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Comparability
Selected AbstractsComparability of transfer function resultsEUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL POWER, Issue 2 2006J. Christian Abstract The transfer function (TF) is a comparative method to monitor the mechanical condition of transformer windings. To perform on-site diagnosis a high reproducibility of TF results is required. Consequently, there are certain restrictions for the determination of the TF using time domain records. This paper describes the effect of different signal processing procedures on the results of TF calculations. Window functions, digital filters, length and treatment of pre-trigger samples are aspects of special interest for the application of the TF method. Additionally, condition parameters of the device under test affect the results of TF measurements. The correlation of transformer temperatures and TF characteristics has been investigated as well as the dielectric effect of the insulating oil and the position of the tap changer. Finally, the effect of different test set-up concepts is presented. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Comparability of the results of PT,INR with local MNPT and APTTR with MNAPTT on different coagulation analyzers in ChinaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LABORATORY HEMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2009L. PENG Summary The prothrombin time (PT), International normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) are the most used coagulation tests in China, where more than one type of automated coagulation analyzer is often used in the clinical laboratory. The PT,INR results of 109 samples were compared with local mean normal PT (MNPT) and APTT ratio (APTTR) with mean normal APTT (MNAPTT) on two different coagulation analyzers in the same laboratory. The two different coagulation analyzers showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) in PT and INR determination, but there was a significant difference (P < 0.01) for APTT. The INR with local MNPT and APTTR with MNAPTT, obtained with the ACL Futura and CA 510, showed much better agreement; 98.8% (82/83) of bias for INR with local MNPT was less than 15% compared with 90.4% (75/83) of bias for INR; and 100% of bias for APTTR (62/62) was less than 15% compared with only 6.5% (4/62) of bias for APTT. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference (P = 0.865) for APTTR with MNAPTT compared with APTT (P = 0.002) between the ACL Futura and CA 510. In conclusion, these analyzers showed very poor agreement for both the PT and APTT, but the calculation of ratios significantly improved agreement. [source] Comparability of Industrial SymbiosesJOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2009René Van Berkel [source] Incidence, types and characteristics of aggressive behaviour in treatment facilities for adults with mild intellectual disability and severe challenging behaviourJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008N. H. Tenneij Abstract Background Inpatient aggression in treatment facilities for persons with intellectual disability (ID) can have aversive consequences, for co-clients and staff, but also for the aggressors themselves. To manage and eventually prevent inpatient aggressive incidents, more knowledge about their types and characteristics is necessary. Method In four facilities, totalling 150 beds, specialized in the treatment of adults with mild ID or severe challenging behaviour, aggressive incidents were registered during 20 weeks using the Staff Observation Aggression Scale-Revised. Characteristics of auto-aggressive and outwardly directed incidents and differences in their incidence in male and female clients in these facilities were compared. Results During the observation period of 20 weeks, 639 aggressive incidents were documented. Most of these (71%) were outwardly directed, predominantly towards staff, while most of the remaining incidents were of an auto-aggressive nature. Of the 185 clients present during the observation period, 44% were involved in outwardly directed incidents (range per client 1,34), and 12% in auto-aggressive incidents (range per client 1,92). Auto-aggressive and outwardly directed incidents differed regarding source of provocation, means used during the incident, consequences of the incident and measures taken to stop the incident. The proportion of men and women involved in each type of incident was comparable, as well as the majority of the characteristics of outwardly directed incidents caused by men and women. Conclusions Although approximately half of all clients were involved in aggressive incidents, a small minority of clients were responsible for the majority of incidents. Therefore, better management and prevention of aggressive incidents for only a small group of clients could result in a considerable overall reduction of aggressive incidents in treatment facilities. Comparability of aggressive behaviour in these facilities shown by men and women and differences in characteristics of auto-aggressive and outwardly directed incidents are discussed. [source] An Examination of Cross-Racial Comparability of Mother-Child Interaction Among African American and Anglo American FamiliesJOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY, Issue 3 2001Leanne Whiteside-Mansell This study examined the cross-racial comparability of maternal quality of assistance and supportive presence coded from a video protocol using data from the Infant Health and Development Program for low-birth-weight, premature 30-month-olds and their mothers. Evidence of equivalence of measures is necessary before comparisons can be made across groups. Multiple-group mean and covariance structures analysis was used to demonstrate the invariance of the measures and make comparisons for Anglo American and African American treatment and comparison groups of dyads. Comparisons across groups indicated similar variances and correlation between child and maternal behavior. Differences were found between the mean scores, with Anglo American treatment families scoring the highest. [source] Comparability of a hand-held nitric oxide analyser with online and offline chemiluminescence-based nitric oxide measurementPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 7 2009Barbara Schiller Practicability is crucial for successful implementation of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement into asthma management. The study aimed at comparing a conventional chemiluminescence NO analyser (EcoMedics®) with a hand-held device (NIOX MINO®) and offline FeNO measurement using a commercially available system in an unselected cohort of children aged 6,16 yr. A secondary objective was to confirm FeNO stability over time in 15 samples from adult volunteers obtained using the offline system. Sixty-six children (mean ± s.d. age 11.8 ± 3.0 yr) underwent single breath FeNO measurement in triplets with each device. Offline collected FeNO was measured after offline breath collection into a Mylar balloon and subsequent analysis using the chemiluminescence NO analyser. Variability and between-method agreement were assessed, and stability over time within the Mylar balloons was tested by repeated hourly measurements. FeNO levels ranged from 2 to 113 p.p.b. Intra-class correlation was excellent (r = 0.98, p < 0.001 for each pair). Bland,Altman plots and back-transformation of logarithmic mean differences revealed fair agreement between methods. Stability over time was confirmed over 10 h both at room temperature and when stored under cooling conditions. FeNO values obtained using the chemiluminescence NO analyser, the portable NIOX MINO® system and the offline collection technique show between-method agreement within clinically acceptable range. [source] Elites and the Diffusion of Foreign Models in RussiaPOLITICAL STUDIES, Issue 1 2004Sharon Werning Rivera Globalization has sparked renewed interest in the diffusion of ideas and norms across boundaries. Although much work has focused on diffusion at the macro-level and on the groups that transmit ideas, few researchers have studied the cognitive processes of political elites as they weigh the merits of various foreign-inspired models. Drawing on a series of original, in-depth interviews with Russian parliamentarians and high-ranking bureaucrats conducted in 1996, this paper makes two contributions to the study of individual-level borrowing in the Russian context. First, the openness of Russian elites to foreign borrowing is investigated; despite the public rhetoric about Russia's uniqueness, a substantial number of Russian elites are willing to borrow from foreign experience , particularly from models of European welfare capitalism. Second, three explanations of why policy-makers prefer to emulate some countries rather than others are tested , because they are similar to their own country either geographically, historically or culturally (comparability); because they have geostrategic prominence (prestige); or because they excel economically and/or politically (performance). Comparability and prestige are found to be of lesser importance than performance to Russian elites when considering the merits of various foreign models. Given that Russia closely approximates a most-likely case for validating explanations stressing comparability, this suggests that the array of foreign ideas that could become part and parcel of Russia's transition process is probably wider than is usually assumed. It also implies that, in general, the regional dimension of diffusion plays a smaller role than previously theorized. [source] Reliability and comparability of a Spanish-language form of the preschool and kindergarten behavior scalesPSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS, Issue 4 2002Amy G. Carney Comparability of a Spanish language translation of the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales was examined in relation to the English language version. Children ages 3,6 enrolled in preschool, kindergarten, or Head Start programs were rated concurrently by respondents on English and Spanish versions of the PKBS. Results showed virtually identical internal consistency of scores on both forms on Social Skills (.93) and Problem Behavior (.96) Scales. Correlations between forms for Social Skills and Problem Behavior scores were .93 and .94, respectively. Implications of these findings, directions for future research and the importance of continued work toward development/translation of other Spanish language assessment instruments for the early childhood population are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Don't Judge a Superannuation Default Investment Option by Its NameAUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW, Issue 3 2010Gerry Gallery With the massive decline in savings arising from the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), it is timely to review superannuation fund investment and disclosure strategies in the lead-up to the crisis. Accordingly, this study examines differences among superannuation funds' default investment options in terms of naming and framing over three years from 2005 to 2007, as presented in product disclosure statements (PDSs). The findings indicate that default options are becoming more alike regardless of their name, and consequently, members may face increasing difficulties in distinguishing between balanced and growth-named default options when comparing them across superannuation funds. Comparability is also likely to be constrained by variations in the framing of default options presented in investment option menus in PDSs. These findings highlight the need for standardisation of default option definitions and disclosures to ensure descriptive accuracy, transparency and comparability. [source] Accounting for SGARAs: Towards Comparability and ConsistencyAUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW, Issue 2 2009Belinda Williams The objectives of this study were to examine whether consistency and comparability has been achieved through the introduction of AASB 1037 and the subsequent adoption of AASB 141. We find that consistency in measurement methods has not been achieved through the introduction of a prescribed accounting method under AASB 1037 and is not likely to be achieved through the application of AASB 141. Consistency was found however in the application of measurement methods over time and, in particular, in these SGARA types of native forests and plantation timber. The study contributes to an understanding of the issues faced by Australian firms surrounding the processes leading to the introduction of a new accounting standard. [source] Comparability of the amniotic fluid index and single deepest pocket measurements in clinical practiceAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 1 2003Everett F. Magann Abstract Two ultrasound techniques, the amniotic fluid index (AFI) and the single deepest pocket (SDP), are currently used to detect oligohydramnios, predict variable decelerations, risk of Caesarean delivery for fetal distress, Apgar scores, umbilical cord artery pH, perinatal mortality, and cerebral palsy. Both techniques poorly identify oligohydramnios. Both techniques identify pregnancies at risk for variable decelerations, low Apgar scores, and Caesarean delivery for fetal distress. Only the SDP is predictive of a compromised fetus,umbilical artery pH, as a stand-alone test, has been correlated with perinatal mortality, and as part of the biophysical profile has been linked to cerebral palsy. This brief communication reviews the comparability of these two techniques and which method, if either, is superior in the identification of oligohydramnios, the predictability of these techniques to identify an adverse pregnancy outcome, and the ability to predict cerebral palsy and perinatal mortality. [source] Comparability of three-dimensional optic disc imaging with different techniquesACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 1 2000A study with confocal scanning laser tomography, raster tomography ABSTRACT. Purpose: We wanted to compare optic nerve head topography measurements and discrimination between normal and glaucomatous eyes with two entirely different three-dimensional optic disc imaging techniques, confocal scanning laser tomography (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph, Heidelberg Engineering) and raster tomography (Glaucoma-Scope, Ophthalmic Imaging Systems). Methods: Both eyes of 225 normal subjects and 229 eyes of 166 patients with glaucoma at different stages were imaged with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph and the Glaucoma-Scope. Optics discs were analysed in 15° sectors around the circumference. Depth measurements were calibrated on objects with known dimensions. Results: We observed no significant differences in absolute measurements of maximum cup depth and cup area between the two instruments. We observed small differences in absolute measurements of disc anti rim area between the two instruments. Discrimination between normal and glaucomatous eyes was close to identical for the two instruments. Both instruments had the same ability to distinguish glaucomatous regional alterations of optic nerve head topography from normal disc configuration. Conclusion: Both instruments while using entirely different principles for three-dimensional optic disc imaging gave very similar results. This correspondence of results implies that the same optic disc parameters can be analysed, and the results interpreted similarly for both methods, and probably with other three-dimensional imaging instruments. It may also indicate that results of studies with one of the instruments have general validity. [source] The achievability of sustainable reporting practices in agricultureCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2009Belinda R. Williams Abstract This research investigates the process of change in moving from a domestic accounting standard, AASB 1037, relating to self-generating and regenerating assets (SGARAs) to an international standard, AASB 141. It focuses on the achievement (or nonachievement as it may be) of sustainable reporting practices for these agricultural assets. This paper finds that the transition to AASB 141 has allowed firms the discretion to change how they value their agricultural assets in comparison to the domestic standard. Consistency may have been achieved to a limited extent with the introduction of this financial accounting standard but comparability appears not to have been. Further, there is very limited understanding of the reporting of these assets from a user's perspective. It is concluded that this lack of consistency, comparability and understandability will not help achieve sustainability in the reporting practices of agricultural assets. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] PROPOSITION 8 AND CRIME RATES IN CALIFORNIA: THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING DETERRENTCRIMINOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY, Issue 3 2006CHERYL MARIE WEBSTER Research Summary: In 1999, Daniel Kessler and Steven Levitt published an article that purported to provide support for the marginal deterrent effects of harsher sanctions on levels of crime. Specifically, they concluded that sentence enhancements that came into effect in California in June 1982 as a result of Proposition 8 were responsible for a subsequent drop in serious crime in this state. Our article examines the analyses and findings of this article and suggests that their conclusion of a deterrent impact fails to withstand scrutiny when more complete and more detailed crime data are used and the comparability of "control" groups is carefully examined. In particular, the addition of annual crime levels for all years (versus only the odd-numbered years that Kessler and Levitt examine) calls into question the prima facie support for a deterrent effect presented by Kessler and Levitt. Specifically, it demonstrates not only that the crime drop in California began before, rather than after, the passing into law of the sentence enhancements in 1982 but also that the downward slope did not accelerate after the change in law. Furthermore, the comparability of the two "control" groups with the "treatment" group is challenged, rendering suspect any findings based on these comparisons. Policy Implications: Case studies suggesting that crime decreased after the imposition of harsh sentencing policies are often cited as evidence of marginal general deterrence. As has been demonstrated in other contexts, the question that needs to be asked is "Compared with what?" Kessler and Levitt's (1999) article demonstrates that those interested in sentencing policy need to be sensitive not only to the appropriateness of the comparisons that are made, but also to the choice of data that are presented. [source] Assessing immunophenotyping performance: Proficiency-validation for adopting improved flow cytometry methodsCYTOMETRY, Issue 4 2007Lance E. Hultin Abstract Background: The continuous improvement and evolution of immune cell phenotyping requires periodic upgrading of laboratory methods and technology. Flow cytometry laboratories that are participating in research protocols sponsored by the NIAID are required to perform "switch" studies to validate performance before methods for T-cell subset analysis can be changed. Methods: Switch studies were conducted among the four flow cytometry laboratories of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), comparing a 2-color, lyse-wash method and a newer, 3-color, lyse no-wash method. Two of the laboratories twice failed to satisfy the criteria for acceptable differences from the previous method. Rather than repeating more switch studies, these laboratories were allowed to adopt the 3-color, lyse no-wash method. To evaluate the impact of the switch to the new method at these two sites, their results with the new method were evaluated within the context of all laboratories participating in the NIH-NIAID-Division of AIDS Immunology Quality Assurance (IQA) proficiency-testing program. Results: Laboratory performance at these two sites substantially improved relative to the IQA standard test results. Variation across the four MACS sites and across replicate samples was also reduced. Conclusions: Although switch studies are the conventional method for assessing comparability of laboratory methods, two alternatives to the requirement of repeating failed switch studies should be considered: (1) test the new method and assess performance on the proficiency testing reference panel, and (2) prior to adoption of the new methods, use both the old and the new method on the reference panel samples and demonstrate that performance with the new method is better according to standard statistical procedures. These alternatives may help some laboratories' transition to a new and superior methodology more quickly than if they are required to attempt multiple, serial switch studies. © 2007 Clinical Cytometry Society [source] Healing of Venous Ulcers of Long Duration with a Bilayered Living Skin Substitute: Results from a General Surgery and Dermatology DepartmentDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 11 2001Harold Brem MD Background. A laboratory-grown bilayered living skin substitute (LSS) has been shown to accelerate the healing of venous ulcers. However, issues related to optimal wound bed preparation prior to the application of LSS have not been addressed. Objective. When combined with standard compression therapy and near elimination of wound exudate, bioengineered skin can achieve complete closure of venous ulcers which have been present for more than a year and which are difficult to heal. Methods. In the general surgery (center A) and dermatology (center B) departments at two separate medical centers, LSS was used to treat venous ulcers of more than 1 year's duration and which had been unresponsive to conventional therapy. Wound bed preparation at both centers had as common goals the removal of necrotic tissue, optimal formation of granulation tissue, and elimination of wound exudate. Results. There was great comparability between the two centers in the patients being treated, wound size and duration, and number of LSS applications. Both centers achieved a frequency of complete wound closure of greater than 70% within 6 months. Conclusion. At two separate clinical and specialty sites having a common goal of optimal wound preparation, treatment with LSS was associated with a high rate of complete closure of hard to heal venous ulcers. [source] Review of validation studies of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression ScaleACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 4 2001Malin Eberhard-Gran Objective: ,To review validation studies of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Method: ,A systematic search was performed in Medline and the Science Citation Index Expanded (ISI) from the period 1987,2000. For sensitivity and specificity of the EPDS presented in each study, 95% confidence intervals were estimated. Positive and negative predictive values were estimated assuming prevalences of postpartum depression ranging from 5% to 20%. Results: ,Eighteen validation studies were identified. The study design varied between studies. The sensitivity and specificity estimates also varied: 65,100% and 49,100%, respectively. The confidence intervals were estimated to be wide. Our estimates suggest a lower positive predictive value in a normal population than in the validation study samples. Conclusion: ,Most studies show a high sensitivity of the EPDS. Because of the differences in study design and large confidence intervals, uncertainty remains regarding the comparability between the sensitivity and specificity estimates of the different EPDS versions. [source] Staging anorexia nervosa: conceptualizing illness severityEARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHIATRY, Issue 1 2008Sarah Maguire Abstract In recent years, there has been increasing attention to the conceptualization of anorexia nervosa (AN) and its diagnostic criteria. While varying levels of severity within the illness category of AN have long been appreciated, neither a precise definition of severity nor an empirical examination of severity in AN has been undertaken. The aim of this article is to review the current state of knowledge on illness severity and to propose a theoretical model for the definition and conceptualization of severity in AN. AN is associated with significant medical morbidity which is related to the ,severity' of presentation on such markers as body mass index, eating and purging behaviours. The development of a functional staging system, based on symptom severity, is indicated for reasons similar to those cited by the cancer lobby. Improving case management and making appropriate treatment recommendations have been the primary purpose of staging in other fields, and might also apply to AN. Such a standardized staging system could potentially ease communication between treatment settings, and increase the specificity and comparability of research findings in the field of AN. [source] Defining and measuring braiding intensityEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 14 2008Roey Egozi Abstract Geomorphological studies of braided rivers still lack a consistent measurement of the complexity of the braided pattern. Several simple indices have been proposed and two (channel count and total sinuosity) are the most commonly applied. For none of these indices has there been an assessment of the sampling requirements and there has been no systematic study of the equivalence of the indices to each other and their sensitivity to river stage. Resolution of these issues is essential for progress in studies of braided morphology and dynamics at the scale of the channel network. A series of experiments was run using small-scale physical models of braided rivers in a 3 m , 20 m flume. Sampling criteria for braid indices and their comparability were assessed using constant-discharge experiments. Sample hydrographs were run to assess the effect of flow variability. Reach lengths of at least 10 times the average wetted width are needed to measure braid indices with precision of the order of 20% of the mean. Inherent variability in channel pattern makes it difficult to achieve greater precision. Channel count indices need a minimum of 10 cross-sections spaced no further apart than the average wetted width of the river. Several of the braid indices, including total sinuosity, give very similar numerical values but they differ substantially from channel-count index values. Consequently, functional relationships between channel pattern and, for example, discharge, are sensitive to the choice of braid index. Braid indices are sensitive to river stage and the highest values typically occur below peak flows of a diurnal (melt-water) hydrograph in pro-glacial rivers. There is no general relationship with stage that would allow data from rivers at different relative stage to be compared. At present, channel count indices give the best combination of rapid measurement, precision, and range of sources from which measurements can be reliably made. They can also be related directly to bar theory for braided pattern development. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Statistical approaches in landscape genetics: an evaluation of methods for linking landscape and genetic dataECOGRAPHY, Issue 5 2009Niko Balkenhol The goal of landscape genetics is to detect and explain landscape effects on genetic diversity and structure. Despite the increasing popularity of landscape genetic approaches, the statistical methods for linking genetic and landscape data remain largely untested. This lack of method evaluation makes it difficult to compare studies utilizing different statistics, and compromises the future development and application of the field. To investigate the suitability and comparability of various statistical approaches used in landscape genetics, we simulated data sets corresponding to five landscape-genetic scenarios. We then analyzed these data with eleven methods, and compared the methods based on their statistical power, type-1 error rates, and their overall ability to lead researchers to accurate conclusions about landscape-genetic relationships. Results suggest that some of the most commonly applied techniques (e.g. Mantel and partial Mantel tests) have high type-1 error rates, and that multivariate, non-linear methods are better suited for landscape genetic data analysis. Furthermore, different methods generally show only moderate levels of agreement. Thus, analyzing a data set with only one method could yield method-dependent results, potentially leading to erroneous conclusions. Based on these findings, we give recommendations for choosing optimal combinations of statistical methods, and identify future research needs for landscape genetic data analyses. [source] Introduction to the Special Issue on Nebraska's Alternative Approach to Statewide AssessmentEDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT: ISSUES AND PRACTICE, Issue 2 2004Deborah L. Bandalos Nebraska's Standards-based, Teacher-led Assessment and Reporting System (STARS) is unique in its focus on locally developed, classroom-based assessments in lieu of a state test. The purpose of this special issue is to introduce the STARS model and discuss the problems inherent in such a system. Other articles in this issue address issues of quality control and comparability of assessments, the development of teacher assessment literacy, and teachers' reactions to the implementation of STARS. [source] Pilot study of capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry as a tool to define potential prostate cancer biomarkers in urineELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 14 2005Dan Theodorescu Dr. Abstract We describe the use of capillary eletrophoresis (CE) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) to identify single polypeptides and patterns of polypeptides specific for prostate cancer (CaP) in human urine. Using improved sample preparation methods that enable enhanced comparability between different samples, we examined samples from 47,patients who underwent prostate biopsy. Of this group, 21,patients had benign pathology and 26 with,CaP, and these were used to define potential biomarkers, which allow discrimination between these two states. In addition, CE-MS data from these 47,urine samples were compared to that of 41,young men (control) without known or suspected clinical CaP to further confirm the polypeptides indicative for CaP. Upon crossvalidation of the same samples, several polypeptides were selected that enabled correct classification of the CaP patients with 92% sensitivity and 96% specificity. We then examined an additional 474,samples from patients with renal disease enrolled in other studies and found that 14 (3%) had polypeptides suggestive of CaP possibly indicating that they harbor clinical CaP. In conclusion, this early pilot study suggests that CE-MS of urine warrants further investigation as a tool that can identify putative biomarkers for CaP. [source] The relationship of environmental and economic performance at the firm level: a review of empirical studies in Europe and methodological commentsENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 3 2002Marcus Wagner This paper reviews empirical studies on the relationship between environmental and economic performance carried out with European data in order to derive conclusions with regard to their methodological comparability. Two types of research are analysed, namely (model) portfolio studies and multiple-regression-based studies. For each type two representative empirical studies are contrasted in order to establish methodological influences, as well as the importance of data availability. The review allows us to formulate a set of criteria to support improved research design in the future. These point to a strong need to develop further the methodology of studies on the relationship between environmental and economic performance. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and ERP Environment [source] Cocaine Rapid Efficacy Screening Trials (CREST): lessons learnedADDICTION, Issue 2005Kyle M. Kampman ABSTRACT Aims The Cocaine Rapid Efficacy Screening Trials (CREST) were designed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Division of Treatment Research and Development (NIDA, DT R&D) to rapidly screen a number of medications potentially useful for the treatment of cocaine dependence. Design Each CREST trial was designed to compare several medications in a single trial against an unmatched placebo. The placebo group was included in each trial to avoid the nearly universal positive response to medications seen in open-label trials. In addition, a common set of procedures and outcome measures were employed throughout to increase comparability of results obtained from different trials and from different times. Participants In all, 18 medications were screened in seven different trials, conducted in four different sites throughout the United States involving 398 cocaine-dependent patients. Findings Three medications were found to be promising enough to include in subsequent larger trials. Common statistical procedures for evaluating medications were developed to facilitate comparisons across sites and across time. A portion of the data were pooled and analyzed, which yielded some useful insights into cocaine dependence and its treatment. Finally, a review of individual trials together with the pooled analysis revealed several potential improvements for future screening trials. Conclusions Overall, the CREST trials proved to be useful for rapidly screening medications for treatment of cocaine dependence, but several modifications in design should be made before this framework is applied further. [source] End-to-end jejuno-ileal anastomosis following resection of strangulated small intestine in horses: a comparative studyEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2005D. I. RENDLE Summary Reasons for performing study: Small intestinal resection and anastomosis is a relatively common procedure in equine surgical practice. This study was designed to test objectively the subjective opinions of surgeons at the Liphook Equine Hospital that an end-to-end jejuno-ileal anastomosis (JIA) is an effective and clinically justifiable procedure, contrary to conventional recommendations. Hypothesis: An end-to-end JIA carries no greater risk of morbidity and mortality than an end-to-end jejunojejunal anastomosis (JJA). Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed on a population of 100 horses that had undergone small intestinal resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Two groups were identified; Group 1 (n = 30) had undergone an end-to-end JIA and Group 2 (n = 70) an end-to-end JJA. The 2 populations were tested for pre- and intraoperative comparability and for their equivalence of outcomes. Results: The 2 populations were comparable in terms of their distributions of preoperative parameters and type of lesion present. The observations used as outcome parameters (incidence risk of post operative colic, incidence risk of post operative ileus, duration of post operative ileus, rates of functioning original anastomoses at the time of discharge and at 12 months, survival rates at 6 months and 12 months) were equivalent between the 2 groups. Conclusion: End-to-end JIA carries no greater risk of morbidity and mortality than an end-to-end JJA. Potential relevance: Surgeons faced with strangulating obstructions involving the jejuno-ileal junction in which there remains an accessible length of viable terminal ileum may reasonably perform an end-to-end JIA. This has the potentially significant advantage over a jejunocaecal anastomosis of preserving more anatomical and physiological normality to the intestinal tract. The study was, however, relatively small for an equivalence study and greater confidence would be gained with higher numbers. [source] Improving the Evaluation of Rural Development Policy Pour une meilleure évaluation de la politique de développement rural Die Evaluation der Politik zur Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums verbessernEUROCHOICES, Issue 1 2010David Blandford Summary Improving the Evaluation of Rural Development Policy A previous EuroChoices (Vol. 7, No. 1) compared and contrasted approaches to rural development policy in the EU and US. This Special Issue focuses on the evaluation of these policies, drawing on a workshop held in June 2009 at OECD Conference Center in Paris. Evaluation is an activity that runs parallel with policymaking and is capable of contributing to effectiveness and efficiency at all stages. Evaluators, wherever they work and whatever aspect of rural development is their focus, face some common technical problems. These include multiple (and often ill-defined) policy objectives, the choice of appropriate indicators (especially the need to distinguish between outputs and outcomes), how to establish baseline values, where to draw boundaries in terms of impact and time, and the identification of additionality and causality. Ensuring that lessons learned from evaluation are actually applied is problematic. Experiences covered in this Issue include the use of macro and case-study approaches, and various schemes (investment in human and social capital, and agri-environment and forestry). There is an inherent tension between using a common approach across countries and regions in the interests of comparability and the flexibility needed to capture all the relevant factors in the diverse situations in which rural development actions take place. Un précédent numéro de EuroChoices (Vol. 7, No. 1) comparait et mettait en regard les approches de l'Union européenne et des États-Unis en terme de politique de développement rural. Ce numéro spécial est consacréà l'évaluation de la politique et tire parti d'un atelier qui s'est tenu en juin 2009 au Centre de Conférences de l'OCDE à Paris. L'évaluation va de pair avec l'élaboration des politiques et peut contribuer à améliorer l'efficacité et l'efficience à tous les stades. Quels que soient leur affiliation et l'aspect du développement rural sur lequel ils se concentrent, les évaluateurs sont confrontés à certains problèmes techniques communs. Il s'agit des objectifs multiples (et souvent mal définis) de la politique, du choix d'indicateurs pertinents (en particulier la nécessité de faire la différence entre produit et résultat), de la manière d'établir des valeurs de référence, de la fixation de limites en terme d'incidence et de durée, et de l'identification des effets additifs et de la causalité. Il est difficile de s'assurer que les leçons tirées des évaluations sont effectivement retenues. Les expériences rapportées dans ce numéro comprennent des approches macroéconomiques ou fondées sur des études de cas, et couvrent différents programmes (investissements dans le capital social et humain, mesures agroenvironnementales, mesures forestières). Il existe une tension évidente entre l'utilisation d'une approche commune entre chaque pays et région, qui vise la comparabilité, et la flexibilité qui permet de prendre en compte l'ensemble des différents facteurs des situations variées dans lesquelles les mesures de développement rural sont appliquées. In einer vorherigen Ausgabe von EuroChoices (7:1) wurden Herangehensweisen an die Politik zur Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums in der EU und in den USA verglichen und diskutiert. Diese Sonderausgabe beschäftigt sich auf der Grundlage eines Workshops, der im Juni 2009 am OECD-Hauptsitz in Paris abgehalten wurde, mit Politikevaluation. Die Evaluation erfolgt parallel zur Politikgestaltung und kann in jeder Phase zur Steigerung von Wirksamkeit und Effizienz beitragen. Evaluatoren stehen einigen allgemeinen technischen Problemen gegenüber , ganz gleich, wo sie arbeiten und welchen Aspekten ländlicher Entwicklung sie sich widmen. Dazu zählen multiple (und oftmals unzureichend definierte) politische Ziele; die Auswahl von geeigneten Indikatoren (hier muss insbesondere zwischen Endprodukten und Ergebnissen unterschieden werden); die Frage, wie Ausgangswerte festzulegen und wo Grenzen im Hinblick auf Auswirkungen und den zeitlichen Rahmen zu setzen sind; sowie die Identifizierung von Additionalität und Kausalität. Es ist schwierig sicherzustellen, dass die Erkenntnisse aus der Evaluation auch umgesetzt werden. Die in dieser Ausgabe aufgegriffenen Erfahrungen berücksichtigen u.a. Makro- und Fallstudienansätze sowie verschiedene Maßnahmen (Investitionen in Human-/Sozialkapital sowie Agrarumwelt und Forstwirtschaft). Es besteht eine grundsätzliche Spannung zwischen einer im Interesse der Vergleichbarkeit einheitlichen länder- und regionenübergreifenden Herangehensweise und einer Flexibilität bei der Erfassung aller relevanten Faktoren in den verschiedenen Situationen, in denen ländliche Entwicklung stattfindet. [source] Variability of the masticatory process during chewing of elastic model foodsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 6 2000Claire Lassauzay Many studies show a consistent individual chewing pattern; chewing being governed by a pattern generator and regulated by sensory feedback. The aim of this study was to determine the variation in chewing between sessions, replicates and subjects using elastic model foods. Fifteen young male subjects were selected to chew four food products differing in hardness. Four sessions were performed at 1-wk intervals for each subject and, within each session, the four model foods were presented 3 times each. Jaw movement was recorded simultaneously with masseter and anterior temporalis electromyographic activities. Several chewing characteristics increased progressively from one session to the next; the largest increase occurred from the 1st to the 2nd session, with little difference between the last two sessions. No differences were observed between the samples of the same food product within a session. As mastication progressed, the amplitude and speed of the cycles and the muscular work decreased progressively. The first cycle appeared to be very different from the subsequent for all parameters except for occlusal duration. Thus, under our experimental conditions, the origin and amount of variation in chewing patterns were identified and provide information to improve the accuracy and comparability of results in studies of mastication. [source] The cross-cultural generalizability of personality types: a Philippine studyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 6 2005Tatyana V. Avdeyeva Abstract Research on personality types was extended to a non-Western culture, the Philippines. In two large samples of Filipino college students, cluster analyses of self-rated trait adjectives revealed interpretable three-cluster solutions (i.e. types) for each gender. The types differed on indigenous measures of ego resiliency and ego control and exhibited sensible configurations of Big Five traits, indigenous Filipino traits, and behavioural indicators. Most types were interpretable in terms of the concepts of ego resiliency and ego control of Block and Block (1980) and resembled types identified in other cultures. Two of three male and female types were fairly comparable and some types replicated across data sets. The results provided some support for the cross-cultural comparability of personality types and for typological research in general. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Ptc, Smo, Sufu, and the Hedgehog signaling pathway in amphioxusEVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2009Yushuang Lin SUMMARY The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway regulates many developmental processes both in vertebrates and in invertebrates. However, little is known about this pathway in the cephalochordate amphioxus. In this paper, we focus on the Ptc, Smo, and Sufu homologs in amphioxus, which are the key members of the Hh signaling pathway. Their genomic structures show their comparability with homologs in vertebrates. In situ hybridization reveals that amphioxus Ptc, Smo, and Sufu have similar expression patterns in embryogenesis. They are expressed in the neural plate at early neurula stage, and then down-regulated in dorsal neural ectoderm. During development, their transcripts appear and persist in the notochord, the wall of the head cavity, the epithelium of the pharynx, and the gut. The data show that the expression patterns of these three genes are overlapping with Hh and Gli during the embryonic development in amphioxus. Moreover, injection of amphioxus Hh RNA into zebrafish-fertilized eggs can expand the expression domains of Ptc1 and Nk2.2a, the target genes of the Hh signaling pathway, which is similar to the injection of zebrafish Sonic hh a (zShha) and Sonic hh b (zShhb). Our results suggest that amphioxus may possess a conserved and functional Hh signaling pathway similar to that of vertebrates. [source] Genetic Probes of Three Theories of Maternal Adjustment: II.FAMILY PROCESS, Issue 3 2001Environmental Influences, Genetic This is the first report of the Twin Mom Study, an investigation of three hypotheses concerning influences on maternal adjustment. These hypotheses concern the role of the marital and parent-child relationships in mediating genetic influences on maternal adjustment and on the importance of the mothers' marital partners as a specifiable source of influences on their adjustment not shared with their sisters. The study's sample of 150 monozygotic (MZ) twins and 176 dizygotic (DZ) twins was drawn randomly from the Swedish Twin Registry and is, with some small exceptions, likely to be representative of women in the Swedish population. The sample included the marital partners of these twins and their adolescent children. Self-report and coded videotapes were a source of information about family process. Results reported in this first report focus on comparability of American and Swedish samples on scales measuring psychiatric symptoms, and on an analysis of genetic and environmental influences on nine measures of mothers' adjustment. Results suggest comparability between the US and Sweden. Genetic influences were found for all measures of adjustment, particularly in the psychological manifestations of anxiety and for smoking. The pattern of findings also underscored the importance of influences unique to each sibling within the twin pair, thus focusing attention on the potential role of marital partners in maternal adjustment. Results also suggested that experiences shared by the twin sisters, experiences unrelated to their genetic similarity, may influence their fearfulness and alcohol consumption. Our model did not include these influences and thus must be amended. 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