1,569 research outputs found
The role of the loss function in the probabilistic function approximation
Generalising results on the time series estimation it is natural to consider function approximation with finite data observations in a probabilistic setting. The function is treated as a stochastic process where for each point in the functions domain the function is a random variable. Equivalently the function can be considered as a single random variable whose range is a space of functions. In this paper two results well known within the context of time series estimation and stochastic control are generalised to probabilistic function approximation problems. Under mild conditions on the space of functions it is shown that the optimal function estimate corresponds for all reasonable symmetrical loss functions to the pointwise conditioned expectation given the observed data. Further in the case where the space of functions belongs to the class of Gaussian process the optimal estimate is the conditional expectation even for asymmetric loss functions
Constructive role of dissipation for driven coupled bosonic modes
We describe four cases of childhood B-cell progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (BCP-ALL) and one of T-cell (T-ALL) with unexpected numbers of interphase signals for ETV6 with an ETV6-RUNX1 fusion probe. Three fusion negative cases each had a telomeric part of 12p terminating within intron 2 of ETV6, attached to sequences from 5q, 7p and 7q, respectively. Two fusion positive cases, with partial insertions of ETV6 into chromosome 21, also had a breakpoint in intron 2. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation ( FISH), array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and Molecular Copy-Number Counting (MCC) results were concordant for the T-cell case. Sequences downstream of TLX3 on chromosome 5 were deleted, leaving the intact gene closely apposed to the first two exons of ETV6 and its upstream promoter. qRT-PCR showed a significant upregulation of TLX3. In this study we provide the first incontrovertible evidence that the upstream promoter of ETV6 attached to the first two exons of the gene was responsible for the ectopic expression of a proto-oncogene that became abnormally close as the result of deletion and translocation. We have also shown breakpoints in intron 2 of ETV6 in two cases of insertion with ETV6-RUNX1 fusion
Banned Books Week: Big Ideas and Freedom of Information
Banned Books Week: Big Ideas and Freedom of Information Presented by Members of Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society Taylor Vredenburg, Isaiah Russell, Harrison Jenkins, and CJ Gibson October 4, 202
Accuracy and Limitations of Fitting and Stereoscopic Methods to Determine the Direction of Coronal Mass Ejections from Heliospheric Imagers Observations
Using data from the Heliospheric Imagers (HIs) onboard STEREO, it is possible
to derive the direction of propagation of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in
addition to their speed with a variety of methods. For CMEs observed by both
STEREO spacecraft, it is possible to derive their direction using simultaneous
observations from the twin spacecraft and also, using observations from only
one spacecraft with fitting methods. This makes it possible to test and compare
different analyses techniques. In this article, we propose a new fitting method
based on observations from one spacecraft, which we compare to the commonly
used fitting method of Sheeley et al. (1999). We also compare the results from
these two fitting methods with those from two stereoscopic methods, focusing on
12 CMEs observed simultaneously by the two STEREO spacecraft in 2008 and 2009.
We find evidence that the fitting method of Sheeley et al. (1999) can result in
significant errors in the determination of the CME direction when the CME
propagates outside of 60deg \pm 20 deg from the Sun-spacecraft line. We expect
our new fitting method to be better adapted to the analysis of halo or limb
CMEs with respect to the observing spacecraft. We also find some evidence that
direct triangulation in the HI fields-of-view should only be applied to CMEs
propagating approximatively towards Earth (\pm 20deg from the Sun-Earth line).
Last, we address one of the possible sources of errors of fitting methods: the
assumption of radial propagation. Using stereoscopic methods, we find that at
least seven of the 12 studied CMEs had an heliospheric deflection of less than
20deg as they propagated in the HI fields-of-view, which, we believe, validates
this approximation.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, accepted to Solar Physic
The Role of the Loss Function in Probabilistic Function Approximation
Generalising results on time series estimation, it is natural to consider function approximation with finite data observations in a probabilistic setting. The function is treated as a stochastic process where for each point in the functions domain, the function is a random variable. Equivalently the function can be considered as a single random variable whose range is a space of functions. In this paper, two results, well known within the the context of time series estimation and stochastic control, are generalised to probabilistic function approximation problems. Under mild conditions, on the space of functions, it is shown that the optimal function estimate corresponds, for all reasonable symmetrical loss functions, to the pointwise conditional expectation given the observed data. Further, in the case where the space of functions belongs to the class of Gaussian processes the optimal estimate is the conditional expectation even for asymmetric loss functions
Nanoscale strontium-substituted hydroxyapatite pastes and gels for bone tissue regeneration
Injectable nanoscale hydroxyapatite (nHA) systems are highly promising biomaterials to address clinical needs in bone tissue regeneration, due to their excellent biocompatibility, bioinspired nature, and ability to be delivered in a minimally invasive manner. Bulk strontium-substituted hydroxyapatite (SrHA) is reported to encourage bone tissue growth by stimulating bone deposition and reducing bone resorption, but there are no detailed reports describing the preparation of a systematic substitution up to 100% at the nanoscale. The aim of this work was therefore to fabricate systematic series (0–100 atomic% Sr) of SrHA pastes and gels using two different rapid-mixing methodological approaches, wet precipitation and sol-gel. The full range of nanoscale SrHA materials were successfully prepared using both methods, with a measured substitution very close to the calculated amounts. As anticipated, the SrHA samples showed increased radiopacity, a beneficial property to aid in vivo or clinical monitoring of the material in situ over time. For indirect methods, the greatest cell viabilities were observed for the 100% substituted SrHA paste and gel, while direct viability results were most likely influenced by material disaggregation in the tissue culture media. It was concluded that nanoscale SrHAs were superior biomaterials for applications in bone surgery, due to increased radiopacity and improved biocompatibility
Towards a formal description of the collapse approach to the inflationary origin of the seeds of cosmic structure
Inflation plays a central role in our current understanding of the universe.
According to the standard viewpoint, the homogeneous and isotropic mode of the
inflaton field drove an early phase of nearly exponential expansion of the
universe, while the quantum fluctuations (uncertainties) of the other modes
gave rise to the seeds of cosmic structure. However, if we accept that the
accelerated expansion led the universe into an essentially homogeneous and
isotropic space-time, with the state of all the matter fields in their vacuum
(except for the zero mode of the inflaton field), we can not escape the
conclusion that the state of the universe as a whole would remain always
homogeneous and isotropic. It was recently proposed in [A. Perez, H. Sahlmann
and D. Sudarsky, "On the quantum origin of the seeds of cosmic structure,"
Class. Quant. Grav. 23, 2317-2354 (2006)] that a collapse (representing physics
beyond the established paradigm, and presumably associated with a
quantum-gravity effect a la Penrose) of the state function of the inflaton
field might be the missing element, and thus would be responsible for the
emergence of the primordial inhomogeneities. Here we will discuss a formalism
that relies strongly on quantum field theory on curved space-times, and within
which we can implement a detailed description of such a process. The picture
that emerges clarifies many aspects of the problem, and is conceptually quite
transparent. Nonetheless, we will find that the results lead us to argue that
the resulting picture is not fully compatible with a purely geometric
description of space-time.Comment: 53 pages, no figures. Revision to match the published versio
The use of dose quantities in radiological protection: ICRP publication 147 Ann ICRP 50(1) 2021.
The International Commission on Radiological Protection has recently published a report (ICRP Publication 147;Ann. ICRP50, 2021) on the use of dose quantities in radiological protection, under the same authorship as this Memorandum. Here, we present a brief summary of the main elements of the report. ICRP Publication 147 consolidates and clarifies the explanations provided in the 2007 ICRP Recommendations (Publication 103) but reaches conclusions that go beyond those presented in Publication 103. Further guidance is provided on the scientific basis for the control of radiation risks using dose quantities in occupational, public and medical applications. It is emphasised that best estimates of risk to individuals will use organ/tissue absorbed doses, appropriate relative biological effectiveness factors and dose-risk models for specific health effects. However, bearing in mind uncertainties including those associated with risk projection to low doses or low dose rates, it is concluded that in the context of radiological protection, effective dose may be considered as an approximate indicator of possible risk of stochastic health effects following low-level exposure to ionising radiation. In this respect, it should also be recognised that lifetime cancer risks vary with age at exposure, sex and population group. The ICRP report also concludes that equivalent dose is not needed as a protection quantity. Dose limits for the avoidance of tissue reactions for the skin, hands and feet, and lens of the eye will be more appropriately set in terms of absorbed dose rather than equivalent dose
Magnetic field diagnostics and spatio-temporal variability of the solar transition region
Magnetic field diagnostics of the transition region from the chromosphere to
the corona faces us with the problem that one has to apply extreme UV
spectro-polarimetry. While for coronal diagnostic techniques already exist
through infrared coronagraphy above the limb and radio observations on the
disk, for the transition region one has to investigate extreme UV observations.
However, so far the success of such observations has been limited, but there
are various projects to get spectro-polarimetric data in the extreme UV in the
near future. Therefore it is timely to study the polarimetric signals we can
expect for such observations through realistic forward modeling.
We employ a 3D MHD forward model of the solar corona and synthesize the
Stokes I and Stokes V profiles of C IV 1548 A. A signal well above 0.001 in
Stokes V can be expected, even when integrating for several minutes in order to
reach the required signal-to-noise ratio, despite the fact that the intensity
in the model is rapidly changing (just as in observations). Often this
variability of the intensity is used as an argument against transition region
magnetic diagnostics which requires exposure times of minutes. However, the
magnetic field is evolving much slower than the intensity, and thus when
integrating in time the degree of (circular) polarization remains rather
constant. Our study shows the feasibility to measure the transition region
magnetic field, if a polarimetric accuracy on the order of 0.001 can be
reached, which we can expect from planned instrumentation.Comment: Accepted for publication in Solar Physics (4.Mar.2013), 19 pages, 9
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