Network optimisation - A statistical physics perspective

Inference and optimisation of real-value edge variables in sparse graphs are studied using the tree based Bethe approximation optimisation algorithms. Equilibrium states of general energy functions involving a large set of real edge-variables that interact at the network nodes are obtained for networks in various cases. These include different cost functions, connectivity values, constraints on the edge bandwidth and the case of multiclass optimisation

Ethical Distance and Difference in Bilateral Trade

Using data from 53 countries that participated in the World Values Survey, findings show that the closer the ethical distance between countries, the greater the trade. Ethics in international trade are important where purchasing, exports, marketing and sales activities are more likely to involve unethical behaviors, such as bribery and corruption. The focus of this paper regards similarities and differences in ethical behaviors between trade dyads (an importing and an exporting country). Do variations in perceived ethics among the protagonists help or hinder bilateral trade? As a determinant of bilateral trade, the ethicality of importers matters more than exporters

All Inequalities for the Relative Entropy

The relative entropy of two n-party quantum states is an important quantity exhibiting, for example, the extent to which the two states are different. The relative entropy of the states formed by reducing two n-party to a smaller number $m$ of parties is always less than or equal to the relative entropy of the two original n-party states. This is the monotonicity of relative entropy. Using techniques from convex geometry, we prove that monotonicity under restrictions is the only general inequality satisfied by relative entropies. In doing so we make a connection to secret sharing schemes with general access structures. A suprising outcome is that the structure of allowed relative entropy values of subsets of multiparty states is much simpler than the structure of allowed entropy values. And the structure of allowed relative entropy values (unlike that of entropies) is the same for classical probability distributions and quantum states.Comment: 15 pages, 3 embedded eps figure

Impact of additional genetic abnormalities at diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia for first-line imatinib-treated patients receiving proactive treatment intervention

Early view: March 23, 2023The BCR::ABL1 gene fusion initiates chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), however evidence has accumulated from studies of highly selected cohorts that variants in other cancer-related genes are associated with treatment failure. Nevertheless, the true incidence and impact of additional genetic abnormalities (AGAs) at diagnosis of chronic phase (CP)-CML is unknown. We sought to determine whether AGAs at diagnosis in a consecutive imatinib-treated cohort of 210 patients enrolled in the TIDEL-II trial influenced outcome despite a highly proactive treatment intervention strategy. Survival outcomes including overall survival, progression-free survival, failure-free survival and BCR::ABL1 kinase domain mutation acquisition were evaluated. Molecular outcomes were measured at a central laboratory and included major molecular response (MMR, BCR::ABL1 ≤0.1%IS), MR4 (BCR::ABL1 ≤0.01%IS) and MR4.5 (BCR::ABL1 ≤0.0032%IS). AGAs included variants in known cancer genes and novel rearrangements involving the formation of the Philadelphia chromosome. Clinical outcomes and molecular response were assessed based on the genetic profile and other baseline factors. AGAs were identified in 31% of patients. Potentially pathogenic variants in cancer-related genes were detected in 16% of patients at diagnosis (including gene fusions and deletions) and structural rearrangements involving the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph-associated rearrangements), detected in 18%. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that the combined genetic abnormalities plus the ELTS clinical risk score were independent predictors of lower molecular response rates and higher treatment failure. Despite a highly proactive treatment intervention strategy, first-line imatinib-treated patients with AGAs had poorer response rates. This data provides evidence for the incorporation of genomically-based risk assessment for CML.Naranie Shanmuganathan, Carol Wadham, NurHezrin Shahrin, Jinghua Feng, Daniel Thomson, Paul Wang, Verity Saunders, Chung Hoow Kok, Rob M. King, Rosalie R. Kenyon, Ming Lin, Ilaria S. Pagani, David M. Ross, Agnes S.M. Yong, Andrew P. Grigg, Anthony K. Mills, Anthony P. Schwarer, Jodi Braley, Haley Altamura, David T. Yeung, Hamish S. Scott, Andreas W. Schreiber, Timothy P. Hughes and Susan Branfor

Clusters of resource consuming nodes in transportation networks

We study the problem of optimal source location in transportation networks. When the installation cost of source nodes is comparable to the transportation cost, regimes characterized by discrete fractions of resource consuming nodes emerge and resemble the Devil's staircase, corresponding to different clusters of consumer nodes. When the fraction of deficient nodes increases, frustration arises in choices of locating extra source nodes and numerous sub-optimal configurations emerge, resembling typical glassy behavior. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd

Ethical distance and difference in bilateral trade

Using data from 53 countries that participated in the World Values Survey, findings show that the closer the ethical distance between countries, the greater the trade. Ethics in international trade are important where purchasing, exports, marketing and sales activities are more likely to involve unethical behaviors, such as bribery and corruption. The focus of this paper regards similarities and differences in ethical behaviors between trade dyads (an importing and an exporting country). Do variations in perceived ethics among the protagonists help or hinder bilateral trade? As a determinant of bilateral trade, the ethicality of importers matters more than exporters

The determinants of parts and components trade: the role of trust and commitment

We draw on the knowledge from the fields of international economics and international marketing to improve our insights on the determinants of bilateral trade, in particular trade in Parts and Components (P&C). While trade economists have confirmed the importance of trade agreements, infrastructure and institutional quality among others, as important determinants of trade, international marketers have pointed to the critical role of trust and commitment among partners as antecedents to cross border relationships. In this paper, we introduce macro level variables to represent the antecedents of trust and commitment between dyads in a trade gravity model. We base our findings on 17,030 bilateral relationships involving 291 SITC 5 digit products that we classify as P&C. Our findings confirm the importance of cultural distance, business ethics and transaction specific investments in a bilateral trade relationship. In particular, we find that trust and commitment among partners are more important in P&C trade

China and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: Misfit or Missed Opportunity?

If it eventuates the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) will include major economic powerhouses like the US and Japan, but China – the elephant in the room – has been excluded. Our evaluation of how China might fare in the TPP finds that the agreement would be a poor fit at the current stage of China’s economic development. Although China would gain both in terms of trade and a reform timetable, some features of this 21st-century agreement – the assistance given to state-owned enterprises, the standards for labour rights, protection of multinationals against the state and competition laws – would be stumbling blocks in the negotiation process. Thus, being left out of the TPP is no big loss for China

Infertile spermatozoa of c-ros tyrosine kinase receptor knockout mice show flagellar angulation and maturational defects in cell volume regulatory mechanisms

Homozygous c-ros knockout male mice that lack prepubertal differentiation of the epididymal initial segment are healthy but sterile, despite normal sperm production and mating. Detailed computerized analysis of the motility of spermatozoa maturing in the epididymis revealed only minor defects. However, the majority of motile mature sperm released from the cauda epididymidis showed various extents of flagellar angulation that could not be corrected by raising extracellular osmolality. Measurement of the osmolality of cauda epididymal fluid showed no difference from the wild type. Studies in wild-type mice indicated a maturational change in the ability of motile sperm to maintain straight flagella during incubation, but angulation was induced in cauda sperm by the volume-sensitive ion channel blockers quinine, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid and BaCl(2), or by exposure to hypotonic media. Flagellar angulation, induced in the wild type or intrinsic to the knockout, was relieved upon demembranation by Triton X-100, confirming that it was a cell swelling phenomenon. A lack of response of immature wild-type sperm and mature knockout sperm to the channel blockers suggests that there is normally a development of the volume regulatory mechanisms upon maturation that is defective in sperm from the knockout animal. The resultant flagellar angulation may account for the reduction in sperm numbers in the oviduct of mated females and the failure to fertilize in vivo