The mass of asymptotically hyperbolic Riemannian manifolds

We present a set of global invariants, called "mass integrals", which can be defined for a large class of asymptotically hyperbolic Riemannian manifolds. When the "boundary at infinity" has spherical topology one single invariant is obtained, called the mass; we show positivity thereof. We apply the definition to conformally compactifiable manifolds, and show that the mass is completion-independent. We also prove the result, closely related to the problem at hand, that conformal completions of conformally compactifiable manifolds are unique.Comment: 27 pages, Latex2e with several style files; various misprints corrected, positivity theorem for black holes considerably strengthened, to appear in Pacific Jour. of Mathematic

A Posteriori Error Estimation for the p-curl Problem

We derive a posteriori error estimates for a semi-discrete finite element approximation of a nonlinear eddy current problem arising from applied superconductivity, known as the $p$-curl problem. In particular, we show the reliability for non-conforming N\'{e}d\'{e}lec elements based on a residual type argument and a Helmholtz-Weyl decomposition of $W^p_0(\text{curl};\Omega)$. As a consequence, we are also able to derive an a posteriori error estimate for a quantity of interest called the AC loss. The nonlinearity for this form of Maxwell's equation is an analogue of the one found in the $p$-Laplacian. It is handled without linearizing around the approximate solution. The non-conformity is dealt by adapting error decomposition techniques of Carstensen, Hu and Orlando. Geometric non-conformities also appear because the continuous problem is defined over a bounded $C^{1,1}$ domain while the discrete problem is formulated over a weaker polyhedral domain. The semi-discrete formulation studied in this paper is often encountered in commercial codes and is shown to be well-posed. The paper concludes with numerical results confirming the reliability of the a posteriori error estimate.Comment: 32 page

Local linear spatial regression

A local linear kernel estimator of the regression function x\mapsto g(x):=E[Y_i|X_i=x], x\in R^d, of a stationary (d+1)-dimensional spatial process {(Y_i,X_i),i\in Z^N} observed over a rectangular domain of the form I_n:={i=(i_1,...,i_N)\in Z^N| 1\leq i_k\leq n_k,k=1,...,N}, n=(n_1,...,n_N)\in Z^N, is proposed and investigated. Under mild regularity assumptions, asymptotic normality of the estimators of g(x) and its derivatives is established. Appropriate choices of the bandwidths are proposed. The spatial process is assumed to satisfy some very general mixing conditions, generalizing classical time-series strong mixing concepts. The size of the rectangular domain I_n is allowed to tend to infinity at different rates depending on the direction in Z^N.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/009053604000000850 in the Annals of Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aos/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

A classical bounce: constraints and consequences

We perform a detailed investigation of the simplest possible cosmological model in which a bounce can occur, namely that where the dynamics is led by a simple massive scalar field in a general self-interacting potential and a background spacetime with positively curved spatial sections. By means of a phase space analysis, we give the conditions under which an initially contracting phase can be followed by a bounce and an inflationary phase lasting long enough (i.e., at least 60-70 e-folds) to suppress spatial curvature in today's observable universe. We find that, quite generically, this realization requires some amount of fine-tuning of the initial conditions. We study the effect of this background evolution on scalar perturbations by propagating an initial power-law power spectrum through the contracting phase, the bounce and the inflationary phase. We find that it is drastically modified, both spectrally (k-mode mixing) and in amplitude. It also acquires, at leading order, an oscillatory component, which, once evolved through the radiation and matter dominated eras, happens to be compatible with the WMAP data.Comment: Updated references, improved figure resolutio

Specialization and Regulation: The Rise of Professionals and the Emergence of Occupational Licensing Regulation

This paper explores the origins and effects of occupational licensing regulation in late nineteenth and early twentieth century America. Was licensing regulation introduced to limit competition in the market for professional services at the expense of efficiency? Or was licensing adopted to reduce informational asymmetries about professional quality? To investigate these hypotheses, we analyze the determinants of licensing legislation and the effect of licensing on entry into eleven occupations. We also examine the impact of medical licensing laws on entry into the medical profession, physician earnings, mortality rates, and the incidence of medical malpractice. We believe that, at least for the Progressive Era, the evidence is more consistent with the asymmetric information hypothesis than the industry capture hypothesis.

Gravity tests in the solar system and the Pioneer anomaly

We build up a new phenomenological framework associated with a minimal generalization of Einsteinian gravitation theory. When linearity, stationarity and isotropy are assumed, tests in the solar system are characterized by two potentials which generalize respectively the Newton potential and the parameter $\gamma$ of parametrized post-Newtonian formalism. The new framework seems to have the capability to account for the Pioneer anomaly besides other gravity tests.Comment: 5 pages. Accepted version, to appear in Modern Physics Letters