What is active matter system?4 answersActive matter systems refer to collections of entities that individually convert energy into directed motion, resulting in self-propelling forces on their environment. These systems can be found at various scales in nature, from molecular motors to bacteria to large animal populations. Active matter exhibits a range of unusual phenomena and complex behaviors that differ from passive systems. It encompasses both living and nonliving systems and can be studied through computer simulations. Active matter is characterized by its ability to break time-reversal symmetry and spontaneously organize into emergent large-scale structures. It has applications in fields such as physics, engineering, biology, and the human sciences.
What is active packaging?4 answersActive packaging refers to a type of packaging that goes beyond traditional packaging by interacting with the food or the environment to prevent food deterioration and maintain its quality. It contains substances that can absorb or emit gases, regulate humidity, maintain temperature, and act as antioxidants and antimicrobials. Active packaging can be categorized into different systems, including active-releasing systems (emitters) and active scavenging systems (absorbers). The former includes antioxidant releasers and carbon dioxide emitters, while the latter includes oxygen scavengers, ethylene scavengers, and ethylene absorbers. The incorporation of active agents in polymer-based flexible packaging is a challenge due to their sensitivity to high temperatures and difficulties in dispersing them in the polymer matrix. Various methodologies and processes, such as direct incorporation, coating technologies, and supercritical impregnation, are used to produce active packaging.
What is active listening?5 answersActive listening is a skill used in human communication to build intimacy and encourage self-disclosure. It involves signaling to the speaker that they are being heard, which can lead to positive outcomes. Implementing active listening in conversational UIs requires personalized cues and considerable engineering effort. However, a more generic solution is needed to accommodate the increasing use of conversational agents, especially by socially isolated individuals. Active listening is an underrated soft skill that is crucial for healthy communication. It reflects a person's ability to lead, work in a team, and solve problems through consultation and mutual consensus. It is highly regarded in organizations and is used by interviewers to assess interpersonal skills. Active listening is also important in music education, as it fosters critical listening skills and engages students in meaningful music listening experiences. In the context of customer service, active listening plays a crucial role in restoring damaged customer relationships and improving customer satisfaction. Active listening is also a framework for synthesizing and recognizing speech, based on the principle of maximizing evidence for generative models of the world.
What about active matter?5 answersActive matter is a research field that has attracted scientists from various disciplines, including physics, engineering, biology, and the human sciences. It involves systems of agents that convert energy into directed motion, resulting in a variety of unusual phenomena at both the individual and collective level. Active matter can be found at different scales, from swimming microorganisms to crawling cells to synthetic active colloids. The study of active matter has led to advancements in understanding nonequilibrium thermodynamics and has applications in areas such as robotics, biology, and medicine. Researchers have conducted experiments with microscopic particles as well as macroscopic experiments using commercially available toy robots. Active matter systems can interact with passive objects in their environment, induce motion and rotation, and exhibit activity-induced attraction between planar objects. The study of active matter in space can provide insights into far-from-equilibrium physics and guide the development of active materials for space exploration and colonization.
What is active fund?4 answersActive funds are investment funds that aim to outperform a specific benchmark or index by actively managing their portfolios. These funds engage in research and analysis to make investment decisions and may employ various strategies such as stock selection or factor timing to generate returns. Active funds charge higher fees compared to passive funds, as they require more resources for research and trading activities. The performance of active funds can vary, and studies have shown mixed results. Some research suggests that active funds may underperform their corresponding passive counterparts and benchmarks. However, other studies argue that active funds can add value and outperform passive funds, especially in certain market conditions and with careful consideration of investor circumstances and objectives. Evaluating the activity level of a fund goes beyond measuring tracking error and can be better assessed by considering factors such as Active Share, which measures the difference between a fund's holdings and those of its benchmark portfolio.
Ising model for active matter5 answersThe Ising model is used to study active matter and its phase transitions. The model describes a lattice of spins that can transition from an ordered to an unordered state with increasing temperature. Computer simulations of the Ising model are used to calculate expectation values of observables as a function of temperature. The Metropolis algorithm is employed to generate spin configurations and measure the desired observables. The Ising model provides a framework for understanding the mechanical and statistical properties of active matter, including biofilaments, molecular motors, and collections of motile microorganisms. It is a valuable tool for studying the behavior of active matter in various contexts, from cell biology to animal behavior.