R Package distrMod: S4 Classes and Methods for Probability Models

Package distrMod provides an object oriented (more specifically S4-style) implementation of probability models. Moreover, it contains functions and methods to compute minimum criterion estimators - in particular, maximum likelihood and minimum distance estimators.

L_2 Differentiability of Generalized Linear Models

We derive conditions for $L_2$ differentiability of generalized linear models with error distributions not necessarily belonging to exponential families, covering both cases of stochastic and deterministic regressors. These conditions induce smoothness and integrability conditions for corresponding GLM-based time series models.Comment: 10 page

A Proposal for a Lean and Functional Delivery versus Payment across two Blockchains

We propose a lean and functional transaction scheme to establish a secure delivery-versus-payment across two blockchains, where a) no intermediary is required and b) the operator of the payment chain/payment system has a small overhead and does not need to store state. The main idea comes with two requirements: First, the payment chain operator hosts a stateless decryption service that allows decrypting messages with his secret key. Second, a "Payment Contract" is deployed on the payment chain that implements a function transferAndDecrypt(uint id, address from, address to, string keyEncryptedSuccess, string keyEncryptedFail) that processes the (trigger-based) payment and emits the decrypted key depending on the success or failure of the transaction. The respective key can then trigger an associated transaction, e.g. claiming delivery by the buyer or re-claiming the locked asset by the seller

A (too) brief explanation of the terms "Bildung" and "Erziehung" for the hurried English-speaking reader

The German terms “Bildung” and “Erziehung” are hardly translatable and are therefore occasionally used internationally as loanwords. This text attempts to explain their meanings in a brief manner to an international readership. In doing so, a distinction is made between formal definitions and supplementary connotative meanings. Furthermore, broad and narrow sense definitions are being compared. (DIPF/Orig.)Die schwer übersetzbaren deutschen Ausdrücke “Bildung” und “Erziehung” finden bisweilen auch international Verwendung. Es wird der Versuch unternommen, die Bedeutungen dieser Termini in knapper Form einer internationalen Leserschaft nahezubringen. Dabei werden sowohl formale Definitionen von konnotativen Bedeutungszusätzen unterschieden als auch Begriffsbestimmungen im weiten und im engen Sinn. (DIPF/Orig.

Mechano-electric heterogeneity of the myocardium as a paradigm of its function

Myocardial heterogeneity is well appreciated and widely documented, from sub-cellular to organ levels. This paper reviews significant achievements of the group, led by Professor Vladimir S. Markhasin, Russia, who was one of the pioneers in studying and interpreting the relevance of cardiac functional heterogeneity

Nonmyocytes as electrophysiological contributors to cardiac excitation and conduction.

Although cardiac action potential (AP) generation and propagation have traditionally been attributed exclusively to cardiomyocytes (CM), other cell types in the heart are also capable of forming electrically conducting junctions. Interactions between CM and nonmyocytes (NM) enable and modulate each other's activity. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of heterocellular electrical communication in the heart. Although cardiac fibroblasts were initially thought to be electrical insulators, recent studies have demonstrated that they form functional electrical connections with CM in situ. Other NM, such as macrophages, have also been recognized as contributing to cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmogenesis. Novel experimental tools have enabled the investigation of cell-specific activity patterns in native cardiac tissue, which is expected to yield exciting new insights into the development of novel or improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.A.S.-C. received financial support via a “la Caixa” Foundation under ID 100010434 and PhD Fellowship LCF/BQ/DR19/11740029.S