Finite size scaling in neural networks

We demonstrate that the fraction of pattern sets that can be stored in single- and hidden-layer perceptrons exhibits finite size scaling. This feature allows to estimate the critical storage capacity \alpha_c from simulations of relatively small systems. We illustrate this approach by determining \alpha_c, together with the finite size scaling exponent \nu, for storing Gaussian patterns in committee and parity machines with binary couplings and up to K=5 hidden units.Comment: 4 pages, RevTex, 5 figures, uses multicol.sty and psfig.st

Fall 1970

How Water Moves in the Soil by Walter H. Gardner (page 3) Editorial (9) Turf Bulletin\u27s Photo Quiz by Fred Cheney (9) Public Relations by Marlin Ball (10) Turf Bulletin\u27s Photo Quiz Answer (11) Climate in the \u2770\u27s by James E. Newman (12) Know Your Seed--Ideas about Seed Quality by A.S. Carter (15)Seed Prices and Handling by Dwight M. Brown (16) Factors influencing Effectiveness of Two Surfactants on Water Repellent Soils by M.A. Mustafa and J. Letey (21

Spring 1969

Design Features the Golfer Wants by Geoffrey S. Cornish & William G. Robinson (page 3) How Water Moves in the Soil by Walter H. Gardner (6) Course Care in Winter (8) Spray-on Protein Boosters by S. K. Ries (9) 1969 Turf Conference Program (12) How to Get More Benefits from Our Next Conference (13) Budget Control by Ken Voorhies (15) Turf Analysis Test by Dale Kern (18) Tolerance of Various Turfgrasses to Foliar Applications of Road Salt by W.E. Cordukes (22) He \u27Fitz\u27 the Bill by Gerry Finn (24

Before the Pandemic Ends: Making Sure This Never Happens Again

Introduction On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Global Health Emergency of international concern attendant to the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2, nearly two months after the first reported emergence of human cases in Wuhan, China. In the subsequent two months, global, national and local health personnel and infrastructures have been overwhelmed, leading to suffering and death for infected people, and the threat of socio-economic instability and potential collapse for humanity as a whole. This shows that our current and traditional mode of coping, anchored in responses after the fact, is not capable of dealing with the crisis of emerging infectious disease. Given all of our technological expertise, why is there an emerging disease crisis, and why are we losing the battle to contain and diminish emerging diseases? Part of the reason is that the prevailing paradigm explaining the biology of pathogen-host associations (coevolution, evolutionary arms races) has assumed that pathogens must evolve new capacities - special mutations – in order to colonize new hosts and produce emergent disease (e.g. Parrish and Kawaoka, 2005). In this erroneous but broadly prevalent view, the evolution of new capacities creates new opportunities for pathogens. Further, given that mutations are both rare and undirected, the highly specialized nature of pathogen-host relationships should produce an evolutionary firewall limiting dissemination; by those definitions, emergences should be rare (for a historical review see Brooks et al., 2019). Pathogens, however, have become far better at finding us than our traditional understanding predicts. We face considerable risk space for pathogens and disease that directly threaten us, our crops and livestock – through expanding interfaces bringing pathogens and hosts into increasing proximity, exacerbated by environmental disruption and urban density, fueled by globalized trade and travel. We need a new paradigm that explains what we are seeing. Additional section headers: The Stockholm Paradigm The DAMA Protocol A Sense of Urgency and Long-Term Commitment Reference

Interval estimation and optimal design for the within-subject coefficient of variation for continuous and binary variables

BACKGROUND: In this paper we propose the use of the within-subject coefficient of variation as an index of a measurement's reliability. For continuous variables and based on its maximum likelihood estimation we derive a variance-stabilizing transformation and discuss confidence interval construction within the framework of a one-way random effects model. We investigate sample size requirements for the within-subject coefficient of variation for continuous and binary variables. METHODS: We investigate the validity of the approximate normal confidence interval by Monte Carlo simulations. In designing a reliability study, a crucial issue is the balance between the number of subjects to be recruited and the number of repeated measurements per subject. We discuss efficiency of estimation and cost considerations for the optimal allocation of the sample resources. The approach is illustrated by an example on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). We also discuss the issue of sample size estimation for dichotomous responses with two examples. RESULTS: For the continuous variable we found that the variance stabilizing transformation improves the asymptotic coverage probabilities on the within-subject coefficient of variation for the continuous variable. The maximum like estimation and sample size estimation based on pre-specified width of confidence interval are novel contribution to the literature for the binary variable. CONCLUSION: Using the sample size formulas, we hope to help clinical epidemiologists and practicing statisticians to efficiently design reliability studies using the within-subject coefficient of variation, whether the variable of interest is continuous or binary

Accretion onto black holes formed by direct collapse

One possible scenario for the formation of massive black holes (BHs) in the early Universe is from the direct collapse of primordial gas in atomic-cooling dark matter haloes in which the gas is unable to cool efficiently via molecular transitions. We study the formation of such BHs, as well as the accretion of gas onto these objects and the high energy radiation emitted in the accretion process, by carrying out cosmological radiation hydrodynamics simulations. In the absence of radiative feedback, we find an upper limit to the accretion rate onto the central object which forms from the initial collapse of hot (~ 10^4 K) gas of the order of 0.1 MSun per year. This is high enough for the formation of a supermassive star, the immediate precursor of a BH, with a mass of the order of 10^5 MSun. Assuming that a fraction of this mass goes into a BH, we track the subsequent accretion of gas onto the BH self-consistently with the high energy radiation emitted from the accretion disk. Using a ray-tracing algorithm to follow the propagation of ionizing radiation, we model in detail the evolution of the photoionized region which forms around the accreting BH. We find that BHs with masses of the order of 10^4 MSun initially accrete at close to the Eddington limit, but that the accretion rate drops to of order 1 percent of the Eddington limit after ~ 10^6 yr, due to the expansion of the gas near the BH in response to strong photoheating and radiation pressure. One signature of the accretion of gas onto BHs formed by direct collapse, as opposed to massive Pop III star formation, is an extremely high ratio of the luminosity emitted in He II 1640 to that emitted in H_alpha (or Ly_alpha); this could be detected by the James Webb Space Telescope. Finally, we briefly discuss implications for the coevolution of BHs and their host galaxies.Comment: 16 pages; 17 figures, slightly reduced quality; MNRAS in pres

Astrometry and geodesy with radio interferometry: experiments, models, results

Summarizes current status of radio interferometry at radio frequencies between Earth-based receivers, for astrometric and geodetic applications. Emphasizes theoretical models of VLBI observables that are required to extract results at the present accuracy levels of 1 cm and 1 nanoradian. Highlights the achievements of VLBI during the past two decades in reference frames, Earth orientation, atmospheric effects on microwave propagation, and relativity.Comment: 83 pages, 19 Postscript figures. To be published in Rev. Mod. Phys., Vol. 70, Oct. 199

1959: Abilene Christian College Bible Lectures - Full Text

UNTO ALL THE WORLD” Being the Abilene Christian College Annual Bible Lectures 1959 Price: $3.00 Published by FIRM FOUNDATION PUBLISHING HOUSE Box 77 Austin, Texa

Early star-forming galaxies and the reionization of the Universe

Star forming galaxies represent a valuable tracer of cosmic history. Recent observational progress with Hubble Space Telescope has led to the discovery and study of the earliest-known galaxies corresponding to a period when the Universe was only ~800 million years old. Intense ultraviolet radiation from these early galaxies probably induced a major event in cosmic history: the reionization of intergalactic hydrogen. New techniques are being developed to understand the properties of these most distant galaxies and determine their influence on the evolution of the universe.Comment: Review article appearing in Nature. This posting reflects a submitted version of the review formatted by the authors, in accordance with Nature publication policies. For the official, published version of the review, please see http://www.nature.com/nature/archive/index.htm

Dihydrolipoic Acid Induces Cytotoxicity in Mouse Blastocysts through Apoptosis Processes

α-Lipoic acid (LA) is a thiol with antioxidant properties that protects against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. LA is absorbed from the diet, taken up by cells and tissues, and subsequently reduced to dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA). In view of the recent application of DHLA as a hydrophilic nanomaterial preparation, determination of its biosafety profile is essential. In the current study, we examined the cytotoxic effects of DHLA on mouse embryos at the blastocyst stage, subsequent embryonic attachment and outgrowth in vitro, in vivo implantation by embryo transfer, and early embryonic development in an animal model. Blastocysts treated with 50 μM DHLA exhibited significantly increased apoptosis and a corresponding decrease in total cell number. Notably, the implantation success rates of blastocysts pretreated with DHLA were lower than that of their control counterparts. Moreover, in vitro treatment with 50 μM DHLA was associated with increased resorption of post-implantation embryos and decreased fetal weight. Data obtained using an in vivo mouse model further disclosed that consumption of drinking water containing 100 μM DHLA led to decreased early embryo development, specifically, inhibition of development to the blastocyst stage. However, it appears that concentrations of DHLA lower than 50 μM do not exert a hazardous effect on embryonic development. Our results collectively indicate that in vitro and in vivo exposure to concentrations of DHLA higher than 50 μM DHLA induces apoptosis and retards early pre- and post-implantation development, and support the potential of DHLA to induce embryonic cytotoxicity