75 research outputs found
Higher Order Analogues of Tracy-Widom Distributions via the Lax Method
We study the distribution of the largest eigenvalue in formal Hermitian
one-matrix models at multicriticality, where the spectral density acquires an
extra number of k-1 zeros at the edge. The distributions are directly expressed
through the norms of orthogonal polynomials on a semi-infinite interval, as an
alternative to using Fredholm determinants. They satisfy non-linear recurrence
relations which we show form a Lax pair, making contact to the string
literature in the early 1990's. The technique of pseudo-differential operators
allows us to give compact expressions for the logarithm of the gap probability
in terms of the Painleve XXXIV hierarchy. These are the higher order analogues
of the Tracy-Widom distribution which has k=1. Using known Backlund
transformations we show how to simplify earlier equivalent results that are
derived from Fredholm determinant theory, valid for even k in terms of the
Painleve II hierarchy.Comment: 24 pages. Improved discussion of Backlund transformations, in
addition to other minor improvements in text. Typos corrected. Matches
published versio
Stakeholder Theory and Marketing: Moving from a Firm-Centric to a Societal Perspective
This essay is inspired by the ideas and research examined in the special section on âStakeholder Marketingâ of the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing in 2010. The authors argue that stakeholder marketing is slowly coalescing with the broader thinking that has occurred in the stakeholder management and ethics literature streams during the past quarter century. However, the predominant view of stakeholders that many marketers advocate is still primarily pragmatic and company centric. The position advanced herein is that stronger forms of stakeholder marketing that reflect more normative, macro/societal, and network-focused orientations are necessary. The authors briefly explain and justify these characteristics in the context of the growing âprosocietyâ and âproenvironmentâ perspectivesâorientations that are also in keeping with the public policy focus of this journal. Under the âhard formâ of stakeholder theory, which the authors endorse, marketing managers must realize that serving stakeholders sometimes requires sacrificing maximum profits to mitigate outcomes that would inflict major damage on other stakeholders, especially society
The Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 Early Release Science data: Panchromatic Faint Object Counts for 0.2-2 microns wavelength
We describe the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) Early
Release Science (ERS) observations in the Great Observatories Origins Deep
Survey (GOODS) South field. The new WFC3 ERS data provide calibrated, drizzled
mosaics in the UV filters F225W, F275W, and F336W, as well as in the near-IR
filters F098M (Ys), F125W (J), and F160W (H) with 1-2 HST orbits per filter.
Together with the existing HST Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) GOODS-South
mosaics in the BViz filters, these panchromatic 10-band ERS data cover 40-50
square arcmin at 0.2-1.7 {\mu}m in wavelength at 0.07-0.15" FWHM resolution and
0.090" Multidrizzled pixels to depths of AB\simeq 26.0-27.0 mag (5-{\sigma})
for point sources, and AB\simeq 25.5-26.5 mag for compact galaxies.
In this paper, we describe: a) the scientific rationale, and the data taking
plus reduction procedures of the panchromatic 10-band ERS mosaics; b) the
procedure of generating object catalogs across the 10 different ERS filters,
and the specific star-galaxy separation techniques used; and c) the reliability
and completeness of the object catalogs from the WFC3 ERS mosaics. The
excellent 0.07-0.15" FWHM resolution of HST/WFC3 and ACS makes star- galaxy
separation straightforward over a factor of 10 in wavelength to AB\simeq 25-26
mag from the UV to the near-IR, respectively.Comment: 51 pages, 71 figures Accepted to ApJS 2011.01.2
Targeting breast cancer stem cells
The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis postulates that tumors are maintained by a selfârenewing CSC population that is also capable of differentiating into nonâselfârenewing cell populations that constitute the bulk of the tumor. Although, the CSC hypothesis does not directly address the cell of origin of cancer, it is postulated that tissueâresident stem or progenitor cells are the most common targets of transformation. Clinically, CSCs are predicted to mediate tumor recurrence after chemoâ and radiationâtherapy due to the relative inability of these modalities to effectively target CSCs. If this is the case, then CSC must be efficiently targeted to achieve a true cure. Similarities between normal and malignant stem cells, at the levels of cellâsurface proteins, molecular pathways, cell cycle quiescence, and microRNA signaling present challenges in developing CSCâspecific therapeutics. Approaches to targeting CSCs include the development of agents targeting known stem cell regulatory pathways as well as unbiased highâthroughput siRNA or small molecule screening. Based on studies of pathways present in normal stem cells, recent work has identified potential âAchilles healsâ of CSC, whereas unbiased screening provides opportunities to identify new pathways utilized by CSC as well as develop potential therapeutic agents. Here, we review both approaches and their potential to effectively target breast CSC.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135704/1/mol2201045404.pd
Nem Refugiados, nem Migrantes: A Chegada dos Haitianos Ă Cidade de Tabatinga (Amazonas)
Effect of a Perioperative, Cardiac Output-Guided Hemodynamic Therapy Algorithm on Outcomes Following Major Gastrointestinal Surgery A Randomized Clinical Trial and Systematic Review
Importance: small trials suggest that postoperative outcomes may be improved by the use of cardiac output monitoring to guide administration of intravenous fluid and inotropic drugs as part of a hemodynamic therapy algorithm.Objective: to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a perioperative, cardiac outputâguided hemodynamic therapy algorithm.Design, setting, and participants: OPTIMISE was a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized, observer-blinded trial of 734 high-risk patients aged 50 years or older undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery at 17 acute care hospitals in the United Kingdom. An updated systematic review and meta-analysis were also conducted including randomized trials published from 1966 to February 2014.Interventions: patients were randomly assigned to a cardiac outputâguided hemodynamic therapy algorithm for intravenous fluid and inotrope (dopexamine) infusion during and 6 hours following surgery (n=368) or to usual care (n=366).Main outcomes and measures: the primary outcome was a composite of predefined 30-day moderate or major complications and mortality. Secondary outcomes were morbidity on day 7; infection, critical careâfree days, and all-cause mortality at 30 days; all-cause mortality at 180 days; and length of hospital stay.Results: baseline patient characteristics, clinical care, and volumes of intravenous fluid were similar between groups. Care was nonadherent to the allocated treatment for less than 10% of patients in each group. The primary outcome occurred in 36.6% of intervention and 43.4% of usual care participants (relative risk [RR], 0.84 [95% CI, 0.71-1.01]; absolute risk reduction, 6.8% [95% CI, ?0.3% to 13.9%]; P?=?.07). There was no significant difference between groups for any secondary outcomes. Five intervention patients (1.4%) experienced cardiovascular serious adverse events within 24 hours compared with none in the usual care group. Findings of the meta-analysis of 38 trials, including data from this study, suggest that the intervention is associated with fewer complications (intervention, 488/1548 [31.5%] vs control, 614/1476 [41.6%]; RR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.71-0.83]) and a nonsignificant reduction in hospital, 28-day, or 30-day mortality (intervention, 159/3215 deaths [4.9%] vs control, 206/3160 deaths [6.5%]; RR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.67-1.01]) and mortality at longest follow-up (intervention, 267/3215 deaths [8.3%] vs control, 327/3160 deaths [10.3%]; RR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.74-1.00]).Conclusions and relevance: in a randomized trial of high-risk patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery, use of a cardiac outputâguided hemodynamic therapy algorithm compared with usual care did not reduce a composite outcome of complications and 30-day mortality. However, inclusion of these data in an updated meta-analysis indicates that the intervention was associated with a reduction in complication rate
Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures
Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo
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