Shrinking a large dataset to identify variables associated with increased risk of Plasmodium falciparum infection in Western Kenya

Large datasets are often not amenable to analysis using traditional single-step approaches. Here, our general objective was to apply imputation techniques, principal component analysis (PCA), elastic net and generalized linear models to a large dataset in a systematic approach to extract the most meaningful predictors for a health outcome. We extracted predictors for Plasmodium falciparum infection, from a large covariate dataset while facing limited numbers of observations, using data from the People, Animals, and their Zoonoses (PAZ) project to demonstrate these techniques: data collected from 415 homesteads in western Kenya, contained over 1500 variables that describe the health, environment, and social factors of the humans, livestock, and the homesteads in which they reside. The wide, sparse dataset was simplified to 42 predictors of P. falciparum malaria infection and wealth rankings were produced for all homesteads. The 42 predictors make biological sense and are supported by previous studies. This systematic data-mining approach we used would make many large datasets more manageable and informative for decision-making processes and health policy prioritization

Excited States of Proton-bound DNA/RNA Base Homo-dimers: Pyrimidines

We are presenting the electronic photo fragment spectra of the protonated pyrimidine DNA bases homo-dimers. Only the thymine dimer exhibits a well structured vibrational progression, while protonated monomer shows broad vibrational bands. This shows that proton bonding can block some non radiative processes present in the monomer.Comment: We acknowledge the use of the computing facility cluster GMPCS of the LUMAT federation (FR LUMAT 2764

Vibrational spectra and structures of bare and Xe-tagged cationic Si_nO_m⁺ clusters

Vibrational spectra of Xe-tagged cationic silicon oxide clusters SinOm+ with n = 3–5 and m = n, n ± 1 in the gas phase are obtained by resonant infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. The SinOm+ clusters are produced in a laser vaporization ion source and Xe complexes are formed after thermalization to 100 K. The clusters are subsequently irradiated with tunable light from an IR free electron laser and changes in the mass distribution yield size-specific IR spectra. The measured IRMPD spectra are compared to calculated linear IR absorption spectra leading to structural assignments. For several clusters, Xe complexation alters the energetic order of the SinOm+ isomers. Common structural motifs include the Si2O2 rhombus, the Si3O2 pentagon, and the Si3O3 hexagon

Consumption & class in evolutionary macroeconomics

This article contributes to the field of evolutionary macroeconomics by highlighting the dynamic interlinkages between micro-meso-macro with a Veblenian meso foundation in an agent-based macroeconomic model. Consumption is dependent on endogenously changing social class and signaling, such as bandwagon, Veblen and snob effects. In particular, we test the macroeconomic effects of this meso foundation in a generic agent-based model of a closed artificial economy. The model is stock-flow consistent and builds upon local decision heuristics of heterogeneous agents characterized by bounded rationality and satisficing behavior. These agents include a multitude of households (workers and capitalists), firms, banks as well as a capital goods firm, a government and a central bank. Simulation experiments indicate coevolutionary dynamics between signaling-by-consuming and firm specialization that eventually effect employment and consumer prices, as well as other macroeconomic aggregates

De detectie van een laag prevalente infectie in het kader van een surveillance systeem

Adviezen en opmerkingen voor het project: 'validatie van serologische testen met het doel om de surveillance op Trichinella in Nederlandse slachtvarkens te optimaliseren

Extension of the particle x-ray coincidence technique: The lifetimes and branching ratios apparatus

The particle x-ray coincidence technique (PXCT) was originally developed to measure average lifetimes in the 10-17-10-15s range for proton-unbound states populated by electron capture (EC). We have designed and built the Lifetimes and Branching Ratios Apparatus (LIBRA) to be used in the stopped-beam area at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams that extends PXCT to measure lifetimes and decay branching ratios of resonances populated by EC/β+ decay. The first application of LIBRA aims to obtain essential nuclear data from Ga60EC/β+ decay to constrain the thermonuclear rates of the Cu59(p,γ)Zn60 and Cu59(p,α)Ni56 reactions, and in turn, the strength of the NiCu nucleosynthesis cycle, which is predicted to significantly impact the modeling of type I x-ray burst light curves and the composition of the burst ashes. Detailed theoretical calculations, Monte Carlo simulations, and performance tests with radioactive sources have been conducted to validate the feasibility of employing LIBRA for the Ga60 experiment. LIBRA can be utilized to measure most essential ingredients needed for charged-particle reaction rate calculations in a single experiment, in the absence of direct measurements, which are often impractical for radioactive reactants

Fate of non O157 Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli in ovine manure composting

Livestock manure may contain pathogenic microorganisms which pose a risk to thehealth of animal or humans if the manure is not adequately treated or disposed of. Todetermine the fate of Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) nonO157 in composted manure from naturally colonized sheep, fresh manure was obtainedfrom animals carrying bacterial cells with stx1/ stx2 genes. Two composting systems were used, aerated andnon-aerated, and the experiments were done in Dracena city, São Paulo State. Everyweek, for seven weeks, one manure sample from six different points in both systemwas collected and cultured to determine the presence of E. coli, thepresence of the virulence genes in the cells, and also the susceptibility to 10antimicrobial drugs. The temperature was verified at each sampling. STEC non-O157survived for 49 days in both composting systems. E. coli non-STECshowing a high degree of antibiotic resistance was recovered all long the compostingperiod. No relationship was established between the presence of virulence genes andantibiotic resistance. The presence of virulence genes and multiple antibioticresistances in E. coli implicates a potential risk for these genespread in the human food chain, which is a reason for concern.Esterco de animais de criação pode conter microrganismos patogênicos, o querepresenta um risco para a saúde animal e a humana se o esterco não for adequadamentetratado ou descartado. Determinou-se o tempo necessário para a eliminação de Escherichia coli Shiga toxigenica (STEC) não O157 em estercoovino composto, obtido de fezes frescas de ovelhas naturalmente colonizadas com cepaSTEC não O157 que apresentavam os genes stx1/ stx2. Foram utilizados dois sistemas decompostagem, aerado e não aerado, em experimentos realizados na cidade de Dracena,estado de São Paulo. Todas as semanas, durante sete semanas, uma amostra decompostagem proveniente de seis pontos diferentes na leira, nos dois sistemas, foicoletada e semeada para a determinação da presença de E. coli, dapresença de genes de virulência nas células, bem como da sensibilidade dessas célulaa 10 drogas antimicrobianas. Em cada amostragem, a temperatura da leira foianalisada. Células de STEC não O157 sobreviveram por 49 dias nos dois sistemas decompostagem. E. coli não STEC com um alto grau de resistência aantibióticos foi recuperada ao longo de todo o período de compostagem. Não foipossível estabelecer relação entre a presença de genes de virulência e a resistênciaa antibióticos. A presença de genes de virulência e a resistência a múltiploantibióticos em E. coli representam um risco potencial para oespalhamento desses genes na cadeia alimentar humana, o que é motivo de grandepreocupação.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade de São Paulo - FORPUniversidade Estadual Paulista-Unesp FCAVUnespFCAV-UnespUniversidade Estadual Paulista-Unesp FCAVUnespFCAV-UnespFAPESP: 2008/00434-

Microsecond Isomer at the N=20 Island of Shape Inversion Observed at FRIB

Excited-state spectroscopy from the first Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) experiment is reported. A 24(2)-$\mu$s isomer was observed with the FRIB Decay Station initiator (FDSi) through a cascade of 224- and 401-keV $\gamma$ rays in coincidence with $^{32}\textrm{Na}$ nuclei. This is the only known microsecond isomer ($1{\text{ }\mu\text{s}}\leq T_{1/2} < 1\text{ ms}$) in the region. This nucleus is at the heart of the $N=20$ island of shape inversion and is at the crossroads of spherical shell-model, deformed shell-model, and ab initio theories. It can be represented as the coupling of a proton hole and neutron particle to $^{32}\textrm{Mg}$, $^{32}\textrm{Mg}+\pi^{-1} + \nu^{+1}$. This odd-odd coupling and isomer formation provides a sensitive measure of the underlying shape degrees of freedom of $^{32}\textrm{Mg}$, where the onset of spherical-to-deformed shape inversion begins with a low-lying deformed $2^+$ state at 885 keV and a low-lying shape-coexisting $0_2^+$ state at 1058 keV. We suggest two possible explanations for the 625-keV isomer in $^{32}$Na: a $6^-$ spherical shape isomer that decays by $E2$ or a $0^+$ deformed spin isomer that decays by $M2$. The present results and calculations are most consistent with the latter, indicating that the low-lying states are dominated by deformation.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Physical Review Letter