18,608 research outputs found
Exploring associations between micro-level models of innovation diffusion and emerging macro-level adoption patterns
A micro-level agent-based model of innovation diffusion was developed that
explicitly combines (a) an individual's perception of the advantages or
relative utility derived from adoption, and (b) social influence from members
of the individual's social network. The micro-model was used to simulate
macro-level diffusion patterns emerging from different configurations of
micro-model parameters. Micro-level simulation results matched very closely the
adoption patterns predicted by the widely-used Bass macro-level model (Bass,
1969). For a portion of the domain, results from micro-simulations were
consistent with aggregate-level adoption patterns reported in the literature.
Induced Bass macro-level parameters and responded to changes in
micro-parameters: (1) increased with the number of innovators and with the rate
at which innovators are introduced; (2) increased with the probability of
rewiring in small-world networks, as the characteristic path length decreases;
and (3) an increase in the overall perceived utility of an innovation caused a
corresponding increase in induced and values. Understanding micro to macro
linkages can inform the design and assessment of marketing interventions on
micro-variables - or processes related to them - to enhance adoption of future
products or technologies.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures and a table of supplementary data. Accepted for
publicatio
Time-domain modelling of Extreme-Mass-Ratio Inspirals for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna
When a stellar-mass compact object is captured by a supermassive black hole
located in a galactic centre, the system losses energy and angular momentum by
the emission of gravitational waves. Subsequently, the stellar compact object
evolves inspiraling until plunging onto the massive black hole. These EMRI
systems are expected to be one of the main sources of gravitational waves for
the future space-based Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). However, the
detection of EMRI signals will require of very accurate theoretical templates
taking into account the gravitational self-force, which is the responsible of
the stellar-compact object inspiral. Due to its potential applicability on
EMRIs, the obtention of an efficient method to compute the scalar self-force
acting on a point-like particle orbiting around a massive black hole is being
object of increasing interest. We present here a review of our time-domain
numerical technique to compute the self-force acting on a point-like particle
and we show its suitability to deal with both circular and eccentric orbits.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, JPCS latex style. Submitted to JPCS (special
issue for the proceedings of the Spanish Relativity Meeting (ERE2010)
Humidity contribution to C_n^2 over a 600m pathlength in a tropical marine environment
We present new optical turbulence structure parameter measurements, C_n^2,
over sea water between La Parguera and Magueyes Island (17.6N 67W) on the
southwest coast of Puerto Rico. The 600 meter horizontal paths were located
approximately 1.5 m and 10 m above sea level. No data of this type has ever
been made available in the literature. Based on the data, we show that the
C_n^2 measurements are about 7 times less compared to equivalent land data.
This strong evidence reinforces our previous argument that humidity must be
accounted for to better ascertain the near surface atmospheric turbulence
effects, which current visible / near infrared C_n^2 bulk models fail to do. We
also explore the generalised fractal dimension of this littoral data and
compare it to our reference land data. We find cases that exhibit monofractal
characteristics, that is to say, the effect of rising temperatures during the
daylight hours upon turbulence are counterbalanced by humidity, leading to a
single characteristic scale for the measurements. In other words, significant
moisture changes in the measurement volume cancels optical turbulence increases
due to temperature rises. Figures available as JPG only.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, SPIE Photonics West 2007, paper 6457B-2
Cosmology with Varying Constants
The idea of possible time or space variations of the `fundamental' constants
of nature, although not new, is only now beginning to be actively considered by
large numbers of researchers in the particle physics, cosmology and
astrophysics communities. This revival is mostly due to the claims of possible
detection of such variations, in various different contexts and by several
groups. Here, I present the current theoretical motivations and expectations
for such variations, review the current observational status, and discuss the
impact of a possible confirmation of these results in our views of cosmology
and physics as a whole.Comment: 14 pages, no figures. Essay to appear in Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. Lond.
A Triennial Series (Christmas 2002 Issue
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