A Universal Kriging predictor for spatially dependent functional data of a Hilbert Space

We address the problem of predicting spatially dependent functional data belonging to a Hilbert space, with a Functional Data Analysis approach. Having defined new global measures of spatial variability for functional random processes, we derive a Universal Kriging predictor for functional data. Consistently with the new established theoretical results, we develop a two-step procedure for predicting georeferenced functional data: first model selection and estimation of the spatial mean (drift), then Universal Kriging prediction on the basis of the identified model. The proposed methodology is applied to daily mean temperatures curves recorded in the Maritimes Provinces of Canada

Aberrant ribonucleotide incorporation and multiple deletions in mitochondrial DNA of the murine MPV17 disease model

All DNA polymerases misincorporate ribonucleotides despite their preference for deoxyribonucleotides, and analysis of cultured cells indicates that mammalian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) tolerates such replication errors. However, it is not clear to what extent misincorporation occurs in tissues, or whether this plays a role in human disease. Here, we show that mtDNA of solid tissues contains many more embedded ribonucleotides than that of cultured cells, consistent with the high ratio of ribonucleotide to deoxynucleotide triphosphates in tissues, and that riboadenosines account for three-quarters of them. The pattern of embedded ribonucleotides changes in a mouse model of Mpv17 deficiency, which displays a marked increase in rGMPs in mtDNA. However, while the mitochondrial dGTP is low in the Mpv17−/− liver, the brain shows no change in the overall dGTP pool, leading us to suggest that Mpv17 determines the local concentration or quality of dGTP. Embedded rGMPs are expected to distort the mtDNA and impede its replication, and elevated rGMP incorporation is associated with early-onset mtDNA depletion in liver and late-onset multiple deletions in brain of Mpv17−/− mice. These findings suggest aberrant ribonucleotide incorporation is a primary mtDNA abnormality that can result in pathology

Analysis of outsourcing conditions for freight transport and logistics among manufacturing companies: Insights from a review of data and a field investigation

This paper reports the results of a research work carried out among manufacturing companies of the metropolitan area of Turin (Italy) to investigate status and motivation for outsourcing transport and logistics services or for choosing otherwise, as well as to clarify which commercial terms are used and why, since the choice of commercial terms affects transport and logistics. Also other points, including e-commerce and logistics, were examined. The work involved interviewing the managers of sixteen manufacturing companies of different types and was carried out during 2016-2017, on behalf of the Association of transport and logistics companies belonging to the "Unione Industriale" of Torino

Thermophysical properties of frozen parsley: A state diagram representation

Sorption behavior and glass transition of frozen parsley were investigated in order to study the physical modifications, represented as state diagram to figure out information about product behavior for storage and supply chain handling. Frozen products may be located in the state diagram in all the possible freezing temperatures to understand the structure state and study feasible corrective actions mainly focused on temperature and solid content. Parsley was totally dehydrated and equilibrated at selected relative humidity. Sorption behavior was evaluated by saturated salt slurry method and sorption isotherm fitting, while solid components in terms of mass fraction were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry. Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) model well fitted with moisture and water activity data (R2 = 0.995, p-level < 0.05). The characteristic ranges of stability, in terms of system mobility and physical modification, are the monolayer values (0.240 water activity; 0.052 kg/kg dry basis) and the critical water activity range (0.424 water activity; 0.078 kg/kg dry basis). Glass transition and melting temperature were used to define parsley state diagram. Different zones figure out a specific physical behavior: depending on solid content and temperature. Unfrozen water was estimated as monolayer BET value 0.84 kg/kg wet basis and extrapolated from state diagram 0.984 kg/kg wet basis. Practical applications: Frozen high-quality product and energy efficiency can be obtained by a correct temperature management. Thermophysical properties of parsley represented in a state diagram are reported in the typical solute and temperature range of freezing process and storage. These data can relate physical structure and temperature, allowing different possible conditions management

Prototype ATLAS IBL Modules using the FE-I4A Front-End Readout Chip

The ATLAS Collaboration will upgrade its semiconductor pixel tracking detector with a new Insertable B-layer (IBL) between the existing pixel detector and the vacuum pipe of the Large Hadron Collider. The extreme operating conditions at this location have necessitated the development of new radiation hard pixel sensor technologies and a new front-end readout chip, called the FE-I4. Planar pixel sensors and 3D pixel sensors have been investigated to equip this new pixel layer, and prototype modules using the FE-I4A have been fabricated and characterized using 120 GeV pions at the CERN SPS and 4 GeV positrons at DESY, before and after module irradiation. Beam test results are presented, including charge collection efficiency, tracking efficiency and charge sharing.Comment: 45 pages, 30 figures, submitted to JINS

Quantification of CO2 generation in sedimentary basins through carbonate/clays reactions with uncertain thermodynamic parameters

We develop a methodological framework and mathematical formulation which yields estimates of the uncertainty associated with the amounts of CO2generated by Carbonate-Clays Reactions (CCR) in large-scale subsurface systems to assist characterization of the main features of this geochemical process. Our approach couples a one-dimensional compaction model, providing the dynamics of the evolution of porosity, temperature and pressure along the vertical direction, with a chemical model able to quantify the partial pressure of CO2resulting from minerals and pore water interaction. The modeling framework we propose allows (i) estimating the depth at which the source of gases is located and (ii) quantifying the amount of CO2generated, based on the mineralogy of the sediments involved in the basin formation process. A distinctive objective of the study is the quantification of the way the uncertainty affecting chemical equilibrium constants propagates to model outputs, i.e., the flux of CO2. These parameters are considered as key sources of uncertainty in our modeling approach because temperature and pressure distributions associated with deep burial depths typically fall outside the range of validity of commonly employed geochemical databases and typically used geochemical software. We also analyze the impact of the relative abundancy of primary phases in the sediments on the activation of CCR processes. As a test bed, we consider a computational study where pressure and temperature conditions are representative of those observed in real sedimentary formation. Our results are conducive to the probabilistic assessment of (i) the characteristic pressure and temperature at which CCR leads to generation of CO2in sedimentary systems, (ii) the order of magnitude of the CO2generation rate that can be associated with CCR processes

Many analysts, one data set: making transparent how variations in analytic choices affect results

Twenty-nine teams involving 61 analysts used the same data set to address the same research question: whether soccer referees are more likely to give red cards to dark-skin-toned players than to light-skin-toned players. Analytic approaches varied widely across the teams, and the estimated effect sizes ranged from 0.89 to 2.93 (Mdn = 1.31) in odds-ratio units. Twenty teams (69%) found a statistically significant positive effect, and 9 teams (31%) did not observe a significant relationship. Overall, the 29 different analyses used 21 unique combinations of covariates. Neither analysts’ prior beliefs about the effect of interest nor their level of expertise readily explained the variation in the outcomes of the analyses. Peer ratings of the quality of the analyses also did not account for the variability. These findings suggest that significant variation in the results of analyses of complex data may be difficult to avoid, even by experts with honest intentions. Crowdsourcing data analysis, a strategy in which numerous research teams are recruited to simultaneously investigate the same research question, makes transparent how defensible, yet subjective, analytic choices influence research results

Space telescope and optical reverberation mapping project. IV. Anomalous behavior of the broad ultraviolet emission lines in NGC 5548

During an intensive Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) UV monitoring campaign of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548 performed from 2014 February to July, the normally highly correlated far UV continuum and broad emission line variations decorrelated for ∼60-70 days, starting ∼75 days after the first HST/COS observation. Following this anomalous state, the flux and variability of the broad emission lines returned to a more normal state. This transient behavior, characterized by significant deficits in flux and equivalent width of the strong broad UV emission lines, is the first of its kind to be unambiguously identified in an active galactic nucleus reverberation mapping campaign. The largest corresponding emission line flux deficits occurred for the high ionization, collisionally excited lines C iv and Si iv(+O iv]), and also He ii(+O iii]), while the anomaly in Lywas substantially smaller. This pattern of behavior indicates a depletion in the flux of photons with Eph > 54 eV relative to those near 13.6 eV. We suggest two plausible mechanisms for the observed behavior: (i) temporary obscuration of the ionizing continuum incident upon broad line region (BLR) clouds by a moving veil of material lying between the inner accretion disk and inner (BLR), perhaps resulting from an episodic ejection of material from the disk, or (ii) a temporary change in the intrinsic ionizing continuum spectral energy distribution resulting in a deficit of ionizing photons with energies >54 eV, possibly due to a transient restructuring of the Comptonizing atmosphere above the disk. Current evidence appears to favor the latter explanation.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe