On the use of logistic regression for stellar classification

We are totally immersed in the Big Data era and reliable algorithms and methods for data classification are instrumental for astronomical research. Random Forest and Support Vector Machines algorithms have become popular over the last few years and they are widely used for different stellar classification problems. In this article, we explore an alternative supervised classification method scarcely exploited in astronomy, Logistic Regression, that has been applied successfully in other scientific areas, particularly biostatistics. We have applied this method in order to derive membership probabilities for potential T Tauri star candidates from ultraviolet-infrared colour-colour diagrams.     

The appearance of Mars from 1907 to 1971: Graphic synthesis of photographs from the I.A.U. center at Meudon

Using selected high quality plates collected at the I.A.U. Planetary Data Center in Meudon (Paris), the author has drawn 32 Mercator charts of the planet Mars for every opposition from 1907 to 1971. This graphic synthesis of albedo distribution may be used in the study of major surface changes over the years.     

Proton acceleration in flares and magnetohydrodynamic solar activity

The possibility of accelerated protons in solar flares having a sharp change in their spectral index is discussed. The analysis is based on the Tsytovich (1982, 1984, 1987a, b, c) acceleration model by MHD turbulence, which is shown to have different resonant conditions for non-relativistic and relativistic particles. The different resonant condition is shown to result in a sharp change in the accelerated proton spectral index, even in the absence of any peculiarity in the spectra of the MHD turbulence. Time scales for accelerated protons to relativistic energies are also derived, and shown to be consistent with observations. We also show that the threshold energy for electron acceleration by low frequency MHD turbulence is much greater than for proton acceleration. The turbulence therefore preferentially accelerates protons.     

Spatial assessment and redesign of a groundwater quality monitoring network using entropy theory, Gaza Strip, Palestine

Using entropy theory, a methodology was developed for the evaluation and redesign of groundwater quality monitoring wells in the Gaza Strip in Palestine. Essential to the methodology is the development of a Transinformation Model (TM) which yields the amount of information transfer and the dependency between the wells as a function of distance. The TM parameters, such as the minimum transinformation and the range, were employed for evaluating the network which revealed that most of the distances between wells were less than the range. It also indicated that a high percentage of redundant information existed in the network. Therefore, the network was reduced by superimposing a square pattern over the monitored area and selecting one well per square block in a stratified pattern. The methodology was tested using the chloride data collected from 1972–2000 from 417 groundwater quality monitoring wells in the Gaza Strip. The number of the groundwater quality monitoring wells in the Gaza Strip was reduced by 53%, while there was 26% redundant information based on the minimum existing distance between wells. This methodology is meant to help monitor the groundwater quality (salinity) in the Gaza Strip.     

Accessibility for High Asia： Comparative Perspectives on Northern Pakistan＇s Traffic Infrastructure and Linkages with Its Neighbours in the Hindukush-Karakoram- Himalaya

Starting with a discussion of development concepts which were applied in practice and which followed the developmentalist paradigm the expansion of traffic infrastructure in colonial and post-colonial periods is presented for the High Asian mountain rim. Selective railways and roads are the major feature of this development, which aimed first on serving the convenience of hill station visitors and followed strategic considerations later on. This bias between regional planning and implementation remains a characteristic feature. At the same time traffic infrastructure without asphalt roads is important for the mountain areas, thus breaking up the strong correlation between development and asphalt roads.     

Observations of a stationary mid-latitude cloud system on Titan

We report the observation of a cloud system on Titan that remained localized near 40°S latitude and 60°W longitude for at least 34 h. Ground-based observations obtained with the SINFONI imaging spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope over four consecutive nights recorded the lifetime and altitude of the unresolved cloud system. Concomitant measurements made by Cassini/VIMS over 3 h resolved changes in the altitude and opacity of individual regions within the system during this time. Clouds are measured from 13 to 37 km altitude with optical depths per pixel ranging from τ=0.13 to 7. Short timescale rise times are consistent with previous measurements of the evolution of mid-latitude clouds; however the long timescale localization of the cloud structure is unexplained. We speculate about the role of mesoscale circulation in relation to cloud formation.