A comparison of three methods of group vocational counseling.

Superimposed a group discussion process over a typical vocational counseling process in which the primary focus was on test information, and over 2 atypical vocational counseling processes, one in which occupational information was primary and the other in which test information and occupational information were optional and randomly presented upon a group member's request. All Ss selected goals in the initial stages of counseling. 57 undergraduates were studied in 6 single-sex experimental groups and 2 control groups. Data from a levels-of-decision-making scale, the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, and the Kuder Occupational Preference Inventory show that the atypical groups learned significantly more and retained longer than did both the typical and control groups. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparison of three methods for preparing reversible hydrocolloid duplicating material

This study compared the effects of repeated microwave oven and double-boiler liquefactions and prolonged autoduplicator storage on four physical properties of one reversible hydrocolloid duplicating material. No significant differences were observed between the linear dimensional change and detail reproduction of the three liquefaction techniques. Tear strength differences most clearly distinguished the techniques and effects of aging. Fifteen double-boiler remeltings produced tear strength values lower than those recorded for material stored in an autoduplicator for 2 weeks. Thirty microwave melting cycles still produced tear strength values equivalent to that of the autoduplicator material. After 30 melting cycles the compressive strengths of the microwave and double-boiler materials were inferior to that of the stored autoduplicator material.     

Examining classification criteria: A comparison of three cut score methods.

This study compared 3 different methods of creating cut scores for a screening instrument, T scores, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, and the Rasch rating scale method (RSM), for use with the Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BESS) Teacher Rating Scale for Children and Adolescents (Kamphaus & Reynolds, 2007). Using the BESS norm data set, we compared the methods across 7 classification indices. Additional information about accuracy was used with a subset of children who had been given a prior diagnosis for selected disorders. The results showed that the methods were generally in concordance, with similarities identified across methods. RSM and ROC analysis methods performed similarly, with both methods identifying the same optimal cut-point. The method based on T scores appeared to be more conservative, identifying a lower cut score as optimal. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Monte Carlo study of the inferential properties of three methods of shape comparison

Three inferential morphometric methods, Euclidean distance matrix analysis (EDMA), Bookstein's edge-matching method (EMM), and the Procrustes method, were applied to facial landmark data. A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted with three sample sizes, ranging from n = 10 to 50, to assess type I error rates and the power of the tests to detect group differences for two- and three-dimensional representations of forms. Type I error rates for EMM were at or below nominal levels in both two and three dimensions. Procrustes in 2D and EDMA in 2D and 3D produced inflated type I error rates in all conditions, but approached acceptable levels with moderate cell sizes. Procrustes maintained error rates below the nominal levels in 2D. The power of EMM was high compared with the other methods in both 2D and 3D, but, conflicting EMM decisions were provided depending on which pair (2D) or triad (3D) of landmarks were selected as reference points. EDMA and Procrustes were more powerful in 2D data than for 3D data. Interpretation of these results must take into account that the data used in this simulation were selected because they represent real data that might have been collected during a study or experiment. These data had characteristics which violated assumptions central to the methods here with unequal variances about landmarks, correlated errors, and correlated landmark locations; therefore these results may not generalize to all conditions, such as cases with no violations of assumptions. This simulation demonstrates, however, limitations of each procedure that should be considered when making inferences about shape comparisons.     

Clinical comparison of three methods to determine resting energy expenditure

An accurate and reliable method of determining resting energy expenditure in the critical care setting is crucial because inadequate caloric intake and excessive caloric intake are both associated with a number of complications. Energy requirements were determined by three different methods in a group of 25 post-cardiac surgery patients in the intensive care unit. Patients were intubated and had a thermodilution pulmonary artery catheter in place. The first method measured resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry. For the second method, the results of blood gases drawn at the same time that indirect calorimetry was measured were used in the Fick equation. In the third method, a registered dietitian assessed each patient by using the Harris-Benedict equation with stress factor modification. Indirect calorimetry was considered the standard with which the other two methods were compared. The results showed that, compared with calorimetry, both the Fick equation and the Harris-Benedict equation underestimated resting energy needs. Statistically, only the difference between the Fick equation method and indirect calorimetry was significant. Clinically, however, both methods seem to have applicability.     

A comparison of three methods of estimating the standard deviation of performance in dollars.

196 supervisors in a national convenience store organization were asked to make the ratings needed to estimate standard deviation of performance in dollars (SDD), using (1) the method suggested by F. L. Schmidt et al (see record 1981-02231-001), (2) the CREPID procedure outlined by W. F. Cascio (1982), and (3) the 40% rule, suggested as an alternative by F. L. Schmidt et al (see record 1982-29165-001). Results show that Methods 2 and 3 produced comparable results. The SDD derived from Method 1 was 1.8 times as large as that produced by Method 2. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation and comparison of three mobilization methods for the collection of granulocytes

BACKGROUND: Cancer chemotherapeutic regimens have become more potent and myeloablative. As a consequence, morbidity and mortality due to opportunistic infections have become a major challenge. The provision of adequate doses of viable granulocytes has thus become an important approach for circumventing the problem. A schedule for collecting therapeutic numbers of cells with minimal donor toxicity has yet to be established. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: An investigation of three mobilization schedules for the collection of granulocytes for transfusion--granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) 5 micrograms per kg daily; G-CSF 5 micrograms per kg every other day, and prednisone 60 mg given orally (20 mg doses at 17 hours, 12 hours, and 2 hours before the collection). RESULTS: A total of 464 apheresis procedures involving 163 healthy donors were analyzed. Prednisone caused a small increase in the white cell (WBC) counts over the collection days, while G-CSF every other day and daily schedules improved WBC counts to 145 and 160 percent, respectively (p = 0.004). Similarly, administration of G-CSF daily and every other day mobilized higher yields of granulocytes over the collection days, compared to the prednisone schedule (170% and 180% vs. 105%; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Compared with prednisone, higher WBC yields were achieved by G-CSF stimulation; G-CSF given every other day is as effective as daily G-CSF administration for the recruitment of granulocytes, which makes the mobilization procedure more cost-effective.     

A comparison of three W170 protocols

This study compared the W170 scores of 9 male subjects in kgm/kg X min resultant from the following protocols: 2 X 6 min workloads (3 min rest between each bout), 3 X 4 min workloads (1 1/2 min rest between each bout), and 4 X 3 min workloads (1 min rest between each bout). Each subject experienced 2 preliminary rides in order to overcome the problems of learning and habituation and the order of the 3 experimental treatments was randomly assigned to each subject. An analysis of variance repeated measures design revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the 3 protocols at the 0.05 level. The scores for the three W170 protocols correlated -0.084, 0.040, and -0.142 with VO2 max in ml/kg X min. The correlation coefficient between actual VO2 max in ml/kg X min and that predicted from the Astrand-Ryhming nomogram was 0.723.     

Direct comparison of three methods for the determination of radon in well water

Radon concentrations obtained using a bubbler device developed to collect and bubble water samples in the laboratory and field were compared with results from conventional liquid scintillation counting. Measurements from standard solutions with a wide concentration range showed excellent agreement between liquid scintillation and results obtained using the bubbler device in conjunction with alpha-scintillation cells. Measurements of waterborne radon concentrations in 110 community and private wells in New York State ranged from 1 to 4,100 Bq L-1, with arithmetic and geometric means of 200 and 30 Bq L-1, respectively. Excellent agreement between the analytical techniques was obtained for each field site.     

Priority access criteria for elective cholecystectomy: a comparison of three scoring methods

AIM: To compare two priority access criteria scoring methods for elective cholecystectomy, with a score based on clinical judgement obtained using a linear analogue scale. METHODS: Patients placed on the waiting list for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy between June and October 1997 were prioritised using the three methods. RESULTS: Data were obtained for 22 patients. The distributions of scores were different but there was a significant correlation between them. However, limits of agreement analysis demonstrated little agreement between them with a difference of +/- 30 points (out of a 100) between scores obtained with each method. CONCLUSION: The proposed methods for establishing priority access to elective cholecystectomy are poor tools, require validation and bear little relation to expert clinical judgement.     

A comparison of three standard methods of identifying mast cells in endobronchial biopsies in normal and asthmatic subjects

Reported mast-cell counts in endobronchial biopsies from asthmatic subjects are conflicting, with different methodologies often being used. This study compared three standard methods of counting mast cells in endobronchial biopsies from asthmatic and normal subjects. Endobronchial biopsies were obtained from atopic asthmatic subjects (n = 17), atopic nonasthmatic subjects (n = 6), and nonatopic nonasthmatic control subjects (n = 5). After overnight fixation in Carnoy's fixative, mast cells were stained by the short and long toluidine blue methods and antitryptase immunohistochemistry and were counted by light microscopy. Method comparison was made according to Bland & Altman. The limits of agreement were unacceptable for each of the comparisons, suggesting that the methods are not interchangeable. Coefficients of repeatability were excellent, and not different for the individual techniques. These results suggest that some of the reported differences in mast-cell numbers in endobronchial biopsies in asthma may be due to the staining method used, making direct comparisons between studies invalid. Agreement on a standard method is required for counting mast cells in bronchial biopsies, and we recommend the immunohistochemical method, since fixation is less critical and the resultant tissue sections facilitate clear, accurate, and rapid counts.     

A comparison of three methods of analysis for age-period-cohort models with application to incidence data on non-Hodgkin''s lymphoma

Solution structures and hydrogen exchange characteristics of ligand-RNA aptamer and ligand-DNA aptamer complexes have been solved within the past year. The ligands range from cofactors to amino acids, nucleotides, aminoglycoside antibiotics and peptides that are targeted by the nucleic acid aptamers with high specificity and affinity. The structural and dynamics studies provide insights into the principles, patterns and diversity associated with nucleic acid architecture, molecular recognition and the adaptive binding that takes place upon complex formation. These new results provide opportunities for structure-based drug design strategies relevant to therapeutic intervention.     

Viper venoms and coumarin-induced prothrombin. A comparison of several one-stage methods employing three different venoms as thromboplastins

Three venoms obtained from three vipers, namely Echis carinatus, Notechis scutatus scutatus and Oxyuranus scutellatus, have been used as thromboplastin in a one-stage assay of coumarin-induced prothrombin. Regardless of the venom used, prothrombin resulted to be low in coumarin-treated patients. The mean values obtained were 27.2, 33.6, and 24.2%, respectively. These values were comparable to those obtained by means of the classical one-stage method (24.8%). A good correlation was observed among the different methods. However, the levels observed using the Notechis scutatus scutatus venom method were slightly higher as compared to those obtained by means of the other viper venoms and by means of the classical one-stage method. The three viper venoms used seem unable to activate coumarin-induced prothrombin. The levels obtained were in fact, in each instance, definitely lower than those observed immunologically. Methods which employ these viper venoms may be used in the evaluation of prothrombin in coumarin-treated patients.     

A comparison of multimodal therapy and surgery for esophageal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Uncontrolled studies suggest that a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy improves the survival of patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. We conducted a prospective, randomized trial comparing surgery alone with combined chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. METHODS: Patients assigned to multimodal therapy received two courses of chemotherapy in weeks 1 and 6 (fluorouracil, 15 mg per kilogram of body weight daily for five days, and cisplatin, 75 mg per square meter of body-surface area on day 7) and a course of radiotherapy (40 Gy, administered in 15 fractions over a three-week period, beginning concurrently with the first course of chemotherapy), followed by surgery. The patients assigned to surgery had no preoperative therapy. RESULTS: Of the 58 patients assigned to multimodal therapy and the 55 assigned to surgery, 10 and 1, respectively, were withdrawn for protocol violations. At the time of surgery, 23 of 55 patients (42 percent) treated with preoperative multimodal therapy who could be evaluated had positive nodes or metastases, as compared with 45 of the 55 patients (82 percent) who underwent surgery alone (P<0.001). Thirteen of the 52 patients (25 percent) who underwent surgery after multimodal therapy had complete responses as determined pathologically. The median survival of patients assigned to multimodal therapy was 16 months, as compared with 11 months for those assigned to surgery alone (P=0.01). At one, two, and three years, 52, 37, and 32 percent, respectively, of patients assigned to multimodal therapy were alive, as compared with 44, 26, and 6 percent of those assigned to surgery, with the survival advantage favoring multimodal therapy reaching significance at three years (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Multimodal treatment is superior to surgery alone for patients with resectable adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.     

不锈钢中镍含量的三种测定方法比较

本文比较了不锈钢中镍含量的三种测定方法：丁二酮肟光度法、丁二酮肟重量法和火焰原子吸收光度法。结果显示,丁二酮肟光度法的回收率约为98．7％,RSD为4．36％,丁二酮肟重量法的回收率约为97．0％,RSD为11．74％,火焰原子吸收方法的回收率约为99．7％,RSD为1．32％,由此可见,火焰原子吸收方法测量不锈钢中的镍准确度、精密度最高。     

A comparison of psychological and pharmacological treatment of pediatric migraine

A comparison was carried out of the efficacy of psychological and drug treatments for children with migraine. Forty-three children aged between 8 and 16 years (mean age: 11.3 years) who suffered from migraine received either progressive relaxation or cephalic vasomotor feedback, both with stress management training, or metoprolol, a beta-blocker. Psychological treatment was administered in ten sessions lasting six weeks and the drug treatment lasted ten weeks. Relaxation and stress management training reduced the headache index (frequency x intensity of headache episodes), more effectively than metoprolol with cephalic vasomotor feedback and stress management training in between. An overall improvement over time was found with regard to frequency and intensity of headache episodes and analgesics intake. When comparing pre- to post-treatment data, children treated with relaxation training improved significantly in headache frequency and intensity, whereas those treated with cephalic vasomotor feedback improved significantly in headache frequency and duration as well as mood. The clinical improvement was stable at an 8-months follow-up.     

A comparison of three procedures for classifying addicts.

2 prevalent techniques plus a 3rd technique which compared individual to group profiles were employed to analyze the profiles of 2,179 narcotic addicts, using the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire. It is concluded that inferences from classification studies can be related to the techniques used. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)