Table 3

Characteristic parameters of the continuous models

Characteristic parameters of the L-model
A1
A2
LEXC (mm)
p-value
Best fit values
4.1
0.6
2.5
0.03
Characteristic parameters of the HLD-model
B1
B2
H (mm)
p-value
Best fit values
5.8
0.1
0.7
< 0.0001
Characteristic parameters of the WS-model
K1
K2
H, LEXC
p-value
Best fit values
5.4
0.4
set
0.001

Characteristic parameters of the continuous models defined at a system level of description that best reproduces the experimental observations. L-model considers the effect of the distance between the walls of the culturing device, and LEXC is the region near the walls of the culturing device where the propagation of the parasite is hindered; HLD-model considers the effect of the depth of the haematocrit layer, with h the horizontal subregion where the propagation of the parasite is not hindered; WS-model merges both models and aims to reproduce the culture behaviour for any geometric layout; LEXC and h have maintained their values from the best fits obtained with the L- and the HLD- models. The values for the parameters K1 and K2 have been set through the optimization of the likelihood of the model outcome to experimental data. Significance of the obtained results was assessed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnoff (KS) test; the values presented show the probability of obtaining better results assuming the null hypothesis.

Ferrer et al. Malaria Journal 2008 7:203   doi:10.1186/1475-2875-7-203