Inherent Discreteness Research Articles

Boosting Point Set-Based Network with Optimal Transport Optimization for Oriented Object Detection

When handling complex remote sensing scenarios, rotational angle information can improve detection accuracy and enhance algorithm robustness, providing support for fine-grained detection. Point set representation is one of the most commonly used methods in arbitrary-oriented object detection tasks, leveraging discrete feature points to represent oriented targets and achieve high accuracy in angle prediction. However, due to the inherent discreteness of point set representation, it is prone to significant impact from isolated points and representational ambiguity in harsh application scenarios, leading to inaccurate detection. To address this issue, an efficient aerial object detector named BE-Det is proposed, which uses the optimal transport (OT) strategy to constrain the positions of isolated points. Additionally, a candidate point set quality evaluation scheme is designed to effectively assess the quality of candidate point sets. Experimental results on two challenging aerial datasets demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms several advanced detection methods.

Enhancing precision of chromatic confocal measurement through linear interpolation based centroid algorithm

In chromatic confocal measurement (CCM), the accuracy and precision of the results rely on the robustness of the spectral power distribution (SPD) signal resolution. However, traditional centroid algorithms struggle with the inherent discretization of the SPD signal, leading to significant measurement errors. To address this issue, a linear interpolation based centroid algorithm is proposed to improve the robustness of the results. In the precision calibration experiment conducted with the in-house developed chromatic confocal sensors, the proposed algorithm demonstrates good robustness. Moreover, it achieves a 50% enhancement in the accuracy of a 4 mm range, improving from 1 μm to 0.5 μm.

Analyst coverage and real earnings management: Does IFRS adoption matter? UK evidence

This study examines the impact of analysts coverage on real earnings management (REM) decisions. The study further investigates the effect of mandatory IFRS adoption on the relationship between analyst coverage and REM. We constructed a sample of UK non-financial listed firms for the period 1997–2021. The results demonstrate that firms followed by a large number of financial analysts record higher levels of earnings management. This result supports the contention that high intensity of analyst coverage imposes extra pressure on firms' managers to meet analysts' earnings per share (EPS) expectations, motivating a higher level of earnings management. Contrary to expectations, the introduction of IFRS fails to strengthen the monitoring role of security analysts on firms' management: rather, managers utilize the inherent flexibility and available discretion in the principles-based IFRS to meet analysts’ benchmarks by means of REM activities. These results are robust after controlling endogeneity.

Поэтика повседневности в творчестве С. Довлатова

The aim of the study is to identify the originality of everyday life representation, i.e., the mechanisms of reflection of everyday realities, in the creative work of S. Dovlatov based on the material of his novellas “The Compromise” (1981), “The Zone” (1982) and “Pushkin Hills” (1983), the collection “The Suitcase” (1986). The scientific originality of the paper lies in interpreting the prose writer’s works through the lens of everyday life. The results show that repeatability, closeness of space and the turn to the sphere of private life of ordinary characters represent the main features of everyday life in the analyzed works. Everyday life requires a recognizable background created by repetitive thoughts, descriptions, images in S. Dovlatov’s works, however, the routine in his writings is not monotonous, which destroys the idea of traditional everyday life as something uniform. The author highlights separate, small-scale events that are sufficient to recreate a complete picture in simple language, using similes, metaphors, euphemisms, often interspersing his works with dialogues and jokes, conveying emphasis and dyslalia. The conversational style used by S. Dovlatov to create the speech characteristics of his characters demonstrates its inherent discreteness, unfinished thoughts, incomplete syntactic constructions and brevity of utterance.

Asymptotic stability of a nonlinear energy harvester with mass disturbance undergoing Markovian jump

Stochastic mass has exerted a profound impact on the dynamics of the systems characterized by light mass and compact volume. This work delves into the asymptotic stability with probability one of a variable mass energy harvester. Firstly, the Gaussian white noise with Markovian jump is coupled to model the inherent randomness and discreteness of stochastic mass. Then, we have established an approximate dimensionless system based on an equivalent transformation. Using the stochastic averaging method, the averaged Itô stochastic differential equation of the amplitude within the approximated system is derived. With the linearization, we have deduced the largest Lyapunov exponent for the linearized equation. Furthermore, the necessary and sufficient condition for achieving asymptotic stability of the nonlinear energy harvester is proposed approximately by managing the largest Lyapunov exponent be negative. The study systematically dissects the effects of stochastic mass and Markovian jump on the asymptotic stability with probability one of a nonlinear energy harvester. Under the disturbance of stochastic mass, with the increase of linear stiffness, the stability of the system will change nonlinearly. Moreover, the stability regions of the nonlinear energy harvester under varying transition matrices and stochastic mass noise intensities are thoroughly given. The findings and conclusions presented in this paper have a certain theoretical significance for the management of the system stability in engineering practical.

Supersymmetric Spectral Form Factor and Euclidean Black Holes.

The late-time behavior of spectral form factor (SFF) encodes the inherent discreteness of a quantum system, which should be generically nonvanishing. We study an index analog of the microcanonical spectrum form factor in four-dimensional N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. In the large N limit and at large enough energy, the most dominant saddle corresponds to the black hole in the AdS bulk. This gives rise to the slope that decreases exponentially for a small imaginary chemical potential, which is a natural analog of an early time. We find that the "late-time" behavior is governed by the multicut saddles that arise in the index matrix model, which are nonperturbatively subdominant at early times. These saddles become dominant at late times, preventing the SFF from decaying. These multicut saddles correspond to the orbifolded Euclidean black holes in the AdS bulk, therefore giving the geometrical interpretation of the "ramp". Our analysis is done in the standard AdS/CFT setting without ensemble average or wormholes.

Atypical Criminal Sanctions within the Scope of Plea Bargaining: Legality?

This paper aims to analyze the possibility of establishing atypical criminal sanctions within the scope of plea agreements. In this context, the clash between legality and autonomy of will is debated in relation to the formulation of extralegal penalties, reflecting on the premise of whether or not there is a need to establish legal rationalization in order to set limits to the inherent discretion in the formalized agreement between the parties. Finally, after the decision-making process, the current jurisprudential position and the proposed conclusion will be presented.

A Virtual Voltage Field-Weakening Scheme of Trajectory Correction for PMSM Model Predictive Control

The finite-control-set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) is an effective control method for permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drives with multiple constraints. However, it suffers from the trajectory deviation in the field-weakening region due to the model mismatch. In addition, the inherent discreteness of FCS-MPC further hinders the continuous prescribed trajectory in the field-weakening region. To address this problem, a field-weakening scheme with virtual voltage is studied to realize trajectory correction through the feedback mechanism. The concept of virtual voltage is proposed and constructed with continuous, excess, and perturbed components. The three components are extracted from the model characteristics, the predicted current error, and the disturbing current, which provide continuity, field-weakening trigger, and parametric immunity for the virtual voltage, respectively. Comparison experiments are conducted on the FPGA+ARM-based PMSM test rig to validate the dynamic performance and trajectory deviation immunity in the field-weakening region.

Reading Regents and the Political Significance of Law

Reading Regents and the Political Significance of Law

Analysis of rating scales: A pervasive problem in bilingualism research and a solution with Bayesian ordinal models

AbstractResearch in bilingualism often involves quantifying constructs of interest by the use of rating scales: for example, to measure language proficiency, dominance, or sentence acceptability. However, ratings are a type of ordinal data, which violates the assumptions of the statistical methods that are commonly used to analyse them. As a result, the validity of ratings is compromised and the ensuing statistical inferences can be seriously distorted. In this article, we describe the problem in detail and demonstrate its pervasiveness in bilingualism research. We then provide examples of how bilingualism researchers can employ an appropriate solution using Bayesian ordinal models. These models respect the inherent discreteness of ratings, easily accommodate non-normality, and allow modelling unequal psychological distances between response categories. As a result, they can provide more valid, accurate, and informative inferences about graded constructs such as language proficiency. Data and code are publicly available in an OSF repository at https://osf.io/grs8x.

Spatially discrete Boussinesq equation: integrability, Darboux transformation, exact solutions and continuum limit

The intimate connection between discrete and continuous integrable systems may yield deep insight into some inherent discreteness of physical phenomena. In this paper, a spatially discrete Boussinesq equation is investigated. The integrability of the spatially discrete model is confirmed by showing the existence of Lax pair and infinite number of conservation laws. The Darboux transformation is expressed in terms of Casorati type determinant. Further, by combining the Darboux transformation with different solutions of eigenfunction, we provide a comprehensive approach to construct various types of exact solutions to the spatially discrete Boussinesq equation, such as multi-soliton solutions, periodic solutions, rational solutions and more generally their interaction solutions. Lastly, we prove that the theory of spatially discrete Boussinesq equation including the Lax pair, the conservation laws, the Darboux transformation and the exact solutions converges to the corresponding theory of the Boussinesq equation in the continuum limit.

OPTIMAL REGULATION OF LOCAL ENERGY SYSTEM WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

The paper is devoted to solving the balancing problem in local power systems with renewable energy sources. For a power system optimization problem, whose operation depends on random weather factors, a convex parameter optimization or optimal control problem was solved using controlled generation, for each individual realization of a random process as a deterministic function, and then statistical processing of results over a set of random realizations was performed and distribution density functions of the desired target function were constructed, followed by estimation of expected values and their confidence intervals. The process describing current deviations of generated power from mean value is modelled as discrete stray model and has properties of Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process, which allowed varying the duration of unit interval, in particular to select data bases of operating objects with inherent temporal discreteness of their monitoring systems. Random components are investigated and modelled, while the average values are considered to be deterministic and are provided within a predictable schedule using also traditional energy sources (centralised power grid). A mathematical model of the combined operation of renewable energy sources in a system with variable load, electric storage device and auxiliary regulating generator is implemented as a scheme of sequential generation and consumption models and random processes describing the current state of the power system. The operation of the electricity accumulators is dependent on the processes mentioned, but in the full balance, it appears together with generation or load losses, which are cumulative sums of unbalanced power and may have a different distribution from the normal one. However, these processes are internal, relating to the redistribution of energy within a generation system whose capacity is generally described satisfactorily, given the relevant criteria, by a normal law. Under this condition, it is possible to estimate the probability of different circumstances - over- or under-generation, that is, to give a numerical estimate of the reliability of energy supply.

A Novel Grid Forming Control Scheme Revealing a True Inertia Principle

This article proposes an unconventional strategy for a grid forming converter, based on a phase restoring control concept by which a constant steady state frequency is achieved. This control scheme is inherently without a phase-locked loop (PLL) and keeps the power system frequency at its nominal value. Under disturbance, the control response mimics infinite virtual inertia since the power system frequency always returns to its nominal value. Therefore, this control presents a physical equivalence to a power system response with substantial inertia provided by synchronous machines. The understanding of frequency drift as a local phenomenon and power system frequency as a global aspect is briefly introduced. Further, the inherent discretization of a converter control as part of the feedback loop over the continuous network system is also considered. The concept has been mathematically investigated in a realistic test bench and global stability of the control is displayed based on the necessary boundary conditions. Simulation results supporting the mathematical hypothesis and visualizing the controller actions are presented. As a beneficial coincidence of these ideas, the control structure ensures similar responses in both electromagnetic transients (EMT) and root mean square (RMS) simulations.

STUDY ON FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIAL USING VICKERS AND BERKOVICH INDENTERS

The indentation method is one of the commonly used methods to determine fracture toughness ($K_{\rm IC})$ of brittle materials. One of the challenges is to obtain a suitable equation of the materials from various equations according to different materials and indenters. Therefore, fracture toughness tests with pyramid indenters (Vickers indenter and Berkovich indenter) were conducted on Si (111) and 4H-SiC (0001) under various loads. The crack length $c$ generated in the Vickers indentation experiments were statistically analyzed, and thirteen equations were selected to calculate the fracture toughness of semiconductor materials at room temperature. The applicability of the indentation test was evaluated, based on a comparative analysis with the results of the scratch test. The results show that to eliminate the inherent discreteness of crack length $c$ generated in the Vickers indentation experiment, multiple indentation tests (at least thirty tests) need to be conducted. The ratio of crack length $c$ over the indentation diagonal length $a$ increases with an increase in the applied load $P$. The crack types of the materials depend on $P$: Palmqvist crack system appears for low loads and Median crack system appears for high loads. Compared with the average fracture toughness (0.96~MPa,$\cdot$,$\sqrt{\rm m}$ and 2.89~MPa,$\cdot$,$\sqrt{\rm m}$, respectively) of Si (111) and 4H-SiC (0001) obtained by micro scratch test, based on linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), the appropriate equations was obtained for both Vickers and Berkovich indenters for the same as material, but which can not be obtained for both Si (111) and 4H-SiC (0001) under the same as indenter from thirteen equations. The fracture toughness of semiconductor materials are best calculated by an expression develope from the Median crack system, and the relationship between fracture toughness being obtained with Vickers indenter and that of with Berkovich indenter is not theoretically 1.073 times, which should be 1.13$\pm $0.01.

Discretionary goodwill impairment losses in Europe

Purpose The impairment-only approach to goodwill has regularly been criticized for offering too much discretion to managers and facilitating the manipulation of goodwill impairment losses. Extant research provides mixed results on whether managers exploit their inherent discretion informatively or opportunistically. The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of discretionary goodwill impairment losses in Europe. Design/methodology/approach The authors divide goodwill impairment losses into economically induced and discretionary parts. Thereafter, the authors examine the determinants of discretionary goodwill impairments. Findings The results indicate that discretionary goodwill impairment losses are used opportunistically rather than informatively. The authors find that managers exploit their discretion to “clear the deck” and to meet or beat analysts’ forecasts. However, the opportunistic behavior is constrained by corporate governance and enforcement mechanisms. Research limitations/implications The findings contribute to the current discussion on the suitability of the impairment-only approach by introducing inferences on how areas of discretion inherent in goodwill impairment testing are associated with management incentives and governance mechanisms in a European setting. Practical implications The results offer enforcers and standard-setters important insights into how mangers exploit discretion in goodwill accounting. These insights can help to identify firms that are likely to infringe upon the applicable accounting standards. Originality/value In contrast to prior research, the authors analyze the association among management incentives, governance mechanisms and discretionary goodwill impairment losses rather than the association with total or expected goodwill impairment losses. Moreover, to the best of authors’ knowledge, there is little empirical evidence based on a European (IAS 36) setting.

HYDRA: Hybrid deep magnetic resonance fingerprinting.

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) methods typically rely on dictionary matching to map the temporal MRF signals to quantitative tissue parameters. Such approaches suffer from inherent discretization errors, as well as high computational complexity as the dictionary size grows. To alleviate these issues, we propose a HYbrid Deep magnetic ResonAnce fingerprinting (HYDRA) approach, referred to as HYDRA. HYDRA involves two stages: a model-based signature restoration phase and a learning-based parameter restoration phase. Signal restoration is implemented using low-rank based de-aliasing techniques while parameter restoration is performed using a deep nonlocal residual convolutional neural network. The designed network is trained on synthesized MRF data simulated with the Bloch equations and fast imaging with steady-state precession (FISP) sequences. In test mode, it takes a temporal MRF signal as input and produces the corresponding tissue parameters. We validated our approach on both synthetic data and anatomical data generated from a healthy subject. The results demonstrate that, in contrast to conventional dictionary matching-based MRF techniques, our approach significantly improves inference speed by eliminating the time-consuming dictionary matching operation, and alleviates discretization errors by outputting continuous-valued parameters. We further avoid the need to store a large dictionary, thus reducing memory requirements. Our approach demonstrates advantages in terms of inference speed, accuracy, and storage requirements over competing MRF methods.

Collapse on the line \u2013 how synthetic dimensions influence nonlinear effects

Power induced wave collapse is one of the most fascinating phenomena in optics as it provides extremely high intensities, thus stimulating a range of nonlinear processes. For low power levels, propagation of beams in bulk media is dominated by diffraction, while above a certain threshold self-focusing is steadily enhanced by the action of a positive nonlinearity. An autocatalytic blow-up occurs, which is only stopped by saturation of the nonlinearity, material damage or the inherent medium discreteness. In the latter case, this leads to energy localization on a single site. It is commonly believed that for cubic nonlinearities, this intriguing effect requires at least two transverse dimensions to occur and is thus out of reach in fiber optics. Following the concept of synthetic dimensions, we demonstrate that mixing short and long-range interaction resembles a two-dimensional mesh lattice and features wave collapse at mW-power levels in a genuine 1D system formed by coupled fiber loops.

Street-level bureaucracy and categorization processes in social workers’ encounters with parents who have financial and cognitive difficulties

ABSTRACT In the Swedish welfare state, assessment of applications regarding benefits for rent costs varies greatly between municipalities which could partly be explained by the inherent discretion in social work practice. This study focuses on practices of categorisation in processes of eviction risk among families, where there are indications of parental cognitive difficulties. The present article aims at exploring social workers’ discretionary approaches in these client interactions, and specifically how indications of cognitive difficulties are handled in relation to financial problems. This paper highlights how they, as street-level-bureaucrats, define and assess these particular clients’ needs of support but also how they view their professional role and the scope for interventions regarding parental impairments in relation to need for income support.This qualitative analysis is based on interviews with 10 social workers in different units of the social welfare agency, who in their work encounter families in eviction risk due to financial problems. The findings show that although the interviewees note that cognitive difficulties may partly explain the need for income support on a general level, the strategies to address indications of such difficulties and adjust the process and/or offer alternative interventions to suit the clients needs vary.

Robust Constant-Amplitude Input Shapers with Selectable Duration

Vibration is a problem for many mechanical systems. Although there are many sources of vibration, simply moving a flexible system will generally cause it to vibrate. One technique for limiting undesired motion-induced vibration is input shaping. This paper investigates the input-shaper design for slewing spacecraft flexible appendages actuated by stepper motors or other constant-amplitude actuators. The primary challenge encountered in designing input shapers for stepper motors is the inherent discretization in both command amplitude and time. Also, spacecraft often have the additional requirement of maintaining a desired pointing angle. This paper describes an input-shaping technique compatible with stepper motors that has robustness to the modeling error in the vibration frequency of the appendages. The effectiveness of the approach is evaluated using a dynamic model of a spacecraft with a flexible appendage using proportional-derivative attitude control.

Duty vs. Discretion: What Youngstown Can Teach Us About Inherent Executive Enforcement Discretion

This Article takes United States v. Texas, a case about the legality of President Obama’s “Deferred Action for Parents of Americans” (DAPA) immigration initiative, as an entry point for analyzing a significant and publically-salient, yet undertheorized, problem in constitutional law: executive discretion in enforcing the law. Although Republican and Democratic administration alike have long asserted a constitutionally-inherent power to decline to enforce civil and criminal laws, former-President Obama’s recent high profile exercises of this authority, including his enforcement policy on federal marijuana law and immigration law, have led to increased attention to enforcement discretion among popular and scholarly commentators. Surprisingly, however, academic commentators have almost completely ignored the relevance of a canonical separation of powers precedent to the constitutional debate surrounding executive nonenforcement: Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer. This Article is the first to systematically apply Justice Jackson’s famous Youngstown concurrence to the puzzle of the executive’s constitutional discretion in law enforcement. By doing so, the Essay provides a common lexicon within which commentators can debate the constitutionality of presidential nonenforcement in particular contexts, including DAPA. The Article's second contribution is to offer a positive theory of constitutionally-inherent enforcement discretion, including the power to supervise and prioritize law enforcement activities. I derive this theory from constitutional text, including the Executive Power Clause, the Take Care Clause, and the Due Process Clause. This inherent power, however, is malleable and defeasible rather than fixed and absolute. Congress can either explicitly or implicitly confer executive enforcement discretion to the constitutional maximum (Youngstown Category 1). Likewise, Congress can explicitly or implicitly cabin executive enforcement discretion, reducing it to the constitutional minimum (Youngstown Category 3). When the Executive is faced with Congressional silence, he acts in Youngstown Category 2. In the second category’s “zone of twilight,” however, executive enforcement discretion is limited to the President’s inherent constitutional powers. Based on my positive theory of constitutionally-sanctioned enforcement discretion, I argue that, in Category 2, the Take Care Clause does not preclude the Executive from exercising enforcement discretion, including the power to coordinate categorical enforcement priorities. Finally, I argue that, even in Category 3, the President’s inherent power of enforcement discretion ensures that he always retains at least some discretion to decline enforcement in individual cases, especially in the criminal context. Furthermore, in light of the powers concomitant to his constitutional duty to supervise, including the power to coordinate and prioritize enforcement, I argue offer a novel argument that the President’s inherent enforcement discretion power may extend beyond individualized discretion to countenance the creation of categorical civil enforcement priorities, even in Category 3. The Article concludes by applying the Youngstown framework and my positive theory of executive enforcement discretion to the question whether DAPA violates the Constitution. I conclude that DAPA most comfortably falls in Category 2, and that its provisions do not exceed the Executive’s inherent enforcement discretion under the Constitution.