bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Built environment as interface: a relation-based framework for the intersections between built, biotic, social, and health processes during COVID-19 and beyond
Authors: Howland Hannah , Keyser Vadim
Published: June 2023

By broadening disciplinary perspectives to architecture and design, philosophy of science, and systems biology, this paper aims to explore the interconnections between built, social, biotic, and health processes with key attention to the moderating roles of the built environment. The focus is part diagnostic and part prescriptive. Initially, we specify failures in COVID-19 representational infrastructure and practice in accounting for built environment and social process impacts on public health factors. By presenting three intertwined problems with scientific representation in COVID-19 modeling and data-gathering, we examine to what extent current scientific practices fail to robustly account for the complex intersections between built, biotic, social, and health processes. We suggest that resolving the presented problems requires the development of new conceptual precedents for the analysis of causal relations in changing contexts. The second focal point is prescriptive. By discussing conceptual developments that spotlight relations—e.g., ‘context’, ‘nudge’, ‘affordance’, and ‘interface’—we organize the numerous moderating roles of built environment contexts, and we suggest practical applications to ongoing public health practices—such as, cautioning against nudge policies. Ultimately, we argue that the built environment can be represented not only as a single variable (or handful of discrete variables) but also as an interface that reorganizes multiple causal landscapes—concurrently, deregulating factors and leaving others unaffected. Because of the difficulty of representing emergent properties, relevant to differential built environment burden and inequitable health outcomes, we provide ways to visualize the built environment as interface in multidimensional form. We conclude that adequately representing the various moderating roles of the built environment goes a step beyond how to represent complexity, and it requires asking a deeper normative question: who ought to be involved in representing complexity.
The theory of social games: outline of a general theory for the social sciences
Authors: Stolz Jörg
Published: June 2023

Sociological general theories (or “grand theories”) have been criticized for being too abstract to be of any practical use for empirical sociological work. This paper presents the outline of a general theory that claims to be better linked to empirical social research than previous theoretical attempts. The theory analyzes social life as a multitude of interacting social games. A social game is an entity created by players with resources who engage in action that is shaped by goals, rules, and representations, that involves objects, and that leads to game outcomes. The general theory is as encompassing as previous theoretical attempts, while allowing us to integrate both instrumental and normative action at different levels of the social. Its main advantage is that it is linked to middle-range theory and empirical research by a descriptive-interpretive heuristic, an explanatory heuristic, and formal and agent-based modeling. The article provides many examples to illustrate the claims.
Do I question what influencers sell me? Integration of critical thinking in the advertising literacy of Spanish adolescents
Authors: Feijoo Beatriz , Zozaya Luisa , Sádaba Charo
Published: June 2023

Engaging with influencer posts has become a prevalent practice among adolescents on social media, exposing them to the combined elements of promotional content and entertainment in influencer marketing. However, the versatile and appealing nature of this content may hinder adolescents’ ability to engage in critical thinking and accurately interpret this hybrid form of advertising. This study aims to investigate adolescents’ capacity to critically process persuasive content shared by influencers, utilizing the five components of digital critical thinking outlined by Van Laar (2019): clarification, evaluation, justification, linking of ideas, and novelty. To analyze minors’ online experiences, a qualitative approach was employed involving twelve discussion groups with a total of 62 children and adolescents aged 11 to 17 in Spain. The findings indicate that the exercise of critical thinking in response to influencer marketing is closely associated with the cognitive and affective dimensions of advertising literacy in adolescents, while wamong them.
A reduced-model (nSOLT) simulation of neutral recycling effects on plasma turbulence in the divertor region of MAST-U
Authors: Russell D. A. , Myra J. R. , Militello F.
Published: June 2023

The 2D scrape-off-layer turbulence code (nSOLT), which includes 1D kinetic neutral–plasma interactions, is applied to study effects of neutral recycling on plasma turbulence for parameters illustrative of the MAST-U divertor region. Neutral recycling is modeled by injecting a fraction of the parallel plasma flux to the divertor back into the simulation domain as a source of Franck–Condon-distributed neutrals. Stationary sources, concentrated at the magnetic separatrix, model plasma streaming into the divertor region from the upstream scrape-off-layer and sustain plasma turbulence absent neutral recycling. Starting from one such no-neutrals equilibrium, we initiate recycling in a numerical experiment designed to diagnose and identify the effects of various neutral–plasma interactions on the divertor plasma, divertor turbulence, and plasma exhaust. The onset of recycling triggers an initial burst of enhanced cross field plasma transport that is quelled by ionization cooling and charge–exchange (CX) friction, with growing neutral pressure, leading to a quiescent, turbulence-free state. Diagnosis of this transient burst reveals that (1) the sudden increase in plasma density due to ionization dominates the onset of the burst, (2) electron cooling due to ionization increases collisionality and disconnects blob filaments from the sheath, and (3) CX friction drives tripole polarization of a blob that can dominate the curvature-driven dipole polarization, leading to the stagnation of blob propagation and reduced radial turbulent transport. It is shown that CX friction is negligible compared to sheath physics in determining equilibrium mean flow shearing rates, for parameters considered herein (specifically a short connection length to the divertor target), while it can significantly reduce interchange-instability growth rates.
Effective control of two-dimensional Rayleigh–Bénard convection: Invariant multi-agent reinforcement learning is all you need
Authors: Vignon Colin , Rabault Jean , Vasanth Joel , Alcántara-Ávila Francisco , Mortensen Mikael , Vinuesa Ricardo
Published: June 2023

Rayleigh–Bénard convection (RBC) is a recurrent phenomenon in a number of industrial and geoscience flows and a well-studied system from a fundamental fluid-mechanics viewpoint. In the present work, we conduct numerical simulations to apply deep reinforcement learning (DRL) for controlling two-dimensional RBC using sensor-based feedback control. We show that effective RBC control can be obtained by leveraging invariant multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL), which takes advantage of the locality and translational invariance inherent to RBC flows inside wide channels. MARL applied to RBC allows for an increase in the number of control segments without encountering the curse of dimensionality that would result from a naive increase in the DRL action-size dimension. This is made possible by the MARL ability for re-using the knowledge generated in different parts of the RBC domain. MARL is able to discover an advanced control strategy that destabilizes the spontaneous RBC double-cell pattern, changes the topology of RBC by coalescing adjacent convection cells, and actively controls the resulting coalesced cell to bring it to a new stable configuration. This modified flow configuration results in reduced convective heat transfer, which is beneficial in a number of industrial processes. We additionally draw comparisons with a conventional single-agent reinforcement learning (SARL) setup and report that in the same number of episodes, SARL is not able to learn an effective policy to control the cells. Thus, our work both shows the potential of MARL for controlling large RBC systems and demonstrates the possibility for DRL to discover strategies that move the RBC configuration between different topological configurations, yielding desirable heat-transfer characteristics.
Uncertainty evaluation of Monte Carlo simulated line scan profiles of a critical dimension scanning electron microscope (CD-SEM)
Authors: Khan M. S. S. , Mao S. F. , Zou Y. B. , Li Y. G. , Da B. , Ding Z. J.
Published: June 2023

In recent years, precision and accuracy for a more precise critical dimension (CD) control have been required in CD measurement technology. CD distortion between the measurement by a critical dimension scanning electron microscope (CD-SEM) and a reference tool is the most important factor for a more accurate CD measurement. CD bias varies by a CD-SEM and a pattern condition. Therefore, it is urgently needed to identify, characterize, and quantify those parameters that may or may not affect the CD measurement by a CD-SEM. The sensitivity of the Monte Carlo simulated CD-SEM images with multiple physical modeling components has been studied previously. In this study, we demonstrate that the work function and elastic scattering potential models have a significant impact on secondary electron emission intensity, but their influence on the shape of the linescan profile is small, and other factors like the optical energy loss function and dielectric function models have even smaller effects. We have evaluated the uncertainty in the linescan profiles of Si line structures with different sidewall angles due to several different physical factors. It is found that when the CD is evaluated by a peak/valley method, the uncertainty of the CD is negligible. Therefore, it is concluded that the CD value and its related uncertainty are not critically related to the physical factors of the present Monte Carlo simulation model but rely dominantly on the line structure and electron beam parameters.
New challenges for CLIL research
Authors: Llinares Ana , Cross Russell
Published: June 2023

Recent studies on CLIL have revealed contradictory results regarding its role in enhancing equal opportunities and social inclusion. This special issue draws on the theme of the CLIL ReN symposium at AILA 2021, “CLIL Pedagogy and Greater Fairness, Equity, and Inclusion”, and the papers in this volume address both opportunities and challenges of CLIL in contributing to equity and inclusion. The special issue seeks to question, explore, and understand how CLIL might have the potential or not to contribute to greater equity and access to quality educational provision, with attention to not only the learning of languages, but also of content. (In)equity in CLIL will be addressed through conceptual as well as empirical studies which focus on different contexts (Argentina, Australia, Japan, Spain, and The Netherlands) and different educational levels (primary, secondary, pre-vocational studies, and pre-service teacher education).
Ethnic equity, Mapudungun, and CLIL
Authors: Banegas Darío Luis
Published: June 2023

Since 2006, the Argentinian system of education has included intercultural bilingual education, a type of
education across kindergarten, primary, and secondary education that guarantees the indigenous peoples’ right to receive quality
and equitable education which preserves and strengthens their cultural practices, language, cosmovision, and
ethnic identity in a multicultural society. In the province of Chubut, southern Argentina, the Ministry of Education launched a
professional development program targeted at primary school teachers working in small town and rural areas with students
ethnically associated to the Mapuche peoples and their language, Mapudungun. The aim of this paper is to examine how a group of
four teachers understood and implemented CLIL in relation to ethnic equity and socially just education in a semi-rural area of
Chubut. Framed as a case study, data were collected in 2021 and 2022 through group discussions, journal diaries, and arts-based
methods. Data came from four primary school teachers as well as the program facilitator. By means of quality content analysis, the
findings show teachers’ understanding of CLIL as an inclusive and equitable approach that can help promote ethnic identity and
ethnolinguistic vitality.
Inclusive CLIL
Authors: Denman Jenny , Schooten Erik van , de Graaff Rick
Published: June 2023

Bilingual education using a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach seems in many contexts to select or attract the more able and more academically-inclined pupils, or only be available to pupils in higher academic secondary streams. Positive effects of CLIL for target language proficiency development may therefore be due in part to this cognitive or academic selection effect. Can the target language skills of pupils with lower scholastic attainment – a group which, in several educational contexts, has less access to CLIL programs – also benefit from the CLIL approach?

This two-year longitudinal quasi-experimental research, part of a larger study, focused on the development of oral proficiency skills of three cohorts of 603 pre-vocational pupils in 25 classes in the Netherlands in both CLIL and non-CLIL programs. Despite the lack of explicit school-based selection procedures for pre-vocational pupils’ participation in CLIL, there were significant differences in favor of the CLIL groups in the initial levels of English oral proficiency, fluency, and Willingness to Communicate. Furthermore, the CLIL pupils showed significantly more growth than the non-CLIL control group in English oral proficiency, but not for fluency or Willingness to Communicate. This positive result for the CLIL group did not appear to be moderated by pupil background variables. Despite the small effect sizes found, these results indicate that the CLIL approach can have a positive effect on the foreign language proficiency of pupils in less academic educational streams.
Language testing and the role of CLIL exposure in constructing
student profiles
Authors: Hidalgo-McCabe Elisa
Published: June 2023

This study examines stakeholders’ views on the streaming of
students into one of two strands of differing CLIL exposure (High versus
Low) in the transition from primary to secondary in the context of
Madrid’s Bilingual Education Program. To this end, three groups of stakeholders
– primary school leaders, parents and secondary school teachers – were
interviewed so as to gather their perspectives on streaming as pertains to: (1)
a high-stakes English language test that determines access to the High- and Low-Exposure strands; and (2) the profiles of students participating in
these strands. Findings indicate that school leaders prioritise students’
ongoing language learning progress over the high-stakes context of the test,
whilst they acknowledge families’ favourable views of the test. Parents’
affective stances reveal that some students experience a certain degree of
anxiety in preparation for the test. In addition, participating in the High- or
Low-Exposure strands seems to influence teachers’ perceptions of these students
as either high or low achievers. These findings are further discussed in terms
of the potential implications of streaming and student selection for (in)equity
in CLIL programs.
(In)equity in CLIL programs?
Authors: Evnitskaya Natalia , Llinares Ana
Published: June 2023

This study explores issues of potential (in)equity in Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) programs in bilingual secondary schools in the Madrid region (Spain). Based on their general L2 proficiency, students in grades 7 to 10 are streamed into either High Exposure (HE) or Low Exposure (LE) strands, with different degrees of exposure to CLIL. Although this system ensures that all students in a bilingual secondary school receive CLIL to a certain degree, recent voices have signaled the potential risk of fostering inequality among students by streaming within the program (Fernández-Agüero & Hidalgo-McCabe, 2020;Hidalgo-McCabe, 2020). In this study, we explore classroom interactional practices by one science teacher teaching the same content in both groups (grade 7 HE and LE strands), and the effect of such interactional practices on enhancing (or not) students’ higher order thinking skills and the expression of academic content in the L2 or L1. For the analysis, we developed a multi-layered analytical model which incorporates the construct of cognitive discourse functions (CDFs) (Dalton-Puffer, 2013) and the semantic dimension of Legitimation Code Theory (LCT) (Maton, 2013,2020). We find significant differences across the two groups in the use of CDFs and ‘semantic codes’ for knowledge construction and meaning making. More specifically, the results show a more frequent use of the CDFevaluateand a higher rate of semantic density (abstractions) in classroom discourse in the HE strand.
ICT environmentalism and the sustainability game
Authors: Vaughan Hunter , Pasek Anne , Silcox Nicholas R. , Starosielski Nicole
Published: June 2023

Over the past three decades, corporate branding has trended strongly towards environmental conscientiousness and green rhetoric, often heralded under the term “sustainability” – a broad and mutable rhetorical strategy that not only serves industry self-interest but is mobilized by civil society actors as well. This tension is especially apparent in the information communication technologies (ICT) sector. Employing Wittgenstein’s concept of the language-game, this article describes how sustainability has been deployed by tech companies, and how these efforts have also been contested – and strategically mobilized – by activist environmental non-profits and critical scholars seeking to reform tech sector practices. Combining environmental communication, political economy, and discourse analysis, we investigate the conceptualization and communication of sustainability as a discourse within and against the sector.
A Genetic algorithm scheme for large scale open-pit mine production scheduling
Authors: Azadi Nooshin , Mirzaei-Nasirabad Hossein , Mousavi Amin
Published: June 2023

Due to the large size of open-pit mines’ long-term production scheduling (OPMPS) problem in large-scale deposits, it is challenging to solve that problem as the mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model. This study used an approach of the genetic algorithm (GA) to tackle this challenge. So, in a small hypothetical deposit, based on the blocks in the ultimate pit limit and scenarios with 2–6 phases, net present values (NPV) and computational times obtained from the GA and MILP model were compared to evaluate the GA. Also, the GA was applied to a large-scale deposit to determine the efficiency of the GA in real deposits. The maximum NPV was obtained for the four-phase scenario in the hypothetical deposit and the six-phase scenario in the large-scale deposit. Although the GA's NPV decreased slightly compared to the global optimum solution from the MILP model, the computational time was significantly reduced.
CLPTM1L is a GPI-anchoring pathway component targeted by HCMV
Authors: Kol Inbal , Rishiq Ahmed , Cohen Mevaseret , Kahlon Shira , Pick Ophir , Dassa Liat , Stein Natan , Bar-On Yotam , Wolf Dana G. , Seidel Einat , Mandelboim Ofer
Published: June 2023

The GPI-anchoring pathway plays important roles in normal development and immune modulation. MHC Class I Polypeptide-related Sequence A (MICA) is a stress-induced ligand, downregulated by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) to escape immune recognition. Its most prevalent allele, MICA*008, is GPI-anchored via an uncharacterized pathway. Here, we identify cleft lip and palate transmembrane protein 1-like protein (CLPTM1L) as a GPI-anchoring pathway component and show that during infection, the HCMV protein US9 downregulates MICA*008 via CLPTM1L. We show that the expression of some GPI-anchored proteins (CD109, CD59, and MELTF)—but not others (ULBP2, ULBP3)—is CLPTM1L-dependent, and further show that like MICA*008, MELTF is downregulated by US9 via CLPTM1L during infection. Mechanistically, we suggest that CLPTM1L’s function depends on its interaction with a free form of PIG-T, normally a part of the GPI transamidase complex. We suggest that US9 inhibits this interaction and thereby downregulates the expression of CLPTM1L-dependent proteins. Altogether, we report on a new GPI-anchoring pathway component that is targeted by HCMV.
Urea and water are transported through different pathways in the red blood cell membrane
Authors: Brahm Jesper , Dziegiel Morten Hanefeld , Leifelt Jonas
Published: June 2023

Several studies of the urea transporter UT-B expressed in Xenopus oocytes and in genetically modified red blood cells (RBC) have concluded that UT-B also transports water. In the present study, we use unmodified RBC to test that conclusion. We find that the permeability of urea, Pu (cm/s), has a 10-fold donor variation, while the diffusional water permeability, Pd (cm/s), remains unchanged. Additionally, we observe that phloretin inhibits Pu but not Pd, and that the time course of maximum p-chloromercuribenzosulfonate inhibition of Pu and Pd differs—Pu inhibition takes <2 min, whereas Pd inhibition requires ≥1 h of incubation. The findings in the present study are in line with a previous comparative study using unmodified RBC from four animals and a solvent drag study using human RBC, and they lead us to reject the conclusion that the UT-B transporter represents a common pathway for both solutes.
Configurable vortex laser beams for optical manipulations of microparticle ensembles
Authors: Ikonnikov D A , Vyunisheva S A , Prokopova D V , Losevsky N N , Samagin S A , Kotova S P , Vyunishev A M
Published: June 2023

The formation of phase holograms by the modulation superposition method for producing a set of vortex laser beams is presented. Produced vortex laser beams are considered to be used in the scheme of optical tweezers for optical trapping and manipulation of ensembles of latex microspheres. Applying the method of modulation superposition is regarded to synthesize phase holograms by adding harmonic functions with specific parameters. The possibility of independent control of the position of produced vortex beams and their orbital angular momentum is experimentally demonstrated, being in a good agreement with theoretical analysis. The use of structured light in combination with optothermal traps is likely to expand the traditional methods of microobject optical manipulation. The results obtained open up new possibilities for optical manipulation in biomedical applications.
Chronic stability of a neuroprosthesis comprising multiple adjacent Utah arrays in monkeys
Authors: Chen Xing , Wang Feng , Kooijmans Roxana , Klink Peter Christiaan , Boehler Christian , Asplund Maria , Roelfsema Pieter Roelf
Published: June 2023

Objective. Electrical stimulation of visual cortex via a neuroprosthesis induces the perception of dots of light (‘phosphenes’), potentially allowing recognition of simple shapes even after decades of blindness. However, restoration of functional vision requires large numbers of electrodes, and chronic, clinical implantation of intracortical electrodes in the visual cortex has only been achieved using devices of up to 96 channels. We evaluated the efficacy and stability of a 1024-channel neuroprosthesis system in non-human primates (NHPs) over more than 3 years to assess its suitability for long-term vision restoration. Approach. We implanted 16 microelectrode arrays (Utah arrays) consisting of 8 × 8 electrodes with iridium oxide tips in the primary visual cortex (V1) and visual area 4 (V4) of two sighted macaques. We monitored the animals’ health and measured electrode impedances and neuronal signal quality by calculating signal-to-noise ratios of visually driven neuronal activity, peak-to-peak voltages of the waveforms of action potentials, and the number of channels with high-amplitude signals. We delivered cortical microstimulation and determined the minimum current that could be perceived, monitoring the number of channels that successfully yielded phosphenes. We also examined the influence of the implant on a visual task after 2–3 years of implantation and determined the integrity of the brain tissue with a histological analysis 3–3.5 years post-implantation. Main results. The monkeys remained healthy throughout the implantation period and the device retained its mechanical integrity and electrical conductivity. However, we observed decreasing signal quality with time, declining numbers of phosphene-evoking electrodes, decreases in electrode impedances, and impaired performance on a visual task at visual field locations corresponding to implanted cortical regions. Current thresholds increased with time in one of the two animals. The histological analysis revealed encapsulation of arrays and cortical degeneration. Scanning electron microscopy on one array revealed degradation of IrOx coating and higher impedances for electrodes with broken tips. Significance. Long-term implantation of a high-channel-count device in NHP visual cortex was accompanied by deformation of cortical tissue and decreased stimulation efficacy and signal quality over time. We conclude that improvements in device biocompatibility and/or refinement of implantation techniques are needed before future clinical use is feasible.
Re-thinking geometrogenesis: Instantaneity in quantum gravity scenarios
Authors: Bianchi Silvia De , Gabbanelli Luciano
Published: June 2023

Recent Quantum Gravity approaches revealed that spacetime emergence opens conceptual difficulties when the theory allows for cosmological scenarios compatible with geometrogenesis. In particular, it appears extremely difficult to think of an a-temporal transition from a non-geometric to a geometric phase and vice versa. In this paper we advance the proposal of a concept of atemporality, i.e., instantaneity that is suitable for the description of the transition occurring among fundamental phases from which spacetime emerges in some Quantum Gravity approaches, including Group Field Theory and its cosmological implications. After discussing the ontology at different levels of spacetime emergence in a theory of Quantum Gravity in Section 2, we shall focus on the definition of the notion of instantaneity to interpret the atemporal transition of geometrogenesis (Section 3.1), thereby arguing that atemporality dominates at Renormalization Group flow fixed points (Section 3.2). In Section 4, we apply for the first time our notion of instantaneity to the study of geometrogenesis in the context of tensorial Group Field Theory and we conclude by suggesting that atemporality plays a significant role for the understanding of our world at different scales.
The Hole Argument and Beyond: Part II: Treating Non-isomorphic Spacetimes
Authors: Gomes Henrique , Butterfield Jeremy
Published: June 2023

In this two-part paper we review, and then develop, the assessment of the hole argument for general relativity.

The review (in Part I) discussed how to compare points in isomorphic spacetimes, i.e. models of the theory. This second Part proposes a framework for making comparisons of non-isomorphic spacetimes. It combines two ideas we discussed in Part I—the philosophical idea of counterparts, and the idea of threading points between spacetimes other than by isomorphism—with the mathematics of fibre bundles.

We first recall the ideas from Part I (Section 1). Then in Section 2 and an Appendix, we define a fibre bundle whose fibres are isomorphic copies of a given spacetime or model, and discuss connections on this fibre bundle. This material proceeds on analogy with field-space formulations of gauge theories. Finally, in Section 3, we show how this fibre bundle gives natural expressions of the philosophical ideas of counterparts, and of threading.
The case of Quantum Gravity with Spontaneous Collapse of the Wave Function
Authors: Diósi Lajos
Published: June 2023

When about half a century ago the concept of universal spontaneous collapse of the wave function was conceived it was an attempt to alter standard non-relativistic quantum physics. As such, it was largely ignored by relativistic field theory and quantum gravity communities. A central motivation of spontaneous collapse community has been to replace the standard collapse-by-measurement that annoyed many. With few exceptions, it did not annoy the field theory and quantum gravity communities. Concept of certain general-relativity-related universal irreversibility in quantum field theory had been initiated very long ago by Wheeler, Hawking and a few others independently from the concept of spontaneous collapse. Lately the two concepts started to converge and support each other.
Quantum fluctuations, particles and entanglement: solving the quantum measurement problems
Authors: Konishi Kenichi
Published: June 2023

The so-called quantum measurement problems are solved from a new perspective. One of the main observations is that the basic entities of our world are particles, elementary or composite. It follows that each elementary process, hence each measurement process at its core, is a spacetime, pointlike, event. Another key idea is that, when a microsystem ψ gets into contact with the experimental device, factorization of ψ rapidly fails and entangled mixed states appear. The wave functions for the microsystem-apparatus coupled system for different measurement outcomes then lack overlapping spacetime support. It means that the aftermath of each measurement is a single term in the sum: a “wave-function collapse”. Our discussion leading to a diagonal density matrix, ρ = diag(|c
1|2,…,|cn
|2,…) shows how the information encoded in the wave function

|
ψ
〉
=

∑
n

c
n

|
n
〉

gets transcribed, via entanglement with the experimental device and environment, into the relative frequencies Pn
= |cn
|2 for various experimental outcomes F = fn
. Our discussion represents the first, significant steps towards filling in the logical gaps in the conventional interpretation based on Born’s rule, replacing it with a clearer understanding of quantum mechanics. Accepting objective reality of quantum fluctuations, independent of any experiments, and independently of human presence, one renounces the idea that in a fundamental, complete theory of Nature the result of each single experiment must necessarily be predictable.
Non-Abelian gauge structure and flavor mixing in quantum field theory1
Authors: Blasone Massimo , Smaldone Luca , Vitiello Giuseppe
Published: June 2023

The quantum field theory formalism describing the phenomenon of neutrino mixing and oscillations is reviewed in its essential aspects. The condensate structure of the flavor vacuum state is considered and its non-perturbative nature is discussed within the existence in the quantum field theory of the manifold of unitarily inequivalent representations of the anticommutation relations. The Poincaré structure of the theory is discussed in connection with the gauge theory features of neutrino mixing, where the possibility arises to describe flavored neutrinos as on-shell fields with definite masses. The flavor vacuum state may be thought of as a refractive medium where different refraction indexes are related to the different neutrino masses. Neglecting the condensate structure of the flavor vacuum implies neglecting second-order contributions in the gauge field coupling and leads to experimentally inconsistent results.
Decoherent histories approach to the cosmological measure problem
Authors: Lloyd Seth
Published: June 2023

The method of decoherent histories allows probabilities to be assigned to sequences of quantum events in systems, such as the universe as a whole, where there is no external observer to make measurements. This paper applies the method of decoherent histories to address cosmological questions. Using a series of simple examples, beginning with the harmonic oscillator, we show that systems in a stationary state such as an energy eigenstate or thermal state can exhibit decoherent histories with non-trivial dynamics. We then examine decoherent histories in a universe that undergoes eternal inflation. Decoherent histories that assign probabilities to sequences of events in the vicinity of a timelike geodesic supply a natural cosmological measure. Under reasonable conditions, such sequences of events do not suffer from the presence of unlikely statistical fluctuations that mimic reality.
Gravitation, and quantum theory, as emergent phenomena
Authors: Singh Tejinder P.
Published: June 2023

There must exist a reformulation of quantum field theory, even at low energies, which does not depend on classical time. The octonionic theory proposes such a reformulation, leading to a pre-quantum pre-spacetime theory. The ingredients for constructing such a theory, which is also a unification of the standard model with gravitation, are : (i) the pre-quantum theory of trace dynamics – a matrix-valued Lagrangian dynamics, (ii) the spectral action principle of non-commutative geometry, (iii) the number system known as the octonions, for constructing a non-commutative manifold and for defining elementary particles via Clifford algebras, (iv) a Lagrangian with E
8 × E
8 symmetry. The split bioctonions define a sixteen dimensional space (with left-right symmetry) whose geometry (evolving in Connes time) relates to the four known fundamental forces, while predicting two new forces, SU(3)
grav
and U(1)
grav
. This latter interaction is possibly the theoretical origin of MOND. Coupling constants of the standard model result from left-right symmetry breaking, and their values are theoretically determined by the characteristic equation of the exceptional Jordan algebra of the octonions. The quantum-to-classical transition, precipitated by the entanglement of a critical number of fermions, is responsible for the emergence of classical spacetime, and also for the familiar formulation of quantum theory on a spacetime background.
Representation of the universe as dendrogramic hologram empowered with relational interpretation
Authors: Shor Oded , Benninger Felix , Khrennikov Andrei
Published: June 2023

This is a brief review on the basics of recently established Dendrogramic Holographic theory (DH-theory). This is the special model of the event-universe based on the clustering transformation of experimental data into dendrogram, a finite tree which branches encoding the events. These event-branches are coupled via the hierarchic interrelation determined by the dendrogram. Such relational universe differs from the universe with space-time mathematically described by the real numbers. Dendrogram is endowed with the common root ultrametric. Finite dendrograms correspond to the epistemic level of description; in the limit we obtain an infinite tree providing the ontic description. In the simplest model, the tree is homogeneous, p-adic tree. It can be endowed with the algebraic structure of the ring of p-adic integers. Hence, DH-theory is a part (but very special) of p-adic theoretical physics. In this paper we discuss the foundations of DH-theory and its applications to quantum-classical interrelation including the novel interpretation of the violations of the CHSH-inequality, to general relativity, and to emergence of quantum mechanics from the event-picture of the universe. Since both quantum theory and general relativity can be emergent from DH-theory, creation of the latter can be viewed as a step towards unification of these two fundamental physical theories.
How an exact discrete symmetry can preserve black hole information or Turning a black hole inside out
Authors: Hooft Gerard’t
Published: June 2023

To apply the laws of General Relativity to quantum black holes, one first needs to remove the horizon singularity by means of Kruskal-Szekeres coordinates. This however doubles spacetime, which thereby is equipped with an exact binary symmetry. All particles near a black hole share the same symmetry, and conservation of this symmetry may completely remove the information paradox: the quantum black hole has no interior, or equivalently, the black hole interior is a quantum clone of the exterior region. These observations, totally overlooked in most of the literature on quantum black holes, resolve some issues concerning conservation of information. Some other problems do remain.
Cellular automaton for spinor gravity in four dimensions
Authors: Wetterich C
Published: June 2023

Certain fermionic quantum field theories are equivalent to probabilistic cellular automata, with fermionic occupation numbers associated to bits. We construct an automaton that represents a discrete model of spinor gravity in four dimensions. Local Lorentz symmetry is exact on the discrete level and diffeomorphism symmetry emerges in the naive continuum limit. Our setting could serve as a model for quantum gravity if diffeomorphism symmetry is realized in the true continuum limit and suitable collective fields for vierbein and metric acquire non-vanishing expectation values. The discussion of this interesting specific model reveals may key qualitative features of the continuum limit for probabilistic cellular automata. This limit obtains for a very large number of cells if the probabilistic information is sufficiently smooth. It is associated to coarse graining. The automaton property that every bit configuration is updated at every discrete time step to precisely one new bit configuration does no longer hold on the coarse grained level. A coarse grained configuration of occupation numbers can evolve into many different configurations with certain probabilities. This characteristic feature of quantum field theories can come along with the emergence of continuous space-time symmetries.
Expending quantization procedures can help quantum field theories and gravity
Authors: Klauder John R
Published: June 2023

Sometimes, canonical quantization has difficulties that can be cured using a new quantization procedure called affine quantization. After briefly introducing this new procedure, we show that its approach to simple models ensures that a valid quantization can be obtained. These valid procedures then are used to help fields and gravity.
Chiral and flavor oscillations in lepton-antineutrino spin correlations
Authors: Bittencourt V A S V , Blasone M , Zanfardino G
Published: June 2023

We study the evolution of quantum correlations in a lepton-antineutrino pair, as produced in weak interactions (e.g. pion decay). Assuming an inital state entangled in the spins of the two particles, we show that both chiral and flavor (neutrino) oscillations affect spin correlations. Such corrections are relevant in the non-relativistic regime. In the second part we focused our attention on the weak process n + νe
→ p + e in which the results found in the previous sections could be observed.
Aspects of wave-particle complementarity in quantum delayed-choice experiments
Authors: Dieguez P R , Karthik H S
Published: June 2023

Quantum delayed-choice experiments are designed to probe the robustness of the complementarity principle. In this proceeding, we revisit the main ideas reported recently in Ref. [Commun. Phys. 5, 82 (2022)] concerning a setup (quantum-controlled reality experiment) that has the same final visibility as the quantum version of Wheeler’s delayed-choice arrangement. Besides the same final statistics, upon an operational criterion of physical realism, the authors claimed a different state of affairs for the wave-and-particle behavior in delayed-choice experiments. To this end, we put forward an analysis by employing the relative entropy of coherence to study how the local wave and particle coherences when the system is traveling inside the interferometer change accordingly to the final observed visibility.
Classical space from quantum condensates
Authors: Iorio A , Smaldone L
Published: June 2023

We review the boson transformation method to deal with spontaneous symmetry breaking in quantum field theory, focussing on how it describes the emergence of extended and classical objects in such quantum context. We then apply the method to the emergence of space itself, as an extended and classical object resulting from the evaporation of a quantum black hole. In particular, we show how classical torsion and curvature tensors can emerge as effects of an inhomogeneous Nambu–Goldstone boson condensation in vacuum, in E(3) invariant spinor models with symmetry breaking.
Analog simulations of early universe pre-heating and the back-reaction effect
Authors: Butera Salvatore , Carusotto Iacopo
Published: June 2023

We theoretically propose a ring-shaped, two-dimensional atomic Bose-Einstein condensate as analog model to investigate back-reaction effects during the pre-heating of the early universe. We study the out-of-equilibrium dynamics by which the inflaton field decays by parametrically exciting the vacuum fluctuations that initially populate the matter fields. By working at the level of the truncated Wigner approximation, our numerical simulations show how a signature of back-reaction beyond the semiclassical level is encoded in the effective friction experienced by the analog of the inflaton field, as well as in the spatial de-phasing of its oscillations and in the entanglement between the inflaton and matter fields degrees-of-freedoms.
The quantum waves of Minkowski space-time and the minimal acceleration from precanonical quantum gravity
Authors: Kanatchikov Igor V
Published: June 2023

We construct the simplest solutions of the previously obtained precanonical Schrödinger equation for quantum gravity, which correspond to the plane waves on the spin connection bundle and reproduce the Minkowski space-time on average. Quantum fluctuations lead to the emergence of the minimal acceleration a0
related to the range of the Yukawa modes in the fibers of the spin connection bundle. This minimal acceleration is proportional to the square root of the cosmological constant Λ generated by the operator re-ordering in the precanonical Schrödinger equation. Thus the mysterious connection between the minimal acceleration in the dynamics of galaxies as described by Milgrom’s MOND and the cosmological constant emerges as an elementary effect of precanonical quantum gravity. We also argue that the observable values of a0
and Λ can be obtained when the scale of the parameter ϰ introduced by precanonical quantization is subnuclear, in agreement with the previously established connection between the scale of ϰ and the mass gap in quantum SU(2) Yang-Mills theory.
Hints at a relationship between friction and relativistic physics
Authors: Minguzzi E
Published: June 2023

In applied mechanics Reye’s law (1860) establishes, via energy arguments, that the mass of the debris produced by dry friction in the contact of rigid bodies is proportional to the work done by friction forces. This result has long been used for the determination of the distribution of pressure in the contact of rigid bodies, and hence for the design of brakes. In this work I show that when bodies losing mass due to friction are treated, as they should, as variable mass systems, a relationship analogous to the relativistic mass formula is recovered. This result suggests that mathematical structures typical of relativistic physics could have been discovered prior to 1905, without making any reference to electromagnetism, group theory or the speed of light. Also this result could point to the existence of a physical theory depending on two constants, the speed of light (Reye’s constant) and a universal frictional deceleration with respect to an absolute frame. The limit of the theory for vanishing friction would give Special Relativity, as the absolute frame would become unobservable, while the limit for the speed of light going to infinity would lead to Aristotelian mechanics, i.e. a classical mechanics type theory presenting universal friction. Finally, I present a reference frame transformation that displays these features and I apply the theory to some open cosmological problems.
Coherent states for generalized uncertainty relations and their cosmological implications
Authors: Jizba P , Lambiase G , Luciano G G , Petruzziello L
Published: June 2023

We study coherent states associated with a generalized uncertainty principle (GUP). Our particular focus is on the negative deformation parameter β. We show that the ensuing coherent state can be identified with Tsallis’ probability amplitude with the non-extensivity parameter q being a monotonically increasing function of β. Furthermore, for β < 0, we reformulate the GUP in terms of a one-parameter class of Tsallis entropy based uncertainty relations, which are again saturated by the GUP coherent states. We argue that this combination of coherent states with Tsallis entropy offers a natural conceptual framework allowing to study the quasi-classical regime of GUP in terms of non-extensive thermostatistics. We bolster this claim by discussing a generalization of Verlinde’s entropic force and the ensuing implications in the late-inflation epoch. The corresponding dependence of the β parameter on the cosmological time is derived for the reheating epoch. The obtained β is consistent with both values predicted by string-theory models and the naturalness principle.
The Universe as a Telecommunication Network
Authors: Capurso Alessandro
Published: June 2023

We suggest a framework that models the universe as a Telecommunication Network, with several layers of abstraction, characteristic protocols and encoding schemes. We first define a fundamental network of atoms of space (Present foliation) as a toy model of the most elementary abstraction on spacetime. We describe a protocol to encode the information of distance, non-locality, and entanglement among these nodes. In this framework, we then conjecture the emergence of fermions from gradients of entanglement in the foliation, encoded as momenta in the fundamental network. We propose an interpretation of the asymmetry and of the half spin of matter in the model, towards a description of fermions as independent Network Entities, adjacent possible complexities from the most fundamental abstraction. We conclude our contribution considering several parallels between Nature and nodes in a layered network. The proposed framework seems a promising path to describe the emergence of a universe from information through the language of networks. We believe this perspective can connect several areas of research and deserves further investigation.
Evaluation of the perception of visual comfort, reading ability, color appearance, and global preference with respect to the CCT and the illuminance, of a university audience
Authors: Oscco F , Tonello G , Horn M
Published: June 2023

With the aim of knowing the perception of a university audience of four aspects of lighting: visual comfort, reading ability, color appearance and global preference, 40 volunteers were surveyed, sitting in front of a cubicle, which was illuminated by 12 different states of lighting. The lighting was a combination of illuminances of 100 lx, 200 lx, 400 lx or 600 lx, and a CCT of 3500 K, 5000 K, or 6500 K. The different states of lighting were presented one after another randomly. The results indicate that the CCT does not have a significant influence on visual comfort, reading ability, and global preference and that these aspects depend only on the illuminance: observers prefer illuminances of 400 lx and 600 lx, with no significant difference between them. The color appearance aspect is influenced by illuminance and CCT: observers prefer illuminance values of 400 lx or 600 lx combined with CCTs of 5000 K or 6500 K.