17,523 research outputs found
On "Sexual contacts and epidemic thresholds," models and inference for Sexual partnership distributions
Recent work has focused attention on statistical inference for the population
distribution of the number of sexual partners based on survey data.
The characteristics of these distributions are of interest as components of
mathematical models for the transmission dynamics of sexually-transmitted
diseases (STDs). Such information can be used both to calibrate theoretical
models, to make predictions for real populations, and as a tool for guiding
public health policy.
Our previous work on this subject has developed likelihood-based statistical
methods for inference that allow for low-dimensional, semi-parametric models.
Inference has been based on several proposed stochastic process models for the
formation of sexual partnership networks. We have also developed model
selection criteria to choose between competing models, and assessed the fit of
different models to three populations: Uganda, Sweden, and the USA. Throughout
this work, we have emphasized the correct assessment of the uncertainty of the
estimates based on the data analyzed. We have also widened the question of
interest to the limitations of inferences from such data, and the utility of
degree-based epidemiological models more generally.
In this paper we address further statistical issues that are important in
this area, and a number of confusions that have arisen in interpreting our
work. In particular, we consider the use of cumulative lifetime partner
distributions, heaping and other issues raised by Liljeros et al. in a recent
working paper.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures in linked working pape
The curatorial consequences of being moved, moveable or portable: the case of carved stones
It matters whether a carved stone is moved, moveable or portable. This influences perceptions of significance and of form and nature – is it a monument or an artefact? This duality may in turn affect understanding and appreciation of the resource. It has implications for how and if carved stones can be legally protected, who owns them, where and how they are administered, and by whom. The complexities of the legislation mean that all too often this is also a grey area. This paper explores these curatorial issues and their impact
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Petrology and geochemistry of nakhlite MIL 03346: A new Martian meteorite from Antarctica
MIL 03346 is the first nakhlite in the US Antarctic collection. We have performed detailed mineralogical and bulk-geochemical investigations to compare petrogenesis of this Martian meteorite with other nakhlites
Probing the Gravitational Wave Signature from Cosmic Phase Transitions at Different Scales
We present a new signature by which to one could potentially discriminate
between a spectrum of gravitational radiation generated by a self-ordering
scalar field vs that of inflation, specifically a comparison of the magnitude
of a flat spectrum at frequencies probed by future direct detection experiments
to the magnitude of a possible polarization signal in the Cosmic Microwave
Background (CMB) radiation. In the process we clarify several issues related to
the proper calculation of such modes, focusing on the effect of
post-horizon-crossing evolution.Comment: 4 pages, Phys. Rev D version (revised in response to referee's
comments
Concepts for conformal and body-axis attitude information for spatial awareness presented in a helmet-mounted display
A piloted simulation study has been conducted to evaluate two methods of presenting attitude information in a helmet-mounted display (HMD) for spatial awareness in a fighter airplane. One method, the body-axis concept, displayed the information relative to the body axis of the airplane. The quantitative results of this study favored the body-axis concept. Although no statistically significant differences were noted for either the pilots' understanding of roll attitude or target position, the pilots made pitch judgment errors three times more often with the conformal display. The subjective results showed the body-axis display did not cause attitude confusion, a prior concern with this display. In the posttest comments, the pilots overwhelmingly selected the body-axis display as the display of choice
Phrase parsers from multi-axiom grammars
AbstractMulti-axiom grammars (MAG) are alternatives to single-axiom context free grammars (CFG) and all-axiom algebraic grammars (AG) for programming language specification. Neither phrase recognition nor algebraic mechanisms for language processing are supported by CFGs. AGs support algebraic mechanisms for language processing but specify a smaller class of languages. MAGs avoid these limitations. This paper describes a new parsing algorithm developed on this basis which recognizes any phrase in the language. Moreover, it does so by distributing the parsing task among a collection of smaller parsers which handle well-defined layers of the language in a piping manner. These language-layers are determined by the algebraic properties of the MAGs and are described in the paper. Basic definitions are given for multi-axiom grammar and language as well as for algebraic notions of subgrammar, primitive subgrammar, quotient grammar, and grammar/language layer. Algorithms are described to stratify a programming language into a hierarchy of layers, to construct parsers for each layer analogous to LR construction, and to accomplish the overall task of multi-layered parsing in pipeline fashion based on a tokenization which occurs between the language layers. This pipeline parallel process is a model for high speed, left-to-right language translation
GRO J1744-28, search for the counterpart: infrared photometry and spectroscopy
Using VLT/ISAAC, we detected 2 candidate counterparts to the bursting pulsar
GRO J1744-28, one bright and one faint, within the X-ray error circles of
XMM-Newton and Chandra. In determining the spectral types of the counterparts
we applied 3 different extinction corrections; one for an all-sky value, one
for a Galactic Bulge value and one for a local value. We find the local value,
with an extinction law of alpha = 3.23 +- 0.01 is the only correction that
results in colours and magnitudes for both bright and faint counterparts
consistent with a small range of spectral types, and for the bright
counterpart, consistent with the spectroscopic identification. Photometry of
the faint candidate indicates it is a K7/M0 V star at a distance of 3.75 +- 1
kpc. This star would require a very low inclination angle (i < 9deg) to satisfy
the mass function constraints; however it cannot be excluded as the counterpart
without follow-up spectroscopy to detect emission signatures of accretion.
Photometry and spectroscopy of the bright candidate indicate it is most likely
a G/K III star. The spectrum does not show Br-gamma emission, a known indicator
of accretion. The bright star's magnitudes are in agreement with the
constraints placed on a probable counterpart by the calculations of Rappaport &
Joss (1997) for an evolved star that has had its envelope stripped. The mass
function indicates the counterpart should have M < 0.3 Msol for an inclination
of i >= 15deg; a stripped giant, or a main sequence M3+ V star are consistent
with this mass-function constraint. In both cases mass-transfer, if present,
will be by wind-accretion as the counterpart will not fill its Roche lobe given
the observed orbital period. The derived magnetic field of 2.4 x 10^{11} G will
inhibit accretion by the propeller effect, hence its quiescent state.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, 4 table, MNRAS accepted Changes to the content
and an increased analysis of the Galactic centre extinctio
Water-propellant resistojets for man-tended platforms
The selection of a propulsion system for a man-tended platform has been influenced by the planned use of resistojets for drag make-up on the manned space station. For that application a resistojet has been designed that is capable of operation with a wide variety of propellants, including water. The reasons for the selection of water as the propellant and the performance of water as a propellant are discussed. The man-tended platform and its mission requirements are described
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