bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MULTIPLE LINKING IN EQUATING AND RANDOM SCALE DRIFT
Authors: Guo Hongwen , Liu Jinghua , Dorans Neil , Feigenbaum Miriam 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTMaintaining score stability is crucial for an ongoing testing program that administers several tests per year over many years. One way to stall the drift of the score scale is to use an equating design with multiple links. In this study, we use the operational and experimental SAT® data collected from 44 administrations to investigate the effect of accumulated equating error in equating conversions and the effect of the use of multiple links in equating. No equating error is directly observed or calculated in the study. Instead, we focus on the behavior of the equating conversions after a series of equatings under the nonequivalent groups with anchor test design and analyze the effect of equating error on conversions. It is observed that the single‐link equating conversions drift further away from the operational ones as more equatings are carried out. Analysis of variance is used to decompose the scale score means and the conversion into two major factors: administration month and year for both single‐ and multiple‐link equating results. Seasonality is seen in the data. In addition, the single‐link conversions exhibit a certain instability that is not obvious for the operational data. A statistical random walk model is offered to explain the mechanism of scale drift in equating caused by random equating error.
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF SPECIAL PREPARATION FOR ADMISSIONS TESTS
Authors: Powers Donald E. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTSpecial preparation for tests has been a relatively contentious issue. The controversy has entailed (a) disagreement over the effectiveness of such preparation, (b) concern over unequal access to it, and (c) worries about its impact on the validity of test scores. This paper provides a brief history of ETS's involvement with, and contribution to, sorting out the issues associated with test preparation.
IS THERE ANY INTERACTION BETWEEN BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE AND LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY THAT AFFECTS TOEFL IBT® READING PERFORMANCE?
Authors: Hill Yao Zhang , Liu Ou Lydia 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTThis study investigated the effect of the interaction between test takers' background knowledge and language proficiency on their performance on the TOEFL iBT® reading section. Test takers with the target content background knowledge (the focal groups) and those without (the reference groups) were identified for each of the 5 selected passages based on their self‐identified academic and cultural backgrounds. The test takers were further classified into high and low proficiency groups based on their TOEFL iBT scores. Differential functioning was investigated at the item, item bundle, and passage levels. The results suggested that background knowledge interacted with language proficiency on certain items, which could be attributed to idiosyncratic passage and item characteristics (i.e., characteristics that were specific to a particular passage or item). Only 1 of the 5 passages investigated showed intermediate differential bundle functioning, favoring the focal group for both the high and low proficiency groups. There was no differential functioning at the passage level. This research sheds new light on our understanding of the effects of background knowledge and its interaction with language proficiency in the context of second language reading comprehension. It also has significant practical implications for test developers in advancing fair assessments.
DISCOURSE CHARACTERISTICS OF WRITING AND SPEAKING TASK TYPES ON THE TOEFL IBT® TEST: A LEXICO‐GRAMMATICAL ANALYSIS
Authors: Biber Douglas , Gray Bethany 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTOne of the major innovations of the TOEFL iBT® test is the incorporation of integrated tasks complementing the independent tasks to which examinees respond. In addition, examinees must produce discourse in both modes (speech and writing). The validity argument for the TOEFL iBT includes the claim that examinees vary their discourse in accordance with these considerations as they become more proficient in their academic language skills (the explanation inference). To provide evidence in support of this warrant, we undertake a comprehensive lexico‐grammatical description of the discourse produced in response to integrated versus independent tasks, across the spoken and written modes, by test takers from different score levels.Discourse descriptions at several linguistic levels are provided, including vocabulary profiles, collocational patterns, the use of extended lexical bundles, distinctive lexico‐grammatical features, and a multidimensional (MD) analysis that describes the overall patterns of linguistic variation. In sum, we undertake a comprehensive linguistic analysis of the discourse of TOEFL iBT responses, interpreting observed linguistic patterns of variation relative to three parameters that are relevant in the TOEFL iBT context: mode, task type, and score level of test takers.
DISENTANGLING THE ROLE OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADES, SAT® SCORES, AND SES IN PREDICTING COLLEGE ACHIEVEMENT
Authors: Zwick Rebecca 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTFocusing on high school grade‐point average (HSGPA) in college admissions may foster ethnic diversity and communicate the importance of high school performance. It has further been claimed that HSGPA is the best single predictor of college grades and that it is more equitable than test scores because of a smaller association with socioeconomic status (SES). Recent findings, however, suggest that HSPGA's seemingly smaller correlation with SES is a methodological artifact. In addition, it tends to produce systematic errors in the prediction of college grades. Although supplementing HSGPA with a high‐school resource index can mitigate these errors, determining whether to include such an index in admissions decisions must take into account the institutional mission and the potential diversity impact.
PUTTING AND KEEPING STUDENTS ON TRACK: TOWARD A COMPREHENSIVE MODEL OF COLLEGE PERSISTENCE AND GOAL ATTAINMENT
Authors: Burrus Jeremy , Elliott Diane , Brenneman Meghan , Markle Ross , Carney Lauren , Moore Gabrielle , Betancourt Anthony , Jackson Teresa , Robbins Steve , Kyllonen Patrick , Roberts Richard D. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTDespite near universal acceptance in the value of higher education for individuals and society, college persistence rates in 4‐year and community colleges are low. Only 57% of students who began college at a 4–year institution in 2001 had completed a bachelor's degree by 2007, and only 28% of community college students who started school in 2005 had completed a degree 4 years later (National Center for Education Statistics, 2011). To address this problem, this paper identified 3 goals. The first was to review the extant literature on persistence in higher education. The second was to develop a working model of persistence informed by our literature review. This resulted in a model centered on 3 basic categories of variables: those that put you on track towards persistence, those that push you off track, and those that keep you on track. The final goal was to outline a research agenda to develop student‐centered assessments informed by our model, and we conclude with a discussion of this agenda.
THE IMPACT OF SAMPLING APPROACH ON POPULATION INVARIANCE IN AUTOMATED SCORING OF ESSAYS
Authors: Zhang Mo 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTMany testing programs use automated scoring to grade essays. One issue in automated essay scoring that has not been examined adequately is population invariance and its causes. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of sampling in model calibration on population invariance of automated scores. This study analyzed scores produced by the e‐rater® scoring engine using a GRE® assessment data set. Results suggested that equal allocation stratification by language sampling approach performed optimally in maximizing population invariance using either human/e‐rater agreement or their correlation pattern differences with external variables as evaluation criteria. Guidelines were given to assist practitioners in choosing a sampling design for model calibration. Potential causes for lack of population invariance, study limitations, and future research are discussed.
THE EFFECTS OF RATER SEVERITY AND RATER DISTRIBUTION ON EXAMINEES' ABILITY ESTIMATION FOR CONSTRUCTED‐RESPONSE ITEMS
Authors: Wang Zhen , Yao Lihua 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTThe current study used simulated data to investigate the properties of a newly proposed method (Yao's rater model) for modeling rater severity and its distribution under different conditions. Our study examined the effects of rater severity, distributions of rater severity, the difference between item response theory (IRT) models with rater effect and without rater effect, and the difference between the precision of the ability estimates for tests composed of only constructed‐response (CR) items and for tests composed of multiple‐choice (MC) and CR items combined. Our results indicate that rater severity and its distribution can increase the bias of examinees' ability estimates and lower test reliability. Moreover, using an IRT model with rater effects can substantially increase the precision in the examinees' ability estimates, especially when the test was composed of only CR items. We also compared Yao's rater model with Muraki's rater effect model (1993) in terms of ability estimation accuracy and rater parameter recovery. The estimation results from Yao's rater model using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) were better than those from Muraki's rater effect model using marginal maximum likelihood.
A GENERAL PROGRAM FOR ITEM‐RESPONSE ANALYSIS THAT EMPLOYS THE STABILIZED NEWTON–RAPHSON ALGORITHM
Authors: Haberman Shelby J. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTA general program for item‐response analysis is described that uses the stabilized Newton—Raphson algorithm. This program is written to be compliant with Fortran 2003 standards and is sufficiently general to handle independent variables, multidimensional ability parameters, and matrix sampling. The ability variables may be either polytomous or multivariate normal. Items may be dichotomous or polytomous.
INVESTIGATING THE VALUE OF SECTION SCORES FOR THE TOEFL iBT® TEST
Authors: Sawaki Yasuyo , Sinharay Sandip 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTThis study investigates the value of reporting the reading, listening, speaking, and writing section scores for the TOEFL iBT® test, focusing on 4 related aspects of the psychometric quality of the TOEFL iBT section scores: reliability of the section scores, dimensionality of the test, presence of distinct score profiles, and the section scores' generalizability for norm‐referenced decisions as well as the dependability of criterion‐referenced decisions for international student admission. Four operational TOEFL iBT test forms were analyzed for all examinees as well as for 3 native language (L1) groups (Arabic, Korean, and Spanish).Haberman's (2008) subscore analysis suggested that the speaking section score had added value due to its relative distinctness from the other modalities. Consistent with the subscore analysis results, a series of exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) indicated the possibility of the presence of 2 correlated factors—a reading/listening/writing factor and a speaking factor. In contrast, the CFAs conducted separately for the 3 L1 groups as well as a multiple‐group confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) identified a correlated 4‐factor model with reading, listening, speaking, and writing factors as the best representation of the structure of the entire test for all examinees as well as for the 3 L1 groups. Reliability of the observed section scores for norm‐referenced score interpretations and the dependability of classification decisions made based on different cut scores were generally satisfactory while they were also found to be relatively low in some circumstances. Based on the mixed results concerning the value‐added information the TOEFL iBT section scores provide, recommendations for future research directions and some key issues of consideration for high‐stakes decision making based on the section scores were summarized.
Inpatient pharmacological sleep aid utilization is common at a tertiary medical center
Authors: Gillis Christine M. , Poyant Janelle O. , Degrado Jeremy R. , Ye Lichuan , Anger Kevin E. , Owens Robert L. 
Published: August 2014

BACKGROUNDSleep is known to be poor in the hospital. Patients frequently request pharmacological sleep aids, despite the risk of altered mental status (delirium) and falls. Little is known about the scope of pharmacological sleep aid use in hospitalized patients.METHODSWe performed a single center, retrospective review of all patients admitted to the general adult (age >18 years) medical and surgical units of a tertiary care center during a recent 2‐month period (January 2013–February 2013). Review of the electronic medication administration system was performed to assess for medications administered for sleep.RESULTSOf 642 unique admissions, 168 patients (26.2%) received a medication for sleep. Most (n = 115, 68.5%) had no known history of insomnia or regular prior sleep medication use. Patients most frequently were treated with trazodone (30.4%; median dose, 50 mg; range, 12.5–450 mg), lorazepam (24.4%; median, 0.5 mg; range, 0.25–2 mg), and zolpidem tartrate (17.9%; median, 10 mg; range, 2.5–10 mg). Of the medications given, 36.7% were given early (before 9 pm) or late (after midnight). Of patients not known to be previously taking a pharmacological sleep aid, 34.3% of them were discharged with a prescription for one.CONCLUSIONSDespite increasing evidence of risks such as delirium or falls, pharmacological sleep aid use in general wards remains common, even in elderly patients. Medication administration time is frequently suboptimal. Many previously sleep medication‐naïve patients leave the hospital with a sleep aid prescription. Further research is needed to understand the factors that contribute to the high rate of sleep medication use in hospitalized patients. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014;9:652–657. © 2014 Society of Hospital Medicine
Getting to ‘Yes’: Governing Genetically Modified Crops in Uganda
Authors: Schnurr Matthew A. , Gore Christopher 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThis paper critically examines the evolution of the regulatory regime to review and manage the potential social, environmental and health risks associated with the introduction of genetically modified organisms in Uganda. It reveals how and why institutions responsible for governing genetically modified crops have evolved over time and the implications of this progression. The paper investigates the inter‐relationships that connect the various elements of genetically modified organism regulation, arguing that current policy and legislative efforts are the results of the early establishment of institutions and processes tailored towards the eventual endorsement of these technologies. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Orbital‐ and millennial‐scale climate and vegetation changes between 32.5 and 6.9k cal a BP from Hanon Maar paleolake on Jeju Island, South Korea
Authors: PARK JUNGJAE , LIM HYOUN SOO , LIM JAESOO , YU KEUN BAE , CHOI JINMU 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTOrbital‐ and millennial‐scale climate and vegetation changes between 32.5 and 6.9k cal a BP from Hanon Maar paleolake on Jeju Island, Korea, were demonstrated by high‐resolution multi‐proxy data (pollen, magnetic susceptibility, total organic carbon, carbon/nitrogen ratios and sediment grain size). High‐resolution pollen records provided detailed information on the vegetation response to climate change. The Thalictrum pollen percentage, which corresponded to the magnetic susceptibility data, and the first principal component of principal‐component analysis of pollen data were good indicators of the orbital‐ and millennial‐scale dry/wet cycle in the study area. Hanon pollen and magnetic susceptibility records suggested that colder and drier conditions were prevalent between 25.2 and 17.6k cal a BP in the study area due to a precession‐induced decrease in summer insolation. Hanon multi‐proxy data were correlated with oxygen isotope records from Greenland and Hulu cave, suggesting the possible teleconnection of millennial‐scale climate oscillations between North Atlantic and East Asian regions. According to our results, Heinrich‐like cold events probably occurred around 31.1, 25.2 and 16.7k cal a BP, and the warm intervals observed around 30.7 and 29.9k cal a BP may have corresponded to Dansgaard–Oeschger warm events 4 and 3, respectively.
A natural experiment suggests little direct temperature forcing of the peatland palaeoclimate record
Authors: PAYNE RICHARD J. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTAn important uncertainty in the interpretation of peat‐based Holocene climate reconstructions is what aspect of climate is recorded. Testate amoeba palaeoecological records have generally been interpreted in terms of water table depth but an increasing weight of experimental evidence shows that testate amoeba communities may respond to temperature independent of hydrological variability. In most ombrotrophic peatlands, variability in water table depth is driven by a combination of both temperature and precipitation, making it difficult to isolate any direct forcing by temperature. An unusual peatland ecosystem in which water tables are extremely stable offers an approach to this question. If testate amoeba communities show variability through time in these percolation bogs this implies a direct influence of temperature. This study presents a late Holocene testate amoeba record from the Imnati percolation bog in western Georgia. Below a phase of recent eutrophication results show essentially no variability in testate amoeba community composition or inferred water table depth through more than 4 m of peat representing over 2000 years. It is improbable that there has been no temperature variability over this period and the data therefore imply that direct temperature forcing of the palaeoecological record is minimal, at least for this region and time‐scale.
A novel pectin‐degrading enzyme complex from Aspergillus sojaeATCC 20235 mutants
Authors: Mata‐Gómez Marco A. , Heerd Doreen , Oyanguren‐García Iñigo , Barbero Francis , Rito‐Palomares Marco , Fernández‐Lahore Marcelo 
Published: August 2014

AbstractBACKGROUNDIn the food industry, the use of pectinase preparations with high pectin esterase (PE) activity leads to the release of methanol, which is strictly regulated in food products. Herein, a pectin‐degrading enzyme (PDE) complex exhibiting low PE activity of three Aspergillus sojae ATCC 20235 mutants (M3, DH56 and Guserbiot 2.230) was investigated. Production of exo‐/endo‐polygalacturonase (PG), exo‐polymethylgalacturonase (PMG) and pectin lyase (PL) by mutant M3 and A. sojae using two different carbon sources was evaluated in solid‐state fermentation. Finally, experimental preparations obtained from the mutants and commercial pectinases standardized to the same potency were screened for PDEs.RESULTSMutant M3 grown on sugar beet was found to be the best producer of exo‐PG, endo‐PG, exo‐PMG and PL, with maximum yields of 1111, 449, 130 and 123 U g−1, respectively. All experimental preparations exhibited low PE activity, at least 21.5 times less than commercial pectinases, and higher endo‐PG (40 U mL−1).CONCLUSIONMutant M3 was the best PDE producer using sugar beet. Mutant strains presented a PDE complex featuring high endo‐PG and very low PE activities. This novel complex with low de‐esterifying activity can be exploited in the food industry to degrade pectin without releasing methanol. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Influence of cultivar and ripening time on bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties in Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.)
Authors: Bravo Karent , Sepulveda‐Ortega Stella , Lara‐Guzman Oscar , Navas‐Arboleda Alejandro A , Osorio Edison 
Published: August 2014

AbstractBACKGROUNDCape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) is an exotic fruit highly valued for its organoleptic properties and bioactive compounds. Considering that the presence of phenolics and ascorbic acid could contribute to its functional capacity, it is important to investigate the quality parameters, bioactive contents and functional properties with respect to genotype and ripening time. In this study the genotype effect was evaluated in 15 cultivars for two different harvest times. Changes during maturation were recorded in two commercial cultivars within seven levels of maturity.RESULTSMultivariate statistical analysis suggested that phenolic content and ORAC value were mainly affected by harvest time and that ascorbic acid content and DPPH level were mainly affected by genotype. In addition, acidity, phenolic content, ORAC value and inhibition of LDL oxidation decreased with maturity, but soluble solids content, ascorbic acid content, β‐carotene content and DPPH‐scavenging activity were higher in mature fruits.CONCLUSIONThe phenolic content, ascorbic acid content and antioxidant properties of Cape gooseberry fruit were strongly affected by cultivar, harvest time and maturity state. Consequently, the harvest time must be scheduled carefully to gain the highest proportion of bioactive compounds according to the specific cultivar and the environment where it is grown. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Oleuropein attenuates visceral adiposity in high‐fat diet‐induced obese mice through the modulation of WNT10b‐ and galanin‐mediated signalings
Authors: Kuem Narae , Song Su Jin , Yu Rina , Yun Jong Won , Park Taesun 
Published: August 2014

ScopeThe aim of the present study was to investigate the antiobesity effect of oleuropein on high‐fat diet (HFD) induced body weight gain and visceral adiposity in mice, and to explore the underlying mechanisms involved.Methods and resultsC57BL/6N mice were fed with a normal diet, HFD (40% fat of total energy), and HFD‐supplemented with 0.03% oleuropein for 10 wk. Oleuropein significantly reduced HFD‐induced body weight gain and visceral adiposity. Oleuropein also significantly reversed the HFD‐induced elevations of adipogenic related gene expression involved in WNT10b‐ and galanin‐mediated signalings in adipose tissue of mice. Consistent with in vivo findings, oleuropein dose‐dependently suppressed lipid accumulation in 3T3‐L1 cells during preadipocyte differentiation. Additionally, exposure of the 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes to oleuropein resulted in a marked attenuation of the secreted frizzled‐related protein 2 (WNT inhibitor) or galnon (galanin receptor agonist) induced cellular lipid accumulation.ConclusionThis study demonstrated the oleuropein‐reduced body weight gain and visceral adiposity in HFD‐fed mice. The protective effect of oleuropein against HFD‐induced adiposity in mice appeared to be mediated through the upregulation of genes involved in WNT10b‐mediated signaling and downregulation of genes involved in galanin‐mediated signaling cascades.