scholarly journals maxsmooth: rapid maximally smooth function fitting with applications in Global 21-cm cosmology

2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (3) ◽  
pp. 4405-4425
Author(s):  
H T J Bevins ◽  
W J Handley ◽  
A Fialkov ◽  
E de Lera Acedo ◽  
L J Greenhill ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Maximally Smooth Functions (MSFs) are a form of constrained functions in which there are no inflection points or zero crossings in high-order derivatives. Consequently, they have applications to signal recovery in experiments where signals of interest are expected to be non-smooth features masked by larger smooth signals or foregrounds. They can also act as a powerful tool for diagnosing the presence of systematics. The constrained nature of MSFs makes fitting these functions a non-trivial task. We introduce maxsmooth, an open-source package that uses quadratic programming to rapidly fit MSFs. We demonstrate the efficiency and reliability of maxsmooth by comparison to commonly used fitting routines and show that we can reduce the fitting time by approximately two orders of magnitude. We introduce and implement with maxsmooth Partially Smooth Functions, which are useful for describing elements of non-smooth structure in foregrounds. This work has been motivated by the problem of foreground modelling in 21-cm cosmology. We discuss applications of maxsmooth to 21-cm cosmology and highlight this with examples using data from the Experiment to Detect the Global Epoch of Reionization Signature (EDGES) and the Large-aperture Experiment to Detect the Dark Ages (LEDA) experiments. We demonstrate the presence of a sinusoidal systematic in the EDGES data with a log-evidence difference of 86.19 ± 0.12 when compared to a pure foreground fit. MSFs are applied to data from LEDA for the first time in this paper and we identify the presence of sinusoidal systematics. maxsmooth is pip installable and available for download at https://github.com/htjb/maxsmooth.

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1197-1208 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Wannberg ◽  
A. Westman ◽  
A. Pellinen-Wannberg

Abstract. The polarization characteristics of 930-MHz meteor head echoes have been studied for the first time, using data obtained in a series of radar measurements carried out with the tristatic EISCAT UHF high power, large aperture (HPLA) radar system in October 2009. An analysis of 44 tri-static head echo events shows that the polarization of the echo signal recorded by the Kiruna receiver often fluctuates strongly on time scales of tens of microseconds, illustrating that the scattering process is essentially stochastic. On longer timescales (> milliseconds), more than 90 % of the recorded events show an average polarization signature that is independent of meteor direction of arrival and echo strength and equal to that of an incoherent-scatter return from underdense plasma filling the tristatic observation volume. This shows that the head echo plasma targets scatter isotropically, which in turn implies that they are much smaller than the 33-cm wavelength and close to spherically symmetric, in very good agreement with results from a previous EISCAT UHF study of the head echo RCS/meteor angle-of-incidence relationship. Significant polarization is present in only three events with unique target trajectories. These all show a larger effective target cross section transverse to the trajectory than parallel to it. We propose that the observed polarization may be a signature of a transverse charge separation plasma resonance in the region immediately behind the meteor head, similar to the resonance effects previously discussed in connection with meteor trail echoes by Herlofson, Billam and Browne, Jones and Jones and others.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 662-686
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Staikos ◽  
Wenjun Xue

Purpose With this paper, the authors aim to investigate the drivers behind three of the most important aspects of the Chinese real estate market, housing prices, housing rent and new construction. At the same time, the authors perform a comprehensive empirical test of the popular 4-quadrant model by Wheaton and DiPasquale. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the authors utilize panel cointegration estimation methods and data from 35 Chinese metropolitan areas. Findings The results indicate that the 4-quadrant model is well suited to explain the determinants of housing prices. However, the same is not true regarding housing rent and new construction suggesting a more complex theoretical framework may be required for a well-rounded explanation of real estate markets. Originality/value It is the first time that panel data are used to estimate rent and new construction for China. Also, it is the first time a comprehensive test of the Wheaton and DiPasquale 4-quadrant model is performed using data from China.


Nematology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Mei Na Liu ◽  
Yu Mei Xu ◽  
Zeng Qi Zhao ◽  
Jian Ming Wang

Summary This paper describes a new species of Bastiania, presents a new record and redescribes a known species of Tripyla. These nematodes are all in the order Triplonchida and were collected from Shanxi Province, North China. Bastiania sinensis sp. n. is characterised by having the female with a relatively slender body 1049-1295 μm long, dorsally arcuate after heat relaxation, with outer labial setae and cephalic setae in a single circle, an oval amphid, 7-8 laterodorsal cervical setae scattered in the pharyngeal region, orthometamenes and pseudocoelomocytes present, tail conoid with a mucron 1-2 μm long, two pairs of caudal setae present, a = 58.1-75.5, b = 4.0-4.6, c = 12.7-19.7, c′ = 4.1-7.8 and V = 61.1-67.7. Males were not found. Tripyla aquatica is recorded for the first time from China, and is redescribed. Tripyla setifera has been reported from China but without a detailed description – now provided. In addition, phylogenetic relationships among the species were analysed using data from the near full length small subunit (SSU) and D2-D3 segments of large subunit (LSU) of rRNA genes. Bastiania sinensis sp. n. is monophyletic with the Bastiania sequences available in GenBank, but is on an independent branch supporting its status as a separate species; T. aquatica and T. setifera are monophyletically clustered with known Tripyla species and grouped together with sequences from their respective species.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-84
Author(s):  
D.I. Vlasov ◽  
◽  
A.S. Parnowski ◽  

For the first time in world practice, predictive models were constructed for X, Y, Z geomagnetic elements. Based on these models, the prediction was made with 3 hours lead time using data of the “Lviv” magnetic observatory. The properties of models are as follows: observatory — LVV, рredicted values — XYZ; lead time — 3 hours; correlation coefficients’ averaged measurement data — 0.824 (X), 0.811 (Y), 0.804 (Z); prediction efficiency — 0.816 (X), 0.803 (Y), 0.801 (Z); skill score — 0.115 (X), 0.095 (Y), 0.099 (Z). The developed models were tested in the Main Center of Special Monitoring, and they were found to meet the Basic Requirements for operational predictive models.


Author(s):  
Aleksandr Kitov ◽  
Ivan Denisenko ◽  
Oxana Lunina ◽  
Andrey Gladkov ◽  
Viktor Plyusnin ◽  
...  

The Munku-Sardyk (Eastern Sayan) glacier has been described and studied for more than 100 years. The first largest glacier of Peretolchina was studied in the most detailed detail. Radde's second-largest glacier is much weaker. Monitoring of surface characteristics of the Radde glacier by ground methods and using data of remote sensing of the Earth (RSE) has been carried out since 2006. In 2018, georadar profiling of this glacier was performed for the first time. As a result, it was possible not only to clarify its surface characteristics, but also to assess the power of the ice and the internal structure (a layer of firn, ice, bed). According to the RSE, its geometric changes have been revealed. Over 120 years, the open part of the Radde Glacier has shrunk from 0.4 to 0.09 km2, and the length from 1 to 0.4 km. It also revealed the division of the glacier into two parts and the intensive reservation of the bottom of the main part of the tongue by surface moraines and the formation of a glacial lake on the glacier itself in the lower part of the second half. Radar research using the Oko-2 georadar, allowed to determine the volume of ice of this glacier 0.003 km3 and the greatest thickness of the main ice body 42 m. The main glacier flows down from the Eskadriliy top, 3168 m, to the north, flows on the cross-bar and from it turns to the northeast, and at the bottom of the kar will continue to flow north again.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Lučić ◽  

In Case C-807/18 the Court of Justice of the EU had the opportunity to interpret Regulation 2015/2120, which contains the principle of Internet Neutrality, for the first time. On this occasion, the Court took position that Internet providers must not favor certain applications and services for providing and using data on the Internet to the detriment of others. The principle of net neutrality existed even before the adoption of Regulation 2015/2120. This Regulation establishes measures concerning open access to the Internet. Namely, the Regulation sets rules aimed at ensuring equality and nondiscriminatory treatement of traffic, as well as protection of the rights of end users. The principle of net neutrality implies that all providers of internet access services will treat all traffic equally without discrimination, restriction or interference and regardless of the sender and recipient, the content accessed or distributed,


2020 ◽  
pp. 215686932091653
Author(s):  
Melissa Thompson ◽  
Lindsey Wilkinson ◽  
Hyeyoung Woo

Although originally considered to be a disorder of childhood, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasingly being diagnosed for the first time in adulthood. Yet we know little about the social characteristics (race, gender, and social class) of those first labeled in adulthood, how these differ from those first labeled in childhood/adolescence, and whether the ADHD label is applied proportionately across social groups given ADHD symptomology. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, the current research considers how typifications of ADHD affect application of the ADHD label in childhood/adolescence and in adulthood. Results indicate that even after controlling for ADHD symptoms, social characteristics are important predictors of the ADHD label in childhood/adolescence but are less influential in predicting ADHD labeling in adulthood. Additionally, results indicate the importance of race in moderating the association between childhood ADHD symptoms and application of the ADHD label throughout the life course.


2020 ◽  
Vol 80 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. N. Achasov ◽  
A. Yu. Barnyakov ◽  
A. A. Baykov ◽  
K. I. Beloborodov ◽  
A. V. Berdyugin ◽  
...  

AbstractThe process $$e^+e^-\rightarrow \eta \pi ^0\gamma $$ e + e - → η π 0 γ is studied in the center-of-mass energy range 1.05–2.00 GeV using data with an integrated luminosity of 94.5 $$\hbox {pb}^{-1}$$ pb - 1 collected by the SND detector at the VEPP-2000 $$e^{+}e^{-}$$ e + e - collider. The $$e^+e^-\rightarrow \eta \pi ^0\gamma $$ e + e - → η π 0 γ cross section is measured for the first time. It is shown that the dominant mechanism of this reaction is the transition through the $$\omega \eta $$ ω η intermediate state. The measured cross section of the subprocess $$e^+e^-\rightarrow \omega \eta \rightarrow \eta \pi ^0\gamma $$ e + e - → ω η → η π 0 γ is consistent with previous measurements in the $$e^+e^-\rightarrow \pi ^+\pi ^-\pi ^0\eta $$ e + e - → π + π - π 0 η mode. It is found, with a significance of $$5.6\sigma $$ 5.6 σ , that the process $$e^+e^-\rightarrow \eta \pi ^0\gamma $$ e + e - → η π 0 γ is not completely described by hadronic vector-pseudoscalar intermediate states. The cross section of this missing contribution, which can originate from radiation processes, e. g. $$e^+e^-\rightarrow a_{0}(1450)\gamma $$ e + e - → a 0 ( 1450 ) γ , is measured. It is found to be 15–20 pb in the wide energy range from 1.3 to 1.9 GeV.


2017 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 858-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manolis Galenianos ◽  
Alessandro Gavazza

We estimate a model of illicit drugs markets using data on purchases of crack cocaine. Buyers are searching for high-quality drugs, but they determine drugs' quality (i.e., their purity) only after consuming them. Hence, sellers can rip off first-time buyers or can offer higher-quality drugs to induce buyers to purchase from them again. In equilibrium, a distribution of qualities persists. The estimated model implies that if drugs were legalized, in which case purity could be regulated and hence observable, the average purity of drugs would increase by approximately 20 percent and the dispersion would decrease by approximately 80 percent. Moreover, increasing penalties may raise the purity and affordability of the drugs traded by increasing sellers' relative profitability of targeting loyal buyers versus first-time buyers. (JEL D12, K42, L15, L65)


2011 ◽  
Vol 331 ◽  
pp. 481-484
Author(s):  
Jun Feng Jing ◽  
Hang Li ◽  
Peng Fei Li

In this paper, multi-scale wavelet edge detection approach is investigated for real time inspection of diversified fabric texture. Multi-scale edge detectors smooth the signal at various scales and detect sharp variations points from their first or second order derivative. The extreme values of the first derivative correspond to the zero crossings of the second derivative and to the inflection points of the smoothed signal. Quadtree decomposition of segmented defects shows pinpoint location of specific web flaw. Further, preliminary graphical user interface (GUI) was designed so as to facilitate operation. After integrate GUI with procedure, parameters material can be acquired, which is vital to applying the inspection system on industrial PC.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document