Fundamental Physics and Computation: The Computer-Theoretic Framework

The central goal of this manuscript is to survey the relationships between fundamental physics and computer science. We begin by providing a short historical review of how different concepts of computer science have entered the field of fundamental physics, highlighting the claim that the universe is a computer. Following the review, we explain why computational concepts have been embraced to interpret and describe physical phenomena. We then discuss seven arguments against the claim that the universe is a computational system and show that those arguments are wrong because of a misunderstanding of the extension of the concept of computation. Afterwards, we address a proposal to solve Hempel’s dilemma using the computability theory but conclude that it is incorrect. After that, we discuss the relationship between the proposals that the universe is a computational system and that our minds are a simulation. Analysing these issues leads us to proposing a new physical principle, called the principle of computability, which claims that the universe is a computational system (not restricted to digital computers) and that computational power and the computational complexity hierarchy are two fundamental physical constants. On the basis of this new principle, a scientific paradigm emerges to develop fundamental theories of physics: the computer-theoretic framework (CTF). The CTF brings to light different ideas already implicit in the work of several researchers and provides a new view on the universe based on computer theoretic concepts that expands the current view. We address different issues regarding the development of fundamental theories of physics in the new paradigm. Additionally, we discuss how the CTF brings new perspectives to different issues, such as the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics and the foundations of cognitive science.

Bilinguals have a single computational system but two compartmentalized phonological grammars: Evidence from code-switching

Classic linguistic models, such as Chomsky’s minimalist schematization of the human language faculty, were typically based on a ‘monolingual ideal’. More recently, models have been extended to bilingual cognition. For instance, MacSwan (2000) posited that bilinguals possess a single syntactic computational system and, crucially, two (or more) phonological grammars. The current paper examines this possible architecture of the bilingual language faculty by using code-switching data, since this type of speech is unique to bilingual and multilingual individuals. Specifically, the natural speech Maria, a habitual Spanish-English code-switcher from the Bangor Miami Corpus, was examined. For the interface of phonology, an analysis was completed on the frequency of syllabic structures used by Maria. Phonotactics were examined as Spanish and English impose differential restrictions on complex onsets and codas. The results indicated that Maria’s language of use impacted the phonotactics of her speech, but that the context of use (unilingual or code-switched) did not. This suggests that Maria was alternating between two independent phonological grammars when she was code-switching. For the interface of morphosyntax, syntactic dependencies within Maria’s code-switched speech and past literature were consulted. The evidence illustrates that syntactic dependencies are indeed established within code-switched sentences, indicating that such constructions are derived from a single syntactic subset. Thus, the quantitative and qualitative results from this paper wholly support MacSwan’s original conjectures regarding the bilingual language faculty: bilingual cognition appears to be composed of a single computational system which builds multi-language syntactic structures, and more than one phonological grammar.

Processing and assimilation of observation data for the hydrodynamics model of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov

This work is aimed at using the marine data of the Shared Use Centre (SUC) “IKI-Monitoring” in the variational assimilation procedures of the Informational Computational System (ICS) “INM RAS - Black Sea”. SUC “IKI - Monitoring” is a tool for obtaining remote sensing observations on the Earth state. In the paper observation data information is given, data processing procedures are described, algorithms for the assimilation of the information received and several specific features of the numerical model used are presented. Results of the variational assimilation of two sets of observation data are presented and discussed. Numerical experiments have confirmed the possibility of using incomplete data from satellites in the problems of modelling the sea area.

Highly dispersive optical soliton perturbation with cubic–quintic–septic law via two methods

The main consideration of this paper is to discuss cubic optical solitons in a polarization-preserving fiber modeled by nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE). We extract the solutions in the forms of hyperbolic, trigonometric including a class of solitary wave solutions like dark, bright–dark, singular, singular periodic, multiple-optical soliton and mixed complex soliton solutions. A recently developed integration tool known as new extended direct algebraic method (NEDAM) is applied to analyze the governing model. Moreover, the studied equation is discussed with two types of nonlinearity. The constraint conditions are explicitly presented for the resulting solutions. The accomplished results show that the applied computational system is direct, productive, reliable and can be carried out in more complicated phenomena.

ANALYSIS OF THE REINFORCEMENT OF A STEEL STRUCTURE WITH CONCENTRIC DIAGONALS. MANTA UVC CASE

The Pedernales earthquake in 2016 affected several structures, an example is the UVC in the city of Manta, in which a post-earthquake reinforcement with inverted V-shaped diagonals was performed. This paper presents an analysis of the structure without reinforcement and with longitudinal reinforcement, using functions of the CEINCI-LAB Computational System to determine displacements, drifts, and floor shear, in a seismic analysis with the spectral and static equivalent modal method using the spectrum of Manta 2016. In addition, the demand is determined according to the NEC-15 load combinations, using the live, dead and earthquake load states; for the verification of the axial capacity of columns, the effect of the earthquake is used, considering the over-resistance. After that, a design by capacity is carried out in the structure without reinforcement, based on the capacity of the beams, and in the case of reinforcement, an analysis is carried out based on the capacity of the diagonals. It is observed that both the original structure and the reinforcement do not comply with the earthquake resistant philosophy, and it is likely that an earthquake will be affected in a future.

On evolution, change, and beyond

This paper discusses Hubert Haider’s target-article “Grammar change: A case of Darwinian cognitive evolution”. I show why such an article is fascinating (and unconventional), although I will mainly concentrate on several disagreements with Haider and will suggest alternative views to those contended by this scholar. My discussion will highlight five main issues: (1) Haider assumes a purely Neo-Darwinian (i.e. genocentric) view of evolution and inheritance, lacking a more pluralistic approach; (2) Haider rejects the idea of language as a biological phenomenon, while at the same time he seems to assume several characteristics related to a biologically seated trait; (3) as opposed to Haider’s suggestion, the computational system does not need to be language-specific; (4) Haider’s divide between the procedural and declarative components of grammar is perhaps too strict regarding (grammatical) change; and (5) Haider considers that there is no scientific way of deciding the question of language origins and evolution and that complex grammars are too recent. However, I show that a language-like computational power (and perhaps complex grammars) already existed many thousands of years ago.

Proof-of-Concept Study on an Automatic Computational System in Detecting and Classifying Occlusal Caries Lesions from Smartphone Color Images of Unrestored Extracted Teeth

Dental caries has been considered the heaviest worldwide oral health burden affecting a significant proportion of the population. To prevent dental caries, an appropriate and accurate early detection method is demanded. This proof-of-concept study aims to develop a two-stage computational system that can detect early occlusal caries from smartphone color images of unrestored extracted teeth according to modified International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) criteria (3 classes: Code 0; Code 1-2; Code 3-6): in the first stage, carious lesion areas were identified and extracted from sound tooth regions. Then, five characteristic features of these areas were intendedly selected and calculated to be inputted into the classification stage, where five classifiers (Support Vector Machine, Random Forests, K-Nearest Neighbors, Gradient Boosted Tree, Logistic Regression) were evaluated to determine the best one among them. On a set of 587 smartphone images of extracted teeth, our system achieved accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity that were 87.39%, 89.88%, and 68.86% in the detection stage when compared to modified visual and image-based ICDAS criteria. For the classification stage, the Support Vector Machine model was recorded as the best model with accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity at 88.76%, 92.31%, and 85.21%. As the first step in developing the technology, our present findings confirm the feasibility of using smartphone color images to employ Artificial Intelligence algorithms in caries detection. To improve the performance of the proposed system, there is a need for further development in both in vitro and in vivo modeling. Besides that, an applicable system for accurately taking intra-oral images that can capture entire dental arches including the occlusal surfaces of premolars and molars also needs to be developed.

The CoronaSurveys System for COVID-19 Incidence Data Collection and Processing

CoronaSurveys is an ongoing interdisciplinary project developing a system to infer the incidence of COVID-19 around the world using anonymous open surveys. The surveys have been translated into 60 languages and are continuously collecting participant responses from any country in the world. The responses collected are pre-processed, organized, and stored in a version-controlled repository, which is publicly available to the scientific community. In addition, the CoronaSurveys team has devised several estimates computed on the basis of survey responses and other data, and makes them available on the project’s website in the form of tables, as well as interactive plots and maps. In this paper, we describe the computational system developed for the CoronaSurveys project. The system includes multiple components and processes, including the web survey, the mobile apps, the cleaning and aggregation process of the survey responses, the process of storage and publication of the data, the processing of the data and the computation of estimates, and the visualization of the results. In this paper we describe the system architecture and the major challenges we faced in designing and deploying it.

Developing an Algorithm for the Application of Bayesian Method to Software Using Artificial Immune Systems

This study provides information on artificial immune systems. The artificial immune system is an adaptive computational system that uses models, principles, mechanisms and functions to describe and solve the problems in theoretical immunology. Its application in various fields of science is explored. The theory of natural immune systems and the key features and algorithms of artificial immune system are analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of protection systems based on artificial immune systems are shown. The methods for malicious software detection are studied. Some works in the field of artificial immune systems are analyzed, and the problems to be solved are identified. A new algorithm is developed for the application of Bayesian method in software using artificial immune systems, and experiments are implemented. The results of the experiment are estimated to be good. The advantages and disadvantages of AIS were shown. To eliminate the disadvantages, perfect AISs should be developed to enable the software more efficient and effective.

Modelling of surface roughness and studying of optimal machining position in side milling

In this work, a theoretical analysis of surface generation numerical model is presented to predict the surface roughness achieved by side milling operations with cylindrical tools. This work is focused on the trajectory of tools with two teeth by influencing of tool errors such as radial runouts, as well as straightness with dynamic effects. A computational system was developed to simulate roughness topography in contour milling with cylindrical tool. Finally, the PSO (particle swarm optimization) algorithm is employed to find the optimal machining position for the best surface roughness. Experimental data is satisfied with the the novel pretiction model for the tooth’s trajectory, and the the final prediction accuracy is high enough, i.e. that the prediction surface roughness. Low prediction surface roughness error (1.37 ~ 15.04%) and position error (0.95 ~ 1.25 mm) indicate effectiveness of the model built in this work. The novel model may be used to determine the variation in surface roughness.