The Effect of Feedback on Self-Efficacy and Musical Aptitude Scores

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of positive and negative feedback on musical aptitude test performance and self-efficacy for musical aptitude test performance. Four research questions were addressed: 1) Would there be statistically significant differences between the scores of partici-pants who have received positive and negative feedback? 2) What would be the interaction effect of feedback and gender on these differences? 3) What would be the interaction effect of feedback and major on these differences? 4) What would be the effect of feedback on participants' self-efficacy for performing on a musical aptitude test?Participants were 222 university students from two universities in the Central Southwestern United States, one state university and one private university. Edwin Gordon's Advanced Measures of Music Audiation (AMMA) was used as a pretest and posttest. Participants also answered a researcher-designed self-efficacy scale. MANOVA results indicated that feedback did not have a significant effect on the AMMA posttest. However, feedback had a significant effect (p < .0001) on self-efficacy levels, with a greater effect on music majors than on non-music majors

On the genesis of the Haumea system

The scenarios proposed in the literature for the genesis of the system formed by the dwarf planet 136108 Haumea, its two satellites and a group of some 10 bodies (the family) with semimajor axes, eccentricities and inclinations close to Haumea's values, are analysed against collisional, physical, dynamical and statistical arguments in order to assess their likelihood. All scenarios based on collisional events are reviewed under physical arguments and the corresponding formation probabilities in a collisional environment are evaluated according to the collisional evolution model alicandep. An alternative mechanism is proposed based on the potential possibility of (quasi-) independent origin of the family with respect to Haumea and its satellites. As a general conclusion the formation of the Haumea system is a low-probability event in the currently assumed frame for the evolution of the outer Solar system. However, it is possible that current knowledge is missing some key element in the whole story that may contribute to increase the odds for the formation of such a system.This research was partially supported by Spanish grants AYA2011-06202-C02-01 (JLO) and AYA2011-06202-C02-02 (ACB). RGH gratefully acknowledges financial support by CONICET through PIP 114-201101-00358 and Junta de Andalucia 2012-FQM1776

Análise de Chuvas Orográficas no Centro do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul

http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/2179460X11244In the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) the rainfall is not homogeneous, showing spatial and temporal variability conditioned by interactions of different climatic mechanisms. Those features give rise to different behaviors of rainfall, including orographic rainfall. The aim of this paper is to analyze the probable existence of the orographic effect on rainfall in the central region of the RS. The study was conducted at Silveira Martins, situate on the edge of the Central Depression and Southern Plateau Riograndense. To achieve the goal was performed the rainfall monitoring with the installation of ten rain gauge stations. Stations were installed six upwind and four downwind of Silveira Martins, and statistically compared the average total at each position. In addition, we have characterized the events from satellite images of the digital database of the National Institute for Space Research. The monitoring totalized 30 events and, at the significance level of 5%, the statistical analysis suggests the occurrence of orographic effect. From the analysis of satellite images can be evidenced that the orographic effect of the region intensifies frontal rainfalls due to movements of the masses of polar air.http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/2179460X11244No Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS) o regime pluviométrico não é homogêneo, apresentando variabilidade espacial e temporal condicionadas às interações de diferentes mecanismos climáticos. Estas particularidades fazem surgir diferentes comportamentos da chuva, incluindo as chuvas orográficas. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a provável existência do efeito orográfico nas chuvas da região central do RS. O estudo foi realizado no município de Silveira Martins, situado no limite da Depressão Central e o Planalto Meridional Riograndense. Para atingir o objetivo foi realizado o monitoramento das chuvas com a instalação de dez postos pluviométricos. Foram instalados quatro postos a barlavento e seis a sotavento de Silveira Martins, sendo comparados estatisticamente os totais médios precipitados nas duas posições. Além disso, caracterizaram-se os eventos de chuva a partir de imagens de satélite do banco de dados digital do Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais. O monitoramento totalizou 30 eventos de chuva e, ao nível de significância de 5%, a análise estatística sugere a ocorrência de efeito orográfico. A partir da análise das imagens de satélite pode-se evidenciar que o efeito orográfico da região intensifica as chuvas frontais decorrentes do movimento das massas de ar polares

Application and investigation of a bound for outcome reporting bias

BACKGROUND: Direct empirical evidence for the existence of outcome reporting bias is accumulating and this source of bias is recognised as a potential threat to the validity of meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials. METHODS: A method for calculating the maximum bias in a meta-analysis due to publication bias is adapted for the setting where within-study selective non-reporting of outcomes is suspected, and compared to the alternative approach of missing data imputation. The properties of both methods are investigated in realistic small sample situations. RESULTS: The results suggest that the adapted Copas and Jackson approach is the preferred method for reviewers to apply as an initial assessment of robustness to within-study selective non-reporting. CONCLUSION: The Copas and Jackson approach is a useful method for systematic reviewers to apply to assess robustness to outcome reporting bias

Variants in the Mannose-binding Lectin Gene MBL2 do not Associate With Sepsis Susceptibility or Survival in a Large European Cohort

We use a large cohort of immune competent adults to analyze the influence of MBL2 genetic variants on sepsis susceptibility and survival. We find no significant associations with the 4 main functional single nucleotide polymorphisms in MBL2, or any combination of genotype

A Systematic Review of Studies That Aim to Determine Which Outcomes to Measure in Clinical Trials in Children

Ian Sinha and colleagues show, in a systematic review of published studies, that there are very few studies that address the appropriate choice of outcomes for clinical research with children

Variants in the Mannose-binding Lectin Gene MBL2 do not Associate With Sepsis Susceptibility or Survival in a Large European Cohort.

BACKGROUND  Sepsis is an increasingly common condition, which continues to be associated with unacceptably high mortality. A large number of association studies have investigated susceptibility to, or mortality from, sepsis for variants in the functionally important immune-related gene MBL2. These studies have largely been underpowered and contradictory. METHODS  We genotyped and analyzed 4 important MBL2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs5030737, rs1800450, rs1800451, and rs7096206) in 1839 European community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and peritonitis sepsis cases, and 477 controls from the United Kingdom. We analyzed the following predefined subgroups and outcomes: 28-day and 6 month mortality from sepsis due to CAP or peritonitis combined, 28-day mortality from CAP sepsis, peritonitis sepsis, pneumococcal sepsis or sepsis in younger patients, and susceptibility to CAP sepsis or pneumococcal sepsis in the United Kingdom. RESULTS  There were no significant associations (all P-values were greater than .05 after correction for multiple testing) between MBL2 genotypes and any of our predefined analyses. CONCLUSIONS  In this large, well-defined cohort of immune competent adult patients, no associations between MBL2 genotype and sepsis susceptibility or outcome were identified

Reporting of clinical trials: a review of research funders' guidelines

BACKGROUND: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) represent the gold standard methodological design to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention in humans but they are subject to bias, including study publication bias and outcome reporting bias. National and international organisations and charities give recommendations for good research practice in relation to RCTs but to date no review of these guidelines has been undertaken with respect to reporting bias. METHODS: National and international organisations and UK based charities listed on the Association for Medical Research Charities website were contacted in 2007; they were considered eligible for this review if they funded RCTs. Guidelines were obtained and assessed in relation to what was written about trial registration, protocol adherence and trial publication. It was also noted whether any monitoring against these guidelines was undertaken. This information was necessary to discover how much guidance researchers are given on the publication of results, in order to prevent study publication bias and outcome reporting bias. RESULTS: Seventeen organisations and 56 charities were eligible of 140 surveyed for this review, although there was no response from 12. Trial registration, protocol adherence, trial publication and monitoring against the guidelines were often explicitly discussed or implicitly referred too. However, only eleven of these organisations or charities mentioned the publication of negative as well as positive outcomes and just three of the organisations specifically stated that the statistical analysis plan should be strictly adhered to and all changes should be reported. CONCLUSION: Our review indicates that there is a need to provide more detailed guidance for those conducting and reporting clinical trials to help prevent the selective reporting of results. Statements found in the guidelines generally refer to publication bias rather than outcome reporting bias. Current guidelines need to be updated and include the statement that all primary and secondary outcomes prespecified in the protocol should be fully reported and should not be selected for inclusion in the final report based on their results

Variants in the Mannose-binding Lectin Gene MBL2 do not Associate With Sepsis Susceptibility or Survival in a Large European Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is an increasingly common condition, which continues to be associated with unacceptably high mortality. A large number of association studies have investigated susceptibility to, or mortality from, sepsis for variants in the functionally important immune-related gene MBL2. These studies have largely been underpowered and contradictory. METHODS: We genotyped and analyzed 4 important MBL2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs5030737, rs1800450, rs1800451, and rs7096206) in 1839 European community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and peritonitis sepsis cases, and 477 controls from the United Kingdom. We analyzed the following predefined subgroups and outcomes: 28-day and 6 month mortality from sepsis due to CAP or peritonitis combined, 28-day mortality from CAP sepsis, peritonitis sepsis, pneumococcal sepsis or sepsis in younger patients, and susceptibility to CAP sepsis or pneumococcal sepsis in the United Kingdom. RESULTS: There were no significant associations (all P-values were greater than .05 after correction for multiple testing) between MBL2 genotypes and any of our predefined analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In this large, well-defined cohort of immune competent adult patients, no associations between MBL2 genotype and sepsis susceptibility or outcome were identified.The GenOSept study was supported by the European Union and benefits from the 6th framework programme of Research and Technology Development funding. This study was also funded by the GRACE project (6th Framework Programme of the European Commission Reference: LSHM-CT-2005-518226) and the Wellcome Trust Core Award (Grant Number 090532/Z/09/Z). We acknowledge the support of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), through the Comprehensive Clinical Research Network for patient recruitment in the UK and A. C. G. as an NIHR Clinician Scientist award holderThe GenOSept study was supported by the European Union and benefits from the 6th framework programme of Research and Technology Development funding. This study was also funded by the GRACE project (6th Framework Programme of the European Commission Reference: LSHM-CT-2005-518226) and the Wellcome Trust Core Award (Grant Number 090532/Z/09/Z). We acknowledge the support of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), through the Comprehensive Clinical Research Network for patient recruitment in the UK and A. C. G. as an NIHR Clinician Scientist award holde