Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Complexity of Item Response Theory Models

ABSTRACT Complexity in item response theory (IRT) has traditionally been quantified by simply counting the number of freely estimated parameters in the model. However, complexity is also contingent upon the functional form of the model. We examined four popular IRT models—exploratory factor analytic, bifactor, DINA, and DINO—with different functional forms but the same number of free parameters. In comparison, a simpler (unidimensional 3PL) model was specified such that it had 1 more parameter than the previous models. All models were then evaluated according to the minimum description length principle. Specifically, each model was fit to 1,000 data sets that were randomly and uniformly sampled from the complete data space and then assessed using global and item-level fit and diagnostic measures. The findings revealed that the factor analytic and bifactor models possess a strong tendency to fit any possible data. The unidimensional 3PL model displayed minimal fitting propensity, despite the fact that it included an additional free parameter. The DINA and DINO models did not demonstrate a proclivity to fit any possible data, but they did fit well to distinct data patterns. Applied researchers and psychometricians should therefore consider functional form—and not goodness-of-fit alone—when selecting an IRT model.
Delayed kinetics of VO2 in the transition from prior exercise. Evidence for O2 transport limitation of VO2 kinetics: a review.

: The influence of prior exercise state on the kinetics of VO2, VE, and HR was studied in six subjects. The exercise conditions tested were square wave increases in work rate from rest to 80% of the work rate at anaerobic threshold (AT), from O W loadless pedaling to 80% AT, from rest to 40% AT, and from 40% to 80% AT. The kinetic response was evaluated by the time constant (tau) and mean response time (MRT = time to achieve 63% response) as determined by nonlinear regression. For both VO2 and HR, tau and MRT were not significantly different in the rest or O W to 80% AT tests, but were significantly faster in the rest to 40% AT test and significantly slower in the 40% to 80% AT test than the rest and O W to 80% AT tests. The tau for VE was significantly slower in the 40% to 80% AT tests than in the other tests. The coincident variation of HR and VO2 kinetics is taken as support for the hypothesis that VO2 kinetics are controlled by oxygen transport. Evidence from the literature that supports both the oxygen transport and the oxygen utilization for the control of VO2 kinetics is reviewed.
Integrating Covariates into Social Relations Models: A Plausible Values Approach for Handling Measurement Error in Perceiver and Target Effects

ABSTRACT The Social Relations Model (SRM) is a conceptual and analytical approach to examining dyadic behaviors and interpersonal perceptions within groups. In an SRM, the perceiver effect describes a person's tendency to perceive other group members in a certain way, whereas the target effect measures the tendency to be perceived by others in certain ways. In SRM research, it is often of interest to relate these individual SRM effects to covariates. However, the estimated individual SRM effects might not provide a very reliable measure of the true, unobserved SRM effects, resulting in distorted estimates of associations with other variables. This article introduces a plausible values approach that allows users to correct for measurement error when assessing the association of individual SRM effects with other individual difference variables. In the plausible values approach, the latent, true individual SRM effects are treated as missing values and are imputed from an imputation model by applying Bayesian estimation techniques. In a simulation study, the statistical properties of the plausible values approach are compared with two approaches that have been used in previous research. A data example from educational psychology is presented to illustrate how the plausible values approach can be implemented with the software WinBUGS.
Six new soil–inhabiting Cladosporium species from plateaus in China

ABSTRACT Cladosporium species are ubiquitous in various environments but are hitherto rarely isolated from soil. In the present study, six new Cladosporium species inhabiting the plateau soils of China are described as C. neopsychrotolerans, C. paralimoniforme, C. prolongatum, C. sinuatum, C. tianshanense, and C. verruculosum. These species are phylogenetically distinct and morphologically different from known species. This study increased the number of species classified in the C. cladosporioides and C. herbarum complexes and revealed Chinese plateau soil as a rich niche of Cladosporium species diversity.
Aspergillus hypersensitivity and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in patients with acute severe asthma in a respiratory intensive care unit in North India

The prevalence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in chronic asthma has been reported in various studies. However, no study has systematically evaluated the occurrence of Aspergillus hypersensitivity (AH) and ABPA in acute severe asthma (ASA). The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of AH and ABPA in patients with ASA. All patients with ASA admitted to the respiratory intensive care unit (ICU) of this institute underwent a prospective evaluation for ABPA using Aspergillus skin test (AST) as a screening tool. Patients with positive AST were labelled as AH and were further investigated for ABPA. Patients with ASA were compared with historical control group of 755 outpatient bronchial asthma patients previously reported. Of the 357 ICU admissions, 57 (43 females, 14 males; mean age 43.5 years) patients were admitted with a diagnosis of ASA. The occurrence of AH was 50.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 38.3–63.4; 29/57 patients] whereas the prevalence of ABPA was 38.6% (95% CI 27.1–51.6; 22/57 patients) in patients with ASA. The occurrence of AH and ABPA was significantly higher in the ASA group compared with the outpatient bronchial asthma group (38.5% and 20.5%, respectively). The prevalence of serological ABPA (ABPA without central bronchiectasis) was also higher in the ASA group compared with the outpatient bronchial asthma group (45.4% vs. 23.9%). The occurrence of AH and ABPA is very high in patients with acute asthma admitted to a respiratory ICU. Furthermore, the occurrence of high percentage of serological ABPA calls for the use of AST as a routine screening tool for ABPA in all patients with acute asthma at discharge.
Kaposi's sarcoma and non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma following the diagnosis of AIDS

We linked records of 83,434 AIDS cases reported to AIDS registries through 1990 to cancer registry records during times when overlap in registration existed. Of 8,496 Kaposi's‐sarcoma (KS) cases meeting enrollment criteria, 1,045 occurred semesters 2 through 4 (6 through 23 months) after another AIDS‐defining illness. KS risk in this period after AIDS declined steadily over the 1980s. Adjusting for age, gender, ethnic origin and calendar time period, we found the relative risk (RR) of KS to be 106,000 for homo/bisexual men with AIDS and 13,000 for other men with AIDS. Risk was highest for homo/bisexual men between 30 and 39 years old and among 20‐ to 29‐year‐old non‐homo/bisexual men. The RR in black men was approximately half that reported in white men among homo‐bisexual men and others. Between the second and fourth semester after AIDS, the ratio of RR of KS to that of non‐AIDS‐related cancers increased 1.5‐fold. In a similar analysis, there were 335 non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) cases in semesters 2 through 4 after AIDS. The overall risk was elevated 283‐fold in homo/bisexual men and the RR ratio increased 1.8‐fold between semester 2 and 4 after AIDS. In summary, the risk of KS following another AlDS‐defining illness is strikingly high, more in white men than in black men, and the risks of KS and, especially, NHL appear to increase with time from AIDS. (This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.) © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differential effects of 19-nor-1,25-(OH)(2)D(2) and 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D(2) on calcium and phosphorus in normal and uremic rats.

BACKGROUND Calcitriol, 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) (1,25D), the most active metabolite of vitamin D, has been used in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SH) because it controls parathyroid gland growth and suppresses parathyroid hormone (PTH) synthesis and secretion. Due to the calcemic and phosphatemic actions of 1,25D, two analogs with potentially less side effects, 19-nor-1,25-(OH)(2)D(2) (19-nor) and 1alpha(OH)D(2) (1alphaD(2)) are currently being used in the treatment of SH. METHODS This study compares the effects of these two analogs on calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) metabolism in normal, uremic, and parathyroidectomized (PTX) rats. Using doses of 50 to 250 ng of 19-nor or 1alphaD(2), experiments were conducted in normal and uremic rats. RESULTS In uremic rats, 19-nor did not increase plasma Ca or P while 1alphaD2 caused a dose-dependent increase in both. In addition, while the Ca x P product remained unchanged in 19-nor-treated rats, it increased progressively with 1alphaD(2)administration. In metabolic studies in normal rats treated with vehicle, 10 ng of 1,25D, 100 ng of 19-nor or 100 ng 1alphaD(2), intestinal calcium absorption and urinary calcium excretion were significantly higher in 1alphaD(2)-treated rats compared to those receiving 19-nor. Similar results were seen for intestinal phosphorus absorption and urinary phosphorus excretion. Finally, the skeletal response to these two analogs was tested in PTX rats fed a calcium-deficient diet and treated daily with 100 ng of 19-nor or 1alphaD(2). The increase in plasma calcium in 1alphaD2-treated rats was markedly higher than in those receiving 19-nor. Similar results were seen in plasma phosphorus when these studies were repeated using a phosphorus-deficient diet. CONCLUSIONS These studies demonstrate that when given in large doses to rats 19-nor is less calcemic and phosphatemic than 1alphaD(2). The lower Ca x P product in 19-nor treated rats may be an important consideration in patient therapy. Further studies in patients are necessary to define the clinical applicability of these differences.
Two new Geosmithia species in G. pallida species complex from bark beetles in eastern USA

ABSTRACT Species of Geosmithia are cosmopolitan but understudied fungi, and most are associated with phloem-feeding bark beetles on various woody hosts. We surveyed 207 bark and ambrosia beetles from 37 species in the eastern USA for associated fungi. The community is dominated by species in the G. pallida species complex (GPSC) and included several Geosmithia isolates that appear to be new to science. The new Geosmithia isolates exhibited the characteristic brownish-colored colonies typical for the G. pallida species complex and were phylogenetically resolved as two genealogically exclusive lineages based on a concatenated multilocus data set based on the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the nuc rDNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS), and the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1-α), β-tubulin (TUB2), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) genes. Two new Geosmithia species, G. brunnea and G. proliferans, are proposed, and their morphological traits and phylogenetic placements are presented.
Pilot study: optical coherence tomography as a non‐invasive diagnostic perspective for real time visualisation of onychomycosis

The objective of this study was to compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) with conventional techniques such as KOH‐preparation, culture and histology in the identification of the fungal elements in the nail. A total of 18 patients were examined; 10 with clinically evident onychomycosis in toe nails, two with psoriatic nail lesions, one with nail affection caused by lichen planus and five healthy controls. Serial in vivo OCT analyses of onychomycosis was performed prior to KOH‐preparation, culture and punch biopsy of the nail plate for consecutive histology. Fungal elements were detected non‐invasively in vivo using OCT in all 10 patients with histologically proven onychomycosis. Fungal elements were detectable as highly scattering elongated structures inside the nail plate, in the middle of the areas of homogeneous decrease in signal intensity. KOH‐preparations and culture did reveal a positive result in 5/6 out of 10 patients. In patients with psoriasis, lichen planus as well as in the healthy controls, no fungal infection could be detected by either method used. OCT is a reliable, easy to use, non‐invasive and non‐destructive method to visualise fungal elements in vivo in onychomycosis, even in cases of false negative KOH‐preparation and culture. Furthermore, OCT offers the opportunity to screen several areas of the same nail plate and to detect fungal elements during local or systemic therapy.
Depth of settlement of two mussel species on suspended collectors in Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand (Note)

Abstract The preferred depth of settlement and settlement period of two species of mussel spat were monitored at Yncyca Bay (NZMS1 S15 220460) and Wet Inlet (NZMS1 S16 265432) in the Marlborough Sounds on collectors suspended in 0–4 m of water between 20 October 1975 and 4 April 1976. Peak settlement of Mytilus edulis aoteanus was between 20 October 1975 and 4 January 1976, and decreased with increasing depth. Peak settlement of Perna canaliculus was between 16 February 1976 and 12 April 1976, and showed no preferred depth of settlement. Capture of wild stocks of Mytilus edulis aoteanus and Perna canaliculus spat for use in aquaculture has become more reliable through accurate forecasting of peak settlement periods, and knowledge of preferred depth of settlement of the two species. Preferred depth of settlement of spat may affect the shore zonation of mussels.
A rescue therapy with a combination of caspofungin and liposomal amphotericin B or voriconazole in children with haematological malignancy and refractory invasive fungal infections

Combination treatment of paediatric invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has rarely been reported. A total of 17 children with 19 IFI episodes were enrolled in the study. The median age of the patients was 5.3 (range 0.5–17) years. IFI was classified as proven in 4, probable in 12 and possible in 3 episodes. These patients received empiric antifungal treatment, which consisted of liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) monotherapy for a median duration of 12 days (range 3–69 days). All patients were refractory to LAmB; therefore, caspofungin was added to the therapy in 11 patients. In the remaining six patients, LAmB was ceased and a combination of caspofungin and voriconazole was started. Among the patients who received caspofungin + LAmB, four did not show favourable response and the combination was switched to caspofungin + voriconazole. The median (range) and total duration of the therapy were 7 (3–14) days and 91 patient days for LAmB + caspofungin combination and 49 (7–126) days and 516 patient days for caspofungin + voriconazole combination. We found a favourable response rate of 68.4% in 16 proven or probable IFI episodes. Twelve‐week survival rate of these patients was 75%. No serious side effect was observed among the patients. Our data suggest that combination antifungal therapy is safe and effective in children with haematological malignancies.
The expression of novel gene URG4 in osteosarcoma: correlation with patients' prognosis

Aims: Up‐regulated gene 4 (URG4) is a novel gene that may be associated with the onset of tumorigenesis and cell cycle regulation. The present study examined for the first time the expression of URG4 in osteosarcoma, which is one of the most rapidly growing sarcomas, and investigated its prognostic value in both disease‐free and overall survival of the patients. Methods: The expression of URG4 in osteosarcoma tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry in 46 patients who underwent surgical operation for osteosarcoma; the correlation of URG4 with proliferating cell nuclear antigen index (PCNA) and microvessel count (MVC) was analysed, and the prognostic value of URG4 in patients was investigated. Results: URG4 was highly expressed in 40 of 46 (86.96%) osteosarcoma specimens with cytoplasmic staining, and also increased in the specimens with recurrence (p < 0.05) and metastasis (p < 0.05). The mean disease‐free survival and overall survival were 50.25 and 54.08 months for patients with over‐expressed URG4, compared with 69.54 and 70.01 months for those with low expression. URG4 was also found to be highly related with PCNA, while no significant relationship was found between URG4 and MVC. Conclusions: URG4 may play important roles in the development of osteosarcoma, and might be a useful molecular marker for predicting the prognosis of osteosarcoma.
Why are we doing this case? Can perioperative futile care be defined?

Purpose of review The present review addresses the question of whether perioperative futility can be defined. Recent findings Although attempts have been made to define futility in medicine, all proposed definitions are inadequate and as a result there has been a shift to a procedural conflict de-escalation approach to addressing clinical questions of futility. Informed consent is central to the problem of deciding whether an operative procedure may be futile and the criteria for adequate consent by either a patient or surrogate decision-maker are reviewed. An adequately informed patient or surrogate may, nevertheless, desire to proceed with a procedure considered futile by some members of the medical team as a result of conflicting values. The basis for this and the ‘economy of hope’ in which extremely ill patients with few treatment options are invested, is explored. The particular role of the anesthesiologist in deciding whether an operative procedure may be futile is examined. Three potential positions are suggested: the anesthesiologist as service provider, consultant, or gatekeeper. Summary The present review will provide anesthesiologists with critical insight into the historical scholarship and current recommended process to address questions of perioperative futility.
Utilization of Evidence-Based Smoking Cessation Treatments by Psychiatric Inpatient Smokers With Depression

Objectives.Although smoking is a major health issue among depressed psychiatric inpatients and interest in quitting is high, successful quit rates remain low among this population. We sought to understand preferences that depressed inpatient smokers may have for cessation treatments. Methods.Eighty smokers (60% women, mean age 38.75 ± 11.20) with major depressive disorder and nicotine dependence receiving psychiatric inpatient services provided information on current depressive symptoms, smoking status and nicotine dependence, quit attempts, perceived barriers to quitting, and smoking consequences. Results.Almost half (46%) of participants endorsed a past-year quit attempt. Emotional barriers to quitting were uniquely associated with fewer past-year quit attempts, and depression severity was related to greater emotional barriers to quitting. Nicotine dependence severity was related to a variety of emotional, financial, weight concern, and self-efficacy barriers, but only weight gain concern was associated with decreased odds of making a past-year quit attempt. The number of lifetime quit attempts was positively associated with negative smoking consequences. With regard to interest in smoking cessation treatment, 86% and 92% of smokers reported a willingness to try behavioral counseling and nicotine replacement products, respectively, but fewer smokers reported a willingness to try medication, print or Web-based materials, or an unaided quit attempt. Conclusions.Although half of our sample reported recent quit attempts, many people did not make an attempt using an evidence-based treatment. On the basis of consumer preferences identified herein, clinical recommendations for reinforcing the use of evidence-based smoking cessation treatments for depressed psychiatric inpatient smokers are provided.
Laparoscopic Evaluation of Nonspecific Abdominal Pain in Females

The aim was to determine the role of laparoscopy in the management of nonspecific abdominal pain (NSAP) in sexually active females. Fifty (50) patients with NSAP were included in the study which then underwent laparoscopy to make a definitive diagnosis. Peroperative laparoscopic findings were; Acute appendicitis in 17 patients (34%); Pelvic Inflammatory diseases (PID)/salpingitis in 9 patients (18%); Adhesions in pelvis and RIF in 5 patients (10%); Ovarian Cyst in10 patients (20%); Endometriosis in 2 patients (4%); Peritoneal Tuberculosis in 3 patients (6%); No diagnosis in 4 patients (8%). The age wise incidence of various Laparoscopic findings in patients with NSAP were: Acute appendicitis was common in 13 to 20 year age group ( 10/17 patients) followed by 21 to 28 year age group (5/17 patients); PID was common in 21 to 28 year age group (6/9 patients); Endometriosis was found common in 29 to 36 year age group (2/2 patients); while as ovarian cysts were observed with increased frequency in 21 to 28 year age group (8/10 patients). The study revealed appendicitis to be more common in females in their early reproductive years of life. PID, was more frequently noticed in sexually active females. Endometriosis was observed only in two patients and both of them where in the middle of their reproductive age while as symptomatic ovarian cysts was a more common finding in unmarried females in 21-28 years of age group. This study concluded that laparoscopy has a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic implication in management of NSAP.
STUDIES ON THE FORMATION OF COLLAGEN

Some properties of cold neutral salt extracts of fresh guinea pig dermis have been described in terms of viscosity, electrophoresis and sedimentation patterns, partial composition, the collagen content, conditions for extraction of collagen, and the effect of certain enzymes. Viscosity of the extracts depended on the collagen in solution as demonstrated by removal of this protein by precipitation or enzymatic degradation. The intrinsic viscosity of the crude 0.45 M extract, as well as that of the isolated collagen was 14.5, identical with that for collagen dissolved by dilute acid, indicating the same high asymmetry ratio for both. Electrophoresis of the skin extracts revealed a slow moving, high, sharp, poorly diffusing boundary in addition to a pattern superficially resembling that of serum. The ultracentrifuge pattern revealed a slowly sedimenting, hypersharp boundary following a large rapidly diffusing peak. The slow moving boundaries in both patterns were abolished by collagenase or heat precipitation of the collagen fraction. Hyaluronidase had no effect on either pattern. Neutral sulfate, chloride, and phosphate extracted more collagen than did thiocyanate. Very little collagen was extracted at 37°C. as compared with that removed at 3°C. A two stage fractionation procedure employing dilute trichloroacetic acid and ethanol is described for the isolation and purification of soluble collagen from crude extracts.