Grading Procedures Research Articles

A review of this month's OCR letters

Accommodation: Use of ‘significant’ as standard to deny request violates Section 504 Policies & Procedures: Special grading procedure for students with disabilities is discriminatory Policies & Procedures: Student fails to request accommodations, complains to OCR Discrimination: Institute agrees to train employees regarding hostile environment

Assessment Literacy of Pre-Service Teachers and the NCBTS Domain

Assessment Literacy is a requisite skill pre-service teachers need to develop to ensure the quality of teaching and learning. Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) are the best venue where this skill is developed. This study seeks to find out the classroom assessment literacy of pre-service teachers of Xavier University utilizing the Classroom Assessment Literacy (CALI) Tool of Dr. Craig Mertler. This tool was revalidated using the Rasch Model and items were revised in the Philippine context. Standards for each item in CALI were matched with the Strands of Domain 5 (Planning, Assessing & Reporting) of the National Competency-Based Teacher Standards (NCBTS) of the Philippines. Fifty-nine pre-service teachers participated in the study. The descriptive analysis included frequencies and percentages. Results show highest performance on choosing appropriate assessment tools with 81.36% while least in developing valid grading procedures with 8.47%. Furthermore, five out of seven assessment standards in CALI were well represented in the NCBTS. However, the standards for developing valid grading procedures and recognizing unethical practices were least addressed. The need to re-examine how assessment concepts were taught to pre-service teachers emerged. This study provided an avenue to suggest to the NCBTS Team the necessity of revisiting the strands of the NCBTS Framework. Keywords - Education, assessment literacy, NCBTS standards, Rasch Model, descriptive research design, Philippines

Online vs. Face-to-Face Delivery of Information Technology Courses: Students' Assessment

This paper investigates students’ assessment of on-line vs face-to-face delivery of lecture-based information technology courses. The study used end-of-course surveys to examine students’ ratings of five course quality indicators: Course Organization, Assessment and Grading Procedures, Instructor Performance, Positive Learning Experience, and Perceived Success. The study analyzed five semesters of students’ ratings and found no significant differences in the overall ratings of the course quality indicators between the on-line and face-to-face courses. There were differences between the overall ratings of the course quality indicators, with instructor performance and course organization receiving the highest ratings. More importantly, there was a significant interaction between the course quality indicators and the course structure. Examination of this interaction indicated that the course organization, the assessment and grading procedures, and the students’ perceived success in the course, were higher in on-line courses, while instructor performance was better in face-to-face courses. These findings suggest different ways to improve both the on-line and face-to-face courses. Finally, the most surprising outcome was that students perceived greater success in on-line courses. However, this result needs further exploration in future studies.

Quantifying skeletal muscle recovery in a rat injury model using ultrasound imaging

Monitoring skeletal muscle health during recovery or degeneration is of great interest both clinically and in research settings. This type of monitoring requires health measurements be taken at multiple time points. Contraction strength is a commonly used metric for quantifying muscle health, but it requires invasive in vitro or in situ procedures that may further damage the tissue. Ultrasound imaging can be used to visualize muscle damage, and semi-quantitative grading scales have been shown to be effective at characterizing abnormalities. Using an established functional testing procedure in a rat model as a baseline measurement of muscle strength, we show that ultrasound imaging combined with a semi-quantitative grading scale can be used to monitor recovery after contusion injury. Although additional work is needed to refine the imaging and grading procedures, ultrasound promises a fast and non-invasive alternative to functional testing for characterizing skeletal muscle health.

Grading procedure discriminates against students with disabilities

Case name: Letter to: New York Medical College, No. 02‐13‐2014 (OCR 11/18/13).

A modified ulnar translocation reconstruction technique for Campanacci grade 3 giant cell tumors of the distal radius using a clover leaf plate.

Campanacci grade 3 giant cell tumors of the distal radius are locally aggressive and in close proximity to the median nerve, articular cartilage, flexor and extensor tendons, and the radial artery. Although several reconstructive techniques have been described, it is unclear to what degree these procedures restore function. We present a modified ipsilateral ulna translocation technique using a clover leaf plate, for reconstruction of en bloc resected distal radius. This has the theoretical advantage of ensuring a solid, pain-free wrist arthrodesis, while preserving the forearm rotational axis and minimizing functional loss, without the associated donor site morbidity or allograft rejection issues of other reconstructive techniques. Between 2006 and 2013, 3 patients underwent this procedure for Campanacci grade 3 giant cell tumors. All patients were right hand-dominant females, aged 24, 35, and 46 years, respectively. Two cases involved the right radius. Patients were reviewed retrospectively with clinical examination, functional assessment [the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS) for upper limb], and radiographs. The review period was 30, 51, and 41 months, respectively. The length of distal radius resected was 70, 50, and 35 mm, respectively. All achieved clear margins. There were no complications and there have been no recurrences. All ulnocarpal translocations achieved radiographic fusion. Patient's averaged 80-degree pronation, 70-degree supination, and clinical TESS scores of 86 at most recent follow-up. This technique achieved a painless and functional wrist arthrodesis with partially restored wrist motion, without complications. This technique has the advantage of negating remote donor site morbidity and/or allograft rejection issues of other techniques. Level III, therapeutic study.

PTU-122 A Gmp Treg Expansion Protocol Restores Treg Suppressor Function In End-stage Liver Disease; Implications For Adoptive Transfer Therapy

IntroductionLong-term survival in liver transplant recipients remains suboptimal because of the morbidity and mortality associated with the long-term use of immunosuppression (IS). However, IS weaning early post liver transplantation (LT)...

DARS에 의한 CAPSS 배출자료의 불확도 평가

The uncertainty assessment is important to improve the reliability of emission inventory data. The DARS (Data Attribute Rating System) have recommended as the uncertainty assessment technic of emission inventory by U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) EIIP (Emission Inventory Improvement Program). The DARS score is based on the perceived quality of the emission factor and activity data. Scores are assigned to four attributes; measurement/method, source specificity, spatial congruity and temporal congruity. The resulting emission factor and activity rate scores are combined to arrive at an overall confidence rating for the inventory. So DARS is believed to be a useful tool and may provide more information about inventories than the usual qualitative grading procedures (e.g. A through E). In this study, the uncertainty assessment for 2009 CAPSS (Clean Air Policy Support System) emission inventory is conducted by DARS. According to the result of this uncertainty assessment, the uncertainty for fugitive dust emission data is higher than other sources, the uncertainty of emission factor for surface coating is the highest value, and the uncertainty of activity data for motor cycle is the highest value. Also it is analysed that the improvement of uncertainty for activity data is as much important as the improvement for emission factor to upgrade the reliability of CAPSS emission inventory.

Heterogeneous student perceptions of accounting course importance and their implications for SET reporting and use

This research tests for an association between student perceptions of accounting course importance (PCI) and student evaluation of teaching (SET) ratings of satisfaction with instructor performance, course quality, and grading procedures. The study also investigates whether instructor rankings constructed from SET ratings vary across student groupings based on PCI. Using responses from students enrolled in introductory accounting classes at three AACSB-accredited accounting programs we find that SET ratings vary significantly with PCI. We also find that instructor rankings constructed from SET ratings vary with PCI. These findings suggest that, when heterogeneous perceptions are present, satisfying all students enrolled in a course may not be possible and that reliance on aggregated SET data may obscure important differences in student opinion. In this circumstance, disaggregating SET data by PCI and emphasizing the feedback of students holding higher (stronger) perceptions of course importance may enhance SET diagnostic value.

On the variability of strong ground motions recorded from Vrancea earthquakes

The main focus of this paper is the analysis of the different components of the variability for strong ground motions recorded from earthquakes produced by the Vrancea subcrustal seismic source. The analysis is performed for two ground motion prediction equations: Youngs et al. (1997) and Zhao et al. (2006), recommended within the SHARE project for the Vrancea subcrustal seismic source and which are proposed in the work of Delavaud et al. (2012) and graded best in Vacareanu et al. (2013c). The first phase of the analysis procedure consists of a grading procedure. In the second phase, the single station sigma procedure is applied for both attenuation models in order to reduce some parts of ground motion models' variability produced by the ergodic assumption. The strong ground motion database which is used throughout the study consists of over 400 accelerograms recorded from 9 Vrancea intermediate-depth seismic events. The results of the single station sigma analysis show significant reduction of the standard deviations, especially in the case of the Youngs et al. (1997) attenuation model, which is also graded better than the other selected GMPE.

基于矢量和栅格混合空间数据格式的重庆市城镇土地定级估价数据库系统研制

随着当前计算机技术和信息技术的高速发展，土地定级估价已经作为土地管理行业的一门基础性工作，借助计算机技术和数据库技术，依托地理信息系统(GIS)平台建立的土地定级估价信息化管理系统，能够改变过去传统的手工操作方式，减少人为干预程度的同时提高运算速度及精度。由此，本研究创新性的提出了基于矢量和栅格混合空间数据格式的土地定级估价因素因子数据库，通过最小路径、九宫格领域算法计算得到同样基于矢量和栅格混合空间数据格式的土地定级估价过程数据库以及土地定级估价结果数据库。基于矢量和栅格的混合空间数据库和土地定级估价处理方式很好的弥补了国内的土地评估单位基本只采用基于矢量数据格式计算的土地定级估价信息系统计算量大，精度不高，以及数据不完整等方面的不足，为提高土地定级估价工作的效率和结果的精确性提供了更优化的选择。最后以重庆市主城区为例，验证了该数据库和土地定级估价算法的可行性，并形成了重庆市主城区土地等级和基准地价数据库。 With the rapid development of computer and information technology, land grading and standard price appraisal is treated as a fundamental unit for land management. In order to change the traditional manual work process, reduce the human intervention, and increase the speed and accuracy of calculation, database technology must be added into this work and GIS based land grading and standard price appraisal database management platform must be established to meet this demand of land management. Due to this reason, the research put forward the innovative mixed vector-raster spatial data format to build the database of the factors and indicators for land grading and standard price appraisal calculation process and applied the cost distance and other spatial analysis algorithms to build the work procedure database and result database which are also generated on mixed vector-raster data format. This mixed format database and land grading and standard price appraisal procedures make up the deficiency of the most used land evaluation database system based only on vector data format in China, and overcome the problems such as big amount of calculation process, inaccurate results, and incomplete data. It also enhances the efficiency of land grading and standard price appraisal work and provides an optimized choice to get more accuracy results. At last, this research set the downtown area of Chongqing as the research area, demonstrated the feasibility of the database and algorithms for land grading and standard price appraisal work, and obtained the accurate results of land grading and standard price appraisal in the downtown area of Chongqing.

Chestnut: from coppice to structural timber. The case study of "Uso Fiume" beams sampled in Liguria

<p>Recently Agriculture Department of Liguria Region had supported studies and researches on the timber quality of living trees in local coppice chestnut forests, with the prospect to produce also timber for structural use. Under some ad-hoc funds a 30 years old coppice forest in the high Bormida Valley, never thinned after the last utilization, has been chosen for sampling. 18 selected trunks were felled and the assortment called “Uso Fiume” (UF) was chosen, getting 49 beams (cross-section from 12¥12 to 24¥24 cm), by way of saw-mill operations The UF-beam is a structural element, derived from Italian tradition. Such elements are used in Italian buildings over the time, in substitution to structural sawn timber, principally for roofing. The UF-beam is a square edged log with wane; more precisely it is a full log, edged on four sides, maintaining boxed heart and an approximately central pith. Today the features of such a beam is established according to the specific Italian standard UNI 11035-3 for spruce and fir and to the CUAP (Common Understanding of Assessment Procedure) n. 03.24/22 for chestnut and conifers. The beams were visually graded according to the Visual Strength Grading procedure and the physical and mechanical properties (density, modulus of elasticity-MOE and modulus of rupture- MOR) were determined according to the standard requirements (EN 408, EN 384, ISO 3131), disregarding the moisture content: the mechanical tests were performed with wood in green state (moisture content M.C.>30%) because it is the actual condition of use in building, due to the very low permeability of the chestnut heartwood which entails long seasoning time of large cross section beams. The study showed very high yields considering the stems-to-beams volume ratio, close to 70%. Characteristics values of the sample resulted: char. density 􀀀 􀀀􀀀kg/m³, char. modulus of elasticity E0,mean 10,3 GPa and char. bending strength fm,k 28,5 MPa. These results can be considered very promising because the data match the Strength Class D24 (EN 338), the same Class as full cross-section chestnut beams (at M.C.=12%).</p>

Chestnut: from coppice to structural timber. The case study of "Uso Fiume" beams sampled in Liguria

Recently Agriculture Department of Liguria Region had supported studies and researches on the timber quality of living trees in local coppice chestnut forests, with the prospect to produce also timber for structural use. Under some ad-hoc funds a 30 years old coppice forest in the high Bormida Valley, never thinned after the last utilization, has been chosen for sampling. 18 selected trunks were felled and the assortment called “Uso Fiume” (UF) was chosen, getting 49 beams (cross-section from 12¥12 to 24¥24 cm), by way of saw-mill operations The UF-beam is a structural element, derived from Italian tradition. Such elements are used in Italian buildings over the time, in substitution to structural sawn timber, principally for roofing. The UF-beam is a square edged log with wane; more precisely it is a full log, edged on four sides, maintaining boxed heart and an approximately central pith. Today the features of such a beam is established according to the specific Italian standard UNI 11035-3 for spruce and fir and to the CUAP (Common Understanding of Assessment Procedure) n. 03.24/22 for chestnut and conifers. The beams were visually graded according to the Visual Strength Grading procedure and the physical and mechanical properties (density, modulus of elasticity-MOE and modulus of rupture- MOR) were determined according to the standard requirements (EN 408, EN 384, ISO 3131), disregarding the moisture content: the mechanical tests were performed with wood in green state (moisture content M.C.>30%) because it is the actual condition of use in building, due to the very low permeability of the chestnut heartwood which entails long seasoning time of large cross section beams. The study showed very high yields considering the stems-to-beams volume ratio, close to 70%. Characteristics values of the sample resulted: char. density 􀀀 􀀀􀀀kg/m³, char. modulus of elasticity E0,mean 10,3 GPa and char. bending strength fm,k 28,5 MPa. These results can be considered very promising because the data match the Strength Class D24 (EN 338), the same Class as full cross-section chestnut beams (at M.C.=12%).

GW24-e3713 Prognostic analysis of renal insufficiency in octogenarian patients underwent percutaneous coronary stenting

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effect of renal insufficiency on short and long term death and major adverse cardiac event (MACE) in octogenarian patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).MethodsA total of 90...

Methods and Reproducibility of Grading Optimized Digital Color Fundus Photographs in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2 Report Number 2)

To establish continuity with the grading procedures and outcomes from the historical data of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), color photographic imaging and evaluation procedures for the assessment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were modified for digital imaging in the AREDS2. The reproducibility of the grading of index AMD lesion components and for the AREDS severity scale was tested at the AREDS2 reading center. Digital color stereoscopic fundus photographs from 4203 AREDS2 subjects collected at baseline and annual follow-up visits were optimized for tonal balance and graded according to a standard protocol slightly modified from AREDS. The reproducibility of digital grading of AREDS2 images was assessed by reproducibility exercises, temporal drift (regrading a subset of baseline annually, n = 88), and contemporaneous masked regrading (ongoing, monthly regrade on 5% of submissions, n = 1335 eyes). In AREDS2, 91% and 96% of images received replicate grades within two steps of the baseline value on the AREDS severity scale for temporal drift and contemporaneous assessment, respectively (weighted Kappa of 0.73 and 0.76). Historical data for temporal drift in replicate gradings on the AREDS film-based images were 88% within two steps (weighted Kappa = 0.88). There was no difference in AREDS2-AREDS concordance for temporal drift (exact P = 0.57). Digital color grading has nearly the same reproducibility as historical film grading. There is substantial agreement for testing the predictive utility of the AREDS severity scale in AREDS2 as a clinical trial outcome. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00345176.)

Effect of Nondestructive Evaluation of Veneers on the Properties of Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) from a Tropical Species

This study aimed at evaluating the potential of Schizolobium parahyba to produce laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and the feasibility of a nondestructive method for grading the veneers. Initially, 64 S. parahyba veneers were nondestructively tested using the stress wave method, and stress wave velocity (wv) and veneer dynamic modulus of elasticity (EdV) were determined. Afterwards, the veneers were graded according to EdV descending values and used to manufacture 8-ply LVL boards. After the manufacturing, the boards were also nondestructively tested, and the board dynamic modulus of elasticity (EdB) was determined. Simple linear regression analysis was run to evaluate the relationship between the nondestructive and mechanical properties of veneers/boards. A positive effect of veneer stress wave properties on the LVL properties was found. Therefore, the higher the EdV values, the higher the LVL properties. The relationships between EdV and EdB properties were highly significant with all mechanical properties. It was clearly observed that when this grading procedure was used, the veneers were indirectly graded by their density. Finally, it could be concluded that S. parahyba showed good potential to produce LVL.

Effects of grading procedures on the scatter of characteristic values of European grown sawn timber

The natural scatter in mechanical properties of sawn timber must be reduced by grading the material either visually or mechanically. Depending on the grading procedure, the scatter of these properties varies. This study deals with their variation as influenced by the grading procedure. The effect of the grading principle is analyzed based on 4,893 sawn timber specimens from several European natural forests with widths up to 167 mm and depths up to 284 mm and using the method given in EN 14081-2:2010, CEN, Brussels (2010). Grading models for visual grading and machine grading are derived considering different source countries, strength classes and strength class combinations. Material safety factors for the graded material are then estimated in accordance with ISO 2394 (1998) to evaluate the grading outcomes. Analyzing and comparing the lower 5th-percentile to the requirements of EN 384: 2009, CEN, Brussels (2009), it is found that the actual strength for class C24 can be up to 20 % lower than required by the standard. This is true, regardless of whether the timber is graded visually or by an advanced grading machine using dynamic modulus of elasticity and knots. Low strength values can be expected especially in cases where a batch of timber is graded into a single strength class and reject only. High coefficients of variation of the graded material lead to the conclusion that high material safety factors are needed. On the contrary, if the material is graded by a machine and into more than two strength classes in one pass, it can be shown that the required material safety factors can be lower.

The value of acquisition price differentiation in reverse logistics

The quality of returned products may vary greatly, depending on their previous usage. Since the remanufacturing of products in good condition is more economically rewarding for the remanufacturer—and since even for non-remanufacturable products the value that can be extracted from their parts or materials may depend on the products’ quality—it seems logical to acquire used products of different quality levels at different prices. However, acquisition price differentiation requires the product quality to be revealed, i.e. the products are graded before their actual acquisition. We observe two different approaches in current practice. The first one is a decentralized system with several collection sites to which the customers can bring their used products. After a short grading procedure, they receive a specific acquisition price offer for their products, which they can accept or decline directly. The second setting is a reverse logistics system with a centralized grading facility. The final grading is conducted after shipping the used products to this specific facility. Motivated by these empirical observations, we compare the two strategies with the help of a continuous approximation model. We derive analytical expressions for the optimal pricing and network density decision and show that, in addition to the other factors discussed in the literature, acquisition price differentiation can be a reason for decentralizing the reverse logistics network, if the product quality is uncertain. Furthermore, we illustrate our results with a numerical example.

Gender, airborne chemical monitoring, and physical work environment are related to indoor air symptoms among nonindustrial workers in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of airborne chemicals and the physical work environment risk element on the indoor air symptoms of nonindustrial workers.Design:A cross-sectional study consisting of 200 office workers. A random selection of 200 buildings was analyzed for exposure and indoor air symptoms based on a pilot study in the Klang Valley, Malaysia.Methods:A set of modified published questionnaires by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), Malaysia and a previous study (MM040NA questionnaire) pertaining to indoor air symptoms was used in the evaluation process of the indoor air symptoms. Statistical analyses involving logistic regression and linear regression were used to determine the relationship between exposure and indoor air symptoms for use in the development of an indoor risk matrix.Results:The results indicate that some indoor air pollutants (carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, total volatile organic compound, and dust) are related to indoor air symptoms of men and women. Temperature and relative humidity showed a positive association with complaints related to the perceived indoor environmental condition (drafts and inconsistency of temperature). Men predominantly reported general symptoms when stratification of gender involved exposure to formaldehyde. Women reported high levels of complaints related to mucosal and general symptoms from exposure to the dust level indoors.Conclusion:Exposure to pollutants (total volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde) and physical stressors (air temperature and relative humidity) influence reported symptoms of office workers. These parameters should be focused upon and graded as one of the important elements in the grading procedure when qualitatively evaluating the indoor environment.

Detection of Potato mop top virus (Furovirus) on potato in southeast Idaho.

In February 2012, commercially produced potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers, cv. Modoc, grown in southeast Idaho, were observed with internal necrotic arcs and lines. Samples were obtained from potatoes that had been washed and packaged. No external symptoms were evident. Multiple samples were collected from the packing line and cut to check for internal defects as part of the normal grading procedure. The incidence of symptomatic tubers from these samples was determined by personnel at the packaging facility to be approximately 3%. Initially, one symptomatic and one asymptomatic tuber were tested. Total RNA extracted from these tubers were tested by RT-PCR at Aberdeen, Idaho, with primers specific for Potato mop top virus (PMTV) (1) and Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) (4). RT-PCR results showed that the symptomatic tuber produced a band at 416 bp with the PMTV primers, which was also present in the PMTV-positive control. No amplification was observed with the TRV primers. The asymptomatic tuber was negative for both PMTV and TRV. Subsequently, total RNA from four additional symptomatic tubers from the same lot were tested at USDA-ARS in Prosser, WA, by RT-PCR for TRV (4) and with a different set primers for PMTV (2). The tests included two PMTV-positive controls from cv. Alturas tubers (1), a healthy cv. Russet Burbank control, and a water control. Results showed that amplified products of 460 bp were obtained with the PMTV primers for the four symptomatic tubers and the same tubers were negative for TRV. In addition, symptomatic tissue from the four tubers tested positive for PMTV by ELISA using a commercially available kit (Adgen, Ayr, Scotland). Symptomless Russet Burbank tubers and water controls were negative in RT-PCR and ELISA tests. The 460 bp PMTV amplicon from two symptomatic Modoc tubers were cloned and sequenced. The sequences were identical and the sequence (GenBank Accession No. JX239990) was 100% identical to the corresponding sequences of PMTV isolates from North Dakota (HM776172) and Finland (AM503632). There was one nucleotide difference from the corresponding sequence of a PMTV isolate from Washington (JN132117). To our knowledge, this is the first published report of PMTV in Idaho and confirms that PMTV exists in southeast Idaho. A previous report made by Canada in 2004 (Plant Dis. 88:363) indicates that PMTV was found in multiple states and provinces, but no specific locations were identified. This report follows reports of PMTV in commercial potatoes in Washington (1), North Dakota (2), and Maine (3). In 2011, 129,000 hectares of potatoes were grown in Idaho, representing 29% of the fall grown potatoes in the United States. PMTV can cause quality problems and as evidenced by these samples with no external symptoms, problems may be compounded because of internal symptoms that may go undetected. The confirmation of PMTV alerts growers and processors to the presence of this virus in this important potato-producing state.