Coarse-grained entropy and causal holographic information in AdS/CFT

We propose bulk duals for certain coarse-grained entropies of boundary regions. The `one-point entropy' is defined in the conformal field theory by maximizing the entropy in a domain of dependence while fixing the one-point functions. We conjecture that this is dual to the area of the edge of the region causally accessible to the domain of dependence (i.e. the `causal holographic information' of Hubeny and Rangamani). The `future one-point entropy' is defined by generalizing this conjecture to future domains of dependence and their corresponding bulk regions. We show that the future one-point entropy obeys a nontrivial second law. If our conjecture is true, this answers the question "What is the field theory dual of Hawking's area theorem?"Comment: 43 pages, 9 figures. v3: minor changes suggested by referee v2: added a few additional reference

A Pilot Study of Pedestrians with Visual Impairments Detecting Traffic Gaps and Surges Containing Hybrid Vehicles

The increasing number of hybrid and quiet internal combustion engine vehicles may impact the travel abilities of pedestrians who are blind. Pedestrians who rely on auditory cues for structuring their travel may face challenges in making crossing decisions in the presence of quiet vehicles. This article describes results of initial studies looking at the crossing decisions of pedestrians who are blind at an uncontrolled crossing (no traffic control) and a light controlled intersection. The presence of hybrid vehicles was a factor in each situation. At the uncontrolled crossing, Toyota hybrids were most difficult to detect but crossing decisions were made more often in small gaps ended by a Honda hybrid. These effects were seen only at speed under 20 mph. At the light controlled intersection, parallel surges of traffic were most difficult to detect when made up only of a Ford Escape hybrid. Results suggest that more controlled studies of vehicle characteristics impacting crossing decisions of pedestrians who are blind are warranted

An analysis of management control in a complex large-scale endeavor :

This study examines management control as it was performed in a large-scale complex endeavor. The analysis assesses the application of integrated management control in the Safeguard Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System program. It examines changes both in the management control situation and in the associated managerial response. The technique used for the analysis is the Parameter-Phase-Level (PPL) analysis matrix which is fully developed and defined in the study.This study concludes that management control should be offensive rather than defensive, should be preventive in preference to curative, and should favor preview before the fact in lieu of review after the fact. It should be equally sensitive to quantitative and qualitative management information, should satisfy management needs, and should enhance the decision-making process. Integrated and proactive tools and techniques are the preferred foundation for management control of large-scale complex endeavors.The specific objectives of the study are threefold. First, the need for integrated management control in large-scale complex endeavors is addressed. The reality of integrated control as experienced in the Safeguard BMD System program is considered in the same context and so is the relative importance of the three cardinal program parameters of cost, schedule, and technical performance over time. Secondly, having completed the critical examination of the individual cells in the PPL analysis matrix, the matrix is reassembled and refined in a manner dictated by the results of the analysis. This resulted in a reconfiguration of the matrix that differed from the orginal model. Finally, it is proposed that management can and should have a base line for management control that is transferable, adaptive, and dynamic.This objective centers on the interrelationships among the cost, schedule, and technical performance parameters and the compelling need for proactive management control in large-scale complex endeavors

Small Mammal Habitat Associations in a Fragmented Agricultural Landscape

The purpose of this research was to examine how small mammals select habitats in a fragmented agricultural landscape in southeast Georgia. I captured small mammals at 71 trap sites within 33 locations in Bulloch and Candler Counties, Georgia. Prior to trapping, each site was classified based on predominant habitat type. Within each trap site, habitat variables were quantified for capture and non-capture trap stations. Using GPS and ArcMap GIS, I quantified surrounding land cover associated with each trap site. A total of 398 individuals of 10 different species of small mammals were captured. Peromyscus gossypinus and Sigmodon hispidus were captured most often, while shrew species and (Reithrodontomys humulis) were captured rarely. Relative species abundance per trapping effort was highest for old field and longleaf pine-wiregrass habitats. Pine plantation and upland hardwood habitats yielded the lowest relative abundance per trapping effort. Species showed significant differences in patterns of habitat selection. A principal components analysis (PCA) revealed two largely non-overlapping species groups defined by PC 1: those associated with more open-canopy habitats and those associated with closed-canopy, mature forest habitats. Neotoma floridana, Ochrotomys nuttalli, and Sorex longirostris exhibited the most specialized (least variable) habitat selection. Land cover associated with capture stations for each species was similar to land cover available in the region. Overall, my results suggest that three species of forest-dwelling mammals (N. floridana, O. nuttalli, and S. longirostris) are most susceptible to the habitat changes associated with an agricultural landscape

Poincare duality and Periodicity

We construct periodic families of Poincare complexes, partially solving a question of Hodgson that was posed in the proceedings of the 1982 Northwestern homotopy theory conference. We also construct infinite families of Poincare complexes whose top cell falls off after one suspension but which fail to embed in a sphere of codimension one. We give a homotopy theoretic description of the four-fold periodicity in knot cobordism.Comment: A significant revision. In this version we produce infinite families of examples of Poincare complexes whose top cell falls off after one suspension, but which do not embed in codimension one. We also rewrote the knot periodicity section in terms of Seifert surfaces rather than knot complement

When target CEOs contract with acquirers: evidence from bank mergers and acquisitions

This paper investigates the impact of the target chief executive officer’s (CEO) postmerger position on the purchase premium and target shareholders’ abnormal returns around the announcement of the deal in a sample of bank mergers during the period 1990–2004. We find evidence that the target shareholders’ returns are negatively related to the postmerger position of their CEO. However, these lower returns are not matched by higher returns to the acquirer’s shareholders, suggesting little or no wealth transfers. Additionally, our evidence suggests that the target CEO becoming a senior officer of the combined firm does not boost the overall value of the merger transaction.