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Physics and Information Theory
No full textWe explore the relationship between physics and information theory. First, information for discrete channels is defined and quantified with Shannon entropy. Shannon entropy is compared to Gibbs and Boltzmann entropies in thermodynamics, and applications in computing are explored. We then turn to continuous communication, examining how waves carry information and how techniques like sampling and the Fourier transform present constraints on communication. We investigate quantum information, emphasizing how principles like superposition, interference, and entanglement challenge classical assumptions. Finally, we examine the quantum Fourier transform as a powerful algorithm in quantum computing, and illustrate how decoherence provides engineering challenges for quantum computing
Sex Differences in the HPA axis: A Cause of the Gender Depression Gap in Women
No full textMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is a disorder that affects many people, and has never been fully cured. The continued research of MDD is imperative to try and cure, not only because of the inhibitory effects the disorder has on quality of life, but also due to the high suicide rate (Orsolini et al., 2020). Researchers have looked into various areas of cause for this disorder, as it affects so many people. One area historically overlooked is the link between the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and MDD. The link between the HPA axis and MDD can be pinpointed to the dysregulation of the HPA axis itself, causing MDD. Further, using the links already found between HPA axis dysfunction and major depression, another area of research studies the potential sex differences in the HPA axis. Specifically, how those sex differences, mainly in the dysfunction of the negative feedback system of the HPA axis, can elongate the extreme gender depression gap statistic between men and women. By studying how the HPA axis can be dysregulated more in women, targeting this stress system when treating MDD could perhaps lessen the depression gap statistic that is historically seen between men and women, and overall decrease MDD diagnoses (Albert, 2015). Sex differences in the dysregulation of the HPA axis show a biological reason why women are more prone to MDD than men
You\u27ll Never Get Away from The Sound of the Woman that Loves You: Women’s Scenes of Recognition in the Odyssey
No full textModeling Life, Energy, and Thought with Differential Equations
No full textPartial differential equations (PDEs) describe relationships between a multivari- ate function and its partial derivatives, and they arise in a wide variety of scien- tific and engineering contexts. In this paper, we begin by formally defining PDEs and reviewing canonical examples such as the diffusion and reaction–diffusion equa- tions. We then survey classical analytical solution techniques along with the ini- tial and boundary conditions. Recognizing that many natural processes exhibit ir- regular or stochastic behavior, we next introduce stochastic differential equations (SDEs), deriving them from simple ordinary differential equations and showing how they lead, via the Fokker–Planck equation, to an associated PDE for the evo- lution of probability densities. In the second part of the paper, we demonstrate three applications of these methods: modeling the spread of leukemia using a reac- tion–diffusion system; describing the electrochemical dynamics of lithium-ion bat- teries via the Doyle–Fuller–Newman PDE model; and capturing collective opinion dynamics through a nonlinear, nonlocal Fokker–Planck equation. Together, these case studies illustrate both the breadth of PDE theory and the practical challenges of analytical and numerical treatment in complex, real-world systems
The Role of Alternate Alleles in Instituting Reproductive Isolation in Homoploid Hybrid Speciation
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Bringing Representation Home: The Case for Casework
No full textWhy are some members of Congress evaluated differently than others? Representation is central to democracy and the political process in the United States. A half-century of literature presumes that policy is the main way in which members of Congress represent their constituents, yet the effectiveness of dyadic representation remains unclear. I argue that the literature has centered too heavily on policy and focus instead on constituent service, a powerful form of non-policy representation. I posit that casework is a unique method of representation that improves constituent approval, though affective polarization limits these benefits to the in-party. My analysis shows that casework has a small, yet positive impact on a member of Congress’ approval derived from in-party members. This provides members of Congress with a unique tool to maintain approval within their own partisans. While my results suggest an incentive for members of Congress to decrease their casework for members of the out-party, they also imply that representation is still alive in a time of polarization and congressional disfunction
Quantum Sensors and the Evolution of Quantum Measurement
No full textQuantum sensing is the ability to detect light-matter interactions using quantum mechanical properties. It is a recent field that exploits the main issue faced by quantum computers regarding their high sensitivity to environmental interactions. To explain how a quantum sensor works, we build upon the evolution of quantum measurement techniques over time and the historical experiments that have led us to uncover fundamental concepts in quantum mechanics like spin, light polarization, and entanglement. Many quantum sensors like Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) center diamonds possess unique spin states whose coherence times can only be measured indirectly via the emission of certain photon polarizations that are entangled with the spin states in question. Long spin coherence times allow us to reliably detect interesting phenomena that cause premature spin state decay processes. Applications of NV centers and other quantum sensors include constructing qubits, testing fundamental physics principles, measuring tiny physical perturbations, and potentially finding dark matter
Kaija Maier Comps
No full textMy paintings explore the compelling nature of involuntary memories—those sparked by a sight, smell, taste, sound, or touch that transports the spectator to a past experience, moment, or place—and the fleeting nature of the images this process can conjure. These portraits of myself as a child painted on my childhood bed sheets and similar textiles examine how fabric can preserve memory and shape personal associations tied to patterns and textures. By pairing sentimental designs and realistic imagery, I aim to evoke a sense of nostalgia and invite viewers into the intimate, familiar spaces created by my work
BOYS IN THE SUN
No full textAfter an abrupt and heated break-up, two boys must learn how to cope with heartbreak as they relive and remember a time when they were inseparable. Nostalgia, regret, and longing are just a few of the obstacles they must confront as one of them navigates a new life in NYC while the other lingers in their small hometown. This queer coming-of-age short film warps the spatial and temporal timeline of their romantic experiences to tell the story of this young couple