5,393 research outputs found
Cross-Fitting and Fast Remainder Rates for Semiparametric Estimation
There are many interesting and widely used estimators of a functional with
finite semiparametric variance bound that depend on nonparametric estimators of
nuisance functions. We use cross-fitting (i.e. sample splitting) to construct
novel estimators with fast remainder rates. We give cross-fit doubly robust
estimators that use separate subsamples to estimate different nuisance
functions. We obtain general, precise results for regression spline estimation
of average linear functionals of conditional expectations with a finite
semiparametric variance bound. We show that a cross-fit doubly robust spline
regression estimator of the expected conditional covariance is semiparametric
efficient under minimal conditions. Cross-fit doubly robust estimators of other
average linear functionals of a conditional expectation are shown to have the
fastest known remainder rates for the Haar basis or under certain smoothness
conditions. Surprisingly, the cross-fit plug-in estimator also has nearly the
fastest known remainder rate, but the remainder converges to zero slower than
the cross-fit doubly robust estimator. As specific examples we consider the
expected conditional covariance, mean with randomly missing data, and a
weighted average derivative
Computational Topology Techniques for Characterizing Time-Series Data
Topological data analysis (TDA), while abstract, allows a characterization of
time-series data obtained from nonlinear and complex dynamical systems. Though
it is surprising that such an abstract measure of structure - counting pieces
and holes - could be useful for real-world data, TDA lets us compare different
systems, and even do membership testing or change-point detection. However, TDA
is computationally expensive and involves a number of free parameters. This
complexity can be obviated by coarse-graining, using a construct called the
witness complex. The parametric dependence gives rise to the concept of
persistent homology: how shape changes with scale. Its results allow us to
distinguish time-series data from different systems - e.g., the same note
played on different musical instruments.Comment: 12 pages, 6 Figures, 1 Table, The Sixteenth International Symposium
on Intelligent Data Analysis (IDA 2017
Quantum tunneling dynamics of an interacting Bose-Einstein condensate through a Gaussian barrier
The transmission of an interacting Bose-Einstein condensate incident on a
repulsive Gaussian barrier is investigated through numerical simulation. The
dynamics associated with interatomic interactions are studied across a broad
parameter range not previously explored. Effective 1D Gross-Pitaevskii equation
(GPE) simulations are compared to classical Boltzmann-Vlasov equation (BVE)
simulations in order to isolate purely coherent matterwave effects. Quantum
tunneling is then defined as the portion of the GPE transmission not described
by the classical BVE. An exponential dependence of transmission on barrier
height is observed in the purely classical simulation, suggesting that
observing such exponential dependence is not a sufficient condition for quantum
tunneling. Furthermore, the transmission is found to be predominately described
by classical effects, although interatomic interactions are shown to modify the
magnitude of the quantum tunneling. Interactions are also seen to affect the
amount of classical transmission, producing transmission in regions where the
non-interacting equivalent has none. This theoretical investigation clarifies
the contribution quantum tunneling makes to overall transmission in
many-particle interacting systems, potentially informing future tunneling
experiments with ultracold atoms.Comment: Close to the published versio
A Pilot Study with a Novel Setup for Collaborative Play of the Humanoid Robot KASPAR with children with autism
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited.This article describes a pilot study in which a novel experimental setup, involving an autonomous humanoid robot, KASPAR, participating in a collaborative, dyadic video game, was implemented and tested with children with autism, all of whom had impairments in playing socially and communicating with others. The children alternated between playing the collaborative video game with a neurotypical adult and playing the same game with the humanoid robot, being exposed to each condition twice. The equipment and experimental setup were designed to observe whether the children would engage in more collaborative behaviours while playing the video game and interacting with the adult than performing the same activities with the humanoid robot. The article describes the development of the experimental setup and its first evaluation in a small-scale exploratory pilot study. The purpose of the study was to gain experience with the operational limits of the robot as well as the dyadic video game, to determine what changes should be made to the systems, and to gain experience with analyzing the data from this study in order to conduct a more extensive evaluation in the future. Based on our observations of the childrensâ experiences in playing the cooperative game, we determined that while the children enjoyed both playing the game and interacting with the robot, the game should be made simpler to play as well as more explicitly collaborative in its mechanics. Also, the robot should be more explicit in its speech as well as more structured in its interactions. Results show that the children found the activity to be more entertaining, appeared more engaged in playing, and displayed better collaborative behaviours with their partners (For the purposes of this article, âpartnerâ refers to the human/robotic agent which interacts with the children with autism. We are not using the termâs other meanings that refer to specific relationships or emotional involvement between two individuals.) in the second sessions of playing with human adults than during their first sessions. One way of explaining these findings is that the childrenâs intermediary play session with the humanoid robot impacted their subsequent play session with the human adult. However, another longer and more thorough study would have to be conducted in order to better re-interpret these findings. Furthermore, although the children with autism were more interested in and entertained by the robotic partner, the children showed more examples of collaborative play and cooperation while playing with the human adult.Peer reviewe
Modulational instability of spinor condensates
We demonstrate, analytically and numerically, that the ferromagnetic phase of
the spinor Bose-Einstein condenstate may experience modulational instability of
the ground state leading to a fragmentation of the spin domains. Together with
other nonlinear effects in the atomic optics of ultra-cold gases (such as
coherent photoassociation and four-wave mixing) this effect provides one more
analogy between coherent matter waves and light waves in nonlinear optics.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for Phys. Rev. A Rapid Communication
Psychoneuroimmunology-Based Stress Management during Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Early Breast Cancer
Objective. In a randomized trial of women with early stage breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy, two stress management interventions, tai chi training and spiritual growth groups, were compared to a usual care control group, to evaluate psychosocial functioning, quality of life (QOL), and biological markers thought to reflect cancer- and treatment-specific mechanisms. Method. The sample consisted of 145 women aged 27â75 years; 75% were Caucasian and 25% African American. A total of 109 participants completed the study, yielding a 75% retention rate. Grounded in a psychoneuroimmunology framework, the overarching hypothesis was that both interventions would reduce perceived stress, enhance QOL and psychosocial functioning, normalize levels of stress-related neuroendocrine mediators, and attenuate immunosuppression. Results. While interesting patterns were seen across the sample and over time, the interventions had no appreciable effects when delivered during the period of chemotherapy. Conclusions. Findings highlight the complex nature of biobehavioral interventions in relation to treatment trajectories and potential outcomes. Psychosocial interventions like these may lack sufficient power to overcome the psychosocial or physiological stress experienced during the chemotherapy treatment period. It may be that interventions requiring less activity and/or group attendance would have enhanced therapeutic effects, and more active interventions need to be tested prior to and following recovery from chemotherapy
- âŚ