2,829 research outputs found
Parametric modeling of photometric signals
This paper studies a new model for photometric signals under high flux assumption. Photometric signals are modeled by Gaussian autoregressive processes having the same mean and variance denoted Constraint Gaussian Autoregressive Processes (CGARP's). The estimation of the CGARP parameters is discussed. The CramĂ©r Rao lower bounds for these parameters are studied and compared to the estimator mean square errors. The CGARP is intended to model the signal received by a satellite designed for extrasolar planets detection. A transit of a planet in front of a star results in an abrupt change in the mean and variance of the CGARP. The NeymanâPearson detector for this changepoint detection problem is derived when the abrupt change parameters are known. Closed form expressions for the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) are provided. The NeymanâPearson detector combined with the maximum likelihood estimator for CGARP parameters allows to study the generalized likelihood ratio detector. ROC curves are then determined using computer simulations
CramerâRao lower bounds for change points in additive and multiplicative noise
The paper addresses the problem of determining the CramerâRao lower bounds (CRLBs) for noise and change-point parameters, for steplike signals corrupted by multiplicative and/or additive white noise. Closed-form expressions for the signal and noise CRLBs are first derived for an ideal step with a known change point. For an unknown change-point, the noise-free signal is modeled by a sigmoidal function parametrized by location and step rise parameters. The noise and step change CRLBs corresponding to this model are shown to be well approximated by the more tractable expressions derived for a known change-point. The paper also shows that the step location parameter is asymptotically decoupled from the other parameters, which allows us to derive simple CRLBs for the step location. These bounds are then compared with the corresponding mean square errors of the maximum likelihood estimators in the pure multiplicative case. The comparison illustrates convergence and efficiency of the ML estimator. An extension to colored multiplicative noise is also discussed
Bivariate Gamma Distributions for Image Registration and Change Detection
This paper evaluates the potential interest of using bivariate gamma distributions for image registration and change detection. The first part of this paper studies estimators for the parameters of bivariate gamma distributions based on the maximum likelihood principle and the method of moments. The performance of both methods are compared in terms of estimated mean square errors and theoretical asymptotic variances. The mutual information is a classical similarity measure which can be used for image registration or change detection. The second part of the paper studies some properties of the mutual information for bivariate Gamma distributions. Image registration and change detection techniques based on bivariate gamma distributions are finally investigated. Simulation results conducted on synthetic and real data are very encouraging. Bivariate gamma distributions are good candidates allowing us to develop new image registration algorithms and new change detectors
Po-production in lead: A benchmark between Geant4, FLUKA and MCNPX
On the last SATIF a comparison between the measured activities of the
polonium isotopes Po-208, Po-209 and Po-210 and the simulated results using
MCNPX2.7.0 was presented. The lead samples were cut from the SINQ spallation
target at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) and irradiated in 2000/2001 by 575
MeV protons. The Po-isotopes were separated using radiochemical methods by the
group of D. Schumann at PSI and measured. Choosing the default model in MCNPX,
Bertini-Dresner, the prediction underestimated the measured activities by up to
several orders of magnitude. Therefore the Li\`ege intranuclear-cascade model
(INCL4.6) coupled to the de-excitation model ABLA07 were implemented into
MCNPX2.7.0 and very good agreement was found to the measurement. The reason for
the disagreement was traced back to a suppression of alpha reactions on the
lead isotopes leading to Po and neglecting the triton capture on Pb-208, which
leads to Pb-210 and decays into Po-210 with a much longer life time (22.3
years) than the decay of Po-210 itself (138 days). The prediction of the
Po-isotope activities turns out to be a sensitive test for models and codes as
it requires the accurate treatment of reaction channels not only with neutrons,
protons and pions but also with alphas and tritons, which are not considered in
intra-nuclear cascade models of the first generation. Therefore it was decided
to perform a benchmark by comparing the results obtained with MCNPX2.7.0 using
INCL4.6/ABLA07 to the predictions of FLUKA and Geant4. Since the model of the
SINQ spallation source requires an elaborate geometry a toy model was setup.
The toy model has a simplified geometry preserving the main features of the
original geometry. The results for the activities of the three Po-isotopes and
Pb-210 as well as the energy spectra for alphas and tritons obtained with the
three particle transport Monte Carlo codes are presented.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, Presented paper at the 13th Meeting of the
task-force on Shielding aspects of Accelerators, Targets and Irradiation
Facilities (SATIF-13), HZDR, October 10-12, 2016, Dresden, German
Day for night : landscapes of Walter Benjamin
Day for Night traces the contemporary relevance and influence of Benjaminâs work through a focus on the landscapes of his life. Images, two short films and a book examine the relationship between landscape and creativity, while exploring how light and dark are mutually constitutive elements of photography, politics and perception
Bradycardia and atrial fibrillation in patients with stable coronary artery disease treated with ivabradine: an analysis from the SIGNIFY study
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of emergent bradycardia and atrial fibrillation (AF) on cardiovascular outcomes in 19 083 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) receiving ivabradine or placebo (SIGNIFY, Study assessInG the morbidityâmortality beNefits of the If inhibitor ivabradine in patients with coronarY artery disease).
Methods and results: Emergent bradycardia (resting heart rate <50 b.p.m. on 12-lead electrocardiogram) with ivabradine was reported in 3572 patients (37.4%) overall, and in 2242 (37.2%) patients with Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class â„2 angina. There was no difference in outcomes over the course of the study in ivabradine-treated patients with and without emergent bradycardia in the whole population (2.5 vs. 2.9% per year, respectively, for primary composite endpoint of cardiovascular death or non-fatal myocardial infarction) or in the angina subgroup (2.5 vs. 3.2% per year). Neither was there an increase in the rate of primary endpoint after emergent bradycardia was recorded compared with those without emergent bradycardia. There were 754 cases of emergent AF on treatment (2.2% per year ivabradine vs. 1.5% per year placebo) and 469 in the patients with angina (2.2 vs. 1.5% per year). While outcomes occurred more frequently in patients in whom emergent AF had been recorded, there was no treatmentâplacebo difference in outcomes, including stroke, and no difference in treatment effect in patients with limiting angina.
Conclusion: Both in the overall population as well as in the angina subset, bradycardia was common in ivabradine-treated patients, but did not appear to impact outcomes. Emergent AF was relatively rare and did not appear to have an impact on outcomes relative to placebo
Immunity against extracellular pathogens
Summary: Eukaryotic cells live in a relatively comfortable equilibrium with a wide variety of microbes. However, while many of the cohabiting microorganisms are harmless or even beneficial to the eukaryotic host, a number of prokaryotes have evolved the capacity to invade and replicate within host cells, thereby becoming potentially pathogenic. To be able to cope with potential pathogens, most organisms have developed several host defense mechanisms. First, microbes can be internalized and destroyed by a number of cell types of an innate immune system in a rather aspecific manner. Second, more complex organisms possess additionally an adaptive immune system that is capable of eliminating hazardous microbes in a highly specific manner. This review describes recent progress in our understanding of how pathogens interact with cells of the immune system, resulting in activation of the immune system or, for certain microorganisms, in the evasion of host defense reaction
Quality of life with ivabradine in patients with angina pectoris
BackgroundâTo explore the effect of ivabradine on angina-related quality of life (QoL) in patients participating in the Study Assessing the MorbidityâMortality Benefits of the If Inhibitor Ivabradine in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease (SIGNIFY) QoL substudy.
Methods and ResultsâQoL was evaluated in a prespecified subgroup of SIGNIFY patients with angina (Canadian Cardiovascular Society class score, â„2 at baseline) using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire and a generic visual analogue scale on health status. Data were available for 4187 patients (2084 ivabradine and 2103 placebo). There were improvements in QoL in both treatment groups. The primary outcome of change in physical limitation score at 12 months was 4.56 points for ivabradine versus 3.40 points for placebo (E, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, â0.14 to 2.05; P=0.085). The ivabradineâplacebo difference in physical limitation score was significant at 6 months (P=0.048). At 12 months, the visual analogue scale and the other Seattle Angina Questionnaire dimensions were higher among ivabradine-treated patients, notably angina frequency (P<0.001) and disease perception (P=0.006). Patients with the worst QoL at baseline (ie, those in the lowest tertile of score) had the best improvement in QoL for 12 months, with improvements in physical limitation and a significant reduction in angina frequency (P=0.034). The effect on QoL was maintained over the study duration, and ivabradine patients had better scores on angina frequency at every visit to 36 months.
ConclusionsâTreatment with ivabradine did not affect the primary outcome of change in physical limitation score at 12 months. It did produce consistent improvements in other self-reported QoL parameters related to angina pectoris, notably in terms of angina frequency and disease perception
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