372 research outputs found
Isotopic liftings of Clifford algebras and applications in elementary particle mass matrices
Isotopic liftings of algebraic structures are investigated in the context of
Clifford algebras, where it is defined a new product involving an arbitrary,
but fixed, element of the Clifford algebra. This element acts as the unit with
respect to the introduced product, and is called isounit. We construct
isotopies in both associative and non-associative arbitrary algebras, and
examples of these constructions are exhibited using Clifford algebras, which
although associative, can generate the octonionic, non-associative, algebra.
The whole formalism is developed in a Clifford algebraic arena, giving also the
necessary pre-requisites to introduce isotopies of the exterior algebra. The
flavor hadronic symmetry of the six u,d,s,c,b,t quarks is shown to be exact,
when the generators of the isotopic Lie algebra su(6) are constructed, and the
unit of the isotopic Clifford algebra is shown to be a function of the six
quark masses. The limits constraining the parameters, that are entries of the
representation of the isounit in the isotopic group SU(6), are based on the
most recent limits imposed on quark masses.Comment: 19 page
Statistical Model for Schedule Prediction: Validation in a Housing-Cooperative Construction Database
There are often considerable differences between the planned schedule for a construction project and what later develops during actual construction. This paper introduces an innovativeapproach that uses MarkovChain models to support predictions during earned value analyses. A statistical model was developed to predict possible deviations in a project schedule and the future progress of a project. This model, based on Markov chains, uses data from the past to adjust future predictions. A case study was built from a database of 90 housing cooperative construction projects and was validated in 12 more projects. A cross validation of three interactions was also carried out, obtaininganerror of 2.38% inthe prediction offuture progressandanerror of 4.29% intheprediction of construction timing.Theinnovative prediction model presented in this paper contributes to the management body of knowledge by introducing a new tool for the management and control of construction timing. The method presented improves construction management because it predicts future deviations in scheduleswithreducederrorsanddeterminestotaldeviationfromaconstructionschedulewithgreatprecision.Thisallowsbettercontroloverwork timing and represents important input in determining strategies and future actions.Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovació
Invariant variational principle for Hamiltonian mechanics
It is shown that the action for Hamiltonian equations of motion can be
brought into invariant symplectic form. In other words, it can be formulated
directly in terms of the symplectic structure without any need to
choose some 1-form , such that , which is not unique
and does not even generally exist in a global sense.Comment: final version; to appear in J.Phys.A; 17 pages, 2 figure
The Inverse Variational Problem for Autoparallels
We study the problem of the existence of a local quantum scalar field theory
in a general affine metric space that in the semiclassical approximation would
lead to the autoparallel motion of wave packets, thus providing a deviation of
the spinless particle trajectory from the geodesics in the presence of torsion.
The problem is shown to be equivalent to the inverse problem of the calculus of
variations for the autoparallel motion with additional conditions that the
action (if it exists) has to be invariant under time reparametrizations and
general coordinate transformations, while depending analytically on the torsion
tensor. The problem is proved to have no solution for a generic torsion in
four-dimensional spacetime. A solution exists only if the contracted torsion
tensor is a gradient of a scalar field. The corresponding field theory
describes coupling of matter to the dilaton field.Comment: 13 pages, plain Latex, no figure
Canonical quantization of so-called non-Lagrangian systems
We present an approach to the canonical quantization of systems with
equations of motion that are historically called non-Lagrangian equations. Our
viewpoint of this problem is the following: despite the fact that a set of
differential equations cannot be directly identified with a set of
Euler-Lagrange equations, one can reformulate such a set in an equivalent
first-order form which can always be treated as the Euler-Lagrange equations of
a certain action. We construct such an action explicitly. It turns out that in
the general case the hamiltonization and canonical quantization of such an
action are non-trivial problems, since the theory involves time-dependent
constraints. We adopt the general approach of hamiltonization and canonical
quantization for such theories (Gitman, Tyutin, 1990) to the case under
consideration. There exists an ambiguity (not reduced to a total time
derivative) in associating a Lagrange function with a given set of equations.
We present a complete description of this ambiguity. The proposed scheme is
applied to the quantization of a general quadratic theory. In addition, we
consider the quantization of a damped oscillator and of a radiating point-like
charge.Comment: 13 page
Longitudinal Analysis of Quality of Life, Clinical, Radiographic, Echocardiographic, and Laboratory Variables in Dogs with Preclinical Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease Receiving Pimobendan or Placebo: The EPIC Study
Background: Changes in clinical variables associated with the administration of pimobendan to dogs with preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and cardiomegaly have not been described.
Objectives: To investigate the effect of pimobendan on clinical variables and the relationship between a change in heart size and the time to congestive heart failure (CHF) or cardiac-related death (CRD) in dogs with MMVD and cardiomegaly. To determine whether pimobendan-treated dogs differ from dogs receiving placebo at onset of CHF.
Animals: Three hundred and fifty-four dogs with MMVD and cardiomegaly.
Materials and Methods: Prospective, blinded study with dogs randomized (ratio 1:1) to pimobendan (0.4-0.6 mg/kg/d) or placebo. Clinical, laboratory, and heart-size variables in both groups were measured and compared at different time points (day 35 and onset of CHF) and over the study duration. Relationships between short-term changes in echocardiographic variables and time to CHF or CRD were explored.
Results: At day 35, heart size had reduced in the pimobendan group:median change in (Delta) LVIDDN -0.06 (IQR:-0.15 to + 0.02), P < 0.0001, and LA:Ao -0.08 (IQR:-0.23 to + 0.03), P < 0.0001. Reduction in heart size was associated with increased time to CHF or CRD. Hazard ratio for a 0.1 increase in Delta LVIDDN was 1.26, P = 0.0003. Hazard ratio for a 0.1 increase in Delta LA:Ao was 1.14, P = 0.0002. At onset of CHF, groups were similar.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Pimobendan treatment reduces heart size. Reduced heart size is associated with improved outcome. At the onset of CHF, dogs treated with pimobendan were indistinguishable from those receiving placebo
Effect of Pimobendan in Dogs with Preclinical Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease and Cardiomegaly: The EPIC Study - A Randomized Clinical Trial
Background: Pimobendan is effective in treatment of dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Its effect on dogs before the onset of CHF is unknown. Hypothesis/Objectives: Administration of pimobendan (0.4-0.6 mg/kg/d in divided doses) to dogs with increased heart size secondary to preclinical MMVD, not receiving other cardiovascular medications, will delay the onset of signs of CHF, cardiac-related death, or euthanasia. Animals: 360 client-owned dogs with MMVD with left atrial-to-aortic ratio >= 1.6, normalized left ventricular internal diameter in diastole >= 1.7, and vertebral heart sum >10.5. Methods: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded, multicenter clinical trial. Primary outcome variable was time to a composite of the onset of CHF, cardiac-related death, or euthanasia. Results: Median time to primary endpoint was 1228 days (95% CI: 856-NA) in the pimobendan group and 766 days (95% CI: 667-875) in the placebo group (P = .0038). Hazard ratio for the pimobendan group was 0.64 (95% CI: 0.47-0.87) compared with the placebo group. The benefit persisted after adjustment for other variables. Adverse events were not different between treatment groups. Dogs in the pimobendan group lived longer (median survival time was 1059 days (95% CI: 952-NA) in the pimobendan group and 902 days (95% CI: 747-1061) in the placebo group) (P = .012). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Administration of pimobendan to dogs with MMVD and echocardiographic and radiographic evidence of cardiomegaly results in prolongation of preclinical period and is safe and well tolerated. Prolongation of preclinical period by approximately 15 months represents substantial clinical benefit
Progress in Classical and Quantum Variational Principles
We review the development and practical uses of a generalized Maupertuis
least action principle in classical mechanics, in which the action is varied
under the constraint of fixed mean energy for the trial trajectory. The
original Maupertuis (Euler-Lagrange) principle constrains the energy at every
point along the trajectory. The generalized Maupertuis principle is equivalent
to Hamilton's principle. Reciprocal principles are also derived for both the
generalized Maupertuis and the Hamilton principles. The Reciprocal Maupertuis
Principle is the classical limit of Schr\"{o}dinger's variational principle of
wave mechanics, and is also very useful to solve practical problems in both
classical and semiclassical mechanics, in complete analogy with the quantum
Rayleigh-Ritz method. Classical, semiclassical and quantum variational
calculations are carried out for a number of systems, and the results are
compared. Pedagogical as well as research problems are used as examples, which
include nonconservative as well as relativistic systems
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