Dynamic Bayesian Networks in Educational Measurement: Reviewing and Advancing the State of the Field

As the popularity of rich assessment scenarios increases so must the availability of psychometric models capable of handling the resulting data. Dynamic Bayesian networks (DBNs) offer a fast, flexible option for characterizing student ability across time under psychometrically complex conditions. In this article, a brief introduction to DBNs is offered, followed by a review of the existing literature on the use of DBNs in educational and psychological measurement with a focus on methodological investigations and novel applications that may provide guidance for practitioners wishing to deploy these models. The article concludes with a discussion of future directions for research in the field.     

Spatially gradated segregation and recovery of circulating tumor cells from peripheral blood of cancer patients

For cancer patients, the enumeration of rare circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood is a strong prognostic indicator of the severity of the cancer; for the general population, the capture of CTCs is needed for use as a clinical tool for cancer screening, early detection, and treatment assessment. Here, we present a fast, high-purity (∼90%) and high-efficiency (>90%) method for the segregation and undamaged recovery of CTCs using a spatially gradated microfluidic chip. Further, by lysing the red blood cells we achieved not only a significant reduction in the overall processing time but also mitigated the blood clogging problem commonly encountered in microfluidic-based CTC isolation systems. To clinically validate the chip, we employed it to detect and capture CTCs from 10 liver cancer patients. Positive CTC enumeration was observed in all the blood samples, and the readings ranged from a low of 1–2 CTCs (1 patient) to a high of >20 CTCs (2 patients) with the balance having 3–20 CTCs per 3-ml blood sample. The work here indicates that our system can be developed for use in cancer screening, metastatic assessment, and chemotherapeutic response and for pharmacological and genetic evaluation of single CTCs.     

Tackle and impact detection in elite Australian football using wearable microsensor technology

Abstract

The effectiveness of a wearable microsensor device (MinimaxX^TM S4, Catapult Innovations, Melbourne, VIC, Australia) to automatically detect tackles and impact events in elite Australian football (AF) was assessed during four matches. Video observation was used as the criterion measure. A total of 352 tackles were observed, with 78% correctly detected as tackles by the manufacturer’s software. Tackles against (i.e. tackled by an opponent) were more accurately detected than tackles made (90% v 66%). Of the 77 tackles that were not detected at all, the majority (74%) were categorised as low-intensity. In contrast, a total of 1510 “tackle” events were detected, with only 18% of these verified as tackles. A further 57% were from contested ball situations involving player contact. The remaining 25% were in general play where no contact was evident; these were significantly lower in peak Player Load? than those involving player contact (P < 0.01). The tackle detection algorithm, developed primarily for rugby, was not suitable for tackle detection in AF. The underlying sensor data may have the potential to detect a range of events within contact sports such as AF, yet to do so is a complex task and requires sophisticated sport and event-specific algorithms.     

Biomechanics of the Snatch Technique of Highly Skilled and Skilled Weightlifters

Abstract

The lifting techniques of 10 world-class weightlifters were compared to those of 26 skilled collegiate weightlifters while performing the first portion of the snatch, from the lift-off of the barbell to the catch of the barbell overhead with the body in a squatting position. Cinematography was used to measure the joint angles, position of the center of gravity of the body, and the position of the barbell. Results indicated that the world-class weightlifters raised the barbell to a relatively lower height, assumed more flexed positions at the hips and knees with a smaller angle between the shank and floor during certain stages of the lift, and lowered their bodies more rapidly during the squatting portion of the lift than the collegiate weightlifters.     

Facilitating enterprise application integration adoption: An empirical analysis of UK local government authorities

local government authorities (LGAs) are organised around operational structures with business processes spanning within departments and across other government organisations. In such an organisational setting, the harmonisation of Information Technology (IT) operations, integration of cross-departmental processes and the underlying Information Systems (IS) signifies a challenge in delivering integrated services. This paper attempts to explore enterprise application integration (EAI) adoption in the UK local government authorities (LGAs). Despite the hype of EAI adoption in private domain, its application in LGAs is inadequate as there is a lack of adoption models/frameworks that can be used by the public sector. The context of the study is to consider the transformation of IT infrastructure management and operations with EAI technologies. The empirical findings, generated through a detailed case analysis, manifestly exemplify that EAI predominantly acts as a ‘back-office’ technology that facilitates operations by developing a flexible and maintainable integrated IT infrastructure. Our proposed framework is believed to be imperative and unique as it provides a more systematic way to examine the adoption of integration technologies, extends the established norms for EAI adoption by utilising a prioritisation technique to classify the importance of factors. The contribution of the research extends the literature on EAI and identifies theoretical and practical opportunities that facilitate LGAs in their decision-making process to produce more robust proposals for EAI adoption.     

2. CBQ REVIEW ESSAY: Reporting Wars and the Military (Part 1)

Leslie Halliwell's The Filmgoer's Companion (New York: Hill and Wang, 1974—$25.00)

Ray Armes' Film and Reality: An Historical Survey (Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1974—$1.95, paper)

Peter Harcourt 's Six European Directors: Essays on the Meaning of Film Style (Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1974—$2.50, paper)

James Robert Parish' The RKO Gals (New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House, 1974—$14.95)

Lee R. Bowker's Elements of Film (New York: Harcourt Brace Javanovich, 1974—$5.95, paper)

Jump Cut: A Review of Contemporary Cinema (3138 West Schubert, Chicago, Ill. 60647—$3.00 for 6 issues a year, or 50c each)

William Kuhns' Themes Two (Dayton, Ohio: Pflaum/Standard, 1974—$4.95, paper)

Raoul Walsh's Each Man in His Time: The Life Story of a Director (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1974– $10.00)     

General Communications

Joseph C. Goulden's Monopoly (Pocket Books 77135, 95¢)

Bryce Rucker's The First Freedom (University of Southern Illinois Press, $2.85)

John Phelan's Communications Control (Sheed & Ward, $3.45)

David Manning White's edited collection Pop Culture in America (Quadrangle Books, $5.95/2.45)

Marshall Fishwick and Ray B. Browne's edited Icons of Popular Culture (Bowling Green University Popular Press, $1.00)

Don Fabun's Three Roads to Awareness (Beverly Hills, Calif.: Glencoe Press, $5.95/4.95)     

Reference Sources and Research Methods

Lorna M. Daniells' Business Information Sources (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1976---$14.95)

Gene V. Glass, ed. Evaluation Studies: Review Annual Volume I, 1976 (Beverly Hills, Calif.: Sage Publications, 1976---$29.95)

The Concise and Comprehensive Reference Guide to Black Journalism, Radio and Television, Educational and Cultural Organizations in the USA, Africa, and the Caribbean (Black List, Box 3552, New York, N.Y. 10017---$50.00, two volumes, paper)

Ray B. Browne, ed. Abstracts of Popular Culture: A Quarterly Publication of International Popular Phenomena (Bowling Green, Ohio: Bowling Green University Popular Press, 1976---$50.00 per year/$90.00 for two years/$200 for five years)