284 research outputs found
The development and validation of the Strathclyde Family Wellbeing Scale (SFWS)
Families are the foundation on which childrenâs psychological development is built. Family wellbeing is crucial to a nurturing environment. Consequently, measuring family wellbeing is essential to enable caregivers to reflect on their wellbeing and seek support if necessary. This thesis aimed to develop a scale to measure family wellbeing, by adapting the American Family Strengths Inventory (Defrain and Stinnet, 2008), and to investigate the utility of the Strathclyde Family Wellbeing Scale to measure the impact of family-based interventions. The 16 items of the Strathclyde Family Wellbeing Scale were administered to a sample of 238 families by the Family First Service. Principal Components Analysis yielded a 10-item scale with three dimensions (Interaction, Cohesion and Communication), accounting for 67% of the variance with McDonaldâs Omega (MO) and Cronbachâs Alpha (CA) coefficient indicating good internal consistency reliability for total score (MO = .862, CA= .861), and for subscale scores.
A three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) found no statistically significant main effects or interaction effects at time-point 1, for location, age and number of family members, on Interaction and Communication, or interaction effects on Cohesion. There was a significant main effect for location on Cohesion, but the effect size was small. A repeated ANOVA found a large main effect of time on Interaction, Cohesion and Communication, indicating that time factor had a significant effect on them. Hence, the means of the dependent variables changed significantly at time-point 2. Cross validation of findings in study 1 and 2 via thematic analysis of parental interviews and a focus group of professionals, found the Strathclyde Family Wellbeing Scale resonated with them, regarding validity, reliability, and measurement of change in wellbeing. The Strathclyde Family Wellbeing Scale makes an original contribution to family psychology by providing a new assessment tool for professionals.
Implications for future research on families and methodological limitations are discussed.Families are the foundation on which childrenâs psychological development is built. Family wellbeing is crucial to a nurturing environment. Consequently, measuring family wellbeing is essential to enable caregivers to reflect on their wellbeing and seek support if necessary. This thesis aimed to develop a scale to measure family wellbeing, by adapting the American Family Strengths Inventory (Defrain and Stinnet, 2008), and to investigate the utility of the Strathclyde Family Wellbeing Scale to measure the impact of family-based interventions. The 16 items of the Strathclyde Family Wellbeing Scale were administered to a sample of 238 families by the Family First Service. Principal Components Analysis yielded a 10-item scale with three dimensions (Interaction, Cohesion and Communication), accounting for 67% of the variance with McDonaldâs Omega (MO) and Cronbachâs Alpha (CA) coefficient indicating good internal consistency reliability for total score (MO = .862, CA= .861), and for subscale scores.
A three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) found no statistically significant main effects or interaction effects at time-point 1, for location, age and number of family members, on Interaction and Communication, or interaction effects on Cohesion. There was a significant main effect for location on Cohesion, but the effect size was small. A repeated ANOVA found a large main effect of time on Interaction, Cohesion and Communication, indicating that time factor had a significant effect on them. Hence, the means of the dependent variables changed significantly at time-point 2. Cross validation of findings in study 1 and 2 via thematic analysis of parental interviews and a focus group of professionals, found the Strathclyde Family Wellbeing Scale resonated with them, regarding validity, reliability, and measurement of change in wellbeing. The Strathclyde Family Wellbeing Scale makes an original contribution to family psychology by providing a new assessment tool for professionals.
Implications for future research on families and methodological limitations are discussed
From Baking a Cake to Solving the Schrodinger Equation
The primary emphasis of this study has been to explain how modifying a cake
recipe by changing either the dimensions of the cake or the amount of cake
batter alters the baking time. Restricting our consideration to the genoise,
one of the basic cakes of classic French cuisine, we have obtained a
semi-empirical formula for its baking time as a function of oven temperature,
initial temperature of the cake batter, and dimensions of the unbaked cake. The
formula, which is based on the Diffusion equation, has three adjustable
parameters whose values are estimated from data obtained by baking genoises in
cylindrical pans of various diameters. The resulting formula for the baking
time exhibits the scaling behavior typical of diffusion processes, i.e. the
baking time is proportional to the (characteristic length scale)^2 of the cake.
It also takes account of evaporation of moisture at the top surface of the
cake, which appears to be a dominant factor affecting the baking time of a
cake. In solving this problem we have obtained solutions of the Diffusion
equation which are interpreted naturally and straightforwardly in the context
of heat transfer; however, when interpreted in the context of the Schrodinger
equation, they are somewhat peculiar. The solutions describe a system whose
mass assumes different values in two different regions of space. Furthermore,
the solutions exhibit characteristics similar to the evanescent modes
associated with light waves propagating in a wave guide. When we consider the
Schrodinger equation as a non-relativistic limit of the Klein-Gordon equation
so that it includes a mass term, these are no longer solutions.Comment: 23 pages, 10 Postscript figure
Discrimination of Individual Tigers (\u3cem\u3ePanthera tigris\u3c/em\u3e) from Long Distance Roars
This paper investigates the extent of tiger (Panthera tigris) vocal individuality through both qualitative and quantitative approaches using long distance roars from six individual tigers at Omaha\u27s Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, NE. The framework for comparison across individuals includes statistical and discriminant function analysis across whole vocalization measures and statistical pattern classification using a hidden Markov model (HMM) with frame-based spectral features comprised of Greenwood frequency cepstral coefficients. Individual discrimination accuracy is evaluated as a function of spectral model complexity, represented by the number of mixtures in the underlying Gaussian mixture model (GMM), and temporal model complexity, represented by the number of sequential states in the HMM. Results indicate that the temporal pattern of the vocalization is the most significant factor in accurate discrimination. Overall baseline discrimination accuracy for this data set is about 70% using high level features without complex spectral or temporal models. Accuracy increases to about 80% when more complex spectral models (multiple mixture GMMs) are incorporated, and increases to a final accuracy of 90% when more detailed temporal models (10-state HMMs) are used. Classification accuracy is stable across a relatively wide range of configurations in terms of spectral and temporal model resolution
Input-output curves of low and high spontaneous rate auditory nerve fibers are exponential near threshold
Input-output (IO) properties of cochlear transduction are frequently determined by analyzing the average discharge rates of auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) in response to relatively long tonal stimulation. The ANFs in cats have spontaneous discharge rates (SRs) that are bimodally distributed, peaking at low (<0.5 spikes/s) and high (âŒ60 spikes/s) rates, and rate-level characteristics differ depending upon SR. In an effort to assess the instantaneous IO properties of ANFs having different SRs, static IO-curves were constructed from period histograms based on phase-locking of spikes to the stimulus waveform. These curves provide information unavailable in conventional average rate-level curves. We find that all IO curves follow an exponential trajectory. It is argued that the exponential behavior represents the transduction in the IHC and that the difference among ANFs having different SRs is predominantly a difference in gain attributed most likely to synaptic drive
Efficient Beef Production from Temperate Grasslands in North-Western Europe
Irelandâs cool temperate maritime climate is conducive to grass growth and, as a result, ruminant livestock systems have evolved that maximise both grazed pastures and conserved grassland forage as winter feed. Most Irish pastures are permanent, capable of achieving high herbage production (Keating and OâKiely 2000) and, accordingly, supporting intensive livestock production systems. Most male progeny from the 1.1 million Irish dairy herd are reared as steers, typically slaughtered at 24-26 months of age. Approximately 85% of dairy calves available for beef production are spring-born, usually in February/March (AIMS 2011). The progeny of Holstein-Friesian (Ho/Fr) sires account for 0.5-0.6 of the calf crop, with 0.6 and 0.4 of the remainder being sired by early-maturing (EM; e.g. Aberdeen Angus, Hereford) or late-maturing (LM; e.g. Limousin, Belgian Blue, Charolais) sires, respectively. This paper summarises some of the main grassland-based steer beef production systems applicable to Ireland
Concentrate feeding and feed ingredients for growing-finishing
peer-reviewedSmall improvements in feed efficiency, especially during indoor âwinterâ feeding periods, can have a relatively large influence on farm
profitability. Increasing the level of concentrates in the diet reduces forage intake and increases live weight and carcass weight gains, although at
a decreasing rate. Subsequent compensatory growth at pasture diminishes the advantage of concentrate supplementation of young cattle. High
digestibility grass silage with moderate concentrate supplementation can sustain a large proportion of the cattle performance achieved on highconcentrate
diets. Feeding management is more important when feeding concentrates ad libitum than as a supplement. The relative nutritive (and
economic) value of by-product feed ingredients depends on their inclusion level in the ration, and the amount of concentrates fed
Effect of floor type on performance, lying time and dirt scores of finishing beef cattle: A meta-analysis
peer-reviewedData from individual studies evaluating the effect of housing systems on performance, lying time and dirt scores of finishing beef cattle are conflicting. The objective of this study was to collate the data from previous animal housing studies and quantify, through meta-analysis, the effect of floor type on animal performance, lying time and dirt scores. From 38 peer-reviewed articles, published between 1969 and 2017, 18 were determined to be eligible for meta-analysis. Papers were included in the study if they contained information on the effect of floor surface on animal performance (average daily liveweight gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass weight), lying behaviour or animal cleanliness. There was no difference (PâŻ>âŻ0.10) in ADG, FCR or carcass weight between concrete slatted floors (CSF) and CSF overlaid with rubber mats (RM). Using RM had no effect (PâŻ>âŻ0.10) on lying duration or dirt scores of cattle. There was no difference (PâŻ>âŻ0.10) in the ADG, FCR, carcass weight, lying duration or cleanliness of cattle housed on CSF or straw bedding. It was concluded that using RM or straw instead of CSF had no effect on performance, lying time or dirt scores
Disease severity scoring systems in mucosal lichen planus : a systematic review
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SPU is supported by the University of Aberdeen Elphinstone Scholarship Scheme.Peer reviewedPostprin
Acoustic Characteristics of Lekking Male Greater Prairie-Chicken (\u3ci\u3eTympanuchus cupido pinnatus\u3c/i\u3e) Vocalizations (Supplement)
Boom
Cackle
Whine
Whoo
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