Signal discovery in sparse spectra: a Bayesian analysis

A Bayesian analysis of the probability of a signal in the presence of background is developed, and criteria are proposed for claiming evidence for, or the discovery of a signal. The method is general and in particular applicable to sparsely populated spectra. Monte Carlo techniques to evaluate the sensitivity of an experiment are described. As an example, the method is used to calculate the sensitivity of the GERDA experiment to neutrinoless double beta decay.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure

Method for holographic storage using peristrophic multiplexing

A method of multiplexing holograms by rotating the material or, equivalently, the recording beams is described. Peristropic (Greek for rotation) multiplexing can be combined with other multiplexing methods to increase the storage density of holographic storage systems. Peristrophic multiplexing is experimentally demonstrated with Du Pont's HRF-150 photopolymer film. We multiplexed a total of 295 holograms in a 38-μm-thick photopolymer film by combining peristrophic multiplexing with angle multiplexing

Dean G. Marcus Cole to be inducted into American College of Bankruptcy

G. Marcus Cole, the Joseph A. Matson Dean and Professor of Law at Notre Dame Law School, will be inducted into the American College of Bankruptcy in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the bankruptcy and insolvency practice, the association announced on November 17. Perma.c

Contributions de l'hippocampe et du subiculum dans des versions proximale et distale de la tâche de labyrinthe radial chez le rat

Les études réalisées chez des patients amnésiques et chez les modèles animaux cérébro-lésionnels suggèrent que la formation hippocampique joue un rôle important dans la mémoire et l’apprentissage. Chez le rat, l’hippocampe semble particulièrement impliqué dans les tâches de mémoire spatiale. Toutefois, d’autres expériences montrent que la fonction de l’hippocampe varie selon certaines caractéristiques des stimuli à mémoriser, indépendamment de la dimension spatiale. Afin de tester cette dernière proposition, les travaux empiriques présentés dans ce mémoire évaluent, dans la tâche indicée du labyrinthe radial où chaque couloir est associé à un repère visuel exclusif, l’effet 1) de la distance entre la plate-forme centrale du labyrinthe et les stimuli visuels et 2) de la stabilité des positions relatives de ces stimuli sur la performance de rats avec lésion hippocampique. Les résultats montrent que ces deux variables influencent la performance des rats lésés comparativement à celle de rats contrôles, les taux de succès variant entre intacts ou médiocres selon les conditions expérimentales testées. Les déficits hippocampiques rapportés dans le présent mémoire indiquent donc que même quand une épreuve peut être résolue sans l’aide de la mémoire spatiale, l’intégrité de l’hippocampe peut s’avérer nécessaire. De plus, il semble que le subiculum, une structure adjacente à l’hippocampe, contribue aussi à la performance des rats dans le labyrinthe radial, l’un des constats les plus importants de ce mémoire. Les résultats appuient, dans l’ensemble, l’hypothèse voulant que l’implication de l’hippocampe varie selon les caractéristiques des stimuli à mémoriser, une interprétation également défendue par plusieurs travaux récents

WINNING THE WAR: SANCTION EFFECTIVENESS AND CONSEQUENCES

Chapter 1 shows that there is a negative relationship observed between sanctions and civil liberties in the target country, which is driven by how exposed the target country\u27s trade was to the sanctioning countries. Using a fixed panel regression covering 160 countries from 1972-2005, it is found that import exposure to the sanctioning countries drives this negative relationship, with every percentage point of import exposure reducing the inverted FHI freedom score by 0.165 points. This implies that restricting imports to a country that promotes an oppressive response by the targeted government. Chapter 2 examines whether countries change their trade patterns in response to economic sanction threats in addition to imposed sanctions. Using a bilateral gravity panel dataset covering 180 countries from 1950-2005 I find that imposed sanctions cause a very significant 55.43% increase in purchases from third party suppliers or a smaller 49.78% increase in sales to third party buyers during sanction events. Sanction threats cause a 42.05% increase in purchases from third party suppliers, and a 42.76% increase in sales to third party buyers, all significant at the 1% level. I conclude that both imposed sanctions and sanction threats lead to a significant increase in trade with third party countries, preempting and subverting sanction regimes. Chapter 3 studies whether there is evidence of cheating during sanction events by examining the difference in reporting for exports in the selling country versus imports in the buying country. A systematic change in reporting behavior is detected, with the log difference of reported exports minus reported imports increasing 7.46% in the case of exporter imposed sanctions, and decreasing 9.86% in the case importer imposed sanctions. This is consistent with the theory that firms in the sanctioning countries face harsher penalties for being caught compared to the targeted countries

Holographic storage using shift multiplexing

We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally a new multiplexing method for volume holographic storage using a single reference beam that is composed of multiple plane waves or is a spherical wave. We multiplex the holograms by shifting the recording material or the recording/readout head. The volume properties of the recording medium allow selective readout of holograms stored in successive overlapping locations. High storage densities can be achieved with a relatively simple implementation by use of the new method

The Bellingham Centennial, Local History, and the University

Local and academic historians seemingly stand on two sides of a ravine. The former focus on local pioneers and old buildings. Practitioners of local history often have little formal training in the academic discipline of history. Some are not interested in the work of academic historians, because they believe too little of it relates directly to places they know and about which they care deeply. On the other side of the ravine, many academic historians look down upon local historians, usually because local historians’ interests seem provincial; they rarely seem to be able to relate the landmark church or school building or the actions of a local pioneer or family member to the larger questions that preoccupy members of college and university history departments

Evaluating the Effects of Variable Corn Seedling Emergence and Replanting Methods for Substandard Corn Stands

Mississippi growers often have issues with corn seedling establishment due to saturated and cool soils, which can reduce productivity. Our first objective was to quantify yield reduction associated with variable emergence. Four patterns simulating various extent of affected plants and four different emergence delays were hand planted uniformly at a standard population. Plants were closely monitored to document emergence variability. Growth stages were measured three separate ways to identify the best field method to characterize stand variability. Data suggest there were yield disadvantages associated with emergence variability. Another objective was to evaluate practical replanting methods for Mid-South corn growers. Treatments included four populations planted at a normal time and replant interval. Two different series of treatments were imposed to evaluate the productivity of intra-planting seed in a partial stand. Corn grain yield was 11% greater when replanting in a clean seedbed, compared to all intra-planted treatments