91,168 research outputs found

    Using Signatures in Type Theory to Represent Situations

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    Representing Isabelle in LF

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    LF has been designed and successfully used as a meta-logical framework to represent and reason about object logics. Here we design a representation of the Isabelle logical framework in LF using the recently introduced module system for LF. The major novelty of our approach is that we can naturally represent the advanced Isabelle features of type classes and locales. Our representation of type classes relies on a feature so far lacking in the LF module system: morphism variables and abstraction over them. While conservative over the present system in terms of expressivity, this feature is needed for a representation of type classes that preserves the modular structure. Therefore, we also design the necessary extension of the LF module system.Comment: In Proceedings LFMTP 2010, arXiv:1009.218

    A canonical theory of dynamic decision-making

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    Decision-making behavior is studied in many very different fields, from medicine and eco- nomics to psychology and neuroscience, with major contributions from mathematics and statistics, computer science, AI, and other technical disciplines. However the conceptual- ization of what decision-making is and methods for studying it vary greatly and this has resulted in fragmentation of the field. A theory that can accommodate various perspectives may facilitate interdisciplinary working. We present such a theory in which decision-making is articulated as a set of canonical functions that are sufficiently general to accommodate diverse viewpoints, yet sufficiently precise that they can be instantiated in different ways for specific theoretical or practical purposes. The canons cover the whole decision cycle, from the framing of a decision based on the goals, beliefs, and background knowledge of the decision-maker to the formulation of decision options, establishing preferences over them, and making commitments. Commitments can lead to the initiation of new decisions and any step in the cycle can incorporate reasoning about previous decisions and the rationales for them, and lead to revising or abandoning existing commitments. The theory situates decision-making with respect to other high-level cognitive capabilities like problem solving, planning, and collaborative decision-making. The canonical approach is assessed in three domains: cognitive and neuropsychology, artificial intelligence, and decision engineering

    Feasibility study on conducting overflight measurements of shaped sonic boom signatures using the Firebee BQM-34E RPV

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    A study was performed to determine the feasibility of establishing if a 'shaped' sonic boom signature, experimentally shown in wind tunnel models out to about 10 body lengths, will persist out to representative flight conditions of 200 to 300 body lengths. The study focuses on the use of a relatively large supersonic remotely-piloted and recoverable vehicle. Other simulation methods that may accomplish the objective are also addressed and include the use of nonrecoverable target drones, missiles, full-scale drones, very large wind tunnels, ballistic facilities, whirling-arm techniques, rocket sled tracks, and airplane nose probes. In addition, this report will also present a background on the origin of the feasibility study including a brief review of the equivalent body concept, a listing of the basic sonic boom signature characteristics and requirements, identification of candidate vehicles in terms of desirable features/availability, and vehicle characteristics including geometries, area distributions, and resulting sonic boom signatures. A program is developed that includes wind tunnel sonic boom and force models and tests for both a basic and modified vehicles and full-scale flight tests

    Determining trophic niche width: a novel approach using stable isotope analysis

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    1. Although conceptually robust, it has proven difficult to find practical measures of niche width that are simple to obtain, yet provide an adequate descriptor of the ecological position of the population examined. 2. Trophic niche has proven more tractable than other niche dimensions. However, indices used as a proxy for trophic niche width often suffer from the following difficulties. Such indices rarely lie along a single scale making comparisons between populations or species difficult; have difficulty in combining dietary prey diversity and evenness in an ecologically meaningful way; and fail to integrate diet over ecological time-scales thus usually only comprise single snapshots of niche width. 3. We propose an alternative novel method for the comparison of trophic niche width: the use of variance of tissue stable isotope ratios, especially those of nitrogen and carbon. 4. This approach is a potentially powerful method of measuring trophic niche width, particularly if combined with conventional approaches, because: it provides a single measure on a continuous axis that is common to all species; it integrates information on only assimilated prey over time; the integration period changes with choice of tissue sampled; and data production is theoretically fast and testing among populations simple. 5. Empirical studies are now required to test the benefits of using isotopic variance as a measure of niche width, and in doing so help refine this approach

    Signatures of partition functions and their complexity reduction through the KP II equation

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    A statistical amoeba arises from a real-valued partition function when the positivity condition for pre-exponential terms is relaxed, and families of signatures are taken into account. This notion lets us explore special types of constraints when we focus on those signatures that preserve particular properties. Specifically, we look at sums of determinantal type, and main attention is paid to a distinguished class of soliton solutions of the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (KP) II equation. A characterization of the signatures preserving the determinantal form, as well as the signatures compatible with the KP II equation, is provided: both of them are reduced to choices of signs for columns and rows of a coefficient matrix, and they satisfy the whole KP hierarchy. Interpretations in term of information-theoretic properties, geometric characteristics, and the relation with tropical limits are discussed.Comment: 42 pages, 11 figures. Section 7.1 has been added, the organization of the paper has been change

    Quantum phase transitions in the interacting boson model

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    This review is focused on various properties of quantum phase transitions (QPTs) in the Interacting Boson Model (IBM) of nuclear structure. The model in its infinite-size limit exhibits shape-phase transitions between spherical, deformed prolate, and deformed oblate forms of the ground state. Finite-size precursors of such behavior are verified by robust variations of nuclear properties (nuclear masses, excitation energies, transition probabilities for low lying levels) across the chart of nuclides. Simultaneously, the model serves as a theoretical laboratory for studying diverse general features of QPTs in interacting many-body systems, which differ in many respects from lattice models of solid-state physics. We outline the most important fields of the present interest: (a) The coexistence of first- and second-order phase transitions supports studies related to the microscopic origin of the QPT phenomena. (b) The competing quantum phases are characterized by specific dynamical symmetries and novel symmetry related approaches are developed to describe also the transitional dynamical domains. (c) In some parameter regions, the QPT-like behavior can be ascribed also to individual excited states, which is linked to the thermodynamic and classical descriptions of the system. (d) The model and its phase structure can be extended in many directions: by separating proton and neutron excitations, considering odd-fermion degrees of freedom or different particle-hole configurations, by including other types of bosons, higher order interactions, and by imposing external rotation. All these aspects of IBM phase transitions are relevant in the interpretation of experimental data and important for a fundamental understanding of the QPT phenomenon.Comment: a review article, 71 pages, 18 figure
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