Active Self-Transcendence Within the Scientific Perspective of Emergence

There has been a long history in Christianity on the study of the relationship between theology and science. For example, the Greek Fathers pursued scientific knowledge for its theological and moral use. 1 Even Augustine, who had an ambivalent attitude toward science, used natural science to oppose astrology, grounding his argument by reference to observable reality. 2 In recent years, there have been efforts to relate theology and science in various ways.3 One of the on-going scientific discussions is the question of how something can arise and develop into something else in the universe. Among the theories that address this question is the scientific perspective of \u27emergence\u27, which was developed within an evolutionary understanding of the world. The scientific perspective of emergence is a framework to help one understand how matter is not only able to emerge but also develop into something essentially higher. One theologian whose theology developed within an evolutionary perspective was Karl Rahner, a prominent German Catholic Jesuit theologian (1904-1984 ). Rahner weaved evolutionary biology into his theology as a way to relate theology with the discoveries of science. In his work, Rahner explained how matter continues to develop even after the universe emerged. The development of matter in a state of \u27becoming\u27 is possible because of \u27active self-transcendence\u27. In this thesis, I will argue that the current scientific perspective of \u27emergence\u27 can give a more robust understanding to Rahner\u27s notion of active self-transcendence.4 I will demonstrate this by showing that Rahner\u27s concept of active self-transcendence is congruent to that of the of emergence. For example, both positions agree in the unity of all things and that there is a hierarchical level of complexity in the universe. In this respect, the scientific perspective of emergence strengthens and broadens Rahner\u27s argument. Among the strengths of emergence, is that this framework can integrate patterns across levels of emergence and across a variety of scientific theories

Energy-momentum uncertainties as possible origin of threshold anomalies in UHECR and TeV-gamma ray events

A threshold anomaly refers to a theoretically expected energy threshold that is not observed experimentally. Here we offer an explanation of the threshold anomalies encountered in the ultra-high energy cosmic ray events and the TeV-gamma ray events, by arguing that energy-momentum uncertainties due to quantum gravity, too small to be detected in low-energy regime, can affect particle kinematics so as to raise or even eliminate the energy thresholds. A possible modification of the energy-momentum dispersion relation, giving rise to time-of-flight differences between photons of different energies from gamma ray bursts, is also discussed.Comment: minor changes in text and reference

Analysis of millimetre-wave polarization diverse multiple-input multiple-output capacity

Millimetre-waves offer the possibility of wide bandwidth and consequently high data rate for wireless communications. For both uni- and dual-polarized systems, signals sent over a link may suffer severe degradation due to antenna misalignment. Orientation robustness may be enhanced by the use of mutual orthogonality in three dimensions. Multiple-input multiple-output polarization diversity offers a way of improving signal reception without the limitations associated with spatial diversity. Scattering effects often assist propagation through multipath. However, high path loss at millimetre-wave frequencies may limit any reception enhancement through scattering. We show that the inclusion of a third orthogonal dipole provides orientation robustness in this setting, as well as in a rich scattering environment, by means of a Rician fading channel model covering all orientations for a millimetre-wave, tri-orthogonal, half-wave dipole transmitter and receiver employing polarization diversity. Our simulation extends the analysis into three dimensions, fully exploiting individual sub-channel paths. In both the presence and absence of multipath effects, capacity is observed to be higher than that of a dual-polarized system over the majority of a field of view.Nicholas P. Lawrence, Brian W.-H.Ng, Hedley J. Hansen, and Derek Abbot

Parametrical optimization of laser surface alloyed NiTi shape memory alloy with Co and Nb by the Taguchi method

Different high-purity metal powders were successfully alloyed on to a nickel titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloy (SMA) with a 3 kW carbon dioxide (CO2) laser system. In order to produce an alloyed layer with complete penetration and acceptable composition profile, the Taguchi approach was used as a statistical technique for optimizing selected laser processing parameters. A systematic study of laser power, scanning velocity, and pre-paste powder thickness was conducted. The signal-to-noise ratios (S/N) for each control factor were calculated in order to assess the deviation from the average response. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out to understand the significance of process variables affecting the process effects. The Taguchi method was able to determine the laser process parameters for the laser surface alloying technique with high statistical accuracy and yield a laser surface alloying technique capable of achieving a desirable dilution ratio. Energy dispersive spectrometry consistently showed that the per cent by weight of Ni was reduced by 45 per cent as compared with untreated NiTi SMA when the Taguchi-determined laser processing parameters were employed, thus verifying the laser's processing parameters as optimum

Planar cell polarity in the larval epidermis of Drosophila and the role of microtubules.

We investigate planar cell polarity (PCP) in the Drosophila larval epidermis. The intricate pattern of denticles depends on only one system of PCP, the Dachsous/Fat system. Dachsous molecules in one cell bind to Fat molecules in a neighbour cell to make intercellular bridges. The disposition and orientation of these Dachsous-Fat bridges allows each cell to compare two neighbours and point its denticles towards the neighbour with the most Dachsous. Measurements of the amount of Dachsous reveal a peak at the back of the anterior compartment of each segment. Localization of Dachs and orientation of ectopic denticles help reveal the polarity of every cell. We discuss whether these findings support our gradient model of Dachsous activity. Several groups have proposed that Dachsous and Fat fix the direction of PCP via oriented microtubules that transport PCP proteins to one side of the cell. We test this proposition in the larval cells and find that most microtubules grow perpendicularly to the axis of PCP. We find no meaningful bias in the polarity of microtubules aligned close to that axis. We also reexamine published data from the pupal abdomen and find no evidence supporting the hypothesis that microtubular orientation draws the arrow of PCP

In silico prediction of the granzyme B degradome

10.1186/1471-2164-12-S3-S1110th Int. Conference on Bioinformatics - 1st ISCB Asia Joint Conference 2011, InCoB 2011/ISCB-Asia 2011: Computational Biology - Proceedings from Asia Pacific Bioinformatics Network (APBioNet)12SUPPL. 3S1