scholarly journals On the impact of service-oriented patterns on software evolvability: a controlled experiment and metric-based analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e213
Author(s):  
Justus Bogner ◽  
Stefan Wagner ◽  
Alfred Zimmermann
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Design Patterns ◽  
Alternative Hypothesis ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Controlled Experiment ◽  
Software Systems ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Quantitative Evidence ◽  
Metric Analysis ◽  
The Impact

Background Design patterns are supposed to improve various quality attributes of software systems. However, there is controversial quantitative evidence of this impact. Especially for younger paradigms such as service- and Microservice-based systems, there is a lack of empirical studies. Objective In this study, we focused on the effect of four service-based patterns—namely Process Abstraction, Service Façade, Decomposed Capability, and Event-Driven Messaging—on the evolvability of a system from the viewpoint of inexperienced developers. Method We conducted a controlled experiment with Bachelor students (N = 69). Two functionally equivalent versions of a service-based web shop—one with patterns (treatment group), one without (control group)—had to be changed and extended in three tasks. We measured evolvability by the effectiveness and efficiency of the participants in these tasks. Additionally, we compared both system versions with nine structural maintainability metrics for size, granularity, complexity, cohesion, and coupling. Results Both experiment groups were able to complete a similar number of tasks within the allowed 90 min. Median effectiveness was 1/3. Mean efficiency was 12% higher in the treatment group, but this difference was not statistically significant. Only for the third task, we found statistical support for accepting the alternative hypothesis that the pattern version led to higher efficiency. In the metric analysis, the pattern version had worse measurements for size and granularity while simultaneously having slightly better values for coupling metrics. Complexity and cohesion were not impacted. Interpretation For the experiment, our analysis suggests that the difference in efficiency is stronger with more experienced participants and increased from task to task. With respect to the metrics, the patterns introduce additional volume in the system, but also seem to decrease coupling in some areas. Conclusions Overall, there was no clear evidence for a decisive positive effect of using service-based patterns, neither for the student experiment nor for the metric analysis. This effect might only be visible in an experiment setting with higher initial effort to understand the system or with more experienced developers.

A Newspaper’s Effect on the Strength of Automatic Associations in Memory

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Arendt
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Term Effect ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Implicit Measure ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Treatment ◽  
Short Term Effect ◽  
Automatic Associations ◽  
Foreign Nationality ◽  
The Impact

A test was done to see if reading a newspaper which consistently overrepresents foreigners as criminals strengthens the automatic association between foreign country and criminal in memory (i.e., implicit cultivation). Further, an investigation was done to find out if reading articles from the same newspaper produces a short-term effect on the same measure and if (1) emotionalization of the newspaper texts, (2) emotional reactions of the reader (indicated by arousal), and (3) attributed text credibility moderate the short-term treatment effect. Eighty-five participants were assigned to one of three experimental conditions. Participants in the control group received short factual crime texts, where the nationality of the offender was not mentioned. Participants in the factual treatment group received the same texts, but the foreign nationality was mentioned. Participants in the emotionalized treatment group received emotionalized articles (i.e., texts which are high in vividness and frequency) covering the same crimes, with the foreign nationality mentioned. Supporting empirical evidence for implicit cultivation and a short-term effect was found. However, only emotionalized articles produced a short-term effect on the strength of the automatic association, indicating that newspaper texts must have a minimum of stimulus intensity to overcome an effect threshold. There were no moderating effects of arousal or credibility pertaining to the impact on the implicit measure. However, credibility moderated the short-term effect on a first-order judgment (i.e., estimated frequency of foreigners of all criminals). This indicates that a newspaper’s effect on the strength of automatic associations is relatively independent from processes of propositional reasoning.

Regression of cardiac amyloid deposits with novel therapeutics: reaching new frontiers in cardiac ATTR amyloidosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Chacko ◽  
A Martinez-Naharro ◽  
T Kotecha ◽  
R Martone ◽  
D Hutt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Cardiac Amyloidosis ◽  
T1 Mapping ◽  
Group Versus ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cardiac Amyloid ◽  
Attr Amyloidosis ◽  
Amyloid Load ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Cardiac involvement is the main driver of outcome in ATTR amyloidosis. Advances in therapeutics hold potential in transforming the course of the disease but the impact on cardiac amyloid load is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of patisiran, a new double stranded RNA based gene silencing therapy and a stabilizer, diflunisal, on cardiac amyloid load as measured by CMR and T1 mapping, in patients with ATTR amyloidosis. Methods and results Thirty-two patients with hereditary cardiac amyloidosis were studied. Sixteen patients received treatment with patisiran, and sixteen control subjects did not receive any disease modifying treatment. Patients were assessed with echocardiogram, CMR, NT-proBNP and six-minute walk time measurements at baseline and at 1 year (Mean interval 11.45±3.08 months in treatment group, mean interval 12.82±5.06 months in the control group). CMR analysis comprised LV volumes, T1 mapping to measure the extracellular volume (ECV) occupied by amyloid, T2 mapping and late gadolinium enhancement imaging. At 1-year follow-up, there was a substantial reduction in cardiac amyloid burden, in keeping with cardiac amyloid regression in 45% of patients on treatment. Overall the treatment group showed a reduction in ECV at 1 year follow up compared to an increase in ECV at 1 year in the control group (−1.37%, 95% CI: −3.43 to 0.68% versus 5.02%, 95% CI: 2.86% to 7.18% respectively, p<0.001). The treatment group also showed an improvement in change in 6MWT at 1 year follow up compared to 6MWT at 1 year in the control group (−8.12 meters, 95% CI: −50.8 to 34.6 meters in the treatment group versus −132.27 meters, 95% CI: −216 to −48.6 meters in the control group, p=0.002). The treatment group showed a reduction in BNP at 1 year follow up compared to an increase in the control group (−567.87, 95% CI: −1288.90 to 153.15 in the treatment group versus 2004, 95% CI: 12.82 to 3995.45 in the control group, p<0.001). There was no significant difference from baseline and 1-year data between the control and treatment groups for the difference in echocardiographic parameters, native T1, T2. There was a significant reduction in the percentage of injected dose by 99Tc-DPD scintigraphy in treated patients at 1 year compared to baseline. Conclusions These findings provide the first compelling evidence of substantial cardiac amyloid regression in ATTR amyloidosis, as well as the potential for CMR to be used to track response in treated patients with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis. Combination therapy with transthyretin knock down and stabilizing agents may well be synergistic given enhanced stoichiometry of stabilizers in the face of much reduced plasma transthyretin concentration. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

scholarly journals Impact and cost-effectiveness evaluation of a community-based rehabilitation intervention on quality of life among Chinese adults with hearing loss: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Ye ◽  
Dawei Zhu ◽  
Siyuan Chen ◽  
Xuefeng Shi ◽  
Rui Gong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Chinese Adults ◽  
Community Based ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Hearing loss is quite prevalent and can be related to people’s quality of life. To our knowledge, there are limited studies assessing the efficacy of hearing interventions on quality of life in adults. Therefore, we aim to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to determine the impact and cost-effectiveness of community-based hearing rehabilitation on quality of life among Chinese adults with hearing loss. Methods/design In this two-arm feasibility study, participants aged 16 and above with some degree of hearing loss (n = 464) will be recruited from Linyi City, Shandong Province. They are randomly assigned to the treatment group or the control group. Those in the treatment group are prescribed with hearing aids, while those in the control group receive no intervention. Reinstruction in use of devices is provided for the treatment group during booster visits held 12 months post-randomization or unscheduled interim visits when necessary. Data are collected at baseline and the follow-up 20 months later. The primary outcome is changes in quality of life over a 20-month study period. Secondary outcomes include sub-dimensions in quality of life, physical functioning, chronic diseases, cognitive function, depression, social support, hospitalizations, falls, and healthcare costs. Finally, we will evaluate whether hearing aids intervention is cost-effective to apply in a large scale. Discussion The trial is designed to evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of a community-based rehabilitation intervention on quality of life among Chinese adults with hearing loss. We hope that it would help improve the well-being for Chinese adults and provide references in policy and practice for China and other countries. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900024739. Registered on 26 July 2019.

scholarly journals Standardising intraoperative irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate in caesarean delivery to reduce surgical site infections: A single institution experience

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 24-33
Author(s):  
Theresa Mangold ◽  
Erin Kinzel Hamilton ◽  
Helen Boehm Johnson ◽  
Rene Perez
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Surgical Site Infection ◽  
Infection Rate ◽  
Caesarean Delivery ◽  
Chlorhexidine Gluconate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Antibiotic Administration ◽  
Site Infection ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
The Impact

Background Surgical site infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following caesarean delivery. Objective To determine whether standardising intraoperative irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate during caesarean delivery could decrease infection rates. Methods This was a process improvement project involving 742 women, 343 of whom received low-pressured 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate irrigation during caesarean delivery over a one-year period. Infection rates were compared with a standard-of-care control group (399 women) undergoing caesarean delivery the preceding year. Results The treatment group infection rate met the study goal by achieving a lower infection rate than the control group, though this was not statistically significant. A significant interaction effect between irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate and antibiotic administration time existed, such that infection occurrence in the treatment group was not dependent on antibiotic timing, as opposed to the control group infection occurrence, which was dependent on antibiotic timing. Conclusion Intraoperative irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate during caesarean delivery did not statistically significantly reduce the rate of infections. It did render the impact of antibiotic administration timing irrelevant in prevention of surgical site infection. This suggests a role for 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate irrigation in mitigating infection risk whether antibiotic prophylaxis timing is suboptimal or ideal.

Did the PCAOB's Restrictions on Auditors' Tax Services Improve Audit Quality?

2015 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 1493-1512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive S. Lennox
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Significant Drop ◽  
Going Concern ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT In 2005–2006, the PCAOB imposed restrictions on auditors' tax services in order to strengthen auditor independence and improve audit quality. The restrictions resulted in a significant drop in auditor-provided tax services (APTS). To test the impact on audit quality, I partition the sample into a treatment group (companies whose APTS purchases dropped significantly when the restrictions were introduced) and a control group (companies whose APTS purchases were relatively unaffected) and I measure audit quality using the incidence of accounting misstatements, tax-related misstatements, and auditors' going-concern opinions. Using a difference-in-differences design, I find no change in audit quality for the treatment group relative to the control group after the restrictions are imposed.

scholarly journals Spatial Orientation Skill Performance with a Workshop Based on Green Infrastructure in Cities

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Carbonell-Carrera ◽  
Jose Luis Saorin ◽  
Dámari Melián-Díaz ◽  
Stephany Hess-Medler
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Spatial Orientation ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
City Planning ◽  
Teaching Strategy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Spatial Skills ◽  
Skill Performance ◽  
Specific Teaching ◽  
The Impact

Better training of spatial skills of green infrastructure managers will contribute to better planning practices in this field. The professionals using geo-spatial technologies in sustainable city planning require, in their curriculum, specific training focused towards the acquisition of spatial skills. Using maps and geo-spatial technologies, spatial orientation skill is needed. In this research, a workshop based on a green infrastructure has been carried out. A specific teaching strategy for the improvement of spatial orientation skill has been performed. In the workshop, 3D technologies of graphic representation of an urban environment were used such as Cad Mapper, Sketch Up Make 2017 and Google Street View. Thirty-two students (22 treatment group, 10 control group) of agronomic engineering participated. The impact on spatial orientation skill was measured with the Perspective Taking-Spatial Orientation test, through pre- and post-tests. No gender differences were found. The Treatment Group obtained a significant increase of 19.27% in their spatial orientation skill. Participants of the Control group did not significantly increase their spatial orientation skill (3.21%). Specific teaching strategies such as those performed in this research can be effective for the training and development of spatial orientation skill, needed for geospatial planning in the field of Green Infrastructures.

The Impact of an Educational Program on Improving Diabetes Knowledge and Changing Behaviors of Nurses in Long-Term Care Facilities

1995 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 541-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Turner Parker ◽  
Nancy Leggett-Frazier ◽  
Pauline A. Vincent ◽  
Melvin S. Swanson
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Diabetes Care ◽  
Educational Program ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Impact

Nursing staffs from two long-term care facilities attended a multisession educational program about the care of residents with diabetes (treatment group). A control group consisted of the nursing staffs from two other similar facilities who did not participate in the educational program. Both groups were given a knowledge pretest and posttest. A chart review also was conducted following the educational intervention to determine any changes in the diabetes care provided by the treatment group. Following the educational program, the treatment group had a significant increase in their mean score on the knowledge test compared with the control group. However, a. review of the residents' charts revealed no significant increases in specific behaviors related to diabetes care. The findings suggest that, in addition to educational programs, more focused training concerning diabetes care is needed to improve the care of residents with diabetes in long-term care facilities. Implications for diabetes educators are discussed.

scholarly journals The Impacts of Along-Channel Acupuncture on the Protein Expressions of the Chloride Channel of the Rats with Myocardial Ischemia

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ze-Dong Cheng ◽  
Chun-Ri Li ◽  
Xiao-Jiao Shao ◽  
Pei-Jing Rong ◽  
Xiao-Qing Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Myocardial Ischemia ◽  
Cardiac Tissue ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance ◽  
Blank Control Group ◽  
Group Modeling ◽  
Protein Expressions ◽  
The Impact

Recent evidence suggests that chloride (CL−) channels are involved in myocardial ischemia. In this study, the impact of acupuncture on the protein expressions of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) and CLC-2CL−channel of the rats with myocardial ischemia were tested and its mechanism was explored. The rats for experiment were distributed randomly into 5 groups: blank control group, modeling control group, Neiguan (PC-6) treatment group, Lieque (LU-7) control group, and Non-acupoint control group. The rats of all groups, except the blank control group, had myocardial ischemia via multiple subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (ISO). Electroacupuncture treatment was given to Neiguan (PC-6) treatment group, Lieque (LU-7) control group, and Non-acupoints control group, respectively, once a day for 7 days. The results show that acupuncture can alleviate the myocardial ischemia of cardiac tissue, decrease significantly the activities of serum SOD and MDA, and thereby influence the protein expressions of CFTR and CLC-2 inCL−channels. The results of the study implies that acupuncture suppresses the pathological changes of cardiac tissue of rats with myocardial ischemia and regulates the protein expression of CFTR and CLC-2CL−channels, which may serve as one possible mechanism to reduce myocardial ischemia.

scholarly journals The effect of carprofen on fresh dairy cows health

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielė Lošytė ◽  
Ieva Navalinskaitė ◽  
Žyginta Prokopavičiūtė ◽  
Ernesta Pocevičienė ◽  
Ramūnas Antanaitis
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Stress Indicator ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of stress on the health of fresh-lactation cows and the effect of NSAIDs on the stress indicator cortisol, rumination time (RT) and somatic cell count (SCC). The treatment group of cows (TG) (n = 15) were given a subcutaneous injection of Rimadyl Cattle® (50 mg/ml of carprofen), 1.4 mg per 1 kg BW dose, up to 1 hour after calving. At the same time, the control group of cows (CG) (n = 15) were given an injection of 0.9% NaCl. The whole study looked at the health of cows by recording cases that occurred during the period after calving. Blood cortisol examination was performed within 2, 24 and 48 h after the use of the mentioned drugs. Rumination time was registered with the Lely T4C management program for analysis. Milk composition (SCC) was determined using the Lely T4C management program for analysis. NSAIDs (carprofen 50 mg/ml) statistically significantly reduced cortisol plasma concentrations within 48 h from the use of the drug and did not have an impact on SCC. The use of NSAID increased the average ruminating time from the third to the eleventh day after calving.

scholarly journals The Impact of Education on Mother’s Knowledge for Stunting Prevention Through Moringa Oleifera in Kuan Noel Village, Fatumnasi District, South Central Timor Regency

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 206
Author(s):  
IRLIN FALDE RITI
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Moringa Oleifera ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Control Group ◽  
South Central ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Educational Aspect

<p align="center"><strong>ABSTRAK</strong></p><p><strong>Background:</strong> One of nutritious problems susceptibly encountred in the world nowadays is kid’s stunting. Stunting is a failure of growth condition and cronical nutritious problems caused by poor nutritious supply because of improper meal provisions in long term growth consumptions. Stunting could be primarily prevented by increasing knowledge about stunting prevention through consuming moringa oleifera regularly. <strong>The aim:</strong> This study is intended to know the impact of education on mother’s knowledge for stunting prevention through regular moringa oleifera consumption. <strong>Research Method: </strong>This research applied a quasi experimental design by generating non equivalent control group which complied two groups; 30 subjects (mothers) were considered as treatment group; whereas, other 30 subjects (mothers) were taken as control group. Thus sampling technique applied was consecutive sampling. <strong>Results:</strong> The study showed that there was a significant impact on education score before and after intervention effects towards the treatment group (p=0,000); whereas there was no significant difference on the control group (p=0,184). The statistical analysis applied independent sample t-test which showed if educational aspect significantly impacted on the increase of mother’s knowledge (p=0,000). <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Educational aspect impacted on mother’s knowledge for stunting prevention through moringa oleifera.</p>

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