APPLICATION OF GROUP TESTING FOR ANALYZING NOISY NETWORKS

My dissertation focuses on developing scalable algorithms for analyzing large complex networks and evaluating how the results alter with changes to the network. Network analysis has become a ubiquitous and very effective tool in big data analysis, particularly for understanding the mechanisms of complex systems that arise in diverse disciplines such as cybersecurity [83], biology [15], sociology [5], and epidemiology [7]. However, data from real-world systems are inherently noisy because they are influenced by fluctuations in experiments, subjective interpretation of data, and limitation of computing resources. Therefore, the corresponding networks are also approximate. This research addresses these issues of obtaining accurate results from large noisy networks efficiently. My dissertation has four main components. The first component consists of developing efficient and scalable algorithms for centrality computations that produce reliable results on noisy networks. Two novel contributions I made in this area are the development of a group testing [16] based algorithm for identification of high centrality vertices which is extremely faster than current methods, and an algorithm for computing the betweenness centrality of a specific vertex. The second component consists of developing quantitative metrics to measure how different noise models affect the analysis results. We implemented a uniform perturbation model based on random addition/ deletion of edges of a network. To quantify the stability of a network we investigated the effect that perturbations have on the top-k ranked vertices and the local structure properties of the top ranked vertices. The third component consists of developing efficient software for network analysis. I have been part of the development of a software package, ESSENS (Extensible, Scalable Software for Evolving NetworkS) [76], that effectively supports our algorithms on large networks. The fourth component is a literature review of the various noise models that researchers have applied to networks and the methods they have used to quantify the stability, sensitivity, robustness, and reliability of networks. These four aspects together will lead to efficient, accurate, and highly scalable algorithms for analyzing noisy networks

Corporate Social Responsibility and Future Earnings

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives can be studied as an investment, a signaling device, and/or an agency problem. In this paper, we focus on the investment and signaling hypotheses, and thus examine the association between CSR and future realized earnings and cash flow from operations (CFO). We find that CSR has negative long-term relation to both earnings and CFO, but there is no short-term evidence. These findings could be linked to the agency costs of CSR, a lower cost of equity of responsible firms, or both. Furthermore, the volatility of earnings negatively moderates the CSR effect on future earnings, i.e. it is different for stable and volatile firms. After raising social responsibility, stable firms experience no escalation in volatility, while having smaller losses in the long-run compared to volatile firms. On the contrary, volatile firms that engage in CSR tend to post a short-term reduction in volatility, followed by a sharp fall in the long-term earnings. Admittedly, when we account for the unobserved year effects, the only robust results are that CSR leads to a decline in the cash flow from operations, and a lower earnings volatility at volatile companies. Hence, while our results cast doubt whether CSR signals higher earnings or profitability, CSR could signal a lower volatility of earnings

Reciprocal Relations in Oscillations of Dissipative Systems

AbstractThe equations of the dynamic response of discrete dissipative systems at arbitrary load are considered within the theory of time analysis. The structure of the kinematic parameters of a reaction is analyzed and it is shown that the constituent matrices of movements, velocities and accelerations of the nodes of the system are symmetrical which is considered as a specific case of reciprocal relations in an elastic dissipative system. On the basis of the properties of matrices, the more general reciprocal relations are proved, where in addition to the familiar principle of reciprocity of virtual work there are reciprocal relations in the form of a product of mass forces and velocities and in the form of a product of mass forces and accelerations. The theoretical calculations are illustrated by the example

Management problems of socio-political and economic pro-cesses on the regional and municipal levels

The main challenges that state and municipal management face during socio-political and economic processes at the regional and municipal levels are considered. There are some practical recommendations for improving the management process for such levels.Рассматриваются основные проблемы, стоящие перед государственным и муниципальным управлением социально-политическими и экономическими процессами на региональном и муниципальном уровнях. Даются некоторые практические рекомендации по повышению эффективности управленческого процесса на вышеобозначенных уровнях

Comment on "fringe waves in an impedance half-plane"

Sevgi, Levent (Dogus Author) -- Document full title: Comments on "FRINGE WAVES IN AN IMPEDANCE HALF-PLANE" by H. D. Basdemir, in Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 138, 571-584, 2013.This paper (i.e., [1]) extends PTD to an impedance half-plane problem

Использование золошлаковых материалов теплоэнергетики в строительных материалах

The possible trends to improve the building-technical properties of dry ashes characteristics formed as a result of solid fuel combustion at thermal power stations are presented. The results of different fly-ash conditioning technologies application to widen the trends and to increase the volumes of their use in the construction materials and products.Представлены возможные направления улучшения строительно-технических характеристик сухих зол, образующихся при сжигании твердого топлива на тепловых электростанциях. Приведены результаты применения различных технологий кондиционирования свойств золы для расширения направлений и увеличения объемов их использования при производстве строительных материалов и изделий

DNA Codes Based on Stem Similarities Between DNA Sequences

DNA codes consisting of DNA sequences are necessary for DNA computing. The minimum distance parameter of such codes is a measure of how dissimilar the codewords are, and thus is indirectly a measure of the likelihood of undetectedable or uncorrectable errors occurring during hybridization. To compute distance, an abstract metric, for example, longest common subsequence, must be used to model the actual bonding energies of DNA strands. In this paper we continue the development [1,2,3] of similarity functions for q-ary n-sequences The theoretical lower bound on the maximal possible size of codes, built on the space endowed with this metric, is obtained. that can be used (for q = 4) to model a thermodynamic similarity on DNA sequences. We introduce the concept of a stem similarity function and discuss DNA codes [2] based on the stem similarity. We suggest an optimal construction [2] and obtain random coding bounds on the maximum size and rate for such codes

A Parallel Template for Implementing Filters for Biological Correlation Networks

High throughput biological experiments are critical for their role in systems biology – the ability to survey the state of cellular mechanisms on the broad scale opens possibilities for the scientific researcher to understand how multiple components come together, and what goes wrong in disease states. However, the data returned from these experiments is massive and heterogeneous, and requires intuitive and clever computational algorithms for analysis. The correlation network model has been proposed as a tool for modeling and analysis of this high throughput data; structures within the model identified by graph theory have been found to represent key players in major cellular pathways. Previous work has found that network filtering using graph theoretic structural concepts can reduce noise and strengthen biological signals in these networks. However, the process of filtering biological network using such filters is computationally intensive and the filtered networks remain large. In this research, we develop a parallel template for these network filters to improve runtime, and use this high performance environment to show that parallelization does not affect network structure or biological function of that structure

The Use of Reftinskaya State District Power Plant Fly Ash in the Production of Building Materials and Products

The system of dry ash–slag removal at the Reftinskaya state district power plant which provides capture, storage and shipment of fly ash to the consumers is considered in this study. The results of determination of chemical and phase composition, physical properties, melting temperature and activity of natural radionuclides of ash which is form during burning of stone coal of Ekibastuz basin are presented. Ash is acidic, superfine and refractory one with a low content of combustible substance. As to composition and properties it satisfies the requirements of Russian Standard no. 25818 and ships to consumers under Technical Conditions 5717–004–79935691–2009. The results of laboratory tests and industrial production of building materials and products on the basis of ash of Reftinskaya state district power plant are presented. It is shown that ash is used in the production of Portland cement, heavy and cellular autoclave concrete, dry mixes and can also be used as part of fly ash non-fired and agloporite gravel, ceramic bricks. The features of their production, basic physical and mechanical properties of building materials and products are described. It is shown that the introduction of a new system of dry ash removal at the state district power plant contributes to the expansion of directions and increase in the volume of ash recycling. Keywords: Reftinskaya state district power plant, dry ash removal, fly ash, composition, properties, use, construction materials and product

Computational Physics on Graphics Processing Units

The use of graphics processing units for scientific computations is an emerging strategy that can significantly speed up various different algorithms. In this review, we discuss advances made in the field of computational physics, focusing on classical molecular dynamics, and on quantum simulations for electronic structure calculations using the density functional theory, wave function techniques, and quantum field theory.Comment: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference, PARA 2012, Helsinki, Finland, June 10-13, 201