A novel method is presented for predicting the common secondary structures and alignment of two homologous RNA sequences by sampling the 'structural alignment' space, i.e. the joint space of their alignments and common secondary structures. The structural alignment space is sampled according to a pseudo-Boltzmann distribution based on a pseudo-free energy change that combines base pairing proba...

Randomized response is a research method to get accurate answers to sensitive questions in structured sample survey. Simple random sampling is widely used in surveys of sensitive questions but hard to apply on large targeted populations. On the other side, more sophisticated sampling regimes and corresponding formulas are seldom employed to sensitive question surveys. In this work, we developed...

Cluster sampling algorithm is a scheme for sequential data assimilation developed to handle general non-Gaussian and nonlinear settings. The algorithm relaxes the Gaussian prior assumption widely used in the data assimilation context to approximate the prior distribution obtained by integrating the posterior distribution in previous assimilation cycles. The algorithm can be in general used to s...

BACKGROUND Although the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) cluster survey methodology has been successfully used for assessing levels of immunization programme coverage in developing country settings, certain features of the methodology, as it is usually carried out, make it less-than-optimal choice for large, national surveys and/or surveys with multiple measurement objectives. What is n...

BACKGROUND In order to begin to address the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in sub-Saharan Africa, high quality community-based epidemiological studies from the region are urgently needed. Cluster-designed sampling methods may be most efficient, but designing such studies requires assumptions about the clustering of the outcomes of interest. Currently, few studies from Sub-Saharan Af...

BACKGROUND Cluster sample study designs are cost effective, however cluster samples violate the simple random sample assumption of independence of observations. Failure to account for the intra-cluster correlation of observations when sampling through clusters may lead to an under-powered study. Researchers therefore need estimates of intra-cluster correlation for a range of outcomes to calcula...