691 research outputs found

    Families and states: citizenship and demography in the Greco-Roman world

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    This paper investigates the interrelationship between states and families. At different levels of organization, both play a large role in shaping the context in which individuals live their lives. Yet when it comes to understanding key demographic events in the ancient Mediterranean world – birth, marriage, migration, family structures, and death – they are hardly brought together. In this paper, I argue that Greek and Roman demographic patterns were tightly connected with their own specific political-institutional frameworks that developed over the course of (city-)state formation processes. This interaction was shaped in particular by the emergence of diverging notions of citizenship in the Greek and the Roman world, which went hand in hand with the installment of disparate incentives and disincentives to certain demographic behaviors. Differing citizenship criteria, in other words, invoked different demographic behaviors. A ‘political demography’ perspective, therefore, helps us understand how and why Greek and Roman individuals selected their marriage candidates on different criteria, and sheds light on divergences in their respective emphases on extended family ties.

    Exploiting Features and Logits in Heterogeneous Federated Learning

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    Due to the rapid growth of IoT and artificial intelligence, deploying neural networks on IoT devices is becoming increasingly crucial for edge intelligence. Federated learning (FL) facilitates the management of edge devices to collaboratively train a shared model while maintaining training data local and private. However, a general assumption in FL is that all edge devices are trained on the same machine learning model, which may be impractical considering diverse device capabilities. For instance, less capable devices may slow down the updating process because they struggle to handle large models appropriate for ordinary devices. In this paper, we propose a novel data-free FL method that supports heterogeneous client models by managing features and logits, called Felo; and its extension with a conditional VAE deployed in the server, called Velo. Felo averages the mid-level features and logits from the clients at the server based on their class labels to provide the average features and logits, which are utilized for further training the client models. Unlike Felo, the server has a conditional VAE in Velo, which is used for training mid-level features and generating synthetic features according to the labels. The clients optimize their models based on the synthetic features and the average logits. We conduct experiments on two datasets and show satisfactory performances of our methods compared with the state-of-the-art methods

    A New Class of Materials Based on Nanoporous High Entropy Alloys with Outstanding Properties

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    Nanoporous metals with a random, bicontinuous structure of both pores and ligaments exhibit many unique mechanical properties, but their technical applications are often limited by their intrinsic brittleness under tensile strain triggered by fracture of the weakest ligaments. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to study the mechanical behavior and thermal stability of two different bicontinuous nanoporous high entropy alloys, Al0.1CoCrFeNi and NbMoTaW. To isolate the properties related to the nanoporous nature of our samples, we also studied the corresponding bulk and nanocrystalline systems. The results demonstrate that the specific modulus of nanoporous HEAs are 2 to 3 times greater than that of single element nanoporous materials with specific strength reaching values 5 to 10 times higher, comparable to bulk metals with the highest specific strength. Bicontinuous HEAs also displayed excellent resistance to thermal degradation as evidenced by the absence of coarsening ligaments up to temperatures of 1273 K which ensures the durability and reliability in high-temperature applications. The findings uncover unprecedented mechanical and thermal properties of bicontinuous nanoporous high entropy alloys, paving the way for their promising utilization in advanced engineering and structural applications

    Understanding and Preventing Falls: Perspectives of First Responders and Older Adults

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    OBJECTIVE. The objectives of this study were to identify characteristics of older adult fallers in a local community in Marin County, California, examine the perceptions of older adults who contacted a local fire district after a fall, examine the perceptions of first responders from a local fire district regarding falls and fall prevention, explore the degree of depression in older adult fallers, and identify strategies to prevent falls in older adults. METHODS. This research study was an exploratory and retrospective descriptive study that utilized a mixed-method design. The researchers coded narratives from Patient Care Report (PCRs) provided by the fire district and also quantitatively analyzed PCRs to identify characteristics of older adult fallers. Researchers also qualitatively analyzed data gathered from focus groups with older adults and first responders and from phone interviews with community-dwelling older adults to understand their experiences regarding falls and fall prevention. RESULTS. Findings revealed that the majority of fallers were female, at an average age of 81 years old, living at home and alone during the fall. Older adult participants associated falls with negative emotions and expressed a strong desire to maintain their independence despite experiencing falls and fall injuries. First responder participants experienced challenges when communicating with older adult fallers due to cognitive and psychosocial factors. The lack of coordination of services with care facility staff also posed a challenge for first responder participants. CONCLUSION. As the older adult population increases, more older adults will fall and require emergency care from first responders. A collaboration between first responders and occupational therapists to develop and implement effective fall prevention programs for the community can potentially reduce falls and fall-related injuries and costs and improve the health and well-being of older adults

    Bond option pricing under the CKLS model

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    Consider the European call option written on a zero coupon bond. Suppose the call option has maturity T and strike price K while the bond has maturity S T . We propose a numerical method for evaluating the call option price under the Chan, Karolyi, Longstaff and Sanders (CKLS) model in which the increment of the short rate over a time interval of length dt , apart from being independent and stationary, is having the quadratic-normal distribution with mean zero and variance dt. The key steps in the numerical procedure include (i) the discretization of the CKLS model; (ii) the quadratic approximation of the time-T bond price as a function of the short rate rT at time T; and (iii) the application of recursive formulas to find the moments of r(t+dt) given the value of r(t). The numerical results thus found show that the option price decreases as the parameter in the CKLS model increases, and the variation of the option price is slight when the underlying distribution of the increment departs from the normal distribution

    Investigation of the nature of the oxidant (selective and unselective) in/on a vanadyl pyrophosphate catalyst

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    The anaerobic oxidation of CO by a (VO)2P2O7 catalyst has been used to investigate the nature of the oxidant (selective and unselective) in/on that material. Three peaks were observed in the rate of production of CO2 - at 993, 1073 and 1093 K. The temperature of the maximum in the rate of production of the first CO2 peak and the amount of oxygen associated with it are the same as that observed in the selective anaerobic oxidation of n-butane to butene and butadiene, but-1-ene to butadiene and furan and but-1,3-diene to dihydrofuran, furan and maleic anhydride. The interaction of CO with the (VO)2P2O7 catalyst forming CO2 at 993 K is therefore concluded to be with the selective oxygen. The total amount of oxygen removed by the CO from the (VO)2P2O7 lattice (>5 monolayers) is about six times greater than that of the selective oxygen. The higher activation energies for the removal of the unselective oxygen accounts for the high selectivities (~80%) encountered commercially for the anaerobic oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride. Re-oxidation of the CO reduced (VO)2P2O7 by N2O quantitatively replaces all of the lattice oxygen removed by the formation of CO2, but does not restore the original morphology

    Predicting Coupled Electron and Phonon Transport Using Steepest-Entropy-Ascent Quantum Thermodynamics

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    The current state of the art for determining thermoelectric properties is limited to the investigation of electrons or phonons without including the inherent electron-phonon coupling that is in all materials. This gives rise to limitations in accurately calculating base material properties that are in good agreement with experimental data. Steepest-entropy-ascent quantum thermodynamics is a general non-equilibrium thermodynamic ensemble framework that provides a general equation of motion for non-equilibrium system state evolution. This framework utilizes the electron and phonon density of states as input to compute material properties, while taking into account the electron-phonon coupling. It is able to span across multiple spatial and temporal scales in a single analysis. Any system's thermoelectric properties can, therefore, be attained provided the accurately determined density of states is available.Comment: Supplementary Materials Section is the last two pages of the manuscrip

    On the mechanism of the selective oxidation of n-butane, but-1-ene and but-1,3-diene to maleic anhydride over a vanadyl pyrophosphate catalyst

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    The mechanism of the selective partial oxidation of n-butane, but-1-ene and but-1,3-diene over a vanadyl phosphate catalyst has been investigated by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and by anaerobic temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO). TPD showed lattice oxygen to be desorbed in two states at 998 and 1023 K. The anaerobic TPO of n-butane produced butene and butadiene at 1020 K; anaerobic TPO of but-1-ene produced butadiene and furan at 990 K and dehydrofuran at 965 K, while anaerobic TPO of but-1,3-diene produced dehydrofuran at 970 K, furan at 1002 K and maleic anhydride at 1148 K. The total amount of oxygen removed from the lattice in these anaerobic selective partial oxidations was the same as that evolved from the vanadyl phosphate catalyst by TPD. This, and the fact that the selective oxidation reactions occurred at the same temperature at which the oxygen evolves from the lattice, suggests that the lattice oxygen is uniquely selective when it appears at the surface of the catalyst. (Under identical conditions of flow rate, weight of catalyst, heating rate etc., the reaction of n-butane or of but-1,3-diene in air produced only CO2 and H2O.

    Estudio de un producto auxiliar no iónico como alternativa al electrolito en la tintura de la lana

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    Il s’agit d’une étude sur l’application d’un nouveau produit auxiliaire de type non ionique, proposé pour remplacer l’électrolyte dans la teinture de la laine. En outre, à partir des études menées par les auteurs sur des applications enzymatiques dans la teinture de la laine, ils ont essayé d’établir les effets synergiques qui résulteraient éventuellement de l’utilisation d’une enzyme avec le nouveau produit auxiliaire de type non ionique. Ils ont ensuite comparé les résultats d’absorption de colorant, les différences de couleur sur les articles teints et certaines solidités entre les teintures à basse température effectuées selon un système conventionnel comme l’électrolyte et les teintures où l’électrolyte est remplacée par le nouveau produit non ionique, une enzyme ou les deux en même temps. Ils ont aussi déterminé certains paramètres écologiques (DQO, DBO, pH et conductivité) dans les bains résiduels des différentes teintures étudiées.El presente trabajo es un estudio de aplicación de un nuevo producto auxiliar de tipo no iónico que se propone como sustituto del electrolito en la tintura de la lana. Además, tomando como base los estudios llevados a cabo por los autores sobre aplicaciones enzimáticas en la tintura de lana, se intentan establecer los posibles efectos sinérgicos al utilizar un enzima junto con el nuevo producto auxiliar de tipo no iónico. Se comparan los resultados de absorción de colorante, diferencias de color en los artículos teñidos, así como algunas solideces entre: tinturas a baja temperatura efectuadas según un sistema convencional con electrolito y tinturas en las que se sustituye el electrolito por el nuevo auxiliar no iónico, por un enzima o por ambos simultáneamente. También se han determinado algunos parámetros ecológicos (DQO, DBO, pH y conductividad) en los baños residuales de las diferentes tinturas estudiadas.This paper is an application study of a new auxiliary product non-ionic type, proposed as an electrolyte substitutive in wool dyeing. This paper intends to establish the possible synergetic effects on using an enzyme together with the new non-ionic auxiliary product. Results of dye absorption, colour differences in the dyed samples, and some colour fastness are compared between a conventional dyeing system with electrolyte and dyeing systems in which the electrolyte is substituted by the new non-ionic auxiliary, by an enzyme or by both simultaneously. Some ecological parameters (COD, BOD, pH and conductivity) have been determined in the residual baths of the different dyeings examined

    Metasomatism in the Ultrahigh-pressure Svartberget Garnet-peridotite (Western Gneiss Region, Norway): Implications for the Transport of Crust-derived Fluids within the Mantle

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    Garnet-peridotites often contain veins or layers of pyroxenite and eclogite of uncertain origin. We investigate the Svartberget garnet-peridotite from the northernmost ultrahigh-pressure domain in the Western Gneiss Region (WGR) in Norway and show that the observed layering represents a sequence of metasomatic reaction zones developed along a fracture system. From the garnet-peridotite wall-rock to the fractures the following sequential reaction zones are recognized: clinohumite bearing garnet-peridotite, olivine-garnet-websterite, garnet-websterite, orthopyroxene-phlogopite-garnet-websterite, coarse-grained phlogopite-garnet-websterite, phlogopite-garnet-websterite, phlogopite-free garnet-websterite, inclusion-rich garnetite, garnetite, eclogite, retrograde omphacitite and felsic amphibole-pegmatite. The MgO, FeO and CaO contents generally decrease from the pristine peridotite towards the most metasomatized samples, with an associated increase in SiO2 and Al2O3. Concentrations of fluid-mobile elements increase from the most pristine peridotite towards the garnetite, whereas Ni and Cr decrease from ∼700 to ∼10 ppm and ∼2600 to ∼25 ppm, respectively. Changes in mineral mode are accompanied by changes in mineral chemistry. All minerals display decreasing Mg# and Cr content with degree of metasomatism, whereas Na2O concentrations in amphibole, and most notably in clinopyroxene, increase from 0·2 to 3·0 and from 0·2 to 8 wt %, respectively. The trivalent ions Cr and Al display complex intra-granular vein-like or patchy zoning in garnet and pyroxenes that may be characteristic of metasomatized peridotites. Dating by the U-Pb method suggests metamorphic growth of zircon in the garnetite at 397·2 ± 1·2 Ma, formation of leucosomes in host-rock gneiss at 391·2 ± 0·8 Ma, and amphibole-pegmatite in the core of a garnetite vein at 390·1 ± 0·9 Ma. Initial 87Sr/86Sr values calculated at 397 Ma are elevated (∼0·723) in the most pristine peridotites and increase to ∼0·743 in the most metasomatized samples. The initial 87Sr/86Sr values of both the host gneiss and its leucosomes are also elevated (0·734-0·776), which suggests that the leucosomes found in the gneisses are the most likely, now solidified, remnants of the reactive agent that metasomatized the Svartberget peridotite. A scenario is envisaged in which material derived from the country rock gneiss was the source of the metasomatic addition of elements to the peridotites and the gneisses acted as the host for all elements removed from the peridotite. The Svartberget peridotite may provide an important analogue of how felsic, slab-derived material interacts with the overlying mantle wedge peridotite in regions of arc magma generatio
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