arXiv subjects

Candi Zheng

Publications and source records attributed to Candi Zheng.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Rethinking the Diffusion Model from a Langevin Perspective

Diffusion models are often introduced from multiple perspectives, such as VAEs, score matching, or flow matching, accompanied by dense and technically demanding mathematics that can be difficult for beginners to grasp. One classic question is: how does the reverse process invert the forward process to generate data from pure noise? This article systematically organizes the diffusion model from a fresh Langevin perspective, offering a simpler, clearer, and more intuitive answer. We also address the following questions: how can ODE-based and SDE-based diffusion models be unified under a single framework? Why are diffusion models theoretically superior to ordinary VAEs? Why is flow matching not fundamentally simpler than denoising or score matching, but equivalent under maximum-likelihood? We demonstrate that the Langevin perspective offers clear and straightforward answers to these questions, bridging existing interpretations of diffusion models, showing how different formulations can be converted into one another within a common framework, and offering pedagogical value for both learners and experienced researchers seeking deeper intuition.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2025

LanPaint: Training-Free Diffusion Inpainting with Asymptotically Exact and Fast Conditional Sampling

Diffusion models excel at joint pixel sampling for image generation but lack efficient training-free methods for partial conditional sampling (e.g., inpainting with known pixels). Prior work typically formulates this as an intractable inverse problem, relying on coarse variational approximations, heuristic losses requiring expensive backpropagation, or slow stochastic sampling. These limitations preclude: (1) accurate distributional matching in inpainting results, (2) efficient inference modes without gradient, (3) compatibility with fast ODE-based samplers. To address these limitations, we propose LanPaint: a training-free, asymptotically exact partial conditional sampling methods for ODE-based and rectified flow diffusion models. By leveraging carefully designed Langevin dynamics, LanPaint enables fast, backpropagation-free Monte Carlo sampling. Experiments demonstrate that our approach achieves superior performance with precise partial conditioning and visually coherent inpainting across diverse tasks.

eess.IV↗

arXiv2025

Learning the Optimal Hydrodynamic Closure

We present the optimal hydrodynamic model for rarefied gas flows relative to a given kinetic model by combining the recent theory of slow spectral closure with machine learning techniques. We learn generalized transport coefficients from density fluctuation data for the Shakhov model as well as Monte Carlo Simulations and demonstrate that our approach decisively outperforms previously proposed constitutive laws for higher-order hydrodynamics. The novel hydrodynamic model is in close alignment with the underlying kinetic models, thus proving the optimality of the slow spectral closure. Our theory is independent on any smallness assumption of the Knudsen number and is formulated solely in terms of macroscopic observables.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2024

Early Risk Assessment Model for ICA Timing Strategy in Unstable Angina Patients Using Multi-Modal Machine Learning

Background: Invasive coronary arteriography (ICA) is recognized as the gold standard for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases, including unstable angina (UA). The challenge lies in determining the optimal timing for ICA in UA patients, balancing the need for revascularization in high-risk patients against the potential complications in low-risk ones. Unlike myocardial infarction, UA does not have specific indicators like ST-segment deviation or cardiac enzymes, making risk assessment complex. Objectives: Our study aims to enhance the early risk assessment for UA patients by utilizing machine learning algorithms. These algorithms can potentially identify patients who would benefit most from ICA by analyzing less specific yet related indicators that are challenging for human physicians to interpret. Methods: We collected data from 640 UA patients at Shanghai General Hospital, including medical history and electrocardiograms (ECG). Machine learning algorithms were trained using multi-modal demographic characteristics including clinical risk factors, symptoms, biomarker levels, and ECG features extracted by pre-trained neural networks. The goal was to stratify patients based on their revascularization risk. Additionally, we translated our models into applicable and explainable look-up tables through discretization for practical clinical use. Results: The study achieved an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of $0.719 \pm 0.065$ in risk stratification, significantly surpassing the widely adopted GRACE score's AUC of $0.579 \pm 0.044$. Conclusions: The results suggest that machine learning can provide superior risk stratification for UA patients. This improved stratification could help in balancing the risks, costs, and complications associated with ICA, indicating a potential shift in clinical assessment practices for unstable angina.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2023

Characteristic Guidance: Non-linear Correction for Diffusion Model at Large Guidance Scale

Popular guidance for denoising diffusion probabilistic model (DDPM) linearly combines distinct conditional models together to provide enhanced control over samples. However, this approach overlooks nonlinear effects that become significant when guidance scale is large. To address this issue, we propose characteristic guidance, a guidance method that provides first-principle non-linear correction for classifier-free guidance. Such correction forces the guided DDPMs to respect the Fokker-Planck (FP) equation of diffusion process, in a way that is training-free and compatible with existing sampling methods. Experiments show that characteristic guidance enhances semantic characteristics of prompts and mitigate irregularities in image generation, proving effective in diverse applications ranging from simulating magnet phase transitions to latent space sampling.

cs.CV↗

arXiv2023

Phase Transition in Extended Thermodynamics Triggers Sub-shocks

Extended thermodynamics commonly uses polynomial moments to model non-equilibrium transportation, but faces a crisis due to sub-shocks, which are anomalous discontinuities in gas properties when predicting shock waves. The cause of sub-shocks is still unclear, challenging the validity of extended thermodynamics. This paper reveals, for the first time, that sub-shocks arise from intrinsic limitations of polynomials leading to a discontinuous phase transition. Therefore extended thermodynamics necessitates alternative moments beyond polynomials to avoid sub-shocks.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2023

Data-Driven Constitutive Relation Reveals Scaling Law for Hydrodynamic Transport Coefficients

Finding extended hydrodynamics equations valid from the dense gas region to the rarefied gas region remains a great challenge. The key to success is to obtain accurate constitutive relations for stress and heat flux. Data-driven models offer a new phenomenological approach to learning constitutive relations from data. Such models enable complex constitutive relations that extend Newton's law of viscosity and Fourier's law of heat conduction by regression on higher derivatives. However, the choices of derivatives in these models are ad-hoc without a clear physical explanation. We investigated data-driven models theoretically on a linear system. We argue that these models are equivalent to non-linear length scale scaling laws of transport coefficients. The equivalence to scaling laws justified the physical plausibility and revealed the limitation of data-driven models. Our argument also points out that modeling the scaling law could avoid practical difficulties in data-driven models like derivative estimation and variable selection on noisy data. We further proposed a constitutive relation model based on scaling law and tested it on the calculation of Rayleigh scattering spectra. The result shows our data-driven model has a clear advantage over the Chapman-Enskog expansion and moment methods.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2023

Stabilizing the Maximal Entropy Moment Method for Rarefied Gas Dynamics at Single-Precision

The maximal entropy moment method (MEM) is systematic solution of the challenging problem: generating extended hydrodynamic equations valid for both dense and rarefied gases. However, simulating MEM suffers from a computational expensive and ill-conditioned maximal entropy problem. It causes numerical overflow and breakdown when the numerical precision is insufficient, especially for flows like high-speed shock waves. It also prevents modern GPUs from accelerating MEM with their enormous single floating-point precision computation power. This paper aims to stabilize MEM, making it possible to simulating very strong normal shock waves on modern GPUs at single precision. We improve the condition number of the maximal entropy problem by proposing gauge transformations, which moves not only flow fields but also hydrodynamic equations into a more optimal coordinate system. We addressed numerical overflow and breakdown in the maximal entropy problem by employing the canonical form of distribution and a modified Newton optimization method. Moreover, we discovered a counter-intuitive phenomenon that over-refined spatial mesh beyond mean free path degrades the stability of MEM. With these techniques, we accomplished single-precision GPU simulations of high speed shock wave up to Mach 10 utilizing 35 moments MEM, while previous methods only achieved Mach 4 on double-precision.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2016

A Family Group of Two-dimensional Node-Line Semimetals

Using evolutionary algorithm and first-principles calculations, we predict a family group of two-dimensional node-line semimetals MX (M=Pd, Pt; X=S, Se, Te), which has zig-zag type mono-layer structure in Pmm2 layer group. Band structure analysis reveals that node-line features are caused by band inversion and the inversion exists even in the absence of spin-orbital-coupling. Tests are carried out to confirm that the node-line loop is protected by crystal symmetry. This work extends our knowledge of node-line materials to two-dimensional cases, i.e., a group of metal-group VI compounds sharing the same lattice structure which has time reversion and crystal-mirror inversion symmetries.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗