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Multidimensional
Terms modified by Multidimensional Selected AbstractsComparing Multidimensional and Unidimensional Proficiency Classifications: Multidimensional IRT as a Diagnostic AidJOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT, Issue 3 2003Cindy M. Walker This research examined the effect of scoring items thought to be multidimensional using a unidimensional model and demonstrated the use of multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) as a diagnostic tool. Using real data from a large-scale mathematics test, previously shown to function differentially in favor of proficient writers, the difference in proficiency classifications was explored when a two-versus one-dimensional confirmatory model was fit. The estimate of ability obtained when using the unidimensional model was considered to represent general mathematical ability. Under the two-dimensional model, one of the two dimensions was also considered to represent general mathematical ability. The second dimension was considered to represent the ability to communicate in mathematics. The resulting pattern of mismatched proficiency classifications suggested that examinees found to have less mathematics communication ability were more likely to be placed in a lower general mathematics proficiency classification under the unidimensional than multidimensional model. Results and implications are discussed. [source] Morphological population balance model in principal component spaceAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 9 2009Xue Z. Wang Abstract Multidimensional and morphological population balance (PB) models for crystallization processes have been proposed in literature, which can be used to simulate the dynamic evolution of particle shape as well as particle size distribution. These models, however, can become computationally expensive when the crystal has a large number of independent faces, and are not applicable to noncrystalline, irregularly shaped particles such as those encountered in granulation and milling. This article addresses these challenges by introducing principal component analysis (PCA) into morphological PB modeling. PCA transforms the shape description of a particle from a high-dimensional domain to a lower dimensional, principal component (PC) space. Morphological PB models can then be built in this latent variable space, greatly reducing the computational complexity. It also makes it possible to model noncrystalline irregularly shaped particles. The original particle shape at any time can be reconstructed from the PCs. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source] Novel Large Aluminophosphite Cage Unit as the Building Blocks to Form a Framework Structure Containing Multidimensional 12-Ring Channels.CHEMINFORM, Issue 44 2007Ailing Lu Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF. [source] Democracy, markets and sustainable development: the European Union as an exampleENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 6 2004Peter Söderbaum Development issues are discussed in specific ways in the European Union and in various local, regional and international arenas. For some actors, economic growth in GDP terms and international (or inter-regional) competitiveness still appears as the main vision; others refer to sustainable development (SD) as their ideological orientation. However, SD is ambiguous and the interpretation of SD differs from ,business as usual' through ,ecological modernization' to more radical ideas of progress. If we wish to take SD seriously as a multidimensional and ethical development concept, then research efforts and debate have to include what can be described as ,protected zones' in the development dialogue. These refer to more fundamental issues about theory of science, paradigms in economics, ideological orientations and institutional arrangements that too often have been taken for granted rather than being openly discussed in terms of alternatives. It is believed that our possibilities of approaching an SD path will improve considerably if we systematically introduce the mentioned areas into our dialogue about the future. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Are there empirically supported and clinically useful subtypes of alcohol dependence?ADDICTION, Issue 2006Victor M. Hesselbrock ABSTRACT Aims This paper provides an overview of several multidimensional empirically derived typologies of alcohol use disorders that have been derived primarily for research purposes in relation to their clinical utility. Methods Studies using multivariate statistical methods for identifying homogeneous groups of subjects were selected for inclusion. Theoretically based typologies were not included in this review. Results While formal diagnostic criteria typically identify separate categories of alcohol abuse and dependence, several studies using different statistical methods consistently suggest as many as four homogeneous types of alcoholism: a chronic/severe type, a depressed/anxious type, a mildly affected type and an antisocial type. Conclusions Even though the longitudinal outcomes of few empirically derived subtypes have been examined, alcoholism typologies remain a viable and potentially valuable tool for investigating etiological pathways, the effectiveness of treatments and the long-term course of alcohol use disorders. [source] Two- and Three-Dimensional Micro- and Sub-Micrometer Periodic Structures Using Two-Beam Laser Interference Lithography,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 1-2 2010A. F. Lasagni Abstract In this study, we present different approaches for the fabrication of two and three dimensional structures using two-beam interference lithography. The advantages of using more than one irradiation step for the fabrication of complex structures are theoretically demonstrated by avoiding the introduction of line effects. For the fabrication of 3D structures, two alternatives are discussed including a layer by layer approach as well as a multidimensional (non-orthogonal) interference exposure setup. Finally, an example of biomimetic patterning is given. In all cases, numerical calculations showed a good agreement with the experimental results, being able to explain the shape of the fabricated structures. [source] Culture and the behavioural manifestations of traits: an application of the Act Frequency ApproachEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 4 2007A. Timothy Church Abstract The behavioural manifestations of Big Five traits were compared across cultures using the Act Frequency Approach. American (n,=,176) and Filipino (n,=,195) students completed a Big Five measure and act frequency ratings for behaviours performed during the past month. Acts for specific traits cohered to an equivalent degree across cultures. In both cultures, the structure of act composites resembled the Big Five and the strength of trait-behaviour relationships was very similar. Many acts were multidimensional and analyses revealed cultural commonalities and differences in the relevance and prevalence of acts for the Big Five traits. The results were more consistent with trait than cultural psychology perspectives, because traits predicted behaviour equally well, on average, in the two cultures. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] CONVERGENCE AND THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL NICHEEVOLUTION, Issue 2 2005Luke J. Harmon Abstract Convergent evolution has played an important role in the development of the ecological niche concept. We investigated patterns of convergent and divergent evolution of Caribbean Anolis lizards. These lizards diversified independently on each of the islands of the Greater Antilles, producing the same set of habitat specialists on each island. Using a phylogenetic comparative framework, we examined patterns of morphological convergence in five functionally distinct sets of morphological characters: body size, body shape, head shape, lamella number, and sexual size dimorphism. We find evidence for convergence among members of the habitat specialist types for each of these five datasets. Furthermore, the patterns of convergence differ among at least four of the five datasets; habitat specialists that are similar for one set of characters are often greatly different for another. This suggests that the habitat specialist niches into which these anoles have evolved are multidimensional, involving several distinct and independent aspects of morphology. [source] Common Threat and Common Response?GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION, Issue 3 2007The European Union's Counter-Terrorism Strategy, its Problems On the basis of an analysis of the European Union's common definition of the post-9/11 terrorist threat, this article provides a critical assessment of the EU's response. The EU has arrived at a reasonably specific definition of the common threat that avoids simplistic reductions and is a response that is sufficiently multidimensional to address the different aspects , internal and external, legislative and operational, repressive and preventive , of this threat. Yet the definition is undermined by differences between national threat perceptions. The preference for instruments of cooperation and coordination rather than integration, and poor implementation are having a negative impact on the effectiveness of the common response, the legitimacy of which is also weakened by limited parliamentary and judicial control. [source] Self-Construal Scales Lack ValidityHUMAN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH, Issue 2 2003Timothy R. Levine Self-construal is thought to mediate and explain the effects of culture on a wide variety of outcome variables. A meta-analysis of published cross-cultural self-construal research is reported in this article, and the results across studies suggests that the evidence for the predicted cultural differences is weak, inconsistent, or nonexistent. The results of 3 priming experiments (N = 121, N = 99, and N = 361) suggest that (a) priming does not account for the inconsistent results observed in the meta-analysis, (b) that scores on a self-construal scale appear to be measuring trait-like constructs that are not sensitive to priming, and (c) that measures of self-construals lack convergent validity. The results of several measurement studies (N = 121, 223, 230, 323, 214, 206, 126, 204, 148, 141, and 150) were inconsistent with the a priori two-factor measurement model in every case. Self-construal scales were found to be radically multidimensional and highly unstable within and across cultures. These results lead us to conclude that catastrophic validity problems exist in research involving the use of self-construal scales in cross-cultural research. [source] Phospho-proteomic immune analysis by flow cytometry: from mechanism to translational medicine at the single-cell levelIMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2006Omar D. Perez Summary:, Understanding a molecular basis for cellular function is a common goal of biomedicine. The complex and dynamic cellular processes underlying physiological processes become subtly or grossly perturbed in human disease. A primary objective is to demystify this complexity by creating and establishing relevant model systems to study important aspects of human disease. Although significant technological advancements over the last decade in both genomic and proteomic arenas have enabled progress, accessing the complexity of cellular interactions that occur in vivo has been a difficult arena in which to make progress. Moreover, there are extensive challenges in translating research tools to clinical applications. Flow cytometry, over the course of the last 40 years, has revolutionized the field of immunology, in both the basic science and clinical settings, as well as having been instrumental to new and exciting areas of discovery such as stem cell biology. Multiparameter machinery and systems exist now to access the heterogeneity of cellular subsets and enable phenotypic characterization and functional assays to be performed on material from both animal models and humans. This review focuses primarily on the development and application of using activation-state readouts of intracellular activity for phospho-epitopes. We present recent work on how a flow cytometric platform is used to obtain mechanistic insight into cellular processes as well as highlight the clinical applications that our laboratory has explored. Furthermore, this review discusses the challenges faced with processing high-content multidimensional and multivariate data sets. Flow cytometry, as a platform that is well situated in both the research and clinical settings, can contribute to drug discovery as well as having utility for both biomarker and patient-stratification. [source] The development of 3-D visualization technology: the potential impact on interior design and its consumersINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 5 2009Seunghae Lee Abstract Three-dimensional visualization has developed and improved significantly over the last several decades and resulted in consumers' having multidimensional, multi-sensory experiences with a wide range of products and services. It has affected the built environment and its related businesses. Designers create 3-D images and walk-through animations to communicate with their clients more clearly, starting from the early stage of the design process. The interior,design-related material manufacturers and retailers have enhanced their online stores with 3-D visualization features to improve their interactivity and provide user-friendly interfaces for product information search and purchase planning. Because of the continuing widespread interest in 3-D visualization and the amount of its applications in the interior design field, a review of this area was a necessity to suggest the future research direction for the development of 3-D visualization in interior design. This paper sought to demonstrate the status of the development of 3-D visualization and its impact on the interior design field and its consumers while highlighting an area where future research is a potentially considerable benefit in developing 3-D visualization in interior design. [source] Barriers to, and facilitators of, research utilisation: a survey of Hong Kong registered nursesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE BASED HEALTHCARE, Issue 2 2006David R Thompson RN BSc MA PhD MBA FRCN FESC Abstract Aim, Despite increasing efforts to promote the utilisation of research in daily nursing practice it is apparent that there are a number of obstacles to address. This paper reports a study to examine the barriers to, and facilitators of, research utilisation among registered nurses in Hong Kong. Methods, A survey design and a random sampling method was used. The final sample consisted of 1487 registered nurses working in private and public health-care sectors in Hong Kong. A bilingual version of the Research Utilisation Questionnaire, comprising a 31-item barriers scale, and an 8-item facilitators scale was used. The instrument was mailed to participants who were asked to return the completed questionnaire by mail. Results, The highest ranking barriers to research utilisation reported by respondents were related mainly to organisational factors with regards to inadequate facilities, no authority to change procedures, and time constraints. Hong Kong nurses, however, did not appear to see any problem with regards to items related to characteristics of research, such as conclusions drawn from research being justified, research articles not being published fast enough, and literature reporting conflicting results. This indicates that nurses are aware of research developments in nursing and can critically analyse research reports. With regards to facilitators of research utilisation, respondents agreed that managerial and peer support are the greatest facilitators. Conclusions, The results indicate that factors influencing research utilisation are multidimensional and should be taken into account by all involved in the research enterprise: researchers, practitioners, educators, managers and policy-makers. The results of this study provide directions on how to assist nurses in Hong Kong in their efforts to utilise research. [source] Qualitative research to make practical sense of sustainability in primary health care projects implemented by non-governmental organizationsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2004Eric G. Sarriot Abstract Sustainability continues to be a serious concern for Primary Health Care (PHC) interventions targeting the death of millions of children in developing countries each year. Our work with over 30 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) implementing USAID's Child Survival and Health Grants Program (CSHGP)-funded projects revealed the need for a study to develop a framework for sustainability assessment in these projects. We surveyed NGO informants and project managers through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. This paper summarizes our study findings. The NGOs share key values about sustainability, but are skeptical about approaches perceived as disconnected from field reality. In their experience, sustainable achievements occur through the interaction of capable local stakeholders and communities. This depends strongly on enabling conditions, which NGO projects should advance. Sustainability assessment is multidimensional, value-based and embeds health within a larger sustainable development perspective. It reduces, but does not eliminate, the unpredictability of long-term outcomes. It should start with the consideration of the ,local systems' which need to develop a common purpose. Our ability to address the complexity inherent to sustainability thinking rests with the validity of the models used to design interventions. A participant, qualitative research approach helped us make sense of sustainability in NGO field practice. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Project risk evaluation using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process: An application to information technology projectsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, Issue 6 2006Fatih Tüysüz Projects are critical to the realization of performing organization's strategies. Each project contains some degree of risk and it is required to be aware of these risks and to develop the necessary responses to get the desired level of project success. Because projects' risks are multidimensional, they must be evaluated by using multi-attribute decision-making methods. The aim of this article is to provide an analytic tool to evaluate the project risks under incomplete and vague information. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) as a suitable and practical way of evaluating project risks based on the heuristic knowledge of experts is used to evaluate the riskiness of an information technology (IT) project of a Turkish firm. The means of the triangular fuzzy numbers produced by the IT experts for each comparison are successfully used in the pairwise comparison matrices. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 21: 559,584, 2006. [source] Chronic Pain: Nursing Diagnosis or Syndrome?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 4 2001Diná Almeida Lopes Monteiro Cruz PhD PROBLEM. To explore the existence of a pattern of nursing diagnoses that represents a chronic pain syndrome. METHODS. The nursing diagnoses of 68 oncologic and 46 nononcologic patients with chronic pain were submitted to univariate and multivariate analyses. Diagnoses ranked above the 75th percentile, without association with pain etiology, and presenting a pattern in cluster analyses and multidimensional scaling was accepted as possible components of chronic pain syndrome. FINDINGS. The possible components of chronic pain syndrome were disturbed sleep pattern,a constipation or risk for constipation, deficient knowledge,a impaired physical mobility, and anxiety/fear. CONCLUSIONS. Although a pattern of diagnoses has been proposed, confirmation will require further studies and the exploration of the clinical usefulness of the concept of chronic pain as a syndrome. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Increased skill in the assessment and understanding of chronic pain can result in improved relief strategies. Douleur chronique: Diagnostic infirmier ou syndrome? PROBLÈME. Explorer l'existence d'un regroupement de diagnostics infirmiers représentant le syndrome de douleur chronique (SDC). MÉTHODES. Les diagnostics infirmiers présents chez 68 patients cancéreux et 46 patients non-cancéreux, souffrant de douleur chronique furent soumis à des analyses unidimensionnelles et multidimensionnelles. Les diagnostics qui furent retenus comme composantes possibles du SDC se situaient au dessus du 75e percentile, n'étaient pas associés à l'étiologie et représentaient un ensemble dans les analyses de regroupement et l'échelle multidimensionnelle. RÉSULTATS. Les composantes possibles du SDC furent perturbation des habitudes de sommeil, constipation ou risque de constipation, manque de connaissances, altération de la mobilité et anxiété/peur. CONCLUSIONS. Même si un schéma de diagnostics infirmiers a été proposé, il faudrait encore entreprendre plusieurs recherches et explorer l'utilité clinique du concept syndrome de douleur chronique, avant de confirmer la pertinence de ce syndrome. IMPLICATIONS PRATIQUES. L'amélioration de l'évaluation et de la compréhension de la douleur chronique peut conduire à de meilleures stratégies pour soulager la douleur. PROBLEMA. Explorar a existência de um padrão de diagnósticos de enfermagem que represente uma síndrome de dor crônica. MÉTODOS. Diagnóstics de enfermagem de 68 pacientes com dor crônica oncológica e 46 pacientes com dor crônica não oncológica foram submetidos a análises univariadas e multivariadas. Os diagnóstics posicionados acima do Percentil 75, sem associação com a etiologia da dor e que apresentaram um padrão na Análise de Cluster e no Escalonamento Multidimensional foram aceitos como possíveis componentes da síndrome de dor crónica. RESULTADOS. Os possíveis componentes da síndrome de dor crônica foram: distúrbio do padrão de sono, cnstipação ou risco para constipação, déficit de conhecimento, mobilidade física prejudicada e ansiedade/medo. CONCLUSÕES. Apesar de um padrão de diagnósticos ter sido proposto, a sua confirmação requer outros estudos e a exploração da utilidade clínica de se conceituar a dor crônica como uma síndrome. IMPLIAÇÕES PRÁTICAS. Melhorar a compreensão e as habilidades na avaliação da dor crônica pode resultar em melhores estratégias de alívio. Dolor crónico: Diagnóstico enfermero o síndrome? PROBLEMA. Explorar la existencia de un patrón diagnóstico de enfermería que represente el síndrome de dolor crónico (SDC). MÉTODOS. Los diagnósticos enfermeros de 68 pacientes oncológicos y 46 no-oncológicos con dolor crónico, se sometieron a análisis variable y multivariable. Se aceptaron como posibles componentes del SDC, los diagnósticos que estaban sobre el percentil 75, sin asociación con etiología de dolor y que presentaban un patrón agrupado al hacer el análisis y en la escala multidimensional. RESULTADOS. Los posibles componentes de SDC fueron alteración del patrón del sueño, estreñimiento o riesgo de estreñimiento, déficit de conocimientos, trastorno de la movilidad física y ansiedad/temor. CONCLUSIONES. Aunque un patrón de diagnósticos ha sido propuesto, la confirmación requerirá que se llevan más allá los estudios y la exploración de la utilidad clínica del concepto del dolor crónico, como un síndrome. IMPLICACIONES PARA LA PRÁCTICA. Mejorar la habilidad en la valoración y comprensión del dolor crónico pueden producir mejoras en las estrategias de alivio. [source] The changing landscape of European liberty and security: the mid-term report of the CHALLENGE projectINTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 192 2008Didier Bigo The article offers a critical assessment of the liberties of citizens and others living in the EU and the way in which they are affected by the proliferation of discourses about insecurity, and government and transnational agencies practices of reassurance, protection and coercion enacted in the name of the safety of citizen or their collective security, in which information about their identity is exchanged through new techniques of surveillance and control. It analyses first the apparent radicalisationisation of specific forms of transnational political violence and its effects on liberal policies. Next it assesses the threat assessments produced through technologies of risk management and the development of new technologies of surveillance. Third it describes the changing forms taken by the logic of suspicion and practices of exception and derogation, especially in relation to established understandings of the rule of law, to the multidimensional and continuous reframing of the enemy. It then discusses the impact of this on the rights and freedoms of citizens and foreigners, and finally it assesses the relation between the internal and external impact of illiberal practices, especially in the context of transatlantic relations but also of an increasingly interconnected world order, and the place of the EU in this world. [source] Fatigue in children with long-term conditions: an evolutionary concept analysisJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 8 2009Margaret McCabe Abstract Title.,Fatigue in children with long-term conditions: an evolutionary concept analysis. Aim., This paper is a report of a concept analysis of fatigue in children with long-term conditions. Background., There is little research focused on the experience of fatigue in children. Previous work has focused primarily on children living with cancer. It is necessary to clarify and refine the concept, and add to the knowledge base that supports ongoing theoretical work in order to improve the clinical care of children with long-term conditions who experience fatigue. Method., English language literature published from 1989 to 2007 was searched using the CINAHL, Medline and PsychINFO data bases. Sixty-two papers and two book chapters were used in this concept analysis. Rodgers' method of evolutionary concept analysis was used. This inductive method helps us to view the concept in a sociocultural and temporal context. Findings., The number of publications focusing on fatigue in children is increasing. The analysis yielded two surrogate terms, five attributes, three antecedents and seven consequences. Based on this analysis, fatigue in children with long-term conditions appears to be a subjective experience of tiredness or exhaustion that is multidimensional and includes physical, mental, and emotional aspects. Conclusions., Evidence suggesting children with long-term conditions experience fatigue is increasing, but conceptual gaps remain. This analysis has yielded a view of fatigue in children that illustrates healthcare professionals' limited yet growing awareness of the symptom. Ongoing study as a means to refine our understanding of the concept could potentially lead to important contributions to clinical care of children with long-term conditions. [source] Re-Examining Machiavelli: A Three-Dimensional Model of Machiavellianism in the WorkplaceJOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 8 2010Stacey R. Kessler Machiavellianism has been studied extensively over the past 40 years as a personality characteristic that shares features with the manipulative leadership tactics Machiavelli advocated in The Prince. We introduce a new model of Machiavellianism based in organizational settings that is multidimensional, incorporating aspects not previously included in Machiavellianism scales. Our model consists of 3 factors: maintaining power, harsh management tactics, and manipulative behaviors. The results of 3 studies are summarized, discussing the development of these 3 factors and how they relate to individual-difference and organizational variables. [source] Chronic illness as a family process: A social-developmental approach to promoting resilienceJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 11 2002Ester R. Shapiro This paper describes a social-developmental approach to interventions in chronic illness using naturally occurring processes of change during family life-cycle transitions to promote more positive developmental outcomes. Clinical interventions can help build resilience by creating a therapeutic collaboration designed to help patients improve their use of existing and new resources in multiple systems. They can then better meet demands of the illness as it impacts on shared development. A case example of a 13-year-old daughter with complex, chronic health problems and developmental disabilities illustrates clinical interventions designed to promote family resilience during the entry into adolescence and a transition in schooling. This approach involves focusing on the family's own definition of the current problem and relevant history, constructing a multidimensional, coherent story of the illness and its impact that recognizes stressors yet highlights strengths, and normalizing their strategies for stability under circumstances of developmental stress. These interventions with mother, daughter, and family helped improve health efficacy, communication toward mutual understanding and shared problem solving, and better use of existing and new resources to enhance current and future developmental adaptation. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol/In Session 58: 1375,1384, 2002. [source] Comparing Multidimensional and Unidimensional Proficiency Classifications: Multidimensional IRT as a Diagnostic AidJOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT, Issue 3 2003Cindy M. Walker This research examined the effect of scoring items thought to be multidimensional using a unidimensional model and demonstrated the use of multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) as a diagnostic tool. Using real data from a large-scale mathematics test, previously shown to function differentially in favor of proficient writers, the difference in proficiency classifications was explored when a two-versus one-dimensional confirmatory model was fit. The estimate of ability obtained when using the unidimensional model was considered to represent general mathematical ability. Under the two-dimensional model, one of the two dimensions was also considered to represent general mathematical ability. The second dimension was considered to represent the ability to communicate in mathematics. The resulting pattern of mismatched proficiency classifications suggested that examinees found to have less mathematics communication ability were more likely to be placed in a lower general mathematics proficiency classification under the unidimensional than multidimensional model. Results and implications are discussed. [source] The impact of upland land management on flooding: insights from a multiscale experimental and modelling programmeJOURNAL OF FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2008B.M. Jackson Abstract A programme of field experiments at the Pontbren catchment in Wales has, since autumn 2004, been examining the effects of land use change on flooding. The Pontbren catchment possesses a long history of artificial drainage of its clay soils and intensification of sheep farming. Increased flood runoff has been noted within the last decades, as has the mitigating effect of trees at field scale. To examine the local and catchment-scale effects of land management within the catchment, including the potential advantages of planting additional trees, a multidimensional physically based model has been developed and conditioned on data from an intensely instrumented hillslope. The model is used to examine the effects of planting a small strip of trees within a hillslope. Results demonstrate that careful placement of such interventions can reduce magnitudes of flood peaks by 40% at the field scale. The challenges associated with upscaling these results to the Pontbren and Upper Severn catchments are discussed. [source] Eldercare and job productivity: An accommodation analysisJOURNAL OF LEADERSHIP STUDIES, Issue 4 2008Kenneth C. Sherman Over the next decade, the number of working adults relegated to the role of caregiver for one or more elderly family members will rapidly surge. The emotional, physical, and financial stress of caregiving has already begun to impact the productivity of the employee elder caregiver in the workplace, with estimates placing the annual costs around $30 billion. We can expect costs to grow as workers and their elderly parents continue to age. This particular study addresses the fundamental research question of what affects the job performance of employee elder caregivers. The results support the conclusion that the relationship among caregiving, personal support, organizational accommodation, and job productivity is multidimensional. Organizations attuned to the demands of elder caregiving can work with affected employees to reduce or eliminate declines in job productivity. Future researchers and practitioners can reconsider their research protocols and interventions along a wide continuum of interactions in the employee's home and workplace environments. [source] A Review of Nursing Research on Blood PressureJOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, Issue 4 2002Sue Ann Thomas Purpose: To provide this second 10-year review of nursing research on blood pressure (BP) and to focus attention on incorporating biopsychosocial factors affecting BP in nursing research. Organizing Construct: Blood pressure is a dynamic, multidimensional, cardiovascular indicator of a person's state rather than a one-dimensional static measurement. Methods: This 10-year literature review 1990,1999 included 54 nursing research articles with BP as an outcome measure. Four nursing research journals were reviewed to identify all nurse-authored articles investigating BP as an outcome variable in adult populations. Inclusion of individual characteristics, environmental factors, dynamic nature of blood pressure, and interpersonal aspects of blood pressure were assessed for each article. Findings: Age, gender, and health status were mentioned consistently in both decades. Reporting of socioeconomic, occupational, educational, activity, and martial status remained low. Descriptions of environments increased, and automated devices were the most common method for BP assessment. Less than half of the articles included a description of the person measuring the BP. Measurement of BP under multiple conditions increased, but measurement within conditions did not. Conclusions: Advances in technology and data analysis have increased knowledge of the dynamic nature of BP, but recognition of the complex nature of BP has not progressed rapidly over the last 2 decades. [source] Is it pay levels or pay raises that matter to fairness and turnover?JOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR, Issue 8 2005Amanuel G. Tekleab Two studies examined the relationship between actual pay and distributive and procedural justice, and the extent to which these perceptions were related to two important pay satisfaction dimensions, pay level and pay raise, and ultimately, impacted turnover. For each study the measures of pay and justice variables were obtained on a cross-sectional basis, while the measure of turnover was necessarily lagged. Results showed that distributive justice mediated the relationship between pay and both pay level satisfaction and pay raise satisfaction. Furthermore, distributive justice was a stronger predictor of pay level satisfaction; whereas procedural justice was a stronger predictor of pay raise satisfaction. Procedural justice also played a moderating role in Study 2. The study also showed that only pay raise satisfaction was significantly and negatively related to turnover in Study 1, and to turnover via turnover intention in Study 2. Results support the value of considering pay satisfaction as multidimensional when evaluating justice issues in a compensation context. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Replicability and stability of the multidimensional model of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in late pregnancyJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 3 2007J. JOMEEN phd ma rm rgn The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a widely used screening tool for post-natal depression (PND). Recent factor analytic investigations of the EPDS have suggested the instrument may be useful in the prediction of PND as the instrument appears to be multidimensional, thus facilitating sub-scale development for this purpose. The psychometric properties of the EPDS were evaluated in women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Confirmatory factor analyses found support for the multidimensionality of the instrument; however, there was clear variability in model fit to data suggesting previous reports of the stability of the underlying factor structure of this instrument may be over-optimistic. The potential for development of the EPDS as a predictive screening measure of PND is likely to be optimistic because of variability in the factor structure of the instrument over the course of pregnancy and in the post-natal period. [source] The concept of relevance in IRJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 10 2003Pia Borlund This article introduces the concept of relevance as viewed and applied in the context of IR evaluation, by presenting an overview of the multidimensional and dynamic nature of the concept. The literature on relevance reveals how the relevance concept, especially in regard to the multidimensionality of relevance, is many faceted, and does not just refer to the various relevance criteria users may apply in the process of judging relevance of retrieved information objects. From our point of view, the multidimensionality of relevance explains why some will argue that no consensus has been reached on the relevance concept. Thus, the objective of this article is to present an overview of the many different views and ways by which the concept of relevance is used,leading to a consistent and compatible understanding of the concept. In addition, special attention is paid to the type of situational relevance. Many researchers perceive situational relevance as the most realistic type of user relevance, and therefore situational relevance is discussed with reference to its potential dynamic nature, and as a requirement for interactive information retrieval (IIR) evaluation. [source] Do we need a new gastro-oesophageal reflux disease questionnaire?ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 5 2004V. Stanghellini Summary Background :,Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is highly prevalent in Western countries. Because the majority of patients do not present with endoscopic abnormalities, the assessment of the symptom severity and quality of life, and their response to treatment, has become increasingly important. Self-assessed symptom questionnaires are now key instruments in clinicaltrials. Aim :,To evaluate the validity of available GERD measurement tools. Methods :,An ideal GERD symptom assessment instrument, suitable as a primary end-point for clinical trials, should possess the following characteristics: (i) be sensitive in patients with GERD; (ii) cover the frequency and intensity of typical and atypical GERD symptoms; (iii) be multidimensional (cover all symptom dimensions); (iv) have proven psychometric properties (validity, reliability and responsiveness); (v) be practical and economical; (vi) be self-assessed; (vii) use ,word pictures' which are easy to understand for patients; (viii) respond rapidly to changes (responsiveness over short time intervals); (ix) be used daily to assess changes during and after therapy; and (x) be valid in different languages for international use. Results :,A literature review revealed five scales that met some of the above characteristics, but did not fulfil all criteria. Conclusion :,There is a need for a new evaluative tool for the assessment of GERD symptoms and their response to therapy. [source] Fast multidimensional localized parallel NMR spectroscopy for the analysis of samplesMAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY, Issue 10 2010Marino Vega-Vazquez Abstract A parallel localized spectroscopy (PALSY) method is presented to speed up the acquisition of multidimensional NMR (nD) spectra. The sample is virtually divided into a discrete number of nonoverlapping slices that relax independently during consecutive scans of the experiment, affording a substantial reduction in the interscan relaxation delay and the total experiment time. PALSY was tested for the acquisition of three experiments 2D COSY, 2D DQF-COSY and 2D TQF-COSY in parallel, affording a time-saving factor of 3,4. Some unique advantages are that the achievable resolution in any dimension is not compromised in any way: it uses conventional NMR data processing, it is not prone to generate spectral artifacts, and once calibrated, it can be used routinely with these and other combinations of NMR spectra. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Super-resolved spatially encoded single-scan 2D MRIMAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE, Issue 6 2010Noam Ben-Eliezer Abstract Single-scan MRI underlies a wide variety of clinical and research activities, including functional and diffusion studies. Most common among these "ultrafast" MRI approaches is echo-planar imaging. Notwithstanding its proven success, echo-planar imaging still faces a number of limitations, particularly as a result of susceptibility heterogeneities and of chemical shift effects that can become acute at high fields. The present study explores a new approach for acquiring multidimensional MR images in a single scan, which possesses a higher built-in immunity to this kind of heterogeneity while retaining echo-planar imaging's temporal and spatial performances. This new protocol combines a novel approach to multidimensional spectroscopy, based on the spatial encoding of the spin interactions, with image reconstruction algorithms based on super-resolution principles. Single-scan two-dimensional MRI examples of the performance improvements provided by the resulting imaging protocol are illustrated using phantom-based and in vivo experiments. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||