7,509 research outputs found
The MM Alternative to EM
The EM algorithm is a special case of a more general algorithm called the MM
algorithm. Specific MM algorithms often have nothing to do with missing data.
The first M step of an MM algorithm creates a surrogate function that is
optimized in the second M step. In minimization, MM stands for
majorize--minimize; in maximization, it stands for minorize--maximize. This
two-step process always drives the objective function in the right direction.
Construction of MM algorithms relies on recognizing and manipulating
inequalities rather than calculating conditional expectations. This survey
walks the reader through the construction of several specific MM algorithms.
The potential of the MM algorithm in solving high-dimensional optimization and
estimation problems is its most attractive feature. Our applications to random
graph models, discriminant analysis and image restoration showcase this
ability.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/08-STS264 the Statistical
Science (http://www.imstat.org/sts/) by the Institute of Mathematical
Statistics (http://www.imstat.org
AN ECONOMIC MODEL OF U.S. IMPORTS OF BUTTER AND MILK FAT PRODUCTS
This study developed a model to explain monthly imports of butter and butter substitutes. The U.S. imports butter and other high milk fat products that can substitute for a strict definition of butter. These products include dairy spreads, butter substitutes, anhydrous milk fat, and food preparations. The U.S. imports these high milk fat products under a tariff-rate quota system (TRQ) implemented by the World Trade Organization (WTO). This study quantified all the milk fat contained in U.S. butter and butter substitute imports. A conceptual model was developed to explain imports of these products under a TRQ system. And an econometric model was estimated to analyze the economic factors that drive over-quota imports. The model found that the wedge between U.S. and world butter prices explains much of the incentive to import overquota butter and butter substitutes.International Relations/Trade,
A Component Methodology to Assess The Impact of Protein Imports on the U.S. Dairy Industry
This paper provides an assessment of the protein content of U.S. trade in dairy products and their potential impact on U.S. milk prices. The protein in imports of MPC, Casein & Albumins accounted for 5-6 percent of protein in total U.S. consumption during the period 1997-2002.Livestock Production/Industries,
Quantum interference in attosecond transient absorption of laser-dressed helium atoms
We calculate the transient absorption of an isolated attosecond pulse by
helium atoms subject to a delayed infrared (\ir) laser pulse. With the central
frequency of the broad attosecond spectrum near the ionization threshold, the
absorption spectrum is strongly modulated at the sub-\ir-cycle level. Given
that the absorption spectrum results from a time-integrated measurement, we
investigate the extent to which the delay-dependence of the absorption yields
information about the attosecond dynamics of the atom-field energy exchange. We
find two configurations in which this is possible. The first involves multi
photon transitions between bound states that result in interference between
different excitation pathways. The other involves the modification of the bound
state absorption lines by the IR field, which we find can result in a sub-cycle
time dependence only when ionization limits the duration of the strong field
interaction
Interpretation and aggregation of marks in classroom learning partner
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-51).This thesis explores the mark understanding problem in the context of a Tablet-PC-based classroom interaction system. It presents a novel method for interpreting digital ink strokes on background images, and aggregating those interpretations. It addresses complexity of mark interpreters and development and acquisition of a representation of a contextual background. It details the design, implementation, testing, and plans for future extension of a mark interpreter and aggregator in the Classroom Learning Partner, our classroom interaction system.by Kenneth D. Wu.M.Eng
2-D Compass Codes
The compass model on a square lattice provides a natural template for
building subsystem stabilizer codes. The surface code and the Bacon-Shor code
represent two extremes of possible codes depending on how many gauge qubits are
fixed. We explore threshold behavior in this broad class of local codes by
trading locality for asymmetry and gauge degrees of freedom for stabilizer
syndrome information. We analyze these codes with asymmetric and spatially
inhomogeneous Pauli noise in the code capacity and phenomenological models. In
these idealized settings, we observe considerably higher thresholds against
asymmetric noise. At the circuit level, these codes inherit the bare-ancilla
fault-tolerance of the Bacon-Shor code.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, added discussion on fault-toleranc
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors Protect against Apoptosis via 14-3-3
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) were reported to prevent cells from stress-induced apoptosis and protect tissues against ischemia-reperfusion injury. The underlying transcriptional mechanism is unclear. Recent reports indicate that the antiapoptotic actions of ligand-activated PPARδ and PPARγ are mediated through enhanced binding of PPAR to the promoter of 14-3-3ε and upregulation of 14-3-3ε expression. We propose that ligand-activated PPARα exerts its anti-apoptotic actions via the identical pathway. The PPAR to 14-3-3 transcriptional axis plays an important role in protection of cell and tissue integrity and is a target for drug discovery
High harmonic generation from Bloch electrons in solids
We study the generation of high harmonic radiation by Bloch electrons in a
model transparent solid driven by a strong mid-infrared laser field. We solve
the single-electron time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation (TDSE) using a
velocity-gauge method [New J. Phys. 15, 013006 (2013)] that is numerically
stable as the laser intensity and number of energy bands are increased. The
resulting harmonic spectrum exhibits a primary plateau due to the coupling of
the valence band to the first conduction band, with a cutoff energy that scales
linearly with field strength and laser wavelength. We also find a weaker second
plateau due to coupling to higher-lying conduction bands, with a cutoff that is
also approximately linear in the field strength. To facilitate the analysis of
the time-frequency characteristics of the emitted harmonics, we also solve the
TDSE in a time-dependent basis set, the Houston states [Phys. Rev. B 33, 5494
(1986)], which allows us to separate inter-band and intra-band contributions to
the time-dependent current. We find that the inter-band and intra-band
contributions display very different time-frequency characteristics. We show
that solutions in these two bases are equivalent under an unitary
transformation but that, unlike the velocity gauge method, the Houston state
treatment is numerically unstable when more than a few low lying energy bands
are used
Yang-Mills Fields and Riemannian Geometry
It is possible to define new, gauge invariant variables in the Hilbert space
of Yang-Mills theories which manifestly implement Gauss' law on physical
states. These variables have furthermore a geometrical meaning, and allow one
to uncover further constraints physical states must satisfy. For gauge group
, the underlying geometry is Riemannian and based on the group .
The formalism allows also for the inclusion of static color sources and the
extension to gauge groups , both of which are discussed here.Comment: 22 PP., HARVMAC. MINOR TYPOS CORRECTED - FINAL VERSION, TO BE
PUBLISHED IN NUCL. PHYS.
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