bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING SEPARATE SET AND CONTENT COMPONENTS OF A TEST SCORE1
Authors: Helmstadter Gerald C. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTCronbach has defined response set as “any tendency causing a person to give different responses to test items than he would when the same content is presented in different form.” The purpose of this study was to develop and compare different procedures for obtaining separate measures of set and content components of a test score.Using two distinct models, several ways of obtaining such scores were developed. Each scoring system not producing results algebraically or linearly equivalent to another was then applied to the same data obtained in a situation in which a response set had occurred. Intercorrelations of all the measures were obtained and used for the comparison.The median intercorrelations among content scores, among set scores and between content and set scores were found to be .82, .96, and .05 respectively. It was therefore concluded that separate measures of set and content could be obtained and that a simplified ratio procedure would produce adequate results for most situations.
AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF THE STABILITY OF A GROUP MEAN IN RELATION TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF TEST ITEMS AMONG PUPILS
Authors: Johnson M. Clemens , Lord Frederic M. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTTwo alternative procedures of measuring group achievement under limited testing time are defined and empirically compared with respect to their efficiency in estimating a group mean and ranking a number of groups. The procedures are (A) administering the same set of items to each student in a group, and (B) administering a different set of items to each student in the group. Item scores on a college mathematics examination are employed in the comparisons.
SCORING A CONTROLLED‐ASSOCIATION TEST
Authors: Hills John R. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTSix different scores from a controlled association test have been studied, using a large sample of experienced engineers as examinees, and using criteria of job success and job placement. The test asks subjects to write, in a limited time, as many synonyms as they can to eight common words. None of the six scores from this test appears to be related to job placement, but the five of them which are based on the number of common responses given seem to be related to job success. These five scores vary along a continuum of commonness of response words, from a very stringent definition of commonness to a definition which includes all responses given. Although most of the validity coefficients computed in this study are well below correlations of .20, it is estimated that by using a revised test format a validity approaching .20 could be obtained in a similar testing situation. Although not spectacularly high, in comparison with the other variables which were studied in the Engineering Graduate Placement Test Research study such a validity coefficient for ratings of success is promising. The most promising score on the Controlled Association Test is the one based on the most stringent definition of commonness. A score based on number of uncommon responses was not significantly related to the criteria.
SOME RELATIONS BETWEEN TEST SCORES AND ITEM STATISTICS WHEN SAMPLES ARE SYSTEMATICALLY VARIED
Authors: Swineford Frances 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTFrom a regular CEEB applicant group taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test, four special samples were drawn on the basis of SAT‐M, namely, a medium‐ability, heterogeneous sample, and high‐, medium‐, and low‐ability, homogeneous samples. Detailed comparisons of their score data are made. Although differences in rate of drop‐out are significant, they are much smaller than was anticipated. The relation between SAT‐M scaled scores and the item difficulty measure, delta, is such that a 100‐point shift in the former is accompanied by a 2‐point shift in the latter. The equating (or scaling) of delta presents no problems when the samples involved are similar in average ability. When there are marked differences, however, special problems arise, which can be overcome under certain conditions.
CONCURRENT VALIDATION OF ENGINEERING PLACEMENT TESTS AGAINST PLACEMENT CRITERIA FOR EXPERIENCED ENGINEERS
Authors: Saunders David R. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTThis report describes the development and initial validation of tests designed for use in placing engineers in appropriate functional types of work. The burden of the predictive effectiveness is borne by an interest test – the ITME Test – which measures the relative strength of interests in ideas, things, men, and economic matters. A test of inductive reasoning is also useful in more precisely placing those whose interests are like those of research or development engineers. Preliminary findings indicate the possibility of developing other useful measures, but these have not been further explored.The best of the concurrent validities for placement criteria range from about .3 to .7, depending on the particular job for which the prediction is made. If these validities can be sustained in longitudinal cross‐validations, they will warrant a recommendation for operational use of these tests. Additionally, there are a number of indications of ways in which the original experimental forms of these tests, on which this report is based, may be appreciably improved.
THE CURETON‐TUKEY METHOD OF EQUATING TEST SCORES
Authors: Karon Bertram P. , Cliff Rosemary Hayes 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTBecause of its less restrictive assumptions, the equi‐percentile method of equating is theoretically preferable to the mean‐and‐sigma method; unfortunately it involves more sampling error. The Cureton‐Tukey procedure for reducing this sampling error by mathematically “smoothing” the samples before equating by the equi‐percentile method is described, and empirically evaluated.Although the Cureton‐Tukey procedure seems promising, none of the differences among the three methods being compared – the mean‐and‐sigma method, the equi‐percentile method, and the Cureton‐Tukey method reach statistical significance. It is therefore impossible to draw any definitive conclusions from the limited data employed in this study.
NEEDS FOR ACHIEVEMENT, ASPIRATIONS, AND COLLEGE CRITERIA
Authors: Hills John R. 
Published: August 2014

SUMMARYAn eighteen picture Thematic Apperception type measure of need for achievement and a questionnaire measure of aspirations were given to entering law school students. The picture‐story test included three of the pictures used lay McClelland, three of Ricciuti and Sadacca's best pictures, and four sets of three pictures each selected to reflect needs for economic, social, academic, and professional achievement. The questionnaire was designed to reflect motivation in these same four areas. Criteria were available in three of these areas. Grades should reflect academic motivation. The number of social activities in which they engage might be expected to reflect social aspirations. Faculty ratings of professional promise were obtained to reflect professional ambitions.The picture‐story scores from one picture to another did not agree at all well, even within the sets of three pictures all aimed at the same type of motivation. Neither did any of the scores based on picture‐story protocols correlate significantly with any of the criteria. This may be partly due to unreliability of scores derived from this type of test. The questionnaire scores were satisfactorily reliable and displayed several significant correlations with the criteria.
STATISTICAL INFERENCES ABOUT TRUE SCORES*
Authors: Lord Frederic M. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTFormulas are derived for unbiased sample estimators of any raw or central moment of the frequency distribution of true scores. Explicit and relatively convenient computational formulas are written down for both raw and central moments up to and including the fourth order. Methods for fitting frequency curves to a set of estimated true‐score moments are briefly discussed.A general method is developed for obtaining from each examinee's observed score a least‐squares estimate of his true score. Detailed computational formulas for making such estimates are given for the case where the regression of true score on observed score is assumed to be linear and for the case where this regression is assumed to be a third‐degree parabola. The method can be extended to the case where this regression may be approximated by a parabola of any specified degree.
EDUCATIONAL TESTING AND TEST‐FORM FACTORS
Authors: Vernon Philip E. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTEvidence is here brought together suggesting that educational and other psychological tests are appreciably dependent not only on the abilities that they are supposed to measure, but on the form and material of the tests and their items, sets and attitudes in the testees, and various conditions of testing. The factors that emerge when tests are inter‐correlated represent to some extent these formal characteristics rather than desired intellectual functions. In particular this applies to current educational tests which, for sound educational reasons, avoid simpler, more factual, items and prefer complex comprehension‐type or problem items.Part II shows that, while tests of the same objectives employing different forms tend to give discrepant results (e.g., essay and new‐type), tests in the same form which are aimed at different school subjects or different intellectual functions inter‐correlate very highly. This detracts from their validity, especially in counseling or differentiating abilities along different lines. For many purposes the simpler tests show superior validity, and it is doubtful how far the more complex ones do bring in the ‘higher’ intellectual functions at which they are aimed.Part III argues that, in like manner, most of the cognitive factors established by psychologists show little relevance to educational or other external criteria, possibly because they represent factors within paper‐and‐pencil tests rather than genuine factors of intellect.Part IV. A first essential is to map out more precisely the extent and nature of form influences, so that, in so far as they prove to be important, account can be taken of them in test construction. A number of types of predictive measures are discussed which might add more to the validity of educational selection, particularly at college level, than do complex forms of reading tests. These include: better use of essay examinations and school grades, listening comprehension tests, speed and error scores, indices of study habits, tests based on learning situations, and tests of rational thinking, flexibility and creativity. When tests are used primarily for evaluation rather than prediction, investigations should be guided by the conception of intrinsic or construct validity, which – unlike logical or face validity – involves the collection of empirical evidence. Some of the more promising approaches to such problems are through factorial studies of educational tests along with tests of psychological factors and ‘real‐life’ criteria, and experimental studies of group differences and of the gains brought about by different types of teaching.
NOTE ON “TESTS OF THE SAME LENGTH DO HAVE THE SAME STANDARD ERROR OF MEASUREMENT”1
Authors: Swineford Frances 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTLord has reported a high relation between the K‐R (20) standard error of measurement and test length. The present inquiry leads to an expression of this relation in terms of item variances and covariances and indicates the ranges of these values normally found for ETS tests.
AN INDEX OF THE DISCRIMINATING POWER OF A TEST AT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE SCORE RANGE
Authors: Levine Richard , Lord Frederic M. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTAn important characteristic of any test is its ability to discriminate among examinees who differ in ability. The conventional reliability and validity coefficients are indices of discrimination for the test as a whole; however, except under certain limited conditions, these over‐all indices do not apply at all points along the score scale. The purpose of the present paper is to provide such an index and illustrate its use.
FURTHER IMPLICATIONS OF MUNDY‐CASTLE'S CORRELATIONS BETWEEN EEG AND WECHSLER‐BELLEVUE VARIABLES1
Authors: Saunders D. R. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTFactor analysis is re‐applied, using relatively more rigorous methods, to a 15 × 15 correlation matrix reported by Mundy‐Castle and containing 11 Wechsler‐Bellevue subtest variables, 2 EEG variables, age and occupational level, for a sample of 34 employees of the South African National Institute for Personnel Research. Six common factors were extracted and subjected to orthogonal rotation in search of meaningful simple structure.Two age‐related factors were found and respectively identified as “Experience” and “Deterioration.” (Factors I and II.)Within the residual four‐space, the vectors for alpha Frequency in the EEG and Digit Span performance in the W‐B were found to be comparable. (Factor III.) This result is discussed in relation to the excitability cycle hypothesis, primary vs. secondary function, and externalization vs. internalization.The vector for alpha Index was found to have a near perfect communality in the residual three‐space, and is interpreted as measuring (inversely) strength of “Conditioned Attentiveness.” (Factor IV.) Picture Completion in the W‐B is judged to depend partially on this factor.The remaining two factors are of minor interest since they are probably mixtures of things that could not be distinguished in this study using only 15 variables and 34 cases.It is suggested that a proper interpretation for common factors, when there have not been enough variables to preclude the existence of specific factors, is in terms of dynamic mechanisms presumptive of a cause‐effect relationship between loaded variables, rather than in terms of hypothetical underlying variables. Factors I, IV, and V can be used to illustrate this principle.
Mechanical characterization of a bifunctional Tetronic hydrogel adhesive for soft tissues
Authors: Sanders Lindsey , Stone Roland , Webb Kenneth , Mefford Thompson , Nagatomi Jiro 
Published: August 2014

AbstractAlthough a number of tissue adhesives and sealants for surgical use are currently available, attaining a useful balance in high strength, high compliance, and low swelling has proven difficult. Recent studies have demonstrated that a four‐arm poly(propylene oxide)‐poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer, Tetronic, can be chemically modified to form a hydrogel tissue adhesive (Cho et al., Acta Biomater 2012;8:2223–2232; Barrett et al., Adv Health Mater 2012;1–11; Balakrishnan, Evaluating mechanical performance of hydrogel‐based adhesives for soft tissue applications. Clemson University, All Theses, Paper 1574: Tiger Prints; 2013). Building on the success of these studies, this study explored bifunctionalization of Tetronic with acrylates for chemical crosslinking of the hydrogel and N‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) for reaction with tissue amines. The adhesive bond strengths of various uni and bifunctional Tetronic blends (T1107 ACR: T1107 ACR/NHS) determined by lap shear testing ranged between 8 and 74 kPa, with the 75:25 (T1107 ACR: T1107 ACR/NHS) blend displaying the highest value. These results indicated that addition of NHS led to improvement of tissue bond strength over acrylation alone. Furthermore, ex vivo pressure tests using the rat bladder demonstrated that the bifunctional Tetronic adhesive exhibited high compliance and maintained pressures under hundreds of filling and emptying cycles. Together, the results of this study provided evidence that the bifunctional Tetronic adhesive with a proper blend ratio may be used to achieve an accurate balance in bulk and tissue bond strengths, as well as the compliance and durability for soft tissue such as the bladder. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 861–868, 2015.
Extracellular matrix components of adipose derived stromal cells promote alignment, organization, and maturation of cardiomyocytes in vitro
Authors: Przybyt Ewa , van Luyn Marja J. A. , Harmsen Martin C. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractAdipose derived stromal cells (ADSC) are relevant therapeutic agents to treat myocardial infarction (MI) in clinical trials. Soluble factors secreted by ADSC, such as growth factors and cytokines, suppress inflammation and apoptosis while promoting angiogenesis and the proliferation of cardiomyocytes (CM). Moreover, ADSC synthesize extracellular matrix (ECM) components into the intercellular space which might contribute to their therapeutic capacity. Thus, ADSC might directly modulate the post‐MI microenvironment through a combination of paracrine and juxtacrine signaling. In this study, the juxtacrine role of ADSC and ADSC‐derived ECM on the organization and maturation of CM was investiagated. Human ADSC synthesized and deposited a heterogenous and complex mixture of ECM components such as collagen I, III, IV, fibronectin, elastin as well as the matricellular protein periostin. Cocultures of rodent CM with human ADSC or with human ADSC‐derived ECM components enhanced the cardiomyocyte alignment, their intercellular connections and the maturation of their sarcomeres, while the proliferation rate of the CM was increased and their level of hypertrophy reduced. The use of human ADSC‐derived ECM could serve both to augment in vitro tissue‐engineered myocardial constructs and to improve myocardial remodeling after infarction. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 1840–1848, 2015.
A new model army: Emerging fish models to study the genomics of vertebrate Evo‐Devo
Authors: Braasch Ingo , Peterson Samuel M. , Desvignes Thomas , McCluskey Braedan M. , Batzel Peter , Postlethwait John H. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTMany fields of biology—including vertebrate Evo‐Devo research—are facing an explosion of genomic and transcriptomic sequence information and a multitude of fish species are now swimming in this “genomic tsunami.” Here, we first give an overview of recent developments in sequencing fish genomes and transcriptomes that identify properties of fish genomes requiring particular attention and propose strategies to overcome common challenges in fish genomics. We suggest that the generation of chromosome‐level genome assemblies—for which we introduce the term “chromonome”—should be a key component of genomic investigations in fish because they enable large‐scale conserved synteny analyses that inform orthology detection, a process critical for connectivity of genomes. Orthology calls in vertebrates, especially in teleost fish, are complicated by divergent evolution of gene repertoires and functions following two rounds of genome duplication in the ancestor of vertebrates and a third round at the base of teleost fish. Second, using examples of spotted gar, basal teleosts, zebrafish‐related cyprinids, cavefish, livebearers, icefish, and lobefin fish, we illustrate how next generation sequencing technologies liberate emerging fish systems from genomic ignorance and transform them into a new model army to answer longstanding questions on the genomic and developmental basis of their biodiversity. Finally, we discuss recent progress in the genetic toolbox for the major fish models for functional analysis, zebrafish, and medaka, that can be transferred to many other fish species to study in vivo the functional effect of evolutionary genomic change as Evo‐Devo research enters the postgenomic era. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 316–341, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of the 1970s climate shift in South America
Authors: Jacques‐Coper Martín , Garreaud René D. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTThe 1976–1977 cold‐to‐warm sea surface temperature (SST) shift in the tropical Pacific Ocean, which has been associated with a phase change of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) index, separated a ‘La Niña‐like’ decadal regime from an ‘El Niño‐like’ one. In this article, we analyse the differences of mean of annual and austral‐summer (DJF) temperature, precipitation, and sea‐level pressure (SLP) over South America (SA) between 1961–1973 and 1978–1990, and explore the occurrence of significant shifts in their time series. Our sources are instrumental records, gridded interpolated data, and reanalyses. Although major regional differences in the intensity of the signal are detected, the climate shift is identified in all variables. In the mid‐1970s at annual level, reanalysis SLP data reveal the onset of a step‐like anticyclonic circulation anomaly in the southern tip of SA and an abrupt weakening of the Southeast Pacific Subtropical Anticyclone (SEPA). This latter feature may have partly induced the rapid warming observed along the tropical–extratropical west coast of the continent through the weakening of the cold Humboldt current system. An abrupt warming was also detected in surface air temperature (SAT) composites located along the coast of the northern part of SA and in Southeastern SA (SESA). During summer, we found a particularly conspicuous shift‐like warming over Southern South America (SSA, comprising Patagonia). Besides, a shift‐like increase (decrease) in annual mean precipitation is observed over Central Argentina and in the tropics, to the south (north) of 10°S. In line with previous studies, we conclude that both the interannual (El Niño‐Southern Oscillation, ENSO) and the interdecadal (PDO) variability modes seem to have had an incidence in the manifestation of the 1970s climate shift, and that its magnitude appears to be unprecedented during the 20th century, as shown in particular by century‐long SAT composites from northern Chile and SSA.
Ultrasensitive terahertz/infrared waveguide modulators based on multilayer graphene metamaterials
Authors: Khromova Irina , Andryieuski Andrei , Lavrinenko Andrei 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThis paper studies and classifies the electromagnetic regimes of multilayer graphene‐dielectric artificial metamaterials in the terahertz/infrared range. The employment of such composites for waveguide‐integrated modulators is analysed and three examples of novel tunable devices are presented. The first one is a modulator with excellent ON‐state transmission and very high modulation depth: >38 dB at 70 meV graphene's electrochemical potential (Fermi energy) change. The second one is a modulator with extreme sensitivity towards graphene's Fermi energy ‐ a minute 1 meV variation of the latter leads to >13.2 dB modulation depth. The third one is a tunable waveguide‐based passband filter. The narrow‐band cut‐off conditions around the ON‐state allow the latter to shift its central frequency by 1.25% per every meV graphene's Fermi energy change.
Kinetic Analysis of Mechanochemical Chain Scission of Linear Poly(phthalaldehyde)
Authors: Peterson Gregory I. , Boydston Andrew J. 
Published: August 2014

The kinetics of mechanochemical chain scission of poly(phthalaldehyde) (PPA) are investigated. Ultrasound‐induced cavitation is capable of causing chain scission in the PPA backbone that ultimately leads to rapid depolymerization of each resulting polymer fragment when above the polymer's ceiling temperature (Tc). An interesting feature of the mechanochemical breakdown of PPA is that “half‐chain” daughter fragments are not observed, since the depolymerization is rapid following chain scission. These features facilitate the determination of rate constants of activation for multiple molecular weights from a single sonication experiment. Additionally, the degradation kinetics are modified with chain‐end trapping agents through variation of the nature and amount of small molecule nucleophile or electrophile.
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