Equivalence Testing for Multiple Regression

Psychological research is rife with inappropriately concluding lack of association or no effect between a predictor and the outcome in regression models following statistically nonsignificant results. This approach is methodologically flawed, however, because failing to reject the null hypothesis using traditional, difference-based tests does not mean the null is true (i.e., no relationship). This flawed methodology leads to high rates of incorrect conclusions that flood the literature. This thesis introduces a novel, methodologically sound alternative. I demonstrate how equivalence testing can be applied to evaluate whether a predictor has negligible effects on the outcome variable in multiple regression. I constructed a simulation study to evaluate the performance (i.e., power and error rates) of two equivalence-based tests and compared it to the common, but inappropriate, method of concluding no effect by failing to reject the null hypothesis of the traditional test. I further propose two R functions to accompany this thesis and supply researchers with open-access and easy-to-use tools that they can flexibly adopt in their own research. The use of the proposed equivalence-based methods and R functions is then illustrated using examples from the literature, and recommendations for results reporting and interpretations are discussed. My results demonstrate that using tests of equivalence instead of the traditional test is the appropriate statistical choice: Tests of equivalence show high rates of correct conclusions, especially with larger sample sizes, and low rates of incorrect conclusions, whereas the traditional method demonstrates unacceptably high incorrect conclusion rates.

TERMINOLOGY OF PALEOZOIC PLACODERM FISHES (ANTIARCHI) EXOSKELETAL ELEMENTS

The terminology and morphology of plates of the posterior part of the antiarch head shield (Placodermi, Antiarchi) are discussed. The terms «zatilochnaya» and «bokovaya (kraevaya) zatilochnaya» was previously accepted in antiarch skulls and are suggested for use in Russian-language literature. These terms are more correct and clearly define a position and development of these plates in the head shield of antiarchs. The titles «zagrivkovaya (nuchalnaya)» and «bokovaya zagrivkovaya (paranuchalnaya)», recently applied to them in Russian-language literature may indicate a connection in development with an anterior part of a trunk. A similar term is used for acipenserid exoskeleton. The acipenserid «nuchalnaya kost’» is located posterior to the «verchnezatilochnaya» (after Gurtovoi), and embryonically developed in an anterior part of the trunk over basidorsals and bones of the shoulder girdle. The name «pervaya spinnaya plastinka» (first dorsal scute: after Hilton and others) is also use for this bone. The term «zagrivkovaya plastinka» is used in other vertebrate skeletons, for example, in turtles; this name denotes the unpaired element of a carapace (postcranial skeleton). Using the terms «zagrivkovaya (nuchalnaya)» and «bokovaya zagrivkovaya (paranuchalnaya)» in the morphology of antiarchs and other placoderms may lead confusion in the terminology of skeletal elements at early vertebrates, incorrect conclusion of their homology, structure and development of the head shield of these unusual fishes.

An inclination-only fold test

<p>The fold test is inevitably used to determine whether a remanence is acquired prefold. The remanence declinations recorded in rocks may be affected by local rotation. Thus, it is difficult to restore the structure correction’s original orientation, leading to a possible incorrect conclusion of the fold test. However, the tilt correction of inclination is immune to the influence of local rotations. Therefore, we propose a more straightforward fold test based on the inclination-only mean. Examples are given to verify the validity of the inclination-only fold test, which can be applied to data affected by a possible local rotation. The inclination-only fold test should be used to determine the contribution of inclinations. The combined use of the 3-D and inclination-only fold tests is required to evaluate paleomagnetic results from the orogen or sampling sections with unrecognizable plunging folds or near the faults.</p>

Strongly Bound Excitons in Metal-Organic Framework MOF-5: A Many-Body Perturbation Theory Study

During the past years, one of the most iconic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), MOF-5, has been characterized as a semiconductor by theory and experiments. Here we employ the GW many-body perturbation theory in conjunction with the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) to compute the electronic structure and optical properties of this MOF. The GW calculations show that MOF-5 is a wide band-gap insulator with a fundamental gap of ∼ 8 eV. The strong excitonic effects, arising from highly localized states and low screening, result in an optical gap of 4.5 eV and in an optical absorption spectrum in excellent agreement with experiments. The origin of the incorrect conclusion reported by past studies and the implication of this result are also discussed.

Strongly Bound Excitons in Metal-Organic Framework MOF-5: A Many-Body Perturbation Theory Study

During the past years, one of the most iconic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), MOF-5, has been characterized as a semiconductor by theory and experiments. Here we employ the GW many-body perturbation theory in conjunction with the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) to compute the electronic structure and optical properties of this MOF. The GW calculations show that MOF-5 is a wide band-gap insulator with a fundamental gap of ∼ 8 eV. The strong excitonic effects, arising from highly localized states and low screening, result in an optical gap of 4.5 eV and in an optical absorption spectrum in excellent agreement with experiments. The origin of the incorrect conclusion reported by past studies and the implication of this result are also discussed.

No Gravity Shield in Multi-folds Universes

In a multi-fold universe, gravity emerges from Entanglement through the multi-fold mechanisms. As a result, gravity-like effects appear in between entangled particles that they be real or virtual. Long range, massless gravity results from entanglement of massless virtual particles. Entanglement of massive virtual particles leads to massive gravity contributions at very smalls scales. Multi-folds mechanisms also result into a spacetime that is discrete, with a random walk fractal structure and non-commutative geometry that is Lorentz invariant and where spacetime nodes and particles can be modeled with microscopic black holes. All these recover General relativity at large scales and semi-classical model remain valid till smaller scale than usually expected. Gravity can therefore be added to the Standard Model. This can contribute to resolving several open issues with the Standard Model. The presence of a matter obstacle or shield on the path of the entangled virtual photons may be understood as weakening the gravity perceived beyond or within by a test particle. It is an incorrect conclusion. The potential energy (momentum 4-vector) of the shield and the shield acting a new source ensure that gravity perceived by the test particle is unaffected (other than by the additional contributions due to the proper gravity of the shield). In a multi-fold universe, Faraday cages do not weaken gravity!

Formalism and realism as a style of judicial interpretation: theoretical-applicable aspect

The article is devoted to revealing the features of formalism and realism as styles of judicial interpretation. It is proved that the effective and enforceability of the law as a whole depends on the effective enforcement. Judicial enforcement is the last stage of enforcement as a whole. The court, through judicial enforcement, reveals the content of a rule of law in its course of action, completes it or establishes its true meaning through interpretation. It is argued that the use of formalism and realism as styles of judicial interpretation leads to the formation of two independent styles of justice. It is stated that, in the practical plane, the distinction between formalism and realism looks so that the judge should start from the written text of the act, applying the priority of the principle of legality. The will of the "author of the text" is also taken into account. Formalism, given the rapid nature of social relations and therefore the change in legal reality, is generally associated with the risk of making unfair judgments. Judicial realism, on the contrary, considers it possible for judges to appeal to considerations of morality, policy and the like. It is proved that a realistic approach is necessarily linked with voluntarism that exists in "hard" and "soft" forms. This gives you the opportunity to be a realistic approach, radical or moderate. If the judge is empowered to set the contents (meaning) of the text that is interpreted, it is absolutely arbitrary – arbitrary, that is, without any connection with the semantics of the text, then voluntarism is evident in "hard" form. Judicial realism is able to use strong arguments, and is therefore able to meet the requirements of justice and (or) the effective court decisions in the socio-economic and political circumstances change rapidly. Popular here is the application context of the application of the law. These approaches in the theory of law also called static and dynamic (one that fits right to life) ways of interpretation. At the same time, we must not forget about the possibility of a miscarriage of justice during the administration of justice. It is a properly defined legally significant circumstances in connection with this incorrect conclusion of the court made on the basis of given factual circumstances. A realistic approach is necessarily linked with voluntarism that exists in "hard" and "soft" forms. This gives you the opportunity to be a realistic approach, radical or moderate. If the judge is empowered to set the contents (meaning) of the text that is interpreted, it is absolutely arbitrary – arbitrary, that is, without any connection with the semantics of the text, then voluntarism is evident in "hard" form. Example of rigid forms of realism may be the use of judicial discretion when the court and not the legislator is actually created a new rule of conduct. Key words: judicial interpretation, judicial enforcement, formalism, realism, styles judicial interpretation, voluntarism.

Comment on Liu et al. “Discrepancies of Measured SAR between Traditional and Fast Measuring Systems.” Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2020, 17, 2111

An article published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health compares two types of specific absorption rate measurement systems—a fast system using a time-domain array and a traditional system using probe scanning. While the time-domain array system is analyzed in detail under idealized conditions, the probe-scanning system evaluation used a fixed set of scanning and evaluation parameters that are not fully compliant with the requirements of the published standards. This leads to a false comparison and the incorrect conclusion that time-domain array systems can be theoretically more accurate than probe-scanning systems. We have repeated the analysis applied in the paper using the same raw data but with state-of-the art scanning and evaluation parameters. The results confirm the high accuracy of probe-scanning systems for any field distribution. Due to the high precision, robustness, and reliability of probe-scanning systems, the results of these systems are often referred to as reference results.

Reply to the comment by K.M. Aggarwal on “Collision strength and effective collision strength for Ba XLVIII”

We show that the comment of K.M. Aggarwal (2018, Can. J. Phys. 96(10), doi: https://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/cjp-2017-0842 ), although being only marginally relevant to the content of the original paper (2017, Can. J. Phys. 95(2), doi: https://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/cjp-2016-0513 ), misinterprets our results and leads to an incorrect conclusion.

On the taxonomic recognition of skinks from the Guadeloupe Archipelago (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuya)

The six species of mabuyid lizards (skinks) of the Guadeloupe Archipelago are Capitellum mariagalantae, Mabuya cochonae, M. desiradae, M. grandisterrae, M. guadeloupae, and M. parviterrae. All are critically endangered and four may be extinct, primarily from predation by introduced mammals. These six species were described in recent years from molecular and morphological analyses. Miralles et al. (2017, Bulletin de la Société Herpétologique de France, 163, 67–84) has challenged the taxonomy, claiming that the six species cannot be diagnosed from each other, and recognized only a single species, Mabuya desiradae. We find that their study contains errors that led them to that incorrect conclusion, including a probable data handling error in the molecular analysis and the use of non-diagnostic morphological characters.