bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coronary artery disease and 10‐year outcome after hospital admission for heart failure with preserved and with reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Rusinaru Dan , Houpe David , Szymanski Catherine , Lévy Franck , Maréchaux Sylvestre , Tribouilloy Christophe
Published: August 2014

Aims

The prognostic impact of coronary artery disease (CAD) in heart failure is debated. Whereas causes of death have been well described in patients with cardiomyopathy, little is known about how CAD influences causes of death in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF). We undertook a 10‐year study and analysed causes of death in relation with CAD in HFPEF and in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF).

Methods and Results

Our prospective analysis included 591 consecutive patients (320 HFPEF and 271 HFREF) hospitalized for the first time for heart failure during 2000 and followed for 10 years. History of CAD was documented in 25% of HFPEF and 39% of HFREF patients (P < 0.001). Overall, CAD was independently predictive of all‐cause and cardiovascular death. CAD had powerful prognostic impact in HFREF [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.60 (1.19–2.15) for all‐cause death, and adjusted HR 2.01 (1.38–2.92) for cardiovascular death]. In HFPEF, the association between CAD and cardiovascular death was no longer observed after adjustment [adjusted HR 1.01 (0.69–1.50)]. In HFREF, CAD was associated with increased risk of heart failure‐related (adjusted HR 2.03 (1.21–3.43)] and myocardial infarction‐related fatal events [adjusted HR 3.84 (1.16–12.7)], while HFPEF patients with CAD appeared at greater risk of sudden death [adjusted HR 2.22 (1.05–4.95)].

Conclusion

The prognostic impact of CAD is different in HFPEF compared with HFREF. Patients with HFPEF and CAD are at high risk of cardiovascular death, especially sudden death.
Validation of a high throughput flow cytometric in vitro micronucleus assay including assessment of metabolic activation in TK6 cells
Authors: Thougaard Annemette V. , Christiansen Joan , Mow Tomas , Hornberg Jorrit J.
Published: August 2014

Genotoxicity is an unacceptable property for new drug candidates and we employ three screening assays during the drug discovery process to identify genotoxicity early and optimize chemical series. One of these methods is the flow cytometric in vitro micronucleus assay for which protocol optimizations have been described recently. Here, we report further validation of the assay in TK6 cells including assessment of metabolic activation. We first optimized assay conditions to allow for testing with and without metabolic activation in parallel in a 96‐well plate format. Then, we tested a set of 48 compounds carefully selected to contain known in vivo genotoxins, nongenotoxins and drugs. Avoidance of irrelevant positives, a known issue with mammalian cell‐based genotoxicity assays, is important to prevent early deselection of potentially promising compounds. Therefore, we enriched the validation set with compounds that were previously reported to produce irrelevant positive results in mammalian cell‐based genotoxicity assays. The resulting dataset was used to set the relevant cut‐off values for scoring a compound positive or negative, such that we obtained an optimal balance of high sensitivity (88%) and high specificity (87%). Finally, we tested an additional set of 16 drugs to further probe assay performance and 14 of them were classified correctly. To our knowledge, the present study is the most comprehensive validation of the in vitro flow cytometric micronucleus assay and the first to report parallel assessment with metabolic activation in reasonable throughput. The assay allows for rapidly screening novel compounds for genotoxicity and is therefore well‐suited for use in early drug discovery projects. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 55:704–718, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Drinking From the Holy Grail: Analysis of Whole‐Genome Sequencing From the Genetic Analysis Workshop 18
Authors: Paterson Andrew D.
Published: August 2014

The Genetic Analysis Workshops distribute real and simulated human genetic data to allow the development and comparison of methods to detect genetic variants and genes related to biological traits; the results are then presented and discussed at a biennial meeting. The data made available for Genetic Analysis Workshop 18 (GAW18) included whole‐genome sequence data for odd‐numbered autosomes from 20 large Mexican American pedigrees selected through probands with type 2 diabetes. Real and simulated blood pressure phenotype data were provided to allow the comparison of methods to detect variants and genes associated with blood pressure. Some of the complexity present in the data includes related individuals, repeated quantitative trait outcomes, covariates, medication effects, pharmacokinetic effects, missing data, admixed population, and imputed genotypes. A wide range of analytic approaches were applied to the data. Contributions that focused only on a subset of up to 155 unrelated subjects from the pedigrees were faced with low power. One recommendation for future analysis is the use of the provided null phenotype to allow comparison of type I error across methods. Collaboration between statistical geneticists and molecular biologists or bioinformaticians would provide helpful input to place variants in genes for gene‐based association tests.
Methods for Collapsing Multiple Rare Variants in Whole‐Genome Sequence Data
Authors: Sung Yun Ju , Korthauer Keegan D. , Swartz Michael D. , Engelman Corinne D.
Published: August 2014

Genetic Analysis Workshop 18 provided whole‐genome sequence data in a pedigree‐based sample and longitudinal phenotype data for hypertension and related traits, presenting an excellent opportunity for evaluating analysis choices. We summarize the nine contributions to the working group on collapsing methods, which evaluated various approaches for the analysis of multiple rare variants. One contributor defined a variant prioritization scheme, whereas the remaining eight contributors evaluated statistical methods for association analysis. Six contributors chose the gene as the genomic region for collapsing variants, whereas three contributors chose nonoverlapping sliding windows across the entire genome. Statistical methods spanned most of the published methods, including well‐established burden tests, variance‐components‐type tests, and recently developed hybrid approaches. Lesser known methods, such as functional principal components analysis, higher criticism, and homozygosity association, and some newly introduced methods were also used. We found that performance of these methods depended on the characteristics of the genomic region, such as effect size and direction of variants under consideration. Except for MAP4 and FLT3, the performance of all statistical methods to identify rare casual variants was disappointingly poor, providing overall power almost identical to the type I error. This poor performance may have arisen from a combination of (1) small sample size, (2) small effects of most of the causal variants, explaining a small fraction of variance, (3) use of incomplete annotation information, and (4) linkage disequilibrium between causal variants in a gene and noncausal variants in nearby genes. Our findings demonstrate challenges in analyzing rare variants identified from sequence data.
Summary of Results and Discussions From the Gene‐Based Tests Group at Genetic Analysis Workshop 18
Authors: Cordell Heather J.
Published: August 2014

I present a summary of the results and discussions held within the working group on gene‐based tests at Genetic Analysis Workshop 18 (GAW18). The main focus of interest in our working group was modeling the action of combinations or “groups” of genetic variants, with a group of variants most often defined as a set of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms lying within a known gene. Some contributions investigated the performance of previously proposed methods (particularly rare variant collapsing or burden‐type methods) for addressing this question, applied to the GAW18 data, and other contributions developed novel approaches and addressed novel questions. Most approaches were successful in detecting significant effects at MAP4 in the simulated data. No other genetic effects were consistently detected across different analyses. Low power was noted, particularly for those methods that restricted analysis to purely the subset of unrelated individuals.
Longitudinal Data Analysis in Genome‐Wide Association Studies
Authors: Beyene Joseph , Hamid Jemila S.
Published: August 2014

Genome‐wide association studies have led to the discovery of thousands of susceptibility genetic variants (typically single‐nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs]) for a wide range of complex diseases and traits commonly measured at a single point in time. Although many novel genotype‐phenotype associations have been identified and successfully replicated using cross‐sectionally measured phenotypes, there is growing interest in the study of longitudinally measured phenotypes because these allow for the study of the natural trajectory of traits and disease progression. However, there are several challenges with analysis and interpretation of longitudinal data. Here, we summarize the methods and strategies proposed and applied in genome‐wide association studies of blood pressure related phenotypes made available through Genetic Analysis Workshop 18 (GAW18). The investigators considered methods that incorporated correlation across time points and familial relatedness among the individuals into their studies and compared their approaches with single‐time‐point analysis using baseline data. Some of the studies used unrelated individuals; some also used the simulated data provided by the GAW18 organizers to assess type I error and power of their approach in detecting true associations.
Longitudinal Data Analysis for Genetic Studies in the Whole‐Genome Sequencing Era
Authors: Wu Zheyang , Hu Yijuan , Melton Phillip E.
Published: August 2014

The analysis of whole‐genome sequence (WGS) data using longitudinal phenotypes offers a potentially rich resource for the examination of the genetic variants and their covariates that affect complex phenotypes over time. We summarize eight contributions to the Genetic Analysis Workshop 18, which applied a diverse array of statistical genetic methods to analyze WGS data in combination with data from genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) from up to four different time points on blood pressure phenotypes. The common goal of these analyses was to develop and apply appropriate methods that utilize longitudinal repeated measures to potentially increase the analytic efficiency of WGS and GWAS data. These diverse methods can be grouped into two categories, based on the way they model dependence structures: (1) linear mixed‐effects (LME) models, where the random effect terms in the linear models are used to capture the dependence structures; and (2) variance‐components models, where the dependence structures are constructed directly based on multiple components of variance‐covariance matrices for the multivariate Gaussian responses. Despite the heterogeneous nature of these analytical methods, the group came to the following conclusions: (1) the use of repeat measurements can gain power to identify variants associated with the phenotype; (2) the inclusion of family data may correct genotyping errors and allow for more accurate detection of rare variants than using unrelated individuals only; and (3) fitting mixed‐effects and variance‐components models for longitudinal data presents computational challenges. The challenges and computational burden demanded by WGS data were addressed in the eight contributions.
Antagonism of D1/D5 receptors prevents long‐term depression (LTD) and learning‐facilitated LTD at the perforant path–dentate gyrus synapse in freely behaving rats
Authors: Wiescholleck Valentina , Manahan‐Vaughan Denise
Published: August 2014

Hippocampal synaptic plasticity, in the form of long‐term potentiation (LTP) and long‐term depression (LTD), enables spatial memory formation, whereby LTP and LTD are likely to contribute different elements to the resulting spatial representation. Dopamine, released from the ventral tegmental area particularly under conditions of reward, acts on the hippocampus, and may specifically influence the encoding of information into long‐term memory. The dentate gyrus (DG), as the “gateway” to the hippocampus is likely to play an important role in this process. D1/D5 dopamine receptors are importantly involved in the regulation of synaptic plasticity thresholds in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and determine the direction of change in synaptic strength that occurs during novel spatial learning. Here, we explored whether D1/D5‐receptors influence LTD that is induced in the DG following patterned afferent stimulation of the perforant path of freely behaving adult rats, or influence LTD that occurs in association with spatial learning. We found that LTD that is induced by afferent stimulation, and LTD that is facilitated by learning about novel landmark configurations, were both prevented by D1/D5‐receptor antagonism, whereas agonist activation of the D1/D5‐receptor had no effect on basal tonus or short‐term depression. Other studies have reported that in the DG, D1/D5‐receptor agonism or antagonism do not affect LTP, but agonism prevents depotentiation. These findings suggest that the dopaminergic system, acting via D1/D5‐receptors, influences information gating by the DG and modulates the direction of change in synaptic strength that underlies information storage in this hippocampal substructure. Information encoded by robust forms of LTD is especially dependent on D1/D5‐receptor activation. Thus, dopamine acting on D1/D5‐receptors is likely to support specific experience‐dependent encoding, and may influence the content of hippocampal representations of experience. © 2014 The Authors. Hippocampus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pharmacokinetic profile and first preliminary clinical evaluation of bendamustine in Taiwanese patients with heavily pretreated indolent B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma
Authors: Hsiao Liang‐Tsai , Tien Hwei‐Fang , Kuo Ching‐Yuan , Wu Jin‐Hou , Hou Hsin‐An , Wang Ming‐Chung , Liu Chun‐Yu , Chen Po‐Min , Chiou Tzeon‐Jye
Published: August 2014

Prior studies found bendamustine is efficacious in patients with indolent B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). To date, no studies have reported the efficacy of bendamustine in a Chinese population. This multicentre phase II trial evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and efficacy of bendamustine monotherapy in Chinese patients in Taiwan with pretreated indolent B‐cell NHL or mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). For PK assessments, patients were randomized (n = 16; 11 with indolent B‐cell NHL and five with MCL) to 90 or 120 mg/m2 of bendamustine for the first cycle. Plasma levels of bendamustine and its two metabolites were analyzed. For efficacy and safety evaluations, bendamustine 120 mg/m2 was given to all patients every 3 weeks starting at cycle 2 for a minimum of a total of six cycles. The median age of patients was 61.7 years, and the majority were men (75%). The median number of prior treatments was 4 (range, 1–9 regimens), and all patients were previously treated with rituximab. Bendamustine plasma concentration peaked near the end of infusion and was rapidly eliminated with a mean elimination half‐life (t1/2) of 0.67–0.8 h. Of the evaluable patients (n = 14), the overall response rate was 78.6%, including 7.2% of patients having a complete response. Mean progression‐free survival was 27.5 weeks. The most common grade 3–4 adverse events were leucopenia (56.3%), neutropenia (56.3%) and thrombocytopenia (25%). In conclusion, bendamustine was efficacious and well tolerated in Taiwanese patients with indolent NHL and MCL with a similar PK profile to that of other populations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How do supply‐side factors influence informal payments for healthcare? The case of HIV patients in Cameroon
Authors: Kankeu Hyacinthe Tchewonpi , Boyer Sylvie , Fodjo Toukam Raoul , Abu‐Zaineh Mohammad
Published: August 2014

Direct out‐of‐pocket payments for healthcare continue to be a major source of health financing in low‐income and middle‐income countries. Some of these direct payments take the form of informal charges paid by patients to access the needed healthcare services. Remarkably, however, little is known about the extent to which these payments are exercised and their determinants in the context of Sub‐Saharan Africa. This study attempts therefore to shed light on the role of supply‐side factors in the occurrence of informal payments while accounting for the demand‐side factors. The study relies on data taken from a nationally representative survey conducted among people living with HIV/AIDS in Cameroon. A multilevel mixed‐effect logistic model is employed to identify the factors associated with the incidence of informal payments. Results reveal that circa 3.05% of the surveyed patients incurred informal payments for the consultations made on the day of the survey. The amount paid informally represents up to four times the official tariff. Factors related to the following: (i) human resource management of the health facilities (e.g., task shifting); (ii) health professionals' perceptions vis‐à‐vis the remunerations of HIV care provision; and (iii) reception of patients (e.g., waiting time) significantly influence the probability of incurring informal payments. Also of note, the type of healthcare facilities is found to play a role: informal payments appear to be significantly lower in private non‐profit facilities compared with those belonging to public sector. Our findings allude to some policy recommendations that can help reduce the incidence of informal payments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day on a subpopulation of anxious/depressed patients: a pooled analysis of seven randomized, placebo‐controlled studies
Authors: Kornstein Susan G. , Guico‐Pabia Christine J. , Fayyad Rana S.
Published: August 2014

Background

Desvenlafaxine (administered as desvenlafaxine succinate) for anxious depression was assessed in a post hoc analysis.

Methods

Data were pooled from patients randomly assigned to desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day or placebo in seven double‐blind, fixed‐dose studies in adults with major depressive disorder. Patients with “anxious depression” had baseline 17‐item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, anxiety–somatization factor (HAM‐D17 A/S) scores ≥7. Primary end point was change in HAM‐D17 scores from baseline at week 8 (last observation carried forward), evaluated using analysis of covariance with treatment, study, and baseline value as covariates.

Results

A total of 1873/2706 (69%) patients were identified as “anxious depressed”. Desvenlafaxine significantly improved HAM‐D17 total scores versus placebo in anxious (adjusted mean [95% CI] −1.72 [−2.35, −1.09]; p < 0.001) and nonanxious (−1.48 [−2.40, −0.57]; p = 0.002) populations, with no significant treatment‐by‐anxiety interaction. Response and remission rates (HAM‐D17) were significantly higher with desvenlafaxine compared with placebo in both populations. Treatment‐emergent adverse events were reported by 78% and 69% (desvenlafaxine versus placebo, respectively) of anxious depressed patients and by 77% and 68% of nonanxious patients.

Conclusion

Desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day significantly improved depressive symptoms compared with placebo in major depressive disorder patients with clinically relevant anxiety symptoms. Improvement in the HAM‐D17 total score was similar for anxious/nonanxious groups. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of metals, metalloids, and ash mixture toxicity using sediment toxicity testing
Authors: Stojak Amber , Bonnevie Nancy L , Jones Daniel S
Published: August 2014

In December 2008, a release of 4.1 million m3 of coal ash from the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil Plant occurred. Ash washed into the Emory River and migrated downstream into the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers. A Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment evaluated risks to ecological receptors from ash in the river system post-dredging. This article describes the approach used and results from sediment toxicity tests, discussing any causal relationships between ash, metals, and toxicity. Literature is limited in the realm of aquatic coal combustion residue (CCR) exposures and the potential magnitude of effects on benthic invertebrates. Sediment samples along a spectrum of ash content were used in a tiered toxicity testing approach and included a combination of 10 day sediment toxicity acute tests and longer-term, partial life cycle “definitive” tests with 2 species (Hyalella azteca and Chironomus dilutus). Arsenic, and to a lesser extent Se, in the ash was the most likely toxicant causing observed effects in the laboratory toxicity tests. Sites in the Emory River with the greatest statistical and biologically significant effects had As concentrations in sediments twice the probable effects concentration of 33 mg/kg. These sites contained greater than 50% ash. Sites with less than approximately 50% ash in sediments exhibited fewer significant toxic responses relative to the reference sediment in the laboratory. The results discussed here present useful evidence of only limited effects occurring from a worst-case exposure pathway. These results provided a valuable line of evidence for the overall assessment of risks to benthic invertebrates and to other ecological receptors, and were crucial to risk management and development of project remediation goals. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2015;11:21–31. © 2014 SETAC

Key Points

Measurable laboratory effects occured when chironomids and hyalella were exposed to coal combustion residue and sediment mixtures during 10-day and partial life cycle tests. These effects were mostly sublethal with a significant decrease of biomass or emergence of the organisms. Nearly a 1:1 relationship exists between the ash and arsenic, both ash and arsenic were strongly correlated with the toxicity test endpoints, which allowed for development of remedial goals. Effect thresholds of approximately >40% ash and 33 mg/kg arsenic were deduced from the analytical and toxicity test results.
Lynch‐like syndrome: Characterization and comparison with EPCAM deletion carriers
Authors: Kang So Young , Park Cheol Keun , Chang Dong Kyung , Kim Jong Won , Son Hee Jung , Cho Yong Beom , Yun Seong Hyeon , Kim Hee Cheol , Kwon Moosik , Kim Kyoung‐Mee
Published: August 2014

Colorectal cancers (CRCs) with microsatellite instability‐high (MSI+) but without detectable germline mutation or hypermethylation in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes can be classified as Lynch‐like syndrome (LLS). The underlying mechanism and clinical significances of LLS are largely unknown. We measured MSI and MMR protein expression in 4,765 consecutive CRC cases. Among these, MSI+ cases were further classified based on clinical parameters, germline sequencing of MMR genes or polymerase ε (POLE) and δ (POLD1) and promoter methylation analysis of MLH1 and MSH2. We found that MSI+ and MMR protein‐deficient CRCs comprised 6.3% (N = 302) of this cohort. On the basis of germline sequencing of 124 cases, we identified 54 LS with MMR germline mutation (LS‐MMR), 15 LS with EPCAM deletions (LS‐EPCAM) and 55 LLS patients. Of the 55 LLS patients, six (10.9%) had variants of unknown significance in the genes tested, and one patient had a novel somatic mutation (p.S459P) in POLE. In patients with biallelic deletions of EPCAM, all tumors and their matched normal mucosa showed promoter hypermethylation of MSH2. Finally, we found that patients with LLS and LS‐EPCAM shared clinical features that differed from LS‐MMR patients, including lower frequency of fulfillment of the revised Bethesda guidelines (83.6 and 86.7% vs. 98.1% for LS‐MMR) and older mean age at CRC diagnosis (52.6 and 52.7 years vs. 43.9 years for LS‐MMR). We identified somatic mutation in POLE as a rare underlying cause for MMR deficiency in LLS. The similarity between LLS and LS‐EPCAM suggests LLS as a subset of familial MSI+ CRC.
A brief history of cancer: Age‐old milestones underlying our current knowledge database
Authors: Faguet Guy B.
Published: August 2014

This mini‐review chronicles the history of cancer ranging from cancerous growths discovered in dinosaur fossils, suggestions of cancer in Ancient Egyptian papyri written in 1500–1600 BC, and the first documented case of human cancer 2,700 years ago, to contributions by pioneers beginning with Hippocrates and ending with the originators of radiation and medical oncology. Fanciful notions that soon fell into oblivion are mentioned such as Paracelsus and van Helmont substituting Galen's black bile by mysterious ens or archeus systems. Likewise, unfortunate episodes such as Virchow claiming Remak's hypotheses as his own remind us that human shortcomings can affect otherwise excellent scientists. However, age‐old benchmark observations, hypotheses, and practices of historic and scientific interest are underscored, excerpts included, as precursors of recent discoveries that shaped modern medicine. Examples include: Petit's total mastectomy with excision of axillary glands for breast cancer; a now routine practice, Peyrilhe's ichorous matter a cancer‐causing factor he tested for transmissibility one century before Rous confirmed the virus‐cancer link, Hill's warning of the dangers of tobacco snuff; heralding today's cancer pandemic caused by smoking, Pott reporting scrotum cancer in chimney sweepers; the first proven occupational cancer, Velpeau's remarkable foresight that a yet unknown subcellular element would have to be discovered in order to define the nature of cancer; a view confirmed by cancer genetics two centuries later, ending with Röntgen and the Curies, and Gilman et al. ushering radiation (1896, 1919) and medical oncology (1942), respectively.
PERSISTENCE TESTS THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON STUDY
Authors: French John W.
Published: August 2014

In the fall of 1947 ten one‐hour tests designed to measure persistence were tried out on the freshman class at the University of Washington. Since the students could only devote one hour to this program, only one test could be given to each student. Intercorrelations with grades, high‐school record, and aptitude tests showed that none of the tests would appreciably raise the prediction of grades that was already provided by the aptitude tests. Failure of these tests to show more positive results may possibly be attributed to poor motivation.
EFFICIENCY OF PREDICTION WHEN A REGRESSION EQUATION FROM ONE SAMPLE IS USED IN A NEW SAMPLE
Authors: Lord Frederic M.
Published: August 2014

If a multiple regression equation is computed from one sample and applied to subsequent samples, the errors of prediction in the later samples will be larger than those in the first sample or those in the universe from which the samples were drawn. The expected value, and also the sampling variance, of the average squared error of prediction in the second sample is obtained for the case where the independent variables are treated as fixed.
PREDICTION OF FRESHMAN GRADES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
Authors: Frederiksen Norman , Schrader William B. , Olsen Marjorie , Wicoff Evelyn
Published: August 2014

SUMMARY OF PROCEDURES

This study was undertaken in order to determine the relationship of various predictors of academic success to measures of first‐year achievement at the University of Rochester. Special attention was given to the problem of reducing the numbers of predictors without greatly decreasing the effectiveness of prediction, and to a comparison of the predictive values of the College Entrance Examination Board Scholastic Aptitude Test and the American Council on Education Psychological Examination (ACPE). Data for this study were provided by Mr. Charles R. Dalton, Director of Admissions at the College of Arts and Science of the University of Rochester.

First‐year students in liberal arts, science, and engineering curricula were included in this study; the results for each of these groups are considered separately in this report. Within the liberal arts and science groups, separate analyses were made for men and women in order to determine whether or not there are sex differences in the relationship of predictors to measures of achievement. Comparisons were also made between the performance of veterans and nonveterans within each group of men.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study suggest that the number of tests administered at Rochester could be reduced considerably with little loss of predictive effectiveness. The best combinations of three or four predictors yield validity coefficients which are almost as high as those obtainable with as many as ten predictors. The over‐lapping among the predictive measures in the present battery is also indicated by the relatively high intercorrelations among various tests.

The combination of Scholastic Aptitude Test scores with High School Rank appears to be slightly superior to a combination of American Council on Education Psychological Examination scores with High School Rank. Only for engineering students does an appreciable difference in multiple correlations appear; for these students, the SAT‐High School Rank combination has a value of .56 and the ACPE‐High School Rank combination has a value of .48. The correlations are increased some—what for male science and engineering groups by the addition of the Rochester Chemistry or Physics Test score.

The effectiveness of prediction of an appropriate course grade in each curriculum was also studied. For men in liberal arts, the Iowa English Placement Test is the best predictor of English grades and SAT‐V is second best; High Sohool Rank is the best predictor of this grade for women in arts. High School Rank is also equal or superior to any other measure as a predictor of physical science grades for men and women in science curricula. For men in engineering, the Rochester Mathematics Test is considerably superior to the other measures as a predictor of mathematics grades.
VALIDITIES OF TESTS GIVEN IN 1950 FOR PREDICTING AVERAGE GRADES FOR THE FIRST TWO TERMS AT THE U. S. NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
Authors: Mollenkopf William G.
Published: August 2014

In August 1950 nine aptitude and achievement tests constructed by the Educational Testing Service under an Office of Naval Research contract were given to the members of the incoming class at the U. S. Naval Postgraduate School. Two tests provided by the Research Division of the Bureau of Naval Personnel were also administered. Scores on these eleven tests have now been studied in relation to the quality‐point ratios earned by officers in this class for their first two terms at the Postgraduate School. Bar charts are presented showing for each of four score intervals on each test what per cent of students achieved quality‐point ratios of 2.0 or higher. In addition, product‐moment coefficients of correlation between scores on each test and the criterion of quality‐point ratios have been obtained.

The most effective of the tests for predicting this criterion were the Mathematics Aptitude Test, the Advanced Mathematics Test, the Physical Science and Engineering Test, the Interpretation of Data Test, and the two BuPers tests: General Mathematics NAVPERS and General Physics NAVPERS.

Results of the 1950 experimental tests were found to be highly consistent with those obtained from the 1948 and 1949 tests.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TEST FOR USE IN SELECTING NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL STUDENTS
Authors: Mollenkopf William G.
Published: August 2014

During a three‐year period the Educational Testing Service has carried on a research program for the U. S. Naval Postgraduate School for the purpose of developing a test to be used as part of the means of selecting students for the School. Three experimental test batteries have been developed during this period and tried out at the School. In addition, a five‐part aptitude test was administered in 1948 “in the fleet” to applicants for admission to the School.

All tests have been evaluated against criteria of academic success at the School, In addition, 1948 tests have been judged for effectiveness in predicting continuation at the School.

Accumulated validation data led to the recommended test, which consists of Mathematics Aptitude, Advanced Mathematics, Physical Science and Engineering, Interpretation of Scientific Data, and Experimental Science sections.

The recommended test can confidently be expected to be of significant value in determining which of the applicants are most likely to succeed in their work at the Postgraduate School.
MODERATOR VARIABLES IN PREDICTION, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO FRESHMAN ENGINEERING GRADES AND THE STRONG VOCATIONAL INTEREST BLANK
Authors: Saunders D. R.
Published: August 2014

The Accountant Scale of the Strong Interest Blank for Men bears little direct relation to a criterion of freshman engineering grades. However, it may act as a suppressor variable in conjunction with the Banker or Psychologist Scale of the Strong. It may also aot as a moderator variable in conjunction with the Math.‐Science Teacher or Real Estate Salesman Scale. These effects are illustrated by results obtained in two engineering schools.

The basic algebra and geometry of moderator variables is given.
ON THE APPLICATIONS OF THE METHOD OF ABSOLUTE SCALING*
Authors: Fan C. T.
Published: August 2014

Empirical and fictitious examples are described for investigating the applications of the absolute scaling method for item scaling and score scaling currently employed at the Educational Testing Service. The discrepancy between the correct values and the values estimated through the absolute scaling method is demonstrated.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SCALES FOR THE APTITUDE AND ADVANCED TESTS OF THE GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATIONS*
Authors: Schultz Margaret K. , Angoff William H.
Published: August 2014

The new scales for the Aptitude and Advanced Tests of the Graduate Record Examinations have been developed with the use of data collected on 2,095 second semester seniors in eleven colleges which are generally representative of the schools who normally administer the tests to their students. Scores on the Verbal and Quantitative parts of the Aptitude Test were converted to yield scaled score means of 500 and standard deviations of 100. Scores on the Advanced Tests were adjusted to reflect differences in Aptitude Test scores among the groups taking the separate Advanced Tests. It is considered that this type of score scale would lead to fewer errors of interpretation than the previous scales, in which raw scores on each of the Advanced Tests were converted directly to a scale with a mean of 500 and standard deviation of 100.
THE PREDICTION OF ACADEMIC GRADES WITH A PROJECTIVE TEST OF ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION: I. INITIAL VALIDATION STUDIES1
Authors: Ricciuti Henry N.
Published: August 2014

This study was concerned with an evaluation of the validity of a projective “picture‐interpretation” test of achievement motivation for predicting academic grades. Results based upon groups of high school juniors, college freshmen, and Naval officer candidates, revealed promising relationships only at the high school level between the test and academic grades, corrected for ability differences. The number of words written in the picture‐interpretation stories proved to be very nearly as valid a predictor of high school grades as was the achievement motivation score itself.

The validities of all scoring “categories” included in the scoring system were analyzed separately for each picture included in the study. The results permitted the identification of a small number of scoring categories which tended to yield generally promising positive validities, and which might serve as the basis for an abbreviated achievement motivation score. At the same time, however, considerable fluctuation was revealed in the validities of given categories from picture to picture. This led to the decision to select for cross‐validation in a subsequent study a smaller number of the most promising pictures, each to be scored only for the specific categories found to be most valid on that particular picture, in either the positive or negative direction. The results also suggested that absence of reasonably suggestive achievement‐related content in the stimulus pictures tended to be associated with poor validity.

It is concluded that the achievement motivation test shows encouraging although not immediately practicable validities in predicting high school grades after ability differences are ruled out. Further research on the test as a predictor of school success certainly seems indicated at both the high school and college level. Validation against broader criteria of personal and scholastic achievement beyond course grades as such would appear to be particularly desirable. Additional research is also needed on the identification of the most generally valid scoring categories, the relationship between validity and picture content, and the value of word output as a supplementary measure of achievement drive.
NOMOGRAPH FOR COMPUTING MULTIPLE CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS
Authors: Lord Frederic M.
Published: August 2014

A nomograph for computing multiple correlation coefficients is presented. A method for deriving such nomographs is outlined.
USE OF AN OBJECTIVE METHOD TO DETERMINE ENGINEERING JOB FAMILIES THAT WILL APPLY IN SEVERAL COMPANIES
Authors: Saunders David R.
Published: August 2014

An objective method of job description, employing a “Key Group Data Form,” was developed and used to compare 24 engineering jobs in five companies. The main differences in jobs were found to exist within each company, with jobs in one company paralleling those in others.

A functional classification of engineering jobs was obtained in the following form:

image

Clusters of activities characterizing each of these functions are presented.
THE OBJECTIVE DEFINITION OF SIMPLE STRUCTURE IN LINEAR FACTOR ANALYSIS*
Authors: Tucker Ledyard R
Published: August 2014

Requirements for an objective definition of simple structure are investigated and a number of proposed objective criteria are evaluated. A distinction is drawn between exploratory factorial studies and confirmatory factorial studies with the conclusion drawn that objective definition of simple structure depends on study design as well as on objective criteria. A proposed definition of simple structure is described in terms of linear constellations. This definition lacks only a statistical test to compare with possible chance results. A computational procedure is also described for searching for linear constellations. This procedure is very laborious and might best be accomplished on high‐speed automatic computers. There is no guarantee that the procedure will find all linear constellations, but it probably would yield satisfactory results for well‐designed studies.
THE MOST RELIABLE COMPOSITE SCORE
Authors: Woodbury Max A. , Lord Frederic M.
Published: August 2014

Simple formulas are derived for allocating administration time to the tests in a battery and for weighting the test scores so as to maximize the reliability of the resulting composite, the true score of the composite being specified in advance. It is shown that, except for sign, the optimum weight for any test depends only on the standard error of measurement of that test at unit time.
THE REPLIES OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH TO A QUESTIONNAIRE ON ESSAY TESTING
Authors: French John W.
Published: August 2014

Teachers of English were asked about the amount of composition in their curriculum and were questioned on their opinion of essay testing in general and the GCT in particular. Questionnaires were sent to 224 teachers; responses were received from 84 per cent.

According to the figures provided by the teachers, the amount of writing practice now given to students in high school is slightly more than the amount given ten years ago. About one quarter of the schools give less composition work mainly because of the heavy teaching load and competing activities for student and teacher. About one third of the schools give more practice because of a growing realization of its need with greater numbers of students headed for college. The assignment of numerous short paragraphs rather than long themes was often cited as a means of maintaining writing practice in the face of growing numbers of students. There is a little evidence that believing the College Board stresses essay testing is associated with increased instruction in writing.

When asked about the effect of College Board essay examinations on their teaching, about one teacher in five or six admitted that such tests served as a goal for the students, or as a factor in the number of writing assignments made. Many teachers expressed the desire for more information about the Board's tests. About four out of five of those who had any College Board students were strongly in favor of the Board's maintaining an essay test in its program. Most of the teachers felt an essay was the only way to measure a student's competence in writing and thinking. A few favored it to motivate the student or to encourage writing in the curriculum.

Only about a third of the teachers were familiar with the GCT. Of these, a majority favored it. However, those who seemed to know the test best, as evidenced by their detailed discussion of it, tended to criticize it severely or to oppose it. Their principal objections were its high difficulty, the fact that it dealt with concepts unfamiliar to eleventh graders, and its unreliability.

It is clear that teachers of English want an essay test. However, their main reason for wanting it is to measure competence, a service which it performs only poorly. Nevertheless, there is a good deal of evidence that essay examinations for college entrance would effectively encourage writing instruction at a good many schools. There is less enthusiasm for the GCT than for essay tests as a whole. In view of the trend in their own teaching and in view of remarks about the GCT and recommendations for replacing it, the teachers would probably welcome a change in the direction of an essay examination calling for the writing of a series of short expository passages on a variety of subjects. They would like to be better informed about the kind of writing that the Board requires.
THE EFFECT OF ESSAY TESTS ON STUDENT MOTIVATION
Authors: French John W.
Published: August 2014

At two public and two private schools, eleventh graders took an objective and an essay test of English composition in October. At two of these schools, the students were told they would take another objective test in January. At the other two schools, they were told they would take another essay test in January. Actually both kinds of tests were given in January to the students at all four schools. A questionnaire given to the students on the occasion of the January test revealed that only 14 per cent of the students did anything special to prepare themselves for the expected test. The test scores of all students in each school and those of the students claiming to have undertaken special study were analyzed. The school groups expecting an essay or objective test did not make consistently larger gains on the expected test than did the groups not expecting the test. The students who indicated that they prepared specially for the test did not make greater gains than those who failed to prepare themselves or those who did not expect the test.

Because of uncontrolled factors this study vas not sufficiently sensitive to detect small differences. However, it may safely be concluded that test score gains over the three‐month period covered by the study were not influenced to any substantial extent by knowledge of the nature of the test that was coming.
SOME RELATIONS BETWEEN GUTTMAN'S PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS OF SCALE ANALYSIS AND OTHER PSYCHOMETRIC THEORY
Authors: Lord Frederic M.
Published: August 2014

Guttman's principal components for the weighting system are the item scoring weights that maximize the generalized Kuder‐Richardson reliability coefficient. In the case of dichotomous items, the principal component for any item is effectively the same as the factor loading of the item divided by the item standard deviation, the factor loadings being obtained from an ordinary factor analysis of the item intercorrelation matrix.
THE EFFECTS OF A PROGRAM OF INTENSIVE COACHING ON SAT SCORES
Authors: Dear Robert E.
Published: August 2014

This study is the third study in a series of studies of coaching for the Scholastic Aptitude Test which have been carried out by the Educational Testing Service for the College Board. The first two studies in this series utilized coaching in classroom situations. Small gains in SAT scores were found to result from this coaching but these gains were not large enough to suggest that the coached students were obtaining a substantial, unfair advantage over other students. The present study was set up to investigate whether an intensive and individualized coaching program would lead to more substantial gains.

In the study reported here, students in 10 schools took part in one coaching session for the Verbal section of the SAT and one coaching session for the Mathematics section during each week of the program and in addition did one hour of homework each week. The coaching was carried on during most of the weeks from mid November 1956 to early March 1957.

The main statistical hypotheses of the study were tested using the analysis of covariance with the students' junior year May scores serving as the covariate. Some of the main findings were that: (1) the coached students showed no significant gains over control students on SAT‐V scores, (2) the coached group showed a gain of about 26 points over the pooled control groups on the March 1957 SAT‐M scores, and (3) a substantial subgroup of the coached students who had also taken the SAT at the January 1957 administration showed a gain of about 21 points over control students on the January SAT‐M scores. These average gains in Mathematics scores though statistically significant are probably not of sufficient magnitude to give coached students an unfair advantage in college admission proceedings.
Evaluation of enhanced soil washing process with tea saponin in a peanut oil–water solvent system for the extraction of PBDEs/PCBs/PAHs and heavy metals from an electronic waste site followed by vetiver grass phytoremediation
Authors: Ye Mao , Sun Mingming , Wan Jinzhong , Fang Guodong , Li Huixin , Hu Feng , Jiang Xin , Orori Kengara Fredrick
Published: August 2014

BACKGROUND

Problems associated with PBDEs/PCBs/PAHs and heavy metals mixed contaminated sites have received wide attention. To address the associated environmental concerns, innovative remediation techniques are urgently needed.

RESULTS

5.0 mL L−1 peanut oil and 5.0 g L−1 tea saponin were found to be effective in extracting 94.6%, 97.1%, 95.1%, 83.5%, and 87.1% of PBDEs, PCBs, PAHs, Pb, and Ni, respectively, after two successive washing cycles. Cultivation of vetiver grass and addition of nutrients for 4 months further degraded 45.1%, 36.2%, and 40.2% of the residual PBDEs, PCBs and PAHs, respectively. Pb and Ni removal efficiencies by phytoextraction were 4.1% and 2.0%, respectively. The combined treatment partially restored the microbiological functions of washed soil, as indicated by a significant increase in the number, biomass C, N, and functioning diversity of soil microorganisms (P < 0.05). After treatment, the residual organic pollutants and heavy metals mainly existed as very slowly desorbing fractions and residual fractions, as evaluated by Tenax extraction combined with a first‐three‐compartment model and sequential extraction. The secondary environmental risk of residual mixed pollutants in the remediated soil was limited.

CONCLUSION

The proposed combined cleanup strategy proved to be effective and environmentally friendly. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry