53 research outputs found
Yet another breakdown point notion: EFSBP - illustrated at scale-shape models
The breakdown point in its different variants is one of the central notions
to quantify the global robustness of a procedure. We propose a simple
supplementary variant which is useful in situations where we have no obvious or
only partial equivariance: Extending the Donoho and Huber(1983) Finite Sample
Breakdown Point, we propose the Expected Finite Sample Breakdown Point to
produce less configuration-dependent values while still preserving the finite
sample aspect of the former definition. We apply this notion for joint
estimation of scale and shape (with only scale-equivariance available),
exemplified for generalized Pareto, generalized extreme value, Weibull, and
Gamma distributions. In these settings, we are interested in highly-robust,
easy-to-compute initial estimators; to this end we study Pickands-type and
Location-Dispersion-type estimators and compute their respective breakdown
points.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figure
Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells: a new ''cells as drugs'' paradigm. Efficacy and critical aspects in cell therapy
Ex vivo expanded mesenchymal stromal cell minimal quality requirements for clinical application
WHO 2010 Guidelines for Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission in Zimbabwe: Modeling Clinical Outcomes in Infants and Mothers
The Zimbabwean national prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) program provided primarily single-dose nevirapine (sdNVP) from 2002-2009 and is currently replacing sdNVP with more effective antiretroviral (ARV) regimens.Published HIV and PMTCT models, with local trial and programmatic data, were used to simulate a cohort of HIV-infected, pregnant/breastfeeding women in Zimbabwe (mean age 24.0 years, mean CD4 451 cells/µL). We compared five PMTCT regimens at a fixed level of PMTCT medication uptake: 1) no antenatal ARVs (comparator); 2) sdNVP; 3) WHO 2010 guidelines using "Option A" (zidovudine during pregnancy/infant NVP during breastfeeding for women without advanced HIV disease; lifelong 3-drug antiretroviral therapy (ART) for women with advanced disease); 4) WHO "Option B" (ART during pregnancy/breastfeeding without advanced disease; lifelong ART with advanced disease); and 5) "Option B+:" lifelong ART for all pregnant/breastfeeding, HIV-infected women. Pediatric (4-6 week and 18-month infection risk, 2-year survival) and maternal (2- and 5-year survival, life expectancy from delivery) outcomes were projected.Eighteen-month pediatric infection risks ranged from 25.8% (no antenatal ARVs) to 10.9% (Options B/B+). Although maternal short-term outcomes (2- and 5-year survival) varied only slightly by regimen, maternal life expectancy was reduced after receipt of sdNVP (13.8 years) or Option B (13.9 years) compared to no antenatal ARVs (14.0 years), Option A (14.0 years), or Option B+ (14.5 years).Replacement of sdNVP with currently recommended regimens for PMTCT (WHO Options A, B, or B+) is necessary to reduce infant HIV infection risk in Zimbabwe. The planned transition to Option A may also improve both pediatric and maternal outcomes
Adapting an adherence support workers intervention: engaging traditional healers as adherence partners for persons enrolled in HIV care and treatment in rural Mozambique
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