Partition function approach to non-Gaussian likelihoods: Formalism and expansions for weakly non-Gaussian cosmological inference

Non-Gaussian likelihoods, ubiquitous throughout cosmology, are a direct consequence of nonlinearities in the physical model. Their treatment requires Monte-Carlo Markov-chain or more advanced sampling methods for the determination of confidence contours. As an alternative, we construct canonical partition functions as Laplace-transforms of the Bayesian evidence, from which MCMC-methods would sample microstates. Cumulants of order $n$ of the posterior distribution follow by direct $n$-fold differentiation of the logarithmic partition function, recovering the classic Fisher-matrix formalism at second order. We connect this approach for weakly non-Gaussianities to the DALI- and Gram-Charlier expansions and demonstrate the validity with a supernova-likelihood on the cosmological parameters $\Omega_m$ and $w$. We comment on extensions of the canonical partition function to include kinetic energies in order to bridge to Hamilton Monte-Carlo sampling, and on ensemble Markov-chain methods, as they would result from transitioning to macrocanonical partition functions depending on a chemical potential. Lastly we demonstrate the relationship of the partition function approach to the Cram\'er-Rao boundary and to information entropies.Comment: 12 pages 2 figure

Towards Selective Agglomeration Detection in Fluidized Beds Using Advanced Signal Analysis Methods

A new methodology of assessing large amounts of fluidized bed pressure fluctuation data with various signal analysis methods in combination with signal pre-treatment methods is presented. This approach can be used to find certain combinations that are selectively sensitive to certain physical effects in fluidized beds, such as agglomeration

Integrated Techno-Economic Power System Planning of Transmission and Distribution Grids

The energy transition towards renewable and more distributed power production triggers the need for grid and storage expansion on all voltage levels. Today’s power system planning focuses on certain voltage levels or spatial resolutions. In this work we present an open source software tool eGo which is able to optimize grid and storage expansion throughout all voltage levels in a developed top-down approach. Operation and investment costs are minimized by applying a multi-period linear optimal power flow considering the grid infrastructure of the extra-high and high-voltage (380 to 110 kV) level. Hence, the common differentiation of transmission and distribution grid is partly dissolved, integrating the high-voltage level into the optimization problem. Consecutively, optimized curtailment and storage units are allocated in the medium voltage grid in order to lower medium and low voltage grid expansion needs, that are consequently determined. Here, heuristic optimization methods using the non-linear power flow were developed. Applying the tool on future scenarios we derived cost-efficient grid and storage expansion for all voltage levels in Germany. Due to the integrated approach, storage expansion and curtailment can significantly lower grid expansion costs in medium and low voltage grids and at the same time serve the optimal functioning of the overall system. Nevertheless, the cost-reducing effect for the whole of Germany was marginal. Instead, the consideration of realistic, spatially differentiated time series led to substantial overall savings

Microenvironment‐induced restoration of cohesive growth associated with focal activation of P ‐cadherin expression in lobular breast carcinoma metastatic to the colon

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is a special breast cancer type characterized by noncohesive growth and E‐cadherin loss. Focal activation of P‐cadherin expression in tumor cells that are deficient for E‐cadherin occurs in a subset of ILCs. Switching from an E‐cadherin deficient to P‐cadherin proficient status (EPS) partially restores cell–cell adhesion leading to the formation of cohesive tubular elements. It is unknown what conditions control EPS. Here, we report on EPS in ILC metastases in the large bowel. We reviewed endoscopic colon biopsies and colectomy specimens from a 52‐year‐old female (index patient) and of 18 additional patients (reference series) diagnosed with metastatic ILC in the colon. EPS was assessed by immunohistochemistry for E‐cadherin and P‐cadherin. CDH1 /E‐cadherin mutations were determined by next‐generation sequencing. The index patient's colectomy showed transmural metastatic ILC harboring a CDH1 /E‐cadherin p.Q610* mutation. ILC cells displayed different growth patterns in different anatomic layers of the colon wall. In the tunica muscularis propria and the tela submucosa, ILC cells featured noncohesive growth and were E‐cadherin‐negative and P‐cadherin‐negative. However, ILC cells invading the mucosa formed cohesive tubular elements in the intercryptal stroma of the lamina propria mucosae. Inter‐cryptal ILC cells switched to a P‐cadherin‐positive phenotype in this microenvironmental niche. In the reference series, colon mucosa infiltration was evident in 13 of 18 patients, one of which showed intercryptal EPS and conversion to cohesive growth as described in the index patient. The large bowel is a common metastatic site in ILC. In endoscopic colon biopsies, the typical noncohesive growth of ILC may be concealed by microenvironment‐induced EPS and conversion to cohesive growth

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Specific Association of Lectin LecB with the Surface of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Role of Outer Membrane Protein OprF

The fucose binding lectin LecB affects biofilm formation and is involved in pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. LecB resides in the outer membrane and can be released specifically by treatment of an outer membrane fraction with fucose suggesting that it binds to specific ligands. Here, we report that LecB binds to the outer membrane protein OprF. In an OprF-deficient P. aeruginosa mutant, LecB is no longer detectable in the membrane but instead in the culture supernatant indicating a specific interaction between LecB and OprF

Formulation of Reduced-Order Models for the Dynamic and Stability Analyses of Autothermal Radial Flow Reactors

Autothermal radial flow reactors typically consist of a reactor setup of multiple catalyst-beds with internal heat exchange. These reactors are widely used because or their high efficiency due to the internal heat exchange and radial flow arrangements are preferred due to their low pressure drops. Although an efficient multi-functional reactor arrangement, this setup has shown to provide for an additional destabilizing mechanism via the heat-feedback. Thus, additional stability considerations are neccesary when the operating autothermal or non-adiabatic reactors at high conversions. This work proposes the formulation of a simplified model to investigate the effect of the heat transfer feedback on the stability of autothermal radial flow reactors. The present work focuses on a lumping approach to reduce the order of a complex distributed parameter system. The model is complex enough so as to preserve the intricacies of this reactor arrangement, but still yield a tractable dynamic formulation. The industrial ammonia synthesis process has been chosen as a case study to illustrate the proposed methodology. The lumped model prediccions are qualitatively compared against numerical simulations of a detailed mathematical model. Extensions of the resulting model to examine control strategies are also addressed.Fil: Bartels, Malte. Cleveland State University; Estados UnidosFil: Gatica, Jorge E.. Cleveland State University; Estados UnidosFil: Pedernera, Marisa Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Schbib, Noemi Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Borio, Daniel Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin