Differential Item Functioning Analyses investigates whether individuals with same ability in different groups also show similar performance on an item. In matching the individuals of the same ability, most of the methodologies use total scores of the tests which are usually constructed to be unidimensional. th purpose of the present study is evaluating the PISA 2003 mathematics literacy items through the use of DIF methodology which uses a multidimensional approach in matching students instead of single total score, improve the matching for DIF analyses. In the study factor structure of the tests will be determeined via both exploratory and confirmatory analyses in a complimentary fashion. then DIF analyses conducted using Logistic regression (LR) and Mantel -Haenszel methods.Analyses showed that the matching criterion improved when multivariate analyses were used. the number of DIF items was decreased when the matching criterion is defined based on multiple criterion scores such as mathematical literacy and problem solving scores or two different mathematical literacy subtest score. In addition, qualitative reviews and examination of the distribution of DIF items by content categories, cognitive demands, item types,item text, visual-spatial factors and linguistic properties of items were analyzed to explain the differential performance. Curriculum, cultural and translation differences were the main criteria for the qualitative analyses of DIF items. The results imply that curriculum and translation differences in items might be causing the DIF across Turkish and English versions of the tests.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1989. / Also available in print.

From Introduction: As the headmaster of a large co-educational High School in East London, I have to counsel Standard 7 pupils at the end of each year with regard to their subject choices for the Senior Secondary phase. In consultation with the teacher-psychologists and the Standard 7 teachers, one has to make decisions with regard to subjects which could have far-reaching effects on the pupil. Year after year the greatest discussion and most difficult decisions concern whether or not to continue with mathematics. At the end of the Standard 7 year, the pupil is faced with a choice of subjects, one of which is usually mathematics. Depending on the school, this choice is often wide and the average Standard 7 pupil can, in spite of careful counselling and advice, still be bewildered and confused. One of the best methods of objectively predicting pupil performance is through the use of various standardised tests. Although some norm-based tests exist, very few schools apply these tests to help predict mathematics performance in the Senior Secondary Course. To aid the pupil in deciding whether or not mathematics should be taken in Standards 8, 9 and 10 it would be extremely useful if there were some guide or predictor on which this decision could be based, as it is generally accepted amongst teachers that mathematics can be a stumbling block in the Cape Senior Certificate, particularly by the weaker candidate. If it could be shown that the Standard 7 year-end mathematics mark could be used to help predict whether :- •the pupil would be likely to pass or fail mathematics in the Cape Senior Certificate; •what symbol the pupil would obtain; a decision as to whether or not he should continue with the subject could be made at this stage, and, depending on his Standard 7 mark, what the likely consequences of this decision would be. In the United Kingdom in particular, the use of A-level examination results have been used as predictors in subsequent educational courses and this has been the subject of fairly extensive research during the 1970's. The extent to which O-level examination results are predictive of A-level achievement has, however, received very little attention. The situation in South Africa is very similar and very little, if any, work has been done in assessing the effectiveness of using school marks in the lower standards of high school to predict marks in the upper standards. It is difficult to suggest a reason for this as such work would be of inestimable value in providing information for use in the counselling and selection of subjects for pupils embarking on the Senior Secondary Course.

Orientador: Maria Jaqueline Mamprim / Banca: Lucy Mary / Banca: Ribeiro Muniz / Banca: Nilva Maria / Banca: Esteves Mascarenhaz / Resumo: exame radiográfico e a ultra-sonografia foram avaliados como técnicas de imagem no diagnóstico de ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial (LCCr) em cães. Verificou-se sexo, raça, peso e idade dos animais atendidos no Hospital Veterinário (HV) da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ)-UNESP, Botucatu-SP. Num período de 12 meses, 31 cães com suspeita de ruptura do LCCr foram submetidos a exames radiográficos e ultra-sonográficos com objetivo de verificar sinais compatíveis com a lesão. Os casos positivos foram encaminhados para cirurgia, no intuito de confirmar o diagnóstico O e reparar a lesão. Foram verificados por meio de artrotomia 23 casos de ruptura total e dois casos de ruptura parcial do LCCr. Não houve diferença significativa entre machos e fêmeas, bem como entre animais inteiros ou castrados. Os cães sem raça definida foram os mais acometidos, seguidos pelo boxer, pit bull, pastor alemão e rottweiler. O animal mais leve pesava 8,4kg e o mais pesado 71kg, sendo a média igual a 27,9kg. Cães com peso igual ou inferior a 15kg apresentaram uma ocorrência menor da doença quando comparados aos animais com peso acima de 15,1kg. A faixa etária variou entre 12 meses a 13 anos, não sendo verificada variação considerável ao compararmos animais jovens e maduros. O exame radiográfico diagnosticou corretamente a lesão em 84% (21) dos casos, e quatro (16%) animais tiveram resultado falso-negativo. O exame ultra-sonográfico foi capaz de diagnosticar acertadamente 76% dos casos, e fornecer diagnóstico favorável nos 24% restantes, apresentando 100% de resultados positivos. No presente trabalho pudemos concluir que tanto o exame radiográfico quanto a ultra-sonografia são modalidades que podem contribuir de forma positiva no diagnóstico da ruptura do LCCr em cães. / Abstract: Radiographic and ultrasonographic examination was evaluated as image techniques in diagnostic of cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in dogs. Was determined the sex, breed, body weight and age of the animals taken care in the Hospital Veterinarian (HV) of the Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ)-UNESP, Botucatu-SP. In a period of 12 months, 31 dogs with supposed CCL rupture were examined radiographic and ultrasonographically with objective to verify compatible signals with the injury. Positive cases had been directed for surgery, in intention to confirm the diagnostic and to repair the injury. Had been verified by artrotomy 23 cases of total rupture and two cases of partial rupture of the CCL. Did not have significant difference between males and females, as well as between intact or neutered animals. Mixed breeds had been affected, followed for boxer, pit bull, german shepherddog and rottweiler. The animal lightest weighed 8,4kg and the heaviest 71kg, mean body weight was 27,9kg. Dogs with equal or inferior weight 15kg had presented a lesser occurrence of the illness when compared with the animals with weight above of 15,1kg. Age varied enters 12 months and 13 years, without considerable variation between mature and young animals. Radiology correctly identified the injury in 84% of the cases, and four (16%) animals had false-negative resulted. In 76% of cases, ultrasonography correctly identified, and to supply to favorable diagnosis in 24% remains, presenting 100% of positive results. In the present study we could conclude that as radiology how ultrasonography are modalities diagnostics that can contribute of positive form in the diagnosis of the rupture of the CCL in dogs. / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-06-22Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:09:54Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveira_rr_me_botfmvz.pdf: 463745 bytes, checksum: e30c44492b4a15ddc8ea111cfcda01cf (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / exame radiográfico e a ultra-sonografia foram avaliados como técnicas de imagem no diagnóstico de ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial (LCCr) em cães. Verificou-se sexo, raça, peso e idade dos animais atendidos no Hospital Veterinário (HV) da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ)-UNESP, Botucatu-SP. Num período de 12 meses, 31 cães com suspeita de ruptura do LCCr foram submetidos a exames radiográficos e ultra-sonográficos com objetivo de verificar sinais compatíveis com a lesão. Os casos positivos foram encaminhados para cirurgia, no intuito de confirmar o diagnóstico O e reparar a lesão. Foram verificados por meio de artrotomia 23 casos de ruptura total e dois casos de ruptura parcial do LCCr. Não houve diferença significativa entre machos e fêmeas, bem como entre animais inteiros ou castrados. Os cães sem raça definida foram os mais acometidos, seguidos pelo boxer, pit bull, pastor alemão e rottweiler. O animal mais leve pesava 8,4kg e o mais pesado 71kg, sendo a média igual a 27,9kg. Cães com peso igual ou inferior a 15kg apresentaram uma ocorrência menor da doença quando comparados aos animais com peso acima de 15,1kg. A faixa etária variou entre 12 meses a 13 anos, não sendo verificada variação considerável ao compararmos animais jovens e maduros. O exame radiográfico diagnosticou corretamente a lesão em 84% (21) dos casos, e quatro (16%) animais tiveram resultado falso-negativo. O exame ultra-sonográfico foi capaz de diagnosticar acertadamente 76% dos casos, e fornecer diagnóstico favorável nos 24% restantes, apresentando 100% de resultados positivos. No presente trabalho pudemos concluir que tanto o exame radiográfico quanto a ultra-sonografia são modalidades que podem contribuir de forma positiva no diagnóstico da ruptura do LCCr em cães. / Radiographic and ultrasonographic examination was evaluated as image techniques in diagnostic of cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in dogs. Was determined the sex, breed, body weight and age of the animals taken care in the Hospital Veterinarian (HV) of the Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ)-UNESP, Botucatu-SP. In a period of 12 months, 31 dogs with supposed CCL rupture were examined radiographic and ultrasonographically with objective to verify compatible signals with the injury. Positive cases had been directed for surgery, in intention to confirm the diagnostic and to repair the injury. Had been verified by artrotomy 23 cases of total rupture and two cases of partial rupture of the CCL. Did not have significant difference between males and females, as well as between intact or neutered animals. Mixed breeds had been affected, followed for boxer, pit bull, german shepherddog and rottweiler. The animal lightest weighed 8,4kg and the heaviest 71kg, mean body weight was 27,9kg. Dogs with equal or inferior weight 15kg had presented a lesser occurrence of the illness when compared with the animals with weight above of 15,1kg. Age varied enters 12 months and 13 years, without considerable variation between mature and young animals. Radiology correctly identified the injury in 84% of the cases, and four (16%) animals had false-negative resulted. In 76% of cases, ultrasonography correctly identified, and to supply to favorable diagnosis in 24% remains, presenting 100% of positive results. In the present study we could conclude that as radiology how ultrasonography are modalities diagnostics that can contribute of positive form in the diagnosis of the rupture of the CCL in dogs.

An exploratory study was undertaken to develop an organizational profile of forty nursing schools in the midwest and southern regions and to provide useful data for planning decisions. Data were obtained through mailed questionnaires and telephone interviews. The dependent variable is success rate on the licensure examination; the independent variables are ten organizational characteristics of nursing schools. The data were examined by descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression analysis, using a .05 level of significance.

Submitted by Marco Antonio Oliveira da Silva (maosilva@ipen.br) on 2016-12-22T11:54:03Z No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-22T11:54:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / A endostatina (ES) é uma proteína inibidora da angiogênese, com ação específica sobre células endoteliais em proliferação, utilizada para tratamento de tumores sólidos. No entanto, o elevado efeito antitumoral da ES observado em animais não é reproduzido em humanos. Com o intuito de potencializar a eficácia terapêutica da ES, produzimos duas proteínas híbridas com dois domínios funcionais. O primeiro domínio é a ES, que apresenta especificidade por células endoteliais ativadas, dirigindo estas proteínas de fusão às células endoteliais em proliferação, promovendo sua internalização e seu efeito inibitório. Como segundo domínio funcional utilizamos os domínios BH3 próapoptóticos de duas proteínas BH3-only com o objetivo de promover a liberação de citocromo C e desencadear o processo de apoptose, aumentando a ação antiangiogênica da ES. Neste trabalho, foram desenhadas duas proteínas de fusão que contêm o domínio BH3 das potentes proteínas pró apoptóticas PUMA e BIM (ES-PUMA e ES-BIM), que deveriam apresentar efeito antiangiogênico potencializado em relação à ES selvagem. A inserção dos fragmentos de DNA codificantes para os domínios BH3 de PUMA e BIM no vetor contendo o gene da ES (pET-ES) foram realizadas por mutagênese sítiodirigida. Estas proteínas de fusão recombinantes foram expressas como corpos de inclusão em E.coli, renaturadas utilizando processo que utiliza alta pressão e purificadas em resina de afinidade por heparina. O tratamento de células endoteliais com as proteínas ES-PUMA e ES-BIM não levou à queda de viabilidade em ensaio de MTS ou de apoptose avaliado por citometria de fluxo, em comparação com os resultados obtidos pelo tratamento com ES. / Dissertação (Mestrado em Tecnologia Nuclear) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Les données sur le comportement biomécanique de la paroi abdominale restent limitées. Cette méconnaissance est un facteur limitant pour le développement de modèles numériques de cette région anatomique. L’objectif de cette thèse est d’apporter des données quantitatives sur le comportement biomécanique de la paroi abdominale, en adoptant une approche expérimentale globale allant de l’ex vivo à l’in vivo. Dans un premier temps, un protocole de caractérisation ex vivo est mis au point et validé sur des spécimens porcins, puis appliqué à des échantillons humains. Ce protocole permet de tester une même paroi abdominale sous deux types de sollicitation (pression et contact) dans le domaine élastique. Il permet également d’évaluer l’influence d’une lésion et d’une réparation avec un implant chirurgical, sur la réponse mécanique de la paroi. Des mesures par corrélation d’images 3D réalisées simultanément sur les surfaces internes et externes quantifient les différences de distribution des déformations de la paroi abdominale. Dans un second temps, des examens in vivo sur volontaires permettent de prendre en compte l’activité musculaire. Une raideur locale est ainsi évaluée pour diverses activités physiologiques, raideur qui augmente en fonction du niveau de contraction jusqu’à 6 fois la valeur au repos. En résumé, cette recherche propose une méthodologie pour mieux comprendre le comportement mécanique global de la paroi abdominale. Cette méthodologie peut être déclinée, afin d’étudier l’influence des différents composants de la paroi. Au-delà de cette thèse, ces données contribueront à la construction et la validation d’un modèle numérique de la paroi abdominale / Data on the biomechanical behaviour of the abdominal wall are limited. This lack of knowledge is a limiting factor for the development of numerical models of this anatomical area. Therefore, the objective of this thesis is to provide quantitative data on the biomechanical behaviour of the abdominal wall, adopting a global experimental approach ranging from ex vivo to in vivo. As a first step, a protocol for ex vivo characterization is develop and validated on porcine specimens and then applied to human anatomical specimens. This protocol allows testing a same abdominal wall under two loading types (pressure and contact) in the elastic range. It also enables to assess the influence of an incision and of a repair with a surgical implant on the mechanical response. Measurements by 3D digital image correlation performed simultaneously on the internal and external surfaces quantify differences in strain distribution of the abdominal wall. As a second step, in vivo examinations on volunteers enable to take into account muscle activity. A local stiffness is thus assessed for various physiological activities. This stiffness increases with the level of muscle contraction and reaches on average six times the stiffness at rest. In conclusion, this research proposes a methodology to better understand the global mechanical behaviour of the abdominal wall. This methodology can now be used in order to study the influence of the different components of the abdominal wall. Beyond this thesis, these data will contribute to the construction and validation of a numerical model of the abdominal wall

Doctorat en sciences psychologiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The problem of this study was to compare the achievement and attitude of students in an individualized biology program, modeled after parts of the Proposed Texas Science Framework, with the achievement and attitude of students in conventional biology classes. The subjects used for the study were tenth grade, first year biology students in three high schools in a large North Central Texas city. Each of the three high schools was selected to represent a particular category of high schools. The categories were based upon the mean achievement scores for the students within a school. The categories of schools were above average, medium low, and very low. In each of the schools the classes and teachers in the experimental group and the control group were matched as closely as possible.