6,080 research outputs found

    Ada and the rapid development lifecycle

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    JPL is under contract, through NASA, with the US Army to develop a state-of-the-art Command Center System for the US European Command (USEUCOM). The Command Center System will receive, process, and integrate force status information from various sources and provide this integrated information to staff officers and decision makers in a format designed to enhance user comprehension and utility. The system is based on distributed workstation class microcomputers, VAX- and SUN-based data servers, and interfaces to existing military mainframe systems and communication networks. JPL is developing the Command Center System utilizing an incremental delivery methodology called the Rapid Development Methodology with adherence to government and industry standards including the UNIX operating system, X Windows, OSF/Motif, and the Ada programming language. Through a combination of software engineering techniques specific to the Ada programming language and the Rapid Development Approach, JPL was able to deliver capability to the military user incrementally, with comparable quality and improved economies of projects developed under more traditional software intensive system implementation methodologies

    Using the Intervention Mapping and Behavioral Intervention Technology Frameworks: Development of an mHealth Intervention for Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Change

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    Few interventions to promote physical activity (PA) adapt dynamically to changes in individuals' behavior. Interventions targeting determinants of behavior are linked with increased effectiveness and should reflect changes in behavior over time. This article describes the application of two frameworks to assist the development of an adaptive evidence-based smartphone-delivered intervention aimed at influencing PA and sedentary behaviors (SB). Intervention mapping was used to identify the determinants influencing uptake of PA and optimal behavior change techniques (BCTs). Behavioral intervention technology was used to translate and operationalize the BCTs and its modes of delivery. The intervention was based on the integrated behavior change model, focused on nine determinants, consisted of 33 BCTs, and included three main components: (1) automated capture of daily PA and SB via an existing smartphone application, (2) classification of the individual into an activity profile according to their PA and SB, and (3) behavior change content delivery in a dynamic fashion via a proof-of-concept application. This article illustrates how two complementary frameworks can be used to guide the development of a mobile health behavior change program. This approach can guide the development of future mHealth programs

    Financial Benefits of Florida Generic Orange Juice Marketing

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    The benefits to Florida orange growers of generic orange juice advertising are assessed using additive, nonlinear, regional econometric models, measuring the impact of category and brand marketing efforts on category demand while controlling for pricing and various other factors. The study shows that generic marketing efforts increased orange juice category demand by 8.3 percent, resulting in increased orange prices and a benefit-to-cost ratio to Florida growers of 3.5 to 1. Branded promotional activity was found to primarily fuel brand switching and pantry-loading, with only modest impacts on overall category demand.marketing mix, marketing spend optimization, checkoff program, orange juice, benefit to cost ratio, Marketing,

    Health Literacy Changes in a Technology-Enhanced Diabetes Prevention Program

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    Background: In 2001, the Diabetes Prevention Program was published evaluating the efficacy of a pharmaceutical intervention, Metformin, and a behavioral lifestyle intervention (LI) to reduce incidence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The LI was observed to reduce the incidence of the disease by 58% relative to 31% in the medication treatment. Amongst technology based LIs, little has been done to address different health literacy populations. Objectives: This dissertation evaluated how teach-back and teach-to-goal can influence the uptake of information obtained in each health education lesson, behaviors and its influence on engagement and weight loss. Methods: Four hundred forty-two participants were analyzed in study #1, and only 425 were maintained for study #2 and #3. General regression modeling with White’s Standard Error heteroskedacity adjustments was performed assessing the differences in engagement and comprehension performance by health literacy level and modality. Results: In a teach-back/teach-to-goal call, differences in reverse score performance (DVD-15.4±2.5; Class-14.8±2.6; F(3, 425)= 13.72, p\u3c0.001), number of teach-back rounds (DVD-1.9±0.7; Class-2.1±0.7; F(3, 425)=5.98, p\u3c0.001) and number of round 1 questions (DVD-4.2±1.6; Class-3.4±1.8; F(3,425)=20.95, p\u3c0.001) was observed. While not significant, 38.7% of LHL participant completed all 22 lessons vs. 28.7% of HHL. Mean overall comprehension average scores improved 0.8±1.1 to 1.2±0.3 and 0.7±1.0 to 1.5±1.1 for those LHL and HHL participants completing only 1 call versus all 22 calls, respectively, as did physical activity and muscle strengthening minutes per week. Models evaluating IVR-reported weight change against engagement and overall comprehension average revealed engagement had an indirect relationship (β= -0.59, p\u3c0.01) with magnitude of weight change (R²=0.13, F(3, 420)=20.8, p\u3c0.001), and a direct relationship with aerobic physical activity, muscle strengthening and fruit and vegetable intake. Conclusions: Amongst high and low health literacy groups, both groups benefited from teach-back and teach-to-goal health literacy techniques to improve patient comprehension, which in turn, improved engagement rates, especially in the low health literacy population. Reinforcement strategies to promote information uptake is necessary to allow for behavior uptake lending to greater weight loss

    Fam Relat

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    Family science has been doing translational science since before it came into vogue. Nevertheless, the field has been subjected to the same forces in the broader academy that have created a widening chasm between discovery and practice. Thus, the primary objective of this article is to translate the principles, concepts, and models of translational science to solidify an identity for family science and help the field move forward in broader academic, care delivery, and policy arenas. Alternative models of translational science, primarily from biomedicine but also from other disciplines, are reviewed and critically analyzed, and core concepts and principles are isolated, elaborated, and applied to family science. Family science's long-standing commitment to the doctrine of evidence-based practice, and its ongoing endorsement of the principles of scientific duality and multidisciplinary utility, places it in a preeminent position for using the zeitgeist of translational science to move forward. Nonetheless, the field has important epistemological, practical, professional, and curricular steps to complete to better position itself as a distinct and valued body of scientists. Ultimately, we argue that embracing the principles, concepts, and models of translational science should be leveraged by family science to help brand itself as a unique and essential social science field for enhancing the human condition.P01 AG020166/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United StatesU19 AG051426/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United StatesU54 OH011230/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States2018-10-01T00:00:00Z29422702PMC5798476vault:2622

    Intrusion Detection for Smart Grid Communication Systems

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    Transformation of the traditional power grid into a smart grid hosts an array of vulnerabilities associated with communication networks. Furthermore, wireless mediums used throughout the smart grid promote an environment where Denial of Service (DoS) attacks are very effective. In wireless mediums, jamming and spoofing attack techniques diminish system operations thus affecting smart grid stability and posing an immediate threat to Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) of the smart grid. Intrusion detection systems (IDS) serve as a primary defense in mitigating network vulnerabilities. In IDS, signatures created from historical data are compared to incoming network traffic to identify abnormalities. In this thesis, intrusion detection algorithms are proposed for attack detection in smart grid networks by means of physical, data link, network, and session layer analysis. Irregularities in these layers provide insight to whether the network is experiencing genuine or malicious activity

    'Enhancing the Employability of Students’ Passing from Technical Institutions

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    India has the world’s second largest education system and provides one of the largest pool of skilled manpower. In the recent years, the problem of under-employment or rather unemployment among technical and professional engineering graduates & diploma pass outs is a cause of serious concern. Substandard Institutes are producing mere graduates & diploma holders instead of technically sound and competent professionals as intended. These pass outs are either under- employed or if employed, they do not fulfill or meet out the expectations of Industries or organizations. There is immediate need to take few corrective measures by the academic coordinators, policy makers and management of the institutes associated in providing technical manpower to the industries system; otherwise India will face an explosion of unemployed technical graduates/diploma holders. The world of academia will have to understand the nerve of Industries/organizations and require producing true professionals instead of mere graduates/diploma holders. The paper principally focuses on the multiple ways and means with suggested strategies for the technical teachers as well as institutions to plan, practice and administer such innovations in to their daily instructions, so as to fulfill the gap to a large exten

    The Role of Educational Technology in the ESL Classroom

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    The use of technology has become an important part of the learning process in and out of the class. Technology continues to grow in importance as a tool to help teachers facilitate language learning for their learners. This study focuses on the role of using new technologies in learning English as a second/foreign language. It discussed different attitudes which support English language learners to increase their learning skills through using technologies. In this paper, the researcher defined the term technology and technology integration, explained the use of technology in language classroom, reviewed previous studies on using technologies in improving language learning skills, and stated certain recommendations for the better use of these technologies, which assist learners in improving their learning skills. The literature review indicated that the effective use of new technologies improves learners’ language learning skills

    The Effectiveness of Yoga in Preventing and Managing Back Pain

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    In this Doctorate of Nursing Practice-Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) scholarly project, a yoga program was developed and implemented to educate how the practice of yoga can be utilized to manage or prevent back pain in nurses. Back pain in nurses is a common condition that can cause nurses to become unable to work and ultimately affect the nursing work unit. The practice of yoga has gained popularity in Western culture for improving health and back pain. A review of the recent research literature from 2000- 2015 that investigated back pain in nurses, back pain management, treatment, and yoga, is provided to determine if yoga could be utilized as an effective modality for back pain management. Jean Watson’s Human Caring Science theory of nursing was the theoretical framework used to help guide the exploration of this topic. Seven of the eight DNP Essentials set forth by the AACN were directly fulfilled through this project and are explained. The implications and importance this project has for the clinical work of an Integrative Family Nurse Practitioner are provided

    Functionalized biodegradable electrospun scaffolds and nanoengineered particles as innovative tools for vascular medicine

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    In the Western World, atherosclerosis-related diseases, including coronary and peripheral arterial pathologies, are one of the most common cause of morbidity and mortality. In some cases, in order to restore the blood flow, preserving all the functions of the downstream tissue, is necessary to introduce an arterial bypass or substitute in the patient. If autologous veins or artery are not available for different reasons (previous harvest, anatomical defects and anomalies, disease progression, other vascular problems etc.), artificial vascular constructs are required
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