Policy compass: FCM-based policy impact evaluation using public open data

This paper presents how Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) technique can be applied by a policy maker to support the policy impact evaluation using the example of Policy Compass, an EU research project. The practical usage example on interest rate policy shows the potential of FCMs as a policy impact modelling tool. Through the provision of a more intuitive and easier means of using open data based on FCM techniques, the Policy Compass project can play a critical role for both policy maker and lay public to evaluate the policy impact and prepare for future policy making

A User Satisfaction Study of the London Congestion Charging e-Service

This research seeks to measure citizen satisfaction with the electronic London Congestion Charging (LCC) payment system offered by Transport For London (TFL) in the United Kingdom (UK). The paper reports on the findings of a survey of 500 users of the TFL LCC online payment system. Satisfaction is measured using the four dimensions from the COBRA framework 0that comprise the cost, opportunity, benefits and risk assessment constructs. The results show that most citizens using the LCC electronic service are satisfied with the service and that the service meets their essential needs. The paper also presents the results of qualitative feedback obtained from the participants that can be used to determine the areas that need further improvement in the current electronic LCC electronic-service (e-service) system and potential influences on user satisfaction

Coulomb corrections and multiple e+e- pair production in ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions

We consider the problem of Coulomb corrections to the inclusive cross section. We show that these corrections in the limiting case of small charge number of one of the nuclei coincide with those to the exclusive cross section. Within our approach we also obtain the Coulomb corrections for the case of large charge numbers of both nuclei.Comment: 7 pages, REVTeX

The use of social media for improving energy consumption awareness and efficiency: An overview of existing tools

Raising consumers’ awareness of energy consumption is one of the first steps in encouraging the adoption of energy saving behaviours that result in energy efficiency. Green information systems are becoming recognised as a solution to many environmental problems although information technology (e.g. disposal of IT devices) has also been associated with causing detrimental effects on the environment. Researchers and practitioners have begun to focus on Green ICT but there is little scholarly research on the use of ICT tools such as social media from an energy efficiency context to raise consumer awareness and improve their engagement in tackling environmental issues. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explore the use of social media and existing tools for the interaction of people on energy saving discussions and for generating awareness and engagement (which thereby leads to energy efficiency behaviour). In this paper the authors provide a state of the art review around the concept of energy awareness, models of consumer engagement, and more importantly the use of social media in the energy efficiency context. This research is based on a desk-based normative review and seeks to provide a better understanding to both scholars and practitioners involved in the use of ICT for driving energy consumer awareness and engagement for energy efficiency.This work evolved in the context of the project DAREED (Decision support Advisor for innovative business models and useR engagement for smart Energy Efficient Districts), www.dareed.eu, a project co-funded by the EC within FP7, Grant agreement no: 609082

Relativistic r-modes in Slowly Rotating Neutron Stars: Numerical Analysis in the Cowling Approximation

We investigate the properties of relativistic $r$-modes of slowly rotating neutron stars by using a relativistic version of the Cowling approximation. In our formalism, we take into account the influence of the Coriolis like force on the stellar oscillations, but ignore the effects of the centrifugal like force. For three neutron star models, we calculated the fundamental $r$-modes with $l'=m=2$ and 3. We found that the oscillation frequency $\bar\sigma$ of the fundamental $r$-mode is in a good approximation given by $\bar\sigma\approx \kappa_0 \Omega$, where $\bar\sigma$ is defined in the corotating frame at the spatial infinity, and $\Omega$ is the angular frequency of rotation of the star. The proportional coefficient $\kappa_0$ is only weakly dependent on $\Omega$, but it strongly depends on the relativistic parameter $GM/c^2R$, where $M$ and $R$ are the mass and the radius of the star. All the fundamental $r$-modes with $l'=m$ computed in this study are discrete modes with distinct regular eigenfunctions, and they all fall in the continuous part of the frequency spectrum associated with Kojima's equation (Kojima 1998). These relativistic $r$-modes are obtained by including the effects of rotation higher than the first order of $\Omega$ so that the buoyant force plays a role, the situation of which is quite similar to that for the Newtonian $r$-modes.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Leading or Lagging: Temporal prediction errors are expressed in auditory and visual cortices

Introduction: In our natural environment our brain is exposed to a constant influx of multisensory signals that dynamically evolve at multiple timescales. Statistical regularities are important cues informing the brain whether two sensory signals are generated by a common physical process and should hence be integrated. This fMRI study investigated how the brain detects violations of these statistical regularities induced by the temporal misalignment of the visual and auditory signals. Specifically, we arbitrated between two hypotheses that make opposite predictions: Under the predictive coding framework the brain iteratively optimizes an internal model of its multisensory environment by reducing the error between its predictions and the sensory inputs. An audiovisual misalignment that violates the natural statistical regularities should thus induce a prediction error signal. For visual leading asynchrony, we would expect a prediction error signal in the auditory cortex, because the delayed auditory signal violates the temporal predictions of the 'leading' visual system (vice versa for auditory leading asynchrony) [2,3]. Alternatively, from the perspective of the biased competition model, the misaligned auditory and visual signals compete for processing resources. For visual leading asynchrony, we would expect an increased BOLD-signal in the visual system indexing the higher salience of the leading visual signal which then suppresses the temporally incompatible auditory signal [1]. Methods: 37 subjects participated in this fMRI study (Siemens TimTrio 3T scanner, GE-EPI, TE = 40 ms, 42 axial slices, TR = 3s). They passively perceived audiovisual movies of natural speech, sinewave speech (SWS) and piano music. The audiovisual signals were synchronous, auditory leading (+240ms) or visual leading (-240ms). Hence, the 3 x 3 factorial design manipulated (i) temporal alignment (3 levels) and (ii) stimulus class (3 levels). The activation trials were interleaved with 8s fixation blocks. To allow for random-effects analyses, contrast images (single condition > fixation) for each subject were entered into a 2nd level ANOVA, which modelled the 9 effects in our 3 X 3 design. 1. Using a conjunction null conjunction analysis, we identified differences between auditory and visual leading conditions that are common to speech, SWS and music. 2. We tested for asynchrony effects (i.e. auditory leading > synchronous, visual leading > synchronous) separately for each stimulus class. Results are reported at p<.05 corrected for multiple comparisons at the cluster level using a height threshold of p<.001 uncorrected. Results: 1. Common for all stimulus classes, auditory leading relative to visual leading signals increased activations in bilateral V5/hMT+. In contrast, visual leading relative to auditory leading signals increased activations in bilateral Heschl's gyri (Fig. 1). 2. Auditory leading relative to synchronous AV signals increased activations in the auditory system extending from Heschl's gyrus into posterior superior temporal sulcus/gyrus (STS/STG) bilaterally. Conversely, visual leading relative to synchronous signals increased activations in bilateral occipito-temporal cortices predominantly in V5/hMT+ (Fig. 2)

Three-Nucleon Force and the Δ\Delta-Mechanism for Pion Production and Pion Absorption

The description of the three-nucleon system in terms of nucleon and $\Delta$ degrees of freedom is extended to allow for explicit pion production (absorption) from single dynamic $\Delta$ de-excitation (excitation) processes. This mechanism yields an energy dependent effective three-body hamiltonean. The Faddeev equations for the trinucleon bound state are solved with a force model that has already been tested in the two-nucleon system above pion-production threshold. The binding energy and other bound state properties are calculated. The contribution to the effective three-nucleon force arising from the pionic degrees of freedom is evaluated. The validity of previous coupled-channel calculations with explicit but stable $\Delta$ isobar components in the wavefunction is studied.Comment: 23 pages in Revtex 3.0, 9 figures (not included, available as postscript files upon request), CEBAF-TH-93-0

The triton and three-nucleon force in nuclear lattice simulations

We study the triton and three-nucleon force at lowest chiral order in pionless effective field theory both in the Hamiltonian and Euclidean nuclear lattice formalism. In the case of the Euclidean lattice formalism, we derive the exact few-body worldline amplitudes corresponding to the standard many-body lattice action. This will be useful for setting low-energy coefficients in future nuclear lattice simulations. We work in the Wigner SU(4)-symmetric limit where the S-wave scattering lengths {1}S{0} and {3}S{1} are equal. By comparing with continuum results, we demonstrate for the first time that the nuclear lattice formalism can be used to study few-body nucleon systems.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure