Perturbation of the Ground Varieties of C = 1 String Theory

We discuss the effect of perturbations on the ground rings of $c=1$ string theory at the various compactification radii defining the $A_N$ points of the moduli space. We argue that perturbations by plus-type moduli define ground varieties which are equivalent to the unperturbed ones under redefinitions of the coordinates and hence cannot smoothen the singularity. Perturbations by the minus-type moduli, on the other hand, lead to semi-universal deformations of the singular varieties that can smoothen the singularity under certain conditions. To first order, the cosmological perturbation by itself can remove the singularity only at the self-dual ($A_1$) point.}Comment: 15 pages, TIFR/TH/93-36, phyzzx macro.(A clarification added in Introduction, and a few references added

A Test Stand for the Muon Trigger Development for the CMS Experiment at the LHC

Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) is one of the flagship experiments in particle physics operating at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). CMS was built to search for signatures of Higgs bosons, supersymmetry, and other new phenomena. The coming upgrade of the collider will increase the rate of collisions and expand the physics reach of CMS, but will also push the detector systems beyond their current capabilities. One critically affected element is the CMS trigger, a system responsible for making a fast decision if a particular event is of interest and trigger the readout of the detector. As saving the data from every collision would require a technically unattainable bandwidth and is not possible, triggering inefficiencies propagate into reduction of physics reach for the entire experiment. One proposal to handle the future increase in collision rates aims to combine the capabilities of the existing Cathode Strip Chambers (CSC) with the newly proposed Gaseous Electron Multiplication (GEM) detectors to improve the efficiency and discriminating power of the electronics-based muon Level-1trigger. This project focuses on development of a test-stand to emulate operational conditions of such a system, taking into account geometries of the two detector elements. The results of this study will present a proof of principle that building a joint GEM-CSC trigger system is feasible and it can be used to improve trigger efficiency

A Low-Power Interface Design for Intelligent Sensor Nodes Utilized in Wireless Sensor Networks

This thesis describes a means for performing complex event detection at a single sensor node of a wireless sensor network (WSN) by interfacing a low-power mixed signal Programmable System on Chip (PSoC) to a MICA2 wireless sensor node. The proposed system helps to reduce the overall power consumption of the node, by lending it the advance computational capability to process a significant amount of data at the node rather than transmitting it. This allows the node to intelligently monitor a signal for impending events instead of transmitting the raw signal to the base constantly. Previous work by others has indicated that lowering the transmission data rate lowers the high cost of transmission power [41], [42] in a node thereby lengthening the node life and, ultimately, increasing the reliability of the network [43]. This work implements a threshold technique which controls the data transmission rate depending on the value of the monitored signal and a cardiac monitoring system that performs complex computations at the node for the detection of either a skipped heart beat or a reduced Heart Rate Variability (HRV) whereupon the relevant unprocessed signal is transmitted to the base station for direct observation. A performance analysis of the system demonstrates that there is a reduction in the power consumption of the overall sensor node and a significant reduction in data transmission rate which also results in a reduction of the overall network traffic and congestion

On pore-scale modeling and simulation of reactive transport in 3D geometries

Pore-scale modeling and simulation of reactive flow in porous media has a range of diverse applications, and poses a number of research challenges. It is known that the morphology of a porous medium has significant influence on the local flow rate, which can have a substantial impact on the rate of chemical reactions. While there are a large number of papers and software tools dedicated to simulating either fluid flow in 3D computerized tomography (CT) images or reactive flow using pore-network models, little attention to date has been focused on the pore-scale simulation of sorptive transport in 3D CT images, which is the specific focus of this paper. Here we first present an algorithm for the simulation of such reactive flows directly on images, which is implemented in a sophisticated software package. We then use this software to present numerical results in two resolved geometries, illustrating the importance of pore-scale simulation and the flexibility of our software package.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure

Decomposing the Effects of Monetary Policy Using an External Instruments SVAR

We study the effects of monetary policy on economic activity separately identifying the effects of a conventional change in the fed funds rate from the policy of forward guidance. We use a structural VAR identified using external instruments from futures market data. The response of output to a fed funds rate shock is found to be consistent with typical monetary VAR analyses. However, the effect of a forward guidance shock that increases long-term interest rates has an expansionary effect on output. This counterintuitive response is shown to be tied to the asymmetric information between the Federal Reserve and the public

Derivation of the respiratory rate signal from a single lead ECG

It has been long established that respiration has an influence on heart rate, and this effect is called respiratory sinus arrhythmia. As a result, two inferences can be postulated: first respiration information can be derived from cardiac activity, and second this effect offers the potential of removing the respiration effect that suppresses cardiac information which is of clinical significance. As a result of research performed at NJIT, there is a significant amount of data on exercise and heart rate recovery, but not the associated respiration signal. The motivation of this research was to compare and implement an optimal ECG derived respiration program, develop an adaptive peak detector algorithm to process the complex respiration signal and produce a usable respiration rate waveform. Three methods for deriving respiration from a single lead ECG were identified and implemented in LabVIEW. The three methods were R wave amplitude modulation (RWA), R wave duration (RWD), and the multiplication of RWA and RWD signals. Data analysis was carried out by comparing actual paced breathed respiration signal with lead I ECG derived respiration of ten normal subjects. The data analysis suggests that RWA is the best method with a correlation of 0.95. Then an algorithm to derive a continuous respiration rate signal from actual respiration signal with a high level of accuracy was developed. As a result of this research a program has been developed which provides respiratory information of clinical significance from ordinary single lead ECG for situations in which ECG but respiration is not routinely monitored

What are the odds? option-based forecasts of FOMC target changes

This article uses probability forecasts derived from options to assess evolving market uncertainty about Federal Reserve monetary policy actions in a variety of recent events and episodes. Options on federal funds futures contracts reveal a complete probability density function over possible Federal Reserve target rates, thus augmenting the expectations provided by federal funds futures contracts. Option-based forecasts are most useful when more than two federal funds target outcomes are plausible at an upcoming policy meeting.Federal Open Market Committee ; Forecasting ; Monetary policy

Educational material about influenza viruses

To supplement a special edition of the journal Viruses, entitled “What’s New with Flu?”, influenza virus researchers have worked together to generate simple educational material to communicate their science to school students. Educational materials suitable for a range of ages are included, from coloring exercises for younger students through to explanations of cutting-edge science in straightforward language for older students. This article contains a handout with influenza facts, a coloring page, a glossary and word find and a connect-the-dots exercise explaining the ideas behind recently published scientific papers. Together, these materials are intended to make research on influenza viruses more accessible to students and teachers