A Novel and Fast Approach for Population Structure Inference Using Kernel-PCA and Optimization (PSIKO)

Population structure is a confounding factor in Genome Wide Association Studies, increasing the rate of false positive associations. In order to correct for it, several model-based algorithms such as ADMIXTURE and STRUCTURE have been proposed. These tend to suffer from the fact that they have a considerable computational burden, limiting their applicability when used with large datasets, such as those produced by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques. To address this, non-model based approaches such as SNMF and EIGENSTRAT have been proposed, which scale better with larger data. Here we present a novel non-model based approach, PSIKO, which is based on a unique combination of linear kernel-PCA and least-squares optimization and allows for the inference of admixture coefficients, principal components, and number of founder populations of a dataset. PSIKO has been compared against existing leading methods on a variety of simulation scenarios, as well as on real biological data. We found that in addition to producing results of the same quality as other tested methods, PSIKO scales extremely well with dataset size, being considerably (up to 30 times) faster for longer sequences than even state of the art methods such as SNMF. PSIKO and accompanying manual are freely available at https://www.uea.ac.uk/computing/psiko

The interaction of cartoonist's gender and formal features of cartoons

The present study investigates gender differences in the use of formal features of cartoons, like the amount of text, the number of panels, or the application of color. For the analysis, 300 cartoons (150 each by female and male cartoonists) were selected randomly from the works of 1519 cartoonists. Twenty-one formal features were analyzed. On average, female cartoonists use more text, include text more frequently, and also draw more panels. These differences were expected, because Differential Psychology has shown for a long time in a variety of cultures that, on average, women tend to perform better in tasks testing verbal intelligence whereas men perform significantly better in tasks that require spatial intelligence. We also found a difference in the type of joke: Women more frequently draw cartoons with incongruity-resolution humor, whereas men prefer to draw cartoons with nonsense humor. The results are discussed in relation to gender differences in humor processing and gender differences in genera

Teasing, Ridiculing and the Relation to the Fear of Being Laughed at in Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome

The present paper investigated the fear of being laughed at (gelotophobia) in relation to recalled experiences of having been laughed at in the past in individuals with Asperger's Syndrome (AS). About 45% of the individuals with AS (N=40), but only 6% of the controls (N=83) had at least a slight form of gelotophobia, which is the highest percentage ever found in the literature. Gelotophobia correlated with the frequency and severity of remembered teasing and mocking situations in the past. This indicates that gelotophobia is an important issue in individuals with AS. Furthermore, individuals with AS are less able to laugh at themselves (gelotophilia), but enjoy laughing at others (katagelasticism, a more hostile form of humor) to the same extent as controls d

ZERO-CO2 PUBLIC TRANSPORT: FROM VEHICLE TO SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION

Learning Trolley System - Energy, Battery, Bus Route-Cockpit: An enhanced predictive learning energy management system in combination with battery’s operation strategies that minimize degradation result in optimized and extended grid free bus routes that are spatially visualized in a decision-supporting cockpit for the procurement process. The cockpit shows the optimized bus routes, passenger capacities, utilization and urban density

Physics and Performance Evaluation Group

We summarize the objectives and results of the ``international scoping study of a future neutrino factory and superbeam facility'' (ISS) physics working group. Furthermore, we discuss how the ISS study should develop into a neutrino factory design study (IDS-NF) from the point of view of physics and performance evaluation.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure. Plenary talk given at the NuFact 07 conferenc

Seven decades after Hans Asperger's observations: A comprehensive study of humor in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders

The aim of the present study was to better understand humor in individuals with Asperger's syndrome. Therefore, various humor and laughter related phenomena were investigated by means of various standardized humor instruments. Forty individuals with AS and 113 controls filled out several self-report questionnaires and tests. The results revealed that individuals with AS scored significantly lower on trait cheerfulness and higher on trait seriousness (both describing the susceptibility to humor). Furthermore, they scored low on scales related to social communication (affiliative humor, humor entertainment) and portrayed a more socially cold humor style. In addition, individuals with AS scored low on mean-spirited humor, and used less adaptive (self-enhancing) and more maladaptive humor styles (self-defeating humor). Finally, they preferred incongruity-resolution humor, representing a more reality-oriented processing style. These findings add to previous studies on humor and expand the knowledge of components associated with successful humor appreciatio

STIMULATING USER ACTIVITY ON COMPANY FAN PAGES IN ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS

Due to the popularity and intensive usage of Online Social Networks, more and more companies try to get in touch with existing as well as potential customers and to market their brands and products within these networks. Especially Facebook provides an extensive user base and the opportunity to implement fan pages, which allow companies to leverage a broad range of technical features and media types to interact with users. However, the success of company fan pages varies and is by far not guaranteed. Therefore, it is necessary to measure whether a company\u27s efforts to stimulate user activity on fan pages are successful or not. Hence, we deduce and hypothesize factors influencing the number of active users on fan pages and take different technical features and media types companies can use into account. To test our hypotheses empirically, we draw on publicly and non-publicly available data of a global insurance company\u27s fan page within Facebook. The results suggest that based on the number of current fans companies can particularly stimulate user activity and engagement by using company wallposts with its different media types as well as by commenting on already existing wallposts. Finally, both theoretical and practical implications are discussed

Estimating extreme cancellation rates in life insurance

This paper assesses the risk of a mass lapse event in life insurance. The rarity of the event and the complexity of policyholder behavior make the risk assessment of such a scenario difficult. Using a simulation study, we evaluate how different estimation methods can assess the risk of this scenario, using panel data at the company level. We then use the best-performing method to estimate the probability distribution function of a mass cancellation event in the United States and Germany. We identify dependencies of the event on company and country characteristics, which have not been taken into account by regulating agencies. We also find that the current mass lapse scenario in Solvency II has no empirical foundation for the German market. We show that an empirically valid scenario leads to a significantly lower solvency capital requirement for the average German life insurer. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Risk and Insurance published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Risk and Insurance Association

The Valuation of Insurance Liabilities: A Framework Based on First Principle

We describe a framework for the valuation of insurance liabilities that relies on first principles in finance theory. Key features of the economic value of liabilities are its market-consistency and the inclusion of the costs of financial frictions. We compare this framework to the Solvency II approach and highlight the differences