Asymptotics of the quantum invariants for surgeries on the figure 8 knot

We investigate the Reshetikhin--Turaev invariants associated to SU(2) for the 3-manifolds M obtained by doing any rational surgery along the figure 8 knot. In particular, we express these invariants in terms of certain complex double contour integrals. These integral formulae allow us to propose a formula for the leading asymptotics of the invariants in the limit of large quantum level. We analyze this expression using the saddle point method. We construct a certain surjection from the set of stationary points for the relevant phase functions onto the space of conjugacy classes of nonabelian SL(2,C)-representations of the fundamental group of M and prove that the values of these phase functions at the relevant stationary points equal the classical Chern--Simons invariants of the corresponding flat SU(2)-connections. Our findings are in agreement with the asymptotic expansion conjecture. Moreover, we calculate the leading asymptotics of the colored Jones polynomial of the figure 8 knot following R. Kashaev. This leads to a slightly finer asymptotic description of the invariant than predicted by the volume conjecture of Kashaev and H. Murakami and J. Murakami.Comment: 70 pages, to appear in Journal of Knot Theory and Its Ramification

Dynamics of stable viscous displacement in porous media

We investigate the stabilization mechanisms of the invasion front in two-dimensional drainage displacement in porous media by using a network simulator. We focus on the process when the front stabilizes due to the viscous forces in the liquids. We find that the capillary pressure difference between two different points along the front varies almost linearly as function of height separation in the direction of the displacement. The numerical results support arguments that differ from those suggested earlier for viscous stabilization. Our arguments are based upon the observation that nonwetting fluid flows in loopless strands (paths) and we conclude that earlier suggested theories are not suitable to drainage when nonwetting strands dominate the displacement process. We also show that the arguments might influence the scaling behavior between the front width and the injection rate and compare some of our results to experimental work.Comment: The paper has been substantially revised. 12 papes, 10 figure

Do We Really Have Control? New Problems Facing Libertarian Free Will

Newly emerging neuroscientific evidence has important ramifications for the metaphysics of free will. In light of this new evidence, I examine the two most common notions of Libertarianism. I argue that advocates for both the agent-causation and causal indeterminist models of libertarian free will suppose a misguided depiction of what constitutes a free decision. In order to retain a consistent standpoint, I argue that libertarians must view the conscious decision-making process as one of an Architectural nature. Libertarians suppose (depending on their notion) that humans are either the primary cause of their actions, or that they at least have the option to do otherwise. For either of these claims to be necessarily the case, I argue that libertarians must regard humans as having the ability to create their decisions. This ability is a requirement of the Architectural framework, which I explain in detail. I continue my case against libertarian free will, by demonstrating that the Architectural conception is also mistaken, and that the conscious decision-making process is instead one of an Archaeological nature. In this new paradigm, our conscious minds simply discover decisions, rather than create them. I show that both neuroscientific and philosophical evidence support this new model of conscious decision making and I examine how this Archaeological view of conscious discovery significantly undermines libertarian free will

A Case for Stage View Presentism

Until recently, perdurantism has been considered to be incompatible with the presentist ontology of time. However, discussions about presentist theories of perdurance are now surfacing, one of the most prominent arguments for which being Berit Brogaard’s essay: “Presentist Four-Dimensionalism”. In this paper, I examine Brogaard’s argument in contrast to Ted Sider’s arguments for (an Eternalist theory of) the “Stage View”. I then argue for another (and, I think, novel) view of presentist perdurantism, which avoids the problematic consequences that Brogaard’s view faces, and which also successfully solves philosophical puzzles without the difficulties that Sider’s view faces. This view, which I call “Stage View Presentism,” thus seems to be an appealing alternative for presentists who remain impartial to both the endurantist and the worm theories of persistence

The rabbit in atherosclerosis research

The rabbit was the first animal model in atherosclerosis research and it has been the most popular species during the last nine decades despite some critique concerning the nature ofthe experimental atherosclerosis The rabbit fulfils a number ofpractical and biological criteria for being an ideal animal model tor human atherosclerosis. The shortcomings of the Classical rabbit model, the Cholesterol-fed rabbit, concerning the morphology of the lesions have been overcome. and new  genetic variants which offer expanded possibilities of exploring the relationship between lipid metabolism and development of atherosclerosis have been developed. At present the mostly used rabbit models are: the eholesterol-l‘ed rabbit. the Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbit, and St. Thomas’ Hospital rabbit Different study designs can be applied to the eholesterol-fed rabbit. Atherosclerosis in rabbit models can be evaluated by macroscopic, biochemical and microseopie methods

Experience from sentinel health monitoring in units containing rats and mice in experiments

The paper contains the results of 15 months of sentinel health monitoring in four different animal units, of which three were protected by a barrier, and one was operated without any protective procedures. Rat and mouse sentinels were placed inthe units on contaminated bedding for three months and hereafter tested for the following infections: Ectromelia Virus, Kilham Rat Virus (KRV), Lymphocytz's Choriomeningizis Virus (LCM), Minute Virus of Mice (MVMj, Mouse Hepatitis Virus (MHV), Pneumoniuvirus of Mice (PVM), Rai Coronavirus, Reovirus type 3, Sendai Virus, Theiler’s Encephalomyelitis Virus (TMEV), Toolan’s H1 Virus, Bordetella branchisepzica, Citrobacler freundii. Clostridium piliforme, Corynebacterium kutscheri, Mycaplasma spp, Pasteurella pneumotropica, Salmonellae, B-haemolytic Streptoeocci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, arthropods, helminths, Eimeria rpp and flagellates. The outcome of the sentinel investigations were compared with the knowledge on the health status of those animals, which were purchased for experiments in the four units. In the non-proteeted unit antibodies to KR V, PVM and C1 piliforme were refound in the sentinel rats, as it had been found in the purchased animals. Additionally, eggs of Syphacia spp. were found in the non-proteeted unit. P. pneumnrropica, which was also introduced into three of the units with purchased rats and mice, was cultivated from sentinel mice, only, and not from sentinel rats. Both rat and mouse sentinels were found positive to P1 pneumotropica by serology. PVM and C. piliforme, which had been introduced with purchased gerbils and rats and were refound in the sentinel rats, were not found in the sentinel mice. MH V and Rat Coronaviruses were, independently, detected in two of the units. Both coronaviruses were easily eradicated by simply euthanizing all animals of the susceptible species with no precautions taken against animals of other species within the unit. LCM did not spread from experimentally infected mice to the sentinels. Concerning the use of serology for coronaviruses, parvoviruses, C. piliforme and P. pneumotropica it is concluded that the dirty bedding technique proved efficient. For bacteriological and parasitological investigations in general, as well as for serological investigations for LCM and PVM, the method seemed less efficient

Devising Descent: Mime, Katabasis and Ritual in Theocritus' Idyll 15

In this thesis I investigate the genres and structure of Theocritus' fifteenth Idyll, as well as its katabatic and ritual themes. Though often considered an urban mime, only the first 43 lines exhibit the formal qualities of mime found in Herodas' Mimiambi, the only other surviving corpus of Hellenistic mime. The counterpoint to the mimic first section is the Adonia that makes up the last section of the poem and amounts to an urban recasting of pastoral poetry. A polyphonic, katabatic journey bridges the mimic and pastoral sections and is composed of four encounters that correspond to ordeals found in ritual katabases. The structure of the poem is then tripartite, beginning in the profane world of the household mime, progressing through the liminal space of the streets and ending in the sacred world of the Adonia. This progression mirrors Theocritus' evolution from Syracusan mimic poet to Alexandrian pastoral poet