Complete mitochondrial DNA sequences provide new insights into the Polynesian motif and the peopling of Madagascar

More than a decade of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) studies have given the 'Polynesian motif' renowned status as a marker for tracing the late-Holocene expansion of Austronesian speaking populations. Despite considerable research on the Polynesian motif in Oceania, there has been little equivalent work on the western edge of its expansion - leaving major issues unresolved regarding the motif's evolutionary history. This has also led to considerable uncertainty regarding the settlement of Madagascar. In this study, we assess mtDNA variation in 266 individuals from three Malagasy ethnic groups: the Mikea, Vezo, and Merina. Complete mtDNA genome sequencing reveals a new variant of the Polynesian motif in Madagascar; two coding region mutations define a Malagasy-specific sub-branch. This newly defined 'Malagasy motif' occurs at high frequency in all three ethnic groups (13-50%), and its phylogenetic position, geographic distribution, and estimated age all support a recent origin, but without conclusively identifying a specific source region. Nevertheless, the haplotype's limited diversity, similar to those of other mtDNA haplogroups found in our Malagasy groups, best supports a small number of initial settlers arriving to Madagascar through the same migratory process. Finally, the discovery of this lineage provides a set of new polymorphic positions to help localize the Austronesian ancestors of the Malagasy, as well as uncover the origin and evolution of the Polynesian motif itself

Tuning Energy Relaxation along Quantum Hall Channels

The chiral edge channels in the quantum Hall regime are considered ideal ballistic quantum channels, and have quantum information processing potentialities. Here, we demonstrate experimentally, at filling factor 2, the efficient tuning of the energy relaxation that limits quantum coherence and permits the return toward equilibrium. Energy relaxation along an edge channel is controllably enhanced by increasing its transmission toward a floating ohmic contact, in quantitative agreement with predictions. Moreover, by forming a closed inner edge channel loop, we freeze energy exchanges in the outer channel. This result also elucidates the inelastic mechanisms at work at filling factor 2, informing us in particular that those within the outer edge channel are negligible.Comment: 8 pages including supplementary materia

Proportionate vs disproportionate distribution of wealth of two individuals in a tempered Paretian ensemble

We study the distribution P(\omega) of the random variable \omega = x_1/(x_1 + x_2), where x_1 and x_2 are the wealths of two individuals selected at random from the same tempered Paretian ensemble characterized by the distribution \Psi(x) \sim \phi(x)/x^{1 + \alpha}, where \alpha > 0 is the Pareto index and $\phi(x)$ is the cut-off function. We consider two forms of \phi(x): a bounded function \phi(x) = 1 for L \leq x \leq H, and zero otherwise, and a smooth exponential function \phi(x) = \exp(-L/x - x/H). In both cases \Psi(x) has moments of arbitrary order. We show that, for \alpha > 1, P(\omega) always has a unimodal form and is peaked at \omega = 1/2, so that most probably x_1 \approx x_2. For 0 < \alpha < 1 we observe a more complicated behavior which depends on the value of \delta = L/H. In particular, for \delta < \delta_c - a certain threshold value - P(\omega) has a three-modal (for a bounded \phi(x)) and a bimodal M-shape (for an exponential \phi(x)) form which signifies that in such ensembles the wealths x_1 and x_2 are disproportionately different.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, to appear in Physica

Minimax adaptive tests for the Functional Linear model

We introduce two novel procedures to test the nullity of the slope function in the functional linear model with real output. The test statistics combine multiple testing ideas and random projections of the input data through functional Principal Component Analysis. Interestingly, the procedures are completely data-driven and do not require any prior knowledge on the smoothness of the slope nor on the smoothness of the covariate functions. The levels and powers against local alternatives are assessed in a nonasymptotic setting. This allows us to prove that these procedures are minimax adaptive (up to an unavoidable \log\log n multiplicative term) to the unknown regularity of the slope. As a side result, the minimax separation distances of the slope are derived for a large range of regularity classes. A numerical study illustrates these theoretical results

Mapping of periodically poled crystals via spontaneous parametric down-conversion

A new method for characterization of periodically poled crystals is developed based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The method is demonstrated on crystals of Y:LiNbO3, Mg:Y:LiNbO3 with non-uniform periodically poled structures, obtained directly under Czochralski growth procedure and designed for application of OPO in the mid infrared range. Infrared dispersion of refractive index, effective working periods and wavelengths of OPO were determined by special treatment of frequency-angular spectra of spontaneous parametric down-conversion in the visible range. Two-dimensional mapping via spontaneous parametric down-conversion is proposed for characterizing spatial distribution of bulk quasi-phase matching efficiency across the input window of a periodically poled sample.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figure

Adaptive estimation of the transition density of a particular hidden Markov chain

We study the following model of hidden Markov chain: $Y_i=X_i+\epsilon_i$, $i=1,...,n+1$ with $(X_i)$ a real-valued positive recurrent and stationary Markov chain and $(\epsilon_i)_{1\leq i\leq n+1}$ a noise independent of the sequence $(X_i)$ having a known distribution. We present an adaptive estimator of the transition density based on the quotient of a deconvolution estimator of the density of $X_i$ and an estimator of the density of $(X_i,X_{i+1})$. These estimators are obtained by contrast minimization and model selection. We evaluate the $L2$ risk and its rate of convergence for ordinary smooth and supersmooth noise with regard to ordinary smooth and supersmooth chains. Some examples are also detailed

Magnons in the ferromagnetic Kondo-lattice model

The magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic Kondo-lattice model (FKLM) are investigated. Starting from an analysis of the magnon spectrum in the spin-wave regime, we examine the ferromagnetic stability as a function of the occupation of the conduction band $n$ and the strength $J$ of the coupling between the localised moments and the conduction electrons. From the properties of the spin-wave stiffness $D$ the ferromagnetic phase at zero temperature is derived. Using an approximate formula the critical temperature $T_c$ is calculated as a function of $J$ and $n$.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, to appear in phys. stat. sol.

Density functional theory of phase coexistence in weakly polydisperse fluids

The recently proposed universal relations between the moments of the polydispersity distributions of a phase-separated weakly polydisperse system are analyzed in detail using the numerical results obtained by solving a simple density functional theory of a polydisperse fluid. It is shown that universal properties are the exception rather than the rule.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, to appear in PR

Stock markets are not what we think they are: the key roles of cross-ownership and corporate treasury stock

We describe and document three mechanisms by which corporations can influence or even control stock prices. (i) Parent and holding companies wield control over other publicly traded companies. (ii) Through clever management of treasury stock based on buyback programs and stock issuance, stock price fluctuations can be amplified or curbed. (iii) Finally, history shows a close interdependance between the level of stock prices on the one hand and merger and acquisition activity on the other hand. This perspective in which Boards of Directors of major companies shepherd the market offers a natural interpretation of the so-called "herd behavior" observed in stock markets. The traditional view holds that by driving profit expectations, corporations have an indirect role in shaping the market. In this paper, we suggest that over the last decades they became more and more the direct moving force of stock markets.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

Material independent crack arrest statistics

The propagation of (planar) cracks in a heterogeneous brittle material characterized by a random field of toughness is considered, taking into account explicitly the effect of the crack front roughness on the local stress intensity factor. In the so-called strong-pinning regime, the onset of crack propagation appears to map onto a second-order phase transition characterized by universal critical exponents which are independent of the local characteristics of the medium. Propagation over large distances can be described by using a simple one-dimensional description, with a correlation length and an effective macroscopic toughness distribution that scale in a non-trivial fashion with the crack front length. As an application of the above concepts, the arrest of indentation cracks is addressed, and the analytical expression for the statistical distribution of the crack radius at arrest is derived. The analysis of indentation crack radii on alumina is shown to obey the predicted algebraic expression for the radius distribution and its dependence on the indentation load