1,126 research outputs found
An analysis of mixed integer linear sets based on lattice point free convex sets
Split cuts are cutting planes for mixed integer programs whose validity is
derived from maximal lattice point free polyhedra of the form called split sets. The set obtained by adding all
split cuts is called the split closure, and the split closure is known to be a
polyhedron. A split set has max-facet-width equal to one in the sense that
. In this paper
we consider using general lattice point free rational polyhedra to derive valid
cuts for mixed integer linear sets. We say that lattice point free polyhedra
with max-facet-width equal to have width size . A split cut of width
size is then a valid inequality whose validity follows from a lattice point
free rational polyhedron of width size . The -th split closure is the set
obtained by adding all valid inequalities of width size at most . Our main
result is a sufficient condition for the addition of a family of rational
inequalities to result in a polyhedral relaxation. We then show that a
corollary is that the -th split closure is a polyhedron. Given this result,
a natural question is which width size is required to design a finite
cutting plane proof for the validity of an inequality. Specifically, for this
value , a finite cutting plane proof exists that uses lattice point free
rational polyhedra of width size at most , but no finite cutting plane
proof that only uses lattice point free rational polyhedra of width size
smaller than . We characterize based on the faces of the linear
relaxation
A model for delivering subspecialty pediatric surgical care in low- and middle-income countries: one organization’s early experience
Uncertainties in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. beef cattle
Beef cattle feedlots are estimated to contribute 26% of U.S. agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and future climate change policy could target reducing these emissions. Life cycle assessment (LCA) of GHG emissions from U.S. grain-fed beef cattle was conducted based on industry statistics and previous studies to identify the main sources of uncertainty in these estimations. Uncertainty associated with GHG emissions from indirect land use change, pasture soil emissions (e.g. soil carbon sequestration), enteric fermentation from cattle on pasture, and methane emissions from feedlot manure, respectively, contributed the most variability to life cycle GHG emissions from beef production. Feeding of coproducts from ethanol production was estimated to reduce life cycle emissions by 1.7%, but could increase emissions by 0.6–2.0% with higher feeding rates. Monte Carlo simulation found a range of life cycle emissions from 2.52 to 9.58 kg CO2 per kg live weight (5th and 95th percentiles), with a calculated average of 8.14, which is between recent estimates. Current methods used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) associated with beef production in feedlots were found to account for only 3–20% of life cycle GHG emissions.
Includes Supplementary Information/Appendix A
Influence of pH, competing ions, and salinity on the sorption of strontium and cobalt onto biogenic hydroxyapatite
Anthropogenic radionuclides contaminate a range of environments as a result of nuclear activities, for example, leakage from waste storage tanks/ponds (e.g. Hanford, USA or Sellafield sites, UK) or as a result of large scale nuclear accidents (e.g. Chernobyl, Ukraine or Fukushima, Japan). One of the most widely applied remediation techniques for contaminated waters is the use of sorbent materials (e.g. zeolites and apatites). However, a key problem at nuclear contaminated sites is the remediation of radionuclides from complex chemical environments. In this study, biogenic hydroxyapatite (BHAP) produced by Serratia sp. bacteria was investigated for its potential to remediate surrogate radionuclides (Sr2+ and Co2+) from environmentally relevant waters by varying pH, salinity and the type and concentration of cations present. The sorption capacity of the BHAP for both Sr2+ and Co2+ was higher than for a synthetically produced hydroxyapatite (HAP) in the solutions tested. BHAP also compared favorably against a natural zeolite (as used in industrial decontamination) for Sr 2+ and Co 2+ uptake from saline waters. Results confirm that hydroxyapatite minerals of high surface area and amorphous calcium phosphate content, typical for biogenic sources, are suitable restoration or reactive barrier materials for the remediation of complex contaminated environments or wastewaters
Latent variable modeling to develop a robust proxy for sensitive behaviors: application to latrine use behavior and its association with sanitation access in a middle-income country
Abstract
Background
Globally, diarrhea is a leading cause of child morbidity and mortality. Although latrines are integral for reducing enteric pathogen transmission, several studies have shown no evidence that latrine ownership improved child health. There are a number of explanations for these results. One explanation is that latrine access does not equate to latrine use. Latrine use, however, is difficult to accurately ascertain, as defecation behavior is often stigmatized. To address this measurement issue, we measure latrine use as a latent variable, indicated by a suite of psychosocial variables.
Methods
We administered a survey of 16 defecation-related psychosocial questions to 251 individuals living in rural Ecuador. We applied latent class analysis (LCA) to these data to model the probability of latrine use as a latent variable. To account for uncertainty in predicted latent class membership, we used a pseudo-class approach to impute five different probabilities of latrine use for each respondent. Via regression modeling, we tested the association between household sanitation and each imputed latrine use variable.
Results
The optimal model presented strong evidence of two latent classes (entropy = 0.86): consistent users (78%) and inconsistent users (22%), predicted by 5 of our 16 psychosocial variables. There was no evidence of an association between the probability of latrine use, predicted from the LCA, and household access to basic sanitation (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.6–2.1). This suggests that home access to a sanitation facility may not ensure the use of the facility for every family member at all times.
Conclusion
Effective implementation and evaluation of sanitation programs requires accurate measurement of latrine use. Psychosocial variables, such as norms, perceptions, and attitudes may provide robust proxy-measures. Future longitudinal studies will help to strengthen the use of these surrogate measures, as many of these factors may be subject to secular trends. Additionally, subgroup analyses will elucidate how our proxy indicators of latrine defecation vary by individual-level characteristics.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147344/1/12889_2018_Article_6373.pd
Tensile properties of the transverse carpal ligament and carpal tunnel complex
A new sophisticated method that uses video analysis techniques together with a Maillon Rapide Delta to determine the tensile properties of the transverse carpal ligament–carpal tunnel complex has been developed. Six embalmed cadaveric specimens amputated at the mid-forearm and aged (mean (SD)): 82 (6.29) years were tested. The six hands were from three males (four hands) and one female (two hands). Using trigonometry and geometry the elongation and strain of the transverse carpal ligament and carpal arch were calculated. The cross-sectional area of the transverse carpal ligament was determined. Tensile properties of the transverse carpal ligament–carpal tunnel complex and Load–Displacement data were also obtained. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA together with a post-hoc analysis (Tukey) and t-tests were incorporated. A transverse carpal ligament–carpal tunnel complex novel testing method has been developed. The results suggest that there were no significant differences between the original transverse carpal ligament width and transverse carpal ligament at peak elongation (P= 0.108). There were significant differences between the original carpal arch width and carpal arch width at peak elongation (P=0.002). The transverse carpal ligament failed either at the mid-substance or at their bony attachments. At maximum deformation the peak load and maximum transverse carpal ligament displacements ranged from 285.74 N to 1369.66 N and 7.09 mm to 18.55 mm respectively. The transverse carpal ligament cross-sectional area mean (SD) was 27.21 (3.41)mm2. Using this method the results provide useful biomechanical information and data about the tensile properties of the transverse carpal ligament–carpal tunnel complex
New distances to RAVE stars
Probability density functions are determined from new stellar parameters for
the distance moduli of stars for which the RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE)
has obtained spectra with S/N>=10. Single-Gaussian fits to the pdf in distance
modulus suffice for roughly half the stars, with most of the other half having
satisfactory two-Gaussian representations. As expected, early-type stars rarely
require more than one Gaussian. The expectation value of distance is larger
than the distance implied by the expectation of distance modulus; the latter is
itself larger than the distance implied by the expectation value of the
parallax. Our parallaxes of Hipparcos stars agree well with the values measured
by Hipparcos, so the expectation of parallax is the most reliable distance
indicator. The latter are improved by taking extinction into account. The
effective temperature absolute-magnitude diagram of our stars is significantly
improved when these pdfs are used to make the diagram. We use the method of
kinematic corrections devised by Schoenrich, Binney & Asplund to check for
systematic errors for general stars and confirm that the most reliable distance
indicator is the expectation of parallax. For cool dwarfs and low-gravity
giants tends to be larger than the true distance by up to 30 percent. The
most satisfactory distances are for dwarfs hotter than 5500 K. We compare our
distances to stars in 13 open clusters with cluster distances from the
literature and find excellent agreement for the dwarfs and indications that we
are over-estimating distances to giants, especially in young clusters.Comment: 20 pages accepted by MNRAS. Minor changes to the submitted versio
Total and Parity-Projected Level Densities of Iron-Region Nuclei in the Auxiliary Fields Monte Carlo Shell Model
We use the auxiliary-fields Monte Carlo method for the shell model in the
complete -shell to calculate level densities. We introduce
parity projection techniques which enable us to calculate the parity dependence
of the level density. Results are presented for Fe, where the calculated
total level density is found to be in remarkable agreement with the
experimental level density. The parity-projected densities are well described
by a backshifted Bethe formula, but with significant dependence of the
single-particle level-density and backshift parameters on parity. We compare
our exact results with those of the thermal Hartree-Fock approximation.Comment: 14 pages, 3 Postscript figures included, RevTe
Atomic motion in tilted optical lattices
This paper presents a formalism describing the dynamics of a quantum particle
in a one-dimensional, time-dependent, tilted lattice. The formalism uses the
Wannier-Stark states, which are localized in each site of the lattice, and
provides a simple framework allowing fully-analytical developments. Analytic
solutions describing the particle motion are explicit derived, and the
resulting dynamics is studied.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figs, submitted to EPJD, Springer Verlag styl
Isospin Dependence of the Spin-Orbit Force and Effective Nuclear Potentials,
The isospin dependence of the spin-orbit potential is investigated for an
effective Skyrme-like energy functional suitable for density dependent
Hartree-Fock calculations. The magnitude of the isospin dependence is obtained
from a fit to experimental data on finite spherical nuclei. It is found to be
close to that of relativistic Hartree models. Consequently, the anomalous kink
in the isotope shifts of Pb nuclei is well reproduced.Comment: Revised, 11 pages (Revtex) and 2 figures available upon request,
Preprint MPA-833, Physical Review Letters (in press)
- …