A Comparison Of Equivalence Testing In Combination With Hypothesis Testing And Effect Sizes

Equivalence testing, an alternative to testing for statistical significance, is little used in educational research. Equivalence testing is useful in situations where the researcher wishes to show that two means are not significantly different. A simulation study assessed the relationships between effect size, sample size, statistical significance, and statistical equivalence

Seksuaaliterveyspäivä ammattioppilaitoksessa opiskeleville nuorille miehille

Opinnäytetyömme on osa Päijät-Hämeen Hyvinvoivat äijät - hanketta. Hankkeen tavoiteena on kehittää nuorten ammattikoululaisten miesten terveyttä ja hyvinvointia. Opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena on pitää koulutuskeskus Salpauksen opiskelijoille toiminnallinen seksuaaliterveyspäivä. Ammattikoulussa opiskelevista pojista 19 - 25 %:lla on ollut viisi tai useampia seksikumppaneita, kun taas lukiossa opiskelevilla 10 - 14 %:lla on ollut vastaava määrä seksikumppaneita. Kosusen mukaan nuoret miehet tarvitsevat runsaasti neuvontaa ja palveluita asioista, jotka liittyvät omaan seksuaaliseen kehitykseen. Hänen mukaansa ammattikouluikäisten nuorten miesten tiedot ovat puutteellisia ja he tarvitsevat lisää luotettavaa tietoa, opetusta ja neuvontaa. Opinnäytetyön tavoitteena oli kehittää seksuaaliterveyspäivän avulla nuorten miesten tietoisuutta turvallisesta seksuaalikäyttäytymisestä ja kiinnostusta hakea itse tietoa seksuaalisuudesta ja seksuaalikäyttäytymisestä. Ennen seksuaaliterveyspäivää teimme kymmenelle nuorelle miehelle kyselyn heidän toiveistaan päivän sisällölle. Seksuaaliterveyspäivän pidimme Lahden Salpauksen koulutuskeskuksessa. Seksuaaliterveyspäivään osallistui 79 nuorta. Nuoret osallistuivat päivään noin 20 oppilaan ryhmissä ja tutustuivat ehkäisy-, sukupuolitauti- ja ihmissuhderasteihin. Keräsimme jokaiselta oppilaalta palautteen päivän päätteeksi. Seksuaaliterveyspäivän ilmapiiristä ja palautteista nousi esille, että nuoret kaipasivat lisää tietoa seksuaaliterveyden eri osa-alueista. Eniten uutta tietoa nuoret saivat sukupuolitaudeista. Palautelomakkeessa oli myös kymmenen väitettä päivän aiheista. Palautelomakkeen väitteiden miesten keski-arvo oli 8.7 pistettä ja naisten 8.9 pistettä.This Bachelor’s Thesis is a part of a larger project called Paijat-Hameen Hyvin-voivat aijat. The aim of the project is to develop and improve the health of young male students in vocational schools. The objective of the thesis was to arrange a sexual health day to the students of Salpaus. 19-25% of male students studying in a vocational school have had five or more sexual partners, while in high school 10-14% of male students have had equal number of sexual partners. According to Kosunen, young men need plenty of guidance and services in issues relating to the development of their own sexuality. According to her young men at vocational school age have insufficient information and need more reliable information, education and guidance. The aim of the thesis was to develop men’s awareness on issues regarding sex through a theme day. Prior to the sexual health day we conducted a survey for ten men regarding their hopes for the contents of this theme day. The day was held at Salpaus education centre and 79 young people attended the day. They took part in groups of approximately 20 students and became familiar with issues like contraception, sexually transmitted diseases and relationships. After the day each student filled in a ready-made feedback form. Arising from the atmosphere and the feedback forms of the sexual health day, it became apparent that young people would need more information on the different areas of sexual health. The area the students received the most new information on was sexually transmitted diseases. The feedback form also included 10 claims about the topics covered during the day. The ratio of questions that the students got right was 8.7 with male students, and 8.9 with female students

Numbers of mutations to different types of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: The numbers of oncogenic mutations required for transformation are uncertain but may be inferred from how cancer frequencies increase with aging. Cancers requiring more mutations will tend to appear later in life. This type of approach may be confounded by biologic heterogeneity because different cancer subtypes may require different numbers of mutations. For example, a sporadic cancer should require at least one more somatic mutation relative to its hereditary counterpart. METHODS: To better estimate numbers of mutations before transformation, 1,022 colorectal cancers were classified with respect to microsatellite instability (MSI) and germline DNA mismatch repair mutations characteristic of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). MSI- cancers were also classified with respect to clinical stage. Ages at cancer and a Bayesian algorithm were used to estimate the numbers of oncogenic mutations required for transformation for each cancer subtype. RESULTS: Ages at MSI+ cancers were consistent with five or six oncogenic mutations for hereditary (HNPCC) cancers, and seven or eight mutations for its sporadic counterpart. Ages at cancer were consistent with seven mutations for sporadic MSI- cancers, and were similar (six to eight mutations) regardless of clinical cancer stage. CONCLUSION: Different biologic subtypes of colorectal cancer appear to require different numbers of oncogenic mutations before transformation. Sporadic MSI+ cancers may require more than a single additional somatic alteration compared to hereditary MSI+ cancers because the epigenetic inactivation of MLH1 commonly observed in sporadic MSI+ cancers may be a multistep process. Interestingly, estimated numbers of MSI- cancer mutations were similar (six to eight mutations) regardless of clinical cancer stage, suggesting a propensity to spread or metastasize does not require additional mutations after transformation. Estimates of oncogenic mutation numbers may help explain some of the biology underlying different cancer subtypes

Immunoscore in mismatch repair-proficient and -deficient colon cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate immune response and its prognostic significance in colon carcinomas using the previously described Immunoscore (IS). A population-based series of 779 colorectal cancers, operated on between 2000 and 2010, were classified according to tumour, node, metastasis (TNM) status, mismatch repair (MMR), and BRAF mutation status. Rectal cancer cases (n = 203) were excluded as a high proportion of these patients received preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Tissue microarray (TMA) samples collected from the tumour centre and invasive front were immunostained for CD3 and CD8. Lymphocytes were then digitally calculated to categorize IS from grade 0 to 4. Samples adequate for IS were available from 510 tumours. IS was significantly associated with AJCC/UICC stage, T stage, lymph node and distant metastases, perineural and lymphovascular invasion, MMR status, and BRAF mutation status. For IS0, IS1, IS2, IS3 and IS4, respectively, the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 59, 68, 78, 83 and 94% (p Peer reviewe

Using honey to heal diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic ulcers seem to be arrested in the inflammatory/proliferative stage of the healing process, allowing infection and inflammation to preclude healing. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a major cause of infections, including diabetic foot infections. It is proposed here that the modern developments of an ancient and traditional treatment for wounds, dressing them with honey, provide the solution to the problem of getting diabetic ulcers to move on from the arrested state of healing. Honeys selected to have a high level of antibacterial activity have been shown to be very effective against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria in laboratory and clinical studies. The potent anti-inflammatory action of honey is also likely to play an important part in overcoming the impediment to healing that inflammation causes in diabetic ulcers, as is the antioxidant activity of honey. The action of honey in promotion of tissue regeneration through stimulation of angiogenesis and the growth of fibroblasts and epithelial cells, and its insulin-mimetic effect, would also be of benefit in stimulating the healing of diabetic ulcers. The availability of honey-impregnated dressings which conveniently hold honey in place on ulcers has provided a means of rapidly debriding ulcers and removing the bacterial burden so that good healing rates can be achieved with neuropathic ulcers. With ischemic ulcers, where healing cannot occur because of lack of tissue viability, these honey dressings keep the ulcers clean and prevent infection occurring

Comparing nuclear power trajectories in Germany and the UK: from ‘regimes' to ‘democracies’ in sociotechnical transitions and Discontinuities

This paper focuses on arguably the single most striking contrast in contemporary major energy politics in Europe (and even the developed world as a whole): the starkly differing civil nuclear policies of Germany and the UK. Germany is seeking entirely to phase out nuclear power by 2022. Yet the UK advocates a ‘nuclear renaissance’, promoting the most ambitious new nuclear construction programme in Western Europe.Here,this paper poses a simple yet quite fundamental question: what are the particular divergent conditions most strongly implicated in the contrasting developments in these two countries. With nuclear playing such an iconic role in historical discussions over technological continuity and transformation, answering this may assist in wider understandings of sociotechnical incumbency and discontinuity in the burgeoning field of‘sustainability transitions’. To this end, an ‘abductive’ approach is taken: deploying nine potentially relevant criteria for understanding the different directions pursued in Germany and the UK. Together constituted by 30 parameters spanning literatures related to socio-technical regimes in general as well as nuclear technology in particular, the criteria are divided into those that are ‘internal’ and ‘external’ to the ‘focal regime configuration’ of nuclear power and associated ‘challenger technologies’ like renewables. It is ‘internal’ criteria that are emphasised in conventional sociotechnical regime theory, with ‘external’ criteria relatively less well explored. Asking under each criterion whether attempted discontinuation of nuclear power would be more likely in Germany or the UK, a clear picture emerges. ‘Internal’ criteria suggest attempted nuclear discontinuation should be more likely in the UK than in Germany– the reverse of what is occurring. ‘External’ criteria are more aligned with observed dynamics –especially those relating to military nuclear commitments and broader ‘qualities of democracy’. Despite many differences of framing concerning exactly what constitutes ‘democracy’, a rich political science literature on this point is unanimous in characterising Germany more positively than the UK. Although based only on a single case,a potentially important question is nonetheless raised as to whether sociotechnical regime theory might usefully give greater attention to the general importance of various aspects of democracy in constituting conditions for significant technological discontinuities and transformations. If so, the policy implications are significant. A number of important areas are identified for future research, including the roles of diverse understandings and specific aspects of democracy and the particular relevance of military nuclear commitments– whose under-discussion in civil nuclear policy literatures raises its own questions of democratic accountability

Infraprojektien tarjous- ja tavoitearviolaskelmien yhtenäisyys

Rakennusalan infraprojektien erityispiirteinä ovat niiden moninaisuus ja yksilöllisyys mikä korostaa tiedonkulun ja päätöksenteon tärkeyttä eri projektivaiheiden välillä. Tämän diplomityön keskiössä oli tutkia, miten projektivaiheiden myynnin, markkinoinnin ja toteutuksen välistä yhtenäisyyttä voidaan kehittää. Työ tarkastelee erityisesti myynti-, markkinointi- ja toteutusvaihetta, joissa muodostetaan kustannuslaskelma ja siitä johdetut tarjous- ja tavoitearviolaskelmat. Vaikka myynti- ja markkinointivaiheen tarjouslaskelma laaditaan huolellisesti, haasteena on säilyttää sen tietojen johdonmukaisuus ja hyödyntäminen projektin toteutusvaiheeseen asti tavoitearviossa. Yhtenäisyydellä eli integraatiolla tutkimuksen kontekstissa tarkoitetaan projektin alkuvaiheessa laadittujen kustannuslaskelmien tietojen sitomista ja hyödyntämistä mahdollisimman pitkälle projektin eri vaiheisiin. Tämä käsittää myös myynnin, markkinoinnin ja toteutuksen tiiviin yhteistyön. Laskelmien konsistenssi edistää läpinäkyvyyttä, tehostaa laskentaprosesseja ja ovat ratkaisevia projektin kustannusseurannalle, raportoinnille, ennustamiselle sekä jälkilaskennalle. Tutkimus kohdistuu infra-alan rakennusyritykseen, joka on kohdannut yhtenäisyyshaasteita myynnin, markkinoinnin ja toteutuksen tarjous- sekä tavoitearviolaskelmissa. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena on syventyä näiden laskelmien yhtenäisyyden haasteisiin ja keskittyä erityisesti myynnin, markkinoinnin ja toteutuksen välisen tiedon integrointiin sekä integraatiomenetelmien optimointiin. Näin ollen, tutkimus pyrkii vastaamaan seuraaviin kysymyksiin: 1.Miten projektien myynnissä syntyvää kustannustietoa hyödynnetään toteutusvaiheessa? 2.Miten projektien myynnin ja toteutusvaiheen välistä integraatiota voidaan kehittää kustannusseurannan näkökulmasta ? Tutkimus koostui kolmesta osasta: ensin luotiin teoreettinen viitekehys ratkaisuehdotuksille, minkä jälkeen perehdyttiin eri projekteille laadittuja tarjous- ja tavoitearviolaskelmia ja lopuksi tehtiin puolistrukturoitujahaastatteluja 14 kohdeyrityksen henkilölle selvittääkseen tarjous- ja tavoitearviolaskennan nykytilaa ja mahdollisia haasteita ja kehitysmahdollisuuksia. Haastatelluista viisi oli tarjouslaskijoita ja yhdeksän toteutushenkilöstöä. Löydösten perusteella tutkimuksessa esitettiin mekanismeja ja ohjeistuksia projektien integraation tehostamiseksi. Tutkimus paljasti epäyhtenäisyyksiä markkinointi- ja toteutusvaiheiden tarjous- ja tavoitearviolaskennan ohjeistuksissa, koulutuksissa ja standardeissa, mikä vaikutti yhteistyön laatuun ja osaamistasoon. Tämä taas johti epäyhtenäisyyteen toimintatavoissa, joka oli havaittavissa sekä myynti, markkinointi- että erityisesti toteutusvaiheessa. Osaamattomuus heijastui esimerkiksi laskentasovelluksen tehottomaan käyttöön mahdollistaen soveltaa omia toimintamenetelmiä, jotka eivät palvelleet haluttuja laskentaan tai yhteistyöhön liittyviä tavoitteita. Tämän seurauksena oli, että tarjouslaskelman hyödyntäminen ja kattavan tavoitearviolaskennan potentiaali jäi tunnistamatta erityisesti toteutusvaiheessa. Tutkimus korostaa integraation merkitystä myynnin, markkinoinnin ja toteutuksen välillä ja ehdottaa systemaattisten koulutusohjelmien ja selkeiden toimintaohjeiden luomista pyrkien tehostamaan ja lisäämään läpinäkyvyyttä. Lisäksi on suositeltavaa parantaa yhteistyön laatua ja kehittää jatkuvasti integraatiomenetelmiä sekä laskentasovelluksen toimintoja käytettävyyden parantamiseksi.Construction infrastructure projects are characterized by their complexity and individuality, which underlines the importance of communication and decision-making between the different project phases. The focus of this thesis was to explore how to improve the coherence between sales, marketing, and execution of the project phases. In particular, the thesis looks at the sales, marketing, and execution phases, where the cost calculation and the resulting tender and goal estimate calculations are generated. Although the tender calculation for the sales and marketing phase is carefully prepared, the challenge is to maintain the consistency of its data and its use up to the implementation phase of the project in the goal estimate. Consistency, or integration in the context of the study, refers to the linking and utilization of the data from the cost calculation prepared at the initial stage of the project as far as possible throughout phases of the project. This includes close cooperation between sales, marketing, and execution. The consistency of calculations contributes to transparency, streamlines accounting processes and is crucial for cost monitoring, reporting, forecasting and post-project accounting. The study focuses on an infrastructure construction company that has faced the challenges of consistency between sales, marketing and execution in tender and goal estimate calculations. The aim of the study is to delve deeper into the challenges of integrating these calculations, with a particular focus on the integration of information between sales, marketing, and execution, as well as on the integration of data between the sales, marketing, and execution departments. 1.How is the cost information generated in project sales used in the execution phase? 2.How can integration between project sales and the execution phase be developed from a cost monitoring perspective? The study consisted of three parts: first, a theoretical framework for the proposed solutions was created, followed by a study of the tender and goal estimate calculations prepared for different projects, and finally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 people from the target company to determine the current state of tender and goal estimate calculations and possible challenges and opportunities for improvement. Five of the interviewees were tender calculators and nine were execution staff. Based on the findings, the study proposed mechanisms and guidelines to improve project integration. The study revealed inconsistencies in the guidelines, training, and standards for tendering and goal estimating in the marketing and implementation phases, which affected the quality and level of collaboration. This in turn led to inconsistencies in practices, which could be observed in the sales, marketing and especially in the implementation phases. This lack of competence was especially reflected in the inefficient use of the calculation application, which allowed for the application of individual methods of operation which did not serve the desired calculation or cooperation objectives. As a result, the potential of the tender calculation and the comprehensive goal estimate calculation was not recognized, especially during the implementation phase. The study highlights the importance of integration between sales, marketing and implementation and suggests the creation of systematic training programs and clear operational guidelines to promote and increase transparency. It also recommends improving the quality of collaboration and continuously improving integration methods and the functionality of the accounting application to improve usability

Accelerating MATLAB based 5G Link Level simulator with MEX functions

In this thesis, the acceleration of a MATLAB based 5G link level simulator with MATLAB Executable (MEX) functions is studied. The MEX functions written with C++ programming language are implemented and compared against MEX functions implemented with MATLAB Coder. Several techniques are explored, such as OpenMP parallelization, SIMD vectorization, compiler optimizations and overall compatibility and performance of available APIs. Other means of speeding up MATLAB code are also studied, with main focus on MATLAB page-wise functions. The performance of different implementations are compared by benchmarking the functions and simulations. The simulation benchmarking consists of calculating relative execution times of functions. With the functions accelerated with C++ in this thesis, it was possible to accelerate the execution by up to 12 times. If the original MATLAB implementation is optimized with page-wise functions, the acceleration is reduced to 6 times. In some other cases, the acceleration isn't as significant and the page-wise function may result in better performance. The findings of this thesis indicate that MEX acceleration still has a role in link level simulation acceleration, but careful analysis on which functions or sections of code should be converted to MEX is needed. Maintenance and update of MEX files versus pure MATLAB implementation requires always extra effort. Thus, not only the achieved simulation time reduction but also the maturity of the code impact the decision on choosing MEX acceleration

Mot framgångsrika Abandon Ship-övningar

Övningar utgör en central del av sjöfararnas vardag ombord på fartyg och utgör ett viktigt verktyg för att förbereda besättningen inför en eventuell nödsituation. Detta examensarbete syftade till att undersöka vad som krävs för att hålla en lyckad abandon ship-övning med särskild fokus på övningsledarens roll, som ofta är en styrman. Genom att granska existerande litteratur, så som regelverk och genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med både övningsledare och övningsdeltagare framfördes några viktiga poänger. Centrala faktorer som utforskades var regelverk och säkerhet, pedagogiska metoder, motivation och intresse. Fyra övningsledare och tre övningsdeltagare intervjuades. Arbetserfarenheten mellan respondenterna varierade från en nybliven styrman till tio år i befälsuppgifter. Respondenternas svar tydde på att tydliga och aktiva övningar, med koppling till verklighet, var mest effektiva. Samtidigt uppgav flera respondenter att bristande motivation och intresse leder till försämrade övningar. Balans mellan variation och repetition krävs för att hålla besättningen intresserad men på samma gång låta personer utföra sin tilldelade uppgift. Förbättringsförslag framkom även av respondenterna. Ingen av övningsledarna uppgav att de fått någon formell utbildning i att hålla denna sorts övningar, vilket leder till varierande kvalitet och i vissa fall bristande metoder. Studien visade att en framgångsrik abandon ship-övning kräver mer än att bara följa regelverk, den kräver fullständig planering, ledarskap, metoder för att främja intresse, motivation samt lärande och en god säkerhetskultur