Do common elements predict class merger: A test of Sidman's theory of equivalence

The study presented here investigated the effect of common and uncommon elements on class merger as predicted by Sidman in his reconceptualization of stimulus equivalence suggesting that common elements among contingencies can facilitate emergent performances (1994, 1997, 2000). Eight adult participants were exposed to a procedure that arranged for stimulus–reinforcer correlations in Phase 1 and response–reinforcer correlations in Phase 2 of a 3-phase study. In the common element group, the visual images serving as reinforcers were the same in Phase 1 and Phase 2. In the uncommon elements group, the images serving as reinforcers were different in Phases 1 and 2. In Phase 3, participants were given an opportunity to respond but no feedback was programmed. The results showed that participants' responding was well differentiated in the common element group and undifferentiated in the uncommon elements group. These results are predicted by Sidman's revised formulation of the provenance and scope of equivalence relations. Specifically, these data support Sidman's (1994, 1997, 2000) suggestion that elements of a contingency enter into an equivalence class and common elements among contingencies are sufficient to produce class mergers. The findings highlight an emergent simple discrimination and raise some interesting considerations about the definition of equivalence under the new formulation.     

Formation of yittrium oxide in cemented carbides

Rare-earth (RE) elements are helpful in improving the mechanical properties of cemented carbides. In this work, the formation of Y₂O₃ in functionally graded cemented carbides is investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The results indicate that Y₂O₃ can stabilize the Co phase with the face-centred cubic structure (α-Co), since it has a cubic structure similar to the high-temperature Co phase. The α-Co phase has a higher plasticity than ε-Co, and this suggests a possible mechanism for the role of RE elements in toughening cemented carbides.     

The use of person–organization fit and person–job fit information in making selection decisions

Two policy-capturing studies were conducted to investigate how person–organization (PO) fit and person–job (PJ) fit information are weighted and combined when hiring decision makers evaluate job candidates, and how the process is influenced by the position’s characteristics. Regarding the combining process, we detected a nonlinear, conjunctive rule in which a low level of PJ fit was paid more attention, the levels of PO fit and PJ fit interacted, and candidates with moderate levels of PO fit and PJ fit were preferred over those with high and low levels. Regarding the weighting process, we found that PO fit was weighted more heavily for a permanent position, and PJ fit for a fixed-term and/or a knowledge-intensive position. In addition, the position’s contract duration (permanent vs. fixed-term) and task elements (managerial vs. knowledge-intensive) interacted in influencing the weighting of PO fit and PJ fit.     

汉易卦气学的理论原理

汉易卦气学中阴阳二气消长运行的原理保留了先秦《易传》和《礼记.月令》中尊重自然规律的思想,同时也发展了《月令》中的阴阳灾异思想;天人感应的原理是源自《洪范》“五事”“五征”思想,而于战国后期以来被加以充分发挥并在技术上加以细化的天人感应论;五行生克原理是用来说明造成某种灾异的具体原因的,对卦气占筮体系的建立有重要作用;由五行生克理论派生的五行运数理论,主要被用于讲王朝兴衰更替问题,阴阳二气消长运行的理论对于气论哲学的发展还是有积极影响的。天人感应理论有为人道正义寻求支撑的意义,但卦气学繁复的技术细节冲淡了这种意义,而用五行运数理论解释世运兴衰朝代更替,在本质上与天人感应学说是有矛盾的。     

In vitro reinforcement of hippocampal bursting: a search for Skinner's atoms of behavior.

A novel "in vitro reinforcement" paradigm was used to investigate Skinner's (1953) hypotheses (a) that operant behavior is made up of infinitesimal "response elements" or "behavioral atoms" and (b) that these very small units, and not whole responses, are the functional units of reinforcement. Our tests are based on the assumption that behavioral atoms may plausibly be represented at the neural level by individual cellular responses. As a first approach, we attempted to reinforce the bursting responses of hippocampal units in a highly reduced brain-slice preparation with local micropressure applications of behaviorally reinforcing dopaminergic drugs. The same injections were administered independently of bursting to provide a "noncontingent" control for nonspecific stimulation or facilitation of firing. It was found that the bursting responses of individual CA1 pyramidal neurons may be progressively facilitated in a dose-related manner by response-contingent (but not noncontingent) injections of dopamine itself, the dopamine D1-preferring agonist SKF 82958, the D3-preferring agonist quinpirole, and the D2-like selective agonist (+)-4-propyl-9 hydroxynapthoxazine. These findings support the conclusion that unit bursting responses can be reinforced in vitro in hippocampal slices, and they further suggest that the same dopamine receptor subtypes are involved in both cellular and behavioral operant conditioning. The results thus provide indirect support for Skinner's atoms-of-behavior hypothesis.     

Probability-of-coverage tolerance intervals for the beta binomial

True score tolerance intervals, which are designed to cover a chosen proportion of the conditional distribution of true scores given an observed score, are suggested as alternatives to true score confidence intervals. Using large sample theory, a tolerance interval estimator for the beta binomial is derived. An example indicates that with moderate sample sizes, tolerance intervals with high probability of coverage will not be much wider than when the two beta true score parameters are known.The author acknowledges valuable comments from Richard Sawyer.Most work was completed while the author was at the American College Testing Program.     

Some Thoughts Regarding the Sensitivity of t to Error in Estimated Within-Group Variance

A. J. Riopelle (2003) has eloquently demonstrated that the null hypothesis assessed by the t test involves not only mean differences but also error in the estimation of the within-group standard deviation, s. He is correct in his conclusion that the precision of the interpretation of a significant t and the null hypothesis tested is complex, particularly when sample sizes are small. In this article, the author expands on Riopelle's thoughts by comparing t with some equivalent or closely related tests that make the reliance of t on the accurate estimation of error perhaps more salient and by providing a simulation that may address more directly the magnitude of the interpretational problem.     

肿瘤组织库规范化操作程序的探讨

肿瘤组织是人类直接探讨肿瘤发生、发展和转移机制的研究对象,建立肿瘤组织库(tumor tissue bank,TTB),使用一套规范化操作程序(standard operating procedures,SOPs)来收集高质量的组织标本,避免其浪费势在必行。规范化TTB的建设也将涉及TTB的信息化管理及通用数据元素(common data elements,CDEs)的开发。深入探讨这些方面将有助于我国科研机构建立起自己标准化的TTB。     

医学书面语体的特征研究

以病历、医嘱、处方、检验报告、诊断学等教科书中书面语言为基础,对医学书面语体的内部结构和外部要素进行分析,认为医学书面语体作为一个相对新型的语体,在语词、句法、辞格和篇章等方面有显著的特征。还深入研究了这些特征与相关联的语言外部要素间联系。