Quasars as very-accurate clock synchronizers

Quasars can be employed to synchronize global data communications, geophysical measurements, and atomic clocks. It is potentially two to three orders of magnitude better than presently-used Moon-bounce system. Comparisons between quasar and clock pulses are used to develop correction or synchronization factors for station clocks

A Test for Anchoring and Yea-Saying in Experimental Consumption Data

In the experimental module of the AHEAD 1995 data, the sample is randomly split into respondents who get an open-ended question on the amount of total family consumption - with follow-up unfolding brackets (of the form: is consumption $X or more?) for those who answer don t know or refuse - and respondents who are immediately directed to unfolding brackets.In both cases, the entry point of the unfolding bracket sequence is randomized.These data are used to develop a nonparametric test for whether people make mistakes in answering the first bracket question, allowing for any type of selection into answering the open-ended question or not.Two well-known types of mistakes are considered: anchoring and yea-saying (or acquiescence).While the literature provides ample evidence that the entry point in the first bracket question serves as an anchor for follow-up bracket questions, it is less clear whether the answers to the first bracket question are already affected by anchoring.We reject the joint hypothesis of no anchoring and no yea-saying at the entry point.Once yea-saying is taken into account, there is no evidence of anchoring.consumption;nonresponse

Models for Anchoring and Acquiescence Bias in Consumption Data

Item non-response in household survey data on economic variables such as income, assets or consumption is a well-known problem.Follow-up unfolding bracket questions have been used as a tool to collect partial information on respondents that do not answer an open-ended question.It is also known, however, that mistakes are made in answering such unfolding bracket questions.In this paper, we develop several limited dependent variable models to analyze two sources of mistakes, anchoring and acquiescence (or yeasaying), focusing on the first bracket question.We use the experimental module of the AHEAD 1995 data, where the sample is randomly split into respondents who get an open-ended question on the amount of total family consumption - with follow-up unfolding brackets (of the form: is consumption $X or more?) for those who answer don t know or refuse - and respondents who are immediately directed to unfolding brackets.In both cases, the entry point of the unfolding bracket sequence is randomized.We compare models in which the probability of a mistake depends on the deviation between the true consumption amount and the entry point amount$X and models in which it does not.We find that allowing for acquiescence bias substantially changes the conclusions on the selective nature of non-response to the open-ended question and on the distribution of consumption expenditures in the population.Once acquiescence bias is taken into account, anchoring in the first bracket question plays only a minor role.consumption;household economics;distribution;nonresponse

Wiener Chaos and the Cox-Ingersoll-Ross model

In this we paper we recast the Cox--Ingersoll--Ross model of interest rates into the chaotic representation recently introduced by Hughston and Rafailidis. Beginning with the ``squared Gaussian representation'' of the CIR model, we find a simple expression for the fundamental random variable X. By use of techniques from the theory of infinite dimensional Gaussian integration, we derive an explicit formula for the n-th term of the Wiener chaos expansion of the CIR model, for n=0,1,2,.... We then derive a new expression for the price of a zero coupon bond which reveals a connection between Gaussian measures and Ricatti differential equations.Comment: 27 page

Image selection system

An image selection (ISS) was developed for the NASA-Ames Research Center Earth Resources Aircraft Project. The ISS is an interactive, graphics oriented, computer retrieval system for aerial imagery. An analysis of user coverage requests and retrieval strategies is presented, followed by a complete system description. Data base structure, retrieval processors, command language, interactive display options, file structures, and the system's capability to manage sets of selected imagery are described. A detailed example of an area coverage request is graphically presented

Tunneling spectra for (dx2−y2+isd_{x^2-y^2}+is)-wave superconductors versus tunneling spectra for (dx2−y2+idxyd_{x^2-y^2}+id_{xy})-wave superconductors

The tunneling conductance spectra of a normal metal / insulator / singlet superconductor is calculated from the reflection amplitudes using the Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk (BTK) formulation. The pairing symmetry of the superconductor is assumed to be $d_{x^2-y^2}+is$, or $d_{x^2-y^2}+id_{xy}$. It is found that in the ($d_{x^2-y^2}+is$)-wave case there is a well defined conductance peak in the conductance spectra, in the amplitude of the secondary s-wave component. In the ($d_{x^2-y^2}+id_{xy}$)-wave case the tunneling conductance has residual values within the gap, due to the formation of bound states. The bound state energies depend on the angle of the incident quasiparticles, and also on the boundary orientation. On the basis of this observation an electron focusing experiment is proposed to probe the ($d_{x^2-y^2}+id_{xy}$)-wave state.Comment: 17 pages with 9 figure