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Говорится об актуальной проблеме управления качеством и конкурентоспособностью продукции российских промышленных предприятий, рассматривается использование метода структурирования (развертывания) функции качества QFD в параллельном проектировании автомобильных шин. Визуализирована схема автоматизированной поддержки процессов параллельного проектирования новой промышленной продукции на основе PLM-технологий., In the article we consider the actual problem of quality management and competitiveness of products of Russian industrial enterprises. We examined the use of the QFD quality function structuring (deployment) method in parallel tire design and visualized the scheme of automated support for parallel design processes of new industrial products based on PLM technologies. In addition, the structure of the Quality House matrix diagram is presented when implementing the QFD quality function deployment method in parallel tire design. We have substantiated the relevance of the use of parallel design in the development and production of tire products, the economic and technical effect of the QFD method for the transformation of consumer interests and proposals into technical requirements for products and parameters of production processes. We also suggested using the ABAQUS/SIMULIA software package for designing highquality car tires.

Efficient and accurate driving path planning can help drivers drive. To solve the problem of low efficiency of traditional heuristic algorithms such as PSO and GA in solving driving path planning, we introduce Excellence Coefficient into heuristic algorithms and make a parallel design based on Spark, which called EC-SPPSOGA. Excellence Coefficient can increase the probability of good edges being left, simultaneously, preserves the possibility of longer side being selected. The parallel design is based on time-consuming analysis of heuristic algorithms. We validate the performance of EC-SPPSOGA based on the data in TSPLIB. It is verified that the EC-SPPSOGA can improve efficiency of driving path planning and has good scalability.

The Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) is an NP-hard scheduling problem for goods transportation with vehicle capacity and transportation cost constraints. This paper presents GPU-based parallel strategies for the Local Search Heuristic (LSH) algorithm to solve the large-scale Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP) instances. This work employs a combination of five improvement heuristic approaches to improve the constructed feasible solution. Typically, 99% of CPU execution time is spent in the feasible solution improvement phase. Two GPU-based parallel strategies, namely route level and customer level parallel designs, have been developed to reduce the execution time of the solution improvement phase. The proposed parallel LSH version has been tested on large-scale instances with up to 30,000 customers. When compared to the corresponding sequential version, the customer level parallel design offers a speedup of up to 147.19 times.

Current design manuals provide guidance on how to design exit ramps to facilitate driving operations and minimize the incidence of crashes. They also suggest that interchanges should be built along straight roadway sections. These criteria may prove ineffective in situations where there is no alternative to terminals being located along curved motorway segments. The paper investigates driving behavior along parallel deceleration curved terminals, with attention paid to the difference in impact between terminals having a curvature which is the same sign as the motorway segment (i.e., continue design), and those having an opposite curvature (i.e., reverse design). A driving simulation study was set up to collect longitudinal and transversal driver behavioral data in response to experimental factor variations. Forty-eight drivers were stratified on the basis of age and gender, and asked to drive along three randomly assigned circuits with off-ramps obtained by combining experimental factors such as motorway mainline curve radius (2 values), terminal length (3), curve direction (2), and traffic conditions (2). The motorway radius was found to be significant for drivers’ preferred speed when approaching the terminal. Terminal length and traffic volume do not have a significant impact on either longitudinal or transversal driver outputs. However, the effect of curve direction was found to be significant, notably for reverse terminals which do not compel drivers to select appropriate speeds and lane change positions. This terminal type can give rise to critical driving situations that should be considered at the design stage to facilitate the adoption of appropriate safety countermeasures.

In this study, we report what music teacher educators (MTEs, N = 149) in higher education understand about assessment. We include their assessment pedagogy, their levels of assessment pedagogy efficacy (APE) at both programmatic (unit level) and personal levels (ProAPE and PeAPE respectively), and the relationship this efficacy has with their (MTEs) satisfaction of assessment pedagogies within their institutions. This mixed-methods study uses a convergent parallel design, with qualitative inductive coding and quantitative factor analyses, correlational analyses, and non-parametric tests. We determine that MTEs report some misunderstanding of the assessment lexicon nevertheless they hold mostly high levels of both personal and programmatic assessment pedagogy efficacy. Differences were observed between MTEs that graduated after 2008 than those who graduated prior to 2008. Findings center on higher education faculty comfort with assessment in higher education with implications for professional development and continued research in the area.

One of the most challenging skills for non-English major students is writing an essay since they have to pay attention to the language structure and must be able to transfer their thoughts and ideas into the target language. In regard to solving this problem, regular change and development are needed in teaching English writing. One of the methods that increased to be used is collaborative writing using Google Docs. This study aims to investigate the non-English major students’ perspectives and difficulties in collaborative writing through Google Docs. This study examined 22 students from a state polytechnic in Makassar who have involved in collaborative writing activity through Google Docs. A convergent parallel design was applied in this study, where the data collected by using a questionnaire which consists of closed- open-ended questions and interview. The closed-ended questions data were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistic with SPSS. Further, the collected data from the open-ended questions and the interview was analyzed qualitatively using a narrative method. The results show that the students have positive perspectives on collaborative writing activity through Google Docs and did not encounter many difficulties when they were involved in this activity.

This paper discusses the impact of structured parallel programming methodologies in state-of-the-art industrial and research parallel programming frameworks. We first recap the main ideas underpinning structured parallel programming models and then present the concepts of algorithmic skeletons and parallel design patterns. We then discuss how such concepts have permeated the wider parallel programming community. Finally, we give our personal overview—as researchers active for more than two decades in the parallel programming models and frameworks area—of the process that led to the adoption of these concepts in state-of-the-art industrial and research parallel programming frameworks, and the perspectives they open in relation to the exploitation of forthcoming massively-parallel (both general and special-purpose) architectures.

This paper reports on a mixed-methods study that utilized a convergent parallel design to examine Chinese graduate students' knowledge of and stance on plagiarism in English academic writing. A sample of 183 master's students from three broad disciplinary groupings at a major university in northeastern China completed a Perceptions of Plagiarism (PoP) survey, and another 13 graduate students participated in one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed disciplinary differences in knowledge of subtle plagiarism, stance on plagiarism caused by inadequate academic ability and due to perceived low risks, and non-condemnatory attitudes toward plagiarism. There were also gender differences in knowledge of inappropriate referencing and attitudes toward plagiarism due to inadequate academic ability or perceived low risks. These results are interpreted in terms of training in English academic writing available, disciplinary knowledge-making practices, and gender characteristics. By way of conclusion, pedagogical implications are derived from the empirical results.

This 24-mo randomized controlled trial was based on a double-blind parallel design, and it compared the effectiveness of 2 fluoride application protocols in arresting dentine caries in primary teeth. Three-year-old children with active dentine caries were recruited and randomly allocated to 2 treatment groups. Children in group A received a semiannual application of a 25% silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution followed by a commercially available varnish with 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) on the carious tooth surfaces. Children in group B received a semiannual application of a 25% AgNO3 solution followed by another commercially available varnish with 5% NaF containing functionalized tricalcium phosphate (fTCP). Carious tooth surfaces that were hard when probing were classified as arrested. Intention-to-treat analysis and a hierarchical generalized linear model were undertaken. A total of 408 children with 1,831 tooth surfaces with active dentine caries were recruited at baseline, and 356 children (87%) with 1,607 tooth surfaces (88%) were assessed after 24 mo. At the 24-mo evaluation, the mean (SD) number of arrested carious tooth surfaces per child were 1.8 (2.2) and 2.6 (3.3) for group A (without fTCP) and group B (with fTCP), respectively ( P = 0.003). The arrest rates at the tooth surface level were 42% for group A and 57% for group B ( P < 0.001). Results of the hierarchical generalized linear model indicated that protocol B (with fTCP) had a higher predicted probability (PP = 0.656) in arresting dentine caries than protocol A (without fTCP; PP = 0.500) when the carious lesions were on buccal/lingual surfaces, were on anterior teeth, had dental plaque coverage, and were in children from low-income families ( P = 0.046). In conclusion, protocol B, which applied a 25% AgNO3 solution followed by a commercially available 5% NaF varnish with fTCP semiannually, is more effective in arresting dentine caries in primary teeth as compared with protocol A, which applied a 25% AgNO3 solution followed by another commercially available 5% NaF varnish without fTCP semiannually (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03423797).

We performed a study to compare the efficacy of Vitamin D3 oral solution with a conventional tablets and capsules in hypovitaminosis D patients. One hundred eighty subjects were divided into three different groups and received vitamin D3 60000 IU per week for eight weeks either in the form of an oral solution or a tablet or a capsule. A significant increase in serum 25(OH)D was observed in vitamin D3 oral solution from baseline (P=0.0001) as compared to a tablet(P=0.0001) and capsule (P=0.0001). A significant decrease in iPTH levels was seen in the vitamin D3 oral solution group from baseline (P=0.0001) and also as compared to a tablet(P=0.0001) and capsule (P=0.0001). Oral solution of vitamin D3 is a nanotechnology-based formulation which was found to be effective and safe. Thus, treatment with vitamin D3 oral solution in hypovitaminosis D patients may result in faster and higher improvement in the normalization of vitamin D levels.

One of the key issues in biosimilar phase III clinical trials is the determination of biosimilarity margins. Although biological products generally have high product variability, it is not reflecte...

The pharmacokinetic properties of three formulations of vitacoxib were investigated in horses. To describe plasma concentrations and characterize the pharmacokinetics, 6 healthy adult Chinese Mongolian horses were administered a single dose of 0.1 mg/kg bodyweight intravenous (i.v.), oral paste, or oral tablet vitacoxib in a 3-way, randomized, parallel design. Blood samples were collected prior to and at various times up to 72 hr postadministration. Plasma vitacoxib concentrations were quantified using UPLC-MS/MS, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using noncompartmental analysis. No complications resulting from the vitacoxib administration were noted on subsequent administrations, and all procedures were tolerated well by the horses throughout the study. The elimination half-life (T1/2λz ) was 4.24 ± 1.98 hr (i.v.), 8.77 ± 0.91 hr (oral paste), and 8.12 ± 4.24 hr (oral tablet), respectively. Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax ) was 28.61 ± 9.29 ng/ml (oral paste) and 19.64 ± 9.26 ng/ml (oral tablet), respectively. Area under the concentration-versus-time curve (AUClast ) was 336 ± 229 ng hr/ml (i.v.), 221 ± 94 ng hr/ml (oral paste), and 203 ± 139 ng hr/ml, respectively. The results showed statistically significant differences between the 2 oral vitacoxib groups in Tmax value. T1/2λz (hr), AUClast (ng hr/ml), and MRT (hr) were significantly different between i.v. and oral groups. The longer half-life observed following oral administration was consistent with the flip-flop phenomenon.

This study used a mixed method, convergent parallel design to identify the coping strategies—both general and spiritual—used by men who were internationally trafficked. A hybrid purposive/snowball ...

The two-arm parallel design that is commonly used to assess biosimilarity has the drawback that it does not take into account the inherent variability within the reference products. The three-arm p...

Background: Simulation can extend ethics education in undergraduate nursing programs beyond the cognitive domain. However, the degree to which nursing students recognize and respond to microethical dilemmas in simulation is unknown. Method: Using a mixed-methods convergent parallel design, 68 third- and fourth-year undergraduate nursing students completed a sensitivity questionnaire. Twelve students also participated in an interview. Data were compared to create meaning. Results: Many students reported having a high level of ethical sensitivity toward microethical dilemmas during simulation. However, some students expressed uncertainty in their ability to identify microethical dilemmas during nurse–patient interactions. Students also reported limited confidence in being able to transfer their ethical knowledge to the practice setting. Conclusion: Nurse educators must be moral agents during simulated learning experiences by helping students learn what microethical dilemmas are and strategies to manage them. [ J Nurs Educ . 2020;59(2):88–92.]

Objectives: This study compared the longevity of high strength posterior glass ionomer and metal-reinforced glass ionomer using ART in rural settings within an 18-month observation period. Study Design: A nonblinded parallel design randomized controlled trial was conducted among children who attended dental outreach programs in a rural area of Southern India. Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) was performed in 92 permanent posterior teeth with either high strength posterior glass ionomer or metal-reinforced glass ionomer restorations. The allocation ratio was 1:1. Restorations were evaluated at 1, 6, 12 and 18 months after placement. Results: The success rate of metal-reinforced glass ionomer restorations was 100%, 95.4%, 90.4% and 87.2% as compared to high strength posterior glass ionomer whose success rates were 100%, 93%, 85% and 61.8% at the four follow ups respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the success rate of the two materials at the end of 18 months with the metal-reinforced glass ionomer restorations having a higher success rate (p=0.015). Conclusions : Although the clinical performance of both materials were largely similar, the metal-reinforced glass ionomer restorations had a higher success rate than the conventional GIC at the end of 18 months of follow-up.

Experiences of racism contribute to the mental health burden of Black individuals in the United States, and during emerging adulthood, these impacts may be especially intensified. The majority of research on racism captures individual-level experiences and utilizes frequency-based measures. This mixed methods investigation examines convergence and divergence between a measure of recent experiences of racism and a measure of worst experiences of racism at multiple levels (individual, cultural, institutional). A sample of 186 Black college-attending emerging adults (Mage = 19.36; 62.7% female) reported their recent experiences using a quantitative measure and their worst experiences via a qualitative open-ended response, which were analyzed via convergent parallel design. The results indicated that a majority of reported worst experiences had an institutional-level component. Although the quantitative measure of recent experiences corresponded with reports of individual-level worst experiences, the institutional- and cultural-level worst experiences were rarely fully captured by the recent experiences measure. Implications for the mental health of Black college-attending emerging adults are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

هدفت الدراسة إلى التعرف على مظاهر خواء المعنى لدى فئة الأيتام، وإعداد برنامج إرشادي مقترح قائم على المفاهيم الفکرية التربوية الإسلامية ذات العلاقة بنظرية المعنى. استخدم الباحث المنهج المزجي من خلال التصميم المزجي المتوازي؛ والذي يتم خلاله جمع البيانات بطريقة کمية ونوعية، من خلال توزيع الاستبيان على عينة الدراسة وإجراء المقابلة مع عينة قصدية منهم. وقد تکونت عينة الدراسة من جميع أفراد مجتمع البحث وهم 30 مشرفا على الأيتام المنتسبين لإحدى الجمعيات القائمة على شؤون الأيتام بإحدى محافظات منطقة مکة المکرمة. وقد أظهرت نتائج البحث وجود توافق بين النتائج الکمية والنوعية والمتمثلة في وجود أربع مظاهر لخواء المعنى (اللامعنى، اللاهدف، اليأس، الملل) لدى فئة الأيتام من وجهة نظر مشرفيهم بنسب متقاربة، بالإضافة إلى ضعف المفاهيم الدينية المرتبطة بمعنى الحياة، والذي يعد من جملة العوامل المسببة لخواء المعنى. وبناء على نتائج الدراسة تم تصميم البرنامج الإرشادي المقترح لعلاج خواء المعنى. The study aimed to identify the manifestations of concept of meaninglessness among orphans, and to prepare a proposed counseling program based on intellectual Islamic educational concepts related to the theory of "meaningfulness" for the treatment of emptiness. The researcher used the mixed method design; through the parallel design approach, in which data are collected in a quantitative and qualitative manner through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The study sample consisted of all members of the research population which were 30 supervisors of orphans affiliated with one of the orphan affairs associations based in one of the governorates of Makkah Al-Mukarramah region. The results of the research showed that there is compatibility between the quantitative and qualitative results, which is represented in the presence of four aspects of meaninglessness )Meaninglessness, aimlessness, Despair, Boredom) among orphans from the point of view of their supervisors in close proportions in addition to the lack of their understanding of the religious concept related to life which is one of the cause for the emptiness. Based on the results of the study, the proposed indicative program was designed to treat the emptiness.

In oral solid dosage production through direct compression powder lubrication must be carefully selected to facilitate the manufacturing of tablets without degrading product manufacturability and quality (e.g. dissolution). To do so, several semi-empirical models relating compression performance to process operating conditions have been developed. Among them, we consider an extension of the Kushner and Moore model (Kushner and Moore, 2010, International Journal Pharmaceutics, 399:19) that is useful for the purpose, but requires an extensive experimental campaign for parameters identification. This implies the preparation and compression of multiple powder blends, each one with a different lubrication extent. In turn, this translates into a considerable consumption of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), and into time-consuming experiments. We tackled this issue by proposing a novel model-based design of experiments (MBDoE) approach, which minimizes the number of optimal blends for model calibration, while obtaining statistically sound parameters estimates and model predictions. Both sequential and parallel MBDoE configurations were compared. Experimental results involving two placebo blends with different lubrication sensitivity showed that this methodology is able to reduce the experimental effort by 60-70% with respect to the standard industrial practice independently of the formulation considered and configuration (i.e. parallel vs. sequential) adopted.

Background Tranexamic acid (TXA), an antifibrinolytic drug, is usually administered intravenously; however, intra-articular administration has recently been proven to be as effective as intravenous administration. Limited information regarding the pharmacokinetics (PK) of TXA after intra-articular administration has been reported. Aims The aim of this study was to develop a population PK model of TXA administered as a single intra-articular dose and as two intravenous doses, and to study the sources of interindividual variability (IIV) in the PK processes of TXA. The developed model was used to simulate PK profiles of TXA at different dosage regimens and in patients with renal impairment. Methods Patients who underwent primary unilateral total knee replacement (TKR) received 1 g/10 mL (concentration of 100 mg/mL) of TXA applied directly to the surgical field before wound closure, or 2 g (two doses of 1 g) of intravenous TXA. A population PK model was developed using a nonlinear mixed-effects approach and sources of IIV, such as sex, age, body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), preoperative haemoglobin, preoperative haematocrit, and creatinine clearance. Results Twenty-four patients were included, 12 in each group. Twenty patients were female, mean age (standard deviation) was 73.7 years (5.6). The disposition of TXA was best described as a two-compartment model with clearance dependent on creatinine clearance. Bootstrap results indicated that the model was stable and robust. The estimated bioavailability for intra-articular administration was 81%. Simulations indicated that 100% of patients would have plasma concentrations associated with partial fibrinolysis at 8 h post-administration with the dosages and routes of administration used in the present study. Intra-articular administration would produce complete inhibition of fibrinolysis in only 12% of patients compared with 72.5% with intravenous administration. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions This population PK model demonstrated that a single dose of high-concentration, low-volume intra-articular TXA can achieve antifibrinolytic plasma concentrations of the drug for 8 h, providing both local and systemic effects in patients undergoing TKR. TXA administration to the surgical field could be an alternative to the intravenous; route for patients undergoing TKR; however, clinical studies are needed to assess the toxic local effects of TXA.

BackgroundAfrican American (AA) adults are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) and experience more complications than non-Hispanic White adults. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a technique that combines traditional care with cognitive and psychosocial techniques. We aimed to assess the effects of CBT integrated with motivational interviewing (MI) on glycemic control in AA participants and understand their perspectives, attitudes, and experiences toward CBT. MethodsUsing a randomized, parallel design pilot study (web-based group vs in-person group), 20 participants aged >18 years, identifying as AA, and having a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) > 8%, were recruited. CBT was administered in six sessions over three months. Participants completed baseline and follow-up assessments on measures for diabetes control (HbA1c), self-efficacy, generalized anxiety, depression, perceived stress, health-related quality of life and cognitive ability. Post-CBT focus groups were conducted to determine patient perspectives regarding the intervention. ResultsFourteen participants completed the study, their mean HbA1c improved from 8.5% to 7.7%. The Diabetes Distress Scale demonstrated decreased distress overall (t(26)=2.6; p- value=0.02). The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale demonstrated decreased generalized anxiety for all participants (t(26)=2.2; p =0.04). Themes identified in focus groups included: (1) intervention group social support through information sharing; (2) mental health and personal identities in diabetes understanding and management; (3) receptivity to CBT/MI Intervention positively impacts self-efficacy through improved health literacy. ConclusionGroup-based CBT intervention for type 2 DM care was positively received by AA participants and helped improve diabetes control, as demonstrated by the change in HbA1c. There were additional benefits of social support through group interactions and a stronger sense of self-efficacy due to health education. A comprehensive treatment plan like CBT, may be useful in promoting healthy diabetes self-management.Trial registrationThis trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier NCT03562767. 70 Registered 19 June 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03562767?term=NCT03562767&draw=2&rank=1