49,717 research outputs found
Iterated smoothed bootstrap confidence intervals for population quantiles
This paper investigates the effects of smoothed bootstrap iterations on
coverage probabilities of smoothed bootstrap and bootstrap-t confidence
intervals for population quantiles, and establishes the optimal kernel
bandwidths at various stages of the smoothing procedures. The conventional
smoothed bootstrap and bootstrap-t methods have been known to yield one-sided
coverage errors of orders O(n^{-1/2}) and o(n^{-2/3}), respectively, for
intervals based on the sample quantile of a random sample of size n. We sharpen
the latter result to O(n^{-5/6}) with proper choices of bandwidths at the
bootstrapping and Studentization steps. We show further that calibration of the
nominal coverage level by means of the iterated bootstrap succeeds in reducing
the coverage error of the smoothed bootstrap percentile interval to the order
O(n^{-2/3}) and that of the smoothed bootstrap-t interval to O(n^{-58/57}),
provided that bandwidths are selected of appropriate orders. Simulation results
confirm our asymptotic findings, suggesting that the iterated smoothed
bootstrap-t method yields the most accurate coverage. On the other hand, the
iterated smoothed bootstrap percentile method interval has the advantage of
being shorter and more stable than the bootstrap-t intervals.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/009053604000000878 in the
Annals of Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aos/) by the Institute of
Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org
Noncommutative D-Brane in Non-Constant NS-NS B Field Background
We show that when the field strength H of the NS-NS B field does not vanish,
the coordinates X and momenta P of an open string endpoints satisfy a set of
mixed commutation relations among themselves. Identifying X and P with the
coordinates and derivatives of the D-brane world volume, we find a new type of
noncommutative spaces which is very different from those associated with a
constant B field background.Comment: 11 pages, Latex, minor modification
Analysis of opposed jet hydrogen-air counter flow diffusion flame
A computational simulation of the opposed-jet diffusion flame is performed to study its structure and extinction limits. The present analysis concentrates on the nitrogen-diluted hydrogen-air diffusion flame, which provides the basic information for many vehicle designs such as the aerospace plane for which hydrogen is a candidate as the fuel. The computer program uses the time-marching technique to solve the energy and species equations coupled with the momentum equation solved by the collocation method. The procedure is implemented in two stages. In the first stage, a one-step forward overal chemical reaction is chosen with the gas phase chemical reaction rate determined by comparison with experimental data. In the second stage, a complete chemical reaction mechanism is introduced with detailed thermodynamic and transport property calculations. Comparison between experimental extinction data and theoretical predictions is discussed. The effects of thermal diffusion as well as Lewis number and Prandtl number variations on the diffusion flame are also presented
Supersymmetric reduced models with a symmetry based on Filippov algebra
Generalizations of the reduced model of super Yang-Mills theory obtained by
replacing the Lie algebra structure to Filippov -algebra structures are
studied. Conditions for the reduced model actions to be supersymmetric are
examined. These models are related with what we call \{cal N}_{min}=2 super
-brane actions.Comment: v3: In the previous versions we overlooked that Eq.(3.9) holds more
generally, and missed some supersymmetric actions. Those are now included and
modifications including a slight change in the title were made accordingly.
1+18 page
Semimetalic graphene in a modulated electric potential
The -electronic structure of graphene in the presence of a modulated
electric potential is investigated by the tight-binding model. The low-energy
electronic properties are strongly affected by the period and field strength.
Such a field could modify the energy dispersions, destroy state degeneracy, and
induce band-edge states. It should be noted that a modulated electric potential
could make semiconducting graphene semimetallic, and that the onset period of
such a transition relies on the field strength. There exist infinite
Fermi-momentum states in sharply contrast with two crossing points (Dirac
points) for graphene without external fields. The finite density of states
(DOS) at the Fermi level means that there are free carriers, and, at the same
time, the low DOS spectrum exhibits many prominent peaks, mainly owing to the
band-edge states.Comment: 12pages, 5 figure
The Nonduality of Motion and Rest: Sengzhao on the Change of Things
In his essay “Things Do Not Move,” Sengzhao (374?−414 CE), a prominent Chinese Buddhist philosopher, argues for the thesis that the myriad things do not move in time. This view is counter-intuitive and seems to run counter to the Mahayana Buddhist doctrine of emptiness. In this book chapter, I assess Sengzhao’s arguments for his thesis, elucidate his stance on the change/nonchange of things, and discuss related problems. I argue that although Sengzhao is keen on showing the plausibility of the thesis, he actually views the myriad things as both changing and unchanging and upholds the nonduality of motion and rest. In fact, the nonmoving thesis follows from the discernment that things change from moment to moment without there being any enduring stuff in the process. Among philosophical works that confer a higher ontological status on nonchange over change, Sengzhao’s essay is unique and well worth pondering
Equilibrium spin pulsars unite neutron star populations
Many pulsars are formed with a binary companion from which they can accrete
matter. Torque exerted by accreting matter can cause the pulsar spin to
increase or decrease, and over long times, an equilibrium spin rate is
achieved. Application of accretion theory to these systems provides a probe of
the pulsar magnetic field. We compare the large number of recent torque
measurements of accreting pulsars with a high-mass companion to the standard
model for how accretion affects the pulsar spin period. We find that many long
spin period (P > 100 s) pulsars must possess either extremely weak (B < 10^10
G) or extremely strong (B > 10^14 G) magnetic fields. We argue that the
strong-field solution is more compelling, in which case these pulsars are near
spin equilibrium. Our results provide evidence for a fundamental link between
pulsars with the slowest spin periods and strong magnetic fields around
high-mass companions and pulsars with the fastest spin periods and weak fields
around low-mass companions. The strong magnetic fields also connect our pulsars
to magnetars and strong-field isolated radio/X-ray pulsars. The strong field
and old age of our sources suggests their magnetic field penetrates into the
superconducting core of the neutron star.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures; to appear in MNRA
Outflow-Dominated Emission from the Quiescent Massive Black Holes in NGC 4621 and NGC 4697
The nearby elliptical galaxies NGC 4621 and NGC 4697 each host a supermassive
black hole with a mass more than 1e8 Solar masses. Analysis of archival Chandra
data and new NRAO Very Large Array data shows that each galaxy contains a
low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (LLAGN), identified as a faint, hard
X-ray source that is astrometrically coincident with a faint 8.5-GHz source.
The latter has a diameter less than 0.3 arcsec (26 pc for NGC 4621, 17 pc for
NGC 4697). The black holes energizing these LLAGNs have Eddington ratios L(2-10
keV) / L(Edd) ~ 1e-9, placing them in the so-called quiescent regime. The
emission from these quiescent black holes is radio-loud, with log Rx = log
nuLnu(8.5 GHz) / L(2-10 keV) ~ -2, suggesting the presence of a radio outflow.
Also, application of the radio-X-ray-mass relation from Yuan & Cui for
quiescent black holes predicts the observed radio luminosities nuLnu(8.5 GHz)
to within a factor of a few. Significantly, that relation invokes X-ray
emission from the outflow rather than from an accretion flow. The faint, but
detectable, emission from these two massive black holes is therefore consistent
with being outflow-dominated. Observational tests of this finding are
suggested.Comment: 11 pages; 4 figures: emulateapj; to appear in Ap
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