Statistical dynamics of religion evolutions

A religion affiliation can be considered as a “degree of freedom” of an agent on the human genre network. A brief review is given on the state of the art in data analysis and modelization of religious “questions” in order to suggest and if possible initiate further research, after using a “statistical physics filter”. We present a discussion of the evolution of 18 so-called religions, as measured through their number of adherents between 1900 and 2000. Some emphasis is made on a few cases presenting a minimum or a maximum in the investigated time range—thereby suggesting a competitive ingredient to be considered, besides the well accepted “at birth” attachment effect. The importance of the “external field” is still stressed through an Avrami late stage crystal growth-like parameter. The observed features and some intuitive interpretations point to opinion based models with vector, rather than scalar, like agents.     

The effect of hydrogen stoichiometry on palladium strain and resistivity

The strain and the electrical resistivity of a Pd sample stressed by a constant tension have been investigated through a series of hydrogenation cycles in a continuous H stoichiometry [0?x?0.8] range. The isotropic lattice expansion for both “as drawn” and “annealed” Pd sample reveals a strain of only 1% from pure Pd to PdH_0.8 in disagreement with literature data available; the measured effect is minimum at x=0.13 (α+β phase) and then from x=0.6 (β phase) it has an exponential increase. The contribution of the mechanical tensile stress on the total relative elongation of the wire is also investigated. An increase of the Pd sample tensile strain after each hydrogenation cycle is reported for “as drawn” samples, while for “annealed” samples the reverse behaviour is observed. Moreover, annealed samples show considerably higher value of tensile strain compared to “as drawn”. The variation of mechanical strain versus H content, for both “annealed” and “as drawn”, has a maximum at x=0.52. Strain variation and resistivity variation versus H content exhibit similar behaviour.     

EFFECTS OF POSTURE AND VIBRATION MAGNITUDE ON APPARENT MASS AND PELVIS ROTATION DURING EXPOSURE TO WHOLE-BODY VERTICAL VIBRATION

The effect of variations in posture and vibration magnitude on apparent mass and seat-to-pelvis pitch transmissibility have been studied with vertical random vibration over the frequency range 1·0-20 Hz. Each of 12 subjects was exposed to 27 combinations of three vibration magnitudes (0·2, 1·0 and 2·0m/s² r.m.s.) and nine sitting postures (“upright”, “anterior lean”, “posterior lean”, “kyphotic”, “back-on”, “pelvis support”, “inverted SIT-BAR” (increased pressure beneath ischial tuberosities), “bead cushion” (decreased pressure beneath ischial tuberosities) and “belt” (wearing an elasticated belt)).Peaks in the apparent masses were observed at about 5 and 10 Hz, and in the seat-to-pelvis pitch transmissibilities at about 12 Hz. In all postures, the resonance frequencies in the apparent mass and transmissibility decreased with increased vibration magnitude, indicating a non-linear softening system. There were only small changes in apparent mass or transmissibility with posture, although peaks were lower for the apparent mass in the “kyphotic” posture and were lower for the transmissibility in the “belt” posture. The changes in apparent mass and transmissibility caused by changes in vibration magnitude were greater than the changes caused by variation in posture.     

Formation mechanism of “memory” phenomenon of microchannel plate image intensifier

A discrete resistance capacitance dynodes chain of channel multiplication model worked in a continuous variable dynode number described here is an attempt to explain the formation mechanism of “memory” phenomenon of microchannel plate image intensifier, wherein it was concluded conclusion that “memory” phenomenon of image intensifiers were the results of a silicon-rich layer, which existed between emission layer and conduction layer of channel inner wall of microchannel plate, having much higher resistance as compared with the conduction layer, and there are two distinct appearance ways of “negative memory” and “positive memory” only due to a difference in illumination and duration of the image intensifier suffered, and a strictly controlled MCP manufacture process would make considerable reduction of “memory” phenomenon occurrence ratio.     

Study of mutual information multimodality medical image registration based on modified simplex optimization method

Because of a different imaging mechanism and highly complexity of body tissues and structures. Different modality medical images provide non-overlay complementary information. This has very important significance for multimodal medical image registration. Image registration is the first and key part of problem to be solved in the integrations. When the spatial position of two medical images is same, the registration could be achieved. For two CT and PET images, the principal axis method is adopted to achieve the rough registration. The modified simplex algorithm is employed to implement global search using the mutual information as similarity measure. The initial registration parameters are achieved through principal axis Based on the results of test, improved simplex method can adjust reflecting distance. Stepped-up optimization algorithm on the new experimental points through the methods of “reflection”, “enlargement”, “shrinkage” or “global systolic”. A mutual information registration based on modified simplex optimization method is presented in this paper to improve the speed of medical image registration.Results indicate that the proposed registration method prevents the optimizing process from falling into local extremum and improves the convergence speed while keeping the precision. The accurate registration of multimodal image with different resolutions is achieved.     

Saturation field direction dependence of domain structures in NiFe elements

The domain structures in NiFe elements were studied by magnetic force microscopy measurement and micromagnetic modeling. The remanent states in the elements were dependent on the direction of the saturation field. The “S” and “U” states were observed at remanence by applying the saturation field at different directions. The “S” and “U” states are metastable: magnetic force microscopy tip field-induced switching from the “S” and “U” states to the flux closure configuration was observed.     

An interferometer based on the Talbot effect

The moiré effect is very sensitive in detecting small differences between two similar gratings. These differences might be caused by an object with phase gradient placed between the two gratings. The performance of such an instrument can be understood in terms of the “Talbot effect” (also called “Fourier imaging” or “self-imaging”). Slight modifications provide shearing interferences and the second derivative of the object.     

Significant effect of surfactant micelles on pH dependent fluorescent off-on-off behavior of Salicylaldehyde-2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazone

The fluorescence response to pH of 2,4 dinitrophenolhydrazone in 1:1 CH₃OH:H₂O and micellar mediums—negatively charged sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS), positively charged cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and neutral Triton X-100 (TX-100), is reported. At pH 4.0 the fluorescence of the molecule can be switched “on” by selecting CTAB as the solvent. At pH 6.0 if the medium is TX-100 the fluorescence is “off”, but remains “on” for the other three solvents. At pH 8.0, fluorescence is “on” in the solvents except CTAB. SDS and TX-100 switch the fluorescence “on” at pH 13.0 but for the other two solvents the fluorescence is “off”.     

Self-organization of five species in a cyclic competition game

Cyclic competition game models, particularly the “rock–paper–scissors” model, play important roles in exploring the problem of multi-species coexistence in spatially ecological systems. We propose an extended “rock–paper–scissors” game to model cyclic interactions among five species, and find that two of the five can coexistent when biodiversity disappears, which is different from the “rock–paper–scissors” game. As the number of fingers is five, we named the new model the “fingers” game, where the thumb, forefinger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger cyclically dominate their subsequent species and are dominated by their former species. We investigate the “fingers” model in two ways: direct simulations and nonlinear partial differential equations. An important finding is that the number of species in a cyclic competition game has an influence on the emergence of biodiversity. To be specific, the “rock–paper–scissors” model is in favor of maintaining biodiversity in comparison with the “fingers” model when the variables (population size, reproduction rate, selection rate, and migration rate) are the same. It is also shown that the mobility and reproduction rate can promote or jeopardize biodiversity.     

Two mechanisms of spiral-pair-source creation in excitable media

Two new modes of generating spiral pairs in an excitable medium have been found. They depend on a geometrical structure (GS) inside the medium. This may be formed e.g. as a result of scars or fibrosis in the heart tissue, or artificially built in a chemical reaction substrate. Both sources involve a GS composed of a circular “convergent lens” bounded by two opaque “walls”. One mode can be induced by a single wave and behaves as a “flip-flop” type of a limit cycle. The other mode is generated by a train of plane waves impinging on the GS, and is created at the focus of the converging wave-fragments.     

EFFECTS OF END CAP AND ASPECT RATIO ON TRANSMISSION OF SOUND ACROSS A TRUSS-LIKE PERIODIC DOUBLE PANEL

Transmission of sound across 2-D truss-like periodic double panels separated by an air gap and in contact with an acoustic fluid on the external faces is analyzed. Each panel is made of repeated cells. Combining the transfer matrices of the unit cell forms a set of equations for the overall elastic frequency response. The acoustic pressure in the fluids is expressed using a source boundary element method. Adding rigid reflecting end caps confines the air in the gap between panels which influences sound transmission. Measured values of transmission loss differ from the 2-D model by the wide low-frequency dip of the mass-spring-mass or “msm” resonance also termed the “air gap resonance”. In this case, the panels act as rigid masses and the air gap acts as an adiabatic air spring. Results from the idealized 3-D and 2-D models, incorporating rigid cavities and elastic plates, reveal that the “msm” dip is absent in 2-D models radiating into a semi-infinite medium. The dip strengthens as aspect ratio approaches unity. Even when the dip disappears in 2-D, TL rises more steeply for frequencies above the “msm” frequency.     

Exchange rate regimes, saving glut and the Feldstein-Horioka puzzle: The East Asian experience

This paper investigates whether the recent experience of the emerging East Asian countries with current account surpluses is consistent with the “saving glut” hypothesis and the Feldstein and Horioka puzzle. The evidence suggests that the saving retention coefficients declined substantially in most of the countries after an endogenous break date coinciding with a major exchange rate regime change with the 1997-1998 crisis. Exchange rate flexibility appears to be enhancing financial integration. The results are consistent with an “investment slump” explanation rather than the “saving glut” postulation.     

Fast algorithms for spherical harmonic expansions,III

We accelerate the computation of spherical harmonic transforms, using what is known as the butterfly scheme. This provides a convenient alternative to the approach taken in the second paper from this series on “Fast algorithms for spherical harmonic expansions”. The requisite precomputations become manageable when organized as a “depth-first traversal” of the program’s control-flow graph, rather than as the perhaps more natural “breadth-first traversal” that processes one-by-one each level of the multilevel procedure. We illustrate the results via several numerical examples.     

A comment on the paper “Stochastic feedback, nonlinear families of Markov processes, and nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations” by T.D. Frank

The purpose of this comment is to correct mistaken assumptions and claims made in the paper “Stochastic feedback, nonlinear families of Markov processes, and nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations” by T. D. Frank [T.D. Frank, Stochastic feedback, non-linear families of Markov processes, and nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations, Physica A 331 (2004) 391]. Our comment centers on the claims of a “non-linear Markov process” and a “non-linear Fokker-Planck equation.” First, memory in transition densities is misidentified as a Markov process. Second, the paper assumes that one can derive a Fokker-Planck equation from a Chapman-Kolmogorov equation, but no proof was offered that a Chapman-Kolmogorov equation exists for the memory-dependent processes considered. A “non-linear Markov process” is claimed on the basis of a non-linear diffusion pde for a 1-point probability density. We show that, regardless of which initial value problem one may solve for the 1-point density, the resulting stochastic process, defined necessarily by the conditional probabilities (the transition probabilities), is either an ordinary linearly generated Markovian one, or else is a linearly generated non-Markovian process with memory. We provide explicit examples of diffusion coefficients that reflect both the Markovian and the memory-dependent cases. So there is neither a “non-linear Markov process”, nor a “non-linear Fokker-Planck equation” for a conditional probability density. The confusion rampant in the literature arises in part from labeling a non-linear diffusion equation for a 1-point probability density as “non-linear Fokker-Planck,” whereas neither a 1-point density nor an equation of motion for a 1-point density can define a stochastic process. In a closely related context, we point out that Borland misidentified a translation invariant 1-point probability density derived from a non-linear diffusion equation as a conditional probability density. Finally, in the Appendix A we present the theory of Fokker-Planck pdes and Chapman-Kolmogorov equations for stochastic processes with finite memory.     

Un-graviton corrections to the Schwarzschild black hole

We introduce an effective action smoothly extending the standard Einstein–Hilbert action to include un-gravity effects. The improved field equations are solved for the un-graviton corrected Schwarzschild geometry reproducing the Mureika result. This is an important test to confirm the original “guess” of the form of the un-Schwarzschild metric. Instead of working in the weak field approximation and “dressing” the Newtonian potential with un-gravitons, we solve the “effective Einstein equations” including all order un-gravity effects. An unexpected “bonus” of accounting un-gravity effects is the fractalisation   of the event horizon. In the un-gravity dominated regime the event horizon thermodynamically behaves as fractal surface of dimensionality twice the scale dimension dU$d_U$.     

Number-phase entropic uncertainty relations and Wigner functions for solvable quantum systems with discrete spectra

In this Letter, the “number-phase entropic uncertainty relation” and the “number-phase Wigner function” of generalized coherent states associated to a few solvable quantum systems with non-degenerate spectra are studied. We also investigate time evolution of “number-phase entropic uncertainty” and “Wigner function” of the considered physical systems with the help of temporally stable Gazeau-Klauder coherent states.     

Conflict game in evacuation process: A study combining Cellular Automata model

The game-theoretic approach is an essential tool in the research of conflicts of human behaviors. The aim of this study is to research crowd dynamic conflicts during evacuation processes. By combining a conflict game with a Cellular Automata model, the following factors such as rationality, herding effect and conflict cost are taken into the research on frequency of each strategy of evacuees, and evacuation time. Results from Monte Carlo simulations show that (i) in an emergency condition, rationality leads to “vying” behaviors and inhibited “polite” behavior; (ii) high herding causes a crowd of high rationality (especially in normal circumstances) to become more “vying” in behavior; (iii) the high-rationality crowd is shown to spend more evacuation time than a low-rationality crowd in emergency situations. This study provides a new perspective to understand conflicts in evacuation processes as well as the rationality of evacuees.