3,361 research outputs found
The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for the CMB
We investigate the statistics of the cosmic microwave background using the
Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. We show that, when we correctly de-correlate the data,
the partition function of the Kolmogorov stochasticity parameter is compatible
with the Kolmogorov distribution and, contrary to previous claims, the CMB data
are compatible with Gaussian fluctuations with the correlation function given
by standard Lambda-CDM. We then use the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to derive upper
bounds on residual point source power in the CMB, and indicate the promise of
this statistics for further datasets, especially Planck, to search for
deviations from Gaussianity and for detecting point sources and Galactic
foregrounds.Comment: Improved significance of the results (which remain unchanged) by
using patches instead of ring segments in the analysis. Added sky maps of the
Kolmogorov-parameter for original and de-correlated CMB ma
Bayesian Non-Exhaustive Classification A Case Study: Online Name Disambiguation using Temporal Record Streams
The name entity disambiguation task aims to partition the records of multiple
real-life persons so that each partition contains records pertaining to a
unique person. Most of the existing solutions for this task operate in a batch
mode, where all records to be disambiguated are initially available to the
algorithm. However, more realistic settings require that the name
disambiguation task be performed in an online fashion, in addition to, being
able to identify records of new ambiguous entities having no preexisting
records. In this work, we propose a Bayesian non-exhaustive classification
framework for solving online name disambiguation task. Our proposed method uses
a Dirichlet process prior with a Normal * Normal * Inverse Wishart data model
which enables identification of new ambiguous entities who have no records in
the training data. For online classification, we use one sweep Gibbs sampler
which is very efficient and effective. As a case study we consider
bibliographic data in a temporal stream format and disambiguate authors by
partitioning their papers into homogeneous groups. Our experimental results
demonstrate that the proposed method is better than existing methods for
performing online name disambiguation task.Comment: to appear in CIKM 201
Genomic Study of RNA Polymerase II and III SNAP(c)-Bound Promoters Reveals a Gene Transcribed by Both Enzymes and a Broad Use of Common Activators.
SNAP(c) is one of a few basal transcription factors used by both RNA polymerase (pol) II and pol III. To define the set of active SNAP(c)-dependent promoters in human cells, we have localized genome-wide four SNAP(c) subunits, GTF2B (TFIIB), BRF2, pol II, and pol III. Among some seventy loci occupied by SNAP(c) and other factors, including pol II snRNA genes, pol III genes with type 3 promoters, and a few un-annotated loci, most are primarily occupied by either pol II and GTF2B, or pol III and BRF2. A notable exception is the RPPH1 gene, which is occupied by significant amounts of both polymerases. We show that the large majority of SNAP(c)-dependent promoters recruit POU2F1 and/or ZNF143 on their enhancer region, and a subset also recruits GABP, a factor newly implicated in SNAP(c)-dependent transcription. These activators associate with pol II and III promoters in G1 slightly before the polymerase, and ZNF143 is required for efficient transcription initiation complex assembly. The results characterize a set of genes with unique properties and establish that polymerase specificity is not absolute in vivo
Emission Lines in the Spectrum of the 3He Star 3 Cen A
Emission in the 4d - 4f transitions of MnII (multiplet 13, 6122-6132 Ang), in
the 4f - 6g transitions of PII, and in 6149.5 Ang of HgII has been detected in
the spectrum of the helium weak star 3 Centauri A (B5 III-IVp). Weaker emission
from the same MnII multiplet is also seen in the hot, mild HgMn star 46 Aquila
(B9 III).It is suggested that the emission is of photospheric origin and may be
evidence for the stratification of manganese, phosphorus and mercury in the
photosphere of 3 CenA, and of manganese in 46Aql.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figure
Sugarcane Aphid Resistance in Pearl Millet
Sugarcane aphid, (Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)) has become an important pest of sorghum in the US. This recent invasion is assumed to be either as a result of a host shift from sugarcane in the south or introduction of a specialized strain from tropical Africa. If host shift happened through adaptive change to infest sorghum, other closely related species such as pearl millet are in danger from this voracious pest. The resistance level of pearl millet genotypes representing A-, B-, R-lines and germplasm were evaluated under climate-controlled growth chamber along with resistant and susceptible sorghum hybrids. Ten plants of the genotypes were planted in a row in a tray per replicate. Cuttings infested with a stock colony of aphids maintained on the susceptible sorghum line were evenly distributed across the soil in each tray to ascend the plants at will. The damage was scored two times (5 and 8 days after infestation) using a scale of 1 to 9 (1 = no visible damage, 9 = dead). The statistical analysis of data found that there are significant differences among genotypes for aphid feeding damage. However, none of the pearl millet genotypes were affected to the level of susceptible sorghum. Four genotypes of pearl millet had resistance levels similar to the resistant sorghum. No statistical differences were observed among the A, B, and R-lines and the germplasm—implying that the cytoplasmic male-sterility system, nuclear restorer gene, and sterility maintainer counterparts have no impact on SCA resistance and susceptibility in pearl millet
New angles on D-branes
A low-energy background field solution is presented which describes several
D-membranes oriented at angles with respect to one another. The mass and charge
densities for this configuration are computed and found to saturate the BPS
bound, implying the preservation of one-quarter of the supersymmetries.
T-duality is exploited to construct new solutions with nontrivial angles from
the basic one.Comment: Latex, 12 pages, still no figures, references update
L'éducation interprofessionnelle pour tous... Une expérience de sensibilisation pour des étudiants vaudois en formation prégraduée [Interprofessional education for all... An awareness experience for undergraduate students in Vaud].
A Modular Approach for a Family of Ground Mobile Robots
This paper deals with Epi.q, a family of mobile robots whose main characteristic is a wheel-legged hybrid locomotion. These multi-purpose robots can be successfully exploited for security and surveillance tasks. The document presents state of the art security robotics, the Epi.q mechanical architecture, the concept behind the robot driving unit, three prototypes and the design of a new on
Magnetic fields and chemical peculiarities of the very young intermediate-mass binary system HD 72106
The recently discovered magnetic Herbig Ae and Be stars may provide
qualitatively new information about the formation and evolution of magnetic Ap
and Bp stars. We have performed a detailed investigation of one particularly
interesting binary system with a Herbig Ae secondary and a late B-type primary
possessing a strong, globally ordered magnetic field. Twenty high-resolution
Stokes V spectra of the system were obtained with the ESPaDOnS instrument
mounted on the CFHT. In these observations we see clear evidence for a magnetic
field in the primary, but no evidence for a magnetic field in the secondary. A
detailed abundance analysis was performed for both stars, revealing strong
chemical peculiarities in the primary and normal chemical abundances in the
secondary. The primary is strongly overabundant in Si, Cr, and other iron-peak
elements, as well as Nd, and underabundant in He. The primary therefore appears
to be a very young Bp star. In this context, line profile variations of the
primary suggest non-uniform lateral distributions of surface abundances.
Interpreting the 0.63995 +/- 0.00009 day variation period of the Stokes I and V
profiles as the rotational period of the star, we have modeled the magnetic
field geometry and the surface abundance distributions of Si, Ti, Cr and Fe
using Magnetic Doppler Imaging. We derive a dipolar geometry of the surface
magnetic field, with a polar strength of 1230 G and an obliquity of 57 degrees.
The distributions Ti, Cr and Fe are all qualitatively similar, with an
elongated patch of enhanced abundance situated near the positive magnetic pole.
The Si distribution is somewhat different, and its relationship to the magnetic
field geometry less clear.Comment: Accepted by Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,
September 2008. 15 pages, 10 figure
Tailoring the interfacial interactions in ferroelectric fluorinated polymer/ceramic nanocomposites
In this work composites of PVDF-TrFE containing 60 vol% untreated and surface modified BaTiO3 were produced by solvent casting with two procedures. Their morphology and structure were characterized by scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of the processing conditions and of the surface modification of BaTiO3 on the viscoelastic, dielectric and piezoelectric properties was investigated. The surface modification of BaTiO3 allowed obtaining composite films with low porosity and good filler dispersion, and hence higher storage modulus and lower loss tangent, in a wider processing window. Furthermore it reduced the dielectric losses at low frequency and modified the decay kinetic of the d33 piezoelectric coefficient with respect to composites made with untreated particles
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