Unified Geostatistical Modeling for Data Fusion and Spatial Heteroskedasticity with R Package ramps

This article illustrates usage of the ramps R package, which implements the reparameterized and marginalized posterior sampling (RAMPS) algorithm for complex Bayesian geostatistical models. The RAMPS methodology allows joint modeling of areal and point-source data arising from the same underlying spatial process. A reparametrization of variance parameters facilitates slice sampling based on simplexes, which can be useful in general when multiple variances are present. Prediction at arbitrary points can be made, which is critical in applications where maps are needed. Our implementation takes advantage of sparse matrix operations in the Matrix package and can provide substantial savings in computing time for large datasets. A user-friendly interface, similar to the nlme mixed effects models package, enables users to analyze datasets with little programming effort. Support is provided for numerous spatial and spatiotemporal correlation structures, user-defined correlation structures, and non-spatial random effects. The package features are illustrated via a synthetic dataset of spatially correlated observation distributed across the state of Iowa, USA.

Mechanisms of modulation of brain microvascular endothelial cells function by thrombin.

Brain microvascular endothelial cells are a critical component of the blood-brain barrier. They form a tight monolayer which is essential for maintaining the brain homeostasis. Blood-derived proteases such as thrombin may enter the brain during pathological conditions like trauma, stroke, and inflammation and further disrupts the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, via incompletely characterized mechanisms. We examined the underlying mechanisms evoked by thrombin in rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (RBMVEC). Our results indicate that thrombin, acting on protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) increases cytosolic C

On a metric view of the polynomial shift locus

We relate generic points in the shift locus $\mathcal{S}_D$ of degree $D\ge 2$ polynomials to metric graphs. Using thermodynamic metrics on the space of metric graphs, we obtain a distance function $\rho_D$ on $\mathcal{S}_D$. We study the (in)completeness of the metric space $(\mathcal{S}_D, \rho_D)$. We prove that when $D \ge 3$, the space $(\mathcal{S}_D, \rho_D)$ is incomplete and its metric completion contains a subset homeomorphic to the space $\mathbb{P}\mathcal{ST}_D^*$ introduced by DeMarco and Pilgrim. This provides a new way to understand the space $\mathbb{P}\mathcal{ST}_D^*$.Comment: 26 page

Heart rate responses to autonomic challenges in obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is accompanied by structural alterations and dysfunction in central autonomic regulatory regions, which may impair dynamic and static cardiovascular regulation, and contribute to other syndrome pathologies. Characterizing cardiovascular responses to autonomic challenges may provide insights into central nervous system impairments, including contributions by sex, since structural alterations are enhanced in OSA females over males. The objective was to assess heart rate responses in OSA versus healthy control subjects to autonomic challenges, and, separately, characterize female and male patterns. We studied 94 subjects, including 37 newly-diagnosed, untreated OSA patients (6 female, age mean ± std: 52.1 ± 8.1 years; 31 male aged 54.3 ± 8.4 years), and 57 healthy control subjects (20 female, 50.5 ± 8.1 years; 37 male, 45.6 ± 9.2 years). We measured instantaneous heart rate with pulse oximetry during cold pressor, hand grip, and Valsalva maneuver challenges. All challenges elicited significant heart rate differences between OSA and control groups during and after challenges (repeated measures ANOVA, p<0.05). In post-hoc analyses, OSA females showed greater impairments than OSA males, which included: for cold pressor, lower initial increase (OSA vs. control: 9.5 vs. 7.3 bpm in females, 7.6 vs. 3.7 bpm in males), OSA delay to initial peak (2.5 s females/0.9 s males), slower mid-challenge rate-of-increase (OSA vs. control: -0.11 vs. 0.09 bpm/s in females, 0.03 vs. 0.06 bpm/s in males); for hand grip, lower initial peak (OSA vs. control: 2.6 vs. 4.6 bpm in females, 5.3 vs. 6.0 bpm in males); for Valsalva maneuver, lower Valsalva ratio (OSA vs. control: 1.14 vs. 1.30 in females, 1.29 vs. 1.34 in males), and OSA delay during phase II (0.68 s females/1.31 s males). Heart rate responses showed lower amplitude, delayed onset, and slower rate changes in OSA patients over healthy controls, and impairments may be more pronounced in females. The dysfunctions may reflect central injury in the syndrome, and suggest autonomic deficiencies that may contribute to further tissue and functional pathologies

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SISTERS’ LEADERSHIP STYLES AND THEIR JOB SATISFACTION IN ZETAMAN SISTERS OF THE LITTLE FLOWER CONGREGATION AT TAUNGGYI ARCHDIOCESE, SHAN STATE, MYANMAR

The purposes of this study were: 1) to compare the Sisters’ Leadership styles in Zetaman Sisters of the Little Flower Congregation; 2) to determine the Sisters’ Job Satisfaction levels in Zetaman Sisters of the Little Flower Congregation, and 3) to compare the Sisters’ Job Satisfaction among different Leadership Styles in Zetaman Sisters of the Little Flower.This research was conducted in Zetaman Sisters of the Little Flower Congregation, Taunggyi Archdiocese, Myanmar. All 80 sisters in the congregation were distributed the surveys and all surveys were returned.The research was designed as a survey research. The researcher identified sisters’ leadership styles, including autocratic leadership style, democratic leadership style and laissez-faire leadership style. Extrinsic job satisfaction, intrinsic job satisfaction and overall job satisfaction were used to determine the sister’s job satisfaction in this study.The collected data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and one-way ANOVA. The study found out that most of the sisters in congregation had practiced democratic leadership styles. The sisters’ job satisfaction was at “Satisfied” level, which meant they were satisfied with their jobs in the Congregation, Myanmar. However, the research found there was no significant difference of sisters’ job satisfaction among different leadership styles in the Congregation.Recommendation for the sisters to strengthen their leadership styles and job satisfaction by providing self-learning, peer learning, group learning to learn and share, to ensure different personal growth and to practice appropriate leadership styles which leads to the ultimate success in developing sisters in both their leadership styles and congregation