Stein's method, Malliavin calculus, Dirichlet forms and the fourth moment theorem

The fourth moment theorem provides error bounds of the order $\sqrt{{\mathbb E}(F^4) - 3}$ in the central limit theorem for elements $F$ of Wiener chaos of any order such that ${\mathbb E}(F^2) = 1$. It was proved by Nourdin and Peccati (2009) using Stein's method and the Malliavin calculus. It was also proved by Azmoodeh, Campese and Poly (2014) using Stein's method and Dirichlet forms. This paper is an exposition on the connections between Stein's method and the Malliavin calculus and between Stein's method and Dirichlet forms, and on how these connections are exploited in proving the fourth moment theorem

EXPLAINING INTERNATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD LABELING REGULATIONS

Replaced with revised version of paper 07/13/04.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Fast Decoders for Topological Quantum Codes

We present a family of algorithms, combining real-space renormalization methods and belief propagation, to estimate the free energy of a topologically ordered system in the presence of defects. Such an algorithm is needed to preserve the quantum information stored in the ground space of a topologically ordered system and to decode topological error-correcting codes. For a system of linear size L, our algorithm runs in time log L compared to L^6 needed for the minimum-weight perfect matching algorithm previously used in this context and achieves a higher depolarizing error threshold.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Soil carbon losses and estimation of erosion and decomposition by δ Carbon-13 in riparian soils under lowland rainforest transformation systems on Sumatra, Indonesia

Indonesia´s forest is ranked among the Amazonian and the Kongo Basin as the largest tropical rainforest area worldwide. However, the country experiences a severe forest loss since the 1970s. Besides a growing population, the primary pressures are export-orientated timber production and a global commodity demand that lead to a permanent conversion from forest to agricultural areas. The roles of resulting transformation systems of tropical riparian rainforests for ecological functions have yet received little attention in scientific research. Especially C stocks in riparian zones are strongly affected by climate and land use changes that lead to changes in water regime and ground water level drops. We investigated the effects of land transformations in riparian ecosystems of Sumatra, on soil C content, stocks and decomposability. C losses in rubber and oil palm plantations and rainforests were compared and the contribution of soil erosion and organic matter mineralization was estimated. Based on δ Carbon-13 along soil depth, two processes decreasing C stocks were distinguished: erosion and mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM). Depending on the shift of the δ Carbon-13 value of SOC in the topsoil from the linear regression calculated by δ Carbon-13 value with log(SOC) in the topsoil, modification of C turnover rate in the top soil was evaluated. Erosion was estimated by the shift of the δCarbon-13 value of SOC in the subsoil under plantations. The Ah-horizons in non-riparian soils under oil palm and rubber plantations showed with 70% and 62 % a strong reduction in C content and a strong erosion: 35 ±8 cm in oil palm and 33 ±10 cm in rubber plantations. Within the riparian zones an inhomogenous spatial distribution of C content is expected, due to the trend of increasing C stocks from terrestrial through semi –terrestrial to wet conditions. By comparing decreasing δ Carbon-13 values of SOC in the topsoil to those in subsoil, a lower erosion in all transformation systems in riparian zones could be detected

A Framework of Executive Coaching Outcomes and a Meta-Analysis of Executive Coaching Effectiveness

Objectives: To provide a framework in which outcomes of coaching can be classified and to present a meta-analysis that synthesizes the existing research on executive coaching effectiveness in order to understand the impact of coaching on work-based outcomes. Design: Meta-analysis Methods: A review of the literature related to the distinction between effectiveness and evaluation; definitions of coaching effectiveness; and of training outcomes were conducted to create the framework of coaching outcomes. As a result of this review, a framework was suggested that classified coaching outcomes as either affective; behavioural/skill-based or results/performance. A further extensive literature search then identified 24 studies that matched our inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. These studies were coded on a variety of variables including the type of outcome (as proposed by our framework) and predictor variables including multi-source feedback; type of coach; coaching format and coaching technique. Hunter & Schmidt’s (1990, 2004) meta-analytic procedure was followed. Results: Our findings indicate that executive coaching has a moderate to strong positive effect on outcomes, with the largest effect size for results/performance outcomes. Conclusions: The overall effectiveness of executive coaching varies depending on the type of outcome considered, however the effect sizes obtained for overall effectiveness (ranging from 0.33 to 0.57) can be classified as a medium to strong effect (Cohen, 1992). We believe that this result has positive implications for the effectiveness of coaching and the likely return on investment for organizations utilising coaching as a development method. This effect size appears to be comparable to those obtained for other types of organisational interventions

Carrier thermal escape in families of InAs/InP self-assembled quantum dots

We investigate the thermal quenching of the multimodal photoluminescence from InAs/InP (001) self-assembled quantum dots. The temperature evolution of the photoluminescence spectra of two samples is followed from 10 K to 300 K. We develop a coupled rate-equation model that includes the effect of carrier thermal escape from a quantum dot to the wetting layer and to the InP matrix, followed by transport, recapture or non-radiative recombination. Our model reproduces the temperature dependence of the emission of each family of quantum dots with a single set of parameters. We find that the main escape mechanism of the carriers confined in the quantum dots is through thermal emission to the wetting layer. The activation energy for this process is found to be close to one-half the energy difference between that of a given family of quantum dots and that of the wetting layer as measured by photoluminescence excitation experiments. This indicates that electron and holes exit the InAs quantum dots as correlated pairs

Therapeutic potentials and pharmacological properties of Moringa oleifera Lam in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and related complications

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health problem not only in urban areas, but also in rural areas. DM is a metabolic disorder resulting from abnormal insulin secretion. This leads to chronic hyperglycemia with disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism. Hyperglycemic-induced oxidative stress has been shown to be actively involved in the onset and progression of diabetes. Plants have played a vital role in improving the quality of life and maintaining human health.It also serves as important components for medicines, beverages and seasonings. Many plants contain flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, terpenoids, and carotenoids with anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties. Moringa oleifera (MO) is one of such plants which have been used for centuries as a folk remedy for the treatment and management of various diseases including diabetes. This review is aimed at providing an overview of the potentials of MO in the treatment and management of diabetes and its possible applications in the treatment of other diseases.Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Diabetes mellitus, Hyperglycemia, Oxidative stres

Neuromuscular Fatigability Associated With Different Pacing Strategies During an Ultra-Endurance Pull-Up Task: A Case Study

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(3): 1514-1527, 2022. While neuromuscular fatigability has been previously characterized after running and cycling, no study has investigated an ultra-endurance upper body task. In preparation for a world record attempt, three pacing strategies to perform 1980 pull-ups in 6 hrs were compared during independent sessions: fast pace, long recovery (FL), fast pace, multiple short recoveries (FMS), and slow pace, no recovery (SN). Elbow flexion maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force, grip strength, peripheral fatigue, and biceps brachii electromyography were quantified every 330 pull-ups and during recovery, alongside heart rate, perceived effort, and arm muscle pain. In all conditions, MVC force decreased rapidly within the first set of 330 pull-ups, with the greatest depression observed in FL (-29.1%) and more gradual declines in FMS (-18.6%) and SN (-8.6%). Similarly, FL displayed the greatest decline in potentiated single twitch (FL: -75.0%; FMS: -53.9%; SN: -41.8%) and high-frequency doublet forces (FL: -63.3%; FMS: -29.2%; SN: -41.8%) following the first set, as well as higher heart rate, effort, and pain throughout the task. Following 24 hrs, MVC force recovered slowest in FL and grip strength recovered fastest in SN. Therefore, for the world record attempt, a strategy with a continuous workload at slower pace should be used