title: Dynamics in the smectic phase of stiff viral rods

abstract:
  We report on the dynamics in colloidal suspensions of stiff viral rods,
called fd-Y21M. This mutant filamentous virus exhibits a persistence length 3.5
times larger than the wild-type fd-wt. Such a virus system can be used as a
model system of rodlike particles for studying their self-diffusion. In this
paper, the physical features, such as rod contour length and polydispersity
have been determined for both viruses. The effect of viral rod flexibility on
the location of the nematic-smectic phase transition has been investigated,
with a focus on the underlying dynamics studied more specifically in the
smectic phase. Direct visualization of the stiff fd-Y21M at the scale of a
single particle has shown the mass transport between adjacent smectic layers,
as found earlier for the more flexible rods. We could relate this hindered
diffusion with the smectic ordering potentials for varying rod concentrations.
The self-diffusion within the layers is far more pronounced for the stiff rods
as compared to the more flexible fd-wt viral rod.


title:
Functional weak laws for the weighted mean losses or gains and
  applications

abstract:
  We show in this paper that many risk measures arising in Actuarial Sciences,
Finance, Medicine, Welfare analysis, etc. are garthered in classes of Weighted
Mean Loss or Gain (WMLG) statistics. Some of them are Upper Threshold Based
(UTH) or Lower Threshold Based (LTH). These statistics may be time-dependent
when the scene is monitored in the time and depend on specific functions $w$
and $d$. This paper provides time-dependent and uniformly functional weak
asymptotic laws that allow temporal and spatial studies of the risk as well as
comparison between statistics in terms of dependence and mutual influence. The
results are particularised for usual statistics of that kind such that the
Kakwani and Shorrocks ones. Datadriven applications based on pseudo-panel data
are provided.


title: Broadband and efficient diffraction

abstract:
  Surface topography dictates the deterministic functionality of diffraction by
a surface. In order to maximize the efficiency with which a diffractive optical
component, such as a grating or a diffractive lens, directs light into a chosen
order of diffraction, it is necessary that it be "blazed". The efficiency of
most diffractive optical components reported so far varies with the wavelength,
and blazing is achieved only at a specific nominal energy, the blaze
wavelength. The existence of spurious light in undesirable orders represents a
severe limitation that prevents using diffractive components in broadband
systems. Here we experimentally demonstrate that broadband blazing over almost
one octave can be achieved by combining advanced optical design strategies and
artificial dielectric materials that offer dispersion chromatism much stronger
than those of conventional bulk materials. The possibility of maintaining an
efficient funneling of the energy into a specific order over a broad spectral
range may empower advanced research to achieve greater control over the
propagation of light, leading to more compact, efficient and versatile optical
components.


title: Unavoidable sets and harmonic measures living on small sets

abstract:
  Given a connected open set $U\ne\emptyset$ in $ R^d$, $d\ge 2$, a relatively
closed set $A$ in $U$ is called \emph{unavoidable in $U$}, if Brownian motion,
starting in $x\in U\setminus A$ and killed when leaving $U$, hits $A$ almost
surely or, equivalently, if the harmonic measure for $x$ with respect to
$U\setminus A$ has mass $1$ on $A$. First a new criterion for unavoidable sets
is proven which facilitates the construction of smaller and smaller unavoidable
sets in $U$. Starting with an arbitrary champagne subdomain of $U$ (which is
obtained omitting a locally finite union of pairwise disjoint closed balls
$\overline B(z, r_z)$, $z\in Z$, satisfying $\sup_{z\in Z}
r_z/\mbox{dist}(z,U^c)<1$), a combination of the criterion and the existence of
small nonpolar compact sets of Cantor type yields a set $A$ on which harmonic
measures for $U\setminus A$ are living and which has Hausdorff dimension $d-2$
and, if $d=2$, logarithmic Hausdorff dimension $1$.
  This can be done as well for Riesz potentials (isotropic $\alpha$-stable
processes) on Euclidean space and for censored stable processes on $C^{1,1}$
open subsets. Finally, in the very general setting of a balayage space
$(X,\mathcal W)$ on which the function $1$ is harmonic (which covers not only
large classes of second order partial differential equations, but also
non-local situations as, for example, given by Riesz potentials, isotropic
unimodal L\'evy processes or censored stable processes) a construction of
champagne subsets $X\setminus A$ of $X$ with small unavoidable sets $A$ is
given which generalizes (and partially improves) recent constructions in the
classical case.


title: Expanders with respect to Hadamard spaces and random graphs

abstract:
  It is shown that there exists a sequence of 3-regular graphs
$\{G_n\}_{n=1}^\infty$ and a Hadamard space $X$ such that
$\{G_n\}_{n=1}^\infty$ forms an expander sequence with respect to $X$, yet
random regular graphs are not expanders with respect to $X$. This answers a
question of \cite{NS11}. $\{G_n\}_{n=1}^\infty$ are also shown to be expanders
with respect to random regular graphs, yielding a deterministic sublinear time
constant factor approximation algorithm for computing the average squared
distance in subsets of a random graph. The proof uses the Euclidean cone over a
random graph, an auxiliary continuous geometric object that allows for the
implementation of martingale methods.


title:
Nucleon Charges and Electromagnetic Form Factors from 2+1+1-Flavor
  Lattice QCD

abstract:
  We present lattice-QCD results on the nucleon isovector axial, scalar and
tensor charges, the isovector electromagnetic Dirac and Pauli form factors, and
the connected parts of the isoscalar charges. The calculations have been done
using two ensembles of HISQ lattices generated by the MILC Collaboration with
2+1+1 dynamical flavors at a lattice spacing of 0.12 fm and with light-quark
masses corresponding to pions with masses 310 and 220 MeV. We perform a
systematic study including excited-state degrees of freedom and examine the
dependence of the extracted nucleon matrix elements on source-sink separation.
This study demonstrates with high-statistics data that including excited-state
contributions and generating data at multiple separations is necessary to
remove contamination that would otherwise lead to systematic error. We also
determine the renormalization constants of the associated quark bilinear
operators in the RI-sMOM scheme and make comparisons of our renormalized
results with previous dynamical-lattice calculations.


title: Nematic droplets in aqueous dispersions of carbon nanotubes

abstract:
  Aqueous dispersions of exfoliated, bile-salt stabilized single-wall carbon
nanotubes exhibit a first order transition to a nematic liquid-crystalline
phase. The nematic phase presents itself in the form of micron-sized nematic
droplets also known as tactoids, freely floating in the isotropic host
dispersion. The nematic droplets are spindle shaped and have an aspect ratio of
about four, irrespective of their size. We attribute this to a director field
that is uniform rather than bipolar, which is confirmed by polarization
microscopy. It follows that the ratio of the anchoring strength and the surface
tension must be about four, which is quite larger than predicted theoretically
but in line with earlier observations of bipolar tactoids. From the scatter in
the data we deduce that the surface tension of the coexisting isotropic and
nematic phases must be extremely low, that is, of the order of nN/m.


title:
On the photometric error calibration for the `differential light curves'
  of point-like Active Galactic Nuclei

abstract:
  It is important to quantify the underestimation of rms photometric errors
returned by the commonly used $\emph APPHOT$ algorithm in the $\emph IRAF$
software, in the context of differential photometry of point-like AGN, because
of the crucial role it plays in evaluating their variability properties.
Published values of the underestimation factor, $\eta$, using several different
telescopes, lie in the range 1.3 - 1.75. The present study aims to revisit this
question by employing an exceptionally large data set of 262 differential light
curves (DLCs) derived from 262 pairs of non-varying stars monitored under our
ARIES AGN monitoring program for characterizing the intra-night optical
variability (INOV) of prominent AGN classes. The bulk of these data were taken
with the 1-m Sampurnanad Telescope (ST). We find $\eta$ = 1.54$\pm$0.05 which
is close to our recently reported value of $\eta$ = 1.5. Moreover, this
consistency holds at least up to a brightness mismatch of 1.5 mag between the
paired stars. From this we infer that a magnitude difference of at least up to
1.5 mag between a point-like AGN and comparison star(s) monitored
simultaneously is within the same CCD chip acceptable, as it should not lead to
spurious claims of INOV.


title:
Studies of grand minima in sunspot cycles from a flux transport solar
  dynamo model

abstract:
  We propose that grand minima in solar activity are caused by simultaneous
fluctuations in the meridional circulation and the Babcock-Leighton mechanism
for the poloidal field generation in the flux transport dynamo model. We
present the following results: (a) fluctuations in the meridional circulation
are more effective in producing grand minima; (b) both sudden and gradual
initiations of grand minima are possible; (c) distributions of durations and
waiting times between grand minima seem to be exponential; (d) the coherence
time of the meridional circulation has an effect on the number and the average
duration of grand minima, a coherence time of about 30 years being consistent
with observational data. We also study the occurrence of grand maxima and find
that the distributions of durations and waiting times between grand maxima are
also exponential, like the grand minima. Finally we address the question
whether the Babcock-Leighton mechanism can be operative during grand minima
when there are no sunspots. We show that an alpha-effect restricted to the
upper portions of the convection zone can pull the dynamo out of the grand
minima and can match various observational requirements if the amplitude of
this alpha-effect is suitably fine-tuned.


title: Period -- mass-loss rate relation of Miras with and without technetium

abstract:
  Aims: We report the discovery that Mira variables with and without absorption
lines of the element technetium (Tc) occupy two different regions in a diagram
of near- to mid-infrared colour versus pulsation period. Tc is an indicator of
a recent or ongoing mixing event called the third dredge-up (3DUP), and the
near- to mid-IR colour, such as the (K-[22]) colour where [22] is the the 22
micron band of the WISE space observatory, is an indicator of the dust
mass-loss rate of a star. Methods: We collected data from the literature about
the Tc content, pulsation period, and near- and mid-infrared magnitudes of more
than 190 variable stars on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) to which Miras
belong. The sample is naturally biased towards optical AGB stars, which have
low to intermediate (dust) mass-loss rates. Results: We show that a clear
relation between dust mass-loss rate and pulsation period exists if a
distinction is made between Tc-poor and Tc-rich Miras. Surprisingly, at a given
period, Tc-poor Miras are redder in (K-[22]) than are Tc-rich Miras; i.e. they
have higher mass-loss rates than the Tc-rich Miras. A few stars deviate from
this trend; physical explanations are given for these exceptions, such as
binarity or high mass. Conclusions: We put forward two hypotheses to explain
this dichotomy and conclude that the two sequences formed by Tc-poor and
Tc-rich Miras are probably due to the different masses of the two groups. The
pulsation period has a strong correlation with the dust-mass loss rate,
indicating that the pulsations are indeed triggering a dust-driven wind. The
location in the (K-[22]) vs. period diagram can be used to distinguish between
pre- and post-3DUP Miras, which we apply to a sample of Galactic bulge AGB
stars. We find that 3DUP is probably not common in AGB stars in the inner
bulge.


title: A few Ricci-flat stacks as phases of exotic GLSM's

abstract:
  In this letter we follow up recent work of Halverson-Kumar-Morrison on some
exotic examples of gauged linear sigma models (GLSM's). Specifically, they
describe a set of U(1) x Z_2 GLSM's with superpotentials that are quadratic in
p fields, rather than linear as is typically the case. These theories RG flow
to sigma models on branched double covers, where the double cover is realized
via a Z_2 gerbe. For that gerbe structure, and hence the double cover, the Z_2
factor in the gauge group is essential. In this letter we propose an analogous
geometric understanding of phases without that Z_2, in terms of Ricci-flat (but
not Calabi-Yau) stacks which look like Fano manifolds with hypersurfaces of Z_2
orbifolds.


title:
Supervisor Localization of Discrete-Event Systems based on State Tree
  Structures

abstract:
  Recently we developed supervisor localization, a top-down approach to
distributed control of discrete-event systems in the Ramadge-Wonham supervisory
control framework. Its essence is the decomposition of monolithic (global)
control action into local control strategies for the individual agents. In this
paper, we establish a counterpart supervisor localization theory in the
framework of State Tree Structures, known to be efficient for control design of
very large systems. In the new framework, we introduce the new concepts of
local state tracker, local control function, and state-based local-global
control equivalence. As before, we prove that the collective localized control
behavior is identical to the monolithic optimal (i.e. maximally permissive) and
nonblocking controlled behavior. In addition, we propose a new and more
efficient localization algorithm which exploits BDD computation. Finally we
demonstrate our localization approach on a model for a complex semiconductor
manufacturing system.


title:
Average transverse momentum of hadrons in proton-nucleus collisions in
  the wounded nucleon model

abstract:
  In the wounded nucleon model, a proton-nucleus (p+A) collision is a
superposition of independent nucleon-nucleon collisions. We use this model to
calculate the average transverse momentum of pions, kaons and protons in high
energy p+A collisions. For the same number of produced particles, because the
number of participants differs, in the wounded nucleon model the transverse
momentum of hadrons can differ between p+p and p+A collisions. In this model we
find that the average transverse momentum in high multiplicity p+A collisions
depends weakly on the number of produced particles, and underestimates the
preliminary experimental data at the LHC. The difference is small for pions and
greater for kaons and protons. The magnitude of this difference is consistent
with hydrodynamic expectations.


title: On Cayley digraphs that do not have hamiltonian paths

abstract:
  We construct an infinite family of connected, 2-generated Cayley digraphs
Cay(G;a,b) that do not have hamiltonian paths, such that the orders of the
generators a and b are arbitrarily large. We also prove that if G is any finite
group with |[G,G]| < 4, then every connected Cayley digraph on G has a
hamiltonian path (but the conclusion does not always hold when |[G,G]| = 4 or
5).


title: A lifting theorem for 3-isometries

abstract:
  An operator T on Hilbert space is a 3-isometry if there exists operators B
and D such that (T*)^n T^n = I+nB +n^2 D. An operator J is a Jordan operator if
it the sum of a unitary U and nilpotent N of order two which commute. If T is a
3-isometry and c>0, then I-c^{-2} D + sB + s^2D is positive semidefinite for
all real s if and only if T is the restriction to an invariant subspace of a
Jordan operator J=U+N with the norm of N at most c. As a corollary, an
analogous result for 3-symmetric operators, due to Helton and Agler, is
recovered.


title: Extrinsically adaptable systems

abstract:
  Are there qualitative and quantitative traits of system design that
contribute to the ability of people to further innovate? We propose that
extrinsic adaptability, the ability given to secondary parties to change a
system to match new requirements not envisioned by the primary provider, is
such a trait. "Extrinsic adaptation" encompasses the popular concepts of
"workaround", "fast prototype extension" or "hack", and extrinsic adaptability
is thus a measure of how friendly a system is to tinkering by curious minds. In
this report, we give "hackability" or "hacker-friendliness" scientific
credentials by formulating and studying a generalization of the concept. During
this exercise, we find that system changes by secondary parties fall on a
subjective gradient of acceptability, with extrinsic adaptations on one side
which confidently preserve existing system features, and invasive modifications
on the other side which are perceived to be disruptive to existing system
features. Where a change is positioned on this gradient is dependent on how an
external observer perceives component boundaries within the changed system. We
also find that the existence of objective cost functions can alleviate but not
fully eliminate this subjectiveness. The study also enables us to formulate an
ethical imperative for system designers to promote extrinsic adaptability.


title: On large deviations of coupled diffusions with time scale separation

abstract:
  We consider two Ito equations that evolve on different time scales. The
equations are fully coupled in the sense that all coefficients may depend on
both the "slow" and the "fast" processes and the diffusion terms may be
correlated. The diffusion term in the "slow" process is small. A large
deviation principle is obtained for the joint distribution of the slow process
and of the empirical measure of the fast process. By projecting on the slow and
fast variables, we arrive at new results on large deviations in the averaging
framework and on large deviations of the empirical measures of ergodic
diffusions, respectively. The proof of the main result relies on the property
that exponential tightness implies large deviation relative compactness. The
identification of the large deviation rate function is accomplished by
analysing the large deviation limit of an exponential martingale.


title:
Explicit implied volatilities for multifactor local-stochastic
  volatility models

abstract:
  We consider an asset whose risk-neutral dynamics are described by a general
class of local-stochastic volatility models and derive a family of asymptotic
expansions for European-style option prices and implied volatilities. Our
implied volatility expansions are explicit; they do not require any special
functions nor do they require numerical integration. To illustrate the accuracy
and versatility of our method, we implement it under five different model
dynamics: CEV local volatility, quadratic local volatility, Heston stochastic
volatility, $3/2$ stochastic volatility, and SABR local-stochastic volatility.


title: On the efficiency at maximum cooling power

abstract:
  The efficiency at maximum power (EMP) of heat engines operating as generators
is one corner stone of finite-time thermodynamics, the Curzon-Ahlborn
efficiency $\eta_{\rm CA}$ being considered as a universal upper bound. Yet, no
valid counterpart to $\eta_{\rm CA}$ has been derived for the efficiency at
maximum cooling power (EMCP) for heat engines operating as refrigerators. In
this Letter we analyse the reasons of the failure to obtain such a bound and we
demonstrate that, despite the introduction of several optimisation criteria,
the maximum cooling power condition should be considered as the genuine
equivalent of maximum power condition in the finite-time thermodynamics frame.
We then propose and discuss an analytic expression for the EMCP in the specific
case of exoreversible refrigerators.


title: The Existence of Coupling in the Category of Transitive Lie Algebroid

abstract:
  The coupling of the tangent bundle $TM$ with the Lie algebra bundle $L$
(K.Mackenzie,2005, Definition 7.2.2) plays the crucial role in the
classification of the transitive Lie algebroids for Lie algebra bundle $L$ with
fixed finite dimensional Lie algebra $\rg$ as a fiber of $L$. Here we give a
necessary and sufficient condition for existence such a coupling. Namely we
define a new topology on the group $\Aut(\rg)$ of all automorphisms of Lie
algebra $\rg$ and show that tangent bundle $TM$ can be coupled with the Lie
algebra bundle $L$ if and only if the Lie algebra bundle L admits a local
trivial structure with structural group endowed with such new topology. The
second version of the article is different from the first because of the
improvement of the text by invaluable efforts of professor J.Stasheff, to whom
we submit our sincere gratitude.


title:
Prospects for ultracold polar and magnetic chromium-closed-shell-atom
  molecules

abstract:
  The properties of the electronic ground state of the polar and paramagnetic
chromium--closed-shell-atom molecules have been investigated. State-of-the-art
\textit{ab initio} techniques have been applied to compute the potential energy
curves for the chromium--alkaline-earth-metal-atom, CrX (X = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr,
Ba), and chromium--ytterbium, CrYb, molecules in the Born-Oppenheimer
approximation for the $X^7\Sigma^+$ high-spin electronic ground state. The spin
restricted open-shell coupled cluster method restricted to single, double, and
noniterative triple excitations, RCCSD(T), was employed and the scalar
relativistic effects within Douglas-Kroll-Hess Hamiltonian or energy-consistent
pseudopotentials were included. The permanent electric dipole moments and
static electric dipole polarizabilities were computed. The leading long-range
coefficients describing the dispersion interaction between atoms at large
interatomic distances, $C_6$, are also reported. Molecules under investigation
are an example of species possessing both large magnetic and electric dipole
moments making them potentially interesting candidates for ultracold many-body
physics studies.


title: Natural extensions for piecewise affine maps via Hofbauer towers

abstract:
  We use canonical Markov extensions (Hofbauer towers) to give an explicit
construction of the natural extensions of various measure preserving
endomorphisms, and present some applications to particular examples.


title: On the origin of non self-gravitating filaments in the ISM

abstract:
  {Filaments are ubiquitous in the interstellar medium as recently emphasized
by Herschel, yet their physical origin remains elusive} {It is therefore
important to understand the physics of molecular clouds to investigate how
filaments form and what is the role played by various processes such as
turbulence and magnetic field.} {We use ideal MHD simulations to study the
formation of clumps in various conditions including different magnetization and
Mach numbers as well as two completely different setup. We then perform several
analysis to compute the shape of the clumps and their link to velocities and
forces using various approaches.} {We find that on average, clumps in MHD
simulations are more filamentary that clumps in hydrodynamical simulations.
Detailed analyses reveal that the filaments are in general preferentially
aligned with the strain which means that these structures simply result from
the strech induced by turbulence. Moreover filaments tend to be confined by the
Lorentz force which therefore lead them to survive longer in magnetized flows.
We show that they have in all simulations a typical thickness equal to a few
grid cells suggesting that they are primarily associated to the energy
dissipation within the flow. We estimate the order of magnitude of the
dissipation length associated to the ion-neutral friction and conclude that in
well UV shielded regions it is of the order of 0.1 pc and therefore could
possibly set the typical size of non self-gravitating filaments.} {Filaments
are ubiquitous because they are the results of the very generic turbulent
strain and because magnetic field help to keep them coherent. We suggest that
energy dissipation is playing a determinant role in their formation.}


title: The Fermi volume as a probe of hidden order

abstract:
  We demonstrate that the volume of the Fermi surface, measured very precisely
using de Haas-van Alphen oscillations, can be used to probe changes in the
nature and occupancy of localized electronic states. In systems with
unconventional ordered states, this allows an underlying electronic order
parameter to be followed to very low temperatures. We describe this effect in
the field-induced antiferroquadrupolar (AFQ) ordered phase of PrOs4Sb12, a
heavy fermion intermetallic compound. We find that the phase of de Haas-van
Alphen oscillations is sensitively coupled, through the Fermi volume, to the
configuration of the Pr f-electron states that are responsible for AFQ order.
In particular, the \beta-sheet of the Fermi surface expands or shrinks as the
occupancy of two competing localized Pr crystal field states changes. Our
results are in good agreement with previous measurements, above 300 mK, of the
AFQ order parameter by other methods. In addition, the low temperature
sensitivity of our measurement technique reveals a strong and previously
unrecognized influence of hyperfine coupling on the order parameter below 300
mK within the AFQ phase. Such hyperfine couplings could provide insight into
the nature of hidden order states in other systems.


title: The Ihara zeta function of the infinite grid

abstract:
  The infinite grid is the Cayley graph of $\mathbb{Z} \times \mathbb{Z}$ with
the usual generators. In this paper, the Ihara zeta function for the infinite
grid is computed using elliptic integrals and theta functions. The zeta
function of the grid extends to an analytic, multivalued function which
satisfies a functional equation. The set of singularities in its domain is
finite.
  The grid zeta function is the first computed example which is non-elementary,
and which takes infinitely many values at each point of its domain. It is also
the limiting value of the normalized sequence of Ihara zeta functions for
square grid graphs and torus graphs.


title:
Investigating solid $\alpha-^{15}$N$_{2}$ as a new source of ultra-cold
  neutrons

abstract:
  The dynamical structure factor of solid $^{15}$N$_{2}$ in the $\alpha$ phase
($T<35$K) is measured at the IN4 time-of-flight spectrometer at the Institut
Laue Langevin, and the potential performance of this substance as a UCN
converter is assessed. The cross-section to down-scatter neutrons to ultra-cold
neutron energies is determined as a function of incident energy, as well as the
up-scattering mean free path. The UCN production cross-section is found to be
approximately 20% of that of deuterium. However, UCN with energy 181 neV have
an up-scattering mean free path of 46 cm at $T=5.9$ K, which is $\sim20$ times
larger than deuterium. Therefore, a large volume $\alpha-^{15}$N$_{2}$ source
may produce an improved UCN density if sufficient isotopic purity can be
achieved.


title: Persistent currents in quantum phase slip rings

abstract:
  We investigate the effect of interacting quantum phase slips on persistent
current and its fluctuations in ultrathin superconducting nanowires and
nanorings pierced by the external magnetic flux. We derive the effective action
for these systems and map the original problem onto an effective sine-Gordon
theory on torus. We evaluate both the flux dependent persistent current and the
critical radius of the ring beyond which this current gets exponentially
suppressed by quantum fluctuations. We also analyze fluctuations of persistent
current caused by quantum phase slips. At low temperatures the supercurrent
noise spectrum has the form of coherent peaks which can be tuned by the
magnetic flux. Experimental observation of these peaks can directly demonstrate
the existence of plasma modes in superconducting nanorings.


title: Massive Gravity Acausality Redux

abstract:
  Massive gravity (mGR) is a 5(=2s+1) degree of freedom, finite range extension
of GR. However, amongst other problems, it is plagued by superluminal
propagation, first uncovered via a second order shock analysis. First order mGR
shock structures have also been studied, but the existence of superluminal
propagation in that context was left open. We present here a concordance of
these methods, by an explicit (first order) characteristic matrix computation,
which confirms mGR's superluminal propagation as well as acausality.


title: Atomic diffraction by light gratings with very short wavelengths

abstract:
  Lasers with wavelengths of the order of the atomic size are becoming
available. We explore the behavior of light-matter interactions in this
emergent field by considering the atomic Kapitza-Dirac effect. We derive the
diffraction patterns, which are in principle experimentally testable. From a
fundamental point of view, our proposal provides an example of system where the
periodicity of the diffraction grating is comparable to the size of the
diffracted object.


title:
Line shapes in \Upsilon(5S) \to B^{(*)} \bar{B}^{(*)}\pi with Z(10610)
  and Z(10650) using effective field theory

abstract:
  The Belle collaboration recently discovered two resonances, $Z_b(10610)$ and
$Z_b(10650)$ --- denoted $Z_b$ and $Z_b^\prime$ --- in the decays $\Upsilon(5S)
\to \Upsilon(nS) \pi^+ \pi^-$ for $n$ = 1, 2, or 3, and $\Upsilon(5S) \to
h_b(mP) \pi^+ \pi^-$ for $m = 1$ or 2. These resonances lie very close to the
$B^* \bar{B}$ and $B^* \bar{B}^*$ thresholds, respectively. A recent Belle
analysis of the three-body decays $\Upsilon(5S) \to [B^{(*)}
\bar{B}^{(*)}]^{\mp} \pi^\pm$ gives further evidence for the existence of these
states. In this paper we analyze this decay using an effective theory of $B$
mesons interacting via strong short-range interactions. Some parameters in this
theory are constrained using existing data on $\Upsilon(5 S) \to
B^{(*)}\bar{B}^{(*)}$ decays, which requires the inclusion of heavy quark spin
symmetry (HQSS) violating operators. We then calculate the differential
distribution for $\Upsilon(5S) \to B^{(*)} \bar{B}^{(*)} \pi$ as a function of
the invariant mass of the $B^{(*)} \bar{B}^{(*)}$ pair, obtaining qualitative
agreement with experimental data. We also calculate angular distributions in
the decay $\Upsilon(5S) \to Z_b^{(\prime)} \pi$ which are sensitive to the
molecular character of the $Z_b^{(\prime)}$.


title: Self-Approaching Graphs

abstract:
  In this paper we introduce self-approaching graph drawings. A straight-line
drawing of a graph is self-approaching if, for any origin vertex s and any
destination vertex t, there is an st-path in the graph such that, for any point
q on the path, as a point p moves continuously along the path from the origin
to q, the Euclidean distance from p to q is always decreasing. This is a more
stringent condition than a greedy drawing (where only the distance between
vertices on the path and the destination vertex must decrease), and guarantees
that the drawing is a 5.33-spanner. We study three topics: (1) recognizing
self-approaching drawings; (2) constructing self-approaching drawings of a
given graph; (3) constructing a self-approaching Steiner network connecting a
given set of points. We show that: (1) there are efficient algorithms to test
if a polygonal path is self-approaching in R^2 and R^3, but it is NP-hard to
test if a given graph drawing in R^3 has a self-approaching uv-path; (2) we can
characterize the trees that have self-approaching drawings; (3) for any given
set of terminal points in the plane, we can find a linear sized network that
has a self-approaching path between any ordered pair of terminals.


title: Connections between Semiparametrics and Robustness

abstract:
  Robust and semiparametric statistics are of the same historical origin and
largely employ the same locally asymptotically normal framework. In our talk,
we consider he following more intrinsic connections of both fields:
  1) Robust influence curves for semiparametric models with infinite
dimensional nuisance parameter; for example, for semiparametric regression
(Cox), and mixture models (Neyman--Scott).
  2) Adaptiveness in the sense of Stein's necessary condition of robust
neighborhood models and estimators with respect to a finite dimensional
nuisance parameter; for example, location, linear regression, and ARMA.
  3) Semiparametric treatment of gross error deviations from an ideal model as
an infinite dimensional nuisance parameter, by projection on balls; for
testing, an asymptotic version of the Huber--Strassen maximin result is thus
obtained.
  4) Uniform and nonuniform asymptotic normality of robust and adaptive
estimators, respectively, in regression and time series models.
  5) Fragility of optimal one-sided tests and confidence limits obtained for
convex tangent cones, by projection on cones, as opposed to stability of
corresponding procedures, even two-sided, for linear tangent spaces.
  6) The unknown neighborhood radius as a nuisance parameter in robustness.
  The investigation relies on asymptotic techniques and on numerical
evaluations of robust estimates.
  The construction under 1) of robust estimates which are adaptive, an
appropriate LAM estimation bound for balls under 3), and the minimization of
the norm under 5) on a certain restricted set of differences of tangents from a
cone are examples of challenging open problems.


title:
A supermartingale argument for characterizing the Functional Hill
  process weak law for small parameters

abstract:
  The paper deals with the asymptotic laws of functional of standard random
variables. These classes of statistics are closely related to estimators of the
extreme value index when the underlying distribution function is in the Weibull
domain of attraction. We use techniques based on martingales theory to describe
the non Gaussian asymptotic distribution of the aforementioned statistics. We
provide results of a simulation study as well as statistical tests that may be
of interest with the proposed results.


title: Topological games and Alster spaces

abstract:
  In this paper we study connections between topological games such as
Rothberger, Menger and compact-open, and relate these games to properties
involving covers by G_{\delta} subsets. The results include: (1) If Two has a
winning strategy in the Menger game on a regular space X, then X is an Alster
space. (2) If Two has a winning strategy in the Rothberger game on a
topological space X, then the G_\delta-topology on X is Lindelof. (3) The
Menger game and the compact-open game are (consistently) not dual.


title: Two Reflected Gray Code based orders on some restricted growth sequences

abstract:
  We consider two order relations: that induced by the m-ary reflected Gray
code and a suffix partitioned variation of it. We show that both of them when
applied to some sets of restricted growth sequences still yield Gray codes.
These sets of sequences are: subexcedant or ascent sequences, restricted growth
functions, and staircase words. In each case we give efficient exhaustive
generating algorithms and compare the obtained results.


title:
A generalized P\'olya's Urn with graph based interactions: convergence
  at linearity

abstract:
  We consider a special case of the generalized P\'{o}lya's urn model
introduced by Benaim et al (2013). Given a finite connected graph $G$, place a
bin at each vertex. Two bins are called a pair if they share an edge of $G$. At
discrete times, a ball is added to each pair of bins. In a pair of bins, one of
the bins gets the ball with probability proportional to its current number of
balls. A question of essential interest for the model is to understand the
limiting behavior of the proportion of balls in the bins for different graphs
$G$. In this paper, we present two results regarding this question. If $G$ is
not balanced-bipartite, we prove that the proportion of balls converges to some
deterministic point $v=v(G)$ almost surely. If $G$ is regular bipartite, we
prove that the proportion of balls converges to a point in some explicit
interval almost surely. The question of convergence remains open in the case
when $G$ is non-regular balanced-bipartite (see a final remark in the paper).


title:
Br{\o}ndsted-Rockafellar property of subdifferentials of prox-bounded
  functions

abstract:
  We provide a new proof that the subdifferential of a proper lower
semicontinuous convex function on a Banach space is maximal monotone by
adapting the pattern commonly used in the Hilbert setting. We then extend the
arguments to show more precisely that subdifferentials of proper lower
semicontinuous prox-bounded functions possess the Br{\o}ndsted-Rockafellar
property.


title:
Electronic structure of oxygen-functionalized armchair graphene
  nanoribbons

abstract:
  The electronic and magnetic properties of varying width,
oxygen-functionalized armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs) are investigated
using first-principles density functional theory (DFT). Our study shows that
O-passivation results in a rich geometrical environment which in turn
determines the electronic and magnetic properties of the AGNR. For planar
systems a degenerate magnetic ground state, arising from emptying of O
lone-pair electrons, is reported. DFT predicts ribbons with ferromagnetic
coupling to be metallic whereas antiferromagnetically coupled ribbons present
three band gap families: one metallic and two semiconducting. Unlike hydrogen
functionalized AGNRs, the oxygen functionalized ribbons can attain a lower
energy configuration by adopting a non-planar geometry. The non-planar
structures are non-magnetic and show three semiconducting families of band gap
behavior. Quasiparticle corrections to the DFT results predict a widening of
the band gaps for all planar and non-planar, semiconducting systems. This
suggests that oxygen functionalization could be used to manipulate the
electronic structures of AGNRs.


title: Simplicity of Partial Crossed Products

abstract:
  In this article, we consider a twisted partial action $\alpha$ of a group $G$
on a ring $R$ and it is associated partial crossed product $R*_{\alpha}^wG$. We
study necessary and sufficient conditions for the commutativity and simplicity
of $R*_{\alpha}^wG$.
  Let $R=C(X)$ the algebra of continuous functions of a topological space $X$
on the complex numbers and $C(X)*_{\alpha}G$ the partial skew group ring, where
$\alpha$ is a partial action of a topological group $G$ on $C(X)$. We study
some topological properties to obtain results on the algebra $C(X)$. Also, we
study the simplicity of $C(X)*_{\alpha}G$ using topological properties and the
results about the simplicity of partial crossed product obtained for
$R*_{\alpha}^wG$.


title: Quantitative visibility estimates for unrectifiable sets in the plane

abstract:
  The "visibility" of a planar set $S$ from a point $a$ is defined as the
normalized size of the radial projection of $S$ from $a$ to the unit circle
centered at $a$. Simon and Solomyak (Real Anal. Exchange 2006/07) proved that
unrectifiable self-similar one-sets are invisible from every point in the
plane. We quantify this by giving an upper bound on the visibility of
$\delta$-neighbourhoods of such sets. We also prove lower bounds on the
visibility of $\delta$-neighborhoods of more general sets, based in part on
Bourgain's discretized sum-product estimates


title: Bimetric Gravity, Variable Speed of Light Cosmology and Planck2013

abstract:
  A bimetric gravity model with a variable speed of light is shown to be in
agreement with the results reported from the Planck satellite in 2013. The
predicted scalar mode spectral index is $n_s\approx 0.96$ and its running is
$\alpha_s\approx 8\times 10^{-4}$ when the fundamental length scale $\ell_0$ in
the model is fixed to be $\ell_0\approx 10^5\ell_P$, where $\ell_P$ is the
Planck length $\ell_P=1.62\times 10^{-33}\,{\rm cm}$, giving the observed CMB
fluctuations: $\delta_H\approx 10^{-5}$. The enlarged lightcone ensures that
horizon and flatness problems are solved. The model is free from many of the
fine-tuning problems of the inflationary models and the fluctuations that form
the seeds of structure formation do not lead to a chaotic inhomogeneous
universe and the need for a multiverse.


title: Quantum Structures: A View of the Quantum World

abstract:
  We offer a systematic account of decomposition of quantum systems into parts.
Different decompositions (structures) are mutually linked via the proper linear
canonical transformations. Different kinds of structures, as well as their
relations, are considered. Emphasis is placed on mutually global and
irreducible structures. Is there a privileged structure of the closed system?
Is there a preferred (bipartite) structure of an open system? Are there any
practical advantages of certain alternative structures of the system? Is there
a simple dynamical relation for a pair of structures? The [necessarily partial]
answers are rather intriguing. Relativity of quantum correlations (that include
entanglement as well as the "one-way" and "two-way" discord) is carefully
presented. Emphasis is placed on the "parallel occurrence of decoherence" in
the quantum Brownian motion. The environment-selected preferred structure of an
open composite system is presented for a pair of harmonic oscillators (or the
field modes). A limitation of the Nakajima-Zwanzig projection method appears as
a consequence of quantum correlations relativity. Hence, describing dynamics of
an alternate open-system is a delicate task. Certain interpretational issues,
which include "quantum reference frames" issue, are discussed. Some recent
experiments are also discussed. To this end, the option that "there are no
particles" on the most fundamental physical level naturally follows. Certain
open questions and prospects for further research are highlighted.


title: Spurious frequencies in the {\it Kepler} short cadence data

abstract:
  We present our search for artifacts in the {\it Kepler} short cadence data
using a commonly known Fourier technique. We analyzed data on a monthly basis
searching for a possible correlation between artifacts and the events
attributed to the spacecraft as potential sources of the spurious frequencies.
We defined a peak to be an artifact if it shows in at least two, yet
preferentially most of the stars, during a given month. Besides the commonly
known LC {\it comb} we found a periodic appearance of another two {\it combs},
one single artifact and very strange wide artifacts roaming between 10 and 35
c/d. These artifacts evolve on a yearly basis (four of {\it Kepler's} rolls)
and we may only speculate that their sources are in the reaction wheels since
they are the only moving parts or temperature variation. The orientation of the
spacecraft is likely excluded from the possible sources. More resources are
needed to provide a definite explanation of the artifacts.


title:
The Geospatial Characteristics of a Social Movement Communication
  Network

abstract:
  Social movements rely in large measure on networked communication
technologies to organize and disseminate information relating to the movements'
objectives. In this work we seek to understand how the goals and needs of a
protest movement are reflected in the geographic patterns of its communication
network, and how these patterns differ from those of stable political
communication. To this end, we examine an online communication network
reconstructed from over 600,000 tweets from a thirty-six week period covering
the birth and maturation of the American anticapitalist movement, Occupy Wall
Street. We find that, compared to a network of stable domestic political
communication, the Occupy Wall Street network exhibits higher levels of
locality and a hub and spoke structure, in which the majority of non-local
attention is allocated to high-profile locations such as New York, California,
and Washington D.C. Moreover, we observe that information flows across state
boundaries are more likely to contain framing language and references to the
media, while communication among individuals in the same state is more likely
to reference protest action and specific places and and times. Tying these
results to social movement theory, we propose that these features reflect the
movement's efforts to mobilize resources at the local level and to develop
narrative frames that reinforce collective purpose at the national level.

categories: cs.CY cs.SI physics.data-an physics.soc-ph


title: The Digital Evolution of Occupy Wall Street

abstract:
  We examine the temporal evolution of digital communication activity relating
to the American anti-capitalist movement Occupy Wall Street. Using a
high-volume sample from the microblogging site Twitter, we investigate changes
in Occupy participant engagement, interests, and social connectivity over a
fifteen month period starting three months prior to the movement's first
protest action. The results of this analysis indicate that, on Twitter, the
Occupy movement tended to elicit participation from a set of highly
interconnected users with pre-existing interests in domestic politics and
foreign social movements. These users, while highly vocal in the months
immediately following the birth of the movement, appear to have lost interest
in Occupy related communication over the remainder of the study period.


title:
Ground-based detection of Calcium and possibly Scandium and Hydrogen in
  the atmosphere of HD 209458b

abstract:
  Context: Since the first exoplanetary atmosphere detection using the Hubble
Space Telescope, characterization of exoplanet atmospheres from the ground have
been playing an increasingly important role in the analysis of such atmospheres
thanks to the enhancement of telluric correction techniques. At present,
several species have been discovered in the atmosphere of HD 209458b, all of
them consistent with theoretical models. Aims: Data acquired using the High
Dispersion Spectrograph on the Subaru telescope are re-analysed. We expect to
discover new species in the atmosphere of the exoplanet HD 209458b. In addition
to shed light on the atmospheric composition, we will derive the radial
extension of the absorbents present in the atmosphere of the exoplanet.
Methods: We present an alternative method to correct the telluric effects
through the analysis of variations in spectral lines with the airmass. To
search absorptions due to an exoplanetary atmosphere we implemented an
algorithm to automatically search for all the features presenting an
atmospheric signature in the transmission spectrum and through the wavelength
range in the data. In order to estimate uncertainties we perform a
bootstrapping analysis. Results: Absorption excess due to the transitions of
Calcium at 6162.17A and 6493.78A, Scandium at 5526.79A, Hydrogen at 6562.8A and
Sodium doublet are detected in the transmission spectrum at a level of
-0.079+-0.012%, -0.138+-0.013%, -0.059+-0.012%, -0.123+-0.012%, -0.071+-0.016%
using pass-bands of 0.5A, 0.4A, 0.5A, 1.1A and 0.6A, respectively. Conclusions:
Models predict strong absorption in the Sodium resonance Doublet which was
previously detected, also in this analysis. However, this is the first report
of Calcium and possibly Scandium in HD 209458b, including the possible
ground-based detection of Hydrogen. ... (continues)


title:
Fluctuation Effects in the Pair-Annihilation Process with L\'evy
  Dynamics

abstract:
  We investigate the density decay in the pair-annihilation process A+A->0 in
the case when the particles perform anomalous diffusion on a cubic lattice. The
anomalous diffusion is realized via L\'evy flights, which are characterized by
long-range jumps and lead to superdiffusive behavior. As a consequence, the
critical dimension depends continuously on the control parameter of the L\'evy
flight distribution. This instance is used to study the system close to the
critical dimension by means of the nonperturbative renormalization group
theory. Close to the critical dimension, the assumption of well-stirred
reactants is violated by anticorrelations between the particles, and the law of
mass action breaks down. The breakdown of the law of mass action is known to be
caused by long-range fluctuations. We identify three interrelated consequences
of these fluctuations. First, despite being a nonuniversal quantity and thus
depending on the microscopic details, the renormalized reaction rate can be
approximated by a universal law close to the critical dimension. The emergence
of universality relies on the fact that long-range fluctuations suppress the
influence of the underlying microscopic details. Second, as criticality is
approached, the macroscopic reaction rate decreases such that the law of mass
action loses its significance. And third, additional nonanalytic power law
corrections complement the analytic law of mass action term. An increasing
number of those corrections accumulate and give an essential contribution as
the critical dimension is approached. We test our findings for two
implementations of L\'evy flights that differ in the way they cross over to the
normal diffusion.


title: Europium nitride: A novel diluted magnetic semiconductor

abstract:
  Europium nitride is semiconducting and contains non-magnetic \3+, but
sub-stoichiometric EuN has Eu in a mix of 2+ and 3+ charge states. We show that
at \2+ ~concentrations near 15-20% EuN is ferromagnetic with a Curie
temperature as high as 120 K. The \3+ ~polarization follows that of the \2+,
confirming that the ferromagnetism is intrinsic to the EuN which is thus a
novel diluted magnetic semiconductor. Transport measurements shed light on the
likely exchange mechanisms.


title: Classification of simple cuspidal modules for solenoidal Lie algebras

abstract:
  We give a new conceptual proof of the classification of cuspidal modules for
the solenoidal Lie algebra. This classification was originally published by
Y.Su. Our proof is based on the theory of modules for the solenoidal Lie
algebras that admit a compatible action of the commutative algebra of functions
on a torus.


title: Cross-Linked Structure of Network Evolution

abstract:
  We study the temporal co-variation of network co-evolution via the cross-link
structure of networks, for which we take advantage of the formalism of
hypergraphs to map cross-link structures back to network nodes. We investigate
two sets of temporal network data in detail. In a network of coupled nonlinear
oscillators, hyperedges that consist of network edges with temporally
co-varying weights uncover the driving co-evolution patterns of edge weight
dynamics both within and between oscillator communities. In the human brain,
networks that represent temporal changes in brain activity during learning
exhibit early co-evolution that then settles down with practice, and subsequent
decreases in hyperedge size are consistent with emergence of an autonomous
subgraph whose dynamics no longer depends on other parts of the network. Our
results on real and synthetic networks give a poignant demonstration of the
ability of cross-link structure to uncover unexpected co-evolution attributes
in both real and synthetic dynamical systems. This, in turn, illustrates the
utility of analyzing cross-links for investigating the structure of temporal
networks.


title: Characterizing Ambiguity in Light Source Invariant Shape from Shading

abstract:
  Shape from shading is a classical inverse problem in computer vision. This
shape reconstruction problem is inherently ill-defined; it depends on the
assumed light source direction. We introduce a novel mathematical formulation
for calculating local surface shape based on covariant derivatives of the
shading flow field, rather than the customary integral minimization or P.D.E
approaches. On smooth surfaces, we show second derivatives of brightness are
independent of the light sources and can be directly related to surface
properties. We use these measurements to define the matching local family of
surfaces that can result from any given shading patch, changing the emphasis to
characterizing ambiguity in the problem. We give an example of how these local
surface ambiguities collapse along certain image contours and how this can be
used for the reconstruction problem.


title: Transmission eigenvalues and thermoacoustic tomography

abstract:
  The spectrum of the interior transmission problem is related to the unique
determination of the acoustic properties of a body in thermoacoustic imaging.
Under a non-trapping hypothesis, we show that sparsity of the interior
transmission spectrum implies a range separation condition for the
thermoacoustic operator. In odd dimension greater than or equal to three, we
prove that the transmission spectrum for a pair of radially symmetric
non-trapping sound speeds is countable, and conclude that the ranges of the
associated thermoacoustic maps have only trivial intersection.


title:
Eclipsing high-mass binaries I. Light curves and system parameters for
  CPD-518946, PISMIS24-1 and HD319702

abstract:
  We present first results of a comprehensive photometric O-star survey
performed with a robotic twin refractor at the Universit\"atssternwarte Bochum
located near Cerro Armazones in Chile. For three high-mass stars, namely
Pismis24-1, CPD-518946 and HD319702, we determined the period through the
Lafler-Kinman algorithm and model the light curves within the framework of the
Roche geometry. For Pismis24-1, a previously known eclipsing binary, we provide
first light curves and determined a photometric period of 2.36 days together
with an orbital inclination of 61.8 degrees. The best-fitting model solution to
the light curves suggest a detached configuration. With a primary temperature
of T1 = 42520K we obtain the temperature of the secondary component as T2 =
41500K. CPD-518946 is another known eclipsing binary for which we present a
revised photometric period of 1.96 days with an orbital inclination of 58.4
degrees. The system has likely a semi-detached configuration and a mass ratio q
= M1/M2 = 2.8. If we adopt a primary temperature of T1 = 34550K we obtain T2 =
21500K for the secondary component. HD319702 is a newly discovered eclipsing
binary member of the young open cluster NGC6334. The system shows well-defined
eclipses favouring a detached configuration with a period of 2.0 days and an
orbital inclination of 67.5 degrees. Combining our photometric result with the
primary spectral type O8 III(f) (T1 = 34000K) we derive a temperature of T2 =
25200K for the secondary component.


title: Topological Symmetry Groups of M\"{o}bius Ladders

abstract:
  We classify all groups which can occur as the orientation preserving
topological symmetry group of some embedding of a M\"{o}bius ladder graph in
$S^3$.


title: Physical Relativism as an Interpretation of Existence

abstract:
  Despite the success of modern physics in formulating mathematical theories
that can predict the outcome of quantum-scale experiments, the physical
interpretations of these theories remain controversial. In this manuscript, we
propose a new interpretation of existence that we call physical relativism.
Under physical relativism, the difference between mathematical existence and
physical existence is clarified, and Wheeler's `it from bit' viewpoint can be
objectively evaluated. In addition, physical relativism provides a simple
answer to the question of why the universe exists at all, and permits us to
derive the maximally biophilic principle, a generalization of the anthropic
principle that ascribes high prior likelihood to the observation of a universe
with simple physical laws supporting the overall concepts of time, space and
the emergent evolution of life.


title:
Herschel-SPIRE-Fourier Transform Spectroscopy of the nearby spiral
  galaxy IC342

abstract:
  We present observations of the nearby spiral galaxy IC342 with the Herschel
Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE) Fourier Transform
Spectrometer. The spectral range afforded by SPIRE, 196-671 microns, allows us
to access a number of 12CO lines from J=4--3 to J=13--12 with the highest J
transitions observed for the first time. In addition we present measurements of
13CO, [CI] and [NII]. We use a radiative transfer code coupled with Bayesian
likelihood analysis to model and constrain the temperature, density and column
density of the gas. We find two 12CO components, one at 35 K and one at 400 K
with CO column densities of 6.3x10^{17} cm^{-2} and 0.4x10^{17} cm^{-2} and CO
gas masses of 1.26x10^{7} Msolar and 0.15x10^{7} Msolar, for the cold and warm
components, respectively. The inclusion of the high-J 12CO line observations,
indicate the existence of a much warmer gas component (~400 K) confirming
earlier findings from H_{2} rotational line analysis from ISO and Spitzer. The
mass of the warm gas is 10% of the cold gas, but it likely dominates the CO
luminosity. In addition, we detect strong emission from [NII] 205microns and
the {3}P_{1}->{3}P_{0} and {3}P_{2} ->{3}P_{1} [CI] lines at 370 and 608
microns, respectively. The measured 12CO line ratios can be explained by
Photon-dominated region (PDR) models although additional heating by e.g. cosmic
rays cannot be excluded. The measured [CI] line ratio together with the derived
[C] column density of 2.1x10^{17} cm^{-2} and the fact that [CI] is weaker than
CO emission in IC342 suggests that [CI] likely arises in a thin layer on the
outside of the CO emitting molecular clouds consistent with PDRs playing an
important role.


title:
Holographic parity violating charged fluid dual to Chern-Simons modified
  gravity

abstract:
  We discuss the $(2+1)$-dimensional parity violating charged fluid on a finite
cutoff surface $\Sigma_c$, dual to the nondynamical and dynamical Chern-Simons
(CS) modified gravities. Using nonrelativistic long-wavelength expansion
method, the field equations are solved up to $\mathcal{O}(\epsilon^2)$ in the
nondynamical model. It is shown that there exists nonvortical dual fluid with
shear viscosity $\eta$ and Hall viscosity $\eta_A$ on the cutoff surface
$\Sigma_c$. The ratio of shear viscosity over entropy density $\eta/s$ of the
fluid takes the universal value $1/{4\pi}$, while the ratio of Hall viscosity
over entropy density $\eta_A/s$ depends on the $\Sigma_c$ and black brane
charge $q$. Moreover the nonvortical dual fluid obeys the magnetohydrodynamic
(MHD) equation. However, these kinematic viscosities $\nu$ and $\nu_A$ related
to $\eta$ and $\eta_A$ do not appear in this MHD equation, due to the
constraint condition $\tilde{\partial}^2\beta_j=0$ for the $(2+1)$-dimensional
dual fluid. Then, we extend our discussion to the dynamical CS modified gravity
and show that the dual vortical fluid possesses another so-called Curl
viscosity $\zeta_A$, whose ratio to entropy density $\zeta_A/s$ also depends on
the $\Sigma_c$ and $q$. Moreover, the value of $\eta/s$ still equals to
$1/4\pi$ and the result of $\eta_A/s$ agrees to the previous result under the
probe limit of the pseudo scalar field at the infinite boundary in the charged
black brane background for the dynamical CS modified gravity. This vortical
dual fluid corresponds to the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence equation in
plasma physics.


title: Model Reframing by Feature Context Change

abstract:
  The feature space (including both input and output variables) characterises a
data mining problem. In predictive (supervised) problems, the quality and
availability of features determines the predictability of the dependent
variable, and the performance of data mining models in terms of
misclassification or regression error. Good features, however, are usually
difficult to obtain. It is usual that many instances come with missing values,
either because the actual value for a given attribute was not available or
because it was too expensive. This is usually interpreted as a utility or
cost-sensitive learning dilemma, in this case between misclassification (or
regression error) costs and attribute tests costs. Both misclassification cost
(MC) and test cost (TC) can be integrated into a single measure, known as joint
cost (JC). We introduce methods and plots (such as the so-called JROC plots)
that can work with any of-the-shelf predictive technique, including ensembles,
such that we re-frame the model to use the appropriate subset of attributes
(the feature configuration) during deployment time. In other words, models are
trained with the available attributes (once and for all) and then deployed by
setting missing values on the attributes that are deemed ineffective for
reducing the joint cost. As the number of feature configuration combinations
grows exponentially with the number of features we introduce quadratic methods
that are able to approximate the optimal configuration and model choices, as
shown by the experimental results.


title: The flaw in the firewall argument

abstract:
  A lot of confusion surrounds the issue of black hole complementarity, because
the question has been considered without discussing the mechanism which
guarantees unitarity. Considering such a mechanism leads to the following: (1)
The Hawking quanta with energy E of order the black hole temperature T carry
information, and so only appropriate processes involving E>>T quanta can have
any possible complementary description with an information-free horizon; (2)
The stretched horizon describes all possible black hole states with a given
mass M, and it must expand out to a distance s_{bubble} before it can accept
additional infalling bits; (3) The Hawking radiation has a specific low
temperature T, and infalling quanta interact significantly with it only within
a distance s_{alpha} of the horizon. One finds s_{alpha} << s_{bubble} for
E>>T, and this removes the argument against complementarity recently made by
Almheiri et al. In particular, the condition E>>T leads to the notion of
'fuzzball complementarity', where the modes around the horizon are indeed
correctly entangled in the complementary picture to give the vacuum.


title: Gromov's Non-Squeezing Theorem and Beltrami type equation

abstract:
  We introduce a method for constructing J-complex discs. The method only uses
the standard scheme for solving the Beltrami equation and the Schauder
principle. As an application, we give a short self-contained proof of Gromov's
Non-Squeezing Theorem.


title: A Luminous and Fast-Expanding Type Ib Supernova SN 2012au

abstract:
  We present a set of photometric and spectroscopic observations of a bright
Type Ib supernova SN 2012au from -6d until ~+150d after maximum. The shape of
its early R-band light curve is similar to that of an average Type Ib/c
supernova. The peak absolute magnitude is M_R=-18.7+-0.2 mag, which suggests
that this supernova belongs to a very luminous group among Type Ib supernovae.
The line velocity of He I {\lambda}5876 is about 15,000 km/s around maximum,
which is much faster than that in a typical Type Ib supernova. From the
quasi-bolometric peak luminosity of (6.7+-1.3)x10^(42) erg/s, we estimate the
\Ni mass produced during the explosion as ~0.30 Msun. We also give a rough
constraint to the ejecta mass 5-7 Msun and the kinetic energy (7-18)x10^(51)
erg. We find a weak correlation between the peak absolute magnitude and He I
velocity among Type Ib SNe. The similarities to SN 1998bw in the density
structure inferred from the light curve model as well as the large peak
bolometric luminosity suggest that SN 2012au had properties similar to
energetic Type Ic supernovae.


title: Symmetries of Elko and massive vector fields

abstract:
  This thesis studies the symmetries and phenomenologies of the massive vector
fields of indefinite spin with both scalar and spin-one degrees of freedom and
Elko. The investigation is conducted by using and extending the quantum field
theory formalism developed by Wigner and Weinberg. In particular, we explore
the possibility that the W^{\pm} and Z bosons have an additional scalar degree
of freedom and show that Elko is a fermionic dark matter candidate. We show
that the massive vector fields of indefinite spin are consistent with Poincare
symmetry and have physically desirable properties that are absent for their
pure spin-one counterpart. Using the new vector fields, the decay of the
W^{\pm} and Z bosons to leptons at tree-level are in agreement with the
Standard Model (SM) predictions. For higher order scattering amplitudes, the
theory has better convergent behaviour than the intermediate vector boson model
and the Fermi theory. Elko has the unusual property that it satisfies the
Klein-Gordon but not the Dirac equation and has mass dimension one instead of
three-half. We show that the Elko fields are local only along a preferred axis
and that they violate Lorentz symmetry. Motivated by the results obtained by
Ahluwalia and Horvath that the Elko spin-sums are covariant under very special
relativity (VSR) transformations, we derive the VSR particle states and quantum
fields. We show that the VSR particles can only interact with the SM particles
through gravity and massive scalar particles thus making them and hence Elko
dark matter candidates.


title: Solving the EPR paradox with pseudo-classical paths

abstract:
  We propose a novel interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, which can resolve the
outstanding conflict between the principles of locality and realism and offers
new insight on the so-called weak values of physical observables. The
discussion is presented in the context of Bohm's system of two photons in their
singlet polarization state in which the Einstein-Podolski-Rosen paradox is
commonly addressed. It is shown that quantum states can be understood as
statistical mixtures of non-interfering pseudo-classical paths in a {\it
hidden} phase space, in a way that overcomes the implicit assumptions of Bell's
theorem and reproduces all expected values and correlations. The polarization
properties of the photons along these paths are gauge-dependent magnitudes,
whose actual values get fixed only after a reference direction is set by the
observer of either photon A or B. Furthermore, these values are not constrained
to fulfill standard classical algebraic relationships. These {\it hidden} paths
can be grouped into coarser ones consistent with particular post-selection
conditions for a complete set of commuting observables and along which every
physical observable gets on average its corresponding weak value. Obviously,
different sets of commuting observables lead to different coarse statistical
representations of the same quantum state. This interpretation follows from the
observation that in the Heisenberg picture of a closed quantum system in state
$|\Psi>$ every physical observable ${\cal O}(t)=e^{+i H t} {\cal O} e^{-i H t}$
can be represented by an operator $P_{o(t)}$ within a commutative algebra, such
that ${\cal O}(t)|\Psi>=P_{o(t)}|\Psi>$. The formalism presented here may
become a useful tool for performing numerical simulations of quantum systems.


title:
Generation of a retro-reflected wave by interaction of an evanescent
  wave with a sub-wavelength structure

abstract:
  Numerical calculations were performed to examine the mechanisms for
generation of a retro-reflected wave from the interaction of an evanescent wave
with a sub-wavelength structure using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD)
method. The simulation shows that an evanescent wave is reflected from the
structure at the interface between a high index dielectric material and a low
index material. The reflected evanescent wave couples into the upper medium and
radiates its energy forming a retro-reflected wave, which appears as a sharp
peak near the edge of the structure when imaging the structure in
hyper-numerical-aperture solid immersion microscopy. We propose a simple theory
and verify it through FDTD calculation under various circumstances in order to
explain peculiar features of this phenomenon. Furthermore, we suggest a way to
control the reflection of the evanescent wave by taking advantage of the
interference of the evanescent wave inside the structure.


title: The study of Anisotropic Flows at LHC with purturbative simulation

abstract:
  We study the harmonic flows, for example, the directed, elliptic, third and
fourth flow of the system of partons formed just after relativistic heavy ion
collisions. We calculate the minijets produced during the primary collisions
using standard parton distributions for the incomming projectile and target
nucleus. We solve the Boltzmann equations of motion for the system of minijets
by Monte Carlo method within only the perturbative sector. Based on the flow
data calculated, we conclude the simulation can not explain the experimental
results at RHIC and LHC so that the nonperturbative sector plays much more
important roles even from the earliest stage of heavy ion collisions.


title: Abstract homomorphisms of algebraic groups and applications

abstract:
  This paper is an overview of my recent work on abstract homomorphisms of
algebraic groups. It is based on a talk given at the Conference on Group
Actions and Applications in Geometry, Topology, and Analysis held in Kunming in
July 2012.


title:
Dynamical revivals of the paired superfluidity and counterflow
  superfluidity

abstract:
  The quantum dynamics of two-species bosons in an optical lattice is studied
within the mean-field theory. The quantum coherence experiences periodical
collapses and revivals, which depends on the relative strength of the inter-and
intra-species interactions. The paired superfluidity and the counterflow
superfluidity are identified and are verified by exact diagonaliztion in the
two-site Hubbard model. We suggest a dynamical method of implementation and
detection for the paired superfluid and the counterflow superfluidity in the
optical lattices.


title: Huffman coding as an algorithm to construct chains in partition lattices

abstract:
  The Huffman coding algorithm is interpreted in the lattice of partitions of
the source alphabet. Maximal chains in the partition lattice correspond to
linear extensions of tree orders, and those among the chains that exhibit a
simple greedy property correspond precisely to executions of the Huffman
algorithm.


title:
Pseudogap Formation and Quantum Phase Transition in Strongly-Correlated
  Electron Systems

abstract:
  Pseudogap formation is an ubiquitous phenomena in strongly-correlated
superconductors, for example cuprates, heavy-fermion superconductors, and iron
pnictides. As the system is cooled, an energy gap opens in the excitation
spectrum before entering the superconducting phase. The origin of formation and
the relevancy to the superconductivity remains unclear, which is the most
challenging problem in condensed matter physics. Here, using the cuprate as a
model, we demonstrate that the formation of pseudogap is due to a massive gauge
interaction between electrons, where the mass of the gauge boson, determining
the interaction length scale, is the consequence of the remnant
antiferromagnetic fluctuation inherited from the parent compounds. Extracting
from experimental data, we predict that there is a quantum phase transition
belonging to the 2D XY universality class at the critical doping where
pseudogap transition vanishes.


title: The VW transformation -- A Simple Alternative to the Wilson GF Method

abstract:
  An alternative, the VW transformation, is proposed to replace the Wilson GF
method for calculating molecular vibration frequencies and normal modes. The VW
transformation yields precisely the same eigenmodes and and eigenfrequencies
that are found with the GF method. The transformation proceeds entirely in the
mass-normalized Cartesian coordinates of the individual atoms, with no
transformations to internal coordinates. The VW transformation thus offers an
enormous computational simplification over the GF method, namely the
mathematical apparatus needed to transform to internal coordinates is
eliminated. All need for new researchers to understand the complex matrix
transformations underlying the GF method is thus also removed. The VW
transformation is not a projection method; the internal vibrations remain
dispersed over all 3N atomic coordinates. In the VW method, the 3N x 3N force
constant matrix V is replaced with a new 3N x 3N matrix W. The replacement is
physically transparent. The matrix W has the same internal normal modes and
vibration frequencies that V does. However, unlike V, W is not singular, so the
normal modes and normal mode frequencies can be obtained using conventional
matrix techniques.


title:
Momentum in General Relativity: Local versus Quasilocal Conservation
  Laws

abstract:
  We construct a general relativistic conservation law for linear and angular
momentum for matter and gravitational fields in a finite volume of space that
does not rely on any spacetime symmetries. This work builds on our previous
construction of a general relativistic energy conservation law with the same
features. Our approach uses the Brown and York quasilocal
stress-energy-momentum tensor for matter and gravitational fields, plus the
concept of a rigid quasilocal frame (RQF) introduced in previous work. The RQF
approach allows us to construct, in a generic spacetime, frames of reference
whose boundaries are rigid (their shape and size do not change with time), and
that have precisely the same six arbitrary time-dependent degrees of freedom as
the accelerating and tumbling rigid frames we are familiar with in Newtonian
mechanics. These RQFs, in turn, give rise to a completely general conservation
law for the six components of momentum (three linear and three angular) of a
finite system of matter and gravitational fields. We compare in detail this
quasilocal RQF approach to constructing conservation laws with the usual local
one based on spacetime symmetries, and discuss the shortcomings of the latter.
These RQF conservation laws lead to a deeper understanding of physics in the
form of simple, exact, operational definitions of gravitational energy and
momentum fluxes, which in turn reveal, for the first time, the exact, detailed
mechanisms of gravitational energy and momentum transfer taking place in a wide
variety of physical phenomena, including a simple falling apple. As a concrete
example, we derive a general relativistic version of Archimedes' law that we
apply to understand electrostatic weight and buoyant force in the context of a
Reissner-Nordstrom black hole.


title: A Wrapper of PCI Express with FIFO Interfaces based on FPGA

abstract:
  This paper proposes a PCI Express (PCIE) Wrapper core named PWrapper with
FIFO interfaces. Compared with other PCIE solutions, PWrapper has several
advantages such as flexibility, isolation of clock domain, etc. PWrapper is
implemented and verified on Vertex -5-FX70T which is a development board
provided by Xilinx Inc. Architecture of PWrapper and design of two key modules
are illustrated, which timing optimization methods have been adopted. Then we
explained the advantages and challenges of on-chip interfaces technology based
on FIFOs. The verification results show that PWrapper can achieve the speed of
1.8Gbps (Giga bits per second).


title: Towards consistent extension of quasidilaton massive gravity

abstract:
  We present the first example of a unitary theory of Lorentz-invariant massive
gravity, with all degrees of freedom propagating on a strictly homogeneous and
isotropic, self-accelerating de Sitter background. The theory is a simple
extension of the quasidilaton theory, respecting the symmetry of the original
theory but allowing for a new type of coupling between the massive graviton and
the quasidilaton scalar.


title: Interval decomposition lattices are balanced

abstract:
  Intervals in binary or n-ary relations or other discrete structures
generalize the concept of interval in a linearly ordered set. Join-irreducible
partitions into intervals are characterized in the lattice of all interval
decompositions of a set, in a general sense of intervals defined axiomatically.
This characterization is used to show that the lattice of interval
decompositions is balanced.


title:
A Twist-Bend Chiral Helix of 8nm Pitch in a Nematic Liquid Crystal of
  Achiral Molecular Dimers

abstract:
  Freeze Fracture Transmission Electron Microscopy (FFTEM) study of the
nanoscale structure of the so-called "twist-bend" nematic (NX) phase of the
cyanobiphenyl (CB) dimer molecule CB(CH2)7CB reveals a stripe texture of fluid
layers periodically arrayed with a bulk spacing of d ~ 8.3 nm. Fluidity and a
rigorously maintained spacing produce long-range-ordered fluid layered focal
conic domains. Absence of a lamellar x-ray reflection at wavevector q ~
2{\pi}/8 nm-1 or its harmonics in synchrotron-based scattering experiments
indicates that this periodic structure is achieved with no detectable
associated modulation of the electron density, and thus has nematic molecular
ordering. A search for periodic ordering with d ~ 8nm in CB(CH2)7CB using
atomistic molecular dynamic computer simulation yielded equilibration of a
conical twist-bend helixed nematic ground state, of the sort first proposed by
Meyer, and envisioned in systems of bent molecules by Dozov and Memmer, We
identify {\theta} ~ 33 degree as the cone angle, and p ~ 8nm as the full pitch
of the helix, the shortest ever found in a nematic fluid.


title:
Asymptotic Properties of Lasso+mLS and Lasso+Ridge in Sparse
  High-dimensional Linear Regression

abstract:
  We study the asymptotic properties of Lasso+mLS and Lasso+Ridge under the
sparse high-dimensional linear regression model: Lasso selecting predictors and
then modified Least Squares (mLS) or Ridge estimating their coefficients.
First, we propose a valid inference procedure for parameter estimation based on
parametric residual bootstrap after Lasso+mLS and Lasso+Ridge. Second, we
derive the asymptotic unbiasedness of Lasso+mLS and Lasso+Ridge. More
specifically, we show that their biases decay at an exponential rate and they
can achieve the oracle convergence rate of $s/n$ (where $s$ is the number of
nonzero regression coefficients and $n$ is the sample size) for mean squared
error (MSE). Third, we show that Lasso+mLS and Lasso+Ridge are asymptotically
normal. They have an oracle property in the sense that they can select the true
predictors with probability converging to 1 and the estimates of nonzero
parameters have the same asymptotic normal distribution that they would have if
the zero parameters were known in advance. In fact, our analysis is not limited
to adopting Lasso in the selection stage, but is applicable to any other model
selection criteria with exponentially decay rates of the probability of
selecting wrong models.


title: Notes on the Level Curves of a Meromorphic Function

abstract:
  The subject of this paper is the bounded level curves of a meromorphic
function $f$ with domain $G$ such that each component of $\partial{G}$ consists
of a level curve of $f$. (A primary example of such a function being a ratio of
finite Blaschke products of different degrees, with domain $\mathbb{D}$.) We
will first prove several facts about a single bounded level curve of a $f$ in
isolation from the other level curves of $f$. We will then study how the level
curves of $f$ lie with respect to each other. It is natural to expect that the
sets $\{z:|f(z)|=\epsilon\}$ vary continuously as $\epsilon$ varies. We will
make this notion explicit, and use this continuity to prove several results
about the bounded level curves of $f$. It is well known that if $z_0$ is a zero
or a pole of $f$, then $f$ is conformally equivalent to the function
$z\mapsto{z^k}$ (for some $k\in\mathbb{Z}$) in a neighborhood of $z_0$. We
generalize this fact by finding a natural decomposition of $G$ into finitely
many sub-regions (also bounded by level curves of $f$), on each of which $f$ is
conformally equivalent to $z\mapsto{z^k}$ (for some $k\in\mathbb{Z}$). Also
included is a new proof, using level curves, of the Gauss--Lucas theorem that
the critical points of a polynomial are contained in the convex hull of the
polynomial's zeros.


title: Java Card for PayTv Application

abstract:
  Smart cards are widely used along with PayTV receivers to store secret user
keys and to perform security functions to prevent any unauthorized viewing of
PayTV channels. Java Card technology enables programs written in the Java
programming language to run on smart cards. Smart cards represent one of the
smallest computing platforms in use today. The memory configuration of a smart
card are of the order of 4K of RAM, 72K of EEPROM, and 24K of ROM. Using Java
card provides advantages to the industry in terms of ease of coding, faster
time to market and faster upgrades as compared to plain smart cards . Also
different applications like payTV, e-commerce, health-card can easily be
implemented in a single java card as multiple applets corresponding to each
application can coexists in a single java card. But there are security concerns
in java cards and also the performance issues. In this paper, we analyse the
suitability of using Java card for PayTV applications as part of conditional
access system in place of plain smart cards.


title: Enhancement of ultra-thin film emission using a waveguiding active layer

abstract:
  We present a theoretical study on the impact of an active optical layer on
the emission properties of an ultrathin luminescent film. While the study can
be generalized to any material, we focus here on a simple layered medium
composed of a conjugated polymers (CPs) thin film, a zinc oxide layer (ZnO) and
a sapphire substrate. The study spreads throughout variable aspects including
the effect of the structure parameters on the CP luminescence and radiation
pattern and more specifically the influence of the absorption and emission
properties of the active layer. Comparing between the passive and active layer
cases, the obtained results show that an enhancement of the CP luminescence of
more than 20 times can be obtained by using an optically active underlying
layer. The results can be explained in terms of photon recycling where the
optically active layer acts as a photon reservoir and a secondary light source
for the ultra thin film. This general concept is of a special interest for
ultra-trace chemosensor.


title: The real photon structure functions in massive parton model in NLO

abstract:
  We investigate the one-gluon-exchange ($\alpha \alpha_s$) corrections to the
real photon structure functions $W_{TT} $, $W_{LT}$, $W_{TT}^{a} $ and
$W_{TT}^\tau$ in the massive parton model.
  We employ a technique based on the Cutkosky rules and the reduction of
Feynman integrals to master integrals. We show that a positivity constraint,
which is derived from the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, is satisfied among the
unpolarized and polarized structure functions $W_{TT}$, $W_{TT}^a$ and
$W_{TT}^\tau$ calculated up to the next-to-leading order in QCD.


title:
Compound Wishart Matrices and Noisy Covariance Matrices: Risk
  Underestimation

abstract:
  In this paper, we obtain a property of the expectation of the inverse of
compound Wishart matrices which results from their orthogonal invariance. Using
this property as well as results from random matrix theory (RMT), we derive the
asymptotic effect of the noise induced by estimating the covariance matrix on
computing the risk of the optimal portfolio. This in turn enables us to get an
asymptotically unbiased estimator of the risk of the optimal portfolio not only
for the case of independent observations but also in the case of correlated
observations. This improvement provides a new approach to estimate the risk of
a portfolio based on covariance matrices estimated from exponentially weighted
moving averages of stock returns.


title: Binary decision making with very heterogeneous influence

abstract:
  We consider an extension of a binary decision model in which nodes make
decisions based on influence-biased averages of their neighbors' states,
similar to Ising spin glasses with on-site random fields. In the limit where
these influences become very heavy-tailed, the behavior of the model
dramatically changes. On complete graphs, or graphs where nodes with large
influence have large degree, this model is characterized by a new "phase" with
an unpredictable number of macroscopic shocks, with no associated critical
phenomena. On random graphs where the degree of the most influential nodes is
small compared to population size, a predictable glassy phase without phase
transitions emerges. Analytic results about both of these new phases are
obtainable in limiting cases. We use numerical simulations to explore the model
for more general scenarios. The phases associated with very influential
decision makers are easily distinguishable experimentally from a homogeneous
influence phase in many circumstances, in the context of our simple model.


title: Holographic Schwinger effect in confining phase

abstract:
  We consider the Schwinger effect in confining phase by using a holographic
setup. The potential analysis is performed for the confining D3-brane and
D4-brane backgrounds. We find the critical electric field above which there is
no potential barrier and the system becomes unstable catastrophically. An
intriguing point is that no Schwinger effect occurs when the electric field is
smaller than the confining string tension.


title: Power Minimization in Multi-pair Two-Way Relaying

abstract: This doc provides some proofs in our submitted journal paper.


title: Microscopic study of $^{16}$O+$^{16}$O fusion

abstract:
  We perform a study of $^{16}$O+$^{16}$O fusion at above and below the
interaction barrier energies using three-dimensional time-dependent
Hartree-Fock (TDHF) calculations at above barrier energies and
density-constrained TDHF calculations for the entire energy range. We discuss
the variations of the experimental data at above the barrier energies.
Calculations reasonably reproduce the observed energy-dependent broad
oscillations in the fusion excitation functions. These oscillations result from
overcoming $L$-dependent fusion barriers. The role of the coupling to low-lying
octupole states is also discussed.


title: Interacting spin-1 bosons in a two-dimensional optical lattice

abstract:
  We study, using quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations, the ground state
properties of spin-1 bosons trapped in a square optical lattice. The phase
diagram is characterized by the mobility of the particles (Mott insulating or
superfluid phase) and by their magnetic properties. For ferromagnetic on-site
interactions, the whole phase diagram is ferromagnetic and the Mott
insulators-superfluid phase transitions are second order. For antiferromagnetic
on-site interactions, spin nematic order is found in the odd Mott lobes and in
the superfluid phase. Furthermore, the superfluid-insulator phase transition is
first or second order depending on whether the density in the Mott is even or
odd. Inside the even Mott lobes, we observe a singlet-to-nematic transition for
certain values of the interactions. This transition appears to be first order.


title:
Some Generalization of Hadamard's type Inequalities through
  Differentiability for s-Convex Function and their Applications

abstract:
  In this paper, a general form of integral inequalities of Hermite-Hadamard's
type through differentiability for s-Convex function in second sense and whose
all derivatives are absolutely continuous are established. The generalized
integral inequalities contributes some better estimates than some already
presented. The inequalities are then applied to numerical integration and some
special means.


title:
A priori bounds and existence of non-real eigenvalues of indefinite
  Sturm-Liouville problems

abstract:
  The present paper gives a priori bounds on the possible non-real eigenvalues
of regular indefinite Sturm-Liouville problems and obtains sufficient
conditions for such problems to admit non-real eigenvalues.


title:
Numerical verification of random phase-and-amplitude formalism of weak
  turbulence

abstract:
  The Random Phase and Amplitude Formalism (RPA) has significantly extended the
scope of weak turbulence studies. Because RPA does not assume any proximity to
the Gaussianity in the wavenumber space, it can predict, for example, how the
fluctuation of the complex amplitude of each wave mode grows through nonlinear
interactions with other modes, and how it approaches the Gaussianity. Thus, RPA
has a great potential capability, but its validity has been assessed neither
numerically nor experimentally. We compare the theoretical predictions given by
RPA with the results of direct numerical simulation (DNS) for a three-wave
Hamiltonian system, thereby assess the validity of RPA. The predictions of RPA
agree quite well with the results of DNS in all the aspects of statistical
characteristics of mode amplitudes studied here.


title:
Statistical analysis of the determinations of the Sun's Galactocentric
  distance

abstract:
  Based on several tens of Ro measurements made during the past decades,
several studies have been performed to derive the best estimate of Ro. Some
used just simple averaging to derive a result, whereas others provided
comprehensive analyses of possible errors in published results. In either case,
detailed statistical analyses of data used were not performed. However, a
computation of the best estimates of the Galactic rotation constants is not
only an astronomical but also a metrological task. Here we perform an analysis
of 53 Ro measurements (published in the past 20 years) to assess the
consistency of the data. Our analysis shows that they are internally
consistent. It is also shown that any trend in the Ro estimates from the last
20 years is statistically negligible, which renders the presence of a bandwagon
effect doubtful. On the other hand, the formal errors in the published Ro
estimates improve significantly with time.


title:
Duality-symmetric Action for Electromagnetic Theory with Electric and
  Magnetic Sources

abstract:
  For the SL(2,\textbf{R}) duality-invariant generalization of Maxwell
electrodynamics in the presence of both electric and magnetic sources, we
formulate a local, manifestly duality-symmetric, Zwanziger-type action by
introducing a pair of four-potentials $A^\mu$ and $B^\mu$ in a judicious way.
On the two potentials $A^\mu$ and $B^\mu$ the SL(2,\textbf{R}) duality
transformation acts in a simple linear manner. In quantum theory including
charged source fields, this action can be recast as a
SL(2,\textbf{Z})-invariant action. Also given is a Zwanziger-type action for
SL(2,\textbf{R}) duality-invariant Born-Infeld electrodynamics which can be
important for D-brane dynamics in string theory.


title: A new proof of Vassiliev's conjecture

abstract:
  We give a new proof of Vassiliev's planarity criterion for framed four-valent
graphs (and more generally, *-graphs), which is based on Pontryagin-Kuratowski
theorem.


title:
Translation numbers define generators of $F_k^+\to {\text{\rm
  Homeo}_+}(\mathbb{S}^1)$

abstract:
  We consider a minimal action of a finitely generated semigroup by
homeomorphisms of a circle, and show that the collection of translation numbers
of individual elements completely determines the set of generators (up to a
common continuous change of coordinates). One of the main tools used in the
proof is the synchronization properties of random dynamics of circle
homeomorphisms: Antonov's theorem and its corollaries.


title:
Combined AFM and STM measurements of a silicene sheet grown on Ag(111)
  surface

abstract:
  In this Letter, we present the first non-contact atomic force microscopy
(nc-AFM) of a silicene on silver (Ag) surface, obtained by combining
non-contact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy
(STM). STM images over large areas of silicene grown on Ag(111) surface show
both (sqrt13xsqrt13)R13.9{\deg} and (4x4) superstructures. For the widely
observed (4x4) structure, the nc-AFM topography shows an atomic-scale contrast
inversion as the tip-surface distance is decreased. At the shortest tip-surface
distance, the nc-AFM topography is very similar to the STM one. The observed
structure in the nc-AFM topography is compatible with only one out of two
silicon atoms being visible. This indicates unambiguously a strong buckling of
the silicene honeycomb layer.


title:
Soft Null Hypotheses: A Case Study of Image Enhancement Detection in
  Brain Lesions

abstract:
  This work is motivated by a study of a population of multiple sclerosis (MS)
patients using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI)
to identify active brain lesions. At each visit, a contrast agent is
administered intravenously to a subject and a series of images is acquired to
reveal the location and activity of MS lesions within the brain. Our goal is to
identify and quantify lesion enhancement location at the subject level and
lesion enhancement patterns at the population level. With this example, we aim
to address the difficult problem of transforming a qualitative scientific null
hypothesis, such as "this voxel does not enhance", to a well-defined and
numerically testable null hypothesis based on existing data. We call the
procedure "soft null hypothesis" testing as opposed to the standard "hard null
hypothesis" testing. This problem is fundamentally different from: 1) testing
when a quantitative null hypothesis is given; 2) clustering using a mixture
distribution; or 3) identifying a reasonable threshold with a parametric null
assumption. We analyze a total of 20 subjects scanned at 63 visits (~30Gb), the
largest population of such clinical brain images.


title: Closed geodesics and bounded gaps

abstract:
  The bounded gaps property of the prime numbers, as proven by Yitang Zhang, is
considered for sequences of lengths of closed geodesics, which by the theory of
Selberg zeta functions are the geometric analogue of the prime numbers. It
turns out that the property holds for congruence subgroups and is false for a
dense set in Teichm\"uller space.


title: Programs in C++ for matrix computations in min plus algebra

abstract:
  The main purpose of this paper is to propose six programs in C++ for matrix
computations and solving recurrent equations systems with entries in min plus
algebra.


title: Computing the Fr\'echet Distance with a Retractable Leash

abstract:
  All known algorithms for the Fr\'echet distance between curves proceed in two
steps: first, they construct an efficient oracle for the decision version;
second, they use this oracle to find the optimum from a finite set of critical
values. We present a novel approach that avoids the detour through the decision
version. This gives the first quadratic time algorithm for the Fr\'echet
distance between polygonal curves in $R^d$ under polyhedral distance functions
(e.g., $L_1$ and $L_\infty$). We also get a $(1+\varepsilon)$-approximation of
the Fr\'echet distance under the Euclidean metric, in quadratic time for any
fixed $\varepsilon > 0$. For the exact Euclidean case, our framework currently
yields an algorithm with running time $O(n^2 \log^2 n)$. However, we conjecture
that it may eventually lead to a faster exact algorithm.


title: Top quark property measurements at the Tevatron

abstract:
  We review recent measurements of the properties of the top quark by the CDF
and D0 experiments: the mass and decay width of the top quark, the ratio
$R=\btwb/\btwq$, the total production cross section of \ttbar\ pairs, the
helicity of the $W$ boson, anomalous couplings at the $Wtb$ vertex, the
asymmetry of $\ttbar$ production due to the colour charge, and the first study
of the top quark polarisation. The measurements are performed using data
samples of up to 8.7 \fb\ acquired by the CDF and D0 experiments in Run II of
the Fermilab Tevatron $p\bar p$ collider at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt
s=1.96 \TeV$.


title: Transformation of deep-water methane bubbles into hydrate

abstract:
  The paper is dedicated to the mechanics of the methane bubbles in the gas
hydrate stability zone of the basin. Transformation of deep-water methane
bubbles into solid hydrate was investigated in Lake Baikal in situ. Released
from the bottom methane bubbles were caught by different traps with transparent
walls. It was observed that when bubbles entered into internal space of the
trap, the bubbles could be transformed into two different solid hydrate
structures depending on ambient conditions. The first structure is hydrate
granular matter consisted of solid fragments with sizes of order of 1 mm. The
second structure is high porous solid foam consisted of solid bubbles with
sizes of order of 5 mm. The formed granular matter did not change during trap
lifting up to top border of gas hydrate stability zone, whereas free methane
intensively released from solid foam sample during it lifting. It was concluded
that the decrease of the depth of bubble sampling and the decrease of the
bubble flux rate assist to formation of hydrate granular matter, whereas
increase of the depth of bubble sampling and growth of bubble flux rate assist
to conversation of bubbles into high porous solid hydrate foam.


title: A Formal Model of QoS-Aware Web Service Orchestration Engine

abstract:
  QoS-aware applications can satisfy not only the functional requirements of
the customers, but also the QoS requirements. QoS-aware Web Service
orchestration translates the QoS requirements of the customers into those of
its component Web Services. In a system viewpoint, we discuss issues on
QoS-aware Web Service orchestration and design a typical QoS-aware Web Service
orchestration engine called QoS-WSOE. More importantly, we establish a formal
model of QoS-WSOE based on actor systems theory. Within the formal model, we
use a three-layered pyramidal structure to capture the requirements of the
customers with a concept named QoS-Aware WSO Service, characteristics of
QoS-WSOE with a concept named QoS-Aware WSO System, and structures and
behaviors of QoS-WSOE with a concept named QoS-Aware WSO Behavior. Conclusions
showing that a system with QoS-Aware WSO Behavior is a QoS-Aware WSO System and
further can provide QoS-Aware WSO Service are drawn.