The Reliability and Validity of the Physical Therapy Outpatient Satisfaction Survey: A Replication Study

Objective: The study re-examined the validity and reliability of the Physical Therapy Outpatient Satisfaction Survey (PTOPS) using a geographically different and larger patient population, random sampling, and mail survey methodology. Background: Measurement of patient satisfaction in physical therapy is in tis infancy. Development and refinement of theory and measurement methodology are imperative. Replication of reliability and validity is an important component of questionnaire development. Design: This study used a methodological design with descriptive elements. It employed a survey of a random sampling of subjects from 20 outpatient clinics throughout the Gulf South United States. Method: 2,309 patients 21 years of age or older who lived in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Louisiana were mailed PTOPS questionnaire, yielding 1,175 usable responses and a 60% usable response rate. Principal components analysis explored the dimensions of satisfaction, and Cronbach alpha scores investigated inter-item reliability. Regression analysis investigated predictive validity. Results: The construct of four original dimensions found in the PTOPS (Enhancers, Detractors, Costs, Location) remained consistent with this sample and methodology. Cronbach alpha scores indicated high levels of inter-item reliability. Regression analysis suggested that all four dimensions were predictive of overall patient satisfaction. Conclusion: The PTOPS retained excellent reliability and validity when used in a different locale, with a mail survey methodology, and when using retrospective study techniques

The use of Rapamycin in reducing IL-10 and TGF [beta] expression in obesity-induced M2-like TAMs of the prostate tumor microenvironment

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote prostate cancer progression and aggressiveness in a variety of ways including promoting angiogenesis; upregulating tumoral survival; inducing EMT; and stimulating metastasis. Most importantly, they can suppress the immune system by expressing anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and TGFβ. M2-like TAMs are polarized by a variety of signals, including from signaling factors expressed by adipocytes in the case of obese patients. It is crucial that we find ways to reduce immune suppression in cancer patients, so that patients’ immune systems may slow the cancer progressionNutritional Science

The relationship between bail decision-making and legal representation within the criminal justice system

The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between legal representation and bail decision-making within the criminal justice system in Western Australia. In doing so it was necessary to rule out a number of other factors and this process provided the opportunity to test whether some of the factors mentioned in the literature, such as age and race, have an independent effect on bail decision-making. The data also provided a valuable snapshot of bail decision-making in the Courts of Petty Sessions and the Perth Children’s Court..

Enumerative and asymptotic analysis of a moduli space

We focus on combinatorial aspects of the Hilbert series of the cohomology ring of the moduli space of stable pointed curves of genus zero. We show its graded Hilbert series satisfies an integral operator identity. This is used to give asymptotic behavior, and in some cases, exact values, of the coefficients themselves. We then study the total dimension, that is, the sum of the coefficients of the Hilbert series. Its asymptotic behavior involves the Lambert W function, which has applications to classical tree enumeration, signal processing and fluid mechanics.Comment: 14 page

Release of live baitfish by recreational anglers drives fish pathogen introduction risk

Emerging diseases of wildlife are an existential threat to biodiversity, and human-mediated movements of live animals are a primary vector of their spread. Wildlife disease risk analyses offer an appealing alternative to precautionary approaches because they allow for explicit quantification of uncertainties and consideration of tradeoffs. Such considerations become particularly important in high-frequency invasion pathways with hundreds of thousands of individual vectors, where even low pathogen prevalence can lead to substantial risk. The purpose of this study was to examine the landscape-level dynamics of human behavior-mediated pathogen introduction risk in the context of a high-frequency invasion pathway. One such pathway is the use and release of live fish used as bait by recreational anglers. We used a stochastic risk assessment model parameterized by angler survey data from Minnesota, USA, to simulate one year of fishing in Minnesota and estimate the total number of risky trips for each of three pathogens: viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus, the microsporidian parasite Ovipleistophora ovariae, and the Asian fish tapeworm Schizocotyle acheilognathi. We assessed the number of introductions under four scenarios: current/baseline conditions, outbreak conditions (increased pathogen prevalence), source-focused control measures (decreased pathogen prevalence), and angler-focused control measures (decreased rates of release). We found that hundreds of thousands of introduction events can occur per year, even for regulated pathogens at low pathogen prevalence. Reducing the rate of illegal baitfish release had significant impact on risky trips in scenarios where a high number of anglers were involved, but was less impactful in circumstances with limited outbreaks and fewer affected anglers. In contrast, reducing pathogen prevalence in the source populations of baitfish had relatively little impact. In order to make meaningful changes in pathogen introduction risk, managers should focus efforts on containing local outbreaks and reducing illegal baitfish release to reduce pathogen introduction risk. Our study also demonstrates the risk associated with high-frequency invasion pathways and the importance of incorporating human behaviors into wildlife disease models and risk assessments

Evaluation of Mobile Advanced Road Weather Information Sensor (MARWIS) by Lufft for Indiana Winter Road Operations

The students of the Field Infrastructure Assessment course evaluated the Mobile Advanced Road Weather Information Sensor by Lufft on behalf of the Indiana Department of Transportation. The device is mounted on a vehicle, takes roadway condition measurements 100 times per second, and aggregates the measurements into one-second intervals. The data is transmitted real-time to the cloud. The class specifically evaluated the following measurements: road condition, surface temperature, and friction. It was found that the MARWIS temperature reading was systematically 4˚F lower than the probe readings. Skid test empirical results were consistent with the MARWIS friction readings. It was also found, using two devices on the back of the test vehicle, that the friction in the wheel track was greater than the friction in the center of the lane, as expected. Lastly, the “chemically wet” road condition was not consistently observed by MARWIS where expected

Resource Guide for Addiction and Mental Health Care Consumers: Answering Questions about Insurance Coverage and Parity for Addiction and Mental Health Care Services

Navigating the maze of health insurance coverage can be difficult. For individuals with addiction or mental illness, the process of getting treatment approved and paid for by health insurance can be overwhelming. As a result, many people give up when their health insurance company denies coverage for needed services. This Guide can help people learn how to access health insurance and use their coverage to pay for treatment. This Guide also provides a basic explanation of consumers’ rights under the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act