Percentage Of Discrepancies Research Articles

The Effect of the Accommodation Coefficient on Slider Air Bearing Simulation

In solving the slider air bearing problem, both the Molecular Gas-film Lubrication (MGL) model and the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) model require the accommodation coefficient as input. The accommodation coefficient represents the fraction of the air molecules that interact with solid boundaries in a diffusive manner. In general, the value 1 is used for the accommodation coefficient, which represents a fully diffusive reflection. However, in magnetic hard disk drives, the disk and slider surfaces are becoming ever smoother with different kinds of lubrication on the disk, while the temperature is becoming higher due to the faster spindle speed. Under these conditions the unit value of the accommodation coefficient may no longer be suitable. In order to understand the effect of the accommodation coefficient on the slider’s flying parameters, we used Kang’s new database for the Poiseuille flow rate Qp and Couette flow rate Qc to solve the modified Reynolds equation for two groups of sliders, e.g., negative and positive pressure sliders (“negative” refers to sliders with subambient pressure zones). The results show that, in general, the smaller the accommodation coefficient, the lower the flying height and pitch angle. Positive pressure sliders are more sensitive to the accommodation coefficient than are negative pressure sliders. The typical discrepancy in flying height is around 10%. Also, it is shown that for positive pressure sliders the lower the flying height, the larger the discrepancy percentage. [S0742-4787(00)00402-1]

Circumferential Periosteal Sleeve Resection: Results in Limb-Length Discrepancy Secondary to Poliomyelitis

We report the results of circumferential periosteal sleeve resection of lower-limb bones for mild degrees of limb-length discrepancy (mean, 3.5 cm) secondary to postpolio residual paralysis in 23 patients. Results were expressed by calculating percentage of length discrepancy of the operated-on limb with respect to the normal limb and gain in length in centimeters of the operated-on limb over the normal limb. All patients had a uniform trend of gain in length with response in the femur lasting for approximately 1 year, whereas that in the tibia persisted >2 years. Circumferential periosteal sleeve resection is a safe and reliable method of longitudinal bone-growth stimulation, providing consistent results, especially for mild to moderate discrepancies.

Comparison of Fyb status as determined serologically and genetically

Comparison of the serologically determined phenotype and the genotype of samples as defined by PCR-RFLP indicated a significant percentage of discrepancies on analysis of serologically defined Fy(a + b-) samples. An investigation of these discrepancies has shown that the serologically determined phenotype of the samples varies with respect to the reagent used but that the PCR-RFLP assay gives reliable results for all the samples investigated. The samples which yielded the discrepant results were further investigated and the results indicated weakened expression of the Fyb antigen. This may arise by a method similar to the expression of Fyx although we found the incidence of these samples to be much higher than that reported for Fyx. These results may have important implications for the routine testing of blood donations, particularly in situations where the unit is to be transfused to a patient who has previously formed an anti-Fyb.

Test-retest repeatability of the National Animal Health monitoring system dairy heifer health report in New York and Pennsylvania, USA

We did a test-retest study on 21 farms to assess the repeatability of the Dairy Heifer Health Report of the National Dairy Heifer Evaluation Project. The median retest interval was 42 days (range 14–63 days), retest interviewers were blinded as to responses on the first visits, and all date-specific questions were anchored to the dates of the first tests. The overall discrepancy percentage was 8.5% (95% CI 8.0–9.0). Individual farms had discrepancy percentages of 3.0–15.2%; 240 out of the 539 questions had no discrepancies at all, but 81 questions had more than four (out of 21 possible) discrepancies (lowest percentages among the 81: 24%; 95% lower confidence limit on 24%: 6%). Combining ‘no’ and ‘not applicable’ responses for six similarly worded questions in the Biosecurity section would reduce the overall questionnaire discrepancy percentage to 7.8% and would bring that section's discrepancy percentage down to 8.6%. The other discrepancy percentages by section were: Maternity Hygiene, 14.1 %; Preweaning Hygiene, 4.8%; Disease Agents, 3.6%; Vaccination Practices, 12.1%; Preventive Practices, 16.8%. Discrepancy percentages did not differ importantly by type of question (independent, filter, or subordinate) or by type of response required (categorical, count, or measurement). Discrepancy percentages were independent of retest interviewer, test-retest interval and order of test within state (a proxy for time since training of the interviewers) but were correlated with herd size ( r sp = 0.59).

Probe-AMPH—A spreadsheet program to classify microprobe-derived amphibole analyses

A Microsoft Excel™ spreadsheet program has been developed to calculate structural formulae of microprobe-derived amphibole analyses and determine classification parameters according to the International Mineralogical Association scheme for amphibole nomenclature. The program has been tested in the determination of formulae and classification of 138 amphibole analyses from the literature. Of these, the small percentage (14%) of discrepancies were determined mainly to be the result of (i) differences between measured (wet chemical) and estimated values for FeO and Fe2O3 and (ii) differences inherent in summing structural formula of microprobe data to 23 oxygens and wet chemical data to 24 oxygens. The program has been developed for the Apple Macintosh but a PC version also is available. Spreadsheet implementations of four published geobarometers based on the total aluminium content of certain calcic amphiboles also are presented. These geobarometers are applicable to metaluminous plutonic (and associated volcanic) rocks containing the assemblage amphibole-biotite-quartz-plagioclase-(orthoclase)-sphene-FeTi oxides and apply to a pressure range of 2.5–13 kbar.

Agreement between visual and automated UniScept API readings

The UniScept API system was evaluated for agreement of visual versus automated readings of both its identification panels and its antimicrobial susceptibility panels. The biochemical responses of 340 oxidase-negative and oxidase-positive fermentative bacterial cultures were read both visually and automatically in the UniScept API 20E system. Automated and visual readings agreed with 99.3% of the biochemicals. Of the 45 tests that disagreed, the tests for indole and citrate were most often in disagreement. A total of 470 fermentative and nonfermentative cultures were used in the UniScept MIC system to compare visual and automated readings of susceptibility results with 17 antimicrobial agents. Agreement within +/- 1 dilution occurred with 94.1% of the enteric fermenters and with 91.7% of the other cultures. Comparison of visual and automated readings resulted in very major discrepancies in 0.95% of the readings, with the largest percentage of discrepancies associated with glucose nonfermenters (1.8%). It was felt that an automated reading is an acceptable alternative to a visual reading of the biochemicals but that 0.95% was just within the acceptable range of the 1% allowable very major discrepancies in the automated reading of susceptibilities.

Evaluation of the Reliability of Bedside Glucose Testing

A review of six months of patients' records showed that glucose values obtained on the wards by nurses with various chemistry reagent strips differed significantly from those obtained by the laboratory. The differences could be as much as 12mmol/L(216mg/dL). The bias found seemed to apply to all brands of strips used; 58.7% of glucose results obtained by strip with manual reading had a bias exceeding 20% of those results obtained by the laboratory, and 15.7% of glucose results had a difference of greater than 10mmol/L(180mg/dL). When meters were used to read the strip color, the percentage of discrepancies was 47.0%. Similar results were obtained in the concurrent study, although the discrepancies were less when meters were used for reading the strip color. Our studies suggest that user-to-user variability, lack of quality control, lack of stringent staff training, and education criteria may all contribute to the variability and poor performance found. These points must be addressed if bedside glucose monitoring is to be of practical value, thus ensuring reliability in the management of diabetic patients.

An Assessment of Three Portable Peak Flow Meters

Peak flow has become widely used as in independent measure of lung function, particularly in asthma, because it can be quickly and easily determined by simple portable instrumentation. Three relatively inexpensive devices, the Armstrong mini-Wright peak flow meter, Vitalograph pulmonary monitor, and HealthScan peak flow meter, were tested for accuracy and reproducibility. Five units of each type were individually connected in series to a pneumotachograph, and 20 measurements (five in each of four flow ranges) were made on each unit at pulsatile flows ranging from 120 to 480 Lpm. The mean percentage of discrepancy (D%) for each instrument of a particular model was calculated at each flow range, and these subsequently averaged to give an inter-instrument percentage of discrepancy at each flow for each model. Intra-instrument variability was also assessed as the mean percentage of discrepancy for all flow rates for each individual instrument. While only the Armstrong mini-wright peak flow meter meets flow range criteria established by the American Thoracic Society and American College of Chest Physicians for flow devices, only the HealthScan-Organon peak flow meter meets the established criteria for accuracy and reproducibility.

Channel consistency and inconsistency in the communications of married couples.

48 married couples were videotaped while they discussed their relationship. The conversation was divided into thought units (basically speaker turns), and each unit was coded 4 times. Positive messages were used more by Ss with high and moderate levels of marital adjustment (MAD) (as measured by the short Marital Adjustment Test), whereas negative messages were used more by Ss low in MAD. Neutral messages were used more by males than females, particularly among the low-MAD Ss. Over all adjustment levels, neutral messages were used more in the verbal channel, positive messages were used less in the verbal channel, and negative messages were used less in the verbal and visual channels. The most frequently occurring discrepancies were those with positivity in the visual channel and negativity in the verbal or vocal channels, particularly the vocal channel. The percentage of discrepancies involving positivity in the visual channel and negativity in the vocal channel increased linearly from the high- to low-MAD Ss, with females generally using more of these communications than males. (39 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).

Comparison of Direct and Standardized Disk Diffusion Susceptibility Testing of Urine Cultures

A comparison between direct and standardized disk diffusion tests was made on a total of 300 urine specimens containing >/=10(5) organisms/ml. Of these, 246 represented pure cultures and 54 represented mixed cultures. The number of major discrepancies per organism tested in pure culture was 18 (7.3%) and in mixed cultures it was 23 (42.6%). The percentage of major discrepancies per total number of antimicrobial drug comparisons made was 1.4%. Although this procedure may be of value in selected cases with pure cultures of organisms present in quantities >/=10(5)/ml, its use on a routine basis is not recommended.

Comparative value of the Weltmann serocoagulation reaction and the sedimentation rate (Cutler) in determining activity of the rheumatic process.

Abstract 1.1. The Weltmann serocoagulation reaction proved to be a laboratory adjunct of considerable value in the prediction of rheumatic activity in a large group of naval patients hospitalized with rheumatic fever. 2.2. Of a total of 2,552 observations upon 400 patients with or convalescent from rheumatic fever, the Weltmann reaction correlated with the clinical status 97.2 per cent of the time against a correlation of 86.6 per cent for the Cutler sedimentation rate. 3.3. In 46 patients who exhibited rheumatic activity during the study, the Weltmann reaction correlated with the clinical status 93 per cent of the time against a Cutler sedimentation rate correlation of 90 per cent of the time during periods of activity. The respective correlations during periods of inactivity on these patients were 99 per cent for the Weltmann and 93 per cent for the sedimentation rate. 4.4. Of a total of 1,857 observations upon 350 patients who exhibited no rheumatic activity during the course of study, the Weltmann correlated 98.1 per cent of the time and the sedimentation rate 85.9 per cent of the time with the clinical observations. When the 22 patients who had four or more abnormal sedimentation rates were excluded, the Cutler sedimentation rate correlation was raised to 92.2 per cent. 5.5. Certain patients contributed more than their share of errors and were significantly important in the greater percentage of discrepancies which occurred in the sedimentation rate. These patients were those who failed to show expected increases of the sedimentation rate during periods of activity, and second, those who exhibited persistently elevated sedimentation rates following the cessation of activity. Similar persistent discrepancies between the Weltmann reaction and the clinical course of the patient were not observed. 6.6. The Weltmann reaction is of particular value as a complementary test to the sedimentation rate in the handling of large numbers of rheumatic patients where the physician must depend on laboratory evidences of rheumatic activity to a large extent in the management of patients under his care. It is also of particular value where discrepancies between the sedimentation rate and the clinical course leave him undecided as to the state of activity of the rheumatic process in his patient.