title:
Spin-orbit alignments for Three Transiting Hot Jupiters: WASP-103b,
  WASP-87b, & WASP-66b

abstract:
  We have measured the sky-projected spin-orbit alignments for three transiting
Hot Jupiters, WASP-103b, WASP-87b, and WASP-66b, using spectroscopic
measurements of the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect, with the CYCLOPS2 optical-fiber
bundle system feeding the UCLES spectrograph on the Anglo-Australian Telescope.
The resulting sky projected spin-orbit angles of $\lambda =
3^{\circ}\pm33^{\circ}$, $\lambda = -8^{\circ}\pm11^{\circ}$, and $\lambda =
-4^{\circ}\pm22^{\circ}$ for WASP-103b, WASP-87b, and WASP-66b, respectively,
suggest that these three planets are likely on nearly aligned orbits with
respect to their host star's spin axis. WASP-103 is a particularly interesting
system as its orbital distance is only 20% larger than its host star's Roche
radius and the planet likely experiences strong tidal effects. WASP-87 and
WASP-66 are hot ($T_{eff}=6450\pm120$ K and $T_{eff}=6600\pm150$ K,
respectively) mid-F stars making them similar to the majority of stars hosting
planets on high obliquity orbits. Moderate spin-orbit misalignments for
WASP-103b and WASP-66b are consistent with our data, but polar and retrograde
orbits are not favored for these systems.


title:
Strange quark matter and quark stars with the Dyson-Schwinger quark
  model

abstract:
  We calculate the equation of state of strange quark matter and the interior
structure of strange quark stars in a Dyson-Schwinger quark model within
rainbow or Ball-Chiu vertex approximation. We emphasize constraints on the
parameter space of the model due to stability conditions of ordinary nuclear
matter. Respecting these constraints, we find that the maximum mass of strange
quark stars is about 1.9 solar masses, and typical radii are 9 --11 km. We
obtain an energy release as large as $3.6 \times 10^{53}\,\text{erg}$ from
conversion of neutron stars into strange quark stars.


title:
General scan in flavor parameter space in the models with vector quark
  doublets and an enhancement in $B\to X_s\gamma$ process

abstract:
  In the models with vector like quark doublets, the mass matrices of up and
down type quarks are related. Precise diagonalization for the mass matrices
became an obstacle in the numerical studies. In this work we propose a
diagonalization method at first. As its application, in the standard model with
one vector like quark doublet we present quark mass spectrum, Feynman rules for
the calculation of $B\to X_s\gamma$. We find that i) under the constraints of
the CKM matrix measurements, the mass parameters in the bilinear term are
constrained to a small value by the small deviation from unitarity; ii)
compared with the fourth generation extension of the standard model, there is
an enhancement to $B\to X_s\gamma$ process in the contribution of vector like
quark, resulting a non-decoupling effect in such models.


title: Equilibrium states on graph algebras

abstract:
  We consider operator-algebraic dynamical systems given by actions of the real
line on unital $C^*$-algebras, and especially the equilibrium states (or KMS
states) of such systems. We are particularly interested in systems built from
the gauge action on the Toeplitz algebra and graph algebra of a finite directed
graph, and we describe a complete classification of the KMS states obtained in
joint work with Laca and Sims. We then discuss applications of these results to
Cuntz-Pimsner algebras associated to local homeomorphisms, obtained in
collaboration with Afsar. Thomsen has given bounds on the range of inverse
temperatures at which KMS states may exist. We show that Thomsen's bounds are
sharp.


title: Fast Covariance Estimation for Sparse Functional Data

abstract:
  Smoothing of noisy sample covariances is an important component in functional
data analysis. We propose a novel covariance smoothing method based on
penalized splines and associated software. The proposed method is a bivariate
spline smoother that is designed for covariance smoothing and can be used for
sparse functional or longitudinal data. We propose a fast algorithm for
covariance smoothing using leave-one-subject-out cross validation. Our
simulations show that the proposed method compares favorably against several
commonly used methods. The method is applied to a study of child growth led by
one of coauthors and to a public dataset of longitudinal CD4 counts.


title: Bright and photostable single-photon emitter in silicon carbide

abstract:
  Single-photon sources are of paramount importance in quantum communication,
quantum computation, and quantum metrology. In particular, there is great
interest in realizing scalable solid-state platforms that can emit triggered
photons on demand to achieve scalable nanophotonic networks. We report on a
visible-spectrum single-photon emitter in 4H silicon carbide (SiC). The emitter
is photostable at room and low temperatures, enabling photon counts per second
in excess of 2$\times$10$^6$ from unpatterned bulk SiC. It exists in two
orthogonally polarized states, which have parallel absorption and emission
dipole orientations. Low-temperature measurements reveal a narrow zero phonon
line (linewidth $<0.1~$nm) that accounts for $>30$% of the total
photoluminescence spectrum.


title:
Exact solution to the Dirichlet problem for degenerating on the boundary
  elliptic equation of Tricomi-Keldysh type in the half-space

abstract:
  In the paper by means of Fourier transform method and similarity method we
solve the Dirichlet problem for a multidimensional equation wich is a
generalization of the Tricomi, Gellerstedt and Keldysh equations in the
half-space, in which equation have elliptic type, with the boundary condition
on the boundary hyperplane where equation degenerates.The solution is presented
in the form of an integral with a simple kernel which is an approximation to
the identity and self-similar solution of Tricomi-Keldysh type equation . In
particular, this formula contains a Poisson's formula, which gives the solution
of the Dirichlet problem for the Laplace equation for the half-space. If the
given boundary value is a generalized function of slow growth, the solution of
the Dirichlet problem can be written as a convolution of this function with the
kernel (if a convolution exists).


title: Hadron-Hadron Correlation and Interaction from Heavy-Ion Collisions

abstract:
  We investigate the $\Lambda\Lambda$ and $K^-p$ intensity correlations in
high-energy heavy-ion collisions. First, we examine the dependence of the
$\Lambda\Lambda$ correlation on the $\Lambda\Lambda$ interaction and the
$\Lambda\Lambda$ pair purity probability $\lambda$. For small $\lambda$, the
correlation function needs to be suppressed by the $\Lambda\Lambda$ interaction
in order to explain the recently measured $\Lambda\Lambda$ correlation data. By
comparison, when we adopt the $\lambda$ value evaluated from the experimentally
measured $\Sigma^0/\Lambda$ ratio, the correlation function needs to be
enhanced by the interaction. We demonstrate that these two cases correspond to
the two analyses which gave opposite signs of the $\Lambda\Lambda$ scattering
length. Next, we discuss the $K^-p$ correlation function. By using the local
$\bar{K}N$ potential which reproduces the kaonic hydrogen data by SIDDHARTA, we
obtain the $K^-p$ correlation function. We find that the $K^-p$ correlation can
provide a complementary information with the $K^{-}p$ elastic scattering
amplitude.


title: Towards Optimal Energy Management of Microgrids with a Realistic Model

abstract:
  This work considers energy management in a grid-connected microgrid which
consists of multiple conventional generators (CGs), renewable generators (RGs)
and energy storage systems (ESSs). A two-stage optimization approach is
presented to schedule the power generation, aimed at minimizing the long-term
average operating cost subject to operational and service constraints. The
first stage of optimization determines hourly unit commitment of the CGs via a
day-ahead scheduling, and the second stage performs economic dispatch of the
CGs, ESSs and energy trading via an hour-ahead scheduling. The combined
solution meets the need of handling large uncertainties in the load demand and
renewable generation, and provides an efficient solution under limited
computational resource which meets both short-term and long-term
quality-of-service requirements. The performance of the proposed strategy is
evaluated by simulations based on real load demand and renewable generation
data.


title: From line segments to more organized Gestalts

abstract:
  In this paper, we reconsider the early computer vision bottom-up program,
according to which higher level features (geometric structures) in an image
could be built up recursively from elementary features by simple grouping
principles coming from Gestalt theory. Taking advantage of the (recent)
advances in reliable line segment detectors, we propose three feature detectors
that constitute one step up in this bottom up pyramid. For any digital image,
our unsupervised algorithm computes three classic Gestalts from the set of
predetected line segments: good continuations, nonlocal alignments, and bars.
The methodology is based on a common stochastic {\it a contrario model}
yielding three simple detection formulas, characterized by their number of
false alarms. This detection algorithm is illustrated on several digital
images.


title: Possible Way to Make MgFeGe a New Fe-based Superconductor

abstract:
  We propose that the contrasting low-temperature behaviors observed
experimentally among isostructural and isoelectronic materials, like
non-superconducting and nonmagnetic MgFeGe, magnetically ordered NaFeAs, and
superconducting LiFeAs, can be well understood from itinerant weak coupling
limit. We find that stronger $(\pi,\pi)$ instability appearing in the
d$_{x^2-y^2}$ orbital of NaFeAs is responsible for the occurrence of weak
magnetism while weaker but still prominent $(\pi,\pi)$ instability in LiFeAs
leads to a superconducting state. In contrast, multiple competing instabilities
coexisting in orbital-resolved momentum-dependent susceptibilities, serving as
magnetic frustrations from itinerant electrons, may account for the nonmagnetic
state in MgFeGe, while poorer Fermi surface nesting leads to a
non-superconducting state. Based on above findings, we predict a possible way
to make MgFeGe a new Fe-based superconductor.


title: Anti-pluricanonical systems on Fano varieties

abstract:
  In this paper, we study the linear systems $|-mK_X|$ on Fano varieties $X$
with klt singularities. In a given dimension $d$, we prove $|-mK_X|$ is
non-empty and contains an element with "good singularities" for some natural
number $m$ depending only on $d$; if in addition $X$ is $\epsilon$-lc for some
$\epsilon>0$, then we show that we can choose $m$ depending only on $d$ and
$\epsilon$ so that $|-mK_X|$ defines a birational map. Further, we prove
Shokurov's conjecture on boundedness of complements, and show that certain
classes of Fano varieties form bounded families.


title:
Permutation p-values should never be zero: calculating exact p-values
  when permutations are randomly drawn

abstract:
  Permutation tests are amongst the most commonly used statistical tools in
modern genomic research, a process by which p-values are attached to a test
statistic by randomly permuting the sample or gene labels. Yet permutation
p-values published in the genomic literature are often computed incorrectly,
understated by about 1/m, where m is the number of permutations. The same is
often true in the more general situation when Monte Carlo simulation is used to
assign p-values. Although the p-value understatement is usually small in
absolute terms, the implications can be serious in a multiple testing context.
The understatement arises from the intuitive but mistaken idea of using
permutation to estimate the tail probability of the test statistic. We argue
instead that permutation should be viewed as generating an exact discrete null
distribution. The relevant literature, some of which is likely to have been
relatively inaccessible to the genomic community, is reviewed and summarized. A
computation strategy is developed for exact p-values when permutations are
randomly drawn. The strategy is valid for any number of permutations and
samples. Some simple recommendations are made for the implementation of
permutation tests in practice.


title:
Design and analysis of frequency-independent reflectionless single-layer
  metafilms

abstract:
  We develop a theory for realizing frequency-independent, reflectionless,
single-layer metafilms based on the Brewster effect. A metafilm designed based
on the theory is numerically analyzed using a finite-difference time-domain
method. The numerical analysis demonstrates that the reflectance of the
metafilm vanishes independent of the frequency and that the metafilm behaves
like an all-pass filter (with finite loss). An analysis based on an electrical
circuit model of the reflectionless metafilm reveals that the energy of the
suppressed reflection wave is not stored in the metafilm but is radiated to the
transmission direction.


title: Folding KLR algebras

abstract:
  This paper develops the theory of KLR algebras with a Dynkin diagram
automorphism. This is foundational material intended to allow folding
techniques in the theory of KLR algebras.


title:
Interplay of charge density wave and multiband superconductivity in
  2$H$-Pd$_x$TaSe$_2$

abstract:
  2$H$-TaSe$_2$ has been one of unique transition metal dichalcogenides
exhibiting several phase transitions due to a delicate balance among competing
electronic ground states. An unusual metallic state at high-$T$ is sequentially
followed by an incommensurate charge density wave (ICDW) state at $\approx$ 122
K and a commensurate charge density wave (CCDW) state at $\approx$ 90 K, and
superconductivity at $T_{\rm{C}}\sim$0.14 K. Upon systematic intercalation of
Pd ions into TaSe$_2$, we find that CCDW order is destabilized more rapidly
than ICDW to indicate a hidden quantum phase transition point at
$x$$\sim$0.09-0.10. Moreover, $T_{\rm{C}}$ shows a dramatic enhancement up to
3.3 K at $x$ = 0.08, $\sim$24 times of $T_{\rm{C}}$ in 2$H$-TaSe$_2$, in
proportional to the density of states $N(E_F)$. Investigations of upper
critical fields $H_{c2}$ in single crystals reveal evidences of multiband
superconductivity as temperature-dependent anisotropy factor $\gamma_H$ =
$H_{c2}^{ab}$/$H_{c2}^{c}$, quasi-linear increase of $H_{c2}^{c}(T)$, and an
upward, positive-curvature in $H_{c2}^{ab}(T)$ near $T_{\rm{C}}$. Furthermore,
analysis of temperature-dependent electronic specific heat corroborates the
presence of multiple superconducting gaps. Based on above findings and
electronic phase diagram vs $x$, we propose that the increase of $N(E_F)$ and
effective electron-phonon coupling in the vicinity of CDW quantum phase
transition should be a key to the large enhancement of $T_{\rm{C}}$ in
Pd$_x$TaSe$_2$.


title:
A Probabilistic Machine Learning Approach to Detect Industrial Plant
  Faults

abstract:
  Fault detection in industrial plants is a hot research area as more and more
sensor data are being collected throughout the industrial process. Automatic
data-driven approaches are widely needed and seen as a promising area of
investment. This paper proposes an effective machine learning algorithm to
predict industrial plant faults based on classification methods such as
penalized logistic regression, random forest and gradient boosted tree. A
fault's start time and end time are predicted sequentially in two steps by
formulating the original prediction problems as classification problems. The
algorithms described in this paper won first place in the Prognostics and
Health Management Society 2015 Data Challenge.


title: Variations of $P_2$ in subpulse drifting pulsars

abstract:
  We develop a model for subpulse separation period, $P_2$, taking into account
both the apparent motion of the visible point as a function of pulsar phase,
$\psi$, and the possibility of abrupt jumps between different rotation states
in non-corotating pulsar magnetospheres. We identify three frequencies: (i) the
spin frequency of the star, (ii) the drift frequency of the magnetospheric
plasma in the source region, and (iii) the angular frequency of the visible
point around its trajectory. We show how the last of these, which is neglected
in traditional models by implicitly assuming the line of sight through the
center of the star, affects the interpretation of $P_2$. We attribute the
subpulse structure to emission from $m$ anti-nodes distributed uniformly in
azimuthal angle about the magnetic axis. We show that variations of $P_2$ as a
function of rotational phase or observing frequency arise naturally when the
motion of the visible point is taken into account. We discuss possible
application of our model in signifying overall field-line distortion at the
emitting region. Abrupt changes in $P_2$ can occur during state switching in
the magnetosphere. We demonstrate that the unique value of $P_2$ in each
rotation state can be used, in principle, to relate the rotation state of the
magnetospheres to subpulse drifting.


title: Learning to Navigate the Energy Landscape

abstract:
  In this paper, we present a novel and efficient architecture for addressing
computer vision problems that use `Analysis by Synthesis'. Analysis by
synthesis involves the minimization of the reconstruction error which is
typically a non-convex function of the latent target variables.
State-of-the-art methods adopt a hybrid scheme where discriminatively trained
predictors like Random Forests or Convolutional Neural Networks are used to
initialize local search algorithms. While these methods have been shown to
produce promising results, they often get stuck in local optima. Our method
goes beyond the conventional hybrid architecture by not only proposing multiple
accurate initial solutions but by also defining a navigational structure over
the solution space that can be used for extremely efficient gradient-free local
search. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach on the challenging problem
of RGB Camera Relocalization. To make the RGB camera relocalization problem
particularly challenging, we introduce a new dataset of 3D environments which
are significantly larger than those found in other publicly-available datasets.
Our experiments reveal that the proposed method is able to achieve
state-of-the-art camera relocalization results. We also demonstrate the
generalizability of our approach on Hand Pose Estimation and Image Retrieval
tasks.


title:
A framework for structured linearizations of matrix polynomials in
  various bases

abstract:
  We present a framework for the construction of linearizations for scalar and
matrix polynomials based on dual bases which, in the case of orthogonal
polynomials, can be described by the associated recurrence relations. The
framework provides an extension of the classical linearization theory for
polynomials expressed in non-monomial bases and allows to represent polynomials
expressed in product families, that is as a linear combination of elements of
the form $\phi_i(\lambda) \psi_j(\lambda)$, where $\{ \phi_i(\lambda) \}$ and
$\{ \psi_j(\lambda) \}$ can either be polynomial bases or polynomial families
which satisfy some mild assumptions. We show that this general construction can
be used for many different purposes. Among them, we show how to linearize sums
of polynomials and rational functions expressed in different bases. As an
example, this allows to look for intersections of functions interpolated on
different nodes without converting them to the same basis. We then provide some
constructions for structured linearizations for $\star$-even and
$\star$-palindromic matrix polynomials. The extensions of these constructions
to $\star$-odd and $\star$-antipalindromic of odd degree is discussed and
follows immediately from the previous results.


title: Hidden Pion Varieties in Composite Models for Diphoton Resonances

abstract:
  The diphoton excesses at 750 GeV seen in the LHC data may be the first hint
for new physics at the TeV scale. We discuss variations of the model considered
earlier, in which one or more diphoton excesses arise from composite pseudo
Nambu-Goldstone bosons (hidden pions) associated with new strong dynamics at
the TeV scale. We study the case in which the 750 GeV excess arises from a
unique hidden pion leading to a diphoton final state as well as the case in
which it arises from one of the hidden pions decaying into diphotons. We
consider SU(N), SO(N), and Sp(N) gauge groups for the strong dynamics and find
that SO(N) and Sp(N) models give extra hidden pions beyond those in the SU(N)
models, which can be used to discriminate among models.


title:
Multiprocessor Scheduling of a Multi-mode Dataflow Graph Considering
  Mode Transition Delay

abstract:
  Synchronous Data Flow (SDF) model is widely used for specifying signal
processing or streaming applications. Since modern embedded applications become
more complex with dynamic behavior changes at run-time, several extensions of
the SDF model have been proposed to specify the dynamic behavior changes while
preserving static analyzability of the SDF model. They assume that an
application has a finite number of behaviors (or modes) and each behavior
(mode) is represented by an SDF graph. They are classified as multi-mode
dataflow models in this paper. While there exist several scheduling techniques
for multi-mode dataflow models, no one allows task migration between modes. By
observing that the resource requirement can be additionally reduced if task
migration is allowed, we propose a multiprocessor scheduling technique of a
multi-mode dataflow graph considering task migration between modes. Based on a
genetic algorithm, the proposed technique schedules all SDF graphs in all modes
simultaneously to minimize the resource requirement. To satisfy the throughput
constraint, the proposed technique calculates the actual throughput requirement
of each mode and the output buffer size for tolerating throughput jitter. We
compare the proposed technique with a method which analyzes SDF graphs in each
execution mode separately and a method that does not allow task migration for
synthetic examples and three real applications: H.264 decoder, vocoder, and LTE
receiver algorithms.


title:
Products of weak values: uncertainty relations, complementarity and
  incompatibility

abstract:
  The products of weak values of quantum observables are shown to be of value
in deriving quantum uncertainty and complementarity relations, for both weak
and strong measurement statistics. First, a 'product representation formula'
allows the standard Heisenberg uncertainty relation to be derived from a
classical uncertainty relation for complex random variables. We show this
formula also leads to strong uncertainty relations for unitary operators, and
underlies an interpretation of weak values as optimal (complex) estimates of
quantum observables. Furthermore, we show that two incompatible observables
that are weakly and strongly measured in a weak measurement context obey a
complementarity relation under the interchange of these observables, in the
form of an upper bound on the product of the corresponding weak values.
Moreover, general tradeoff relations between weak purity, quantum purity and
quantum incompatibility, and also between weak and strong joint probability
distributions, are obtained based on products of real and imaginary components
of weak values, where these relations quantify the degree to which weak
probabilities can take anomalous values in a given context.


title:
Barrier induced chaos in kicked rotor : classical sub-diffusion and
  quantum localization

abstract:
  The relation between classically chaotic dynamics and quantum localization is
studied in a system that violates the assumptions of Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser
(KAM) theorem, namely, kicked rotor in a discontinuous potential barrier. We
show that the discontinuous barrier induces chaos and more than two distinct
sub-diffusive energy growth regimes, the latter being an unusual feature for
Hamiltonian chaos. We show that the dynamical localization in the quantized
version of this system carries the imprint of non-KAM classical dynamics
through the dependence of quantum break time on sub-diffusion exponents. We
briefly comment on the experimental feasibility of this system.


title: Unitary equivalent classes of one-dimensional quantum walks

abstract:
  This study investigates unitary equivalent classes of one-dimensional quantum
walks. We prove that one-dimensional quantum walks are unitary equivalent to
quantum walks of Ambainis type and that translation-invariant one-dimensional
quantum walks are Szegedy walks. We also present a necessary and sufficient
condition for a one-dimensional quantum walk to be a Szegedy walk.


title:
Voltage-Controlled Low-Energy Switching of Nanomagnets through
  Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida Interactions for Magnetoelectric Device
  Applications

abstract:
  In this letter, we consider through simulation Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida
(RKKY) interactions between nanomagnets sitting on a conductive surface, and
voltage-controlled gating thereof for low-energy switching of nanomagnets for
possible memory and nonvolatile logic applications. For specificity, we
consider nanomagnets with perpendicular anisotropy on a three-dimensional
topological insulator. We model the possibility and dynamics of RKKY-based
switching of one nanomagnet by coupling to one or more nanomagnets of set
orientation. Applications for both memory and nonvolatile logic are considered,
with follower, inverter and majority gate functionality shown. Sub-attojoule
switching energies, far below conventional spin transfer torque (STT)-based
memories and even below CMOS logic appear possible. Switching times on the
order of a few nanoseconds, comparable to times for STT switching, are
estimated for ferromagnetic nanomagnets.


title:
Electronic Structure, Phase Stability and Resistivity of Hybrid
  Hexagonal C$_x$(BN)$_{1-x}$ Two-dimensional Nanomaterial: A First-principles
  Study

abstract:
  We use density functional theory based first-principles method to investigate
the bandstructure and phase stability in the laterally grown hexagonal
C$_x$(BN)$_{1-x}$, two-dimensional Graphene and $h$-BN hybrid nanomaterials,
which were synthesized by experimental groups recently (Liu $et al$, Nature
Nanotech, 8, 119 (2013)). Our detail electronic structure calculations on such
materials, with both armchair and zigzag interfaces between the Graphene and $
h$-BN domains, indicate that the band-gap decreases non-monotonically with the
concentration of Carbon. The calculated bandstructure shows the onset of Dirac
cone like features near the band-gap at high Carbon concentration ($x \sim
0.8$). From the calculated energy of formation, the phase stability of
C$_x$(BN)$_{1-x}$ was studied using a regular solution model and the system was
found to be in the ordered phase below a few thousand Kelvin. Furthermore,
using the Boltzmann transport theory we calculate the electrical resistivity
from the bandstrcture of C$_x$(BN)$_{1-x}$ at different temperature ($T$),
which shows a linear behaviour when plotted in the logarithmic scale against
$T^{-1}$, as observed experimentally


title: Identifying optimal targets of network attack by belief propagation

abstract:
  For a network formed by nodes and undirected links between pairs of nodes,
the network optimal attack problem aims at deleting a minimum number of target
nodes to break the network down into many small components. This problem is
intrinsically related to the feedback vertex set problem that was successfully
tackled by spin glass theory and an associated belief propagation-guided
decimation (BPD) algorithm [H.-J. Zhou, Eur. Phys. J. B 86 (2013) 455]. In the
present work we apply the BPD alrogithm (which has approximately linear time
complexity) to the network optimal attack problem, and demonstrate that it has
much better performance than a recently proposed Collective Information
algorithm [F. Morone and H. A. Makse, Nature 524 (2015) 63--68] for different
types of random networks and real-world network instances. The BPD-guided
attack scheme often induces an abrupt collapse of the whole network, which may
make it very difficult to defend.


title: Unsupervised Cross-Media Hashing with Structure Preservation

abstract:
  Recent years have seen the exponential growth of heterogeneous multimedia
data. The need for effective and accurate data retrieval from heterogeneous
data sources has attracted much research interest in cross-media retrieval.
Here, given a query of any media type, cross-media retrieval seeks to find
relevant results of different media types from heterogeneous data sources. To
facilitate large-scale cross-media retrieval, we propose a novel unsupervised
cross-media hashing method. Our method incorporates local affinity and distance
repulsion constraints into a matrix factorization framework. Correspondingly,
the proposed method learns hash functions that generates unified hash codes
from different media types, while ensuring intrinsic geometric structure of the
data distribution is preserved. These hash codes empower the similarity between
data of different media types to be evaluated directly. Experimental results on
two large-scale multimedia datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the
proposed method, where we outperform the state-of-the-art methods.


title: Late Kinetic Decoupling of Light Magnetic Dipole Dark Matter

abstract:
  We study the kinetic decoupling of light (lesssim 10 GeV) magnetic dipole
dark matter (DM). We find that present bounds from collider, direct DM
searches, and structure formation allow magnetic dipole DM to remain in thermal
equilibrium with the early universe plasma until as late as the
electron-positron annihilation epoch. This late kinetic decoupling leads to a
minimal mass for the earliest dark protohalos of thousands of solar masses, in
contrast to the conventional weak scale DM scenario where they are of order
10^{-6} solar masses.


title: Generating Functions on Covering Groups

abstract:
  In this paper we prove Conjecture 1.2 in \cite{B-F}. This enables us to
establish the meromorphic continuation of the standard partial $L$ function
$L^S(s,\pi^{(n)})$. Here, $\pi^{(n)}$ is a genuine irreducible cuspidal
representation of the group $GL_r^{(n)}({\bf A})$.


title: A note on fractional $p$-Laplacian problems with singular weights

abstract:
  We study a class of fractional $p$-Laplacian problems with weights which are
possibly singular on the boundary of the domain. We provide existence and
multiplicity results as well as characterizations of critical groups and
related applications.


title: Shuffle product formulas of multiple zeta values

abstract:
  Using the combinatorial description of shuffle product, we prove or
reformulate several shuffle product formulas of multiple zeta values, including
a general formula of the shuffle product of two multiple zeta values, some
restricted shuffle product formulas of the product of two multiple zeta values,
and a restricted shuffle product formula of the product of $n$ multiple zeta
values.


title: Power sums over commutative and unitary rings

abstract:
  In this paper we compute the sum of the $k$-th powers over any finite
commutative unital rings, thus generalizing known results for finite fields,
the rings of integers modulo $n$ or the ring of Gaussian integers modulo $n$.
As an application we focus on quotient rings of the form
$\mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z}[x]/(f(x))$ for any polynomial $f\in\mathbb{Z}[x]$


title:
The complexity of the equation solvability problem over semipattern
  groups

abstract:
  The complexity of the equation solvability problem is known for nilpotent
groups, for not solvable groups and for some semidirect products of Abelian
groups. We provide a new polynomial time algorithm for deciding the equation
solvability problem over certain semidirect products, where the first factor is
not necessarily Abelian. Our main idea is to represent such groups as matrix
groups, and reduce the original problem to equation solvability over the
underlying field. Further, we apply this new method to give a much more
efficient algorithm for equation solvability over nilpotent rings than
previously existed.


title: Stuttering equivalence is too slow!

abstract:
  Groote and Wijs recently described an algorithm for deciding stuttering
equivalence and branching bisimulation equivalence, acclaimed to run in
$\mathcal{O}(m \log n)$ time. Unfortunately, the algorithm does not always meet
the acclaimed running time. In this paper, we present two counterexamples where
the algorithms uses $\Omega(md)$ time. A third example shows that the
correction is not trivial. In order to analyse the problem we present
pseudocode of the algorithm, and indicate the time that can be spent on each
part of the algorithm in order to meet the desired bound. We also propose fixes
to the algorithm such that it indeed runs in $\mathcal{O}(m \log n)$ time.


title: Galaxy-Galaxy Lensing in the DES Science Verification Data

abstract:
  We present galaxy-galaxy lensing results from 139 square degrees of Dark
Energy Survey (DES) Science Verification (SV) data. Our lens sample consists of
red galaxies, known as redMaGiC, which are specifically selected to have a low
photometric redshift error and outlier rate. The lensing measurement has a
total signal-to-noise of 29 over scales $0.09 < R < 15$ Mpc/$h$, including all
lenses over a wide redshift range $0.2 < z < 0.8$. Dividing the lenses into
three redshift bins for this constant moving number density sample, we find no
evidence for evolution in the halo mass with redshift. We obtain consistent
results for the lensing measurement with two independent shear pipelines, ngmix
and im3shape. We perform a number of null tests on the shear and photometric
redshift catalogs and quantify resulting systematic uncertainties. Covariances
from jackknife subsamples of the data are validated with a suite of 50 mock
surveys. The results and systematics checks in this work provide a critical
input for future cosmological and galaxy evolution studies with the DES data
and redMaGiC galaxy samples. We fit a Halo Occupation Distribution (HOD) model,
and demonstrate that our data constrains the mean halo mass of the lens
galaxies, despite strong degeneracies between individual HOD parameters.


title: Number of claims and ruin time for a refracted risk process

abstract:
  In this paper, we consider a classical risk model refracted at given level.
We give an explicit expression for the joint density of the ruin time and the
cumulative number of claims counted up to ruin time. The proof is based on
solving some integro-differential equations and employing the Lagrange's
Expansion Theorem.


title:
An iterative Bregman regularization method for optimal control problems
  with inequality constraints

abstract:
  We study an iterative regularization method of optimal control problems with
control constraints. The regularization method is based on generalized Bregman
distances. We provide convergence results under a combination of a source
condition and a regularity condition on the active sets. We do not assume
attainability of the desired state. Furthermore, a-priori regularization error
estimates are obtained.


title:
Finiteness of $\pi_1$-sensitive Hofer-Zehnder capacity and equivariant
  loop space homology

abstract:
  We prove that if M is a closed, connected, oriented, rationally inessential
manifold, then the Hofer-Zehnder capacity of the unit disk bundle of the
cotangent bundle of M is finite.


title: Modeling, dynamics and optimal control of Ebola virus spread

abstract:
  We present a mathematical analysis of the early detection of Ebola virus. The
propagation of the virus is analysed by using a Susceptible, Infected,
Recovered (SIR) model. In order to provide useful predictions about the
potential transmission of the virus, we analyse and simulate the SIR model with
vital dynamics, by adding demographic effects and an induced death rate. Then,
we compute the equilibria of the model. The numerical simulations confirm the
theoretical analysis. Our study describes the 2015 detection of Ebola virus in
Guinea, the parameters of the model being identified from the World Health
Organization data. Finally, we consider an optimal control problem of the
propagation of the Ebola virus, minimizing the number of infected individuals
while taking into account the cost of vaccination.


title: Extending small arcs to large arcs

abstract:
  An arc is a set of vectors of the $k$-dimensional vector space over the
finite field with $q$ elements ${\mathbb F}_q$, in which every subset of size
$k$ is a basis of the space, i.e. every $k$-subset is a set of linearly
independent vectors. Given an arc $G$ in a space of odd characteristic, we
prove that there is an upper bound on the largest arc containing $G$. The bound
is not an explicit bound but is obtained by computing properties of a matrix
constructed from $G$. In some cases we can also determine the largest arc
containing $G$, or at least determine the hyperplanes which contain exactly
$k-2$ vectors of the large arc. The theorems contained in this article may
provide new tools in the computational classification and construction of large
arcs.


title:
Frenkel-Gross' irregular connection and Heinloth-Ng\^o-Yun's are the
  same

abstract:
  We show that the irregular connection on G_m constructed by Frenkel-Gross
(2009) and the one constructed by Heinloth-Ng\^o-Yun (2013) are the same, which
confirms a conjecture of the latter author's.


title:
Possible Solution of the long-standing discrepancy in the Microlensing
  Optical Depth Toward the Galactic Bulge by correcting the stellar number
  count

abstract:
  We find that significant incompleteness in stellar number counts results in a
significant overestimate of the microlensing optical depth $\tau$ and event
rate per star per year $\Gamma$ toward the Galactic bulge from the first two
years of the MOA-II survey. We find that the completeness in Red Clump Giant
(RCG) counts $f_{\rm RC}$ decreases proportional to the galactic latitude $b$,
as $f_{\rm RC}=(0.63\pm0.11)-(0.052\pm0.028)\times b$, ranging between 1 and
0.7 at $b=-6^\circ\sim-1.5^\circ$. The previous measurements using all sources
by Difference Image Analysis (DIA) by MACHO and MOA-I suffer the same bias. On
the other hand, the measurements using a RCG sample by OGLE-II, MACHO and EROS
were free from this bias because they selected only the events associated with
the resolved stars. Thus, the incompleteness both in the number of events and
stellar number count cancel out. We estimate $\tau$ and $\Gamma$ by correcting
this incompleteness. In the central fields with $|l|<5^\circ$, we find
$\Gamma=[18.74\pm0.91]\times10^{-6}\exp[(0.53\pm0.05)(3-|b|)]$ star$^{-1}$
yr$^{-1}$ and $\tau_{200}=[1.84\pm0.14]\times10^{-6}\exp[(0.44\pm0.07)(3-|b|)]$
for the 427 events with $t_{\rm E}\leq200\,$days using all sources brighter
than $I_s\leq20$ mag. Our revised all-source $\tau$ measurements are about
2-$\sigma$ smaller than the other all-source measurements and are consistent
with the RCG measurements within 1-$\sigma$. We conclude that the long-standing
problem on discrepancy between the high $\tau$ with all-source samples by DIA
and low $\tau$ with RCG samples can probably be explained by the incompleteness
of the stellar number count. A model fit to these measurements predicts
$\Gamma=4.60\pm0.25\times10^{-5}$ star$^{-1}$ yr$^{-1}$ at $|b|\sim-1^\circ.4$
and $-2^\circ.25<l<3^\circ.75$ for sources with $I<20$, where the future space
mission WFIRST will observe.


title: Passive states as optimal inputs for single-jump lossy quantum channels

abstract:
  The passive states of a quantum system minimize the average energy among all
the states with a given spectrum. We prove that passive states are the optimal
inputs of single-jump lossy quantum channels. These channels arise from a weak
interaction of the quantum system of interest with a large Markovian bath in
its ground state, such that the interaction Hamiltonian couples only
consecutive energy eigenstates of the system. We prove that the output
generated by any input state $\rho$ majorizes the output generated by the
passive input state $\rho_0$ with the same spectrum of $\rho$. Then, the output
generated by $\rho$ can be obtained applying a random unitary operation to the
output generated by $\rho_0$. This is an extension of De Palma et al., IEEE
Trans. Inf. Theory 62, 2895 (2016), where the same result is proved for
one-mode bosonic Gaussian channels. We also prove that for finite temperature
this optimality property can fail already in a two-level system, where the best
input is a coherent superposition of the two energy eigenstates.


title:
Three-dimensional Simulation of Thermal Harmonic Lasing FEL with
  Detuning of the Fundamental

abstract:
  Detuning of the fundamental is a way to enhance harmonic generation . By this
method, the wiggler is composed of two segments in such a way that the
fundamental resonance of the second segment to coincide with the third harmonic
of the first segment of the wiggler to generate extreme ultraviolet radiation
and x-ray emission. A set of coupled, nonlinear, and first-order differential
equations in three dimensions describing the evolution of the electron
trajectories and the radiation field with warm beam is solved numerically by
CYRUS 3D code in the steady-state for two models (1) seeded free electron laser
(FEL) and (2) shot noise on the electron beam (self-amplified spontaneous
emission FEL). Thermal effects in the form of longitudinal velocity spread is
considered. Three-dimensional simulation describes self-consistently the
longitudinal spatial dependence of radiation waists, curvatures, and amplitudes
together with the evaluation of the electron beam. The evolutions of the
transverse modes are investigated for the fundamental resonance and the third
harmonic. Also, the effective modes of the third harmonic are studied. In this
paper, we found that detuning of the fundamental with shot noise gives more
optimistic result than the seeded FEL.


title:
A Comparison between Deep Neural Nets and Kernel Acoustic Models for
  Speech Recognition

abstract:
  We study large-scale kernel methods for acoustic modeling and compare to DNNs
on performance metrics related to both acoustic modeling and recognition.
Measuring perplexity and frame-level classification accuracy, kernel-based
acoustic models are as effective as their DNN counterparts. However, on
token-error-rates DNN models can be significantly better. We have discovered
that this might be attributed to DNN's unique strength in reducing both the
perplexity and the entropy of the predicted posterior probabilities. Motivated
by our findings, we propose a new technique, entropy regularized perplexity,
for model selection. This technique can noticeably improve the recognition
performance of both types of models, and reduces the gap between them. While
effective on Broadcast News, this technique could be also applicable to other
tasks.


title:
Differential description and irreversibility of depolarizing
  light-matter interactions

abstract:
  The widely-used Jones and Mueller differential polarization calculi allow
non-depolarizing deterministic polarization interactions, known to be elements
of the $SO^+(1,3)$ Lorentz group, to be described in an efficient way. In this
Letter, a stochastic differential Jones formalism is shown to provide a clear
physical insight on light depolarization, which arises from the interaction of
polarized light with a random medium showing fluctuating anisotropic
properties. Based on this formalism, several "intrinsic" depolarization metrics
naturally arise to efficiently characterize light depolarization in a medium,
and an irreversibility property of depolarizing transformations is finally
established.


title: Is "genuine multipartite entanglement" really genuine?

abstract:
  The existence of non-local quantum correlations is certainly the most
important specific property of the quantum world. However, it is a challenging
task to distinguish correlations of classical origin from genuine quantum
correlations, especially when the system involves more than two parties, for
which different partitions must be simultaneously considered. In the case of
mixed states, intermediate levels of correlations must be introduced, coined by
the name inseparability. In this work, we revisit in more detail such a concept
in the context of continuous-variable quantum optics. We consider a six-partite
quantum state that we have effectively generated by the parametric
downconversion of a femtosecond frequency comb, the full 12 x 12 covariance
matrix of which has been experimentally determined. We show that, though this
state does not exhibit "genuine entanglement", it is undoubtedly
multipartite-entangled. The consideration of not only the entanglement of
individual mode-decompositions but also of combinations of those solves the
puzzle and exemplifies the importance of studying different categories of
multipartite entanglement.


title: Heavy hyperplanes in multiarrangements and their freeness

abstract:
  Only few categories of free arrangements are known in which Terao's
conjecture holds. One of such categories consists of $3$-arrangements with
unbalanced Ziegler restrictions. In this paper, we generalize this result to
arbitrary dimensional arrangements in terms of flags by introducing unbalanced
multiarrangements. For that purpose, we generalize several freeness criterions
for simple arrangements, including Yoshinaga's freeness criterion, to
unbalanced multiarrangements.


title:
Multiple-octave spanning mid-IR supercontinuum generation in bulk
  quadratic nonlinear crystals

abstract:
  Bright and broadband coherent mid-IR radiation is important for exciting and
probing molecular vibrations. Using cascaded nonlinearities in conventional
quadratic nonlinear crystal like lithium niobate, self-defocusing near-IR
solitons have been demonstrated that led to very broadband supercontinuum
generation in the visible, near-IR and short-wavelength mid-IR. Here we conduct
an experiment where a mid-IR crystal pumped in the mid-IR gives multiple-octave
spanning supercontinua. The crystal is cut for noncritical interaction, so the
three-wave mixing of a single mid-IR femtosecond pump source leads to highly
phase-mismatched second-harmonic generation. This self-acting cascaded process
leads to the formation of a self-defocusing soliton at the mid-IR pump
wavelength and after the self-compression point multiple octave-spanning
supercontinua are observed (covering 1.6-$7.0~\mu$m). The results were recorded
in a commercially available crystal LiInS$_2$ pumped in the 3-$4~\mu$m range,
but other mid-IR crystals can readily be used as well.


title: Deformation of Noncommutative Quantum Mechanics

abstract:
  In this paper, the Lie group $G_{NC}^{\alpha,\beta,\gamma}$, of which the
kinematical symmetry group $G_{NC}$ of noncommutative quantum mechanics (NCQM)
is a special case due to fixed nonzero $\alpha$, $\beta$ and $\gamma$, is
three-parameter deformation quantized using the method suggested by Ballesteros
and Musso in "Quantum Algebras as Quantizations of Dual Poisson-Lie Groups" [J.
Phys. A: Math. Theor., 46 (2013), 195203]. A certain family of QUE algebras,
corresponding to $G_{NC}^{\alpha,\beta,\gamma}$ with two of the deformation
parameters approaching zero, is found to be in agreement with the existing
results of the literature on quantum Heisenberg group. Finally, we dualize the
underlying QUE algebra to obtain an expression for the underlying star-product
between smooth functions on $G_{NC}^{\alpha,\beta,\gamma}$.


title: Cosmology in generalized Proca theories

abstract:
  We consider a massive vector field with derivative interactions that
propagates only the 3 desired polarizations (besides two tensor polarizations
from gravity) with second-order equations of motion in curved space-time. The
cosmological implications of such generalized Proca theories are investigated
for both the background and the linear perturbation by taking into account the
Lagrangian up to quintic order. In the presence of a matter fluid with a
temporal component of the vector field, we derive the background equations of
motion and show the existence of de Sitter solutions relevant to the late-time
cosmic acceleration. We also obtain conditions for the absence of ghosts and
Laplacian instabilities of tensor, vector, and scalar perturbations in the
small-scale limit. Our results are applied to concrete examples of the general
functions in the theory, which encompass vector Galileons as a specific case.
In such examples, we show that the de Sitter fixed point is always a stable
attractor and study viable parameter spaces in which the no-ghost and stability
conditions are satisfied during the cosmic expansion history.


title: Cooling a Mechanical Resonator to Quantum Regime by heating it

abstract:
  We consider a mechanical resonator made of diamond, which contains a
nitrogen-vacancy center (NV center) locating at the end of the oscillator. A
second order magnetic gradient is applied and inducing coupling between
mechanical modes and the NV center. By applying proper external magnetic field,
the energy difference between NV center electron spin levels can be tuned to
match the energy difference between two mechanical modes $a$ and $b$. A laser
is used for continuously initializing the NV center electron spin. The mode $a$
with lower frequency is driven by a thermal bath. We find that the temperature
of the mode $b$ is significantly cooled when the heating bath temperature is
increased. We discuss the conditions that quantum regime cooling requires, and
confirm the results by numerical simulation. Finally we give the intuitive
physical explanation on this unusual effect.


title:
Comments on the determination of the neutrino mass ordering in reactor
  neutrino experiments

abstract:
  We consider the problem of determination of the neutrino mass ordering via
precise study of the vacuum neutrino oscillations in the JUNO and other future
medium baseline reactor neutrino experiments. We are proposing to resolve
neutrino mass ordering by determination of the neutrino oscillation parameters
from analysis of the data of the reactor experiments and comparison them with
the oscillation parameters obtained from analysis of the solar and KamLAND
experiments.


title: Th\'eor\`eme d'Erd\H{o}s-Kac dans presque tous les petits intervalles

abstract:
  We show that the Erd\H{o}s-Kac theorem is valid in almost all intervals
$\left[x,x+h\right]$ as soon as $h$ tends to infinity with $x$. We also show
that for all $k$ near $\log\log x$, almost all interval
$\left[x,x+\exp\left(\left(\log\log x\right)^{1/2+\varepsilon}\right)\right]$
contains the expected number of integers $n$ such that $\omega(n)=k$. These
results are a consequence of the methods introduced by Matom\"aki and
Radziwi\l\l\ to estimate sums of multiplicative functions over short intervals.


title:
A novel approach to the discovery of binary BBP-type formulas for
  polylogarithm constants

abstract:
  Using a clear and straightforward approach, we discover and prove new binary
digit extraction BBP-type formulas for polylogarithm constants. Some known
results are also rediscovered in a more direct and elegant manner. Numerous
experimentally discovered and previously unproved binary BBP-type formulas are
also proved.


title: Finite and \'etale polylogarithms

abstract:
  We show an explicit formula relating \'etale polylogarithms introduced by
Wojtkowiak and finite polylogarithms introduced by Elbaz-Vincent and Gangl.
This formula is an \'etale analog of Besser's formula relating Coleman's
$p$-adic polylogarithms and the finite polylogarithms.


title: A Comparison between Abraham and Minkowski Momenta

abstract:
  In this paper I compare the Abraham and the Minkowski forms for the momentum
pertaining to an electromagnetic wave inside a dielectric or a magnetic
material. The discussion is based on a careful treatment of the surface charges
and currents and of the forces acting on them. While in the dielectric case the
Abraham momentum is certainly more appealing from the physical point of view,
for a magnetic material it suggests an interpretation in terms of magnetic
charges and re- lated magnetic currents. The Minkowski momentum for magnetic
non conducting materials, on the contrary, has a natural interpretation in
terms of an amperian model, in which the dynamics is determined by the Lorentz
force acting on bulk and surface electric currents.


title:
Skyrmionic vortex lattices in coherently coupled three-component
  Bose-Einstein condensates

abstract:
  We show numerically that a harmonically trapped and coherently Rabi-coupled
three-component Bose-Einstein condensate can host unconventional vortex
lattices in its rotating ground state. The discovered lattices incorporate
square and zig-zag patterns, vortex dimers and chains, and doubly quantized
vortices, and they can be quantitatively classified in terms of a skyrmionic
topological index, which takes into account the multicomponent nature of the
system. The exotic ground-state lattices arise due to the intricate interplay
of the repulsive density-density interactions and the Rabi couplings as well as
the ubiquitous phase frustration between the components. In the frustrated
state, domain walls in the relative phases can persist between some components
even at strong Rabi coupling, while vanishing between others. Consequently, in
this limit the three-component condensate effectively approaches a
two-component condensate with only density-density interactions. At
intermediate Rabi coupling strengths, however, we face unique vortex physics
that occurs neither in the two-component counterpart nor in the purely
density-density-coupled three-component system.


title:
Sticking Transition in a Minimal Model for the Collisions of Active
  Particles in Quantum Fluids

abstract:
  Particles of low velocity, travelling without dissipation in a superfluid,
can interact and emit sound when they collide. We propose a minimal model in
which the equations of motion of the particles, including a short-range
repulsive force, are self-consistently coupled with the Gross-Pitaevskii
equation. We use this model to demonstrate the existence of an effective
superfluid-mediated attractive interaction between the particles; and we study
numerically the collisional dynamics of particles as a function of their
incident kinetic energy and the length-scale of the repulsive force. We find a
transition from almost elastic to completely inelastic (sticking) collisions as
the parameters are tuned. We find that aggregation and clustering result from
this sticking transition in multi-particle systems.


title: Minkowski's Question Mark Measure

abstract:
  Minkowski's question mark function is the distribution function of a singular
continuous measure: we study this measure from the point of view of logarithmic
potential theory and orthogonal polynomials. We conjecture that it is regular,
in the sense of Ullman--Stahl--Totik and moreover it belongs to a Nevai class:
we provide numerical evidence of the validity of these conjectures. In
addition, we study the zeros of its orthogonal polynomials and the associated
Christoffel functions, for which asymptotic formulae are derived. Rigorous
results and numerical techniques are based upon Iterated Function Systems
composed of Mobius maps.


title:
Compact Yb$^+$ optical atomic clock project: design principle and
  current status

abstract:
  We present the design of a compact optical clock based on the $^2S_{1/2}
\rightarrow ^2D_{3/2}$ 435.5 nm transition in $^{171}$Yb$^+$. The ion trap will
be based on a micro-fabricated circuit, with surface electrodes generating a
trapping potential to localize a single Yb ion a few hundred $\mu$m from the
electrodes. We present our trap design as well as simulations of the resulting
trapping pseudo-potential. We also present a compact, multi-channel wavelength
meter that will permit the frequency stabilization of the cooling, repumping
and clear-out lasers at 369.5 nm, 935.2 nm and 638.6 nm needed to cool the ion.
We use this wavelength meter to characterize and stabilize the frequency of
extended cavity diode lasers at 369.5 nm and 638.6 nm.


title: Thermodynamics of slow solutions to the Gas-Piston equations

abstract:
  Despite its historical importance, a perfect gas enclosed by a pistons and in
contact with a thermal reservoirs is a system still largely under study. Its
thermodynamic properties are not yet well understood when driven under
non-equilibrium conditions. In particular, analytic formulas that describe the
heat exchanged with the reservoir are rare. In this paper we prove a power
series expansions for the heat when both the external force and the reservoir
temperature are slowly varying over time but the overall process is not
quasi-static. To do so, we use the dynamical equations from [Cerino \emph{et
al.}, \textit{Phys. Rev. E}, \textbf{91} 032128] and an uncommon application of
the regular perturbation technique.


title:
Boundedly finite measures: Separation and convergence by an algebra of
  functions

abstract:
  We prove general results about separation and weak$^\#$-convergence of
boundedly finite measures on separable metric spaces and Souslin spaces. More
precisely, we consider an algebra of bounded real-valued, or more generally a
$*$-algebra $\mathcal{F}$ of bounded complex-valued functions and give
conditions for it to be separating or weak$^\#$-convergence determining for
those boundedly finite measures that integrate all functions in $\mathcal{F}$.
For separation, it is sufficient if $\mathcal{F}$ separates points, vanishes
nowhere, and either consists of only countably many measurable functions, or of
arbitrarily many continuous functions. For convergence determining, it is
sufficient if $\mathcal{F}$ induces the topology of the underlying space, and
every bounded set $A$ admits a function in $\mathcal{F}$ with values bounded
away from zero on $A$.


title: Symbolic Tensor Calculus -- Functional and Dynamic Approach

abstract:
  In this paper, we briefly discuss the dynamic and functional approach to
computer symbolic tensor analysis. The ccgrg package for Wolfram
Language/Mathematica is used to illustrate this approach. Some examples of
applications are attached.


title:
Explicit definition of $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry for non-unitary quantum
  walks with gain and loss

abstract:
  $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry, that is, a combined parity and time-reversal
symmetry is a key milestone for non-Hermite systems exhibiting entirely real
eigenenergy. In the present work, motivated by a recent experiment, we study
$\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry of the time-evolution operator of non-unitary quantum
walks. We present the explicit definition of $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry by
employing a concept of symmetry time frames. We provide a necessary and
sufficient condition so that the time-evolution operator of the non-unitary
quantum walk retains $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry even when parameters of the model
depend on position. It is also shown that there exist extra symmetries embedded
in the time-evolution operator. Applying these results, we clarify that the
non-unitary quantum walk in the experiment does have $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry.


title: Leidenfrost drops on a heated liquid pool

abstract:
  We show that a volatile liquid drop placed at the surface of a non-volatile
liquid pool warmer than the boiling point of the drop can experience a
Leidenfrost effect even for vanishingly small superheats. Such an observation
points to the importance of the substrate roughness, negligible in the case
considered here, in determining the threshold Leidenfrost temperature. A
theoretical model based on the one proposed by Sobac et al. [Phys. Rev. E 90,
053011 (2014)] is developed in order to rationalize the experimental data. The
shapes of the drop and of the substrate are analyzed. The model notably
provides scalings for the vapor film thickness. For small drops, these scalings
appear to be identical to the case of a Leidenfrost drop on a solid substrate.
For large drops, in contrast, they are different and no evidence of chimney
formation has been observed either experimentally or theoretically in the range
of drop sizes considered in this study. Concerning the evaporation dynamics,
the radius is shown to decrease linearly with time whatever the drop size,
which differs from the case of a Leidenfrost drop on a solid substrate. For
high superheats, the characteristic lifetime of the drops versus the superheat
follows a scaling law that is derived from the model but, at low superheats, it
deviates from this scaling by rather saturating.


title: Stringy Horizons II

abstract:
  We show that the spectrum of normalizable states on a Euclidean SL(2,R)/U(1)
black hole exhibits a duality between oscillator states and wound strings. This
duality generalizes the FZZ correspondence, which can be thought of as an
identification between a normalizable mode of dilaton gravity and a mode of the
tachyon with winding number one around the Euclidean time circle. It implies
that normalizable states on a large Euclidean black hole have support at widely
separated scales. In particular, localized states that are extended over the
cap of the cigar (the Euclidian analog of the black hole atmosphere) have a
component that is localized near the tip of the cigar (the analog of the
stretched horizon). As a consequence of this duality, the states exhibit a
transition as a function of radial excitation level. From the perspective of a
low energy probe, low lying states are naturally thought of as oscillator
states in the black hole atmosphere, while at large excitation level they are
naturally described as wound strings. As the excitation level increases, the
size of the states first decreases and then increases. This behavior is
expected to be a general feature of black hole horizons in string theory.


title:
Optimal Throughput for Covert Communication Over a Classical-Quantum
  Channel

abstract:
  This paper considers the problem of communication over a memoryless
classical-quantum wiretap channel subject to the constraint that the
eavesdropper on the channel should not be able to learn whether the legitimate
parties are using the channel to communicate or not. Specifically, the relative
entropy between the output quantum states at the eavesdropper when a codeword
is transmitted and when no input is provided must be sufficiently small.
Extending earlier works, this paper proves the "square-root law" for a broad
class of classical-quantum channels: the maximum amount of information that can
be reliably and covertly transmitted over $n$ uses of such a channel scales
like $\sqrt{n}$. The scaling constant is also determined.


title:
Comparing Time and Frequency Domain for Audio Event Recognition Using
  Deep Learning

abstract:
  Recognizing acoustic events is an intricate problem for a machine and an
emerging field of research. Deep neural networks achieve convincing results and
are currently the state-of-the-art approach for many tasks. One advantage is
their implicit feature learning, opposite to an explicit feature extraction of
the input signal. In this work, we analyzed whether more discriminative
features can be learned from either the time-domain or the frequency-domain
representation of the audio signal. For this purpose, we trained multiple deep
networks with different architectures on the Freiburg-106 and ESC-10 datasets.
Our results show that feature learning from the frequency domain is superior to
the time domain. Moreover, additionally using convolution and pooling layers,
to explore local structures of the audio signal, significantly improves the
recognition performance and achieves state-of-the-art results.


title:
Successful network inference from time-series data using Mutual
  Information Rate

abstract:
  This work uses an information-based methodology to infer the connectivity of
complex systems from observed time-series data. We first derive analytically an
expression for the Mutual Information Rate (MIR), namely, the amount of
information exchanged per unit of time, that can be used to estimate the MIR
between two finite-length low-resolution noisy time-series, and then apply it
after a proper normalization for the identification of the connectivity
structure of small networks of interacting dynamical systems. In particular, we
show that our methodology successfully infers the connectivity for
heterogeneous networks, different time-series lengths or coupling strengths,
and even in the presence of additive noise. Finally, we show that our
methodology based on MIR successfully infers the connectivity of networks
composed of nodes with different time-scale dynamics, where inference based on
Mutual Information fails.


title: Multi-step quantum algorithm for solving the 3-bit exact cover problem

abstract:
  We present a multi-step quantum algorithm for solving the $3$-bit exact cover
problem, which is one of the NP-complete problems. Unlike the brute force
methods have been tried before, in this algorithm, we showed that by applying
the clauses of the Boolean formula sequentially and introducing non-unitary
operations, the state that satisfies all of the clauses can be projected out
from an equal superposition of all computational basis states step by step, and
the search space is reduced exponentially. The runtime of the algorithm is
proportional to the number of clauses, therefore scales polynomial to the size
of the problem. Our results indicate that quantum computers may be able to
outperform classical computers in solving NP-complete problems.


abstract:
  In analogy with usual Anderson localization taking place in time-independent
disordered quantum systems where the disorder acts in configuration space,
systems exposed to temporally disordered potentials can display Anderson
localization in the time domain. We demonstrate this phenomenon with
one-dimensional examples where a temporally disordered potential induces
localization during the quantum evolution of wave-packets, in contrast with a
fully delocalized classical dynamics. This is an example of a time crystal
phenomenon, i.e., a crystalline behavior in the time domain.


title:
Online Networks, Social Interaction and Segregation: An Evolutionary
  Approach

abstract:
  We have developed an evolutionary game model, where agents can choose between
two forms of social participation: interaction via online social networks and
interaction by exclusive means of face-to-face encounters. We illustrate the
societal dynamics that the model predicts, in light of the empirical evidence
provided by previous literature. We then assess their welfare implications. We
show that dynamics, starting from a world in which online social interaction is
less gratifying than offline encounters, will lead to the extinction of the
sub-population of online networks users, thereby making Facebook and alike
disappear in the long run. Furthermore, we show that the higher the propensity
for discrimination between the two sub-populations of socially active
individuals, the greater the probability that individuals will ultimately
segregate themselves, making society fall into a social poverty trap.


title:
The emergence of cooperation in public goods games on randomly growing
  dynamic networks

abstract:
  According to evolutionary game theory, cooperation in public goods games is
eliminated by free-riders, yet in nature, cooperation is ubiquitous. Artificial
models resolve this contradiction via the mechanism of network reciprocity.
However, existing research only addresses pre-existing networks and does not
specifically consider their origins. Further, much work has focused on
scale-free networks and so pre-supposes attachment mechanisms which may not
exist in nature. We present a coevolutionary model of public goods games in
networks, growing by random attachment, from small founding populations of
simple agents. The model demonstrates the emergence of cooperation in
moderately heterogeneous networks, regardless of original founders' behaviour,
and absent higher cognitive abilities such as recognition or memory. It may
thus illustrate a more general mechanism for the evolution of cooperation, from
early origins, in minimally cognitive organisms. It is the first example of a
model explaining cooperation in public goods games on growing networks.


title: The string-junction picture of multiquark states: an update

abstract:
  We recall and update, both theoretically and phenomenologically, our (nearly)
forty-years-old proposal of a string-junction as a necessary complement to the
conventional classification of hadrons based just on their quark-antiquark
constituents. In that proposal single (though in general metastable) hadronic
states are associated with "irreducible" gauge-invariant operators consisting
of Wilson lines (visualized as strings of color flux tubes) that may either end
on a quark or an antiquark, or annihilate in triplets at a junction $J$ or an
anti-junction $\bar{J}$. For the junction-free sector (ordinary $q\, \bar{q}$
mesons and glueballs) the picture is supported by large-$N$ (number of colors)
considerations as well as by a lattice strong-coupling expansion. Both imply
the famous OZI rule suppressing quark-antiquark annihilation diagrams. For
hadrons with $J$ and/or $\bar{J}$ constituents the same expansions support our
proposal, including its generalization of the OZI rule to the suppression of
$J-\bar{J}$ annihilation diagrams. Such a rule implies that hadrons with
junctions are "mesophobic" and thus unusually narrow if they are below
threshold for decaying into as many baryons as their total number of junctions
(two for a tetraquark, three for a pentaquark). Experimental support for our
claim, based on the observation that narrow multiquark states typically lie
below (well above) the relevant baryonic (mesonic) thresholds, will be
presented.


title: Time-Reversal of Nonlinear Waves - Applicability and Limitations

abstract:
  Time-reversal (TR) refocusing of waves is one of fundamental principles in
wave physics. Using the TR approach, "Time-reversal mirrors" can physically
create a time-reversed wave that exactly refocus back, in space and time, to
its original source regardless of the complexity of the medium as if time were
going backwards. Lately, laboratory experiments proved that this approach can
be applied not only in acoustics and electromagnetism but also in the field of
linear and nonlinear water waves. Studying the range of validity and
limitations of the TR approach may determine and quantify its range of
applicability in hydrodynamics. In this context, we report a numerical study of
hydrodynamic TR using a uni-directional numerical wave tank, implemented by the
nonlinear high-order spectral method, known to accurately model the physical
processes at play, beyond physical laboratory restrictions. The applicability
of the TR approach is assessed over a variety of hydrodynamic localized and
pulsating structures' configurations, pointing out the importance of high-order
dispersive and particularly nonlinear effects in the refocusing of hydrodynamic
stationary envelope solitons and breathers. We expect that the results may
motivate similar experiments in other nonlinear dispersive media and encourage
several applications with particular emphasis on the field of ocean
engineering.


title:
Numerical simulations of the jetted tidal disruption event Swift
  J1644+57

abstract:
  In this work we focus on the technical details of the numerical simulations
of the non- thermal transient Swift J1644+57, whose emission is probably
produced by a two-component jet powered by a tidal disruption event. In this
context we provide details of the coupling between the relativistic
hydrodynamic simulations and the radiative transfer code. First, we consider
the technical demands of one-dimensional simulations of a fast relativistic
jet, and show to what extent (for the same physical parameters of the model) do
the computed light curves depend on the numerical parameters of the different
codes employed. In the second part we explain the difficulties of computing
light curves from axisymmetric two dimensonal simulations and discuss a
procedure that yields an acceptable tradeoff between the computational cost and
the quality of the results.


title: MUSE observations of the lensing cluster Abell 1689

abstract:
  We present the results obtained with MUSE on the core of the lensing cluster
A1689. Integral-field observations with MUSE provide a unique view of the
central region, allowing us to conduct a complete census on both cluster
galaxies and lensed background sources, identified based on their spectral
features without preselection. We investigate the multiple-image configuration
for all known sources in the field. Previous to our survey, 28 different lensed
galaxies displaying 46 multiple images were known in the MUSE field of view,
most of them based on photometric redshifts and lensing considerations. Among
them, we spectroscopically confirm 12 images based on their emission-lines,
corresponding to 7 different lensed galaxies between z = 0.95 and 5.0. In
addition, 14 new galaxies have been spectroscopically identified in this area,
with redshifts ranging between 0.8 and 6.2. All background sources within the
MUSE field of view correspond to multiple-imaged systems lensed by A1689. 17
sources in total are found at z > 3 based on their Lyman-alpha emission, with
Lyman-alpha luminosities ranging between 40.5 < log(Ly{\alpha}) < 42.5 after
correction for magnification. This sample is particularly sensitive to the
slope of the LF toward the faintest-end. The density of sources obtained in
this survey is consistent with a steep value of {\alpha} < -1.5, although this
result still needs further investigation. These results illustrate the
efficiency of MUSE in the characterization of lensing clusters on one hand, and
the study of faint and distant populations of galaxies on the other hand. In
particular, our current survey of lensing clusters should provide a unique
census of sources responsible for the reionization in a representative volume
at z ~ 4-7.


title: Bouncing Cosmologies: Progress and Problems

abstract:
  We review the status of bouncing cosmologies as alternatives to cosmological
inflation for providing a description of the very early universe, and a source
for the cosmological perturbations which are observed today. We focus on the
motivation for considering bouncing cosmologies, the origin of fluctuations in
these models, and the challenges which various implementations face.


title: A Flexible Primal-Dual Toolbox

abstract:
  \textbf{FlexBox} is a flexible MATLAB toolbox for finite dimensional convex
variational problems in image processing and beyond. Such problems often
consist of non-differentiable parts and involve linear operators. The toolbox
uses a primal-dual scheme to avoid (computationally) inefficient operator
inversion and to get reliable error estimates. From the user-side,
\textbf{FlexBox} expects the primal formulation of the problem, automatically
decouples operators and dualizes the problem. For large-scale problems,
\textbf{FlexBox} also comes with a \cpp-module, which can be used stand-alone
or together with MATLAB via MEX-interfaces. Besides various pre-implemented
data-fidelities and regularization-terms, \textbf{FlexBox} is able to handle
arbitrary operators while being easily extendable, due to its object-oriented
design. The toolbox is available at
\href{http://www.flexbox.im}{http://www.flexbox.im}


title: BB mode angular power spectrum of CMB from massive gravity

abstract:
  The BB-mode correlation angular power spectrum of CMB is studied for
primordial massive gravitational waves for several inflation models. The
comparative study of the angular power spectrum with the joint BICEP2/Keck
Array and Planck data suggests further constraint on the lower and upper bounds
on the mass of primordial gravitons. Assuming a modified dispersion relation,
the mass of primordial graviton is also calculated. The resulting constraint
also agrees with other theoretical estimates.


title:
Single production of $X_{\pm 5/3}$ and $Y_{\mp 4/3}$ vectorlike quarks
  at the LHC

abstract:
  Two triplet vector-like quarks (VLQs) with hypercharges of $Y=2/3, -1/3$ and
one singlet scalar boson are embedded in the standard model (SM) to resolve the
750 GeV diphoton excess. The constraints on the tree-level Higgs- and
$Z$-mediated flavor-changing neutral currents are discussed in detail. Besides
the resolution of excess, it is found that the signal strength of diphoton
Higgs decay can have a $10\%$ deviation from the SM prediction and that the
upper limits of the branching ratios for rare top-quark decays are $BR(t\to c
(h, Z)) < (6.8, 0.48) \times 10^{-5}$. We find that the production cross
section of a single VLQ by electroweak processes is larger than that of
VLQ-pair by QCD processes. To explore the signals of the heavy VLQs at the LHC,
we throughly analyze the production of single $X_{\pm 5/3}$ and $Y_{\mp 4/3}$
via $q_i q'_j$ annihilations in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. It is
found that the electroweak production cross sections for $d X_{5/3}$, $u
Y_{-4/3} $, and $d Y_{4/3} $ channels with $m_X=m_Y=1$ TeV can be $84.3$,
$72.3$, and $157.8$ fb, respectively; and the dominant decay modes are $X_{5/3}
\to (c,t) W^+$ and $Y_{-4/3} \to (s,b) W^-$. With adopting kinematic cuts, the
significance for $pp\to d W^+ t$ channel can be over $5\sigma$.


title: Blow-ups in generalized K\"ahler geometry

abstract:
  We continue the study of blow-ups in generalized complex geometry with the
blow-up theory for generalized K\"ahler manifolds. The natural candidates for
submanifolds to be blown-up are those which are generalized Poisson for one of
the two generalized complex structures and can be blown up in a generalized
complex manner. We show that the bi-Hermitian structure underlying the
generalized K\"ahler pair lifts to a degenerate bi-Hermitian structure on this
blow-up. Then, using a deformation procedure based on potentials in K\"ahler
geometry, we identify two concrete situations in which one can deform the
degenerate structure on the blow-up into a non-degenerate one. We end with an
investigation of generalized K\"ahler Lie groups and give a concrete example on
$(S^1)^n\times (S^3)^m$, for $n+m$ even.


title:
Characterization of (asymptotically) Kerr-de Sitter-like spacetimes at
  null infinity

abstract:
  We investigate solutions $(\mathcal{M}, g)$ to Einstein's vacuum field
equations with positive cosmological constant $\Lambda$ which admit a smooth
past null infinity $\mathcal{J}^-$ \`a la Penrose and a Killing vector field
whose associated Mars-Simon tensor (MST) vanishes. The main purpose of this
work is to provide a characterization of these spacetimes in terms of their
Cauchy data on $\mathcal{J}^-$.
  Along the way, we also study spacetimes for which the MST does not vanish. In
that case there is an ambiguity in its definition which is captured by a scalar
function $Q$. We analyze properties of the MST for different choices of $Q$. In
doing so, we are led to a definition of "asymptotically Kerr-de Sitter-like
spacetimes", which we also characterize in terms of their asymptotic data on
$\mathcal{J}^-$.


title: Modeling of Self-Pumped Singly Resonant Optical Parametric Oscillator

abstract:
  A model of the steady-state operating, self-pumped singly resonant optical
parametric oscillator (SPSRO) has been developed. The characteristics of quasi
three-level laser gain medium pumped longitudinally have been taken into
account. The characteristics of standing wave cavity, reabsorption losses,
focusing Gaussian beams of the pump laser, fundamental laser and signal wave
have been considered in the analyses. Furthermore, The power characteristics of
threshold and efficiency have been analyzed, employing a Yb3+-doped
periodically poled lithium niobate co-doped with MgO (Yb3+:MgO:PPLN) as the
medium of laser gain and second-order nonlinear crystal.


title:
Competing damage mechanisms in a two-phase microstructure: how
  microstructure and loading conditions determine the onset of fracture

abstract:
  This paper studies the competition of fracture initiation in the ductile soft
phase and in the comparatively brittle hard phase in the microstructure of a
two-phase material. A simple microstructural model is used to predict
macroscopic fracture initiation. The simplicity of the model ensures highly
efficient computations, enabling an comprehensive study: a large range of hard
phase volume fractions and yield stress ratios, for wide range of applied
stress states. Each combination of these parameters is analyzed using a large
set of (random) microstructures. It is observed that only one of the phases
dominates macroscopic fracture initiation: at low stress triaxiality the soft
phase is dominant, but above a critical triaxiality the hard phase takes over
resulting in a strong decrease in ductility. This transition is strongly
dependent on microstructural parameters. If the hard phase volume fraction is
small, the fracture initiation is dominated by the soft phase even at high
phase contrast. At higher hard phase volume fraction, the hard phase dominates
already at low phase contrast. This simple model thereby reconciles
experimental observations from the literature for a specific combination of
parameters, which may have triggered contradictory statements in the past. A
microscopic analysis reveals that the average phase distribution around
fracture initiation sites is nearly the same for the two failure mechanisms.
Along the tensile direction, regions of the hard phase are found directly next
to the fracture initiation site. This `band' of hard phase is intersected
through the fracture initiation site by `bands' of the soft phase aligned with
shear. Clearly, the local mechanical incompatibility is dominant for the
initiation of fracture, regardless whether fracture initiates in the soft or in
the hard phase.


title: Highly-anisotropic hydrodynamics for central collisions

abstract:
  The framework of leading-order anisotropic hydrodynamics is supplemented with
realistic equation of state and self-consistent freeze-out prescription. The
model is applied to central proton-nucleus collisions. The results are compared
to those obtained within standard Israel-Stewart second-order viscous
hydrodynamics. It is shown that the resulting hadron spectra are
highly-sensitive to the hydrodynamic approach that has been used.


title: Graphlet characteristics in directed networks

abstract:
  A number of network structural characteristics have recently been the subject
of particularly intense research, including degree distributions, community
structure, and various measures of vertex centrality, to mention only a few.
Vertices may have attributes associated with them; for example, properties of
proteins in protein-protein interaction networks, users' social network
profiles, or authors' publication histories in co-authorship networks. In a
network, two vertices might be considered similar if they have similar
attributes (features, properties), or they can be considered similar based
solely on the network structure. Similarity of this type is called structural
similarity, to distinguish it from properties similarity, social similarity,
textual similarity, functional similarity or other similarity types found in
networks. Here we focus on the similarity problem by computing (1) for each
vertex a vector of structural features, called signature vector, based on the
number of graphlets associated with the vertex, and (2) for the network its
graphlet correlation matrix, measuring graphlets dependencies and hence
revealing unknown organizational principles of the network. We found that
real-world networks generally have very different structural characteristics
resulting in different graphlet correlation matrices. In particular, the
graphlet correlation matrix of the brain effective network is computed for 40
healthy subjects and common (present in more than 70 percent subjects)
dependencies are raveled. Thus, negative correlations are found for 2-node
graphlets and 3-node graphlets that are wedges and positive correlations are
found only for 3-node graphlets that are triangles. Graphlets characteristics
in directed networks could further significantly increase our understanding of
real-world networks.


title:
Structure and stability in TMC-1: analysis of NH$_3$ molecular line and
  Herschel continuum data

abstract:
  We observed high S/N, high velocity resolution NH$_3$(1,1) and (2,2) emission
on an extended map in TMC-1, a filamentary cloud in a nearby quiescent star
forming area. By fitting multiple hyperfine-split line profiles to the
NH$_3$(1,1) spectra we derived the velocity distribution of the line components
and calculated gas parameters on several positions. Herschel SPIRE continuum
observations were reduced and used to calculate the physical parameters of the
Planck Galactic Cold Clumps in the region. The Herschel-based column density
map of TMC-1 shows a main ridge with two local maxima and a separated peak to
the south-west. H$_2$-column densities and dust temperatures are in the range
of 0.5-3.3 $\times$ 10$^{22}$ cm$^{-2}$ and 10.5-12 K, respectively.
NH$_3$-column densities are 2.8-14.2 $\times$ 10$^{14}$ cm$^{-2}$ and and
H$_2$-volume densities are 0.4-2.8 $\times$ 10$^4$ cm$^{-3}$. Kinetic
temperatures are typically very low with a minimum of 9 K, and a maximum of
13.7 K was found at the Class I protostar IRAS 04381+2540. The kinetic
temperatures vary similarly as the dust temperatures in spite of the fact that
densities are lower than the critical density for coupling between the gas and
dust phase. The k-means clustering method separated four sub-filaments in TMC-1
in the position-velocity-column density parameter space. They have masses of
32.5, 19.6, 28.9 and 45.9 M$_{\odot}$, low turbulent velocity dispersion
(0.13-0.2 kms$^{-1}$) and they are close to gravitational equilibrium. We label
them TMC-1F1 through F4. TMC-1F1, TMC-1F2 and TMC-1F4 are very elongated, dense
and cold. TMC-1F3 is a little less elongated and somewhat warmer, probably
heated by IRAS 04381+2540 that is embedded in it. TMC-1F3 is $\approx$ 0.1 pc
behind TMC1-F1. Because of its structure, TMC-1 is a good target to test
filament evolution scenarios.


title:
Sequestered String Models: Supersymmetry Breaking and Cosmological
  Applications

abstract:
  In the present thesis I studied the phenomenology arising from a class of
string models called sequestered compactifications, which were born with the
aim of getting low-energy SUSY from strings. This is not an easy task if
combined with cosmological constraints, since the mechanism of moduli
stabilization fixes both the scale of supersymmetric particles and the scale of
moduli, which tend to be of the same order. However, if on the one hand
supersymmetric particles with TeV mass are desired in order to address the
hierarchy problem, on the other hand the cosmological moduli problem requires
the moduli to be heavier than 100 TeV. The specific setup of sequestered
compactifications makes this hierarchy achievable, at least in principle: as in
these models the visible sector is located on a stack of D3-branes at
singularities, a physical separation between the visible degrees of freedom and
the SUSY-breaking sources takes place. Such decoupling translates into a
hierarchy between the scale of SUSY-breaking and the spectrum of supersymmetric
particles. Moreover, it is interesting to notice that moduli are the
four-dimensional manifestation of the existence of extra-dimensions, and then
their presence is a common feature of all string compactifications. Since they
are gravitationally coupled, they could decay late in the history of the
universe, affecting in a significant way its cosmological evolution. Possible
deviations of the cosmological observables from the values predicted by the
standard Hot Big Bang Theory constitute an interesting alternative for the
discovery of BSM physics, which is complementary to the particle physics
search. For this reason in addition to SUSY-breaking in sequestered models, I
also studied several cosmological scenarios arising from them, such as
production of non-thermal dark matter and dark radiation, reheating from moduli
decay and inflation.


title:
A Connection Between Locally Repairable Codes and Exact Regenerating
  Codes

abstract:
  Typically, locally repairable codes (LRCs) and regenerating codes have been
studied independently of each other, and it has not been clear how the
parameters of one relate to those of the other. In this paper, a novel
connection between locally repairable codes and exact regenerating codes is
established. Via this connection, locally repairable codes are interpreted as
exact regenerating codes. Further, some of these codes are shown to perform
better than time-sharing codes between minimum bandwidth regenerating and
minimum storage regenerating codes.


title:
Microscopic plasticity and damage in two-phase steels: on the competing
  role of crystallography and phase contrast

abstract:
  This paper unravels micromechanical aspects of metallic materials whose
microstructure comprises grains of two or more phases. The local plastic
response is determined by (i) the relative misorientation of the slip systems
of individual grains, and (ii) the different mechanical properties of the
phases. The relative importance of these two mechanisms at the meso-scale is
unclear: is the plastic response dominated by the grain's anisotropy, or is
this effect overwhelmed by the mechanical contrast between the two phases? The
answer impacts the modeling of such a material at the meso-scale, but also
gives insights in the resulting fracture mechanisms at that length-scale. Until
now, this question has been addressed only for particular crystallographies and
mechanical properties. In contrast, this paper studies the issue systematically
using a large set of phase distributions, crystallographies, and material
parameters. It is found that the macroscopic and the mesoscopic
(grain-averaged) plastic response of the two extreme modeling choices (crystal
plasticity or isotropic plasticity) converge with increasing phase contrast.
The effect of the crystallography is completely overwhelmed by the phase
contrast when the yield stress of the hard phase is a factor of four higher
compared to the soft phase. When this ratio is lower than two, its influence
may not be neglected. However, even in this regime, fracture initiation is
controlled by the local arrangement of the phases. The latter is quantified in
this paper through the average arrangement of the phases around fracture
initiation sites.


title:
Free energy of formation of clusters of sulphuric acid and water
  molecules determined by guided disassembly

abstract:
  We evaluate the grand potential of a cluster of two molecular species,
equivalent to its free energy of formation from a binary vapour phase, using a
nonequilibrium molecular dynamics technique where guide particles, each
tethered to a molecule by a harmonic force, move apart to disassemble a cluster
into its components. The mechanical work performed in an ensemble of
trajectories is analysed using the Jarzynski equality to obtain a free energy
of disassembly, a contribution to the cluster grand potential. We study
clusters of sulphuric acid and water at 300 K, using a classical interaction
scheme, and contrast two modes of guided disassembly. In one, the cluster is
broken apart through simple pulling by the guide particles, but we find the
trajectories tend to be mechanically irreversible. In the second approach, the
guide motion and strength of tethering are modified in a way that prises the
cluster apart, a procedure that seems more reversible. We construct a surface
representing the cluster grand potential, and identify a critical cluster for
droplet nucleation under given vapour conditions. We compare the equilibrium
populations of clusters with calculations reported by Henschel et al. [J. Phys.
Chem. A 118, 2599 (2014)] based on optimised quantum chemical structures.


title:
On the distribution of the largest real eigenvalue for the real Ginibre
  ensemble

abstract:
  Let $\sqrt{N}+\lambda_{max}$ be the largest real eigenvalue of a random
$N\times N$ matrix with independent $N(0,1)$ entries (the `real Ginibre
matrix'). We study the large deviations behaviour of the limiting $N\rightarrow
\infty$ distribution $P[\lambda_{max}<t]$ of the shifted maximal real
eigenvalue $\lambda_{max}$. In particular, we prove that the right tail of this
distribution is Gaussian: for $t>0$, \[
P[\lambda_{max}<t]=1-\frac{1}{4}\mbox{erfc}(t)+O\left(e^{-2t^2}\right). \] This
is a rigorous confirmation of the corresponding result of Forrester and Nagao.
We also prove that the left tail is exponential: for $t<0$, \[
P[\lambda_{max}<t]=
e^{\frac{1}{2\sqrt{2\pi}}\zeta\left(\frac{3}{2}\right)t+O(1)}, \] where $\zeta$
is the Riemann zeta-function.
  Our results have implications for interacting particle systems. The edge
scaling limit of the law of real eigenvalues for the real Ginibre ensemble is a
rescaling of a fixed time distribution of annihilating Brownian motions (ABM's)
with the step initial condition. Therefore, the tail behaviour of the
distribution of $X_s^{(max)}$ - the position of the rightmost annihilating
particle at fixed time $s>0$ - can be read off from the corresponding answers
for $\lambda_{max}$ using $X_s^{(max)}\stackrel{D}{=} \sqrt{4s}\lambda_{max}$.


title: N-ary Error Correcting Coding Scheme

abstract:
  The coding matrix design plays a fundamental role in the prediction
performance of the error correcting output codes (ECOC)-based multi-class task.
{In many-class classification problems, e.g., fine-grained categorization, it
is difficult to distinguish subtle between-class differences under existing
coding schemes due to a limited choices of coding values.} In this paper, we
investigate whether one can relax existing binary and ternary code design to
$N$-ary code design to achieve better classification performance. {In
particular, we present a novel $N$-ary coding scheme that decomposes the
original multi-class problem into simpler multi-class subproblems, which is
similar to applying a divide-and-conquer method.} The two main advantages of
such a coding scheme are as follows: (i) the ability to construct more
discriminative codes and (ii) the flexibility for the user to select the best
$N$ for ECOC-based classification. We show empirically that the optimal $N$
(based on classification performance) lies in $[3, 10]$ with some trade-off in
computational cost. Moreover, we provide theoretical insights on the dependency
of the generalization error bound of an $N$-ary ECOC on the average base
classifier generalization error and the minimum distance between any two codes
constructed. Extensive experimental results on benchmark multi-class datasets
show that the proposed coding scheme achieves superior prediction performance
over the state-of-the-art coding methods.


title: Vertex-transitive Haar graphs that are not Cayley graphs

abstract:
  In a recent paper (arXiv:1505.01475 ) Est\'elyi and Pisanski raised a
question whether there exist vertex-transitive Haar graphs that are not Cayley
graphs. In this note we construct an infinite family of trivalent Haar graphs
that are vertex-transitive but non-Cayley. The smallest example has 40 vertices
and is the well-known Kronecker cover over the dodecahedron graph $G(10,2)$,
occurring as the graph $40$ in the Foster census of connected symmetric
trivalent graphs.


title: A closer look at non-decoupling D-Terms

abstract:
  Non-Decoupling D-Terms are an attractive possibility to enhance the
tree-level mass of the standard model like Higgs boson in supersymmetric
models. We discuss here for the case of a new Abelian gauge group two effects
usually neglected in literature: (i) the size of the additional radiative
corrections to the Higgs mass due to the presence of the new gauge coupling,
and (ii) the impact of gauge kinetic mixing. It is shown that both effects
reduce to some extent the positive effect of the non-decoupling D-terms on the
Higgs mass.


title:
Induced charge electrophoresis of a conducting cylinder in a
  non-conducting cylindrical pore and its micromotoring application

abstract:
  Induced charge electrophoresis of a conducting cylinder suspended in a
non-conducting cylindrical pore is theoretically analyzed, and a micromotor is
proposed utilizing the cylinder rotation. The cylinder velocities are
analytically obtained in the Dirichlet and the Neumann boundary conditions of
the electric field on the cylindrical pore. The results show that the cylinder
not only translates but also rotates when it is eccentric with respect to the
cylindrical pore. The influences of a number of parameters on the cylinder
velocities are characterized in detail. The cylinder trajectories show that the
cylinder approaches and rests at certain positions within the cylindrical pore.
The proposed micromotor is capable of working under a heavy load with a high
rotational velocity when the eccentricity is large and the applied electric
field is strong.


title:
Formation of deuterons by coalescence: Consequences on the deuteron
  number fluctuations

abstract:
  Two scenarios for cluster production have since long been discussed in the
literature: i) direct emission of the clusters from a (grand canonical) thermal
source or ii) subsequent formation of the clusters by coalescence of single
nucleons. While both approaches have been successfully applied in the past it
has not yet been clarified which of the two mechanisms dominates the cluster
production. We propose to use recently developed event-by-event techniques to
study particle multiplicity fluctuations on nuclear clusters and employ this
analysis to the deuteron number fluctuations to disentangle the two production
mechanisms. We argue that for a grand canonical cluster formation, the cluster
fluctuations will follow Poisson distribution, while for the coalescence
scenario, the fluctuations will strongly deviate from the Poisson expectation.
We estimate the effect to be 10% for the variance and up to a factor of 5 for
the kurtosis of the deuteron number multiplicity distribution. Our prediction
can be tested in the beam energy scan program at RHIC as well as experiments at
the FAIR and NICA facilities.