Measurement Invariance and Response Bias: A Stochastic Frontier Approach

The goals of the present paper were to assess measurement invariance using a common econometric method and to illustrate the approach with self-reported measures of parenting behaviors before and after a family intervention. Most recent literature on measurement invariance (MI) in psychological research 1) explores the use of structural equation modeling (SEM) and confirmatory factor analysis to identify measurement invariance, and 2) tests for measurement invariance across groups rather than across time. We use method, Stochastic Frontier Estimation, or SFE, to identify response bias and covariates of response bias both across individuals at a single point in time and across two measurement occasions (before and after participation in a family intervention). We examined the effects of participant demographics (N = 1437) on response bias; gender and race/ethnicity were related to magnitude of bias and to changes in bias across time, and bias was lower at posttest than at pretest. We discuss analytic advantages and disadvantages of SFE relative to SEM approaches and note that the technique may be particularly useful in addressing the problem of “response shift bias” or “recalibration” in program evaluation -- that is, a shift in metric from before to after an intervention which is caused by the intervention itself and may lead to underestimates of program effects.Measurement invariance, measurement equivalence, response bias, response-shift bias, stochastic frontier analysis

Detecting Selection Bias in Community Disseminations of Universal Family-Based Prevention Programs

The goals of the present study were to demonstrate a method for examining selection bias in large-scale implementations of community-based family skills programs, and to explore the nature of selection bias in one such implementation. We used evaluation data from a statewide dissemination of a popular substance abuse prevention program (N programs = 42; N youth = 294). The program’s evaluation measures were designed to match publicly available data on risk and protective factor scales collected in the state’s schools, which enabled us to construct a comparison sample of non-participants (N = 20,608). We then examined the risk status of adolescents in both groups to determine whether risk and protective factor scores were related to the probability of program participation. Participation was predicted by both demographics and risk and protective factor scores. Among families with younger adolescents, program attendance was associated with lower risk; among families with older adolescents, participation was associated with both higher risk (on parental management skills) and lower risk (on substance use). Selection effects must be identified and corrected for in order to calculate valid estimates of program benefits, but in community-based disseminations, the necessary supplemental comparison sample is difficult to obtain. The evaluation design and analytic approach described here can be used in program evaluations of real-world, “bottom-up” dissemination efforts to identify who attends a program, which in turn can help to inform recruitment strategies, to pinpoint possible selection influences on measured program outcomes, and to refine estimates of program costs and benefits.repeated auction; selectivity; prevention program; community-based implementation; program evaluation

Estimating treatment effectiveness with sample selection

We consider a situation where treatment outcome is observed after two stages of selection; first of participation into the treatment, then in completion of the treatment. Estimates were obtained using two methods. First, three different binary response selection models were estimated sequentially in multiple steps. Second, all three equations were estimated jointly. All methods produce similar parameter estimates. We find evidence of selection effects from completion to outcome that could bias parameter estimates of the outcome equation, but not from participation to outcome, indicating that correcting only for participation may be insufficient to avoid biased estimates in the outcome equation.selection bias, trivariate probit, bivariate probit, treatment effects

Self-Organized Criticality Effect on Stability: Magneto-Thermal Oscillations in a Granular YBCO Superconductor

We show that the self-organized criticality of the Bean's state in each of the grains of a granular superconductor results in magneto-thermal oscillations preceding a series of subsequent flux jumps. We find that the frequency of these oscillations is proportional to the external magnetic field sweep rate and is inversely proportional to the square root of the heat capacity. We demonstrate experimentally and theoretically the universality of this dependence that is mainly influenced by the granularity of the superconductor.Comment: submitted to Physical Review Letters, 4 pages, RevTeX, 4 figures available as uufile

Fast evaluation of source parameters from isolated surface-wave signals. Part I. Universal tables

Tables for spectral displacements of seismic surface waves from shear dislocations in flat multilayered earth models were prepared. Earth response functions for seven modes (R_(11), R_(21), R_(12), L_0, L_1, L_2, L_3) at six periods (300 sec, 250 sec, 200 sec, 150 sec, 100 sec, 50 sec) and three paths (continental, oceanic, shield) were calculated for the source-depth range of 10 to 600 km at intervals of 5 km until 200 km, and thereafter at intervals of 10 km. Ground motion is given in micron-seconds for the three fundamental shear dislocations, each of strength U_0dS = 10^3 (m × km^2) and a delta-function time-dependence. The tables provide the means for rapid evaluation of source parameters from spectral radiation patterns of amplitudes and initial phases

Field induced evolution of regular and random 2D domain structures and shape of isolated domains in LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃

The shapes of isolated domains produced by application of the uniform external electric field in different experimental conditions were investigated experimentally in single crystalline lithium niobate LiNbO3 and lithium tantalate LiTaO3. The study of the domain kinetics by computer simulation and experimentally by polarization reversal of the model structure using two-dimensional regular electrode pattern confirms applicability of the kinetic approach to explanation of the experimentally observed evolution of the domain shape and geometry of the domain structure. It has been shown that the fast domain walls strictly oriented along X directions appear after domain merging

Local Radiotherapy Intensification for Locally Advanced Non–small-cell Lung Cancer – A Call to Arms

Chemoradiotherapy, the standard of care for locally advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), often fails to eradicate all known disease. Despite advances in chemotherapeutic regimens, locally advanced NSCLC remains a difficult disease to treat, and locoregional failure remains common. Improved radiographic detection can identify patients at significant risk of locoregional failure after definitive treatment, and newer methods of escalating locoregional treatment may allow for improvements in locoregional control with acceptable toxicity. This review addresses critical issues in escalating local therapy, focusing on using serial positron emission tomography-computed tomography to select high-risk patients and employing stereotactic radiotherapy to intensify treatment. We further propose a clinical trial concept that incorporates the review's findings

Amplified spontaneous emission and gain in highly concentrated Rhodamine-doped peptide derivative

Bioinspired fluorescence, being widely explored for imaging purposes, faces challenges in delivering bright biocompatible sources. While quite a few techniques have been developed to reach this goal, encapsulation of high-quantum yield fluorescent dyes in natural biological forms suggest achieving superior light-emitting characteristics, approaching amplified spontaneous emission and even lasing. Here we compare gain capabilities of highly concentrated Rhodamine B solutions with a newly synthesized biocompatible peptide derivative hybrid polymer/peptide material, RhoB-PEG1300-F6, which contains the fluorescent covalently bound dye. While concentration quenching effects limit the maximal achievable gain of dissolved Rhodamine B, biocompatible conjugation allows elevating amplification coefficients towards moderately high values. In particular, Rhodamine B, anchored to the peptide derivative material, demonstrates gain of 22–23 cm−1 for a 10−2 M solution, while a pure dye solution possesses 25% smaller values at the same concentration. New biocompatible fluorescent agents pave ways to demonstrate lasing in living organisms and can be further introduced to therapeutic applications, if proper solvents are found

High Spectral Resolution Measurement of the Sunyaev–Zel'dovich Effect Null with Z-Spec

The Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect spectrum crosses through a null where ΔT_CMB = 0 near ν_0 = 217 GHz. In a cluster of galaxies, ν0 can be shifted from the canonical thermal SZ effect value by corrections to the SZ effect scattering due to the properties of the inter-cluster medium. We have measured the SZ effect in the hot galaxy cluster RX J 1347.5 – 1145 with Z-Spec, an R ~ 300 grating spectrometer sensitive between 185 and 305 GHz. These data comprise a high spectral resolution measurement around the null of the SZ effect and clearly exhibit the transition from negative to positive ΔT_CMB over the Z-Spec band. The SZ null position is measured to be ν_0 = 225.8 ± 2.5(stat.) ± 1.2(sys.) GHz, which differs from the canonical null frequency by 3.0σ and is evidence for modifications to the canonical thermal SZ effect shape. Assuming the measured shift in ν0 is due only to relativistic corrections to the SZ spectrum, we place the limit kT_e = 17.1 ± 5.3 keV from the zero-point measurement alone. By simulating the response of the instrument to the sky, we are able to generate likelihood functions in {y_0, T_e, v_pec} space. For v_pec = 0 km s^(–1), we measure the best-fitting SZ model to be y_0 = 4.6^(+0.6)_(–0.9) × 10^(–4), T_e, 0 = 15.2^(+12)_(–7.4) keV. When v pec is allowed to vary, a most probable value of v_pec = + 450 ± 810 km s^(–1) is found

Nanoscale piezoelectric response across a single antiparallel ferroelectric domain wall

Surprising asymmetry in the local electromechanical response across a single antiparallel ferroelectric domain wall is reported. Piezoelectric force microscopy is used to investigate both the in-plane and out-of- plane electromechanical signals around domain walls in congruent and near-stoichiometric lithium niobate. The observed asymmetry is shown to have a strong correlation to crystal stoichiometry, suggesting defect-domain wall interactions. A defect-dipole model is proposed. Finite element method is used to simulate the electromechanical processes at the wall and reconstruct the images. For the near-stoichiometric composition, good agreement is found in both form and magnitude. Some discrepancy remains between the experimental and modeling widths of the imaged effects across a wall. This is analyzed from the perspective of possible electrostatic contributions to the imaging process, as well as local changes in the material properties in the vicinity of the wall