bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SOCIAL POLICIES TOWARD CHILDREN OF DIVERSE ETHNIC, RACIAL, AND LANGUAGE GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES
Authors: Laosa Luis M. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTIn every era in the history of U.S. public policies toward children, certain groups of children have been identified as being “at risk” and hence of social concern and responsibility. These groups consist of the physically handicapped and those with serious diseases; the emotionally disturbed; the mentally retarded; orphans; children whose mothers or fathers are permanently or temporarily absent; illegitimate, destitute, indigent, neglected, abused, and anti‐social or delinquent children. Only very recently have the children belonging to specified ethnic, racial, and language groups been added as major “risk” categories and thus become a major focus of social concern and public responsibility.The source of the social concern about all the groups listed above is the alleged inability of the family (when it exists) to cope with the problems implied by membership in the group, or the public danger that follows from leaving these problems untreated. This social concern does not mean that American society has always accepted full responsibility for children in these risk categories. It has not always provided care, treatment, or rehabilitation, nor has it always sought to prevent their misfortunes. Since colonial times, however, it has at least shown concern for certain categories of children.My principal purpose in this monograph is to trace major trends in the evolution of those aspects of social policies toward children that bear directly on issues of ethnic, racial, and language diversity in our society. I also seek to examine the public attitudes, the intellectual assumptions, and the sociodemographic trends that have accompanied these policy developments. In addition, I pay some attention to the roles that the social and behavioral sciences have played with regard to such policies.
THE TEST PERFORMANCE OF HANDICAPPED PEOPLE
Authors: Bennett Randy Elliot , Ragosta Marjorie , Stricker Lawrence J. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTThis paper is the second in a series of reports emanating from a four‐year research program meant to further knowledge of college and graduate admissions testing and handicapped people. The purpose of this paper is to document existing research on the test performance of handicapped people with respect to admissions and other similar tests. In addition, the psychometric characteristics of these tests when used with handicapped people are reported.Though much more data need to be collected, several observations are made. Handicapped students as a general group perform appreciably lower than national norms on the SAT and ACT Assessment (by about .5 standard deviations). Of the four specific disability groups discussed, the admissions test performance of physically handicapped and of visually impaired examinees is most similar to the nondisabled population. The admissions test performance of learning disabled individuals ranks third among the specific disability groups. With limited exceptions, the performance of this group is appreciably lower than national norms (generally by at least .5 standard deviations). Hearing impaired students perform the least we 11 of all disabled groups on admissions tests.The limited data on the reliability of cognitive tests for handicapped examinees show no trustworthy differences in measurement precision between disabled and nondisabled populations. The results of the small number of validity investigations that have been conducted also show no dependable differences across populations. Data on the ACT Assessment and the SAT generally support the validity of these measures as equivalent predictors of col lege performance in selected disabled student groups and the nonhandicapped population.The lack of data on test performance, reliability, and validity prohibits drawing definitive conclusions at this time. Further research is necessary before the fairness of the admissions testing process for handicapped examinees can be soundly evaluated.
FOREIGN NATIONALS TAKING THE GRE GENERAL TEST DURING 1981–82: SELECTED CHARACTERISTICS AND TEST PERFORMANCE
Authors: Wilson Kenneth M. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTDuring the 1981–82 testing year, foreign nationals representing over 140 countries or territories made up approximately 17 percent of all GRE General Test takers. However, they were heavily concentrated in scientific‐technical fields–for example, almost one‐half of all examinees in engineering and one‐third of those in math‐science fields were foreign nationals. Most of these examinees were non‐native speakers of English for whom average scores on the verbal and analytical measures were considerably lower than those of native English speakers (both U.S. and foreign) in similar fields of study. However, the quantitative mean profile, by field, of foreign examinees did not vary according to English language background and was quite similar to that of U.S. examinees.Detailed comparative profiles of GRE performance data are provided for the general foreign and U.S. examinee populations, and for foreign examinees classified by country of citizenship. In addition, the study analyzes GRE performance of groups of foreign and U.S. examinees defined in terms of age, sex, reported English language communication status, intended graduate field, U.S. vs other undergraduate origin, repeater vs nonrepeater status, and other personal, academic, and testing‐related characteristics.Study findings suggest that GRE General Test data (especially verbal and analytical test data) generated by non‐U.S. citizens from non‐native English speaking societies should not be treated as comparable to test data for U.S. examinees or examinees from other native‐English speaking societies.
ASYMPTOTIC PROPERTIES OF THE ROBUSTIFIED JACKKNIFED ESTIMATOR
Authors: Jones Douglas H. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTThis article describes several properties of Wainer and Wright's (1980) jackknifed ability estimator. These properties are as follows: the first order asymptotic behavior of the standard jackknife, including consistency properties; the first order asymptotic behavior of the general M‐type robustified jackknife including consistency properties and formulas for the standard error; and a small sample distribution‐free formula for the standard error of the standard jackknife.
A PROFILE OF PREPARATION IN MATHEMATICS
Authors: Hale Gordon A. , Whittington Beverly 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTA self‐evaluation instrument entitled the Mathematics Inventory was developed whose purpose is to generate a profile of a student's preparation in core areas of secondary school mathematics. This report discusses pilot research using a draft version of the inventory. Appended to the report are the inventory along with prototypes of reports to students and to schools that could be generated from the students' inventory responses.
INFERENCES ABOUT LATENT POPULATIONS FROM COMPLEX SAMPLES*
Authors: Mislevy Robert J. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTStandard procedures for drawing inferences from complex samples do not apply when the variables of interest z are not observed directly, but must be inferred from secondary random variables x that depend on z stochastically. Employing Rubin's (1977) approach to missing data in survey research, we present a procedure by which reasonable inferences can be made in such situations. The key is to represent knowledge about latent variables in the form of a predictive distribution, conditional on manifest variables. It is then possible to obtain the expectations of statistics that would have been computed if the values of the latent variables corresponding to sampled units were known, along with variance estimators that account for uncertainty due to both subject sampling and the latency of z.
NOTES ON THE USE OF LOG‐LINEAR MODELS FOR FITTING DISCRETE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS
Authors: Holland Paul W. , Thayer Dorothy T. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTThe theory of log‐linear models is developed for multinomially distributed data – i.e., frequency distributions and discrete multivariate distributions. Such models have applications to data smoothing and can be used in test equating. Attention is given to the computations used to find maximum likelihood estimates using Newton's method and to the computation of asymptotic standard errors for the fitted frequencies. Two examples, using real data, are used to illustrate the output of a computer program that implements these ideas.
TRENDS IN THE SELECTION OF SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, OR ENGINEERING AS MAJOR FIELDS OF STUDY AMONG TOP‐SCORING SAT TAKERS
Authors: Grandy Jerilee 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTThe study explored the major field preferences of top‐scoring SAT examinees over the past decade, focussing especially on the numbers choosing to major in math, science, and engineering. The major findings were the following:
The proportion of top‐scoring examinees planning to major in math, science, and engineering is greater than the proportion of the rest of the examinee population planning to major in any of those fields.
The proportion of top‐scoring examinees planning to major in math, science, and engineering increased until 1982 and then declined slightly. The decline reflects an overall decline in interest in mathematics and the physical sciences. Engineering seems to have leveled off after 1982, but it is not clear how the trend will continue.
There is a considerable difference in the major field selections of males and females. In 1986, 55 percent of the top‐scoring males and only 34 percent of the top‐scoring females selected a major within math, science, and engineering. Only about 15 percent of the white females having the highest mathematical aptitude (scoring above the 90th percentile on Math) plan to major in a highly quantitative field, namely, mathematics, physical sciences, or engineering.
The percentage of top‐scoring females planning to major in math, science, and engineering rose until 1982 and then declined, following much the same pattern as the trend for males.
There has been a shift in the proportions of top‐scoring examinees planning to study different fields within math, science, and engineering. Over the past decade, the proportion planning to study engineering has risen from 33 percent to 47 percent.
Over the past decade, there has been a clear increase in the number of top‐scoring examinees planning to study engineering and business, and there have been declines particularly in the more quantitative sciences and in the health fields other than pre‐medicine. Business has proved to attract more white females and blacks of both sexes than white males.
RELATIONSHIPS OF REASONING AND WRITING SKILLS TO GRE ANALYTICAL ABILITY SCORES
Authors: Carlson Sybil B. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTThe major objective of the study was to gain more information about the reasoning skills tapped by the GRE analytical measure by examining how performance on its constituent item types relate to alternative criteria. A second objective was to ascertain the extent to which additional information on examinees' analytical skills might be obtained from further analyses of their writing performance. The data base for this study consisted of 406 writing samples, prepared by 203 students who had recently taken the GRE General Test for admission to institutions of higher education in the United States. The bulk of these data were collected for research funded by the GRE Board and TOEFL Policy Council, in which the writing samples were scored to reflect writing skills; these scores were related to scores on the GRE General Test and the TOEFL, as well as other measures. In order to supplement the sample of native speakers, additional writing samples were collected from 77 native speakers of English and 3 native speakers of Arabic who had recently taken the GRE General Test and who were in their first year of graduate education in the United States. The final sample included subsamples of nonnative speakers of English (6 Arabic, 73 Chinese, 35 Spanish) and the subsample of 89 native speakers of English.The objectives of this study were accomplished by developing several scoring methods that focused on the reasoning skills that are reflected in these papers. These scores, in addition to the scores for writing skills, were related to item type subscores derived from the verbal and analytical reasoning sections of the GRE General Test in order to determine if these item types relate differently to judgments of examinees' thinking and writing skills.Three scoring methods did not appear to provide additional information beyond what is obtained from the analytical reasoning and verbal sections of the GRE General Test. The Moss scheme, however, yielded scores that were relatively independent of these sections of the GRE. It is possible that these scores tapped verbal reasoning skills that are not assessed by the GRE General Test, but further research is needed to determine whether they represent important developed abilities. Writer's Workbench computerized text analyses suggested that the different writing tasks elicited different kinds of writing performance, and that the writing performance of students representing different native language groups may vary in complex ways in response to these tasks.
THE EQUIVALENCE OF SCORES FROM AUTOMATED AND CONVENTIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS
Authors: Mazzeo John , Harvey Anne L. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTA literature review was conducted to determine the current state of knowledge concerning the effects of the computer administration of standardized educational and psychological tests on the psychometric properties of these instruments. Studies were grouped according to a number of factors relevant to the administration of tests by computer. Based on the studies reviewed, we arrived at the following conclusions:
The rate at which test‐takers omit items in an automated test may differ from the rate at which they omit items in a conventional presentation.
Scores on tests from automated versions of personality inventories such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory are lower than scores obtained in the conventional testing format. These differences may result in part from differing omit rates, as described above, but some of the differences may be caused by other factors.
Scores from automated versions of speed tests are not likely to be comparable with scores from paper‐and‐pencil versions.
The presentation of graphics in an automated test may have an effect on score equivalence. Such effects were obtained in studies using the Hidden Figures Test. However, in studies with three Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests, effects were not found.
Tests containing items based on reading passages can become more difficult when presented on a CRT. This was demonstrated in a single study with the ASVAB tests.
The possibility of such asymmetric practice effects may make it wise to avoid conducting equating studies based on single‐group counterbalanced designs.
THE INFORMATION MATRIX IN LATENT‐VARIABLE MODELS1
Authors: Mislevy Robert J. , Sheehan Kathleen M. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTThe information matrix for the parameters in a latent‐variable model is bounded from above by the information that would obtain if the values of the latent variables could also be observed. The difference is the “missing information.” This paper discusses the structure of the information matrix, and characterizes the degree to which missing information can be recovered by exploiting collateral variables for respondents. The results are illustrated with data from the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.
EMPIRICAL BAYES METHODS: A TOOL FOR EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS
Authors: Braun Henry I. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTEmpirical Bayes (EB) on hierarchical linear models are frequently utilized in practice. This paper provides an overview of parametric EB methods with special emphasis on their application in data‐analytic settings. A variety of models with different levels of complexity are described. Comparisons of performance with other methods are illustrated using test data. Applications to validity generalization and survival analysis are also discussed.
RANDOMIZATION‐BASED INFERENCES ABOUT LATENT VARIABLES FROM COMPLEX SAMPLES
Authors: Mislevy Robert J. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTStandard procedures for drawing inferences from complex samples do not apply when the variable of interestθcannot be observed directly, but must be inferred from the values of secondary random variables that depend onθstochastically. Examples are examinee proficiency variables in item response theory models and class memberships in latent class models. This paper uses Rubin's “multiple imputation” approach to approximate sample statistics that would have been obtained, hadθbeen observable. Associated variance estimates account for uncertainty due to both the sampling of respondents from the population and the latency ofθ. The approach is illustrated with artificial examples and with data from the 1984 National Assessment for Educational Progress reading survey.
Influence of atmospheric pressure plasma treatment on mechanical proprieties of enamel and sealant bond strength
Authors: Teixeira Hellen S. , Coelho Paulo G. , Duarte Simone , Janal Malvin N. , Silva Nelson , Thompson Van P. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractObjectivesTo define the effect of APP treatments on the mechanical properties of enamel and on its ability to promote sealant bonding to unetched enamel.MethodsHuman molar teeth were sectioned exposing flat enamel regions at the buccal and lingual surfaces. The specimens were divided into two substrate groups (etched and unetched) and distributed over three surface treatments(i) 5 slm Argon APP treatment, NaOH surface treatment, and (iii) compressed air application (control). The Enamel surfaces were characterized by SEM, IFM, and Goniometer instruments. For the mechanical tests nanoindentation and microshear bond strength were employed. Initial data evaluation comprised normality verification (SPS S software) and variance checking and the appropriated statistical analysis model employed. For all statistical inferences, significance was set at 0.05.ResultsSE was significantly higher for the etched and unetched group treated with Plasma relative to the NaOH and control groups. Nanoindentation testing determined that Rank hardness was significantly higher in the control and Plasma group relative to NaOH for the etched group. Rank Elastic Modulus was significantly higher on Control groups relative to NaOH and Plasma groups for the etched substrate. No difference was detected between treatments for the unetched group. For the µSBS test, we observed that APP treatment on etched and unetched enamel increased bonds significantly (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that APP increased SE, surface wettability and bond strength between enamel and sealants potentially serving as a substitute for conventional acid etching procedures or as an adjuvant for self‐etch sealants. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 103B: 1082–1091, 2015.
Simultaneous Determination of Nitrite and Hydrogen Peroxide Using Hemoglobin Modified Pencil Lead Electrode as a Novel Biosensor: Application to the Analysis of Mother’s Milk
Authors: Majidi Mir Reza , Pournaghi‐Azar Mohammad Hossein , Saadatirad Afsaneh , Alipour Esmaeel 
Published: September 2014

AbstractIn the present paper simultaneous determination of nitrite and hydrogen peroxide using hemoglobin modified pencil lead electrode (Hb/PLE) prepared by a simple and rapid electroless method was described. In the first part of the work the reduction of NO2 and H2O2 at the modified electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Then under optimal conditions using differential pulse voltammetry, the biosensor could be used for the determination of H2O2 at concentration ranging from 5 to 240 M and NO2 at concentration ranging from 10 to 240 M. The detection limits were 3×10−6 and 5×10−6 M, for NO2 and H2O2 respectively. Differential pulse voltammetry also used for the simultaneous determination of NO2 and H2O2. This modified electrode successfully used for the determination of NO2 and H2O2 in tap water and mother’s milk samples.
Survival Modeling of Discontinuation From Psychotherapy: A Consumer Decision‐Making Perspective
Authors: Krishnamurthy Partha , Khare Adwait , Klenck Suzanne C. , Norton Peter J. 
Published: September 2014

ObjectiveThis study examines discontinuation of psychotherapy from a consumer decision‐making perspective. Two plausible predictors, the level of illness and rate of progress from where the patient started, were examined as predictors of treatment discontinuation.MethodUsing data from 139 patients (45.5% women; mean age = 32.18 years) participating in a 12‐week transdiagnostic cognitive‐behavioral therapy program for anxiety, weekly assessments of anxiety severity were examined to investigate the extent to which level of anxiety and rate of improvement predicted treatment discontinuation.ResultsSupport was found for a significant interaction effect wherein at higher anxiety levels, rate of progress was less associated with discontinuation than at lower anxiety levels.ConclusionFaster rates of anxiety reduction are associated with greater likelihood of discontinuation when the client is at a lower level of anxiety, whereas rate of improvement is less associated with discontinuation if there remains continued impairment and room for improvement. As such, clinicians should monitor rates of improvement throughout treatment to help identify and evaluate patients at increased risk of premature discontinuation.
Altered proteolytic activity and expression of MMPs and aggrecanases and their inhibitors in Kashin–Beck disease
Authors: Chen Jinghong , Luo Mingxiu , Wang Wei , Zhang Zentie , He Ying , Duance Victor C. , Hughes Clare E. , Caterson Bruce , Cao Junling 
Published: September 2014

AbstractKashin–Beck disease (KBD) is a chronic, deforming endemic osteoarticular disease with altered metabolism of the cartilage matrix. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), aggrecanases (ATAMTSs), and their inhibitors (TIMPs) play important roles in cartilage formation and matrix degradation. This study investigated these proteases and inhibitors in young KBD cartilage. The percentages of chondrocytes staining for MMP‐1/‐13 and MMP‐generated DIPEN neoepitope, aggrecanase‐generated ITEGE neoepitope in aggrecan in KBD patients were significantly higher than in controls. However, TIMP‐1 was significantly less numerous than in controls in the superficial and middle zones of KBD samples, the percentage of chondrocytes staining for the TIMP‐2 was significantly higher than in controls. Staining for MMP‐1/‐13 and, TIMP‐1/‐2 in KBD patients was prominent in the superficial zone and the middle zone of articular cartilage. Staining for ITEGE and DIPEN neoepitopes in KBD samples was prominent in the superficial zone and the middle zone of articular cartilage. The strongest staining for the MMP and aggrecanase‐generated neoepitopes was adjacent to areas of chondronecrosis. These results indicated that KBD cartilage destruction depends on collagen‐ and aggrecan‐degrading proteases such as collagenases (MMP‐1/‐13), as well as aggrecanases. Increased TIMP‐2 level adjacent to necrotic areas suggest that attempted repair mechanism are also activated. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:47–55, 2015.