Graphical Profiles Research Articles

Нулевой контроль как составная часть методики обучения геометро-графическим дисциплинам

The interdependence between diagnostic function of
 first year students’ zero level knowledge control in geometry and
 technical drawing and instruction technique in geometrical and
 graphic academic profile is considered in this work. Methodical
 procedures and developments for traditional learning system adaptation
 to existing level of students training are offered by: using
 of learning tests connecting the basic geometric knowledge with
 teaching materials; graphical tasks’ full spectrum content personification;
 using of specific E-learning courses oriented to full-time
 students.

Simple Novel Assays in Glycobiology

In response to an invitation from this journal, I am providing this mini-review of recent work from the Oppenheimer lab. Over the past 4 decades we have developed many assays that help us examine the role of specifc glycans in cellular interactions. Recently we have used two model systems for this work, the sea urchin embryo and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). We have developed two assays using the sea urchin embryo. One involves a microplate method where living sea urchin embryos are incubated with specific glycans or glycosidases. A specific set of cellular interactions, development of the primitive gut…archenteron, is examined over time in the presence and absence of the sugars or enzymes in living embryos. L-rhamnose and polyglucans have been identified as playing a role in mediating these cellular interactions. The second assay involves microdissection of the primitive gut away from the blastocoel roof to which it adheres. Using independently characterized glycosidases, we showed that polyglucans appear to mediate this cellular interaction. In the second system using yeast, we examine yeast disaggregation from lectin-derivatized agarose beads in the presence and absence of specific glycans using a quantitative, kinetic graphic profile assay. We found that D-melezitose was the best adhesion inhibitor and may be therapeutically useful in anti-adhesion venues of pathogen binding to cells and in cancer cell binding.

Characterization of the genetic changes in a multi-generational pedigree of an elite Canadian soybean cultivar

Genotyping through the pedigrees of elite soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars developed by a breeding program represents an opportunity to explore and characterize various molecular and genetic changes that are a direct result of long-term selection by soybean breeders. For soybeans bred for Ontario Canada, one such elite cultivar was OAC Bayfield, which had exceptional commercial success as well as being a parent of a number of successful cultivars developed by multiple independent breeding programs. A total of 42 genotypes from six different breeding programs, comprising the multi-generational pedigree of OAC Bayfield were genotyped with molecular markers and chromosomal inheritance was tracked throughout the pedigree. Cluster analysis showed high congruence with the known pedigree and identified three distinct ancestral groups. The ancestral genotypes contained the majority of the rare alleles, with the cultivar CNS having the greatest number of unique alleles. The graphical genotype profile for the 20 chromosomes revealed conserved allelic composition which has been assembled in certain chromosomes in the form of specific linkage blocks, which were either a result of recombination involving ancestral linkage blocks or linkage blocks introduced from the cultivar Fiskeby-V. The identification of highly structured, conserved genomic regions are important for future breeding efforts as they are indicators of preferentially selected regions, or conversely, may be a contributing factor to low genetic gains due to mass fixation across a breeding program's germplasm.

Acquisition of auditory profiles for good and impaired hearing

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a user-friendly way of measuring patients’ threshold and supra-threshold hearing, with potential for application in clinical research. The end-product of these tests is a graphical profile summarizing absolute threshold, frequency selectivity, and compression characteristics across a spectrum of frequencies (0.25–6 kHz). Design: A battery of three psychophysical hearing tests consisted of measures of absolute threshold, frequency selectivity, and compression. An automated, cued, single-interval, adaptive tracking procedure was employed. The tests results were collated and used to generate a readily visualized ‘profile’ for each listener. Study sample: Participants were 83 adults (57 impaired-hearing and 26 good-hearing, age 20–75 years). Results: Listeners tolerated the tests well. Single-ear profiles were obtained in an average of 74 minutes testing time (range 46–120 minutes). The variability of individual measurements was low. Substantial differences between normal and impaired listeners and also among the impaired listeners were observed. Qualitative differences in compression and frequency-selectivity were seen that could not be predicted by threshold measurements alone. Conclusions: The hearing profiles are informative with respect to supra-threshold hearing performance and the information is easily accessible through the graphical display. Further development is required for routine use in a clinical context.

The wet tribological behaviors of doughnut patterns laser-textured on DF2 tool steel under different loading conditions

Circular spot was irradiated by a Nd:YAG laser under a particular operational setup producing crater-like (or doughnut-like) feature, which was anticipated to generate favorable hydrodynamic effects in wet lubrication condition. It was used to ablate the pattern in either an in-line (IN) or staggered (ST) arrangement on DF2 tool steel plates. The irradiated DF2 tool steel plates with patterns of either in-lined (IN) or staggered (ST) spot arrangement, together with their nonpatterned (NP) counterparts, were respectively slid reciprocally against ASSAB 17 steel pin immerging in a basin containing Shell Tellus T32 lubricant and under loading of 400 N, 700 N, and 800 N, respectively. Test results showed the tribological behaviors of the three types of surface textures getting poorer with the increase of loading. Study demonstrated that ST gave superior nominal tribological characteristics, followed by IN and NP. Relevant mechanisms were also elucidated by analyzing SEM micrograph, PGI graphic, and Talysurf surface profiles of surface morphology, and EDX spectra. The existence of hydrodynamic effect of the ablated spot was simply verified by a simplified numerical simulation.

Implementation of personalized self-management support using the self-management screening questionnaire SeMaS; a study protocol for a cluster randomized trial

BackgroundThe number of patients with one or more chronic diseases is rising. In several standards of care there is a focus on enhancing self-management. We applied the concept of personalization on self-management support and developed a self-management screening questionnaire (SeMaS). The main research objective is to assess the effectiveness of the SeMaS questionnaire and subsequent personalized self-management on patients’ self-management behaviors.Methods/DesignA cluster randomized controlled trial will be set up in 15 general practices in the Netherlands. The practices are all group practices, and member of one care group. The practices will be assigned to the control or intervention arms by stratified randomization. The strata are determined by the participation of the practice nurses in a course for behavioral change, and the nurse’s workload. Patients can be included if they are over 18 years of age, have at least one chronic condition and have a checkup appointment with the practice nurse in the inclusion period. The intervention consists of screening patients with the SeMaS questionnaire, producing a graphic profile with the abilities or barriers for self-management. Patients will receive tailored feedback. Practice nurses are trained in using the profile to enhance self-management of the patient and provide personalized self-management support. The use of individual care plans and self-management interventions is stimulated. In the control arm patients will receive care as usual. Patients of both trial arms will be asked to fill in the SeMaS questionnaire and additional questionnaires at inclusion and after 6 months. The primary outcome is the difference in the level of patient activation (PAM-13) between baseline and 6 months. Secondary outcomes include patient measures for lifestyle factors (exercise, diet, smoking), and process measures from medical record data analysis.DiscussionThis manuscript presents the protocol for a cluster randomized clinical trial of personalized self-management support using the SeMaS questionnaire in chronically ill patients in primary care. By carrying out this study, scientific evidence is built for the effectiveness of personalized self-management support.Trial registrationThe Netherlands National Trial Register: NTR3960.

ToxPi GUI: an interactive visualization tool for transparent integration of data from diverse sources of evidence

Scientists and regulators are often faced with complex decisions, where use of scarce resources must be prioritized using collections of diverse information. The Toxicological Prioritization Index (ToxPi™) was developed to enable integration of multiple sources of evidence on exposure and/or safety, transformed into transparent visual rankings to facilitate decision making. The rankings and associated graphical profiles can be used to prioritize resources in various decision contexts, such as testing chemical toxicity or assessing similarity of predicted compound bioactivity profiles. The amount and types of information available to decision makers are increasing exponentially, while the complex decisions must rely on specialized domain knowledge across multiple criteria of varying importance. Thus, the ToxPi bridges a gap, combining rigorous aggregation of evidence with ease of communication to stakeholders. An interactive ToxPi graphical user interface (GUI) application has been implemented to allow straightforward decision support across a variety of decision-making contexts in environmental health. The GUI allows users to easily import and recombine data, then analyze, visualize, highlight, export and communicate ToxPi results. It also provides a statistical metric of stability for both individual ToxPi scores and relative prioritized ranks. The ToxPi GUI application, complete user manual and example data files are freely available from http://comptox.unc.edu/toxpi.php.

A comparative study concerning the chromatographic behaviour and lipophilicity of certain natural toxins

The characterization and classification of some natural toxins (mycotoxins and alkaloids) is established by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) using chemically bonded stationary phases of RP-18, RP-18W, RP-8, RP-2, RP-NH(2) , RP-CN and RP-Diol. The used mobile phases are mixtures of methanol-water in different proportions of volume, chosen to create a suitable migration during the chromatographic process. The lipophilicity is described through different chromatographic descriptors, such as R(M0), mean of R(M) (mR(M)), and scores of R(M) values corresponding to the first principal component (PC1/R(M)). The investigated compounds are characterized also by a series of computed lipophilicity descriptors (logP and logD values). The chromatographic behaviour of toxins is evidenced by graphical profiles of the lipophilicity descriptors. In addition, scores and loadings resulting from covariance matrix of retention data enable new information about similarity and differences observed between the investigated compounds. The experimental lipophilicity indices estimated from retention data are directly correlated with the computed values, via computer software and Internet module, at a high significant statistical level.

Graphical profiling of team working through participatory research

PurposeCompanies desire to improve their team organization by learning from other companies in their sector and adopting “best practice”. Researchers and consultants, who are called on to facilitate these learning processes, are confronted with the real world ambiguity and multiple meanings of “team” and “team organization”. A shared understanding of team organization is a precondition for learning and knowledge transfer between companies. This paper seeks to ask how this common understanding can be constructed.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses participatory research and a literature review. Based on a research project involving Norwegian manufacturing companies, the paper presents and discusses a participatory process, in which a graphical profiling tool was developed and applied in order to make sense of different forms of team organization.FindingsThe paper finds that companies were actively involved in deciding what the relevant dimensions of team working were. In reflection seminars, systematical comparison between companies dissolved conceptual ambiguity and supported reflection.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper reports experiences with the mapping tool from two companies. Both are characterized by cooperative industrial relations, and openness to researchers. More research should be done in order to investigate the general workability of the process proposed here.Practical implicationsThe proposed process for constructing and using a mapping tool are relevant for consultants and researchers, who aim to facilitate learning in a multiple company context. In particular, it is relevant for dealing with popular, but unclear concepts such as “team” and “team working”. To be workable, the process should take care to involve relevant stakeholders and the profiling should avoid technical language.Social implicationsThrough a participatory approach, all participants in an organization can take part in a dialogue on team working. By introducing a common language, power distances may be reduced.Originality/valueThe general idea of using graphical profiling to support reflection is not original. The contribution is presenting and discussing a concrete participatory process for how graphical profiling can be made relevant and useful.

3D graphical method for profiling gear hob tools

This paper approaches the issue of profiling gear hob bounded by a cylindrical helical surface with constant pitch, reciprocally enveloping with an ordered surfaces curl. The process kinematics of generation reproduces the 3D gear between the worm and the wheel. This gear has crossing axes and it is used for the profiling of the primary peripheral surface of the gear hub in the intermediary surface method (the common rack-gear of the surfaces curl to be generated and the primary peripheral surface of the gear hob). An algorithm in the CATIA design environment is presented, based onto an original method for the determination of the reference rack-gear form—the rack-gear reciprocally enveloping with the surfaces curl, using the principle of the cylindrical helical motion decomposition in translation and rotation motions. Graphical and analytical profiling examples are presented for the gear hob for generation of a parallel spline shaft and for the generation of a toothed wheel with involute teeth. Solutions for the interference problems, problems due to the singular points onto the profiles, are presented.

A B-Spline Interpolation Based Method for Reconstruction of Image from Partial Data

AbstractIn this paper, a method of data removal from images and then reconstruction of those images has been discussed. Images are reconstructed using B-Spline based interpolation of their Gray intensities and detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis has been carried out. The original and regenerated images are compared to generate graphical error profiles. Two techniques of B-Spline interpolation have been used. Error produced by both has been compared on the basis of parameters like mean error, standard deviation and variance. The same method is used for color data and the reconstruction results were impressive even at 2% of the original data. Apart from data-compression, this method can be used to regenerate images of good quality from low quality images and archived images which have deteriorated over time.

Predicting the GMAW 3F T-Fillet Geometry and Its Welding Parameter

This paper investigates the correlation between welding parameters and bead geometry of 3F fillet joint welded by GMAW in downhill position. The consumable is ER70S-6 1.2mm solid wire and shielded by Carbon Dioxide. Articulated welding robot performs the welding of 6mm carbon steel T-joint coupons. The welding parameters are arc voltage, welding current and welding speed, while the wire extension is set at constant at 13mm. Only quality welded coupons are selected, they are macro-etched to inspect the quality and measure the bead geometry. The experimental results are tabulated; the correlations between the bead geometry and welding parameter are displayed graphically. Mathematical formulas are developed to match the graphical profiles. A calculator is developed to display the values of weld bead geometry for any value of welding parameter and vice versa. The deviation between predicted weld bead geometry and actual experimental record is less than 1.0mm, it is validated as accurate.

P-1335 - Sexual dysfuction and psychological correlates. Data from a pilot study

Introduction Erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE) are common disorders among italian male population aged between 18 and 65 years old (prevalence rate: 20–25%). Several studies demonstrate that the early treatment of the psychological conditions, frequently associated to ED and PE, can positively influence the prognosis. Aim To evaluate the psychological correlates of sexual dysfunction using a standardized instruments.Methods. 46 male patients aged between 18 and 65 years old affected by EP (60,87%) and DE (47,83%) were administered the Cognitive Behavioural Assessment (CBA 2.0). Analysis of data was carried out using an automatic scoring and creating a graphic profile. Results The 28,26% of the participants showed an high score (> 95th percentile) at the STAI X-1 suggesting the presence of trait anxiety; the 39.16% of the subjects reported experiences of social and emotional maladjustment and concomitant introversive personality traits at EPQ schedule (85–@95th percentile at subscales E and P) and depressive mood at scale 8 (questionnaire D). Finally, the 32.60% did not present psychological conditions. Conclusions According to the literature, our findings demonstrates an high frequency of psychological distress in patients affected by sexual dysfunction (67%). The use of CBA 2.0 migth represent an useful tool for the diagnosis and early treatment of this kind of population.

Estimation of the lipophilic character of flavonoids from the retention behavior in reversed phase liquid chromatography on different stationary phases: A comparative study

The retention behavior of some flavonoids in reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) was investigated using different chemistries of the modified silicagel based stationary phases. Highly end-capped octadecyl silicagel (ODS), polar embedded linker octadecyl silicagel (SB-18 Aqua), phenyl silicagel and pentafluorophenyl modified silicagel (PFP) were used as stationary phases. The mobile phase consisted in acetonitrile/acidified water mixtures, at different fractions of volume. The lipophilicity was estimated through different chromatographic descriptors, as it follows: log k w , m log k, S, φ 0 and PC1/log k. The chromatographic behavior observed on the mentioned stationary phases was evaluated by means of various graphical profiles and correlation matrices. Additionally, new information about the characteristics of the stationary phases and their (dis)-similarities were provided through lipophilicity charts and by scatterplots of loadings obtained by applying principal component analysis (PCA) to retention data. Furthermore, the experimental lipophilicity indices estimated from retention data were correlated with the computed descriptors, at a high level of statistical significance.

Time to All-Cause Treatment Discontinuation as the Primary Outcome in the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) Schizophrenia Study

Time until all-cause treatment discontinuation was the primary outcome of the CATIE trial. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this outcome, and evaluate its association with clinical correlates through graphical response profiles. We investigate the characteristics of patients who discontinued for patient decision, including a reclassification of patient decision into other reasons. All-cause discontinuation is compared to a related outcome, time until treatment failure. Patients who discontinued had lower quality of life scores than other patients. Patients discontinuing for lack of efficacy had worsened efficacy scores compared with an improvement for other patients. Those who discontinued for patient decision had lower compliance. Blinded reclassification of discontinuation for patient decision identified 5% of cases as lack of efficacy and 21% as intolerable side effects. Reclassified patients participated in the next study phase at a higher rate than those remaining as patient decision (67% vs. 10%). Treatment group differences for time to discontinuation due to patient decision were attenuated after censoring the reclassified patients, but were still suggestive. Treatment comparisons for time to treatment failure were consistent with all-cause discontinuation, although somewhat smaller. All-cause discontinuation is recommended as a simple and comprehensive outcome for pharmaceutical Phase II-IV clinical trials.

Computergestütztes Patient-reported Outcome Monitoring in der Neuroonkologie: Lebensqualität und Rezidiv beim Glioblastom

A computer-based tool for the monitoring of patient-related outcomes, the "Computer-based Health Evaluation System" (CHES) was developed at the medical university of Innsbruck. The software-generated graphic QOL profiles were found to be an important tool for screening patients for clinically relevant problems and were successfully used in oncology, geriatrics, psychiatry, and psychosomatics. The authors report their experience with CHES in 34 patients with recurrent gliomas. The computer-based QoL monitoring was repeated in median 5.4 times per patients and found feasible and well accepted by patients and personnel.

THERMAL-DIFFUSION AND DIFFUSION-THERMO EFFECTS ON NATURAL CONVECTION ALONG AN INCLINED STRETCHING SURFACE IN A POROUS MEDIUM WITH CHEMICAL REACTION

The steady natural convection along an inclined stretching surface in the presence of chemical reaction under thermal-diffusion and diffusion-thermo effects is studied. The governing equations for continuity, momentum, energy, and concentration are transformed by similarity transformation and then solved numerically using the Runge-Kutta integration with shooting scheme. Comparisons between the present data with previously published work are performed and found to be in very good agreement with each other. The obtained results show that the flow, thermal, and diffusion fields are influenced appreciably by the effects of endothermic or exothermic chemical reaction, angle of inclination, thermal radiation, magnetic field, and Soret and Dufour numbers. The physical phenomenon can be realized from the graphical profiles and in tabular form to depict special features of the solutions.

Organoleptic evaluation of pear varieties grown at different sites

It was stated as a summary that a system of testing pear varieties on scale of 100 degrees, weighing 11 properties, gives a comprehensive information on qualities of pear varieties. The points of the form to be filled out, distinguishes the appreciation of accessory flavours and tastes from the main properties. Under the title of taste, sweet and acid taste are evaluated separately. The presently used system is a step forward as the composed characters do not influence the judgement of each other. In the representation of results, the 100 degree system was more efficacious than the usual 5-point system because there was no need of using fractions, and the graphic profile is more expressive, so the commodity is better visualised. The assembly of the jury was divided into two groups as below and above 35 year old persons. The two groups judged differently the acidity, sweetness and the thickness of the fruit peel. It was suggested that the choice of the produce should consider the differences in taste and give up the idea of being equally favourable for both groups. The samples of different growing sites revealed that the best quality is produced at Nagykanizsa, and this capacity would be able to supply the market also in the large super-markets and chain of department stores in Hungary.

Implementation of Computer-Based Quality-of-Life Monitoring in Brain Tumor Outpatients in Routine Clinical Practice

Computerized assessment of quality of life (QOL) in patients with brain tumors can be an essential part of quality assurance with regard to evidence-based medicine in neuro-oncology. The aim of this project was the implementation of a computer-based QOL monitoring tool in a neurooncology outpatient unit. A further aim was to derive reference values for QOL scores from the collected data to improve interpretability. Since August 2005, patients with brain tumors treated at the neuro-oncology outpatient unit of the Innsbruck Medical University were consecutively included in the study. QOL assessment (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] Quality of Life Questionnaire [QLQ-C30] plus the EORTC QLQ-brain cancer module [BN20]) was computer-based, using a software tool called the Computer-based Health Evaluation System. A total of 110 patients with primary brain tumors (49% female; mean [standard deviation] age 47.9 [12.6] years; main diagnoses: 30.9% astrocytoma, 17.3% oligodendroglioma, 17.3% glioblastoma, 13.6% meningioma) was included in the study. On average, QOL was assessed 4.74 times per patient, 521 times in total. The user-friendly software was successfully implemented and tested. The routine QOL assessment was found to be feasible and was well accepted by both physicians and patients. The software-generated graphic QOL profiles were found to be an important tool for screening patients for clinically relevant problems. Thus, computer-based QOL monitoring can contribute to an optimization of treatment (e.g., symptom management, psychosocial interventions) and facilitate data collection for research purposes.

Computation of nozzle flow capacities for superheated steam, subcooled water, and saturated steam/water mixtures

A new computational tool models the discharge of steam, water, and saturated steam–water mixtures from safety relief valve nozzles, employing thermodynamic-property formulas derived from the Helmholtz equation and programmed into spreadsheet-based software. The computational approach maps an isentropic process from initial conditions in a series of thermodynamic states at each of which the mass flux is computed. The user can identify the maximum mass flux from the generated mass-flux pressure graphical profile. The work describes other mass-flux predictive techniques commonly used in industry and then compares the results of the proposed method against those of the others. The data indicate a very high degree of correspondence between the proposed method and the Napier equation for saturated and superheated steam. The proposed method produces saturated-liquid results consistent with those of the other methods, particularly ASME VIII/1. For the relief of saturated liquid–vapor mixtures, the proposed method increasingly overpredicts maximum mass flux relative to the HEM-based ω-method for increasing pressures and qualities. In the low-quality range, for which there is experimental data to which to compare, the proposed method severely underpredicts measured results involving flows out of nozzles of lengths less than “relaxation” length, but for flows out of longer nozzles, the underprediction is significantly less. The proposed method's subcooled-water results compared to measured data also indicates large underpredictions for sub-relaxation lengths with improved results at generally greater degrees of subcooling at greater lengths. The proposed technique shows generally good agreement with other established predictive methods within demonstrated boundaries and has advantages in stand-alone capability and versatility.