Gromov-Wasserstein Distance based Object Matching: Asymptotic Inference

In this paper, we aim to provide a statistical theory for object matching based on the Gromov-Wasserstein distance. To this end, we model general objects as metric measure spaces. Based on this, we propose a simple and efficiently computable asymptotic statistical test for pose invariant object discrimination. This is based on an empirical version of a $\beta$-trimmed lower bound of the Gromov-Wasserstein distance. We derive for $\beta\in[0,1/2)$ distributional limits of this test statistic. To this end, we introduce a novel $U$-type process indexed in $\beta$ and show its weak convergence. Finally, the theory developed is investigated in Monte Carlo simulations and applied to structural protein comparisons.Comment: For a version with the complete supplement see [v2

Entwicklung und Evaluation eines Fortbildungsprogramms für schulinterne Krisenteams in Thüringen

Ausgehend von einer ausführlichen Analyse der aktuellen schul- und notfallpsychologischen Fachliteratur und unter Einbindung erwachsenendidaktischer Grundlagen dokumentiert die vorliegende Arbeit die Entwicklung, Durchführung und Evaluation des ersten und bisher einzigen standardisierten notfallpsychologischen Fortbildungsprogramms für schulinterne Krisen- bzw. Notfallmanagementteams in Deutschland. Entstanden ist eine ausführliche Konzeption einer 2-tägigen Fortbildung, die anhand eines Vergleichsgruppendesigns mit Prä- und Post-Testung mit insgesamt 95 Untersuchungsteilnehmern evaluiert wurde. Zusätzlich fanden eine Verlaufsevaluation mit Erwartungs- und Feedbackerfassung der Teilnehmer zur Veranstaltungsgüte sowie eine ausführliche Veranstaltungsdokumentation statt. In der Evaluation zeigte sich, dass die Teilnehmer hoch zufrieden mit der Durchführung des Programms sind und vor allem die erhöhte Zielorientierung der Teams sowie die Aufgaben- und Rollenklärung innerhalb der Teams Ergebnis der Fortbildung ist. Das Programm schafft es, den Entwicklungsrückstand unerfahrener Teams im Vergleich zu notfallerprobten Teams innerhalb von 2 Blocktagen Fortbildung auszugleichen. Die Diskussion der Ergebnisse zeigt zudem Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten sowohl der Fortbildungs- als auch der Evaluationskonzeption auf und formuliert Fragen für zukünftige Forschungsansätze an der Schnittstelle zwischen Schul- und Notfallpsychologie

Toward quantitative super-resolution microscopy: molecular maps with statistical guarantees

Quantifying the number of molecules from fluorescence microscopy measurements is an important topic in cell biology and medical research. In this work, we present a consecutive algorithm for super-resolution (stimulated emission depletion (STED)) scanning microscopy that provides molecule counts in automatically generated image segments and offers statistical guarantees in form of asymptotic confidence intervals. To this end, we first apply a multiscale scanning procedure on STED microscopy measurements of the sample to obtain a system of significant regions, each of which contains at least one molecule with prescribed uniform probability. This system of regions will typically be highly redundant and consists of rectangular building blocks. To choose an informative but non-redundant subset of more naturally shaped regions, we hybridize our system with the result of a generic segmentation algorithm. The diameter of the segments can be of the order of the resolution of the microscope. Using multiple photon coincidence measurements of the same sample in confocal mode, we are then able to estimate the brightness and number of molecules and give uniform confidence intervals on the molecule counts for each previously constructed segment. In other words, we establish a so-called molecular map with uniform error control. The performance of the algorithm is investigated on simulated and real data

Carbohydrate masking of an antigenic epitope of influenza virus haemagglutinin independent of oligosaccharide size

Comparison of the haemagglutinins (HA) of the pathogenic avian influenza viruses A/FPV/Dutch/27 (H7N7) and A/FPV/Rostock/34 (H7N1) revealed 94.7% nucleotide and 93.8% amino acid sequence homologies. Six of the seven N-glycosidic oligosaccharides of the Rostock HA are at the same positions as the six carbohydrates of the Dutch strain. The additional oligosaccharide side chain of the Rostock strain, which is of the complex type, is attached to asparagine149 in antigenic epitope B. The accessibility of this antigenic epitope has been analysed by using rabbit antisera raised against synthetic peptides comprising amino acids 143-162. The carbohydrates of the HA of the Rostock strain have been modified (i) to truncated cores by expression in insect cells using a baculovirus vector, (ii) to oligomannosidic side chains by growth in the presence of the trimming inhibitor methyldeoxynojirimycin and (iii) to a single N-acetylglucosamine residue by removal of the oligomannosidic sugar with endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase H. Neither the authentic nor the modified oligosaccharides allowed antibody binding, as indicated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analyses. Reactivity was observed, however, after complete removal of the carbohydrate from HA of the Rostock strain by digestion with peptide-N-glycosidase F. HA of the Dutch strain was reactive without prior peptide-N-glycosidase F treatment. These results demonstrate that a single N-acetylglucosamine at asparagine149 is sufficient to prevent recognition of the peptide epitop

A refined set of rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes for in situ detection and quantification of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria

Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) of the betaproteobacterial genera Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira are key nitrifying microorganisms in many natural and engineered ecosystems. Since many AOB remain un-cultured, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes has been one of the most widely used approaches to study the community composition, abundance, and other features of AOB directly in environmental samples. However, the established and widely used AOB-specific 16S rRNA-targeted FISH probes were designed up to two decades ago, based on much smaller rRNA gene sequence datasets than available today. Several of these probes cover their target AOB lineages incompletely and suffer from a weak target specificity, which causes cross-hybridization of probes that should detect different AOB lineages. Here, a set of new highly specific 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes was developed and experimentally evaluated that complements the existing probes and enables the specific detection and differentiation of the known, major phylogenetic clusters of betaproteobacterial AOB. The new probes were successfully applied to visualize and quantify AOB in activated sludge and biofilm samples from seven pilotand full-scale wastewater treatment systems. Based on its improved target group coverage and specificity, the refined probe set will facilitate future in situ analyses of AOB. (c) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Virulence Factors for Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, Denmark1

We present an analysis of strain and patient factors associated with the development of bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) among Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) patients registered in Denmark in a 6-year period. Of 343 STEC patients, bloody diarrhea developed in 36.4% and HUS in 6.1%. In a multivariate logistic regression model, risk factors for bloody diarrhea were the eae and stx2 genes, O groups O157 and O103, and increasing age. Risk factors for HUS were presence of the stx2 (odds ratio [OR] 18.9) and eae (OR undefined) genes, being a child, and having bloody diarrhea. O group O157, although associated with HUS in a univariate analysis (OR 4.0), was not associated in the multivariate analysis (OR 1.1). This finding indicates that, rather than O group, the combined presence of the eae and stx2 genes is an important predictor of HUS

Hippocampal and Hippocampal-Subfield Volumes From Early-Onset Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder to Cognitive Decline

Background: The hippocampus and its subfields (HippSub) are reported to be diminished in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). We examined these groups vs healthy controls (HC) to reveal HippSub alterations between diseases. Methods: We segmented 3T-MRI T2-weighted hippocampal images of 67 HC, 58 BD, and MDD patients from the AFFDIS study and 137 patients from the DELCODE study assessing cognitive decline, including subjective cognitive decline (SCD), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and AD, via Free Surfer 6.0 to compare volumes across groups. Results: Groups differed significantly in several HippSub volumes, particularly between patients with AD and mood disorders. In comparison to HC, significant lower volumes appear in aMCI and AD groups in specific subfields. Smaller volumes in the left presubiculum are detected in aMCI and AD patients, differing from the BD group. A significant linear regression is seen between left hippocampus volume and duration since the first depressive episode. Conclusions: HippSub volume alterations were observed in AD, but not in early-onset MDD and BD, reinforcing the notion of different neural mechanisms in hippocampal degeneration. Moreover, duration since the first depressive episode was a relevant factor explaining the lower left hippocampal volumes present in groups

Association of latent factors of neuroinflammation with Alzheimer's disease pathology and longitudinal cognitive decline

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the association of inflammatory mechanisms with markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and rates of cognitive decline in the AD spectrum.METHODS: We studied 296 cases from the Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study (DELCODE) cohort, and an extension cohort of 276 cases of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative study. Using Bayesian confirmatory factor analysis, we constructed latent factors for synaptic integrity, microglia, cerebrovascular endothelial function, cytokine/chemokine, and complement components of the inflammatory response using a set of inflammatory markers in cerebrospinal fluid.RESULTS: We found strong evidence for an association of synaptic integrity, microglia response, and cerebrovascular endothelial function with a latent factor of AD pathology and with rates of cognitive decline. We found evidence against an association of complement and cytokine/chemokine factors with AD pathology and rates of cognitive decline.DISCUSSION: Latent factors provided access to directly unobservable components of the neuroinflammatory response and their association with AD pathology and cognitive decline.</p