7,040 research outputs found
Half-tapering strategy for conditional simulation with large datasets
Gaussian conditional realizations are routinely used for risk assessment and
planning in a variety of Earth sciences applications. Conditional realizations
can be obtained by first creating unconditional realizations that are then
post-conditioned by kriging. Many efficient algorithms are available for the
first step, so the bottleneck resides in the second step. Instead of doing the
conditional simulations with the desired covariance (F approach) or with a
tapered covariance (T approach), we propose to use the taper covariance only in
the conditioning step (Half-Taper or HT approach). This enables to speed up the
computations and to reduce memory requirements for the conditioning step but
also to keep the right short scale variations in the realizations. A criterion
based on mean square error of the simulation is derived to help anticipate the
similarity of HT to F. Moreover, an index is used to predict the sparsity of
the kriging matrix for the conditioning step. Some guides for the choice of the
taper function are discussed. The distributions of a series of 1D, 2D and 3D
scalar response functions are compared for F, T and HT approaches. The
distributions obtained indicate a much better similarity to F with HT than with
T.Comment: 39 pages, 2 Tables and 11 Figure
An Efficient Linear Programming Algorithm to Generate the Densest Lattice Sphere Packings
Finding the densest sphere packing in -dimensional Euclidean space
is an outstanding fundamental problem with relevance in many
fields, including the ground states of molecular systems, colloidal crystal
structures, coding theory, discrete geometry, number theory, and biological
systems. Numerically generating the densest sphere packings becomes very
challenging in high dimensions due to an exponentially increasing number of
possible sphere contacts and sphere configurations, even for the restricted
problem of finding the densest lattice sphere packings. In this paper, we apply
the Torquato-Jiao packing algorithm, which is a method based on solving a
sequence of linear programs, to robustly reproduce the densest known lattice
sphere packings for dimensions 2 through 19. We show that the TJ algorithm is
appreciably more efficient at solving these problems than previously published
methods. Indeed, in some dimensions, the former procedure can be as much as
three orders of magnitude faster at finding the optimal solutions than earlier
ones. We also study the suboptimal local density-maxima solutions (inherent
structures or "extreme" lattices) to gain insight about the nature of the
topography of the "density" landscape.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figure
Exit Exams and High School Dropout
In this paper, I consider the impact of the expansion of exams students must pass in order to graduate high school on dropout rates. "Exit exams," as these tests are known, have become more common, and more difficult. These exams are controversial, with opponents claiming they drive marginal students out of school, and proponents arguing they align student interests with those of the school and encourage teachers and administrators to provide effort and resources on the students' behalf. I make use of the fact that when states implement exit exams, they first affect a specific graduating class. So in some states, some students in high school are required to pass these exams, while students in the grade above are not. Using a state-grade panel constructed from the Common Core of Data I find evidence that the recent expansion of exit exams has resulted in a modest increase in high school dropout rates in the aggregate, but a large increase among students in 12th grade, where additional attempts to pass exams are not possible. I also find that a policy often used to limit the impacts of exit exams on high school completion has only limited effect: Dropout rates in states where students can earn a diploma or credential even when unable to pass exit exams, dropout increases in 12th grade at about the same rate as in other states without such alternative pathways. This suggests that at least some of the impact is due to stop-out on the part of students.high school dropout, exit exams, accountability, attainment
Tangle Solutions for a Family of DNA-Rearranging Proteins
We study two systems of tangle equations that arise when modeling the action
of the Integrase family of proteins on DNA. These two systems--direct and
inverted repeats--correspond to two different possibilities for the initial DNA
sequence. We present one new class of solutions to the tangle equations. In the
case of inverted repeats we prove that any solution not in these, or 2
previously known classes, would have to belong to one specific class. In the
case of direct repeats we prove that the three classes are are the only
solutions possible.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures, Appendix. To appear in Mathematical Proceedings
of the Cambridge Philosophical Societ
Importance of Cultural Intelligence: cross-cultural examination and analysis
Globalization requires collaboration, partnerships, alliances, trade agreements, and business conduct across both borders and cultures. Growth in international business necessitates corporations and employees to be culturally intelligent. Cultural intelligence has proved to be an instrumental skill that will be a major determinant in the success of cross-cultural collaborations. We examine cross-cultural situations of financial and social problems caused by a lack of cultural intelligence and compare them to situations of effective collaborations. We conclude with practical suggestions and five recommendations that can help improve cultural intelligence levels
Jammed lattice sphere packings
We generate and study an ensemble of isostatic jammed hard-sphere lattices.
These lattices are obtained by compression of a periodic system with an
adaptive unit cell containing a single sphere until the point of mechanical
stability. We present detailed numerical data about the densities, pair
correlations, force distributions, and structure factors of such lattices. We
show that this model retains many of the crucial structural features of the
classical hard-sphere model and propose it as a model for the jamming and glass
transitions that enables exploration of much higher dimensions than are usually
accessible.Comment: 8 pages, 2 tables, 8 figures, final submitted manuscrip
- …