Open-source development experiences in scientific software: the HANDE quantum Monte Carlo project

The HANDE quantum Monte Carlo project offers accessible stochastic algorithms for general use for scientists in the field of quantum chemistry. HANDE is an ambitious and general high-performance code developed by a geographically-dispersed team with a variety of backgrounds in computational science. In the course of preparing a public, open-source release, we have taken this opportunity to step back and look at what we have done and what we hope to do in the future. We pay particular attention to development processes, the approach taken to train students joining the project, and how a flat hierarchical structure aids communicationComment: 6 pages. Submission to WSSSPE

Differences in Online Students Compared to In-Person Students in Accounting Classes

In the current educational environment, it is both timely and appropriate to investigate if there is a difference in learning online compared to learning in person. Moreover, it is important to understand the effect such differences have on students taking in-person classes when compared to those who choose to take asynchronous online classes when in-person class alternatives are available. Our analysis of data collected from students in each type of course at three time periods reveals significant differences in the students’ technical efficacy, level of frustration, and locus of control, among others, which help to explain, (in this case, explain better than their GPA) their performance in each course format

Final report of the Pearling Industry Review Committee to the Hon. Julian Grill, Western Australian Minister for Fisheries and Hon. John Kerin, M.P. Federal Minister for Primary Industries and Energy.

In October 1987 an Interim Report was issued to enable the present licence holders, the Licensed Pearl Producers\u27 Association and other who had expressed an interest to the Committee, to consider the interim recommendations and , if necessary, make written comment to the Committee. The Committee considered the comments it received. It now presents its Final Report to the Western Australian Minister for Fisheries, the Hon. Julian Grill and the Federal Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, the Hon. John Kerin. The Committee is recommending that the industry be quota controlled with entry by transfer only. The present licence holders plus new applicants yet to be determined are recommended as the companies to comprise those engaged in the industry. The Committee is also recommending that the north west coast be divided into two sectors - one south of Port Hedland, the other north of Port Hedland to the Northern Territory border. the Northern Sector would be zoned to (a) ensure that the very important Eighty Mile Beach area is protected against overfishing and (b) to allow a number of present licence holders to increase their overall catch by fishing in the areas north of Broome

Best practice in undertaking and reporting health technology assessments : Working Group 4 report

[Executive Summary] The aim of Working Group 4 has been to develop and disseminate best practice in undertaking and reporting assessments, and to identify needs for methodologic development. Health technology assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary activity that systematically examines the technical performance, safety, clinical efficacy, and effectiveness, cost, costeffectiveness, organizational implications, social consequences, legal, and ethical considerations of the application of a health technology (18). HTA activity has been continuously increasing over the last few years. Numerous HTA agencies and other institutions (termed in this report “HTA doers”) across Europe are producing an important and growing amount of HTA information. The objectives of HTA vary considerably between HTA agencies and other actors, from a strictly political decision making–oriented approach regarding advice on market licensure, coverage in benefits catalogue, or investment planning to information directed to providers or to the public. Although there seems to be broad agreement on the general elements that belong to the HTA process, and although HTA doers in Europe use similar principles (41), this is often difficult to see because of differences in language and terminology. In addition, the reporting of the findings from the assessments differs considerably. This reduces comparability and makes it difficult for those undertaking HTA assessments to integrate previous findings from other HTA doers in a subsequent evaluation of the same technology. Transparent and clear reporting is an important step toward disseminating the findings of a HTA; thus, standards that ensure high quality reporting may contribute to a wider dissemination of results. The EUR-ASSESS methodologic subgroup already proposed a framework for conducting and reporting HTA (18), which served as the basis for the current working group. New developments in the last 5 years necessitate revisiting that framework and providing a solid structure for future updates. Giving due attention to these methodologic developments, this report describes the current “best practice” in both undertaking and reporting HTA and identifies the needs for methodologic development. It concludes with specific recommendations and tools for implementing them, e.g., by providing the structure for English-language scientific summary reports and a checklist to assess the methodologic and reporting quality of HTA reports

Cell Quota Growth and Uptake Models Applied to Growth of Selenastrum Capricornutum, Printz in a Non-Steady State Environment

Recently propsed algal uptake and growth models dependent on the cell quote (Q), the intracellular limiting nutrient to cell population quotient, were analyze and applied to experimental data. The data base used for comparing the models consisted o

The move beyond edutainment: have we learnt our lessons from the entertainment industry?

Serious games (SGs) have been used in the education of students and professionals for decades, but still have not reached their full potential, despite the large consensus they have gained recently. The entertainment game industry is a rapidly developing phenomenon, with a high market potential, enabled and enhanced by technological innovation. The question examined in this paper is: Did serious game designers learn from Entertainment Game (EG) designers in building a successful game? This paper presents three case study examples of games that have good learning outcomes to explore this question. This paper discusses the salient aspects and the differences between the examples and suggests how SGs could learn more from successful EGs

Stochastic Analysis for Water Quality

This report demonstrates the feasibility of applying stochastic techniques to linear water quality models. The Monte Carlo, First Order, and Generation of Moment Equation techniques are applied to a long term phosphorus model of Lake Washington. The effect of uncertainty of the phosphours loading term on simulated phosphous levels is analyzed. All three stochastic techniques produced the same results. The simulated concentrations of phosphorus in the water column are very responsive to uncertainty in annual phosphorus loading, the sediment concentrations relatively insensitive. The Monte Carlo technique is shown to require the most computation time of the three stochastic techniques applied. The First Order and Generation of Moment Equation techniques are shown to be precise and efficent methods of stochastic analysis. In this application they required less than one thousandth the computation time of the Monte Carlo technique. The Generation of Moment Equations technique is also applied to a steady state salinity model of the Colorado River system. Two sources of uncertainty are considered: 1) the estimation of steady state values of salinity loading from a limited historic data base and 2) the estimation of salinity loading from irrigated land by a semi-empirical approach. Six stochastic simulations of the Colorado River system are presented. Coefficients of variations of simulated salinities at Imperial Dam are shown to vary from 5.7 to 10.3 percent. The major source of uncertainty in all simulations is the estimation of the steady state salinity loading with the agricultural loading term becoming important in some simulated management alternatives

The implausibility of ‘usual care’ in an open system: sedation and weaning practices in Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) in the United Kingdom (UK)

Background: The power of the randomised controlled trial depends upon its capacity to operate in a closed system whereby the intervention is the only causal force acting upon the experimental group and absent in the control group, permitting a valid assessment of intervention efficacy. Conversely, clinical arenas are open systems where factors relating to context, resources, interpretation and actions of individuals will affect implementation and effectiveness of interventions. Consequently, the comparator (usual care) can be difficult to define and variable in multi-centre trials. Hence outcomes cannot be understood without considering usual care and factors that may affect implementation and impact on the intervention. Methods: Using a fieldwork approach, we describe PICU context, ‘usual’ practice in sedation and weaning from mechanical ventilation, and factors affecting implementation prior to designing a trial involving a sedation and ventilation weaning intervention. We collected data from 23 UK PICUs between June and November 2014 using observation, individual and multi-disciplinary group interviews with staff. Results: Pain and sedation practices were broadly similar in terms of drug usage and assessment tools. Sedation protocols linking assessment to appropriate titration of sedatives and sedation holds were rarely used (9 % and 4 % of PICUs respectively). Ventilator weaning was primarily a medical-led process with 39 % of PICUs engaging senior nurses in the process: weaning protocols were rarely used (9 % of PICUs). Weaning methods were variably based on clinician preference. No formal criteria or use of spontaneous breathing trials were used to test weaning readiness. Seventeen PICUs (74 %) had prior engagement in multi-centre trials, but limited research nurse availability. Barriers to previous trial implementation were intervention complexity, lack of belief in the evidence and inadequate training. Facilitating factors were senior staff buy-in and dedicated research nurse provision. Conclusions: We examined and identified contextual and organisational factors that may impact on the implementation of our intervention. We found usual practice relating to sedation, analgesia and ventilator weaning broadly similar, yet distinctively different from our proposed intervention, providing assurance in our ability to evaluate intervention effects. The data will enable us to develop an implementation plan; considering these factors we can more fully understand their impact on study outcomes

Developing an On-Line Interactive Health Psychology Module.

On-line teaching material in health psychology was developed which ensured a range of students could access appropriate material for their course and level of study. This material has been developed around the concept of smaller 'content chunks' which can be combined into whole units of learning (topics), and ultimately, a module. On the basis of the underlying philosophy that the medium is part of the message, we considered interactivity to be a key element in engaging the student with the material. Consequently, the key aim of this development was to stimulate and engage students, promoting better involvement with the academic material, and hence better learning. It was hoped that this was achieved through the development of material including linked programmes and supporting material, small Java Scripts and basic email, forms and HTML additions. This material is outlined as are some of the interactive activities introduced, and the preliminary student and tutor experience described

Development and Evaluation of a Multifrequency Ultrafast Doppler Spectral Analysis (MFUDSA) Algorithm for Wall Shear Stress Measurement: A Simulation and In Vitro Study

Cardiovascular pathology is the leading cause of death and disability in the Western world, and current diagnostic testing usually evaluates the anatomy of the vessel to determine if the vessel contains blockages and plaques. However, there is a growing school of thought that other measures, such as wall shear stress, provide more useful information for earlier diagnosis and prediction of atherosclerotic related disease compared to pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound, magnetic resonance angiography, or computed tomography angiography. A novel algorithm for quantifying wall shear stress (WSS) in atherosclerotic plaque using diagnostic ultrasound imaging, called Multifrequency ultrafast Doppler spectral analysis (MFUDSA), is presented. The development of this algorithm is presented, in addition to its optimisation using simulation studies and in-vitro experiments with flow phantoms approximating the early stages of cardiovascular disease. The presented algorithm is compared with commonly used WSS assessment methods, such as standard PW Doppler, Ultrafast Doppler, and Parabolic Doppler, as well as plane-wave Doppler. Compared to an equivalent processing architecture with one-dimensional Fourier analysis, the MFUDSA algorithm provided an increase in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by a factor of 4–8 and an increase in velocity resolution by a factor of 1.10–1.35. The results indicated that MFUDSA outperformed the others, with significant differences detected between the typical WSS values of moderate disease progression (p = 0.003) and severe disease progression (p = 0.001). The algorithm demonstrated an improved performance for the assessment of WSS and has potential to provide an earlier diagnosis of cardiovascular disease than current techniques allow