Structured variable selection and estimation

In linear regression problems with related predictors, it is desirable to do variable selection and estimation by maintaining the hierarchical or structural relationships among predictors. In this paper we propose non-negative garrote methods that can naturally incorporate such relationships defined through effect heredity principles or marginality principles. We show that the methods are very easy to compute and enjoy nice theoretical properties. We also show that the methods can be easily extended to deal with more general regression problems such as generalized linear models. Simulations and real examples are used to illustrate the merits of the proposed methods.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/09-AOAS254 the Annals of Applied Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aoas/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Computational Simulation and 3D Virtual Reality Engineering Tools for Dynamical Modeling and Imaging of Composite Nanomaterials

An adventure at engineering design and modeling is possible with a Virtual Reality Environment (VRE) that uses multiple computer-generated media to let a user experience situations that are temporally and spatially prohibiting. In this paper, an approach to developing some advanced architecture and modeling tools is presented to allow multiple frameworks work together while being shielded from the application program. This architecture is being developed in a framework of workbench interactive tools for next generation nanoparticle-reinforced damping/dynamic systems. Through the use of system, an engineer/programmer can respectively concentrate on tailoring an engineering design concept of novel system and the application software design while using existing databases/software outputs.Comment: Submitted on behalf of TIMA Editions (http://irevues.inist.fr/tima-editions

η\eta photoproduction on the quasi-free nucleons in the chiral quark model

A chiral quark-model approach is adopted to study the $\eta$ photoproduction off the quasi-free neutron and proton from a deuteron target. Good descriptions of the differential cross sections, total cross sections and beam asymmetries for these two processes are obtained in the low energy region. For $\gamma p\rightarrow \eta p$, the dominant resonances are $S_{11}(1535)$, $S_{11}(1650)$, $D_{13}(1520)$, $D_{13}(1700)$ and $P_{13}(1720)$. While for the $\gamma n\rightarrow \eta n$ process, the dominant resonances are $S_{11}(1535)$, $S_{11}(1650)$, $D_{13}(1520)$, $D_{15}(1675)$ and $P_{13}(1720)$. Furthermore, the $u$ channel backgrounds have significant contributions to the $\eta$ photoproduction processes. The configuration mixings in the $S_{11}(1535,1650)$ and $D_{13}(1520,1700)$ can be extracted, i.e. $\theta_S\simeq 26^\circ$ and $\theta_D\simeq 21^\circ$. It shows that the narrow bump-like structure around $W= 1.68$ GeV observed in $\gamma n\rightarrow \eta n$ can be naturally explained by the constructive interferences between $S_{11}(1535)$ and $S_{11}(1650)$. In contrast, the destructive interference between $S_{11}(1535)$ and $S_{11}(1650)$ produces the shallow dip around $W= 1.67$ GeV in $\gamma p\rightarrow \eta p$. The $S$ wave interfering behaviors in the proton and neutron reactions are correlated with each other in the quark model framework, and no new exotic nucleon resonances are needed in these two reactions.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, helicity amplitudes are added, to be published in PR

On Random Walks with a General Moving Barrier

Random walks with a general, nonlinear barrier have found recent applications ranging from reionization topology to refinements in the excursion set theory of halos. Here, we derive the first-crossing distribution of random walks with a moving barrier of an arbitrary shape. Such a distribution is shown to satisfy an integral equation that can be solved by a simple matrix inversion, without the need for Monte Carlo simulations, making this useful for exploring a large parameter space. We discuss examples in which common analytic approximations fail, a failure which can be remedied using the method described here.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Ap