A threshold for a q-sorting methodology for computer-adaptive surveys

© 2017 Proceedings of the 25th European Conference on Information Systems, ECIS 2017. All rights reserved. Computer-Adaptive Surveys (CAS) are multi-dimensional instruments where questions asked of respondents depend on the previous questions asked. Due to the complexity of CAS, little work has been done on developing methods for validating their content and construct validity. We have created a new q-sorting technique where the hierarchies that independent raters develop are transformed into a quantitative form, and that quantitative form is tested to determine the inter-rater reliability of the individual branches in the hierarchy. The hierarchies are then successively transformed to test if they branch in the same way. The objective of this paper is to identify suitable measures and a “good enough” threshold for demonstrating the similarity of two CAS trees. To find suitable measures, we perform a set of bootstrap simulations to measure how various statistics change as a hypothetical CAS deviates from a “true” version. We find that the 3 measures of association, Goodman and Kruskal's Lambda, Cohen's Kappa, and Goodman and Kruskal's Gamma together provide information useful for assessing construct validity in CAS. In future work we are interested in both finding a “good enough” threshold(s) for assessing the overall similarity between tree hierarchies and diagnosing causes of disagreements between the tree hierarchies

A Q-sorting methodology for Computer-Adaptive Surveys - Style "Research"

Computer-Adaptive Surveys (CAS) are multi-dimensional instruments where questions asked of respondents depend on the previous questions asked. Due to the complexity of CAS, little work has been done on developing methods for validating their construct validity. This paper describes the process of using a variant of Q-sorting to validate a CAS item bank. The method and preliminary results are presented. In addition, lessons learned from this study are discussed

A new neurosurgical tool incorporating differential geometry and cellular automata techniques

Using optical coherence imaging, it is possible to visualize seizure progression intraoperatively. However, it is difficult to pinpoint an exact epileptic focus. This is crucial in attempts to minimize the amount of resection necessary during surgical therapeutic interventions for epilepsy and is typically done approximately from visual inspection of optical coherence imaging stills. In this paper, we create an algorithm with the potential to pinpoint the source of a seizure from an optical coherence imaging still. To accomplish this, a grid is overlaid on optical coherence imaging stills. This then serves as a grid for a two-dimensional cellular automation. Each cell is associated with a Riemannian curvature tensor representing the curvature of the brain's surface in all directions for a cell. Cells which overlay portions of the image which show neurons that are firing are considered "depolarized"

Memory difference control of unknown unstable fixed points: Drifting parameter conditions and delayed measurement

Difference control schemes for controlling unstable fixed points become important if the exact position of the fixed point is unavailable or moving due to drifting parameters. We propose a memory difference control method for stabilization of a priori unknown unstable fixed points by introducing a memory term. If the amplitude of the control applied in the previous time step is added to the present control signal, fixed points with arbitrary Lyapunov numbers can be controlled. This method is also extended to compensate arbitrary time steps of measurement delay. We show that our method stabilizes orbits of the Chua circuit where ordinary difference control fails.Comment: 5 pages, 8 figures. See also chao-dyn/9810029 (Phys. Rev. E 70, 056225) and nlin.CD/0204031 (Phys. Rev. E 70, 046205

Structural Characterization of Rapid Thermal Oxidized Si\u3csub\u3e1−x−y\u3c/sub\u3eGe\u3csub\u3ex\u3c/sub\u3eC\u3csub\u3ey\u3c/sub\u3e Alloy Films Grown by Rapid Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition

The structural properties of as-grown and rapid thermal oxidized Si1−x−yGexCy epitaxial layers have been examined using a combination of infrared, x-ray photoelectron, x-ray diffraction, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy techniques. Carbon incorporation into the Si1−x−yGexCy system can lead to compressive or tensile strain in the film. The structural properties of the oxidized Si1−x−yGexCy film depend on the type of strain (i.e., carbon concentration) of the as-prepared film. For compressive or fully compensated films, the oxidation process drastically reduces the carbon content so that the oxidized films closely resemble to Si1−xGex films. For tensile films, two broad regions, one with carbon content higher and the other lower than that required for full strain compensation, coexist in the oxidized films

Evidence for Factorization in Three-body B --> D(*) K- K0 Decays

Motivated by recent experimental results, we use a factorization approach to study the three-body B --> D(*) K- K0 decay modes. Two mechanisms are proposed for kaon pair production: current-produced (from vacuum) and transition (from B meson). The Bbar0 --> D(*)+ K- K0 decay is governed solely by the current-produced mechanism. As the kaon pair can be produced only by the vector current, the matrix element can be extracted from e+ e- --> K Kbar processes via isospin relations. The decay rates obtained this way are in good agreement with experiment. Both current-produced and transition processes contribute to B- --> D(*)0 K- K0 decays. By using QCD counting rules and the measured B- --> D(*)0 K- K0 decay rates, the measured decay spectra can be understood.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure

Phenomenological Consequences of Right-handed Down Squark Mixings

The mixings of $d_R$ quarks, hidden from view in Standard Model (SM), are naturally the largest if one has an Abelian flavor symmetry. With supersymmetry (SUSY) their effects can surface via $\tilde d_R$ squark loops. Squark and gluino masses are at TeV scale, but they can still induce effects comparable to SM in $B_d$ (or $B_s$) mixings, while $D^0$ mixing could be close to recent hints from data. In general, CP phases would be different from SM, as may be indicated by recent B Factory data. Presence of non-standard soft SUSY breakings with large $\tan\beta$ could enhance $b\to d\gamma$ (or $s\gamma$) transitions.Comment: Version to appear in Phys. Rev. Let