Correlation of BOD\u3csub\u3e5\u3c/sub\u3e and COD for Specific Mill Operations

The study conducted here was done to test the validity of a study conducted twenty years ago, which found that the ratio between COD and BODs was 1.6 for different pulp and paper mill wastewater effluents. This study was conducted by first treating three different pulping operation wastewaters. BOD and COD tests were then conducted on the treated wastewater samples. The results from these BOD and COD tests were found to be invalid due to problems encounter during the experiment. Due to the results being invalid, ii was impossible to compare results found by this study and those found by the past study. Although the study was found to be invalid, many important lessons can be learned from conducting an experiment like this one

Do Patients Judge Success of Treatment and Patient Acceptable Symptom State Based on Current Self-Reported Health Status?

Background: Value-based care models call for better interpretation of patient-reported outcomes. Patients may reference health status differently when appraising if an intervention was successful versus if their current state is acceptable. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between success of treatment (SOT), patient acceptable symptom state (PASS), and PROMIS measure T-scores, following a single primary care physical therapy encounter. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Ninety-two patients with musculoskeletal complaints were administered standard SOT and PASS questions, and PROMIS Physical Function, Pain Interference, and Self-Efficacy for Managing Symptoms measures. Association of PASS and SOT was determined using rank biserial correlation and chi-squared analysis. Accuracy of PROMIS T-scores to discriminate PASS and SOT was determined through receiver-operator curve analysis and likelihood ratios. Results: There was significant association between PASS and SOT (r=.393, p\u3c0.001; X2=15.7, p=0.001). The three PROMIS measures discriminated PASS with AUCs of 0.73 to 0.88 (accuracy 67.3% to 82.6%), Self-Efficacy being the strongest discriminator. Only Pain Interference T-scores discriminated SOT with AUC \u3e0.70 (accuracy 76.1%). Conclusion: PASS was more strongly associated with health status than SOT. Patients make a meaningful distinction between these two questions. Accurate clinician interpretation of PASS, SOT, and PROMIS T-scores can allow more targeted goal setting and treatment decision making

Better Scrum through Essence

We live at an exciting time where software has become a dominant aspect of our everyday life. Although software provides opportunities for improving various aspects of our society, it also presents many challenges. One of them is development, deployment and sustaining of high quality software on a broad scale. While agile methods (Scrum being one of the most prominent examples) ease the process, their popularity deteriorates the clarity and simplicity they were once meant to bring into software development. This article explores the synergy of Scrum and Essence, a domain model of software engineering processes, intending to become a common ground for software development methods, bringing clarity into the composition of methods from individual practices. This short communication motivates the interplay of Scrum and Essence, being accompanied with a set of videotutorials and 21 Scrum Essential cards to further guide more effective team's way of working

A Path to Resolution Regarding the Show Lamb Tail Docking Controversy

Short dock length in show lambs increases health risks and creates animal welfare concerns. The study reported here was conducted to 1) describe a population of lambs that were docked at the distal end of the caudal fold in terms of a linear measurement, and 2) determine the changes in tail length between docking, weaning, and market. A total of 782 lambs docked at the distal end of the caudal fold, comprised the population of lambs in the study. The results provide descriptive statistics to help guide industry leaders and Extension professionals concerned with docking standards at shows and sales

A Senior Care Facility in Milan, Minnesota: Survey Analysis and Recommendations

In 2004, the Center for Small Towns worked with the City of Milan and the Community Assistantship program through the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs to research the level of need/demand for bringing a senior care facility to the city of Milan, MN,as well as to provide recommendations about future developments.https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/cst/1003/thumbnail.jp

DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN OF ANTISURGE AND PERFORMANCE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS

TutorialThe development and design of control systems for centrifugal and axial compressors is discussed and explanations given to bring together features of control systems on varying machine designs. Potential problems resulting from such differences will be addressed and resolutions offered

Improving Interpretation of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function Scale for Specific Tasks in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Background and purpose: New generic patient-reported outcomes like the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) are available to physical therapists to assess physical function. However, the interpretation of the PROMIS Physical Function (PF) T-score is abstract because it references the United States average and not specific tasks. The purposes of this study were to (1) determine convergent validity of the PROMIS PF scale with physical performance tests; (2) compare predicted performance test values to normative data; and (3) identify sets of PROMIS PF items similar to performance tests that also scale in increasing difficulty and align with normative data. Methods: Community-dwelling older adults (n = 45; age = 77.1 ± 4.6 years) were recruited for this cross-sectional analysis of PROMIS PF and physical performance tests. The modified Physical Performance Test (mPPT), a multicomponent test of mostly timed items, was completed during the same session as the PROMIS PF scale. Regression analysis examined the relationship of mPPT total and component scores (walking velocity, stair ascent, and 5 times sit to stand) with the PROMIS PF scale T-scores. Normative data were compared with regression-predicted mPPT timed performance across PROMIS PF T-scores. The PROMIS PF items most similar to walking, stair ascent, or sit to stand were identified and then PROMIS PF model parameter-calibrated T-scores for these items were compared alongside normative data. Results and discussion: There were statistically significant correlations (r = 0.32-0.64) between PROMIS PF T-score and mPPT total and component scores. Regression-predicted times for walking, stair ascent, and sit-to-stand tasks (based on T-scores) aligned with published normative values for older adults. Selected PF items for stair ascent and walking scaled well to discriminate increasing difficulty; however, sit-to-stand items discriminated only lower levels of functioning. Conclusions: The PROMIS PF T-scores showed convergent validity with physical performance and aligned with published normative data. While the findings are not predictive of individual performance, they improve clinical interpretation by estimating a range of expected performance for walking, stair ascent, and sit to stand. These findings support application of T-scores in physical therapy testing, goal setting, and wellness plans of care for community-dwelling older adults

Development and Design of Antisurge and Performance Control System for Centrifugal Compressor

TutorialThe development and design of control systems for centrifugal and axial compressors is discussed and explanations given to bring together features of control systems on varying machine designs. Potential problems resulting from such differences will be addressed and resolutions offered