A new test for multivariate normality by combining extreme and nonextreme BHEP tests

In this article, we propose a new multiple test procedure for assessing multivariate normality, which combines BHEP (Baringhaus–Henze–Epps–Pulley) tests by considering extreme and nonextreme choices of the tuning parameter in the definition of the BHEP test statistic. Monte Carlo power comparisons indicate that the new test presents a reasonable power against a wide range of alternative distributions, showing itself to be competitive against the most recommended procedures for testing a multivariate hypothesis of normality. We further illustrate the use of the new test for the Fisher Iris dataset.     

Employee communication,job engagement,and organizational commitment: A study of members of the Millennial Generation

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between job engagement and two key components of employee-organization relationships (EOR). Findings from a survey of members of the Millennial Generation (N = 539) in the United States indicate that job engagement mediates the relationship between employee communication and organizational commitment. It is concluded that when employees are engaged in their work, their commitment to the organization is strengthened and the likelihood of them leaving the organization decreases. Furthermore, an argument is made in light of the study’s findings that engagement and commitment work in concert to strengthen EORs overall. To foster engagement, organizations should remove obstacles to internal information flow and provide ongoing feedback to employees about individual and organizational issues.     

Psychological Testing in Child Custody Evaluations With Ethnically Diverse Families: Ethical Concerns and Practice Recommendations

Given increasing ethnic diversity of divorcing families, it is more important than ever for family court evaluators to understand the ethical concerns and principles underlying the use of psychological testing with ethnic family members. Major professional organizations have promulgated the guidelines of child custody evaluation with an imperative to consider cultural factors in the evaluation. However, there is a paucity of literature that addresses ethnicity and psychological testing in child custody evaluations. This article addresses three major ethical domains: (a) competence, (b) test fairness, and (c) test interpretation when psychological tests are used. Practice recommendations provide guidelines to ensure ethical standards and competence in using psychological testing with ethnically diverse families in child custody and other family court evaluations.     

Affirmation effects on math scores: The importance of high school track

Stereotype threat has been shown to affect academic performance of minority racial groups. Minority girls may experience the burdens of both race and gender - a “double bind” theorized to affect the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields. A randomized controlled trial focused on alleviating stereotype threat in three high schools in a large U.S. metro demonstrates the effects of affirmative writing interventions, which have previously shown positive effects for minority and female students. Results indicate effects for these groups were insignificant. However, results also show that student track is highly significant at p < 0.001, and interactive analyses suggest that the intervention may help alleviate threat for higher-achieving students.     

Robust block bootstrap panel predictability tests*

This article develops two block bootstrap-based panel predictability test procedures that are valid under very general conditions. Some of the allowable features include cross-sectional dependence, heterogeneous predictive slopes, persistent predictors, and complex error dynamics, including cross-unit endogeneity. While the first test procedure tests if there is any predictability at all, the second procedure determines the units for which predictability holds in case of a rejection by the first. A weak unit root framework is adopted to allow persistent predictors, and a novel theory is developed to establish asymptotic validity of the proposed bootstrap. Simulations are used to evaluate the performance of our tests in small samples, and their implementation is illustrated through an empirical application to stock returns.     

Multiple comparisons in two-factor testing of psychophysical thresholds by the delta test method

We propose an algorithm of multiple comparisons in two-factor testing of psychophysical thresholds. We use logistic regression combined with guessing rate and adopt the step-down procedure with Ryan–Einot–Gabriel–Welsch (REGW) significance levels for multiple test. We test hypotheses of main effects and interaction in two-factor problem by using the delta test statistics.     

A new aging concept derived from the increasing convex ordering

In this paper, a comparison between the life distribution of a new unit with that of a used unit in the increasing convex order is made leading to a new class of life distributions which we call “new better than used in convex ordering of second order”. This class includes as subclasses the NBU and the NBUC and is a subclass of the NBUCA class. Preservation properties under convolution, random maxima, mixing and formation of coherent structures are established. Stochastic comparisons of the excess lifetime when the inter-arrival times belong to the NBUC(2) class are developed. Some applications of Poisson shock models and a test of exponentiality against NBUC(2) alternative are presented.     

矿渣MTC胶结物抗腐蚀性能研究

随着矿渣MTC技术的发展和应用,矿渣MTC胶结物的抗腐蚀性能日益受到人们的关注。矿渣MTC胶结物的抗腐蚀性能直接关系到矿渣胶结物后期性能,并影响井和套管的使用寿命。分析了矿渣MTC胶结物可能受到的几种腐蚀类型及其机理,实验验证了矿渣胶结物具有较强的抗NaCl、Na₂CO₃、Na₂SO₄、MgSO₄侵蚀的能力,但易受酸性介质腐蚀;实验发现了加入胶乳能较大幅度提高矿渣胶结物抗酸性介质腐蚀的能力,并对胶乳提高矿渣胶结物抗酸蚀能力的原因进行了分析。     

Therapeutic Assessment with Children in Family Therapy

Therapeutic Assessment with Children (TA‐C) is a brief semi‐structured intervention in which psychological assessment is used to help families with children and adolescents to change. In this paper we introduce the TA‐C model, describe its semi‐structured format and exemplify how it can be applied by family therapists.     

用工业CT技术测量储层岩芯饱和度分布

认识储层岩石中含油饱和度及饱和度分布,对驱替机理的深入研究是非常重要的。为了搞清储层岩石在驱替过程中的饱和度分布情况,应用工业CT技术,提出了一种储层含油岩芯被驱替后的饱和度分布的CT密度差测量方法。在岩样的同一断面,分别对干岩样、饱和岩样及在驱替后的岩样进行CT扫描,重建相应的断层图象,测量所建图象的灰度值,计算出相应的密度值,用密度差法计算出饱和度及其分布值。在γ射线工业CT机“CD-300BG”上对某油田岩样进行了实际测量,获得的结果说明,采用CT密度差法测量饱和度分布是有效的。该方法与常规驱替法相比较,具有快速、精度高、无损岩样和能模拟地层状态测量等特点,是油田开发、油藏描述和地层评价的一种新的有效方法。