Algorithms for optimal control of stochastic switching systems

© 2016 Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. Optimal control problems of switching type with linear state dynamics are ubiquitous in applications of stochastic optimization. For high-dimensional problems of this type, solutions which utilize some convexity related properties are useful. For such problems, we present novel algorithmic solutions which require minimal assumptions while demonstrating remarkable computational efficiency. Furthermore, we devise procedures of the primal-dual kind to assess the distance to optimality of these approximate solutions

Biosynthesis of the protoberberine alkaloid jatrorrhizine

Feeding experiments with distant single or doubly labelled precursors show that the methylene dioxy group of berberine is opened in the formation of jatrorrhizine

Elite players invest additional time for making better embodied choices

Expert athletes are determined to make faster and better decisions, as revealed in several simple heuristic studies using verbal reports or micro-movement responses. However, heuristic decision-making experiments that require motor responses, also being considered as the embodied-choice experiments, are still underrepresented. Furthermore, it is less understood how decision time and confidence depend on the type of embodied choices players make. To scrutinize the decision-making processes (i.e., decision time, decision confidence), this study investigated the embodied choices of male athletes with different expertise in a close-to-real-life environment; 22 elite (M age = 17.59 yrs., SD = 3.67), and 22 amateur (M age = 20.71 yrs., SD = 8.54) team handball players performed a sport-specific embodied-choice test. Attack sequences (n = 32) were shown to the players, who had to choose between four provided options by giving a respective sport-specific motor response. We analyzed the frequencies of specific choices and the best choice, as well as the respective decision time and decision confidence. Elite and amateur players differed in the frequencies of specific choices (i.e., forward/tackling; passive blocking), and elite players made the best choice more often. Slower decision times of elite players were revealed in specific choices and in best choices, the confidence of decisions was rated equally high by both player groups. Indications are provided that elite players make better choices rather slower, instead of faster. We suppose this is due to specific sensorimotor interactions and speed-accuracy-tradeoffs in favor of accuracy in elite players. Our findings extend expert decision-making research by using an embodied-choice paradigm, highlighting considerations of decision time and confidence in future experiments

EVALUATION OF FOUR COVARIATE TYPES USED FOR ADJUSTMENT OF SPATIAL VARIABILITY

Four types of covariates are used to account for spatial variability in data from a field experiment for evaluating 620 soybean varieties for iron chlorosis. The covariates are calculated as the average of 4 and of 14 neighboring residuals and of 4 and of 14 neighboring observations. The residual mean square from the analysis of covariance was smaller\u27 when residuals were used in calculation of the covariates than when observations were used. Moreover, use of 14 neighbors resulted in smaller residual mean squares than did use of 4 neighbors. Differences among 4 covariate types were small and not practically important. Expected values for the covariate regression coefficients were derived based on an errors in variables model. The expected values depend only on the measurement error of the covariate and are unrelated to the strength of the spatial variability. The coefficients estimated from the analysis of covariance are generally greater than the expected values

A COMBINED ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTS WHEN TREATMENTS DIFFER AMONG EXPERIMENTS

The advantages of repeating experiments in several locations and years are discussed and standard methods of analysis are reviewed. The methods assume that the same treatments are used in each experiment. This paper discusses a method used for a combined analysis when the treatments represent levels of a quantitative factor but differ among experiments. The method makes use of multiple regression analysis in which a continuous variable represents treatment levels, classification variables represent experiments, and products of the continuous and classification variables represent differences among experiments. The method is illustrated on data from a series of experiments designed to study the relationship of grain yield of soybeans as affected by the density of the weed species velvetleaf. The analysis determined that yield loss was linearly related to weed density but that the slope of the relationship differed among years. The slope differences were correlated with August rainfall, and a model is suggested that accounts for both within-experiment variability due to weed density and between-experiment variability due to August rainfal

From non-symmetric particle systems to non-linear PDEs on fractals

We present new results and challenges in obtaining hydrodynamic limits for non-symmetric (weakly asymmetric) particle systems (exclusion processes on pre-fractal graphs) converging to a non-linear heat equation. We discuss a joint density-current law of large numbers and a corresponding large deviations principle.Comment: v2: 10 pages, 1 figure. To appear in the proceedings for the 2016 conference "Stochastic Partial Differential Equations & Related Fields" in honor of Michael R\"ockner's 60th birthday, Bielefel

Review and Update of Non-mollusk Invertebrate Species in Greatest Need of Conservation: Final Report

This final report includes documentation of the approaches, methods, and results of our efforts to evaluate current and potential Species in Greatest Need of Conservation (IWAP Appendix I). We reviewed 563 taxa and provide draft updates and revisions of the Status, Conservation Objectives, and Stresses for non-mollusk invertebrate taxa in Illinois. We propose listing 166 of these as Species in Greatest Need of Conservation including 129 species from the 2005 list of 375 taxa and 36 of the 188 species newly evaluated in this project. Additionally, we propose a Watch-List of 245 invertebrate species which appear to be rare or declining but that have insufficient information to conduct a thorough conservation assessment at this time.Illinois Department of Natural Resources State Wildlife Grant Program Project Number T-88-R-001unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe