Existential Neuropsychology: A Science of Making Values

In neurorehabilitation and restoration of motor functions, there are Vygotsky–Luria’s line and Leontiev–Zaporozhets’ line that are obviously connected, but their connection isn’t articulated enough. Their point of convergence dates back to mid 1940s, but since then the development of the two lines was largely parallel. And the missing link is Nikolay Bernshtein’s non-classical biology of purposeful activity. Both lines are intrinsically based on his predictive explanatory framework, with the central role of task set in movement construction, which, in turn, determines the hierarchy of levels where backward reafference (‘sensory corrections’) takes place. Current neurorehabilitation disregards the Bernsteinian idea of the central role of values and meanings in the recovery of movements, which opposes neurorehabilitation as training, or instruction, to neurorehabilitation as guidance, the latter relevant to Leontiev’s ‘personal meaning’ problem. Neurorehabilitation as guidance is generation of the personal meaning, or ‘making values’, allowing to overcome bounds perceived as insuperable, the idea that brings it together with existential psychology and existential psychotherapy. Keywords: rehabilitation, task set, value, image of the desired future, physiology of activity, existential neuropsychology, personal meanin

Tropical Determinant of Integer Doubly-Stochastic Matrices

Let D(m,n) be the set of all the integer points in the m-dilate of the Birkhoff polytope of doubly-stochastic n by n matrices. In this paper we find the sharp upper bound on the tropical determinant over the set D(m,n). We define a version of the tropical determinant where the maximum over all the transversals in a matrix is replaced with the minimum and then find the sharp lower bound on thus defined tropical determinant over D(m,n).Comment: 18 page

Advanced hybrid nonmetallic composite reinforcement for concrete structures

During the last decades, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcing bars for concrete structure has been extensively investigated and a number of FRP bars became commercially available. However, major shortcomings of the existing FRP bars are its low elastic modulus and high initial cost compared to conventional steel bars. The possibility to obtain a hybrid composite reinforcement (HCR) with increased performance based on glass and carbon fibers (GCFRP) is considered. The optimal content of carbon fibers in the amount of 6.3 − 6.5 % of the mass of the HCR was established. Further increase in the carbon fiber content gives a slight improvement in physical and technical characteristics, which is not comparable to the increase in the cost of the material. The manufacturing technology of HCR has been developed. The effect of hybridization on tensile properties of FRP bars were obtained by comparing the results of tensile test with those of non-hybrid GFRP bars. Operation regularities of HCR in the bent concrete beams are established. HCR can increase the stiffness of concrete beams by 15 % and crack resistance by 12 % in comparison with glass composite reinforcement. Dependences for predicting the HCR elasticity modulus are established. Physical and technical characteristics of HCR, including adhesion to concrete and resistance to the alkaline medium, were established. High durability of HCR for more than 50 years is experimentally shown. Experimental-industrial concrete piles, reinforced with GCFRP bars were produced and tested. For further development, new types of HCR, as well as a study of prestressed concrete structures are recommended

Intercalates and Discrepancy in Random Latin Squares

An intercalate in a Latin square is a $2\times2$ Latin subsquare. Let $N$ be the number of intercalates in a uniformly random $n\times n$ Latin square. We prove that asymptotically almost surely $N\ge\left(1-o\left(1\right)\right)\,n^{2}/4$, and that $\mathbb{E}N\le\left(1+o\left(1\right)\right)\,n^{2}/2$ (therefore asymptotically almost surely $N\le fn^{2}$ for any $f\to\infty$). This significantly improves the previous best lower and upper bounds. We also give an upper tail bound for the number of intercalates in two fixed rows of a random Latin square. In addition, we discuss a problem of Linial and Luria on low-discrepancy Latin squares

Matrix permanent and quantum entanglement of permutation invariant states

We point out that a geometric measure of quantum entanglement is related to the matrix permanent when restricted to permutation invariant states. This connection allows us to interpret the permanent as an angle between vectors. By employing a recently introduced permanent inequality by Carlen, Loss and Lieb, we can prove explicit formulas of the geometric measure for permutation invariant basis states in a simple way.Comment: 10 page

The Predictive Coding Principle and the Problem of Activity in the Contemporary Cognitive Science

In recent years, the principle predictive coding has become one of the frontiers in the contemporary cognitive science and is used to explain a growing range of cognitive functions, as well as emotions, social psychological effects, etc. Implementing the general concept of anticipation as the cornerstone of human activity, this principle echoes some ideas articulated by N. A. Bernstein in his physiology of activity in the middle of the twentieth century. For example, multilevel “sensory corrections” to the course of movement in accordance with its program, or the “image of the future”, might be compared to the “prediction error” in the perceptual image construction as described by K. Friston. Both approaches aim at explaining the self-organization of living systems. The paper discusses some possibilities of their integration and mutual enrichment.Принцип предсказывающего кодирования в современной когнитивной науке в последние годы выходит на передний план и применяется для объяснения все более широкого круга явлений познания, а также эмоций, социально-психологических феноменов и т. д. Реализуя общее представление о предвосхищении как основе активности человека, этот принцип перекликается с идеями, сформулированными в физиологии активности Н. А. Бернштейна в середине XX столетия. В частности, многоуровневые «сенсорные коррекции», вносимые в ход движения в соответствии с программой, или «образом будущего», могут быть соотнесены с «ошибкой предсказания» при построении образа восприятия в трактовке К. Фристона. Оба подхода ставят своей целью описание самоорганизации живых систем. В исследовании обсуждаются возможности их интеграции и взаимообогащения.Работа поддержана Программой фундаментальных исследований НИУ ВШЭ (2020)

Reconstructing sparticle mass spectra using hadronic decays

Most sparticle decay cascades envisaged at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) involve hadronic decays of intermediate particles. We use state-of-the art techniques based on the K⊥ jet algorithm to reconstruct the resulting hadronic final states for simulated LHC events in a number of benchmark supersymmetric scenarios. In particular, we show that a general method of selecting preferentially boosted massive particles such as W±, Z0 or Higgs bosons decaying to jets, using sub-jets found by the K⊥ algorithm, suppresses QCD backgrounds and thereby enhances the observability of signals that would otherwise be indistinct. Consequently, measurements of the supersymmetric mass spectrum at the per-cent level can be obtained from cascades including the hadronic decays of such massive intermediate bosons

An Asymptotic Expansion and Recursive Inequalities for the Monomer-Dimer Problem

Let (lambda_d)(p) be the p monomer-dimer entropy on the d-dimensional integer lattice Z^d, where p in [0,1] is the dimer density. We give upper and lower bounds for (lambda_d)(p) in terms of expressions involving (lambda_(d-1))(q). The upper bound is based on a conjecture claiming that the p monomer-dimer entropy of an infinite subset of Z^d is bounded above by (lambda_d)(p). We compute the first three terms in the formal asymptotic expansion of (lambda_d)(p) in powers of 1/d. We prove that the lower asymptotic matching conjecture is satisfied for (lambda_d)(p).Comment: 15 pages, much more about d=1,2,