Marginalizing the likelihood function for modeled gravitational wave searches

Matched filtering is a commonly used technique in gravitational wave searches for signals from compact binary systems and from rapidly rotating neutron stars. A common issue in these searches is dealing with four extrinsic parameters which do not affect the phase evolution of the system: the overall amplitude, initial phase, and two angles determining the overall orientation of the system. The F-statistic maximizes the likelihood function analytically over these parameters, while the B-statistic marginalizes over them. The B-statistic, while potentially more powerful and capable of incorporating astrophysical priors, is not as widely used because of the computational difficulty of performing the marginalization. In this paper we address this difficulty and show how the marginalization can be done analytically by combining the four parameters into a set of complex amplitudes. The results of this paper are applicable to both transient non-precessing binary coalescence events, and to long lived signals from rapidly rotating neutron stars.Comment: 26 page

Pengaruh Nilai Informasi Dan Sosial Pada Co-Consumption Dan Co-Production Antar Anggota Kaskus: Perspektif Modal Sosial

Consumers co-create values through co-consumption (with other consumers) and co-production (with producers). This study argues that members\u27 perceptions on informational and social values contribute to co-creation, which is stronger when they have greater product involvement. Further arguments indicate that members\u27 perceptions on informational and social values are determined by social capital inside the community. The developed hypotheses are tested on 204 Kaskus community members who are affiliated with 6 different brands on two product categories, mobile phone and snack. The results indicate that social capital positively influences members\u27 perception on informational and social values. Social value influence co-consumption and co-production, while informational value mainly influence co-production. The moderating effect of product involvement exists on the influence of social value on co-production

Post-mining Land Characteristics and Rehabilitation Technique in Bangka and Singkep Islands

Post-mining land has generally unfavourable characteristics for a growing media for crops. The objectives of the present study were: (1) to study natural changing of soil physical and chemical properties and natural vegetation of four different ages of tailing, (2) to study rehabilitation technique of post mining tailing for forest crops, and (3) to study effects of ameliorant on soil physical and chemical properties, and heavy metal content on four different ages of tailing. Analysis of tailing characteristics, in situ natural vegetation analysis and two sets of green house experiments had been done. The two greenhouse experiments comprise: (1) tailing from Sungai Liat Bangka with two factors, those are three level applications of organic matter and mineral soil with teak as an indicator plant and (2) tailing from Dabo Singkep with treatments: tailing + compost 9:1,tailing + animal manure 9:1 and tailing as control, CMA inoculant and forest trees akasia (Acacia auriculiformis), gamal (Gliricidia maculata), lamtoro (Leucaena leucocephala) and sengon or jeungjing (Paraserianthes falcataria). The result showed that: generally, tin mining reduce soil quality and number of natural vegetation. The soil characteristics and number of vegetation are generally increase (getting better) with time. The first greenhouse experiment showed that the best response of teak plant was under combination of organic mater and soil mineral whereas ameliorant proportion factor is not significantly different. The second greenhouse experiment showed that the treatments were significantly influencing canopy diameter, leaf number, root length and tree trunk circle, respectively. The best rehabillitation technique was combination of animal manure, mycorrhizal inoculants treatments and lamtoro (L. leucocephala). Soil characteristics and heavy metal contents were significantly influenced by ameliorant and tailing ages. Soil chemical properties were significantly influenced by tailing age, types and proportions of ameliorant. The Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, and Sn of soil were significantly influenced by tailing ages and the highest was on the six years tailing

Stroke outcomes in a socio-economically disadvantaged urban community

Aims. To determine survival, disability and functional outcomes of stroke patients following their discharge from an acute stroke unit in an urban community with limited rehabilitative resources. Methods. Stroke patients were recruited from a district hospital in Cape Town and followed-up for 6 months. Clinical characteristics, demographic and socioeconomic data, and disability and function as measured by modified Rankin Score (mRS), modified Barthel Index (mBI) at recruitment and 3 follow-up visits, were recorded. Results. The study included 196 patients. Median age was 60 (IQR 51 - 69) years, 135 (68.9%) were female, 57.7% black, 42.3% coloured, and 45 (23%) died within 6 months. At discharge, median mBI score was 7 (IQR 3 - 12) and median mRS 4 (IQR 3 - 5). In the multivariate regression models, only function (mBI OR 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79 - 0.96, p<0.0001) and disability (mRS 0R 2.34, 95%CI 1.20 - 4.54, p<0.0001) were independently associated with risk of death. Shack housing was independently associated with moderate or severe disability (odds ratio 3.42, 95%CI 1.22 - 9.59, p=0.02). Despite limited rehabilitation resources, 67% of survivors had mild to moderate disability at 6 months. Conclusion. Apart from initial stroke severity, risk factors for poor survival were a severe disability category and the presence of impaired swallowing at discharge. Shack housing was independently associated with poor functional outcomes. These findings should be helpful in allocating home-based care and inpatient rehabilitation resources to high-risk groups to improve outcomes

The spectrum and prognosis of AIDS-defining illnesses in Cape Town

Objectives. To describe the incidence, spectrum and prognosis of AIDS-defining illnesses (ADI) in patients without access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Design. Prospective cohort study. Subjects. 1 215 HIV-infected patients attending adult HIV clinics affiliated to the University of Cape Town in the New Somerset and Groote Schuur Hospitals from 1992 to 2000. Main outcome measures. Incidence rate (IR) of ADIs and survival after the ..

The Effect of Oral Authentic Materials on Iranian EFL Learners' Motivation and Listening Comprehension Ability

This research was an attempt to examine empirically whether therewas a meaningful relationship between the use of oral authentic materials and EFL learners` motivation and also determine the subsequent effects of them on the communicative competence of learners. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to examine the impact of authentic listening materials on development of motivation and enhancement of listening comprehension ability of forty male and female EFL learners at institutional level. It basically focused on exposing language learners to authentic materials and real life situations in language classroom as part of the communicative approach. The results of listening comprehension post- test were compared with those of the pre- test scores using a t- test. The participants of this study also completed a questionnaire so that we could evaluate the degree of their motivation to learn English using the application of oral authentic materials and real life language which is used outside the classroom. The results of this study pointed to the effectiveness of using authentic materials; therefore corroborating previous findings in application of authentic listening materials as a useful technique to improve learners' listening comprehension skill and development of motivation

Autonomic regulation therapy to enhance myocardial function in heart failure patients: the ANTHEM-HFpEF study.

BackgroundApproximately half of the patients presenting with new-onset heart failure (HF) have HF with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) and HF with mid-range left ventricular ejection fraction (HFmrEF). These patients have neurohormonal activation like that of HF with reduced ejection fraction; however, beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have not been shown to improve their outcomes, and current treatment for these patients is symptom based and empiric. Sympathoinhibition using parasympathetic stimulation has been shown to improve central and peripheral aspects of the cardiac nervous system, reflex control, induce myocyte cardioprotection, and can lead to regression of left ventricular hypertrophy. Beneficial effects of autonomic regulation therapy (ART) using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) have also been observed in several animal models of HFpEF, suggesting a potential role for ART in patients with this disease.MethodsThe Autonomic Neural Regulation Therapy to Enhance Myocardial Function in Patients with Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction (ANTHEM-HFpEF) study is designed to evaluate the feasibility, tolerability, and safety of ART using right cervical VNS in patients with chronic, stable HFpEF and HFmrEF. Patients with symptomatic HF and HFpEF or HFmrEF fulfilling the enrolment criteria will receive chronic ART with a subcutaneous VNS system attached to the right cervical vagus nerve. Safety parameters will be continuously monitored, and cardiac function and HF symptoms will be assessed every 3 months during a post-titration follow-up period of at least 12 months.ConclusionsThe ANTHEM-HFpEF study is likely to provide valuable information intended to expand our understanding of the potential role of ART in patients with chronic symptomatic HFpEF and HFmrEF

Synthesis and Comparison of Linear Polymannosides for Direct Binding with Escherichia Coli

Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of linear polyglycerols bearing multiple copies of mono and dimannosides [LPG40Man0.60 and LPG40(Manα1,2Man)0.60]. A method based on label-free microscale thermophoresis (MST) has been optimized to determine the direct binding affinity of multivalent mannosides for Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain ORN178 that produces the fimbriae protein FimH. We observed that the LPG40(Manα1,2Man)0.60 exhibited only a modest one-fold improvement in binding as compared to LPG40Man0.60. Nevertheless, both the multivalent mannosides displayed remarkably very low nM binding constant (Kd) in contrast to the high μM Kd of the single α-D-methylmannoside for intact E. coli ORN 178 particles. Furthermore, in an Adhesion-Inhibition Assay, both multivalent mannosides showed 50% inhibition of bacteria adhesion to the HT-29 colon cells at low μM concentrations