Thesis (Ph.D)--Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Begovic, Miroslav; Committee Member: Hampton, Nigel; Committee Member: Harley, Ronald; Committee Member: Michaels, Thomas; Committee Member: Vidakovic, Brani. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

The Institute for Test Research and Test Development (ITT) has provided complimentary Vocabulary Size Tests (VST) in 15 languages to language learners and their teachers, measuring their own or their learners’ receptive and productive vocabulary sizes. This report examines in detail and on a large empirical basis the validity and reliability of these tests.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-149). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-149). Also available on the Internet.

<p>Doktorska disertacija obuhvata vi&scaron;egodi&scaron;nja istraživanja koja se odnose na razvoj u tehnolo&scaron;kom unapređenju održavanja jednodelnih točkova železničkih vučenih vozila, uz primenu savremenih metoda i postupka dijagnostikovanja u cilju postizanja zadovoljavajućeg nivoa pouzdanosti pri eksploataciji.<br />Sveobuhvatnim istraživanjem pokazano je da uvođenjem ovog novog tehničko-tehnolo&scaron;kog postupka održavanja venca monoblok točka kvaliteta ER7, čini veliki značaj u tehnolo&scaron;kom unapređenju održavanja vitalnog dela &scaron;inskih vozila-točka, u sopstvenim radioničkim kapacitetima na&scaron;ih železničkih uprava. Istraživanjem je, takođe, potvrđeno da implementacija ovog, sasvim novog tehničko-tehnolo&scaron;kog postupka održavanja venca monoblok točka, je primenljiv i izvodljiv tehničko-tehnički postupak, u postojećim radioničkim kapacitetima koje se bave problematikom održavanja železničkih vozila bez znatnih investicionih ulaganja.<br />Istraživanja su se odvijala po fazama. Prvo su detaljno implementirana teoretska istraživačka dostignuća, zasnovana na izučavanju i primjeni savremenih tehnika i tehnologija na održavanju vitalnih elementa železničkih tehničkih sistema. Implementacija ovog teorijskog istraživanja, realno je produkovalo u zdrav i sveobuhvatan naučno-istraživački temelj, koji je omogućio opravdan pristup eksperimentalnom, a potom i eksploatcaionom istraživanju. Takvim sveobuhvatnim naučno-istraživačkim procesom, rezultiralo je u zadovoljavajuća naučno-istraživačka saznanja, koja će, sigurni smo, stvoriti zdravu podlogu za naučno razmatranje, a potom, i pristup, ka praktičnoj primeni od strane železničkih uprava na&scaron;ih zemalja.<br />Ceo proces istraživanja predmeta disertacije, baziran je na najnovijim dostignućima naučnog saznanja iz oblasti ma&scaron;instva koje izučavaju: tehnologiju obrade metala, tehnologiju proizvodnje čelika, mehanike metala, otpornosti materijala, potom metalurgije zavarivanja, fizike, hemije itd.<br />Eksperimentalna i eksploataciona istraživanja, pratile su savremene dijagnostičke metode i postupci, meritorne za dono&scaron;enje naučnih odluka i dokaza o nivou kvaliteta i pouzdanosti. Pokazano je da pored metoda mehnike loma metala i standardnih metalru&scaron;kih metoda ispitivanja, uvođenjem savremenih ultrazvučnih dijagnostičkih tehnika i tehnologija, u proces dijagnostikovanja vitalniog dela žlezničkih vozila, to jest monoblok točka, uveliko obezbeđuju visok stepen pouzdanosti, dajući značajan doprinos ovom istrživačkom radu, za potvrdu izvodljivosti tehničko-tehnolo&scaron;kog procesa.<br />Tehničko-tehnolo&scaron;kog procesa obnavljanja venaca monoblok točka kvaliteta ER7, navarivanjem, a izloženi mehničkim procesom tro&scaron;enja i kombinovanim statičkim i dinamičkim opterećenjima, pri eksploatciji, ne može se zamisliti bez primene pouzdanih tehnika dijagnostikovanja. Na taj način, kroz vi&scaron;e tehničkih faza obimnih istraživanja, potvrđena je i dokazana neophodnost primene dijagnostičkih metoda bez razaranja zasnovanih na polju ultrazvučne defektoskopije, kako bi se potvrdio i uvećao uticaj na pouzdanost tehničkog sistema-železničko vozilo.</p> / <p>Doctoral dissertation includes several years of research concerning the development of technological<br />6<br />improvement in the maintenance of oneparted railway wheels towed vehicle, with modern methods of diagnosis and procedure in order to achieve satisfactory levels of reliability in operation. Comprehensive research has shown that the introduction of this new technological process of maintaining of the wreath of monoblock wheels, quality ER7, makes a great technological importance in improving the maintenance of vital rail vehicle-point in our own workshop facilities of railway direction. The study also confirmed that, the implementation of this, an entirely new technological maintenance procedures wreath monoblock wheel, is applicable and feasible technical and technical process for the existing workshop facilities to deal with the problem of maintenance of railway vehicles without significant investment. Surveys were conducted in stages. First in detail are implemented the theoretical research achievements, based on the study and application of modern techniques and technologies, made to maintain the vital elements of railway technical systems. Implementation of this theoretical study is produced by the realistic sound and comprehensive scientific foundation, which allowed reasonable access to experimental, and also exploitation research. This comprehensive scientific research process, resulted a satisfactory scientific research findings, which for sure will create a sound basis for scientific discussion and also access to practical use by the railway companies of our country. The whole process of dissertation research subjects is based on the latest achievements of scientific knowledge in mechanical engineering studies such as: the technology of metal processing, steel production technology, metal mechanics, strength of materials, welding metallurgy, physics, chemistry, etc.. Experimental research and exploitation, were accompanied by modern diagnostic methods and procedures, merit-making for the adoption of scientific decisions and evidence at the level of quality and reliability. It is shown that besides the methods of fracture of metals and mechanics metallurgy standard test methods, the introduction of modern ultrasonic diagnostic techniques and technologies in the process of diagnosing vital railway vehicle, as a monoblock points, largely provides a high degree of reliability by providing a significant contribution to this research for confirming technological feasibility of the process. Technological process of wreath restoring of monoblock wheels, quality ER7, which are subjected to the mechanical process of wear and combinated static and dynamic loads, in the process od exploitation, it can not be imagined without the use of reliable diagnostic techniques. Thus, through the more technical phases of extensive research, has been confirmed and proved the necessity of applying nondestructive diagnostic method based on the field of ultrasound defectoscopy, with the purpose of confirmation and increasing of impact on the reliability of technical systems and rail car.&nbsp;</p>

Background: There are innumerable diabetes studies that have investigated associations between risk factors, protective factors, and health outcomes; however, these individual predictors are part of a complex network of interacting forces. Moreover, there is little awareness about resilience or its importance in chronic disease in adulthood, especially diabetes. Thus, this is the first study to: (1) extensively investigate the relationships among a host of predictors and multiple adaptive outcomes; and (2) conceptualise a resilience model among people with diabetes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was divided into two research studies. Study One was to translate two diabetes-specific instruments (Problem Areas In Diabetes, PAID; Diabetes Coping Measure, DCM) into a Chinese version and to examine their psychometric properties for use in Study Two in a convenience sample of 205 outpatients with type 2 diabetes. In Study Two, an integrated theoretical model is developed and evaluated using the structural equation modelling (SEM) technique. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 345 people with type 2 diabetes from the endocrine outpatient departments of three hospitals in Taiwan. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed a one-factor structure of the PAID-C which was similar to the original version of the PAID. Strong content validity of the PAID-C was demonstrated. The PAID-C was associated with HbA1c and diabetes self-care behaviours, confirming satisfactory criterion validity. There was a moderate relationship between the PAID-C and the Perceived Stress Scale, supporting satisfactory convergent validity. The PAID-C also demonstrated satisfactory stability and high internal consistency. A four-factor structure and strong content validity of the DCM-C was confirmed. Criterion validity demonstrated that the DCM-C was significantly associated with HbA1c and diabetes self-care behaviours. There was a statistical correlation between the DCM-C and the Revised Ways of Coping Checklist, suggesting satisfactory convergent validity. Test-retest reliability demonstrated satisfactory stability of the DCM-C. The total scale of the DCM-C showed adequate internal consistency. Age, duration of diabetes, diabetes symptoms, diabetes distress, physical activity, coping strategies, and social support were the most consistent factors associated with adaptive outcomes in adults with diabetes. Resilience was positively associated with coping strategies, social support, health-related quality of life, and diabetes self-care behaviours. Results of the structural equation modelling revealed protective factors had a significant direct effect on adaptive outcomes; however, the construct of risk factors was not significantly related to adaptive outcomes. Moreover, resilience can moderate the relationships among protective factors and adaptive outcomes, but there were no interaction effects of risk factors and resilience on adaptive outcomes. Conclusion: This study contributes to an understanding of how risk factors and protective factors work together to influence adaptive outcomes in blood sugar control, health-related quality of life, and diabetes self-care behaviours. Additionally, resilience is a positive personality characteristic and may be importantly involved in the adjustment process among people living with type 2 diabetes.

Temos aktualumas: Siekiant įvertinti kelio sąnario funkciją po priekinio kryžminio raiščio plyšimo naudojami įvairūs metodai: izokinetinis testavimas dinamometru (Kannus et al., 1992; Risberg et al., 2009), judesio analizė (Risberg et al., 2009), elektromiografija, klinikiniai testai (Irrgang, 2003; Lee et al., 2008) ir klausimynai (Irrgang, 2001; Lee et al., 2008). Ieškodami patikimesnių būdų įvertinti žmogaus nervų- raumenų sistemos valdymo efektyvumą, Kauno technologijos universiteto ir UAB „Katra“ specialistai kartu su Lietuvos kūno kultūros akademija sukūrė naują originalų prietaisą – žmogaus rankų ir kojų judesių dinaminių parametrų analizatorių (DPA–1). Tyrimo objektas: DPA testų patikimumas ir informatyvumas. Tyrimo tikslas: Nustatyti DPA–1 testų patikimumą ir informatyvumą po priekinio kryžminio raiščio rekonstruojamosios operacijos. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. Nustatyti DPA–1 testų patikimumą, atliekant standartines ir variabilias užduotis po priekinių kryžminių raiščių rekonstruojamosios operacijos. 2. Nustatyti DPA–1 testų informatyvumą, atliekant standartines ir variabilias užduotis po priekinių kryžminių raiščių rekonstruojamosios operacijos. Tyrimas atliktas Lietuvos kūno kultūros akademijoje „Žmogaus motorikos“ laboratorijoje. Jame dalyvavo 34 tiriamieji, kurie buvo suskirstyti į dvi grupes. Pirmąją grupę sudarė pacientai, patyrę kelio sąnario priekinio kryžminio raiščio rekonstruojamąją operaciją (n=17). Šių tiriamųjų amžiaus vidurkis – 31,3 ± 7,8 metai, ūgis –... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Relevancy: Different methods are used to assess capabilities of knee function after ACL injury including isokinetic dynamometry (Kannus et al., 1992, Risberg et al., 2009), motion analysis (Chmielewski et al., 2005, Risberg et al., 2009), electromyography (Chmielewski et al., 2005), clinical testing (Irrgang, 2003, Lee et al., 2008) and questionnaires (Irrgang, 2001, Lee et al., 2008). In order to devise more reliable methods to evaluate the efficiency of human neuromuscular control, the dynamic parameters’ analyzer of human’s hands and legs movements (DPA-1, Patent No. 5251; 2005 08 25) was constructed by Kaunas Technology University and „Katra“ engineers in collaboration with Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education. The object of the study: the reliability and validity of DPA-1 testing procedures. The aim of the study is to establish the reliability and validity of DPA-1 testing procedures after anterior cruciate ligaments reconstructive surgery. The goals of the study are the following: 1. To establish the reliability of DPA-1 testing procedures while performing standard and variable tasks after anterior cruciate ligaments reconstructive surgery. 2. To establish the validity of DPA-1 testing procedures while performing standard and variable tasks after anterior cruciate ligaments reconstructive surgery. The recearch was performed in the Laboratory of Human Motorics at the Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education. 34 participants, who were divided into two groups... [to full text]

This paper addresses the issue of security and integration of UAVs in air traffic operations and analyses possible risks. This work defines methodology to demonstrate airworthiness of the parachute recovery system under extreme climatic conditions. The first part of the methodology deals with the compliance performance requirements in external environment and the second part verifies performance parachute canopy. Methodology developed herein is subsequently verified by practical tests on parachute recovery system Galaxy GBS 10.