6,684 research outputs found
State-space based mass event-history model I: many decision-making agents with one target
A dynamic decision-making system that includes a mass of indistinguishable
agents could manifest impressive heterogeneity. This kind of nonhomogeneity is
postulated to result from macroscopic behavioral tactics employed by almost all
involved agents. A State-Space Based (SSB) mass event-history model is
developed here to explore the potential existence of such macroscopic
behaviors. By imposing an unobserved internal state-space variable into the
system, each individual's event-history is made into a composition of a common
state duration and an individual specific time to action. With the common state
modeling of the macroscopic behavior, parametric statistical inferences are
derived under the current-status data structure and conditional independence
assumptions. Identifiability and computation related problems are also
addressed. From the dynamic perspectives of system-wise heterogeneity, this SSB
mass event-history model is shown to be very distinct from a random effect
model via the Principle Component Analysis (PCA) in a numerical experiment.
Real data showing the mass invasion by two species of parasitic nematode into
two species of host larvae are also analyzed. The analysis results not only are
found coherent in the context of the biology of the nematode as a parasite, but
also include new quantitative interpretations.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/08-AOAS189 the Annals of
Applied Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aoas/) by the Institute of
Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org
Determination of the resistivity anisotropy of SrRuO by measuring the planar Hall effect
We have measured the planar Hall effect in epitaxial thin films of the
itinerant ferromagnet SrRuO3 patterned with their current paths at different
angles relative to the crystallographic axes. Based on the results, we have
determined that SrRuO3 exhibits small resistivity anisotropy in the entire
temperature range of our measurements (between 2 to 300 K); namely, both above
and below its Curie temperature (~150 K). It means that in addition to
anisotropy related to magnetism, the resistivity anisotropy of SrRuO3 has an
intrinsic, nonmagnetic source. We have found that the two sources of anisotropy
have competing effects
ErbB2 enhances mammary tumorigenesis, oncogene-independent recurrence and metastasis in a model of IGF-IR-mediated mammary tumorigenesis
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The type I insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR) and ErbB2 (Her-2) are receptor tyrosine kinases implicated in human breast cancer. Both proteins are currently the subject of targeted therapeutics that are used in the treatment of breast cancer or which are in clinical trials. The focus of this study was to utilize our inducible model of IGF-IR overexpression to explore the interaction of these two potent oncogenes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ErbB2 was overexpressed in our RM11A cell line, a murine tumor cell line that overexpresses human IGF-IR in an inducible manner. ErbB2 conferred an accelerated tumor onset and increased tumor incidence after injection of RM11A cells into the mammary glands of syngeneic wild type mice. This was associated with increased proliferation immediately after tumor cell colonization of the mammary gland; however, this effect was lost after tumor establishment. ErbB2 overexpression also impaired the regression of established RM11A tumors following IGF-IR downregulation and enhanced their metastatic potential.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study has revealed that even in the presence of vast IGF-IR overexpression, a modest increase in ErbB2 can augment tumor establishment <it>in vivo</it>, mediate resistance to IGF-IR downregulation and facilitate metastasis. This supports the growing evidence suggesting a possible advantage of using IGF-IR and ErbB2-directed therapies concurrently in the treatment of breast cancer.</p
Quantifying the Direct Radiative Effect of Absorbing Aerosols for Numerical Weather Prediction: A Case Study
We conceptualize aerosol radiative transfer processes arising from the hypothetical coupling of a global aerosol transport model and a global numerical weather prediction model by applying the US Naval Research Laboratory Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System (NAAPS) and the Navy Global Environmental Model (NAVGEM) meteorological and surface reflectance fields. A unique experimental design during the 2013 NASA Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys (SEAC4RS) field mission allowed for collocated airborne sampling by the high spectral resolution Lidar (HSRL), the Airborne Multi-angle SpectroPolarimetric Imager (AirMSPI), up/down shortwave (SW) and infrared (IR) broadband radiometers, as well as NASA A-Train support from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), to attempt direct aerosol forcing closure. The results demonstrate the sensitivity of modeled fields to aerosol radiative fluxes and heating rates, specifically in the SW, as induced in this event from transported smoke and regional urban aerosols. Limitations are identified with respect to aerosol attribution, vertical distribution, and the choice of optical and surface polarimetric properties, which are discussed within the context of their influence on numerical weather prediction output that is particularly important as the community propels forward towards inline aerosol modeling within global forecast systems
Inherent Rheology of a Granular Fluid in Uniform Shear Flow
In contrast to normal fluids, a granular fluid under shear supports a steady
state with uniform temperature and density since the collisional cooling can
compensate locally for viscous heating. It is shown that the hydrodynamic
description of this steady state is inherently non-Newtonian. As a consequence,
the Newtonian shear viscosity cannot be determined from experiments or
simulation of uniform shear flow. For a given degree of inelasticity, the
complete nonlinear dependence of the shear viscosity on the shear rate requires
the analysis of the unsteady hydrodynamic behavior. The relationship to the
Chapman-Enskog method to derive hydrodynamics is clarified using an approximate
Grad's solution of the Boltzmann kinetic equationComment: 10 pages, 4 figures; substantially enlarged version; to be published
in PR
Protecting the Primordial Baryon Asymmetry From Erasure by Sphalerons
If the baryon asymmetry of the universe was created at the GUT scale,
sphalerons together with exotic sources of -violation could have erased
it, unless the latter satisfy stringent bounds. We elaborate on how the small
Yukawa coupling of the electron drastically weakens previous estimates of these
bounds.Comment: 41 pp., 4 latex figures included and 3 uuencoded or postscript
figures available by request, UMN-TH-1213-9
Temporal fluctuation of multidrug resistant salmonella typhi haplotypes in the mekong river delta region of Vietnam.
BACKGROUND: typhoid fever remains a public health problem in Vietnam, with a significant burden in the Mekong River delta region. Typhoid fever is caused by the bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), which is frequently multidrug resistant with reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolone-based drugs, the first choice for the treatment of typhoid fever. We used a GoldenGate (Illumina) assay to type 1,500 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and analyse the genetic variation of S. Typhi isolated from 267 typhoid fever patients in the Mekong delta region participating in a randomized trial conducted between 2004 and 2005. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: the population of S. Typhi circulating during the study was highly clonal, with 91% of isolates belonging to a single clonal complex of the S. Typhi H58 haplogroup. The patterns of disease were consistent with the presence of an endemic haplotype H58-C and a localised outbreak of S. Typhi haplotype H58-E2 in 2004. H58-E2-associated typhoid fever cases exhibited evidence of significant geo-spatial clustering along the Sông H u branch of the Mekong River. Multidrug resistance was common in the established clone H58-C but not in the outbreak clone H58-E2, however all H58 S. Typhi were nalidixic acid resistant and carried a Ser83Phe amino acid substitution in the gyrA gene. SIGNIFICANCE: the H58 haplogroup dominates S. Typhi populations in other endemic areas, but the population described here was more homogeneous than previously examined populations, and the dominant clonal complex (H58-C, -E1, -E2) observed in this study has not been detected outside Vietnam. IncHI1 plasmid-bearing S. Typhi H58-C was endemic during the study period whilst H58-E2, which rarely carried the plasmid, was only transient, suggesting a selective advantage for the plasmid. These data add insight into the outbreak dynamics and local molecular epidemiology of S. Typhi in southern Vietnam
Vortex microavalanches in superconducting Pb thin films
Local magnetization measurements on 100 nm type-II superconducting Pb thin
films show that flux penetration changes qualitatively with temperature. Small
flux jumps at the lowest temperatures gradually increase in size, then
disappear near T = 0.7Tc. Comparison with other experiments suggests that the
avalanches correspond to dendritic flux protrusions. Reproducibility of the
first flux jumps in a decreasing magnetic field indicates a role for defect
structure in determining avalanches. We also find a temperature-independent
final magnetization after flux jumps, analogous to the angle of repose of a
sandpile.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
The burden and characteristics of enteric fever at a healthcare facility in a densely populated area of Kathmandu
Enteric fever, caused by Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A (S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A) remains a major public health problem in many settings. The disease is limited to locations with poor sanitation which facilitates the transmission of the infecting organisms. Efficacious and inexpensive vaccines are available for S. Typhi, yet are not commonly deployed to control the disease. Lack of vaccination is due partly to uncertainty of the disease burden arising from a paucity of epidemiological information in key locations. We have collected and analyzed data from 3,898 cases of blood culture-confirmed enteric fever from Patan Hospital in Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City (LSMC), between June 2005 and May 2009. Demographic data was available for a subset of these patients (n = 527) that were resident in LSMC and who were enrolled in trials. We show a considerable burden of enteric fever caused by S. Typhi (2,672; 68.5%) and S. Paratyphi A (1,226; 31.5%) at this Hospital over a four year period, which correlate with seasonal fluctuations in rainfall. We found that local population density was not related to incidence and we identified a focus of infections in the east of LSMC. With data from patients resident in LSMC we found that the median age of those with S. Typhi (16 years) was significantly less than S. Paratyphi A (20 years) and that males aged 15 to 25 were disproportionately infected. Our findings provide a snapshot into the epidemiological patterns of enteric fever in Kathmandu. The uneven distribution of enteric fever patients within the population suggests local variation in risk factors, such as contaminated drinking water. These findings are important for initiating a vaccination scheme and improvements in sanitation. We suggest any such intervention should be implemented throughout the LSMC area.This work was supported by The Wellcome Trust, Euston Road, London, United Kingdom. MFB is supported by the Medical Research Council (grant
G0600718). SB is supported by an OAK foundation fellowship through Oxford University
Early respiratory viral infections in infants with cystic fibrosis
This article is made available for unrestricted research re-use and secondary analysis in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic.Background
Viral infections contribute to morbidity in cystic fibrosis (CF), but the impact of respiratory viruses on the development of airway disease is poorly understood.
Methods
Infants with CF identified by newborn screening were enrolled prior to 4 months of age to participate in a prospective observational study at 4 centers. Clinical data were collected at clinic visits and weekly phone calls. Multiplex PCR assays were performed on nasopharyngeal swabs to detect respiratory viruses during routine visits and when symptomatic. Participants underwent bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and a subset underwent pulmonary function testing. We present findings through 8.5 months of life.
Results
Seventy infants were enrolled, mean age 3.1 ± 0.8 months. Rhinovirus was the most prevalent virus (66%), followed by parainfluenza (19%), and coronavirus (16%). Participants had a median of 1.5 viral positive swabs (range 0–10). Past viral infection was associated with elevated neutrophil concentrations and bacterial isolates in BAL fluid, including recovery of classic CF bacterial pathogens. When antibiotics were prescribed for respiratory-related indications, viruses were identified in 52% of those instances.
Conclusions
Early viral infections were associated with greater neutrophilic inflammation and bacterial pathogens. Early viral infections appear to contribute to initiation of lower airway inflammation in infants with CF. Antibiotics were commonly prescribed in the setting of a viral infection. Future investigations examining longitudinal relationships between viral infections, airway microbiome, and antibiotic use will allow us to elucidate the interplay between these factors in young children with CF
- …