Logistic regression on Markov chains for crop rotation modelling.

Often, in dynamical systems, such as farmer's crop choices, the dynamics is driven by external non-stationary factors, such as rainfall, temperature, and economy. Such dynamics can be modelled by a non-stationary Markov chain, where the transition probabilities are logistic functions of such external factors. We investigate the problem of estimating the parameters of the logistic model from data, using conjugate analysis with a fairly broad class of priors, to accommodate scarcity of data and lack of strong prior expert opinions. We show how maximum likelihood methods can be used to get bounds on the posterior mode of the parameters

Thiamine deficiency and beriberi heart disease

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Aspirin Resistance in Cardiovascular Disease: A Review

AbstractBackground. Aspirin is effective at reducing the cardiovascular event rate in defined patient groups. The introduction of antiplatelet therapies other than aspirin and the concept of aspirin resistance have led to critical reappraisal of current treatment. This review aims to clarify the evidence for aspirin resistance in patients with atherosclerosis.Methods. Medline search was performed to identify publications concerned with antiplatelet effects of aspirin and failure of aspirin therapy. Manual cross referencing was also performed.Results and conclusion. Wide variations in the rate of aspirin resistance (5.5–75%) have been reported. The lack of consensus on an appropriate definition and the number of different tests used to investigate aspirin resistance needs to be addressed. There are few studies where the primary aim was to document aspirin resistance or aspirin non-response. Further work should aim to investigate if aspirin resistance is clinically important and, if it is, what treatments may be beneficial to the at risk patient

A robust Bayesian analysis of the impact of policy decisions on crop rotations.

We analyse the impact of a policy decision on crop rotations, using the imprecise land use model that was developed by the authors in earlier work. A specific challenge in crop rotation models is that farmer’s crop choices are driven by both policy changes and external non-stationary factors, such as rainfall, temperature and agricultural input and output prices. Such dynamics can be modelled by a non-stationary stochastic process, where crop transition probabilities are multinomial logistic functions of such external factors. We use a robust Bayesian approach to estimate the parameters of our model, and validate it by comparing the model response with a non-parametric estimate, as well as by cross validation. Finally, we use the resulting predictions to solve a hypothetical yet realistic policy problem

Whole egg consumption and cortical bone in healthy children

Eggs contain bioactive compounds thought to benefit pediatric bone. This cross-sectional study shows a positive link between childhood egg intake and radius cortical bone. If randomized trials confirm our findings, incorporating eggs into children's diets could have a significant impact in preventing childhood fractures and reducing the risk of osteoporosis. INTRODUCTION: This study examined the relationships between egg consumption and cortical bone in children. METHODS: The cross-sectional study design included 294 9-13-year-old black and white males and females. Three-day diet records determined daily egg consumption. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography measured radius and tibia cortical bone. Body composition and biomarkers of bone turnover were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS: Egg intake was positively correlated with radius and tibia cortical bone mineral content (Ct.BMC), total bone area, cortical area, cortical thickness, periosteal circumference, and polar strength strain index in unadjusted models (r = 0.144-0.224, all P < 0.050). After adjusting for differences in race, sex, maturation, fat-free soft tissue mass (FFST), and protein intakes, tibia relationships were nullified; however, egg intake remained positively correlated with radius Ct.BMC (r = 0.138, P = 0.031). Egg intake positively correlated with total body bone mineral density, BMC, and bone area in the unadjusted models only (r = 0.119-0.224; all P < 0.050). After adjusting for covariates, egg intake was a positive predictor of radius FFST (β = 0.113, P < 0.050) and FFST was a positive predictor of Ct.BMC (β = 0.556, P < 0.050) in path analyses. There was a direct influence of egg on radius Ct.BMC (β = 0.099, P = 0.035), even after adjusting for the mediator, FFST (β = 0.137, P = 0.020). Egg intake was positively correlated with osteocalcin in both the unadjusted (P = 0.005) and adjusted (P = 0.049) models. CONCLUSION: If the positive influence of eggs on Ct.BMC observed in this study is confirmed through future randomized controlled trials, whole eggs may represent a viable strategy to promote pediatric bone development and prevent fractures

Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide Linkage Studies in Celiac Disease.

OBJECTIVE: A meta-analysis of genome-wide linkage studies allows us to summarize the extensive information available from family-based studies, as the field moves into genome-wide association studies. METHODS: Here we apply the genome scan meta-analysis (GSMA) method, a rank-based, model-free approach, to combine results across eight independent genome-wide linkages performed on celiac disease (CD), including 554 families with over 1,500 affected individuals. We also investigate the agreement between signals we identified from this meta-analysis of linkage studies and those identified from genome-wide association analysis using a hypergeometric distribution. RESULTS: Not surprisingly, the most significant result was obtained in the HLA region. Outside the HLA region, suggestive evidence for linkage was obtained at the telomeric region of chromosome 10 (10q26.12-qter; p = 0.00366), and on chromosome 8 (8q22.2-q24.21; p = 0.00491). Testing signals of association and linkage within bins showed no significant evidence for co-localization of results. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis allowed us to pool the results from available genome-wide linkage studies and to identify novel regions potentially harboring predisposing genetic variation contributing to CD. This study also shows that linkage and association studies may identify different types of disease-predisposing variants

Other Bandungs: Afro-Asian Internationalisms in the Early Cold War

This essay introduces a special issue focused on "Other Bandungs," which moves away from the focus on the high diplomacy of the 1955 Bandung conference to examine other conferences and gatherings across the Afro-Asian world. These gatherings speak to a broader participation of activists, intellectuals, cultural figures, and political leaders in the Afro-Asian moment. This collection thus disrupts hard divisions between state and non-state and warring Cold War blocs, while pointing to the changing social dynamics of internationalism in the Afro-Asian world. This essay points to the material dimensions enhancing and undermining transnational activity, from air travel and passport restrictions to the political economy of conference financing and Cold War patronage. Taken together, this essay frames these articles as an interconnected story of the multiple pulls of cultural and intellectual traffic in the post-colonial era.NWO016.Veni.195.487Colonial and Global Histor

Introduction: the lives of Cold War Afro-Asianism

NWO016.Veni.195.487Colonial and Global Histor

The α2 HS glycoprotein receptor on lymphocytes transformed by Epstein—Barr virus

AbstractThe α2HS glycoprotein receptor form lymphocytes transformed by Epstein—Barr Virus was isolated by affinity chromatography. The protein receptor has a monomer Mr of 48 000, which is similar to the Epstein—Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA), and pI = 7.2. Like EBNA the 48 000 Mr component in unfractionated labelled detergent solubilised cell supernatants also binds DNA. These results may suggest some similarity between the α2HS receptor and EBNA