1,021 research outputs found
Randomly Evolving Idiotypic Networks: Structural Properties and Architecture
We consider a minimalistic dynamic model of the idiotypic network of
B-lymphocytes. A network node represents a population of B-lymphocytes of the
same specificity (idiotype), which is encoded by a bitstring. The links of the
network connect nodes with complementary and nearly complementary bitstrings,
allowing for a few mismatches. A node is occupied if a lymphocyte clone of the
corresponding idiotype exists, otherwise it is empty. There is a continuous
influx of new B-lymphocytes of random idiotype from the bone marrow.
B-lymphocytes are stimulated by cross-linking their receptors with
complementary structures. If there are too many complementary structures,
steric hindrance prevents cross-linking. Stimulated cells proliferate and
secrete antibodies of the same idiotype as their receptors, unstimulated
lymphocytes die.
Depending on few parameters, the autonomous system evolves randomly towards
patterns of highly organized architecture, where the nodes can be classified
into groups according to their statistical properties. We observe and describe
analytically the building principles of these patterns, which allow to
calculate number and size of the node groups and the number of links between
them. The architecture of all patterns observed so far in simulations can be
explained this way. A tool for real-time pattern identification is proposed.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, 4 table
Colesevelam hydrochloride: reducing atherosclerotic coronary heart disease risk factors
Colesevelam HCl is a bile acid sequestrant (BAS) which has been specifically designed with a unique structure for the purpose of improving tolerability and reducing potential drug interactions compared to older BAS, such as cholestyramine and colestipol. As a class, BAS are known to reduce cholesterol and glucose levels, and to reduce atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (CHD) risk as monotherapy, and in combination with other lipid-altering drug therapies. Colesevelam HCl has specifically been shown to reduce total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, and has been approved as a cholesterol-lowering drug since year 2000. It has also been shown to reduce glucose levels. This discussion reviews mechanisms by which BAS lower cholesterol, and potential mechanisms by which BAS lower glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Finally this paper specifically reviews colesevelam HCl’s pharmacology, lipid and glucose efficacy, safety/tolerability, and clinical use
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Coccidioidomycosis Complement Fixation Titer Trends in the Age of Antifungals.
Coccidioidomycosis is associated with a broad spectrum of illness severity, ranging from asymptomatic or self-limited pulmonary infection to life-threatening manifestations of disseminated disease. Serologic studies before the widespread availability of antifungals established current understanding of serologic kinetics and dynamics. Chart histories and complement fixation (CF) titer trends were analyzed for 434 antifungal-treated coccidioidomycosis patients, who were classified by three infectious disease physicians as having either pulmonary uncomplicated coccidioidomycosis (PUC) (n = 248), pulmonary chronic coccidioidomycosis (PCC) (n = 64), disseminated coccidioidomycosis (DC) not including meningitis (n = 86), or coccidioidal meningitis (CM) (n = 36). The median maximal CF titers were 1:4 for PUC patients, 1:24 for PCC patients, 1:128 for DC patients, and 1:32 for CM patients. Approximately 25.4% of PUC patients, 6.2% of PCC patients, 2.3% of DC patients, and 8.3% of CM patients did not develop detectable titers during the study period. Maximal titers developed a mean of 31 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 13 to 50 days) after initial serologic positivity, with no significant differences between groups. Serologic recurrence occurred in 9% of PUC patients, 36% of PCC patients, 50% of DC patients, and 52% of CM patients. Median titer improvement rates were 91 days/dilution for PUC patients, 112 days/dilution for PCC patients, 136 days/dilution for DC patients, and 146 days/dilution for CM patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that CF testing retains moderate classification value for disseminated infections (area under the curve [AUC], 0.82 [95% CI, 0.78 to 0.87]) and complicated infections (AUC, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.77 to 0.86]). A suitable cutoff value for complicated infections is ≥1:32. Findings update serologic parameters that are relevant for clinical assessment of coccidioidomycosis patients in the triazole era
Nature and Provincial Political Authority in Late Ch'ing Times: Chang Chih-tung in Canton, 1884-1889
Reprinted from Modern Asian Studies, (Vol 4/4) October 1970
A Two-Player Game of Life
We present a new extension of Conway's game of life for two players, which we
call p2life. P2life allows one of two types of token, black or white, to
inhabit a cell, and adds competitive elements into the birth and survival rules
of the original game. We solve the mean-field equation for p2life and determine
by simulation that the asymptotic density of p2life approaches 0.0362.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure
Combinatorial structures in loops
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46265/1/209_2005_Article_BF01221880.pd
Numerical and graphical description of all axis crossing regions for moduli 4
Let πb,c(x) denote the number of primes ≤x and ≡c(modb), and for positive integers x let Δb(x,c,l)=πb,c(x)−πb,l(x). Negative values of Δ4(x,3,1) less than 1012 occur in six widely spaced regions. The first three regions, investigated by Leech [6], Shanks [9] and Lehmer [6 ], contain only a few thousand negative values of Δ4(x,3,1). However, the authors [1] have recently discovered 3 new regions, the sixth occurring before 20 billion and containing more than half a billion negative values of Δ4(x,3,1). In this paper numerical and graphical details of all six regions are given. Moreover, new results for the modulus 8 are presented. Previously, no negative values have been found for Δ8(x,c,1), c=3,5, or 7 and our search to 1012 reveals no such values for Δ8(x,3,1) or Δ8(x,7,1). For Δ8(x,5,1) we have discovered the first two regions of negative values. The first of these regions, beginning at x=588067889, contains 422,500 negative values of Δ8(x,5,1); the second occurs in the vicinity of 35 billion and contains more than a billion negative values of Δ8(x,5,1)
Localization dynamics in a binary two-dimensional cellular automaton: the Diffusion Rule
We study a two-dimensional cellular automaton (CA), called Diffusion Rule
(DR), which exhibits diffusion-like dynamics of propagating patterns. In
computational experiments we discover a wide range of mobile and stationary
localizations (gliders, oscillators, glider guns, puffer trains, etc), analyze
spatio-temporal dynamics of collisions between localizations, and discuss
possible applications in unconventional computing.Comment: Accepted to Journal of Cellular Automat
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