cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Galaxy Groups Within 3500 km s -1

A study of the group properties of galaxies in our immediate neighborhood provides a singular opportunity to observationally constrain the halo mass function, a fundamental characterization of galaxy formation. Detailed studies of individual groups have provided the coefficients of scaling relations between a proxy for the virial radius, velocity dispersion, and mass that usefully allow groups to be defined over the range M ⊙. At a second hierarchical level, associations are defined as regions around collapsed halos extending to the zero-velocity surface at the decoupling from cosmic expansion. The most remarkable result of the study emerges from the construction of the halo mass function from the sample. At ~1012 M ⊙, there is a jog from the expectation Sheth-Tormen function, such that halo counts drop by a factor ~3 in all lower mass bins.
Dynamical Formation of Low-mass Merging Black Hole Binaries like GW151226

Using numerical models for star clusters spanning a wide range in ages and metallicities (Z) we study the masses of binary black holes (BBHs) produced dynamically and merging in the local universe (z 0.2). After taking into account cosmological constraints on star formation rate and metallicity evolution, which realistically relate merger delay times obtained from models with merger redshifts, we show here for the first time that while old, metal-poor globular clusters can naturally produce merging BBHs with heavier components, as observed in GW150914, lower-mass BBHs like GW151226 are easily formed dynamically in younger, higher-metallicity clusters. More specifically, we show that the mass of GW151226 is well within 1σ of the mass distribution obtained from our models for clusters with Z/Z⊙ 0.5. Indeed, dynamical formation of a system like GW151226 likely requires a cluster that is younger and has a higher metallicity than typical Galactic globular clusters. The LVT151012 system, if real, could have been created in any cluster with Z/Z⊙ 0.25. On the other hand, GW150914 is more massive (beyond 1σ) than typical BBHs from even the lowest-metallicity (Z/Z⊙ = 0.005) clusters we consider, but is within 2σ of the intrinsic mass distribution from our cluster models with Z/Z⊙ 0.05; of course, detection biases also push the observed distributions toward higher masses.
Calculating Greene’s function via root polytopes and subdivision algebras

Greene's rational function $\Psi_P({\bf x})$ is a sum of certain rational functions in ${\bf x}=(x_1, \ldots, x_n)$ over the linear extensions of the poset $P$ (which has $n$ elements), which he introduced in his study of the Murnaghan-Nakayama formula for the characters of the symmetric group. In recent work Boussicault, F\'eray, Lascoux and Reiner showed that $\Psi_P({\bf x})$ equals a valuation on a cone and calculated $\Psi_P({\bf x})$ for several posets this way. In this paper we give an expression for $\Psi_P({\bf x})$ for any poset $P$. We obtain such a formula using dissections of root polytopes. Moreover, we use the subdivision algebra of root polytopes to show that in certain instances $\Psi_P({\bf x})$ can be expressed as a product formula, thus giving a compact alternative proof of Greene's original result and its generalizations.
Heavy Ion Physics and Quark-Gluon Plasma

These proceedings represent a brief overview of the exciting physics coming out from the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The experimental results from BRAHMS, PHOBOS, PHENIX and STAR indicate a strongly-coupled state of matter that can only be described on the partonic level. We review some of the latest experimental results as we presented at the meeting of the Division of Particles and Fields of the American Physical Society in Riverside, CA in August 2004.
A low-disorder metal-oxide-silicon double quantum dot

One of the biggest challenges impeding the progress of metal-oxide-silicon (MOS) quantum dot devices is the presence of disorder at the Si/SiO2 interface which interferes with controllably confining single and few electrons. In this work, we have engineered a low-disorder MOS quantum double-dot device with critical electron densities, i.e., the lowest electron density required to support a conducting pathway, approaching critical electron densities reported in high quality Si/SiGe devices and commensurate with the lowest critical densities reported in any MOS device. Utilizing a nearby charge sensor, we show that the device can be tuned to the single-electron regime where charging energies of ≈8 meV are measured in both dots, consistent with the lithographic size of the dot. Probing a wide voltage range with our quantum dots and charge sensor, we detect three distinct electron traps, corresponding to a defect density consistent with the ensemble measured critical density. Low frequency charge noise measurements at 300 mK indicate a 1/f noise spectrum of 3.4 μeV/Hz1∕2 at 1 Hz and magnetospectroscopy measurements yield a valley splitting of 110 ± 26 μeV. This work demonstrates that reproducible MOS spin qubits are feasible and represent a platform for scaling to larger qubit systems in MOS.
The Three Young Nuclear Super Star Clusters in NGC 5253

The blue compact dwarf galaxy NGC 5253 hosts a very young central starburst. The center contains intense radio thermal emission from a massive ultracompact H II region (or "supernebula") and two massive and very young super star clusters (SSCs), which are seen at optical and infrared wavelengths. The spatial correspondence between these three objects over an area of < 0.5 arcsec is very uncertain, and it is usually assumed that one of the optically-detected SSCs coincides with the supernebula. Using the Gaia Data Release 2 catalog, we improve the absolute astrometry of Hubble Space Telescope ultraviolet, optical and infrared images by a factor of ~10 and match them to the radio observations with an accuracy of 10-20 mas. We find that there are 3 SSCs at the center of NGC 5253. At optical wavelengths, the two SSCs lie either side of the supernebula, which coincides with a highly obscured region. In the infrared, all 3 SSCs are seen with the supernebula dominating at the longest wavelengths. We examine the properties of the SSCs, which have ages of ~ 1 Myr, are very compact (<0.6 pc) and separated by projected distances of only 1.5 and 5.8 pc. It seems likely that they will merge and may form the building blocks for nuclear star clusters.
Improved Automatic Summarization of Subroutines via Attention to File Context

Software documentation largely consists of short, natural language summaries of the subroutines in the software. These summaries help programmers quickly understand what a subroutine does without having to read the source code him or herself. The task of writing these descriptions is called "source code summarization" and has been a target of research for several years. Recently, AI-based approaches have superseded older, heuristic-based approaches. Yet, to date these AI-based approaches assume that all the content needed to predict summaries is inside subroutine itself. This assumption limits performance because many subroutines cannot be understood without surrounding context. In this paper, we present an approach that models the file context of subroutines (i.e. other subroutines in the same file) and uses an attention mechanism to find words and concepts to use in summaries. We show in an experiment that our approach extends and improves several recent baselines.
Critical points and quenched disorder: From Harris criterion to rare regions and smearing

We consider the influence of quenched spatial disorder on phase transitions in classical and quantum systems. We show that rare strong disorder fluctuations can have dramatic effects on critical points. In classical systems with sufficiently correlated disorder or in quantum systems with overdamped dynamics they can completely destroy the sharp phase transition by smearing. This is caused by effects similar to but stronger than Griffiths phenomena: True static order can develop on a rare region while the bulk system is still in the disordered phase. We discuss the thermodynamic behavior in the vicinity of such a smeared transition using optimal fluctuation theory, and we present numerical results for a two-dimensional model system.
Mapping the current–current correlation function near a quantum critical point

Abstract The current–current correlation function is a useful concept in the theory of electron transport in homogeneous solids. The finite-temperature conductivity tensor as well as Anderson’s localization length can be computed entirely from this correlation function. Based on the critical behavior of these two physical quantities near the plateau–insulator or plateau–plateau transitions in the integer quantum Hall effect, we derive an asymptotic formula for the current–current correlation function, which enables us to make several theoretical predictions about its generic behavior. For the disordered Hofstadter model, we employ numerical simulations to map the current–current correlation function, obtain its asymptotic form near a critical point and confirm the theoretical predictions.
Extracting Useful Information from Basic Safety Message Data: An Empirical Study of Driving Volatility Measures and Crash Frequency at Intersections:

With the emergence of high-frequency connected and automated vehicle data, analysts can extract useful information from them. To this end, the concept of “driving volatility” is defined and explore...
Very Large Scale Integration of Josephson-Junction-Based Superconductor Random Access Memories

Arrays of vortex transitional (VT) memory cells with functional density up to 1 Mbit/cm2 have been designed, fabricated, and successfully demonstrated. This progress is due to recent advances in design optimization and in superconductor electronics fabrication achieved at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. As a starting point, we developed a demo array of VT cells for the 100-μA/μm2 MIT LL fabrication process SFQ5ee with eight niobium layers. The studied two-junction memory cell with a two-junction nondestructive readout occupied 168 μm2, resulting in an over 0.5 Mbit/cm2 functional density. Then, we reduced the cell area down to 99 μm2 (corresponding to over 0.9 Mbit/cm2 functional density) by utilizing self-shunted Josephson junctions (JJs) with critical current density J C of 600 μA/μm2 and eliminating shunt resistors. The fabricated high- J C memory cells were fully operational and possessed wide read/write current margins, quite close to the theoretically predicted values. We discuss approaches to further increasing the integration scale of superconductor memory and logic circuits: 1) miniaturization of superconducting transformers by using soft magnetic materials; and 2) reduction of JJ area by using planar high- J C junctions similar to variable thickness bridges.
A transport theorem for nonconvecting open sets on an embedded manifold

Most transport theorems—that is, a formula for the rate of change of an integral in which both the integrand and domain of integration depend on time—involve domains that evolve according to a flow map. Such domains are said to be convecting. Here, a transport theorem for nonconvecting domains evolving on an embedded manifold is established. While the domain is not convecting, it is assumed that the boundary of the domain evolves according to a flow map in some generalized sense. The proof relies on considering the evolving set as a fixed set in one higher dimension and then using the divergence theorem. The domains considered can be irregular in that their boundaries need only be Lipschitz. Tools from geometric measure theory are used to deal with this irregularity.
Cauchy magnetic field component and magnitude distribution studied by the zero‐field muon spin relaxation technique

Zero‐field muon spin relaxation (ZF‐µSR) data for dilute spin magnetic systems have been widely interpreted with what is called a Kubo–Toyabe form based on a Lorentzian distribution of local field components. We derive here the proper magnetic field magnitude distribution using independent and uncorrelated component distributions. Our result is then compared to the previously accepted formula for ZF‐µSR. We discuss the origins of the magnetic field component and magnitude distributions. Further, we found that after rescaling the magnetic field, the differences that are amenable to experimental examination are quite small, although the interpretations behind them are quite different.
Research-Based Assessment of Students’ Beliefs about Experimental Physics: When is Gender a Factor?

The existence of gender differences in student performance on conceptual assessments and their responses to attitudinal assessments has been repeatedly demonstrated. This difference is often present in students' preinstruction responses and persists in their postinstruction responses. However, one area in which the presence of gender differences has not been extensively explored is undergraduate laboratory courses. For example, one of the few laboratory focused research-based assessments, the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey for Experimental Physics (E-CLASS), has not been tested for the existence of gender differences in students' responses. Here, we utilize a national data set of responses to the E-CLASS to determine if they demonstrate significant gender differences. We also investigate how these differences vary along multiple student and course demographic slices, including course level (first-year vs.\ beyond-first-year) and major (physics vs.\ non-physics). We observe a gender gap in pre- and postinstruction E-CLASS scores in the aggregate data both for the overall score and for most items individually. However, for some subpopulations (e.g., beyond-first-year students) the size or even existence of the gender gap depends on another dimension (e.g., student major). We also find that for all groups the gap in postinstruction scores vanishes or is greatly reduced when controlling for preinstruction scores, course level, and student major.
Gravitational corner conditions in holography

Contrary to popular belief, asymptotically anti-de Sitter solutions of gravitational theories cannot be obtained by taking initial data (satisfying the constraints) on a spacelike surface, and choosing an arbitrary conformal metric on the timelike boundary at infinity. There are an infinite number of corner conditions that also must be satisfied where the initial data surface hits the boundary. These are well known to mathematical relativists, but to make them more widely known we give a simple explanation of why these conditions exist and discuss some of their consequences. An example is given which illustrates their power. Some implications for holography are also mentioned.
A proposal for (0,2) mirrors of toric varieties

In this paper we propose (0,2) mirrors for general Fano toric varieties with special tangent bundle deformations, corresponding to subsets of toric deformations. Our mirrors are of the form of (B/2-twisted) (0,2) Landau-Ginzburg models, matching Hori-Vafa mirrors on the (2,2) locus. We compare our predictions to (0,2) mirrors obtained by Chen et al. for certain examples of toric varieties, and find that they match. We also briefly outline conjectures for analogous results for hypersurfaces in Fano toric varieties. Our methods utilize results from supersymmetric localization, which allows us to incidentally gain occasional further insights into GLSM-based (2,2) mirror constructions. For example, we explicitly verify that closed string correlation functions of the original A-twisted GLSM match those of the mirror B-twisted Landau-Ginzburg model, as well as (0,2) deformations thereof.
CP violation in photon-photon collisions

Abstract The effective lagrangian parametrization is used to determine the CP violating effects in γγ collissions. for the processes studied the effects are found to be very small, the one exception being scalar production.
Artin HNN-extensions virtually embed in Artin groups

We define an Artin HNN-extension to be an HNN-extension of an Artin group in which the stable letter conjugates a pair of suitably chosen subsets of the standard generating set. We show that some finite index subgroup of any Artin HNN-extension embeds in an Artin group. Similarly, we show that every Coxeter HNN-extension virtually embeds in a Coxeter group.
Numerical studies of serendipity and tensor product elements for eigenvalue problems

While the use of finite element methods for the numerical approximation of eigenvalues is a well-studied problem, the use of serendipity elements for this purpose has received little attention in the literature. We show by numerical experiments that serendipity elements, which are defined on a square reference geometry, can attain the same order of accuracy as their tensor product counterparts while using dramatically fewer degrees of freedom. In some cases, the serendipity method uses only half as many basis functions as the tensor product method while still producing the same numerical approximation of an eigenvalue. To encourage the further use and study of serendipity elements, we provide a table of serendipity basis functions for low order cases and a Mathematica file that can be used to generate the basis functions for higher order cases.
Long-term Evolution of Double White Dwarf Binaries Accreting through Direct Impact

We calculate the long-term evolution of angular momentum in double white dwarf binaries undergoing direct impact accretion over a broad range of parameter space. We allow the rotation rate of both components to vary and account for the exchange of angular momentum between the spins of the white dwarfs and the orbit, while conserving the total angular momentum. We include gravitational, tidal, and mass transfer effects in the orbital evolution, and allow the Roche radius of the donor star to vary with both the stellar mass and the rotation rate. We examine the long-term stability of these systems, focusing in particular on those systems that may be progenitors of AM CVn or SNe Ia. We find that our analysis yields an increase in the predicted number of stable systems compared to that in previous studies. Additionally, we find that by properly accounting for the effects of asynchronism between the donor and the orbit on the Roche-lobe size, we eliminate oscillations in the orbital parameters, which were found in previous studies. Removing these oscillations can reduce the peak mass transfer rate in some systems, keeping them from entering an unstable mass transfer phase.
ROC and AUC with a Binary Predictor: a Potentially Misleading Metric

In analysis of binary outcomes, the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve is heavily used to show the performance of a model or algorithm. The ROC curve is informative about the performance over a series of thresholds and can be summarized by the area under the curve (AUC), a single number. When a predictor is categorical, the ROC curve has one less than number of categories as potential thresholds; when the predictor is binary there is only one threshold. As the AUC may be used in decision-making processes on determining the best model, it important to discuss how it agrees with the intuition from the ROC curve. We discuss how the interpolation of the curve between thresholds with binary predictors can largely change the AUC. Overall, we show using a linear interpolation from the ROC curve with binary predictors corresponds to the estimated AUC, which is most commonly done in software, which we believe can lead to misleading results. We compare R, Python, Stata, and SAS software implementations. We recommend using reporting the interpolation used and discuss the merit of using the step function interpolator, also referred to as the "pessimistic" approach by Fawcett (2006).
Sun-like Stars Shed Light on Solar Climate Forcing

Recently published precise stellar photometry of 72 Sun-like stars obtained at the Fairborn Observatory between 1993 and 2017 is used to set limits on the solar forcing of Earth's atmosphere of ±4.5 W m−2 since 1750. This compares with the +2.2 ± 1.1 W m−2 IPCC estimate for anthropogenic forcing. Three critical assumptions are made. In decreasing order of importance they are: (a) most of the brightness variations occur within the average time series length of ≈17 yr; (b) the Sun seen from the ecliptic behaves as an ensemble of middle-aged solar-like stars; and (c) narrowband photometry in the Stromgren b and y bands are linearly proportional to the total solar irradiance. Assumption (a) can best be relaxed and tested by obtaining more photometric data of Sun-like stars, especially those already observed. Eight stars with near-solar parameters have been observed from 1999, and two since 1993. Our work reveals the importance of continuing and expanding ground-based photometry, to complement expensive solar irradiance measurements from space.
Toward an Understanding of Foreground Emission in the BICEP2 Region

BICEP2 has reported the detection of a degree-scale B-mode polarization pattern in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) and has interpreted the measurement as evidence for primordial gravitational waves. Motivated by the profound importance of the discovery of gravitational waves from the early Universe, we examine to what extent a combination of Galactic foregrounds and lensed E-modes could be responsible for the signal. We reanalyze the BICEP2 results and show that the 100 ×150 GHz and 150 ×150 GHz data are consistent with a cosmology with r=0.2 and negligible foregrounds, but also with a cosmology with r=0 and a significant dust polarization signal. We give independent estimates of the dust polarization signal in the BICEP2 region using a number of different approaches: (1) data-driven models based on Planck 353 GHz intensity, polarization fractions inferred from the same Planck data used by the BICEP2 team but corrected for CMB and CIB contributions, and polarization angles from starlight polarization data or the Planck sky model; (2) the same set of pre-Planck models used by the BICEP2 team but taking into account the higher polarization fractions observed in the CMB- and CIB-corrected map; (3) a measurement of neutral hydrogen gas column density NHI in the BICEP2 region combined with an extrapolation of a relation between HI column density and dust polarization derived by Planck; and (4) a dust polarization map based on digitized Planck data, which we only use as a final cross-check. While these approaches are consistent with each other, the expected amplitude of the dust polarization power spectrum remains uncertain by about a factor of three. The lower end of the prediction leaves room for a primordial contribution, but at the higher end the dust in combination with the standard CMB lensing signal could account for the BICEP2 observations, without requiring the existence of primordial gravitational waves. By measuring the cross-correlations between the pre-Planck templates used in the BICEP2 analysis and between different versions of a data-based template, we emphasize that cross-correlations between models are very sensitive to noise in the polarization angles and that measured cross-correlations are likely underestimates of the contribution of foregrounds to the map. These results suggest that BICEP1 and BICEP2 data alone cannot distinguish between foregrounds and a primordial gravitational wave signal, and that future Keck Array observations at 100 GHz and Planck observations at higher frequencies will be crucial to determine whether the signal is of primordial origin.
Quantum Airy photons

With exotic propagation properties, optical Airy beams have been well studied for innovative applications in communications, biomedical imaging, micromachining, and so on. Here we extend those studies to the quantum domain, creating quantum correlated photons in finite-energy Airy transverse modes via spontaneous parametric down conversion and sub-sequential spatial light modulation. Through two-photon coincidence measurements, we verify their Airy spatial wavefunctions, propagation along a parabolic trajectory, and that the spatial modulation does not introduce any observable degradation of quantum correlation between the photons. These results suggest the feasibility of using spatially structured photons for practically advantageous quantum applications.
A Study of the Type II-Plateau Supernova 1999gi and the Distance to its Host Galaxy, NGC 3184

We present optical spectra and photometry sampling the first 6 months after discovery of supernova (SN) 1999gi in NGC 3184. SN 1999gi is shown to be a Type II-plateau event with a photometric plateau lasting until about 100 days after discovery. Using the expanding photosphere method (EPM), we derive a distance to SN 1999gi of 11.1 Mpc and an explosion date of 1999 December 5.8, or 4.1 days prior to discovery. This distance is consistent with a Tully-Fisher distance recently derived to NGC 3184 (D ≈ 11.59 Mpc), but it is somewhat closer than the Cepheid distances recently derived to two galaxies that have generally been assumed to be associated with the group containing NGC 3184 (NGC 3319, D = 13.30 ± 0.55 Mpc, and NGC 3198, D = 13.80 ± 0.51 Mpc). From many lines of evidence, we conclude that SN 1999gi is only minimally reddened. A comparison between the color of SN 1999gi at early times and that of an infinitely hot blackbody restricts the reddening to E(B-V) < 0.45 mag, while a comparison between the color evolution of SN 1999gi and the well-observed (and extensively modeled) Type II-P SN 1999em implies an even more restrictive upper reddening limit of E(B-V) < 0.3 mag. A variety of other, independent reddening estimates are consistent with these upper limits and yield a probable reddening of E(B-V) = 0.21 ± 0.09 mag. We reconsider the upper mass limit (9 M⊙) recently placed on the progenitor star of SN 1999gi by Smartt et al. in light of these results. Following the same procedures, but using the new data presented here, we arrive at a less restrictive upper mass limit of 15 M⊙ for the progenitor. The increased upper limit results mainly from the larger distance derived through the EPM than was assumed by the Smartt et al. analyses, which relied on less precise (and less recent) distance measurements to NGC 3184. Finally, we confirm the existence of "complicated" P Cygni line profiles in early-time and later photospheric-phase spectra of SN 1999gi. These features, first identified by Baron et al. in spectra of SN 1999em as high-velocity absorptions, in addition to the "normal" lower velocity component, are here verified to be true P Cygni profiles consisting of both an absorption trough and an emission peak at early times. In the earliest spectrum, taken less than a day after discovery, the features extend out to nearly -30,000 km s-1, indicating the existence of very high velocity material in the outer envelope of SN 1999gi.
Kalman Filter Estimation for Focal Plane Wavefront Correction

Space-based coronagraphs for future earth-like planet detection will require focal plane wavefront control techniques to achieve the necessary contrast levels. These correction algorithms are iterative and the control methods require an estimate of the electric field at the science camera, which requires nearly all of the images taken for the correction. We demonstrate a Kalman filter estimator that uses prior knowledge to create the estimate of the electric field, dramatically reducing the number of exposures required to estimate the image plane electric field. In addition to a significant reduction in exposures, we discuss the relative merit of this algorithm to other estimation schemes, particularly in regard to estimate error and covariance. As part of the reduction in exposures we also discuss a novel approach to generating the diversity required for estimating the field in the image plane. This uses the stroke minimization control algorithm to choose the probe shapes on the deformable mirrors, adding a degree of optimality to the problem and once again reducing the total number of exposures required for correction. Choosing probe shapes has been largely unexplored up to this point and is critical to producing a well posed set of measurements for the estimate. Ultimately the filter will lead to an adaptive algorithm which can estimate physical parameters in the laboratory and optimize estimation.
Dynamical Supersymmetry Breaking

We review mechanisms of dynamical supersymmetry breaking. Several observations that narrow the search for possible models of dynamical supersymmetry breaking are summarized. These observations include the necessary and sufficient conditions for supersymmetry breaking. The two conditions are based on non-rigorous arguments, and we show examples where they are too restrictive. Dynamical effects present in models with product gauge groups are given special attention.
Simulated Tempering and Swapping on Mean-Field Models

Simulated and parallel tempering are families of Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithms where a temperature parameter is varied during the simulation to overcome bottlenecks to convergence due to multimodality. In this work we introduce and analyze the convergence for a set of new tempering distributions which we call entropy dampening. For asymmetric exponential distributions and the mean field Ising model with an external field simulated tempering is known to converge slowly. We show that tempering with entropy dampening distributions mixes in polynomial time for these models. Examining slow mixing times of tempering more closely, we show that for the mean-field 3-state ferromagnetic Potts model, tempering converges slowly regardless of the temperature schedule chosen. On the other hand, tempering with entropy dampening distributions converges in polynomial time to stationarity. Finally we show that the slow mixing can be very expensive practically. In particular, the mixing time of simulated tempering is an exponential factor longer than the mixing time at the fixed temperature.
Intersection theory of punctured pseudoholomorphic curves

We study the intersection theory of punctured pseudoholomorphic curves in 4‐ dimensional symplectic cobordisms. Using the asymptotic results of the author [22], we first study the local intersection properties of such curves at the punctures. We then use this to develop topological controls on the intersection number of two curves. We also prove an adjunction formula which gives a topological condition that will guarantee a curve in a given homotopy class is embedded, extending previous work of Hutchings [14]. We then turn our attention to curves in the symplectization R M of a 3‐manifold M admitting a stable Hamiltonian structure. We investigate controls on intersections of the projections of curves to the 3‐manifold and we present conditions that will guarantee the projection of a curve to the 3‐manifold is an embedding. Finally we consider an application concerning pseudoholomorphic curves in manifolds admitting a certain class of holomorphic open book decomposition and an application concerning the existence of generalized pseudoholomorphic curves, as introduced by Hofer [7]. 32Q65; 53D42, 57R58
Gaugino and higgsino coannihilations I: neutralino-neutralino interactions

We present exact analytic cross sections for all neutralino-neutralino coannihilations into two-body tree level final states. These expressions allow the calculation of important contributions to the neutralino relic abundance over large regions of mSUGRA parameter space and are particularly useful in theories with non-universal gaugino masses.
Using Machine Learning to Parameterize Moist Convection: Potential for Modeling of Climate, Climate Change, and Extreme Events

The parameterization of moist convection contributes to uncertainty in climate modeling and numerical weather prediction. Machine learning (ML) can be used to learn new parameterizations directly from high-resolution model output, but it remains poorly understood how such parameterizations behave when fully coupled in a general circulation model (GCM) and whether they are useful for simulations of climate change or extreme events. Here, we focus on these issues using idealized tests in which an ML-based parameterization is trained on output from a conventional parameterization and its performance is assessed in simulations with a GCM. We use an ensemble of decision trees (random forest) as the ML algorithm, and this has the advantage that it automatically ensures conservation of energy and non-negativity of surface precipitation. The GCM with the ML convective parameterization runs stably and accurately captures important climate statistics including precipitation extremes without the need for special training on extremes. Climate change between a control climate and a warm climate is not captured if the ML parameterization is only trained on the control climate, but it is captured if the training includes samples from both climates. Remarkably, climate change is also captured when training only on the warm climate, and this is because the extratropics of the warm climate provides training samples for the tropics of the control climate. In addition to being potentially useful for the simulation of climate, we show that ML parameterizations can be interrogated to provide diagnostics of the interaction between convection and the large-scale environment.
Dark-matter harmonics beyond annual modulation

The count rate at dark-matter direct-detection experiments should modulate annually due to the motion of the Earth around the Sun. We show that higher-frequency modulations, including daily modulation, are also present and in some cases are nearly as strong as the annual modulation. These higher-order modes are particularly relevant if (i) the dark matter is light, O(10) GeV, (ii) the scattering is inelastic, or (iii) velocity substructure is present; for these cases, the higher-frequency modes are potentially observable at current and ton-scale detectors. We derive simple expressions for the harmonic modes as functions of the astrophysical and geophysical parameters describing the Earth's orbit, using an updated expression for the Earth's velocity that corrects a common error in the literature. For an isotropic halo velocity distribution, certain ratios of the modes are approximately constant as a function of nuclear recoil energy. Anisotropic distributions can also leave observable features in the harmonic spectrum. Consequently, the higher-order harmonic modes are a powerful tool for identifying a potential signal from interactions with the Galactic dark-matter halo.
CLOSE PAIRS AS PROXIES FOR GALAXY CLUSTER MERGERS

Galaxy cluster merger statistics are an important component in understanding the formation of large-scale structure. Cluster mergers are also potential sources of systematic error in the mass calibration of upcoming cluster surveys. Unfortunately, it is difficult to study merger properties and evolution directly because the identification of cluster mergers in observations is problematic. We use large N-body simulations to study the statistical properties of massive halo mergers, specifically investigating the utility of close halo pairs as proxies for mergers. We examine the relationship between pairs and mergers for a wide range of merger timescales, halo masses, and redshifts ( -->0 < z < 1). We also quantify the utility of pairs in measuring merger bias. While pairs at very small separations will reliably merge, these constitute a small fraction of the total merger population. Thus, pairs do not provide a reliable direct proxy to the total merger population. We do find an intriguing universality in the relation between close pairs and mergers, which in principle could allow for an estimate of the statistical merger rate from the pair fraction within a scaled separation, but including the effects of redshift space distortions strongly degrades this relation. We find similar behavior for galaxy-mass halos, making our results applicable to field galaxy mergers at high redshift. We investigate how the halo merger rate can be statistically described by the halo mass function via the merger kernel (coagulation), finding an interesting environmental dependence of merging: halos within the mass resolution of our simulations merge less efficiently in overdense environments. Specifically, halo pairs with separations less than a few h−1 Mpc are more likely to merge in underdense environments; at larger separations, pairs are more likely to merge in overdense environments.
A ubiquitous ∼62-Myr periodic fluctuation superimposed on general trends in fossil biodiversity. II. Evolutionary dynamics associated with periodic fluctuation in marine diversity

Abstract We use Fourier analysis to investigate evolutionary dynamics related to periodicities in marine fossil biodiversity. Coherent periodic fluctuation in both origination and extinction of “short-lived” genera (those that survive 45 Myr) do not participate in the periodic fluctuation in diversity and differ from those of “short-lived” genera. The difference between the evolutionary dynamics of long- and short-lived genera indicates that the periodic pattern is not simply an artifact of variation in quality of the geologic record. Also, the interplay of these two previously undifferentiated systems, together with the secular increase in abundance of “long-lived” genera, is probably the source of observed but heretofore unexplained dif...
RADIATION TRANSPORT FOR EXPLOSIVE OUTFLOWS: A MULTIGROUP HYBRID MONTE CARLO METHOD

We explore Implicit Monte Carlo (IMC) and discrete diffusion Monte Carlo (DDMC) for radiation transport in high-velocity outflows with structured opacity. The IMC method is a stochastic computational technique for nonlinear radiation transport. IMC is partially implicit in time and may suffer in efficiency when tracking MC particles through optically thick materials. DDMC accelerates IMC in diffusive domains. Abdikamalov extended IMC and DDMC to multigroup, velocity-dependent transport with the intent of modeling neutrino dynamics in core-collapse supernovae. Densmore has also formulated a multifrequency extension to the originally gray DDMC method. We rigorously formulate IMC and DDMC over a high-velocity Lagrangian grid for possible application to photon transport in the post-explosion phase of Type Ia supernovae. This formulation includes an analysis that yields an additional factor in the standard IMC-to-DDMC spatial interface condition. To our knowledge the new boundary condition is distinct from others presented in prior DDMC literature. The method is suitable for a variety of opacity distributions and may be applied to semi-relativistic radiation transport in simple fluids and geometries. Additionally, we test the code, called SuperNu, using an analytic solution having static material, as well as with a manufactured solution for moving material with structured opacities. Finally, we demonstrate with a simple source and 10 group logarithmic wavelength grid that IMC-DDMC performs better than pure IMC in terms of accuracy and speed when there are large disparities between the magnitudes of opacities in adjacent groups. We also present and test our implementation of the new boundary condition.
Topological and physical knot theory are distinct

Physical knots and links are one-dimensional submanifolds of R^3 with fixed length and thickness. We show that isotopy classes in this category can differ from those of classical knot and link theory. In particular we exhibit a Gordian Split Link, a two component link that is split in the classical theory but cannot be split with a physical isotopy.
Theory for entanglement of electrons dressed with circularly polarized light in graphene and three-dimensional topological insulators

We have formulated a theory for investigating the conditions which are required to achieve entangled states of electrons on graphene and three-dimensional (3D) topological insulators (TIs). We consider the quantum entanglement of spins by calculating the exchange energy. A gap is opened up at the Fermi level between the valence and conduction bands in the absence of doping when graphene as well as 3D TIs are irradiated with circularly-polarized light. This energy band gap is dependent on the intensity and frequency of the applied electromagnetic field. The electron-photon coupling also gives rise to a unique energy dispersion of the dressed states which is different from either graphene or the conventional two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). In our calculations, we obtained the dynamical polarization function for imaginary frequencies which is then employed to determine the exchange energy. The polarization function is obtained with the use of both the energy eigenstates and the overlap of pseudo-spin wave functions. We have concluded that while doping has a significant influence on the exchange energy and consequently on the entanglement, the gap of the energy dispersions affects the exchange slightly, which could be used as a good technique to tune and control entanglement for quantum information purposes.
A Neural-Astrocytic Network Architecture: Astrocytic calcium waves modulate synchronous neuronal activity

Understanding the role of astrocytes in brain computation is a nascent challenge, promising immense rewards, in terms of new neurobiological knowledge that can be translated into artificial intelligence. In our ongoing effort to identify principles endowing the astrocyte with unique functions in brain computation, and translate them into neural-astrocytic networks (NANs), we propose a biophysically realistic model of an astrocyte that preserves the experimentally observed spatial allocation of its distinct subcellular compartments. We show how our model may encode, and modulate, the extent of synchronous neural activity via calcium waves that propagate intracellularly across the astrocytic compartments. This relationship between neural activity and astrocytic calcium waves has long been speculated but it is still lacking a mechanistic explanation. Our model suggests an astrocytic "calcium cascade" mechanism for neuronal synchronization, which may empower NANs by imposing periodic neural modulation known to reduce coding errors. By expanding our notions of information processing in astrocytes, our work aims to solidify a computational role for non-neuronal cells and incorporate them into artificial networks.
Using Discontinuous Eligibility Rules to Identify the Effects of the Federal Medicaid Expansions on Low-Income Children

Despite intensive scrutiny, the effects of Medicaid expansions on the health insurance status of low-income children remain controversial. We reexamine the effects of the two largest federally mandated expansions which offered Medicaid coverage to low-income children in specific age ranges and birth cohorts. We use a regression discontinuity approach, comparing Medicaid enrollment, private insurance coverage, and overall insurance coverage on either side of the age limits of the laws. We conclude that the modest impacts of the expansions on health insurance coverage arose because of very low takeup rates of the newly available coverage, rather than from crowdout of private insurance coverage.
Dodging dietary defaults: Choosing away from healthy nudges

Abstract The default effect has been identified as a powerful tool to influence behavior; however, the current studies demonstrate that consumers dodge the effects of healthy defaults by selecting away from the healthy default environment, thereby reducing its effect. Two studies with real consequences and three hypothetical scenario studies in restaurant settings demonstrate that healthy defaults promote healthy food choice in the moment, but consumers choose to put themselves in environments with unhealthy defaults over those with healthy defaults. That is, healthy defaults negatively impact sales and willingness of consumers to return to the restaurant that offers them. Study 1 provides initial evidence that a healthy default reduces sales of the product compared to a less healthy default in a real gift shop. Study 2 uses an online survey with real consequences and demonstrates that participants prefer to receive meal kits from a company with unhealthy defaults over one with healthy defaults. Studies 3–5 use hypothetical scenarios to demonstrate the tendency for consumers to dodge healthy defaults. Study 3 shows that a healthy default can drive away future sales. Study 4 demonstrates that advertising a healthy default reduces interest in visiting the restaurant; that is, advertising healthy defaults drives away first-time sales. Finally, Study 5 shows that this dodge effect is robust in a between-subject manipulations using a well-known brand. The results demonstrate that consumers dodge healthy defaults by migrating to environments where unhealthy defaults are in place.
Parity duality for the amplituhedron

The (tree) amplituhedron . We prove this duality using the twist map of Marsh and Scott. We also show that this map preserves the canonical differential forms associated with the corresponding positroid cells, and hence obtain a parity duality for amplituhedron differential forms.
Application-Based Coexistence of Different Waveforms on Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access

In the study, the coexistence of different waveform structures on the same resource element is studied under the theory of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA). This study introduces a paradigm-shift on NOMA towards the application-centric waveform coexistence. Throughout this article, the coexistence of different waveforms is explained with two specific use cases, which are power-balanced NOMA and joint radar-sensing and communication with NOMA. For the first use case, block error rate (BLER) performance in the power-balanced regime for two user is improved compared to conventional NOMA transmission with the same waveform. For the joint radar-sensing and communication aspect, the superiority of proposed NOMA scheme over orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) joint radar-communication (JRC) scheme is demonstrated regarding radar ambiguity, channel estimation mean-square error (MSE) and bit-error rate (BER) performances. In addition, some of the previous works in the literature are reviewed regarding waveform coexistence in a non-orthogonal manner. However, the concept is not limited to these use cases. With the rapid development of wireless technology, next-generation wireless systems are proposed to be flexible and hybrid, having different kinds of capabilities such as sensing, security, intelligence, control, and computing. Therefore, the concept of different waveforms’ coexistence to meet these concerns are becoming impressive for researchers.
Topical intranasal lidocaine is not a sphenopalatine ganglion block.

There is renewed interest in the central role of the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) in cerebrovascular autonomic physiology and the pathophysiology of different primary and secondary headache disorders. There are diverse neural structures (parasympathetic, sympathetic and trigeminal sensory) that convene into the SPG which is located within the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF). This makes the PPF an attractive target to neuromodulatory interventions of these different neural structures. Some experts advocate for the nasal application of local anesthetics as an effective route for SPG block with the belief that the local anesthetic can freely access the PPF. It is time to challenge this historical concept from the early 1900s. In this daring discourse, I will review anatomical studies, CT and MRI reports to debunk this old myth. Will provide anatomical evidence to explain that all these assumptions are untrue and the local anesthetic has to magically ‘travel’ a distance of 4–12 mm of adipose and connective tissue to reach the SPG in sufficient concentration and volume to effectively induce SPG blockade. Future research should focus on assessing a clinical biomarker to confirm SPG blockade. It could be regional cerebral blood flow or lacrimal gland secretion.