644 research outputs found
Semi-supervised Learning based on Distributionally Robust Optimization
We propose a novel method for semi-supervised learning (SSL) based on
data-driven distributionally robust optimization (DRO) using optimal transport
metrics. Our proposed method enhances generalization error by using the
unlabeled data to restrict the support of the worst case distribution in our
DRO formulation. We enable the implementation of our DRO formulation by
proposing a stochastic gradient descent algorithm which allows to easily
implement the training procedure. We demonstrate that our Semi-supervised DRO
method is able to improve the generalization error over natural supervised
procedures and state-of-the-art SSL estimators. Finally, we include a
discussion on the large sample behavior of the optimal uncertainty region in
the DRO formulation. Our discussion exposes important aspects such as the role
of dimension reduction in SSL
Periodic alternating -junction structures as realization of -Josephson junctions
We consider the properties of a periodic structure consisting of small
alternating 0- and pi- Josephson junctions. We show that depending on the
relation between the lengths of the individual junctions, this system can be
either in the homogeneous or in the phase-modulated state. The modulated phase
appears via a second order phase transition when the mismatch between the
lengths of the individual junctions exceeds the critical value. The screening
length diverges at the transition point. In the modulated state, the
equilibrium phase difference in the structure can take any value from -pi to pi
(phi-junction). The current-phase relation in this structure has very unusual
shape with two maxima. As a consequence, the field dependence of the critical
current in a small structure is very different from the standard Fraunhofer
dependence. The Josephson vortex in a long structure carries partial magnetic
flux, which is determined by the equilibrium phase.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figues, submitted to Phys. Rev.
The leading Ruelle resonances of chaotic maps
The leading Ruelle resonances of typical chaotic maps, the perturbed cat map
and the standard map, are calculated by variation. It is found that, excluding
the resonance associated with the invariant density, the next subleading
resonances are, approximately, the roots of the equation , where
is a positive number which characterizes the amount of stochasticity
of the map. The results are verified by numerical computations, and the
implications to the form factor of the corresponding quantum maps are
discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures included. To appear in Phys. Rev.
Simple heuristics for the assembly line worker assignment and balancing problem
We propose simple heuristics for the assembly line worker assignment and
balancing problem. This problem typically occurs in assembly lines in sheltered
work centers for the disabled. Different from the classical simple assembly
line balancing problem, the task execution times vary according to the assigned
worker. We develop a constructive heuristic framework based on task and worker
priority rules defining the order in which the tasks and workers should be
assigned to the workstations. We present a number of such rules and compare
their performance across three possible uses: as a stand-alone method, as an
initial solution generator for meta-heuristics, and as a decoder for a hybrid
genetic algorithm. Our results show that the heuristics are fast, they obtain
good results as a stand-alone method and are efficient when used as a initial
solution generator or as a solution decoder within more elaborate approaches.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figur
Explicit CP violation in the Dine-Seiberg-Thomas model
The possibility of explicit CP violation is studied in a supersymmetric model
proposed by Dine, Seiberg, and Thomas, with two effective dimension-five
operators. The explicit CP violation may be triggered by complex phases in the
coefficients for the dimension-five operators in the Higgs potential, and by a
complex phase in the scalar top quark masses. Although the scenario of explicit
CP violation is found to be inconsistent with the experimental data at LEP2 at
the tree level, it may be possible at the one-loop level. For a reasonable
parameter space, the masses of the neutral Higgs bosons and their couplings to
a pair of bosons are consistent with the LEP2 data, at the one-loop level.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure
Succinct Representation of Codes with Applications to Testing
Motivated by questions in property testing, we search for linear
error-correcting codes that have the "single local orbit" property: i.e., they
are specified by a single local constraint and its translations under the
symmetry group of the code. We show that the dual of every "sparse" binary code
whose coordinates are indexed by elements of F_{2^n} for prime n, and whose
symmetry group includes the group of non-singular affine transformations of
F_{2^n} has the single local orbit property. (A code is said to be "sparse" if
it contains polynomially many codewords in its block length.) In particular
this class includes the dual-BCH codes for whose duals (i.e., for BCH codes)
simple bases were not known. Our result gives the first short (O(n)-bit, as
opposed to the natural exp(n)-bit) description of a low-weight basis for BCH
codes. The interest in the "single local orbit" property comes from the recent
result of Kaufman and Sudan (STOC 2008) that shows that the duals of codes that
have the single local orbit property under the affine symmetry group are
locally testable. When combined with our main result, this shows that all
sparse affine-invariant codes over the coordinates F_{2^n} for prime n are
locally testable. If, in addition to n being prime, if 2^n-1 is also prime
(i.e., 2^n-1 is a Mersenne prime), then we get that every sparse cyclic code
also has the single local orbit. In particular this implies that BCH codes of
Mersenne prime length are generated by a single low-weight codeword and its
cyclic shifts
Topology, Entropy and Witten Index of Dilaton Black Holes
We have found that for extreme dilaton black holes an inner boundary must be
introduced in addition to the outer boundary to give an integer value to the
Euler number. The resulting manifolds have (if one identifies imaginary time)
topology and Euler number in contrast to
the non-extreme case with . The entropy of extreme dilaton black
holes is already known to be zero. We include a review of some recent ideas due
to Hawking on the Reissner-Nordstr\"om case. By regarding all extreme black
holes as having an inner boundary, we conclude that the entropy of {\sl all}
extreme black holes, including black holes, vanishes. We discuss the
relevance of this to the vanishing of quantum corrections and the idea that the
functional integral for extreme holes gives a Witten Index. We have studied
also the topology of ``moduli space'' of multi black holes. The quantum
mechanics on black hole moduli spaces is expected to be supersymmetric despite
the fact that they are not HyperK\"ahler since the corresponding geometry has
torsion unlike the BPS monopole case. Finally, we describe the possibility of
extreme black hole fission for states with an energy gap. The energy released,
as a proportion of the initial rest mass, during the decay of an
electro-magnetic black hole is 300 times greater than that released by the
fission of an nucleus.Comment: 51 pages, 4 figures, LaTeX. Considerably extended version. New
sections include discussion of the Witten index, topology of the moduli
space, black hole sigma model, and black hole fission with huge energy
releas
The STAR Time Projection Chamber: A Unique Tool for Studying High Multiplicity Events at RHIC
The STAR Time Projection Chamber (TPC) is used to record collisions at the
Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The TPC is the central element in a
suite of detectors that surrounds the interaction vertex. The TPC provides
complete coverage around the beam-line, and provides complete tracking for
charged particles within +- 1.8 units of pseudo-rapidity of the center-of-mass
frame. Charged particles with momenta greater than 100 MeV/c are recorded.
Multiplicities in excess of 3,000 tracks per event are routinely reconstructed
in the software. The TPC measures 4 m in diameter by 4.2 m long, making it the
largest TPC in the world.Comment: 28 pages, 11 figure
Long-term risk of adverse outcomes according to atrial fibrillation type.
Sustained forms of atrial fibrillation (AF) may be associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes, but few if any long-term studies took into account changes of AF type and co-morbidities over time. We prospectively followed 3843 AF patients and collected information on AF type and co-morbidities during yearly follow-ups. The primary outcome was a composite of stroke or systemic embolism (SE). Secondary outcomes included myocardial infarction, hospitalization for congestive heart failure (CHF), bleeding and all-cause mortality. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards models with time-varying covariates were used to compare hazard ratios (HR) according to AF type. At baseline 1895 (49%), 1046 (27%) and 902 (24%) patients had paroxysmal, persistent and permanent AF and 3234 (84%) were anticoagulated. After a median (IQR) follow-up of 3.0 (1.9; 4.2) years, the incidence of stroke/SE was 1.0 per 100 patient-years. The incidence of myocardial infarction, CHF, bleeding and all-cause mortality was 0.7, 3.0, 2.9 and 2.7 per 100 patient-years, respectively. The multivariable adjusted (a) HRs (95% confidence interval) for stroke/SE were 1.13 (0.69; 1.85) and 1.27 (0.83; 1.95) for time-updated persistent and permanent AF, respectively. The corresponding aHRs were 1.23 (0.89, 1.69) and 1.45 (1.12; 1.87) for all-cause mortality, 1.34 (1.00; 1.80) and 1.30 (1.01; 1.67) for CHF, 0.91 (0.48; 1.72) and 0.95 (0.56; 1.59) for myocardial infarction, and 0.89 (0.70; 1.14) and 1.00 (0.81; 1.24) for bleeding. In this large prospective cohort of AF patients, time-updated AF type was not associated with incident stroke/SE
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