Risk reduction and real estate portfolio size

Despite a number of papers that discuss the advantages of increased size on risk levels in real estate portfolios there is remarkably little empirical evidence based on actual portfolios. The objective of this paper is to remedy this deficiency by examining the portfolio risk of a large sample of actual property data over the period 1981 to 1996. The results show that all that can be said is that portfolios of properties of a large size, on the average, tend to have lower risks than small sized portfolios. More importantly portfolios of a few properties can have very high or very low risk

Classification, Variation and Education: the making and Remaking of the Normal Child in England, c.1880-1914

This thesis seeks to reconstruct the making and remaking of the ‘normal child’ during the period 1880 to 1914 in England. It does so by foregrounding the contested and confused nature of various attempts to define and police the boundaries between the normal child and his or her abnormal counterpart. On the one hand, it highlights how the normal child, as it began to emerge during the late nineteenth century, was subject to multiple articulations, each of them drawing on and mobilizing different conceptions of the normal itself, whether as an assumed average, an explicit average, an average that was by definition inferior, or an optimal condition that was achievable; or again, as a condition that was more or less fixed, or one that was mutable and capable of being moulded. On the other hand – and partly by way of explanation for the above – it seeks to embrace the actions and agency of a wide variety of actors, including officials, professional experts, MPs, philanthropic and voluntary organizations, school boards, teachers, and local authorities. Certainly conceptions of the normal child were at stake; but this thesis does not seek to provide an intellectual history of the normal child during the period under consideration. Quite the contrary, though it acknowledges and affirms the importance of ideas and idioms, it also seeks to affirm the importance of practices, institutions, and professional interests, as well as considerations which extended much beyond the field of education, narrowly defined – considerations of finance; the health of the nation; and the practicalities of organizing a national education system. Of particular importance in this respect was the advent or a more or less universal system of elementary education during the 1870s and 1880s which provided something like the institutional conditions in which the problem of the ‘normal child’ could flourish and be posed as such. By 1914 – and in contrast to 1880 – the ‘normal child’ was a matter of routine discussion among all those interested in the governance of education; and yet, the problem of the normal child would remain just that: deeply problematic, and engulfed in differing professional-political perspectives

Therapy outcome measure for inducible laryngeal obstruction and chronic cough: development and testing of reliability and validity

A Therapy Outcome Measure (TOM) is a practical tool for measuring outcomes of care, providing a quick and simple measure which can be used over time in a routine clinical setting. The TOM allows therapists to reflect on the dimensions of impairment, activity, participation, and well-being on an 11-point ordinal scale. Currently there are no therapy outcome measures for Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO) and Chronic Cough (CC). The purpose of this study was to develop two TOMs, one for ILO (TOM ILO) and one for CC (TOM CC), and to test the reliability and validity of each. Respiratory professionals working with patients with ILO and CC from eight UK locations received training in the use of TOM ILO and TOM CC. Face validity, inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability were tested and analysed. TOM ILO and TOM CC both have strong face validity. The TOM ILO had strong intra-rater reliability and inter-rater reliability. The TOM CC had poor intra-rater but strong inter-rater reliability. TOM ILO and TOM CC have readily been adapted by those who received training. TOM ILO and TOM CC can now be used as a validated outcome measure

The Reliability of Countermovement Jump Performance and the Reactive Strength Index in Identifying Drop-Jump Drop Height in Hurling Players

The purpose of this study was to estimate the inter-day reliability of countermovement jump performance (CMJ) and the reactive strength index (RSI) in identifying drop-jump drop height in male hurling players. Eighteen male hurling players volunteered to participate. Subjects performed the CMJ and drop-jump test for RSI during the same sessions on three separate occasions a minimum of 48 hours apart. Subjects performed three CMJs and two drop-jumps from five different heights in an incremental manner (0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50, 0.60 m). The results displayed acceptable levels of relative and absolute reliability for the following CMJ measures: height, velocity, force, power and average eccentric rate of force development measures (RFD). Absolute and relative peak concentric rate of force development from the CMJ test were found to have low levels of absolute reliability due to high CV% values. RSI and identified drop height from the drop-jump test displayed acceptable reliability (ICC single measure = 0.88 and 0.92 respectively; CV% = 6% and 10% respectively). Furthermore, limits of agreement random error displayed acceptable reliability for CMJ and drop-jump measures from estimated feasible minimum a priori sample sizes based upon limits of agreement. In conclusion, CMJ force-time measures (excluding peak concentric RFD measures), RSI and the identified drop height have acceptable absolute and relative reliability. For the sport science practitioner involved in hurling and for hurling players, this means that the CMJ test is reliable for kinetic and kinematic variables and the drop-jump test provides a means of developing a reactive strength profile and a means of individualizing drop height for drop-jump training

Neuromuscular and Bounce Drop-Jump Responses to Different Inter-Repetition Rest Intervals during A Composite Training Session in Hurling Players

The purposes of this study were to a) compare a 4-min to an 8-min rest interval between composite training (jump-sprint combination) repetitions in a single session to allow for the recovery of neuromuscular and bounce drop-jump (BDJ) performance and b) investigate if super compensation would occur after 168hrs of rest. Twelve players were randomly assigned to either a 4-min or an 8-min rest interval group. Participants first completed a BDJ test to identify individual BDJ drop heights followed by a 20m sprint test. Seventy-two hours later, a composite training session of two repetitions (three BDJs followed by a 20m sprint after a 15s rest) with either a 4-min or an 8-min rest interval was performed. A three repetition maximum (3RM) back squat strength test, a BDJ, countermovement jump (CMJ) and a sprint performance test were completed 10-mins pre- and immediately post-session, and 168 hrs post-session. CMJ force (8-min group) and BDJ (height and reactive strength index (RSI)) measures decreased significantly post-session (4-min and 8-min groups; P ≤ 0.05). Pre-session to 168 hrs post-session, relative 3RM back squat strength and 20m sprint performance increased significantly for the 4-min group only (P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, a 4-min composite training inter-repetition rest interval leads to a significant decline in BDJ measures (RSI and jump height) which may act as fatigue markers for monitoring. However, 4-mins provides sufficient recovery during the session which, in conjunction with 168 hrs of recovery, causes super compensation in neuromuscular performance in hurling players

A systematic framework for formulating convex failure envelopes in multiple loading dimensions

The failure envelope approach is widely used to assess the ultimate capacity of shallow foundations for combined loading, and to develop foundation macro-element models. Failure envelopes are typically determined by fitting appropriate functions to a set of discrete failure load data, determined either experimentally or numerically. However, current procedures to formulate failure envelopes tend to be ad hoc, and the resulting failure envelopes may not have the desirable features of being convex and well-behaved for the entire domain of interest. This paper describes a new systematic framework to determine failure envelopes – based on the use of sum of squares convex polynomials – that are guaranteed to be convex and well-behaved. The framework is demonstrated by applying it to three data sets for failure load combinations (vertical load, horizontal load and moment) for shallow foundations on clay. An example foundation macro-element model based on the proposed framework is also described

Reducing anterior cruciate ligament injury risk factors by training perception: How vital is maintaining the perception-action coupling?

This study investigated the effect of maintaining perception-action coupling during a 4-week perceptual training program aiming to reduce biomechanical risk factors associated with ACL injury. Kinetic (valgus and internal rotation knee moments) and neuromuscular (total knee muscle activation and directed co-contraction ratios) variables were calculated during evasive sidestepping of 3D-projected opponents in 1-on-1, 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 game-based situations pre and post-intervention training. An additional transfer scenario was assessed post-intervention. Twenty-six amateur Australian Rules footballers were allocated to control (C), uncoupled (U) or coupled (PA) groups. Participants completed biweekly perceptual training containing 48 trials requiring a verbal (uncoupled) or running sidestep (coupled) response while counting the number of attentional cues displayed. Training groups showed no reductions in peak valgus and internal rotation moments, however, a small decrease in peak valgus moments was observed in the transfer condition. Coupled training displayed significant group differences in medial-lateral co-contraction ratios from controls. No changes in muscle activation patterns pre-post ARF were observed, however C and UC groups redirected co-contraction ratios laterally in the transfer condition. Results suggest that attentional cueing perceptual training with a coupled response may have a beneficial impact on kinetic ACL injury risk factors and maintain muscle activation levels associated with decreased ACL injury risk

Potentially inappropriate medications defined by STOPP criteria and the risk of adverse drug events in older hospitalized patients

Background: Previous studies have not demonstrated a consistent association between potentially inappropriate medicines (PIMs) in older patients as defined by Beers criteria and avoidable adverse drug events (ADEs). This study aimed to assess whether PIMs defined by new STOPP (Screening Tool of Older Persons' potentially inappropriate Prescriptions) criteria are significantly associated with ADEs in older people with acute illness. Methods: We prospectively studied 600 consecutive patients 65 years or older who were admitted with acute illness to a university teaching hospital over a 4-month interval. Potentially inappropriate medicines were defined by both Beers and STOPP criteria. Adverse drug events were defined by World Health Organization- Uppsala Monitoring Centre criteria and verified by a local expert consensus panel, which also assessed whether ADEs were causal or contributory to current hospitalization. Hallas criteria defined ADE avoidability. We compared the proportions of patients taking Beers criteria PIMs and STOPP criteria PIMs with avoidable ADEs that were causal or contributory to admission. Results: A total of 329 ADEs were detected in 158 of 600 patients (26.3%); 219 of 329 ADEs (66.6%) were considered causal or contributory to admission. Of the 219 ADEs, 151(68.9%) considered causal or contributory to admission were avoidable or potentially avoidable. After adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity, dementia, baseline activities of daily living function, and number of medications, the likelihood of a serious avoidable ADE increased significantly when STOPP PIMs were prescribed (odds ratio, 1.847; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.506-2.264;P<.001);prescription of Beers criteria PIMs did not significantly increase ADE risk (odds ratio, 1.276; 95% CI, 0.945-1.722; P=.11). Conclusion: STOPP criteria PIMs, unlike Beers criteria PIMs, are significantly associated with avoidable ADEs in older people that cause or contribute to urgent hospitalization

A multiplex endpoint RT-PCR assay for quality assessment of RNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>RNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples is chemically modified and degraded, which compromises its use in gene expression studies. Most of the current approaches for RNA quality assessment are not suitable for FFPE derived RNA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have developed a single-tube multiplex endpoint RT-PCR assay specifically designed to evaluate RNA extracted from FFPE tissues for mRNA integrity and performance in reverse transcription - quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) assays. This single-tube quality control (QC) assay minimises the amount of RNA used in quality control. mRNA integrity and the suitability of RNA for RT-PCR is evaluated by the multiplex endpoint RT-PCR assay using the <it>TBP </it>gene mRNA as the target sequence. The RT-PCR amplicon sizes, 92, 161, 252 and 300 bp, cover a range of amplicon sizes suitable for a wide range of RT-qPCR assays. The QC assay was used to evaluate RNA prepared by two different protocols for extracting total RNA from needle microdissected FFPE breast tumour samples. The amplification products were analysed by gel electrophoresis where the spectrum of amplicon sizes indicated the level of RNA degradation and thus the suitability of the RNA for PCR. The ability of the multiplex endpoint RT-PCR QC assay to identify FFPE samples with an adequate RNA quality was validated by examining the C_qvalues of an RT-qPCR assay with an 87 bp amplicon.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The multiplex endpoint RT-PCR assay is well suited for the determination of the quality of FFPE derived RNAs, to identify which RT-PCR assays they are suitable for, and is also applicable to assess non-FFPE RNA for gene expression studies. Furthermore, the assay can also be used for the evaluation of RNA extraction protocols from FFPE samples.</p