76,498 research outputs found
Parallel machine scheduling with precedence constraints and setup times
This paper presents different methods for solving parallel machine scheduling
problems with precedence constraints and setup times between the jobs. Limited
discrepancy search methods mixed with local search principles, dominance
conditions and specific lower bounds are proposed. The proposed methods are
evaluated on a set of randomly generated instances and compared with previous
results from the literature and those obtained with an efficient commercial
solver. We conclude that our propositions are quite competitive and our results
even outperform other approaches in most cases
On the Runtime of Randomized Local Search and Simple Evolutionary Algorithms for Dynamic Makespan Scheduling
Evolutionary algorithms have been frequently used for dynamic optimization
problems. With this paper, we contribute to the theoretical understanding of
this research area. We present the first computational complexity analysis of
evolutionary algorithms for a dynamic variant of a classical combinatorial
optimization problem, namely makespan scheduling. We study the model of a
strong adversary which is allowed to change one job at regular intervals.
Furthermore, we investigate the setting of random changes. Our results show
that randomized local search and a simple evolutionary algorithm are very
effective in dynamically tracking changes made to the problem instance.Comment: Conference version appears at IJCAI 201
The significance of the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect revisited
We revisit the state of the integrated Sachs-Wolfe (ISW) effect measurements
in light of newly available data and address criticisms about the measurements
which have recently been raised. We update the data set previously assembled by
Giannantonio et al. to include new data releases for both the cosmic microwave
background (CMB) and the large-scale structure (LSS) of the Universe. We find
that our updated results are consistent with previous measurements. By fitting
a single template amplitude, we now obtain a combined significance of the ISW
detection at the 4.4 sigma level, which fluctuates by 0.4 sigma when
alternative data cuts and analysis assumptions are considered. We also make new
tests for systematic contaminations of the data, focusing in particular on the
issues raised by Sawangwit et al. Amongst them, we address the rotation test,
which aims at checking for possible systematics by correlating pairs of
randomly rotated maps. We find results consistent with the expected data
covariance, no evidence for enhanced correlation on any preferred axis of
rotation, and therefore no indication of any additional systematic
contamination. We publicly release the results, the covariance matrix, and the
sky maps used to obtain them.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures. MNRAS in pres
Focus Point Supersymmetry Redux
Recent results from Higgs boson and supersymmetry searches at the Large
Hadron Collider provide strong new motivations for supersymmetric theories with
heavy superpartners. We reconsider focus point supersymmetry (FP SUSY), in
which all squarks and sleptons may have multi-TeV masses without introducing
fine-tuning in the weak scale with respect to variations in the fundamental
SUSY-breaking parameters. We examine both FP SUSY and its familiar special
case, the FP region of mSUGRA/CMSSM, and show that they are beautifully
consistent with all particle, astroparticle, and cosmological data, including
Higgs boson mass limits, null results from SUSY searches, electric dipole
moments, b -> s gamma, B_s -> mu^+ mu^-, the thermal relic density of
neutralinos, and dark matter searches. The observed deviation of the muon's
anomalous magnetic moment from its standard model value may also be explained
in FP SUSY, although not in the FP region of mSUGRA/CMSSM. In light of recent
data, we advocate refined searches for FP SUSY and related scenarios with heavy
squarks and sleptons, and we present a simplified parameter space to aid such
analyses.Comment: v3: 20 pages, 20 figures, minor numerical error in relic density
calculation corrected, fixed contours in figure
Empirical relations for cluster RR Lyrae stars revisited
Our former study on the empirical relations between the Fourier parameters of
the light curves of the fundamental mode RR Lyrae stars and their basic stellar
parameters has been extended to considerably larger data sets. The most
significant contribution to the absolute magnitude M_v comes from the period P
and from the first Fourier amplitude A_1, but there are statistically
significant contributions also from additional higher order components, most
importantly from A_3 and in a lesser degree from the Fourier phase phi_51. When
different colors are combined in reddening-free quantities, we obtain basically
period-luminosity-color relations. Due to the log T_eff (B-V, log g, [Fe/H])
relation from stellar atmosphere models, we would expect some dependence also
on phi_31. Unfortunately, the data are still not extensive and accurate enough
to decipher clearly the small effect of this Fourier phase. However, with the
aid of more accurate multicolor data on field variables, we show that this
Fourier phase should be present either in V-I or in B-V or in both. From the
standard deviations of the various regressions, an upper limit can be obtained
on the overall inhomogeneity of the reddening in the individual clusters. This
yields sigma_E(B-V)}< 0.012 mag, which also implies an average minimum
observational error of sigma_V > 0.018 mag.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures, 11 tables, accepted in Astronomy & Astrophysic
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