Search

Given that a stationary Gaussian process is above a high threshold, the length of time it spends before going below that threshold is studied. The asymptotic order is determined by the smoothness of the sample paths, which in turn is a function of the tails of the spectral measure. Two disjoint regimes are studied – one in which the second spectral moment is finite and the other in which the tails of the spectral measure are regularly varying and the second moment is infinite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers inhomogeneous Erdős–Rényi random graphs 𝔾 N on N vertices in the non-sparse non-dense regime. The edge between the pair of vertices { i , j } is retained with probability 𝜀 N f (i N , j N) , 1 ≤ i ≠ j ≤ N , independently of other edges, where f : [ 0 , 1 ] × [ 0 , 1 ] → [ 0 , ∞) is a continuous function such that f (x , y) = f (y , x) for all x , y ∈ [ 0 , 1 ]. We study the empirical distribution of both the adjacency matrix A N and the Laplacian matrix Δ N associated with 𝔾 N , in the limit as N → ∞ when lim N → ∞ 𝜀 N = 0 and lim N → ∞ N 𝜀 N = ∞. In particular, we show that the empirical spectral distributions of A N and Δ N , after appropriate scaling and centering, converge to deterministic limits weakly in probability. For the special case where f (x , y) = r (x) r (y) with r : [ 0 , 1 ] → [ 0 , ∞) a continuous function, we give an explicit characterization of the limiting distributions. Furthermore, we apply our results to constrained random graphs, Chung–Lu random graphs and social networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The National Iodine and Salt Intake Survey (NISI) 2014–2015 was undertaken to estimate household iodised salt coverage at national and sub-national levels in India. Design: Cross-sectional survey with multistage stratified random sampling. Setting: India was divided into six geographic zones (South, West, Central, North, East and North-East) and each zone was further stratified into rural and urban areas to yield twelve distinct survey strata. Subjects: The target respondent from each household was selected as per predefined priority; wife of the household head, followed by women of reproductive age, followed by any adult available during the visit. Results: Households (n 5717) were surveyed and salt samples (n 5682) were analysed. Household coverage of iodised salt (iodine ≥ 5 ppm) was 91·7 (95 % CI 91·0, 92·7) %. Adequately iodised salt (iodine ≥ 15 ppm) was consumed in 77·5 (95 % CI 76·4, 78·6) % of households. Significant differences in coverage were seen across six geographic regions, with North and North-East zones on the verge of achieving the universal salt iodisation target of >90 % coverage. Coverage of households with adequately iodised salt (adjusted OR; 95 % CI) was significantly less in rural households (0·55; 0·47, 0·64), lower/backward castes (0·84; 0·72, 0·98), deprived households (0·72; 0·61, 0·85) as assessed by multidimensional poverty index, households with non-diverse diet (0·73; 0·62, 0·86) and households using non-packaged salt (0·48; 0·39, 0·59) and non-refined salt (0·17; 0·15, 0·20). Conclusions: India is within striking reach of achieving universal salt iodisation. However, significant differentials by rural/urban, zonal and socio-economic indicators exist, warranting accelerated efforts and targeted interventions for high-risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the decay rate of the probability that the row sum of a triangular array of truncated heavy tailed random variables is larger than an integer ( k) times the truncating threshold, as both - the number of summands and the threshold go to infinity. The method of attack for this problem is significantly different from the one where k is not an integer, and requires much sharper estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we show the existence of limiting spectral distribution of a symmetric random matrix whose entries come from a stationary Gaussian process with covariances satisfying a summability condition. We provide an explicit description of the moments of the limiting measure. We also show that in some special cases the Gaussian assumption can be relaxed. The description of the limiting measure can also be made via its Stieltjes transform which is characterized as the solution of a functional equation. In two special cases, we get a description of the limiting measure -- one as a free product convolution of two distributions, and the other one as a dilation of the Wigner semicircular law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) constitute the single most important preventable cause of mental handicap at global level. Recognizing the importance of coordination and synergy of the activities of wide range of universal salt iodisation (USI) stakeholders, WHO/ Unicef'/ ICCIDD has prescribed a national multi-sectoral coalition as one of the ten indicators essential for attaining sustainable elimination of IDD at national level. Challenge for coordination among different stakeholders of IDD/USI is even greater in democratic and diverse country like India. In the present article we present successful experience from India regarding formation of a national coalition and contributions made by the coalition towards promoting USI in India. The activities of the national coalition in India are classified into three phases; 1) Phase 1- year 2006 to 2009- the inception; 2) Phase 2- year 2009 to 2012- consolidation; 3) Phase 3- year 2013 and ongoing- expansion. The National coalition for Sustained Optimal Iodine Intake (NSOI) has been instrumental in ensuring greater coordination and synergy amongst IDD and USI stakeholders in India and partially responsible for the current 71 percentage household level coverage of adequately iodised salt. The most significant contribution of the national coalition has been to act as a high level advocacy channel and provide a platform for regular dialogue for all partners of the coalition. With "mission" approach and allocation of optimal resource, India can achieve and should achieve USI by 2015, an apt culmination of a decade of existence of the national coalition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We address the important question of the extent to which random variables and vectors with truncated power tails retain the characteristic features of random variables and vectors with power tails. We define two truncation regimes, soft truncation regime and hard truncation regime, and show that, in the soft truncation regime, truncated power tails behave, in important respects, as if no truncation took place. On the other hand, in the hard truncation regime much of “heavy tailedness” is lost. We show how to estimate consistently the tail exponent when the tails are truncated, and suggest statistical tests to decide on whether the truncation is soft or hard. Finally, we apply our methods to two recent data sets arising from computer networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Characterisation of mixtures of sinter and pellet particles. • Angle of repose experiments to characterise bulk mixtures of sinter and pellet at different proportions. • Determination of DEM input parameters for pellets and sinter individually and for pellet-sinter contact. • Using a universal DEM input parameter set to represent bulk mixtures with distinct proportions. To study the distribution of ferrous burden (which is a mixture of pellets and sinter) in the blast furnace, the burden must be characterised in terms of input parameters which can be used in discrete element method (DEM) simulations. A methodology is presented to determine these parameters which can help represent the ferrous burden mixture. First, angle of repose experiments are performed and determined for pellet, sinter and their mixtures at different proportions. Using this experimental data, the DEM parameters individually for pellets and sinter using previously determined experimental values and DEM calibration approach are chosen and they are represented accurately. From these, the values of DEM parameters for pellet-sinter contact are taken as the average of their individual counterparts. Using all determined parameters for intra-material as well as inter-material particle contacts, simulations of angle of repose for mixtures at varying proportions are done and a good match is found between experimental and simulation values at all proportions. In this way, binary mixtures are characterised while maintaining the constituents as individual species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence pattern of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, the causative agent of paratuberculosis or Johne's disease, in unorganized as well as organized cattle herds in West Bengal. Materials and Methods: Four organized cattle farms with identical management practice in Nadia (n=3) and South 24 Parganas (n=1) districts and three unorganized cattle herds, one each from three districts, namely, Burdwan, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Midnapur, were selected randomly and screened for paratuberculosis by delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Of 191 animals tested by DTH, 57 (29.8%) were found to be positive in comparison to 72 (37.7%) by ELISA. In organized farms, seropositivity varied from 13.3% to 53.1%, whereas in unorganized sector, it ranged from 5% to 6.7% with one area having exceptionally high prevalence, i.e. 53.3%. The range of positivity detected by DTH both in organized farms and backyard sectors varied from 0% to 46.7%. By employing both DTH and ELISA together, the positivity of animals in organized and unorganized herds was 19.9% and 8%, respectively. Conclusion: The results indicate that animals in organized farms are much more prone to paratuberculosis than others. For screening the herd, both DTH and ELISA should be used simultaneously to increase the test sensitivity in order to minimize its further spread adopting control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]