A Bright Submillimeter Source in the Bullet Cluster (1E0657--56) Field Detected with BLAST

We present the 250, 350, and 500 micron detection of bright submillimeter emission in the direction of the Bullet Cluster measured by the Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (BLAST). The 500 micron centroid is coincident with an AzTEC 1.1 mm point-source detection at a position close to the peak lensing magnification produced by the cluster. However, the 250 micron and 350 micron centroids are elongated and shifted toward the south with a differential shift between bands that cannot be explained by pointing uncertainties. We therefore conclude that the BLAST detection is likely contaminated by emission from foreground galaxies associated with the Bullet Cluster. The submillimeter redshift estimate based on 250-1100 micron photometry at the position of the AzTEC source is z_phot = 2.9 (+0.6 -0.3), consistent with the infrared color redshift estimation of the most likely IRAC counterpart. These flux densities indicate an apparent far-infrared luminosity of L_FIR = 2E13 Lsun. When the amplification due to the gravitational lensing of the cluster is removed, the intrinsic far-infrared luminosity of the source is found to be L_FIR <= 10^12 Lsun, consistent with typical luminous infrared galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. Maps are available at http://blastexperiment.info

Safe Crossover of Neural Networks Through Neuron Alignment

One of the main and largely unexplored challenges in evolving the weights of neural networks using genetic algorithms is to find a sensible crossover operation between parent networks. Indeed, naive crossover leads to functionally damaged offspring that do not retain information from the parents. This is because neural networks are invariant to permutations of neurons, giving rise to multiple ways of representing the same solution. This is often referred to as the competing conventions problem. In this paper, we propose a two-step safe crossover(SC) operator. First, the neurons of the parents are functionally aligned by computing how well they correlate, and only then are the parents recombined. We compare two ways of measuring relationships between neurons: Pairwise Correlation (PwC) and Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA). We test our safe crossover operators (SC-PwC and SC-CCA) on MNIST and CIFAR-10 by performing arithmetic crossover on the weights of feed-forward neural network pairs. We show that it effectively transmits information from parents to offspring and significantly improves upon naive crossover. Our method is computationally fast,can serve as a way to explore the fitness landscape more efficiently and makes safe crossover a potentially promising operator in future neuroevolution research and applications

Travel Behavior and Transportation Planning Insights from the Small Urban Area of Chittenden County, Vermont: An Application of Traveler Segmentation

69A3551747122The primary purpose of this project is to analyze transportation planning and travel behavior in the small urban area of Chittenden County, Vermont. The 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018 travel surveys conducted for the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission serve as the primary data sources. This survey series was designed to collect information from the public about transportation attitudes as well as priorities for regional transportation planning investments. We use cluster analysis to segment travelers into three modal orientations \u2013 Alternative Oriented, Car Tolerant, and Car Oriented \u2013 based on eight factors: 1. Would Change Travel Behavior with Change in Conditions 2. Perceive Car as Only Option 3. Concerned with Congestion, Safety, and Environmental Impacts 4. Transit/Bike/Walk Enthusiast 5. Prioritized Highway Improvements 6. Prioritizes General Roadway Improvements 7. Prioritizes Incentives for Alternatives 8. Prioritizes Improvements for Transit, Biking, and Walking

ALMA reveals a stable rotating gas disk in a paradoxical low-mass, ultra-dusty galaxy at z = 4.274

We report ALMA detections of [CII] and dust continuum in Az9, a multiply-imaged galaxy behind the Frontier Field cluster MACSJ0717.5+3745. The bright [CII] emission line provides a spectroscopic redshift of z = 4.274. This strongly lensed (mu = 7 +/- 1) galaxy has an intrinsic stellar mass of only 2e9 Msun and a total star formation rate of 26 Msun/yr (~80% of which is dust obscured). Using public magnification maps, we reconstruct the [CII] emission in the source plane to reveal a stable, rotation-dominated disk with V/sigma = 5.3, which is > 2x higher than predicted from simulations for similarly high-redshift, low-mass galaxies. In the source plane, the [CII] disk has a half-light radius of 1.8 kpc and, along with the dust, is spatially offset from the peak of the stellar light by 1.4 kpc. Az9 is not deficient in [CII]; L[CII]/LIR = 0.0027 consistent with local and high redshift normal star forming galaxies. While dust-obscured star formation is expected to dominate in higher mass galaxies, such a large reservoir of dust and gas in a lower mass disk galaxy 1.4 Gyr after the Big Bang challenges our picture of early galaxy evolution. Furthermore, the prevalence of such low-mass dusty galaxies has important implications for the selection of the highest redshift dropout galaxies with JWST. As one of the lowest stellar mass galaxies at z > 4 to be detected in dust continuum and [CII], Az9 is an excellent laboratory in which to study early dust enrichment in the interstellar medium.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Exploratory Research on Transportation Related Issues with Manufacturers in Small Urban, Rural and Tribal Areas Performance

This report presents the challenges manufacturers experience when operating in rural areas, which make up 80% of the land mass in the country. While the literature review found little published information on transportation challenges faced by SMEs and the survey results of this pilot study were limited, it is worth noting that 22% of respondents express the movement of outbound goods as an extremely limiting factor to growth and success. As transportation demand increases and resources remain the same, it is assumed the impact of these challenges will also increase

Rural Traveler Information Phase 1: Rural Traveler Information Needs Assessment and Pilot Study

The objective of this project was to put a variety of route-oriented real-time and near real-time information together in a single web-based location in a user-friendly format that does not stop at jurisdictional boundary lines (state, district or county lines, for example). This would allow travelers making a trip in or through rural areas to have current travel information on a route-specific basis and across a wide geographic area, customized for a specific origin and destination, which will help them to make their trip more safely and with a minimum of delay. This project focused on a limited geographic area -Caltrans District 1 and District 2, and Oregon - to provide a proof-of-concept of this approach. While this scale of implementation will yield some direct benefits for the selected area, researchers believe that the principal value of this effort is in demonstrating the feasibility and attractiveness of a One-Stop Shop website for real-time route-specific traveler information for rural areas. This report presents the results of work culminating in the development of a prototype website. Project tasks included a review of practice, compilation of concept of operations and website requirements documents, and development of the prototype website

McKinleyville Transit Study

69A3551747122The purpose of this project was to provide the Humboldt County Association of Governments (\u201cHCAOG\u201d) and Humboldt Transit Authority (\u201cHTA\u201d) with guidance to inform future investments in public transportation in and around McKinleyville. This project is also an opportunity to assess aspects of the regional public transportation system and explore affordable and innovative investments to improve public transportation offerings. The primary motivation for this project was an interest in assessing an investment in fixed route transit service within McKinleyville, similar to what is available in the City of Eureka via the Eureka Transit Service and the City of Arcata via the Arcata & Mad River Transit System

Commercial Package Delivery through Public Transportation Systems in Rural States

69A3551747122The purpose of this project is to provide information regarding the market potential for last mile package delivery via public transportation in rural areas and on Tribal Lands. The project also provides an opportunity to compile guidance for rural and Tribal transit agencies interested in pursuing package delivery as a source of revenue