Non-Gaussianity and Excursion Set Theory: Halo Bias

We study the impact of primordial non-Gaussianity generated during inflation on the bias of halos using excursion set theory. We recapture the familiar result that the bias scales as $k^{-2}$ on large scales for local type non-Gaussianity but explicitly identify the approximations that go into this conclusion and the corrections to it. We solve the more complicated problem of non-spherical halos, for which the collapse threshold is scale dependent.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures. v2 references added. Matches published versio

Assessment of Dermatoglyphic Patterns and Sex Distribution in Esan Ethnic Group of Edo State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to find out the possibility of a unique pattern of palm and finger prints (Dermatoglyphics) among 192 adults (96 males and 96 females) of Esan origin who, at the time of this study, were residing in Esan-land - the central senatorial district of Edo state, Nigeria. The subjects were selected via multi-stage sampling technique and fingerprint determination was performed using the Indian ink methods. Palm and fingerprints were observed for the angles connecting the triradii at the roots of the fingers (a-index finger, b-middle finger, c-ring finger d-small finger and t-the most proximal triradii in the palm) taken as atd, tad and tda angles. The data collected were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) using the student t-test, chi square test and ANOVA as statistical tools. Results showed that the loop pattern had the highest frequency (61.7%) followed by whorl (24.9%), arch (12.8%) and double whorl (0.6%). The mean atd angles were 43.49 for males and 44.02 for females; tad angles were 75.11 for males and 74.71 % for females; and tda were 61.22% for males and 61.35% females. These reveals that the pattern of finger prints distribution were similar for both sexes except that the males had more arches on the right hand (53%) than the females with more arches on the left hand (57.1%).Keywords: Esan people, Dematoglyphic Patterns, Finger Prints, Pal

Exact Solution of a Yang-Baxter Spin-1/2 Chain Model and Quantum Entanglement

Entanglement is believed to be crucial in macroscopic physical systems for understanding the collective quantum phenomena such as quantum phase transitions. We start from and solve exactly a novel Yang-Baxter spin-1/2 chain model with inhomogeneous and anisotropic short-range interactions. For the ground state, we show the behavior of neighboring entanglement in the parameter space and find that the inhomogeneous coupling strengths affect entanglement in a distinctive way from the homogeneous case, but this would not affect the coincidence between entanglement and quantum criticality.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Berry phase and quantum criticality in Yang--Baxter systems

Spin interaction Hamiltonians are obtained from the unitary Yang--Baxter $\breve{R}$-matrix. Based on which, we study Berry phase and quantum criticality in the Yang--Baxter systems.Comment: 7 pages, no figures. Accepted for publication in Annals of Physic

Long Range Interaction Models and Yangian Symmetry

The generalized Sutherland-Romer models and Yan models with internal spin degrees are formulated in terms of the Polychronakos' approach and RTT relation associated to the Yang-Baxter equation in consistent way. The Yangian symmetry is shown to generate both models. We finally introduce the reflection algebra K(u) to the long range models.Comment: 13 pages, preprint of Nankai Institute of Mathematics ( Theoretical Physics Division ), published in Physical Review E of 1995. For hard copy, write to Prof. Mo-lin GE directly. Do not send emails to this accoun

A weak characterization of slow variables in stochastic dynamical systems

We present a novel characterization of slow variables for continuous Markov processes that provably preserve the slow timescales. These slow variables are known as reaction coordinates in molecular dynamical applications, where they play a key role in system analysis and coarse graining. The defining characteristics of these slow variables is that they parametrize a so-called transition manifold, a low-dimensional manifold in a certain density function space that emerges with progressive equilibration of the system's fast variables. The existence of said manifold was previously predicted for certain classes of metastable and slow-fast systems. However, in the original work, the existence of the manifold hinges on the pointwise convergence of the system's transition density functions towards it. We show in this work that a convergence in average with respect to the system's stationary measure is sufficient to yield reaction coordinates with the same key qualities. This allows one to accurately predict the timescale preservation in systems where the old theory is not applicable or would give overly pessimistic results. Moreover, the new characterization is still constructive, in that it allows for the algorithmic identification of a good slow variable. The improved characterization, the error prediction and the variable construction are demonstrated by a small metastable system

Chaste: an open source C++ library for computational physiology and biology

Chaste - Cancer, Heart And Soft Tissue Environment - is an open source C++ library for the computational simulation of mathematical models developed for physiology and biology. Code development has been driven by two initial applications: cardiac electrophysiology and cancer development. A large number of cardiac electrophysiology studies have been enabled and performed, including high performance computational investigations of defibrillation on realistic human cardiac geometries. New models for the initiation and growth of tumours have been developed. In particular, cell-based simulations have provided novel insight into the role of stem cells in the colorectal crypt. Chaste is constantly evolving and is now being applied to a far wider range of problems. The code provides modules for handling common scientific computing components, such as meshes and solvers for ordinary and partial differential equations (ODEs/PDEs). Re-use of these components avoids the need for researchers to "re-invent the wheel" with each new project, accelerating the rate of progress in new applications. Chaste is developed using industrially-derived techniques, in particular test-driven development, to ensure code quality, re-use and reliability. In this article we provide examples that illustrate the types of problems Chaste can be used to solve, which can be run on a desktop computer. We highlight some scientific studies that have used or are using Chaste, and the insights they have provided. The source code, both for specific releases and the development version, is available to download under an open source Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) licence at http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/chaste, together with details of a mailing list and links to documentation and tutorials

Design and rationale of a multi-center, pragmatic, open-label randomized trial of antimicrobial therapy - the study of clinical efficacy of antimicrobial therapy strategy using pragmatic design in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (CleanUP-IPF) clinical trial

Compelling data have linked disease progression in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with lung dysbiosis and the resulting dysregulated local and systemic immune response. Moreover, prior therapeutic trials have suggested improved outcomes in these patients treated with either sulfamethoxazole/ trimethoprim or doxycycline. These trials have been limited by methodological concerns. This trial addresses the primary hypothesis that long-term treatment with antimicrobial therapy increases the time-to-event endpoint of respiratory hospitalization or all-cause mortality compared to usual care treatment in patients with IPF. We invoke numerous innovative features to achieve this goal, including: 1) utilizing a pragmatic randomized trial design; 2) collecting targeted biological samples to allow future exploration of 'personalized' therapy; and 3) developing a strong partnership between the NHLBI, a broad range of investigators, industry, and philanthropic organizations. The trial will randomize approximately 500 individuals in a 1:1 ratio to either antimicrobial therapy or usual care. The site principal investigator will declare their preferred initial antimicrobial treatment strategy (trimethoprim 160 mg/ sulfamethoxazole 800 mg twice a day plus folic acid 5 mg daily or doxycycline 100 mg once daily if body weight is < 50 kg or 100 mg twice daily if ≥50 kg) for the participant prior to randomization. Participants randomized to antimicrobial therapy will receive a voucher to help cover the additional prescription drug costs. Additionally, those participants will have 4-5 scheduled blood draws over the initial 24 months of therapy for safety monitoring. Blood sampling for DNA sequencing and genome wide transcriptomics will be collected before therapy. Blood sampling for transcriptomics and oral and fecal swabs for determination of the microbiome communities will be collected before and after study completion. As a pragmatic study, participants in both treatment arms will have limited in-person visits with the enrolling clinical center. Visits are limited to assessments of lung function and other clinical parameters at time points prior to randomization and at months 12, 24, and 36. All participants will be followed until the study completion for the assessment of clinical endpoints related to hospitalization and mortality events. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02759120

Paying your own way: application of the capability approach to explore older people's experiences of self-funding social care

Adult social care policy in England is premised on the concept of person- alisation that purports to place individuals in control of the services they receive through market-based mechanisms of support, such as direct payments and personal budgets. However, the demographic context of an ageing population and the economic and political context of austerity have endorsed further rationing of resources. Increasing numbers of people now pay for their own social care because either they do not meet tight eligibility criteria for access to services and/or their financial means place them above the threshold for local authority-funded care. The majority of self-funders are older people. Older people with complex and changing needs are particularly likely to experience dif- ficulties in fulfilling the role of informed, proactive and skilled navi- gators of the care market. Based on individual interviews with older people funding their own care, this article uses a relational-political interpretation (Deneulin, 2011) of the capability approach (CA) to ana- lyse shortfalls between the policy rhetoric of choice and control and the lived experience of self-funding. Whilst CA, like personalisation, is seen as reflecting neo-liberal values, we argue that, in its relational- political form, it has the potential to expose the fallacious assumptions on which self-funding policies are founded and to offer a more nuanced understanding of older people’s experiences

The association between obesity and academic performance in youth: A systematic review

Previous studies have found that obesity could influence academic performance. The aim of this study was to systematically review the scientific evidence on the association between obesity and academic performance in school children. A systematic review of English articles was undertaken by using databases PubMed/Medline, ERIC, LILACS, SciELO and Web of Science. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies examining the association between obesity and academic performance in children and adolescents, published between January 1990 and December 2016, were included. Risk of bias was assessed by using Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology. Thirty-four studies (23 cross-sectional and 11 longitudinal) matched all inclusion criteria and were included. Seven studies were classified as low risk of bias, 23 as medium risk and four as high risk. After controlling for covariates such as socio-economic status, parental education and physical activity, the association between obesity and academic performance becomes uncertain for most of the studies (55.9%). Therefore, at present, there is insufficient evidence to support a direct link between obesity and poor academic performance in school age children. In order to clarify this issue, we need more longitudinal studies with adequate sample sizes and that control for potential confounders.Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)Univ Pernambuco, Phys Educ Post Grad Program, Recife, PE, BrazilUniv Colorado, Anschutz Ctr Hlth & Wellness, Denver, CO USATeesside Univ, Sch Hlth & Social Care, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, EnglandWashington Univ, Dept Psychiat, St Louis, MO 63130 USAUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Human Movement Sci, Silva Jardim St 136, BR-11015020 Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Human Movement Sci, Silva Jardim St 136, BR-11015020 Santos, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc