2,256 research outputs found
A Bayesian Multivariate Functional Dynamic Linear Model
We present a Bayesian approach for modeling multivariate, dependent
functional data. To account for the three dominant structural features in the
data--functional, time dependent, and multivariate components--we extend
hierarchical dynamic linear models for multivariate time series to the
functional data setting. We also develop Bayesian spline theory in a more
general constrained optimization framework. The proposed methods identify a
time-invariant functional basis for the functional observations, which is
smooth and interpretable, and can be made common across multivariate
observations for additional information sharing. The Bayesian framework permits
joint estimation of the model parameters, provides exact inference (up to MCMC
error) on specific parameters, and allows generalized dependence structures.
Sampling from the posterior distribution is accomplished with an efficient
Gibbs sampling algorithm. We illustrate the proposed framework with two
applications: (1) multi-economy yield curve data from the recent global
recession, and (2) local field potential brain signals in rats, for which we
develop a multivariate functional time series approach for multivariate
time-frequency analysis. Supplementary materials, including R code and the
multi-economy yield curve data, are available online
The role of pressure anisotropy in the turbulent intracluster medium
In low-density plasma environments, such as the intracluster medium (ICM),
the Larmour frequency is much larger than the ion-ion collision frequency. In
such a case, the thermal pressure becomes anisotropic with respect to the
magnetic field orientation and the evolution of the turbulent gas is more
correctly described by a kinetic approach. A possible description of these
collisionless scenarios is given by the so-called kinetic magnetohydrodynamic
(KMHD) formalism, in which particles freely stream along the field lines, while
moving with the field lines in the perpendicular direction. In this way a
fluid-like behavior in the perpendicular plane is restored. In this work, we
study fast growing magnetic fluctuations in the smallest scales which operate
in the collisionless plasma that fills the ICM. In particular, we focus on the
impact of a particular evolution of the pressure anisotropy and its
implications for the turbulent dynamics of observables under the conditions
prevailing in the ICM. We present results from numerical simulations and
compare the results which those obtained using an MHD formalism.Comment: 7 pages, 14 figures, Journal of Physics: Conference Serie
Dominant gain-of-function mutations in Hsp104p reveal crucial roles for the middle region
Heat-shock protein 104 (Hsp104p) is a protein-remodeling factor that promotes survival after extreme stress by disassembling aggregated proteins and can either promote or prevent the propagation of prions (protein-based genetic elements). Hsp104p can be greatly overexpressed without slowing growth, suggesting tight control of its powerful protein-remodeling activities. We isolated point mutations in Hsp104p that interfere with this control and block cell growth. Each mutant contained alterations in the middle region (MR). Each of the three MR point mutations analyzed in detail had distinct phenotypes. In combination with nucleotide binding site mutations, Hsp104p(T499I) altered bud morphology and caused septin mislocalization, colocalizing with the misplaced septins. Point mutations in the septin Cdc12p suppressed this phenotype, suggesting that it is due to direct Hsp104p–septin interactions. Hsp104p(A503V) did not perturb morphology but stopped cell growth. Remarkably, when expressed transiently, the mutant protein promoted survival after extreme stress as effectively as did wild-type Hsp104p. Hsp104p(A509D) had no deleterious effects on growth or morphology but had a greatly reduced ability to promote thermotolerance. That mutations in an 11-amino acid stretch of the MR have such profound and diverse effects suggests the MR plays a central role in regulating Hsp104p function
Subunit interactions influence the biochemical and biological properties of Hsp104
Point mutations in either of the two nucleotide-binding domains (NBD) of Hsp104 (NBD1 and NBD2) eliminate its thermotolerance function in vivo. In vitro, NBD1 mutations virtually eliminate ATP hydrolysis with little effect on hexamerization; analogous NBD2 mutations reduce ATPase activity and severely impair hexamerization. We report that high protein concentrations overcome the assembly defects of NBD2 mutants and increase ATP hydrolysis severalfold, changing V(max) with little effect on K(m). In a complementary fashion, the detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate inhibits hexamerization of wild-type (WT) Hsp104, lowering V(max) with little effect on K(m). ATP hydrolysis exhibits a Hill coefficient between 1.5 and 2, indicating that it is influenced by cooperative subunit interactions. To further analyze the effects of subunit interactions on Hsp104, we assessed the effects of mutant Hsp104 proteins on WT Hsp104 activities. An NBD1 mutant that hexamerizes but does not hydrolyze ATP reduces the ATPase activity of WT Hsp104 in vitro. In vivo, this mutant is not toxic but specifically inhibits the thermotolerance function of WT Hsp104. Thus, interactions between subunits influence the ATPase activity of Hsp104, play a vital role in its biological functions, and provide a mechanism for conditionally inactivating Hsp104 function in vivo
Features of collisionless turbulence in the intracluster medium from simulated Faraday Rotation maps
Observations of the intracluster medium (ICM) in galaxy clusters suggest for
the presence of turbulence and the magnetic fields existence has been proved
through observations of Faraday Rotation and synchrotron emission. The ICM is
also known to be filled by a rarefied weakly collisional plasma. In this work
we study the possible signatures left on Faraday Rotation maps by collisionless
instabilities. For this purpose we use a numerical approach to investigate the
dynamics of the turbulence in collisionless plasmas based on an
magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) formalism taking into account different levels of
pressure anisotropy. We consider models covering the sub/super-Alfv\'enic and
trans/supersonic regimes, one of them representing the fiducial conditions
corresponding to the ICM. From the simulated models we compute Faraday Rotation
maps and analyze several statistical indicators in order to characterize the
magnetic field structure and compare the results obtained with the
collisionless model to those obtained using standard collisional MHD framework.
We find that important imprints of the pressure anisotropy prevails in the
magnetic field and also manifest in the associated Faraday Rotation maps which
evidence smaller correlation lengths in the collisionless MHD case. These
points are remarkably noticeable for the case mimicking the conditions
prevailing in ICM. Nevertheless, in this study we have neglected the decrease
of pressure anisotropy due to the feedback of the instabilities that naturally
arise in collisionless plasmas at small scales. This decrease may not affect
the statistical imprint differences described above, but should be examined
elsewhere.Comment: 24 pages, 15 figures, MNRAS accepte
Accuracy of computerized tomography in determining hepatic tumor size in patients receiving liver transplantation or resection
Computerized tomography (CT) of liver is used in oncologic practice for staging tumors, evaluating response to treatment, and screening patients for hepatic resection. Because of the impact of CT liver scan on major treatment decisions, it is important to assess its accuracy. Patients undergoing liver transplantation or resection provide a unique opportunity to test the accuracy of hepatic-imaging techniques by comparison of finding of preoperative CT scan with those at gross pathologic examination of resected specimens. Forty-one patients who had partial hepatic resection (34 patients) or liver transplantation (eight patients) for malignant (30 patients) or benign (11 patients) tumors were evaluable. Eight (47%) of 17 patients with primary malignant liver tumors, four (31%) of 13 patients with metastatic liver tumors, and two (20%) of 10 patients with benign liver tumors had tumor nodules in resected specimens that were not apparent on preoperative CT studies. These nodules varied in size from 0.1 to 1.6 cm. While 11 of 14 of these nodules were 1.0 cm. These results suggest that conventional CT alone may be insufficient to accurately determine the presence or absence of liver metastases, extent of liver involvement, or response of hepatic metastases to treatment
Asteroids in the Inner Solar System II - Observable Properties
This paper presents synthetic observations of long-lived, coorbiting
asteroids of Mercury, Venus, the Earth and Mars. Our sample is constructed by
taking the limiting semimajor axes, differential longitudes and inclinations
for long-lived stability provided by simulations. The intervals are randomly
populated with values to create initial conditions. These orbits are
re-simulated to check that they are stable and then re-sampled every 2.5 years
for 1 million years. The Mercurian sample contains only horseshoe orbits, the
Martian sample only tadpoles. For both Venus and the Earth, the greatest
concentration of objects on the sky occurs close to the classical Lagrange
points at heliocentric ecliptic longitudes of 60 and 300 degrees. The
distributions are broad especially if horseshoes are present in the sample. The
full-width half maximum (FWHM) in heliocentric longitude for Venus is 325
degrees and for the Earth is 328 degrees. The mean and most common velocity of
these coorbiting satellites coincides with the mean motion of the parent
planet, but again the spread is wide with a FWHM for Venus of 27.8 arcsec/hr
and for the Earth of 21.0 arcsec/hr. For Mars, the greatest concentration on
the sky occurs at heliocentric ecliptic latitudes of 12 degrees. The peak of
the velocity distribution occurs at 65 arcsec/hr, significantly less than the
Martian mean motion, while its FWHM is 32.3 arcsec/hr. The case of Mercury is
the hardest of all, as the greatest concentration occurs at heliocentric
longitudes close to the Sun.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, Monthly Notices (in press). Higher quality
figures available at
http://www-thphys.physics.ox.ac.uk/users/WynEvans/home.htm
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