Validity of psychological assessment: Validation of inferences from persons' responses and performances as scientific inquiry into score meaning.

The traditional conception of validity divides it into three separate and substitutable types: content, criterion, and construct validities. This view is fragmented and incomplete, especially because it fails to take into account both evidence of the value implications of score meaning as a basis for action and the social consequences of score use. The new unified concept of validity interrelates these issues as fundamental aspects of a more comprehensive theory of construct validity that addresses both score meaning and social values in test interpretation and test use. That is, unified validity integrates considerations of content, criteria, and consequences into a construct framework for the empirical testing of rational hypotheses about score meaning and theoretically relevant relationships, including those of an applied and a scientific nature. Six distinguishable aspects of construct validity are highlighted as a means of addressing central issues implicit in the notion of validity as a unified concept. These are content, substantive, structural, generalizability, external, and consequential aspects of construct validity. In effect, these six aspects function as general validity criteria or standards for all educational and psychological measurement, including performance assessments, which are discussed in some detail because of their increasing emphasis in educational and employment settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessment of melt cleanliness in A356.2 aluminium casting alloy using the porous disc filtration apparatus technique: Part II Inclusion analysis

The data obtained on inclusion types and concentrations has been analysed in the present part in terms of their effect on filtration time and fluidity (measured by the length of solidified metal in quartz tubes). The dross, i.e., the oxide layer that formed on the surface of the molten metal, was carefully collected and its mass determined; then it was examined in a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray system. The results show that inclusions are not the only parameter to be considered. More importantly, it is Al2O3 (films or particles), which seems to be the deciding factor. It is found, however, that it is quite difficult to separate the individual role of each parameter using the porous disc filtration apparatus (PoDFA) technique, i.e., sampling, without disturbing the molten metal. Sampling would introduce undesirable oxides into the PoDFA crucible, resulting in an artificial increase in the filtration time. Increasing the holding periods of the molten metal increases the quantity of dross. In all cases, the skimmed dross is wet, i.e., it contains an appreciable amount of molten metal. The main types of oxides in the dross are MgO, MgAl2O4, Al4C3 and Al2O3. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of cooling rate on the solidification behavior of Al-7 Pct Si-SiCp metal-matrix composites

The solidification behavior of two composites based on Al-Si alloy has been investigated as a function of cooling rate. Thermal analysis techniques have been used to establish the relationship between solidification history and the microstructure developed. The results of thermal analysis show that the characteristic parameters are influenced by the cooling rate. A marked difference in these parameters is observed between the reinforced and the unreinforced materials at all cooling rates studied. The cooling rates used in the present study range from 0.3 to 20 K/s. Increasing the cooling rate is shown to affect the undercooling parameters both in the liquidus and eutectic solidification region. The eutectic growth temperature of the composites is observed to be higher than that of the base alloy at all cooling rates. The depression in eutectic temperature ΔT is found to decrease by 27 K for the unreinforced alloy (A356) and by 17 K for the composites (A356 + 10, 20 vol pct SiC) at a higher cooling rate of ≃16 K/s. The presence of SiC reinforcement is observed to suppress the Mg₂Si precipitate formation and decrease the amount of heat liberated during both primary and eutectic phase formation. Dendrite arm spacing (DAS) is correlated to the cooling rate by a relationship of the form DAS =AT ^-n, wheren is found to be of the order of 0.33.     

Room-temperature deformation and stress-induced phase transformation of laves phases in Fe-10 At. Pct Zr alloy

The microstructure within particles of the Laves phase Fe₂Zr in a two-phase Fe-10 at. pct Zr alloy after compression was investigated using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Stressinduced phase transformation between C36 and C15 structures was found to be a major deformation mode for the Laves phase. Twinning and stacking faults were also found within C15 regions. Phase transformation models based on partial dislocations are discussed.     

Surface-mediated effects on porous polymer monolith formation within capillaries

The formation of a porous polymer monolith (PPM) is influenced by the physico-chemical properties of the wall surface of its container. This influence can have a dramatic effect on the resulting monolith morphology depending on the nature and composition of the wall. Indeed, a dense polymer layer or “sheath”, distinct from the bulk porous material, has been observed at the wall surface of capillaries, and thus a study was undertaken to explore the dependence of this layer on the hydrophobicity of the surface. A range of silanizing reagents were used to modify the surface of the fused silica capillary, including aminopropyl, trimethylsilyl, octadecyl and perfluorooctyl functionalities. Crosslinked butyl acrylate-based PPM was formed in the modified capillaries and extruded. SEM images of the monoliths were used to examine the sheath morphology and thickness, which are discussed with respect to surface hydrophobicity.     

A Light‐Blue Phosphorescent Dendrimer for Efficient Solution‐Processed Light‐Emitting Diodes

We describe the preparation of a dendrimer that is solution‐processible and contains 2‐ethylhexyloxy surface groups, biphenyl‐based dendrons, and a fac‐tris[2‐(2,4‐difluorophenyl)pyridyl]iridium(III ) core. The homoleptic complex is highly luminescent and the color of emission is similar to the heteroleptic iridium(III ) complex, bis[2‐(2,4‐difluorophenyl)pyridyl]picolinate iridium(III ) (FIrpic). To avoid the change in emission color that would arise from attaching a conjugated dendron to the ligand, the conjugation between the dendron and the ligand is decoupled by separating them with an ethane linkage. Bilayer devices containing a light‐emitting layer comprised of a 30 wt.‐% blend of the dendrimer in 1,3‐bis(N‐carbazolyl)benzene (mCP) and a 1,3,5‐tris(2‐N‐phenylbenzimidazolyl)benzene electron‐transport layer have external quantum and power efficiencies, respectively, of 10.4 % and 11 lm W^–1 at 100 cd m^–2 and 6.4 V. These efficiencies are higher than those reported for more complex device structures prepared via evaporation that contain FIrpic blended with mCP as the emitting layer, showing the advantage of using a dendritic structure to control processing and intermolecular interactions. The external quantum efficiency of 10.4 % corresponds to the maximum achievable efficiency based on the photoluminescence quantum yield of the emissive film and the standard out‐coupling of light from the device.     

When laws and ethics collide: What should psychologists do?

At times the laws under which psychologists function may appear to contradict generally recognized ethical values and/or good clinical care. When these circumstances arise, psychologists must determine if a conflict really exists and, if so, seek solutions that reconcile respect for the law with their ethical values. At times, psychologists may decide to follow the law despite their ethical concerns. At other times, they may determine that a conscientious objection is warranted. The authors recommend options to consider when these situations arise and offer a decision-making process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Shear mode coupling and tilted grain growth of A1N thin films in BAW resonators.

Polycrystalline A1N thin films were deposited by RF reactive magnetron sputtering on Pt(111)/Ti electrode films. The substrates were tilted by an angle ranging from 40 degrees to 70 degrees with respect to the target normal. A low deposition temperature and a high sputter gas pressure were found ideal for tilted growth. The resulting grain tilt angle amounts to about half the substrate tilt angle. For coupling evaluation, 5 GHz solidly mounted resonator structures have been realized. The tilted grain A1N films exhibited a permittivity in the 9.5-10.5 range and loss tangent of 0.3%. Two shear modes as well as the longitudinal mode could be clearly identified. The coupling coefficient k2(eff) of the fundamental thickness shear mode (TS0) was found to be about 0.5%, which is compatible with a c-axis tilt of about 6 degrees.     

Tilted superlattice composition profile determined by photoluminescence and thermal disordering

The composition profile of an (AlAs)_1/2(GaAs)_1/2 tilted superlattice is characterized for the first time. The tilted superlattice sample is thermally disordered, and the energy of the direct band gap photoluminescence peak is measured as a function of increasing layer interdiffusion. The shift in the photoluminescence peak energy after completely disordering the tilted superlattice is 39 meV. A theoretical model is used to simulate the change in band gap as a function of layer interdiffusion for several composition profiles. The profile that gives the best fit to the experimental data is chosen. The tilted superlattice composition profile is found to be sinusoidal, varying from Al_0.40Ga_0.60As to Al_0.60Ga_0.40As.