4,229 research outputs found
An Autonomous Robotic System for Mapping Abandoned Mines
We present the software architecture of a robotic system for mapping abandoned mines. The software is capable of acquiring consistent 2D maps of large mines with many cycles, represented as Markov random fields. 3D C-space maps are acquired from local 3D range scans, which are used to identify navigable paths using A* search. Our system has been deployed in three abandoned mines, two of which inaccessible to people, where it has acquired maps of unprecedented detail and accuracy
Easy on that trigger dad: a study of long term family photo retrieval
We examine the effects of new technologies for digital photography on people's longer term storage and access to collections of personal photos. We report an empirical study of parents' ability to retrieve photos related to salient family events from more than a year ago. Performance was relatively poor with people failing to find almost 40% of pictures. We analyze participants' organizational and access strategies to identify reasons for this poor performance. Possible reasons for retrieval failure include: storing too many pictures, rudimentary organization, use of multiple storage systems, failure to maintain collections and participants' false beliefs about their ability to access photos. We conclude by exploring the technical and theoretical implications of these findings
Edgeworth Expansion of the Largest Eigenvalue Distribution Function of GUE Revisited
We derive expansions of the resolvent
Rn(x;y;t)=(Qn(x;t)Pn(y;t)-Qn(y;t)Pn(x;t))/(x-y) of the Hermite kernel Kn at the
edge of the spectrum of the finite n Gaussian Unitary Ensemble (GUEn) and the
finite n expansion of Qn(x;t) and Pn(x;t). Using these large n expansions, we
give another proof of the derivation of an Edgeworth type theorem for the
largest eigenvalue distribution function of GUEn. We conclude with a brief
discussion on the derivation of the probability distribution function of the
corresponding largest eigenvalue in the Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble (GOEn) and
Gaussian Symplectic Ensembles (GSEn)
Relative entropy as a measure of inhomogeneity in general relativity
We introduce the notion of relative volume entropy for two spacetimes with
preferred compact spacelike foliations. This is accomplished by applying the
notion of Kullback-Leibler divergence to the volume elements induced on
spacelike slices. The resulting quantity gives a lower bound on the number of
bits which are necessary to describe one metric given the other. For
illustration, we study some examples, in particular gravitational waves, and
conclude that the relative volume entropy is a suitable device for quantitative
comparison of the inhomogeneity of two spacetimes.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure
The Wahlquist metric cannot describe an isolated rotating body
It is proven that the Wahlquist perfect fluid space-time cannot be smoothly
joined to an exterior asymptotically flat vacuum region. The proof uses a power
series expansion in the angular velocity, to a precision of the second order.
In this approximation, the Wahlquist metric is a special case of the rotating
Whittaker space-time. The exterior vacuum domain is treated in a like manner.
We compute the conditions of matching at the possible boundary surface in both
the interior and the vacuum domain. The conditions for matching the induced
metrics and the extrinsic curvatures are mutually contradictory.Comment: 13 pages, 0 figure
Automatic wheeze detection based on auditory modelling
Automatic wheeze detection has several potential benefits compared with reliance on human auscultation: it is experience independent, an automated historical record can easily be kept, and it allows quantification of wheeze severity. Previous attempts to detect wheezes automatically have had partial success but have not been reliable enough to become widely accepted as a useful tool. In this paper an improved algorithm for automatic wheeze detection based on auditory modelling is developed, called the frequency- and duration-dependent threshold algorithm. The mean frequency and duration of each wheeze component are obtained automatically. The detected wheezes are marked on a spectrogram. In the new algorithm, the concept of a frequency- and duration-dependent threshold for wheeze detection is introduced. Another departure from previous work is that the threshold is based not on global power but on power corresponding to a particular frequency range. The algorithm has been tested on 36 subjects, 11 of whom exhibited characteristics of wheeze. The results show a marked improvement in the accuracy of wheeze detection when compared with previous algorithms
Pressure as a Source of Gravity
The active mass density in Einstein's theory of gravitation in the analog of
Poisson's equation in a local inertial system is proportional to .
Here is the density of energy and its pressure for a perfect fluid.
By using exact solutions of Einstein's field equations in the static case we
study whether the pressure term contributes towards the mass
General Relativity As an Aether Theory
Most early twentieth century relativists --- Lorentz, Einstein, Eddington,
for examples --- claimed that general relativity was merely a theory of the
aether. We shall confirm this claim by deriving the Einstein equations using
aether theory. We shall use a combination of Lorentz's and Kelvin's conception
of the aether. Our derivation of the Einstein equations will not use the
vanishing of the covariant divergence of the stress-energy tensor, but instead
equate the Ricci tensor to the sum of the usual stress-energy tensor and a
stress-energy tensor for the aether, a tensor based on Kelvin's aether theory.
A crucial first step is generalizing the Cartan formalism of Newtonian gravity
to allow spatial curvature, as conjectured by Gauss and Riemann
Josephson Currents in Quantum Hall Devices
We consider a simple model for an SNS Josephson junction in which the "normal
metal" is a section of a filling-factor integer quantum-Hall edge. We
provide analytic expressions for the current/phase relations to all orders in
the coupling between the superconductor and the quantum Hall edge modes, and
for all temperatures. Our conclusions are consistent with the earlier
perturbative study by Ma and Zyuzin [Europhysics Letters {\bf 21} 941-945
(1993)]: The Josephson current is independent of the distance between the
superconducting leads, and the upper bound on the maximum Josephson current is
inversely proportional to the perimeter of the Hall device.Comment: Revtex4. 22 pages 9 figures. Replaced version has minor typos fixed
and one added referenc
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