Examining Cost Functionality and Optimization: A Case Study on Testing the Reasonableness of New Aircraft using Historical Aircraft Data

When pursuing business by competing for government contracts, proving the submitted price is reasonable is often required. This proof is called a test of reasonableness. This study analyzes data from historical aircraft programs in relation of a new aircraft program in order to demonstrate the estimated cost of the new program is reasonable. The purpose of this study is to investigate three questions. Is the new program cost reasonable using current industry and government parameters? Is it better to look at programs from a total cost perspective or break the total cost into subcategory levels? Finally, this study applies a log linear model, Cobb Douglas model, and fitted linear model to the data. Does a proposed method provide greater statistical significance than the others

Måleegenskaper ved den norske versjonen av Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)

Beskrivelse. CBCL inngår som én av tre tester i Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). Thomas Achenbach og Leslie Rescorla står bak denne testen, som kom ut på engelsk i sine forskjellige originalversjoner i 1983, 1991 og 2001. Torunn S. Nøvik og Sonja Heyerdahl står bak de norske oversettelsene av CBCL-versjonene, med publisering i 1986/88, 1993 og 2002. CBCL skal besvares av omsorgspersonene til barn i alderen 1 ½ - 18 år for å kartlegge kompetanse- og problemområder. Kompetansedelen har to skalaer i CBCL 1 ½ - 5, og én totalskala fordelt på tre subskalaer i CBCL 6-18. Problemdelen har én totalskala som danner utgangspunkt for forskjellige subskalaer for syndromer eller klynger av problemområder. CBCL muliggjør derfor en bred kartlegging av barns emosjonelle og atferdsproblemer. CBCL fylles ut på mindre enn 30 minutter. Det kreves testspesifikk opplæring, samt pedagog-, psykolog- eller legeutdannelse, evt minst 3-årig høgskoleutdanning innen helse-/sosialfag for å administrere og skåre CBCL. Litteratursøk. Vårt systematiske litteratursøk resulterte i 68 publikasjoner hvor CBCL var brukt på norske utvalg. 38 av dem rapporterte psykometriske data om CBCL 4-18 fra 25 norske studier. To publikasjoner rapporterte psykometridata om CBCL 6-18. Vi fant ingen dokumentasjon om måleegenskapene til de øvrige CBCL-versjonene. Psykometri. Én publikasjon rapporterte normdata for CBCL 6-18 fra et stort utvalg 6-16-åringer i Sør-Trøndelag. Blant de inkluderte publikasjonene fant vi også normdata for CBCL 4-18 fra utvalg i Oslo, Lofoten og Finnmark. Det nasjonale normgrunnlaget til CBCL er begrenset på grunn av lokale populasjoner med lav til moderat svarprosent og svært varierende utvalgsstørrelser. Begrepsvaliditeten til CBCL 4-18 var undersøkt med konfirmatorisk faktoranalyse (N = 949; RMSEA = 0,039), og kriterievaliditeten ved tall på sensitivitet (40-83 %) og spesifisitet (70-94 %) (N = 56-83). Den indre konsistensen var målt med Cronbachs alfa ≥ 0,80 for hovedskalaene, men mer varierende for subskalaene. Vi fant ingen mål på andre typer reliabilitet. Konklusjon. Til tross for et stort antall publikasjoner om CBCL, er dokumentasjon om måleegenskapene ved versjonene for den yngste aldersgruppen fraværende, og vi fant kun to publikasjoner om den siste CBCL-versjonen for den eldste aldersgruppen. Det nasjonale normgrunnlaget er begrenset på grunn av lokale populasjoner med lav til moderat svarprosent og svært varierende utvalgsstørrelser. Begrepsvaliditeten kan karakteriseres som god, og kriterievaliditeten som lovende. Den indre konsistensen for hovedskalaene er god til svært god. Selv om den totale dokumentasjonen virker lovende må instrumentet brukes med en viss forsiktighet, og mer forskning er ønskelig, spesielt for den yngste aldersgruppen.Som alle artikler i PsykTestBarn, kan denne fagfellevurderte artikkelen lastes ned, skrives ut og distribueres fritt for alle slags formål på følgende vilkår: korrekt referanse skal oppgis (se under), ingen kommersiell bruk, og ingen bearbeidelse av tekst eller innhold

Changes in quality of life among Norwegian school children: a six-month follow-up study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A considerable gap exists in regard to longitudinal research on quality of life (QoL) in community populations of children and adolescents. Changes and stability of QoL have been poorly examined, despite the fact that children and adolescents undergo profound developmental changes. The aims of the study were to investigate short-term changes in student QoL with regard to sex and age in a school-based sample.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A representative Norwegian sample of 1,821 school children, aged 8–16 years and their parents were tested at baseline and 6 months later, using the Inventory of Life Quality for Children and Adolescents (ILC) and the Kinder Lebensqualität Fragebogen (KINDL). Student response rate at baseline was 71.2% and attrition over the follow-up period was 4.6%, and 1,336 parents (70%) completed the follow-up. Change scores between baseline and follow-up evaluations were analysed by means of ANCOVA in regard to sex and age effects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Students in the 8^thgrade reported a decrease in QoL over the six-month follow-up period as compared to those in the 6^thgrade with regard to Family and School domains and total QoL on the KINDL. For emotional well-being a significant linear decrease in QoL across grades 6^thto 10^thwas observed. However, student ratings on the Friends and Self-esteem domains did not change significantly by age. Girls reported a higher decrease in their QoL across all grades over the follow-up period than did boys in respect of Self-esteem on the KINDL, and an age-related decrease in total QoL between 6^thand 8^thgrade on the ILC. Parent reports of changes in child QoL were nonsignificant on most of the domains.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The observed age and sex-related changes in school children's QoL across the six-month follow-up period should be considered in epidemiological as well as clinical research.</p

Quality of Life as reported by school children and their parents: a cross-sectional survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Comprehensive evidence exists regarding the discrepancy between children's reports and parents' by proxy reports on emotional and behavioural problems. However, little is yet known about factors influencing the extent to which child self- and parent by proxy reports differ in respect of child Quality of Life (QoL). The aim of the study was to investigate the degree of discrepancy between child and parent by proxy reports as measured by two different QoL instruments.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A representative Norwegian sample of 1997 school children aged 8–16 years, and their parents were studied using the Inventory of Life Quality (ILC) and the 'Kinder Lebensqualität Fragebogen' (KINDL). Child and parent reports were compared by t-test, and correlations were calculated by Pearson product moment coefficient. Psychometric aspects were examined in regard to both translated QoL instruments (internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability by intraclass correlation coefficients).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Parents evaluated the QoL of their children significantly more positively than did the children. Correlations between mother-child and father-child reports were significant (p < 0.01) and similar but low to moderate (r = 0.32; and r = 0.30, respectively, for the KINDL, and r = 0.30 and r = 0.26, respectively, for the ILC). Mother and father reports correlated moderately highly (r = 0.54 and r = 0.61 for the KINDL and ILC, respectively). No significant differences between correlations of mother-daughter/son and father-daughter/son pairs in regard to reported child QoL were observed on either of the two instruments.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In the present general population sample, parents reported higher child QoL than did their children. Concordance between child and parent by proxy report was low to moderate. The level of agreement between mothers and fathers in regard to their child's QoL was moderate. No significant impact of parent and child gender in regard to agreement in ratings of child QoL was found. Both the child and parent versions of the Norwegian translations of the KINDL and ILC can be used in surveys of community populations, but in regard to the self-report of 9–10 years old children, only the KINDL total QoL scale or the ILC are recommended.</p

Does School Functioning Matter in Patients of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services?

Objective: General population studies have demonstrated that good school functioning protects children and adolescents against mental health problems. However, no such studies of clinical populations have been conducted. Therefore, we explored the association between school functioning and mental health in patients referred to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). We also examined whether good school functioning and general social competence at referral predicted better mental health outcomes after six months of outpatient treatment. Method: Of 345 patients, aged 8–15.5 years, referred as outpatients to CAMHS in a Norwegian county, 192 were eligible for a six-month follow-up study. Parents filled out the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for 120 of these children and teachers completed the Teachers’ Report Form (TRF) for 122 children. Results: Teacher-reported adaptive functioning (r = –0.65) and academic skills (r = –0.42), and parent-reported social competence (r = –0.35) and school competence (r = –0.27) were significantly (p &lt; 0.01) negatively associated with total emotional and behavioral problems at baseline. Parent-reported school competence and the total level of emotional and behavioral problems at referral significantly (p &lt; 0.05) predicted the total level of emotional and behavioral problems six months after referral. Conclusion: Both teacher- and parent-reported school functioning were associated with mental health in CAMHS patients. Only parent-reported school competence predicted total levels of emotional and behavioral problems six months after referral. Therapists, teachers, and parents should cooperate closely when planning and conducting child and adolescent psychiatric treatments, and school should be considered an important area for intervention

Insects in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) diets – comparison between full-fat, defatted, and de-chitinised meals, and oil and exoskeleton fractions

publishedVersio

The role of family functioning and self-esteem in the quality of life of adolescents referred for psychiatric services: a 3-year follow-up.

PurposeTo investigate, in adolescents referred for psychiatric services, the associations of initial self-esteem and family functioning with level and change of quality of life (QoL) over a 3-year period, over and above the effect of their emotional problems.MethodsOf 1648 eligible 13-18&nbsp;years old patients attending the child and adolescent psychiatric clinic (CAP) at least once, 717 (54.8% females) were enrolled at baseline (a response rate of 43.5%). Self- and parent reports on the McMaster Family Assessment Device were obtained. Adolescents reported self-esteem on the Rosenberg Scale, and emotional problems on the Symptom Check List-5. Adolescents completed the Inventory of Life Quality in Children and Adolescents (ILC). After 3&nbsp;years, 570 adolescents again completed the ILC, and for 418 adolescents parent information was available. The longitudinal analysis sample of 418 adolescents was representative of the baseline sample for age, gender, emotional problems, and QoL. We used modified growth-model analysis, adjusted for SES, age, gender and time of contact with CAP, where residual variances for ILC at baseline and follow-up were fixed to 0.ResultsA poorer family functioning at baseline, reported by parents, was significantly associated with worsening QoL during the 3&nbsp;years follow-up period (p = 0.001).ConclusionsParents have important knowledge about their families that may reflect long-term influences on QoL development in adolescent psychiatric patients. Health care providers and policy makers should optimize treatment outcomes by addressing family functioning in adolescents with emotional problems

An Interactive Viewer for Mathematical Content Based On Type Theory

Contains fulltext : 175979.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)24 p

Soluble polyacetylenes derived from the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of substituted cyclooctatetraenes: electrochemical characterization and Schottky barrier devices

Recent developments in ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) have enabled the synthesis of poly-cyclooctatetraene (poly-COT), a material which is isostructural to polyacetylene. This liquid-phase polymerization method allows facile construction of interfaces, films, and devices with polyacetylene-like materials. The ROMP method also allows the preparation of soluble, yet highly conjugated polyacetylene analogs from substituted cyclooctatetraenes (R-COT). The redox characteristics of R-COT polymers were investigated at electrodes modified with thin polymer films. Voltammetric methods were used to characterize the redox response, band gap, electrochemical doping, and cis-trans isomerization properties of these polyenes. We have applied poly-COT technology to the fabrication of Schottky diodes and photoelectrochemical cells, by forming poly-COT films on semiconductor surfaces. The resultant semiconductor/organic-metal interfaces behave more ideally than semiconductor contacts with conventional metals, in that changes in the work function of the conducting polymer exert a large and predictable effect on the electrical properties of the resulting Schottky diodes. Transparent films of the solution-processible polymer poly- trimethylsilyl-cyclooctatetraene (poly-TMS-COT) have been cast onto n-silicon substrates and doped with iodine to form surface barrier solar cells. These devices produce photovoltages that are much larger than can be obtained from n-silicon contacts with conventional metals