THE TEMPORAL LOGIC OF TWO DIMENSIONAL MINKOWSKI SPACETIME IS DECIDABLE

We consider Minkowski spacetime, the set of all point-events of spacetime under the relation of causal accessibility. That is, x can access y if an electromagnetic or (slower than light) mechanical signal could be sent from x to y. We use Prior’s tense language of F and P representing causal accessibility and its converse relation. We consider two versions, one where the accessibility relation is reflexive and one where it is irreflexive. In either case it has been an open problem, for decades, whether the logic is decidable or axiomatisable. We make a small step forward by proving, in each case, that the set of valid formulas over two-dimensional Minkowski spacetime is decidable and that the complexity of each problem is PSPACE-complete.A consequence is that the temporal logic of intervals with real endpoints under either the containment relation or the strict containment relation is PSPACE-complete, the same is true if the interval accessibility relation is “each endpoint is not earlier”, or its irreflexive restriction.We provide a temporal formula that distinguishes between three-dimensional and two-dimensional Minkowski spacetime and another temporal formula that distinguishes the two-dimensional case where the underlying field is the real numbers from the case where instead we use the rational numbers.

THE QUANTIFIED ARGUMENT CALCULUS

I develop a formal logic in which quantified arguments occur in argument positions of predicates. This logic also incorporates negative predication, anaphora and converse relation terms, namely, additional syntactic features of natural language. In these and additional respects, it represents the logic of natural language more adequately than does any version of Frege’s Predicate Calculus. I first introduce the system’s main ideas and familiarize it by means of translations of natural language sentences. I then develop a formal system built on these principles, the Quantified Argument Calculus or Quarc. I provide a truth-value assignment semantics and a proof system for the Quarc. I next demonstrate the system’s power by a variety of proofs; I prove its soundness; and I comment on its completeness. I then extend the system to modal logic, again providing a proof system and a truth-value assignment semantics. I proceed to show how the Quarc versions of the Barcan formulas, of their converses and of necessary existence come out straightforwardly invalid, which I argue is an advantage of the modal Quarc over modal Predicate Logic as a system intended to capture the logic of natural language.

Drama Advertisements: Moderating Effects of Self-Relevance on the Relations among Empathy, Information Processing, and Attitudes

The effects of drama versus lecture format in public service advertisements are studied in a 2 (format) × 2 (malaria vs AIDS) factorial design. Two structural equation models are built (one for each level of self-relevance), showing two distinct patterns. In both low and high self-relevant situations, empathy plays a key role. Under low self-relevance conditions, drama enhances information processing through empathy. Under high self-relevant conditions, the advertisement format has neither significant cognitive or empathetic effects. The information processing generated by the highly relevant topic affects viewers' empathy, which in turn affects the attitude toward the advertisement and the behavioral intent. As predicted by the Elaboration Likelihood Model, the advertisement format enhances the attitudes and information processing mostly under low self-relevant conditions. Under low self-relevant conditions, empathy enhances information processing while under high self-relevance, the converse relation holds.

ALTERATIONS IN CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDES IN DOGS AFTER TRIIODOTHYRONINE

ABSTRACT The effects of triiodothyronine (T3) on plasma and tissue levels (liver, adipose tissue, muscle) of adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) were determined in Mongrel dogs. Plasma cyclic AMP increased to a mean plateau value 165 % greater than control values in response to a single intravenous injection of T3 (100–200 μg/kg body weight). This treatment resulted in no increase in plasma cyclic GMP. In liver, cyclic AMP concentration decreased 54 %, while cyclic GMP increased 137 %. Adipose tissue cyclic AMP levels decreased in control animals during the experimental procedure. On the other hand, animals given T3 had stable or (in one case) increasing adipose tissue cyclic AMP levels. Hence, T3, actually maintained higher levels than that expected, in comparison to the control. Cyclic GMP levels in adipose tissue were not affected by T3. Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP were unchanged in muscle. In all cases, a time lag occurred (30–40 min) between administration of T3 and subsequent alterations in cyclic nucleotide levels. It was concluded that T3 is capable of altering concentrations of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in vivo and that cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP patterns of response are completely different. In liver, a converse relation of the two nucleotides is present. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that some of T3's action may be explained by its effects upon either cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP.