The curvature argument

Dasgupta (2015) has recently put forward a novel argument, which he calls the ‘curvature argument’, that aims to show that Galilean spacetime is not an ideal setting for our classical theory of motion. This paper examines the curvature argument and argues that it is not sound. The discussion yields a remark about the conditions under which a ‘symmetry argument’ demonstrates that a particular spacetime is a non-ideal setting for our theory of motion.     

The neuronal sortilin-related receptor SORL1 is genetically associated with Alzheimer disease

The recycling of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) from the cell surface via the endocytic pathways plays a key role in the generation of amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) in Alzheimer disease. We report here that inherited variants in the SORL1 neuronal sorting receptor are associated with late-onset Alzheimer disease. These variants, which occur in at least two different clusters of intronic sequences within the SORL1 gene (also known as LR11 or SORLA) may regulate tissue-specific expression of SORL1. We also show that SORL1 directs trafficking of APP into recycling pathways and that when SORL1 is underexpressed, APP is sorted into Abeta-generating compartments. These data suggest that inherited or acquired changes in SORL1 expression or function are mechanistically involved in causing Alzheimer disease.     

采用蒙特卡罗法分析离散坐标法的假散射

采用蒙特卡罗法获得了离散坐标方程的不含任何假散射的高精度解，其基本思路是：当采用一个离散坐标格式来计算一个漫射表面的热辐射时，就意味着用有限个离散方向去“代表”2π立体空间上的无穷多个方向，因此，不妨假定存在着这样一个虚拟表现：该表面的确只沿着该离散坐标格式的离散方向上发射热辐射，并且在每个方向上的热流也完全遵循离散坐标方程，然后将蒙特卡罗法应用于此虚拟表现，由此所获得解即为此有面的高精度解，不言而喻它也等效于离散坐标方程的高精度解，在此基础上，分析了离散坐标法的假散射对计算结果的影响。     

Pragmatism in Economic Methodology: The Duhem-Quine Thesis Revisited

Contemporary developments in economicmethodology have produced a vibrant agenda ofcompeting positions. These include, amongothers, constructivism, critical realism andrhetoric, with each contributing to the Realistvs. Pragmatism debate in the philosophies of thesocial sciences. A major development in theneo-pragmatist contribution to economicmethodology has been Quine's pragmatic assaulton the dogmas of empiricism, which are nowclearly acknowledged within contemporaryeconomic methodology. This assault isencapsulated in the celebrated Duhem-Quinethesis, which according to a number ofcontemporary leading philosophers of economics,poses a particularly serious methodologicalproblem for economics. This problem, asreflected in Hausman's analysis, consists ofthe inability of economics to learn fromexperience, thereby subverting the capacity totest economic theories. In this paper wedispute this position. Our argument is basedon a combination of Quine's holism with VanFraassen's constructive empiricism, especiallythe latter's analysis of empirical adequacy andhis pragmatic approach to explanation. Theresulting reorientation of economic methodologyrestores the capacity of economics to learnfrom experience and reinstates the imperativeof developing alternatives to orthodoxtheorizing in economics.     

Wnt-beta-catenin signaling initiates taste papilla development

Fungiform taste papillae form a regular array on the dorsal tongue. Taste buds arise from papilla epithelium and, unusually for epithelial derivatives, synapse with neurons, release neurotransmitters and generate receptor and action potentials. Despite the importance of taste as one of our five senses, genetic analyses of taste papilla and bud development are lacking. We demonstrate that Wnt-beta-catenin signaling is activated in developing fungiform placodes and taste bud cells. A dominant stabilizing mutation of epithelial beta-catenin causes massive overproduction of enlarged fungiform papillae and taste buds. Likewise, genetic deletion of epithelial beta-catenin or inhibition of Wnt-beta-catenin signaling by ectopic dickkopf1 (Dkk1) blocks initiation of fungiform papilla morphogenesis. Ectopic papillae are innervated in the stabilizing beta-catenin mutant, whereas ectopic Dkk1 causes absence of lingual epithelial innervation. Thus, Wnt-beta-catenin signaling is critical for fungiform papilla and taste bud development. Altered regulation of this pathway may underlie evolutionary changes in taste papilla patterning.     

Position of the Y-chromosome at somatic metaphase in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)

Summary A random distribution of the Y-chromosome at somatic metaphase was found in 50 patients with Ph' positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Thus, it is concluded that the positive of the Y-chromosome at somatic metaphase does not appear to influence the loss from bone marrow cells.     

Chromosome variations inXenopsylla astia Rothschild, 1911 (Siphonaptera). A preliminary report

Summary 2 populations of rat fleas,Xenopsylla astia, collected from (A) Bombay and (B) Trivandrum, were found to differ in chromosome number as follows; (A) 2n=10 in both sexes; (B) 2n=18 (male) and 20 (female). Preliminary observations have further shown that the 2 populations differ in certain morphological characters and that their reciprocal hybrids are sterile in the male and partially sterile in the female sex.Acknowledgments. We wish to express our deepest gratitude to Dr Robert E. Lewis, Professor of Entomology, Iowa State University, USA, for confirming our identification of the 2 samples of rat fleas. We are indebted to Dr N.R. Prabhoo, Reader in Zoology, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, for his advice and helpful suggestions. We are also indebted to Prof. K.M. Alexander, for encouragement and providing facilities. Financial help of the University Grants Commission, India, to one of us (C.T.) is also gratefully acknowledged.     

RF channel performance assessment for a multiple carrier millimeter-wave communication system

Channel capacity, system versatility and ease of maintenance are factors of prime concern in future generations of wireless communication systems. As a result, millimeter-wave can offer considerable advantages in providing broadband interface. Nonlinearity and noise effects, including parametric fluctuations, are two significant causes for signal degradation in broadband communication systems. Two methods to assess the performance of an RF channel in a multi-carrier system are described. By measuring the forward transfer function from transmitter IF to receiver IF as the frequency is swept across the channel bandwidth, characteristics such as gain flatness, channel dispersion, and saturation effects are revealed. To evaluate the ability of the communication link in preserving the synchronization between two carriers, their heterodyned spectrum at the receiver IF output is studied. Both measurement methods employ standard equipment and have been found to be effective when applied to a multi-carrier millimeter-wave system with over 1 GHz instantaneous bandwidth.     

音乐的结构及其数字人类学根据

音乐作为一种纯粹的文化制度,有其固有的结构和强加的结构。音乐结构原理的应用有力地说明,音乐有其明确规定的数字人类学根据。