Generalized Farey trees, transfer Operators and phase transitions

We consider a family of Markov maps on the unit interval, interpolating between the tent map and the Farey map. The latter map is not uniformly expanding. Each map being composed of two fractional linear transformations, the family generalizes many particular properties which for the case of the Farey map have been successfully exploited in number theory. We analyze the dynamics through the spectral analysis of generalized transfer operators. Application of the thermodynamic formalism to the family reveals first and second order phase transitions and unusual properties like positivity of the interaction function.Comment: 39 pages, 10 figure

Potential energy landscape-based extended van der Waals equation

The inherent structures ({\it IS}) are the local minima of the potential energy surface or landscape, $U({\bf r})$, of an {\it N} atom system. Stillinger has given an exact {\it IS} formulation of thermodynamics. Here the implications for the equation of state are investigated. It is shown that the van der Waals ({\it vdW}) equation, with density-dependent $a$ and $b$ coefficients, holds on the high-temperature plateau of the averaged {\it IS} energy. However, an additional ``landscape'' contribution to the pressure is found at lower $T$. The resulting extended {\it vdW} equation, unlike the original, is capable of yielding a water-like density anomaly, flat isotherms in the coexistence region {\it vs} {\it vdW} loops, and several other desirable features. The plateau energy, the width of the distribution of {\it IS}, and the ``top of the landscape'' temperature are simulated over a broad reduced density range, $2.0 \ge \rho \ge 0.20$, in the Lennard-Jones fluid. Fits to the data yield an explicit equation of state, which is argued to be useful at high density; it nevertheless reproduces the known values of $a$ and $b$ at the critical point

Shadowing in photo-production : role of in-medium hadrons

We study the effects of in-medium hadronic properties on shadowing in photon-nucleus interactions in Glauber model as well as in the multiple scattering approach. A reasonable agreement with the experimental data is obtained in a scenario of downward spectral shift of the hadrons. Shadowing is found to be insensitive to the broadening of the spectral functions. An impact parameter dependent analysis of shadowing might shed more light on the role of in-medium properties of hadrons.Comment: Title modified; version to appear in PRC, Rapid Communication

Molecular and Historical Aspects of Corn Belt Dent Diversity

Tens-of-thousands of open-pollinated cultivars of corn (Zea mays L.) are being maintained in germplasm banks. Knowledge of the amount and distribution of genetic variation within and among accessions can aid end users in choosing among them. We estimated molecular genetic variation and looked for influences of pedigree, adaptation, and migration in the genetic makeup of conserved Corn-Belt Dent-related germplasm. Plants sampled from 57 accessions representing Corn-Belt Dents, Northern Flints, Southern Dents, plus 12 public inbreds, were genotyped at 20 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci. For 47 of the accessions, between 5 and 23 plants per accession were genotyped (mean = 9.3). Mean number of alleles per locus was 6.5 overall, 3.17 within accessions, and 3.20 within pooled inbreds. Mean gene diversity was 0.53 within accessions and 0.61 within pooled inbreds. Open-pollinated accessions showed a tendency toward inbreeding (FIS = 0.09), and 85% of genetic variation was shared among them. A Fitch-Margoliash tree strongly supported the distinctiveness of flint from dent germplasm but did not otherwise reveal evidence of genetic structure. Mantel tests revealed significant correlations between genetic distance and geographical (r = 0.54, P= 0.04) or maturity zone (r = 0.33, P = 0.03) distance only if flint germplasm was included in the analyses. A significant correlation (r = 0.76, P \u3c 0.01) was found between days to pollen shed and maturity zone of accession origin. Pedigree, rather than migration or selection, has most influenced the genetic structure of the extant representatives of the open-pollinated cultivars at these SSR loci

Being, Becoming and the Undivided Universe: A Dialogue between Relational Blockworld and the Implicate Order Concerning the Unification of Relativity and Quantum Theory

In this paper two different approaches to unification will be compared, Relational Blockworld (RBW) and Hiley's implicate order. Both approaches are monistic in that they attempt to derive matter and spacetime geometry 'at once' in an interdependent and background independent fashion from something underneath both quantum theory and relativity. Hiley's monism resides in the implicate order via Clifford algebras and is based on process as fundamental while RBW's monism resides in spacetimematter via path integrals over graphs whereby space, time and matter are co-constructed per a global constraint equation. RBW's monism therefore resides in being (relational blockworld) while that of Hiley's resides in becoming (elementary processes). Regarding the derivation of quantum theory and relativity, the promises and pitfalls of both approaches will be elaborated. Finally, special attention will be paid as to how Hiley's process account might avoid the blockworld implications of relativity and the frozen time problem of canonical quantum gravity.Comment: 33 pages, 7 figures. Revised to include modified Regge calculus results. Accepted for publication in Foundations of Physics. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1106.333

Information Theoretic Criteria for Community Detection

Many algorithms for finding community structure in graphs search for a partition that maximizes modularity. However, recent work has identified two important limitations of modularity as a community quality criterion: are solution limit; and a bias towards finding equal-sized communities. Information-theoretic approaches that search for partitions that minimize description length are a recent alternative to modularity. This paper shows that two information-theoretic algorithms are themselves subject to a resolution limit, identifies the component of each approach that is responsible for the resolution limit, proposes a variant, SGE (Sparse Graph Encoding), that addresses this limitation, and demonstrates on three artificial data sets that (1) SGE does not exhibit a resolution limit on sparse graphs in which other approaches do, and that (2) modularity and the compression-based algorithms, including SGE, behave similarly on graphs not subject to the resolution limit

Counseling and surveillance of obstetric risks for female childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors: recommendations from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group

Female childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes related to their cancer- or treatment-associated sequelae. Optimal care for childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors can be facilitated by clinical practice guidelines that identify specific adverse pregnancy outcomes and the clinical characteristics of at-risk subgroups. However, national guidelines are scarce and vary in content. Here, the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group offers recommendations for the counseling and surveillance of obstetrical risks of childhood, adolescent, and young adult survivors. A systematic literature search in MEDLINE database (through PubMed) to identify all available evidence published between January 1990 and December 2018. Published articles on pregnancy and perinatal or congenital risks in female cancer survivors were screened for eligibility. Study designs with a sample size larger than 40 pregnancies in childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors (diagnosed before the age of 25 years, not pregnant at that time) were eligible. This guideline from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group systematically appraised the quality of available evidence for adverse obstetrical outcomes in childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology and formulated recommendations to enhance evidence-based obstetrical care and preconception counseling of female childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors. Healthcare providers should discuss the risk of adverse obstetrical outcomes based on cancer treatment exposures with all female childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors of reproductive age, before conception. Healthcare providers should be aware that there is no evidence to support an increased risk of giving birth to a child with congenital anomalies (high-quality evidence). Survivors treated with radiotherapy to volumes exposing the uterus and their healthcare providers should be aware of the risk of adverse obstetrical outcomes such as miscarriage (moderate-quality evidence), premature birth (high-quality evidence), and low birthweight (high-quality evidence); therefore, high-risk obstetrical surveillance is recommended. Cardiomyopathy surveillance is reasonable before pregnancy or in the first trimester for all female survivors treated with anthracyclines and chest radiation. Female cancer survivors have increased risks of premature delivery and low birthweight associated with radiotherapy targeting the lower body and thereby exposing the uterus, which warrant high-risk pregnancy surveillance

Extent and Causes of Chesapeake Bay Warming

Coastal environments such as the Chesapeake Bay have long been impacted by eutrophication stressors resulting from human activities, and these impacts are now being compounded by global warming trends. However, there are few studies documenting long-term estuarine temperature change and the relative contributions of rivers, the atmosphere, and the ocean. In this study, Chesapeake Bay warming, since 1985, is quantified using a combination of cruise observations and model outputs, and the relative contributions to that warming are estimated via numerical sensitivity experiments with a watershed–estuarine modeling system. Throughout the Bay’s main stem, similar warming rates are found at the surface and bottom between the late 1980s and late 2010s (0.02 +/- 0.02C/year, mean +/- 1 standard error), with elevated summer rates (0.04 +/- 0.01C/year) and lower rates of winter warming (0.01 +/- 0.01C/year). Most (~85%) of this estuarine warming is driven by atmospheric effects. The secondary influence of ocean warming increases with proximity to the Bay mouth, where it accounts for more than half of summer warming in bottom waters. Sea level rise has slightly reduced summer warming, and the influence of riverine warming has been limited to the heads of tidal tributaries. Future rates of warming in Chesapeake Bay will depend not only on global atmospheric trends, but also on regional circulation patterns in mid-Atlantic waters, which are currently warming faster than the atmosphere. Supporting model data available at: https://doi.org/10.25773/c774-a36

Mild-to-Moderate Kidney Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease: Observational and Mendelian Randomization Analyses

BACKGROUND: End-stage renal disease is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events. It is unknown, however, whether mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. METHODS: Observational analyses were conducted using individual-level data from 4 population data sources (Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration, EPIC-CVD [European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Cardiovascular Disease Study], Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank), comprising 648 135 participants with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes at baseline, yielding 42 858 and 15 693 incident CHD and stroke events, respectively, during 6.8 million personyears of follow-up. Using a genetic risk score of 218 variants for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), we conducted Mendelian randomization analyses involving 413 718 participants (25917 CHD and 8622 strokes) in EPIC-CVD, Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank. RESULTS: There were U-shaped observational associations of creatinine-based eGFR with CHD and stroke, with higher risk in participants with eG FR values 105 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2), compared with those with eG FR between 60 and 105 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2). Mendelian randomization analyses for CHD showed an association among participants with eGFR 105 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2). Results were not materially different after adjustment for factors associated with the eGFR genetic risk score, such as lipoprotein(a), triglycerides, hemoglobin Alc, and blood pressure. Mendelian randomization results for stroke were nonsignificant but broadly similar to those for CHD. CONCLUSIONS: In people without manifest cardiovascular disease or diabetes, mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to risk of CHD, highlighting the potential value of preventive approaches that preserve and modulate kidney function