Inflationary Solutions in Nonminimally Coupled Scalar Field Theory

We study analytically and numerically the inflationary solutions for various type scalar potentials in the nonminimally coupled scalar field theory. The Hamilton-Jacobi equation is used to deal with nonlinear evolutions of inhomogeneous spacetimes and the long-wavelength approximation is employed. The constraints that lead to a sufficient inflation are found for the nonminimal coupling constant and initial conditions of the scalar field for inflation potentials. In particular, we numerically find an inflationary solution in the new inflation model of a nonminimal scalar field.Comment: 19 pages, 17 figure

Application of Neural Networks for Estimation of Concrete Strength

The uniaxial compressive strength of concrete is the most widely used criterion in producing concrete. Although testing of the uniaxial compressive strength of concrete specimens is done routinely, it is performed on the 28th day after concrete placement. At this point, it is too late to make improvements if the test result does not satisfy the required strength. Therefore, the strength estimation before the placement of concrete is highly desirable. This study presents the first effort in applying neural network-based system identification techniques to predict the compressive strength of concrete based on concrete mix proportions. Back-propagation neural networks were developed, trained, and tested using actual data sets of concrete mix proportions provided by two ready-mixed concrete companies. The compressive strengths estimated by the neural networks were verified by laboratory testing results. This study demonstrated that the neural network techniques are effective in estimating the compressive strength of concrete based on the mix proportions. Application of these techniques will contribute significantly to the concrete quality assurance

Analysis and evaluation of mobile rhythm games : Game structure and playability

The rhythm game is an action simulation game adapted to the presented music. While it is expected to have an educational effect as a functional game, the relationship between the operability and rhythm education under the mobile platform is still questionable. In Korea, it seems that mobile rhythm game is a minority maniac genre that are played mostly among teenagers and early twenties. In this paper, we select three mobile rhythm games that are most played by Korean gamers in analysis. First, we analyze the user interface layout, note control, evaluation style and level of difficulty for three games – Deeno, Cytus, and Lanota. Then, we take a user survey in order to evaluate the playability of those games. All three games obtain high scores but there exust several statistically significant differences among games in analysis

From Agasa Cristie to Group Image Play-Analysis of Horror Survival Game Panic Room : Escaping from the Den on Emotional Elements Development

A maniac computer game genre called "Survival Horror Games‟ is aimed for making gamers feel cathartic feeling when they escaped from the designed horror successfully. The degree of gaming quality, however, is not easy to measure. In this paper, we apply Caillois‟ game playing categories and other standards to measure how a game induces the feeling of fear and other emotional experience to players. Once dominated horror survival game series called Panic Room: Escaping from the Den was chosen to analyze and evaluate with those standards as well as its narratives and subsystems. Especially the 2nd version was most welcomed to users among 4 versions thus we focused on the difference between the version 1 and the version 2 in terms of game playing and fear elements in the game content and story structure. In result, version 2 showed much more Agon and Mimicry and all other fear elements than version 1. The group image playing structure and conference/collection subsystem that were newly provided to version 2 were attributed to its success

The Political Economy of Energy, Environment and Development

This paper examines the environmental implications of the emerging world order of development and underdevelopment. In particular, it considers the prospect that the environment is being socially shaped and, in a specific sense to be examined below, reconstituted by political and economic forces. In our view, what is popularly called "environment," more classically "nature," is undergoing a process of social capture which eventually may make it a "system" subject to political and economic "laws". Although the present energy-environment-development regime is only about 300 years old (dating to the spared of a coal-economy, steam technology and wage labor), it appears to have concurrently institutionalized a world order of social inequality unknown in previous human history and attained a level of technological sophistication that threatens several million years of climate, biological and social evolution. An effort is made below to begin construction of a theoretical framework for conceiving the social origins of this threat and its implications for society and nature. The paper is divided into four sections. The first section reviews the political economy of energy, environment and development which has prevailed since industrialization. The period is characterized as one of expanding commodification of social existence. Nature is seen as successively drawn into the commodification process; but, until recently, its role was limited to serving mainly as a resource mine or a reservoir for the absorption of industrial waste. Under these conditions, it was analytically feasible to focus on the social structure and ignore the possibility that nature was being structurally affected. We argue, however, that commodification has spread to the natural structure-including climate, atmosphere and global temperature-and that conventional distinctions between natural and social structures and laws may now be outmoded. Indeed, the dualistic treatment of society and nature may represent an impediment to conceiving newly evolving relations in the political economy of energy, environment and development. The third section explores the meaning and implications of the social appropriation of natural order. The paper concludes with a discussion of the links between commodification, the appropriation of mature and social inequality

Crystal structure of hyperthermophilic esterase EstE1 and the relationship between its dimerization and thermostability properties

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>EstE1 is a hyperthermophilic esterase belonging to the hormone-sensitive lipase family and was originally isolated by functional screening of a metagenomic library constructed from a thermal environmental sample. Dimers and oligomers may have been evolutionally selected in thermophiles because intersubunit interactions can confer thermostability on the proteins. The molecular mechanisms of thermostabilization of this extremely thermostable esterase are not well understood due to the lack of structural information.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we report for the first time the 2.1-Å resolution crystal structure of EstE1. The three-dimensional structure of EstE1 exhibits a classic α/β hydrolase fold with a central parallel-stranded beta sheet surrounded by alpha helices on both sides. The residues Ser154, Asp251, and His281 form the catalytic triad motif commonly found in other α/β hydrolases. EstE1 exists as a dimer that is formed by hydrophobic interactions and salt bridges. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and heat inactivation kinetic analysis of EstE1 mutants, which were generated by structure-based site-directed mutagenesis of amino acid residues participating in EstE1 dimerization, revealed that hydrophobic interactions through Val274 and Phe276 on the β8 strand of each monomer play a major role in the dimerization of EstE1. In contrast, the intermolecular salt bridges contribute less significantly to the dimerization and thermostability of EstE1.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that intermolecular hydrophobic interactions are essential for the hyperthermostability of EstE1. The molecular mechanism that allows EstE1 to endure high temperature will provide guideline for rational design of a thermostable esterase/lipase using the lipolytic enzymes showing structural similarity to EstE1.</p

Gravitational Wave Spectrum in Inflation with Nonclassical States

The initial quantum state during inflation may evolve to a highly squeezed quantum state due to the amplification of the time-dependent parameter, $\omega_{phys}(k/a)$, which may be the modified dispersion relation in trans-Planckian physics. This squeezed quantum state is a nonclassical state that has no counterpart in the classical theory. We have considered the nonclassical states such as squeezed, squeezed coherent, and squeezed thermal states, and calculated the power spectrum of the gravitational wave perturbation when the mode leaves the horizon.Comment: 21 page