Modeling Epidemic Spread in Synthetic Populations - Virtual Plagues in Massively Multiplayer Online Games

A virtual plague is a process in which a behavior-affecting property spreads among characters in a Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG). The MMOG individuals constitute a synthetic population, and the game can be seen as a form of interactive executable model for studying disease spread, albeit of a very special kind. To a game developer maintaining an MMOG, recognizing, monitoring, and ultimately controlling a virtual plague is important, regardless of how it was initiated. The prospect of using tools, methods and theory from the field of epidemiology to do this seems natural and appealing. We will address the feasibility of such a prospect, first by considering some basic measures used in epidemiology, then by pointing out the differences between real world epidemics and virtual plagues. We also suggest directions for MMOG developer control through epidemiological modeling. Our aim is understanding the properties of virtual plagues, rather than trying to eliminate them or mitigate their effects, as would be in the case of real infectious disease.Comment: Accepted for presentation at Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA) conference in Tokyo in September 2007. All comments to the authors (mail addresses are in the paper) are welcom

Rapid Prototyping of Functional Three-Dimensional Microsolenoids and Electromagnets by High-Pressure Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition

Three-dimensional laser chemical vapor deposition (3D-LCVD) is an emerging process which bridges the gap between various macro-scale rapid prototyping (RP) systems and microfabrication technologies. With the ability to deposit both metals and dielectrics 3D-LCVD may be used to prototype integrated electromechanical components from sub-micron to centimeter scales. This technological niche is increasingly important with the ever-decreasing size and sophistication of consumer and industrial products. The objective of this work was the development of functional microsolenoids and electromagnets, using 3D-LCVD as the primary fabrication tool. High-aspect-ratio microsolenoids have the potential to generate much greater magnetic-field densities than their thin-film counterparts,l and have many advantages when used as actuators in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).2 3D-LCVD provides a means of fabricating such helical structures, with an ease unparalleled by any lithographic or rapid prototyping process.Mechanical Engineerin

Weighted Radon transforms for which the Chang approximate inversion formula is precise

We describe all weighted Radon transforms on the plane for which the Chang approximate inversion formula is precise. Some subsequent results, including the Cormack type inversion for these transforms, are also given

Heat pipes for wing leading edges of hypersonic vehicles

Wing leading edge heat pipes were conceptually designed for three types of vehicle: an entry research vehicle, aero-space plane, and advanced shuttle. A full scale, internally instrumented sodium/Hastelloy X heat pipe was successfully designed and fabricated for the advanced shuttle application. The 69.4 inch long heat pipe reduces peak leading edge temperatures from 3500 F to 1800 F. It is internally instrumented with thermocouples and pressure transducers to measure sodium vapor qualities. Large thermal gradients and consequently large thermal stresses, which have the potential of limiting heat pipe life, were predicted to occur during startup. A test stand and test plan were developed for subsequent testing of this heat pipe. Heat pipe manufacturing technology was advanced during this program, including the development of an innovative technique for wick installation

Catastrophic Risk Evaluation

A body of empirical evidence has shown that many managers would welcome new ways of highlighting catastrophic consequences, as well as means to evaluating decision situations involving high risks. When events occur frequently and their consequences are not severe, it is relatively simple to calculate the risk exposure of an organisation, as well as a reasonable premium when an insurance transaction is made. The usual methods rely on variations of the principle of maximising the expected utility (PMEU). When, on the other hand, the frequency of damages is low, the situation is considerably more difficult, especially if catastrophic events occur. When the quality of estimates is poor, e.g., when evaluating low-probability/high-consequence risks, the customary use of quantitative rules together with overprecise data could be harmful as well as misleading. This work extends the risk evaluation process by the integration of procedures for handling vague and numerically imprecise probabilities and utilities. The shortcomings of PMEU, and of utility theory in general, can in part be compensated for by the introduction of risk constraints. We point out some problematic features of the evaluations performed using utility theory. We also criticise the demand for precise data in situations where none is available. As an alternative to traditional models, we suggest a method for the evaluation of risks when the information at hand is numerically imprecise. The method includes procedures that allow for interval statements and comparisons, and thereby it does not require the use of numerically precise statements of probability, cost, or utility in a general sense. In order to attain a reasonable level of security, and because it has been shown that managers tend to focus on large negative losses, it is argued that a risk constraint should be imposed on the analysis. The strategies are evaluated relative to a set of such constraints considering how risky the strategies are

Characterization of temporal and spatial variation in subwatersheds of the Strawberry River, AR, prior to implementation of agricultural best management practices

Benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) assessments indicate alterations in physical and/or chemical factors making them valuable tools when attempting to assess agricultural best management practices (BMPs). The purpose of this study was to obtain pre-BMP land cover and macroinvertebrate community data in order to characterize temporal and spatial variation in three catchments: Little Strawberry (LS), Greasy Creek (GC), and Sandy Creek (SC) of the Strawberry River Watershed, located in north central Arkansas, in order to establish baseline conditions. BMIs were collected for the three subwatersheds in 1995, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2009. Taxa richness, Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) and Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) score, % dominant taxa, and % Diptera were used as indicators of water quality and habitat changes. All subwatersheds experienced decreased forest land cover indicating land use transition. All resulting BMI measures indicate overall stable habitat and water conditions in the LS subwatershed. Results for GC subwatershed vary with taxa richness, EPT and HBI indicating a stable habitat while increasing % dominant taxa and Diptera indicate a decreasing trend in overall habitat quality. All BMI measures in the SC subwatershed indicate decreasing trend in habitat quality. The most sensitive measure to temporal changes was % Diptera. Trends were not consistent among subwatersheds indicating the importance of continued data collection to establish baseline data and truly monitor changes in aquatic systems over time

Many parameter Hoelder perturbation of unbounded operators

If $u\mapsto A(u)$ is a $C^{0,\alpha}$-mapping, for $0< \alpha \le 1$, having as values unbounded self-adjoint operators with compact resolvents and common domain of definition, parametrized by $u$ in an (even infinite dimensional) space, then any continuous (in $u$) arrangement of the eigenvalues of $A(u)$ is indeed $C^{0,\alpha}$ in $u$.Comment: LaTeX, 4 pages; The result is generalized from Lipschitz to Hoelder. Title change

Comment on ``Density-matrix renormalization-group method for excited states''

In a Physical Review B paper Chandross and Hicks claim that an analysis of the density-density correlation function in the dimerised Hubbard model of polyacetylene indicates that the optical exciton is bound, and that a previous study by Boman and Bursill that concluded otherwise was incorrect due to numerical innacuracy. We show that the method used in our original paper was numerically sound and well established in the literature. We also show that, when the scaling with lattice size is analysed, the interpretation of the density-density correlation function adopted by Chandross and Hicks in fact implies that the optical exciton is unbound.Comment: RevTeX, 10 pages, 4 eps figures fixed and included now in tex

Electron-lattice relaxation, and soliton structures and their interactions in polyenes

Density matrix renormalisation group calculations of a suitably parametrised model of long polyenes (polyacetylene oligomers), which incorporates both long range Coulomb interactions and adiabatic lattice relaxation, are presented. The triplet and 2Ag states are found to have a 2-soliton and 4-soliton form, respectively, both with large relaxation energies. The 1Bu state forms an exciton-polaron and has a very small relaxation energy. The relaxed energy of the 2Ag state lies below that of the 1Bu state. The soliton/anti-soliton pairs are bound.Comment: RevTeX, 5 pages, 4 eps figures included using epsf. To appear in Physical Review Letters. Fig. 1 fixed u