15,927 research outputs found
Emulating computer models with step-discontinuous outputs using Gaussian processes
In many real-world applications, we are interested in approximating functions that are analytically unknown. An emulator provides a "fast" approximation of such functions relying on a limited number of evaluations. Gaussian processes (GPs) are commonplace emulators due to their properties such as the ability to quantify uncertainty. GPs are essentially developed to emulate smooth, continuous functions. However, the assumptions of continuity and smoothness is unwarranted in many situations. For example, in computer models where bifurcation, tipping points occur in their systems of equations, the outputs can be discontinuous. This paper examines the capacity of GPs for emulating step-discontinuous functions using two approaches. The first approach is based on choosing covariance functions/kernels, namely neural network and Gibbs, that are most appropriate for modelling discontinuities. The predictive performance of these two kernels is illustrated using several examples. The results show that they have superior performance to standard covariance functions, such as the Mat\'ern family, in capturing sharp jumps. The second approach is to transform the input space such that in the new space a GP with a standard kernel is able to predict the function well. A parametric transformation function is used whose parameters are estimated by maximum likelihood.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC
Non-Gaussian Radio-Wave Scattering in the Interstellar Medium
It was recently suggested by Boldyrev & Gwinn that the characteristics of
radio scintillations from distant pulsars are best understood if the
interstellar electron-density fluctuations that cause the time broadening of
the radio pulses obey non-Gaussian statistics. In this picture the density
fluctuations are inferred to be strong on very small scales (). We argue that such density structures could correspond to the ionized
boundaries of molecular regions (clouds) and demonstrate that the power-law
distribution of scattering angles that is required to match the observations
arises naturally from the expected intersections of our line of sight with
randomly distributed, thin, approximately spherical ionized shells of this
type. We show that the observed change in the time-broadening behavior for
pulsar dispersion measures is consistent
with the expected effect of the general ISM turbulence, which should dominate
the scattering for nearby pulsars. We also point out that if the clouds are
ionized by nearby stars, then their boundaries may become turbulent on account
of an ionization front instability. This turbulence could be an alternative
cause of the inferred density structures. An additional effect that might
contribute to the strength of the small-scale fluctuations in this case is the
expected flattening of the turbulent density spectrum when the eddy sizes
approach the proton gyroscale.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, accepted to Ap
Planetary systems around close binary stars: the case of the very dusty, Sun-like, spectroscopic binary BD+20 307
Field star BD+20 307 is the dustiest known main sequence star, based on the
fraction of its bolometric luminosity, 4%, that is emitted at infrared
wavelengths. The particles that carry this large IR luminosity are unusually
warm, comparable to the temperature of the zodiacal dust in the solar system,
and their existence is likely to be a consequence of a fairly recent collision
of large objects such as planets or planetary embryos. Thus, the age of BD+20
307 is potentially of interest in constraining the era of terrestrial planet
formation. The present project was initiated with an attempt to derive this age
using the Chandra X-ray Observatory to measure the X-ray flux of BD+20 307 in
conjunction with extensive photometric and spectroscopic monitoring
observations from Fairborn Observatory. However, the recent realization that
BD+20 307 is a short period, double-line, spectroscopic binary whose components
have very different lithium abundances, vitiates standard methods of age
determination. We find the system to be metal-poor; this, combined with its
measured lithium abundances, indicates that BD+20 307 may be several to many
Gyr old. BD+20 307 affords astronomy a rare peek into a mature planetary system
in orbit around a close binary star (because such systems are not amenable to
study by the precision radial velocity technique).Comment: accepted for ApJ, December 10, 200
Continuous cough monitoring using ambient sound recording during convalescence from a COPD exacerbation
Purpose Cough is common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with frequent exacerbations and increased mortality. Cough increases during acute exacerbations (AE-COPD), representing a possible metric of clinical deterioration. Conventional cough monitors accurately report cough counts over short time periods. We describe a novel monitoring system which we used to record cough continuously for up to 45 days during AE-COPD convalescence. Methods This is a longitudinal, observational study of cough monitoring in AE-COPD patients discharged from a single teaching-hospital. Ambient sound was recorded from two sites in the domestic environment and analysed using novel cough classifier software. For comparison, the validated hybrid HACC/LCM cough monitoring system was used on days 1, 5, 20 and 45. Patients were asked to record symptoms daily using diaries. Results Cough monitoring data were available for 16 subjects with a total of 568 monitored days. Daily cough count fell significantly from mean±SEM 272.7±54.5 on day 1 to 110.9±26.3 on day 9 (p<0.01) before plateauing. The absolute cough count detected by the continuous monitoring system was significantly lower than detected by the hybrid HACC/LCM system but normalised counts strongly correlated (r=0.88, p<0.01) demonstrating an ability to detect trends. Objective cough count and subjective cough scores modestly correlated (r=0.46). Conclusions Cough frequency declines significantly following AE-COPD and the reducing trend can be detected using continuous ambient sound recording and novel cough classifier software. Objective measurement of cough frequency has the potential to enhance our ability to monitor the clinical state in patients with COPD
Attitude-referenced radiometer study. Volume 2 - Precision radiometric system
Attitude reference radiometer study for earth orbiting spacecraf
Theoretical interpretation of the experimental electronic structure of lens shaped, self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots
We adopt an atomistic pseudopotential description of the electronic structure
of self-assembled, lens shaped InAs quantum dots within the ``linear
combination of bulk bands'' method. We present a detailed comparison with
experiment, including quantites such as the single particle electron and hole
energy level spacings, the excitonic band gap, the electron-electron, hole-hole
and electron hole Coulomb energies and the optical polarization anisotropy. We
find a generally good agreement, which is improved even further for a dot
composition where some Ga has diffused into the dots.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures. Submitted to Physical Review
Variational quantum Monte Carlo calculations for solid surfaces
Quantum Monte Carlo methods have proven to predict atomic and bulk properties
of light and non-light elements with high accuracy. Here we report on the first
variational quantum Monte Carlo (VMC) calculations for solid surfaces. Taking
the boundary condition for the simulation from a finite layer geometry, the
Hamiltonian, including a nonlocal pseudopotential, is cast in a layer resolved
form and evaluated with a two-dimensional Ewald summation technique. The exact
cancellation of all Jellium contributions to the Hamiltonian is ensured. The
many-body trial wave function consists of a Slater determinant with
parameterized localized orbitals and a Jastrow factor with a common two-body
term plus a new confinement term representing further variational freedom to
take into account the existence of the surface. We present results for the
ideal (110) surface of Galliumarsenide for different system sizes. With the
optimized trial wave function, we determine some properties related to a solid
surface to illustrate that VMC techniques provide standard results under full
inclusion of many-body effects at solid surfaces.Comment: 9 pages with 2 figures (eps) included, Latex 2.09, uses REVTEX style,
submitted to Phys. Rev.
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