The iconicity and non-arbitrariness of body locations in four unrelated sign languages

In this thesis, I show that universally, there is a strong tendency for signs located on the body to have an iconic or non-arbitrary motivation, especially in their original form. I analyze sign language dictionaries from four unrelated sign languages and establish an iconic or non-arbitrary link between the form of the signs and their meaning, and classify those links according to 8 categories of body location iconicity and 3 categories of non-arbitrariness. The strength of this tendency depends on the percentage of signs that are shown to have an iconic or non-arbitrary link. For the data analyzed here this percentage is between 92.0-98.1%. In addition to this I provide helpful principles for analyzing the iconicity and etymology of signs; I provide a framework for analyzing iconicity and make a new distinction between it and a type of non-arbitrariness which I am calling “form to form resemblance.

Auxiliary fields and the sign problem

The auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo method is reviewed. The Hubbard-Stratonovich transformation converts an interacting Hamiltonian into a non-interacting Hamiltonian in a time-dependent stochastic field, allowing calculation of the resulting functional integral by Monte Carlo methods. The method is presented in a sufficiently general form to be applicable to any Hamiltonian with oneand two-body terms, with special reference to the Heisenberg model and one- and many-band Hubbard models. Many physical correlation functions can be related to correlation functions of the auxiliary field; general results are given here. Issues relating to the choice of auxiliary fields are addressed; operator product identities change the relative dimensionalities of the attractive and repulsive parts of the interaction. Frequently the integrand is not positive-definite, rendering numerical evaluation unstable. If the auxiliary field violates time-reversal invariance, the integrand is complex and this sign problem becomes a phase problem. The origin of this sign or phase is examined from a number of geometrical and other viewpoints and illustrated by simple examples: the phase problem by the spin 1/2 Heisenberg model, and the sign problem by the attractive SU(N) Hubbard model on a triangular molecule with negative hopping integrals. In the latter case, widely studied in the Jahn Teller literature, the sign is due neither to fermions nor spin, but to frustration. This system is used to illustrate a number of suggested interpretations of the sign problem

Magnetic correlations in paramagnetic iron

A method is described for calculating the extent of short-range order (SRO) in the paramagnetic state of magnetic transition metals. An energy V is calculated for a set of configurations of the exchange field. An entropy S is attached to each configuration; this is the logarithm of the number of configurations with the same degree of long- and short-range magnetic order. The SRO is then found by minimizing the resulting free energy V-TS with respect to a near-neighbour correlation. The resulting Curie temperature Tc and the magnetic entropy are in good agreement with experiment. The corresponding nearest neighbour correlation is small (approximately cos 74°) at Tc

Systems and methods for self-synchronized digital sampling

Systems and methods for self-synchronized data sampling are provided. In one embodiment, a system for capturing synchronous data samples is provided. The system includes an analog to digital converter adapted to capture signals from one or more sensors and convert the signals into a stream of digital data samples at a sampling frequency determined by a sampling control signal; and a synchronizer coupled to the analog to digital converter and adapted to receive a rotational frequency signal from a rotating machine, wherein the synchronizer is further adapted to generate the sampling control signal, and wherein the sampling control signal is based on the rotational frequency signal

The Thermal Degradation of Polymer Blends of Polyacrylonitrile

The introductory chapter reviews both general aspects of polymer degradation and, in more detail, the relationships between the chemical structure and thermal stability of vinyl polymers. A brief description of polymer blends and their usage is given together with a survey of recent work upon the thermal behaviour of such systems. Chapter 2 summarizes the experimental aspects of the work. The first section deals with the preparation and purification of polymers used in subsequent chapters. The second part described the thermal analysis techniques and procedures which were used in examination of both polymers and polymer blends. The thermal degradation of polyacrylonitrile and of blends of polyacrylonitrile and polymethylmethacrylate is studied in detail in Chapter 3. The decomposition of polymethylmethacrylate is shown to undergo significant changes upon blending. The effect has been found to vary with blend composition and has been attributed to reaction with gaseous volatiles evolved from polyacrylonitrile decomposition. The rate of coloration and thermal degradation of nitrile polymers has been previously shown to be influenced by both the nature and amount of initiating structures either within the polymer chain or present as additives. In Chapter 4 the degradation of polyacrylonitrile in the presence of chlorinated polymers is found to be similarly influenced and in each system examined separation of the exothermic nitrile oligomerization process from chain scission reactions is evident. In Chapter 5 polyacrylonitrile blends containing polystyrene and polymethylacrylate are studied. Molecular mass results obtained after isothermal degradation of the blends reveal a reduction in chain scission which is consistent with a reduction in intermolecular chain transfer reactions between degrading polystyrene and polymethylacrylate. The thermal behaviour of both polymethacrylonitrile and blends of polyacrylonitrile and polymethacrylonitrile is examined in Chapter 6. The results of blend degradation indicate nitrile oligomerization to occur in polymethacrylonitrile accompanied by a reduction in the evolution of methacrylonitrile. A range of methylmethacrylate-methacrylamide copolymer compositions is discussed in Chapter 7. Thermal decomposition is shown to result in cyclization reactions between adjacent comonomer units which effectively reduces the methacrylate monomer yield. Similarities are drawn between copolymer behaviour and polymethylmethacrylate degradation in the presence of polyacrylonitrile

Practice points: Corporate response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in uganda – time for a paradigm shift?

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is likely to remain the pre-eminent global health concern for the foreseeable future. In Uganda, while significant progress has been made by the government over the past decade in bringing down the rate of new infections, the HIV/AIDS burden in the country remains huge and vigilant efforts must be continued if this burden is to further decrease. Traditionally the government, supported by its international partners as well as local non-government organizations and the community has borne the brunt of the costs of containing the epidemic in Uganda. While the corporate sector in the country has financially contributed towards the costs of some of the interventions that are currently in place to combat the HIV epidemic, there is largely a paucity of sustained and systematic corporate leadership in providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS programmes for their employees. A survey done by the s reveals that most programmes undertaken in the private sector are of limited scope. We argue that there is more the corporate sector can do to more equitably share the HIV/AIDS burden, without necessarily jeopardizing its primary role – namely to maximize returns to shareholders. This paper proposes a conceptual framework of how companies can approach the issue of HIV/AIDS within their workforce and suggests that providing more comprehensive interventions may in some instances result in substantial cost savings through the prevention or at least delay of HIV/AIDS related consequences such as: frequent absences from work, erosion of company skills and knowledge through key employee deaths, and the costs of hiring and training replacements etc. This ultimately could result in positive financial returns to those companies that choose to pursue work place led HIV/AIDS control and prevention programmes. African Health Sciences 2002; 2(3) 127-13

Wigner Functions for Arbitrary Quantum Systems

The possibility of constructing a complete, continuous Wigner function for any quantum system has been a subject of investigation for over 50 years. A key system that has served to illustrate the difficulties of this problem has been an ensemble of spins. Here we present a general and consistent framework for constructing Wigner functions exploiting the underlying symmetries in the physical system at hand. The Wigner function can be used to fully describe any quantum system of arbitrary dimension or ensemble size.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

An Operationally Based Vision Assessment Simulator for Domes

The Operational Based Vision Assessment (OBVA) simulator was designed and built by NASA and the United States Air Force (USAF) to provide the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) with a scientific testing laboratory to study human vision and testing standards in an operationally relevant environment. This paper describes the general design objectives and implementation characteristics of the simulator visual system being created to meet these requirements. A key design objective for the OBVA research simulator is to develop a real-time computer image generator (IG) and display subsystem that can display and update at 120 frame s per second (design target), or at a minimum, 60 frames per second, with minimal transport delay using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology. There are three key parts of the OBVA simulator that are described in this paper: i) the real-time computer image generator, ii) the various COTS technology used to construct the simulator, and iii) the spherical dome display and real-time distortion correction subsystem. We describe the various issues, possible COTS solutions, and remaining problem areas identified by NASA and the USAF while designing and building the simulator for future vision research. We also describe the critically important relationship of the physical display components including distortion correction for the dome consistent with an objective of minimizing latency in the system. The performance of the automatic calibration system used in the dome is also described. Various recommendations for possible future implementations shall also be discussed

Influence of Anxiety on Non Adherence to Tuberculosis Treatment among Tb Patients in Selected Chest Clinics in Mombasa County, Kenya

Purpose. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of anxiety on Non adherence to tuberculosis treatment among Tb patients in selected chest clinics in Mombasa County, Kenya. Methodology. The study adopted correlation research design as guided by the hypothesis that anxiety had an effect on Nonadherence to tuberculosis treatment. It was conducted in Mombasa County, Kenya in 3 selected Chest clinics. All tuberculosis patients were the target population. Convenience sampling was used to identify those registered and on active treatment while simple random sampling was used for those who accepted to participate in the study. Data collection was done using questionnaires that had both open and close ended questions. Descriptive statistics helped in data analysis which were then presented using frequencies, percentages and tables. Results. 312 respondents were interviewed, 91% reported that anxiety affected their Tb treatment. 75% of them reported that side effects of the Tb medicines were the reason they had anxiety, 16.3% said the long duration of therapy while 8.7% stated that misinformation was the cause. 17.3% of respondents with severe anxiety had moderate Nonadherence to their Tb treatment. Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation. From the result the study noted that the two most common triggers of anxiety in tuberculosis patients were Side effects and the long duration of treatment. It was noted there exists a relationship between anxiety and Non adherence but the association was not significant as indicated by chi-square (X2(4, 312) = [2.532], p = [p=.639]). Screening and assement of patients on long term treatment would be needful in helping manage comorbidities