Task Release Control for Decision Making Queues

We consider the optimal duration allocation in a decision making queue. Decision making tasks arrive at a given rate to a human operator. The correctness of the decision made by human evolves as a sigmoidal function of the duration allocated to the task. Each task in the queue loses its value continuously. We elucidate on this trade-off and determine optimal policies for the human operator. We show the optimal policy requires the human to drop some tasks. We present a receding horizon optimization strategy, and compare it with the greedy policy.Comment: 8 pages, Submitted to American Controls Conference, San Francisco, CA, June 201

Two-loop renormalization of the Finkel'stein theory: The specific heat

We explore the two-loop renormalization of the specific heat for an interacting disordered electron system in the case of broken time reversal symmetry. Within the nonlinear sigma model approach we derive the two-loop result for the anomalous dimension which controls scaling of the specific heat with temperature. As an example, we elaborate the metal-insulator transition in $d=2+\epsilon$ dimensions for the case of broken time reversal and spin rotational symmetries and in the presence of Coulomb interaction. In this situation scaling of the specific heat is determined by the anomalous dimension of the Finkel'stein operator which is the eigen operator of the renormalization group complementary to the eigen operator corresponding to the second moment of the local density of states. We find that the absolute values of the anomalous dimensions of these operators differ beyond one-loop approximation contrary to the noninteracting case.Comment: 18 pages, elsarticle styl

Conformational and thermodynamic hallmarks of DNA operator site specificity in the copper sensitive operon repressor from Streptomyces lividans

Metal ion homeostasis in bacteria relies on metalloregulatory proteins to upregulate metal resistance genes and enable the organism to preclude metal toxicity. The copper sensitive operon repressor (CsoR) family is widely distributed in bacteria and controls the expression of copper efflux systems. CsoR operator sites consist of G-tract containing pseudopalindromes of which the mechanism of operator binding is poorly understood. Here, we use a structurally characterized CsoR from Streptomyces lividans (CsoRSl) together with three specific operator targets to reveal the salient features pertaining to the mechanism of DNA binding. We reveal that CsoRSl binds to its operator site through a 2-fold axis of symmetry centred on a conserved 5′-TAC/GTA-3′ inverted repeat. Operator recognition is stringently dependent not only on electropositive residues but also on a conserved polar glutamine residue. Thermodynamic and circular dichroic signatures of the CsoRSl-DNA interaction suggest selectivity towards the A-DNA-like topology of the G-tracts at the operator site. Such properties are enhanced on protein binding thus enabling the symmetrical binding of two CsoRSl tetramers. Finally, differential binding modes may exist in operator sites having more than one 5′-TAC/GTA-3′ inverted repeat with implications in vivo for a mechanism of modular control. © 2013 The Author(s)

A singular controllability problem with vanishing viscosity

The aim of this paper is to answer the question: Do the controls of a vanishing viscosity approximation of the one dimensional linear wave equation converge to a control of the conservative limit equation? Our viscous term contains the fractional power of the Dirichlet Laplace operator and it is multiplied by a small parameter devoted to tend to zero. Our analysis, based on moment problems and biorthogonal sequences, enables us to evaluate the magnitude of the controls needed for each eigenmode and to show their uniform boundedness with respect to the vanishing parameter

A sharp estimate for the first Robin-Laplacian eigenvalue with negative boundary parameter

In this paper we prove that the ball maximizes the first eigenvalue of the Robin Laplacian operator with negative boundary parameter, among all convex sets of \mathbb{R}^n with prescribed perimeter. The key of the proof is a dearrangement procedure of the first eigenfunction of the ball on the level sets of the distance function to the boundary of the convex set, which controls the boundary and the volume energies of the Rayleigh quotient

Survey of multi-function display and control technology

The NASA orbiter spacecraft incorporates a complex array of systems, displays and controls. The incorporation of discrete dedicated controls into a multi-function display and control system (MFDCS) offers the potential for savings in weight, power, panel space and crew training time. The technology applicable to the development of a MFDCS for orbiter application is surveyed. Technology thought to be applicable presently or in the next five years is highlighted. Areas discussed include display media, data handling and processing, controls and operator interactions and the human factors considerations which are involved in a MFDCS design. Several examples of applicable MFDCS technology are described

Anthropometric considerations for a 4-axis side-arm flight controller

A data base on multiaxis side-arm flight controls was generated. The rapid advances in fly-by-light technology, automatic stability systems, and onboard computers have combined to create flexible flight control systems which could reduce the workload imposed on the operator by complex new equipment. This side-arm flight controller combines four controls into one unit and should simplify the pilot's task. However, the use of a multiaxis side-arm flight controller without complete cockpit integration may tend to increase the pilot's workload