As the experience of studying abroad can signal general and transnational human capital, it is considered to be increasingly important for professional careers, particularly in the context of economies' internationalization. However, studies using graduate surveys face problems of self-selection and studies on employers' opinions face problems of…

Effectiveness of Facebook Based Learning to Enhance Creativity among Islamic Studies Students by Employing Isman Instructional Design Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alias, Norlidah; Siraj, Saedah; Daud, Mohd Khairul Azman Md; Hussin, Zaharah

2013-01-01

The study examines the effectiveness of Facebook based learning to enhance creativity among Islamic Studies students in the secondary educational setting in Malaysia. It describes the design process by employing the Isman Instructional Design Model. A quantitative study was carried out using experimental method and background survey. The…

Studying Overseas: Factors Impacting Intention of Female Students in Mainland China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Yi; Sun, Jie; Hagedorn, Linda Serra

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that impact Chinese female students' intention to study overseas. This study also aimed to understand how these factors impact female students' decision making process. Using a survey questionnaire, data were collected from 96 female undergraduates who enrolled in a 4-year public university…

Systemic Approach to Elevation Data Acquisition for Geophysical Survey Alignments in Hilly Terrains Using UAVs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ismail, M. A. M.; Kumar, N. S.; Abidin, M. H. Z.; Madun, A.

2018-04-01

This study is about systematic approach to photogrammetric survey that is applicable in the extraction of elevation data for geophysical surveys in hilly terrains using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The outcome will be to acquire high-quality geophysical data from areas where elevations vary by locating the best survey lines. The study area is located at the proposed construction site for the development of a water reservoir and related infrastructure in Kampus Pauh Putra, Universiti Malaysia Perlis. Seismic refraction surveys were carried out for the modelling of the subsurface for detailed site investigations. Study were carried out to identify the accuracy of the digital elevation model (DEM) produced from an UAV. At 100 m altitude (flying height), over 135 overlapping images were acquired using a DJI Phantom 3 quadcopter. All acquired images were processed for automatic 3D photo-reconstruction using Agisoft PhotoScan digital photogrammetric software, which was applied to all photogrammetric stages. The products generated included a 3D model, dense point cloud, mesh surface, digital orthophoto, and DEM. In validating the accuracy of the produced DEM, the coordinates of the selected ground control point (GCP) of the survey line in the imaging area were extracted from the generated DEM with the aid of Global Mapper software. These coordinates were compared with the GCPs obtained using a real-time kinematic global positioning system. The maximum percentage of difference between GCP’s and photogrammetry survey is 13.3 %. UAVs are suitable for acquiring elevation data for geophysical surveys which can save time and cost.

Adverse events arising from a palliative care survey.

PubMed

Braithwaite, M; Philip, J; Finlayson, F; Tranberg, H; Gold, M; Kotsimbos, T; Wilson, J

2009-10-01

Development of evidence-based practice requires investigation of the attitudes and needs of patients, families and healthcare professionals, particularly for sensitive subject areas. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a recessively inherited life-limiting disorder resulting in early death. Patients with this condition generally expect that lung transplantation will be an available treatment option; however, this is uncertain. A dual approach to care that involves both preparing patients for transplant assessment, while simultaneously exploring acceptable palliative care options is needed. A survey amongst patients with CF, their families and health carers was conducted to understand their attitudes and needs in relation to end-of-life care. The survey encompassed five separate domains, with a total of 60 questions requiring approximately 20 min to complete. Of the 200 surveys sent to patients, 82 (41%) completed responses were received. The Institutional Ethics Committee received six complaints from families of seven patients (3.5% of those surveyed). This article explores the nature of the adverse responses to the survey. The majority of complaints were received from family members rather than from patients. Complaints described dissatisfaction with the topic, little warning about the study and felt it to be inappropriate for their family member's level of health. Survey instruments used to determine attitudes and needs in relation to end-of-life patient care are likely to elicit adverse responses that should be reported in a similar way to other investigational studies. Also arising from adverse responses and the complaint process, is the impact of criticism on study researchers.

BIOMASS DRYING TECHNOLOGIES

EPA Science Inventory

The report examines the technologies used for drying of biomass and the energy requirements of biomass dryers. Biomass drying processes, drying methods, and the conventional types of dryers are surveyed generally. Drying methods and dryer studies using superheated steam as the d...

1988/1989 household travel survey

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1989-07-01

The primary objectives of this study were to provide the data: (1) : to update the trip generation rates used in the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) travel demand forecasting process, and; (2) to validate the MAG trip distribution model. Th...

Air traffic control specialist decision making and strategic planning : a field survey

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-03-01

This study investigated Air Traffic Control Specialists' perspective regarding decision making and planning and related cognitive processes such as learning, memory, and situation awareness. The results of 100 semi-structured interviews indicated tha...

Impact of Methane Leak Detection and Repair Programs: Determining Pre- and Post-Survey Emissions Profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roda-Stuart, D. J.; Ravikumar, A. P.; Brandt, A. R.

2017-12-01

Upstream production sites contribute 66 percent of methane emissions from natural gas systems [1]. Being a major greenhouse gas, many states and national governments are developing policies to reduce methane emissions. Recent policies to address this issue have focused on periodic leak detection and repair (LDAR) surveys at oil and gas facilities [2]. Development of effective LDAR surveys is complicated by two things. First, available empirical data makes it difficult to say anything definitive about which facilities or equipment are most prone to leakage. Second, there has been little research done on post-LDAR emissions profiles and the time evolution of leaks, two measures that would influence survey effectiveness and cost. In this work, we present data from LDAR operations conducted at upstream facilities of a Canadian natural gas producer. Surveys were done by an outside contractor using a FLIR optical gas imaging camera. Twenty-two well pads, five processing plants, and three compressor stations were surveyed, of which four, two, and one, respectively, were revisited. We examine the persistence of leaks over time periods ranging from 6 months to 15 months following the initial LDAR survey. Developing pre- and post-survey emission factors and distributions can help inform survey schedules and help update and monitor mitigation targets. Furthermore, we analyze the effect of weather conditions, survey frequency, and operational characteristics of equipment on the effectiveness of the LDAR program. For instance, we find that a survey done at the commissioning of a gas processing plant yields both safety and emissions reduction benefits. Using leak frequency distributions, we identify components and equipment that require more frequent and targeted surveying. Insights from this study can assist businesses and policy makers develop methane mitigation policies aimed at maximizing the marginal benefits of LDAR programs. [1] Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2015. US Environmental Protection Agency, 2017. [2] New Source Performance Standards; Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources. Federal Register, 81(107):35824-35942, 2016.

Recruiting and Surveying Catholic Parishes for Cancer Control Initiatives: Lessons Learned From the CRUZA Implementation Study

PubMed Central

Tom, Laura S.; Leyva, Bryan; Rustan, Sarah; Ospino, Hosffman; Negron, Rosalyn; Torres, Maria Idalí; Galeas, Ana V.

2017-01-01

Background We describe activities undertaken to conduct organizational surveys among faith-based organizations (FBOs) in Massachusetts (MA) as part of a larger study designed to promote parish-based cancer control programs for Latinos. Methods Catholic parishes located in MA that provided Spanish-language mass were eligible for study participation. Parishes were identified through diocesan records and online directories. Prior to parish recruitment, we implemented a variety of activities to gain support from Catholic leaders at the Diocesan level. We then recruited individual parishes to complete a four-part organizational survey, which assessed: (A) parish leadership; (B) financial resources; (C) involvement in Hispanic ministry; and (D) health and social service offerings. Our goal was to administer each survey component to a parish representatives who could best provide an organizational perspective on the content of each component (e.g., A=pastors; B= Business Managers; C=Hispanic Ministry Leaders; and D= Parish Nurse or Health Ministry leader. Here, we present descriptive statistics on recruitment and survey administration processes. Results Seventy-five percent of eligible parishes responded to the survey and of these, 92% completed all four components. Completed four-part surveys required an average of 16.6 contact attempts. There were an average of 2.1 respondents per site. Pastoral staff were the most frequent respondents (79%), but also required the most contact attempts (M = 9.3, range = 1 to 27). While most interviews were completed by phone (71%), one-quarter were completed during in-person site visits. Conclusions We achieved a high survey completion rate among organizational representatives. Our lessons learned may inform efforts to engage and survey FBOs for public health efforts. PMID:25878192

Identification of Karstic Features in Lateritic Soil by an Integrated Geophysical Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anbazhagan, P.; Rohit, Divyesh; Prabhakaran, Athul; Vidyaranya, B.

2018-06-01

Lateritic soils are widely spread across the southern and central parts of India. Lateritic formations usually have soft sediments, entrapped between hard to medium soft lateritic rock, which are leached due to the ingress of water during rainy seasons creating hollow sections or cavities which span over large lengths. Laterites are highly heterogeneous and prone to cavitation due to its weathering process; a sound knowledge of the subsurface condition is required before starting any construction. This study presents the application of integrated geophysical investigation for the identification of cavities at a mega construction site in Kerala State, India. Geophysical survey methods, namely ground penetrating radar (GPR) and multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASWs) techniques, are used to identify the heterogeneities in lateritic soils and localized cavities. The survey areas identified are critical sections of a mega construction project subjected to heavy dynamic and static loads. The preliminary GPR survey is carried out across the study areas at specific interval spacing to identify probable heterogeneities. Confirmative survey or detailed GPR and MASW surveys are carried out at the locations identified in the preliminary survey at close intervals to confirm the presence of an anomaly and identify its location. The anomalies in the GPR radargram are identified by visual inspection and trace amplitude approach. Using MASW survey, a 2D shear wave velocity profile is generated to identify low shear wave velocity zones which confirm the presence of an anomaly. On comparing the data from both GPR and MASW survey techniques, the underground cavities were successfully identified at multiple locations with further crosschecking with borings. The study further provided details on subsurface lithology at survey locations.

Nursing home consumer complaints and quality of care: a national view.

PubMed

Stevenson, David G

2006-06-01

This study uses 5 years of national data on investigated nursing home complaints (1998-2002) to evaluate whether complaints might be used to assess nursing home quality of care. On-Line Survey Certification and Reporting (OSCAR) data are used to evaluate the association between consumer complaints, facility and resident characteristics, and other nursing home quality measures. The analyses are undertaken in the context of considerable cross-state variation in nursing home complaint processes and rates. Complaints varied across facility characteristics in ways consistent with the nursing home quality literature. Complaints were significantly positively associated with survey deficiencies and the presence of serious survey deficiencies, and significantly negatively associated with nurse and nurse aide staffing. Complaints performance was significantly predictive of survey deficiencies at subsequent inspections. This study presents the first national evidence for using consumer complaints to assess nursing home quality of care. Despite limitations, nursing home complaints appear to offer a real-time signal of quality concerns.

A Demonstration of GPS Landslide Monitoring Using Online Positioning User Service (OPUS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, G.

2011-12-01

Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies have been frequently applied to landslide study, both as a complement, and as an alternative to conventional surveying methods. However, most applications of GPS for landslide monitoring have been limited to the academic community for research purposes. High-accuracy GPS has not been widely equipped in geotechnical companies and used by technicians. The main issue that limits the applications of GPS in the practice of high-accuracy landslide monitoring is the complexity of GPS data processing. This study demonstrated an approach using the Online Positioning User Service (OPUS) (http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/OPUS) provided by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to process GPS data and conduct long-term landslide monitoring in the Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Region. Continuous GPS data collected at a creeping landslide site during two years were used to evaluate different scenarios for landslide surveying: continuous or campaign, long duration or short duration, morning or afternoon (different weather conditions). OPUS uses Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) managed by NGS (http://www.ngs.noaa.giv/CORS/) as references and user data as a rover to solve a position. There are 19 CORS permanent GPS stations in the Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands region. The dense GPS network provides a precise and reliable reference frame for subcentimeter-accuracy landslide monitoring in this region. Our criterion for the accuracy was the root-mean-square (RMS) of OPUS solutions over a 2-year period with respect to true landslide displacement time series overt the same period. The true landslide displacements were derived from a single-baseline (130 m) GPS processing by using 24-hour continuous data. If continuous GPS surveying is performed in the field, then OPUS static processing can provide 0.6 cm horizontal and 1.1 cm vertical precision with few outliers. If repeated campaign-style surveying is performed in the field, then the choice of observation time window and duration are very important. In order to detect a suspected sliding mass and track the kinematics of a creeping landslide, sub-centimeter horizontal accuracy is often required. OPUS static solutions for sessions of 4 hours or longer and OPUS rapid-static solutions for sessions as short as 15 minutes can achieve accuracy at this level if data collection during extreme weather conditions is avoided, such as rainfall and storm time. This study also indicated that rainfall events can seriously degrade the performance of high-accuracy GPS. Field GPS landslide surveying should avoid rainfall time that is usually accompanied by thunderstorms and the passage of weather fronts.

Is University Internationalization Bad for Performance? Examining Two Different Types of Diversity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lauring, Jakob; Selmer, Jan

2010-01-01

While most studies on diverse organizations have been directed at business organizations, the academic sector has also become increasingly international and heterogeneous. Few large-scale studies have investigated multicultural academic departments and none of those have dealt with diversity and group processes. Therefore, a survey was directed…

Accessibility and Usage of Technology by North Carolina Agriculture Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Maegen R.; Warner, Wendy J.; Flowers, James L.; Croom, D. Barry

2014-01-01

This study examined the integration of technology into the instructional process in North Carolina agricultural education classrooms. The study used survey research methodology to collect information on the availability of instructional technology and the frequency of instructional technology use by North Carolina agriculture teachers. The study…

Ethical review of health research: a perspective from developing country researchers.

PubMed

Hyder, A A; Wali, S A; Khan, A N; Teoh, N B; Kass, N E; Dawson, L

2004-02-01

Increasing collaboration between industrialised and developing countries in human research studies has led to concerns regarding the potential exploitation of resource deprived countries. This study, commissioned by the former National Bioethics Advisory Commission of the United States, surveyed developing country researchers about their concerns and opinions regarding ethical review processes and the performance of developing country and US international review boards (IRBs). Contact lists from four international organisations were used to identify and survey 670 health researchers in developing countries. A questionnaire with 169 questions explored issues of IRB review, informed consent, and recommendations. The majority of the developing country researchers were middle aged males who were physicians and were employed by educational institutions, carrying out research on part time basis. Forty four percent of the respondents reported that their studies were not reviewed by a developing country IRB or Ministry of Health and one third of these studies were funded by the US. During the review process issues such as the need for local language consent forms and letters for approval, and confidentiality protection of participants were raised by US IRBs in significantly higher proportions than by host country IRBs. This survey indicates the need for the ethical review of collaborative research in both US and host countries. It also reflects a desire for focused capacity development in supporting ethical review of research.

Nonresponse and Underreporting Errors Increase over the Data Collection Week Based on Paradata from the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey.

PubMed

Hu, Mengyao; Gremel, Garrett W; Kirlin, John A; West, Brady T

2017-05-01

Background: Food acquisition diary surveys are important for studying food expenditures, factors affecting food acquisition decisions, and relations between these decisions with selected measures of health (e.g., body mass index, self-reported health). However, to our knowledge, no studies have evaluated the errors associated with these diary surveys, which can bias survey estimates and research findings. The use of paradata, which has been largely ignored in previous literature on diary surveys, could be useful for studying errors in these surveys. Objective: We used paradata to assess survey errors in the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS). Methods: To evaluate the patterns of nonresponse over the diary period, we fit a multinomial logistic regression model to data from this 1-wk diary survey. We also assessed factors influencing respondents' probability of reporting food acquisition events during the diary process by using logistic regression models. Finally, with the use of an ordinal regression model, we studied factors influencing respondents' perceived ease of participation in the survey. Results: As the diary period progressed, nonresponse increased, especially for those starting the survey on Friday (where the odds of a refusal increased by 12% with each fielding day). The odds of reporting food acquisition events also decreased by 6% with each additional fielding day. Similarly, the odds of reporting ≥1 food-away-from-home event (i.e., meals, snacks, and drinks obtained outside the home) decreased significantly over the fielding period. Male respondents, larger households, households that eat together less often, and households with frequent guests reported a significantly more difficult time getting household members to participate, as did non-English-speaking households and households currently experiencing difficult financial conditions. Conclusions: Nonresponse and underreporting of food acquisition events tended to increase in the FoodAPS as data collection proceeded. This analysis of paradata available in the FoodAPS revealed these errors and suggests methodologic improvements for future food acquisition surveys. © 2017 American Society for Nutrition.

Audits of oncology units - an effective and pragmatic approach.

PubMed

Abratt, Raymond Pierre; Eedes, David; Bailey, Belinda; Salmon, Chris; Govender, Yogi; Oelofse, Ivan; Burger, Henriette

2017-05-24

Audits of oncology units are part of all quality-assurance programmes. However, they do not always come across as pragmatic and helpful to staff. To report on the results of an online survey on the usefulness and impact of an audit process for oncology units. Staff in oncology units who were part of the audit process completed the audit self-assessment form for the unit. This was followed by a visit to each unit by an assessor, and then subsequent personal contact, usually via telephone. The audit self-assessment document listed quality-assurance measures or items in the physical and functional areas of the oncology unit. There were a total of 153 items included in the audit. The online survey took place in October 2016. The invitation to participate was sent to 59 oncology units at which staff members had completed the audit process. The online survey was completed by 54 (41%) of the 132 potential respondents. The online survey found that the audit was very or extremely useful in maintaining personal professional standards in 89% of responses. The audit process and feedback was rated as very or extremely satisfactory in 80% and 81%, respectively. The self-assessment audit document was scored by survey respondents as very or extremely practical in 63% of responses. The feedback on the audit was that it was very or extremely helpful in formulating improvement plans in oncology units in 82% of responses. Major and minor changes that occurred as a result of the audit process were reported as 8% and 88%, respectively. The survey findings show that the audit process and its self- assessment document meet the aims of being helpful and pragmatic.

Bayesian adaptive survey protocols for resource management

USGS Publications Warehouse

Halstead, Brian J.; Wylie, Glenn D.; Coates, Peter S.; Casazza, Michael L.

2011-01-01

Transparency in resource management decisions requires a proper accounting of uncertainty at multiple stages of the decision-making process. As information becomes available, periodic review and updating of resource management protocols reduces uncertainty and improves management decisions. One of the most basic steps to mitigating anthropogenic effects on populations is determining if a population of a species occurs in an area that will be affected by human activity. Species are rarely detected with certainty, however, and falsely declaring a species absent can cause improper conservation decisions or even extirpation of populations. We propose a method to design survey protocols for imperfectly detected species that accounts for multiple sources of uncertainty in the detection process, is capable of quantitatively incorporating expert opinion into the decision-making process, allows periodic updates to the protocol, and permits resource managers to weigh the severity of consequences if the species is falsely declared absent. We developed our method using the giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas), a threatened species precinctive to the Central Valley of California, as a case study. Survey date was negatively related to the probability of detecting the giant gartersnake, and water temperature was positively related to the probability of detecting the giant gartersnake at a sampled location. Reporting sampling effort, timing and duration of surveys, and water temperatures would allow resource managers to evaluate the probability that the giant gartersnake occurs at sampled sites where it is not detected. This information would also allow periodic updates and quantitative evaluation of changes to the giant gartersnake survey protocol. Because it naturally allows multiple sources of information and is predicated upon the idea of updating information, Bayesian analysis is well-suited to solving the problem of developing efficient sampling protocols for species of conservation concern.

Strategic Planning and NRC Decadal Survey Experience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lautenbacher, C. C., Jr.

2015-12-01

Strategic planning exercises are routinely undertaken by a wide variety of organizations that span the private, public and academic sectors and with a wide variety of corporate goals. It is difficult to single out best procedures as the purposes of strategic planning are as varied as the organizations. As a former head of a governmental agency that requested such a NRC study, namely the first "Earth Sciences and Applications from Space" study, I will examine the process, provide my definitions and assessments of the good and the not-so-good, and compare to my experiences with other similar strategic planning exercises during my Navy, NOAA, and private sector careers. I find that there is always room for improvement, but there is no one process or procedure that can guarantee success. Overarching initial considerations that can position the effort for overall "success" will be defined and applied to the recent NSC Study: "Sea Change: 2015-2025 Decadal Survey of Ocean Science", for which I was neither an initiator nor a participant, but a very interested observer.

Experimental studies related to the origin of the genetic code and the process of protein synthesis - A review

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lacey, J. C., Jr.; Mullins, D. W., Jr.

1983-01-01

A survey is presented of the literature on the experimental evidence for the genetic code assignments and the chemical reactions involved in the process of protein synthesis. In view of the enormous number of theoretical models that have been advanced to explain the origin of the genetic code, attention is confined to experimental studies. Since genetic coding has significance only within the context of protein synthesis, it is believed that the problem of the origin of the code must be dealt with in terms of the origin of the process of protein synthesis. It is contended that the answers must lie in the nature of the molecules, amino acids and nucleotides, the affinities they might have for one another, and the effect that those affinities must have on the chemical reactions that are related to primitive protein synthesis. The survey establishes that for the bulk of amino acids, there is a direct and significant correlation between the hydrophobicity rank of the amino acids and the hydrophobicity rank of their anticodonic dinucleotides.

Generational differences in the sexual communication process of African American grandparent and parent caregivers of adolescents.

PubMed

Cornelius, Judith B; Xiong, Pa H

2015-07-01

This study assessed generational differences in the sexual communication process between 40 African American parent and 40 grandparent caregivers of adolescent children. The study reports findings from a secondary analysis of data from two databases. The HIV Risk Reduction Survey was used to examine the sexual communication process. Grandparents wanted to talk about sex and had open sexual communications, while parents valued sexual abstinence and had limited communications. Based on the findings, healthcare providers and programs need to recognize that differences do exist between parents and grandparents with sexual communications. © 2015, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Dark Energy Survey Image Processing Pipeline

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

Morganson, E.; et al.

The Dark Energy Survey (DES) is a five-year optical imaging campaign with the goal of understanding the origin of cosmic acceleration. DES performs a 5000 square degree survey of the southern sky in five optical bands (g,r,i,z,Y) to a depth of ~24th magnitude. Contemporaneously, DES performs a deep, time-domain survey in four optical bands (g,r,i,z) over 27 square degrees. DES exposures are processed nightly with an evolving data reduction pipeline and evaluated for image quality to determine if they need to be retaken. Difference imaging and transient source detection are also performed in the time domain component nightly. On amore » bi-annual basis, DES exposures are reprocessed with a refined pipeline and coadded to maximize imaging depth. Here we describe the DES image processing pipeline in support of DES science, as a reference for users of archival DES data, and as a guide for future astronomical surveys.« less

Ethnic Differences in the Quality of the Interview Process and Implications for Survey Analysis: The Case of Indigenous Australians

PubMed Central

Perales, Francisco

2015-01-01

Comparable survey data on Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians are highly sought after by policymakers to inform policies aimed at closing ethnic socio-economic gaps. However, collection of such data is compromised by group differences in socio-economic status and cultural norms. We use data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey and multiple-membership multilevel regression models that allow for individual and interviewer effects to examine differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in approximate measures of the quality of the interview process. We find that there are both direct and indirect ethnic effects on different dimensions of interview process quality, with Indigenous Australians faring worse than non-Indigenous Australians in all outcomes ceteris paribus . This indicates that nationwide surveys must feature interview protocols that are sensitive to the needs and culture of Indigenous respondents to improve the quality of the survey information gathered from this subpopulation. PMID:26091283

[Computer-assisted analysis of the results of training in internal medicine].

PubMed

Vrbová, H; Spunda, M

1991-06-01

Analysis of the results of teaching of clinical disciplines has in the long run an impact on the standard and value of medical care. It requires processing of quantitative and qualitative data. The selection of indicators which will be followed up and procedures used for their processing are of fundamental importance. The submitted investigation is an example how to use possibilities to process results of effectiveness analysis in teaching internal medicine by means of computer technique. As an indicator of effectiveness the authors selected the percentage of students who had an opportunity during the given period of their studies to observe a certain pathological condition, and as method of data collection a survey by means of questionnaires was used. The task permits to differentiate the students' experience (whether the student examined the patient himself or whether the patient was only demonstrated) and it makes it possible to differentiate the place of observation (at the university teaching hospital or regional non-teaching hospital attachment). The task permits also to form sub-groups of respondents to combine them as desired and to compare their results. The described computer programme support comprises primary processing of the output of the questionnaire survey. The questionnaires are transformed and stored by groups of respondents in data files of suitable format (programme SDFORM); the processing of results is described as well as their presentation as output listing or on the display in the interactive way (SDRESULT programme). Using the above programmes, the authors processed the results of a survey made among students during and after completion of the studies in a series of 70 recommended pathological conditions. As an example the authors compare results of observations in 20 selected pathological conditions important for the diagnosis and therapy in primary care in the final stage of the medical course in 1981 and 1985.

46 CFR 28.720 - Survey and classification.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Survey and classification. 28.720 Section 28.720... FISHING INDUSTRY VESSELS Fish Processing Vessel § 28.720 Survey and classification. (a) Each vessel which... classed the vessel. (2) Meet all survey and classification requirements prescribed by the organization...

46 CFR 28.720 - Survey and classification.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Survey and classification. 28.720 Section 28.720... FISHING INDUSTRY VESSELS Fish Processing Vessel § 28.720 Survey and classification. (a) Each vessel which... classed the vessel. (2) Meet all survey and classification requirements prescribed by the organization...

46 CFR 28.720 - Survey and classification.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Survey and classification. 28.720 Section 28.720... FISHING INDUSTRY VESSELS Fish Processing Vessel § 28.720 Survey and classification. (a) Each vessel which... classed the vessel. (2) Meet all survey and classification requirements prescribed by the organization...

46 CFR 28.720 - Survey and classification.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Survey and classification. 28.720 Section 28.720... FISHING INDUSTRY VESSELS Fish Processing Vessel § 28.720 Survey and classification. (a) Each vessel which... classed the vessel. (2) Meet all survey and classification requirements prescribed by the organization...

46 CFR 28.720 - Survey and classification.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Survey and classification. 28.720 Section 28.720... FISHING INDUSTRY VESSELS Fish Processing Vessel § 28.720 Survey and classification. (a) Each vessel which... classed the vessel. (2) Meet all survey and classification requirements prescribed by the organization...

75 FR 57263 - New Policy Announcing That Traditional Horizontal Survey Projects Performed With Terrestrial...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-20

... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration New Policy Announcing That Traditional Horizontal Survey Projects Performed With Terrestrial Survey Techniques Will No Longer Be Accepted for Processing or Loading Into NGS Databases AGENCY: National Geodetic Survey (NGS), National Ocean...

NATIONAL SURVEY OF MEN

EPA Science Inventory

The 1991 National Survey of Men was conducted to examine issues related to sexual behavior and condom use among U.S. men aged 20 to 39. Data collection and processing took place between March 1991 and January 1992. This survey was intended to serve as a baseline survey for a long...

Radiographic trends of dental offices and dental schools.

PubMed

Suleiman, O H; Spelic, D C; Conway, B; Hart, J C; Boyce, P R; Antonsen, R G

1999-07-01

A survey of private practice facilities in the United States that perform dental radiography was conducted in 1993 and repeated in dental schools in 1995-1996. Both surveys were conducted as part of the Nationwide Evaluation of X-ray Trends, or NEXT, survey program. A representative sample of dental facilities from each participating state were surveyed, and data on patient radiation exposure, radiographic technique, film-image quality, film-processing quality and darkroom fog were collected. The authors found that dental schools use E-speed film more frequently than do private practice facilities. The use of E-speed film and better film processing by dental schools resulted in lower patient radiation exposures without sacrificing image quality. The authors also found that dental school darkrooms had lower ambient fog levels than did those of private practice facilities. The distribution for the 1993 NEXT survey facilities was greater than that observed for dental schools for radiation exposure, film-processing quality and darkroom fog. Dental schools, in general, had better film quality and lower radiation exposures than did private practice facilities. Facilities need to emphasize better quality processing and the use of E-speed film to reduce patient exposure and improve image quality.

Investigations into near-real-time surveying for geophysical data collection using an autonomous ground vehicle

USGS Publications Warehouse

Phelps, Geoffrey A.; Ippolito, C.; Lee, R.; Spritzer, R.; Yeh, Y.

2014-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are cooperatively investigating the utility of unmanned vehicles for near-real-time autonomous surveys of geophysical data collection. Initially focused on unmanned ground vehicle collection of magnetic data, this cooperative effort has brought unmanned surveying, precision guidance, near-real-time communication, on-the-fly data processing, and near-real-time data interpretation into the realm of ground geophysical surveying, all of which offer advantages over current methods of manned collection of ground magnetic data. An unmanned ground vehicle mission has demonstrated that these vehicles can successfully complete missions to collect geophysical data, and add advantages in data collection, processing, and interpretation. We view the current experiment as an initial phase in further unmanned vehicle data-collection missions, including aerial surveying.

Survey Says? A Primer on Web-based Survey Design and Distribution

PubMed Central

Oppenheimer, Adam J.; Pannucci, Christopher J.; Kasten, Steven J.; Haase, Steven C.

2011-01-01

The internet has changed the way in which we gather and interpret information. While books were once the exclusive bearers of data, knowledge is now only a keystroke away. The internet has also facilitated the synthesis of new knowledge. Specifically, it has become a tool through which medical research is conducted. A review of the literature reveals that in the past year, over one-hundred medical publications have been based on web-based survey data alone. Due to emerging internet technologies, web-based surveys can now be launched with little computer knowledge. They may also be self-administered, eliminating personnel requirements. Ultimately, an investigator may build, implement, and analyze survey results with speed and efficiency, obviating the need for mass mailings and data processing. All of these qualities have rendered telephone and mail-based surveys virtually obsolete. Despite these capabilities, web-based survey techniques are not without their limitations, namely recall and response biases. When used properly, however, web-based surveys can greatly simplify the research process. This article discusses the implications of web-based surveys and provides guidelines for their effective design and distribution. PMID:21701347

Continuous quality improvement for continuity of care.

PubMed

Kibbe, D C; Bentz, E; McLaughlin, C P

1993-03-01

Continuous quality improvement (CQI) techniques have been used most frequently in hospital operations such as pharmaceutical ordering, patient admitting, and billing of insurers, and less often to analyze and improve processes that are close to the clinical interaction of physicians and their patients. This paper describes a project in which CQI was implemented in a family practice setting to improve continuity of care. A CQI study team was assembled in response to patients' complaints about not being able to see their regular physician providers when they wanted. Following CQI methods, the performance of the practice in terms of provider continuity was measured. Two "customer" groups were surveyed: physician faculty members were surveyed to assess their attitudes about continuity, and patients were surveyed about their preferences for provider continuity and convenience factors. Process improvements were selected in the critical pathways that influence provider continuity. One year after implementation of selected process improvements, repeat chart audit showed that provider continuity levels had improved from .45 to .74, a 64% increase from 1 year earlier. The project's main accomplishment was to establish the practicality of using CQI methods in a primary care setting to identify a quality issue of value to both providers and patients, in this case, continuity of provider care, and to identify processes that linked the performance of health care delivery procedures with patient expectations.

Contribution of Massive Stars to the Production of Neutron Capture Elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Federman, Steven

2010-09-01

Elements beyond the Fe-peak must be synthesized through neutron-capture processes. With the aim of understanding the contribution of massive stars to the synthesis of neutron-capture elements during the current epoch, we propose an archival survey of interstellar arsenic, cadmium, tin, and lead. Nucleosynthesis via the weak slow process and the rapid process are the routes involving massive stars, while the main slow process arises from the evolution of low-mass stars. Ultraviolet lines for the dominant ions for each element will be used to extract interstellar abundances. The survey involves about forty sight lines, many of which are associated with regions of massive star formation shaped by core-collapse supernovae {SNe II}. The sample will increase the number of published determinations by factors of 2 to 5. HST spectra are the only means for determining the elemental abundances for this set of species in diffuse interstellar clouds. The survey contains directions that are both molecule poor and molecule rich, thereby enabling us to examine the overall level of depletion onto grains as a function of gas density. Complementary laboratory determinations of oscillator strengths will place the interstellar measurements on an absolute scale. The results from the proposed study will be combined with published interstellar abundances for other neutron capture elements and the suite of measurements will be compared to results from stars throughout the history of the Galaxy.

42 CFR 442.30 - Agreement as evidence of certification.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS STANDARDS FOR PAYMENT TO NURSING FACILITIES AND... to adhere to the following principles in determining compliance: (i) The survey process is the means to assess compliance with Federal health, safety and quality standards; (ii) The survey process uses...

A survey of GPU-based medical image computing techniques

PubMed Central

Shi, Lin; Liu, Wen; Zhang, Heye; Xie, Yongming

2012-01-01

Medical imaging currently plays a crucial role throughout the entire clinical applications from medical scientific research to diagnostics and treatment planning. However, medical imaging procedures are often computationally demanding due to the large three-dimensional (3D) medical datasets to process in practical clinical applications. With the rapidly enhancing performances of graphics processors, improved programming support, and excellent price-to-performance ratio, the graphics processing unit (GPU) has emerged as a competitive parallel computing platform for computationally expensive and demanding tasks in a wide range of medical image applications. The major purpose of this survey is to provide a comprehensive reference source for the starters or researchers involved in GPU-based medical image processing. Within this survey, the continuous advancement of GPU computing is reviewed and the existing traditional applications in three areas of medical image processing, namely, segmentation, registration and visualization, are surveyed. The potential advantages and associated challenges of current GPU-based medical imaging are also discussed to inspire future applications in medicine. PMID:23256080

An Educational Implementation Process Staff Survey: Lessons Learned.

PubMed

Delmore, Barbara; Kent, Martha

2018-05-01

To evaluate the education process for the effective use of the Munro Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale by practicing perioperative staff at an urban tertiary medical center. Given that pressure injury formation is tied to the surgical process, there is a need for a pressure injury risk assessment scale that addresses the uniqueness of the perioperative process. Participants were staff who worked in the surgical admissions area, the main operating room, and the main postanesthesia care unit. The authors' facility was 1 of 8 participants in a multisite study. Each site was required to educate staff using standard written instructions and an instructional webinar. However, sites were also encouraged to consider any other methods that would successfully engage the staff in the learning process. After the education process, staff were surveyed and asked to evaluate the educational interventions. Findings indicated that the staff did not prefer written instructions alone but rather preferred a combination of different learning modalities and media to assist them in using the Munro Scale effectively. This article discusses the strategies required to engage staff in the implementation process of this scale, the barriers encountered during this implementation, and the implications for perioperative nursing using this scale. The lessons learned from conducting this research provided insight into engaging and educating the adult learner in a new process.

Short communication: planning considerations for on-farm dairy processing enterprises.

PubMed

Smith, S M; Chaney, E A; Bewley, J M

2013-07-01

Across the world, more dairy producers are considering on-farm dairy processing to add value to the milk produced on their farms. Dairy producers may bottle milk or process their milk into cheese, ice cream, butter, yogurt, or cream. The primary objective of this research was to establish a series of sound factors or indicators of success for those considering on-farm processing. A survey was employed to collect opinions and advice from managers of on-farm processing enterprises. Surveys were distributed online (n=120), with 31 surveys returned, accounting for a 25.8% response rate. Most (64%) respondents had been involved in on-farm dairy processing for less than 10 yr. Sixty-one percent of respondents attained a positive cash flow in 1 to 3 yr. The primary products manufactured were cheese (69%), milk (59%), ice cream (31%), yogurt (25%), and butter (21%). Factors influencing the decision to start an on-farm dairy processing enterprise included commodity milk prices (61%), desire to work with the public (41%), an opportunity to promote the dairy industry (39%), a desire to maintain or expand a small family operation (29%), and product differentiation (16%). Respondents cited dealing with regulations (26%), product marketing (19%), manufacturing technicalities (19%), and securing funding (17%) as the most difficult parts of starting the business. Open-ended responses provided by the respondents of this survey were also documented to give future dairy producers advice. The most common advice to future on-farm processors was to work on realistic business plans, develop and follow realistic budgets, and observe and use market surveys within the industry. These results provide a useful array of information for future on-farm dairy processing enterprises. Copyright © 2013 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Data Resource Profile: Cross-national and cross-study sociodemographic and health-related harmonized domains from SAGE plus ELSA, HRS and SHARE (SAGE+, Wave 1).

PubMed

Minicuci, Nadia; Naidoo, Nirmala; Chatterji, Somnath; Kowal, Paul

2016-10-01

Four longitudinal studies were included in this rigorous harmonization process: the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE); English Longitudinal Study on Ageing (ELSA); US Health and Retirement Study (HRS); and Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). An ex-post harmonized process was applied to nine health-related thematic domains (socio-demographic and economic, health states, overall self-report of health and mental state, health examinations, physical and mental performance tests, risk factors, chronic conditions, social network and subjective well-being) for data from the 2004 wave of each study. Large samples of adults aged 50 years and older were available from each study: SAGE, n = 18 886; ELSA, n = 9181; HRS, n = 19 303; and SHARE, n = 29 917. The microdata, along with further details about the harmonization process and all metadata, are available through the World Health Organization (WHO) data archive at [http://apps.who.int/healthinfo/systems/surveydata/index.php/catalog]. Further information and enquiries can be made to [sagesurvey@who.int] or the corresponding author. The data resource will continue to be updated with data across additional waves of these surveys and new waves. © The Author 2016; all rights reserved. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association.

FY95 limited energy study. Area B nitric acid production facilities, Holston Army Ammunition Plant, Kingsport, Tennessee. Final report

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

NONE

1996-04-02

In June 1995, Affiliated Engineers SE, Inc. (AESE) was retained by the Mobile District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform a Limited Energy Study for Holston Army Ammunition Plant, Kingsport, Tennessee. The field survey of existing conditions was completed in July 1995. The results of this field survey were subsequently tabulated and used to generate single line process flow diagrams on Autocad. A subsequent one day field survey was conducted in August 1995. This report summarizes the results obtained from field investigation and the analysis of various alternative Energy Conservation Opportunities (ECO`s). ECO`s were analyzed for suitability for themore » Energy Conservation Investment Program (ECIP) using the government`s software package called Life Cycle Cost in Design (LCCID).« less

3D resistivity survey for shallow subsurface fault investigations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrit, Kraipat; Klamthim, Poonnapa; Duerrast, Helmut

2018-03-01

The shallow subsurface is subject to various human activities, and the place of occurrence of geohazards, e.g. shallow active faults. The identification of the location and orientation of such faults can be vital for infrastructure development. The aim of this study was to develop a low-cost 3D resistivity survey system, with reasonable survey time for shallow fault investigations. The study area in Songkhla Province, Thailand is located in an old quarry where faults could be identified in outcrops. The study area was designed to cover the expected fault with 100 electrodes arranged in a 10×10 square grid with an electrode spacing of 3 meters in x and y axis. Each electrode in turn was used as a current and potential electrode using a dipole-dipole array. Field data have been processed and interpreted using 3DResINV. Results, presented in horizontal depth slices and vertical xz- and yz-cross sections, revealed through differences in resistivity down to 8 m depths a complex structural setting with two shallow faults and dipping sedimentary rock layers. In conclusion, this study has shown that a 3D resistivity survey can imagine complex tectonic structures, thus providing a far more insight into the shallow subsurface.

General Template for the FMEA Applications in Primary Food Processing.

PubMed

Özilgen, Sibel; Özilgen, Mustafa

Data on the hazards involved in the primary steps of processing cereals, fruit and vegetables, milk and milk products, meat and meat products, and fats and oils are compiled with a wide-ranging literature survey. After determining the common factors from these data, a general FMEA template is offered, and its use is explained with a case study on pasteurized milk production.

Counselling Implications of Teachers' Digital Competencies in the Use of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) in the Teaching-Learning Process in Calabar, Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eyo, Mfon

2016-01-01

The study investigated teachers' digital competencies in the use of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) in the teaching-learning process. It had five research questions and two hypotheses. Adopting a survey design, it used a sample of 250 teachers from 10 out of 16 secondary schools in Calabar Municipal Local Government. A researcher-developed…

Underwater Photogrammetry and 3d Reconstruction of Marble Cargos Shipwreck

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balletti, C.; Beltrame, C.; Costa, E.; Guerra, F.; Vernier, P.

2015-04-01

Nowadays archaeological and architectural surveys are based on the acquisition and processing of point clouds, allowing a high metric precision, essential prerequisite for a good documentation. Digital image processing and laser scanner have changed the archaeological survey campaign, from manual and direct survey to a digital one and, actually, multi-image photogrammetry is a good solution for the underwater archaeology. This technical documentation cannot operate alone, but it has to be supported by a topographical survey to georeference all the finds in the same reference system. In the last years the Ca' Foscari and IUAV University of Venice are conducting a research on integrated survey techniques to support underwater metric documentation. The paper will explain all the phases regarding the survey's design, images acquisition, topographic measure and the data processing of two Roman shipwrecks in south Sicily. The cargos of the shipwrecks are composed by huge marble blocks, but they are different for morphological characteristic of the sites, for the depth and for their distribution on the seabed. Photogrammetrical and topographical surveys were organized in two distinct methods, especially for the second one, due to the depth that have allowed an experimentation of GPS RTK's measurements on one shipwreck. Moreover, this kind of three-dimensional documentation is useful for educational and dissemination aspect, for the ease of understanding by wide public.

Streamlining Software Aspects of Certification: Report on the SSAC Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hayhurst, Kelly J.; Dorsey, Cheryl A.; Knight, John C.; Leveson, Nancy G.; McCormick, G. Frank

1999-01-01

The aviation system now depends on information technology more than ever before to ensure safety and efficiency. To address concerns about the efficacy of software aspects of the certification process, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began the Streamlining Software Aspects of Certification (SSAC) program. The SSAC technical team was commissioned to gather data, analyze results, and propose recommendations to maximize efficiency and minimize cost and delay, without compromising safety. The technical team conducted two public workshops to identify and prioritize software approval issues, and conducted a survey to validate the most urgent of those issues. The SSAC survey, containing over two hundred questions about the FAA's software approval process, reached over four hundred industry software developers, aircraft manufacturers, and FAA designated engineering representatives. Three hundred people responded. This report presents the SSAC program rationale, survey process, preliminary findings, and recommendations.

Collaboration challenges in systematic reviews: a survey of health sciences librarians

PubMed Central

Nicholson, Joey; McCrillis, Aileen; Williams, Jeff D.

2017-01-01

Objective: While many librarians have been asked to participate in systematic reviews with researchers, often these researchers are not familiar with the systematic review process or the appropriate role for librarians. The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges and barriers that librarians face when collaborating on systematic reviews. To take a wider view of the whole process of collaborating on systematic reviews, the authors deliberately focused on interpersonal and methodological issues other than searching itself. Methods: To characterize the biggest challenges that librarians face while collaborating on systematic review projects, we used a web-based survey. The thirteen-item survey included seventeen challenges grouped into two categories: methodological and interpersonal. Participants were required to indicate the frequency and difficulty of the challenges listed. Open-ended questions allowed survey participants to describe challenges not listed in the survey and to describe strategies used to overcome challenges. Results: Of the 17 challenges listed in the survey, 8 were reported as common by over 40% of respondents. These included methodological issues around having too broad or narrow research questions, lacking eligibility criteria, having unclear research questions, and not following established methods. The remaining challenges were interpersonal, including issues around student-led projects and the size of the research team. Of the top 8 most frequent challenges, 5 were also ranked as most difficult to handle. Open-ended responses underscored many of the challenges included in the survey and revealed several additional challenges. Conclusions: These results suggest that the most frequent and challenging issues relate to development of the research question and general communication with team members. Clear protocols for collaboration on systematic reviews, as well as a culture of mentorship, can help librarians prevent and address these challenges. PMID:28983202

Use of Geodetic Surveys of Leveling Lines and Dry Tilt Arrays to Study Faults and Volcanoes in Undergraduate Field Geophysics Classes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polet, J.; Alvarez, K.; Elizondo, K.

2017-12-01

In the early 1980's and 1990's numerous leveling lines and dry tilt arrays were installed throughout Central and Southern California by United States Geological Survey scientists and other researchers (e.g. Sylvester, 1985). These lines or triangular arrays of geodetic monuments commonly straddle faults or have been installed close to volcanic areas, where significant motion is expected over relatively short time periods. Over the past year, we have incorporated geodetic surveys of these arrays as part of our field exercises in undergraduate and graduate level classes on topics such as shallow subsurface geophysics and field geophysics. In some cases, the monuments themselves first had to be located based on only limited information, testing students' Brunton use and map reading skills. Monuments were then surveyed using total stations and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers, using a variety of experimental procedures. The surveys were documented with tables, photos, maps and graphs in field reports, as well as in wiki pages created by student groups for a geophysics field class this June. The measurements were processed by the students and compared with similar data from surveys conducted soon after installation of the arrays, to analyze the deformation that occurred over the last few decades. The different geodetic techniques were also compared and an error analysis was conducted. The analysis and processing of these data challenged and enhanced students' quantitative literacy and technology skills. The final geodetic measurements are being incorporated into several senior and MSc thesis projects. Further surveys are planned for additional classes, in topics that could include seismology, geodesy, volcanology and global geophysics. We are also considering additional technologies, such as structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry.

Collaboration challenges in systematic reviews: a survey of health sciences librarians.

PubMed

Nicholson, Joey; McCrillis, Aileen; Williams, Jeff D

2017-10-01

While many librarians have been asked to participate in systematic reviews with researchers, often these researchers are not familiar with the systematic review process or the appropriate role for librarians. The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges and barriers that librarians face when collaborating on systematic reviews. To take a wider view of the whole process of collaborating on systematic reviews, the authors deliberately focused on interpersonal and methodological issues other than searching itself. To characterize the biggest challenges that librarians face while collaborating on systematic review projects, we used a web-based survey. The thirteen-item survey included seventeen challenges grouped into two categories: methodological and interpersonal. Participants were required to indicate the frequency and difficulty of the challenges listed. Open-ended questions allowed survey participants to describe challenges not listed in the survey and to describe strategies used to overcome challenges. Of the 17 challenges listed in the survey, 8 were reported as common by over 40% of respondents. These included methodological issues around having too broad or narrow research questions, lacking eligibility criteria, having unclear research questions, and not following established methods. The remaining challenges were interpersonal, including issues around student-led projects and the size of the research team. Of the top 8 most frequent challenges, 5 were also ranked as most difficult to handle. Open-ended responses underscored many of the challenges included in the survey and revealed several additional challenges. These results suggest that the most frequent and challenging issues relate to development of the research question and general communication with team members. Clear protocols for collaboration on systematic reviews, as well as a culture of mentorship, can help librarians prevent and address these challenges.

76 FR 17933 - Infrastructure Protection Data Call Survey

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-31

... Survey AGENCY: National Protection and Programs Directorate, DHS. ACTION: 60-Day Notice and request for... mission, IP requests opinions and information in a survey from IP Data Call participants regarding the IP Data Call process and the web-based application used to collect the CIKR data. The survey data...

Biomedical journal title changes: reasons, trends, and impact.

PubMed Central

Afes, V B; Wrynn, P E

1993-01-01

A study was conducted to document the impact of biomedical journal title changes on medical libraries and to increase awareness of the reasons titles are changed. The study consisted of two parts: a survey of academic health sciences libraries in the United States and Canada and an analysis of title changes from two different years. The survey response rate was 83%. The majority of respondents commented on difficulties in identifying and processing title changes, often resulting in the delay or loss of information. The analysis revealed that a third of title changes were not justified by the journal. The study results substantiate the need to standardize title change reporting by publishers. A standard developed by the National Information Standards Organization requires publishers to conform to standardized practices for notification. This standard precisely reflects the concerns reflected in both the survey and the study of title changes, and librarians are urged to ensure that the standard is implemented by publishers. PMID:8428189

Swiss national community survey on functioning after spinal cord injury: Protocol, characteristics of participants and determinants of non-response.

PubMed

Brinkhof, Martin W G; Fekete, Christine; Chamberlain, Jonviea D; Post, Marcel W M; Gemperli, Armin

2016-02-01

To detail the protocol, recruitment, study population, response, and data quality of the first population-based community survey of the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury (SwiSCI) Cohort Study. The survey consisted of 3 successive modules administered between September 2011 and March 2013. The first two modules queried demographics, lesion characteristics and key domains of functioning. The third module collected information on psychological personal factors and health behaviour; work integration; or health services and aging. Community-dwelling persons with chronic spinal cord injury in Switzerland. Descriptive analyses of the recruitment process, participant characteristics, and correspondence between self-reported and clinical data. Determinants for participation and the impact of non-response on survey results were assessed. Out of 3,144 eligible persons 1,549 participated in the first two modules (cumulative response rate 49.3%). Approximately three-quarters of participants were male, with a median age of 53 years, and 78% had traumatic spinal cord injury. Record-linkage with medical records demonstrated substantial agreement with self-reported demographic and lesion characteristics. A minimal non-response bias was found. The community survey was effective in recruiting an unbiased sample, thus providing valuable information to study functioning, health maintenance, and quality of life in the Swiss SCI community.

Ethical and Social Values in Business Administration and Management Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ruiz-Lozano, Mercedes; de los Rios-Bergillos, Araceli; Tirado-Valencia, Pilar; Millan-Lara, Salud

2012-01-01

The objective of this research was to analyze the impact of the learning process in business administration and management of students' values, through the application of factor analysis to the information obtained in a survey consisting of students in the first and fifth year of studies. The study derived the following conclusions: First,…

From Majority to Minority: A Case Study about Adaptation to a New Culture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rich, Alicia Jimenez

2012-01-01

This qualitative case study explored the adaptation process of immigrant educators who had immigrated to the United States from various countries. Five professional educators from a region in southwest Texas were interviewed as well as 15 other immigrant educators who completed a survey of 16 questions. The purpose of this study was to illustrate…

A Study of Investigating Adolescents' Eating out Behavior by Using Analytic Hierarchy Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lan, Tian-Syung; Lan, Yu-Hua; Chen, Pin-Chang; Lo, Wen-Chi

2017-01-01

The main purpose of this study is to understand the factors affecting adolescents' eating out behavior, as well as to develop scientific principles for selection of factors affecting adolescents' eating out behavior. According to literature review and expert questionnaire survey, this study obtained the factors affecting adolescents' choice to eat…

The APU and the 1978 Mathematics Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bell, Alan

1977-01-01

A tentative structure for a survey concerned with assessing the whole range of outcomes of school mathematics education is outlined. The structure provides for surveying content categories, process categories, and attitudes, utilizing practical manipulative problems. (MN)

Communicating Disclosure Risk in Informed Consent Statements

PubMed Central

Singer, Eleanor; Couper, Mick P.

2011-01-01

For several years, we have experimented with various ways of communicating disclosure risk and harm to respondents in order to determine how these affect their willingness to participate in surveys. These experiments, which used vignettes administered to an online panel as well as a mail survey sent to a national probability sample, have demonstrated that (a) the probability of disclosure alone has no apparent effect on people's willingness to participate in the survey described, (b) the sensitivity of the survey topic has such an effect, and (c) making explicit the possible harms that might result from disclosure also reduces willingness to participate, in both the vignette and the mail experiments. As a last study in this series, we experimented with different ways of describing disclosure risk in informed consent statements that might more plausibly be used in real surveys, again using vignettes administered to an online panel. As suggested by our earlier work, we found that the precise wording of the confidentiality assurance had little effect on respondents' stated willingness to participate in the hypothetical survey described. However, the experimental manipulations did have some effect on perceptions of the risks and benefits of participation, suggesting that they are processed by respondents. And, as we have found in our previous studies, the topic of the survey has a consistent and statistically significant effect on stated willingness to participate. We explore some implications of these findings for researchers seeking to provide adequate information to potential survey respondents without alarming them unnecessarily. PMID:20831416

7 CFR Exhibit C to Subpart C of... - Checklist of Visual Exhibits and Documentation for RRH, RCH, and LH Proposals

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... the required information will be sufficient. C. Property Survey Map. A current survey map of the... specimen trees. If a current survey does not exist, the most accurate document which is available will be... suitable drainage and landscaping plans later in the planning process. E. Market survey. A market survey...

75 FR 17428 - Notice of Proposed New Information Collection for Focus Groups for Non-use Valuation Survey...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-06

... a nonuse valuation survey of the U.S. public. A key aspect of the survey design process is to use... use the results of these information collection activities to optimize the design of the survey... information to address several key questions relating to the survey and, in particular, the conjoint design...

7 CFR 52.82 - Basis of survey and plant inspection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... inspection. The plant survey and inspection will be based on the Regulations issued under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act—Human Foods; Good Manufacturing Practice (Sanitation) in Manufacture, Processing... PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS 1 Regulations Governing Inspection and Certification Requirements for Plants to Be...

Electromagnetic surveys to detect clay-rich sediment in the Rio Grande inner valley, Albuquerque area, New Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bartolino, James R.; Sterling, Joseph M.

2000-01-01

Information on the presence of clay-rich layers in the inner-valley alluvium is essential for quantifying the amount of water transmitted between the Rio Grande and the Santa Fe Group aquifer system. This report describes a study that used electromagnetic surveys to provide this information. In the first phase of the study, electromagnetic soundings were made using time-domain and frequency-domain electro- magnetic methods. On the basis of these initial results, the time- domain method was judged ineffective because of cultural noise in the study area, so subsequent surveys were made using the frequency-domain method. For the second phase of the study, 31 frequency-domain electromagnetic surveys were conducted along the inner valley and parallel to the Rio Grande in the Albuquerque area in the spring and summer of 1997 to determine the presence of hydrologically significant clay-rich layers buried in the inner-valley alluvium. For this report, the 31 survey sections were combined into 10 composite sections for ease of interpretation. Terrain-conductivity data from the surveys were modeled using interpretation software to produce geoelectric cross sections along the survey lines. This modeling used lithologic logs from two wells installed near the survey lines: the Bosque South and Rio Bravo 5 wells. Because of cultural interference, location of the wells and soundings, complex stratigraphy, and difficulty interpreting lithology, such interpretation was inconclusive. Instead, a decision process based on modeling results was developed using vertical and horizontal dipole 40-meter intercoil spacing terrain-conductivity values. Values larger than or equal to 20 millisiemens per meter were interpreted to contain a hydrologically significant thickness of clay-rich sediment. Thus, clay-rich sediment was interpreted to underlie seven segments of the 10 composited survey lines, totaling at least 2,660 meters of the Rio Grande inner valley. The longest of these clay-rich segments is a 940-meter reach between Bridge and Rio Bravo Boulevards.

The Quality Indicator Survey: background, implementation, and widespread change.

PubMed

Lin, Michael K; Kramer, Andrew M

2013-01-01

The Quality Indicator Survey (QIS) is the most comprehensive regulatory change to the nursing home survey process since the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA-87). In this article we describe the policy evolution that led to the QIS, summarize the QIS method and implementation, and profile the QIS survey results. Following over a decade of development, in 2007 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began the national rollout of QIS. The intent was to improve consistency in the nursing home survey and to render the survey process more resident-centered and aligned with the intent of OBRA-87. We reviewed policy reports and firsthand accounts from the lead developer of the QIS methodology and leader of the national training contract for QIS. Changes in survey findings are profiled based on analysis of the publicly available Nursing Home Compare database from 2004 to 2010. Nineteen states implemented the QIS between 2007 and 2010, with nearly 20% of U.S. nursing homes receiving QIS surveys in 2010. Nursing homes surveyed with the QIS received more survey deficiencies on average than in the traditional survey; however, average numbers of deficiencies across states became more similar over the early implementation of QIS, with lower-than-average geographic areas experiencing increases and higher-than-average geographic areas experiencing decreases in survey deficiencies. The explicit and structured questioning of residents in the QIS is associated with increases in deficiencies related to choice, dignity, dental care, and nurse staffing. We describe ways in which the QIS affected the regulatory agencies, providers, and resident communities, although these effects are difficult to quantify. CMS's implementation of QIS is a significant step toward a more resident-centered, comprehensive, and consistent survey process. Substantial changes, however, are required not only among regulators but also among nursing homes. We argue that these new expectations and norms surrounding quality assessment and quality assurance are an important component of achieving culture change in U.S. nursing homes.

Multiscale soil moisture estimates using static and roving cosmic-ray soil moisture sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McJannet, David; Hawdon, Aaron; Baker, Brett; Renzullo, Luigi; Searle, Ross

2017-12-01

Soil moisture plays a critical role in land surface processes and as such there has been a recent increase in the number and resolution of satellite soil moisture observations and the development of land surface process models with ever increasing resolution. Despite these developments, validation and calibration of these products has been limited because of a lack of observations on corresponding scales. A recently developed mobile soil moisture monitoring platform, known as the rover, offers opportunities to overcome this scale issue. This paper describes methods, results and testing of soil moisture estimates produced using rover surveys on a range of scales that are commensurate with model and satellite retrievals. Our investigation involved static cosmic-ray neutron sensors and rover surveys across both broad (36 × 36 km at 9 km resolution) and intensive (10 × 10 km at 1 km resolution) scales in a cropping district in the Mallee region of Victoria, Australia. We describe approaches for converting rover survey neutron counts to soil moisture and discuss the factors controlling soil moisture variability. We use independent gravimetric and modelled soil moisture estimates collected across both space and time to validate rover soil moisture products. Measurements revealed that temporal patterns in soil moisture were preserved through time and regression modelling approaches were utilised to produce time series of property-scale soil moisture which may also have applications in calibration and validation studies or local farm management. Intensive-scale rover surveys produced reliable soil moisture estimates at 1 km resolution while broad-scale surveys produced soil moisture estimates at 9 km resolution. We conclude that the multiscale soil moisture products produced in this study are well suited to future analysis of satellite soil moisture retrievals and finer-scale soil moisture models.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Text Messaging to Assess Daily Substance Use and Sexual Behaviors among Urban Emerging Adults.

PubMed

Bonar, Erin E; Cunningham, Rebecca M; Collins, R Lorraine; Cranford, James A; Chermack, Stephen T; Zimmerman, Marc A; Blow, Frederic C; Walton, Maureen A

2018-01-01

Daily process research can help distinguish causal relationships between substance use and sexual risk behaviors in high-risk groups, such as urban emerging adults. We employed text messaging to assess 18-25 year-olds' daily substance use and sexual risk behaviors over 28 days. We describe the implementation of this method, attitudes regarding the daily surveys, and correlates of survey completion. We recruited 111 emerging adults from an urban Emergency Department in a resource-limited area who reported recent drug use and unprotected sex ( M age =22.0; 53.2% female; 45.1% African American; 43.2% receiving public assistance). Respondents completed M =18.0 ( SD = 8.7) of 28 daily surveys (27 items each). Participants completing a 1-month follow-up found the surveys not at all/only a little annoying (90.3%) and were comfortable with questions about drugs/alcohol (97.9%) and sex (94.6%). Completion was higher on weekdays versus weekends, and earlier in the study. Daily survey completion was unrelated to same-day substance use measured by the Timeline Follow Back at follow-up; polysubstance use and drinks consumed were associated with lower odds of next-day completion. School enrollment, public assistance, unlimited texting plan, lower baseline alcohol use, and depression symptoms at follow-up were associated with higher completion. Technology difficulties were commonly mentioned barriers to completion. Participants in this urban, resource-constrained sample found the daily text message methodology acceptable for reporting sensitive information. With rapid advancements in technologies and increased accessibility, text messaging remains a promising methodology for the study of daily processes in substance use and HIV risk behaviors. Keywords: text messaging; assessment; emerging adults; substance use; risky sex; mobile technology.

Patient perspectives on delays in diagnosis and treatment of cancer: a qualitative analysis of free-text data.

PubMed

Parsonage, Rachel K; Hiscock, Julia; Law, Rebecca-Jane; Neal, Richard D

2017-01-01

Earlier cancer diagnosis is crucial in improving cancer survival. The International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership Module 4 (ICBP4) is a quantitative survey study that explores the reasons for delays in diagnosis and treatment of breast, colorectal, lung, and ovarian cancer. To further understand the associated diagnostic processes, it is also important to explore the patient perspectives expressed in the free-text comments. To use the free-text data provided by patients completing the ICBP4 survey to augment the understanding of patients' perspectives of their diagnostic journey. Qualitative analysis of the free-text data collected in Wales between October 2013 and December 2014 as part of the ICBP4 survey. Newly-diagnosed patients with either breast, ovarian, colorectal, or lung cancer were identified from registry data and then invited by their GPs to participate in the survey. A thematic framework was used to analyse the free-text comments provided at the end of the ICBP4 survey. Of the 905 patients who returned a questionnaire, 530 included comments. The free-text data provided information about patients' perspectives of the diagnostic journey. Analysis identified factors that acted as either barriers or facilitators at different stages of the diagnostic process. Some factors, such as screening, doctor-patient familiarity, and private treatment, acted as both barriers and facilitators depending on the context. Factors identified in this study help to explain how existing models of cancer diagnosis (for example, the Pathways to Treatment Model) work in practice. It is important that clinicians are aware of how these factors may interact with individual clinical cases and either facilitate, or act as a barrier to, subsequent cancer diagnosis. Understanding and implementing this knowledge into clinical practice may result in quicker cancer diagnoses. © British Journal of General Practice 2017.

Providing assistive technology in Italy: the perceived delivery process quality as affecting abandonment.

PubMed

Federici, Stefano; Borsci, Simone

2016-01-01

The study brings together three aspects rarely observed at once in assistive technology (AT) surveys: (i) the assessment of user interaction/satisfaction with AT and service delivery, (ii) the motivational analysis of AT abandonment, and (iii) the management/design evaluation of AT delivery services. 15 health professionals and 4 AT experts were involved in modelling and assessing four AT Local Health Delivery Service (Centres) in Italy through a SWOT analysis and a Cognitive Walkthrough. In addition 558 users of the same Centres were interviewed in a telephone survey to rate their satisfaction and AT use. The overall AT abandonment was equal to 19.09%. Different Centres' management strategies resulted in different percentages of AT disuse, with a range from 12.61% to 24.26%. A significant difference between the declared abandonment and the Centres' management strategies (p = 0.012) was identified. A strong effect on abandonment was also found due to professionals' procedures (p = 0.005) and follow-up systems (p = 0.002). The user experience of an AT is affected not only by the quality of the interaction with the AT, but also by the perceived quality of the Centres in support and follow-up. Implications for Rehabilitation AT abandonment surveys provide useful information for modelling AT assessment and delivery process. SWOT and Cognitive Walkthrough analyses have shown suitable methods for exploring limits and advantages in AT service delivery systems. The study confirms the relevance of person centredness for a successful AT assessment and delivery process.

pyGrav, a Python-based program for handling and processing relative gravity data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hector, Basile; Hinderer, Jacques

2016-06-01

pyGrav is a Python-based open-source software dedicated to the complete processing of relative-gravity data. It is particularly suited for time-lapse gravity surveys where high precision is sought. Its purpose is to bind together single-task processing codes in a user-friendly interface for handy and fast treatment of raw gravity data from many stations of a network. The intuitive object-based implementation allows to easily integrate additional functions (reading/writing routines, processing schemes, data plots) related to the appropriate object (a station, a loop, or a survey). This makes pyGrav an evolving tool. Raw data can be corrected for tides and air pressure effects. The data selection step features a double table-plot graphical window with either manual or automatic selection according to specific thresholds on data channels (tilts, gravity values, gravity standard deviation, duration of measurements, etc.). Instrumental drifts and gravity residuals are obtained by least square analysis of the dataset. This first step leads to the gravity simple differences between a reference point and any point of the network. When different repetitions of the network are done, the software computes then the gravity double differences and associated errors. The program has been tested on two specific case studies: a large dataset acquired for the study of water storage changes on a small catchment in West Africa, and a dataset operated and processed by several different users for geothermal studies in northern Alsace, France. In both cases, pyGrav proved to be an efficient and easy-to-use solution for the effective processing of relative-gravity data.

Using a Multimedia Presentation to Enhance Informed Consent in a Pediatric Emergency Department.

PubMed

Spencer, Sandra P; Stoner, Michael J; Kelleher, Kelly; Cohen, Daniel M

2015-08-01

Informed consent is an ethical process for ensuring patient autonomy. Multimedia presentations (MMPs) often aid the informed consent process for research studies. Thus, it follows that MMPs would improve informed consent in clinical settings. The aim of this study was to determine if an MMP for the informed consent process for ketamine sedation improves parental satisfaction and comprehension as compared with standard practice. This 2-phase study compared 2 methods of informed consent for ketamine sedation of pediatric patients. Phase 1 was a randomized, prospective study that compared the standard verbal consent to an MMP. Phase 2 implemented the MMP into daily work flow to validate the previous year's results. Parents completed a survey evaluating their satisfaction of the informed consent process and assessing their knowledge of ketamine sedation. Primary outcome measures were parental overall satisfaction with the informed consent process and knowledge of ketamine sedation. One hundred eighty-four families from a free-standing, urban, tertiary pediatric emergency department with over 85,000 annual visits were enrolled. Different demographics were not associated with a preference for the MMP or improved scores on the content quiz. Intervention families were more likely "to feel involved in the decision to use ketamine" and to understand that "they had the right to refuse the ketamine" as compared with control families. The intervention group scored significantly higher overall on the content section than the control group. Implementation and intervention families responded similarly to all survey sections. Multimedia presentation improves parental understanding of ketamine sedation, whereas parental satisfaction with the informed consent process remains unchanged. Use of MMP in the emergency department for informed consent shows potential for both patients and providers.

Fukushima Health Management Survey and Related Issues.

PubMed

Yasumura, Seiji; Abe, Masafumi

2017-03-01

After the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, the Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident occurred. The Fukushima prefectural government decided to launch the Fukushima Health Management Survey; Fukushima Medical University was entrusted to design and implement the survey. The survey process and development is described from the standpoint of its background and aim. An overview of the basic survey and 4 detailed surveys is briefly provided. Issues related to the survey are discussed from the perspective of supporting the Fukushima residents.

ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF RADIATION-PASTEURIZING FRESH STRAWBERRIES, PEACHES, TOMATOES, GRAPES, ORANGES, AND GRAPEFRUIT

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

Droge, J.H.

1963-08-01

Results are reported from a survey of the produce industry on the feasibility of using radiation processing to extend the storage life of fresh strawberries, peaches, tomatoes, grapes, oranges, and grapefruit. A majority of the respondents thought that radiation processing would increase the production and market volume of the selected fruits and vegetables surveyed but would not change output and sales volume of camned, frozen, and other processed forms. Cost estimates of radiation processing are discussed. (C.H.)

75 FR 52546 - Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement Outer Continental Shelf (OCS...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-26

... sciences, and social sciences) to review the specific studies plans of the BOEM regional offices for Fiscal... process and U.S. Geological Survey science with respect to the Deepwater Horizon incident. Following these...

Study of materials for space processing. [with emphasis on crystal growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lal, R. B.

1974-01-01

A handbook is presented of materials feasible for growth in space in future NASA Missions. Major emphasis was placed on a literature survey concerned with promising materials. Equipment for resistivity and hall effect set-up was procured.

Physicians' Trust in the FDA's Use of Product-Specific Pathways for Generic Drug Approval.

PubMed

Kesselheim, Aaron S; Eddings, Wesley; Raj, Tara; Campbell, Eric G; Franklin, Jessica M; Ross, Kathryn M; Fulchino, Lisa A; Avorn, Jerry; Gagne, Joshua J

2016-01-01

Generic drugs are cost-effective versions of brand-name drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following proof of pharmaceutical equivalence and bioequivalence. Generic drugs are widely prescribed by physicians, although there is disagreement over the clinical comparability of generic drugs to brand-name drugs within the physician community. The objective of this survey was to assess physicians' perceptions of generic drugs and the generic drug approval process. A survey was administered to a national sample of primary care internists and specialists between August 2014 and January 2015. In total, 1,152 physicians comprising of internists with no reported specialty certification and those with specialty certification in hematology, infectious diseases, and endocrinology were surveyed. The survey assessed physicians' perceptions of the FDA's generic drug approval process, as well as their experiences prescribing six generic drugs approved between 2008 and 2012 using product-specific approval pathways and selected comparator drugs. Among 718 respondents (62% response rate), a majority were comfortable with the FDA's process in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of generic drugs overall (91%) and with letting the FDA determine which tests were necessary to determine bioequivalence in a particular drug (92%). A minority (13-26%) still reported being uncomfortable prescribing generic drugs approved using product-specific pathways. Overall, few physicians heard reports of concerns about generic versions of the study drugs or their comparators, with no differences between the two groups. Physicians tended to hear about concerns about the safety or effectiveness of generic drugs from patients, pharmacists, and physician colleagues. Physicians hold largely positive views of the FDA's generic drug approval process even when some questioned the performance of certain generic drugs in comparison to brand-name drugs. Better education about the generic drug approval process and standards may alleviate concerns among the physician community and support the delivery of cost-effective health care.

Developing a Survey of Transformative Learning Outcomes and Processes Based on Theoretical Principles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stuckey, Heather L.; Taylor, Edward W.; Cranton, Patricia

2013-01-01

The purpose of this research was to develop an inclusive evaluation of "transformative learning theory" that encompassed varied perspectives of transformative learning. We constructed a validated quantitative survey to assess the potential outcomes and processes of how transformative learning may be experienced by college-educated…

Branding Your Post-School Outcomes Data Collection Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Post-School Outcomes Center, 2013

2013-01-01

The purpose of "Branding your Post-School Outcomes Data Collection Process" is to help state education agencies create brand recognition with youths, families, and school personnel for the post-school outcomes survey. Recognition--paired with information about the survey purpose, who is conducting the interview, and how the information…

Cognitive laboratory approach to designing questionnaires for surveys of the elderly.

PubMed Central

Jobe, J B; Mingay, D J

1990-01-01

Data from surveys of the elderly are used by policy analysts to design health services programs. Consequently, the quality of survey data on elderly respondents has important implications for this growing segment of society: improving the quality of data should result in more cost effective programs for the elderly. However, studies suggest that the quality of responses from the elderly may be less than that for other respondents. Moreover, the increasing needs of policy analysts and health researchers for data have resulted in more complex survey questions that place a high cognitive burden on respondents. New methods for improving the design of these questionnaires are needed. This project investigated whether new techniques of questionnaire design, adapted from the theories and methods of cognitive psychology, could be effectively used in interviewing older respondents. The techniques used in this study, concurrent think-aloud interviews with followup probe questions, have been shown recently to be effective with younger respondents. Problems that elderly respondents have in comprehending survey questions, retrieving relevant information from memory, and using decision processes to estimate and provide answers were investigated. Questions on functional ability and social support were taken from the 1984 Supplement on Aging to the National Health Interview Survey. Analysis of respondents' think-aloud protocols and responses to probes suggest that the cognitive interview procedures were effective in identifying problems with the survey questions that would result in data of poorer quality and in suggesting the wording of questions that would be likely to result in answers of greater validity and reliability. Implications of these results for survey design and validation studies are discussed. PMID:2120731

Market survey on products from the Tema Oil Refinery carried out as part of the feasibility study on the Tema Oil Refinery expansion project. Export trade information

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

Not Available

1991-10-01

The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), which was commissioned in 1963, is a simple hydroskimming plant which processes crude oil into LPG, gasoline, kerosene, gasoil, and fuel oil. It is the only petroleum refinery in Ghana. Over the years some of the equipment in the refinery has deteriorated or become obsolete necessitating major rehabilitation. A feasibility study is investigating the modernization and expansion of the refinery to meet projected market demands until the year 2005. The report presents the results of a market survey done on products from TOR.

Observational study using the tools of lean six sigma to improve the efficiency of the resident rounding process.

PubMed

Chand, David V

2011-06-01

Recent focus on resident work hours has challenged residency programs to modify their curricula to meet established duty hour restrictions and fulfill their mission to develop the next generation of clinicians. Simultaneously, health care systems strive to deliver efficient, high-quality care to patients and families. The primary goal of this observational study was to use a data-driven approach to eliminate examples of waste and variation identified in resident rounding using Lean Six Sigma methodology. A secondary goal was to improve the efficiency of the rounding process, as measured by the reduction in nonvalue-added time. We used the "DMAIC" methodology: define, measure, analyze, improve, and control. Pediatric and family medicine residents rotating on the pediatric hospitalist team participated in the observation phase. Residents, nurses, hospitalists, and parents of patients completed surveys to gauge their attitudes toward rounds. The Mann-Whitney test was used to test for differences in the median times measured during the preimprovement and postimprovement phases, and the Student t test was used for comparison of survey data. Collaborative, family-centered rounding with elimination of the "prerounding" process, as well as standard work instructions and pacing the process to meet customer demand (takt time), were implemented. Nonvalue-added time per patient was reduced by 64% (P  =  .005). Survey data suggested that team members preferred the collaborative, family-centered approach to the traditional model of rounding. Lean Six Sigma provides tools, a philosophy, and a structured, data-driven approach to address a problem. In our case this facilitated an effort to adhere to duty hour restrictions while promoting education and quality care. Such approaches will become increasingly useful as health care delivery and education continue to transform.

Observational Study Using the Tools of Lean Six Sigma to Improve the Efficiency of the Resident Rounding Process

PubMed Central

Chand, David V.

2011-01-01

Background Recent focus on resident work hours has challenged residency programs to modify their curricula to meet established duty hour restrictions and fulfill their mission to develop the next generation of clinicians. Simultaneously, health care systems strive to deliver efficient, high-quality care to patients and families. The primary goal of this observational study was to use a data-driven approach to eliminate examples of waste and variation identified in resident rounding using Lean Six Sigma methodology. A secondary goal was to improve the efficiency of the rounding process, as measured by the reduction in nonvalue-added time. Methods We used the “DMAIC” methodology: define, measure, analyze, improve, and control. Pediatric and family medicine residents rotating on the pediatric hospitalist team participated in the observation phase. Residents, nurses, hospitalists, and parents of patients completed surveys to gauge their attitudes toward rounds. The Mann-Whitney test was used to test for differences in the median times measured during the preimprovement and postimprovement phases, and the Student t test was used for comparison of survey data. Results and Discussion Collaborative, family-centered rounding with elimination of the “prerounding” process, as well as standard work instructions and pacing the process to meet customer demand (takt time), were implemented. Nonvalue-added time per patient was reduced by 64% (P  =  .005). Survey data suggested that team members preferred the collaborative, family-centered approach to the traditional model of rounding. Conclusions Lean Six Sigma provides tools, a philosophy, and a structured, data-driven approach to address a problem. In our case this facilitated an effort to adhere to duty hour restrictions while promoting education and quality care. Such approaches will become increasingly useful as health care delivery and education continue to transform. PMID:22655134

Learning Approaches of Undergraduate Computer Technology Students: Strategies for Improvement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malakolunthu, Suseela; Joshua, Alice

2012-01-01

Purpose: In recent times, quality of graduates and their performance has been questioned. Students' performance is an indicator of the kind of approach (deep or surface) that is taken. This study investigates the kind of undergraduates take in their learning processes. Methodology: This quantitative survey used Revised Two-Factor Study Process…

Exploring Post-Program Psychological Adjustment for Adult Staff Facilitating a Wilderness Adventure Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lawrence-Wood, Ellie; Raymond, Ivan

2011-01-01

This paper outlines a pilot study of the post-program psychological adjustment outcomes of adult staff facilitating an Australian-based wilderness adventure program for youth at risk. The descriptive and correlational survey study (N = 62) examined the psychological adjustment processes staff underwent following program completion, and the factors…

TPACK Survey Development Study for Social Sciences Teachers and Teacher Candidates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akman, Özkan; Güven, Cemal

2015-01-01

The purpose of this research is to develop a scale for analyzing the technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) and self-efficacy perceptions of the social sciences teachers and teacher candidates. During the development process, an item pool has been generated by evaluating the studies made in the literature. Also, after opinions…

Contradictory Values in Doctoral Education: A Study of Gender Composition in Disciplines in Swedish Academia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haake, Ulrika

2011-01-01

Contradictory values in the Swedish doctoral education system are analysed through an interview and survey study of different academic disciplines: female-dominated, mixed and male-dominated. The focus is directed towards how the selected disciplines conduct application and selection processes in doctoral education and special attention is given…

A Survey of Computer Use in Associate Degree Programs in Engineering Technology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cunningham, Pearley

As part of its annual program review process, the Department of Engineering Technology at the Community College of Allegheny County, in Pennsylvania, conducted a study of computer usage in community college engineering technology programs across the nation. Specifically, the study sought to determine the types of software, Internet access, average…

Maternal Drinking Problems and Children's Auditory, Intellectual, and Linguistic Functioning.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Czarnecki, Donna M.; And Others

This study tested the hypothesis that maternal drinking early in pregnancy affects the development of the child's central auditory processing. A follow-up study of 167 children took place 6 years after their mothers participated in a survey concerning health and drinking practices during the early stages of pregnancy. Indications of problem…

The Process of Pedagogical Culture Formation in the Future Social Worker

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Minzhanov, Nurlan A.; Ertysbaeva, Gaukhar N.

2016-01-01

The paper is aimed at studying the features of pedagogical culture formation in future social workers and developing methods to improve the professional and pedagogical preparation quality of students in the "Social work" specialty. In the study, a survey of students in the "Social work" specialty (n = 400), and a standardized…

On the Measurement and Properties of Ambiguity in Probabilistic Expectations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pickett, Justin T.; Loughran, Thomas A.; Bushway, Shawn

2015-01-01

Survey respondents' probabilistic expectations are now widely used in many fields to study risk perceptions, decision-making processes, and behavior. Researchers have developed several methods to account for the fact that the probability of an event may be more ambiguous for some respondents than others, but few prior studies have empirically…

Teaching Practice and the Personal and Socio-Professional Development of Prospective Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schoeman, S.; Mabunda, P. L.

2012-01-01

This study investigates the interplay between individual and contextual variables during teaching practice and its impact on the personal and socio-professional development of prospective teachers. The purpose of the study was to survey how prospective teachers experienced the process of becoming aware of their emerging identities as teachers, and…

Assessing Professional Openness to a Novel Publication Approach.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeFiore, Roberta M.; Kramer, Thomas J.

In response to criticism of the peer review publication process, a study surveyed a random sample of 600 members of the American Psychological Association (APA) to determine (1) whether professional openness exists regarding the publication of a journal highlighting studies that, due to a difficulty in the experimental procedure, would usually be…

Internal Audit: Does it Enhance Governance in the Australian Public University Sector?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christopher, Joe

2015-01-01

This study seeks to confirm if internal audit, a corporate control process, is functioning effectively in Australian public universities. The study draws on agency theory, published literature and best-practice guidelines to develop an internal audit evaluation framework. A survey instrument is thereafter developed from the framework and used as a…

Berkeley Doctoral Students Appraise Their Academic Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heiss, Ann M.

1967-01-01

This study was designed to obtain the judgment of doctoral students about the quality and character of their experiences in graduate study, and to identify stress stages in the degree process. An analysis was made of over 2,300 responses to a survey questionnaire and 100 interviews with doctoral students at the University of California at…

Group Therapy Goals: A Comparison of Group Therapy Providers and Male Inmates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morgan, Robert D.; Garland, J. Travis; Rozycki, Alicia T.; Reich, Darcy A.; Wilson, Scott

2005-01-01

This study was designed to identify important process and content goals from the perspective of inmates and compare these goals to the goals identified by group therapists in a previous study conducted by Winterowd, Morgan, and Ferrell (2001). Utilizing survey data from 156 incarcerated adult males, an initial confirmatory factor analysis…

Contributions of Middle Grade Students to the Validation Process of a National Science Assessment Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morell, Linda

2008-01-01

This study used a national validity project to investigate specific research questions regarding the intersections among aspects of validity, educational measurement, and cognitive theory. Validity evidence was collected through traditional paper and pencil tests, surveys, think-alouds, and exit interviews of fifth and sixth grade students, as…

The influence of the residency application process on the online social networking behavior of medical students: a single institutional study.

PubMed

Strausburg, Matthew B; Djuricich, Alexander M; Carlos, W Graham; Bosslet, Gabriel T

2013-11-01

To evaluate medical students' behavior regarding online social networks (OSNs) in preparation for the residency matching process. The specific aims were to quantify the use of OSNs by students to determine whether and how these students were changing OSN profiles in preparation for the residency application process, and to determine attitudes toward residency directors using OSNs as a screening method to evaluate potential candidates. An e-mail survey was sent to 618 third- and fourth-year medical students at Indiana University School of Medicine over a three-week period in 2012. Statistical analysis was completed using nonparametric statistical tests. Of the 30.1% (183/608) who responded to the survey, 98.9% (181/183) of students reported using OSNs. More than half, or 60.1% (110/183), reported that they would (or did) alter their OSN profile before residency matching. Respondents' opinions regarding the appropriateness of OSN screening by residency directors were mixed; however, most respondents did not feel that their online OSN profiles should be used in the residency application process. The majority of respondents planned to (or did) alter their OSN profile in preparation for the residency match process. The majority believed that residency directors are screening OSN profiles during the matching process, although most did not believe their OSN profiles should be used in the residency application process. This study implies that the more medical students perceive that residency directors use social media in application screening processes, the more they will alter their online profiles to adapt to protect their professional persona.

Dietary trends and management of hyperphosphatemia among patients with chronic kidney disease: an international survey of renal care professionals.

PubMed

Fouque, Denis; Cruz Casal, Maria; Lindley, Elizabeth; Rogers, Susan; Pancířová, Jitka; Kernc, Jennifer; Copley, J Brian

2014-03-01

The objective of this study was to review the opinions and experiences of renal care professionals to examine dietary trends among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and problems associated with the clinical management of hyperphosphatemia. This was an online survey comprising open and closed questions requesting information on patient dietary trends and the clinical management of hyperphosphatemia. The study was conducted in 4 European countries (the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom). Participants were 84 renal care professionals. This was an online survey. Responder-reported experiences and perceptions of patient dietary trends and hyperphosphatemia management were assessed. Most survey responders (56%) observed an increase in the consumption of processed convenience food, 48% noticed an increase in the consumption of foods rich in phosphorus-containing additives, and 60% believed that there has been a trend of increasing patient awareness of the phosphorus content of food. Patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) were most likely to experience difficulties in following advice on dietary phosphorus restriction (38% of responders estimated that 25-50% of their patients experienced difficulties, and 29% estimated that 51-75% experienced difficulties). Maintaining protein intake and restricting dietary phosphorus were perceived as being equally important by at least half of responders for predialysis patients (56%) and for those undergoing peritoneal dialysis and HD (54% and 50%, respectively). There were international variations in dietary trends and hyperphosphatemia management. Although most responders have observed a trend of increasing awareness of the phosphorus content of food among patients with CKD, the survey results indicate that many patients continue to experience difficulties when attempting to restrict dietary phosphorus. The survey responses reflect the global trend of increasing consumption of processed convenience foods and phosphorus-containing additives, which has implications for the management of hyperphosphatemia in patients with CKD. Copyright © 2014 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Design of a low cost earth resources system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Faust, N. L.; Furman, M. D.; Spann, G. W. (Principal Investigator)

1978-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Survey results indicated that users of remote sensing data in the Southeastern U.S. were increasingly turning to digital processing techniques. All the states surveyed have had some involvement in projects using digitally processed data. Even those states which do not yet have in-house capabilities for digital processing were extremely interested in and were planning to develop such capabilities.

Coastal processes study at Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA: summary of data collection 2004-2006

USGS Publications Warehouse

Barnard, Patrick L.; Eshleman, Jodi; Erikson, Li H.; Hanes, Daniel M.

2007-01-01

Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California, contains a persistent erosional section in the shadow of the San Francisco ebb tidal delta and south of Sloat Boulevard that threatens valuable public infrastructure as well as the safe recreational use of the beach. Coastal managers have been discussing potential mediation measures for over a decade, with little scientific research available to aid in decision making. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) initiated the Ocean Beach Coastal Processes Study in April 2004 to provide the scientific knowledge necessary for coastal managers to make informed management decisions. This study integrates a wide range of field data collection and numerical modeling techniques to document nearshore sediment transport processes at the mouth of San Francisco Bay, with emphasis on how these processes relate to erosion at Ocean Beach. The Ocean Beach Coastal Processes Study is the first comprehensive study of coastal processes at the mouth of San Francisco Bay.

How to Conduct Surveys: A Step-by-Step Guide. Sixth Edition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fink, Arlene

2016-01-01

Packed with new topics that reflect today's challenges, the Sixth Edition of the bestselling "How to Conduct Surveys" guides readers through the process of developing their own rigorous surveys and evaluating the credibility and transparency of surveys created by others. Offering practical, step-by-step advice and written in the same…

Documentation for the 2003-04 Schools and Staffing Survey. NCES 2007-337

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tourkin, Steven C.; Warner, Toni; Parmer, Randall; Cole, Cornette; Jackson, Betty; Zukerberg, Andrew; Cox, Shawna; Soderberg, Andrew

2007-01-01

This report serves as the survey documentation for the design and implementation of the 2003-04 Schools and Staffing Survey. Topics covered include the sample design, survey methodology, data collection procedures, data processing, response rates, imputation procedures, weighting and variance estimation, review of the quality of data, the types of…

Design and Validation of the Quantum Mechanics Conceptual Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKagan, S. B.; Perkins, K. K.; Wieman, C. E.

2010-01-01

The Quantum Mechanics Conceptual Survey (QMCS) is a 12-question survey of students' conceptual understanding of quantum mechanics. It is intended to be used to measure the relative effectiveness of different instructional methods in modern physics courses. In this paper, we describe the design and validation of the survey, a process that included…

76 FR 35446 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-17

...) approval to conduct survey research to monitor the health care industry's awareness of, and preparation for...) Outpatient Physical Therapy--Speech Pathology Survey Report; Use: CMS-1856 is used as an application to be... the Automated Survey Process Environment (ASPEN). CMS- 1893 is used by the State survey agency to...