A dynamical symmetry breaking model in Weyl space

The dynamical process following the breaking of Weyl geometry to Riemannian geometry is considered by studying the motion of de Sitter bubbles in a Weyl vacuum. The bubbles are given in terms of an exact, spherically symmetric thin shell solution to the Einstein equations in a Weyl-Dirac theory with a time-dependent scalar field of the form beta = f(t)/r. The dynamical solutions obtained lead to a number of possible applications. An important feature of the thin shell model is the manner in which beta provides a connection between the interior and exterior geometries since information about the exterior geometry is contained in the boundary conditions for beta.Comment: 18 pages, RevTex, to be published in J. Math. Phy

Neutrino optics and oscillations in gravitational fields

We study the propagation of neutrinos in gravitational fields using wave functions that are exact to first order in the metric deviation. For illustrative purposes, the geometrical background is represented by the Lense-Thirring metric. We derive explicit expressions for neutrino deflection, helicity transitions, flavor oscillations and oscillation Hamiltonian.Comment: 16 page

Can Gravity Distinguish Between Dirac and Majorana Neutrinos?

We show that spin-gravity interaction can distinguish between Dirac and Majorana neutrino wave packets propagating in a Lense-Thirring background. Using time-independent perturbation theory and gravitational phase to generate a perturbation Hamiltonian with spin-gravity coupling, we show that the associated matrix element for the Majorana neutrino differs significantly from its Dirac counterpart. This difference can be demonstrated through significant gravitational corrections to the neutrino oscillation length for a two-flavour system, as shown explicitly for SN1987A.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; minor changes of text; typo corrected; accepted in Physical Review Letter

Reply to Comment on ``Can gravity distinguish between Dirac and Majorana neutrinos?''

This is a reply to a comment (gr-qc/0610098) written by Nieves and Pal about our paper (gr-qc/0605153) published in Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 041101 (2006).Comment: 1 page, no figures, REVTe

Measurement of Adhesion of Sternal Wires to a Novel Bioactive Glass-Based Adhesive

Stainless steel wires are the standard method for sternal closure because of their strength and rigidity, the simplicity of the process, and the short healing time that results from their application. Despite this, problems still exist with sternal stability due to micromotion between the two halves of the dissected and wired sternum. Recently, a novel glass-based adhesive was developed which, in cadaveric trials and in conjunction with wiring, was shown to restrict this micromotion. However, in order to avoid complications during resternotomy, the adhesive should adhere only to the bone and not the sternal wire. In this study, sternal wires were embedded in 8 mm discs manufactured from the novel glass-based adhesive and the constructs were then incubated at 37 ◦C for one, seven, and 30 days. The discs were manufactured in two different thicknesses: 2 and 3 mm. Wire pull-out tests were then performed on the constructs at three different strain rates (1, 0.1, and 0.01 mm/min). No statistically significant difference in pull-out force was found regardless of incubation time, loading rate, or construct thickness. The pull-out forces recorded were consistent with static friction between the wire and adhesive, rather than the adhesion between them. Scanning electron micrographs provided further proof of this. These results indicate that the novel adhesive may be suitable for sternal fixation without complicating a potential resternotomy

2-Increasing binary aggregation operators

In this work we investigate the class of binary aggregation operators (=agops) satisfying the 2-increasing property, obtaining some characterizations for agops having other special properties (e.g., quasi-arithmetic mean, Choquet-integral based, modularity) and presenting some construction methods. In particular, the notion of P-increasing function is used in order to characterize the composition of 2-increasing agops. The lattice structure (with respect to the pointwise order) of some subclasses of 2-increasing agops is presented. Finally, a method is given for constructing copulas beginning from 2- increasing and 1-Lipschitz agops

Agent architecture for adaptive behaviours in autonomous driving

Evolution has endowed animals with outstanding adaptive behaviours which are grounded in the organization of their sensorimotor system. This paper uses inspiration from these principles of organization in the design of an artificial agent for autonomous driving. After distilling the relevant principles from biology, their functional role in the implementation of an artificial system are explained. The resulting Agent, developed in an EU H2020 Research and Innovation Action, is used to concretely demonstrate the emergence of adaptive behaviour with a significant level of autonomy. Guidelines to adapt the same principled organization of the sensorimotor system to other agents for driving are also obtained. The demonstration of the system abilities is given with example scenarios and open access simulation tools. Prospective developments concerning learning via mental imagery are finally discussed

Colamus humanitatem: Nurturing human nature

In an essay on anger, the ancient philosopher Seneca warns of the futility of harboring negative emotions given the imminence of death—the ultimate human equalizer. Ancient philosophers like Seneca believed that emotions are based on cognitions (beliefs) and are therefore modifiable through spiritual exercises. Modern research shows that the emotional and cognitive aspects of human psychology are malleable (nurture), but also require gene expression (nature). A parallel between individual behavior and socio-political forces suggests a framework for the current environmental crisis— another human equalizer. Two critical questions are suggested: Is the amassed experience of the last few centuries sufficient to lead to corrective measures that would avoid environmental degradation? Or would a catastrophic event with significant longterm environmental degradation have to occur before corrective measures reach consensus at the socio-political level? En un ensayo sobre la ira, el antiguo filósofo Séneca advierte lo inútil que es albergar emociones negativas, dada la inminencia de la muerte, condición que, en últimas, nos hace iguales como humanos. Los antiguos filósofos, creían que las emociones estaban basadas en cogniciones y que por eso eran modificables a través de ejercicios espirituales. Las investigaciones actuales demuestran que los aspectos cognitivos y emocionales de la  sicología humana son maleables (crianza), pero que también requieren expresión genética (naturaleza). Un paralelo entre el comportamiento individual y las fuerzas sociopolíticas sugiere un marco para la crisis ambiental actual, otro “ecualizador” humano. Dos preguntas críticas surgen: ¿Es suficiente la experiencia acumulada de los dos últimos siglos para conseguir medidas correctivas que puedan impedir la degradación ambiental? o ¿es necesario que ocurra un evento catastrófico de degradación ambiental significativa a largo plazo para que las medidas correctivas puedan alcanzar consenso en el nivel socio-político