54,151 research outputs found
Dynamic importance sampling for uniformly recurrent markov chains
Importance sampling is a variance reduction technique for efficient
estimation of rare-event probabilities by Monte Carlo. In standard importance
sampling schemes, the system is simulated using an a priori fixed change of
measure suggested by a large deviation lower bound analysis. Recent work,
however, has suggested that such schemes do not work well in many situations.
In this paper we consider dynamic importance sampling in the setting of
uniformly recurrent Markov chains. By ``dynamic'' we mean that in the course of
a single simulation, the change of measure can depend on the outcome of the
simulation up till that time. Based on a control-theoretic approach to large
deviations, the existence of asymptotically optimal dynamic schemes is
demonstrated in great generality. The implementation of the dynamic schemes is
carried out with the help of a limiting Bellman equation. Numerical examples
are presented to contrast the dynamic and standard schemes.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/105051604000001016 in the
Annals of Applied Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aap/) by the Institute
of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org
Patterning of the C. elegans 1Ā° vulval lineage by RAS and Wnt pathways
In C. elegans, the descendants of the 1Ā° vulval precursor
cell (VPC) establish a fixed spatial pattern of two different cell fates: E-F-F-E. The two inner granddaughters attach to the somatic gonadal anchor cell (AC) and generate four vulF cells, while the two outer granddaughters produce
four vulE progeny. zmp-1::GFP, a molecular marker that
distinguishes these two fates, is expressed in vulE cells, but not vulF cells. We demonstrate that a short-range AC signal is required to ensure that the pattern of vulE and vulF fates is properly established. In addition, signaling between the inner and outer 1Ā° VPC descendants, as well as intrinsic polarity of the 1Ā° VPC daughters, is involved in the asymmetric divisions of the 1Ā° VPC daughters and the
proper orientation of the outcome. Finally, we provide
evidence that RAS signaling is used during this new AC
signaling event, while the Wnt receptor LIN-17 appears to
mediate signaling between the inner and outer 1Ā° VPC
descendants
Mars Rover imaging systems and directional filtering
Computer literature searches were carried out at Duke University and NASA Langley Research Center. The purpose is to enhance personal knowledge based on the technical problems of pattern recognition and image understanding which must be solved for the Mars Rover and Sample Return Mission. Intensive study effort of a large collection of relevant literature resulted in a compilation of all important documents in one place. Furthermore, the documents are being classified into: Mars Rover; computer vision (theory); imaging systems; pattern recognition methodologies; and other smart techniques (AI, neural networks, fuzzy logic, etc)
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