Doctor of Philosophy / Plant Pathology / John P. Fellers / Harold N. Trick / Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) and Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) are two viruses affecting wheat in the Great Plains region of the United States. Genetic resistance is severely limited, requiring management methods focusing on the deployment of resistant varieties and various cultural practices. Evaluation of resistance is complicated by the lack of a standard rating scale. The objective of this work was to develop new avenues to mitigate these challenges. A standardized virus symptom rating scale was developed using historical Kansas rating scales, and validated using multiple wheat populations. Two independent RNA interference (RNAi) expression vectors targeting portions of viral coat protein (CP) of WSMV and TriMV were previously transformed into wheat. T₂ plants and beyond were evaluated using PCR, reverse transcription-PCR and bioassays in which plants were challenged with their respective virus. These lines were evaluated for resistance through the T₆ generation. Crosses were made with the susceptible winter wheat cultivars, ‘Overley’ and ‘Karl 92.’ Real-time PCR results show viral titer was up to 20-fold lower in the T₆ transgenic lines, the F₁, and the BC₁F₁ compared to control plants. This provides evidence that this RNAi silencing method is stable in wheat over multiple generations. WSMV and TriMV use host eukaryotic initiation factors (eIF) in order to facilitate replication of their genomes. Previously created RNAi expression vectors were derived from the sequences of the wheat genes eIF(iso)4E-2 and eIF4G. Evaluation of these lines began in the T₁ generation. Resistance has been demonstrated in three lines of eIF(iso)4E-2 and four lines of eIF4G, derived by single seed descent. T₆ progeny co-infected with WSMV and TriMV continue to be resistant. Crosses have been performed with the winter wheat ‘Karl 92’ and three Kansas elite lines, KS030887K-6, KS09H19-2-3, and KS10HW78-1-1. RNAi construct effectiveness was evaluated using real-time PCR. Results show up to 18-fold reduction in viral titer in the transgenic lines, the F₁, and the BC₁F₁ in comparison to control plants. This research provides the first evidence that a single host transgene can provide resistance to multiple viruses and has great potential benefits to both breeders and producers.

Introdução: Comparados com pacientes bipolares com episódios maníacos/hipomaníacos e depressivos, os que apresentam estados mistos tendem a curso mais grave da doença, início mais precoce, ocorrência mais frequente de sintomas psicóticos, maior risco de suicídio, altas taxas de comorbidade e tempo maior para remissão. Portanto, medidas objetivas de avaliação desses estados são necessárias. Objetivo:Avaliar a concordância entre três pares formados por uma de três escalas de mania (Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (BRMS) ou Clinician-Administered Rating Scale for Mania (CARS-M)) e uma de depressão (21-item Hamilton Depression) na avaliação da resposta a estabilizadores do humor em pacientes mistos. Método:Sessenta e oito (n=68) consecutivos pacientes ambulatoriais bipolares Tipo I e II com sintomatologia mista pelo DSM-IV-TR e pelos critérios de Cincinatti foram incluídos nesse estudo aberto de 8 semanas entre 2010 e 2014 foram randomizados para receberem em monoterapia, ácido valproico, carbamazepina ou carbonato de lítio. Resultados: O padrão de resposta (diminuição de, pelo menos, 50% em uma das escalas de mania e na de depressão) foi muito semelhante: 21-HAM-D + YMRS = 22,1%, 21-HAM-D + BRMS = 20,6% e 21-HAM-D + CARS-M = 23,5%; p < 0,368). Os resultados referentes à concordância de resposta revelam valores de kappa bastante altos: 21-HAM-D + YMRS X 21-HAM-D + CARS-M , Kappa = 0,87; 21-HAM-D + YMRS X 21-HAM-D + BRMS, Kappa = 0,78 e 21-HAM-D + CARS-M X 21-HAM-D + BRMS, Kappa = 0,91 (p < 0,001). Conclusões:O presente estudo sugere que qualquer uma das três escalas de mania utilizadas (YMRS, BRMS, CARS-M) pode ser associada à 21-HAM-D na avaliação da resposta em bipolares mistos. / Background: Compared with patients with bipolar disorder who exhibit pure manic/hypomanic or depressive episodes, the presence of mixed mood states is associated with a more severe course of illness, younger age of onset, more frequent ocurrence of psychotic symptoms, major risk of suicide, higher rates of comorbidities and longer time to achieve remission. Therefore, objective avaliation of these states are necessary. Objective: To evaluate the concorccance amog three pairs of three scales (Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (BRMS) or Clinician-Administered Rating Scale for Mania (CARS-M)) and a depression scale (21-item Hamilton Depression) in the assessment of response to humor stabizator drugs in mix bipolar patients. Methods: Sixty eight (n=68) consecutive bipolar type I and II outpatients with mixed sitomatology accordint to DSM-IV-TR and Cincinatti Criteria were included in these 8 weeks open-trial, from 2010 through 2014, to, randomly, receive monotherapy valporic acid, carbamazepine or lithium carbonate. Results: The response answer (decrease of, at least 50 %, in one of the mania and depression scales) were very similar: 21-HAM-D + YMRS = 22.1%, 21-HAM-D + BRMS = 20.6% e 21-HAM-D + CARS-M = 23.5%; p < 0,368). The kappa values were : 21-HAM-D + YMRS X 21-HAM-D + CARS-M , Kappa = 0.87; 21-HAM-D + YMRS X 21-HAM-D + BRMS, Kappa = 0.78 e 21-HAM-D + CARS-M X 21-HAM-D + BRMS, Kappa = 0.91 (p < 0,001). Conclusions: The present study suggests that any of the three mania scales used (YMRS, BRMS, CARS-M) may be associated to 21-HAM-D in the assessment of the response o bipolar patients.

Introdução: Comparados com pacientes bipolares com episódios maníacos/hipomaníacos e depressivos, os que apresentam estados mistos tendem a curso mais grave da doença, início mais precoce, ocorrência mais frequente de sintomas psicóticos, maior risco de suicídio, altas taxas de comorbidade e tempo maior para remissão. Portanto, medidas objetivas de avaliação desses estados são necessárias. Objetivo:Avaliar a concordância entre três pares formados por uma de três escalas de mania (Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (BRMS) ou Clinician-Administered Rating Scale for Mania (CARS-M)) e uma de depressão (21-item Hamilton Depression) na avaliação da resposta a estabilizadores do humor em pacientes mistos. Método:Sessenta e oito (n=68) consecutivos pacientes ambulatoriais bipolares Tipo I e II com sintomatologia mista pelo DSM-IV-TR e pelos critérios de Cincinatti foram incluídos nesse estudo aberto de 8 semanas entre 2010 e 2014 foram randomizados para receberem em monoterapia, ácido valproico, carbamazepina ou carbonato de lítio. Resultados: O padrão de resposta (diminuição de, pelo menos, 50% em uma das escalas de mania e na de depressão) foi muito semelhante: 21-HAM-D + YMRS = 22,1%, 21-HAM-D + BRMS = 20,6% e 21-HAM-D + CARS-M = 23,5%; p < 0,368). Os resultados referentes à concordância de resposta revelam valores de kappa bastante altos: 21-HAM-D + YMRS X 21-HAM-D + CARS-M , Kappa = 0,87; 21-HAM-D + YMRS X 21-HAM-D + BRMS, Kappa = 0,78 e 21-HAM-D + CARS-M X 21-HAM-D + BRMS, Kappa = 0,91 (p < 0,001). Conclusões:O presente estudo sugere que qualquer uma das três escalas de mania utilizadas (YMRS, BRMS, CARS-M) pode ser associada à 21-HAM-D na avaliação da resposta em bipolares mistos. / Background: Compared with patients with bipolar disorder who exhibit pure manic/hypomanic or depressive episodes, the presence of mixed mood states is associated with a more severe course of illness, younger age of onset, more frequent ocurrence of psychotic symptoms, major risk of suicide, higher rates of comorbidities and longer time to achieve remission. Therefore, objective avaliation of these states are necessary. Objective: To evaluate the concorccance amog three pairs of three scales (Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (BRMS) or Clinician-Administered Rating Scale for Mania (CARS-M)) and a depression scale (21-item Hamilton Depression) in the assessment of response to humor stabizator drugs in mix bipolar patients. Methods: Sixty eight (n=68) consecutive bipolar type I and II outpatients with mixed sitomatology accordint to DSM-IV-TR and Cincinatti Criteria were included in these 8 weeks open-trial, from 2010 through 2014, to, randomly, receive monotherapy valporic acid, carbamazepine or lithium carbonate. Results: The response answer (decrease of, at least 50 %, in one of the mania and depression scales) were very similar: 21-HAM-D + YMRS = 22.1%, 21-HAM-D + BRMS = 20.6% e 21-HAM-D + CARS-M = 23.5%; p < 0,368). The kappa values were : 21-HAM-D + YMRS X 21-HAM-D + CARS-M , Kappa = 0.87; 21-HAM-D + YMRS X 21-HAM-D + BRMS, Kappa = 0.78 e 21-HAM-D + CARS-M X 21-HAM-D + BRMS, Kappa = 0.91 (p < 0,001). Conclusions: The present study suggests that any of the three mania scales used (YMRS, BRMS, CARS-M) may be associated to 21-HAM-D in the assessment of the response o bipolar patients.

Orientador: Dirceu da Silva / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T17:21:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Garcia_MartaFernandes_M.pdf: 1574903 bytes, checksum: d35b175fbc13faacd01d0e671305e8aa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Essa pesquisa tem por objetivo investigar a prática de professores tutores em seus processos de formação de professor em nível superior a distância, compreendendo as concepções que esses sujeitos possuem sobre seu papel, sobre formação a distância e como desenvolvem suas funções no ambiente virtual de aprendizagem. Para essa finalidade, foi realizada uma revisão de literatura especializada que fundamentou a criação de um instrumento de pesquisa: uma escala do tipo Likert, denominada &quot;Escala de Avaliação da Prática do Professor Tutor¿ (EAPT). A escala foi validada teórica, semântica e estatisticamente. Participaram da validação teórica 7 professores especialistas na área. O processo de validação semântica contou com a participação de 10 tutores. Ambos os processos contribuíram para o aperfeiçoamento do instrumento que foi aplicado em 386 professores tutores de diferentes instituições de ensino superior do país. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à Análise Fatorial Confirmatória (AFC) e a versão final da escala foi composta por 38 assertivas distribuídas em oito constructos: (1) Colaboração no Processo de Ensino-Aprendizagem, (2) Avaliação, (3) Motivação e Humanização, (4) Disponibilidade ao Aluno, (5) Crescimento Profissional, (6) Adequação das Atividades e Escrita, (7) Técnica e (8) Concepção de formação a distância, com adequados parâmetros de confiabilidade, validade convergente e discriminante. Os resultados mostraram que o papel ocupado com maior frequência pelos tutores é o de motivador e que eles consideram que sua atuação é decisiva para a qualidade do processo formativo. Os sujeitos também apresentaram fragilidades quanto à avaliação, transitando entre práticas formativas e classificatórias. A grande maioria da amostra declarou que o emprego de tutor não é o principal, confirmando o exposto na literatura sobre a precarização do trabalho desse profissional. Consideramos que a prática do professor tutor se apresenta como um espaço rico, capaz de ações significativas e transformadoras, mas que é necessária formação contínua em serviço e valorização do seu trabalho para que seja possível o desenvolvimento de uma prática de formação superior de professores a distância comprometida e qualificada. Acreditamos que a EAPT pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento de futuras pesquisas que investiguem a prática do professor tutor, contribuindo para o desvelamento de questões a serem pensadas e discutidas na EAD. / Abstract: This research aims to investigate the practice of teachers tutors in their processes of teacher's training in distance higher education, comprehending the conceptions that these subjects have about their role, about distance teacher's training and how to develop their functions in the virtual learning environment. For this purpose, we conducted a review of literature that justified the creation of a research tool: A Likert-type scale, called "Rating Scale of Tutor Teacher Practice" (EAPT). The scale was validated theoretical, semantic and statistical. Participated in the theoretical validation 7 specialists teachers in the area. The semantic validation process had the participation of 10 tutors. Both processes have contributed to the improvement of the instrument was applied to 386 tutors teachers from different institutions of higher learning in the country. The data obtained were submitted to Confirmatory Factorial Analysis (CFA) and the final version of the scale was composed of 38 items distributed in eight constructs: (1) Collaboration in the Process of Teaching and Learning, (2) assessment, (3) Motivation and Humanization, (4) Availability to Students, (5) Professional Growth (6) Adequacy of Activities and Writing (7) Technique and (8) Conception in EAD formation, with adequate parameters of reliability, convergent and discriminant validity. The results showed that the role played by tutors most often is that of motivating and they consider that their performance is critical to the quality of the training process. The subjects also showed weaknesses in evaluating, moving between training practices and qualifying. The vast majority of the sample stated that the use of tutor is not the main, confirming the exposed in the literature on the precariousness of this professional. We believe that the practice of tutor poses as a rich space, capable of meaningful action and transformative, but it is necessary service training and upgrading of their work so that it is possible to develop a practice of higher education of higher distance teachers committed and qualified. We believe that EAPT can contribute to the development of future research to investigate the practice of tutor, contributing to the unveiling of issues to be considered and discussed in EAD. / Mestrado / Ciencias Sociais na Educação / Mestra em Educação

Les progrès de la recherche et de la prise en charge des maladies neuromusculaires de l’enfance ont prolongé la survie des patients. L’évaluation s’impose donc pour le suivi des patients et aussi en recherche clinique car les premiers essais cliniques tant attendus commencent à paraître. Une métrologie rigoureuse et adaptée est alors indispensable parce qu'il n'est possible ni de se contenter d’une quantification approximative ni d'utiliser des outils non adaptés à des pathologies évolutives. Nous résumons l’état des connaissances sur la métrologie appliquée à l’évaluation fonctionnelle motrice des patients atteints de maladies neuromusculaires et proposons une revue de la littérature sur les outils disponibles avec des analyses précises de leurs propriétés métrologiques. La Mesure de Fonction Motrice, développée à partir de 1998, présente des qualités intéressantes en termes de validité et de fiabilité. Nous avons analysé sa sensibilité au changement dans différentes populations de patients adultes et enfants. Nous proposons ensuite, une classification en grades de sévérité d’atteinte fonctionnelle motrice, le NM-score. Les études de validation ont confirmé son intérêt, sa facilité d'utilisation, sa validité et sareproductibilité. Le NM-Score permet de décrire précisément et de façon discriminante les patients en termes de fonction motrice pour la position debout et les transferts, la motricité axiale ou proximale et la motricité distale. S’intéresser à l’évaluation et à la mesure en médecine, c’est faire preuve d’une rigueur indispensable aux décisions de soins touchant des personnes vulnérables aux besoins spécifiques. / Advances in the research and treatment of childhood neuromuscular diseases have led to longer patient survivals. Evaluation is thus required not only in clinical practice for patient follow-up but also in medical research because the results of long-awaited clinical trials are beginning to emerge. A rigorous and appropriate metrology is then necessary because rough estimates or the use of improper assessment tools are no more satisfactory. We summarize here the current knowledge on the metrology applied to motor function assessment of patients with neuromuscular diseases. We propose a review of the literature on the tools available to monitor motor function with detailed analyses of their metrological properties. Developped since 1998, the Motor Function Measure presents interesting properties in terms of validity and reliability. We analyzed its sensitivity to change in different patient populations of adults and children. We then propose, the NM-Score, a classification in levels of severity of motor function decline.Validation studies have confirmed the interest of this score as well as its ease of use, validity,and reproducibility. The NM-Score is able to describe the patients precisely and discriminantly in terms of motor function for standing position and transfers, axial / proximal motor function and distal motor function. Being interested in evaluation and measurement in medicine is a sign of rigor necessary for decision-making regarding vulnerable persons with special need.

1 ABSTRACT The objective of the diploma thesis is to create a rating scale that would be convenient for the evaluation of the swimming crawl technique of the early age school children. The assumption of the thesis is to specify a model technique, which is corresponding with the stage of development of the children and also formulates criteria for evaluation of the swimming crawl technique. The created scale is later used within a group of children from the swimming school Žabička. The theoretical part of the thesis consists of the closer look at the characteristic of the early age school children, specification of the model swimming crawl technique and possible deviation of this technique. To follow up on this knowledge, a rating scale yes/no is developed, as well as a record sheet and an evaluation procedure. For determination of the results is used a method of observing, scaling and a method of quantitative analysis of statistical data. The final research results revealed deviation from the crawl technique mostly in the body posture, movements of legs, movements of arms and coordination of breathing together with arm movements. KEYWORDS swimming, swimming crawl, rating scale, younger school age

A validity study can be used to investigate the effectiveness of an exam and reveal both its strengths and weaknesses. This study concerns an investigation of the writing portfolio Level Achievement Test (LAT) at the English Language Center (ELC) of Brigham Young University (BYU). The writing portfolios of 251 students at five proficiency levels were rated by 11 raters. Writing portfolios consisted of two coursework essays, a self-reflection assignment, and a 30-minute timed essay. Quantitative methods included an analysis with Many-Facet Rasch Model (MFRM) software, called FACETS, which looked for anomalies in levels, classes, examinees, raters, writing criteria, and the rating scale categories. Qualitative methods involved a rater survey, rater Think Aloud Protocols (TAPs), and rater interviews. Results indicated that the exam has a high degree of validity based on the MFRM analysis. The survey and TAPs revealed that although raters follow a similar pattern for rating portfolios, they differed both in the time they took to rate portfolios and in the degree to which they favored the rating criteria. This may explain some of the discrepancies in the MFRM rater analysis. Conclusions from the MFRM analysis, surveys, TAPs, and interviews were all used to make recommendations to improve the rating process of the LAT, as well as to strengthen the relationship between LAT rating and classroom teaching and grading.

It is critical for researchers to be confident of the quality of survey data. Problems with data quality often relate to measurement method design, through choices made by researchers in their creation of standardised measurement instruments. This is known to affect the way respondents interpret and respond to these instruments, and can result in substantial measurement error. Current methods for removing measurement error are post-hoc and have been shown to be problematic. This research proposes that innovations can be made through the creation of measurement methods that take respondents¿ individual cognitions into consideration, to reduce measurement error in survey data. Specifically, the aim of the study was to develop and test a measurement instrument capable of having respondents individualise their own rating-scales. A mixed methodology was employed. The qualitative phase provided insights that led to the development of the Individualised Rating-Scale Procedure (IRSP). This electronic measurement method was then tested in a large multi-group experimental study, where its measurement properties were compared to those of Likert-Type Rating-Scales (LTRSs). The survey included pre-validated psychometric constructs which provided a baseline for comparing the methods, as well as to explore whether certain individual characteristics are linked to respondent choices. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the survey data. Whilst no strong associations were found between individual characteristics and respondent choices, the results demonstrated that the IRSP is reliable and valid. This study has produced a dynamic measurement instrument that accommodates individual-level differences, not addressed by typical fixed rating-scales.

Bakgrund: Utöver hormonbaserade läkemedel har fysisk aktivitet visat effekt på klimakterierelaterade besvär men få studier har utförts om relationen mellan fysisk aktivitet, klimakteriebesvär och hälsorelaterad livskvalitet i en svensk population. Syfte: Syftet var att undersöka klimakteriebesvär, hälsorelaterad livskvalitet och fysisk aktivitetsnivå bland kvinnor i Sverige i klimakteriet samt att studera hur fysisk aktivitetsnivå relaterar till livskvalitet och klimakteriebesvär. Metod: Enkät med flervalsfrågor om klimakteriebesvär (Menopause Rating Scale), fysisk aktivitetsnivå (Socialstyrelsens screeningfrågor om fysisk aktivitet) och hälsorelaterad livskvalitet (RAND-36) skickades till två slutna Facebookgrupper för kvinnor i klimakteriet. Resultatsammanfattning: Enkätsvaren visade att kvinnorna (n=381) skattade sömn och fysisk/mental trötthet som de mest besvärande symtomen, var fysiskt aktiva i genomsnitt 315 minuter i veckan och hade lägst hälsorelaterad livskvalitet avseende energi/fatigue och högst hälsorelaterad livskvalitet avseende fysisk funktion. De som uppnådde rekommendationerna för fysisk aktivitet skattade både högre fysisk hälsa (p&lt;0.001) och emotionell hälsa (p=0.004) jämfört med de som inte uppnådde rekommendationerna. Ett svagt men signifikant samband fanns mellan grad av klimakteriebesvär och totalt antal aktivitetsminuter (ρ=-0.156) respektive fysisk träning (ρ=-0.149). Konklusion: Resultaten tyder på en relation mellan tillräcklig fysisk aktivitet och högre hälsorelaterad livskvalitet, särskilt avseende dimensionerna fysisk och emotionell hälsa. Sambandet mellan klimakteriebesvär och fysisk aktivitet fanns men var svagt. Resultaten ger insikter i komplexa samband mellan klimakteriebesvär, fysisk aktivitet och hälsorelaterad livskvalitet men belyser betydelsen av fysisk aktivitet för denna grupp. / Background: Besides hormone-based treatments, physical activity has shown effectiveness in menopausal symptoms, but few studies have explored the relationship between physical activity, menopausal symptoms, and health related quality of life in a Swedish population. Objective: The objective was to examine menopausal symptoms, health related quality of life, and physical activity levels among menopausal women in Sweden, and to explore how physical activity levels correlates to health related quality of life, and menopausal symptoms. Method: A multiple-choice questionnaire about menopausal symptoms (Menopause Rating Scale), physical activity (Socialstyrelsens Screeningfrågor om Fysisk Aktivitet), and health related quality of life (RAND-36) was sent to two closed Facebook groups for menopausal women. Results: Survey responses from the women (n=381) reported sleep and physical/mental fatigue as the most severe symptoms. On average, they were physically active for 315 minutes per week and had the lowest heath related quality of life related to energy/fatigue and the highest heath related quality of life related to physical function. Those who met the recommendations for physical activity reported higher physical health (p&lt;0.001) and emotional health (p=0.004) compared to those who did not meet the recommendations. A weak but significant relationship was found between the degree of menopausal symptoms and the total number of physical activity (ρ=-0.156) and physical exercise (ρ=-0.149). Conclusion: The results suggest a relationship between sufficient physical activity and higher health related quality of life, especially concerning the dimensions physical and emotional health. The association between menopausal symptoms and physical activity was present but weak. The findings provide insights into the complex relationships between menopausal symptoms, physical activity, and health related quality of life, highlighting the significance of physical activity for this group.

No description available.