An elementary proof of phase transition in the planar XY model

Using elementary methods we obtain a power-law lower bound on the two-point function of the planar XY spin model at low temperatures. This was famously first rigorously obtained by Fr\"{o}hlich and Spencer and establishes a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition in the model. Our argument relies on a new loop representation of spin correlations, a recent result of Lammers on delocalisation of integer-valued height functions, and classical correlation inequalities.Comment: 25 pages, statement of main result slightly improve

An upper bound on the two-arms exponent for critical percolation on Zd\mathbb{Z}^d

Consider critical site percolation on $\mathbb{Z}^d$ with $d \geq 2$. Cerf (2015) pointed out that from classical work by Aizenman, Kesten and Newman (1987) and Gandolfi, Grimmett and Russo (1988) one can obtain that the two-arms exponent is at least $1/2$. The paper by Cerf slightly improves that lower bound. Except for $d=2$ and for high $d$, no upper bound for this exponent seems to be known in the literature so far (not even implicity). We show that the distance-$n$ two-arms probability is at least $c n^{-(d^2 + 4 d -2)}$ (with $c >0$ a constant which depends on $d$), thus giving an upper bound $d^2 + 4 d -2$ for the above mentioned exponent.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur

SSIG: A Visually-Guided Graph Edit Distance for Floor Plan Similarity

We propose a simple yet effective metric that measures structural similarity between visual instances of architectural floor plans, without the need for learning. Qualitatively, our experiments show that the retrieval results are similar to deeply learned methods. Effectively comparing instances of floor plan data is paramount to the success of machine understanding of floor plan data, including the assessment of floor plan generative models and floor plan recommendation systems. Comparing visual floor plan images goes beyond a sole pixel-wise visual examination and is crucially about similarities and differences in the shapes and relations between subdivisions that compose the layout. Currently, deep metric learning approaches are used to learn a pair-wise vector representation space that closely mimics the structural similarity, in which the models are trained on similarity labels that are obtained by Intersection-over-Union (IoU). To compensate for the lack of structural awareness in IoU, graph-based approaches such as Graph Matching Networks (GMNs) are used, which require pairwise inference for comparing data instances, making GMNs less practical for retrieval applications. In this paper, an effective evaluation metric for judging the structural similarity of floor plans, coined SSIG (Structural Similarity by IoU and GED), is proposed based on both image and graph distances. In addition, an efficient algorithm is developed that uses SSIG to rank a large-scale floor plan database. Code will be openly available.Comment: To be published in ICCVW 2023, 10 page

How feedback boosts motivation and play in a brain-training game

AbstractGames are important vehicles for learning and behavior change as long as players are motivated to continue playing. We study the impact of verbal feedback in stimulating player motivation and future play in a brain-training game. We conducted a 2 (feedback valence: positive vs. negative)×3 (feedback type: descriptive, comparative, evaluative) between-subjects experiment (N=157, 69.4% female, Mage=32.07). After playing a brain-training game and receiving feedback, we tapped players’ need satisfaction, motivation and intention to play the game again. Results demonstrate that evaluative feedback increases, while comparative feedback decreases future game play. Furthermore, negative feedback decreases players’ feeling of competence, but also increases immediate game play. Positive feedback, in contrast, satisfies competence and autonomy needs, thereby boosting intrinsic motivation. Negative feedback thus motivates players to repair poor short-term performances, while positive feedback is more powerful in fostering long-term motivation and play

Multiple sclerosis and the microbiota:Progress in understanding the contribution of the gut microbiome to disease

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological autoimmune disorder, has recently been linked to neuro-inflammatory influences from the gut. In this review, we address the idea that evolutionary mismatches could affect the pathogenesis of MS via the gut microbiota. The evolution of symbiosis as well as the recent introduction of evolutionary mismatches is considered, and evidence regarding the impact of diet on the MS-associated microbiota is evaluated. Distinctive microbial community compositions associated with the gut microbiota of MS patients are difficult to identify, and substantial study-to-study variation and even larger variations between individual profiles of MS patients are observed. Furthermore, although some dietary changes impact the progression of MS, MS-associated features of microbiota were found to be not necessarily associated with diet per se. In addition, immune function in MS patients potentially drives changes in microbial composition directly, in at least some individuals. Finally, assessment of evolutionary histories of animals with their gut symbionts suggests that the impact of evolutionary mismatch on the microbiota is less concerning than mismatches affecting helminths and protists. These observations suggest that the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet for patients with MS may not be mediated by the microbiota per se. Furthermore, any alteration of the microbiota found in association with MS may be an effect rather than a cause. This conclusion is consistent with other studies indicating that a loss of complex eukaryotic symbionts, including helminths and protists, is a pivotal evolutionary mismatch that potentiates the increased prevalence of autoimmunity within a population

Regional Energy Transition (RET): how to improve the connection of praxis and theory?

A regional energy transition (RET) implies a drastic transformation of the energy system and, hence, a lot of challenges. A RET calls for an integrative local approach. In this essay we describe and compare the current practice and the state of knowledge on this topic. We find that theory has not yet developed sufficiently to address the practical challenges. Part of the problem is that what has been developed has too little connection with local practice. We conclude that the development of theoretical knowledge must be better attuned to the needs of the practitioners

A Conserved Tryptophan in the Envelope Cytoplasmic Tail Regulates HIV-1 Assembly and Spread

The HIV-1 envelope (Env) is an essential determinant of viral infectivity, tropism and spread between T cells. Lentiviral Env contain an unusually long 150 amino acid cytoplasmic tail (EnvCT), but the function of the EnvCT and many conserved domains within it remain largely uncharacterised. Here, we identified a highly conserved tryptophan motif at position 757 (W757) in the LLP-2 alpha helix of the EnvCT as a key determinant for HIV-1 replication and spread between T cells. Alanine substitution at this position potently inhibited HIV-1 cell–cell spread (the dominant mode of HIV-1 dissemination) by preventing recruitment of Env and Gag to sites of cell–cell contact, inhibiting virological synapse (VS) formation and spreading infection. Single-molecule tracking and super-resolution imaging showed that mutation of W757 dysregulates Env diffusion in the plasma membrane and increases Env mobility. Further analysis of Env function revealed that W757 is also required for Env fusion and infectivity, which together with reduced VS formation, result in a potent defect in viral spread. Notably, W757 lies within a region of the EnvCT recently shown to act as a supporting baseplate for Env. Our data support a model in which W757 plays a key role in regulating Env biology, modulating its temporal and spatial recruitment to virus assembly sites and regulating the inherent fusogenicity of the Env ectodomain, thereby supporting efficient HIV-1 replication and spread

Designing context-aware systems: A method for understanding and analysing context in practice

NWO438-13-60Past research project