The effects of attrition on baseline comparability in randomized experiments in education: A meta-analysis.

Using meta-analysis, randomized experiments in education that either clearly did or clearly did not experience student attrition were examined for the baseline comparability of groups. Results from 35 studies suggested that after attrition, the observed measures of baseline comparability of groups did not differ more than would be expected given sampling error. The degree of either overall or differential attrition did not relate to baseline comparability, a finding that held under sensitivity analyses. Also, both overall and differential attrition rates were unrelated to posttest effect sizes. All of these analyses, however, lacked sufficient statistical power to detect small but potentially meaningful effects. Results suggest caution is warranted when applying quality scales and other blanket rules pertaining to attrition that are meant to either serve as inclusion-exclusion criteria or in scoring study quality. Much greater attention is needed to both the reporting of attrition in primary studies and to the development of conceptual and empirical models of the attrition process. These developments would aid further investigation of the relation between attrition and study outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Indoor Air Quality: Exploring Policy Options to Reduce Human Exposures

Deciding between the different policy approaches available for reducing human exposures to indoor pollutants is an exceptionally complex task. These options can range from waiting until more definitive information is available to enacting regulatory standards, with many variations in between. This paper presents some of the factors policy-makers must consider in establishing indoor air quality policies, and the role researchers should play in ensuring that indoor air policies are based on the best available scientific information.     

套管固井质量问题及对策分析

从油田现场反应的情况出发，对调整井固井，尾管固井，大位移井套管固井和其他固井的质量问题进行了分析，针对各种问题产生的原因，提出了相应换解决办法。     

高功率激光器的光束质量及其对激光加工的影响

本文介绍了光束的模式、评价光束质量的几种方法,着重介绍了国际标准化组织(ISO)提出的光束传输系数M作为评价光束质量的方法。文中还讨论了光束质量对焊接、切割加工的影响;热透镜效应对加工的影响等。     

Modified atmosphere packaging of a mixed prepared vegetable salad dish

The aim of this study was to design a modified atmosphere package for a mixed vegetable salad consisting of 75 g of cut carrot, 55 g of cut cucumber, 20 g of sliced garlic and 50 g of whole green pepper. Respiration data of all the components were combined with film permeability data to predict package atmospheres and design optimal packages for experimental testing for improved shelf-life of the produce. The optimal package avoided minimum O₂ and maximum CO₂ tolerance limits, and chilling injury temperatures for any component. A pouch form package made of 27 mm low density polyethylene developed a modified atmosphere of 2.0–2.1% O₂ and 5.5–5.7% CO₂, which was beneficial for all components and provided better quality retention than other test packages.     

用过滤工艺全面提高铸锭质量

探讨了过滤器孔径对6063铝合金铸锭组织和性能的影响规律。在此基础上指出,在过滤工艺恰当时,不仅可以减少铸锭中的夹杂物,而且可以有效地防止裂纹、羽毛晶等连续铸锭中的常见缺陷。     

高耸构筑物施工控制措施

通过具体工程实践,在吸收现有滑模工艺技术的基础上,对平台扭转、中心垂直度控制等关键工艺进行创新,为提高工程质量提供技术保证,达到了创省级优质工程的效果。     

Final Drying of Whole Milk Powder in Vibrated-Fluidized Beds

Vibro-fluidized beds are widely used in drying sticky powders and agglomerated materials as milk powder. Using a vibro-fluidized laboratory scale dryer, this work is aiming at analyzing preliminarily the effect of its operational variables on the drying kinetics and characteristics of whole milk powder. The full-factorial design technique with three replications at the central point has been employed to generate data and correlations to quantify the effect of inlet air temperature, air flow rate, and vibration bed amplitude on the drying curves and the milk powder properties related to its faster reconstitution in water (as tapped density, Hausner cohesion ratio, agglomerate size distribution, and internal pore concentration). Results obtained are analyzed and discussed to identify the adequate operation condition for final drying whole milk powder in vibro-fluidized beds, assuring a high product quality.     

Influence of influent tributaries on water quality changes in Lake Mogan, Turkey

Lake Mogan, located in the steppes of central Anatolia, is a vital Turkish ecological system, in terms of its water resources, flora and fauna. The lake also is a unique recreational area for Ankara, the capital of Turkey. However, the lake is currently threatened by severe pollution, being under the risk of serious degradation because of (i) uncontrolled urbanization; (ii) point and non‐point source pollution; (iii) inefficient sewerage systems; (iv) sediment transportation and pollution via influent creeks to the lake; (v) uncontrolled soil erosion in its drainage basin; (vi) inappropriate flood control measures; and (vii) severe degradation of the natural wetlands within its drainage basin. This study evaluates the influence of its influent creeks on the water quality of Lake Mogan, mainly because the creeks are believed to be responsible for the major pollutant load reaching the lake, and because the extensive database documenting this situation has not previously been critically evaluated. Accordingly, this study reviews (i) change in the water quality of Lake Mogan between 1993 and 2002; (ii) the water quality classification of the major influent creeks feeding Lake Mogan; and (iii) the influence of the influent creeks on the water quality of the lake between 1993 and 2004.     

Impact of dams on point bar habitat: a case for the extirpation of the Sacramento Valley Tiger Beetle,C. hirticollis abrupta

Quantitative analyses of flow and stage data, remote sensing and geographic information systems analysis, and field studies were used to assess the impact of dams and diversions on the point bar habitat of the Sacramento Valley Tiger Beetle (Cicindela hirticollis abrupta). The reaches of interest include sites of known historic populations of C. h. abrupta along the Sacramento River from approximately 8 km north of Colusa southward to the confluence with the Feather River and along the Feather River between Yuba City and its confluence with the Sacramento River. The results from this study show that construction of two major dams has altered flows such that prolonged and increased flows during summer, fall, and early winter have most likely disrupted life cycles, flooded larvae, drowned overwintering adults and led to high mortality. Additionally, habitat availability has decreased over time because point bars have decreased in number and area causing increased distances between populations and isolation of populations. Moreover, point bar armouring, channel scouring, altered flows, redirected flows through weirs, and lithologic controls have produced a bimodal distribution of mean grain sizes in the Sacramento River in which the more northern bars contain gravel deposits and more southern bars possess fine sands. These conditions negatively alter moisture retention and sediment compaction and, consequently, burrowing conditions needed by this tiger beetle. Additionally, more stabilized flows (reduced variability) and increased fine‐grained deposition have enabled development and encroachment of vegetation onto the sand bars. Finally, human stresses, such as foot traffic and vehicular traffic may have interfered with burrowing, ovipositing, and foraging. The combination of these stress factors has most likely led to a reduction in source populations and, ultimately, the apparent extirpation of the entire metapopulation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.