100,678 research outputs found
Thurstonian Scaling of Compositional Questionnaire Data
To prevent response biases, personality questionnaires may use comparative response formats. These include forced choice, where respondents choose among a number of items, and quantitative comparisons, where respondents indicate the extent to which items are preferred to each other. The present article extends Thurstonian modeling of binary choice data (Brown & Maydeu-Olivares, 2011a) to “proportion-of-total” (compositional) formats. Following Aitchison (1982), compositional item data are transformed into log-ratios, conceptualized as differences of latent item utilities. The mean and covariance structure of the log-ratios is modelled using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), where the item utilities are first-order factors, and personal attributes measured by a questionnaire are second-order factors. A simulation study with two sample sizes, N=300 and N=1000, shows that the method provides very good recovery of true parameters and near-nominal rejection rates. The approach is illustrated with empirical data from N=317 students, comparing model parameters obtained with compositional and Likert scale versions of a Big Five measure. The results show that the proposed model successfully captures the latent structures and person scores on the measured traits
Note on exponential families of distributions
We show that an arbitrary probability distribution can be represented in
exponential form. In physical contexts, this implies that the equilibrium
distribution of any classical or quantum dynamical system is expressible in
grand canonical form.Comment: 5 page
Ablative performance of uncoated silicone-modified and shuttle baseline reinforced carbon composites
The relative ablative performance of uncoated silicone-modified reinforced carbon composite (RCC) and uncoated shuttle baseline RCC substrates was investigated. The test specimens were 13 plies (5.3 to 5.8 millimeters) thick and had a 25-millimeter-diameter test face. Prior to arc tunnel testing, all specimens were subjected to a heat treatment simulating the RCC coating process. During arc tunnel testing, the specimens were exposed to cold wall heating rates of 178 to 529 kilowatts/sq m and stagnation pressures ranging from 0.015 to 0.046 atmosphere at Mach 4.6 in air, with and without preheating in nitrogen. The results show that the ablative performance of uncoated silicone-modified RCC substrates is significantly superior to that of uncoated shuttle baseline RCC substrates over the range of heating conditions used. These results indicate that the silicone-modified RCC substrate would yield a substantially greater safety margin in the event of complete coating loss on the shuttle orbiter
Polarimetric variations of binary stars. II. Numerical simulations for circular and eccentric binaries in Mie scattering envelopes
We present numerical simulations of the periodic polarimetric variations
produced by a binary star placed at the center of an empty spherical cavity
inside a circumbinary ellipsoidal and optically thin envelope made of dust
grains. Mie single-scattering is considered along with pre- and post-scattering
extinction factors which produce a time-varying optical depth and affect the
morphology of the periodic variations. We are interested in the effects that
various parameters will have on the average polarization, the amplitude of the
polarimetric variations, and the morphology of the variability. We show that
the absolute amplitudes of the variations are smaller for Mie scattering than
for Thomson scattering. Among the four grain types that we have studied, the
highest polarizations are produced by grains with sizes in the range 0.1-0.2
micron. In general, the variations are seen twice per orbit. In some cases,
because spherical dust grains have an asymmetric scattering function, the
polarimetric curves produced also show variations seen once per orbit.
Circumstellar disks produce polarimetric variations of greater amplitude than
circumbinary envelopes.
Another goal of these simulations is to see if the 1978 BME (Brown, McLean, &
Emslie, ApJ, 68, 415) formalism, which uses a Fourier analysis of the
polarimetric variations to find the orbital inclination for Thomson-scattering
envelopes, can still be used for Mie scattering. We find that this is the case,
if the amplitude of the variations is sufficient and the true inclinations is
i_true > 45 deg. For eccentric orbits, the first-order coefficients of the
Fourier fit, instead of second-order ones, can be used to find almost all
inclinations.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Astronomical Journa
Histopathological analysis and in situ localisation of Australian tiger snake venom in two clinically envenomed domestic animals
Objective: To assess histopathological changes in clinically envenomed tiger snake patients and identify tissue specific localisation of venom toxins using immunohistochemistry. Samples: One feline and one canine patient admitted to the Murdoch Pet Emergency Centre (MPEC), Murdoch University with tiger snake (Notechis sp.) envenoming. Both patients died as a result of envenomation. Non-envenomed tissue was also collected and used for comparison. Methodology: Biopsy samples (heart, lung, kidney andskeletal muscle tissue) were retrieved 1-2 h post death and processed for histopathological examination using Haemotoxylin and Eosin, Martius Scarlet Blue and Periodic Acid Schiff staining. Tissues were examined by light microscopy and tissue sections subjected to immunohistochemical staining using in-house generated monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against Notechis venoms. Results: Venom-induced pathological changes were observed in the lungs, kidneys and muscle tissue of both patients. Evidence, not previously noted, of procoagulant venom effects were apparent, with formed thrombi in the heart, lungs (small fibrillar aggregates and larger, discrete thrombi) and kidneys. Immunohistochemical assays revealed venom present in the pulmonary tissue, in and around the glomerular capsule and surrounding tubules in renal tissue and scattered throughout the Gastrocnemius muscle tissue. Conclusion: This work has shown pathological evidence of procoagulant venom activity supporting previous suggestions that an initial thrombotic state occurs in envenomed patients. We have shown that venom toxins are able to be localised to specific tissues, in this case, venom was detected in the lung, kidney and muscle tissues of clinically envenomed animals. Future work will examine specific toxin localisation using monoclonal antibodies and identify if antivenom molecules are able to reach their target tissues
On a conjecture of Bennewitz, and the behaviour of the Titchmarsh-Weyl matrix near a pole
For any real limit- th-order selfadjoint linear differential
expression on , Titchmarsh- Weyl matrices
can be defined. Two matrices of particu lar interest are the
matrices and assoc iated respectively with
Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions at . These satisfy
. It is known that when these matrices
have poles (which can only lie on the real axis) the existence of valid HELP
inequalities depends on their behaviour in the neighbourhood of these poles. We
prove a conjecture of Bennewitz and use it, together with a new algorithm for
computing the Laurent expansion of a Titchmarsh-Weyl matrix in the
neighbourhood of a pole, to investigate the existence of HELP inequalities for
a number of differential equations which have so far proved awkward to analys
The Hyperfine Molecular Hubbard Hamiltonian
An ultracold gas of heteronuclear alkali dimer molecules with hyperfine
structure loaded into a one-dimensional optical lattice is investigated. The
\emph{Hyperfine Molecular Hubbard Hamiltonian} (HMHH), an effective low-energy
lattice Hamiltonian, is derived from first principles. The large permanent
electric dipole moment of these molecules gives rise to long range
dipole-dipole forces in a DC electric field and allows for transitions between
rotational states in an AC microwave field. Additionally, a strong magnetic
field can be used to control the hyperfine degrees of freedom independently of
the rotational degrees of freedom. By tuning the angle between the DC electric
and magnetic fields and the strength of the AC field it is possible to control
the number of internal states involved in the dynamics as well as the degree of
correlation between the spatial and internal degrees of freedom. The HMHH's
unique features have direct experimental consequences such as quantum
dephasing, tunable complexity, and the dependence of the phase diagram on the
molecular state
Dark energy from scalar field with Gauss Bonnet and non-minimal kinetic coupling
We study a model of scalar field with a general non-minimal kinetic coupling
to itself and to the curvature, and additional coupling to the Gauss Bonnet
4-dimensional invariant. The model presents rich cosmological dynamics and some
of its solutions are analyzed. A variety of scalar fields and potentials giving
rise to power-law expansion have been found. The dynamical equation of state is
studied for two cases, with and without free kinetic term . In both cases
phenomenologically acceptable solutions have been found. Some solutions
describe essentially dark energy behavior, and and some solutions contain the
decelerated and accelerated phases.Comment: 21 page
X-ray Emission from Magnetically Torqued Disks of Oe/Be Stars
We focus attention on the Oe/Be stars to test the concept that the disks of
these stars form by magnetic channeling of wind material toward the equator.
Calculations are made of the X-rays expected from the Magnetically Torqued Disk
(MTD) model for Be stars discussed by Cassinelli et al. (2002), by Maheswaran
(2003), and by Brown et al. (2004). The dominant parameters in the model are
the value of the velocity law, the rotation rate of the star, ,
and the ratio of the magnetic field energy density to the disk gravitational
energy density, .
The model predictions are compared with the observations obtained for
an O9.5 star Oph from \Berghofer et al. (1996) and for 7 Be stars from
Cohen et al. (1997). Extra considerations are also given here to the well
studied Oe star Oph for which we have observations of the
X-ray line profiles of the triad of He-like lines from the ion Mg XI.Comment: 28 pages with 6 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
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