Facilitators of recovery for step-up and step-down clients of a sub-acute residential mental health service

Stepwise multiple testing as formalized data snooping

It is common in econometric applications that several hypothesis tests arecarried out at the same time. The problem then becomes how to decide whichhypotheses to reject, accounting for the multitude of tests. In this paper,we suggest a stepwise multiple testing procedure which asymptoticallycontrols the familywise error rate at a desired level. Compared to relatedsingle-step methods, our procedure is more powerful in the sense that itoften will reject more false hypotheses. In addition, we advocate the useof studentization when it is feasible. Unlike some stepwise methods, ourmethod implicitly captures the joint dependence structure of the teststatistics, which results in increased ability to detect alternativehypotheses. We prove our method asymptotically controls the familywise errorrate under minimal assumptions. We present our methodology in the context ofcomparing several strategies to a common benchmark and deciding whichstrategies actually beat the benchmark. However, our ideas can easily beextended and/or modied to other contexts, such as making inference for theindividual regression coecients in a multiple regression framework. Somesimulation studies show the improvements of our methods over previous proposals. We also provide an application to a set of real data.

Influence of Phase Inversion on the Formation and Stability of One-Step Multiple Emulsions

A novel method of preparation of water-in-oil-in-micelle-containing water (W/O/W(m)) Multiple emulsions using the one-step emulsification method is reported. These multiple emulsions were normal (not temporary) and stable over a 60 day test period. Previously, reported multiple emulsion by the one-step method were abnormal systems that formed at the inversion point of simple emulsion (where there is an incompatibility in the Ostwald and Bancroft theories, and typically these are O/W/O systems). Pseudoternary phase diagrams and bidimensional process-composition (phase inversion) maps were constructed to assist in process and composition optimization. The surfactants used were PEG40 hydrogenated castor oil and sorbitan oleate, and mineral and vegetables oils were investigated. Physicochemical characterization studies showed experimentally, for the First time, the significance of the ultralow surface tension point oil multiple emulsion formation by one-step via phase inversion processes. Although the significance of ultralow surface tension has been speculated previously, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimental confirmation. The multiple emulsion system reported here was dependent not only upon the emulsification temperature, but also upon the component ratios, therefore both the emulsion phase inversion and the phase inversion temperature were considered to fully explain their formation. Accordingly, it is hypothesized that the formation of these normal multiple emulsions is not a result of a temporary incompatibility (at the inversion point) during simple emulsion preparation, as previously reported. Rather, these normal W/O/W(m) emulsions are a result of the simultaneous occurrence of catastrophic and transitional phase inversion processes. The formation of the primary emulsions (W/O) is in accordance with the Ostwald theory and the formation of the multiple emulsions (W/O/W(m)) is in agreement with the Bancroft theory.

Step size control for efficient discrete element simulation

The step size determines the accuracy of a discrete element simulation. The position and velocity updating calculation uses a pre-calculated table and hence the control of step size can not use the integration formulas for step size control. A step size control scheme for use with the table driven velocity and position calculation uses the difference between the calculation result from one big step and that from two small steps. This variable time step size method chooses the suitable time step size for each particle at each step automatically according to the conditions. Simulation using fixed time step method is compared with that of using variable time step method. The difference in computation time for the same accuracy using a variable step size (compared to the fixed step) depends on the particular problem. For a simple test case the times are roughly similar. However, the variable step size gives the required accuracy on the first run. A fixed step size may require several runs to check the simulation accuracy or a conservative step size that results in longer run times. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new method for constructing exact tests without making any assumptions

We present a new method for constructing exact distribution-free tests (and confidence intervals) for variables that can generate more than two possible outcomes.This method separates the search for an exact test from the goal to create a non-randomized test. Randomization is used to extend any exact test relating to meansof variables with finitely many outcomes to variables with outcomes belonging to agiven bounded set. Tests in terms of variance and covariance are reduced to testsrelating to means. Randomness is then eliminated in a separate step.This method is used to create confidence intervals for the difference between twomeans (or variances) and tests of stochastic inequality and correlation.

Relationship between physical inactivity and adiposity in prepubertal boys.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the energy expenditure for activity (EEAct), the level of activity and adiposity in a group of 9-year-old boys (n = 28) with different body composition (body weight, 38 +/- 10 kg [range, 23 to 66 kg]; fat mass, 23% +/- 10% [range, 8% to 42%]). METHODS: Total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured by means of the heart-rate monitoring method. EEAct was calculated as TEE-(REE+0.1 TEE), where REE is the postabsorptive resting energy expenditure and 0.1 TEE corresponds to the postprandial thermogenesis (approximately 10% of TEE). RESULTS: TEE, REE, and EEAct were 9388 +/- 1859, 5154 +/- 642, and 3295 +/- 1356 l J/day, respectively. Daily time devoted to sedentary and nonsedentary activities averaged 290 +/- 155 minutes (range, 69 to 621) and 534 +/- 150 minutes (range, 180 to 783), respectively. Time spent on sedentary activities was directly proportional to fat mass percentage (r = 0.46; p < 0.05). It was the only variable, among the free-living physical-activity [EEAct, TEE/(REE+0.1 TEE) ratio, time spent in nonsedentary and sedentary activities] variables, which remained significantly in the multiple step-down regression analysis final equation (r = 0.46; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The positive relationship between adiposity and time spent on sedentary activities in 9-year-old boys suggests the importance of the role played by muscular activity, at least in the maintenance of obesity in childhood. Prepubertal children should be encouraged to spend less time on sedentary activities to treat and prevent their obesity.

Sellutehtaan varavoimajärjestelmän mitoitus ja teknistaloudellinen vertailu 400 ja 690 voltin jännitteillä

Tämän diplomityön tarkoitus on selvittää pienjakelujännitteen nostosta aiheutuvia vaikutuksia sellutehtaan varavoimaverkossa. Työn alussa esitellään varavoimaverkkoon kuuluvia osia, selvitetään erilaisten kuormien vaikutusta varavoimaverkon sähkön laatuun sekä kuormien jakoa varmennettuihin verkkoihin. Seuraavaksi suunnitellaan kaksi keskitettyä varavoimaverkkomallia eri pienjakelujännitteillä. Mallien nimellisjännitteet ovat 400 V ja 690 V. Varavoimaverkkomallien kuormat ja osastojen väliset etäisyydet on otettu valmiista sellutehtaista. Tässä diplomityössä painotutaan erityisesti varavoimaverkkomallien mitoitukseen ja jakelujännitteen nostosta aiheutuvien vaikutusten teknistaloudelliseen vertailuun. Vertailu tehdään keskijännitekojeiston ja varavoimakeskusten välisellä alueella, johon kuu-luvat jakelumuuntaja, varavoimakone, varavoimapääkeskus, kiskosillat, jakelukaapelit, kytkinvaroke- ja katkaisijalähdöt sekä mahdolliset välimuuntajat. Varavoimaverkkojen välisessä kustannusvertailussa käytetään nykyarvomenetelmää.

Toteutettavuustarkastelu toiminnanohjausjärjestelmäprojektissa

Työn tavoitteena oli suorittaa tekninen sekä toiminnallinen toteutettavuustarkastelu asiakasdataan kohdistuvien muutosten suhteen erään suuren metsäteollisuusyrityksen toiminnanohjausjärjestelmäprojektissa. Ensin selvitettiin toiminnanohjausjärjestelmän käsite, toteutettavuustarkastelun rooli IT -projektissa sekä toteutettavuustarkastelun suorittamisen vaiheet. Teoriaosuus koottiin pääasiassa kirjallisuuden ja internetlähteiden avulla.Empiirisessä osuudessa toteutettiin ja dokumentoitiin toteutettavuustarkastelu vaihe vaiheelta. Kohdetta lähestyttiin ylhäältä -alas menetelmällä. Pääpaino oli asiakaskoodien, järjestelmiin tarvittavien muutosten sekä työnkulun muuttamisen toteutettavuuden tarkastelussa. Empiirisen osuuden informaation kerääminen suoritettiin asiantuntijoiden haastattelujen avulla. Kerättyä tietoa sovellettiin teoriaosuuden sekä projektidokumenttien menetelmien mukaisesti. Lopputulokseksi saatiin täysivaltainen toteutettavuustarkastelu, joka pitää sisällään kohteen taustaselvitykset, nykyisen ja tulevan tilanteen kuvaukset, poikkeavuusanalyysit sekä jatkotoimenpide-ehdotukset. Tutkimuksessa päädyttiin siihen, että projekti on toteutettavissa tutkitulta alueelta.

A single-step purification of bothropstoxin-1

Bothrops venoms are complex mixtures of components with a wide range of biological activities. Among these substances, myotoxins have been investigated by several groups. Bothropstoxin-1 (Bthtx-1) is a phospholipase A2-like basic myotoxin from Bothrops jararacussu. The purification of this component involves two chromatographic steps. Although providing a pure material, the association of these two steps is time consuming and a single-step method using high performance chromatography media would be useful. In the present study, we describe a single-step purification method for Bthtx-1. Bothrops jararacussu venom was dissolved in 1 ml buffer. After centrifugation, the supernatant was injected into a Resource-S cation exchange column connected to an FPLC system and eluted with a linear salt gradient. The complete procedure took 20 min, representing a considerable time gain when compared to a previously described method (Homsi-Brandenburgo MI et al. (1988) Toxicon, 26: 615-627). Bthtx-1 purity and identity, assessed by SDS-PAGE and N-terminal sequencing, resulted in a single band with a molecular mass of about 14 kDa and the expected sequence of the first 5 residues, S-L-F-E-L. Although the amount of protein purified after each run is lower than in the previously described method, we believe that this method may be useful for small-scale purifications.

Predictor-Corrector Primal-Dual Interior Point Method for Solving Economic Dispatch Problems: A Postoptimization Analysis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Infliximabe no tratamento inicial da retocolite ulcerativa moderada e grave. Terapia top down: Relato preliminar

The first option for the treatment of UC is both: salicylates or corticoids. Recently, in late November of 2006, the Brazilian Ministry of Health has approved infliximab (Remicade c, Mantecorp, Brazil) to treat ulcerative colitis. We report the use of infliximab as a first option for the treatment of two patients with severe ulcerative colitis. Case report: Patient 1: AZF, 52 years-old, female, was first diagnosed with UC after history and clinical examination; colonoscopy showed pancolitis with positive biopsy (crypt microabscess). Her Mayo score was 10 (range: 0 to 12/asymptomatic to severe colitis). She received intra venous infusion of infliximab at a dose of 5mg/Kg of body weigh at week 0, 2, 6 and 14. Then, patient was given mesalazine 4.5 g/day for maintenance therapy. Clinical response was defined as a decreased from baseline in the total Mayo score of at least 3 points. At present, patient is asymptomatic with Mayo score of 3 one moth after the last dose of infliximab. Patient 2: MLA, 45 years-old, female was first diagnosed with bloody diarrhea; colonoscopy showed left colitis and the biopsy was positive for ulcerative colitis. Her Mayo score was 9. She was offered and accepted the step down treatment. She was given infliximab 5mg/Kg of body weight at week 0, 2, 6 and 14. After initial treatment with infliximab, she received mesalazine 4.2 g/day. At present, she is asymptomatic with Mayo score of 2 eighteen days after the last dose of infliximab. At our knowledge, this is the first Brazilian report of the use of infliximab as fist-line therapy in ulcerative colitis. Few days after the begging of the infusion, an impressive clinical and colonoscopy improvement was seen in these two patients. Recently, it has been reported the use of infliximab as first-line therapy in pediatric Crohn disease. Infliximab could be a good option in cases of moderate and severe UC to avoid the side effects of the use of high doses of corticoids in patients with moderate and severe UC. However, the question if step-down therapy in ulcerative colitis is better then conventional therapy with salicylates and corticoids needs to be answered by randomized trials.

Effect of triceps surae and quadriceps muscle fatigue on the mechanics of landing in stepping down in ongoing gait

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

CuO-CeO2 catalysts synthesized in one-step: Characterization and PROX performance

PEM fuel cells seem to be the most affordable and commercially viable hydrogen-based cells, the biggest challenge being to obtain CO-free H-2 (<100 ppm) as the fuel. In this study, the use of CuO-CeO2 catalysts in preferential oxidation of CO to obtain CO-free H-2 (PROX reaction) was investigated. Ce1-xCuxO2 catalysts, with x (mol%) = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.10, were synthesized in one-step by the polymeric precursor method, to obtain a very fine dispersion and strong metal-support interaction, to favor active copper species and a preference for the PROX reaction. The results obtained from catalyzed reactions and characterization of the catalysts by XRD, Rietveld refinement, BET surface area, UV-Vis and TPR, suggest that this one-step synthesis method gives rise to catalysts with copper species selective for the PROX reaction, which reaches a maximum rate on Ce0.97Cu0.03O2 catalyst. Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of multiple comparison methods for identifying differential gene expression in simulated and real papillary thyroid cancer microarray data

The difficulty of detecting differential gene expression in microarray data has existed for many years. Several correction procedures try to avoid the family-wise error rate in multiple comparison process, including the Bonferroni and Sidak single-step p-value adjustments, Holm's step-down correction method, and Benjamini and Hochberg's false discovery rate (FDR) correction procedure. Each multiple comparison technique has its advantages and weaknesses. We studied each multiple comparison method through numerical studies (simulations) and applied the methods to the real exploratory DNA microarray data, which detect of molecular signatures in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients. According to our results of simulation studies, Benjamini and Hochberg step-up FDR controlling procedure is the best process among these multiple comparison methods and we discovered 1277 potential biomarkers among 54675 probe sets after applying the Benjamini and Hochberg's method to PTC microarray data.^

A new relaxation method for roll forming problems

Finite element analysis (FEA) of nonlinear problems in solid mechanics is a time consuming process, but it can deal rigorously with the problems of both geometric, contact and material nonlinearity that occur in roll forming. The simulation time limits the application of nonlinear FEA to these problems in industrial practice, so that most applications of nonlinear FEA are in theoretical studies and engineering consulting or troubleshooting. Instead, quick methods based on a global assumption of the deformed shape have been used by the roll-forming industry. These approaches are of limited accuracy. This paper proposes a new form-finding method - a relaxation method to solve the nonlinear problem of predicting the deformed shape due to plastic deformation in roll forming. This method involves applying a small perturbation to each discrete node in order to update the local displacement field, while minimizing plastic work. This is iteratively applied to update the positions of all nodes. As the method assumes a local displacement field, the strain and stress components at each node are calculated explicitly. Continued perturbation of nodes leads to optimisation of the displacement field. Another important feature of this paper is a new approach to consideration of strain history. For a stable and continuous process such as rolling and roll forming, the strain history of a point is represented spatially by the states at a row of nodes leading in the direction of rolling to the current one. Therefore the increment of the strain components and the work-increment of a point can be found without moving the object forward. Using this method we can find the solution for rolling or roll forming in just one step. This method is expected to be faster than commercial finite element packages by eliminating repeated solution of large sets of simultaneous equations and the need to update boundary conditions that represent the rolls.