A random number generator for continuous random variables

A FORTRAN 4 routine is given which may be used to generate random observations of a continuous real valued random variable. Normal distribution of F(x), X, E(akimas), and E(linear) is presented in tabular form

Solutions for Impact Investors: From Strategy to Implementation

In writing this monograph, our main goal is to provide impact investors with tools to tighten the link between their investment decisions and impact creation. Our intent is threefold: to attract more capital to impact investing; to assist impact investors as they move from organizational change to executing and refining their impact investment decision-making process; and to narrow the gap within foundations between program professionals and investment professionals thereby contributing to a mutual understanding and implementation of a portfolio approach to impact investing.Additionally, we intend to help break down the barriers making it difficult to identify opportunities in impact investing. To this end, we provide examples throughout the monograph and at www.rockpa.org/impactinvesting of impact investment opportunities in most major asset classes.While we understand the important role that impact investors can play in providing financial capital, we also want to acknowledge the wide range of non-financial resources needed to address the world's problems. Our intent with this monograph is not to provide a comprehensive list of investments across asset classes nor any type of investment advice with regard to the selected profiles. We strongly encourage the reader to conduct their own assessment and evaluation for risk and suitability before considering any investment

About the ergodic regime in the analogical Hopfield neural networks. Moments of the partition function

In this paper we introduce and exploit the real replica approach for a minimal generalization of the Hopfield model, by assuming the learned patterns to be distributed accordingly to a standard unit Gaussian. We consider the high storage case, when the number of patterns is linearly diverging with the number of neurons. We study the infinite volume behavior of the normalized momenta of the partition function. We find a region in the parameter space where the free energy density in the infinite volume limit is self-averaging around its annealed approximation, as well as the entropy and the internal energy density. Moreover, we evaluate the corrections to their extensive counterparts with respect to their annealed expressions. The fluctuations of properly introduced overlaps, which act as order parameters, are also discussed.Comment: 15 page

Eosinophils as Drivers of the IL-23/IL-17 Axis: Implications for Acute Aspergillosis and Allergic Asthma: A Dissertation

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes lethal invasive pulmonary disease in immunocompromised hosts and allergic asthma in sensitized individuals. This dissertation explores how eosinophils may protect hosts from acute infection while driving asthma pathogenesis by co-producing IL-23 and IL-17 in both contexts. In an acute model of pulmonary aspergillosis, eosinophils were observed to associate with and kill A. fumigatus spores in vivo. In addition, eosinopenia was correlated with higher mortality rates, decreased recruitment of inflammatory monocytes to the lungs, and decreased expansion of lung macrophages. As IL-17 signaling must occur on a local level to elicit its stereotypical response, such as the up-regulation of antimicrobial peptides and specific chemokines from stromal cells, eosinophils were discovered to be a significant source of pulmonary IL-17 as well as one of its upstream inducers, IL-23. In the context of asthma, this discovery opens a new paradigm whereby eosinophils might be driving asthma pathogenesis

Prácticas de intervención de Terapia Ocupacional: en el proceso de resignificación de los padres sobre el sentido del diagnóstico de sus hijos con trastorno del espectro autista

Tesis (Magíster en Terapia Ocupacional)Los Terapeutas Ocupacionales, desde sus inicios, cuando se dedican al área infanto – juvenil, han requerido de ciertas competencias para ser exitosos profesionalmente, las que se cree no se logran desarrollar del todo en los estudios de pregrado, teniendo que, por medio de la experiencia, aplicar técnicas no tradicionales. En este caso puntual se hace referencia a las competencias necesarias para ayudar a enfrentar el proceso de duelo que viven los padres, posterior a recibir el diagnóstico de sus hijos y más aún el cómo se logra resignificar el significado de dicho diagnóstico, como por ejemplo, los Trastornos del Espectro Autista (TEA). Esta investigación busca ahondar en las intervenciones que Terapeutas Ocupacionales han realizado en las diferentes etapas de duelo de los padres. Es entonces que a través de la realización de entrevistas semiestructuradas realizadas a cuatro Terapeutas Ocupacionales que cuentan con una experiencia que bordea entre los dos y ocho años en el área infanto - juvenil y que han realizado intervención a familias de usuarios con Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA), y que han logrado dar una respuesta a las interrogante planteadas por los padres. Se abordaran y significaran conceptos implicados en la investigación, tales como Familia, Trastornos del Espectro Autista, entre otros. Así también como algunas de las estrategias que se utilizan para dar respuestas a estas familias que se encuentran desorientadas y cursando alguna de las etapas del proceso de duelo

On the Thermodynamic Limit in Random Resistors Networks

We study a random resistors network model on a euclidean geometry \bt{Z}^d. We formulate the model in terms of a variational principle and show that, under appropriate boundary conditions, the thermodynamic limit of the dissipation per unit volume is finite almost surely and in the mean. Moreover, we show that for a particular thermodynamic limit the result is also independent of the boundary conditions.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX IOP journal preprint style file `ioplppt.sty', revised version to appear in Journal of Physics

Determination of inorganic phosphorus in serum: Evaluation of three methods applied to the Technicon RA-1000 analyzer

We have evaluated three analytical methods for determining inorganic phosphorus in serum applied to the Technicon RA-I000 analyzer: a fully enzymatic colorimetric method based on the specific system purine nucleoside phosphorylase/xanthine oxidase coupled to an indicator colorimetric reaction similar to the Trinder reaction; a chemical method involving the direct UV measurement of the phosphomolybdate complex; and a chemical method with reduction of the phosphomolybdate complex to molybdenum blue. Experiments were performed to assess within-run and between-day precision, linearity, interference and correlation. The best performance characteristics were shown by the enzymatic colorimetric method and the phosphomolybdate UV method

Current and novel infusion therapies for patients with Parkinson's disease

Advanced Parkinson’s disease is characterized by periods of poor mobility, dyskinesia and progressive decline in functional independence of the affected person despite the manipulation of levodopa doses and the introduction of supplemental therapies such as catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitors, monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors and dopamine agonists. The implementation of drug delivery systems allows to bypass problems related to irregular and often unpredictable intestinal absorption of oral levodopa, which significantly affects its bioavailability and contributes to the development and persistence of motor complications. Subcutaneous apomorphine and levodopa/carbidopa jejunal infusion systems have been available for many years and their efficacy is confirmed by randomized studies and long-term experience in many centers worldwide. Recently, a new formulation of levodopa/carbidopa infusion gel that includes the catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitor Entacapone has been introduced to the market. The use of entacapone allows to reduce total daily dose of administered levodopa. Two different soluble formulations of levodopa/carbidopa (ND0612 and ABBV-951) have completed clinical development, and both can ensure subcutaneous delivery by a portable pump infusion system. ABBV-951 uses a foslevodopa/foscarbidopa formulation, both prodrugs to improve absorption and tolerability. Both systems provide effective improvement of motor complications and are likely to expand the therapeutic options in advanced patients. Future efforts should focus on the earlier detection of patients who are candidates for device-aided therapies, increasing appropriate referral and broadening the availability of these treatments globally