Inverse theory teaches us that the residual, or misfit function, should be weighted by the inverse covariance matrix of the noise. Because the covariance operator is often difficult to estimate, we can approximate it with a diagonal weight that can be more easily computed. This paper investigates the possible choices of weighting functions for the data residual when prediction-error filters are...

This study was designed to determine the effect of videotape replay on the quality and accuracy of student self-evaluation. Thirty-two junior physical therapy students were asked to perform a clinical skill and to assess their performances using the Performance Evaluation Form (PEF) designed for this study. The students in the Experimental Group assessed their performances after viewing a video...

We experimentally measure the density of states (DOS) and dynamical structure factor (DSF) arising from the thermal fluctuations in a colloidal crystal composed of thermally sensitive micron-sized hydrogel particles at several different particle volume fractions, ϕ's. Particle positions are tracked over long times using optical microscopy and particle tracking algorithms in a single two-dimensi...

BACKGROUND The contribution of the metal components of particulate pollutants to acute respiratory effects has not been adequately evaluated. Moreover, little is known about the effects of genetic polymorphisms of xenobiotic metabolism on pulmonary function. OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to assess lung function decrement associated with metal components in particulate pollutants and gen...

RATIONALE During pressure-support ventilation, the ventilator cycles into expiration when inspiratory flow decreases to a given percentage of peak inspiratory flow ("expiratory trigger"). In obstructive disease, the slower rise and decrease of inspiratory flow entails delayed cycling, an increase in intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure, and nontriggering breaths. OBJECTIVES We hypothesi...

STUDY OBJECTIVES To explore the flow and time domain characteristics of resting tidal airflow profiles in the presence of obstructive airway disease. METHODS Spirometry was performed on 81 adults and 46 juveniles in the lung function laboratory. All the juveniles had cystic fibrosis (CF), as did some of the adults (n = 25), with the remainder having either healthy lungs or COPD. Resting breat...

Few studies are available concerning correlations between pulse oximetry and peak expiratory flow in children and adolescents with acute asthma. Although the Global Initiative for Asthma states that measurements of lung function and oximetry are critical for the assessment of patients, it is not clear if both methods should necessarily be included in their evaluation. Since there is a significa...