Bayesian inference for the half-normal and half-t distributions

In this article we consider approaches to Bayesian inference for the half-normal and half-t distributions. We show that a generalized version of the normal-gamma distribution is conjugate to the half-normal likelihood and give the moments of this new distribution. The bias and coverage of the Bayesian posterior mean estimator of the halfnormal location parameter are compared with those of maximum likelihood based estimators. Inference for the half-t distribution is performed using Gibbs sampling and model comparison is carried out using Bayes factors. A real data example is presented which demonstrates the fitting of the half-normal and half-t models

Microbiome-gut-brain axis and toll-like receptors in parkinson\u2019s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressively debilitating neurodegenerative disease characterized by α-synucleinopathy, which involves all districts of the brain-gut axis, including the central, autonomic and enteric nervous systems. The highly bidirectional communication between the brain and the gut is markedly influenced by the microbiome through integrated immunological, neuroendocrine and neurological processes. The gut microbiota and its relevant metabolites interact with the host via a series of biochemical and functional inputs, thereby affecting host homeostasis and health. Indeed, a dysregulated microbiota-gut-brain axis in PD might lie at the basis of gastrointestinal dysfunctions which predominantly emerge many years prior to the diagnosis, corroborating the theory that the pathological process is spread from the gut to the brain. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a crucial role in innate immunity by recognizing conserved motifs primarily found in microorganisms and a dysregulation in their signaling may be implicated in α-synucleinopathy, such as PD. An overstimulation of the innate immune system due to gut dysbiosis and/or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, together with higher intestinal barrier permeability, may provoke local and systemic inflammation as well as enteric neuroglial activation, ultimately triggering the development of alpha-synuclein pathology. In this review, we provide the current knowledge regarding the relationship between the microbiota-gut–brain axis and TLRs in PD. A better understanding of the dialogue sustained by the microbiota-gut-brain axis and innate immunity via TLR signaling should bring interesting insights in the pathophysiology of PD and provide novel dietary and/or therapeutic measures aimed at shaping the gut microbiota composition, improving the intestinal epithelial barrier function and balancing the innate immune response in PD patients, in order to influence the early phases of the following neurodegenerative cascade

BAYESIAN INFERENCE FOR THE HALF-NORMAL AND HALF-T DISTRIBUTIONS

In this article we consider approaches to Bayesian inference for the half-normal and half-t distributions. We show that a generalized version of the normal-gamma distribution is conjugate to the half-normal likelihood and give the moments of this new distribution. The bias and coverage of the Bayesian posterior mean estimator of the halfnormal location parameter are compared with those of maximum likelihood based estimators. Inference for the half-t distribution is performed using Gibbs sampling and model comparison is carried out using Bayes factors. A real data example is presented which demonstrates the fitting of the half-normal and half-t models.

Journalismo cultural: decadência, migração e compressão

Cette communication fait suite à deux études antérieures qui ont donné lieu à deux ouvrages. La première s’appelle Minoridade crítica, folhetinistas diletantes nos jornais da Corte (Minorité critique, feuilletonistes dilettantes dans les journaux de la Cour), un essay sur les premières croniques litéraires, d’opéras et musicalles et le «feulletonisme» dans les journaux du Rio de Janeiro entre 1808 et 1850, période qui correspond au transfert de la cour portugaise au Brésil et à l’établissement de la monarchie brésilienne. La seconde, appelée A Bacanal do espírito- Gonçalves Dias cronista, retoma o tema avançando até 1852 (La Bacchanale de l’esprit - Gonçalves Dias chroniqueur, est retourné à la question jusqu’à 1852), avec la collecte, l’organisation et l’analyse des chroniques de Gonçalves Dias, l’un des plus grands poètes du Brésil - qui a exercé la chronique dans sa jeunesse. Les feuilletons ont occupé le journalisme culturel jusqu’au milieu du XXe siècle. La présente communication vise à établir des liens entre les débuts du journalisme culturel brésilien, en démontrant le déclin du journalisme culturel à la fin du XXe siècle et du début du XXIe. La présentation se compose de trois parties. La première est un examen du début du «feulletonisme». La seconde analyse l’importance critique du journalisme culturel dans la formation du goût du public au long du Xxème siècle. La troisième décrit et reflète sur la décadence, la migration vers l’Internet et de la compression et de la simplification de son champ d’application dans la transition du Xxème siècle pour le XXIème.The present work results from two precedent studies that generated two long essays. The first is called Critic minority, diletant feuilleutonists in the Newspapers of the Royal Court of Rio de Janeiro. It delas with the first wave of production of literatry, operstic and musical reviews from 1816 and 1850, which corresponds to the Portuguese Court transference from Lisboa to Rio and the establishment Brazilian moncarchy. The second text – A Bacchanale of Spirit – Gonçalves Dias and the feuilleton, consists of the collection, analysis and organization of Gonçalves Dias’ Culture from the beginnings of the national journalism, in the 19th century, up to the middle of 20th century. We intend with this communication to link the beginnings of cultural journalism in Brazil, demonstrating the decay of this genre of journalism since the end of the last century. The presentation comprehends three sections. The first suggests a revision of the birth of feuilletonism. The second section analyses the importance of critics and cultural journalism in the upbringing of the public taste during the 20th.century. The third, eventually, describes and interprets the decady, migration to the internet – and the text compactation and simplification because of it – in the passage from the 20th to the 21th century.A presente comunicação decorre de dois trabalhos anteriores que deram origem a duas obras. O primeiro é denominado Minoridade crítica, folhetinistas diletantes nos jornais da Corte, ensaio que trata das primeiras crônicas literárias, operísticas e musicais e o folhetinismo nos jornais do Rio de Janeiro entre 1808 e 1850, período que corresponde à transferência da corte portuguesa para o Brasil e o estabelecimento da monarquia brasileira. O segundo, denominado A Bacanal do espírito- Gonçalves Dias cronista, retoma o tema avançando até 1852, com a coleta, organização e a análise das crônicas de Gonçalves Dias um dos maiores poetas do Brasil – que exerceu a crônica na juventude. Os folhetins ocuparam o jornalismo cultural até meados do século XX. A presente comunicação pretende estabelecer os nexos entre os primórdios do jornalismo cultural brasileiro, demonstrando a decadência do jornalismo cultural no final do século XX e início do XXI. A apresentação compõe-se de três partes. A primeira faz uma revisão dos primórdios do folhetinismo. A segunda analisa a importância da crítica o jornalismo cultural na formação do gosto do público ao longo do século XX. A terceira descreve e reflete sobre a decadência, a migração para a Internet e a compactação e simplificação de seu escopo na passagem do século XX para o XXI

Una gramatica del Wãnsöjöt (puinave)

Wetzels, W.L.M. [Promotor]Adelaar, W.F.H. [Copromotor]Landaburu, J. [Copromotor

Disclosure in close egalitarian relationships during emerging adulthood

Using social domain theory (Smetana, 2013; Turiel, 2002), the present study examines the patterns of disclosure within and across emerging adults' sibling, friend, and romantic relationships, as well as associations between sibling and peer relationships. First-born and second-born college students (N = 232, M age = 18.5 years, 62.9% female) reported their frequency of disclosure to a sibling, same-sex best friend, and, when applicable, their opposite-sex romantic partner (n = 85). Results show that patterns of disclosure within sibling, best friend, and romantic relationships differ based on the domain of the issue being disclosed. Peers are chosen most often to be recipients of disclosure depending on the individual's sex. The association between sibling and peer disclosure is impacted by the sibling sex composition and appears to show a compensatory relationship for individuals from mixed-sex compositions. Taken together, the findings of the present study highlight the unique role each of these relationships plays. Limitations and future directions are also discussed