134 research outputs found
A Topos Foundation for Theories of Physics: III. The Representation of Physical Quantities With Arrows
This paper is the third in a series whose goal is to develop a fundamentally
new way of viewing theories of physics. Our basic contention is that
constructing a theory of physics is equivalent to finding a representation in a
topos of a certain formal language that is attached to the system. In paper II,
we studied the topos representations of the propositional language PL(S) for
the case of quantum theory, and in the present paper we do the same thing for
the, more extensive, local language L(S). One of the main achievements is to
find a topos representation for self-adjoint operators. This involves showing
that, for any physical quantity A, there is an arrow
\breve{\delta}^o(A):\Sig\map\SR, where \SR is the quantity-value object for
this theory. The construction of is an extension of the
daseinisation of projection operators that was discussed in paper II. The
object \SR is a monoid-object only in the topos, , of the theory,
and to enhance the applicability of the formalism, we apply to \SR a topos
analogue of the Grothendieck extension of a monoid to a group. The resulting
object, \kSR, is an abelian group-object in . We also discuss
another candidate, \PR{\mathR}, for the quantity-value object. In this
presheaf, both inner and outer daseinisation are used in a symmetric way.
Finally, there is a brief discussion of the role of unitary operators in the
quantum topos scheme.Comment: 38 pages, no figure
Collaboration between Science and Religious Education teachers in Scottish Secondary schools
The article reports on quantitative research that examines: (1) the current practice in collaboration; and (2) potential for collaboration between Science and Religious Education teachers in a large sample of Scottish secondary schools. The authors adopt and adapt three models (conflict; concordat and consonance) to interrogate the relationship between science and religion (and the perceived relation between these two subjects in schools) (Astley and Francis 2010). The findings indicate that there is evidence of limited collaboration and, in a few cases, a dismissive attitude towards collaboration (conflict and concordat and very weak consonance). There is, however, evidence of a genuine aspiration for greater collaboration among many teachers (moving towards a more robust consonance model). The article concludes by discussing a number of key factors that must be realised for this greater collaboration to be enacted
Reporting of The CONSORT extension for Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomised Trials: Extension of the CONSORT 2010 statement with explanation and elaboration
Primordialists and Constructionists: a typology of theories of religion
This article adopts categories from nationalism theory to classify theories of religion. Primordialist explanations are grounded in evolutionary psychology and emphasize the innate human demand for religion. Primordialists predict that religion does not decline in the modern era but will endure in perpetuity. Constructionist theories argue that religious demand is a human construct. Modernity initially energizes religion, but subsequently undermines it. Unpacking these ideal types is necessary in order to describe actual theorists of religion. Three distinctions within primordialism and constructionism are relevant. Namely those distinguishing: a) materialist from symbolist forms of constructionism; b) theories of origins from those pertaining to the reproduction of religion; and c) within reproduction, between theories of religious persistence and secularization. This typology helps to make sense of theories of religion by classifying them on the basis of their causal mechanisms, chronology and effects. In so doing, it opens up new sightlines for theory and research
Photometric study of the late-time near-infrared plateau in Type Ia supernovae
We present an in-depth study of the late-time near-infrared plateau in Type
Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), which occurs between 70-500 d. We double the existing
sample of SNe Ia observed during the late-time near-infrared plateau with new
observations taken with the Hubble Space Telescope, Gemini, New Technology
Telescope, the 3.5m Calar Alto Telescope, and the Nordic Optical Telescope. Our
sample consists of 24 nearby SNe Ia at redshift < 0.025. We are able to confirm
that no plateau exists in the Ks band for most normal SNe Ia. SNe Ia with
broader optical light curves at peak tend to have a higher average brightness
on the plateau in J and H, most likely due to a shallower decline in the
preceding 100 d. SNe Ia that are more luminous at peak also show a steeper
decline during the plateau phase in H. We compare our data to state-of-the-art
radiative transfer models of nebular SNe Ia in the near-infrared. We find good
agreement with the sub-Mch model that has reduced non-thermal ionisation rates,
but no physical justification for reducing these rates has yet been proposed.
An analysis of the spectral evolution during the plateau demonstrates that the
ratio of [Fe II] to [Fe III] contribution in a near-infrared filter determines
the light curve evolution in said filter. We find that overluminous SNe decline
slower during the plateau than expected from the trend seen for normal SNe IaComment: 17 pages, 8 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA
Reciprocity as a foundation of financial economics
This paper argues that the subsistence of the fundamental theorem of contemporary financial mathematics is the ethical concept ‘reciprocity’. The argument is based on identifying an equivalence between the contemporary, and ostensibly ‘value neutral’, Fundamental Theory of Asset Pricing with theories of mathematical probability that emerged in the seventeenth century in the context of the ethical assessment of commercial contracts in a framework of Aristotelian ethics. This observation, the main claim of the paper, is justified on the basis of results from the Ultimatum Game and is analysed within a framework of Pragmatic philosophy. The analysis leads to the explanatory hypothesis that markets are centres of communicative action with reciprocity as a rule of discourse. The purpose of the paper is to reorientate financial economics to emphasise the objectives of cooperation and social cohesion and to this end, we offer specific policy advice
Reporting of The CONSORT extension for Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomised Trials: Extension of the CONSORT 2010 statement with explanation and elaboration
Keck Infrared Transient Survey I: Survey Description and Data Release 1
We present the Keck Infrared Transient Survey (KITS), a NASA Key Strategic
Mission Support program to obtain near-infrared (NIR) spectra of astrophysical
transients of all types, and its first data release, consisting of 105 NIR
spectra of 50 transients. Such a data set is essential as we enter a new era of
IR astronomy with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the upcoming Nancy
Grace Roman Space Telescope (Roman). NIR spectral templates will be essential
to search JWST images for stellar explosions of the first stars and to plan an
effective Roma} SN Ia cosmology survey, both key science objectives for mission
success. Between 2022 February and 2023 July, we systematically obtained 274
NIR spectra of 146 astronomical transients, representing a significant increase
in the number of available NIR spectra in the literature. The first data
release includes data from the 2022A semester. We systematically observed three
samples: a flux-limited sample that includes all transients 17 mag in a red
optical band (usually ZTF r or ATLAS o bands); a volume-limited sample
including all transients within redshift ( Mpc); and
an SN Ia sample targeting objects at phases and light-curve parameters that had
scant existing NIR data in the literature. The flux-limited sample is 39%
complete (60% excluding SNe Ia), while the volume-limited sample is 54%
complete and is 79% complete to . All completeness numbers will rise
with the inclusion of data from other telescopes in future data releases.
Transient classes observed include common Type Ia and core-collapse supernovae,
tidal disruption events (TDEs), luminous red novae, and the newly categorized
hydrogen-free/helium-poor interacting Type Icn supernovae. We describe our
observing procedures and data reduction using Pypeit, which requires minimal
human interaction to ensure reproducibility
Mission impossible? Assessing the veracity of a mental health problem as result of a road traffic accident: a preliminary review of UK experts’ practices
The number of people claiming for personal injury after being involved in a road traffic accident (RTA) in the UK continues to soar. In April 2015, the UK Government intervened to implement measures aimed at reducing the prevalence of fraud within such personal injury claims. However, these reforms did not include claims for mental disorder that arise because of a RTA despite being responsible for substantially larger payouts in comparison with claims for whiplash. The present study examines the assessment practice for detecting fraudulent claims of this nature using a mixed methods survey analysing UK medico-legal professionals’ assessment methodologies (N = 37). The findings suggest comprehensively that assessment practices in this field are idiosyncratic. The findings evidence limitations in all aspects of the assessment process from medico-legal assessors being asked to undertake examinations without the presence of medical records to 44% of examiners being unaware of the three types of malingering. The article concludes with recommendations for improving both assessments and the assessment process for assessing RTA claimants in the UK
Parental education and perception of outdoor playing time for preschoolers
Abstract Aim: The objective of this study was to analyze whether or not socioeconomic positions influence outdoor playtime during the week (WK) and on the weekends (WEND). Methods: The sample consisted of 485 (girls; n=223) healthy preschoolers, aged from 3 to 6 years, enrolled in kindergartens from the metropolitan area of Porto, Portugal. Physical Activity (PA) was assessed for 7 consecutive days with an accelerometer. The time playing outdoors during the WK or the WEND was reported by parents. Anthropometric data (weight and height) was collected following standardized protocols. Socioeconomic position was assessed by Parental Education (PE), according to the Portuguese education system. Results: We found differences in time spent playing outdoors either for the WK or WEND, but not for Total PA (TPA), in both sexes. However, regression analysis showed that after age adjustment, BMI and TPA for both sexes, we only found significant associations between low PE (LPE) and high PE (HPE) groups on WK or WEND. However, we found no statistically significant association for boys on the WK (p=0.06). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that socioeconomic position can influence the children’s time spent in outdoor activities, especially on the weekends. This may have implications for future interventions with this age group
- …