title:
The impact of the gas distribution on the determination of dynamical
  masses of galaxies using unresolved observations

abstract:
  The dynamical mass (M_dyn) is a key property of any galaxy, yet a
determination of M_dyn is not straight-forward if spatially resolved
measurements are not available. This situation occurs in single-dish HI
observations of the local universe, but also frequently in high-redshift
observations. M_dyn-measurements in high-redshift galaxies are commonly
obtained through observations of the CO line, the most abundant tracer of the
molecular medium. Even though the CO linewidth can in most cases be determined
with reasonable accuracy, a measurement of the size of the emitting region is
typically challenging given current facilities. We show how the integrated
spectra (`global profiles') of a variety of galaxy models depend on the spatial
distribution of the tracer gas as well as its velocity dispersion. We
demonstrate that the choice of tracer emission line significantly affects the
shape of the global profiles. In particular, in the case of high (~50 kms-1)
velocity dispersions, compact tracers (such as CO) result in Gaussian-like
(non-double-horned) profiles, as is indeed frequently seen in high-redshift
observations. We determine at which radii the rotation curve reaches the
rotation velocity corresponding to the velocity width, and find that for each
tracer this happens at a well-defined radius: HI velocity widths typically
originate at ~5 optical scale lengths, while CO velocity widths trace the
rotation velocity at ~2 scale lengths. We additionally explore other
distributions to take into account that CO distributions at high redshift
likely differ from those at low redshift. Our models, while not trying to
reproduce individual galaxies, define characteristic radii that can be used in
conjunction with the measured velocity widths in order to define dynamical
masses consistent with the assumed gas distribution.


title: A geometric control proof of linear Franks' lemma for geodesic flows

abstract:
  We provide an elementary proof of the Franks lemma for geodesic flows that
uses basic tools of geometric control theory.


title:
Determination of the Planck constant using a watt balance with a
  superconducting magnet system at the National Institute of Standards and
  Technology

abstract:
  For the past two years, measurements have been performed with a watt balance
at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to determine the
Planck constant. A detailed analysis of these measurements and their
uncertainties has led to the value $h=6.626\,069\,79(30)\times
10^{-34}\,$J$\,$s. The relative standard uncertainty is $ 45\times 10^{-9}$.
This result is $141\times 10^{-9}$ fractionally higher than $h_{90}$. Here
$h_{90}$ is the conventional value of the Planck constant given by
$h_{90}\equiv 4 /( K_{\mathrm{J-90}}^2R_{\mathrm{K-90}})$, where
$K_{\mathrm{J-90}}$ and $R_{\mathrm{K-90}}$ denote the conventional values of
the Josephson and von Klitzing constants, respectively.


title:
Das Optimierungslabor -- ein Erfahrungsbericht (Experiencing
  optimization with students)

abstract:
  For several years, students visit us on different occasions at the
university. But how to bridge from the school curriculum to the contents of the
university mathematics? And how to find a focal point at which an active
contribute, despite the lack of knowledge, in view of limited time is possible?
Our approach: Translate,under guidance, everyday life optimization problems
into the language of mathematics, i.e. using variables, target functions,
equations and inequalities. These so-called integer linear programming models
are then solved by standard software. In this report we wnat to tell about the
lessons we have learned.


title:
Inclusive Gluon Production in Pion-Proton Collisions and the Principle
  Maximum Conformality Renormalization Scale

abstract:
  The contribution of the higher-twist mechanism to the large-$p_T$ inclusive
gluon production cross section in $\pi p$ collisions is calculated in case of
the principle of maximum conformality and Brodsky-Lepage-Mackenzie approaches
in the dependence of the pion distribution amplitudes. The higher-twist cross
sections obtained in the framework of the principle of maximum conformality and
Brodsky-Lepage-Mackenzie approaches, and compared and analyzed in relation to
the leading-twist cross sections and each other.


title:
Analytical solutions of the Klein-Fock-Gordon equation with the
  Manning-Rosen potential plus a Ring-Shaped like potential

abstract:
  In this work, on the condition that scalar potential is equal to vector
potential, the bound state solutions of the Klein-Fock-Gordon equation of the
Manning-Rosen plus ring-shaped like potential are obtained by Nikiforov-Uvarov
method. The energy levels are worked out and the corresponding normalized
eigenfunctions are obtained in terms of orthogonal polynomials for arbitrary
$l$ states. The conclusion also contain central Manning-Rosen, central and
non-central Hulth\'en potential.


title:
An observational and theoretical view of the radial distribution of HI
  gas in galaxies

abstract:
  We analyze the radial distribution of HI gas for 23 disk galaxies with
unusually high HI content from the Bluedisk sample, along with a similar-sized
sample of "normal" galaxies. We propose an empirical model to fit the radial
profile of the HI surface density, an exponential function with a depression
near the center. The radial HI surface density profiles are very homogeneous in
the outer regions of the galaxy; the exponentially declining part of the
profile has a scale-length of $\sim 0.18$ R1, where R1 is the radius where the
column density of the HI is 1 M$_{\odot}$ pc$^{-2}$. This holds for all
galaxies, independent of their stellar or HI mass. The homogenous outer
profiles, combined with the limited range in HI surface density in the
non-exponential inner disk, results in the well-known tight relation between HI
size and HI mass. By comparing the radial profiles of the HI-rich galaxies with
those of the control systems, we deduce that in about half the galaxies, most
of the excess gas lies outside the stellar disk, in the exponentially declining
outer regions of the HI disk. In the other half, the excess is more centrally
peaked. We compare our results with existing smoothed-particle hydrodynamical
simulations and semi-analytic models of disk galaxy formation in a $\Lambda$
Cold Dark Matter universe. Both the hydro simulations and the semi-analytic
models reproduce the HI surface density profiles and the HI size-mass relation
without further tuning of the simulation and model inputs. In the semi-analytic
models, the universal shape of the outer HI radial profiles is a consequence of
the {\em assumption} that infalling gas is always distributed exponentially.
The conversion of atomic gas to molecular form explains the limited range of HI
surface densities in the inner disk. These two factors produce the tight HI
mass-size relation.


title:
Observation of strontium segregation in LaAlO$_{3}$/SrTiO$_{3}$ and
  NdGaO$_{3}$/SrTiO$_{3}$ oxide heterostructures by X-ray photoemission
  spectroscopy

abstract:
  LaAlO$_{3}$ and NdGaO$_{3}$ thin films of different thickness have been grown
by pulsed laser deposition on TiO$_2$-terminated SrTiO$_{3}$ single crystals
and investigated by soft X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The surface
sensitivity of the measurements has been tuned by varying photon energy $h\nu$
and emission angle $\Theta$. In contrast to the core levels of the other
elements, the Sr $3d$ line shows an unexpected splitting for higher surface
sensitivity, signaling the presence of a second strontium component. From our
quantitative analysis we conclude that during the growth process Sr atoms
diffuse away from the substrate and segregate at the surface of the
heterostructure, possibly forming strontium oxide.


title: Geometric inequalities for black holes

abstract:
  It is well known that the three parameters that characterize the Kerr black
hole (mass, angular momentum and horizon area) satisfy several important
inequalities. Remarkably, some of these inequalities remain valid also for
dynamical black holes. This kind of inequalities play an important role in the
characterization of the gravitational collapse. They are closed related with
the cosmic censorship conjecture. In this article recent results in this
subject are reviewed.


title: Taking one charge off a two-dimensional Wigner crystal

abstract:
  A planar array of identical charges at vanishing temperature forms a Wigner
crystal with hexagonal symmetry. We take off one (reference) charge in a
perpendicular direction, hold it fixed, and search for the ground state of the
whole system. The planar projection of the reference charge should then evolve
from a six-fold coordination (center of a hexagon) for small distances to a
three-fold arrangement (center of a triangle), at large distances $d$ from the
plane. The aim of this paper is to describe the corresponding non-trivial
lattice transformation. For that purpose, two numerical methods (direct energy
minimization and Monte Carlo simulations), together with an analytical
treatment, are presented. Our results indicate that the $d=0$ and $d\to\infty$
limiting cases extend for finite values of $d$ from the respective starting
points into two sequences of stable states, with intersecting energies at some
value $d_t$; beyond this value the branches continue as metastable states.


title: Thresholds of absorbing sets in Low-Density-Parity-Check codes

abstract:
  In this paper, we investigate absorbing sets, responsible of error floors in
Low Density Parity Check codes. We look for a concise, quantitative way to rate
the absorbing sets' dangerousness. Based on a simplified model for iterative
decoding evolution, we show that absorbing sets exhibit a threshold behavior.
An absorbing set with at least one channel log-likelihood-ratio below the
threshold can stop the convergence towards the right codeword. Otherwise
convergence is guaranteed. We show that absorbing sets with negative thresholds
can be deactivated simply using proper saturation levels. We propose an
efficient algorithm to compute thresholds.


title: Partitions of large unbalanced bipartites

abstract:
  We compute the asymptotic behaviour of the number of partitions of large
vectors $(n_1,n_2)$ of $\mathbb{Z}_+^2$ in the critical regime $n_1 \asymp
\sqrt{n_2}$ and in the subcritical regime $n_1 = o(\sqrt{n_2})$. This work
completes the results established in the fifties by Auluck, Nanda, and Wright.


title:
A Formal Proof of Countermeasures against Fault Injection Attacks on
  CRT-RSA

abstract:
  In this article, we describe a methodology that aims at either breaking or
proving the security of CRT-RSA implementations against fault injection
attacks. In the specific case-study of the BellCoRe attack, our work bridges a
gap between formal proofs and implementation-level attacks. We apply our
results to three implementations of CRT-RSA, namely the unprotected one, that
of Shamir, and that of Aum\"uller et al. Our findings are that many attacks are
possible on both the unprotected and the Shamir implementations, while the
implementation of Aum\"uller et al. is resistant to all single-fault attacks.
It is also resistant to double-fault attacks if we consider the less powerful
threat-model of its authors.


title: Torus knot polynomials and susy Wilson loops

abstract:
  We give, using an explicit expression obtained in [V. Jones, Ann. of Math.
126, 335 (1987)], a basic hypergeometric representation of the HOMFLY
polynomial of $(n,m)$ torus knots, and present a number of equivalent
expressions, all related by Heine's transformations. Using this result the
$(m,n)\leftrightarrow (n,m)$ symmetry and the leading polynomial at large $N$
are explicit. We show the latter to be the Wilson loop of 2d Yang-Mills theory
on the plane. In addition, after taking one winding to infinity, it becomes the
Wilson loop in the zero instanton sector of the 2d Yang-Mills theory, which is
known to give averages of Wilson loops in $\mathcal{N}$=4 SYM theory. We also
give, using matrix models, an interpretation of the HOMFLY polynomial and the
corresponding Jones-Rosso representation in terms of $q$-harmonic oscillators.


title:
Formal Analysis of CRT-RSA Vigilant's Countermeasure Against the
  BellCoRe Attack: A Pledge for Formal Methods in the Field of Implementation
  Security

abstract:
  In our paper at PROOFS 2013, we formally studied a few known countermeasures
to protect CRT-RSA against the BellCoRe fault injection attack. However, we
left Vigilant's countermeasure and its alleged repaired version by Coron et al.
as future work, because the arithmetical framework of our tool was not
sufficiently powerful. In this paper we bridge this gap and then use the same
methodology to formally study both versions of the countermeasure. We obtain
surprising results, which we believe demonstrate the importance of formal
analysis in the field of implementation security. Indeed, the original version
of Vigilant's countermeasure is actually broken, but not as much as Coron et
al. thought it was. As a consequence, the repaired version they proposed can be
simplified. It can actually be simplified even further as two of the nine
modular verifications happen to be unnecessary. Fortunately, we could formally
prove the simplified repaired version to be resistant to the BellCoRe attack,
which was considered a "challenging issue" by the authors of the countermeasure
themselves.


title: Modeling TCP Throughput with Random Packet Drops

abstract:
  The present report deals with the modeling of the long-term throughput,
a.k.a., send rate, of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) under the
following assumptions. (i) We consider a single 'infinite source' using a
network path from sender to receiver. (ii) Each TCP packet is randomly dropped
with probability p; independently of previous drops or any other
event/parameter. (iii) The - never changing - receiver window limits the amount
of outstanding data. (iv) The receiver acknowledges every packet. (v) The TCP
modeled here conforms to the publicly available standards (RFCs) as concerns
congestion control. We validate and determine the limits of the different
models proposed here using packet-level simulations. The contributions of the
present work are the following: (a) We determine three regimes, and their
conditions of applicability, depending on p: Linear law regime, square root law
regime, and timeout regime. (b) As concerns the relationship between the linear
and square root regimes, we give additional insights relatively to previously
published work. (c) We give the exact equations governing the TCP send rate in
any regime. (d) From the exact equation and under the further condition that
the path is not saturated, we give and discuss approximations for the send rate
of the NewReno variant of TCP. A by-product of these calculations is the
distribution of the sender window, independently of any timing or saturation
consideration. (e) These approximations give results that are accurate to a few
percent when compared to simulation results. Detailed comparison and sources of
errors between theory and simulations are also discussed.


title: Large-volume open sets in normed spaces without integral distances

abstract:
  We study open sets $\mathcal{P}$ in normed spaces $X$ attaining a large
volume while avoiding pairs of points at integral distance. The proposed task
is to find sharp inequalities for the maximum possible $d$-dimensional volume.
This problem can be viewed as an opposite to known problems on point sets with
pairwise integral or rational distances.


title: Equilibrium Points of an AND-OR Tree: under Constraints on Probability

abstract:
  We study a probability distribution d on the truth assignments to a uniform
binary AND-OR tree. Liu and Tanaka [2007, Inform. Process. Lett.] showed the
following: If d achieves the equilibrium among independent distributions (ID)
then d is an independent identical distribution (IID). We show a stronger form
of the above result. Given a real number r such that 0 < r < 1, we consider a
constraint that the probability of the root node having the value 0 is r. Our
main result is the following: When we restrict ourselves to IDs satisfying this
constraint, the above result of Liu and Tanaka still holds. The proof employs
clever tricks of induction. In particular, we show two fundamental
relationships between expected cost and probability in an IID on an OR-AND
tree: (1) The ratio of the cost to the probability (of the root having the
value 0) is a decreasing function of the probability x of the leaf. (2) The
ratio of derivative of the cost to the derivative of the probability is a
decreasing function of x, too.


title: Double percolation phase transition in clustered complex networks

abstract:
  The internal organization of complex networks often has striking consequences
on either their response to external perturbations or on their dynamical
properties. In addition to small-world and scale-free properties, clustering is
the most common topological characteristic observed in many real networked
systems. In this paper, we report an extensive numerical study on the effects
of clustering on the structural properties of complex networks. Strong
clustering in heterogeneous networks induces the emergence of a core-periphery
organization that has a critical effect on the percolation properties of the
networks. We observe a novel double phase transition with an intermediate phase
in which only the core of the network is percolated and a final phase in which
the periphery percolates regardless of the core. This result implies breaking
of the same symmetry at two different values of the control parameter, in stark
contrast to the modern theory of continuous phase transitions. Inspired by this
core-periphery organization, we introduce a simple model that allows us to
analytically prove that such an anomalous phase transition is in fact possible.


title:
On the Markovian assumption in the excursion set approach: the
  approximation of Markov Velocities

abstract:
  The excursion set approach uses the statistics of the density field smoothed
on a wide range of scales, to gain insight into a number of interesting
processes in nonlinear structure formation, such as cluster assembly, merging
and clustering. The approach treats the curve defined by the height of the
overdensity fluctuation field when changing the smoothing scale as a random
walk. The steps of the walks are often assumed to be uncorrelated, so that the
walk heights are a Markov process, even though this assumption is known to be
inaccurate for physically relevant filters. We develop a model in which the
walk steps, rather than heights, are a Markov process, and correlations between
steps arise because of nearest neighbour interactions. This model is a
particular case of a general class, which we call Markov Velocity models. We
show how these can approximate the walks generated by arbitrary power spectra
and filters, and, unlike walks with Markov heights, provide a very good
approximation to physically relevant models. We define a Markov Velocity Monte
Carlo algorithm to generate walks whose first crossing distribution is very
similar to that of TopHat-smoothed LCDM walks. Finally, we demonstrate that
Markov Velocity walks generically exhibit a simple but realistic form of
assembly bias, so we expect them to be useful in the construction of more
realistic merger history trees.


title:
The CTA Sensitivity to Lorentz-Violating Effects on the Gamma-Ray
  Horizon

abstract:
  The arrival of TeV-energy photons from distant galaxies is expected to be
affected by their QED interaction with intergalactic radiation fields through
electron-positron pair production. In theories where high-energy photons
violate Lorentz symmetry, the kinematics of the process $\gamma +
\gamma\rightarrow e^+ + e^-$ is altered and the cross-section suppressed.
Consequently, one would expect more of the highest-energy photons to arrive if
QED is modified by Lorentz violation than if it is not. We estimate the
sensitivity of Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) to changes in the $\gamma$-ray
horizon of the Universe due to Lorentz violation, and find that it should be
competitive with other leading constraints.


title:
Ranks of elliptic curves over cyclic cubic, quartic, and sextic
  extensions

abstract:
  For a given group $G$ and an elliptic curve $E$ defined over a number field
$K$, I discuss the problem of finding $G$-extensions of $K$ over which $E$
gains rank. I prove the following theorem, extending a result of Fearnley,
Kisilevsky, and Kuwata: Let $n = 3,4,$ or $6$. If $K$ contains its
$n^{th}$-roots of unity then, for any elliptic curve $E$ over $K$, there are
infinitely many $\mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z}$-extensions of $K$ over which $E$ gains
rank.


title:
The golden number and Fibonacci sequences in the design of voting
  structures

abstract:
  Some distinguished types of voters, as vetoers, passers or nulls, as well as
some others, play a significant role in voting systems because they are either
the most powerful or the least powerful voters in the game independently of the
measure used to evaluate power. In this paper we are concerned with the design
of voting systems with at least one type of these extreme voters and with few
types of equivalent voters, with this purpose in mind we enumerate these
special classes of games and find out that its number always follows a
Fibonacci sequence with smooth polynomial variations. As a consequence we find
several families of games with the same asymptotic exponential behavior
excepting of a multiplicative factor which is the golden number or its square.
From a more general point of view, our studies are related with the design of
voting structures with a predetermined importance ranking.


title: SERPent: Automated reduction and RFI-mitigation software for e-MERLIN

abstract:
  The Scripted E-merlin Rfi-mitigation PipelinE for iNTerferometry (SERPent) is
an automated reduction and RFI-mitigation procedure utilising the SumThreshold
methodology (Offringa et al. 2010b), originally developed for the LOFAR
pipeline. SERPent is written in the Parseltongue language enabling interaction
with the Astronomical Image Processing Software (AIPS) program. Moreover,
SERPent is a simple "out of the box" Python script, which is easy to set up and
is free of compilers. In addition to the flagging of RFI affected visibilities,
the script also flags antenna zero-amplitude dropouts and Lovell telescope
phase calibrator stationary scans inherent to the e-MERLIN system. Both the
flagging and computational performances of SERPent are presented here, for
e-MERLIN commissioning datasets for both L-band (1.3 - 1.8 GHz) and C-band (4 -
8 GHz) observations. RFI typically amounts to < 20 - 25% for the more
problematic L-band observations and < 5% for the generally RFI quieter C-band.
The level of RFI detection and flagging is more accurate and delicate than
visual manual flagging, with the output immediately ready for AIPS calibration.
SERPent is fully parallelised and has been tested on a range of computing
systems. The current flagging rate is at 110 GB/day on a "high-end" computer
(16 CPUs, 100 GB memory) which amounts to ~ 6.9 GB/CPU/day, with an expected
increase in performance when e-MERLIN has completed its commissioning. The
refining of automated reduction and calibration procedures is essential for the
e-MERLIN legacy projects and future interferometers such as the SKA and the
associated pathfinders (MeerKAT and ASKAP), where the vast data sizes (> TB)
make traditional astronomer interactions unfeasible.


title:
Maximum Likelihood Estimation for Finite Mixtures of Canonical
  Fundamental Skew t-Distributions: the Unification of the Unrestricted and
  Restricted Skew t-Mixture Models

abstract:
  In this paper, we present an algorithm for the fitting of a location-scale
variant of the canonical fundamental skew t (CFUST) distribution, a superclass
of the restricted and unrestricted skew t-distributions. In recent years, a few
versions of the multivariate skew $t$ (MST) model have been put forward,
together with various EM-type algorithms for parameter estimation. These
formulations adopted either a restricted or unrestricted characterization for
their MST densities.
  In this paper, we examine a natural generalization of these developments,
employing the CFUST distribution as the parametric family for the component
distributions, and point out that the restricted and unrestricted
characterizations can be unified under this general formulation. We show that
an exact implementation of the EM algorithm can be achieved for the CFUST
distribution and mixtures of this distribution, and present some new analytical
results for a conditional expectation involved in the E-step.


title: Electroweak breaking and Dark Matter from the common scale

abstract:
  We propose a classically scale invariant extension of the Standard Model
where the electroweak symmetry breaking and the mass of the Dark Matter
particle come from the common scale. We introduce $U(1)_X$ gauge symmetry and
$X$-charged scalar $\Phi$ and Majorana fermion $N$. Scale invariance is broken
via Coleman-Weinberg mechanism providing the vacuum expectation value of the
scalar $\Phi$. Stability of the dark matter candidate $N$ is guaranteed by a
remnant $Z_2$ symmetry. The Higgs boson mass and the mass of the Dark Matter
particle have a common origin, the vacuum expectation value of $\Phi$. Dark
matter relic abundance is determined by annihilation $NN \to \Phi\Phi$. We scan
the parameter space of the model and find the mass of the dark matter particle
in the range from 500 GeV to a few TeV.


title:
Matching realization of $U_q(sl_{n+1})$ of higher rank in the quantum
  Weyl algebra $\mathcal W_q(2n)$

abstract:
  In the paper, we further realize the higher rank quantized universal
enveloping algebra $U_q(sl_{n+1})$ as certain quantum differential operators in
$\mathcal W_q(2n)$ defined over the quantum divided power algebra
$\mathcal{A}_q(n)$ of rank $n$. We give the quantum differential operators
realization for both the simple root vectors and the non-simple root vectors of
$U_q(sl_{n+1})$. The nice behavior of the quantum root vectors formulas under
the action of the Lusztig symmetries once again indicates that our realization
model is naturally matched.


title: Multiple solutions in supersymmetry and the Higgs

abstract:
  Weak-scale supersymmetry is a well motivated, if speculative, theory beyond
the Standard Model of particle physics. It solves the thorny issue of the Higgs
mass, namely: how can it be stable to quantum corrections, when they are
expected to be $10^{15}$ times bigger than its mass? The experimental signal of
the theory is the production and measurement of supersymmetric particles in the
Large Hadron Collider experiments. No such particles have been seen to date,
but hopes are high for the impending run in 2015. Searches for supersymmetric
particles can be difficult to interpret. Here, we shall discuss the fact that,
even given a well defined model of supersymmetry breaking with few parameters,
there can be multiple solutions. These multiple solutions are physically
different, and could potentially mean that points in parameter space have been
ruled out by interpretations of LHC data when they shouldn't have been. We
shall review the multiple solutions and illustrate their existence in a
universal model of supersymmetry breaking.


title: Baryon Asymmetry in Neutrino Mass Models with and without {\theta}_13

abstract:
  We investigate the comparative studies of cosmological baryon asymmetry in
different neutrino mass models with and without {\theta}_13 by considering the
three diagonal form of Dirac neutrino mass matrices, down-quark (4,2), up-quark
(8,4) and charged lepton (6,2). The predictions of any models with {\theta}_13
are consistent in all the three stages of leptogenesis calculations and the
results are better than the predictions of any models without {\theta}_13 which
are consistent in a piecemeal manner with the observational data. For the best
model, the normal hierarchy Type-IA for charged lepton (6,2) without
{\theta}_13, the predicted inflaton mass required to produce the observed
baryon asymmetry is found to be 3.6x10 to the power 10 GeV corresponding to
reheating temperature TR 4.5x10 to the power 6 GeV, while for the same model
with {\theta}_13, the inflaton mass is 2.24x10 to the power 11 GeV, TR 4.865x10
to the power 6 GeV and weak scale gravitino mass m(2 divided by 3) 100 GeV
without causing the gravitino problem. These values apply to the recent
discovery of Higgs boson of mass 125 GeV. The relic abundance of gravitino is
proportional to the reheating temperature of the thermal bath. One can have the
right order of relic dark matter abundance only if the reheating temperature is
bounded to below 10 to the power 7 GeV.


title:
Homogeneous almost complex structures in dimension 6 with semi-simple
  isotropy

abstract:
  We classify invariant almost complex structures on homogeneous manifolds of
dimension 6 with semi-simple isotropy. Those with non-degenerate Nijenhuis
tensor have the automorphism group of dimension either 14 or 9. An invariant
almost complex structure with semi-simple isotropy is necessarily either of
specified 6 homogeneous types or a left-invariant structure on a Lie group. For
integrable invariant almost complex structures we classify all compatible
invariant Hermitian structures on these homogeneous manifolds, indicate their
integrability properties (Kahler, SNK, SKT) and mark the other interesting
geometric properties (including the Gray-Hervella type).


title: On the Hilbert scheme of degeneracy loci of twisted differential forms

abstract:
  We prove that, for 3 < m < n-1, the Grassmannian of m-dimensional subspaces
of the space of skew-symmetric forms over a vector space of dimension n is
birational to the Hilbert scheme of the degeneracy loci of m global sections of
Omega(2), the twisted cotangent bundle on P^{n-1}. For 3=m<n-1 and n odd, this
Grassmannian is proved to be birational to the set of Veronese surfaces
parametrized by the Pfaffians of linear skew-symmetric matrices of order n.


title:
Generalized Gaussian Process Regression Model for Non-Gaussian
  Functional Data

abstract:
  In this paper we propose a generalized Gaussian process concurrent regression
model for functional data where the functional response variable has a
binomial, Poisson or other non-Gaussian distribution from an exponential family
while the covariates are mixed functional and scalar variables. The proposed
model offers a nonparametric generalized concurrent regression method for
functional data with multi-dimensional covariates, and provides a natural
framework on modeling common mean structure and covariance structure
simultaneously for repeatedly observed functional data. The mean structure
provides an overall information about the observations, while the covariance
structure can be used to catch up the characteristic of each individual batch.
The prior specification of covariance kernel enables us to accommodate a wide
class of nonlinear models. The definition of the model, the inference and the
implementation as well as its asymptotic properties are discussed. Several
numerical examples with different non-Gaussian response variables are
presented. Some technical details and more numerical examples as well as an
extension of the model are provided as supplementary materials.


title: Thermodynamics of the Bosonic Randomized Riemann Gas

abstract:
  The partition function of a bosonic Riemann gas is given by the Riemann zeta
function. We assume that the hamiltonian of this gas at a given temperature
$\beta^{-1}$ has a random variable $\omega$ with a given probability
distribution over an ensemble of hamiltonians. We study the average free energy
density and average mean energy density of this arithmetic gas in the complex
$\beta$-plane. Assuming that the ensemble is made by an enumerable infinite set
of copies, there is a critical temperature where the average free energy
density diverges due to the pole of the Riemann zeta function. Considering an
ensemble of non-enumerable set of copies, the average free energy density is
non-singular for all temperatures, but acquires complex values in the critical
region. Next, we study the mean energy density of the system which depends
strongly on the distribution of the non-trivial zeros of the Riemann zeta
function. Using a regularization procedure we prove that the this quantity is
continuous and bounded for finite temperatures.

categories: math-ph cond-mat.dis-nn hep-th math.MP math.NT


title: Scalar graviton as dark matter

abstract:
  In the report, the theory of unimodular bimode gravity built on principles of
unimodular gauge invariance/relativity and general covariance is exposed.
Besides the massless tensor graviton of General Relativity, the theory includes
an (almost) massless scalar graviton treated as the gravitational dark matter.
A spherically symmetric vacuum solution, describing the coherent
scalar-graviton field for the soft-core dark halos with the asymptotically flat
rotation curves, is demonstrated.


title:
The Scheme of a Novel Methodology for Zonal Division Based on Power
  Transfer Distribution Factors

abstract:
  One of the methodologies that carry out the division of the electrical grid
into zones is based on the aggregation of nodes characterized by similar Power
Transfer Distribution Factors (PTDFs). Here, we point out that satisfactory
clustering algorithm should take into account two aspects. First, nodes of
similar impact on cross-border lines should be grouped together. Second,
cross-border power flows should be relatively insensitive to differences
between real and assumed Generation Shift Key matrices. We introduce a
theoretical basis of a novel clustering algorithm (BubbleClust) that fulfills
these requirements and we perform a case study to illustrate social welfare
consequences of the division.


title: Scanning of Vehicles for Nuclear Materials

abstract:
  Might a nuclear-armed terrorist group or state use ordinary commerce to
deliver a nuclear weapon by smuggling it in a cargo container or vehicle? This
delivery method would be the only one available to a sub-state actor, and it
might enable a state to make an unattributed attack. Detection of a weapon or
fissile material smuggled in this manner is difficult because of the large
volume and mass available for shielding. Here I review methods for screening
cargo containers to detect the possible presence of nuclear threats. Because of
the large volume of innocent international commerce, and the cost and
disruption of secondary screening by opening and inspection, it is essential
that the method be rapid and have a low false-positive rate. Shielding can
prevent the detection of neutrons emitted spontaneously or by induced fission.
The two promising methods are muon tomography and high energy X-radiography. If
they do not detect a shielded threat object they can detect the shield itself.


title: Far from equilibrium monopole dynamics in spin ice

abstract:
  Condensed matter in the low temperature limit reveals much exotic physics
associated with unusual orders and excitations, examples ranging from helium
superfluidity to magnetic monopoles in spin ice. The far-from-equilibrium
physics of such low temperature states may be even more exotic, yet to access
it in the laboratory remains a challenge. Here we demonstrate a simple and
robust technique, the 'magnetothermal avalanche quench', and its use in the
controlled creation of nonequilibrium populations of magnetic monopoles in spin
ice at millikelvin temperatures. These populations are found to exhibit
spontaneous dynamical effects that typify far-from-equilibrium systems, yet are
captured by simple models. Our method thus opens the door to the study of
far-from-equilibrium states in spin ice and other exotic magnets.


title: Killing tensors and canonical geometry

abstract:
  The systematic derivation of constants of the motion, based on Killing
tensors and the gauge covariant approach, is outlined. Quantum dots are shown
to support second-, third- and fourth-rank Killing tensors.


title: 3D conformal planning using low segment multi-criteria IMRT optimization

abstract:
  Purpose: To evaluate automated multicriteria optimization (MCO)-- designed
for intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), but invoked with limited
segmentation -- to efficiently produce high quality 3D conformal treatment
(3D-CRT) plans.
  Methods: Ten patients previously planned with 3D-CRT were replanned with a
low-segment inverse multicriteria optimized technique. The MCO-3D plans used
the same number of beams, beam geometry and machine parameters of the
corresponding 3D plans, but were limited to an energy of 6 MV. The MCO-3D plans
were optimized using a fluence-based MCO IMRT algorithm and then, after MCO
navigation, segmented with a low number of segments. The 3D and MCO-3D plans
were compared by evaluating mean doses to individual organs at risk (OARs),
mean doses to combined OARs, homogeneity indexes (HI), monitor units (MUs),
physician preference, and qualitative assessments of planning time and plan
customizability.
  Results: The MCO-3D plans significantly reduced the OAR mean doses and
monitor units while maintaining good coverage and homogeneity of target
volumes. MCO allows for more streamlined plan customization. All MCO-3D plans
were preferred by physicians over their corresponding 3D plans.
  Conclusion: High quality 3D plans can be produced using IMRT optimization
technology, resulting in automated field-in-field type plans with good monitor
unit efficiency. Adopting this technology in a clinic could streamline
treatment plan production.


title:
Quantifying non-classical and beyond-quantum correlations in the unified
  operator formalism

abstract:
  Acin et al. introduced a unified framework for the study of no-signalling
correlations. Such a framework is based on the notion of local quantum
measurements, but, in order to account for beyond-quantum correlations, global
pseudo-states that are not positive semidefinite are allowed. After a short
review of the formalism, we consider its use in the quantification of both
general non-local and beyond-quantum correlations. We argue that the unified
framework for correlations provides a simple approach to such a quantification,
in particular when the quantification is meant to be operational and meaningful
in a resource-theory scenario, i.e., when considering the processing of
resources by means of non-resources. We relate different notions of robustness
of correlations, both at the level of (pseudo-)states and abstract probability
distributions, with particular focus on the beyond-quantum robustness of
correlations and pseudo-states. We revisit known results and argue that, within
the unified framework, the relation between the two levels---that of operators
and that of probability distributions---is very strict. We point out how the
consideration of robustness at the two levels leads to a natural framework for
the quantification of entanglement in a device-independent way. Finally, we
show that the beyond-quantum robustness of the non-positive operators needed to
achieve beyond-quantum correlations coincides with their negativity and their
distance from the set of quantum states. As an example, we calculate the
beyond-quantum robustness for the case of a noisy Popescu-Rohrlich box.


title: Phase diagram of the Hubbard model on the anisotropic triangular lattice

abstract:
  We investigate the Hubbard model on the anisotropic triangular lattice as a
suggested effective description of the Mott phase in various triangular organic
compounds. Employing the variational cluster approximation and the ladder
dual-fermion approach as complementary methods to adequately treat the
zero-temperature and the finite-temperature domains, we obtain a consistent
picture of the phase diagram as a function of anisotropy and interaction
strength. The metal-insulator transition substantially depends on the
anisotropy, and so does the nature of magnetism and the emergence of a
nonmagnetic insulating phase. We further find that geometric anisotropy
significantly influences the thermodynamics of the system. For increased
frustration induced by anisotropy, the entropy of the system increases with
interaction strength, opening the possibility of adiabatically cooling a
frustrated system by an enhancement of electronic correlations.


title: Wind Turbine Model and Observer in Takagi-Sugeno Model Structure

abstract:
  Based on a reduced-order, dynamic nonlinear wind turbine model in
Takagi-Sugeno (TS) model structure, a TS state observer is designed as a
disturbance observer to estimate the unknown effective wind speed. The TS
observer model is an exact representation of the underlying nonlinear model,
obtained by means of the sector-nonlinearity approach. The observer gain
matrices are obtained by means of a linear matrix inequality (LMI) design
approach for optimal fuzzy control, where weighting matrices for the individual
system states and outputs are included. The observer is tested in simulations
with the aero-elastic code FAST for the NREL 5 MW reference turbine, where it
shows a stable behaviour both for IEC wind gusts and turbulent wind input.


title: How congestion shapes cities: from mobility patterns to scaling

abstract:
  The recent availability of data for cities has allowed scientists to exhibit
scalings which present themselves in the form of a power-law dependence with
population of various socio-economical and structural indicators. We propose
here a dynamical, stochastic theory of urban growth which accounts for some of
the observed scalings and we confirm these results on US and OECD empirical
data. In particular, we show that the dependence with population size of the
total number of miles driven daily, the total length of the road network, the
total traffic delay, the total consumption of gasoline, the quantity of $CO_2$
emitted and the relation between area and population of cities, are all
governed by a single parameter which characterizes the sensitivity to
congestion. Finally, our results suggest that diseconomies associated with
congestion scale superlinearly with population size, implying that, despite
polycentrism, cities whose transportation infrastructure rely heavily on
traffic sensitive modes are unsustainable.


title: Relative Expressive Power of Navigational Querying on Graphs

abstract:
  Motivated by both established and new applications, we study navigational
query languages for graphs (binary relations). The simplest language has only
the two operators union and composition, together with the identity relation.
We make more powerful languages by adding any of the following operators:
intersection; set difference; projection; coprojection; converse; and the
diversity relation. All these operators map binary relations to binary
relations. We compare the expressive power of all resulting languages. We do
this not only for general path queries (queries where the result may be any
binary relation) but also for boolean or yes/no queries (expressed by the
nonemptiness of an expression). For both cases, we present the complete Hasse
diagram of relative expressiveness. In particular the Hasse diagram for boolean
queries contains some nontrivial separations and a few surprising collapses.


title: Some Weyl modules of the algebraic groups of type $E_6$

abstract:
  Let $G$ be a simple algebraic group of type $E_6$ over an algebraically
closed field of characteristic $p>0$. We determine the submodule structure of
the Weyl modul es with highest weight $r\omega_1$ for $0\leq r\leq p-1$, where
$\omega_1$ is the fundamental weight of the standard $27$-dimensional module.
In the process, the structures of other Weyl modules with highest weights
linked to $r\omega_1$ are also found. %We also give some computations for the
Weyl modules with highest weights %of the form $r(\omega_1+\omega_6)$, which
arise in the study of %the graph automorphism and associated twisted finite
groups.


title: Non-Existence of Black Holes with Non-Canonical Scalar Fields

abstract:
  We study the existence of stationary black holes with a non-canonical scalar
field as a matter source. We prove a simple black hole no-hair theorem which
rules out the existence of asymptotically flat black holes which are static or
stationary and axisymmetric possessing scalar hair for a wide class of
non-canonical scalar field theories. This applies to scalar field theories
which are of the form of K-essence theories. In particular, we rule out the
existence of such black holes in the ghost condensate model, and in large
sectors of the Dirac-Born-Infeld model.


title: Nanoscale spatially resolved infrared spectra from single microdroplets

abstract:
  Droplet microfluidics has emerged as a powerful platform allowing a large
number of individual reactions to be carried out in spatially distinct
microcompartments. Due to their small size, however, the spectroscopic
characterisation of species encapsulated in such systems remains challenging.
In this paper, we demonstrate the acquisition of infrared spectra from single
microdroplets containing aggregation-prone proteins. To this effect, droplets
are generated in a microfluidic flow-focussing device and subsequently
deposited in a square array onto a ZnSe prism using a micro stamp. After
drying, the solutes present in the droplets are illuminated locally by an
infrared laser through the prism, and their thermal expansion upon absorption
of infrared radiation is measured with an atomic force microscopy tip, granting
nanoscale resolution. Using this approach, we resolve structural differences in
the amide bands of the spectra of monomeric and aggregated lysozyme from single
microdroplets with picolitre volume.


title:
Technical Note: Approximate Bayesian parameterization of a process-based
  tropical forest model

abstract:
  Inverse parameter estimation of process-based models is a long-standing
problem in many scientific disciplines. A key question for inverse parameter
estimation is how to define the metric that quantifies how well model
predictions fit to the data. This metric can be expressed by general cost or
objective functions, but statistical inversion methods require a particular
metric, the probability of observing the data given the model parameters, known
as the likelihood.
  For technical and computational reasons, likelihoods for process-based
stochastic models are usually based on general assumptions about variability in
the observed data, and not on the stochasticity generated by the model. Only in
recent years have new methods become available that allow the generation of
likelihoods directly from stochastic simulations. Previous applications of
these approximate Bayesian methods have concentrated on relatively simple
models. Here, we report on the application of a simulation-based likelihood
approximation for FORMIND, a parameter-rich individual-based model of tropical
forest dynamics.
  We show that approximate Bayesian inference, based on a parametric likelihood
approximation placed in a conventional Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampler,
performs well in retrieving known parameter values from virtual inventory data
generated by the forest model. We analyze the results of the parameter
estimation, examine its sensitivity to the choice and aggregation of model
outputs and observed data (summary statistics), and demonstrate the application
of this method by fitting the FORMIND model to field data from an Ecuadorian
tropical forest. Finally, we discuss how this approach differs from approximate
Bayesian computation (ABC), another method commonly used to generate
simulation-based likelihood approximations.
  Our results demonstrate that simulation-based inference, [...]


title: Decode-and-Forward Relay Beamforming with Secret and Non-Secret Messages

abstract:
  In this paper, we study beamforming in decode-and-forward (DF) relaying using
multiple relays, where the source node sends a secret message as well as a
non-secret message to the destination node in the presence of multiple
non-colluding eavesdroppers. The non-secret message is transmitted at a fixed
rate $R_{0}$ and requires no protection from the eavesdroppers, whereas the
secret message needs to be protected from the eavesdroppers. The source and
relays operate under a total power constraint. We find the optimum source
powers and weights of the relays for both secret and non-secret messages which
maximize the worst case secrecy rate for the secret message as well as meet the
information rate constraint $R_{0}$ for the non-secret message. We solve this
problem for the cases when ($i$) perfect channel state information (CSI) of all
links is known, and ($ii$) only the statistical CSI of the eavesdroppers links
and perfect CSI of other links are known.


title: Resonant electron tunneling in a tip-controlled potential landscape

abstract:
  By placing the biased tip of an atomic force microscope at a specific
position above a semiconductor surface we can locally shape the potential
landscape. Inducing a local repulsive potential in a two dimensional electron
gas near a quantum point contact one obtains a potential minimum which exhibits
a remarkable behavior in transport experiments at high magnetic fields and low
temperatures. In such an experiment we observe distinct and reproducible
oscillations in the measured conductance as a function of magnetic field,
voltages and tip position. They follow a systematic behavior consistent with a
resonant tunneling mechanism. From the periodicity in magnetic field we can
find the characteristic width of this minimum to be of the order of 100 nm.
Surprisingly, this value remains almost the same for different values of the
bulk filling factors, although the tip position has to be adjusted by distances
of the order of one micron.


title:
New holographic reconstruction of scalar field dark energy models in the
  framework of chameleon Brans-Dicke cosmology

abstract:
  Motivated by the work of Yang et al., \emph{Mod. Phys. Lett. A}, \textbf{26},
191 (2011), we report a study on the New Holographic Dark Energy (NHDE) model
with energy density given by $\rho_D=\frac{3\phi^2}{4\omega}(\mu H^2+\nu
\dot{H})$ in the framework of chameleon Brans-Dicke cosmology. We have studied
a correspondence between the quintessence, the DBI-essence and the tachyon
scalar field models with the NHDE model in the framework of chameleon
Brans-Dicke cosmology. Deriving an expression of the Hubble parameter $H$ and,
accordingly, $\rho_D$ in the context of chameleon Brans-Dicke chameleon
cosmology, we have reconstructed the potentials and dynamics for these scalar
field models. Furthermore, we have examined the stability for the obtained
solutions of the crossing of the phantom divide under a quantum correction of
massless conformally-invariant fields and we have seen that quantum correction
could be small when the phantom crossing occurs and the obtained solutions of
the phantom crossing could be stable under the quantum correction. It has also
been noted that the potential increases as the matter-chameleon coupling gets
stronger with the evolution of the universe.


title: Propositional Logics Complexity and the Sub-Formula Property

abstract:
  In 1979 Richard Statman proved, using proof-theory, that the purely
implicational fragment of Intuitionistic Logic (M-imply) is PSPACE-complete. He
showed a polynomially bounded translation from full Intuitionistic
Propositional Logic into its implicational fragment. By the PSPACE-completeness
of S4, proved by Ladner, and the Goedel translation from S4 into Intuitionistic
Logic, the PSPACE- completeness of M-imply is drawn. The sub-formula principle
for a deductive system for a logic L states that whenever F1,...,Fk proves A,
there is a proof in which each formula occurrence is either a sub-formula of A
or of some of Fi. In this work we extend Statman result and show that any
propositional (possibly modal) structural logic satisfying a particular
formulation of the sub-formula principle is in PSPACE. If the logic includes
the minimal purely implicational logic then it is PSPACE-complete. As a
consequence, EXPTIME-complete propositional logics, such as PDL and the
common-knowledge epistemic logic with at least 2 agents satisfy this particular
sub-formula principle, if and only if, PSPACE=EXPTIME. We also show how our
technique can be used to prove that any finitely many-valued logic has the set
of its tautologies in PSPACE.


title: Smith Normal Forms of Incidence Matrices

abstract:
  A brief introduction is given to the topic of Smith normal forms of incidence
matrices. A general discussion of techniques is illustrated by some classical
examples. Some recent advances are described and the limits of our current
understanding are indicated.


title:
Omega Transmission Lines with Applications to Effective Medium Models of
  Metamaterials

abstract:
  In this paper we introduce the concept of transmission lines with inherent
bi-anisotropy and establish an analogy between these lines and volumetric
bi-anisotropic materials. In particular, we find under what conditions a
periodically loaded transmission line can be treated as an effective omega
medium. Two example circuits are introduced and analyzed. The results have
two-fold implications: opening a route to emulate electromagnetic properties of
bi-anisotropic omega media using transmission-line meshes and understanding and
improving effective medium models of composite materials with the use of
effective circuit models of unit cells.


title: Human Activity Recognition using Smartphone

abstract:
  Human activity recognition has wide applications in medical research and
human survey system. In this project, we design a robust activity recognition
system based on a smartphone. The system uses a 3-dimentional smartphone
accelerometer as the only sensor to collect time series signals, from which 31
features are generated in both time and frequency domain. Activities are
classified using 4 different passive learning methods, i.e., quadratic
classifier, k-nearest neighbor algorithm, support vector machine, and
artificial neural networks. Dimensionality reduction is performed through both
feature extraction and subset selection. Besides passive learning, we also
apply active learning algorithms to reduce data labeling expense. Experiment
results show that the classification rate of passive learning reaches 84.4% and
it is robust to common positions and poses of cellphone. The results of active
learning on real data demonstrate a reduction of labeling labor to achieve
comparable performance with passive learning.


title: On graphs and valuations

abstract:
  In the last two decades new techniques emerged to construct valuations on an
infinite division ring $D,$ given a normal subgroup $N\subseteq D$ of finite
index. These techniques were based on the commuting graph of $D^{\times}/N$ in
the case where $D$ is non-commutative, and on the Milnor K-graph on
$D^{\times}/N,$ in the case where $D$ is commutative. In this paper we unify
these two approaches and consider V-graphs on $D^{\times}/N$ and how they lead
to valuations. We furthermore generalize previous results to situations of
finitely many valuations.


title:
Error analysis of a space-time finite element method for solving PDEs on
  evolving surfaces

abstract:
  In this paper we present an error analysis of an Eulerian finite element
method for solving parabolic partial differential equations posed on evolving
hypersurfaces in $\mathbb{R}^d$, $d=2,3$. The method employs discontinuous
piecewise linear in time -- continuous piecewise linear in space finite
elements and is based on a space-time weak formulation of a surface PDE
problem. Trial and test surface finite element spaces consist of traces of
standard volumetric elements on a space-time manifold resulting from the
evolution of a surface. We prove first order convergence in space and time of
the method in an energy norm and second order convergence in a weaker norm.
Furthermore, we derive regularity results for solutions of parabolic PDEs on an
evolving surface, which we need in a duality argument used in the proof of the
second order convergence estimate.


title:
Superposed Coherent States improve fidelity of NOON states generated in
  post-selection

abstract:
  Mixing the squeezed vacuum and coherent state in a beam-splitter generates
NOON states of the electromagnetic field, but with fidelity less than unity. In
this note it is shown that the output of the beam-splitter generates the NOON
states with unit fidelity if superposed coherent states are used instead of the
squeezed vacuum. Also, the post-selection probability of NOON states is shown
to be higher.


title:
Prediction of an $I=1$ $D \bar D^*$ state and relationship to the
  claimed $Z_c(3900)$, $Z_c(3885)$

abstract:
  We study here the interaction of $D \bar D^*$ in the isospin $I=1$ channel in
the light of recent theoretical advances that allow to combine elements of the
local hidden gauge approach with heavy quark spin symmetry. We find that the
exchange of light $q \bar q$ is OZI suppressed and, thus, we concentrate on the
exchange of heavy vectors and of two pion exchange. The latter is found to be
small compared to the exchange of heavy vectors, which then determines the
strength of the interaction. A barely $D\bar{D}^*$ bound state decaying into
$\eta_c\rho$ and $\pi J/\psi$ is found. At the same time we reanalyze the data
of the BESIII experiment on $e^+ e^- \to \pi^{\pm} (D \bar D^*)^\mp$, from
where a $Z_c(3885)$ state was claimed, associated to a peak in the $(D \bar
D^*)^\mp$ invariant mass distribution close to threshold, and we find the data
compatible with a resonance with mass around $3875$ MeV and width around $30$
MeV. We discuss the possibility that this and the $Z_c(3900)$ state found at
BESIII, reconfirmed at 3896 MeV at Belle, or 3885 MeV at CLEO, could all be the
same state and correspond to the one that we find theoretically.


title: A New Slant on Lebesgue's Universal Covering Problem

abstract:
  Lebesgue's universal covering problem is re-examined using computational
methods. This leads to conjectures about the nature of the solution which if
correct could provide a blueprint for a complete solution. Empirical lower
bounds for the minimal area are computed using different hypotheses based on
the conjectures. A new upper bound of 0.844113 for the area of the minimal
cover is derived improving previous results. This method for determining the
bound is suggested by the conjectures and computational observations but is
proved independently of them. The key innovation is to modify previous best
results by removing corners from a regular hexagon at a small slant angle to
the edges of the dodecahedron used before. Simulations indicate that the
minimum area for a convex universal cover is likely to be around 0.84408.


title:
Further investigations on the Neutron Flux Generation in a Plasma
  Discharge Electrolytic Cell

abstract:
  Our recent paper on the "Search for Neutron Flux Generation in a Plasma
Discharge Electrolytic Cell" [1] has as main goal the validation of the
experiment in Ref.[2]. As a follow-up, Ref.[3] moves a set of objections on our
procedure and presents argumentations on why the experiments should not yield
the same results. We collect here additional material and calculations that
contribute to understanding the observed discrepancies. Furthermore we prove
that the absence of signals from Indium activation detectors reported also for
the experiment of Ref.[2] is a clear indication that neutron production does
not occur.
  [1] R.Faccini et al arXiv:1310.4749
  [2] D.Cirillo et al, Key Engineering Materials 495, 104 (2012).
  [3] A.Widom et al. arXiv:1311.2447


title:
On the Properties of the Priority Deriving Procedure in the Pairwise
  Comparisons Method

abstract:
  The pairwise comparisons method is a convenient tool used when the relative
order of preferences among different concepts (alternatives) needs to be
determined. There are several popular implementations of this method, including
the Eigenvector Method, the Least Squares Method, the Chi Squares Method and
others. Each of the above methods comes with one or more inconsistency indices
that help to decide whether the consistency of input guarantees obtaining a
reliable output, thus taking the optimal decision. This article explores the
relationship between inconsistency of input and discrepancy of output. A global
ranking discrepancy describes to what extent the obtained results correspond to
the single expert's assessments. On the basis of the inconsistency and
discrepancy indices, two properties of the weight deriving procedure are
formulated. These properties are proven for Eigenvector Method and Koczkodaj's
Inconsistency Index. Several estimates using Koczkodaj's Inconsistency Index
for a principal eigenvalue, Saaty's inconsistency index and the Condition of
Order Preservation are also provided.


title:
Convergence of the Crank-Nicolson-Galerkin finite element method for a
  class of nonlocal parabolic systems with moving boundaries

abstract:
  The aim of this paper is to establish the convergence and error bounds to the
fully discrete solution for a class of nonlinear systems of reaction-diffusion
nonlocal type with moving boundaries, using a linearized
Crank-Nicolson-Galerkin finite element method with polynomial approximations of
any degree. A coordinate transformation which fixes the boundaries is used.
Some numerical tests to compare our Matlab code with some existing moving
finite elements methods are investigated.


title: Nitrogen Abundances in Damped Ly-alpha Absorbers

abstract:
  Nitrogen is thought to have both primary and secondary origins depending on
whether the seed carbon and oxygen are produced by the star itself (primary) or
already present in the interstellar medium (secondary) from which star forms.
DLA and sub-DLA systems with typical metallicities of -3.0<Z/Z_sun<-0.5 are
excellent tools to study nitrogen production. We made a search for nitrogen in
the ESO-UVES advanced data products (EUADP) database. In the EUADP database, we
find 10 new measurements and 9 upper limits of nitrogen. We further compiled
DLA/sub-DLA data from the literature with estimates available of nitrogen and
alpha-elements. This yields a total of 98 systems, i.e. the largest nitrogen
abundance sample investigated so far. In agreement with previous studies, we
indeed find a bimodal [N/alpha] behaviour: three-quarter systems show a mean
value of [N/alpha]=-0.87 with a scatter of 0.21 dex and one-quarter shows
ratios clustered at [N/alpha]=-1.43 with a lower dispersion of 0.13 dex. The
high [N/alpha] group is consistent with the blue compact dwarves and dwarf
irregular galaxies, suggesting primary nitrogen production. The low [N/alpha]
group is the lowest ever observed in any astrophysical site and probably
provides an evidence of the primary production by fast rotating massive stars
in young sites. Moreover, we find a transition between the two [N/alpha] groups
around [N/H]=-2.5. The transition is not abrupt and there are a few systems
lying in the transition region. Additional observations of DLAs/sub-DLAs below
[N/H]<-2.5 would provide more clues.


title: Quantum bright solitons in a quasi-one-dimensional optical lattice

abstract:
  We study a quasi-one-dimensional attractive Bose gas confined in an optical
lattice with a superimposed harmonic potential by analyzing the effective
one-dimensional Bose-Hubbard Hamiltonian of the system. In order to have a
reliable description of the ground-state, that we call quantum bright soliton,
we use the Density-Matrix-Renormalization-Group (DMRG) technique. By comparing
DMRG results with mean-field (MF) ones we find that beyond-mean-field effects
become relevant by increasing the attraction between bosons or by decreasing
the frequency of the harmonic confinement. In particular we discover that,
contrary to the MF predictions based on the discrete nonlinear Schr\"odinger
equation, quantum bright solitons are not self-trapped. We also use the
time-evolving-block-decimation (TEBD) method to investigate dynamical
properties of bright solitons when the frequency of the harmonic potential is
suddenly increased. This quantum quench induces a breathing mode whose period
crucially depends on the final strength of the super-imposed harmonic
confinement.


title:
Can pseudocomplementary peptide nucleic acid nucleases (pcPNANs) be a
  new tool for genetic engineering?

abstract:
  Zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) and transcription activator-like effector
nucleases (TALENs) comprise a powerful class of tools that are redefining the
boundaries of biological research. Although these technologies have begun to
enable targeted genome modifications, there remains a need for new technologies
that are affordable, scalable, and easy to engineer. In this paper, we propose
a new tool for genetic engineering, the pseudocomplementary peptide nucleic
acid nucleases (pcPNANs), which are composed of a pseudocomplementary PNA
(pcPNA) specific for a DNA target sequence, a FokI nuclease cleavage domain and
a nuclear localization signal. pcPNANs may induce targeted DNA double-strand
breaks that activate DNA damage response pathways and enable custom
alterations. Their cleavage-site is determined by simple Watson-Crick rule, and
thus pcPNANs for aimed cleavage of genomes can be straightforwardly designed
and synthesized without any selection procedure. Accordingly, the cleavage-site
and site-specificity are freely chosen by changing the sequences and the
lengths of pcPNA strands. We believe that the potentiality of pcPNAN as a new
tool for genetic engineering will be confirmed in the future.


title:
Observation of the hyperfine transition in lithium-like Bismuth
  $^{209}\text{Bi}^{80+}$: Towards a test of QED in strong magnetic fields

abstract:
  We performed a laser spectroscopic determination of the $2s$ hyperfine
splitting (HFS) of Li-like $^{209}\text{Bi}^{80+}$ and repeated the measurement
of the $1s$ HFS of H-like $^{209}\text{Bi}^{82+}$. Both ion species were
subsequently stored in the Experimental Storage Ring at the GSI
Helmholtzzentrum f\"ur Schwerionenforschung Darmstadt and cooled with an
electron cooler at a velocity of $\approx 0.71\,c$. Pulsed laser excitation of
the $M1$ hyperfine-transition was performed in anticollinear and collinear
geometry for $\text{Bi}^{82+}$ and $\text{Bi}^{80+}$, respectively, and
observed by fluorescence detection. We obtain $\Delta E^{(1s)}=
5086.3(11)\,\textrm{meV}$ for $\text{Bi}^{82+}$, different from the literature
value, and $\Delta E^{(2s)}= 797.50(18)\,\textrm{meV}$ for $\text{Bi}^{80+}$.
These values provide experimental evidence that a specific difference between
the two splitting energies can be used to test QED calculations in the
strongest static magnetic fields available in the laboratory independent of
nuclear structure effects. The experimental result is in excellent agreement
with the theoretical prediction and confirms the sum of the Dirac term and the
relativistic interelectronic-interaction correction at a level of 0.5%
confirming the importance of accounting for the Breit interaction.


title:
Alleviating polarity-conflict at the heterointerfaces of
  KTaO$_3$/GdScO$_3$ polar complex-oxides

abstract:
  We have synthesized and investigated the heterointerfaces of KTaO$_3$ (KTO)
and GdScO$_3$ (GSO), which are both polar complex-oxides along the pseudo-cubic
[001] direction. Since their layers have the same, conflicting net charges at
interfaces, i.e. KO(-1)/ScO$_2$(-1) or TaO$_2$(+1)/GdO(+1), forming the
heterointerface of KTO/GSO should be forbidden due to strong Coulomb repulsion,
the so-called $\textit{polarity conflict}$. However, we have discovered that
atomic reconstruction occurs at the heterointerfaces between KTO thin-films and
GSO substrates, which effectively alleviates the polarity conflict without
destroying the hetero-epitaxy. Our result demonstrates one of the important
ways to create artificial heterostructures from polar complex-oxides.


title: Sensing for Spectrum Sharing in Cognitive LTE-A Cellular Networks

abstract:
  In this work we present a case for dynamic spectrum sharing between different
operators in systems with carrier aggregation (CA) which is an important
feature in 3GPP LTE-A systems. Cross-carrier scheduling and sensing are
identified as key enablers for such spectrum sharing in LTE-A. Sensing is
classified as Type 1 sensing and Type 2 sensing and the role of each in the
system operation is discussed. The more challenging Type 2 sensing which
involves sensing the interfering signal in the presence of a desired signal is
studied for a single-input single-output system. Energy detection and the most
powerful test are formulated. The probability of false alarm and of detection
are analyzed for energy detectors. Performance evaluations show that reasonable
sensing performance can be achieved with the use of channel state information,
making such sensing practically viable.


title:
Geometric analysis of the linear Boltzmann equation I. Trend to
  equilibrium

abstract:
  This work is devoted to the analysis of the linear Boltzmann equation in a
bounded domain, in the presence of a force deriving from a potential. The
collision operator is allowed to be degenerate in the following two senses: (1)
the associated collision kernel may vanish in a large subset of the phase
space; (2) we do not assume that it is bounded below by a Maxwellian at
infinity in velocity. We study how the association of transport and collision
phenomena can lead to convergence to equilibrium, using concepts and ideas from
control theory. We prove two main classes of results. On the one hand, we show
that convergence towards an equilibrium is equivalent to an almost everywhere
geometric control condition. The equilibria (which are not necessarily
Maxwellians with our general assumptions on the collision kernel) are described
in terms of the equivalence classes of an appropriate equivalence relation. On
the other hand, we characterize the exponential convergence to equilibrium in
terms of the Lebeau constant, which involves some averages of the collision
frequency along the flow of the transport. We handle several cases of phase
spaces, including those associated to specular reflection in a bounded domain,
or to a compact Riemannian manifold.


title: Tokamak-like Vlasov equilibria

abstract:
  Vlasov equilibria of axisymmetric plasmas with vacuum toroidal magnetic field
can be reduced, up to a selection of ions and electrons distributions
functions, to a Grad-Shafranov-like equation. Quasineutrality narrow the choice
of the distributions functions. In contrast to two-dimensional translationally
symmetric equilibria whose electron distribution function consists of a
displaced Maxwellian, the toroidal equilibria need deformed Maxwellians. In
order to be able to carry through the calculations, this deformation is
produced by means of either a Heaviside step function or an exponential
function. The resulting Grad-Shafranov-like equations are established
explicitly.


title: Spindle Starshaped Sets

abstract:
  In this paper, spindle starshaped sets are introduced and investigated, which
apart from normalization form an everywhere dense subfamily within the family
of starshaped sets. We focus on proving spindle starshaped analogues of recent
theorems of Bobylev, Breen, Toranzos, and Zamfirescu on starshaped sets.
Finally, we consider the problem of guarding treasures in an art gallery (in
the traditional linear way as well as via spindles).


title: Increasing precision of uniform pseudorandom number generators

abstract:
  A general method to produce uniformly distributed pseudorandom numbers with
extended precision by combining two pseudorandom numbers with lower precision
is proposed. In particular, this method can be used for pseudorandom number
generation with extended precision on graphics processing units (GPU), where
the performance of single and double precision operations can vary
significantly.


title: The thermodynamics of general and local anesthesia

abstract:
  General anesthetics are known to cause depression of the freezing point of
transitions in biomembranes. This is a consequence of ideal mixing of the
anesthetic drugs in the membrane fluid phase and exclusion from the solid
phase. Such a generic law provides physical justification of the famous
Meyer-Overton rule. We show here that general anesthetics, barbiturates and
local anesthetics all display the same effect on melting transitions. Their
effect is reversed by hydrostatic pressure. Thus, the thermodynamic behavior of
local anesthetics is very similar to that of general anesthetics. We present a
detailed thermodynamic analysis of heat capacity profiles of membranes in the
presence of anesthetics. This analysis is able to describe experimentally
observed calorimetric profiles and permits prediction of the anesthetic
features of arbitrary molecules. In addition, we discuss the thermodynamic
origin of the cutoff-effect of long-chain alcohols and the additivity of the
effect of general and local anesthetics.


title:
An Inverse Problem of the Calculus of Variations on Arbitrary Time
  Scales

abstract:
  We consider an inverse extremal problem for variational functionals on
arbitrary time scales. Using the Euler-Lagrange equation and the strengthened
Legendre condition, we derive a general form for a variational functional that
attains a local minimum at a given point of the vector space.


title:
Some applications of differential geometry in the theory of mechanical
  systems

abstract:
  In the paper, some concepts of modern differential geometry are used as a
basis to develop an invariant theory of mechanical systems, including systems
with gyroscopic forces. An interpretation of systems with gyroscopic forces in
the form of flows of a given geodesic curvature is proposed. For illustration,
the problem of the motion of a rigid body about a fixed point in an axially
symmetric force field is examined. The form of gyroscopic forces of the reduced
system is calculated. It is shown that this form is a product of the momentum
constant, the volume form of the 2-sphere, and an explicitly written everywhere
positive function on the sphere.


title: Creep and Fracture of a Protein Gel under Stress

abstract:
  Biomaterials such as protein or polysaccharide gels are known to behave
qualitatively as soft solids and to rupture under an external load. Combining
optical and ultrasonic imaging to shear rheology we show that the failure
scenario of a protein gel is reminiscent of brittle solids: after a primary
creep regime characterized by a power-law behavior which exponent is fully
accounted for by linear viscoelasticity, fractures nucleate and grow
logarithmically perpendicularly to shear, up to the sudden rupture of the gel.
A single equation accounting for those two successive processes nicely captures
the full rheological response. The failure time follows a decreasing power law
with the applied shear stress, similar to the Basquin law of fatigue for
solids. These results are in excellent agreement with recent fiber-bundle
models that include damage accumulation on elastic fibers and exemplify protein
gels as model, brittle-like soft solids.


title: An Astronomer's View of Climate Change

abstract:
  This paper describes some of the astronomical effects that could be important
for understanding the ice ages, historic climate changes and the recent
temperature increase. These include changes in the sun's luminosity, periodic
changes in the earth's orbital parameters, the sun's orbit around our galaxy,
the variability of solar activity and the anticorrelation of cosmic ray flux
with that activity. Finally recent trends in solar activity and global
temperatures are compared with the predictions of climate models.


title: Scalable Rejection Sampling for Bayesian Hierarchical Models

abstract:
  Bayesian hierarchical modeling is a popular approach to capturing unobserved
heterogeneity across individual units. However, standard estimation methods
such as Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) can be impracticable for modeling
outcomes from a large number of units. We develop a new method to sample from
posterior distributions of Bayesian models, without using MCMC. Samples are
independent, so they can be collected in parallel, and we do not need to be
concerned with issues like chain convergence and autocorrelation. The algorithm
is scalable under the weak assumption that individual units are conditionally
independent, making it applicable for large datasets. It can also be used to
compute marginal likelihoods.


title: Electromagnetic waves in the gravitational field of massive dark halos

abstract:
  The propagation of plane electromagnetic waves in the gravitational field
inside a rotating cloud of dark matter is analyzed. Formulas for the deflection
and absorption of light, and the rotation of the polarization plane are
obtained in closed form in terms of the mass density and the angular velocity
of the cloud. It is shown that the formulas can be considerably simplified for
axisymmetric configurations. As an example, the formalism is applied to a
rotating massive cloud described by a Plummer potential.


title: Chiral-Scale Perturbation Theory About an Infrared Fixed Point

abstract:
  We review the failure of lowest order chiral $SU(3)_L \times SU(3)_R$
perturbation theory $\chi$PT$_3$ to account for amplitudes involving the
$f_0(500)$ resonance and $O(m_K)$ extrapolations in momenta. We summarize our
proposal to replace $\chi$PT$_3$ with a new effective theory $\chi$PT$_\sigma$
based on a low-energy expansion about an infrared fixed point in 3-flavour QCD.
At the fixed point, the quark condensate
$\langle\bar{q}q\rangle_\mathrm{vac}\neq 0$ induces nine Nambu-Goldstone
bosons: $\pi, K, \eta$ and a QCD dilaton $\sigma$ which we identify with the
$f_0(500)$ resonance. We discuss the construction of the $\chi$PT$_\sigma$
Lagrangian and its implications for meson phenomenology at low-energies. Our
main results include a simple explanation for the $\Delta I = 1/2$ rule in
$K$-decays and an estimate for the Drell-Yan ratio in the infrared limit.


title: Interpolation for completely positive maps: numerical solutions

abstract:
  We present certain techniques to find completely positive maps between matrix
algebras that take prescribed values on given data. To this aim we describe a
semidefinite programming approach and another convex minimization method
supported by a numerical example.


title: Tomography of band insulators from quench dynamics

abstract:
  We propose a simple scheme for tomography of band-insulating states in one-
and two-dimensional optical lattices with two sublattice states. In particular,
the scheme maps out the Berry curvature in the entire Brillouin zone and
extracts topological invariants such as the Chern number. The measurement
relies on observing---via time-of-flight imaging---the time evolution of the
momentum distribution following a sudden quench in the band structure. We
consider two examples of experimental relevance: the Harper model with
$\pi$-flux and the Haldane model on a honeycomb lattice. Moreover, we
illustrate the performance of the scheme in the presence of a parabolic trap,
noise, and finite measurement resolution.


title:
Non-Markovian dynamics and steady-state entanglement of cavity arrays in
  finite-bandwidth squeezed reservoirs

abstract:
  When two chains of quantum systems are driven at their ends by a two-mode
squeezed reservoir, they approach a steady state characterized by the formation
of many entangled pairs. Each pair is made of one element of the first and one
of the second chain. This effect has been already predicted under the
assumption of broadband squeezing. Here we investigate the situation of
finite-bandwidth reservoirs. This is done by modeling the driving bath as the
output field of a non-degenerate parametric oscillator. The resulting
non-Markovian dynamics is studied within the theoretical framework of cascade
open quantum systems. It is shown that the formation of pair-entangled
structures occurs as long as the normal-mode splitting of the arrays does not
overcome the squeezing bandwidth of the reservoir.


title: More ties than we thought

abstract:
  We extend the existing enumeration of neck tie-knots to include tie-knots
with a textured front, tied with the narrow end of a tie. These tie-knots have
gained popularity in recent years, based on reconstructions of a costume detail
from The Matrix Reloaded, and are explicitly ruled out in the enumeration by
Fink and Mao (2000).
  We show that the relaxed tie-knot description language that comprehensively
describes these extended tie-knot classes is context free. It has a regular
sub-language that covers all the knots that originally inspired the work.
  From the full language, we enumerate 266 682 distinct tie-knots that seem
tie-able with a normal neck-tie. Out of these 266 682, we also enumerate 24 882
tie-knots that belong to the regular sub-language.


title: Discord of response

abstract:
  The presence of quantum correlations in a quantum state is related to the
state response to local unitary perturbations. Such response is quantified by
the distance between the unperturbed and perturbed states, minimized with
respect to suitably identified sets of local unitary operations. In order to be
a bona fide measure of quantum correlations, the distance function must be
chosen among those that are contractive under completely positive and trace
preserving maps. The most relevant instances of such physically well behaved
metrics include the trace, the Bures, and the Hellinger distance. To each of
these metrics one can associate the corresponding discord of response, namely
the trace, or Hellinger, or Bures minimum distance from the set of unitarily
perturbed states. All these three discords of response satisfy the basic axioms
for a proper measure of quantum correlations. In the present work we focus in
particular on the Bures distance, which enjoys the unique property of being
both Riemannian and contractive under completely positive and trace preserving
maps, and admits important operational interpretations in terms of state
distinguishability. We compute analytically the Bures discord of response for
two-qubit states with maximally mixed marginals and we compare it with the
corresponding Bures geometric discord, namely the geometric measure of quantum
correlations defined as the Bures distance from the set of classically
correlated quantum states. Finally, we investigate and identify the maximally
quantum correlated two-qubit states according to the Bures discord of response.
These states exhibit a remarkable nonlinear dependence on the global state
purity.


title: On Routing-Optimal Network for Multiple Unicasts

abstract:
  In this paper, we consider networks with multiple unicast sessions.
Generally, non-linear network coding is needed to achieve the whole rate region
of network coding. Yet, there exist networks for which routing is sufficient to
achieve the whole rate region, and we refer to them as routing-optimal
networks. We identify a class of routing-optimal networks, which we refer to as
information-distributive networks, defined by three topological features. Due
to these features, for each rate vector achieved by network coding, there is
always a routing scheme such that it achieves the same rate vector, and the
traffic transmitted through the network is exactly the information transmitted
over the cut-sets between the sources and the sinks in the corresponding
network coding scheme. We present more examples of information-distributive
networks, including some examples from index coding and single unicast with
hard deadline constraint.


title:
Potential for Precision Measurement of Low-Energy Antiprotons with GAPS
  for Dark Matter and Primordial Black Hole Physics

abstract:
  The general antiparticle spectrometer (GAPS) experiment is a proposed
indirect dark matter search focusing on antiparticles produced by WIMP (weakly
interacting massive particle) annihilation and decay in the Galactic halo. In
addition to the very powerful search channel provided by antideuterons, GAPS
has a strong capability to measure low-energy antiprotons (0.07 $\le$ E $\le$
0.25 GeV) as dark matter signatures. This is an especially effective means for
probing light dark matter, whose existence has been hinted at in the direct
dark matter searches, including the recent result from the CDMS-II experiment.
While severely constrained by LUX and other direct dark matter searches, light
dark matter candidates are still viable in an isospin-violating dark matter
scenario and halo-independent analysis. Along with the excellent antideuteron
sensitivity, GAPS will be able to detect an order of magnitude more low-energy
antiprotons, compared to BESS, PAMELA and AMS-02, providing a precision
measurement of low-energy antiproton flux and a unique channel for probing
light dark matter models. Additionally, dark matter signatures from gravitinos
and Kaluza-Klein right-handed neutrinos as well as evidence of primordial black
hole evaporation can be observed through low-energy antiproton search.


title:
Controlling the transport of electrons on superfluid $^{4}$He in
  symmetric and asymmetric FET-like structures

abstract:
  When floating on a two-dimensional (2D) surface of superfluid $^{4}$He,
electrons arrange themselves in 2D crystalline structure known as Wigner
crystal. In channels, the boundaries interfere the crystalline order and in
case of very narrow channels one observes a quasi-1D Wigner crystal formed by
just a few rows of electrons and, ultimately, one row, i.e., in the ``quantum
wire'' regime. Recently, the ``quantum wire'' regime was accessed
experimentally [D. Rees {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 108}, 176801
(2012)] resulting in unusual transport phenomena such as, e.g., oscillations in
the electron conductance. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we study the
nonlinear transport of electrons in channels with constrictions: single and
multiple symmetric and asymmetric geometrical constrictions with varying width
and length, and saddle-point-type potentials with varying gate voltage. We
analyze the average particle velocity versus driving force or the gate voltage.
We have revealed a significant difference in the dynamics for long and short
constrictions: the oscillations of the average particle velocity for the
systems with short constrictions exhibit a clear correlation with the
transitions between the states with different numbers of rows of particles
while for longer constrictions these oscillations are suppressed. The obtained
results are in agreement with the experimental observations. We proposed a
FET-like structure that consists of a channel with asymmetric constrictions. We
show that applying a transverse bias results either in increase of the average
particle velocity or in its suppression thus allowing a flexible control tool
over the electron transport. Our results bring important insights into the
dynamics of electrons floating on the surface of superfluid $^{4}$He in
channels with constrictions and allow an effective control over the electron
transport.


title:
Conformations, Transverse Fluctuations and Crossover Dynamics of a
  Semi-Flexible Chain in Two Dimensions

abstract:
  We present a unified scaling description for the dynamics of monomers of a
semiflexible chain under good solvent condition in the free draining limit. We
consider both the cases where the contour length $L$ is comparable to the
persistence length $\ell_p$ and the case $L\gg \ell_p$. Our theory captures the
early time monomer dynamics of a stiff chain characterized by $t^{3/4}$
dependence for the mean square displacement(MSD) of the monomers, but predicts
a first crossover to the Rouse regime of $t^{2\nu/{1+2\nu}}$ for $\tau_1 \sim
\ell_p^3$, and a second crossover to the purely diffusive dynamics for the
entire chain at $\tau_2 \sim L^{5/2}$. We confirm the predictions of this
scaling description by studying monomer dynamics of dilute solution of
semi-flexible chains under good solvent conditions obtained from our Brownian
dynamics (BD) simulation studies for a large choice of chain lengths with
number of monomers per chain N = 16 - 2048 and persistence length $\ell_p = 1 -
500$ Lennard-Jones (LJ) units. These BD simulation results further confirm the
absence of Gaussian regime for a 2d swollen chain from the slope of the plot of
$\langle R_N^2 \rangle/2L \ell_p \sim L/\ell_p$ which around $L/\ell_p \sim 1$
changes suddenly from $\left(L/\ell_p \right) \rightarrow \left(L/\ell_p
\right)^{0.5} $, also manifested in the power law decay for the bond
autocorrelation function disproving the validity of the WLC in 2d. We further
observe that the normalized transverse fluctuations of the semiflexible chains
for different stiffness $\sqrt{\langle l_{\bot}^2\rangle}/L$ as a function of
renormalized contour length $L/\ell_p$ collapse on the same master plot and
exhibits power law scaling $\sqrt{\langle l_{\bot}^2\rangle}/L \sim
(L/\ell_p)^\eta $ at extreme limits, where $\eta = 0.5$ for extremely stiff
chains ($L/\ell_p \gg 1$), and $\eta = -0.25$ for fully flexible chains.


title:
A Luminous Blue Variable Star Interacting with a Nearby Infrared Dark
  Cloud

abstract:
  G79.29+0.46 is a nebula created by a Luminous Blue Variable (LBV) star
candidate characterized by two almost circular concentric shells. In order to
investigate whether the shells are interacting with the infrared dark cloud
(IRDC) G79.3+0.3 located at the southwestern border of the inner shell, we
conducted Jansky Very Large Array observations of NH3(1,1), (2,2) and c-C3H2,
and combined them with previous Effelsberg data. The overall NH3 emission
consists of one main clump, named G79A, elongated following the shape of the
IRDC, plus two fainter and smaller cores to the north, which spatially match
the inner infrared shell. We analysed the NH3 spectra at each position with
detected emission and inferred linewidth, rotational temperature, column
density and abundance maps, and find that: i) the linewidth of NH3(1,1) in the
northern cores is 0.5 km/s, slightly larger than in their surroundings; ii) the
NH3 abundance is enhanced by almost one order of magnitude towards the
northwestern side of G79A; iii) there is one `hot slab' at the interface
between the inner infrared shell and the NH3 peak of G79A; iv) the western and
southern edges of G79A present chemical differentiation, with c-C3H2 tracing
more external layers than NH3, similar to what is found in PDRs. Overall, the
kinematics and physical conditions of G79A are consistent with both
shock-induced and UV radiation-induced chemistry driven by the LBV star.
Therefore, the IRDC is not likely associated with the star-forming region DR15,
but located farther away, near G79.29+0.46 at 1.4 kpc.


title:
Compactifications of character varieties and skein relations on
  conformal blocks

abstract:
  Let $M_C(G)$ be the moduli space of semistable principal $G-$bundles over a
smooth curve $C$. We show that a flat degeneration of this space
$M_{C_{\Gamma}}(G)$ associated to a singular stable curve $C_{\Gamma}$ contains
the free group character variety $\mathcal{X}(F_g, G)$ as a dense, open subset,
where $g = genus(C).$ In the case $G = SL_2(\mathbb{C})$ we describe the
resulting compactification explicitly, and in turn we conclude that the
coordinate ring of $M_{C_{\Gamma}}(SL_2(\mathbb{C}))$ is presented by
homogeneous skein relations. Along the way, we prove the parabolic version of
these results over stable, marked curves $(C_{\Gamma}, \vec{p}_{\Gamma})$.


title:
On the origin of the central 1" hole in the stellar disk of Sgr A* and
  the Fermi gamma-ray bubbles

abstract:
  The supermassive black hole Sgr A* at the center of the Galaxy is surrounded
by two misaligned disks of young, massive stars extending from ~0.04 to 0.4 pc.
The stellar surface density increases as ~ r^-2 towards Sgr A* but is truncated
within 1" (0.04pc). We explore the origin of this annulus using a model in
which star formation occurs in a disk of gas created through the partial
capture of a gas cloud as it sweeps through the inner few parsecs of the galaxy
and temporarily engulfs Sgr A*. We identify the locations within which star
formation and/or accretion onto Sgr A* take place. Within 0.04 pc the disk is
magnetically active and the associated heating and enhanced pressure prevents
the disk from becoming self gravitating. Instead, it forms a magneto-turbulent
disk that drains onto Sgr A* within 3 Myr. Meanwhile, fragmentation of the gas
beyond the central 0.04 pc hole creates the observed young stellar disk. The
two large scale bubbles of gamma-ray emission extending perpendicular to the
Galactic plane may be created by a burst of accretion of ~10^5 Msun of gas
lying between 0.01 and 0.03 pc. The observed stellar ages imply that this
capture event occurred ~10^6.5 yr ago, thus such events occurring over the life
time of the Galaxy could have significantly contributed to the current mass of
Sgr A* and to the inner few parsec of the nuclear star cluster. We suggest that
these events also occur in extragalactic systems.


title:
Effects of Neutrino Inverse Seesaw Mechanism on the Sparticle Spectrum
  in CMSSM and NUHM2

abstract:
  We study the implications of the inverse seesaw mechanism (ISS) on the
sparticle spectrum in the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model
(CMSSM) and Non-Universal Higgs Model (NUHM2). Employing the maximal value of
the Dirac Yukawa coupling involving the up type Higgs doublet provides a 2-3
GeV enhancement of the lightest CP-even Higgs boson mass. This effect permits
one to have lighter colored sparticles in the CMSSM and NUHM2 scenarios with
LSP neutralino, which can be tested at LHC14. We present a variety of LHC
testable benchmark points with the desired LSP neutralino dark matter relic
abundance.


title: Introducing E-maintenance 2.0

abstract:
  While research literature is still debating e-maintenance definition, a new
reality is emerging in business world confirming the enterprise 2.0 model.
Executives are more and more forced to stop running against current trend
towards social media and instead envisage harnessing its power within the
enterprise. Maintenance can't be an exception for long and has to take
advantage of new opportunities created by social technological innovations. In
this paper, a combination of pure E perspective and 2.0 perspective is proposed
to avoid a lock-in and allow continous evolution of e-maintenance within the
new context of business: A combination of data centric models and people
oriented applications to form a collaborative environment in order to conceive
and achieve global goals of maintenance.New challenges are also to be expected
as to the effecient integration of enterprise 2.0 tools within current
e-maintenance platforms and futher research work is still to be done in this
area.


title:
Evaluating the Applicability of the Fokker-Planck Equation in Polymer
  Translocation: A Brownian Dynamics Study

abstract:
  Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations are used to study the translocation
dynamics of a coarse-grained polymer through a cylindrical nanopore. We
consider the case of short polymers, with a polymer length, N, in the range
N=21-61. The rate of translocation is controlled by a tunable friction
coefficient, gamma_{0p}, for monomers inside the nanopore. In the case of
unforced translocation, the mean translocation time scales with polymer length
N as <tau_1>~ (N-N_p)^alpha, where N_p is the average number of monomers in the
nanopore. The exponent approaches the value alpha=2 when the pore friction is
sufficiently high, in accord with the prediction for the case of the
quasi-static regime where pore friction dominates. In the case of forced
translocation, the polymer chain is stretched and compressed on the cis and
trans sides, respectively, for low gamma_{0p}. However, the chain approaches
conformational quasi-equilibrium for sufficiently large gamma_{0p}. In this
limit the observed scaling of <tau_1> with driving force and chain length
supports the FP prediction that <tau> is proportional to N/f_d for sufficiently
strong driving force. Monte Carlo simulations are used to calculate
translocation free energy functions for the system. The free energies are used
with the Fokker-Planck equation to calculate translocation time distributions.
At sufficiently high gamma_{0p}, the predicted distributions are in excellent
agreement with those calculated from the BD simulations. Thus, the FP equation
provides a valid description of translocation dynamics for sufficiently high
pore friction for the range of polymer lengths considered here. Increasing N
will require a corresponding increase in pore friction to maintain the validity
of the FP approach. Outside the regime of low N and high pore friction, the
polymer is out of equilibrium, and the FP approach is not valid.


title: Modulus of continuity of solutions to complex Hessian equations

abstract:
  We give a sharp estimate of the modulus of continuity of the solution to the
Dirichlet problem for the complex Hessian equation of order $m$ ($1 \leq m \leq
n$) with a continuous right hand side and a continuous boundary data in a
bounded strongly $m$-pseudoconvex domain $\Om \Subset \C^n$. Moreover when the
right hand side is in $L^p(\Om) $, for some $p > n/m$ and the boundary value
function is $C^{1,1}$ we prove that the solution is H\"older continuous.


title:
Quantitative Analysis of Active Cyber Defenses Based on Temporal
  Platform Diversity

abstract:
  Active cyber defenses based on temporal platform diversity have been proposed
as way to make systems more resistant to attacks. These defenses change the
properties of the platforms in order to make attacks more complicated.
Unfortunately, little work has been done on measuring the effectiveness of
these defenses. In this work, we use four different approaches to
quantitatively analyze these defenses; an abstract analysis studies the
algebraic models of a temporal platform diversity system; a set of experiments
on a test bed measures the metrics of interest for the system; a game theoretic
analysis studies the impact of preferential selection of platforms and derives
an optimal strategy; finally, a set of simulations evaluates the metrics of
interest on the models. Our results from these approaches all agree and yet are
counter-intuitive. We show that although platform diversity can mitigate some
attacks, it can be detrimental for others. We also illustrate that the benefit
from these systems heavily depends on their threat model and that the
preferential selection of platforms can achieve better protection.