Four methods of filling a square using programing with Logo are presented, with comments on children's solutions. Analysis of the mathematical or programing concepts underlying a few simple algorithms is the focus. (MNS)

An empirical method (PRESS) for examining and contrasting the cross-validated prediction accuracies of some popular algorithms for weighting predictor variables was advanced and examined. The sample specific PRESS method was suggested as most appropriate when selecting among several alternative weighting algorithms to achieve maximum…

Mathematical models that are used to solve facility location problems are presented. All involve minimizing some distance function. (MNS)

Algorithms to determine the optimal locations of emergency service centers in a given city are presented, with theorems and proofs. (MNS)

The conceptual difference between understanding and algorithmic performance is examined first. Then some dilemmas that flow from these distinctions are discussed. (MNS)

Fifty Brazilian children aged seven-13 were individually given addition and subtraction exercises. Counting was the preferred procedure, with use of school-taught algorithms limited. Some children decomposed numbers into tens and units and then worked at both levels. They rarely referred to previous results when doing related exercises. (MNS)

Described is a simple algorithm that can be used for the input, arithmetic manipulation, and output of large integers in their exact representations. Three BASIC programs are included that apply this method to the problem of multiplication of large integers, computation of factorials, and the generation of palindromic integers. (MNS)

Item response curves for a set of binary responses are studied from a Bayesian viewpoint of estimating the item parameters. For the two-parameter logistic model with normally distributed ability, restricted bivariate beta priors are used to illustrate the computation of the posterior mode via the EM algorithm. (Author/LMO)

Considered are what discrete mathematics includes, some parallels and differences between new math and discrete mathematics (listed in a table), and lessons to be learned. A list of references is included. (MNS)

Offers characterization of sign-transmission which is more general than conventional signal-transmission theory. Concepts and terminology, formal description of individual communications process, reconciliation with classical signal-detection theory, applications of sign-detection formalism to information retrieval on MEDLINE database, and a…

Two experiments studied nine-year-olds, l3-year-olds, and adults in their encoding of two kinds of stimuli taken from a psychometric measure of spatial aptitude. The first experiment used letter-like stimuli; the second employed multi-element flags. (CI)

The National Library of Medicine has discarded connect hour-only billing for a more equitable system, which distributes user costs by type and intensity of work performed and data delivered. User data (cost comparisons, interpolated input/output count per connect hours, connect hours per year) were analyzed and further improvements are planned.…

A statistical method for testing the agreement between a judge's assessment of an object or subject and a known standard is developed and shown to be superior to two other methods which appear in the literature. (Author/JKS)

In constrained adaptive testing, the numbers of constraints needed to control the content of the tests can easily run into the hundreds. Proper initialization of the algorithm becomes a requirement because the presence of large numbers of constraints slows down the convergence of the ability estimator. In this paper, an empirical initialization of…

The case of adaptive testing under a multidimensional logistic response model is addressed. An adaptive algorithm is proposed that minimizes the (asymptotic) variance of the maximum-likelihood (ML) estimator of a linear combination of abilities of interest. The item selection criterion is a simple expression in closed form. In addition, it is…