Modeling the dynamical interaction between epidemics on overlay networks

Epidemics seldom occur as isolated phenomena. Typically, two or more viral agents spread within the same host population and may interact dynamically with each other. We present a general model where two viral agents interact via an immunity mechanism as they propagate simultaneously on two networks connecting the same set of nodes. Exploiting a correspondence between the propagation dynamics and a dynamical process performing progressive network generation, we develop an analytic approach that accurately captures the dynamical interaction between epidemics on overlay networks. The formalism allows for overlay networks with arbitrary joint degree distribution and overlap. To illustrate the versatility of our approach, we consider a hypothetical delayed intervention scenario in which an immunizing agent is disseminated in a host population to hinder the propagation of an undesirable agent (e.g. the spread of preventive information in the context of an emerging infectious disease).Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. E. 15 pages, 7 figure

Does bicycling contribute to the risk of erectile dysfunction? Results from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS)

An association between bicycling and erectile dysfunction (ED) has been described previously, but there are limited data examining this association in a random population of men. Such data would incorporate bicyclists with varied types of riding and other factors. Data from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS) were utilized to examine the association between bicycling and ED. Logistic regression was used to test for an association, controlling for age, energy expenditure, smoking, depression and chronic illness. Bicycling less than 3 h per week was not associated with ED and may be somewhat protective. Bicycling 3 h or more per week may be associated with ED. Data revealed that there may be a reduced probability of ED in those who ride less than 3 h per week and ED may be more likely in bikers who ride more than 3 h per week. More population-based research is needed to better define this relationship

Nonintrusive load disaggregation computer program to estimate the energy consumption of major end-uses in residential buildings

The objective of this thesis is to develop a methodology and the related computer program for the nonintrusive load disaggregation of total-household electric load into its end-uses. The computer program estimates the energy consumption of individual electric appliances in a house based on the analysis of the current measured at the house-power source interface using a minimum number of sensors. The program, written in the C programming language, is based on the analysis of total-household electric current data collected over a period of one year from a house in Montréal. The nonintrusive load disaggregation computer program can be incorporated into an Energy Monitoring and Management System (EMMS). An EMMS will (i) continuously monitor and quantify the real long-term energy impact of renovations, purchases, aging appliances, and changes in occupant behaviour, (ii) increase the home owner's awareness of actual energy performance, and (iii) provide helpful recommendations to the home owner for improving the energy performance of the house. The program estimates the contribution of selected appliances to the total energy consumption of the house. The contribution of an appliance to the total energy consumption is called the appliance energy share. The results show that for most of the appliances the difference between measured and estimated energy shares is less than 5

Epidemics on contact networks: a general stochastic approach

Dynamics on networks is considered from the perspective of Markov stochastic processes. We partially describe the state of the system through network motifs and infer any missing data using the available information. This versatile approach is especially well adapted for modelling spreading processes and/or population dynamics. In particular, the generality of our systematic framework and the fact that its assumptions are explicitly stated suggests that it could be used as a common ground for comparing existing epidemics models too complex for direct comparison, such as agent-based computer simulations. We provide many examples for the special cases of susceptible-infectious-susceptible (SIS) and susceptible-infectious-removed (SIR) dynamics (e.g., epidemics propagation) and we observe multiple situations where accurate results may be obtained at low computational cost. Our perspective reveals a subtle balance between the complex requirements of a realistic model and its basic assumptions.Comment: Main document: 16 pages, 7 figures. Electronic Supplementary Material (included): 6 pages, 1 tabl

Describing ancient horizontal gene transfers at the nucleotide and gene levels by comparative pathogenicity island genometrics

Motivation: Lateral gene transfer is a major mechanism contributing to bacterial genome dynamics and pathovar emergence via pathogenicity island (PAI) spreading. However, since few of these genomic exchanges are experimentally reproducible, it is difficult to establish evolutionary scenarios for the successive PAI transmissions between bacterial genera. Methods initially developed at the gene and/or nucleotide level for genomics, i.e. comparisons of concatenated sequences, ortholog frequency, gene order or dinucleotide usage, were combined and applied here to homologous PAIs: we call this approach comparative PAI genometrics. Results: YAPI, a Yersinia PAI, and related islands were compared with measure evolutionary relationships between related modules. Through use of our genometric approach designed for tracking codon usage adaptation and gene phylogeny, an ancient inter-genus PAI transfer was oriented for the first time by characterizing the genomic environment in which the ancestral island emerged and its subsequent transfers to other bacterial genera. Contact: [email protected] Supplementary informatio

International Union of Pharmacology. XLV. Classification of the Kinin Receptor Family: from Molecular Mechanisms to Pathophysiological Consequences

Kinins are proinflammatory peptides that mediate numerous vascular and pain responses to tissue injury. Two pharmacologically distinct kinin receptor subtypes have been identified and characterized for these peptides, which are named B1 and B2 and belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. The B2 receptor mediates the action of bradykinin (BK) and lysyl-bradykinin (Lys-BK), the first set of bioactive kinins formed in response to injury from kininogen precursors through the actions of plasma and tissue kallikreins, whereas the B(1) receptor mediates the action of des-Arg9-BK and Lys-des-Arg9-BK, the second set of bioactive kinins formed through the actions of carboxypeptidases on BK and Lys-BK, respectively. The B2 receptor is ubiquitous and constitutively expressed, whereas the B1 receptor is expressed at a very low level in healthy tissues but induced following injury by various proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1beta. Both receptors act through G alpha(q) to stimulate phospholipase C beta followed by phosphoinositide hydrolysis and intracellular free Ca2+ mobilization and through G alpha(i) to inhibit adenylate cyclase and stimulate the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. The use of mice lacking each receptor gene and various specific peptidic and nonpeptidic antagonists have implicated both B1 and B2 receptors as potential therapeutic targets in several pathophysiological events related to inflammation such as pain, sepsis, allergic asthma, rhinitis, and edema, as well as diabetes and cancer. This review is a comprehensive presentation of our current understanding of these receptors in terms of molecular and cell biology, physiology, pharmacology, and involvement in human disease and drug development

Pulling History from the Waste Stream: Identification and Collection of Manhattan Project and Cold War Era Artifacts on the Hanford Site

One man�s trash is another man�s treasure. Not everything called �waste� is meant for the refuse pile. The mission of the Curation Program is at direct odds with the remediation objectives of the Hanford Site. While others are busily tearing down and burying the Site�s physical structures and their associated contents, the Curation Program seeks to preserve the tangible elements of the Site�s history from these structures for future generations before they flow into the waste stream. Under the provisions of a Programmatic Agreement, Cultural Resources staff initiated a project to identify and collect artifacts and archives that have historic or interpretive value in documenting the role of the Hanford Site throughout the Manhattan Project and Cold War Era. The genesis of Hanford�s modern day Curation Program, its evolution over nearly two decades, issues encountered, and lessons learned along the way � particularly the importance of upper management advocacy, when and how identification efforts should be accomplished, the challenges of working within a radiological setting, and the importance of �first hand� information � are presented

Personality Disorder and Verbal Behavior

Today, the development of new technologies means that there are many advanced tools that can be used to improve our understanding of personality disorder, and, in turn, the treatment of personality disorder. One particularly promising tool — indeed, the focus of this chapter — is computerized language analysis. Through the exploration and analysis of verbal behavior, it is possible to empirically develop new insights into personality disorder, broadly defined. That is, by looking at patterns in the way that people with personality disorder use language — the words that they use and the way in which they use them — we can gain access into their broad constellation of thinking, feelings, and behaviors, as well as how precisely each of these features contributes to their pathology. To date, however, there has been very little research at the intersection of verbal behavior and personality pathology. Accordingly, the goal of this chapter is to describe and discuss how personality disorder may become better understood through the application of natural language analysis, providing a rough roadmap for the development of personality disorder studies using modern methods. Specifically, in this chapter we will provide: 1. A brief background and overview of personality disorder; 2. An overview of how natural language processing (NLP) methods have advanced understanding within the wider field of psychology, focusing on personality psychology and psychopathology specifically; 3. Examples that demonstrate how NLP methods can help to resolve some of the fundamental, unanswered questions and debates in the personality disorder literature

Forested Wetlands of the Southern United States: A Bibliography

The term forested wetland covers a variety of forest types including mangroves, cypress/tupelo swamps, bottomland hardwoods, pocosins and Carolina bays, flatwoods, and mountain fens. These forests are dominated by woody species that have morphological features, physiological adaptations, and/or reproductive strategies enabling them to achieve maturity and reproduce in an environment where the soils within the rooting zone may be inundated or saturated for various periods during the growing season. Although alluvial floodplains occur along most streams of the United States, they are most extensive in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Gulf Coastal Plain, and Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Only about half of the original floodplain forests remained by the 1930s, and conversion to agriculture continued at an accelerated pace during the 1960s and 1970s.The purpose of this bibliography is to provide a detailed listing of references for students and researchers of the varied studies conducted in these forest types