Problems

I. Definition of the Subject and Its Importanc

Reading Shakespeare's Stage Directions

Suggests that we should consider the stage directions in Shakespeare's early texts, particularly the 1623 Folio, as snippets of narrative or free indirect discourse, rather than as clues to or for performance

Directions and projective shapes

This paper deals with projective shape analysis, which is a study of finite configurations of points modulo projective transformations. The topic has various applications in machine vision. We introduce a convenient projective shape space, as well as an appropriate coordinate system for this shape space. For generic configurations of k points in m dimensions, the resulting projective shape space is identified as a product of k-m-2 copies of axial spaces RP^m. This identification leads to the need for developing multivariate directional and multivariate axial analysis and we propose parametric models, as well as nonparametric methods, for these areas. In particular, we investigate the Frechet extrinsic mean for the multivariate axial case. Asymptotic distributions of the appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests are derived. We illustrate our methodology with examples from machine vision.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/009053605000000273 in the Annals of Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aos/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Future Directions for QCD

New directions for exploring QCD at future high-energy colliders are sketched. These include jets within jets, BFKL dynamics, soft and hard diffraction, searches for disoriented chiral condensate, and doing a better job on minimum bias physics. The new experimental opportunities include electron-ion collisions at HERA, a new collider detector at the C0 region of the TeVatron, and the FELIX initiative at the LHC.Comment: Latex, 6 pages, to be published in the proceedings of the 1996 DPF/DPB Summer Study of New Directions for High Energy Physics, Snowmass, CO, June 25-July 12, 199

The Fate of SUSY Flat Directions and their Role in Reheating

We consider the role of supersymmetric flat directions in reheating the Universe after inflation. One or more flat directions can develop large vevs during inflation, which can potentially affect reheating by slowing down scattering processes among inflaton decay products or by coming to dominate the energy density of the Universe. Both effects occur only if flat directions are sufficiently long-lived. The computation of their perturbative decay rate, and a simple estimate of their nonperturbative decay have led to the conclusion that this is indeed the case. In contrast, we show that flat directions can decay quickly through nonperturbative channels in realistic models. The mass matrix for MSSM excitations around flat directions has nondiagonal entries, which vary with the phase of the (complex) flat directions. The quasi-periodic motion of the flat directions results in a strong parametric resonance, leading to the rapid depletion of the flat direction within its first few rotations. This may preclude any significant role for the flat directions in reheating the Universe after inflation in models in which the inflaton decays perturbatively.Comment: 30 pages, 6 .ps figures. Final published versio

Fingerprint Identification - New Directions

In most of the algorithms that have been suggested in this report, the fingerprint image is reduced to a relatively short sequence of integers. This reduces the memory size required by the database. Each algorithm is intended to exploit specific properties and features of the fingerprint that vary from finger to finger, and that can be localized relatively fast using digital techniques, thus also reducing the computational time requirements to a minimum. In each case, the sensitivity of the algorithm to small variations in the image was also discussed, with the aim of reducing the False Rejection Rate, and of increasing the general robustness of the algorithm

CAL evaluation: Future directions

Formal, experimental methods have proved increasingly difficult to implement, and lack the capacity to generate detailed results when evaluating the impact of CAL on teaching and learning. The rigid nature of experimental design restricts the scope of investigations and the conditions in which studies can be conducted It has also consistently failed to account for all influences on learning. In innovative CAL environments, practical and theoretical development depends on the ability fully to investigate the wide range of such influences. Over the past five years, a customizable evaluation framework has been developed specifically for CAL research. The conceptual approach is defined as Situated Evaluation of CAL (SECAL), and the primary focus is on quality of learning outcomes. Two important principles underpin this development. First, the widely accepted need to evaluate in authentic contexts includes examination of the combined effects of CAL with other resources and influential aspects of the learning environment. Secondly, evaluation design is based on a critical approach and qualitative, case‐based research. Positive outcomes from applications of SECAL include the easy satisfaction of practical and situation‐specific requirements and the relatively low cost of evaluation studies. Although there is little scope to produce generalizable results in the short term, the difficulty of doing so in experimental studies suggests that this objective is difficult to achieve in educational research. A more realistic, longer‐term aim is the development of grounded theory based on common findings from individual cases