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Performance Data (performance + data)
Selected AbstractsJudges' Use of Examinee Performance Data in an Angoff Standard-Setting Exercise for a Medical Licensing Examination: An Experimental StudyJOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT, Issue 4 2009Brian E. Clauser Although the Angoff procedure is among the most widely used standard setting procedures for tests comprising multiple-choice items, research has shown that subject matter experts have considerable difficulty accurately making the required judgments in the absence of examinee performance data. Some authors have viewed the need to provide performance data as a fatal flaw for the procedure; others have considered it appropriate for experts to integrate performance data into their judgments but have been concerned that experts may rely too heavily on the data. There have, however, been relatively few studies examining how experts use the data. This article reports on two studies that examine how experts modify their judgments after reviewing data. In both studies, data for some items were accurate and data for other items had been manipulated. Judges in both studies substantially modified their judgments whether the data were accurate or not. [source] Comparative Performance Data for Critical Access HospitalsTHE JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 4 2004George H. Pink PhD ABSTRACT: Context: Among small rural hospitals, there is a growing recognition of the need to measure and report on the use of resources and the safety and quality of the services provided. Dashboards, clinical value compasses, and balanced scorecards are approaches to performance measurement that have been adopted by many health care organizations. However, there exists very little comparative performance data specific for critical access hospitals. Purpose: To identify how comparative performance data for critical access hospitals (CPD-CAH) might facilitate performance and quality improvement, to assess the potential benefits and drawbacks of such data, and to identify some of the critical issues in the development and implementation of CPD-CAH. Methods: Assessment of discussions by participants at a rural hospital performance improvement summit and authors' analyses. Findings: CPD-CAH potentially could improve quality of care and patient outcomes, provide comparative data and benchmarks, inform policy development, facilitate collaboration, and enhance community relations. However, CPD-CAH could also impose an unaffordable cost, produce poor information, require complex coordination, induce a negative public reaction, and result in perverse hospital behavior. Development and implementation of CPD-CAH would require including stakeholders' assessment of its desirability and feasibility, setting objectives, establishing guiding principles, developing a method, collecting and analyzing data, and disseminating results. Conclusions: CPD-CAH could significantly advance CAH performance and quality improvement. However, development and implementation would be a complicated exercise requiring academic expertise and practitioner consultation. The potential value of CPD-CAH should be carefully weighed against its potential cost. [source] (634) Reliability and Clinical Utility of an Implanted Intraspinal Catheter Used in the Treatment of Spasticity and PainPAIN MEDICINE, Issue 2 2000Article first published online: 25 DEC 200 Authors: Elliot Krames, Pacific Pain Treatment Center; Iva Chapple, Carolina Pain Center Objectives: To examine the performance and reliability of a redesigned implantable intrathecal catheter. Materials: A total of 212 catheters were implanted in 202 patients in this 22-center, prospective study of an implantable catheter/pump system used to deliver intrathecal drugs for the treatment of pain and spasticity. Along with physician assessments of each use, the rates of common catheter complications (dislodgements, disconnections, fractures, and kinks) experienced during the study were analyzed in relation to implant conditions (catheter entry site, tip position, and anchoring method). Results: A cumulative study of 3112.8 months of patient experience (average: 15.4 months; range: 0 to 30.2 months per catheter) revealed an overall catheter-caused complication rate of 0.3% per patient month. Physician assessments were favorable, with 89% rating this catheter as better than previously used intraspinal catheters. A measure of catheter survival estimates (Kaplan-Meier) at 9 months was 89% including all complications. Comparison of data relating to implant techniques demonstrated a variety of catheter implant techniques (entry, positioning, anchoring) with no correlation between any one technique and the common complications. Conclusions: Performance data and physician assessments indicate that this catheter is an improvement over the previously available catheter. [source] In situ remediation of PCE at a site with clayey lithology and a significant smear zoneREMEDIATION, Issue 3 2010Josephine Molin Groundwater at the former Serry's Dry Cleaning site in Corvallis, Oregon, was impacted by chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs). The primary CVOCs impacting the site include tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, dichloroethene, and vinyl chloride, which were detected at concentrations up to 22,000, 1,700, 3,100, and 7 ,g/L, respectively, prior to treatment. Large seasonal fluctuations in groundwater CVOC concentrations indicated that a significant fraction of the CVOC mass was present in the smear zone. Field-scale pilot tests were performed for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's Dry Cleaner Program to evaluate the performance of EHC® in situ chemical reduction (ISCR) technology. The pilot study involved evaluating field performance and physical distribution into low-permeability soil using basic Geoprobe® injection tooling. The testing results confirmed that bioremediation enhanced by ISCR supported long-term treatment at the site. This article describes the implementation and results of the tests. Performance data are available from a three-year period following the injections, allowing for a discussion about sustained performance and reagent longevity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Mining performance data through nonlinear PCA with optimal scalingAPPLIED STOCHASTIC MODELS IN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, Issue 1 2010Paola Costantini Abstract Performance data are usually collected in order to build well-defined performance indicators. Since such data may conceal additional information, which can be revealed by secondary analysis, we believe that mining of performance data may be fruitful. We also note that performance databases usually contain both qualitative and quantitative variables for which it may be inappropriate to assume some specific (multivariate) underlying distribution. Thus, a suitable technique to deal with these issues should be adopted. In this work, we consider nonlinear principal component analysis (PCA) with optimal scaling, a method developed to incorporate all types of variables, and to discover and handle nonlinear relationships. The reader is offered a case study in which a student opinion database is mined. Though generally gathered to provide evidence of teaching ability, they are exploited here to provide a more general performance evaluation tool for those in charge of managing universities. We show how nonlinear PCA with optimal scaling applied to student opinion data enables users to point out some strengths and weaknesses of educational programs and services within a university. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Performance-driven muscle-based facial animationCOMPUTER ANIMATION AND VIRTUAL WORLDS (PREV: JNL OF VISUALISATION & COMPUTER ANIMATION), Issue 2 2001Byoungwon Choe Abstract We describe a system to synthesize facial expressions by editing captured performances. For this purpose, we use the actuation of expression muscles to control facial expressions. We note that there have been numerous algorithms already developed for editing gross body motion. While the joint angle has direct effect on the configuration of the gross body, the muscle actuation has to go through a complicated mechanism to produce facial expressions. Therefore,we devote a significant part of this paper to establishing the relationship between muscle actuation and facial surface deformation. We model the skin surface using the finite element method to simulate the deformation caused by expression muscles. Then, we implement the inverse relationship, muscle actuation parameter estimation, to find the muscle actuation values from the trajectories of the markers on the performer's face. Once the forward and inverse relationships are established, retargeting or editing a performance becomes an easy job. We apply the original performance data to different facial models with equivalent muscle structures, to produce similar expressions. We also produce novel expressions by deforming the original data curves of muscle actuation to satisfy the key-frame constraints imposed by animators.Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Integrating Formalized User Experience within Building Design ModelsCOMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2007Debajyoti Pati As a result they do not consider information on how settings perform during use in areas critical to building owners and users. The authors argue that integrating performance data from buildings-in-use in building models will greatly enhance the end uses of conceptual modeling efforts in AEC, in design evolution as well as in the traditional domain of facility management. The authors describe a modeling study that integrates descriptive and evaluative/performance concepts in existing building models, discusses the paradigms and philosophical issues posed in such endeavors, and illustrates several end-use scenarios to support their assertions. [source] Specification and detection of performance problems with ASLCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 11 2007Michael Gerndt Abstract Performance analysis is an important step in tuning performance-critical applications. It is a cyclic process of measuring and analyzing performance data, driven by the programmer's hypotheses on potential performance problems. Currently this process is controlled manually by the programmer. The goal of the work described in this article is to automate the performance analysis process based on a formal specification of performance properties. One result of the APART project is the APART Specification Language (ASL) for the formal specification of performance properties. Performance bottlenecks can then be identified based on the specification, since bottlenecks are viewed as performance properties with a large negative impact. We also present the overall design and an initial evaluation of the Periscope system which utilizes ASL specifications to automatically search for performance bottlenecks in a distributed manner. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A test suite for parallel performance analysis toolsCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 11 2007Michael Gerndt Abstract Parallel performance analysis tools must be tested as to whether they perform their task correctly, which comprises at least three aspects. First, it must be ensured that the tools neither alter the semantics nor distort the run-time behavior of the application under investigation. Next, it must be verified that the tools collect the correct performance data as required by their specification. Finally, it must be checked that the tools perform their intended tasks and detect relevant performance problems. Focusing on the latter (correctness) aspect, testing can be done using synthetic test functions with controllable performance properties, possibly complemented by real-world applications with known performance behavior. A systematic test suite can be built from synthetic test functions and other components, possibly with the help of tools to assist the user in putting the pieces together into executable test programs. Clearly, such a test suite can be highly useful to builders of performance analysis tools. It is surprising that, up until now, no systematic effort has been undertaken to provide such a suite. In this paper we describe the APART Test Suite (ATS) for checking the correctness (in the above sense) of parallel performance analysis tools. In particular, we describe a collection of synthetic test functions which allows one to easily construct both simple and more complex test programs with desired performance properties. We briefly report on experience with MPI and OpenMP performance tools when applied to the test cases generated by ATS. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A role for Pareto optimality in mining performance dataCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 1 2005Joël M. Malard Abstract Improvements in performance modeling and identification of computational regimes within software libraries is a critical first step in developing software libraries that are truly agile with respect to the application as well as to the hardware. It is shown here that Pareto ranking, a concept from multi-objective optimization, can be an effective tool for mining large performance datasets. The approach is illustrated using software performance data gathered using both the public domain LAPACK library and an asynchronous communication library based on IBM LAPI active message library. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effects of implementation of psychiatric guidelines on provider performance and patient outcome: systematic reviewACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2007S. Weinmann Objective:, To identify evidence from comparative studies on the effects of psychiatric guideline implementation on provider performance and patient outcome. Effects of different implementation strategies were reviewed. Method:, Articles published between 1966 and March 2006 were searched through electronic databases and hand search. A systematic review of comparative studies of structured implementation of specific psychiatric guidelines was performed. Rates of guideline adherence, provider performance data, illness detection and diagnostic accuracy rates were extracted in addition to patient relevant outcome data. Results:, Eighteen studies (nine randomized-controlled trials, six non-randomized-controlled studies and three quasiexperimental before-and-after studies) were identified. Effects on provider performance or patient outcome were moderate and temporary in most cases. Studies with positive outcomes used complex multifaceted interventions or specific psychological methods to implement guidelines. Conclusion:, There is insufficient high-quality evidence to draw firm conclusions on the effects of implementation of specific psychiatric guidelines. [source] The significance of a facultative bacterium to natural populations of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisumECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2003A. C. Darby Abstract. 1., Laboratory studies have implicated various accessory bacteria of aphids as important determinants of aphid performance, especially on certain plant species and under certain thermal regimes. One of these accessory bacteria is PABS (also known as T-type), which is distributed widely but is not universal in natural populations of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum in the U.K. 2., To explore the impact of PABS on the performance of A. pisum , the nymphal development time and fecundity of aphids collected directly from natural populations and caged on the host plant Vicia faba in the field were quantified. Over 4 consecutive months June,September 1999, the performance of PABS-positive and PABS-negative aphids did not differ significantly. 3., Deterministic modelling of the performance data showed that the variation in simulated population increase of PABS-positive and PABS-negative aphids would overlap substantially. 4., Analysis of aphids colonising five host plants ( Lathyrus odoratus , Medicago sativa , Pisum sativum , Trifolium pratense , Vicia faba ) between April and September 2000 and 2001, identified no robust differences between the distribution of PABS-positive and PABS-negative aphids on different plants and with season or temperature. 5., It is concluded that PABS is not an important factor shaping the performance or plant range of A. pisum under the field conditions tested. Reasons for the discrepancies between this study and laboratory-based studies are considered. [source] Commentary: A Response to Reckase's Conceptual Framework and Examples for Evaluating Standard Setting MethodsEDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT: ISSUES AND PRACTICE, Issue 3 2006E. Matthew Schulz A look at real data shows that Reckase's psychometric theory for standard setting is not applicable to bookmark and that his simulations cannot explain actual differences between methods. It is suggested that exclusively test-centered, criterion-referenced approaches are too idealized and that a psychophysics paradigm and a theory of group behavior could be more useful in thinking about the standard setting process. In this view, item mapping methods such as bookmark are reasonable adaptations to fundamental limitations in human judgments of item difficulty. They make item ratings unnecessary and have unique potential for integrating external validity data and student performance data more fully into the standard setting process. [source] Endurance exercise is associated with increased plasma cardiac troponin I in horsesEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue S36 2006T. C. HOLBROOK Summary Reason for performing study: Information is lacking regarding the influence of long distance exercise on the systemic concentration of cardiac troponin I (cTnl) in horses. Objectives: To determine if the concentration of cTnl in horses competing in 80 and 160 km endurance races increases with exercise duration and if cTnl concentrations can be correlated with performance data. Methods: Blood samples for the measurement of cTnl and 3 min electrocardiogram recordings were obtained from horses prior to, during and after completion of 80 and 160 km endurance races at 3 ride sites during the 2004 and 2005 American Endurance Ride Conference competition seasons. Results: Full data sets were obtained from 100 of the 118 horses. Endurance exercise was associated with a significant increase in cTnl over baseline in both distance groups. Failure to finish competition (poor performance) was also associated with an increased cTnl concentration over baseline at the time of elimination when data from both distances were combined. Other than one horse that developed paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, no arrhythmias were noted on the 3 minute ECG recordings that were obtained after endurance exercise in either distance group. Conclusions: Systemic concentrations of cTnl increase in endurance horses competing in both 80 and 160 km distances. Although final cTnl concentrations were significantly increased over their baseline values in horses that failed to finish competition, the degree of increase was not greater than the increase over baseline seen in the horses that successfully completed competition. The clinical significance of increased cTnl in exercising horses could not be ascertained from the results of this study. Potential relevance: These data indicate that cardiac stress may occur in horses associated with endurance exercise. Future studies utilising echocardiograpy to assess cardiac function in horses with increased cTnl are warranted. [source] Lost in translation: exploring the link between HRM and performance in healthcareHUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT JOURNAL, Issue 1 2007Timothy Bartram Using data collected in 2004 from 132 Victorian (Australia) public healthcare providers, comprising metropolitan and regional hospital networks, rural hospitals and community health centres, we investigated the perceptions of HRM from the experiences of chief executive officers, HR directors and other senior managers. We found some evidence that managers in healthcare organisations reported different perceptions of strategic HRM and a limited focus on collection and linking of HR performance data with organisational performance management processes. Using multiple moderator regression and multivariate analysis of variance, significant differences were found in perceptions of strategic HRM and HR priorities between chief executive officers, HR directors and other senior managers in the large organisations. This suggested that the strategic human management paradigm is ,lost in translation', particularly in large organisations, and consequently opportunities to understand and develop the link between people management practices and improved organisational outcomes may be missed. There is some support for the relationship between strategic HRM and improved organisational outcomes. Implications of these findings are drawn for managerial practice. [source] Parallel Delaunay mesh generation kernelINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2003Nikos Chrisochoides Abstract We present the results of an evaluation study on the re-structuring of a latency-bound mesh generation algorithm into a latency-tolerant parallel kernel. We use concurrency at a fine-grain level to tolerate long, variable, and unpredictable latencies of remote data gather operations required for parallel guaranteed quality Delaunay triangulations. Our performance data from a 16 node SP2 and 32 node Cluster of Sparc Workstations suggest that more than 90% of the latency from remote data gather operations can be masked effectively at the cost of increasing communication overhead between 2 and 20% of the total run time. Despite the increase in the communication overhead the latency-tolerant mesh generation kernel we present in this paper can generate tetrahedral meshes for parallel field solvers eight to nine times faster than the traditional approach. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] SOFCo Planar Solid Oxide Fuel CellINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2004Liang A. Xue SOFCo-EFS Holdings LLC has developed a multi-layer, planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack that has the potential to provide superior performance and reliability at reduced costs. Our approach combines state-of-the-art SOFC materials with the manufacturing technology and infrastructure established for multi-layer ceramic (MLC) packages for the microelectronics industry. With the proper selection of SOFC materials, implementation of MLC fabrication methods offers unique designs for stacks. Over the past two years, substantial progress has been made in the design and manufacturing development of our second-generation stack. Effective stack and manifold seals have been developed. Cell performance has been improved and relatively low non-cell contributions to stack resistance have been achieved. Stack development has been facilitated through the implementation of two key test methods: (1) a 10-cm single-cell test to bridge the gap in performance data obtained from button cell tests (used for cell R&D) and stack tests; and (2) a novel instrumented short stack (<5 cells) that allows for effective isolation of individual contributions to stack resistance. As a result of progress made to date, a clear pathway for improving stack performance has been established, thereby building confidence that commercial stack performance targets will be reached. [source] Practical performance of digital cellular system in mass rapid transit environmentsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, Issue 2 2005Y. P. ZhangArticle first published online: 13 DEC 200 Abstract Leaky coaxial cables have found applications in the creation of network infrastructures for mobile and personal communication services in underground and enclosed spaces. A digital cellular system based on the GSM 900 standard and using radiated mode leaky coaxial cables has been implemented in an underground mass rapid transit environment. This paper presents the practical performance evaluation of the system. First, we start with a brief introduction of a radiated mode leaky coaxial cable and the digital cellular system GSM 900, and then we move into a full description of the measurement campaign; next we focus on an analysis of the measured performance data about received signal level, received signal quality, speech quality index and grade of service. The results show that the system performance is generally good; however, the poor system performance often occurs at the terminals of the leaky coaxial cable. In addition, it is found that the system performance is highly correlated with the density of train passenger. The higher train passenger density degrades the system performance. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A test procedure to characterise the heating performance of domestic microwave ovensINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Mark Jeffery Swain Summary A test procedure has been developed and used to characterise the performance of domestic microwave ovens in relation to the heating of chilled ready meals. The procedure uses reproducible test loads, which simulate the heating and weight loss characteristics of a chilled ready meal under consumer use. The temperature distribution after heating from 5 °C to a defined minimum temperature of 70 °C is measured in the food simulant using a purpose designed multipoint thermocouple ,hedgehog' probe. The temperature, weight loss and heating time data from the test are entered into a spreadsheet analysis program, which provides a simple oven performance ,score' and/or comprehensive heating performance data. [source] Stability of genetic parameter estimates for production traits in pigsJOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS, Issue 3 2001J. Wolf Changes in variance component estimates in growing sets of performance data in two pig breeds were investigated. Data was used from the field and station test of Czech Landrace (LA: 75 099 observations) and the Slovakian breed, White Meaty swine (WM: 32 203 observations). In LA the traits analysed were estimated lean meat content (LM) and average daily gain (ADGF) on field test and average daily gain (ADGS) and weight of valuable cuts (VCW) on station test. In WM the traits analysed were backfat thickness on field and station test (BFF, BFS, respectively), proportion of valuable cuts (VCP) on station test, ADGF and ADGS. Covariance components were estimated from four- and five-trait animal models using the VCE software. Omitting data from factor levels with a low number of records led to 4.2% of LA records and 21.7% of WM records being deleted. Changes in genetic and residual variance estimates were less than 5% for all traits in LA and less than 12% for all traits except ADGS in WM. The changes in estimated genetic variances caused by 18 months (LA) or 24 months (WM) of new data were 2,25% and the changes in estimated residual variances were less than 5% in LA and less than 20% in WM. In both breeds, changes in heritability estimates did not exceed 0.06 in absolute value. In LA, it is reasonable to use genetic parameter estimates for 3 years before re-estimation. In WM the time interval should be shorter because of changes in the estimates caused by their lower accuracy arising from the smaller size of the data-set and smaller frequency of station testing. Stabilität der Schätzwerte genetischer Parameter für Produktionsmarkmale beim Schwein Für zwei Schweinerassen wurden Änderungen der Varianzkomponentenschätzwerte in wachsenden Leistungsprüfungsdatensätzen untersucht. Die beiden Ausgangsdatensätze bestanden aus Feld- und Stationsprüfdaten der Tschechischen Landrasse (LA , 75 099 Beobachtungen) bzw. der Slowakischen Rasse White Meaty (WM , 32 203 Beobachtungen). Folgende Merkmale wurden ausgewertet: Magerfleischanteil (LM) und Lebenstagszunahme (ADGF) aus der Feldprüfung sowie Prüftagszunahme (ADGS) und Gewicht wertvoller Teilstücke (VCW) aus der Stationsprüfung bei der LA; Rückenspeckdicke aus der Feld- und Stationsprüfung (BFF bzw. BFS), Anteil wertvoller Teilstücke (VCP) aus der Stationsprüfung sowie ADGF und ADGS bei der Rasse WM. Die Kovarianzkomponenten wurden für Vier- bzw. Fünf-Merkmals-Tiermodelle mit dem Programm VCE berechnet. Das Auslassen von Daten von Klassen mit geringer Besetzung führte dazu, daß in der LA 4,2% und in WM 21,7% der Daten gelöscht wurden. Die Änderungen in den genetischen und den Rest-Varianzen waren in der LA bei allen Merkmalen kleiner als 5% und in WM bei allen Merkmalen mit Ausnahme von ADGS kleiner als 12%. Durch Hinzufügen von Daten aus einem Zeitraum von 18 (LA) bzw. 24 (WM) Monaten änderten sich die genetischen Varianzen um 2 bis 25%. Die Änderungen in den Restvarianzen lagen unter 5% bei der LA und unter 20% bei WM. Die maximale Änderung der Heritabilitätskoeffizienten überstieg in beiden Rassen nicht 0,06. Bei der LA sollte ein Zeitintervall von drei Jahren zu einer Neuschätzung der genetischen Parameter ausreichen, bei WM sollte wegen der beobachteten Änderungen der Schätzwerte, der kleineren Datenmenge und des geringeren Anteils stationsgeprüfter Tiere das Zeitintervall kürzer sein. [source] Judges' Use of Examinee Performance Data in an Angoff Standard-Setting Exercise for a Medical Licensing Examination: An Experimental StudyJOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT, Issue 4 2009Brian E. Clauser Although the Angoff procedure is among the most widely used standard setting procedures for tests comprising multiple-choice items, research has shown that subject matter experts have considerable difficulty accurately making the required judgments in the absence of examinee performance data. Some authors have viewed the need to provide performance data as a fatal flaw for the procedure; others have considered it appropriate for experts to integrate performance data into their judgments but have been concerned that experts may rely too heavily on the data. There have, however, been relatively few studies examining how experts use the data. This article reports on two studies that examine how experts modify their judgments after reviewing data. In both studies, data for some items were accurate and data for other items had been manipulated. Judges in both studies substantially modified their judgments whether the data were accurate or not. [source] Public disclosure of comparative clinical performance data: lessons from the Scottish experienceJOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2 2003Russell Mannion PhD Abstract There is growing international interest in making information available on the clinical quality and performance of health care providers. In the United States of America, where public reporting is most advanced, comparative performance information in the form of ,report cards', ,provider profiles' and ,consumer reports' has been published for over a decade. In Europe, Scotland has been at the forefront of releasing clinical performance data and has disseminated such information since 1994. This paper reviews the Scottish experience of public disclosure and distils the key lessons for other countries seeking to implement similar programmes. It is based on the findings of the first empirical evaluation of a national clinical reporting initiative outside the United States. The study examined the impact of publication of Scottish (CRAG) clinical outcome indicators on four key stakeholder groups: health care providers, regional government health care purchasers, general practitioners and consumer advocacy agencies. We conclude that those responsible for developing clinical reporting systems should not only pay close attention to developing technically valid and professionally credible data which are tailored to the information needs of different end users, but should also focus on developing a suitable incentive structure and organizational environment that fosters the constructive use of such information. [source] Coho salmon haematological, metabolic and acid-base changes during exercise and recovery in sea waterJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2004J. J. Cech Jr. Cannulated, seawater-acclimated coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch were swum to exhaustion in a seawater tunnel (10° C, mean Ucrit 50 cm s,1), resulting in metabolic acidosis and increased plasma electrolyte and cortisol concentrations, which were corrected during a 4 h recovery. Because the swimming and physiological performance data were similar to those of other salmonids, it was concluded that life-history limitations, besides their exercise capabilities in upwelling zones, probably explain declining coho salmon populations. [source] Investigating the interaction between the homeostatic and circadian processes of sleep,wake regulation for the prediction of waking neurobehavioural performanceJOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH, Issue 3 2003Hans P. A. Van Dongen Summary The two-process model of sleep regulation has been applied successfully to describe, predict, and understand sleep,wake regulation in a variety of experimental protocols such as sleep deprivation and forced desynchrony. A non-linear interaction between the homeostatic and circadian processes was reported when the model was applied to describe alertness and performance data obtained during forced desynchrony. This non-linear interaction could also be due to intrinsic non-linearity in the metrics used to measure alertness and performance, however. Distinguishing these possibilities would be of theoretical interest, but could also have important implications for the design and interpretation of experiments placing sleep at different circadian phases or varying the duration of sleep and/or wakefulness. Although to date no resolution to this controversy has been found, here we show that the issue can be addressed with existing data sets. The interaction between the homeostatic and circadian processes of sleep,wake regulation was investigated using neurobehavioural performance data from a laboratory experiment involving total sleep deprivation. The results provided evidence of an actual non-linear interaction between the homeostatic and circadian processes of sleep,wake regulation for the prediction of waking neurobehavioural performance. [source] Optimizing performance of benzoate and phthalate blends for vinyl applicationsJOURNAL OF VINYL & ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2005William D. Arendt To achieve required performance, blends of plasticizers are commonly used in flexible vinyl applications. Typically, when fast fusion is required, high solvating phthalates have been utilized in plasticizer blends. Benzoate esters are high solvators and can also be used in these blends. However, even though benzoate plasticizers offer additional performance benefits that can complement general-purpose phthalate performance, most of the literature does not include the use of benzoate plasticizers in blends with phthalates. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the performance benefits of blending benzoate and phthalate plasticizers. The approach selected to accomplish this task was to develop performance data by utilizing a mixture design approach with DOE (design of experiments) software. A resilient flooring plastisol formulation was selected as the model. The following properties were obtained: degassing, low and high shear viscosity, viscosity stability of the plastisol, gel and fusion characteristics, tensile strength vs. temperature, vinyl heat stability, stain resistance, volatility, and UV stability. The data indicate how to utilize the advantage of benzoates as "process aids" to speed production rates and improve product quality. J. VINYL. ADDIT. TECHNOL. 11:150,154, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] DISENTANGLING THE MEANING OF MULTISOURCE PERFORMANCE RATING SOURCE AND DIMENSION FACTORSPERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2009BRIAN J. HOFFMAN We extend multisource performance rating (MSPR) construct validity research by examining the pattern of relationships between factor analytically derived MSPR rating source and performance dimension factors and externally measured constructs (e.g., assessment center dimensions, personality constructs, and intelligence). The pattern of relationships among MSPR dimensions and external constructs provides modest construct validity evidence for the MSPR dimensions. In addition, MSPR source factors were differentially correlated with externally measured constructs, suggesting that MSPR source effects represent substantively meaningful source specific variance, as opposed to bias. These findings are discussed in the context of managerial skill diagnosis and the efficacy of collecting performance data from multiple sources. [source] Infrared imaging with InAs/GaSb type-II superlatticesPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 14 2006M. Walther Abstract InAs/GaSb short period superlattices (SLs) with broken gap typ-II band alignment are very well suited for the fabrication of high performance infrared camera systems for the second atmospheric window (3,5 µm). High resolution focal plane arrays for single- and dual-colour applications based on InAs/GaSb SLs have been fabricated. Those camera systems reveal excellent performance data which are comparable and even superior to state of the art thermal imaging systems. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Flammability and fire resistance of composites reinforced by natural fibersPOLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 6 2008Ryszard Koz, owski Abstract Natural fiber-reinforced composites are more and more frequently applied to building industry and transportation. Therefore, the knowledge of their behavior during fire is of high importance. Flammability is one of very important parameters that often limits the application of composites to a given area. It is well-known that addition of lignocellulosic fibers to polymer changes mechanical properties of the product obtained. However, little information is available on their fire performance. The purpose of this review was to obtain fire performance data for several types of composites reinforced by lignocellulosic fibers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Latest news and product developmentsPRESCRIBER, Issue 2 2008Article first published online: 11 FEB 200 NICE should evaluate all new medicines NICE should determine the cost effectiveness of all new medicines, the Health Select Committee has concluded in its second review of the Institute. The review, prompted by criticisms from patients, health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry, found that NICE is doing ,a vital job in difficult circumstances'. The Committee called for the costs to carers and society to be included in cost effectiveness estimates (this is currently prohibited) and for cost per QALY thresholds to be aligned with NHS affordability. NICE should publish brief appraisals at the time of a product launch , these could be used to negotiate prices. GPs responsible for unlicensed co-proxamol GPs who prescribe co-proxamol are now responsible for the consequences, the MHRA warns. The Agency agrees that the drug may be needed by ,a small group of patients who are likely to find it very difficult to change from co-proxamol or where alternatives appear not to be effective or suitable'. Following the withdrawal of product licences, stock that is currently in the supply chain may be dispensed but no new stock should be released by suppliers. The Drug Tariff price of co-proxamol has now increased from £2.79 to £20.36 per 100 tablets. Vitamin D deficiency on the increase Pregnant and breastfeeding women may need vitamin D supplements, the Department of Health has warned, and GPs are seeing increasing numbers of patients with vitamin D deficiency. Endogenous synthesis may be low in some ethnic groups and dark-skinned people, and north of Birmingham there is no light of the appropriate wavelength for the synthesis of vitamin D during the winter. The Department says free vitamin supplements are available for eligible patients through its Healthy Start Scheme (www.healthystart.nhs.uk) and may also be supplied at low cost by some PCTs. Innovation and good practice recognised Innovative practice and better outcomes for patients have been recognised through awards from the NHS Alliance and Improvement Foundation presented by the Secretary of State for Health, Rt Hon Alan Johnson, at the annual NHS Alliance conference held in Manchester. The Mountwood Surgery in Northwood, Middlesex, won the CHD QOF GP Practice Award sponsored by Schering Plough for their outstanding multidisciplinary approach to tackling CHD. In addition to having a highly organised in-house cardiology team, they have produced an interactive, patient-empowering booklet for CHD. Mountwood Surgery achieved blood pressure targets of 96.79 per cent in their CHD patients. North Tees PCT wins the CHD QOF PCO Award, also sponsored by Schering Plough, for their support and encouragement to GP practices to ,own' CHD care. They provide timely feedback of performance data using funnel plots and regular communication by the CHD LIT and Cardiac Network. Even though North Tees PCT has a high CHD prevalence, 4.2 per cent vs 3.6 per cent nationally, across the 27 practices 85 per cent of patients achieved cholesterol targets and 91 per cent reached the QOF blood pressure target. The St Benedict's Hospice Day Centre Project (for the Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust) won the Guy Rotherham Award for its excellent multidisciplinary team improvement of the palliative care provided. This team demonstrated a thorough understanding of the use of quality improvement methods to improve patient care, and carefully measured the individual improvements they made. Through the use of a referral ,decision tree', nonattenders were reduced by 300 per cent and average waiting times halved. The Extended Primary Care (EPC) Gynaecology Service (for the Practice Based Commissioning Consortium South Manchester Hub) was highly commended for its development of an effective and innovative service offering gynaecological treatment managed within a primary care setting, allowing patients improved access closer to home. The Salford Perinatal Mental Health Project was also highly commended for effectively challenging the high levels of maternal suicides. The awards were also supported by Prescriber, the British Cardiac Patients Association and the British Cardiac Society. Anastrozole superior to tamoxifen in long term A new analysis of the ATAC trial (Lancet Oncology 2008;9:45-53) shows that the advantages of the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole (Arimidex) over tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer persist for at least four years after the end of treatment. After primary treatment with surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, postmenopausal women with localised invasive breast cancer were randomised to five years' treatment with anastrozole or tamoxifen. Among 5216 women who were hormone-receptor positive, anastrozole increased disease-free survival by 15 per cent after 100 months. Time to recurrence and distant recurrence were also increased, though overall survival was similar; the absolute difference in time to recurrence was greater at nine years (4.8 per cent) than at five years (2.8 per cent). Joint symptoms and fractures were more frequent with anastrozole during treatment but not thereafter. Use a steroid with a LABA , MHRA reminder The MHRA has reminded clinicians that patients treated with an inhaled long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) should also use an inhaled steroid. In the latest edition of Drug Safety Update (2008;1:No.6), the Agency reviews the implications of the SMART study (Chest 2006;129:15-26), which reported an increased risk of respiratory- and asthma-related deaths among patients using salmeterol (Serevent). This is contradicted by epidemiological data suggesting that asthma-related admissions have declined since LABAs were introduced. Randomised trials also do not support such a risk, probably because inhaled steroids are used more consistently in trial settings. The latest Update notes that product licences for carisoprodol (Carisoma) have been suspended due to concerns about the risk of abuse and psychomotor effects. It also includes a comprehensive summary of drug interactions with statins, a warning that methylene blue should not be prescribed for a patient taking a drug with serotonergic activity, and a reminder that only oral formulations of desmopressin are now licensed for primary nocturnal enuresis. This issue of Update is available at www.mhra.gov.uk. Copyright © 2008 Wiley Interface Ltd [source] Coupling PV and CAES power plants to transform intermittent PV electricity into a dispatchable electricity sourcePROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS: RESEARCH & APPLICATIONS, Issue 8 2008James Mason Abstract This study investigates the transformation of photovoltaic (PV) electricity production from an intermittent into a dispatchable source of electricity by coupling PV plants to compressed air energy storage (CAES) gas turbine power plants. Based on historical solar irradiation data for the United States' south western states and actual PV and CAES performance data, we show that the large-scale adoption of coupled PV,CAES power plants will likely enable peak electricity generation in 2020 at costs equal to or lower than those from natural gas power plants with or without carbon capture and storage systems. Our findings also suggest that given the societal value of reducing carbon dioxide and the sensitivity of conventional generation to rising fossil fuel prices, this competitive crossover point may occur much sooner. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||