scholarly journals Reasons to avoid z-scores in graphs displaying profile or group differences

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Moeller
Keyword(s):  
Item Difficulty ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Outlier Removal ◽  
Group Frequency ◽  
Item Endorsement ◽  
Z Scores ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Scale Transformations ◽  
Better Than

This article summarizes reasons why z-standardized scores should be avoided in graphs that display profiles or mean score differences between groups. It provides examples showing why and how the use of z-scores in such group comparisons can be misleading and concludes with proposing alternative methods that avoid such risks of misinterpretation.The reasons why z-standardized scores should be avoided when displaying differences between groups of profiles are: (1) The ratio of the difference between two groups is distorted in z-scores.(2) The ratio of the difference between two variables is distorted in z-scores.(3) Information about item endorsement and item rejection is lost.(4) The psychological meaning a given z-score cannot be compared across samples and variables.(5) People may end up in a group they do not belong to if z-scores are used to assign individuals to groups.(6) The group size and group frequency may be affected if z-scores instead of raw scores are used to assign individuals to groups.(7) Group differences in further outcome variables can change if z-scores instead of raw scores are used to assign individuals to groups.(8) Alternative transformations perform better than z-standardization in cluster analyses.Alternatives to using z-scores in graphs displaying profiles and group differences are using raw scores or using scale transformations that do not lead to the aforementioned problems, such as the POMS transformation. The latter can be combined with the formula used to calculate the item difficulty to relate to larger audiences, or with outlier removal techniques to make it less susceptible to the influence of outliers.

Removal of inelastically scattered electrons substantially increases phase contrast on frozen-hydrated molecules

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 652-653
Author(s):  
John P. Langmore ◽  
Brian D. Athey
Keyword(s):  
Electron Diffraction ◽  
Phase Contrast ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Dark Field ◽  
Biological Structure ◽  
Bright Field ◽  
Low Contrast ◽  
Negative Stain ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Better Than

Although electron diffraction indicates better than 0.3nm preservation of biological structure in vitreous ice, the imaging of molecules in ice is limited by low contrast. Thus, low-dose images of frozen-hydrated molecules have significantly more noise than images of air-dried or negatively-stained molecules. We have addressed the question of the origins of this loss of contrast. One unavoidable effect is the reduction in scattering contrast between a molecule and the background. In effect, the difference in scattering power between a molecule and its background is 2-5 times less in a layer of ice than in vacuum or negative stain. A second, previously unrecognized, effect is the large, incoherent background of inelastic scattering from the ice. This background reduces both scattering and phase contrast by an additional factor of about 3, as shown in this paper. We have used energy filtration on the Zeiss EM902 in order to eliminate this second effect, and also increase scattering contrast in bright-field and dark-field.

Examining the Role of Language in Play Among Children With and Without Developmental Disabilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 795-806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth J. Short ◽  
Rachael Cooper Schindler ◽  
Rita Obeid ◽  
Maia M. Noeder ◽  
Laura E. Hlavaty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Play Skills ◽  
Critical Aspect ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Better Than

Purpose Play is a critical aspect of children's development, and researchers have long argued that symbolic deficits in play may be diagnostic of developmental disabilities. This study examined whether deficits in play emerge as a function of developmental disabilities and whether our perceptions of play are colored by differences in language and behavioral presentations. Method Ninety-three children participated in this study (typically developing [TD]; n = 23, developmental language disorders [DLD]; n = 24, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]; n = 26, and autism spectrum disorder [ASD]; n = 20). Children were videotaped engaging in free-play. Children's symbolic play (imagination, organization, elaboration, and comfort) was scored under conditions of both audible language and no audible language to assess diagnostic group differences in play and whether audible language impacted raters' perception of play. Results Significant differences in play were evident across diagnostic groups. The presence of language did not alter play ratings for the TD group, but differences were found among the other diagnostic groups. When language was audible, children with DLD and ASD (but not ADHD) were scored poorly on play compared to their TD peers. When language was not audible, children with DLD were perceived to play better than when language was audible. Conversely, children with ADHD showed organizational deficits when language was not available to support their play. Finally, children with ASD demonstrated poor play performance regardless of whether language was audible or not. Conclusions Language affects our understanding of play skills in some young children. Parents, researchers, and clinicians must be careful not to underestimate or overestimate play based on language presentation. Differential skills in language have the potential to unduly influence our perceptions of play for children with developmental disabilities.

PENERAPAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN KOOPERATIF TIPE STAD DENGAN PENDEKATAN RME UNTUK MENINGKATKAN HASIL BELAJAR MATEMATIKA SISWA KELAS IX SMP MUHAMMADIYAH PADANG LUAS KECAMATAN TAMBANG KABUPATEN KAMPAR

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 744
Author(s):  
Zainur Zainur
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Cooperative Learning ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Mathematics Learning ◽  
Student Learning Outcomes ◽  
Learning Model ◽  
Research Instrument ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Better Than

This research was motivated by the low learning outcomes of grade IX SMP Muhammadiyah Padang LuasKecamatan Tambang Kabupaten Kampar. This study aims to improve learning outcomes in mathematicslearning through STAD type cooperative learning with the RME approach in class IX SMP MuhammadiyahPadang Luas Kecamatan Tambang Kabupaten Kampar. The subjects of this study were all classes IX in SMPMuhammadiyah Padang Luas Kecamatan Tambang Kabupaten Kampar totaling 26 people. The form ofresearch is classroom action research. This research instrument consists of performance instruments and datacollection instruments in the form of teacher activity observation sheets and activities. The results of the studystated that there were significant differences between students' mathematics learning outcomes before applyingthe STAD type cooperative learning model with the RME approach with after applying the STAD typecooperative learning model with the RME approach. The difference shows student learning outcomes after theaction is better than before the action with completeness reaching 80.77% or 21 completed. Based on the resultsof the study and discussion it can be concluded that the application of STAD type learning model with RealisticMathematic Education (RME) approach can improve the learning outcomes of grade IX students of SMPMuhammadiyah Padang Luas Kecamatan Tambang Kabupaten Kampar on statistical material.

scholarly journals Home Mechanical Ventilation: A Patient’s Perspective Survey Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4048
Author(s):  
Magdalena Kwiatosz-Muc ◽  
Bożena Kopacz
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Home Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Patient’S Satisfaction ◽  
Satisfaction Index ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
The Difference

Background: An increasing number of patients included in home mechanical ventilation (HMV) care has been under observation for many years. The study aimed to assess the patients opinion concerning the expected and perceived quality of care in an HMV system and a patient’s satisfaction with care. Methods: In 2017, patients treated with HMV were surveyed in Poland with the modified SERVQUAL questionnaire. Results: One hundred correctly completed surveys were analyzed. Patient Satisfaction Index was high. In every examined area, the expectations were statistically significant larger than the perception of the services. The biggest gap was in the tangibility dimension and the smallest gap was in the empathy dimension. Perceived respect and understanding for a patient’s needs are close to the expectations. Conclusions: The level of satisfaction with health care among patients treated with HMV in majority of investigated components is high. Moreover, the difference between perceived and expected quality of health care in the HMV system was relatively small in the opinion of the patients themselves. Further investigations with alternative methods are needed.

scholarly journals Six ultraviolet minutes for cleaner operating theatres

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Bosco ◽  
S Gambelli ◽  
V Urbano ◽  
G Cevenini ◽  
G Messina
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Operating Theatres ◽  
Cleaning Procedures ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Contamination Levels ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Final Cleaning

Abstract Background Sanitizing the operating theatres (OT) is important to minimize risk of post-operative infections. Disinfection procedures between one operation and another is less aggressive than final cleaning procedures, at the end of the day. Aim was assessing the difference of contamination: i) between different levels of disinfection; ii) before and after the use of a UVC Device (UVC-D). Methods Between December 2019/February 2020 a cross sectional study was conducted in OT in a real clinical context. 94 Petri dishes (PD) were used in 3 OT. Three different sanitation levels (SL1-3) were compared pre- and post-use of UVC-D: i) No cleaning after surgery (SL1); ii) after in-between cleaning (SL2); iii) after terminal cleaning (SL3). UVC-D was employed for 6 minutes, 3 minutes per bed side. PD were incubated at 36 °C and colony forming unit (CFU) counted at 48h. Descriptive statistic, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests were performed to assess the contamination levels in total, pre/post use of UVC-D, and between different sanitation levels, respectively. Results In total we had a mean of 3.39 CFU/PD (C.I. 2.05 - 4.74) and a median of 1 CFU/PD (Min. 0 - Max. 39), after UVC-D use we had a mean of 2.20 CFU/PD (C.I. 0.69 - 5.09) and a median of 0 CFU/PD (Min. 0 - Max. 133). The UVC-D led to a significant reduction of CFU (p < 0.001). Without UVC-D we had a significant CFU drop (p < 0.05) between SL1 and SL3. Using UVC-D, we observed significant reductions of contamination (p < 0.05) between SL3 and SL1. Comparing SL1 (median 0) post UVC-D use vs SL2 pre UVC-D use (median 0.5), and SL2 post UVC-D use (median 0) vs SL3 pre UVC-D use (median 1) we had a significant reduction of contamination (p < 0.05). Conclusions UVC-D improved environmental contamination in any of the three sanitation levels. Furthermore, the use of UVC-D alone was better than in-between and terminal cleaning. Although these encouraging results, the cleaning procedures executed by dedicated staff has to be considered. Key messages UVC are efficient to decrease contamination in operating theatres regardless of sanitation levels. The additional use of UVC technology to standard cleaning procedures significantly improves sanitation levels.

scholarly journals Velody 2—Resilient High-Capacity MIDI Steganography for Organ and Harpsichord Music

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Eric Järpe ◽  
Mattias Weckstén
Keyword(s):  
Mean Absolute Error ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
High Capacity ◽  
Absolute Error ◽  
Music Technology ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
File Size ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Better Than

A new method for musical steganography for the MIDI format is presented. The MIDI standard is a user-friendly music technology protocol that is frequently deployed by composers of different levels of ambition. There is to the author’s knowledge no fully implemented and rigorously specified, publicly available method for MIDI steganography. The goal of this study, however, is to investigate how a novel MIDI steganography algorithm can be implemented by manipulation of the velocity attribute subject to restrictions of capacity and security. Many of today’s MIDI steganography methods—less rigorously described in the literature—fail to be resilient to steganalysis. Traces (such as artefacts in the MIDI code which would not occur by the mere generation of MIDI music: MIDI file size inflation, radical changes in mean absolute error or peak signal-to-noise ratio of certain kinds of MIDI events or even audible effects in the stego MIDI file) that could catch the eye of a scrutinizing steganalyst are side-effects of many current methods described in the literature. This steganalysis resilience is an imperative property of the steganography method. However, by restricting the carrier MIDI files to classical organ and harpsichord pieces, the problem of velocities following the mood of the music can be avoided. The proposed method, called Velody 2, is found to be on par with or better than the cutting edge alternative methods regarding capacity and inflation while still possessing a better resilience against steganalysis. An audibility test was conducted to check that there are no signs of audible traces in the stego MIDI files.

Influence of Collagen Status on Microstructures of Porous Collagen/TCP Composites

2007 ◽  
Vol 330-332 ◽  
pp. 495-498
Author(s):  
Chao Zou ◽  
Wen Jian Weng ◽  
Xu Liang Deng ◽  
Kui Cheng ◽  
Pi Yi Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Tricalcium Phosphate ◽  
Freeze Drying ◽  
Alkali Treatment ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Collagen Matrices ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Porous Composites ◽  
Better Than

Two starting collagens, sponge and floc collagen, were used to prepare collagen/tricalcium phosphate (TCP) composites. The resulting composites were porous and had 200μm pore size. However, there was a difference in the microstructure of the pore walls for the composites derived from the two collagens, the pore walls in sponge collagen/TCP composite were still porous and had 200 nm micropores size, TCP particles were trapped in collagen matrices. While floc collagen/TCP composite had smooth and dense walls in which TCP particles were embedded. The difference could be attributed to the starting collagen with different status. Sponge collagen has a soft structure, which easily becomes disassembled fibrils during alkali treatment, the disassembled fibrils are integrated again to form a dense morphology for pore walls after freeze-drying. While floc collagen has already a low disassembly degree, the alkali treatment could not be able to separate the fibrils, this remains as micropores in pore walls after freeze-drying. Both porous composites are significant in bone tissue engineering or regeneration. MTT test results showed the two composites had good cytocompatibility, and sponge collagen/TCP composite was somewhat better than floc collagen/TCP composite, which could result from that micropores derived roughness in pore walls of sponge collagen/TCP composite is suitable for cell growth.

Assessment of different selective agar media for enumeration and isolation ofListeriafrom dairy products

1988 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 579-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Dominguez ◽  
José Francisco Fernández ◽  
Victor Briones ◽  
José Luis Blanco ◽  
Guillermo Suárez
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Products ◽  
Agar Medium ◽  
Raw Milk ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Direct Plating ◽  
Selective Agar ◽  
Natural Microflora ◽  
Agar Media ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Better Than

SummaryDifferent selective agar media were compared for the recovery and isolation of five species ofListeriafrom raw milk and cheese. The selective media examined were Beerens medium, MacBride medium and that described by Dominguezet al.(1984) with 6 mg/1 acriflavine, listeria selective agar medium (LSAM), and LSAM with 12 mg/1 acriflavine (LSAM × 2A); a non-selective yeast glucose Lemco agar was included for comparison. When the difference between listeria and the natural microflora of raw milk and cheese was 102cfu/ml, listeria could be isolated by direct plating on all media tested. When it was lower than 103–104cfu/ml, listeria were isolated by direct plating only on LSAM and LSAM × 2A. When the difference was greater than 104cfu/ml, a previous enrichment was necessary to isolate them. LSAM and LSAM × 2A media performed better than the other media tested for isolating listeria by direct plating and improved their isolation from dairy products. This superior performance was evaluated by the ability of these media to support colony formation of different species ofListeriatested, the easy recognition of these colonies from those formed by other microorganisms and by their capacity to inhibit the natural microflora of these foods.

Distinction between Dolus and Culpa with reference to Arson in Zakon Sudnyj LJudem, the Vinodol Law and the Statute of Senj

De Jure ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Haman ◽  
◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
The Other ◽  
Legal Documents ◽  
The Third ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Criminal Offenses ◽  
The World ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Better Than

The difference between intent (dolus) and negligence (culpa) was rarely emphasized in codified medieval laws and regulations. When compared to the legal statements related to intent, negligence was mentioned even more rarely. However, there are some laws that distinguished between the two concepts in terms of some specific crimes, such as arson. This paper draws attention to three medieval Slavic legal documents – the Zakon Sudnyj LJudem (ZSLJ), the Vinodol Law and the Statute of Senj. They are compared with reference to regulations regarding arson, with the focus being on arson as a crime committed intentionally or out of negligence. The ZSLJ as the oldest known Slavic law in the world shows some similarities with other medieval Slavic legal codes, especially in the field of criminal law, since most of the ZSLJ’s articles are related to criminal law. On the other hand, the Vinodol Law is the oldest preserved Croatian law and it is among the oldest Slavic codes in the world. It was written in 1288 in the Croatian Glagolitic script and in the Croatian Chakavian dialect. The third document – the Statute of Senj – regulated legal matters in the Croatian littoral town of Senj. It was written in 1388 – exactly a century after the Vinodol Law was proclaimed. When comparing the Vinodol Law and the Statute of Senj with the Zakon Sudnyj LJudem, there are clear differences and similarities, particularly in the field of criminal law. Within the framework of criminal offenses, the act of arson is important for making a distinction between intent and negligence. While the ZSLJ regulates different levels of guilt, the Vinodol Law makes no difference between dolus and culpa. On the other hand, the Statute of Senj strictly refers to negligence as a punishable crime. Even though the ZSLJ is almost half a millennium older than the Statute of Senj and around 400 years older than the Vinodol Law, this paper proves that the ZSLJ defines the guilt and the punishment for arson much better than the other two laws.

Modification of Speech Discrimination in Patients with Binaural Asymmetrical Hearing Loss

1971 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert J. Arkebauer ◽  
George T. Mencher ◽  
Carol McCall
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sound Field ◽  
Combined Effect ◽  
Speech Signals ◽  
Speech Discrimination ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Better Than

Ten patients with bilateral asymmetrical hearing losses were tested for differences in speech discrimination scores under the following listening conditions: poorer ear under earphone; better ear under earphone; sound field, ears unoccluded; and sound field, poorer ear occluded. A patient manifesting a bilateral asymmetrical hearing loss may not be able to either separate or integrate two speech signals; however, occlusion of the poorer ear may be an advantageous means of obtaining maximum speech discrimination. Examination of the speech discrimination scores indicates the existence of detrimental interaction between ears exhibiting bilateral asymmetrical hearing loss. These findings also indicate that when the difference between ears is greater, speech discrimination is better than when asymmetry approximates symmetry. Apparently, the greater the impairment in the better ear, the greater the results to be gained by occluding the poorer ear. These findings were interpreted as being relevant in determining candidacy for binaural amplification. Such candidacy should be determined on the basis of speech discrimination scores obtained from each ear independently, and the combined effect of both aids.

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