Search results for "methods"

Eradication of Culex pipiens fatigans through Cytoplasmic Incompatibility

1967

Culex pipiens fatigans is the chief vector of filariasis in south-east Asia. Urbanization has often caused the numbers of this mosquito—and with it the danger of filariasis infection—to increase alarmingly1. The natural vigour, tolerance and fast development of resistance to insecticides of this mosquito necessitate the development of other control methods, and cytoplasmic incompatibility2 seems to be an ideal means.

2015

We examined the effects of spatial frequency similarity and dissimilarity on human contour integration under various conditions of uncertainty. Participants performed a temporal 2AFC contour detection task. Spatial frequency jitter up to 3.0 octaves was applied either to background elements, or to contour and background elements, or to none of both. Results converge on four major findings. (1) Contours defined by spatial frequency similarity alone are only scarcely visible, suggesting the absence of specialized cortical routines for shape detection based on spatial frequency similarity. (2) When orientation collinearity and spatial frequency similarity are combined along a contour, performa…

From creationism to economics : how far should analyses of pseudoscience extend?

2017

Both the scientific and philosophical problems with classic pseudosciences such as astrology and creationism are well known, leading to institutions that are not structured to promote cognitive advancement. A focus on institutions, however, also encourages recognition of gray areas, such as parapsychology, which combines scientifically dubious claims with institutions that are comparable to most social sciences in their structure. Furthermore, institutional approaches to pseudoscience also raise questions about some academically mainstream fields such as economics. In such cases, pseudoscientific aspects of practice are harder to identify, highlighting the need to place analyses of pseudosc…

Multilevel Modeling: Research-Based Lessons for Substantive Researchers

2017

Organizations are multilevel systems. Most organizational phenomena are multilevel in nature, and their understanding involves variables (e.g., antecedents and consequences) that reside at different levels. The investigation of these phenomena requires appropriate analytical methods: multilevel modeling. These techniques are becoming increasingly popular among organizational psychology and organizational behavior (OPOB) researchers. In this article we review the literature that has evaluated the performance of multilevel modeling techniques to test multilevel direct and indirect effects and cross-level interactions. We also provide guidelines for OPOB researchers about the appropriate use …

Testing Measurement Invariance of Hedonic and Eudaimonic Entertainment Experiences Across Media Formats

2016

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study is to investigate the measurement invariance of media users’ entertainment experiences as conceptualized by two-process models of entertainment (i.e., enjoyment and appreciation) across different media formats. With this purpose, the present research relates to the recent rise of entertainment research, embracing more and more media types and formats with which entertainment experiences may occur. At the same time, it addresses a methodological issue that has rarely been addressed in communication research. Focusing on one of the most often used measurement instruments in entertainment research, on three different media formats (political talk shows, comedies, …

NIMBUS — Interactive Method for Nondifferentiable Multiobjective Optimization Problems

1996

An interactive method, NIMBUS, for nondifferentiable multiobjective optimization problems is introduced. We assume that every objective function is to be minimized The idea of NIMBUS is that the decision maker can easily indicate what kind of improvements are desired and what kind of impairments are tolerable at the point considered.

Understanding and Controlling Food Protein Structure and Function in Foods: Perspectives from Experiments and Computer Simulations

2020

The structure and interactions of proteins play a critical role in determining the quality attributes of many foods, beverages, and pharmaceutical products. Incorporating a multiscale understanding of the structure–function relationships of proteins can provide greater insight into, and control of, the relevant processes at play. Combining data from experimental measurements, human sensory panels, and computer simulations through machine learning allows the construction of statistical models relating nanoscale properties of proteins to the physicochemical properties, physiological outcomes, and tastes of foods. This review highlights several examples of advanced computer simulations at mol…

Association between climate and new daily diagnoses of COVID-19

2020

AbstractBackgroundAlthough evidence is accumulating that climate conditions may positively or negatively influence the scale of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks, uncertainty remains concerning the real impact of climate factors on viral transmission. Methods. The number of new daily cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in Verona (Italy) was retrieved from the official website of Veneto Region, while information on daily weather parameters in the same area was downloaded from IlMeteo website, a renowned Italian technological company specialized in weather forecasts. The search period ranged between March 1 to November 11, 2020. The number of new daily COVID-19 cases and meteorological da…

Temporal variability analysis reveals biases in electronic health records due to hospital process reengineering interventions over seven years

2019

[EN] Objective To evaluate the effects of Process-Reengineering interventions on the Electronic Health Records (EHR) of a hospital over 7 years. Materials and methods Temporal Variability Assessment (TVA) based on probabilistic data quality assessment was applied to the historic monthly-batched admission data of Hospital La Fe Valencia, Spain from 2010 to 2016. Routine healthcare data with a complete EHR was expanded by processed variables such as the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Results Four Process-Reengineering interventions were detected by quantifiable effects on the EHR: (1) the hospital relocation in 2011 involved progressive reduction of admissions during the next four months, (2) th…

Effect of Match Location, Team Ranking, Match Status and Tactical Dimensions on the Offensive Performance in Spanish ‘La Liga’ Soccer Matches

2019

The aim of this paper was to study the combined effects of tactical and contextual dimensions on achieving offensive performance in open play possessions from Spanish “La Liga” soccer matches. 1860 team possessions from 20 random matches were evaluated by means of multidimensional observation. Multilevel regression models were constructed to predict the probability to achieve offensive performance according to the tactical and contextual dimensions registered in each possession. Performing penetrative actions after recovering the ball (OR = 1.497; 95% CI: 1.022–2.192; P < 0.05), and progressing by fast attacks (OR = 3.588; 95% CI: 2.045–6.294; p < 0.001) or counterattacks (OR = 7.097;…