Convergence in distribution for filtering processes associated to Hidden Markov Models with densities

Consider a filtering process associated to a hidden Markov model with densities for which both the state space and the observation space are complete, separable, metric spaces. If the underlying, hidden Markov chain is strongly ergodic and the filtering process fulfills a certain coupling condition we prove that, in the limit, the distribution of the filtering process is independent of the initial distribution of the hidden Markov chain. If furthermore the hidden Markov chain is uniformly ergodic, then we prove that the filtering process converges in distribution.Comment: 54 pages revision. Rewritten introduction. Theorem 12.1 sharper than Theorem 16.1 (v1). Proofs and results reorganised. Example 18.3 (v1) exclude

Higher moments of Banach space valued random variables

We define the $k$:th moment of a Banach space valued random variable as the expectation of its $k$:th tensor power; thus the moment (if it exists) is an element of a tensor power of the original Banach space. We study both the projective and injective tensor products, and their relation. Moreover, in order to be general and flexible, we study three different types of expectations: Bochner integrals, Pettis integrals and Dunford integrals. One of the problems studied is whether two random variables with the same injective moments (of a given order) necessarily have the same projective moments; this is of interest in applications. We show that this holds if the Banach space has the approximation property, but not in general. Several sections are devoted to results in special Banach spaces, including Hilbert spaces, $C(K)$ and $D[0,1]$. The latter space is non-separable, which complicates the arguments, and we prove various preliminary results on e.g. measurability in $D[0,1]$ that we need. One of the main motivations of this paper is the application to Zolotarev metrics and their use in the contraction method. This is sketched in an appendix.Comment: 110 pages. v2: Typos corrected and new references adde

the case of Sida in Bolivia

In this paper, I use the concept of discourse to reflect upon how varying understandings of climate change permeate a certain political arena: international development cooperation. Starting off in the international political context, I move on to focus on Swedish development cooperation politics in the area of climate change, which I argue is much in line with the dominant international discourse. Swedish politicians also like to depict Sweden as an important actor and a forerunner on climate and development. In the final parts I outline the political context and climate discourses in Bolivia, one of Sweden’s partner countries for development cooperation and a country which has lately kept a high profile in international politics of climate change. I sketch out how the climate discourse promoted by the Bolivian government differs radically from the one brought forward by the Swedish development cooperation agency, and argue for further research on these matters to understand how these discourses are formed and reproduced, and what may be the effects when they collide in the context of development cooperation

Identification and treatment of back pain in elderly women with osteoporosis

Older women with osteoporosis and back pain are common patients in primary health care. Varied physical exercise with focus on back extensor strength and balance is an important non-pharmacological treatment method that these patients can benefit from. Aim The overall aim of this thesis was to gain knowledge about complementary treatment methods of back pain in older women with osteoporosis with or without vertebral fractures in primary health care. Material and Methods Study I, a cross-sectional study, studied the relationship between spinal curvature and balance in a cohort of 96 women, 81-91 years old. Study II was an Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) with 113 women ≥60 years, randomized to treatment with an activating spinal orthosis, to equipment training and to a control group during a treatment period of six months. Study III was a qualitative study in which 18 women were interviewed in five focus groups about their perceptions and experiences of using the activating spinal orthosis. Study IV was a post-intervention follow up study of the spinal orthosis group (n=38) and the exercise group (n=38) six months after the end of the RCT. We investigated how back pain, back extensor strength and other outcomes were affected when the participants used the spinal orthosis and the home exercise programme voluntarily. Results Study I: It was found that 31% of the women had suffered a vertebral fracture. Women with hyperkyphosis (n=45) had a better ability to tandem standing with eyes open, tandem gait forwards and tandem gait backwards. The age-adjusted Odds ratio (OR) to perform tandem gait (cut-off at four steps) for women with hyperkyphosis were for tandem gait forward OR 2.8 (CI 95% 1.1-7.4) and tandem gait backwards, compared to women without hyperkyphosis. Study II: Analysis between the activating spinal orthosis group, the training group, and the control group showed neither significant difference in back extensor strength nor in back pain, after six months of intervention. Women who had been treated with the activating spinal orthosis had insignificantly increased their back extensor strength with 27% (from 64.4 N to 81.7 N, p = 0.053) after six months of treatment. Women in the equipment training group increased their back extensor strength by 22% (from 59.6 N to 72.8 N, p = 0.013). Perceived back pain measured with VAS and Borg CR-10 showed no significant change in any group at the end of the RCT. Study III: The overall theme was “A well-adapted spinal orthosis could develop into a long-lasting friendship that provided support and help in daily life.” Study IV: Independent use of the activating spinal orthosis and independent training, did not change previously obtained results in back extensor strength or other variables that were examined. Conclusion The results of the thesis indicate that the activating spinal orthosis could be used as an aid and as a training method for individuals with osteoporosis and back pain. However, physical training that involves and improves several functions of the body should be considered as the first-hand choice

Networking Europe

The paper explores processes of transnational network building in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. The first section reviews several relevant literatures. It concludes that historiographies of Europe often recognize the pivotal importance of transnational network building, but fail to analyse network developments as well as their entanglement with wider historical processes. Specialized infrastructure studies exist in economic and technological history, but have a distinct (sub)national focus. The networking of Europe has not been investigated. The second section presents a preliminary narrative of transnational network building in the 19th and 20th century. It highlights the relationship between network building and political events in different eras, as well as different types of ambiguities or tensions. The conclusion suggests a number of topics for further research

Antibodies to Tamm-Horsfall protein associated with renal damage and urinary tract infections in adults

Autoantibodies to Tamm-Horsfall protein associated with renal damage and urinary tract infections in adults. Forty-seven adults with urinary tract infection (UTI), 9 with recent acute pyelonephritis and 38 with previous renal infection, were investigated for the presence of autoantibodies to Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP). All patients except 6 had or had had vesicoureteric reflux (VUR). In patients with recent acute pyelonephritis, only IgA antibodies were significantly elevated. Among the patients with previous UTI, more than 6 months before the time of testing, a graded response was found for IgG and IgM specific antibodies, with the lowest value in those with renal damage and elevated serum creatinine and the highest in those with a normal X-ray. A negative correlation was found between IgG antibodies to THP and elevated serum creatinine (r = -0.76, P < 0.02). No significant correlation was found between VUR itself and antibodies to THP. A low IgG antibody level to THP in patients with a history of previous UTI seems to be a useful indicator of renal scarring. Possible immunologic mechanisms behind the low antibody level and the renal damage are discussed.Auto-anticorps anti-protéine de Tamm-Horsfall associés à des lésions rénales et à des infections urinaires chez l'adulte Quarante-sept adultes atteints d'infection urinaire, 9 ayant une pyélonéphrite aiguë récente et 38 une infection rénale antérieure ont été étudiés pour la présence d'auto-anticorps anti-protéine de Tamm-Horsfall (THP). Tous les malades sauf six avaient ou avaient eu un reflux vésico-urétéral. Chez les malades ayant un antécédent récent de pyélonéphrite seul les anti-corps IgA étaient significativement élevés. Parmi les malades dont l'antécédent d'infection urinaire remontait à plus de six mois une réponse a été obtenue pour les anti-corps spécifiques IgG et IgM, avec la valeur la plus faible chez ceux qui étaient atteints de lésions rénales et avaient une créatininémie élevée et la valeur la plus élevée chez ceux qui étaient indemnes de lésions radiologiques. Une corrélation négative a été observée entre les anti-corps IgG anti THP et l'augmentation de la créatininémie (r = -0,76, P < 0,02). Il n'a pas été observé de corrélation significative entre le reflux par lui-même et les anti-corps anti THP. Un taux faible d'anti-corps IgG anti THP chez des malades ayant des antécédents d'infection urinaire peut être un indicateur utile de lésions rénales. Les mécanismes immunologiques qui peuvent sous tendre le taux faible d'anti-corps et les lésions rénales sont discutés

A unified and flexible solution for integrating CRL and OCSP into PKI applications

Public key certificates (PKCs) are used nowadays in several security protocols and applications, so as to secure data exchange via transport layer security channels, or to protect data at the application level by means of digital signatures. However, many security applications often fail to manage properly the PKCs, in particular when checking their validity status. These failures are partly due to the lack of experience (or training) of the users who configure these applications or protocols, and partly due to the scarce support offered by some common cryptographic libraries to the application developers. This paper describes the design and implementation of a light middleware dealing with certificate validation in a unified way. Our middleware exploits on one side the libraries that have already been defined or implemented for certificate validation, and it constructs a thin layer, which provides flexibility and security features to the upper layer applications. In our current approach, this layer boasts an integrated approach to support various certificate revocation mechanisms, it protects the applications from some common security attacks, and offers several configuration and performance options to the programmers and to the end users. We describe the architecture of this approach as well as its practical implementation in the form of a library based on the famous OpenSSL security library, and that can be easily integrated with other certificate-aware security application