428 research outputs found
A robust method for measuring the Hubble parameter
We obtain a robust, non-parametric, estimate of the Hubble constant from
galaxy linear diameters calibrated using HST Cepheid distances. Our method is
independent of the parametric form of the diameter function and the spatial
distribution of galaxies and is insensitive to Malmquist bias. We include
information on the galaxy rotation velocities; unlike Tully-Fisher, however, we
retain a fully non-parametric treatment. We find km/s/Mpc,
somewhat larger than previous results using galaxy diameters.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, Cosmic Flows Workshop, Victoria B.C. Canada, July
1999, ed. S. Courteau, M. Strauss & J. Willick, ASP conf. serie
Empirical constraints on vacuum decay in the stringy landscape
It is generally considered as self evident that the lifetime of our vacuum in
the landscape of string theory cannot be much shorter than the current age of
the universe. Here I show why this lower limit is invalid. A certain type of
``parallel universes'' is a necessary consequence of the string-landscape
dynamics and might well allow us to ``survive'' vacuum decay. As a consequence
our stringy vacuum's lifetime is empirically unconstrained and could be very
short. Based on this counter-intuitive insight I propose a novel type of
laboratory experiment that searches for an apparent violation of the
quantum-mechanical Born rule by gravitational effects on vacuum decay. If the
lifetime of our vacuum should turn out to be shorter than 6 x 10^{-13} seconds
such an experiment is sufficiently sensitive to determine its value with
state-of-the-art equipment.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, proposes a laboratory experimen
Algal growth and weathering crust state drive variability in western Greenland Ice Sheet ice albedo
One of the primary controls upon the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) is albedo, a measure of how much solar radiation that hits a surface is reflected without being absorbed. Lower-albedo snow and ice surfaces therefore warm more quickly. There is a major difference in the albedo of snow-covered versus bare-ice surfaces, but observations also show that there is substantial spatio- temporal variability of up to âŒ0.4 in bare-ice albedo. Variability in bare-ice albedo has been attributed to a number of processes including the accumulation of light-absorbing impurities (LAIs) and the changing physical properties of the near-surface ice. However, the combined impact of these processes upon albedo remains poorly constrained. Here we use field observations to show that pigmented glacier algae are ubiquitous and cause surface darkening both within and outside the south-west GrIS âdark zoneâ but that other factors including modification of the ice surface by algal bloom presence, surface topography and weathering crust state are also important in determining patterns of daily albedo variability. We further use observations from an unmanned aerial system (UAS) to examine the scale gap in albedo between ground versus remotely sensed measurements made by Sentinel-2 (S- 2) and MODIS. S-2 observations provide a highly conservative estimate of algal bloom presence because algal blooms occur in patches much smaller than the ground resolution of S-2 data. Nevertheless, the bare-ice albedo distribution at the scale of 20âmĂ20âm S-2 pixels is generally unimodal and unskewed. Conversely, bare-ice surfaces have a left-skewed albedo distribution at MODIS MOD10A1 scales. Thus, when MOD10A1 observations are used as input to energy balance modelling, meltwater production can be underestimated by âŒ2â %. Our study highlights that (1) the impact of the weathering crust state is of similar importance to the direct darkening role of light-absorbing impurities upon ice albedo and (2) there is a spatial-scale dependency in albedo measurement which reduces detection of real changes at coarser resolutions
Trialogue on the number of fundamental constants
This paper consists of three separate articles on the number of fundamental
dimensionful constants in physics. We started our debate in summer 1992 on the
terrace of the famous CERN cafeteria. In the summer of 2001 we returned to the
subject to find that our views still diverged and decided to explain our
current positions. LBO develops the traditional approach with three constants,
GV argues in favor of at most two (within superstring theory), while MJD
advocates zero.Comment: Version appearing in JHEP; 31 pages late
Agency, qualia and life: connecting mind and body biologically
Many believe that a suitably programmed computer could act for its own goals and experience feelings. I challenge this view and argue that agency, mental causation and qualia are all founded in the unique, homeostatic nature of living matter. The theory was formulated for coherence with the concept of an agent, neuroscientific data and laws of physics. By this method, I infer that a successful action is homeostatic for its agent and can be caused by a feeling - which does not motivate as a force, but as a control signal. From brain research and the locality principle of physics, I surmise that qualia are a fundamental, biological form of energy generated in specialized neurons. Subjectivity is explained as thermodynamically necessary on the supposition that, by converting action potentials to feelings, the neural cells avert damage from the electrochemical pulses. In exchange for this entropic benefit, phenomenal energy is spent as and where it is produced - which precludes the objective observation of qualia
Pirfenidone in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis:expert panel discussion on the management of drug-related adverse events
Pirfenidone is currently the only approved therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, following studies demonstrating that treatment reduces the decline in lung function and improves progression-free survival. Although generally well tolerated, a minority of patients discontinue therapy due to gastrointestinal and skin-related adverse events (AEs). This review summarizes recommendations based on existing guidelines, research evidence, and consensus opinions of expert authors, with the aim of providing practicing physicians with the specific clinical information needed to educate the patient and better manage pirfenidone-related AEs with continued pirfenidone treatment. The main recommendations to help prevent and/or mitigate gastrointestinal and skin-related AEs include taking pirfenidone during (or after) a meal, avoiding sun exposure, wearing protective clothing, and applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with high ultraviolet (UV) A and UVB protection. These measures can help optimize AE management, which is key to maintaining patients on an optimal treatment dose.Correction in: Advances in Therapy, Volume 31, Issue 5, pp 575-576 , doi: 10.1007/s12325-014-0118-8</p
Computational and Biological Analogies for Understanding Fine-Tuned Parameters in Physics
In this philosophical paper, we explore computational and biological
analogies to address the fine-tuning problem in cosmology. We first clarify
what it means for physical constants or initial conditions to be fine-tuned. We
review important distinctions such as the dimensionless and dimensional
physical constants, and the classification of constants proposed by
Levy-Leblond. Then we explore how two great analogies, computational and
biological, can give new insights into our problem. This paper includes a
preliminary study to examine the two analogies. Importantly, analogies are both
useful and fundamental cognitive tools, but can also be misused or
misinterpreted. The idea that our universe might be modelled as a computational
entity is analysed, and we discuss the distinction between physical laws and
initial conditions using algorithmic information theory. Smolin introduced the
theory of "Cosmological Natural Selection" with a biological analogy in mind.
We examine an extension of this analogy involving intelligent life. We discuss
if and how this extension could be legitimated.
Keywords: origin of the universe, fine-tuning, physical constants, initial
conditions, computational universe, biological universe, role of intelligent
life, cosmological natural selection, cosmological artificial selection,
artificial cosmogenesis.Comment: 25 pages, Foundations of Science, in pres
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