On spherical averages of radial basis functions

A radial basis function (RBF) has the general form $$s(x)=\sum_{k=1}^{n}a_{k}\phi(x-b_{k}),\quad x\in\mathbb{R}^{d},$$ where the coefficients a 1,…,a n are real numbers, the points, or centres, b 1,…,b n lie in ℝ d , and φ:ℝ d →ℝ is a radially symmetric function. Such approximants are highly useful and enjoy rich theoretical properties; see, for instance (Buhmann, Radial Basis Functions: Theory and Implementations, [2003]; Fasshauer, Meshfree Approximation Methods with Matlab, [2007]; Light and Cheney, A Course in Approximation Theory, [2000]; or Wendland, Scattered Data Approximation, [2004]). The important special case of polyharmonic splines results when φ is the fundamental solution of the iterated Laplacian operator, and this class includes the Euclidean norm φ(x)=‖x‖ when d is an odd positive integer, the thin plate spline φ(x)=‖x‖2log  ‖x‖ when d is an even positive integer, and univariate splines. Now B-splines generate a compactly supported basis for univariate spline spaces, but an analyticity argument implies that a nontrivial polyharmonic spline generated by (1.1) cannot be compactly supported when d>1. However, a pioneering paper of Jackson (Constr. Approx. 4:243–264, [1988]) established that the spherical average of a radial basis function generated by the Euclidean norm can be compactly supported when the centres and coefficients satisfy certain moment conditions; Jackson then used this compactly supported spherical average to construct approximate identities, with which he was then able to derive some of the earliest uniform convergence results for a class of radial basis functions. Our work extends this earlier analysis, but our technique is entirely novel, and applies to all polyharmonic splines. Furthermore, we observe that the technique provides yet another way to generate compactly supported, radially symmetric, positive definite functions. Specifically, we find that the spherical averaging operator commutes with the Fourier transform operator, and we are then able to identify Fourier transforms of compactly supported functions using the Paley–Wiener theorem. Furthermore, the use of Haar measure on compact Lie groups would not have occurred without frequent exposure to Iserles’s study of geometric integration

Occupational allergy to fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) in laboratory workers

OBJECTIVES: Drosophila melanogaster (the 'fruit fly') is commonly used in genetic research, but there is only one report of IgE-associated allergy in exposed workers. 4 newly identified cases prompted us to examine the extent of this problem in a university laboratory. Our aim in this study is to determine the prevalence and determinants of sensitisation to fruit flies in a population of exposed workers. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, we surveyed 286 employees working in a department carrying out research involving D. melanogaster. Sensitisation was assessed by specific IgE measurement in serum and examined in relation to symptoms and to estimated exposure to fruit flies. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of specific sensitisation was 6% with a clear relationship to increasing frequency/intensity of exposure (p trend<0.001). Work-related eye/nose, chest or skin symptoms were reported by substantial proportions of participants but for most of these there was no evidence of specific sensitisation to fruit fly. The overall prevalence of any work-related symptoms and sensitisation was 2.4%, rising to 7.1% in those working in high exposure groups. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to demonstrate, for the first time, a clear exposure-response relationship between fruit fly exposure and specific sensitisation. Facilities housing fruit flies should carefully consider methods to reduce exposure levels in the workplace

Interacting anyons in topological quantum liquids: The golden chain

We discuss generalizations of quantum spin Hamiltonians using anyonic degrees of freedom. The simplest model for interacting anyons energetically favors neighboring anyons to fuse into the trivial (`identity') channel, similar to the quantum Heisenberg model favoring neighboring spins to form spin singlets. Numerical simulations of a chain of Fibonacci anyons show that the model is critical with a dynamical critical exponent z=1, and described by a two-dimensional conformal field theory with central charge c=7/10. An exact mapping of the anyonic chain onto the two-dimensional tricritical Ising model is given using the restricted-solid-on-solid (RSOS) representation of the Temperley-Lieb algebra. The gaplessness of the chain is shown to have topological origin.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Using a cognitive architecture to examine what develops

Different theories of development propose alternative mechanisms by which development occurs. Cognitive architectures can be used to examine the influence of each proposed mechanism of development while keeping all other mechanisms constant. An ACT-R computational model that matched adult behavior in solving a 21-block pyramid puzzle was created. The model was modified in three ways that corresponded to mechanisms of development proposed by developmental theories. The results showed that all the modifications (two of capacity and one of strategy choice) could approximate the behavior of 7-year-old children on the task. The strategy-choice modification provided the closest match on the two central measures of task behavior (time taken per layer, r = .99, and construction attempts per layer, r = .73). Modifying cognitive architectures is a fruitful way to compare and test potential developmental mechanisms, and can therefore help in specifying “what develops.

ICML Exploration & Exploitation challenge: Keep it simple!

International audienceRecommendation has become a key feature in the economy of a lot of companies (online shopping, search engines...). There is a lot of work going on regarding recommender systems and there is still a lot to do to improve them. Indeed nowadays in many companies most of the job is done by hand. Moreover even when a supposedly smart recommender system is designed, it is hard to evaluate it without using real audience which obviously involves economic issues. The ICML Exploration & Exploitation challenge is an attempt to make people propose efficient recommendation techniques and particularly focuses on limited computational resources. The challenge also proposes a framework to address the problem of evaluating a recommendation algorithm with real data. We took part in this challenge and achieved the best performances; this paper aims at reporting on this achievement; we also discuss the evaluation process and propose a better one for future challenges of the same kind

Off-Critical Logarithmic Minimal Models

We consider the integrable minimal models ${\cal M}(m,m';t)$, corresponding to the $\varphi_{1,3}$ perturbation off-criticality, in the {\it logarithmic limit\,} $m, m'\to\infty$, $m/m'\to p/p'$ where $p, p'$ are coprime and the limit is taken through coprime values of $m,m'$. We view these off-critical minimal models ${\cal M}(m,m';t)$ as the continuum scaling limit of the Forrester-Baxter Restricted Solid-On-Solid (RSOS) models on the square lattice. Applying Corner Transfer Matrices to the Forrester-Baxter RSOS models in Regime III, we argue that taking first the thermodynamic limit and second the {\it logarithmic limit\,} yields off-critical logarithmic minimal models ${\cal LM}(p,p';t)$ corresponding to the $\varphi_{1,3}$ perturbation of the critical logarithmic minimal models ${\cal LM}(p,p')$. Specifically, in accord with the Kyoto correspondence principle, we show that the logarithmic limit of the one-dimensional configurational sums yields finitized quasi-rational characters of the Kac representations of the critical logarithmic minimal models ${\cal LM}(p,p')$. We also calculate the logarithmic limit of certain off-critical observables ${\cal O}_{r,s}$ related to One Point Functions and show that the associated critical exponents $\beta_{r,s}=(2-\alpha)\,\Delta_{r,s}^{p,p'}$ produce all conformal dimensions $\Delta_{r,s}^{p,p'}<{(p'-p)(9p-p')\over 4pp'}$ in the infinitely extended Kac table. The corresponding Kac labels $(r,s)$ satisfy $(p s-p' r)^2< 8p(p'-p)$. The exponent $2-\alpha ={p'\over 2(p'-p)}$ is obtained from the logarithmic limit of the free energy giving the conformal dimension $\Delta_t={1-\alpha\over 2-\alpha}={2p-p'\over p'}=\Delta_{1,3}^{p,p'}$ for the perturbing field $t$. As befits a non-unitary theory, some observables ${\cal O}_{r,s}$ diverge at criticality.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures; version 3 contains amplifications and minor typographical correction