Joint ground and air emergency medical services coverage models: A greedy heuristic solution approach

Aeromedical and ground ambulance services often team up in responding to trauma crashes, especially when the emergency helicopter is unable to land at the crash scene. We propose location-coverage models and a greedy heuristic for their solution to simultaneously locate ground and air ambulances, and landing zones (transfer points). We provide a coverage definition based on both response time and total service time, and consider three coverage options; only ground emergency medical services (EMS) coverage, only air EMS coverage, or joint coverage of ground and air EMS in which the patient is transferred from an ambulance into an emergency helicopter at a transfer point. To analyze this complex coverage situation we develop two sets of models, which are variations of the Location Set Covering Problem (LSCP) and the Maximal Covering Location Problem (MCLP). These models address uncertainty in spatial distribution of motor vehicle crash locations by providing coverage to a given set of both crash nodes and paths. The models also consider unavailability of ground ambulances by drawing upon concepts from backup coverage models. We illustrate our results on a case study that uses crash data from the state of New Mexico. The case study shows that crash node and path coverage percentage values decrease when ground ambulances are utilized only within their own jurisdiction.     

A note on studentized confidence intervals for the change-point

We study an AMOC time series model with an abrupt change in the mean and dependent errors that fulfill certain mixing conditions. It is known how to construct resampling confidence intervals using blocking techniques, but so far no studentizing has been considered. A simulation study shows that we obtain better intervals by studentizing. When studentizing dependent data, we need to use flat-top kernels for the estimation of the asymptotic variance. It turns out that this estimator taking possible changes into account behaves much better than the corresponding Bartlett estimator. Since the asymptotic distribution of change-point statistics for time-series depends on this value, having a good estimator under the null as well as alternatives is also essential for testing problems.     

Moderate deviations for parameters estimation in a geometrically ergodic Heston process

We establish a moderate deviation principle for the maximum likelihood estimator of the four parameters of a geometrically ergodic Heston process. We also obtain moderate deviations for the maximum likelihood estimator of the couple of dimensional and drift parameters of a generalized squared radial Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process. We restrict ourselves to the most tractable case where the dimensional parameter satisfies \(a>2\) and the drift coefficient is such that \(b<0\). In contrast to the previous literature, parameters are estimated simultaneously.     

An Explicit Formula for Szegő Kernels on the Heisenberg Group

In this paper, we give an explicit formula for the Szegö kernel for (0, q) forms on the Heisenberg group H_n+1.     

Riesz* homomorphisms on pre-Riesz spaces consisting of continuous functions

In the theory of operators on a Riesz space (vector lattice), an important result states that the Riesz homomorphisms (lattice homomorphisms) on C(X) are exactly the weighted composition operators. We extend this result to Riesz* homomorphisms on order dense subspaces of C(X). On those subspace we consider and compare various classes of operators that extend the notion of a Riesz homomorphism. Furthermore, using the weighted composition structure of Riesz* homomorphisms we obtain several results concerning bijective Riesz* homomorphisms. In particular, we characterize the automorphism group for order dense subspaces of C(X). Lastly, we develop a similar theory for Riesz* homomorphisms on subspace of \(C_0(X)\), for a locally compact Hausdorff space X, and apply it to smooth manifolds and Sobolev spaces.     

Grassypeptolides A-C, cytotoxic bis-thiazoline containing marine cyclodepsipeptides

Grassypeptolides A-C (1-3), a group of closely related bis-thiazoline containing cyclic depsipeptides, have been isolated from extracts of the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya confervoides. Although structural differences between the analogues are minimal, comparison of the in vitro cytotoxicity of the series revealed a structure-activity relationship. When the ethyl substituent of 1 is changed to a methyl substituent in 2, activity is only slightly reduced (3-4-fold), whereas inversion of the Phe unit flanking the bis-thiazoline moiety results in 16-23-fold greater potency. We show that both 1 and 3 cause G1 phase cell cycle arrest at lower concentrations, followed at higher concentrations by G2/M phase arrest, and that these compounds bind Cu(2+) and Zn(2+). The three-dimensional structure of 2 was determined by MS, NMR, and X-ray crystallography, and the structure of 3 was established by MS, NMR, and chemical degradation. The structure of 3 was explored by in silico molecular modeling, revealing subtle differences in overall conformation between 1 and 3. Attempts to interconvert 1 and 3 with base were unsuccessful, but enzymatic conversion may be possible and could be a novel form of activation for chemical defense.     

New approach to asymmetrically substituted methoxypyrazines, derivatives of wine flavors

An original synthetic route to asymmetrically substituted methoxypyrazine (MP) derivatives is described. The first step of the synthesis is achieved by condensation of 1,2-aminoalcohols with Boc-protected aliphatic aminoacids followed by cycloimine formation and aromatization via chlorination. Introduction of methoxy group was then achieved by alkoxy-de-halogenation. The use of primary or secondary aminopropanol enabled the direct and selective introduction of methyl group, in 5- or 6-position, which can be easily functionalized. Aromatization of diketopiperazine, prepared from l-valine and l-glutamic acid dimethyl ester, made possible a direct introduction of a functionalized alkyl chain. These reactions are also suitable for the synthesis of naturally-occurring MPs such as wine flavor components and biologically active substances.     

Testing of the influenza virus purification by CIEF

In virological practice, the pre‐concentration, purification and subsequent determination of the purity and concentration of the viruses from the cultural medium and/or from the real sample are required. The conventional techniques used today are equipment demanding, time‐consuming and laborious. In this study, the CIEF of influenza viruses with UV detection has been developed and subsequently used to test the purification of the virus from the biological samples. The equine and swine influenza viruses present in infected allantoic fluid of specific pathogen free embryonated chicken eggs were precipitated by using PEG 6000 and sodium chloride. The precipitated viruses were centrifuged at 14 000×g, and the impurities of different densities were removed by using the sucrose gradients. The efficiency of the virus purification technique was examined by the CIEF and compared to the results of real‐time PCR. The pIs of both influenza viruses were determined. Simultaneously, the CIEF was found to be a suitable method for the rapid testing of the efficiency of the virus purification.     

Towards future reference systems for GM analysis

Despite the fact that the measurement unit for the quantification of GMOs in food and feed products has not yet been unambiguously agreed upon in Europe, international trade requires reliable GMO analysis measuring comparably the GMO content of products. The two reference systems, based either on mass fractions or on copy number ratios, and their metrological traceability chains are presented and discussed. It is concluded that, properly established and expressed, measurement results in copy number ratios can provide a metrologically sound reference system. In this case, certified reference materials used for calibration and quality control can be independent of each other and the uncertainty derived from calibration can correctly be included in the overall uncertainty of the GMO measurement. However, further efforts are required to establish this metrological system.