Local Independence Research Articles

РАЗВИТИЕ ЭКСПОРТА ПРОДУКТОВ ПЕРЕРАБОТКИ ЗЕРНА ИЗ СИБИРСКОГО ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОГО ОКРУГА КАК НАПРАВЛЕНИЕ ПОВЫШЕНИЯ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ФУНКЦИОНИРОВАНИЯ АГРОПРОДОВОЛЬСТВЕННОГО РЫНКА

The export of food products is an indicator of the economic well-being of the region and indicates the provision of consumed products to the local population and independence from imports. Currently, the Siberian Federal District is the largest producer and consumer of grain products in the Russian Federation. As for exports, the share of Siberian products in the country's exports is more than 10%.
 The methodological basis of the study was the scientific works of foreign and domestic scientists in the field of the theory of international trade in grain processing products, as well as regulatory legal acts regulating export activities. During the research, methods and techniques were used: abstract-logical, economic-statistical, statistical groupings, monographic.
 The study made it possible to determine the production potential of grain processing enterprises in the regions of the Siberian Federal District, as well as the volume of exports of grain processing products from the district in value and in kind by type (flour, cereals, pasta). Markets for grain processing products from the Siberian Federal District have been identified.
 As a result of the scientific research, promising directions for the development of exports of grain processing products from the Siberian Federal District are proposed, which are the basis for expanding the geography of export supplies, further increasing their volumes and improving the efficiency of the functioning of the agro-food market.

Item Response Theory Modeling of the Verb Naming Test.

Item response theory (IRT) is a modern psychometric framework with several advantageous properties as compared with classical test theory. IRT has been successfully used to model performance on anomia tests in individuals with aphasia; however, all efforts to date have focused on noun production accuracy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the Verb Naming Test (VNT), a prominent test of action naming, can be successfully modeled under IRT and evaluate its reliability. We used responses on the VNT from 107 individuals with chronic aphasia from AphasiaBank. Unidimensionality and local independence, two assumptions prerequisite to IRT modeling, were evaluated using factor analysis and Yen's Q 3 statistic (Yen, 1984), respectively. The assumption of equal discrimination among test items was evaluated statistically via nested model comparisons and practically by using correlations of resulting IRT-derived scores. Finally, internal consistency, marginal and empirical reliability, and conditional reliability were evaluated. The VNT was found to be sufficiently unidimensional with the majority of item pairs demonstrating adequate local independence. An IRT model in which item discriminations are constrained to be equal demonstrated fit equivalent to a model in which unique discrimination parameters were estimated for each item. All forms of reliability were strong across the majority of IRT ability estimates. Modeling the VNT using IRT is feasible, yielding ability estimates that are both informative and reliable. Future efforts are needed to quantify the validity of the VNT under IRT and determine the extent to which it measures the same construct as other anomia tests. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.22329235.

Psychometric properties of the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) in a sample of workers.

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the GAD-7 by obtaining evidence of internal structure (dimensionality, precision and differential functioning of items) and association with external variables. A total of 2,219 protocols from three different studies conducted with Puerto Rican employees that administered the GAD-7 were selected for the current study. Item response theory modeling was used to assess internal structure, and linear association with external variables. The items were adapted to a graduated response model, with high similarity in the discrimination and location parameters, as well as in the precision at the level of the items and in the total score. No violation of local independence and differential item functioning was detected. The association with convergent (work-related rumination) and divergent (work engagement, sex, and age) variables were theoretically consistent. The GAD-7 is a psychometrically robust tool for detecting individual variability in symptoms of anxiety in workers.

Unique Variable Analysis: A Network Psychometrics Method to Detect Local Dependence

The local independence assumption states that variables are unrelated after conditioning on a latent variable. Common problems that arise from violations of this assumption include model misspecification, biased model parameters, and inaccurate estimates of internal structure. These problems are not limited to latent variable models but also apply to network psychometrics. This paper proposes a novel network psychometric approach to detect locally dependent pairs of variables using network modeling and a graph theory measure called weighted topological overlap (wTO). Using simulation, this approach is compared to contemporary local dependence detection methods such as exploratory structural equation modeling with standardized expected parameter change and a recently developed approach using partial correlations and a resampling procedure. Different approaches to determine local dependence using statistical significance and cutoff values are also compared. Continuous, polytomous (5-point Likert scale), and dichotomous (binary) data were generated with skew across a variety of conditions. Our results indicate that cutoff values work better than significance approaches. Overall, the network psychometrics approaches using wTO with graphical least absolute shrinkage and selector operator with extended Bayesian information criterion and wTO with Bayesian Gaussian graphical model were the best performing local dependence detection methods overall.

Measuring Behavior Problems in Children from Low-Income Families: A Rasch Analysis of the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1½–5

The Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5–5 (CBCL/1½ –5) has been widely used by researchers and clinicians in the field of special education and psychology. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the CBCL/1½-5 with a sample of preschool children from low-income families using the Rasch model. Participants included 244 children enrolled in a Head Start program. Findings suggested that both the Internalizing and Externalizing subscales are unidimensional and demonstrated local independence successfully, after misfit items were removed to fit the Rasch model. Both subscales operated well with high item reliability and low to medium person reliability, indicating that both subscales have stable item difficulty orders from sample to sample but weaker capacity to distinguish children with mild problem behaviors from those with more severe problems. Differential item functioning was found for a few items across child gender. Considering the length of the item sets, it is appropriate to use the subscale scores to compare the differences in problem behaviors between boys and girls. Overall, the CBCL/1½ –5 has adequate psychometric properties for detecting problem behaviors in preschool children from low-income families. Implications were discussed.

Creative Accounting in Local Governments to Obtain Funds for COVID-19 Management

Purpose: This study aims to test whether local governments in Indonesia carry out creative accounting to obtain a national economic response loan in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic with 0% interest. Theoretical framework: According to public choice theory, it can be predicted that local government will take advantage the National Economic Recovery (PEN) loan program with 0% interest from central government for their covid-19 prevention. Local government will fix the financial information which adjusted to the central government regulation in order to obtain the loan. Design/methodology/approach: The research population in the first year was all local governments in Indonesia. The sample obtained in this study was 51 local governments according to the criteria in the purposive method. The data analysis technique used in the study was the STATA analysis tool version 15. Findings: The result analysis regression has proven that the local government loan positively affects creative accounting. This study can also prove that geographic location and local government independence positively affects creative accounting. Research, Practical & Social implications: The low level of local government financial statement accessibility in Indonesia has resulted in a minimum amount of data being obtained. This can be a motivation for further research to examine the level of financial statements transparency in Indonesia. Originality/value: This study is the first to examine creative accounting by government accountants. Secondly, this study can improve scientific studies, especially financial accounting through empirical evidence about creative accounting carried out by Indonesian local governments in developing countries that have different characteristics from other countries in the world.

PENERAPAN DIGITAL BEKASI BERANI BELI (BEBELI) PADA UMKM KABUPATEN BEKASI

The Indonesian government has focused on procuring Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) empowerment programs in society so that they are increasingly synergized with developments in the world of technology. For this reason, the Bekasi Government launched the Bekasi Berani Beli (BeBeLi) application as the first online store created by the Bekasi Government in order to encourage its people to use local products sold through the application. The regional government of Bekasi Regency has begun to slowly conduct socialization related to the procurement of the application, but it has not yet reached Karangharja Village. This is what encourages students participating in the Community Service Program (Devition of People) to assist the government in providing counseling or outreach to residents of Karangharja Village regarding the BeBeLi application. Devition of People activities will be carried out through two methods, namely the community education method and the training method. The community education method is carried out through outreach activities for the BeBeLi application, while training is carried out by providing training to Karangharja Village residents on how to use and register their products to the BeBeLi application. In this Devition of People activity this time the media used were print and broadcast media so the costs used were for the purposes of printing pamphlets and renting equipment used for socialization and distributing consumption to the villagers who attended. It is hoped that with this activity the Karangharja village residents can take advantage of the forums that have been created by the government and be able to realize local economic independence by encouraging the progress of MSMEs. This Community Service activity has an impact, namely helping to market local products to the Bebeli application in order to support the development of MSMEs in Bekasi Regency, especially Karangharja Village and the majority in Karangharja Village have used the Bekasi Berani Beli (Bebeli) Application after the training.

Empowerment of the Jamu Gendong Kiringan Canden Community Based on Local Wisdom to Increase Literacy Embodied in Children's Literature

Purpose ­ The empowerment program will directly invite the Kiringan Canden herbal medicine community based on the local wisdom of traditional herbal medicine which is inherited from their ancestors to actively participate in increasing literacy and cultivating children's character which is embodied in children's literature.
 Methods - Methode community service activities.
 Result and discussions - The series of activities and results obtained prove that by collaborating with each other from all elements of society, especially involving the younger generation so that they have a good understanding of the local wisdom of the area, promoting behavior will emerge, understanding potential and in the end wanting to participate in preserving the ancestral heritage that has great potential to be appointed as a regional brand, so that the character values of nationalism, pride in local products, independence and mutual cooperation can be realized. Therefore, intermediaries or infrastructure are needed in order to pass on the order of life, tradition and culture to the next generation, so that there are no gaps between generations, so that community service programs by empowering herbal medicine communities based on local wisdom can increase literacy in maintain ancestral heritage. Presentation that is fun and in providing education to all residents, especially children, through explanation activities that are appropriate to the stage of child development, will facilitate and build literacy which has an impact on the formation of children's character.
 Conclusion - Empowerment by inviting the participation of all elements in society including the Jamu Gendong community, youth, children, men and women, community leaders and other residents to jointly preserve the ancestral heritage of "traditional herbal medicine" by directly empowering the Jamu Gendong community in increasing community-based literacy. local wisdom through fun activities, namely children's literature, is able to develop children's emotional intelligence and creativity, foster growth as well as children's personality and social skills. An interesting presentation will create fun and influence children so that indirectly they are able to cultivate the characters of respect, responsibility, caring, citizenship, honesty, cooperation, freedom, courage and justice so that in the future the children of this younger generation will continue and preserving the potential of the region.

Empowerment of the Jamu Gendong Kiringan Canden Community Based on Local Wisdom to Increase Literacy Embodied in Children's Literature

Purpose ­ The empowerment program will directly invite the Kiringan Canden herbal medicine community based on the local wisdom of traditional herbal medicine which is inherited from their ancestors to actively participate in increasing literacy and cultivating children's character which is embodied in children's literature. Methods - Methode community service activities. Result and discussions - The series of activities and results obtained prove that by collaborating with each other from all elements of society, especially involving the younger generation so that they have a good understanding of the local wisdom of the area, promoting behavior will emerge, understanding potential and in the end wanting to participate in preserving the ancestral heritage that has great potential to be appointed as a regional brand, so that the character values of nationalism, pride in local products, independence and mutual cooperation can be realized. Therefore, intermediaries or infrastructure are needed in order to pass on the order of life, tradition and culture to the next generation, so that there are no gaps between generations, so that community service programs by empowering herbal medicine communities based on local wisdom can increase literacy in maintain ancestral heritage. Presentation that is fun and in providing education to all residents, especially children, through explanation activities that are appropriate to the stage of child development, will facilitate and build literacy which has an impact on the formation of children's character. Conclusion - Empowerment by inviting the participation of all elements in society including the Jamu Gendong community, youth, children, men and women, community leaders and other residents to jointly preserve the ancestral heritage of "traditional herbal medicine" by directly empowering the Jamu Gendong community in increasing community-based literacy. local wisdom through fun activities, namely children's literature, is able to develop children's emotional intelligence and creativity, foster growth as well as children's personality and social skills. An interesting presentation will create fun and influence children so that indirectly they are able to cultivate the characters of respect, responsibility, caring, citizenship, honesty, cooperation, freedom, courage and justice so that in the future the children of this younger generation will continue and preserving the potential of the region.

Sustainable surgical resource initiative for Haiti: the SSRI-Haiti project

ABSTRACT In response to the 2010 earthquake and subsequent cholera epidemic, St Luke’s Medical Center was established in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Here, we describe its inception and evolution to include an intensive care unit and two operating rooms, as well as the staffing, training and experiential learning activities, which helped St Luke’s become a sustainable surgical resource. We describe a three-phase model for establishing a sustainable surgical centre in Haiti (build facility and acquire equipment; train staff and perform surgeries; provide continued education and expansion including regular specialist trips) and we report a progressive increase in the number and complexity of cases performed by all-Haitian staff from 2012 to 2022. The results are generalised in the context of the ‘delay framework’ to global health along with a discussion of the application of this three-phase model to resource-limited environments. We conclude with a brief description of the formation of a remote surgical centre in Port-Salut, an unforeseen benefit of local competence and independence. Establishing sustainable and collaborative surgery centres operated by local staff accelerates the ability of resource-limited countries to meet high surgical burdens.

Test results with and without blueprinting: Psychometric analysis using the Rasch model

IntroductionThe test blueprint bridges the teaching, learning, and assessment processes. It describes what to measure in which learning domain and at what competency level. We used Rasch analysis to compare the test results and item response patterns of two uro-reproductive tests. The Fall-2020 (Test one) exam was developed without a test blueprint, while the Fall-2021 (Test two) exam used a test blueprint. MethodsThe study analyzed data from 143 Sultan Qaboos University medical students who passed the course in fall 2020 and fall 2021. 25 MCQs were chosen at random. Psychometric analysis was performed using the Rasch model. Means, measurement errors, and reliability indices were calculated. Rasch's dichotomous model computed PCAR for unidimensionality, local item independence, person separation estimate, and fit statistics for item conformity. ResultsBoth tests exhibited non-significant variations in test scores, person separation indices (PSI), and item reliability. On test two, item separation measures showed three difficulty levels. Unidimensionality assumptions were validated in both tests. Test one items 16 and 18 were 0.53 intercorrelated, indicating response dependence. Both tests produced acceptable infit statistics, with 8 items in test one and 6 in test two unfitting for the outfit range (0.7--1.3). Test two ICC had a wider range of item difficulty. The item-person map showed that students' abilities are greater than item difficulties in both tests, with a wider range of abilities in test two. ConclusionsPsychometrically sound tests require test blueprints. The Rasch model analyzes test psychometrics effectively. Test score accuracy, item differentiation, and item independence improved with blueprinting. Creating a test with a high correlation between item difficulty and student ability reduced score measuring errors. General research should examine blueprinting methods and educational milestones.

Efficient Simulation of Sparse Graphs of Point Processes

We derive new discrete event simulation algorithms for marked time point processes. The main idea is to couple a special structure, namely the associated local independence graph, as defined by Didelez, with the activity tracking algorithm of Muzy for achieving high-performance asynchronous simulations. With respect to classical algorithms, this allows us to drastically reduce the computational complexity, especially when the graph is sparse.

Hungarian PROMIS-29+2: psychometric properties and population reference values

ObjectivesThis study aims to assess psychometric properties of the Hungarian PROMIS-29+2 profile measure and provide general population reference values for Hungary.MethodsAn adult general population sample (n = 1700) completed PROMIS-29+2 v2.1 in an online survey. The following psychometric properties were assessed: floor and ceiling effect, convergent validity with SF-36v1 domains, internal consistency (McDonald’s omega), unidimensionality, local independence, monotonicity, graded response model (GRM) fit and differential item functioning (DIF). Age- and gender-specific reference values were established using the US item calibrations.ResultsDepending on scale orientation, high floor or ceiling effects were observed for all domains (25.2–60.7%) except for sleep disturbance. McDonald’s omega for domains ranged from 0.87–0.97. Unidimensionality, local independence and monotonicity were supported and the GRM adequately fitted for all but one domains. The sleep disturbance domain demonstrated item misfit, response level disordering and low discrimination ability, particularly for item Sleep116 (‘refreshing sleep’). Strong correlations were observed between PROMIS-29+2 and corresponding SF-36 domains (rs=│0.60│ to │0.78│). No DIF was detected for most sociodemographic characteristics. Problems with physical function, pain interference and social roles tended to increase, whereas problems with anxiety, depression, fatigue and cognitive function declined with age (p < 0.01). In all domains except for cognitive function, more health problems occurred in females than in males (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe Hungarian PROMIS-29+2 shows satisfactory psychometric properties; however, the sleep disturbance domain substantially underperforms that requires further attention. Population reference values were generated that facilitate the interpretation of health outcomes in various patient populations.

Cross-cultural validity and psychometric properties of the International Trauma Questionnaire in a clinical refugee sample

ABSTRACT Background: The ICD-11 post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD diagnoses have been examined in several studies using the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ). The cross-cultural validity of the ITQ has not previously been studied using item responses theory methods focused on the issue of equal item functioning and thus comparability of scores across language groups. Objective: To investigate the cross-cultural validity of the ITQ scales considering specifically local independence of items and differential item functioning (DIF) in a cross-cultural sample of refugees. Method: Data from 490 treatment-seeking refugees were included, covering Danish, Arabic, and Bosnian languages and different levels of interpreter-assisted administration. Rasch and graphical log-linear Rasch models were used. Results: There was strong local dependence among items from the same symptom clusters in the PTSD and disorders in self-organization (DSO) scales, except between affective dysregulation items. Weak local dependence was discovered between an item from the affective dysregulation cluster and an item from the disturbed relationship cluster. There was no evidence of DIF related to language or interpreter assistance. There was evidence of DIF for two PTSD items relative to gender and time since the traumatic event. The targeting of the scales to the study population was not optimal. Reliability varied from 0.55 to 0.78 for subgroups. Conclusions: The PTSD and the DSO scales have stable psychometric properties across the Danish, Arabic, and Bosnian language versions and different levels of assisted administration. Scores are comparable across these groups. However, DIF relative to gender and time since trauma introduces considerable measurement bias. DIF-adjusted summed scale scores or estimated person parameters should be used to avoid measurement bias. Future research should investigate whether scales including more and/or alternative items that require higher levels of PTSD and DSO to be endorsed will improve targeting and measurement precision for refugee populations.

Applying Item Response Theory to the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire: Examining Psychometric Characteristics and Developing Computerized Adaptive Testing Version

Incoming students have many difficulties adjusting to college, and selecting appropriate measures to effectively screen them is indispensable, especially in China, where there is insufficient research in this area. To enrich domestic research, this study seeks to examine psychometric characteristics and develop a computerized adaptive version of the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ-CAT) based on a sample of Chinese students. Under the framework of item response theory, the item bank of student adaptation to college was formulated after uni-dimensionality testing, model comparison, item fit testing, and local independence testing. Subsequently, a CAT simulation, including three termination rules, was performed using real data to evaluate and verify the SACQ-CAT. The results showed reliability values exceeding 0.90 when participants’ latent traits were between −4 and 3, covering majority of the subjects. The SACQ-CAT administered an average of fewer than 10 items to participants compared to 67 items on the original scale. The correlation coefficient between latency estimated by the SACQ-CAT and the SACQ is greater than .85, whereas the correlation coefficient with the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) scores ranges from −.33 to −.55 (p < .001). The SACQ-CAT largely reduced the number of items administered to the participants and avoided losing measurement precision.

A Rasch analysis of the High Potential Trait Indicator: A South African sample

The reliability and validity of the six traits comprising the High Potential Trait Indicator (HPTi) were evaluated using Rasch analysis. Focus was designated to the unidimensionality and local independence of each subscale; fit to the Rasch model; person reliability and separation; and differential item functioning (DIF). Secondary data, obtained from intellectual property rights holder Thomas International, were used for analysis with a sample of 1257 South African respondents. One of the six traits, Curiosity (0.73), was found to be reliable. Traits Adjustment (0.69) and Competitiveness (0.69) border on the accepted cut-off of 0.70. Risk Approach (0.64) obtained the lowest reliability, closely followed by Conscientiousness (0.65) and Ambiguity Acceptance (0.65). Six of the 78 HPTi items did not fit the Rasch model, all of which underfit the model. Trait Curiosity was found not to be unidimensional, while the Ambiguity Acceptance scale approached the value at which a scale is considered multidimensional. One item was identified to be threatening the unidimensionality of the Curiosity scale based on both the factor loadings of the principal components analysis of the residuals and underfitting the Rasch model. The differential item functioning (DIF) analysis found no item bias between genders, female and male. Eleven items displayed DIF across ethnicities and home language groups. The most severe instance of DIF occurred in trait Competitiveness, yet it had only one item experiencing DIF. Trait Conscientiousness, however, contained four items experiencing various severities of DIF.Contribution: This study highlighted the shortcomings of the current HPTi in the South African context through Rasch analysis. The findings illustrate the difficult nature of creating ideal personality instruments in the South African context, thus contributing to the body of knowledge of personality assessments in South Africa.

The implementation of sustainability practices in Arab higher education institutions

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how sustainability practices were implemented in a higher education institution within a local setting in the Gulf and Arab Emirates Region. This study examined the impact of social and cultural requirements on the development of the master plan for the New Kuwait University campus with regards to sustainability to illustrate how current social and cultural requirements impact the design of a future learning environment whilst highlighting the essential role of organisational actors in this implementation process.Design/methodology/approachUsing an in-depth case study approach, the authors conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with educators and administrative staff who had been involved in the sustainability implementation process at Kuwait University. These participants were involved at different stages in the implementation of a major sustainability project at Kuwait University. The interviews were further supplemented by analysing supporting documents and communications.FindingsThe analysis reveals that sustainability was embedded in a narrative that was repeated at the practice level; this directed the setting of objectives for the project and its various sub-tasks. It also helped actors to develop their understandings of practice and the importance of social emotions, self-intentions and patterns of culture in the process. This study further reveals that participants mainly focused on environmental issues regarding saving paper/electricity and overlooked aspects of a wider concepts and core values of sustainability, and there is a significant amount of lack of knowledge and awareness on matters about sustainability, especially with the understanding of its definition.Originality/valueThis study draws on practice-organisation framework used by Schatzki (2002, 2010), suggesting that sustainability implementation is a process led by rules, practical understanding, general understanding and teleoaffective structures, to highlight the role of agency and change among various actors in implementing sustainability. A practice-theory framing is used to signpost the roles played by various actors in establishing goals and tasks for the project while taking account of local understanding and independence in the implementation of sustainability practices. Engaging with practice theory framework offers us theoretical basis that is fundamentally different from the theories of interaction-oriented approaches in sustainable design.

Measuring palliative care self-efficacy of intellectual and developmental disability staff using Rasch models.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the psychometric properties of a palliative care self-efficacy instrument developed for intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) staff using Rasch analysis and assess the change in palliative care self-efficacy between 2 time points using Rasch analysis of stacked data. Staff from 4 nonprofit IDD services organizations in a US Midwestern state (n=98) answered 11 questions with Likert-style responses at baseline and 1-month follow-up post training. Rasch analysis was performed to examine rating scale structure, unidimensionality, local independence, overall model fit, person and item reliability and separation, targeting, individual item and personal fit, differential item functioning (DIF), and change in palliative care self-efficacy between 2 time points. The rating scale structure improved when 5 response categories were collapsed to 3. With the revised 3 response categories, the instrument demonstrated good psychometric properties. Principal components analysis of Rasch residuals supported the assumption of unidimensionality. Model fit statistics indicated an excellent fit of the data to the Rasch model. The instrument demonstrated good person and item reliability and separation. Gender-related DIF was found in 1 item, and work tenure-related DIF in 3 items. Overall palliative care self-efficacy improved between 2 time points. Rasch analysis allowed for a more thorough examination of this palliative care self-efficacy instrument than classical test theory and provided information on rating scale structure, targeting, DIF, and individual persons and items. These recommendations can improve this instrument for research and practical contexts.

Single-channel blind source separation of underwater acoustic signals using improved NMF and FastICA

When automatic monitoring buoys receive mixed acoustic signals from multiple underwater acoustic targets, the statistical blind source separation (BSS) task is used to separate the signals and identify vessel features, which is overly complex and needs improvement, especially noting that noise cancellation and stealth technologies are advancing rapidly. To fill this gap in capability, an improved non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) based BSS algorithm is built on a FastICA machine learning backbone. With this tool, the spatial and spectral correlation of underwater acoustic signals is introduced into the NMF algorithm improved by to resolve the non-convex and feature correlation problems commonly encountered by contemporary NMF algorithms. Moreover, the improved modulation feature adaptability of the NMF increases the local expressivity and independence of the decomposed base matrix, which is proven to meet the requirements of FastICA and used to improve the BSS effect of the FastICA. Simulated and empirical results show that compared with state-of-the-art FastICA and NMF based BSS algorithms, our novel approach obtains better signal-to-noise reduction and separation accuracy while maintaining superior target signal recognition features.

A Comparison of Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Network Models for Measurement Invariance Assessment When Indicator Residuals are Correlated.

Social science research is heavily dependent on the use of standardized assessments of a variety of phenomena, such as mood, executive functioning, and cognitive ability. An important assumption when using these instruments is that they perform similarly for all members of the population. When this assumption is violated, the validity evidence of the scores is called into question. The standard approach for assessing the factorial invariance of the measures across subgroups within the population involves multiple groups confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA). CFA models typically, but not always, assume that once the latent structure of the model is accounted for, the residual terms for the observed indicators are uncorrelated (local independence). Commonly, correlated residuals are introduced after a baseline model shows inadequate fit and inspection of modification indices ensues to remedy fit. An alternative procedure for fitting latent variable models that may be useful when local independence does not hold is based on network models. In particular, the residual network model (RNM) offers promise with respect to fitting latent variable models in the absence of local independence via an alternative search procedure. This simulation study compared the performances of MGCFA and RNM for measurement invariance assessment when local independence is violated, and residual covariances are themselves not invariant. Results revealed that RNM had better Type I error control and higher power compared to MGCFA when local independence was absent. Implications of the results for statistical practice are discussed.