Fourier analysis of stationary time series in function space

We develop the basic building blocks of a frequency domain framework for drawing statistical inferences on the second-order structure of a stationary sequence of functional data. The key element in such a context is the spectral density operator, which generalises the notion of a spectral density matrix to the functional setting, and characterises the second-order dynamics of the process. Our main tool is the functional Discrete Fourier Transform (fDFT). We derive an asymptotic Gaussian representation of the fDFT, thus allowing the transformation of the original collection of dependent random functions into a collection of approximately independent complex-valued Gaussian random functions. Our results are then employed in order to construct estimators of the spectral density operator based on smoothed versions of the periodogram kernel, the functional generalisation of the periodogram matrix. The consistency and asymptotic law of these estimators are studied in detail. As immediate consequences, we obtain central limit theorems for the mean and the long-run covariance operator of a stationary functional time series. Our results do not depend on structural modelling assumptions, but only functional versions of classical cumulant mixing conditions, and are shown to be stable under discrete observation of the individual curves.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/13-AOS1086 the Annals of Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aos/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Loop quantum effect and the fate of tachyon field collapse

We study the fate of gravitational collapse of a tachyon field matter. In presence of an inverse square potential a black hole forms. Loop quantum corrections lead to the avoidance of classical singularities, which is followed by an outward flux of energy.Comment: Contribution to the conference of Loops'11, Madri

Particle Swarm Optimization in Solving Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem

The Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP) is an NP-Hard problem, which means it is impossible to find a polynomial time solution for it. So researchers try to reach a near optimum solution by using meta-heuristic algorithms. The aim of CVRP is to find optimum route for every vehicle and a sequence of customers, that vehicle serve. This paper proposes a method on how PSO is adjusted for a discrete space problem like CVRP. The process of tweaking solutions is described in detail. At last for evaluation of proposed approach and show the effectiveness of it, the result of running proposed approach over benchmarking data set of capacitated vehicle routing problem is illustrated

Advanced Primary Lymphoma of Oral Cavity: Report of a Case

Abstract Usually the oral manifestations of NHL are secondary to a more widespread involvement throughout the body, however, it can rarely present as a primary lesion in the oral cavity, having 0.1% - 0.2% prevalence. In this paper we report a case of highly proliferative oral non-Hodgkin lymphoma which presented with very mild symptoms, but had a sudden and significant progression in less than two weeks with involvement of all four quadrants of the oral cavity. Keywords Lymphoma; Intra Oral Swelling; Four Quadran

Particle Swarm Optimization in Solving Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem

The Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP) is an NP-Hard problem, which means it is impossible to find a polynomial time solution for it. So researchers try to reach a near optimum solution by using meta-heuristic algorithms. The aim of CVRP is to find optimum route for every vehicle and a sequence of customers, that vehicle serve. This paper proposes a method on how PSO is adjusted for a discrete space problem like CVRP. The process of tweaking solutions is described in detail. At last for evaluation of proposed approach and show the effectiveness of it, the result of running proposed approach over benchmarking data set of capacitated vehicle routing problem is illustrated

Effects of dietary aspirin supplementation on liver enzymes, immune response, cecum microflora and fatty acids profile in breast meat of broiler chickens

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary aspirin (A) on broilers. A completely randomized design using 120 one-day-old male broiler chicks Ross 308, three levels of aspirin (0, 50, and 100 mg/kg) was used in 4 replicates, each including 10 chicks, during 42 days. The effects of different levels of aspirin, added to a basal diet, on blood plasma parameters, liver enzymes, immune system, cecal microflora, and fatty acids profile of breast muscle of chicks were investigated. Data analysis was performed by SAS statistical software and the comparison of the means with Duncan's test. The results showed that the effects of aspirin on blood parameters, liver enzymes of broilers (except for alkaline phosphatase which significantly reduced), the humoral immune system in response to antigen injection as sheep red blood cell (SRBC), antibody titer against Newcastle and influenza virus were not significant (P≥0.05). The highest percentage of neutrophils and eosinophils was related to this treatment. Also, aspirin treatments increased numerically the levels of unsaturated fatty acids and decreased saturated fatty acids. Moreover, aspirin led to a reduction in the population of Escherichia coli. So, based on the results of the present study, the use of 100 mg/kg aspirin in the diet of broilers is recommendable

Multi-grid Beam and Warming scheme for the simulation of unsteady flow in an open channel

In this paper, a multi-grid algorithm is applied to a large-scale block matrix that is produced from a Beam and Warming scheme. The Beam and Warming scheme is used in the simulation of unsteady flow in an open channel. The Gauss-Seidel block-wise iteration method is used for a smoothing process with a few iterations. It is also shown that the governing equations determine the type of prolongation and restriction operators for the multi-grid algorithm

Exploring Restart Distributions

We consider the generic approach of using an experience memory to help exploration by adapting a restart distribution. That is, given the capacity to reset the state with those corresponding to the agent's past observations, we help exploration by promoting faster state-space coverage via restarting the agent from a more diverse set of initial states, as well as allowing it to restart in states associated with significant past experiences. This approach is compatible with both on-policy and off-policy methods. However, a caveat is that altering the distribution of initial states could change the optimal policies when searching within a restricted class of policies. To reduce this unsought learning bias, we evaluate our approach in deep reinforcement learning which benefits from the high representational capacity of deep neural networks. We instantiate three variants of our approach, each inspired by an idea in the context of experience replay. Using these variants, we show that performance gains can be achieved, especially in hard exploration problems.Comment: RLDM 201

Aplicación de fibra y cáscara de coco para decolorar aceite de soja

The bleaching process is an important stage in the edible oil refining operation, and is carried out by using acid-activated bleaching earths. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of coconut fiber ash, shell ash, acid-activated fiber ash and acid-activated shell ash as compared to the commercial bleaching earth in the bleaching of neutralized soybean oil. Bleaching materials were added to neutralized oil at the concentration of 1% (w/v) with agitation under vacuum at 110 °C for 30 minutes. The values for red and yellow colors, carotenoids, chlorophylls, peroxide value, p-anisidine value, free fatty acid contents, copper and iron levels of the bleached samples were determined. The results indicated that all coconut-based adsorbents have been significantly more effective than commercial bleaching earth in reducing color and the greatest reductions in carotenoid (84.25%) and chlorophyll (82.30%) contents were obtained by using acid-activated fiber ash. The peroxide value for all treatments decreased. The amounts of iron and copper as peroxide compounds decreased considerably (44.59% and 23.53%) by using acid-activated fiber ash and acid-activated shell ash, respectively. Therefore, coconut fiber and shell as agricultural wastes which have been ignored in the past might be employed as effective agents to bleach crude oils, particularly soybean oil, in refining operations.El proceso de decoloración es una etapa importante en la operación de refinación de aceites comestibles que se lleva a cabo utilizando tierras decolorantes activadas con ácido. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la eficiencia de las cenizas de fibra de coco, cenizas de cáscara, cenizas de fibra activada por ácido y cenizas de cáscara activada con ácido, en comparación con la tierra decolorante comercial, en la decoloración de aceite de soja neutralizado. Los materiales de decoloración se añadieron al aceite neutralizado a una concentración del 1 % (p/v) con agitación a vacío a 110 °C durante 30 minutos. Se determinaron los valores de colores rojo y amarillo, carotenoides, clorofilas, índice de peróxido, índice de p-anisidina, contenido de ácidos grasos libres, niveles de cobre y hierro de las muestras decoloradas. Los resultados indicaron que todos los adsorbentes a base de coco han sido significativamente más efectivos que la tierra decolorante comercial para reducir el color y la mayor reducción en los contenidos de carotenoide (84,25 %) y clorofila (82,30 %) se obtuvo mediante el uso de ceniza de fibra activada con ácido. El índice de peróxido en todos los tratamientos disminuyó. Las cantidades de hierro y cobre como compuestos peroxidantes disminuyeron considerablemente (44,59% y 23,53%) al usar ceniza de fibra activada por ácido y ceniza de cáscara activada por ácido, respectivamente. Por lo tanto, la fibra y la cáscara de coco como desechos agrícolas que se han ignorado en el pasado podrían emplearse como agentes efectivos para decolorar los aceites crudos, particularmente el aceite de soja en las operaciones de refinación

Vasopressin attenuates ischemia-reperfusion injury via reduction of oxidative stress and inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening in rat hearts

Aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) and oxidative stress in the cardioprotective effect of vasopressin (AVP) on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Anesthetized male wistar rats were subjected to regional 30 min ischemia and 120 min reperfusion and randomly divided into nine groups: (1) Control; saline was administered intravenously before ischemia, (2) vasopressin was administrated 10 min prior to ischemia, (3, 4) Atractyloside as MPTP opener, was injected 5 min prior to reperfusion without and with vasopressin, (5, 6) Cyclosporine A as a MPTP closer, was injected 5 min prior to reperfusion without and with vasopressin, (7) mitochondria were isolated from control group and CaCl2 was added as MPTP opener and swelling inducer, (8) isolated mitochondria from Control hearts was incubated with Cyclosporine A before adding the CaCl2 (9) CaCl2 was added to isolated mitochondria from vasopressin group. Infusion of vasopressin decreased infarct size (18.6±1.7% vs. control group 37.6±2.4%), biochemical parameters [LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase), CK-MB (Creatine Kinase-MB) and MDA (Malondialdehyde) plasma levels, PAB (Prooxidant-antioxidant balance)] compared to control group. Atactyloside suppressed the cardioprotective effect of vasopressin (32.5±1.9% vs. 18.6±1.7%) but administration of the Cyclosporine A without and with vasopressin significantly reduced infarct size to 17.7±4% (P<0.001) and 22.7±3% (P<0.01) respectively, vs. 37.6±2.4% in control group. Also, vasopressin, similar to Cyclosporine A, led to decrease in CaCl2-induced swelling. It seems that vasopressin through antioxidant effect and MPTP inhibition has created a cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion injuries. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved