65 research outputs found
Weighted Fixed Points in Self-Similar Analysis of Time Series
The self-similar analysis of time series is generalized by introducing the
notion of scenario probabilities. This makes it possible to give a complete
statistical description for the forecast spectrum by defining the average
forecast as a weighted fixed point and by calculating the corresponding a
priori standard deviation and variance coefficient. Several examples of
stock-market time series illustrate the method.Comment: two additional references are include
Cancer cell differentiation heterogeneity and aggressive behavior in solid tumors
The differentiation stage of tumors is a central aspect in the histopathological classification of solid malignancies. The differentiation stage is strongly associated with tumor behavior, and generally an immature tumor is more aggressive than the more differentiated counterpart. While this is common knowledge in surgical pathology, the contribution of differentiation-related gene expression and functions to tumor behavior is often overlooked in the experimental, tumor biological setting. The mechanisms by which tumor cell differentiation stages are perturbed or affected are poorly explored but have recently come into focus with the introduction.of the tumor stem cell concept. While developmental biologists view the differentiation as a unidirectional event, pathologists and tumor biologists have introduced the concept of dedifferentiation to explain phenotypic changes occurring in solid tumors. In this review we discuss the impact of the tumor cell differentiation stage as used in surgical pathology. We further discuss knowledge gained from exploring the molecular basis of the differentiation and dedifferentiation processes in neuroblastoma and breast cancer, two tumor forms where the tumor cell differentiation concept is used in the clinical diagnostic work and where the tumor stem cell theory has been applied
A prospective study of asthma incidence and its predictors: the RHINE study.
To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional LinkThe objective of this longitudinal study was to estimate the incidence rate of asthma, and to compare the incidence between subjects with or without baseline reporting of certain respiratory symptoms. A follow-up of the random population samples in the European Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Estonia was conducted in 1999-2001, in a population aged 30-54 yrs at follow-up (n=14,731). Asthma was defined as reporting either asthma or physician-diagnosed asthma, and a reported year when asthma symptoms were first noticed. Incidence rates, incidence rate ratios and hazard ratios were calculated with 95% confidence intervals. The incidence rate of asthma was 2.2 cases per 1,000 person-yrs. The incidence was higher among females (2.9 cases.1,000 person-yrs(-1)) than among males (1.5 cases.1,000 person-yrs(-1)). When subjects with baseline reporting of wheezing were excluded, the incidence rate decreased to 1.7 cases.1,000 person-yrs(-1), with a further decrease to 1.5 cases.1,000 person-yrs(-1) after exclusion of subjects with wheezing, nocturnal dyspnoea, chest tightness and cough. There was a strong association between onset of asthma and wheezing at baseline. In this prospective, population-based study, the incidence rate of asthma in the whole population sample ranged 1.5-2.2.1,000 person-yrs(-1), with a higher incidence range among females. The incidence was dependent on the extent to which subjects with respiratory symptoms were excluded from follow-up. Hence, for comparability between studies, the exclusion criteria in the follow-up population must be stated
Energy landscapes in random systems, driven interfaces and wetting
We discuss the zero-temperature susceptibility of elastic manifolds with
quenched randomness. It diverges with system size due to low-lying local
minima. The distribution of energy gaps is deduced to be constant in the limit
of vanishing gaps by comparing numerics with a probabilistic argument. The
typical manifold response arises from a level-crossing phenomenon and implies
that wetting in random systems begins with a discrete transition. The
associated ``jump field'' scales as and for
(1+1) and (2+1) dimensional manifolds with random bond disorder.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let
Dragon-kings: mechanisms, statistical methods and empirical evidence
This introductory article presents the special Discussion and Debate volume
"From black swans to dragon-kings, is there life beyond power laws?" published
in Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics in May 2012. We summarize and put in
perspective the contributions into three main themes: (i) mechanisms for
dragon-kings, (ii) detection of dragon-kings and statistical tests and (iii)
empirical evidence in a large variety of natural and social systems. Overall,
we are pleased to witness significant advances both in the introduction and
clarification of underlying mechanisms and in the development of novel
efficient tests that demonstrate clear evidence for the presence of
dragon-kings in many systems. However, this positive view should be balanced by
the fact that this remains a very delicate and difficult field, if only due to
the scarcity of data as well as the extraordinary important implications with
respect to hazard assessment, risk control and predictability.Comment: 20 page
Effects of the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid on Notch signalling in human neuroblastoma cells
Neuroblastoma (NB), a sympathetically derived childhood tumour, shows characteristics of neuronal precursor cells, suggesting a halted differentiation process. We have previously shown that the Notch signalling cascade, a key player during normal neurogenesis, also might be involved in NB differentiation. Valproic acid (VPA), a well-tolerated antiepileptic drug, has been shown to induce differentiation and cell death of NB cells, possibly associated with its recently described HDAC inhibiting activity. Stimulation of NB cells with VPA led to increased cell death and phenotypic changes associated with differentiation, that is, neurite extension and upregulation of neuronal markers. VPA treatment also led to an activated Notch signalling cascade as shown by increased levels of intracellular Notch-1 and Hes-1, mimicking the initial phase of induced differentiation. These results reinforce that VPA potentially could be used in differentiation therapy of NB and that the effects in part could be a consequence of interference with the Notch signalling cascade
Allergotoxicology: Research of Pollutant Influence on the Development of Allergic Reactions
Alergotoksikologija je znanstvenoistraĆŸivaÄko podruÄje koje se bavi ispitivanjem utjecaja polutanata (oneÄiĆĄÄivaÄa zraka) na nastanak alergijskih reakcija i bolesti. Ispitivanja su prvobitno bila usmjerena na polutante vanjskih prostora, a u novije vrijeme sve viĆĄe na polutante unutarnjih prostora u kojima ljudi provode veÄinu vremena. Polutanti po svojoj prirodi mogu biti krute, tekuÄe ili plinovite Äestice, koje se razlikuju s obzirom na veliÄinu, sastav i izvor iz kojeg nastaju. S obzirom na izvor mogu biti bioloĆĄkog i
nebioloĆĄkog podrijetla. Polutanti koji su predmet suvremenih istraĆŸivanja s glediĆĄta nastanka alergijskih bolesti su respirabilne krute Äestice, ozon, duĆĄiÄni oksidi i bioaerosoli. Mehanizam djelovanja polutanata ovisi o veliÄini Äestica, njihovoj topljivosti i mjestu ulaska u organizam. DosadaĆĄnja ispitivanja su pokazala
da razliÄite Äestice uvjetuju razliÄite imunosne i neimunosne odgovore u organizmu. Interakcija polutanata i alergena moĆŸe se zbivati izvan eksponirane osobe, tj. sa samim alergenom ili u eksponiranoj osobi na sluznicama i koĆŸi. Polutanti mogu biti nosioci alergena i mogu interferirati na razliÄitim nivoima u nastanku alergijske reakcije. U ovom prikazu razma raju se dosadaĆĄnja saznanja o mehanizmima djelovanja polutanata na alergene, na imunosni sustav izloĆŸenih osoba na osnovi epidemioloĆĄkih populacijskih istraĆŸivanja, kliniÄkih studija ekspozcije u kontroliranim uvjetima i eksperimentalnih testnih sistema in vivo i in vitro.Allergotoxicology studies the infl uence of pollutants on the development of allergic reactions and diseases. At the beginning, the research was focused on outdoor air pollutants, while recently it turns to the indoor environment, mainly because people this is where people spend most of their time. Air pollutants may be solid, soluble, or gaseous particles in nature, and they can differ in size, structure, and sources. Pollutants can be of biological or nonbiological origin. Currently interesting air pollutants include particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and bioaerosols. The mechanisms of pollutant activity depend on the particle size, solubility, site of deposition, and specifi c chemical properties. Recent studies have shown that different pollutants provoke different immunological and nonimmunological responses in exposed persons. Interaction between air pollutants and allergens can take place outside the exposed person i.e. with allergen itself, or inside the organism on mucous membranes and skin. Pollutants may be the carriers of allergens and may exacerbate allergic reactions and diseases. This review presents recent views about the mechanisms of pollutant activity on allergens and immune system response in exposed persons, based on epidemiological population studies, clinical studies of exposure under controlled conditions, and experimental tests in vitro and in vivo
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