Item Response Theory True Score Equating for the Bifactor Model Under the Common-Item Nonequivalent Groups Design.

Applying item response theory (IRT) true score equating to multidimensional IRT models is not straightforward due to the one-to-many relationship between a true score and latent variables. Under the common-item nonequivalent groups design, the purpose of the current study was to introduce two IRT true score equating procedures that adopted different dimension reduction strategies for the bifactor model. The first procedure, which was referred to as the integration procedure, linked the latent variable scales for the bifactor model and integrated out the specific factors from the item response function of the bifactor model.

Mitochondrial Haplogroup Classification of Ancient DNA Samples Using Haplotracker.

Mitochondrial DNA haplogroup classification is used to study maternal lineage of ancient human populations. The haplogrouping of ancient DNA is not easy because the DNA is usually found in small pieces in limited quantities. We have developed Haplotracker, a straightforward and efficient high-resolution haplogroup classification tool optimized specifically for ancient DNA samples.

Both Intracranial and Intravenous Administration of Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes Protect Dopaminergic Neuronal Death from 6-Hydroxydopamine.

Purpose: Although single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) with functional groups have been suggested as a potential nanomedicine to treat neuronal disorders, effective routes to administer SWNTs have not been compared thus far. The blood-brain barrier is a considerable challenge for the development of brain-targeting drugs, and therefore functionalized SWNT routes of administration have been needed for testing Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment. Here, effective administration routes of functionalized SWNTs were evaluated in PD mouse model.

Skin Pigmentation Differences between Mongolian, Korean, and Uzbekistan Ancient Human DNA Samples.

Background: This study reports the use of real-time PCR to identify the SNP rs1545397 in the intron region on the OCA2 gene from ancient and degraded DNA isolated from ancient human bones from Mongolia, Korea, and Uzbekistan. This SNP is a marker for skin pigmentation. LightCycler-based probes (HybProbes) were designed.

Interval estimation procedures for true scores of a test composed of polytomous items: An application of the multinomial error model.

When a person takes alternative forms of the same test across replications of the testing procedure, the test taker's observed scores on the alternative forms are rarely identical. In educational and psychological measurement, inconsistencies in a test taker's scores that are irrelevant to the construct being measured are attributed to errors of measurement. Typically, errors of measurement are summarized as the standard deviation of a test taker's observed scores over replication of the same testing procedure.

Approximating Bifactor IRT True-Score Equating With a Projective Item Response Model.

Item response theory (IRT) true-score equating for the bifactor model is often conducted by first numerically integrating out specific factors from the item response function and then applying the unidimensional IRT true-score equating method to the marginalized bifactor model. However, an alternative procedure for obtaining the marginalized bifactor model is through projecting the nuisance dimensions of the bifactor model onto the dominant dimension. Projection, which can be viewed as an approximation to numerical integration, has an advantage over numerical integration in providing item parameters for the marginalized bifactor model; therefore, projection could be used with existing equating software packages that require item parameters.

A Comparison of the Separate and Concurrent Calibration Methods for the Full-Information Bifactor model.

When calibrating items using multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) models, item response theory (IRT) calibration programs typically set the probability density of latent variables to a multivariate standard normal distribution to handle three types of indeterminacies: (a) the location of the origin, (b) the unit of measurement along each coordinate axis, and (c) the orientation of the coordinate axes. However, by doing so, item parameter estimates obtained from two independent calibration runs on nonequivalent groups are on two different coordinate systems. To handle this issue and place all the item parameter estimates on a common coordinate system, a process called linking is necessary.

Fabry disease: characterisation of the plasma proteome pre- and post-enzyme replacement therapy.

Background: Fabry disease is characterised by the progressive accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) and related glycosphingolipids in vascular endothelial cells. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) clears this accumulation. We analysed plasma proteome profiles before and after ERT to characterise its molecular pathology.

Molecular Genealogy of a Mongol Queen's Family and Her Possible Kinship with Genghis Khan.

Members of the Mongol imperial family (designated the Golden family) are buried in a secret necropolis; therefore, none of their burial grounds have been found. In 2004, we first discovered 5 graves belonging to the Golden family in Tavan Tolgoi, Eastern Mongolia. To define the genealogy of the 5 bodies and the kinship among them, SNP and/or STR profiles of mitochondria, autosomes, and Y chromosomes were analyzed.

Anatomy of the tenth costal cartilage for a columella strut in an Asian rhinoplasty.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the precise radiological and surface anatomy of the 10th costal cartilage for the usage of a columella strut in an Asian rhinoplasty.Three hundred abdominal computed tomography scans were reviewed and measured (166 males, 134 females), and the location of the 10th costochondral junction (CCJ) was measured in reference to the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and umbilicus. Sixteen 10th costal cartilages were harvested from 10 Korean adult cadavers (7 males, 3 females), and the length, width, and thickness of each cartilage were measured.

Extensive evaluation of DNA polymerase performance for highly degraded human DNA samples.

Highly degraded human DNA is commonly encountered in the forensic studies. Despite many efforts, the poor quality and quantity of the DNA often result in unsuccessful DNA analysis. There has been no extensive evaluation of DNA polymerase performance for the successful PCR of highly degraded DNA samples.

Neurovascular distribution within the abdominal head of the pectoralis major muscle: Application to breast and flap surgery.

The abdominal head of the pectoralis major (AHPM) is important in cosmetic and flap surgeries. Few studies have reported on its neurovascular entry points and distribution patterns. We aimed to determine the entry points and distribution patterns of the neurovascular structures within the AHPM.

Skin tension related to tension reduction sutures.

The aim of this study was to compare the skin tension of several fascial/subcutaneous tensile reduction sutures. Six upper limbs and 8 lower limbs of 4 fresh cadavers were used. At the deltoid area (10 cm below the palpable acromion) and lateral thigh (midpoint from the palpable greater trochanter to the lateral border of the patella), and within a 3 × 6-cm fusiform area of skin, subcutaneous tissue defects were created.

Where to fix in rejuvenation surgeries?: tensile strength of the periosteum.

The aim of this study is to elucidate the tensile strength of the periosteum relating to facial rejuvenation surgeries.Twelve hemifaces of 6 formalin-fixed Korean adult cadavers were used. Two horizontal incision lines were made 3 cm above the supraorbital rim and 1 cm below the infraorbital rim.

Dual matrilineal geographic distribution of Korean type 2 diabetes mellitus-associated -11,377 G adiponectin allele.

The present study was performed to identify the susceptible single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for the prediction of Korean type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to clarify the matrilineal origin of Korean T2DM‑specific SNPs. Fourteen SNPs from the adiponectin (ADIPOQ), hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 and glucokinase genes in the Korean population were analyzed. Only one SNP, ‑11,377 C/G on the ADIPOQ gene, was finally determined to be responsible for the incidence of Korean T2DM (P=0.

Sex determination using upper limb bones in Korean populations.

The purpose of this research is to establish metric standards for the determination of sex from the upper limb bones of Korean. We took a set of eleven measurements on each of 175 right sides of adult skeletons chosen at Korean sample. Classification accuracy dropped only one or two individuals when only vertical head diameter of humerus is used.

Pes anserinus and anserine bursa: anatomical study.

This study investigated the boundary of anserine bursa with the recommended injection site and shape on the insertion area of pes anserinus (PA), with the aim of improving clinical practice. Eighty six legs from 45 Korean cadavers were investigated. The mixed gelatin solution was injected to identify the shape of anserine bursa, and then the insertion site of the PA tendons was exposed completely and carefully dissected to identify the shape of the PA.

Effect of sodium butyrate on the assembly, charge variants, and galactosylation of antibody produced in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Sodium butyrate (NaBu) is known to increase the specific productivity of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells. To understand the effects of NaBu on the product quality, rCHO cells producing monoclonal antibody (Mab) were cultivated at various concentrations of NaBu (0 to 4 mM). NaBu increased correctly assembled Mab.

A real-time PCR-based amelogenin Y allele dropout assessment model in gender typing of degraded DNA samples.

Allelic dropout due to stochastic variation in degraded small quantity DNA appears to be one of the most serious genotyping errors. Most methods require PCR replication to address this problem. The small amounts of valuable samples are often a limitation for such replications.

South Korean alcohol free associations: negative expectancy not predicting drinks per occasion.

Introduction And Aims: Cultural and biological particulars existing in East Asian countries are likely to mediate differences in the alcohol consumption experience. Despite this no research to date has directly explored the alcohol free association or expectancy of any East Asian nations. The current research aims to provide a set of South Korean alcohol expectancies.

Preventive effects of chebulic acid isolated from Terminalia chebula on advanced glycation endproduct-induced endothelial cell dysfunction.

Aim Of The Study: The aqueous extract of Terminalia chebular fruits was reported to have anti-hyperglycemia and anti-diabetic complication effects. The present study therefore investigated the protective mechanism of chebulic acid, a phenolcarboxylic acid compound isolated from the ripe fruits of Terminalia chebula against advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs)-induced endothelial cell dysfunction.

Materials And Methods: To investigate the protective mechanism of chebulic acid against vascular endothelial dysfunction human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were treated with chebulic acid in the presence/absence of glyceraldehyde-related AGEs (glycer-AGEs).

CD4+ TH1 cells generated by Ii-PADRE DNA at prime phase are important to induce effectors and memory CD8+ T cells.

The requirement for CD4 T cells in priming and maintaining cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses presents a long-standing paradox in cellular immunology. In this study, we used sequential coadministration of a DNA vaccine encoding an invariant (Ii) chain in which the class II-associated Ii-peptide region is replaced with CD4 T-helper epitope, PADRE [Pan human leukocyte antigen-DR reactive epitope (Ii-PADRE)] or Bcl-xL with a DNA vaccine encoding Sig/E7/LAMP-1 to verify the role of CD4 T cells for the generation of effectors and memory E7-specific CD8 T-cell immune responses. Sequential vaccination, with Ii-PADRE+Sig/E7/LAMP-1 priming followed by Bcl-xL+Sig/E7/LAMP-1 boosting led to generation of E7-specific CD8 T cells, and was nearly equivalent in effect to coadministration with Ii-PADRE+Sig/E7/LAMP-1 or Bcl-xL+Sig/E7/LAMP-1 at both prime and boost.

Acute testis toxicity of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Objectives: Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) is a liquid compound obtained by condensation of two molecules of epichlorohydrin with one molecule of bisphenol A. General and reproductive toxicity with BADGE has been reported higher than 1000 mg/kg/day. This study was performed to show the effects of acute exposure to BADGE below 1000 mg/kg/day on the testis in adult male rats.

Mitochondrial DNA analysis of ancient human bones excavated from Nukdo island, S.Korea.

We have performed analyses using ancient DNA extracted from 25 excavated human bones, estimating around the 1(st) century B.C. Ancient human bones were obtained from Nukdo Island, which is located off of the Korean peninsula of East Asia.

A western Eurasian male is found in 2000-year-old elite Xiongnu cemetery in Northeast Mongolia.

We analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome single nucleotide polymorphisms (Y-SNP), and autosomal short tandem repeats (STR) of three skeletons found in a 2,000-year-old Xiongnu elite cemetery in Duurlig Nars of Northeast Mongolia. This study is one of the first reports of the detailed genetic analysis of ancient human remains using the three types of genetic markers. The DNA analyses revealed that one subject was an ancient male skeleton with maternal U2e1 and paternal R1a1 haplogroups.