Evaluation Of Alternative Methods Research Articles

Probabilistic double hierarchy linguistic alternative queuing method for real economy development evaluation under the perspective of economic financialization

With the development of science and technology, the new road of scientific economic and financial development has played a decisive role in supporting the financial undertaking. To accelerate the economic development, it is very important to increase the guiding role of financial undertaking in the real economy. Therefore, it is necessary to promote the development of the real economy under the perspective of economic financialization based on some actions. To judge the implementation effect of these actions, this paper develops a multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) method to evaluate them. First, the decision-making matrices are established with the probabilistic double hierarchy linguistic term set in which the probabilities are added to all double hierarchy linguistic terms. Additionally, a weight-determining method is developed to obtain the weight vector of criteria, and we develop a MCDM method named the probabilistic double hierarchy linguistic alternative queuing method (PDHL-AQM), where the decision-making result is intuitive by a directed graph or a 0–1 precedence relationship matrix. Furthermore, we apply the PDHL-AQM to solve a practical MCDM problem involving the real economy development evaluation under the perspective of economic financialization. Finally, some comparative analyses are made to show the advantages and reasonableness of the PDHL-AQM.

Teaching Activities Implemented by Pre-Service Primary Teachers While Teaching Mathematics

Abstract: The aim of this study is to determine the teaching activities of pre-service teachers in the course of mathematics teaching methods. All of the pre-service teachers have selected an attainment content from the primary (1-4) mathematics education curriculum at the beginning of the semester in the scope of mathematics teaching methods course. Data collection tools include prepared lesson plans and presentation notes by the students, as well as field notes of the researchers in addition to an observation form. According to the results obtained with descriptive statistics and content analysis, while the pre-service teachers were successfully performed in timing and taking into account of curriculum requirements, they were not adequately performed in problem posing and problem solving and also using alternative and appropriate evaluation methods.

Accounting for the Distribution of Benefits and Costs in Benefit–Cost Analysis

AbstractBenefit–cost analysis (BCA) is often viewed as measuring the efficiency of a policy independent of the distribution of its consequences. The role of distributional effects on policy choice is disputed; either: (a) the policy that maximizes net benefits should be selected and distributional concerns should be addressed through other measures, such as tax and transfer programs or (b) BCA should be supplemented with distributional analysis and decision-makers should weigh efficiency and distribution in policy choice. The separation of efficiency and distribution is misleading. The measure of efficiency depends on the numéraire chosen for the analysis, whether monetary values or some other good (unless individuals have the same rates of substitution between them). The choice of numéraire is not neutral; it can affect the ranking of policies by calculated net benefits. Alternative evaluation methods, such as BCA using a different numéraire, weighted BCA, or a social welfare function (SWF), may better integrate concerns about distribution and efficiency. The most appropriate numéraire, distributional weights, or SWFs cannot be measured or statistically estimated; it is a normative choice.

Forgotten Variables in Gerontological Evaluation of Religiosity and Spirituality

Despite the fact that religiosity and spirituality are commonly cited as essential elements of physical and mental health functioning in old and very old age, the conceptualization of religiosity and spirituality continues to present a quandary in contemporary gerontological inquiry and assessment. Identification of variables that best capture and truly define religious and spiritual constructs has remained relatively inconclusive over the past few decades. Recently, there has been a renewed interest among gerontologists to identify underlying religious and spiritual variables using alternative qualitative and quantitative methods of evaluation. Such methods have been used to further disentangle and understand the uniqueness of religion and spirituality as variables for studying human aging. This symposium will be used to communicate empirical results, methodological procedures, and conceptual insights concerning the identification of understudied and under-represented variables often absent within modern gerontological inquiry of religion and spirituality. Four presentations representing qualitative and quantitative studies will be used to report key religious and spiritual variables stemming from the context of personal narrative, oral storytelling, self-improvement behavior, and the disposition to seek forgiveness. Recommendations pertaining to future gerontological inquiry in the science of religion and spirituality, as well as applications within geriatric and gerontological practice will be highlighted and discussed.

How Are Residents Trained in Neuropathology? A Survey of Neurology Program Directors in the United States.

To understand the current state of neurology residents training in neuropathology, we electronically distributed a 16-item survey to 150 adult and 70 child neurology program directors (PDs). The survey inquired about their program characteristics, neuropathology curriculum and assessment methods, trainee performance, and attitudes. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize categorical variables as frequencies and percentages and continuous as means and standard deviations. We conducted a series of Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests to evaluate differences between various program characteristics. Sixty-four (29%) PDs responded to the survey, including 45 (30%) adult and 19 (27%) child neurology PDs. Thirty-one programs required a dedicated neuropathology rotation. The majority (92%) used the Residency In-Service Training Examination (RITE) to assess trainee's knowledge. Approximately 86% of the PDs agreed that neuropathology is essential and a defined curriculum is necessary during residency training. There was no difference in the RITE scores between programs. We conclude that a neuropathology rotation was felt to be essential even though the RITE scores did not differ between programs with and without a dedicated rotation. Alternative evaluation and training methods may need consideration. A future survey of all the stakeholders may be required to thoroughly understand and disseminate the neuropathology education well.

Evaluating Vaccination Programs That Prevent Diseases With Potentially Catastrophic Health Outcomes: How Can We Capture the Value of Risk Reduction?

In the last 5 years, guidelines have been developed for performing cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) for the economic evaluation of vaccination programs against infectious diseases. However, these cost-effectiveness guidelines do not provide specific guidance for including the value of reducing the risk of rare but potentially catastrophic health outcomes, such as mortality or long-term sequelae. Alternative economic evaluation methods, including extended CEA, the impact inventory, cost-benefit analyses, willingness to pay or the value of a statistical life, to capture the value of this risk reduction could provide more complete estimates of the value of vaccination programs for diseases with potentially catastrophic health and nonhealth outcomes. In this commentary, using invasive meningococcal disease as an example, we describe these alternative approaches along with examples to illustrate how the benefits of vaccination in reducing risk of catastrophic health outcomes can be valued. These benefits are not usually captured in CEAs that only include population benefits estimated as the quality-adjusted life-years gained and reduced costs from avoided cases.

Assessment of the Impact of a Sea Reclamation Project in an Emerging Port City in Tianjin

Qiao, Y.L.; Yin, X.Y., and Luo, Y., 2020. Assessment of the impact of a sea reclamation project in an emerging port city in Tianjin. In: Guido Aldana, P.A. and Kantamaneni, K. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources, Coastal Management, and Marine Science Technology. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 104, pp. 584–592. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Reclamation is a strategy that alleviates land supply demand in coastal areas. However, it also causes important ecological problems, including affectations to ecosystem services. In order to quantitatively evaluate the loss of ecosystem service value in coastal zones due to reclamation, the present research selected Tianjin, a typical city with growing urbanization and industrialization in a China's coastal zone. For this purpose, the classification system of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment was used to analyze the characteristics of the Tianjin's coastal ecosystem, and a unique index system was created to evaluate the service function. The evaluation used the market value method, the alternative cost method, the investigation and evaluation method, and the result reference method. The index system was used to monetarily assess the damage caused by reclamation activities to ecosystem services in the coastal zone in Tianjin. The results showed that the total value loss of marine ecosystem services was 30.95 × 104 yuan / hm2 · a. In addition, it was found that the loss of production service value was the largest, accounting for 51.76% of the total loss value. The reduction in the value of cultural services, accounted for 23.07%. Furthermore, the third place corresponded to the devaluation of the regulatory function value, which was 16.64%. The loss of cultural service value was the smallest, accounting for 8.53%. Also, the loss of ecosystem service value caused by reclamation was mainly due to the effects on food production, cultural use and waste disposal.

The Evaluation of Clay Suitability for Geopolymer Technology

In the last 20 years, laboratory work on geopolymer technology has been confronted with the necessity to determine whether a certain clay material has the properties necessary to form genuine geopolymer when thermally treated and alkalized. The assessment of the properties of clay source materials and of the ability of the materials to form geopolymer 3D netting mainly involves the study of the aluminum transformation level during the thermal treatment of the clay. The presented study combines several classical analytical methods (chemical and mineralogical analyses, the calculation of the Hinckley index (HI) based on X-ray diffraction analyses, and the measurement of particle size distribution) for eleven samples of kaolin and kaolinitic clay of various origins and coming from different locations. The results of these methods have been compared with those of 27Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) in solid state. Based on them, the mentioned methods could be combined for an estimation of the aluminum-ion behavior during the thermal treatment of the clay. HI calculations have shown favorable agreement in 63% of the kaolin samples studied, especially for high purity kaolin without significant impurities in the form of feldspars and/or quartz. The main aim of this work is not to replace the precise MAS–NMR analysis, but to offer an alternative evaluation method when MAS–NMR is not available.

Current Issues in Analytical Similarity Assessment

In 2017, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) circulated a draft guidance on analytical similarity assessment to assist the sponsors for providing totality-of-the-evidence in support of the demonstration of biosimilarity between a proposed biosimilar product and an innovative biological product. The guidance was subsequently withdrawn by the FDA due to some major criticisms received from general public. These major criticisms include, but are not limited to, (i) the use of 90% confidence interval (CI) versus 95% CI, (ii) tiered approach for analytical similarity evaluation, and (iii) current practical issues related to analytical similarity assessment. In this article, these major criticisms and issues are discussed. In addition, some recommendations regarding alternative thinking or methods for analytical similarity evaluation are provided.

Volatility forecasting revisited using Markov‐switching with time‐varying probability transition

AbstractThis study proposes a novel model, Markov‐switching Heterogeneous Autoregressive (MS‐HAR) model with jump‐driven time‐varying transition probabilities (TVTP), to forecast the future volatility in Chinese stock market. The in‐sample results show that MS‐HAR models are more powerful than HAR‐RV‐type models; furthermore, the high‐volatility regime is short‐lived. Moreover, the out‐of‐sample results indicate that the MS‐HAR with TVTP model can achieve a superior forecasting performance and increase the economic value than the competing models including the simple HAR model and the MS‐HAR with fixed transition probabilities (FTP) model. The results are robust to several robustness checks including alternative forecast window, alternative evaluation method, alternative predictive model, sub‐sample analysis and alternative representative index.

Evaluation of Alternative Methods for Dynamic I-95 Express Lane Pricing

Developing dynamic toll algorithms is a major task for express lanes (EL) policy makers. The majority of pricing methods applied in the field utilize traffic data collected at several points along an EL segment to estimate traffic conditions (mainly traffic density) and calculate tolls. While travel time (TT) data can directly capture field conditions and users’ delay on a segment, such data are rarely utilized to calculate tolls for EL users. The literature suggests minor utilization of TTs in EL toll calculations, but not as the main target performance measure. More importantly, there is a need to look at performance of EL tolls from a multi-criteria perspective where the goal is not only to maintain certain level of service on the ELs. To address these topics, this study tests alternative toll calculation methods that rely mainly on TT data and compare their performance with the currently utilized toll calculation algorithm on I-95 EL in South Florida, U.S. In addition, this study proposes an evaluation framework which includes five different criteria to select the best-performing algorithms: 1. policy, 2. efficiency, 3. capacity utilization, 4. cost recovery, and 5. reliability. Results of the study show that a TT-based algorithm, which is less sensitive than conventional methods, performs similarly to a density-based algorithm, and that a travel time savings (TTS)-based algorithm maintains speeds on the ELs more efficiently than the alternative methods. Future research should apply and validate similar methods on other EL cases around the country.

Fizyoloji Deneyleri Kapsamında Alternatif Bir Değerlendirme Yöntemi: TGA Çalışma Yaprakları

The Predict-Observe-Explain (POE) strategy is a hands-on learning method that requires students to predict the results of an activity and the reasons why this result will occur, observe the event, and compare and interpret the differences between their predictions and observations. In this study, some general physiology experiments were conducted using the POE strategy and the prospective teachers’ prediction, observation and explanation skills were analysed. Data was collected using “POE worksheets” developed by the researchers and finalised according to the views of experts in the field of teaching biology. The POE worksheets prepared by the researchers were implemented on prospective teachers over a two-week period wherein 6 experimental activities took place. The answers provided by the prospective teachers on the POE worksheets were received a score of “0”, “1”, or “2”. No change was observed in the prospective teachers’ science process skills of prediction and observation. However, in the explanation portion, the total frequency of prospective teachers who received 2 points in week one was 9 whereas the total frequency of prospective teachers who received 2 points in week two was 17. The results of this study show that using worksheets based on the POE strategy as evaluation tools for physiology topics enhanced prospective teachers’ “science process skill of explaining”. Analysis of the prospective teachers’ answers on the POE worksheets also showed that they had misconceptions about “plasmolysis and deplasmolysis”, “transfer of substances” and “photosynthesis”. Thus, we can say the POE strategy can also be used as an alternative method of evaluation.

Derivation and validation of a simple anthropometric equation to predict fat-free mass in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Loss of skeletal muscle mass is very common in chronic liver diseases and affects 30.0-70.0% of the patients with cirrhosis. Given the relevance of muscle wasting in hepatic diseases, a practical screening tool for earlier detection of skeletal muscle mass loss is of utmost significance. To develop and validate a simple anthropometric prediction equation for fat-free mass estimation by using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) as a reference method in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We prospectively, included 209 CHC patients, randomly allocated into two groups, 158 patients in a development model (derivation sample) and 51 patients in a validation group (validation sample). Predictive equations were developed using backward stepwise multiple regression and the most adequate and simplest derived predictive equation was further explored for agreement and bias in the validation sample. The accuracy of the predictive equation was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R2). The predictive equation with an optimal R2 was Fat-Free Mass (Kg)=Sex×0.17+Height (m)×16.83+Weight (Kg)×0.62+Waist Circumference (cm)×(-0.15)+Weight (Kg)×Sex×(-0.30)+Sex×Waist Circumference (cm)×0.14-6.23; where sex=1 for female and 0 for male. R2=0.93, standard error of the estimate=2.6Kg and coefficient of variation=20.0%, p<0.001. Our developed and cross-validated anthropometric prediction equation for fat-free mass estimation by using BIA attained a high coefficient of determination, a low standard error of the estimate, and lowermost coefficient of variation. This study indicates that predictive equations may be reliable and useful alternative methods for clinical evaluation of fat-free mass in patients with CHC.

Evaluation of anemia, malnutrition, mineral, and bone disorder for maintenance hemodialysis patients based on bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA)

ESRD (End-stage renal disease) treatment is a comprehensive medical process and requires numerous serological biochemical tests (SBTs) in diagnosis. To reduce these invasive, expensive, cumbersome, and time-consuming SBTs, there is a need to develop an alternative serological biochemical composition evaluation method. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is affected by body's chemical and physical components, which might be correlated with serological biochemical composition and can be potentially used to evaluate biochemical composition in hemodialysis patient treatments. In this work, the relationship of classic and specific bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) with major serological biochemical indexes in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients was examined. Bioelectrical and biochemical datasets were measured from 280 women and 408 men and formed 3872 effective biochemical-bioelectrical records in total. Statistical analysis was performed. The results show that BIVA vectors have strong relationship with phosphorus, hemoglobin, and PTH in both male and female groups. Strong correlation was also observed between Ca, albumin, CHOL, LDLC, and BIVA vectors in the male group. In the female group, a significant correlation was observed between classic BIVA values and NT-proBNP. SVM models are effective for classifying biochemical indexes. The obtained correlations and SVM classification models imply that BIVA can be used as a preliminary tool to evaluate and classify the degree of anemia, malnutrition, fluid overload, and mineral and bone disorder (MBD) in MHD patients by reducing the number of SBTs.

What is meaningful research and how should we measure it?

We discuss the trend towards using quantitative metrics for evaluating research. We claim that, rather than promoting meaningful research, purely metric-based research evaluation schemes potentially lead to a dystopian academic reality, leaving no space for creativity and intellectual initiative. After sketching what the future could look like if quantitative metrics are allowed to proliferate, we provide a more detailed discussion on why research is so difficult to evaluate and outline approaches for avoiding such a situation. In particular, we characterize meaningful research as an essentially contested concept and argue that quantitative metrics should always be accompanied by operationalized instructions for their proper use and continuously evaluated via feedback loops. Additionally, we analyze a dataset containing information about computer science publications and their citation history and indicate how quantitative metrics could potentially be calibrated via alternative evaluation methods such as test of time awards. Finally, we argue that, instead of over-relying on indicators, research environments should primarily be based on trust and personal responsibility.

Desgaste da ferramenta de corte de metal duro – uma abordagem estatística

A usinagem é considerada um processo de fabricação onde tem-se remoção de material na forma de cavaco, conferindo à peça de trabalho forma, dimensões e acabamento. Pode-se dizer, que o torneamento é o processo de usinagem mais executado na indústria, por ser fácil de operar e economicamente viável, apresentando uma grande participação na fabricação de peças usinadas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal avaliar o desgaste de uma ferramenta de corte de metal duro após operação de torneamento, bem como, avaliar a efetividade do método utilizado por análise estatística. O material escolhido para os testes de usinagem foi o aço AISI 1020. Para os ensaios de usinagem, foram realizadas operações de desbaste em torno CNC, onde avaliou-se alguns parâmetros como rugosidade, temperatura e o diâmetro da peça a cada passe. Foram realizados ensaios de dureza Rockwell B e análise metalográfica no aço 1020. Para avaliar o desgaste do inserto, mediu-se as suas dimensões antes e após os testes de usinagem, confrontando as medidas via projetor de perfil com as medidas realizadas utilizando micrômetro. Após os testes de usinagem, a ferramenta de metal duro apresentou predominantemente desgaste de cratera e de flanco. Os testes estatísticos realizados (coeficiente de Pearson, teste t e distribuição normal), indicaram que este método de determinação de desgaste da ferramenta de corte, pode ser um método alternativo de avaliação.&#x0D;

Water vapor permeation through topical films on a moisture-releasing skin Model.

Covering the skin by topical films affects the skin hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). In vivo studies to investigate the water vapor permeation through topical films are complicated, expensive, ethically not preferred, and time- and labor-consuming. The objective of this study was to introduce an in vitro and subject-independent alternative evaluation method to predict the breathability of topical formulations. In this study, we developed an in vitro setup to simulate the TEWL values of human skin and investigated the breathability of five polymeric film formers used in topical formulations. Furthermore, a comparative in vivo TEWL study was performed on ten human volunteers with defined areas of skin covered with films of two selected polymers possessing different barrier properties. By employing the in vitro setup, a vinylpyrrolidone/acrylates/lauryl methacrylate copolymer was determined to form the most breathable film, whereas acrylates/octylacrylamide copolymer and shellac films showed the highest barrier properties. The in vivo TEWL study demonstrated the same relative barrier properties for the acrylates/octylacrylamide and polyurethane-64 films, despite a more complex driving force for water vapor permeation due to moisture accumulation on the covered skin surfaces. We obtained a good correlation between the in vitro and in vivo results, demonstrating that our model can categorize different polymeric film formers based on their breathability when applied to human skin. This information can aid in selecting suitable film-forming polymers for topical formulations with either breathable or occluding functionalities.

Opinions of Science Teachers about the Assessment of Talented Students in Science and Arts Centers

This study employed qualitative research method. A semi-structured interview was conducted with sci-ence teachers. Opinions of the science teachers in Science and Art Centers were taken for the evalua-tion of gifted students. The data obtained as a result of the interviews were analyzed by content analysis method. Teachers expressed a common view that the lessons were productive when they were acted on according to students’ interests. In addition, the teaching methods and assessment tools used by the science teachers in their courses are important for the recognition of gifted students. According to the opin-ions of the teachers, it was determined that no specif-ic measurement and evaluation were made for gifted students but alternative measurements and evalua-tion methods were used to measure the development of gifted students.

Ultrasound evaluation of the mechanical properties as an investigation tool for the wood-polymer composites including olive wood flour

This paper presents results obtained for the development of a wood-polymer composite (WPC) based on polypropylene (PP) reinforced by olive wood fibers (OWF). The effect of the wood flour content and its chemical fiber treatment (amino-silane) on the mechanical properties of the WPC was studied by ultrasonic methods and mechanical tensile test. The elastic properties of the studied PP/OWF compositions are discussed and both of the mentioned evaluations give similar tendencies even if the characterization methods are somewhat different. As a result, the increase of the fiber content and the addition of the amino-silane coupling agent is shown to improve the rigidity of composite materials. Eventually, a correlation factor between the estimated Young's moduli is established between the ultrasound values (for ε < 0.05%) and mechanical values (for 0.05 < ε < 0.25%). Ultrasound measurements are discussed as an alternative method for the elastic properties evaluation.

Characterization of Osteoarthritis in a Medial Meniscectomy-Induced Animal Model Using Contrast-Enhanced X-ray Microtomography.

The aim of this study was to clarify degradation characteristics in each tissue of the knee complex of a medial meniscectomy (MMx)-induced knee osteoarthritis (KOA) animal model using classical methods and an alternative comprehensive evaluation method called contrast-enhanced X-ray micro-computed tomography (CEX-μCT), which was developed in the study. Surgical MMx was performed in the right knee joints of five male Wistar rats to induce KOA. At four weeks post-surgery, the synovitis was evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Degradations of the articular cartilage of the tibial plateau were evaluated using classical methods and CEX-μCT. Evaluation of the synovitis demonstrated significantly increased expression levels of inflammation-associated marker genes in MMx-treated knees compared with those in sham-treated knees. Evaluation of the articular cartilage using classical methods showed that MMx fully induced degradation of the cartilage. Evaluation using CEX-μCT showed that local areas of the medial cartilage of the tibial plateau were significantly reduced in MMx-treated knees compared with those in sham-treated knees. On the other hand, total cartilage volumes were significantly increased in MMx-treated knees. On the basis of the findings of this study, the method could be relevant to study new treatments in KOA research.