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1
Gadapa, Shalini. "Assessing SeeIT 3D, A Software Visualization Tool." Youngstown State University / OhioLINK, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1342116578.
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Sanchez, Donald S. Jr. "Assessing BEAR: Tool Usability for Wireless CTF." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2021. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2325.
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Capture the Flag (CTF) is a common and popular type of event in the cyber security space with audiences ranging from large security conference participants to even those in middle or high school. Event participants bring their favorite set of tools and any level of knowledge they have to compete against other teams in solving cyber security related challenges. These types of challenges can range anywhere from reverse engineering programs and hacking WiFi to utilizing interesting command line commands and messing with browser developer consoles. There are plenty of general CTF events that happen throughout every month, as well as plenty of resources for those. However, CTFs focused on wireless technologies are not as prevalent. Just this last year a Wireless themed CTF, named Wireless CTF (WCTF), became publicly available to participate in. With this CTF as the target, a tool set will be put together in this thesis to help introduce some of WCTF's topics: WiFi penetration testing, POCSAG radio signal decoding, and Morse Code Signal Decoding. Tools will be chosen based on the BEAR scoring rubric, created in this thesis, to assess a given tools usability, and chosen tools will be used against challenge topics found in WCTF to test the validity of the scoring rubric and evaluate changes in a participants knowledge of each topic.
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Short, Candice N., Lisa Ousley, and Retha D. Gentry. "Assessing the Validity of a New Dermatology Tool." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2019. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7147.
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Hochstrasser, Beat. "Development of a management tool for assessing company performance." Thesis, Imperial College London, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/7961.
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Kumar, Hemant, University of Western Sydney, and of Science Technology and Environment College. "Software analytical tool for assessing cardiac blood flow parameters." THESIS_FSTA_XXX_Kumar_H.xml, 2001. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/392.
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Introduction of Doppler ultrasound techniques into the Intensive Care setting has revolutionised the way haemodynamic status is monitored in the critically ill. However, in order to increase the usefulness of these techniques, the Doppler signal and its spectrum need to be further analysed in ways to facilitate a better clinical response. Extensive processing of the Doppler spectrum on Diagnostic ultrasound machines is limited by the real time performance considerations. It was therefore proposed that the spectral information from these systems be extracted off-line and full set of analytical tools be made available to evaluate this information. This was achieved by creating an integrated and modular software tool called Spectron, which was intended as an aid in the overall management of the patients. The modular nature of Spectron was intended to ensure that new analytical tools and techniques could be easily added and tested. The software provides its users with considerable latitude in choosing various data acquisition and analysis parameters to suit various clinical situations and patient requirements. Spectron was developed under the Windows environment to provide a user friendly interface and to address a range of programming problems such as memory management and the size of the colour palettes. Spectron is able to detect the maximal velocities and compute the mean and median velocities. Relative increases in maximal velocities in cardiac blood flows after the administration of inotropic drugs have been shown in the pilot studies that were conducted. Spectron is able to help in obtaining estimates of the aortic blood flows and in other applications such measuring vascular impedance. Stenotic blood flows can be detected by using the spectral broadening index and blood flow characteristics can be studied by using various blood flow indices. Thus, this project attempted to help in patient management by providing clinicians with a range of blood flow parameters and has succeeded in meeting its objective to a large extentMaster of Engineering (Hons)
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Fletcher, Melanie Suzanne. "Assessing fluctuating asymmetry in stoneflies as a biomonitoring tool." Thesis, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.426925.
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Kumar, Hemant. "Software analytical tool for assessing cardiac blood flow parameters." Thesis, View thesis, 2001. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/392.
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Introduction of Doppler ultrasound techniques into the Intensive Care setting has revolutionised the way haemodynamic status is monitored in the critically ill. However, in order to increase the usefulness of these techniques, the Doppler signal and its spectrum need to be further analysed in ways to facilitate a better clinical response. Extensive processing of the Doppler spectrum on Diagnostic ultrasound machines is limited by the real time performance considerations. It was therefore proposed that the spectral information from these systems be extracted off-line and full set of analytical tools be made available to evaluate this information. This was achieved by creating an integrated and modular software tool called Spectron, which was intended as an aid in the overall management of the patients. The modular nature of Spectron was intended to ensure that new analytical tools and techniques could be easily added and tested. The software provides its users with considerable latitude in choosing various data acquisition and analysis parameters to suit various clinical situations and patient requirements. Spectron was developed under the Windows environment to provide a user friendly interface and to address a range of programming problems such as memory management and the size of the colour palettes. Spectron is able to detect the maximal velocities and compute the mean and median velocities. Relative increases in maximal velocities in cardiac blood flows after the administration of inotropic drugs have been shown in the pilot studies that were conducted. Spectron is able to help in obtaining estimates of the aortic blood flows and in other applications such measuring vascular impedance. Stenotic blood flows can be detected by using the spectral broadening index and blood flow characteristics can be studied by using various blood flow indices. Thus, this project attempted to help in patient management by providing clinicians with a range of blood flow parameters and has succeeded in meeting its objective to a large extent
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Kumar, Hemant. "Software analytical tool for assessing cardiac blood flow parameters /." View thesis, 2001. http://library.uws.edu.au/adt-NUWS/public/adt-NUWS20030724.122149/index.html.
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Joyce, Blake L., Asher Haug-Baltzell, Sean Davey, Matthew Bomhoff, James C. Schnable, and Eric Lyons. "FractBias: a graphical tool for assessing fractionation bias following polyploidy." OXFORD UNIV PRESS, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/623554.
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Following polyploidy events, genomes undergo massive reduction in gene content through a process known as fractionation. Importantly, the fractionation process is not always random, and a bias as to which homeologous chromosome retains or loses more genes can be observed in some species. The process of characterizing whole genome fractionation requires identifying syntenic regions across genomes followed by post-processing of those syntenic datasets to identify and plot gene retention patterns. We have developed a tool, FractBias, to calculate and visualize gene retention and fractionation patterns across whole genomes. Through integration with SynMap and its parent platform CoGe, assembled genomes are pre-loaded and available for analysis, as well as letting researchers integrate their own data with security options to keep them private or make them publicly available.
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Day, Monica. "A tool for assessing citizen deliberative decisions about contaminated sites." Diss., Connect to online resource - MSU authorized users, 2008.
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Sheppard, Barbara Dorothea. "Assessing the environmental performance of building developments : the Green Building Tool." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envs549.pdf.
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Bibliography: p. 119-122. Aims to show how the GB Tool (Green BuildingTool) can be used to access the environmental performance of residential building developments, with a focus on South Australia. Describes the history of, and rationale for, the GB Tool; and its practical implementation. Identifies some theoretical short comings of the GB Tool, as well as some practical difficulties with using it.
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Krivonyak, Gregory S. "Assessing the predictive validity of the UAW-Ford Ergonomic Surveillance Tool." [Tampa, Fla] : University of South Florida, 2008. http://purl.fcla.edu/usf/dc/et/SFE0002579.
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Evanshen, Pamela, and Janet Faulk. "Primary Classrooms (K-3rd Grade): Assessing, Creating and Utilizing the Environment as a Teaching Tool." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2010. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/4377.
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Cziulik, Carlos. "Development of a computer evaluation model for assessing mechanical systems conceptual design alternatives." Thesis, University of Surrey, 1998. http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/843915/.
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The focus of this thesis is on the development of a conceptual design evaluation model that can be used in engineering design and can be implemented as a computer tool. A prerequisite to achieve this objective is a proper understanding of the initial phases of the design process, using an adequate framework. Hence, a brief examination of Theory of Technical Systems associated to a comprehensive study of the conceptual design stage, based on academic design methodologies and a survey amongst British industries, is presented. Additionally, evaluation issues at the early phases of design and a number of approaches for evaluating alternative solutions are investigated and relevant characteristics to be included in a prospective conceptual design evaluation model are compiled. A novel evaluation model based on function metrics has been proposed. The approach provides an intermediate evaluation, indicating which solutions have the potential to progress further in the design process The core of the model is the composition of evaluation matrices and computation of partial indices, which will originate an overall index used to classify the alternatives. The model assumes the existence of an explicit function structure on which the development of the organ/component structure is going to be based. A unique feature of this model is that it does not depend on designers' preferences or judgement in assigning values. From the formalised solution the designer has to identify which organ/component implements which function. An initial prototype of a computer tool (LiberSolutio), which embodies the above model, is presented. In addition to being an evaluation system, LiberSolutio can record the design history of the set of solutions generated for a particular functional decomposition/ structure. A preliminary evaluation of the model and computer system is also presented with conclusions drawn from the results obtained.
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Bailey, Nicholas James. "NEOimpactor : a tool for assessing Earth's vulnerability to the NEO impact hazard." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2009. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/67323/.
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The Earth’s surface bears the scars of 4.5 billion years of bombardment by asteroids, despite most having been erased by tectonic activity and erosion. Asteroids predominantly orbit the Sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, but a large number occupy orbits close to the Earth’s. These bodies are termed Near Earth Objects (NEOs) and they present a very real impact threat to the Earth. In 1998 NASA inaugurated the ‘Spaceguard Survey’ to catalogue 90% of NEOs greater than 1 km in diameter. The smaller bodies, meanwhile, remain undetected and far more numerous. In order to understand the NEO hazard, the consequences resulting from an asteroid impact require modelling. While the atmospheric entry of asteroids is a critical part of the impact process, it is the surface impact which is most important, both onto land and into the oceans. It is the impact generated effects (IGEs) that are hazardous to human populations on the Earth and the infrastructure they occupy. By modelling these IGEs and the consequences they present for humans and infrastructure, an understanding of the global vulnerability to the hazard is developed. ‘NEOimpactor’ is the software solution built to investigate the global vulnerability to NEO impacts. By combining existing mathematical models which describe the impact and effects, a unified impact simulator tool has been developed with the capacity to model the real consequences of any terrestrial impact. By comparing the consequences of multiple impact events, a complete vulnerability assessment of the global NEO hazard is derived. The result maps are designed for ease of dissemination to explain the impact risk to a non-specialist audience. The system has identified China, US, India, Japan and Brazil as facing the greatest overall risk, as well as indicating the various factors influencing vulnerability. The results can be used for informing the international decision making processes regarding the NEO hazard and potential mitigation strategies.
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Hunter, Bruce Allan. "A geospatial tool for assessing potential wildland fire risk in central Texas." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2005. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4870/.
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Wildland fires in the United States are not always confined to wilderness areas. The growth of population centers and housing developments in wilderness areas has blurred the boundaries between rural and urban. This merger of human development and natural landscape is known in the wildland fire community as the wildland urban interface or WUI, and it is within this interface that many wildland fires increasingly occur. As wildland fire intrusions in the WUI increase so too does the need for tools to assess potential impact to valuable assets contained within the interface. This study presents a methodology that combines real-time weather data, a wildland fire behavior model, satellite remote sensing and geospatial data in a geographic information system to assess potential risk to human developments and natural resources within the Austin metropolitan area and surrounding ten counties of central, Texas. The methodology uses readily available digital databases and satellite images within Texas, in combination with an industry standard fire behavior model to assist emergency and natural resource managers assess potential impacts from wildland fire. Results of the study will promote prevention of WUI fire disasters, facilitate watershed and habitat protection, and help direct efforts in post wildland fire mitigation and restoration.
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Chen, Diana. "Assessing the medication adherence report scale as a tool in pediatric asthma." Thesis, Boston University, 2012. https://hdl.handle.net/2144/12320.
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Thesis (M.A.)--Boston UniversityAsthma is the leading chronic illness in the pediatric population and affects more than 7 million children in the United States. Although effective preventive medications are available, medication nonadherence in children and adolescents continues to soar. Understanding trends and gaining insight from associations between psychometric tests can improve asthma control. The purpose of this study is to validate the use of MARS-A (Medication Adherence Report Scale) as a tool in assessing asthma medication adherence in a pediatric population as well as finding relationships between individual MARS-A items and other asthma control measures. One hundred fifty six patients diagnosed with asthma were recruited to complete the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and MARS-A questionnaire for analysis. The results demonstrated that the MARS-A had good internal validity with a Cronbach-a of 0.81 for all data, which includes multiple visits per patient. A separate analysis of internal validity was performed to factor in sensitivity, using the first and last visit's data only showing once again, good internal consistency (Cronbach-a 0.84 for the first visit dates and 0.83 for the last visit dates). Furthermore, the MARS-A showed good criterion validity with AMR, ACT, and Childhood-ACT (p=0.24, p=0.0036; p=0.31, p=0.000024; p=0.31 , p=0.00017, respectively). Sensitivity analysis across these values demonstrated similar results. Patients who reported high adherence according to MARS-A (score of 46 or higher) had a 3-fold higher odds of scoring higher on the C-ACT (odds ratio (OR)= 3.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.49-6.31 , p = 0.002). If a patient scored 0.5 or higher on the AMR, then they are 2.6 times more likely to score greater than or equal to 46 on the MARS-A, further supporting good criterion validity. [TRUNCATED]
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Tavakoli, Mitra. "Corneal confocal microscopy : a novel non-invasive diagnostic tool for assessing peripheral neuropathies." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2008. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.492280.
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Corneal confocal microscopy (GCM) is a novel non-invasive in vivo imaging clinical technique for the study of corneal cellular structure. It provides images of all layers of the cornea which are comparable to in-vitro histochemical techniques. In the series of studies presented in this thesis we have evaluated the considerable potential of GGM to quantify corneal nerve morphology in a range of clinical conditions characterised by small fibre damage. The results indicate that the widest application of GCM may well be in the field of peripheral metabolic (diabetes, Fabry disease) and other causes of neuropathies. Thus CCM may provide a means to identify patients at risk, follow progression and measure therapeutic response in not only diabetic neuropathy but also a range of other neuropathies.
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Elliott, Anthony. "EniVal : a tool for assessing the relative environmental impact of continuous chemical processes." Thesis, University of Bath, 1997. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.337819.
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Benmeleh, Eva. "Get Ready To Read!: Assessing the Efficacy of an Emergent Literacy Screening Tool." Thesis, NSUWorks, 2011. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_stuetd/7.
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Early identification and targeted intervention during the preschool years can help to prevent later reading difficulties among school-age children. The GRTR! was developed by the Applied Research Partners and the National Center for Learning Disabilities. It is a quick, reliable measure developed for paraprofessionals to assess deficits in pre-literacy skills among preschoolers. Most of the research on this measure has been limited to preschoolers primarily from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds and authored by the developers of the GRTR!
The current study examined the Get Ready to Read! (GRTR!) screening tool as an assessment of emergent literacy skills of 206 preschoolers attending either a private preschool (M range = 38.04 - 71.04) or a public preschool (M range = 41.04 - 72) and relating their performance to standardized measures of language skills (vocabulary and print knowledge) and phonological awareness. The effects of SES, age, school, and gender on the performance of GRTR! were assessed. Students attending the private preschool outperformed those from the public preschool and those from the standardization GRTR! sample, although the public preschool group scored within the average range. Age was a significant predictor of GRTR! scores for participants ages three through five years. The GRTR! correlated positively and significantly with more comprehensive measures of language abilities. Results demonstrate that the GRTR! is a valid and reliable tool for screening children's emergent literacy skills in preschool centers. Results underscore the notion that SES does not necessarily dictate a child's competence in a specific area. Further research linking the GRTR! to strategic and cost-effective interventions, which include parental involvement and teacher support is needed. Studies including a wider range of SES, racial/ethnic, and linguistic groups would also improve upon the measure's validity.
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Weaver, Caroline Alexandra. "Predicting College Outcomes: A Tool for Assessing Non-Cognitive Traits in Admissions Essays." ScholarWorks @ UVM, 2019. https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/1043.
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Across the United States, higher education institutions increasingly employ a holistic review of prospective students’ application materials. In a holistic review process, admissions offices consider a student’s personal and academic context when reviewing applications for admission. A key feature of a holistic review is a student’s application essay, or personal statement. However, admissions offices rarely standardize their essay review process and very little research exists regarding whether student essays predict successful outcomes in college. This paper summarizes a quality improvement study conducted within the University of Vermont Admissions Office. It examines the extent to which non-cognitive student characteristics present in student admissions essays (e.g., grit, creativity, intrinsic motivation, leadership, community engagement, cultural fluency) are correlated with pre-admission factors and subsequent college outcomes. The study involved developing a new essay scoring rubric and evaluating the usefulness of this rubric by scoring 320 undergraduate admission essays. Findings suggest that the rubric is useful in identifying evidence of non-cognitive factors in student essays, but that overall scores do not strongly correlate with pre-admissions characteristics or first-fall college GPA. The study supports the practice of holistic review and provides insight into how admissions offices can begin to operationalize the review of essays and non-cognitive factors in their admissions processes.
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Jung, Jin Hwan. "Measuring, monitoring, and assessing software process using PAMPA 2.0 knowledge-based system." Texas A&M University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/2213.
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My research is about monitoring the software development process to assess Capability maturity level. Capability Maturity Model (CMM) was developed to improve the software process based on subjective assessment by teams of experts. We propose an objective CMM assessment, which replaces expensive and time-consuming human effort by a knowledge-based system. Compared to Subjective CMM assessment, Objective CMM assessment can be less expensive, takes less time, and is easy to estimate the software development environment maturity. The accuracy of Objective CMM assessment can be the same as Subjective CMM assessment if enough activities are represented as objective activities. For example, if subjective activities total 80 % and objective activities total 20 %, then the accuracy of Objective CMM assessment is not reliable. It would be reliable if the objective activity is increased up to 80% from 20%.
This dissertation presents how to change from Subjective CMM assessment to Objective CMM assessment, and we will prove that Objective CMM Assessment is effective.
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Gagné, Phillip Edward. "General confirmatory factor mixture models a tool for assessing factorial invariance across unspecified populations /." College Park, Md. : University of Maryland, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/1903/1556.
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Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Maryland, College Park, 2004.Thesis research directed by: Measurement, Statistics and Evaluation. Title from t.p. of PDF. Includes bibliographical references. Published by UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. Also available in paper.
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Hermann, Martin, Oliver Nussbaumer, Ralf Knöfler, Paul Hengster, Walter Nussbaumer, and Werner Streif. "Real-Time Live Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy as a New Tool for Assessing Platelet Vitality." Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2014. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-136619.
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Background: Assessment of platelet vitality is important for patients presenting with inherited or acquired disorders of platelet function and for quality assessment of platelet concentrates. Methods: Herein we combined live stains with intra-vital confocal fluorescence microscopy in order to obtain an imaging method that allows fast and accurate assessment of platelet vitality. Three fluorescent dyes, FITC-coupled wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester perchlorate (TMRM) and acetoxymethylester (Rhod-2), were used to assess platelet morphology, mitochondrial activity and intra-platelet calcium levels. Microscopy was performed with a microlens-enhanced Nipkow spinning disk-based system allowing live confocal imaging. Results: Comparison of ten samples of donor platelets collected before apheresis and platelets collected on days 5 and 7 of storage showed an increase in the percentage of Rhod-2positive platelets from 3.6 to 47 and finally to 71%. Mitochondrial potential was demonstrated in 95.4% of donor platelets and in 92.5% of platelets stored for 7 days. Conclusion: Such fast and accurate visualization of known key parameters of platelet function could be of relevance for studies addressing the quality of platelets after storage and additional manipulation, such as pathogen inactivation, as well as for the analysis of inherited platelet function disordersHintergrund: Die Vitalitätsbestimmung von Blutplättchen ist sowohl für die Analyse angeborener Plättchendefekte als auch für die Qualitätsbestimmung von Plättchenkonzentraten von zentraler Bedeutung. Methoden: In der vorliegenden Arbeit stellen wir eine Methode vor, die mittels einer Kombination von Vitalfarbstoffen und konfokaler «Real time»-Mikroskopie neue Einblicke in die Vitalitätsbestimmung lebender Plättchen ermöglicht. Mittels der Zugabe von FITC-gekoppeltem Weizenkeimlektin (WGA), Tetramethylrhodamin-Methylesterperchlorat (TMRM) und Acetoxymethylester (Rhod-2) wurde bei lebenden Blutplättchen deren Morphologie, mitochondriale Aktivität und Veränderungen im Calcium-Haushalt im Rahmen der Lagerung analysiert. Für die Mikroskopie wurde ein Nipkow-System gewählt, das eine konfokale Mikroskopie lebender Zellen ermöglicht. Ergebnisse: Der Vergleich von 10 humanen Blutplättchenproben zu Beginn bzw. nach 5 und 7 Tagen Lagerung zeigte einen Anstieg der Rhod-2-positiven Plättchen von 3,6 über 47 auf 71%. Die Anzahl der Blutplättchen mit TMRM-positiven Mitochondrien hingegen lag vor der Lagerung bei 95,4% und nach den 7 Tagen Lagerung bei 92,5%. Schlussfolgerung: Die hier vorgestellte Methodik der Bildgebung zur Bestimmung vitaler Parameter von Blutplättchen eignet sich als ergänzende Analysemodalität für eine bessere Bestimmung der Blutplättchenqualität
Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich
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Hermann, Martin, Oliver Nussbaumer, Ralf Knöfler, Paul Hengster, Walter Nussbaumer, and Werner Streif. "Real-Time Live Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy as a New Tool for Assessing Platelet Vitality." Karger, 2010. https://tud.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A26667.
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Background: Assessment of platelet vitality is important for patients presenting with inherited or acquired disorders of platelet function and for quality assessment of platelet concentrates. Methods: Herein we combined live stains with intra-vital confocal fluorescence microscopy in order to obtain an imaging method that allows fast and accurate assessment of platelet vitality. Three fluorescent dyes, FITC-coupled wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester perchlorate (TMRM) and acetoxymethylester (Rhod-2), were used to assess platelet morphology, mitochondrial activity and intra-platelet calcium levels. Microscopy was performed with a microlens-enhanced Nipkow spinning disk-based system allowing live confocal imaging. Results: Comparison of ten samples of donor platelets collected before apheresis and platelets collected on days 5 and 7 of storage showed an increase in the percentage of Rhod-2positive platelets from 3.6 to 47 and finally to 71%. Mitochondrial potential was demonstrated in 95.4% of donor platelets and in 92.5% of platelets stored for 7 days. Conclusion: Such fast and accurate visualization of known key parameters of platelet function could be of relevance for studies addressing the quality of platelets after storage and additional manipulation, such as pathogen inactivation, as well as for the analysis of inherited platelet function disorders.Hintergrund: Die Vitalitätsbestimmung von Blutplättchen ist sowohl für die Analyse angeborener Plättchendefekte als auch für die Qualitätsbestimmung von Plättchenkonzentraten von zentraler Bedeutung. Methoden: In der vorliegenden Arbeit stellen wir eine Methode vor, die mittels einer Kombination von Vitalfarbstoffen und konfokaler «Real time»-Mikroskopie neue Einblicke in die Vitalitätsbestimmung lebender Plättchen ermöglicht. Mittels der Zugabe von FITC-gekoppeltem Weizenkeimlektin (WGA), Tetramethylrhodamin-Methylesterperchlorat (TMRM) und Acetoxymethylester (Rhod-2) wurde bei lebenden Blutplättchen deren Morphologie, mitochondriale Aktivität und Veränderungen im Calcium-Haushalt im Rahmen der Lagerung analysiert. Für die Mikroskopie wurde ein Nipkow-System gewählt, das eine konfokale Mikroskopie lebender Zellen ermöglicht. Ergebnisse: Der Vergleich von 10 humanen Blutplättchenproben zu Beginn bzw. nach 5 und 7 Tagen Lagerung zeigte einen Anstieg der Rhod-2-positiven Plättchen von 3,6 über 47 auf 71%. Die Anzahl der Blutplättchen mit TMRM-positiven Mitochondrien hingegen lag vor der Lagerung bei 95,4% und nach den 7 Tagen Lagerung bei 92,5%. Schlussfolgerung: Die hier vorgestellte Methodik der Bildgebung zur Bestimmung vitaler Parameter von Blutplättchen eignet sich als ergänzende Analysemodalität für eine bessere Bestimmung der Blutplättchenqualität.
Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.
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Camacho, Gema Liliana. "GIS-based tool for assessing hydraulic performance of drainage infrastructure system in El Paso." To access this resource online via ProQuest Dissertations and Theses @ UTEP, 2009. http://0-proquest.umi.com.lib.utep.edu/login?COPT=REJTPTU0YmImSU5UPTAmVkVSPTI=&clientId=2515.
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Gaudio, Eugenio. "Whole-blood leukocyte coping capacity chemiluminescence: an innovative tool for assessing pain in animals?" Doctoral thesis, Università degli studi di Padova, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11577/3425777.
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Assessing pain in animals is an extremely difficult task due to their inability to verbally communicate. Despite its challenging nature, the task of assessing pain in animals is compulsory seen the importance of granting them a good quality of life, which should be free of pain. At present, no gold standard technique for pain assessment in animals is available and researchers and clinicians have been relying on the conjunct use of behavioural and physiological assessments to grasp the extent and different aspects of the multifaceted nature of pain. In the last years, a new technique for assessing psychological stress has been evaluated and tested on different animal species and humans: the whole-blood leukocyte coping capacity (LCC). This technique can be performed directly in the field on a small amount of whole-blood, allowing for a rapid assessment of the individual’s psycho-physiological status and its stress-related changes over time by measuring granulocytes’ oxidative burst. Pain has been recognised worldwide as a stressor by several authors due to its short and long-term effects on the individual’s mental status and physiology. Considering that the LCC technique allows for detection psychological stress, and considering that pain is a stressor, the research team decided to evaluate the potential of the LCC technique as a pain assessment tool in two animal species (the cattle and the horse) undergoing different castration procedures (non-surgical and surgical castration).The LCC results were correlated and compared with ones from other well-known pain and stress indicators. The studies of this thesis revealed that the whole-blood LCC seemed to provide very promising results, especially when used concurrently with other pain and stress assessment tools. In certain circumstances, the LCC seemed to allow for pain assessment even when some of the other parameters failed to detect it. Despite the promising results, the whole-blood technique should undergo a species-specific validation process and be tested on different pain types (e.g. non-inflammatory pain) for further confirmation of its sensitivity. It is believed
that the research presented in this PhD thesis could set the basis for further studies aimed at ameliorating animal welfare through further refinement of pain assessment.
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Bista, Sulabh. "Assessing the Physical Security of IDFs with PSATool: a Case Study." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2015. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2605.
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PSATool is a checklist-based, web-based application for assessing the physical security of Intermediate Distribution Frameworks. IDFs, or wiring closets, are an integral if often neglected component of information security. Earlier work by Timbs (2013) identified 52 IDF-related security requirements based on federal and international standards for physical security. PSATool refines Timbs’ prototype application for IDF assessment, extending it with support for mobile-device-based data entry.
PSATool was used to assess 25 IDFs at a regional university, a college and a manufacturing corporation, with an average of 9 minutes per assessment. Network managers and assessors involved in the assessments characterized PSATool as suitable for creating assessments, usable by IT department personnel, and accurate, in terms of its characterizations of IDF status.
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Evanshen, Pamela, and Janet Faulk. "A Room to Learn: Rethinking, Assessing & Creating the Primary Classroom as a Teaching and Learning Tool." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2012. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/4350.
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Day, Jenna. "Coumarinyl-Caged Ceramides, a New Tool for Assessing the Biological Effects of Ceramide In Cells." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/32336.
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Ceramide, a sphingolipid, is an important lipid second messenger that is involved in regulating a number of cellular processes, including programmed cell death, cell growth and differentiation, as well as cellular responses to stress stimuli. Many of the biological effects of ceramide are linked to its ability to modulate the biophysical properties of membranes and cause clustering of signalling molecules in ceramide-rich domains, which allows for more efficient signal transmission in the cell. However, the specific roles of different ceramide species in these signaling pathways have yet to be clearly established. Assessing the effects of long N-acyl chain ceramides in cells involves some limitations due to their poor solubility and their low membrane permeability. Caging these molecules with photolabile protecting groups allows for their delivery into cells where photochemical uncaging of the biologically active compound can be achieved with spatial and temporal control.
A series of coumarinyl-caged ceramides has been prepared in order to probe the biological effects of ceramide in cells. This unique series of compounds was used to investigate the dependence of these cellular effects on N-acyl chain length. Hereafter, I describe the photophysical and photochemical characterization of these novel caged ceramides, assess their uptake and measure the biological effects of the different ceramides which are generated photochemically in HeLa cells. The caged ceramides were shown to be taken up by the cells and to cause a decrease in viability, with UV irradiation, that can be detected after 24 hours of treatment. An investigation of the mechanism of cell death induced by coumarinyl-caged ceramides in HeLa cells revealed that cell death proceeds in a caspase-independent manner and involves the mitochondria. The role of the mitochondria in this cell death pathway, however, remains to be studied further. RIP1 kinase activity, which was also probed in the cells, was determined to not be implicated in cell death caused by photochemically generated ceramide. Intracellular ROS generation, however, was shown to occur in this system, but results primarily from UV irradiation of the free coumarin. Overall, the results from this study have provided insight into the signalling pathways triggered by treatment of HeLa cells with the bioactive lipid ceramide using coumarin photocages.
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Fagg, Rajni. "Evaluation of in vitro bone marrow culture as a tool for assessing mechanisms of haematotoxicity." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/1980.
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Dose limiting haematotoxicity has been associated with a range of therapeutic agents used for the treatment of a number of different conditions. Haematotoxicity is usually assessed as part of the preclinical safety studies in experimental animals, where changes in peripheral blood cell numbers and bone marrow cellularity are determined at the end of the study. Often no information on the mechanism of the haematotoxicity is revealed. This thesis demonstrates how in vitro bone marrow cultures can be utilized to assist in the assessment of haematotoxicity by two different approaches; firstly, in vitro bone marrow cultures can be used to assess the haematopoietic lineage specificity of vincristine sulphate, vinblastine sulphate, hydroxyurea and anagrelide hydrochloride using clonogenic cultures, enabling ranking of these compounds according to their haematotoxicity. Secondly, using in vitro assays only, elucidate the mechanism(s) of the megakaryocytic lineage specific inhibition of anagrelide hydrochloride. To this end both clonogenic cultures and LTBMC offer the ability to elucidate mechanisms of action on multipotent stem cells, lineage specific cells and effects on the bone marrow microenvironment following single and repeated administration. In addition, the combination of cell identification techniques flow cytometry and light microscopy was shown to provide a more detailed understanding of the different cell populations within the non-adherent cell layer. In vivo AN reduces platelet counts only, however, the mechanism of the megakaryocyte specific toxicity by AN is not understood. In these studies, the mechanism (s) of the megakaryocytic lineage haematotoxicity of AN was examined using the established human clonogenic and LTBMC. The action of AN was shown to be focused at a late stage in megakaryocyte (Mk) colony development. Ranking the potential mechanisms of action of AN by concentration at which they were noted, the inability to organize the microtubules appears to be secondary to 1) alteration in cell cycling, 2) surface receptor expression and 3) inhibition in achieving high (greater than 8N) ploidy number. However, identification of the primary mechanism based solely on concentration seems to be very crude and most probably reflects a limitation of in vitro systems. The inhibition of platelet production by AN is most likely a result from a combination of mechanisms; inhibition of cell cycling, disruption in the expression of cell surface receptors, inhibition of the ability of the cells to increase ploidy number and an associated inability to organize microtubules leading to a reduction in platelet release. This work also demonstrated the importance of the selection of the source of bone marrow used in the cultures. The concentration at which 50 percent of Mk colony growth was inhibited (IC50) by AN for murine cells was markedly (46 fold) different (88.6μM) compared to the IC50 with human cord blood (hCB) (1.92μM). This disparity is indicative of differences in species sensitivity possibly related to AN having a greater affinity towards the human c-mpl chrombopoietin (TPO) receptor than the equivalent murine receptor as suggested by McCarty et al (2006). This work highlights the utility of in vitro bone marrow cultures as a tool for investigating the lineage specific haematotoxicity by evaluating compounds used in the treatment of ET. In addition in vitro haematopoietic cultures can successfully be used as a tool to investigate potential mechanism(s) of haematotoxicity as demonstrated herein by providing an insight to mechanism of platelet count reduction by AN.
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Cooke, Alison Louise. "The development of a tool for assessing the quality of Internet-based medical information sources." Thesis, Aberystwyth University, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.369546.
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Lyon, Fiona M. "Early intervention in Gaelic-medium education : creating and evaluating a tool for assessing phonological awareness." Thesis, University of Strathclyde, 2010. http://oleg.lib.strath.ac.uk:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=22580.
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This study investigated whether phonological awareness of pupils in the immersion stage of Gaelic-medium education in Scotland could be measured using an assessment tool, which does not replace subjective teacher observation, but provides objective evidence. The research data was collected in four phases. Initially an audit was made of English tests of phonological awareness that are currently available and used widely in the UK, in order to find suitable subtests. Many Gaelic-medium units are small, often with composite classes and few Support for Learning Teachers. Therefore, to explore the issues around measuring phonological awareness in Gaelic, it was necessary to create an assessment tool to be used by Classroom Teachers. In the second phase, the test was administered to 368 pupils in Primary 2 and 3 of these units/schools by Gaelic-medium teachers. The results were analysed to see what aspects of phonological awareness could be measured in Gaelic and if there was sufficien t information to create a diagnostic tool for identifying pupils' phonological weaknesses. The third phase involved analysing the results of the questionnaires that were completed by the teachers who had administered the test. Finally, a third of the respondents volunteered to complete semi-structured interviews by telephone, to gather fuller views and experiences of the Gaelic-medium teachers. Evidence of the development of Gaelic-medium learners' phonological awareness was obtained. Findings point to similarities in English in most aspects of phonological awareness; however, rhyming in Gaelic appears to be a poor indicator of phonological ability. The study suggests that phonological awareness in Gaelic develops with age. Following stringent analysis of the data, the instrument that was devised can provide a diagnostic profile of a pupil's phonological awareness in Gaelic. This research took a pioneering approach to the study of prevention of reading failure and has implications for assessment identifying pupils' progress and planning intervention for teachers in Gaelic-medium education, and has implications for teachers in other similar languages, such as Irish, or for teachers teaching bilingual pupils.
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Chandramohan, Daniel. "Verbal autopsies for assessing causes of adult death : development and validation of a model tool." Thesis, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of London), 2002. http://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/682249/.
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Data on adult mortality are very limited in sub-Saharan Africa where only small proportions of deaths occur in health facilities. In such settings, ascertainment of causes of death from data obtained from relatives or associates of the deceased through interviews in surveys or longitudinal surveillance systems appears to be an attractive option. This technique, known as verbal autopsy (VA) is based on the assumption that important causes of death have distinctive symptoms and signs, and these can be recognised, remembered and reported by lay respondents, and that based on the reported information causes of death can be reached. The existing experience of VA for adult death is limited mainly to maternal deaths and the validity of VA for adult death is unknown. We developed a VA questionnaire, mortality classification system and "expert opinion" based algorithms for reaching diagnoses for adult deaths and tested their validity on deaths occurring at hospitals in Tanzania (n=315), Ethiopia (n=249) and Ghana (n=232). Hospital records of adult deaths occurring at study hospitals from June 1993 to April 1995 were collected prospectively. VA interviews were conducted by trained non-medical interviewers. Caused of death from VA data were reached by a panel of three physicians and by a computerised algorithm. The validity of VA was assessed by comparing the VA diagnoses with hospital diagnoses. Specificity of VA fell below 95% only for few common causes of adult death. Sensitivity and kappa of VA for all common causes of adult death were low and this suggests that the accuracy of VA at the individual level is low. However, the misclassification of causes of death was bi-directional and the number of false positive and false negative diagnosis for most common causes of adult death tend to be similar. Thus there was robust agreement between the true and VA estimates of cause specific mortality fractions of common causes of adult death and VA is useful for assessing cause specific mortality fractions of common causes of adult death.
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Costa, Liliana Filipa Vale. "Game-based learning for active ageing: co-designing, developing and assessing a game-based tool." Doctoral thesis, Universidade de Aveiro, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10773/23250.
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Doutoramento em Informação e Comunicação em Plataformas DigitaisCurrent demands for the Information and Communication Society often exclude certain groups either by their age, lack of participation in the labour workforce, health status or learning difficulties. In fact, active ageing and lifelong learning have been central issues for the Political Declaration and Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the World’s Health Organisation. Although debate continues about the best strategies for increasing the participation of older adult citizens in economic, cultural and social affairs, few studies have addressed the potential of a game-based approach to encourage healthier habits, a sense of security and participation in society. The purpose of this mixed-method study is to assess the effectiveness of game-based learning to encourage active ageing. In this thesis, thirty-three adult learners (G0) at a University of Third Age were involved in the design process of two learning programmes (game-based learning – GBLP and computer-assisted learning – CALP). The field research deployed an array of longitudinal methods, including surveys, group discussions, and participant observation. Sixty adult learners at four Universities of Third Age were then assigned to three different groups: The Experimental Group (G1), who tested firstly the GBLP and then the CALP; The Comparison Group (G2), who tested firstly the CALP and then the GBLP; and the Control Group (G3) that did not take part in the intervention. Before and after each experiment, the participants were assessed on their perception of health-related wellbeing and quality of life, using the SF36v2 and WHOQOL-BREF scales. Semi-structured interviews with ten Subject Matter Experts from the Industry and the Educational Sector in the fields of Games, Human-Computer Interaction and Psychology and/or Ageing studies were carried out in order to get their perspective on the use of games for learning and meet the challenges of the ageing process and changes in behaviours. Findings suggest that although no significant differences between the type of experiment undertaken by each group and their health-related wellbeing and quality of life were observed, there were significant differences between the group type and their perception on mental health (F(2,57) = 3.771, p= .029) and general health-related wellbeing (F(2,57) = 5.231, p= .008) in which the GBLP showed improvements relative to the CALP. When designing such learning programme, the environment, mental and psychological wellbeing and quality of life domains should be considered whereas metamemory, immediate feedback, context-aware challenges, storytelling/bios and role-playing, imagery-based techniques and social engagement are important design factors to foster the participants’ confidence to solve daily-life problems, decrease ageing bias and encourage participation in society. Two prototypes of the learning programmes are provided as a result of the co-design sessions and a set of design recommendations are also included.
As exigências atuais que decorrem da Sociedade da Informação e Comunicação, por vezes, excluem certos grupos, quer pela idade, quer por não fazerem parte da população ativa, quer pelo estado de saúde ou dificuldades de aprendizagem. De facto, o envelhecimento ativo e a aprendizagem ao longo da vida têm sido temas centrais da Declaração Política de Ação Internacional para o Envelhecimento de Madrid e da Organização Mundial de Saúde. Apesar de, recentemente, se ter verificado um interesse crescente na utilização de estratégias que visem responder aos desafios de uma sociedade envelhecida, grande parte dos estudos parece não considerar os jogos como estratégia de aprendizagem para motivar hábitos saudáveis, segurança e participação na sociedade. Trinta e três alunos de uma Universidade Sénior (G0) foram envolvidos no processo de design de dois programas de aprendizagem (baseado em jogo – GBLP e assistido por computador – CALP). O trabalho de campo teve como base os seguintes métodos longitudinais: inquérito, discussões em grupo e observação participante. Sessenta alunos de quatro Universidades Sénior foram posteriormente divididos em três grupos: Grupo Experimental (G1) que testou primeiro o GBLP e depois o CALP; Grupo de Comparação (G2) que testou primeiro o CALP e depois o GBLP; e o Grupo de Controlo (G3) que não teve intervenção. Antes e pós cada experiência, foi avaliada a perceção sobre o bem-estar de saúde e qualidade de vida, utilizando as escalas SF36v2 e WHOQOL-BREF. Entrevistas semiestruturadas foram também concretizadas com dez especialistas da Academia e Indústria nas áreas dos Jogos, Interação Homem-Máquina, Psicologia e Envelhecimento, de modo a obter as suas perspetivas sobre o uso de jogos e mudanças comportamentais e envelhecimento ativo. Os resultados sugerem que embora não tenham sido encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre grupos sobre o estado de bem-estar sobre saúde e qualidade de vida, verificaram-se diferenças entre cada grupo e perceção sobre a saúde mental (F (2,57) = 3.771, p = .029) e bem-estar geral (F (2,57) = 5,231, p = 0,008) em que GBLP foi eficaz em relação ao CALP. Relativamente ao design de jogos, os fatores ambiente, bem-estar mental e psicológico dos domínios de bem-estar e qualidade de vida devem ser considerados, enquanto os fatores de design como metamemória, feedback imediato, desafios adaptados ao contexto, narrativa e bios dos personagens, imagética e engagement social são importantes para aumentar a confiança dos participantes na resolução de problemas do dia-a-dia, diminuir o medo de envelhecer e incentivar a participação na sociedade. Dois protótipos que resultam das sessões de co-design são apresentados tais como um conjunto de recomendações para o seu desenvolvimento.
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Michaud, Jon-Pierre. "Precision-cut liver slice culture: An in vitro tool for assessing hepatotoxic interactions of organohalides." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/186937.
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A serious impediment to the application of fundamental toxicology to the protection of human and environmental health is that most organisms are exposed to mixtures of chemical agents while the majority of toxicology research elucidates the toxic actions of individual agents. Our current state of knowledge is insufficient for predicting the effects of a combination of agents based on the dose-response characteristics of the agents administered singly. Even when dose-response data from mixtures and their individual components are available, no clear consensus exists as to which means are appropriate for determining if an interaction such as synergy or antagonism is indicated by those data. Sound mathematical analysis of toxic interaction is an essential ingredient in this pursuit. Experimental designs and means of data analysis permitting precarious conclusions remain in common use, and impede the characterization and elucidation of xenobiotic interactions. This thesis critiques some of the approaches used to address xenobiotic interaction, and offers specific and novel techniques and guidelines for improved approaches. Increasingly large numbers of toxicants exceed our current ability to assess toxicity. The development of in vitro methods offers an increased ability to examine larger numbers of toxicants and their combinations than conventional in vivo approaches given the finite resources available. This thesis presents evidence supporting the validation of precision-cut liver slice culture as an in vitro model for investigating hepatotoxic interactions of defined binary mixtures. Toxic interactions observed in vivo were demonstrated in the in vitro liver slice culture in two strains of rat. No intrinsic bias was detected by challenging this approach with a sham interaction (one compound combined with itself). Structure-activity based predictions of toxic interaction were demonstrated in liver slice culture. Two separate means of data analysis arrived at the same interpretations of the data for all of the experimental results described above. No toxic interactions were found in a limited but rigorous test of a bacterial toxicity assay, suggesting that interactive toxic responses are sensitive to the choice of biological model. Preliminary experiments were conducted for assessing the effect of mechanistic probes (metabolic manipulations) on established toxic interactions.
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Lynch, Erin S. "Feng Shui as a site design tool: Assessing conditions of human comfort in urban places." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/292072.
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Feng Shui as a site design tool seeks a different spectrum of criteria in the observation and assessment of a site than that of contemporary site design. It is a method based on the understanding and observation of the energetic conditions within and surrounding a site. Energetic conditions are perceptible. It requires an additional level of awareness to be able to identify what it is that causes a space to feel the way it does. Feng Shui may provide the additional level of consideration that when incorporated in the design process, facilitates spaces that may more effectively fulfill their purpose and feel good to the people using them. This study assessed a variety of existing urban places in Tucson, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Sedona, AZ. for conditions of human comfort based on (1) Feng Shui principles, and (2) contemporary site design recommendations. Current research on the topic of Feng Shui is limited to its application in land planning. This qualitative study applied the principles of Feng Shui as criteria in the evaluation of urban spaces. Results of the study indicate that well designed places from a Feng Shui standpoint were also perceived as well designed from a contemporary site design vantage. The outcome suggests the value of incorporating Feng Shui as a tool in the site design process used by Western designers.
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Floch, Luke. "Assessing the Accuracy of Lidar as a Forest Inventory Tool Using Individual Stem Identification and Attribution." The University of Montana, 2010. http://etd.lib.umt.edu/theses/available/etd-09012010-112650/.
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Lidar is fast becoming one of the most widely used and accurate remote sensing tools for forest inventory. The means by which the lidar data is used to accomplish these inventories varies greatly. This study examines the use of individual tree detection and attribution to assess various forest characteristics, along with testing two alternative methods of determining canopy cover from lidar. Individual stem detection was accomplished using a local maxima algorithm. The total number of stems detected by lidar was 6% lower than field tallied stems, with regression analysis yielding an R2 of 0.59 and RMSE of 188/ha. The difference in number of lidar versus field trees also differed by density. For those plots with a density greater than 600 trees/ha, the number of stems detected by lidar was 26% lower than field measured stems. For those plots with less than 600 trees/ha, lidar detected a much larger number of small stems (< 35 cm diameter), leading to a larger estimate of tree density overall (~25% more lidar trees). Field based measures of mean and maximum height were highly correlated with the lidar data, resulting in R2 values of 0.85 and 0.89, and RMSE values of 1.6 and 1.7 respectively. Overall mean diameter and basal area were closely estimated by lidar, with both field and lidar mean diameter at 27.8 cm and total basal area at 77.3 m2 for lidar and 77.4 m2 field data. Plot-level comparisons of these 2 attributes showed some variation however. Mean for the diameter had an R2 of just 0.56 and an RMSE of 4.7 cm. For the plot level basal area, R2 was 0.57 with an RMSE of 0.8 m2/0.1 ha. Canopy cover was found to be most accurately estimated using the intensity (i.e. returned energy) of the lidar pulses and calculating the ratio of canopy intensity to total intensity. The high correlation between lidar-based estimates and field-based estimates suggests that lidar data can be effectively used to help provide complete wall-to-wall data for key forest inventory attributes.
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Wood, Heather. "Assessing the feasibility of using actuarial risk assessment tool to identify risks in child protection cases." Thesis, Bournemouth University, 2011. http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/19387/.
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The problem: Risk and uncertainty are integral to child protection decisions because of the need to protect children from intrafamilial maltreatment, which is more common than abuse by strangers and occurs in the private sphere of the home. The problem of assessing intrafamilial risks to children following abuse and neglect referrals has received little attention in the UK compared with North America. Improved assessment of such risks would inform child protection plans, enabling risk reduction and improved safeguarding of children. There are currently no UK recommended valid and reliable risk assessment tools available for child protection teams, who rely on unaided professional judgement where information may be incomplete, expertise is variable and the process open to bias. Currently, UK child protection risk assessments are based on professional opinions about the range and weighting of factors associated with families where children have been abused or neglected. Study purpose: Selecting and weighting the most significant predictive factors of risk to children by using actuarial statistical methods is more likely to lead to yield accurate risk ratings. Whilst not perfect predictors, such actuarial tools categorise cases into low or high risk groups better than unaided professional judgements or consensus based assessments. Actuarial risk assessments have not previously been tested for UK child protection work, so this study selected and applied the best available North American tool. Method: The Michigan Family Risk Assessment for Abuse or Neglect (FRAAN) was selected on the basis of its published evidence base and applied to a cohort of UK Serious Case Review reports from Thirteen Counties (SCRs) to identify and rate pre-existing risks before the abusive event. Further analysis of risk factors singly and in combination was extended to compare the Thirteen Counties data with two large recently published SCR studies and one study of UK child homicide perpetrators. Findings: The FRAAN assessment scores correctly identified most cases as High or Intensive Risk. FRAAN performed adequately in identifying these very high risk cases (Sensitivity = 88%) but specificity could not be assessed using these exclusively high risk cases. Most frequent neglect risk factors were inadequate physical care of children, unsupported primary carers and their inability to prioritise the child’s needs over their own. Most frequent abuse risk factors were families not cooperating with a need for parenting improvement, prior abuse incidents, a youngest child aged <6 years and domestic violence. Comparing those cases where children died versus those where they survived, risk factor frequencies for Deceased and Survivor groups were strongly positively correlated, showing no statistical differences between the direction of scores for the two groups. Parental substance misuse was more common in the Deceased group, whilst households where a child had a disability or delinquency problems were both more common in the Survivor group. FRAAN risk scores could not effectively distinguish between fatal and non fatal outcomes. Comparisons between this Thirteen Counties study dataset and a UK study of child homicides and two major recent reviews of SCRs demonstrated no statistical differences between the ages and sexes of the children, the causes of death and parental characteristics, except for in the cases of men with convictions for violence, which were possibly under recorded in SCRs. Key risk factors in all the studies were parental mental illness, chaotic neglectful families and substance misuse. These factors appear to distinguish high risk families where there are further risks of fatal child abuse. Conclusions: The use of formal risk assessment tools is likely to help child protection teams identify cases where extra support, or substitute care, is required to protect children at high risk of further intrafamilial maltreatment. The use of such tools in low and medium risk cases was not tested in this study due to lack of access to a mix of cases. Policy, practice and further research directions are recommended to extend the testing of the FRAAN risk assessment tool.
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Pardo, Linda Hildegarde 1962. "Natural abundance of ¹⁵N as a tool for assessing patterns of nitrogen loss from forest ecosystems." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/9311.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1999.Includes bibliographical references.
Stable isotopes provide an integrated measure of the nitrogen cycling history of a site. Among ecosystems with contrasting nitrate loss patterns, the [delta]15 N of soil and plant material should be higher at sites with higher nitrate losses. An underlying assumption in natural abundance isotope studies is that soil [delta]15 N is at steady-state over time. I found that [delta]15 N was not at steady state in either the Oie or Oa horizon for the period 1969 t[delta]1992 for the reference watershed (W6) at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF); when nitrate losses were high, [delta]15 N increased. I measured the [delta]15N of soils from 28 soil pits at Watershed 5 at the HBEF before and after clear-cutting in order t[delta]test the hypothesis that elevated nitrification and nitrate loss induced by clear-cutting would be associated with a concurrent increase in soil [delta]15 N. A mass-balance model confirmed that increases in nitrification and nitrate loss after clear-cutting could explain the increase in soil [delta]15N (l .6%0 in the Oie horizon and 1. 1 o/o[delta]in the Oa horizon) in the organic horizons after 3 years. I tested the hypotheses: (1) that foliar [delta]15 N will be higher in a clear-cut watershed than in a reference watershed due t[delta]elevated nitrification and nitrate loss; and (2) that foliar [delta]1 5 N in a clear-cut watershed will track the rapid changes in streamwater nitrate after clear-cutting. Increased foliar [delta]15 N coincided with increased streamwater nitrate concentration, suggesting that the increased nitrification that caused elevated streamwater nitrate concentration als[delta]caused enrichment of the plant-available ammonium pool. Finally, I tested the hypotheses: (1) that [delta]15 N in soil and litter increases across a spatial gradient of nitrate loss, and (2) that [delta]15 N in soil and litter are elevated when nitrification potential is elevated. The enrichment factor, defined as [delta]15 N1foliar - [delta]15Nbs is a method of comparing [delta]15 N values from different sites by normalizing for the spatial heterogeneity in mineral soil [delta]15 N values. When net nitrification potential was high, the enrichment factor was higher, when nitrification potential was low, the enrichment factor was lower. The enrichment factor may prove valuable for comparing sites with different nitrogen cycling patterns.
by Linda Hildegarde Prado.
Ph.D.
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Ardiyanto, Ardiyanto. "Development of A Tool for Assessing Risk Factors Associated with Lower Extremity Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders." The Ohio State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu158751667997208.
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Ormon, Stephen Wayne. "Development of a hierarchical, model-based design decision-support tool for assessing uncertainty of cost estimates." Master's thesis, Mississippi State : Mississippi State University, 2002. http://library.msstate.edu/etd/show.asp?etd=etd-04092002-084914.
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Bucchi, Morales Ana. "Approaches for assessing whether the human hand evolved by natural selection in adaptation to stone tool use." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/669294.
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Els estudis en Evolució Humana han conclòs en general que els trets derivats en humans van facilitar comportaments relacionats amb l'ús d'eines i ens van fer primats especialment destres. La manera com els humans adquirim aquesta configuració única de caràcters musclo-esquelètics té profundes implicacions en el nostre enteniment de l'Evolució Humana en general, ja que la tecnologia lítica és un element clau per definir cultures. El propòsit d'aquesta Tesi és avaluar si la mà humana va evolucionar per selecció natural en adaptació a l'ús d'eines lítiques, la qual és la hipòtesi més estesa per a l'evolució de la mà. Amb aquest propòsit, una mostra de mans de primats actuals, principalment humans, ximpanzés i goril·les, ha sigut analitzada amb diferents mètodes que permeten relacionar forma i funció.
El primer objectiu ha sigut avaluar el comportament del polze sota escenaris simulats d'ús d'un percutor en hominoïdeus, a través de l'anàlisi d'elements finits. Els resultats indiquen que la distribució de l'estrès als ossos probablement no va ser una pressió selectiva prou forta com per modelar la forma dels ossos de la mà en humans. El segon objectiu ha sigut avaluar si els humans mostren una estructura de covariació en els carps que és diferent a la de ximpanzés i goril·les. Els resultats indiquen que diferents patrons de covariació poden haver modelat l'evolució del canell en aquests primats, podent estar relacionat amb demandes funcionals. L'últim objectiu ha estat provar si la mida de les èntesis de lligaments i músculs són proxis fiables per inferir patrons d'activitat. Els resultats indiquen que l'ús d'eines lítiques pot ser inferit en hominins analitzant regions de la mà on s'uneixen tendons (amb èntesis fibro-cartilaginoses) i lligaments. Això pot contribuir a la discussió de quan els hominins començaren a utilitzar eines lítiques i amb quina freqüència.Los estudios en evolución humana han concluido en general que los rasgos derivados en humanos facilitaron comportamientos relacionados con el uso de herramientas y nos hicieron primates especialmente diestros. Cómo los humanos adquirimos esta configuración única de caracteres musculoesqueletales tiene profundas implicancias en nuestro entendimiento de la evolución humana en general, ya que la tecnología lítica es un elemento clave para definir culturas humanas. El propósito de esta tesis es evaluar si la mano humana evolucionó por selección natural en adaptación al uso de herramientas líticas, la que es la hipótesis más extendida para la evolución de la mano. Con este propósito, una muestra de manos de primates actuales, principalmente humanos, chimpancés y gorillas, fue analizada con distintos métodos que permiten relacionar forma y función biológica. El primer objetivo fue evaluar el comportamiento del pulgar bajo escenarios simulados de uso de un percutor en hominoideos, a través del análisis de elementos finitos. Los resultados indican que la distribución del estrés en los huesos probablemente no fue una presión selectiva suficientemente fuerte como para modelar la forma de los huesos de la mano en humanos. El segundo objetivo fue evaluar si los humanos muestran una estructura de covariación en los carpos que es diferente a la de chimpancés y gorilas. Los resultados indican que patrones de covariación distintos pueden haber modelado la evolución de la muñeca en estos primates, lo que puede estar relacionado con demandas funcionales distintas de locomoción y manipulación. El último objetivo fue probar si el tamaño de las entesis de ligamentos y músculos son proxis confiables para inferir patrones de actividad. Los resultados indican que el uso de herramientas líticas puede ser inferido en homininos analizando regiones de la mano donde se unen tendones (con entesis fibrocartilaginosas) y ligamentos. Esto puede servir para discutir desde cuándo y con qué frecuencia los homininos utilizaron herramientas líticas.
Studies in hand morphology have generally concluded that derived traits in humans facilitated stone tool-related behaviors and made us a highly dexterous primate. How humans acquired this unique configuration of musculoskeletal traits has profound implications for our understanding of human evolution overall, considering that stone technology is a key element defining culture in our species. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate whether the human hand evolved by natural selection in adaptation to stone tool use, which is the most widespread hypothesis for the evolution of the human hand. For this purpose, a comparative sample of hands of extant primates, mainly humans, chimpanzees and gorillas, were analyzed under different methods that relate biological form and function. The first objective of this thesis was to evaluate the performance of the thumb during simulated hammerstone use through a finite element analysis. The results that stress distribution in hand bones was unlikely to be a selective pressure strong enough to shape the hand of humans. The second objective was to evaluate whether humans have a different covariation structure at the wrist than that of chimpanzees and gorillas. Results indicate that different covariation patterns may be shaping the evolution of the wrist in these primates, which might be related to different functional demands of locomotion and manipulation. The last objective was to test whether entheseal size of ligaments and muscles are reliable for inferring activity patterns in the hand. The results indicate that stone tool use may be inferred in hominins by analyzing hand regions where tendons (with fibrocartilaginous entheses) and ligaments attach. This serves to discuss since when and to which extent hominins were using stone tools.
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Kylmänen, Päivi, and Alexandra Spasic. "Assessing competence in technical skills of theatre nurses in India and Sweden : Evaluation of an observational tool." Thesis, Röda Korsets Högskola, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:rkh:diva-15.
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Surgical processes are a complex function of a number of inter-related factors that include individual skills, team working and operating theatre environment. Individual skills can be divided to technical and non-technical skills. This distinction between technical and non-technical skills is rather recent in the healthcare literature. There are studies made about assessing non-technical skills performed in the operating theatre but studies made to assess theatre nurses‘ technical skills have been lacking until recently. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical applicability of a newly developed observation tool in different contexts and through observing describe similarities or differences between theatre nursing. The observations in the present study are structured with a newly developed observational tool that is developed to assess technical skills of a theatre nurse. The two authors of this study performed the data collection simultaneously at different operation departments. The present study makes evident that the technical skills required of a theatre nurse are considerably different in two different countries. Therefore, it is difficult to use an observational tool without modifying it according to local routines.Kirurgiska processer består av ett antal komplext inbördes relaterade faktorer som inkluderar individuella färdigheter, teamarbete och miljön i operationssalen. Individuella färdigheter kan delas till tekniska och icke-tekniska färdigheter. Denna åtskillnad mellan tekniska och icke-tekniska färdigheter är ganska ny i omvårdnadslitteraturen. Det har genomförts studier där man har bedömt icke-tekniska färdigheter som utförs i operationssalen men studier för att bedöma operationssjuksköterskans tekniska färdigheter har saknats fram till nyligen. Syftet med denna studie är att utvärdera den kliniska tillämpligheten av ett nyutvecklat observationsverktyg i olika kontext och genom att observera kunna beskriva likheter eller skillnader mellan tekniska färdigheter. Observationerna i den aktuella studien är strukturerade med ett nyutvecklat observationsverktyg som är utvecklad för att bedöma en operationssjuksköterskas tekniska färdigheter. De två författarna till denna studie genomförde datainsamlingen samtidigt på olika operationsavdelningar. Den aktuella studiens resultat visar att de tekniska färdigheterna som krävs av en operationssjuksköterska är betydligt olika i två olika länder. Därför är det svårt att använda ett observationsverktyg utan att anpassa det enligt de lokala rutinerna.
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Bollen, Jessica Charlotte. "Developing a stroke rehabilitation exercise adherence measure: StREAM : a self-report tool assessing the likelihood of adherence." Thesis, Exeter and Plymouth Peninsula Medical School, 2017. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.712524.
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Adherence is necessary to establish the effectiveness of rehabilitation exercises for those with long term conditions, but measuring it is problematic. Adherence is vital when attempting to measure and understand how an intervention works; without appropriate levels of adherence it is not possible to conduct a fair test of an intervention since failure to find benefit may be due to poor adherence rather than an ineffective intervention. There are no gold standard measures, and objective measurement devices are fallible. Without an accurate way to assess if participants are adherent to their exercise programs the efficacy of the programme cannot be assessed. Therefore the objective of this PhD was to develop a psychometrically valid and reliable self-report adherence measure to assess the likelihood of adherence for stroke survivors called the Stroke Rehabilitation Exercise Adherence Measure, (StREAM). A large systematic review was conducted to synthesise the existing evidence for self-report measures of adherence to prescribed unsupervised exercise programmes. The review found many measures but few possessed acceptable any tested psychometric properties and therefore the need for a psychometrically sound adherence measure to assess the likelihood of adherence was highlighted. To ensure StREAM had robust content validity stroke survivors (n=16), physiotherapists (n=3), and exercise professionals (n=2) were interviewed. Items were created from salient phases in the interviews which were then discussed at two focus groups of stroke survivors. This ensured items in StREAM were suitable and comprehensible to the target population.
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Medler, Barbara R. "An investigation of biased language use as a tool for assessing anti-lesbian prejudice among heterosexual women." Virtual Press, 2002. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1247893.
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The present study examined the viability of a model of biased language use (e.g., Maass et al., 1989; Maass et al., 1996) as a measure of anti-lesbian prejudice among heterosexual women. As a matter of methodological and psychometric exploration, four alternative methods of scoring linguistic abstraction were employed.One hundred eighty-one female university undergraduates provided abstraction ratings for a series of seven fictitious news clippings, adapted from von Hippel et al. (1997), four of which depicted either heterosexual or lesbian women engaging in behaviors that were either socially favorable or unfavorable and lesbian stereotypic or counterstereotypic. Participants also completed a "Memory Test" devised for this study, a demographic questionnaire, and the ATL Subscale of the ATLG (Herek, 1988, 1994).The prediction that the linguistic expectancy bias (LEB; e.g., Maass, 1999) would be observed in the present intergroup context was not supported. The overall pattern of results suggested some stability across scoring methods. A number of implications of the findings are considered, with a focus on methodological concerns and applications to practice.Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services
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Sawada, Atsuro. "Development of a Novel Tool for Assessing Deformation and Hardness of Real Organs: Pressure Measuring Grasper (PMEG)." Kyoto University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/217733.
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Bobrow, Kirsten. "Assessing type 2 diabetes associated NeuroCognitive impairment using an e-screening tool in a South African population." Master's thesis, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31159.
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Background: Type 2 diabetes has been found to be associated with cognitive impairments in planning, problem solving, organization, and working memory and also with an increased risk of dementia. Neurocognitive impairment may impact self-care and other health behaviours increasing the risk of poor health outcomes in this patient population. Detection of neurocognitive impairment in low and middle-income settings is challenging; there is a lack of validated screening tools suitable for local use in primary care and outpatient settings and access to formal neuropsychological testing services is limited. The inability to easily identify people with type 2 diabetes with neurocognitive impairments is constraining the development of context appropriate interventions to improve the care and outcomes in this sub-group of patients. Aim: The aim of the current analysis is to explore associations between neurocognitive function and measures of diabetes control (HbA1c, disease duration, type of blood glucose lowering treatment) at baseline in a population of people with type 2 diabetes participating in a clinical trial of treatment adherence support using SMS-text messages. Materials and Methods: Sms text Adherence suppoRt for type 2 Diabetes (StAR2D) is a randomised clinical trial testing if a system of SMS-text messages to support treatment adherence is more effective than usual care for controlling blood sugar among people with type 2 diabetes in sub-Sahara Africa (ISRCTN70768808). We have embedded neurocognitive assessment sub-studies into the Cape Town trial site. At baseline participants in the StAR2D trial complete a novel mobile-device based cognitive assessment, NeuroScreen, assisted by a field research assistant. The assessment contains 9 variants of tests found in the gold-standard neuropsychological test battery that have been adapted and normed for use in South Africa. It is available in English or isiXhosa. The assessment takes between 20 to 40 minutes depending on participant error rate. This cross-sectional analysis of baseline data uses linear and logistic regression models to explore associations between neurocognitive function and measures of diabetes control. Results: Six hundred participants eligible for enrolment in the StAR2D trial were recruited from the Cape Town trial site; 499 participants completed the baseline neurocognitive screening assessment (20 to 40 minutes to complete); 101 participants did not complete the assessment (commonly due to eyesight, hearing or motor difficulties e.g. hemiplegia due to previous stroke or technical difficulties.) We found differences in the scores in some but not all the neuropsychological tests. Using cut points suggested by an earlier validation study of NeuroScreen tool more than half of study participants would be scored as having at least mild neurocognitive impairment. HbA1c, duration of disease, type of blood glucose lowering treatment were not significantly associated with individual or overall neuropsychological test scores or odds of neurocognitive impairment. Conclusions: The prevalence of neurocognitive impairment may be substantial in this patient population. A novel tablet based neurocognitive screening tool was broadly feasible and acceptable to lay researchers and trial participants. There was no evidence that HbA1c, duration of disease, or type of blood glucose lowering treatment (oral agents alone or insulin containing regimens) was significantly associated with individual or overall neuropsychological test scores or odds of neurocognitive impairment. Validating this tool for this patient population and optimising its role in routine clinical care need further study.
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Borchers, Mark Louis. "A decision making tool for assessing grid electrification versus stand-alone power supply options for remote users." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8291.
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Includes bibliography.The objective of this study is to compile a micro-computer based tool to aid in the evaluation of power supply options for remote sites. The options considered are stand-alone photovoltaic, diesel generation, and grid extension power supplies. The basis on which the various options are compared is the unit cost of energy expected from the system. This is determined by combining all capital costs, running costs, and other payments on a present value basis over the project lifetime. The comparison of the unit energy cost expected from each option is only meaningful if the reliability of each supply system is known. The Loss of Energy Probability of each option is therefore established to provide a common ground on which to compare these costs. •
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Nwufo, Chinwe Erika, and Carol Yareli Castillo. "SOCIAL WORKERS’ PERCEPTIONS ON THE USEFULNESS OF THE STRUCTURED DECISION-MAKING TOOL IN ASSESSING SAFETY AND RISK." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/831.
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In child welfare agencies, the Structured Decision-Making (SDM) Safety and Risk Assessment tools are utilized to support social workers in assessing families and make informed decisions while investigating child abuse and neglect. In the past, numerous studies have evaluated the strengths and weaknesses the SDM safety and risk assessment tools; however, studies have neglected social workers’ perspectives on using the tools during their investigations.
Using a quantitative approach, this study examines social workers’ perceptions on the usefulness of the SDM safety and risk assessment tools during their investigations. IS social work participants from one California county agency completed an online questionnaire using Qualtrics software. The data was analyzed using statistical tests including frequencies, independent samples t-tests, and ANOVA. In order to compare groups of participants’ perceptions of the SDM safety and risk tool, we created a composite score to reflect participants’ overall perceptions of the tool.
The results revealed no statistically significant differences in social workers’ perceptions about the tool based on participants’ work experiences (more or less than 5-years’ experience) or by participants’ job titles (social worker III, IV, and V). Because these findings cannot be generalized to social workers in other counties, future research should survey social workers from various counties in California to obtain more generalizable results.