Reweighting for Nonequilibrium Markov Processes Using Sequential Importance Sampling Methods

We present a generic reweighting method for nonequilibrium Markov processes. With nonequilibrium Monte Carlo simulations at a single temperature, one calculates the time evolution of physical quantities at different temperatures, which greatly saves the computational time. Using the dynamical finite-size scaling analysis for the nonequilibrium relaxation, one can study the dynamical properties of phase transitions together with the equilibrium ones. We demonstrate the procedure for the Ising model with the Metropolis algorithm, but the present formalism is general and can be applied to a variety of systems as well as with different Monte Carlo update schemes.Comment: accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. E (Rapid Communications

Macroeconomic trends and practice models impacting acute care surgery

Acute care surgery (ACS) diagnoses are responsible for approximately a quarter of the costs of inpatient care in the US government, and individuals will be responsible for a larger share of the costs of this healthcare as the population ages. ACS as a specialty thus has the opportunity to meet a significant healthcare need, and by optimizing care delivery models do so in a way that improves both quality and value. ACS practice models that have maintained or added emergency general surgery (EGS) and even elective surgery have realized more operative case volume and surgeon satisfaction. However, vulnerabilities exist in the ACS model. Payer mix in a practice varies by geography and distribution of EGS, trauma, critical care, and elective surgery. Critical care codes constitute approximately 25% of all billing by acute care surgeons, so even small changes in reimbursement in critical care can have significant impact on professional revenue. Staffing an ACS practice can be challenging depending on reimbursement and due to uneven geographic distribution of available surgeons. Empowered by an understanding of economics, using team-oriented leadership inherent to trauma surgeons, and in partnership with healthcare organizations and regulatory bodies, ACS surgeons are positioned to significantly influence the future of healthcare in the USA

Study of a Long Baseline nu_tau Appearance Neutrino Oscillation Experiment in the Quasi-Elastic Regime

We present a study for a design of a long baseline nu_mu to nu_tau appearance experiment to probe the high sin^2(2theta) and low Delta m^2 region relevant to explain the atmospheric neutrino anomaly. The experiment relies on a good identification of quasi-elastic interactions, which is a clean topology that has an important contribution in the lowest Delta m^2 part of the region probed. The detector we studied is a fine grained liquid scintillator detector of 15 kilotons, optimized to detect electrons from tau -> e bar(nu_e) nu_tau decays, while rejecting backgrounds from pi^0 in nu_mu interactions and electrons from the nu_e beam contamination. As a reference, the proposed nu_mu neutrino beam from CERN to Gran Sasso was used.Comment: 17 page

An original interferometric study of NGC 1068 with VISIR BURST mode images

We present 12.8 microns images of the core of NGC 1068 obtained with the BURST mode of the VLT/VISIR. We trace structures under the diffraction limit of one UT and we investigate the link between dust in the vicinity of the central engine of NGC 1068, recently resolved by interferometry with MIDI, and more extended structures. This step is mandatory for a multi-scale understanding of the sources of mid-infrared emission in AGNs. A speckle processing of VISIR BURST mode images was performed to extract very low spatial-frequency visibilities, first considering the full field of VISIR BURST mode images and then limiting it to the mask used for the acquisition of MIDI data. Extracted visibilities are reproduced with a multi-component model. We identify two major sources of emission: one compact < 85 mas, associated with the dusty torus, and an elliptical one, (< 140) mas x 1187 mas at P.A.=-4 degrees from N to E. This is consistent with previous deconvolution processes. The combination with MIDI data reveals the close environment of the dusty torus to contribute to about 83 percent of the MIR flux seen by MIDI. This strong contribution has to be considered in modeling long baseline interferometric data. It must be related to the NS elongated component which is thought to originate from individually unresolved dusty clouds and is located inside the ionization cone. Low temperatures of the dusty torus are not challenged, emphasizing the scenarios of clumpy torus.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Discussions on "Riemann manifold Langevin and Hamiltonian Monte Carlo methods"

This is a collection of discussions of `Riemann manifold Langevin and Hamiltonian Monte Carlo methods" by Girolami and Calderhead, to appear in the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B.Comment: 6 pages, one figur

Importance de Coula edulis Baill. pour les populations du Sud-Est du Gabon: niveaux de prélèvement et potentiel économique de l'espèce

Importance of Coula edulis Baill. for the People of South-East Gabon: Harvest Levels and Economic Potential. Coula edulis is a non-timber forest tree species that provides edible fruits for local people. However, its economical importance has never been quantified. The present study aimed to identify the fate of stocks of harvested C. edulis fruits in Gabonese villages, emphasizing the social impact and economic income generated by this activity. Our investigations revealed that C. edulis fruits are predominantly utilized for own subsistence, since trading proportion concerned less than 20% of collected fruits. The average income from trade during the harvest period (two months) varied from € 1.7 to € 3.3 per household, depending on the proximity of the market (local or urban). The economical potential of C. edulis fruits could be improved if a sustainable production strategy through domestication processes and agroforestry practices was developed. Such a strategy may also contribute to the increase of the local demand of C. edulis fruits, assuming that a better diffusion was also carried out