190 research outputs found
SOYBEAN OUTLOOK/DISCUSSION PRESENTED FOR THE 2004 MIDWEST/GREAT PLAINS & WESTERN OUTLOOK CONFERENCE, KANSAS CITY, MO, AUGUST 16-17, 2004
We should expect 2004-05 soybean prices to be much lower than 2003-04, but near the historically average. On the other hand, while the numbers shown are my best analysis, I feel there is a lot of price risk in both directions as we go from now through the 2004-05 marketing year. While looking good now, the crop was planted late, and some disease problems are showing up. On the demand side, exports will be the key.Crop Production/Industries,
New Classes of Off-Diagonal Cosmological Solutions in Einstein Gravity
In this work, we apply the anholonomic deformation method for constructing
new classes of anisotropic cosmological solutions in Einstein gravity and/or
generalizations with nonholonomic variables. There are analyzed four types of,
in general, inhomogeneous metrics, defined with respect to anholonomic frames
and their main geometric properties. Such spacetimes contain as particular
cases certain conformal and/or frame transforms of the well known
Friedman-Robertson-Walker, Bianchi, Kasner and Godel universes and define a
great variety of cosmological models with generic off-diagonal metrics, local
anisotropy and inhomogeneity. It is shown that certain nonholonomic
gravitational configurations may mimic de Sitter like inflation scenaria and
different anisotropic modifications without satisfying any classical
false-vacuum equation of state. Finally, we speculate on perspectives when such
off-diagonal solutions can be related to dark energy and dark matter problems
in modern cosmology.Comment: latex2e, 11pt, 33 pages with table of content, a variant accepted to
IJT
Towards a Universal Theory of Artificial Intelligence based on Algorithmic Probability and Sequential Decision Theory
Decision theory formally solves the problem of rational agents in uncertain
worlds if the true environmental probability distribution is known.
Solomonoff's theory of universal induction formally solves the problem of
sequence prediction for unknown distribution. We unify both theories and give
strong arguments that the resulting universal AIXI model behaves optimal in any
computable environment. The major drawback of the AIXI model is that it is
uncomputable. To overcome this problem, we construct a modified algorithm
AIXI^tl, which is still superior to any other time t and space l bounded agent.
The computation time of AIXI^tl is of the order t x 2^l.Comment: 8 two-column pages, latex2e, 1 figure, submitted to ijca
Rethinking the scale, structure & scope of U.S. energy institutions
This essay notes some of the key institutions created in the twentieth century for the purpose of
delivering energy in North America. Those institutions are being challenged by a combination of stresses in
three interconnected areas: reliability, economics, and environmental sustainability. The essay argues
that these three stresses create an “energy trilemma” requiring institutional reform. We suggest that new
and modi½ed institutions can best be understood if we evaluate them along three dimensions: institutional
scale, structure, and scope. We consider real-world examples of recent institutions in light of each of these
dimensions and note both successes and concerns that those factors illuminate. We conclude by noting
that some institutional changes will be organic and unplanned; but many others, including responses to
climate change, will bene½t from conscious attention to scale, structure, and scope by those engaged in
designing and building the energy institutions needed in the twenty-½rst century
Some Remarks about the Complexity of Epidemics Management
Recent outbreaks of Ebola, H1N1 and other infectious diseases have shown that
the assumptions underlying the established theory of epidemics management are
too idealistic. For an improvement of procedures and organizations involved in
fighting epidemics, extended models of epidemics management are required. The
necessary extensions consist in a representation of the management loop and the
potential frictions influencing the loop. The effects of the non-deterministic
frictions can be taken into account by including the measures of robustness and
risk in the assessment of management options. Thus, besides of the increased
structural complexity resulting from the model extensions, the computational
complexity of the task of epidemics management - interpreted as an optimization
problem - is increased as well. This is a serious obstacle for analyzing the
model and may require an additional pre-processing enabling a simplification of
the analysis process. The paper closes with an outlook discussing some
forthcoming problems
The Impact of Big Data Utilization on Quality Improvement in Inpatient Facilities
Introduction: Poor quality in healthcare has resulted in avoidable patient complications, including readmission rates. Big data in healthcare can be analyzed and built into a tools, with machine learning, to aid in reduced readmission rates and overall positive patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study: The intention of this study was to evaluate the ways that big data can be analyzed to improve healthcare, specifically readmissions, patient outcomes, and show cost savings. This study examined different ways that big data could be used in concordance with machine learning, including predictive analysis, to make these improvements.
Methodology: The hypothesis was the use of big data has improved quality categories in inpatient facilities led to improved patient outcomes, decreased readmission rates, and reduced costs. 27 publications were included and limited to the English language and were published between the year(s) of 2010 and 2023.
Results: The study displayed many solutions to different concerns within the scope of readmissions and patient outcomes through machine learning tools alongside big data. Examined were solutions for reducing readmission rates, and patient outcomes which further included addressing appointment no-shows, disease risks, and outcome outlook.
Discussion: The hypothesis of this study was partially conclusive, as improvement to readmission rates and patient outcomes were examined, but financial data was unavailable to confirm cost savings potential. The study limitations included the inability to obtain financial statistics and the potential for machine learning training data to not be clean. An interview with an expert in quality was also conducted and subject opinions were displayed alongside its corresponding subcategory.
Conclusion: The research provided descriptive and valuable data on the abilities of big data and machine learning techniques. Given the study limitations, there has been shown a need for research and data on the common use of these techniques within inpatient facilities
Glassy Phase of Optimal Quantum Control
We study the problem of preparing a quantum many-body system from an initial
to a target state by optimizing the fidelity over the family of bang-bang
protocols. We present compelling numerical evidence for a universal
spin-glass-like transition controlled by the protocol time duration. The glassy
critical point is marked by a proliferation of protocols with close-to-optimal
fidelity and with a true optimum that appears exponentially difficult to
locate. Using a machine learning (ML) inspired framework based on the manifold
learning algorithm t-SNE, we are able to visualize the geometry of the
high-dimensional control landscape in an effective low-dimensional
representation. Across the transition, the control landscape features an
exponential number of clusters separated by extensive barriers, which bears a
strong resemblance with replica symmetry breaking in spin glasses and random
satisfiability problems. We further show that the quantum control landscape
maps onto a disorder-free classical Ising model with frustrated nonlocal,
multibody interactions. Our work highlights an intricate but unexpected
connection between optimal quantum control and spin glass physics, and shows
how tools from ML can be used to visualize and understand glassy optimization
landscapes.Comment: Modified figures in appendix and main text (color schemes). Corrected
references. Added figures in SI and pseudo-cod
TFP Growth in Old and New Europe
Using Solow-Tornqvist residuals as well as two alternative measurements, we present estimates of total factor productivity (TFP) growth in a sample of 30 European economies for the period 1994-2005. In most of Western Europe, we find a deceleration of TFP growth since 2000. However, the economies of New Europe exhibit a higher level of TFP growth overall and have slowed less than those of Old Europe. In the new market economies of Central and Eastern Europe, we nd both high TFP growth as well as acceleration in the second half of the sample. Regression evidence from Western Europe suggests that product market regulation may adversely aect TFP growth and may thus impair convergence.Total factor productivity growth, Solow residual, product and labor market regulation
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