Deliberate Response Falsification on Corresponding Subtests of Two Tests of Intelligence: Indicators for Simulating Mental Retardation

Among concerns inherent in psychological testing is the possibility that examinees might perform less than accurately or honestly when responding to test items (Lezak, 1983). In context of some legal proceedings, individuals may stand to gain by performing poorly on physiological tests (Anastasti, 1988). For example, defendants could attempt to falsify their answers to impersonate an individual with mental retardation for the purpose of raising issues of incompetence to stand trial, nonresponsibility, or mitigation. In some states, a finding of mental retardation may mean the difference between a life sentence and execution for a defendant convicted of a capital crime. The validity and reliability of intelligence testing instruments are of vital importance in determining the existence of mental retardation. The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility that subjects could deliberately and successfully falsify responses on corresponding subtests of two major intelligence tests, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scalre-Revised (WAIS-R) (Whechsler, 1981) and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (SB:FE) (Thorndike, Hagen, and Sattler, 1986a) to simulate the existence of mental retardation. Subjects were administered and Comprehension subtests from both the WAIS-R and the SB:FE and instructed to perform less accurately and less honestly than their capabilities naturally provide. A control procedure was also administered. Corresponding standardized scores (Normal Curve Equivalency [NCE]) were compared for significant differences using a one-factor, repeated measure ANOVA. Latency periods recorded and analyzed using descriptive statistics an an ANOVA, and qualitative data obtained in debriefing sessions were also reported. Statistical analyses indicated that subjects were unable to score similarly on both tests when simulating mental retardation (

Charged hadron beam therapy : fast computational physics methods

Charged hadron beams have been investigated for use in radiation therapy of cancer since the 1940s due to their unique potential to place tightly conformal radiation doses deep inside tissue. This is achieved by exploiting the phenomenon of the so-called Bragg peak. In both research and clinical settings, fast and accurate radiation calculations play a crucial role in charged hadron therapy physics. Unfortunately, physicists are often faced with the fundamental trade off of speed versus accuracy in their calculations. This dissertation addresses this trade off by presenting three computational physics methods for specific and general charged hadron beam therapy calculations. In this dissertation the pseudo-Monte Carlo method of track repeating is adapted for fast calculations of linear energy transfer (LET) and for fast estimation of dose in the peripheral regions of the target volume (i.e. secondary dose estimation). Additionally, the first proof-of-concept framework for carrying out massively distributed parallel Monte Carlo calculations for radiation therapy using cloud computing is presented. Performance and accuracy assessments of each calculation method are also presented

Domain-decomposed preconditionings for transport operators

The performance was tested of five different interface preconditionings for domain decomposed convection diffusion problems, including a novel one known as the spectral probe, while varying mesh parameters, Reynolds number, ratio of subdomain diffusion coefficients, and domain aspect ratio. The preconditioners are representative of the range of practically computable possibilities that have appeared in the domain decomposition literature for the treatment of nonoverlapping subdomains. It is shown that through a large number of numerical examples that no single preconditioner can be considered uniformly superior or uniformly inferior to the rest, but that knowledge of particulars, including the shape and strength of the convection, is important in selecting among them in a given problem

A Rhetorical Criticism: Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, Interpreter of World Events, Inspirer of Young Men, and President of Morehouse College, 1940–1967

ABSTRACT William A. Keyes IV: A Rhetorical Criticism: Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, Interpreter of World Events, Inspirer of Young Men, and President of Morehouse College, 1940–1967 (Under the direction of V. William Balthrop) African American male students in the United States underperform in comparison to their classmates of every other race, at every level of schooling, regardless of socioeconomic background. They also underperform in relation to African American women. Though fifty years have passed since Benjamin E. Mays served as president of Morehouse College (1940-1967), the rhetorical practices that enabled him to prepare so many young African American men for high academic achievement, career success, and civic contribution offer important insights that may help address this critical issue today. One of the central concepts that underpins the arguments in this dissertation is the replacement of negative images of African American men with intentionally-influenced terministic screens. As explored in this dissertation, A Rhetorical Criticism: Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, Interpreter of World Events, Inspirer of Young Men, and President of Morehouse College, 1940–1967, Mays offered his students vivid, specific, positive images of the Morehouse Man, and encouraged them to accept the Morehouse Man’s complex collection of positive attributes instead of the negative images of themselves and African American culture they had likely absorbed previously. Another central concept is that of the talented tenth. I use the term as defined in the Encyclopedia of African American History, which refers to those whose talents should be cultivated to enable them to advance the interests of all black Americans.” Using Kenneth Burke’s cluster-agon analysis method and terministic screens concept to examine 54 of the 200-plus speeches I reviewed, I identified Mays’ major themes: race, education, and religion. Through this analysis, it became clear that Mays sought to educate talented African American men to become citizens who would work to improve the lives of others and have positive influence in society. His rhetorical practices provide insights that can be utilized in 21st century America.Doctor of Philosoph

NASA Langley Research Center Systems Analysis & Concepts Directorate Participation in the Exploration Systems Architecture Study

The NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Systems Analysis & Concepts Directorate (SACD) began studying human exploration missions beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) in the year 1999. This included participation in NASA s Decadal Planning Team (DPT), the NASA Exploration Team (NExT), Space Architect studies and Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts (RASC) architecture studies that were used in formulating the new Vision for Space Exploration. In May of 2005, NASA initiated the Exploration Systems Architecture Study (ESAS). The primary outputs of the ESAS activity were concepts and functional requirements for the Crewed Exploration Vehicle (CEV), its supporting launch vehicle infrastructure and identification of supporting technology requirements and investments. An exploration systems analysis capability has evolved to support these functions in the past and continues to evolve to support anticipated future needs. SACD had significant roles in supporting the ESAS study team. SACD personnel performed the liaison function between the ESAS team and the Shuttle/Station Configuration Options Team (S/SCOT), an agency-wide team charged with using the Space Shuttle to complete the International Space Station (ISS) by the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. The most significant of the identified issues involved the ability of the Space Shuttle system to achieve the desired number of flights in the proposed time frame. SACD with support from the Kennedy Space Center performed analysis showing that, without significant investments in improving the shuttle processing flow, that there was almost no possibility of completing the 28-flight sequence by the end of 2010. SACD performed numerous Lunar Surface Access Module (LSAM) trades to define top level element requirements and establish architecture propellant needs. Configuration trades were conducted to determine the impact of varying degrees of segmentation of the living capabilities of the combined descent stage, ascent stage, and other elements. The technology assessment process was developed and implemented by SACD as the ESAS architecture was refined. SACD implemented a rigorous and objective process which included (a) establishing architectural functional needs, (b) collection, synthesis and mapping of technology data, and (c) performing an objective decision analysis resulting in technology development investment recommendations. The investment recommendation provided budget, schedule, and center/program allocations to develop required technologies for the exploration architecture, as well as the identification of other investment opportunities to maximize performance and flexibility while minimizing cost and risk. A summary of the trades performed and methods utilized by SACD for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESAS) activity is presented along with how SACD is currently supporting the implementation of the Vision for Space Exploration

An analysis of sentence structure, capitalization and punctuation errors made by pupils in grades four, five, and six in free writing of sentences using given stimuli words.

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston Universit

Genome-wide Functional Analysis of CREB/Long-Term Memory-Dependent Transcription Reveals Distinct Basal and Memory Gene Expression Programs

SummaryInduced CREB activity is a hallmark of long-term memory, but the full repertoire of CREB transcriptional targets required specifically for memory is not known in any system. To obtain a more complete picture of the mechanisms involved in memory, we combined memory training with genome-wide transcriptional analysis of C. elegans CREB mutants. This approach identified 757 significant CREB/memory-induced targets and confirmed the involvement of known memory genes from other organisms, but also suggested new mechanisms and novel components that may be conserved through mammals. CREB mediates distinct basal and memory transcriptional programs at least partially through spatial restriction of CREB activity: basal targets are regulated primarily in nonneuronal tissues, while memory targets are enriched for neuronal expression, emanating from CREB activity in AIM neurons. This suite of novel memory-associated genes will provide a platform for the discovery of orthologous mammalian long-term memory components