Macroscopic noncontextuality as a principle for almost-quantum correlations

Quantum mechanics allows only certain sets of experimental results (or "probabilistic models") for Bell-type quantum non-locality experiments. A derivation of this set from simple physical or information theoretic principles would represent an important step forward in our understanding of quantum mechanics, and this problem has been intensely investigated in recent years. "Macroscopic locality," which requires the recovery of locality in the limit of large numbers of trials, is one of several principles discussed in the literature that place a bound on the set of quantum probabilistic models. A similar question can also be asked about probabilistic models for the more general class of quantum contextuality experiments. Here, we extend the Macroscopic Locality principle to this more general setting, using the hypergraph approach of Ac\'in, Fritz, Leverrier and Sainz [Comm. Math. Phys. 334(2), 533-628 (2015)], which provides a framework to study both phenomena of nonlocality and contextuality in a unified manner. We find that the set of probabilistic models allowed by our Macroscopic Non-Contextuality principle is equivalent to an important and previously studied set in this formalism, which is slightly larger than the quantum set. In the particular case of Bell Scenarios, this set is equivalent to the set of "Almost Quantum" models, which is of particular interest since the latter was recently shown to satisfy all but one of the principles that have been proposed to bound quantum probabilistic models, without being implied by any of them (or even their conjunction). Our condition is the first characterisation of the almost quantum set from a simple physical principle.Comment: 21 pages (main text 12 pages); v2 minor typos corrected, extended presentation and discussion, published versio

Foraging-Related Activity of Bald Eagles at a Washington Seabird Colony and Seal Rookery

From 1980 to 1998, Washington\u27s Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) population increased at an annual rate of 10. Over the same time period, foraging activity of Bald Eagles at marine bird breeding colonies also increased. From 1993 to 2008, we observed foraging-related behavior of Bald Eagles on Violet Point, Protection Island. This island hosts more than 70 of the breeding seabirds in Washington\u27s inner seaways and serves as an important rookery for harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). We found that (1) eagles landed more frequently in seal haul-out (beach) areas than in gull-nesting (non-beach) areas of Violet Point, and that subadult eagles were more likely to land in gull-nesting areas than were adult eagles; (2) the presence of eagles on the beach was positively related to the presence of harbor seals on the beach; (3) a greater-than-expected number of adult eagles as compared with subadult eagles preyed on gull chicks; (4) subadult and adult eagles that attempted prey capture were equally successful at snatching gull chicks from the gull colony; (5) eagles were more likely to prey on gull eggs in tall grass than on gull eggs in sparse vegetation. Prey remains beneath one eagle nest on the island did not accurately reflect the range and relative frequencies of observed eagle predation events. Although seal afterbirths and dead pups constitute a major component of the diet of Bald Eagles on the island, the effect of eagles on live seals is probably negligible. In contrast, direct predation and indirect effects of eagle activity on Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) reproductive success may be substantial and may have been partly responsible for a 44 decrease in the number of gull nests in the colony from 19932008. © 2010 The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc

Socially Induced Synchronization of Every-other-day Egg Laying in a Seabird Colony

Spontaneous oscillator synchrony has been documented in a wide variety of electrical, mechanical, chemical, and biological systems, including the menstrual cycles of women and estrous cycles of Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus). In temperate regions, many colonial birds breed seasonally in a time window set by photoperiod; some studies have suggested that heightened social stimulation in denser colonies can lead to a tightened annual reproductive pulse. It has been unknown, however, whether the analog of menstrual synchrony occurs in birdsthat is, whether avian ovulation cycles can synchronize on a daily timescale within the annual breeding pulse. We report every-other-day clutch-initiation and egg-laying synchrony in a breeding colony of Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens) and show that the level of synchrony declined with decreasing colony density. We also pose a mathematical model based on the hypothesis that preovulatory luteinizing hormone surges synchronize through social stimulation. Model predictions are consistent with observations. Finally, we suggest a procedure for identifying synchronous egg laying in other colonies and species. © 2010 by The American Ornithologists\u27 Union. All rights reserved

Lifting the lid on impact and peer review.

Brain and Neuroscience Advances has grown in tandem with the British Neuroscience Association's campaign to build Credibility in Neuroscience, which encourages actions and initiatives aimed at improving reproducibility, reliability and openness. This commitment to credibility impacts not only what the Journal publishes, but also how it operates. With that in mind, the Editorial Board sought the views of the neuroscience community on the peer review process, and on how they should respond to the Journal Impact Factor that will be assigned to Brain and Neuroscience Advances. In this editorial, we present the results of a survey of neuroscience researchers conducted in the autumn of 2020 and discuss the broader implications of our findings for the Journal and the neuroscience community

Home Exercise Adherence in an Underserved Ecuadorian Community

Purpose: Physical therapy service learning projects and volunteer experiences in foreign countries are becoming more commonplace. Patients in underserved regions are not likely to receive therapy services regularly; therefore, adherence to a home exercise program (HEP) is critical. The primary purpose of this study was to observe home exercise adherence rates between the 1st and 2nd visits in an underserved population. The secondary purpose of this study was to determine specific factors that affect HEP adherence in this population. Methods: Consecutive patients seen in Santo Domingo, Ecuador were considered for participation in this observational study. All patients were recruited from one clinic or during home visits in the surrounding community over a 5 -month period by one physical therapist. To be included in the study, patients were required to display sufficient cognitive ability by stating their name, the date, their location, and their reason for being at that location, were at least 19 years of age, and had an impairment or functional limitation that was included in the physical therapy scope of practice. Patient demographics, medical history, and answers to questionnaires were collected on the initial visit. Immediately after the initial evaluation, patients were issued 5 home exercises . On the subsequent follow-up visit, adherence was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study General Adherence Items (MOSGAI). Adherence percentage, defined by the frequency in which the patient performed all the exercises as prescribed, was calculated. In order to evaluate potential factors affecting HEP adherence, separate Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed on the categorical variables (gender, marital status, education, employment, duration of symptoms, and comorbidities) and separate Spearman correlation tests were performed on the continuous data (age, pain level, and sport injury rehabilitation adherence scale - SIRAS). Alpha was set at p ≤.05 a priori. Results and Conclusion: A total of 40 patients satisfied the eligibility criteria and agreed to participate, of which 29 (mean age 55, SD 14) were seen for a second visit. Of the patients who returned for a second visit, the median (interquartile range) MOSGAI score was 24 (21-29) and the average adherence percentage was 73%. Age was negatively correlated with the MOSGAI (p = 0.008, r = - 0.60), while the SIRAS was positively correlated with the MOSGAI (p = 0.002, r = 0.52 ). Exercise adherence in this population was similar to previously reported data, but in areas where access to health care is limited, it may be even more important to im prove adherence. It is possible that both age and the level of adherence observed by the physical therapist during the first visit helped predict HEP adherence in this population. Innovation: Volunteer physical therapists serving in this community should proactively explore strategies to increase adherence in patients with these characteristics

Predicting Dynamics of Aggregate Loafing Behavior in Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens) at a Washington Colony

Seabirds move throughout the day in changing, patchy environments as they engage in various behaviors. We studied the diurnal abundance dynamics of Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens) in a habitat patch dedicated to loafing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington. We constructed three differential equation models as alternative hypotheses and then used model selection techniques to choose the one that most accurately described the system. We validated the model on an independent data set, made a priori model predictions, and conducted a field test of the predictions. Clear dynamic patterns emerged in the abundance of loafing gulls, even though individuals moved in and out of the loafing area more or less continuously throughout the day. Temporal patterns in aggregate loafing behavior are predicted by three environmental factors: day of the year, height of the tide, and solar elevation. This result is important for several reasons: (1) it reduces the aggregate behavior of complicated vertebrates to a simple mathematical equation, (2) it gives an example of a field system in which animal abundances are determined largely by low dimensional exogenous forces, and (3) it provides an example of accurate quantitative prediction of animal numbers in the field. From the point of view of conservation biology and resource management, the result is important because of the pervasive need to explain and predict numbers of organisms in time and space

A review of the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on lean body mass in humans

Weight loss is an important goal in the management of several chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, and pharmacological therapies that aid weight loss are appealing. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are novel glucose-lowering therapies that have been shown to induce clinically significant reductions in body weight. However, this weight loss may not be attributed solely to fat mass (FM). Given the importance of skeletal muscle and lean body mass (LBM) on cardio-metabolic health and physical function, we reviewed the available literature reporting the effects of GLP-1RAs and SGLT2is on body composition. Results demonstrate that, in most circumstances, the weight loss associated with both therapies predominantly comprises a reduction in FM, although significant heterogeneity exists between studies. In over half of the studies identified, the proportion of LBM reduction ranged between 20% and 50% of total weight lost, which is consistent with diet-induced weight loss and bariatric surgery. No clear differences existed between GLP-1RAs and SGLT2is. Consequently, the loss of LBM and skeletal muscle associated with weight loss induced by GLP-1RAs and SGLT2is warrants attention. Strategies to preserve skeletal muscle and improve physical function, for example through structured exercise, are of great importance

Causality and statistics on the Groenewold-Moyal plane

Quantum theories constructed on the noncommutative spacetime called the Groenewold-Moyal plane exhibit many interesting properties such as Lorentz and CPT noninvariance, causality violation and twisted statistics. We show that such violations lead to many striking features that may be tested experimentally. These theories predict Pauli forbidden transitions due to twisted statistics, anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background radiation due to correlations of observables in spacelike regions and Lorentz and CPT violations in scattering amplitudes.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure. Based on the talk given by APB at the Workshop "Theoretical and Experimental Aspects of the Spin Statisics Connection and Related Symmetries", Stazione Marittima Conference Center, Trieste, Italy from the 21st to the 25th of October 200

Storage of Burley Tobacco in Bales and Bundles

Bales and bundles of burley tobacco were stored for seven months from spring to fall. Leaves darkened during storage at all moisture levels and stalk positions with the exception of the bottom stalk position, which darkened only slightly. There was no difference in color change and dry weight loss between burley tobacco in bales and bundles. Normal and high moisture bales and bundles were often graded as unsound because of a deviant odor caused by bacterial activity. A bale weight loss of about 8% occurred at normal moisture with the loss being divided evenly between moisture and dry weight losse