Machine learning with the hierarchy‐of‐hypotheses (HoH) approach discovers novel pattern in studies on biological invasions

Research synthesis on simple yet general hypotheses and ideas is challenging in scientific disciplines studying highly context‐dependent systems such as medical, social, and biological sciences. This study shows that machine learning, equation‐free statistical modeling of artificial intelligence, is a promising synthesis tool for discovering novel patterns and the source of controversy in a general hypothesis. We apply a decision tree algorithm, assuming that evidence from various contexts can be adequately integrated in a hierarchically nested structure. As a case study, we analyzed 163 articles that studied a prominent hypothesis in invasion biology, the enemy release hypothesis. We explored if any of the nine attributes that classify each study can differentiate conclusions as classification problem. Results corroborated that machine learning can be useful for research synthesis, as the algorithm could detect patterns that had been already focused in previous narrative reviews. Compared with the previous synthesis study that assessed the same evidence collection based on experts' judgement, the algorithm has newly proposed that the studies focusing on Asian regions mostly supported the hypothesis, suggesting that more detailed investigations in these regions can enhance our understanding of the hypothesis. We suggest that machine learning algorithms can be a promising synthesis tool especially where studies (a) reformulate a general hypothesis from different perspectives, (b) use different methods or variables, or (c) report insufficient information for conducting meta‐analyses

A comparative analysis of leadership skills development in Marine Corps training and education programs

This thesis analyzes the perceptions of a non-random sample of 210 officers and enlisted Marines in two locations. A researcher-developed survey and semi-structured interviews were administered to ascertain opinions of Marines concerning leadership development. An analysis of the content of leadership training and education courses was also conducted. This information was compared to contemporary leadership theory and relevant models of leadership. In general, leadership development provided is adequate, but is lacking in some areas of skill development, application of skills and values, and relevancy to contemporary leadership issues. Professional Military Education (PME) ge nerally provides relevant leadership training and education to enlisted personnel, but falls short of meeting the expectations of many officers.http://archive.org/details/acomparativenaly109453482Major, United States Marine CorpsCaptain, United States Marine CorpsApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Escaping in Twentieth-Century Russia

The article was submitted on 15.06.2017.This article considers the escapees who populated Russia’s twentieth century in astonishingly large numbers. By escapees, the authors mean not only those who had been incarcerated, exiled, and deported, but also others who ignored or willfully violated regulations limiting movement – peasant settlers moving “irregularly” to scarcely-populated or recently depopulated areas; seasonal workers making independent employment arrangements; migrants to the city without the proper papers but desperate to access resources unavailable in the countryside; officials keen to avoid inferior assignments; refugees and evacuees deviating from assigned destinations. These evasive practices are characterized as migrant repertoires, that is, the relationships and networks of contact marked by geographic origin, gender, kinship, friendship, and professional identity that permitted them to adapt to or evade particular migration regimes. State-organized regimes of migration set the terms and resources of movement for all sorts of migrants, from settlers to deportees. The range of migrants surveyed confirms the ambition of Imperial and especially Soviet authorities to manage their peoples, but also the limited capacity of these states to do so. Thus the article suggests that the assumption of people’s powerlessness in the face of overwhelming state power should be reconsidered.Предметом внимания авторов статьи являются самовольные мигранты, которых в России в XX в. было поразительно много. Под самовольными мигрантами подразумеваются не только заключенные в тюрьму, сосланные и депортированные, но и те, кто игнорировал либо умышленно нарушал правила, ограничивающие передвижение, – крестьяне-поселенцы, осуществлявшие «нерегулярные» миграции в малонаселенные или недавно оставленные людьми районы; сезонные работники, самостоятельно вступавшие в трудовые отношения; мигранты в города, не имевшие необходимых документов, но отчаянно нуждавшиеся в доступе к ресурсам, отсутствующим в сельской местности; должностные лица, стремившиеся избежать невыгодных для себя назначений; беженцы и эвакуированные, отклонявшиеся от предписанного маршрута. Эти миграционные практики характеризуются в контексте межличностных взаимоотношений и сетей контактов по признакам географического происхождения, пола, родства, дружбы и профессиональной идентичности, позволяющим им адаптироваться либо уклоняться от определенных миграционных режимов. Организованные государством режимы миграции устанавливают условия и ресурсы передвижения для всех видов мигрантов, от поселенцев до депортированных. Результаты опроса ряда мигрантов подтверждают стремление имперских и особенно советских властей управлять людьми, но в то же время демонстрируют ограниченность их возможностей в этой сфере. Таким образом, авторы статьи полагают, что предположение о бессилии людей перед лицом подавляющей государственной машины преувеличено

Complementarity Endures: No Firewall for an Infalling Observer

We argue that the complementarity picture, as interpreted as a reference frame change represented in quantum gravitational Hilbert space, does not suffer from the "firewall paradox" recently discussed by Almheiri, Marolf, Polchinski, and Sully. A quantum state described by a distant observer evolves unitarily, with the evolution law well approximated by semi-classical field equations in the region away from the (stretched) horizon. And yet, a classical infalling observer does not see a violation of the equivalence principle, and thus a firewall, at the horizon. The resolution of the paradox lies in careful considerations on how a (semi-)classical world arises in unitary quantum mechanics describing the whole universe/multiverse.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure; clarifications and minor revisions; v3: a small calculation added for clarification; v4: some corrections, conclusion unchange

Electromagnetic energy and energy flows in photonic crystals made of arrays of parallel dielectric cylinders

We consider the electromagnetic propagation in two-dimensional photonic crystals, formed by parallel dielectric cylinders embedded a uniform medium. The frequency band structure is computed using the standard plane-wave expansion method, and the corresponding eigne-modes are obtained subsequently. The optical flows of the eigen-modes are calculated by a direct computation approach, and several averaging schemes of the energy current are discussed. The results are compared to those obtained by the usual approach that employs the group velocity calculation. We consider both the case in which the frequency lies within passing band and the situation in which the frequency is in the range of a partial bandgap. The agreements and discrepancies between various averaging schemes and the group velocity approach are discussed in detail. The results indicate the group velocity can be obtained by appropriate averaging method.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figure

Information Flow in Entangled Quantum Systems

All information in quantum systems is, notwithstanding Bell's theorem, localised. Measuring or otherwise interacting with a quantum system S has no effect on distant systems from which S is dynamically isolated, even if they are entangled with S. Using the Heisenberg picture to analyse quantum information processing makes this locality explicit, and reveals that under some circumstances (in particular, in Einstein-Podolski-Rosen experiments and in quantum teleportation) quantum information is transmitted through 'classical' (i.e. decoherent) information channels.Comment: PostScript version now available: http://www.qubit.org/people/patrickh/Papers/InformationFlow.p

Proof of the Generalized Second Law for Quasistationary Semiclassical Black Holes

A simple direct explicit proof of the generalized second law of black hole thermodynamics is given for a quasistationary semiclassical black hole.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, report Alberta-Thy-10-93 (revision of paper in response to Phys. Rev. Lett. referees' comments, which suffered a series of long delays

Massive Increase, Spread, and Exchange of Extended Spectrum {beta}-Lactamase-Encoding Genes Among Intestinal Enterobacteriaceae in Hospitalized Children With Severe Acute Malnutrition in Niger.

Background. From the time of CTX-M emergence, extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing enterobacteria (ESBL-E) have spread worldwide in community settings as well as in hospitals, particularly in developing countries. Although their dissemination appears linked to Escherichia coli intestinal carriage, precise paths of this dynamic are largely unknown. Methods. Children from a pediatric renutrition center were prospectively enrolled in a fecal carriage study. Antibiotic exposure was recorded. ESBL-E strains were isolated using selective media from fecal samples obtained at admission and, when negative, also at discharge. ESBL-encoding genes were identified, their environments and plasmids were characterized, and clonality was assessed with polymerase chain reaction-based methods and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. E. coli strains were subjected to multilocus sequence typing. Results. The ESBL-E carriage rate was 31% at admission in the 55 children enrolled. All children enrolled received antibiotics during hospitalization. Among the ESBL-E-negative children, 16 were resampled at discharge, and the acquisition rate was 94%. The bla(CTX-M-15) gene was found in >90% of the carriers. Genetic environments and plasmid characterization evidenced the roles of a worldwide, previously described, multidrug-resistant region and of IncF plasmids in CTX-M-15 E. coli dissemination. Diversity of CTX-M-15-carrying genetic structures and clonality of acquired ESBL E. coli suggested horizontal genetic transfer and underlined the potential of some ST types for nosocomial cross-transmission. Conclusions. Cross-transmission and high selective pressure lead to very high acquisition of ESBL-E carriage, contributing to dissemination in the community. Strict hygiene measures as well as careful balancing of benefit-risk ratio of current antibiotic policies need to be reevaluated

Information-theoretic determination of ponderomotive forces

From the equilibrium condition $\delta S=0$ applied to an isolated thermodynamic system of electrically charged particles and the fundamental equation of thermodynamics ($dU = T dS-(\mathbf{f}\cdot d\mathbf{r})$) subject to a new procedure, it is obtained the Lorentz's force together with non-inertial terms of mechanical nature. Other well known ponderomotive forces, like the Stern-Gerlach's force and a force term related to the Einstein-de Haas's effect are also obtained. In addition, a new force term appears, possibly related to a change in weight when a system of charged particles is accelerated.Comment: 10 page