441 research outputs found
The relationship between species detection probability and local extinction probability.
In community-level ecological studies, generally not all species present in sampled areas are detected. Many authors have proposed the use of
estimation methods that allow detection probabilities that are <1 and that are heterogeneous among species. These methods can also be used to
estimate community-dynamic parameters such as species local extinction probability and turnover rates (Nichols et al. Ecol Appl 8:1213–1225;
Conserv Biol 12:1390–1398). Here, we present an ad hoc approach to estimating community-level vital rates in the presence of joint
heterogeneity of detection probabilities and vital rates. The method consists of partitioning the number of species into two groups using the
detection frequencies and then estimating vital rates (e.g., local extinction probabilities) for each group. Estimators from each group are combined
in a weighted estimator of vital rates that accounts for the effect of heterogeneity. Using data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey, we
computed such estimates and tested the hypothesis that detection probabilities and local extinction probabilities were negatively related. Our
analyses support the hypothesis that species detection probability covaries negatively with local probability of extinction and turnover rates. A
simulation study was conducted to assess the performance of vital parameter estimators as well as other estimators relevant to questions about
heterogeneity, such as coefficient of variation of detection probabilities and proportion of species in each group. Both the weighted estimator
suggested in this paper and the original unweighted estimator for local extinction probability performed fairly well and provided no basis for
preferring one to the other
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Ion energy distribution functions in inductively coupled RF discharges in mixtures of chlorine and boron trichloride
Plasma discharges involving mixtures of chlorine and boron trichloride are widely used to etch metals in the production of very-large-scale-integrated circuits. Energetic ions play a critical role in this process, influencing the etch rates, etch profiles, and selectivity to different materials. The authors are using a gridded energy analyzer to measure positive ion energy distributions and fluxes at the grounded electrode of high-density inductively-coupled rf discharges. In this paper, they present details of ion energies and fluxes in discharges containing mixtures of chlorine and boron trichloride
Extended chiral algebras and the emergence of SU(2) quantum numbers in the Coulomb gas
We study a set of chiral symmetries contained in degenerate operators beyond
the `minimal' sector of the c(p,q) models. For the operators
h_{(2j+2)q-1,1}=h_{1,(2j+2)p-1} at conformal weight [ (j+1)p-1 ][ (j+1)q -1 ],
for every 2j \in N, we find 2j+1 chiral operators which have quantum numbers of
a spin j representation of SU(2). We give a free-field construction of these
operators which makes this structure explicit and allows their OPEs to be
calculated directly without any use of screening charges. The first non-trivial
chiral field in this series, at j=1/2, is a fermionic or para-fermionic
doublet. The three chiral bosonic fields, at j=1, generate a closed W-algebra
and we calculate the vacuum character of these triplet models.Comment: 23 pages Late
Extended multiplet structure in Logarithmic Conformal Field Theories
We use the process of quantum hamiltonian reduction of SU(2)_k, at rational
level k, to study explicitly the correlators of the h_{1,s} fields in the
c_{p,q} models. We find from direct calculation of the correlators that we have
the possibility of extra, chiral and non-chiral, multiplet structure in the
h_{1,s} operators beyond the `minimal' sector. At the level of the vacuum null
vector h_{1,2p-1}=(p-1)(q-1) we find that there can be two extra non-chiral
fermionic fields. The extra indicial structure present here permeates
throughout the entire theory. In particular we find we have a chiral triplet of
fields at h_{1,4p-1}=(2p-1)(2q-1). We conjecture that this triplet algebra may
produce a rational extended c_{p,q} model. We also find a doublet of fields at
h_{1,3p-1}=(\f{3p}{2}-1)(\f{3q}{2}-1). These are chiral fermionic operators if
p and q are not both odd and otherwise parafermionic.Comment: 24 pages LATEX. Minor corrections and extra reference
Extended chiral algebras in the SU(2)_0 WZNW model
We investigate the W-algebras generated by the integer dimension chiral
primary operators of the SU(2)_0 WZNW model. These have a form almost identical
to that found in the c=-2 model but have, in addition, an extended Kac-Moody
structure. Moreover on Hamiltonian reduction these SU(2)_0 W-algebras exactly
reduce to those found in c=-2. We explicitly find the free field
representations for the chiral j=2 and j=3 operators which have respectively a
fermionic doublet and bosonic triplet nature. The correlation functions of
these operators accounts for the rational solutions of the
Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equation that we find. We explicitly compute the full
algebra of the j=2 operators and find that the associativity of the algebra is
only guaranteed if certain null vectors decouple from the theory. We conjecture
that these algebras may produce a quasi-rational conformal field theory.Comment: 18 pages LATEX. Minor corrections. Full j=2 algebra adde
Two-Point Functions and Boundary States in Boundary Logarithmic Conformal Field Theories
Our main aim in this thesis is to address the results and prospects of
boundary logarithmic conformal field theories: theories with boundaries that
contain the above Jordan cell structure. We have investigated c_{p,q} boundary
theory in search of logarithmic theories and have found logarithmic solutions
of two-point functions in the context of the Coulomb gas picture. Other
two-point functions have also been studied in the free boson construction of
BCFT with SU(2)_k symmetry. In addition, we have analyzed and obtained the
boundary Ishibashi state for a rank-2 Jordan cell structure [hep-th/0103064].
We have also examined the (generalised) Ishibashi state construction and the
symplectic fermion construction at c=-2 for boundary states in the context of
the c=-2 triplet model. The differences between two constructions are
interpreted, resolved and extended beyond each case.Comment: Ph.D. Thesis (University of Oxford), 96 pages, the layout is modified
from the origina
Dietary inflammatory potential, oxidative balance score, and risk of breast cancer: Findings from the Sister Study
Diet, inflammation, and oxidative stress may be important in breast carcinogenesis, but evidence on the role of the inflammatory and prooxidative potential of dietary patterns is limited. Energy adjusted-Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII™) and dietary oxidative balance score (D-OBS) were calculated for 43 563 Sister Study cohort participants who completed a Block 1998 food frequency questionnaire at enrollment in 2003–2009 and satisfied eligibility criteria. D-OBS was validated using measured F2-isoprostanes and metabolites. High E-DII score and low D-OBS represent a more proinflammatory and prooxidant diet, respectively, and associations of quartiles of each index with breast cancer (BC) risk were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. There were 2619 BCs diagnosed at least 1 year after enrollment (mean follow-up 8.4 years). There was no overall association between E-DII and BC risk, whereas there was a suggestive inverse association for the highest vs lowest quartile of D-OBS (HR 0.92 [95% CI, 0.81-1.03]). The highest quartile of E-DII was associated with risk of triple-negative BC (HR 1.53 [95% CI, 0.99-2.35]). When the two indices were combined, a proinflammatory/prooxidant diet (highest tertile of E-DII and lowest tertile of D-OBS) was associated with increased risk for all BC (HR 1.13 [95% CI, 1.00-1.27]) and for triple-negative BC (1.72 [95% CI, 1.10-2.70]), compared to an antiinflammatory/antioxidant diet (lowest tertile of E-DII and highest tertile of D-OBS). Diets with increased inflammatory potential and reduced oxidative balance were positively associated with overall and triple-negative BC
Genetic relatedness between cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and M. flabellifolia and M. Peruviana based on both RAPD and AFLP markers
Gestational diabetes and risk of breast cancer before age 55 years
Background: The history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been associated with breast cancer risk in some studies, particularly in young women, but results of cohort studies are conflicting. Methods: We pooled data from 257 290 young (age <55 years) women from five cohorts. We used multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between GDM history and risk of breast cancer, overall and by oestrogen receptor (ER) status, before age 55 years, adjusted for established breast cancer risk factors. Results: Five percent of women reported a history of GDM and 6842 women reported an incident breast-cancer diagnosis (median follow-up = 16 years; maximum = 24 years). Compared with parous women without GDM, women with a history of GDM were not at increased risk of young-onset breast cancer overall (HR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.78, 1.03) or by ER status (HR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.79, 1.16 for ER-positive; HR = 1.07; 95% CI: 0.78, 1.47 for ER-negative). Compared with nulliparous women, parous women with a history of GDM had a lower risk of breast cancer overall (HR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.91) and of ER-positive (HR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.66, 1.02) but not ER-negative (HR = 1.09; 95% CI: 0.76, 1.54) invasive breast cancer. These results were consistent with the HRs comparing parous women without GDM to nulliparous women. Conclusions: Results of this analysis do not support the hypothesis that GDM is a risk factor for breast cancer in young women. Our findings suggest that the well-established protective effect of parity on risk of ER-positive breast cancer persists even for pregnancies complicated by GDM
Genetic variants in anti-MĂĽllerian hormone-related genes and breast cancer risk: results from the AMBER consortium
Purpose: Circulating anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels are positively associated with time to menopause and breast cancer risk. We examined breast cancer associations with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the AMH gene or its receptor genes, ACVR1 and AMHR2, among African American women. Methods: In the AMBER consortium, we tested 65 candidate SNPs, and 1130 total variants, in or near AMH, ACVR1, and AMHR2 and breast cancer risk. Overall, 3649 cases and 4230 controls contributed to analyses. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for breast cancer were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. Results: After correction for multiple comparisons (false-discovery rate of 5%), there were no statistically significant associations with breast cancer risk. Without correction for multiple testing, four candidate SNPs in ACVR1 and one near AMH were associated with breast cancer risk. In ACVR1, rs13395576[C] was associated with lower breast cancer risk overall (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.72, 0.97) and for ER+ disease (OR 0.75; CI 0.62, 0.89) (p < 0.05). Rs1220110[A] and rs1220134[T] each had ORs of 0.89–0.90 for postmenopausal and ER+ breast cancer (p ≤ 0.03). Conversely, rs1682130[T] was associated with higher risk of ER+ breast cancer (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.04, 1.32). Near AMH, rs6510652[T] had ORs of 0.85–0.90 for breast cancer overall and after menopause (p ≤ 0.02). Conclusions: The present results, from a large study of African American women, provide limited support for an association between AMH-related polymorphisms and breast cancer risk and require replication in other studies
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