Defining the Statesman by Division

Chapter 3 discusses the two main reasons for finding the initial sequence of divisions in the Statesman (258b-268d) faulty: formal failures having to do mainly with the limitations of dichotomy, and the insufficient distinction of the statesman from his rivals. This sequence of divisions is considered in detail, controverting this negative assessment and defending the method of diairesis as a useful procedure for grasping kinds. It is argued that it is not the method of division, but the model of rearing humans, that is responsible for the shortcomings of the resulting definition. The interpretation is supported with a review of the methodological remarks on division in the Phaedrus and Statesman.

De novo ssRNA Aptamers against the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease: In Silico Design and Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Herein, we have generated ssRNA aptamers to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, a protease necessary for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus replication. Because there is no aptamer 3D structure currently available in the databanks for this protein, first, we modeled an ssRNA aptamer using an entropic fragment-based strategy. We refined the initial sequence and 3D structure by using two sequential approaches, consisting of an elitist genetic algorithm and an RNA inverse process. We identified three specific aptamers against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, called MAptapro, MAptapro-IR1, and MAptapro-IR2, with similar 3D conformations and that fall in the dimerization region of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro necessary for the enzymatic activity. Through the molecular dynamic simulation and binding free energy calculation, the interaction between the MAptapro-IR1 aptamer and the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro enzyme resulted in the strongest and the highest stable complex; therefore, the ssRNA MAptapro-IR1 aptamer was selected as the best potential candidate for the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and a perspective therapeutic drug for the COVID-19 disease.

A Case Study of Code-Switching among Thai Waiters in a Cambridge, UK Restaurant

This study explores Thai bilingual speakers’ code-switching in a formal work setting. Although code-switching may appear to be random, there is an underlying choice which speakers decide upon when switching between languages: Language proficiency, the initial speaker’s language choice, the setting, and role relationships all contribute to these choices. This study investigates the factors contributing to code-switch decisions by participants within their specific work environment. The main findings show that adopting one language over the other depends on two main factors: first, the initial sequence of the interaction; second, the role relationship that the participants wish to maintain. This study has drawn upon the conversational approach and Auer’s sequential analysis to collect and interpret data from ethno-graphic observations, questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews.

Physical Unclonable Function Based on the Internal State Transitions of a Fibonacci Ring Oscillator

This article introduces a new class of physical unclonable functions (PUFs) based on the Fibonacci ring oscillator (FIRO). The research conducted here proves that before reaching the desired randomness, the oscillator shows a certain degree of repeatability and uniqueness in the initial sequence of internal state transitions. The use of an FIRO in conjunction with the restart method makes it possible to obtain a set of short boot sequences, which are processed with an innovative feature extraction algorithm that enables reliable device identification. This approach ensures the reuse of the existing random number generator (RNG), rather than multiplying ring oscillators in a dedicated structure. Moreover, the algorithm for the recovery of the device key from the boot set can be successfully implemented in the authorizing center, thus significantly releasing the resources of authorized low-complexity devices. The proposed methodology provides an easily obtainable key with identifiability, which was proven experimentally on FPGAs from different manufacturers.

Sequence learning recodes cortical representations instead of strengthening initial ones

We contrast two computational models of sequence learning. The associative learner posits that learning proceeds by strengthening existing association weights. Alternatively, recoding posits that learning creates new and more efficient representations of the learned sequences. Importantly, both models propose that humans act as optimal learners but capture different statistics of the stimuli in their internal model. Furthermore, these models make dissociable predictions as to how learning changes the neural representation of sequences. We tested these predictions by using fMRI to extract neural activity patters from the dorsal visual processing stream during a sequence recall task. We observed that only the recoding account can explain the similarity of neural activity patterns, suggesting that participants recode the learned sequences using chunks. We show that associative learning can theoretically store only very limited number of overlapping sequences, such as common in ecological working memory tasks, and hence an efficient learner should recode initial sequence representations.

Preserved motor memory in Parkinson's disease

Patients with Parkinson's disease, who lose the dopaminergic projections to the striatum, are impaired in certain aspects of motor learning. Recent evidence suggests that, in addition to its role in motor performance, the striatum plays a key role in the memory of motor learning. Whether Parkinson's patients have impaired motor memory and whether motor memory is modulated by dopamine at the time of initial learning is unknown. To address these questions, we measured memory of a learned motor sequence in Parkinson's patients who were either On or Off their dopaminergic medications. We compared them to a group of older and younger controls. Contrary to our predictions, motor memory was not impaired in patients compared to older controls, and was not influenced by dopamine state at the time of initial learning. To probe post-learning consolidation processes, we also tested whether learning a new sequence shortly after learning the initial sequence would interfere with later memory. We found that, in contrast to younger adults, neither older adults nor patients were susceptible to this interference. These findings suggest that motor memory is preserved in Parkinson's patients and raise the possibility that motor memory in patients is supported by compensatory non-dopamine sensitive mechanisms. Furthermore, given the similar performance characteristics observed in the patients and older adults and the absence of an effect of dopamine, these results raise the possibility that aging and Parkinson's disease affect motor memory in similar ways.

Spatial Rearrangement Using Pairwise Exchange Method (Case Study of PT. LMN)

PT. LMN is a company engaged in the manufacturing and outer production industry, the purpose of this research is to obtain a new layout design that can minimize the distance to move goods and the minimum total cost that can minimize the distance to move goods and the minimum total costs so as to reduce production costs, and obtain The new layout is better than the previous layout. Data processing begins by determining the initial sequence as a planning basis, then performing pairwise exchanges based on the initial sequence so as to produce several alternatives, do this stage until you get the smallest results. Lastly compares the new smallest order with the starting sequence. From the calculation, the results obtained are the proposed sequence (5 - 6 - 8 - 3 - 2 - 7 - 4 - 1 - 9) with a total value of 3450.5 meters. This proposal resulted in a total distance difference of 980.5 meters and a cost of IDR 11,736,8167 / per production. So that companies can reduce distance and also costs in each production process.

Transliminality: Comparing Mystical and Psychotic Experiences on Psycho-Phenomenological Grounds

On a phenomenal level, no differences between the mystical and the initial sequence of psychotic experience are to be found. Both are characterized by transliminality (i.e., an experience of consciousness transcending both the psychophysical and the rational realms). However, the situation is different if we integrate psychodynamic implications before and after those experiences into the comparison. One difference on this level is that the mystical experience (if it meets sufficient ego stability) primarily offers personality-strengthening potential. In contrast, transliminality, which occurs in the course of psychotic experience (if it encounters insufficient ego-stability or a pronounced vulnerability), primarily offers personality-weakening potential. However, if the therapeutic process succeeds in setting ego-stabilizing impulses (or eliminating thought and affect disorders which are typical for psychoses of the schizophrenic spectrum), a conscious incorporation of the transliminal experience into the further therapeutic process proves to be helpful, too. The essential philosophical and therapeutic significance of the connections analyzed here are reflected on with the help of philosophical and psycho(patho)logical phenomenology, in particular with the writings of Husserl’s and Pfänder’s pupil Gerda Walther, combined with current theorems of responsive phenomenology. Walther’s insights into the (dys-)functionalities of ego-center (“Ichzentrum”), self (“Einbettung des Ichzentrums”), and basic essence (“Grundwesen”) in mystical and psychotic experience, with respect to their (meta-)transcendental relationship with divine essence (“göttlicher Wesensgrund”) provoke further research questions on the constitutive and therapeutic implications of transliminality in the context of mystical and psychotic experience.

The Effect of Points Fattening on del Pezzo Surfaces

In this paper, we study the fattening effect of points over the complex numbers for del Pezzo surfaces $$\mathbb {S}_r$$ S r arising by blowing-up of $$\mathbb {P}^2$$ P 2 at r general points, with $$ r \in \{1, \dots , 8 \}$$ r ∈ { 1 , ⋯ , 8 } . Basic questions when studying the problem of points fattening on an arbitrary variety are what is the minimal growth of the initial sequence and how are the sets on which this minimal growth happens characterized geometrically. We provide a complete answer for del Pezzo surfaces.