3,873 research outputs found
Supergravity Black Holes and Billiards and Liouville integrable structure of dual Borel algebras
In this paper we show that the supergravity equations describing both cosmic
billiards and a large class of black-holes are, generically, both Liouville
integrable as a consequence of the same universal mechanism. This latter is
provided by the Liouville integrable Poissonian structure existing on the dual
Borel algebra B_N of the simple Lie algebra A_{N-1}. As a by product we derive
the explicit integration algorithm associated with all symmetric spaces U/H^{*}
relevant to the description of time-like and space-like p-branes. The most
important consequence of our approach is the explicit construction of a
complete set of conserved involutive hamiltonians h_{\alpha} that are
responsible for integrability and provide a new tool to classify flows and
orbits. We believe that these will prove a very important new tool in the
analysis of supergravity black holes and billiards.Comment: 48 pages, 7 figures, LaTex; V1: misprints corrected, two references
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Virtual reality for the assessment of everyday cognitive functions in older adults: an evaluation of the virtual reality action test and two interaction devices in a 91-year-old woman
Performance-based functional tests for the evaluation of daily living activities demonstrate strong psychometric properties and solve many of the limitations associated with self- and informant-report questionnaires. Virtual reality (VR) technology, which has gained interest as an effective medium for administering interventions in the context of healthcare, has the potential to minimize the time-demands associated with the administration and scoring of performance-based assessments. To date, efforts to develop VR systems for assessment of everyday function in older adults generally have relied on non-immersive systems. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of an immersive VR environment for the assessment of everyday function in older adults. We present a detailed case report of an elderly woman who performed an everyday activity in an immersive VR context (Virtual Reality Action Test) with two different types of interaction devices (controller vs. sensor). VR performance was compared to performance of the same task with real objects outside of the VR system (Real Action Test). Comparisons were made on several dimensions, including (1) quality of task performance (e.g., order of task steps, errors, use and speed of hand movements); (2) subjective impression (e.g., attitudes), and (3) physiological markers of stress. Subjective impressions of performance with the different controllers also were compared for presence, cybersickness, and usability. Results showed that the participant was capable of using controllers and sensors to manipulate objects in a purposeful and goal-directed manner in the immersive VR paradigm. She performed the everyday task similarly across all conditions. She reported no cybersickness and even indicated that interactions in the VR environment were pleasant and relaxing. Thus, immersive VR is a feasible approach for function assessment even with older adults who might have very limited computer experience, no prior VR exposure, average educational experiences, and mild cognitive difficulties. Because of inherent limitations of single case reports (e.g., unknown generalizability, potential practice effects, etc.), group studies are needed to establish the full psychometric properties of the Virtual Reality Action Test
Sequence randomness and polymer collapse transitions
Contrary to expectations based on Harris' criterion, chain disorder with
frustration can modify the universality class of scaling at the theta
transition of heteropolymers. This is shown for a model with random two-body
potentials in 2D on the basis of exact enumeration and accurate Monte Carlo
results. When frustration grows beyond a certain finite threshold, the
temperature below which disorder becomes relevant coincides with the theta one
and scaling exponents definitely start deviating from those valid for
homopolymers.Comment: 4 pages, 4 eps figure
Bianchi Type I Cosmologies in Arbitrary Dimensional Dilaton Gravities
We study the low energy string effective action with an exponential type
dilaton potential and vanishing torsion in a Bianchi type I space-time
geometry. In the Einstein and string frames the general solution of the
gravitational field equations can be expressed in an exact parametric form.
Depending on the values of some parameters the obtained cosmological models can
be generically divided into three classes, leading to both singular and
nonsingular behaviors. The effect of the potential on the time evolution of the
mean anisotropy parameter is also considered in detail, and it is shown that a
Bianchi type I Universe isotropizes only in the presence of a dilaton field
potential or a central deficit charge.Comment: REVTEX, 10 pages, 8 figure
Tits-Satake projections of homogeneous special geometries
We organize the homogeneous special geometries, describing as well the
couplings of D=6, 5, 4 and 3 supergravities with 8 supercharges, in a small
number of universality classes. This relates manifolds on which similar types
of dynamical solutions can exist. The mathematical ingredient is the
Tits-Satake projection of real simple Lie algebras, which we extend to all
solvable Lie algebras occurring in these homogeneous special geometries. Apart
from some exotic cases all the other, 'very special', homogeneous manifolds can
be grouped in seven universality classes. The organization of these classes,
which capture the essential features of their basic dynamics, commutes with the
r- and c-map. Different members are distinguished by different choices of the
paint group, a notion discovered in the context of cosmic billiard dynamics of
non maximally supersymmetric supergravities. We comment on the usefulness of
this organization in universality classes both in relation with cosmic billiard
dynamics and with configurations of branes and orbifolds defining special
geometry backgrounds.Comment: 65 pages, LaTeX; v2: added reference; v3: small corrections, section
3.3 modifie
Anisotropic Four-Dimensional NS-NS String Cosmology
An anisotropic (Bianchi type I) cosmology is considered in the
four-dimensional NS-NS sector of low-energy effective string theory coupled to
a dilaton and an axion-like -field within a de Sitter-Einstein frame
background. The time evolution of this Universe is discussed in both the
Einstein and string frames.Comment: Revtex, 5 pages, 3 figure
Non-supersymmetric extremal multicenter black holes with superpotentials
Using the superpotential approach we generalize Denef's method of deriving
and solving first-order equations describing multicenter extremal black holes
in four-dimensional N = 2 supergravity to allow non-supersymmetric solutions.
We illustrate the general results with an explicit example of the stu model.Comment: 17 pages, v2: some clarifications adde
Theta-point universality of polyampholytes with screened interactions
By an efficient algorithm we evaluate exactly the disorder-averaged
statistics of globally neutral self-avoiding chains with quenched random charge
in monomer i and nearest neighbor interactions on
square (22 monomers) and cubic (16 monomers) lattices. At the theta transition
in 2D, radius of gyration, entropic and crossover exponents are well compatible
with the universality class of the corresponding transition of homopolymers.
Further strong indication of such class comes from direct comparison with the
corresponding annealed problem. In 3D classical exponents are recovered. The
percentage of charge sequences leading to folding in a unique ground state
approaches zero exponentially with the chain length.Comment: 15 REVTEX pages. 4 eps-figures . 1 tabl
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