A subsampled double bootstrap for massive data

The bootstrap is a popular and powerful method for assessing precision of estimators and inferential methods. However, for massive datasets which are increasingly prevalent, the bootstrap becomes prohibitively costly in computation and its feasibility is questionable even with modern parallel computing platforms. Recently Kleiner, Talwalkar, Sarkar, and Jordan (2014) proposed a method called BLB (Bag of Little Bootstraps) for massive data which is more computationally scalable with little sacrifice of statistical accuracy. Building on BLB and the idea of fast double bootstrap, we propose a new resampling method, the subsampled double bootstrap, for both independent data and time series data. We establish consistency of the subsampled double bootstrap under mild conditions for both independent and dependent cases. Methodologically, the subsampled double bootstrap is superior to BLB in terms of running time, more sample coverage and automatic implementation with less tuning parameters for a given time budget. Its advantage relative to BLB and bootstrap is also demonstrated in numerical simulations and a data illustration

Allele mining in solanum: conserved homologues of Rpi-blb 1 are identified in Solanum stoloniferum

Allele mining facilitates the discovery of novel resistance (R) genes that can be used in breeding programs and sheds light on the evolution of R genes. Here we focus on two R genes, Rpi-blb1 and Rpi-blb2, originally derived from Solanum bulbocastanum. The Rpi-blb1 gene is part of a cluster of four paralogues and is flanked by RGA1-blb and RGA3-blb. Highly conserved RGA1-blb homologues were discovered in all the tested tuber-bearing (TB) and non-tuber-bearing (NTB) Solanum species, suggesting RGA1-blb was present before the divergence of TB and NTB Solanum species. The frequency of the RGA3-blb gene was much lower. Interestingly, highly conserved Rpi-blb1 homologues were discovered not only in S. bulbocastanum but also in Solanum stoloniferum that is part of the series Longipedicellata. Resistance assays and genetic analyses in several F1 populations derived from the relevant late blight resistant parental genotypes harbouring the conserved Rpi-blb1 homologues, indicated the presence of four dominant R genes, designated as Rpi-sto1, Rpi-plt1, Rpi-pta1 and Rpi-pta2. Furthermore, Rpi-sto1 and Rpi-plt1 resided at the same position on chromosome VIII as Rpi-blb1 in S. bulbocastanum. Segregation data also indicated that an additional unknown late blight resistance gene was present in three populations. In contrast to Rpi-blb1, no homologues of Rpi-blb2 were detected in any material examined. Hypotheses are proposed to explain the presence of conserved Rpi-blb1 homologues in S. stoloniferum. The discovery of conserved homologues of Rpi-blb1 in EBN 2 tetraploid species offers the possibility to more easily transfer the late blight resistance genes to potato varieties by classical breeding

The blood labyrinthine barrier in the human normal and Meniere's disease macula utricle.

The ultrastructural organization of the blood labyrinthine barrier (BLB) was investigated in the human vestibular endorgan, the utricular macula, using postmortem specimens from individuals with documented normal auditory and vestibular function and surgical specimens from patients with intractable Meniere's disease. Transmission electron microscopic analysis of capillaries located in the normal human utricular stroma showed vascular endothelial cells with few pinocytotic vesicles, covered by a smooth and uniform basement membrane surrounded by pericyte processes. Meniere's disease specimens revealed differential ultrastructural pathological changes in the cellular elements of the microvasculature. With moderate degeneration of the BLB, there were numerous vesicles within the vascular endothelial cells (VECs), with increased numbers at the abluminal face, pericyte process detachment and disruption of the perivascular basement membrane surrounding the VECs. With severe degeneration of the BLB, there was severe vacuolization or frank apparent necrosis of VECs and loss of subcellular organelles. A higher severity of BLB degenerative changes was associated with a higher degree of basement membrane thickening and edematous changes within the vestibular stroma. This study presents the first ultrastructural analysis of the capillaries constituting the BLB in the human vestibular macula utricle from normal and Meniere's disease

Chemical Abundances in Field Red Giants from High-Resolution H-Band Spectra using the APOGEE Spectral Linelist

High-resolution H-band spectra of five bright field K, M, and MS giants, obtained from the archives of the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS), are analyzed to determine chemical abundances of 16 elements. The abundances were derived via spectrum synthesis using the detailed linelist prepared for the SDSS III Apache Point Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE), which is a high-resolution near-infrared spectroscopic survey to derive detailed chemical abundance distributions and precise radial velocities for 100,000 red giants sampling all Galactic stellar populations. Measured chemical abundances include the cosmochemically important isotopes 12C, 13C, 14N, and 16O, along with Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu. A comparison of the abundances derived here with published values for these stars reveals consistent results to ~0.1 dex. The APOGEE spectral region and linelist is, thus, well-suited for probing both Galactic chemical evolution, as well as internal nucleosynthesis and mixing in populations of red giants using high-resolution spectroscopy.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal. 42 pages, 12 figure

Generalized top-spin analysis and new physics in e+e−e^{+} e^{-} collisions with beam polarization

A generalized top-spin analysis proposed some time ago in the context of Standard Model and subsequently studied in varying contexts is now applied primarily to the case of $e^+e^-\rightarrow t\bar{t}$ with transversely polarized beams. This extends our recent work with new physics couplings of scalar ($S$) and tensor ($T$) types. We carry out a comprehensive analysis assuming only the electron beam to be transversely polarized, which is sufficient to probe these interactions, and also eliminates any azimuthal angular dependence due to standard model or new physics of vector ($V$) and axial-vector ($A$) type interactions. We then consider new physics of general four-Fermi type of $V$ and $A$ type with both beams transversely polarized and discuss implications with longitudinal polarization as well. The generalized spin bases are all investigated in the presence of either longitudinal or transverse beam polarization to look for appreciable deviation from the SM prediction in case of the new physics. 90% confidence level limits are obtained on the interactions for the generalized spin bases with realistic integrated luminosity. In order to achieve this we present a general discussion based on helicity amplitudes and derive a general transformation matrix that enables us to treat the spin basis. We find that beamline basis combined with transverse polarization provides an excellent window of opportunity both for $S$, $T$ and $V$, $A$ new physics, followed by the off diagonal basis. The helicity basis is shown to be the best in case of longitudinal polarization to look for new physics effectsdue to $V$ and $A$.Comment: 21 pages using revtex4-

March CRF: an Efficient Test for Complex Read Faults in SRAM Memories

In this paper we study Complex Read Faults in SRAMs, a combination of various malfunctions that affect the read operation in nanoscale memories. All the memory elements involved in the read operation are studied, underlining the causes of the realistic faults concerning this operation. The requirements to cover these fault models are given. We show that the different causes of read failure are independent and may coexist in nanoscale SRAMs, summing their effects and provoking Complex Read Faults, CRFs. We show that the test methodology to cover this new read faults consists in test patterns that match the requirements to cover all the different simple read fault models. We propose a low complexity (?2N) test, March CRF, that covers effectively all the realistic Complex Read Fault