Minkowski vacuum in background independent quantum gravity

We consider a local formalism in quantum field theory, in which no reference is made to infinitely extended spacial surfaces, infinite past or infinite future. This can be obtained in terms of a functional W[f,S] of the field f on a closed 3d surface S that bounds a finite region R of Minkowski spacetime. The dependence of W on S is governed by a local covariant generalization of the Schroedinger equation. Particles' scattering amplitudes that describe experiments conducted in the finite region R --the lab during a finite time-- can be expressed in terms of W. The dependence of W on the geometry of S expresses the dependence of the transition amplitudes on the relative location of the particle detectors. In a gravitational theory, background independence implies that W is independent from S. However, the detectors' relative location is still coded in the argument of W, because the geometry of the boundary surface is determined by the boundary value f of the gravitational field. This observation clarifies the physical meaning of the functional W defined by non perturbative formulations of quantum gravity, such as the spinfoam formalism. In particular, it suggests a way to derive particles' scattering amplitudes from a spinfoam model. In particular, we discuss the notion of vacuum in a generally covariant context. We distinguish the nonperturbative vacuum |0_S>, which codes the dynamics, from the Minkowski vacuum |0_M>, which is the state with no particles and is recovered by taking appropriate large values of the boundary metric. We derive a relation between the two vacuum states. We propose an explicit expression for computing the Minkowski vacuum from a spinfoam model.Comment: 8 pages, no figure

Regressão psíquica em pequenos grupos terapêuticos na perspectiva da psicologia analítica

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Carlos Augusto SerbenaDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Humanas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia. Defesa : Curitiba, 04/07/2019Inclui referênciasÁrea de concentração: Psicologia ClínicaResumo: Tradicionalmente o campo da Psicologia Analítica tende a privilegiar a prática clínica individual e apresenta uma escassez teórica e prática em relação a psicoterapia grupal. Existem razões tanto históricas quanto conceituais para essa prevalência da prática individual, como a ênfase que é dada à realidade psíquica individual, assim como o modelo de individuação proposto pela escola clássica, que é compreendido essencialmente numa perspectiva intrapsíquica como um processo de transformação da libido instintual e inconsciente em espírito (cultura). Esse modelo gera uma lacuna no entendimento das influências grupais e sociais no processo de individuação. A visão clássica também estabeleceu um correlação indiscriminada entre grupo, massa e inconsciente, no sentido de que todo grupo promoveria uma regressão à modos de funcionamento menos racionais e que poderia ativar a camada arquetípica do inconsciente, sendo isso uma possível ameaça tanto à individualidade quanto à sociedade e, sendo o indivíduo o único portador da consciência, caberia apenas a psicoterapia individual a função de protegê-lo contra a ameaça do inconsciente. Ao mesmo tempo em que pode ser ameaçador, o confronto com o inconsciente se prova fundamental no processo de individuação. Porém, tal confronto salutar, parece não ser concebido como possível num setting grupal, apenas no individual. Um levantamento bibliográfico sobre a regressão psíquica e sobre a ativação arquetípica nos grupos foi realizado, e através da análise conceitual foi possível discriminar as divergências teóricas encontradas, compreender seu contexto histórico, e avaliar se os argumentos apontados pela escola clássica, predominantemente refratária ao trabalho grupal, ainda se mantém atuais. A proposta é pensar se uma psicoterapia grupal junguiana seria possível, já que esta modalidade clínica tem se mostrado eficaz em outras abordagens e poderia democratizar o acesso da população à psicoterapia. Palavras-chave: Arquétipo; Grupo; Individuação; Psicoterapia de grupo; Regressão Psíquica.Abstract: Traditionally, the field of Analytical Psychology tends to overestimate the individual clinical practice whilst there is both theoretical and practical scarcity in regards to group psychotherapy. There are historical as well as conceptual reasons to this preponderance on individual practice, as the emphasis given to the individual psychic reality, as well as the individuation model proposed by the classical school, which is essentially comprehended in an intrapsychic perspective as a process of transformation of the instinctive and unconscious libido into spirit (culture). This model generates a gap in the understanding of the group and social influences in the individuation process. The classic vision has also established an indiscriminate correlation amongst group, mass and the unconscious, in the sense of that every group could promote a regression to less rational functioning modes and that this could also activate the archetypal layer of the unconscious, being this a possible threat as to the individuality as to the society; and, being the individual the sole bearer of consciousness, only the individual psychotherapy could protect the human of the threat of the unconscious. At the same time it might look threatening, the confrontation of the unconscious is key in the process of individuation. However salutary, this confrontation does not seem to be conceived as a possibility in a group setting, but only in individual psychotherapy. A bibliographical research on psychic regression and archetypal activation in groups was conducted and, through conceptual analysis, it was possible to discriminate the theoretical divergences that were found, understand their historical concept, and evaluate if the arguments supported by the classical school, mainly based on the group theories/activities, are still up to date. The proposal is to analyze if a Jungian group psychotherapy would be possible, taking into account the group regression matter, knowing that this clinical modality has shown efficacy in other approaches and could democratize the access to psychotherapy to the people in general. Keywords: Archetype; Group; Individuation; Group psychotherapy; Psychic Regressio

Expectancy to Eat Modulates Cognitive Control and Attention Toward Irrelevant Food and Non-food Images in Healthy Starving Individuals. A Behavioral Study

It is thought that just as hunger itself, the expectancy to eat impacts attention and cognitive control toward food stimuli, but this theory has not been extensively explored at a behavioral level. In order to study the effect of expectancy to eat on attentional and cognitive control mechanisms, 63 healthy fasting participants were presented with an affective priming spatial compatibility Simon task that included both food and object (non-food) distracters. The participants (N = 63) were randomly assigned to two groups: an “immediate expectancy” group made up of participants who expected to eat immediately after the task (N = 31; females = 21; age = 26.8 ± 9.6) and a “delayed expectancy” cohort made up of individuals who expected to eat a few hours later (N = 32; females = 21; age = 25.0 ± 8.0). Slower reaction times (RTs) toward the food and non-food distracters and a more pronounced effect on the RTs in the incompatible condition [i.e., the Simon effect (SE)] were noted in both groups. The effect of the food and non-food distracters on the RTs was more pronounced in the immediate with respect to the delayed expectancy group. The magnitude of the SE for the food and the non-food distracters was also greater in the immediate with respect to the delayed expectancy group. These results seem to indicate that when the expectancy to eat is short, the RTs are delayed, and the SE is more pronounced when food and non-food distracters are presented. Instead, when the expectancy to eat is more distant, the distracters have less of an effect on the RTs and the correspondence effect is smaller. Our results suggest that the expectancy to eat can modulate both attention orienting and cognitive control mechanisms in healthy fasting individuals when distracting details are competing with information processing during goal directed behavior

Observatory for the Assets Management of Rural Territories Andean Oasis

Las comunidades rurales Andinas, por sus características territoriales, presentan tanto oportunidades como amenazas en escenarios actuales de grandes transformaciones, siendo un agravante la falencia o ausencia de leyes de uso del suelo, planes de ordenamiento territorial y planificación. Es objetivo de este trabajo, generar un modelo de Observatorio replicable a distintas áreas Andinas desde la visión integral del territorio para conocer el grado de transformación y vulnerabilidad, aplicado a la localidad de Las Flores Departamento Iglesia, Provincia de San Juan. La metodología parte del conocimiento del Patrimonio local para el estudio de la dinámica territorial y organizacional, procurando la gestión sustentable del territorio en un marco político institucional local. La capacidad de resiliencia estará dada principalmente por la asociación, cooperación, defensa y valoración patrimonial de la comunidad involucrada. Este observatorio se traduce como una herramienta para monitorear periódicamente diferentes procesos, generando propuestas apropiadas, “alertas tempranas” y difusión de alternativas.Andean rural communities, by its local characteristics, present both opportunities and threats in today's rapidly changing scenarios, aggravated for the failure or absence of laws of land use, land use plans and planning. It is objective of this work, generate a model Observatory, replicable to different Andean areas from a comprehensive vision to ascertain the degree of transformation and vulnerability, applied to the location of Las Flores, Iglesia Department, San Juan Province. The methodology of the knowledge of local assets for the study of the territorial and organizational dynamics, ensuring sustainable land management at a local institutional policy framework. Resilience will be given mainly by the association, cooperation, and the defense and valuation of asset of the community involved. This observatory result as a tool to periodically monitor different processes, generating appropriate proposals, "early warning" and dissemination of alternatives.Eje: Patrimonio cultural y sustentabilidad (Actas).Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanism

Catalytic Dehydration of Fructose to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural in Aqueous Medium over Nb2O5-Based Catalysts

The catalytic dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in water was performed in the presence of pristine Nb2O5 and composites containing Nb and Ti, Ce or Zr oxides. In all experiments, fructose was converted to HMF using water as the solvent. The catalysts were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, N2 physical adsorption, infrared and Raman spectroscopy and temperature-programmed desorption of NH3. Experimental parameters such as fructose initial concentration, volume of the reacting suspension, operation temperature, reaction time and amount of catalyst were tuned in order to optimize the catalytic reaction process. The highest selectivity to HMF was ca. 80% in the presence of 0.5 g\ub7L 121 of bare Nb2O5, Nb2O5-TiO2 or Nb2O5-CeO2 with a maximum fructose conversion of ca. 70%. However, the best compromise between high conversion and high selectivity was reached by using 1 g\ub7L 121 of pristine Nb2O5. Indeed, the best result was obtained in the presence of Nb2O5, with a fructose conversion of 76% and a selectivity to HMF of 75%, corresponding to the highest HMF yield (57%). This result was obtained at a temperature of 165\ub0 in an autoclave after three hours of reaction by using 6 mL of 1 M fructose suspension with a catalyst amount equal to 1 g\ub7L 121