Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Central limit theorems for correlated variables: some critical remarks

In this talk I first review at an elementary level a selection of central limit theorems, including some lesser known cases, for sums and maxima of uncorrelated and correlated random variables. I recall why several of them appear in physics. Next, I show that there is room for new versions of central limit theorems applicable to specific classes of problems. Finally, I argue that we have insufficient evidence that, as a consequence of such a theorem, q-Gaussians occupy a special place in statistical physics.
Deep inelastic scattering at strong coupling from gauge/string duality: the saturation line

For gauge theories which admit a dual string description, we analyze deep inelastic scattering at strong 't Hooft coupling and high energy, in the vicinity of the unitarity limit. We discuss the onset of unitarity corrections and determine the saturation line which separates weak scattering from strong scattering in the parameter space of rapidity and photon virtuality. We discover that the approach towards unitarity proceeds through two different mechanisms, depending upon the photon virtuality Q2: single Pomeron exchange at relatively low Q2 and, respectively, multiple graviton exchanges at higher Q2. This implies that the total cross-section at high energy and large Q2 is dominated by diffractive processes. This is furthermore suggestive of a partonic description where all the partons have transverse momenta below the saturation momentum and occupation numbers of order one.
Susceptibility to Aflatoxin B 1-related Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Mice and Humans

The genetic basis of disease susceptibility can be studied by several means, including research on animal models and epidemiological investigations in humans. The two methods are infrequently used simultaneously, but their joint use may overcome the disadvantages of either method alone. We used both approaches in an attempt to understand the genetic basis of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-related susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ingestion of AFB1 is a major risk factor for HCC in many areas of the world where HCC is common. Whether humans vary in their ability to detoxify the active intermediate metabolite of AFB1, AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxide, is not certain but may explain why all exposed individuals do not develop HCC. To determine whether human variability in detoxification may exist, in a study of 231 HCC cases and 256 controls, we genotyped eleven loci in two families of AFB1 detoxification genes; the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and the epoxide hydrolases (EPHX). After adjustment for multiple comparisons, only one polymorphism in the epoxide hydrolase family 2 locus remained significantly associated with HCC (odds ratio 2.06, 95% confidence interval 1.13–3.12). To determine whether additional susceptibility loci exist, we developed a mouse model system to examine AFB1-induced HCC. Susceptibility of 7-day-old mice from two common inbred strains (C57BL/6J, DBA/2J) was assessed. DBA/2J animals were 3-fold more sensitive to AFB1-induced HCC and significantly more sensitive to AFB1 acute toxicity than were C57BL/6J animals. Analysis of the xenobiotic metabolizing genes in the two strains revealed single nucleotide polymorphisms in three genes, Gsta4, Gstt1, and Ephx1. Although the GSTT1 and EPHX1 loci did not appear to be related to HCC in the total population of the human study, a polymorphism in GSTA4 was significantly related to risk in the male subset. The mouse model also demonstrated that absent or compromised p53 was not necessary for the development of carcinogenesis. These results indicate that the comparison of results from human studies and the AFB1-susceptible mouse model may provide new insights into hepatocarcinogenesis.
Losing Sleep at the Market: The Daylight Saving Anomaly: Reply

Motivated by the recent flurry of activity in sleep research, this paper explores the connection between sleep disruptions following Spring and Fall clock shifts associated with daylight-savings time, and equity returns. It is shown that the "weekend effect" in the form of the lower-than-expected Friday-to Monday returns is particularly pronounced for the two weekends involving daylight-savings clock changes.
Exact solutions for a mean-field Abelian sandpile

We introduce a model for a sandpile, with N sites, critical height N and each site connected to every other site. It is thus a mean-field model in the spin-glass sense. We find an exact solution for the steady state probability distribution of avalanche sizes, and discuss its asymptotics for large N.
Euclidean scalar and spinor Green's functions in Rindler space

In Rindler space, we consider the Feynman Green's functions associated with either the Fulling-Rindler vacuum or the Minkowski vacuum. In Euclidean field theory, they becomes respectively the Euclidean Green's functions $G_{\infty}$ and $G_{\2\pi}$, whose we give different suitable forms. In the case of the massive spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ field, we determine also the Euclidean spinor Green's function $S_{\infty}$ and $S_{\2\pi}$ in different suitable forms. In both cases for massless fields in four dimensions, we compute the vacuum expectation value of the energy-momentum tensor relative to the Rindler observer.
Methylprednisolone Protects Cardiac Pumping Mechanics from Deteriorating in Lipopolysaccharide-Treated Rats

It has been shown that a prolonged low-dose corticosteroid treatment attenuates the severity of inflammation and the intensity and duration of organ system failure. In the present study, we determined whether low-dose methylprednisolone (a synthetic glucocorticoid) can protect male Wistar rats against cardiac pumping defects caused by lipopolysaccharide-induced chronic inflammation. For the induction of chronic inflammation, a slow-release ALZET osmotic pump was subcutaneously implanted to infuse lipopolysaccharide (1 mg kg−1 d−1) for 2 weeks. The lipopolysaccharide-challenged rats were treated on a daily basis with intraperitoneal injection of methylprednisolone (5 mg kg−1 d−1) for 2 weeks. Under conditions of anesthesia and open chest, we recorded left ventricular (LV) pressure and ascending aortic flow signals to calculate the maximal systolic elastance (Emax) and the theoretical maximum flow (Qmax), using the elastance-resistance model. Physically, Emax reflects the contractility of the myocardium as an intact heart, whereas Qmax has an inverse relationship with the LV internal resistance. Compared with the sham rats, the cardiodynamic condition was characterized by a decline in Emax associated with the increased Qmax in the lipopolysaccharide-treated rats. Methylprednisolone therapy increased Emax, which suggests that the drug may have protected the contractile status from deteriorating in the inflamed heart. By contrast, methylprednisolone therapy considerably reduced Qmax, indicating that the drug may have normalized the LV internal resistance. In parallel, the benefits of methylprednisolone on the LV systolic pumping mechanics were associated with the reduced cardiac levels of negative inotropic molecules such as peroxynitrite, malondialdehyde, and high-mobility group box 1 protein. Based on these data, we suggested that low-dose methylprednisolone might prevent lipopolysaccharide-induced decline in cardiac intrinsic contractility and LV internal resistance, possibly through its ability to reduce the aforementioned myocardial depressant substances. However, since our results were obtained in anesthetized open-chest rats, extrapolation to what may occur in conscious intact animals should be done with caution.
Velocity Shear of the Thick Disk from SPM3 Proper Motions at the South Galactic Pole

The kinematical properties of the Galactic thick disk are studied using absolute proper motions from the Third Yale/San Juan Southern Proper Motion Catalog and Two Micron All Sky Survey near-infrared photometry for a sample of ∼1200 red giants in the direction of the south Galactic pole. The photometrically selected sample is dominated by thick-disk stars, as indicated by the number-density distribution that varies with distance from the Galactic plane as a single-valued exponential over the range 1 kpc < z < 4 kpc. The inferred scale height of the thick disk is 0.783 ± 0.048 kpc. The kinematics of the sample are also consistent with disklike motion. The U-velocity component is roughly constant, reflecting the Sun's peculiar motion, while a considerable shear is seen in the mean rotational velocity, V. The V-velocity profile's dependence on z is linear, with a gradient of dV/dz = -30 ± 3 km s-1 kpc-1. The velocity dispersions in both U and V show a lesser gradient of about 9 ± 3 km s-1 kpc-1. We demonstrate that the derived velocity and velocity-dispersion profiles are consistent with the assumptions of dynamical equilibrium and reasonable models of the overall Galactic potential.
Simplicity of C*‐algebras associated to higher‐rank graphs

We prove that if Λ is a row‐finite k‐graph with no sources, then the associated C*‐algebra is simple if and only if Λ is cofinal and satisfies Kumjian and Pask's aperiodicity condition, known as Condition (A). We prove that the aperiodicity condition is equivalent to a suitably modified version of Robertson and Steger's original nonperiodicity condition (H3), which in particular involves only finite paths. We also characterise both cofinality and aperiodicity of Λ in terms of ideals in C*(Λ).
Intercellular Adhesion Molecule (ICAM)-1, But Not ICAM-2, Activates RhoA and Stimulates c-fos and rhoA Transcription in Endothelial Cells1

ICAM-1 and -2 are integrin-binding Ig superfamily adhesion molecules that are important for leukocyte transmigration across endothelial monolayers. ICAM-1 cross-linking is known to activate the small GTPase RhoA and induce stress fiber formation in endothelial cells, but ICAM-2 signaling has not been investigated. In this study, we compare ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 signaling and localization in HUVECs. Although ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 both localize with the actin-binding protein moesin in apical microvilli, only ICAM-1 colocalizes with moesin after cross-linking. Unlike ICAM-1, ICAM-2 does not activate RhoA or alter actin cytoskeletal organization. Interestingly, ICAM-1 stimulates transcription of c-fos, a known early response gene. In addition, it up-regulates rhoA expression, suggesting that it activates a positive feedback pathway after RhoA activation. These results indicate that in endothelial cells, ICAM-1, but not ICAM-2, rapidly stimulates signaling responses involving RhoA.
Near-Infrared Observations of Powerful High-Redshift Radio Galaxies: 4C 40.36 and 4C 39.37

We present near-infrared imaging and spectroscopic observations of two Fanaroff-Riley type II high-redshift radio galaxies (HzRGs), 4C 40.36 (z = 2.3) and 4C 39.37 (z = 3.2), obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope and the Keck and Hale Telescopes. High-resolution images were taken with filters both in and out of strong emission lines, and together with the spectroscopic data, the properties of the line and continuum emissions were carefully analyzed. Our analysis of 4C 40.36 and 4C 39.37 shows that strong emission lines (e.g., [O III] λ5007 and Hα+[N II]) contribute to the broadband fluxes much more significantly than previously estimated (80% vs. 20%–40%) and that when the continuum sources are imaged through line-free filters, they show an extremely compact morphology with a high surface brightness. If we use the R1/4-law parameterization, their effective radii (re) are only 2h to 3h kpc, while their rest-frame B-band surface brightnesses at re are Ie(B) ∼ 18 mag arcsec-2. Compared with z ∼ 1 3CR radio galaxies, the former is 3–5 times smaller, while the latter is 1–1.5 mag brighter than what is predicted from the Ie(B)-re correlation. Although exponential profiles produce equally good fits for 4C 40.36 and 4C 39.37, this clearly indicates that with respect to the z ∼ 1 3CR radio galaxies, the light distribution of these two HzRGs is much more centrally concentrated. Spectroscopically, 4C 40.36 shows a flat (fν = const.) continuum, while 4C 39.37 shows a spectrum as red as that of a local giant elliptical galaxy. Although this difference may be explained in terms of a varying degree of star formation, the similarities of their surface brightness profiles and the submillimeter detection of 4C 39.37 might suggest that the intrinsic spectra is equally blue (young stars or an active galactic nuclei) and that the difference is the amount of reddening.
Memory Leak Detection Based on Memory State Transition Graph

Memory leak is a common type of defect that is hard to detect manually. Existing memory leak detection tools suffer from lack of precise interprocedural alias and path conditions. To address this problem, we present a static interprocedural analysis algorithm, which captures memory actions and path conditions precisely, to detect memory leak in C programs. Our algorithm uses path-sensitive symbolic execution to track the memory actions in different program paths guarded by path conditions. A novel analysis model called Memory State Transition Graph (MSTG) is proposed to describe the tracking process and its results. An MSTG is generated from a procedure. Nodes in an MSTG contain states of memory objects which record the function behaviors precisely. Edges in anMSTG are annotated with path conditions collected by symbolic execution. The path conditions are checked for satisfiability to reduce the number of false alarms and the path explosion. In order to do interprocedural analysis, our algorithm generates a summary for each procedure from the MSTG and applies the summary at the procedure's call sites. Our implemented tool has found several memory leak bugs in some open source programs and detected more bugs than other tools in some programs from the SPEC2000 benchmarks. In some cases, our tool produces many false positives, but most of them are caused by the same code patterns which are easy to check.
Generation and characterization of recombinant pandemic influenza A(H1N1) viruses resistant to neuraminidase inhibitors.

BACKGROUND Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) play a key role in the management of influenza epidemics and pandemics. Given the novel pandemic influenza A(H1N1) (pH1N1) virus and the restricted number of approved anti-influenza drugs, evaluation of potential drug-resistant variants is of high priority. METHODS Recombinant pH1N1 viruses were generated by reverse genetics, expressing either the wild-type or any of 9 mutant neuraminidase (NA) proteins (N2 numbering: E119G, E119V, D198G, I222V, H274Y, N294S, S334N, I222V-H274Y, and H274Y-S334N). We evaluated these recombinant viruses for their resistance phenotype to 4 NAIs (oseltamivir, zanamivir, peramivir, and A-315675), NA enzymatic activity, and replicative capacity. RESULTS The E119G and E119V mutations conferred a multidrug resistance phenotype to many NAIs but severely compromised viral fitness. The oseltamivir- and peramivir-resistance phenotype was confirmed for the H274Y and N294S mutants, although both viruses remained susceptible to zanamivir. Remarkably, the I222V mutation had a synergistic effect on the oseltamivir- and peramivir-resistance phenotype of H274Y and compensated for reduced viral fitness, raising concerns about the potential emergence and dissemination of this double-mutant virus. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring of antiviral drug resistance in clinical samples as well as the need to develop new agents and combination strategies.
Moment closure in a Moran model with recombination

We extend the Moran model with single-crossover recombination to include general recombination and mutation. We show that, in the case without resampling, the expectations of products of marginal processes defined via partitions of sites form a closed hierarchy, which is exhaustively described by a finite system of differential equations. One thus has the exceptional situation of moment closure in a nonlinear system. Surprisingly, this property is lost when resampling (i.e., genetic drift) is included.
Construction algorithms for polynomial lattice rules for multivariate integration

We introduce a new construction algorithm for digital nets for integration in certain weighted tensor product Hilbert spaces. The first weighted Hilbert space we consider is based on Walsh functions. Dick and Pillichshammer calculated the worst-case error for integration using digital nets for this space. Here we extend this result to a special construction method for digital nets based on polynomials over finite fields. This result allows us to find polynomials which yield a small worst-case error by computer search. We prove an upper bound on the worst-case error for digital nets obtained by such a search algorithm which shows that the convergence rate is best possible and that strong tractability holds under some condition on the weights. We extend the results for the weighted Hilbert space based on Walsh functions to weighted Sobolev spaces. In this case we use randomly digitally shifted digital nets. The construction principle is the same as before, only the worst-case error is slightly different. Again digital nets obtained from our search algorithm yield a worst-case error achieving the optimal rate of convergence and as before strong tractability holds under some condition on the weights. These results show that such a construction of digital nets yields the until now best known results of this kind and that our construction methods are comparable to the construction methods known for lattice rules. We conclude the article with numerical results comparing the expected worst-case error for randomly digitally shifted digital nets with those for randomly shifted lattice rules.
Combining high-resolution satellite images and altimetry to estimate the volume of small lakes

This study presents an approach to determining the volume of water in small lakes ( R 2 ABV = 0.98, RMSE ABV = 5%, R 2 HRBV = 0.90, and RMSE ABV = 7.4%), assuming a time-varying triangular shape for the shore slope of the lake (this form is well adapted since it implies a difference inferior to 2% between the theoretical volume of the lake and the one estimated from bathymetry). The third method (AHRBVC) combines altimetry (to measure the lake level) and satellite images (of the lake surface) to estimate the volume changes of the lake and produces the best results ( R 2 AHRBVC = 0.98) of the three methods, demonstrating the potential of future Sentinel and SWOT missions to monitor small lakes and reservoirs for agricultural and irrigation applications.
Risk factors of gender for renal progression in patients with early chronic kidney disease

AbstractRisk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD), such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, albuminuria, renal structure, and sex hormones, have been reported to have different effects on males and females. Thus, CKD progression may differ depending on sex. In addition to CKD management, treatment at earlier stages can reduce complications and prevent disease progression as well as high medical expenses at late stages. We examined the differences in predictive risk factors for renal progression between male and female patients with early CKD.This case–cohort study recruited patients aged 18 years or older treated in the outpatient departments of 8 hospitals in Taiwan between August 2008 and September 2014. In total, 1530 patients were included in the analysis. Renal progression was defined as ≥25% decline based on baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate. To examine the predictive risk factors for renal progression, we constructed a subset multivariate logistic model with stepwise variable selection by using P < 0.10 for variable retention.The numbers of male and female patients with CKD exhibiting renal progression were 100 (11.64%) and 84 (12.52%), respectively. After adjusting for all the potential confounders, stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that main independent predictive risk factors for the male patients– (C statistic = 0.72) were proteinuria (odds ratio [OR] 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26–3.84), age (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.02–1.06), anemia (OR 2.75; 95% CI 1.20–6.30), and poor control of blood pressure (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.05–3.22). However, the main independent predictive factors for the female patients were (C statistic = 0.75) poor glycemic control (OR 2.28; 95% CI 1.22–4.25), poor blood pressure control (OR 1.93; 95% CI 1.06–3.50), and family income (OR 2.51; 95% CI 1.01–6.20). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that proteinuria was the most crucial risk factor for male patients, whereas poor glycemic control was the main risk factor for female patients. Poor blood pressure control was a shared risk factor for male and female patients.
The spatial and kinematic distributions of cluster galaxies in a ΩCDM universe: comparison with observations

We combine dissipationless N-body simulations and semi-analytic models of galaxy formation to study the spatial and kinematic distributions of cluster galaxies in a ΛCDM cosmology. We investigate how the star formation rates (SFRs), colours and morphologies of galaxies vary as a function of distance from the cluster centre, and compare our results with the CNOC1 survey of galaxies from 15 X-ray-luminous clusters in the redshift range 0.18<z<0.55. In our model, gas no longer cools on to galaxies after they fall into the cluster and, as a result, their SFRs decline on time-scales of ∼1–2 Gyr. Galaxies in cluster cores have lower SFRs and redder colours than galaxies in the outer regions, because they were accreted earlier. Our colour and star formation gradients agree with those derived from the data. The difference in velocity dispersions between red and blue galaxies observed in the CNOC1 clusters is also well reproduced by the model. We assume that the morphologies of cluster galaxies are determined solely by their merging histories. A merger between two equal-mass galaxies produces a bulge, and subsequent cooling of gas results in the formation of a new disc. Morphology gradients in clusters arise naturally, with the fraction of bulge-dominated galaxies highest in cluster cores. The fraction of bulge-dominated galaxies inside the virial radius depends on the mass of the cluster, but is independent of redshift for clusters of fixed mass. Galaxy colours and SFRs do not depend on cluster mass. We compare the distributions of galaxies in our simulations as a function of bulge-to-disc ratio, and as a function of projected clustercentric radius, with those derived from the CNOC1 sample. We find excellent agreement for bulge-dominated galaxies. The simulated clusters contain too few galaxies of intermediate bulge-to-disc ratios, suggesting that additional processes may influence the morphological evolution of disc-dominated galaxies in clusters. Although the properties of the cluster galaxies in our model agree extremely well with the data, the same is not true of field galaxies. Both the SFRs and the colours of bright field galaxies appear to evolve much more strongly from redshift 0.2 to 0.4 in the CNOC1 field sample than in our simulations.
Optimal inference of sameness

Deciding whether a set of objects are the same or different is a cornerstone of perception and cognition. Surprisingly, no principled quantitative model of sameness judgment exists. We tested whether human sameness judgment under sensory noise can be modeled as a form of probabilistically optimal inference. An optimal observer would compare the reliability-weighted variance of the sensory measurements with a set size-dependent criterion. We conducted two experiments, in which we varied set size and individual stimulus reliabilities. We found that the optimal-observer model accurately describes human behavior, outperforms plausible alternatives in a rigorous model comparison, and accounts for three key findings in the animal cognition literature. Our results provide a normative footing for the study of sameness judgment and indicate that the notion of perception as near-optimal inference extends to abstract relations.