631 research outputs found
Reflection positive affine actions and stochastic processes
In this note we continue our investigations of the representation theoretic
aspects of reflection positivity, also called Osterwalder--Schrader positivity.
We explain how this concept relates to affine isometric actions on real Hilbert
spaces and how this is connected with Gaussian processes with stationary
increments
Reciprocity or Community? Different Cultural Pathways to Cooperation and Welfare
We compare efficiency-enhancing cooperation and its underlying motives in Iceland and the US. The two countries are distinct along all measures of national culture known to us. They are however both developed democracies with similar GDP/capita (PPP adjusted). These similarities make it possible to hold constant aspects of culture related to wealth and institutions. In an experimental Voluntary Contribution Mechanism (VCM), we prime the participants with different social foci, emphasizing either their directly cooperating team or their wider social unit. With a team focus, cooperation levels do not differ between the two cultures, but this superficial similarity masks deep-seated differences: When the focus is on the wider social unit cooperation increases in Iceland and declines in the US. Both when the contribution levels are the same and when they differ, members of the two cultures differ in their motives to cooperate: Icelanders tend to cooperate unconditionally, and US subjects conditionally with a strong emphasis on reciprocity. Our findings indicate that different cultures can achieve similar economic and societal performance through different cultural norms and suggest that cooperation should be encouraged through culturally tailored persuasion tactics
Reflection negative kernels and fractional Brownian motion
In this article we study the connection of fractional Brownian motion,
representation theory and reflection positivity in quantum physics. We
introduce and study reflection positivity for affine isometric actions of a Lie
group on a Hilbert space E and show in particular that fractional Brownian
motion for Hurst index 0<H\le 1/2 is reflection positive and leads via
reflection positivity to an infinite dimensional Hilbert space if 0<H <1/2. We
also study projective invariance of fractional Brownian motion and relate this
to the complementary series representations of GL(2,R). We relate this to a
measure preserving action on a Gaussian L^2-Hilbert space L^2(E)
Juice Powder Concentrate and Systemic Blood Pressure, Progression of Coronary Artery Calcium and Antioxidant Status in Hypertensive Subjects: A Pilot Study
Because micronutrients from plants may have beneficial cardiovascular effects, the hypothesis that an encapsulated juice powder concentrate might affect several measures of vascular health was tested in free living adults at low cardiovascular risk. Blood pressure, vascular compliance, lipid and antioxidant markers, and serial electron beam tomography (to calculate a coronary artery calcium score as a measure of atherosclerosis burden), were monitored in 51 pre-hypertensive and hypertensive subjects over 2 years. By the end of follow-up, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly (−2.4 ± 1.0 mmHg, P < 0.05 and −2.2 ± 0.6 mmHg, P < 0.001), and large artery compliance improved significantly (1.9 ± 0.6 ml mmHg−1 × 100, P < 0.01). The progression of coronary artery calcium score was smaller than expected compared with a historical database (P < 0.001). Laboratory testing showed a significant decrease in homocysteine (P = 0.05), HDL cholesterol (P = 0.025) and Apo A (P = 0.004), as well as a significant increase in β-carotene, folate, Co-Q10 and α-tocopherol (all P < 0.001). The phytonutrient concentrate we utilized induced several favorable modifications of markers of vascular health in the subjects. This study supports the notion that plant nutrients are important components of a heart healthy diet
Hot towels:The bedrock of Meibomian gland dysfunction treatment – A review
publishedVersionPaid open acces
Uniqueness of reconstruction and an inversion procedure for thermoacoustic and photoacoustic tomography
The paper contains a simple approach to reconstruction in Thermoacoustic and
Photoacoustic Tomography. The technique works for any geometry of point
detectors placement and for variable sound speed satisfying a non-trapping
condition. A uniqueness of reconstruction result is also obtained
Calibration of input parameters in volcanic areas and an enlarged dataset by stochastic finite-fault simulations
The calibration of input parameters is an important task for stochastic finite-fault simulation in volcanic areas,
and we manage this in the framework of the European project UPStrat-MaFa. The stochastic simulation method
requires the knowledge of fault geometry, source, crust properties of the region, and local site effects. At first,
we focused the present study in the pilot test areas: Mt Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei and Mt Etna. Later, we
performed two applications for a large magnitude event in the Azores Islands and the South Iceland regions. A
general preliminary database of ground-motion records was collected in the test areas, to set up the empirical
laws of the ground-motion parameters. The results of the simulations have been compared with observed
waveforms and response spectra, to determine the suitability of the parameters used. The results show good
agreement between the observed and simulated time histories and response spectra, thus encouraging further
efforts towards quantitative high resolution studies on input parameters.Co-financed by the EU - Civil Protection Financial Instrument, in the framework the European project ”Urban disaster Prevention Strategies using MAcroseismic Fields and FAult Sources (Acronym: UPStrat-MAFA, Grant Agreement N. 23031/2011/613486/SUB/A5). http://ec.europa.eu/echo/funding/cp_projects2011_en.htmPublishedLisbon - Portugal4.1. Metodologie sismologiche per l'ingegneria sismicaope
Calibration of input parameters in volcanic areas and an enlarged dataset by stochastic finite-fault simulations
The calibration of input parameters is an important task for stochastic finite-fault simulation in volcanic areas,
and we manage this in the framework of the European project UPStrat-MaFa. The stochastic simulation method
requires the knowledge of fault geometry, source, crust properties of the region, and local site effects. At first,
we focused the present study in the pilot test areas: Mt Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei and Mt Etna. Later, we
performed two applications for a large magnitude event in the Azores Islands and the South Iceland regions. A
general preliminary database of ground-motion records was collected in the test areas, to set up the empirical
laws of the ground-motion parameters. The results of the simulations have been compared with observed
waveforms and response spectra, to determine the suitability of the parameters used. The results show good
agreement between the observed and simulated time histories and response spectra, thus encouraging further
efforts towards quantitative high resolution studies on input parameters
Small-Size Resonant Photoacoustic Cell of Inclined Geometry for Gas Detection
A photoacoustic cell intended for laser detection of trace gases is
represented. The cell is adapted so as to enhance the gas-detection performance
and, simultaneously, to reduce the cell size. The cell design provides an
efficient cancellation of the window background (a parasite response due to
absorption of laser beam in the cell windows) and acoustic isolation from the
environment for an acoustic resonance of the cell. The useful photoacoustic
response from a detected gas, window background and noise are analyzed in
demonstration experiments as functions of the modulation frequency for a
prototype cell with the internal volume ~ 0.5 cm^3. The minimal detectable
absorption for the prototype is estimated to be ~ 1.2 10^{-8} cm^{-1} W
Hz^{-1/2}.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
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