Guidance from an NIH Workshop on Designing, Implementing, and Reporting Clinical Studies of Soy Interventions1–4

The NIH sponsored a scientific workshop, “Soy Protein/Isoflavone Research: Challenges in Designing and Evaluating Intervention Studies,” July 28–29, 2009. The workshop goal was to provide guidance for the next generation of soy protein/isoflavone human research. Session topics included population exposure to soy; the variability of the human response to soy; product composition; methods, tools, and resources available to estimate exposure and protocol adherence; and analytical methods to assess soy in foods and supplements and analytes in biologic fluids and other tissues. The intent of the workshop was to address the quality of soy studies, not the efficacy or safety of soy. Prior NIH workshops and an evidence-based review questioned the quality of data from human soy studies. If clinical studies are pursued, investigators need to ensure that the experimental designs are optimal and the studies properly executed. The workshop participants identified methodological issues that may confound study results and interpretation. Scientifically sound and useful options for dealing with these issues were discussed. The resulting guidance is presented in this document with a brief rationale. The guidance is specific to soy clinical research and does not address nonsoy-related factors that should also be considered in designing and reporting clinical studies. This guidance may be used by investigators, journal editors, study sponsors, and protocol reviewers for a variety of purposes, including designing and implementing trials, reporting results, and interpreting published epidemiological and clinical studies

A Risk Function for the Stochastic Modeling of Electric Capacity Expansion

The article of record as published may be found at https://doi.org/10.1002/nav.1041We present a stochastic optimization model for planning capacity expansion under capacity deterioration and demand uncertainty. The paper focuses on the electric sector, although the methodology can be used in other applications. The goals of the model are deciding which energy types must be installed, and when. Another goal is providing an initial generation plan for short periods of the planning horizon that might be adequately modified in real time assuming penalties in the operation cost. Uncertainty is modeled under the assumption that the demand is a random vector. The cost of the risk associated with decisions that may need some tuning in the future is included in the objective function. The proposed scheme to solve the nonlinear stochastic optimization model is Generalized Benders’ decomposition. We also exploit the Benders’ sub- problem structure to solve it efficiently. Computational results for moderate-size problems are presented along with comparison to a general-purpose nonlinear optimization package.Naval Postgraduate Schoo

Particle Segregation at Contact Lines of Evaporating Colloidal Drops: Influence of the Substrate Wettability and Particle Charge–Mass Ratio

Segregation of particles during capillary/convective self-assembly is interesting for self-stratification in colloidal deposits. In evaporating drops containing colloidal particles, the wettability properties of substrate and the sedimentation of particles can affect their accumulation at contact lines. In this work we studied the size segregation and discrimination of charged particles with different densities. We performed in-plane particle counting at evaporating triple lines by using fluorescence confocal microscopy. We studied separately substrates with very different wettability properties and particles with different charge–mass ratios at low ionic strength. We used binary colloidal suspensions to compare simultaneously the deposition of two different particles. The particle deposition rate strongly depends on the receding contact angle of the substrate. We further observed a singular behavior of charged polystyrene particles in binary mixtures under “salt-free” conditions explained by the “colloidal Brazil nut” effect

Transition from Stripe-like Patterns to a Particulate Film Using Driven Evaporating Menisci

Better control of colloidal assembly by convective deposition is particularly helpful in particle templating. However, knowledge of the different factors that can alter colloidal patterning mechanisms is still insufficient. Deposit morphology is strongly ruled by contact line dynamics, but the wettability properties of the substrate can alter it drastically. In this work, we experimentally examined the roles of substrate contact angle hysteresis and receding contact angle using driven evaporating menisci similar to the dip-coating technique but at a low capillary number. We used smooth substrates with very different wettability properties and nanoparticles of different sizes. For fixed withdrawal velocity, evaporation conditions, and nanoparticle concentration, we analyzed the morphology of the deposits formed on each substrate. A gradual transition from stripe-like patterns to a film was observed as the contact angle hysteresis and receding contact angle were lowered

Teenager’s Behavior Problems Relation to Father’s Presence and Regard

Maģistra darba tēma ir „Pusaudžu uzvedības problēmu saistība ar tēva klātbūtni un tēva attieksmes veidiem.” Pētījuma mērķi: 1) Noskaidrot vai pastāv statistiski nozīmīgas atšķirības starp tēva attieksmes veidiem pusaudžu novērtējumā, ja tēvs dzīvo regulāri ģimenē, un ja tēvs nedzīvo regulāri kopā ar ģimeni.2)Noskaidrot vai pastāv statistiski nozīmīgas atšķirības starp pusaudžu uzvedības problēmām, ja tēvs dzīvo regulāri ģimenē, ja tēvs nedzīvo regulāri kopā ar ģimeni, vai ja tēva nav. 3)Noteikt kurš no tēva attieksmes veidiem ir vairāk saistīts ar dažādām pusaudžu uzvedības problēmām, ja tēvs dzīvo regulāri ģimenē un kurš no tēva attieksmes veidiem ir vairāk saistīts ar dažādām pusaudžu uzvedības problēmām ja tēvs nedzīvo regulāri kopā ar ģimeni. Pētījuma dalībnieki: 88 zēni, vispārizglītojošo skolu astoto, devīto un desmito klašu skolēni vecumā no 14 līdz 16 gadiem. Pētījuma metodes: anketa, kas palīdzēja izvērtēt tēva klātesamības pakāpi bērna audzināšanā; „Jaunieša pašnovērtējuma aptaujas variants” (Youth Self – Report for Ages 11-18 (YSR); aptauja Pusaudži par vecākiem (ADOR). Pētījuma galvenie secinājumi: Noteikumu neievērošanas vidējie rādītāji ir statistiski nozīmīgi augstāki pusaudžiem, kuriem nav tēva, salīdzinot ar pusaudžiem, kuri nedzīvo kopā ar tēvu. Noteikumu neievērošanas vidējie rādītāji ir statistiski nozīmīgi augstāki pusaudžiem, kuriem nav tēva, salīdzinot ar pusaudžiem, kuri dzīvo kopā ar tēvu. Somatisko problēmu vidējie rādītāji ir statistiski nozīmīgi augstāki pusaudžiem kam nav tēva salīdzinot ar pusaudžiem, kuri dzīvo kopā ar tēvu. Direktīva tēva attieksmes veida vidējie rādītāji ir statistiski nozīmīgi augstāki pusaudžiem, kuri dzīvo kopā ar tēvu salīdzinot ar pusaudžiem, kuri nedzīvo kopā ar tēvu. Naidīgam tēva attieksmes veidam pastāv cieša saistība ar pusaudžu uzvedības problēmām, pusaudžu grupai, kuri dzīvo kopā ar tēvu. Nekonsekventam tēva attieksmes veidam pastāv cieša saistība ar pusaudžu uzvedības problēmām pusaudžu grupai, kuri dzīvo kopā ar tēvu. Atslēgas vārdi: uzvedības problēmas, tēva attieksmes veidi; pusaudzis; tēva klātbūtneThe theme of the master’s work is ‘The Connection of Adolescents’ Behavioural Problems with Father’s Presence and Ways of Father’s Attitude’. The aims of the work: 1) To learn whether there exist significant differences between the ways of father’s attitude as estimated by adolescents if father regularly lives in the family and if father does not regularly live in the family. 2) To learn whether there exist statistically significant differences between adolescents’ behavioural problems if father regularly lives in the family, if he does not regularly live in the family and if there is no father. 3) To learn which of the ways of father’s attitude is more connected with different adolescents’ behavioural problems if father regularly lives in the family and which of the ways of father’s attitude is more connected with different adolescents’ behavioural problems if father does not regularly live together with the family. The participants of the work: 88 boys, aged 14 to 16, of forms 8, 9 and 10 from the schools of general education. The methods of investigation: the questionnaire that helped to judge the level of father’s presence in the upbringing of the child, Achenbach T.M. Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), Youth Self – Report for Ages 11-18 (YSR), questionnaire Adolescents about Parents (ADOR). The main conclusions of the investigation: The average indexes of rule breaking behaviour are statistically significantly higher among the adolescents who do not have father in comparison with the adolescents who do not live together with father. The average indexes of rule breaking behaviour are statistically significantly higher among the adolescents who do not have father in comparison with the adolescents who live together with father.The average indexes of somatic complaints are statistically significantly higher among the adolescents who do not have father in comparison with the adolescents who live together with father.The average indexes of the directive way of father’s attitude are statistically significantly higher among the adolescents who live together with father in comparison with the adolescents who do not live together with father. A hostile way of father’s attitude has close connection with adolescents’ behavioural problems for the group of adolescents who live together with father. A non-consequent way of father’s attitude has close connection with adolescents’ behavioural problems for the group of adolescents who live together with father. Key words: behavioural problems, the ways of father’s attitude; adolescent; father’s presenc