Evolution in the Clustering of Galaxies for Z < 1

Measuring the evolution in the clustering of galaxies over a large redshift range is a challenging problem. For a two-dimensional galaxy catalog, however, we can measure the galaxy-galaxy angular correlation function which provides information on the density distribution of galaxies. By utilizing photometric redshifts, we can measure the angular correlation function in redshift shells (Brunner 1997, Connolly et al. 1998) which minimizes the galaxy projection effect, and allows for a measurement of the evolution in the correlation strength with redshift. In this proceedings, we present some preliminary results which extend our previous work using more accurate photometric redshifts, and also incorporate absolute magnitudes, so that we can measure the evolution of clustering with either redshift or intrinsic luminosity.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures requires paspconf.sty. To be published in "Photometric Redshifts and High Redshift Galaxies", eds. R. Weymann, L. Storrie-Lombardi, M. Sawicki & R. Brunner, (San Francisco: ASP Conference Series

Thirty Minutes or Less: The Inelasticity of Commuting

This Comment urges the legislature to manipulate travel time in order to reduce GHGE (greenhouse gas emissions). Specifically, the legislature must incentivize mass transit by creating easier, quicker transit systems while simultaneously disincentivizing personal automobiles by increasing automobile travel time. By manipulating the travel time for various modes of travel, the legislature can effectively reduce GHGE while increasing individuals’ quality of life by creating an infrastructure that costs less and provides transportation systems not dependent on the automobile. This Comment explains why the Sustainable Communities Act will fail to significantly reduce vehicle emissions, and this Comment proposes legislative action to reach the goals established in the Global Warming Solutions Act. Part I of this Comment discusses the relationship between the automobile and urban decentralization in America. Part II discusses legislation in California targeting automobile emissions, including regional smart-growth measures and state legislative actions targeted at reducing GHGE. Part III explains the impacts on travel mode choice from urban design, temporal components, and individual components such as attitude, preferences, costs, and the duration of the trip. To demonstrate the power of time, Part III also explains the inelasticity of travel time, the relationship between primary and substitute goods, and how different transportation modes have different values of quality. Part IV proposes changes to make public transit a “close substitute” for the personal automobile and describes savings these policies can bring. Part V demonstrates the viability of these policies by discussing several cities with similar policies. The Conclusion calls the California legislature to act by making funding changes. In order to make significant reductions in GHGE from the transportation industry, as set out in the Global Warming Solutions Act and in the Sustainable Communities Act, the legislature must make meaningful funding changes that significantly reduce automobile infrastructure while making other modes of travel more viable options

Thirty Minutes or Less: The Inelasticity of Commuting

This Comment urges the legislature to manipulate travel time in order to reduce GHGE (greenhouse gas emissions). Specifically, the legislature must incentivize mass transit by creating easier, quicker transit systems while simultaneously disincentivizing personal automobiles by increasing automobile travel time. By manipulating the travel time for various modes of travel, the legislature can effectively reduce GHGE while increasing individuals’ quality of life by creating an infrastructure that costs less and provides transportation systems not dependent on the automobile. This Comment explains why the Sustainable Communities Act will fail to significantly reduce vehicle emissions, and this Comment proposes legislative action to reach the goals established in the Global Warming Solutions Act. Part I of this Comment discusses the relationship between the automobile and urban decentralization in America. Part II discusses legislation in California targeting automobile emissions, including regional smart-growth measures and state legislative actions targeted at reducing GHGE. Part III explains the impacts on travel mode choice from urban design, temporal components, and individual components such as attitude, preferences, costs, and the duration of the trip. To demonstrate the power of time, Part III also explains the inelasticity of travel time, the relationship between primary and substitute goods, and how different transportation modes have different values of quality. Part IV proposes changes to make public transit a “close substitute” for the personal automobile and describes savings these policies can bring. Part V demonstrates the viability of these policies by discussing several cities with similar policies. The Conclusion calls the California legislature to act by making funding changes. In order to make significant reductions in GHGE from the transportation industry, as set out in the Global Warming Solutions Act and in the Sustainable Communities Act, the legislature must make meaningful funding changes that significantly reduce automobile infrastructure while making other modes of travel more viable options

Towards More Precise Photometric Redshifts: Calibration Via CCD Photometry

We present the initial results from a deep, multi-band photometric survey of selected high Galactic latitude redshift fields. Previous work using the photographic data of Koo and Kron demonstrated that the distribution of galaxies in the multi-dimensional flux space U B R I is nearly planar. The position of a galaxy within this plane is determined by its redshift, luminosity and spectral type. Using recently acquired deep CCD photometry in existing, published redshift fields, we have redetermined the distribution of galaxies in this four-dimensional magnitude space. Furthermore, from our CCD photometry and the published redshifts, we have quantified the photometric-redshift relation within the standard AB magnitude system. This empirical relation has a measured dispersion of approximately 0.02 for z < 0.4. With this work we are reaching the asymptotic intrinsic dispersions that were predicted from simulated distributions of galaxy colors.Comment: submitted to the Astrophysical Journal Letter

Analog & Digital Remote Synthesizer

The purpose of this project is to develop and design an analog synthesizer musical instrument that integrates embedded digital hardware into the design to enable control from a remote source. The use of digital hardware enables the potential for a wide range of convenient features such as sound profile saving and loading, output recording functionality, and the ability to accept digital input from another musical instrument utilizing the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI). In addition to the synthesizer itself, this project also includes the design of a companion application that can be hosted on a wide variety of consumer computing devices, such as desktop or laptop PCs, tablets, or mobile smart phones. This application provides a clear and easy to use user interface for controlling all aspects of the synthesizer’s sound output and can initiate the receipt of an output recording stream for later playback as well as providing the interface for saving and loading sound profiles. With this design the Analog and Digital Remote synthesizer provides both the sound characteristics of traditional analog synthesizers as well as the conveniences of modern digital hardware

Isolation in Synchronized Drone Formations

This paper expands on a theoretical model that is used for aerial robots that are working cooperatively to complete a task. In certain situations, such as when multiple robots have catastrophic failures, the surviving robots could become isolated so that they never again communicate with another robot. We prove some properties about isolated robots flying in a grid formation, and we present an algorithm that determines how many robots need to fail to isolate at least one robot. Finally, we propose a strategy that eliminates the possibility of isolation altogether

Proposal for a loophole-free Bell test based on spin-photon interactions in cavities

We present a scheme to demonstrate loophole-free Bell inequality violation where the entanglement between photon pairs is transferred to solid state (spin) qubits mediated by cavity QED interactions. As this transfer can be achieved in a heralded way, our scheme is basically insensitive to losses on the channel. This makes it appealing for the implementation of quantum information protocols based on nonlocality, such as device-independent quantum key distribution. We consider potential experimental realisations of our scheme using single atom, colour centre and quantum dot cavity systems.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Ranavirus Ecology and Evolution: From Epidemiology to Extinction

Ranaviruses have been identified in wild and captive populations of ectothermic vertebrates around the world. Ranavirus epidemics can result in a range of effects on their host populations, from apparently benign infections to mass mortality and local extirpation. In this chapter, we review the current status of ranavirus epidemiology and ecology in amphibians, fish, and reptiles. Ranavirus epidemics in amphibians and fish usually have a rapid onset in the mid-to-late summer while outbreaks in reptiles occur irregularly. Susceptibility to ranavirus differs among host species, and may be influenced by the type of ranavirus and natural or anthropogenic stressors. Ranaviruses can be transmitted within and between host species via several routes, but there is a need for transmission estimates in natural environments. Generally, ranaviruses are locally adapted to their host populations, but movement of infected hosts over long distances can disrupt these associations. There is evidence of increased virulence of ranaviruses in captive fish and amphibian populations raised for production. Given their broad host ranges, potential for high virulence, multiple routes of transmission, and frequent movement of amphibians, fish and reptiles in global trade, it appears that some ranaviruses have the potential to significantly impact host populations and even cause extinctions in the wild