Isolated Objects and Their Evolution: A Derivation of the Propagator’s Path Integral for Spinless Elementary Particles

We formalize the notion of isolated objects (units), and we build a consistent theory to describe their evolution and interaction. We further introduce a notion of indistinguishability of distinct spacetime paths of a unit, for which the evolution of the state variables of the unit is the same, and a generalization of the equivalence principle based on indistinguishability. Under a time reversal condition on the whole set of indistinguishable paths of a unit, we show that the quantization of motion of spinless elementary particles in a general potential field can be derived in this framework, in the limiting case of weak fields and low velocities. Extrapolating this approach to include weak relativistic effects, we explore possible experimental consequences. We conclude by suggesting a primitive ontology for the theory of isolated objects.

Amantadine has potential for the treatment of COVID-19 because it inhibits known and novel ion channels encoded by SARS-CoV-2

The dire need for COVID-19 treatments has inspired strategies of repurposing approved drugs. Amantadine has been suggested as a candidate, and cellular as well as clinical studies have indicated beneficial effects of this drug. We demonstrate that amantadine and hexamethylene-amiloride (HMA), but not rimantadine, block the ion channel activity of Protein E from SARS-CoV-2, a conserved viroporin among coronaviruses. These findings agree with their binding to Protein E as evaluated by solution NMR and molecular dynamics simulations. Moreover, we identify two novel viroporins of SARS-CoV-2; ORF7b and ORF10, by showing ion channel activity in a X. laevis oocyte expression system. Notably, amantadine also blocks the ion channel activity of ORF10, thereby providing two ion channel targets in SARS-CoV-2 for amantadine treatment in COVID-19 patients. A screen of known viroporin inhibitors on Protein E, ORF7b, ORF10 and Protein 3a from SARS-CoV-2 revealed inhibition of Protein E and ORF7b by emodin and xanthene, the latter also blocking Protein 3a. This illustrates a general potential of well-known ion channel blockers against SARS-CoV-2 and specifically a dual molecular basis for the promising effects of amantadine in COVID-19 treatment. We therefore propose amantadine as a novel, cheap, readily available and effective way to treat COVID-19.

Spectral organ fingerprints for intraoperative tissue classification with hyperspectral imaging

Visual discrimination of tissue during surgery can be challenging since different tissues appear similar to the human eye. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) removes this limitation by associating each pixel with high-dimensional spectral information. While previous work has shown its general potential to discriminate tissue, clinical translation has been limited due to the method's current lack of robustness and generalizability. Specifically, it had been unknown whether variability in spectral reflectance is primarily explained by tissue type rather than the recorded individual or specific acquisition conditions. The contribution of this work is threefold: (1) Based on an annotated medical HSI data set (9,059 images from 46 pigs), we present a tissue atlas featuring spectral fingerprints of 20 different porcine organs and tissue types. (2) Using the principle of mixed model analysis, we show that the greatest source of variability related to HSI images is the organ under observation. (3) We show that HSI-based fully-automatic tissue differentiation of 20 organ classes with deep neural networks is possible with high accuracy (> 95 %). We conclude from our study that automatic tissue discrimination based on HSI data is feasible and could thus aid in intraoperative decision making and pave the way for context-aware computer-assisted surgery systems and autonomous robotics.

Constructing a Buddhist-Inspired Framework for Examining Tulkus’ use of Cyberspace

<p>This thesis is both, an examination of tulkus’ use of cyberspace (with a particular focus on social media); and a methodological experiment. In this thesis I construct a framework for examining tulkus’ use of social media platforms, such as: Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. However rather than using “alien” ideas to construct the framework (such as, the ideas of Virtual Reality, and telepresence), I draw on concepts and doctrines found within the Buddhist tradition. The four ideas I draw on are: nirmāṇakāya; the yamakaprātihārya; ideas surrounding presence and absence in the Buddhist tradition; and visualization meditation. The four ideas are then applied to case studies in order to demonstrate how these ideas could potentially offer a way to view tulkus’ use of cyberspace from a “Buddhist” perspective. One of the aims of this framework is to investigate the potential (from a Buddhist perspective) for cyberspace to be sacralised by the presence of a being such as a tulku, and consider how religious functions and activities seem to be carried out “in” cyberspace. This framework is also a methodological experiment. Rather than using an “off the shelf” theory I plan to construct my methodology using ideas from within the Buddhist tradition. As far as I’m aware, the method of considering material from within the tradition being studied is relatively rare. I hope that this project will demonstrate the general potential for such an approach being used more widely in academia. NB: When I submitted this thesis for examination, I was informed that I should have obscured the names of the Facebook users in the screenshots included in this work. I have done my best to rectify this problem, by obscuring all the names of the followers of the tulkus studied, and removed any reference to them by name in the body of the thesis.</p>

Constructing a Buddhist-Inspired Framework for Examining Tulkus’ use of Cyberspace

<p>This thesis is both, an examination of tulkus’ use of cyberspace (with a particular focus on social media); and a methodological experiment. In this thesis I construct a framework for examining tulkus’ use of social media platforms, such as: Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. However rather than using “alien” ideas to construct the framework (such as, the ideas of Virtual Reality, and telepresence), I draw on concepts and doctrines found within the Buddhist tradition. The four ideas I draw on are: nirmāṇakāya; the yamakaprātihārya; ideas surrounding presence and absence in the Buddhist tradition; and visualization meditation. The four ideas are then applied to case studies in order to demonstrate how these ideas could potentially offer a way to view tulkus’ use of cyberspace from a “Buddhist” perspective. One of the aims of this framework is to investigate the potential (from a Buddhist perspective) for cyberspace to be sacralised by the presence of a being such as a tulku, and consider how religious functions and activities seem to be carried out “in” cyberspace. This framework is also a methodological experiment. Rather than using an “off the shelf” theory I plan to construct my methodology using ideas from within the Buddhist tradition. As far as I’m aware, the method of considering material from within the tradition being studied is relatively rare. I hope that this project will demonstrate the general potential for such an approach being used more widely in academia. NB: When I submitted this thesis for examination, I was informed that I should have obscured the names of the Facebook users in the screenshots included in this work. I have done my best to rectify this problem, by obscuring all the names of the followers of the tulkus studied, and removed any reference to them by name in the body of the thesis.</p>

Drugs Used During Pregnancy and Lactation

In time of pregnancy, drugs are often required to treat certain disorders. In general potential benefit outweighs known risks, drugs may be considered for treatment of disorders during pregnancy. All maternal drugs not cross the planceta to the fetus. Some drugs that cross the placenta may have a direct toxic effect or teratogenic effect . Understanding the risks of drugs use in pregnancy has lagged being the advances in other areas of pharmacotherapy. The adverse developmental effects of pharmaceutical products are recognized to include not only mal formation, but also growth restrictions, fetal death and functional defects in the newborn. Drug that does not cross placenta but still harm the fortus. 1979, FDA developed a system determining teratogenic risk of drugs based on animals& human studies. Divided drugs into 5 categories (A ,B, C, D, X). This article provide clinical therapeutic guidance relating drug use in pregnancy.

Exact-WKB, complete resurgent structure, and mixed anomaly in quantum mechanics on S1

We investigate the exact-WKB analysis for quantum mechanics in a periodic potential, with N minima on S1. We describe the Stokes graphs of a general potential problem as a network of Airy-type or degenerate Weber-type building blocks, and provide a dictionary between the two. The two formulations are equivalent, but with their own pros and cons. Exact-WKB produces the quantization condition consistent with the known conjectures and mixed anomaly. The quantization condition for the case of N-minima on the circle factorizes over the Hilbert sub-spaces labeled by discrete theta angle (or Bloch momenta), and is consistent with ’t Hooft anomaly for even N and global inconsistency for odd N. By using Delabaere-Dillinger-Pham formula, we prove that the resurgent structure is closed in these Hilbert subspaces, built on discrete theta vacua, and by a transformation, this implies that fixed topological sectors (columns of resurgence triangle) are also closed under resurgence.

What is Architectural Psychology?

Editorial Summary Alexandra Abel explores the general potential of disciplinary fusion and, specifically, the incorporation of psychology into the field of architecture, aiming for an architectural psychology. In her contribution »What is Architectural Psychology?«, she questions the possible intertwining of the two disciplines, highlighting their reciprocal interconnectivity. She draws specific attention to the substantial ways in which the consideration of psychological findings affect the perception and appropriation of architectural spaces and their sensual and attentive impact on human well-being. In regard to the integration of perceptual and sensory principles into the architectural design, the consideration of psychology becomes inevitable when aiming for a human centered design. [Katharina Voigt]

Forecasting the state of agricultural enterprises based on the results of economic diagnostics

This article is devoted to the study of information support and methodological tools for economic diagnostics of agricultural enterprises, based on the results of which the cost of resource potential predicted. Determined the factors of influence of the internal and external environment on forecasting the cost resource potential of agricultural enterprises. The methodological toolkit for forecasting the cost resource potential of agricultural enterprises used, taking into account the extrapolation of indicators and the coefficient of change. Built the economic-mathematical models for forecasting the general potential of agricultural enterprises in Ukraine. Proposed the scheme of forecasting the state of agricultural enterprises and complex information support the stages of making managerial decisions by the management of agricultural enterprises. For agricultural enterprises of Ukraine, promising directions for the development of economic activities are proposed.