The Impact of Community Based Adventure Therapy on Stress and Coping Skills in Adults.

Stress and coping skills are among the most essential components of the mental health counseling field. The use of coping skills (e.g., meditation, physical activities, appropriate uses of leisure) has been identified as an effective strategy for stress management. Adventure therapy has emerged as a modality that can positively augment other therapeutic approaches by improving coping skills and assisting clients in managing stress. As with all therapies, a positive working alliance has been found to be important toward achieving clinical outcomes. This study explored how adventure therapy enhanced learned coping strategies for stress and improved therapeutic alliance. Outcomes from this exploratory research highlighted the potential of adventure therapy to decrease stress, increase coping skills, and build therapeutic rapport with the therapist

Correlation and Dimerization Effects on the Physical Behavior of the NR4[Ni(dmit)2]2NR_4 [Ni(dmit)_2]_2 Charge Transfer Salts : A DMRG Study of the Quarter-Filling t-J Model

The present work studies the quasi one-dimensional $Ni(dmit)_2$-based compounds within a correlated model. More specifically, we focus our attention on the composed influence of the electronic dimerization-factor and the repulsion, on the transport properties and the localization of the electronic density in the ground-state. Those properties are studied through the computation of the charge gaps (difference between the ionization potential and the electro-affinity: IP-EA) and the long- and short-bond orders of an infinite quarter-filled chain within a $t-J(t,U)$ model. The comparison between the computed gaps and the experimental activation energy of the semiconductor $NH_2Me_2 [Ni(dmit)_2]_2$ allows us to estimate the on-site electronic repulsion of the $Ni(dmit)_2$ molecule to $1.16eV$.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, RevTe

From brain to earth and climate systems: Small-world interaction networks or not?

We consider recent reports on small-world topologies of interaction networks derived from the dynamics of spatially extended systems that are investigated in diverse scientific fields such as neurosciences, geophysics, or meteorology. With numerical simulations that mimic typical experimental situations we have identified an important constraint when characterizing such networks: indications of a small-world topology can be expected solely due to the spatial sampling of the system along with commonly used time series analysis based approaches to network characterization

Nonequilibrium quantum dynamics of partial symmetry breaking for ultracold bosons in an optical lattice ring trap

A vortex in a Bose-Einstein condensate on a ring undergoes quantum dynamics in response to a quantum quench in terms of partial symmetry breaking from a uniform lattice to a biperiodic one. Neither the current, a macroscopic measure, nor fidelity, a microscopic measure, exhibit critical behavior. Instead, the symmetry memory succeeds in identifying the point at which the system begins to forget its initial symmetry state. We further identify a symmetry energy difference in the low lying excited states which trends with the symmetry memory

A linear Stark shift in dressed atoms as a signal to measure a nuclear anapole moment with a cold atom fountain or interferometer

We demonstrate theoretically the existence of a linear dc Stark shift of the individual substates of an alkali atom in its ground state, dressed by a circularly polarized laser field. It arises from the electroweak nuclear anapole moment violating P but not T. It is characterized by the pseudoscalar equal to the mixed product formed with the photon angular momentum and static electric and magnetic fields. We derive the relevant left-right asymmetry with its complete signature in a field configuration selected for a precision measurement with cold atom beams. The 3,3 to 4,3 Cs hyperfine-transition frequency shift amounts to 7 $\mu$Hz for a laser power of about 1 kW at 877 nm, E=100 kV/cm and B larger than 0.5 G.Comment: Article, 4 pages, 2 figure

Geometric Effects and Computation in Spin Networks

When initially introduced, a Hamiltonian that realises perfect transfer of a quantum state was found to be analogous to an x-rotation of a large spin. In this paper we extend the analogy further to demonstrate geometric effects by performing rotations on the spin. Such effects can be used to determine properties of the chain, such as its length, in a robust manner. Alternatively, they can form the basis of a spin network quantum computer. We demonstrate a universal set of gates in such a system by both dynamical and geometrical means

Validation and Improvement of the Beef Production Sub-index in Ireland for Beef Cattle

End of project reportThe objectives of the following study were to: a. Quantify the effect of sire genetic merit for BCI on: 1. feed intake, growth and carcass traits of progeny managed under bull or steer beef production systems. 2. live animal scores, carcass composition and plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations in their progeny. b. Compare the progeny of : 1. Late-maturing beef with dairy breeds and 2. Charolais (CH), Limousin (LM), Simmental (SM) and Belgian Blue (BB) sires bred to beef suckler dams, for feed intake, blood hormones and metabolites, live animal measurements, carcass traits and carcass value in bull and steer production systems

Exciton dynamics in WSe2 bilayers

We investigate exciton dynamics in 2H-WSe2 bilayers in time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Fast PL emission times are recorded for both the direct exciton with $\tau_{D}$ ~ 3 ps and the indirect optical transition with $\tau_{i}$ ~ 25 ps. For temperatures between 4 to 150 K $\tau_{i}$ remains constant. Following polarized laser excitation, we observe for the direct exciton transition at the K point of the Brillouin zone efficient optical orientation and alignment during the short emission time $\tau_{D}$. The evolution of the direct exciton polarization and intensity as a function of excitation laser energy is monitored in PL excitation (PLE) experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Decision aids can support cancer clinical trials decisions: Results of a randomized trial

BACKGROUND. Cancer patients often do not make informed decisions regarding clinical trial participation. This study evaluated whether a web-based decision aid (DA) could support trial decisions compared with our cancer center’s website. METHODS. Adults diagnosed with cancer in the past 6 months who had not previously participated in a cancer clinical trial were eligible. Participants were randomized to view the DA or our cancer center’s website (enhanced usual care [UC]). Controlling for whether participants had heard of cancer clinical trials and educational attainment, multivariable linear regression examined group on knowledge, self-efficacy for finding trial information, decisional conflict (values clarity and uncertainty), intent to participate, decision readiness, and trial perceptions. RESULTS. Two hundred patients (86%) consented between May 2014 and April 2015. One hundred were randomized to each group. Surveys were completed by 87 in the DA group and 90 in the UC group. DA group participants reported clearer values regarding trial participation than UC group participants reported (least squares [LS] mean = 15.8 vs. 32, p < .0001) and less uncertainty (LS mean = 24.3 vs. 36.4, p = .025). The DA group had higher objective knowledge than the UC group’s (LS mean = 69.8 vs. 55.8, p < .0001). There were no differences between groups in intent to participate. CONCLUSIONS. Improvements on key decision outcomes including knowledge, self-efficacy, certainty about choice, and values clarity among participants who viewed the DA suggest web-based DAs can support informed decisions about trial participation among cancer patients facing this preference-sensitive choice. Although better informing patients before trial participation could improve retention, more work is needed to examine DA impact on enrollment and retention. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This paper describes evidence regarding a decision tool to support patients’ decisions about trial participation. By improving knowledge, helping patients clarify preferences for participation, and facilitating conversations about trials, decision aids could lead to decisions about participation that better match patients’ preferences, promoting patient-centered care and the ethical conduct of clinical research