4,109 research outputs found
Supporting reinterpretation in computer-aided conceptual design
This paper presents research that aims to inform the development of computational tools that better support design exploration and idea transformation - key objectives in conceptual design. Analyses of experimental data from two fields - product design and architecture - suggest that the interactions of designers with their sketches can be formalised according to a finite number of generalised shape rules defined within a shape grammar. Such rules can provide a basis for the generation of alternative design concepts and they have informed the development of a prototype shape synthesis system that supports dynamic reinterpretation of shapes in design activity. The notion of 'sub-shapes' is introduced and the significance of these to perception, recognition and the development of emergent structures is discussed. The paper concludes with some speculation on how such a system might find application in a range of design fields
Producing and using community health education films in low- and middle-income countries
Objective:
To analyse the production and use of health education films in Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia. //
Design:
Review of community health education films and their use by three partner organisations. //
Methods:
A focused content analysis of 18 community health education films was conducted, and three exemplar films were selected for more detailed review. Interviews were carried out with four film production personnel and seven project workers using the films in health education projects in Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia. Concepts drawn from the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion and Anchored Instruction informed the study. //
Findings:
The films, produced primarily for use across sub-Saharan Africa, mostly conveyed biological information and addressed behavioural issues related to maternal and child health topics. The predominantly low-literacy audiences reached by the projects may further benefit from localised content highlighting the social determinants of health through engaging narrative formats. While the health education projects provided some opportunities to discuss the films after screening, linked problem-solving activities could raise awareness of the multiple factors influencing health and help community members formulate holistic action plans. //
Conclusion:
The film production company responded to emerging findings, noting that more context-specific films should be produced, with community members being more fully involved in planning, production and evaluation. Such an approach could generate more relevant content and engage audiences more effectively in problem-solving related to health and wellbeing
Relativistic Structure, Stability and Gravitational Collapse of Charged Neutron Stars
Charged stars have the potential of becoming charged black holes or even
naked singularities. It is presented a set of numerical solutions of the
Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov equations that represents spherical charged compact
stars in hydrostatic equilibrium. The stellar models obtained are evolved
forward in time integrating the Einstein-Maxwell field equations. It is assumed
an equation of state of a neutron gas at zero temperature. The charge
distribution is taken as been proportional to the rest mass density
distribution. The set of solutions present an unstable branch, even with charge
to mass ratios arbitrarily close to the extremum case. It is performed a direct
check of the stability of the solutions under strong perturbations, and for
different values of the charge to mass ratio. The stars that are in the stable
branch oscillates and do not collapse, while models in the unstable branch
collapse directly to form black holes. Stars with a charge greater or equal
than the extreme value explode. When a charged star is suddenly discharged, it
don't necessarily collapse to form a black hole. A non-linear effect that gives
rise to the formation of an external shell of matter (see Ghezzi and Letelier
2005), is negligible in the present simulations. The results are in agreement
with the third law of black hole thermodynamics and with the cosmic censorship
conjecture.Comment: 27 pages, 14 figures, 4 tables, paper accepte
Various Models for Pion Probability Distributions from Heavy-Ion Collisions
Various models for pion multiplicity distributions produced in relativistic
heavy ion collisions are discussed. The models include a relativistic
hydrodynamic model, a thermodynamic description, an emitting source pion laser
model, and a description which generates a negative binomial description. The
approach developed can be used to discuss other cases which will be mentioned.
The pion probability distributions for these various cases are compared.
Comparison of the pion laser model and Bose-Einstein condensation in a laser
trap and with the thermal model are made. The thermal model and hydrodynamic
model are also used to illustrate why the number of pions never diverges and
why the Bose-Einstein correction effects are relatively small. The pion
emission strength of a Poisson emitter and a critical density
are connected in a thermal model by , and this fact
reduces any Bose-Einstein correction effects in the number and number
fluctuation of pions. Fluctuations can be much larger than Poisson in the pion
laser model and for a negative binomial description. The clan representation of
the negative binomial distribution due to Van Hove and Giovannini is discussed
using the present description. Applications to CERN/NA44 and CERN/NA49 data are
discussed in terms of the relativistic hydrodynamic model.Comment: 12 pages, incl. 3 figures and 4 tables. You can also download a
PostScript file of the manuscript from
http://p2hp2.lanl.gov/people/schlei/eprint.htm
Timing in predictive coding: the roles of task relevance and global probability
Predictive coding models of attention propose that attention and prediction operate synergistically to optimize perception, as reflected in interactive effects on early sensory neural responses. It is yet unclear whether attention and prediction based on the temporal attributes of expected events operate in a similar fashion. We investigated how attention and prediction based on timing interact by manipulating the task relevance and a priori probability of auditory stimulus onset timing within a go/no-go task while recording EEG. Preparatory activity, as indexed via the contingent negative variation, reflected temporally specific anticipation as a function of both attention and prediction. Higher stimulus probability led to significant predictive N1 suppression; however, we failed to find an effect of task relevance on N1 amplitude and an interaction of task relevance with prediction. We suggest the predictability of sensory timing is the predominant influence on early sensory responses where a priori probabilities allow for strong prior beliefs. When this is the case, we find that the effects of temporal prediction on early sensory responses are independent of the task relevance of sensory stimuli. Our findings contribute to the expansion of predictive coding frameworks to include the role of timing in sensory processing
Randomly Broken Nuclei and Disordered Systems
Similarities between models of fragmenting nuclei and disordered systems in
condensed matter suggest corresponding methods. Several theoretical models of
fragmentation investigated in this fashion show marked differences, indicating
possible new methods for distinguishing models using yield data. Applying
nuclear methods to disordered systems also yields interesting results.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure
Interaction-based quantum metrology showing scaling beyond the Heisenberg limit
Quantum metrology studies the use of entanglement and other quantum resources
to improve precision measurement. An interferometer using N independent
particles to measure a parameter X can achieve at best the "standard quantum
limit" (SQL) of sensitivity {\delta}X \propto N^{-1/2}. The same interferometer
using N entangled particles can achieve in principle the "Heisenberg limit"
{\delta}X \propto N^{-1}, using exotic states. Recent theoretical work argues
that interactions among particles may be a valuable resource for quantum
metrology, allowing scaling beyond the Heisenberg limit. Specifically, a
k-particle interaction will produce sensitivity {\delta}X \propto N^{-k} with
appropriate entangled states and {\delta}X \propto N^{-(k-1/2)} even without
entanglement. Here we demonstrate this "super-Heisenberg" scaling in a
nonlinear, non-destructive measurement of the magnetisation of an atomic
ensemble. We use fast optical nonlinearities to generate a pairwise
photon-photon interaction (k = 2) while preserving quantum-noise-limited
performance, to produce {\delta}X \propto N^{-3/2}. We observe super-Heisenberg
scaling over two orders of magnitude in N, limited at large N by higher-order
nonlinear effects, in good agreement with theory. For a measurement of limited
duration, super-Heisenberg scaling allows the nonlinear measurement to overtake
in sensitivity a comparable linear measurement with the same number of photons.
In other scenarios, however, higher-order nonlinearities prevent this crossover
from occurring, reflecting the subtle relationship of scaling to sensitivity in
nonlinear systems. This work shows that inter-particle interactions can improve
sensitivity in a quantum-limited measurement, and introduces a fundamentally
new resource for quantum metrology
Mass measurements near the -process path using the Canadian Penning Trap mass spectrometer
The masses of 40 neutron-rich nuclides from Z = 51 to 64 were measured at an
average precision of using the Canadian Penning Trap mass
spectrometer at Argonne National Laboratory. The measurements, of fission
fragments from a Cf spontaneous fission source in a helium gas catcher,
approach the predicted path of the astrophysical process. Where overlap
exists, this data set is largely consistent with previous measurements from
Penning traps, storage rings, and reaction energetics, but large systematic
deviations are apparent in -endpoint measurements. Differences in mass
excess from the 2003 Atomic Mass Evaluation of up to 400 keV are seen, as well
as systematic disagreement with various mass models.Comment: 15 pages, 16 figures. v2 updated, published in Physical Review
- …