Evolution in complex systems

What features characterize complex system dynamics? Power laws and scale invariance of fluctuations are often taken as the hallmarks of complexity, drawing on analogies with equilibrium critical phenomena. Here we argue that slow, directed dynamics, during which the system's properties change significantly, is fundamental. The underlying dynamics is related to a slow, decelerating but spasmodic release of an intrinsic strain or tension. Time series of a number of appropriate observables can be analyzed to confirm this effect. The strain arises from local frustration. As the strain is released through “quakes,” some system variable undergoes record statistics with accompanying log‐Poisson statistics for the quake event times. We demonstrate these phenomena via two very different systems: a model of magnetic relaxation in type II superconductors and the Tangled Nature model of evolutionary ecology and show how quantitative indications of aging can be found. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 10: 49–56, 2004     

Estimates of Entire Functions of Exponential Type Less than π in Terms of Logarithmic Sums over Real Duffin and Schaeffer Sequences

We give uniform estimates of entire functions of exponential type less than having sufficiently small logarithmic sums over real sequences { _n } satisfying | _n –n|L and _n+1– _n for fixed positive constants L and . We thereby generalize results about logarithmic sums over the set of integers and so-called relatively h-dense sequences.     

Measuring the similarity between trajectories using clustering techniques

A clustering method has been developed to group signals that display similar dynamic behavior. The procedure involves using the method of time delay embedding to construct a trajectory in state space from a time series. Certain features that characterize the geometry of the trajectory have been defined. These features were subjected to a series of statistical tests to determine their usefulness in a hierarchical clustering analysis. The latter is aimed at finding groups of similar trajectories. The trajectory-based clustering algorithm has been applied to simulated data, which included both stochastic data generated by a linear AR model, and nonlinear data generated by a Duffing oscillator. The results show that the algorithm works reliably in both cases.     

SU(2) Chern-Simons theory at genus zero

We present a detailed study of the Schrödinger picture space of states in theSU(2) Chern-Simons topological gauge theory in the simplest geometry. The space coincides with that of the solutions of the chiral Ward identities for the WZW model. We prove that its dimension is given by E. Verlinde's formulae.     

Optical aperture area determination for accurate illuminance and luminous efficacy measurements of LED lamps

The measurement uncertainty of illuminance and, consequently, luminous flux and luminous efficacy of LED lamps can be reduced with a recently introduced method based on the predictable quantum efficient detector (PQED). One of the most critical factors affecting the measurement uncertainty with the PQED method is the determination of the aperture area. This paper describes an upgrade to an optical method for direct determination of aperture area where superposition of equally spaced Gaussian laser beams is used to form a uniform irradiance distribution. In practice, this is accomplished by scanning the aperture in front of an intensity-stabilized laser beam. In the upgraded method, the aperture is attached to the PQED and the whole package is transversely scanned relative to the laser beam. This has the benefit of having identical geometry in the laser scanning of the aperture area and in the actual photometric measurement. Further, the aperture and detector assembly does not have to be dismantled for the aperture calibration. However, due to small acceptance angle of the PQED, differences between the diffraction effects of an overfilling plane wave and of a combination of Gaussian laser beams at the circular aperture need to be taken into account. A numerical calculation method for studying these effects is discussed in this paper. The calculation utilizes the Rayleigh–Sommerfeld diffraction integral, which is applied to the geometry of the PQED and the aperture. Calculation results for various aperture diameters and two different aperture-to-detector distances are presented.     

Inter-laboratory exercise with an aim to compare methods for 90Sr and 239,240Pu determination in environmental soil samples

In order to deliver reliable results for a multitude of different scenarios, e.g. emergency preparedness, environmental monitoring, nuclear decommissioning and waste management, there is a constant process of method development in the field of radioanalytical chemistry. This work presents the results of a method comparison exercise aimed at quantifying ⁹⁰Sr and ^239,240Pu in environmental soil samples, with the intention of evaluating the performance and applicability of different methods. From the methods examined in this work, recommendations are given in order to find a radioanalytical measurement procedure, for ⁹⁰Sr and ^239,240Pu analysis, which is fit-for-purpose for a particular scenario.

     

Quantification of lithium at ppm level in geological samples using nuclear reaction analysis

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Proton-induced reaction (p,α) is one type of nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) suitable especially for light element quantification....     

Deuterium dilution technique for body composition assessment: resolving methodological issues in children with moderate acute malnutrition

Childhood malnutrition is highly prevalent and associated with high mortality risk. In observational and interventional studies among malnourished children, body composition is increasingly recognised as a key outcome. The deuterium dilution technique has generated high-quality data on body composition in studies of infants and young children in several settings, but its feasibility and accuracy in children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition requires further study. Prior to a large nutritional intervention trial among children with moderate acute malnutrition, we conducted pilot work to develop and adapt the deuterium dilution technique. We refined procedures for administration of isotope doses and collection of saliva. Furthermore, we established that equilibration time in local context is 3?h. These findings and the resulting standard operating procedures are important to improve data quality when using the deuterium dilution technique in malnutrition studies in field conditions, and may encourage a wider use of isotope techniques.     

Noninvasive measurement of scattering anisotropy in turbid materials by nonnormal incident illumination

Many existing methods for the recovery of optical parameters from turbid materials rely on the diffusion approximation, which does not permit the recovery of the degree of anisotropy in the scattering phase function. These methods also make the explicit assumption that light is normally incident at the top surface of the material. We demonstrate a steady-state imaging technique that uses nonnormally incident light to determine anisotropy parameter g by fitting Monte Carlo simulation results to high dynamic range images of the intensity profiles of samples. The proposed method is simpler than existing methods and does not rely on thin samples to produce reasonable results.