α-Attractor and reheating in a model with noncanonical scalar fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rashidi, Narges; Nozari, Kourosh

We consider two noncanonical scalar fields [tachyon and Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI)] with E-model type of the potential. We study cosmological inflation in these models to find possible α-attractors. We show that similar to the canonical scalar field case, in both tachyon and DBI models there is a value of the scalar spectral index in small α limit which is just a function of the e-folds number. However, the value of ns in DBI model is somewhat different from the other ones. We also compare the results with Planck2015 TT, TE, EE+lowP data. The reheating phase after inflation is studied in these models which gives some more constraints on the model parameters.

Are partons confined tachyons?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Noyes, H.P.

1996-03-01

The author notes that if hadrons are gravitationally stabilized ``black holes``, as discrete physics suggests, it is possible that partons, and in particular quarks, could be modeled as tachyons, i.e. particles having v{sup 2} > c{sup 2}, without conflict with the observational fact that neither quarks nor tachyons have appeared as ``free particles``. Some consequences of this model are explored.

Interacting tachyon: Cosmological evolution for a tachyon and a scalar field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Macorra, A. de la; Filobello, U.

2008-01-15

We study the cosmological evolution of a tachyon scalar field T with a Dirac-Born-Infeld type Lagrangian and potential V(T) coupled to a canonically normalized scalar field {phi} with an interaction term B(T,{phi}) in the presence of a barotropic fluid {rho}{sub b}, which can be matter or radiation. The force between the barotropic fluid and the scalar fields is only gravitational. We show that the dynamics is completely determined by only three parameters {lambda}{sub 1}=-V{sub T}/V{sup 3/2}, {lambda}{sub 2}=-B{sub T}/B{sup 3/2}, and {lambda}{sub 3}=-B{sub {phi}}/B. We determine analytically the conditions for {lambda}{sub i} under which the energy density of T, {phi},more » and {rho}{sub b} have the same redshift. We study the behavior of T and {phi} in the asymptotic limits for {lambda} and we show the numerical solution for different interesting cases. The effective equation of state for the tachyon field changes due to the interaction with the scalar field and we show that it is possible for a tachyon field to redshift as matter in the absence of an interaction term B and as radiation when B is turned on. This result solves then the tachyonic matter problem.« less

Spacelike brane actions.

PubMed

Hashimoto, Koji; Ho, Pei-Ming; Wang, John E

2003-04-11

We derive effective actions for "spacelike branes" (S-branes) and find a solution describing the formation of fundamental strings in the rolling tachyon background. The S-brane action is a Dirac-Born-Infeld action for Euclidean world volumes defined in the context of time-dependent tachyon condensation of non-BPS (Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield) branes. It includes gauge fields and, in particular, a scalar field associated with translation along the time direction. We show that the BIon spike solutions constructed in this system correspond to the production of a confined electric flux tube (a fundamental string) at late time of the rolling tachyon.

Lorentz-invariant formulation of Cherenkov radiation by tachyons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, F. C.

1972-01-01

Previous treatments of Cherenkov radiation, electromagnetic and gravitational, by tachyons were in error because the prescription employed to cut off the divergent integral over frequency is not a Lorentz invariant procedure. The resulting equation of motion for the tachyon is therefore not covariant. The proper procedure requires an extended, deformable distribution of charge or mass and yields a particularly simple form for the tachyon's world line, one that could be deduced from simple invariance considerations. It is shown that Cherenkov radiation by tachyons implys their ultimate annihilation with an antitachyon and demonstrates a disturbing property of tachyons, namely the impossibility of specifying arbitrary Cauchy data even in a purely classical theory.

About non standard Lagrangians in cosmology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dimitrijevic, Dragoljub D.; Milosevic, Milan

A review of non standard Lagrangians present in modern cosmological models will be considered. Well known example of non standard Lagrangian is Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) type Lagrangian for tachyon field. Another type of non standard Lagrangian under consideration contains scalar field which describes open p-adic string tachyon and is called p-adic string theory Lagrangian. We will investigate homogenous cases of both DBI and p-adic fields and obtain Lagrangians of the standard type which have the same equations of motions as aforementioned non standard one.

Tachyon condensation and quark mass in the modified Sakai-Sugimoto model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dhar, Avinash; High Energy Accelerator Research Organization; Nag, Partha

2008-09-15

This paper continues the investigation of the modified Sakai-Sugimoto model proposed previously [J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2008) 055]. Here we discuss in detail numerical solutions to the classical equations for the brane profile and the tachyon condensate. An ultraviolet cutoff turns out to be essential because the numerical solutions tend to rapidly diverge from the desired asymptotic solutions, beyond a sufficiently large value of the holographic coordinate. The required cutoff is determined by the non-normalizable part of the tachyon and is parametrically far smaller than that dictated by consistency of a description in terms of ten-dimensional bulk gravity. Wemore » had argued [J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2008) 055] that the solution in which the tachyon field goes to infinity at the point where the brane and antibrane meet has only one free parameter, which may be taken to be the asymptotic brane-antibrane separation. Here we present numerical evidence in favor of this observation. We also present evidence that the non-normalizable part of the asymptotic tachyon solution, which is identified with quark mass in the QCD-like boundary theory, is determined by this parameter. We show that the normalizable part of the asymptotic tachyon solution determines the quark condensate, but this requires holographic renormalization of the on-shell boundary brane action because of the presence of infinite cutoff-dependent terms. Our renormalization scheme gives an exponential dependence on the cutoff to the quark mass. We also discuss meson spectra in detail and show that the pion mass is nonzero and satisfies the Gell-Mann-Oakes-Renner relation when a small quark mass is switched on.« less

Tachyon cosmology with non-vanishing minimum potential: a unified model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Huiquan, E-mail: hqli@ustc.edu.cn

2012-07-01

We investigate the tachyon condensation process in the effective theory with non-vanishing minimum potential and its implications to cosmology. It is shown that the tachyon condensation on an unstable three-brane described by this modified tachyon field theory leads to lower-dimensional branes (defects) forming within a stable three-brane. Thus, in the cosmological background, we can get well-behaved tachyon matter after tachyon inflation, (partially) avoiding difficulties encountered in the original tachyon cosmological models. This feature also implies that the tachyon inflated and reheated universe is followed by a Chaplygin gas dark matter and dark energy universe. Hence, such an unstable three-brane behavesmore » quite like our universe, reproducing the key features of the whole evolutionary history of the universe and providing a unified description of inflaton, dark matter and dark energy in a very simple single-scalar field model.« less

Tachyon and quintessence in brane worlds

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chimento, Luis P.; Forte, Monica; Richarte, Martin G.

2009-04-15

Using tachyon or quintessence fields along with a barotropic fluid on the brane we examine the different cosmological stages in a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe, from the first radiation scenario to the later era dominated by cosmic string networks. We introduce a new algorithm to generalize previous works on exact solutions and apply it to study tachyon and quintessence fields localized on the brane. We also explore the low and high energy regimes of the solutions. Besides, we show that the tachyon and quintessence fields are driven by an inverse power law potential. Finally, we find several simple exacts solutions for tachyonmore » and/or quintessence fields.« less

Consistency of the tachyon warm inflationary universe models

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Xiao-Min; Zhu, Jian-Yang, E-mail: zhangxm@mail.bnu.edu.cn, E-mail: zhujy@bnu.edu.cn

2014-02-01

This study concerns the consistency of the tachyon warm inflationary models. A linear stability analysis is performed to find the slow-roll conditions, characterized by the potential slow-roll (PSR) parameters, for the existence of a tachyon warm inflationary attractor in the system. The PSR parameters in the tachyon warm inflationary models are redefined. Two cases, an exponential potential and an inverse power-law potential, are studied, when the dissipative coefficient Γ = Γ{sub 0} and Γ = Γ(φ), respectively. A crucial condition is obtained for a tachyon warm inflationary model characterized by the Hubble slow-roll (HSR) parameter ε{sub H}, and the conditionmore » is extendable to some other inflationary models as well. A proper number of e-folds is obtained in both cases of the tachyon warm inflation, in contrast to existing works. It is also found that a constant dissipative coefficient (Γ = Γ{sub 0}) is usually not a suitable assumption for a warm inflationary model.« less

Energy-momentum tensor of perturbed tachyon matter

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jokela, Niko; Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Haifa at Oranim, Tivon 36006; Jaervinen, Matti

2009-05-15

We add an initial nonhomogeneous perturbation to an otherwise homogeneous condensing tachyon background and compute its spacetime energy-momentum tensor from world-sheet string theory. We show that in the far future the energy-momentum tensor corresponds to nonhomogeneous pressureless tachyon matter.

Don't Panic! Closed String Tachyons in ALE Spacetimes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Silverstein, Eva M

2001-08-20

We consider closed string tachyons localized at the fixed points of noncompact nonsupersymmetric orbifolds. We argue that tachyon condensation drives these orbifolds to flat space or supersymmetric ALE spaces. The decay proceeds via an expanding shell of dilaton gradients and curvature which interpolates between two regions of distinct angular geometry. The string coupling remains weak throughout. For small tachyon VEVs, evidence comes from quiver theories on D-branes probes, in which deformations by twisted couplings smoothly connect non-supersymmetric orbifolds to supersymmetric orbifolds of reduced order. For large tachyon VEVs, evidence comes from worldsheet RG flow and spacetime gravity. For C{sup 2}/Z{submore » n}, we exhibit infinite sequences of transitions producing SUSY ALE spaces via twisted closed string condensation from non-supersymmetric ALE spaces. In a T-dual description this provides a mechanism for creating NS5-branes via closed string tachyon condensation similar to the creation of D-branes via open string tachyon condensation. We also apply our results to recent duality conjectures involving fluxbranes and the type 0 string.« less

Dynamical tachyons on fuzzy spheres

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Berenstein, David; Institute for Advanced Study, School of Natural Science, Princeton, New Jersey 08540; Trancanelli, Diego

2011-05-15

We study the spectrum of off-diagonal fluctuations between displaced fuzzy spheres in the Berenstein-Maldacena-Nastase plane wave matrix model. The displacement is along the plane of the fuzzy spheres. We find that when two fuzzy spheres intersect at angles, classical tachyons develop and that the spectrum of these modes can be computed analytically. These tachyons can be related to the familiar Nielsen-Olesen instabilities in Yang-Mills theory on a constant magnetic background. Many features of the problem become more apparent when we compare with maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory on a sphere, of which this system is a truncation. We also set upmore » a simple oscillatory trajectory on the displacement between the fuzzy spheres and study the dynamics of the modes as they become tachyonic for part of the oscillations. We speculate on their role regarding the possible thermalization of the system.« less

Dynamical analysis of tachyonic chameleon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banijamali, Ali; Solbi, Milad

2017-08-01

In the present paper we investigate tachyonic chameleon scalar field and present the phase space analysis for four different combinations of the tachyonic potential V(φ ) and the coupling function f(φ ) of the chameleon field with matter. We find some stable solution in which accelerated expansion of the universe is satisfied. In one case where both f(φ ) and V(φ ) are exponential a scaling attractor was found that can give rise to the late-time acceleration of the universe and alleviate the coincidence problem.

Tachyon inflation in the large-N formalism

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barbosa-Cendejas, Nandinii; De-Santiago, Josue; German, Gabriel

2015-11-01

We study tachyon inflation within the large-N formalism, which takes a prescription for the small Hubble flow slow-roll parameter ε{sub 1} as a function of the large number of e-folds N. This leads to a classification of models through their behaviour at large N. In addition to the perturbative N class, we introduce the polynomial and exponential classes for the ε{sub 1} parameter. With this formalism we reconstruct a large number of potentials used previously in the literature for tachyon inflation. We also obtain new families of potentials from the polynomial class. We characterize the realizations of tachyon inflation bymore » computing the usual cosmological observables up to second order in the Hubble flow slow-roll parameters. This allows us to look at observable differences between tachyon and canonical single field inflation. The analysis of observables in light of the Planck 2015 data shows the viability of some of these models, mostly for certain realization of the polynomial and exponential classes.« less

Observational constraints on tachyonic chameleon dark energy model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banijamali, A.; Bellucci, S.; Fazlpour, B.; Solbi, M.

2018-03-01

It has been recently shown that tachyonic chameleon model of dark energy in which tachyon scalar field non-minimally coupled to the matter admits stable scaling attractor solution that could give rise to the late-time accelerated expansion of the universe and hence alleviate the coincidence problem. In the present work, we use data from Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) and Baryon Acoustic oscillations to place constraints on the model parameters. In our analysis we consider in general exponential and non-exponential forms for the non-minimal coupling function and tachyonic potential and show that the scenario is compatible with observations.

On classical and quantum dynamics of tachyon-like fields and their cosmological implications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dimitrijević, Dragoljub D., E-mail: ddrag@pmf.ni.ac.rs; Djordjević, Goran S., E-mail: ddrag@pmf.ni.ac.rs; Milošević, Milan, E-mail: ddrag@pmf.ni.ac.rs

2014-11-24

We consider a class of tachyon-like potentials, motivated by string theory, D-brane dynamics and inflation theory in the context of classical and quantum mechanics. A formalism for describing dynamics of tachyon fields in spatially homogenous and one-dimensional - classical and quantum mechanical limit is proposed. A few models with concrete potentials are considered. Additionally, possibilities for p-adic and adelic generalization of these models are discussed. Classical actions and corresponding quantum propagators, in the Feynman path integral approach, are calculated in a form invariant on a change of the background number fields, i.e. on both archimedean and nonarchimedean spaces. Looking formore » a quantum origin of inflation, relevance of p-adic and adelic generalizations are briefly discussed.« less

Tachyon field in loop quantum cosmology: Inflation and evolution picture

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xiong Huaui; Zhu Jianyang

2007-04-15

Loop quantum cosmology (LQC) predicts a nonsingular evolution of the universne through a bounce in the high energy region. We show that this is always true in tachyon matter LQC. Differing from the classical Friedman-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmology, the super inflation can appear in the tachyon matter LQC; furthermore, the inflation can be extended to the region where classical inflation stops. Using the numerical method, we give an evolution picture of the tachyon field with an exponential potential in the context of LQC. It indicates that the quantum dynamical solutions have the same attractive behavior as the classical solutions do. Themore » whole evolution of the tachyon field is that in the distant past, the tachyon field--being in the contracting cosmology--accelerates to climb up the potential hill with a negative velocity; then at the boundary the tachyon field is bounced into an expanding universe with positive velocity rolling down to the bottom of the potential. In the slow roll limit, we compare the quantum inflation with the classical case in both an analytic and a numerical way.« less

Faster-than-light particles: A review of tachyon characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Puscher, E. A.

1980-10-01

This report documents an analytical prediction of some of the characteristics which presently undiscovered faster-than-light sub-atomic particles (called tachyons) must possess if they are to exist without violating the Theory of Special Relativity. A brief review of necessary concepts from the Special Theory is included so that the reader might more readily understand the reasoning as it is developed. Necessary, but not all characteristics of tachyons are then identified and presented. Finally, an interesting potential relationship between tachyons and anti-gravity is discussed.

Dark energy cosmology with tachyon field in teleparallel gravity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Motavalli, H., E-mail: Motavalli@Tabrizu.ac.ir; Akbarieh, A. Rezaei; Nasiry, M.

2016-07-15

We construct a tachyon teleparallel dark energy model for a homogeneous and isotropic flat universe in which a tachyon as a non-canonical scalar field is non-minimally coupled to gravity in the framework of teleparallel gravity. The explicit form of potential and coupling functions are obtained under the assumption that the Lagrangian admits the Noether symmetry approach. The dynamical behavior of the basic cosmological observables is compared to recent observational data, which implies that the tachyon field may serve as a candidate for dark energy.

Evolution of spherical over-densities in tachyon scalar field model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Setare, M. R.; Felegary, F.; Darabi, F.

2017-09-01

We study the tachyon scalar field model in flat FRW cosmology with the particular potential ϕ-2 and the scale factor behavior a (t) =tn. We consider the spherical collapse model and investigate the effects of the tachyon scalar field on the structure formation in flat FRW universe. We calculate δc (zc), λ (zc), ξ (zc), ΔV (zc), log ⁡ [ νf (ν) ] and log ⁡ [ n (k) ] for the tachyon scalar field model and compare the results with the results of EdS model and ΛCDM model. It is shown that in the tachyon scalar field model the structure formation may occur earlier, in comparison to the other models.

Faster-than-Light Particles: A Review of Tachyon Characteristics.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-10-01

A-DlAO9(4 529 RAND CORP SANTA MNtICA CA F/6 20/S FASTER-THAN-LIBI4T PARTICLES: A REVIEW OF TACHYON CHARACTERISTIC--ETCWU) OCT B0 E A PUSCHER F49620...77-C-0023 UNCLASSIFIED RAI0IN-1530-AF N. I nmui ininmuuuI LEVEL A RAND NOTE FASTER-THAN-LIGHT PARTICLES: A REVIEW OF ) ( TACHYON CHARACTERISTICS Edward...RECIPIENT’S CATALOG NUMBER 4TIT LE ( d Subtitle) TYPE OF REPORT & PERIOD COVERED ( Faster-than-Light Particles: A Review of /Interim -i Tachyon

Duality linking standard and tachyon scalar field cosmologies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Avelino, P. P.; Bazeia, D.; Losano, L.

2010-09-15

In this work we investigate the duality linking standard and tachyon scalar field homogeneous and isotropic cosmologies in N+1 dimensions. We determine the transformation between standard and tachyon scalar fields and between their associated potentials, corresponding to the same background evolution. We show that, in general, the duality is broken at a perturbative level, when deviations from a homogeneous and isotropic background are taken into account. However, we find that for slow-rolling fields the duality is still preserved at a linear level. We illustrate our results with specific examples of cosmological relevance, where the correspondence between scalar and tachyon scalarmore » field models can be calculated explicitly.« less

Primordial fluctuations and non-Gaussianities from multifield DBI Galileon inflation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Renaux-Petel, Sébastien; Mizuno, Shuntaro; Koyama, Kazuya, E-mail: S.Renauxpetel@damtp.cam.ac.uk, E-mail: shuntaro.mizuno@port.ac.uk, E-mail: Kazuya.Koyama@port.ac.uk

2011-11-01

We study a cosmological scenario in which the DBI action governing the motion of a D3-brane in a higher-dimensional spacetime is supplemented with an induced gravity term. The latter reduces to the quartic Galileon Lagrangian when the motion of the brane is non-relativistic and we show that it tends to violate the null energy condition and to render cosmological fluctuations ghosts. There nonetheless exists an interesting parameter space in which a stable phase of quasi-exponential expansion can be achieved while the induced gravity leaves non trivial imprints. We derive the exact second-order action governing the dynamics of linear perturbations andmore » we show that it can be simply understood through a bimetric perspective. In the relativistic regime, we also calculate the dominant contribution to the primordial bispectrum and demonstrate that large non-Gaussianities of orthogonal shape can be generated, for the first time in a concrete model. More generally, we find that the sign and the shape of the bispectrum offer powerful diagnostics of the precise strength of the induced gravity.« less

Tachyon warm-intermediate inflationary universe model in high dissipative regime

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Setare, M.R.; Kamali, V., E-mail: rezakord@ipm.ir, E-mail: vkamali1362@gmail.com

2012-08-01

We consider tachyonic warm-inflationary models in the context of intermediate inflation. We derive the characteristics of this model in slow-roll approximation and develop our model in two cases, 1- For a constant dissipative parameter Γ. 2- Γ as a function of tachyon field φ. We also describe scalar and tensor perturbations for this scenario. The parameters appearing in our model are constrained by recent observational data. We find that the level of non-Gaussianity for this model is comparable with non-tachyonic model.

Cosmological evolution of a tachyon-quintom model of dark energy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shi, Shang-Gang; Piao, Yun-Song; Qiao, Cong-Feng, E-mail: shishanggang06@mails.gucas.ac.cn, E-mail: yspiao@gucas.ac.cn, E-mail: qiaocf@gucas.ac.cn

2009-04-15

In this work we study the cosmological evolution of a dark energy model with two scalar fields, i.e. the tachyon and the phantom tachyon. This model enables the equation of state w to change from w > -1 to w < -1 in the evolution of the universe. The phase-space analysis for such a system with inverse square potentials shows that there exists a unique stable critical point, which has power-law solution. In this paper, we also study another form of tachyon-quintom model with two fields, which involves the interactions between both fields.

Stability of a tachyon braneworld

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Germán, Gabriel; Kuerten, André Martorano; Malagón-Morejón, Dagoberto

2016-01-01

Within the braneworld paradigm the tachyonic scalar field has been used to generate models that attempt to solve some of the open problems that physics faces nowadays, both in cosmology and high energy physics as well. When these field configurations are produced by the interplay of higher dimensional warped gravity with some matter content, braneworld models must prove to be stable under the whole set of small fluctuations of the gravitational and matter fields background, among other consistency tests. Here we present a complete proof of the stability under scalar perturbations of tachyonic thick braneworlds with an embedded maximally symmetricmore » 4D space-time, revealing its physical consistency. This family of models contains a recently reported tachyonic de Sitter thick braneworld which possesses a series of appealing properties. These features encompass complete regularity, asymptotic flatness (instead of being asymptotically dS or AdS) even when it contains a negative bulk cosmological constant, a relevant 3-brane with dS metric which naturally arises from the full set of field equations of the 5D background (it is not imposed), qualitatively describing the inflationary epochs of our Universe, and a graviton spectrum with a single zero mode bound state that accounts for the 4D graviton localised on the brane and is separated from the continuum of Kaluza-Klein massive graviton excitations by a mass gap. The presence of this mass gap in the graviton spectrum makes the extra-dimensional corrections to Newton's law decay exponentially. Gauge vector fields with a single massless bound state in its mass spectrum are also localised on this braneworld model a fact that allows us to recover the Coulomb's law of our 4D world. All these properties of the above referred tachyonic braneworld together with the positive stability analysis provided in this work, constitute a firm step towards the construction of realistic cosmological models within the braneworld

Stability of a tachyon braneworld

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Germán, Gabriel; Herrera-Aguilar, Alfredo; Instituto de Física y Matemáticas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo,Ciudad Universitaria, CP 58040, Morelia, Michoacán

2016-01-26

Within the braneworld paradigm the tachyonic scalar field has been used to generate models that attempt to solve some of the open problems that physics faces nowadays, both in cosmology and high energy physics as well. When these field configurations are produced by the interplay of higher dimensional warped gravity with some matter content, braneworld models must prove to be stable under the whole set of small fluctuations of the gravitational and matter fields background, among other consistency tests. Here we present a complete proof of the stability under scalar perturbations of tachyonic thick braneworlds with an embedded maximally symmetricmore » 4D space-time, revealing its physical consistency. This family of models contains a recently reported tachyonic de Sitter thick braneworld which possesses a series of appealing properties. These features encompass complete regularity, asymptotic flatness (instead of being asymptotically dS or AdS) even when it contains a negative bulk cosmological constant, a relevant 3-brane with dS metric which naturally arises from the full set of field equations of the 5D background (it is not imposed), qualitatively describing the inflationary epochs of our Universe, and a graviton spectrum with a single zero mode bound state that accounts for the 4D graviton localised on the brane and is separated from the continuum of Kaluza-Klein massive graviton excitations by a mass gap. The presence of this mass gap in the graviton spectrum makes the extra-dimensional corrections to Newton’s law decay exponentially. Gauge vector fields with a single massless bound state in its mass spectrum are also localised on this braneworld model a fact that allows us to recover the Coulomb’s law of our 4D world. All these properties of the above referred tachyonic braneworld together with the positive stability analysis provided in this work, constitute a firm step towards the construction of realistic cosmological models within the braneworld

Stability of a tachyon braneworld

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Germán, Gabriel; Herrera-Aguilar, Alfredo; Martorano Kuerten, André; Malagón-Morejón, Dagoberto; da Rocha, Roldão

2016-01-01

Within the braneworld paradigm the tachyonic scalar field has been used to generate models that attempt to solve some of the open problems that physics faces nowadays, both in cosmology and high energy physics as well. When these field configurations are produced by the interplay of higher dimensional warped gravity with some matter content, braneworld models must prove to be stable under the whole set of small fluctuations of the gravitational and matter fields background, among other consistency tests. Here we present a complete proof of the stability under scalar perturbations of tachyonic thick braneworlds with an embedded maximally symmetric 4D space-time, revealing its physical consistency. This family of models contains a recently reported tachyonic de Sitter thick braneworld which possesses a series of appealing properties. These features encompass complete regularity, asymptotic flatness (instead of being asymptotically dS or AdS) even when it contains a negative bulk cosmological constant, a relevant 3-brane with dS metric which naturally arises from the full set of field equations of the 5D background (it is not imposed), qualitatively describing the inflationary epochs of our Universe, and a graviton spectrum with a single zero mode bound state that accounts for the 4D graviton localised on the brane and is separated from the continuum of Kaluza-Klein massive graviton excitations by a mass gap. The presence of this mass gap in the graviton spectrum makes the extra-dimensional corrections to Newton's law decay exponentially. Gauge vector fields with a single massless bound state in its mass spectrum are also localised on this braneworld model a fact that allows us to recover the Coulomb's law of our 4D world. All these properties of the above referred tachyonic braneworld together with the positive stability analysis provided in this work, constitute a firm step towards the construction of realistic cosmological models within the braneworld paradigm.

Faster-than-light particles: a review of tachyon characteristics. Interim report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Puscher, E.A.

1980-10-01

This report documents an analytical prediction of some of the characteristics which presently undiscovered faster-than-light sub-atomic particles (called tachyons) must possess if they are to exist without violating the Theory of Special Relativity. A brief review of necessary concepts from the Special Theory is included so that the reader might more readily understand the reasoning as it is developed. Necessary, but not all, characteristics of tachyons are then identified and presented. Finally, an interesting potential relationship between tachyons and anti-gravity is discussed.

Performance of the Tachyon Time-of-Flight PET Camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Q.; Choong, W.-S.; Vu, C.; Huber, J. S.; Janecek, M.; Wilson, D.; Huesman, R. H.; Qi, Jinyi; Zhou, Jian; Moses, W. W.

2015-02-01

We have constructed and characterized a time-of-flight Positron Emission Tomography (TOF PET) camera called the Tachyon. The Tachyon is a single-ring Lutetium Oxyorthosilicate (LSO) based camera designed to obtain significantly better timing resolution than the 550 ps found in present commercial TOF cameras, in order to quantify the benefit of improved TOF resolution for clinically relevant tasks. The Tachyon's detector module is optimized for timing by coupling the 6.15 ×25 mm2 side of 6.15 ×6.15 ×25 mm3 LSO scintillator crystals onto a 1-inch diameter Hamamatsu R-9800 PMT with a super-bialkali photocathode. We characterized the camera according to the NEMA NU 2-2012 standard, measuring the energy resolution, timing resolution, spatial resolution, noise equivalent count rates and sensitivity. The Tachyon achieved a coincidence timing resolution of 314 ps +/- 20 ps FWHM over all crystal-crystal combinations. Experiments were performed with the NEMA body phantom to assess the imaging performance improvement over non-TOF PET. The results show that at a matched contrast, incorporating 314 ps TOF reduces the standard deviation of the contrast by a factor of about 2.3.

Performance of the Tachyon Time-of-Flight PET Camera.

PubMed

Peng, Q; Choong, W-S; Vu, C; Huber, J S; Janecek, M; Wilson, D; Huesman, R H; Qi, Jinyi; Zhou, Jian; Moses, W W

2015-02-01

We have constructed and characterized a time-of-flight Positron Emission Tomography (TOF PET) camera called the Tachyon. The Tachyon is a single-ring Lutetium Oxyorthosilicate (LSO) based camera designed to obtain significantly better timing resolution than the ~ 550 ps found in present commercial TOF cameras, in order to quantify the benefit of improved TOF resolution for clinically relevant tasks. The Tachyon's detector module is optimized for timing by coupling the 6.15 × 25 mm 2 side of 6.15 × 6.15 × 25 mm 3 LSO scintillator crystals onto a 1-inch diameter Hamamatsu R-9800 PMT with a super-bialkali photocathode. We characterized the camera according to the NEMA NU 2-2012 standard, measuring the energy resolution, timing resolution, spatial resolution, noise equivalent count rates and sensitivity. The Tachyon achieved a coincidence timing resolution of 314 ps +/- ps FWHM over all crystal-crystal combinations. Experiments were performed with the NEMA body phantom to assess the imaging performance improvement over non-TOF PET. The results show that at a matched contrast, incorporating 314 ps TOF reduces the standard deviation of the contrast by a factor of about 2.3.

Constant-roll tachyon inflation and observational constraints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Qing; Gong, Yungui; Fei, Qin

2018-05-01

For the constant-roll tachyon inflation, we derive the analytical expressions for the scalar and tensor power spectra, the scalar and tensor spectral tilts and the tensor to scalar ratio to the first order of epsilon1 by using the method of Bessel function approximation. The derived ns-r results are compared with the observations, we find that only the constant-roll inflation with ηH being a constant is consistent with the observations and observations constrain the constant-roll inflation to be slow-roll inflation. The tachyon potential is also reconstructed for the constant-roll inflation which is consistent with the observations.

Moving branes in the presence of background tachyon fields

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rezaei, Z., E-mail: z.rezaei@aut.ac.ir; Kamani, D., E-mail: kamani@aut.ac.ir

2011-12-15

We compute the boundary state associated with a moving Dp-brane in the presence of the open string tachyon field as a background field. The effect of the tachyon condensation on the boundary state is discussed. It leads to a boundary state associated with a lower-dimensional moving D-brane or a stationary instantonic D-brane. The former originates from condensation along the spatial directions and the latter comes from the temporal direction of the D-brane worldvolume. Using the boundary state, we also study the interaction amplitude between two arbitrary Dp{sub 1}- and Dp{sub 2}-branes. The long-range behavior of the amplitude is investigated, demonstratingmore » an obvious deviation from the conventional form, due to the presence of the background tachyon field.« less

Non-Gaussianities in multifield DBI inflation with a waterfall phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kidani, Taichi; Koyama, Kazuya; Mizuno, Shuntaro

2012-10-01

We study multifield Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) inflation models with a waterfall phase transition. This transition happens for a D3 brane moving in the warped conifold if there is an instability along angular directions. The transition converts the angular perturbations into the curvature perturbation. Thanks to this conversion, multifield models can evade the stringent constraints that strongly disfavor single field ultraviolet (UV) DBI inflation models in string theory. We explicitly demonstrate that our model satisfies current observational constraints on the spectral index and equilateral non-Gaussianity as well as the bound on the tensor to scalar ratio imposed in string theory models. In addition, we show that large local type non-Gaussianity is generated together with equilateral non-Gaussianity in this model.

Extended DBI massive gravity with generalized fiducial metric

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chullaphan, Tossaporn; Tannukij, Lunchakorn; Wongjun, Pitayuth

2015-06-01

We consider an extended model of DBI massive gravity by generalizing the fiducial metric to be an induced metric on the brane corresponding to a domain wall moving in five-dimensional Schwarzschild-Anti-de Sitter spacetime. The model admits all solutions of FLRW metric including flat, closed and open geometries while the original one does not. The background solutions can be divided into two branches namely self-accelerating branch and normal branch. For the self-accelerating branch, the graviton mass plays the role of cosmological constant to drive the late-time acceleration of the universe. It is found that the number degrees of freedom of gravitational sector is not correct similar to the original DBI massive gravity. There are only two propagating degrees of freedom from tensor modes. For normal branch, we restrict our attention to a particular class of the solutions which provides an accelerated expansion of the universe. It is found that the number of degrees of freedom in the model is correct. However, at least one of them is ghost degree of freedom which always present at small scale implying that the theory is not stable.

Crossing of the phantom divide using tachyon-Gauss-Bonnet gravity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sadeghi, J.; Banijamali, A.; Milani, F.

2009-06-15

In this paper we consider two models. First, we study tachyon-Gauss-Bonnet gravity and obtain the condition of the equation of state crossing -1. Second, we discuss the modified Gauss-Bonnet gravity with the tachyon field and show the condition of {omega} crossing -1. Also, we plot figures for {omega} numerically in special potential and coupling function.

Performance of the Tachyon Time-of-Flight PET Camera

DOE PAGES

Peng, Q.; Choong, W. -S.; Vu, C.; ...

2015-01-23

We have constructed and characterized a time-of-flight Positron Emission Tomography (TOF PET) camera called the Tachyon. The Tachyon is a single-ring Lutetium Oxyorthosilicate (LSO) based camera designed to obtain significantly better timing resolution than the ~ 550 ps found in present commercial TOF cameras, in order to quantify the benefit of improved TOF resolution for clinically relevant tasks. The Tachyon's detector module is optimized for timing by coupling the 6.15 ×25 mm 2 side of 6.15 ×6.15 ×25 mm 3 LSO scintillator crystals onto a 1-inch diameter Hamamatsu R-9800 PMT with a super-bialkali photocathode. We characterized the camera according tomore » the NEMA NU 2-2012 standard, measuring the energy resolution, timing resolution, spatial resolution, noise equivalent count rates and sensitivity. The Tachyon achieved a coincidence timing resolution of 314 ps +/- 20 ps FWHM over all crystal-crystal combinations. Experiments were performed with the NEMA body phantom to assess the imaging performance improvement over non-TOF PET. We find that the results show that at a matched contrast, incorporating 314 ps TOF reduces the standard deviation of the contrast by a factor of about 2.3.« less

A premier analysis of supersymmetric closed string tachyon cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vázquez-Báez, V.; Ramírez, C.

2018-04-01

From a previously found worldline supersymmetric formulation for the effective action of the closed string tachyon in a FRW background, the Hamiltonian of the theory is constructed, by means of the Dirac procedure, and written in a quantum version. Using the supersymmetry algebra we are able to find solutions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation via a more simple set of first order differential equations. Finally, for the k = 0 case, we compute the expectation value of the scale factor with a suitably potential also favored in the present literature. We give some interpretations of the results and state future work lines on this matter.

Observational status of Tachyon Natural Inflation and reheating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rashidi, Narges; Nozari, Kourosh; Grøn, Øyvind

2018-05-01

We study observational viability of Natural Inflation with a tachyon field as inflaton. By obtaining the main perturbation parameters in this model, we perform a numerical analysis on the parameter space of the model and in confrontation with 68% and 95% CL regions of Planck2015 data. By adopting a warped background geometry, we find some new constraints on the width of the potential in terms of its height and the warp factor. We show that the Tachyon Natural Inflation in the large width limit recovers the tachyon model with a phi2 potential which is consistent with Planck2015 observational data. Then we focus on the reheating era after inflation by treating the number of e-folds, temperature and the effective equation of state parameter in this era. Since it is likely that the value of the effective equation of state parameter during the reheating era to be in the range 0<= ωeff<= 1/3, we obtain some new constraints on the tensor to scalar ratio, r, as well as the e-folds number and reheating temperature in this Tachyon Natural Inflation model. In particular, we show that a prediction of this model is r<=8/3 δns, where δns is the scalar spectral tilt, δns=1‑ns. In this regard, given that from the Planck2015 data we have δns=0.032 (corresponding to ns=0.968), we get r<= 0.085.

A de Sitter tachyon thick braneworld

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Germán, Gabriel; Herrera-Aguilar, Alfredo; Malagón-Morejón, Dagoberto

2013-02-01

Among the multiple 5D thick braneworld models that have been proposed in the last years, in order to address several open problems in modern physics, there is a specific one involving a tachyonic bulk scalar field. Delving into this framework, a thick braneworld with a cosmological background induced on the brane is here investigated. The respective field equations — derived from the model with a warped 5D geometry — are highly non-linear equations, admitting a non-trivial solution for the warp factor and the tachyon scalar field as well, in a de Sitter 4D cosmological background. Moreover, the non-linear tachyonic scalarmore » field, that generates the brane in complicity with warped gravity, has the form of a kink-like configuration. Notwithstanding, the non-linear field equations restricting character does not allow one to easily find thick brane solutions with a decaying warp factor which leads to the localization of 4D gravity and other matter fields. We derive such a thick brane configuration altogether in this tachyon-gravity setup. When analyzing the spectrum of gravity fluctuations in the transverse traceless sector, the 4D gravity is shown to be localized due to the presence of a single zero mode bound state, separated by a continuum of massive Kaluza-Klein (KK) modes by a mass gap. It contrasts with previous results, where there is a KK massive bound excitation providing no clear physical interpretation. The mass gap is determined by the scale of the metric parameter H. Finally, the corrections to Newton's law in this model are computed and shown to decay exponentially. It is in full compliance to corrections reported in previous results (up to a constant factor) within similar braneworlds with induced 4D de Sitter metric, despite the fact that the warp factor and the massive modes have a different form.« less

Resurrecting the Power-law, Intermediate, and Logamediate Inflations in the DBI Scenario with Constant Sound Speed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amani, Roonak; Rezazadeh, Kazem; Abdolmaleki, Asrin; Karami, Kayoomars

2018-02-01

We investigate the power-law, intermediate, and logamediate inflationary models in the framework of DBI non-canonical scalar field with constant sound speed. In the DBI setting, we first represent the power spectrum of both scalar density and tensor gravitational perturbations. Then, we derive different inflationary observables including the scalar spectral index n s , the running of the scalar spectral index {{dn}}s/d{ln}k, and the tensor-to-scalar ratio r. We show that the 95% CL constraint of the Planck 2015 T + E data on the non-Gaussianity parameter {f}{NL}{DBI} leads to the sound speed bound {c}s≥slant 0.087 in the DBI inflation. Moreover, our results imply that, although the predictions of the power-law, intermediate, and logamediate inflations in the standard canonical framework (c s = 1) are not consistent with the Planck 2015 data, in the DBI scenario with constant sound speed {c}s< 1, the result of the r-{n}s diagram for these models can lie inside the 68% CL region favored by Planck 2015 TT,TE,EE+lowP data. We also specify the parameter space of the power-law, intermediate, and logamediate inflations for which our models are compatible with the 68% or 95% CL regions of the Planck 2015 TT,TE,EE+lowP data. Using the allowed ranges of the parameter space of the intermediate and logamediate inflationary models, we estimate the running of the scalar spectral index and find that it is compatible with the 95% CL constraint from the Planck 2015 TT,TE,EE+lowP data.

Tachyons in the Galilean limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Batlle, Carles; Gomis, Joaquim; Mezincescu, Luca; Townsend, Paul K.

2017-04-01

The Souriau massless Galilean particle of "colour" k and spin s is shown to be the Galilean limit of the Souriau tachyon of mass m = ik and spin s. We compare and contrast this result with the Galilean limit of the Nambu-Goto string and Green-Schwarz superstring.

N-point functions in rolling tachyon background

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jokela, Niko; Keski-Vakkuri, Esko; Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, FIN-00014, University of Helsinki

2009-04-15

We study n-point boundary correlation functions in timelike boundary Liouville theory, relevant for open string multiproduction by a decaying unstable D brane. We give an exact result for the one-point function of the tachyon vertex operator and show that it is consistent with a previously proposed relation to a conserved charge in string theory. We also discuss when the one-point amplitude vanishes. Using a straightforward perturbative expansion, we find an explicit expression for a tachyon n-point amplitude for all n, however the result is still a toy model. The calculation uses a new asymptotic approximation for Toeplitz determinants, derived bymore » relating the system to a Dyson gas at finite temperature.« less

Closed-string tachyon condensation and the worldsheet super-higgs effect.

PubMed

Horava, Petr; Keeler, Cynthia A

2008-02-08

Alternative gauge choices for worldsheet supersymmetry can elucidate dynamical phenomena obscured in the usual superconformal gauge. In the particular example of the tachyonic E8 heterotic string, we use a judicious gauge choice to show that the process of closed-string tachyon condensation can be understood in terms of a worldsheet super-Higgs effect. The worldsheet gravitino assimilates the goldstino and becomes a dynamical propagating field. Conformal, but not superconformal, invariance is maintained throughout.

Toward Wisdom in Procedural Reasoning: DBI, not BDI

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-10-04

a our current, ever-expanding understanding of the human procedural reasoning system to one that chooses procedures mind as embodied in the brain and...the rest of the body . The wisely, a logical circularity becomes apparent, as the explicit premise of this re-ordering is that a sapient DBI structure...from Searle that pro- implementation. As an advance over this fixed realism, a attitudes such as desires and wishes have a "world-to- mind " new

Finite temperature corrections to tachyon mass in intersecting D-branes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sethi, Varun; Chowdhury, Sudipto Paul; Sarkar, Swarnendu

2017-04-01

We continue with the analysis of finite temperature corrections to the Tachyon mass in intersecting branes which was initiated in [1]. In this paper we extend the computation to the case of intersecting D3 branes by considering a setup of two intersecting branes in flat-space background. A holographic model dual to BCS superconductor consisting of intersecting D8 branes in D4 brane background was proposed in [2]. The background considered here is a simplified configuration of this dual model. We compute the one-loop Tachyon amplitude in the Yang-Mills approximation and show that the result is finite. Analyzing the amplitudes further we numerically compute the transition temperature at which the Tachyon becomes massless. The analytic expressions for the one-loop amplitudes obtained here reduce to those for intersecting D1 branes obtained in [1] as well as those for intersecting D2 branes.

The reconstruction of tachyon inflationary potentials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fei, Qin; Gong, Yungui; Lin, Jiong; Yi, Zhu

2017-08-01

We derive a lower bound on the field excursion for the tachyon inflation, which is determined by the amplitude of the scalar perturbation and the number of e-folds before the end of inflation. Using the relation between the observables like ns and r with the slow-roll parameters, we reconstruct three classes of tachyon potentials. The model parameters are determined from the observations before the potentials are reconstructed, and the observations prefer the concave potential. We also discuss the constraints from the reheating phase preceding the radiation domination for the three classes of models by assuming the equation of state parameter wre during reheating is a constant. Depending on the model parameters and the value of wre, the constraints on Nre and Tre are different. As ns increases, the allowed reheating epoch becomes longer for wre=-1/3, 0 and 1/6 while the allowed reheating epoch becomes shorter for wre=2/3.

Revised theory of tachyons in general relativity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwartz, Charles

2017-08-01

A minus sign is inserted, for good reason, into the formula for the energy-momentum tensor for tachyons. This leads to remarkable theoretical consequences and a plausible explanation for the phenomenon called dark energy in the cosmos.

Transient and late time attractor tachyon dark energy: Can we distinguish it from quintessence?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ali, Amna; Sami, M.; Sen, A. A.

2009-06-15

The string inspired tachyon field can serve as a candidate of dark energy. Its equation of state parameter w varies from 0 to -1. In the case of tachyon field potential V({phi}){yields}0 slower (faster) than 1/{phi}{sup 2} at infinity, dark energy (dark matter) is a late time attractor. We investigate the tachyon dark energy models under the assumption that w is close to -1. We find that all the models exhibit unique behavior around the present epoch which is exactly the same as that of the thawing quintessence.

Cosmological tachyon condensation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bilic, Neven; Tupper, Gary B.; Viollier, Raoul D.

2009-07-15

We consider the prospects for dark matter/energy unification in k-essence type cosmologies. General mappings are established between the k-essence scalar field, the hydrodynamic and braneworld descriptions. We develop an extension of the general relativistic dust model that incorporates the effects of both pressure and the associated acoustic horizon. Applying this to a tachyon model, we show that this inhomogeneous 'variable Chaplygin gas' does evolve into a mixed system containing cold dark matter like gravitational condensate in significant quantities. Our methods can be applied to any dark energy model, as well as to mixtures of dark energy and traditional dark matter.

Phantom behavior bounce with tachyon and non-minimal derivative coupling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Banijamali, A.; Fazlpour, B., E-mail: a.banijamali@nit.ac.ir, E-mail: b.fazlpour@umz.ac.ir

2012-01-01

The bouncing cosmology provides a successful solution of the cosmological singularity problem. In this paper, we study the bouncing behavior of a single scalar field model with tachyon field non-minimally coupled to itself, its derivative and to the curvature. By utilizing the numerical calculations we will show that the bouncing solution can appear in the universe dominated by such a quintom matter with equation of state crossing the phantom divide line. We also investigate the classical stability of our model using the phase velocity of the homogeneous perturbations of the tachyon scalar field.

Performance of the Tachyon Time-of-Flight PET Camera

PubMed Central

Peng, Q.; Choong, W.-S.; Vu, C.; Huber, J. S.; Janecek, M.; Wilson, D.; Huesman, R. H.; Qi, Jinyi; Zhou, Jian; Moses, W. W.

2015-01-01

We have constructed and characterized a time-of-flight Positron Emission Tomography (TOF PET) camera called the Tachyon. The Tachyon is a single-ring Lutetium Oxyorthosilicate (LSO) based camera designed to obtain significantly better timing resolution than the ~ 550 ps found in present commercial TOF cameras, in order to quantify the benefit of improved TOF resolution for clinically relevant tasks. The Tachyon’s detector module is optimized for timing by coupling the 6.15 × 25 mm2 side of 6.15 × 6.15 × 25 mm3 LSO scintillator crystals onto a 1-inch diameter Hamamatsu R-9800 PMT with a super-bialkali photocathode. We characterized the camera according to the NEMA NU 2-2012 standard, measuring the energy resolution, timing resolution, spatial resolution, noise equivalent count rates and sensitivity. The Tachyon achieved a coincidence timing resolution of 314 ps +/− ps FWHM over all crystal-crystal combinations. Experiments were performed with the NEMA body phantom to assess the imaging performance improvement over non-TOF PET. The results show that at a matched contrast, incorporating 314 ps TOF reduces the standard deviation of the contrast by a factor of about 2.3. PMID:26594057

Theoretical and observational constraints on Tachyon Inflation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barbosa-Cendejas, Nandinii; De-Santiago, Josue; German, Gabriel; Hidalgo, Juan Carlos; Rigel Mora-Luna, Refugio

2018-03-01

We constrain several models in Tachyonic Inflation derived from the large-N formalism by considering theoretical aspects as well as the latest observational data. On the theoretical side, we assess the field range of our models by means of the excursion of the equivalent canonical field. On the observational side, we employ BK14+PLANCK+BAO data to perform a parameter estimation analysis as well as a Bayesian model selection to distinguish the most favoured models among all four classes here presented. We observe that the original potential V propto sech(T) is strongly disfavoured by observations with respect to a reference model with flat priors on inflationary observables. This realisation of Tachyon inflation also presents a large field range which may demand further quantum corrections. We also provide examples of potentials derived from the polynomial and the perturbative classes which are both statistically favoured and theoretically acceptable.

The reconstruction of tachyon inflationary potentials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fei, Qin; Gong, Yungui; Lin, Jiong

We derive a lower bound on the field excursion for the tachyon inflation, which is determined by the amplitude of the scalar perturbation and the number of e -folds before the end of inflation. Using the relation between the observables like n {sub s} and r with the slow-roll parameters, we reconstruct three classes of tachyon potentials. The model parameters are determined from the observations before the potentials are reconstructed, and the observations prefer the concave potential. We also discuss the constraints from the reheating phase preceding the radiation domination for the three classes of models by assuming the equationmore » of state parameter w {sub re} during reheating is a constant. Depending on the model parameters and the value of w {sub re} , the constraints on N {sub re} and T {sub re} are different. As n {sub s} increases, the allowed reheating epoch becomes longer for w {sub re} =−1/3, 0 and 1/6 while the allowed reheating epoch becomes shorter for w {sub re} =2/3.« less

Observational constraints on holographic tachyonic dark energy in interaction with dark matter

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Micheletti, Sandro M. R., E-mail: smrm@fma.if.usp.br

2010-05-01

We discuss an interacting tachyonic dark energy model in the context of the holographic principle. The potential of the holographic tachyon field in interaction with dark matter is constructed. The model results are compared with CMB shift parameter, baryonic acoustic oscilations, lookback time and the Constitution supernovae sample. The coupling constant of the model is compatible with zero, but dark energy is not given by a cosmological constant.

Gravitational waves from non-Abelian gauge fields at a tachyonic transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tranberg, Anders; Tähtinen, Sara; Weir, David J.

2018-04-01

We compute the gravitational wave spectrum from a tachyonic preheating transition of a Standard Model-like SU(2)-Higgs system. Tachyonic preheating involves exponentially growing IR modes, at scales as large as the horizon. Such a transition at the electroweak scale could be detectable by LISA, if these non-perturbatively large modes translate into non-linear dynamics sourcing gravitational waves. Through large-scale numerical simulations, we find that the spectrum of gravitational waves does not exhibit such IR features. Instead, we find two peaks corresponding to the Higgs and gauge field mass, respectively. We find that the gravitational wave production is reduced when adding non-Abelian gauge fields to a scalar-only theory, but increases when adding Abelian gauge fields. In particular, gauge fields suppress the gravitational wave spectrum in the IR. A tachyonic transition in the early Universe will therefore not be detectable by LISA, even if it involves non-Abelian gauge fields.

Non-minimally coupled tachyon field in teleparallel gravity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fazlpour, Behnaz; Banijamali, Ali, E-mail: b.fazlpour@umz.ac.ir, E-mail: a.banijamali@nit.ac.ir

2015-04-01

We perform a full investigation on dynamics of a new dark energy model in which the four-derivative of a non-canonical scalar field (tachyon) is non-minimally coupled to the vector torsion. Our analysis is done in the framework of teleparallel equivalent of general relativity which is based on torsion instead of curvature. We show that in our model there exists a late-time scaling attractor (point P{sub 4}), corresponding to an accelerating universe with the property that dark energy and dark matter densities are of the same order. Such a point can help to alleviate the cosmological coincidence problem. Existence of thismore » point is the most significant difference between our model and another model in which a canonical scalar field (quintessence) is used instead of tachyon field.« less

Tachyon condensation and black hole entropy.

PubMed

Dabholkar, Atish

2002-03-04

String propagation on a cone with deficit angle 2pi(1-1 / N) is considered for the purpose of computing the entropy of a large mass black hole. The entropy computed using the recent results on condensation of twisted-sector tachyons in this theory is found to be in precise agreement with the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy.

Tachyon search speeds up retrieval of similar sequences by several orders of magnitude.

PubMed

Tan, Joshua; Kuchibhatla, Durga; Sirota, Fernanda L; Sherman, Westley A; Gattermayer, Tobias; Kwoh, Chia Yee; Eisenhaber, Frank; Schneider, Georg; Maurer-Stroh, Sebastian

2012-06-15

The usage of current sequence search tools becomes increasingly slower as databases of protein sequences continue to grow exponentially. Tachyon, a new algorithm that identifies closely related protein sequences ~200 times faster than standard BLAST, circumvents this limitation with a reduced database and oligopeptide matching heuristic. The tool is publicly accessible as a webserver at http://tachyon.bii.a-star.edu.sg and can also be accessed programmatically through SOAP.

M-theory through the looking glass: Tachyon condensation in the E8 heterotic string

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Horava, Petr; Horava, Petr; Keeler, Cynthia A.

2007-09-20

We study the spacetime decay to nothing in string theory and M-theory. First we recall a nonsupersymmetric version of heterotic M-theory, in which bubbles of nothing -- connecting the two E_8 boundaries by a throat -- are expected to be nucleated. We argue that the fate of this system should be addressed at weak string coupling, where the nonperturbative instanton instability is expected to turn into a perturbative tachyonic one. We identify the unique string theory that could describe this process: The heterotic model with one E_8 gauge group and a singlet tachyon. We then use worldsheet methods to studymore » the tachyon condensation in the NSR formulation of this model, and show that it induces a worldsheet super-Higgs effect. The main theme of our analysis is the possibility of making meaningful alternative gauge choices for worldsheet supersymmetry, in place of the conventional superconformal gauge. We show in a version of unitary gauge how the worldsheet gravitino assimilates the goldstino and becomes dynamical. This picture clarifies recent results of Hellerman and Swanson. We also present analogs of R_\\xi gauges, and note the importance of logarithmic CFT in the context of tachyon condensation.« less

Calculation of the decay rate of tachyonic neutrinos against charged-lepton-pair and neutrino-pair Cerenkov radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jentschura, Ulrich D.; Nándori, István; Ehrlich, Robert

2017-10-01

We consider in detail the calculation of the decay rate of high-energy superluminal neutrinos against (charged) lepton pair Cerenkov radiation, and neutrino pair Cerenkov radiation, i.e., against the decay channels ν \\to ν {e}+ {e}- and ν \\to ν \\overline{ν } ν . Under the hypothesis of a tachyonic nature of neutrinos, these decay channels put constraints on the lifetime of high-energy neutrinos for terrestrial experiments as well as on cosmic scales. For the oncoming neutrino, we use the Lorentz-covariant tachyonic relation {E}ν =\\sqrt{{p}2-{m}ν 2}, where m ν is the tachyonic mass parameter. We derive both threshold conditions as well as on decay and energy loss rates, using the plane-wave fundamental bispinor solutions of the tachyonic Dirac equation. Various intricacies of rest frame versus lab frame calculations are highlighted. The results are compared to the observations of high-energy IceCube neutrinos of cosmological origin.

[On the bactericidal action of dibromoisocyanuric acid; experiments concerning the disinfection of hands (author's transl)].

PubMed

Gottardi, W; Puritscher, M

1976-07-01

The action of dibromoisocyanuric acid (DBI), C12, Br2, trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCI) and chloramine T against Staph. aureus SG 511 was compared. Using the suspension test DBI and Br2 showed the strongest, chloramine T however, the weakest bactericidal power (Tab 2). Under the conditions of the "Hygienic disinfection of hands" a 0.005 M solution of DBI met the requirements specified in the "Richtlinien für die Prüfung chemischer Desinfektionsmittel" (3. Ed., Stuttgart: Gustav Fischer Verlag, 1972), and was comparable to a chloramine T solution containing the same amount of active halogen (Tab. 3). The decrease of disinfection power compared with the suspension test can be attributed to a great error induced by protein.

Tachyon search speeds up retrieval of similar sequences by several orders of magnitude

PubMed Central

Tan, Joshua; Kuchibhatla, Durga; Sirota, Fernanda L.; Sherman, Westley A.; Gattermayer, Tobias; Kwoh, Chia Yee; Eisenhaber, Frank; Schneider, Georg; Maurer-Stroh, Sebastian

2012-01-01

Summary: The usage of current sequence search tools becomes increasingly slower as databases of protein sequences continue to grow exponentially. Tachyon, a new algorithm that identifies closely related protein sequences ~200 times faster than standard BLAST, circumvents this limitation with a reduced database and oligopeptide matching heuristic. Availability and implementation: The tool is publicly accessible as a webserver at http://tachyon.bii.a-star.edu.sg and can also be accessed programmatically through SOAP. Contact: sebastianms@bii.a-star.edu.sg Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at the Bioinformatics online. PMID:22531216

Results of a search for monopoles and tachyons in horizontal cosmic ray flux

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ashitkov, V. D.; Kirina, T. M.; Klimakov, A. P.; Kokoulin, R. P.; Petrukhin, A. A.

1985-01-01

A search for monopoles and tachyons at ground level was carried out using an arrangement consisting of an ionization calorimeter and two hodoscope detectors. No clear evidence for these particles was obtained. The flux of monopoles with velocities beta approximately 0.01 is found to be less than 5.1 x 10 to the minus 13th power square centimeters s(-1) sr(-1) (95% cl.). The upper limit on the tachyon flux density is set as a 6 x 10 the minus 9th power particle/square centimeter event.

Tachyon logamediate inflation on the brane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamali, Vahid; Nik, Elahe Navaee

2017-07-01

According to a Barrow solution for the scale factor of the universe, the main properties of the tachyon inflation model in the framework of the RSII braneworld are studied. Within this framework the basic slow-roll parameters are calculated analytically. We compare this inflationary scenario to the latest observational data. The predicted spectral index and the tensor-to-scalar fluctuation ratio are in excellent agreement with those of Planck 2015. The current predictions are consistent with those of viable inflationary models.

Classical and quantum Big Brake cosmology for scalar field and tachyonic models

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kamenshchik, A. Yu.; Manti, S.

We study a relation between the cosmological singularities in classical and quantum theory, comparing the classical and quantum dynamics in some models possessing the Big Brake singularity - the model based on a scalar field and two models based on a tachyon-pseudo-tachyon field . It is shown that the effect of quantum avoidance is absent for the soft singularities of the Big Brake type while it is present for the Big Bang and Big Crunch singularities. Thus, there is some kind of a classical - quantum correspondence, because soft singularities are traversable in classical cosmology, while the strong Big Bangmore » and Big Crunch singularities are not traversable.« less

M theory through the looking glass: Tachyon condensation in the E{sub 8} heterotic string

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Horava, Petr; Keeler, Cynthia A.

2008-03-15

We study the spacetime decay to nothing in string theory and M-theory. First we recall a nonsupersymmetric version of heterotic M-theory, in which bubbles of nothing--connecting the two E{sub 8} boundaries by a throat--are expected to be nucleated. We argue that the fate of this system should be addressed at weak string coupling, where the nonperturbative instanton instability is expected to turn into a perturbative tachyonic one. We identify the unique string theory that could describe this process: The heterotic model with one E{sub 8} gauge group and a singlet tachyon. We then use world sheet methods to study themore » tachyon condensation in the Neveu-Schwarz-Ramond formulation of this model, and show that it induces a world sheet super-Higgs effect. The main theme of our analysis is the possibility of making meaningful alternative gauge choices for world sheet supersymmetry, in place of the conventional superconformal gauge. We show in a version of unitary gauge how the world sheet gravitino assimilates the Goldstino and becomes dynamical. This picture clarifies recent results of Hellerman and Swanson. We also present analogs of R{sub {xi}} gauges, and note the importance of logarithmic conformal field theories in the context of tachyon condensation.« less

Tachyon with an inverse power-law potential in a braneworld cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilić, Neven; Domazet, Silvije; Djordjevic, Goran S.

2017-08-01

We study a tachyon cosmological model based on the dynamics of a 3-brane in the bulk of the second Randall-Sundrum model extended to more general warp functions. A well known prototype of such a generalization is the bulk with a selfinteracting scalar field. As a consequence of a generalized bulk geometry the cosmology on the observer brane is modified by the scale dependent four-dimensional gravitational constant. In particular, we study a power law warp factor which generates an inverse power-law potential V\\propto \\varphi-n of the tachyon field φ. We find a critical power n cr that divides two subclasses with distinct asymptotic behaviors: a dust universe for n>n_cr and a quasi de Sitter universe for 0.

Implications of tachyon-like matter for superdense stars.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bhatia, M. S.; Pande, L. K.

1972-01-01

Derivation of a new equation of state of superdense matter by treating superdense matter as a perfect, degenerate tachyon gas. Model calculations for superdense stars based on this equation of state are presented. By appropriately choosing a certain parameter, dynamical stability can be achieved for arbitrarily large central densities. Also, a somewhat larger than usual value for the maximum mass is obtained.

Exploring soft constraints on effective actions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bianchi, Massimo; Guerrieri, Andrea L.; Huang, Yu-tin; Lee, Chao-Jung; Wen, Congkao

2016-10-01

We study effective actions for simultaneous breaking of space-time and internal symmetries. Novel features arise due to the mixing of Goldstone modes under the broken symmetries which, in contrast to the usual Adler's zero, leads to non-vanishing soft limits. Such scenarios are common for spontaneously broken SCFT's. We explicitly test these soft theorems for N=4 sYM in the Coulomb branch both perturbatively and non-perturbatively. We explore the soft constraints systematically utilizing recursion relations. In the pure dilaton sector of a general CFT, we show that all amplitudes up to order s n ˜ ∂2 n are completely determined in terms of the k-point amplitudes at order s k with k ≤ n. Terms with at most one derivative acting on each dilaton insertion are completely fixed and coincide with those appearing in the conformal DBI, i.e. DBI in AdS. With maximal supersymmetry, the effective actions are further constrained, leading to new non-renormalization theorems. In particular, the effective action is fixed up to eight derivatives in terms of just one unknown four-point coefficient and one more coefficient for ten-derivative terms. Finally, we also study the interplay between scale and conformal invariance in this context.

A de Sitter tachyonic braneworld revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barbosa-Cendejas, Nandinii; Cartas-Fuentevilla, Roberto; Herrera-Aguilar, Alfredo; Rigel Mora-Luna, Refugio; da Rocha, Roldão

2018-01-01

Within the framework of braneworlds, several interesting physical effects can be described in a wide range of energy scales, starting from high-energy physics to cosmology and low-energy physics. An usual way to generate a thick braneworld model relies in coupling a bulk scalar field to higher dimensional warped gravity. Quite recently, a novel braneworld was generated with the aid of a tachyonic bulk scalar field, having several remarkable properties. It comprises a regular and stable solution that contains a relevant 3-brane with de Sitter induced metric, arising as an exact solution to the 5D field equations, describing the inflationary eras of our Universe. Besides, it is asymptotically flat, despite of the presence of a negative 5D cosmological constant, which is an interesting feature that contrasts with most of the known, asymptotically either dS or AdS models. Moreover, it encompasses a graviton spectrum with a single massless bound state, accounting for 4D gravity localized on the brane, separated from the continuum of Kaluza-Klein massive graviton modes by a mass gap that makes the 5D corrections to Newton's law to decay exponentially. Finally, gauge, scalar and fermion fields are also shown to be localized on this braneworld. In this work, we show that this tachyonic braneworld allows for a nontrivial solution with a vanishing 5D cosmological constant that preserves all the above mentioned remarkable properties with a less amount of parameters, constituting an important contribution to the construction of a realistic cosmological braneworld model.

Stability analysis in tachyonic potential chameleon cosmology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Farajollahi, H.; Salehi, A.; Tayebi, F.

2011-05-01

We study general properties of attractors for tachyonic potential chameleon scalar-field model which possess cosmological scaling solutions. An analytic formulation is given to obtain fixed points with a discussion on their stability. The model predicts a dynamical equation of state parameter with phantom crossing behavior for an accelerating universe. We constrain the parameters of the model by best fitting with the recent data-sets from supernovae and simulated data points for redshift drift experiment generated by Monte Carlo simulations.

Nambu sigma model and effective membrane actions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jurčo, Branislav; Schupp, Peter

2012-07-01

We propose an effective action for a p‧-brane with open p-branes ending on it. The action has dual descriptions similar to the commutative and non-commutative ones of the DBI action for D-branes and open strings. The Poisson structure governing the non-commutativity of the D-brane is replaced by a Nambu structure and the open-closed string relations are generalized to the case of p-branes utilizing a novel Nambu sigma model description of p-branes. In the case of an M5-brane our action interpolates between M5-actions already proposed in the literature and matrix-model like actions involving Nambu structures.

Dynamics and stability of light-like tachyon condensation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barnaby, Neil; Mulryne, David J.; Nunes, Nelson J.; Robinson, Patrick

2009-03-01

Recently, Hellerman and Schnabl considered the dynamics of unstable D-branes in the background of a linear dilaton. Remarkably, they were able to construct light-like tachyon solutions which interpolate smoothly between the perturbative and nonperturbative vacua, without undergoing the wild oscillations that plague time-like solutions. In their analysis, however, the full structure of the initial value problem for the nonlocal dynamical equations was not considered. In this paper, therefore, we reexamine the nonlinear dynamics of light-like tachyon condensation using a combination of numerical and analytical techniques. We find that for the p-adic string the monotonic behaviour obtained previously relied on a special choice of initial conditions near the unstable maximum. For generic initial conditions the wild oscillations come back to haunt us. Interestingly, we find an ``island of stability'' in initial condition space that leads to sensible evolution at late times. For the string field theory case, on the other hand, we find that the evolution is completely stable for generic choices of initial data. This provides an explicit example of a string theoretic system that admits infinitely many initial data but is nevertheless nonperturbatively stable. Qualitatively similar dynamics are obtained in nonlocal cosmologies where the Hubble damping plays a role very analogous to the dilaton gradient.

Empirical Protocol for Measuring Virtual Tachyon / Tardon Interactions in a Dirac Vacuum

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Amoroso, Richard L.; Rauscher, Elizabeth A.

2010-12-22

Here we present discussion for the utility of resonant interference in Calabi-Yau mirror symmetry as a putative empirical test of the existence of virtual tachyon / tardon interactions in a covariant Dirac polarized vacuum.

Five-brane actions in double field theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blair, Chris D. A.; Musaev, Edvard T.

2018-03-01

We construct an action for NSNS 5-branes which is manifestly covariant under O( d, d). This is done by doubling d of the spacetime coordinates which appear in the worldvolume action. By formulating the DBI part of the action in a manner similar to a "gauged sigma model", only half the doubled coordinates genuinely appear. Our approach allows one to describe the full T-duality orbit of the IIB NS5 brane, the IIA KKM and their exotic relations in one formalism. Furthermore, by using ideas from double field theory, our action can be said to describe various aspects of non-geometric five-branes.

Comments on real tachyon vacuum solution without square roots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arroyo, E. Aldo

2018-01-01

We analyze the consistency of a recently proposed real tachyon vacuum solution without square roots in open bosonic string field theory. We show that the equation of motion contracted with the solution itself is satisfied. Additionally, by expanding the solution in the basis of the curly ℒ0 and the traditional L 0 eigenstates, we evaluate numerically the vacuum energy and obtain a result in agreement with Sen's conjecture.

Interaction of moving branes with background massless and tachyon fields in superstring theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rezaei, Z., E-mail: z.rezaei@aut.ac.ir; Kamani, D., E-mail: kamani@aut.ac.ir

2012-02-15

Using the boundary state formalism, we study a moving Dp-brane in a partially compact space-time in the presence of background fields: the Kalb-Ramond field B{sub {mu}{nu}}, a U(1) gauge field A{sub {alpha}}, and the tachyon field. The boundary state enables us to obtain the interaction amplitude of two branes with the above back-ground fields. The branes are parallel or perpendicular to each other. Because of the presence of background fields, compactification of some space-time directions, motion of the branes, and the arbitrariness of the dimensions of the branes, the system is rather general. Due to the tachyon fields and velocitiesmore » of the branes, the behavior of the interaction amplitude reveals obvious differences from the conventional behavior.« less

Lesion detection and quantification performance of the Tachyon-I time-of-flight PET scanner: phantom and human studies.

PubMed

Zhang, Xuezhu; Peng, Qiyu; Zhou, Jian; Huber, Jennifer S; Moses, William W; Qi, Jinyi

2018-03-16

The first generation Tachyon PET (Tachyon-I) is a demonstration single-ring PET scanner that reaches a coincidence timing resolution of 314 ps using LSO scintillator crystals coupled to conventional photomultiplier tubes. The objective of this study was to quantify the improvement in both lesion detection and quantification performance resulting from the improved time-of-flight (TOF) capability of the Tachyon-I scanner. We developed a quantitative TOF image reconstruction method for the Tachyon-I and evaluated its TOF gain for lesion detection and quantification. Scans of either a standard NEMA torso phantom or healthy volunteers were used as the normal background data. Separately scanned point source and sphere data were superimposed onto the phantom or human data after accounting for the object attenuation. We used the bootstrap method to generate multiple independent noisy datasets with and without a lesion present. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a channelized hotelling observer (CHO) was calculated for each lesion size and location combination to evaluate the lesion detection performance. The bias versus standard deviation trade-off of each lesion uptake was also calculated to evaluate the quantification performance. The resulting CHO-SNR measurements showed improved performance in lesion detection with better timing resolution. The detection performance was also dependent on the lesion size and location, in addition to the background object size and shape. The results of bias versus noise trade-off showed that the noise (standard deviation) reduction ratio was about 1.1-1.3 over the TOF 500 ps and 1.5-1.9 over the non-TOF modes, similar to the SNR gains for lesion detection. In conclusion, this Tachyon-I PET study demonstrated the benefit of improved time-of-flight capability on lesion detection and ROI quantification for both phantom and human subjects.

Lesion detection and quantification performance of the Tachyon-I time-of-flight PET scanner: phantom and human studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xuezhu; Peng, Qiyu; Zhou, Jian; Huber, Jennifer S.; Moses, William W.; Qi, Jinyi

2018-03-01

The first generation Tachyon PET (Tachyon-I) is a demonstration single-ring PET scanner that reaches a coincidence timing resolution of 314 ps using LSO scintillator crystals coupled to conventional photomultiplier tubes. The objective of this study was to quantify the improvement in both lesion detection and quantification performance resulting from the improved time-of-flight (TOF) capability of the Tachyon-I scanner. We developed a quantitative TOF image reconstruction method for the Tachyon-I and evaluated its TOF gain for lesion detection and quantification. Scans of either a standard NEMA torso phantom or healthy volunteers were used as the normal background data. Separately scanned point source and sphere data were superimposed onto the phantom or human data after accounting for the object attenuation. We used the bootstrap method to generate multiple independent noisy datasets with and without a lesion present. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a channelized hotelling observer (CHO) was calculated for each lesion size and location combination to evaluate the lesion detection performance. The bias versus standard deviation trade-off of each lesion uptake was also calculated to evaluate the quantification performance. The resulting CHO-SNR measurements showed improved performance in lesion detection with better timing resolution. The detection performance was also dependent on the lesion size and location, in addition to the background object size and shape. The results of bias versus noise trade-off showed that the noise (standard deviation) reduction ratio was about 1.1–1.3 over the TOF 500 ps and 1.5–1.9 over the non-TOF modes, similar to the SNR gains for lesion detection. In conclusion, this Tachyon-I PET study demonstrated the benefit of improved time-of-flight capability on lesion detection and ROI quantification for both phantom and human subjects.

Tachyon warm inflation with the effects of loop quantum cosmology in the light of Planck 2015

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamali, Vahid; Basilakos, Spyros; Mehrabi, Ahmad; Motaharfar, Meysam; Massaeli, Erfan

We investigate the observational signatures of quantum cosmology in the Cosmic Microwave Background data provided by Planck collaboration. We apply the warm inflationary paradigm with a tachyon scalar field to the loop quantum cosmology. In this context, we first provide the basic cosmological functions in terms of the tachyon field. We then obtain the slow-roll parameters and the power spectrum of scalar and tensor fluctuations, respectively. Finally, we study the performance of various warm inflationary scenarios against the latest Planck data and we find a family of models which are in agreement with the observations.

Development of a System to Display and Record Slack Action in Freight Trains

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1977-08-01

This report summarizes the development of a system which senses, displays and records the slack action or inter-car movement in freight trains. The system, called the Draft-Buff Indicator (DBI), was developed to serve as a train-handling aid. It prov...

Note on tachyon moduli and closed strings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carneiro da Cunha, Bruno

2008-07-15

The collective behavior of the SL(2,R) covariant brane states of noncritical c=1 string theory, found in a previous work, is studied in the Fermi liquid approximation. It is found that such states mimic the coset WZW model, whereas only by further restrictions one recovers the double-scaling limit which was purported to be equivalent to closed string models. Another limit is proposed, inspired by the tachyon condensation ideas, where the spectrum is the same of two-dimensional string theory. We close by noting some strange connections between vacuum states of the theory in their different interpretations.

Isolation, characterization, and purification to homogeneity of an endogenous polypeptide with agonistic action on benzodiazepine receptors.

PubMed Central

Guidotti, A; Forchetti, C M; Corda, M G; Konkel, D; Bennett, C D; Costa, E

1983-01-01

A brain polypeptide termed diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) and thought to be chemically and functionally related to the endogenous effector of the benzodiazepine recognition site was purified to homogeneity. This peptide gives a single band of protein on NaDodSO4 and acidic urea gel electrophoresis. A single UV-absorbing peak was obtained by HPLC using three different columns and solvent systems. DBI has a molecular mass of approximately equal to 11,000 daltons. Carboxyl-terminus analysis shows that tyrosine is the only residue while the amino-terminus was blocked. Cyanogen bromide treatment of DBI yields three polypeptide fragments, and the sequences of two of them have been determined for a total of 45 amino acids. DBI is a competitive inhibitor for the binding of [3H]diazepam, [3H]flunitrazepam, beta-[3H]carboline propyl esters, and 3H-labeled Ro 15-1788. The Ki for [3H]-diazepam and beta-[3H]carboline binding were 4 and 1 microM, respectively. Doses of DBI that inhibited [3H]diazepam binding by greater than 50% fail to change [3H]etorphine, gamma-amino[3H]butyric acid, [3H]-quinuclidinyl benzilate, [3H]dihydroalprenolol, [3H]adenosine, and [3H]imipramine binding tested at their respective Kd values. DBI injected intraventricularly at doses of 5-10 nmol completely reversed the anticonflict action of diazepam on unpunished drinking and, similar to the anxiety-inducing beta-carboline derivative FG 7142 (beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester), facilitated the shock-induced suppression of drinking by lowering the threshold for this response. Images PMID:6304714

Highly symmetric D-brane-anti-D-brane effective actions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatefi, Ehsan

2017-09-01

The entire S-matrix elements of four, five and six point functions of D-brane-anti D-brane system are explored. To deal with symmetries of string amplitudes as well as their all order α ' corrections we first address a four point function of one closed string Ramond-Ramond (RR) and two real tachyons on the world volume of brane-anti brane system. We then focus on symmetries of string theory as well as universal tachyon expansion to achieve both string and effective field theory of an RR and three tachyons where the complete algebraic analysis for the whole S-matrix < {V}_{C^{-1}}{V}_{T^{-1}}{V}_{T^0}{V}_{T^0}> was also revealed. Lastly, we employ all the conformal field theory techniques to < {V}_{C^{-1}}{V}_{T^{-1}}{V}_{T^0}{V}_{T^0}{V}_{T^0}> , working out with symmetries of theory and find out the expansion for the amplitude to be able to precisely discover all order singularity structures of D-brane-anti-D-brane effective actions of string theory. Various remarks about the so called generalized Veneziano amplitude and new string couplings are elaborated as well.

Spin connection as Lorentz gauge field in Fairchild’s action

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cianfrani, Francesco; Montani, Giovanni; Scopelliti, Vincenzo

2016-06-01

We propose a modified gravitational action containing besides the Einstein-Cartan term some quadratic contributions resembling the Yang-Mills Lagrangian for the Lorentz spin connections. We outline how a propagating torsion arises and we solve explicitly the linearized equations of motion on a Minkowski background. We identify among torsion components six degrees of freedom: one is carried by a pseudo-scalar particle, five by a tachyon field. By adding spinor fields and neglecting backreaction on the geometry, we point out how only the pseudo-scalar particle couples directly with fermions, but the resulting coupling constant is suppressed by the ratio between fermion and Planck masses. Including backreaction, we demonstrate how the tachyon field provides causality violation in the matter sector, via an interaction mediated by gravitational waves.

Tachyon field non-minimally coupled to massive neutrino matter

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ahmad, Safia; Myrzakulov, Nurgissa; Myrzakulov, R., E-mail: safia@ctp-jamia.res.in, E-mail: nmyrzakulov@gmail.com, E-mail: rmyrzakulov@gmail.com

2016-07-01

In this paper, we consider rolling tachyon, with steep run-away type of potentials non-minimally coupled to massive neutrino matter. The coupling dynamically builds up at late times as neutrino matter turns non-relativistic. In case of scaling and string inspired potentials, we have shown that non-minimal coupling leads to minimum in the field potential. Given a suitable choice of model parameters, it is shown to give rise to late-time acceleration with the desired equation of state.

Tachyon constant-roll inflation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohammadi, A.; Saaidi, Kh.; Golanbari, T.

2018-04-01

The constant-roll inflation is studied where the inflaton is taken as a tachyon field. Based on this approach, the second slow-roll parameter is taken as a constant which leads to a differential equation for the Hubble parameter. Finding an exact solution for the Hubble parameter is difficult and leads us to a numerical solution for the Hubble parameter. On the other hand, since in this formalism the slow-roll parameter η is constant and could not be assumed to be necessarily small, the perturbation parameters should be reconsidered again which, in turn, results in new terms appearing in the amplitude of scalar perturbations and the scalar spectral index. Utilizing the numerical solution for the Hubble parameter, we estimate the perturbation parameter at the horizon exit time and compare it with observational data. The results show that, for specific values of the constant parameter η , we could have an almost scale-invariant amplitude of scalar perturbations. Finally, the attractor behavior for the solution of the model is presented, and we determine that the feature could be properly satisfied.

Tachyonic quench in a free bosonic field theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montes, Sebastián; Sierra, Germán; Rodríguez-Laguna, Javier

2018-02-01

We present a characterization of a bosonic field theory driven by a free (Gaussian) tachyonic Hamiltonian. This regime is obtained from a theory describing two coupled bosonic fields after a regular quench. Relevant physical quantities such as simple correlators, entanglement entropies, and the mutual information of disconnected subregions are computed. We show that the causal structure resembles a critical (massless) quench. For short times, physical quantities also resemble critical quenches. However, exponential divergences end up dominating the dynamics in a very characteristic way. This is related to the fact that the low-frequency modes do not equilibrate. Some applications and extensions are outlined.

Criticality and big brake singularities in the tachyonic evolutions of closed Friedmann universes with cold dark matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horváth, Zsolt; Keresztes, Zoltán; Kamenshchik, Alexander Yu.; Gergely, László Á.

2015-05-01

The evolution of a closed Friedmann universe filled by a tachyon scalar field with a trigonometric potential and cold dark matter (CDM) is investigated. A subset of the evolutions consistent to 1 σ confidence level with the Union 2.1 supernova data set is identified. The evolutions of the tachyon field are classified. Some of them evolve into a de Sitter attractor, while others proceed through a pseudotachyonic regime into a sudden future singularity. Critical evolutions leading to big brake singularities in the presence of CDM are found and a new type of cosmological evolution characterized by singularity avoidance in the pseudotachyon regime is presented.

Tachyon Condensation and Brane Annihilation in Bose-Einstein Condensates: Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Restricted Lower-Dimensional Subspace

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takeuchi, Hiromitsu; Kasamatsu, Kenichi; Tsubota, Makoto; Nitta, Muneto

2013-05-01

In brane cosmology, the Big Bang is hypothesized to occur by the annihilation of the brane-anti-brane pair in a collision, where the branes are three-dimensional objects in a higher-dimensional Universe. Spontaneous symmetry breaking accompanied by the formation of lower-dimensional topological defects, e.g. cosmic strings, is triggered by the so-called `tachyon condensation', where the existence of tachyons is attributable to the instability of the brane-anti-brane system. Here, we discuss the closest analogue of the tachyon condensation in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. We consider annihilation of domain walls, namely branes, in strongly segregated two-component condensates, where one component is sandwiched by two domains of the other component. In this system, the process of the brane annihilation can be projected effectively as ferromagnetic ordering dynamics onto a two-dimensional space. Based on this correspondence, three-dimensional formation of vortices from a domain-wall annihilation is considered to be a kink formation due to spontaneous symmetry breaking in the two-dimensional space. We also discuss a mechanism to create a `vorton' when the sandwiched component has a vortex string bridged between the branes. We hope that this study motivates experimental researches to realize this exotic phenomenon of spontaneous symmetry breaking in superfluid systems.

Renormalizable, asymptotically free gravity without ghosts or tachyons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Einhorn, Martin B.; Jones, D. R. Timothy

2017-12-01

We analyze scale invariant quadratic quantum gravity incorporating nonminimal coupling to a multiplet of scalar fields in a gauge theory, with particular emphasis on the consequences for its interpretation resulting from a transformation from the Jordan frame to the Einstein frame. The result is the natural emergence of a de Sitter space solution which, depending the gauge theory and region of parameter space chosen, can be free of ghosts and tachyons, and completely asymptotically free. In the case of an SO(10) model, we present a detailed account of the spontaneous symmetry breaking, and we calculate the leading (two-loop) contribution to the dilaton mass.

Tachyonic instabilities in 2  +  1 dimensional Yang-Mills theory and its connection to number theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chamizo, Fernando; González-Arroyo, Antonio

2017-06-01

We consider the 2  +  1 dimensional Yang-Mills theory with gauge group {{SU}}(N) on a flat 2-torus under twisted boundary conditions. We study the possibility of phase transitions (tachyonic instabilities) when N and the volume vary and certain chromomagnetic flux associated to the topology of the bundle can be adjusted. Under natural assumptions about how to match the perturbative regime and the expected confinement, we prove that the absence of tachyonic instabilities is related to some problems in number theory, namely the Diophantine approximation of irreducible fractions by other fractions of smaller denominator.

Holographic scalar fields in Kaluza-Klein framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erkan, Sevda; Pirinccioglu, Nurettin; Salti, Mustafa; Aydogdu, Oktay

2017-12-01

Making use of the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) type Kaluza-Klein universe (KKU), we discuss the holographic dark energy density (HDED) in order to develop its correspondence with some scalar field descriptions such as the tachyon, quintessence, DBI-essence, dilaton and the k-essence. It is concluded that the Kaluza-Klein-type HDED proposal becomes stable throughout the history of our universe and is consistent with the current status of the universe. Next, we obtain the exact solutions of self-interacting potential and scalar field function for the selected models.

On non-BPS effective actions of string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatefi, Ehsan

2018-05-01

We discuss some physical prospective of the non-BPS effective actions of type IIA and IIB superstring theories. By dealing with all complete three and four point functions, including a closed Ramond-Ramond string (in terms of both its field strength and its potential), gauge (scalar) fields as well as a real tachyon and under symmetry structures, we find various restricted world volume and bulk Bianchi identities. The complete forms of the non-BPS scattering amplitudes including their Chan-Paton factors are elaborated. All the singularity structures of the non-BPS amplitudes, their all order α ' higher-derivative corrections, their contact terms and various modified Bianchi identities are derived. Finally, we show that scattering amplitudes computed in different super-ghost pictures are compatible when suitable Bianchi identities are imposed on the Ramond-Ramond fields. Moreover, we argue that the higher-derivative expansion in powers of the momenta of the tachyon is universal.

Tachyon cosmology, supernovae data, and the big brake singularity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keresztes, Z.; Gergely, L. A.; Gorini, V.

2009-04-15

We compare the existing observational data on type Ia supernovae with the evolutions of the Universe predicted by a one-parameter family of tachyon models which we have introduced recently [Phys. Rev. D 69, 123512 (2004)]. Among the set of the trajectories of the model which are compatible with the data there is a consistent subset for which the Universe ends up in a new type of soft cosmological singularity dubbed big brake. This opens up yet another scenario for the future history of the Universe besides the one predicted by the standard {lambda}CDM model.

Dark solitons, D-branes and noncommutative tachyon field theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giaccari, Stefano; Nian, Jun

2017-11-01

In this paper we discuss the boson/vortex duality by mapping the (3+1)D Gross-Pitaevskii theory into an effective string theory in the presence of boundaries. Via the effective string theory, we find the Seiberg-Witten map between the commutative and the noncommutative tachyon field theories, and consequently identify their soliton solutions with D-branes in the effective string theory. We perform various checks of the duality map and the identification of soliton solutions. This new insight between the Gross-Pitaevskii theory and the effective string theory explains the similarity of these two systems at quantitative level.

Screening fifth forces in k-essence and DBI models

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brax, Philippe; Burrage, Clare; Davis, Anne-Christine, E-mail: Philippe.Brax@cea.fr, E-mail: Clare.Burrage@nottingham.ac.uk, E-mail: A.C.Davis@damtp.cam.ac.uk

New fifth forces have not yet been detected in the laboratory or in the solar system, hence it is typically difficult to introduce new light scalar fields that would mediate such forces. In recent years it has been shown that a number of non-linear scalar field theories allow for a dynamical mechanism, such as the Vainshtein and chameleon ones, that suppresses the strength of the scalar fifth force in experimental environments. This is known as screening, however it is unclear how common screening is within non-linear scalar field theories. k-essence models are commonly studied examples of non-linear models, with DBImore » as the best motivated example, and so we ask whether these non-linearities are able to screen a scalar fifth force. We find that a Vainshtein-like screening mechanism exists for such models although with limited applicability. For instance, we cannot find a screening mechanism for DBI models. On the other hand, we construct a large class of k-essence models which lead to the acceleration of the Universe in the recent past for which the fifth force mediated by the scalar can be screened.« less

Tachyon condensation due to domain-wall annihilation in Bose-Einstein condensates.

PubMed

Takeuchi, Hiromitsu; Kasamatsu, Kenichi; Tsubota, Makoto; Nitta, Muneto

2012-12-14

We show theoretically that a domain-wall annihilation in two-component Bose-Einstein condensates causes tachyon condensation accompanied by spontaneous symmetry breaking in a two-dimensional subspace. Three-dimensional vortex formation from domain-wall annihilations is considered a kink formation in subspace. Numerical experiments reveal that the subspatial dynamics obey the dynamic scaling law of phase-ordering kinetics. This model is experimentally feasible and provides insights into how the extra dimensions influence subspatial phase transition in higher-dimensional space.

Extended generalized geometry and a DBI-type effective action for branes ending on branes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jurčo, Branislav; Schupp, Peter; Vysoký, Jan

2014-08-01

Starting from the Nambu-Goto bosonic membrane action, we develop a geometric description suitable for p-brane backgrounds. With tools of generalized geometry we derive the pertinent generalization of the string open-closed relations to the p-brane case. Nambu-Poisson structures are used in this context to generalize the concept of semi-classical noncommutativity of D-branes governed by a Poisson tensor. We find a natural description of the correspondence of recently proposed commutative and noncommutative versions of an effective action for p-branes ending on a p '-brane. We calculate the power series expansion of the action in background independent gauge. Leading terms in the double scaling limit are given by a generalization of a (semi-classical) matrix model.

The scale invariant power spectrum of the primordial curvature perturbations from the coupled scalar tachyon bounce cosmos

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Changhong; Cheung, Yeuk-Kwan E., E-mail: chellifegood@gmail.com, E-mail: cheung@nju.edu.cn

2014-07-01

We investigate the spectrum of cosmological perturbations in a bounce cosmos modeled by a scalar field coupled to the string tachyon field (CSTB cosmos). By explicit computation of its primordial spectral index we show the power spectrum of curvature perturbations, generated during the tachyon matter dominated contraction phase, to be nearly scale invariant. We propose a unified parameter space for a systematic study of inflationary and bounce cosmologies. The CSTB cosmos is dual-in Wands's sense-to slow-roll inflation as can be visualized with the aid of this parameter space. Guaranteed by the dynamical attractor behavior of the CSTB Cosmos, the scalemore » invariance of its power spectrum is free of the fine-tuning problem, in contrast to the slow-roll inflation model.« less

A comparative study of oral health attitudes and behavior using the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) between dental and civil engineering students in Colombia.

PubMed

Jaramillo, Jorge A; Jaramillo, Fredy; Kador, Itzjak; Masuoka, David; Tong, Liyue; Ahn, Chul; Komabayashi, Takashi

2013-03-01

The aim of this study was to use the Hiroshima University - Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) to compare oral health attitudes and behavior of dental and civil engineering students in Colombia. The HU-DBI's survey consisting of twenty dichotomous responses (agree-disagree) regarding tooth brushing, was completed at University Antonio Narino for the dental students and the University of Cauca for the civil engineering students. The Spanish version of the HU-DBI questionnaire was taken by 182 of 247 dental students and 411 of 762 engineering students. The data was-statistically analyzed by the chi-square test and backward logistic regression. Compared to the engineering students, the dental students were more likely to agree with questions such as "I am bothered by the color of my gums"(OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3-3.7),"I think I can clean my teeth well without using toothpaste" (OR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.5-5.9), "I have used a dye to see how clean my teeth are" (OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.9-4.3), and "I have had my dentist tell me that I brush very well" (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3-3.1). The dental education curriculum in a dental school compared to a civil engineering school in Colombia indicated that a three-phase curriculum in didactics and clinics increased oral health attitudes and behavior from entry to graduation.

A comparative study of oral health attitudes and behavior using the Hiroshima University - Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) between dental and civil engineering students in Colombia

PubMed Central

Jaramillo, Jorge A.; Jaramillo, Fredy; Kador, Itzjak; Masuoka, David; Tong, Liyue; Ahn, Chul; Komabayashi, Takashi

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to use the Hiroshima University - Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) to compare oral health attitudes and behavior of dental and civil engineering students in Colombia. The HU-DBI's survey consisting of twenty dichotomous responses (agree-disagree) regarding tooth brushing, was completed at University Antonio Narino for the dental students and the University of Cauca for the civil engineering students. The Spanish version of the HU-DBI questionnaire was taken by 182 of 247 dental students and 411 of 762 engineering students. The data was-statistically analyzed by the chi-square test and backward logistic regression. Compared to the engineering students, the dental students were more likely to agree with questions such as “I am bothered by the color of my gums”(OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3-3.7),“I think I can clean my teeth well without using toothpaste” (OR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.5-5.9), “I have used a dye to see how clean my teeth are” (OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.9-4.3), and “I have had my dentist tell me that I brush very well” (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3-3.1). The dental education curriculum in a dental school compared to a civil engineering school in Colombia indicated that a three-phase curriculum in didactics and clinics increased oral health attitudes and behavior from entry to graduation. PMID:23485597

A readout integrated circuit based on DBI-CTIA and cyclic ADC for MEMS-array-based focal plane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miao, Liu; Dong, Wu; Zheyao, Wang

2016-11-01

A readout integrated circuit (ROIC) for a MEMS (microelectromechanical system)-array-based focal plane (MAFP) intended for imaging applications is presented. The ROIC incorporates current sources for diode detectors, scanners, timing sequence controllers, differential buffered injection-capacitive trans-impedance amplifier (DBI-CTIA) and 10-bit cyclic ADCs, and is integrated with MAFP using 3-D integration technology. A small-signal equivalent model is built to include thermal detectors into circuit simulations. The biasing current is optimized in terms of signal-to-noise ratio and power consumption. Layout design is tailored to fulfill the requirements of 3-D integration and to adapt to the size of MAFP elements, with not all but only the 2 bottom metal layers to complete nearly all the interconnections in DBI-CTIA and ADC in a 40 μm wide column. Experimental chips are designed and fabricated in a 0.35 μm CMOS mixed signal process, and verified in a code density test of which the results indicate a (0.29/-0.31) LSB differential nonlinearity (DNL) and a (0.61/-0.45) LSB integral nonlinearity (INL). Spectrum analysis shows that the effective number of bits (ENOB) is 9.09. The ROIC consumes 248 mW of power at most if not to cut off quiescent current paths when not needed. Project supported by by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 61271130), the Beijing Municipal Science and Tech Project (No. D13110100290000), the Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program (No. 20131089225), and the Shenzhen Science and Technology Development Fund (No. CXZZ20130322170740736).

Search for tachyons associated with extensive air showers in the ground level cosmic radiation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Masjed, H. F.; Ashton, F.

1985-01-01

Events detected in a shielded plastic scintillation counter occurring in the 26 microsec preceding the arrival of an extensive air shower at ground level with local electron density or = 20 m to the -2 power and the 240 microsec after its arrival have been studied. No significant excess of events (tachyons) arriving in the early time domain have been observed in a sample of 11,585 air shower triggers.

On non-homogeneous tachyon condensation in closed string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giribet, Gaston; Rado, Laura

2017-08-01

Lorentzian continuation of the Sine-Liouville model describes non-homogeneous rolling closed string tachyon. Via T-duality, this relates to the gauged H + 3 Wess-Zumino-Witten model at subcritical level. This model is exactly solvable. We give a closed formula for the 3-point correlation functions for the model at level k within the range 0 < k < 2, which relates to the analogous quantity for k > 2 in a similar way as how the Harlow-Maltz-Witten 3-point function of timelike Liouville field theory relates to the analytic continuation of the Dorn-Otto-Zamolodchikov-Zamolodchikov structure constants: we find that the ratio between both 3-point functions can be written in terms of quotients of Jacobi's θ-functions, while their product exhibits remarkable cancellations and eventually factorizes. Our formula is consistent with previous proposals made in the literature.

Tachyon solutions in boundary and open string field theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Calcagni, Gianluca; Nardelli, Giuseppe; Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Universita Cattolica, via Musei 41, 25121 Brescia

2008-12-15

We construct rolling tachyon solutions of open and boundary string field theory (OSFT and BSFT, respectively), in the bosonic and supersymmetric (susy) case. The wildly oscillating solution of susy OSFT is recovered, together with a family of time-dependent BSFT solutions, for the bosonic and susy string. These are parametrized by an arbitrary constant r involved in solving the Green equation of the target fields. When r=0 we recover previous results in BSFT, whereas for r attaining the value predicted by OSFT it is shown that the bosonic OSFT solution is the derivative of the boundary one; in the supersymmetric casemore » the relation between the two solutions is more complicated. This technical correspondence sheds some light on the nature of wild oscillations, which appear in both theories whenever r>0.« less

Dual formulation of covariant nonlinear duality-symmetric action of kappa-symmetric D3-brane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanichchapongjaroen, Pichet

2018-02-01

We study the construction of covariant nonlinear duality-symmetric actions in dual formulation. Essentially, the construction is the PST-covariantisation and nonlinearisation of Zwanziger action. The covariantisation made use of three auxiliary scalar fields. Apart from these, the construction proceed in a similar way to that of the standard formulation. For example, the theories can be extended to include interactions with external fields, and that the theories possess two local PST symmetries. We then explicitly demonstrate the construction of covariant nonlinear duality-symmetric actions in dual formulation of DBI theory, and D3-brane. For each of these theories, the twisted selfduality condition obtained from duality-symmetric actions are explicitly shown to match with the duality relation between field strength and its dual from the one-potential actions. Their on-shell actions between the duality-symmetric and the one-potential versions are also shown to match. We also explicitly prove kappa-symmetry of the covariant nonlinear duality-symmetric D3-brane action in dual formulation.

Tachyon field in loop quantum cosmology: An example of traversable singularity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li Lifang; Zhu Jianyang

2009-06-15

Loop quantum cosmology (LQC) predicts a nonsingular evolution of the universe through a bounce in the high energy region. But LQC has an ambiguity about the quantization scheme. Recently, the authors in [Phys. Rev. D 77, 124008 (2008)] proposed a new quantization scheme. Similar to others, this new quantization scheme also replaces the big bang singularity with the quantum bounce. More interestingly, it introduces a quantum singularity, which is traversable. We investigate this novel dynamics quantitatively with a tachyon scalar field, which gives us a concrete example. Our result shows that our universe can evolve through the quantum singularity regularly,more » which is different from the classical big bang singularity. So this singularity is only a weak singularity.« less

Tachyon inflation with steep potentials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rezazadeh, K.; Karami, K.; Hashemi, S.

2017-05-01

Within the framework of tachyon inflation, we consider different steep potentials and check their viability in light of the Planck 2015 data. We see that in this scenario, the inverse power-law potential V (ϕ )=V0(ϕ /ϕ0)-n with n =2 leads to the power-law inflation with the scale factor a (t )∝tq where q >1 , while with n <2 , it gives rise to the intermediate inflation with the scale factor a (t )∝exp (A tf) where A >0 and 0 2 can be compatible with the 95% CL region of Planck 2015 TT, TE, EE +lowP data. We further conclude that the exponential potential V (ϕ )=V0e-ϕ /ϕ0, the inverse cosh potential V (ϕ )=V0/cosh (ϕ /ϕ0), and the mutated exponential potential V (ϕ )=V0[1 +(n -1 )-(n -1 )(ϕ /ϕ0)n] e-ϕ /ϕ0 with n =4 , can be consistent with the 95% CL region of Planck 2015 TT, TE, EE +lowP data. Moreover, using the r -ns constraints on the model parameters, we also estimate the running of the scalar spectral index d ns/d ln k and the local non-Gaussianity parameter fNLlocal. We find that the lower and upper bounds evaluated for these observables are compatible with the Planck 2015 results.

Combined cosmological tests of a bivalent tachyonic dark energy scalar field model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keresztes, Zoltán; Gergely, László Á., E-mail: zkeresztes@titan.physx.u-szeged.hu, E-mail: gergely@physx.u-szeged.hu

A recently investigated tachyonic scalar field dark energy dominated universe exhibits a bivalent future: depending on initial parameters can run either into a de Sitter exponential expansion or into a traversable future soft singularity followed by a contraction phase. We also include in the model (i) a tiny amount of radiation, (ii) baryonic matter (Ω{sub b}h{sup 2} = 0.022161, where the Hubble constant is fixed as h = 0.706) and (iii) cold dark matter (CDM). Out of a variety of six types of evolutions arising in a more subtle classification, we identify two in which in the past the scalar field effectively degenerates intomore » a dust (its pressure drops to an insignificantly low negative value). These are the evolutions of type IIb converging to de Sitter and type III hitting the future soft singularity. We confront these background evolutions with various cosmological tests, including the supernova type Ia Union 2.1 data, baryon acoustic oscillation distance ratios, Hubble parameter-redshift relation and the cosmic microwave background (CMB) acoustic scale. We determine a subset of the evolutions of both types which at 1σ confidence level are consistent with all of these cosmological tests. At perturbative level we derive the CMB temperature power spectrum to find the best agreement with the Planck data for Ω{sub CDM} = 0.22. The fit is as good as for the ΛCDM model at high multipoles, but the power remains slightly overestimated at low multipoles, for both types of evolutions. The rest of the CDM is effectively generated by the tachyonic field, which in this sense acts as a combined dark energy and dark matter model.« less

The hierarchical cluster analysis of oral health attitudes and behaviour using the Hiroshima University--Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI) among final year dental students in 17 countries.

PubMed

Komabayashi, Takashi; Kawamura, Makoto; Kim, Kang-Ju; Wright, Fredrick A C; Declerck, Dominique; Goiâs, Maria do Carmo Matias Freire; Hu, De-Yu; Honkala, Eino; Lévy, Gérard; Kalwitzki, Matthias; Polychronopoulou, Argy; Yip, Kevin Hak-Kong; Eli, Ilana; Kinirons, Martin J; Petti, Stefano; Srisilapanan, Patcharawan; Kwan, Stella Y L; Centore, Linda S

2006-10-01

To explore and describe international oral health attitudes/ behaviours among final year dental students. Validated translated versions of the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI) questionnaire were administered to 1,096 final-year dental students in 17 countries. Hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted within the data to detect patterns and groupings. The overall response rate was 72%. The cluster analysis identified two main groups among the countries. Group 1 consisted of twelve countries: one Oceanic (Australia), one Middle-Eastern (Israel), seven European (Northern Ireland, England, Finland, Greece, Germany, Italy, and France) and three Asian (Korea, Thailand and Malaysia) countries. Group 2 consisted of five countries: one South American (Brazil), one European (Belgium) and three Asian (China, Indonesia and Japan) countries. The percentages of 'agree' responses in three HU-DBI questionnaire items were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1. They include: "I worry about the colour of my teeth."; "I have noticed some white sticky deposits on my teeth."; and "I am bothered by the colour of my gums." Grouping the countries into international clusters yielded useful information for dentistry and dental education.

Behavior of boundary string field theory associated with integrable massless flow.

PubMed

Fujii, A; Itoyama, H

2001-06-04

We put forward an idea that the boundary entropy associated with integrable massless flow of thermodynamic Bethe ansatz (TBA) is identified with tachyon action of boundary string field theory. We show that the temperature parametrizing a massless flow in the TBA formalism can be identified with tachyon energy for the classical action at least near the ultraviolet fixed point, i.e., the open string vacuum.

Classical evolution and quantum generation in generalized gravity theories including string corrections and tachyons: Unified analyses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, Jai-Chan; Noh, Hyerim

2005-03-01

We present cosmological perturbation theory based on generalized gravity theories including string theory correction terms and a tachyonic complication. The classical evolution as well as the quantum generation processes in these varieties of gravity theories are presented in unified forms. These apply both to the scalar- and tensor-type perturbations. Analyses are made based on the curvature variable in two different gauge conditions often used in the literature in Einstein’s gravity; these are the curvature variables in the comoving (or uniform-field) gauge and the zero-shear gauge. Applications to generalized slow-roll inflation and its consequent power spectra are derived in unified forms which include a wide range of inflationary scenarios based on Einstein’s gravity and others.

Endogenous Positive Allosteric Modulation of GABAA Receptors by Diazepam binding inhibitor

PubMed Central

Christian, Catherine A.; Herbert, Anne G.; Holt, Rebecca L.; Peng, Kathy; Sherwood, Kyla D.; Pangratz-Fuehrer, Susanne; Rudolph, Uwe; Huguenard, John R.

2014-01-01

Summary Benzodiazepines (BZs) allosterically modulate γ-aminobutyric acid type-A receptors (GABAARs) to increase inhibitory synaptic strength. Diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) protein is a BZ site ligand expressed endogenously in the brain, but functional evidence for BZ-mimicking positive modulatory actions has been elusive. We demonstrate an endogenous potentiation of GABAergic synaptic transmission and responses to GABA uncaging in the thalamic reticular nucleus (nRT) that is absent in both nm1054 mice, in which the Dbi gene is deleted, and mice in which BZ binding to α3 subunit-containing GABAARs is disrupted. Viral transduction of DBI into nRT is sufficient to rescue the endogenous potentiation of GABAergic transmission in nm1054 mice. Both mutations enhance thalamocortical spike-and-wave discharges characteristic of absence epilepsy. Together these results indicate that DBI mediates endogenous nucleus-specific BZ-mimicking (“endozepine”) roles to modulate nRT function and suppress thalamocortical oscillations. Enhanced DBI signaling might serve as a novel therapy for epilepsy and other neurological disorders. PMID:23727119

Tachyonic instability of the scalar mode prior to the QCD critical point based on the functional renormalization-group method in the two-flavor case

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yokota, Takeru; Kunihiro, Teiji; Morita, Kenji

2017-10-01

We establish and elucidate the physical meaning of the appearance of an acausal mode in the sigma mesonic channel, found in the previous work by the present authors, when the system approaches the Z2 critical point. The functional renormalization-group method is applied to the two-flavor quark-meson model with varying current quark mass mq even away from the physical value at which the pion mass is reproduced. We first determine the whole phase structure in the three-dimensional space (T ,μ ,mq) consisting of temperature T , quark chemical potential μ and mq, with the tricritical point, O(4) and Z2 critical lines being located; they altogether make a winglike shape quite reminiscent of those known in the condensed matters with a tricritical point. We then calculate the spectral functions ρσ ,π(ω ,p ) in the scalar and pseudoscalar channel around the critical points. We find that the sigma mesonic mode becomes tachyonic with a superluminal velocity at finite momenta before the system reaches the Z2 point from the lower density, even for mq smaller than the physical value. One of the possible implications of the appearance of such a tachyonic mode at finite momenta is that the assumed equilibrium state with a uniform chiral condensate is unstable toward a state with an inhomogeneous σ condensate. No such anomalous behavior is found in the pseudoscalar channel. We find that the σ -to-2 σ coupling due to finite mq plays an essential role for the drastic modification of the spectral function.

Carroll limit of non-BPS Dp-brane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klusoň, J.

2017-05-01

We find Carroll non-BPS Dp-brane action by performing Carroll limit of a canonical form of unstable Dp-brane action. We analyze different Carroll limits and discuss solutions of the equations of motion of Carroll non-BPS Dp-brane at the tachyon vacuum.

Intersecting flavor branes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pomoni, Elli; Rastelli, Leonardo

2012-10-01

We consider an instance of the AdS/CFT duality where the bulk theory contains an open string tachyon, and study the instability from the viewpoint of the boundary field theory. We focus on the specific example of the AdS5 × S 5 background with two probe D7 branes intersecting at general angles. For generic angles supersymmetry is completely broken and there is an open string tachyon between the branes. The field theory action for this system is obtained by coupling to {N}=4 super Yang-Mills two {N}=2 hyper multiplets in the fundamental representation of the SU( N) gauge group, but with different choices of embedding of the two {N}=2 subalgebras into {N}=4 . On the field theory side we find a one-loop Coleman-Weinberg instability in the effective potential for the fundamental scalars. We identify a mesonic operator as the dual of the open string tachyon. By AdS/CFT, we predict the tachyon mass for small 't Hooft coupling (large bulk curvature) and confirm that it violates the AdS stability bound.

On the generalized geometry origin of noncommutative gauge theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jurčo, Branislav; Schupp, Peter; Vysoký, Jan

2013-07-01

We discuss noncommutative gauge theory from the generalized geometry point of view. We argue that the equivalence between the commutative and semiclassically noncommutative DBI actions is naturally encoded in the generalized geometry of D-branes.

Open/closed string duality and relativistic fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niarchos, Vasilis

2016-07-01

We propose an open/closed string duality in general backgrounds extending previous ideas about open string completeness by Ashoke Sen. Our proposal sets up a general version of holography that works in gravity as a tomographic principle. We argue, in particular, that previous expectations of a supergravity/Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) correspondence are naturally embedded in this conjecture and can be tested in a well-defined manner. As an example, we consider the correspondence between open string field theories on extremal D-brane setups in flat space in the large-N , large 't Hooft limit, and asymptotically flat solutions in ten-dimensional type II supergravity. We focus on a convenient long-wavelength regime, where specific effects of higher-spin open string modes can be traced explicitly in the dual supergravity computation. For instance, in this regime we show how the full Abelian DBI action arises from supergravity as a straightforward reformulation of relativistic hydrodynamics. In the example of a (2 +1 )-dimensional open string theory this reformulation involves an Abelian Hodge duality. We also point out how different deformations of the DBI action, related to higher-derivative corrections and non-Abelian effects, can arise in this context as deformations in corresponding relativistic hydrodynamics.

On D-brane -anti D-brane effective actions and their all order bulk singularity structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hatefi, Ehsan; Institute for Theoretical Physics, TU Wien,Wiedner Hauptstrasse 8-10/136, A-1040 Vienna

All four point functions of brane anti brane system including their correct all order α{sup ′} corrections have been addressed. All five point functions of one closed string Ramond-Ramond (RR), two real tachyons and either one gauge field or the scalar field in both symmetric and asymmetric pictures have also been explored. The entire analysis of is carried out. Not only does it fix the vertex operator of RR in asymmetric picture and in higher point functions of string theory amplitudes but also it confirms the fact that there is no issue of picture dependence of the mixed closed RR,more » gauge fields, tachyons and fermion fields in all symmetric or anti symmetric ones. We compute S-matrix in the presence of a transverse scalar field, two real tachyons and that reveals two different kinds of bulk singularity structures, involving an infinite number of u-channel gauge field and (u+s{sup ′}+t{sup ′})-channel scalar bulk poles. In order to produce all those bulk singularity structures, we define various couplings at the level of the effective field theory that involve the mixing term of Chern-Simons coupling (with C-potential field) and a covariant derivative of the scalar field that comes from the pull-back of brane. Eventually we explore their all order α{sup ′} corrections in the presence of brane anti brane system where various remarks will be also pointed out.« less

Numerical solution of open string field theory in Schnabl gauge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arroyo, E. Aldo; Fernandes-Silva, A.; Szitas, R.

2018-01-01

Using traditional Virasoro L 0 level-truncation computations, we evaluate the open bosonic string field theory action up to level (10 , 30). Extremizing this level-truncated potential, we construct a numerical solution for tachyon condensation in Schnabl gauge. We find that the energy associated to the numerical solution overshoots the expected value -1 at level L = 6. Extrapolating the level-truncation data for L ≤ 10 to estimate the vacuum energies for L > 10, we predict that the energy reaches a minimum value at L ˜ 12, and then turns back to approach -1 asymptotically as L → ∞. Furthermore, we analyze the tachyon vacuum expectation value (vev), for which by extrapolating its corresponding level-truncation data, we predict that the tachyon vev reaches a minimum value at L ˜ 26, and then turns back to approach the expected analytical result as L → ∞.

Genetic loss of diazepam binding inhibitor in mice impairs social interest.

PubMed

Ujjainwala, A L; Courtney, C D; Rhoads, S G; Rhodes, J S; Christian, C A

2018-06-01

Neuropsychiatric disorders in which reduced social interest is a common symptom, such as autism, depression, and anxiety, are frequently associated with genetic mutations affecting γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic transmission. Benzodiazepine treatment, acting via GABA type-A receptors, improves social interaction in male mouse models with autism-like features. The protein diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) can act as an endogenous benzodiazepine, but a role for DBI in social behavior has not been described. Here, we investigated the role of DBI in the social interest and recognition behavior of mice. The responses of DBI wild-type and knockout male and female mice to ovariectomized female wild-type mice (a neutral social stimulus) were evaluated in a habituation/dishabituation task. Both male and female knockout mice exhibited reduced social interest, and DBI knockout mice lacked the sex difference in social interest levels observed in wild-type mice, in which males showed higher social interest levels than females. The ability to discriminate between familiar and novel stimulus mice (social recognition) was not impaired in DBI-deficient mice of either sex. DBI knockouts could learn a rotarod motor task, and could discriminate between social and nonsocial odors. Both sexes of DBI knockout mice showed increased repetitive grooming behavior, but not in a manner that would account for the decrease in social investigation time. Genetic loss of DBI did not alter seminal vesicle weight, indicating that the social interest phenotype of males lacking DBI is not due to reduced circulating testosterone. Together, these studies show a novel role of DBI in driving social interest and motivation. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society.

Gain enhancement of a multiband resonator using defected ground surface on epoxy woven glass material.

PubMed

Alam, Md Shahidul; Islam, Mohammad Tariqul; Arshad, Haslina

2014-01-01

A multiband microstrip resonator is proposed in this study which is realized through a rectangular radiator with embedded symmetrical rectangular slots in it and a defected ground surface. The study is presented with detailed parametric analyses to understand the effect of various design parameters. The design and analyses are performed using the FIT based full-wave electromagnetic simulator CST microwave studio suite. With selected parameter values, the resonator showed a peak gain of 5.85 dBi at 5.2 GHz, 6.2 dBi at 8.3 GHz, 3.9 dBi at 9.5 GHz, 5.9 dBi at 12.2 GHz, and 4.7 dBi at 14.6 GHz. Meanwhile, the main lobe magnitude and the 3 dB angular beam width are 6.2 dBi and 86°, 5.9 dBi and 53.7°, 8.5 dBi and 43.9°, 8.6 dBi and 42.1°, and 4.7 dBi and 30.1°, respectively, at the resonant frequencies. The overall resonator has a compact dimension of 0.52λ  × 0.52λ  × 0.027λ at the lower resonant frequency. For practical validation, a lab prototype was built on a 1.6 mm thick epoxide woven glass fabric dielectric material which is measured using a vector network analyzer and within an anechoic chamber. The comparison between the simulated and measured results showed a very good understanding, which implies the practical suitability of the proposed multiband resonator design.

Next Generation Instrumentation Bus Test Plan for Fibre Channel

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-09-30

sample for port testing. The heart of the Fibre Xpress network cards is the tachyon chip from Hewlett Packard. The tachyon chip is basically a single...be to test the protocols. 1.5.1.1 Tachyon chip The user’s manual for the Tachyon controller chip identifies the following FC-AL specification

Probing the effects of Lorentz-symmetry violating Chern-Simons and Ricci-Cotton terms in higher derivative gravity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pereira-Dias, B.; Hernaski, C. A.; Helayeel-Neto, J. A.

The combined effects of the Lorentz-symmetry violating Chern-Simons and Ricci-Cotton actions are investigated for the Einstein-Hilbert gravity in the second-order formalism modified by higher derivative terms, and their consequences on the spectrum of excitations are analyzed. We follow the lines of previous works and build up an orthonormal basis of projector-like operators for the degrees of freedom, rather than for the spin modes of the fields. With this new basis, the attainment of the propagators is remarkably simplified and the identification of the physical and unphysical modes becomes more immediate. Our conclusion is that the only tachyon- and ghost-free modelmore » is the Einstein-Hilbert action added up by the Chern-Simons term with a timelike vector of the type v{sup {mu}=}({mu},0-vector). Spectral consistency imposes that the Ricci-Cotton term must be switched off. We then infer that gravity with Lorentz-symmetry violation imposes a drastically different constraint on the background if compared to ordinary gauge theories whenever conditions for the suppression of tachyons and ghosts are imposed.« less

Development of time-trend model for analysing and predicting case pattern of dog bite injury induced rabies-like-illness in Liberia, 2014-2017.

PubMed

Jomah, N D; Ojo, J F; Odigie, E A; Olugasa, B O

2014-12-01

The post-civil war records of dog bite injuries (DBI) and rabies-like-illness (RLI) among humans in Liberia is a vital epidemiological resource for developing a predictive model to guide the allocation of resources towards human rabies control. Whereas DBI and RLI are high, they are largely under-reported. The objective of this study was to develop a time model of the case-pattern and apply it to derive predictors of time-trend point distribution of DBI-RLI cases. A retrospective 6 years data of DBI distribution among humans countrywide were converted to quarterly series using a transformation technique of Minimizing Squared First Difference statistic. The generated dataset was used to train a time-trend model of the DBI-RLI syndrome in Liberia. An additive detenninistic time-trend model was selected due to its performance compared to multiplication model of trend and seasonal movement. Parameter predictors were run on least square method to predict DBI cases for a prospective 4 years period, covering 2014-2017. The two-stage predictive model of DBI case-pattern between 2014 and 2017 was characterised by a uniform upward trend within Liberia's coastal and hinterland Counties over the forecast period. This paper describes a translational application of the time-trend distribution pattern of DBI epidemics, 2008-2013 reported in Liberia, on which a predictive model was developed. A computationally feasible two-stage time-trend permutation approach is proposed to estimate the time-trend parameters and conduct predictive inference on DBI-RLI in Liberia.

Astrocytes potentiate GABAergic transmission in the thalamic reticular nucleus via endozepine signaling.

PubMed

Christian, Catherine A; Huguenard, John R

2013-12-10

Emerging evidence indicates that diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) mediates an endogenous benzodiazepine-mimicking (endozepine) effect on synaptic inhibition in the thalamic reticular nucleus (nRT). Here we demonstrate that DBI peptide colocalizes with both astrocytic and neuronal markers in mouse nRT, and investigate the role of astrocytic function in endozepine modulation in this nucleus by testing the effects of the gliotoxin fluorocitrate (FC) on synaptic inhibition and endozepine signaling in the nRT using patch-clamp recordings. FC treatment reduced the effective inhibitory charge of GABAA receptor (GABAAR)-mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents in WT mice, indicating that astrocytes enhance GABAAR responses in the nRT. This effect was abolished by both a point mutation that inhibits classical benzodiazepine binding to GABAARs containing the α3 subunit (predominant in the nRT) and a chromosomal deletion that removes the Dbi gene. Thus, astrocytes are required for positive allosteric modulation via the α3 subunit benzodiazepine-binding site by DBI peptide family endozepines. Outside-out sniffer patches pulled from neurons in the adjacent ventrobasal nucleus, which does not contain endozepines, show a potentiated response to laser photostimulation of caged GABA when placed in the nRT. FC treatment blocked the nRT-dependent potentiation of this response, as did the benzodiazepine site antagonist flumazenil. When sniffer patches were placed in the ventrobasal nucleus, however, subsequent treatment with FC led to potentiation of the uncaged GABA response, suggesting nucleus-specific roles for thalamic astrocytes in regulating inhibition. Taken together, these results suggest that astrocytes are required for endozepine actions in the nRT, and as such can be positive modulators of synaptic inhibition.

Astrocytes potentiate GABAergic transmission in the thalamic reticular nucleus via endozepine signaling

PubMed Central

Christian, Catherine A.; Huguenard, John R.

2013-01-01

Emerging evidence indicates that diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) mediates an endogenous benzodiazepine-mimicking (endozepine) effect on synaptic inhibition in the thalamic reticular nucleus (nRT). Here we demonstrate that DBI peptide colocalizes with both astrocytic and neuronal markers in mouse nRT, and investigate the role of astrocytic function in endozepine modulation in this nucleus by testing the effects of the gliotoxin fluorocitrate (FC) on synaptic inhibition and endozepine signaling in the nRT using patch-clamp recordings. FC treatment reduced the effective inhibitory charge of GABAA receptor (GABAAR)-mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents in WT mice, indicating that astrocytes enhance GABAAR responses in the nRT. This effect was abolished by both a point mutation that inhibits classical benzodiazepine binding to GABAARs containing the α3 subunit (predominant in the nRT) and a chromosomal deletion that removes the Dbi gene. Thus, astrocytes are required for positive allosteric modulation via the α3 subunit benzodiazepine-binding site by DBI peptide family endozepines. Outside-out sniffer patches pulled from neurons in the adjacent ventrobasal nucleus, which does not contain endozepines, show a potentiated response to laser photostimulation of caged GABA when placed in the nRT. FC treatment blocked the nRT-dependent potentiation of this response, as did the benzodiazepine site antagonist flumazenil. When sniffer patches were placed in the ventrobasal nucleus, however, subsequent treatment with FC led to potentiation of the uncaged GABA response, suggesting nucleus-specific roles for thalamic astrocytes in regulating inhibition. Taken together, these results suggest that astrocytes are required for endozepine actions in the nRT, and as such can be positive modulators of synaptic inhibition. PMID:24262146

Yang-Mills gauge conditions from Witten's open string field theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feng Haidong; Siegel, Warren

2007-02-15

We construct the Zinn-Justin-Batalin-Vilkovisky action for tachyons and gauge bosons from Witten's 3-string vertex of the bosonic open string without gauge fixing. Through canonical transformations, we find the off-shell, local, gauge-covariant action up to 3-point terms, satisfying the usual field theory gauge transformations. Perturbatively, it can be extended to higher-point terms. It also gives a new gauge condition in field theory which corresponds to the Feynman-Siegel gauge on the world-sheet.

Disparity-driven vs blur-driven models of accommodation and convergence in binocular vision and intermittent strabismus

PubMed Central

Horwood, Anna M.; Riddell, Patricia M.

2014-01-01

Purpose To propose an alternative and practical model to conceptualize clinical patterns of concomitant intermittent strabismus, heterophoria, and convergence and accommodation anomalies. Methods Despite identical ratios, there can be a disparity- or blur-biased “style” in three hypothetical scenarios: normal; high ratio of accommodative convergence to accommodation (AC/A) and low ratio of convergence accommodation to convergence (CA/C); low AC/A and high CA/C. We calculated disparity bias indices (DBI) to reflect these biases and provide early objective data from small illustrative clinical groups that fit these styles. Results Normal adults (n = 56) and children (n = 24) showed disparity bias (adult DBI 0.43 [95% CI, 0.50-0.36], child DBI 0.20 [95% CI, 0.31-0.07]; P = 0.001). Accommodative esotropia (n = 3) showed less disparity-bias (DBI 0.03). In the high AC/A–low CA/C scenario, early presbyopia (n = 22) showed mean DBI of 0.17 (95% CI, 0.28-0.06), compared to DBI of −0.31 in convergence excess esotropia (n=8). In the low AC/A–high CA/C scenario near exotropia (n = 17) showed mean DBI of 0.27. DBI ranged between 1.25 and −1.67. Conclusions Establishing disparity or blur bias adds to AC/A and CA/C ratios to explain clinical patterns. Excessive bias or inflexibility in near-cue use increases risk of clinical problems. PMID:25498466

Disparity-driven vs blur-driven models of accommodation and convergence in binocular vision and intermittent strabismus.

PubMed

Horwood, Anna M; Riddell, Patricia M

2014-12-01

To propose an alternative and practical model to conceptualize clinical patterns of concomitant intermittent strabismus, heterophoria, and convergence and accommodation anomalies. Despite identical ratios, there can be a disparity- or blur-biased "style" in three hypothetical scenarios: normal; high ratio of accommodative convergence to accommodation (AC/A) and low ratio of convergence accommodation to convergence (CA/C); low AC/A and high CA/C. We calculated disparity bias indices (DBI) to reflect these biases and provide early objective data from small illustrative clinical groups that fit these styles. Normal adults (n = 56) and children (n = 24) showed disparity bias (adult DBI 0.43 [95% CI, 0.50-0.36], child DBI 0.20 [95% CI, 0.31-0.07]; P = 0.001). Accommodative esotropia (n = 3) showed less disparity-bias (DBI 0.03). In the high AC/A-low CA/C scenario, early presbyopia (n = 22) showed mean DBI of 0.17 (95% CI, 0.28-0.06), compared to DBI of -0.31 in convergence excess esotropia (n=8). In the low AC/A-high CA/C scenario near exotropia (n = 17) showed mean DBI of 0.27. DBI ranged between 1.25 and -1.67. Establishing disparity or blur bias adds to AC/A and CA/C ratios to explain clinical patterns. Excessive bias or inflexibility in near-cue use increases risk of clinical problems. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Attenuation of brain edema and spatial learning deficits by the inhibition of NADPH oxidase activity using apocynin following diffuse traumatic brain injury in rats.

PubMed

Song, Si-Xin; Gao, Jun-Ling; Wang, Kai-Jie; Li, Ran; Tian, Yan-Xia; Wei, Jian-Qiang; Cui, Jian-Zhong

2013-01-01

Diffuse brain injury (DBI) is a leading cause of mortality and disability among young individuals and adults worldwide. In specific cases, DBI is associated with permanent spatial learning dysfunction and motor deficits due to primary and secondary brain damage. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) is a major complex that produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the ischemic period. The complex aggravates brain damage and cell death following ischemia/reperfusion injury; however, its role in DBI remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that levels of NOX2 (a catalytic subunit of NOX) protein expression and the activation of NOX are enhanced following DBI induction in rats and are involved in aggravating secondary brain damage. A rat model of DBI was created using a modified weight-drop device. Our results demonstrated that NOX2 protein expression and NOX activity were enhanced in the CA1 subfield of the hippocampus at 48 and 72 h following DBI induction. Treatment with apocynin (50 mg/kg body weight), a specific inhibitor of NOX, injected intraperitoneally 30 min prior to DBI significantly attenuated NOX2 protein expression and NOX activation. Moreover, treatment with apocynin reduced brain edema and improved spatial learning function assessed using the Morris water maze. These results reveal that treatment with apocynin may provide a new neuroprotective therapeutic strategy against DBI by diminishing the upregulation of NOX2 protein and NOX activity.

Integration of Optimal Scheduling with Case-Based Planning.

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-08-01

integrates Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) and Rule-Based Reasoning (RBR) systems. ’ Tachyon : A Constraint-Based Temporal Reasoning Model and Its...Implementation’ provides an overview of the Tachyon temporal’s reasoning system and discusses its possible applications. ’Dual-Use Applications of Tachyon : From...Force Structure Modeling to Manufacturing Scheduling’ discusses the application of Tachyon to real world problems, specifically military force deployment and manufacturing scheduling.

47 CFR 90.1215 - Power limits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

...Bm/MHz. If transmitting antennas of directional gain greater than 9 dBi are used, both the maximum... the directional gain of the antenna exceeds 9 dBi. However, high power point-to-point and point-to... directional gain up to 26 dBi without any corresponding reduction in the maximum conducted output power or...

47 CFR 90.1215 - Power limits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

...Bm/MHz. If transmitting antennas of directional gain greater than 9 dBi are used, both the maximum... the directional gain of the antenna exceeds 9 dBi. However, high power point-to-point and point-to... directional gain up to 26 dBi without any corresponding reduction in the maximum conducted output power or...

47 CFR 90.1215 - Power limits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

...Bm/MHz. If transmitting antennas of directional gain greater than 9 dBi are used, both the maximum... the directional gain of the antenna exceeds 9 dBi. However, high power point-to-point and point-to... directional gain up to 26 dBi without any corresponding reduction in the maximum conducted output power or...

47 CFR 90.1215 - Power limits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

...Bm/MHz. If transmitting antennas of directional gain greater than 9 dBi are used, both the maximum... the directional gain of the antenna exceeds 9 dBi. However, high power point-to-point and point-to... directional gain up to 26 dBi without any corresponding reduction in the maximum conducted output power or...

Stability of singularity-free cosmological solutions in Hořava-Lifshitz gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Misonoh, Yosuke; Fukushima, Mitsuhiro; Miyashita, Shoichiro

2017-02-01

We study the stability of singularity-free cosmological solutions with a positive cosmological constant based on the projectable Hořava-Lifshitz (HL) theory. In the HL theory, the isotropic and homogeneous cosmological solutions with bounce can be realized if the spatial curvature is nonzero. By performing a perturbation analysis around nonflat Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetime, we derive a quadratic action and discuss the stability, i.e., ghost and tachyon-free conditions. Although the squared effective mass of scalar perturbation must be negative in the infrared regime, we can avoid tachyon instability by considering strong Hubble friction. Additionally, we estimate the backreaction from the perturbations on the background geometry, especially against an anisotropic perturbation in closed FLRW spacetime. It turns out that certain types of bouncing solution may be spoiled even if all perturbation modes are stable.

Developing a Fly-Away-Kit (FLAK) to Support Hastily Formed Networks (HFN) for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR)

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-06-01

HFN Components: Reach-Back, Last-Mile, and FLAK .............19 Figure 5. Example of a VSAT solution (from Tachyon , 2004...and IDU (From Tachyon Networks, 2004) ............................................31 Figure 16. IDU...44 Figure 22. Tachyon Auto Deploy ODU and IDU .............................................................44 Figure

Drug burden index to define the burden of medicines in older adults with intellectual disabilities: An observational cross-sectional study.

PubMed

O'Connell, Juliette; Burke, Éilish; Mulryan, Niamh; O'Dwyer, Claire; Donegan, Clare; McCallion, Philip; McCarron, Mary; Henman, Martin C; O'Dwyer, Máire

2018-03-01

The drug burden index (DBI) is a dose-related measure of anticholinergic and sedative drug exposure. This cross-sectional study described DBI in older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) and the most frequently reported therapeutic classes contributing to DBI and examined associations between higher DBI scores and potential adverse effects as well as physical function. This study analysed data from Wave 2 (2013/2014) of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA), a representative study on the ageing of people with ID in Ireland. Self- and objectively-reported data were collected on medication use and physical health, including health conditions. The Barthel index was the physical function measure. The study examined 677 individuals with ID, of whom 644 (95.1%) reported taking medication and 78.6% (n = 532) were exposed to medication with anticholinergic and/or sedative activity. 54.2% (n = 367) were exposed to high DBI score (≥1). Adjusted multivariate regression analysis revealed no significant association between DBI score and daytime dozing, constipation or falls. After adjusting for confounders (sex, age, level of ID, comorbidities, behaviours that challenge, history of falls), DBI was associated with significantly higher dependence in the Barthel index (P = 0.002). This is the first time DBI has been described in older adults with ID. Scores were much higher than those observed in the general population and higher scores were associated with higher dependence in Barthel index activities of daily living. © 2017 The British Pharmacological Society.

47 CFR 15.407 - General technical requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... maximum antenna gain does not exceed 6 dBi. In addition, the maximum power spectral density shall not exceed 17 dBm in any 1 megahertz band. If transmitting antennas of directional gain greater than 6 dBi... reduced by the amount in dB that the directional gain of the antenna exceeds 6 dBi. The maximum e.i.r.p...

Does the Dietary Pattern of Shanghai Residents Change across Seasons and Area of Residence: Assessing Dietary Quality Using the Chinese Diet Balance Index (DBI)

PubMed Central

Zang, Jiajie; Yu, Huiting; Zhu, Zhenni; Lu, Ye; Liu, Changhe; Yao, Chunxia; Bai, Pinqing; Guo, Changyi; Jia, Xiaodong; Zou, Shurong; Wu, Fan

2017-01-01

Background: Few studies have applied the Chinese Diet Balance Index (DBI) in evaluating dietary quality across seasons. Method: The Shanghai Diet and Health Survey (SDHS) included 1680 participants from all districts of Shanghai from 2012 to 2013. Dietary data were obtained using three-day 24-h recall in spring, summer, fall, and winter. Higher bound score (HBS), lower bound score (LBS) and diet quality distance (DQD) were calculated according to compliance with the dietary guidelines and based on the recommendations for consumption within the main food groups. HBS, LBS, and DQD represent over-intake, under-intake, and overall imbalance of the diet, respectively. Results: 836 males and 844 females were included. The HBS indicated that 10.08%, 11.84%, 10.31%, and 12.73% people have moderate or high levels of over-intake of food in spring, summer, fall, and winter, respectively; and 74.04%, 37.61%, 53.09%, and 42.72% people have moderate or high levels of deficit food intake for each of the four seasons. The mean HBS and LBS among the four seasons were statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). The mean (SD) DQD was 43.27 (10.21), 35.67 (9.71), 39.19 (9.36), and 36.84 (9.45) in each season. A multivariable model showed statistically significant differences in DQD according to age, gender, occupational status, education, smoking, drinking status, season, and residency (p < 0.001). Conclusion: An unbalanced diet is common among people living in Shanghai. Seasonality and area of residence were found to be two significant predictors. Strengthening the accessibility and the supply of food across seasons and regions should be considered. PMID:28282864

Molecular cloning and chromosomal localization of a pseudogene related to the human Acyl-CoA binding protein/diazepam binding inhibitor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gersuk, V.H.; Rose, T.M.; Todaro, G.J.

The acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) and the diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) or endozepine are independent isolates of a single 86-amino-acid, 10-kDa protein. ACBP/DBI is highly conserved between species and has been identified in several diverse organisms, including human, cow, rat, frog, duck, insects, plants, and yeast. Although the genomic locus has not yet been cloned in humans, complementary DNA clones with different 5{prime} ends have been isolated and characterized. These cDNA clones appear to be encoded by a single gene. However, Southern blot analyses, in situ hybridizations, and somatic cell hybrid chromosomal mapping all suggest that there are multiple ACBP/DBI-relatedmore » sequences in the genome. To identify potential members of this gene family, degenerate oligonucleotides corresponding to highly conserved regions of ACBP/DBI were used to screen a human genomic DNA library using the polymerase chain reaction. A novel gene, DBIP1, that is closely related to ACBP/DBI but is clearly distinct was identified. DBIP1 bears extensive sequence homology to ACBP/DBI but lacks the introns predicted by rat and duck genomic sequence studies. A 1-base deletion in the coding region results in a frameshift and, along with the absence of introns and the lack of a detectable transcript, suggests that DBIP1 is a pseudogene. ACBP/DBI has previously been mapped to chromosome 2, although this was recently disputed, and a chromosome 6 location was suggested. We show that ACBP/DBI is correctly placed on chromosome 2 and that the gene identified on chromosome 6 is DBIP1. 33 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.« less

Diazepam Binding Inhibitor Promotes Stem Cell Expansion Controlling Environment-Dependent Neurogenesis.

PubMed

Dumitru, Ionut; Neitz, Angela; Alfonso, Julieta; Monyer, Hannah

2017-04-05

Plasticity of adult neurogenesis supports adaptation to environmental changes. The identification of molecular mediators that signal these changes to neural progenitors in the niche has remained elusive. Here we report that diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) is crucial in supporting an adaptive mechanism in response to changes in the environment. We provide evidence that DBI is expressed in stem cells in all neurogenic niches of the postnatal brain. Focusing on the hippocampal subgranular zone (SGZ) and employing multiple genetic manipulations in vivo, we demonstrate that DBI regulates the balance between preserving the stem cell pool and neurogenesis. Specifically, DBI dampens GABA activity in stem cells, thereby sustaining the proproliferative effect of physical exercise and enriched environment. Our data lend credence to the notion that the modulatory effect of DBI constitutes a general mechanism that regulates postnatal neurogenesis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Exciting gauge field and gravitons in brane-antibrane annihilation.

PubMed

Mazumdar, Anupam; Stoica, Horace

2009-03-06

In this Letter we point out the inevitability of an explosive production of gauge field and gravity wave during an open string tachyon condensation in a cosmological setting, in an effective field theory model. We will be particularly studying a toy model of brane-antibrane inflation in a warped throat where inflation ends via tachyon condensation. We point out that a tachyonic instability helps fragmenting the homogeneous tachyon and excites gauge field and contributes to the stress-energy tensor which also feeds into the gravity waves.

O-Plan2 VS Sipe-2 - A General Comparison

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-07-01

on them that are satisfied by the planner. SIPE-2 has been extended to interface with General Electric’s Tachyon system for temporal reasoning...Temporal constraints in SIPE-2 are written to a file that is read by Tachyon . Tachyon processes these constraints and writes a file of narrowed time

The drug burden of anticholinergics and sedatives and influence on outcomes in the community-living oldest old: The Tokyo Oldest Old survey on Total Health (TOOTH) survey.

PubMed

Sato, Ryohei; Arai, Yasumichi; Abe, Yukiko; Takayama, Michiyo; Urushihara, Hisashi

2017-01-01

The objective of this study was to assess the burdens of anticholinergic and sedative drugs in community-living individuals of 85 years of age or older. The Tokyo Oldest Old survey on Total Health (TOOTH) is a cohort study designed to assess the physical, mental, and oral health of the community-living oldest old. We investigated the relationships between the anticholinergic/sedative burden and physical/cognitive outcomes. The drug burden was assessed by the Drug Burden Index (DBI). Relationships between the DBI score and the physical/cognitive outcomes were evaluated by multivariate regression. The age-related changes (baseline to 3-year follow-up) of these outcomes were also investigated. At baseline, the data of 306 subjects were subjected to a cross-sectional analysis. The Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and Mini Mental State Examination scores were found to be significantly associated with the DBI score. After 3 years, the Activities of Daily Living score was significantly associated with the DBI score in 176 subjects. Changes in these outcome measures were small during the 3-year follow-up period and were not associated with the DBI scores at baseline. DBI in the community-living oldest old were evaluated. Our findings suggest that anticholinergic and sedative drugs may influence the physical and cognitive function in the oldest old. Additional studies should be performed to investigate the relationships between the change of the physical/cognitive functions and the DBI score over a long-term observation period.

ACL/MCL transection affects knee ligament insertion distance of healing and intact ligaments during gait in the Ovine model.

PubMed

Tapper, Janet E; Funakoshi, Yusei; Hariu, Mitsuhiro; Marchuk, Linda; Thornton, Gail M; Ronsky, Janet L; Zernicke, Ron; Shrive, Nigel G; Frank, Cyril B

2009-08-25

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of combined transection of the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments on the intact and healing ligaments in the ovine stifle joint. In vivo 3D stifle joint kinematics were measured in eight sheep during treadmill walking (accuracy: 0.4+/-0.4mm, 0.4+/-0.4 degrees ). Kinematics were measured with the joint intact and at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks after either surgical ligament transection (n=5) or sham surgery without transection (n=3). After sacrifice at 20 weeks, the 3D subject-specific bone and ligament geometry were digitized, and the 3D distances between insertions (DBI) of ligaments during the dynamic in vivo motion were calculated. Anterior cruciate ligament/medial collateral ligament (ACL/MCL) transection resulted in changes in the DBI of not only the transected ACL, but also the intact lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), while the DBI of the transected MCL was not significantly changed. Increases in the maximal ACL DBI (2 week: +4.2mm, 20 week: +5.7mm) caused increases in the range of ACL DBI (2 week: 3.6mm, 20 week: +3.8mm) and the ACL apparent strain (2 week: +18.9%, 20 week: +24.0%). Decreases in the minimal PCL DBI (2 week: -3.2mm, 20 week: -4.3mm) resulted in increases in the range of PCL DBI (2 week: +2.7mm, 20 week: +3.2mm). Decreases in the maximal LCL DBI (2 week: -1.0mm, 20 week: -2.0mm) caused decreased LCL apparent strain (2 week: -3.4%, 20 week: -6.9%). Changes in the mechanical environment of these ligaments may play a significant role in the biological changes observed in these ligaments.

A Near-Zero Refractive Index Meta-Surface Structure for Antenna Performance Improvement.

PubMed

Ullah, Mohammad Habib; Islam, Mohammad Tariqul; Faruque, Mohammad Rashed Iqbal

2013-11-06

A new meta-surface structure (MSS) with a near-zero refractive index (NZRI) is proposed to enhance the performance of a square loop antenna array. The main challenge to improve the antenna performance is increment of the overall antenna volume that is mitigated by assimilating the planar NZRI MSS at the back of the antenna structure. The proposed NZRI MSS-loaded CPW-fed (Co-Planar Waveguide) four-element array antenna is designed on ceramic-bioplastic-ceramic sandwich substrate using high-frequency structure simulator (HFSS), a finite-element-method-based simulation tool. The gain and directivity of the antenna are significantly enhanced by incorporating the NZRI MSS with a 7 × 6 set of elements at the back of the antenna structure. Measurement results show that the maximum gains of the antenna increased from 6.21 dBi to 8.25 dBi, from 6.52 dBi to 9.05 dBi and from 10.54 dBi to 12.15 dBi in the first, second and third bands, respectively. The effect of the slot configuration in the ground plane on the reflection coefficient of the antenna was analyzed and optimized. The overall performance makes the proposed antenna appropriate for UHFFM (Ultra High Frequency Frequency Modulation) telemetry-based space applications as well as mobile satellite, microwave radiometry and radio astronomy applications.

A Near-Zero Refractive Index Meta-Surface Structure for Antenna Performance Improvement

PubMed Central

Ullah, Mohammad Habib; Islam, Mohammad Tariqul; Faruque, Mohammad Rashed Iqbal

2013-01-01

A new meta-surface structure (MSS) with a near-zero refractive index (NZRI) is proposed to enhance the performance of a square loop antenna array. The main challenge to improve the antenna performance is increment of the overall antenna volume that is mitigated by assimilating the planar NZRI MSS at the back of the antenna structure. The proposed NZRI MSS-loaded CPW-fed (Co-Planar Waveguide) four-element array antenna is designed on ceramic-bioplastic-ceramic sandwich substrate using high-frequency structure simulator (HFSS), a finite-element-method-based simulation tool. The gain and directivity of the antenna are significantly enhanced by incorporating the NZRI MSS with a 7 × 6 set of elements at the back of the antenna structure. Measurement results show that the maximum gains of the antenna increased from 6.21 dBi to 8.25 dBi, from 6.52 dBi to 9.05 dBi and from 10.54 dBi to 12.15 dBi in the first, second and third bands, respectively. The effect of the slot configuration in the ground plane on the reflection coefficient of the antenna was analyzed and optimized. The overall performance makes the proposed antenna appropriate for UHFFM (Ultra High Frequency Frequency Modulation) telemetry-based space applications as well as mobile satellite, microwave radiometry and radio astronomy applications. PMID:28788376

IMPGSS - International Medical Program Global Satellite System

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-02-01

additional comments regarding the significance of working with Tachyon and NASK under this Contract). 5.2.5 Requirements - Country/Region Assessments...services on a tentative exploratory basis by Tachyon ]. 5.2.7 Program Development Deliverable A 007 This is currently summarized in the Program Content...based satellite transmissions and transmission pricing based on segmented, limited use data volumes via Tachyon . " A more involved use of evaluation

Altered defaecatory behaviour and faecal incontinence in a video-tracked animal model of pudendal neuropathy.

PubMed

Devane, L A; Lucking, E; Evers, J; Buffini, M; Scott, S M; Knowles, C H; O'Connell, P R; Jones, J F X

2017-05-01

The aim was to develop a behavioural animal model of faecal continence and assess the effect of retro-uterine balloon inflation (RBI) injury. RBI in the rat causes pudendal neuropathy, a risk factor for obstetric related faecal incontinence in humans. Video-tracking of healthy rats (n = 12) in a cage containing a latrine box was used to monitor their defaecatory behaviour index (DBI) over 2 weeks. The DBI (range 0-1) was devised by dividing the defaecation rate (pellets per hour) outside the latrine by that of the whole cage. A score of 0 indicates all pellets were deposited in the latrine. Subsequently, the effects of RBI (n = 19), sham surgery (n = 4) and colostomy (n = 2) were determined by monitoring the DBI for 2 weeks preoperatively and 3 weeks postoperatively. The DBI for healthy rats was 0.1 ± 0.03 with no significant change over 2 weeks (P = 0.71). In the RBI group, 13 of 19 rats (68%) showed no significant change in DBI postoperatively (0.08 ±  -0.05 vs 0.11 ±  -0.07) while in six rats the DBI increased from 0.16 ±  -0.09 to 0.46 ± 0.23. The negative control, sham surgery, did not significantly affect the DBI (0.09 ± 0.06 vs 0.08 ± 0.04, P = 0.14). The positive control, colostomy, increased the DBI from 0.26 ± 0.03 to 0.86 ± 0.08. This is the first study showing a quantifiable change in defaecatory behaviour following injury in an animal model. This model of pudendal neuropathy affects continence in 32% of rats and provides a basis for research on interventions for incontinence. Colorectal Disease © 2017 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vázquez-Báez, V.; Ramírez, C.

We present calculations towards obtaining a wave functions of the universe for the supersymmetric closed string tachyon cosmology. Supersymmetrization, in the superfield formalism, is performed by taking advantage of the time reparametrization invariance of the cosmological action and generalizing the transformations to include grassmannian variables. We calculate the corresponding Hamiltonian, by means of the Dirac formalism, and make use of the superalgebra to find solutions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equations indirectly.

Exploiting Data Similarity to Reduce Memory Footprints

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

leslie3d Fortran Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) application 122. tachyon C Parallel Ray Tracing application 128.GAPgeofem C and Fortran Simulates...benefits most from SBLLmalloc; LAMMPS, which shows moderate similarity from primarily zero pages; and 122. tachyon , a parallel ray- tracing application...similarity across MPI tasks. They primarily are zero- pages although a small fraction (≈10%) are non-zero pages. 122. tachyon is an image rendering

The Proof of the Pudding?: A Case Study of an "At-Risk" Design-Based Inquiry Science Curriculum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chue, Shien; Lee, Yew-Jin

2013-12-01

When students collaboratively design and build artifacts that require relevant understanding and application of science, many aspects of scientific literacy are developed. Design-based inquiry (DBI) is one such pedagogy that can serve these desired goals of science education well. Focusing on a Projectile Science curriculum previously found to be implemented with satisfactory fidelity, we investigate the many hidden challenges when using DBI with Grade 8 students from one school in Singapore. A case study method was used to analyze video recordings of DBI lessons conducted over 10 weeks, project presentations, and interviews to ascertain the opportunities for developing scientific literacy among participants. One critical factor that hindered learning was task selection by teachers, which emphasized generic scientific process skills over more important cognitive and epistemic learning goals. Teachers and students were also jointly engaged in forms of inquiry that underscored artifact completion over deeper conceptual and epistemic understanding of science. Our research surfaced two other confounding factors that undermined the curriculum; unanticipated teacher effects and the underestimation of the complexity of DBI and of inquiry science in general. Thus, even though motivated or experienced teachers can implement an inquiry science curriculum with good fidelity and enjoy school-wide support, these by themselves will not guarantee deep learning of scientific literacy in DBI. Recommendations are made for navigating the hands- and minds-on aspects of learning science that is an asset as well as inherent danger during DBI teaching.

Reduced fasting plasma levels of diazepam-binding inhibitor in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

PubMed

Conti, Elisa; Tremolizzo, Lucio; Bomba, Monica; Uccellini, Orlando; Rossi, Maria Sara; Raggi, Maria Elisabetta; Neri, Francesca; Ferrarese, Carlo; Nacinovich, Renata

2013-09-01

Altered expression and/or function, both peripherally and centrally, of various neuropeptides is involved in the neurophysiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). Diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) is an interesting peptide for understanding this crosstalk. The aim of this work was to assess fasting plasma levels of DBI and leptin in patients with AN. Twenty-four AN adolescents were recruited together with 10 age-comparable healthy controls. Neuropeptide determinations were performed on plasma samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Patients with AN were further characterized for the presence of a depressive state or anxiety by using, respectively, the Children's Depression Inventory or the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory form Y. Levels of both plasma DBI and leptin were reduced in patients with AN (∼40 and ∼70%, respectively). DBI levels displayed a tendency to increase in the presence of a depressive state, although not with anxiety, whereas leptin levels correlated exclusively with body mass index. These data further extend our knowledge of neuropeptide dysfunction in AN, and plasma DBI may represent a marker for this disease, in particular considering its correlation with comorbid mood disorders. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Catalog of Resources for Education in Ada (Trade Name) and Software Engineering (CREASE). Version 4.0.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-05-01

offering the course is a company. Name and Address of offeror: Tachyon Corporation 2725 Congress Street Suite 2H San Diego, CA 92110 Offeror’s...Background: Tachyon Corporation specializes in Ada software quality assurance, computer hosted instruction and information retrieval systems, authoring tools...easy to use (on-line help) and can look up or search for terms. Tachyon Corporation 20 CDURSE OFFERINGS 2.2. Lecture/Seminar Courses 2.2.1. Company

Planning in Dynamic and Uncertain Environments

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-05-01

particular, General Electric’s (GE) Tachyon system [2]), and uses the communication software provided in the CPE (in particular, the Cronus and Knet...and gets back information about the world and replanning requests. "* We extended SIPE-2 to interact with GE’s Tachyon system in a loosely coupled...manner. Tachyon is able to process extended temporal constraints for SIPE-2 during planning. They communicate by using the Cronus system in the CPE

Investigation of dowel bar placement accuracy with a dowel bar inserter

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-05-01

Dowel bar inserters (DBI) on concrete paving equipment eliminate the need for manually placing dowel bar baskets. Reduced manual labor eventually pays off the initial investment in a DBI and ultimately results in reduced PCCP costs to the roadway own...

Signs and stability in higher-derivative gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narain, Gaurav

2018-02-01

Perturbatively renormalizable higher-derivative gravity in four space-time dimensions with arbitrary signs of couplings has been considered. Systematic analysis of the action with arbitrary signs of couplings in Lorentzian flat space-time for no-tachyons, fixes the signs. Feynman + i𝜖 prescription for these signs further grants necessary convergence in path-integral, suppressing the field modes with large action. This also leads to a sensible wick rotation where quantum computation can be performed. Running couplings for these sign of parameters make the massive tensor ghost innocuous leading to a stable and ghost-free renormalizable theory in four space-time dimensions. The theory has a transition point arising from renormalization group (RG) equations, where the coefficient of R2 diverges without affecting the perturbative quantum field theory (QFT). Redefining this coefficient gives a better handle over the theory around the transition point. The flow equations push the flow of parameters across the transition point. The flow beyond the transition point is analyzed using the one-loop RG equations which shows that the regime beyond the transition point has unphysical properties: there are tachyons, the path-integral loses positive definiteness, Newton’s constant G becomes negative and large, and perturbative parameters become large. These shortcomings indicate a lack of completeness beyond the transition point and need of a nonperturbative treatment of the theory beyond the transition point.

Exploring Data Sharing Between Geographically Distributed Mobile and Fixed Nodes Supporting Extended Maritime Interdiction Operations (EMIO)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-01

Diablo and LLNL o ITT Mesh, OPAREA TWO: between BP RHIB and BV, and between Sea Fox (USV) and BV o Sky Pilot, OPAREA THREE: between Tachyon ...between Sea Fox (USV) and BV o Sky Pilot, OPAREA THREE: between Tachyon Satellite and Sky Pilot Relay and between Sky Pilot Relay and BV o Wave Relay...between Tachyon Satellite and Sky Pilot Relay and between Sky Pilot Relay and BV o Wave Relay, OPAREA THREE: between BV and Balloon and between

Causality-Preserving Timestamps in Distributed Programs

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-06-01

monitoring,deh!bigging. tac-hvon,catisaIi tvý Abstract A tachyon is an improperly ordered event in a distributed program. Tachvonis are most often...that tachyons do in fact. occur commonly in distributed pro- grams on our Ethernet at Carnegie Mellon University. and we disc’ss some ways of...before it is sent) is called a tach yon. (’learly it is very disconcerting to try to debug a parallel program that contains tachyons . Of course, in "real

Using Data-Based Individualization to Intensify Mathematics Intervention for Students with Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Powell, Sarah R.; Stecker, Pamela M.

2014-01-01

This article describes data-based individualization (DBI) as a continuous process connecting assessment and intervention in mathematics for students with disabilities. DBI provides teachers with an evidence-based method for individualizing interventions for students who do not demonstrate adequate response. Assessment data gathered through the use…

47 CFR 15.709 - General technical requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... between the transmitter and the antenna. If transmitting antennas of directional gain greater than 6 dBi... gain of the antenna exceeds 6 dBi. (2) For personal/portable TVBDs, the maximum conducted output power... conducted output power shall not exceed 40 milliwatts. If transmitting antennas of directional gain greater...

The solutions and thermodynamic dark energy in the accelerating universe

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Demirel, E. C. Günay

Recently, Tachyonic matter expressed in terms of scalar field is suggested to be the reason of acceleration of the universe as dark energy [1]-[3]. In this study, dynamic solutions and thermodynamic properties of matters such as Tachyonic matters were investigated.

Direct Detection of Biotinylated Proteins by Mass Spectrometry

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Mass spectrometric strategies to identify protein subpopulations involved in specific biological functions rely on covalently tagging biotin to proteins using various chemical modification methods. The biotin tag is primarily used for enrichment of the targeted subpopulation for subsequent mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. A limitation of these strategies is that MS analysis does not easily discriminate unlabeled contaminants from the labeled protein subpopulation under study. To solve this problem, we developed a flexible method that only relies on direct MS detection of biotin-tagged proteins called “Direct Detection of Biotin-containing Tags” (DiDBiT). Compared with conventional targeted proteomic strategies, DiDBiT improves direct detection of biotinylated proteins ∼200 fold. We show that DiDBiT is applicable to several protein labeling protocols in cell culture and in vivo using cell permeable NHS-biotin and incorporation of the noncanonical amino acid, azidohomoalanine (AHA), into newly synthesized proteins, followed by click chemistry tagging with biotin. We demonstrate that DiDBiT improves the direct detection of biotin-tagged newly synthesized peptides more than 20-fold compared to conventional methods. With the increased sensitivity afforded by DiDBiT, we demonstrate the MS detection of newly synthesized proteins labeled in vivo in the rodent nervous system with unprecedented temporal resolution as short as 3 h. PMID:25117199

Drag balance Cubesat attitude motion effects on in-situ thermosphere density measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Felicetti, Leonard; Santoni, Fabio

2014-08-01

The dynamics of Cubesats carrying a drag balance instrument (DBI) for in situ atmosphere density measurements is analyzed. Atmospheric drag force is measured by the displacement of two light plates exposed to the incoming particle flow. This system is well suited for a distributed sensor network in orbit, to get simultaneous in situ local (non orbit averaged) measurements in multiple positions and orbit heights, contributing to the development and validation of global atmosphere models. The implementation of the DBI leads to orbit normal pointing spinning two body system. The use of a spin-magnetic attitude control system is suggested, based only on magnetometer readings, contributing to making the system simple, inexpensive, and reliable. It is shown, by an averaging technique, that this system provides for orbit normal spin axis pointing. The effect of the coupling between the attitude dynamics and the DBI is evaluated, analyzing its frequency content and showing that no frequency components arise, affecting the DBI performance. The analysis is confirmed by Monte Carlo numerical simulation results.

Aerogel Poly(butylene succinate) Biomaterial Substrate for RF and Microwave Applications.

PubMed

Habib Ullah, M; Mahadi, W N L; Latef, T A

2015-08-04

Polybutylene succinate (PBS) has become a potential candidate, similar to polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), for use as an organic plastic material due to its outstanding mechanical properties as well as high thermal deformation characteristics. A new composition of silica aerogel nanoparticles extracted from rice waste with PBS is proposed for use as a dielectric (εr = 4.5) substrate for microwave applications. A microstrip patch antenna was fabricated on the proposed dielectric substrate for multi-resonant ultra-wideband (UWB) applications. The performance characteristics of the proposed biomaterial-based antenna were investigated in a far-field measurement environment. The results indicate that the proposed biocompatible material-based antenna covered a bandwidth of 9.4 (2.3-11.7) GHz with stop bands from 5.5 GHz to 5.8 GHz and 7.0 GHz to 8.3 GHz. Peak gains of 9.82 dBi, 7.59 dBi, 8.0 dBi and 7.68 dBi were measured at resonant frequencies of 2.7 GHz, 4.6 GHz, 6.3 GHz and 9.5 GHz, respectively.

Analytical Tools for Investigating and Modeling Agent-Based Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-06-01

of Black Holes Cluster 10 : Juan M. Maldacena (1924), Journal of High Energy Physics Field theory models for tachyon and gauge field string dy...namics; Super-Poincare Invariant Superstring Field The- ory; Level Four Approximation to the Tachyon Potential in Superstring Field Theory; SO(32) Spinors

CLONING AND EXPRESSION OF THE TRANSLOCATOR PROTEIN (18 KDA), VOLTAGE-DEPENDENT ANION CHANNEL, AND DIAZEPAM BINDING INHIBITOR IN THE GONAD OF LARGEMOUTH BASS (MICROPTERUS SALMOIDES) ACROSS THE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE

PubMed Central

Doperalski, Nicholas J.; Martyniuk, Christopher J.; Prucha, Melinda S.; Kroll, Kevin J.; Denslow, Nancy D.; Barber, David S.

2011-01-01

Cholesterol transport across the mitochondrial membrane is rate-limiting for steroidogenesis in vertebrates. Previous studies in fish have characterized expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, however the function and regulation of other genes and proteins involved in piscine cholesterol transport have not been evaluated. In the current study, mRNA sequences of the 18 kDa translocator protein (tspo; formerly peripheral benzodiazepine receptor), voltage-dependent anion channel (vdac), and diazepam binding inhibitor (dbi; also acyl-CoA binding protein) were cloned from largemouth bass. Gonadal expression was examined across reproductive stages to determine if expression is correlated with changes in steroid levels and with indicators of reproductive maturation. In testis, transcript abundance of tspo and dbi increased with reproductive maturation (6- and 23-fold maximal increase, respectively) and expression of tspo and dbi was positively correlated with reproductive stage, gonadosomatic index (GSI), and circulating levels of testosterone. Testis vdac expression was positively correlated with reproductive stage and GSI. In females, gonadal tspo and vdac expression was negatively correlated with GSI and levels of plasma testosterone and 17β-estradiol. Ovarian dbi expression was not correlated with indicators of reproductive maturation. These studies represent the first investigation of the steroidogenic role of tspo, vdac, and dbi in fish. Findings suggest that cholesterol transport in largemouth bass testis, but not ovary, may be transcriptionally-regulated, however further investigation will be necessary to fully elucidate the role of these genes in largemouth bass steroidogenesis. PMID:21600210

AdS/CFT beyond the N = 4 SYM paradigm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pomoni, Elli

In this thesis we present studies in the AdS/CFT correspondence that intend to push the present knowledge beyond the N = 4 super Yang-Mills (SYM) paradigm. The first part is concerned with the study of non-supersymmetric deformations of N = 4 SYM (which still are in the N = 4 universality class). For non-supersymmetric CFT's at Large N we explore the correspondence between string theory tachyons in the bulk and instabilities on the boundary effective action. The operators dual to AdS tachyons have anomalous dimensions that are purely complex numbers. We give a prescription for calculating the mass of the tachyon from the field theory side. Moreover, we apply this general dictionary to the case of intersecting D7 flavor branes in AdS 5 x S5 and obtain the mass of the open string tachyon that is dual to the instability in the mesonic sector of the theory. In the second part we present work aiming at finding string theory duals for gauge theories beyond the N = 4 universality class, i.e. theories that have genuinely less supersymmetry and unquenched flavor. Arguably the next simplest example after N = 4 SYM is N = 2 SU(Nc) SYM coupled to Nf = 2Nc fundamental hypermultiplets. The theory admits a Veneziano expansion of large Nc and large Nf, with Nf/Nc and lambda = g2Nc kept fixed. The topological structure of large N diagrams invites a general conjecture: the flavor-singlet sector of a gauge theory in the Veneziano limit is dual to a closed string theory. We present the one-loop Hamiltonian for the scalar sector of N = 2 superconformal QCD and study this integrability of the theory. Furthermore, we explore the chiral spectrum of the protected operators of the theory using the one-loop anomalous dimensions and, additionally, by studying the index of the theory. We finally search for possible AdS dual trying to match the chiral spectrum. We conclude that the string dual is a sub-critical background containing both an AdS 5 and an S1 factor.

Particle creation and reheating in a braneworld inflationary scenario

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilić, Neven; Domazet, Silvije; Djordjevic, Goran S.

2017-10-01

We study the cosmological particle creation in the tachyon inflation based on the D-brane dynamics in the Randall-Sundrum (RSII) model extended to include matter in the bulk. The presence of matter modifies the warp factor which results in two effects: a modification of the RSII cosmology and a modification of the tachyon potential. Besides, a string theory D-brane supports among other fields a U(1) gauge field reflecting open strings attached to the brane. We demonstrate how the interaction of the tachyon with the U(1) gauge field drives cosmological creation of massless particles and estimate the resulting reheating at the end of inflation.

Particles That Travel Faster than Light?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newton, Roger G.

1970-01-01

A discussion of the possible existence of tachyons, particles that travel faster than light, and their theoretical properties. Suggests that if tachyons were found, the consequences for relativity theory, quantum mechanics and the concept of casuality would be far-reaching. Concludes that the final answer rests with the experimentalist.…

A New Metasurface Superstrate Structure for Antenna Performance Enhancement.

PubMed

Islam, Mohammad Tariqul; Ullah, Mohammad Habib; Singh, Mandeep Jit; Faruque, Mohammad Rashed Iqbal

2013-07-31

A new metasurface superstrate structure (MSS)-loaded dual band microstrip line-fed small patch antenna is presented in this paper. The proposed antenna was designed on a ceramic-filled bioplastic sandwich substrate with a high dielectric constant. The proposed 7 × 6 element, square-shaped, single-sided MSS significantly improved the bandwidth and gain of the proposed antenna. The proposed MSS incorporated a slotted patch antenna that effectively increased the measured operating bandwidth from 13.3% to 18.8% and from 14.8% to 23.2% in the lower and upper bands, respectively. Moreover, the average gain of the proposed MSS-based antenna was enhanced from 2.12 dBi to 3.02 dBi in the lower band and from 4.10 dBi to 5.28 dBi in the upper band compared to the patch antenna alone. In addition to the bandwidth and gain improvements, more directive radiation characteristics were also observed from the MSS antenna compared to the patch itself. The effects of the MSS elements and the ground plane length on the reflection coefficient of the antenna were analyzed and optimized. The overall performance makes the proposed antenna appropriate for RFID and WLAN applications.

A two-dimensional model of disrupted body integrity: initial evaluation in head and neck cancer.

PubMed

Mah, Kenneth; Lebel, Sophie; Irish, Jonathan; Bezjak, Andrea; Payne, Ada Y M; Devins, Gerald M

2018-04-13

This cross-sectional study presents an initial psychometric evaluation of a two-dimensional (perceptual and evaluative) conceptualization and measure of disrupted body integrity (DBI)-illness-related disruption of the sense of the body as an integrated, smoothly functioning whole. Male and female head and neck cancer (HNC) outpatients (N = 98) completed a questionnaire package prior to outpatient visits. The Disrupted Body Integrity Scale (DBIS) was developed to measure the perceptual and evaluative facets of DBI. Self-report measures of disfigurement, stigma, depressive symptoms, and negative affect were also completed. Almost all DBIS subscales demonstrated good internal consistency. Results largely supported the DBIS's construct validity. The majority of subscales correlated within the predicted range of r's = .40-.70. Almost all DBIS constructs were positively linked with either depressive symptoms or disfigurement. None correlated with positive affect, and only two subscales, abnormal sensations (perceptual) and physical vulnerability (evaluative), correlated with negative affect. DBIS constructs showed little relation with stigma, once disfigurement effects were controlled for. Findings offer preliminary evidence for the DBIS and the relevance of DBI in HNC. Further evaluation of DBI in disease adaptation and the DBIS's factor structure is warranted.

Description and Analysis of Military Planning Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-07-01

layer placed on top of SIPE-2 so as to keep track of the temporal constraints within a plan. The added module is Tachyon , a general-purpose...constraint-based subsystem developed by GE’s R&D Centre to provide temporal reasoning. The interface to Tachyon is a 34 DRDC Valcartier TR 2004-320

Cloning and expression of the translocator protein (18 kDa), voltage-dependent anion channel, and diazepam binding inhibitor in the gonad of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) across the reproductive cycle.

PubMed

Doperalski, Nicholas J; Martyniuk, Christopher J; Prucha, Melinda S; Kroll, Kevin J; Denslow, Nancy D; Barber, David S

2011-08-01

Cholesterol transport across the mitochondrial membrane is rate-limiting for steroidogenesis in vertebrates. Previous studies in fish have characterized expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, however the function and regulation of other genes and proteins involved in piscine cholesterol transport have not been evaluated. In the current study, mRNA sequences of the 18 kDa translocator protein (tspo; formerly peripheral benzodiazepine receptor), voltage-dependent anion channel (vdac), and diazepam binding inhibitor (dbi; also acyl-CoA binding protein) were cloned from largemouth bass. Gonadal expression was examined across reproductive stages to determine if expression is correlated with changes in steroid levels and with indicators of reproductive maturation. In testis, transcript abundance of tspo and dbi increased with reproductive maturation (6- and 23-fold maximal increase, respectively) and expression of tspo and dbi was positively correlated with reproductive stage, gonadosomatic index (GSI), and circulating levels of testosterone. Testis vdac expression was positively correlated with reproductive stage and GSI. In females, gonadal tspo and vdac expression was negatively correlated with GSI and levels of plasma testosterone and 17β-estradiol. Ovarian dbi expression was not correlated with indicators of reproductive maturation. These studies represent the first investigation of the steroidogenic role of tspo, vdac, and dbi in fish. Findings suggest that cholesterol transport in largemouth bass testis, but not in ovary, may be transcriptionally-regulated, however further investigation will be necessary to fully elucidate the role of these genes in largemouth bass steroidogenesis. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

System Architecture of Small Unmanned Aerial System for Flight Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-17

Signal Strength PT = Transmitter Power GT = Transmitter antenna gain LT = Transmitter loss Lp = Propagation loss GR = Receiver antenna...gain (dBi) LR(db) = Receiver losses (dB) 15 Lm = Link margin (dB) PT = Transmitter Power (dBm) GT = Transmitter antenna gain (dBi) LT... Transmitter loss (dB) The maximum range is determined by four components, 1) Transmission, 2) Propagation, 3) Reception and 4) Link Margin

The Rate of Visual Field Change in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study

PubMed Central

De Moraes, Carlos Gustavo V.; Gardiner, Stuart K.; Liebmann, Jeffrey M.; Cioffi, George A.; Ritch, Robert; Gordon, Mae O.; Kass, Michael A.

2012-01-01

Purpose. To assess the rate of change of visual field (VF) mean deviation (MD) in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS). Methods. OHTS data were filtered to exclude eyes that had fewer than 10 reliable VFs or less than 5 years of follow-up or that reached a nonglaucomatous endpoint. The rate of change of MD (MDR) was calculated for each eye. Differences were sought between groups of eyes differing in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) outcome, how POAG was determined, and original randomization. Results. In total, 2609 eyes (1379 participants) met the selection criteria. The mean MDR was −0.08 ± 0.20 dB/y (±SD). POAG eyes (n = 359) had significantly worse MDRs (−0.26 ± 0.36 dB/y) than non-POAG eyes (n = 2250; −0.05 ± 0.14 dB/y; P < 0.001). Eyes that reached POAG endpoints based on only VF change (n = 74; −0.29 ± 0.31 dB/y) or only optic disc change (n = 158; −0.12 ± 0.19 dB/y) had significantly worse MDRs than non-POAG eyes (both P < 0.001). Eyes that reached POAG endpoints for both VF and optic disc change (n = 127) deteriorated more rapidly (−0.42 ± 0.46 dB/y) than eyes showing only VF change (P = 0.017) or only optic disc change (P < 0.001). There was not a significant association between MDR and original OHTS randomization (observe vs. treat, P = 0.168). Conclusions. Eyes that develop POAG have significantly worse MDRs than eyes that do not. Eyes that reached endpoints due to both VF and optic disc change had worse MDRs than eyes displaying change in only one of these. MDR was not significantly associated with randomization, suggesting that MDR may not be the best measure of VF change in early-stage POAG. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00000125.) PMID:22159015

In search of superluminal quantum communications: recent experiments and possible improvements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cocciaro, B.; Faetti, S.; Fronzoni, L.

2013-06-01

As shown in the famous EPR paper (Einstein, Podolsky e Rosen, 1935), Quantum Mechanics is non-local. The Bell theorem and the experiments by Aspect and many others, ruled out the possibility of explaining quantum correlations between entangled particles using local hidden variables models (except for implausible combinations of loopholes). Some authors (Bell, Eberhard, Bohm and Hiley) suggested that quantum correlations could be due to superluminal communications (tachyons) that propagate isotropically with velocity vt > c in a preferred reference frame. For finite values of vt, Quantum Mechanics and superluminal models lead to different predictions. Some years ago a Geneva group and our group did experiments on entangled photons to evidence possible discrepancies between experimental results and quantum predictions. Since no discrepancy was found, these experiments established only lower bounds for the possible tachyon velocities vt. Here we propose an improved experiment that should lead us to explore a much larger range of possible tachyon velocities Vt for any possible direction of velocity vec V of the tachyons preferred frame.

A highly directive graphene antenna embedded inside a Fabry-Perot cavity in terahertz regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roshanaei, Majid; Karami, Hamidreza; Dehkhoda, Parisa; Esfahani, Hamid; Dabir, Fatemeh

2018-05-01

In this paper, a highly directive nano-thickness graphene-based antenna is introduced in the terahertz frequency band. The antenna is a graphene patch dipole which is placed between two Bragg mirrors called Fabry-Perot cavity. Tunability of the graphene's conductivity makes it possible to excite the desired resonances of the cavity. Here, first, a single resonant antenna is introduced at 5 THz with an enhanced gain from 2.11 dBi to 12.8 dBi with a beamwidth of 22.7°. Then, a triple resonant antenna at 4.7, 5 and 5.3 THz is presented with respective gains of 7.97, 11.9 and 8.52 dBi. Finally, the effect of dimensions and number of the dielectric layers of the cavity are studied in order to further increase in directivity.

NCPA Research Program, FY94.

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-10-31

sound, which is beyond the range of the perturbation theory. They would thus be " tachyons " in sound. Our proposed physical system could be a probe of the...v/c > 1. Hence, there is the possibility of an acoustic " tachyon " here. Lack of smallness of v/c violates the assumptions of the perturbation

47 CFR 15.255 - Operation within the band 57-64 GHz.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... dBm minus 2 dB for every dB that the antenna gain is less than 51 dBi. The peak power of any emission shall not exceed 85 dBm minus 2 dB for every dB that the antenna gain is less than 51 dBi. The... type and of equal or less directional gain do not apply to intentional radiator systems operating under...

Implementation of hybrid clustering based on partitioning around medoids algorithm and divisive analysis on human Papillomavirus DNA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arimbi, Mentari Dian; Bustamam, Alhadi; Lestari, Dian

2017-03-01

Data clustering can be executed through partition or hierarchical method for many types of data including DNA sequences. Both clustering methods can be combined by processing partition algorithm in the first level and hierarchical in the second level, called hybrid clustering. In the partition phase some popular methods such as PAM, K-means, or Fuzzy c-means methods could be applied. In this study we selected partitioning around medoids (PAM) in our partition stage. Furthermore, following the partition algorithm, in hierarchical stage we applied divisive analysis algorithm (DIANA) in order to have more specific clusters and sub clusters structures. The number of main clusters is determined using Davies Bouldin Index (DBI) value. We choose the optimal number of clusters if the results minimize the DBI value. In this work, we conduct the clustering on 1252 HPV DNA sequences data from GenBank. The characteristic extraction is initially performed, followed by normalizing and genetic distance calculation using Euclidean distance. In our implementation, we used the hybrid PAM and DIANA using the R open source programming tool. In our results, we obtained 3 main clusters with average DBI value is 0.979, using PAM in the first stage. After executing DIANA in the second stage, we obtained 4 sub clusters for Cluster-1, 9 sub clusters for Cluster-2 and 2 sub clusters in Cluster-3, with the BDI value 0.972, 0.771, and 0.768 for each main cluster respectively. Since the second stage produce lower DBI value compare to the DBI value in the first stage, we conclude that this hybrid approach can improve the accuracy of our clustering results.

Effects of Changes in Number of Medications and Drug Burden Index Exposure on Transitions Between Frailty States and Death: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project Cohort Study.

PubMed

Jamsen, Kris M; Bell, J Simon; Hilmer, Sarah N; Kirkpatrick, Carl M J; Ilomäki, Jenni; Le Couteur, David; Blyth, Fiona M; Handelsman, David J; Waite, Louise; Naganathan, Vasi; Cumming, Robert G; Gnjidic, Danijela

2016-01-01

To investigate the effects of number of medications and Drug Burden Index (DBI) on transitions between frailty stages and death in community-dwelling older men. Cohort study. Sydney, Australia. Community-dwelling men aged 70 and older (N=1,705). Self-reported questionnaires and clinic visits were conducted at baseline and 2 and 5 years. Frailty was assessed at all three waves according to the modified Fried frailty phenotype. The total number of regular prescription medications and DBI (a measure of exposure to sedative and anticholinergic medications) were calculated over the three waves. Data on mortality over 9 years were obtained. Multistate modeling was used to characterize the transitions across three frailty states (robust, prefrail, frail) and death. Each additional medication was associated with a 22% greater risk of transitioning from the robust state to death (adjusted 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.06-1.41). Every unit increase in DBI was associated with a 73% greater risk of transitioning from the robust state to the prefrail state (adjusted 95% CI=1.30-2.31) and a 2.75 times greater risk of transitioning from the robust state to death (adjusted 95% CI=1.60-4.75). There was no evidence of an adjusted association between total number of medications or DBI and the other transitions. Although the possibility of confounding by indication cannot be excluded, additional medications were associated with greater risk of mortality in robust community-dwelling older men. Greater DBI was also associated with greater risk of death and transitioning from the robust state to the prefrail state. © 2016, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2016, The American Geriatrics Society.

A New Metasurface Superstrate Structure for Antenna Performance Enhancement

PubMed Central

Islam, Mohammad Tariqul; Ullah, Mohammad Habib; Singh, Mandeep Jit; Faruque, Mohammad Rashed Iqbal

2013-01-01

A new metasurface superstrate structure (MSS)-loaded dual band microstrip line-fed small patch antenna is presented in this paper. The proposed antenna was designed on a ceramic-filled bioplastic sandwich substrate with a high dielectric constant. The proposed 7 × 6 element, square-shaped, single-sided MSS significantly improved the bandwidth and gain of the proposed antenna. The proposed MSS incorporated a slotted patch antenna that effectively increased the measured operating bandwidth from 13.3% to 18.8% and from 14.8% to 23.2% in the lower and upper bands, respectively. Moreover, the average gain of the proposed MSS-based antenna was enhanced from 2.12 dBi to 3.02 dBi in the lower band and from 4.10 dBi to 5.28 dBi in the upper band compared to the patch antenna alone. In addition to the bandwidth and gain improvements, more directive radiation characteristics were also observed from the MSS antenna compared to the patch itself. The effects of the MSS elements and the ground plane length on the reflection coefficient of the antenna were analyzed and optimized. The overall performance makes the proposed antenna appropriate for RFID and WLAN applications. PMID:28811432

Comparative bacterial community analysis in relatively pristine and anthropogenically influenced mangrove ecosystems on the Red Sea.

PubMed

Ullah, Riaz; Yasir, Muhammad; Khan, Imran; Bibi, Fehmida; Sohrab, Sayed Sartaj; Al-Ansari, Ahmed; Al-Abbasi, Fahad; Al-Sofyani, Abdulmohsin A; Daur, Ihsanullah; Lee, Seon-Woo; Azhar, Esam I

2017-08-01

Mangrove habitats are ecologically important ecosystems that are under severe pressure worldwide because of environmental changes and human activities. In this study, 16S rRNA gene amplicon deep-sequencing was used to compare bacterial communities in Red Sea mangrove ecosystems at anthropogenically influenced coastal sites with those at a relatively pristine island site. In total, 32 phyla were identified from the mangrove rhizospheres, with Proteobacteria predominating at each of the studied sites; however, the relative abundance was significantly decreased at the coastal sites (Mastorah, MG-MS; Ar-Rayis, MG-AR) compared with the pristine island site near Dhahban (MG-DBI). The phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Spirochetes, and Planctomycetes were present at a relative abundance of >1% at the MG-MS and MG-AR sites, but their concentration was <1% at the MG-DBI site. A total of 1659 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified at the species level, and approximately 945 OTUs were shared across the different sampling sites. Multivariate principal coordinate data analysis separated the MG-DBI site from the MG-AR and MG-MS cluster. Specific bacterial taxa were enriched at each location, and in particular, the genera Pseudoalteromonas and Cobetia were predominantly identified in the MG-DBI site compared with the anthropogenically influenced coastal sites.

Action Learning: Avoiding Conflict or Enabling Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Corley, Aileen; Thorne, Ann

2006-01-01

Action learning is based on the premise that action and learning are inextricably entwined and it is this potential, to enable action, which has contributed to the growth of action learning within education and management development programmes. However has this growth in action learning lead to an evolution or a dilution of Revan's classical…

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cartas-Fuentevilla, Roberto; Escalante, Alberto; Germán, Gabriel

Following recent studies which show that it is possible to localize gravity as well as scalar and gauge vector fields in a tachyonic de Sitter thick braneworld, we investigate the solution of the gauge hierarchy problem, the localization of fermion fields in this model, the recovering of the Coulomb law on the non-relativistic limit of the Yukawa interaction between bulk fermions and gauge bosons localized in the brane, and confront the predicted 5D corrections to the photon mass with its upper experimental/observational bounds, finding the model physically viable since it passes these tests. In order to achieve the latter aimsmore » we first consider the Yukawa interaction term between the fermionic and the tachyonic scalar fields MF(T)ΨΨ-bar in the action and analyze four distinct tachyonic functions F(T) that lead to four different structures of the respective fermionic mass spectra with different physics. In particular, localization of the massless left-chiral fermion zero mode is possible for three of these cases. We further analyze the phenomenology of these Yukawa interactions among fermion fields and gauge bosons localized on the brane and obtain the crucial and necessary information to compute the corrections to Coulomb’s law coming from massive KK vector modes in the non-relativistic limit. These corrections are exponentially suppressed due to the presence of the mass gap in the mass spectrum of the bulk gauge vector field. From our results we conclude that corrections to Coulomb’s law in the thin brane limit have the same form (up to a numerical factor) as far as the left-chiral massless fermion field is localized on the brane. Finally we compute the corrections to the Coulomb’s law for an arbitrarily thick brane scenario which can be interpreted as 5D corrections to the photon mass. By performing consistent estimations with brane phenomenology, we found that the predicted corrections to the photon mass, which are well bounded by the

Recommendations for the Critical Care Management of Devastating Brain Injury: Prognostication, Psychosocial, and Ethical Management : A Position Statement for Healthcare Professionals from the Neurocritical Care Society.

PubMed

Souter, Michael J; Blissitt, Patricia A; Blosser, Sandralee; Bonomo, Jordan; Greer, David; Jichici, Draga; Mahanes, Dea; Marcolini, Evie G; Miller, Charles; Sangha, Kiranpal; Yeager, Susan

2015-08-01

Devastating brain injuries (DBIs) profoundly damage cerebral function and frequently cause death. DBI survivors admitted to critical care will suffer both intracranial and extracranial effects from their brain injury. The indicators of quality care in DBI are not completely defined, and despite best efforts many patients will not survive, although others may have better outcomes than originally anticipated. Inaccuracies in prognostication can result in premature termination of life support, thereby biasing outcomes research and creating a self-fulfilling cycle where the predicted course is almost invariably dismal. Because of the potential complexities and controversies involved in the management of devastating brain injury, the Neurocritical Care Society organized a panel of expert clinicians from neurocritical care, neuroanesthesia, neurology, neurosurgery, emergency medicine, nursing, and pharmacy to develop an evidence-based guideline with practice recommendations. The panel intends for this guideline to be used by critical care physicians, neurologists, emergency physicians, and other health professionals, with specific emphasis on management during the first 72-h post-injury. Following an extensive literature review, the panel used the GRADE methodology to evaluate the robustness of the data. They made actionable recommendations based on the quality of evidence, as well as on considerations of risk: benefit ratios, cost, and user preference. The panel generated recommendations regarding prognostication, psychosocial issues, and ethical considerations.

Oral health attitudes and behavior of dental students at the University of Zagreb, Croatia.

PubMed

Badovinac, Ana; Božić, Darko; Vučinac, Ivana; Vešligaj, Jasna; Vražić, Domagoj; Plancak, Darije

2013-09-01

The aim of this study was to investigate oral health behavior and attitudes of dental students in years 1 to 6 at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. The Croatian version of the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) was administered to predoctoral dental students, and collected data were analyzed. A total of 503 students (22.3 ± 2.6 mean age) completed the questionnaire. The response rate was 85.1 percent, and 72.4 percent of the respondents were female. These dental students' answers to eleven out of twenty HU-DBI items differed significantly by academic year. The mean questionnaire score was 6.62 ± 1.54, and the highest value of the HU-DBI score was in the fourth year (7.24 ± 1.54). First-year students were most likely to have a toothbrush with hard bristles and felt they had not brushed well unless done with hard strokes. Students in the sixth year were least worried about visiting a dentist and most frequently put off going to a dentist until having a toothache, indicating that rise of knowledge contributes to higher self-confidence. The mean HU-DBI score for these students showed average value, pointing out the need for a comprehensive oral hygiene and preventive program from the start of dental school.

Macroglia-Microglia Interactions via TSPO Signaling Regulates Microglial Activation in the Mouse Retina

PubMed Central

Wang, Minhua; Wang, Xu; Zhao, Lian; Ma, Wenxin; Rodriguez, Ignacio R.; Fariss, Robert N.

2014-01-01

Chronic retinal inflammation in the form of activated microglia and macrophages are implicated in the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases of the retina, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. However, molecular biomarkers and targeted therapies for immune cell activation in these disorders are currently lacking. To address this, we investigated the involvement and role of translocator protein (TSPO), a biomarker of microglial and astrocyte gliosis in brain degeneration, in the context of retinal inflammation. Here, we find that TSPO is acutely and specifically upregulated in retinal microglia in separate mouse models of retinal inflammation and injury. Concomitantly, its endogenous ligand, diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI), is upregulated in the macroglia of the mouse retina such as astrocytes and Müller cells. In addition, we discover that TSPO-mediated signaling in microglia via DBI-derived ligands negatively regulates features of microglial activation, including reactive oxygen species production, TNF-α expression and secretion, and microglial proliferation. The inducibility and effects of DBI-TSPO signaling in the retina reveal a mechanism of coordinated macroglia-microglia interactions, the function of which is to limit the magnitude of inflammatory responses after their initiation, facilitating a return to baseline quiescence. Our results indicate that TSPO is a promising molecular marker for imaging inflammatory cell activation in the retina and highlight DBI-TSPO signaling as a potential target for immodulatory therapies. PMID:24599476

Controlling Attention through Action: Observing Actions Primes Action-Related Stimulus Dimensions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fagioli, Sabrina; Ferlazzo, Fabio; Hommel, Bernhard

2007-01-01

Previous findings suggest that planning an action "backward-primes" perceptual dimension related to this action: planning a grasp facilitates the processing of visual size information, while planning a reach facilitates the processing of location information. Here we show that dimensional priming of perception through action occurs even in the…

The particle spectrum of parity-violating Poincaré gravitational theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karananas, Georgios K.

2015-03-01

In this paper we investigate the physical spectrum of the gravitational theory based on the Poincaré group with terms that are at most quadratic in tetrad and spin connection, allowing for the presence of parity-even as well as parity-odd invariants. We determine restrictions on the parameters of the action so that all degrees of freedom propagate and are neither ghosts nor tachyons. We show that the addition of parity non-conserving invariants extends the healthy parameter space of the theory. To accomplish our goal, we apply the weak field approximation around flat spacetime and in order to facilitate the analysis, we separate the bilinear action for the excitations into completely independent spin sectors. For this purpose, we employ the spin-projection operator formalism and extend the original basis built previously, to be able to handle the parity-odd pieces.

ISO(4,1) symmetry in the EFT of inflation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Creminelli, Paolo; Emami, Razieh; Simonović, Marko

In DBI inflation the cubic action is a particular linear combination of the two, otherwise independent, cubic operators π-dot {sup 3} and π-dot (∂{sub i}π){sup 2}. We show that in the Effective Field Theory (EFT) of inflation this is a consequence of an approximate 5D Poincar and apos;e symmetry, ISO(4,1), non-linearly realized by the Goldstone π. This symmetry uniquely fixes, at lowest order in derivatives, all correlation functions in terms of the speed of sound c{sub s}. In the limit c{sub s} → 1, the ISO(4,1) symmetry reduces to the Galilean symmetry acting on π. On the other hand, wemore » point out that the non-linear realization of SO(4,2), the isometry group of 5D AdS space, does not fix the cubic action in terms of c{sub s}.« less

Action preferences and the anticipation of action outcomes.

PubMed

Mann, David L; Schaefers, Teuntje; Cañal-Bruland, Rouwen

2014-10-01

Skilled performers of time-constrained motor actions acquire information about the action preferences of their opponents in an effort to better anticipate the outcome of that opponent's actions. However, there is reason to doubt that knowledge of an opponent's action preferences would unequivocally influence anticipatory responses in a positive way. It is possible that overt information about an opponent's actions could distract skilled performers from using the advance kinematic information they would usually rely on to anticipate actions, particularly when the opponent performs an 'unexpected' action that is not in accordance with his or her previous behaviour. The aim of this study was to examine how the ability to anticipate the outcome of an opponent's actions can be influenced by exposure to the action preferences of that opponent. Two groups of skilled handball goalkeepers anticipated the direction of penalty throws performed by opponents before and after a training intervention that provided situational probability information in the form of action preferences (AP). During the training phase participants in an AP-training group anticipated the action outcomes of two throwers who had a strong preference to throw in one particular direction, whilst participants in a NP-training group viewed players who threw equally to all directions. Exposure to opponents who did have an action preference during the training phase resulted in improved anticipatory performance if the opponent continued to bias their throws towards their preferred direction, but decreased performance if the opponent did not. These findings highlight that skilled observers use information about action preferences to enhance their anticipatory ability, but that doing so can be disadvantageous when the outcomes are no longer consistent with their generated expectations. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Jordan frame supergravity and inflation in the NMSSM

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ferrara, Sergio; INFN - Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Via Enrico Fermi 40, 00044 Frascati; Kallosh, Renata

2010-08-15

We present a complete explicit N=1, d=4 supergravity action in an arbitrary Jordan frame with nonminimal scalar-curvature coupling of the form {Phi}(z,z)R. The action is derived by suitably gauge fixing the superconformal action. The theory has a modified Kaehler geometry, and it exhibits a significant dependence on the frame function {Phi}(z,z) and its derivatives over scalars, in the bosonic as well as in the fermionic part of the action. Under certain simple conditions, the scalar kinetic terms in the Jordan frame have a canonical form. We consider an embedding of the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model (NMSSM) gauge theory into supergravity,more » clarifying the Higgs inflation model recently proposed by Einhorn and Jones. We find that the conditions for canonical kinetic terms are satisfied for the NMSSM scalars in the Jordan frame, which leads to a simple action. However, we find that the gauge singlet field experiences a strong tachyonic instability during inflation in this model. Thus, a modification of the model is required to support the Higgs-type inflation.« less

Effective field theory of statistical anisotropies for primordial bispectrum and gravitational waves

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rostami, Tahereh; Karami, Asieh; Firouzjahi, Hassan, E-mail: t.rostami@ipm.ir, E-mail: karami@ipm.ir, E-mail: firouz@ipm.ir

2017-06-01

We present the effective field theory studies of primordial statistical anisotropies in models of anisotropic inflation. The general action in unitary gauge is presented to calculate the leading interactions between the gauge field fluctuations, the curvature perturbations and the tensor perturbations. The anisotropies in scalar power spectrum and bispectrum are calculated and the dependence of these anisotropies to EFT couplings are presented. In addition, we calculate the statistical anisotropy in tensor power spectrum and the scalar-tensor cross correlation. Our EFT approach incorporates anisotropies generated in models with non-trivial speed for the gauge field fluctuations and sound speed for scalar perturbationsmore » such as in DBI inflation.« less

A Dual Band Frequency Reconfigurable Origami Magic Cube Antenna for Wireless Sensor Network Applications

PubMed Central

Shah, Syed Imran Hussain

2017-01-01

In this paper, a novel dual band frequency reconfigurable antenna using an origami magic cube is proposed for wireless sensor network (WSN) applications. The proposed origami antenna consists of a meandered monopole folded onto three sides of the magic cube. A microstrip open-ended stub is loaded on the meandered monopole. The proposed origami magic cube can be mechanically folded and unfolded. The proposed antenna operates at 1.57 GHZ and 2.4 GHz in the folded state. In the unfolded state, the proposed antenna operates at 900 MHz and 2.3 GHz. The resonant frequency of the second band can be tunable by varying the length and position of the open stub. The origami magic cube is built on paper. Its performance is numerically and experimentally demonstrated from S-parameters and radiation patterns. The measured 10 dB impedance bandwidth of the proposed origami antenna is 18% (900–1120 MHz) and 15% (2.1–2.45 GHz) for the unfolded state and 20% (1.3–1.6 GHz) and 14% (2.3–2.5 GHz) for the folded state. The measured peak gain at 900 MHz and 2.3 GHz are 1.1 dBi and 2.32 dBi, respectively, in the unfolded state. The measured peak gain at 1.5 GHz and 2.4 GHz are 3.28 dBi and 1.98 dBi, respectively, in the folded state. PMID:29156654

A Dual Band Frequency Reconfigurable Origami Magic Cube Antenna for Wireless Sensor Network Applications.

PubMed

Shah, Syed Imran Hussain; Lim, Sungjoon

2017-11-20

In this paper, a novel dual band frequency reconfigurable antenna using an origami magic cube is proposed for wireless sensor network (WSN) applications. The proposed origami antenna consists of a meandered monopole folded onto three sides of the magic cube. A microstrip open-ended stub is loaded on the meandered monopole. The proposed origami magic cube can be mechanically folded and unfolded. The proposed antenna operates at 1.57 GHZ and 2.4 GHz in the folded state. In the unfolded state, the proposed antenna operates at 900 MHz and 2.3 GHz. The resonant frequency of the second band can be tunable by varying the length and position of the open stub. The origami magic cube is built on paper. Its performance is numerically and experimentally demonstrated from S-parameters and radiation patterns. The measured 10 dB impedance bandwidth of the proposed origami antenna is 18% (900-1120 MHz) and 15% (2.1-2.45 GHz) for the unfolded state and 20% (1.3-1.6 GHz) and 14% (2.3-2.5 GHz) for the folded state. The measured peak gain at 900 MHz and 2.3 GHz are 1.1 dBi and 2.32 dBi, respectively, in the unfolded state. The measured peak gain at 1.5 GHz and 2.4 GHz are 3.28 dBi and 1.98 dBi, respectively, in the folded state.

Choosing Actions

PubMed Central

Rosenbaum, David A.; Chapman, Kate M.; Coelho, Chase J.; Gong, Lanyun; Studenka, Breanna E.

2013-01-01

Actions that are chosen have properties that distinguish them from actions that are not. Of the nearly infinite possible actions that can achieve any given task, many of the unchosen actions are irrelevant, incorrect, or inappropriate. Others are relevant, correct, or appropriate but are disfavored for other reasons. Our research focuses on the question of what distinguishes actions that are chosen from actions that are possible but are not. We review studies that use simple preference methods to identify factors that contribute to action choices, especially for object-manipulation tasks. We can determine which factors are especially important through simple behavioral experiments. PMID:23761769

On the stability conditions for theories of modified gravity in the presence of matter fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Felice, Antonio; Frusciante, Noemi; Papadomanolakis, Georgios

2017-03-01

We present a thorough stability analysis of modified gravity theories in the presence of matter fields. We use the Effective Field Theory framework for Dark Energy and Modified Gravity to retain a general approach for the gravity sector and a Sorkin-Schutz action for the matter one. Then, we work out the proper viability conditions to guarantee in the scalar sector the absence of ghosts, gradient and tachyonic instabilities. The absence of ghosts can be achieved by demanding a positive kinetic matrix, while the lack of a gradient instability is ensured by imposing a positive speed of propagation for all the scalar modes. In case of tachyonic instability, the mass eigenvalues have been studied and we work out the appropriate expressions. For the latter, an instability occurs only when the negative mass eigenvalue is much larger, in absolute value, than the Hubble parameter. We discuss the results for the minimally coupled quintessence model showing for a particular set of parameters two typical behaviours which in turn lead to a stable and an unstable configuration. Moreover, we find that the speeds of propagation of the scalar modes strongly depend on matter densities, for the beyond Horndeski theories. Our findings can be directly employed when testing modified gravity theories as they allow to identify the correct viability space.

On the stability conditions for theories of modified gravity in the presence of matter fields

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

De Felice, Antonio; Frusciante, Noemi; Papadomanolakis, Georgios, E-mail: antonio.defelice@yukawa.kyoto-u.ac.jp, E-mail: fruscian@iap.fr, E-mail: papadomanolakis@lorentz.leidenuniv.nl

We present a thorough stability analysis of modified gravity theories in the presence of matter fields. We use the Effective Field Theory framework for Dark Energy and Modified Gravity to retain a general approach for the gravity sector and a Sorkin-Schutz action for the matter one. Then, we work out the proper viability conditions to guarantee in the scalar sector the absence of ghosts, gradient and tachyonic instabilities. The absence of ghosts can be achieved by demanding a positive kinetic matrix, while the lack of a gradient instability is ensured by imposing a positive speed of propagation for all themore » scalar modes. In case of tachyonic instability, the mass eigenvalues have been studied and we work out the appropriate expressions. For the latter, an instability occurs only when the negative mass eigenvalue is much larger, in absolute value, than the Hubble parameter. We discuss the results for the minimally coupled quintessence model showing for a particular set of parameters two typical behaviours which in turn lead to a stable and an unstable configuration. Moreover, we find that the speeds of propagation of the scalar modes strongly depend on matter densities, for the beyond Horndeski theories. Our findings can be directly employed when testing modified gravity theories as they allow to identify the correct viability space.« less

Investigating action understanding: inferential processes versus action simulation.

PubMed

Brass, Marcel; Schmitt, Ruth M; Spengler, Stephanie; Gergely, György

2007-12-18

In our daily life, we continuously monitor others' behaviors and interpret them in terms of goals, intentions, and reasons. Despite their central importance for predicting and interpreting each other's actions, the functional mechanisms and neural circuits involved in action understanding remain highly controversial. Two alternative accounts have been advanced. Simulation theory assumes that we understand actions by simulating the observed behavior through a direct matching process that activates the mirror-neuron circuit. The alternative interpretive account assumes that action understanding is based on specialized inferential processes activating brain areas with no mirror properties. Although both approaches recognize the central role of contextual information in specifying action intentions, their respective accounts of this process differ in significant respects. Here, we investigated the role of context in action understanding by using functional brain imaging while participants observed an unusual action in implausible versus plausible contexts. We show that brain areas that are part of a network involved in inferential interpretive processes of rationalization and mentalization but that lack mirror properties are more active when the action occurs in an implausible context. However, no differential activation was found in the mirror network. Our findings support the assumption that action understanding in novel situations is primarily mediated by an inferential interpretive system rather than the mirror system.

Noncommutative Field Theories and (super)string Field Theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aref'eva, I. Ya.; Belov, D. M.; Giryavets, A. A.; Koshelev, A. S.; Medvedev, P. B.

2002-11-01

In this lecture notes we explain and discuss some ideas concerning noncommutative geometry in general, as well as noncommutative field theories and string field theories. We consider noncommutative quantum field theories emphasizing an issue of their renormalizability and the UV/IR mixing. Sen's conjectures on open string tachyon condensation and their application to the D-brane physics have led to wide investigations of the covariant string field theory proposed by Witten about 15 years ago. We review main ingredients of cubic (super)string field theories using various formulations: functional, operator, conformal and the half string formalisms. The main technical tools that are used to study conjectured D-brane decay into closed string vacuum through the tachyon condensation are presented. We describe also methods which are used to study the cubic open string field theory around the tachyon vacuum: construction of the sliver state, "comma" and matrix representations of vertices.

Everyday robotic action: lessons from human action control

PubMed Central

de Kleijn, Roy; Kachergis, George; Hommel, Bernhard

2014-01-01

Robots are increasingly capable of performing everyday human activities such as cooking, cleaning, and doing the laundry. This requires the real-time planning and execution of complex, temporally extended sequential actions under high degrees of uncertainty, which provides many challenges to traditional approaches to robot action control. We argue that important lessons in this respect can be learned from research on human action control. We provide a brief overview of available psychological insights into this issue and focus on four principles that we think could be particularly beneficial for robot control: the integration of symbolic and subsymbolic planning of action sequences, the integration of feedforward and feedback control, the clustering of complex actions into subcomponents, and the contextualization of action-control structures through goal representations. PMID:24672474

Action-based flood forecasting for triggering humanitarian action

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coughlan de Perez, Erin; van den Hurk, Bart; van Aalst, Maarten K.; Amuron, Irene; Bamanya, Deus; Hauser, Tristan; Jongma, Brenden; Lopez, Ana; Mason, Simon; Mendler de Suarez, Janot; Pappenberger, Florian; Rueth, Alexandra; Stephens, Elisabeth; Suarez, Pablo; Wagemaker, Jurjen; Zsoter, Ervin

2016-09-01

Too often, credible scientific early warning information of increased disaster risk does not result in humanitarian action. With financial resources tilted heavily towards response after a disaster, disaster managers have limited incentive and ability to process complex scientific data, including uncertainties. These incentives are beginning to change, with the advent of several new forecast-based financing systems that provide funding based on a forecast of an extreme event. Given the changing landscape, here we demonstrate a method to select and use appropriate forecasts for specific humanitarian disaster prevention actions, even in a data-scarce location. This action-based forecasting methodology takes into account the parameters of each action, such as action lifetime, when verifying a forecast. Forecasts are linked with action based on an understanding of (1) the magnitude of previous flooding events and (2) the willingness to act "in vain" for specific actions. This is applied in the context of the Uganda Red Cross Society forecast-based financing pilot project, with forecasts from the Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS). Using this method, we define the "danger level" of flooding, and we select the probabilistic forecast triggers that are appropriate for specific actions. Results from this methodology can be applied globally across hazards and fed into a financing system that ensures that automatic, pre-funded early action will be triggered by forecasts.

Hearing sounds, understanding actions: action representation in mirror neurons.

PubMed

Kohler, Evelyne; Keysers, Christian; Umiltà, M Alessandra; Fogassi, Leonardo; Gallese, Vittorio; Rizzolatti, Giacomo

2002-08-02

Many object-related actions can be recognized by their sound. We found neurons in monkey premotor cortex that discharge when the animal performs a specific action and when it hears the related sound. Most of the neurons also discharge when the monkey observes the same action. These audiovisual mirror neurons code actions independently of whether these actions are performed, heard, or seen. This discovery in the monkey homolog of Broca's area might shed light on the origin of language: audiovisual mirror neurons code abstract contents-the meaning of actions-and have the auditory access typical of human language to these contents.

49 CFR 27.11 - Remedial action, voluntary action and compliance planning.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Remedial action, voluntary action and compliance....11 Remedial action, voluntary action and compliance planning. (a) Remedial action. (1) If the... discrimination not occurred. (b) Voluntary action. A recipient may take steps, in addition to any action that is...

Internet-delivered eating disorder prevention: A randomized controlled trial of dissonance-based and cognitive-behavioral interventions.

PubMed

Chithambo, Taona P; Huey, Stanley J

2017-10-01

The current study evaluated two web-based programs for eating disorder prevention in high-risk, predominantly ethnic minority women. Two hundred and seventy-one women with elevated weight concerns were randomized to Internet dissonance-based intervention (DBI-I), Internet cognitive-behavioral intervention (CBI-I), or no intervention (NI). Both interventions consisted of four weekly online sessions. Participants were assessed at pre- and post intervention. Outcome measures included eating pathology, body dissatisfaction, dieting, thin-ideal internalization, and depression. At postintervention, DBI-I and CBI-I led to greater reductions in body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization, and depression than NI. In addition, CBI-I was effective at reducing dieting and composite eating pathology relative to NI. No outcome differences were found between the active conditions. Moderation analyses suggested that both active conditions were more effective for ethnic minorities than Whites relative to NI. Results suggest that both DBI-I and CBI-I are effective at reducing eating disorder risk factors in a high-risk, predominantly minority population relative to no intervention. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Where is the action? Action sentence processing in Parkinson's disease

PubMed Central

Fernandino, Leonardo; Conant, Lisa L.; Binder, Jeffrey R.; Blindauer, Karen; Hiner, Bradley; Spangler, Katie; Desai, Rutvik H.

2013-01-01

According to an influential view of conceptual representation, action concepts are understood through motoric simulations, involving motor networks of the brain. A stronger version of this embodied account suggests that even figurative uses of action words (e.g., grasping the concept) are understood through motoric simulations. We investigated these claims by assessing whether Parkinson's disease (PD), a disorder affecting the motor system, is associated with selective deficits in comprehending action-related sentences. Twenty PD patients and 21 age-matched controls performed a sentence comprehension task, where sentences belonged to one of four conditions: literal action, non-idiomatic metaphoric action, idiomatic action, and abstract. The same verbs (referring to hand/arm actions) were used in the three action-related conditions. Patients, but not controls, were slower to respond to literal and idiomatic action than to abstract sentences. These results indicate that sensory-motor systems play a functional role in semantic processing, including processing of figurative action language. PMID:23624313

Covariant approach of perturbations in Lovelock type brane gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bagatella-Flores, Norma; Campuzano, Cuauhtemoc; Cruz, Miguel; Rojas, Efraín

2016-12-01

We develop a covariant scheme to describe the dynamics of small perturbations on Lovelock type extended objects propagating in a flat Minkowski spacetime. The higher-dimensional analogue of the Jacobi equation in this theory becomes a wave type equation for a scalar field Φ . Whithin this framework, we analyse the stability of membranes with a de Sitter geometry where we find that the Jacobi equation specializes to a Klein-Gordon (KG) equation for Φ possessing a tachyonic mass. This shows that, to some extent, these types of extended objects share the symmetries of the Dirac-Nambu-Goto (DNG) action which is by no means coincidental because the DNG model is the simplest included in this type of gravity.

Singularity Crossing, Transformation of Matter Properties and the Problem of Parametrization in Field Theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamenshchik, A. Yu.

2018-03-01

We investigate particular cosmological models, based either on tachyon fields or on perfect fluids, for which soft future singularities arise in a natural way. Our main result is the description of a smooth crossing of the soft singularity in models with an anti-Chaplygin gas or with a particular tachyon field in the presence of dust. Such a crossing is made possible by certain transformations of matter properties. We discuss and compare also different approaches to the problem of crossing of the Big Bang-Big Crunch singularities.

"Wuwei" (Non-Action) Philosophy and Actions: Rethinking "Actions" in School Reform

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moon, Seungho

2015-01-01

This inquiry aims to enrich conversation regarding school reform. The author asks about what other discourses are possible when the action-oriented question of how to "act" is a major approach to "fix" current educational problems. Drawing from Taoist philosophy of "wuwei" (non-action), the author provides a frame to…

Inferences about Action Engage Action Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taylor, Lawrence J.; Lev-Ari, Shiri; Zwaan, Rolf A.

2008-01-01

Verbal descriptions of actions activate compatible motor responses [Glenberg, A. M., & Kaschak, M. P. (2002). Grounding language in action. "Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 9", 558-565]. Previous studies have found that the motor processes for manual rotation are engaged in a direction-specific manner when a verb disambiguates the direction of…

Do good actions inspire good actions in others?

PubMed

Capraro, Valerio; Marcelletti, Alessandra

2014-12-12

Actions such as sharing food and cooperating to reach a common goal have played a fundamental role in the evolution of human societies. Despite the importance of such good actions, little is known about if and how they can spread from person to person to person. For instance, does being recipient of an altruistic act increase your probability of being cooperative with a third party? We have conducted an experiment on Amazon Mechanical Turk to test this mechanism using economic games. We have measured willingness to be cooperative through a standard Prisoner's dilemma and willingness to act altruistically using a binary Dictator game. In the baseline treatments, the endowments needed to play were given by the experimenters, as usual; in the control treatments, they came from a good action made by someone else. Across four different comparisons and a total of 572 subjects, we have never found a significant increase of cooperation or altruism when the endowment came from a good action. We conclude that good actions do not necessarily inspire good actions in others. While this is consistent with the theoretical prediction, it challenges the majority of other experimental studies.

Goldstone Gauginos.

PubMed

Alves, Daniele S M; Galloway, Jamison; McCullough, Matthew; Weiner, Neal

2015-10-16

Models of supersymmetry with Dirac gauginos provide an attractive scenario for physics beyond the standard model. The "supersoft" radiative corrections and suppressed supersymmetry production at colliders provide for more natural theories and an understanding of why no new states have been seen. Unfortunately, these models are handicapped by a tachyon which is naturally present in existing models of Dirac gauginos. We argue that this tachyon is absent, with the phenomenological successes of the model preserved, if the right-handed gaugino is a (pseudo-)Goldstone field of a spontaneously broken anomalous flavor symmetry.

Solving Lauricella string scattering amplitudes through recurrence relations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Sheng-Hong; Lee, Jen-Chi; Lee, Taejin; Yang, Yi

2017-09-01

We show that there exist infinite number of recurrence relations valid for all energies among the open bosonic string scattering amplitudes (SSA) of three tachyons and one arbitrary string state, or the Lauricella SSA. Moreover, these infinite number of recurrence relations can be used to solve all the Lauricella SSA and express them in terms of one single four tachyon amplitude. These results extend the solvability of SSA at the high energy, fixed angle scattering limit and those at the Regge scattering limit discovered previously to all kinematic regimes.

Chaotic inflation in Jordan frame supergravity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Hyun Min, E-mail: hyun.min.lee@cern.ch

2010-08-01

We consider the inflationary scenario with non-minimal coupling in 4D Jordan frame supergravity. We find that there occurs a tachyonic instability along the direction of the accompanying non-inflaton field in generic Jordan frame supergravity models. We propose a higher order correction to the Jordan frame function for solving the tachyonic mass problem and show that the necessary correction can be naturally generated by the heavy thresholds without spoiling the slow-roll conditions. We discuss the implication of the result on the Higgs inflation in NMSSM.

Climate Action Team

Science.gov Websites

Science Partnerships Contact Us Climate Action Team & Climate Action Initiative The Climate Action . See CAT reports Climate Action Team Pages CAT Home Members Working Groups Reports Back to Top

Decreasing the load? Is a Multidisciplinary Multistep Medication Review in older people an effective intervention to reduce a patient's Drug Burden Index? Protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

van der Meer, Helene G; Wouters, Hans; van Hulten, Rolf; Pras, Niesko; Taxis, Katja

2015-12-23

Older people often use medications with anticholinergic or sedative side effects which increase the risk of falling and worsen cognitive impairment. The Drug Burden Index (DBI) is a measure of the burden of anticholinergic and sedative medications. Medication reviews are typically done by a pharmacist in collaboration with a general practitioner to optimise the medication use and reduce these adverse drug events. We will evaluate whether a Multidisciplinary Multistep Medication Review (3MR) is an effective intervention to reduce a patient's DBI. A randomised controlled trial including 160 patients from 15 community pharmacies will be conducted. Per pharmacy, 1 pharmacist will perform a structured 3MR in close collaboration with the general practitioner, including the objective to reduce the DBI. Primary outcome--the difference in proportion of patients having a decrease in DBI ≥ 0.5 in the intervention and control groups at follow-up. Secondary outcomes--anticholinergic and sedative side effects, falls, cognitive function, activities of daily living, quality of life, hospital admission, and mortality. The burden of patients will be kept at a minimum. The 3MR can be considered as usual care by the pharmacist and general practitioner. Medical specialists will be consulted, if necessary. The intervention is specifically aimed at older community-dwelling patients in an attempt to optimise prescribing, in particular, to reduce medication with anticholinergic and sedative properties. Study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and will be distributed through information channels targeting professionals. NCT02317666; Pre-results. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Magnetic nanoparticles modified with DTPA-AMC-rare earth for fluorescent and magnetic resonance dual mode imaging.

PubMed

Liu, Zengchen; Li, Bo; Wang, Baodui; Yang, Zhengyin; Wang, Qin; Li, Tianrong; Qin, Dongdong; Li, Yong; Wang, Mingfang; Yan, Mihui

2012-07-28

In the present study, we report new water-soluble cell fluorescence imaging and contrast agents that are based on DTPA-AMC(7-amino-4-methyl coumarin)-Eu(3+) and DTPA-AMC(7-amino-4-methyl coumarin)-Gd(3+) compounds conjugated to Fe(3)O(4) NPs via a PEG-NH(2) linker. The novel Fe(3)O(4) NP-conjugates present two main advantages for cell fluorescence labelling: water solubility and targeting ability. The in vitro experiments demonstrate that water-soluble Fe(3)O(4) NPs-DBI-PEG-NH-DTPA-AMC(7-amino-4-methyl coumarin)-Eu(3+) has excellent cell permeating activity. Moreover, the relaxation rate test of Fe(3)O(4) NPs-DBI-PEG-NH-DTPA-AMC(7-amino-4-methyl coumarin)-Gd(3+) shows a higher T1 relaxation effect than traditional DTPA-Gd(3+) MRI agents. According to in vivo liver MRI experiments, better contrast of the liver was achieved after addition of Fe(3)O(4) NPs-DBI-PEG-NH-DTPA-AMC(7-amino-4-methyl coumarin)-Gd(3+). The results will provide a significant guide for researchers exploring the biomedical applications of superparamagnetic Fe(3)O(4) NPs.

Low-cost dielectric substrate for designing low profile multiband monopole microstrip antenna.

PubMed

Ahsan, M R; Islam, M T; Habib Ullah, M; Arshad, H; Mansor, M F

2014-01-01

This paper proposes a small sized, low-cost multiband monopole antenna which can cover the WiMAX bands and C-band. The proposed antenna of 20 × 20 mm(2) radiating patch is printed on cost effective 1.6 mm thick fiberglass polymer resin dielectric material substrate and fed by 4 mm long microstrip line. The finite element method based, full wave electromagnetic simulator HFSS is efficiently utilized for designing and analyzing the proposed antenna and the antenna parameters are measured in a standard far-field anechoic chamber. The experimental results show that the prototype of the antenna has achieved operating bandwidths (voltage stand wave ratio (VSWR) less than 2) 360 MHz (2.53-2.89 GHz) and 440 MHz (3.47-3.91 GHz) for WiMAX and 1550 MHz (6.28-7.83 GHz) for C-band. The simulated and measured results for VSWR, radiation patterns, and gain are well matched. Nearly omnidirectional radiation patterns are achieved and the peak gains are of 3.62 dBi, 3.67 dBi, and 5.7 dBi at 2.66 GHz, 3.65 GHz, and 6.58 GHz, respectively.

Planck limits on non-canonical generalizations of large-field inflation models

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stein, Nina K.; Kinney, William H., E-mail: ninastei@buffalo.edu, E-mail: whkinney@buffalo.edu

2017-04-01

In this paper, we consider two case examples of Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) generalizations of canonical large-field inflation models, characterized by a reduced sound speed, c {sub S} < 1. The reduced speed of sound lowers the tensor-scalar ratio, improving the fit of the models to the data, but increases the equilateral-mode non-Gaussianity, f {sup equil.}{sub NL}, which the latest results from the Planck satellite constrain by a new upper bound. We examine constraints on these models in light of the most recent Planck and BICEP/Keck results, and find that they have a greatly decreased window of viability. The upper bound onmore » f {sup equil.}{sub NL} corresponds to a lower bound on the sound speed and a corresponding lower bound on the tensor-scalar ratio of r ∼ 0.01, so that near-future Cosmic Microwave Background observations may be capable of ruling out entire classes of DBI inflation models. The result is, however, not universal: infrared-type DBI inflation models, where the speed of sound increases with time, are not subject to the bound.« less

Impulsive action and motivation.

PubMed

Frijda, Nico H

2010-07-01

This paper explores the way in which emotions are causal determinants of action. It argues that emotional events, as appraised by the individual, elicit changes in motive states (called states of action readiness), which in turn may (or may not) cause action. Actions can be elicited automatically, without prior intention (called impulsive actions), or intentionally. Impulsive actions reflect the simplest and biologically most general form in which emotions can cause action, since they require no reflection, no foresight, and no planning. Impulsive actions are determined conjointly by the nature of action readiness, the affordances perceived in the eliciting event as appraised, and the individual's action repertoire. Those actions from one's repertoire are performed that both match the perceived affordances and the aim of the state of action readiness. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A low profile rectangular patch microstrip antenna for dual-band operation of wireless communication system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rambe, A. H.; Abdillah, K.

2018-02-01

This paper discussed a low profile rectangular patch microstrip antenna design working on dual-band 1.8 GHz and 2.4 GHz. Dual-band characteristic is achieved by using inset-feed point and slot size adjustment. The designed antenna was printed on a FR4 substrate with relative permittivity of 4.4 and a thickness of 1.6 mm with patch size 40 x 29 mm. The measurement results show that the realized antenna successfully working on dual-band, achieving bandwidth of 45 MHz and 95 MHz, gain of 4.08 dBi and 5.79 dBi for 1.8 GHz and 2.4 GHz subsequently.

38 CFR 18.406 - Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., voluntary action and self-evaluation. 18.406 Section 18.406 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief... Basis of Handicap General Provisions § 18.406 Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation. (a... treatment within the program or activity. (b) Voluntary action. A recipient may take steps, in addition to...

38 CFR 18.406 - Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., voluntary action and self-evaluation. 18.406 Section 18.406 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief... Basis of Handicap General Provisions § 18.406 Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation. (a... treatment within the program or activity. (b) Voluntary action. A recipient may take steps, in addition to...

38 CFR 18.406 - Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., voluntary action and self-evaluation. 18.406 Section 18.406 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief... Basis of Handicap General Provisions § 18.406 Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation. (a... treatment within the program or activity. (b) Voluntary action. A recipient may take steps, in addition to...

38 CFR 18.406 - Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., voluntary action and self-evaluation. 18.406 Section 18.406 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief... Basis of Handicap General Provisions § 18.406 Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation. (a... treatment within the program or activity. (b) Voluntary action. A recipient may take steps, in addition to...

Goal Reconstruction: How Teton Blends Situated Action and Planned Action

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-11-03

DTIC FILE COPY CV), Goal reconstruction: How Teton blends N situated action and planned action N Tec~jcal Report PCG- 16 Kurt VanLehn I William Bali...situated action and planned action Technical Report PCG- 16 Kurt VanLehn William Bail Departments of Psychology and Computer Science Carnegie-Mellon...Research, under contract N00014-88-K-0086 and by the Information Sciences Division, Office of Naval Research, under contract N00014-K-0678

Goal Reconstruction: How Teton Blends Situated Action and Planned Action

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-11-03

DTIC FILE COPy 00 P 1n GOAL RECONSTRUCTION: HOW TETON BLENDS N SITUATED ACTION AND PLANNED ACTION Technical Report AIP 125 Kurt VanLehn William Ball...distribiikn unlimited. so 08 21 2 GOAL RECONSTRUCTION: HOW TETON BLENDS SITUATED ACTION AND PLANNED ACTION Technical Report AlP 125 Kurt VanLehn William Ball...Architectures for Intelligence. This is the final report on the research supported by the Computer Science Division, Office of Naval Research, under

Bringing Action Reflection Learning into Action Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rimanoczy, Isabel; Brown, Carole

2008-01-01

This paper introduces Action Reflection Learning (ARL) as a learning methodology that can contribute to, and enrich, the practice of action learning programs. It describes the Swedish constructivist origins of the model, its evolution and the coded responses that resulted from researching the practice. The paper presents the resulting sixteen ARL…

AI based HealthCare Platform for Real Time, Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics using Reactive Programming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Jagreet; Singh Mann, Kulwinder, Dr.

2018-01-01

AI in Healthcare needed to bring real, actionable insights and Individualized insights in real time for patients and Doctors to support treatment decisions., We need a Patient Centred Platform for integrating EHR Data, Patient Data, Prescriptions, Monitoring, Clinical research and Data. This paper proposes a generic architecture for enabling AI based healthcare analytics Platform by using open sources Technologies Apache beam, Apache Flink Apache Spark, Apache NiFi, Kafka, Tachyon, Gluster FS, NoSQL- Elasticsearch, Cassandra. This paper will show the importance of applying AI based predictive and prescriptive analytics techniques in Health sector. The system will be able to extract useful knowledge that helps in decision making and medical monitoring in real-time through an intelligent process analysis and big data processing.

Inferences about action engage action systems.

PubMed

Taylor, Lawrence J; Lev-Ari, Shiri; Zwaan, Rolf A

2008-10-01

Verbal descriptions of actions activate compatible motor responses [Glenberg, A. M., & Kaschak, M. P. (2002). Grounding language in action. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 9, 558-565]. Previous studies have found that the motor processes for manual rotation are engaged in a direction-specific manner when a verb disambiguates the direction of rotation [e.g. "unscrewed;" Zwaan, R. A., & Taylor, L. (2006). Seeing, acting, understanding: Motor resonance in language comprehension. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 135, 1-11]. The present experiment contributes to this body of work by showing that verbs that leave direction ambiguous (e.g. "turned") do not necessarily yield such effects. Rather, motor resonance is associated with a word that disambiguates some element of an action, as meaning is being integrated across sentences. The findings are discussed within the context of discourse processes, inference generation, motor activation, and mental simulation.

Action Recognition Using Nonnegative Action Component Representation and Sparse Basis Selection.

PubMed

Wang, Haoran; Yuan, Chunfeng; Hu, Weiming; Ling, Haibin; Yang, Wankou; Sun, Changyin

2014-02-01

In this paper, we propose using high-level action units to represent human actions in videos and, based on such units, a novel sparse model is developed for human action recognition. There are three interconnected components in our approach. First, we propose a new context-aware spatial-temporal descriptor, named locally weighted word context, to improve the discriminability of the traditionally used local spatial-temporal descriptors. Second, from the statistics of the context-aware descriptors, we learn action units using the graph regularized nonnegative matrix factorization, which leads to a part-based representation and encodes the geometrical information. These units effectively bridge the semantic gap in action recognition. Third, we propose a sparse model based on a joint l2,1-norm to preserve the representative items and suppress noise in the action units. Intuitively, when learning the dictionary for action representation, the sparse model captures the fact that actions from the same class share similar units. The proposed approach is evaluated on several publicly available data sets. The experimental results and analysis clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

7 CFR 12.11 - Action based upon advice or action of USDA.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Action based upon advice or action of USDA. 12.11... CONSERVATION General Provisions § 12.11 Action based upon advice or action of USDA. The provisions of part 718... it is determined by the appropriate USDA agency that the action of a person which would form the...

7 CFR 12.11 - Action based upon advice or action of USDA.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Action based upon advice or action of USDA. 12.11... CONSERVATION General Provisions § 12.11 Action based upon advice or action of USDA. The provisions of part 718... it is determined by the appropriate USDA agency that the action of a person which would form the...

7 CFR 12.11 - Action based upon advice or action of USDA.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Action based upon advice or action of USDA. 12.11... CONSERVATION General Provisions § 12.11 Action based upon advice or action of USDA. The provisions of part 718... it is determined by the appropriate USDA agency that the action of a person which would form the...

7 CFR 12.11 - Action based upon advice or action of USDA.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Action based upon advice or action of USDA. 12.11... CONSERVATION General Provisions § 12.11 Action based upon advice or action of USDA. The provisions of part 718... it is determined by the appropriate USDA agency that the action of a person which would form the...

7 CFR 12.11 - Action based upon advice or action of USDA.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Action based upon advice or action of USDA. 12.11... CONSERVATION General Provisions § 12.11 Action based upon advice or action of USDA. The provisions of part 718... it is determined by the appropriate USDA agency that the action of a person which would form the...

Watching novice action degrades expert motor performance: Causation between action production and outcome prediction of observed actions by humans

PubMed Central

Ikegami, Tsuyoshi; Ganesh, Gowrishankar

2014-01-01

Our social skills are critically determined by our ability to understand and appropriately respond to actions performed by others. However despite its obvious importance, the mechanisms enabling action understanding in humans have remained largely unclear. A popular but controversial belief is that parts of the motor system contribute to our ability to understand observed actions. Here, using a novel behavioral paradigm, we investigated this belief by examining a causal relation between action production, and a component of action understanding - outcome prediction, the ability of a person to predict the outcome of observed actions. We asked dart experts to watch novice dart throwers and predict the outcome of their throws. We modulated the feedbacks provided to them, caused a specific improvement in the expert's ability to predict watched actions while controlling the other experimental factors, and exhibited that a change (improvement) in their outcome prediction ability results in a progressive and proportional deterioration in the expert's own darts performance. This causal relationship supports involvement of the motor system in outcome prediction by humans of actions observed in others. PMID:25384755

On the Inclusion of Externally Controlled Actions in Action Planning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tsai, Jessica Chia-Chin; Knoblich, Gunther; Sebanz, Natalie

2011-01-01

According to ideomotor theories, perceiving action effects produced by others triggers corresponding action representations in the observer. We tested whether this principle extends to actions performed by externally controlled limbs and tools. Participants performed a go-no-go version of a spatial compatibility task in which their own actions…

Experiencing Action Evaluation's Cyclic Process: Partnering Conflict, Reflection, and Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burrows, Andrea C.; Harkness, Shelly Sheats

2016-01-01

In this article, the authors describe experiences in and offer suggestions from a course entitled "Educational Innovation for Excellence Through Action Research, Conflict Resolution, and Organizational Learning"--an action evaluation (AE). The class was taught using the principles of action research and AE. The authors explore the impact…

Habits as action sequences: hierarchical action control and changes in outcome value

PubMed Central

Dezfouli, Amir; Lingawi, Nura W.; Balleine, Bernard W.

2014-01-01

Goal-directed action involves making high-level choices that are implemented using previously acquired action sequences to attain desired goals. Such a hierarchical schema is necessary for goal-directed actions to be scalable to real-life situations, but results in decision-making that is less flexible than when action sequences are unfolded and the decision-maker deliberates step-by-step over the outcome of each individual action. In particular, from this perspective, the offline revaluation of any outcomes that fall within action sequence boundaries will be invisible to the high-level planner resulting in decisions that are insensitive to such changes. Here, within the context of a two-stage decision-making task, we demonstrate that this property can explain the emergence of habits. Next, we show how this hierarchical account explains the insensitivity of over-trained actions to changes in outcome value. Finally, we provide new data that show that, under extended extinction conditions, habitual behaviour can revert to goal-directed control, presumably as a consequence of decomposing action sequences into single actions. This hierarchical view suggests that the development of action sequences and the insensitivity of actions to changes in outcome value are essentially two sides of the same coin, explaining why these two aspects of automatic behaviour involve a shared neural structure. PMID:25267824

From conscious thought to automatic action: A simulation account of action planning.

PubMed

Martiny-Huenger, Torsten; Martiny, Sarah E; Parks-Stamm, Elizabeth J; Pfeiffer, Elisa; Gollwitzer, Peter M

2017-10-01

We provide a theoretical framework and empirical evidence for how verbally planning an action creates direct perception-action links and behavioral automaticity. We argue that planning actions in an if (situation)-then (action) format induces sensorimotor simulations (i.e., activity patterns reenacting the event in the sensory and motor brain areas) of the anticipated situation and the intended action. Due to their temporal overlap, these activity patterns become linked. Whenever the previously simulated situation is encountered, the previously simulated action is partially reactivated through spreading activation and thus more likely to be executed. In 4 experiments (N = 363), we investigated the relation between specific if-then action plans worded to activate simulations of elbow flexion versus extension movements and actual elbow flexion versus extension movements in a subsequent, ostensibly unrelated categorization task. As expected, linking a critical stimulus to intended actions that implied elbow flexion movements (e.g., grabbing it for consumption) subsequently facilitated elbow flexion movements upon encountering the critical stimulus. However, linking a critical stimulus to actions that implied elbow extension movements (e.g., pointing at it) subsequently facilitated elbow extension movements upon encountering the critical stimulus. Thus, minor differences (i.e., exchanging the words "point at" with "grab") in verbally formulated action plans (i.e., conscious thought) had systematic consequences on subsequent actions. The question of how conscious thought can induce stimulus-triggered action is illuminated by the provided theoretical framework and the respective empirical evidence, facilitating the understanding of behavioral automaticity and human agency. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Drug Burden Index and change in cognition over time in community-dwelling older men: the CHAMP study.

PubMed

Jamsen, Kris M; Gnjidic, Danijela; Hilmer, Sarah N; Ilomäki, Jenni; Le Couteur, David G; Blyth, Fiona M; Handelsman, David J; Naganathan, Vasi; Waite, Louise M; Cumming, Robert G; Bell, J Simon

2017-03-01

Anticholinergic and sedative medications are associated with acute cognitive impairment, but the long-term impact on change in cognition is unclear. This study investigated the effect of anticholinergic and sedative medications, quantified using the Drug Burden Index (DBI), on change in cognition over time in community-dwelling older men. This was a prospective cohort study of men aged ≥70 years in Sydney, Australia. DBI was assessed at baseline, 2, and 5 years. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) at each wave. Logistic quantile mixed-effects modelling was used to assess the adjusted effect of DBI on the median MMSE-time profile. Analyses were restricted to men with English-speaking backgrounds (n = 1059, 862, and 611 at baseline, 2, and 5 years). Overall, 292 (27.7%), 258 (29.9%), and 189 (31.3%) men used anticholinergic or sedative medications at baseline, 2, and 5 years. There was a concave relationship between MMSE and time, where higher DBI corresponded to lower MMSE scores (coefficient: -0.161; 95% CI: -0.250 to -0.071) but not acceleration of declining MMSE over time. Exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications is associated with a small impairment in cognitive performance but not decline in cognition over time. KEY MESSAGES Exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications, quantified using the Drug Burden Index, is associated with small cross-sectional impairments in cognitive performance. There was no evidence that exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications is associated with accelerating decline in cognitive performance over a 5-year follow-up. Older people taking anticholinergic and sedative medications may derive immediate but small benefits in cognitive performance from clinical medication reviews to minimize or cease prescribing of these medications.

Axial Myopia Is Associated with Visual Field Prognosis of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

PubMed Central

Qiu, Chen; Qian, Shaohong; Sun, Xinghuai; Zhou, Chuandi; Meng, Fanrong

2015-01-01

Purpose To identify whether myopia was associated with the visual field (VF) progression of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods A total of 270 eyes of 270 POAG followed up for more than 3 years with ≥9 reliable VFs by Octopus perimetry were retrospectively reviewed. Myopia was divided into: mild myopia (-2.99 diopter [D], 0), moderate myopia (-5.99, 3.00 D), marked myopia (-9.00, -6.00 D) and non-myopia (0 D or more). An annual change in the mean defect (MD) slope >0.22 dB/y and 0.30 dB/y was defined as fast progression, respectively. Logistic regression was performed to determine prognostic factors for VF progression. Results For the cutoff threshold at 0.22 dB/y, logistic regression showed that vertical cup-to-disk ratio (VCDR; p = 0.004) and the extent of myopia (p = 0.002) were statistically significant. When logistic regression was repeated after excluding the extent of myopia, axial length (AL; p = 0.008, odds ratio [OR] = 0.796) reached significance, as did VCDR (p = 0.001). Compared to eyes with AL≤23 mm, the OR values were 0.334 (p = 0.059), 0.309 (p = 0.044), 0.266 (p = 0.019), 0.260 (p = 0.018), respectively, for 23 26 mm. The significance of vertical cup-to-disk ratio of (p = 0.004) and the extent of myopia (p = 0.008) did not change for the cutoff threshold at 0.30dB/y. Conclusions VCDR and myopia were associated with VF prognosis of POAG. Axial myopia may be a protective factor against VF progression. PMID:26214313

Bovine ovarian follicular growth and development correlate with lysophosphatidic acid expression.

PubMed

Sinderewicz, Emilia; Grycmacher, Katarzyna; Boruszewska, Dorota; Kowalczyk-Zięba, Ilona; Staszkiewicz, Joanna; Ślężak, Tomasz; Woclawek-Potocka, Izabela

2018-01-15

The basis of successful reproduction is proper ovarian follicular growth and development. In addition to prostaglandins and vascular endothelial growth factor, a number of novel factors are suggested as important regulators of follicular growth and development: PGES, TFG, CD36, RABGAP1, DBI and BTC. This study focuses on examining the expression of these factors in granulosa and thecal cells that originate from different ovarian follicle types and their link with the expression of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), known local regulator of reproductive functions in the cow. Ovarian follicles were divided into healthy, transitional, and atretic categories. The mRNA expression levels for PGES, TFG, CD36, RABGAP1, DBI and BTC in granulosa and thecal cells in different follicle types were measured by real-time PCR. The correlations among expression of enzymes synthesizing LPA (autotaxin, phospholipase A2), receptors for LPA and examined factors were measured. Immunolocalization of PGES, TFG, CD36, RABGAP1, DBI and BTC was examined by immunohistochemistry. We investigated follicle-type dependent mRNA expression of factors potentially involved in ovarian follicular growth and development, both in granulosa and thecal cells of bovine ovarian follicles. Strong correlations among receptors for LPA, enzymes synthesizing LPA, and the examined factors in healthy and transitional follicles were observed, with its strongest interconnection with TFG, DBI and RABGAP1 in granulosa cells, and TFG in thecal cells; whereas no correlations in atretic follicles were detected. A greater number of correlations were found in thecal cells than in granulosa cells as well as in healthy follicles than in transitional follicles. These data indicate the role of LPA in the growth, development and physiology of the bovine ovarian follicle. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Conservation Action Handbook.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Rifle Association, Washington, DC.

Conservation problems are identified, with some suggestions for action. General areas covered are: Wildlife Conservation, Soil Conservation, Clean Water, Air Pollution Action, and Outdoor Recreation Action. Appendices list private organizations or agencies concerned with natural resource use and/or management, congressional committees considering…

Egocentric Temporal Action Proposals.

PubMed

Shao Huang; Weiqiang Wang; Shengfeng He; Lau, Rynson W H

2018-02-01

We present an approach to localize generic actions in egocentric videos, called temporal action proposals (TAPs), for accelerating the action recognition step. An egocentric TAP refers to a sequence of frames that may contain a generic action performed by the wearer of a head-mounted camera, e.g., taking a knife, spreading jam, pouring milk, or cutting carrots. Inspired by object proposals, this paper aims at generating a small number of TAPs, thereby replacing the popular sliding window strategy, for localizing all action events in the input video. To this end, we first propose to temporally segment the input video into action atoms, which are the smallest units that may contain an action. We then apply a hierarchical clustering algorithm with several egocentric cues to generate TAPs. Finally, we propose two actionness networks to score the likelihood of each TAP containing an action. The top ranked candidates are returned as output TAPs. Experimental results show that the proposed TAP detection framework performs significantly better than relevant approaches for egocentric action detection.

Participatory Action Research.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walker, Martha Lentz

1993-01-01

Describes aspects of participatory action research and considers advantages of using participatory action research in research by disabilities and rehabilitation researchers. Notes that participatory action research can be built into any rehabilitation research design but that it rests upon the recognition of persons with disabilities as integral…

Objects tell us what action we can expect: dissociating brain areas for retrieval and exploitation of action knowledge during action observation in fMRI

PubMed Central

Schubotz, Ricarda I.; Wurm, Moritz F.; Wittmann, Marco K.; von Cramon, D. Yves

2014-01-01

Objects are reminiscent of actions often performed with them: knife and apple remind us on peeling the apple or cutting it. Mnemonic representations of object-related actions (action codes) evoked by the sight of an object may constrain and hence facilitate recognition of unrolling actions. The present fMRI study investigated if and how action codes influence brain activation during action observation. The average number of action codes (NAC) of 51 sets of objects was rated by a group of n = 24 participants. In an fMRI study, different volunteers were asked to recognize actions performed with the same objects presented in short videos. To disentangle areas reflecting the storage of action codes from those exploiting them, we showed object-compatible and object-incompatible (pantomime) actions. Areas storing action codes were considered to positively co-vary with NAC in both object-compatible and object-incompatible action; due to its role in tool-related tasks, we here hypothesized left anterior inferior parietal cortex (aIPL). In contrast, areas exploiting action codes were expected to show this correlation only in object-compatible but not incompatible action, as only object-compatible actions match one of the active action codes. For this interaction, we hypothesized ventrolateral premotor cortex (PMv) to join aIPL due to its role in biasing competition in IPL. We found left anterior intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and left posterior middle temporal gyrus (pMTG) to co-vary with NAC. In addition to these areas, action codes increased activity in object-compatible action in bilateral PMv, right IPS, and lateral occipital cortex (LO). Findings suggest that during action observation, the brain derives possible actions from perceived objects, and uses this information to shape action recognition. In particular, the number of expectable actions quantifies the activity level at PMv, IPL, and pMTG, but only PMv reflects their biased competition while observed action unfolds

Reversible Photoisomerization among Triplet Amino Naphthylnitrene, Triplet Diimine Biradical, and Indazole: Matrix-Isolation IR Spectra of 8-Amino-1-naphthylnitrene, 1,8-Naphthalenediimine, and 1,2-Dihydrobenz[cd]indazole.

PubMed

Okamura, Takuya; Akai, Nobuyuki; Nakata, Munetaka

2017-03-02

Reaction mechanisms of nitrene, one of the most famous biradicals, have been frequently studied, and many spectral data have been obtained so far. In the present study, the experimental IR spectra of triplet 8-amino-1-naphthylnitrene ( 3 ANN), a triplet diimine biradical 1,8-dihydro-1,8-naphthalenediimine ( 3 DND), and 1,2-dihydrobenz[cd]indazole (DBI), which are produced in the UV photolysis of 1,8-diaminonaphthalene in an Ar matrix and identified by a combination method of IR spectroscopy and DFT quantum chemical calculations, are first reported. 3 ANN is found to change to DBI by hydrogen-atom migration with bond making between the two nitrogen atoms upon visible-light irradiation (λ > 580 nm) with its backward reaction caused by 350 nm irradiation. In addition, 3 ANN isomerizes to 3 DND by 700 nm irradiation, while its backward reaction occurs upon 500 nm irradiation. The wavelength dependences of these photoisomerizations are explained in terms of their electronic transition energies estimated by time-dependent DFT calculations. It is concluded that the novel reversible photoisomerization system among 3 ANN, 3 DND, and DBI is totally different from the well-known photoisomerization between phenylnitrene and a seven-membered cyclic compound.

Reduced-size spiral antenna design using dielectric overlay loading for use in ground penetrating radar and design of alternative antennas using Vivaldi radiators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paolino, Donald D.; Neel, Michael M.; Franck, Charmaine C.

2002-08-01

Spiral antennas are one of the common radiators used in ground penetrating radar (GPR). Mine detection is generally performed in a frequency band of interest between 500 MHz to 4 GHz. This paper discusses technical recommendations and R&D performed by Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), China Lake, CA , resulting in our best effort spiral design emphasizing highest low band gain while maintaining overall axial ratio purity. This design consisted of a spiral printed on a high dielectric substrate that allowed the antenna to be used at lower frequencies then conventional plastic substrate based two arm spirals of the same diameter. A graded dielectric overlay scheme was employed to facilitate matching to free space on one side, and absorber lined cavity on the other. Test data is given in terms of match and free space patterns using spin linear sources to obtain antenna axial ratios. The low-end gain was improved from -17 dBi to -5 dBi. Two Vivaldi slot antennas (star junction fed and an antipodal construction) are discussed as alternative antennas offering broadband high gain and economical construction. Both designs produced good patterns with a +5 dBi average gain over the band. Patterns for the log spiral and Archimedean spiral, together with recommendations for future improvements are provided.

Additive Routes to Action Learning: Layering Experience Shapes Engagement of the Action Observation Network.

PubMed

Kirsch, Louise P; Cross, Emily S

2015-12-01

The way in which we perceive others in action is biased by one's prior experience with an observed action. For example, we can have auditory, visual, or motor experience with actions we observe others perform. How action experience via 1, 2, or all 3 of these modalities shapes action perception remains unclear. Here, we combine pre- and post-training functional magnetic resonance imaging measures with a dance training manipulation to address how building experience (from auditory to audiovisual to audiovisual plus motor) with a complex action shapes subsequent action perception. Results indicate that layering experience across these 3 modalities activates a number of sensorimotor cortical regions associated with the action observation network (AON) in such a way that the more modalities through which one experiences an action, the greater the response is within these AON regions during action perception. Moreover, a correlation between left premotor activity and participants' scores for reproducing an action suggests that the better an observer can perform an observed action, the stronger the neural response is. The findings suggest that the number of modalities through which an observer experiences an action impacts AON activity additively, and that premotor cortical activity might serve as an index of embodiment during action observation. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press.

The Action Event (Notes on the Development of Object-Oriented Actions II)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elkonin, B. D.

2015-01-01

The article critically rethinks and refashions conceptions of object-oriented actions. The author introduces the concept of an action event, which relies on the work of D. B. Elkonin. The essence of an action event lies in its transition to a new form of activity, that is, an action mediated by a pattern that is given to a child by an adult. An…

38 CFR 18.406 - Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., voluntary action and self-evaluation. 18.406 Section 18.406 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief... Basis of Handicap General Provisions § 18.406 Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation. (a...-evaluation. (1) A recipient shall, within one year of the effective date of this part: (i) Evaluate with the...

Simulations of cold electroweak baryogenesis: dependence on the source of CP-violation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mou, Zong-Gang; Saffin, Paul M.; Tranberg, Anders

2018-05-01

We compute the baryon asymmetry created in a tachyonic electroweak symmetry breaking transition, focusing on the dependence on the source of effective CP-violation. Earlier simulations of Cold Electroweak Baryogenesis have almost exclusively considered a very specific CP-violating term explicitly biasing Chern-Simons number. We compare four different dimension six, scalar-gauge CP-violating terms, involving both the Higgs field and another dynamical scalar coupled to SU(2) or U(1) gauge fields. We find that for sensible values of parameters, all implementations can generate a baryon asymmetry consistent with observations, showing that baryogenesis is a generic outcome of a fast tachyonic electroweak transition.

From action intentions to action effects: how does the sense of agency come about?

PubMed Central

Chambon, Valérian; Sidarus, Nura; Haggard, Patrick

2014-01-01

Sense of agency refers to the feeling of controlling an external event through one’s own action. On one influential view, agency depends on how predictable the consequences of one’s action are, getting stronger as the match between predicted and actual effect of an action gets closer. Thus, sense of agency arises when external events that follow our action are consistent with predictions of action effects made by the motor system while we perform or simply intend to perform an action. According to this view, agency is inferred retrospectively, after an action has been performed and its consequences are known. In contrast, little is known about whether and how internal processes involved in the selection of actions may influence subjective sense of control, in advance of the action itself, and irrespective of effect predictability. In this article, we review several classes of behavioral and neuroimaging data suggesting that earlier processes, linked to fluency of action selection, prospectively contribute to sense of agency. These findings have important implications for better understanding human volition and abnormalities of action experience. PMID:24860486

The role of action control and action planning on fruit and vegetable consumption.

PubMed

Zhou, Guangyu; Gan, Yiqun; Miao, Miao; Hamilton, Kyra; Knoll, Nina; Schwarzer, Ralf

2015-08-01

Globally, fruit and vegetable intake is lower than recommended despite being an important component to a healthy diet. Adopting or maintaining a sufficient amount of fruit and vegetables in one's diet may require not only motivation but also self-regulatory processes. Action control and action planning are two key volitional determinants that have been identified in the literature; however, it is not fully understood how these two factors operate between intention and behavior. Thus, the aim of the current study was to explore the roles of action control and action planning as mediators between intentions and dietary behavior. A longitudinal study with three points in time was conducted. Participants (N = 286) were undergraduate students and invited to participate in a health behavior survey. At baseline (Time 1), measures of intention and fruit and vegetable intake were assessed. Two weeks later (Time 2), action control and action planning were assessed as putative sequential mediators. At Time 3 (two weeks after Time 2), fruit and vegetable consumption was measured as the outcome. The results revealed action control and action planning to sequentially mediate between intention and subsequent fruit and vegetable intake, controlling for baseline behavior. Both self-regulatory constructs, action control and action planning, make a difference when moving from motivation to action. Our preliminary evidence, therefore, suggests that planning may be more proximal to fruit and vegetable intake than action control. Further research, however, needs to be undertaken to substantiate this conclusion. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stereoscopically Observing Manipulative Actions

PubMed Central

Ferri, S.; Pauwels, K.; Rizzolatti, G.; Orban, G. A.

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of stereopsis to the processing of observed manipulative actions. To this end, we first combined the factors “stimulus type” (action, static control, and dynamic control), “stereopsis” (present, absent) and “viewpoint” (frontal, lateral) into a single design. Four sites in premotor, retro-insular (2) and parietal cortex operated specifically when actions were viewed stereoscopically and frontally. A second experiment clarified that the stereo-action-specific regions were driven by actions moving out of the frontoparallel plane, an effect amplified by frontal viewing in premotor cortex. Analysis of single voxels and their discriminatory power showed that the representation of action in the stereo-action-specific areas was more accurate when stereopsis was active. Further analyses showed that the 4 stereo-action-specific sites form a closed network converging onto the premotor node, which connects to parietal and occipitotemporal regions outside the network. Several of the specific sites are known to process vestibular signals, suggesting that the network combines observed actions in peripersonal space with gravitational signals. These findings have wider implications for the function of premotor cortex and the role of stereopsis in human behavior. PMID:27252350

Negotiating action

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2017-12-01

After years of working towards a climate accord, the Paris Agreement of 2015 marked the shift from negotiating to reach consensus on climate action to implementation of such action. The challenge now is to ensure transparency in the processes and identify the details of what is required.

47 CFR 11.13 - Emergency Action Notification (EAN) and Emergency Action Termination (EAT).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Emergency Action Termination (EAT). 11.13 Section 11.13 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION... Action Termination (EAT). (a) The Emergency Action Notification (EAN) is the notice to all EAS... Emergency Action Termination (EAT) is the notice to all EAS Participants and to the general public that the...

The Action Observation System when Observing Hand Actions in Autism and Typical Development.

PubMed

Pokorny, Jennifer J; Hatt, Naomi V; Colombi, Costanza; Vivanti, Giacomo; Rogers, Sally J; Rivera, Susan M

2015-06-01

Social impairments in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may be in part due to difficulty perceiving and recognizing the actions of others. Evidence from imitation studies, which involves both observation and execution of an action, suggests differences, in individuals with ASD, between the ability to imitate goal-directed actions involving objects (transitive actions) and the ability to imitate actions that do not involve objects (intransitive actions). In the present study, we examined whether there were differences in how ASD adolescents encoded transitive and intransitive actions compared to typically developing (TD) adolescents, by having participants view videos of a hand reaching across a screen toward an object or to where an object would be while functional magnetic resonance images were collected. Analyses focused on areas within the action observation network (AON), which is activated during the observation of actions performed by others. We hypothesized that the AON would differentiate transitive from intransitive actions only in the ASD group. However, results revealed that object presence modulated activity in the right inferior frontal gyrus and supramarginal gyrus of the TD group, a differentiation that was not seen in the ASD group. Furthermore, there were no significant group differences between the TD and ASD groups in any of the conditions. This suggests that there is not a global deficit of the AON in individuals with ASD while observing transitive and intransitive actions. © 2015 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Enforcement actions: Significant actions resolved individuals actions. Semiannual progress report, July--December 1996

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

This compilation summarizes significant enforcement actions that have been resolved during the period (July - December 1996) and includes copies of Orders and Notices of Violation sent by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to individuals with respect to-these enforcement actions. It is anticipated that the information in this publication will be widely disseminated to managers and employees engaged in activities licensed by the NRC. The Commission believes this information may be useful to licensees in making employment decisions.

Action Learning.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

1996

These four papers were presented at a symposium on action learning moderated by Lex Dilworth at the 1996 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development. "Developing an Infrastructure for Individual and Organizational Change: Transfer of Learning from an Action Reflection Learning (ARL) Program" (ARL Inquiry) reports findings…

An Unpublished Draft by Gabriele Veneziano (1973): ``Non-local Field Theory Suggested by Dual Models''

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veneziano, G.

This article reports an old and incomplete note (written in 1973, mostly at the Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel) about a non-local field theory suggested by dual resonance models, and largely inspired by Yukawa’s late work on bilocal fields. It has definite relations to the study of strings in a background (discussed by Ademollo et al.), and to Polyakov’s action for a string moving in a tachyonic background. It also suggests, for the first time, a modification of the uncertainty principle coming from the extended nature of strings. The original note is reported in this article using the slanted typographical style, for an immediate “visive” separation between the old, original text and the modern comments added by the author in the notes and in the final appendix.

Body posture modulates action perception.

PubMed

Zimmermann, Marius; Toni, Ivan; de Lange, Floris P

2013-04-03

Recent studies have highlighted cognitive and neural similarities between planning and perceiving actions. Given that action planning involves a simulation of potential action plans that depends on the actor's body posture, we reasoned that perceiving actions may also be influenced by one's body posture. Here, we test whether and how this influence occurs by measuring behavioral and cerebral (fMRI) responses in human participants predicting goals of observed actions, while manipulating postural congruency between their own body posture and postures of the observed agents. Behaviorally, predicting action goals is facilitated when the body posture of the observer matches the posture achieved by the observed agent at the end of his action (action's goal posture). Cerebrally, this perceptual postural congruency effect modulates activity in a portion of the left intraparietal sulcus that has previously been shown to be involved in updating neural representations of one's own limb posture during action planning. This intraparietal area showed stronger responses when the goal posture of the observed action did not match the current body posture of the observer. These results add two novel elements to the notion that perceiving actions relies on the same predictive mechanism as planning actions. First, the predictions implemented by this mechanism are based on the current physical configuration of the body. Second, during both action planning and action observation, these predictions pertain to the goal state of the action.

[Effects of sustained and stopped hand actions on sensible/nonsensible judgments of verbal phrase of action: comparison between actual action and viewing a movie].

PubMed

Yamamoto, Yukiko; Hakoda, Yuji

2002-04-01

The present study investigated how an actual action or viewing a movie of an action influences the subsequent semantic processing of a verbal phrase concerning the action (e.g., holding a bag with a hand). Forty participants made sensible/nonsensible judgments about the target phrase which were preceded by one of the four prime conditions: sustained action, stopped action, sustained viewing movie, and stopped viewing movie. A facilitatory priming effect was observed in the sustained action condition. Whereas an inhibitory effect was observed in the stopped action condition. These results suggest that the kinetic information affects on the semantic processing of a verbal phrase of action.

Stereoscopically Observing Manipulative Actions.

PubMed

Ferri, S; Pauwels, K; Rizzolatti, G; Orban, G A

2016-08-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of stereopsis to the processing of observed manipulative actions. To this end, we first combined the factors "stimulus type" (action, static control, and dynamic control), "stereopsis" (present, absent) and "viewpoint" (frontal, lateral) into a single design. Four sites in premotor, retro-insular (2) and parietal cortex operated specifically when actions were viewed stereoscopically and frontally. A second experiment clarified that the stereo-action-specific regions were driven by actions moving out of the frontoparallel plane, an effect amplified by frontal viewing in premotor cortex. Analysis of single voxels and their discriminatory power showed that the representation of action in the stereo-action-specific areas was more accurate when stereopsis was active. Further analyses showed that the 4 stereo-action-specific sites form a closed network converging onto the premotor node, which connects to parietal and occipitotemporal regions outside the network. Several of the specific sites are known to process vestibular signals, suggesting that the network combines observed actions in peripersonal space with gravitational signals. These findings have wider implications for the function of premotor cortex and the role of stereopsis in human behavior. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press.

Conscious Action/Zombie Action

PubMed Central

Shepherd, Joshua

2015-01-01

Abstract I argue that the neural realizers of experiences of trying (that is, experiences of directing effort towards the satisfaction of an intention) are not distinct from the neural realizers of actual trying (that is, actual effort directed towards the satisfaction of an intention). I then ask how experiences of trying might relate to the perceptual experiences one has while acting. First, I assess recent zombie action arguments regarding conscious visual experience, and I argue that contrary to what some have claimed, conscious visual experience plays a causal role for action control in some circumstances. Second, I propose a multimodal account of the experience of acting. According to this account, the experience of acting is (at the very least) a temporally extended, co‐conscious collection of agentive and perceptual experiences, functionally integrated and structured both by multimodal perceptual processing as well as by what an agent is, at the time, trying to do. PMID:27667859

A novel dual-color bifocal imaging system for single-molecule studies.

PubMed

Jiang, Chang; Kaul, Neha; Campbell, Jenna; Meyhofer, Edgar

2017-05-01

In this paper, we report the design and implementation of a dual-color bifocal imaging (DBI) system that is capable of acquiring two spectrally distinct, spatially registered images of objects located in either same or two distinct focal planes. We achieve this by separating an image into two channels with distinct chromatic properties and independently focusing both images onto a single CCD camera. The two channels in our device are registered with subpixel accuracy, and long-term stability of the registered images with nanometer-precision was accomplished by reducing the drift of the images to ∼5 nm. We demonstrate the capabilities of our DBI system by imaging biomolecules labeled with spectrally distinct dyes and micro- and nano-sized spheres located in different focal planes.

Electromagnetic analysis and preliminary commissioning results of the shaped dual-reflector 32-m Ghana radio telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venter, M.; Bolli, P.

2018-03-01

This paper presents results from the electromagnetic analysis of the African VLBI Network shaped Ghana radio telescope at the operating frequencies of 5 and 6.7 GHz. The geometry implemented in commercial electromagnetic software provides insight into the effects of the slanted beam-waveguide, shaped reflector illumination and mechanical tolerances, which are known to be more stringent compared to a perfect paraboloid. It is shown that the theoretical maximum gain and aperture efficiency at 5 GHz are 63.80 dBi and 85.45%, respectively. The corresponding values at 6.7 GHz are 66.47 dBi and 88.00%, respectively. Comparisons to sidelobe maps produced from astronomical observations are also discussed, showing possible misalignment in the structure when utilised outside its originally intended purpose.

Mobile satellite communications - Vehicle antenna technology update

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bell, D.; Naderi, F. M.

1986-01-01

This paper discusses options for vehicle antennas to be used in mobile satellite communications systems. Two types of antennas are identified. A non-steerable, azimuthally omnidirectional antenna with a modest gain of 3 to 5 dBi is suggested when a low cost is desired. Alternatively, mechanically or electronically steerable antennas with a higher gain of 10 to 12 dBi are suggested to alleviate power and spectrum scarcity associated with mobile satellite communications. For steerable antennas, both open-loop and closed-loop pointing schemes are discussed. Monopulse and sequential lobing are proposed for the mechanically steered and electronically steered antennas, respectively. This paper suggests a hybrid open-loop/closed-loop pointing technique as the best performer in the mobile satellite environment.

CMB constraints on running non-Gaussianity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oppizzi, F.; Liguori, M.; Renzi, A.; Arroja, F.; Bartolo, N.

2018-05-01

We develop a complete set of tools for CMB forecasting, simulation and estimation of primordial running bispectra, arising from a variety of curvaton and single-field (DBI) models of Inflation. We validate our pipeline using mock CMB running non-Gaussianity realizations and test it on real data by obtaining experimental constraints on the fNL running spectral index, nNG, using WMAP 9-year data. Our final bounds (68% C.L.) read ‑0.6< nNG<1.4}, ‑0.3< nNG<1.2, ‑1.1DBI scenarios, respectively. We show forecasts and discuss potential improvements on these bounds, using Planck and future CMB surveys.

Offset fed slot antenna for broadband operation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ritish, K.; Piyush, S.; Praveen Kumar, A. V.

2018-03-01

In this paper, a microstrip fed rectangular slot antenna with wideband characteristics is proposed. Both the impedance and radiation characteristics of the proposed antenna are presented. It is shown that a properly offset feed can give a dual resonance nature, which can be optimized to enable wideband behavior. From HFSS simulation, an impedance bandwidth (-10 dB) of 49.92 % (2.51 GHz to 4.18 GHz) about the center frequency of the band is obtained. Prototype measurement demonstrates a bandwidth of 45.30 % (2.51 GHz to 3.98 GHz). Simulated radiation patterns show bidirectional behavior, which is stable in the band with a peak gain of 5.7 dBi and a gain variation of 2 dBi.

Subliminal action priming modulates the perceived intensity of sensory action consequences☆

PubMed Central

Stenner, Max-Philipp; Bauer, Markus; Sidarus, Nura; Heinze, Hans-Jochen; Haggard, Patrick; Dolan, Raymond J.

2014-01-01

The sense of control over the consequences of one’s actions depends on predictions about these consequences. According to an influential computational model, consistency between predicted and observed action consequences attenuates perceived stimulus intensity, which might provide a marker of agentic control. An important assumption of this model is that these predictions are generated within the motor system. However, previous studies of sensory attenuation have typically confounded motor-specific perceptual modulation with perceptual effects of stimulus predictability that are not specific to motor action. As a result, these studies cannot unambiguously attribute sensory attenuation to a motor locus. We present a psychophysical experiment on auditory attenuation that avoids this pitfall. Subliminal masked priming of motor actions with compatible prime–target pairs has previously been shown to modulate both reaction times and the explicit feeling of control over action consequences. Here, we demonstrate reduced perceived loudness of tones caused by compatibly primed actions. Importantly, this modulation results from a manipulation of motor processing and is not confounded by stimulus predictability. We discuss our results with respect to theoretical models of the mechanisms underlying sensory attenuation and subliminal motor priming. PMID:24333539

Corrective Action Decision Document for Corrective Action Unit 340: Pesticide Release sites, Nevada Test Site, Nevada

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

DOE /NV

This Corrective Action Decision Document has been prepared for Corrective Action Unit 340, the NTS Pesticide Release Sites, in accordance with the Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order of 1996 (FFACO, 1996). Corrective Action Unit 340 is located at the Nevada Test Site, Nevada, and is comprised of the following Corrective Action Sites: 23-21-01, Area 23 Quonset Hut 800 Pesticide Release Ditch; 23-18-03, Area 23 Skid Huts Pesticide Storage; and 15-18-02, Area 15 Quonset Hut 15-11 Pesticide Storage. The purpose of this Corrective Action Decision Document is to identify and provide a rationale for the selection of a recommended correctivemore » action alternative for each Corrective Action Site. The scope of this Corrective Action Decision Document consists of the following tasks: Develop corrective action objectives; Identify corrective action alternative screening criteria; Develop corrective action alternatives; Perform detailed and comparative evaluations of the corrective action alternatives in relation to the corrective action objectives and screening criteria; and Recommend and justify a preferred corrective action alternative for each Corrective Action Site.« less

The minimalist grammar of action

PubMed Central

Pastra, Katerina; Aloimonos, Yiannis

2012-01-01

Language and action have been found to share a common neural basis and in particular a common ‘syntax’, an analogous hierarchical and compositional organization. While language structure analysis has led to the formulation of different grammatical formalisms and associated discriminative or generative computational models, the structure of action is still elusive and so are the related computational models. However, structuring action has important implications on action learning and generalization, in both human cognition research and computation. In this study, we present a biologically inspired generative grammar of action, which employs the structure-building operations and principles of Chomsky's Minimalist Programme as a reference model. In this grammar, action terminals combine hierarchically into temporal sequences of actions of increasing complexity; the actions are bound with the involved tools and affected objects and are governed by certain goals. We show, how the tool role and the affected-object role of an entity within an action drives the derivation of the action syntax in this grammar and controls recursion, merge and move, the latter being mechanisms that manifest themselves not only in human language, but in human action too. PMID:22106430

Subliminal Priming of Actions Influences Sense of Control over Effects of Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wenke, Dorit; Fleming, Stephen M.; Haggard, Patrick

2010-01-01

The experience of controlling one's own actions, and through them events in the outside world, is a pervasive feature of human mental life. Two experiments investigated the relation between this sense of control and the internal processes involved in action selection and cognitive control. Action selection was manipulated by subliminally priming…

Virtual action and real action have different impacts on comprehension of concrete verbs

PubMed Central

Repetto, Claudia; Cipresso, Pietro; Riva, Giuseppe

2015-01-01

In the last decade, many results have been reported supporting the hypothesis that language has an embodied nature. According to this theory, the sensorimotor system is involved in linguistic processes such as semantic comprehension. One of the cognitive processes emerging from the interplay between action and language is motor simulation. The aim of the present study is to deepen the knowledge about the simulation of action verbs during comprehension in a virtual reality setting. We compared two experimental conditions with different motor tasks: one in which the participants ran in a virtual world by moving the joypad knob with their left hand (virtual action performed with their feet plus real action performed with the hand) and one in which they only watched a video of runners and executed an attentional task by moving the joypad knob with their left hand (no virtual action plus real action performed with the hand). In both conditions, participants had to perform a concomitant go/no-go semantic task, in which they were asked to press a button (with their right hand) when presented with a sentence containing a concrete verb, and to refrain from providing a response when the verb was abstract. Action verbs described actions performed with hand, foot, or mouth. We recorded electromyography (EMG) latencies to measure reaction times of the linguistic task. We wanted to test if the simulation occurs, whether it is triggered by the virtual or the real action, and which effect it produces (facilitation or interference). Results underlined that those who virtually ran in the environment were faster in understanding foot-action verbs; no simulation effect was found for the real action. The present findings are discussed in the light of the embodied language framework, and a hypothesis is provided that integrates our results with those in literature. PMID:25759678

Enforcement actions: Significant actions resolved individual actions. Semiannual progress report, January 1997--June 1997

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

This compilation summarizes significant enforcement actions that have been resolved during the period (January - June 1997) and includes copies of Orders and Notices of Violation sent by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to individuals with respect to these enforcement actions. It is anticipated that the information in this publication will be widely disseminated to managers and employees engaged in activities licensed by the NRC. The Commission believes this information may be useful to licensees in making employment decisions.

Subliminal action priming modulates the perceived intensity of sensory action consequences.

PubMed

Stenner, Max-Philipp; Bauer, Markus; Sidarus, Nura; Heinze, Hans-Jochen; Haggard, Patrick; Dolan, Raymond J

2014-02-01

The sense of control over the consequences of one's actions depends on predictions about these consequences. According to an influential computational model, consistency between predicted and observed action consequences attenuates perceived stimulus intensity, which might provide a marker of agentic control. An important assumption of this model is that these predictions are generated within the motor system. However, previous studies of sensory attenuation have typically confounded motor-specific perceptual modulation with perceptual effects of stimulus predictability that are not specific to motor action. As a result, these studies cannot unambiguously attribute sensory attenuation to a motor locus. We present a psychophysical experiment on auditory attenuation that avoids this pitfall. Subliminal masked priming of motor actions with compatible prime-target pairs has previously been shown to modulate both reaction times and the explicit feeling of control over action consequences. Here, we demonstrate reduced perceived loudness of tones caused by compatibly primed actions. Importantly, this modulation results from a manipulation of motor processing and is not confounded by stimulus predictability. We discuss our results with respect to theoretical models of the mechanisms underlying sensory attenuation and subliminal motor priming. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mirroring "meaningful" actions: sensorimotor learning modulates imitation of goal-directed actions.

PubMed

Catmur, Caroline; Heyes, Cecilia

2017-06-19

Imitation is important in the development of social and technological skills throughout the lifespan. Experiments investigating the acquisition and modulation of imitation (and of its proposed neural substrate, the mirror neuron system) have produced evidence that the capacity for imitation depends on associative learning in which connections are formed between sensory and motor representations of actions. However, evidence that the development of imitation depends on associative learning has been found only for non-goal-directed actions. One reason for the lack of research on goal-directed actions is that imitation of such actions is commonly confounded with the tendency to respond in a spatially compatible manner. However, since the most prominent account of mirror neuron function, and hence of imitation, suggests that these cells encode goal-directed actions, it is important to establish whether sensorimotor learning can also modulate imitation of goal-directed actions. Experiment 1 demonstrated that imitation of goal-directed grasping can be measured while controlling for spatial compatibility, and Experiment 2 showed that this imitation effect can be modulated by sensorimotor training. Together these data support the hypothesis that the capacity for behavioural imitation, and the properties of the mirror neuron system, are constructed in the course of development through associative learning.

Children perseverate to a human's actions but not to a robot's actions.

PubMed

Moriguchi, Yusuke; Kanda, Takayuki; Ishiguro, Hiroshi; Itakura, Shoji

2010-01-01

Previous research has shown that young children commit perseverative errors from their observation of another person's actions. The present study examined how social observation would lead children to perseverative tendencies, using a robot. In Experiment 1, preschoolers watched either a human model or a robot sorting cards according to one dimension (e.g. shape), after which they were asked to sort according to a different dimension (e.g. colour). The results showed that children's behaviours in the task were significantly influenced by the human model's actions but not by the robot's actions. Experiment 2 excluded the possibility that children's behaviours were not affected by the robot's actions because they did not observe its actions. We concluded that children's perseverative errors from social observation resulted, in part, from their socio-cognitive ability.

Classifying Facial Actions

PubMed Central

Donato, Gianluca; Bartlett, Marian Stewart; Hager, Joseph C.; Ekman, Paul; Sejnowski, Terrence J.

2010-01-01

The Facial Action Coding System (FACS) [23] is an objective method for quantifying facial movement in terms of component actions. This system is widely used in behavioral investigations of emotion, cognitive processes, and social interaction. The coding is presently performed by highly trained human experts. This paper explores and compares techniques for automatically recognizing facial actions in sequences of images. These techniques include analysis of facial motion through estimation of optical flow; holistic spatial analysis, such as principal component analysis, independent component analysis, local feature analysis, and linear discriminant analysis; and methods based on the outputs of local filters, such as Gabor wavelet representations and local principal components. Performance of these systems is compared to naive and expert human subjects. Best performances were obtained using the Gabor wavelet representation and the independent component representation, both of which achieved 96 percent accuracy for classifying 12 facial actions of the upper and lower face. The results provide converging evidence for the importance of using local filters, high spatial frequencies, and statistical independence for classifying facial actions. PMID:21188284

From Movements to Actions: Two Mechanisms for Learning Action Sequences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Endress, Ansgar D.; Wood, Justin N.

2011-01-01

When other individuals move, we interpret their movements as discrete, hierarchically-organized, goal-directed actions. However, the mechanisms that integrate visible movement features into actions are poorly understood. Here, we consider two sequence learning mechanisms--transitional probability-based (TP) and position-based encoding…

Riding on irrelevant operators

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

De Rham, Claudia; Ribeiro, Raquel H., E-mail: Claudia.deRham@case.edu, E-mail: RaquelHRibeiro@case.edu

2014-11-01

We investigate the stability of a class of derivative theories known as P(X) and Galileons against corrections generated by quantum effects. We use an exact renormalisation group approach to argue that these theories are stable under quantum corrections at all loops in regions where the kinetic term is large compared to the strong coupling scale. This is the regime of interest for screening or Vainshtein mechanisms, and in inflationary models that rely on large kinetic terms. Next, we clarify the role played by the symmetries. While symmetries protect the form of the quantum corrections, theories equipped with more symmetries domore » not necessarily have a broader range of scales for which they are valid. We show this by deriving explicitly the regime of validity of the classical solutions for P(X) theories including Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) models, both in generic and for specific background field configurations. Indeed, we find that despite the existence of an additional symmetry, the DBI effective field theory has a regime of validity similar to an arbitrary P(X) theory. We explore the implications of our results for both early and late universe contexts. Conversely, when applied to static and spherical screening mechanisms, we deduce that the regime of validity of typical power-law P(X) theories is much larger than that of DBI.« less

Self-reported oral health behavior and attitudes of dental and technology students in Lithuania.

PubMed

Pacauskiene, Ingrida M; Smailiene, Dalia; Siudikienė, Jolanta; Savanevskyte, Julija; Nedzelskiene, Irena

2014-01-01

The aim of the present study was to assess self-reported oral health habits, attitudes, lifestyle between the sample groups of preclinical and clinical dental and technology students in Lithuania using the Hiroshima University Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI), and to evaluate the impact of education on their behavior and self-reported oral health. A sample of 183 dental and 75 technology students at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy, Faculty of Odontology, and Kaunas University of Technology completed the Lithuanian version the HU-DBI questionnaire with 11 additional items. The data were analyzed using the "SPSS 19.0 for Windows" software package. The mean HU-DBI score of clinical final-year dentistry students was significantly higher (p=0.001) than the score of the preclinical group (6.81 (1.2) and 5.96 (1.5), respectively). The mean scores of both groups of dental students were significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of the technology group (5.37 (1.8)). Oral health behaviors and knowledge were superior in dental students. Dental education had a significant positive impact on the oral health and behavior improvement. The attitudes of the Lithuanian dental students should be further improved by initiating a comprehensive program that would emphasize the importance of oral hygiene before the clinical program starts.

Topological view of quantum tunneling coherent destruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernardini, Alex E.; Chinaglia, Mariana

2017-08-01

Quantum tunneling of the ground and first excited states in a quantum superposition driven by a novel analytical configuration of a double-well (DW) potential is investigated. Symmetric and asymmetric potentials are considered as to support quantum mechanical zero mode and first excited state analytical solutions. Reporting about a symmetry breaking that supports the quantum conversion of a zero-mode stable vacuum into an unstable tachyonic quantum state, two inequivalent topological scenarios are supposed to drive stable tunneling and coherent tunneling destruction respectively. A complete prospect of the Wigner function dynamics, vector field fluxes and the time dependence of stagnation points is obtained for the analytical potentials that support stable and tachyonic modes.

Proactive action preparation: seeing action preparation as a continuous and proactive process.

PubMed

Pezzulo, Giovanni; Ognibene, Dimitri

2012-07-01

In this paper, we aim to elucidate the processes that occur during action preparation from both a conceptual and a computational point of view. We first introduce the traditional, serial model of goal-directed action and discuss from a computational viewpoint its subprocesses occurring during the two phases of covert action preparation and overt motor control. Then, we discuss recent evidence indicating that these subprocesses are highly intertwined at representational and neural levels, which undermines the validity of the serial model and points instead to a parallel model of action specification and selection. Within the parallel view, we analyze the case of delayed choice, arguing that action preparation can be proactive, and preparatory processes can take place even before decisions are made. Specifically, we discuss how prior knowledge and prospective abilities can be used to maximize utility even before deciding what to do. To support our view, we present a computational implementation of (an approximated version of) proactive action preparation, showing its advantages in a simulated tennis-like scenario.

Does the Dietary Pattern of Shanghai Residents  Change across Seasons and Area of Residence:  Assessing Dietary Quality Using the Chinese Diet  Balance Index (DBI).

PubMed

Zang, Jiajie; Yu, Huiting; Zhu, Zhenni; Lu, Ye; Liu, Changhe; Yao, Chunxia; Bai, Pinqing; Guo, Changyi; Jia, Xiaodong; Zou, Shurong; Wu, Fan

2017-03-08

Few studies have applied the Chinese Diet Balance Index (DBI) in evaluating dietary quality across seasons. The Shanghai Diet and Health Survey (SDHS) included 1680 participants from all districts of Shanghai from 2012 to 2013. Dietary data were obtained using three-day 24-h recall in spring, summer, fall, and winter. Higher bound score (HBS), lower bound score (LBS) and diet quality distance (DQD) were calculated according to compliance with the dietary guidelines and based on the recommendations for consumption within the main food groups. HBS, LBS, and DQD represent over-intake, under-intake, and overall imbalance of the diet, respectively. 836 males and 844 females were included. The HBS indicated that 10.08%, 11.84%, 10.31%, and 12.73% people have moderate or high levels of over-intake of food in spring, summer, fall, and winter, respectively; and 74.04%, 37.61%, 53.09%, and 42.72% people have moderate or high levels of deficit food intake for each of the four seasons. The mean HBS and LBS among the four seasons were statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). The mean (SD) DQD was 43.27 (10.21), 35.67 (9.71), 39.19 (9.36), and 36.84 (9.45) in each season. A multivariable model showed statistically significant differences in DQD according to age, gender, occupational status, education, smoking, drinking status, season, and residency (p < 0.001). An unbalanced diet is common among people living in Shanghai. Seasonality and area of residence were found to be two significant predictors. Strengthening the accessibility and the supply of food across seasons and regions should be considered.

Action spectra for photosynthetic inhibition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caldwell, M. M.; Flint, S.; Camp, L. B.

1981-01-01

The ultraviolet action spectrum for photosynthesis inhibition was determined to fall between that of the general DNA action spectrum and the generalized plant action spectrum. The characteristics of this action spectrum suggest that a combination of pronounced increase in effectiveness with decreasing wavelength, substantial specificity for the UV-B waveband, and very diminished response in the UV-A waveband result in large radiation amplification factors when the action spectra are used as weighting functions. Attempted determination of dose/response relationships for leaf disc inhibition provided inconclusive data from which to deconvolute an action spectrum.

Action Learning at Work.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mumford, Alan, Ed.

This book contains 34 papers examining the theory, process, and outcomes of action learning at work. The following papers are included: "An Introduction to the Text" (Alan Mumford); "The Learning Equation" (Reg Revans); "Action Learning as a Vehicle for Learning" (Alan Mumford); "Placing Action Learning and…

The implementation of hybrid clustering using fuzzy c-means and divisive algorithm for analyzing DNA human Papillomavirus cause of cervical cancer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andryani, Diyah Septi; Bustamam, Alhadi; Lestari, Dian

2017-03-01

Clustering aims to classify the different patterns into groups called clusters. In this clustering method, we use n-mers frequency to calculate the distance matrix which is considered more accurate than using the DNA alignment. The clustering results could be used to discover biologically important sub-sections and groups of genes. Many clustering methods have been developed, while hard clustering methods considered less accurate than fuzzy clustering methods, especially if it is used for outliers data. Among fuzzy clustering methods, fuzzy c-means is one the best known for its accuracy and simplicity. Fuzzy c-means clustering uses membership function variable, which refers to how likely the data could be members into a cluster. Fuzzy c-means clustering works using the principle of minimizing the objective function. Parameters of membership function in fuzzy are used as a weighting factor which is also called the fuzzier. In this study we implement hybrid clustering using fuzzy c-means and divisive algorithm which could improve the accuracy of cluster membership compare to traditional partitional approach only. In this study fuzzy c-means is used in the first step to find partition results. Furthermore divisive algorithms will run on the second step to find sub-clusters and dendogram of phylogenetic tree. To find the best number of clusters is determined using the minimum value of Davies Bouldin Index (DBI) of the cluster results. In this research, the results show that the methods introduced in this paper is better than other partitioning methods. Finally, we found 3 clusters with DBI value of 1.126628 at first step of clustering. Moreover, DBI values after implementing the second step of clustering are always producing smaller IDB values compare to the results of using first step clustering only. This condition indicates that the hybrid approach in this study produce better performance of the cluster results, in term its DBI values.

Glycerolipidome responses to freezing- and chilling-induced injuries: examples in Arabidopsis and rice.

PubMed

Zheng, Guowei; Li, Lixia; Li, Weiqi

2016-03-22

Glycerolipids are the principal constituent of cellular membranes; remodelling of glycerolipids plays important roles in temperature adaptation in plants. Temperate plants can endure freezing stress, but even chilling at above-zero temperatures can induce death in tropical species. However, little is known about the differences in glycerolipid response to low temperatures between chilling-sensitive and freezing-tolerant plants. Using ESI-MS/MS-based lipidomic analysis, we compared the glycerolipidome of chilling (4 and 10 °C)-treated rice with that of freezing (-6 and -12 °C)-treated Arabidopsis, both immediately after these low-temperature treatments and after a subsequent recovery culture period. Arabidopsis is a 16:3 plant that harbours both eukaryotic and prokaryotic-type lipid synthesis pathways, while rice is an 18:3 plant that harbours only the eukaryotic lipid synthesis pathway. Arabidopsis contains higher levels of galactolipids than rice and has a higher double bond index (DBI). Arabidopsis contains lower levels of high melting point phosphatidylglycerol (PG) molecules and has a lower average acyl chain length (ACL). Marked phospholipid degradation occurred during the recovery culture period of non-lethal chilling treated rice, but did not occur in non-lethal freezing treated Arabidopsis. Glycerolipids with larger head groups were synthesized more in Arabidopsis than in rice at sub-lethal low-temperatures. Levels of phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) rose in both plants after low-temperature treatment. The DBI and ACL of total lipids did not change during low-temperature treatment. A higher DBI and a lower ACL could make the membranes of Arabidopsis more fluid at low temperatures. The ability to synthesize glycerolipids containing a larger head group may correlate with low-temperature tolerance. The low-temperature-induced increase of PA may play a dual role in plant responses to low temperatures: as a lipid signal that initiates

Your own actions influence how you perceive other people: A misattribution of action appraisals

PubMed Central

Tipper, Steven P.; Bach, Patric

2008-01-01

The attribution of personal traits to other persons depends on the actions the observer performs at the same time (Bach & Tipper, 2007). Here, we show that the effect reflects a misattribution of appraisals of the observers’ own actions to the actions of others. We exploited spatial compatibility effects to manipulate how fluently—how fast and how accurately—participants identified two individuals performing sporty or academic actions. The traits attributed to each person in a subsequent rating task depended on the fluency of participants’ responses in a specific manner. An individual more fluently identified while performing the academic action appeared more academic and less sporty. An individual more fluently identified while performing the sporty action appeared sportier. Thus, social perception is—at least partially—embodied. The ease of our own responses can be misattributed to the actions of others, affecting which personal traits are attributed to them. PMID:21633518

47 CFR 1.103 - Effective dates of Commission actions; finality of Commission actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Effective dates of Commission actions; finality of Commission actions. 1.103 Section 1.103 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION... Actions Taken by the Commission and Pursuant to Delegated Authority; Effective Dates and Finality Dates of...

47 CFR 1.103 - Effective dates of Commission actions; finality of Commission actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Effective dates of Commission actions; finality of Commission actions. 1.103 Section 1.103 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION... Actions Taken by the Commission and Pursuant to Delegated Authority; Effective Dates and Finality Dates of...

The influence of action observation on action execution: Dissociating the contribution of action on perception, perception on action, and resolving conflict.

PubMed

Deschrijver, Eliane; Wiersema, Jan R; Brass, Marcel

2017-04-01

For more than 15 years, motor interference paradigms have been used to investigate the influence of action observation on action execution. Most research on so-called automatic imitation has focused on variables that play a modulating role or investigated potential confounding factors. Interestingly, furthermore, a number of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have tried to shed light on the functional mechanisms and neural correlates involved in imitation inhibition. However, these fMRI studies, presumably due to poor temporal resolution, have primarily focused on high-level processes and have neglected the potential role of low-level motor and perceptual processes. In the current EEG study, we therefore aimed to disentangle the influence of low-level perceptual and motoric mechanisms from high-level cognitive mechanisms. We focused on potential congruency differences in the visual N190 - a component related to the processing of biological motion, the Readiness Potential - a component related to motor preparation, and the high-level P3 component. Interestingly, we detected congruency effects in each of these components, suggesting that the interference effect in an automatic imitation paradigm is not only related to high-level processes such as self-other distinction but also to more low-level influences of perception on action and action on perception. Moreover, we documented relationships of the neural effects with (autistic) behavior.

Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan for Corrective Action Unit 97: Yucca Flat/Climax Mine Nevada National Security Site, Nevada, Revision 1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Farnham, Irene

This corrective action decision document (CADD)/corrective action plan (CAP) has been prepared for Corrective Action Unit (CAU) 97, Yucca Flat/Climax Mine, Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), Nevada. The Yucca Flat/Climax Mine CAU is located in the northeastern portion of the NNSS and comprises 720 corrective action sites. A total of 747 underground nuclear detonations took place within this CAU between 1957 and 1992 and resulted in the release of radionuclides (RNs) in the subsurface in the vicinity of the test cavities. The CADD portion describes the Yucca Flat/Climax Mine CAU data-collection and modeling activities completed during the corrective action investigationmore » (CAI) stage, presents the corrective action objectives, and describes the actions recommended to meet the objectives. The CAP portion describes the corrective action implementation plan. The CAP presents CAU regulatory boundary objectives and initial use-restriction boundaries identified and negotiated by DOE and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP). The CAP also presents the model evaluation process designed to build confidence that the groundwater flow and contaminant transport modeling results can be used for the regulatory decisions required for CAU closure. The UGTA strategy assumes that active remediation of subsurface RN contamination is not feasible with current technology. As a result, the corrective action is based on a combination of characterization and modeling studies, monitoring, and institutional controls. The strategy is implemented through a four-stage approach that comprises the following: (1) corrective action investigation plan (CAIP), (2) CAI, (3) CADD/CAP, and (4) closure report (CR) stages.« less

76 FR 80847 - Enforcement Actions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-27

... Enforcement Actions AGENCY: National Indian Gaming Commission, Interior. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend NIGC regulations to include a graduated pre-enforcement process through which a tribe may come into compliance before an enforcement action is taken by the Chair...

Emergent gravity from vanishing energy-momentum tensor

DOE PAGES

Carone, Christopher D.; Erlich, Joshua; Vaman, Diana

2017-03-27

A constraint of vanishing energy-momentum tensor is motivated by a variety of perspectives on quantum gravity. We demonstrate in a concrete example how this constraint leads to a metric-independent theory in which quantum gravity emerges as a nonperturbative artifact of regularization-scale physics. We analyze a scalar theory similar to the Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) theory with vanishing gauge fields, with the DBI Lagrangian modulated by a scalar potential. In the limit of a large number of scalars, we explicitly demonstrate the existence of a composite massless spin-2 graviton in the spectrum that couples to matter as in Einstein gravity. As a result,more » we comment on the cosmological constant problem and the generalization to theories with fermions and gauge fields.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carone, Christopher D.; Erlich, Joshua; Vaman, Diana

A constraint of vanishing energy-momentum tensor is motivated by a variety of perspectives on quantum gravity. We demonstrate in a concrete example how this constraint leads to a metric-independent theory in which quantum gravity emerges as a nonperturbative artifact of regularization-scale physics. We analyze a scalar theory similar to the Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) theory with vanishing gauge fields, with the DBI Lagrangian modulated by a scalar potential. In the limit of a large number of scalars, we explicitly demonstrate the existence of a composite massless spin-2 graviton in the spectrum that couples to matter as in Einstein gravity. As a result,more » we comment on the cosmological constant problem and the generalization to theories with fermions and gauge fields.« less

The processing of actions and action-words in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

PubMed

Papeo, Liuba; Cecchetto, Cinzia; Mazzon, Giulia; Granello, Giulia; Cattaruzza, Tatiana; Verriello, Lorenzo; Eleopra, Roberto; Rumiati, Raffaella I

2015-03-01

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with prime consequences on the motor function and concomitant cognitive changes, most frequently in the domain of executive functions. Moreover, poorer performance with action-verbs versus object-nouns has been reported in ALS patients, raising the hypothesis that the motor dysfunction deteriorates the semantic representation of actions. Using action-verbs and manipulable-object nouns sharing semantic relationship with the same motor representations, the verb-noun difference was assessed in a group of 21 ALS-patients with severely impaired motor behavior, and compared with a normal sample's performance. ALS-group performed better on nouns than verbs, both in production (action and object naming) and comprehension (word-picture matching). This observation implies that the interpretation of the verb-noun difference in ALS cannot be accounted by the relatedness of verbs to motor representations, but has to consider the role of other semantic and/or morpho-phonological dimensions that distinctively define the two grammatical classes. Moreover, this difference in the ALS-group was not greater than the noun-verb difference in the normal sample. The mental representation of actions also involves an executive-control component to organize, in logical/temporal order, the individual motor events (or sub-goals) that form a purposeful action. We assessed this ability with action sequencing tasks, requiring participants to re-construct a purposeful action from the scrambled presentation of its constitutive motor events, shown in the form of photographs or short sentences. In those tasks, ALS-group's performance was significantly poorer than controls'. Thus, the executive dysfunction manifested in the sequencing deficit -but not the selective verb deficit- appears as a consistent feature of the cognitive profile associated with ALS. We suggest that ALS can offer a valuable model to study the relationship between

Striatal action-value neurons reconsidered.

PubMed

Elber-Dorozko, Lotem; Loewenstein, Yonatan

2018-05-31

It is generally believed that during economic decisions, striatal neurons represent the values associated with different actions. This hypothesis is based on studies, in which the activity of striatal neurons was measured while the subject was learning to prefer the more rewarding action. Here we show that these publications are subject to at least one of two critical confounds. First, we show that even weak temporal correlations in the neuronal data may result in an erroneous identification of action-value representations. Second, we show that experiments and analyses designed to dissociate action-value representation from the representation of other decision variables cannot do so. We suggest solutions to identifying action-value representation that are not subject to these confounds. Applying one solution to previously identified action-value neurons in the basal ganglia we fail to detect action-value representations. We conclude that the claim that striatal neurons encode action-values must await new experiments and analyses. © 2018, Elber-Dorozko et al.

Seeing meaning in action: a bidirectional link between visual perspective and action identification level.

PubMed

Libby, Lisa K; Shaeffer, Eric M; Eibach, Richard P

2009-11-01

Actions do not have inherent meaning but rather can be interpreted in many ways. The interpretation a person adopts has important effects on a range of higher order cognitive processes. One dimension on which interpretations can vary is the extent to which actions are identified abstractly--in relation to broader goals, personal characteristics, or consequences--versus concretely, in terms of component processes. The present research investigated how visual perspective (own 1st-person vs. observer's 3rd-person) in action imagery is related to action identification level. A series of experiments measured and manipulated visual perspective in mental and photographic images to test the connection with action identification level. Results revealed a bidirectional causal relationship linking 3rd-person images and abstract action identifications. These findings highlight the functional role of visual imagery and have implications for understanding how perspective is involved in action perception at the social, cognitive, and neural levels. Copyright 2009 APA

Re-construction of action awareness depends on an internal model of action-outcome timing.

PubMed

Stenner, Max-Philipp; Bauer, Markus; Machts, Judith; Heinze, Hans-Jochen; Haggard, Patrick; Dolan, Raymond J

2014-04-01

The subjective time of an instrumental action is shifted towards its outcome. This temporal binding effect is partially retrospective, i.e., occurs upon outcome perception. Retrospective binding is thought to reflect post-hoc inference on agency based on sensory evidence of the action - outcome association. However, many previous binding paradigms cannot exclude the possibility that retrospective binding results from bottom-up interference of sensory outcome processing with action awareness and is functionally unrelated to the processing of the action - outcome association. Here, we keep bottom-up interference constant and use a contextual manipulation instead. We demonstrate a shift of subjective action time by its outcome in a context of variable outcome timing. Crucially, this shift is absent when there is no such variability. Thus, retrospective action binding reflects a context-dependent, model-based phenomenon. Such top-down re-construction of action awareness seems to bias agency attribution when outcome predictability is low. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Re-construction of action awareness depends on an internal model of action-outcome timing

PubMed Central

Stenner, Max-Philipp; Bauer, Markus; Machts, Judith; Heinze, Hans-Jochen; Haggard, Patrick; Dolan, Raymond J.

2014-01-01

The subjective time of an instrumental action is shifted towards its outcome. This temporal binding effect is partially retrospective, i.e., occurs upon outcome perception. Retrospective binding is thought to reflect post-hoc inference on agency based on sensory evidence of the action – outcome association. However, many previous binding paradigms cannot exclude the possibility that retrospective binding results from bottom-up interference of sensory outcome processing with action awareness and is functionally unrelated to the processing of the action – outcome association. Here, we keep bottom-up interference constant and use a contextual manipulation instead. We demonstrate a shift of subjective action time by its outcome in a context of variable outcome timing. Crucially, this shift is absent when there is no such variability. Thus, retrospective action binding reflects a context-dependent, model-based phenomenon. Such top-down re-construction of action awareness seems to bias agency attribution when outcome predictability is low. PMID:24555983

Putting Action in Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lozano, Sandra C.; Hard, Bridgette Martin; Tversky, Barbara

2007-01-01

Embodied approaches to cognition propose that our own actions influence our understanding of the world. Do other people's actions also have this influence? The present studies show that perceiving another person's actions changes the way people think about objects in a scene. In Study 1, participants viewed a photograph and answered a question…

76 FR 21907 - Draft Action Plan-A Public Health Action Plan To Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-19

...-2011-0002] Draft Action Plan--A Public Health Action Plan To Combat Antimicrobial Resistance AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). ACTION... Federal Register requesting public comment on the draft, A Public Health Action Plan to Combat...

43 CFR 20.602 - Remedial action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 43 Public Lands: Interior 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Remedial action. 20.602 Section 20.602... Disciplinary and Remedial Actions § 20.602 Remedial action. (a)(1) Remedial action should normally be.... (2) If the bureau Ethics Counselor decides that remedial action is required, such action shall be...

Planning as Action Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Gonzalez, Carmen Beatriz; Hernandez, Teresa; Kusch, Jim; Ryan, Charly

2004-01-01

Planning contains so much more than the written plan. Early in 2000, an invitation came from the Collaborative Action Research Network (CARN), to people experienced in action research who might want to help plan and present an action research event for elementary school science teachers in Venezuela, South America, in Autumn 2000. This article…

Inferring action structure and causal relationships in continuous sequences of human action.

PubMed

Buchsbaum, Daphna; Griffiths, Thomas L; Plunkett, Dillon; Gopnik, Alison; Baldwin, Dare

2015-02-01

In the real world, causal variables do not come pre-identified or occur in isolation, but instead are embedded within a continuous temporal stream of events. A challenge faced by both human learners and machine learning algorithms is identifying subsequences that correspond to the appropriate variables for causal inference. A specific instance of this problem is action segmentation: dividing a sequence of observed behavior into meaningful actions, and determining which of those actions lead to effects in the world. Here we present a Bayesian analysis of how statistical and causal cues to segmentation should optimally be combined, as well as four experiments investigating human action segmentation and causal inference. We find that both people and our model are sensitive to statistical regularities and causal structure in continuous action, and are able to combine these sources of information in order to correctly infer both causal relationships and segmentation boundaries. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Affirmative Action: A Personal View.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hayashi, Patrick

1992-01-01

An Asian-American college admissions director discusses affirmative action based on his own experiences and the comments of Shelby Steele, an African-American critic of affirmative action. He argues that affirmative action promotes distrust and self-doubt. He proposes that honest self-assessment is more productive and affirmative action should not…

45 CFR 689.3 - Actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Actions. 689.3 Section 689.3 Public Welfare... Actions. (a) Possible final actions listed in this paragraph (a) for guidance range from minimal... include possible criminal sanctions. (1) Group I actions. (i) Send a letter of reprimand to the individual...

45 CFR 689.3 - Actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Actions. 689.3 Section 689.3 Public Welfare... Actions. (a) Possible final actions listed in this paragraph (a) for guidance range from minimal... include possible criminal sanctions. (1) Group I actions. (i) Send a letter of reprimand to the individual...

Online Action Monitoring and Memory for Self-Performed Actions in Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grainger, Catherine; Williams, David M.; Lind, Sophie E.

2014-01-01

This study explored whether individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience difficulties with action monitoring. Two experimental tasks examined whether adults with ASD are able to monitor their own actions online, and whether they also show a typical enactment effects in memory (enhanced memory for actions they have performed compared…

76 FR 14402 - Draft Action Plan-A Public Health Action Plan To Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-16

...-2011-0002] Draft Action Plan--A Public Health Action Plan To Combat Antimicrobial Resistance AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). ACTION... requesting public comment on the draft A Public Health Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance. HHS...

40 CFR 66.81 - Final action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 15 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Final action. 66.81 Section 66.81... COLLECTION OF NONCOMPLIANCE PENALTIES BY EPA Final Action § 66.81 Final action. (a) A final Agency action... State action pursuant to part 67. (b) The actions listed in paragraph (a) of this section constitute...

Comparison of RCRA SWMU Corrective Action and CERCLA Remedial Action

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-09-30

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5 . FUNDING NUMBERS Comparison of RCRA SWMU Corrective Action and CERCLA Remedial Action 6. AUTHOR(S) Sam Capps Rupe, Major -1...Interim Status for TSD Facilities .................... 19 5 . Closure and Postclosure Requirements for TSD Facilities ........... 25 D. State Role... 65 1. RCRA Facility Assessment . ............................... 65 2. RCRA Facility Investigation . .............................. 66 3

From Outcome Prediction to Action Selection: Developmental Change in the Role of Action-Effect Bindings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Verschoor, Stephan A.; Spapé, Michiel; Biro, Szilvia; Hommel, Bernhard

2013-01-01

Ideomotor theory considers bidirectional action-effect associations to be the fundamental building blocks for intentional action. The present study employed a novel pupillometric and oculomotor paradigm to study developmental changes in the role of action-effects in the acquisition of voluntary action. Our findings suggest that both 7- and…

Intersubjective Action-Effect Binding: Eye Contact Modulates Acquisition of Bidirectional Association between Our and Others' Actions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sato, Atsushi; Itakura, Shoji

2013-01-01

In everyday social life, we predict others' actions in response to our own actions. Subsequently, on the basis of these predictions, we control our actions to attain desired social outcomes and/or adjust our actions to accommodate the anticipated actions of the others. Representation of the bidirectional association between our and others'…

Preferential Affirmative Action.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bell, Derrick A., Jr.

1982-01-01

Discusses the philosophical rationale for preferential affirmative action presented by Daniel C. Maguire in "A New American Justice." Maintains that self-interest bars present society's acceptance of Maguire's theories of justice, as demonstrated in negative reactions to the Harvard Law Review's affirmative action plan. (MJL)

24 CFR 984.201 - Action Plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Action Plan. 984.201 Section 984... § 984.201 Action Plan. (a) Requirement for Action Plan. A PHA must have a HUD-approved Action Plan that... program is a mandatory or voluntary program. (b) Development of Action Plan. The Action Plan shall be...

24 CFR 984.201 - Action Plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Action Plan. 984.201 Section 984... § 984.201 Action Plan. (a) Requirement for Action Plan. A PHA must have a HUD-approved Action Plan that... program is a mandatory or voluntary program. (b) Development of Action Plan. The Action Plan shall be...

The perception-action dynamics of action competency are altered by both physical and observational training.

PubMed

Buchanan, John J; Ramos, Jorge; Robson, Nina

2015-04-01

Action competency is defined as the ability of an individual to self-evaluate their own performance capabilities. The current experiment demonstrated that physical and observational training with a motor skill alters action competency ratings in a similar manner. Using a pre-test and post-test protocol, the results revealed that action competency is constrained prior to training by the intrinsic dynamics of relative phase (ϕ), with in-phase (ϕ = 0°) and anti-phase (ϕ = 180°) patterns receiving higher competency ratings than other relative phase patterns. After 2 days of training, action competency ratings for two trained relative phase patterns, +60° and +120°, increased following physical practice or observational practice. A transfer test revealed that both physical performance ability and action competency ability transferred to the symmetry partners (-60° and -120°) of the two trained relative phase patterns following physical or observational training. The findings also revealed that relative motion direction acts as categorical information that helps to organize action production and facilitate action competency. The results are interpreted based on the coordination dynamics theory of perception-action coupling, and extend this theory by showing that visual perception, action production, and action competency are all constrained in a consistent manner by the dynamics of the order parameter relative phase. As a whole, the findings revealed that relative motion, relative phase, and possibly relative amplitude information are all distinct sources of information that contribute to the emergence of a kinematic understanding of action in the nervous system.

A database of whole-body action videos for the study of action, emotion, and untrustworthiness.

PubMed

Keefe, Bruce D; Villing, Matthias; Racey, Chris; Strong, Samantha L; Wincenciak, Joanna; Barraclough, Nick E

2014-12-01

We present a database of high-definition (HD) videos for the study of traits inferred from whole-body actions. Twenty-nine actors (19 female) were filmed performing different actions-walking, picking up a box, putting down a box, jumping, sitting down, and standing and acting-while conveying different traits, including four emotions (anger, fear, happiness, sadness), untrustworthiness, and neutral, where no specific trait was conveyed. For the actions conveying the four emotions and untrustworthiness, the actions were filmed multiple times, with the actor conveying the traits with different levels of intensity. In total, we made 2,783 action videos (in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional format), each lasting 7 s with a frame rate of 50 fps. All videos were filmed in a green-screen studio in order to isolate the action information from all contextual detail and to provide a flexible stimulus set for future use. In order to validate the traits conveyed by each action, we asked participants to rate each of the actions corresponding to the trait that the actor portrayed in the two-dimensional videos. To provide a useful database of stimuli of multiple actions conveying multiple traits, each video name contains information on the gender of the actor, the action executed, the trait conveyed, and the rating of its perceived intensity. All videos can be downloaded free at the following address: http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~neb506/databases.html. We discuss potential uses for the database in the analysis of the perception of whole-body actions.

Cardiac action potential imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Qinghai; Lipp, Peter; Kaestner, Lars

2013-06-01

Action potentials in cardiac myocytes have durations in the order of magnitude of 100 milliseconds. In biomedical investigations the documentation of the occurrence of action potentials is often not sufficient, but a recording of the shape of an action potential allows a functional estimation of several molecular players. Therefore a temporal resolution of around 500 images per second is compulsory. In the past such measurements have been performed with photometric approaches limiting the measurement to one cell at a time. In contrast, imaging allows reading out several cells at a time with additional spatial information. Recent developments in camera technologies allow the acquisition with the required speed and sensitivity. We performed action potential imaging on isolated adult cardiomyocytes of guinea pigs utilizing the fluorescent membrane potential sensor di-8-ANEPPS and latest electron-multiplication CCD as well as scientific CMOS cameras of several manufacturers. Furthermore, we characterized the signal to noise ratio of action potential signals of varying sets of cameras, dye concentrations and objective lenses. We ensured that di-8-ANEPPS itself did not alter action potentials by avoiding concentrations above 5 μM. Based on these results we can conclude that imaging is a reliable method to read out action potentials. Compared to conventional current-clamp experiments, this optical approach allows a much higher throughput and due to its contact free concept leaving the cell to a much higher degree undisturbed. Action potential imaging based on isolated adult cardiomyocytes can be utilized in pharmacological cardiac safety screens bearing numerous advantages over approaches based on heterologous expression of hERG channels in cell lines.

45 CFR 1170.52 - Remedial action, voluntary action, and self-evaluation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Remedial action, voluntary action, and self-evaluation. 1170.52 Section 1170.52 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES NONDISCRIMINATION...

45 CFR 1170.52 - Remedial action, voluntary action, and self-evaluation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Remedial action, voluntary action, and self-evaluation. 1170.52 Section 1170.52 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES NONDISCRIMINATION...

Gott time machines in anti-de Sitter space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holst, Sören

1996-04-01

In 1991 Gott presented a solution of Einstein's field equations in 2+1 dimensions with λ=0 that contained closed timelike curves ( ctc's). This solution was remarkable because at first it did not seem to be unphysical in any other respect. Later, however, it was shown that Gott's solution is tachyonic in a certain sense. Here the case λ<0 is discussed. We show that it is also possible to construct ctc's in this case, in a way analogous to that used by Gott. We also show a special case of this construction to be tachyonic. λ<0 means that we are dealing with anti-de Sitter space, and since the CTC-construction necessitates some understanding of its structure, a few pages are devoted to this subject.

The Development of Action Planning in a Joint Action Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paulus, Markus

2016-01-01

The ability to act jointly with another person is a fundamental requirement for participation in social life. The current study examines the development of action planning in a joint action context. In 4 experiments, 3-, 5-, and 7-year-old children as well as a group of adults (n = 196) interacted with another person to operate a novel apparatus.…

Factual and Counterfactual Action-Outcome Mappings Control Choice between Goal-Directed Actions in Rats.

PubMed

Laurent, Vincent; Balleine, Bernard W

2015-04-20

The capacity to extract causal knowledge from the environment allows us to predict future events and to use those predictions to decide on a course of action. Although evidence of such causal reasoning has long been described, recent evidence suggests that using predictive knowledge to guide decision-making in this way is predicated on reasoning about causes in two quite distinct ways: choosing an action can be based on the interaction between predictive information and the consequences of that action, or, alternatively, actions can be selected based on the consequences that they do not produce. The latter counterfactual reasoning is highly adaptive because it allows us to use information about both present and absent events to guide decision-making. Nevertheless, although there is now evidence to suggest that animals other than humans, including rats and birds, can engage in causal reasoning of one kind or another, there is currently no evidence that they use counterfactual reasoning to guide choice. To assess this question, we gave rats the opportunity to learn new action-outcome relationships, after which we probed the structure of this learning by presenting excitatory and inhibitory cues predicting that the specific outcomes of their actions would either occur or would not occur. Whereas the excitors biased choice toward the action delivering the predicted outcome, the inhibitory cues selectively elevated actions predicting the absence of the inhibited outcome, suggesting that rats encoded the counterfactual action-outcome mappings and were able to use them to guide choice. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Corrective Action Glossary

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1992-07-01

The glossary of technical terms was prepared to facilitate the use of the Corrective Action Plan (CAP) issued by OSWER on November 14, 1986. The CAP presents model scopes of work for all phases of a corrective action program, including the RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI), Corrective Measures Study (CMS), Corrective Measures Implementation (CMI), and interim measures. The Corrective Action Glossary includes brief definitions of the technical terms used in the CAP and explains how they are used. In addition, expected ranges (where applicable) are provided. Parameters or terms not discussed in the CAP, but commonly associated with site investigations ormore » remediations are also included.« less

49 CFR 27.11 - Remedial action, voluntary action and compliance planning.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Remedial action, voluntary action and compliance planning. 27.11 Section 27.11 Transportation Office of the Secretary of Transportation NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES RECEIVING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE General § 27...

N =1 supergravitational heterotic galileons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deen, Rehan; Ovrut, Burt

2017-11-01

Heterotic M -theory consists of a five-dimensional manifold of the form S 1 / Z 2 × M 4. It has been shown that one of the two orbifold planes, the "observable" sector, can have a low energy particle spectrum which is precisely the N = 1 super-symmetric standard model with three right-handed neutrino chiral supermultiplets. The other orbifold plane constitutes a "hidden" sector which, since its communication with the observable sector is suppressed, will be ignored in this paper. However, the finite fifth-dimension allows for the existence of three-brane solitons which, in order to render the vacuum anomaly free, must appear. That is, heterotic M -theory provides a natural framework for brane-world cosmological scenarios coupled to realistic particle physics. The complete worldvolume action of such three-branes is unknown. Here, treating these solitons as probe branes, we construct their scalar worldvolume Lagrangian as a derivative expansion of the heterotic DBI action. In analogy with similar calculations in the M 5 and AdS 5 context, this leads to the construction of "heterotic Galileons". However, realistic vacua of heterotic M -theory are necessarily N = 1 supersymmetric in four dimensions. Hence, we proceed to supersymmetrize the three-brane worldvolume action, first in flat superspace and then extend the results to N = 1 supergravity. Such a worldvolume action may lead to interesting cosmology, such as "bouncing" universe models, by allowing for the violation of the Null Energy Condition (NEC).

12 CFR 272.4 - Committee actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 12 Banks and Banking 3 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Committee actions. 272.4 Section 272.4 Banks....4 Committee actions. (a) Actions at meetings. Actions are taken at meetings of the Committee except as described below. (b) Actions between meetings. Special circumstances may make it desirable in the...

Incongruent Imagery Interferes with Action Initiation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramsey, Richard; Cumming, Jennifer; Eastough, Daniel; Edwards, Martin G.

2010-01-01

It has been suggested that representing an action through observation and imagery share neural processes with action execution. In support of this view, motor-priming research has shown that observing an action can influence action initiation. However, there is little motor-priming research showing that imagining an action can modulate action…

The role of selective attention and action selection in the development of multiple action capabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simione, Luca; Nolfi, Stefano

2014-10-01

In this paper we illustrate how the capacity to select the most appropriate actions when handling contexts affording multiple conflicting actions can be solved either through a selective attention strategy (in which the stimuli affording alternative actions are filtered out at the perceptual level through top-down regulation) or at later processing stages through an action selection strategy (through the suppression of the premotor information eliciting alternative actions). By carrying out a series of experiments in which a neuro-robot develops an ability to choose between conflicting actions, we were able to identify the conditions that lead to the development of solutions based on one strategy or another. Overall, the results indicate that the selective attention strategy constitutes the most simple and straightforward mechanism enabling the acquisition of such capacities. Moreover, the characteristics of the adaptive/learning process influence whether the adaptive robot converges towards a selective attention and/or action selection strategy.

Career Action Pack.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blum, Robert E.; Raymond, Carolyn D.

One of five McDonald's Action Packs, these instructional materials for ninth and tenth graders (and more able sixth and seventh graders) have incorporated ideas around three career development goals--subject relevance, career awareness, and self-awareness. The action pack contains six units--three units each in the subject areas of language arts…

40 CFR 265.259 - Response actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... response action plan must set forth the actions to be taken if the action leakage rate has been exceeded... section. (b) If the flow rate into the leak determination system exceeds the action leakage rate for any... notification that the action leakage rate has been exceeded, submit to the Regional Administrator the results...

42 CFR 93.200 - Administrative action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Administrative action. 93.200 Section 93.200 Public... MISCONDUCT Definitions § 93.200 Administrative action. Administrative action means— (a) An HHS action in... related to that research or research training and to conserve public funds; or (b) An HHS action in...

Predictability of action sub-steps modulates motor system activation during the observation of goal-directed actions.

PubMed

Braukmann, Ricarda; Bekkering, Harold; Hidding, Margreeth; Poljac, Edita; Buitelaar, Jan K; Hunnius, Sabine

2017-08-01

Action perception and execution are linked in the human motor system, and researchers have proposed that this action-observation matching system underlies our ability to predict observed behavior. If the motor system is indeed involved in the generation of action predictions, activation should be modulated by the degree of predictability of an observed action. This study used EEG and eye-tracking to investigate whether and how predictability of an observed action modulates motor system activation as well as behavioral predictions in the form of anticipatory eye-movements. Participants were presented with object-directed actions (e.g., making a cup of tea) consisting of three action steps which increased in their predictability. While the goal of the first step was ambiguous (e.g., when making tea, one can first grab the teabag or the cup), the goals of the following steps became predictable over the course of the action. Motor system activation was assessed by measuring attenuation of sensorimotor mu- and beta-oscillations. We found that mu- and beta-power were attenuated during observation, indicating general activation of the motor system. Importantly, predictive motor system activation, indexed by beta-band attenuation, increased for each action step, showing strongest activation prior to the final (i.e. most predictable) step. Sensorimotor activity was related to participants' predictive eye-movements which also showed a modulation by action step. Our results demonstrate that motor system activity and behavioral predictions become stronger for more predictable action steps. The functional roles of sensorimotor oscillations in predicting other's actions are discussed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Confucian View of the Relationship between Knowledge and Action and Its Relevance to Action Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tsai, Ching-tien

2014-01-01

There are marked similarities between Confucian ideas about the relationship between action, knowledge and learning, and contemporary educational thinking about action research. Examples can be seen in the relationship between action and research. First, Confucius emphasized the importance of "action" which was different from…

40 CFR 265.224 - Response actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... action plan. The response action plan must set forth the actions to be taken if the action leakage rate... paragraph (b) of this section. (b) If the flow rate into the leak detection system exceeds the action leakage rate for any sump, the owner or operator must: (1) Notify the Regional Administrator in writing of...

40 CFR 264.223 - Response actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...) If the flow rate into the leak detection system exceeds the action leakage rate for any sump, the... action plan must set forth the actions to be taken if the action leakage rate has been exceeded. At a... action leakage rate has been exceeded, submit to the Regional Administrator the results of the analyses...

40 CFR 265.303 - Response actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... section. (b) If the flow rate into the leak detection system exceeds the action leakage rate for any sump... response action plan must set forth the actions to be taken if the action leakage rate has been exceeded... notification that the action leakage rate has been exceeded, submit to the Regional Administrator the results...

36 CFR 72.13 - Action plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 36 Parks, Forests, and Public Property 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Action plan. 72.13 Section 72... AND RECREATION RECOVERY ACT OF 1978 Local Recovery Action Programs § 72.13 Action plan. The purpose of the Assessment is to provide background and justification for an Action Plan. The Action Plan, which...

45 CFR 1225.19 - Corrective action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Corrective action. 1225.19 Section 1225.19 Public... Corrective action. (a) When discrimination is found, Peace Corps or ACTION must take appropriate action to... corrective action to the agent and other class members in accordance with § 1225.10 of this part. (b) When...

45 CFR 1225.19 - Corrective action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Corrective action. 1225.19 Section 1225.19 Public... Corrective action. (a) When discrimination is found, Peace Corps or ACTION must take appropriate action to... corrective action to the agent and other class members in accordance with § 1225.10 of this part. (b) When...

Cross-cultural differences of self-reported oral health behaviour in Japanese and Finnish dental students.

PubMed

Kawamura, M; Honkala, E; Widström, E; Komabayashi, T

2000-02-01

To determine whether any differences existed in dental health behaviour between Japanese and Finnish dental students. Hiroshima University School of Dentistry and the University of Helsinki. Comparison of cross-cultural differences of self-reported oral health behaviour. Dental students, 337 in Japan and 113 in Finland. Subjects were surveyed using the Japanese and Finnish versions of a 20-item questionnaire entitled Hiroshima University--Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI). Only 2 per cent of Finnish students reported that they put off going to the dentist until they had toothache, compared to 56 per cent of Japanese students. Similarly, significantly more Japanese students thought that their teeth were getting worse despite their daily brushing, compared to their Finnish peers. The mean HU-DBI score of Year 1 Finnish students was higher than that of their Japanese peers, which suggested a higher level of dental health awareness in Finnish students upon entry into dental school. The mean scores of the Japanese students were lower than those of their Finnish peers until Year 3. The mean scores of Year 5 and Year 6 Japanese students were higher than that of Year 1 students, indicating raised self-care levels influenced by the course in preventive dentistry. The gender difference of the HU-DBI score was not a major feature in either country. Self-reported oral health behaviours seemed to be very different between the two countries, which reflected different culture and/or health education systems of the students.

Translating visual information into action predictions: Statistical learning in action and nonaction contexts.

PubMed

Monroy, Claire D; Gerson, Sarah A; Hunnius, Sabine

2018-05-01

Humans are sensitive to the statistical regularities in action sequences carried out by others. In the present eyetracking study, we investigated whether this sensitivity can support the prediction of upcoming actions when observing unfamiliar action sequences. In two between-subjects conditions, we examined whether observers would be more sensitive to statistical regularities in sequences performed by a human agent versus self-propelled 'ghost' events. Secondly, we investigated whether regularities are learned better when they are associated with contingent effects. Both implicit and explicit measures of learning were compared between agent and ghost conditions. Implicit learning was measured via predictive eye movements to upcoming actions or events, and explicit learning was measured via both uninstructed reproduction of the action sequences and verbal reports of the regularities. The findings revealed that participants, regardless of condition, readily learned the regularities and made correct predictive eye movements to upcoming events during online observation. However, different patterns of explicit-learning outcomes emerged following observation: Participants were most likely to re-create the sequence regularities and to verbally report them when they had observed an actor create a contingent effect. These results suggest that the shift from implicit predictions to explicit knowledge of what has been learned is facilitated when observers perceive another agent's actions and when these actions cause effects. These findings are discussed with respect to the potential role of the motor system in modulating how statistical regularities are learned and used to modify behavior.

Teaching about Tort Law--My Actions, My Actions, Somebody Got Hurt!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rose, Stephen A.

1997-01-01

Presents a lesson plan that uses cases to teach students about three types of torts: intentional wrongs, negligence, and strict liability. Torts are wrongful actions (not involving a breech of contract) that may result in a civic action. Includes lesson procedures, objectives, and student handouts on torts and negligence cases. (MJP)

Evaluation of dowel bar inserter practices in PCC pavements with magnetic tomography technology : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-12-01

Dowel Bar Inserters (DBI) are automated mechanical equipment that position dowel bars in Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) after concrete is placed. Compared to the alternative approach, which is using dowel baskets, DBIs offer advantages in cost and sp...

An Inquiry into Action Research: Teaching and Doing Action Research for the First-Time

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Palak, Deniz

2013-01-01

I undertook this inquiry into action research while teaching research methods within a graduate degree teacher education program. This inquiry represents my initial encounter with action research and describes the tools, challenges, and uncertainties that I encountered while teaching and doing action research for the first-time. The main purpose…

Protective Action Guides (PAGs)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The Protective Action Guide (PAG) manual contains radiation dose guidelines that would trigger public safety measures. EPA developed Protective Action Guides to help responders plan for radiation emergencies.

22 CFR 223.11 - Appropriate action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Appropriate action. 223.11 Section 223.11...-EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS § 223.11 Appropriate action. The Administrator may take appropriate action in the... action. ...

22 CFR 223.11 - Appropriate action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Appropriate action. 223.11 Section 223.11...-EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS § 223.11 Appropriate action. The Administrator may take appropriate action in the... action. ...

Omission P3 after voluntary action indexes the formation of action-driven prediction.

PubMed

Kimura, Motohiro; Takeda, Yuji

2018-02-01

When humans frequently experience a certain sensory effect after a certain action, a bidirectional association between neural representations of the action and the sensory effect is rapidly acquired, which enables action-driven prediction of the sensory effect. The present study aimed to test whether or not omission P3, an event-related brain potential (ERP) elicited by the sudden omission of a sensory effect, is sensitive to the formation of action-driven prediction. For this purpose, we examined how omission P3 is affected by the number of possible visual effects. In four separate blocks (1-, 2-, 4-, and 8-stimulus blocks), participants successively pressed a right button at an interval of about 1s. In all blocks, each button press triggered a bar on a display (a bar with square edges, 85%; a bar with round edges, 5%), but occasionally did not (sudden omission of a visual effect, 10%). Participants were required to press a left button when a bar with round edges appeared. In the 1-stimulus block, the orientation of the bar was fixed throughout the block; in the 2-, 4-, and 8-stimulus blocks, the orientation was randomly varied among two, four, and eight possibilities, respectively. Omission P3 in the 1-stimulus block was greater than those in the 2-, 4-, and 8-stimulus blocks; there were no significant differences among the 2-, 4-, and 8-stimulus blocks. This binary pattern nicely fits the limitation in the acquisition of action-effect association; although an association between an action and one visual effect is easily acquired, associations between an action and two or more visual effects cannot be acquired concurrently. Taken together, the present results suggest that omission P3 is highly sensitive to the formation of action-driven prediction. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Compact double-p slotted inset-fed microstrip patch antenna on high dielectric substrate.

PubMed

Ahsan, M R; Islam, M T; Habib Ullah, M; Mahadi, W N L; Latef, T A

2014-01-01

This paper presents a compact sized inset-fed rectangular microstrip patch antenna embedded with double-P slots. The proposed antenna has been designed and fabricated on ceramic-PTFE composite material substrate of high dielectric constant value. The measurement results from the fabricated prototype of the antenna show -10 dB reflection coefficient bandwidths of 200 MHz and 300 MHz with center resonant frequency of 1.5 GHz and 4 GHz, respectively. The fabricated antenna has attained gains of 3.52 dBi with 81% radiation efficiency and 5.72 dBi with 87% radiation efficiency for lower band and upper band, respectively. The measured E- and H-plane radiation patterns are also presented for better understanding. Good agreement between the simulation and measurement results and consistent radiation patterns make the proposed antenna suitable for GPS and C-band applications.

Re-Visioning Action: Participatory Action Research and Indigenous Theories of Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tuck, Eve

2009-01-01

This article observes that participatory action research (PAR), by nature of being collaborative, necessitates making explicit theories of change that may have otherwise gone unseen or unexamined. The article explores the limits of the reform/revolution paradox on actions and theories of change in PAR. Citing examples from two recent youth PAR…

14 CFR 1251.105 - Remedial action, voluntary action, and self-evaluation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... NONDISCRIMINATION ON BASIS OF HANDICAP General Provisions § 1251.105 Remedial action, voluntary action, and self... against persons on the basis of handicap in violation of section 504 or this part, the recipient shall... discrimination. (2) Where a recipient is found to have discriminated against persons on the basis of handicap in...

14 CFR 1251.105 - Remedial action, voluntary action, and self-evaluation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... NONDISCRIMINATION ON BASIS OF HANDICAP General Provisions § 1251.105 Remedial action, voluntary action, and self... against persons on the basis of handicap in violation of section 504 or this part, the recipient shall... discrimination. (2) Where a recipient is found to have discriminated against persons on the basis of handicap in...

14 CFR 1251.105 - Remedial action, voluntary action, and self-evaluation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... NONDISCRIMINATION ON BASIS OF HANDICAP General Provisions § 1251.105 Remedial action, voluntary action, and self... against persons on the basis of handicap in violation of section 504 or this part, the recipient shall... discrimination. (2) Where a recipient is found to have discriminated against persons on the basis of handicap in...

14 CFR 1251.105 - Remedial action, voluntary action, and self-evaluation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... NONDISCRIMINATION ON BASIS OF HANDICAP General Provisions § 1251.105 Remedial action, voluntary action, and self... against persons on the basis of handicap in violation of section 504 or this part, the recipient shall... discrimination. (2) Where a recipient is found to have discriminated against persons on the basis of handicap in...

Using Action Research and Action Learning for Entrepreneurial Network Capability Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGrath, Helen; O'Toole, Thomas

2016-01-01

This paper applies an action research (AR) design and action learning (AL) approach to network capability development in an entrepreneurial context. Recent research suggests that networks are a viable strategy for the entrepreneurial firm to overcome the liabilities associated with newness and smallness. However, a gap emerges as few, if any,…

Action Recognition in a Crowded Environment

PubMed Central

Nieuwenhuis, Judith; Bülthoff, Isabelle; Barraclough, Nick; de la Rosa, Stephan

2017-01-01

So far, action recognition has been mainly examined with small point-light human stimuli presented alone within a narrow central area of the observer’s visual field. Yet, we need to recognize the actions of life-size humans viewed alone or surrounded by bystanders, whether they are seen in central or peripheral vision. Here, we examined the mechanisms in central vision and far periphery (40° eccentricity) involved in the recognition of the actions of a life-size actor (target) and their sensitivity to the presence of a crowd surrounding the target. In Experiment 1, we used an action adaptation paradigm to probe whether static or idly moving crowds might interfere with the recognition of a target’s action (hug or clap). We found that this type of crowds whose movements were dissimilar to the target action hardly affected action recognition in central and peripheral vision. In Experiment 2, we examined whether crowd actions that were more similar to the target actions affected action recognition. Indeed, the presence of that crowd diminished adaptation aftereffects in central vision as wells as in the periphery. We replicated Experiment 2 using a recognition task instead of an adaptation paradigm. With this task, we found evidence of decreased action recognition accuracy, but this was significant in peripheral vision only. Our results suggest that the presence of a crowd carrying out actions similar to that of the target affects its recognition. We outline how these results can be understood in terms of high-level crowding effects that operate on action-sensitive perceptual channels. PMID:29308177

Representing the Hyphen in Action-Effect Associations: Automatic Acquisition and Bidirectional Retrieval of Action-Effect Intervals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dignath, David; Pfister, Roland; Eder, Andreas B.; Kiesel, Andrea; Kunde, Wilfried

2014-01-01

We examined whether a temporal interval between an action and its sensory effect is integrated in the cognitive action structure in a bidirectional fashion. In 3 experiments, participants first experienced that actions produced specific acoustic effects (high and low tones) that occurred temporally delayed after their actions. In a following test…

Habits, action sequences, and reinforcement learning

PubMed Central

Dezfouli, Amir; Balleine, Bernard W.

2012-01-01

It is now widely accepted that instrumental actions can be either goal-directed or habitual; whereas the former are rapidly acquire and regulated by their outcome, the latter are reflexive, elicited by antecedent stimuli rather than their consequences. Model-based reinforcement learning (RL) provides an elegant description of goal-directed action. Through exposure to states, actions and rewards, the agent rapidly constructs a model of the world and can choose an appropriate action based on quite abstract changes in environmental and evaluative demands. This model is powerful but has a problem explaining the development of habitual actions. To account for habits, theorists have argued that another action controller is required, called model-free RL, that does not form a model of the world but rather caches action values within states allowing a state to select an action based on its reward history rather than its consequences. Nevertheless, there are persistent problems with important predictions from the model; most notably the failure of model-free RL correctly to predict the insensitivity of habitual actions to changes in the action-reward contingency. Here, we suggest that introducing model-free RL in instrumental conditioning is unnecessary and demonstrate that reconceptualizing habits as action sequences allows model-based RL to be applied to both goal-directed and habitual actions in a manner consistent with what real animals do. This approach has significant implications for the way habits are currently investigated and generates new experimental predictions. PMID:22487034

Bodily action penetrates affective perception

PubMed Central

Rigutti, Sara; Gerbino, Walter

2016-01-01

Fantoni & Gerbino (2014) showed that subtle postural shifts associated with reaching can have a strong hedonic impact and affect how actors experience facial expressions of emotion. Using a novel Motor Action Mood Induction Procedure (MAMIP), they found consistent congruency effects in participants who performed a facial emotion identification task after a sequence of visually-guided reaches: a face perceived as neutral in a baseline condition appeared slightly happy after comfortable actions and slightly angry after uncomfortable actions. However, skeptics about the penetrability of perception (Zeimbekis & Raftopoulos, 2015) would consider such evidence insufficient to demonstrate that observer’s internal states induced by action comfort/discomfort affect perception in a top-down fashion. The action-modulated mood might have produced a back-end memory effect capable of affecting post-perceptual and decision processing, but not front-end perception. Here, we present evidence that performing a facial emotion detection (not identification) task after MAMIP exhibits systematic mood-congruent sensitivity changes, rather than response bias changes attributable to cognitive set shifts; i.e., we show that observer’s internal states induced by bodily action can modulate affective perception. The detection threshold for happiness was lower after fifty comfortable than uncomfortable reaches; while the detection threshold for anger was lower after fifty uncomfortable than comfortable reaches. Action valence induced an overall sensitivity improvement in detecting subtle variations of congruent facial expressions (happiness after positive comfortable actions, anger after negative uncomfortable actions), in the absence of significant response bias shifts. Notably, both comfortable and uncomfortable reaches impact sensitivity in an approximately symmetric way relative to a baseline inaction condition. All of these constitute compelling evidence of a genuine top-down effect on

Action learning across the decades.

PubMed

Eason, Ken

2017-05-02

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how action learning concepts were used in two healthcare projects undertaken many decades apart. The specific purpose in both cases was to examine how action learning can contribute to shared learning across key stakeholders in a complex socio-technical system. In each case study, action learning supported joint design programmes and the sharing of perspectives about the complex system under investigation. Design/methodology/approach Two action learning projects are described: first, the Hospital Internal Communications (HIC) project led by Reg Revans in the 1960s. Senior staff in ten London hospitals formed action learning teams to address communication issues. Second, in the Better Outcomes for People with Learning Disabilities: Transforming Care (BOLDTC) project, videoconferencing equipment enabled people with learning disabilities to increase their opportunities to communicate. A mutual learning process was established to enable stakeholders to explore the potential of the technical system to improve individual care. Findings The HIC project demonstrated the importance of evidence being shared between team members and that action had to engage the larger healthcare system outside the hospital. The BOLDTC project confirmed the continuing relevance of action learning to healthcare today. Mutual learning was achieved between health and social care specialists and technologists. Originality/value This work draws together the socio-technical systems tradition (considering both social and technical issues in organisations) and action learning to demonstrate that complex systems development needs to be undertaken as a learning process in which action provides the fuel for learning and design.

Beginning and Becoming: Hannah Arendt's Theory of Action and Action Research in Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rogers, Carrie

2014-01-01

This paper demonstrates the importance and implications of Hannah Arendt's theory of action for action research. Using examples from my teaching experience I demonstrate the relevance of her ideas in understanding the purpose and aims of action research in the classroom.

Understanding action language modulates oscillatory mu and beta rhythms in the same way as observing actions.

PubMed

Moreno, Iván; de Vega, Manuel; León, Inmaculada

2013-08-01

The mu rhythms (8-13 Hz) and the beta rhythms (15 up to 30 Hz) of the EEG are observed in the central electrodes (C3, Cz and C4) in resting states, and become suppressed when participants perform a manual action or when they observe another's action. This has led researchers to consider that these rhythms are electrophysiological markers of the motor neuron activity in humans. This study tested whether the comprehension of action language, unlike abstract language, modulates mu and low beta rhythms (15-20 Hz) in a similar way as the observation of real actions. The log-ratios were calculated for each oscillatory band between each condition and baseline resting periods. The results indicated that both action language and action videos caused mu and beta suppression (negative log-ratios), whereas abstract language did not, confirming the hypothesis that understanding action language activates motor networks in the brain. In other words, the resonance of motor areas associated with action language is compatible with the embodiment approach to linguistic meaning. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Corrective Action Plan for Corrective Action Unit 562: Waste Systems, Nevada National Security Site, Nevada

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NSTec Environmental Restoration

2011-04-30

This Corrective Action Plan has been prepared for Corrective Action Unit (CAU) 562, Waste Systems, in accordance with the Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (1996; as amended March 2010). CAU 562 consists of 13 Corrective Action Sites (CASs) located in Areas 2, 23, and 25 of the Nevada National Security Site. Site characterization activities were performed in 2009 and 2010, and the results are presented in Appendix A of the Corrective Action Decision Document for CAU 562. The scope of work required to implement the recommended closure alternatives is summarized. (1) CAS 02-26-11, Lead Shot, will be clean closedmore » by removing shot. (2) CAS 02-44-02, Paint Spills and French Drain, will be clean closed by removing paint and contaminated soil. As a best management practice (BMP), asbestos tile will be removed. (3) CAS 02-59-01, Septic System, will be clean closed by removing septic tank contents. As a BMP, the septic tank will be removed. (4) CAS 02-60-01, Concrete Drain, contains no contaminants of concern (COCs) above action levels. No further action is required; however, as a BMP, the concrete drain will be removed. (5) CAS 02-60-02, French Drain, was clean closed. Corrective actions were completed during corrective action investigation activities. As a BMP, the drain grates and drain pipe will be removed. (6) CAS 02-60-03, Steam Cleaning Drain, will be clean closed by removing contaminated soil. As a BMP, the steam cleaning sump grate and outfall pipe will be removed. (7) CAS 02-60-04, French Drain, was clean closed. Corrective actions were completed during corrective action investigation activities. (8) CAS 02-60-05, French Drain, will be clean closed by removing contaminated soil. (9) CAS 02-60-06, French Drain, contains no COCs above action levels. No further action is required. (10) CAS 02-60-07, French Drain, requires no further action. The french drain identified in historical documentation was not located during corrective action

77 FR 47517 - Enforcement Actions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-09

... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Indian Gaming Commission 25 CFR Part 573 Enforcement Actions AGENCY: National Indian Gaming Commission. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The National Indian Gaming... be considered final agency action by a court even though it is issued by NIGC staff rather than the...

American Lead Action Memorandum

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

ACTION MEMORANDUM— Request for a Time-Critical Removal Action andExemption from the $2 Million and 12-Month Statutory Limits at the AmericanLead Site, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Site ID #B56J)

78 FR 11216 - Enforcement Actions Summary

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-15

...] Enforcement Actions Summary AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS. ACTION: Notice of... an annual summary of all enforcement actions taken by TSA under the authority granted in the... public with an annual summary of all enforcement actions taken by TSA under this subsection; and include...

77 FR 12865 - Enforcement Actions Summary

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-02

...] Enforcement Actions Summary AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS. ACTION: Notice of... an annual summary of all enforcement actions taken by TSA under the authority granted in the... public with an annual summary of all enforcement actions taken by TSA under this subsection; and include...

76 FR 9357 - Enforcement Actions Summary

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-17

...] Enforcement Actions Summary AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS. ACTION: Notice of... an annual summary of all enforcement actions taken by TSA under the authority granted in the... to provide the public with an annual summary of all enforcement actions taken by TSA under this...

Drinking Water Action Plan

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA's Drinking Water Action Plan serves as a national call to action, urging all levels of government, utilities, community organizations, and other stakeholders to work together to increase the safety and reliability of drinking water.

Simplicial Palatini action

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khatsymovsky, V. M.

2018-01-01

We consider the piecewise flat spacetime and a simplicial analog of the Palatini form of the general relativity (GR) action where the discrete Christoffel symbols are given on the tetrahedra as variables that are independent of the metric. Excluding these variables with the help of the equations of motion gives exactly the Regge action. This paper continues our previous work. Now, we include the parity violation term and the analog of the Barbero-Immirzi parameter introduced in the orthogonal connection form of GR. We consider the path integral and the functional integration over the connection. The result of the latter (for certain limiting cases of some parameters) is compared with the earlier found result of the functional integration over the connection for the analogous orthogonal connection representation of Regge action. These results, mainly as some measures on the lengths/areas, are discussed for the possibility of the diagram technique where the perturbative diagrams for the Regge action calculated using the measure obtained are finite. This finiteness is due to these measures providing elementary lengths being mostly bounded and separated from zero, just as the finiteness of a theory on a lattice with an analogous probability distribution of spacings.

Statistical learning in social action contexts.

PubMed

Monroy, Claire; Meyer, Marlene; Gerson, Sarah; Hunnius, Sabine

2017-01-01

Sensitivity to the regularities and structure contained within sequential, goal-directed actions is an important building block for generating expectations about the actions we observe. Until now, research on statistical learning for actions has solely focused on individual action sequences, but many actions in daily life involve multiple actors in various interaction contexts. The current study is the first to investigate the role of statistical learning in tracking regularities between actions performed by different actors, and whether the social context characterizing their interaction influences learning. That is, are observers more likely to track regularities across actors if they are perceived as acting jointly as opposed to in parallel? We tested adults and toddlers to explore whether social context guides statistical learning and-if so-whether it does so from early in development. In a between-subjects eye-tracking experiment, participants were primed with a social context cue between two actors who either shared a goal of playing together ('Joint' condition) or stated the intention to act alone ('Parallel' condition). In subsequent videos, the actors performed sequential actions in which, for certain action pairs, the first actor's action reliably predicted the second actor's action. We analyzed predictive eye movements to upcoming actions as a measure of learning, and found that both adults and toddlers learned the statistical regularities across actors when their actions caused an effect. Further, adults with high statistical learning performance were sensitive to social context: those who observed actors with a shared goal were more likely to correctly predict upcoming actions. In contrast, there was no effect of social context in the toddler group, regardless of learning performance. These findings shed light on how adults and toddlers perceive statistical regularities across actors depending on the nature of the observed social situation and the

Statistical learning in social action contexts

PubMed Central

Meyer, Marlene; Gerson, Sarah; Hunnius, Sabine

2017-01-01

Sensitivity to the regularities and structure contained within sequential, goal-directed actions is an important building block for generating expectations about the actions we observe. Until now, research on statistical learning for actions has solely focused on individual action sequences, but many actions in daily life involve multiple actors in various interaction contexts. The current study is the first to investigate the role of statistical learning in tracking regularities between actions performed by different actors, and whether the social context characterizing their interaction influences learning. That is, are observers more likely to track regularities across actors if they are perceived as acting jointly as opposed to in parallel? We tested adults and toddlers to explore whether social context guides statistical learning and—if so—whether it does so from early in development. In a between-subjects eye-tracking experiment, participants were primed with a social context cue between two actors who either shared a goal of playing together (‘Joint’ condition) or stated the intention to act alone (‘Parallel’ condition). In subsequent videos, the actors performed sequential actions in which, for certain action pairs, the first actor’s action reliably predicted the second actor’s action. We analyzed predictive eye movements to upcoming actions as a measure of learning, and found that both adults and toddlers learned the statistical regularities across actors when their actions caused an effect. Further, adults with high statistical learning performance were sensitive to social context: those who observed actors with a shared goal were more likely to correctly predict upcoming actions. In contrast, there was no effect of social context in the toddler group, regardless of learning performance. These findings shed light on how adults and toddlers perceive statistical regularities across actors depending on the nature of the observed social

The Grammar of Artifactual Action.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bhola, H. S.

This paper examines the process of intervention design as it relates to the grammar of artifactual action. In his discussion, the author identifies three separate elements of artifactual action. These elements include defining the situation of action and the change agent's relationship to the situation; generating typical expectations about…

Affirmative Action: History and Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garrison-Wade, Dorothy F.; Lewis, Chance W.

2004-01-01

From its inception, affirmative action policies were created to improve the employment and/or educational opportunities for members of minority groups and women. Even today, however, the debate continues over the future of affirmative action. Proponents offer empirical evidence illustrating that affirmative action has been favorable in aiding…

5 CFR 930.113 - Corrective action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Corrective action. 930.113 Section 930....113 Corrective action. An agency will take adverse, disciplinary, or other appropriate action against... such action against an operator or an incidental operator: (a) The employee is convicted of operating...

5 CFR 930.113 - Corrective action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Corrective action. 930.113 Section 930....113 Corrective action. An agency will take adverse, disciplinary, or other appropriate action against... such action against an operator or an incidental operator: (a) The employee is convicted of operating...

76 FR 40811 - Maneb; Tolerance Actions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-12

...; Tolerance Actions AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: EPA is... established a docket for this action under docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0327. All... . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this action apply to me? You may be potentially...

Attention, biological motion, and action recognition.

PubMed

Thompson, James; Parasuraman, Raja

2012-01-02

Interacting with others in the environment requires that we perceive and recognize their movements and actions. Neuroimaging and neuropsychological studies have indicated that a number of brain regions, particularly the superior temporal sulcus, are involved in a number of processes essential for action recognition, including the processing of biological motion and processing the intentions of actions. We review the behavioral and neuroimaging evidence suggesting that while some aspects of action recognition might be rapid and effective, they are not necessarily automatic. Attention is particularly important when visual information about actions is degraded or ambiguous, or if competing information is present. We present evidence indicating that neural responses associated with the processing of biological motion are strongly modulated by attention. In addition, behavioral and neuroimaging evidence shows that drawing inferences from the actions of others is attentionally demanding. The role of attention in action observation has implications for everyday social interactions and workplace applications that depend on observing, understanding and interpreting actions. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Action representation: crosstalk between semantics and pragmatics.

PubMed

Prinz, Wolfgang

2014-03-01

Marc Jeannerod pioneered a representational approach to movement and action. In his approach, motor representations provide both, declarative knowledge about action and procedural knowledge for action (action semantics and action pragmatics, respectively). Recent evidence from language comprehension and action simulation supports the claim that action pragmatics and action semantics draw on common representational resources, thus challenging the traditional divide between declarative and procedural action knowledge. To account for these observations, three kinds of theoretical frameworks are discussed: (i) semantics is grounded in pragmatics, (ii) pragmatics is anchored in semantics, and (iii) pragmatics is part and parcel of semantics. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Action simulation: time course and representational mechanisms

PubMed Central

Springer, Anne; Parkinson, Jim; Prinz, Wolfgang

2013-01-01

The notion of action simulation refers to the ability to re-enact foreign actions (i.e., actions observed in other individuals). Simulating others' actions implies a mirroring of their activities, based on one's own sensorimotor competencies. Here, we discuss theoretical and experimental approaches to action simulation and the study of its representational underpinnings. One focus of our discussion is on the timing of internal simulation and its relation to the timing of external action, and a paradigm that requires participants to predict the future course of actions that are temporarily occluded from view. We address transitions between perceptual mechanisms (referring to action representation before and after occlusion) and simulation mechanisms (referring to action representation during occlusion). Findings suggest that action simulation runs in real-time; acting on newly created action representations rather than relying on continuous visual extrapolations. A further focus of our discussion pertains to the functional characteristics of the mechanisms involved in predicting other people's actions. We propose that two processes are engaged, dynamic updating and static matching, which may draw on both semantic and motor information. In a concluding section, we discuss these findings in the context of broader theoretical issues related to action and event representation, arguing that a detailed functional analysis of action simulation in cognitive, neural, and computational terms may help to further advance our understanding of action cognition and motor control. PMID:23847563

Action Research: Trends and Variations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beaulieu, Rodney J.

2013-01-01

Action research continues to grow as a research tradition, yet misconceptions about what it is and is not remains, even among scholars. For example, some mistakenly believe action research is only about professional development and is not a scholarly research approach. Some assume action research must be accomplished through a collaborative…

Community Action for Recreation Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christiansen, Rudolph A.; And Others

Examples of projects, notably those using watersheds, that local community action groups can promote in planning and developing needed recreational facilities are discussed in this study report. Objectives of the report are to create an awareness of group action in obtaining recreational development, to emphasize that community action is important…

Enhancing Postgraduate Learning and Development: A Participatory Action Learning and Action Research Approach through Conferences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wood, Lesley; Louw, Ina; Zuber-Skerritt, Ortrun

2017-01-01

As supervisors who advocate the transformational potential of research both to generate theory and practical and emancipatory outcomes, we practice participatory action learning and action research (PALAR). This paper offers an illustrative case of how supervision practices based on action learning can foster emancipatory and lifelong learning…

29 CFR 1607.13 - Affirmative action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 29 Labor 4 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Affirmative action. 1607.13 Section 1607.13 Labor... EMPLOYEE SELECTION PROCEDURES (1978) General Principles § 1607.13 Affirmative action. A. Affirmative action... relieve users of any obligations they may have to undertake affirmative action to assure equal employment...

34 CFR 682.704 - Emergency action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 34 Education 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Emergency action. 682.704 Section 682.704 Education... Emergency action. (a) The Secretary, or a designated Departmental official, may take emergency action to...) Determines that immediate action is necessary to prevent the likelihood of substantial losses by the Federal...

32 CFR 651.30 - CX actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 32 National Defense 4 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true CX actions. 651.30 Section 651.30 National Defense Department of Defense (Continued) DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY (CONTINUED) ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF ARMY ACTIONS (AR 200-2) Categorical Exclusions § 651.30 CX actions. Types of actions...

29 CFR 1607.13 - Affirmative action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 29 Labor 4 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Affirmative action. 1607.13 Section 1607.13 Labor... EMPLOYEE SELECTION PROCEDURES (1978) General Principles § 1607.13 Affirmative action. A. Affirmative action... relieve users of any obligations they may have to undertake affirmative action to assure equal employment...

9 CFR 416.15 - Corrective Actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Corrective Actions. 416.15 Section 416... SANITATION § 416.15 Corrective Actions. (a) Each official establishment shall take appropriate corrective action(s) when either the establishment or FSIS determines that the establishment's Sanitation SOP's or...

32 CFR 651.13 - Classified actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 32 National Defense 4 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Classified actions. 651.13 Section 651.13... ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF ARMY ACTIONS (AR 200-2) National Environmental Policy Act and the Decision Process § 651.13 Classified actions. (a) For proposed actions and NEPA analyses involving classified information...

Action and perception in social contexts: intentional binding for social action effects

PubMed Central

Pfister, Roland; Obhi, Sukhvinder S.; Rieger, Martina; Wenke, Dorit

2014-01-01

The subjective experience of controlling events in the environment alters the perception of these events. For instance, the interval between one's own actions and their consequences is subjectively compressed—a phenomenon known as intentional binding. In two experiments, we studied intentional binding in a social setting in which actions of one agent prompted a second agent to perform another action. Participants worked in pairs and were assigned to a “leader” and a “follower” role, respectively. The leader's key presses triggered (after a variable interval) a tone and this tone served as go signal for the follower to perform a keypress as well. Leaders and followers estimated the interval between the leader's keypress and the following tone, or the interval between the tone and the follower's keypress. The leader showed reliable intentional binding for both intervals relative to the follower's estimates. These results indicate that human agents experience a pre-reflective sense of agency for genuinely social consequences of their actions. PMID:25228869

Visual adaptation enhances action sound discrimination.

PubMed

Barraclough, Nick E; Page, Steve A; Keefe, Bruce D

2017-01-01

Prolonged exposure, or adaptation, to a stimulus in 1 modality can bias, but also enhance, perception of a subsequent stimulus presented within the same modality. However, recent research has also found that adaptation in 1 modality can bias perception in another modality. Here, we show a novel crossmodal adaptation effect, where adaptation to a visual stimulus enhances subsequent auditory perception. We found that when compared to no adaptation, prior adaptation to visual, auditory, or audiovisual hand actions enhanced discrimination between 2 subsequently presented hand action sounds. Discrimination was most enhanced when the visual action "matched" the auditory action. In addition, prior adaptation to a visual, auditory, or audiovisual action caused subsequent ambiguous action sounds to be perceived as less like the adaptor. In contrast, these crossmodal action aftereffects were not generated by adaptation to the names of actions. Enhanced crossmodal discrimination and crossmodal perceptual aftereffects may result from separate mechanisms operating in audiovisual action sensitive neurons within perceptual systems. Adaptation-induced crossmodal enhancements cannot be explained by postperceptual responses or decisions. More generally, these results together indicate that adaptation is a ubiquitous mechanism for optimizing perceptual processing of multisensory stimuli.

CLEANing the Reward: Counterfactual Actions to Remove Exploratory Action Noise in Multiagent Learning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

HolmesParker, Chris; Taylor, Mathew E.; Tumer, Kagan; Agogino, Adrian

2014-01-01

Learning in multiagent systems can be slow because agents must learn both how to behave in a complex environment and how to account for the actions of other agents. The inability of an agent to distinguish between the true environmental dynamics and those caused by the stochastic exploratory actions of other agents creates noise in each agent's reward signal. This learning noise can have unforeseen and often undesirable effects on the resultant system performance. We define such noise as exploratory action noise, demonstrate the critical impact it can have on the learning process in multiagent settings, and introduce a reward structure to effectively remove such noise from each agent's reward signal. In particular, we introduce Coordinated Learning without Exploratory Action Noise (CLEAN) rewards and empirically demonstrate their benefits

48 CFR 9901.314 - Informal actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Informal actions. 9901.314... actions. The Chairman may take actions on behalf of the Board on administrative issues, as determined by the Chairman, without holding an official meeting of the members. However, details of the actions so...

50 CFR 100.19 - Special actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 8 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Special actions. 100.19 Section 100.19... § 100.19 Special actions. (a) Emergency special actions. In an emergency situation, if necessary to... recommendations on the proposed emergency special action. Such a Council recommendation, if any, will be subject...

42 CFR 460.194 - Corrective action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 42 Public Health 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Corrective action. 460.194 Section 460.194 Public...) Federal/State Monitoring § 460.194 Corrective action. (a) A PACE organization must take action to correct... corrective actions. (c) Failure to correct deficiencies may result in sanctions or termination, as specified...

48 CFR 9901.314 - Informal actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 7 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Informal actions. 9901.314... actions. The Chairman may take actions on behalf of the Board on administrative issues, as determined by the Chairman, without holding an official meeting of the members. However, details of the actions so...

12 CFR 1732.10 - Supervisory action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 12 Banks and Banking 7 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Supervisory action. 1732.10 Section 1732.10... DEVELOPMENT SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS RECORD RETENTION Supervisory Action § 1732.10 Supervisory action. (a) Supervisory action. Failure by an Enterprise to comply with this part may subject the Enterprise or the board...

14 CFR 13.19 - Certificate action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Certificate action. 13.19 Section 13.19... INVESTIGATIVE AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES Legal Enforcement Actions § 13.19 Certificate action. (a) Under section... charges or other reasons upon which the Administrator bases the proposed action and, except in an...

42 CFR 460.194 - Corrective action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Corrective action. 460.194 Section 460.194 Public...) Federal/State Monitoring § 460.194 Corrective action. (a) A PACE organization must take action to correct... corrective actions. (c) Failure to correct deficiencies may result in sanctions or termination, as specified...

Developing an Action Concept Inventory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGinness, Lachlan P.; Savage, C. M.

2016-01-01

We report on progress towards the development of an Action Concept Inventory (ACI), a test that measures student understanding of action principles in introductory mechanics and optics. The ACI also covers key concepts of many-paths quantum mechanics, from which classical action physics arises. We used a multistage iterative development cycle for…

Motor Execution Affects Action Prediction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Springer, Anne; Brandstadter, Simone; Liepelt, Roman; Birngruber, Teresa; Giese, Martin; Mechsner, Franz; Prinz, Wolfgang

2011-01-01

Previous studies provided evidence of the claim that the prediction of occluded action involves real-time simulation. We report two experiments that aimed to study how real-time simulation is affected by simultaneous action execution under conditions of full, partial or no overlap between observed and executed actions. This overlap was analysed by…

Corrective Action Decision Document for Corrective Action Unit 204: Storage Bunkers, Nevada Test Site, Nevada, Rev. No. 0

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Robert Boehlecke

2004-04-01

The six bunkers included in CAU 204 were primarily used to monitor atmospheric testing or store munitions. The ''Corrective Action Investigation Plan (CAIP) for Corrective Action Unit 204: Storage Bunkers, Nevada Test Site, Nevada'' (NNSA/NV, 2002a) provides information relating to the history, planning, and scope of the investigation; therefore, it will not be repeated in this CADD. This CADD identifies potential corrective action alternatives and provides a rationale for the selection of a recommended corrective action alternative for each CAS within CAU 204. The evaluation of corrective action alternatives is based on process knowledge and the results of investigative activitiesmore » conducted in accordance with the CAIP (NNSA/NV, 2002a) that was approved prior to the start of the Corrective Action Investigation (CAI). Record of Technical Change (ROTC) No. 1 to the CAIP (approval pending) documents changes to the preliminary action levels (PALs) agreed to by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and DOE, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office (NNSA/NSO). This ROTC specifically discusses the radiological PALs and their application to the findings of the CAU 204 corrective action investigation. The scope of this CADD consists of the following: (1) Develop corrective action objectives; (2) Identify corrective action alternative screening criteria; (3) Develop corrective action alternatives; (4) Perform detailed and comparative evaluations of corrective action alternatives in relation to corrective action objectives and screening criteria; and (5) Recommend and justify a preferred corrective action alternative for each CAS within CAU 204.« less

77 FR 28883 - Draft Public Health Action Plan-A National Public Health Action Plan for the Detection...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-16

...-2012-0004] Draft Public Health Action Plan--A National Public Health Action Plan for the Detection...), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment..., Division of Reproductive Health, Attn: National Public Health Action Plan for the Detection, Prevention...

Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan for Corrective Action Unit 413: Clean Slate II Plutonium Dispersion (TTR) Tonopah Test Range, Nevada. Revision 0

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Matthews, Patrick

This Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan provides the rationale and supporting information for the selection and implementation of corrective actions at Corrective Action Unit (CAU) 413, Clean Slate II Plutonium Dispersion (TTR). CAU 413 is located on the Tonopah Test Range and includes one corrective action site, TA-23-02CS. CAU 413 consists of the release of radionuclides to the surface and shallow subsurface from the Clean Slate II (CSII) storage–transportation test conducted on May 31, 1963. The CSII test was a non-nuclear detonation of a nuclear device located inside a concrete bunker covered with 2 feet of soil. To facilitatemore » site investigation and the evaluation of data quality objectives decisions, the releases at CAU 413 were divided into seven study groups: 1 Undisturbed Areas 2 Disturbed Areas 3 Sedimentation Areas 4 Former Staging Area 5 Buried Debris 6 Potential Source Material 7 Soil Mounds Corrective action investigation (CAI) activities, as set forth in the CAU 413 Corrective Action Investigation Plan, were performed from June 2015 through May 2016. Radionuclides detected in samples collected during the CAI were used to estimate total effective dose using the Construction Worker exposure scenario. Corrective action was required for areas where total effective dose exceeded, or was assumed to exceed, the radiological final action level (FAL) of 25 millirem per year. The results of the CAI and the assumptions made in the data quality objectives resulted in the following conclusions: The FAL is exceeded in surface soil in SG1, Undisturbed Areas; The FAL is assumed to be exceeded in SG5, Buried Debris, where contaminated debris and soil were buried after the CSII test; The FAL is not exceeded at SG2, SG3, SG4, SG6, or SG7. Because the FAL is exceeded at CAU 413, corrective action is required and corrective action alternatives (CAAs) must be evaluated. For CAU 413, three CAAs were evaluated: no further action, clean

Decision making and action implementation: evidence for an early visually triggered motor activation specific to potential actions.

PubMed

Tandonnet, Christophe; Garry, Michael I; Summers, Jeffery J

2013-07-01

To make a decision may rely on accumulating evidence in favor of one alternative until a threshold is reached. Sequential-sampling models differ by the way of accumulating evidence and the link with action implementation. Here, we tested a model's prediction of an early action implementation specific to potential actions. We assessed the dynamics of action implementation in go/no-go and between-hand choice tasks by transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex (single- or paired-pulse TMS; 3-ms interstimulus interval). Prior to implementation of the selected action, the amplitude of the motor evoked potential first increased whatever the visual stimulus but only for the hand potentially involved in the to-be-produced action. These findings suggest that visual stimuli can trigger an early motor activation specific to potential actions, consistent with race-like models with continuous transmission between decision making and action implementation. Copyright © 2013 Society for Psychophysiological Research.

32 CFR 518.18 - Judicial actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 32 National Defense 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Judicial actions. 518.18 Section 518.18 National... RELATIONS THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT PROGRAM Release and Processing Procedures § 518.18 Judicial actions... disciplinary action is warranted. The Army Activity is obligated to take the action recommended by the special...

18 CFR 706.103 - Remedial action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Remedial action. 706... RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT General Provisions § 706.103 Remedial action. (a) A violation of this part by an employee or special Government employee may be cause for remedial action. Remedial action may include, but...

34 CFR 668.83 - Emergency action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 34 Education 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Emergency action. 668.83 Section 668.83 Education... Proceedings § 668.83 Emergency action. (a) Under an emergency action, the Secretary may— (1) Withhold Title IV... action against an institution or third-party servicer by sending the institution or servicer a notice by...

36 CFR 28.14 - Emergency action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 36 Parks, Forests, and Public Property 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Emergency action. 28.14... Emergency action. If allowable by local law and if immediate action is essential to avoid or eliminate an... for undertaking the emergency action no longer exist, the agency or person shall cease an emergency...

46 CFR 535.801 - Independent action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 9 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Independent action. 535.801 Section 535.801 Shipping... Provisions § 535.801 Independent action. (a) Each conference agreement shall specify the independent action... independent action on any rate or service item upon not more than 5 calendar days' notice to the conference...

18 CFR 706.103 - Remedial action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Remedial action. 706... RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT General Provisions § 706.103 Remedial action. (a) A violation of this part by an employee or special Government employee may be cause for remedial action. Remedial action may include, but...

34 CFR 668.83 - Emergency action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 34 Education 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Emergency action. 668.83 Section 668.83 Education... Proceedings § 668.83 Emergency action. (a) Under an emergency action, the Secretary may— (1) Withhold Title IV... action against an institution or third-party servicer by sending the institution or servicer a notice by...

32 CFR 518.18 - Judicial actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 32 National Defense 3 2011-07-01 2009-07-01 true Judicial actions. 518.18 Section 518.18 National... RELATIONS THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT PROGRAM Release and Processing Procedures § 518.18 Judicial actions... disciplinary action is warranted. The Army Activity is obligated to take the action recommended by the special...

14 CFR 13.19 - Certificate action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Certificate action. 13.19 Section 13.19... INVESTIGATIVE AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES Legal Enforcement Actions § 13.19 Certificate action. (a) Under section... Administrator bases the proposed action and, except in an emergency, allows the holder to answer any charges and...

77 FR 38296 - Draft Public Health Action Plan-A National Public Health Action Plan for the Detection...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-27

...-2012-0004] Draft Public Health Action Plan--A National Public Health Action Plan for the Detection...), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Extension of public comment period. SUMMARY: On May 16... National Public Health Action Plan for the Detection, Prevention, and Management of Infertility (77 FR...

"Learning-in-Action" and "Learning Inaction": Advancing the Theory and Practice of Critical Action Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vince, Russ

2008-01-01

This paper seeks to improve our understanding of the emotional and political dynamics that are generated (and too often avoided) in action learning. The idea at the centre of the paper is a distinction between "learning-in-action" and "learning inaction". The phrase "learning-in-action" represents the value of action…

24 CFR 91.220 - Action plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Action plan. 91.220 Section 91.220... Consolidated Plan § 91.220 Action plan. The action plan must include the following: (a) Standard Form 424; (b... to be undertaken. The action plan must provide a description of the activities the jurisdiction will...

24 CFR 91.220 - Action plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Action plan. 91.220 Section 91.220... Consolidated Plan § 91.220 Action plan. The action plan must include the following: (a) Standard Form 424; (b... to be undertaken. The action plan must provide a description of the activities the jurisdiction will...

32 CFR 865.4 - Board actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 32 National Defense 6 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Board actions. 865.4 Section 865.4 National... PERSONNEL REVIEW BOARDS Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records § 865.4 Board actions. (a) Board... serves as its chair. The panel's actions and decisions constitute the actions and decisions of the Board...

24 CFR 91.420 - Action plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Action plan. 91.420 Section 91.420... Plan § 91.420 Action plan. (a) Form application. The action plan for the consortium must include a...) Description of resources and activities. The action plan must describe the resources to be used and activities...

21 CFR 120.10 - Corrective actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Corrective actions. 120.10 Section 120.10 Food and... actions. Whenever a deviation from a critical limit occurs, a processor shall take corrective action by... develop written corrective action plans, which become part of their HACCP plans in accordance with § 120.8...

24 CFR 91.420 - Action plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Action plan. 91.420 Section 91.420... Plan § 91.420 Action plan. (a) Form application. The action plan for the consortium must include a...) Description of resources and activities. The action plan must describe the resources to be used and activities...

29 CFR 500.141 - Concurrent actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 29 Labor 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Concurrent actions. 500.141 Section 500.141 Labor... SEASONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKER PROTECTION Enforcement § 500.141 Concurrent actions. The taking of any one of the actions referred to in § 500.140 shall not be a bar to the concurrent taking of any other action...

Enactment versus Observation: Item-Specific and Relational Processing in Goal-Directed Action Sequences (and Lists of Single Actions)

PubMed Central

Schult, Janette; von Stülpnagel, Rul; Steffens, Melanie C.

2014-01-01

What are the memory-related consequences of learning actions (such as “apply the patch”) by enactment during study, as compared to action observation? Theories converge in postulating that enactment encoding increases item-specific processing, but not the processing of relational information. Typically, in the laboratory enactment encoding is studied for lists of unrelated single actions in which one action execution has no overarching purpose or relation with other actions. In contrast, real-life actions are usually carried out with the intention to achieve such a purpose. When actions are embedded in action sequences, relational information provides efficient retrieval cues. We contrasted memory for single actions with memory for action sequences in three experiments. We found more reliance on relational processing for action-sequences than single actions. To what degree can this relational information be used after enactment versus after the observation of an actor? We found indicators of superior relational processing after observation than enactment in ordered pair recall (Experiment 1A) and in emerging subjective organization of repeated recall protocols (recall runs 2–3, Experiment 2). An indicator of superior item-specific processing after enactment compared to observation was recognition (Experiment 1B, Experiment 2). Similar net recall suggests that observation can be as good a learning strategy as enactment. We discuss possible reasons why these findings only partly converge with previous research and theorizing. PMID:24927279

76 FR 80846 - Definition of Enforcement Action

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-27

... Definition of Enforcement Action AGENCY: National Indian Gaming Commission, Interior. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend NIGC regulations to include definitions for ``enforcement action''. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act authorizes the NIGC to take certain actions in regard...

40 CFR 264.304 - Response actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... into the leak detection system exceeds the action leakage rate for any sump, the owner or operator must... thereafter, as long as the flow rate in the leak detection system exceeds the action leakage rate, the owner... forth the actions to be taken if the action leakage rate has been exceeded. At a minimum, the response...

40 CFR 264.253 - Response actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... rate into the leak detection system exceeds the action leakage rate for any sump, the owner or operator... thereafter, as long as the flow rate in the leak detection system exceeds the action leakage rate, the owner... must set forth the actions to be taken if the action leakage rate has been exceeded. At a minimum, the...

34 CFR 303.448 - Civil action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Civil action. 303.448 Section 303.448 Education... Section 615 of the Act § 303.448 Civil action. (a) General. Any party aggrieved by the findings and... civil action with respect to the due process complaint under § 303.440. The action may be brought in any...

34 CFR 303.448 - Civil action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Civil action. 303.448 Section 303.448 Education... Section 615 of the Act § 303.448 Civil action. (a) General. Any party aggrieved by the findings and... civil action with respect to the due process complaint under § 303.440. The action may be brought in any...

34 CFR 303.448 - Civil action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2014-07-01 2013-07-01 true Civil action. 303.448 Section 303.448 Education... Section 615 of the Act § 303.448 Civil action. (a) General. Any party aggrieved by the findings and... civil action with respect to the due process complaint under § 303.440. The action may be brought in any...

24 CFR 91.320 - Action plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Action plan. 91.320 Section 91.320... Consolidated Plan § 91.320 Action plan. The action plan must include the following: (a) Standard Form 424; (b... outcome measures for activities included in its action plan in accordance with guidance issued by HUD. For...

24 CFR 91.320 - Action plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Action plan. 91.320 Section 91.320... Consolidated Plan § 91.320 Action plan. The action plan must include the following: (a) Standard Form 424; (b... outcome measures for activities included in its action plan in accordance with guidance issued by HUD. For...

The neural substrates of action identification.

PubMed

Marsh, Abigail A; Kozak, Megan N; Wegner, Daniel M; Reid, Marguerite E; Yu, Henry H; Blair, R J R

2010-12-01

Mentalization is the process by which an observer views a target as possessing higher cognitive faculties such as goals, intentions and desires. Mentalization can be assessed using action identification paradigms, in which observers choose mentalistic (goals-focused) or mechanistic (action-focused) descriptions of targets' actions. Neural structures that play key roles in inferring goals and intentions from others' observed or imagined actions include temporo-parietal junction, ventral premotor cortex and extrastriate body area. We hypothesized that these regions play a role in action identification as well. Data collected using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) confirmed our predictions that activity in ventral premotor cortex and middle temporal gyrus near the extrastriate body area varies both as a function of the valence of the target and the extent to which actions are identified as goal-directed. In addition, the inferior parietal lobule is preferentially engaged when participants identify the actions of mentalized targets. Functional connectivity analyses suggest support from other regions, including the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala, during mentalization. We found correlations between action identification and Autism Quotient scores, suggesting that understanding the neural correlates of action identification may enhance our understanding of the underpinnings of essential social cognitive processes.

Action adaptation during natural unfolding social scenes influences action recognition and inferences made about actor beliefs.

PubMed

Keefe, Bruce D; Wincenciak, Joanna; Jellema, Tjeerd; Ward, James W; Barraclough, Nick E

2016-07-01

When observing another individual's actions, we can both recognize their actions and infer their beliefs concerning the physical and social environment. The extent to which visual adaptation influences action recognition and conceptually later stages of processing involved in deriving the belief state of the actor remains unknown. To explore this we used virtual reality (life-size photorealistic actors presented in stereoscopic three dimensions) to see how visual adaptation influences the perception of individuals in naturally unfolding social scenes at increasingly higher levels of action understanding. We presented scenes in which one actor picked up boxes (of varying number and weight), after which a second actor picked up a single box. Adaptation to the first actor's behavior systematically changed perception of the second actor. Aftereffects increased with the duration of the first actor's behavior, declined exponentially over time, and were independent of view direction. Inferences about the second actor's expectation of box weight were also distorted by adaptation to the first actor. Distortions in action recognition and actor expectations did not, however, extend across different actions, indicating that adaptation is not acting at an action-independent abstract level but rather at an action-dependent level. We conclude that although adaptation influences more complex inferences about belief states of individuals, this is likely to be a result of adaptation at an earlier action recognition stage rather than adaptation operating at a higher, more abstract level in mentalizing or simulation systems.

Shared Mechanisms in the Estimation of Self-Generated Actions and the Prediction of Other's Actions by Humans.

PubMed

Ikegami, Tsuyoshi; Ganesh, Gowrishankar

2017-01-01

The question of how humans predict outcomes of observed motor actions by others is a fundamental problem in cognitive and social neuroscience. Previous theoretical studies have suggested that the brain uses parts of the forward model (used to estimate sensory outcomes of self-generated actions) to predict outcomes of observed actions. However, this hypothesis has remained controversial due to the lack of direct experimental evidence. To address this issue, we analyzed the behavior of darts experts in an understanding learning paradigm and utilized computational modeling to examine how outcome prediction of observed actions affected the participants' ability to estimate their own actions. We recruited darts experts because sports experts are known to have an accurate outcome estimation of their own actions as well as prediction of actions observed in others. We first show that learning to predict the outcomes of observed dart throws deteriorates an expert's abilities to both produce his own darts actions and estimate the outcome of his own throws (or self-estimation). Next, we introduce a state-space model to explain the trial-by-trial changes in the darts performance and self-estimation through our experiment. The model-based analysis reveals that the change in an expert's self-estimation is explained only by considering a change in the individual's forward model, showing that an improvement in an expert's ability to predict outcomes of observed actions affects the individual's forward model. These results suggest that parts of the same forward model are utilized in humans to both estimate outcomes of self-generated actions and predict outcomes of observed actions.

78 FR 26399 - National Science Board; Sunshine Act Meetings; Notice

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-06

... (DBI): The iPlant Collaborative-- Cyberinfrastructure for the Life Sciences (NSB-13-25) Closed... NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION National Science Board; Sunshine Act Meetings; Notice The National Science Board, pursuant to NSF regulations (45 CFR Part 614), the National Science Foundation Act, as...

Corrective Action Plan for Corrective Action Unit 563: Septic Systems, Nevada Test Site, Nevada

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NSTec Environmental Restoration

This Corrective Action Plan (CAP) has been prepared for Corrective Action Unit (CAU) 563, Septic Systems, in accordance with the Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order. CAU 563 consists of four Corrective Action Sites (CASs) located in Areas 3 and 12 of the Nevada Test Site. CAU 563 consists of the following CASs: CAS 03-04-02, Area 3 Subdock Septic Tank CAS 03-59-05, Area 3 Subdock Cesspool CAS 12-59-01, Drilling/Welding Shop Septic Tanks CAS 12-60-01, Drilling/Welding Shop Outfalls Site characterization activities were performed in 2007, and the results are presented in Appendix A of the CAU 563 Corrective Action Decision Document.more » The scope of work required to implement the recommended closure alternatives is summarized below. CAS 03-04-02, Area 3 Subdock Septic Tank, contains no contaminants of concern (COCs) above action levels. No further action is required for this site; however, as a best management practice (BMP), all aboveground features (e.g., riser pipes and bumper posts) will be removed, the septic tank will be removed, and all open pipe ends will be sealed with grout. CAS 03-59-05, Area 3 Subdock Cesspool, contains no COCs above action levels. No further action is required for this site; however, as a BMP, all aboveground features (e.g., riser pipes and bumper posts) will be removed, the cesspool will be abandoned by filling it with sand or native soil, and all open pipe ends will be sealed with grout. CAS 12-59-01, Drilling/Welding Shop Septic Tanks, will be clean closed by excavating approximately 4 cubic yards (yd3) of arsenic- and chromium-impacted soil. In addition, as a BMP, the liquid in the South Tank will be removed, the North Tank will be removed or filled with grout and left in place, the South Tank will be filled with grout and left in place, all open pipe ends will be sealed with grout or similar material, approximately 10 yd3 of chlordane-impacted soil will be excavated, and debris within the CAS boundary will be removed

Hamiltonian analysis of non-relativistic non-BPS Dp-brane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klusoň, J.

2017-07-01

We perform Hamiltonian analysis of non-relativistic non-BPS Dp-brane. We find the constraint structure of this theory and determine corresponding equations of motion. We further discuss property of this theory at the tachyon vacuum.

Contractions of AdS brane algebra and superGalileon Lagrangians

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kamimura, Kiyoshi; Onda, Seiji

2013-06-15

We examine AdS Galileon Lagrangians using the method of nonlinear realization. By contractions (1) flat curvature limit, (2) non-relativistic brane algebra limit, and (3) (1) + (2) limits we obtain DBI, Newton-Hoock, and Galilean Galileons, respectively. We make clear how these Lagrangians appear as invariant 4-forms and/or pseudo-invariant Wess-Zumino (WZ) terms using Maurer-Cartan (MC) equations on the coset G/SO(3, 1). We show the equations of motion are written in terms of the MC forms only and explain why the inverse Higgs condition is obtained as the equation of motion for all cases. The supersymmetric extension is also examined using amore » supercoset SU(2, 2 Double-Vertical-Line 1)/(SO(3, 1) Multiplication-Sign U(1)) and five WZ forms are constructed. They are reduced to the corresponding five Galileon WZ forms in the bosonic limit and are candidates for supersymmetric Galileon action.« less

Action Learning Research? Reflections from the Colloquium at the Third International Conference on Action Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coghlan, David

2013-01-01

The case for the notion of action learning research has been posed and explored in several publications over the past few years. There is no tradition within action learning of understanding it as an approach to research. Within some academic circles, there has been a focus on the "action turn," the development of the notion of actionable…

History and Culture of Alara--The Action Learning and Action Research Association

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zuber-Skerritt, Ortrun; Passfield, Ron

2016-01-01

As co-founders of the Action Learning and Action Research Association (ALARA), we tell the story of this international network organisation through our personal experience. Our history traces the evolution of ALARA from origins at the first World Congress in 1990 in Brisbane, Australia, through development over two and a half decades, to its…

48 CFR 501.404-70 - Contract action.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Contract action. 501.404... Contract action. Contract action. A contract action, for the purpose of determining whether an individual or class deviation is appropriate, has the same meaning as that used for reporting contract actions...

77 FR 45535 - Aldicarb; Proposed Tolerance Actions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-01

... Aldicarb; Proposed Tolerance Actions AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule... Information A. Does this action apply to me? You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an... exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this action...

Segmenting Dynamic Human Action via Statistical Structure

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baldwin, Dare; Andersson, Annika; Saffran, Jenny; Meyer, Meredith

2008-01-01

Human social, cognitive, and linguistic functioning depends on skills for rapidly processing action. Identifying distinct acts within the dynamic motion flow is one basic component of action processing; for example, skill at segmenting action is foundational to action categorization, verb learning, and comprehension of novel action sequences. Yet…

Neural basis of understanding communicative actions: Changes associated with knowing the actor's intention and the meanings of the actions.

PubMed

Möttönen, Riikka; Farmer, Harry; Watkins, Kate E

2016-01-29

People can communicate by using hand actions, e.g., signs. Understanding communicative actions requires that the observer knows that the actor has an intention to communicate and the meanings of the actions. Here, we investigated how this prior knowledge affects processing of observed actions. We used functional MRI to determine changes in action processing when non-signers were told that the observed actions are communicative (i.e., signs) and learned the meanings of half of the actions. Processing of hand actions activated the left and right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG, BA 44 and 45) when the communicative intention of the actor was known, even when the meanings of the actions remained unknown. These regions were not active when the observers did not know about the communicative nature of the hand actions. These findings suggest that the left and right IFG play a role in understanding the intention of the actor, but do not process visuospatial features of the communicative actions. Knowing the meanings of the hand actions further enhanced activity in the anterior part of the IFG (BA 45), the inferior parietal lobule and posterior inferior and middle temporal gyri in the left hemisphere. These left-hemisphere language regions could provide a link between meanings and observed actions. In sum, the findings provide evidence for the segregation of the networks involved in the neural processing of visuospatial features of communicative hand actions and those involved in understanding the actor's intention and the meanings of the actions. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan for Corrective Action Unit 547: Miscellaneous Contaminated Waste Sites, Nevada National Security Site, Nevada, Revision 0

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mark Krauss

2011-09-01

The purpose of this CADD/CAP is to present the corrective action alternatives (CAAs) evaluated for CAU 547, provide justification for selection of the recommended alternative, and describe the plan for implementing the selected alternative. Corrective Action Unit 547 consists of the following three corrective action sites (CASs): (1) CAS 02-37-02, Gas Sampling Assembly; (2) CAS 03-99-19, Gas Sampling Assembly; and(3) CAS 09-99-06, Gas Sampling Assembly. The gas sampling assemblies consist of inactive process piping, equipment, and instrumentation that were left in place after completion of underground safety experiments. The purpose of these safety experiments was to confirm that a nuclearmore » explosion would not occur in the case of an accidental detonation of the high-explosive component of the device. The gas sampling assemblies allowed for the direct sampling of the gases and particulates produced by the safety experiments. Corrective Action Site 02-37-02 is located in Area 2 of the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) and is associated with the Mullet safety experiment conducted in emplacement borehole U2ag on October 17, 1963. Corrective Action Site 03-99-19 is located in Area 3 of the NNSS and is associated with the Tejon safety experiment conducted in emplacement borehole U3cg on May 17, 1963. Corrective Action Site 09-99-06 is located in Area 9 of the NNSS and is associated with the Player safety experiment conducted in emplacement borehole U9cc on August 27, 1964. The CAU 547 CASs were investigated in accordance with the data quality objectives (DQOs) developed by representatives of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office. The DQO process was used to identify and define the type, amount, and quality of data needed to determine and implement appropriate corrective actions for CAU 547. Existing radiological survey data and historical

78 FR 42071 - Updates to Protective Action Guides Manual: Protective Action Guides (PAGs) and Planning Guidance...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-15

... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0268; FRL-9833-5] Updates to Protective Action Guides Manual: Protective Action Guides (PAGs) and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed guidance; extension of comment period. SUMMARY: The U.S...

78 FR 22257 - Updates to Protective Action Guides Manual: Protective Action Guides (PAGs) and Planning Guidance...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-15

... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0268; FRL-9707-2] Updates to Protective Action Guides Manual: Protective Action Guides (PAGs) and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of document availability for interim use and public...

The influence of action possibility and end-state comfort on motor imagery of manual action sequences.

PubMed

Seegelke, Christian; Hughes, Charmayne M L

2015-12-01

It has been proposed that the preparation of goal-direct actions involves internal movement simulation, or motor imagery. Evidence suggests that motor imagery is critically involved in the prediction of action consequences and contributes heavily to movement planning processes. The present study examined whether the sensitivity towards end-state comfort and the possibility/impossibility to perform an action sequence are considered during motor imagery. Participants performed a mental rotation task in which two images were simultaneously presented. The image on the left depicted the start posture of a right hand when grasping a bar, while the right image depicted the hand posture at the end of the action sequence. The right image displayed the bar in a vertical orientation with the hand in a comfortable (thumb-up) or in an uncomfortable (thumb-down) posture, while the bar in the left image was rotated in picture plane in steps of 45°. Crucially, the two images formed either a physically possible or physically impossible to perform action sequence. Results revealed strikingly different response time patterns for the two action sequence conditions. In general, response times increased almost monotonically with increasing angular disparity for the possible to perform action sequences. However, slight deviations from this monotonicity were apparent when the sequences contained an uncomfortable as opposed to a comfortable final posture. In contrast, for the impossible sequences, response times did not follow a typical mental rotation function, but instead were uniformly very slow. These findings suggest that both biomechanical constraints (i.e., end-state comfort) and the awareness of the possibility/impossibility to perform an action sequence are considered during motor imagery. We conclude that motor representations contain information about the spatiotemporal movement organization and the possibility of performing an action, which are crucially involved in

Destination memory for self-generated actions.

PubMed

El Haj, Mohamad

2016-10-01

There is a substantial body of literature showing memory enhancement for self-generated information in normal aging. The present paper investigated this outcome for destination memory or memory for outputted information. In Experiment 1, younger adults and older adults had to place (self-generated actions) and observe an experimenter placing (experiment-generated actions) items into two different destinations (i.e., a black circular box and a white square box). On a subsequent recognition task, the participants had to decide into which box each item had originally been placed. These procedures showed better destination memory for self- than experimenter-generated actions. In Experiment 2, destination and source memory were assessed for self-generated actions. Younger adults and older adults had to place items into the two boxes (self-generated actions), take items out of the boxes (self-generated actions), and observe an experimenter taking items out of the boxes (experiment-generated actions). On a subsequent recognition task, they had to decide into which box (destination memory)/from which box (source memory) each item had originally been placed/taken. For both populations, source memory was better than destination memory for self-generated actions, and both were better than source memory for experimenter-generated actions. Taken together, these findings highlight the beneficial effect of self-generation on destination memory in older adults.

Actionable Nuggets

PubMed Central

McColl, Mary Ann; Aiken, Alice; Smith, Karen; McColl, Alexander; Green, Michael; Godwin, Marshall; Birtwhistle, Richard; Norman, Kathleen; Brankston, Gabrielle; Schaub, Michael

2015-01-01

Abstract Objective To present the results of a pilot study of an innovative methodology for translating best evidence about spinal cord injury (SCI) for family practice. Design Review of Canadian and international peer-reviewed literature to develop SCI Actionable Nuggets, and a mixed qualitative-quantitative evaluation to determine Nuggets’ effect on physician knowledge of and attitudes toward patients with SCI, as well as practice accessibility. Setting Ontario, Newfoundland, and Australia. Participants Forty-nine primary care physicians. Methods Twenty Actionable Nuggets (pertaining to key health issues associated with long-term SCI) were developed. Nugget postcards were mailed weekly for 20 weeks to participating physicians. Prior knowledge of SCI was self-rated by participants; they also completed an online posttest to assess the information they gained from the Nugget postcards. Participants’ opinions about practice accessibility and accommodations for patients with SCI, as well as the acceptability and usefulness of Nuggets, were assessed in interviews. Main findings With Actionable Nuggets, participants’ knowledge of the health needs of patients with SCI improved, as knowledge increased from a self-rating of fair (58%) to very good (75%) based on posttest quiz results. The mean overall score for accessibility and accommodations in physicians’ practices was 72%. Participants’ awareness of the need for screening and disease prevention among this population also increased. The usefulness and acceptability of SCI Nugget postcards were rated as excellent. Conclusion Actionable Nuggets are a knowledge translation tool designed to provide family physicians with concise, practical information about the most prevalent and pressing primary care needs of patients with SCI. This evidence-based resource has been shown to be an excellent fit with information consumption processes in primary care. They were updated and adapted for distribution by the Canadian

Playing Action Video Games Improves Visuomotor Control.

PubMed

Li, Li; Chen, Rongrong; Chen, Jing

2016-08-01

Can playing action video games improve visuomotor control? If so, can these games be used in training people to perform daily visuomotor-control tasks, such as driving? We found that action gamers have better lane-keeping and visuomotor-control skills than do non-action gamers. We then trained non-action gamers with action or nonaction video games. After they played a driving or first-person-shooter video game for 5 or 10 hr, their visuomotor control improved significantly. In contrast, non-action gamers showed no such improvement after they played a nonaction video game. Our model-driven analysis revealed that although different action video games have different effects on the sensorimotor system underlying visuomotor control, action gaming in general improves the responsiveness of the sensorimotor system to input error signals. The findings support a causal link between action gaming (for as little as 5 hr) and enhancement in visuomotor control, and suggest that action video games can be beneficial training tools for driving. © The Author(s) 2016.

Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan for Corrective Action Unit 573: Alpha Contaminated Sites Nevada National Security Site, Nevada, Revision 0

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Matthews, Patrick

CAU 573 comprises the following corrective action sites (CASs): • 05-23-02, GMX Alpha Contaminated Area • 05-45-01, Atmospheric Test Site - Hamilton These two CASs include the release at the Hamilton weapons-related tower test and a series of 29 atmospheric experiments conducted at GMX. The two CASs are located in two distinctly separate areas within Area 5. To facilitate site investigation and data quality objective (DQO) decisions, all identified releases (i.e., CAS components) were organized into study groups. The reporting of investigation results and the evaluation of DQO decisions are at the release level. The corrective action alternatives (CAAs) weremore » evaluated at the FFACO CAS level. The purpose of this CADD/CAP is to evaluate potential CAAs, provide the rationale for the selection of recommended CAAs, and provide the plan for implementation of the recommended CAA for CAU 573. Corrective action investigation (CAI) activities were performed from January 2015 through November 2015, as set forth in the CAU 573 Corrective Action Investigation Plan (CAIP). Analytes detected during the CAI were evaluated against appropriate final action levels (FALs) to identify the contaminants of concern. Assessment of the data generated from investigation activities conducted at CAU 573 revealed the following: • Radiological contamination within CAU 573 does not exceed the FALs (based on the Occasional Use Area exposure scenario). • Chemical contamination within CAU 573 does not exceed the FALs. • Potential source material—including lead plates, lead bricks, and lead-shielded cables—was removed during the investigation and requires no additional corrective action.« less