Genetic scaling for ordinal variables

This book aims to propose a method to quantify ordinal variables through the optimization of an objective function. There are various methods for quantifying (scaling) ordinal sta-tistical variables, but if the researcher wishes to make comparisons between two or more groups regarding the same feature, he should optimize the differences between their distributions, whether they concern assessments, attitudes, opinions, or other features. To do this, he needs to optimize linear forms and quadratic forms sub-ject to linear constraints of inequality and quadratic constraints of equality. This book suggests a solution to the problem, i.e. the use of ge-netic algorithms. If genetic algorithms are used there’s no need for information about the gradient of the objective function and it’s impossible to get relative and non-absolute extremes. This paper also implements the rules for deciding whether average evalua-tions are equal or not. The next section of this book is intended to apply the above technique in order to quantify the ordinal statistical variables. This method is subjected to clearly-defined objective rules and is, therefore, freed from the researcher’s will, thus being more relia-ble and more consistent than other methods of quantification that are already present in the literature. The method used to compare average evaluations expressed at a qualitative ordinal level is de-scribed in the first part of this paper. Besides, the method itself is validated by comparing the opinions that have been expressed by a sample of university graduates about the effectiveness of uni-versity education in terms of job exploitability; in particular, the interviewed people have been divided according to the different Faculties they attended as students, and to their current job condi-tion. A broad Appendix is given at the end of this book, including the MATLAB® code expressly written to perform this method

From research to clinical settings: validation of the Affect in Play Scale \u2013 Preschool Brief Version in a sample of preschool and school-aged Italian children

Affect in Play Scale-Preschool (APS-P) is one of the few standardized tools to measure pretend play. APS-P is an effective measure of symbolic play, able to detect both cognitive and affective dimensions which classically designated play in children, but often are evaluated separately and are scarcely integrated. The scale uses 5 min standardized play task with a set of toys. Recently the scale was extended from 6 to 10 years old and validated in Italy preschool and school-aged children. Some of the main limitations of this measure are that it requires videotaping, verbatim transcripts, and an extensive scoring training, which could compromise its clinical utility. For these reasons, a Brief version of the measure was developed by the original authors. This paper will focus on an APS-P Brief Version and its Extended Version through ages (6\u201310 years), which consists \u201cin vivo\u201d coding. This study aimed to evaluate construct and external validity of this APS-P Brief Version and its Extended Version in a sample of 538 Italian children aged 4-to-10 years. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded a two correlated factor structure including an affective and a cognitive factor. APS-P-BR and its Extended Version factor scores strongly related to APS-P Extended Version factor scores. Significant relationships were found with a divergent thinking task. Results suggest that the APS-P-BR and its Extended Version is an encouraging brief measure assessing pretend play using toys. It would easily substitute the APS-P and its Extended Version in clinical and research settings, reducing time and difficulties in scoring procedures and maintaining the same strengths

"As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live" (Goethe). Protective and mediator factors for internalizing disorders in early and mid-adolescence

Adolescence is often considered as a period of changes and challenges, during which youth are at particular risk for developing psychological disorders (Lee & Bukowski, 2012; Verona, Javdani, & Sprague, 2011). Anxiety and depression are two very common disorders in adolescence (Angold & Costello, 2008; Vierhaus, Lohaus, & Shah, 2010). Several authors have focused on the study of the possible risk factors that might interfere or enlarge the chance to develop such maladaptive behaviors. Some empirical studies have reported good quality of attachment relationships and positive evaluation of self as two of the most crucial protective factors for the psychological well-being in adolescence (Lee & Hankin, 2009; Tambelli, Laghi, Odorisio, & Notari, 2012; Wilkinson, 2004). Other studies, have focused on how different trends of psychological disorders and attachment relationships are detachable within the whole adolescence. Thus the central purpose of this study is to examine the relationships of attachment, in particular to mother, father, and peer, and self-esteem to depressive and anxiety symptoms, in early and mid-adolescence respectively. A community based sample of Italian early (n=1078) and mid-adolescents (n=1138) completed self-report measures of attachment (Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, IPPA, Armsden & Greenberg, 1987, 1989; Greenberg, Siegel, & Leitch, 1983) self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, RSES, Rosenberg, 1965) as well as anxiety (Spence Childrenâs Anxiety Scale, SCAS, Spence 1997) and depressive symptoms (Childrenâs Depression Inventory, CDI, Kovacs, 1992). After the evaluation of the psychometric properties (internal consistency and structural validity) of each selected measure, age and gender-related differences are evaluated. Correlations between the total scores of the measure are reported. Through structural equation modeling it is assessed the direct influence of both maternal and paternal attachment on psychological health, self-esteem and peer attachment. Moreover, the influence of peer attachment on psychological health is totally mediated by self-esteem. Anxiety and depressive symptoms are considered and evaluated separately. The multi-group approach is used to evaluate gender differences in the model. To avoid the artifacts of sampling and to strengthen the obtained results, the cross-validation procedure is adopted. Results indicate good psychometric characteristics for each measure. Additionally, the comparison between the two age-groups show early adolescence report higher levels of attachment (to mother, father and peer), and self-esteem, whereas mid-adolescents report higher levels of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, in general girls score higher on levels of attachment relationships to peer and on anxiety symptoms, while boys report higher levels of self-esteem and paternal attachment. The major finding from the model concerns the crucial role of self-esteem. Maternal, paternal and peer attachment have only a weak effect on anxiety and depressive symptoms respectively, whereas the self-esteem shows a greater effect on both. The only one exception regards the strong direct role of peer attachment on depressive symptoms showed by the mid-adolescents sample. However, the primary effect of the considered attachment relationships is on self-esteem. Symptom and age-related differences are discussed. To conclude, this study suggests that it is the evaluation of the self rather than the quality of attachment relationships that may influence the levels of psychological symptoms reported by early and mid-adolescents. Limits of the study and implications for research are presente

Baby Boomers And Generation X Industrial Salespeople: Generational Divide Or Convergence?

Currently two of the largest generational groups occupying industrial field sales positions are Generation X and Baby Boomers. While anecdotal evidence suggests these two generations are widely different, few studies have compared their career attitudes.  Working within the conceptual framework of psychological employment contracts this study tested the notion that Generation X would be more transactional and Baby Boomers would be more relational in nature.  This nature was expected to take the form of higher intrinsic motivation levels and fewer career path changes among Baby Boomers.  While Baby Boomers do tend to express higher levels of intrinsic motivation, their career paths are less relational than expected (i.e. their careers are spanning more than one employer).  Overall the findings provide partial support for some of the relational theory expectations- and more importantly dispel still others.  Managers faced with intergenerational field sales forces may similarly, therefore, question the assumption that Baby Boomer field salespeople will follow the relational employment contract profile

Extending Lifespan With Metformin: A Comprehensive Review and Proposed Study

Aging is a non-adaptive epiphenomenon that characterizes the terminal phase of life. Aging leads to the dysregulation of metabolic processes that subsequently drive the downregulation of critical nutrient sensing pathways and autophagy, while increasing inflammation, cellular senescence, stem cell depletion, reactive oxygen species, and DNA damage; the gestalt of which is the aging phenotype. Age-induced subcellular alterations impact the whole organism, from cosmetic factors, such as grey hair and wrinkles, to the development of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Fortunately, humans may have discovered a means of delaying aging through treatment with metformin. Metformin is an FDA-approved drug that has been a safe, inexpensive, and effective type 2 diabetes treatment for over 60 years. Research in model organisms has revealed metformin’s capacity to extend both healthspan and lifespan, decrease the incidence of diseases of aging, and modulate aging-regulating metabolic pathways. In type 2 diabetics, metformin has successfully attenuated diseases of aging, decreasing the incidence of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Metformin also shows promise for the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, two major trials (TAME and MILES) are underway to ascertain if the healthspan and lifespan-extending benefits of metformin can be generalized to the non-diabetic population. The present thesis sets forth a comprehensive review of metformin’s capacity to attenuate aging and proposes a study synergistic with TAME and MILES to determine the optimal age of initiation to produce the greatest benefits from metformin treatment in the general population. Metformin demonstrates the potential to act as both a treatment and prophylactic to mitigate the progression of aging, leading to greater time spent in good health, and ultimately, a longer life

On the Use of Wavelet Transform for Practical Condition Monitoring Issues

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the Wavelet Transform (WT) for machine condition monitoring purposes. In this chapter the WT is set up specifically for vibration signals captured from real life complex case studies having a poor extent in literature: marine couplings and i.c. engines tested in cold conditions. Both Continuous (CWT) and Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) are applied. The former has been used for faulty event identification and impulse event characterization through the analysis of the three-dimensional representation of the CWT coefficients. The latter has been applied for filtering and feature extraction purposes and for detecting impulsive events strongly masked by noise. Comparing the results from both the CWT and DWT analyses it has been clearly demonstrated the ability of the WT in satisfying both the condition monitoring and fault detection requirements for all tested cases. This means that the application of the WT not only permit to recognize the change of the state of the tested machine but it is also able to localise the source of the alteration

Integrating the Catholic Intellectual Tradition into College Courses: An Annotated Bibliography of Resources for Faculty

To assist faculty with integrating the Catholic Intellectual Tradition into their courses, this annotated bibliography of book chapters and scholarly articles provides practical ways to include the CIT in their courses. Only resources which are freely available on the web or are in standard university-held publications were included to ensure reader accessibility

Validity of a contact mat and accelerometric system to assess countermovement jump from flight time

Countermovement jump (CMJ) height is an important parameter in physical performance. This study compared CMJ height measured using ChronoJump contact mat (CJ) and Myotest accelerometer (MT) systems with a force platform (FP). Thirty recreationally active adults (32.1 ± 10.4 years, 75.9 ± 12.0 kg, 173.2 ± 6.3 cm) completed a CMJ protocol where height was simultaneously recorded using the three systems. CJ and MT measures were strongly and significant correlated (r = 0.65, 0.66, respectively; p  0.05), yet MT-derived measures were significantly different from those obtained using the FP (p < 0.05). Systematic bias was observed between FP and the CJ and between FP and MT. This study demonstrates the validity of CJ and MT systems for the assessment of CMJ height. Systematic bias and between-device differences in measurement should be considered when interpreting and comparing data from these devices