Improved Estimation of Maximal Reliability for Unidimensional Multicomponent Measuring Instruments in Repeated Measure Studies

In repeated measure studies with unidimensional scales, measurement invariance, and specificity stability over time, the specificity variance in each instrument component can be identified. This article describes for that setting an improved point and interval estimation procedure for the maximal reliability coefficient associated with a given set of homogeneous measures. The method is developed within the framework of latent variable modeling and can also be readily used in longitudinal studies for improved point and interval estimation of individual measure reliability and scale reliability at each assessment occasion. The procedure is based on empirically testable conditions and is illustrated with an example.     

Investigation of reinforcement of the modified carbon black from wasted tires by nuclear magnetic resonance

INTRODUCTION Waste tires cannot degrade in the short term; they may cause accidental fire and emit poisonous gases rich in dioxins. How to recycle and utilize them effectively, and prevent secondary pollution to the environment has become a new issue that the reuse of resources is faced with. Pyrolysis is an environ-ment-friendly process for recycling of used tires. Three products are typically obtained from the pyrolysis of waste tires: gas, oil and char (Gonzalez etal., 2001). Pyrolyt…     

Can you earn a Ph.D. in economics in five years?

We investigate graduate school outcomes for students who entered economics Ph.D. programs in fall 2002. Students in Top-15 ranked programs and those with higher verbal and quantitative GRE scores are less likely to have dropped out, but no more likely to have graduated. Those with undergraduate degrees from Top-60 U.S. liberal arts colleges and from foreign universities have lower attrition and higher completion probabilities. There are important differences in the characteristics associated with retention and completion probabilities between U.S. citizens and non-citizens and between men and women.