title: Multiple positive solutions of the stationary Keller-Segel system

abstract:
  We consider the stationary Keller-Segel equation \begin{equation*}
\begin{cases} -\Delta v+v=\lambda e^v, \quad v>0 \quad & \text{in }\Omega,\\
\partial_\nu v=0 &\text{on } \partial \Omega, \end{cases} \end{equation*} where
$\Omega$ is a ball. In the regime $\lambda\to 0$, we study the radial
bifurcations and we construct radial solutions by a gluing variational method.
For any given natural positive number $n$, we build a solution having multiple
layers at $r_1,\ldots,r_n$ by which we mean that the solutions concentrate on
the spheres of radii $r_i$ as $\lambda\to 0$ (for all $i=1,\ldots,n$). A
remarkable fact is that, in opposition to previous known results, the layers of
the solutions do not accumulate to the boundary of $\Omega$ as $\lambda\to 0$.
Instead they satisfy an optimal partition problem in the limit.


title: Glauber modeling of high-energy nuclear collisions at sub-nucleon level

abstract:
  Glauber models based on nucleon--nucleon interactions are commonly used to
characterize the initial state in high-energy nuclear collisions, and the
dependence of its properties on impact parameter or number of participating
nucleons. In this paper, an extension to the Glauber model is presented, which
accounts for an arbitrary number of effective sub-nucleon degrees of freedom,
or active constituents, in the nucleons. Properties of the initial state, such
as the number of constituent participants and collisions, as well as
eccentricity and triangularity, are calculated and systematically compared for
different assumptions of how to distribute the sub-nuclear degrees of freedom
and for various collision systems. It is demonstrated that at high collision
energy the number of produced particles scales with an average number of
sub-nucleon degrees of freedom of between $3$ and $5$. The source codes for the
constituent Monte Carlo Glauber extension, as well as for the calculation of
the overlap area and participant density in a standard Glauber model, are made
publicly available.


title: An effective Time-Aware Map Matching process for low sampling GPS data

abstract:
  In the era of the proliferation of Geo-Spatial Data, induced by the diffusion
of GPS devices, the map matching problem still represents an important and
valuable challenge. The process of associating a segment of the underlying road
network to a GPS point gives us the chance to enrich raw data with the semantic
layer provided by the roadmap, with all contextual information associated to
it, e.g. the presence of speed limits, attraction points, changes in elevation,
etc. Most state-of-art solutions for this classical problem simply look for the
shortest or fastest path connecting any pair of consecutive points in a trip.
While in some contexts that is reasonable, in this work we argue that the
shortest/fastest path assumption can be in general erroneous. Indeed, we show
that such approaches can yield travel times that are significantly incoherent
with the real ones, and propose a Time-Aware Map matching process that tries to
improve the state-of-art by taking into account also such temporal aspect. Our
algorithm results to be very efficient, effective on low- sampling data and to
outperform existing solutions, as proved by experiments on large datasets of
real GPS trajectories. Moreover, our algorithm is parameter-free and does not
depend on specific characteristics of the GPS localization error and of the
road network (e.g. density of roads, road network topology, etc.).


title:
Overcoming The Limitations of Phase Transition by Higher Order Analysis
  of Regularization Techniques

abstract:
  We study the problem of estimating $\beta \in \mathbb{R}^p$ from its noisy
linear observations $y= X\beta+ w$, where $w \sim N(0, \sigma_w^2 I_{n\times
n})$, under the following high-dimensional asymptotic regime: given a fixed
number $\delta$, $p \rightarrow \infty$, while $n/p \rightarrow \delta$. We
consider the popular class of $\ell_q$-regularized least squares (LQLS)
estimators, a.k.a. bridge, given by the optimization problem: \begin{equation*}
\hat{\beta} (\lambda, q ) \in \arg\min_\beta \frac{1}{2} \|y-X\beta\|_2^2+
\lambda \|\beta\|_q^q, \end{equation*} and characterize the almost sure limit
of $\frac{1}{p} \|\hat{\beta} (\lambda, q )- \beta\|_2^2$. The expression we
derive for this limit does not have explicit forms and hence are not useful in
comparing different algorithms, or providing information in evaluating the
effect of $\delta$ or sparsity level of $\beta$. To simplify the expressions,
researchers have considered the ideal "no-noise" regime and have characterized
the values of $\delta$ for which the almost sure limit is zero. This is known
as the phase transition analysis.
  In this paper, we first perform the phase transition analysis of LQLS. Our
results reveal some of the limitations and misleading features of the phase
transition analysis. To overcome these limitations, we propose the study of
these algorithms under the low noise regime. Our new analysis framework not
only sheds light on the results of the phase transition analysis, but also
makes an accurate comparison of different regularizers possible.


title: Sobolev-Kantorovich inequalities under $CD(0, \infty)$ condition

abstract:
  We refine and generalize several interpolation inequalities bounding the
$L^p$ norm of a probability density with respect to the reference measure $\mu$
by its Sobolev norm and the Kantorovich distance to $\mu$ on a smooth weighted
Riemannian manifold satisfying $CD(0, \infty)$ condition.


title:
Diffusive Wave in the Low Mach Limit for Compressible Navier-Stokes
  Equations

abstract:
  The low Mach limit for 1D non-isentropic compressible Navier-Stokes flow,
whose density and temperature have different asymptotic states at infinity, is
rigorously justified. The problems are considered on both well-prepared and
ill-prepared data. For the well-prepared data, the solutions of compressible
Navier-Stokes equations are shown to converge to a nonlinear diffusion wave
solution globally in time as Mach number goes to zero when the difference
between the states at $\pm\infty$ is suitably small. In particular, the
velocity of diffusion wave is only driven by the variation of temperature. It
is further shown that the solution of compressible Navier-Stokes system also
has the same property when Mach number is small, which has never been observed
before. The convergence rates on both Mach number and time are also obtained
for the well-prepared data. For the ill-prepared data, the limit relies on the
uniform estimates including weighted time derivatives and an extended
convergence lemma. And the difference between the states at $\pm\infty$ can be
arbitrary large in this case.


title: Dual Double Field Theory

abstract:
  We present the dual formulation of double field theory at the linearized
level. This is a classically equivalent theory describing the duals of the
dilaton, the Kalb-Ramond field and the graviton in a T-duality or O(D,D)
covariant way. In agreement with previous proposals, the resulting theory
encodes fields in mixed Young-tableau representations, combining them into an
antisymmetric 4-tensor under O(D,D). In contrast to previous proposals, the
theory also requires an antisymmetric 2-tensor and a singlet, which are not all
pure gauge. The need for these additional fields is analogous to a similar
phenomenon for "exotic" dualizations, and we clarify this by comparing with the
dualizations of the component fields. We close with some speculative remarks on
the significance of these observations for the full non-linear theory yet to be
constructed.


title: Chromospheric Models and the Oxygen Abundance in Giant Stars

abstract:
  Realistic stellar atmospheric models of two typical metal-poor giant stars in
Omega Centauri that include a chromosphere influence the formation of optical
lines of Oxygen I: the forbidden lines (630nm, 636nm) and the infrared triplet
(777.1-777.5 nm). One-dimensional semi-empirical non-LTE models are constructed
based on observed Balmer lines. A full non-LTE formulation is applied in
evaluating line strengths of O I including photoionization by the Lyman
continuum and photoexcitation by Ly-alpha and Ly-beta. Chromospheric models
(CHR) yield forbidden oxygen transitions that are stronger than in
radiative/convective equilibrium (RCE) models. The triplet oxygen lines from
high levels also appear stronger than produced in an RCE model. The inferred
oxygen abundance from realistic CHR models for these two stars is decreased by
factors ~3 as compared to values derived from RCE models. A lower oxygen
abundance suggests that intermediate mass AGB stars contribute to the observed
abundance pattern in globular clusters. A change in the oxygen abundance of
metal-poor field giants could affect models of deep mixing episodes on the red
giant branch. Changes in the oxygen abundance can impact other abundance
determinations critical to astrophysics including chemical tagging techniques
and galactic chemical evolution.


title:
Limit theorems for a class of stationary increments Levy driven moving
  averages

abstract:
  In this paper we present some new limit theorems for power variation of $k$th
order increments of stationary increments L\'evy driven moving averages. In the
infill asymptotic setting, where the sampling frequency converges to zero while
the time span remains fixed, the asymptotic theory gives very surprising
results, which (partially) have no counterpart in the theory of discrete moving
averages. More specifically, we will show that the first order limit theorems
and the mode of convergence strongly depend on the interplay between the given
order of the increments, the considered power $p>0$, the Blumenthal--Getoor
index $\beta \in (0,2)$ of the driving pure jump L\'evy process $L$ and the
behaviour of the kernel function $g$ at $0$ determined by the power $\alpha $.
First order asymptotic theory essentially comprises three cases: stable
convergence towards a certain infinitely divisible distribution, an ergodic
type limit theorem and convergence in probability towards an integrated random
process. We also prove the second order limit theorem connected to the ergodic
type result. When the driving L\'evy process $L$ is a symmetric $\beta$-stable
process we obtain two different limits: a central limit theorem and convergence
in distribution towards a $(1-\alpha )\beta$-stable totally right skewed random
variable.


title:
Distributed Average Tracking for Second-order Agents with Nonlinear
  Dynamics

abstract:
  This paper addresses distributed average tracking of physical second-order
agents with nonlinear dynamics, where the interaction among the agents is
described by an undirected graph. In both agents' and reference inputs'
dynamics, there is a nonlinear term that satisfying the Lipschitz-type
condition. To achieve the distributed average tracking problem in the presence
of nonlinear term, a non-smooth filter and a control input are designed for
each agent. The idea is that each filter outputs converge to the average of the
reference inputs and the reference velocities asymptotically and in parallel
each agent's position and velocity are driven to track its filter outputs. To
overcome the nonlinear term unboundedness effect, novel state-dependent time
varying gains are employed in each agent's filter and control input. In the
proposed algorithm, each agent needs its neighbors' filters outputs besides its
own filter outputs, absolute position and absolute velocity and its neighbors'
reference inputs and reference velocities. Finally, the algorithm is simplified
to achieve the distributed average tracking of physical second-order agents in
the presence of an unknown bounded term in both agents' and reference inputs'
dynamics.


title:
Statistical inference and hypotheses testing of risk averse stochastic
  programs

abstract:
  We study statistical properties of the optimal value and optimal solutions of
the Sample Average Approximation of risk averse stochastic problems. Central
Limit Theorem type results are derived for the optimal value and optimal
solutions when the stochastic program is expressed in terms of a law invariant
coherent risk measure. The obtained results are applied to hypotheses testing
problems aiming at comparing the optimal values of several risk averse convex
stochastic programs on the basis of samples of the underlying random vectors.
We also consider non-asymptotic tests based on confidence intervals on the
optimal values of the stochastic programs obtained using the Stochastic Mirror
Descent algorithm. Numerical simulations show how to use our developments to
choose among different distributions and show the superiority of the asymptotic
tests on a class of risk averse stochastic programs.


title: Radix sort trees in the large

abstract:
  The trie-based radix sort algorithm stores pairwise different infinite binary
strings in the leaves of a binary tree in a way that the Ulam-Harris coding of
each leaf equals a prefix (that is, an initial segment) of the corresponding
string, with the prefixes being of minimal length so that they are pairwise
different. We investigate the {\em radix sort tree chains} -- the tree-valued
Markov chains that arise when successively storing infinite binary strings
$Z_1,\ldots, Z_n$, $n=1,2,\ldots$ according to the trie-based radix sort
algorithm, where the source strings $Z_1, Z_2,\ldots$ are independent and
identically distributed. We establish a bijective correspondence between the
full Doob--Martin boundary of the radix sort tree chain with a {\em symmetric
Bernoulli source} (that is, each $Z_k$ is a fair coin-tossing sequence) and the
family of radix sort tree chains for which the common distribution of the $Z_k$
is a diffuse probability measure on $\{0,1\}^\infty$. In essence, our result
characterizes all the ways that it is possible to condition such a chain of
radix sort trees consistently on its behavior "in the large".


title:
Time-Dependent Electron Acceleration in Blazar Transients: X-Ray Time
  Lags and Spectral Formation

abstract:
  Electromagnetic radiation from blazar jets often displays strong variability,
extending from radio to $\gamma$-ray frequencies. In a few cases, this
variability has been characterized using Fourier time lags, such as those
detected in the X-rays from Mrk~421 using BeppoSAX. The lack of a theoretical
framework to interpret the data has motivated us to develop a new model for the
formation of the X-ray spectrum and the time lags in blazar jets based on a
transport equation including terms describing stochastic Fermi acceleration,
synchrotron losses, shock acceleration, adiabatic expansion, and spatial
diffusion. We derive the exact solution for the Fourier transform of the
electron distribution, and use it to compute the Fourier transform of the
synchrotron radiation spectrum and the associated X-ray time lags. The same
theoretical framework is also used to compute the peak flare X-ray spectrum,
assuming that a steady-state electron distribution is achieved during the peak
of the flare. The model parameters are constrained by comparing the theoretical
predictions with the observational data for Mrk~421. The resulting integrated
model yields, for the first time, a complete first-principles physical
explanation for both the formation of the observed time lags and the shape of
the peak flare X-ray spectrum. It also yields direct estimates of the strength
of the shock and the stochastic MHD wave acceleration components in the Mrk~421
jet.


title:
WIMP Dark Matter in a Well-Tempered Regime: A case study on
  Singlet-Doublets Fermionic WIMP

abstract:
  Serious searches for the weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) have now
begun. In this context, the most important questions that need to be addressed
are: "To what extent can we constrain the WIMP models in the future?" and "What
will then be the remaining unexplored regions in the WIMP parameter space for
each of these models?" In our quest to answer these questions, we classify WIMP
in terms of quantum number and study each case adopting minimality as a guiding
principle. As a first step, we study one of the simple cases of the minimal
composition in the well-tempered fermionic WIMP regime, namely the
singlet-doublets WIMP model. We consider all available constraints from direct
and indirect searches and also the predicted constraints coming from the near
future and the future experiments. We thus obtain the current status, the near
future prospects and the future prospects of this model in all its generality.
We find that in the future, this model will be constrained almost solely by the
future direct dark matter detection experiments (as compared to the weaker
indirect and collider constraints) and the cosmological (relic density)
constraints and will hence be gradually pushed to the corner of the
coannihilation region, if no WIMP signal is detected. Future lepton colliders
will then be useful in exploring this region not constrained by any other
experiments.


title: Face Recognition Using Deep Multi-Pose Representations

abstract:
  We introduce our method and system for face recognition using multiple
pose-aware deep learning models. In our representation, a face image is
processed by several pose-specific deep convolutional neural network (CNN)
models to generate multiple pose-specific features. 3D rendering is used to
generate multiple face poses from the input image. Sensitivity of the
recognition system to pose variations is reduced since we use an ensemble of
pose-specific CNN features. The paper presents extensive experimental results
on the effect of landmark detection, CNN layer selection and pose model
selection on the performance of the recognition pipeline. Our novel
representation achieves better results than the state-of-the-art on IARPA's CS2
and NIST's IJB-A in both verification and identification (i.e. search) tasks.


title:
Numerical analysis of Pickering emulsion stability: insights from ABMD
  simulations

abstract:
  The issue of the stability of Pickering emulsions is tackled at a mesoscopic
level using dissipative particle dynamics simulations within the Adiabatic
Biased Molecular Dynamics framework. We consider the early stage of the
coalescence process between two spherical water droplets in decane solvent. The
droplets are stabilized by Janus nanoparticles of different shapes (spherical
and ellipsoidal) with different three-phase contact angles. Given a
sufficiently dense layer of particles on the droplets, we show that the
stabilization mechanism strongly depends on the collision speed. This is
consistent with a coalescence mechanism governed by the rheology of the
interfacial region. When the system is forced to coalesce sufficiently slowly,
we investigate at a mesoscopic level how the ability of the nanoparticles to
stabilize Pickering emulsions is discriminated by nanoparticle mobility and the
associated caging effect. These properties are both related to the
interparticle interaction and the hydrodynamic resistance in the liquid film
between the approaching interfaces.


title: Structural investigation of the bilayer iridate Sr3Ir2O7

abstract:
  A complete structural solution of the bilayer iridate compound Sr3Ir2O7
presently remains outstanding. Previously reported structures for this compound
vary and all fail to explain weak structural violations observed in neutron
scattering measurements as well as the presence of a net ferromagnetic moment
in the basal plane. In this paper, we present single crystal neutron
diffraction and rotational anisotropy second harmonic generation measurements
unveiling a lower, monoclinic symmetry inherent to Sr3Ir2O7 . Combined with
density functional theory, our measurements identify the correct structural
space group as No. 15 (C2/c) and provide clarity regarding the local symmetry
of Ir 4+ cations within this spin-orbit Mott material.


title: Absolute Te$_2$ reference for barium ion at $455.4~$nm

abstract:
  Precision atomic spectroscopy is presently the work horse in quantum
information technology, metrology, trace analysis and even for fundamental
tests in physics. Stable lasers are inherent part of precision spectroscopy
which in turn requires absolute wavelength markers suitably placed
corresponding to the atomic species being probed. Here we present, new lines of
tellurium (Te$_2$) which allows locking of external cavity diode laser (ECDL)
for precision spectroscopy of singly charged barium ions. In addition, we have
developed an ECDL with over 100 GHz mod-hop-free tuning range using
commercially available diode from $\textit{Nichia}$. These two developments
allow nearly drift-free operation of a barium ion trap set-up with one single
reference cell thereby reducing the complexity of the experiment.


title:
A Comment on the Averseness of Random Serial Dictatorship to Stochastic
  Dominance Efficiency

abstract:
  Random Serial Dictatorship (RSD) is arguably the most well-known and widely
used assignment rule. Although it returns an ex post efficient assignment,
Bogomolnaia and Moulin (A new solution to the random assignment problem, J.
Econ. Theory 100, 295--328) proved that RSD may not be SD-efficient (efficient
with respect stochastic dominance). The result raises the following question:
under what conditions is RSD not SD-efficient? In this comment, we give a
detailed argument that the RSD assignment is not SD-efficient if and only if an
ex post assignment exists that is not SD-efficient. Hence RSD can be viewed as
being inherently averse to SD-efficiency. The characterization was proved by
Manea (2009).


title: Direct Observation of the Skyrmion Hall Effect

abstract:
  The well-known Hall effect describes the transverse deflection of charged
particles (electrons or holes) in an electric-current carrying conductor under
the influence of perpendicular magnetic fields, as a result of the Lorentz
force. Similarly, it is intriguing to examine if quasi-particles without an
electric charge, but with a topological charge, show related transverse motion.
Chiral magnetic skyrmions with a well-defined spin topology resulting in a unit
topological charge serve as good candidates to test this hypothesis. In spite
of the recent progress made on investigating magnetic skyrmions, direct
observation of the skyrmion Hall effect in real space has, remained elusive.
Here, by using a current-induced spin Hall spin torque, we experimentally
observe the skyrmion Hall effect by driving skyrmions from creep motion into
the steady flow motion regime. We observe a Hall angle for the magnetic
skyrmion motion as large as 15 degree for current densities smaller than 10
MA/cm^(2) at room temperature. The experimental observation of transverse
transport of skyrmions due to topological charge may potentially create many
exciting opportunities for the emerging field of skyrmionics, including novel
applications such as topological selection.


title: Predicting litigation likelihood and time to litigation for patents

abstract:
  Patent lawsuits are costly and time-consuming. An ability to forecast a
patent litigation and time to litigation allows companies to better allocate
budget and time in managing their patent portfolios. We develop predictive
models for estimating the likelihood of litigation for patents and the expected
time to litigation based on both textual and non-textual features. Our work
focuses on improving the state-of-the-art by relying on a different set of
features and employing more sophisticated algorithms with more realistic data.
The rate of patent litigations is very low, which consequently makes the
problem difficult. The initial model for predicting the likelihood is further
modified to capture a time-to-litigation perspective.


title: A class of digit extraction BBP-type formulas in general binary bases

abstract:
  BBP-type formulas are usually discovered experimentally, one at a time and in
specific bases, through computer searches. In this paper, however, we derive
directly, without doing any searches, explicit digit extraction BBP-type
formulas in general binary bases $b=2^{12p}$, for $p$ positive odd integers. As
particular examples, new binary formulas are presented for $\pi\sqrt 3$,
$\pi\sqrt 3\log 2$, $\sqrt 3\;{\rm Cl}_2(\pi/3)$ and a couple of other
polylogarithm constants. A variant of the formula for $\pi\sqrt 3\log 2$
derived in this paper has been known for over ten years but was hitherto
unproved. Binary BBP-type formulas for the logarithms of an infinite set of
primes and binary BBP-type representations for the arctangents of an infinite
set of rational numbers are also presented. Finally, new binary BBP-type zero
relations are established.


title: A Diagram Is Worth A Dozen Images

abstract:
  Diagrams are common tools for representing complex concepts, relationships
and events, often when it would be difficult to portray the same information
with natural images. Understanding natural images has been extensively studied
in computer vision, while diagram understanding has received little attention.
In this paper, we study the problem of diagram interpretation and reasoning,
the challenging task of identifying the structure of a diagram and the
semantics of its constituents and their relationships. We introduce Diagram
Parse Graphs (DPG) as our representation to model the structure of diagrams. We
define syntactic parsing of diagrams as learning to infer DPGs for diagrams and
study semantic interpretation and reasoning of diagrams in the context of
diagram question answering. We devise an LSTM-based method for syntactic
parsing of diagrams and introduce a DPG-based attention model for diagram
question answering. We compile a new dataset of diagrams with exhaustive
annotations of constituents and relationships for over 5,000 diagrams and
15,000 questions and answers. Our results show the significance of our models
for syntactic parsing and question answering in diagrams using DPGs.


title:
Dynamic Programming Principle for Stochastic Control Problems driven by
  General L\'{e}vy Noise

abstract:
  We extend the proof of the dynamic programming principle (DPP) for standard
stochastic optimal control problems driven by general L\'{e}vy noises. Under
appropriate assumptions, it is shown that the DPP still holds when the state
process fails to have any moments at all.


title: Domination number in block designs

abstract:
  Let $G=(V,E)$ be a simple connected graph. A set of vertices $S\subseteq V$
is said to be a dominating set if for any vertex in $V\setminus S$ is adjacent
to at least one vertex in $S$. The domination number $\gamma(G)$ of $G$ is the
minimum cardinality among all such sets. In this paper, we obtain some results
on the domination number of the incidence graphs of combinatorial designs. In
particular, we prove a conjecture and disprove another conjecture in a recent
paper by Goldberg, Rajendraprasad and Mathew. We also prove a third conjecture
by the same authors for block-transitive symmetric designs.


title:
A note on "achieving security, robust cheating resistance, and
  high-efficiency for outsourcing large matrix multiplication computation to a
  malicious cloud"

abstract:
  We show that the Lei et al.'s scheme [Information Sciences, 280 (2014),
205-217] fails, because the verifying equation does not hold over the infinite
field R. For the field R, the computational errors should be considered
seriously. We also remark that the incurred communication cost in the scheme
could be overtake the computational gain, which makes it somewhat artificial.


title:
A Reconfigurable Low Power High Throughput Architecture for Deep Network
  Training

abstract:
  General purpose computing systems are used for a large variety of
applications. Extensive supports for flexibility in these systems limit their
energy efficiencies. Neural networks, including deep networks, are widely used
for signal processing and pattern recognition applications. In this paper we
propose a multicore architecture for deep neural network based processing.
Memristor crossbars are utilized to provide low power high throughput execution
of neural networks. The system has both training and recognition (evaluation of
new input) capabilities. The proposed system could be used for classification,
dimensionality reduction, feature extraction, and anomaly detection
applications. The system level area and power benefits of the specialized
architecture is compared with the NVIDIA Telsa K20 GPGPU. Our experimental
evaluations show that the proposed architecture can provide up to five orders
of magnitude more energy efficiency over GPGPUs for deep neural network
processing.


title: Recognizing Weakly Simple Polygons

abstract:
  We present an $O(n\log n)$-time algorithm that determines whether a given
planar $n$-gon is weakly simple. This improves upon an $O(n^2\log n)$-time
algorithm by Chang, Erickson, and Xu (2015). Weakly simple polygons are
required as input for several geometric algorithms. As such, how to recognize
simple or weakly simple polygons is a fundamental question.


title: Associated graded of Hodge modules and categorical sl_2 actions

abstract:
  One of the most mysterious aspects of Saito's theory of Hodge modules are the
Hodge and weight filtrations that accompany the pushforward of a Hodge module
under an open embedding. In this paper we consider the open embedding in a
product of complementary Grassmannians given by pairs of transverse subspaces.
The push-forward of the structure sheaf under this open embedding is an
important Hodge module from the viewpoint of geometric representation theory
and homological knot invariants.
  We compute the associated graded of this push-forward with respect to the
induced Hodge filtration as well as the resulting weight filtration. The main
tool is a categorical $\sl_2$ action on the category of $\D_h$-modules on
Grassmannians. Along the way we also clarify the interaction of kernels for
$\D_h$-modules with the associated graded functor. Both of these results may be
of independent interest.


title:
Local Plasticity as the Source of Creep and Slow Dynamics in Granular
  Materials

abstract:
  Creep mechanisms in uniaxially compressed 3D granular solids comprised of
faceted frictionless grains are studied numerically using a constant pressure
and constant stress simulation method. Rapid uniaxial compression followed by
slow dilation is predicted on the basis of a logarithmic creep phenomenon.
Micromechanical analysis indicates the existence of a correlation between
granular creep and grain-scale deformations. Localized regions of large strain
appear during creep and grow in magnitude and size with time. Furthermore, the
accumulation of non-affine granular displacements increases linearly with local
strain, thereby providing insights into the origins of plastic dissipation
during stress-driven creep evolution. The prediction of slow logarithmic
dynamics in the absence of friction indicates a universality in the role of
plastic dissipation during the creep of granular solids.


title:
Measurement of paramagnetic spin concentration in a solid-state system
  using double electron-electron resonance

abstract:
  Diamond has been extensively investigated recently due to a wide range of
potential applications of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect centers existing in a
diamond lattice. The applications include magnetometry and quantum information
technologies, and long decoherence time ($T_2$) of NV centers is critical for
those applications. Although it has been known that $T_2$ highly depends on the
concentration of paramagnetic impurities in diamond, precise measurement of the
impurity concentration remains challenging. In the preset work, we show a
method to determine a wide range of the nitrogen concentration ($n$) in diamond
using a wide-band high-frequency electron spin resonance and double
electron-electron resonance spectrometer. Moreover, we investigate $T_2$ of the
nitrogen impurities and show the relationship between $T_2$ and $n$. The method
developed here is applicable for various spin systems in solid and
implementable in nanoscale magnetic resonance spectroscopy with NV centers to
characterize the concentration of the paramagnetic spins within a microscopic
volume.


title:
Block-transitive and point-primitive $2$-$(v,k,2)$ designs with sporadic
  socle

abstract:
  The purpose of this paper is to classify all pairs $(\mathcal{D}, G)$, where
$\mathcal{D}$ is a non-trivial $2$-$(v, k, 2)$ design, and $G\leq
Aut(\mathcal{D})$ acts transitively on the set of blocks of $\mathcal{D}$ and
primitively on the set of points of $\mathcal{D}$ with sporadic socle. We prove
that there exists only one such pair $(\mathcal{D}, G)$ in which $\mathcal{D}$
is a $2$-$(176,8,2)$ design and $G=HS$, the Higman-Sims simple group.


title: Higher interpolation and extension for persistence modules

abstract:
  The use of topological persistence in contemporary data analysis has provided
considerable impetus for investigations into the geometric and
functional-analytic structure of the space of persistence modules. In this
paper, we isolate a coherence criterion which guarantees the extensibility of
non-expansive maps into this space across embeddings of the domain to larger
ambient metric spaces. Our coherence criterion is category-theoretic, allowing
Kan extensions to provide the desired extensions. Our main construction gives
an isometric embedding of a metric space into the metric space of persistence
modules with values in the spacetime of this metric space. As a consequence of
such "higher interpolation", it becomes possible to compare Vietoris-Rips and
\v{C}ech complexes built within the space of persistence modules.


title:
Effects of anisotropic thermal conduction on wind properties in hot
  accretion flow

abstract:
  Previous works have clearly shown the existence of winds from black hole hot
accretion flow and investigated their detailed properties. In extremely low
accretion rate systems, the collisional mean-free path of electrons is large
compared with the length-scale of the system, thus thermal conduction is
dynamically important. When the magnetic field is present, the thermal
conduction is anisotropic and energy transport is along magnetic field lines.
In this paper, we study the effects of anisotropic thermal conduction on the
wind production in hot accretion flows by performing two-dimensional
magnetohydrodynamic simulations. We find that thermal conduction has only
moderate effects on the mass flux of wind. But the energy flux of wind can be
increased by a factor of $\sim 10$ due to the increase of wind velocity when
thermal conduction is included. The increase of wind velocity is because of the
increase of driving forces (e.g. gas pressure gradient force and centrifugal
force) when thermal conduction is included. This result demonstrates that
thermal conduction plays an important role in determining the properties of
wind.


title: Fisher, Neyman-Pearson or NHST? A Tutorial for Teaching Data Testing

abstract:
  Despite frequent calls for the overhaul of null hypothesis significance
testing (NHST), this controversial procedure remains ubiquitous in behavioral,
social and biomedical teaching and research. Little change seems possible once
the procedure becomes well ingrained in the minds and current practice of
researchers; thus, the optimal opportunity for such change is at the time the
procedure is taught, be this at undergraduate or at postgraduate levels. This
paper presents a tutorial for the teaching of data testing procedures, often
referred to as hypothesis testing theories. The first procedure introduced is
the approach to data testing followed by Fisher (tests of significance); the
second is the approach followed by Neyman and Pearson (tests of acceptance);
the final procedure is the incongruent combination of the previous two theories
into the current approach (NSHT). For those researchers sticking with the
latter, two compromise solutions on how to improve NHST conclude the tutorial.


title:
Joint hierarchical models for sparsely sampled high-dimensional LiDAR
  and forest variables

abstract:
  Recent advancements in remote sensing technology, specifically Light
Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, provide the data needed to quantify
forest characteristics at a fine spatial resolution over large geographic
domains. From an inferential standpoint, there is interest in prediction and
interpolation of the often sparsely sampled and spatially misaligned LiDAR
signals and forest variables. We propose a fully process-based Bayesian
hierarchical model for above ground biomass (AGB) and LiDAR signals. The
process-based framework offers richness in inferential capabilities, e.g.,
inference on the entire underlying processes instead of estimates only at
pre-specified points. Key challenges we obviate include misalignment between
the AGB observations and LiDAR signals and the high-dimensionality in the model
emerging from LiDAR signals in conjunction with the large number of spatial
locations. We offer simulation experiments to evaluate our proposed models and
also apply them to a challenging dataset comprising LiDAR and spatially
coinciding forest inventory variables collected on the Penobscot Experimental
Forest (PEF), Maine. Our key substantive contributions include AGB data
products with associated measures of uncertainty for the PEF and, more broadly,
a methodology that should find use in a variety of current and upcoming forest
variable mapping efforts using sparsely sampled remotely sensed
high-dimensional data.


title: LSH Ensemble: Internet-Scale Domain Search

abstract:
  We study the problem of domain search where a domain is a set of distinct
values from an unspecified universe. We use Jaccard set containment, defined as
$|Q \cap X|/|Q|$, as the relevance measure of a domain $X$ to a query domain
$Q$. Our choice of Jaccard set containment over Jaccard similarity makes our
work particularly suitable for searching Open Data and data on the web, as
Jaccard similarity is known to have poor performance over sets with large
differences in their domain sizes. We demonstrate that the domains found in
several real-life Open Data and web data repositories show a power-law
distribution over their domain sizes.
  We present a new index structure, Locality Sensitive Hashing (LSH) Ensemble,
that solves the domain search problem using set containment at Internet scale.
Our index structure and search algorithm cope with the data volume and skew by
means of data sketches (MinHash) and domain partitioning. Our index structure
does not assume a prescribed set of values. We construct a cost model that
describes the accuracy of LSH Ensemble with any given partitioning. This allows
us to formulate the partitioning for LSH Ensemble as an optimization problem.
We prove that there exists an optimal partitioning for any distribution.
Furthermore, for datasets following a power-law distribution, as observed in
Open Data and Web data corpora, we show that the optimal partitioning can be
approximated using equi-depth, making it efficient to use in practice.
  We evaluate our algorithm using real data (Canadian Open Data and WDC Web
Tables) containing up over 262 M domains. The experiments demonstrate that our
index consistently outperforms other leading alternatives in accuracy and
performance. The improvements are most dramatic for data with large skew in the
domain sizes. Even at 262 M domains, our index sustains query performance with
under 3 seconds response time.


title: Analytical Formulas for Short Bunch Wakes in a Flat Dechirper

abstract:
  We develop analytical models of the longitudinal and transverse wakes, on and
off axis for realistic structures, and then compare them with numerical
calculations, and generally find good agreement. These analytical "first order"
formulas approximate the droop at the origin of the longitudinal wake and of
the slope of the transverse wakes; they represent an improvement in accuracy
over earlier, "zeroth order" formulas. In example calculations for the
RadiaBeam/LCLS dechirper using typical parameters, we find a 16\% droop in the
energy chirp at the bunch tail compared to simpler calculations. With the beam
moved to 200~$\mu$m from one jaw in one dechiper section, one can achieve a
3~MV transverse kick differential over a 30~$\mu$m length.


title:
First-Order Structural Change Accompanied by Yb Valence Transition in
  YbInCu4

abstract:
  A diffraction experiment using a high energy x-ray was carried out on
YbInCu4. Below the Yb valence transition temperature, the splitting of Bragg
peaks was detected in higher-order reflections. No superlattice reflections
accompanying the valence ordering were found below the transition temperature.
These experimental findings indicate that a structural change from a cubic
structure to a tetragonal structure without valence ordering occurs at the
transition temperature. Such a structural change free from any valence ordering
is difficult to understand only in terms of Yb valence degrees of freedom. This
means that the structural change may be related to electronic symmetries such
as quadrupolar degrees of freedom as well as the change in Yb valence.


title: Convex Chance Constrained Model Predictive Control

abstract:
  We consider the Chance Constrained Model Predictive Control problem for
polynomial systems subject to disturbances. In this problem, we aim at finding
optimal control input for given disturbed dynamical system to minimize a given
cost function subject to probabilistic constraints, over a finite horizon. The
control laws provided have a predefined (low) risk of not reaching the desired
target set. Building on the theory of measures and moments, a sequence of
finite semidefinite programmings are provided, whose solution is shown to
converge to the optimal solution of the original problem. Numerical examples
are presented to illustrate the computational performance of the proposed
approach.


title: Self-organized instability in graded-index multimode fibres

abstract:
  Multimode fibres (MMFs) are attracting interest for complex spatiotemporal
dynamics, and for ultrafast fibre sources, imaging and telecommunications. This
new interest is based on three key properties: their high spatiotemporal
complexity (information capacity), the important role of disorder, and complex
intermodal interactions. To date, phenomena in MMFs have been studied only in
limiting cases where one or more of these properties can be neglected. Here we
study MMFs in a regime in which all these elements are integral. We observe a
spatial beam-cleaning process preceding spatiotemporal modulation instability.
We show that the origin of these processes is a universal unstable attractor in
graded-index MMFs. Both the self-organization of the attractor, as well as its
instability, are caused by intermodal interactions characterized by cooperating
disorder, nonlinearity and dissipation. The demonstration of a
disorder-enhanced nonlinear process in MMF has important implications for
telecommunications, and the multifaceted complexity of the dynamics showcases
MM waveguides as ideal laboratories for many topics and applications in
complexity science.


title: Attentive Contexts for Object Detection

abstract:
  Modern deep neural network based object detection methods typically classify
candidate proposals using their interior features. However, global and local
surrounding contexts that are believed to be valuable for object detection are
not fully exploited by existing methods yet. In this work, we take a step
towards understanding what is a robust practice to extract and utilize
contextual information to facilitate object detection in practice.
Specifically, we consider the following two questions: "how to identify useful
global contextual information for detecting a certain object?" and "how to
exploit local context surrounding a proposal for better inferring its
contents?". We provide preliminary answers to these questions through
developing a novel Attention to Context Convolution Neural Network (AC-CNN)
based object detection model. AC-CNN effectively incorporates global and local
contextual information into the region-based CNN (e.g. Fast RCNN) detection
model and provides better object detection performance. It consists of one
attention-based global contextualized (AGC) sub-network and one multi-scale
local contextualized (MLC) sub-network. To capture global context, the AGC
sub-network recurrently generates an attention map for an input image to
highlight useful global contextual locations, through multiple stacked Long
Short-Term Memory (LSTM) layers. For capturing surrounding local context, the
MLC sub-network exploits both the inside and outside contextual information of
each specific proposal at multiple scales. The global and local context are
then fused together for making the final decision for detection. Extensive
experiments on PASCAL VOC 2007 and VOC 2012 well demonstrate the superiority of
the proposed AC-CNN over well-established baselines. In particular, AC-CNN
outperforms the popular Fast-RCNN by 2.0% and 2.2% on VOC 2007 and VOC 2012 in
terms of mAP, respectively.


title:
Absolute frequency measurements and hyperfine structures of the
  molecular iodine transitions at 578 nm

abstract:
  We report absolute frequency measurements of 81 hyperfine components of the
rovibrational transitions of molecular iodine at 578 nm using the second
harmonic generation of an 1156-nm external-cavity diode laser and a fiber-based
optical frequency comb. The relative uncertainties of the measured absolute
frequencies are typically $1.4\times10^{-11}$. Accurate hyperfine constants of
four rovibrational transitions are obtained by fitting the measured hyperfine
splittings to a four-term effective Hamiltonian including the electric
quadrupole, spin-rotation, tensor spin-spin, and scalar spin-spin interactions.
The observed transitions can be good frequency references at 578 nm, and are
especially useful for research using atomic ytterbium since the transitions are
close to the $^{1}S_{0}-^{3}P_{0}$ clock transition of ytterbium.


title: Load Disaggregation Based on Aided Linear Integer Programming

abstract:
  Load disaggregation based on aided linear integer programming (ALIP) is
proposed. We start with a conventional linear integer programming (IP) based
disaggregation and enhance it in several ways. The enhancements include
additional constraints, correction based on a state diagram, median filtering,
and linear programming-based refinement. With the aid of these enhancements,
the performance of IP-based disaggregation is significantly improved. The
proposed ALIP system relies only on the instantaneous load samples instead of
waveform signatures, and hence does not crucially depend on high sampling
frequency. Experimental results show that the proposed ALIP system performs
better than the conventional IP-based load disaggregation system.


title:
Persisting of Polar Distortion with Electron Doping in Lone-Pair Driven
  Ferroelectrics

abstract:
  Free electrons can screen out long-range Coulomb interaction and destroy the
polar distortion in some ferroelectric materials, whereas the coexistence of
polar distortion and metallicity were found in several non-central-symmetric
metals (NCSMs). Therefore, the mechanisms and designing of NCSMs have attracted
great interests. In this work, by first-principles calculation, we found the
polar distortion in the lone-pair driven ferroelectric material PbTiO$_3$ can
not only persist, but also increase with electron doping. We further analyzed
the mechanisms of the persisting of the polar distortion. We found that the Ti
site polar instability is suppressed but the Pb site polar instability is
intact with the electron doping. The Pb-site instability is due to the
lone-pair mechanism which can be viewed as a pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect, a mix
of the ground state and the excited state by ion displacement from the central
symmetric position. The lone-pair mechanism is not strongly affected by the
electron doping because neither the ground state or the excited state involved
is at the Fermi energy. The enhancement of the polar distortion is related to
the increasing of the Ti ion size by doping. These results show the lone-pair
stereoactive ions can be used in designing NCSMs.


title: Safety Control of Monotone Systems with Bounded Uncertainties

abstract:
  Monotone systems, also known as order-preserving or cooperative systems, are
prevalent in models of engineering applications such as transportation and
biological networks. In this paper, we investigate the problem of finding a
control strategy for a discrete time monotone system with bounded uncertainties
such that the evolution of the system is guaranteed to be confined to a safe
set in the state space for all times. By exploiting monotonicity, we propose an
approach to this problem which is based on constraint programming. We find
control strategies that are based on repetitions of finite sequences of control
actions. We show that, under assumptions made in the paper, safety control of
monotone systems does not require state measurement. We demonstrate the results
on a signalized urban traffic network, where the safety objective is to keep
the traffic flow free of congestion.


title:
Velocity operator approach to quantum fluid dynamics in a
  three-dimensional neutron-proton system

abstract:
  In the preceeding paper, introducing isospin-dependent density operators and
defining exact momenta (collective variables), we could get an exact
canonically momenta approach to a one-dimensional (1D) neutron-proton (NP)
system. In this paper, we attempt at a velocity operator approach to a 3D NP
system. Following Sunakawa, after introducing momentum density operators, we
define velocity operators, denoting classical fluid velocities. We derive a
collective Hamiltonian in terms of the collective variables.


title: On the Powerball Method for Optimization

abstract:
  We propose a new method to accelerate the convergence of optimization
algorithms. This method simply adds a power coefficient $\gamma\in[0,1)$ to the
gradient during optimization. We call this the Powerball method and analyze the
convergence rate for the Powerball method for strongly convex functions. While
theoretically the Powerball method is guaranteed to have a linear convergence
rate in the same order of the gradient method, we show that empirically it
significantly outperforms the gradient descent and Newton's method, especially
during the initial iterations. We demonstrate that the Powerball method
provides a $10$-fold speedup of the convergence of both gradient descent and
L-BFGS on multiple real datasets.


title: Extended Stellar Components of Galaxies & the Nature of Dark Matter

abstract:
  Deep observations of galaxies reveal faint extended stellar components
(hereafter ESCs) of streams, shells, and halos. These are a natural prediction
of hierarchical galaxy formation, as accreted satellite galaxies are tidally
disrupted by their host. We investigate whether or not global properties of the
ESC could be used to test of dark matter, reasoning that they should be
sensitive to the abundance of low-mass satellites, and therefore the underlying
dark matter model. Using cosmological simulations of galaxy formation in the
favoured Cold Dark Matter (CDM) and Warm Dark Matter (WDM) models ($m_{\rm
WDM}$=0.5,1,2 keV/$c^2$), which suppress the abundance of low-mass satellites,
we find that the kinematics and orbital structure of the ESC is consistent
across models. However, we find striking differences in its spatial structure,
as anticipated -- a factor of $\sim$10 drop in spherically averaged mass
density between $\sim$10% and $\sim$75% of the virial radius in the more
extreme WDM runs ($m_{\rm WDM}$=0.5, 1 keV/$c^2$) relative to the CDM run.
These differences are consistent with the mass assembly histories of the
different components, and are present across redshifts. However, even the least
discrepant of the WDM models is incompatible with current observational limits
on $m_{\rm WDM}$. Importantly, the differences we observe when varying the
underlying dark matter are comparable to the galaxy-to-galaxy variation we
expect within a fixed dark matter model. This suggests that it will be
challenging to place limits on dark matter using only the unresolved spatial
structure of the the ESC.


title:
3D microwave cavity with magnetic flux control and enhanced quality
  factor

abstract:
  Three-dimensional (3D) superconducting microwave cavities with large mode
volumes typically have high quality factors ($>10^6$). This is due to a reduced
sensitivity to surface dielectric losses, which is the limiting source of
dissipation in two-dimensional transmission line resonators. In recent years,
3D microwave cavities have been extensively used for coupling and interacting
with superconducting quantum bits (qubits), providing a versatile platform for
quantum information processing and hybrid quantum systems. A current issue that
has arisen is that 3D superconducting cavities do not permit magnetic field
control of qubits embedded in these cavities. In contrast, microwave cavities
made of normal metals can be transparent to magnetic fields, but experience a
much lower quality factor ($\sim 10^4$), which negates many of the advantages
of the 3D architecture. In an attempt to create a device that bridges a gap
between these two types of cavities, having magnetic field control and high
quality factor, we have created a hybrid 3D cavity. This new cavity is
primarily composed of aluminium but also contains a small copper insert. We
measured the internal quality factor of the hybrid cavity to be $102000$, which
is an order of magnitude improvement over all previously tested copper
cavities. An added benefit to that our hybrid cavity possesses is that it also
provides an improved thermal link to the sample that superconducting cavities
alone cannot provide. In order to demonstrate precise magnetic control within
the cavity, we performed spectroscopy of three superconducting qubits placed in
the cavity, where individual control of each qubit's frequency was exerted with
small wire coils attached to the cavity. A large improvement in quality factor
and magnetic field control makes this 3D hybrid cavity an attractive new
platform for circuit quantum electrodynamics experiments.


title:
Cumulus Parameterization: Those Who Can Remember the Past Are Condemned
  to Repeat It

abstract:
  Moist convection plays a leading role in the dynamics and energy budget of
Earth's tropics and influences the sensitivity of Earth's climate to greenhouse
gas increases. Because individual convective cells are much smaller than the
gridboxes of 3-dimensional global climate models (GCMs), these models
parameterize the effects of an ensemble of moist convective updrafts and
downdrafts on the environment. Cumulus parameterization has been a focus of the
terrestrial meteorology community for half a century. Only in past decade,
however, have GCMs with moist convective physics been applied to other planets.
Given our lack of detailed knowledge about convective clouds except on Earth,
planetary GCMs are often designed with very simple approaches to cumulus
parameterization, adopted from the earliest generations of terrestrial GCMs.
These parameterizations were based on breakthroughs in understanding of
convection in their time. However, at the same time that planetary GCMs have
begun to emerge, a quiet revolution in how we think about terrestrial
convection has started to influence the design of terrestrial GCMs. In this
paper we review how some of the assumptions in the classical cumulus
parameterizations used in planetary GCMs (and still in some terrestrial GCMs)
have given way in recent years to a deeper understanding of how convection
operates and why it matters for atmospheric dynamics and climate - on any
planet.


title:
Push- and Pull-based Epidemic Spreading in Networks: Thresholds and
  Deeper Insights

abstract:
  Understanding the dynamics of computer virus (malware, worm) in cyberspace is
an important problem that has attracted a fair amount of attention. Early
investigations for this purpose adapted biological epidemic models, and thus
inherited the so-called homogeneity assumption that each node is equally
connected to others. Later studies relaxed this often-unrealistic homogeneity
assumption, but still focused on certain power-law networks. Recently,
researchers investigated epidemic models in {\em arbitrary} networks (i.e., no
restrictions on network topology). However, all these models only capture {\em
push-based} infection, namely that an infectious node always actively attempts
to infect its neighboring nodes. Very recently, the concept of {\em pull-based}
infection was introduced but was not treated rigorously. Along this line of
research, the present paper investigates push- and pull-based epidemic
spreading dynamics in arbitrary networks, using a Non-linear Dynamical Systems
approach. The paper advances the state of the art as follows: (1) It presents a
more general and powerful sufficient condition (also known as epidemic
threshold in the literature) under which the spreading will become stable. (2)
It gives both upper and lower bounds on the global mean infection rate,
regardless of the stability of the spreading. (3) It offers insights into,
among other things, the estimation of the global mean infection rate through
localized monitoring of a small {\em constant} number of nodes, {\em without}
knowing the values of the parameters.


title: The evolution of the small x gluon TMD

abstract:
  We study the evolution of the small $x$ gluon transverse momentum
dependent(TMD) distribution in the dilute limit. The calculation has been
carried out in the Ji-Ma-Yuan scheme using a simple quark target model. As
expected, we find that the resulting small $x$ gluon TMD simultaneously
satisfies both the Collins-Soper(CS) evolution equation and the
Balitsky-Fadin-Kuraev-Lipatov(BFKL) evolution equation. We thus confirmed the
earlier finding that the high energy factorization(HEF) and the TMD
factorization should be jointly employed to resum the different type large
logarithms in a process where three relevant scales are well separated.


title:
Penalized Weighted Least Squares for Outlier Detection and Robust
  Regression

abstract:
  To conduct regression analysis for data contaminated with outliers, many
approaches have been proposed for simultaneous outlier detection and robust
regression, so is the approach proposed in this manuscript. This new approach
is called "penalized weighted least squares" (PWLS). By assigning each
observation an individual weight and incorporating a lasso-type penalty on the
log-transformation of the weight vector, the PWLS is able to perform outlier
detection and robust regression simultaneously. A Bayesian point-of-view of the
PWLS is provided, and it is showed that the PWLS can be seen as an example of
M-estimation. Two methods are developed for selecting the tuning parameter in
the PWLS. The performance of the PWLS is demonstrated via simulations and real
applications.


title:
Positive solutions to an elliptic equation in $\mathbb{R}^N$ of the
  Kirchhoff type

abstract:
  In this paper, we consider the following Kirchhoff type problem
$$\left\{\aligned&-\biggl(a + b\int_{\mathbb{R}^N} |\nabla u|^2 dx \biggr)
\Delta u + V(x) u = |u|^{p-2}u &\text{ in } \mathbb{R}^N,\cr &u\in
H^1(\mathbb{R}^N), \endaligned\right. \eqno{(\mathcal{P}_{a,b})} $$ where
$N\geq3$, $2<p<2^*=\frac{2N}{N-2}$, $a,b>0$ are parameters and $V(x)$ is a
potential function. Under some mild conditions on $V(x)$, we prove that
$(\mathcal{P}_{a,b})$ has a positive solution for $b$ small enough by the
variational method, a non-existence result is also established in the cases
$N\geq4$. Our results in the case $N=3$ partial improve the results in
\cite{G15,LY14} and our results in the cases $N\geq4$ are totally new to the
best of our knowledge. By combining the scaling technique, we also give a
global description on the structure of the positive solutions to the autonomous
form of $(\mathcal{P}_{a,b})$, that is $V(x)\equiv\lambda>0$. This result can
be seen as a partial complement of the studies in \cite{A12,A13}.


title:
Comprehensive study of the X-ray flares from gamma-ray bursts observed
  by Swift

abstract:
  X-ray flares are generally supposed to be produced by the later central
engine activities, and may share the similar physical origin with prompt
emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). In this paper, we have analyzed all
significant X-ray flares from the GRBs observed by {\em Swift} from April 2005
to March 2015. The catalog contains 468 bright X-ray flares, including 200
flares with redshifts. We obtain the fitting results of X-ray flares, such as
start time, peak time, duration, peak flux, fluence, peak luminosity, and mean
luminosity. The peak luminosity decreases with peak time, following a power-law
behavior $L_p \propto T_{peak,z}^{-1.27}$. The flare duration increases with
peak time. The 0.3-10 keV isotropic energy of X-ray flares distribution is a
lognormal peaked at $10^{51.2}$ erg. We also study the frequency distributions
of flare parameters, including energies, durations, peak fluxes, rise times,
decay times and waiting times. Power-law distributions of energies, durations,
peak fluxes, and waiting times are found in GRB X-ray flares and solar flares.
These distributions could be well explained by a fractal-diffusive,
self-organized criticality model. Some theoretical models basing on magnetic
reconnection have been proposed to explain X-ray flares. Our result shows that
the relativistic jets of GRBs may be Poynting-flux dominated.


title:
Single-shot optical imaging through scattering medium using digital
  in-line holography

abstract:
  Non-invasive and single-shot holographic imaging through complex media is
technically challenging due to random light scattering which significantly
scrambles optical information. Recently, several methods have been presented to
address this issue. However, they require complicated measurements of optical
transmission matrices, or existing techniques do only retrieve intensity
information. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate a holographic
approach for single-shot imaging through a scattering layer based on digital
in-line holography in combination with the autocorrelation of the speckle
intensity. Using a simple optical configuration and experimental procedure, the
proposed method enables to retrieve the complex amplitude image of an object
located at arbitrary planes behind scattering media. The technique has
potential applications in biomedical imaging, deep tissue microscopy, and 3D
imaging through turbid media.


title: Approximate Networking for Global Access to the Internet for All (GAIA)

abstract:
  Decades of experience have shown that there is no single one-size-fits-all
solution that can be used to provision Internet globally and that invariably
there are tradeoffs in the design of Internet. Despite the best efforts of
networking researchers and practitioners, an ideal Internet experience is
inaccessible to an overwhelming majority of people the world over, mainly due
to the lack of cost efficient ways of provisioning high-performance global
Internet. In this paper, we argue that instead of an exclusive focus on a
utopian goal of universally accessible "ideal networking" (in which we have
high throughput and quality of service as well as low latency and congestion),
we should consider providing "approximate networking" through the adoption of
context-appropriate tradeoffs. Approximate networking can be used to implement
a pragmatic tiered global access to the Internet for all (GAIA) system in which
different users the world over have different context-appropriate (but still
contextually functional) Internet experience.


title: Predicting Cyber Attack Rates with Extreme Values

abstract:
  It is important to understand to what extent, and in what perspectives, cyber
attacks can be predicted. Despite its evident importance, this problem was not
investigated until very recently, when we proposed using the innovative
methodology of {\em gray-box prediction}. This methodology advocates the use of
gray-box models, which accommodate the statistical properties/phenomena
exhibited by the data. Specifically, we showed that gray-box models that
accommodate the Long-Range Dependence (LRD) phenomenon can predict the attack
rate (i.e., the number of attacks per unit time) 1-hour ahead-of-time with an
accuracy of 70.2-82.1\%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first result
showing the feasibility of prediction in this domain. We observe that the
prediction errors are partly caused by the models' incapability in predicting
the large attack rates, which are called {\em extreme values} in statistics.
This motivates us to analyze the {\em extreme-value phenomenon}, by using two
complementary approaches: the Extreme Value Theory (EVT) and the Time Series
Theory (TST). In this paper, we show that EVT can offer long-term predictions
(e.g., 24-hour ahead-of-time), while gray-box TST models can predict attack
rates 1-hour ahead-of-time with an accuracy of 86.0-87.9\%. We explore
connections between the two approaches, and point out future research
directions. Although our prediction study is based on specific cyber attack
data, our methodology can be equally applied to analyze any cyber attack data
of its kind.


title:
Characterizing Honeypot-Captured Cyber Attacks: Statistical Framework
  and Case Study

abstract:
  Rigorously characterizing the statistical properties of cyber attacks is an
important problem. In this paper, we propose the {\em first} statistical
framework for rigorously analyzing honeypot-captured cyber attack data. The
framework is built on the novel concept of {\em stochastic cyber attack
process}, a new kind of mathematical objects for describing cyber attacks. To
demonstrate use of the framework, we apply it to analyze a low-interaction
honeypot dataset, while noting that the framework can be equally applied to
analyze high-interaction honeypot data that contains richer information about
the attacks. The case study finds, for the first time, that Long-Range
Dependence (LRD) is exhibited by honeypot-captured cyber attacks. The case
study confirms that by exploiting the statistical properties (LRD in this
case), it is feasible to predict cyber attacks (at least in terms of attack
rate) with good accuracy. This kind of prediction capability would provide
sufficient early-warning time for defenders to adjust their defense
configurations or resource allocations. The idea of "gray-box" (rather than
"black-box") prediction is central to the utility of the statistical framework,
and represents a significant step towards ultimately understanding (the degree
of) the {\em predictability} of cyber attacks.


title: Dark energy from gravitational corrections

abstract:
  We study physics concerning the cosmological constant problem in the
framework of effective field theory and suggest that a dominant part of dark
energy can originate from gravitational corrections of vacuum energy, under the
assumption that the classical gravitational fields do not couple to a large
portion of the vacuum energy effectively, in spite of the coupling between
graviton and matters at a microscopic level. Our speculation is excellent with
terascale supersymmetry.


title: Optimal transport via a Monge-Amp\`ere optimization problem

abstract:
  We rephrase Monge's optimal transportation (OT) problem with quadratic
cost--via a Monge-Amp\`ere equation--as an infinite-dimensional optimization
problem, which is in fact a convex problem when the target is a log-concave
measure with convex support. We define a natural finite-dimensional
discretization to the problem and associate a piecewise affine convex function
to the solution of this discrete problem. The discrete problems always admit a
solution, which can be obtained by standard convex optimization algorithms
whenever the target is a log-concave measure with convex support. We show that
under suitable regularity conditions the convex functions retrieved from the
discrete problems converge to the convex solution of the original OT problem
furnished by Brenier's theorem. Also, we put forward an interpretation of our
convergence result that suggests applicability to the convergence of a wider
range of numerical methods for OT. Finally, we demonstrate the practicality of
our convergence result by providing visualizations of OT maps as well as of the
dynamic OT problem obtained by solving the discrete problem numerically.


title:
On the value-distribution of the difference between logarithms of two
  symmetric power $L$-functions

abstract:
  We consider the value distribution of the difference between logarithms of
two symmetric power $L$-functions at $s=\sigma > 1/2$. We prove that certain
averages of those values can be written as integrals involving a density
function which is constructed explicitly.


title:
Lie algebras constructed with Lie modules and their positively and
  negatively graded modules

abstract:
  In this paper, we shall give a way to construct a graded Lie algebra
$L(\mathfrak{g},\rho,V,{\cal V},B_0)$ from a standard pentad
$(\mathfrak{g},\rho,V,{\cal V},B_0)$ which consists of a Lie algebra
$\mathfrak{g}$ which has a non-degenerate invariant bilinear form $B_0$ and
$\mathfrak{g}$-modules $(\rho, V)$ and ${\cal V}\subset \mathrm {Hom
}(V,\mathfrak{k})$ all defined over a field $\mathfrak{k}$. In general, we do
not assume that these objects are finite-dimensional. We can embed the objects
$\mathfrak{g},\rho,V,{\cal V}$ into $L(\mathfrak{g},\rho,V,{\cal V},B_0)$.
Moreover, we construct specific positively and negatively graded modules of
$L(\mathfrak{g},\rho,V,{\cal V},B_0)$. Finally, we give a chain rule on the
embedding rules of standard pentads.


title: A Characterization of Cybersecurity Posture from Network Telescope Data

abstract:
  Data-driven understanding of cybersecurity posture is an important problem
that has not been adequately explored. In this paper, we analyze some real data
collected by CAIDA's network telescope during the month of March 2013. We
propose to formalize the concept of cybersecurity posture from the perspectives
of three kinds of time series: the number of victims (i.e., telescope IP
addresses that are attacked), the number of attackers that are observed by the
telescope, and the number of attacks that are observed by the telescope.
Characterizing cybersecurity posture therefore becomes investigating the
phenomena and statistical properties exhibited by these time series, and
explaining their cybersecurity meanings. For example, we propose the concept of
{\em sweep-time}, and show that sweep-time should be modeled by stochastic
process, rather than random variable. We report that the number of attackers
(and attacks) from a certain country dominates the total number of attackers
(and attacks) that are observed by the telescope. We also show that
substantially smaller network telescopes might not be as useful as a large
telescope.


title: Spatiotemporal patterns and predictability of cyberattacks

abstract:
  A relatively unexplored issue in cybersecurity science and engineering is
whether there exist intrinsic patterns of cyberattacks. Conventional wisdom
favors absence of such patterns due to the overwhelming complexity of the
modern cyberspace. Surprisingly, through a detailed analysis of an extensive
data set that records the time-dependent frequencies of attacks over a
relatively wide range of consecutive IP addresses, we successfully uncover
intrinsic spatiotemporal patterns underlying cyberattacks, where the term
"spatio" refers to the IP address space. In particular, we focus on analyzing
{\em macroscopic} properties of the attack traffic flows and identify two main
patterns with distinct spatiotemporal characteristics: deterministic and
stochastic. Strikingly, there are very few sets of major attackers committing
almost all the attacks, since their attack "fingerprints" and target selection
scheme can be unequivocally identified according to the very limited number of
unique spatiotemporal characteristics, each of which only exists on a
consecutive IP region and differs significantly from the others. We utilize a
number of quantitative measures, including the flux-fluctuation law, the Markov
state transition probability matrix, and predictability measures, to
characterize the attack patterns in a comprehensive manner. A general finding
is that the attack patterns possess high degrees of predictability, potentially
paving the way to anticipating and, consequently, mitigating or even preventing
large-scale cyberattacks using macroscopic approaches.

categories: cs.CR physics.data-an physics.soc-ph stat.AP


title: Nonlinear Analysis of an Improved Swing Equation

abstract:
  In this paper, we investigate the properties of an improved swing equation
model for synchronous generators. This model is derived by omitting the main
simplifying assumption of the conventional swing equation, and requires a novel
analysis for the stability and frequency regulation. We consider two scenarios.
First we study the case that a synchronous generator is connected to a constant
load. Second, we inspect the case of the single machine connected to an
infinite bus. Simulations verify the results.


title:
Construction of Arbitrary Order Conformally Invariant Operators in
  Higher Spin Spaces

abstract:
  This paper completes the construction of arbitrary order conformally
invariant differential operators in higher spin spaces. Jan Slov\'{a}k has
classified all conformally invariant differential operators on locally
conformally flat manifolds. We complete his results in higher spin theory by
giving explicit expressions for arbitrary order conformally invariant
differential operators, where by conformally invariant we mean equivariant with
respect to the conformal group of $\mathbb{S}^m$ acting in Euclidean space
$\mathbb{R}^m$. We name these the fermionic operators when the order is odd and
bosonic operators when the order is even. Our approach explicitly uses
convolution type operators to construct conformally invariant differential
operators. These convolution type operators are examples of Knapp-Stein
operators and they can be considered as the inverses of the corresponding
differential operators. Intertwining operators of these convolution type
operators are provided and intertwining operators of differential operators
follow immediately. This reveals that our convolution type operators and
differential operators are all conformally invariant. This also gives us a
class of conformally invariant convolution type operators in higher spin
spaces. Their inverses, when they exist, are conformally invariant
pseudo-differential operators. Further we use Stein Weiss gradient operators
and representation theory for the Spin group to naturally motivate the
Rarita-Schwinger operators.


title: Pixel-Level Domain Transfer

abstract:
  We present an image-conditional image generation model. The model transfers
an input domain to a target domain in semantic level, and generates the target
image in pixel level. To generate realistic target images, we employ the
real/fake-discriminator as in Generative Adversarial Nets, but also introduce a
novel domain-discriminator to make the generated image relevant to the input
image. We verify our model through a challenging task of generating a piece of
clothing from an input image of a dressed person. We present a high quality
clothing dataset containing the two domains, and succeed in demonstrating
decent results.


title:
Non-Hermitian ${\cal PT}$-symmetric relativistic quantum theory in an
  intensive magnetic field

abstract:
  We develop relativistic non-Hermitian quantum theory and its application to
neutrino physics in a strong magnetic field. It is well known, that one of the
fundamental postulates of quantum theory is the requirement of Hermiticity of
physical parameters. This condition not only guarantees the reality of the
eigenvalues of Hamiltonian operators, but also implies the preservation of the
probabilities of the considered quantum processes. However as it was shown
relatively recently (Bender, Boettcher 1998), Hermiticity is a sufficient but
it is not a necessary condition. It turned out that among non-Hermitian
Hamiltonians it is possible to allocate a number of such which have real energy
spectra and can ensure the development of systems over time with preserving
unitarity. This type of Hamiltonians includes so-called parity-time (${\cal
PT}$) symmetric models which is already used in various fields of modern
physics. The most developed in this respect are models, which used in the field
of ${\cal PT}$-symmetric optics, where for several years produced not only
theoretical but experimental studies.


title: Re-acceleration model for the "Toothbrush" Radio Relic

abstract:
  The Toothbrush radio relic associated the merging cluster 1RXS J060303.3 is
presumed to be produced by relativistic electrons accelerated at merger-driven
shocks. Since the shock Mach number inferred from the observed radio spectral
index, $M_{radio}\approx 2.8$, is larger than that estimated from X-ray
observations, $M_{X-ray}\lesssim 1.5$, we consider the re-acceleration model in
which a weak shock of $M_s\approx 1.2-1.5$ sweeps through the intracluster
plasma with a preshock population of relativistic electrons. We find the models
with a power-law momentum spectrum with the slope, $s\approx 4.6$, and the
cutoff Lorentz factor, $\gamma_{e,c}\approx 7-8\times 10^4$ can reproduce
reasonably well the observed profiles of radio fluxes and integrated radio
spectrum of the head portion of the Toothbrush relic. This study confirms the
strong connection between the ubiquitous presence of fossil relativistic plasma
originated from AGNs and the shock-acceleration model of radio relics in the
intracluster medium.


title:
Time Is of the Essence: Analyzing the Effect of Vertex-Joining Time on
  Complex Network Evolution

abstract:
  Complex networks have non-trivial characteristics and appear in many
real-world systems. Such networks are vitally important, but their full
underlying dynamics are not completely understood. Utilizing new data sources,
however, can unveil the evolution process of these networks.
  This study uses the recently published Reddit dataset, containing over 1.65
billion comments, to construct the largest publicly available social network
corpus to date. We used this dataset to deeply examine the network evolution
process, which resulted in two key observations: First, links are more likely
to be created among users who join a network at a similar time. Second, the
rate in which new users join a network is a central factor in molding a
network's topology; i.e., different user-join patterns create different
topological properties.
  Based on these observations, we developed the \textit{Temporal Preferential
Attachment} random network generation model. This model produces not only
scale-free networks that have relative high clustering coefficients, but also
networks that are sensitive to both the rate and the time in which users join
the network. This results in a more accurate and flexible model of how complex
networks evolve, one which more closely represents real-world data.


title:
On The Changes in Optical Interferometry Induced by The Relativistic
  Motion of An Optical Medium

abstract:
  We investigate the effects of the relativistic movement of an optical medium
on the conditions of constructive and destructive interference, reflection and
transmission pattern, and performance of spectroscopes. First, we consider the
case of two beams reflected from a relativistically moving thin film and derive
the conditions of constructive and destructive interference. Then we broaden
the idea to multiple beam interference and formulate a new modified equation of
reflection and transmission pattern of light from a relativistically moving
plane parallel dielectric film. Finally, we determine the new effective
resolving power of a Fabry-Perot spectroscope, which has a moving dielectric
medium in its etalon. Here, we consider the case where the optical media move
parallel to the plane of incidence of light. Throughout this paper, we use
basic Lorentz transformation of space and time co-ordinates and electromagnetic
fields to conduct these investigations. This paper can strongly motivate
undergraduate physics students to associate the concepts of special relativity
and optical interference.


title:
Anomalous tunnel magnetoresistance and spin transfer torque in magnetic
  tunnel junctions with embedded nanoparticles

abstract:
  The tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) in the magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) with
embedded nanoparticles (NPs) was calculated in range of the quantum-ballistic
model. The simulation was performed for electron tunneling through the
insulating layer with embedded magnetic and nonmagnetic NPs within the approach
of the double barrier subsystem connected in parallel to the single barrier
one. This model can be applied for both MTJs with in-plane magnetization and
perpendicular one. We also calculated the in-plane component of the spin
transfer torque (STT) versus the applied voltage in MTJs with magnetic NPs and
determined that its value can be much larger than in single barrier system
(SBS) for the same tunneling thickness. The reported simulation reproduces
experimental data of the TMR suppression and peak-like TMR anomalies at low
voltages available in literature.


title:
Search for astrophysical rotating Ellis wormholes with X-ray reflection
  spectroscopy

abstract:
  Recently, two of us have found numerically rotating Ellis wormholes as
solutions of 4-dimensional Einstein gravity coupled to a phantom field. In this
paper, we investigate possible observational signatures to identify similar
objects in the Universe. These symmetric wormholes have a mass and are compact,
so they may look like black holes. We study the iron line profile in the X-ray
reflection spectrum of a thin accretion disk around rotating Ellis wormholes
and we find some specific observational signatures that can be used to
distinguish these objects from Kerr black holes. We simulate some observations
with XIS/Suzaku assuming typical parameters for a bright AGN and we conclude
that current X-ray missions cannot apply strong constraints.


title: On the combinatorics of exact Lagrangian surfaces

abstract:
  We study Weinstein 4-manifolds which admit Lagrangian skeleta given by
attaching disks to a surface along a collection of simple closed curves. In
terms of the curves describing one such skeleton, we describe surgeries that
preserve the ambient Weinstein manifold, but change the skeleton. The surgeries
can be iterated to produce more such skeleta --- in many cases, infinitely many
more.
  Each skeleton is built around a Lagrangian surface. Passing to the Fukaya
category, the skeletal surgeries induce cluster transformations on the spaces
of rank one local systems on these surfaces, and noncommutative analogues of
cluster transformations on the spaces of higher rank local systems. In
particular, the problem of producing and distinguishing such Lagrangians maps
to a combination of combinatorial-geometric questions about curve
configurations on surfaces and algebraic questions about exchange graphs of
cluster algebras.
  Conversely, this expands the dictionary relating the cluster theory of
character varieties, positroid strata, and related spaces to the symplectic
geometry of Lagrangian fillings of Legendrian knots, by incorporating cluster
charts more general than those associated to bicolored surface graphs.


title: Semiclassical Landau quantization of spin-orbit coupled systems

abstract:
  A semiclassical quantization condition is derived for Landau levels in
general spin-orbit coupled systems. This generalizes the Onsager quantization
condition via a matrix-valued phase which describes spin dynamics along the
classical cyclotron trajectory. We discuss measurement of the matrix phase via
magnetic oscillations and electron spin resonance, which may be used to probe
the spin structure of the precessing wavefunction. We compare the resulting
semiclassical spectrum with exact results which are obtained for a variety of
spin-orbit interactions in 2D systems.


title:
Some uncertainties of neutrino oscillation effect in the NO$\nu$A
  experiment

abstract:
  Uncertainties related to the effect of neutrino coherent forward scattering
in Earth's matter (MSW mechanism) and with the cross sections of quasi-elastic
neutrino scattering on nuclear targets of the NO$\nu$A detectors are studied.
The NO$\nu$A sensitivity to the neutrino mass hierarchy and the CP violating
phase is discussed.


title:
Fermionic Lorentz violation and its implications for interferometric
  gravitational-wave detection

abstract:
  The recent direct detection of gravitational waves reported by Advanced LIGO
has inspired the current article. In this context, a particular
Lorentz-violating framework for classical, massive particles is the focus. The
latter is characterized by a preferred direction in spacetime comprised of
CPT-odd components with mass dimension 1. Curvature effects in spacetime, which
are caused by a propagating gravitational wave, are assumed to deform the
otherwise constant background field. In accordance with spontaneous Lorentz
violation, a particular choice for the vector field is taken, which was
proposed elsewhere. The geodesic equations for a particle that is subject to
this type of Lorentz violation are obtained. Subsequently, their numerical
solutions are computed and discussed. The particular model considered leads to
changes in the particle trajectory whose impact on interferometric
gravitational-wave experiments such as LIGO will be studied.


title: An Expressive Probabilistic Temporal Logic

abstract:
  This paper argues that a combined treatment of probabilities, time and
actions is essential for an appropriate logical account of the notion of
probability; and, based on this intuition, describes an expressive
probabilistic temporal logic for reasoning about actions with uncertain
outcomes. The logic is modal and higher-order: modalities annotated by actions
are used to express possibility and necessity of propositions in the next
states resulting from the actions, and a higher-order function is needed to
express the probability operator. The proposed logic is shown to be an adequate
extension of classical mathematical probability theory, and its expressiveness
is illustrated through the formalization of the Monty Hall problem.


title:
Deep Extreme Feature Extraction: New MVA Method for Searching Particles
  in High Energy Physics

abstract:
  In this paper, we present Deep Extreme Feature Extraction (DEFE), a new
ensemble MVA method for searching $\tau^{+}\tau^{-}$ channel of Higgs bosons in
high energy physics. DEFE can be viewed as a deep ensemble learning scheme that
trains a strongly diverse set of neural feature learners without explicitly
encouraging diversity and penalizing correlations. This is achieved by adopting
an implicit neural controller (not involved in feedforward compuation) that
directly controls and distributes gradient flows from higher level deep
prediction network. Such model-independent controller results in that every
single local feature learned are used in the feature-to-output mapping stage,
avoiding the blind averaging of features. DEFE makes the ensembles 'deep' in
the sense that it allows deep post-process of these features that tries to
learn to select and abstract the ensemble of neural feature learners. With the
application of this model, a selection regions full of signal process can be
obtained through the training of a miniature collision events set. In
comparison of the Classic Deep Neural Network, DEFE shows a state-of-the-art
performance: the error rate has decreased by about 37\%, the accuracy has
broken through 90\% for the first time, along with the discovery significance
has reached a standard deviation of 6.0 $\sigma$. Experimental data shows that,
DEFE is able to train an ensemble of discriminative feature learners that
boosts the overperformance of final prediction.


title:
On reducibility of Quantum Harmonic Oscillator on $\mathbb{R}^d$ with
  quasiperiodic in time potential

abstract:
  We prove that a linear d-dimensional Schr{\"o}dinger equation on
$\mathbb{R}^d$ with harmonic potential $|x|^2$ and small t-quasiperiodic
potential $i\partial\_t u -- \Delta u + |x|^2 u + \epsilon V (t\omega, x)u = 0,
x \in \mathbb{R}^d$ reduces to an autonomous system for most values of the
frequency vector $\omega \in \mathbb{R}^n$. As a consequence any solution of
such a linear PDE is almost periodic in time and remains bounded in all Sobolev
norms.


title: Application of Stochastic Flows to the Sticky Brownian Motion Equation

abstract:
  We show how the theory of stochastic flows allows to recover in an elementary
way a well known result of Warren on the sticky Brownian motion equation.


title: Parameterized Pattern Matching -- Succinctly

abstract:
  We consider the $Parameterized$ $Pattern$ $Matching$ problem, where a pattern
$P$ matches some location in a text $\mathsf{T}$ iff there is a one-to-one
correspondence between the alphabet symbols of the pattern to those of the
text. More specifically, assume that the text $\mathsf{T}$ contains $n$
characters from a static alphabet $\Sigma_s$ and a parameterized alphabet
$\Sigma_p$, where $\Sigma_s \cap \Sigma_p = \varnothing$ and $|\Sigma_s \cup
\Sigma_p|=\sigma$. A pattern $P$ matches a substring $S$ of $\mathsf{T}$ iff
the static characters match exactly, and there exists a one-to-one function
that renames the parameterized characters in $S$ to that in $P$. Previous
indexing solution [Baker, STOC 1993], known as $Parameterized$ $Suffix$ $Tree$,
requires $\Theta(n\log n)$ bits of space, and can find all $occ$ occurrences of
$P$ in $\mathcal{O}(|P|\log \sigma+ occ)$ time. In this paper, we present the
first succinct index that occupies $n \log \sigma + \mathcal{O}(n)$ bits and
answers queries in $\mathcal{O}((|P|+ occ\cdot \log n) \log\sigma\log \log
\sigma)$ time. We also present a compact index that occupies
$\mathcal{O}(n\log\sigma)$ bits and answers queries in $\mathcal{O}(|P|\log
\sigma+ occ\cdot \log n)$ time. Furthermore, the techniques are extended to
obtain the first succinct representation of the index of Shibuya for
$Structural$ $Matching$ [SWAT, 2000], and of Idury and Sch\"{a}ffer for
$Parameterized$ $Dictionary$ $Matching$ [CPM, 1994].


title: The method "Model Elimination" of D.W.Loveland explained

abstract:
  We present concisely the method "Model Elimination" of D.W.Loveland.
Especially, we explain and prove the correctness of the lemmas generated by
this method.


title:
Completeness and compactness properties in metric spaces, topological
  groups and function spaces

abstract:
  We prove that many completeness properties coincide in metric spaces,
precompact groups and dense subgroups of products of separable metric groups.
We apply these results to function spaces C_p(X,G) of G-valued continuous
functions on a space X with the topology of pointwise convergence, for a
separable metric group G. Not only the results but also the proofs themselves
are novel even in the classical case when G is the real line.
  A space X is weakly pseudocompact if it is G_delta-dense in at least one of
its compactifications. A topological group G is precompact if it is
topologically isomorphic to a subgroup of a compact group. We prove that every
weakly pseudocompact precompact topological group is pseudocompact, thereby
answering positively a question of Tkachenko.


title:
Standard and robust intensity parameter estimation for stationary
  determinantal point processes

abstract:
  This work is concerned with the estimation of the intensity parameter of a
stationary determinantal point process. We consider the standard estimator,
corresponding to the number of observed points per unit volume and a recently
introduced median-based estimator more robust to outliers. The consistency and
asymptotic normality of estimators are obtained under mild assumptions on the
determinantal point process. We illustrate the efficiency of the procedures in
a simulation study.


title:
Qualitative properties of generalized principal eigenvalues for
  superquadratic viscous Hamilton-Jacobi equations

abstract:
  This paper is concerned with the ergodic problem for superquadratic viscous
Hamilton-Jacobi equations with exponent m \textgreater{} 2. We prove that the
generalized principal eigenvalue of the equation converges to a constant as m
$\rightarrow$ $\infty$, and that the limit coincides with the generalized
principal eigenvalue of an ergodic problem with gradient constraint. We also
investigate some qualitative properties of the generalized principal eigenvalue
with respect to a perturbation of the potential function. It turns out that
different situations take place according to m = 2, 2 \textless{} m \textless{}
$\infty$, and the limiting case m = $\infty$.


title:
Analysis of Locally Coupled 3D Manipulation Mappings Based on Mobile
  Device Motion

abstract:
  We examine a class of techniques for 3D object manipulation on mobile
devices, in which the device's physical motion is applied to 3D objects
displayed on the device itself. This "local coupling" between input and display
creates specific challenges compared to manipulation techniques designed for
monitor-based or immersive virtual environments. Our work focuses specifically
on the mapping between device motion and object motion. We review existing
manipulation techniques and introduce a formal description of the main mappings
under a common notation. Based on this notation, we analyze these mappings and
their properties in order to answer crucial usability questions. We first
investigate how the 3D objects should move on the screen, since the screen also
moves with the mobile device during manipulation. We then investigate the
effects of a limited range of manipulation and present a number of solutions to
overcome this constraint. This work provides a theoretical framework to better
understand the properties of locally-coupled 3D manipulation mappings based on
mobile device motion.


title:
Use of 3D classified topographic data with FullSWOF for high resolution
  simulation of a river flood event over a dense urban area

abstract:
  High resolution (infra-metric) topographic data, including photogram-metric
born 3D classified data, are becoming commonly available at large range of
spatial extend, such as municipality or industrial site scale. This category of
dataset is promising for high resolution (HR) Digital Surface Model (DSM)
generation, allowing inclusion of fine above-ground structures which might
influence overland flow hydrodynamic in urban environment. Nonetheless several
categories of technical and numerical challenges arise from this type of data
use with standard 2D Shallow Water Equations (SWE) based numerical codes.
FullSWOF (Full Shallow Water equations for Overland Flow) is a code based on 2D
SWE under conservative form. This code relies on a well-balanced finite volume
method over a regular grid using numerical method based on hydrostatic
reconstruction scheme. When compared to existing industrial codes used for
urban flooding simulations, numerical approach implemented in FullSWOF allows
to handle properly flow regime changes, preservation of water depth positivity
at wet/dry cells transitions and steady state preservation. FullSWOF has
already been tested on analytical solution library (SWASHES) and has been used
to simulate runoff and dam-breaks. FullSWOFs above mentioned properties are of
good interest for urban overland flow. Objectives of this study are (i) to
assess the feasibility and added values of using HR 3D classified topographic
data to model river overland flow and (ii) to take advantage of FullSWOF code
properties for overland flow simulation in urban environment.


title: On Perturbations of Stein Operator

abstract:
  In this paper, we obtain Stein operator for sum of $n$ independent random
variables (rvs) which is shown as perturbation of negative binomial (NB)
operator. Comparing the operator with NB operator, we derive the error bounds
for total variation distance by matching parameters. Also, three parameters
approximation for such a sum is considered and is shown to improve the existing
bounds in the literature. Finally, an application of our results to a function
of waiting time for $(k_1,k_2)$-events is given.


title:
Feynman propagators and Hadamard states from scattering data for the
  Klein-Gordon equation on asymptotically Minkowski spacetimes

abstract:
  We consider the massive Klein-Gordon equation on a class of asymptotically
static spacetimes. We prove the existence and Hadamard property of the in and
out states constructed by scattering theory methods. Assuming in addition that
the metric approaches that of Minkowski space at infinity in a short-range way,
jointly in time and space variables, we define Feynman scattering data and
prove the Fredholm property of the Klein-Gordon operator with the associated
Atiyah-Patodi-Singer boundary conditions. We then construct a parametrix (with
compact remainder terms) for the Fredholm problem and prove that it is also a
Feynman parametrix in the sense of Duistermaat and H{\"o}rmander.


title: Semantics and Analysis of DMN Decision Tables

abstract:
  The Decision Model and Notation (DMN) is a standard notation to capture
decision logic in business applications in general and business processes in
particular. A central construct in DMN is that of a decision table. The
increasing use of DMN decision tables to capture critical business knowledge
raises the need to support analysis tasks on these tables such as correctness
and completeness checking. This paper provides a formal semantics for DMN
tables, a formal definition of key analysis tasks and scalable algorithms to
tackle two such tasks, i.e., detection of overlapping rules and of missing
rules. The algorithms are based on a geometric interpretation of decision
tables that can be used to support other analysis tasks by tapping into
geometric algorithms. The algorithms have been implemented in an open-source
DMN editor and tested on large decision tables derived from a credit lending
dataset.


title: Ewald summation for the rotlet singularity of Stokes flow

abstract:
  Ewald summation is an efficient method for computing the periodic sums that
appear when considering the Green's functions of Stokes flow together with
periodic boundary conditions. We show how Ewald summation, and accompanying
truncation error estimates, can be easily derived for the rotlet, by
considering it as a superposition of electrostatic force calculations.