Comment on `Quantum resolution to the arrow of time dilemma'

Recently, a substantial amount of debate has grown up around a proposed quantum resolution to the `arrow of time dilemma' that is based on the role of classical memory records of entropy-decreasing events. In this note we show that the argument is incomplete and furthermore, by providing a counter-example, argue that it is incorrect. Instead of quantum mechanics providing a resolution in the manner suggested, it allows enhanced classical memory records of entropy-decreasing events.Comment: 4 pages, no figures. Comments welcom

Using computer‐based tests for information science

Computer‐based tests have been used extensively in the Department of Information Science at the University of Portsmouth, both for end‐of‐course examinations and continuous assessment. This paper details the use of computer‐based objective testing as an innovative technique for traditional assessment, and the separate problems of continuous computer‐aided assessment. Results from three years of research have led to plans for future developments within the department, and the paper provides a checklist of considerations regarded as crucial

Modular Invariants and Twisted Equivariant K-theory II: Dynkin diagram symmetries

The most basic structure of chiral conformal field theory (CFT) is the Verlinde ring. Freed-Hopkins-Teleman have expressed the Verlinde ring for the CFT's associated to loop groups, as twisted equivariant K-theory. We build on their work to express K-theoretically the structures of full CFT. In particular, the modular invariant partition functions (which essentially parametrise the possible full CFTs) have a rich interpretation within von Neumann algebras (subfactors), which has led to the developments of structures of full CFT such as the full system (fusion ring of defect lines), nimrep (cylindrical partition function), alpha-induction etc. Modular categorical interpretations for these have followed. For the generic families of modular invariants (i.e. those associated to Dynkin diagram symmetries), we provide a K-theoretic framework for these other CFT structures, and show how they relate to D-brane charges and charge-groups. We also study conformal embeddings and the E7 modular invariant of SU(2), as well as some families of finite group doubles. This new K-theoretic framework allows us to simplify and extend the less transparent, more ad hoc descriptions of these structures obtained previously within CFT.Comment: 49 pages; more explanatory material added; minor correction

Capabilities of logistics and ports in the Humber region

Paper presented at Logistics Research Network Annual Conference 2014, 3rd-5th September 2014, Huddersfield

Releasing the Power of Digital Metadata: Examining Large Networks of Co-Related Publications

Bibliographic metadata plays a key role in scientific literature, not only to summarise and establish the facts of the publication record, but also to track citations between publications and hence to establish the impact of individual articles within the literature. Commercial secondary publishers have typically taken on the role of rekeying, mining and analysing this huge corpus of linked data, but as the primary literature has moved to the world of the digital repository, this task is now undertaken by new services such as Citeseer, Citebase or Google Scholar. As institutional and subject-based repositories proliferate and Open Access mandates increase, more of the literature will become openly available in well managed data islands containing a much greater amount of detailed bibliometric metadata in formats such as RDF. Through the use of efficient extraction and inference techniques, complex relations between data items can be established. In this paper we explain the importance of the co-relation in enabling new techniques to rate the impact of a paper or author within a large corpus of publications

Space station group activities habitability module study: A synopsis

Space station habitability was studied by investigating crew activity routines, proximities, ergonomic envelopes, and group volumes. Ten alternative schematic interior designs were proposed. Preliminary conclusions include: (1) in-service interior modifications may be necessary and should be planned for; (2) design complexity will be increased if the module cluster is reduced from five to three; (3) the increased crew circulation attendant upon enhancement of space station activity may produce human traffic bottlenecks and should be planned for; (4) a single- or two-person quiet area may be desirable to provide crew members with needed solitude during waking hours; and (5) the decision to choose a two-shift or three-shift daily cycle will have a significant impact on the design configuration and operational efficiency of the human habitat