Less Decoherence and More Coherence in Quantum Gravity, Inflationary Cosmology and Elsewhere

In Crull (2015) it is argued that, in order to confront outstanding problems in cosmology and quantum gravity, interpretational aspects of quantum theory can by bypassed because decoherence is able to resolve them. As a result, Crull (2015) concludes that our focus on conceptual and interpretational issues, while dealing with such matters in Okon and Sudarsky (2014), is avoidable and even pernicious. Here we will defend our position by showing in detail why decoherence does not help in the resolution of foundational questions in quantum mechanics, such as the measurement problem or the emergence of classicality.Comment: 37 page

Establishing new neurosurgical facilities in resource-limited settings: Overcoming challenges in West Africa

BackgroundThe first neurosurgical facility in West Africa was established in 1962 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. However, by 2000, the average neurosurgeon to population ratio remained 1: 10,000,000AimThe purpose of this paper is to document the process of the establishment of a neurosurgical center in West Africa.MethodologyWe reviewed the records with respect to the establishment of the neurosurgical center at a University of Benin Teaching Hospital in West Africa. These records included references to reasons for establishment of the neurosurgical facility; building acquisition; staff recruitment and training; neurosurgical and diagnostic equipment acquisition; commencement of neurosurgical procedures. The challenges faced and strategies for overcoming them are also documented.ResultsOver five years, we established a fully dedicated neurosurgical facility with thirty specialty nurses and other in-house staff, and a capacity for thirty to forty-five in-patient admissions. Most neurosurgical conditions peculiar to the environment can now be managed at this facility.ConclusionWith minimal available resources, a functioning neurosurgical unit may be established in almost any part of West Africa to meet the needs of the environment

Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of the West African Fiddler Crab (Ucatangeri) in MboRiver, AkwaIbom State, Nigeria

The length- weight relationship and condition factor of the West African fiddler crab (Ucatangeri) in Mbo river of AkwaIbom State, Nigeria, was conducted for 12 consecutive months (April, 2012 – March, 2013). Ucatangeri exhibits sexual dimorphism with sex ratio of 1.2:1.0 which was significantly biased in favour of males. The length-weight relationship showed negative allometric growth, b=1.6431. With an average of 9.61, Ucatangeri had a very high condition factor which is an indication of the well-being of the species. Keywords: Growth rate, Crab, Mbo

Applications of Hellmann-Feynman Theorem (HFT) to Angle Dependent Yukawa Potential of Diatomic Molecules

We have applied Hellmann-Feynman Theorem (HFT) to the bound state solutions of angle dependent Yukawa potential model for five selected diatomic molecules..

Influence des facteurs environnementaux sur le cycle sexuel de l'aulacodine (Thryonomys swinderianus, Temminck 1827) élevée en captivité étroite

L’étude de l’influence des facteurs environnementaux sur le comportement sexuel des aulacodines et l’évolution du cycle sexuel réalisés sur 190  femelles reparties dans les zones centre et sud de la Côte d’Ivoire, n’a pas révélé des effets significatifs marqués de façon spécifique. Cependant, nous avons constaté chez l’aulacodine, quelles que soient les saisons, un état d’agitation quasi permanent. Les variations des indices vulvaires ne sont pas régulières. Les femelles sont à 70% bloquées au stade de pro oestrus. Généralement, il est rare en accouplement permanent d’observer les femelles à l’état d’oestrus car la copulation à lieu prématurément au pro oestrus avec des conséquences parfois dommageables pour les femelles. Les anoestrus sont très présents. Ils sont observés à des taux d’humidité élevé (69,05% - 80,48%) et des températures comprises entre 27 et 28,62 ± 0,8 °C. L’activité sexuelle fut quant à elle observée pour des températures comprises entre 24,34 et 29 °C et une humidité de l’air variant entre 54,97 à 85,16%.Mots clés : Aulacodine, cycle sexuel, saison

On Superdeterministic Rejections of Settings Independence

Relying on some auxiliary assumptions, usually considered mild, Bell's theorem proves that no local theory can reproduce all the predictions of quantum mechanics. In this work, we introduce a fully local, superdeterministic model that, by explicitly violating settings independence--one of these auxiliary assumptions, requiring statistical independence between measurement settings and systems to be measured--is able to reproduce all the predictions of quantum mechanics. Moreover, we show that, contrary to widespread expectations, our model can break settings independence without an initial state that is too complex to handle, without visibly losing all explanatory power and without outright nullifying all of experimental science. Still, we argue that our model is unnecessarily complicated and does not offer true advantages over its non-local competitors. We conclude that, while our model does not appear to be a viable contender to their non-local counterparts, it provides the ideal framework to advance the debate over violations of statistical independence via the superdeterministic route.Comment: 38 pages, 2 figure

Quantum spatial superpositions and the possibility of superluminal signaling

Mari et al. [Sci. Rep. 6, 22777 (2016)] and Belenchia et al. [Phys. Rev. D 98, 126009 (2018)] explore a gedankenexperiment in which the (gravitational or electromagnetic) interaction between two objects, one placed in a state of quantum superposition of two locations, seems to allow for faster-than-light communication. Building on the analysis carried out in Mari et al. [Sci. Rep. 6, 22777 (2016).], Belenchia et al. [Phys. Rev. D 98, 126009 (2018)] argue that, by considering the quantization of radiation and the existence of vacuum quantum fluctuations of the fields, the apparent possibility of superluminal signaling is completely avoided. Moreover, in the gravitational case, such a conclusion is taken as providing support for the view that gravity must necessarily have a quantum nature. In this work, we reconsider the situation and find several limitations of these assessments.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur

Bose Einstein Condensation and Thermodynamics Properties in Bose-Einstein Distribution

The calculation of the thermodynamic properties in the Bose-Einstein distribution is presented. The behaviour of the Bose-gas in the Bose- Einstein distribution is analysed based on high and low temperature dependence. At... More details can be found in the full paper

COUNSELLING INTERVENTIONS FOR THE SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EKITI STATE

The purpose of this study was to find the counselling interventions for the Special Needs Students in some Secondary Schools in Ekiti State. Three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated for the study. A self constructed instrument is titled “Counselling Interventions for the Special Needs Students” was used for the study. A sample of fifty two respondents was selected using purposive sampling technique. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that there is no significant difference in terms of class and age but there is difference on the basis of gender on counselling interventions for the special needs students in Ekiti State. Recommendations were made to government, corporate bodies, teachers, counsellors, parents and individual which would enable them develop in order to achieve a high level of self sufficiency and not to be at the mercy of inadequate support services