Problems with Using Evolutionary Theory in Philosophy

Does science move toward truths? Are present scientific theories (approximately) true? Should we invoke truths to explain the success of science? Do our cognitive faculties track truths? Some philosophers say yes, while others say no, to these questions. Interestingly, both groups use the same scientific theory, viz., evolutionary theory, to defend their positions. I argue that it begs the question for the former group to do so because their positive answers imply that evolutionary theory is warranted, whereas it is self-defeating for the latter group to do so because their negative answers imply that evolutionary theory is unwarranted

Oxygen-Vacancy-Induced Orbital Reconstruction of Ti Ions at the Interface of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Heterostructures: A Resonant Soft-X-Ray Scattering Study

Resonant soft-x-ray scattering measurements have been performed to investigate interface electronic structures of (LaAlO3/SrTiO3) superlattices. Resonant scattering intensities at superlattice reflections show clear evidence of degeneracy lifting in t(2g) states of interface Ti ions. Polarization dependence of intensities indicates the energy of d(xy) states is lower by similar to 1 eV than two other t(2g) states. The energy splitting is insensitive to epitaxial strain. The orbital reconstruction is induced by oxygen vacancies and confined to the interface within two unit cells, indicating charge compensation at the polar interfaces. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.017401X112723Nsciescopu

The Uniformity Principle vs. the Disuniformity Principle

The pessimistic induction is built upon the uniformity principle that the future resembles the past. In daily scientific activities, however, scientists sometimes rely on what I call the disuniformity principle that the future differs from the past. They do not give up their research projects despite the repeated failures. They believe that they will succeed although they failed repeatedly, and as a result they achieve what they intended to achieve. Given that the disuniformity principle is useful in certain cases in science, we might reasonably use it to infer that present theories are true unlike past theories. Hence, pessimists have the burden to show that our prediction about the fate of present theories is more likely to be true if we use the uniformity principle than if we use the disuniformity principle

Natural killer cells attenuate cytomegalovirus-induced hearing loss in mice

<div><p>Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common non-hereditary cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) yet the mechanisms of hearing loss remain obscure. Natural Killer (NK) cells play a critical role in regulating murine CMV infection via NK cell recognition of the Ly49H cell surface receptor of the viral-encoded m157 ligand expressed at the infected cell surface. This Ly49H NK receptor/m157 ligand interaction has been found to mediate host resistance to CMV in the spleen, and lung, but is much less effective in the liver, so it is not known if this interaction is important in the context of SNHL. Using a murine model for CMV-induced labyrinthitis, we have demonstrated that the Ly49H/m157 interaction mediates host resistance in the temporal bone. BALB/c mice, which lack functional Ly49H, inoculated with mCMV at post-natal day 3 developed profound hearing loss and significant outer hair cell loss by 28 days of life. In contrast, C57BL/6 mice, competent for the Ly49H/m157 interaction, had minimal hearing loss and attenuated outer hair cell loss with the same mCMV dose. Administration of Ly49H blocking antibody or inoculation with a mCMV viral strain deleted for the m157 gene rendered the previously resistant C57BL/6 mouse strain susceptible to hearing loss to a similar extent as the BALB/c mouse strain indicating a direct role of the Ly49H/m157 interaction in mCMV-dependent hearing loss. Additionally, NK cell recruitment to sites of infection was evident in the temporal bone of inoculated susceptible mouse strains. These results demonstrate participation of NK cells in protection from CMV-induced labyrinthitis and SNHL in mice.</p></div

Justifying the Special Theory of Relativity with Unconceived Methods

Many realists argue that present scientific theories will not follow the fate of past scientific theories because the former are more successful than the latter. Critics object that realists need to show that present theories have reached the level of success that warrants their truth. I reply that the special theory of relativity has been repeatedly reinforced by unconceived scientific methods, so it will be reinforced by infinitely many unconceived scientific methods. This argument for the special theory of relativity overcomes the critics’ objection, and has advantages over the no-miracle argument and the selective induction for it

Refutations of the Two Pessimistic Inductions

Both the pessimistic inductions over scientific theories and over scientists are built upon what I call proportional pessimism: as theories are discarded, the inductive rationale for concluding that the next theories will be discarded grows stronger. I argue that proportional pessimism clashes with the fact that present theories are more successful than past theories, and with the implications of the assumptions that there are finitely and infinitely many unconceived alternatives. Therefore, the two pessimistic inductions collapse along with proportional pessimism

Microstructural Evolution of Battery Electrodes During Calendering

Calendering is a crucial manufacturing process in the optimization of battery performance and lifetime due to its significant effect on the 3D electrode microstructure. By conducting an in situ calendering experiment on lithium-ion battery cathodes using X-ray nano-computed tomography, here we show that the electrodes composed of large particles with a broad size distribution experience heterogeneous microstructural self-arrangement. At high C-rates, the performance is predominantly restricted by sluggish solid-state diffusion, which is exacerbated by calendering due to the increased microstructural and lithiation heterogeneity, leading to active material underutilization. In contrast, electrodes consisting of small particles are structurally stable with more homogeneous deformation and a lower tortuosity, showing a much higher rated capacity that is less sensitive to calendering densification. Finally, the dependence of performance on the dual variation of both porosity and electrode thickness is investigated to provide new insights into the microstructural optimization for different applications in electrode manufacturing

Coherent quantum state storage and transfer between two phase qubits via a resonant cavity

A network of quantum-mechanical systems showing long lived phase coherence of its quantum states could be used for processing quantum information. As with classical information processing, a quantum processor requires information bits (qubits) that can be independently addressed and read out, long-term memory elements to store arbitrary quantum states, and the ability to transfer quantum information through a coherent communication bus accessible to a large number of qubits. Superconducting qubits made with scalable microfabrication techniques are a promising candidate for the realization of a large scale quantum information processor. Although these systems have successfully passed tests of coherent coupling for up to four qubits, communication of individual quantum states between qubits via a quantum bus has not yet been demonstrated. Here, we perform an experiment demonstrating the ability to coherently transfer quantum states between two superconducting Josephson phase qubits through a rudimentary quantum bus formed by a single, on chip, superconducting transmission line resonant cavity of length 7 mm. After preparing an initial quantum state with the first qubit, this quantum information is transferred and stored as a nonclassical photon state of the resonant cavity, then retrieved at a later time by the second qubit connected to the opposite end of the cavity. Beyond simple communication, these results suggest that a high quality factor superconducting cavity could also function as a long term memory element. The basic architecture presented here is scalable, offering the possibility for the coherent communication between a large number of superconducting qubits.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures (to appear in Nature

A geometric network model of intrinsic grey-matter connectivity of the human brain

Network science provides a general framework for analysing the large-scale brain networks that naturally arise from modern neuroimaging studies, and a key goal in theoretical neuro- science is to understand the extent to which these neural architectures influence the dynamical processes they sustain. To date, brain network modelling has largely been conducted at the macroscale level (i.e. white-matter tracts), despite growing evidence of the role that local grey matter architecture plays in a variety of brain disorders. Here, we present a new model of intrinsic grey matter connectivity of the human connectome. Importantly, the new model incorporates detailed information on cortical geometry to construct ‘shortcuts’ through the thickness of the cortex, thus enabling spatially distant brain regions, as measured along the cortical surface, to communicate. Our study indicates that structures based on human brain surface information differ significantly, both in terms of their topological network characteristics and activity propagation properties, when compared against a variety of alternative geometries and generative algorithms. In particular, this might help explain histological patterns of grey matter connectivity, highlighting that observed connection distances may have arisen to maximise information processing ability, and that such gains are consistent with (and enhanced by) the presence of short-cut connections