Inference under progressively type II right censored sampling for certain lifetime distributions

In this paper, estimation of the parameters of a certain family of two-parameter lifetime distributions based on progressively Type II right censored samples (including ordinary Type II right censoring) is studied. This family, of reverse hazard distributions, includes the Weibull, Gompertz and Lomax distributions. A new type of parameter estimation, named inverse estimation, is introduced for both parameters. Exact confidence intervals for one of the parameters and generalized confidence intervals for the other are explored; inference for the first parameter can be accomplished by our methodology independently of the unknown value of the other parameter in this family of distributions. Derivation of the estimation method uses properties of order statistics. A simulation study in the particular context of the Weibull distribution illustrates the accuracy of these confidence intervals and compares inverse estimators favorably with maximum likelihood estimators. A numerical example is used to illustrate the proposed procedures

On two- and three-body descriptions of hybrid mesons

Hybrid mesons are exotic mesons in which the color field is not in its ground state. Their understanding deserves interest from a theoretical point of view, because it is intimately related to nonperturbative aspects of QCD. In this work, we analyze and compare two different descriptions of hybrid mesons, namely a two-body $q\bar q$ system with an excited string, or a three-body $q\bar q g$ system. In particular, we show that the constituent gluon approach is equivalent to an effective excited string in the heavy hybrid sector. Instead of a numerical resolution, we use the auxiliary field technique. It allows to find simplified analytical mass spectra and wave functions, and still leads to reliable qualitative predictions. We also investigate the light hybrid sector, and found a mass for the lightest hybrid meson which is in satisfactory agreement with lattice QCD and other effective models.Comment: 2 figure

Large-signal dynamic behavior of distributed-feedback lasers including lateral effects

The large-signal behavior of DFB lasers is analyzed, including lateral as well as longitudinal variations in carrier density, photon density, and refractive index. The effective index method and other approximations are used to reduce the complex three-dimensional problem to one dimension. The coupled wave and carrier rate equations are then solved in a self-consistent manner. Lateral spatial carrier hole burning and lateral diffusion are found to affect the relaxation oscillation frequency and damping rate of DFB lasers, depending on their detailed structure. The effective time-averaged linewidth enhancement factor is also affected. In symmetric AR-coated λ/4 phase-shifted lasers the side mode suppression ratio can be deteriorated significantly by lateral spatial hole burning when kL is large.published_or_final_versio

Entanglement sudden birth of two trapped ions interacting with a time-dependent laser field

We explore and develop the mathematics of the two multi-level ions. In particular, we describe some new features of quantum entanglement in two three-level trapped ions confined in a one-dimensional harmonic potential, allowing the instantaneous position of the center-of-mass motion of the ions to be explicitly time-dependent. By solving the exact dynamics of the system, we show how survivability of the quantum entanglement is determined by a specific choice of the initial state settings.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

Smoking makes Marlboro cowboy 'unfit'

published_or_final_versio

Legionella spp. and legionellosis in southeastern Italy: disease epidemiology and environmental surveillance in community and health care facilities

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Following the publication of the Italian Guidelines for the control and prevention of legionellosis an environmental and clinical surveillance has been carried out in Southeastern Italy. The aim of the study is to identify the risk factors for the disease, so allowing better programming of the necessary prevention measures.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>During the period January 2000 - December 2009 the environmental surveillance was carried out by water sampling of 129 health care facilities (73 public and 56 private hospitals) and 533 buildings within the community (63 private apartments, 305 hotels, 19 offices, 4 churches, 116 gyms, 3 swimming pools and 23 schools). Water sampling and microbiological analysis were carried out following the Italian Guidelines. From January 2005, all facilities were subject to risk analysis through the use of a standardized report; the results were classified as <it>good </it>(G), <it>medium </it>(M) and <it>bad </it>(B). As well, all the clinical surveillance forms for legionellosis, which must be compiled by physicians and sent to the Regional Centre for Epidemiology (OER), were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>Legionella </it>spp. was found in 102 (79.1%) health care facilities and in 238 (44.7%) community buildings. The percentages for the contamination levels < 1,000, 1,000-10,000, > 10,000 cfu/L were respectively 33.1%, 53.4% and 13.5% for samples from health care facilities and 33.5%, 43.3% and 23.2% for samples from the community. Both in hospital and community environments, <it>Legionella pneumophila </it>serogroup (<it>L. pn </it>sg) 2-14 was the most frequently isolate (respectively 54.8% and 40.8% of positive samples), followed by <it>L. pn </it>sg 1 (respectively 31.3% and 33%). The study showed a significant association between M or B score at the risk analysis and <it>Legionella </it>spp. positive microbiological test results (p < 0.001). From clinical surveillance, during the period January 2001 - August 2009, 97 cases of legionellosis were reported to the OER: 88 of community origin and 9 nosocomial. The most frequent symptoms were: fever (93.8%), cough (70.1%), dyspnea (58.8%), shivering (56.7%). Radiological evidence of pneumonia was reported in 68%. The laboratory diagnostic methods used were: urinary antigen (54.3%), single antibody titer (19.8%), only seroconversion (11.1%), other diagnostic methods (14.8%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our experience suggests that risk analysis and environmental microbiological surveillance should be carried out more frequently to control the environmental spread of <it>Legionella </it>spp. Furthermore, the laboratory diagnosis of legionellosis cannot be excluded only on the basis of a single negative test: some patients were positive to only one of the diagnostic tests.</p

Begonia bangsamoro (Begoniaceae, section Petermannia), a new species from Mindanao Island, the Philippines

Buenavista, Dave P., Ang, Yu Pin, Pranada, Mc Andrew K., Salas, Daryl S., Mollee, Eefke, Mcdonald, Morag (2021): Begonia bangsamoro (Begoniaceae, section Petermannia), a new species from Mindanao Island, the Philippines. Phytotaxa 497 (1): 39-48, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.497.1.4, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.497.1.

Traditional Cantonese diet and nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk: a large-scale case-control study in Guangdong, China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is rare in most parts of the world but is a common malignancy in southern China, especially in Guangdong. Dietary habit is regarded as an important modifier of NPC risk in several endemic areas and may partially explain the geographic distribution of NPC incidence. In China, rapid economic development during the past few decades has changed the predominant lifestyle and dietary habits of the Chinese considerably, requiring a reassessment of diet and its potential influence on NPC risk in this NPC-endemic area.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To evaluate the association between dietary factors and NPC risk in Guangdong, China, a large-scale, hospital-based case-control study was conducted. 1387 eligible cases and 1459 frequency matched controls were recruited. Odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a logistic regression model, adjusting for age, sex, education, dialect, and habitation household type.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Observations made include the following: 1) consumption of canton-style salted fish, preserved vegetables and preserved/cured meat were significantly associated with increased risk of NPC, with enhanced odds ratios (OR) of 2.45 (95% CI: 2.03-2.94), 3.17(95% CI: 2.68-3.77) and 2.09 (95% CI: 1.22-3.60) respectively in the highest intake frequency stratum during childhood; 2) consumption of fresh fruit was associated with reduced risk with a dose-dependent relationship (p = 0.001); and 3) consumption of Canton-style herbal tea and herbal slow-cooked soup was associated with decreased risk, with ORs of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.68-1.03) and 0.58 (95% CI: 0.47-0.72) respectively in the highest intake frequency stratum. In multivariate analyses, these associations remained significant.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>It can be inferred that previously established dietary risk factors in the Cantonese population are still stable and have contributed to the incidence of NPC.</p

Does bariatric surgery prior to total hip or knee arthroplasty reduce post-operative complications and improve clinical outcomes for obese patients? Systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: Our aim was to determine whether, based on the current literature, bariatric surgery prior to total hip (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) reduces the complication rates and improves the outcome following arthroplasty in obese patients. METHODS: A systematic literature search was undertaken of published and unpublished databases on the 5 November 2015. All papers reporting studies comparing obese patients who had undergone bariatric surgery prior to arthroplasty, or not, were included. Each study was assessed using the Downs and Black appraisal tool. A meta-analysis of risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) was performed to determine the incidence of complications including wound infection, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), revision surgery and mortality. RESULTS: From 156 potential studies, five were considered to be eligible for inclusion in the study. A total of 23 348 patients (657 who had undergone bariatric surgery, 22 691 who had not) were analysed. The evidence-base was moderate in quality. There was no statistically significant difference in outcomes such as superficial wound infection (relative risk (RR) 1.88; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95 to 0.37), deep wound infection (RR 1.04; 95% CI 0.65 to 1.66), DVT (RR 0.57; 95% CI 0.13 to 2.44), PE (RR 0.51; 95% CI 0.03 to 8.26), revision surgery (RR 1.24; 95% CI 0.75 to 2.05) or mortality (RR 1.25; 95% CI 0.16 to 9.89) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: For most peri-operative outcomes, bariatric surgery prior to THA or TKA does not significantly reduce the complication rates or improve the clinical outcome. This study questions the previous belief that bariatric surgery prior to arthroplasty may improve the clinical outcomes for patients who are obese or morbidly obese. This finding is based on moderate quality evidence. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1160-6

Incidence rate trends of histological subtypes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Hong Kong

The overall decline in incidence rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Hong Kong during 1988–2002 was limited primarily to a decrease in keratinising carcinoma, which could be explained by the decline in cigarette smoking. Genetic and Epstein–Barr virus interactions may explain the relatively stable incidence rate of non-keratinising carcinoma