1,586 research outputs found
Capital asset accounting policies under GASB Statement No. 34: Characteristics, antecedents, and implications
No full textIn this paper, we study the evolution of state and local governments’ capital asset accounting policies from the adoption of GASB Statement No. 34 through the fiscal year ending in 2016. We document substantial cross-sectional and time-series variation in the capitalization thresholds and estimated useful lives pertaining to major classes of capital assets, including buildings, equipment, improvements, and infrastructure assets. Diversity in capital asset accounting policies potentially diminishes the comparability of capital asset accounting information across governments and over time. We also discuss matters related to the implementation and ongoing use of the modified approach for reporting infrastructure assets. Our findings are useful to the GASB as well as to users of government financial reports.Peer reviewe
Using performance assessment in secondary school mathematics: an empirical study in a Singapore classroom
No full textThis article reports an exploratory study on using performance assessment in mathematics instruction in a high-performing secondary school in Singapore. An intact mathematics class participated in the study, and received chapter-based performance tasks as intervention during regular mathematics lessons for about one and a half school years. The performance tasks used included authentic and/or open-ended tasks. The students’ academic achievements and attitudes in mathematics were compared with a comparison class that did not receive the intervention. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected, mainly through questionnaire surveys, performance task tests, conventional school exams, and interviews with students and teachers. The results suggest that the students receiving the intervention performed significantly better than their counterparts in solving conventional exam problems, and in general they also showed more positive changes in attitudes towards mathematics and mathematics learning. The students from the experimental class also expressed positive views about the benefits of using performance tasks in promoting their ability in higher order thinking, though no statistically significant difference was detected between the two classes of students in solving unconventional tasks before and after intervention. Overall, the results appear to support teachers’ using contextualised problems in real life situations and open-ended investigations in students’ learning of mathematic
Analysis of immune-related loci identifies 48 new susceptibility variants for multiple sclerosis
Get PDFUsing the ImmunoChip custom genotyping array, we analyzed 14,498 subjects with multiple sclerosis and 24,091 healthy controls for 161,311 autosomal variants and identified 135 potentially associated regions (P < 1.0 × 10−4). In a replication phase, we combined these data with previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from an independent 14,802 subjects with multiple sclerosis and 26,703 healthy controls. In these 80,094 individuals of European ancestry, we identified 48 new susceptibility variants (P < 5.0 × 10−8), 3 of which we found after conditioning on previously identified variants. Thus, there are now 110 established multiple sclerosis risk variants at 103 discrete loci outside of the major histocompatibility complex. With high-resolution Bayesian fine mapping, we identified five regions where one variant accounted for more than 50% of the posterior probability of association. This study enhances the catalog of multiple sclerosis risk variants and illustrates the value of fine mapping in the resolution of GWAS signals
Measurement of differential production cross-sections and forward-backward ratio in p+Pb collisions with the ATLAS detector
Get PDFSee paper for full list of authors - 13 pages plus author list + cover pages (26 pages total), 8 figures, 8 tables, submitted to Phys. Rev. C. All figures including auxiliary figures are available at http://atlas.web.cern.ch/Atlas/GROUPS/PHYSICS/PAPERS/HION-2013-07/International audienceMeasurements of differential cross-sections for production in p+Pb collisions at = 5.02 TeV at the LHC with the ATLAS detector are presented. The data set used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 28.1 nb. The mesons are reconstructed in the dimuon decay channel over the transverse momentum range GeV and over the center-of-mass rapidity range . Prompt are separated from resulting from -hadron decays through an analysis of the distance between the decay vertex and the event primary vertex. The differential cross-section for production of nonprompt is compared to a FONLL calculation that does not include nuclear effects. Forward-backward production ratios are presented and compared to theoretical predictions. These results constrain the kinematic dependence of nuclear modifications of charmonium and -quark production in p+Pb collisions
Heterogeneous and tissue-specific regulation of effector T cell responses by IFN-gamma during Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection.
Get PDFIFN-γ and T cells are both required for the development of experimental cerebral malaria during Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection. Surprisingly, however, the role of IFN-γ in shaping the effector CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell response during this infection has not been examined in detail. To address this, we have compared the effector T cell responses in wild-type and IFN-γ(-/-) mice during P. berghei ANKA infection. The expansion of splenic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells during P. berghei ANKA infection was unaffected by the absence of IFN-γ, but the contraction phase of the T cell response was significantly attenuated. Splenic T cell activation and effector function were essentially normal in IFN-γ(-/-) mice; however, the migration to, and accumulation of, effector CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in the lung, liver, and brain was altered in IFN-γ(-/-) mice. Interestingly, activation and accumulation of T cells in various nonlymphoid organs was differently affected by lack of IFN-γ, suggesting that IFN-γ influences T cell effector function to varying levels in different anatomical locations. Importantly, control of splenic T cell numbers during P. berghei ANKA infection depended on active IFN-γ-dependent environmental signals--leading to T cell apoptosis--rather than upon intrinsic alterations in T cell programming. To our knowledge, this is the first study to fully investigate the role of IFN-γ in modulating T cell function during P. berghei ANKA infection and reveals that IFN-γ is required for efficient contraction of the pool of activated T cells
Dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome in China: a population-based endoscopy study of prevalence and impact
No full textBackground: Dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common in Western populations. Aim: To determine the epidemiology of dyspepsia and IBS in China. Methods: A representative sample of 18 000 adults from five regions of China were asked to complete the modified Rome II questionnaire; 20% were asked to complete the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Participants from Shanghai were invited to provide blood samples and undergo oesophagogastroduodenoscopy. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: The survey was completed by 16 091 individuals (response rate: 89.4%). Overall, 387 participants (2.4%) had dyspepsia and 735 (4.6%) had IBS. All SF-36 dimension scores were at least five points lower in individuals with than without dyspepsia or IBS (P ≤ 0.001). In Shanghai, 1030 (32.7%) of the 3153 respondents agreed to endoscopy; neither dyspepsia nor IBS was found to be associated with reflux oesophagitis, peptic ulcer disease or Helicobacter pylori infection. Conclusions: Prevalence estimates for dyspepsia and IBS in China are lower than in Western populations. In China, dyspepsia or IBS symptoms are generally not associated with underlying organic disease.Y. Zhao, D. Zou, R. Wang, X. Ma, X. Yan, X. Man, L. Gao, J. Fang, H. Yan, X. Kang, P. Yin, Y. Hao, Q. Li, J. Dent, J. Sung, K. Halling, B. Wernersson, S. Johansson, and J. H
Asicimbex latistriatus Yan, Deng & Wei 2022, sp. nov.
No full textAsicimbex latistriatus Yan, Deng & Wei sp. nov. Fig. 8 Material examined. Holotype, female, China: Henan Province, Shan County, Ganshan Park, alt. 1000 m, 31 May 2000, leg. Meicai Wei & Yihai Zhong (ASMN). Paratypes, 7 females and 2 males, same data as the holotype; 1 female and 4 males, same locality, 1 June 2000 (ASMN). Diagnosis. The species is most similar to A. nanjingensis Yan & Wei sp. nov., but differs from the latter in the following characters: the postocellar area 1.2-1.3 × broader than long; abdominal tergum 1 without lateral carina, the posterior corner of the tergum not produced; the dorsum of mesoscutellum sparsely and minutely punctured, the surface smooth; the antennomere 3 clearly longer than longest axis of eye; the total length of lance annuli 3.9 × height of the 13th annulus, the first annulus 2.7 × as high as broad; lancet with 46 serrulae. Description. Holotype, female. Body length 14 mm (Fig. 8A). Color. Head including antenna dark yellowish brown (Fig. 8A), frons and nearby with an obscure black macula (Fig. 8C, F); thorax black, posterior margin and lateral corner of pronotum, tegula, mesoscutellum and lateral carina dark brown, mesepisternum above carina largely, posterior margin of mesepimeron, irregular macula on metepisternum and large macula on metepimeron reddish brown (Fig. 8K); abdomen dark brown, basal margin of tergum 1 and small macula near posterior corner, anterior 4/5 of tergum 2, anterior 1/3 of tergum 3, basal margin of terga 4-7 and sterna 1-3 largely black, tergum 4 slightly paler (Fig. 8O, P). Fore wing strongly smoky, cells 2M, 3M, 2Cu and A largely hyaline, veins and pterostigma largely brown to dark brown; hind wing weakly infuscate (Fig. 8A). Legs dark brown, middle and hind coxae, trochanters and dorsal side of femora black (Fig. 8I, J). Head. Dorsum of head with indistinct and fine punctures, other parts smooth, with strong luster (Fig. 8C, F). Clypeus clearly elevated in middle, anterior margin with small and deep incision; malar space 1.8 × diameter of middle ocellus (Fig. 8C); postocellar area about 1.2-1.3 × broader than long; median furrow weak, lateral furrows fine, weakly divergent backwards; POL: OOL: OCL = 5: 6: 9; in dorsal view head enlarged behind eye (Fig. 8F). Antenna about 1.4 × longer than head breadth (Fig. 8H); apical club slightly longer than antennomere 3, with the widest breadth 2.4 × apical breadth of antennomere 3, antennomere 3 clearly longer than longest axis of eyes (45: 39). Thorax. Mesothorax densely punctured, punctures on mesoscutellum sparser, surface smooth; mesonotum feebly shiny; punctures on mesepisternum above carina and elevated parts of mesepimeron dense and deep, clearly defined, interspace between punctures smooth, concave area of mesepimeron microsculptured, punctures on ventral side of mesepisternum sparse (Fig. 8E, K); mesoscutellum roundly elevated, without middle furrow; oblique middle carina on mesepisternum weak but recognizable; cenchri oval, distance between cenchri about 3.4 × longest axis of a cenchrus, metascutellum triangularly elevated, distance between serrulae about 2.3 × basal breadth of a serrula (Fig. 8E). Abdomen. Abdominal tergum 1 with minute punctures and microsculptures, other terga finely and densely microsculptured (Fig. 8O, P). Tergum 1 without lateral carina, hind corner roundish, not produced, posterior incision broad and deep, bottom round (Fig. 8O); middle process of sternum 7 broad and triangular, basal breadth about 1/3 breadth of sternite 7; lance short and broad, subapical annuli feebly broadened, total length of annuli 3.9 × height of 13th annulus, first annulus 2.7 × as high as broad (Fig. 8N); lancet with 47 annular sutures and 46 serrulae (Fig. 8N), middle serrulae narrowly truncate at apex with about 5 proximal and 5 distal subbasal teeth (Fig. 8Q). Male. Body length 16 mm (Fig. 8B), body color and structure (Fig. 8D, G) similar to female except for following parts: posterior of postocellar area in middle with a shallow depressed groove; abdominal terga 2-3 largely blackish brown; middle and hind coxae and femora distinctly elongated, with carina; hind femora distinctly swollen, about twice as broad as trochanter; penis valve shown in Fig. 8M, gonoforceps as shown in Fig. 8L. Distribution. China (Henan); South Korea? Variation. Body length 13-15 mm in female, 16-17 mm in male; club of antenna dark brown or yellowish brown; middle and hind coxae brown or blackish brown. Etymology. The specific epithet is a combination of the Latin word: " lati -" and "- striatus ", referring to the fore wing with a broad longitudinal smoky stripe. Host plant and larva . The adult types of the new species were reared two years later from the larvae collected on the trunk of Ulmus sp. The matured larvae are yellow colored with black head, thorax and abdomen without black macula. Remarks. The senior author of the paper examined 2 females and 3 males of A. latistriatus from South Korea in 2013, when there were only five species (Asicimbex eous, Asicimbex malaisei, Asicimbex elminus, Asicimbex ulmusvorus and the undescribed Asicimbex latistriatus) of the undescribed genus Asicimbex known to the author. The specimens were kept in Yeungnam University. Confirmation of this faunal record requires re-examination of the specimens.Published as part of Yan, Yu-Chen, Yan, Wen-Long, Deng, Tie-Jun & Wei, Mei-Cai, 2022, Asicimbex Yan, Deng & Wei, a new genus with eight new species and four new combinations (Hymenoptera, Cimbicidae), pp. 265-308 in Journal of Hymenoptera Research 91 on page 265, DOI: 10.3897/jhr.91.8371
Biallelic expansion of an intronic repeat in RFC1 is a common cause of late-onset ataxia (vol 51, pg 649, 2019)
No full textIn the version of this article initially published, the name of author Wai Yan Yau was misspelled. The error has been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the article
Study of J/psi -> omega p(p)over-bar at BESIII
No full text<p>The decay J/psi -> omega p (p) over bar has been studied, using 225.3 X 10(6) J/psi events accumulated at BESIII. No significant enhancement near the p (p) over bar invariant-mass threshold [denoted as X(p (p) over bar)] is observed. The upper limit of the branching fraction B(J/psi -> omega X(p (p) over bar) -> omega p (p) over bar is determined to be 3.9 X 10(-6) at the 95% confidence level. The branching fraction of J/psi -> omega p (p) over bar is measured to be B(J/psi -> omega p (p) over bar) = (9.0 +/- 0.2(stat) +/- 0. 9(syst) X 10(-4).</p>
Correction to: Understanding what matters most to patients in acute care in seven countries, using the flash mob study design
Get PDFFollowing publication of the original article [1], the authors identified an error in the author name of Ling Yan LEUNG. The incorrect author name is: L. E. U. N. G. Ling Yan The correct author name is: Ling Yan LEUNG The author group has been updated above and the original article [1] has been corrected.</p
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