pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Skew mixture models for loss distributions: a Bayesian approach

The derivation of loss distribution from insurance data is a very interesting research topic but at the same time not an easy task. To find an analytic solution to the loss distribution may be mislading although this approach is frequently adopted in the actuarial literature. Moreover, it is well recognized that the loss distribution is strongly skewed with heavy tails and present small, medium and large size claims which hardly can be fitted by a single  analytic and parametric distribution. Here we propose a finite mixture of Skew Normal distributions that provides a better characterization of insurance data. We adopt a Bayesian approach to estimate the  model, providing the likelihood and the priors for the all unknow parameters; we implement an adaptive Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm to approximate the posterior distribution. We apply our approach to a well known Danish fire loss data and relevant risk measures, as Value-at-Risk and Expected Shortfall probability, are evaluated as well.
Wall effects on the transportation of a cylindrical particle in power-law fluids

The present work deals with the numerical calculation of the Stokes-type drag undergone by a cylindrical particle perpendicularly to its axis in a power-law fluid. In unbounded medium, as all data are not available yet, we provide a numerical solution for the pseudoplastic fluid. Indeed, the Stokes-type solution exists because the Stokes’ paradox does not take place anymore. We show a high sensitivity of the solution to the confinement, and the appearance of the inertia in the proximity of the Newtonian case, where the Stokes’ paradox takes place. For unbounded medium, avoiding these traps, we show that the drag is zero for Newtonian and dilatant fluids. But in the bounded one, the Stokes-type regime is recovered for Newtonian and dilatant fluids. We give also a physical explanation of this effect which is due to the reduction of the hydrodynamic screen length, for pseudoplastic fluids. Once the solution of the unbounded medium has been obtained, we give a solution for the confined medium numerically and asymptotically. We also highlight the consequence of the confinement and the backflow on the settling velocity of a fiber perpendicularly to its axis in a slit. Using the dynamic mesh technique, we give the actual transportation velocity in a power-law “Poiseuille flow”, versus the confinement parameter and the fluidity index, induced by the hydrodynamic interactions
Estimation of toxic elements in the samples of different\ud
cigarettes and their effect on the essential elemental status in the biological samples of Irish smoker rheumatoid arthritis consumers

Cigarette smoking interferes with the metal homeostasis of the human body, which plays a crucial role for maintaining the health. A significant flux of heavy metals, among other toxins, reaches the lungs through smoking. In the present study, the relationship between toxic element (TE) exposure via cigarette smoking and rheumatoid arthritis incidence in population living in Dublin, Ireland, is investigated. The trace {zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and selenium (Se)} and toxic elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) were determined in biological (scalp hair and blood) samples of patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, who are smokers living in Dublin, Ireland. These results were compared with age and sex-matched healthy, nonsmoker controls. The different brands of cigarette (filler tobacco, filter, and ash) consumed by the studied population were also analyzed for As, Cd, Hg, and Pb. The concentrations of trace and TEs in biological samples and different components of cigarette were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked using certified reference materials. The recovery of all the studied elements was found to be in the range of 96.4–99.8 % in certified reference materials. The filler tobacco of different branded cigarettes contains Hg, As, Cd, and Pb concentrations in the ranges of 9.55–12.4 ng, 0.432– 0.727 μg, 1.70–2.12 μg, and 0.378– 1.16 μg/cigarette, respectively. The results of this study showed that the mean values of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were significantly higher in scalp hair and blood samples of rheumatoid arthritis patients as compare to healthy controls, while Zn, Cu, Mn, and Se concentrations were found to be lowerin rheumatoid arthritis patients, the difference was significant in the case of smoker patients (p<0.001). The levels of four toxic elements were 2–3-folds higher in scalp hair and blood samples of nonrheumatoid arthritis smoker subjects as compared to nonsmoker controls. The high exposure of toxic metals as a result of cigarette smoking may be synergistic with risk factors associated with rheumatoid arthritis
Study of rapid ionisation for simulation of soft X-ray lasers with the 2D hydro-radiative code ARWEN

We present our fast ionisation routine used to study transient softX-raylasers with ARWEN, a two-dimensional hydrodynamic code incorporating adaptative mesh refinement (AMR) and radiative transport.\ud
\ud
We compute global rates between ion stages assuming an effective temperature between singly-excited levels of each ion. A two-step method is used to obtain in a straightforward manner the variation of ion populations over long hydrodynamic time steps. We compare our model with existing theoretical results both stationary and transient, finding that the discrepancies are moderate except for large densities. We simulate an existing Molybdenum Ni-like transient softX-raylaser with ARWEN. Use of the fast ionisation routine leads to a larger increase in temperature and a larger gain zone than when LTE datatables are used
Calcium phosphate coatings for marble conservation: influence of ethanol and isopropanol addition to the precipitation medium on the coating microstructure and performance

The effect of adding ethanol and isopropanol to aqueous solutions of diammonium hydrogen phosphate, used to create a passivating layer of calcium phosphates over marble, was investigated. Thanks to its weakening effect on the hydration sphere of ions in solution, ethanol allowed complete coverage of marble surface by a crack-free and pore-free layer of octacalcium phosphate. Even better results were obtained using isopropanol, because it has lower adsorption affinity to calcite than ethanol. Treatments involving alcohols provided good acid protection and also restored cohesion among calcite grains in weathered marble
Chorioretinal anastomosis and photodynamic therapy:a two-year follow-up study

Abstract Background  To evaluate the two-year efficacy of photodynamic therapy with Visudyne (PDT) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) eyes with chorioretinal anastomosis (CRA).    Methods  A non-randomized, institutional, prospective study, of 28 consecutive eyes of 23 patients, with CRA, treated with PDT. Masked best corrected visual acuity (VA) and angiographic features at baseline and during the period of two years were evaluated.    Results  Twenty eight eyes completed one year and 19 eyes completed two years of follow-up. The number of treatments was 3 in the first year, and 0.8 in the second year. A VA loss < 3 lines occurred in 53% of the eyes, at two years. Treated eyes lost 0.5 lines in the first year and 2.4 lines in the second (p?<?0,01). Recurrence with additional significant VA loss occurred in four eyes (21%) during the second year. Fourteen eyes (74%) showed no fluorescein leakage at two years.    Conclusion  AMD eyes with chorioretinal anastomosis can benefit from PDT with Verteporfin at two years. However, during the second year significant additional VA loss occurs mainly due to recurrence. New modalities of treatment are necessary to achieve VA improvement in CRA eyes.http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00417-006-0532-
Elusive multiquark spectroscopy

A review is presented of past and recent attempts to build multiquark states
within current models already describing ordinary mesons and baryons. This
includes: coherence in the chromomagnetic interaction, tetraquarks with two
heavy quarks, Steiner-tree models of confinement, and hadronic molecules, in
particular in the hidden-charm sector. Some emphasis is put on the difficulties
encountered when extrapolating toward higher configurations the dynamics of
confining forces, starting from the simple case of a quark and an antiquark, or
three quarks in a colour singlet
Quantum fluctuations of vacuum stress tensors and spacetime curvatures

We analyze the quantum fluctuations of vacuum stress tensors and spacetime curvatures, using the framework of linear response theory which connects these fluctuations to dissipation mechanisms arising when stress tensors and spacetime metric are coupled. Vacuum fluctuations of spacetime curvatures are shown to be a sum of two contributions at lowest orders; the first one corresponds to vacuum gravitational waves and is restricted to light-like wavevectors and vanishing Einstein curvature, while the second one arises from gravity of vacuum stress tensors. From these fluctuations, we deduce noise spectra for geodesic deviations registered by probe fields which determine ultimate limits in length or time measurements. In particular, a relation between noise spectra characterizing spacetime fluctuations and the number of massless neutrino fields is obtained
A Conformal Field Theory of Extrinsic Geometry of 2-d Surfaces

In the description of the extrinsic geometry of the string world sheet
regarded as a conformal immersion of a 2-d surface in $R^3$, it was previously
shown that, restricting to surfaces with $h\surd{g}\ =\ 1$, where $h$ is the
mean scalar curvature and $g$ is the determinant of the induced metric on the
surface, leads to Virasaro symmetry. An explicit form of the effective action
on such surfaces is constructed in this article which is the extrinsic
curvature analog of the WZNW action. This action turns out to be the gauge
invariant combination of the actions encountered in 2-d intrinsic gravity
theory in light-cone gauge and the geometric action appearing in the
quantization of the Virasaro group. This action, besides exhibiting Virasaro
symmetry in $z$-sector, has $SL(2,C)$ conserved currents in the
$\bar{z}$-sector. This allows us to quantize this theory in the
$\bar{z}$-sector along the lines of the WZNW model. The quantum theory on
$h\surd{g}\ =\ 1$ surfaces in $ R^3$ is shown to be in the same universality
class as the intrinsic 2-d gravity theory.Comment: 30 page
Kim-1/Tim-1 and Immune Cells: Shifting Sands

Kim-1/Tim-1 is an apoptotic-cell phagocytosis and scavenger receptor that is most highly upregulated in proximal tubular epithelium in acute and chronic kidney injury. While Kim-1/Tim-1 has been proposed to be a costimulatory molecule for immune cells, its potential immunological role has been controversial. In the presence of very high epithelial cell expression understanding the influence of immune cell Kim-1/Tim-1 expression in kidney injury relies on a better definition of its functional significance in immune cells and better characterization of antibodies used to probe function
Vascular E-selectin expression correlates with CD8 lymphocyte infiltration and improved outcome in Merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive, polyomavirus-linked skin cancer. While CD8 lymphocyte infiltration into the tumor is strongly correlated with improved survival, these cells are absent or sparse in most MCCs. We investigated whether specific mechanisms of T-cell migration may be commonly disrupted in MCC tumors with poor CD8 lymphocyte infiltration. Intratumoral vascular E-selectin, critical for T-cell entry into skin, was downregulated in the majority (52%) of MCCs (n=56), and its loss was associated with poor intratumoral CD8 lymphocyte infiltration (p<0.05; n=45). Importantly, survival was improved in MCC patients whose tumors had higher vascular E-selectin expression (p<0.05). Local nitric oxide (NO) production is one mechanism of E-selectin downregulation and it can be tracked by quantifying nitrotyrosine, a stable biomarker of NO-induced reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Indeed, increasing levels of nitrotyrosine within MCC tumors were associated with low E-selectin expression (p<0.05; n=45) and decreased CD8 lymphocyte infiltration (p<0.05, n=45). These data suggest that one mechanism of immune evasion in MCC may be restriction of T cell entry into the tumor. Existing therapeutic agents that modulate E-selectin expression and/or RNS generation may restore T cell entry and could potentially synergize with other immune-stimulating therapies
Closures of positive braids and the Morton-Franks-Williams inequality

We study the Morton-Franks-Williams inequality for closures of simple braids (also known as positive permutation braids). This allows to prove, in a simple way, that the set of simple braids is an orthonormal basis for the inner product of the Hecke algebra of the braid group defined by Kálmán, who first obtained this result by using an interesting connection with Contact Topology. We also introduce a new technique to study the Homflypt polynomial for closures of positive braids, namely resolution trees whose leaves are simple braids. In terms of these simple resolution trees, we characterize closed positive braids for which the Morton-Franks-Williams inequality is strict. In particular, we determine explicitly the positive braid words on three strands whose closures have braid index three
Remote stripping analysis of lead and copper by a mercury-coated platinum microelectrode

The performance of a remote stripping sensor based on mercury microelectrodes (MM-RS) for the in situ detection of\ud
trace metals in aquatic systems, was investigated. The submersible device employed here consists of a single mercurycoated\ud
platinum disk microelectrode assembled in a two-electrode cell configuration, and connected remotely by a\ud
30 m long shielded cable. First, the MM-RS device is characterized in Ru(NH3)3\ud
6 and Pb2 synthetic aqueous\ud
solutions by applying cyclic voltammetry and anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), respectively. The results obtained\ud
show that the small electrode dimensions and the related low currents involved, the long remote connection cable or\ud
the use of a two-electrode system do not cause noise effects or uncompensated resistance problems in the\ud
measurements. Using square-wave voltammetry in the stripping step, linear calibration graphs for Pb2 ions over the\ud
concentration range 11095107 M were obtained, and a detection limit, DL, of 0.15 nM was found. The\ud
relative standard deviation (RSD), at 5108M Pb2 level, was within 5%. The effect of humic acid and of sodium\ud
dodecylsulfate surfactants on the stripping responses was also investigated. The performance of the submersible MMRS\ud
system was tested for the in situ monitoring of the labile fraction of lead and copper on a site of the Lagoon of\ud
Venice. In situ Pb2 and Cu2 concentrations were monitored for about 8 hours, by leaving the sensor immersed in the\ud
lagoon waters (2 m depth) and recording the response every hour. Under these field conditions, reliable in situ data\ud
for the labile fraction of these metal ions with a satisfactory precision, the RSD being within 7 and 9 % for lead and\ud
copper, respectively, were obtained
Asymptotic-preserving Godunov-type numerical schemes for hyperbolic systems with stiff and non-stiff relaxation terms

International audienceWe devise a new-class of asymptotic-preserving Godunov-type numerical schemes for hyperbolic systems with sti ff and non-sti ff relaxation source terms governed by a relaxation time epsilon. As an alternative to classical operator-splitting techniques, the objectives of these schemes are twofold: first, to give accurate numerical solutions for large, small and in-between values of epsilon and second, to make optional the choice of the numerical scheme in the asymptotic regime epsilon tends to zero. The latter property may be of particular interest to make easier and more e fficient the coupling at a fi xed spatial interface of two models involving very di fferent values of epsilon
How Enterprise Architecture Formative Critical Success Facets Might Affect Enterprise Architecture Success: A Literature Analysis

Part 4: Enterprise ArchitectureInternational audienceThough Enterprise Architecture (EA) is getting increasing attentions from both academics and practitioners, EA research around EA success factors remains modest and immature. This study explores how EA formative critical success facets/factors would affect the achievement of EA success. This research highlights the importance of four mediators, i.e., (I) Real and mature business needs; (II) Real and continuous commitment; (III) Actionable EA programs; and (IV) Well-controlled execution of EA programs. This study deepens our understanding of EA success and would be of explanatory contribution to EA value development and action-guiding contribution to EA adoption and implementation
A Competency-Based Learning Resource Retrieval Process: The LUISA-UHP Case-Study

This is an intermediate version of the final version which is available from http://www.springerlink.com . The power point presentation is also available, with more screen copies from the systemInternational audienceThe paper describes a global framework enabling competency-based search of learning resources making a heavy use of semantic technologies. First it presents the generic components. Then it exemplifies how this framework can be adapted to a given environment, i.e. which knowledge representations, Web Services descriptions and other components have to be tailored or added to the framework. Then it shows step by step how a query is processed, Finally, users' feedback, lessons learnt and future trends are provided as well as comparisons with other approaches already published about annotating and retrieving learning objects in Learning Objects Repositories
The relative importance of direct and indirect effects of hunting mortality on the population dynamics of brown bears

-There is increasing evidence of indirect effects of hunting on populations.
In species with sexually selected infanticide (SSI), hunting may decrease
juvenile survival by increasing male turnover.We aimed to evaluate the relative
importance of direct and indirect effects of hunting via SSI on the population
dynamics of the Scandinavian brown bear (Ursus arctos). We performed prospective
and retrospective demographic perturbation analyses for periods
with low and high hunting pressures. All demographic rates, except yearling
survival, were lower under high hunting pressure, which led to a decline in
population growth under high hunting pressure (l ¼ 0.975; 95% CI ¼ 0.914–
1.011). Hunting had negative indirect effects on the population through an
increase in SSI, which lowered cub survival and possibly also fecundity rates.
Our study suggests that SSI could explain 13.6% of the variation in population
growth.Hunting also affected the relative importance of survival and fecundity
of adult females for population growth, with fecundity being more important
under low hunting pressure and survival more important under high hunting
pressure. Our study sheds light on the importance of direct and indirect effects
of hunting on population dynamics, and supports the contention that hunting
can have indirect negative effects on populations through SSI.
population dynamics, harvesting, brown bear,
sexually selected infanticide, behaviour,
carnivore, ecology, behaviou
Olive baboons, Papio anubis, adjust their visual and auditory intentional gestures to the visual attention of others

International audienceAlthough nonhuman primates' gestural communication is often considered to be a likely precursor of human language, the intentional properties in this communicative system have not yet been entirely elucidated. In particular, little is known about the intentional nature of monkeys' gestural signalling and related social understanding. We investigated whether olive baboons can (1) adjust their requesting gestures to the visual attention of the experimenter with special emphasis on the state of the eyes (open versus closed), and (2) flexibly tailor visual and auditory-based gestures to elaborate their communication as a function of whether or not the experimenter can see them. Using a food-requesting paradigm, we found monkeys able to favour either visual or auditory-based requesting gestures to match the experimenter's visual attention. Crucially, when the human was not visually attending, they silenced visual gestures to some extent but performed more attention-getting gestures. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of monkeys elaborating attention-getting signals to compensate for communication breakdown. Gestural communication was also supported by gaze alternation between the experimenter's face and the food, especially when the human was visually attending. These findings offer evidence that olive baboons understand the state of the eyes in others' visual attention and use requesting gestures intentionally. They emphasize that Old World monkeys shift to acoustic communication when the recipient is not visually attending. In contrast to that of human infants and great apes, this acoustic communication is purely gestural, not vocal
Economics of species change subject to risk of climate change and increasing information: a (quasi-)option value analysis

International audience& Context In the context of climate change, several forest adaptation options have to be advocated such as a shift to more resistant species. & Aims We provide an economic analysis of timber species change as a tool for adapting forests to climate change. & Methods We use the framework of cost–benefit analysis, taking uncertainty into account both exogenously (sensitiv-ity analysis) and endogenously [(quasi-)option value calcu-lations]. We apply the method to assess the economic rationale for converting Norway spruce stands to Douglas-fir in the French Black Mountain. & Results We find that the Douglas-fir conversion is land expectation value (LEV) maximizing under a wide range of a priori (subjective) probabilities attached to high mortality of Norway spruce under climate change (for probabilities higher than 0.25–0.31). If information about the impacts of climate change is expected to increase over time, and given the large sunk costs attached to conversion, a delay strategy may be preferable to transition and to status quo when the impacts of climate change on Norway spruce mortality are sufficiently ambiguous. In such cases, getting information earlier increases the LEV by €5–60/ha. & Conclusion Beyond the specifics of the case study, this paper suggests that quasi-option value is a relevant tool to provide insights to forest owners dealing with adaptation decisions in the context of climate change