Power and momentum dependent soliton dynamics in lattices with longitudinal modulation

Soliton dynamics in a large variety of longitudinally modulated lattices are studied in terms of phase space analysis for an effective particle approach and direct numerical simulations. Complex soliton dynamics are shown to depend strongly on both their power/width and their initial momentum as well as on lattice parameters. A rish set of qualitatively distinct dynamical features of soliton propagation that have no counterpart in longitudinally uniform lattices is illustrated. This set includes cases of enhanced soliton mobility, dynamical switching, extended trapping in several transverse lattice periods, and quasiperiodic trapping, which are promising for soliton control applications

A Bayesian Ensemble Regression Framework on the Angry Birds Game

An ensemble inference mechanism is proposed on the Angry Birds domain. It is based on an efficient tree structure for encoding and representing game screenshots, where it exploits its enhanced modeling capability. This has the advantage to establish an informative feature space and modify the task of game playing to a regression analysis problem. To this direction, we assume that each type of object material and bird pair has its own Bayesian linear regression model. In this way, a multi-model regression framework is designed that simultaneously calculates the conditional expectations of several objects and makes a target decision through an ensemble of regression models. Learning procedure is performed according to an online estimation strategy for the model parameters. We provide comparative experimental results on several game levels that empirically illustrate the efficiency of the proposed methodology.Comment: Angry Birds AI Symposium, ECAI 201

Extrasolar Asteroid Mining as Forensic Evidence for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

The development of civilisations like ours into spacefaring, multi-planet entities requires significant raw materials to construct vehicles and habitats. Interplanetary debris, including asteroids and comets, may provide such a source of raw materials. In this article we present the hypothesis that extraterrestrial intelligences (ETIs) engaged in asteroid mining may be detectable from Earth. Considering the detected disc of debris around Vega as a template, we explore the observational signatures of targeted asteroid mining (TAM), such as unexplained deficits in chemical species, changes in the size distribution of debris and other thermal signatures which may be detectable in the spectral energy distribution (SED) of a debris disc. We find that individual observational signatures of asteroid mining can be explained by natural phenomena, and as such they cannot provide conclusive detections of ETIs. But, it may be the case that several signatures appearing in the same system will prove harder to model without extraterrestrial involvement. Therefore signatures of TAM are not detections of ETI in their own right, but as part of "piggy-back" studies carried out in tandem with conventional debris disc research, they could provide a means of identifying unusual candidate systems for further study using other SETI techniques.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in the International Journal of Astrobiolog

Quisquilia and methodological suggestions on the occasion of the Eustathius’ Letters

 Με αφορμή την έκδοση των Επιστολών του Ευσταθίου, αρχιεπισκόπου Θεσσαλονίκης, στο πρώτο μέρος (Α) του άρθρου διατυπώνονται σκέψεις για τον τρόπο χειρισμού των «δευτερευόντων» ζητημάτων κατά την κριτική έκδοση ενός βυζαντινού κειμένου: του τονισμού, της στίξης, της συνένωσης των λέξεων. Σχετικά με τον τονισμό και την συνένωση των λέξων τονίζεται ότι θα ήταν ασφαλές να λαμβάνονται υπόψη οι προτιμήσεις του συγγραφέα, όπως αυτές φαίνονται στα αυτόγραφά του. Αντίθετα, στο ζήτημα της στίξης προτείνεται να ακολουθούνται οι σύγχρονες πρακτικές και συμβάσεις, καθώς αν υιοθετηθεί η στίξη των μεσαιωνικών χειρογράφων (ακόμη και των αυτογράφων), θα προκληθεί σύγχυση στον σύγχρονο αναγνώστη, χωρίς ιδιαίτερο όφελος. Στο δεύτερο μέρος (Β) επισημαίνονται «αλλαγές» που θα έπρεπε να γίνουν στα ευρετήρια της έκδοσης των Επιστολών (αλλά και στο λεξικό LBG) με βάση την έρευνα που έχει μεσολαβήσει από την έκδοση μέχρι σήμερα. Τέλος, ύστερα από τη διαπίστωση ότι και οι εκδόσεις και τα επιστημονικά λεξικά πρέπει να μπορούν να αναθεωρούνται συνεχώς, προτείνεται η δημιουργία ηλεκτρονικών εκδόσεων στο διαδίκτυο, που θα παρέχουν ακριβώς αυτή τη δυνατότητα, ενώ για τα λεξικά δίνεται το παράδειγμα μιας διαδικτυακής «εφαρμογής» του Δημοκριτείου Πανεπιστημίου Θράκης, στην οποία ψηφιοποιούνται και αναρτώνται σταδιακά όλα τα επιστημονικά λεξικά της Ελληνικής, αλλά και όπου μπορούν να δημοσιεύονται και σποραδικές λεξικολογικές παρατηρήσεις, με απώτερο στόχο την δημιουργία ενός «ζωντανού» διαχρονικού λεξικού της Ελληνική

CONVERGENCE IMPROVEMENT OF ITERATIVE DECODERS

Iterative decoding techniques shaked the waters of the error correction and communications field in general. Their amazing compromise between complexity and performance offered much more freedom in code design and made highly complex codes, that were being considered undecodable until recently, part of almost any communication system. Nevertheless, iterative decoding is a sub-optimum decoding method and as such, it has attracted huge research interest. But the iterative decoder still hides many of its secrets, as it has not been possible yet to fully describe its behaviour and its cost function. This work presents the convergence problem of iterative decoding from various angles and explores methods for reducing any sub-optimalities on its operation. The decoding algorithms for both LDPC and turbo codes were investigated and aspects that contribute to convergence problems were identified. A new algorithm was proposed, capable of providing considerable coding gain in any iterative scheme. Moreover, it was shown that for some codes the proposed algorithm is sufficient to eliminate any sub-optimality and perform maximum likelihood decoding. Its performance and efficiency was compared to that of other convergence improvement schemes. Various conditions that can be considered critical to the outcome of the iterative decoder were also investigated and the decoding algorithm of LDPC codes was followed analytically to verify the experimental results

“National Patient Flow Framework: An ontological Patient-oriented Redesign

This study introduces the necessary ontological redesign regarding patient-oriented frameworks. Different national healthcare frameworks around the world as well as semantic gaps have been discovered and demonstrate the need for a new healthcare management framework. This study’s Patient-Oriented Management and Reporting framework (POMR framework) will introduce and measure the concept of value-added, patient-oriented flow. The ontological introduction of leading patient-oriented measures is also considered as a novel approach to solving problems. These measures are included in this POMR framework which introduces a unique ontological model redesign (POMR model) and its patient-oriented supporting information system (POMRS) adding value to the concept’s implementation in CLIPS technology

“National Patient Flow Framework: An Ontological Patient-oriented Redesign,”

This study introduces the necessary ontological redesign regarding patient-oriented frameworks. Different national healthcare frameworks around the world as well as semantic gaps have been discovered and demonstrate the need for a new healthcare management framework. This study's Patient-Oriented Management and Reporting framework (POMR framework) will introduce and measure the concept of value-added, patient-oriented flow. The ontological introduction of leading patient-oriented measures is also considered as a novel approach to solving problems. These measures are included in this POMR framework which introduces a unique ontological model redesign (POMR model) and its patient-oriented supporting information system (POMRS) adding value to the concept's implementation in CLIPS technology

“Ontology Based Structure of an Elective Patient Oriented Performance Flow”

This study, based on enterprise ontology, introduces necessary transactions and results for elective patient oriented flow through all levels of healthcare. This ontology model is of paramount importance as it clearly defines the ambiguous concept of the patient oriented flow. Focus is placed on knowledge management for the use of equality, efficiency and effectiveness principles on both internal and external healthcare environment. Necessary organisational levels, based on enterprise ontology, will also be presented in order to assist in the creation of a measuring framework of leading performance indicators

Infant as a symbolism of goodness and innocense in Lao‑Zi’s Dao De Jing and Heraclitus’ Fragments

In this article we shall try to explore the ethical aspects of the Dao De Jing and the fragments of the pre‑Socratic philosopher Heraclitus based on the symbolism of the infant that they both use. At first a very short introduction needs to be made concerning the basis of morality and the difference between China and Greece. Needless to say we must take into account the general ethical context in the civilizations of ancient China and ancient Greece and indicate (if possible) whether the DDJ is to be seen as a strictly ethical/political text as well as whether Heraclitus’ fragments work as an ethical map for the people of his time and place.63 I intent to structure this article in two chapters each one dedicated to each of the philosophers along with a short introduction in the beginning. As far as the main chapters are concerned the Lao‑Zi’s DDJ will be analyzed at first from the perspective of ethics in connection to the symbol of the infant not rarely used by Lao‑Zi. Secondly I shall deal with the ethical thought of Heraclitus and his perspective of the infant found in some of his fragments. Let us keep in mind that apart from the fragments themselves, the witnesses (i.e. stories about his life) play a not less important role in our extracting his philosophical opinions.64 Lastly we shall try to come to a conclusion concerning the similarities and dissimilarities between Lao‑Zi and Heraclitus regarding their views on ethics and especially regarding the use of the infant as a symbol or a pattern.Neste artigo, tentaremos explorar os aspectos éticos do Dao De Jing e os fragmentos do filósofo pré-socrático Heraclito, com base no simbolismo da criança que ambos usam. Faremos uma introdução muito curta sobre a base da moralidade e a diferença entre a China e a Grécia. Escusado será dizer que devemos levar em conta o contexto ético geral nas civilizações da China antiga e da Grécia antiga e indicar (se possível) se o DDJ deve ser visto como um texto estritamente ético / político, bem como se os fragmentos de Heraclito funcionam como um mapa ético para as pessoas de seu tempo e lugar. Procuro estruturar este artigo em dois capítulos, cada um dedicado a cada um dos filósofos, juntamente com uma breve introdução no começo. No que diz respeito aos capítulos principais, o DDJ do Lao Zi será analisado primeiro da perspectiva da ética em conexão com o símbolo da criança que raramente é usado por Lao Zi. Em segundo lugar, tratarei do pensamento ético de Heraclito e sua perspectiva do bebé encontrada em alguns de seus fragmentos. Lembremo-nos de que, além dos próprios fragmentos, os testemunhos (ou seja, histórias sobre a sua vida) desempenham um papel não menos importante para extrair as suas opiniões filosóficas. Por fim, tentaremos chegar a uma conclusão sobre as semelhanças e divergências entre Lao Zi e Heraclito a respeito de suas visões sobre ética e, especialmente, sobre o uso da criança como símbolo ou padrão.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio