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Measurable Parameters (measurable + parameter)
Selected AbstractsCredits, Qualifications and the Fluttering StandardHIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2001Paul H. Bridges The primary function of credit is to help assess the equivalence of learning and to facilitate student transfer within and between institutions. Recently, attention has focused on the role credit may have in defining the academic standards of qualifications. Some recently proposed qualifications frameworks are one-dimensional in that they have levels as the only measurable parameter. Such 'frameworks, are not true frameworks because there is no basis for differentiating the qualifications at each level. Other frameworks are two-dimensional, using credits and levels as the two parameters. Where the award of credit for a module reflects the satisfactory completion of all the designated learning outcomes at a specified level, there is a clear basis for relating credit to academic standards. In this situation, plotting the credit requirements for qualifications onto a framework that comprises levels and credits makes an important contribution towards understanding the relative standards of the qualifications. [source] High levels of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in 20 brands of Chinese cigarettesJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2006V. Akpan Abstract Tar and nicotine levels have been made to conform to EU standards as of 1 July 2004, but data on tobacco-derived carcinogenic compounds, such as PAH, in Chinese cigarettes are lacking in the literature. Levels of tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide and PAH were measured in 20 cigarette brands purchased in China between 2003 and 2004. Higher nicotine and tar levels were found in Chinese cigarettes than in European brands just 3 months before the above deadline; carcinogenic PAH levels were about 1.5 fold higher than in European cigarettes, but analysed singly, the mean value of benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene (DBA), the most potent carcinogenic PAH yields, were 2.4 and 4.4 fold higher, respectively. Tar levels were well correlated with carcinogenic PAH (r = 0.53, P < 0.01), thus providing an easily measurable parameter for ranking various cigarette brands in developing countries where more sophisticated techniques might not be feasible for lack of funds and expertise. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A computational NQR study on the hydrogen-bonded lattice of cytosine-5-acetic acidJOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, Issue 5 2008Mahmoud Mirzaei Abstract A computational study at the level of density functional theory (DFT) employing 6-311++G** standard basis set was carried out to evaluate nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectroscopy parameters in cytosine-5-acetic acid (C5AA). Since the electric field gradient (EFG) tensors are very sensitive to the electrostatic environment at the sites of quadruple nuclei, the most possible interacting molecules with the target one were considered in a five-molecule model system of C5AA using X-ray coordinates transforming. The hydrogen atoms positions were optimized and two model systems of original and H-optimized C5AA were considered in NQR calculations. The calculated EFG tensors at the sites of 17O, 14N, and 2H nuclei were converted to their experimentally measurable parameters, quadrupole coupling constants and asymmetry parameters. The evaluated NQR parameters reveal that the nuclei in original and H-optimized systems contribute to different hydrogen bonding (HB) interaction. The comparison of calculated parameters between optimized isolated gas-phase and crystalline monomer also shows the relationship between the structural deformation and NQR parameters in C5AA. The basis set superposition error (BSSE) calculations yielded no significant errors for employed basis set in the evaluation of NQR parameters. All the calculations were performed by Gaussian 98 package of program. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2008 [source] On Different Approaches to Estimate the Mass Fractal Dimension of Coal AggregatesPARTICLE & PARTICLE SYSTEMS CHARACTERIZATION, Issue 5 2005Jimmy Y. H. Liao Abstract Several methods to measure the structures of coal aggregates are compared. Loose and compact coal aggregates were generated through flocculation of ultrafine coal particles (mean volume diameter of 12,,m) under specific shearing conditions. Aggregate structure in terms of mass fractal dimension, Df, was determined using various methods; namely 2D and 3D image analysis, interpretation of intensity patterns from small angle light scattering, changes in aggregation state through light obscuration, and settling behavior. In this study, the measured values of Df ranged from 1.84,2.19 for coal aggregates with more open structures, and around 2.27,2.66 for the compact ones. All of these approaches could distinguish structural differences between aggregates, albeit with variation in Df values estimated by the different techniques. The discrepancy in the absolute values for fractal dimension is due to the different physical properties measured by each approach, depending on the assumptions used to infer Df from measurable parameters. In addition, image analysis and settling techniques are based on the examination of individual aggregates, such that a large number of data points are required to yield statistically representative estimations. Light scattering and obscuration measure the aggregates collectively to give average Df values of the particulate systems; consequently ignoring any structural variation between the aggregates, and leaving possible small contaminations undetected (e.g. by dust particles or air bubbles). Appropriate utilization of a particular method is thus largely determined by system properties and required data quality. [source] Compliance with quality assurance measures in patients treated for early oral tongue cancerCANCER, Issue 14 2010Amy C. Hessel MD Abstract BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to identify measurable parameters that provide quality data for assessing how well cancer care adheres to accepted treatment guidelines and is delivered to any given patient with oral tongue cancer. METHODS: A retrospective chart review included 116 patients treated for T1-T2/N0-N1 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral tongue between 1998 and 2003. A set of quality measures considered critical for outcome included: 1) accurate TNM staging at presentation, 2) documentation of margin status, 3) appropriate referral for adjuvant radiation therapy, and 4) neck dissection for depth of invasion >4 mm. In addition, 26 clinical endpoints involving pretreatment assessment, staging, treatment, surveillance, and symptom control were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients comprised 73 men and 43 women (median age, 57 years). Forty-one (35.3%) patients presented with stage I disease, 61 (52.6%) with stage II, and 14 (12.1%) with stage III. The overall 5-year survival rate for all patients was 68.6%. There was a 90.5% compliance with TNM staging at presentation, 99.1% for documentation of margin status, 98.2% for adequate referral to radiation therapy, and 88.7% for appropriate neck dissection based on depth of invasion. Compliance with clinical endpoints was variable and ranged from 100% for endpoints related to radiation therapy to <40% for endpoints related to speech pathology and rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Overall compliance with documenting the 4 parameters designated as quality measures for treatment of oral tongue SCC was acceptable, thus demonstrating that it is possible to use these data for measuring effective cancer care. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society. [source] Histomorphologic and histomorphometric evaluation of various endosseous implant healing chamber configurations at early implantation times: a study in dogsCLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 6 2010Charles Marin Abstract Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the early healing of endosseous implants presenting various healing chamber configurations in a beagle dog mandible model. Methods: The four premolars of 12 beagle dogs were extracted and allowed to heal for a period of 8 weeks. Implants allowing six different healing chamber configurations were placed in each dog (three per side, six configurations per dog). The animals were sacrificed after 3 and 5 weeks in vivo (n=6 per time in vivo), and the implants were non-decalcified processed to slides of ,30 ,m thickness. Bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and bone area fraction occupied (BAFO) within the healing chamber were quantified. Statistical analysis was performed by a GLM ANOVA model at 5% significance level. Results: Osseointegration and healing with woven bone filling throughout all healing chambers was observed. Replacement of woven bone by lamellar bone showing primary osteonic structures was observed at 5 weeks. BIC was significantly affected by healing chamber configuration (P<0.001) and was not affected by time in vivo (P>0.42) at 3 and 5 weeks in vivo. BAFO was not affected by healing chamber configuration (P>0.14) however significantly increased over implantation time (P<0.001). Conclusion: Regardless of healing chamber design and dimensions considered, healing allowed the devices osseointegration. However, healing chamber configuration significantly affected osseointegration measurable parameters such as BIC. To cite this article: Marin C, Granato R, Suzuki M, Gil JN, Janal, MN Coelho PG. Histomorhpologic and histomorphometric evaluation of various endosseous implant healing chamber configurations at early implantation times: a study in dogs. Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 21, 2010; 577,583. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2009.01853.x [source] | |||||||||||||