745 research outputs found
Stochastic quantization and holographic Wilsonian renormalization group
We study relation between stochastic quantization and holographic Wilsonian
renormalization group flow. Considering stochastic quantization of the boundary
on-shell actions with the Dirichlet boundary condition for certain bulk
gravity theories, we find that the radial flows of double trace deformations in
the boundary effective actions are completely captured by stochastic time
evolution with identification of the radial coordinate `' with the
stochastic time '' as . More precisely, we investigate Langevin
dynamics and find an exact relation between radial flow of the double trace
couplings and 2-point correlation functions in stochastic quantization. We also
show that the radial evolution of double trace deformations in the boundary
effective action and the stochastic time evolution of the Fokker-Planck action
are the same. We demonstrate this relation with a couple of examples:
(minimally coupled)massless scalar fields in and U(1) vector fields in
.Comment: 1+30 pages, a new subsection is added, references are adde
Quarkonium dissociation by anisotropy
We compute the screening length for quarkonium mesons moving through an
anisotropic, strongly coupled N=4 super Yang-Mills plasma by means of its
gravity dual. We present the results for arbitrary velocities and orientations
of the mesons, as well as for arbitrary values of the anisotropy. The
anisotropic screening length can be larger or smaller than the isotropic one,
and this depends on whether the comparison is made at equal temperatures or at
equal entropy densities. For generic motion we find that: (i) mesons dissociate
above a certain critical value of the anisotropy, even at zero temperature;
(ii) there is a limiting velocity for mesons in the plasma, even at zero
temperature; (iii) in the ultra-relativistic limit the screening length scales
as with \epsilon =1/2, in contrast with the isotropic result
\epsilon =1/4.Comment: 39 pages, 26 figures; v2: minor changes, added reference
Mode shifting in school travel mode: examining the prevalence and correlates of active school transport in Ontario, Canada
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies examining the correlates of school transport commonly fail to make the distinction between morning and afternoon school trips. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of mode shift from passive in the morning to active in the afternoon among elementary and secondary school students in Ontario, Canada.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were derived from the 2009 cycle of the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS). 3,633 students in grades 7 through 12 completed self-administered questionnaires. Socio-demographic, behavioural, psychological, and environmental predictors of active school transport (AST) were assessed using logistic regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall, 47% and 38% of elementary school students reported AST to and from school, respectively. The corresponding figures were 23% and 32% for secondary school students. The prevalence of AST varied temporarily and spatially. There was a higher prevalence of walking/biking found for elementary school students than for secondary school students, and there was an approximate 10% increase in AST in the afternoon. Different correlates of active school transport were also found across elementary and secondary school students. For all ages, students living in urban areas, with a shorter travel time between home and school, and having some input to the decision making process, were more likely to walk to and from school.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Future research examining AST should continue to make the analytic distinction between the morning and afternoon trip, and control for the moderating effect of age and geography in predicting mode choice. In terms of practice, these variations highlight the need for school-specific travel plans rather than 'one size fits all' interventions in promoting active school transport.</p
Using internet enabled mobile devices and social networking technologies to promote exercise as an intervention for young first episode psychosis patients
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Young people with first episode psychosis are at an increased risk for a range of poor health outcomes. In contrast to the growing body of evidence that suggests that exercise therapy may benefit the physical and mental health of people diagnosed with schizophrenia, there are no studies to date that have sought to extend the use of exercise therapy among patients with first episode psychosis. The aim of the study is to test the feasibility and acceptability of an exercise program that will be delivered via internet enabled mobile devices and social networking technologies among young people with first episode psychosis.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This study is a qualitative pilot study being conducted at Orygen Youth Health Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Participants are young people aged 15-24 who are receiving clinical care at a specialist first episode psychosis treatment centre. Participants will also comprise young people from the general population. The exercise intervention is a 9-week running program, designed to gradually build a person's level of fitness to be able to run 5 kilometres (3 miles) towards the end of the program. The program will be delivered via an internet enabled mobile device. Participants will be asked to post messages about their running experiences on the social networking website, and will also be asked to attend three face-to-face interviews.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This paper describes the development of a qualitative study to pilot a running program coupled with the use of internet enabled mobile devices among young people with first episode psychosis. If the program is found to be feasible and acceptable to patients, it is hoped that further rigorous evaluations will ultimately lead to the introduction of exercise therapy as part of an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach in routine clinical care.</p
Dual task interference during gait in patients with unilateral vestibular disorders
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vestibular patients show slower and unsteady gait; they have also been shown to need greater cognitive resources when carrying out balance and cognitive dual tasks (DT). This study investigated DT interference during gait in a middle-aged group of subjects with dizziness and unsteadiness after unilateral vestibular neuronitis and in a healthy control group.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fourteen individuals with subacute unilateral vestibular impairment after neuronitis and seventeen healthy subjects performed gait and cognitive tasks in single and DT conditions. A statistical gait analysis system was used and spatio-temporal parameters were considered. The cognitive task, consisting of backward counting by three, was tape recorded and the number of right figures was then calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both patients and controls showed a more conservative gait during DT and between groups significant differences were not found. A significant decrease in cognitive performance during DT was found only in the vestibular group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Results suggest that less attentional resources are available during gait in vestibular patients compared to controls, and that a priority is given in keeping up the motor task to the detriment of a decrease of the cognitive performance during DT.</p
Theory of disk accretion onto supermassive black holes
Accretion onto supermassive black holes produces both the dramatic phenomena
associated with active galactic nuclei and the underwhelming displays seen in
the Galactic Center and most other nearby galaxies. I review selected aspects
of the current theoretical understanding of black hole accretion, emphasizing
the role of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence and gravitational instabilities in
driving the actual accretion and the importance of the efficacy of cooling in
determining the structure and observational appearance of the accretion flow.
Ongoing investigations into the dynamics of the plunging region, the origin of
variability in the accretion process, and the evolution of warped, twisted, or
eccentric disks are summarized.Comment: Mostly introductory review, to appear in "Supermassive black holes in
the distant Universe", ed. A.J. Barger, Kluwer Academic Publishers, in pres
Effects of a school-based intervention on active commuting to school and health-related fitness
Background: Active commuting to school has declined over time, and interventions are needed to reverse this
trend. The main objective was to investigate the effects of a school-based intervention on active commuting to
school and health-related fitness in school-age children of Southern Spain.
Methods: A total of 494 children aged 8 to 11 years were invited to participate in the study. The schools were
non-randomly allocated (i.e., school level allocation) into the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG).
The EG received an intervention program for 6 months (a monthly activity) focused on increasing the level of active
commuting to school and mainly targeting children’s perceptions and attitudes. Active commuting to school and
health-related fitness (i.e., cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness and speed-agility), were measured at baseline
and at the end of the intervention. Children with valid data on commuting to school at baseline and follow-up, sex,
age and distance from home to school were included in the final analysis (n = 251). Data was analyzed through a
factorial ANOVA and the Bonferroni post-hoc test.
Results: At follow up, the EG had higher rates of cycling to school than CG for boys only (p = 0.04), but not for
walking to school for boys or girls. The EG avoided increases in the rates of passive commuting at follow up, which
increased in the CG among girls for car (MD = 1.77; SE = 0.714; p = 0.010) and bus (MD = 1.77; SE = 0.714; p = 0.010)
modes. Moreover, we observed significant interactions and main effects between independent variables (study group,
sex and assessment time point) on health-related fitness (p < 0.05) over the 6-month period between groups, with
higher values in the control group (mainly in boys).
Conclusion: A school-based intervention focused on increasing active commuting to school was associated with
increases in rates of cycling to school among boys, but not for walking to school or health-related fitness. However, the
school-based intervention avoided increases in rates of passive commuting in the experimental group, which were
significantly increased in girls of the control group
The Evolution of Compact Binary Star Systems
We review the formation and evolution of compact binary stars consisting of
white dwarfs (WDs), neutron stars (NSs), and black holes (BHs). Binary NSs and
BHs are thought to be the primary astrophysical sources of gravitational waves
(GWs) within the frequency band of ground-based detectors, while compact
binaries of WDs are important sources of GWs at lower frequencies to be covered
by space interferometers (LISA). Major uncertainties in the current
understanding of properties of NSs and BHs most relevant to the GW studies are
discussed, including the treatment of the natal kicks which compact stellar
remnants acquire during the core collapse of massive stars and the common
envelope phase of binary evolution. We discuss the coalescence rates of binary
NSs and BHs and prospects for their detections, the formation and evolution of
binary WDs and their observational manifestations. Special attention is given
to AM CVn-stars -- compact binaries in which the Roche lobe is filled by
another WD or a low-mass partially degenerate helium-star, as these stars are
thought to be the best LISA verification binary GW sources.Comment: 105 pages, 18 figure
Lifestyle predicts falls independent of physical risk factors
Many falls occur among older adults with no traditional risk factors. We examined potential independent effects of lifestyle on fall risk. Not smoking and going outdoors frequently or infrequently were independently associated with more falls, indicating lifestyle-related behavioral and environmental risk factors are important causes of falls in older women.
Physical and lifestyle risk factors for falls and population attributable risks (PAR) were examined.
We conducted a 4-year prospective study of 8,378 community-dwelling women (mean age = 71 years, SD = 3) enrolled in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. Data on number of falls were self-reported every 4 months. Fall rates were calculated (# falls/woman-years). Poisson regression was used to estimate relative risks (RR).
Physical risk factors (p ≤ 0.05 for all) included tall height (RR = 0.89 per 5 in.), dizziness (RR = 1.16), fear of falling (RR = 1.20), self-reported health decline (RR = 1.19), difficulty with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) (RR = 1.12, per item), fast usual-paced walking speed (RR = 1.18, per 2 SD), and use of antidepressants (RR = 1.20), benzodiazepines (RR = 1.11), or anticonvulsants (RR = 1.62). Protective physical factors (p ≤ 0.05 for all) included good visual acuity (RR = 0.87, per 2 SD) and good balance (RR = 0.85 vs. poor). Lifestyle predicted fewer falls including current smoking (RR = 0.76), going outdoors at least twice weekly but not more than once a day (RR = 0.89 and vs. twice daily). High physical activity was associated with more falls but only among IADL impaired women. Five potentially modifiable physical risk factors had PAR ≥ 5%.
Fall interventions addressing modifiable physical risk factors with PAR ≥ 5% while considering environmental/behavioral risk factors are indicated
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