Reliability and Validity of Real-Time Response Measurement: a Comparison of Two Studies of a Televised Debate in Germany

This paper investigates the reliability and validity of real-timeresponse measurements (RTR). It is based on a comparison oftwo quasi-experimental studies independently conducted on thesecond televised debate of the two major candidates for chancellorin the 2002 German federal election campaign. Participants inBamberg and Mainz—two mid-sized German cities—followedthe debate on a large-scale screen. The viewers’ immediatereactions to the candidates were measured in real-time. In termsof technicalities and substance, both quasi-experiments differedin several important respects. For example, the system usedin Mainz was based on a control unit with a 7-point scale andyielded one merged metric dimension for both candidates. TheBamberg system measured positive and negative impressions ofthe candidates independently, yielding categorical data. Despitethese operational differences, the results show that both methodsrender reliable results that also meet the criteria of face,construct, and criterion validity. Hence, RTR measurements providevaluable, unique insights into subjective immediate reactionsto candidates in televised debates and help to explain post-debateperceptions and attitudes. Received for publication March 23, 2005. Revision received December 14, 2005.     

Osmotically driven drug delivery through remote-controlled magnetic nanocomposite membranes

Implantable drug delivery systems can provide long-term reliability, controllability, and biocompatibility, and have been used in many applications, including cancer pain and non-malignant pain treatment. However, many of the available systems are limited to zero-order, inconsistent, or single burst event drug release. To address these limitations, we demonstrate prototypes of a remotely operated drug delivery device that offers controllability of drug release profiles, using osmotic pumping as a pressure source and magnetically triggered membranes as switchable on-demand valves. The membranes are made of either ethyl cellulose, or the proposed stronger cellulose acetate polymer, mixed with thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel and superparamagnetic iron oxide particles. The prototype devices'' drug diffusion rates are on the order of 0.5–2 μg/h for higher release rate designs, and 12–40 ng/h for lower release rates, with maximum release ratios of 4.2 and 3.2, respectively. The devices exhibit increased drug delivery rates with higher osmotic pumping rates or with magnetically increased membrane porosity. Furthermore, by vapor deposition of a cyanoacrylate layer, a drastic reduction of the drug delivery rate from micrograms down to tens of nanograms per hour is achieved. By utilizing magnetic membranes as the valve-control mechanism, triggered remotely by means of induction heating, the demonstrated drug delivery devices benefit from having the power source external to the system, eliminating the need for a battery. These designs multiply the potential approaches towards increasing the on-demand controllability and customizability of drug delivery profiles in the expanding field of implantable drug delivery systems, with the future possibility of remotely controlling the pressure source.     

"博洛尼亚进程":新欧洲的"神话"?

本文介绍和分析了“博洛尼亚进程“以及由它促成的一种理论模式在全欧洲史无前例的传播,这种模式要求全欧洲的高等教育在课程安排和学位制度上实现重组及一体化。加深相互联系和建立标准化制度已成为世界性趋势,“博洛尼亚进程”被视为这一趋势在教育领域的特殊例证。本文以世界体系分析中不同层面的概念作为工具,对该进程进行了深入探讨,特别是使用了新制度主义社会学的理论。作者根据“传播”、“假想模式”、“理性神话”等概念,并借助体现出政府间国际组织以及非政府间国际组织日益增长之重要性的研究成果,勾勒出“博洛尼亚进租”的产生和发展动态。     

A remotely operated drug delivery system with an electrolytic pump and a thermo-responsive valve

Implantable drug delivery devices are becoming attractive due to their abilities of targeted and controlled dose release. Currently, two important issues are functional lifetime and non-controlled drug diffusion. In this work, we present a drug delivery device combining an electrolytic pump and a thermo-responsive valve, which are both remotely controlled by an electromagnetic field (40.5 mT and 450 kHz). Our proposed device exhibits a novel operation mechanism for long-term therapeutic treatments using a solid drug in reservoir approach. Our device also prevents undesired drug liquid diffusions. When the electromagnetic field is on, the electrolysis-induced bubble drives the drug liquid towards the Poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) valve that consists of PNIPAM and iron micro-particles. The heat generated by the iron micro-particles causes the PNIPAM to shrink, resulting in an open valve. When the electromagnetic field is turned off, the PNIPAM starts to swell. In the meantime, the bubbles are catalytically recombined into water, reducing the pressure inside the pumping chamber, which leads to the refilling of the fresh liquid from outside the device. A catalytic reformer is included, allowing more liquid refilling during the limited valve''s closing time. The amount of body liquid that refills the drug reservoir can further dissolve the solid drug, forming a reproducible drug solution for the next dose. By repeatedly turning on and off the electromagnetic field, the drug dose can be cyclically released, and the exit port of the device is effectively controlled.     

Long‐term effects of a psycholinguistic treatment for dyslexia

Short and long‐term effects of a treatment for dyslexia are evaluated. The treatment is based on psycholinguistic theory and assumes that dyslexia is due to poor lexico‐phonological processing of words. The treatment is computer‐based and focuses on learning to recognise and to make use of the phonological and morphological structure of Dutch words. The results of the treatment were clear improvements in reading words, reading text and spelling. Effect sizes of standardised treatment gains were large (Cohen's d>0.80 for all variables). Following the treatment, participants attained an average level of text‐reading and spelling. The attained level of reading words and reading text was found to be stable over a four‐year follow‐up period. Spelling showed a slight decline one year after the treatment, but remained stable thereafter. ¹ 1. A preliminary report of the data was presented at the World congress on dyslexia, September 1997, Thessaloniki, Greece.     

A brief study of televised laboratory instruction

Conclusions In this brief study, all reasonable efforts were made to gain control over extraneous variables while gathering limited but valid information concerning the relative effectiveness of televised and conventional instruction in laboratory skills. There are unanswered questions concerning the methods, the effects, and the meanings which still out-number the few questions which may have been answered but these should not obscure what was attempted and found. In brief, the results indicate that one of the two criteria employed in the study was little more than worth-less. The other criterion measure gave evidence that, although the instruction produced measureable effects, it apparently made no difference whether groups were taught by conventional means or by means of television. Statistically, these instructed groups performed equally when executing their laboratory tasks. This evidence is not contradicted by related information from the earlier and more extended trials of televised laboratory instruction. Perhaps, at best, the inclusion of “delayed measurement” groups has added some small amount of respectability to this study. Their inclusion certainly has not guaranteed that unequivocal answers can be given to those questions which deal with the “long-term” effects of the two forms of instruction. Since these “long-term” effects are extremely important, it is hoped that they will receive increasing attention in the future. This article is a condensed and modified version of a February 1959 mimeographed report by the authors. The mimeographed original includes copies of measuring devices used in gathering data for the study which can be had by writing the senior author at the Audio-Visual Center at Purdue University. Dr. Seibert, who was recently on leave to the U. S. Office of Education as research coordinator for the Educational Media (Title VII) Program, returns to Purdue July 1 as TV Program Research Consultant. Dr. Honig is currently with the Lincoln Laboratories, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The writers thank Frederick Vratney, Post-Doctoral Fellow in Chemistry; D. F. Kasten, graduate student in Psychology; the staff of the Purdue TV Production Unit; and the several graduate students who served as performance evaluators. All made contributions to the study on which this report is based. It goes without saying that the student subjects were essential and their cooperation appreciated.     

Research into School Television

In the field of research into school television there exists at present no adequate overall grasp of the aims that should be set. I am referring here mainly to public television broadcasts for schools. Admittedly a great number of starts have been made in Europe; there have been many experiments concerning school television broadcasts and there have been a good many theoretical discussions—but as a whole the situation is far from satisfactory.