To perform software testing at the early stages of software development process can save the cost and effort on finding and fixing defects. As the first stage of software development process, requirements engineering has been moved away from project-initiated requirements engineering towards requirements-initiated development in the last decade. This leads new challenges that it demands support for handling the requirements continually come in from multiple stakeholders on multiple abstraction levels instead of some specific customers. Requirements Abstraction Model was developed as a hierarchical abstraction method for requirements management, which is enable product management to leverage their resources and select requirements for implementation without overloading the organization. RAM was validated in industry on the usability for requirements management, but there is no evaluation for RAM on software testing. This thesis presents an empirical study with a goal of evaluating the suitability of RAM for test case design in respective of efficiency and effectiveness by the comparison with IEEE Std. 830 which is a standard of the traditional requirements specification. For achieving the goal of this study, a controlled experiment is conducted based on the refinement on an initial experiment planning, and is operated with twenty developers in industry in China. Analysis of the collected data from the experiment indicates that RAM has a similar effectiveness as using the requirements in IEEE Std. 830 format, while RAM is more efficient for test case design. Therefore, RAM is suitable for test case design, and has better performance than IEEE Std. 830 comprehensively in view of both efficiency and effectiveness.

This study examined the effects of anaphoric pronouns presented via computer screen on the reading comprehension of four children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Stories from the education.com website were used to collect data. The students’ responses to reading comprehension questions during baseline, treatment, and follow-up sessions were analyzed. The perceptions of students regarding anaphoric pronouns were also analyzed. Initially, reading levels, fluency and comprehension rate, of the students with ASD were identified via the Gray Oral Reading Test, Fifth edition (GORT-5), Test of Narrative Language (TNL), and Test of Narrative Language, Second edition (TNL-2). A randomized multiple baseline (MBL) design with a follow-up extension across participants was implemented to determine the effects of anaphoric reference support using computer-based instruction on the students’ reading comprehension skills. The analysis indicated a statistically significant increase in the reading comprehension skills. Positive student feedback about using anaphoric reference support with automated computer program supported the effect of the intervention on the reading comprehension of the students with ASD. The researcher presented recommendations for further research and studies.

No description available.

Bakgrund: Felaktiga torrvikter är ett problem inom hemodialysvården. Det kan orsaka vårdskada i form av komplikationer och lidande, med symtom som trötthet, blodtrycksfall och sendrag för dialyspatienter. Det finns ett behov av implementering av evidensbaserade metoder som minskar risken för fel i torrviktsbestämning. Bioimpedansmätning beskrivs i litteraturen som ett lovande hjälpmedel för bestämning av torrvikt Syfte: Undersöka effekten av bioimpedansledd torrviktskorrigering, på symtom som hemodialyspatienter kan erfara under och efter dialysbehandling. Metod: Experimentell intervention, i form av veckovis korrigering av torrvikt med vägledning av bioimpedansspektroskopi, utförd med single-case-design och multiple base- line. Urvalet bestod av sex strategiskt utvalda hemodialyspatienter. Resultat: Interventionen hade ringa effekt på förekomst av intradialytiska symtom. Bland studiens deltagare förelåg sällan samvariation mellan förekomst av blodtrycksfall och/eller sendrag och felaktig torrvikt. Däremot förelåg positivt samband mellan symtombörda och differens mellan predialytisk vikt och torrvikt. Bioimpedansmätningarna avslöjade dessutom kliniskt relevant varians i torrvikt över tid. Slutsats: Även om interventionen inte hade bevisad effekt på de beroende variablerna, är det inte uteslutet att noga monitorering av vätskebalans med bioimpedansmätare och korrigering av torrvikt kan förebygga uppkomst av intradialytiska symtom. I vissa subgrupper kan bioimpedansmätning också bidra till förbättrad blodtryckskontroll. Dialyspatienters torrvikt visade sig kunna variera med flera kilogram per vecka, varför fixerad torrvikt kan vara ett dilemma för vissa individer. Bioimpedansmätning bland hemodialyspatienter kan underlätta identifiering av individuella riskfaktorer för intradialytiska symtom och vara ett verktyg som bidrar till utvecklingen mot personcentrerad vård med större patientdelaktighet och individualiserade mål. / Background: Inaccurate dry weight is a problem in hemodialysis care. It can cause health damage in the form of suffering and complications such as fatigue, intradialytic hypotension (IDH) and cramps for dialysis patients. There is a need for implementation of evidence-based practices that reduce the risk of error in dry weight assessment. Bioelectrical impedance is described in literature as a promising tool for assessment of dry weight.Objective: Examine the effect of bioimpedance guided dry weight correction on symptoms that hemodialysis patients may experience during and after dialysis. Method: Experimental intervention in the form of weekly assessment of dry weight with the guidance of bioimpedance spectroscopy, performed with single-case design and multiple baseline. The sample consisted of six strategically selected hemodialysis patients. Results: The intervention had little effect on the prevalence of intradialytic symptoms. Among the study participants, the occurrence of IDH and / or cramps and inaccurate dry weight rarely correlated. However, there was positive correlation between symptoms and the difference between predialytic weight and dry weight. Bioimpedance measurement also revealed clinically relevant variance in dry weight over time. Conclusion: Although the intervention had no proven effect on the dependent variables, it is possible that careful monitoring of fluid balance with bioimpedance measurement and correction of dry weight can help prevent intradialytic symptoms. In certain subgroups bioelectrical impedance may also contribute to improved blood pressure control. Dialysis patients' dry weight was found to vary several kilograms per week; fixated dry weight may therefore be a dilemma for some individuals. Bioelectrical impedance among hemodialysis patients may facilitate identification of individual risk factors for intradialytic symptoms and be a tool that contributes to the development of person-centered care with greater patient participation and individualized goals.

No description available.

Abstract Background/problem: That physical activity (PA) is important for good health and high quality of life is well known. PA also increases a person’s executive functions, ability to concentrate, solve problems and to learn. High school students (HSS) that lack motivation lose focus and are overrepresented as high school dropouts.  Aim: The aim was to examine the effects of a 20-minute walk, during lunch break, on HSS self-rated motivation and concentration during after-lunch-studies.  Method: The study had a multiple baseline single subject design. Six HSS estimated their motivation and concentration for “after-lunch-studies” for 20 school days. They also estimated their sleep quality, sleep time and how well rested they were when they woke up. During the intervention-phase they performed a 20 min walk on the lunch-break. The length of the baseline and the intervention varied between 5-10 days. Results: No differences were found for the participants when comparing the results from the first and second control period and the intervention period.  Conclusion: No effect on motivation and concentration was found in this study. A different design with more subjects and different exercise intensity might be better suited to evaluate the effects of physical activity on HSS motivation and concentration.

Objective: Recent research has supported the construction of a model of depression and anxiety in older adults ( > 60years), in which the decline in working memory with age is implicated in increasing propensity to engage in repetitive negative thinking, thereby predisposing older adults to anxiety and depression. The study detailed here intended to extend these research findings by exploring the efficacy and acceptability of a working memory intervention in older adults. Methods: The study employed a randomised multiple-baseline single case research design, in which six older adults participated in baseline assessment of mood, repetitive negative thinking and working memory. Participants then tracked their repetitive negative thinking daily throughout a baseline phase, the length of which was defined by the randomisation procedure. Following phase change, participants continued to rate their repetitive thinking daily, as well as engaging in a daily working memory training intervention. On completion of the intervention phase, outcome measures of mood, repetitive negative thinking and working memory were repeated. Full visual and statistical analysis of all data was undertaken to support exploration of the findings. Results: Results of the study indicated that that the working memory training program was unlikely to have elicited a significant impact upon participants’ working memory. However, two participants demonstrated reliable improvement in both repetitive thinking and mood. Analysis of relevant variables to predict the selective impact of the intervention was not fruitful, but may indicate that improvements in working memory underscore the improvements in thinking and mood, lending support to the proposed model. There appeared to be a small, non-significant decrease in daily repetitive negative thinking across five of the six participants. Conclusion: Further research is needed to identify factors that may predict response to working memory training within older adult populations. The research supports the on-going investigation of innovative working memory interventions within an older adult population, although results are not sufficiently robust to indicate wider adoption of these models within health services or as routine treatments for this population.

quot; Organisational critical activities quot; (OCAs) are activities which must be conducted by the organisation constantly in order to be successful in the industry. They are recognised as being essential to short, medium, and long-term success in that industry, have been significantly resourced and receive regular senior management monitoring and direction. Although these activities are extremely important, some empirical studies have shown that they are not well supported by organisations, particularly in the area of Web support. This thesis develops an evaluation methodology called the quot;organisational critical activity Web support evaluation methodology quot; (OCAWSEM) which can be utilised to elicit OCAs from organisations, evaluate whether an organisation acutes; OCAs are being supported by its Web site, and provide guidance on how the organisation can improve its Web site. To develop the OCAWSEM, this thesis reviews the relevant literature and proposes a prototype OCAWSEM. A new iterative case design (ICD) approach has been used in order to further develop the prototype, and then to test the improved OCAWSEM. The selected field cases were eight universities in New Zealand. In total, 43 semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior teams, middle level managers, and Web teams. A systematic review of these universitiesacute Web sites was performed from the provideracutes, rather than the useracutes perspective. The outcome shows that the Developed OCAWSEM is a valid and reliable methodology for the evaluation of the support for OCAs from Web sites in the universities in New Zealand. This thesis provides useful lessons, drawn from the development and testing processes, as the basis from which to develop more specific OCAWSEMs for use in other organisational and industry contexts. Both practitioners and academicians can gain a deeper understanding of the notion of OCAs, better elicit OCAs from management, conduct Web site evaluations, and discuss the support of the Web sites for the OCAs.

ABSTRACT Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and study the effects of a tailored behavioural skills intervention on the amount of FaR® prescribed, and to describe self-efficacy over time for prescribing FaR® in participants from primary health care units. Method: A quasi-experimental single-case design with multiple–baseline across time and settings was used. Each baseline had an ABC design, baseline (A), intervention (B) and post-intervention (C). The intervention was introduced across two different PHCUs at different times. It was seven participants included. Primary outcome measurements were repeatedly collected for participants in settings. The method was based on behavioural medicine principles. Key concepts from SCT theory was used in the intervention. Result: The result seemed to demonstrate an effect on the prescribing behaviour in terms of a slightly increased amount of prescribed FaR® during the intervention phase, even though not for all participants. It was no or short latency for the changed behaviour during intervention. Adopted behaviour was not maintained in the post-intervention phase. Self-efficacy for prescribing FaR® varied. The variation of overall self-efficacy between baseline and post-intervention was from -10% to 81%. Conclusion: This study indicated that a tailored skills training programme might have the potential to change the prescribing behaviour among professionals in primary health care. An intervention lasting for eleven weeks seemed not enough to maintain the achieved performance. No conclusion could be done on self-efficacy. Keywords: Quasi-experimental single-case design, physical activity on prescription FaR®, behavioural medicine, implementation, primary care.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic rheumatic disease associated with pain, stiffness and increased psychosocial burden. The purpose of this study was to investigate through an ABAB single-case design the impact of a yoga intervention on pain and morning stiffness in adolescent females with JIA. A secondary aim was to assess the impact of this intervention on self-efficacy, mindfulness, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Two adolescents with JIA participated in three yoga groups and daily home yoga practice with a DVD. Participants engaged in daily self-monitoring of pain and stiffness and completed questionnaires assessing psychosocial functioning at pre- and post-intervention. A three-month follow-up on primary and secondary measures was conducted. Primary outcomes were evaluated using visual inspection and the conservative dual criterion (CDC) method. Results suggested that for one participant, there were no overall systematic changes in pain or stiffness as a result of the intervention; however, trends toward changes in pain were present during the final phases of the study. For the second participant, systematic changes were observed across most but not all phases for morning stiffness, whereas results for pain were less consistent. Modest changes were revealed on secondary outcome measures; however, not consistently in the direction of hypotheses. Lack of stable baseline data for both participants was a significant limitation of the study and is discussed. More research is needed to determine if the yoga intervention utilized in this study is an effective method for reducing pain and stiffness and enhancing psychosocial functioning in adolescent girls with JIA.