281 research outputs found
Scientific intuition inspired by machine learning-generated hypotheses
Machine learning with application to questions in the physical sciences has become a widely used tool, successfully applied to classification, regression and optimization tasks in many areas. Research focus mostly lies in improving the accuracy of the machine learning models in numerical predictions, while scientific understanding is still almost exclusively generated by human researchers analysing numerical results and drawing conclusions. In this work, we shift the focus on the insights and the knowledge obtained by the machine learning models themselves. In particular, we study how it can be extracted and used to inspire human scientists to increase their intuitions and understanding of natural systems. We apply gradient boosting in decision trees to extract human-interpretable insights from big data sets from chemistry and physics. In chemistry, we not only rediscover widely know rules of thumb but also find new interesting motifs that tell us how to control solubility and energy levels of organic molecules. At the same time, in quantum physics, we gain new understanding on experiments for quantum entanglement. The ability to go beyond numerics and to enter the realm of scientific insight and hypothesis generation opens the door to use machine learning to accelerate the discovery of conceptual understanding in some of the most challenging domains of science
The Resolved Asteroid Program - Size, shape, and pole of (52) Europa
With the adaptive optics (AO) system on the 10 m Keck-II telescope, we
acquired a high quality set of 84 images at 14 epochs of asteroid (52) Europa
on 2005 January 20. The epochs covered its rotation period and, by following
its changing shape and orientation on the plane of sky, we obtained its
triaxial ellipsoid dimensions and spin pole location. An independent
determination from images at three epochs obtained in 2007 is in good agreement
with these results. By combining these two data sets, along with a single epoch
data set obtained in 2003, we have derived a global fit for (52) Europa of
diameters (379x330x249) +/- (16x8x10) km, yielding a volume-equivalent
spherical-diameter of 315 +/- 7 km, and a rotational pole within 7 deg of [RA;
Dec] = [257,+12] in an Equatorial J2000 reference frame (ECJ2000: 255,+35).
Using the average of all mass determinations available forEuropa, we derive a
density of 1.5 +/- 0.4, typical of C-type asteroids. Comparing our images with
the shape model of Michalowski et al. (A&A 416, 2004), derived from optical
lightcurves, illustrates excellent agreement, although several edge features
visible in the images are not rendered by the model. We therefore derived a
complete 3-D description of Europa's shape using the KOALA algorithm by
combining our imaging epochs with 4 stellar occultations and 49 lightcurves. We
use this 3-D shape model to assess these departures from ellipsoidal shape.
Flat facets (possible giant craters) appear to be less distinct on (52) Europa
than on other C-types that have been imaged in detail. We show that fewer giant
craters, or smaller craters, is consistent with its expected impact history.
Overall, asteroid (52) Europa is still well modeled as a smooth triaxial
ellipsoid with dimensions constrained by observations obtained over several
apparitions.Comment: Accepted for publication in Icaru
External-field-induced tricritical point in a fluctuation-driven nematic-smectic-A transition
We study theoretically the effect of an external field on the
nematic-smectic-A (NA) transition close to the tricritical point, where
fluctuation effects govern the qualitative behavior of the transition. An
external field suppresses nematic director fluctuations, by making them
massive. For a fluctuation-driven first-order transition, we show that an
external field can drive the transition second-order. In an appropriate liquid
crystal system, we predict the required magnetic field to be of order 10 T. The
equivalent electric field is of order .Comment: revtex, 4 pages, 1 figure; revised version, some equations have been
modifie
Shape modeling technique KOALA validated by ESA Rosetta at (21) Lutetia
We present a comparison of our results from ground-based observations of
asteroid (21) Lutetia with imaging data acquired during the flyby of the
asteroid by the ESA Rosetta mission. This flyby provided a unique opportunity
to evaluate and calibrate our method of determination of size, 3-D shape, and
spin of an asteroid from ground-based observations. We present our 3-D
shape-modeling technique KOALA which is based on multi-dataset inversion. We
compare the results we obtained with KOALA, prior to the flyby, on asteroid
(21) Lutetia with the high-spatial resolution images of the asteroid taken with
the OSIRIS camera on-board the ESA Rosetta spacecraft, during its encounter
with Lutetia. The spin axis determined with KOALA was found to be accurate to
within two degrees, while the KOALA diameter determinations were within 2% of
the Rosetta-derived values. The 3-D shape of the KOALA model is also confirmed
by the spectacular visual agreement between both 3-D shape models (KOALA pre-
and OSIRIS post-flyby). We found a typical deviation of only 2 km at local
scales between the profiles from KOALA predictions and OSIRIS images, resulting
in a volume uncertainty provided by KOALA better than 10%. Radiometric
techniques for the interpretation of thermal infrared data also benefit greatly
from the KOALA shape model: the absolute size and geometric albedo can be
derived with high accuracy, and thermal properties, for example the thermal
inertia, can be determined unambiguously. We consider this to be a validation
of the KOALA method. Because space exploration will remain limited to only a
few objects, KOALA stands as a powerful technique to study a much larger set of
small bodies using Earth-based observations.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in P&S
Near-Infrared Mapping and Physical Properties of the Dwarf-Planet Ceres
We study the physical characteristics (shape, dimensions, spin axis
direction, albedo maps, mineralogy) of the dwarf-planet Ceres based on
high-angular resolution near-infrared observations. We analyze adaptive optics
J/H/K imaging observations of Ceres performed at Keck II Observatory in
September 2002 with an equivalent spatial resolution of ~50 km. The spectral
behavior of the main geological features present on Ceres is compared with
laboratory samples. Ceres' shape can be described by an oblate spheroid (a = b
= 479.7 +/- 2.3 km, c = 444.4 +/- 2.1 km) with EQJ2000.0 spin vector
coordinates RA = 288 +/- 5 deg. and DEC = +66 +/- 5 deg. Ceres sidereal period
is measured to be 9.0741 +/- 0.0001 h. We image surface features with diameters
in the 50-180 km range and an albedo contrast of ~6% with respect to the
average Ceres albedo. The spectral behavior of the brightest regions on Ceres
is consistent with phyllosilicates and carbonate compounds. Darker isolated
regions could be related to the presence of frost.Comment: 11 pages, 8 Postscript figures, Accepted for publication in A&
The triaxial ellipsoid dimensions, rotational pole, and bulk density of ESA Rosetta target asteroid (21) Lutetia
We seek the best size estimates of the asteroid (21) Lutetia, the direction
of its spin axis, and its bulk density, assuming its shape is well described by
a smooth featureless triaxial ellipsoid, and to evaluate the deviations from
this assumption. Methods. We derive these quantities from the outlines of the
asteroid in 307 images of its resolved apparent disk obtained with adaptive
optics (AO) at Keck II and VLT, and combine these with recent mass
determinations to estimate a bulk density. Our best triaxial ellipsoid
diameters for Lutetia, based on our AO images alone, are a x b x c = 132 x 101
x 93 km, with uncertainties of 4 x 3 x 13 km including estimated systematics,
with a rotational pole within 5 deg. of ECJ2000 [long,lat] = [45, -7], or
EQJ2000 [RA, DEC] = [44, +9]. The AO model fit itself has internal precisions
of 1 x 1 x 8 km, but it is evident, both from this model derived from limited
viewing aspects and the radius vector model given in a companion paper, that
Lutetia has significant departures from an idealized ellipsoid. In particular,
the long axis may be overestimated from the AO images alone by about 10 km.
Therefore, we combine the best aspects of the radius vector and ellipsoid model
into a hybrid ellipsoid model, as our final result, of 124 +/- 5 x 101 +/- 4 x
93 +/- 13 km that can be used to estimate volumes, sizes, and projected areas.
The adopted pole position is within 5 deg. of [long, lat] = [52, -6] or[RA DEC]
= [52, +12]. Using two separately determined masses and the volume of our
hybrid model, we estimate a density of 3.5 +/- 1.1 or 4.3 +/- 0.8 g cm-3 . From
the density evidence alone, we argue that this favors an enstatite-chondrite
composition, although other compositions are formally allowed at the extremes
(low-porosity CV/CO carbonaceous chondrite or high-porosity metallic). We
discuss this in the context of other evidence.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, 5 tables, submitted to Astronomy and Astrophysic
Physical properties of ESA Rosetta target asteroid (21) Lutetia: Shape and flyby geometry
Aims. We determine the physical properties (spin state and shape) of asteroid
(21) Lutetia, target of the ESA Rosetta mission, to help in preparing for
observations during the flyby on 2010 July 10 by predicting the orientation of
Lutetia as seen from Rosetta.
Methods. We use our novel KOALA inversion algorithm to determine the physical
properties of asteroids from a combination of optical lightcurves,
disk-resolved images, and stellar occultations, although the latter are not
available for (21) Lutetia.
Results. We find the spin axis of (21) Lutetia to lie within 5 degrees of
({\lambda} = 52 deg., {\beta} = -6 deg.) in Ecliptic J2000 reference frame
(equatorial {\alpha} = 52 deg., {\delta} = +12 deg.), and determine an improved
sidereal period of 8.168 270 \pm 0.000 001 h. This pole solution implies the
southern hemisphere of Lutetia will be in "seasonal" shadow at the time of the
flyby. The apparent cross-section of Lutetia is triangular as seen "pole-on"
and more rectangular as seen "equator-on". The best-fit model suggests the
presence of several concavities. The largest of these is close to the north
pole and may be associated with large impacts.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables, submitted to Astronomy and
Astrophysic
General practitioners' attitudes and preparedness towards Clinical Decision Support in e-Prescribing (CDS-eP) adoption in the West of Ireland: a cross sectional study
Background: Electronic clinical decision support (CDS) is increasingly establishing its role in evidence-based clinical practice. Considerable evidence supports its enhancement of efficiency in e-Prescribing, but some controversy remains. This study evaluated the practicality and identified the perceived benefits of, and barriers to, its future adoption in the West of Ireland. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out by means of a 27-part questionnaire sent to 262 registered general practitioners in Counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. The survey domains encompassed general information of individual's practice, current use of CDS and the practitioner's attitudes towards adoption of CDS-eP. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed to analyse the data collected. Results: The overall response rate was 37%. Nearly 92% of respondents employed electronic medical records in their practice. The majority acknowledged the value of electronic CDS in improving prescribing quality (71%) and reducing prescribing errors (84%). Despite a high degree of unfamiliarity (73%), the practitioners were open to the use of CDS-eP (94%) and willing to invest greater resources for its implementation (62%). Lack of a strategic implementation plan (78%) is the main perceived barrier to the incorporation of CDS-eP into clinical practice, followed by i) lack of financial incentives (70%), ii) lack of standardized product software (61%), iii) high sensitivity of drug-drug interaction or medication allergy markers (46%), iv) concern about overriding physicians' prescribing decisions(44%) and v) lack of convincing evidence on the systems' effectiveness (22%). Conclusions: Despite favourable attitudes towards the adoption of CDS-eP, multiple perceived barriers impede its incorporation into clinical practice. These merit further exploration, taking into consideration the structure of the Irish primary health care system, before CDS-eP can be recommended for routine clinical use in the West of Ireland.Healthcare Informatics Society of Ireland (HISI) research bursary 2007-2009Deposited by bulk impor
Roadmap on Machine learning in electronic structure
AbstractIn recent years, we have been witnessing a paradigm shift in computational materials science. In fact, traditional methods, mostly developed in the second half of the XXth century, are being complemented, extended, and sometimes even completely replaced by faster, simpler, and often more accurate approaches. The new approaches, that we collectively label by machine learning, have their origins in the fields of informatics and artificial intelligence, but are making rapid inroads in all other branches of science. With this in mind, this Roadmap article, consisting of multiple contributions from experts across the field, discusses the use of machine learning in materials science, and share perspectives on current and future challenges in problems as diverse as the prediction of materials properties, the construction of force-fields, the development of exchange correlation functionals for density-functional theory, the solution of the many-body problem, and more. In spite of the already numerous and exciting success stories, we are just at the beginning of a long path that will reshape materials science for the many challenges of the XXIth century
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