Error correcting code using tree-like multilayer perceptron

An error correcting code using a tree-like multilayer perceptron is proposed. An original message \mbi{s}^0 is encoded into a codeword \boldmath{y}_0 using a tree-like committee machine (committee tree) or a tree-like parity machine (parity tree). Based on these architectures, several schemes featuring monotonic or non-monotonic units are introduced. The codeword \mbi{y}_0 is then transmitted via a Binary Asymmetric Channel (BAC) where it is corrupted by noise. The analytical performance of these schemes is investigated using the replica method of statistical mechanics. Under some specific conditions, some of the proposed schemes are shown to saturate the Shannon bound at the infinite codeword length limit. The influence of the monotonicity of the units on the performance is also discussed.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figures, Content has been extended and revise

Aging, memory and rejuvenation: some lessons from simple models

Many recent experiments probed the off equilibrium dynamics of spin glasses and other glassy systems through temperature cycling protocols and observed memory and rejuvenation phenomena. Here we show through numerical simulations, using powerful algorithms, that such features can already be observed to some extent in simple models such as two dimensional ferromagnets. We critically discuss these results and review some aspects of the literature in the light of our findings.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures. Contribution to the Proceedings of the Summerschool "Ageing and the glass transition", Luxembourg 14-25 Sept. 200

A Landscape Analysis of Constraint Satisfaction Problems

We discuss an analysis of Constraint Satisfaction problems, such as Sphere Packing, K-SAT and Graph Coloring, in terms of an effective energy landscape. Several intriguing geometrical properties of the solution space become in this light familiar in terms of the well-studied ones of rugged (glassy) energy landscapes. A `benchmark' algorithm naturally suggested by this construction finds solutions in polynomial time up to a point beyond the `clustering' and in some cases even the `thermodynamic' transitions. This point has a simple geometric meaning and can be in principle determined with standard Statistical Mechanical methods, thus pushing the analytic bound up to which problems are guaranteed to be easy. We illustrate this for the graph three and four-coloring problem. For Packing problems the present discussion allows to better characterize the `J-point', proposed as a systematic definition of Random Close Packing, and to place it in the context of other theories of glasses.Comment: 17 pages, 69 citations, 12 figure

Postnatal care generates phenotypic behavioural correlations in the Japanese quail

International audienceBehavioural phenotypes can be highly constrained by interdependent behavioural traits. Studies in different taxa showed that these behavioural phenotypic correlations are not universal within a species and can differ between populations exposed to different environmental pressures. Empirical studies are required to better understand the relative contributions of long-term adaptive processes and direct ontogenetic mechanisms in the development of these phenotypic behavioural correlations. In the present study, we investigated the role of postnatal nurturing care on the development of behavioural correlations in a precocial bird model, the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). We compared phenotypic correlations between two populations: 41 artificially reared birds (maternally deprived) and 36 birds fostered by unrelated females. Behavioural responses were measured at the age when birds naturally disperse, with three widely used behavioural tests to assess fearfulness and sociality: tonic immobility, open-field and emergence tests. Our results show that when quail chicks are reared by a foster mother, more phenotypic correlations appeared in the population including correlations within and across behavioural functions and between behavioural responses and chick mass. In contrast, chicks reared without a foster mother presented much fewer behavioural correlations and those were limited to functionally linked behaviours. Our results also highlight that the effect of mothering on phenotypic correlations is sex-specific, with a greater effect on males. We discuss the organisational role of parents on the development of behavioural correlations, the mechanisms likely to support this influence, as well as the reasons for sexual dimorphism

Ultrametric probe of the spin-glass state in a field

We study the ultrametric structure of phase space of one-dimensional Ising spin glasses with random power-law interaction in an external random field. Although in zero field the model in both the mean-field and non-mean-field universality classes shows an ultrametric signature [Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 037207 (2009)], when a field is applied ultrametricity seems only present in the mean-field regime. The results for the non-mean field case in an external field agree with data for spin glasses studied within the Migdal-Kadanoff approximation. Our results therefore suggest that the spin-glass state might be fragile to external fields below the upper critical dimension.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

The nature of the different zero-temperature phases in discrete two-dimensional spin glasses: Entropy, universality, chaos and cascades in the renormalization group flow

The properties of discrete two-dimensional spin glasses depend strongly on the way the zero-temperature limit is taken. We discuss this phenomenon in the context of the Migdal-Kadanoff renormalization group. We see, in particular, how these properties are connected with the presence of a cascade of fixed points in the renormalization group flow. Of particular interest are two unstable fixed points that correspond to two different spin-glass phases at zero temperature. We discuss how these phenomena are related with the presence of entropy fluctuations and temperature chaos, and universality in this model.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, 2 table

A retrospective report (2003–2013) of the complications associated with the use of a one-man (head and tail) rope recovery system in horses following general anaesthesia

Abstract Background The mortality rate of horses undergoing general anaesthesia is high when compared to humans or small animal patients. One of the most critical periods during equine anaesthesia is recovery, as the horse attempts to regain a standing position. This study was performed in a private equine practice in Belgium that uses a purpose-designed one-man (head and tail) rope recovery system to assist the horse during the standing process. The main purpose of the retrospective study was to report and analyse complications and the mortality rate in horses during recovery from anaesthesia using the described recovery system. Information retrieved from the medical records included patient signalment, anaesthetic protocol, duration of anaesthesia, ASA grade, type of surgery, recovery time and complications during recovery. Sedation was administered to all horses prior to recovery with the rope system. Complications were divided into major complications in which the horse was euthanized and minor complications where the horse survived. Major complications were further subdivided into those where the rope system did not contribute to the recovery complication (Group 1) and those where it was not possible to determine if the rope system was of any benefit (Group 2). Results Five thousand eight hundred fifty two horses recovered from general anaesthesia with rope assistance. Complications were identified in 30 (0.51%). Major complications occurred in 12 horses (0.20%) of which three (0.05%) were assigned to Group 1 and nine (0.15%) to Group 2. Three horses in Group 2 suffered musculoskeletal injuries (0.05%). Eighteen horses (0.31%) suffered minor complications, of which five (0.08%) were categorised as failures of the recovery system. Conclusions This study reports the major and minor complication and mortality rate during recovery from anaesthesia using a specific type of rope recovery system. Mortality associated with the rope recovery system was low. During recovery from anaesthesia this rope system may reduce the risk of lethal complications, particularly major orthopaedic injuries

Simple Glass Models and their Quantum Annealing

We study first order quantum phase transitions in mean-field spin glasses. We solve the quantum Random Energy Model using elementary methods and show that at the transition the eigenstate suddenly projects onto the unperturbed ground state and that the gap between the lowest states is exponentially small in the system size. We argue that this is a generic feature of all `Random First Order' models, which includes benchmarks such as random satisfiability. We introduce a two-time instanton to calculate this gap in general, and discuss the consequences for quantum annealing.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, minor typos correcte

Entropic effects on the Size Evolution of Cluster Structure

We show that the vibrational entropy can play a crucial role in determining the equilibrium structure of clusters by constructing structural phase diagrams showing how the structure depends upon both size and temperature. These phase diagrams are obtained for example rare gas and metal clusters.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Islands of linkage in an ocean of pervasive recombination reveals two-speed evolution of human cytomegalovirus genomes

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infects most of the population worldwide, persisting throughout the host's life in a latent state with periodic episodes of reactivation. While typically asymptomatic, HCMV can cause fatal disease among congenitally infected infants and immunocompromised patients. These clinical issues are compounded by the emergence of antiviral resistance and the absence of an effective vaccine, the development of which is likely complicated by the numerous immune evasins encoded by HCMV to counter the host's adaptive immune responses, a feature that facilitates frequent super-infections. Understanding the evolutionary dynamics of HCMV is essential for the development of effective new drugs and vaccines. By comparing viral genomes from uncultivated or low-passaged clinical samples of diverse origins, we observe evidence of frequent homologous recombination events, both recent and ancient, and no structure of HCMV genetic diversity at the whole-genome scale. Analysis of individual gene-scale loci reveals a striking dichotomy: while most of the genome is highly conserved, recombines essentially freely and has evolved under purifying selection, 21 genes display extreme diversity, structured into distinct genotypes that do not recombine with each other. Most of these hyper-variable genes encode glycoproteins involved in cell entry or escape of host immunity. Evidence that half of them have diverged through episodes of intense positive selection suggests that rapid evolution of hyper-variable loci is likely driven by interactions with host immunity. It appears that this process is enabled by recombination unlinking hyper-variable loci from strongly constrained neighboring sites. It is conceivable that viral mechanisms facilitating super-infection have evolved to promote recombination between diverged genotypes, allowing the virus to continuously diversify at key loci to escape immune detection, while maintaining a genome optimally adapted to its asymptomatic infectious lifecycle