The role of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and processing conditions of biodegradable polymer scaffolds has been investigated to optimize engineering vascular constructs. For a small diameter vascular construct, uniform 10 mm thickness of highly porous scaffolds were developed using a computer-controlled knife coater and exploiting phase transition properties of salts. The comparative study of fast vs. slow degrading three-dimensional scaffolds using a fast degrading poly D, L-lactic-glycolic acid co-polymer (PLGA) and a slow degrading poly e-caprolactone (PCL) indicated that fast degradation negatively affects cell viability and migration into the scaffold in vitro and in vivo, which is likely due to the fast polymer degradation mediated acidification of the local environment. MMP-9 was crucial for collagen remodeling process by smooth muscle cells (SMC). MMP-9 deficiency dramatically decreased inflammatory cell invasion as well as capillary formation within the scaffolds implanted in vivo. This study reports that the angiogenic response developed within the scaffolds in vivo was related to the presence of inflammatory response. Combinatorial polymer libraries fabricated from blended PLGA and PCL and processed at gradient annealing temperatures were utilized to investigate polymeric interactions with SMC. Surface roughness was also found to correlate with SMC adhesion. SMC aggregation, proliferation, and protein production, were highest in regions that exhibited increased surface roughness, reduced hardness, and decreased crystallinity of the PCL-rich phases. This study revealed a previously unknown processing temperature and blending compositions for two well-known polymers, which optimized SMC interactions.

This study was carried out to analyze tomato samples and tomato seeds, purchased from different food markets of Turkey randomly, for the presence of genetic modification by using PCR method as it allows more specific detection. The DNAs of collected samples were isolated according to CTAB DNA extraction protocol and also with extraction kits. Screening tests of tomatoes were done by targeting 35S promoter, NOS terminator and NptII kanamycin resistance gene with eight different primer sets. Real time PCR is used to confirm 35S and NOS positives results obtained from conventional PCR. In this study, it was observed that 14 out of 35 seed samples, and 14 out of 40 fresh tomato samples which were screened had at least one transgenic element of 35S promoter, NOS terminator and NPTII kanamycin resistance gene indicating the possible presence of genetic modifications. After screening, gene specific studies were carried out for PG, sam-k indicating F type ripening delayed tomato and the 35 1 N lines respectively and cry1Ac genes inserted in 5345-1 insect resistant tomato line. PG and sam-k specific primers were not amplified in any of the samples investigated whereas 18 out of 75 samples were cry1Ac positive and 1 out of 75 samples was sam-k positive. Positives were confirmed by sequence analysis. Additionally, construct specific primers specific to 5345-1 and 35 1 N lines were designed. PCR amplicons indicate the existence of the construct sequence. In order to verify the results, PCR products were sent to sequence analysis

This thesis presents content-related and construct-related validity evidence for science sub-tests within Student Selection Test (SST) in Turkey via underlying the content, cognitive processes, item characteristics, factorial structure, and group differences based on high school type. A total number of 126,245 students were present in the research from six type of school in the data of SST 2006. Reliability Analysis, Item Analysis, Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and one-way ANOVA have been carried out to evaluate the content-related and construct-related evidence of validity of SST. SPSS and ITEMAN programs were used to conduct the above-mentioned analyses. According to the results of content analysis, science items in the SST 2006 found to be measuring various cognitive processes under knowledge, understanding and problem solving cognitive domains. Those items loaded under three factors according to PCA findings which were measuring very close dimensions. Moreover, a threat to validity was detected via one-way ANOVA due to significant mean difference across high school types.

The Study Anxiety Inventory (SAI), consisting of the factors of worry and emotionality, was developed to measure college students' self-reported levels of anxiety while studying for an exam. Data from 2002 undergraduate students from four colleges (Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Business, and Education) at a southeastern state university were used to evaluate the validity of the scores from the 16-item Study Anxiety Inventory. Results of confirmatory factor analyses for the two factor model, conducted separately for each college, indicated marginally acceptable fit for the data (median fit measures across the four colleges: CFI =.915, SRMR=.049, RMSEA=.098), a pattern that was repeated for both males and females. Multigroup CFA was used to evaluate the factorial invariance of the SAI across gender within each college. Factor loadings (i.e., pattern coefficients) for the SAI items were not found to be significantly different between males and females (p > .05). Error variances for four items were found to be significantly different between males and females, indicating that there may be some difference in scale reliability by gender. Factor covariances were invariant for all four colleges (p > .05) and factor variances were invariant for all but the worry component for the College of Arts and Sciences where females had significantly greater variability on the worry factor. As was hypothesized, the SAI scores were positively correlated with scores on measures of test anxiety (median r=.74), trait anxiety (median r=.46), active procrastination (median r=.23), and passive procrastination (median r=.29), but negatively correlated with trait curiosity (median r=-.19). Contrary to what was hypothesized, no relationship was demonstrated between study anxiety and study skills and habits (median r=-.03). The nomological network was extended in this study by examining relationships between scores obtained from students on the SAI and measures of active and passive procrastination. This is the first study that systematically examines the factorial invariance of the SAI by gender, which is important because previous research using the SAI has shown men's scores to be consistently lower than women's scores. The results obtained in the current study provide support for gender invariance in a nonclinical population in the situation specific level of anxiety while studying. There is sufficient evidence of validity and reliability (median Cronbach alphas for males and females for the total score were .978 and .980, for worry were .968 and .973, and for emotionality were .947 and .951, respectively) that a researcher should feel confident that the SAI is a psychometrically sound research tool that holds up fairly well across a number of different types of students and that making mean comparisons on the SAI by gender is acceptable.

This paper seeks to tackle the current confusion about the constituent dimensions of IT Governance (ITG) and inconsistent operationalisation approaches inhibiting advances in research and organisational ITG practice. Through a structured literature review of ranked high-quality publications augmented by a meta-case study with five underlying projects, we find nine distinct dimensions of ITG. The input-oriented dimensions Compliance Management, IT Investment Management and ITG Improvement have received little attention in earlier conceptualisations, while the more output-oriented dimensions Business/IT Alignment and Business Value Delivery have featured more often in related studies. Scope and application of ITG may depend on the organisational context and the intentional use, such as regulatory or strategic. Depending on the context, more research seems to be warranted to develop context-dependent measurement constructs of ITG that can be compared over studies. (author's abstract)

In an ever-changing world, people are constantly faced with the challenge of simultaneously managing multiple roles in their work as well as their home-sphere. It therefore becomes increasingly important to maintain a balance in these two life spheres. Unfortunately, a gap exists between the positive and negative side of work-home balance as most research focuses on the negative side. Recently, a much needed instrument was develop in the Netherlands, namely the Survey Work-Home Interaction - Nijmegen (SWING), which measures both the direction of influence (work→home and vice versa) and the quality of influence (negative vs. positive). The objectives of this study were to validate the Survey Work-Home Interaction - Nijmegen (SWING) for workers of the earthmoving equipment industry in a South African context, to determine its construct equivalence and bias for different language groups, and to determine differences regarding work-home interaction between different demographic groups. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Random samples (n = 330) were taken of workers in the earthmoving equipment industry across South Africa. The SWING and a biographical questionnaire were administered. Item bias analyses, exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach alpha coefficients, MANOVAs, ANOVAs and T-tests were used to analyse the data. Exploratory factor analysis showed that the SWING consists of four factors, namely Negative Work-Home Interference, Negative Home-Work Interference, Positive Work-Home Interference and Positive Home-Work Interference. All four factors showed acceptable internal consistencies. No evidence was found for uniform or non-uniform bias of the items of the SWING for different language groups. Exploratory factor analysis with target rotations confirmed the construct equivalence of the work-home interface construct. There were also no differences regarding work-home interaction between different demographic groups, except for a practically significant difference (medium effect) between males and females with respect to negative Work-Home Interaction levels. Recommendations were made for further research. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

<p>This study is located within the theoretical framework of construct validation theory. Data for this Secondary Data Analysis study was drawn from the &ldquo / Impact of Hope and Exposure to Community Violence on children&rsquo / s perception of Well-being&rdquo / study. The primary study employed stratified interval criterion sampling to select 565 grade 9 learners, aged 14-18 from six public schools. The dataset for the current study comprised all participants (N=565) of the broader study. As the initial step in validation of the KIDSCREEN-52 within South Africa, the current study examined the factor structure of the KIDSCREEN-52 within this context by means of exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis with oblimin rotations. It also assessed the internal consistency reliability of each of the scales using Cronbach&rsquo / s alpha. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the same 10 factors as identified by previous European studies with some deviation in the last two factors, which warrants further examination. Internal consistency of the measure was shown to be acceptable, with Cronbach&rsquo / s alpha values ranging from 0.76 to 0.81 for the 10 scales.</p>

rafael.gargurevich@gmail.com / It was studied the construct validity and the reliability of the SPANAS scale in two samples of university students from Lima. Through many confirmatory factorial analyses (AFC) it was evaluated the adjustment of three competing models (one factor, two correlated factors and two orthogonal factors). This procedure wasreplicated in the two samples of universitary students.After the validity and reliability analysis were done, it was found that the two correlated factors model was better to represent the scale in both samples. Furthermore, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale proved to be reliable. In this way we have evidence ofthe presence oftwo factors which represent the positive and negative affection. / Se ha estudiado la validez de constructo y la confiabilidad de la escala SPANAS en dos muestras de estudiantes universitarios de Lima. Mediante diversos análisisfactoriales confirmatorios(AFC)se evaluó el ajuste de tres modelos competidores (un solo factor, dos factores correlacionados y dos factores ortogonales). Este procedimiento se replicó en las dos muestras de estudiantes universitarios. Luego de haber realizado los análisis de validez y confiabilidad, se encontró que el modelo de dos factores correlacionados era el que mejor representó a la escala en ambas muestras. Además, las escalas de afecto positivo y negativo demostraron ser confiables. De esta manera se tiene evidencia de la presencia de dos factores que representan al afecto positivo y negativo.

The purpose of the current study is to revise the wording of the items in the Strong Black Woman (SBW) attitudes scale and investigate the psychometric properties of this revised scale (renamed the SBW Cultural Construct Scale, SBWCCS). Another goal is to determine if the scale predicts racial identity, stress, and social support. The sample consisted of 152 women of African descent, who were recruited from a community based organization. An exploratory factor analysis on the SBWCCS scale suggested a 3-factor model consisting of (1) caretaking, (2) affect regulation, and (3) self-reliance. These factors parallel those found in the original scale (Thompson, 2003). The internal consistency was adequate for the overall scale and the caretaking subscale, but somewhat low for affect-regulation and self-reliance. The SBWCCS scale predicted centrality of racial identity and stress (measured as perceived stress and number of stressful events). Specifically, women who reported higher levels on the SBWCCS also reported higher levels of centrality and stress. In addition, higher levels on the caretaking subscale predicted lower reciprocity of social support. Other aspects of racial identity (public and private regard) and social support (received and satisfaction) were not predicted by SBWCCS. Methodological limitations and implications for future research are discussed.

In an ever-changing world, people are constantly faced with the challenge of simultaneously managing multiple roles in their work as well as their home-sphere. It therefore becomes increasingly important to maintain a balance in these two life spheres. Unfortunately, a gap exists between the positive and negative side of work-home balance as most research focuses on the negative side. Recently, a much needed instrument was develop in the Netherlands, namely the Survey Work-Home Interaction - Nijmegen (SWING), which measures both the direction of influence (work→home and vice versa) and the quality of influence (negative vs. positive). The objectives of this study were to validate the Survey Work-Home Interaction - Nijmegen (SWING) for workers of the earthmoving equipment industry in a South African context, to determine its construct equivalence and bias for different language groups, and to determine differences regarding work-home interaction between different demographic groups. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Random samples (n = 330) were taken of workers in the earthmoving equipment industry across South Africa. The SWING and a biographical questionnaire were administered. Item bias analyses, exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach alpha coefficients, MANOVAs, ANOVAs and T-tests were used to analyse the data. Exploratory factor analysis showed that the SWING consists of four factors, namely Negative Work-Home Interference, Negative Home-Work Interference, Positive Work-Home Interference and Positive Home-Work Interference. All four factors showed acceptable internal consistencies. No evidence was found for uniform or non-uniform bias of the items of the SWING for different language groups. Exploratory factor analysis with target rotations confirmed the construct equivalence of the work-home interface construct. There were also no differences regarding work-home interaction between different demographic groups, except for a practically significant difference (medium effect) between males and females with respect to negative Work-Home Interaction levels. Recommendations were made for further research. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.