The Genomic HyperBrowser: inferential genomics at the sequence level

The immense increase in the generation of genomic scale data poses an unmet analytical challenge, due to a lack of established methodology with the required flexibility and power. We propose a first principled approach to statistical analysis of sequence-level genomic information. We provide a growing collection of generic biological investigations that query pairwise relations between tracks, represented as mathematical objects, along the genome. The Genomic HyperBrowser implements the approach and is available at http://hyperbrowser.uio.no

Structural reliability analysis of laminated CMC components

For laminated ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials to realize their full potential in aerospace applications, design methods and protocols are a necessity. The time independent failure response of these materials is focussed on and a reliability analysis is presented associated with the initiation of matrix cracking. A public domain computer algorithm is highlighted that was coupled with the laminate analysis of a finite element code and which serves as a design aid to analyze structural components made from laminated CMC materials. Issues relevant to the effect of the size of the component are discussed, and a parameter estimation procedure is presented. The estimation procedure allows three parameters to be calculated from a failure population that has an underlying Weibull distribution

On the Distribution of Haloes, Galaxies and Mass

The stochasticity in the distribution of dark haloes in the cosmic density field is reflected in the distribution function $P_V(N_h|\delta_m)$ which gives the probability of finding $N_h$ haloes in a volume $V$ with mass density contrast $\delta_m$. We study the properties of this function using high-resolution $N$-body simulations, and find that $P_V(N_n|\delta_m)$ is significantly non-Poisson. The ratio between the variance and the mean goes from $\sim 1$ (Poisson) at $1+\delta_m\ll 1$ to $<1$ (sub-Poisson) at $1+\delta_m\sim 1$ to $>1$ (super-Poisson) at $1+\delta_m\gg 1$. The mean bias relation is found to be well described by halo bias models based on the Press-Schechter formalism. The sub-Poisson variance can be explained as a result of halo-exclusion while the super-Poisson variance at high $\delta_m$ may be explained as a result of halo clustering. A simple phenomenological model is proposed to describe the behavior of the variance as a function of $\delta_m$. Galaxy distribution in the cosmic density field predicted by semi-analytic models of galaxy formation shows similar stochastic behavior. We discuss the implications of the stochasticity in halo bias to the modelling of higher-order moments of dark haloes and of galaxies.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, Latex using MN2e style. Minor changes. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Value relevance of troubled debt restructurings and policy implications

This paper investigates the beneficial economic consequences and market and accounting based valuation effects of troubled debt restructurings (TDR) in financially distressed debtor firms. Relying on the implications of prior research and extant valuation theories, some empirical evidence on the beneficial outcomes and informativeness of TDR is first provided: significantly positive restructuring interval excess returns and higher excess returns to subsequently consummated restructurings and subsequent survivors. The market reaction to “full-settlement” and “modification of terms” types of TDR are also measured to evaluate the consistency of the FASB's binary classification and recognition criteria with the market participants' assessments. Finally, a valuation model conditional on book values and earnings is used to test the value relevance of the reported financial statement bottom lines and TDR related disclosure. The findings suggest that modifications are at least as beneficial and informative as full settlements. Hence, the recognition of the reduction in the liability and the related gain in the financial statements of firms that undertake modifications would be more congruent with the valuation effects assessed by market participants. Key words: Private workouts, Financial distress, Debt restructuring, Valuation, Capital markets, SFAS No.15. JEL: G14, G33, G38, M4

On the influence of geometry updating on modal correlation of brake components.

In most industries dealing with vibration, test/analysis correlation of modal properties is considered a key aspect of the design process. The success of test/analysis methods however often show mixed results. The aim of this paper is to assess and answer some classical correlation problems in structural dynamics. First an investigation of correlation problems from tests is proposed. Tools based on the modal assurance criterion are presented to provide a deeper analysis of correlation and results improvement. In a second part, the need of FEM topology correlation and update is demonstrated, using an efficient morphing technique. Tolerances in the manufacturing process that are well accepted in design and production stages are shown to lead to significant degradation of the test/analysis correlation. An application to an industrial brake part is eventually presented, in an approach of correlation procedure automatization for recurrent use

Improved Understanding of Extruded MV Cable Performance Through the Modification of Existing Approval Protocols

Presented at Jicable '07.Cable users and manufacturers have an increasing wish to gain a deeper understanding of cable performance, beyond the knowledge that it simply complies with the minimum performance level defined within a standard. Although approval test protocols have served this purpose well, they do not provide the level of sophistication that is required for a detailed analysis. This paper describes many of the common shortfalls in current test protocols and advocates a number of simple modifications to procedures. These modifications will make approval test methods better able to address the more detailed discrimination being requested today

Finite volume schemes for diffusion equations: introduction to and review of modern methods

We present Finite Volume methods for diffusion equations on generic meshes, that received important coverage in the last decade or so. After introducing the main ideas and construction principles of the methods, we review some literature results, focusing on two important properties of schemes (discrete versions of well-known properties of the continuous equation): coercivity and minimum-maximum principles. Coercivity ensures the stability of the method as well as its convergence under assumptions compatible with real-world applications, whereas minimum-maximum principles are crucial in case of strong anisotropy to obtain physically meaningful approximate solutions