Effective Evaluation System Research Articles

Asphalt Pavements Evaluation Methods Based on Modern Inspection Technologies

AbstractBased on the basic requirements for pavement evaluation and the analysis of the existing problems such as inaccuracy in the evaluation results and inefficiency in the data collections, refined evaluation indexes are presented including pavement condition index and riding quality index. Meanwhile improved data collection methods and designed by use of modem pavement inspection technologies for the evaluation indexes. As a result, a set of new effective and efficient pavement evaluation system has been established with improved methods.

Construction of a therapeutic effect evaluation system for patients with primary liver cancer based on syndrome differentiation in traditional Chinese medicine

To construct a system of therapeutic effect evaluation for patients with primary liver cancer according to the theory of syndrome differentiation in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and to examine its reliability. Analytic hierarchy process and 100 mm surveyor's rod method were applied to obtain bottom layer and top level syndromes, which were used to construct the method of therapeutic effect evaluation, and its reliability was verified in clinical practice by comparing with some evaluation criteria in Western medicine, such as cancer severity scale; Karnofsky performance scale; Child-Pugh classification, cancer staging classification, and quality of life scale, etc. A system of therapeutic effect evaluation was constructed, and it could reflect the progress of tumor, changes of hepatic function and constitution. The evaluation scores acquired from the system were highly associated with the quality of life of the patients. The system of therapeutic effect evaluation can reflect the severity of disease and the characteristics of TCM treatment.

Evaluation of full and degraded mission reliability and mission dependability for intermittently operated, multi-functional systems

Availability is one of the metrics often used in the evaluation of system effectiveness. Its use as an effectiveness metric is often dictated by the nature of the system under consideration. While some systems operate continuously, many others operate on an intermittent basis where each operational period may often involve a different set of missions. This is the most likely scenario for complex multi-functional systems, where each specific system mission may require the availability of a different combination of system elements. Similarly, for these systems, not only is it important to know whether a mission can be initiated, it is just as important to know whether the system is capable of completing such a mission. Thus, for these systems, additional measures become relevant to provide a more holistic assessment of system effectiveness. This paper presents techniques for the evaluation of both full and degraded mission reliability and mission dependability for coherent, intermittently operated multi-functional systems. These metrics complement previously developed availability and degraded availability measures of multi-functional systems, in the comprehensive assessment of system effectiveness.

Significance and necessity of developing quality of life questionnaire for cancer patients adapting to traditional Chinese medicine

The clinical evaluation system for therapeutic effects of tumor, which focuses on survival period and tumor response rate, has been proved not very proper for evaluating the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Quality of life (QOL) has been introduced into the effective evaluation system of TCM and integrative medicine because of its similarity in concept and extension with TCM at theory basis, syndrome differentiation-treatment, and evaluation of therapeutic effects. But there are no QOL questionnaires which can evaluate the therapeutic effects of TCM and integrative medicine precisely. This article discussed the necessity and significance of developing QOL questionnaire special for TCM.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Comparing Outcome of Severely Injured Patients Treated in Trauma Centers Following the Establishment of Trauma Systems

The establishment of trauma systems was anticipated to improve overall survival for the severely injured patient. We systematically reviewed the published literature to assess if outcome from severe traumatic injury is improved for patients following the establishment of a trauma system. A systematic literature review of all population-based studies that evaluated trauma system performance was conducted. A qualitative analysis of each study's design and methodology and a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the evidence to date of trauma system effectiveness. A search of the literature yielded 14 published articles. Trauma systems demonstrated improved odds of survival in 8 of the 14 reports. The overall quality-weighted odds ratio was 0.85 lower mortality following trauma system implementation. The results of the meta-analysis showed a 15% reduction in mortality in favor of the presence of a trauma system. Evaluation of trauma system effectiveness must remain an uncompromising commitment to optimal outcome for the injured patient.

運動残効による視覚系疲労の評価方法の検討

In order to develop the effective evaluation system for the fatigue of operator's visual system in long term operation, the experiments were carried out utilizing perceptual time duration of motion aftereffect (MAE), critical flicker frequency (CFF) and the near point (NP) measurement. The MAE was measured using rotated spiral figure displayed on a CRT screen. To generate visual fatigue, a signal detection task in randomly displayed alphabets was used. After the task, MAE duration, CFF and NP were increased. It is supposed that the visual fatigue generated by the experimental task affects motion processing system of visual cortex. Results suggest that the MAE can be an effective tool for visual fatigue evaluation.

Problems of District Medium-Term Development Plan implementation in Ghana: The way forward

In line with the decentralisation policy of the government of Ghana, the District Assemblies (DAs) are required to prepare and implement their development plans to ensure the overall development of their respective areas. The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) issues Medium-Term Development Plan Preparation Guidelines for the DAs in accordance with the National Development Planning System Act 1994 (Act 480). The DAs formulated their first Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDPs) to cover 1996–2000 and have prepared the 2002–2004 MTDPs. Evidence shows that DAs hardly implemented the 1996–2000 MTDP, and the practice constitutes a waste of scarce funds, time and energy.Based on survey data on six District Assemblies in Ghana, this paper summarises the problems of DAs in implementing MTDPs and discusses the way forward. The paper argues that the implementation problems include weak institutional structures, inadequate human and financial resources of the DAs, chieftaincy and land disputes, low levels of commitment by stakeholders, and ineffective teamwork. To overcome these problems, there is the need for human resource development, provision of logistics, effective mobilisation and utilisation of financial resources, institutional strengthening, awareness-raising, resolution of chieftaincy and land disputes, good governance, and an effective monitoring and evaluation system.

Discussion on necessity of introduction of qualitative research into clinical research of traditional Chinese medicine

Currently, the model of the research evaluation system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is set up through imitating that of western medicine. The application of quantitative research to TCM does promote the advance of modernization of TCM, which explore the part of TCM that can be measured in quantitative method. However, TCM has a background of profound philosophy and culture. The priority of TCM can not be expressed through quantitative research alone. On the contrary, qualitative research is more suitable to most research area of TCM. In TCM clinical research, the priority of TCM should be fully explored. It is very significant to set up the effectiveness evaluation system of TCM, especially by applying qualitative research to the diagnosis and the evaluation of treatment results and combining quantitative research.

원자력발전소 1차 계통 주요기기에 대한 웹기반 피로수명평가 시스템 개발

A nuclear power plant is composed of a number of primary components. Maintaining the integrity of these components is one of the most critical issues in nuclear industry. In order to maintain the integrity of these primary components, a complicated procedure is required including regular in-service inspection, failure assessment, fracture mechanics analysis, etc. Also, experts in different fields have to co-operate to resolve the<br/> integrity issues on the basis of inspection results. This integrity evaluation process usually takes long, and thus,<br/> is detrimental for the plant productivity. Therefore, an effective safety evaluation system is essential to manage the integrity issues on a nuclear power plant. In this paper, a web-based fatigue life evaluation system for primary components in nuclear power plant is proposed. This system provides engineering knowledge-information and concurrent and collaborative working environment through internet, and thus, is expected to raise the efficiency of integrity evaluation procednres on primary components of a nuclear power plant.<br/>

The Metaevaluation Imperative

The evaluation field has advanced sufficiently in its methodology and public service that evaluators can and should subject their evaluations to systematic metaevaluation. Metaevaluation is the process of delineating, obtaining, and applying descriptive information and judgmental information about an evaluation’s utility, feasibility, propriety, and accuracy and its systematic nature, competence, integrity/honesty, respectfulness, and social responsibility to guide the evaluation and publicly report its strengths and weaknesses. Formative metaevaluations—employed in undertaking and conducting evaluations—assist evaluators to plan, conduct, improve, interpret, and report their evaluation studies. Summative metaevaluations—conducted following an evaluation—help audiences see an evaluation’s strengths and weaknesses, and judge its merit and worth. Metaevaluations are in public, professional, and institutional interests to assure that evaluations provide sound findings and conclusions; that evaluation practices continue to improve; and that institutions administer efficient, effective evaluation systems. Professional evaluators are increasingly taking their metaevaluation responsibilities seriously but need additional tools and procedures to apply their standards and principles of good evaluation practice.

The metaevaluation imperative

The evaluation field has advanced sufficiently in its methodology and public service that evaluators can and should subject their evaluations to systematic metaevaluation. Metaevaluation is the process of delineating, obtaining, and applying descriptive information and judgmental information about an evaluation’s utility, feasibility, propriety, and accuracy and its systematic nature, competence, integrity/honesty, respectfulness, and social responsibility to guide the evaluation and publicly report its strengths and weaknesses. Formative metaevaluations—employed in undertaking and conducting evaluations—assist evaluators to plan, conduct, improve, interpret, and report their evaluation studies. Summative metaevaluations—conducted following an evaluation—help audiences see an evaluation’s strengths and weaknesses, and judge its merit and worth. Metaevaluations are in public, professional, and institutional interests to assure that evaluations provide sound findings and conclusions; that evaluation practices continue to improve; and that institutions administer efficient, effective evaluation systems. Professional evaluators are increasingly taking their metaevaluation responsibilities seriously but need additional tools and procedures to apply their standards and principles of good evaluation practice.

The CEFP. Building evaluation capacity.

The infusion of evaluation activity brought about by the American Cancer Society Collaborative Evaluation Fellows Project (CEFP) is a remarkable contribution to cancer prevention and control. Many lessons learned from the CEFP process are potentially beneficial not only to the American Cancer Society, but also to other organizations that seek to draw upon the success this project. One lesson for organizations that care about effectiveness and accountability is that, when outcomes matter, investments in evaluation become essential. By viewing evaluation in its larger context within the American Cancer Society, the CEFP delivers more value than the sum of findings from its individual studies. Especially pronounced are the contributions of the CEFP toward promoting organizational learning, generating useful products, and forming collaborative partnership--all of which are requirements for building an effective and sustainable evaluation system.

Evaluation of the 3D-PIV standard images (PIV-STD project)

Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) offers many advantages for studies of fluid flows. Lots of PIV techniques have been developed and applied to various flow fields. However, there are no standard tools for evaluation of the PIV system effectiveness and accuracy. To popularize the PIV for practical use, the PIV system should have some standard. The Visualization Society of Japan (VSJ) started a project for PIV standardization and popularization in 1996 (PIV-STD Project). The PIV has two processes, i.e., the image capture with visualization and image analysis. In order to evaluate the image analysis system for the PIV, standard images were proposed. Using the images, an evaluation of the effectiveness and accuracy for the PIV system will be carried out. The developed PIV standard images are distributed using the Internet, (http://www.vsj.or.jp/piv). The standard images include the two-dimensional and transient three-dimensional images. The correct velocity vectors and correct particle location in three-dimensional field are also provided to evaluate the effectiveness of the target flow field.

536 セラミック部品の信頼性設計のための有効体積評価システムの開発

536 セラミック部品の信頼性設計のための有効体積評価システムの開発

Evaluation purposes, processes, products, and probity: Some lessons from experience

This paper shares some of the author’s conclusions following more than three decades of experience with evaluation in a range of areas, including agricultural research, health and social development projects, and programs managed by both national and international agencies. It expounds on the purposes, processes and products of evaluation as well as the probity of the evaluators. Evaluations are often expected to achieve multiple objectives in a short time period and with limited resources. The conclusions and recommendations of evaluations often influence a program’s future course, as well as the reputation of program managers and staff. When there is no effective monitoring or internal evaluation system in place, an external evaluation team must rely heavily on the probity and creativity of its members, particularly, the team leader. This paper offers tips on practical aspects of monitoring and evaluation, and provides insights into research and development processes in developing countries.

Social control in information systems development

Examines sources of control over information system development decisions. Although past research has examined sources of internal organizational control that were solely determined by technical/rational goals, this article analyzes the symbolic role of social institutions in exerting control over system development decisions. Three regulatory mechanisms, developed by institutional theorists, are used to explain how specific social institutions exert their control. The mechanisms of coercive isomorphism, mimetic isomorphism and normative isomorphism help illustrate the types of social forces that enhance similarity of systems across organizations. Three conditions also are identified which moderate these effects: dependence on external institutions having control over an organization’s resources; unclear performance standards for system development; and interaction patterns during development. These conditions imply that social control would differ greatly according to whether the major influences on the process of system development arise from within the organization or are imposed from external institutions. The examination of symbolic/institutional forces in system development is useful in both the evaluation of system effectiveness and the assessment of the “appropriateness” of managerial interventions in the process. Future research should empirically examine these manifestations of social control and their influence on system development decisions.

Research Findings from the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) Database: Implications for Educational Evaluation and Research.

The Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System determines the effectiveness of school systems, schools, and teachers based on student academic growth over time. An integral part of TVAAS is a massive, longitudinally merged database linking students and student outcomes to the schools and systems in which they are enrolled and to the teachers to whom they are assigned as they transition from grade to grade. Research conducted utilizing data from the TVAAS database has shown that race, socioeconomic level, class size, and classroom heterogeneity are poor predictors of student academic growth. Rather, the effectiveness of the teacher is the major determinant of student academic progress. Teacher effects on student achievement have been found to be both additive and cumulative with little evidence that subsequent effective teachers can offset the effects of ineffective ones. For these reasons, a component linking teacher effectiveness to student outcomes is a necessary part of any effective educational evaluation system.

A Performance Evaluation System for Primary Care Providers in a Community Health Services Program

A performance evaluation system (PES) serves to motivate employees to provide desired behaviors that achieve organizational objectives. In 1989, Denver Health and Hospital (DHH), a publicly funded, integrated delivery system with a large primary care program, instituted a new PES. This report summarizes performance evaluation results for DHH's community health center program. The evaluation focused on the performance of primary care physicians, midlevel practitioners (i.e., physicians assistants, nurse practitioners, and dentists), over a 4-year study period (1990 to 1993). Category-specific performance ratings were based on a 5-point ordinal scale: unacceptable, expectations not met, meets expectations, exceeds expectations, and outstanding. Performance ratings were analyzed as variables that were dependent on several practice characteristics. Results demonstrated a relationship between performance ratings and specific practice characteristics. Based on the results, limitations of the new PES and implications for designing more effective evaluation systems are discussed.

Parameters for system effectiveness evaluation of distributed systems

In a Distributed Computing System (DCS), the failure of one or more system components causes the degradation in its effectiveness to complete a given task as opposed to a complete network breakdown. This paper addresses the issue of degraded system effectiveness evaluation by introducing two static measures, namely, Distributed Program Performance Index (DPPI) and Distributed System Performance Index (DSPI). These metrics can be used to compare networks with different features for application execution. It can be used to determine if the network with high reliability and low capacity, or low reliability and high capacity is better for a given program execution. An algorithm is also developed for computing these indices, and it is shown to be not only efficient, but general enough to compute many other existing measures such as computer networks, distributed systems, transaction based systems, etc.

State Regulatory Oversight of a Pilot Horizontal Well for DNAPL Recovery: A Case Study: ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT Pre-RCRA disposal of still bottoms, sludge and waste product occurred onsite in unlined pits at a chlorinated solvent manufacturing facility. Pits were excavated in unconsolidated sediments of Holocene age, which are underlain by Pleistocene clays, channel sands, and massive sands of the Chicot Aquifer. Waste materials containing significant amounts of chlorinated solvents have undergone gravity separation and formed a Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) layer within the uppermost sediments. Well points connected to a vacuum recovery system installed in the early 1980's attempted to recover contaminated groundwater. The true extent of DNAPL was not realized until evaluation of this system proved that recovery was not providing significant reduction in contaminant levels. Upon further study, it was realized that the vacuum system could not recover the dense phase material, and only recovered the dissolved portion. The Agency (LDEQ) requested further augmentation of the system or alterative methods to efficiently and effectively recover DNAPL. The Company has initiated the installation of a pilot horizontal recovery well. Advantages of horizontal over vertical wells include: fewer surface locations and appurtenances, greater capture zone, cost reduction for maintenance and accessories, lower worker exposure, and greater effectiveness in DNAPL recovery. Anticipated problems include preventing worker exposure to waste materials, maintaining vertical emplacement control, preventing loss of mud through surficial pathways, and minimizing waste production. LDEQ involvement includes evaluation of system effectiveness, recommendations for improvement, appraisal and approval of alternative measures, onsite inspection and observation, and cooperative involvement in planning and implementation of new technologies. End_of_Record - Last_Page 480-------