258 research outputs found

    Bayesian D-Optimal Choice Designs for Mixtures

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    __Abstract__ Consumer products and services can often be described as mixtures of ingredients. Examples are the mixture of ingredients in a cocktail and the mixture of different components of waiting time (e.g., in-vehicle and out-of-vehicle travel time) in a transportation setting. Choice experiments may help to determine how the respondents' choice of a product or service is affected by the combination of ingredients. In such studies, individuals are confronted with sets of hypothetical products or services and they are asked to choose the most preferred product or service from each set. However, there are no studies on the optimal design of choice experiments involving mixtures. We propose a method for generating an optimal design for such choice experiments. To this end, we first introduce mixture models in the choice context and next present an algorithm to construct optimal experimental designs, assuming the multinomial logit model is used to analyze the choice data. To overcome the problem that the optimal designs depend on the unknown parameter values, we adopt a Bayesian D-optimal design approach. We also consider locally D-optimal designs and compare the performance of the resulting designs to those produced by a utility-neutral (UN) approach in which designs are based on the assumption that individuals are indifferent between all choice alternatives. We demonstrate that our designs are quite different and in general perform better than the UN designs

    The Acute Compartment Syndrome of the Lower Leg: A Difficult Diagnosis?

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    Three patients, two adults and one child, developed an acute compartment syndrome of the lower leg. Due to delay in diagnosis, severe complications developed, resulting in two transfemoral amputations. In the youngest patient, the lower leg was able to be saved after extensive reconstructive surgery. In most cases, acute compartment syndrome of the lower leg is seen in combination with a fracture (40%), although other causes (minor trauma or vascular surgery) are also known. Moreover, patient history (pain out of proportion to the associated injury) and physical examination are central to the diagnosis. In some cases, however, a reliable diagnosis cannot be made clinically, as in the case of unconscious, intoxicated or intubated patients, as well as small children. Under these circumstances, intra-compartmental pressure measurement can be of great assistance. After confirmation of the diagnosis, immediate fasciotomy of all lower leg compartments should be performed. The eventual outcome of this syndrome is directly related to the time elapsed between diagnosis and definitive treatment. Although the diagnosis can be difficult, delays in treatment should be avoided at all costs. The acute compartment syndrome of the lower leg is a surgical emergency and should be dealt with immediately

    Ground State Bands of the E(5) and X(5) Critical Symmetries Obtained from Davidson Potentials through a Variational Procedure

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    Davidson potentials of the form β2+β04/β2\beta^2 +\beta_0^4/\beta^2, when used in the original Bohr Hamiltonian for γ\gamma-independent potentials bridge the U(5) and O(6) symmetries. Using a variational procedure, we determine for each value of angular momentum LL the value of β0\beta_0 at which the derivative of the energy ratio RL=E(L)/E(2)R_L=E(L)/E(2) with respect to β0\beta_0 has a sharp maximum, the collection of RLR_L values at these points forming a band which practically coincides with the ground state band of the E(5) model, corresponding to the critical point in the shape phase transition from U(5) to O(6). The same potentials, when used in the Bohr Hamiltonian after separating variables as in the X(5) model, bridge the U(5) and SU(3) symmetries, the same variational procedure leading to a band which practically coincides with the ground state band of the X(5) model, corresponding to the critical point of the U(5) to SU(3) shape phase transition. A new derivation of the Holmberg-Lipas formula for nuclear energy spectra is obtained as a by-product.Comment: LaTeX, 12 pages, 4 postscript figure

    The 3-Dimensional q-Deformed Harmonic Oscillator and Magic Numbers of Alkali Metal Clusters

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    Magic numbers predicted by a 3-dimensional q-deformed harmonic oscillator with Uq(3) > SOq(3) symmetry are compared to experimental data for alkali metal clusters, as well as to theoretical predictions of jellium models, Woods--Saxon and wine bottle potentials, and to the classification scheme using the 3n+l pseudo quantum number. The 3-dimensional q-deformed harmonic oscillator correctly predicts all experimentally observed magic numbers up to 1500 (which is the expected limit of validity for theories based on the filling of electronic shells), thus indicating that Uq(3), which is a nonlinear extension of the U(3) symmetry of the spherical (3-dimensional isotropic) harmonic oscillator, is a good candidate for being the symmetry of systems of alkali metal clusters.Comment: 13 pages, LaTe

    Mast Cells in Kidney Transplant Biopsies With Borderline T Cell-mediated Rejection and Their Relation to Chronicity

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    Background. Mast cells are potential contributors to chronic changes in kidney transplants (KTx). Here, the role of mast cells (MCs) in KTx is investigated in patients with minimal inflammatory lesions. Methods. Fourty-seven KTx biopsies (2009-2018) with borderline pathological evidence for T cell-mediated rejection according to the Banff'17 Update were retrospectively included and corresponding clinical data was collected. Immunohistochemistry for tryptase was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections. Cortical MCs were counted and corrected for area (MC/mm²). Interstitial fibrosis was assessed by Sirius Red staining and quantified using digital image analysis (QuPath). Results. Increased MC number was correlated to donor age (spearman's r = 0.35, P = 0.022), deceased donor kidneys (mean difference = 0.74, t [32.5] = 2.21, P = 0.035), and delayed graft function (MD = 0.78, t [33.9] = 2.43, P = 0.020). Increased MC number was also correlated to the amount of interstitial fibrosis (r = 0.42, P = 0.003) but did not correlate with transplant function over time (r = -0.14, P = 0.36). Additionally, transplant survival 2 y post-biopsy was not correlated to MC number (mean difference = -0.02, t [15.36] = -0.06, P = 0.96). Conclusions. MC number in suspicious (borderline) for acute T cell-mediated rejection is correlated to interstitial fibrosis and time post-transplantation, suggesting MCs to be a marker for cumulative burden of tissue injury. There was no association between MCs and transplant function over time or transplant survival 2 y post-biopsy. It remains unclear whether MCs are just a bystander or have pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory effects in the KTx with minimal lesions.</p

    Virus-specific T<sub>RM</sub> cells of both donor and recipient origin reside in human kidney transplants

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    Tissue-resident lymphocytes (TRLs) are critical for local protection against viral pathogens in peripheral tissue. However, it is unclear if TRLs perform a similar role in transplanted organs under chronic immunosuppressed conditions. In this study, we aimed to characterize the TRL compartment in human kidney transplant nephrectomies and examine its potential role in antiviral immunity. The TRL compartment of kidney transplants contained diverse innate, innate-like, and adaptive TRL populations expressing the canonical residency markers CD69, CD103, and CD49a. Chimerism of donor and recipient cells was present in 43% of kidney transplants and occurred in all TRL subpopulations. Paired single-cell transcriptome and T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing showed that donor and recipient tissue–resident memory T (TRM) cells exhibit striking similarities in their transcriptomic profiles and share numerous TCR clonotypes predicted to target viral pathogens. Virus dextramer staining further confirmed that CD8 TRM cells of both donor and recipient origin express TCRs with specificities against common viruses, including CMV, EBV, BK polyomavirus, and influenza A. Overall, the study results demonstrate that a diverse population of TRLs resides in kidney transplants and offer compelling evidence that TRM cells of both donor and recipient origin reside within this TRL population and may contribute to local protection against viral pathogens.</p

    Measurement of νˉμ\bar{\nu}_{\mu} and νμ\nu_{\mu} charged current inclusive cross sections and their ratio with the T2K off-axis near detector

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    We report a measurement of cross section σ(νμ+nucleusμ+X)\sigma(\nu_{\mu}+{\rm nucleus}\rightarrow\mu^{-}+X) and the first measurements of the cross section σ(νˉμ+nucleusμ++X)\sigma(\bar{\nu}_{\mu}+{\rm nucleus}\rightarrow\mu^{+}+X) and their ratio R(σ(νˉ)σ(ν))R(\frac{\sigma(\bar \nu)}{\sigma(\nu)}) at (anti-)neutrino energies below 1.5 GeV. We determine the single momentum bin cross section measurements, averaged over the T2K νˉ/ν\bar{\nu}/\nu-flux, for the detector target material (mainly Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen and Copper) with phase space restricted laboratory frame kinematics of θμ\theta_{\mu}500 MeV/c. The results are σ(νˉ)=(0.900±0.029(stat.)±0.088(syst.))×1039\sigma(\bar{\nu})=\left( 0.900\pm0.029{\rm (stat.)}\pm0.088{\rm (syst.)}\right)\times10^{-39} and $\sigma(\nu)=\left( 2.41\ \pm0.022{\rm{(stat.)}}\pm0.231{\rm (syst.)}\ \right)\times10^{-39}inunitsofcm in units of cm^{2}/nucleonand/nucleon and R\left(\frac{\sigma(\bar{\nu})}{\sigma(\nu)}\right)= 0.373\pm0.012{\rm (stat.)}\pm0.015{\rm (syst.)}$.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figure

    Measurement of the polarisation of W bosons produced with large transverse momentum in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS experiment

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    This paper describes an analysis of the angular distribution of W->enu and W->munu decays, using data from pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2010, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 35 pb^-1. Using the decay lepton transverse momentum and the missing transverse energy, the W decay angular distribution projected onto the transverse plane is obtained and analysed in terms of helicity fractions f0, fL and fR over two ranges of W transverse momentum (ptw): 35 < ptw < 50 GeV and ptw > 50 GeV. Good agreement is found with theoretical predictions. For ptw > 50 GeV, the values of f0 and fL-fR, averaged over charge and lepton flavour, are measured to be : f0 = 0.127 +/- 0.030 +/- 0.108 and fL-fR = 0.252 +/- 0.017 +/- 0.030, where the first uncertainties are statistical, and the second include all systematic effects.Comment: 19 pages plus author list (34 pages total), 9 figures, 11 tables, revised author list, matches European Journal of Physics C versio

    Observation of a new chi_b state in radiative transitions to Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S) at ATLAS

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    The chi_b(nP) quarkonium states are produced in proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV and recorded by the ATLAS detector. Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.4 fb^-1, these states are reconstructed through their radiative decays to Upsilon(1S,2S) with Upsilon->mu+mu-. In addition to the mass peaks corresponding to the decay modes chi_b(1P,2P)->Upsilon(1S)gamma, a new structure centered at a mass of 10.530+/-0.005 (stat.)+/-0.009 (syst.) GeV is also observed, in both the Upsilon(1S)gamma and Upsilon(2S)gamma decay modes. This is interpreted as the chi_b(3P) system.Comment: 5 pages plus author list (18 pages total), 2 figures, 1 table, corrected author list, matches final version in Physical Review Letter
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