Observational constraints on holography in $(2 + 1)$-dimensional cosmology with a generalized equation of state
Praveen Kumar Dhankar, Safiqul Islam, Saibal Ray
et al.
In this study we explore the cosmic holographic principle, as proposed by Fischler and Susskind~\cite{Fischler}, within the framework of $(2 + 1)$-dimensional cosmological models. A generalized equation of state is employed, given by $p = (ζ- 1)(ρ+ ρ_0)$, where $ζ$ and $ρ_0$ are treated as two free parameters. The analysis confirms the validity of the holographic principle in all flat and open universes. However, for a $(2 + 1)$-dimensional closed universe, we apply the method proposed by Kaloper and Linde~\cite{Kaloper}, and observe that the holographic principle is generally not satisfied. Furthermore, we examine the stability of the proposed model using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, and estimate the best-fit values for the model parameters based on observational Hubble data sets.
Dropout and completion in iCBT for university students: Insights from a thematic analysis
Jurrijn A. Koelen, Lisa de Koning, Matilda K. Nottage
et al.
Online cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) is a promising treatment for depression and anxiety among university students but faces high dropout rates. Understanding the reasons behind dropout or completion can help improve the implementation of iCBT in educational settings. Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with 32 students who dropped out early (n = 9), midway (n = 12), or completed (n = 11) guided or unguided iCBT in the context of a randomized controlled trial. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's (2012) thematic analysis. Common themes among dropouts included personal factors (like competing priorities), perceived difficulty or redundancy of the intervention, and lack of human interaction. Early dropouts uniquely cited disbelief in the intervention's efficacy and preference for other mental health support. Midway dropouts mentioned issues with the interactivity, feedback, content, perceived effectiveness, and lack of personalization. Completers had positive initial impressions, valued the online format, found the exercises and guidance helpful, and felt cared for. The themes identified among participants who dropped out from or completed the iCBT intervention provide valuable insights into factors which may be of importance for retention. Implications regarding setting expectations, participant selection, interactive functionalities, personalized feedback, and the role of therapist guidance are discussed.
Information technology, Psychology
MacroSwarm: A Field-based Compositional Framework for Swarm Programming
Gianluca Aguzzi, Roberto Casadei, Mirko Viroli
Swarm behaviour engineering is an area of research that seeks to investigate methods and techniques for coordinating computation and action within groups of simple agents to achieve complex global goals like pattern formation, collective movement, clustering, and distributed sensing. Despite recent progress in the analysis and engineering of swarms (of drones, robots, vehicles), there is still a need for general design and implementation methods and tools that can be used to define complex swarm behaviour in a principled way. To contribute to this quest, this article proposes a new field-based coordination approach, called MacroSwarm, to design and program swarm behaviour in terms of reusable and fully composable functional blocks embedding collective computation and coordination. Based on the macroprogramming paradigm of aggregate computing, MacroSwarm builds on the idea of expressing each swarm behaviour block as a pure function, mapping sensing fields into actuation goal fields, e.g., including movement vectors. In order to demonstrate the expressiveness, compositionality, and practicality of MacroSwarm as a framework for swarm programming, we perform a variety of simulations covering common patterns of flocking, pattern formation, and collective decision-making. The implications of the inherent self-stabilisation properties of field-based computations in MacroSwarm are discussed, which formally guarantee some resilience properties and guided the design of the library.
Logic, Electronic computers. Computer science
Cogs in a Machine, Doing What They're Meant to Do -- The AMI Submission to the WMT24 General Translation Task
Atli Jasonarson, Hinrik Hafsteinsson, Bjarki Ármannsson
et al.
This paper presents the submission of the Árni Magnusson Institute's team to the WMT24 General translation task. We work on the English->Icelandic translation direction. Our system comprises four translation models and a grammar correction model. For training our models we carefully curate our datasets, aggressively filtering out sentence pairs that may detrimentally affect the quality of our system's output. Some of our data are collected from human translations and some are synthetically generated. A part of the synthetic data is generated using an LLM, and we find that it increases the translation capability of our system significantly.
Cosmological constraints in symmetric teleparallel gravity with bulk viscosity
Dheeraj Singh Rana, P. K. Sahoo
In this study, we explore the accelerated expansion of the universe within the framework of modified $f(Q)$ gravity. The investigation focus on the role of bulk viscosity in understanding the universe's accelerated expansion. Specifically, a bulk viscous matter-dominated cosmological model is considered, with the bulk viscosity coefficient expressed as $ζ= ζ_0 ρH^{-1} + ζ_1 H $. We consider the power law $f(Q)$ function $f(Q)=αQ^n $, where $α$ and $n$ are arbitrary constants and derive the analytical solutions for the field equations corresponding to a flat FLRW metric. Subsequently, we used the combined Cosmic Chronometers (CC)+Pantheon+SH0ES sample to estimate the free parameters of the obtained analytic solution. We conduct Bayesian statistical analysis to estimate the posterior probability by employing the likelihood function and the MCMC random sampling technique, along with the AIC and BIC statistical assessment criteria. In addition, we explore the evolutionary behavior of significant cosmological parameters. The effective equation of state (EOS) parameter predicts the accelerating behavior of the cosmic expansion phase. Further, by the statefinder and $Om(z)$ diagnostic test, we found that our viscous model favors quintessence-type behavior and can successfully describe the late-time scenario.
A General Framework for Data-Use Auditing of ML Models
Zonghao Huang, Neil Zhenqiang Gong, Michael K. Reiter
Auditing the use of data in training machine-learning (ML) models is an increasingly pressing challenge, as myriad ML practitioners routinely leverage the effort of content creators to train models without their permission. In this paper, we propose a general method to audit an ML model for the use of a data-owner's data in training, without prior knowledge of the ML task for which the data might be used. Our method leverages any existing black-box membership inference method, together with a sequential hypothesis test of our own design, to detect data use with a quantifiable, tunable false-detection rate. We show the effectiveness of our proposed framework by applying it to audit data use in two types of ML models, namely image classifiers and foundation models.
General Bayesian inference for causal effects using covariate balancing procedure
Shunichiro Orihara, Tomotaka Momozaki, Tomoyuki Nakagawa
In observational studies, the propensity score plays a central role in estimating causal effects of interest. The inverse probability weighting (IPW) estimator is commonly used for this purpose. However, if the propensity score model is misspecified, the IPW estimator may produce biased estimates of causal effects. Previous studies have proposed some robust propensity score estimation procedures. However, these methods require considering parameters that dominate the uncertainty of sampling and treatment allocation. This study proposes a novel Bayesian estimating procedure that necessitates probabilistically deciding the parameter, rather than deterministically. Since the IPW estimator and propensity score estimator can be derived as solutions to certain loss functions, the general Bayesian paradigm, which does not require the considering the full likelihood, can be applied. Therefore, our proposed method only requires the same level of assumptions as ordinary causal inference contexts. The proposed Bayesian method demonstrates equal or superior results compared to some previous methods in simulation experimentss, and is also applied to real data, namely the Whitehall dataset.
Spacetime emergence: an (in)effective story
Mike D. Schneider
Physicists and philosophers are increasingly prone to regarding our current physical theories as providing 'effective descriptions' of real-world systems. In the context of quantum gravity research, this fuels a common view that the classical spacetime theory of general relativity provides effective descriptions where it is successfully applied. That common view of general relativity, in turn, encourages an 'effective' understanding of spacetime emergence. But descriptions of spacetime in general relativity irreducibly include global physical content, which is not effective. Recognizing this fact reigns in the interpretive scope of the common view of general relativity and specifically undermines our thinking about spacetime emergence effectively.
en
physics.hist-ph, gr-qc
Medical futility at the end of life: the first qualitative study of ethical decision-making methods among Turkish doctors
Esra Aksoy, Ilhan Ilkilic
Abstract Background The swift advancement of intensive care medicine, coupled with technological possibilities, has prompted numerous ethical inquiries regarding decision-making processes concerning the withholding or withdrawal of treatment due to medical futility. This study seeks to delineate the decision-making approaches employed by intensive care physicians in Türkiye when faced with medical futility at the end of life, along with an ethical evaluation of these practices. Methods Grounded theory, a qualitative analysis method was employed, conducting semi-structured, in-depth interviews with eleven intensive care physicians in Türkiye. The subsequent text analysis was carried out using MAXQDA software. Results Participants assert that the decisions made by Turkish physicians determine whether treatment is futile, rely on medical consensus, and lack a standardized decision-making process. The decisions are influenced by legal and social pressures, resource constraints, and occasional conflicts of interest. The significance of professional hierarchy is notable, with limited consideration given to the opinions of nurses and other staff. The unstructured medical consensus processes are shaped by normative concepts such as benefit, age, justice, and conscience. Furthermore, it was observed that the conscientious opinions of physicians carry more weight than adherence to ethical principles and guidelines. Conclusion To create optimal conditions for doctors to make ethically justifiable decisions, the dynamics within the treatment team should be improved, emphasizing the minimization of hierarchy, and ensuring the active participation of all team members in the decision-making process. Additionally, efforts should be directed toward narrowing the gap between the conscience of the individual doctor and established ethical principles. A potential solution lies in the nationwide implementation of clinical ethics committees and the establishing of clinical ethics guidelines, aiming to address, and overcome the identified challenges.
Medical philosophy. Medical ethics
Generative AI at Work
Erik Brynjolfsson, Danielle Li, Lindsey Raymond
We study the staggered introduction of a generative AI-based conversational assistant using data from 5,172 customer support agents. Access to AI assistance increases worker productivity, as measured by issues resolved per hour, by 15\% on average, with substantial heterogeneity across workers. Less experienced and lower-skilled workers improve both the speed and quality of their output while the most experienced and highest-skilled workers see small gains in speed and small declines in quality. We also find evidence that AI assistance facilitates worker learning and improves English fluency, particularly among international agents. While AI systems improve with more training data, we find that the gains from AI adoption are largest for relatively rare problems, where human agents have less baseline training and experience. Finally, we provide evidence that AI assistance improves the experience of work along two key dimensions: customers are more polite and less likely to ask to speak to a manager.
«Las voces, registros y acciones de las infancias en los relatos históricos». Entrevista a Susana Sosenski
Silvana Espiga Dorado, María Laura Osta Vázquez, Facundo Álvarez Constantín
Esta entrevista realizada a la dra. Susana Sosenski trata sobre las reflexiones, los desafíos y los obstáculos que una investigadora de la infancia en América Latina puede enfrentar. Las interrogantes que ella misma se ha planteado desde su realidad han guiado toda su producción historiográfica, que nutre a historiadoras/es de América Latina y el mundo. Susana Sosenski, fundadora de la Red de Estudios de Historia de las Infancias en América Latina, nos cuenta cómo y cuándo fue fundada la REHIAL y los objetivos que ha perseguido desde sus inicios.
History (General), Latin America. Spanish America
مراجعة كتاب: الإسلام والعلمانية
Mohammed Yusri Abu Hadoor
يستعرض هذا المقال كتاب الإسلام والعلمانية، للمؤلف أوليفيه روا، الذي ترجمه صالح الأشمر، وصدر عن دار الساقي، في الطبعة الأولى للعام 2016م. ويتكون من 174 صفحة. وأوليفيه روا كاتب ومفكر وأستاذ جامعي فرنسي، ولد في عام 1949م، وهو مهتم ومتخصص في شؤون الحركات السياسية الإسلامية والأصولية الراديكالية منها على وجه الخصوص، ويتناول روا في كتابه الإسلام والعلمانية مسألة العلاقة الملتبسة والشائكة ما بين تصاعد الإسلام والعلمانية في الغرب عموما، وفي فرنسا على وجه الخصوص.
Comments on the cosmological constant in generalized uncertainty models
Michael Bishop, Joey Contreras, Peter Martin
et al.
The existence of a small, non-zero cosmological constant is one of the major puzzles in fundamental physics. Naively, quantum field theory arguments would imply a cosmological constant which is up to 10$^{120}$ times larger than the observed one. It is believed a comprehensive theory of quantum gravity would resolve this enormous mismatch between theory and observation. In this work, we study the ability of generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) models, which are phenomenologically motivated models of quantum gravity, to address the cosmological constant problem. In particular, we focus on how these GUP models may change the phase space of QFT, and how this affects the momentum space integration of the zero-point energies of normal modes of fields. We point out several issues that make it unlikely that GUP models, in their current form, would be able to adequately address the cosmological constant problem.
International Students’ Adaptation in Russia: its Varying Due to the Student’s Culture of Origin
V. A. Fedotova
The study aims to identify peculiarities of sociocultural adaptation (factors, coping strategies and anticipatory competence) of students from India, China and Arab countries. The research is based on the data obtained from the first-, second- and third-year students from India (73 respondents), China (45 respondents), Arab countries (64 respondents). The “Russian language proficiency” factor shows more significance for students from India and China, compared to students from Arab countries. Students from China, India and Arab countries tend to start and maintain relationships, to participate in academic activities, to have hobbies and interests and interact with other students. The prosocial coping strategy is predominant for Arab, Indian and Chinese students, regardless of their culture of origin, which proves universality of the strategy. Representatives of a polychronic culture (students from Arab countries and India) lack temporal anticipatory competence,with Arab students showing the lowest value of this parameter. Chinese students differ from representatives of a polyactive culture (Arab students) or a reactive-polyactive culture (Indian students) as they can hardly predict how a person they know would act in a certain situation.
History of Russia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics, Psychology
Compression, The Fermi Paradox and Artificial Super-Intelligence
Michael Timothy Bennett
The following briefly discusses possible difficulties in communication with and control of an AGI (artificial general intelligence), building upon an explanation of The Fermi Paradox and preceding work on symbol emergence and artificial general intelligence. The latter suggests that to infer what someone means, an agent constructs a rationale for the observed behaviour of others. Communication then requires two agents labour under similar compulsions and have similar experiences (construct similar solutions to similar tasks). Any non-human intelligence may construct solutions such that any rationale for their behaviour (and thus the meaning of their signals) is outside the scope of what a human is inclined to notice or comprehend. Further, the more compressed a signal, the closer it will appear to random noise. Another intelligence may possess the ability to compress information to the extent that, to us, their signals would appear indistinguishable from noise (an explanation for The Fermi Paradox). To facilitate predictive accuracy an AGI would tend to more compressed representations of the world, making any rationale for their behaviour more difficult to comprehend for the same reason. Communication with and control of an AGI may subsequently necessitate not only human-like compulsions and experiences, but imposed cognitive impairment.
Bell's Theorem, Quantum Probabilities, And Superdeterminism
E. Chen
In this short survey article, I discuss Bell’s theorem and some strategies that attempt to avoid the conclusion of non-locality. I focus on two that intersect with the philosophy of probability: (1) quantum probabilities and (2) superdeterminism. The issues they raised not only apply to a wide class of no-go theorems about quantum mechanics but are also of general philosophical interest.
27 sitasi
en
Physics, Mathematics
A combinatorial translation principle and diagram combinatorics for the general linear group
Rudolf Tange
Let k be an algebraically closed field of characteristic p>0. We compute the Weyl filtration multiplicities in indecomposable tilting modules and the decomposition numbers for the general linear group over k in terms of cap diagrams under the assumption that p is bigger than the greatest hook length in the partitions involved. Then we introduce and study the rational Schur functor from a category of GL_n-modules to the category of modules for the walled Brauer algebra. As a corollary we obtain the decomposition numbers for the walled Brauer algebra when p is bigger than the greatest hook length in the partitions involved. This is a sequel to an earlier paper on the symplectic group and the Brauer algebra.
Sporets didaktik
Marlene Printz Jellesen
Kristendommens status i grundskolens religionsundervisning er omstridt – både i Danmark og Norge – og denne artikel vil afdække, hvilken rolle kristendommen har spillet og spiller i faget Kristendomskundskab i folkeskolen i Danmark og give et bud på følgende spørgsmål: Hvilken status skal kristendommen have i skolens sekulære fag kristendomskundskab, hvilke virknings- og kulturhistoriske grunde kan der være til at prioritere kristendommen højt i undervisningen, og hvordan kan man som ikke-forkyndende religionslærer pleje refleksiv omgang med den normativitet, kristendommen indeholder. Med disse spørgsmål in mente bevæger artiklen sig ind på en værdipolitisk kampplads, der er knyttet til diskussionen om, hvor mono- eller multikulturel skolens religionsundervisningen bør være, og til hvilken normativitet, der skal være fremherskende.
Education (General), Religions. Mythology. Rationalism
General Board Game Playing for Education and Research in Generic AI Game Learning
Wolfgang Konen
We present a new general board game (GBG) playing and learning framework. GBG defines the common interfaces for board games, game states and their AI agents. It allows one to run competitions of different agents on different games. It standardizes those parts of board game playing and learning that otherwise would be tedious and repetitive parts in coding. GBG is suitable for arbitrary 1-, 2-, ..., N-player board games. It makes a generic TD($λ$)-n-tuple agent for the first time available to arbitrary games. On various games, TD($λ$)-n-tuple is found to be superior to other generic agents like MCTS. GBG aims at the educational perspective, where it helps students to start faster in the area of game learning. GBG aims as well at the research perspective by collecting a growing set of games and AI agents to assess their strengths and generalization capabilities in meaningful competitions. Initial successful educational and research results are reported.
GÉNÉALOGIE DE L’INNOCENCE DU DEVENIR / GENEALOGIA E INOCÊNCIA DO VIR-A-SER
Blaise Benoit
L’innocence du devenir est une expression célèbre, effectivement présentedans l’œuvre publiée de Nietzsche. Mais, qu’est-ce que l’innocence du devenir? Il est utile de préciser la question inaugurale de trois façons différentes et complémentaires: avec l’innocence du devenir, à quel type d’énoncé avons-nous affaire ? Quel est le contenu de cet énoncé ? Quelle est la valeur de son apport pour la civilisation? A inocência do vir-a-ser é uma expressão célebre, efetivamente presente na obra publicada de Nietzsche. Mas, o que é a inocência do vir-a-ser? Faz-se útil precisar essa questão inaugural de três maneiras diferentes e complementares: com a inocência do vir-a-ser, com qual tipo de enunciado somos confrontados? Qual é o conteúdo desse enunciado? Qual é o valor de sua contribuição para a cultura?