A Theorical Point of View of Reality, Perception, and Language

It is possible to view the relations between mathematics and natural language from different aspects. This relation between mathematics and language is not based on just one aspect. In this article, the authors address the role of the Subject facing Reality through language. Perception is defined and a mathematical theory of the perceptual field is proposed. The distinction between purely expressive language and purely informative language is considered false, because the subject is expressed in the communication of a message, and conversely, in purely expressive language, as in an exclamation, there is some information. To study the relation between language and reality, the function of ostensibility is defined and propositions are divided into ostensives and estimatives.

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan

Two v. per year, 1967-1980

Mathematical tracts on the lunar and planetary theories, the figure of the earth, precession and nutation, the calculus of variations, and the undulatory theory of optics. Designed for the use of students in the university.

Mode of access: Internet.

Suppression of spurious intermediate frequency modes in under-integrated elements by combined stiffness/viscous stabilization

Solutions employing perturbation stiffness or viscous hourglass control with one-point quadrature finite elements often exhibit spurious modes in the intermediate frequency range. These spurious frequencies are demonstrated in several examples and their origin is explained. Then it is shown that by critically damping the hourglass modes, these spurious mid-range frequency modes can be suppressed. Estimates of the hourglass frequency and damping coefficients are provided for the plane 4-node quadrilateral and a 4-node shell element. Results are presented that show almost complete annihilation of spurious intermediate frequency modes for both linear and non-linear problems. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Calculation of the microcanonical temperature for the classical Bose field

The ergodic hypothesis asserts that a classical mechanical system will in time visit every available configuration in phase space. Thus, for an ergodic system, an ensemble average of a thermodynamic quantity can equally well be calculated by a time average over a sufficiently long period of dynamical evolution. In this paper, we describe in detail how to calculate the temperature and chemical potential from the dynamics of a microcanonical classical field, using the particular example of the classical modes of a Bose-condensed gas. The accurate determination of these thermodynamics quantities is essential in measuring the shift of the critical temperature of a Bose gas due to nonperturbative many-body effects.

Quality of Life in Chinese elderly people with depression

Background Depression is the most prevalent functional mental disorder of later life. It is estimated that about 5% of the elderly population of Hong Kong are suffering from depression. Aim To investigate the self-rated quality of life of community-dwelling elderly people diagnosed with depression, and to examine the relationships between quality of life and mental, physical health, functional status and social support. Methods and results A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted in psychiatric outpatient clinics. A convenience sample of 80 Chinese elderly people with a diagnosis of depressive disorder was recruited. Perception of quality of life was measured by the Hong Kong Chinese World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief Version. Participants' mental status, functional abilities, physical health condition, and social support status were assessed. Sixty-one (76.3%) participants were female. They were least satisfied with meaningfulness of life, life enjoyment, concentration and thinking, energy and work capacity. Functional abilities had a positive association with participants' perceived quality of life, level of depression and number of physical health conditions had a negative association. Participants had low ratings of quality of life when compared with healthy persons and persons with chronic physical problems. Findings are discussed in light of the socio-cultural environment in Hong Kong. Conclusion Comprehensive treatment and better control of depression, including different modes of medical and psychosocial intervention, could help to improve participants' perception of quality of life. A longitudinal study with a larger sample with various levels of depression and socio-demographic characteristics is recommended. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effects of cation substitutions on the physical properties of M2M1T2O6 pyroxenes

In this PhD study, the effects of the cation substitutions on the physical properties of pyroxenes have been discussed. The results of this work extend the knowledge on pyroxenes with different chemical compositions. These properties might be used in the development of ceramic pigments, advanced materials and for the mineralogical phase identification. First of all, the crystallographic differences between Ge and Si pyroxenes have been examined. The structure of C2/c Ca rich Ge clinopyroxenes is very close to the low pressure C2/c structural configuration found in Ca-rich Si-pyroxenes. The shear of the unit cell is very similar, and the difference between a Ge end member and the corresponding Si-rich one is less than 1°. Instead, a remarkable difference exists between Ca-poor Si and Ge clinopyroxenes. First, Ca-poor Ge pyroxenes do not display a P21/c symmetry, but retain the C2/c symmetry; second, the observed C2/c structure shows, at room pressure, the configuration with highly kinked tetrahedral chains characteristic of the high pressure C2/c symmetry of Si Ca-poor pyroxenes. In orthopyroxenes, with Pbca symmetry, Ge-pyroxenes have volume larger than Si-pyroxenes. Samples along the system CaCoGe2O6 - CoCoGe2O6 have been synthesized at three different temperatures: 1050 °C, 1200 °C and 1250 °C. The aim of these solid state syntheses was to obtain a solid solution at ambient pressure, since the analogues Si-system needs high pressure. Unfortunately, very limited solution occurs because the structure forms of the two end member (high temperature for CaCoGe2O6 and high pressure CoCoGe2O6) are incompatible. The phase diagram of this system has been sketched and compared to that of Si. The cobalt end member (CoCoGe2O6) is stable at ambient pressure in two symmetries: at 1050 °C C2/c and 1200 °C Pbca. The impurity phase formed during these experiments is cobalt spinel. Raman spectroscopy has been used to investigate the vibrational properties of Ca-pyroxenes CaCoGe2O6, CaMgGe2O6, CaMgSi2O6 and CaCoSi2O6. A comparison between silicate and germanate pyroxenes shows significant changes in peak positions of the corresponding modes caused mainly by the difference of the Ge-Si atomic weight along with the distortion and compression of the coordination polyhedra. Red shift in Raman spectra of germanates has been calculated by a rough scale factor calculated by a simple harmonic oscillator model, considering the different bond lengths for 4-coordinated Si ~ 1.60- 1.65 Å vs Ge–O distance ~1.70 - 1.80 Å. The Raman spectra of CaMgGe2O6 and CaCoGe2O6 have been classified, in analogy with silicate (Wang et al., 2001) counterparts, in different ranges: - R1 (880-640 cm-1): strong T-O stretching modes of Ge and non-bridging O1 and O2 atoms within the GeO4 tetrahedron; - R2 (640-480 cm-1): stretching/bending modes of Ge-Obr-Ge bonds (chain stretching and chain bending); - R4 (480-360 cm-1): O-Ge-O vibrations; - R3 (360-240 cm-1): motions of the cations in M2 and M1 sites correlated with tetrahedral chain motion and tilting tetrahedra; - R5 (below 240 cm-1): lattice modes. The largest shift with respect to CaMgSi2O6 - CaCoSi2O6 is shown by the T-O stretching and chain modes. High-pressure Raman spectroscopy (up to about 8 GPa) on the same samples of Ca-pyroxenes using an ETH-type diamond anvil cell shows no phase transition within the P-ranges investigated, as all the peak positions vary linearly as a function of pressure. Our data confirm previous experimental findings on Si-diopside (Chopelas and Serghiou, 2000). In the investigated samples, all the Raman peaks shift upon compression, but the major changes in wavenumber with pressure are attributed to the chain bending (Ge-Obr-Ge bonds) and tetrahedra stretching modes (Ge-Onbr). Upon compression, the kinking angle, the bond lengths and T-T distances between tetrahedra decrease and consequently the wavenumber of the bending chain mode and tetrahedra stretching mode increases. Ge-pyroxenes show the higher P-induced peak-position shifts, being more compressible than corresponding silicates. The vibrational properties of CaM2+Ge2O6 (M2+ =Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn) are reported for the first time. The wavenumber of Ge-Obr-Ge bending modes decreases linearly with increasing ionic radius of the M1 cation. No simple correlation has been found with M1 atomic mass or size or crystallographic parameters for the peak at ~850 cm-1 and in the low wavenumber regions. The magnetic properties of the system CaCoSi2O6 - CoCoSi2O6 have been investigated by magnetometry. The join is always characterized by 1 a.p.f.u. of cobalt in M1 site and this causes a pure collinear antiferromagnetic behaviour of the intra-chain superexchange interaction involving Co ions detected in all the measurements, while the magnetic order developed by the cobalt ions in M2 site (intra-chain) is affected by weak ferromagnetism, due to the non-collinearity of their antiferromagnetic interaction. In magnetically ordered systems, this non-collinearity effect promotes a spin canting of anti-parallel aligned magnetic moments and thus is a source of weak ferromagnetic behaviour in an antiferromagnetic. The weak ferromagnetism can be observed only for the samples with Co content higher than 0.5 a.p.f.u. in M2, when the concentration is sufficiently high to create a long range order along the M2 chain which is magnetically independent of M1 chain. The ferromagnetism was detected both in the M(T) at 10 Oe and M(H).

Health related quality of life and perception of stigmatisation in adolescents living with sickle cell disease in Nigeria:a cross sectional study

Background: Sickle cell disease impacts the physical, emotional and psychological aspects of life of the affected persons, often times exposing them to disease associated stigma from the society and alters the health related quality of life (HRQoL). This study compared the HRQoL of adolescents with sickle cell disease with their healthy peers, identified socio-demographic and clinical factors impacting HRQoL, and determined the extent and effects of SCD related stigma on quality of life. Procedure: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 160 adolescents, 80 with SCD and 80 adolescents without SCD. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. HRQoL was investigated using the Short Form (SF-36v2) Health Survey. SCD perceived stigma was measured using an adaptation of a perceived stigma questionnaire. Results: Adolescents with SCD have significantly worse HRQoL than their peers in all of the most important dimensions of HRQoL (physical functioning, physical roles limitation, emotional roles limitation, social functioning, bodily pain, vitality and general health perception) except mental health. Recent hospital admission and SCD related complication further lowered HRQoL scores. Over seventy percent of adolescents with SCD have moderate to high level of perception of stigmatisation. Hospitalisation, SCD complication, SCD stigma were inversely, and significantly associated with HRQoL. Conclusions: Adolescents living with SCD in Nigeria have lower health related quality of life compared to their healthy peers. They also experience stigma that impacts their HRQoL. Complications of SCD and hospital admissions contribute significantly to this impairment. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1245-1251.

A fizikai matematika legújabb eredményei mint a közgazdaság-tudomány lehetséges vizsgálati eszközei (The newest results of physical mathematics as the possible investigation tools of economics)

A közgazdaság-tudomány számos problémája a fizika analóg modelljeinek segítségével nyert megoldást. A közgazdászok körében erőteljesen megoszlanak a vélemények, hogy a közgazdasági modellek mennyire redukálhatók a fizika, vagy más természettudományok eredményeire. Vannak,akik pontosan ezzel magyarázzák,hogy a mai mainstream közgazdasági elmélet átalakult alkalmazott matematikává,ami a gazdasági kérdéseket csak a társadalom-tudományi vonatkozásaitól eltekintve képes vizsgálni. Mások, e tanulmányszerzője is, viszont úgy vélekednek, hogy a közgazdasági problémák egy része, ahol lehetőség van a mérésre, jól modellezhetők a természettudományok technikai arzenáljával. A másik része, amelyekben nem lehet mérni,s tipikusan ilyenek a társadalomtudományi kérdések, ott sokkal komplexebb technikákra lesz szükség. Etanulmány célkitűzése, hogy felvázolja a fizika legújabb, az irreverzibilis dinamika, a relativitáselmélet és a kvantummechanika sztochasztikus matematikai összefüggéseit, amelyekből a közgazdászok választhatnak egy-egy probléma megfogalmazásában és megoldásában. Például az időoperátorok pontos értelmezése jelentős fordulatot hozhat a makroökonómiai elméletekben; vagy az eddigi statikus egyensúlyi referencia pontokat felválthatják a dinamikus,időben változó sztochasztikus egyensúlyi referenciafüggvények, ami forradalmian új megvilágításba helyezhet számos társadalomtudományi, s főleg nemegyensúlyi közgazdasági kérdést.A termodinamika és a biológiai evolúció fogalmait és definícióit Paul A. Samuelson (1947) már adaptálta a közgazdaságtanban, viszont a kvantummechanika legújabb eredményeit, az időoperátorokat stb. nem érintette. E cikk azokat a legújabb fizikai, kémiai és biológiai matematikai összefüggéseket foglalja össze,amelyek hasznosak lehetnek a közgazdasági modellek komplexebb megfogalmazásához. ___________________ The aim of this paper is to out line the newest results of physics,i.e.,the stochastic mathematical relations of relativity theory and quantum mechanics as well as irreversible dynamics which can be applied for some economic problems.For example,the correct interpretation of time operators using for the macroeconomic theories may provide a serious improvement in approach to the reality.The stochastic dynamic equilibrium reference functions will take over the role of recent static equilibrium reference points,which may also reveal some nonequilibrium questions of macroeconomics.The concepts and definitions of thermodynamics and biological evolution have been adopted in economics by Paul A. Samuelson, but he did not concern the newest results of quantum mechanics, e.g., the time operators. Now we do it.In addition, following Samuelson,we show that von Neumann growth model cannot be explained as a peculiar extension of thermodynamic irreversibility.

The effect of cross -age tutoring routines on the tutor's perception of self as reader

Perception of self as a non-reader has been identified as one of the factors why poor readers disengage from the reading process (Strang, 1967; Rosow, 1992), thus impeding progress. Perception and informational processes influence judgments of personal efficacy (Bandura, 1997). The student's sense of reading efficacy that influence effort expenditure and ultimately achievement, is often overlooked (Athey, 1985; Pajares, 1996). Academic routines within educational programs are implemented without adequate information on whether routines promote or impede efficacy growth. Cross-age tutoring, a process known to improve participants' academic achievement, motivation, and provide opportunities for authentic reading practice, has been successfully incorporated into reading instruction designs (Allen, 1976; Cohen, Kulik & Kulik, 1982; Labbo & Teale, 1990; Riessman, 1993). This study investigated the impact teacher-designed routines within a cross-age tutoring model, have on the tutor's sense of reading self-efficacy. ^ The Reader Self-Perception Scale (Henk & Melnick, 1992) was administered, pre- and post-treatment, to 118 fifth grade students. Preceding the initial survey administration intact classes were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 commonly utilized cross-age tutoring routines or designated as the non-treatment population. The data derived from the Reader Self-Perception Scale was analyzed using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results indicated that participation as a cross-age tutor does not significantly increase the tutor's perception of self as reader in 1 or more of the 4 modes of information influencing self-efficacy as compared to the non-treatment group. ^ The results of this study suggests that although a weekly tutoring session that delivers educationally credible routines impacts achievement and motivation, efficacy effect was not evident. Possible explanation and recommendations for future studies are proposed. ^

Physics of Hexagonal Limit-Periodic Phases: Thermodynamics, Formation and Vibrational Modes

Limit-periodic (LP) structures exhibit a type of nonperiodic order yet to be found in a natural material. A recent result in tiling theory, however, has shown that LP order can spontaneously emerge in a two-dimensional (2D) lattice model with nearest-and next-nearest-neighbor interactions. In this dissertation, we explore the question of what types of interactions can lead to a LP state and address the issue of whether the formation of a LP structure in experiments is possible. We study emergence of LP order in three-dimensional (3D) tiling models and bring the subject into the physical realm by investigating systems with realistic Hamiltonians and low energy LP states. Finally, we present studies of the vibrational modes of a simple LP ball and spring model whose results indicate that LP materials would exhibit novel physical properties.

A 2D lattice model defined on a triangular lattice with nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor interactions based on the Taylor-Socolar (TS) monotile is known to have a LP ground state. The system reaches that state during a slow quench through an infinite sequence of phase transitions. Surprisingly, even when the strength of the next-nearest-neighbor interactions is zero, in which case there is a large degenerate class of both crystalline and LP ground states, a slow quench yields the LP state. The first study in this dissertation introduces 3D models closely related to the 2D models that exhibit LP phases. The particular 3D models were designed such that next-nearest-neighbor interactions of the TS type are implemented using only nearest-neighbor interactions. For one of the 3D models, we show that the phase transitions are first order, with equilibrium structures that can be more complex than in the 2D case.

In the second study, we investigate systems with physical Hamiltonians based on one of the 2D tiling models with the goal of stimulating attempts to create a LP structure in experiments. We explore physically realizable particle designs while being mindful of particular features that may make the assembly of a LP structure in an experimental system difficult. Through Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, we have found that one particle design in particular is a promising template for a physical particle; a 2D system of identical disks with embedded dipoles is observed to undergo the series of phase transitions which leads to the LP state.

LP structures are well ordered but nonperiodic, and hence have nontrivial vibrational modes. In the third section of this dissertation, we study a ball and spring model with a LP pattern of spring stiffnesses and identify a set of extended modes with arbitrarily low participation ratios, a situation that appears to be unique to LP systems. The balls that oscillate with large amplitude in these modes live on periodic nets with arbitrarily large lattice constants. By studying periodic approximants to the LP structure, we present numerical evidence for the existence of such modes, and we give a heuristic explanation of their structure.

NEIGHBORHOOD PERCEPTION OF SAFETY AND THE MOBILITY GAP BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN IN OLD AGE

Background and Objectives: Mobility limitations are a prevalent issue in older adult populations, and an important determinant of disability and mortality. Neighborhood conditions are key determinants of mobility and perception of safety may be one such determinant. Women have more mobility limitations than men, a phenomenon known as the gender mobility gap. The objective of this work was to validate a measure of perception of safety, examine the relationship between neighborhood perception of safety and mobility limitations in seniors, and explore if these effects vary by gender. Methods: This study was cross-sectional, using questionnaire data collected from community-dwelling older adults from four sites in Canada, Colombia, and Brazil. The exposure variable was the neighborhood aggregated Perception of Safety (PoS) scale, derived from the Physical and Social Disorder (PSD) scale by Sampson and Raudenbush. Its construct validity was verified using factor analyses and correlation with similar measures. The Mobility Assessment Tool – short form (MAT-sf), a video-based measure validated cross-culturally in the studied populations, was used to assess mobility limitations. Based on theoretical models, covariates were included in the analysis, both at the neighborhood level (SES, social capital, and built environment) and the individual level (age, gender, education, income, chronic illnesses, depression, cognitive function, BMI, and social participation). Multilevel modeling was used in order to account for neighborhood clustering. Gender specific analyses were carried out. SAS and M-plus were used in this study. Results: PoS was validated across all sites. It loaded in a single factor, after excluding two items, with a Cronbach α value of approximately 0.86. Mobility limitations were present in 22.08% of the sample, 16.32% among men and 27.41% among women. Neighborhood perception of safety was significantly associated with mobility limitations when controlling for all covariates, with an OR of 0.84 (CI 95%: 0.73-0.96), indicating lower odds of having mobility limitations as neighborhood perception of safety improves. Gender did not affect this relationship despite women being more likely to have mobility limitations and live in neighborhoods with poor perception of safety. Conclusion: Neighborhood perception of safety affected the prevalence of mobility limitations in older adults in the studied population.

Dynamics of coupled modes in two-section semiconductor lasers with saturable absorption

Semiconductor lasers have the potential to address a number of critical applications in advanced telecommunications and signal processing. These include applications that require pulsed output that can be obtained from self-pulsing and mode-locked states of two-section devices with saturable absorption. Many modern applications place stringent performance requirements on the laser source, and a thorough understanding of the physical mechanisms underlying these pulsed modes of operation is therefore highly desirable. In this thesis, we present experimental measurements and numerical simulations of a variety of self-pulsation phenomena in two-section semiconductor lasers with saturable absorption. Our theoretical and numerical results will be based on rate equations for the field intensities and the carrier densities in the two sections of the device, and we establish typical parameter ranges and assess the level of agreement with experiment that can be expected from our models. For each of the physical examples that we consider, our model parameters are consistent with the physical net gain and absorption of the studied devices. Following our introductory chapter, the first system that we consider is a two-section Fabry-Pérot laser. This example serves to introduce our method for obtaining model parameters from the measured material dispersion, and it also allows us to present a detailed discussion of the bifurcation structure that governs the appearance of selfpulsations in two-section devices. In the following two chapters, we present two distinct examples of experimental measurements from dual-mode two-section devices. In each case we have found that single mode self-pulsations evolve into complex coupled dualmode states following a characteristic series of bifurcations. We present optical and mode resolved power spectra as well as a series of characteristic intensity time traces illustrating this progression for each example. Using the results from our study of a twosection Fabry-Pérot device as a guide, we find physically appropriate model parameters that provide qualitative agreement with our experimental results. We highlight the role played by material dispersion and the underlying single mode self-pulsing orbits in determining the observed dynamics, and we use numerical continuation methods to provide a global picture of the governing bifurcation structure. In our concluding chapter we summarise our work, and we discuss how the presented results can inform the development of optimised mode-locked lasers for performance applications in integrated optics.

Towards a grammar of the senses: perception in Lushese (Olussese)

The thesis presents the grammar of the Eastern African Bantu language Lushese (Olussese), spoken in Uganda, and gives information on the historical background that caused the today´s highly endangered status of the language (chapters 1 & 2). Focussing on the semantics of the verbs of perception, the thesis presents the use and meaning of various linguistic means for expressing perception in general and further for the expression of physical, sensory, emotional and cognitive experience in Lushese (chapters 3-5). The findings in Lushese provide insights of the use of language in the light of social interaction and include information on the ways cultural and social values impact the choice of linguistic means (chapter 6). With respect to the theoretical issues concerning the language of perception the data in Lushese show that the way people speak about the environment and use language to express categories of perception are rather a matter of innate cultural interpretation regarding the human body and the environment than a matter of the human body and the environment as given by biological and/or physical conditions.

Gestural communication of music structure during solo classical piano performance

The production and perception of music is a multimodal activity involving auditory, visual and conceptual processing, integrating these with prior knowledge and environmental experience. Musicians utilise expressive physical nuances to highlight salient features of the score. The question arises within the literature as to whether performers’ non-technical, non-sound-producing movements may be communicatively meaningful and convey important structural information to audience members and co-performers. In the light of previous performance research (Vines et al., 2006, Wanderley, 2002, Davidson, 1993), and considering findings within co-speech gestural research and auditory and audio-visual neuroscience, this thesis examines the nature of those movements not directly necessary for the production of sound, and their particular influence on audience perception. Within the current research 3D performance analysis is conducted using the Vicon 12- camera system and Nexus data-processing software. Performance gestures are identified as repeated patterns of motion relating to music structure, which not only express phrasing and structural hierarchy but are consistently and accurately interpreted as such by a perceiving audience. Gestural characteristics are analysed across performers and performance style using two Chopin preludes selected for their diverse yet comparable structures (Opus 28:7 and 6). Effects on perceptual judgements of presentation modes (visual-only, auditory-only, audiovisual, full- and point-light) and viewing conditions are explored. This thesis argues that while performance style is highly idiosyncratic, piano performers reliably generate structural gestures through repeated patterns of upper-body movement. The shapes and locations of phrasing motions are identified particular to the sample of performers investigated. Findings demonstrate that despite the personalised nature of the gestures, performers use increased velocity of movements to emphasise musical structure and that observers accurately and consistently locate phrasing junctures where these patterns and variation in motion magnitude, shape and velocity occur. By viewing performance motions in polar (spherical) rather than cartesian coordinate space it is possible to get mathematically closer to the movement generated by each of the nine performers, revealing distinct patterns of motion relating to phrasing structures, regardless of intended performance style. These patterns are highly individualised both to each performer and performed piece. Instantaneous velocity analysis indicates a right-directed bias of performance motion variation at salient structural features within individual performances. Perceptual analyses demonstrate that audience members are able to accurately and effectively detect phrasing structure from performance motion alone. This ability persists even for degraded point-light performances, where all extraneous environmental information has been removed. The relative contributions of audio, visual and audiovisual judgements demonstrate that the visual component of a performance does positively impact on the over- all accuracy of phrasing judgements, indicating that receivers are most effective in their recognition of structural segmentations when they can both see and hear a performance. Observers appear to make use of a rapid online judgement heuristics, adjusting response processes quickly to adapt and perform accurately across multiple modes of presentation and performance style. In line with existent theories within the literature, it is proposed that this processing ability may be related to cognitive and perceptual interpretation of syntax within gestural communication during social interaction and speech. Findings of this research may have future impact on performance pedagogy, computational analysis and performance research, as well as potentially influencing future investigations of the cognitive aspects of musical and gestural understanding.