A newspaper analysis shows the disparity between communities

The enforcement was meant to protect from coronavirus spread

A newspaper analysis shows the disparity between communities

The enforcement was meant to protect from coronavirus spread

Limit your exposure!

Distance runner Dathan Ritzenhein announced his retirement Thursday, closing a career during which he made three Olympic appearances.

There are 2 types of length contraction, the physical meaning of each is explained below with the help of the example shown in Figure 1. The Earth and the star are stationary and the spaceship mobile. The 2 types of length contraction are: 1) Object contraction: In the frame of the Earth the length of...

Seen plenty of people on sidewalks or in parks gallivanting without masks and clustering less than six feet apart? Of course you have, no matter the racial, religious or ethnic composition of the neighborhood; it’s happening everywhere, especially on nice days.

Quantum physics impacts the technology students use every day. Use these resources from NOVA broadcasts, NOVA Digital, and What the Physics!? to introduce quantum concepts to your classroom.

How do you honor Mom on Mother's Day when you can't get close enough to give her a hug? Here are a few tips for connecting on a meaningful level.

Get a big breath of spring at Madrona Marsh in Torrance, while keeping people at a distance.

Coronavirus: Gov. Newsom announced donations and other efforts to provide computers to students during closures, but it falls far short

The airline received criticism to ask fliers can pay to social distance on their next flight

A regular in Fox's '9-1-1: Lone Star,' Smith has gotten a lot of reading done as he waits out the pandemic in a friend's guestroom.

Fighting Irish went 32-6 and also went to the Elite Eight the next season.

Tiawan Mullen, who will be a sophomore, has been throwing questions at IU football cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby all spring

The coronavirus pandemic has many of us nostalgic for a simpler time — maybe when we were teenagers and/or watching our favorite early oughts sitcoms. 

Actress Cobie Smulders seems to be feeling that itch, and sensed we are too. The former How I Met Your Mother actress decided to recreate her character Robin Scherbatsky's hit song from the series, "Let's Go to The Mall."

For those who need a refresher, "Let's Go to The Mall" was released during Robin's short career as a pop star (under the name Robin Sparkles) in her homeland of Canada. While it has all the flair of an '80s banger — jelly bracelets, worshipping the mall — it was released in the '90s because apparently that's when '80s culture reached Canada.  Read more...

School bus drivers in the Upper Grand District School Board are transporting school work instead of students.

To evaluate bicycle passing distances in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), specialised passing distance measurement devices (PDMDs) were installed on a sample of 23 cyclists who ride in the ACT. Passing distance data and GPS data was collected by cyclists using the PDMDs for a four week period, during a trial phase of a newly legislated minimum passing distance (MPD) rule The MPD rule requires drivers to provide more than 1 metre of space when passing a cyclist on a road with a speed limit of 60 km/h or below, and 1.5 meters of space when passing a cyclist on a road with a speed limit above 60 km/h.-- Abstract.

Mahalanobis distance is a classical tool in multivariate analysis. We suggest here an extension of this concept to the case of functional data. More precisely, the proposed definition concerns those statistical problems where the sample data are real functions defined on a compact interval of the real line. The obvious difficulty for such a functional extension is the non-invertibility of the covariance operator in infinite-dimensional cases. Unlike other recent proposals, our definition is suggested and motivated in terms of the Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS) associated with the stochastic process that generates the data. The proposed distance is a true metric; it depends on a unique real smoothing parameter which is fully motivated in RKHS terms. Moreover, it shares some properties of its finite dimensional counterpart: it is invariant under isometries, it can be consistently estimated from the data and its sampling distribution is known under Gaussian models. An empirical study for two statistical applications, outliers detection and binary classification, is included. The results are quite competitive when compared to other recent proposals in the literature.

Björn Böttcher, Martin Keller-Ressel, René L. Schilling.

Source: The Annals of Statistics, Volume 47, Number 5, 2757--2789.

Abstract:
We introduce two new measures for the dependence of $nge2$ random variables: distance multivariance and total distance multivariance . Both measures are based on the weighted $L^{2}$-distance of quantities related to the characteristic functions of the underlying random variables. These extend distance covariance (introduced by Székely, Rizzo and Bakirov) from pairs of random variables to $n$-tuplets of random variables. We show that total distance multivariance can be used to detect the independence of $n$ random variables and has a simple finite-sample representation in terms of distance matrices of the sample points, where distance is measured by a continuous negative definite function. Under some mild moment conditions, this leads to a test for independence of multiple random vectors which is consistent against all alternatives.

Yating Liu, Gilles Pagès.

Source: Bernoulli, Volume 26, Number 2, 1171--1204.

Abstract:
We establish conditions to characterize probability measures by their $L^{p}$-quantization error functions in both $mathbb{R}^{d}$ and Hilbert settings. This characterization is two-fold: static (identity of two distributions) and dynamic (convergence for the $L^{p}$-Wasserstein distance). We first propose a criterion on the quantization level $N$, valid for any norm on $mathbb{R}^{d}$ and any order $p$ based on a geometrical approach involving the Voronoï diagram. Then, we prove that in the $L^{2}$-case on a (separable) Hilbert space, the condition on the level $N$ can be reduced to $N=2$, which is optimal. More quantization based characterization cases in dimension 1 and a discussion of the completeness of a distance defined by the quantization error function can be found at the end of this paper.

Christian Hirsch, Christian Mönch.

Source: Bernoulli, Volume 26, Number 2, 927--947.

Abstract:
This paper considers two asymptotic properties of a spatial preferential-attachment model introduced by E. Jacob and P. Mörters (In Algorithms and Models for the Web Graph (2013) 14–25 Springer). First, in a regime of strong linear reinforcement, we show that typical distances are at most of doubly-logarithmic order. Second, we derive a large deviation principle for the empirical neighbourhood structure and express the rate function as solution to an entropy minimisation problem in the space of stationary marked point processes.

Jing Lei.

Source: Bernoulli, Volume 26, Number 1, 767--798.

Abstract:
We provide upper bounds of the expected Wasserstein distance between a probability measure and its empirical version, generalizing recent results for finite dimensional Euclidean spaces and bounded functional spaces. Such a generalization can cover Euclidean spaces with large dimensionality, with the optimal dependence on the dimensionality. Our method also covers the important case of Gaussian processes in separable Hilbert spaces, with rate-optimal upper bounds for functional data distributions whose coordinates decay geometrically or polynomially. Moreover, our bounds of the expected value can be combined with mean-concentration results to yield improved exponential tail probability bounds for the Wasserstein error of empirical measures under Bernstein-type or log Sobolev-type conditions.

The New York City police department (NYPD) is conducting an internal investigation into a May 2 incident involving the violent arrests of multiple people, allegedly members of a group who were not social distancing

For visually guided navigation, the use of environmental cues is essential. Particularly, detecting local boundaries that impose limits to locomotion and estimating their location is crucial. In a series of three fMRI experiments, we investigated whether there is a neural coding of navigational distance in the human visual cortex (both female and male). We used virtual reality software to systematically manipulate the distance from a viewer perspective to different types of a boundary. Using a multivoxel pattern classification employing a linear support vector machine, we found that the occipital place area (OPA) is sensitive to the navigational distance restricted by the transparent glass wall. Further, the OPA was sensitive to a non-crossable boundary only, suggesting an importance of the functional constraint of a boundary. Together, we propose the OPA as a perceptual source of external environmental features relevant for navigation.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT One of major goals in cognitive neuroscience has been to understand the nature of visual scene representation in human ventral visual cortex. An aspect of scene perception that has been overlooked despite its ecological importance is the analysis of space for navigation. One of critical computation necessary for navigation is coding of distance to environmental boundaries that impose limit on navigator's movements. This paper reports the first empirical evidence for coding of navigational distance in the human visual cortex and its striking sensitivity to functional constraint of environmental boundaries. Such finding links the paper to previous neurological and behavioral works that emphasized the distance to boundaries as a crucial geometric property for reorientation behavior of children and other animal species.

Hamilton Conservation Authority is re-opening the Hamilton-to-Branford Rail Trail, while the city announced the reopening of the Hamilton Waterfront Trail, between Confederation Park and the Burlington Lift Bridge.

A Malagasy girl exemplifies dedication to spreading the gospel.

During this hard and scary time, when our students need their teachers the most, suddenly they can’t be there in person. Here are some ways teacher Justin Minkel has found to keep that connection virtually.

Disparities in outcomes of ethnic minority children have been reported, and have been ascribed to having barriers to access to health care. Minority parents have indicated that difficulties in access are because of problems with transportation and being non-English speaking.

This population-based study of Texas infants with severe congenital heart disease reports that neither home distance from a cardiac center nor Hispanic children having a Latin American–born parent were risk factors for first-year mortality. (Read the full article)

Jane's Skype conversations with Fariha across the world in Bangladesh helped Fariha learn English while providing an opportunity to share the love of Jesus.

Szymon Talaga and Andrzej Nowak: Real-world social networks often exhibit high levels of clustering, positive degree assortativity, short average path lengths (small-world property) and right-skewed but rarely power law degree distributions. On the other hand homophily, defined as the propensity of similar agents to connect to each other, is one of the most fundamental social processes observed in many human and animal societies. In this paper we examine the extent to which homophily is sufficient to produce the typical structural properties of social networks. To do so, we conduct a simulation study based on the Social Distance Attachment (SDA) model, a particular kind of Random Geometric Graph (RGG), in which nodes are embedded in a social space and connection probabilities depend functionally on distances between nodes. We derive the form of the model from first principles based on existing analytical results and argue that the mathematical construction of RGGs corresponds directly to the homophily principle, so they provide a good model for it. We find that homophily, especially when combined with a random edge rewiring, is sufficient to reproduce many of the characteristic features of social networks. Additionally, we devise a hybrid model combining SDA with the configuration model that allows generating homophilic networks with arbitrary degree sequences and we use it to study interactions of homophily with processes imposing constraints on degree distributions. We show that the effects of homophily on clustering are robust with respect to distribution constraints, while degree assortativity can be highly dependent on the particular kind of enforced degree sequence.

Take advantage of the early opening of the upstate trout season for adult anglers on Tuesday, March 31 to help minimize crowds.

The coronavirus pandemic has many of us nostalgic for a simpler time — maybe when we were teenagers and/or watching our favorite early oughts sitcoms. 

Actress Cobie Smulders seems to be feeling that itch, and sensed we are too. The former How I Met Your Mother actress decided to recreate her character Robin Scherbatsky's hit song from the series, "Let's Go to The Mall."

For those who need a refresher, "Let's Go to The Mall" was released during Robin's short career as a pop star (under the name Robin Sparkles) in her homeland of Canada. While it has all the flair of an '80s banger — jelly bracelets, worshipping the mall — it was released in the '90s because apparently that's when '80s culture reached Canada.  Read more...

ABSTRACT

The nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) pathway presents a challenge for RNA viruses with termination codons that precede extended 3' untranslated regions (UTRs). The umbravirus Pea enation mosaic virus 2 (PEMV2) is a nonsegmented, positive-sense RNA virus with an unusually long 3' UTR that is susceptible to NMD. To establish a systemic infection, the PEMV2 long-distance movement protein p26 was previously shown to both stabilize viral RNAs and bind them for transport through the plant’s vascular system. The current study demonstrated that p26 protects both viral and nonviral messenger RNAs from NMD. Although p26 localizes to both the cytoplasm and nucleolus, p26 exerts its anti-NMD effects exclusively in the cytoplasm independently of long-distance movement. Using a transcriptome-wide approach in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana, p26 protected a subset of cellular NMD target transcripts, particularly those containing long, structured, GC-rich 3' UTRs. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed that the NMD pathway is highly dysfunctional during PEMV2 infection, with 1,820 (48%) of NMD targets increasing in abundance. Widespread changes in the host transcriptome are common during plant RNA virus infections, and these results suggest that, in at least some instances, virus-mediated NMD inhibition may be a major contributing factor.

IMPORTANCE Nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) represents an RNA regulatory pathway that degrades both natural and faulty messenger RNAs with long 3' untranslated regions. NMD targets diverse families of RNA viruses, requiring that viruses counteract the NMD pathway for successful amplification in host cells. A protein required for long-distance movement of Pea enation mosaic virus 2 (PEMV2) is shown to also protect both viral and host mRNAs from NMD. RNA-seq analyses of the Nicotiana benthamiana transcriptome revealed that PEMV2 infection significantly impairs the host NMD pathway. RNA viruses routinely induce large-scale changes in host gene expression, and, like PEMV2, may use NMD inhibition to alter the host transcriptome in an effort to increase virus amplification.

The rising rates of antibiotic resistance increasingly compromise empirical treatment. Knowing the antibiotic susceptibility of a pathogen’s close genetic relative(s) may improve empirical antibiotic selection. Using genomic and phenotypic data for Escherichia coli isolates from three separate clinically derived databases, we evaluated multiple genomic methods and statistical models for predicting antibiotic susceptibility, focusing on potentially rapidly available information, such as lineage or genetic distance from archived isolates. We applied these methods to derive and validate the prediction of antibiotic susceptibility to common antibiotics. We evaluated 968 separate episodes of suspected and confirmed infection with Escherichia coli from three geographically and temporally separated databases in Ontario, Canada, from 2010 to 2018. Across all approaches, model performance (area under the curve [AUC]) ranges for predicting antibiotic susceptibility were the greatest for ciprofloxacin (AUC, 0.76 to 0.97) and the lowest for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (AUC, 0.51 to 0.80). When a model predicted that an isolate was susceptible, the resulting (posttest) probabilities of susceptibility were sufficient to warrant empirical therapy for most antibiotics (mean, 92%). An approach combining multiple models could permit the use of narrower-spectrum oral agents in 2 out of every 3 patients while maintaining high treatment adequacy (~90%). Methods based on genetic relatedness to archived samples of E. coli could be used to predict antibiotic resistance and improve antibiotic selection.

What ingredients are required to make an ultramarathon runner? In Boulder, Colorado, Scott Jurek has concocted quite the recipe that has kept him going the distance for the past two decades. He runs anywhere between 50 miles to over 150 miles, and in his lifetime has won over 20 ultramarathons, smashing records along the way. His passion for running kickstarted his morning regimen in 1997, when he cut out meat completely. In 1999, he transitioned to a plant-based diet, which has since fueled his long-distance running career. On an average day, Scott runs about 10 miles, and this is typically before the sun rises over the beautiful Boulder Flatirons.

What we do when we wake up in the morning sets the tone for our days and ultimately shapes our lives. In this new series, we take a look at how the hyper-successful among us have leveraged rituals to create the trajectories they want.

For the first time, researchers have succeeded in creating strong coupling between quantum systems over a greater distance. They accomplished this with a novel method in which a laser loop connects the systems, enabling nearly lossless exchange of information and strong interaction between them. The physicists reported that the new method opens up new possibilities in quantum networks and quantum sensor technology.

Rob Vanstone has a sporting suggestion as to how a scaled-down Canadian Football League could salvage a semblance of a season.

Hundreds of neighbours came together to perform a socially distanced dance to Whigfield's iconic hit Saturday Night in an effort to spread cheer during the coronavirus lockdown.

Government's chief scientific advisor spells out danger of flouting two metre social distancing guidelines

The 'Saturday Night Live' alumni virtually reunited on Fallon's chat show

The enforcement was meant to protect from coronavirus spread

For the first time, researchers have succeeded in creating strong coupling between quantum systems over a greater distance. They accomplished this with a novel method in which a laser loop connects the systems, enabling nearly lossless exchange of information and strong interaction between them. In the scientific journal Science, the physicists from the University of Basel and University of Hanover reported that the new method opens up new possibilities in quantum networks and quantum sensor technology.

The league, clubs and broadcasters found multiple ways to demonstrate they could stage the game without breaching all these cloying new societal protocols, writes Richard Hinds.