cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Exploration of the Adequacy of the Rasch Model For the Problem of Vertical Equating.

Tests that cover a wide range of difficulty are needed for many longitudinal research studies. If several grade levels are to be encompassed, the range is typically so wide that different levels of standardized tests are required. For example, a test with a difficulty level that is appropriate for most sixth-grade students is apt to be much too difficult for the majority of third-grade students. If the same test were used with third-graders many scores at and below the chance level would be expected. To deal with this problem, most publishers of standardized test batteries provide forms at different levels that have been vertically equated. Vertically equated tests are clearly needed, but there is reason to believe that current procedures for vertical equating leave something to be desired (Lord, 1975; Slinde and Linn, 1977). Better procedures for vertical equating and ways of devising tests that provide adequate measures over a broader range are needed. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the Rasch model can be used to derive satisfactory equatings of tests that are not specifically designed to fit the model. We investigated the adequacy of the model in providing sample-free item calibration and item-free person measurement. The problem of vertical equating would be solved if these appealing properties, which have been claimed for the Rasch model (e.g., Wright, 1968), were realized.
Management of children with bleeding disorders

Abstract Bleeding and easy bruising in children may be due to one of the many inherited or acquired disorders of hemostasis. An understanding of normal hemostasis is essential for evaluation of a child with abnormal bleeding. A complex interaction between vascular endothelium, von Willebrand factor and procoagulant protein Factor I to XIII results in formation of a fibrin clot at the site of injury and bleeding stops. Conditions causing quantitative or qualitative defects of platelets, von Willebrand factor or various procoagulant protein will result in abnormal bleeding. Patients with hemophilia experience more severe bleeding and are diagnosed early in life. von Willebrand disease on the contrary has a variable presentation and therefore the diagnosis is delayed in some cases. Morbidity and mortality due to bleeding may be reduced with appropriate management in the majority of patients with bleeding disorders. A systematic approach to a patient with bleeding is discussed. Management of hemophilia and von Willebrand disease is also reviewed.
Immunospecific labeling of mouse lymphocytes in the scanning electron microscope.

Bone marrow-derived (B) and thymus-derived (T) Balb/c mouse lymphocytes were identified in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) by the immunospecific attachment of one of several kinds of large-molecular-weight markers distinguishable in SEM. These markers (tobacco mosaic virus, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, bushy stunt virus, and bacteriophage T4) could be modified with hapten groups and linked with anti-hapten antibody, in an indirect (sandwich) scheme, to hapten-modified anti-cell-surface antibody bound to the cell surface. Hapten-modified antibodies to B cell antigens (goat anti-mouse-immunoglobulin) or to T cell antigens (rabbit anti-mouse brain) were employed to identify these two lymphoid cell types in unfractionated spleen, mesenteric lymph node, bone marrow, and thymus cell populations. The topography of B cells was always indistinguishable from that of T cells. No surface features were found to be unique to either cell type. In suspension, the majority of B and T cells had one or no microvilli regardless of the tissue source of the labeled cells. Cells in suspension that had microvilli (usually 10% of the total cell population) were always unlabeled. However, after cell contact with a glass surface, approximately half of both the B and T cell populations had a villous topography.
DORA 05-07: Directory of Rare Analyses. Jocelyn M. Hicks and Donald S. Young, editors. Washington, DC: AACC Press, 2005, 650 pp., $125.00 ($99.00 AACC members), softcover. ISBN 1-594250-31-6.

“Do you know of a laboratory that measures … ?” is among the most commonly asked questions in medical laboratories. For nearly 30 years, “ DORA ” has been an oft-consulted aid in finding such laboratory resources. The latest edition continues to build on its past successes; I estimate that there are nearly 3000 test entries in DORA 05-07 . The list also includes the measurement of less rare analytes in less conventional matrixes (C-reactive protein in peritoneal fluid, for example). This edition continues the straightforward, no-nonsense format of a cross-referenced alphabetical list of examinations and the laboratories that offer such services. Essential attributes such as synonyms for what is measured, specimen type, collection procedures, methodology used, shipping instructions, …
Lessons learned from laparoscopic treatment of gastric and gastroesophageal junction stromal cell tumors

Background Stromal cell tumors of the gastric and gastroesophageal junction are rare neoplasms that traditionally have been resected for negative margins using an open approach. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy laparoscopic resection of gastric and gastroesophageal stromal cell tumors and the lessons learned from experience with this method.
The use of peptide-major-histocompatibility-complex multimers in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and MHC class II molecules present short peptides that are derived from endogenous and exogenous proteins, respectively, to cognate T-cell receptors (TCRs) on the surface of T cells. The exquisite specificity with which T cells recognize particular peptide–major-histocompatibility-complex (pMHC) combinations has permitted development of soluble pMHC multimers that bind exclusively to selected T-cell populations. Because the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is driven largely by islet-reactive T-cell activity that causes β-cell death, these reagents are useful tools for studying and, potentially, for treating this disease. When coupled to fluorophores or paramagnetic nanoparticles, pMHC multimers have been used to visualize the expansion and islet invasion of T-cell effectors during diabetogenesis. Administration of pMHC multimers to mice has been shown to modulate T-cell responses by signaling through the TCR or by delivering a toxic moiety that deletes the targeted T cell. In the nonobese diabetic mouse model of T1DM, a pMHC-I tetramer coupled to a potent ribosome-inactivating toxin caused long-term elimination of a specific diabetogenic cluster of differentiation 8+ T-cell population from the pancreatic islets and delayed the onset of diabetes. This review will provide an overview of the development and use of pMHC multimers, particularly in T1DM, and describe the therapeutic promise these reagents have as an antigen-specific means of ameliorating deleterious T-cell responses in this autoimmune disease.
SimCoL: A Simulation Tool for Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning

Researchers designing the multiagent tools and techniques for computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments are often faced with high cost, time, and effort required to investigate the effectiveness of their tools and techniques in large scale and longitudinal studies in a real-world environment containing human users. Here, we propose SimCoL, a multiagent environment that simulates collaborative learning among students and agents providing support to the teacher and the students. Our goal with SimCoL is to provide a comprehensive test bed for multiagent researchers to investigate 1) theoretical multiagent research issues, e.g., coalition formation, multiagent learning, and communication, where humans are involved and 2) the impact and effectiveness of the design and implementation of various multiagent-based tools and techniques (e.g., multiagent-based human coalition formation) in a real world, distributed environment containing human users. Our results show that SimCoL 1) closely captures the individual and collective learning behaviors of the students in a CSCL environment; 2) identify the impact of various key elements of the CSCL environment (e.g., student attributes and group formation algorithm) on the collaborative learning of students; 3) compare and contrast the impact of agent-based versus nonagent-based group formation algorithms; and 4) provide insights into the effectiveness of agent-based instructor support for the students in a CSCL environment.
The Millennial Consumer in the Texts of Our Times: Exhibitionism

Two decades ago, (macro)marketing researchers awoke to the hedonic and experiential aspects of consumption—sometimes known as fantasies, feelings, or fun or the “three Fs.” More recent literature h...
«WHY DO WE DO THIS?» A TWO-WAY IMMERSION SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S REFLECTIONS ON THE ROLES OF PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND HER OWN, IN THE PROGRAM

The present article offers the reflections of the principal of the longest-running two-way immersion school in Southern California on some of the key factors positively impacting the program, namely parental involvement, teacher commitment, and principal support. Additionally, it includes some of the critical challenges she must continuously face as part of her job, i.e., scarcity of qualified and minority language proficient teachers, lack of funding and adequate materials in the minority language, as well as the impact of federal and state education laws on the autonomy of the program. She also gave some recommendations, based on her professional experience, for those schools interested in the implementation of this innovative educational approach. The information provided throughout the article is connected to recent research on two-way programs in the United States and finalizes with some conclusions for the future.
Intrafirm resource allocation: The economics of transfer pricing and cost allocations in accounting*

. A theory of intrafirm allocation under information asymmetry based on Myerson's general theory of mechanisms is developed. From the general model, it is shown that every Myerson equilibrium resource allocation mechanism is a “cost plus” type of transfer pricing. Specializing the general model to allow risk-neutral agents, we derive the exact form of the compensation schemes in dominant strategy equilibrium transfer pricing mechanism. The general Myerson agency problem is transformed into a central planner's problem enabling us to bypass the first-order approach to the problem. The closed form solution shows that each of the agents' compensation schemes is composed of a profit-sharing component, a cost refund, taxes, and subsidies, making it a Groves-like scheme. Additional results show that if the principal is asymmetrically informed about one of the agents only, the agent may derive rent from private information under monotonic compensation schemes, and we provide additional conditions under which Hirshleifer's classical marginal cost pricing is in equilibrium. Resume. Les auteurs elaborent une theorie d'affectation des ressources internes au sein de l'entreprise, en situation d'asymetrie de l'information, a partir de la theorie generale des mecanismes de Myerson. En se fondant sur le modele general, les auteurs demontrent que chaque mecanisme d'affectation des ressources correspondant a l'equilibre de Myerson tient du prix de cession interne de type « prix coutant majore ». En specialisant le modele general de facon a permettre l'introduction de mandataires neutres a l'egard du risque, ils derivent la forme exacte de regimes de remuneration correspondant au mecanisme de determination du prix de cession en situation d'equilibre de la strategie dominante. Le probleme mandant-mandataire general de Myerson se transforme en probleme de planificateur central, ce qui permet de court-circuiter le premier ordre d'analyse du probleme. La solution de nature fermee revele que tout regime de remuneration des mandataires est compose d'un element de participation aux benefices, de remboursement de frais, de taxes et de subventions, ce qui l'apparente a celui de Groves. D'autres resultats indiquent que si le mandant obtient de l'information asymetrique de l'un des mandataires seulement, ce dernier peut tirer, dans le cadre de regimes de remuneration monotoniques, un loyer de l'information privilegiee qu'il communique. Les auteurs ajoutent des conditions supplementaires selon lesquelles l'etablissement du prix selon la methode classique de Hirshleifer en fonction des couts marginaux est en equilibre.
What signal are you sending? how website quality influences perceptions of product quality and purchase intentions

An electronic commerce marketing channel is fully mediated by information technology, stripping away much of a product's physical informational cues, and creating information asymmetries (i.e., limited information). These asymmetries may impede consumers' ability to effectively assess certain types of products, thus creating challenges for online sellers. Signaling theory provides a framework for understanding how extrinsic cues ᾢ signals ᾢ can be used by sellers to convey product quality information to consumers, reducing uncertainty and facilitating a purchase or exchange. This research proposes a model to investigate website quality as a potential signal of product quality and consider the moderating effects of product information asymmetries and signal credibility. Three experiments are reported that examine the efficacy of signaling theory as a basis for predicting online consumer behavior with an experience good. The results indicate that website quality influences consumers' perceptions of product quality, which subsequently affects online purchase intentions. Additionally, website quality was found to have a greater influence on perceived product quality when consumers had higher information asymmetries. Likewise, signal credibility was found to strengthen the relationship between website quality and product quality perceptions for a high quality website. Implications for future research and website design are examined.
Oil Shocks and Macroeconomic Activity: a Putty-Clay Perspective

I extend the Atkeson and Kehoe (1999) putty-clay model to include elastic labor supply and more general forms of technology to explore the impact of oil shocks on the macroeconomy. In particular, I am interested in (1) how this extension aects their results with regard to permanent changes in the price of oil, (2) a comparison of the business cycle properties of the putty-putty and putty-clay models, and (3) whether or not this extended putty-clay model is subject to the Rotemberg and Woodford (1996) critique of the standard perfectly competitive real business cycle model with energy. Results are reported for a wide range of parameter values illustrating that (1) contrary to the Atkeson-Kehoe result, the response of output and capital to permanent changes in the price of oil is identical in both the putty-putty and putty-clay models and is sensitive to the elasticity of substitution between capital services and labor, (2) there are stark dierences in several business cycle features, namely the volatility of energy use and the correlations of output with consumption, investment and hours, and (3) the Rotemberg-Woodford critique applies to the putty-clay model revealing both amplification and timing problems.
New Aspects of a Lid-Removal Mechanism in the Onset of an Eruption Sequence that Produced a Large Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) Event

We examine a sequence of two ejective eruptions from a single active region on 2012 January 23, using magnetograms and EUV images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory's (SDO) Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) and Atmospheric and Imaging Assembly (AIA), and EUV images from STEREO/EUVI. This sequence produced two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and a strong solar energetic particle event (SEP); here we focus on the magnetic onset of this important space weather episode. Cheng et al. showed that the first eruption's ("Eruption 1") flux rope was apparent only in "hotter" AIA channels, and that it removed overlying field that allowed the second eruption ("Eruption 2") to begin via ideal MHD instability; here we say that Eruption 2 began via a "lid removal" mechanism. We show that during Eruption 1's onset, its flux rope underwent a "tether weakening" (TW) reconnection with field that arched from the eruption-source active region to an adjacent active region. Standard flare loops from Eruption 1 developed over Eruption 2's flux rope and enclosed filament, but these overarching new loops were unable to confine that flux rope/filament. Eruption 1's flare loops, from both TW reconnection and standard-flare-model internal reconnection, were much cooler than Eruption 2's flare loops (GOES thermal temperatures of ~7.5 MK and 9 MK, compared to ~14 MK). The corresponding three sequential GOES flares were, respectively, due to TW reconnection plus earlier phase Eruption 1 tether-cutting reconnection, Eruption 1 later-phase tether-cutting reconnection, and Eruption 2 tether-cutting reconnection.
Autoantibody titers to oxidized low-density lipoprotein in patients with coronary atherosclerosis

Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is considered to be the initial step in the atherosclerotic process. Autoantibodies to oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) have been detected in human serum. We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique to measure autoantibody titers in 63 normal subjects and patients with coronary artery disease. Thirty-five patients underwent coronary angiography for suspected coronary artery disease. Patients were divided into the following categories: group 1, 20 healthy young volunteers; group 2, 8 patients age-matched to the catheterization patients; group 3, 10 patients with normal coronary angiograms; and group 4, 25 patients with angiographic coronary artery disease. Autoantibody titers to ox-LDL were group 1, 0.142 ± 0.023; group 2, 0.197 ± 0.039; group 3, 0.183 ± 0.038; and group 4, 0.340 ± 0.026. There was no statistical difference among groups 1, 2, and 3, but the difference between these groups and group 4 was highly significant (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates that (1) autoantibodies to ox-LDL can be detected in normal subjects and in patients with abnormal coronary angiograms and (2) significantly higher titers of autoantibodies to ox-LDL were seen in patients with angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease.
Lipid abnormalities and lipid-based repair strategies in atopic dermatitis

Prior studies have revealed the key roles played by Th1/Th2 cell dysregulation, IgE production, mast cell hyperactivity, and dendritic cell signaling in the evolution of the chronic, pruritic, inflammatory dermatosis that characterizes atopic dermatitis (AD). We review here increasing evidence that the inflammation in AD results primarily from inherited abnormalities in epidermal structural and enzymatic proteins that impact permeability barrier function. We also will show that the barrier defect can be attributed to a paracellular abnormality due to a variety of abnormalities in lipid composition, transport and extracellular organization. Accordingly, we also review the therapeutic implications of this emerging pathogenic paradigm, including several current and potentially novel, lipid-based approaches to corrective therapy. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled The Important Role of Lipids in the Epidermis and their Role in the Formation and Maintenance of the Cutaneous Barrier. Guest Editors: Kenneth R. Feingold and Peter Elias.
Evaluation of Techniques for Categorizing Group Membership of White‐Tailed Deer

We studied sexual segregation, particularly patterns of group membership for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), in Lincoln County, Minnesota, USA, to evaluate current techniques used to categorize animals when studying sexual segregation. We categorized group membership according to Hirth (1977) and grouped individuals using our solitary categorization method. Our solitary method was most sensitive to changes in behavior and physiology exhibited by reproductively active females and their association with other deer during sexual segregation.
Isovector resonances in pion charge exchange

The (..pi../sup + -/, ..pi../sup 0/) reactions as probes of isovector resonances are discussed. Experimental observation of the isovector monopole resonance is reported. Experimental results are presented for L = 0, 1, and 2 isovector resonances and are compared to random-phase approximation calculations.
What Is the Role of Cerebral Bypass Surgery Today

The current indications for cerebral bypass surgery are unquestionably diminishing. As a result of rapid and progressive advances, endovascular techniques are now capable of dealing with more and more challenging aneurysms that could have been optimally managed only with open surgical techniques just afewyearsago. Similarly, therecent resultsof the Carotid Occlusion Surgery Study (COSS) have emphasized the effectiveness of modern medical therapy for the management of intracranial ischemia and dampened enthusiasm for bypass surgery (3). However, despite these advances, there still remains a subset of patients who benefit from revascularization surgery. InapaperrecentlypublishedinWORLD NEUROSURGERY, Kalanietal. attempt to define the current indications and outcomes of bypass surgery in the modern endovascular era. The authors present a contemporary series of direct cerebrovascular revascularization procedures performed at the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) over a 7-year period (2006e2013). There were 131 direct bypass procedures performed in 121 patients. Indications for bypass surgery included moyamoya disease in 40 patients (47 bypasses), complex aneurysms in 54 patients (56 bypasses), and occlusive vascular disease in27 patients (28 bypasses).Amongpatients with moyamoya angiopathy, revascularization resulted in improvement of symptomsin 77.5%.Morbidity and mortality rates were 5%and 0%, respectively. Long-term angiographic follow-up was available in only 60% of the patients and demonstrated graft patency in 96.8%. Among the patients with complex aneurysms, 81.5% of the patients had afavorable outcome. Morbidity and mortality rates were 16.6% and 13%, respectively. Long-term angiographic follow-up was available in 94.4% of the surviving patients and demonstrated graft patency in 76.7%. Among patients with occlusive vascular disease, symptom improvement was seen in 55.5%. Morbidity and mortality rates were 14.8% and 0%, respectively. Long-term angiographic follow-up was available in 59.3% of patients and showed a 100% graft patency rate. It is always useful to hear the experience of such a renowned center as the BNI. The article has some limitations, such as the retrospective nature of the review; the heterogeneous group of patients; and the limited long-term angiographic follow-up, particularly in the patients with moyamoya disease and vascular occlusive disease. This single-institution experience limits the general applicability of the results; very few surgeons in the world can hope to achieve the generally excellent results reported in this study. The authors use the Glasgow Outcome Scale, which was originally designed for assessment of outcomes in patients with severe head trauma. Although a Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 4 may be a “good” result for a patient with a severe head injury, such an outcome (“independent withmildto moderateneurologic deficit”) maynot be a “good” outcome for an intact patient presenting with an asymptomatic complex aneurysm. Use of the modified Rankin Scale, which is a more accurate indicator of outcomes, may have been
Corrections to “Traveling Waves on Three-Dimensional Periodic Arrays of Two Different Alternating Magnetodielectric Spheres” [Oct 09 3077-3091]

In the above titled paper (ibid., vol. 57, no. 10, pp. 3077-3091, Oct. 2009), there were a number of errors. These errors are remedied here.
Efficient implementation of multiprocessor scheduling algorithms on a simulation testbed

A layered and modular approach to implementing a process-oriented simulator testbed is described. The simulation kernel is supported by a threads library and is, in turn, capable of supporting distinct domains or application areas for various applications. The testbed offers an implementation methodology for testing novel simulation algorithms at the domain level, without interfacing with the kernel. To demonstrate its utility, a novel algorithm for simulating multiprocessing with round-robin scheduling is presented. The algorithm is more complex than the naive round-robin implementation in use, but offers significant performance improvement.
The molecular biology of lymphotropic herpesviruses.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on lymphotropic herpesviruses and discusses the molecular biology of the three prototypic viruses—Marek's disease virus (MDV), Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It also provides an overview of the relationship of these viruses to their hosts in vitro. Infection by a lymphotropic herpesvirus can affect the host variously. MDV is a malignant lymphoma at a high efficiency in genetically susceptible chicken. EBV in some cases causes one form of infectious mononucleosis in people. EBV infects people without causing overt disease that most human beings harbor it in a latent state. MDV, HVS, and EBV give rise to persistent or latent infections in their respective hosts. Vaccine strains of a virulent MDV yield life-long persistent infections. MDV, HVS, and EBV can each induce lymphomas in experimental animals. There are significant differences in virus associated tumors in different hosts. There are several precedents of viruses that apparently do not induce tumors in their natural hosts, but can induce tumors in experimental animals. The identification and properties of virus-related products for MDV, HVS, and EBV are also discussed in the chapter.
Categorization and deductive reasoning: predictors of instrumental activities of daily living performance in adults with brain injury.

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive relationship of categorization and deductive reasoning abilities to performance of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) among adults with brain injury. Method A correlational research design was used to examine the performance of 19 patients from a neurosurgery acute care unit on Toglia's Category Assessment (TCA), the Deductive Reasoning test (DR), and the Observed Tasks of Daily Living-Revised. Results Multiple regression analysis indicated that categorization and deductive reasoning accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in IADL performance scores, with deductive reasoning making the greater contribution. Demographic characteristics such as age and education reduced the power of the previous variables, especially of the categorization. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that assessments of categorization and deductive reasoning abilities of persons with brain injury may be good predictors of IADL functional performance. Results support the use of the TCA and DR as quick measures of a person's cognitive and functional abilities. Furthermore, this study provides preliminary results to support that categorization and deductive reasoning abilities are fundamental for the performance of IADL skills.
Innate colour preferences and flexible colour learning in the pipevine swallowtail

Abstract The importance of innate preferences and learned associations in choice of flower colours were investigated for the pipevine swallowtail butterfly, Battus philenor (Papilionidae). Naive butterflies showed innate colour preferences for yellow and, to a lesser extent, blue and purple. Apart from their innate preferences, they were able to learn within 10 flower visits to associate floral colour with the presence of nectar rewards in yellow or magenta Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) flowers. Continued experience resulted in greater discrimination in favour of the rewarding colour. Most individuals readily shifted their foraging behaviour when the colour of the rewarding flower was changed. A capacity for rapid and flexible associative learning presumably allows butterflies to adjust their foraging efforts in response to floral rewards that vary over space or time. 1997 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
A comparison of two approaches to feedback circuit analysis

Two approaches for analyzing single-loop feedback circuits are compared and contrasted. One approach is based on the return-radio concept, and the other is based on two-port analysis. A frequent error in many popular texts-interchanging the computation of return ratio for a dependent source and loop gain of the idealized feedback network-is discussed. Assumptions commonly made in many texts when presenting two-port feedback analysis are examined for validity. Examples are given to highlight the differences between the two approaches. >
Mercury in fish: A literature review

This review examines the literature on mercury contamination in fish beginning with the man‐made incidents and its sequelae around Minamata Bay in Japan during the period 1953 to 1960. Mercury poisoning in animals in Sweden and Canada leading to discovery of industrial contamination of waters and fish, which resulted in regulatory action by Canada and the United States, is described and discussed. Finally, salient features of natural background mercury concentrations in water and fish, not associated with man‐made pollution, and the impact of the 0.5 ppm FDA guideline on the fishing industry are covered along with suggestions for possible modification of the present guideline.
Ranging of songs with the song type on use of different cues in Carolina wrens : effects of familiarity

Male territorial song birds are usually spaced far apart and most often hear conspecific song after it has been degraded by propagation through the environment. Their ability to use the degradation of songs to assess the distance of a singing rival without approaching (called ranging) presumably increases the efficiency of defending a territory. In order to assess degradation in a song the receiver needs to compare the characteristics of the received song to its characteristics at the source or at different distances. Earlier experiments on ranging in species with song repertoires have suggested that prior familiarity with the particular song type is necessary for ranging. Here I show that male Carolina wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) can use either temporal or spectral characteristics for ranging song types which they were unlikely to have heard previously. Playbacks consisting of only one song prevented subjects' close-range experience with the loudspeaker, and flights beyond the loudspeaker provided direct evidence for over-assessment of distance when songs were degraded. Because ranging of songs was not affected by the degree of familiarity with the song type, this experiment provides no evidence that song repertoires hinder ranging in Carolina wrens, as suggested by Morton's ranging hypothesis. Instead, at least approximate ranging of songs is evidently possible by assessment of degradation in general features of a species' songs.
Capacitors in power systems with rectifier loads

THE PRINCIPAL SOURCES of system harmonics have been rotating machines and transformers. More recently, the widespread application of apparatus taking nonsinusoidal current, particularly mercury-arc rectifiers, has introduced other sources of system harmonics. These harmonics often require consideration when rectifiers and capacitors are connected to the same system.
Necessary Results from Measure Theory

In this chapter we collect together a number of results in measure theory and the theory of probability. We shall make use of these in subsequent chapters.
A method for estimating contingency based on project complexity

Abstract Large transportation projects have been afflicted by poor cost estimates and large cost overruns. This paper uses transit projects in the United States as an example to develop a probabilistic methodology for establishing sufficient contingency. Contingency is a reserve budget for coping with risks and uncertainties and to help keep the projects on budget. The premise of the proposed methodology is that accuracy of cost estimate is affected by project complexity. Also, this paper contends that there is an inherent underestimate in cost estimates because the estimator estimates components’ costs based on the modes (most likely values) of cost distributions and then adds up these modes to arrive at total cost. In fact, the means of these cost categories have to add up to the mean of the total cost. The paper first suggests a correction for this error and then develops a methodology for establishing the level of complexity for the project, and based on these steps, develops a method for calculating an adequate contingency budget. In order to establish the contingency budget, first, a rating system is used to determine the complexity of the project. It is assumed that the more complex projects are harder to estimate accurately, and the likelihood of cost overrun is higher for these projects. Coefficient of variation is used as an indication of level of uncertainty in the cost and is assumed to be a function of complexity. The rating system scores projects according to pre-determined factors that we believe contribute to projects’ complexity. Then different coefficients of variations are assigned in accordance with projects’ complexity scores. It is shown that project contingency can be computed based on the coefficient of variation and the desired confidence level specified by the user. A validation is performed using a set of actual project costs.
CARDIAC POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY TO QUANTIFY ABNORMAL CORONARY FLOW RESERVE AND RISK STRATIFY A PROSPECTIVE COHORT OF END STAGE RENAL DISEASE PATIENTS

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and often goes undetected. Abnormal coronary flow reserve (CFR) may demonstrate increased risk in ESRD patients without other evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). We prospectively studied 131
Movements of Human Diaphragm During Cardiac Cycle in Respiratory Pause

SummaryIn man during respiratory pause there are changes in the position of the diaphragm during the cardiac cycle so that in ventricular systole the total thoracic volume is smaller than in diastole. Calculation of the net thoracic changes involved integration of measurements of both vertical and horizontal components of motion in posterior-anterior and lateral projections. The reduction in thoracic volume amounts to a large and apparently rather constant fraction of the cardiac stroke output.
Adverse childhood experiences, poverty, and parenting stress

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with physical and mental health problems in adulthood, as well as unresolved or discordant states of mind regarding attachments that have implications for problematic parenting. Currently, there are no studies on the association between ACEs and adults' subjective experiences of stress in the parenting role, where socioeconomic status (SES)−related poverty effects have been controlled for--the central question behind the current study. We examined exposure to ACEs among 118 mothers (n = 33 low SES/impoverished and n = 85 middle/high SES) and parenting distress. Participants completed an ACE questionnaire that assessed exposure to 10 adverse experiences from childhood (e.g., abuse, neglect, household dysfunction), and the Parenting Stress Index−Short Form. Parenting distress and ACEs were significantly higher in the low SES group; yet, even after controlling for SES, higher ACE scores added significant explained variance in parental distress in a linear regression model. DISCUSSION focuses on the need to administer ACE screening in prenatal and pediatric settings to identify and to offer trauma- and attachment-informed treatment, so to reduce the intergenerational transmission of risk associated with problematic parenting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) Language: en
Power System Real Time Dynamic Monitoring Unit Based on Synchrophasor

Large power system interconnection has brought new challenges to operation safety and stability of power system,so it is important to construct power system real time dynamic monitoring system.A type of power system real time dynamic monitoring unit(RTDMU) is described.In order to improve system reliability and anti-jamming,RTDMU is adopted full embedded design.The high accuracy location technology can commendably adapt to the ranging error due to the variation of line parameters.RTDMU comprises synchrophasor,fault data recording,real time dynamic monitoring and process recording,providing reliable data for power system dynamic safety and stability analysis and important data sources for analysis of the ultra-long,large-scale and developing fault.
Spinal epidural abscess: study of early outcome.

Objective: To evaluate the course, complications, and outcomes of individuals with spinal epidural abscess (SEA) and to compare these factors in individuals who had sustained a traumatic spinal cor...
Post-transplant high-dose cyclophosphamide after HLA-matched vs haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation for AML

Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) is the backbone of GvHD prophylaxis following haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haplo-HCT). PT-Cy has also been used in matched related (MRD) and unrelated (MUD) settings. It is not known whether outcomes are similar between haplo-HCT and MRD/MUD HCT when PT-Cy is used. We performed a retrospective analysis of 83 patients with AML who underwent HCT (using PT-Cy-based GvHD prophylaxis) from MRD, MUD or haploidentical donors. The groups were similar in baseline characteristics with the exception of older age in the MRD/MUD group (P=0.012). In multivariate analysis, the effect of donor type (MRD/MUD vs haploidentical) on transplant outcomes was not significant in any of the models except for faster neutrophil recovery after MRD/MUD transplants (hazard ratio: 2.21; 95% confidence interval: 1.31-3.72, P=0.002). In conclusion, we showed similar outcomes in MRD/MUD vs haploidentical HCT (except slower count recovery following haplo-HCT) when PT-Cy is used for GvHD prophylaxis. Although slower count recovery following haplo-HCT (compared with MRD/MUD transplants without PT-Cy) has been attributed to using PT-Cy, our results suggest that HLA disparity is the primary cause of this difference. Furthermore, our analysis supports PT-Cy as a viable option for GvHD prophylaxis after MRD/MUD transplants.
The role of type 2 innate lymphoid cells in RSV-induced asthma exacerbation.

Respiratory viral infections cause devastating airway inflammation and remodeling in asthmatic children and adults. Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) have been characterized individually in both asthma and viral infections. We hypothesize that ILC2 are activated by IL-33 in our model, and thereby enhance the asthmatic phenotype in the lung. Asthma induction was performed in eight week old, female BALB/c mice using ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and airway challenge. After the last airway challenge, mice were infected with RSV (3,250 TCID 50 U/mouse). Lungs were collected for ILC2 sorting, immune cell quantitation, and analysis of IL-4, IL-13, IL-33 and IL-25 on days 1–4 of infection. A subset of lungs were collected and fixed for histological analysis. Results show that mucus production (PAS+ cells) and lymphocytic recruitment were enhanced with RSV infection and asthma. The expression of MUC5AC, CLCA3, IL-25 and IL-33 mRNA levels were increased at least two-fold in the lungs of OVA+RSV mice compared to RSV-infected alone. We detected comparable numbers of ILC2 in BAL fluid from both OVA+ and OVA+RSV mice, yet an evaluation of total lung lymphocytes yielded more ILC2 in the OVA+RSV mice as compared to OVA alone. ILC2 from OVA+RSV mice were sorted and treated with IL-33 for 24 hours. These cells produced greater IL-4 mRNA than cells isolated from OVA only mice. Our results describe a potential role for ILC2 in the exacerbation of asthma with RSV infection. Future studies are planned to determine the exact contribution of ILC2 to type 2 immunity and pulmonary function in our asthma-viral infection model.
Full length article: Asymptotic properties of extremal polynomials corresponding to measures supported on analytic regions

Let G be a bounded region with simply connected closure G@? and analytic boundary and let @m be a positive measure carried by G@? together with finitely many pure points outside G. We provide estimates on the norms of the monic polynomials of minimal norm in the space L^q(@m) for q>0. In case the norms converge to 0, we provide estimates on the rate of convergence, generalizing several previous results. Our most powerful result concerns measures @m that are perturbations of measures that are absolutely continuous with respect to the push-forward of a product measure near the boundary of the unit disk. Our results and methods also yield information about the strong asymptotics of the extremal polynomials and some information concerning Christoffel functions.
Reviews: Sedimentary Features of Flysch and Greywackes; Submarine Geology and Geophysics

Hurbert C. Skinner's review of Sedimentary Features of Flysch and Greywackes and Submarine Geology and Geophysics.
Microbial Stability of Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Products

This review gives a brief overview about microbial contamination in pharmaceutical products. We discuss the distribution and potential sources of microorganisms in different areas, ranging from manufacturing sites, pharmacy stores, hospitals, to the post-market phase. We also discuss the factors that affect microbial contamination in popular dosage forms (e.g., tablets, sterile products, cosmetics). When these products are contaminated, the microorganisms can cause changes. The effects range from mild changes (e.g., discoloration, texture alteration) to severe effects (e.g., changes in activities, toxicity). The most common method for countering microbial contamination is the use of preservatives. We review some frequently used preservatives, and we describe the mechanisms by which microorganisms develop resistance to these preservatives. Finally, because preservatives are inherently toxic, we review the efforts of researchers to utilize water activity and other non-preservative approaches to combat microbial contamination.
Commentary: Fisher's infinitesimal model: A story for the ages.

Mendel (1866) suggested that if many heritable "factors" contribute to a trait, near-continuous variation could result. Fisher (1918) clarified the connection between Mendelian inheritance and continuous trait variation by assuming many loci, each with small effect, and by informally invoking the central limit theorem. Barton et al. (2017) rigorously analyze the approach to a multivariate Gaussian distribution of the genetic effects for descendants of parents who may be related. This commentary distinguishes three nested approximations, referred to as "infinitesimal genetics," "Gaussian descendants" and "Gaussian population," each plausibly called "the infinitesimal model." The first and most basic is Fisher's "infinitesimal" approximation of the underlying genetics - namely, many loci, each making a small contribution to the total variance. As Barton et al. (2017) show, in the limit as the number of loci increases (with enough additivity), the distribution of genotypic values for descendants approaches a multivariate Gaussian, whose variance-covariance structure depends only on the relatedness, not the phenotypes, of the parents (or whether their population experiences selection or other processes such as mutation and migration). Barton et al. (2017) call this rigorously defensible "Gaussian descendants" approximation "the infinitesimal model." However, it is widely assumed that Fisher's genetic assumptions yield another Gaussian approximation, in which the distribution of breeding values in a population follows a Gaussian - even if the population is subject to non-Gaussian selection. This third "Gaussian population" approximation, is also described as the "infinitesimal model." Unlike the "Gaussian descendants" approximation, this third approximation cannot be rigorously justified, except in a weak-selection limit, even for a purely additive model. Nevertheless, it underlies the two most widely used descriptions of selection-induced changes in trait means and genetic variances, the "breeder's equation" and the "Bulmer effect." Future generations may understand why the "infinitesimal model" provides such useful approximations in the face of epistasis, linkage, linkage disequilibrium and strong selection.
A Maze of Dyotropic Rearrangements and Triple Shifts: Carbocation Rearrangements Connecting Stemarene, Stemodene, Betaerdene, Aphidicolene, and Scopadulanol

Results of quantum chemical investigations shed new light on the mechanisms of formation of the stemarene, stemodene, betaerdene, aphidicolene, and scopadulanol diterpenes from syn-copalyl diphosphate ( syn-CPP). These terpenes are shown to be connected by a complex network of reaction pathways involving concerted but asynchronous dyotropic rearrangements and triple shift rearrangements. The interconnection of these pathways leads to multiple routes for formation of each diterpene, which could lead to different origins for some carbon atoms in a given diterpenes under different conditions.
Sacred Sports: Moral Responses to Sports Media Content:

This study examines moral responses to sports media content. Using two conditions, participants (N = 639) were randomly assigned to read a damaging sports article about their university’s basketbal...
Minute Virus of Canines NP1 Protein Interacts with the Cellular Factor CPSF6 To Regulate Viral Alternative RNA Processing

The NP1 protein of minute virus of canines (MVC) governs production of the viral capsid proteins via its role in pre-mRNA processing. NP1 suppresses polyadenylation and cleavage at its internal site, termed the proximal polyadenylation (pA)p site, to allow accumulation of RNAs that extend into the capsid gene, and it enhances splicing of the upstream adjacent third intron, which is necessary to properly enter the capsid protein open reading frame. We find the (pA)p region to be complex. It contains redundant classical cis-acting signals necessary for the cleavage and polyadenylation reaction and splicing of the adjacent upstream third intron, as well as regions outside the classical motifs that are necessary for responding to NP1. NP1, but not processing mutants of NP1, bound to MVC RNA directly. The cellular RNA processing factor CPSF6 interacted with NP1 in transfected cells and participated with NP1 to modulate its effects. These experiments further characterize the role of NP1 in parvovirus gene expression.IMPORTANCE The Parvovirinae are small nonenveloped icosahedral viruses that are important pathogens in many animal species, including humans. Unlike other parvoviruses, the bocavirus genus controls expression of its capsid proteins via alternative RNA processing, by both suppressing polyadenylation at an internal site, termed the proximal polyadenylation (pA)p site, and by facilitating splicing of an upstream adjacent intron. This regulation is mediated by a small genus-specific protein, NP1. Understanding the cis-acting targets of NP1, as well as the cellular factors with which it interacts, is necessary to more clearly understand this unique mode of parvovirus gene expression.