Improving the utility of locally differentially private protocols for longitudinal and multidimensional frequency estimates

This paper investigates the problem of collecting multidimensional data throughout time(i.e.,longitudinal studies)for the fundamental task of frequency estimation under Local Differential Privacy(LDP)guarantees.Contrary to frequency estimation of a single attribute,the multidimensional aspect demands particular attention to the privacy budget.Besides,when collecting user statistics longitudinally,privacy progressively degrades.Indeed,the“multiple”settings in combination(i.e.,many attributes and several collections throughout time)impose several challenges,for which this paper proposes the first solution for frequency estimates under LDP.To tackle these issues,we extend the analysis of three state-of-the-art LDP protocols(Generalized Randomized Response–GRR,Optimized Unary Encoding–OUE,and Symmetric Unary Encoding–SUE)for both longitudinal and multidimensional data collections.While the known literature uses OUE and SUE for two rounds of sanitization(a.k.a.memoization),i.e.,L-OUE and L-SUE,respectively,we analytically and experimentally show that starting with OUE and then with SUE provides higher data utility(i.e.,L-OSUE).Also,for attributes with small domain sizes,we propose Longitudinal GRR(L-GRR),which provides higher utility than the other protocols based on unary encoding.Last,we also propose a new solution named Adaptive LDP for LOngitudinal and Multidimensional FREquency Estimates(ALLOMFREE),which randomly samples a single attribute to be sent with the whole privacy budget and adaptively selects the optimal protocol,i.e.,either L-GRR or L-OSUE.As shown in the results,ALLOMFREE consistently and considerably outperforms the state-of-the-art L-SUE and L-OUE protocols in the quality of the frequency estimates.

Genetic and Agronomic Parameter Estimates of Growth, Yield and Related Traits of Maize (Zea mays L.) under Different Rates of Nitrogen Fertilization

This study evaluated the genetic and agronomic parameter estimates of maize under different nitrogen rates. The trial was established at the Njala Agricultural Research Centre experimental site during 2021 and 2022 in a split block design with three maize varieties (IWCD2, 2009EVDT, and DMR-ESR-Yellow) and seven nitrogen (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 kg∙N∙ha−1) rates. Findings showed that cob diameter and anthesis silking time (ASI) had intermediate heritability, ASI had high genetic advance, ASI and grain yield had high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), while traits with high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were plant height, ASI, grain yield, number of kernel per cob, number of kernel rows, ear length, and ear height. The PCV values were higher than GCV, indicating the influence of the environment in the studied traits. Nitrogen rates and variety significantly (p < 0.05) influenced grain yield production. Mean grain yields and economic parameter estimates increased with increasing nitrogen rates, with the 30 and 180 kg∙N∙ha−1 plots exhibiting the lowest and highest grain yields of 1238 kg∙ha−1 and 2098 kg∙ha−1, respectively. Variety and nitrogen effects on partial factor productivity (PFPN), agronomic efficiency (AEN), net returns (NR), value cost ratio (VCR) and marginal return (MR) indicated that these parameters were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by these factors. The highest PFPN (41.3 kg grain kg−1∙N) and AEN (29.4 kg grain kg−1∙N) were obtained in the 30 kg∙N∙ha−1 plots, while the highest VCR (2.8) and MR (SLL 1.8 SLL−1 spent on N) were obtained in the 180 kg∙N∙ha−1. The significant influence of variety and nitrogen on traits suggests that increasing yields and maximizing profits require use of appropriate nitrogen fertilization and improved farming practices that could be exploited for increased productivity of maize.

A Formulation of the Porous Medium Equation with Time-Dependent Porosity: A Priori Estimates and Regularity Results

We consider a generalized form of the porous medium equation where the porosity ϕis a function of time t: ϕ=ϕ(x,t): ∂(ϕS)∂t−∇⋅(k(S)∇S)=Q(S).In many works, the porosity ϕis either assumed to be independent of (or to depend very little of) the time variable t. In this work, we want to study the case where it does depend on t(and xas well). For this purpose, we make a change of unknown function V=ϕSin order to obtain a saturation-like (advection-diffusion) equation. A priori estimates and regularity results are established for the new equation based in part on what is known from the saturation equation, when ϕis independent of the time t. These results are then extended to the full saturation equation with time-dependent porosity ϕ=ϕ(x,t). In this analysis, we make explicitly the dependence of the various constants in the estimates on the porosity ϕby the introduced transport vector w, through the change of unknown function. Also we do not assume zero-flux boundary, but we carry the analysis for the case Q≡0.

Method for rapid warning and activity concentration estimates in online waterγ-spectrometry systems

Onlineγ-spectrometry systems for inland waters,most of which extract samples in situ and in real time,are able to produce reliable activity concentration measurements for waterborne radionuclides only when they are distributed relatively uniformly and enter into a steady-state diffusion regime in the measurement chamber.To protect residents’health and ensure the safety of the living environment,better timeliness is required for this measurement method.To address this issue,this study established a mathematical model of the online waterγ-spectrometry system so that rapid warning and activity estimates can be obtained for water under non-steady-state(NSS)conditions.In addition,the detection efficiency of the detector for radionuclides during the NSS diffusion process was determined by applying the computational fluid dynamics technique in conjunction with Monte Carlo simulations.On this basis,a method was developed that allowed the online waterγ-spectrometry system to provide rapid warning and activity concentration estimates for radionuclides in water.Subsequent analysis of the NSS-mode measurements of^(40)K radioactive solutions with different activity concentrations determined the optimum warning threshold and measurement time for producing accurate activity concentration estimates for radionuclides.The experimental results show that the proposed NSS measurement method is able to give warning and yield accurate activity concentration estimates for radionuclides 55.42 and 69.42 min after the entry of a 10 Bq/L^(40)K radioactive solution into the measurement chamber,respectively.These times are much shorter than the 90 min required by the conventional measurement method.Furthermore,the NSS measurement method allows the measurement system to give rapid(within approximately 15 min)warning when the activity concentrations of some radionuclides reach their respective limits stipulated in the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality of the WHO,suggesting that this method considerably enhances the warning capacity of in situ online waterγ-spectrometry systems.

MAXIMAL FUNCTION CHARACTERIZATIONS OF HARDY SPACES ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH NON-NEGATIVE SELF-ADJOINT OPERATORS SATISFYING GAUSSIAN ESTIMATES AND BALL QUASI-BANACH FUNCTION SPACES

Assume that L is a non-negative self-adjoint operator on L^(2)(ℝ^(n))with its heat kernels satisfying the so-called Gaussian upper bound estimate and that X is a ball quasi-Banach function space onℝ^(n) satisfying some mild assumptions.Let HX,L(ℝ^(n))be the Hardy space associated with both X and L,which is defined by the Lusin area function related to the semigroup generated by L.In this article,the authors establish various maximal function characterizations of the Hardy space HX,L(ℝ^(n))and then apply these characterizations to obtain the solvability of the related Cauchy problem.These results have a wide range of generality and,in particular,the specific spaces X to which these results can be applied include the weighted space,the variable space,the mixed-norm space,the Orlicz space,the Orlicz-slice space,and the Morrey space.Moreover,the obtained maximal function characterizations of the mixed-norm Hardy space,the Orlicz-slice Hardy space,and the Morrey-Hardy space associated with L are completely new.

Improving the accuracy of precipitation estimates in a typical inland arid area of China using a dynamic Bayesian model averaging approach

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is a typical inland arid area in China with a sparse and uneven distribution of meteorological stations,limited access to precipitation data,and significant water scarcity.Evaluating and integrating precipitation datasets from different sources to accurately characterize precipitation patterns has become a challenge to provide more accurate and alternative precipitation information for the region,which can even improve the performance of hydrological modelling.This study evaluated the applicability of widely used five satellite-based precipitation products(Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station(CHIRPS),China Meteorological Forcing Dataset(CMFD),Climate Prediction Center morphing method(CMORPH),Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks-Climate Data Record(PERSIANN-CDR),and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis(TMPA))and a reanalysis precipitation dataset(ECMWF Reanalysis v5-Land Dataset(ERA5-Land))in Xinjiang using ground-based observational precipitation data from a limited number of meteorological stations.Based on this assessment,we proposed a framework that integrated different precipitation datasets with varying spatial resolutions using a dynamic Bayesian model averaging(DBMA)approach,the expectation-maximization method,and the ordinary Kriging interpolation method.The daily precipitation data merged using the DBMA approach exhibited distinct spatiotemporal variability,with an outstanding performance,as indicated by low root mean square error(RMSE=1.40 mm/d)and high Person's correlation coefficient(CC=0.67).Compared with the traditional simple model averaging(SMA)and individual product data,although the DBMA-fused precipitation data were slightly lower than the best precipitation product(CMFD),the overall performance of DBMA was more robust.The error analysis between DBMA-fused precipitation dataset and the more advanced Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement Final(IMERG-F)precipitation product,as well as hydrological simulations in the Ebinur Lake Basin,further demonstrated the superior performance of DBMA-fused precipitation dataset in the entire Xinjiang region.The proposed framework for solving the fusion problem of multi-source precipitation data with different spatial resolutions is feasible for application in inland arid areas,and aids in obtaining more accurate regional hydrological information and improving regional water resources management capabilities and meteorological research in these regions.

Heat Kernel Estimates on Simple Random Walks and On-Diagonal Upper Bounds

We primarily provide several estimates for the heat kernel defined on the 2-dimensional simple random walk. Additionally, we offer an estimate for the heat kernel on high-dimensional random walks, demonstrating that the heat kernel in higher dimensions converges rapidly. We also compute the constants involved in the estimate for the 1-dimensional heat kernel. Furthermore, we discuss the general case of on-diagonal estimates for the heat kernel.

Brain age estimation:premise,promise,and problems

Premise:The com bined effects of modern healthcare practices which prolong lifespan and declining birthrates have created unprecedented changes in age demographics worldwide that are especially pronounced in Japan,South Korea,Europe,and North America.Since old age is the most significant predictor of dementia,global healthcare systems must rise to the challenge of providing care for those with neurodegenerative disorders.

A REFINEMENT OF THE SCHWARZ-PICK ESTIMATES AND THE CARATHéODORY METRIC IN SEVERAL COMPLEX VARIABLES

In this article,we first establish an asymptotically sharp result on the higher order Fréchet derivatives for bounded holomorphic mappings f(x)=f(0)+∞∑s=1Dskf(0)(x^(sk))/(sk)!:B_(X)→B_(Y),where B_X is the unit ball of X.We next give a sharp result on the first order Fréchet derivative for bounded holomorphic mappings F(X)=F(0+)∞∑s=KD^(s)f(0)(x^(8)/s!):B_(X)→B_(Y),where B_(X)is the unit ball of X.The results that we derive include some results in several complex variables,and extend the classical result in one complex variable to several complex variables.

Accurate Interconnection Length and Routing Channel Width Estimates for FPGAs

We study the problem of the prediction of interconnection dimensions for FPGAs, including estimating interconnection length and channel width. Experimental results show that our estimates are more accurate than those of existing methods.

Error estimates of H^1-Galerkin mixed finite element method for Schrdinger equation

An H^1-Galerkin mixed finite element method is discussed for a class of second order SchrSdinger equation. Optimal error estimates of semidiscrete schemes are derived for problems in one space dimension. At the same time, optimal error estimates are derived for fully discrete schemes. And it is showed that the H1-Galerkin mixed finite element approximations have the same rate of convergence as in the classical mixed finite element methods without requiring the LBB consistency condition.

A Quality Assurance Procedure and Evaluation of Rainfall Estimates for C-Band Polarimetric Radar

A mobile C-band dual polarimetric weather radar J type （PCDJ）, which adopts simultaneous transmission and simultaneous reception （STSR） of horizontally and vertically polarized signals, was first developed in China in 2008. It was deployed in the radar observation plan in the South China Heavy Rainfall Experiment （SCHeREX） in the summer of 2008 and 2009, as well as in Tropical Western Pacific Ocean Observation Experiments and Research on the Predictability of High Impact Weather Events from 2008 to 2010 in China （TWPOR）. Using the observation data collected in these experiments, the radar systematic error and its sources were analyzed in depth. Meanwhile an algorithm that can smooth differential propagation phase （~Dp） for estimating the high-resolution specific differential phase （KDP） was developed. After attenuation correction of reflectivity in horizontal polarization （ZH） and differential reflectivity （ZDR） of PCDJ radar by means of KDP, the data quality was improved significantly. Using quality-controlled radar data, quantitative rainfall estimation was performed, and the resutls were compared with rain-gauge measurements. A synthetic ZH /KDp-based method was analyzed. The results the traditional ZH-based method when the rain suggest that the synthetic method has the advantage over rate is 〉5 mm h^-1. The more intensive the rain rates, the higher accuracy of the estimation.

SCHWARZ-PICK ESTIMATES FOR BOUNDED HOLOMORPHIC FUNCTIONS ON CLASSICAL DOMAINS

In this paper, Schwarz-Pick estimates for high order Fr′echet derivatives of bounded holomorphic functions on three kinds of classical domains are presented. We generalize the early work on Schwarz-Pick estimates of higher order partial derivatives for bounded holomorphic functions on the disk and unit ball.

SCHWARZ-PICK ESTIMATES FOR PARTIAL DERIVATIVES OF ARBITARY ORDER OF BOUNDED HOLOMORPHIC FUNCTIONS IN THE UNIT BALL OF C^n

This paper gives a Schwarz-Pick estimate for bounded holomorphic functions in the unit ball of C n .

DECAY ESTIMATES FOR ISENTROPIC COMPRESSIBLE MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC EQUATIONS IN BOUNDED DOMAIN

In this paper, under the hypothesis that y is upper bounded, we construct a Lyapunov functional for the multidimensional isentropic compressible magnetohydrodynamic equations and show that the weak solutions decay exponentially to the equilibrium state in L2 norm. Our result verifies that the method of Daoyuan Fang, Ruizhao Zi and Ting Zhang I1] can be adapted to magnetohydrodynamic equations.

Error Estimates for Mixed Finite Element Methods for Sobolev Equation

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the convergence of the mixed finite element method for the initial-boundary value problem for the Sobolev equation Ut-div{aut + b1 u} = f based on the Raviart-Thomas space Vh × Wh H(div; × L2(). Optimal order estimates are obtained for the approximation of u, ut, the associated velocity p and divp respectively in L(0,T;L2()), L(0,T;L2()), L(0,T;L2()2), and L2(0, T; L2()). Quasi-optimal order estimates are obtained for the approximations of u, ut in L(0, T; L()) and p in L(0,T; L()2).

GRADIENT ESTIMATES FOR POSITIVE SMOOTH f-HARMONIC FUNCTIONS

For Riemannian manifolds with a measure, we study the gradient estimates for positive smooth f-harmonic functions when the ∞-Bakry-Emery Ricci tensor and Ricci tensor are bounded from below, generalizing the classical ones of Yau （i.e., when ： is constant）.

GRADIENT ESTIMATES AND ENTROPY FORMULAE FOR WEIGHTED p-HEAT EQUATIONS ON SMOOTH METRIC MEASURE SPACES

Let （M,g, e^-fdv） be a smooth metric measure space. In this paper, we con- sider two nonlinear weighted p-heat equations. Firstly, we derive a Li-Yau type gradient estimates for the positive solutions to the following nonlinear weighted p-heat equationand f is a smooth function on M under the assumptionthat the m-dimensional nonnegative Bakry-Emery Ricci curvature. Secondly, we show an entropy monotonicity formula with nonnegative m-dimensional Bakry-Emery Ricci curva- ture which is a generalization to the results of Kotschwar and Ni [9], Li [7].

A PRIORI L_2 ERROR ESTIMATES FOR A NONLINEAR PARABOLIC SYSTEM BASED ON COMBINING THE METHOD OF CHARACTERISTICS WITH MIXED FINITE ELEMENT PROCEDURE

A nonlinear parabolic system is derived to describe incompressible nuclear waste-disposal contamination in porous media. A sequential implicit tirne-stepping is defined, in which the pressure and Darcy velocity of the mixture are approximated simultaneously by a mixed finite element method and the brine, radionuclid and heat are treated by a combination of a Galerkin finite element method and the method of characteristics. Optimal-order convergence in L2 is proved. Time-truncation errors of standard procedures are reduced by time stepping along the characteristics of the hyperbolic part of the brine, radionuclide and heal equalios, temporal and spatial error are lossened by direct compulation of the velocity in the mixed method, as opposed to differentiation of the pressure.

A Strategy for Merging Objective Estimates of Global Daily Precipitation from Gauge Observations, Satellite Estimates, and Numerical Predictions

This paper describes a strategy for merging daily precipitation information from gauge observations, satellite estimates （SEs）, and numerical predictions at the global scale. The strategy is designed to remove systemic bias and random error from each individual daily precipitation source to produce a better gridded global daily precipitation product through three steps. First, a cumulative distribution function matching procedure is performed to remove systemic bias over gauge-located land areas. Then, the overall biases in SEs and model predictions （MPs） over ocean areas are corrected using a rescaled strategy based on monthly precipitation. Third, an optimal interpolation （OI）-based merging scheme （referred as the HL-OI scheme） is used to combine unbiased gahge observations, SEs, and MPs to reduce random error from each source and to produce a gauge--satellite-model merged daily precipitation analysis, called BMEP-d （Beijing Climate Center Merged Estimation of Precipitation with daily resolution）, with complete global coverage. The BMEP-d data from a four-year period （2011- 14） demonstrate the ability of the merging strategy to provide global daily precipitation of substantially improved quality. Benefiting from the advantages of the HL-OI scheme for quantitative error estimates, the better source data can obtain more weights during the merging processes. The BMEP-d data exhibit higher consistency with satellite and gauge source data at middle and low latitudes, and with model source data at high latitudes. Overall, independent validations against GPCP-1DD （GPCP one-degree daily） show that the consistencies between B MEP-d and GPCP-1DD are higher than those of each source dataset in terms of spatial pattern, temporal variability, probability distribution, and statistical precipitation events.