162 research outputs found
A Primer on Bayesian Neural Networks: Review and Debates
Neural networks have achieved remarkable performance across various problem
domains, but their widespread applicability is hindered by inherent limitations
such as overconfidence in predictions, lack of interpretability, and
vulnerability to adversarial attacks. To address these challenges, Bayesian
neural networks (BNNs) have emerged as a compelling extension of conventional
neural networks, integrating uncertainty estimation into their predictive
capabilities.
This comprehensive primer presents a systematic introduction to the
fundamental concepts of neural networks and Bayesian inference, elucidating
their synergistic integration for the development of BNNs. The target audience
comprises statisticians with a potential background in Bayesian methods but
lacking deep learning expertise, as well as machine learners proficient in deep
neural networks but with limited exposure to Bayesian statistics. We provide an
overview of commonly employed priors, examining their impact on model behavior
and performance. Additionally, we delve into the practical considerations
associated with training and inference in BNNs.
Furthermore, we explore advanced topics within the realm of BNN research,
acknowledging the existence of ongoing debates and controversies. By offering
insights into cutting-edge developments, this primer not only equips
researchers and practitioners with a solid foundation in BNNs, but also
illuminates the potential applications of this dynamic field. As a valuable
resource, it fosters an understanding of BNNs and their promising prospects,
facilitating further advancements in the pursuit of knowledge and innovation.Comment: 65 page
PREDICTING INTERNET TRAFFIC BURSTS USING EXTREME VALUE THEORY
Computer networks play an important role in todayâs organization and people life.
These interconnected devices share a common medium and they tend to compete for
it. Quality of Service (QoS) comes into play as to define what level of services users
get. Accurately defining the QoS metrics is thus important.
Bursts and serious deteriorations are omnipresent in Internet and considered as an
important aspects of it. This thesis examines bursts and serious deteriorations in
Internet traffic and applies Extreme Value Theory (EVT) to their prediction and
modelling. EVT itself is a field of statistics that has been in application in fields like
hydrology and finance, with only a recent introduction to the field of
telecommunications. Model fitting is based on real traces from Belcore laboratory
along with some simulated traces based on fractional Gaussian noise and linear
fractional alpha stable motion. QoS traces from University of Napoli are also used in
the prediction stage.
Three methods from EVT are successfully used for the bursts prediction problem.
They are Block Maxima (BM) method, Peaks Over Threshold (POT) method, and RLargest
Order Statistics (RLOS) method. Bursts in internet traffic are predicted using
the above three methods. A clear methodology was developed for the bursts
prediction problem. New metrics for QoS are suggested based on Return Level and
Return Period. Thus, robust QoS metrics can be defined. In turn, a superior QoS will
be obtained that would support mission critical applications
Simulation Modeling
The book presents some recent specialized works of a theoretical and practical nature in the field of simulation modeling, which is being addressed to a large number of specialists, mathematicians, doctors, engineers, economists, professors, and students. The book comprises 11 chapters that promote modern mathematical algorithms and simulation modeling techniques, in practical applications, in the following thematic areas: mathematics, biomedicine, systems of systems, materials science and engineering, energy systems, and economics. This project presents scientific papers and applications that emphasize the capabilities of simulation modeling methods, helping readers to understand the phenomena that take place in the real world, the conditions of their development, and their effects, at a high scientific and technical level. The authors have published work examples and case studies that resulted from their researches in the field. The readers get new solutions and answers to questions related to the emerging applications of simulation modeling and their advantages
Behavioral Economics
Behavioral economics uses evidence from psychology and other disciplines to create models of limits on rationality, willpower and self-interest, and explore their implications in economic aggregates. This paper reviews the basic themes of behavioral economics: Sensitivity of revealed preferences to descriptions of goods and procedures; generalizations of models of choice over risk, ambiguity, and time; fairness and reciprocity; non-Bayesian judgment; and stochastic equilibrium and learning. A central issue is what happens in equilibrium when agents are imperfect but heterogeneous; sometimes firms ârepairâ limits through sorting, but profit-maximizing firms can also exploit limits of consumers. Frontiers of research are careful formal theorizing about psychology and studies with field data. Neuroeconomics extends the psychological data use to inform theorizing to include details of neural circuitry. It is likely to support rational choice theory in some cases, to buttress behavioral economics in some cases, and to suggest different constructs as well
Assessment of chronic pain in companion animals : development and concurrent validation of neurophysiological methods
La douleur est une expĂ©rience complexe impliquant des composantes sensorielles et de perception (Ă©motionnelle, affective, cognitive). Elle est associĂ©e au stress, de la souffrance et une dĂ©gradation de la qualitĂ© de la vie. Les affections douloureuses chroniques telles que l'arthrose et le cancer des os touchent les chats et les chiens. La douleur dans ces conditions implique de nombreux mĂ©canismes affectant les systĂšmes nerveux pĂ©riphĂ©rique et central, qui gĂ©nĂšrent et entretiennent une douleur pathologique. Les tests sensoriels quantitatifs (TSQ) sont des outils pour quantifier la composante sensorielle de la douleur, qui peuvent aussi ĂȘtre utilisĂ©s pour Ă©luder les mĂ©canismes de la douleur impliquĂ©e. Les travaux initiaux sur les chats et les chiens souffrant d'arthrose ont permis de dĂ©velopper et de valider certaines mĂ©thodes de TSQ; cependant, quelques questions sont restĂ©es sans rĂ©ponse chez les chats souffrant de l'arthrose, et cette mĂ©thodologie n'a pas Ă©tĂ© encore explorĂ©e chez les chiens atteints dâostĂ©osarcome.
Nos hypothĂšses de recherche Ă©taient: 1) les chats arthrosiques sont affectĂ©s par des modifications neurophysiologiques caractĂ©ristiques de la sensibilisation centrale, pouvant ĂȘtre dĂ©tectĂ©es par les TSQ et rĂ©pondant Ă l'administration d'analgĂ©siques Ă action centrale; et 2) lâostĂ©osarcome provoque une sensibilisation pĂ©riphĂ©rique et centrale avec des mĂ©canismes descendants dâinhibition de la douleur dĂ©ficients chez le chien.
Nos objectifs Ă©taient : 1) chez les chats souffrant d'arthrose, de fournir des Ă©vidences sur la thĂ©rapie basĂ©e sur les mĂ©canismes neurophysiologiques Ă l'aide de TSQ; et 2) de tester la capacitĂ© d'un protocole TSQ Ă dĂ©montrer la sensibilisation pĂ©riphĂ©rique et centrale chez les chiens atteints de cancer des os, y compris un test de modulation de la douleur conditionnĂ©e, et de tester lâefficacitĂ© dâun protocole dâanalgĂ©sique palliatif par paliers chez ces patients.
En utilisant les TSQ statiques et dynamiques chez les chats arthrosiques, nous avons dĂ©montrĂ© que les analgĂ©siques Ă action centrale tels que le tramadol peuvent renverser la sensibilisation centrale mesurĂ©e par la sommation temporelle de la douleur. Cet effet nâa pas Ă©tĂ© observĂ© aprĂšs lâadministration dâanalgĂ©sique Ă action pĂ©riphĂ©rique tel que les antiinflammatoires non stĂ©roĂŻdiens comme le meloxicam. Ces rĂ©sultats
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soulignent lâimportance dâune approche de traitement fondĂ©e sur les mĂ©canismes de la douleur chronique.
Le protocole TSQ dĂ©veloppĂ© pour les chiens a rĂ©vĂ©lĂ© que ceux atteints de cancer des os manifestaient de l'hyperalgĂ©sie primaire et secondaire et de lâallodynie dynamique au brossage par rapport aux chiens en bonne santĂ©. Un test de modulation de la douleur conditionnĂ©e pouvant ĂȘtre facilement appliquĂ© a Ă©tĂ© mis au point et a dĂ©montrĂ© la capacitĂ© de diffĂ©rencier les chiens sains des chiens cancĂ©reux. En utilisant cette mĂ©thodologie, il sâest avĂ©rĂ© que cette derniĂšre population dĂ©montrait un systĂšme descendant dâinhibition de la douleur dĂ©ficient.
Ces Ă©tudes ont fourni des preuves des similitudes dans le profil sensoriel entre les malades humains et les animaux de compagnie affectĂ©s par l'arthrose, ainsi que les ostĂ©osarcomiques. Les TSQ sont utiles dans la recherche vĂ©tĂ©rinaire sur la douleur et doivent ĂȘtre accompagnĂ©s des normes les plus strictes en matiĂšre de soins des animaux et de conception, de conduite et de compte-rendu des Ă©tudes.Pain is a complex experience involving sensory and perceptual components. It causes stress, suffering and decreased quality of life. Chronic painful conditions such as osteoarthritis (OA) and bone cancer affect cats and dogs. Pain in these conditions results from numerous mechanisms affecting the peripheral and central nervous systems which generate and maintain pathological pain in affected individuals. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) are means to quantify the sensory component of pain. In combination with observed analgesic efficacy, they can be used to study mechanisms of pain. Initial work on cats and dogs with OA has helped to develop and validate some QST methods; however, questions remained unanswered in cats with OA, and this methodology was not yet explored in dogs with bone cancer.
Our main hypotheses were: 1) osteoarthritic cats are affected by neurophysiological changes characteristic of central sensitization which can be detected by QST and the concomitant administration of centrally-acting analgesics; and 2) bone cancer in dogs causes peripheral and central sensitization with deficient descending modulating mechanisms.
Our main objectives were: 1) to provide evidence of mechanism-based therapy in cats with OA using QST; and 2) to test the ability of a QST protocol to provide evidence of peripheral and central sensitization in dogs with bone cancer including the development and validation of a conditioned pain modulation test, and to test the efficacy of a step-wise palliative analgesic protocol in these patients.
Using static and dynamic QST in osteoarthritic cats, we demonstrated that centrally-acting analgesics such as tramadol can reverse central sensitization as measured by facilitated temporal summation of pain, while the same is not observed when a peripherally-acting analgesic such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, meloxicam, is administered. These findings highlight the importance of mechanism-based approach for the treatment of chronic pain.
The QST protocol developed for use in dogs revealed that dogs with bone cancer are affected by primary and secondary hyperalgesia and brush allodynia when compared
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with healthy dogs. A conditioned pain modulation test which can be easily applied into clinical practice was developed and demonstrated ability to differentiate between healthy and cancerous dogs. Using this methodology, the latter population was found to be affected by deficient descending modulating systems.
These studies provided evidence of the similarities in sensory profile between people and companion animals affected by OA- and bone cancer-related pain. The use of QST is valuable in veterinary pain research and should be accompanied by the highest standards of animal care and study design, conduct and reporting
PREDICTING INTERNET TRAFFIC BURSTS USING EXTREME VALUE THEORY
Computer networks play an important role in todayâs organization and people life.
These interconnected devices share a common medium and they tend to compete for
it. Quality of Service (QoS) comes into play as to define what level of services users
get. Accurately defining the QoS metrics is thus important.
Bursts and serious deteriorations are omnipresent in Internet and considered as an
important aspects of it. This thesis examines bursts and serious deteriorations in
Internet traffic and applies Extreme Value Theory (EVT) to their prediction and
modelling. EVT itself is a field of statistics that has been in application in fields like
hydrology and finance, with only a recent introduction to the field of
telecommunications. Model fitting is based on real traces from Belcore laboratory
along with some simulated traces based on fractional Gaussian noise and linear
fractional alpha stable motion. QoS traces from University of Napoli are also used in
the prediction stage.
Three methods from EVT are successfully used for the bursts prediction problem.
They are Block Maxima (BM) method, Peaks Over Threshold (POT) method, and RLargest
Order Statistics (RLOS) method. Bursts in internet traffic are predicted using
the above three methods. A clear methodology was developed for the bursts
prediction problem. New metrics for QoS are suggested based on Return Level and
Return Period. Thus, robust QoS metrics can be defined. In turn, a superior QoS will
be obtained that would support mission critical applications
Attitudes towards old age and age of retirement across the world: findings from the future of retirement survey
The 21st century has been described as the first era in human history when the world will no longer be young and there will be drastic changes in many aspects of our lives including socio-demographics, financial and attitudes towards the old age and retirement. This talk will introduce briefly about the Global Ageing Survey (GLAS) 2004 and 2005 which is also popularly known as âThe Future of Retirementâ. These surveys provide us a unique data source collected in 21 countries and territories that allow researchers for better understanding the individual as well as societal changes as we age with regard to savings, retirement and healthcare. In 2004, approximately 10,000 people aged 18+ were surveyed in nine counties and one territory (Brazil, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Mexico, UK and USA). In 2005, the number was increased to twenty-one by adding Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, Turkey and South Korea). Moreover, an additional 6320 private sector employers was surveyed in 2005, some 300 in each country with a view to elucidating the attitudes of employers to issues relating to older workers. The paper aims to examine the attitudes towards the old age and retirement across the world and will indicate some policy implications
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