Salient selves in uncertain futures

We examined possible selves during three distinct periods of uncertainty. Cancer survivors (Study 1a) and survivors’ romantic partners (Study 1b) rated the salience of possible selves in which the cancer did (negative possible self; NPS) and did not (positive possible self; PPS) return. Study 2 mapped PPS and NPS salience throughout the four-month wait for bar exam results. Study 3 experimentally primed possible selves among participants awaiting medical test results. PPS salience correlated positively, and NPS negatively, with indicators of health and well-being, and inducing focus on one’s NPS led to greater negative emotion and worry compared to a PPS induction, but not less positive emotion. These results illustrate the well-being implications of possible selves during periods of uncertainty

Zero-variance principle for Monte Carlo algorithms

We present a general approach to greatly increase at little cost the efficiency of Monte Carlo algorithms. To each observable to be computed we associate a renormalized observable (improved estimator) having the same average but a different variance. By writing down the zero-variance condition a fundamental equation determining the optimal choice for the renormalized observable is derived (zero-variance principle for each observable separately). We show, with several examples including classical and quantum Monte Carlo calculations, that the method can be very powerful.Comment: 9 pages, Latex, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Barley foliage diseases, field pea diseases.

85BA22, 85MT31, 85N053, 85BA24, 85MT32, 85MT32, 85N052, 85N053, 85BA21, 85MT30, 85BA21, 85BA22, 85MT31, 85MT43, 85KA59, 85KA60, 85M29, 85MT44, 85E22, 85ES22, 85ES23, 85N051, 85BA25, 85WH27, 85C65, 85C69, 85C66, 85C67, 8SKA48, 8SMT34, 85KA47, 85MT33, 85M26, 85ME26, 85KA49, 85KA51. A.General Notes and Highlights BARLEY FOLIAGE DISEASES B. Scald: Screening fungicides c. Scald: Fungicidal control in Northam district D. Scald: Effect of seeding rate E. Scald & Mildew Effect of fungicides and rates F. Scald & Mildew Seed borne infection and seed dressing G. Scald & Mildew Effect of seed dressing and spraying H. Scald & Mildew Effect of Erex and Baytan I. Mildew: Cultivar x seed dressing J. Mildew: Comparing fungicides K. Mildew: Simulated Stubble mulching L. Mildew: Cultivar mixtures M. Net-Blotch: Seed borne infection and its control N. Net-Blotch: Screening fungicides O. Spot-type Net-Blotch Potential yield losses P. Spot-type Net-Blotch Effect of date of sowing Q. Spot-type Net-Blotch Simulated stubble mulching FIELD PEA DISEASES R. Black spot: Potential crop losses S. Black spot: Seed dressings T. Black spot: Monitoring Air borne infection U. Black spot: Screening for resistanc

Who in the world is trying to change their personality traits? : volitional personality change among college students in 56 countries

Recent research conducted largely in the US suggests that most people would like to change one or more of their personality traits. Yet almost no research has investigated the degree to which and in what ways volitional personality change (VPC), or individuals’ active efforts towards personality change, might be common around the world. Through a custom-built website, 13,278 college student participants from 56 countries using 42 different languages reported whether they were currently trying to change their personality and, if so, what they were trying to change. Around the world, 60.40% of participants reported that they are currently trying to change their personalities, with the highest percentage in Thailand (81.91%) and the lowest in Kenya (21.41%). Among those who provide open-ended responses to the aspect of personality they are trying to change, the most common goals were to increase emotional stability (29.73%), conscientiousness (19.71%), extraversion (15.94%), and agreeableness (13.53%). In line with previous research, students who are trying to change any personality trait tend to have relatively low levels of emotional stability and happiness. Moreover, those with relatively low levels of socially desirable traits reported attempting to increase what they lacked. These principal findings were generalizable around the world

Protocol for an economic evaluation alongside a cluster randomised controlled trial: cost-effectiveness of Learning Clubs, a multicomponent intervention to improve women’s health and infant’s health and development in Vietnam

Introduction: Economic evaluations of complex interventions in early child development are required to guide policy and programme development, but a few are yet available. Methods and analysis: Although significant gains have been made in maternal and child health in resource- constrained environments, this has mainly been concentrated on improving physical health. The Learning Clubs programme addresses both physical and mental child and maternal health. This study is an economic evaluation of a cluster randomised controlled trial of the impact of the Learning Clubs programme in Vietnam. It will be conducted from a societal perspective and aims to identify the cost-effectiveness and the economic and social returns of the intervention. A total of 1008 pregnant women recruited from 84 communes in a rural province in Vietnam will be included in the evaluation. Health and cost data will be gathered at three stages of the trial and used to calculate incremental cost-effectiveness ratios per percentage point improvement of infant’s development, infant’s health and maternal common mental disorders expressed in quality-adjusted life years gained. The return on investment will be calculated based on improvements in productivity, the results being expressed as benefit–cost ratios. Ethics and dissemination: The trial was approved by Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (Certificate Number 2016–0683), Australia, and approval was extended to include the economic evaluation (Amendment Review Number 2018-0683-23806); and the Institutional Review Board of the Hanoi School of Public Health (Certificate Number 017-377IDD- YTCC), Vietnam. Results will be disseminated through academic journals and conference presentations

Simulation of Potts models with real q and no critical slowing down

A Monte Carlo algorithm is proposed to simulate ferromagnetic q-state Potts model for any real q>0. A single update is a random sequence of disordering and deterministic moves, one for each link of the lattice. A disordering move attributes a random value to the link, regardless of the state of the system, while in a deterministic move this value is a state function. The relative frequency of these moves depends on the two parameters q and beta. The algorithm is not affected by critical slowing down and the dynamical critical exponent z is exactly vanishing. We simulate in this way a 3D Potts model in the range 2<q<3 for estimating the critical value q_c where the thermal transition changes from second-order to first-order, and find q_c=2.620(5).Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures slightly extended version, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Quantum Monte Carlo Loop Algorithm for the t-J Model

We propose a generalization of the Quantum Monte Carlo loop algorithm to the t-J model by a mapping to three coupled six-vertex models. The autocorrelation times are reduced by orders of magnitude compared to the conventional local algorithms. The method is completely ergodic and can be formulated directly in continuous time. We introduce improved estimators for simulations with a local sign problem. Some first results of finite temperature simulations are presented for a t-J chain, a frustrated Heisenberg chain, and t-J ladder models.Comment: 22 pages, including 12 figures. RevTex v3.0, uses psf.te

Auger Recombination in Semiconductor Quantum Wells

The principal mechanisms of Auger recombination of nonequilibrium carriers in semiconductor heterostructures with quantum wells are investigated. It is shown for the first time that there exist three fundamentally different Auger recombination mechanisms of (i) thresholdless, (ii) quasi-threshold, and (iii) threshold types. The rate of the thresholdless Auger process depends on temperature only slightly. The rate of the quasi-threshold Auger process depends on temperature exponentially. However, its threshold energy essentially varies with quantum well width and is close to zero for narrow quantum wells. It is shown that the thresholdless and the quasi-threshold Auger processes dominate in narrow quantum wells, while the threshold and the quasi-threshold processes prevail in wide quantum wells. The limiting case of a three-dimensional (3D)Auger process is reached for infinitely wide quantum wells. The critical quantum well width is found at which the quasi-threshold and threshold Auger processes merge into a single 3D Auger process. Also studied is phonon-assisted Auger recombination in quantum wells. It is shown that for narrow quantum wells the act of phonon emission becomes resonant, which in turn increases substantially the coefficient of phonon-assisted Auger recombination. Conditions are found under which the direct Auger process dominates over the phonon-assisted Auger recombination at various temperatures and quantum well widths.Comment: 38 pages, 7 figure

The Percolation Signature of the Spin Glass Transition

Magnetic ordering at low temperature for Ising ferromagnets manifests itself within the associated Fortuin-Kasteleyn (FK) random cluster representation as the occurrence of a single positive density percolating network. In this paper we investigate the percolation signature for Ising spin glass ordering -- both in short-range (EA) and infinite-range (SK) models -- within a two-replica FK representation and also within the different Chayes-Machta-Redner two-replica graphical representation. Based on numerical studies of the $\pm J$ EA model in three dimensions and on rigorous results for the SK model, we conclude that the spin glass transition corresponds to the appearance of {\it two} percolating clusters of {\it unequal} densities.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

Double Blind Study Investigating the Effect of Different Voice Prostheses on Ease of Swallowing and Residue Post Laryngectomy.

Voice prostheses have been examined for their effect on voice production but there is little datum on their effect on swallow function. This study investigated the difference between six commonly available voice prostheses in terms of swallowing. Laryngectomy patients had up to six voice prostheses placed in a random order over two visits. Swallowing was evaluated for each prosthesis using FEES (Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing). After each prosthesis trial, patients self-evaluated their experience of swallowing. Three independent experts indicated which prosthesis they considered best for swallowing for each patient and judged residue on the voice prosthesis and in the upper esophagus. Raters were blinded to participant details, voice prosthesis type and scores of other raters. On patient self-evaluation, scores were equally distributed across all prostheses for swallowing. Experts most frequently chose the Blom Singer Low pressure and Blom Singer Classic Indwelling voice prostheses as best for swallowing but consensus was poor for most patients. Experts found that the Blom Singer Classic Indwelling and the Provox Vega had least residue on the voice prosthesis on thin liquid (p ≤ 0.001) and soft (p = 0.001), respectively. Experts also found that the Blom Singer Low Pressure had least residue in the upper esophagus on soft consistency (p ≤ 0.001). While self-evaluation by patients did not identify a consistently preferred prosthesis for swallow, many patients expressed personal preferences, suggesting benefits to involving patients in the choice of prosthesis. Some voice prostheses may be associated with lower levels of residue on the prosthesis and upper esophagus with certain consistencies