113 research outputs found
Experimental Evidence for Quantum Structure in Cognition
We proof a theorem that shows that a collection of experimental data of
membership weights of items with respect to a pair of concepts and its
conjunction cannot be modeled within a classical measure theoretic weight
structure in case the experimental data contain the effect called
overextension. Since the effect of overextension, analogue to the well-known
guppy effect for concept combinations, is abundant in all experiments testing
weights of items with respect to pairs of concepts and their conjunctions, our
theorem constitutes a no-go theorem for classical measure structure for common
data of membership weights of items with respect to concepts and their
combinations. We put forward a simple geometric criterion that reveals the non
classicality of the membership weight structure and use experimentally measured
membership weights estimated by subjects in experiments to illustrate our
geometrical criterion. The violation of the classical weight structure is
similar to the violation of the well-known Bell inequalities studied in quantum
mechanics, and hence suggests that the quantum formalism and hence the modeling
by quantum membership weights can accomplish what classical membership weights
cannot do.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure
A Quantum-Conceptual Explanation of Violations of Expected Utility in Economics
The expected utility hypothesis is one of the building blocks of classical
economic theory and founded on Savage's Sure-Thing Principle. It has been put
forward, e.g. by situations such as the Allais and Ellsberg paradoxes, that
real-life situations can violate Savage's Sure-Thing Principle and hence also
expected utility. We analyze how this violation is connected to the presence of
the 'disjunction effect' of decision theory and use our earlier study of this
effect in concept theory to put forward an explanation of the violation of
Savage's Sure-Thing Principle, namely the presence of 'quantum conceptual
thought' next to 'classical logical thought' within a double layer structure of
human thought during the decision process. Quantum conceptual thought can be
modeled mathematically by the quantum mechanical formalism, which we illustrate
by modeling the Hawaii problem situation, a well-known example of the
disjunction effect, and we show how the dynamics in the Hawaii problem
situation is generated by the whole conceptual landscape surrounding the
decision situation.Comment: 9 pages, no figure
Quantum Experimental Data in Psychology and Economics
We prove a theorem which shows that a collection of experimental data of
probabilistic weights related to decisions with respect to situations and their
disjunction cannot be modeled within a classical probabilistic weight structure
in case the experimental data contain the effect referred to as the
'disjunction effect' in psychology. We identify different experimental
situations in psychology, more specifically in concept theory and in decision
theory, and in economics (namely situations where Savage's Sure-Thing Principle
is violated) where the disjunction effect appears and we point out the common
nature of the effect. We analyze how our theorem constitutes a no-go theorem
for classical probabilistic weight structures for common experimental data when
the disjunction effect is affecting the values of these data. We put forward a
simple geometric criterion that reveals the non classicality of the considered
probabilistic weights and we illustrate our geometrical criterion by means of
experimentally measured membership weights of items with respect to pairs of
concepts and their disjunctions. The violation of the classical probabilistic
weight structure is very analogous to the violation of the well-known Bell
inequalities studied in quantum mechanics. The no-go theorem we prove in the
present article with respect to the collection of experimental data we consider
has a status analogous to the well known no-go theorems for hidden variable
theories in quantum mechanics with respect to experimental data obtained in
quantum laboratories. For this reason our analysis puts forward a strong
argument in favor of the validity of using a quantum formalism for modeling the
considered psychological experimental data as considered in this paper.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure
Classical Logical versus Quantum Conceptual Thought: Examples in Economics, Decision theory and Concept Theory
Inspired by a quantum mechanical formalism to model concepts and their
disjunctions and conjunctions, we put forward in this paper a specific
hypothesis. Namely that within human thought two superposed layers can be
distinguished: (i) a layer given form by an underlying classical deterministic
process, incorporating essentially logical thought and its indeterministic
version modeled by classical probability theory; (ii) a layer given form under
influence of the totality of the surrounding conceptual landscape, where the
different concepts figure as individual entities rather than (logical)
combinations of others, with measurable quantities such as 'typicality',
'membership', 'representativeness', 'similarity', 'applicability', 'preference'
or 'utility' carrying the influences. We call the process in this second layer
'quantum conceptual thought', which is indeterministic in essence, and contains
holistic aspects, but is equally well, although very differently, organized
than logical thought. A substantial part of the 'quantum conceptual thought
process' can be modeled by quantum mechanical probabilistic and mathematical
structures. We consider examples of three specific domains of research where
the effects of the presence of quantum conceptual thought and its deviations
from classical logical thought have been noticed and studied, i.e. economics,
decision theory, and concept theories and which provide experimental evidence
for our hypothesis.Comment: 14 page
Quantum Particles as Conceptual Entities: A Possible Explanatory Framework for Quantum Theory
We put forward a possible new interpretation and explanatory framework for
quantum theory. The basic hypothesis underlying this new framework is that
quantum particles are conceptual entities. More concretely, we propose that
quantum particles interact with ordinary matter, nuclei, atoms, molecules,
macroscopic material entities, measuring apparatuses, ..., in a similar way to
how human concepts interact with memory structures, human minds or artificial
memories. We analyze the most characteristic aspects of quantum theory, i.e.
entanglement and non-locality, interference and superposition, identity and
individuality in the light of this new interpretation, and we put forward a
specific explanation and understanding of these aspects. The basic hypothesis
of our framework gives rise in a natural way to a Heisenberg uncertainty
principle which introduces an understanding of the general situation of 'the
one and the many' in quantum physics. A specific view on macro and micro
different from the common one follows from the basic hypothesis and leads to an
analysis of Schrodinger's Cat paradox and the measurement problem different
from the existing ones. We reflect about the influence of this new quantum
interpretation and explanatory framework on the global nature and evolutionary
aspects of the world and human worldviews, and point out potential explanations
for specific situations, such as the generation problem in particle physics,
the confinement of quarks and the existence of dark matter.Comment: 45 pages, 10 figure
A global database of lake surface temperatures collected by in situ and satellite methods from 1985–2009
Peer reviewe
Muscle architecture and passive lengthening properties of the gastrocnemius medialis and Achilles tendon in children who idiopathically toe-walk
Children who idiopathically toe-walk (ITW) habitually operate at greater plantarflexion angles and thus, at shorter muscle-tendon unit (MTU) lengths than typically developing (TD) children. Therefore, it is often assumed that habitual use of the gastrocnemius muscle in this way will cause remodelling of the muscle-tendon architecture compared to TD children. However, the gastrocnemius muscle architecture of children who ITW has never been measured. It is essential that we gain a better understanding of these muscle-tendon properties, to ensure that appropriate clinical interventions can be provided for these children. Five children who ITW (age 8 ± 2 years) and 14 TD children (age 10 ± 2 years) participated in this study. Ultrasound was combined with isokinetic dynamometry and surface electromyography, to measure muscle architecture at common positions and passive lengthening properties of the gastrocnemius muscle and tendon across full range of motion. Regardless of which common condition groups were compared under, both the absolute and normalised to MTU muscle belly and fascicle lengths were always longer, and the Achilles tendon length was always shorter in children who ITW than TD children (p 0.05); however, passive joint stiffness was greater in children who ITW at maximum dorsiflexion (p = 0.001) and at a joint moment common to all participants (p = 0.029). Consequently, the findings of this pilot study indicate a remodelling of the relative MTU that does not support the concept that children who ITW commonly experience muscle shortening. Therefore, greater consideration of the muscle and tendon properties are required when prescribing clinical interventions that aim to lengthen the MTU, and treatments may be better targeted at the Achilles tendon in children who ITW
Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures
Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo
J.R. Hampton 1963
Student field notes from zoology classes in 196
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