Schrodinger wave-mechanics and large scale structure

In recent years various authors have developed a new numerical approach to cosmological simulations that formulates the equations describing large scale structure (LSS) formation within a quantum mechanical framework. This method couples the Schrodinger and Poisson equations. Previously, work has evolved mainly along two different strands of thought: (1) solving the full system of equations as Widrow & Kaiser attempted, (2) as an approximation to the full set of equations (the Free Particle Approximation developed by Coles, Spencer and Short). It has been suggested that this approach can be considered in two ways: (1) as a purely classical system that includes more physics than just gravity, or (2) as the representation of a dark matter field, perhaps an Axion field, where the de Broglie wavelength of the particles is large. In the quasi-linear regime, the Free Particle Approximation (FPA) is amenable to exact solution via standard techniques from the quantum mechanics literature. However, this method breaks down in the fully non-linear regime when shell crossing occurs (confer the Zel'dovich approximation). The first eighteen months of my PhD involved investigating the performance of illustrative 1-D and 3-D ``toy" models, as well as a test against the 3-D code Hydra. Much of this work is a reproduction of the work of Short, and I was able to verify and confirm his results. As an extension to his work I introduced a way of calculating the velocity via the probability current rather than using a phase unwrapping technique. Using the probability current deals directly with the wavefunction and provides a faster method of calculation in three dimensions. After working on the FPA I went on to develop a cosmological code that did not approximate the Schrodinger-Poisson system. The final code considered the full Schrodinger equation with the inclusion of a self-consistent gravitational potential via the Poisson equation. This method follows on from Widrow & Kaiser but extends their method from 2D to 3D, it includes periodic boundary conditions, and cosmological expansion. Widrow & Kaiser provided expansion via a change of variables in their Schrodinger equation; however, this was specific only to the Einstein-de Sitter model. In this thesis I provide a generalization of that approach which works for any flat universe that obeys the Robertson-Walker metric. In this thesis I aim to provide a comprehensive review of the FPA and of the Widrow-Kaiser method. I hope this work serves as an easy first point of contact to the wave-mechanical approach to LSS and that this work also serves as a solid reference point for all future research in this new field

Beri-beri

Beri-Beri has engaged the attention, at one time or another, of most workers in the field of tropical medicine. In the past, interest centred round the problem of the aetiology of the condition. During recent years, research. has been concerned with the biological significance, the chemical structure, and the methods of estimation of vitamin B1 and other essential food factors.My personal interest in beri-beri has been, to a great extent, clinical. The pages which follow have been devoted mainly to a description of the history, the evolution of our modern theories regarding the action of vitamin B₁, a survey of the condition itself with remarks chiefly directed' to the symptomatology, diagnosis, and treatment, and to recommendations for the future eradication of the disease.The observations I have recorded have been taken from five years of medical practice in Singapore, during which time I was fortunate enough to have entire control of an "outbreak" of beri-beri , affecting ratings of the Straits Settlements Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Many copious notes and photographs were taken at the time - these were unavoidably lost, and lie at the bottom of Banka Strait. As a result, the author has been forced to draw from memory for his subject matter.Personal observations and conclusions are contrasted with the opinions expressed in the more important articles sifted from the multitudinous array of literature. An attempt has been made to balance them; apparent differences have been recorded, and where possible reconciled.There is possibly no other subject where so many contradictory statements have been made; nevertheless the whole is a most inspiring story, where the ultimate destination has been reached only by long, laborious travel

The technical demands of amateur boxing: Effect of contest outcome, weight and ability

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport on April 2016, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/24748668.2016.11868881As research to-date has typically considered the technical features of amateur boxing performance with respect to contest outcome only, this study examined the offensive and defensive technical demands with respect to the independent and interactive effects of contest outcome, weight class and ability. Appraising eight offensive and four defensive actions and their corresponding outcomes (successful/unsuccessful), the technical demands of competitive boxing from 84 English amateurs (age: 21.3 ± 3.1 y; body mass: 68.1 ± 11.4 kg) across 11 weight categories (48 – 91+ kg) and two standards of competition (regional and national) were notated using computerized software. Data analysis reinforced that amateur boxing produces high technical loads (e.g. ~ 25 punches and ~ 10 defences per minute) and that performance is influenced significantly by the study’s independent variables. In particular, boxing standard (ability) was positively associated with external load (frequency of offensive and defensive actions), and winning was associated with high offensive and low defensive frequencies, whereas weight class had an inconsistent impact on technical performance. It is recommended that appraisals of performance and approaches to training and competition should take heed of our observations and that future research considers the role of other independent variables, including opposition quality and ‘style’, likely to affect boxing performance

The development of a reliable amateur boxing performance analysis template

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Sports Sciences on 2/11/2012, available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/10.1080/02640414.2012.738922The aim of this study was to devise a valid performance analysis system for the assessment of the movement characteristics associated with competitive amateur boxing and assess its reliability using analysts of varying experience of the sport and performance analysis. Key performance indicators to characterise the demands of an amateur contest (offensive, defensive and feinting) were developed and notated using a computerised notational analysis system. Data were subjected to intra- and inter-observer reliability assessment using median sign tests and calculating the proportion of agreement within predetermined limits of error. For all performance indicators, intra-observer reliability revealed non-significant differences between observations (P > 0.05) and high agreement was established (80-100%) regardless of whether exact or the reference value of ±1 was applied. Inter-observer reliability was less impressive for both analysts (amateur boxer and experienced analyst), with the proportion of agreement ranging from 33-100%. Nonetheless, there was no systematic bias between observations for any indicator (P > 0.05), and the proportion of agreement within the reference range (±1) was 100%. A reliable performance analysis template has been developed for the assessment of amateur boxing performance and is available for use by researchers, coaches and athletes to classify and quantify the movement characteristics of amateur boxing

The development of an amateur boxing simulation protocol

There is a dearth of research attempting to quantify the external (physical) and internal (physiological) demands of amateur boxing performance. Therefore, the purpose of this programme of research was to investigate the external demands of amateur boxing performance, and subsequently, develop a sport-specific simulation protocol that could replicate these demands and the accompanying physiological responses while appraising the reliability and validity of the attempt.To achieve this it was necessary initially to identify key offensive and defensive performance indicators and assess the intra- and inter-observer reliability with which such actions could be quantified. Intra-observer reliability was deemed excellent with high agreement (>92%) for all actions identified. Inter-observer reliability was less impressive (>75%), though remained consistently high nevertheless. Subsequently, research utilising this template quantified the offensive and defensive external demands and effectiveness (i.e. frequency of actions deemed successful) according to the independent and interactive influences of contest outcome, weight class and ability using post-contest video analysis. Main effects, two- and three-way interactions were established when appraising the frequency of actions and their outcomes in relation to the independent variables. Whilst the ability of the boxers evidenced the most prominent impact, contest outcome and weight class remained important influences for most actions. Moreover, substantial (CV >30%) within-group variation was evidenced implicating the role of boxer ‘styles’ and strategies in modifying the demands. The offensive and defensive demands were then supplemented with Global Positioning System (GPS) analyses of the boxers’ sport-specific time-displacement movements. Having established the GPS’s reliability and validity for assessing the boxingmovements, it was observed that boxers typically moved a distance of 35.9 m·min-1 at an average speed of 0.6 m·s-1. Such data was amalgamated with the technical demands to produce a boxing-specific simulation protocol that was reflective of the average competitive demand and thus had the potential to be a boxing conditioning and fitness test (BOXFIT). Despite providing the most valid external demand to-date, owing to confounding influences and within-group dispersion, application of the typical external demand was shown to afford only an approximation of the actual demands in all boxers. As such an issue is characteristic of simulation protocols, the BOXFIT was still employed to evaluate the physiological response and appraise the associated reliability and validity. The internal demand was characterised by a high aerobic cardiopulmonary response (peak heart rate > 189 b·min-1; peak ̇O2 > 55 ml·kg-1·min-1) coupled with a marked indication of anaerobic energy provision (blood lactate = 4.6 ± 1.3 mmol·l-1). The reliability of the physiological responses elicited by BOXFIT performance was generally sufficient to enable the detection of moderate effects (i.e. 0.6 x pooled SD) and practically relevant changes in physiological and physical performance owing to training and nutritional interventions. However, the BOXFIT-induced responses underestimated selected markers of internal load (e.g. Mean heart rate ≈ -4.5%), questioning its validity. Thus, application of the average external demand typically approximated, rather than replicated, the actual physiology of boxing. With modifications, the validity of the external demands and internal response could be improved. The BOXFIT might therefore be used as part of a boxer’s conditioning, providing a sport-specific means of training and offers an ergonomic framework to assess the impact of systematic, intervention-based changes in boxing-specific exercise physiology

Development of a reliable and valid kata performance analysis template

Abstract With the new kata evaluation procedure, examination of the underpinning features of successful kata performance appears warranted.The purpose of the study was to create a valid and reliable analysis template for the assessment of the movement characteristics of competitive kata. Following the creation, and scrutiny, of action variables and operational definitions, three observers were provided with the operational definitions of the performance indicators, example kata clips and instructions detailing the method of ‘tagging’ using a computerized analysis software. Intra- and inter-rater reliability assessment and median sign tests, and Cohen’s Kappa coefficient were conducted. There were no significant differences (p ˃ 0.05) between the observer’s and analyst’s test-retest observations for all the performance indicators. The intra-rater reliability was found to be “almost perfect” in all raters (LA K = 0.99 [95% CI: 0.98-0.99]; PA K = 0.94 [95% CI: 0.93-0.95]; KR K = 0.94 [95% CI: 0.93-0.95]) and the inter-rater Kappa coefficients were moderate (K = 0.55 ± 0.05). This study has demonstrated that a novel performance analysis template yields reliable observations of the key movements during kata and the procedures could therefore be used to objectively appraise features of successful performance

Consumer Bankruptcy Panel

The case revolves around our client, the debtor, Randy Bullock, whose father made him the trustee and beneficiary of a trust without his knowledge