References of "E-prints/Working papers"      in Complete repository Arts & humanities   Archaeology   Art & art history   Classical & oriental studies   History   Languages & linguistics   Literature   Performing arts   Philosophy & ethics   Religion & theology   Multidisciplinary, general & others Business & economic sciences   Accounting & auditing   Production, distribution & supply chain management   Finance   General management & organizational theory   Human resources management   Management information systems   Marketing   Strategy & innovation   Quantitative methods in economics & management   General economics & history of economic thought   International economics   Macroeconomics & monetary economics   Microeconomics   Economic systems & public economics   Social economics   Special economic topics (health, labor, transportation…)   Multidisciplinary, general & others Engineering, computing & technology   Aerospace & aeronautics engineering   Architecture   Chemical engineering   Civil engineering   Computer science   Electrical & electronics engineering   Energy   Geological, petroleum & mining engineering   Materials science & engineering   Mechanical engineering   Multidisciplinary, general & others Human health sciences   Alternative medicine   Anesthesia & intensive care   Cardiovascular & respiratory systems   Dentistry & oral medicine   Dermatology   Endocrinology, metabolism & nutrition   Forensic medicine   Gastroenterology & hepatology   General & internal medicine   Geriatrics   Hematology   Immunology & infectious disease   Laboratory medicine & medical technology   Neurology   Oncology   Ophthalmology   Orthopedics, rehabilitation & sports medicine   Otolaryngology   Pediatrics   Pharmacy, pharmacology & toxicology   Psychiatry   Public health, health care sciences & services   Radiology, nuclear medicine & imaging   Reproductive medicine (gynecology, andrology, obstetrics)   Rheumatology   Surgery   Urology & nephrology   Multidisciplinary, general & others Law, criminology & political science   Civil law   Criminal law & procedure   Criminology   Economic & commercial law   European & international law   Judicial law   Metalaw, Roman law, history of law & comparative law   Political science, public administration & international relations   Public law   Social law   Tax law   Multidisciplinary, general & others Life sciences   Agriculture & agronomy   Anatomy (cytology, histology, embryology...) & physiology   Animal production & animal husbandry   Aquatic sciences & oceanology   Biochemistry, biophysics & molecular biology   Biotechnology   Entomology & pest control   Environmental sciences & ecology   Food science   Genetics & genetic processes   Microbiology   Phytobiology (plant sciences, forestry, mycology...)   Veterinary medicine & animal health   Zoology   Multidisciplinary, general & others Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences   Chemistry   Earth sciences & physical geography   Mathematics   Physics   Space science, astronomy & astrophysics   Multidisciplinary, general & others Social & behavioral sciences, psychology   Animal psychology, ethology & psychobiology   Anthropology   Communication & mass media   Education & instruction   Human geography & demography   Library & information sciences   Neurosciences & behavior   Regional & inter-regional studies   Social work & social policy   Sociology & social sciences   Social, industrial & organizational psychology   Theoretical & cognitive psychology   Treatment & clinical psychology   Multidisciplinary, general & others     Showing results 1 to 100 of 1603 1 2 3 4 5 6     The edge-based strain smoothing method for compressible and nearly incompressible non-linear elasticity for solid mechanicsLee, Chang-Kye; Mihai, L. Angela; Kerfriden, Pierre et alE-print/Working paper (in press)Detailed reference viewed: 566 (41 UL) The mod 2 cohomology rings of congruence subgroups in the Bianchi groupsBerkove, Ethan; Lakeland, Grant; Rahm, Alexander E-print/Working paper (in press)We provide new tools for the calculation of the torsion in the cohomology of congruence subgroups in the Bianchi groups : An algorithm for finding particularly useful fundamental domains, and an analysis ... [more ▼]We provide new tools for the calculation of the torsion in the cohomology of congruence subgroups in the Bianchi groups : An algorithm for finding particularly useful fundamental domains, and an analysis of the equivariant spectral sequence combined with torsion subcomplex reduction. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 325 (24 UL) Yolanda von Vianden und das Yolanda-EposSieburg, Heinz E-print/Working paper (in press)Detailed reference viewed: 172 (10 UL) Forensic DNA Phenotyping: a review on SNP panels, genotyping techniques, and prediction modelsTerrado Ortuno, Nuria ; May, Patrick E-print/Working paper (2023)In the past few years, forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP) has attracted a strong interest in the forensic research. Among the increasing publications, many have focused on testing the available panels to ... [more ▼]In the past few years, forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP) has attracted a strong interest in the forensic research. Among the increasing publications, many have focused on testing the available panels to infer biogeographical ancestry (BGA) on less represented populations and understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying externally visible characteristics (EVC). However, there are currently no publications that gather all the existing panels limited to FDP and discuss the main technical limitations of the technique. In this review, we performed a bibliographic search in Scopus database of FDP-related literature, which resulted in a total of 48, 43 and 15 panels for BGA, EVC and both BGA and EVC inference, respectively. Here we provide a list of commercial and non-commercial FDP panels and the FDP limitations regarding the lack of harmonization in terms of terminology (i.e., categorization and measurement of traits) and reporting, the lack of genetic knowledge and environment influence to select markers and develop panels, and the debate surrounding the selection of genotyping technologies and prediction models and algorithms. In conclusion, this review aims to be an updated guide and to present an overview of the current FDP-related literature. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 58 (0 UL) Multifractional Hermite processes: definition and first propertiesLoosveldt, Laurent E-print/Working paper (2023)We define multifractional Hermite processes which generalize and extend both multifractional Brownian motion and Hermite processes. It is done by substituting the Hurst parameter in the definition of ... [more ▼]We define multifractional Hermite processes which generalize and extend both multifractional Brownian motion and Hermite processes. It is done by substituting the Hurst parameter in the definition of Hermite processes as a multiple Wiener-Itô integral by a Hurst function. Then, we study the pointwise regularity of these processes, their local asymptotic self-similarity and some fractal dimensions of their graph. Our results show that the fundamental properties of multifractional Hermite processes are, as desired, governed by the Hurst function. Complements are given in the second order Wiener chaos, using facts from Malliavin calculus. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 38 (1 UL) The Next Generation EU (NGEU) as a catalyst for the promotion of the international role of the euroLupinu, Pier Mario ; Machura, Anna E-print/Working paper (2023)Recent developments in the global arena such as the COVID-19 pandemic and stresses in energy markets, made it clear that it is critical for the EU to ensure its strategic autonomy in the macroeconomic ... [more ▼]Recent developments in the global arena such as the COVID-19 pandemic and stresses in energy markets, made it clear that it is critical for the EU to ensure its strategic autonomy in the macroeconomic field. Strengthening the international role of the euro is one of the key elements in this regard. Through timely analysis of the changes stemming from the establishment of the Next Generation EU (NGEU), we seek to understand to what extent the NGEU can serve as a catalyst for the promotion of the international role of the euro. While it is implausible that the euro will overcome the primacy of the US dollar, we center our analysis around the transformation of the EU’s presence in capital markets. Following massive issuances of green bonds under the NGEU, the EU became the largest issuer of green bonds and has the potential to progress from a small supranational issuer to a sovereign size issuer. This means that the pool of highly rated euro-denominated safe assets will expand significantly. That is where we focus our analysis and where we see the opportunity of the NGEU for unleashing the potential of the euro and boosting its international role. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 29 (1 UL) Wavelet-Type Expansion of Generalized Hermite Processes with rate of convergenceAyache, Antoine; Hamonier, Julien; Loosveldt, Laurent E-print/Working paper (2023)Wavelet-type random series representations of the well-known Fractional Brownian Motion (FBM) and many other related stochastic processes and fields have started to be introduced since more than two ... [more ▼]Wavelet-type random series representations of the well-known Fractional Brownian Motion (FBM) and many other related stochastic processes and fields have started to be introduced since more than two decades. Such representations provide natural frameworks for approximating almost surely and uniformly rough sample paths at different scales and for study of various aspects of their complex erratic behavior. Hermite process of an arbitrary integer order d, which extends FBM, is a paradigmatic example of a stochastic process belonging to the dth Wiener chaos. It was introduced very long time ago, yet many of its properties are still unknown when d ≥ 3. In a paper published in 2004, Pipiras raised the problem to know whether wavelet-type random series representations with a well-localized smooth scaling function, reminiscent to those for FBM due to Meyer, Sellan and Taqqu, can be obtained for a Hermite process of any order d. He solved it in this same paper in the particular case d = 2 in which the Hermite process is called the Rosenblatt process. Yet, the problem remains unsolved in the general case d ≥ 3. The main goal of our article is to solve it, not only for usual Hermite processes but also for generalizations of them. Another important goal of our article is to derive almost sure uniform estimates of the errors related with approximations of such processes by scaling functions parts of their wavelet-type random series representations. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 37 (1 UL) Energy-Efficient RIS-Enabled NOMA Communication for 6G LEO Satellite NetworksKhan, Wali Ullah ; Lagunas, Eva ; Mahmood, Asad et alE-print/Working paper (2023)Reconfigurable Intelligent surfaces (RIS) have the potential to significantly improve the performance of future 6G LEO satellite networks. In particular, RIS can improve the signal quality of ground ... [more ▼]Reconfigurable Intelligent surfaces (RIS) have the potential to significantly improve the performance of future 6G LEO satellite networks. In particular, RIS can improve the signal quality of ground terminal, reduce power consumption of satellite and increase spectral efficiency of overall network. This paper proposes an energy-efficient RIS-enabled NOMA communication for LEO satellite networks. The proposed framework simultaneously optimizes the transmit power of ground terminals at LEO satellite and passive beamforming at RIS while ensuring the quality of services. Due to the nature of the considered system and optimization variables, the problem of energy efficiency maximization is formulated as non-convex. In practice, it is very challenging to obtain the optimal solution for such problems. Therefore, we adopt alternating optimization methods to handle the joint optimization in two steps. In step 1, for any given phase shift vector, we calculate efficient power for ground terminals at satellite using Lagrangian dual method. Then, in step 2, given the transmit power, we design passive beamforming for RIS by solving the semi-definite programming. To validate the proposed solution, numerical results are also provided to demonstrate the benefits of the proposed optimization framework. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 87 (2 UL) Multiple Access in Constellation Domain by Non-Coherent Massive MIMOMonzon Baeza, Victor E-print/Working paper (2023)Multiple access is the base for increasing the capacity in multi-user communication networks. However, the growing demand for higher data rates and the number of users who requires communication services ... [more ▼]Multiple access is the base for increasing the capacity in multi-user communication networks. However, the growing demand for higher data rates and the number of users who requires communication services has led to the scarcity of orthogonal resources in current wireless communications. On the other hand, integrating the satellite within terrestrial networks as an initiative of 3GPP since its Release 15 entails the need for new forms of multiple access between terrestrial and non-terrestrial users. This paper studies constellation schemes as a new domain to enhance the state-of-the-art multiple-access techniques for future communication technologies employing non-coherent communications with massive MIMO. In addition, we propose a hybrid model between the classic access methods such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) or Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), the emerging models of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) and the proposed domain of the constellation based on non-coherent massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) schemes. This model is discussed for different scenarios in satellite communications that help increase the system's capacity and avoid interference between terrestrial and non-terrestrial users. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 69 (3 UL) The State of AI-Empowered Backscatter Communications: A Comprehensive SurveyAhmed, Manzoor; Hussain, Touseef; Ali, Khurshed et alE-print/Working paper (2023)The Internet of Things (IoT) is undergoing significant advancements, driven by the emergence of Backscatter Communication (BC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). BC is an energy-saving and cost-effective ... [more ▼]The Internet of Things (IoT) is undergoing significant advancements, driven by the emergence of Backscatter Communication (BC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). BC is an energy-saving and cost-effective communication method where passive backscatter devices communicate by modulating ambient Radio-Frequency (RF) carriers. AI has the potential to transform our way of communicating and interacting and represents a powerful tool for enabling the next generation of IoT devices and networks. By integrating AI with BC, we can create new opportunities for energy-efficient and low-cost communication and open the door to a range of innovative applications that were previously not possible. This paper brings these two technologies together to investigate the current state of AI-powered BC. We begin with an introduction to BC and an overview of the AI algorithms employed in BC. Then, we delve into the recent advances in AI-based BC, covering key areas such as backscatter signal detection, channel estimation, and jammer control to ensure security, mitigate interference, and improve throughput and latency. We also explore the exciting frontiers of AI in BC using B5G/6G technologies, including backscatter-assisted relay and cognitive communication networks, backscatter-assisted MEC networks, and BC with RIS, UAV, and vehicular networks. Finally, we highlight the challenges and present new research opportunities in AI-powered BC. This survey provides a comprehensive overview of the potential of AI-powered BC and its insightful impact on the future of IoT. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 59 (0 UL) Vehicular Communication Network Enabled CAVData Offloading: A ReviewAhmed, Manzoor; Mirza, M. Ayzed; Raza, Salman et alE-print/Working paper (2023)The connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) applications and services-based traffic make an extra burden on the already congested cellular networks. Offloading is envisioned as a promising solution to ... [more ▼]The connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) applications and services-based traffic make an extra burden on the already congested cellular networks. Offloading is envisioned as a promising solution to tackle cellular networks' traffic explosion problem. Notably, vehicular traffic offloading leveraging different vehicular communication network (VCN) modes is one of the potential techniques to address the data traffic problem in cellular networks. This paper surveys the state-of-the-art literature for vehicular data offloading under a communication perspective, i.e., vehicle to vehicle (V2V), vehicle to roadside infrastructure (V2I), and vehicle to everything (V2X). First, we pinpoint the significant classification of vehicular data/traffic offloading techniques, considering whether data is to download or upload. Next, for better intuition of each data offloading's category, we sub-classify the existing schemes based on their objectives. Then, the existing literature on vehicular data/traffic is elaborated, compared, and analyzed based on approaches, objectives, merits, demerits, etc. Finally, we highlight the open research challenges in this field and predict future research trends. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 56 (0 UL) The Fundamental Value of Art NFTsFridgen, Gilbert ; Kräussl, Roman ; Papageorgiou, Orestis et alE-print/Working paper (2023)Art-related non-fungible tokens (NFTs) took the digital art space by storm in 2021, generating massive amounts of volume and attracting a large number of users to a previously obscure part of blockchain ... [more ▼]Art-related non-fungible tokens (NFTs) took the digital art space by storm in 2021, generating massive amounts of volume and attracting a large number of users to a previously obscure part of blockchain technology. Still, very little is known about the attributes that influence the price of these digital assets. This paper attempts to evaluate the level of speculation associated with art NFTs, comprehend the characteristics that confer value on them and design a profitable trading strategy based on our findings. We analyze 860,067 art NFTs that have been deployed on the Ethereum blockchain and have been involved in 317,950 sales using machine learning methods to forecast the probability of sale, the trade frequency and the average price. We find that NFTs are highly speculative assets and that their price and recurrence of sale are heavily determined by the floor and the last sale prices, independent of any fundamental value. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 22 (3 UL) DenseQMC: an efficient bit-slice implementation of the Quine-McCluskey algorithmUdovenko, Aleksei E-print/Working paper (2023)This note describes a new efficient bit-slice implementation DenseQMC of the Quine-McCluskey algorithm for finding all prime implicants of a Boolean function in the dense case. It is practically feasible ... [more ▼]This note describes a new efficient bit-slice implementation DenseQMC of the Quine-McCluskey algorithm for finding all prime implicants of a Boolean function in the dense case. It is practically feasible for n <= 23 when run on a common laptop or for n <= 27 when run on a server with 1 TiB RAM. This note also outlines a very common mistake in the implementations of the Quine-McCluskey algorithm, leading to a quadratic slowdown. An optimized corrected implementation of the classic approach is also given (called SparseQMC). The implementation is freely available at https://github.com/hellman/Quine-McCluskey . [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 42 (1 UL) On the pointwise regularity of the Multifractional Brownian Motion and some extensionsEsser, Céline; Loosveldt, Laurent E-print/Working paper (2023)We study the pointwise regularity of the Multifractional Brownian Motion and in particular, we get the existence of slow points. It shows that a non self-similar process can still enjoy this property. We ... [more ▼]We study the pointwise regularity of the Multifractional Brownian Motion and in particular, we get the existence of slow points. It shows that a non self-similar process can still enjoy this property. We also consider various extensions of our results in the aim of requesting a weaker regularity assumption for the Hurst function without altering the regularity of the process. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 19 (2 UL) Planktonic Active MatterSengupta, Anupam E-print/Working paper (2023)Planktonic active matter represents an emergent system spanning different scales: individual, population and community; and complexity arising from sub-cellular and cellular to collective and ecosystem ... [more ▼]Planktonic active matter represents an emergent system spanning different scales: individual, population and community; and complexity arising from sub-cellular and cellular to collective and ecosystem scale dynamics. This cross-scale active matter system responds to a range of abiotic (temperature, fluid flow and light conditions) and biotic factors (nutrients, pH, secondary metabolites) characteristic to the relevant ecosystems they are part of. Active modulation of cell phenotypes, including morphology, motility, and intracellular organization enable planktonic microbes to dynamically interact with other individuals and species; and adapt - often rapidly - to the changes in their environment. In this chapter, I discuss both traditional and contemporary approaches to study the dynamics of this multi-scale active matter system from a mechanistic standpoint, with specific references to their local settings and their ability to actively tune the behaviour and physiology, and the emergent structures and functions they elicit under natural ecological constraints as well as due to the shifting climatic trends. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 32 (2 UL) Prenatal and childhood exposure to per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and its associations with childhood overweight and/or obesity: a systematic review with meta- analysesFrigerio, Gianfranco ; Ferrari, Chiara Matilde; Fustinoni, SilviaE-print/Working paper (2023)Background. Per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent organic pollutants and suspected endocrine disrupters. Objective. The aim of this work was to conduct a systematic review with meta ... [more ▼]Background. Per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent organic pollutants and suspected endocrine disrupters. Objective. The aim of this work was to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis to summarise the associations between prenatal or childhood exposure to PFASs and childhood overweight/obesity. Methods. The search was performed on the bibliographic databases PubMed and Embase with text strings containing terms related to prenatal, childhood, overweight, obesity, and PFASs. Only papers describing a biomonitoring study in pregnant women or in children up to 18 years that assessed body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), or fat mass in children were included. When the estimates of the association between a PFAS and an outcome were reported from at least 3 studies, a meta-analysis was conducted; moreover, to correctly compare the studies, we developed a method to convert the different effect estimates and made them comparable each other. Results. In total, 354 and 565 articles were retrieved from PubMed and Embase, respectively, resulting in a total of 613 articles after merging duplicates. The papers included in this systematic review were 31: 18 evaluating prenatal exposure to PFASs, 11 childhood exposure, and 2 both. Overall, results were conflicting, with positive, negative, and null associations. 17 papers were included in meta-analyses (12 prenatal, 3 children, and 2 both). The method implemented for data conversion allowed a suitable comparison of different effect estimates. Meta-analyses evaluating the associations between prenatal exposure to PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and the outcomes BMI, WC, and Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) showed no significant results. Meta-analyses for the associations between childhood exposure to PFASs and the outcomes BMI showed no significant results except for a negative association between PFNA and BMI (pooled estimate from a random effect model: -0.045; 95%CI: -0.087, -0.002), however, more studies are required to confirm the strength of this association. Conclusion. To increase the reliability of meta-analyses in environmental epidemiology we suggest the conversion of effect estimates to compare different studies. The pooled evidence of the meta-analyses of the present study suggests that there is no overall association between exposure to PFASs and childhood overweight/obesity. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 50 (3 UL) Bringing data minimization to digital wallets at scale with general-purpose zero-knowledge proofsBabel, Matthias; Sedlmeir, Johannes E-print/Working paper (2023)Today, digital identity management for individuals is either inconvenient and error-prone or creates undesirable lock-in effects and violates privacy and security expectations. These shortcomings inhibit ... [more ▼]Today, digital identity management for individuals is either inconvenient and error-prone or creates undesirable lock-in effects and violates privacy and security expectations. These shortcomings inhibit the digital transformation in general and seem particularly concerning in the context of novel applications such as access control for decentralized autonomous organizations and identification in the Metaverse. Decentralized or self-sovereign identity (SSI) aims to offer a solution to this dilemma by empowering individuals to manage their digital identity through machine-verifiable attestations stored in a "digital wallet" application on their edge devices. However, when presented to a relying party, these attestations typically reveal more attributes than required and allow tracking end users' activities. Several academic works and practical solutions exist to reduce or avoid such excessive information disclosure, from simple selective disclosure to data-minimizing anonymous credentials based on zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). We first demonstrate that the SSI solutions that are currently built with anonymous credentials still lack essential features such as scalable revocation, certificate chaining, and integration with secure elements. We then argue that general-purpose ZKPs in the form of zk-SNARKs can appropriately address these pressing challenges. We describe our implementation and conduct performance tests on different edge devices to illustrate that the performance of zk-SNARK-based anonymous credentials is already practical. We also discuss further advantages that general-purpose ZKPs can easily provide for digital wallets, for instance, to create "designated verifier presentations" that facilitate new design options for digital identity infrastructures that previously were not accessible because of the threat of man-in-the-middle attacks. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 53 (1 UL) A Survey on STAR-RIS: Use Cases, Recent Advances, and Future Research ChallengesAbdul, Wahid; Ahmed, Manzoor; Laique, Sayed Shariq et alE-print/Working paper (2023)The recent development of metasurfaces, which may enable several use cases by modifying the propagation environment, is anticipated to have a substantial effect on the performance of 6G wireless ... [more ▼]The recent development of metasurfaces, which may enable several use cases by modifying the propagation environment, is anticipated to have a substantial effect on the performance of 6G wireless communications. Metasurface elements can produce essentially passive sub-wavelength scattering to enable a smart radio environment. STAR-RIS, which refers to reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) that can transmit and reflect concurrently (STAR), is gaining popularity. In contrast to the widely studied RIS, which can only reflect the wireless signal and serve users on the same side as the transmitter, the STAR-RIS can both reflect and refract (transmit), enabling 360-degree wireless coverage, thus serving users on both sides of the transmitter. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the STAR-RIS, with a focus on the most recent schemes for diverse use cases in 6G networks, resource allocation, and performance evaluation. We begin by laying the foundation for RIS (passive, active, STARRIS), and then discuss the STAR-RIS protocols, advantages, and applications. In addition, we categorize the approaches within the domain of use scenarios, which includes increasing coverage, enhancing physical layer security (PLS), maximizing sum rate, improving energy efficiency (EE), and reducing interference. Next, we will discuss the various strategies for resource allocation and measures for performance evaluation. We aimed to elaborate, compare, and evaluate the literature in terms of setup, channel characteristics, methodology, and objectives. In conclusion, we examine the open research problems and potential future prospects in this field. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 102 (2 UL) Self-Supervised Learning for Place Representation Generalization across Appearance ChangesMusallam, Mohamed Adel; Gaudilliere, Vincent ; Aouada, DjamilaE-print/Working paper (2023)Detailed reference viewed: 37 (2 UL) Integration of NOMA with Reflecting Intelligent Surfaces: A Multi-cell Optimization with SIC Decoding ErrorsKhan, Wali Ullah ; Lagunas, Eva ; Mahmood, Asad et alE-print/Working paper (2023)Reflecting intelligent surfaces (RIS) has gained significant attention due to its high energy and spectral efficiency in next-generation wireless networks. By using low-cost passive reflecting elements ... [more ▼]Reflecting intelligent surfaces (RIS) has gained significant attention due to its high energy and spectral efficiency in next-generation wireless networks. By using low-cost passive reflecting elements, RIS can smartly reconfigure the signal propagation to extend the wireless communication coverage. On the other hand, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has been proven as a key air interface technique for supporting massive connections over limited resources. Utilizing the superposition coding and successive interference cancellation (SIC) techniques, NOMA can multiplex multiple users over the same spectrum and time resources by allocating different power levels. This paper proposes a new optimization scheme in a multi-cell RIS-NOMA network to enhance the spectral efficiency under SIC decoding errors. In particular, the power budget of the base station and the transmit power of NOMA users while the passive beamforming of RIS is simultaneously optimized in each cell. Due to objective function and quality of service constraints, the joint problem is formulated as non-convex, which is very complex and challenging to obtain the optimal global solution. To reduce the complexity and make the problem tractable, we first decouple the original problem into two sub-problems for power allocation and passive beamforming. Then, the efficient solution of each sub-problem is obtained in two-steps. In the first-step of For power allocation sub-problem, we transform it to a convex problem by inner approximation method and then solve it through a standard convex optimization solver in the second-step. Accordingly, in the first-step of passive beamforming, it is transformed to a standard semidefinite programming problem by successive convex approximation and different of convex programming methods. Then, penalty based method is used to achieve a Rank-1 solution for passive beamforming in second-step. Numerical results demonstrate the benefits of the proposed optimization scheme in the multi-cell RIS-NOMA network. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 27 (2 UL) Cardiovascular risk prediction - a systems medicine approachGergei, Ingrid; Pfau, Thomas; Krämer, Bernhard K. et alE-print/Working paper (2023)Background Guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have recommended the assessment of the total CVD risk by risk scores. Current risk algorithms are low in sensitivity and ... [more ▼]Background Guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have recommended the assessment of the total CVD risk by risk scores. Current risk algorithms are low in sensitivity and specificity and they have not incorporated emerging risk markers for CVD. We suggest that CVD risk assessment can be still improved. We have developed a long-term risk prediction model of cardiovascular mortality in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) based on newly available machine learning and on an extended dataset of new biomarkers.Methods 2953 participants of the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study were included. 184 laboratory and 21 demographic markers were ranked according to their contribution to risk of cardiovascular (CV) mortality using different data mining approaches. A self-learning bioinformatics workflow, including seven different machine learning algorithms, was developed for CV risk prediction. The study population was stratified into patients with and without significant CAD. Thereby, significant CAD was defined as a lumen narrowing of 50 or more in at least one of the coronary segments or a history of definite myocardial infarction. The machine learning models in both subpopulations were compared with established CV risk assessment tools.Results After a follow-up of 10 years, 603 (20.4%) patients died of cardiovascular causes. 95% patients without CAD deceased within ten years and 247 (13.2 %) patients with CAD within 5 years. Overall and in patients without CAD, NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide), TnT (Troponin T), estimated cystatin c based GFR (glomerular filtration rate) and age were the highest ranked predictors, while in patients with CAD, NT-proBNP, GFR, CT-proAVP (C-terminal pro arginine vasopressin) and TNT were highest predictive. In the comparison with the FRS, PROCAM and ESC risk scores, the machine learning workflow produced more accurate and robust CV mortality prediction in patients without CAD. Equivalent CV risk prediction was obtained in the CAD subpopulation in comparison with the Marschner risk score. Overall, the existing algorithms in general tend to assign more patients into the medium risk groups, while the machine learning algorithms tend to have a clearer risk/no risk assignment. The framework is available upon request.Conclusion We have developed a fully automated and self-validating computational framework of machine learning techniques using an extensive database of clinical, routinely and non-routinely measured laboratory data. Our framework predicts long-term CV mortality at least as accurate as existing CVD risk scores. A combination of four highly ranked biomarkers and the random forest approach showed the best predictive results. Moreover, a dynamic computational model has several advantages over static CVD risk prediction tools: it is freeware, transparent, variable, transferable and expandable to any population, types of events and time frames. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 42 (1 UL) TensAIR: Online Learning from Data Streams via Asynchronous Iterative RoutingDalle Lucca Tosi, Mauro ; Ellampallil Venugopal, Vinu E-print/Working paper (2023)Detailed reference viewed: 27 (5 UL) Historian cultures – the epistemology and methodology of history in the digital age - CulturHistClavert, Frédéric ; Muller, CarolineE-print/Working paper (2023)CulturHist has its sights particularly on the community of researchers, who have done little to make the results and suggestions offered by the digital humanities their own. We want to focus the ... [more ▼]CulturHist has its sights particularly on the community of researchers, who have done little to make the results and suggestions offered by the digital humanities their own. We want to focus the discussion on a cross cutting issue: the link to archives, as the raw material for writing an account of the past. The habit of working digitally of those historians who do not nowadays verbalise their computer practices is now widespread and is bolstered by policies aimed at making many digitised document collections available online. For example, a search using the Internet Archive wayback machine developed by a not-for-profit company which archives the Web, shows that, in January 2002, Gallica, the digital library of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (National Library of France), reported having 80 000 documents online, as compared to a little over 5.8 million on 4 September 2019. These days, it is possible to carry out international historical investigations without being in physical contact with a document, as was demonstrated as far back as 2011 by the Data mining with criminal intent project (Cohen et al.). This means that researchers often become data managers (Cartier et al.). Most researchers now practise these habits, and there is an urgent need to analyse them and adapt initial and further training in history in order to help students and historians grasp how ways of writing history are being changed. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 74 (3 UL) What can inform us about the arrival of daily extreme stock market events?Wolff, Christian E-print/Working paper (2023)Detailed reference viewed: 6 (2 UL) Estimator selection for regression functions in exponential families with application to changepoint detectionChen, Juntong E-print/Working paper (2023)Detailed reference viewed: 29 (3 UL) Mechano-self-regulation of bacterial size in growing coloniesWittmann, René; Nguyen, G. H. Philipp; Löwen, Hartmut et alE-print/Working paper (2022)We demonstrate that biomechanical forcing plays an important role as the driving force behind the dynamical self-regulation of cell size (or length) in growing bacterial colonies. In our experiments, the ... [more ▼]We demonstrate that biomechanical forcing plays an important role as the driving force behind the dynamical self-regulation of cell size (or length) in growing bacterial colonies. In our experiments, the measured elongation rate decreases over time and depends on the areal packing density around each cell. To describe this phenomenon theoretically, we devise a cell-resolved model which includes as its key ingredient a force opposed to the growth process, accounting for mechano-self-regulation. Our model is analyzed analytically by a coarse-grained dynamical density functional theory and solved by cell-based computer simulations to predict how the strength of mechano-self-regulation depends on the bacterial size, the location in the colony and the local environment. The microscopic nature of this approach allows to quantify the effect of biomechanical interactions on the structure, composition and dynamical features of growing bacterial colonies. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 16 (1 UL) Covariant Riesz transform on differential forms for 1= 0.97) for the first 2 years. The study demonstrates the maturity of microbial ecology to forecast composition and gene expression of open microbial ecosystems using year-spanning interactions between community cycles and environmental parameters. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 56 (5 UL) Second Order Bismut formulae and applications to Neumann semigroups on manifoldsCheng, Li-Juan; Thalmaier, Anton ; Wang, Feng-YuE-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 29 (4 UL) Hessian estimates for Dirichlet and Neumann eigenfunctions of LaplacianCheng, Li-Juan; Thalmaier, Anton E-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 55 (5 UL) A Lightweight Universal Gripper with Low Activation Force for Aerial GraspingKremer, Paul ; Rahimi Nohooji, Hamed ; Sanchez Lopez, Jose Luis et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Soft robotic grippers have numerous advantages that address challenges in dynamic aerial grasping. Typical multi-fingered soft grippers recently showcased for aerial grasping are highly dependent on the ... [more ▼]Soft robotic grippers have numerous advantages that address challenges in dynamic aerial grasping. Typical multi-fingered soft grippers recently showcased for aerial grasping are highly dependent on the direction of the target object for successful grasping. This study pushes the boundaries of dynamic aerial grasping by developing an omnidirectional system for autonomous aerial manipulation. In particular, the paper investigates the design, fabrication, and experimental verification of a novel, highly integrated, modular, sensor-rich, universal jamming gripper specifically designed for aerial applications. Leveraging recent developments in particle jamming and soft granular materials, the presented gripper produces a substantial holding force while being very lightweight, energy-efficient and only requiring a low activation force. We show that the holding force can be improved by up to 50% by adding an additive to the membrane’s silicone mixture. The experiments show that our lightweight gripper can develop up to 15N of holding force with an activation force as low as 2.5N, even without geometric interlocking. Finally, a pick and release task is performed under real-world conditions by mounting the gripper onto a multi-copter. The developed aerial grasping system features many useful properties, such as resilience and robustness to collisions and the inherent passive compliance which decouples the UAV from the environment. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 25 (1 UL) Optimal coalition splitting with heterogenous strategiesBoucekkine, Raouf; Camcho, Carmen; Ruan, Weihua et alE-print/Working paper (2022)We consider a group of players initially members of a coalition managing cooperatively a public bad, in this case, the stock of pollution. Countries are technologically heterogeneous but the pollution ... [more ▼]We consider a group of players initially members of a coalition managing cooperatively a public bad, in this case, the stock of pollution. Countries are technologically heterogeneous but the pollution damage is uniform. We essentially attempt to characterize the conditions under which a country may eventually split and when it splits within an infinite horizon multi-stage differential game. In contrast to the existing literature, we do not assume that after splitting, the splitting player and the remaining coalition will adopt Markovian strategies. Instead, we assume that the latter will remain committed to the collective control of pollution and play open-loop, while the splitting player plays Markovian. Within a full linear-quadratic model, we characterize the optimal strategies. We later compare with the outcomes of the case where the splitting player and the remaining coalition play both Markovian. We highlight several interesting results in terms of the implications for long- term pollution levels and the duration of coalitions with heterogeneous strategies. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 72 (6 UL) The geometric data on the boundary of convex subsets of hyperbolic manifoldschen, qiyu; Schlenker, Jean-Marc E-print/Working paper (2022)Let $N$ be a geodesically convex subset in a convex co-compact hyperbolic manifold $M$ with incompressible boundary. We assume that each boundary component of $N$ is either a boundary component of ... [more ▼]Let $N$ be a geodesically convex subset in a convex co-compact hyperbolic manifold $M$ with incompressible boundary. We assume that each boundary component of $N$ is either a boundary component of $\partial_\infty M$, or a smooth, locally convex surface in $M$. We show that $N$ is uniquely determined by the boundary data defined by the conformal structure on the boundary components at infinity, and by either the induced metric or the third fundamental form on the boundary components which are locally convex surfaces. We also describe the possible boundary data. This provides an extension of both the hyperbolic Weyl problem and the Ahlfors-Bers Theorem. Using this statement for quasifuchsian manifolds, we obtain existence results for similar questions for convex domains $\Omega\subset \HH^3$ which meets the boundary at infinity $\partial_{\infty}\HH^3$ either along a quasicircle or along a quasidisk. The boundary data then includes either the induced metric or the third fundamental form in $\HH^3$, but also an additional gluing'' data between different components of the boundary, either in $\HH^3$ or in $\partial_\infty\HH^3$. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 24 (1 UL) Equivariant elliptic cohomology, toric varieties, and derived equivalencesScherotzke, Sarah ; Sibilla, NicoloE-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 33 (1 UL) Spatio-temporal programming of lyotropic phase transition in nanoporous microfluidic confinementsUlaganathan, Vamseekrishna ; Sengupta, Anupam E-print/Working paper (2022)Self-assembly of simple molecules into complex phases can be driven by physical constraints, for instance, due to selective molecular uptake by nanoporous surfaces. Despite the significance of surface ... [more ▼]Self-assembly of simple molecules into complex phases can be driven by physical constraints, for instance, due to selective molecular uptake by nanoporous surfaces. Despite the significance of surface-mediated assembly in evolution of life, physical routes to molecular enrichment and assembly have remained overlooked. Here, using a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal as model biological material, confined within nanoporous microfluidic environments, we study molecular assembly driven by nanoporous substrates. We demonstrate that nanoporous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces, due to selective permeation of water molecules, drive transition of disordered isotropic phase to ordered nematic, and higher order columnar phases under isothermal conditions. Synergistically, by tailoring the wettability, the surface-to-volume ratio, and surface topography of the confinements, we program the lyotropic phase transitions with a high degree of spatial and temporal control. Using a combination of timelapse polarized imaging, quantitative image processing, and a simple mathematical model, we analyze the phase transitions, and construct a master diagram capturing the role of surface wettability and channel geometry on programmable lyotropic phase transitions. Intrinsic PDMS nanoporosity and confinement cross-section, together with the imposed wettability regulate the rate of the N-M phase transition; whereas the microfluidic geometry and embedded topography enable phase transition at targeted locations. We harness the emergent long-range order during N-M transition to actuate elasto-advective transport of embedded micro-cargo, demonstrating particle manipulation concepts governed by tunable phase transitions. Our results present a programmable physical route to material assembly, and offer a new paradigm for assembling genetic components, biological cargo, and minimal synthetic cells. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 36 (5 UL) EU acts without binding legal force producing binding legal effects at the national level: Enforcement of ESA soft law in the Czech RepublicHubkova, Pavlina E-print/Working paper (2022)The European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) are empowered, by their founding regulations, to adopt guidelines and recommendations “with a view to establishing consistent, efficient and effective ... [more ▼]The European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) are empowered, by their founding regulations, to adopt guidelines and recommendations “with a view to establishing consistent, efficient and effective supervisory practices within the ESFS, and to ensuring the common, uniform and consistent application of Union law”. These acts can be considered genuine EU soft law since they lack the binding legal force. However, they remain perfectly non-binding only at the EU level and in the relation between the ESAs and the national competent authorities (NCAs). Although the NCAs have a duty “to make every effort to comply” with such soft law, they keep a certain leeway to decide whether they eventually comply or not. Nonetheless, the situation is different in case of financial institutions under their supervision. Formally, the EU regulations attribute to them also only a duty “to make every effort to comply”. However, once the NCA decides to comply and effectively enforces the compliance from financial institutions, the latter have a very limited, or even no leeway to decide about the compliance. Within the complex regulatory system, the NCA metamorphosis from a normtaker into an effective norm-enforcer who is capable to determine what effects the ESA soft law have at the national level. This paper focuses on the life of ESA soft law in the Czech Republic. It examines the role and power of the Czech NCA (the Czech National Bank, CNB) in the light of the legislative framework and other domestic binding legal rules. It takes into consideration the real enforcement strategy and practices of the CNB to show that, in the hands of the CNB, ESA guidelines and recommendations become acts, which produce binding legal effects upon financial institutions. Based on this observation, the paper raises questions about the proper control of ESA soft law and potential remedies. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 21 (3 UL) Data Viz Superpowers - Didaktischer KommentarKiefer, Ann ; Lenz, Thomas E-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 19 (1 UL) Optimal Timing of Carbon Capture and Storage Policies - a Social Planner's ViewChen, Yiwen; Wan, Xi; Zou, Benteng E-print/Working paper (2022)Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is considered one of the most realistic and plausible options for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from large pollution sources. However, CCS deployment is costly ... [more ▼]Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is considered one of the most realistic and plausible options for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from large pollution sources. However, CCS deployment is costly. This paper considers the social cost of CCS projects and GHG damage from a central planer's point of view, providing clear information about when each player should deploy CCS. The findings are twofold: (1) given the heterogeneity of players, it is not socially optimal for all players to start CCS projects at the same time; instead, the player that has a cost advantage should start first; (2) it may be socially desirable for the player with a cost disadvantage never starts CCS. We show the conditions that support both possibilities. The second finding provides a clear policy guideline for the decision-maker: reduce the costs of the high-cost player in order to reduce global GHG emissions, provided that is the aim of the supranational institute. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 96 (4 UL) Advanced Situational Graphs for Robot Navigation in Structured Indoor EnvironmentsBavle, Hriday ; Sanchez Lopez, Jose Luis ; Shaheer, Muhammad et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Mobile robots extract information from its environment to understand their current situation to enable intelligent decision making and autonomous task execution. In our previous work, we introduced the ... [more ▼]Mobile robots extract information from its environment to understand their current situation to enable intelligent decision making and autonomous task execution. In our previous work, we introduced the concept of Situation Graphs (S-Graphs) which combines in a single optimizable graph, the robot keyframes and the representation of the environment with geometric, semantic and topological abstractions. Although S-Graphs were built and optimized in real-time and demonstrated state-of-the-art results, they are limited to specific structured environments with specific hand-tuned dimensions of rooms and corridors. In this work, we present an advanced version of the Situational Graphs (S-Graphs+), consisting of the five layered optimizable graph that includes (1) metric layer along with the graph of free-space clusters (2) keyframe layer where the robot poses are registered (3) metric-semantic layer consisting of the extracted planar walls (4) novel rooms layer constraining the extracted planar walls (5) novel floors layer encompassing the rooms within a given floor level. S-Graphs+ demonstrates improved performance over S-Graphs efficiently extracting the room information while simultaneously improving the pose estimate of the robot, thus extending the robots situational awareness in the form of a five layered environmental model. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 6 (1 UL) Integration of external biomass reactions into existing metabolic modelsMoscardo Garcia, Maria ; Pires Pacheco, Maria Irene ; Sauter, Thomas E-print/Working paper (2022)Currently, seven biomass objective functions have been defined in human metabolic reconstructions. The integration of published biomass reactions into alternative models can contribute to the prediction ... [more ▼]Currently, seven biomass objective functions have been defined in human metabolic reconstructions. The integration of published biomass reactions into alternative models can contribute to the prediction power of the model. Thus, in this work, we present a workflow to integrate reactions and biomass functions originating from several genome-scale reconstructions into models other than their home models. Additionally, a benchmark to identify the biomass that confers the highest prediction accuracy in terms of gene essentiality and growth predictions is provided. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 39 (1 UL) A dynamic programming approach to optimal pollution control under uncertain irreversibility: The Poisson caseBoucekkine, Raouf; Ruan, Weihua; Zou, Benteng E-print/Working paper (2022)We solve a bimodal optimal control problem with a non-concavity and uncertainty through a Poisson process underlying the transition from a mode to another. We use a dynamic programming approach and are ... [more ▼]We solve a bimodal optimal control problem with a non-concavity and uncertainty through a Poisson process underlying the transition from a mode to another. We use a dynamic programming approach and are able to uncover the global optimal dynamics (including optimal non-monotonic paths) under a few linear-quadratic assumption, which do not get rid of the non-concavity of the problem. This is in contrast to the related literature on pollution control under irreversibility which usually explores local dynamics along monotonic solution paths to first order Pontryagin conditions. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 62 (5 UL) Agent-based Model of Initial Token Allocations: Evaluating Wealth Concentration in Fair LaunchesDelgado Fernandez, Joaquin ; Barbereau, Tom Josua ; Papageorgiou, Orestis E-print/Working paper (2022)With advancements in distributed ledger technologies and smart contracts, tokenized voting rights gained prominence within Decentralized Finance (DeFi). Voting rights tokens (aka. governance tokens) are ... [more ▼]With advancements in distributed ledger technologies and smart contracts, tokenized voting rights gained prominence within Decentralized Finance (DeFi). Voting rights tokens (aka. governance tokens) are fungible tokens that grant individual holders the right to vote upon the fate of a project. The motivation behind these tokens is to achieve decentral control. Because the initial allocations of these tokens is often un-democratic, the DeFi project Yearn Finance experimented with a fair launch allocation where no tokens are pre-mined and all participants have an equal opportunity to receive them. Regardless, research on voting rights tokens highlights the formation of oligarchies over time. The hypothesis is that the tokens' tradability is the cause of concentration. To examine this proposition, this paper uses an Agent-based Model to simulate and analyze the concentration of voting rights tokens post fair launch under different trading modalities. It serves to examine three distinct token allocation scenarios considered as fair. The results show that regardless of the allocation, concentration persistently occurs. It confirms the hypothesis that the disease is endogenous: the cause of concentration is the tokens tradablility. The findings inform theoretical understandings and practical implications for on-chain governance mediated by tokens. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 177 (18 UL) Local Verlet buffer approach for broad-phase interaction detection in Discrete Element MethodMainassara Chekaraou, Abdoul Wahid ; Besseron, Xavier ; Rousset, Alban et alE-print/Working paper (2022)The Extended Discrete Element Method (XDEM) is an innovative numerical simulation technique that extends the dynamics of granular materials known as Discrete Element Method (DEM) by additional properties ... [more ▼]The Extended Discrete Element Method (XDEM) is an innovative numerical simulation technique that extends the dynamics of granular materials known as Discrete Element Method (DEM) by additional properties such as the thermodynamic state, stress/strain for each particle. Such DEM simulations used by industries to set up their experimental processes are complexes and heavy in computation time. At each time step, those simulations generate a list of interacting particles and this phase is one of the most computationally expensive parts of a DEM simulation. The Verlet buffer method, initially introduced in Molecular Dynamic (MD) (and also used in DEM), allows keeping the interaction list for many time steps by extending each particle neighbourhood by a certain extension range, and thus broadening the interaction list. The method relies on the temporal coherency of DEM, which guarantees that no particles move erratically from one time step to the next. In the classical approach, all the particles have their neighbourhood extended by the same value which leads to suboptimal performances in simulations where different flow regimes coexist. Additionally, and unlike in MD, there is no comprehensive study analysing the different parameters that affect the performance of the Verlet buffer method in DEM. In this work, we propose a new method for the dynamic update of the neighbour list that depends on the particles individual displacement and define a particle-specific extension range based on the local flow regime. The interaction list is analysed throughout the simulation based on the particle's displacement allowing a flexible update according to the flow regime conditions. We evaluate the influence of the Verlet extension range on the execution time through different test cases and analyse empirically the extension range value giving the best performance. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 268 (86 UL) How to make users adopt more sustainable cryptocurrencies: Evidence from NigeriaPlatt, Moritz; Ojeka, Stephen; Dragnoiu, Andreea-Elena et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Some of the most popular decentralised cryptocurrency networks have drawn widespread criticism for consuming vast amounts of electricity and have thus become targets of regulatory interest. Attempts to ... [more ▼]Some of the most popular decentralised cryptocurrency networks have drawn widespread criticism for consuming vast amounts of electricity and have thus become targets of regulatory interest. Attempts to influence cryptocurrency network operations via policy in the pursuit of sustainability in the past, however, have been widely unsuccessful. Some were abandoned out of fear of jeopardising innovation while others failed due to the highly globalised nature of decentralised systems. Considering Bitcoin as an archetype for cryptocurrencies with high energy demand, this study takes a bottom-up approach by analysing statements made by Nigerian cryptocurrency users (N = 158) concerning their perception of sustainability issues. Three main findings emerged: 1) Despite self-reporting as highly knowledgeable, most participants significantly underestimate the energy demand of Bitcoin. 2) Those who accurately assess the energy demand of Bitcoin are more likely to support measures targeting its energy demand than those who misestimate it. 3) Those who support measures predominantly hold private actors responsible. In light of these findings, it is concluded that the primary task of policy makers in the context of cryptocurrency sustainability is to enforce consumer education. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 24 (0 UL) A generalization of Bohr-Mollerup's theorem for higher order convex functions: A tutorialMarichal, Jean-Luc ; Zenaïdi, NaïmE-print/Working paper (2022)In its additive version, Bohr-Mollerup's remarkable theorem states that the unique (up to an additive constant) convex solution $f(x)$ to the equation $\Delta f(x)=\ln x$ on the open half-line $(0,\infty ... [more ▼]In its additive version, Bohr-Mollerup's remarkable theorem states that the unique (up to an additive constant) convex solution$f(x)$to the equation$\Delta f(x)=\ln x$on the open half-line$(0,\infty)$is the log-gamma function$f(x)=\ln\Gamma(x)$, where$\Delta$denotes the classical difference operator and$\Gamma(x)$denotes the Euler gamma function. In a recently published open access book, the authors provided and illustrated a far-reaching generalization of Bohr-Mollerup's theorem by considering the functional equation$\Delta f(x)=g(x)$, where$g$can be chosen in a wide and rich class of functions that have convexity or concavity properties of any order. They also showed that the solutions$f(x)\$ arising from this generalization satisfy counterparts of many properties of the log-gamma function (or equivalently, the gamma function), including analogues of Bohr-Mollerup's theorem itself, Burnside's formula, Euler's infinite product, Euler's reflection formula, Gauss' limit, Gauss' multiplication formula, Gautschi's inequality, Legendre's duplication formula, Raabe's formula, Stirling's formula, Wallis's product formula, Weierstrass' infinite product, and Wendel's inequality for the gamma function. In this paper, we review the main results of this new and intriguing theory and provide an illustrative application. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 48 (5 UL) Early-to-mid idiopathic Parkinson’s disease shows a more cytotoxic but declined CD8-regulatory peripheral immune profileCapelle, Christophe; Cire, Séverine; Hansen, Maxime et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Brain neuroinflammation plays a role in PD pathogenesis. However, the involvement of the peripheral immune system has not been ... [more ▼]Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Brain neuroinflammation plays a role in PD pathogenesis. However, the involvement of the peripheral immune system has not been systematically investigated. Here we analyzed >700 combinatorial immunological features in fresh blood of 28 early-to-mid-stage PD patients and 24 matched controls. We found an enhanced cytotoxic immune profile in idiopathic PD patients (iPD), with a higher frequency of terminally-differentiated effector CD8 T (TEMRA), late-differentiated CD8+ natural killer T cells and neutrophils. This immune profile was intensified by elevated serum granzyme A, reduced percentages of CD8+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells and group 2 innate lymphoid cells with immunosuppressive or tolerance-inducing functions. The frequency of CD8 TEMRA was negatively correlated with disease duration, suggesting a contribution to PD pathogenesis. Our work provides a comprehensive map on disturbed peripheral adaptive and innate immune cells in early-to-mid iPD, proposing easily-accessible candidates for early diagnosis and treatments. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 57 (5 UL) Arbeitnehmer in Luxemburg wünschen sich verstärkt eine Reduktion ihrer vertraglichen ArbeitszeitSischka, Philipp ; Steffgen, Georges E-print/Working paper (2022)Im Rahmen dieser Newsletter wird aufgezeigt, wie sich die gewünschte Wochenarbeitszeit von Arbeitnehmern sowie die Differenz zwischen gewünschter Wochenarbeitszeit und vertraglicher Wochenarbeitszeit in ... [more ▼]Im Rahmen dieser Newsletter wird aufgezeigt, wie sich die gewünschte Wochenarbeitszeit von Arbeitnehmern sowie die Differenz zwischen gewünschter Wochenarbeitszeit und vertraglicher Wochenarbeitszeit in den vergangenen Jahren in Luxemburg entwickelt haben. Dabei zeigt sich, dass der Anteil an Arbeitnehmern, die gerne weniger arbeiten würden, zwischen 2018 und 2021 deutlich gestiegen ist (von 32,8% auf 43,9%). Die Arbeitnehmer, die gerne weniger pro Woche arbeiten würden, möchten im Durchschnitt etwa 8 Stunden weniger arbeiten. Diese Entwicklungen fallen jedoch differenziert nach verschiedenen Arbeitnehmer-Gruppen unterschiedlich aus. So wünschen sich Arbeitnehmer im Vergleich zu Arbeitnehmerinnen konstant eine längere Arbeitszeit. Differenziert nach Alter, sind es vor allem die ältesten Arbeitnehmer, die sich im Durchschnitt die kürzeste Wochenarbeitszeit wünschen. Arbeitnehmer, die gerne weniger arbeiten würden, berichten tendenziell auch über schlechtere Arbeitsbedingungen im Vergleich zu Arbeitnehmern, deren gewünschte Arbeitszeit mit ihrer vertraglichen Arbeitszeit übereinstimmt. Auch berichten Arbeitnehmer, die gerne weniger pro Woche arbeiten würden, über ein geringeres Wohlbefinden. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 40 (1 UL) The Geometry of SupersymmetryPoncin, Norbert ; Schouten, SarahE-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 77 (10 UL) A SUSTAINABILITY CRISIS MAKES BAD LAWS - TOWARDS SANDBOX-THINKING IN EU SUSTAINABLE FINANCE REGULATIONBodellini, Marco E-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 62 (3 UL) Genome-wide meta-analysis of over 29,000 people with epilepsy reveals 26 loci and subtype-specific genetic architectureInternational League Against Epilepsy Consortium on Complex Epilepsies Krause, Roland; Landoulsi, Zied ; May, Patrick et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Epilepsy is a highly heritable disorder affecting over 50 million people worldwide, of which about one-third are resistant to current treatments. Here, we report a trans-ethnic GWAS including 29,944 cases ... [more ▼]Epilepsy is a highly heritable disorder affecting over 50 million people worldwide, of which about one-third are resistant to current treatments. Here, we report a trans-ethnic GWAS including 29,944 cases, stratified into three broad- and seven sub-types of epilepsy, and 52,538 controls. We identify 26 genome-wide significant loci, 19 of which are specific to genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE). We implicate 29 likely causal genes underlying these 26 loci. SNP-based heritability analyses show that common variants substantially close the missing heritability gap for GGE. Subtype analysis revealed markedly different genetic architectures between focal and generalized epilepsies. Gene-set analysis of GGE signals implicate synaptic processes in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the brain. Prioritized candidate genes overlap with monogenic epilepsy genes and with targets of current anti-seizure medications. Finally, we leverage our results to identify alternate drugs with predicted efficacy if repurposed for epilepsy treatment. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 100 (10 UL) Optimal lockdown and vaccination policies to contain the spread of a mutating infectious diseasePrieur, Fabien; Ruan, Weihua; Zou, Benteng E-print/Working paper (2022)We develop a piecewise deterministic control model to study optimal lockdown and vaccination policies to manage a pandemic. Lockdown is modeled as an impulse control that allows the system to switch from ... [more ▼]We develop a piecewise deterministic control model to study optimal lockdown and vaccination policies to manage a pandemic. Lockdown is modeled as an impulse control that allows the system to switch from one restriction regime of restrictions to another. Vaccination policy is a continuous control. Decisions are taken under the risk of mutations of the disease, with repercussions on the transmission rate. The decision maker follows a cost minimization objective. We first characterize the optimality conditions for impulse control and show how the prospect of a mutation affects the decision maker's choice by inducing her to anticipate the relative benefit of a regime change after a mutation has occurred. Under some parametric conditions, our problem admits infinitely many value functions. We show the existence of a minimum value function that is a natural candidate to the solution given the nature of the problem. Focusing on this specific value function, we finally study the features of the optimal policy, especially the timing of impulse control. We prove that uncertainty surrounding future \bad" vs. \good" mutation of the disease expedites vs. delays the adoption of lockdown measures. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 43 (13 UL) Job Location Decisions and the Effect of Children on the Employment Gender GapAlbanese, Andrea; Nieto, Adrián; Tatsiramos, Konstantinos E-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 52 (6 UL) A model-based approach to density estimation in sup-normMaillard, Guillaume E-print/Working paper (2022)Building on the l−estimators of Baraud, we define a general method for finding a quasi-best approximant in sup-norm to a target density p⋆ belonging to a given model m, based on independent samples drawn ... [more ▼]Building on the l−estimators of Baraud, we define a general method for finding a quasi-best approximant in sup-norm to a target density p⋆ belonging to a given model m, based on independent samples drawn from distributions p⋆i which average to p⋆ (which does not necessarily belong to m). We also provide a general method for selecting among a countable family of such models. Both of these esti- mators satisfy oracle inequalities in the general setting. The quality of the bounds depends on the volume of sets C on which |f| is close to its maximum, where f = p − q for some p, q ∈ m (or p ∈ m and q ∈ m′, in the case of model selection). In particular, using piecewise polynomials on dyadic partitions of Rd, we recover optimal rates of convergence for classes of functions with anisotropic smoothness, with optimal depen- dence on semi-norms measuring the smoothness of p⋆ in the coordinate directions. Moreover, our method adapts to the anisotropic smoothness, as long as it is smaller than 1 plus the degree of the polynomials. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 32 (6 UL) Deep Learning for Ground and Non-ground Surface Separation: A Feature-based Semantic Segmentation Algorithm for Point Cloud ClassificationNurunnabi, Abdul Awal Md ; Lindenbergh, Roderik; Teferle, Felix Norman E-print/Working paper (2022)Precise ground surface topography is crucial for 3D city analysis, digital terrain modeling, natural disaster monitoring, high-density map generation, and autonomous navigation to name a few. Deep ... [more ▼]Precise ground surface topography is crucial for 3D city analysis, digital terrain modeling, natural disaster monitoring, high-density map generation, and autonomous navigation to name a few. Deep learning (DL; LeCun, et al., 2015), a division of machine learning (ML), has been achieving unparalleled success in image processing, and recently demonstrated a huge potential for point cloud analysis. This article presents a feature-based DL algorithm that classifies ground and non-ground points in aerial laser scanning point clouds. Recent advancements of remote sensing technologies make it possible digitizing the real world in a near automated fashion. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) based point clouds that are a type of remotely sensed georeferenced data, providing detailed 3D information on objects and environment have been recognized as one of the most powerful means of digitization. Unlike imagery, point clouds are unstructured, sparse and of irregular data format which creates many challenges, but also provides huge opportunities for capturing geometric details of scanned surfaces with millimeter accuracy. Classifying and separating non-ground points from ground points largely reduce data volumes for consecutive analyses of either ground or non-ground surfaces, which consequently saves cost and labor, and simplifies further analysis. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 61 (2 UL) The road to a moratorium on kinetic ASAT testing is paved with good intentions, but is it feasible?The road to a moratorium on kinetic ASAT testing is paved with good intentions, but is it feasible?Zarkan, Laetitia ; Azcárate Ortega, AlmudenaE-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 42 (0 UL) Mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy distinguishes disease manifestation in PINK1- and PRKN-linked Parkinson's disease 2022.05.17.22275087Trinh, Joanne; Hicks, Andrew A.; Koenig, Inke R. et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Biallelic mutations in PINK1 and PRKN cause recessively inherited Parkinson's disease (PD). Though some studies suggest that PINK1/PRKN monoallelic mutations may not contribute to risk, deep phenotyping ... [more ▼]Biallelic mutations in PINK1 and PRKN cause recessively inherited Parkinson's disease (PD). Though some studies suggest that PINK1/PRKN monoallelic mutations may not contribute to risk, deep phenotyping assessment showed that PINK1 or PRKN monoallelic pathogenic variants were at a significantly higher rate in PD compared to controls. Given the established role of PINK1 and Parkin in regulating mitochondrial dynamics, we explored mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity and inflammation as potential disease modifiers in carriers of mutations in these genes. MtDNA integrity, global gene expression and serum cytokine levels were investigated in a large collection of biallelic (n=84) and monoallelic (n=170) carriers of PINK1/PRKN mutations, iPD patients (n=67) and controls (n=90). Affected and unaffected PINK1/PRKN monoallelic mutation carriers can be distinguished by heteroplasmic mtDNA variant load (AUC=0.83, CI:0.74-0.93). Biallelic PINK1/PRKN mutation carriers harbor more heteroplasmic mtDNA variants in blood (p=0.0006, Z=3.63) compared to monoallelic mutation carriers. This enrichment was confirmed in iPSC-derived and postmortem midbrain neurons from biallelic PRKN-PD patients. Lastly, the heteroplasmic mtDNA variant load was found to correlate with IL6 levels in PINK1/PRKN mutation carriers (r=0.57, p=0.0074). PINK1/PRKN mutations predispose individuals to mtDNA variant accumulation in a dose- and disease-dependent manner. MtDNA variant load over time is a potential marker of disease manifestation in PINK1/PRKN mutation carriers.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.Funding StatementThe authors wish to thank the many patients and their families who volunteered, and the efforts of the many clinical teams involved. Funding has been obtained from the German Research Foundation (ProtectMove; FOR 2488, GR 3731/5-1; SE 2608/2-1; KO 2250/7-1), the Luxembourg National Research Fund in the ATTRACT (Model-IPD, FNR9631103), NCER-PD (FNR11264123) and INTER programmes (ProtectMove, FNR11250962; MiRisk-PD, C17/BM/11676395, NB 4328/2-1), the BMBF (MitoPD), the Hermann and Lilly Schilling Foundation, the European Community (SysMedPD), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Peter and Traudl Engelhorn Foundation. Initial studies in Tunisia on familial parkinsonism were in collaboration with Lefkos Middleton, Rachel Gibson, and the GlaxoSmithKline PD Programme Team (2002-2005). We would like to thank Dr Helen Tuppen from the Welcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Newcastle University, UK for providing us with the plasmid p7D1. Moreover, this project was supported by the high throughput/high content screening platform and HPC facility at the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, and the University of Luxembourg.Author DeclarationsI confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.YesThe details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:University of Lubeck Ethics CommitteeI confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.YesI understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable.YesAll data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 92 (6 UL) Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs): A Review of Pricing Determinants, Applications and OpportunitiesKräussl, Roman ; Tugnetti, Alessandro E-print/Working paper (2022)This paper provides a review of the development of the non-fungible tokens (NFTs) market, with a particular focus on its pricing determinants, its current applications and future opportunities. We ... [more ▼]This paper provides a review of the development of the non-fungible tokens (NFTs) market, with a particular focus on its pricing determinants, its current applications and future opportunities. We investigate the current state of the NFT markets and highlight the perception and expectations of investors towards these products. We summarize and compare the financial and econometric models that have been used in the literature for the pricing of non-fungible tokens with a special focus on their predictive performance. Our intention is to design a framework that can help understanding the price formation of NFTs. We further aim to shed light on the value creating determinants of NFTs in order to better understand the investors’ behavior on the blockchain. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 157 (29 UL) Erinnerungspolitik und –praxis in Luxemburg am Beispiel einer gegenwärtigen KontroverseKmec, Sonja E-print/Working paper (2022)In September 2021, so-called stumbling blocks were set by a Luxembourg school class: four for Jewish people who were murdered in concentration camps and eleven for young men who were forcibly drafted into ... [more ▼]In September 2021, so-called stumbling blocks were set by a Luxembourg school class: four for Jewish people who were murdered in concentration camps and eleven for young men who were forcibly drafted into the Wehrmacht and died in the war. The commemoration triggered a broadly received controversy, which this article aims to explain and contextualize. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 43 (3 UL) Creating Public History Master Programs: International GuidelinesCauvin, Thomas ; Montt, Maria; Will, Stoutamire et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 229 (15 UL) Internship and Public History TrainingCauvin, Thomas E-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 38 (7 UL) Why and when coalitions split? An alternative analytical approach with an application to environmental agreementsBoucekkine, Raouf; Camacho, Carmen; Ruan, Weihua et alE-print/Working paper (2022)We use a parsimonious two-stage differential game setting where the duration of the first stage, the coalition stage, depends on the will of a particular player to leave the coalition through an explicit ... [more ▼]We use a parsimonious two-stage differential game setting where the duration of the first stage, the coalition stage, depends on the will of a particular player to leave the coalition through an explicit timing variable. By specializing in a standard linear-quadratic environmental model augmented with a minimal constitutional setting for the coalition (payoff share parameter), we are able to analytically extract several nontrivial findings. Three key aspects drive the results: the technological gap as an indicator of heterogeneity across players, the constitution of the coalition and the intensity of the public bad (here, the pollution damage). We provide with a full analytical solution to the two-stage differential game. In particular, we characterize the intermediate parametric cases leading to optimal nite time splitting. A key characteristic of these finite-time-lived coalitions is the requirement of the payoff share accruing to the splitting country to be large enough. Incidentally, our two-stage differential game setting reaches the conclusion that splitting countries are precisely those which use to benefit the most from the coalition. Constraining the payoff share to be low by Constitution may lead to optimal everlasting coalitions only provided initial pollution is high enough, which may cover the emergency cases we are witnessing nowadays. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 135 (13 UL) Solvability of systems of invariant differential equations on H2 and beyondPalmirotta, Guendalina ; Olbrich, Martin E-print/Working paper (2022)We show how the Fourier transform for distributional sections of vector bundles over symmetric spaces of non-compact type G/K can be used for questions of solvability of systems of invariant differential ... [more ▼]We show how the Fourier transform for distributional sections of vector bundles over symmetric spaces of non-compact type G/K can be used for questions of solvability of systems of invariant differential equations in analogy to Hörmander’s proof of the Ehrenpreis-Malgrange theorem. We get complete solvability for the hyperbolic plane H2 and partial results for products H^2 × · · · × H^2 and the hyperbolic 3-space H^3. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 54 (0 UL) Findings from the ÉpStan National Education Monitoring against the Background of the COVID-19 PandemicFischbach, Antoine ; Colling, Joanne ; Levy, Jessica et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 51 (12 UL) Federated Geometric Monte Carlo Clustering to Counter Non-IID DatasetsLucchetti, Federico ; Maria, Fernandes; Lydia, Chen et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Federated learning allows clients to collaboratively train models on datasets that are acquired in different locations and that cannot be exchanged because of their size or regulations. Such collected ... [more ▼]Federated learning allows clients to collaboratively train models on datasets that are acquired in different locations and that cannot be exchanged because of their size or regulations. Such collected data is increasingly non-independent and non- identically distributed (non-IID), negatively affecting training accuracy. Previous works tried to mitigate the effects of non- IID datasets on training accuracy, focusing mainly on non-IID labels, however practical datasets often also contain non-IID features. To address both non-IID labels and features, we propose FedGMCC1, a novel framework where a central server aggregates client models that it can cluster together. FedGMCC clustering relies on a Monte Carlo procedure that samples the output space of client models, infers their position in the weight space on a loss manifold and computes their geometric connection via an affine curve parametrization. FedGMCC aggregates connected models along their path connectivity to produce a richer global model, incorporating knowledge of all connected client models. FedGMCC outperforms FedAvg and FedProx in terms of convergence rates on the EMNIST62 and a genomic sequence classification datasets (by up to +63%). FedGMCC yields an improved accuracy (+4%) on the genomic dataset with respect to CFL, in high non-IID feature space settings and label incongruency. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 37 (4 UL) Les USA renoncent aux tests de destruction de satellites afin de réduire les débris spatiauxZarkan, Laetitia E-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 34 (0 UL) Finite Mixture Models for an underlying Beta distribution with an application to COVID-19 dataSchiltz, Jang ; Noel, Cédric E-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 36 (3 UL) Quasi-Fuchsian manifolds close to the Fuchsian locus are foliated by constant mean curvature surfacesChoudhury, Diptaishik ; Mazzoli, Filippo ; Seppi, Andrea E-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 38 (2 UL) Does (Re-)Entering the Labor Market at Advanced Ages Protect Against Cognitive Decline? A Panel-Matching Difference-in-differences ApproachKim, Jung Hyun ; Muniz-Terrera, Graciela; Leist, Anja E-print/Working paper (2022)While prolonged labor market participation becomes increasingly important in ageing societies, evidence of the impacts of entering or exiting work beyond age 65 on cognitive functioning is scarce. We ... [more ▼]While prolonged labor market participation becomes increasingly important in ageing societies, evidence of the impacts of entering or exiting work beyond age 65 on cognitive functioning is scarce. We estimate these effects using panel-matching difference-in-differences with populationrepresentative panel datasets from South Korea and the United States. We compare countries and across socioeconomic characteristics. We find general positive effects of entering the labor market in South Korea, while only individuals with high assets in the US benefit from entering the labor market. Exiting the labor market does not result in changes in cognitive functioning in Korea but is followed by a cognitive decline in individuals with low assets in the US. Findings suggest that the benefits and disincentives from late-life labor status transitions on cognitive functioning vary between South Korea and the US and across socioeconomic groups. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 50 (6 UL) An overview of the Eight International Olympiad in Cryptography "Non-Stop University CRYPTO"Gorodilova, Anastasiya; Tokareva, Natalia; Agievich, Sergey et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Non-Stop University CRYPTO is the International Olympiad in Cryptography that was held for the eight time in 2021. Hundreds of university and school students, professionals from 33 countries worked on ... [more ▼]Non-Stop University CRYPTO is the International Olympiad in Cryptography that was held for the eight time in 2021. Hundreds of university and school students, professionals from 33 countries worked on mathematical problems in cryptography during a week. The aim of the Olympiad is to attract attention to curious and even open scientific problems of modern cryptography. In this paper, problems and their solutions of the Olympiad’2021 are presented. We consider 19 problems of varying difficulty and topics: ciphers, online machines, passwords, binary strings, permutations, quantum circuits, historical ciphers, elliptic curves, masking, implementation on a chip, etc. We discuss several open problems on quantum error correction, finding special permutations and s-Boolean sharing of a function, obtaining new bounds on the distance to affine vectorial functions. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 13 (0 UL) Die Vielfalt der Sozialen Arbeit in Luxemburg und die Arbeitsmarktzahlen 2021Böwen, Petra ; Flammang, Manou LaureE-print/Working paper (2022)Dieser Newsletter beschreibt den Arbeitsmarkt der Sozialen Arbeit in Luxemburg 2021, gibt einen Überblick über die Berufsqualifikationen und die Vielfalt der Praxisfelder und spezifischen Arbeitsbereiche.Detailed reference viewed: 124 (9 UL) CNV-ClinViewer: Enhancing the clinical interpretation of large copy-number variants onlineMacnee, Marie; Perez-Palma, Eduardo; Brünger, Tobias et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Purpose Large copy number variants (CNVs) can cause a heterogeneous spectrum of rare and severe disorders. However, most CNVs are benign and are part of natural variation in human genomes. CNV ... [more ▼]Purpose Large copy number variants (CNVs) can cause a heterogeneous spectrum of rare and severe disorders. However, most CNVs are benign and are part of natural variation in human genomes. CNV pathogenicity classification, genotype-phenotype analyses, and therapeutic target identification are challenging and time-consuming tasks that require the integration and analysis of information from multiple scattered sources by experts. Methods We developed a web-application combining >250,000 patient and population CNVs together with a large set of biomedical annotations and provide tools for CNV classification based on ACMG/ClinGen guidelines and gene-set enrichment analyses. Results Here, we introduce the CNV-ClinViewer (https://cnv-ClinViewer.broadinstitute.org), an open-source web-application for clinical evaluation and visual exploration of CNVs. The application enables real-time interactive exploration of large CNV datasets in a user-friendly designed interface. Conclusion Overall, this resource facilitates semi-automated clinical CNV interpretation and genomic loci exploration and, in combination with clinical judgment, enables clinicians and researchers to formulate novel hypotheses and guide their decision-making process. Subsequently, the CNV-ClinViewer enhances for clinical investigators patient care and for basic scientists translational genomic research. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 158 (1 UL) Conserved patterns across ion channels correlate with variant pathogenicity and clinical phenotypes 2022.03.23.485339Brünger, Tobias; Perez-Palma, Eduardo; Montanucci, Ludovica et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Clinically identified genetic variants in ion channels can be benign or cause disease by increasing or decreasing the protein function. Consequently, therapeutic decision-making is challenging without ... [more ▼]Clinically identified genetic variants in ion channels can be benign or cause disease by increasing or decreasing the protein function. Consequently, therapeutic decision-making is challenging without molecular testing of each variant. Our biophysical knowledge of ion channel structures and function is just emerging, and it is currently not well understood which amino acid residues cause disease when mutated.We sought to systematically identify biological properties associated with variant pathogenicity across all major voltage and ligand-gated ion channel families. We collected and curated 3,049 pathogenic variants from hundreds of neurodevelopmental and other disorders and 12,546 population variants for 30 ion channel or channel subunits for which a high-quality protein structure was available. Using a wide range of bioinformatics approaches, we computed 163 structural features and tested them for pathogenic variant enrichment. We developed a novel 3D spatial distance scoring approach that enables comparisons of pathogenic and population variant distribution across protein structures.We discovered and independently replicated that several pore residue properties and proximity to the pore axis were most significantly enriched for pathogenic variants compared to population variants. Using our novel 3D scoring approach, we showed that the strongest pathogenic variant enrichment was observed for pore-lining residues and alpha-helix residues within 5 A distance from the pore axis center and not involved in gating. Within the subset of residues located at the pore, the hydrophobicity of the pore was the feature most strongly associated with variant pathogenicity. We also found an association between the identified properties and both clinical phenotypes and fucntional in vitro assays for voltage-gated sodium channels (SCN1A, SCN2A, SCN8A) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (GRIN1, GRIN2A, GRIN2B) encoding genes. In an independent expert-curated dataset of 1,422 neurodevelopmental disorder pathogenic patient variants, and 679 electrophysiological experiments that pore axis distance is associated with seizure age of onset and cognitive performance as well as differential gain vs. loss-of-channel function.In summary, we identified biological properties associated with ion-channel malfunction and show that these are correlated with in vitro functional read-outs and clinical phenotypes in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders. Our results suggest that clinical decision support algorithms that predict variant pathogenicity and function are feasible in the future.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.DSSPDictionary of Protein Secondary StructuregnomADGenome aggregation DatabaseGoFGain of functionGRIN genesGRIN1, GRIN2A. GRIN2BHGMDHuman Gene Mutation DatabaseNMDA receptorN-methyl-D-aspartate receptorGABA receptorGamma-aminobutyric acid receptorLoFLoss of functionSCN genesSCN1A, SCN2A, SCN8AVCFVariant Call Format [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 31 (0 UL) POTENTIAL METHOD AND PROJECTION THEOREMS FOR MACROSCOPIC HAUSDORFF DIMENSIONDaw, Lara ; Seuret, StephaneE-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 41 (2 UL) ‘Entropy in Differing Constitutional Traditions? Standing in Climate Actions across the EU before the Court of Justice and National CourtsHornkohl, Lena; Bruno, Walter E-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 28 (0 UL) trajeR, an R package for cluster analysis of time seriesNoel, Cédric ; Schiltz, Jang E-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 36 (0 UL) Estimating a regression function in exponential families by model selectionChen, Juntong E-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 101 (33 UL) Pandemic Impacts on Sustainability and Hartwick’s RuleMavi, Can; Zou, Benteng E-print/Working paper (2022)In this study, we present a modified Hartwick rule encompassing the dynamics of pandemic, such as COVID-19. In our setting, the labor productivity gradually improves after the pandemic shock and may even ... [more ▼]In this study, we present a modified Hartwick rule encompassing the dynamics of pandemic, such as COVID-19. In our setting, the labor productivity gradually improves after the pandemic shock and may even go beyond its pre-pandemic level due to the remote work and digitalization as also suggested by the empirical evidence. We demonstrate that a gradual labor productivity increase helps to conserve natural resources. We provide a theoretical foundation for a“sooner-the-better" strategy to control a pandemic, and we show that policy maker should implement a “whatever it costs” response to ensure that the transmission rate of the virus is below the recovery rate from the very beginning of the pandemic. Otherwise, the economy cannot have a sustained utility. We also analyze the implications of an “uncertain” pandemic on the intertemporal dynamics of natural resource and capital accumulation under the maximin criterion. Another important finding is that there exists a new economic and public health trade-off since a strong prevention policy is shown to decrease capital accumulation. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 81 (8 UL) Calabi-Yau structures on (quasi)-bisymplectic algebrasBozec, Tristan; Calaque, Damien; Scherotzke, Sarah E-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 31 (0 UL) Supercurrent-enabled Andreev reflection in a chiral quantum Hall edge stateMichelsen, Andreas; Recher, Patrik; Braunecker, Bernd et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 19 (3 UL) Retransmission of broadcast signals by cable in hotels - An analysis of the EU CabSat-Directive in light of a pending CJEU caseCole, Mark David E-print/Working paper (2022)It is well-known that the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has played a key role in giving the EU acquis in the area of intellectual property law the relevance it has today. Especially the ... [more ▼]It is well-known that the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has played a key role in giving the EU acquis in the area of intellectual property law the relevance it has today. Especially the series of judgments clarifying the broad notion of “communication to the public” as laid down in form of an exclusive right in the so-called InfoSoc Directive 2001/29/EC with which the position of authors was significantly reinforced is an extensively debated and commented outcome. Until the recent addition of the DSM Copyright-Directive (EU) 2019/790 to the EU acquis with its inclusion of a press publisher’s right and increased obligations of platforms when they allow users to upload potentially copyrighted material, the InfoSoc Directive of 2001 has always been in the centre of attention. In the shadow of that Directive stands the so-called CabSat Directive 93/83/EEC , originally created in 1993 as supplementary action in order to ensure the realization of an EU-wide single market for television broadcasting which was initiated by the Television without Frontiers-Directive (TwFD) 89/552/EEC . The aim of the CabSat Directive was and remains the goal of ensuring that in the use of satellite distribution of broadcast programmes as well as retransmission by cable, rightholders’ positions are safeguarded and procedures respected that allow for a smooth realization of such use of broadcast signals. This Directive has only rarely been subject of preliminary reference requests by national courts. This makes a currently pending case highly relevant and gives the Court a unique opportunity to complement its case law on communication to the public for the specific aspect of retransmission of broadcasting signals: It has already in the ground-breaking decision of SGAE in 2006 clarified very firmly that the forwarding of broadcast signals – television programmes, notabene – by hotel operators to the individual rooms of a hotel and thereby offering the guests the possibility of individual access to the broadcast programmes constitutes a communication to the public. For such communication an authorization by the author(s) is needed and without such authorization it violates the exclusive right as laid down in Art. 3(1) InfoSoc Directive. While this has been settled concerning authors, the pending case of C-716/20 concerns exactly the same setup – a hotel operator picking up a satellite signal and disseminating it via cable to the hotel rooms – except that this time the questions to the court are asked through the lens of the CabSat Directive and the legal position of broadcasters vis-à-vis the hotel operators as provided for by the specific national law which transposed EU law. This contribution will therefore first explain the notion of ‘cable retransmission’ and in which parts of EU law it is laid down or referred to (II.). It will then give a more detailed look at the relevant provisions of the CabSat Directive and other related secondary law which establishes the framework for questions of cable retransmission and communication to the public (III.). Further, the case law of the CJEU will be analysed in order to identify those judgments that contribute to the clarification of the open question whether a retransmission by cable of a broadcast programme by hotel operators falls under the notion of cable retransmission as presented (IV.). As the actual question has not been answered by the Court in its jurisprudence so far, the main aspects of the pending preliminary proceedings will be explained without going into the details of the national proceedings of the previous instances, before the Portuguese Supremo Tribunal de Justiça (Supreme Court) decided to stay the proceedings and request from the CJEU a clarification of the EU law-related aspects. The criteria as developed will show – when applied to the case at hand – that the hotel operator needs to be qualified as an operator of a cable network conducting a cable retransmission (V.). Finally, in a concluding section the relevance of the outcome of this case will be discussed (VI.). [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 61 (0 UL) FINCITY -- Excerpt from project descriptionHesse, Markus ; Dörry, Sabine; Sigler, ThomasE-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 63 (1 UL) Addressing the sustainability of distributed ledger technologyGola, Carlo; Sedlmeir, Johannes E-print/Working paper (2022)The work proposes policies to improve the environmental sustainability of distributed ledger technology (DLT). While the proof-of-work (PoW) consensus protocol requires large amounts of electricity ... [more ▼]The work proposes policies to improve the environmental sustainability of distributed ledger technology (DLT). While the proof-of-work (PoW) consensus protocol requires large amounts of electricity, several DLT protocols consume much less, while still being sufficiently reliable and decentralized. To move from a PoW protocol to a greener system, such as proof-of-stake (PoS) or proof-of-authority (PoA), the consensus of the majority of miners (measured by their computing power) is required during the transition period to preserve the security requirements. Given that miners have an incentive to maintain the status quo, this paper illustrates various policies designed to bring about the transition. We aim to show that the current policy approach adopted by banking and financial regulators, based on the principle of technological neutrality, may need a reappraisal in order to consider the ‘sustainability’ criterion. Policymakers should not stifle financial innovation; nevertheless they should intervene if technology is a source of negative externalities. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 13 (0 UL) Estimation of the invariant density for discretely observed diffusion processes: impact of the sampling and of the asynchronicityAmorino, Chiara ; Gloter, ArnaudE-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 19 (0 UL) Towards Generalizable Machine Learning for Chest X-ray Diagnosis with Multi-task learningGhamizi, Salah ; Garcia Santa Cruz, Beatriz ; Temple, Paul et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Clinicians use chest radiography (CXR) to diagnose common pathologies. Automated classification of these diseases can expedite analysis workflow, scale to growing numbers of patients and reduce healthcare ... [more ▼]Clinicians use chest radiography (CXR) to diagnose common pathologies. Automated classification of these diseases can expedite analysis workflow, scale to growing numbers of patients and reduce healthcare costs. While research has produced classification models that perform well on a given dataset, the same models lack generalization on different datasets. This reduces confidence that these models can be reliably deployed across various clinical settings. We propose an approach based on multitask learning to improve model generalization. We demonstrate that learning a (main) pathology together with an auxiliary pathology can significantly impact generalization performance (between -10% and +15% AUC-ROC). A careful choice of auxiliary pathology even yields competitive performance with state-of-the-art models that rely on fine-tuning or ensemble learning, using between 6% and 34% of the training data that these models required. We, further, provide a method to determine what is the best auxiliary task to choose without access to the target dataset. Ultimately, our work makes a big step towards the creation of CXR diagnosis models applicable in the real world, through the evidence that multitask learning can drastically improve generalization. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 122 (15 UL) Situational Graphs for Robot Navigation in Structured Indoor EnvironmentsBavle, Hriday ; Sanchez Lopez, Jose Luis ; Shaheer, Muhammad et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Detailed reference viewed: 108 (12 UL) Decentralised Finance's Unregulated Governance: Minority Rule in the Digital Wild WestBarbereau, Tom Josua ; Smethurst, Reilly ; Papageorgiou, Orestis et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Decentralised finance (DeFi) is a category of unlicensed, unregulated, and non-custodial financial services that utilise public, distributed ledgers like Ethereum. The Bloomberg Galaxy DeFi Index ... [more ▼]Decentralised finance (DeFi) is a category of unlicensed, unregulated, and non-custodial financial services that utilise public, distributed ledgers like Ethereum. The Bloomberg Galaxy DeFi Index, launched in August 2021, includes nine Ethereum-based projects – non-custodial exchanges as well as lending and derivatives platforms. Each project is governed, at least in part, by a community of unregistered individuals that hold tradable voting rights tokens (also known as governance tokens). Voting rights tokens allow holders to vote on proposed changes to a DeFi project’s features, parameters, or rules. DeFi’s governance power is thus linked to the distribution and exercise of tokenised voting rights. Since DeFi projects are typically not managed by companies or public institutions, not much is known about DeFi’s governance. Regulators and law-makers from the United States recently asked if DeFi’s governance entails a new class of “shadowy” elites. In response, we conducted an exploratory, multiple-case study that focuses on the voting rights tokens issued by the nine projects from Bloomberg’s Galaxy DeFi index. Our mixed methods approach draws on Ethereum-based data about the distribution, trading, and staking of voting rights tokens, as well as project documentation and archival records. Our findings contribute knowledge about the entitlements of DeFi’s voting rights tokens, the initial distribution strategies, and the actual voting and delegation activity. Our principal finding is that DeFi’s voting rights are highly concentrated, and the exercise of these rights is very low. Our theoretical contribution is descriptive: minority rule is the probable consequence of tradable voting rights plus the lack of applicable anti-concentration or anti-monopoly laws. We interpret DeFi’s minority rule as timocratic and acknowledge its possible transition to oligarchy. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 33 (1 UL) The European Guarantee Fund and COVID-19: Agile But in Need of Greater AccountabilityHowarth, David ; Hodson, DermotE-print/Working paper (2022)The European Guarantee Fund formed an important part of the EU’s first response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite delays from some member states and the European Commission over the creation of this ... [more ▼]The European Guarantee Fund formed an important part of the EU’s first response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite delays from some member states and the European Commission over the creation of this instrument, the European Investment Bank (EIB) moved at high speed to support SMEs and mid-caps. The European Guarantee Fund was vertically accountable to national governments, but it needed stronger horizontal accountability to the European Parliament and diagonal accountability to NGOs. The EIB should commit to an independent ex-post evaluation of the European Guarantee Fund’s design, operation and impact. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 49 (0 UL) Nimmt die Beschäftigungsqualität in Luxemburg ab?Sischka, Philipp ; Steffgen, Georges E-print/Working paper (2022)Im Rahmen dieser Newsletter wird aufgezeigt wie sich die verschiedenen Dimensionen der Beschäftigungsqualität in den vergangenen 6 Jahren in Luxemburg entwickelt haben. Dabei zeigt sich, dass die ... [more ▼]Im Rahmen dieser Newsletter wird aufgezeigt wie sich die verschiedenen Dimensionen der Beschäftigungsqualität in den vergangenen 6 Jahren in Luxemburg entwickelt haben. Dabei zeigt sich, dass die Einkommenszufriedenheit und die wahrgenommenen Ausbildungsmöglichkeiten über die Zeit insgesamt eher abgenommen, und die Work-Life-Konflikte zugenommen haben. Diese Entwicklungen fallen differenziert nach verschiedenen Arbeitnehmer-Gruppen unterschiedlich aus. Beispielsweise haben Work-Life-Konflikte bei Arbeitnehmerinnen stärker zugenommen als bei Arbeitnehmern. Arbeitnehmer mit Kindern wiederum berichten im Vergleich zu Arbeitnehmer ohne Kinder über einen Rückgang der Beförderungsmöglichkeiten. Arbeitnehmer in staatlichen Organisationen weisen über die Zeit konstant höhere Werte bei Einkommenszufriedenheit, Ausbildungsmöglichkeiten und Arbeitsplatzsicherheit auf, im Vergleich zu Arbeitnehmern in privaten Unternehmen oder sonstigen Organisationen. Ergänzend zeigt sich, dass die Dimensionen der Beschäftigungsqualität mit verschiedenen Wohlbefindens-Dimensionen assoziiert sind. Insbesondere weisen höhere Work-Life-Konflikte Zusammenhänge mit geringerer Arbeitsmotivation, geringerer Arbeitszufriedenheit und geringerem generellem Well-Being, sowie erhöhtem Burnoutniveau und verstärkten Gesundheitsproblemen auf. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 24 (1 UL) Clinically relevant combined effect of polygenic background, rare pathogenic germline variants, and family history on colorectal cancer incidence 2022.01.20.22269585Hassanin, Emadeldin; Spier, Isabel; Bobbili, Dheeraj Reddy et alE-print/Working paper (2022)Background and aims: Summarised in polygenic risk scores (PRS), the effect of common, low penetrant genetic variants associated with colorectal cancer (CRC), can be used for risk stratification.Methods To ... [more ▼]Background and aims: Summarised in polygenic risk scores (PRS), the effect of common, low penetrant genetic variants associated with colorectal cancer (CRC), can be used for risk stratification.Methods To assess the combined impact of the PRS and other main factors on CRC risk, 163,516 individuals from the UK Biobank were stratified as follows: 1. carriers status for germline pathogenic variants (PV) in CRC susceptibility genes (APC, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2), 2. low (<20%), intermediate (20-80%), or high PRS (>80\%), and 3. family history (FH) of CRC. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were applied to compare odds ratios (OR) and to compute the lifetime incidence, respectively. Results: Depending on the PRS, the CRC lifetime incidence for non-carriers ranges between 6 and 22\%, compared to 40 and 74 for carriers. A suspicious FH is associated with a further increase of the cumulative incidence reaching 26 for non-carriers and 98 for carriers. In non-carriers without FH, but high PRS, the CRC risk is doubled, whereas a low PRS even in the context of a FH results in a decreased risk. The full model including PRS, carrier status, and FH improved the area under the curve (AUC) in risk prediction (0.704). Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that CRC risks are strongly influenced by the PRS for both a sporadic and monogenic background. FH, PV, and common variants complementary contribute to CRC risk. The implementation of PRS in routine care will likely improve personalized risk stratification, which will in turn guide tailored preventive surveillance strategies in high, intermediate, and low risk groups. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 99 (6 UL)