New Developments In Assessment Research Articles

New developments in assessment of wave overtopping on single-layer cube armoured breakwaters based on laboratory experiments

Wave overtopping is a critical aspect to take into consideration when designing a coastal structure. An adequate crest geometry (a combination of height and width) is required to maintain the required acceptable safety levels for the population and infrastructure behind the structure. This paper presents the wave overtopping results of laboratory experiments for single-layer cube (SLC) armoured breakwaters with a regular placement pattern. The experiments considered different incident wave conditions and two armour layer porosities, 29% and 33%. Mean wave overtopping discharges obtained were generally higher than the ones observed in previous experiments for the same armour configuration. Available methods shown some limitations in predicting the measured overtopping discharges suggesting the relevance of other factors. It is observed that, by including the ratio of wavelength to the armour crest width in an alternative overtopping formula, the mean flow rate predictions are improved. It was also found that mean overtopping discharges increase by 16–42% due to a decrease in armour porosity with negligible differences in reflection coefficients. A different initial seed number in the wave generation series can lead to differences in wave overtopping discharges up to a factor of two. This work aims to contribute to the knowledge of wave overtopping in SLC armoured breakwaters considering the limited available information for this type of armour configuration.

How psychosocial research can help the National Institute of Mental Health achieve its grand challenge to reduce the burden of mental illnesses and psychological disorders.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) plays an enormous role in establishing the agenda for mental health research across the country (its 2016 appropriation was nearly $1.5 billion; NIMH, 2016a). As the primary funder of research that will lead to development of new assessments and interventions to identify and combat mental illness, the priorities set by NIMH have a major impact on the mental health of our nation and training of the next generation of clinical scientists. Joshua Gordon has recently begun his term as the new Director of NIMH and has been meeting with different organizations to understand how they can contribute to the grand challenge of reducing the burden of mental illness. As a group of clinical psychological scientists (most representing the Coalition for the Advancement and Application of Psychological Science), he asked what we saw as key gaps in our understanding of the burden of mental illnesses and psychological disorders that psychosocial research could help fill. In response, we first present data illustrating how funding trends have shifted toward biomedical research over the past 18 years and then consider the objectives NIMH has defined in its recent strategic plan (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, & National Institute of Mental Health, 2015). We then note ways that advances in psychosocial research can help achieve these objectives. Critically, this involves integrating psychosocial and biomedical approaches to efficiently relieve the suffering of millions of Americans who struggle with mental illnesses and psychological disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Radiation Therapy Students as Partners in the Development of Alternative Approaches to Assessing Treatment Planning Skills

AimThe involvement of undergraduate students in assessment design is not a new concept. However, there is a paucity of evidence on radiation therapy students' participation in the design of teaching and learning activities. This article reports the development and initial evaluation of alternative approaches to assessing treatment planning skills and knowledge in undergraduate radiation therapy education. MethodsA group of undergraduate radiation therapy students participated in a series of semistructured focus group meetings. The students nominated a practical examination and an oral plan critique assessment approach. The lecturers embedded two formative tasks to test the approaches in a second-year treatment planning subject. Two surveys assessed the experiences of the students, authenticity, engagement, and the practicality of the tasks in the treatment planning subject. ResultsThe responses show that 92% of participants perceived the practical treatment planning examination as an authentic or real-world assessment approach. Moreover, 96% of the participants supported the notion of incorporating the tasks into the treatment planning subject. Most students (96%) perceived an oral critique of a treatment plan as an authentic approach and also supported the notion of incorporating oral critiques as an assessment task. Student engagement was high in both the practical and oral critique tasks, suggesting that lecturers could also include such tasks as formative activities to enhance learning. ConclusionInvolving student voices in pedagogic assessment design positively influenced the development of new assessments for the treatment planning subject. The oral critiques and practical-based approaches nominated are likely to enhance authenticity to students' learning experiences and provide opportunities for students to develop desirable professional capabilities.

A systematic review of assessments for procedural skills in physiotherapy education / Assessment von prozeduralen Fähigkeiten in der physiotherapeutischen Ausbildung: Ein systematischer Review

Abstract Introduction Learning of procedural skills is important in the education of physiotherapists. It is the aim of physiotherapy degree programmes that graduates are able to practice selected procedures safely and efficiently. Procedural competency is threatened by an increasing and diverse amount of procedures that are incorporated in university curricula. As a consequence, less time is available for the learning of each specific procedure. Incorrectly performed procedures in physiotherapy might be ineffective and may result in injuries to patients and physiotherapists. The aim of this review was to synthesise relevant literature systematically to appraise current knowledge relating to assessments for procedural skills in physiotherapy education. Method A systematic search strategy was developed to screen five relevant databases (CINAHL, Cochrane Central, SportDISCUS, ERIC and MEDLINE) for eligible studies. The included assessments were evaluated for evidence of their reliability and validity. Results The search of electronic databases identified 560 potential records. Seven studies were included into this systematic review. The studies reported eight assessments of procedural skills. Six of the assessments were designed for a specific procedure and two assessments were considered for the evaluation of more than one procedure. Evidence to support the measurement properties of the assessment was not available for all categories. Discussion It was not possible to recommend a single assessment of procedural skills in physiotherapy education following this systematic review. There is a need for further development of new assessments to allow valid and reliable assessments of the broad spectrum of physiotherapeutic practice

EPA-0542 - New tools for new psychiatry: the change offered by fuzzy logic algorithms

The management of non-linear and grey clinical data, so frequent in psychiatry, needs the development of new statistical tools, able to give value to subjectivity and complexity of the observed changes. A comparison between soft computing models, psychodynamic theory and clinical observations in the experience of psychiatric rehabilitation. To test the use of some dynamic fuzzy algorithms (like clustering, ellipsoidal rules, least square method) in order to improve data analysis in the field of clinical research in psychiatry. The role of slow, evolutionary, multifactorial, minute movements and their potential significance become readable, especially referred to the subjective observations of the clinical operators. In this work, that it's necessary to consider only a first step, seems that Dynamic Fuzzy Functions may have a future role in the development of new assessments of clinical data in psychiatry.

Development of a standardised Occupational Therapy – Driver Off‐Road Assessment Battery to assess older and/or functionally impaired drivers

Research has been conducted over several years to develop a new off-road assessment battery referred to as the Occupational Therapy - Driver Off-Road Assessment Battery. This article documents the development of the Battery, and provides preliminary research evidence to support its content and predictive validity. Literature reviews and a focus group with nine driver assessor occupational therapists were undertaken, as well as data collection using the Occupational Therapy - Driver Off-Road Assessment Battery with 246 clients. A Classification and Regression Tree model was constructed to ascertain the predictive validity of the Battery, with fitness-to-drive as the outcome. Twenty-one physical, 13 sensory and seven assessments of cognition/perception were identified as being reflective of the skills required for driving. Following rating of their psychometric properties, the best assessments were presented to focus group members. The driver assessors supported the inclusion of several assessments and encouraged the development of new assessments. A draft version of the Occupational Therapy - Driver Off-Road Assessment Battery was tested and found to have excellent predictive validity for client on-road performance of 82.6%. The Classification and Regression Tree model showed that client performance on tests included in the Battery should be used together, rather than in isolation, to support fitness-to-drive recommendations. This research identified the most suitable physical, sensory and cognitive assessments to include in the Occupational Therapy - Driver Off-Road Assessment Battery, and provided support for its validity. The development of this standardised battery assists driver assessors to accurately and consistently assess and report the off-road driving capacity of clients.

Degenerative Mitral Valve Regurgitation: Understanding Basic Concepts and New Developments

Chronic degenerative mitral regurgitation is the most common valvular disease in the United States. The objective of this review article is to impart a balanced understanding of the basic concepts and new developments in assessment and management of patients with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation. Etiologic, epidemiologic, pathologic, and physiopathologic concepts are discussed, as well as the importance of surgical mitral valve repair as the current gold standard treatment. Research efforts in “decoding” the natural history and prognosis of patients with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation have produced important insights into the surgical timing of patients with asymptomatic mitral regurgitation, and the concept of early restorative surgery has emerged.

Psychologische Diagnostik von Nikotinabhängigkeit und -missbrauch im Kindes- und Jugendalter

Objectives: Epidemiological surveys pointed out the importance of nicotineassociated disorders in children and adolescents. The aim of this study is to analyze the assessment procedures that can be used to arrange the psychological-diagnostic process in children and adolescents with nicotineassociated disorders in an effective way and to point out needs for new developments in Germany. Methods: We analyzed relevant articles, books and manuals of published German assessment tools. The databases PsyContent, SpringerLink, PubMed as well as the engine Google-Scholar were screened using the terms „nicotine dependence“, „tobacco dependence“, „smoker“, „psychological assessment“, „children“ und „adolescents“. The published German assessment tools were evaluated regarding their psychometric properties and completeness. Results: There are deficiencies in the field of nicotine-specific asse ssment tools in Germany. The existing measures were not adapted and standardized for children and adolescents. International psychologica l assessments show new possibilities for improvements. Conclusion: At the moment only the DIA-X could be recommended to measure nicotine dependence in childhood and adolescence. The adaption of existing or the development of new assessments for nicotine-associated disorders with children and adolescents is desired immediately. The use of instruments based on the transtheoretical model cannot be advised until evaluation with children and adolescents.

Contemporary issues in precocious puberty

Precocious puberty poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to the physician. Recent advances in the understanding of pathophysiology of precocious puberty have resulted in improved management. Timely intervention is mandatory to achieve successful outcome. The identification of critical role of KISS-1-kisspeptin-GPR54 system has gone a long way to provide an insight into pubertal physiology. It is likely that the system would become an important diagnostic and therapeutic target in children with precocious puberty. Epidemiological studies point toward earlier thelarche. This is, however, associated with slower progression as the age of menarche is static. These changes have led to suggestions of lowering the age cutoffs for precocious puberty in girls. New developments in assessment of precocious puberty including gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist test have made characterization of precocious puberty easier. Longstanding GnRH analogs have become the mainstay of treatment of gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty, while aromatase inhibitors and inhibitors of sex hormone action are increasingly being used in gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty.

New developments in assessment in orthodontics

As part of the 'cutting edge' series in the Journal of Orthodontics this paper aims to describe current practice in assessment, suggest how assessment in orthodontics will change in the future and place this change in the context of changes in medical and dental education.