Rank Order Comparison Research Articles

Health Digital Indicators’ Juxtaposition

A study is discussed the comparison of main health performance indicators in two different countries: New Zealand and Republic of Cyprus, and globally by approaches from the particular to the general, and multi-dimensional measures of global health indication. The objective was to establish the content validity, the reliability and sensitivity, and the validity of rank order comparisons. This study analyzed 2021-2023 annual reports World Health Organization, European Union Commission, and NZ government. The finding of this work is synopsis of Health Digital Indicators. The result of synopsis has shown that there are so many different kinds of Health Indicators that unite by digital technology to collect data for them. Author juxtaposed regional (European and Pacific) and global health indicators counted for health goals.

The values in action character strengths model: a resource for people in addiction recovery

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the Values in Action (VIA) character strengths profile of people in addiction recovery, to identify which strengths are meaningfully represented in this population. This was compared with the generalised profile of a normative population to identify the differentiating features. Reasons for the profile variance and the significance this has for addiction recovery have also been explored.Design/methodology/approachAn independent group design was adopted using purposive sampling. This saw participants (n = 100) complete the VIA Inventory of Strengths-P assessment to establish a character strengths profile for people in addiction recovery. To identify the differences in this profile, a mean score and rank order comparison was conducted, using data taken from a normative population. Additional exploratory analysis was conducted to establish if there were any significant differences in the character strength profile of males and females.FindingsIn descending order, the top five ranked strengths were kindness, humour, honesty, fairness and teamwork. The lesser five strengths in the profile were spirituality, zest, perseverance, prudence and self-regulation. A distinguishing feature was the presence of humour as a top five strength for people in addiction recovery. The existence of teamwork also deviated from the generalised normative population. There were two strengths shown to have a meaningfully higher score for females, teamwork and love. This did not change the strengths present in the overall top five for males or females, however.Originality/valueThis study contributes useful knowledge to the understanding of character strengths in addiction recovery. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time character strengths have been examined in a sample of people in addiction recovery.

Preventing Delirium in Critically Ill Children

Category/Date Emerging Knowledge for Clinical Practice Podium Presentations focusing on the Research Agenda Priority of Pediatric Research: Chronic Illness, Presented at NAPNAP's 40th National Conference on Pediatric Health Care, March 8, 2019, New Orleans, LA. Purpose The purpose of this study was threefold: 1.) initiate routine screening for delirium in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), 2.) implement and evaluate a delirium education program designed for pediatric nurses, and; 3.) characterize the PICU setting as it relates to the prevention of delirium. Background and Significance Delirium in critically ill children increases PICU length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and mortality. Unfortunately, studies suggest 25% of critically ill children suffer from delirium. Moreover, the incidence of delirium nearly doubles after five days of PICU hospitalization. Consequently, Cornell University investigators recognized the need to screen for delirium in critically ill children and developed the Cornell Assessment for Pediatric Delirium (CAPD). Problem Statement Since few pediatric centers routinely screen for delirium in critically ill children, this descriptive study was designed to assist pediatric nurses in the prevention, recognition and treatment of delirium in critically ill children. Methods Following Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, this descriptive study: 1) Used bedside audits to characterize the PICU setting 2) Delivered tutorials designed to enhance nurses’ knowledge of pediatric delirium 3) Collected pre and post-test surveys that measured nurses’ delirium knowledge The pre-test/ post-test survey was a 15 item self-reported instrument. The first 5 items dealt with demographic data while the 10 remaining questions were used to assess participant's knowledge of delirium in critically ill children. Results The sample was predominately female (96.3%), white (90.7%) and baccalaureate educated (90.7%). Nearly two-thirds of the sample was less than thirty years of age (64.8%), of which most fell within the 22 to 25 year range (35.3%). Overall, the sample was inexperienced, with the majority having less than two years of critical care experience (53.7%). The bedside audits (n=119) suggested the PICU environment is not conducive to preventing critically-ill children's delirium. For instance, 92.4% of the children did not have daily schedules of care posted in their rooms. In nearly two-thirds of the cases care was not clustered (64.7%) and bathing was performed after 10PM (62.4%). Room noise levels were not kept to a minimum (52.9%) and familiar music was not incorporated into care (52.1%). Of the 75 surveys launched, 54 were returned. The response rate was 72%. Pre (64.0%) and post-test composite scores (90.0%) of the ten knowledge-based questions were compared. Overall, post-test scores improved 40.6%. A rank order comparison of pre-test/post-test means and standard deviations showed that nurses’ knowledge of age groups at heightened risk for delirium increased more than any other category (453.3%). Knowledge of the medications used to treat delirium also increased significantly (112.8%). Discussion This study has clinical, educational and research implications. The CAPD, designed to identify delirium in children, is an easily used bedside tool and should be included as a standard of care for all critically ill children. Enhanced nurse knowledge of at-risk groups and medications that treat delirium increases the likelihood of prevention, recognition and appropriate treatment of delirium. Additional studies to determine the prevalence of pediatric delirium are needed.

Correspondence of folate dietary intake and biomarker data1–3

Background: Public health concerns with regard to both low and high folate status exist in the United States. Recent publications have questioned the utility of self-reported dietary intake data in research and monitoring.Objectives: The purpose of this analysis was to examine the relation between self-reported folate intakes and folate status biomarkers and to evaluate their usefulness for several types of applications.Design: We examined usual dietary intakes of folate by using the National Cancer Institute method to adjust two 24-h dietary recalls (including dietary supplements) for within-person variation and then compared these intakes with serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate among 4878 men and nonpregnant, nonlactating women aged ≥19 y in NHANES 2011-2012, a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey, with respect to consistency across prevalence estimates and rank order comparisons.Results: There was a very low prevalence (<1%) of folate deficiency when serum (<7 nmol/L) and RBC (<305 nmol/L) folate were considered, whereas a higher proportion of the population reported inadequate total dietary folate intakes (6%). Similar patterns of change occurred between intakes and biomarkers of folate status when distributions were examined (i.e., dose response), particularly when diet was expressed in μg. Intakes greater than the Tolerable Upper Intake Level greatly increased the odds of having high serum folate (OR: 17.6; 95% CI: 5.5, 56.0).Conclusions: When assessing folate status in the United States, where fortification and supplement use are common, similar patterns in the distributions of diet and biomarkers suggest that these 2 types of status indicators reflect the same underlying folate status; however, the higher prevalence estimates for inadequate intakes compared with biomarkers suggest, among other factors, a systematic underestimation bias in intake data. Caution is needed in the use of dietary folate data to estimate the prevalence of inadequacy among population groups. The use of dietary data for rank order comparisons or to estimate the potential for dietary excess is likely more reliable.

ALG1-CDG: Clinical and Molecular Characterization of 39 Unreported Patients.

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) arise from pathogenic mutations in over 100 genes leading to impaired protein or lipid glycosylation. ALG1 encodes a β1,4 mannosyltransferase that catalyzes the addition of the first of nine mannose moieties to form a dolichol-lipid linked oligosaccharide intermediate required for proper N-linked glycosylation. ALG1 mutations cause a rare autosomal recessive disorder termed ALG1-CDG. To date 13 mutations in 18 patients from 14 families have been described with varying degrees of clinical severity. We identified and characterized 39 previously unreported cases of ALG1-CDG from 32 families and add 26 new mutations. Pathogenicity of each mutation was confirmed based on its inability to rescue impaired growth or hypoglycosylation of a standard biomarker in an alg1-deficient yeast strain. Using this approach we could not establish a rank order comparison of biomarker glycosylation and patient phenotype, but we identified mutations with a lethal outcome in the first two years of life. The recently identified protein-linked xeno-tetrasaccharide biomarker, NeuAc-Gal-GlcNAc2 , was seen in all 27 patients tested. Our study triples the number of known patients and expands the molecular and clinical correlates of this disorder.

Evaluation of producing and marketing entire male pigs

This paper presents the results of a research program that was aimed at evaluating: (1) sensory evaluation of meat from entire male pigs, (2) preventive measures to reduce boar taint prevalence, (3) accuracy of detection for boar taint, and (4) the relationship between farm management characteristics and levels of mounting and aggressive behaviour of boars. Using observational and experimental studies data were collected in various segments of the pork supply chain. Consumer acceptance of meat from entire male pigs was evaluated. The effectiveness of preventive measures to reduce boar taint prevalence was determined. The relationship of farm (management) characteristics with boar taint prevalence, animal behaviour, skin lesions and lameness respectively was analysed. The similarity of the rank order between consumer perception of odour and human nose scores, skatole and androstenone levels respectively was determined. Consumers evaluate meat that passed the boar taint detection test comparable to meat from gilts. Meat samples that did not pass this test were evaluated less favourable. Ranking AI boars on their genomic breeding values for low boar taint resulted in a reduction in boar taint prevalence of 40%. The skatole level is lower in boars fed via a long trough than in boars fed by a single space feeder. Few eating places, restricted feeding, a low level of amino acids in the diet, insufficient water supply of the drinking system, illness of the pigs, a suboptimal climate and fear for humans were associated with a higher level of sexual and aggressive behaviour and more skin lesions. A partly open pen wall, clean pens and pigs, wider gaps of the slats, feeding by a long trough, and feeding wet by-products were associated with less sexual and aggressive behaviour and less skin lesions. Having more than 30 animals per pen was associated with a higher probability of high boar taint prevalence levels. Hygienic conditions were associated with lower boar taint prevalence levels. Assessing similarity of the rank order comparison between consumer perception and three selected boar taint detection parameters for the consumer perception attribute odour of meat resulted in the highest Kendall's W values for the human nose scores. In conclusion, boar tainted meat was rated as less pleasant by consumers compared to meat of gilts and non-tainted boar meat, indicating the need of detection as a safety net at the slaughter line. Breeding was an effective preventive measure to reduce boar taint. Farms with appropriate management, feeding and housing conditions have reduced levels of mounting and aggressive behaviour. Human nose scores were a better predictor of the rank order of consumer perception, compared to skatole levels and to androstenone levels.

Structural Analysis of PTM Hotspots (SAPH-ire) – A Quantitative Informatics Method Enabling the Discovery of Novel Regulatory Elements in Protein Families

Predicting the biological function potential of post-translational modifications (PTMs) is becoming increasingly important in light of the exponential increase in available PTM data from high-throughput proteomics. We developed structural analysis of PTM hotspots (SAPH-ire)—a quantitative PTM ranking method that integrates experimental PTM observations, sequence conservation, protein structure, and interaction data to allow rank order comparisons within or between protein families. Here, we applied SAPH-ire to the study of PTMs in diverse G protein families, a conserved and ubiquitous class of proteins essential for maintenance of intracellular structure (tubulins) and signal transduction (large and small Ras-like G proteins). A total of 1728 experimentally verified PTMs from eight unique G protein families were clustered into 451 unique hotspots, 51 of which have a known and cited biological function or response. Using customized software, the hotspots were analyzed in the context of 598 unique protein structures. By comparing distributions of hotspots with known versus unknown function, we show that SAPH-ire analysis is predictive for PTM biological function. Notably, SAPH-ire revealed high-ranking hotspots for which a functional impact has not yet been determined, including phosphorylation hotspots in the N-terminal tails of G protein gamma subunits—conserved protein structures never before reported as regulators of G protein coupled receptor signaling. To validate this prediction we used the yeast model system for G protein coupled receptor signaling, revealing that gamma subunit–N-terminal tail phosphorylation is activated in response to G protein coupled receptor stimulation and regulates protein stability in vivo. These results demonstrate the utility of integrating protein structural and sequence features into PTM prioritization schemes that can improve the analysis and functional power of modification-specific proteomics data.

Meta‐Proteomic Analysis of PTMs in G protein Signaling Systems – New Tools and Unsuspected Discoveries

The collective structural and functional data for prototypical G protein signaling (GPS) systems – defined by 7‐transmembrane receptors (GPCRs), heterotrimeric G proteins (Gαβγ) and Regulators of G‐protein Signaling (RGS) – is arguably the most comprehensive of its kind to date. Comparatively little is known about how G protein structure and function is altered by post‐translational modifications (PTMs). Here we report the first structurally‐resolved, meta‐proteomic map of all empirically validated PTMs for GPS proteins. Using a novel PTM analysis tool called Structural Projection of PTMs (SPoP), a total of 1,910 unique eukaryotic PTMs were coalesced onto available structures within the Protein Data Bank. The resulting dataset has enabled the first‐ever visualization of the PTM topology for each member of a prototypical GPS system. By factoring total PTM observations, protein structure, protein interactions and sequence conservation, we estimated a function potential value for each PTM. Rank order comparison of calculated function potentials with literature‐based evidence of function reveals that SPoP has predictive power. Based on these results, we have identified major PTM hotspots in GPS proteins; predicted and tested the involvement of previously unsuspected PTM regulatory elements; and revealed surprising differences between the PTM topologies of large and small guanine‐nucleotide binding proteins. We propose that meta‐proteomic and structural PTM analysis with SPoP can lead to the discovery of functionally important modification sites that regulate biomedically‐relevant classes of signaling molecules.

Evaluation of Frog as an Animal Model to Study the Fraction of Oral Dose Absorbed in Humans

To evaluate single pass intestinal perfusion method in frog for the prediction of absorption in man and also to evaluate the predictability of this model to classify drugs correctly under biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS). Single Pass Intestinal Perfusion (SPIP) studies were performed in Frogs of the species Rana tigrina using established method for rats with some modifications. Permeability was determined for each selected drug in 6 frogs and the results were presented as mean ± SD. Effective permeability coefficient (Peff) of 12 drugs was calculated. Permeability assessment of some carrier transported drugs which are also substrates for CYP enzymes was also done. Correlation of frog Peff with fraction of dose absorbed (FA) in man was done. Rank order comparison of permeabilities obtained in this study with two other absorption models (human jejunal perfusion, rat intestinal perfusion) was made. The calculated Peff values correlated well with reported Peff values of probe drugs. Good correlation was found between Peff of humans and frogs (r2=0.942). The permeability classification based on frog intestinal permeability of drugs is in high agreement with previously introduced classification, and all the compounds are placed in correct categories as they belong to. The results of this study provided a basis that, as a permeability model in the early drug discovery stage, the single pass intestinal perfusion frog model can be used for the biopharmaceutics classification system. This model may represent a valuable alternative to the low speed and high cost of conventional animal models (typically rodents) for the assessment of intestinal permeability.

Node centrality indices in food webs: Rank orders versus distributions

Network analysis examines the role of species in ecological communities. The most common approach involves measurement of centrality of species or other groups of individuals based on their topological positions in food webs, followed by establishing the rank order of importance of these groups. However, ranking may differ considerably with indices of centrality and therefore comparison of rank orders is essential to obtain more meaningful results on species performance. Since ranking ignores absolute differences between centrality values, species orders may neglect important structural information in food webs. Consequently, simultaneous examination of the distribution of index values is inevitable. Hierarchical clustering and consensus generation revealed that rank orders of centrality exhibit a similar pattern over six example food webs, while distributions differ not only with indices because their relationships are largely inconsistent with food webs as well. Therefore, optimal analysis of networks and the selection of keystone species in any ecological study should rely upon both of these procedures. Similar conclusions are drawn from the detailed evaluation of a sample food web from the Florida Bay.

Technique Triangulation for Validation in Directed Content Analysis

Division of labor in wedding planning varies for first-time marriages, with three types of couples—traditional, transitional, and egalitarian—identified, but nothing is known about wedding planning for remarrying individuals. Using semistructured interviews, the author interviewed 14 couples in which at least one person had remarried and used directed content analysis to investigate the extent to which the aforementioned typology could be transferred to this different context. In this paper she describes how a triangulation of analytic techniques provided validation for couple classifications and also helped with moving beyond “blind spots” in data analysis. Analytic approaches were the constant comparative technique, rank order comparison, and visual representation of coding, using MAXQDA 2007's tool called TextPortraits.

The Second Time ’Round: Gender Construction in Remarried Couples’ Wedding Planning

Humble, Zvonkovic, and Walker (2008) studied division of labor in first-time marriages, finding a range of gender construction. This study applied their conceptualization to remarried couples, for whom little is known about division of labor or wedding experiences. Fourteen couples in which at least 1 spouse had recently remarried were interviewed about their wedding planning. Data analysis consisted of direct content analysis, rank order comparison, and matrix analysis. Contrasting Humble et al.'s findings, traditional and egalitarian couples were more common than transitional couples. Although remarriages tended to involve smaller and less complicated weddings, the majority of the couples replicated gendered patterns from their first weddings in subsequent weddings.

Endemism and dispersal: comparative phylogeography of three surgeonfishes across the Hawaiian Archipelago

To evaluate the hypothesis that a general correlation exists between species range size and dispersal ability, we surveyed mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence variation in three surgeonfish species with vastly different ranges: Ctenochaetus strigosus, Hawaiian endemic, N = 531; Zebrasoma flavescens, North Pacific, N = 560; Acanthurus nigrofuscus, Indo-Pacific, N = 305. Collections were made throughout the 2,500 km expanse of the Hawaiian Archipelago and adjacent Johnston Atoll. Analyses of molecular variance demonstrate that all three species are capable of maintaining population connectivity on a scale of thousands of km (all species global ΦST = NS). However, rank order comparison of pairwise ΦST results and Exact test P-values revealed modest but significantly different patterns of gene flow among the three species surveyed, with the degree of genetic structure increasing as range size decreases (P = 0.001). These results are consistent with mtDNA surveys of four additional Hawaiian reef fauna in which a wide-spread Indo-Pacific species exhibited genetic homogeneity across the archipelago, while three endemics had significant population subdivision over the same range. Taken together, these seven cases invoke the hypothesis that Hawaii’s endemic reef fishes evolved from species with reduced dispersal ability that, after initial colonization, could not maintain contact with parent populations.

Subjective and objective measures of image quality in digital fluoroscopy

There are numerous methods for assessing image quality in diagnostic X ray. In our study we assessed how imaging quality assurance methods perform in practice. Physics assessments were based on IPEM protocols using Leeds test objects. Clinical assessment was based on a questionnaire. A total of 15 systems in three European locations were assessed, covering a range of image intensifier-TV digital fluoroscopy units. Analysis of 274 clinical questionnaires showed that clinical and physics assessments did not place systems in the same order, based on a given image quality parameter. In almost all the comparisons, low level correlation was measured for statistical comparison of rank order (rs < 0.3). However, broad agreement was observed between physics and clinical assessments for image quality associated with contrast and noise. This study emphasises the importance of maintaining links with clinical assessment, when developing quality assurance metrics, and measuring the mutual performance of clinical and physical assessments of image quality.

The Development of a Modified Dissolution Method Suitable for Investigating Powder Mixtures

ABSTRACTA novel dissolution method was developed, suitable for powder mixtures, based on the USP basket apparatus. The baskets were modified such that the powder mixtures were retained within the baskets and not dispersed, a potential difficulty that may arise when using conventional USP basket and paddle apparatus. The advantages of this method were that the components of the mixtures were maintained in close proximity, maximizing any drug:excipient interaction and leading to more linear dissolution profiles. Two weakly acidic model drugs, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, and a selection of pharmaceutical excipients, including potential dissolution-enhancing alkalizing agents, were chosen for investigation. Dissolution profiles were obtained for simple physical mixtures. The f1 fit factor values, calculated using pure drug as the reference material, demonstrated a trend in line with expectations, with several dissolution enhancers apparent for both drugs. Also, the dissolution rates were linear over substantial parts of the profiles.For both drugs, a rank order comparison between the f1 fit factor and calculated dissolution rate, obtained from the linear section of the dissolution profile, demonstrated a correlation using a significance level of P = 0.05. The method was proven to be suitable for discriminating between the effects of excipients on the dissolution of the model drugs. The method design produced dissolution profiles where the dissolution rate was linear for a substantial time, allowing determination of the dissolution rate without mathematical transformation of the data. This method may be suitable as a preliminary excipient-screening tool in the drug formulation development process.

PROSPECTUS ON LARVAL CIRRIPED SETATION FORMULAE, REVISITED

Setation sequences of the appendages, as well as other characters of cirriped nauplii reared in the laboratory, are invaluable in identification of nauplii taken from the plankton, and in the past few decades those of numerous coastal and a few oceanic species have been described. In addition, larval characters have provided insights into the relationships between various taxa, and it is now apparent certain clades exhibit unique patterns. However, setation sequence patterns of the sixth or last naupliar stage have not been used in phylogenetic studies. Therefore, we have compiled and attempted to standardize them for a preliminary cladistic analysis. Setal characteristics of 31 taxa are compared cladistically with a previously published matrix of largely other naupliar characters. While the results fell short of expectations, rank-order comparisons with a generally accepted classification demonstrates a moderately strong positive correlation between them, that between larval characters and setation sequencing being stronger than either set of larval characteristics was with the classification. Analyses of certain species groups run to test various hypotheses were eminently more satisfactory. Although the present database is limited by the reliability of the original data and our manipulations of them, the results indicate there is sufficient phylogenetic information in larval characters and setation sequences to allow comparisons with generally accepted phylogenies based on adult characters. Refinements of setation sequencing appearing in several recent studies, including recognition of additional setal types and more rigorous comparative approaches in establishing homologies, hold great promise for the future.

The parallel rural community curriculum: an integrated clinical curriculum based in rural general practice.

In an attempt to address the rural medical workforce maldistribution and the concurrent inappropriate caseload at the urban tertiary teaching hospitals, Flinders University and the Riverland Division of General Practice decided to pilot, in 1997, an entire year of undergraduate clinical curriculum in Australian rural general practice. This program is called the Parallel Rural Community Curriculum (PRCC). This paper is a discussion of the aims of the programme; student selection; practice recruitment; curriculum structure, and academic content, together with lessons learnt from the evaluation of the first cohort of students' experience of the course. Independent external evaluators undertook a thematic analysis of a series of structured interviews of students and faculty involved in both the PRCC and the traditional curriculum. The mean examination results were determined and a rank order comparison of student academic performance was undertaken. The eight selected volunteer students reported greater access to patients and clinical learning opportunities than their mainstream counterparts and learned clinical decision making in the context of the whole patient, their family, and the available community resources. They identified patients with 'core' clinical conditions and had a longitudinal exposure to common diseases, whereas hospital-based peers had a cross-sectional exposure to highly filtered illness. The PRCC students' academic performance improved in comparison with that of their tertiary hospital peers' and in comparison to their own results in previous years. The PRCC curriculum has cut across the traditional clinical discipline boundaries by teaching in an integrated way in rural general practice. It has affirmed the potential role of true generalist physicians in undergraduate medical education.

Assessing the Connection to Alcoholics Anonymous in Early Recovery

This article describes the development of an “Index” for assessing Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) affiliation during early recovery, i.e., the first three months after discharge from structured treatment. Analysis of participants' (N = 55) involvement in A.A. practices and acceptance of A.A. tenets yielded 16 items that embody both the fellowship and program dimensions of A.A. Rank-order comparison of affiliation “score” with number of meetings attended suggests that the Index reflects affiliation status more completely than meeting attendance alone. The Index is intended primarily as a tool for practitioners working with clients who may be candidates for A.A., but may also be useful to researchers seeking to develop more valid ways to measure client connections to A.A.

Worker motivation and productivity in chinese (beijing) tricycle haulers: Integrating social and biological variables.

Ethnographic assessment of worker lifestyle and motivation was paired with measurement of health, maximum oxygen uptake, anthropometry, and cold response to predict productivity in order to determine how well behavioral ratings and biological rankings of worker capacity predict actual productivity. The subjects were Chinese laborers hauling heavy loads on a cycle by human power during a Beijing winter. Worker productivity was measured as pay for unit of work done. This paper reports the ethnographic methods and results. Worker health was assessed through a physical examination including vital signs, echocardiogram (ECG), nutrition, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. Worker motivation was assessed during 10 weeks of participant observation, extensive interview, and a visit to the worker's household. Motivation was rated using a rank-order comparison of all 50 workers from lowest to highest. Other observational ratings (household assets, demands on worker, and health of household members) were completed at the time of the home visit using five-point scales. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A comparative evaluation of marine sediment toxicity using bacterial luminescence, oyster embryo, and amphipod sediment bioassays

The toxicity of fifty sediment samples from a heavily industrialized urban embayment (Commencement Bay, Washington) and a non-urban inlet (Carr Inlet, Washington) was measured by three bioassay techniques: Microtox (bacterial luminescence), oyster embryo and amphipod tests. In comparison with Carr Inlet sediments, twenty-nine of the Commencement Bay sediments caused a significant (P< 0·05) decrease in bacterial luminescence, seventeen caused a significant (P<0·05) increase in amphipod mortality and sixteen caused significant (P< 0·05) increase in oyster embryo abnormality. Overa ll, nineteen (41%) of the Commencement Bay sediments were either toxic in all three bioassays or non-toxic in all three bioassays. Rank-order comparisons showed a high level of agreement among the three bioassays (Kendall's coefficient of concordance = 0·64, P < 0·001). However, individual correlations suggested considerable variation among the bioassays, which may be attributable to sensitivity to individual contaminants, differences in exposure routes and the heterogeneous distribution of contaminants in Commencement Bay sediments. These results indicate the usefulness of a diversity of toxicity testing procedures in wide-scale surveys of sediment contamination. Where a high degree of concordance exists among the various bioassays, a broadly based index may be developed that encompasses a wider range of sediment toxicity than would be evident from a single testing procedure.