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prediction be practically possible – merely predictable in theory. Many philosophical theories of determinism frame themselves with the idea that reality follows a sort of predetermined path Causal determinism is "the idea that every event is necessitated by antecedent events and conditions together with the laws of na... |
deliberations, choices, and actions will often be necessary links in the causal chain that brings something about. In other words, even though our deliberations, choices, and actions are themselves determined like everything else, it is still the case, according to causal determinism, that the occurrence or existence o... |
certain way". Causal determinism proposes that there is an unbroken chain of prior occurrences stretching back to the origin of the universe. The relation between events may not be specified, nor the origin of that universe. Causal determinists believe that there is nothing uncaused or self-caused. Historical determini... |
Nomological determinism (sometimes called 'scientific' determinism, although that is a misnomer) is the most common form of causal determinism. It is the notion that the past and the present dictate the future entirely and necessarily by rigid natural laws, that every occurrence results inevitably from prior events. Qu... |
Nomological determinism is sometimes illustrated by the thought experiment of Laplace's demon. Physical determinism holds holds that all physical events occur as described by physical laws. Depending upon definitions, there is some room here for the view that not everything in the universe must be tied to some physical... |
physical determinism because of the widely accepted scientific view that the operation of all physical systems (often unnecessarily taken to mean everything) can be explained entirely in physical terms, the assumed causal closure of physics. Necessitarianism is very related to the causal determinism described above. It... |
for the world to be. Leucippus claimed there were no uncaused events, and that everything occurs for a reason and by necessity. Predeterminism is the idea that all events are determined in advance. The concept of predeterminism is often argued by invoking causal determinism, implying that there is an unbroken chain of ... |
the universe. In the case of predeterminism, this chain of events has been pre-established, and human actions cannot interfere with the outcomes of this pre-established chain. Predeterminism can be used to mean such pre-established causal determinism, in which case it is categorised as a specific type of determinism. I... |
context of its capacity to determine future events. Despite this, predeterminism is often considered as independent of causal determinism. The term predeterminism is also frequently used in the context of biology and hereditary, in which case it represents a form of biological determinism. Fatalism is normally distingu... |
that humans have no control over their future. Fate has arbitrary power, and need not follow any causal or otherwise deterministic laws. Types of Fatalism include hard theological determinism and the idea of predestination, where there is a God who determines all that humans will do. This may be accomplished either by ... |
of omniscience or by decreeing their actions in advance. Theological determinism is a form of determinism which states that all events that happen are pre-ordained, or predestined to happen, by a monotheistic deity, or that they are destined to occur given its omniscience. Two forms of theological determinism exist, he... |
strong theological determinism, is based on the concept of a creator deity dictating all events in history: "everything that happens has been predestined to happen by an omniscient, omnipotent divinity". The second form, weak theological determinism, is based on the concept of divine foreknowledge - "because God's omni... |
means, consequently, that the future is already fixed". There exist slight variations on the above categorisation. Some claim that theological determinism requires predestination of all events and outcomes by the divinity (i.e. they do not classify the weaker version as 'theological determinism' unless libertarian free... |
not constitute 'theological determinism' at all. With respect to free will, "theological determinism is the thesis that God exists and has infallible knowledge of all true propositions including propositions about our future actions", more minimal criteria designed to encapsulate all forms of theological determinism. T... |
conditions are the nature and will of God. Logical determinism or Determinateness is the notion that all propositions, whether about the past, present, or future, are either true or false. Note that one can support Causal Determinism without necessarily supporting Logical Determinism and vice versa (depending on one's ... |
free will is especially salient now with Logical Determinism: how can choices be free, given that propositions about the future already have a truth value in the present (i.e. it is already determined as either true or false)? This is referred to as the problem of future contingents. Adequate determinism focuses on the... |
of microscopic physics, we can predict the distribution of 1000 coin tosses Often synonymous with Logical Determinism are the ideas behind Spatio-temporal Determinism or Eternalism: the view of special relativity. J. J. C. Smart, a proponent of this view, uses the term "tenselessness" to describe the simultaneous exist... |
Minkowski and Albert Einstein assumes that time is a fourth dimension (like the three spatial dimensions). In other words, all the other parts of time are real, like the city blocks up and down a street, although the order in which they appear depends on the driver (see Rietdijk–Putnam argument). Adequate determinism i... |
ignored for most macroscopic events. This is because of quantum decoherence. Random quantum events "average out" in the limit of large numbers of particles (where the laws of quantum mechanics asymptotically approach the laws of classical mechanics). Stephen Hawking explains a similar idea: he says that the microscopic... |
effects rarely alter the predictions of classical mechanics, which are quite accurate (albeit still not perfectly certain) at larger scales. Something as large as an animal cell, then, would be "adequately determined" (even in light of quantum indeterminacy). Nature and nurture interact in humans. A scientist looking a... |
the effects of the starting materials OR environmental influences. Although some of the above forms of determinism concern human behaviors and cognition, others frame themselves as an answer to the Nature or Nurture debate. They will suggest that one factor will entirely determine behavior. As scientific understanding ... |
as a single cause fallacy. In other words, the modern deterministic theories attempt to explain how the interaction of both nature and nurture is entirely predictable. The concept of heritability has been helpful to make this distinction. Biological determinism, sometimes called Genetic determinism, is the idea that ea... |
Behaviorism is the idea that all behavior can be traced to specific causes—either environmental or reflexive. This Nurture-focused determinism was developed by John B. Watson and B. F. Skinner. Cultural determinism or social determinism is the nurture-focused theory that it is the culture in which we are raised that de... |
or geographical determinism. It holds the view that the physical environment, rather than social conditions, determines culture. Supporters often also support Behavioral determinism. Key proponents of this notion have included Ellen Churchill Semple, Ellsworth Huntington, Thomas Griffith Taylor and possibly Jared Diamo... |
mobile phone is the greatest factor shaping human civilization. Other 'deterministic' theories actually seek only to highlight the importance of a particular factor in predicting the future. These theories often use the factor as a sort of guide or constraint on the future. They need not suppose that complete knowledge... |
predictions. Psychological determinism can mean that humans must act according to reason, but it can also be synonymous with some sort of Psychological egoism. The latter is the view that humans will always act according to their perceived best interest. Linguistic determinism claims that our language determines (at le... |
The Sapir–Whorf hypothesis argues that individuals experience the world based on the grammatical structures they habitually use. Economic determinism is the theory which attributes primacy to the economic structure over politics in the development of human history. It is associated with the dialectical materialism of K... |
the development of its social structure and cultural values. Media determinism, a subset of technological determinism, is a philosophical and sociological position which posits the power of the media to impact society. Two leading media determinists are the Canadian scholars Harold Innis and Marshall McLuhan. |
- Date: January 25, 2011 - In This Story: Asian tiger reserves can support more than 10,000 wild tigers—three times the current estimate—if they are managed as large-scale landscapes that |
protect core breeding sites and benefit local communities, according to the world’s leading conservation scientists in a new study published on January 25. This positive news reveals that doubling the |
number of tigers in the wild is feasible. “In the midst of a crisis, it’s tempting to circle the wagons and only protect a limited number of core protected areas, |
but we can and should do better,” said Dr. Eric Dinerstein, Chief Scientist at WWF and co-author of the study. “We absolutely need to stop the bleeding, the poaching of |
tigers and their prey in core breeding areas, but we need to go much further and secure larger tiger landscapes before it is too late.” Wild tiger numbers have declined |
to as few as 3,200 today compared to 100,000 a century ago, due to poaching of tigers and their prey, habitat destruction and human-tiger conflict. “A Landscape-Based Conservation Strategy to |
Double the Wild Tiger Population” in the current issue of Conservation Letters provides the first assessment of the political commitment made by all 13 tiger range countries at November’s historic |
tiger summit to double the tiger population across Asia by 2022. The study found that the 20 priority tiger conservation landscapes with the highest probability of long-term tiger survival could |
support more than 10,500 tigers, including about 3,400 breeding females. “Tiger conservation is the face of biodiversity conservation and competent sustainable land-use management at the landscape level,” said study co-author |
Dr. John Seidensticker of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. “By saving the tiger we save all the plants and animals that live under the tiger’s umbrella.” The study also revealed |
that major infrastructure projects such dams, roads and mines will threaten tiger landscapes in the next decade. However, channeling revenues to communities from wildlife tourism, forest management in corridors and |
buffer zones, and earning carbon credits will provide new opportunities. Read the full study View a map of the 12 best places to double the number of tigers in the |
wild Learn more about wild tigers “Without strong countervailing pressures, short-term economic gains will inevitably trump protection of the critical ecosystems necessary for sustainable development,” said Keshav Varma, Program Director |
of the Global Tiger Initiative at the World Bank. The study calls for mainstreaming wildlife conservation to shift to well-funded efforts to protect core areas and larger landscapes, a challenging |
task that will require innovation through arrangements that benefit the rural communities living in these landscapes. Countries like Nepal are already looking closely at building alliances and partnerships for better |
landscape management that benefits both people and tigers. "Following the St. Petersburg Declaration, Nepal has committed to the goal of doubling wild tiger numbers across our country by 2022,” said |
Deepak Bohara, Nepal’s Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation. “This analysis shows that it can be done, not just in Nepal, but, if done right with careful study and planning, |
across the entire tiger range. It is also worth noting that the tiger conservation provides carbon credits, protects water resources, and complements community development efforts. Thus, it is important to |
Are the cables in your living room creating a jungle? Don't worry – we'll help you untangle things so that Digital Television makes sense. Just pick the category that describes your problem, and we'll guide you through it – step-by-step. |
Last Updated: Thu, 09 Jun 2011 > Related Articles This article addresses FAQs about HDTV including: picture quality, picture display, and common terms. HDTV (high definition TV) is a TV display technology that provides a higher picture and sound quality |
than standard TV sets. Roughly half of prime time TV programs of the major networks are available in the HDTV format (16:9). The other half are available in the standard-definition format (4:3). The aspect ratio of the content is controlled |
by the content providers; example: HBO and Showtime. You can access the providers website to see which programming is released in the HDTV format (16:9). - When a standard-definition (4:3 aspect ratio) program is viewed on a HDTV (16:9 aspect |
ratio), the HDTV centers the image on the screen with black or gray bars on either side. - When HDTV (16:9 aspect ratio) content is displayed on a standard-definition TV (4:3 aspect ratio), black bars will appear at the top |
and bottom of the screen. Refer to your TV user guide for directions on removing the bars. If you have a Scientific Atlanta cable box, use the stretch and zoom HD settings to fill the TV screen area with the |
image. - A TV is considered to have burn-in when the HDTV colors are not evenly displayed across the screen. - To avoid burn-in, use the stretch and zoom HD settings to fill the TV screen area with the image. |
In some cases you can substitute gray bars for black bars to minimize burn in. You can also try turning your contrast down to 50 percent or lower. - Burn in is usually not covered under warranty, and ONLY affects |
the following TV displays: - Direct-view CRT - Plasma flat-panel - CRT-based rear projection The 4:3 aspect ratio is the shape of the standard TV monitor (square). The 16:9 aspect ratio is the shape of most HDTV monitors (rectangular). HDTVs |
have been manufactured in both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios. Widescreen is a term used for the 16:9 aspect ratio which is larger than the standard definition TV screen. - 1080p is the shorthand identification for a category of HDTV |
video modes. The number 1080 represents 1,080 lines of vertical resolution (1,080 horizontal scan lines), while the letter p stands for progressive scan (meaning the image is not interlaced). The term usually assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying |
a horizontal resolution of 1920 pixels. - 1080i is a (HDTV) video mode. The term usually assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a horizontal resolution of 1920 pixels and a frame resolution of 1920×1080 or about 2.07 million |
pixels. - 720p is the shorthand name for a category of HDTV video modes. The number 720 stands for the 720 horizontal scan lines of display resolution (also known as 720 pixels of vertical resolution), while the letter p stands |
for progressive scan or non-interlaced. - 720 or 1080 lines of resolution from both the channel broadcast and the HDTV monitor (Note: A 480i DVD is not high definition, even though the image quality is considerably higher than a standard |
definition TV broadcast on a standard definition TV.) - Ability to display 16x9 aspect ratio pictures - Y Pb Pr video component connections from the cable receiver to the HDTV - Audio in the Dolby Digital (AC-3) format to support |
"5.1" surround sound Most HDTV monitors can display an SDTV (480i) signal. If "sidebars" appear, you can press the SETTINGS button on the remote control twice to access the HDTV settings. Then select the 480i Stretch setting, which will stretch |
A consistent CSG model is one which is made up of solid objects with no dangling surfaces. In rayshade, it is quite easy to construct inconsistent models, which will usually |
appear incorrect in the final images. In rayshade, CSG is implemented by maintaining the tree structure of the CSG operations. This tree is traversed, and the operators therein applied, on |
a per-ray basis. It is therefore difficult to verify the consistency of the model ``on the fly.'' One class of CSG problems occur when surfaces of objects being operated upon |
coincide. For example, when subtracting a box from another box to make a square cup, the result will be wrong if the tops of the two boxes coincide. To correct |
this, the inner box should be made slightly taller than the outer box. A related problem that must be avoided occurs when two coincident surfaces are assigned different surface properties. |
It may seem that the union operator is unnecessary, since listing two objects together in an aggregate results in an image that appears to be the same. While the result |
of such a short-cut may appear the same on the exterior, the interior of the resulting object will contain extraneous surfaces. The following example show this quite clearly. difference box |
-2 0 -3 2 3 3 union /* change to list; note bad internal surfaces */ sphere 2 1 0 0 sphere 2 -1 0 0 end end rotate 1 |
0 0 -40 rotate 0 0 1 50 The visual evidence of an inconsistent CSG object varies depending upon the operator being used. When subtracting a consistent object from and |
inconsistent one, the resulting object will appear to be the union of the two objects, but the shading will be incorrect. It will appear to be inside-out in places, while |
correct in other places. The inside-out sections indicate the areas where the problems occur. Such problems are often caused by polygons with incorrectly specified normals, or by surfaces that exactly |
coincide (which appear as partial ``Swiss cheese'' objects). The following example illustrates an attempt to subtract a sphere from a pyramid defined using an incorrectly facing triangle. Note that the |
resulting image obviously points to which triangle is reversed. name pyramid list triangle 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 triangle 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
1 0 triangle 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 triangle 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 /* wrong order */ end difference object pyramid |
scale 3 3 3 rotate 0 0 1 45 rotate 1 0 0 -30 translate 0 -3.5 0 sphere 2.4 0 0 0 end By default, cylinders and cones do |
To use kickstart mode, you must first create a kickstart file, and make it available to the Red Hat Linux installation program. Normally this is done by copying the kickstart |
file to the boot diskette, or making it available on the network. The network-based approach is most commonly used, as most kickstart installations tend to be performed on networked computers. |
This also makes it easier to install Red Hat Linux on many computers, as the kickstart files can be kept on single server system, and read by the individual computers |
during the installation. Let's take a more in-depth look at the locations where kickstart file may be placed. To perform a diskette-based kickstart installation, the kickstart file must be named |
ks.cfg, and reside in the boot diskette's top-level directory. Note that the Red Hat Linux boot diskettes are in MS-DOS format, making it easy to copy the kickstart file under |
Linux using the mcopy command (or, if you insist, you can also use Windows). Although there's no technological requirement for it, most diskette-based kickstart installations install Red Hat Linux from |
CD-ROM. Network installations using kickstart are quite common, because system administrators can easily automate the installation of many networked computers quickly and painlessly. In general, the approach most commonly used |
is for the administrator to have both a BOOTP/DHCP server and an NFS server on the local network. The BOOTP/DHCP server is used to give the client system its networking |
information, while the NFS server serves the actual files used during the installation. Often these two servers run on the same physical machine, but there is no requirement for this. |
To do a network-based kickstart installation, you must have a BOOTP/DHCP server on your network, and it must include configuration information for the machine you are attempting to install. The |
BOOTP/DHCP server will be used to give the client its networking information as well as the location of the kickstart file. If a kickstart file is specified by the BOOTP/DHCP |
server, the client system will attempt an NFS mount of the file's path, and will copy the specified file to the client, using it as the kickstart file. The exact |
settings required vary depending on the BOOTP/DHCP server you use. Here's an example for the DHCP server shipped with Red Hat Linux: filename "/usr/new-machine/kickstart/"; next-server blarg.redhat.com; Note that you should |
use filename for the kickstart file's name (or the directory in which the kicstart file resides), and next-server to set the NFS server name. If the filename returned by the |
BOOTP/DHCP server ends with a slash (``/''), then it is interpreted as a path only. In this case, the client system mounts that path using NFS, and searches for a |
specially-named file. The filename the client searches for is: The <ip-addr> section of the filename should be replaced with the client's IP address in dotted decimal notation. For example, the |
filename for a computer with an IP address of 10.10.0.1 would be 10.10.0.1-kickstart. Note that if you don't specify a server name, then the client system will attempt to use |
the server that answered the BOOTP/DHCP request as its NFS server. If you don't specify a path or filename, the client system will try to mount /kickstart from the BOOTP/DHCP |
Water creatures caught stealing DNA Tiny freshwater organisms that have a sex-free lifestyle, may have survived so well because they steal genes from other creatures, US scientists report. Researchers from the Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, have found genes from bacteria, fungi and even plants incorpor... |
years ago. Their report appears in this week's edition of Science. Sex is used by most life forms as a way of coping with changing circumstances, by allowing organisms to develop useful new genes and ditch harmful, mutated ones. The resilience of bdelloid and their sex-free lifestyle has stumped scientists. The team, h... |
to see how they manage to survive and evolve. It appears they overcome this hurdle by stealing DNA from our organisms. "Our result shows that genes can enter the genomes of bdelloids in a manner fundamentally different from that which, in other animals, results from the mating of males and females," says Meselson. "We ... |
fungi, and plants." The translucent, waterborne creatures, which range in size from 0.1 to 1 millimetres long, lay eggs, but all their offspring are female. The researchers believe that when bdelloids dry out, they fracture their genetic material and rupture cellular membranes. When they rehydrate, they rebuild their g... |
their vicinity. "These fascinating animals not only have relaxed the barriers to incorporation of foreign genetic material, but, more surprisingly, they even managed to keep some of these alien genes functional," report co-author Dr Irina Arkhipova says. According to the researchers, the next step is to determine wheth... |
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