853,008 research outputs found
A hypothesis for the color diversity of the Kuiper belt
We propose a chemical and dynamical process to explain the surface colors of
the Kuiper belt. In our hypothesis, the initial bulk compositions of the bodies
themselves can be quite diverse -- as is seen in comets -- but the early
surface compositions are set by volatile evaporation after the objects are
formed. Strong gradients in surface composition, coupled with UV and particle
irradiation, lead to the surface colors that are seen today. The objects formed
in the inner part of the primordial belt retain only H2O and CO2 as the major
ice species on their surfaces. Irradiation of these species plausibly results
in the dark neutrally colored centaurs and KBOs. Object formed further in the
disk retain CH3OH, which has been shown to lead to brighter redder surfaces
after irradiation, as seen in the brighter redder centaurs and KBOs. Objects
formed at the current location of the cold classical Kuiper belt uniquely
retain NH3, which has been shown to affect irradiation chemistry and could
plausibly lead to the unique colors of these objects. We propose observational
and experimental tests of this hypothesis.Comment: ApJL, in pres
Query Processing In Location-based Services
With the advances in wireless communication technology and advanced positioning systems, a variety of Location-Based Services (LBS) become available to the public. Mobile users can issue location-based queries to probe their surrounding environments. One important type of query in LBS is moving monitoring queries over mobile objects. Due to the high frequency in location updates and the expensive cost of continuous query processing, server computation capacity and wireless communication bandwidth are the two limiting factors for large-scale deployment of moving object database systems. To address both of the scalability factors, distributed computing has been considered. These schemes enable moving objects to participate as a peer in query processing to substantially reduce the demand on server computation, and wireless communications associated with location updates. In the first part of this dissertation, we propose a distributed framework to process moving monitoring queries over moving objects in a spatial network environment. In the second part of this dissertation, in order to reduce the communication cost, we leverage both on-demand data access and periodic broadcast to design a new hybrid distributed solution for moving monitoring queries in an open space environment. Location-based services make our daily life more convenient. However, to receive the services, one has to reveal his/her location and query information when issuing locationbased queries. This could lead to privacy breach if these personal information are possessed by some untrusted parties. In the third part of this dissertation, we introduce a new privacy protection measure called query l-diversity, and provide two cloaking algorithms to achieve both location kanonymity and query l-diversity to better protect user privacy. In the fourth part of this dissertation, we design a hybrid three-tier architecture to help reduce privacy exposure. In the fifth part of this dissertation, we propose to use Road Network Embedding technique to process privacy protected queries
Object-guided Spatial Attention in Touch: Holding the Same Object with Both Hands Delays Attentional Selection
Abstract
Previous research has shown that attention to a specific location on a uniform visual object spreads throughout the entire object. Here we demonstrate that, similar to the visual system, spatial attention in touch can be object guided. We measured event-related brain potentials to tactile stimuli arising from objects held by observers' hands, when the hands were placed either near each other or far apart, holding two separate objects, or when they were far apart but holding a common object. Observers covertly oriented their attention to the left, to the right, or to both hands, following bilaterally presented tactile cues indicating likely tactile target location(s). Attentional modulations for tactile stimuli at attended compared to unattended locations were present in the time range of early somatosensory components only when the hands were far apart, but not when they were near. This was found to reflect enhanced somatosensory processing at attended locations rather than suppressed processing at unattended locations. Crucially, holding a common object with both hands delayed attentional selection, similar to when the hands were near. This shows that the proprioceptive distance effect on tactile attentional selection arises when distant event locations can be treated as separate and unconnected sources of tactile stimulation, but not when they form part of the same object. These findings suggest that, similar to visual attention, both space- and object-based attentional mechanisms can operate when we select between tactile events on our body surface.</jats:p
Coherent Bayesian analysis of inspiral signals
We present in this paper a Bayesian parameter estimation method for the
analysis of interferometric gravitational wave observations of an inspiral of
binary compact objects using data recorded simultaneously by a network of
several interferometers at different sites. We consider neutron star or black
hole inspirals that are modeled to 3.5 post-Newtonian (PN) order in phase and
2.5 PN in amplitude. Inference is facilitated using Markov chain Monte Carlo
methods that are adapted in order to efficiently explore the particular
parameter space. Examples are shown to illustrate how and what information
about the different parameters can be derived from the data. This study uses
simulated signals and data with noise characteristics that are assumed to be
defined by the LIGO and Virgo detectors operating at their design
sensitivities. Nine parameters are estimated, including those associated with
the binary system, plus its location on the sky. We explain how this technique
will be part of a detection pipeline for binary systems of compact objects with
masses up to 20 \sunmass, including cases where the ratio of the individual
masses can be extreme.Comment: Accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravity, Special
issue for GWDAW-1
Coherent Bayesian inference on compact binary inspirals using a network of interferometric gravitational wave detectors
Presented in this paper is a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) routine for
conducting coherent parameter estimation for interferometric gravitational wave
observations of an inspiral of binary compact objects using data from multiple
detectors. The MCMC technique uses data from several interferometers and infers
all nine of the parameters (ignoring spin) associated with the binary system,
including the distance to the source, the masses, and the location on the sky.
The Metropolis-algorithm utilises advanced MCMC techniques, such as importance
resampling and parallel tempering. The data is compared with time-domain
inspiral templates that are 2.5 post-Newtonian (PN) in phase and 2.0 PN in
amplitude. Our routine could be implemented as part of an inspiral detection
pipeline for a world wide network of detectors. Examples are given for
simulated signals and data as seen by the LIGO and Virgo detectors operating at
their design sensitivity.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure
MAPCAT: Monitoring AGN with Polarimetry at the Calar Alto Telescopes
We introduce MAPCAT, a long-term observing program for "Monitoring of AGN
with Polarimetry at the Calar Alto Telescopes". Multi-spectral-range studies
are critical to understand some of the most relevant current problems of high
energy astrophysics of blazars such as their high energy emission mechanisms
and the location of their gamma-ray emission region through event associations
across the spectrum. Adding multi-spectral-range polarimetry allows for even
more reliable identification of polarized flares across the spectrum in these
kind of objects, as well as for more accurate modeling of their magnetic field.
As part of a major international effort to study the long term multi-spectral
range polarimetric behavior of blazars, MAPCAT uses -since mid 2007- CAFOS on
the 2.2m Telescope at the Calar Alto Observatory (Almeria, Spain) to obtain
monthly optical (R-band) photo-polarimetric measurements of a sample of 34 of
the brightest gamma-ray, optical, and radio-millimeter blazars accessible from
the northern hemisphere.Comment: To be published in the proceedings of High Energy Phenomena in
Relativistic Outflows III (HEPRO III, IJMPCS). 4 page
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