2,162 research outputs found
Adaptive stochastic Galerkin FEM for lognormal coefficients in hierarchical tensor representations
Stochastic Galerkin methods for non-affine coefficient representations are
known to cause major difficulties from theoretical and numerical points of
view. In this work, an adaptive Galerkin FE method for linear parametric PDEs
with lognormal coefficients discretized in Hermite chaos polynomials is
derived. It employs problem-adapted function spaces to ensure solvability of
the variational formulation. The inherently high computational complexity of
the parametric operator is made tractable by using hierarchical tensor
representations. For this, a new tensor train format of the lognormal
coefficient is derived and verified numerically. The central novelty is the
derivation of a reliable residual-based a posteriori error estimator. This can
be regarded as a unique feature of stochastic Galerkin methods. It allows for
an adaptive algorithm to steer the refinements of the physical mesh and the
anisotropic Wiener chaos polynomial degrees. For the evaluation of the error
estimator to become feasible, a numerically efficient tensor format
discretization is developed. Benchmark examples with unbounded lognormal
coefficient fields illustrate the performance of the proposed Galerkin
discretization and the fully adaptive algorithm
Emergence of zoonotic arboviruses by animal trade and migration
Arboviruses are transmitted in nature exclusively or to a major extend by arthropods. They belong to the most important viruses invading new areas in the world and their occurrence is strongly influenced by climatic changes due to the life cycle of the transmitting vectors. Several arboviruses have emerged in new regions of the world during the last years, like West Nile virus (WNV) in the Americas, Usutu virus (USUV) in Central Europe, or Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in the Arabian Peninsula. In most instances the ways of introduction of arboviruses into new regions are not known. Infections acquired during stays in the tropics and subtropics are diagnosed with increasing frequency in travellers returning from tropical countries, but interestingly no attention is paid on accompanying pet animals or the hematophagous ectoparasites that may still be attached to them. Here we outline the known ecology of the mosquito-borne equine encephalitis viruses (WEEV, EEEV, and VEEV), WNV, USUV, RVFV, and Japanese Encephalitis virus, as well as Tick-Borne Encephalitis virus and its North American counterpart Powassan virus, and will discuss the most likely mode that these viruses could expand their respective geographical range. All these viruses have a different epidemiology as different vector species, reservoir hosts and virus types have adapted to promiscuous and robust or rather very fine-balanced transmission cycles. Consequently, these viruses will behave differently with regard to the requirements needed to establish new endemic foci outside their original geographical ranges. Hence, emphasis is given on animal trade and suitable ecologic conditions, including competent vectors and vertebrate hosts
Adaptive stochastic Galerkin FEM with hierarchical tensor representations
The solution of PDE with stochastic data commonly leads to very high-dimensional algebraic problems, e.g. when multiplicative noise is present. The Stochastic Galerkin FEM considered in this paper then suffers from the curse of dimensionality. This is directly related to the number of random variables required for an adequate representation of the random fields included in the PDE. With the presented new approach, we circumvent this major complexity obstacle by combining two highly efficient model reduction strategies, namely a modern low-rank tensor representation in the tensor train format of the problem and a refinement algorithm on the basis of a posteriori error estimates to adaptively adjust the different employed discretizations. The adaptive adjustment includes the refinement of the FE mesh based on a residual estimator, the problem-adapted stochastic discretization in anisotropic Legendre Wiener chaos and the successive increase of the tensor rank. Computable a posteriori error estimators are derived for all error terms emanating from the discretizations and the iterative solution with a preconditioned ALS scheme of the problem. Strikingly, it is possible to exploit the tensor structure of the problem to evaluate all error terms very efficiently. A set of benchmark problems illustrates the performance of the adaptive algorithm with higher-order FE. Moreover, the influence of the tensor rank on the approximation quality is investigated
The Alphavirus 3âČ-Nontranslated Region: Size Heterogeneity and Arrangement of Repeated Sequence Elements
AbstractThe 3âČ-nontranslated region (NTR) of representative strains of all known alphavirus species was amplified by reverse transcriptionâpolymerase chain reaction. For 23 of them, the 3âČ-NTR sequence was determined. Together with previously published data, this allowed an analysis of the 3âČ-NTR of the viruses in the genus Alphavirus. The length of the 3âČ-NTRs varied from 77 nt for Pixuna virus to 609 nt for Bebaru virus. The 19-nt conserved sequence element directly adjacent to the poly(A) tract was found in all viruses, supporting the hypothesis that this region is acis-acting sequence element during viral replication and essential for virus growthin vitro. Within the 3âČ-NTR of all alphaviruses, repeated sequence elements of various numbers and lengths were found. Their composition was very consistent in both the Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) and the Sindbis-like viruses, although their number was constant only within the latter group. For the VEE viruses, our data suggested that insertion events rather than deletions from an ancestor with a long 3âČ-NTR created the various number of repeated sequence elements. Among the remaining viruses, both the number and the composition of repeated sequence elements varied remarkedly
Adaptive stochastic Galerkin FEM for log-normal coefficients in hierarchical tensor representations
Stochastic Galerkin methods for non-affine coefficient representations are known to cause major difficulties from theoretical and numerical points of view. In this work, an adaptive Galerkin FE method for linear parametric PDEs with log-normal coefficients discretized in Hermite chaos polynomials is derived. It employs problem-adapted function spaces to ensure solvability of the variational formulation. The inherently high computational complexity of the parametric operator is made tractable by using hierarchical tensor representations. For this, a new tensor train format of the lognormal coefficient is derived and verified numerically. The central novelty is the derivation of a reliable residual-based a posteriori error estimator. This can be regarded as a unique feature of stochastic Galerkin methods. It allows for an adaptive algorithm to steer the refinements of the physical mesh and the anisotropic Wiener chaos polynomial degrees. For the evaluation of the error estimator to become feasible, a numerically efficient tensor format discretization is developed. Benchmark examples with unbounded lognormal coefficient fields illustrate the performance of the proposed Galerkin discretization and the fully adaptive algorithm
Adaptive stochastic Galerkin FEM for lognormal coefficients in hierarchical tensor representations
Stochastic Galerkin methods for non-affine coefficient representations are known to cause major difficulties from theoretical and numerical points of view. In this work, an adaptive Galerkin FE method for linear parametric PDEs with lognormal coefficients discretized in Hermite chaos polynomials is derived. It employs problem-adapted function spaces to ensure solvability of the variational formulation. The inherently high computational complexity of the parametric operator is made tractable by using hierarchical tensor representations. For this, a new tensor train format of the lognormal coefficient is derived and verified numerically. The central novelty is the derivation of a reliable residual-based a posteriori error estimator. This can be regarded as a unique feature of stochastic Galerkin methods. It allows for an adaptive algorithm to steer the refinements of the physical mesh and the anisotropic Wiener chaos polynomial degrees. For the evaluation of the error estimator to become feasible, a numerically efficient tensor format discretization is developed. Benchmark examples with unbounded lognormal coefficient fields illustrate the performance of the proposed Galerkin discretization and the fully adaptive algorithm
Uptake and fecal excretion of Coxiella burnetii by Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor marginatus ticks
Background:
The bacterium Coxiella burnetii is the etiological agent of Q fever and is mainly transmitted via inhalation of infectious aerosols. DNA of C. burnetii is frequently detected in ticks, but the role of ticks as vectors in the epidemiology of this agent is still controversial. In this study, Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor marginatus adults as well as I. ricinus nymphs were fed on blood spiked with C. burnetii in order to study the fate of the bacterium within putative tick vectors.
Methods:
Blood-feeding experiments were performed in vitro in silicone-membrane based feeding units. The uptake, fecal excretion and transstadial transmission of C. burnetii was examined by quantitative real-time PCR as well as cultivation of feces and crushed tick filtrates in L-929 mouse fibroblast cells and cell-free culture medium.
Results:
Ticks successfully fed in the feeding system with engorgement rates ranging from 29% (D. marginatus) to 64% (I. ricinus adults). Coxiella burnetii DNA was detected in the feces of both tick species during and after feeding on blood containing 105 or 106 genomic equivalents per ml blood (GE/ml), but not when fed on blood containing only 104 GE/ml. Isolation and cultivation demonstrated the infectivity of C. burnetii in shed feces. In 25% of the I. ricinus nymphs feeding on inoculated blood, a transstadial transmission to the adult stage was detected. Females that molted from nymphs fed on inoculated blood excreted C. burnetii of up to 106 genomic equivalents per mg of feces.
Conclusions:
These findings show that transstadial transmission of C. burnetii occurs in I. ricinus and confirm that I. ricinus is a potential vector for Q fever. Transmission from both tick species might occur by inhalation of feces containing high amounts of viable C. burnetii rather than via tick bites
Integral Management: Adaptationsmöglichkeiten und Modifikationserfordnerisse des Balanced-Scorecard-Konzeptes bei der Anwendung in Non-Profit-Organisationen
Non-Profit-Organizations of the Third Sector have lately gained an increasing importance both in scientific research and as far as their economical weight is concerned. Adapting the concept of the Balanced Scorecard for those organizations, their particularities need to be determined and based on the findings, the need of changes within and additions to the concept need to be questioned and discussed.Non-Profit-Organisationen, Balanced Scorecard, Controlling, Performance, Measurement
A new permanent cell line derived from the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) as cell culture model for zoonotic viruses
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Approximately 60% of emerging viruses are of zoonotic origin, with three-fourths derived from wild animals. Many of these zoonotic diseases are transmitted by rodents with important information about their reservoir dynamics and pathogenesis missing. One main reason for the gap in our knowledge is the lack of adequate cell culture systems as models for the investigation of rodent-borne (robo) viruses <it>in vitro</it>. Therefore we established and characterized a new cell line, BVK168, using the kidney of a bank vole, <it>Myodes glareolus, </it>the most abundant member of the <it>Arvicolinae </it>trapped in Germany.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>BVK168 proved to be of epithelial morphology expressing tight junctions as well as adherence junction proteins. The BVK168 cells were analyzed for their infectability by several arbo- and robo-viruses: Vesicular stomatitis virus, vaccinia virus, cowpox virus, Sindbis virus, Pixuna virus, Usutu virus, Inkoo virus, Puumalavirus, and Borna disease virus (BDV). The cell line was susceptible for all tested viruses, and most interestingly also for the difficult to propagate BDV.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, the newly established cell line from wildlife rodents seems to be an excellent tool for the isolation and characterization of new rodent-associated viruses and may be used as <it>in vitro-</it>model to study properties and pathogenesis of these agents.</p
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