Comment: The 2005 Neyman Lecture: Dynamic Indeterminism in Science

Comment on ``The 2005 Neyman Lecture: Dynamic Indeterminism in Science'' [arXiv:0808.0620]Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/07-STS246A the Statistical Science (http://www.imstat.org/sts/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

TODDLERS' NATURE, NURTURE AND THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH SMART PHONES AND TABLETS

Children who are twenty-four months or less may be self-regulating when it comes to their engagement with digital devices because of their naturally short attention span. From a six-month observation of two children with parents who hold opposing views to early technology exposure (nurturing practices), in their digital and non-digital engagements, the researcher reveals that concerns about exposure of children below 18 months to digital devices needs to be given some more consideration in research. This observation was born out of an interest to find out plausible reasons for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation that children below 18 months be prevented from exposure to all forms of screen media apart from participating in video calls (AAP, 2016). The study employed the qualitative research methods of observation and interviews since the aim of the study was to make meaning of AAP’s recommendation from a natural and real-life environment in a microsystem where technology was readily available to these toddlers. Data from the study revealed that children at this age are naturally interested in exploring their environments regardless of nature, nurture and technology. They always longed-for opportunities to go out, engage in activities and interact with people or just admire nature and marvel at their ability to identify objects and materials in their environment. Parents’ perspective on digital exposure was revealed as a moderating factor in the toddlers’ use of technology. Though, temperament and attention span seemed to play noticeable roles in their level of interaction with people and objects involving digital or non-digital engagements. Alad loved to watch children’s programs on smart phones. Ghan on the other hand was always quick to grab the phones or iPads and go for the nearest garbage bins with a wide grin on his face. This action by the Ghan could be interpreted to mean that he wanted to eliminate all distractions, and have you focus on him while he engaged in non-digital play. A form of digital play that he favored was dancing while music played from the digital devices. Though he did not like this activity to be prolonged.  Article visualizations

Analysis of isoflavones and flavonoids in human urine by UHPLC

A rapid, ultra high-performance liquid chromatographic (UHPLC) method has been developed and validated for simultaneous identification and analysis of the isoflavones genistein, daidzein, glycitin, puerarin, and biochanin A, and the flavonoids (±)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, rutin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, quercitrin, and hesperetin in human urine. Urine samples were incubated with β-glucuronidase/sulfatase. UHPLC was performed with a Hypersil Gold (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.9 μm) analytical column. Elution was with a gradient prepared from aqueous trifluoroacetic acid (0.05%) and acetonitrile. UV detection was performed at 254 and 280 nm. The calibration curves were indicative of good linearity (r2 ≥ 0.9992) in the range of interest for each analyte. LODs ranged between 15.4 and 107.0 ng mL−1 and 3.9 and 20.4 ng mL−1 for flavonoids and isoflavones, respectively. Intra-day and inter-day precision (C.V., %) was less than 3.9% and 3.8%, respectively, and accuracy was between 0.03% and 5.0%. Recovery was 70.35–96.58%. The method is very rapid, simple, and reliable, and suitable for pharmacokinetic analysis. It can be routinely used for simultaneous determination of these five isoflavones and seven flavonoids in human urine. The method can also be applied to studies after administration of pharmaceutical preparations containing isoflavones and flavonoids to humans

Assigning hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen isotope values for phytoplankton and terrestrial detritus in aquatic food web studies

Studies designed to assess the resources supporting aquatic consumers using stable isotope analysis require measurements of the potential end members (basal resources). While some basal resources are easily measured, it is often difficult to physically separate phytoplankton (one potential end member) from other components in seston. Further, terrestrial materials entering aquatic ecosystems undergo diagenetic change, potentially altering isotope composition and making it difficult to assign end member values. We tested techniques for determining the isotopic hydrogen (δ2H), carbon (δ13C), and nitrogen (δ15N) values of terrestrial and phytoplankton end members in seston. Long term in situ leaf decomposition experiments were performed. No appreciable change was found in the isotope values of degraded material (mean change 3.6‰ for δ2H, 0.0‰ for δ13C, and −0.1‰ for δ15N). We conclude that the isotope values of terrestrial plant material can be used to assign end members for terrestrial detritus. Using samples collected from 10 lakes with phytoplankton-dominated seston, we compared 3 published methods for estimating the δ13C and δ15N of phytoplankton. One method, which corrected bulk particulate organic matter (POM) isotope values based on a δ2H mixing model, accurately predicted measured phytoplankton δ13C. Another method, which used a C:N mixing model to correct bulk POM, also performed well. A new method, proposed here, modified seston isotope values using the difference in C:N of phytoplankton and terrestrial material in a δ2H mixing model and correctly predicted measured phytoplankton δ15N. We recommend estimating phytoplankton δ13C and δ15N by correcting bulk POM using a δ2H mixing model, with the C:N modification proposed here for δ15N

The impact of patterns in linkage disequilibrium and sequencing quality on the imprint of balancing selection

Regions under balancing selection are characterized by dense polymorphisms and multiple persistent haplotypes, along with other sequence complexities. Successful identification of these patterns depends on both the statistical approach and the quality of sequencing. To address this challenge, at first, a new statistical method called LD-ABF was developed, employing efficient Bayesian techniques to effectively test for balancing selection. LD-ABF demonstrated the most robust detection of selection in a variety of simulation scenarios, compared against a range of existing tests/tools (Tajima\u27s D, HKA, Dng, BetaScan, and BalLerMix). Furthermore, the impact of the quality of sequencing on detection of balancing selection was explored, as well, using: (i) SNP genotyping and exome data, (ii) targeted high-resolution HLA genotyping (IHIW), and (iii) whole-genome long-read sequencing data (Pangenome). In the analysis of SNP genotyping and exome data, we identified known targets and 38 new selection signatures in genes not previously linked to balancing selection. To further investigate the impact of sequencing quality on detection of balancing selection, a detailed investigation of the MHC was performed with high-resolution HLA typing data. Higher quality sequencing revealed the HLA-DQ genes consistently demonstrated strong selection signatures otherwise not observed from the sparser SNP array and exome data. The HLA-DQ selection signature was also replicated in the Pangenome samples using considerably less samples but, with high-quality long-read sequence data. The improved statistical method, coupled with higher quality sequencing, leads to more consistent identification of selection and enhanced localization of variants under selection, particularly in complex regions

Endemicity of Zoonotic Diseases in Pigs and Humans in Lowland and Upland Lao PDR: Identification of Socio-cultural Risk Factors

In Lao People's Democratic Republic pigs are kept in close contact with families. Human risk of infection with pig zoonoses arises from direct contact and consumption of unsafe pig products. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Luang Prabang (north) and Savannakhet (central-south) Provinces. A total of 59 villages, 895 humans and 647 pigs were sampled and serologically tested for zoonotic pathogens including: hepatitis E virus (HEV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and Trichinella spiralis; In addition, human sera were tested for Taenia spp. and cysticercosis. Seroprevalence of zoonotic pathogens in humans was high for HEV (Luang Prabang: 48.6%, Savannakhet: 77.7%) and T. spiralis (Luang Prabang: 59.0%, Savannakhet: 40.5%), and lower for JEV (around 5%), Taenia spp. (around 3%) and cysticercosis (Luang Prabang: 6.1, Savannakhet 1.5%). Multiple correspondence analysis and hierarchical clustering of principal components was performed on descriptive data of human hygiene practices, contact with pigs and consumption of pork products. Three clusters were identified: Cluster 1 had low pig contact and good hygiene practices, but had higher risk of T. spiralis. Most people in cluster 2 were involved in pig slaughter (83.7%), handled raw meat or offal (99.4%) and consumed raw pigs' blood (76.4%). Compared to cluster 1, cluster 2 had increased odds of testing seropositive for HEV and JEV. Cluster 3 had the lowest sanitation access and had the highest risk of HEV, cysticercosis and Taenia spp. Farmers which kept their pigs tethered (as opposed to penned) and disposed of manure in water sources had 0.85 (95% CI: 0.18 to 0.91) and 2.39 (95% CI: 1.07 to 5.34) times the odds of having pigs test seropositive for HEV, respectively. The results have been used to identify entry-points for intervention and management strategies to reduce disease exposure in humans and pigs, informing control activities in a cysticercosis hyper-endemic village

Human Mycobacterium bovis Infection and Bovine Tuberculosis Outbreak, Michigan, 1994–2007

Mycobacterium bovis is endemic in Michigan’s white-tailed deer and has been circulating since 1994. The strain circulating in deer has remained genotypically consistent and was recently detected in 2 humans. We summarize the investigation of these cases and confirm that recreational exposure to deer is a risk for infection in humans

CLEAR: High-Ionization [Ne V] λ{\lambda}3426 Emission-line Galaxies at 1.4<z<2.31.4 <z< 2.3

We analyze a sample of 25 [Ne V] $\lambda$3426 emission-line galaxies at $1.4<z<2.3$ using Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 G102 and G141 grism observations from the CANDELS Lyman-$\alpha$ Emission at Reionization (CLEAR) survey. [Ne V] emission probes extremely energetic photoionization (97.11-126.21 eV), and is often attributed to energetic radiation from active galactic nuclei (AGN), shocks from supernova, or an otherwise very hard ionizing spectrum from the stellar continuum. In this work, we use [Ne V] in conjunction with other rest-frame UV/optical emission lines ([O II] $\lambda\lambda$3726,3729, [Ne III] $\lambda$3869, H$\beta$, [O III] $\lambda\lambda$4959,5007, H$\alpha$+[N II] $\lambda\lambda$6548,6583, [S II] $\lambda\lambda$6716,6731), deep (2--7 Ms) X-ray observations (from Chandra), and mid-infrared imaging (from Spitzer) to study the origin of this emission and to place constraints on the nature of the ionizing engine. The majority of the [Ne V]-detected galaxies have properties consistent with ionization from AGN. However, for our [Ne V]-selected sample, the X-ray luminosities are consistent with local ($z\lesssim 0.1$) X-ray-selected Seyferts, but the [Ne V] luminosities are more consistent with those from $z\sim 1$ X-ray-selected QSOs. The excess [Ne V] emission requires either reduced hard X-rays, or a $\sim$0.1 keV excess. We discuss possible origins of the apparent [Ne V] excess, which could be related to the ``soft (X-ray) excess'' observed in some QSOs and Seyferts, and/or be a consequence of a complex/anisotropic geometry for the narrow line region, combined with absorption from a warm, relativistic wind ejected from the accretion disk. We also consider implications for future studies of extreme high-ionization systems in the epoch of reionization ($z \gtrsim 6$) with JWST.Comment: 17 pages + 5 (appendix), 7 figures + 2(appendix