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Novices
Terms modified by Novices Selected AbstractsFrom Narrow to Novice in Environmental Health NursingPUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 4 2005Judith C. Hays No abstract is available for this article. [source] A comparison of McGrath and Macintosh laryngoscopes in novice users: a manikin studyANAESTHESIA, Issue 11 2009D. C. Ray Summary Direct laryngoscopy using the Macintosh laryngoscope is a difficult skill to acquire. Videolaryngoscopy is a widely accepted airway management technique that may be easier for novices to learn. We compared the McGrath® videolaryngoscope and Macintosh laryngoscope by studying the performance of 25 medical students with no previous experience of performing tracheal intubation using an easy intubation scenario in a manikin. The order of device use was randomised for each student. After brief instruction each participant performed eight tracheal intubations with one device and then eight tracheal intubations with the other laryngoscope. Novices achieved a higher overall rate of successful tracheal intubation, avoided oesophageal intubation and produced less dental trauma when using the McGrath. The view at laryngoscopy was significantly better with the McGrath. Intubation times were similar for both laryngoscopes and became shorter with practice. There was no difference in participants' rating of overall ease of use for each laryngoscope. [source] The Pocket Echocardiograph: Validation and FeasibilityECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 7 2010Benjamin C. Culp M.D. Background: A new, miniaturized ultrasound device, the pocket echocardiograph (PE), is highly portable and can be carried inside a lab-coat pocket. Studies of this device are limited and have not examined the use by novice echocardiographers. We hypothesize that a novice echocardiographer can use PE to produce interpretable cardiac images, and that both novice and expert echocardiographers can use PE to accurately quantify ejection fraction. Methods: Unselected subjects (n = 40) in an echocardiography laboratory underwent blinded formal transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and PE (Acuson P10, Siemens, Mountain View, CA, USA). A cardiology fellow with 2 months of echocardiography training acquired PE images. The fellow and an experienced echocardiographer interpreted the PE studies offline in a blinded fashion. To assess adequacy, studies were graded as technically adequate, limited, or inadequate. A visual estimation of ejection fraction was made. Comparisons were made to the formal reported TTE. Results: Subjects were heterogeneous, 43% male; age 64 ± 17 years, and ejection fraction 52.4%± 12.3%. All PE studies were interpretable, and the vast majority of PE and TTE images were considered technically adequate (77.5% and 85% respectively; P = 0.32). Ejection fraction showed a good correlation, bias, and limits of agreement for the fellow's interpretation (r = 0.78, ,5.9%, ±16.6%) with stronger association for the experienced echocardiographer (r = 0.88, ,0.8%, ±11.4%). Conclusion: Novice echocardiographers using the PE can produce adequate quality images. Both expert and novice echocardiographers can use PE to quantify ejection fraction over a broad range of patients. The device's low cost and portability may greatly expand the availability of bedside echocardiography for routine or urgent cardiovascular assessment. (Echocardiography 2010;27:759-764) [source] RULES, TECHNIQUE, AND PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE: A WITTGENSTEINIAN EXPLORATION OF VOCATIONAL LEARNINGEDUCATIONAL THEORY, Issue 4 2006Christopher WinchArticle first published online: 30 NOV 200 He argues that most rule-following is only successful when it involves a degree of flexibility. For instance, most technical work that involves rule-following requires flexibility and situational awareness for success. Technical education that fails to take account of the need to apply rules in a way that accounts for a wide variety of situations is likely to be unsuccessful. Winch offers an account of professional judgment based on Stephen Toulmin's theory of argumentation and discusses progression from novice to expert in terms of Toulmin's analysis. He also considers the relation between vocational education and other practices in the context of the wider civic implications of occupational practice. [source] Immunoassays: their history, development and current place in food science and technologyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 8 2004Graham A. Bonwick Abstract The purpose of this paper is to introduce the reader to immunoassays. This paper is the first in a themed issue of the Journal in which a number of papers have been brought together in order to demonstrate the types and variety of immunoassays, which are currently available. Indeed it might be said that all an analyst needs to do is to name a molecule and somewhere there will now be an immunoassay for the detection of that molecule. This obviously is not entirely accurate, however immunoassays do provide a powerful tool, which can be used in the analysis and quality control of food materials. For both the novice and the experienced worker the specialist terminology of a subject presents an initial barrier, which must be overcome before full understanding is achieved. In this paper an attempt is made to introduce the important terms with which the reader should be familiar and to try to set the various technologies in context. The various basic methods are described and the theoretical and practical basis of more sophisticated assays now being devised are introduced. [source] The cultural,ecological orientation of graduate nurses (novice) in medical,surgical nursingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 5 2008Mary Oliver The aim of this research was to understand the process of clinical reasoning and decision-making and the impact that trajectory of experience has on the decision-making of graduate nurses by investigating the clinical practice of 10 novice nurses. An ethnographic interpretive approach was used to study the clinical practice of novice nurses in medical,surgical nursing. An in-depth interview was conducted following the periods of observation. The findings of this research demonstrate that the graduates who participated in this study were instrumental in creating a cultural,ecological orientation to their practice, and inherent in their practice was a highly developed perceptual awareness of the individual needs of patients and their families, which resulted in a close bond with their patients. [source] Experienced and Less-Experienced Nurses Diagnostic Reasoning: Implications for Fostering Students' Critical ThinkingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 2 2003Catherine G. Ferrario DNSc PURPOSE. To compare the use of mental representations (heuristics) in diagnostic reasoning of expert (,5 years' experience) and novice (<5 years' experience) emergency nurses. METHODS. Clinical simulations were completed by a nationwide randomly selected sample of 173 experienced and 46 less-experienced emergency nurses (N =229). FINDINGS. Experienced nurses used the heuristic, Judging by Causal Systems (diagnostic inferences deduced from systems of causal factors) significantly more did than less-experienced nurses. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Standardized nursing diagnoses may cut short the time needed to develop representational thinking and spare cognitive reserves for reasoning needed for complex patients. Faculty need to promote students' cognitive development through strategies that promote active, reflective, and integrative learning. Search terms: Clinical experience, diagnostic reasoning [source] V.A.C.® Therapy in the management of paediatric wounds: clinical review and experienceINTERNATIONAL WOUND JOURNAL, Issue 2009Mona Baharestani ABSTRACT Usage of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in the management of acute and chronic wounds has grown exponentially in the past decade. Hundreds of studies have been published regarding outcomes and methods of therapy used for adult wounds. This treatment is increasingly being used to manage difficult-to-treat paediatric wounds arising from congenital defects, trauma, infection, tumour, burns, pressure ulceration and postsurgical complications in children, although relatively few studies have been aimed at this population. Given the anatomical and physiological differences between adults and children, a multidisciplinary expert advisory panel was convened to determine appropriate use of NPWT with reticulated open cell foam (NPWT/ROCF) as delivered by Vacuum Assisted Closure® (V.A.C.® Therapy, KCI Licensing, Inc., San Antonio, TX) for the treatment of paediatric wounds. The primary objectives of the expert advisory panel were to exchange state-of-practice information on paediatric wound care, review the published data regarding the use of NPWT/ROCF in paediatric wounds, evaluate the strength of the existing data and establish guidelines on best practices with NPWT/ROCF for the paediatric population. The proposed paediatrics-specific clinical practice guidelines are meant to provide practitioners an evidence base from which decisions could be made regarding the safe and efficacious selection of pressure settings, foam type, dressing change frequency and use of interposing contact layer selections. The guidelines reflect the state of knowledge on effective and appropriate wound care at the time of publication. They are the result of consensus reached by expert advisory panel members based on their individual clinical and published experiences related to the use of NPWT/ROCF in treating paediatric wounds. Best practices are described herein for novice and advanced users of NPWT/ROCF. Recommendations by the expert panel may not be appropriate for use in all circumstances. Decisions to adopt any particular recommendation must be made by the collaborating medical team, including the surgeon and wound care specialist based on available resources, individual patient circumstances and experience with the V.A.C.® Therapy System. [source] Is nurse,patient agreement of importance to cancer nurses' satisfaction with care?JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 3 2010Gunilla Mårtensson mårtensson g., carlsson m. & lampic c. (2010) Is nurse,patient agreement of importance to cancer nurses' satisfaction with care? Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 573,582. Abstract Aim., This paper is a report of a study of situational (nurse,patient agreement), personal and occupational factors of potential importance to oncology nurses' satisfaction with care provided and general work satisfaction. Background., Nurses have a general tendency to attribute to patients with cancer more problems and suffering than patients themselves report. However, little is known about whether dis/agreement between oncology nurses and patients with cancer concerning perceptions of patients' situation is of importance to nurses' satisfaction with their work. Methods., The study had a comparative and prospective design. Data were collected in 2005 using self-administrated questionnaires with 81 consecutively recruited nurse,patient pairs. Data were analysed with non-parametric tests (for comparison between subgroups) and with multiple regression analyses (for identifying predictors). Results., Initial nurse,patient agreement concerning patients' emotional distress, coping resources and quality of life did not appear to be important to nurses' subsequent satisfaction with the care directed at a specific patient. However, higher satisfaction with care provided as well as general work satisfaction was reported by nurses with more experience of cancer care and with a lower workload. Conclusion., To improve oncology nurses' opportunities to provide high quality cancer care, novice nurses and advanced beginners in particular should receive support and nurses' working conditions must be improved. Further research is needed to examine whether there are other aspects of the nurse,patient relationship that contribute to oncology nurses' satisfaction with the care provided to specific patients. [source] Stress and health in novice and experienced nursing studentsJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 2 2010Cristobal Jimenez jimenez c., navia-osorio p.m. & diaz c.v. (2010) Stress and health in novice and experienced nursing students. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(2), 442,455. Abstract Title.,Stress and health in novice and experienced nursing students Aim., This paper is a report of a study conducted to identify the differences in novice and experienced nursing students' reports of stress and health. Background., Stress from clinical practice and its impact are international yet culturally mediated phenomena. Nursing students are under considerable stress during clinical practice periods, putting their education and health at risk. However, there is little or no empirical evidence about the stress suffered by nursing students and its impact on their health throughout clinical practice. Methods., We performed cross-sectional research using standard information gathering tools. This study was carried out with 357 students from all 3 years of a nursing diploma programme at a Spanish nursing college (71% response rate). The data were collected over an 8-month period in 2004,2005. Findings., We identified three types of stressors (clinical, academic and external) and two categories of symptoms (physiological and psychological) linked to clinical practice. Factor analysis identified six major sources of stress and six important symptoms. Students perceived clinical stressors more intensely than academic and external stressors, and showed psychological symptoms more frequently than physiological symptoms. Nursing students from all 3 years perceived moderate stress at similar levels. Experienced students perceived more academic stressors than novices. Although the students were healthy, second year students were the most vulnerable to somatic and psychic anxiety, and common symptoms. Conclusion., We suggest informing students about possible stressors associated with their profession, and introducing interventions to support development of professionalism, social skills and coping capacity for clinical practice. [source] Improving judgement with prepaid expert adviceJOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL DECISION MAKING, Issue 3 2004Janet A. Sniezek Abstract Decision makers ("Judges") often make decisions after obtaining advice from an Advisor. The two parties often share a psychological "contract" about what each contributes in expertise to the decision and receives in monetary outcomes from it. In a laboratory experiment, we varied Advisor Experitise and the opportunity for monetary rewards. As expected, these manipulations influenced advice quality, advice taking, and Judge post-advice decision quality. The main contribution of the study, however, was the manipulation of the timing of monetary rewards (before or after the advising interaction). We found, as predicted, that committing money for expert,but not novice,advice increases Judges' use of advice and their subsequent estimation accuracy. Implications for advice giving and taking are discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Using computer conferencing and case studies to enable collaboration between expert and novice teachersJOURNAL OF COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING, Issue 2 2005Eileen C. Winter Abstract This paper reports on a teaching innovation where groups of experienced and novice teachers collaborated in analyzing case studies involving the education of students with special learning needs. The teachers collaborated in an asynchronous computer conferencing system (Web Knowledge Forum). All participants were enrolled in special education graduate courses taught by the authors. The authors discuss the use of case studies in teacher education, collaboration between novice and expert teachers, and highlight some of the demands of computer conferencing particularly in relation to the loss of face-to-face interactions and the interpretive demands of electronic communication. [source] Therapist reflections , Context, culture and Chinese whispers: reflections from a noviceJOURNAL OF FAMILY THERAPY, Issue 3 2002Alan Cooklin First page of article [source] What do you mean you want me to teach, do research, engage in service, and clinical practice?JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 7 2009Views from the trenches: The novice, the expert Abstract The purpose of this column is to explicate two points of view,the novice and the expert nurse practitioner (NP) faculty member, highlighting the importance of mentoring new faculty NP members into the diverse faculty roles relating to both general academic requirements and those particular roles related to NP education. For example, arranging clinical placements is one of the most important and time-consuming responsibilities of NP faculty. Learning to juggle all the roles is a challenge to new faculty members. Such mentoring may help alleviate the phenomenon of young faculty members leaving academia and returning to full-time clinical practice. Mentoring is crucial to integrating new NP faculty members into academic life. [source] A community-oriented primary care nursing model in an international setting that emphasizes partnershipsJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 2 2005Elizabeth Sloand BSN Purpose To present an interdisciplinary, community-oriented primary care nursing model that effectively draws upon the strengths of advanced practice nurses (APNs), both nurse practitioners and community health nurses. Data sources Articles in professional nursing journals, international data sources, and the clinical experiences of the authors, both domestic and international. Conclusions The model, developed domestically, was utilized successfully by APNs internationally in a medical mission endeavor in rural Haiti. Many partners, domestic and Haitian, worked as an interdisciplinary team to deliver quality health care to an impoverished population. Graduate nursing students participated in the program, which offered opportunities and challenges for both novice and expert nurses. Implications for practice Nurse practitioners, community health nurses, and nursing faculty members can use this model to enhance their professional practice. They can learn that clients can be optimally cared for whether the community served is domestic or international. Nursing faculty can teach graduate nursing students about the value of partnerships and collaboration. [source] The hidden lion: Tswapong girls' puberty rituals and the problem of historyAMERICAN ETHNOLOGIST, Issue 3 2009PNINA WERBNER ABSTRACT In this article, I propose, against earlier missionary and anthropological narratives that construct Tswana girls' initiation as abjectifying, subjectifying, and violent, that the Tswapong girls' puberty ritual, the mothei, endows novices with seriti, a quality that implies an active sense of autonomy, dignity, respect, and self-respect. I argue that the mothei rites enact a conjunctural, embodied dialectics of fertilization, respect, and empowerment as the novice is moved in and out of the hut,womb in a series of transformative phases, from passivity to agency and from darkness to protective shadow. In addition, the secret singing, dancing, and performance in the hut,the cult's esoteric lore,create moments of transgressive sexuality, creativity, fun, and conviviality as well as posing challenging physical ordeals. Despite the mothei's creation of a viable and vibrant society of village women, a growing tendency has been to abandon the ritual in the name of "progress," arising from teachers' and girls' understanding of themselves as "modern" subjects. I reflect on this trend, spelling out some of the dilemmas and implications for an anthropological ethics of salvage anthropology and critical nostalgia. [puberty rituals, initiation, Tswana,Botswana, Tswapong, missionaries, women and agency, cultural authenticity, critical nostalgia] [source] Barriers and Strategies to the Revision Process From an Editor's PerspectiveNURSING FORUM, Issue 2 2009Daniel D. Moos CRNA Writing for publication is an important component of nursing scholarship. Navigation of the publication process can be challenging for both the novice and expert writer. Despite a number of published articles related to writing for publication, there is a paucity of research in barriers encountered after manuscript submission. Fourteen nurse editors participated in this qualitative descriptive study. The purpose of the study was to identify and describe actual or perceived barriers that nurse authors encounter during the revision process from the editor's perspective. In addition, editors described various strategies that are employed during the revision process. Seven categories were identified related to barriers encountered by the nurse author, which include novice author, revision request, author guidelines, academic integrity, motivation, time, and international submissions. Five strategies employed by editors were identified, and include their approach to the author, revision request, mentorship, time, and the peer reviewer. Approaches to minimize, reduce, or remove barriers included four key players: academic institutions, editor, author, and institutions. This study confirms much of what has been written in articles concerning writing for publication. The current study provides additional illumination of this subject and can be instrumental in allowing the editor, author, academia, and healthcare institutions to reflect on their role in reducing barriers and promoting nursing scholarship. To promote continued growth in nursing scholarship, it is important for authors, editors, academia, and healthcare institutions to seek ways to reduce barriers that may be encountered during the revision process. [source] A Model to Describe the Relationship Between Knowledge, Skill, and Judgment in Nursing PracticeNURSING FORUM, Issue 4 2006PNC(C), PhD(c), Robin J. Evans BScN This paper explores the relationship between knowledge, skill, and judgment and proposes a model to describe that relationship. Through illustration of the components and interrelationships within this model one can more clearly understand the nature of nursing work. Drawing on Benner's work on novice to expert, the model shows the interrelationship and the evolution of knowledge, skill, and judgment in a nurse's practice. [source] Videotaped Focus Groups: Transforming a Therapeutic Strategy Into a Research ToolNURSING FORUM, Issue 1 2000Dayle Hunt Joseph RN Focus groups have become a popular method of collecting data for research projects. The addition of using a videotaped approach has broad implications for researchers, as it allows constant replay of the session. Although on the surface this approach seems straightforward and easy to use, the authors caution that this is not an approach for the novice. Investigators planning to use a focus group method must be well versed in group process. There is an unpredictable nature to the focus group process, and researchers need to prepare for the inevitable mishaps that lead to lost opportunities for data collection. [source] The impact of country of origin on pretrial and posttrial product evaluations: The moderating effect of consumer expertisePSYCHOLOGY & MARKETING, Issue 10 2003Jyh-shen Chiou This article examines the effect of country of origin on the pretrial expectation and the posttrial cognitive and affective attitudes when subjects possess different levels of product expertise. Two experiments with 2 (expert vs. novice) × 2 (Japan vs. Taiwan and Italy vs. Taiwan) factorial designs were conducted. One study was conducted on an unambiguous performance product; the other was conducted on an ambiguous performance product. The results showed that country of origin had an impact on the pretrial expectation in both the novice and expert group, regardless of the ambiguity of the product performance. However, the effects on posttrial attitudes were dissimilar between the expert group and the novice group. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Medical decision making: a selective review for child psychiatrists and psychologistsTHE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 7 2005Cathryn A. Galanter Physicians, including child and adolescent psychiatrists, show variability and inaccuracies in diagnosis and treatment of their patients and do not routinely implement evidenced-based medical and psychiatric treatments in the community. We believe that it is necessary to characterize the decision-making processes of child and adolescent psychiatrists using theories and methods from cognitive and social sciences in order to design effective interventions to improve practice and education. This paper selectively reviews the decision-making literature, including recent studies on naturalistic decision making, novice,expert differences, and the role of technology on decision making and cognition. We also provide examples from other areas of medicine and discuss their implications for child psychiatry. [source] Virtual reality simulation training can improve technical skills during laparoscopic salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancyBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 12 2006R Aggarwal Objectives, To assess the first commercially available virtual reality (VR) simulator to incorporate procedural modules for training of inexperienced gynaecological surgeons to perform laparoscopic salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy. Design, Prospective cohort study. Setting, Departments of surgery and gynaecology in central London teaching hospitals. Sample, Thirty gynaecological surgeons were recruited to the study, and were divided into novice (<10 laparoscopic procedures), intermediate (20,50) and experienced (>100) groups. Methods, All subjects were orientated to the VR simulator with a basic skills task, followed by performing ten repetitions of the virtual ectopic pregnancy module, in a distributed manner. Main outcome measures, Operative performance was assessed by the time taken to perform surgery, blood loss and total instrument path length. Results, There were significant differences between the groups at the second repetition of the ectopic module for time taken (median 551.1 versus 401.2 versus 249.2 seconds, P= 0.001), total blood loss (median 304.2 versus 187.4 versus 123.3 ml, P= 0.031) and total instrument path length (median 17.8 versus 8.3 versus 6.8 m, P= 0.023). The learning curves of the experienced operators plateaued at the second session, although greater numbers of sessions were necessary for intermediate (seven) and novice (nine) surgeons to achieve similar levels of skill. Conclusions, Gynaecological surgeons with minimal laparoscopic experience can improve their skills during short-phase training on a VR procedural module. In contrast, experienced operators showed nonsignificant improvements. Thus, VR simulation may be useful for the early part of the learning curve for surgeons who wish to learn to perform laparoscopic salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy. [source] Cardioprotection: spotlight on PKGBRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 6 2007M V Cohen Classical ischaemic preconditioning, delayed or second window preconditioning and postconditioning are forms of cardioprotection that are dependent on cell surface receptors, intracellular signalling molecules and kinases that ultimately block formation of the mitochondrial permeability transition. The latter is presumed to cause myocardial necrosis as well as apoptosis, so prevention of its formation upon resumption of perfusion after a prolonged coronary occlusion should be cardioprotective. In all of these forms of cardioprotection, formation of cGMP and activation of protein kinase G (PKG) are recognized to be key steps in the signal transduction pathway. Burley et al. highlight the roles of cGMP and PKG in their comprehensive review. They describe the basic biology of PKG and emphasize its compartmentalization, which may be responsible for the frustration induced by assays for PKG in whole cell lysates and for the spurious conclusions about the role of PKG in cardioprotection. This review will be useful to both the novice and the seasoned investigator. British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 152, 833,834; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707453; published online 17 September 2007 [source] 2007 SAEM Annual Meeting AbstractsACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 2007Article first published online: 5 SEP 200 The editors of Academic Emergency Medicine are pleased and privileged to present the Original Research Abstracts from the Annual Meeting of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, May 16,19, 2007, in Chicago. The exciting trends of emergency medicine research are reflected in these brief summaries as are the talent, creativity, and enthusiasm of novice as well as more experienced academicians. This year, 1,172 research abstracts were submitted and 545 were selected for presentation at the Meeting (not including the 78 Innovations in Emergency Medicine Education Exhibits, which were submitted sepa-rately). Each abstract was independently reviewed by up to six designated topics experts who were blinded to the authors. Final determination for scientific presentation was made by the Scientific Subcommittee, chaired by O. John Ma, MD, and the SAEM Program Committee, chaired by Debra Houry, MD, MPH. The decision for presentation was based on the final review score and the space available for presentation at the meeting. We present these abstracts as they were received electronically from the authors, who are solely responsible for their content. They appear as they were received; we have done only minimal proofreading of these abstracts. Any questions you may have on their content should be directed to their authors. Presentation numbers precede the abstract titles. An index of key words and authors begins on page S220. Abstracts marked as late breakers (numbers 462 and 527) are prospective research projects, such as a clinical trial still in the midst of data collection or patient enrollment at the January 8 abstract deadline, but that will be completed, including analysis, by April 15, 2007. On behalf of the membership of SAEM, the editorial board of AEM, and the leadership of our specialty, we express our sincere gratitude to these academicians and the SAEM Program Committee for their continuing efforts to improve our patients' care by advancing emergency medicine research and education. [source] Layered Performance Animation with Correlation MapsCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 3 2007Michael Neff Abstract Performance has a spontaneity and "aliveness" that can be difficult to capture in more methodical animation processes such as keyframing. Access to performance animation has traditionally been limited to either low degree of freedom characters or required expensive hardware. We present a performance-based animation system for humanoid characters that requires no special hardware, relying only on mouse and keyboard input. We deal with the problem of controlling such a high degree of freedom model with low degree of freedom input through the use of correlation maps which employ 2D mouse input to modify a set of expressively relevant character parameters. Control can be continuously varied by rapidly switching between these maps. We present flexible techniques for varying and combining these maps and a simple process for defining them. The tool is highly configurable, presenting suitable defaults for novices and supporting a high degree of customization and control for experts. Animation can be recorded on a single pass, or multiple layers can be used to increase detail. Results from a user study indicate that novices are able to produce reasonable animations within their first hour of using the system. We also show more complicated results for walking and a standing character that gestures and dances. [source] Knowledge Acquisition and Memory Effects Involving an Expert System Designed as a Learning Tool for Internal Control Assessment*DECISION SCIENCES JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE EDUCATION, Issue 1 2003Mary Jane Lenard ABSTRACT The assessment of internal control is a consideration in all financial statement audits, as stressed by the Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 78. According to this statement, "the auditor should obtain an understanding of internal control sufficient to plan the audit" (Accounting Standards Board, 1995, p. 1). Therefore, an accounting student will progress through the auditing course with the responsibility of learning how and why internal controls are assessed. Research in expert systems applied to auditing has shown that there is strong support for the constructive dialogue used in expert systems as a means of encouraging their use in decision making (Eining, Jones, & Loebbecke, 1997). The purpose of this study is to provide the student or novice auditor with a method for developing a more comprehensive understanding of internal controls and the use of internal controls in audit planning. The results of the study reinforce previous findings that novices do better when an expert system applies analogies along with declarative explanations, and clarifies the length of time in which the use of active learning in a training system can provide an improvement to declarative knowledge, but procedural knowledge must be acquired over a longer time frame. [source] COLLAPSE-SUBMERGENCE METHOD: SIMPLE COLONOSCOPIC TECHNIQUE COMBINING WATER INFUSION WITH COMPLETE AIR REMOVAL FROM THE RECTOSIGMOID COLONDIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 1 2007Takeshi Mizukami Colonoscopy is a difficult examination to conduct for inexperienced examiners. In an attempt to improve the view, there is often a tendency to overinsufflate air, which causes elongation or acute angulations of the colon and makes passage of the scope difficult. Sakai et al. were the first to describe a simple colonoscopic technique using water infusion instead of air insufflation. We have modified this technique to simplify the procedure further by combining water infusion using disposable syringes with complete air suction from the rectum to the descending colon. With the resultant elimination of the boundary lines between water and air, a good view of the lumen is obtained though the transparent water. With the patient in the left lateral position, this procedure allows the water to flow straight down into the descending colon through the ,collapsed' lumen, and the scope to be easily negotiated through the straightened recto-sigmoid colon and sigmoid-descending colon junction with minimum discomfort. Measurements of the patients' abdominal circumference during colonoscopy showed that colonic distension hardly occurred. Under supervision by the author, six complete novices were allowed to insert the colonoscope within 10 min by this method for one patient per week, as long as the patients did not complain of pain. The average trial number for the first cecal intubation within 10 min was 3.3, and the average success rate during the first 3 months was 58.6%. We believe that this ,collapse-submergence method' is easy to master, even for inexperienced examiners. [source] Losses disguised as wins in modern multi-line video slot machinesADDICTION, Issue 10 2010Mike J. Dixon ABSTRACT Aims Players can wager on multiple lines of modern slot machines. When they spin and fail to gain any credits, the machine goes into a state of relative quiet. By contrast, when they spin and win, these spins are accompanied by reinforcing sights and sounds. Such reinforcement also occurs when the amount won is less than the spin wager. We sought to show that these ,losses disguised as wins', or LDWs, would be as arousing as wins, and more arousing than regular losses. Measurement and participants We measured skin conductance response (SCR) amplitudes and heart-rate changes following wins, LDWs and losses for 40 novices playing a multi-line slot machine. Findings SCR amplitudes were similar for wins and LDWs,both were significantly larger than for regular losses. Conclusions For novice players, the reinforcing sights and sounds of the slot machine triggered arousal on wins, where the number of credits gained was greater than the spin wager, but also on ,losses disguised as wins' where the amount ,won' was less than the spin wager. Despite the fact that players lost money on these spins, these outcomes were more arousing than regular losses where no credits were gained. Although these findings involve novice players, the heightened arousal associated with these losses may have implications for the development of problem gambling, as arousal has been viewed as a key reinforcer in gambling behaviour. [source] Randomized comparison of the SLIPA (Streamlined Liner of the Pharynx Airway) and the SS-LM (Soft Seal Laryngeal Mask) by medical studentsEMERGENCY MEDICINE AUSTRALASIA, Issue 5-6 2006Cindy Hein Abstract Objective:, The aim of the study was to compare the Streamlined Liner of the Pharynx Airway (SLIPA; Hudson RCI), a new supraglottic airway device, with the Soft Seal Laryngeal Mask (SS-LM; Portex) when used by novices. Methods:, Thirty-six medical students with no previous airway experience, received manikin training in the use of the SLIPA and the SS-LM. Once proficient, the students inserted each device in randomized sequence, in two separate patients in the operating theatre. Only two insertion attempts per patient were allowed. Students were assessed in terms of: device preference; success or failure; success at first attempt and time to ventilation. Results:, Sixty-seven per cent of the students preferred to use the SLIPA (95% confidence interval 49,81%). The SLIPA was successfully inserted (one or two attempts) in 94% of patients (34/36) and the SS-LM in 89% (32/36) (P = 0.39). First attempt success rates were 83% (30/36) and 67% (24/36) in the SLIPA and SS-LM, respectively (P = 0.10). Median time to ventilation was shorter with the SLIPA (40.6 s) than with the SS-LM (66.9 s) when it was the first device used (P = 0.004), but times were similar when inserting the second device (43.8 s vs 42.9 s) (P = 0.75). Conclusions:, In the present study novice users demonstrated high success rates with both devices. The SLIPA group achieved shorter times to ventilation when it was the first device they inserted, which might prove to be of clinical significance, particularly in resuscitation attempts. Although the Laryngeal Mask has gained wide recognition for use by both novice users and as a rescue airway in failed intubation, the data presented here suggest that the SLIPA might also prove useful in these areas. [source] Social Networks and EntrepreneurshipENTREPRENEURSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE, Issue 1 2003Arent Greve We study network activities of entrepreneurs through three phases of establishing a firm in four countries. Entrepreneurs access people in their networks to discuss aspects of establishing and running a business. We find that entrepreneurs build networks that systematically vary by the phase of entrepreneurship, analyzing number of their discussion partners, and the time spent networking. Entrepreneurs talk with more people during the planning than other phases. Family members are present in their networks in all phases, particularly among those who took over an existing firm. However, women use their kin to a larger extent than men, and even more than men when they take over an existing firm. Experienced entrepreneurs have the same networking patterns as novices. Moreover, these networking patterns are the same in all countries. However, there are country differences in size of discussion networks and time spent networking. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||