436 research outputs found
The ultimate tactics of self-referential systems
Mathematics is usually regarded as a kind of language. The essential behavior
of physical phenomena can be expressed by mathematical laws, providing
descriptions and predictions. In the present essay I argue that, although
mathematics can be seen, in a first approach, as a language, it goes beyond
this concept. I conjecture that mathematics presents two extreme features,
denoted here by {\sl irreducibility} and {\sl insaturation}, representing
delimiters for self-referentiality. These features are then related to physical
laws by realizing that nature is a self-referential system obeying bounds
similar to those respected by mathematics. Self-referential systems can only be
autonomous entities by a kind of metabolism that provides and sustains such an
autonomy. A rational mind, able of consciousness, is a manifestation of the
self-referentiality of the Universe. Hence mathematics is here proposed to go
beyond language by actually representing the most fundamental existence
condition for self-referentiality. This idea is synthesized in the form of a
principle, namely, that {\sl mathematics is the ultimate tactics of
self-referential systems to mimic themselves}. That is, well beyond an
effective language to express the physical world, mathematics uncovers a deep
manifestation of the autonomous nature of the Universe, wherein the human brain
is but an instance.Comment: 9 pages. This essay received the 4th. Prize in the 2015 FQXi essay
contest: "Trick or Truth: the Mysterious Connection Between Physics and
Mathematics
The Wasteland of Random Supergravities
We show that in a general \cal{N} = 1 supergravity with N \gg 1 scalar
fields, an exponentially small fraction of the de Sitter critical points are
metastable vacua. Taking the superpotential and Kahler potential to be random
functions, we construct a random matrix model for the Hessian matrix, which is
well-approximated by the sum of a Wigner matrix and two Wishart matrices. We
compute the eigenvalue spectrum analytically from the free convolution of the
constituent spectra and find that in typical configurations, a significant
fraction of the eigenvalues are negative. Building on the Tracy-Widom law
governing fluctuations of extreme eigenvalues, we determine the probability P
of a large fluctuation in which all the eigenvalues become positive. Strong
eigenvalue repulsion makes this extremely unlikely: we find P \propto exp(-c
N^p), with c, p being constants. For generic critical points we find p \approx
1.5, while for approximately-supersymmetric critical points, p \approx 1.3. Our
results have significant implications for the counting of de Sitter vacua in
string theory, but the number of vacua remains vast.Comment: 39 pages, 9 figures; v2: fixed typos, added refs and clarification
A Variational Method in Out of Equilibrium Physical Systems
A variational principle is further developed for out of equilibrium dynamical
systems by using the concept of maximum entropy. With this new formulation it
is obtained a set of two first-order differential equations, revealing the same
formal symplectic structure shared by classical mechanics, fluid mechanics and
thermodynamics. In particular, it is obtained an extended equation of motion
for a rotating dynamical system, from where it emerges a kind of topological
torsion current of the form , with and
denoting components of the vector potential (gravitational or/and
electromagnetic) and is the angular velocity of the accelerated frame.
In addition, it is derived a special form of Umov-Poynting's theorem for
rotating gravito-electromagnetic systems, and obtained a general condition of
equilibrium for a rotating plasma. The variational method is then applied to
clarify the working mechanism of some particular devices, such as the Bennett
pinch and vacuum arcs, to calculate the power extraction from an hurricane, and
to discuss the effect of transport angular momentum on the radiactive heating
of planetary atmospheres. This development is seen to be advantageous and opens
options for systematic improvements.Comment: 22 pages, 1 figure, submitted to review, added one referenc
Palpitations following regular ibuprofen dosing in a 13-year-old girl: a case report
Abstract Introduction The sensation of palpitations may either be the initial or the only symptom of cardiac arrhythmia. We describe a case of an apparent clear temporal relationship between standard ibuprofen dosing and palpitations. A review of the medical literature revealed this to be, to the best of our knowledge, the first reported case of this type. Case presentation A 13-year-old Caucasian girl initially presented to our clinic with hamstring tendinitis. She was commenced on a medication regimen of paracetamol and ibuprofen. After the third ibuprofen dose, she experienced palpitations. These were associated with lower chest and/or upper abdominal discomfort, and a feeling of being hot and sweaty. Her symptoms ceased upon the cessation of ibuprofen therapy. Conclusion Cardiac arrhythmia is a potentially fatal disorder that may exhibit heart palpitations as its initial (or only) symptom. The prompt recognition of the cause of the symptom can reduce mortality and morbidity associated with any underlying pathological processes. There is a need to investigate cases of recurrent palpitations so as to exclude underlying structural cardiac pathology and/or abnormal cardiac rhythm.</p
Connecting the Holographic and Wilsonian Renormalization Groups
Inspired by the AdS/CFT correspondence, we develop an explicit formal duality
between the planar limit of a d-dimensional gauge theory and a classical field
theory in a (d+1)-dimensional anti-de Sitter space. The key ingredient is the
identification of fields in AdS with generalized Hubbard-Stratonovich
transforms of single-trace couplings of the QFT. We show that the Wilsonian
renormalization group flow of these transformed couplings matches the
holographic (Hamilton-Jacobi) flow of bulk fields along the radial direction in
AdS. This result allows one to outline an AdS/CFT dictionary that does not rely
on string theory.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure; metadata modified in v2; added references and
minor changes in v3; v4 as published in JHE
Longitudinal impact of process-oriented guided inquiry learning on the attitudes, self-efficacy and experiences of pre-medical chemistry students
A follow-up study was conducted with foundation-year chemistry students who were taught in an
inquiry- and role-based, small-group active learning environment in order to evaluate their attitudes,
experiences and self-efficacy during pre-medical chemistry courses. The study adopted a mixedmethods research design that involved both experimental and comparison groups. Using the CAEQ
(Chemistry Attitudes and Experiences Questionnaire) and the ASCI v2 (Attitude toward the Study of
Chemistry Inventory), the findings of this study indicated that inquiry-based chemistry learning
experience improves the students’ intellectual accessibility and emotional satisfaction as well as
develops their self-efficacy levels while pursuing intensive pre-medical courses in chemistry. The
results of the qualitative data analyses using a course experience questionnaire indicated that the
process-oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) experience helped the students succeed in rigorous
pre-medical chemistry courses and gained some process skills required in the medical programme as
listed by the AAMC (American Association of Medical Colleges)
Motion robust MR fingerprinting scan to image neonates with prenatal opioid exposure
Background: A noninvasive and sensitive imaging tool is needed to assess the
fast-evolving baby brain. However, using MRI to study non-sedated babies faces
roadblocks, including high scan failure rates due to subjects motion and the
lack of quantitative measures for assessing potential developmental delays.
This feasibility study explores whether MR Fingerprinting scans can provide
motion-robust and quantitative brain tissue measurements for non-sedated
infants with prenatal opioid exposure, presenting a viable alternative to
clinical MR scans. Assessment: MRF image quality was compared to pediatric MRI
scans using a fully crossed, multiple reader multiple case study. The
quantitative T1 and T2 values were used to assess brain tissue changes between
babies younger than one month and babies between one and two months.
Statistical Tests: Generalized estimating equations (GEE) model was performed
to test the significant difference of the T1 and T2 values from eight white
matter regions of babies under one month and those are older. MRI and MRF image
quality were assessed using Gwets second order auto-correlation coefficient
(AC2) with its confidence levels. We used the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test to
assess the difference in proportions between MRF and MRI for all features and
stratified by the type of features. Results: In infants under one month of age,
the T1 and T2 values are significantly higher (p<0.005) compared to those
between one and two months. A multiple-reader and multiple-case study showed
superior image quality ratings in anatomical features from the MRF images than
the MRI images. Conclusions: This study suggested that the MR Fingerprinting
scans offer a motion-robust and efficient method for non-sedated infants,
delivering superior image quality than clinical MRI scans and additionally
providing quantitative measures to assess brain development
Breast MRI and tumour biology predict axillary lymph node response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer
Partition Functions for Maxwell Theory on the Five-torus and for the Fivebrane on S1XT5
We compute the partition function of five-dimensional abelian gauge theory on
a five-torus T5 with a general flat metric using the Dirac method of quantizing
with constraints. We compare this with the partition function of a single
fivebrane compactified on S1 times T5, which is obtained from the six-torus
calculation of Dolan and Nappi. The radius R1 of the circle S1 is set to the
dimensionful gauge coupling constant g^2= 4\pi^2 R1. We find the two partition
functions are equal only in the limit where R1 is small relative to T5, a limit
which removes the Kaluza-Klein modes from the 6d sum. This suggests the 6d
N=(2,0) tensor theory on a circle is an ultraviolet completion of the 5d gauge
theory, rather than an exact quantum equivalence.Comment: v4, 37 pages, published versio
Synergies for Improving Oil Palm Production and Forest Conservation in Floodplain Landscapes
Lowland tropical forests are increasingly threatened with conversion to oil palm as global demand and high profit drives crop expansion throughout the world’s tropical regions. Yet, landscapes are not homogeneous and regional constraints dictate land suitability for this crop. We conducted a regional study to investigate spatial and economic components of forest conversion to oil palm within a tropical floodplain in the Lower Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The Kinabatangan ecosystem harbours significant biodiversity with globally threatened species but has suffered forest loss and fragmentation. We mapped the oil palm and forested landscapes (using object-based-image analysis, classification and regression tree analysis and on-screen digitising of high-resolution imagery) and undertook economic modelling. Within the study region (520,269 ha), 250,617 ha is cultivated with oil palm with 77% having high Net-Present-Value (NPV) estimates (637/ha?yr); but 20.5% is under-producing. In fact 6.3% (15,810 ha) of oil palm is commercially redundant (with negative NPV of -65/ha?yr) due to palm mortality from flood inundation. These areas would have been important riparian or flooded forest types. Moreover, 30,173 ha of unprotected forest remain and despite its value for connectivity and biodiversity 64% is allocated for future oil palm. However, we estimate that at minimum 54% of these forests are unsuitable for this crop due to inundation events. If conversion to oil palm occurs, we predict a further 16,207 ha will become commercially redundant. This means that over 32,000 ha of forest within the floodplain would have been converted for little or no financial gain yet with significant cost to the ecosystem. Our findings have globally relevant implications for similar floodplain landscapes undergoing forest transformation to agriculture such as oil palm. Understanding landscape level constraints to this crop, and transferring these into policy and practice, may provide conservation and economic opportunities within these seemingly high opportunity cost landscapes
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