A Nonparametric Method for the Derivation of α/β Ratios from the Effect of Fractionated Irradiations

Multifractionation isoeffect data are commonly analysed under the assumption that cell survival determines the observed tissue or tumour response, and that it follows a linear-quadratic dose dependence. The analysis is employed to derive the α/β ratios of the linear-quadratic dose dependence, and different methods have been developed for this purpose. A common method uses the so-called Fe plot. A more complex but also more rigorous method has been introduced by Lam et al. (1979). Their method, which is based on numerical optimization procedures, is generalized and somewhat simplified in the present study. Tumour-regrowth data are used to explain the nonparametric procedure which provides α/β ratios without the need to postulate analytical expressions for the relationship between cell survival and regrowth delay

Global extrapolation procedures for special and general initial value problems

Two- and three- grid global extrapolation procedures are considered fohe special and general initial value problems of arbitrary order r tq. Extrapolation formulas are developed for consistent numerical methods of arbitrary order p . The global extrapolations of a number of existing numerical methods are considered and tested on three problems from the literature

Prayer to Ta pi hri tsa - A short exposition of the Base, the Path and the Fruit in Bon Dzogchen teachings

Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines Number 16, April 200

Aspects of selection in an interbred flock based on Perendales crossed with Merino X Romney ewes : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in Animal Science at Massey University

Genetic, phenotypic and environmental parameters were estimated from hogget traits recorded on 237 Perendale x (Merino x Romney) ewe hoggets between 1977 and 1984. Non-genetic effects on weaning weight (WW) for 634 ewe and ram lambs were analysed. A selection objective and criteria was defined and appraised for the flock. The traits examined were hogget liveweight (HLW), greasy fleece weight (GFW), clean fleece weight (CFW), quality number (QN), character grade (CHG), handle grade (HG), cotting grade (CG), soundness grade (SG), greasy colour grade (GCG), scoured colour grade (SCG), staple length (SL), total crimp number (TCN), clean scoured yield (Y), mean fibre diameter (MFD) and crimps per centimetre (CPC). The least squares method of fitting constants was used to estimate the major environmental factors influencing the traits studied. Heritabilities (h2) were obtained by the daughter-dam regression (DDR) and daughter-dam correlation (DDC) methods. The genetic (rG), phenotypic (rP) and environmental (rE) correlations were calculated by the daughter-dam method. The estimates of environmental effects agree in most cases with the published estimates. Between year differences were important sources of variation and had a highly significant effect on all traits except SCG. Rearing rank effect was found to be the most important source of variation for WW and HLW. Age of dam and sex had a highly significant effect on WW. Neither rearing rank nor age of dam exerted any significant influence on wool traits. The estimates of heritability calculated by daughter-dam regression method were: HLW (0.16), GFW (0.17), CFW (0.24), QN (0.42), CHG (0.38), SG (0.02), GCG (0.38), SCG (0.09), SL (0.12), TCN (0.08), Y (0.41) and MFD (0.29). Genetic and phenotypic correlations calculated among some hogget traits were respectively: HLW x GFW (0.67 and 0.66); HLW x CFW (0.62 and 0.56); HLW x SL (0.79 and 0.44); HLW x MFD (-0.45 and 0.24); GFW x CFW (0.87 and 0.94); GFW x SL (0.37 and 0.60); GFW x MFD (-0.98 and 0.38); CFW x GCG (0.52 and 0.02); QN x MFD (-0.79 and -0.30); SG x MFD (0.73 and -0.21); GCG x SCG (0.87 and 0.38); GCG x Y (0.96 and 0.04) and SCG x Y (0.77 and 0.00). Lifetime economic weights derived using the marginal profit method were calculated to define a selection objective for the flock studied. The traits included in the objective were number of lambs weaned (NLW (dam)), WW, CFW, MFD and SCG. Besides the traits in the objective, HLW, GFW, QN and GCG were included as selection criteria. The appropriate selection indices for ram hoggets (I1), ewe hoggets (I2) and lambs (I3 ) were respectively: I1 =4.66 NLW (dam) + 0.62 HLW + 0.10 WW + 3.91 GFW - 1.70 MFD + 0.50 GCG. I2 =4.79 NLW (dam) + 0.61 HLW + 0.04 WW + 1.99 GFW + 0.23 QN + 1.60 GCG. I3 = 4.87 NLW (dam) + 0.48 WW

The variance-covariance method: Microdosimetry in time-varying low dose-rate radiation fields

The variance-covariance method is employed at low doses and in radiation fields of low dose rates from an241Am (4 nGy/s) and a90Sr (300 nGy/s) source. The preliminary applications and results illustrate some of the potential of the method, and show that the dose average of lineal energy or energy imparted can be determined over a wide range of doses and dose rates. The dose averages obtained with the variance-covariance method in time-varying fields, for which the conventional variance method is not suitable, agree well with results obtained under the condition of constant dose rate. The results are compared to data obtained in terms of the conventional single-event measurements. The method has evident advantages, such as facility and speed of measurement

Methods of presenting the fundamentals of bookkeeping

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

A study of the effectiveness of various methods of muscular relaxation : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University

This study was designed to compare the effectiveness of four different methods of skeletal muscle relaxation. Twenty four male, undergraduate student volunteers were recruited for this study, the age range was 18 to 31 years. The Experiment was conducted in two sections as time did not allow for the training of 24 Subjects concurrently. Section I was conducted over weeks one to eight inclusive and Section II was conducted over weeks nine to thirteen inclusive. All Subjects received two pre-test sessions which involved the measuring and recording of the level of tension which was present in three muscle groups, the occipitofrontralis, the right sternocleidomastoid and the right biceps. Muscle tension was measured using a Disa 3-channel Electromyogram, and recorded using a multichannel ultra-violet recorder. The Subjects were assigned to training groups (four Subjects per group) on the basis of visula inspection of the records, those with the highest levels of tension recorded were assigned at random between the groups, similarly those with medium Levels of tension and those with low levels of tension were assigned at random to the groups. The training methods in Section I were, Progressive Relaxation, Jacobson (1938) and Control Group C. The training methods in Section II were, Muscle Relaxation, Wolpe (1969), Metronome Conditioned Relaxation, Brady (1973) and Control Group F. When the training sessions were completed, each Subject received two post-test sessions, which were of the same format as the pre-test sessions. The data recorded was then scored and converted into an integrated E.M.G. Analysis of the results indicated that in most cases there was little, if any reliability between scores on pre-test I and pre-test II thus further quantitative analysis of the data was not appropriate. Graphic representation was made of group means for comparison between pre-test II and post-test I. It was expected that training in some of the methods would produce complete muscle relaxation, (or no tension as measured on the Electromyograph recordings.) The Subjects inability to achieve voluntary muscle relaxation may have been attributed to several factors in the design of the experiment. The Subjects were trained in a different room to the pre-test, post-test room. The recording from the muscle groups during pre-test, post-test sessions may well have interfered with the Subjects ability to relax. The stimuli presented to the Subjects during the testing sessions also appeared to contribute towards the Subjects inability to relax. The Experimenter's observations of the Subjects during the latter stages of training indicated that the Subjects in Jacobson's Garmany's and Wolpe's methods all appeared to achieve some level of relaxation which was not reflected in the results recorded

Manners and method in classical criticism of the early eighteenth century

This article explores a neglected period in the history of classical scholarship: the first decades of the eighteenth century. It focuses on the tension between an evolving idea of method, and the tradition of personal polemic which had been an important part of the culture of scholarship since the Renaissance. There are two case studies: the conflict between Jean Le Clerc and Pieter Burman, and the controversy that followed Richard Bentley's edition of Horace's Odes. Both demonstrate the need to revise current paradigms for writing the history of scholarship, and invite us to reconsider the role of methodology in producing of scholarly authority