1,848 research outputs found
When Gravity Fails: Local Search Topology
Local search algorithms for combinatorial search problems frequently
encounter a sequence of states in which it is impossible to improve the value
of the objective function; moves through these regions, called plateau moves,
dominate the time spent in local search. We analyze and characterize plateaus
for three different classes of randomly generated Boolean Satisfiability
problems. We identify several interesting features of plateaus that impact the
performance of local search algorithms. We show that local minima tend to be
small but occasionally may be very large. We also show that local minima can be
escaped without unsatisfying a large number of clauses, but that systematically
searching for an escape route may be computationally expensive if the local
minimum is large. We show that plateaus with exits, called benches, tend to be
much larger than minima, and that some benches have very few exit states which
local search can use to escape. We show that the solutions (i.e., global
minima) of randomly generated problem instances form clusters, which behave
similarly to local minima. We revisit several enhancements of local search
algorithms and explain their performance in light of our results. Finally we
discuss strategies for creating the next generation of local search algorithms.Comment: See http://www.jair.org/ for any accompanying file
Recommendations for NASA research and development in artificial intelligence
Basic artificial intelligence (AI) research, AI applications, engineering, institutional management, and previously impractical missions enabled by AI are discussed
Interface Ferromagnetism in a SrMnO3/LaMnO3 Superlattice
Resonant soft x-ray absorption measurements at the O K edge on a
SrMnO3/LaMnO3 superlattice show a shoulder at the energy of doped holes, which
corresponds to the main peak of resonant scattering from the modulation in the
doped hole density. Scattering line shape at the Mn L3,2 edges has a strong
variation below the ferromagnetic transition temperature. This variation has a
period equal to half the superlattice superperiod and follows the development
of the ferromagnetic moment, pointing to a ferromagnetic phase developing at
the interfaces. It occurs at the resonant energies for Mn3+ and Mn4+ valences.
A model for these observations is presented, which includes a double-exchange
two-site orbital and the variation with temperature of the hopping frequency
tij between the two sites.Comment: 8.1 pages, 6 figure
Single-Step Quantum Search Using Problem Structure
The structure of satisfiability problems is used to improve search algorithms
for quantum computers and reduce their required coherence times by using only a
single coherent evaluation of problem properties. The structure of random k-SAT
allows determining the asymptotic average behavior of these algorithms, showing
they improve on quantum algorithms, such as amplitude amplification, that
ignore detailed problem structure but remain exponential for hard problem
instances. Compared to good classical methods, the algorithm performs better,
on average, for weakly and highly constrained problems but worse for hard
cases. The analytic techniques introduced here also apply to other quantum
algorithms, supplementing the limited evaluation possible with classical
simulations and showing how quantum computing can use ensemble properties of NP
search problems.Comment: 39 pages, 12 figures. Revision describes further improvement with
multiple steps (section 7). See also
http://www.parc.xerox.com/dynamics/www/quantum.htm
Landscape of solutions in constraint satisfaction problems
We present a theoretical framework for characterizing the geometrical
properties of the space of solutions in constraint satisfaction problems,
together with practical algorithms for studying this structure on particular
instances. We apply our method to the coloring problem, for which we obtain the
total number of solutions and analyze in detail the distribution of distances
between solutions.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Replaced with published versio
The 11 Micron Emissions of Cabon Stars
A new classification scheme of the IRAS LRS carbon stars is presented. It comprises the separation of 718 probable carbon stars into 12 distinct self-similar spectral groupings. Continuum temperatures are assigned and range from 470 to 5000 K. Three distinct dust species are identifiable: SiC, alpha:C-H, and MgS. In addition to the narrow 11 + micron emission feature that is commonly attributed to SiC, a broad 11 + micron emission feature, that is correlated with the 8.5 and 7.7 micron features, is found and attributed to alpha:C-H. SiC and alpha:C-H band strengths are found to correlate with the temperature progression among the Classes. We find a spectral sequence of Classes that reflects the carbon star evolutionary sequence of spectral types, or alternatively developmental sequences of grain condensation in carbon-rich circumstellar shells. If decreasing temperature corresponds to increasing evolution, then decreasing temperature corresponds to increasing CIO resulting in increasing amounts of carbon rich dust, namely alpha:C-H. If decreasing the temperature corresponds to a grain condensation sequence, then heterogeneous, or induced nucleation scenarios are supported. SiC grains precede alpha:C-H and form the nuclei for the condensation of the latter material. At still lower temperatures, MgS appears to be quite prevalent. No 11.3 micron PAH features are identified in any of the 718 carbon stars. However, one of the coldest objects, IRAS 15048-5702, and a few others, displays an 11.9 micron emission feature characteristic of laboratory samples of coronene. That feature corresponds to the C-H out of plane deformation mode of aromatic hydrocarbon. This band indicates the presence of unsaturated, sp(sup 3), hydrocarbon bonds that may subsequently evolve into saturated bonds, sp(sup 2), if, and when, the star enters the planetary nebulae phase of stellar evolution. The effusion of hydrogen from the hydrocarbon grain results in the evolution in wavelength of this 11.9 micron emission feature to the 11.3 micron feature
The 11 Micron Emissions of Carbon Stars
A new classification scheme of the IRAS LRS carbon stars is presented. It comprises the separation of 718 probable carbon stars into 12 distinct self-similar spectral groupings. Continuum temperatures are assigned and range from 470 to 5000 K. Three distinct dust species are identifiable: SiC, alpha:C-H, and MgS. In addition to the narrow 11 + micron emission feature that is commonly attributed to SiC, a broad 11 + micron emission feature, that is correlated with the 8.5 and 7.7 micron features, is found and attributed to alpha:C-H. SiC and alpha:C-H band strengths are found to correlate with the temperature progression among the Classes. We find a spectral sequence of Classes that reflects the carbon star evolutionary sequence of spectral types, or alternatively developmental sequences of grain condensation in carbon-rich circumstellar shells. If decreasing temperature corresponds to increasing evolution, then decreasing temperature corresponds to increasing C/O resulting in increasing amounts of carbon rich dust, namely alpha:C-H. If decreasing the temperature corresponds to a grain condensation sequence, then heterogeneous, or induced nucleation scenarios are supported. SiC grains precede alpha:C-H and form the nuclei for the condensation of the latter material. At still lower temperatures, MgS appears to be quite prevalent. No 11.3 micron PAH features are identified in any of the 718 carbon stars. However, one of the coldest objects, IRAS 15048-5702, and a few others, displays an 11.9 micron emission feature characteristic of laboratory samples of coronene. That feature corresponds to the C-H out of plane deformation mode of aromatic hydrocarbon. This band indicates the presence of unsaturated, sp(sup 3), hydrocarbon bonds that may subsequently evolve into saturated bonds, sp(sup 2), if, and when, the star enters the planetary nebulae phase of stellar evolution. The effusion of hydrogen from the hydrocarbon grain results in the evolution in wavelength of this 11.9 micron emission feature to the 11.3 micron feature
Phase Transition in the Number Partitioning Problem
Number partitioning is an NP-complete problem of combinatorial optimization.
A statistical mechanics analysis reveals the existence of a phase transition
that separates the easy from the hard to solve instances and that reflects the
pseudo-polynomiality of number partitioning. The phase diagram and the value of
the typical ground state energy are calculated.Comment: minor changes (references, typos and discussion of results
NASA space station automation: AI-based technology review. Executive summary
Research and Development projects in automation technology for the Space Station are described. Artificial Intelligence (AI) based technologies are planned to enhance crew safety through reduced need for EVA, increase crew productivity through the reduction of routine operations, increase space station autonomy, and augment space station capability through the use of teleoperation and robotics
Cytokine Expression in Chicken Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells after In Vitro Exposure to Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis
Cytokines are secreted proteins involved with cell recruitment and regulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. They are essential for an effective host immune response to pathogens. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) exposure and genetic line on cytokine mRNA expression level of cultured chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Interleukin-2, interleukin-6 (IL-6), CXCLi2, and transforming growth factor-β4 (TGF-B4) messenger ribonucleic acid expression was measured by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR assays in PBMC from 3 chicken lines (broiler, Leghorn, Fayoumi) after in vitro exposure to S. Enteritidis. The PBMC were isolated from uninfected birds and cultured overnight. The next day, live pathogenic S. Enteritidis was added to half of the cultures. All cultures were harvested after 2 or 4 h of exposure. Exposure to S. Enteritidis downregulated IL-6, CXCLi2, and TGF-β4 but not interleukin-2 mRNA expression. No significant genetic line or exposure time effects were detected. These findings demonstrate that exposure of chicken PBMC to S. Enteritidis can induce a rapid change in both proinflammatory (IL-6, CXCLi2) and antiinflammatory (TGF-β4) cytokine gene expression
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