Counting abelian varieties over finite fields via Frobenius densities

Let $[X,\lambda]$ be a principally polarized abelian variety over a finite field with commutative endomorphism ring; further suppose that either $X$ is ordinary or the field is prime. Motivated by an equidistribution heuristic, we introduce a factor $\nu_v([X,\lambda])$ for each place $v$ of $\mathbb Q$, and show that the product of these factors essentially computes the size of the isogeny class of $[X,\lambda]$. The derivation of this mass formula depends on a formula of Kottwitz and on analysis of measures on the group of symplectic similitudes, and in particular does not rely on a calculation of class numbers.Comment: Main text by Achter, Altug and Gordon; appendix by Li and Ru

Deployment of ITS: A Summary of the 2010 National Survey Results

This report presents summary results of the 2010 ITS Deployment Tracking survey, the most recent survey conducted by the ITS Deployment Tracking Project. The U.S. Department of Transportation and its member agencies, including the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, have pursued a research and development agenda, the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Program, designed to integrate the latest in information technologies to improve the safety, mobility, and reliability of surface transportation modes. Within metropolitan areas, implementation of these advanced technologies has been accomplished by a variety of state and local transportation and emergency management agencies as well as the private sector. In order to measure the rate of ITS deployment within the nation s largest metropolitan areas, the ITS Deployment Tracking Project has conducted a nationwide survey of state and local transportation and emergency management agencies nearly every year since 1997. The results presented in this report are intended to be a summary of the entire database from the 2010 survey. Access to the complete survey results and previous national surveys are available on-line at http://www.itsdeployment.its.dot.gov. The website also provides access to survey results in the form of downloadable reports, including a survey summary for each survey type and fact sheets. Nearly 1,600 surveys were distributed to state and local transportation agencies in 2010. A total of seven (7) survey types were distributed including: Freeway Management, Arterial Management, Transit Management, Transportation Management Center (TMC), Electronic Toll Collection (ETC), Public Safety Law Enforcement, and Public Safety Fire/Rescue. Among other things, the data collection results indicate that ITS has moved from being experimental to mainstream and interest in continuing investments in ITS continues to be very strong. When asked about future deployment plans, one-third to three-fourths of the different agency types report they will expand current deployments and about half are planning to invest in new technologies over the next three years

Acquisitions for Newbies

Designed specifically for librarians new to the field of acquisitions, this preconference workshop featured an informal introduction to the basics of acquisitions librarianship from three standpoints: an acquisitions librarian, a library director with a background in acquisitions, and a regional sales manager for a key vendor to libraries for e-content and software as a solution. The session covered a variety of issues related to the acquisition of both monographs and serials, print and e-formats, and database and backfile purchases. Discussions included similarities and differences between acquisitions and collection development (and how they can vary from library to library), ordering considerations, avoiding purchase of duplicate resources, negotiating prices and access options, licensing, selecting vendors and jobbers, what a vendor representative expects from librarians, and various services that a company’s representatives can provide to assist librarians. The presenters discussed various aspects of access versus ownership of e-books and periodicals and the impact of each on space and budgets both current and future, various ways to allocate library acquisitions funds, and suggested the best times in the annual budget cycle for different types of spending decisions. Questions and interactive conversations were a welcome part of this open, relaxed exploration of what it means to be an acquisitions librarian in an ever changing library environment

Columbia Law School Roundtable on A Governance Research Agenda for the Academy

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136520/1/jacf12221.pd

Direct observation of number squeezing in an optical lattice

We present an in-situ study of an optical lattice with tunneling and single lattice site resolution. This system provides an important step for realizing a quantum computer. The real-space images show the fluctuations of the atom number in each site. The sub-Poissonian distribution results from the approach to the Mott insulator state, combined with the dynamics of density-dependent losses, which result from the high densities of optical lattice experiments. These losses are clear from the shape of the lattice profile. Furthermore, we find that the lattice is not in the ground state despite the momentum distribution which shows the reciprocal lattice. These effects may well be relevant for other optical lattice experiments, past and future. The lattice beams are derived from a microlens array, resulting in lattice beams which are perfectly stable relative to one another

Use of a Community Trail Among New and Habitual Exercisers: A Preliminary Assessment

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated physical activity patterns and trail use among new and habitually active exercisers using onsite trail interviews. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional study design, 414 adults who accessed two new trails that bisect a rural community of 26,809 residents were interviewed during the first summer of the trails' official operation (2001). The trails comprise 12 miles of level and paved surface and run parallel to adjacent water sheds, businesses, and neighborhoods. Recent trail activity patterns were obtained, including the following: frequency of use, mode of activity, duration, distance traveled on trail, access points, time of day used, use of exercise companions, and distance traveled to get to trail. Perceived enablers and barriers related to trail use were also obtained. Data were compared between newly adopted exercisers (new exercisers) and individuals active prior to development of the trails (habitually active exercisers). RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of the trail users were new exercisers. New exercisers were more dependent on the trails as a primary outlet for physical activity than were habitually active exercisers (P < .001). New exercisers traveled shorter distances to access the trails and rated convenience as a primary reason for using them. Both safety and terrain issues emerged as enablers for trail use, and unsafe conditions emerged as a concern among new exercisers. CONCLUSION: A community trail may be an important vehicle for promoting physically active lifestyles. However, new exercisers must overcome issues of proximal and safe access from residential areas in addition to other safety concerns to achieve regular physical activity

Centennial Hills Active Adult Center business plan

The economic indicators for the state of Nevada indicate a bleak financial future. The foreclosure rate of the Las Vegas Valley is five times the national average and the highest rate in the country (Hoak, 2010). Sales tax revenues continue spiraling down and fell by 6.6 percent in December 2009 from December 2008 (Garcia, 2010). State politicians face an estimated budget deficit of $3.5 billion. Local conditions are equally dire. The City of Las Vegas faces a budget shortfall of nearly$69 million for this fiscal year (Choate, 2010). City administrators struggle to find creative solutions to fill financial gaps and must make difficult decisions to reduce, consolidate or eliminate services and programs. The city’s Department of Leisure Services is no exception and administrators are examining ways to make fiscal cuts to the unit’s budget and increase efficiency. The department, which strives to bolster residents’ quality of life, provides services to all Las Vegans and has programs specifically targeting youth, seniors, and low-income families. The department has historically operated under what staff members describe as a social model, making decisions that maximize access without looking at data or efficiency. In light of current fiscal concerns, they hope to make the switch to a business enterprise model of operations that will maximize efficiency and allow for a focus on cost recovery that does not price out Las Vegans from utilizing services. To assist with city administrators’ aspirations to increase cost recovery throughout the department, this paper examines the fiscal and operational challenges at one of six Las Vegas senior centers in an effort to gauge the price elasticity of demand for services. Based on qualitative and quantitative data, the authors crafted seven recommendations to help the Centennial Hills Active Adult Center (CHAAC) create a business plan that allows for the cost recovery of at least 15% of its operational expenses. Those recommendations consist of the following: a change in pricing; increased emphasis on data collection and marketing; more efficient scheduling; an emphasis on seeking alternative funding; the development of a strategic plan for the center to include specific goals, objectives and performance measurements; a review of the center’s relationship to the YMCA; and increased transportation to and from the center. These recommendations will ensure the seniors of Las Vegas have an opportunity for a continuing relationship with the leisure services department. The authors hope this research may assist city officials in the months to come as they deliberate difficult decisions that will impact thousands of Las Vegas seniors and help administrators protect vital services

Hybrid simulation model of ultrasonic inspection of pressure tubes in nuclear industry

Pressure tube inspection within CANDU nuclear reactors is a critical maintenance operation to identify and track the growth of defects within the tube. Current inspection approaches utilising ultrasonic techniques are technically challenging, which cause the whole inspection process to be resource intensive and expensive to implement. This paper will describe the initial stages in the development of a simulation approach for the ultrasonic inspection methodology to research advanced solutions with the objective of improving the inspection accuracy. Zirconium tubes with a thickness of 4.3mm and a required measurement accuracy of defect depth of 0.1mm require the use of high frequency ultrasonic transducers. The finite element modelling of high frequencies is challenging due to the increased mesh requirements to resolve the small wavelengths and the large propagation distance which can cause numerical dispersion. Hence, a 2D finite element hybrid model is developed in PZFlex software to overcome this difficulty with five subsequent components containing both finite element models and analytical solutions: ultrasound transmission; transmission extrapolation (wave propagation); target interaction; echo wave extrapolation and ultrasonic reception. To test the capability of defect inspection using the hybrid model, a slot with a depth of 1mm is introduced in the model. The depth information was calculated from the time-of-flight between the reflections of the tube surface and the slot. The predicted modelled depth estimates produces errors of less than 20micron for both 10MHz and 20MHz probe configurations validating the hybrid modelling approach. Moreover, experimental validation of the hybrid modelling approach is demonstrated