Some partially variance balanced structurally incomplete row-column designs

Earlier results by the authors are used to provide the intrablock analysis for row-column designs that have observations at nodes of the row-column lattice, the design being structurally incomplete when some nodes are empty. Construction, properties, and intrablock analyses of some special b× b row-column designs with b empty nodes taken along the principal diagonal of the lattice are developed. The designs discussed have m > 1 associate classes and are said to be partially variance balanced. The special designs fall in two classes and are shown to be nearly optimal in a specified class of designs. A small catalog of designs constructed is provided and they should be useful when empty nodes do not represent wasted experimental units, perhaps because the row and column assignments of treatments are sequenced.     

Panel discussion by journal editors

The smooth PL quantile estimator is proposed and the analog of Bahadur-Kiefer type process is constructed based on the PL estimator and the smooth PL quantile estimator when the data are subject to censorship. Pointwise and uniform strong limit theorems for this process are established, The theorems are sharp and give the exact convergent rates of Bahadur type representation for the smooth PL quantile estimator.     

Comparing distributions of time to onset of disease in animal tumorigenicity experiments

The cause-of-death test of Peto et al.(1980)pools information from a Hoel-Walburg test on incidental tumors with information from a logrank test on fatal tumors in order to compare the tumor rate of a group of rodents exposed to a carcinogen against the tumor rate of a group of unexposed animals. The cause-of-death test, which can arise as a partial likelihood score test from a model that assumes proportional odds for tumor prevalence and proportional hazards for tumor mortality, is not, in general, a direct test for equality of tumor onset distributions for occult tumors that are observed in both fatal and incidental contexts. This paper develops a direct cause-of-death test for comparing distributions of time to onset of occultumors. The test is derived as a partial likelihood score test under an assumed proportional hazards model for tumor onset distributions. The size and power of the proposed test are compared in a Monte Carlo simulation study to the size and power of competitive procedures, including procedures that do not require cause-of-death information.     

Casework and Social Interaction Theory: Exchange and Interpersonal Negotiation

Social casework is analysed as an interpersonal relationship: dyadic, two-person social interaction. This approach is seen as necessary to supplement the clinical biases within the social work profession. In particular, an exchange theoretical analysis focused attention on the problematical nature of the formation, establishment and maintenance of the social work relationship. In addition, casework was examined as a basically negotiated interpersonal situation, and this perspective drew attention to the consequences of differential interpersonal power and the processes by which the social worker imposes his definition of the situation on the transaction.     

Acoustic correlates of speaker sex identification: Implications for the transsexual voice

As sex research has expanded, a plethora of similar but unconnected theoretical constructs has arisen. Recently, Byrne (1977) and colleagues have developed a conceptual framework which establishes a set of relationships between erotic stimuli, theoretical constructs, and sexual behavior. One main component of this theory is a type of emotional response to sexual stimuli labelled erotophobia‐erotophilia as measured by the Sexual Opinion Survey. Research on this theory indicates that its constructs are important for sex therapists and researchers. Based on previous studies establishing the reliability and validity of the Sexual Opinion Survey (SOS), a study was conducted in which the Survey was administered to 327 adults. Responses to the SOS were used to develop a set of standard scores, percentiles, and preliminary norms to facilitate use of the Survey in clinical practice and research. A principal components analysis of the SOS also was conducted, yielding three reliable and interpretable factors. Analysis of various weighting systems suggested that factor scores derived from the SOS could be calculated reliably simply by addition or subtraction of item scores. Application of the SOS and Byrne's theory for clinical practice, case studies, and clinical research is encouraged as a means of extending the theory and as a way of helping relate elements of sexuality to ongoing social behavior.     

Physical Activity Behaviors of Students of a Rural Historically Black College

Abstract

Physical activity can have a positive impact on health disparities among African Americans. Objective: In this study, we assessed physical activity behaviors and correlates of students of a Historically Black College. Methods: In September 2004, an online survey and pedometers were used to measure physical activity behavior and correlates. Participants: A convenience sample of 106 students completed the survey and received pedometers. Pedometer data were submitted online for 5 weeks. Results: One hundred and six students completed the survey. Twenty-eight percent and 41% of respondents met recommendations for moderate physical activity and vigorous physical activity, respectively. Week 1 daily pedometer step count average was 8,707. Most students reported positive outcome expectations for physical activity. Students submitting pedometer data were less likely to meet MPA recommendations than students only completing the survey. Conclusions: African American students feel positive about physical activity yet most do not meet recommended levels.