A Bayesian analysis for censored Rayleigh model using a generalised hypergeometric prior

Based on a type II censored sample, Bayesian estimation for the scale parameter of the Rayleigh model is carried out under the assumption of the squared error loss function. A generalised hypergeometric distribution with its versatile shape of tails is introduced as a prior, and beta special cases are examined. A simulation study is carried out to investigate the sensitivity of four special cases of this beta prior family in terms of bias, frequentist coverage and mean square error and to determine their effect on robustness. Prediction bounds are derived for the lifetime of unused components using this beta prior family. A data set is used to illustrate and support some of the findings

Ant-infecting Ophiocordyceps genomes reveal a high diversity of potential behavioral manipulation genes and a possible major role for enterotoxins

Much can be gained from revealing the mechanisms fungal entomopathogens employ. Especially intriguing are fungal parasites that manipulate insect behavior because, presumably, they secrete a wealth of bioactive compounds. To gain more insight into their strategies, we compared the genomes of five ant-infecting Ophiocordyceps species from three species complexes. These species were collected across three continents, from five different ant species in which they induce different levels of manipulation. A considerable number of (small) secreted and pathogenicity-related proteins were only found in these ant-manipulating Ophiocordyceps species, and not in other ascomycetes. However, few of those proteins were conserved among them, suggesting that several different methods of behavior modification have evolved. This is further supported by a relatively fast evolution of previously reported candidate manipulation genes associated with biting behavior. Moreover, secondary metabolite clusters, activated during biting behavior, appeared conserved within a species complex, but not beyond. The independent co-evolution between these manipulating parasites and their respective hosts might thus have led to rather diverse strategies to alter behavior. Our data indicate that specialized, secreted enterotoxins may play a major role in one of these strategies

Focusing on the Fixed Point of 4D Simplicial Gravity

Our earlier renormalization group analysis of simplicial gravity is extended. A high statistics study of the volume and coupling constant dependence of the cumulants of the node distribution is carried out. It appears that the phase transition of the theory is of first order, contrary to what is generally believed.Comment: Latex, 20 pages, 6 postscript figures, published versio

Patient Acceptability of the Yorkshire Dialysis Decision Aid (YoDDA) Booklet: A Prospective Non-Randomized Comparison Study Across 6 Predialysis Services

Background: Patients are satisfied with their kidney care but want more support in making dialysis choices. Predialysis leaflets vary across services, with few being sufficient to enable patients’ informed decision making. We describe the acceptability of a patient decision aid and feasibility of evaluating its effectiveness within usual predialysis practice. Methods: Prospective non-randomized comparison design, Usual Care or Usual Care Plus Yorkshire Dialysis Decision Aid Booklet (+YoDDA), in 6 referral centers (Yorkshire-Humber, UK) for patients with sustained deterioration of kidney function. Consenting (C) patients completed questionnaires after predialysis consultation (T1), and 6 weeks later (T2). Measures assessed YoDDA’s utility to support patients’ decisions and integration within usual care. Results: Usual Care (n = 105) and +YoDDA (n = 84) participant characteristics were similar: male (62%), white (94%), age (mean = 62.6; standard deviation [SD] 14.4), kidney disease severity (glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] mean = 14.7; SD 3.7); decisional conflict was <25; choice-preference for home versus hospital dialysis approximately 50:50. Patients valued receiving YoDDA, reading it on their own (96%), and sharing it with family (72%). +YoDDA participants had higher scores for understanding kidney disease, reasoning about options, feeling in control, sharing their decision with family. Study engagement varied by center (estimated range 14 – 49%; mean 45%); participants varied in completion of decision quality measures. Conclusions: Receiving YoDDA as part of predialysis education was valued and useful to patients with worsening kidney disease. Integrating YoDDA actively within predialysis programs will meet clinical guidelines and patient need to support dialysis decision making in the context of patients’ lifestyle

First Test of Lorentz Invariance in the Weak Decay of Polarized Nuclei

A new test of Lorentz invariance in the weak interactions has been made by searching for variations in the decay rate of spin-polarized 20Na nuclei. This test is unique to Gamow-Teller transitions, as was shown in the framework of a recently developed theory that assumes a Lorentz symmetry breaking background field of tensor nature. The nuclear spins were polarized in the up and down direction, putting a limit on the amplitude of sidereal variations of the form |(\Gamma_{up} - \Gamma_{down})| / (\Gamma_{up} + \Gamma_{down}) < 3 * 10^{-3}. This measurement shows a possible route toward a more detailed testing of Lorentz symmetry in weak interactions.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure

Measuring environmental health status in Oukasie, 1987

This article reports on some aspects of the physical environment and on envirorvnental health services at Oukasie. The data were collected over a weekend in August 1987 by an interview and by direct inspection of the environment using a standard schedule. We had a 100% response rate on the interviews. There was a mean of 2,2 ± 1,6 persons per room in the households, with brick houses being less crowded than non-brick houses. Private yards were generally kept very clean. Bucket latrines were unhygienic and used by an average of 4 families. No latrine was built to accepted standards. Garbage collection and emptying of the bucket latrines by the municipality seemed to be unsatisfactory. Our overall impression was that where responsibility for maintenance of hygiene is either undefined, such as the collection chambers of bucket latrines, or a responsibility of the public authorities, such as garbage collection and water drainage, there is an unsatisfactory state of hygiene. Where maintenance of cleanlness is clearly a private responsibility, such as the maintenance of the cleanliness of private yards, the general status of hygiene is good

Sensitivity to New Physics of Isotope Shift Studies using the Coronal Lines of Highly Charged Calcium Ions

Promising searches for new physics beyond the current Standard Model (SM) of particle physics are feasible through isotope-shift spectroscopy, which is sensitive to a hypothetical fifth force between the neutrons of the nucleus and the electrons of the shell. Such an interaction would be mediated by a new particle which could in principle be associated with dark matter. In so-called King plots, the mass-scaled frequency shifts of two optical transitions are plotted against each other for a series of isotopes. Subtle deviations from the expected linearity could reveal such a fifth force. Here, we study experimentally and theoretically six transitions in highly charged ions of Ca, an element with five stable isotopes of zero nuclear spin. Some of the transitions are suitable for upcoming high-precision coherent laser spectroscopy and optical clocks. Our results provide a sufficient number of clock transitions for -- in combination with those of singly charged Ca$^+$ -- application of the generalized King plot method. This will allow future high-precision measurements to remove higher-order SM-related nonlinearities and open a new door to yet more sensitive searches for unknown forces and particles

Immunoproteasome-Deficiency Has No Effects on NK Cell Education, but Confers Lymphocytes into Targets for NK Cells in Infected Wild-Type Mice

Natural killer (NK) cells are part of the innate immune system and contribute to the eradication of virus infected cells and tumors. NK cells express inhibitory and activating receptors and their decision to kill a target cell is based on the balance of signals received through these receptors. MHC class I molecules are recognized by inhibitory receptors, and their presence during NK cell education influences the responsiveness of peripheral NK cells. We here demonstrate that mice with reduced MHC class I cell surface expression, due to deficiency of immunoproteasomes, have responsive NK cells in the periphery, indicating that the lower MHC class I levels do not alter NK cell education. Following adoptive transfer into wild-type (wt) recipients, immunoproteasome-deficient splenocytes are tolerated in naive but rejected in virus-infected recipients, in an NK cell dependent fashion. These results indicate that the relatively low MHC class I levels are sufficient to protect these cells from rejection by wt NK cells, but that this tolerance is broken in infection, inducing an NK cell-dependent rejection of immunoproteasome-deficient cells