A laboratory assessment of the choice of vessel size under individual transferable quota regimes

This paper examines the effect of individual transferable quota regimes on technology choice, such as choice of vessel size, by using the laboratory experiment method. We find that even if vessel sizes change over time, the quota price can converge to the fundamental value conditioned on the vessels chosen. We also find that subjects choose their vessel type to maximise their profits based on the quota trading prices in the previous period. This result implies that the efficiency of quota markets in the beginning period is important because any inefficiency in quota markets may affect vessel sizes in ensuing periods. Moreover, we find that the initial allocations may significantly influence vessel sizes through two channels: first, a higher initial allocation to a subject increases the likelihood that the subject invests in a large-sized vessel; second, the quota price may be higher and more unstable under unequal allocation than under equal allocation; thus, whether the allocation is equal influences subjects' choice of vessel type. © 2014 Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society Inc.

Discussion of “Generalized estimating equations: Notes on the choice of the working correlation matrix”

Objective To discuss generalized estimating equations as an extension of generalized linear models by commenting on the paper of Ziegler and Vens "Generalized Estimating Equations. Notes on the Choice of the Working Correlation Matrix". Methods Inviting an international group of experts to comment on this paper. Results Several perspectives have been taken by the discussants. Econometricians have established parallels to the generalized method of moments (GMM). Statisticians discussed model assumptions and the aspect of missing data Applied statisticians; commented on practical aspects in data analysis. Conclusions In general, careful modeling correlation is encouraged when considering estimation efficiency and other implications, and a comparison of choosing instruments in GMM and generalized estimating equations, (GEE) would be worthwhile. Some theoretical drawbacks of GEE need to be further addressed and require careful analysis of data This particularly applies to the situation when data are missing at random.

Optimum choice of wavelengths in the anomalous scattering technique with synchrotron radiation

A formula has been derived for the mean-square error in the phases of crystal reflections determined through the multiwavelength anomalous scattering method.The error is written in terms of a simple function of the positions in the complex plane of the 'centres' corresponding to the different wavelengths. For the case of three centres, the mean-square error is inversely proportional to the area of the triangle formed by them.

Choice of the End Functional Groups in Tri(p-phenylenevinylene) Derivatives Controls Its Physical Gelation Abilities

New supramolecular organogels based on all-trans-tri(p-phenylenevinylene) (TPV) systems possessing different terminal groups, e.g., oxime, hydrazone, phenylhydrazone, and semicarbazone have been synthesized. The self-assembly properties of the compounds that gelate in specific organic solvents and the aggregation motifs of these molecules in the organogels were investigated using UV−vis, fluorescence, FT-IR, and 1H NMR spectroscopy, electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and rheology. The temperature variable UV−vis and fluorescence spectroscopy in different solvents clearly show the aggregation pattern of the self-assemblies promoted by hydrogen bonding, aromatic π-stacking, and van der Waals interactions among the individual TPV units. Gelation could be controlled by variation in the number of hydrogen-bonding donors and acceptors in the terminal functional groups of this class of gelators. Also wherever gelation is observed, the individual fibers in gels change to other types of networks in their aggregates depending on the number of hydrogen-bonding sites in the terminal functions. Comparison of the thermal stability of the gels obtained from DSC data of different gelators demonstrates higher phase transition temperature and enthalpy for the hydrazone-based gelator. Rheological studies indicate that the presence of more hydrogen-bonding donors in the periphery of the gelator molecules makes the gel more viscoelastic solidlike. However, in the presence of more numbers of hydrogen-bonding donor/acceptors at the periphery of TPVs such as with semicarbazone a precipitation as opposed to gelation was observed. Clearly, the choice of the end functional groups and the number of hydrogen-bonding groups in the TPV backbone holds the key and modulates the effective length of the chromophore, resulting in interesting optical properties.

A note on the choice of interfacial friction angle

Estimates of interfacial friction angle (delta) are necessary for the design of retaining structures and deep foundations, Recommendations in the literature regarding delta values are often contradictory and are therefore not easy to apply in geotechnical design, A critical examination of past studies in terms of data generation techniques used and conclusions drawn indicates that two distinctly different test procedures/techniques have been evolved. The interfacial situation in practice can also be categorized into two broad types, These two types of interface problems in geotechnical engineering are (a) the structure is placed on the free surface of prepared fill (type A situation) and (b) the fill is placed against the material surface which functions as a confined boundary (type B situation), The friction angle delta depends on the surface roughness of the construction material, But in the type A situation, it is independent of density and its limiting maximum value (delta(lim)) is the critical state friction angle phi(cv). In the type B situation, it is dependent on density of the fill and its limiting maximum value is the peak angle of internal friction phi(p) of the fill.

Choice of Classifiers in Hierarchical Recognition of Online Handwritten Kannada and Tamil Aksharas

In this paper, we propose a novel dexterous technique for fast and accurate recognition of online handwritten Kannada and Tamil characters. Based on the primary classifier output and prior knowledge, the best classifier is chosen from set of three classifiers for second stage classification. Prior knowledge is obtained through analysis of the confusion matrix of primary classifier which helped in identifying the multiple sets of confused characters. Further, studies were carried out to check the performance of secondary classifiers in disambiguating among the confusion sets. Using this technique we have achieved an average accuracy of 92.6% for Kannada characters on the MILE lab dataset and 90.2% for Tamil characters on the HP Labs dataset.

Data-resolution based optimal choice of minimum required measurements for image-guided diffuse optical tomography

Image-guided diffuse optical tomography has the advantage of reducing the total number of optical parameters being reconstructed to the number of distinct tissue types identified by the traditional imaging modality, converting the optical image-reconstruction problem from underdetermined in nature to overdetermined. In such cases, the minimum required measurements might be far less compared to those of the traditional diffuse optical imaging. An approach to choose these optimally based on a data-resolution matrix is proposed, and it is shown that such a choice does not compromise the reconstruction performance. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America

A LSQR-type method provides a computationally efficient automated optimal choice of regularization parameter in diffuse optical tomography

Purpose: Developing a computationally efficient automated method for the optimal choice of regularization parameter in diffuse optical tomography. Methods: The least-squares QR (LSQR)-type method that uses Lanczos bidiagonalization is known to be computationally efficient in performing the reconstruction procedure in diffuse optical tomography. The same is effectively deployed via an optimization procedure that uses the simplex method to find the optimal regularization parameter. The proposed LSQR-type method is compared with the traditional methods such as L-curve, generalized cross-validation (GCV), and recently proposed minimal residual method (MRM)-based choice of regularization parameter using numerical and experimental phantom data. Results: The results indicate that the proposed LSQR-type and MRM-based methods performance in terms of reconstructed image quality is similar and superior compared to L-curve and GCV-based methods. The proposed method computational complexity is at least five times lower compared to MRM-based method, making it an optimal technique. Conclusions: The LSQR-type method was able to overcome the inherent limitation of computationally expensive nature of MRM-based automated way finding the optimal regularization parameter in diffuse optical tomographic imaging, making this method more suitable to be deployed in real-time. (C) 2013 American Association of Physicists in Medicine. http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.4792459]

Induction of Supramolecular Chirality in the Self-Assemblies of Lipophilic Pyrimidine Derivatives by Choice of the Amino Acid-Based Chiral Spacer

A new family of supramolecular organogelators, based on chiral amino acid derivatives of 2,4,6-trichloro-pyrimidine-5-carbaldehyde, has been synthesized. L-alanine was incorporated as a spacer between the pyrimidine core and long hydrocarbon tails to compare the effect of chirality and hydrogen bonding to that of the achiral analogue. The role of aromatic moiety on the chiral spacer was also investigated by introducing L-phenyl alanine moieties. The presence of intermolecular hydrogen-bonding leading to the chiral self-assembly was probed by concentration-dependent FTIR and UV/Vis spectroscopies, in addition to circular dichroism (CD) studies. Temperature and concentration-dependent CD spectroscopy ascribed to the formation of -sheet-type H-bonded networks. The morphology and the arrangements of the molecules in the freeze-dried gels were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Calculation of the length of each molecular system by energy minimization in its extended conformation and comparison with the small-angle XRD pattern reveals that this class of gelator molecules adopts a lamellar organization. Polarized optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicate that the solid state phase behavior of these molecules is totally dependent on the choice of their amino acid spacers. Structure-induced aggregation properties based on the H-bonding motifs and the packing of the molecule in three dimensions leading to gelation was elucidated by rheological studies. However, viscoelasticity was shown to depend only marginally on the H-bonding interactions; rather it depends on the packing of the gelators to a greater extent.

Effect of choice of basis functions in neural network for capturing unknown function for dynamic inversion control

The basic requirement for an autopilot is fast response and minimum steady state error for better guidance performance. The highly nonlinear nature of the missile dynamics due to the severe kinematic and inertial coupling of the missile airframe as well as the aerodynamics has been a challenge for an autopilot that is required to have satisfactory performance for all flight conditions in probable engagements. Dynamic inversion is very popular nonlinear controller for this kind of scenario. But the drawback of this controller is that it is sensitive to parameter perturbation. To overcome this problem, neural network has been used to capture the parameter uncertainty on line. The choice of basis function plays the major role in capturing the unknown dynamics. Here in this paper, many basis function has been studied for approximation of unknown dynamics. Cosine basis function has yield the best response compared to any other basis function for capturing the unknown dynamics. Neural network with Cosine basis function has improved the autopilot performance as well as robustness compared to Dynamic inversion without Neural network.

Choice of Flexible Production Technologies Under Strategic Delegation

This work analyzes a managerial delegation model in which firms can choose between a flexible production technology which allows them to produce two different products and a dedicated production technology which limits production to only one product. We analyze whether the incentives to adopt the flexible technology are smaller or greater in a managerial delegation model than under strict profit maximization. We obtain that the asymmetric equilibrium in which only one firm adopts the flexible technology can be sustained under strategic delegation but not under strict profit maximization when products are substitutes. We extend the analysis to consider welfare implications.