A Connection between Paired Data Analysis and Regression Analysis for Estimating Sales Adjustments

The two methods most often recommended for obtaining market-derived adjustments utilized in the sales comparison approach to appraisal are Paired Data Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis. These approaches are viewed as competing alternatives, with advocates and detractors for each. The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that these two alternatives to estimating sales adjustments are equivalent under certain circumstances. This point of equivalence may prove to be a useful starting place for improving our understanding of the differences between and similarities of the two methods. After explaining the data requirements of each method, we provide a set of sufficient conditions under which the two methods produce identical adjustment estimates. We finish with a discussion ofrelative advantages and disadvantages of these two methods in estimating sale comparison adjustments.

Lipopolysaccharide and toll-like receptor 4 in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts

Surgical attenuation of a congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS) results in increased portal vein perfusion, liver growth and clinical improvement. Portal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is implicated in liver regeneration via toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 mediated cytokine activation. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with LPS in dogs with CPSS. Plasma LPS concentrations were measured in the peripheral and portal blood using a limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. LPS concentration was significantly greater in the portal blood compared to peripheral blood in dogs with CPSS (P = 0.046) and control dogs (P = 0.002). LPS concentrations in the peripheral (P = 0.012) and portal (P = 0.005) blood of dogs with CPSS were significantly greater than those of control dogs. The relative mRNA expression of cytokines and TLRs was measured in liver biopsies from dogs with CPSS using quantitative PCR. TLR4 expression significantly increased following partial CPSS attenuation (P = 0.020). TLR4 expression was significantly greater in dogs that tolerated complete CPSS attenuation (P = 0.011) and those with good portal blood flow on pre-attenuation (P = 0.004) and post-attenuation (P = 0.015) portovenography. Serum interleukin (IL)-6 concentration was measured using a canine specific ELISA and significantly increased 24 h following CPSS attenuation (P < 0.001). Portal LPS was increased in dogs with CPSS, consistent with decreased hepatic clearance. TLR4 mRNA expression was significantly associated with portal blood flow and increased following surgery. These findings support the concept that portal LPS delivery is important in the hepatic response to surgical attenuation. Serum IL-6 significantly increased following surgery, consistent with LPS stimulation via TLR4, although this increase might be non-specific

An Empirical Investigation of Four Market-Derived Adjustment Methods

This study uses published data on 422 market sales of FHA/VA insured/guaranteed houses to examine and compare four methods of estimating market-derived adjustment values to be employed in the sales comparison appraisal approach. These four adjustment methods are variations and combinations of matched pair and multiple regression analysis. Two major conclusions drawn from the results are: (1) regression on matched pair data set is equivalent to matched pair analysis using regression coefficients as secondary adjustments and produces the same primary adjustment estimate for the feature of interest, and (2) even under relatively ideal circumstances, market-derived adjustments contain a high degree of uncertainty.

Mobile phone etiquette: a cross-national comparison

As a social medium, mobile telephony permits ubiquitous communication. This has led to concerns about the intrusiveness of the medium, which in turn has seen the development of a social etiquette governing mobile phone use. This study of Australian and US tertiary students showed that there was widespread but not universal agreement that usage was inappropriate in places of worship, classrooms and libraries or while driving a car. Australians were more tolerant of mobile usage than Americans in most situations, apart from driving. SMS was more broadly tolerated, including in class and in cinemas.<br /