960 research outputs found
A simple two-module problem to exemplify building-block assembly under crossover
Theoretically and empirically it is clear that a genetic algorithm with crossover will outperform a genetic algorithm without crossover in some fitness landscapes, and vice versa in other landscapes. Despite an extensive literature on the subject, and recent proofs of a principled distinction in the abilities of crossover and non-crossover algorithms for a particular theoretical landscape, building general intuitions about when and why crossover performs well when it does is a different matter. In particular, the proposal that crossover might enable the assembly of good building-blocks has been difficult to verify despite many attempts at idealized building-block landscapes. Here we show the first example of a two-module problem that shows a principled advantage for cross-over. This allows us to understand building-block assembly under crossover quite straightforwardly and build intuition about more general landscape classes favoring crossover or disfavoring it
Cosmological parameter estimation using Very Small Array data out to ℓ= 1500
We estimate cosmological parameters using data obtained by the Very Small Array (VSA) in its extended configuration, in conjunction with a variety of other cosmic microwave background (CMB) data and external priors. Within the flat Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM) model, we find that the inclusion of high-resolution data from the VSA modifies the limits on the cosmological parameters as compared to those suggested by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) alone, while still remaining compatible with their estimates. We find that Ωbh2= 0.0234+0.0012−0.0014, Ωdmh2= 0.111+0.014−0.016, h= 0.73+0.09−0.05, nS= 0.97+0.06−0.03, 1010AS= 23+7−3 and τ= 0.14+0.14−0.07 for WMAP and VSA when no external prior is included. On extending the model to include a running spectral index of density fluctuations, we find that the inclusion of VSA data leads to a negative running at a level of more than 95 per cent confidence ( nrun=−0.069 ± 0.032 ), something that is not significantly changed by the inclusion of a stringent prior on the Hubble constant. Inclusion of prior information from the 2dF galaxy redshift survey reduces the significance of the result by constraining the value of Ωm. We discuss the veracity of this result in the context of various systematic effects and also a broken spectral index model. We also constrain the fraction of neutrinos and find that fν < 0.087 at 95 per cent confidence, which corresponds to mν < 0.32 eV when all neutrino masses are equal. Finally, we consider the global best fit within a general cosmological model with 12 parameters and find consistency with other analyses available in the literature. The evidence for nrun < 0 is only marginal within this model
Generalized empty-interval method applied to a class of one-dimensional stochastic models
In this work we study, on a finite and periodic lattice, a class of
one-dimensional (bimolecular and single-species) reaction-diffusion models
which cannot be mapped onto free-fermion models.
We extend the conventional empty-interval method, also called
{\it interparticle distribution function} (IPDF) method, by introducing a
string function, which is simply related to relevant physical quantities.
As an illustration, we specifically consider a model which cannot be solved
directly by the conventional IPDF method and which can be viewed as a
generalization of the {\it voter} model and/or as an {\it epidemic} model. We
also consider the {\it reversible} diffusion-coagulation model with input of
particles and determine other reaction-diffusion models which can be mapped
onto the latter via suitable {\it similarity transformations}.
Finally we study the problem of the propagation of a wave-front from an
inhomogeneous initial configuration and note that the mean-field scenario
predicted by Fisher's equation is not valid for the one-dimensional
(microscopic) models under consideration.Comment: 19 pages, no figure. To appear in Physical Review E (November 2001
Constraints on the Local Sources of Ultra High-Energy Cosmic Rays
Ultra high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) are believed to be protons accelerated
in magnetized plasma outflows of extra-Galactic sources. The acceleration of
protons to ~10^{20} eV requires a source power L>10^{47} erg/s. The absence of
steady sources of sufficient power within the GZK horizon of 100 Mpc, implies
that UHECR sources are transient. We show that UHECR "flares" should be
accompanied by strong X-ray and gamma-ray emission, and that X-ray and
gamma-ray surveys constrain flares which last less than a decade to satisfy at
least one of the following conditions: (i) L>10^{50} erg/s; (ii) the power
carried by accelerated electrons is lower by a factor >10^2 than the power
carried by magnetic fields or by >10^3 than the power in accelerated protons;
or (iii) the sources exist only at low redshifts, z<<1. The implausibility of
requirements (ii) and (iii) argue in favor of transient sources with L>10^{50}
erg/s.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, submitted to JCA
A retrospective evaluation of the impact of a dedicated obstetric and neonatal transport service on transport times within an urban setting
OBJECTIVE:To determine whether the establishment of a dedicated obstetric and neonatal flying squad resulted in improved performance within the setting of a major metropolitan area.DESIGN AND SETTING:The Cape Town metropolitan service of the Emergency Medical Services was selected for a retrospective review of the transit times for the newly implemented Flying Squad programme. Data were imported from the Computer Aided Dispatch programme. Dispatch, Response, Mean Transit and Total Pre-hospital times relating to the obstetric and neonatal incidents was analysed for 2005 and 2008. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement between 2005 and 2008 in all incidents evaluated. Flying Squad dispatch performance improved from 11.7% to 46.6% of all incidents dispatched within 4 min (p < 0.0001). Response time performance at the 15-min threshold did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement (p = 0.4), although the improvement in the 30-min performance category was statistically significant in both maternity and neonatal incidents. Maternity incidents displayed the greatest improvement with the 30-min performance increasing from 30.3% to 72.9%. The analysis of the mean transit times demonstrated that neonatal transfers displayed the longest status time in all but one of the categories. Even so, the introduction of the Flying Squad programme resulted in a reduction in a total pre-hospital time from 177 to 128 min. CONCLUSION: The introduction of the Flying Squad programme has resulted in significant improvement in the transit times of both neonatal and obstetric patients. In spite of the severe resource constraints facing developing nations, the model employed offers significant gains
Updated tests of scaling and universality for the spin-spin correlations in the 2D and 3D spin-S Ising models using high-temperature expansions
We have extended, from order 12 through order 25, the high-temperature series
expansions (in zero magnetic field) for the spin-spin correlations of the
spin-S Ising models on the square, simple-cubic and body-centered-cubic
lattices. On the basis of this large set of data, we confirm accurately the
validity of the scaling and universality hypotheses by resuming several tests
which involve the correlation function, its moments and the exponential or the
second-moment correlation-lengths.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figure
Answering a Basic Objection to Bang/Crunch Holography
The current cosmic acceleration does not imply that our Universe is basically
de Sitter-like: in the first part of this work we argue that, by introducing
matter into *anti-de Sitter* spacetime in a natural way, one may be able to
account for the acceleration just as well. However, this leads to a Big Crunch,
and the Euclidean versions of Bang/Crunch cosmologies have [apparently]
disconnected conformal boundaries. As Maldacena and Maoz have recently
stressed, this seems to contradict the holographic principle. In the second
part we argue that this "double boundary problem" is a matter not of geometry
but rather of how one chooses a conformal compactification: if one chooses to
compactify in an unorthodox way, then the appearance of disconnectedness can be
regarded as a *coordinate effect*. With the kind of matter we have introduced
here, namely a Euclidean axion, the underlying compact Euclidean manifold has
an unexpectedly non-trivial topology: it is in fact one of the 75 possible
underlying manifolds of flat compact four-dimensional Euclidean spaces.Comment: 29 pages, 3 figures, added references and comparison with "cyclic"
cosmology, JHEP versio
Optimal Cross-Wind Towing and Power Generation with Tethered Kites
Non-powered flight vehicles such as kites can provide a means of transmitting wind energy from higher altitudes to the ground via tethers. Although there have been many proposals for systems to extract wind energy from higher altitudes, this paper focuses on the use of a light lifting body at the end of a tether to generate useful power. Two major configurations are studied: 1) the kite is used to tow a ground vehicle in the cross-wind direction, 2) the kite is flown to generate power using a ground generator. In both cases, the useful work done by the kite is transmitted to the ground through the tether. Both applications require automatic control of the kite. A simplified system model is used to study the nature of the optimal trajectories of the system for different wind speeds. Numerical results illustrate that optimal power generation requires complex three-dimensional kite trajectories, whereas cross-wind towing requires much simpler trajectories. A feedback tracking controller is demonstrated for tracking the kite trajectories in the presence of unsteady winds
Search for R-Parity Violating Decays of Scalar Fermions at LEP
A search for pair-produced scalar fermions under the assumption that R-parity
is not conserved has been performed using data collected with the OPAL detector
at LEP. The data samples analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of
about 610 pb-1 collected at centre-of-mass energies of sqrt(s) 189-209 GeV. An
important consequence of R-parity violation is that the lightest supersymmetric
particle is expected to be unstable. Searches of R-parity violating decays of
charged sleptons, sneutrinos and squarks have been performed under the
assumptions that the lightest supersymmetric particle decays promptly and that
only one of the R-parity violating couplings is dominant for each of the decay
modes considered. Such processes would yield final states consisting of
leptons, jets, or both with or without missing energy. No significant
single-like excess of events has been observed with respect to the Standard
Model expectations. Limits on the production cross- section of scalar fermions
in R-parity violating scenarios are obtained. Constraints on the supersymmetric
particle masses are also presented in an R-parity violating framework analogous
to the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model.Comment: 51 pages, 24 figures, Submitted to Eur. Phys. J.
Measurement of the Hadronic Photon Structure Function F_2^gamma at LEP2
The hadronic structure function of the photon F_2^gamma is measured as a
function of Bjorken x and of the factorisation scale Q^2 using data taken by
the OPAL detector at LEP. Previous OPAL measurements of the x dependence of
F_2^gamma are extended to an average Q^2 of 767 GeV^2. The Q^2 evolution of
F_2^gamma is studied for average Q^2 between 11.9 and 1051 GeV^2. As predicted
by QCD, the data show positive scaling violations in F_2^gamma. Several
parameterisations of F_2^gamma are in agreement with the measurements whereas
the quark-parton model prediction fails to describe the data.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the proceedings of Photon 2001,
Ascona, Switzerlan
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