In this thesis the chemical composition of heartsease (Viola tricolor L.) was studied to support the evidence-based determination of its biological activities. Henceforth, a proper sample preparationmethodwas developed, yielding a fraction rich on polar constituents (characteristic of the traditionally applied aqueous extract), which was further separated by conventional Sephadex LH-20 column c...

BACKGROUND Mokken scaling techniques are a useful tool for researchers who wish to construct unidimensional tests or use questionnaires that comprise multiple binary or polytomous items. The stochastic cumulative scaling model offered by this approach is ideally suited when the intention is to score an underlying latent trait by simple addition of the item response values. In our experience, th...

Typically, to study the effects of consecutive earthquakes, it is necessary to consider definite intensity levels of the first shock. Methods commonly used to define intensity involve scaling the first shock to a specified maximum interstorey drift. In this study the structure’s predefined elastic spectral acceleration caused by the first shock is also considered for scaling. This study aims to...

BACKGROUND People with disabilities continue to be identified as a group who experience disparate health/health care. They are less likely to engage in some health care services. Structural barriers are often identified as one of the reasons for the underutilization of some health care services by people with disabilities. However, to date no study has been conducted to understand why structura...

Endotracheal intubation (ETI) is a valuable procedure which must be learnt and practised, and performing ETI on cadavers is probably the best way to do this, although lesser alternatives do exist. Performing ETI on a cadaver is viewed with a real and reasonable repugnance and if it is done without proper authorisation it might be illegal. Some form of consent is required. Presumed consent would...

S. E. Guttman, L. A. Gilroy, and R. Blake (2005) investigated whether observers could perform temporal grouping in multi-element displays where each local element was stochastically modulated over time along one of several potential dimensions--or "messenger types"--such as contrast, position, orientation, or spatial scale. Guttman et al.'s data revealed that grouping discards messenger type an...

In view of the developmental approach to sexual behavior, this article presents the stages of sexual behavior leading to coitus in four grades of high school students in Israel and the sociodemographic factors associated with initiating coitus. Analyses were based on data from the first national study dealing comprehensively with sexuality in 30 years. A self-administered questionnaire was comp...

We used a Guttman model to represent responses to test items over time as an approximation of what is often referred to as "points lost" in studies of cognitive decline or interventions. To capture this meaning of "point loss", over four successive assessments, we assumed that once an item is incorrect, it cannot be correct at a later visit. If the loss of a point represents actual decline, the...