title:
Comparison of Strong Gravitational Lens Model Software I. Time delay and
  mass calculations are sensitive to changes in redshift and are model
  dependent

abstract:
  Analysis of strong gravitational lensing depends on software analysis of
observational data. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the behavior of
strong gravitational lens modeling software with changes in redshift. Four
different strong gravitational lens software modeling codes were directly
compared (Lenstool / glafic, two light traces mass codes, and GRALE / PixeLens,
two non-light traces mass codes) in the analysis of model data as well as
analysis of the giant gravitational quasar SDSSJ1004+4112. A generalized model
for time delay calculation shows that calculated time delay is proportional to
$D_{d}D_{s}/D_{ds}$.The percent change in time delays calculated for each
system at each redshift tested were compared with percent change in the value
of $D_{d}D_{s}/D_{ds}$. A simple point mass model was tested with each code.
Five models were used with a constant $z_{lens}$ and a varying $z_{source}$,
and five models with a constant $z_{source}$ and a varying $z_{lens}$. The
effects of changing geometry were similarly investigated for SDSSJ1004+4112. In
general, the changes in time delay were of a similar magnitude and direction
although, some calculated time delays varied by as much as 30 percent from
changes in $D_{d}D_{s}/D_{ds}$. Changes in calculated mass for the point mass
model with a constant $z_{source}$ were almost identical to changes in
$D_{d}D_{s}/D_{ds}$ for three of the four codes tested. These data demonstrate
the effect of changes in redshift on parameters calculated by each of the codes
as compared to changes in $D_{d}D_{s}/D_{ds}$. The paucity of existing direct
comparison studies of strong gravitational lensing supports the need for more
studies of this kind. These results show that even small changes in redshift
affects the calculation of time delay and mass, and that the effect on the
calculations is dependent on the particular software used.


title: Superdirective dielectric nanoantennas with effect of light steering

abstract:
  We introduce a novel concept of superdirective antennas based on the
generation of higher-order optically-induced magnetic multipole modes.
All-dielectric nanoantenna can be realized as an optically small spherical
dielectric nanoparticle with a notch excited by a point source (e.g. a quantum
dot) located in the notch. The superdirectivity effect is not associated with
high dissipative losses. For these dielectric nanoantennas we predict the
effect of the beam steering at the nanoscale characterized by a subwavelength
sensitivity of the beam radiation direction to the source position. We confirm
the predicted effects experimentally through the scaling to the microwave
frequency range.


title:
Bayesian estimate of the degree of a polynomial given a noisy data
  sample

abstract:
  A widely used method to create a continuous representation of a discrete
data-set is regression analysis. When the regression model is not based on a
mathematical description of the physics underlying the data, heuristic
techniques play a crucial role and the model choice can have a significant
impact on the result. In this paper, the problem of identifying the most
appropriate model is formulated and solved in terms of Bayesian selection.
Besides, probability calculus is the best way to choose among different
alternatives. The results obtained are applied to the case of both univariate
and bivariate polynomials used as trial solutions of systems of thermodynamic
partial differential equations.


title: Role of helicities for the dynamics of turbulent magnetic fields

abstract:
  Investigations of the inverse cascade of magnetic helicity are conducted with
pseudospectral, three-dimensional direct numerical simulations of forced and
decaying incompressible magnetohydrodynamic turbulence. The high-resolution
simulations which allow for the necessary scale-separation show that the
observed self-similar scaling behavior of magnetic helicity and related
quantities can only be understood by taking the full nonlinear interplay of
velocity and magnetic fluctuations into account. With the help of the
eddy-damped quasi-normal Markovian approximation a probably universal relation
between kinetic and magnetic helicities is derived that closely resembles the
extended definition of the prominent dynamo pseudoscalar $\alpha$. This
unexpected similarity suggests an additional nonlinear quenching mechanism of
the current-helicity contribution to $\alpha$.


title:
Dirac spectral flow on contact three manifolds I: eigensection estimates
  and spectral asymmetry

abstract:
  Let $Y$ be a compact, oriented 3-manifold with a contact form $a$ and a
metric $ds^2$. Suppose that $F\to Y$ is a principal bundle with structure group
$U(2) = SU(2)\times_{\pm1}S^1$ such that $F/S^1$ is the principal SO(3) bundle
of orthonormal frames for $TY$. A unitary connection $A_0$ on the Hermitian
line bundle $F\times_{\det U(2)}\mathbb{C}$ determines a self-adjoint Dirac
operator $D_0$ on the $\mathbb{C}^2$-bundle $F\times_{U(2)}\mathbb{C}^2$.
  The contact form $a$ can be used to perturb the connection $A_0$ by
$A_0-ira$. This associates a one parameter family of Dirac operators $D_r$ for
$r\geq0$. When $r>>1$, we establish a sharp sup-norm estimate on the
eigensections of $D_r$ with small eigenvalues. The sup-norm estimate can be
applied to study the asymptotic behavior of the spectral flow from $D_0$ to
$D_r$. In particular, it implies that the subleading order term of the spectral
flow is strictly smaller than the order of $r^{\frac{3}{2}}$. We also relate
the $\eta$-invariant of $D_r$ to certain spectral asymmetry function involving
only the small eigenvalues of $D_r$.


title:
Dirac spectral flow on contact three manifolds II:
  Thurston--Winkelnkemper contact forms

abstract:
  Given an open book decomposition $(\Sigma,\tau)$ of a three manifold $Y$,
Thurston and Winkelnkemper [TW] construct a specific contact form $a$ on $Y$.
Given a spin-c Dirac operator $D$ on $Y$, the contact form naturally associates
a one parameter family of Dirac operators $D_r = D - \frac{ir}{2}\cl(a)$ for
$r\geq0$. When $r>>1$, we prove that the spectrum of $D_r = D_0 -
\frac{ir}{2}\cl(a)$ within $[-(r^{1/2})/2, (r^{1/2})/2]$ are almost uniformly
distributed. With the result in Part I, it implies that the subleading order
term of the spectral flow from $D_0$ to $D_r$ is of order $r (\log
r)^{\frac{9}{2}}$. Besides the interests of the spectral flow, the method of
this paper provide a tool to analyze the Dirac operator on an open book
decomposition.


title:
Optical conductivity, Drude weight and plasmons in twisted graphene
  bilayers

abstract:
  We numerically calculate the optical conductivity of twisted graphene
bilayers within the continuum model. To obtain the imaginary part, we employ
the regularized Kramers-Kronig relation allowing us to discuss arbitrary twist
angles, chemical potential and temperature. We find that the Drude weight $D$
as function of the chemical potential $\mu$ closely follows the shell structure
of twisted bilayer displayed by the density of states. For certain angles, this
results in a transport gap D=0 at finite $\mu$. We also discuss the loss
function which, for low doping, is characterized by acoustic interband
"plasmons" and transitions close to the van Hove singularities. For larger
doping, the plasmon mode of decoupled graphene bilayer is recovered that is
damped especially for small wave numbers.


title:
Function theory and holomorphic maps on symmetric products of planar
  domains

abstract:
  We show that the $\bar{\partial}$-problem is globally regular on a domain in
$\mathbb{C}^n$, which is the $n$-fold symmetric product of a smoothly bounded
planar domain. Remmert-Stein type theorems are proved for proper holomorphic
maps between equidimensional symmetric products and proper holomorphic maps
from cartesian products to symmetric products. It is shown that proper
holomorphic maps between equidimensional symmetric products of smooth planar
domains are smooth up to the boundary


title:
Design of a wavelength frame multiplication system using acceptance
  diagrams

abstract:
  The concept of Wavelength Frame Multiplication (WFM) was developed to extend
the usable wavelength range on long pulse neutron sources for instruments using
pulse shaping choppers. For some instruments, it is combined with a pulse
shaping double chopper, which defines a constant wavelength resolution, and a
set of frame overlap choppers that prevent spurious neutrons from reaching the
detector thus avoiding systematic errors in the calculation of wavelength from
time of flight. Due to its complexity, the design of such a system is
challenging and there are several criteria that need to be accounted for. In
this work, the design of the WFM chopper system for the potential future
liquids reflectometer at the European Spallation Source (ESS) is presented,
which makes use of acceptance diagrams. They prove to be a powerful tool for
understanding the work principle of the system and recognizing potential
problems. The authors assume that the presented study can be useful for design
or upgrade of further instruments, in particular the ones planned for the ESS.


title: Striped phases in the holographic insulator/superconductor transition

abstract:
  We study striped phases in holographic insulator/superconductor transition by
considering a spatially modulated chemical potential in AdS soliton background.
Generally striped phases can develop above a critical chemical potential. When
the constant leading term in the chemical potential is set to zero, a
discontinuity in the plot of charge density versus chemical potential is
observed in the limit of large wave vector. We explain this discontinuity using
an analytical approach. When the constant leading term in the chemical
potential is present, the critical chemical potential is larger than in the
case of a homogeneous chemical potential, which indicates that the spatially
modulated chemical potential disfavors the phase transition. This behavior is
also confirmed qualitatively by analytical calculations. We also calculate the
grand canonical potential and find that the striped phase is favored.


title: Hyperspectral fluorescence microscopy based on Compressive Sampling

abstract:
  The mathematical theory of compressed sensing (CS) asserts that one can
acquire signals from measurements whose rate is much lower than the total
bandwidth. Whereas the CS theory is now well developed, challenges concerning
hardware implementations of CS-based acquisition devices-especially in
optics-have only started being addressed. This paper presents an implementation
of compressive sensing in fluorescence microscopy and its applications to
biomedical imaging. Our CS microscope combines a dynamic structured wide-field
illumination and a fast and sensitive single-point fluorescence detection to
enable reconstructions of images of fluorescent beads, cells, and tissues with
undersampling ratios (between the number of pixels and number of measurements)
up to 32. We further demonstrate a hyperspectral mode and record images with
128 spectral channels and undersampling ratios up to 64, illustrating the
potential benefits of CS acquisition for higher-dimensional signals, which
typically exhibits extreme redundancy. Altogether, our results emphasize the
interest of CS schemes for acquisition at a significantly reduced rate and
point to some remaining challenges for CS fluorescence microscopy.


title:
Topological characterization of crystalline ice structures from
  coordination sequences

abstract:
  Topological properties of crystalline ice structures are studied by
considering ring statistics, coordination sequences, and topological density of
different ice phases. The coordination sequences (number of sites at
topological distance k from a reference site) have been obtained by direct
enumeration until at least 40 coordination spheres for different ice
polymorphs. This allows us to study the asymptotic behavior of the mean number
of sites in the k-th shell, M_k, for high values of k: M_k ~ a k^2, a being a
structure-dependent parameter. Small departures from a strict parabolic
dependence have been studied by considering first and second differences of the
series {M_k} for each structure. The parameter a ranges from 2.00 for ice VI to
4.27 for ice XII, and is used to define a topological density for these solid
phases of water. Correlations between such topological density and the actual
volume of ice phases are discussed. Ices Ih and Ic are found to depart from the
general trend in this correlation due to the large void space in their
structures.


title:
Joint Channel Estimation and Channel Decoding in Physical-Layer Network
  Coding Systems: An EM-BP Factor Graph Framework

abstract:
  This paper addresses the problem of joint channel estimation and channel
decoding in physical-layer network coding (PNC) systems. In PNC, multiple users
transmit to a relay simultaneously. PNC channel decoding is different from
conventional multi-user channel decoding: specifically, the PNC relay aims to
decode a network-coded message rather than the individual messages of the
users. Although prior work has shown that PNC can significantly improve the
throughput of a relay network, the improvement is predicated on the
availability of accurate channel estimates. Channel estimation in PNC, however,
can be particularly challenging because of 1) the overlapped signals of
multiple users; 2) the correlations among data symbols induced by channel
coding; and 3) time-varying channels. We combine the expectation-maximization
(EM) algorithm and belief propagation (BP) algorithm on a unified factor-graph
framework to tackle these challenges. In this framework, channel estimation is
performed by an EM subgraph, and channel decoding is performed by a BP subgraph
that models a virtual encoder matched to the target of PNC channel decoding.
Iterative message passing between these two subgraphs allow the optimal
solutions for both to be approached progressively. We present extensive
simulation results demonstrating the superiority of our PNC receivers over
other PNC receivers.


title:
Introducing Pietarinen expansion method into single-channel pole
  extraction problem

abstract:
  We present a new approach to quantifying pole parameters of single-channel
processes based on a Laurent expansion of partial-wave T-matrices in the
vicinity of the real axis. Instead of using the conventional power-series
description of the non-singular part of the Laurent expansion, we represent
this part by a convergent series of Pietarinen functions. As the analytic
structure of the non-singular part is usually very well known (physical cuts
with branch points at inelastic thresholds, and unphysical cuts in the negative
energy plane), we find that one Pietarinen series per cut represents the
analytic structure fairly reliably. The number of terms in each Pietarinen
series is determined by the quality of the fit. The method is tested in two
ways: on a toy model constructed from two known poles, various background
terms, and two physical cuts, and on several sets of realistic piN elastic
energy-dependent partial-wave amplitudes (GWU/SAID - [1, 2], and
Dubna-Mainz-Taipei - [3, 4]). We show that the method is robust and confident
using up to three Pietarinen series, and is particularly convenient in fits to
amplitudes, such as single-energy solutions, coming more directly from
experiment; cases where the analytic structure of the regular part is apriori
unknown.


title:
Spatiotemporal model of a key step in endocytosis: SNX9 recruitment via
  phosphoinositides

abstract:
  Clathrin mediated endocytosis (CME) is an ubiquitous cellular pathway that
regulates central aspects of cell physiology such as nutrient uptake,
modulation of signal transduction, synaptic transmission and membrane
turn-over. Endocytic vesicle formation depends on the timed production of
specific phosphoinositides and their interactions with various endocytic
proteins. Recently, it has been found that
phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P2) produced by the class II
phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase C2alpha plays a key role in the recruitment of
the PX-BAR domain protein SNX9, which is proposed to play a role in the
constriction of the endocytic vesicle neck [Posor et al, Nature 499, p233
(2013)]. Interestingly, SNX9 and its close paralog SNX18 are not fully specific
to PI(3,4)P2 but can also bind other phospholipids, in particular to PI(4,5)P2,
an abundant plasma membrane lipid required for the recruitment of many
endocytic proteins. In order to understand the dynamical interplay between
phospholipids and endocytic proteins, we developed a computational model of the
temporal changes in the population of the phosphoinositide-associated endocytic
proteins and their spatial distribution at a clathrin-coated pit (CCP). The
model resolves single molecules in time and space, and incorporates the complex
interplay of proteins and lipids, as well as their movement within the CCP. We
find that the comparably small differences in lipid binding affinities of
endocytic proteins are amplified by competition among them, allowing for the
selective enrichment of SNX9 at late stage CCPs as a result of timed PI(3,4)P2
production.


title: Feshbach-type resonances for two-particle scattering in graphene

abstract:
  Two-particle scattering in graphene is a multichannel problem, where the
energies of the identical or opposite-helicity channels lie in disjoint energy
segments. Due to the absence of Galilean invariance, these segments depend on
the total momentum $Q$. The dispersion relations for the two opposite-helicity
scattering channels are analogous to those of two one-dimensional tight-binding
lattices with opposite dispersion relations, which are known to easily bind
states at their edges. When an $s$-wave separable interaction potential is
assumed, those bound states reveal themselves as three Feshbach resonances in
the identical-helicity channel. In the limit $Q \rightarrow 0$, one of the
resonances survives and the opposite-helicity scattering amplitudes vanish.


title: The substellar content of the ONC

abstract:
  The Substellar Initial Mass Function (SIMF) of many star-forming regions is
still poorly known but the detailed knowledge of its shape will help to
distinguish among the substellar formation theories. The Orion Nebula Cluster
(ONC) is one of the most extensively studied star forming regions. We here
present deep, wide-field JHK observations of the ONC taken with HAWK-I@VLT.
These observations extend the IMF into the brown dwarf and free-floating
planetary mass regime with unprecedented sensitivity. To obtain a clean sample
of ONC members, we exclude potential background sources with the help of CO
extinction maps. Masses are assigned by means of evolutionary tracks in the H
vs. J-H Color-Magnitude Diagram (CMD). Besides the well known stellar peak at
~0.25 M_sun we find a pronounced second peak at ~0.04 M_sun in the SIMF and
indications for a third rise in the free-floating planetary mass regime.


title:
Measurement of the top-quark mass in all-jets t t-bar events in pp
  collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

abstract:
  The mass of the top quark is measured using a sample of t t-bar candidate
events with at least six jets in the final state. The sample is selected from
data collected with the CMS detector in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV in
2011 and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 3.54 inverse femtobarns.
The mass is reconstructed for each event employing a kinematic fit of the jets
to a t t-bar hypothesis. The top-quark mass is measured to be 173.49 +/- 0.69
(stat.) +/- 1.21 (syst.) GeV. A combination with previously published
measurements in other decay modes by CMS yields a mass of 173.54 +/- 0.33
(stat.) +/- 0.96 (syst.) GeV.


title:
Collapsed heteroclinic snaking near a heteroclinic chain in dragged
  meniscus problems

abstract:
  We study a liquid film that is deposited onto a flat plate that is inclined
at a constant angle to the horizontal and is extracted from a liquid bath at a
constant speed. We additionally assume that there is a constant temperature
gradient along the plate that induces a Marangoni shear stress. We analyse
steady-state solutions of a long-wave evolution equation for the film
thickness. Using centre manifold theory, we first obtain an asymptotic
expansion of solutions in the bath region. The presence of the temperature
gradient significantly changes these expansions and leads to the presence of
logarithmic terms that are absent otherwise. Next, we obtain numerical
solutions of the steady-state equation and analyse the behaviour of the
solutions as the plate velocity is changed. We observe that the bifurcation
curve exhibits snaking behaviour when the plate inclination angle is beyond a
certain critical value. Otherwise, the bifurcation curve is monotonic. The
solutions along these curves are characterised by a foot-like structure that is
formed close to the meniscus and is preceded by a thin precursor film further
up the plate. The length of the foot increases along the bifurcation curve.
Finally, we explain that the snaking behaviour of the bifurcation curves is
caused by the existence of an infinite number of heteroclinic orbits close to a
heteroclinic chain that connects in an appropriate three-dimensional phase
space the fixed point corresponding to the precursor film with the fixed point
corresponding to the foot and then with the fixed point corresponding to the
bath.


title: Real-time dynamics of string breaking

abstract:
  We study the real-time dynamics of string breaking in quantum electrodynamics
in one spatial dimension. A two-stage process with a clear separation of time
and energy scales for the fermion--antifermion pair creation and subsequent
charge separation leading to the screening of external charges is found. Going
away from the traditional setup of external static charges, we establish the
phenomenon of multiple string breaking by considering dynamical charges flying
apart.


title:
Monte-Carlo simulation of ELT scale multi-object adaptive optics
  deformable mirror requirements and tolerances

abstract:
  Multi-object adaptive optics (MOAO) has been demonstrated by the CANARY
instrument on the William Herschel Telescope. However, for proposed MOAO
systems on the next generation Extremely Large Telescopes, such as EAGLE, many
challenges remain. Here we investigate requirements that MOAO operation places
on deformable mirrors (DMs) using a full end-to-end Monte-Carlo AO simulation
code. By taking into consideration a prior global ground-layer (GL) correction,
we show that actuator density for the MOAO DMs can be reduced with little
performance loss. We note that this reduction is only possible with the
addition of a GL DM, whose order is greater than or equal to that of the
original MOAO mirrors. The addition of a GL DM of lesser order does not affect
system performance (if tip/tilt star sharpening is ignored). We also quantify
the maximum mechanical DM stroke requirements (3.5 $\mu$m desired) and provide
tolerances for the DM alignment accuracy, both lateral (to within an eighth of
a sub-aperture) and rotational (to within 0.2$^\circ$). By presenting results
over a range of laser guide star asterism diameters, we ensure that these
results are equally applicable for laser tomographic AO systems. We provide the
opportunity for significant cost savings to be made in the implementation of
MOAO systems, resulting from the lower requirement for DM actuator density.


title:
Trispectrum and higher order spectra for non-Gaussian homogenous and
  isotropic field on the 2D-plane

abstract:
  In this paper we study the non-Gaussian homogenous and isotropic field on the
plane in frequency domain. The trispectrum and higher order spectra of such a
field are described in terms of Bessel functions. Poisson formulae are given
for the spectrum and for the bispectrum. Some particular integrals of Bessel
functions are considered as well.


title:
Three-flavor Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model at finite isospin chemical
  potential

abstract:
  QCD at finite isospin chemical potential $\mu_{\text I}$ possesses a
positively definite fermion determinant and the lattice simulation can be
successfully performed. While the two-flavor effective models may be sufficient
to describe the phenomenon of pion condensation, it is interesting to study the
roles of the strangeness degree of freedom and the U$_{\rm A}(1)$ anomaly. In
this paper, we present a systematic study of the three-flavor
Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model with a Kobayashi-Maskawa-'t Hooft (KMT) term that
mimics the U$_{\rm A}(1)$ anomaly at finite isospin chemical potential. In the
mean-field approximation, the model predicts a phase transition from the vacuum
to the pion superfluid phase, which takes place at $\mu_{\rm I}$ equal to the
pion mass $m_\pi$. Due to the U$_{\rm A}(1)$ anomaly, the strangeness degree of
freedom couples to the light quark degrees of freedom and the strange quark
effective mass depends on the pion condensate. However, the strange quark
condensate and the strange quark effective mass change slightly in the pion
superfluid phase, which verifies the validity of the two-flavor models. The
effective four-fermion interaction of the Kobayashi-Maskawa-'t Hooft term in
the presence of the pion condensation is constructed. Due to the U$_{\rm A}(1)$
anomaly, the pion condensation generally induces scalar-pseudoscalar
interaction. The Bethe-Salpeter equation for the mesonic excitations is
established and the meson mass spectra are obtained at finite isospin chemical
potential and temperature. Finally, the general expression for the topological
susceptibility $\chi$ at finite isospin chemical potential $\mu_{\rm I}$ is
derived. In contrast to the finite temperature effect which suppresses $\chi$,
the isospin density effect leads to an enhancement of $\chi$.


title: Ginzburg-Landau vortices, Coulomb Gases, and Renormalized Energies

abstract:
  This is a review about a series of results on vortices in the Ginzburg-Landau
model of superconductivity on the one hand, and point patterns in Coulomb gases
on the other hand, as well as the connections between the two topics.


title:
Rotational Synchronization May Enhance Habitability for Circumbinary
  Planets: Kepler Binary Case Studies

abstract:
  We report a mechanism capable of reducing (or increasing) stellar activity in
binary stars, thereby potentially enhancing (or destroying) circumbinary
habitability. In single stars, stellar aggression towards planetary atmospheres
causes mass-loss, which is especially detrimental for late-type stars, because
habitable zones are very close and activity is long lasting. In binaries, tidal
rotational breaking reduces magnetic activity, thus reducing harmful levels of
XUV radiation and stellar mass-loss that are able to erode planetary
atmospheres. We study this mechanism for all confirmed circumbinary (p-type)
planets. We find that main sequence twins provide minimal flux variation and in
some cases improved environments, if the stars rotationally synchronize within
the first Gyr. Solar-like twins, like Kepler 34 and Kepler 35, provide low
habitable zone XUV fluxes and stellar wind pressures. These wide, moist,
habitable zones may potentially support multiple habitable planets. Solar-type
stars with lower mass companions, like Kepler 47, allow for protected planets
over a wide range of secondary masses and binary periods. Kepler 38 and related
binaries are marginal cases. Kepler 64 and analogues have dramatically reduced
stellar aggression due to synchronization of the primary, but are limited by
the short lifetime. Kepler 16 appears to be inhospitable to planets due to
extreme XUV flux. These results have important implications for estimates of
the number of stellar systems containing habitable planets in the Galaxy and
allow for the selection of binaries suitable for follow-up searches for
habitable planets.


title: When the bispectrum is real-valued

abstract:
  Let {X(t)} be a stationary time series with a.e. positive spectrum. Two
consequences of that the bispectrum of {X(t)} is real-valued but nonzero: 1) if
{X(t)} is also linear, then it is reversible; 2) {X(t),} can not be causal
linear. A corollary of the first statement: if {X(t)} is linear, and the
skewness of X(0) is nonzero, then third order reversibility implies
reversibility. In this paper the notion of bispectrum is of a broader scope.


title: Self-excited Threshold Poisson Autoregression

abstract:
  This paper studies theory and inference of an observation-driven model for
time series of counts. It is assumed that the observations follow a Poisson
distribution conditioned on an accompanying intensity process, which is
equipped with a two-regime structure according to the magnitude of the lagged
observations. The model remedies one of the drawbacks of the Poisson
autoregression model by allowing possibly negative correlation in the
observations. Classical Markov chain theory and Lyapunov's method are utilized
to derive the conditions under which the process has a unique invariant
probability measure and to show a strong law of large numbers of the intensity
process. Moreover the asymptotic theory of the maximum likelihood estimates of
the parameters is established. A simulation study and a real data application
are considered, where the model is applied to the number of major earthquakes
in the world.


title:
On parametric Gevrey asymptotics for singularly perturbed partial
  differential equations with delays

abstract:
  We study a family of singularly perturbed $q-$difference-differential
equations in the complex domain. We provide sectorial holomorphic solutions in
the perturbation parameter $\epsilon$. Moreover, we achieve the existence of a
common formal power series in $\epsilon$ which represents each actual solution,
and establish $q-$Gevrey estimates involved in this representation. The proof
of the main result rests on a new version of the so-called Malgrange-Sibuya
Theorem regarding $q-$Gevrey asymptotics. A particular Dirichlet like series is
studied on the way.


title:
The structure of infectious disease outbreaks across the animal-human
  interface

abstract:
  Despite the enormous relevance of zoonotic infections to world- wide public
health, and despite much effort in modeling individual zoonoses, a fundamental
understanding of the disease dynamics and the nature of outbreaks arising in
such systems is still lacking. We introduce a simple stochastic model of
susceptible-infected- recovered dynamics in a coupled animal-human
metapopulation, and solve analytically for several important properties of the
cou- pled outbreaks. At early timescales, we solve for the probability and time
of spillover, and the disease prevalence in the animal population at spillover
as a function of model parameters. At long times, we characterize the
distribution of outbreak sizes and the critical threshold for a large human
outbreak, both of which show a strong dependence on the basic reproduction
number in the animal population. The coupling of animal and human infection
dynamics has several crucial implications, most importantly al- lowing for the
possibility of large human outbreaks even when human-to-human transmission is
subcritical.


title: On edge-sets of bicliques in graphs

abstract:
  A biclique is a maximal induced complete bipartite subgraph of a graph. We
investigate the intersection structure of edge-sets of bicliques in a graph.
Specifically, we study the associated edge-biclique hypergraph whose hyperedges
are precisely the edge-sets of all bicliques. We characterize graphs whose
edge-biclique hypergraph is conformal (i.e., it is the clique hypergraph of its
2-section) by means of a single forbidden induced obstruction, the triangular
prism. Using this result, we characterize graphs whose edge-biclique hypergraph
is Helly and provide a polynomial time recognition algorithm. We further study
a hereditary version of this property and show that it also admits polynomial
time recognition, and, in fact, is characterized by a finite set of forbidden
induced subgraphs. We conclude by describing some interesting properties of the
2-section graph of the edge-biclique hypergraph.


title: Quantum reading capacity under thermal and correlated noise

abstract:
  Quantum communication theory sets the maximum rates at which information can
be encoded and decoded reliably given the physical properties of the
information carriers. Here we consider the problem of readout of a digital
optical memory, where information is stored by means of the optical properties
of the memory cells that are in turn probed by shining a laser beam on them.
Interesting features arise in the regime in which the probing light has to be
treated quantum mechanically. The maximum rate of reliable readout defines the
quantum reading capacity, which is proven to overcome the classical reading
capacity, obtained by probing with classical light, in several relevant
settings. We consider a model of optical memory in which information is encoded
in the (complex-valued) attenuation factor and study the effects on the reading
rates of thermal and correlated noise. The latter type of noise arises when the
effects of wave diffraction on the probing light beam are taken into account.
We discuss the advantages of quantum reading over the classical one and show
that the former is substantially more robust than the latter under thermal
noise in the regime of low power per pulse.


title:
Classification of partially hyperbolic diffeomorphisms in 3-manifolds
  with solvable fundamental group

abstract:
  A classification of partially hyperbolic diffeomorphisms on 3-dimensional
manifolds with (virtually) solvable fundamental group is obtained. If such a
diffeomorphism does not admit a periodic attracting or repelling
two-dimensional torus, it is dynamically coherent and leaf conjugate to a known
algebraic example. This classification includes manifolds which support Anosov
flows, and it confirms conjectures by Rodriguez Hertz--Rodriguez Hertz--Ures
and Pujals in the specific case of solvable fundamental group.


title:
Least-Order Torsion-Gravity for Chiral-Spinor Fields, induced
  Self-Interacting Potentials and Parity Conservation

abstract:
  We will consider the most general least-order derivative action for the
torsional completion of gravitational backgrounds filled with left-handed and
right-handed semi-spinorial fields, accounting for all parity-even as well as
parity-odd contributions; we will proceed by performing the customary analysis,
decomposing torsion and substituting it in terms of the semi-spinorial density
currents, in order to obtain the effective action with the torsionally-induced
self-interacting potentials among the chiral fermionic fields: we shall see
that the resulting effective non-linear potentials will turn eventually out to
be parity conserving after all.


title: Nanodiamond Collective Electron States and their Localization

abstract:
  The existence and localization of collective electron states for nanodiamond
particles were studied both by solving a one-particle one-dimensional
Schr\"odinger equation in the Kronig-Penney potential and by ab initio
computations of ground state wavefunctions of diamondoids C78H64, C123H100 and
C211H140 at the DFT R-B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. Three distinct classes
of collective electron states have been found: collective bonding orbitals
resembling the morphology of 3D-modulated particle in a box solutions;
surface-localized non-bonding conductive Tamm states and subsurface-localized
bonding states for non-uniformly compressed nanodiamond. Quantum-mechanical
analysis shows that collective unpaired electrons are intrinsic to nanodiamond.
Their subsurface localization is described in terms of surface compression
arising from a self-consistency condition of the electron-nuclear wavefunction.
Intrinsic spin existence is supposed to result from the collective and spread
nature of subsurface orbitals, allowing spin-density fluctuation effects to
become significant on this length scale. Suggested model allows to explain free
spins of nanodiamond exhibited in experiments.

categories: cond-mat.mtrl-sci physics.atm-clus physics.chem-ph quant-ph


title: Wavelength calibration of the Hamilton echelle spectrograph

abstract:
  We present the wavelength calibration of the Hamilton echelle spectrograph
(the Lick observatory). The main problem of the calibration arises from the
fact that thorium lines are absent in the spectrum of "ThAr" hollow-cathode
lamp now under the operation. On the other hand, numerous unknown strong lines
are present in the spectrum. These lines was identified with titanium. We
estimate the temperature of the lamp gas which permits us to calculate the
intensities of the lines, and to select a large number of relevant Ti I and Ti
II lines. The titanium line list for the Lick hallow-cathode lamp is presented.
The wavelength calibration using this line list was made with accuracy about
0.006A.


title: Integrating Datalog and Constraint Solving

abstract:
  LP is a common formalism for the field of databases and CSP, both at the
theoretical level and the implementation level in the form of Datalog and CLP.
In the past, close correspondences have been made between both fields at the
theoretical level. Yet correspondence at the implementation level has been much
less explored. In this article we work towards relating them at the
implementation level. Concretely, we show how to derive the efficient Leapfrog
Triejoin execution algorithm of Datalog from a generic CP execution scheme.


title:
Spectrum of the charmed and b-flavored mesons in the relativistic
  potential model

abstract:
  We study the bound states of heavy-light quark-antiquark system in the
relativistic potential model, where the potential includes the long-distance
confinement term, the short-distance Coulomb term and spin-dependent term. The
spectrum of $B$, $B^*$, $D$, $D^*$ and states with higher orbital quantum
numbers are obtained. Compared with previous results predicted in the
relativistic potential model, the predictions are improved and extended in this
work, more theoretical masses are predicted which can be tested in experiment
in the future.


title: Quantum parameter estimation using general single-mode Gaussian states

abstract:
  We calculate the quantum Cram\'er--Rao bound for the sensitivity with which
one or several parameters, encoded in a general single-mode Gaussian state, can
be estimated. This includes in particular the interesting case of mixed
Gaussian states. We apply the formula to the problems of estimating phase,
purity, loss, amplitude, and squeezing. In the case of the simultaneous
measurement of several parameters, we provide the full quantum Fisher
information matrix. Our results unify previously known partial results, and
constitute a complete solution to the problem of knowing the best possible
sensitivity of measurements based on a single-mode Gaussian state.


title: Depth-dependent resistance of granular media to vertical penetration

abstract:
  We measure the quasi-static friction force acting on intruders moving
downwards into a granular medium. By utilizing different intruder geometries,
we demonstrate that the force acts locally normal to the intruder surface. By
altering the hydrostatic loading of grain contacts by a sub-fluidizing airflow
through the bed, we demonstrate that the relevant frictional contacts are
loaded by gravity rather than by the motion of the intruder itself. Lastly, by
measuring the final penetration depth versus airspeed and using an earlier
result for inertial drag, we demonstrate that the same quasi-static friction
force acts during impact. Altogether this force is set by a friction
coefficient, hydrostatic pressure, projectile size and shape, and a
dimensionless proportionality constant. The latter is the same in nearly all
experiments, and is surprisingly greater than one.


title:
ASTRI contributions to the 33rd International Cosmic Ray Conference
  (ICRC-2013)

abstract:
  Compilation of ASTRI contributions to the proceedings of the 33rd
International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2013), which took place in 2-9 July,
2013, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil


title: Flows between Dualities for 3d Chern-Simons Theories

abstract:
  We study Seiberg-like dualities for 3d N=2 theories with flavors in
fundamental and adjoint representations. The recent results of Intriligator and
Seiberg provide a derivation of an Aharony duality from a Giveon-Kutasov
duality. We extend their result to the case of more general theories involving
various masses for fundamental quarks and adjoint fields. By fine tuning the
vev of a scalar field and using various identifications between gauge groups
and their singlet duals, we derive several examples of Aharony dualities. For
theories with an adjoint field, we discuss the connection between the Aharony
dualities proposed by Kim and Park for theories with multiple Coulomb branches
and Giveon-Kutasov-Niarchos dualities.


title: Experimenting with X10 for Parallel Constraint-Based Local Search

abstract:
  In this study, we have investigated the adequacy of the PGAS parallel
language X10 to implement a Constraint-Based Local Search solver. We decided to
code in this language to benefit from the ease of use and architectural
independence from parallel resources which it offers. We present the
implementation strategy, in search of different sources of parallelism in the
context of an implementation of the Adaptive Search algorithm. We extensively
discuss the algorithm and its implementation. The performance evaluation on a
representative set of benchmarks shows close to linear speed-ups, in all the
problems treated.


title: A Prolog Specification of Giant Number Arithmetic

abstract:
  The tree based representation described in this paper, hereditarily binary
numbers, applies recursively a run-length compression mechanism that enables
computations limited by the structural complexity of their operands rather than
by their bitsizes. While within constant factors from their traditional
counterparts for their worst case behavior, our arithmetic operations open the
doors for interesting numerical computations, impossible with traditional
number representations. We provide a complete specification of our algorithms
in the form of a purely declarative Prolog program.


title:
Predicting financial markets with Google Trends and not so random
  keywords

abstract:
  We check the claims that data from Google Trends contain enough data to
predict future financial index returns. We first discuss the many subtle (and
less subtle) biases that may affect the backtest of a trading strategy,
particularly when based on such data. Expectedly, the choice of keywords is
crucial: by using an industry-grade backtesting system, we verify that random
finance-related keywords do not to contain more exploitable predictive
information than random keywords related to illnesses, classic cars and arcade
games. We however show that other keywords applied on suitable assets yield
robustly profitable strategies, thereby confirming the intuition of Preis et
al. (2013)


title: Interning Ground Terms in XSB

abstract:
  This paper presents an implementation of interning of ground terms in the XSB
Tabled Prolog system. This is related to the idea of hash-consing. I describe
the concept of interning atoms and discuss the issues around interning ground
structured terms, motivating why tabling Prolog systems may change the
cost-benefit tradeoffs from those of traditional Prolog systems. I describe the
details of the implementation of interning ground terms in the XSB Tabled
Prolog System and show some of its performance properties. This implementation
achieves the effects of that of Zhou and Have but is tuned for XSB's
representations and is arguably simpler.


title:
Chromospheric variabilities of M active stars based on Guoshoujing
  Telescope

abstract:
  For the M active catalogue of Guoshoujing Telescope (LAMOST), 933 sources are
presented in at least two exposures. We found that many M active stars show
chromospheric variabilities in the Ca H, H$_{\alpha}$, H$_{\beta}$, and
H$_{\gamma}$ lines on short or long timescales.


title:
Stable cohomology of the perfect cone toroidal compactification of
  ${\mathcal A}_g$

abstract:
  We show that the cohomology of the perfect cone (also called first Voronoi)
toroidal compactification of the moduli space of complex principally polarized
abelian varieties stabilizes, in close to the top degree. Moreover, we show
that this stable cohomology is purely algebraic, and we compute it in degree up
to 13. Our explicit computations and stabilization results apply in greater
generality to various toroidal compactifications and partial compactifications,
and in particular we show that the cohomology of the matroidal partial
compactification stabilizes (in low degree). For degree up to 8, we describe
explicitly the generators of the cohomology. We also discuss various approaches
to computing all of the stable cohomology in arbitrary degree.


title:
Local symmetries and perfect transmission in aperiodic photonic
  multilayers

abstract:
  We develop a classification of perfectly transmitting resonances occuring in
effectively one-dimensional optical media which are decomposable into locally
reflection symmetric parts. The local symmetries of the medium are shown to
yield piecewise translation-invariant quantities, which are used to distinguish
resonances with arbitrary field profile from resonances following the medium
symmetries. Focusing on light scattering in aperiodic multilayer structures, we
demonstrate this classification for representative setups, providing insight
into the origin of perfect transmission. We further show how local symmetries
can be utilized for the design of optical devices with perfect transmission at
prescribed energies. Providing a link between resonant scattering and local
symmetries of the underlying medium, the proposed approach may contribute to
the understanding of optical response in complex systems.


title: A Generic Analysis Server System for Functional Logic Programs

abstract:
  We present a system, called CASS, for the analysis of functional logic
programs. The system is generic so that various kinds of analyses (e.g.,
groundness, non-determinism, demanded arguments) can be easily integrated. In
order to analyze larger applications consisting of dozens or hundreds of
modules, CASS supports a modular and incremental analysis of programs.
Moreover, it can be used by different programming tools, like documentation
generators, analysis environments, program optimizers, as well as Eclipse-based
development environments. For this purpose, CASS can also be invoked as a
server system to get a language-independent access to its functionality. CASS
is completely implemented in the functional logic language Curry as a
master/worker architecture to exploit parallel or distributed execution
environments.


title: Dobrushin's ergodicity coefficient for Markov operators on cones

abstract:
  We give a characterization of the contraction ratio of bounded linear maps in
Banach space with respect to Hopf's oscillation seminorm, which is the
infinitesimal distance associated to Hilbert's projective metric, in terms of
the extreme points of a certain abstract "simplex". The formula is then applied
to abstract Markov operators defined on arbitrary cones, which extend the row
stochastic matrices acting on the standard positive cone and the completely
positive unital maps acting on the cone of positive semidefinite matrices. When
applying our characterization to a stochastic matrix, we recover the formula of
Dobrushin's ergodicity coefficient. When applying our result to a completely
positive unital map, we therefore obtain a noncommutative version of
Dobrushin's ergodicity coefficient, which gives the contraction ratio of the
map (representing a quantum channel or a "noncommutative Markov chain") with
respect to the diameter of the spectrum. The contraction ratio of the dual
operator (Kraus map) with respect to the total variation distance will be shown
to be given by the same coefficient. We derive from the noncommutative
Dobrushin's ergodicity coefficient an algebraic characterization of the
convergence of a noncommutative consensus system or equivalently the ergodicity
of a noncommutative Markov chain.


title: BPHZ renormalization and its application to non-commutative field theory

abstract:
  In a recent work a modified BPHZ scheme has been introduced and applied to
one-loop Feynman graphs in non-commutative phi^4-theory. In the present paper,
we first review the BPHZ method and then we apply the modified BPHZ scheme as
well as Zimmermann's forest formula to the sunrise graph, i.e. a typical
higher-loop graph involving overlapping divergences. Furthermore, we show that
the application of the modified BPHZ scheme to the IR-singularities appearing
in non-planar graphs (UV/IR mixing problem) leads to the introduction of a
1/p^2 term and thereby to a renormalizable model. Finally, we address the
application of this approach to gauge field theories.


title: Corrections to gauge theories in effective quantum gravity with a cutoff

abstract:
  We calculate the lowest order quantum gravity contributions to QED beta
function in an effective field theory picture with a momentum cutoff. We use a
recently proposed 4 dimensional improved momentum cutoff that preserves gauge
and Lorentz symmetries. We find that there is non-vanishing quadratic
contribution to the photon 2-point function but that does not lead to the
running of the original coupling after renormalization. We argue that gravity
cannot turn gauge theories asymptotically free.


title:
Multi-Doping of Si Cages: High Spin States beyond the Single-Dopant
  Septet Limit

abstract:
  Density-functional theory based global geometry optimization is employed to
systematically scrutinize the possibility of multi-doping of hydrogenated Si
clusters in order to achieve high spin states beyond the septet limit of a
single-atom dopant. While our unbiased configurational search reveals that the
previously suggested Si18H12 double hexagonal prism structure is generally too
small to accommodate two dopants in magnetized state, the larger Si24H24 cage
turns out to be suitable for such applications. For dimer dopants M2+ = Cr2+,
Mn2+ and CrMn+, the structural integrity of the host cage is conserved in the
ground-state structure of corresponding M2+@Si24H24 aggregates, as is the
unusually high spin state of the guest dopant, which in case of Cr2+ already
exceeds the single-atom dopant septet limit by almost a factor of two.
Moreover, the possibility of further increasing the cluster spin moment by
encapsulating an even larger number of dopants into a suitably sized
hydrogenated Si cage is illustrated for the example of a (CrMn+)2@Si28H28
aggregate with a total number of 18 unpaired electrons. These results strongly
suggest multi-doping of Si clusters as a viable route to novel cluster-based
materials for magneto-optic applications.


title: A New Convex Relaxation for Tensor Completion

abstract:
  We study the problem of learning a tensor from a set of linear measurements.
A prominent methodology for this problem is based on a generalization of trace
norm regularization, which has been used extensively for learning low rank
matrices, to the tensor setting. In this paper, we highlight some limitations
of this approach and propose an alternative convex relaxation on the Euclidean
ball. We then describe a technique to solve the associated regularization
problem, which builds upon the alternating direction method of multipliers.
Experiments on one synthetic dataset and two real datasets indicate that the
proposed method improves significantly over tensor trace norm regularization in
terms of estimation error, while remaining computationally tractable.


title:
Geometric phases in electric dipole searches with spin-1/2 particles
  from spin dependent Schr\"odinger equation

abstract:
  Geometric phases of trapped particles have been recognized as potential
sources of false signals in experiments searching for a permanent electric
dipole moment of the neutron. We present a new analysis that treats the spin
fully quantum mechanically and uses the same model system as previous works
based on semi-classical methods. The results are similar but exhibit
significant differences in some respects.


title: Compilation for QCSP

abstract:
  We propose in this article a framework for compilation of quantified
constraint satisfaction problems (QCSP). We establish the semantics of this
formalism by an interpretation to a QCSP. We specify an algorithm to compile a
QCSP embedded into a search algorithm and based on the inductive semantics of
QCSP. We introduce an optimality property and demonstrate the optimality of the
interpretation of the compiled QCSP.


title:
Prediction of linear cationic antimicrobial peptides based on
  characteristics responsible for their interaction with the membranes

abstract:
  Most available antimicrobial peptides (AMP) prediction methods use common
approach for different classes of AMP. Contrary to available approaches, we
suggest, that a strategy of prediction should be based on the fact, that there
are several kinds of AMP which are vary in mechanisms of action, structure,
mode of interaction with membrane etc. According to our suggestion for each
kind of AMP a particular approach has to be developed in order to get high
efficacy. Consequently in this paper a particular but the biggest class of AMP
- linear cationic antimicrobial peptides (LCAP) - has been considered and a
newly developed simple method of LCAP prediction described. The aim of this
study is the development of a simple method of discrimination of AMP from
non-AMP, the efficiency of which will be determined by efficiencies of selected
descriptors only and comparison the results of the discrimination procedure
with the results obtained by more complicated discriminative methods. As
descriptors the physicochemical characteristics responsible for capability of
the peptide to interact with an anionic membrane were considered. The following
characteristics such as hydrophobicity, amphiphaticity, location of the peptide
in relation to membrane, charge, propensity to disordered structure were
studied. On the basis of these characteristics a new simple algorithm of
prediction is developed and evaluation of efficacies of the characteristics as
descriptors performed. The results show that three descriptors: hydrophobic
moment, charge and location of the peptide along the membranes can be used as
discriminators of LCAPs. For the training set our method gives the same level
of accuracy as more complicated machine learning approaches offered as CAMP
database service tools. For the test set sensitivity obtained by our method
gives even higher value than the one obtained by CAMP prediction tools.


title: Constant Mean Curvature Slices of the Reissner-Nordstr\"{o}m Spacetime

abstract:
  In order to specify a foliation of spacetime by spacelike hypersurfaces we
need to place some restriction on the initial data and from this derive a way
to calculate the lapse function $\alpha$ which measures the proper time and
interval between neighbouring hypersurfaces along the normal direction. Here we
study a prescribed slicing known as the Constant Mean Curvature (CMC) slicing.
This slicing will be applied to the Reissner-Nordstr\"{o}m metric and the
resultant slices will be investigated and then compared to those of the
extended Schwarzschild solution.


title:
Control of multiscale systems with constraints. 1. Basic principles of
  the concept of evolution of systems with varying constraints

abstract:
  Physical fundamentals of the self-organizing theory for the system with
varying constraints are considered. A variation principle, specifically the
principle of dynamic harmonization as a generalization of the Gauss-Hertz
principle for the systems with varying internal structure is formulated. In
compliance with this principle the system evolves through dynamics of the
processes leading to harmonization of the internal multiscale structure of the
system and its connections with external actions as a result of minimizing the
dynamic harmonization function. Main principles of the shell model of
self-organization under the action of the dominating entropic disturbance are
formulated.


title:
Observer-less Output Feedback Global Tracking Control of Lossless
  Lagrangian Systems

abstract:
  We obviate the use of observers for the purpose of output feedback tracking
control of Lagrangian systems and solve some long-standing yet well-documented
open problems. As often implemented in control practice, we replace unavailable
derivatives with approximate differentiation. Our contribution consists in
establishing uniform global asymptotic stability in closed-loop, for Lagrangian
systems without dissipative forces (friction) using only position feedback.
Firstly, for fully-actuated relative-degree-two systems, the controller is
reminiscent of passivity-based controllers for robot manipulators and consists
in a linear dynamic system together with a globally-Lipschitz control law.
Establishing a global uniform result, all the more with such a simple
controller, is particularly valuable relatively to the literature of
output-feedback control of systems with non-globally-Lipschitz nonlinearities
in the unmeasured variables. This first contribution solves a long-standing
open problem and, as a matter of fact, recasted in a general context this
result is at the edge of what is achievable -see [24]. Then, we show that our
control approach may be applied to a more general problem, that of tracking
control of Lagrangian systems augmented by a chain of integrators (with
relative degree greater than two). As a corollary, we solve the global-tracking
position-feedback control problem for flexible-joint robots but also for
systems coupled with output-feedback linearizable actuator dynamics. Finally,
we discuss remaining open problems of fairly general interest in the realm of
analysis and design of robust nonlinear systems.


title:
Large-eddy simulations of turbulent flow for grid-to-rod fretting in
  nuclear reactors

abstract:
  The grid-to-rod fretting (GTRF) problem in pressurized water reactors is a
flow-induced vibration problem that results in wear and failure of the fuel
rods in nuclear assemblies. In order to understand the fluid dynamics of GTRF
and to build an archival database of turbulence statistics for various
configurations, implicit large-eddy simulations of time-dependent single-phase
turbulent flow have been performed in 3x3 and 5x5 rod bundles with a single
grid spacer. To assess the computational mesh and resolution requirements, a
method for quantitative assessment of unstructured meshes with no-slip walls is
described. The calculations have been carried out using Hydra-TH, a
thermal-hydraulics code developed at Los Alamos for the Consortium for Advanced
Simulation of Light water reactors, a United States Department of Energy
Innovation Hub. Hydra-TH uses a second-order implicit incremental projection
method to solve the single-phase incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The
simulations explicitly resolve the large scale motions of the turbulent flow
field using first principles and rely on a monotonicity-preserving numerical
technique to represent the unresolved scales. Each series of simulations for
the 3x3 and 5x5 rod-bundle geometries is an analysis of the flow field
statistics combined with a mesh-refinement study and validation with available
experimental data. Our primary focus is the time history and statistics of the
forces loading the fuel rods. These hydrodynamic forces are believed to be the
key player resulting in rod vibration and GTRF wear, one of the leading causes
for leaking nuclear fuel which costs power utilities millions of dollars in
preventive measures. We demonstrate that implicit large-eddy simulation of
rod-bundle flows is a viable way to calculate the excitation forces for the
GTRF problem.


title:
Integrating sequencing datasets to form highly confident SNP and indel
  genotype calls for a whole human genome

abstract:
  Clinical adoption of human genome sequencing requires methods with known
accuracy of genotype calls at millions or billions of positions across a
genome. Previous work showing discordance amongst sequencing methods and
algorithms has made clear the need for a highly accurate set of genotypes
across a whole genome that could be used as a benchmark. We present methods to
make highly confident SNP, indel, and homozygous reference genotype calls for
NA12878, the pilot genome for the Genome in a Bottle Consortium. We minimize
bias towards any method by integrating and arbitrating between 14 datasets from
5 sequencing technologies, 7 mappers, and 3 variant callers. Regions for which
no confident genotype call could be made are identified as uncertain, and
classified into different reasons for uncertainty. Our highly confident
genotype calls are publicly available on the Genome Comparison and Analytic
Testing (GCAT) website to enable real-time benchmarking of any method.


title: Radical Extensions for the Carlitz--Hayes Module

abstract:
  Let $L/K$ be a finite extension of congruence function fields. We say that
$L/K$ is a {\it radical extension} if $L$ is generated by roots of polynomials
$u^{M}-\alpha \in K[u]$, where $u^{M}$ is the action of Carlitz-Hayes. We study
a special class of these extensions, the {\it radical cyclotomic} extensions.
We prove that any radical cyclotomic extension has order a power of the
characteristic of $K$. We also give bounds for the Carlitz-Hayes torsion of
these extensions.


title:
Control of multiscale systems with constraints. 2. Fractal nuclear
  isomers and clusters

abstract:
  We consider the influence of the Fermi statistics of nucleons on the binding
energy of a new type of nuclear structures such as fractal nuclear clusters
(fractal isomers of nuclei). It is shown that the fractal nuclear isomers
possess a wide spectrum of binding energies that exceed, in many cases, the
values known at the present time. The transition of the nuclear matter in the
form of ordinary nuclei (drops of the nuclear fluid) in the state with the
fractal structure or in the form of bubble nuclei opens new sources of energy
and has huge perspectives. This transition is based on a new state of matter -
collective coherently correlated state. It manifests itself, first of all, in
the property of nonlocality of nuclear multiparticle processes. We develop a
phenomenological theory of the binding energy of nuclear fractal structures and
modify the Bethe - Weizs\"acker formula for nuclear clusters with the mass
number A, charge Z, and fractal dimension D_f. The consideration of fractal
nuclear isomers allows one to interpret the experimental results on a new level
of the comprehension of processes of the nuclear dynamics. The possibility to
determine the fractal dimension of nuclear systems with the help of the method
of nuclear dipole resonance for fractal isomers is discussed. The basic
relations for fractal electroneutral structures such as the electron-nucleus
plasma of fractal isomers are presented.


title:
Spectrum of Coupled Waves in Orthorhombic Multiferroics With Cycloidal
  Antiferromagnetic Structure in External Electric and Magnetic Fields

abstract:
  Spectrum of coupled spin, acoustic, electro-dipole and electromagnetic waves
in orthorhombic perovskite multiferroics placed in external electric and
magnetic field has been calculated. Frequency and field dependencies of
electric, magnetic, and magnetoelectric susceptibilities of multiferroics with
cycloidal antiferromagnetic structure in external electric and magnetic fields
have been investigated as well. The spectrum of coupled waves has a band
structure. Width and frequency ranges of bands depend on external fields. The
possibility of control of electrodynamic properties of orthorhombic perovskite
multiferroics with cycloidal antiferromagnetic structure by external electric
and magnetic fields has been shown.


title:
Control over multiscale systems with constraints. 3. Geometrodynamics of
  the evolution of systems with varying constraints

abstract:
  With the use of the general variational principle of self-organization of
systems with varying constraints, namely the principle of dynamical
harmonization of systems presented in the first work of the cycle, we advance
an approach to the control over the evolution of systems of many particles. The
geometric nature of this principle is analyzed. On the basis of the de
Broglie--Bohm representation of the Schr\"odinger equation, we establish a
connection of the nonlocality and the coherence of the systems of many
particles with mass entropic forces. The defining role of a coherent
acceleration and a space-time curvature in the control over the synthesis of
new structures in systems with varying constraints is demonstrated. The basic
criteria for electromagnetic fields to initiate the processes of
self-organizing synthesis and for the quantum properties of a nonlocality on
macroscopic scales, which are necessary for the self-organizing synthesis, are
formulated.


title: Sparse Signal Recovery under Poisson Statistics

abstract:
  We are motivated by problems that arise in a number of applications such as
Online Marketing and explosives detection, where the observations are usually
modeled using Poisson statistics. We model each observation as a Poisson random
variable whose mean is a sparse linear superposition of known patterns. Unlike
many conventional problems observations here are not identically distributed
since they are associated with different sensing modalities. We analyze the
performance of a Maximum Likelihood (ML) decoder, which for our Poisson setting
involves a non-linear optimization but yet is computationally tractable. We
derive fundamental sample complexity bounds for sparse recovery when the
measurements are contaminated with Poisson noise. In contrast to the
least-squares linear regression setting with Gaussian noise, we observe that in
addition to sparsity, the scale of the parameters also fundamentally impacts
sample complexity. We introduce a novel notion of Restricted Likelihood
Perturbation (RLP), to jointly account for scale and sparsity. We derive sample
complexity bounds for $\ell_1$ regularized ML estimators in terms of RLP and
further specialize these results for deterministic and random sensing matrix
designs.


title: Value functions in the Wasserstein spaces: finite time horizons

abstract:
  We study analogs of value functions arising in classical mechanics in the
space of probability measures endowed with the Wasserstein metric $W_p$, for
$1<p<\infty$. Our main result is that each of these generalized value functions
is a type of viscosity solution of an appropriate Hamilton-Jacobi equation,
completing a program initiated by Gangbo, Tudorascu, and Nguyen. Of particular
interest is a formula we derive for a generalized value function when the
associated potential energy is of the form ${\cal
V}(\mu)=\int_{\mathbb{R}^d}V(x)d\mu(x)$. This formula allows us to make
rigorous a well known heuristic connection between Euler-Poisson equations and
classical Hamilton-Jacobi equations. Further results are presented which
suggest there is a rich theory to be developed of deterministic control in the
Wasserstein spaces.


title:
Non-monotonic spin relaxation and decoherence in graphene quantum dots
  with spin-orbit interactions

abstract:
  We investigate the spin relaxation and decoherence in a single-electron
graphene quantum dot with Rashba and intrinsic spin-orbit interactions. We
derive an effective spin-phonon Hamiltonian via the Schrieffer-Wolff
transformation in order to calculate the spin relaxation time T_1 and
decoherence time T_2 within the framework of the Bloch-Redfield theory. In this
model, the emergence of a non-monotonic dependence of T_1 on the external
magnetic field is attributed to the Rashba spin-orbit coupling-induced
anticrossing of opposite spin states. A rapid decrease of T_1 occurs when the
spin and orbital relaxation rates become comparable in the vicinity of the
spin-mixing energy-level anticrossing. By contrast, the intrinsic spin-orbit
interaction leads to a monotonic magnetic field dependence of the spin
relaxation rate which is caused solely by the direct spin-phonon coupling
mechanism. Within our model, we demonstrate that the decoherence time T_2 ~ 2
T_1 is dominated by relaxation processes for the electron-phonon coupling
mechanisms in graphene up to leading order in the spin-orbit interaction.
Moreover, we show that the energy anticrossing also leads to a vanishing pure
spin dephasing rate for these states for a super-Ohmic bath.


title: A categorical approach to the stable center conjecture

abstract:
  The stable center conjecture asserts that the space of stable distributions
in the Bernstein center of a reductive p-adic is closed under convolution. It
is closely related to the notion of an L-packet and endoscopy theory. We
describe a categorical approach to the depth zero part of the conjecture. As an
illustration of our method, we show that the Bernstein projector to the depth
zero spectrum is stable.


title:
An Interlacing Approach for Bounding the Sum of Laplacian Eigenvalues of
  Graphs

abstract:
  We apply eigenvalue interlacing techniques for obtaining lower and upper
bounds for the sums of Laplacian eigenvalues of graphs, and characterize
equality. This leads to generalizations of, and variations on theorems by
Grone, and Grone and Merris. As a consequence we obtain inequalities involving
bounds for some well-known parameters of a graph, such as edge-connectivity,
and the isoperimetric number.


title: Efimov-driven phase transitions of the unitary Bose gas

abstract:
  In quantum physics, Efimov trimers are bound states of three particles that
fall apart like Borromean rings when one of them is removed. Initially
predicted in nuclear physics, these striking bosonic states are hard to
observe, but the "unitary" interactions at which they form is commonly realized
in current cold atoms experiments. There, they set the stage for a new class of
universal physics: Two-body interactions are all but invisible, but three-body
effects allow the emergence of a largely uncharted new world of many-particle
bound states. Three-particle systems were characterized theoretically, and the
ground-state properties of small unitary clusters computed numerically, but the
macroscopic many-body behaviour has remained unknown. Here we show, using a
Path-Integral Monte Carlo algorithm backed up by theoretical arguments, that
the unitary Bose gas presents a first-order phase transition from a normal gas
to a superfluid Efimov liquid. The normal gas is very well described by the
available virial coefficients. At unitarity, the phase diagram of the bosonic
system is universal in rescaled pressure and temperature. A triple point
separates the normal gas, the superfluid Efimov liquid, and a third phase, the
conventional superfluid gas. These two superfluid phases are separated by a
critical line that ends in a critical point at high temperature. This rich
phase diagram should allow for a number of experimental protocols that would
probe these universal transitions between the normal gas, the superfluid gas,
and the superfluid Efimov liquid.


title:
Huge thermoelectric effects in ferromagnet-superconductor junctions in
  the presence of a spin-splitting field

abstract:
  We show that a huge thermoelectric effect can be observed by contacting a
superconductor whose density of states is spin-split by a Zeeman field with a
ferromagnet with a non-zero polarization. The resulting thermopower exceeds
$k_B/e$ by a large factor, and the thermoelectric figure of merit $ZT$ can far
exceed unity, leading to heat engine efficiencies close to the Carnot limit. We
also show that spin-polarized currents can be generated in the superconductor
by applying a temperature bias.


title: Practical Quantum Metrology

abstract:
  Quantum metrology research promises approaches to build new sensors that
achieve the ultimate level of precision measurement and perform fundamentally
better than modern sensors. Practical schemes that tolerate realistic
fabrication imperfections and environmental noise are required in order to
realise quantum-enhanced sensors and to enable their real-world application. We
have demonstrated the key enabling principles of a practical, loss-tolerant
approach to photonic quantum metrology designed to harness all multi-photon
components in spontaneous parametric downconversion---a method for generating
multiple photons that we show requires no further fundamental state engineering
for use in practical quantum metrology. We observe a quantum advantage of 28%
in precision measurement of optical phase using the four-photon detection
component of this scheme, despite 83% system loss. This opens the way to new
quantum sensors based on current quantum-optical capabilities.


title: On completely regular and strongly regular ordered $\Gamma$-semigroups

abstract:
  Our aim is to show the way we pass from the results of ordered semigroups (or
semigroups) to ordered $\Gamma$-semigroups (or $\Gamma$-semigroups). The
results of this note have been transferred from ordered semigroups. The concept
of strongly regular $po$-$\Gamma$-semigroups has been first introduced here and
a characterization of strongly regular $po$-$\Gamma$-semigroups is given.


title:
Multi-spectral simultaneous diagnosis of Saturns aurorae throughout a
  planetary rotation

abstract:
  From the 27th to the 28th January 2009, the Cassini spacecraft remotely
acquired combined observations of Saturns southern aurorae at radio,
ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths, while monitoring ion injections in the
middle magnetosphere from energetic neutral atoms. Simultaneous measurements
included the sampling of a full planetary rotation, a relevant timescale to
investigate auroral emissions driven by processes internal to the
magnetosphere. In addition, this interval coincidently matched a powerful
substorm-like event in the magnetotail, which induced an overall dawnside
intensification of the magnetospheric and auroral activity. We comparatively
analyze this unique set of measurements to reach a comprehensive view of
kronian auroral processes over the investigated timescale. We identify three
source regions in atmospheric aurorae, including a main oval associated with
the bulk of Saturn Kilometric Radiation (SKR), together with polar and
equatorward emissions. These observations reveal the co-existence of
corotational and sub-corototational dynamics of emissions associated with the
main auroral oval. Precisely, we show that the atmospheric main oval hosts
short-lived sub-corotating isolated features together with a bright,
longitudinally extended, corotating region locked at the southern SKR phase. We
assign the susbtorm-like event to a regular, internally driven, nightside ion
injection possibly triggerred by a plasmoid ejection. We also investigate the
total auroral energy budget, from the power input to the atmosphere,
characterized by precipitating electrons up to 20 keV, to its dissipation
through the various radiating processes. Finally, through simulations, we
confirm the search-light nature of the SKR rotational modulation and we show
that SKR arcs relate to isolated auroral spots. The resulting findings are
discussed in the frame of pending questions.


title: Measurement of Quantum Geometry Using Laser Interferometry

abstract:
  New quantum degrees of freedom of space-time, originating at the Planck
scale, could create a coherent indeterminacy and noise in the transverse
position of massive bodies on macroscopic scales. An experiment is under
development at Fermilab designed to detect or rule out a transverse position
noise with Planck spectral density, using correlated signals from an adjacent
pair of Michelson interferometers. A detection would open an experimental
window on quantum space-time.


title: An application of Khovanov homology to quantum codes

abstract:
  We use Khovanov homology to define families of LDPC quantum error-correcting
codes: unknot codes with asymptotical parameters
[[3^(2l+1)/sqrt(8{\pi}l);1;2^l]]; unlink codes with asymptotical parameters
[[sqrt(2/2{\pi}l)6^l;2^l;2^l]] and (2,l)-torus link codes with asymptotical
parameters [[n;1;d_n]] where d_n>\sqrt(n)/1.62.


title: Obvious natural morphisms of sheaves are unique

abstract:
  We prove that a large class of natural transformations (consisting roughly of
those constructed via composition from the "functorial" or "base change"
transformations) between two functors of the form $\cdots f^* g_* \cdots$
actually has only one element, and thus that any diagram of such maps
necessarily commutes. We identify the precise axioms defining what we call a
"geofibered category" that ensure that such a coherence theorem exists. Our
results apply to all the usual sheaf-theoretic contexts of algebraic geometry.
The analogous result that would include any other of the six functors remains
unknown.


title: A short proof of the multidimensional Szemer\'edi theorem in the primes

abstract:
  Tao conjectured that every dense subset of $\mathcal{P}^d$, the $d$-tuples of
primes, contains constellations of any given shape. This was very recently
proved by Cook, Magyar, and Titichetrakun and independently by Tao and Ziegler.
Here we give a simple proof using the Green-Tao theorem on linear equations in
primes and the Furstenberg-Katznelson multidimensional Szemer\'edi theorem.


title:
Interplay between Aharonov-Bohm interference and parity selective
  tunneling in zigzag graphene nanoribbon rings

abstract:
  We report a numerical study on Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect and parity selective
tunneling in pn junctions based on zigzag graphene nanoribbon rings. We find
that when applying a magnetic field to the ring, the AB interference can
reverse the parity symmetry of incoming waves and hence can strongly modulate
the parity selective transmission through the system. Therefore, the
transmission between two states of different parity exhibits the AB
oscillations with a \pi-phase shift, compared to the case of states of same
parity. On this basis, it is shown that interesting effects such as giant (both
positive and negative) magnetoresistance and strong negative differential
conductance can be achieved in this structure. Our study thus presents a new
property of the AB interference, which could be helpful to further understand
the transport properties of graphene mesoscopic-systems.


title: Shear viscosity of hadrons with K-matrix cross sections

abstract:
  Shear viscosity \eta and entropy density s of a hadronic resonance gas are
calculated using the Chapman-Enskog and virial expansion methods using the
K-matrix parametrization of hadronic cross sections which preserves the
unitarity of the T -matrix. In the \pi-K-N-\eta- mixture considered, a total of
57 resonances up to 2 GeV were included. Comparisons are also made to results
with other hadronic cross sections such as the Breit-Wigner (BW) and, where
available, experimental phase shift parametrizations. Hadronic interactions
forming resonances are shown to decrease the shear viscosity and increase the
entropy density leading to a substantial reduction of \eta/s as the QCD phase
transition temperature is approached.


title: Relation lifting, with an application to the many-valued cover modality

abstract:
  We introduce basic notions and results about relation liftings on categories
enriched in a commutative quantale. We derive two necessary and sufficient
conditions for a 2-functor T to admit a functorial relation lifting: one is the
existence of a distributive law of T over the "powerset monad" on categories,
one is the preservation by T of "exactness" of certain squares. Both
characterisations are generalisations of the "classical" results known for set
functors: the first characterisation generalises the existence of a
distributive law over the genuine powerset monad, the second generalises
preservation of weak pullbacks. The results presented in this paper enable us
to compute predicate liftings of endofunctors of, for example, generalised
(ultra)metric spaces. We illustrate this by studying the coalgebraic cover
modality in this setting.


title: Vector-bilepton Contribution to Four Lepton Production at the LHC

abstract:
  Some extensions of the standard model predict the existence of particles
having two units of leptonic charge, known as bileptons. One of such models is
based on the $SU(3)_c\times SU(3)_L\times U(1)_X$ symmetry group (3-3-1 model,
for short). Our search uses the minimal version of the 3-3-1 model, having
exotic charges for the quarks and new gauge bosons. This model predicts the
existence of bileptons as vector particles having one ($V^{\pm}$) and two
($Y^{\pm\pm}$) units of electric charge.
  We study the signatures for the production of four leptons by considering the
contribution of a pair of bileptons in $p p $ collisions for three energy and
luminosity regimes at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We present invariant
mass and transverse momentum distributions, the total cross section and we
determine the expected number of events for each bilepton type. Finally we
analyze the LHC potential for discovering singly and doubly charged vector
bileptons at 95$%$ C.L.. We conclude that the LHC collider can show a clear
signature for the existence of bileptons as a signal of new physics.


title: Thermal nonlinearities in a nanomechanical oscillator

abstract:
  Nano- and micromechanical oscillators with high quality (Q) factors have
gained much attention for their potential application as ultrasensitive
detectors. In contrast to micro-fabricated devices, optically trapped
nanoparticles in vacuum do not suffer from clamping losses, hence leading to
much larger Q-factors. We find that for a levitated nanoparticle the thermal
energy suffices to drive the motion of the nanoparticle into the nonlinear
regime. First, we experimentally measure and fully characterize the frequency
fluctuations originating from thermal motion and nonlinearities. Second, we
demonstrate that feedback cooling can be used to mitigate these fluctuations.
The high level of control allows us to fully exploit the force sensing
capabilities of the nanoresonator. Our approach offers a force sensitivity of
20 zN $Hz^{-1/2}$, which is the highest value reported to date at room
temperature, sufficient to sense ultra-weak interactions, such as non-Newtonian
gravity-like forces.


title: Factors determining nestedness in complex networks

abstract:
  Understanding the causes and effects of network structural features is a key
task in deciphering complex systems. In this context, the property of network
nestedness has aroused a fair amount of interest as regards ecological
networks. Indeed, Bastolla et al. introduced a simple measure of network
nestedness which opened the door to analytical understanding, allowing them to
conclude that biodiversity is strongly enhanced in highly nested mutualistic
networks. Here, we suggest a slightly refined version of such a measure and go
on to study how it is influenced by the most basic structural properties of
networks, such as degree distribution and degree-degree correlations (i.e.
assortativity). We find that heterogeneity in the degree has a very strong
influence on nestedness. Once such an influence has been discounted, we find
that nestedness is strongly correlated with disassortativity and hence, as
random (neutral) networks have been recently found to be naturally
disassortative, they tend to be naturally nested just as the result of chance.


title:
On martingale problems with continuous-time mixing and values of
  zero-sum games without Isaacs condition

abstract:
  We consider a zero-sum stochastic differential game over elementary mixed
feed-back strategies. These are strategies based only on the knowledge of the
past state, randomized continuously in time from a sampling distribution which
is kept constant in between some stopping rules. Once both players choose such
strategies, the state equation admits a unique solution in the sense of the
martingale problem of Stroock and Varadhan. We show that the game defined over
martingale solutions has a value, which is the unique continuous viscosity
solution of the randomized Isaacs equation.


title: On the properties of the irrotational dust model

abstract:
  In this note we analyze the model of the irrotational dust used recently to
deparametrize gravitational action. We prove that the remarkable fact that the
Hamiltonian is not a square root is a direct consequence of the time-gauge
choice in this model. No additional assumptions or sign choices are necessary
to obtain this crucial feature. In this way we clarify a point recently debated
in the literature.


title:
Simulation of f-Mode Propagation Through a Cluster of Small Identical
  Magnetic Flux Tubes

abstract:
  Motivated by the question of how to distinguish seismically between
monolithic and cluster models of sunspots, we have simulated the propagation of
an $f$-mode wave packet through two identical small magnetic flux tubes (R=200
km), embedded in a stratified atmosphere. We want to study the effect of
separation $d$ and incidence angle $\chi$ on the scattered wave. We have
demonstrated that the horizontal compact pair of tubes ($d/R=2$, $\chi=0$)
oscillate as a single tube when the incident wave is propagating, which gives a
scattered wave amplitude of about twice that from a single tube. The scattered
amplitude decreases with increasing $d$ when $d$ is about $\lambda/2\pi$ where
$\lambda$ is the wavelength of the incident wave packet. In this case the
individual tubes start to oscillate separately in the manner of near-field
scattering. When $d$ is about twice of $\lambda/2\pi$, scattering from
individual tubes reaches the far-field regime, giving rise to coherent
scattering with an amplitude similar to the case of the compact pair of tubes.
For perpendicular incidence ($\chi=\pi/2$), the tubes oscillate simultaneously
with the incident wave packet. Moreover, simulations show that a compact
cluster oscillates almost as a single individual small tube and acts more like
a scattering object, while a loose cluster shows multiple-scattering in the
near-field and the absorption is largest when $d$ within the cluster is about
$\lambda/2\pi$. This is the first step to understand the seismic response of a
bundle of magnetic flux tubes in the context of sunspot and plage
helioseismology.


title: DASH: Dynamic Approach for Switching Heuristics

abstract:
  Complete tree search is a highly effective method for tackling MIP problems,
and over the years, a plethora of branching heuristics have been introduced to
further refine the technique for varying problems. Recently, portfolio
algorithms have taken the process a step further, trying to predict the best
heuristic for each instance at hand. However, the motivation behind algorithm
selection can be taken further still, and used to dynamically choose the most
appropriate algorithm for each encountered subproblem. In this paper we
identify a feature space that captures both the evolution of the problem in the
branching tree and the similarity among subproblems of instances from the same
MIP models. We show how to exploit these features to decide the best time to
switch the branching heuristic and then show how such a system can be trained
efficiently. Experiments on a highly heterogeneous collection of MIP instances
show significant gains over the pure algorithm selection approach that for a
given instance uses only a single heuristic throughout the search.


title:
The H.E.S.S. Galactic Plane Survey - maps, source catalog and source
  population

abstract:
  The H.E.S.S. Galactic Plane Survey (HGPS), the first comprehensive survey of
the inner Galaxy at TeV energies, has led to the discovery of an unexpectedly
large and diverse population of over 60 sources of TeV gamma rays within its
current range of l = 250 to 65 degrees in longitude and |b| < 3.5 degrees in
latitude. The data set of the HGPS comprises 2800 hours of high-quality data,
taken in the years 2004 to 2013. The sensitivity for the detection of
point-like sources is at the level of 2% Crab or better in the HGPS region. The
population of TeV gamma-ray emitters is dominated by the pulsar wind nebula and
supernova remnant source classes, although nearly a third of the sources remain
unidentified or ambiguous. We are presenting the latest HGPS significance and
sensitivity maps, as well as a work on the HGPS source catalog, based on a
uniform re-analysis of the full data set collected in the last decade. We will
also give a brief overview of the H.E.S.S. Galactic source population.


title: On the Limiting Behaviour of Needlets Polyspectra

abstract:
  This paper provides quantitative Central Limit Theorems for nonlinear
transforms of spherical random fields, in the high frequency limit. The
sequences of fields that we consider are represented as smoothed averages of
spherical Gaussian eigenfunctions and can be viewed as random coefficients from
continuous wavelets/needlets; as such, they are of immediate interest for
spherical data analysis. In particular, we focus on so-called needlets
polyspectra, which are popular tools for nonGaussianity analysis in the
astrophysical community, and on the area of excursion sets. Our results are
based on Stein-Maliavin approximations for nonlinear transforms of Gaussian
fields, and on an explicit derivation on the high-frequency limit of their
variances, which may have some independent interest.


title: A mathematical theory of truth and an application to the regress problem

abstract:
  In this paper a class of languages which are formal enough for mathematical
reasoning is introduced. First-order formal languages containing natural
numbers and numerals belong to that class. Its languages are called
mathematically agreeable (shortly MA). Languages containing a given MA language
L, and being sublanguages of L augmended by a monadic predicate are
constructed. A mathematical theory of truth (shortly MTT) is formulated for
some of these languages. MTT makes them MA languages which posses their own
truth predicates. MTT is shown to conform well with the eight norms presented
for theories of truth in 'What Theories of Truth Should be Like (but Cannot
be)', by Hannes Leitgeb. MTT is free from infinite regress, providing a proper
framework to study the regress problem. Main tools used in proofs are
Zermelo-Fraenkel (ZF) set theory and classical logic.


title: Growth modes of nanoparticle superlattice thin films

abstract:
  We report about the fabrication and characterization of iron oxide
nanoparticle thin film superlattices. The formation into different film
morphologies is controlled by tuning the particle plus solvent-to-substrate
interaction. It turns out that the wetting vs. dewetting properties of the
solvent before the self-assembly process during solvent evaporation plays a
major role to determine the resulting film morphology. In addition to layerwise
growth also three-dimensional mesocrystalline growth is evidenced. The
understanding of the mechanisms ruling nanoparticle self-assembly represents an
important step toward the fabrication of novel materials with tailored optical,
magnetic or electrical transport properties.


title:
Theoretical analysis of supercontinuum and colored conical emission
  produced during ultrashort laser pulse interaction with gases

abstract:
  We use a conceptually new approach to theoretical modeling of self-focusing
in which we integrated diffractive and geometrical optics in order to explain
and predict emission of white light and colored rings observed in ultrashort
laser pulse interaction. In our approach laser beam propagation is described by
blending solution of linear Maxwell's equation and a correction term that
represents nonlinear field perturbation expressed in terms of paraxial
ray-optics (eikonal) equation. No attempt is made to create appearance of
exhaustive treatment via use of complex mathematical models. Rather, emphasis
is placed on elegance of the formulations leading to fundamental understanding
of underlying physics and, eventually, to an accurate practical numerical model
capable of simulating white light generation and conical emission of colored
rings produced around the filament.


title: A Design Methodology for Software Measurement Programs

abstract:
  Software measurement programs have emerged as compounds of several
measurement activities that are pursued as part of a combined effort of several
parties within a software organization, based on interests that the
organization has regarding the assessment of the different elements that
intervene in the development of software.
  This paper recognizes design of measurement programs as an essential activity
that, up until now, has been studied extensively, however, only in what
respects to the content of the programs. In addition, proper specification for
this kind of programs, accounting for preciseness and unambiguity, to
facilitate maintenance, evolution, and execution has not been thoroughly
considered. A methodology for designing programs that embody these and some
other desirable features is presented. The methodology is built in solid
ground. From software measurement literature, a goal-oriented approach is
considered for building the content of the program. On the other hand, a
successful technique from software development as modularization is utilized to
give coherent structure to the measurement program.


title: Algebra of operators affiliated with a finite type I von Neumann algebra

abstract:
  It is shown that the *-algebra of all (closed densely defined linear)
operators affiliated with a finite type I von Neumann algebra admits a unique
center-valued trace, which turns out to be, in a sense, normal. It is also
demonstrated that for no other von Neumann algebras similar constructions can
be performed.


title: On the perturbation of positive semigroups

abstract:
  We prove a perturbation result for positive semigroups, thereby extending a
heat kernel estimate by Barlow, Grigor'yan and Kumagai for Dirichlet forms
(\cite{bgk2009}) to positive semigroups. This also leads to a generalization of
domination for semigroups on $L_p$-spaces.


title:
Inner-most stable circular orbits in extremal and non-extremal
  Kerr-Taub-NUT spacetimes

abstract:
  We study causal geodesics in the equatorial plane of the extremal
Kerr-Taub-NUT spacetime, focusing on the Innermost Stable Circular Orbit
(ISCO),and compare its behaviour with extant results for the ISCO in the
extremal Kerr spacetime. Calculation of the radii of the direct ISCO, its
Kepler frequency, and rotational velocity show that the ISCO coincides with the
horizon in the exactly extremal situation. We also study geodesics in the
strong {\it non}-extremal limit, i.e., in the limit of vanishing Kerr parameter
(i.e., for Taub-NUT and massless Taub-NUT spacetimes as special cases of this
spacetime). It is shown that the radius of the direct ISCO increases with NUT
charge in Taub-NUT spacetime. As a corollary, it is shown that there is no
stable circular orbit in massless NUT spacetimes for timelike geodesics.


title: Search for anomalies in the {\nu}e appearance from a {\nu}{\mu} beam

abstract:
  We report an updated result from the ICARUS experiment on the search for
{\nu}{\mu} ->{\nu}e anomalies with the CNGS beam, produced at CERN with an
average energy of 20 GeV and travelling 730 km to the Gran Sasso Laboratory.
The present analysis is based on a total sample of 1995 events of CNGS neutrino
interactions, which corresponds to an almost doubled sample with respect to the
previously published result. Four clear {\nu}e events have been visually
identified over the full sample, compared with an expectation of 6.4 +- 0.9
events from conventional sources. The result is compatible with the absence of
additional anomalous contributions. At 90% and 99% confidence levels the limits
to possible oscillated events are 3.7 and 8.3 respectively. The corresponding
limit to oscillation probability becomes consequently 3.4 x 10-3 and 7.6 x 10-3
respectively. The present result confirms, with an improved sensitivity, the
early result already published by the ICARUS collaboration.


title:
Lorentzian Iterative Hard Thresholding: Robust Compressed Sensing with
  Prior Information

abstract:
  Commonly employed reconstruction algorithms in compressed sensing (CS) use
the $L_2$ norm as the metric for the residual error. However, it is well-known
that least squares (LS) based estimators are highly sensitive to outliers
present in the measurement vector leading to a poor performance when the noise
no longer follows the Gaussian assumption but, instead, is better characterized
by heavier-than-Gaussian tailed distributions. In this paper, we propose a
robust iterative hard Thresholding (IHT) algorithm for reconstructing sparse
signals in the presence of impulsive noise. To address this problem, we use a
Lorentzian cost function instead of the $L_2$ cost function employed by the
traditional IHT algorithm. We also modify the algorithm to incorporate prior
signal information in the recovery process. Specifically, we study the case of
CS with partially known support. The proposed algorithm is a fast method with
computational load comparable to the LS based IHT, whilst having the advantage
of robustness against heavy-tailed impulsive noise. Sufficient conditions for
stability are studied and a reconstruction error bound is derived. We also
derive sufficient conditions for stable sparse signal recovery with partially
known support. Theoretical analysis shows that including prior support
information relaxes the conditions for successful reconstruction. Simulation
results demonstrate that the Lorentzian-based IHT algorithm significantly
outperform commonly employed sparse reconstruction techniques in impulsive
environments, while providing comparable performance in less demanding,
light-tailed environments. Numerical results also demonstrate that the
partially known support inclusion improves the performance of the proposed
algorithm, thereby requiring fewer samples to yield an approximate
reconstruction.