bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
POPULATION DIFFERENCES IN SPEED VERSUS LEVEL OF GRE READING COMPREHENSION: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY
Authors: Wilson Kenneth M. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTThe concept of differences in “speed” versus “level” of reading comprehension is well established, and tests of reading ability frequently provide separate measures of “speed of reading with understanding” and “level of ability to read with understanding.” This study was undertaken to explore possible population differences in speed versus level of GRE reading comprehension, using operational measures computed post hoc from item‐level data in GRE files for a pre‐October‐1977 edition of the verbal test–that is, a version in which 40 GRE reading comprehension (RC) items were included as a separately timed section, administered under then current formula‐scoring instructions.The “level” (formula) score was defined by performance on the first 20 RC items (RC1), completed by almost all examinees, and the “speed” (formula) score was based on the second 20 items (RC2)–the number of RC2 items “attempted” ranged from 0‐20. RC1, RC2, and a formula score based on 28 odd‐numbered discrete‐verbal items (DVodd) were z‐scaled in data for more than 21,000 examinees tested in a scheduled administration of the GRE in October 1976. Patterns of differences between correlated z‐scaled means (mean RC2 minus mean RC1) were analyzed for (a) U.S. examinees classified by sex, ethnicity, English‐language communication status (English primary language, or EPL, versus English second language, or ESL), and four broad graduate major areas, and (b) non‐U.S. examinees classified by sex, language status, and academic area.It was considered plausible that speed/level differences would be present in analyses by graduate major area and by EPL/ESL status, but not in analyses by sex or by ethnicity. Patterns of relative standing on RC2 and RC1 were generally consistent with hypothesis: RC2 > RC1 (higher standing on speed than on level) for humanities and social science majors, and non‐U.S EPL examinees; RC2 < RC1 for physical science majors and bioscience majors, and both U.S. and non‐U.S. ESL examinees. For all U.S. ethnic groups studied (African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and White American), the basic pattern was as expected, namely, RC2 − RC1. and this pattern tended to obtain for males and females. Criterion‐related validity for RC1 and RC2 was explored, using self‐reported undergraduate GPA (SR‐UGPA). RC2 tended to be more highly correlated than RC1 with the SR‐UGPA criterion, for subgroups of U.S. examinees, except for Hispanic examinees and ESL examinees. For these two partially overlapping subgroups, and for subgroups of non‐U.S. examinees, coefficients for RC1 (level) were consistently larger than those for RC2 (speed).The findings suggest that further exploration of the role of “speed” in measures of GRE reading comprehension, and in other GRE ability measures, is warranted.
A CONSIDERATION FOR VARIABLE LENGTH ADAPTIVE TESTS
Authors: Wingersky Marilyn S. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTIn a variable‐length adaptive test with a stopping rule that relied on the asymptotic standard error of measurement of the examinee's estimated true score, Stocking (1987) discovered that it was sufficient to know the examinee's true score and the number of items administered to predict with some accuracy whether an examinee's true score was over or under estimated. She theorized that this result might be due to the standard error being correct only asymptotically. Sympson (1985) recommended two Bayesian stopping rules that do not rely on any asymptotic properties. This paper replicates the Stocking study using one of the variable‐length adaptive testing procedures recommended by Sympson to see whether that procedure gives the same result as found in the Stocking study. The Sympson procedure uses a stopping rule that relies on the posterior standard deviation of the number‐right true score on a criterion test.In both the Stocking study and the Sympson procedure, knowing the examinee's true score and the number of items administered is sufficient for predicting whether the estimated true score is over or under estimated. This is due to the fact that the magnitude of both the asymptotic standard error of measurement of the estimated scores and the posterior standard deviation of the true score varies scores and the posterior standard deviation of the true score varies as the estimated true score varies.
THE KERNEL METHOD OF EQUATING SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS
Authors: Holland Paul W. , Thayer Dorothy T. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTA new and unified approach to test equating is described that is based on log‐linear models for smoothing score distributions and on the kernel method of non‐parametric density estimation. The new method contains both linear and standard equipercentile methods as special cases and can handle several important equating data collection designs. An example is used to illustrate the new method for the random groups and external anchor‐test designs.
REDUCING TEST FORM OVERLAP OF THE GRE SUBJECT TEST IN MATHEMATICS USING IRT TRIPLE‐PART EQUATING
Authors: McKinley Robert L. , Schaeffer Gary A. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTA study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using item response theory (IRT) equating to reduce test form overlap of the GRE Subject Test in Mathematics. Monte‐Carlo methods were employed to compare double‐part equating with 20‐item common item blocks to triple‐part equating with 10‐item common item blocks. The two methods were evaluated using a circular design that allowed a form to be equated to itself through a series of other forms. The design was replicated five times.Comparisons between scores on equated forms and scores on the base form indicated that triple‐part equating did at least as well as double‐part equating. This suggests that it may be reasonable to use IRT equating with the GRE Mathematics test with smaller common item blocks than are used with the linear equating procedures currently employed, as long as there are more of them. This would result in a substantial reduction in the advantage given to repeat examinees, and would significantly decrease the number of items on any one test form affected by compromised security.It was concluded that triple‐part equating is promising, but it was pointed out that some issues need to be resolved before the procedure can be implemented. Among these are the effect of differing ability distributions across forms to be scaled, and the practicality of constructing six common item sets from each form. It was recommended that an additional study be conducted to examine the effect of differing ability distributions on the equating process, and to investigate the feasibility of combining common item sets into a single scaling.
THE TOEFL COMPUTERIZED PLACEMENT TEST: ADAPTIVE CONVENTIONAL MEASUREMENT
Authors: Hicks Marilyn M. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTThis study focused on methods of computerized adaptive testing using conventional scoring methods in order to develop a TOEFL computerized placement test. Some advantages of adaptive conventional measurement were illustrated, such as providing the user with an alternative, efficient test with most of the same properties of the conventional test. Test specifications and structure very closely parallel the full‐length test, yielding scores on the (familiar) reported score scale, thus providing the user with comparable interpretation within the limits of differences in score precision.As a consequence of simulation studies conducted during the first phase of this study, the multilevel testing paradigm was adopted for this development. Its implementation produced three test levels varying in difficulty, each approximately half the length of the regular TOEFL. The basic testing algorithm routed examinees through item blocks or testlets that permitted backtracking in order to review answers and change them, an option not easily implemented in standard computer adaptive testing. The ability to control important facets of test construction, as well the degree of measurement effectiveness, using this testing method was illustrated. Resulting test levels were equated to the established scale via IRT true score equating, and some desirable properties of the obtained score scales were described, namely, overlapping scales at the boundaries of the test levels and limits on the scores obtainable on each of the levels.Data from a preliminary validation study were presented that indicated the test was functioning satisfactorily. Responses to a questionnaire administered to the sample of examinees revealed that 72% of the group had never been exposed to a computer before this testing experience. Nonetheless, 59% indicated that they preferred the computerized test to the paper‐and‐pencil version or were neutral. The apparent lack of computer experience among ESL students will need to be considered in any computerized test development for this group of examinees.
Seasonal development of above‐ and below‐ground organs of Trifolium pratense in grass–legume mixture on different soils
Authors: Chmelíková Lucie , Wolfrum Sebastian , Schmid Harald , Hejcman Michal , Hülsbergen Kurt‐Jürgen 
Published: September 2014

AbstractGrass–legume mixtures are suitable for crop rotations in organic farming. However, seasonal development of below‐ground organs of Trifolium pratense in mixtures and on different soils was neglected. We asked (1) how the diameter of the root neck, the maximum order of branching as well as (2) the nodule traits are affected by locality and time, and (3) how above‐ground plant traits of red clover vary in space and time. Red clover was investigated in grass–legume mixtures in the first year of vegetation. Five sites in S Germany were sampled at the day of cut at the end of May, the beginning of July, and at the end of August, respectively. Under similar climatic conditions root traits (diameter of the root neck, order of root branching, size of nodules, and proportion of senescent nodules) differed with soil conditions and time within the season. Root diameter increased during the season. Higher sand content fostered root branching and branched roots developed more nodules. Thinner roots had more active nodules (pink). Root diameter and non‐active senescent (green) or moribund (brown) nodules increased at the end of season. Nodule activity differed more according to season than to soil conditions. The number of nodules per plant (12.5–19.5) decreased from May to August. Cylindrical nodules were found on 85–100% of the plants and branched nodules only on 0–25%. The height of plants was lowest in May and increased in July. The mean number of stems per plant (3.3–6.3) was highest in August. Understanding red clover traits and N2 fixation is interesting scientifically as well as agronomical. Organic and conventional farmers can both benefit of our findings.
Spiral type parasitic elements patch antenna
Authors: Kashyap Nitesh , Kumar Vishwakarma Dinesh 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTIn this article, spiral type parasitic elements of the patch antenna are investigated. Composite name of this antenna is “patch feed curls antenna” (PFCA). Four spirals or curls are symmetrically introduced around the corners of a rectangular patch in plane; they receive their excitation from the latter via a capacitive gap of 1 mm. Due to the effect of the spiral type parasitic elements the gain and bandwidth enhancement found in the patch characteristics. The composite antenna is working in the frequency range 4.24–4.92 GHz. Simulation results obtained from CST‐microwave studio are in good agreement with measurements of the fabricated structures. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2773–2778, 2014
A novel strain sensor based on a dual‐core photonic crystal fiber
Authors: Xu Fei , Peng Baojin , Chen Daru , Wang Lu , Lei Xueqin , Shi Qingguo 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTA novel strain sensor was proposed by splicing a dual‐core photonic crystal fiber (DC‐PCF) with two single‐mode fibers. Owning to the mode index difference between the two fiber cores of DC‐PCF, a Mach‐Zehnder interferometer (MZI) pattern was achieved and its transmission spectrum is sensitive to the microstress of the DC‐PCF. We analyze the stress characteristics of the fiber sensor with different lengths of DC‐PCF. It shows that transmission spectrum pattern of the MZI shifts to the long wavelength with a sensitivity about 1.4pm/µε (for a 2‐cm DC‐PCF) and 1.9pm/µε (for a 4‐cm DC‐PCF) under an axial microstress. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2778–2780, 2014
Metamaterials dipole antenna by using split ring resonators for RFID technology
Authors: Naoui Seif , Latrach Lassaad , Gharsallah Ali 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTThe article in hand deals with a new approach regarding the technique of miniaturization and the improvement of antennas done by the incorporation of metamaterials. Such an approach is manifested into two different structures of metamaterial antennas, which are implemented for the radio frequency identification technology in the UHF range. The left‐hand metamaterials are presented first by the conventional split ring resonators (SRRs) and second by a new structure proposed of a SRR Toothed. The parameters considered in this work are the resonant frequency, return loss, bandwidth, radiation pattern, gain and the electromagnetic field, and the current delivered by the proposed antenna. All simulation results are done by CST software. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2899–2903, 2014
Neuromuscular deficits after peripheral joint injury: A neurophysiological hypothesis
Authors: Ward Sarah , Pearce Alan J. , Pietrosimone Brian , Bennell Kim , Clark Ross , Bryant Adam L. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTIn addition to biomechanical disturbances, peripheral joint injuries (PJIs) can also result in chronic neuromuscular alterations due in part to loss of mechanoreceptor‐mediated afferent feedback. An emerging perspective is that PJI should be viewed as a neurophysiological dysfunction, not simply a local injury. Neurophysiological and neuroimaging studies have provided some evidence for central nervous system (CNS) reorganization at both the cortical and spinal levels after PJI. The novel hypothesis proposed is that CNS reorganization is the underlying mechanism for persisting neuromuscular deficits after injury, particularly muscle weakness. There is a lack of direct evidence to support this hypothesis, but future studies utilizing force‐matching tasks with superimposed transcranial magnetic stimulation may be help clarify this notion. Muscle Nerve 51: 327–332, 2015
Family Size, Cognitive Outcomes, and Familial Interaction in Stable, Two-Parent Families: United States, 1997–2002
Authors: Sandberg John , Rafail Patrick 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Measures of children’s time use, particularly with parents and siblings, are used to evaluate three hypotheses in relation to the vocabulary and mathematical skills development: (1) the resource dilution hypothesis, which argues that parental and household resources are diluted in larger families; (2) the confluence hypothesis, which suggests that the intellectual milieu of families is lowered with additional children; and (3) the admixture (“no effect”) hypothesis, which suggests that the negative relationship between family size and achievement is an artifact of cross-sectional research resulting from unobserved heterogeneity. Each hypothesis is tested using within-child estimates of change in cognitive scores over time with the addition of new children to families.
Multisource Feedback and Self-Assessment of the Communicator, Collaborator, and Professional CanMEDS Roles for Diagnostic Radiology Residents
Authors: Probyn Linda , Lang Catherine , Tomlinson George , Bandiera Glen 
Published: September 2014

Purpose To develop a tool for the external and self-evaluation of residents in the Communicator, Collaborator, and Professional CanMEDS roles. Methods An academic teaching institution affiliated with 4 major urban hospitals conducted a survey that involved 46 residents and 216 hospital staff members. Residents selected at least 13 external evaluators from different categories (including physicians, nurses or technologists, peers or fellows, and support staff members) from their last 6 months of rotations. The external evaluators and residents answered 4 questions that pertained to each of the 3 CanMEDS roles being assessed. The survey results were analysed for feasibility, variance within and between rater groups, and the relationships between multisource and self-evaluation scores, and between multisource feedback and in-training evaluation report scores. Results The multisource feedback survey had an overall response rate of 73% with 683 evaluations sent out to 216 unique evaluators. The ratings from different groups of evaluators were only weakly correlated. Residents were most likely to receive their best rating from a collaborating physician and their worst rating from a site secretary or a program assistant. Generally, self-assessment scores were significantly lower than multisource feedback scores. Although there was a strong correlation within the multisource feedback data and within the in-training evaluation report data, there was a weak correlation among the data sets. Conclusions Multisource feedback provides useful feedback and scores that relate to critical CanMEDS roles that are not necessarily reflected in a resident's in-training evaluation report. The self-assessment feature of multisource feedback permits a resident to compare the accuracy of his or her assessments to improve their life-long learning skills.
Pressure, density, temperature and entropy fluctuations in compressible turbulent plane channel flow
Authors: Gerolymos G. A. , Vallet I. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractWe investigate the fluctuations of thermodynamic state variables in compressible aerodynamic wall turbulence, using results of direct numerical simulation (DNS) of compressible turbulent plane channel flow. The basic transport equations governing the behaviour of thermodynamic variables (density, pressure, temperature and entropy) are reviewed and used to derive the exact transport equations for the variances and fluxes (transport by the fluctuating velocity field) of the thermodynamic fluctuations. The scaling with Reynolds and Mach number of compressible turbulent plane channel flow is discussed. Statistics and correlation coefficients of the thermodynamic fluctuations are examined. Finally, detailed budgets of the transport equations for the variances and fluxes of the thermodynamic variables are analysed. The implications of these results, leading both to the understanding of the thermodynamic interactions in compressible wall turbulence and to possible improvements in statistical modelling, are assessed. Finally, the required extension of existing DNS data to fully characterise this canonical flow is discussed.
Sugarcane fibre may prevents hairball formation in cats
Authors: Loureiro Bruna A. , Sembenelli Guilherme , Maria Ana P. J. , Vasconcellos Ricardo S. , Sá Fabiano C. , Sakomura Nilva K. , Carciofi Aulus C. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractHair ingested by licking during cat grooming can eventually coalesce into solid masses in cat gastrointestinal tract. It is believed that dietary fibre might reduce formation of these trichobezoars (hairballs). The effects of two insoluble fibre sources added to kibble diets were evaluated with respect to trichobezoar faecal excretion. Thirty-two cats and four diets were used in a randomised block design: a control diet without additional fibre, 10 % added sugarcane fibre, 20 % added sugarcane fibre or 10 % added cellulose. Animals were fed for 42 d and during three separate periods (days 15–17, 25–27 and 40–42), the cats were housed individually in metabolic cages and their faeces were totally collected. The faeces were evaluated and the trichobezoars were isolated and classified into small (<1 cm), medium (1·1–2 cm) or large (>2·1 cm). Means were evaluated by repeated measures ANOVA and contrasts (P < 0·05). Cats fed sugarcane fibre shown a linear reduction of small and medium trichobezoar excretion (number per cat per day;P = 0·004) as well as a reduction in trichobezoar mass excretion (mg per cat per day;P < 0·01). The control group showed increased faecal excretion of large trichobezoars (P = 0·003), which were not present in the high sugarcane fibre group (P < 0·006). No effect of cellulose was observed for any evaluated trait. Therefore, long fibres (sugarcane fibre) may cause greater peristaltic stimulation, increasing the propulsion of hair through the gut, but further research is needed to validate this mechanism. In conclusion, sugarcane fibre reduced faecal hairball elimination in cats, which may have clinical applications for the prevention of health problems related to trichobezoars.
Evaluation of a performance enhancing supplement in American Foxhounds during eventing
Authors: Huntingford Janice L. , Kirn Brent N. , Cramer Kerry , Mann Sabine , Wakshlag Joseph J. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractEnhancing performance through dietary measures is constantly sought as some supplements have shown modest performance enhancement in rodents and human subjects. To evaluate a proprietary dietary supplement, a study was undertaken to assess the effect of diet and exercise on blood physiological parameters during a tracking American Fox Hound field championship. Ten dogs were assigned to two different groups. Group A received a commercial kibble and Group B received the same diet with the addition of a supplement added to the dietary premix for 4 weeks before the field event. Blood was collected at rest, immediately following days 1 and 2 of the event and 48 h after day 2. Blood chemistry, complete blood cell counts and cortisol concentrations were analysed. Competition performance was also documented for all dogs using a points system for tracking events. Many chemistry parameters and blood cell counts changed significantly due to exercise. Differences between the dietary groups showed that Group B had significantly lower aspartate aminotransferase on days 1 and 2 of exercise and lower creatine kinase on day 2. Based on tracking scores, dogs in Group B out-performed dogs in Group A. This study suggests that endurance hunting dogs develop changes in serum markers of musculoskeletal integrity that might be mitigated by the addition of the supplement, resulting in better performance. Although intriguing, follow-up controlled studies are needed to ensure that the enhanced performance was not biased due to lack of randomisation.