The Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Clinician rating scale (NPI-C): Reliability and validity of a revised assessment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) affect almost all patients with dementia and are a major focus of study and treatment. Accurate assessment of NPS through valid, sensitive and reliable measures is crucial. Although current NPS measures have many strengths, they also have some limitations (e.g. acquisition of data is limited to informants or caregivers as respondents, limited depth of items specific to moderate dementia). Therefore, we developed a revised version of the NPI, known as the NPI-C. The NPI-C includes expanded domains and items, and a clinician-rating methodology. This study evaluated the reliability and convergent validity of the NPI-C at ten international sites (seven languages). Methods: Face validity for 78 new items was obtained through a Delphi panel. A total of 128 dyads (caregivers/patients) from three severity categories of dementia (mild = 58, moderate = 49, severe = 21) were interviewed separately by two trained raters using two rating methods: the original NPI interview and a clinician-rated method. Rater 1 also administered four additional, established measures: the Apathy Evaluation Scale, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Index, and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. Intraclass correlations were used to determine inter-rater reliability. Pearson correlations between the four relevant NPI-C domains and their corresponding outside measures were used for convergent validity. Results: Inter-rater reliability was strong for most items. Convergent validity was moderate (apathy and agitation) to strong (hallucinations and delusions; agitation and aberrant vocalization; and depression) for clinician ratings in NPI-C domains. Conclusion: Overall, the NPI-C shows promise as a versatile tool which can accurately measure NPS and which uses a uniform scale system to facilitate data comparisons across studies. Copyright © 2010 International Psychogeriatric Association.

Identificação e priorização dos fatores críticos de sucesso na implantação de fábrica digital

A Digital Factory is a concept which improves the collaboration among product development processes. Despite the benefits brought by this concept, failures may occur in its implementation. This paper aims to present the Critical Success Factors in the implementation of a Digital Factory project in a Brazilian company. These factors were identified by an exploratory survey on the implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning and Product Lifecycle Management among other systems. Following this identification, the factors were prioritized using the Delphi Method and the Analytic Hierarchy Process; this evaluation was carried out by professionals from enterprises which implement Digital Factory projects, in Brazil and abroad. Nine factors were identified. The five main priorities were: Continuous Support and Commitment from Top Management; Comprehensive Business Reengineering; Skilled and Experienced Partners; Participation and Commitment of Users; and Appropriate Role of the Project Manager.

Estudio de priorización de necesidades de investigación en la industria frigorífica

Incluye Bibliografía

Escenarios futuros de políticas de vejez en República Dominicana: la persistente demanda por derechos básicos

Incluye Bibliografía

Sistema especialista para a monitoração do processo de degradação de medidores tipo indução de energia elétrica ativa

This paper presents a methodology and software for hazard rate analysis of induction type watt-hour meters, considering the main variables related with the degradation process of these meters, for the Elektro Electricity and Services SA. The modeling developed to calculate the watt-hour meters hazard rate was implemented in a tool through a user friendly platform, in Delphi language, enabling not only hazard rate analysis, but also a classification by risk range, localization of installation for the analyzed meters, and, allowing, through an expert system, the sampling of induction type watt-hour meters, based on the model risk developed with artificial intelligence, with the mainly goal of follow and manage the process of degradation, maintenance and replacement of these meters. © 2010 IEEE.

Specialist tool for monitoring the measurement degradation process of induction active energy meters

This paper presents a methodology and a specialist tool for failure probability analysis of induction type watt-hour meters, considering the main variables related to their measurement degradation processes. The database of the metering park of a distribution company, named Elektro Electricity and Services Co., was used for determining the most relevant variables and to feed the data in the software. The modeling developed to calculate the watt-hour meters probability of failure was implemented in a tool through a user friendly platform, written in Delphi language. Among the main features of this tool are: analysis of probability of failure by risk range; geographical localization of the meters in the metering park, and automatic sampling of induction type watt-hour meters, based on a risk classification expert system, in order to obtain information to aid the management of these meters. The main goals of the specialist tool are following and managing the measurement degradation, maintenance and replacement processes for induction watt-hour meters. © 2011 IEEE.

Tablas de eficacia de uso de anticonceptivos: su teoria y construccion

Incluye Bibliografía

Tendencias migratorias en una sociedad regional de Chile

Programa de investigacion sobre la poblacion colonial del Norte Chico chileno, en el aspecto de su movilidad. Se pretende estudiar esta movilidad en sus aspectos estadisticos y cartograficos, ademas de las relaciones que puedan existir entre los movimientos migratorios y las estructuras sociales, economicas y demograficas. La fuente principal de informacion la constituye los archivos parroquiales, complementados con los registros notariales y las informaciones matrimoniales. Para el estudio global, se intenta la reconstitucion de familias segun el metodo Henry, adaptandolo al marco espacial de la ciudad o de un grupo de parroquias. Entre las dificultades se senalan: la escasa informacion sobre las profesiones de los migrantes y la imposibilidad de conocer el numero exacto de migrantes entre los casados y el numero de aquellos migrantes que no se casaron.

Normas para preparar trabajos de investigacion

Incluye Bibliografía

Programas de planificacion de la familia: algunas tabulaciones recomendables y su utilizacion

Incluye Bibliografía

Panamá: el descenso de la fecundidad según variables socioeconómicas y geográficas 1965-1977

Incluye Bibliografía

Introduccion al estudio de la fecundidad

Incluye Bibliografía

Estimacion de tasas de mortalidad infantil a partir de informacion de sobrevivencia de hijos clasificados por edad de la madre

Incluye Bibliografía

Fecundidad; articulos seleccionados

Incluye Bibliografía

Seminario sobre estimaciones demograficas

Incluye Bibliografía