Weak n-categories: opetopic and multitopic foundations

We generalise the concepts introduced by Baez and Dolan to define opetopes constructed from symmetric operads with a category, rather than a set, of objects. We describe the category of 1-level generalised multicategories, a special case of the concept introduced by Hermida, Makkai and Power, and exhibit a full embedding of this category in the category of symmetric operads with a category of objects. As an analogy to the Baez-Dolan slice construction, we exhibit a certain multicategory of function replacement as a slice construction in the multitopic setting, and use it to construct multitopes. We give an explicit description of the relationship between opetopes and multitopes.Comment: 41 page

Rumor processes in random environment on N and on Galton-Watson trees

The aim of this paper is to study rumor processes in random environment. In a rumor process a signal starts from the stations of a fixed vertex (the root) and travels on a graph from vertex to vertex. We consider two rumor processes. In the firework process each station, when reached by the signal, transmits it up to a random distance. In the reverse firework process, on the other hand, stations do not send any signal but they "listen" for it up to a random distance. The first random environment that we consider is the deterministic 1-dimensional tree N with a random number of stations on each vertex; in this case the root is the origin of N. We give conditions for the survival/extinction on almost every realization of the sequence of stations. Later on, we study the processes on Galton-Watson trees with random number of stations on each vertex. We show that if the probability of survival is positive, then there is survival on almost every realization of the infinite tree such that there is at least one station at the root. We characterize the survival of the process in some cases and we give sufficient conditions for survival/extinction.Comment: 28 page

Domain and range for angelic and demonic compositions

We give finite axiomatizations for the varieties generated by representable domain--range algebras when the semigroup operation is interpreted as angelic or demonic composition, respectively

On the multistationarity of chemical reaction networks

We present a new conjecture about a necessary condition that a (bio)chemical network has to satisfy for it to exhibit multistationarity. According to a Theorem of Feliu and Wiuf [27, 12], the conjecture is known for strictly monotonic kinetics. We give several examples illustrating our conjecture

A discrete, unitary, causal theory of quantum gravity

A discrete model of Lorentzian quantum gravity is proposed. The theory is completely background free, containing no reference to absolute space, time, or simultaneity. The states at one slice of time are networks in which each vertex is labelled with two arrows, which point along an adjacent edge, or to the vertex itself. The dynamics is specified by a set of unitary replacement rules, which causally propagate the local degrees of freedom. The inner product between any two states is given by a sum over histories. Assuming it converges (or can be Abel resummed), this inner product is proven to be hermitian and fully gauge-degenerate under spacetime diffeomorphisms. At least for states with a finite past, the inner product is also positive. This allows a Hilbert space of physical states to be constructed.Comment: 38 pages, 9 figures, v3 added to exposition and references, v4 expanded prospects sectio

Evolution of the Scale Factor with a Variable Cosmological Term

Evolution of the scale factor a(t) in Friedmann models (those with zero pressure and a constant cosmological term Lambda) is well understood, and elegantly summarized in the review of Felten and Isaacman [Rev. Mod. Phys. 58, 689 (1986)]. Developments in particle physics and inflationary theory, however, increasingly indicate that Lambda ought to be treated as a dynamical quantity. We revisit the evolution of the scale factor with a variable Lambda-term, and also generalize the treatment to include nonzero pressure. New solutions are obtained and evaluated using a variety of observational criteria. Existing arguments for the inevitability of a big bang (ie., an initial state with a=0) are substantially weakened, and can be evaded in some cases with Lambda_0 (the present value of Lambda) well below current experimental limits.Comment: 29 pages, 12 figures (not included), LaTeX, uses Phys Rev D style files (revtex.cls, revtex.sty, aps.sty, aps10.sty, prabib.sty). To appear in Phys Rev