5,201 research outputs found
The effects of multiple aerospace environmental stressors on human performance
An extended Fitt's law paradigm reaction time (RT) task was used to evaluate the effects of acceleration on human performance in the Dynamic Environment Simulator (DES) at Armstrong Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. This effort was combined with an evaluation of the standard CSU-13 P anti-gravity suit versus three configurations of a 'retrograde inflation anti-G suit'. Results indicated that RT and error rates increased 17 percent and 14 percent respectively from baseline to the end of the simulated aerial combat maneuver and that the most common error was pressing too few buttons
Ugly: An Inquiry Into the Problem of Racial Gerrymandering Under the Voting Rights Act
In the discussion that follows, we focus on the case of congressional districting rather than on districting in general. Although we proceed in this manner for the sake of clarity, it is also true that no single, all-purpose normative theory of electoral mechanics will cover every case of democratic representation, from county commissions to mosquito control districts to sovereign legislatures. We do not claim that one can generalize our argument to every sort of election to which the VRA might apply. Yet we think our argument does approximate a theory of general application
Bayes and health care research.
Bayesâ rule shows how one might rationally change oneâs beliefs in the light of evidence. It is the foundation of a statistical method called Bayesianism. In health care research, Bayesianism has its advocates but the dominant statistical method is frequentism.
There are at least two important philosophical differences between these methods. First, Bayesianism takes a subjectivist view of probability (i.e. that probability scores are statements of subjective belief, not objective fact) whilst frequentism takes an objectivist view. Second, Bayesianism is explicitly inductive (i.e. it shows how we may induce views about the world based on partial data from it) whereas frequentism is at least compatible with non-inductive views of scientific method, particularly the critical realism of Popper.
Popper and others detail significant problems with induction. Frequentismâs apparent ability to avoid these, plus its ability to give a seemingly more scientific and objective take on probability, lies behind its philosophical appeal to health care researchers.
However, there are also significant problems with frequentism, particularly its inability to assign probability scores to single events. Popper thus proposed an alternative objectivist view of probability, called propensity theory, which he allies to a theory of corroboration; but this too has significant problems, in particular, it may not successfully avoid induction. If this is so then Bayesianism might be philosophically the strongest of the statistical approaches. The article sets out a number of its philosophical and methodological attractions. Finally, it outlines a way in which critical realism and Bayesianism might work together.
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The density matrix in the de Broglie-Bohm approach
If the density matrix is treated as an objective description of individual
systems, it may become possible to attribute the same objective significance to
statistical mechanical properties, such as entropy or temperature, as to
properties such as mass or energy. It is shown that the de Broglie-Bohm
interpretation of quantum theory can be consistently applied to density
matrices as a description of individual systems. The resultant trajectories are
examined for the case of the delayed choice interferometer, for which Bell
appears to suggest that such an interpretation is not possible. Bell's argument
is shown to be based upon a different understanding of the density matrix to
that proposed here.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure
Causality re-established
Causality never gained the status of a "law" or "principle" in physics. Some
recent literature even popularized the false idea that causality is a notion
that should be banned from theory. Such misconception relies on an alleged
universality of reversibility of laws of physics, based either on determinism
of classical theory, or on the multiverse interpretation of quantum theory, in
both cases motivated by mere interpretational requirements for realism of the
theory. Here, I will show that a properly defined unambiguous notion of
causality is a theorem of quantum theory, which is also a falsifiable
proposition of the theory. Such causality notion appeared in the literature
within the framework of operational probabilistic theories. It is a genuinely
theoretical notion, corresponding to establish a definite partial order among
events, in the same way as we do by using the future causal cone on Minkowski
space. The causality notion is logically completely independent of the
misidentified concept of "determinism", and, being a consequence of quantum
theory, is ubiquitous in physics. In addition, as classical theory can be
regarded as a restriction of quantum theory, causality holds also in the
classical case, although the determinism of the theory trivializes it. I then
conclude arguing that causality naturally establishes an arrow of time. This
implies that the scenario of the "Block Universe" and the connected "Past
Hypothesis" are incompatible with causality, and thus with quantum theory: they
both are doomed to remain mere interpretations and, as such, not falsifiable,
similar to the hypothesis of "super-determinism". This article is part of a
discussion meeting issue "Foundations of quantum mechanics and their impact on
contemporary society".Comment: Presented at the Royal Society of London, on 11/12/ 2017, at the
conference "Foundations of quantum mechanics and their impact on contemporary
society". To appear on Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
The Science of Phylogenetic Systematics: Explanation, Prediction, and Test
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73926/1/j.1096-0031.1999.tb00279.x.pd
Absolute dimensions of eclipsing binaries. XXVI, Setting a new standard : masses, radii, and abundances for the F-type systems ADâBootis, VZâHydrae, and WZâOphiuchi
Context. Accurate mass, radius, and abundance determinations from binaries provide important information on stellar evolution, fundamental to central fields in modern astrophysics and cosmology.
Aims. We aim to determine absolute dimensions and abundances for the three F-type main-sequence detached eclipsing binaries ADBoo, VZHya, and WZOph and to perform a detailed comparison with results from recent stellar evolutionary models.
Methods. uvby light curves and uvbyÎČ standard photometry were obtained with the Strömgren Automatic Telescope at ESO, La Silla, radial velocity observations at CfA facilities, and supplementary high-resolution spectra with ESOâs FEROS spectrograph. State-ofthe-art methods were applied for the analyses: the EBOP andWilson-Devinney binary models, two-dimensional cross-correlation and
disentangling, and the VWA abundance analysis tool.
Results. Masses and radii that are precise to 0.5â0.7% and 0.4â0.9%, respectively, have been established for the components, which span the ranges of 1.1 to 1.4 M and 1.1 to 1.6 R. The [Fe/H] abundances are from â0.27 to +0.10, with uncertainties between 0.07 and 0.15 dex. We find indications of a slight α-element overabundance of [α/Fe] ⌠+0.1 for WZOph. The secondary component of ADBoo and both components of WZOph appear to be slightly active. Yale-Yonsai and Victoria-Regina evolutionary models fit the
components of ADBoo and VZHya almost equally well, assuming coeval formation, at ages of about 1.75/1.50 Gyr (ADBoo) and
1.25/1.00 Gyr (VZHya). BaSTI models, however, predict somewhat different ages for the primary and secondary components. For WZOph, the models from all three grids are significantly hotter than observed. A low He content, decreased envelope convection coupled with surface activity, and/or higher interstellar absorption would remove the discrepancy, but its cause has not been definitively identified.
Conclusions. We have demonstrated the power of testing and comparing recent stellar evolutionary models using eclipsing binaries, provided their abundances are known. The strongest limitations and challenges are set by Teff and interstellar absorption determinations, and by their effects on and correlation with abundance results
Absolute dimensions of eclipsing binaries. XXVIII. BK Pegasi and other F-type binaries: Prospects for calibration of convective core overshoot
We present a detailed study of the F-type detached eclipsing binary BK Peg,
based on new photometric and spectroscopic observations. The two components,
which have evolved to the upper half of the main-sequence band, are quite
different with masses and radii of (1.414 +/- 0.007 Msun, 1.988 +/- 0.008 Rsun)
and (1.257 +/- 0.005 Msun, 1.474 +/- 0.017 Rsun), respectively. The 5.49 day
period orbit of BK Peg is slightly eccentric (e = 0.053). The measured
rotational velocities are 16.6 +/- 0.2 (primary) and 13.4 +/- 0.2 (secondary)
km/s. For the secondary component this corresponds to (pseudo)synchronous
rotation, whereas the primary component seems to rotate at a slightly lower
rate. We derive an iron abundance of [Fe/H] =-0.12 +/- 0.07 and similar
abundances for Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr and Ni. Yonsei-Yale and Victoria-Regina
evolutionary models for the observed metal abundance reproduce BK Peg at ages
of 2.75 and 2.50 Gyr, respectively, but tend to predict a lower age for the
more massive primary component than for the secondary. We find the same age
trend for three other upper main-sequence systems in a sample of well studied
eclipsing binaries with components in the 1.15-1.70 Msun range, where
convective core overshoot is gradually ramped up in the models. We also find
that the Yonsei-Yale models systematically predict higher ages than the
Victoria-Regina models. The sample includes BW Aqr, and as a supplement we have
determined a [Fe/H] abundance of -0.07 +/- 0.11 for this late F-type binary. We
propose to use BK Peg, BW Aqr, and other well-studied 1.15-1.70 Msun eclipsing
binaries to fine-tune convective core overshoot, diffusion, and possibly other
ingredients of modern theoretical evolutionary models.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic
Disentangling effective temperatures of individual eclipsing binary components by means of color-index constraining
Eclipsing binary stars are gratifying objects because of their unique
geometrical properties upon which all important physical parameters such as
masses, radii, temperatures, luminosities and distance may be obtained in
absolute scale. This poses strict demand on the model to be free of systematic
effects that would influence the results later used for calibrations, catalogs
and evolution theory. We present an objective scheme of obtaining individual
temperatures of both binary system components by means of color-index
constraining, with the only requirement that the observational data-set is
acquired in a standard photometric system. We show that for a modest case of
two similar main-sequence components the erroneous approach of assuming the
temperature of the primary star from the color index yields temperatures which
are systematically wrong by ~100K.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 table; to appear in proceedings of the Close
Binaries in the 21st Century conference in Syros, Greec
Entanglement and State Preparation
When a subset of particles in an entangled state is measured, the state of
the subset of unmeasured particles is determined by the outcome of the
measurement. This first measurement may be thought of as a state preparation
for the remaining particles. In this paper, we examine how the duration of the
first measurement effects the state of the unmeasured subsystem. The state of
the unmeasured subsytem will be a pure or mixed state depending on the nature
of the measurement.
In the case of quantum teleportation we show that there is an eigenvalue
equation which must be satisfied for accurate teleportation. This equation
provides a limitation to the states that can be accurately teleported.Comment: 24 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
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