Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “SCALE”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Development of a new scale for measuring acculturation: the Taiwan Aboriginal Acculturation Scale (TAAS).

As part of the Taiwan Aboriginal Study Project (TASP), a new acculturation scale (the Taiwan Aboriginal Acculturation Scale, or TAAS) has been developed among the aboriginal minorities of Austronesian origin in Taiwan. The design of the original 54 items was based on Milton Gordon's concept of assimilation in association with a careful consideration of cross-cultural validity. These items were administered to 144 subjects stratified by age and sex who were randomly sampled from four major Taiwanese aboriginal groups. Item analysis and factor analysis were applied to select an 18-item scale which has three subscales (factors): cultural assimilation, social assimilation, and social attitude. Results of validity and reliability studies of the TAAS were found to be acceptable. The development of TAAS demonstrates the applicability of the concept of acculturation as a process that involves changes both in attitude, and in behaviour, to non-western societies.

Acculturation↗
PubMed2006

Scaled particle theory study of the length scale dependence of cavity thermodynamics in different liquids.

It has been noted that the work of cavity creation in water exhibits a crossover behavior, in that its cavity size dependence changes from volume dependence for small cavities to area dependence for larger cavities [Lum, K.; Chandler, D.; Weeks, J. D. J. Phys. Chem. B 1999, 103, 4570]. It is shown here that this behavior can be reproduced using the scaled particle theory in a straightforward manner for six different liquids (water, methanol, ethanol, benzene, cyclohexane, and carbon tetrachloride). It has also been suggested that the crossover is due to a change in the physical mechanism of the process, from one entropy-dominated to another enthalpy-dominated. However, the crossover behavior can be produced using the scaled particle theory without invoking any change in any physical mechanism. Also, the crossover occurs at a length scale of the size of the liquid molecules, as has been pointed out by others. This is the length regime where the work of cavity creation bears little relation to the bulk liquid surface tension. In addition, it is pointed out that cavity creation can always be considered as a purely entropy-driven process, which is usually accompanied by another process with compensating enthalpy and entropy changes.

Solvents↗
PubMed2004

Is a single-item visual analogue scale as valid, reliable and responsive as multi-item scales in measuring quality of life?

PURPOSE: To compare the validity, reliability and responsiveness of a single, global quality of life question to multi-item scales. METHOD: Data were obtained from 83 consecutive patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma undergoing either transhiatal or transthoracic oesophagectomy. Quality of life was measured at baseline, 5 weeks, 3 and 12 months post-operatively with a single-item Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 100, the multi-item Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-20 (MOS SF-20) and Rotterdam Symptom Check-List (RSCL). Convergent and discriminant validity, test-retest reliability and both distribution-based and anchor-based responsiveness were evaluated. MAJOR FINDINGS: At baseline and at 5 weeks, the VAS showed high correlations with the MOS SF-20 health perceptions scale (r = 0.70 and 0.72) and moderate to high correlations with all other subscales of the MOS SF-20 and RSCL (r = 0.29-0.70). The test-retest reliability intra-class correlation for the VAS was 0.87. At 5 weeks post-operatively, the distribution-based responsiveness was moderate for the VAS (standardised response mean: -0.47; effect size: -0.56), high for the physical subscales of the MOS SF-20 and RSCL (-1.08 to -1.51) and low for the psychological subscales (0.11 to -0.25). Five weeks post-operatively, anchor-based responsiveness was highest for the VAS (r = 0.54). CONCLUSION: The VAS is an instrument with good validity, excellent reliability, moderate distribution-based responsiveness and good anchor-based responsiveness compared to multi-item questionnaires. Its use is recommended in clinical trials to assess global quality of life.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2005

Using the Karolinska Scales of Personality on male juvenile delinquents: relationships between scales and factor structure.

The aim of the present study was to investigate relationships between scales from the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) and the factor structure of the KSP in a sample of male juvenile delinquents. The KSP was administered to a group of male juvenile delinquents (n=55, mean age 17 years; standard deviation=1.2) from four Swedish national correctional institutions for serious offenders. As expected, the KSP showed appropriate correlations between the scales. Factor analysis (maximum likelihood) arrived at a four-factor solution in this sample, which is in line with previous research performed in a non-clinical sample of Swedish males. More research is needed in a somewhat larger sample of juvenile delinquents in order to confirm the present results regarding the factor solution.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Minimally clinically important difference for the UCSD Shortness of Breath Questionnaire, Borg Scale, and Visual Analog Scale.

Dyspnea is a primary symptom of chronic lung disease and an important outcome measure for clinical trials. Several standardized measures have been developed to evaluate this important symptom and are being used increasingly in clinical trials. The minimally clinically important difference (MCID) is not well defined for these measures but is important in interpreting the clinical meaning of results of studies in this area. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the MCID for three commonly used measures to assess dyspnea in chronic lung disease: UCSD Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (SOBQ), Borg Scale (Borg), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The analysis is based on a retrospective review of published trials evaluating the response to a pulmonary rehabilitation or exercise intervention that is known to produce modest, but clinically meaningful changes for such patients. Using a distribution-based approach based primarily on effect size, the recommended MCID for these measures are: 5-units for the SOBQ, 1-unit for the Borg scale, and approximately 10 to 20 units for the VAS.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗
PubMed1999

Development and evaluation of a laboratory-scale apparatus to simulate the scale-up of a sterile semisolid and effects of manufacturing parameters on product viscosity.

The purpose of this study was to develop a benchtop apparatus to simulate the scale-up of the moist-heat sterilization process of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gel and identify critical process parameters that affect the sterilized gel viscosity. A 600-ml benchtop Parr reactor was modified and used to achieve good correlation with a previously established heating profile using different equipment at the manufacturing site. The Parr reactor is constructed with 316 stainless steel, pressure rated to 2000 psig, and temperature rated to 350 degrees C. After several trials, a low-wattage heater (300 W) was determined to be suitable for this sterilization process (122 degrees C for 20 min). An anchor stirrer was installed for more efficient mixing while the gel was being sterilized. Evacuation and nitrogen flushing of the vessel could easily be performed through the gas inlet valves. The temperature controller (model 4843) has a microprocessor-based control module that provides a temperature profile control with adjustable tuning parameters. This apparatus was used to mimic the full-scale sterilization process by simulating the production sterilization temperature profile. Using this device, we found that the critical process parameters that affected final product viscosity were heating time, the starting pressure, residual oxygen concentration in the vessel, and the inherent viscosity of the CMC raw material. This study indicated that it is possible to use the Parr reactor to simulate the scale-up sterilization process of a semisolid product. A product with a consistent viscosity range could be manufactured by controlling critical process parameters during sterilization.

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium↗
PubMed2001

Industrial scale-up of countercurrent chromatography: predictive scale-up.

This study describes how scale-up in countercurrent chromatography (CCC) can be simply predicted on a process scale CCC device by running a preliminary analytical-sized sample and having knowledge of the stationary-phase retention at scale-up conditions. Results have shown that simple experimentation can lead within a day to a process with the capability of several kilograms per day (tons per year) compound yield, and that this is feasible with benchtop CCC units.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Rheumatoid Arthritis Severity Scale: a brief, physician-completed scale not confounded by patient self-report of psychological functioning.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a brief measure of severity for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that would not be seriously confounded by psychological functioning. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Severity Scale (RASS), designed for use by physicians on their own patients, consists of three visual analogue scales: Disease Activity, Functional Impairment and Physical Damage. METHODS: Ninety-four RA outpatients completed the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) Disability, Pain Severity, Health State subscales and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) Anxiety, Depression and Somatization subscales. Rheumatologists completed the RASS on their own patients. RESULTS: Results suggest that the RASS is internally consistent (alpha=0.85) and valid. RASS Disease Activity, Functional Impairment, Physical Damage correlated with HAQ Disability (r=0.40, 0.68, 0.61; P<0.01), Pain (r=0.37, 0.34, 0.34; P<0.01) and Health State (r=-0.27, -0.36, -0.27; P<0.01). RASS Physical Damage uniquely predicted longer illness duration (years with RA). In contrast to the HAQ, RASS subscales shared less variance with anxiety, somatization and depression scores. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary data suggest that the RASS may be a quick, reliable, valid physician-completed RA severity scale that compares favourably with the longer, patient-completed HAQ.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The validity and reliability of the graphic rating scale and verbal rating scale for measuring pain across cultures: a study in Egyptian and Dutch women with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the validity and reliability of a graphic rating scale (GRS) and a verbal rating scale (VRS) for measuring pain intensity in young female Egyptian and Dutch patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Data were obtained in a cross-cultural study of 42 Egyptian and 30 Dutch female outpatients with stable RA. Construct validity was assessed by correlating the scales with other core measures of disease activity in RA. Test-retest reliability was assessed over a 1-week interval. RESULTS: The GRS and the VRS were strongly intercorrelated in the total study cohort and in the Egyptian and Dutch subgroups. In the individual subgroups, only the GRS demonstrated the expected pattern of correlations with other disease activity measures. Test-retest reliability of the GRS was adequate in both Egyptian and Dutch patients (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.78 vs. 0.83, respectively), whereas reliability of the VRS was unsatisfactory in the Egyptian subgroup (weighted kappa 0.60 vs. 0.82 in the Netherlands). DISCUSSION: The study confirmed that the GRS and VRS were reliable and valid in the total study cohort. Within the individual countries, the GRS seemed to perform better than the VRS.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The Brief Impairment Scale (BIS): a multidimensional scale of functional impairment for children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: This article provides the results of the psychometric testing of the Brief Impairment Scale (BIS). The BIS is a 23-item instrument that evaluates three domains of functioning: interpersonal relations, school/work functioning, and self-care/self-fulfillment. It capitalizes on the strengths of existing global measures while addressing some of their limitations. METHOD: Cross-sectional parent respondent data from one clinical (N = 757) and two community samples (N = 1,888 and 1,132) of children ranging in age from 4 to 17 years is employed to test the reliability and validity of the BIS. Receiver operating characteristic analyses are employed to assess useful cutoff scores on the scale. RESULTS: The total scale's internal consistency ranged from 0.81 to 0.88 and from 0.56 to 0.81 on the three subscales. Test-retest reliability for individual items ranged from fair to substantial in all but six items. The BIS has high convergent and concurrent validity. Receiver operator characteristic analyses suggest possible thresholds for different uses. CONCLUSIONS: The BIS is psychometrically sound, useful in assessments and as an outcome measure in clinical practice and research. Its advantages over other global impairment instruments are that it is respondent based, short in administration time, and multidimensional.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Glycogen-accumulating organisms in laboratory-scale and full-scale wastewater treatment processes.

Laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) as models for wastewater treatment processes were used to identify glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs), which are thought to be responsible for the deterioration of enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). The SBRs (called Q and T), operated under alternating anaerobic-aerobic conditions typical for EBPR, generated mixed microbial communities (sludges) demonstrating the GAO phenotype. Intracellular glycogen and poly-beta-hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) transformations typical of efficient EBPR occurred but polyphosphate was not bioaccumulated and the sludges contained 1.8% P (sludge Q) and 1.5% P (sludge T). 16S rDNA clone libraries were prepared from DNA extracted from the Q and T sludges. Clone inserts were grouped into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) by restriction fragment length polymorphism banding profiles. OTU representatives were sequenced and phylogenetically analysed. The Q sludge library comprised four OTUs and all six determined sequences were 99.7% identical, forming a cluster in the gamma-Proteobacteria radiation. The T sludge library comprised eight OTUs and the majority of clones were Acidobacteria subphylum 4 (49% of the library) and candidate phylum OP10 (39% of the library). One OTU (two clones, of which one was sequenced) was in the gamma-Proteobacteria radiation with 95% sequence identity to the Q sludge clones. Oligonucleotide probes (called GAOQ431 and GAOQ989) were designed from the gamma-Proteobacteria clone sequences for use in fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH); 92% of the Q sludge bacteria and 28% of the T sludge bacteria bound these probes in FISH. FISH and post-FISH chemical staining for PHA were used to determine that bacteria from a novel gamma-Proteobacteria cluster were phenotypically GAOs in one laboratory-scale SBR and two full-scale wastewater treatment plants. It is suggested that the GAOs from the novel cluster in the gamma-Proteobacteria radiation be named 'Candidatus Competibacter phosphatis'.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1999

Scale invariance and invariant scaling in a mixed hierarchical system.

We consider a mixed hierarchical model with heterogeneous and monotone conditions of destruction. We investigate how scaling properties of defects in the model are related with heterogeneity of rules of destruction, determined by concentration of the mixture. The system demonstrates different kinds of criticality as a general form of system behavior. The following forms of critical behavior are obtained: stability, catastrophe, scale invariance, and invariant scaling. Different slopes of the magnitude-frequency relation are realized in areas of critical stability and catastrophe. A simple relation between the slope of magnitude-frequency relation and parameters of the mixture is established.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Dynamical scaling behavior of percolation clusters in scale-free networks.

In this work we investigate the spectra of Laplacian matrices that determine many dynamic properties of scale-free networks below and at the percolation threshold. We use a replica formalism to develop analytically, based on an integral equation, a systematic way to determine the ensemble averaged eigenvalue spectrum for a general type of treelike networks. Close to the percolation threshold we find characteristic scaling functions for the density of states rho(lambda) of scale-free networks. rho(lambda) shows characteristic power laws rho (lambda) approximately lambda (alpha(1) ) or rho (lambda) approximately lambda (d(2) ) for small lambda, where alpha(1) holds below and alpha(2) at the percolation threshold. In the range where the spectra are accessible from a numerical diagonalization procedure the two methods lead to very similar results.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Anomalous scaling of superrough growing surfaces: from correlation functions to residual local interfacial widths and scaling exponents.

A study on the (1+1) -dimensional superrough growth processes is undertaken. We first work out the exact relations among the local interfacial width w , the correlation function G , and the pth degree residual local interfacial width w(p) with p=1,2,3,... . The relations obtained are exact and thus can be applied to any (1+1) -dimensional growth processes in the continuum limit, no matter whether the interface is superrough or not. Then we investigate the influence of the macroscopic structure formation on the scaling behavior of the superrough growth processes. Moreover, we show analytically that the residual local interfacial width w(p) excludes only the influence of the macroscopic structure on the scaling behavior of the system and retains the true scaling behavior originating from the stochastic nature of the system. Finally, we analyze and simulate some superrough growth models for demonstration.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Low-redshift cosmic baryon fluid on large scales and She-Leveque universal scaling.

We investigate the statistical properties of cosmic baryon fluid in the nonlinear regime, which is crucial for understanding the large-scale structure formation of the Universe. With the hydrodynamic simulation sample of the Universe in the cold dark matter model with a cosmological constant, we show that the intermittency of the velocity field of cosmic baryon fluid at redshift z = 0 in the scale range from the Jeans length to about 16 h(-1) Mpc can be extremely well described by She-Leveque's universal scaling formula. The baryon fluid also possesses the following features: (1) for volume weight statistics, the dissipative structures are dominated by sheets, and (2) the relation between the intensities of fluctuations is hierarchical. These results imply that the evolution of highly evolved cosmic baryon fluid is similar to a fully developed turbulence.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

A new behavioral assessment scale for geriatric out- and in-patients: the NOSGER (Nurses' Observation Scale for Geriatric Patients).

Although a great number of psychometric tests and rating scales for the assessment of psychogeriatric patients is available, there is still an urgent need, in research and practice, for a clinical rating instrument that meets the following main requirements: (1) applicable to institutionalized and community patients and covering a wide range of behavioral pathology; (2) acceptable and easy to use for professionals and lay persons alike; (3) covering a wide range of behavior relevant to daily functioning but independent of sex or social status of the individual assessed. The NOSGER contains 30 items of behavior, each rated on a 5-point scale according to frequency of occurrence. Item scores are summarized into 6 Dimension scores (memory, instrumental activities of daily life, self-care, mood, social behavior, and disturbing behavior) which are clinically relevant in dementia, depression, and other psychiatric disorders of old age. Validation studies with a preliminary version of the NOSGER indicated good acceptance of the scale, high inter-rater and test-retest reliability, and high correlations of all NOSGER Dimension scores with results of a variety of established assessment instruments. The NOSGER is currently being used in a number of European and North American centers and should turn out to be a useful instrument for longitudinal studies in psychogeriatrics.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2007

ECCA grading scale: an original validated acne scar grading scale for clinical practice in dermatology.

INTRODUCTION: The ECCA grading scale (échelle d'évaluation clinique des cicatrices d'acné) is a tool designed to help dermatologists to assess the severity of acne scars and to standardize the discussions about the treatments of scars. METHODS: We developed an acne scar clinical grading scale called ECCA, which consists of 6 items designed to assess easily and quickly the severity of acne scars by a global score. The interobserver reliability of the ECCA grading was statistically validated. RESULTS: The statistical analysis showed the interinvestigator reliability of the ECCA grading scale among 7 dermatologists who used it on the same group of 10 acne patients. CONCLUSION: ECCA is a new tool which will now be available for dermatologists to use in their everyday practice and for clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of treatments on acne scars.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed2004

Pediatric assessment scale for severe feeding problems: validity and reliability of a new scale for tube-fed children.

BACKGROUND: This study reports data on the validity and reliability of a new parent report measure, the Pediatric Assessment Scale for Severe Feeding Problems, designed to assess progress in the development of oral eating skills for children who need prolonged tube feeding. METHODS: The questionnaire was completed by parents of 3 groups of children. The first group consisted of 17 children who received all of their nutrition by tube feedings, a second group of 30 children who were oral eaters but required supplementation by tube feedings, and a third group of 27 children who were referred for feeding difficulties but were not receiving any tube feeding. A subset of parents from each group completed the measure a second time approximately 2 to 4 weeks after completing the initial questionnaire in order to examine the reliability of the measure. RESULTS: The mean scores (scale of 0 to 66) on the measure were 7.3 for completely tube-fed children, 30.0 for partially tube-fed children, and 46.8 for referred, non-tube-fed children. The correlation between first and second administration of the measure was .98. CONCLUSIONS: The validity and reliability of the Pediatric Assessment Scale for Severe Feeding Problems appears to be adequate. The new measure should allow clinicians to better rate initial severity of feeding difficulties and to track the progress of children as they advance from being totally tube-fed to completely orally fed.

Journal Article↗