Does statistical language constitute a "significant" roadblock to readers' interpretations of research results?

Critics of statistical hypothesis testing mention how such tests mislead unsuspecting readers into believing that a statistically significant outcome is important and that a nonsignificant outcome is unimportant. Specifically, they mention how the term significant is misleading. In 3 experiments, the authors investigated whether statistical language influences readers' interpretations of research results. For "statistically na?ve" college students reading brief research abstracts, the term significant contributed somewhat to an overinterpretation of the results' importance. But for reading lengthier abstracts and articles, language per se was associated with no negative outcomes. Although the authors argue that "significant" language changes should not be mandated for quantitative research studies in scientific journals, if such changes are mandated, then use of the term statistical is recommended as a straightforward solution to the problem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A New Nonparametric Growth Model

This paper proposes a new nonparametric reliability growth model for the analysis of the failure rate of a system that is undergoing development test. The only restrictions on the actual, unknown failure distribution for each stage of testing is that it be continuous, have only one unknown parameter ?, and have an associated unimodal likelihood function. No assumptions regarding the parametric form of the failure rate of the development process are made, only that there is no decay in the reliability of the system during the design changes. The parameters are assumed to be ordered from one test stage to the next such that ?1 ? ?2 ? ... ? ?m. The new model performs very well based on relative error and mean square error. The model is generally superior to the popular AMSAA model, regardless of the actual underlying failure process. In addition, the results indicate a notable bias in the AMSAA model, early in the development process, regardless of the actual underlying failure process.     

Career counseling as a mental health intervention.

Discusses career counseling aimed at work adjustment or job change as a potential intervention for many individuals suffering from job stress and argues that, in certain instances, career counseling should be used instead of traditional psychotherapy and/or as an alternative to stress management. Assessment strategies for determining the appropriate intervention for individuals suffering from job stress are generated from work adjustment theory. The implications of utilizing career counseling as a mental health intervention are also presented. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

A new stereolithography experimental porous flow device

A new method for constructing laboratory-scale porous media with increased pore-level variabilities for two-phase flow experiments is presented here. These devices have been created with stereolithography directly on glass, thus improving the stability of the model created with this precision rapid construction technique. The method of construction and improved parameters are discussed in detail, followed by a brief comparison of two-phase drainage results for air invasion into the water-saturated porous medium. Flow through the model porous medium is shown to substantiate theoretical fractal predictions.     

On the Palladium-On-Charcoal Disproportionate of Rosin

Abstract

Changes in the composition of gum rosin during disproportionate in the presence of 5% palladium-on-charcoal have been determined by gas chromatography. The principal reaction product was dehydro-abietic acid. The exocyclic vinyl group of the pimaric/isopimaric-type resin acids was hydrogenated completely. Only a small amount of dihydroabietic acids was formed. Eight dihydro resin acids were identified. No tetrahydro resin acids were observed.     

Analysis of Steady-State Filtration and Backpulse Process in a Hot-Gas Filter Vessel

The need to develop a technology for clean and efficient electric power generation has led to the development of advanced pressurized fluidized bed combustors (PFBC) and integrated gasification combined cycles (IGCC). The effective filtration of hot gases for removal of ash and sulfur sorbent, however, is the key to the success of these advanced coal energy systems. Recently, attention has been given to the use of ceramic candle filters for hot-gas cleaning. The ash cake formation on these filters needs to be removed by the backpusle for their successful operation. In this paper, steady-state filtration as well as the transient gas flow during the backpulse process in the integrated gasification and cleanup facility (IGCF) (located at the National Energy Technology Laboratory, NETL) is studied. The steady-state filtration condition is first evaluated, using a compressible heat-conducting flow analysis. Particle transport patterns are studied, and the deposition patterns of 1-30 w m particles on the ceramic filters and the vessel surfaces are analyzed. To simulate the backpulse process, the pressure at the filter exit is increased sharply in a period of about 0.01 s pressure. The stress transport model of the FLUENT code is used to evaluate the time evolution of the transient gas flow velocity, pressure and thermal fields, as well as turbulence intensities and stresses inside the candle filter and in the IGCF filter vessel. Contour plots of the hot-gas flow conditions from the start of the pressure buildup to its saturation level are presented. The results show the rapidly changing flow conditions during the initial stages of the backpulse. The pressure wave propagates along the length of the filter until a monotonic increase of pressure with time is achieved; that is, the pressure field inside the filter at the initial stages of the backpulse is strongly nonuniform. Therefore the potential for incomplete filter cake removal exists. Motions of particles that enter the vessel and/or are ejected from the candle filter during the backpulse process are also studied, and illustrative particle trajectories are presented.     

Issues in the Processing of Cuprate Ceramic Superconductors

A number of the important issues in the processing of dense, superconducting ceramics are addressed and illustrated with examples drawn from our studies of the processing of yttrium barium cuprate. Among the phenomena affecting the attainment of dense, fully superconducting materials are those common to the processing of other ceramics, namely, control of composition, prevention of microcracking, adequate time for the decomposition, and escape of intermediaries prior to surface densification (the so-called "binder burn-off" problem). Additional requirements include the necessity to ensure complete oxygenation throughout the microstructure for full volume superconductivity and the control of texture development for maximizing the attainable transport critical current density. On the basis of the processing issues described, it is concluded that the optimum microstructure is one having finescale, interconnected porosity (to ensure escape of carbonate-like species and subsequent, rapid oxygenation) with a fine grain size (∼1 μm) to avoid microcracking.     

Structure of the first dinuclear Ni(II) complex with an azapurine derivative (the anionic form of 4,6-dimethyl-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-5,7-dione)

The first dinuclear nickel complex with an azapurine derivative is reported. The crystal structure consists of discrete [Ni₂(dmax)₃(H₂O)₂(dben)₂]⁺ cations, the charge of which is balanced by interstitial dmax anions, where dmax = 4,6-dimethyl-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-5,7-dionato and dben = N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine. The nickel centres are bridged by three heterocyclic anions through two nitrogen atoms of their triazole ring. The presence of the bulky auxiliary ligand clearly favours the bridging behaviour of the main ligand, probably by hindering the formation of H-bonds with dmax N atoms as acceptors. H-bonding is however, the main packing interaction, with eight different well defined intermolecular H-bonds that build a 3-D network that is analysed.     

Investigation of the Stability of Quaternary Ammonium Methyl Carbonates

Quaternary ammonium compounds are used commercially for a variety of applications and some are of interest as ionic liquids. For many years dimethyl carbonate has been touted as a green reagent, including its use for methylation (quaternization) of tertiary amines. In addition, substitution of the methyl carbonate by other anions can be efficiently and cleanly accomplished by reaction with the corresponding acid. How stable are these methyl carbonate quaternary compounds? High field ¹³C NMR shows that in the presence of water, the methyl carbonate is converted to bicarbonate. Headspace GCMS indicates that the alkylammonium methyl carbonate salts are stable below 170–180 °C while the bicarbonate salts are stable to only about 140 °C. Thermal decomposition occurs by decarboxylation and by dealkylation.