Approximate Bayesian Computational methods

Also known as likelihood-free methods, approximate Bayesian computational (ABC) methods have appeared in the past ten years as the most satisfactory approach to untractable likelihood problems, first in genetics then in a broader spectrum of applications. However, these methods suffer to some degree from calibration difficulties that make them rather volatile in their implementation and thus render them suspicious to the users of more traditional Monte Carlo methods. In this survey, we study the various improvements and extensions made to the original ABC algorithm over the recent years.Comment: 7 figure

Macroscopic electromagnetic stress tensor for ionized media

Following the arguments presented by Mansuripur [Opt. Express 16, 14821-14835 (2008)], we suggest a form for the macroscopic electromagnetic stress tensor appropriate for ionized media. The generalized Lorentz force includes the effects of polarization forces as well as those on the free charge and current densities. The resulting tensor is written in terms of the fields D, B, E, and H. Its expression for a fully ionized medium subject to an external electromagnetic field is discussed, as are the plasma conservation equations. An apparatus is suggested for its experimental discrimination.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures, fixed some nonsense with the tubular source, to appear in JP

Comment on "Plasma ionization by annularly bounded helicon waves" [Phys . Plasmas 13, 063501 (2006)]

The neoclassical calculation of the helicon wave theory contains a fundamental flaw. Use is made of a proportional relationship between the magnetic field and its curl to derive the Helmholtz equation describing helicon wave propagation; however, by the fundamental theorem of Stokes, the curl of the magnetic field must be perpendicular to that portion of the field contributing to the local curl. Reexamination of the equations of motion indicates that only electromagnetic waves propagate through a stationary region of constant pressure in a fully ionized, neutral medium.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, to be published in Phys. Plasmas, http://link.aip.org/link/?PHPAEN/16/054701/

The Cordilleran Ice Sheet and the Glacial Geomorphology of Southern and Central British Colombia

This paper reviews the current state of knowledge about the Cordilleran Ice Sheet in southern and central British Columbia. Reconstructions of the ice sheet and the styles of ice expansion and déglaciation are based on extensive and varied glacigenic sediments and landforms that date from Late Wisconsinan (Fraser) Glaciation. Late-glacial lakes and sea level changes are also described and related to isostatic and eustatic effects. The timing of ice expansion and recession during Fraser Glaciation was markedly asymmetric: ice build-up commenced about 29 000 years BP, culminated between 14 500 and 14 000 years BP1 and déglaciation was largely completed by 11 500 years BP. Most of this interval appears to have been dominated by montane glaciation, which produced striking erosional landforms. A Cordilleran Ice Sheet existed from only about 19 000 to 13 500 years BP. An older glaciation, probably of Early Wisconsinan age, has been recognized from widespread exposures of drift that underlies Middle Wisconsinan non-glacial sediments. Pre-Wisconsinan drift is present near Vancouver. Drifts of late Tertiary to Middle Pleistocene age have been dated by association with volcanic sequences in the southern Coast Mountains and the central Interior, and by paleomagnetic studies in the southern Interior.On résume ici l'état des connaissances sur l'Inlandsis de la Cordillère du sud et du centre de la Colombie-Britannique. Les reconstitutions de l'inlandsis et les modes d'englaciation et de déglaciation sont fondés sur les formes et les sédiments glaciaires qui datent de la glaciation du Wisconsinien supérieur (Fraser). On décrit également les lacs tardiglaciaires et les changements du niveau marin en relation avec les conséquences sur les niveaux isostatique et eustatique. Les rythmes de la progression et du retrait glaciaire ont été tout à fait différents; la giaciation a commencé vers 29 000 BP, a connu son optimum entre 14 500 et 14 000 BP et la déglaciation était à toutes fins utiles terminée dès 11 500 BP. La plus grande partie de cette époque a été dominée par une glaciation de type alpin, qui a engendré des formes d'érosion remarquables. L'Inlandsis de la Cordillère n'a existé que de 19 000 à 13 500 BP. On a identifié une glaciation plus ancienne, probablement du Wisconsinien inférieur, à partir des affleurements répandus de dépôts glaciaires sous-jacents aux sédiments non glaciaires du Wisconsinien moyen. On a observé des dépôts glaciaires pré-wisconsiniens près de Vancouver. Les dépôts glaciaires datant du Tertiaire supérieur au Pleistocene moyen ont été datés par association aux séquences volcaniques du sud des montagnes Côtières et du centre de l'Intérieur et grâce à des études de paléomagnétisme menées dans le sud du système de l'Intérieur.Dieser Artikel gibt einen uberblick ûber den gegenwartigen Forschungsstand zur Kordilleren-Eisdecke im Sùden und im Zentrum von British Columbia. Die Rekonstruktionen der Eisdecke und der Art und Weise der Eisausdehnung und Enteisung stùtzen sich auf extensive und mannigfache glazigene Sedimente und Landformen, die aus der Spât-Wisconsin- (Fraser) Vereisung stammen. Spàtglaziale Seen und Meeresniveauwechsel werden auch beschrieben und in Beziehung zu isostatischen und eustatischen Auswirkungen gesetzt. Der zeitliche Ablauf der Eisausdehnung und des Eisrùckzugs wàhrend der Fraser-Vereisung war deutlich asymmetrisch : die Vereisung begann um etwa 29 000 Jahre v.u.Z., erreichte ihren Hôchststand zwischen 14 500 und 14 000 Jahren v.u.Z. und die Enteisung war weitgehend vollendet um 11 500 Jahre v.u.Z. Der grôfîte Tail dieses Zeitraums scheint von einer alpinen Vereisung beherrscht gewesen zu sein, welche eindrucksvolle Erosions-Landformen hervorbrachte. Eine Kordilleren-Eisdecke existierte nur von etwa 19 000 bis 13 500 Jahre v.u.Z. Eine altère Vereisung, môglicherweise aus dem frùhen Wisconsin konnte anhand ausgedehnter Anlagen von glazialen Ablagerungen, die sich unter nichtglazialen Sedimenten des mittleren Wiskonsin befinden, identifiziert werden. Abgelagerte Bildungen aus dem Spàttertiâr bis zum mittleren Pleistozân wurden in Verbindung mit vulkanischen Sequenzen in den Bergen der Sùdkùste und dem zentralen Landesinnern und mittels palàomagnetischen Studien im sûdlichen Landesinnern datiert