Space-Varying Coefficient Models for Brain Imaging

The methodological development and the application in this paper originate from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a powerful nuclear magnetic resonance technique enabling diagnosis and monitoring of several diseases as well as reconstruction of neural pathways. We reformulate the current analysis framework of separate voxelwise regressions as a 3d space-varying coefficient model (VCM) for the entire set of DTI images recorded on a 3d grid of voxels. Hence by allowing to borrow strength from spatially adjacent voxels, to smooth noisy observations, and to estimate diffusion tensors at any location within the brain, the three-step cascade of standard data processing is overcome simultaneously. We conceptualize two VCM variants based on B-spline basis functions: a full tensor product approach and a sequential approximation, rendering the VCM numerically and computationally feasible even for the huge dimension of the joint model in a realistic setup. A simulation study shows that both approaches outperform the standard method of voxelwise regressions with subsequent regularization. Due to major efficacy, we apply the sequential method to a clinical DTI data set and demonstrate the inherent ability of increasing the rigid grid resolution by evaluating the incorporated basis functions at intermediate points. In conclusion, the suggested fitting methods clearly improve the current state-of-the-art, but ameloriation of local adaptivity remains desirable

Fermi Surface of KFe2_2As2_2 from Quantum Oscillations in Magnetostriction

We present a study of the Fermi surface of KFe$_2$As$_2$ single crystals. Quantum oscillations were observed in magnetostriction measured down to 50 mK and in magnetic fields $H$ up to 14 T. For $H \parallel c$, the calculated effective masses are in agreement with recent de Haas-van Alphen and ARPES experiments, showing enhanced values with respect to the ones obtained from previous band calculations. For $H \parallel a$, we observed a small orbit at a cyclotron frequency of 64 T, characterized by an effective mass of $\sim 0.8 m_e$, supporting the presence of a three-dimensional pocket at the Z-point.Comment: SCES Conference, Tokyo 201

Hydroacoustic Survey and Point Sampling of Macrophytes In Diamond Lake 2009

MaxDepth Aquatics, Inc. was contracted to conduct a hydroacoustic survey of macrophyte distribution in Diamond Lake in 2009. The survey essentially repeated surveys conducted in 2002 and 2007, allowing for a detailed assessment of conditions in 2009 and comparisons among previous years. In addition, Portland State University was contracted to conduct a depth stratified random point sample survey of macrophyte species presence and absence. The point sample survey was similar to surveys conducted in 2005 and 2007. The results of the 2009 hydroacoustic survey showed that macrophytes were widely distributed throughout the lake at depths less than 8 meters, although some shorter aggregations of macrophytes were found at depths down to 14 meters. Average canopy height corresponded closely to macrophyte density in 2009. The recent survey showed that macrophytes had extended deeper throughout the lake compared to 2002 and 2007 and that canopy height had increased substantially in some locations. The 2009 distribution showed that recolonization of the near shore areas was proceeding, albeit at a relatively slow pace since the lake drawdown completed in 2006. The maximum density of macrophytes in 2009 was found between 4 to 6 meters. Five macrophyte species, one macroalgal species, and filamentous algae were present in the 2009 random point survey. The occurrence rates of the macrophytes Elodea canadensis, Ceratophyllum demersum, and Potamogeton praelongus in 2009 were similar to 2005 and 2007 while Potamogeton pusillus occurrence increased and Myriophyllum verticillatum decreased. Macrophytes were present in a few samples greater than 9 meters; however, biomass, as measured by the fullness of a sampling rake, was highest between 2 and 6 meters. The comparison of the grab sampling conducted in August with the hydroacoustic survey in early September showed poor correspondence in macrophyte density obtained by the two methods. This is likely due to differences in spatial scales of collected samples (10 m2 grid for hydroacoustics compared to \u3c 1 m2 grab samples), comparison of a continuous analytic tool (hydroacoustic) versus an ordinal ranking of density (rake), and possibly some changes in the macrophytes community between the two sampling dates

Zukunftsfähige Stallkonzepte für die ökologische Milcherzeugung

Ensuring high animal welfare standards is one of the objectives of organic farming. The combination of modern housing concepts, proper herd management and good human-animal relationship could be an effective strategy. In this study 14 viable dairy barn concepts were described and evaluated. In nine of these dairy farms the management and animal welfare situation was examined. The outcome was a documentation of 14 different dairy farming concepts (housing, management) that are suitable to develop individual solutions with regard to animal welfare and the special requirements of organic dairy farms

Varying Coefficient Tensor Models for Brain Imaging

We revisit a multidimensional varying-coefficient model (VCM), by allowing regressor coefficients to vary smoothly in more than one dimension, thereby extending the VCM of Hastie and Tibshirani. The motivating example is 3-dimensional, involving a special type of nuclear magnetic resonance measurement technique that is being used to estimate the diffusion tensor at each point in the human brain. We aim to improve the current state of the art, which is to apply a multiple regression model for each voxel separately using information from six or more volume images. We present a model, based on P-spline tensor products, to introduce spatial smoothness of the estimated diffusion tensor. Since the regression design matrix is space-invariant, a 4-dimensional tensor product model results, allowing more efficient computation with penalized array regression

Lack of coupling between superconductivity and orthorhombic distortion in stoichiometric single-crystalline FeSe

The coupling between superconductivity and othorhombic distortion is studied in vapor-grown FeSe single crystals using high-resolution thermal-expansion measurements. In contrast to the Ba122-based (Ba122) superconductors, we find that superconductivity does not reduce the orthorhombicity below Tc. Instead we find that superconductivity couples strongly to the in-plane area, which explains the large hydrostatic pressure effects. We discuss our results in light of the spinnematic scenario and argue that FeSe has many features quite different from the typical Fe-based superconductors

On the structure of the virtual Compton amplitude with additional final-state meson in the extended Bjorken region

Using the framework of the non-local light-cone expansion a systematic study is performed for the structure of the twist-2 contributions to the virtual Compton amplitude in polarized deep-inelastic non-forward scattering for general nucleon spin with an additional scalar meson in the final state. A useful kinematic parameterization allowing for appropriate triple-valued off-forward parton distribution amplitudes is given. One-variable amplitudes being adapted to the fixed parameters of the extended Bjorken region are introduced by decomposing the Compton amplitude into collinear and non-collinear components. These amplitudes obey Wandzura-Wilczek and Callan-Gross like relations. The evolution equations for all the distribution amplitudes are determined showing that the additional meson momentum does not appear in the evolution kernels. The generalization to $n$ outgoing mesons is given

Twenty years of P-splines

P-splines first appeared in the limelight twenty years ago. Since then they have become popular in applications and in theoretical work. The combination of a rich B-spline basis and a simple difference penalty lends itself well to a variety of generalizations, because it is based on regression. In effect, P-splines allow the building of a “backbone” for the “mixing and matching” of a variety of additive smooth structure components, while inviting all sorts of extensions: varying-coefficient effects, signal (functional) regressors, two-dimensional surfaces, non-normal responses, quantile (expectile) modelling, among others. Strong connections with mixed models and Bayesian analysis have been established. We give an overview of many of the central developments during the first two decades of P-splines.Peer Reviewe

Twenty years of P-splines

P-splines first appeared in the limelight twenty years ago. Since then they have become popular in applications and in theoretical work. The combination of a rich B-spline basis and a simple difference penalty lends itself well to a variety of generalizations, because it is based on regression. In effect, P-splines allow the building of a “backbone” for the “mixing and matching” of a variety of additive smooth structure components, while inviting all sorts of extensions: varying-coefficient effects, signal (functional) regressors, two-dimensional surfaces, non-normal responses, quantile (expectile) modelling, among others. Strong connections with mixed models and Bayesian analysis have been established. We give an overview of many of the central developments during the first two decades of P-splines

On a counterexample to a conjecture by Blackadar

Blackadar conjectured that if we have a split short-exact sequence 0 -> I -> A -> A/I -> 0 where I is semiprojective and A/I is isomorphic to the complex numbers, then A must be semiprojective. Eilers and Katsura have found a counterexample to this conjecture. Presumably Blackadar asked that the extension be split to make it more likely that semiprojectivity of I would imply semiprojectivity of A. But oddly enough, in all the counterexamples of Eilers and Katsura the quotient map from A to A/I is split. We will show how to modify their examples to find a non-semiprojective C*-algebra B with a semiprojective ideal J such that B/J is the complex numbers and the quotient map does not split.Comment: 6 page