Validity Evidence for Off-the-Shelf Language-Based Personality Assessment Using Video Interviews: Convergent and Discriminant Relationships with Self and Observer Ratings

Technological advances have led to the development of automated methods for personnel assessment that are purported to augment or outperform human judgment. However, empirical research providing validity evidence for such techniques in the selection context remains scarce. In addressing this void, this study focuses on language-based personality assessments using an off-the-shelf, commercially available product (i.e., IBM Watson Personality Insights) in the context of video-based interviews. The scores derived from the language-based assessment were compared to self and observer ratings of personality to examine convergent and discriminant relationships. The language-based assessment scores showed low convergence with self-ratings for openness, and with self- and observer ratings for agreeableness. No validity evidence was found for extraversion and conscientiousness. For neuroticism, the patterns of correlations were in the opposite of what was theoretically expected, which raised a significant concern. We suggest more validation work is needed to further improve emerging assessment techniques and to understand when and how such approaches can appropriately be applied in personnel assessment and selection

Removal of nitrogen from anaerobically digested swine wastewater using an anoxic/oxic (A/O) process complemented with a sulfur-packed biofilter

A modified lab-scale anoxic/oxic process was designed incorporating an upflow sulfur-packed biofilter for the treatment of anaerobically digested swine wastewater. In this study, chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH4+-N and NOx--N removal efficiencies were investigated. The experimental results showed that by increasing the internal recycle ratio from 1 to 3, the overall performance of the system improved. Organics removal efficiency was found to be fairly high and stable and the average total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) removal efficiency ranged from 79 to 90%. This process removed up to 98% of the total NH4+-N from the nitrification reactor with proper pH control using excess alkalinity and a recycle ratio of 3. The average removal efficiency of NOx--N in the anoxic reactor was above 80% with the poor effluent quality (25 mg/l). This high concentration of NOx--N in the effluent of the anoxic reactor was removed by the sulfur-packed biofilter with the stable effluent concentrations between 0.4 and 4mg/l. This result indicates that the sulfur-packed biofilter would be used as an efficient option for denitrification by autotrophic denitrifiers during swine wastewater treatment.Key words: Biological nitrogen removal, nitrification, denitrification, chemical oxygen demand (COD), intermittent aeration, sulfur-packed bed reactor, swine wastewater, anoxic-oxic process, internal recycle

The effect of tax avoidance on discretionary expenses: evidence from Korea

This study investigates the relation between tax avoidance and discretionary expenses. The object of this study is to present the empirical evidence on whether additional cash from tax avoidance is used on discretionary expenses. Tax avoidance is estimated using the model suggested by Desai and Dharmapala (2006). Discretionary expenses are estimated using the index suggested by Roychowdhury (2006), which are selling and administrative expenses except taxes and dues, depreciation expenses, amortization expenses, rent expenses and insurance expenses because the management cannot manage these expenses discretionarily. Research expense and ordinary development expense are included in discretionary expenses. The empirical results of this study are as follows. First, tax avoidance is positively associated with discretionary expenses. This result means that the management spends additional cash from tax avoidance on discretionary expenses. Second, the ownership percentage of foreign investors weakens the positive relation between tax avoidance and discretionary expenses. This result suggests that foreign investors monitor the management’s discretionary decision effectively. Third, the positive relation between tax avoidance and discretionary expenses is weakened as the ownership percentage of a major stockholder increase

Origin, criterion, and mechanism of vortex-core reversals in soft magnetic nanodisks under perpendicular bias fields

We studied dynamics of vortex-core reversals driven by circular rotating fields along with static perpendicular magnetic fields of different direction and strength. We found that the application of perpendicular fields H p modifies the starting ground state of vortex magnetizations, thereby instigating the development of a magnetization dip mz,dip in the vicinity of the original core up to its threshold value, m z,dip cri ???-p, which is necessary for vortex-core reversals, where p is the initial core polarization. We found the relationship of the dynamic evolutions of the mz,dip and the out-of-plane gyrofields hz, which was induced, in this case, by vortex-core motion of velocity ??, thereby their critical value relation ??crihz cri. The simulation results indicated that the variation of the critical core velocity ??cri with Hp can be expressed explicitly as ??cri / ?? cri 0 = (??/ ??0) | -p- m z,dip g |, with the core size ?? and the starting ground-state magnetization dip m z,dip g variable with H p, and for the values of ?? cri 0 and ??0 at H p =0. This work offers deeper and/or new insights into the origin, criterion and mechanism of vortex-core reversals under application of static perpendicular bias fields.open7

How do instrumental and expressive network positions relate to turnover? A meta-analytic investigation

Although social network methods have proven valuable for predicting employee turnover, an informed use of network methods for turnover management requires an integration and extension of extant networks-turnover research. To that end, this article addresses two relatively neglected issues in the networks-turnover literature: the lack of integration of turnover process models into networks-turnover research and the differential influence of “network content” (i.e., instrumental vs. expressive network resources) on turnover processes. To address these issues, we draw from social capital and turnover theories as a basis for investigating how turnover antecedents (i.e., work attitudes, job alternatives, and job performance) mediate the associations between instrumental and expressive degree centrality and turnover. We test a theoretical model using meta-analytic path analysis based on the results of random-effects meta-analyses (64 independent samples of working adults) of instrumental and expressive degree centrality in relation to job satisfaction, organizational commitment, job alternatives, job performance, and employee turnover. We found that both instrumental and expressive degree centrality relate to employee turnover, but through different mediating processes; instrumental degree centrality decreased the likelihood of turnover via job performance and organizational commitment, whereas expressive degree centrality decreased the likelihood of turnover via job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Furthermore, expressive degree centrality (as compared to instrumental degree centrality) had a negative association with turnover after accounting for these prominent turnover antecedents. These findings illustrate the importance of distinguishing between instrumental and expressive network positions in the turnover process as well as the value of leveraging employee networks for employee retention

Global Engineering Competency in Context: Situations and Behaviors

Engineering graduates encounter worlds of professional practice that are increasingly global in character. This new reality poses challenges for engineering educators and employers, who are faced with the formidable task of preparing engineers to be more effective in diverse national and cultural contexts. In response, many commentators have proposed lists of attributes or competencies deemed important or even essential for global engineering work. However, such lists have tended to lack explicit grounding in empirical studies of engineering practice, including typical kinds of work situations and related behavioral requirements. As a step toward establishing a more robust definition and developmental theory of global engineering competency, this paper reports results from a wide-ranging literature review on engineering practice in global context. The findings are organized around three main contextual dimensions of global engineering competency: technical coordination; engineering cultures; and ethics, standards, and regulations. Particular efforts are made to relate our findings to prior discussions of what it means to be a globally competent engineer, while further illustrating each dimension by giving examples drawn from interviews with practicing engineers. The paper concludes with a review of ongoing and future work, including how our findings are inspiring creation of situational prompts and activities for both assessment and instructional uses

Structural performance experiment by moving cart to mount measurement sensors

The development of a measurement system for the purpose of structural performance evaluation has been needed. This work introduces a moving cart system on which to mount measurement sensors to measure acceleration and sound pressure in the time domain and an impact hammer for external excitation. The measurement data are utilized to evaluate the structural performance based on a mixed approach to directly and indirectly collect response data by a microphone and an accelerometer, respectively. The reliability of the measurement data is improved by the utilization of multiple sensors. The structural state is investigated by the power spectral density estimate (PSE) or proper orthogonal mode (POM) of the sound pressure and acceleration data. The applicability of the system is illustrated in a field test

Immune-enhancing screening of fourteen plants on murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells

Purpose: To investigate the potential immune-enhancing effects of fourteen natural plant extracts on mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells.Methods: Fourteen plant extracts from 7 different plants were tested on RAW 264.7 cells to determine their immunostimulant activities. Methylthiazolydiphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Griess assays were performed to evaluate cell viability and nitric oxide (NO) production, respectively. Then, immune related proteins were measured by western blot analysis, while cytokines and phagocytic activity were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.Results: Among the 14 plant extracts, the hot water extract of Agastache rugose was selected based on the screening results on NO production. The hot water extract of A. rugose significantly increased NO production in a concentration-dependent manner without any cytotoxicity. In addition, the expression levels of proteins (iNOS and COX-2) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-12) closely related to immune reaction were also significantly upregulated. Furthermore, phagocytic activity of RAW 264.7 cells significantly increased following treatment with A. rugosa.Conclusion: The hot water extract of A. rugosa exhibits significant immune-stimulant activity. Therefore, A. rugosa can be used as a natural resource for immune enhancement or dietary supplement.Keywords: Immune enhancing activity, Macrophage polarization, Natural plant extracts, Agastache rugosa, RAW 264.