Algebraic Numbers, Hyperbolicity, and Density Modulo One

We prove the density of the sets of the form ${{\lambda}_1^m {\mu}_1^n {\xi}_1 +...+{\lambda}_k^m {\mu}_k^n {\xi}_k : m,n \in \mathbb N}$ modulo one, where $\lambda_i$ and $\mu_i$ are multiplicatively independent algebraic numbers satisfying some additional assumptions. The proof is based on analysing dynamics of higher-rank actions on compact abelean groups

Ship Detection and Segmentation using Image Correlation

There have been intensive research interests in ship detection and segmentation due to high demands on a wide range of civil applications in the last two decades. However, existing approaches, which are mainly based on statistical properties of images, fail to detect smaller ships and boats. Specifically, known techniques are not robust enough in view of inevitable small geometric and photometric changes in images consisting of ships. In this paper a novel approach for ship detection is proposed based on correlation of maritime images. The idea comes from the observation that a fine pattern of the sea surface changes considerably from time to time whereas the ship appearance basically keeps unchanged. We want to examine whether the images have a common unaltered part, a ship in this case. To this end, we developed a method - Focused Correlation (FC) to achieve robustness to geometric distortions of the image content. Various experiments have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.Comment: 8 pages, to be published in proc. of conference IEEE SMC 201

Solving close-coupling equations in momentum space without singularities for charged targets

The analytical treatment of the Green’s function in the convergent close-coupling method (Bray et al., 2016) has been extended to charged targets. Furthermore, we show that this approach allows for calculation of cross sections at zero channel energy. For neutral targets this means the electron scattering length may be obtained from a single calculation with zero incident energy. For charged targets the non-zero excitation cross sections at thresholds can also be calculated by simply setting the incident energy to the exact threshold value. These features are demonstrated by considering electron scattering on H and He+This work was supported by resources provided by the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre with funding from the Australian Research Council, Grant DP160102106. ASK acknowledges partial support from the US National Science Foundation under Award No. PHY1415656

Calculations of electron scattering on H-like ions

Electron-impact excitation and ionization of H-like ions of nuclear charge Z = 2,..., 8 have been calculated from thresholds to high energies, with a particular focus on spin asymmetry of the cross sections. It is found that the importance of electron exchange is undiminished with increasing Z. Away from resonance regions, scaling considerations allow for accurate nonrelativistic estimates of the total-electron-spin-dependent cross sections for Z > 8.We acknowledge the Australian Research Council, and the resources and services of the National Computational Infrastructure and the Pawsey Supercomputer Centre, which are supported by the Australian and Western Australian Governments. This work also used the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE), which is supported by National Science Foundation Grant No. ACI-1548562

Face Verification Competition on the XM2VTS Database

In the year 2000 a competition was organised to collect face verification results on an identical, publicly available data set using a standard evaluation protocol. The database used was the Xm2vts database along with the Lausanne protocol [14]. Four different institutions submitted results on the database which were subsequently published in [13]. Three years later, a second contest using the same dataset and protocol was organised as part of AVBPA 2003. This time round seven seperate institutions submitted results to the competition. This paper presents the results of the competition and shows that verification results on this protocol have increased in performance by a factor of 3

The detrimental role of angiotensin receptor agonistic autoantibodies in intrauterine growth restriction seen in preeclampsia

Growth-restricted fetuses are at risk for a variety of lifelong medical conditions. Preeclampsia, a life-threatening hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, is associated with fetuses who suffer from intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Recently, emerging evidence indicates that preeclamptic women harbor AT1 receptor agonistic autoantibodies (AT1-AAs) that contribute to the disease features. However, the exact role of AT1-AAs in IUGR and the underlying mechanisms have not been identified. We report that these autoantibodies are present in the cord blood of women with preeclampsia and retain the ability to activate AT1 receptors. Using an autoantibody-induced animal model of preeclampsia, we show that AT1-AAs cross the mouse placenta, enter fetal circulation, and lead to small fetuses with organ growth retardation. AT1-AAs also induce apoptosis in the placentas of pregnant mice, human villous explants, and human trophoblast cells. Finally, autoantibody-induced IUGR and placental apoptosis are diminished by either losartan or an autoantibody-neutralizing peptide. Thus, these studies identify AT1-AA as a novel causative factor of preeclampsia-associated IUGR and offer two possible underlying mechanisms: a direct detrimental effect on fetal development by crossing the placenta and entering fetal circulation, and indirectly through AT1-AA–induced placental damage. Our findings highlight AT1-AAs as important therapeutic targets

Matrix approach to managing of rationing in the public procurement

The article analyzes the potential for improving rationing in the public procurement system to increase their transparency and efficiency. An original method of procurement rationing based on a matrix approach to management is proposed. The methodology includes a combination of mathematical methods, scenario and predictive methods, which allows us to take into account the alternative solutions in procurement management. The fundamental principle of applying the matrix approach in procurement is not to optimize the procedures within a specific order, not to save budget funds as such, but to increase the efficiency of procurement planning in order to implement the entire set of projects, taking into account the factors of time, the need for procurement for the customer and public interests