4,218 research outputs found
Virtual Forest Bathing Programming as Experienced by Disabled Adults with Mobility Impairments and/or Low Energy: A Qualitative Study
Background: Although access to nature is demonstrated to benefit health and wellbeing, adults with mobility impairments and/or low energy often face barriers in accessing nature environments and nature-based programs. This study aimed to examine the experiences and impacts of virtual forest bathing by capturing the perspectives of disabled adults with mobility impairments and/or low energy. Methods: A total of 26 adults with mobility impairments provided written and spoken qualitative feedback during and following virtual forest bathing programs and 23 participants provided feedback at a one month follow-up. Virtual programs were presented online, using an accessible format, 2D videos, and images of nature accompanied by guidance led by a certified forest bathing guide and mindfulness teacher. The programs involved disabled facilitators and participants, which created a social environment of peer support. Results: Qualitative thematic analysis revealed 10 themes comprising intervention themes (virtual delivery and soothing facilitation); process themes (nature connection, relaxation, embodiment, and memories with complex emotions); and outcome themes (happiness, agency, metaphor making, and belonging). Conclusions: Virtual forest bathing may offer an effective adjunct to improve wellbeing and provide peer support for disabled adults with mobility impairments and/or low energy
Ensemble learning of linear perceptron; Online learning theory
Within the framework of on-line learning, we study the generalization error
of an ensemble learning machine learning from a linear teacher perceptron. The
generalization error achieved by an ensemble of linear perceptrons having
homogeneous or inhomogeneous initial weight vectors is precisely calculated at
the thermodynamic limit of a large number of input elements and shows rich
behavior. Our main findings are as follows. For learning with homogeneous
initial weight vectors, the generalization error using an infinite number of
linear student perceptrons is equal to only half that of a single linear
perceptron, and converges with that of the infinite case with O(1/K) for a
finite number of K linear perceptrons. For learning with inhomogeneous initial
weight vectors, it is advantageous to use an approach of weighted averaging
over the output of the linear perceptrons, and we show the conditions under
which the optimal weights are constant during the learning process. The optimal
weights depend on only correlation of the initial weight vectors.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review
Statistical Mechanics of Nonlinear On-line Learning for Ensemble Teachers
We analyze the generalization performance of a student in a model composed of
nonlinear perceptrons: a true teacher, ensemble teachers, and the student. We
calculate the generalization error of the student analytically or numerically
using statistical mechanics in the framework of on-line learning. We treat two
well-known learning rules: Hebbian learning and perceptron learning. As a
result, it is proven that the nonlinear model shows qualitatively different
behaviors from the linear model. Moreover, it is clarified that Hebbian
learning and perceptron learning show qualitatively different behaviors from
each other. In Hebbian learning, we can analytically obtain the solutions. In
this case, the generalization error monotonically decreases. The steady value
of the generalization error is independent of the learning rate. The larger the
number of teachers is and the more variety the ensemble teachers have, the
smaller the generalization error is. In perceptron learning, we have to
numerically obtain the solutions. In this case, the dynamical behaviors of the
generalization error are non-monotonic. The smaller the learning rate is, the
larger the number of teachers is; and the more variety the ensemble teachers
have, the smaller the minimum value of the generalization error is.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figure
Optimization of the Asymptotic Property of Mutual Learning Involving an Integration Mechanism of Ensemble Learning
We propose an optimization method of mutual learning which converges into the
identical state of optimum ensemble learning within the framework of on-line
learning, and have analyzed its asymptotic property through the statistical
mechanics method.The proposed model consists of two learning steps: two
students independently learn from a teacher, and then the students learn from
each other through the mutual learning. In mutual learning, students learn from
each other and the generalization error is improved even if the teacher has not
taken part in the mutual learning. However, in the case of different initial
overlaps(direction cosine) between teacher and students, a student with a
larger initial overlap tends to have a larger generalization error than that of
before the mutual learning. To overcome this problem, our proposed optimization
method of mutual learning optimizes the step sizes of two students to minimize
the asymptotic property of the generalization error. Consequently, the
optimized mutual learning converges to a generalization error identical to that
of the optimal ensemble learning. In addition, we show the relationship between
the optimum step size of the mutual learning and the integration mechanism of
the ensemble learning.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Journal of Physical Society of
Japa
Statistical Mechanics of Time Domain Ensemble Learning
Conventional ensemble learning combines students in the space domain. On the
other hand, in this paper we combine students in the time domain and call it
time domain ensemble learning. In this paper, we analyze the generalization
performance of time domain ensemble learning in the framework of online
learning using a statistical mechanical method. We treat a model in which both
the teacher and the student are linear perceptrons with noises. Time domain
ensemble learning is twice as effective as conventional space domain ensemble
learning.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure
Statistical Mechanics of Linear and Nonlinear Time-Domain Ensemble Learning
Conventional ensemble learning combines students in the space domain. In this
paper, however, we combine students in the time domain and call it time-domain
ensemble learning. We analyze, compare, and discuss the generalization
performances regarding time-domain ensemble learning of both a linear model and
a nonlinear model. Analyzing in the framework of online learning using a
statistical mechanical method, we show the qualitatively different behaviors
between the two models. In a linear model, the dynamical behaviors of the
generalization error are monotonic. We analytically show that time-domain
ensemble learning is twice as effective as conventional ensemble learning.
Furthermore, the generalization error of a nonlinear model features
nonmonotonic dynamical behaviors when the learning rate is small. We
numerically show that the generalization performance can be improved remarkably
by using this phenomenon and the divergence of students in the time domain.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure
Gastrointestinal motility during sleep assessed by tracking of telemetric capsules combined with polysomnography - a pilot study.
Studies of gastrointestinal function during sleep are hampered by lack of applicable techniques. Recent development of a novel ambulatory telemetric capsule system, which can be used in conjunction with polysomnography, offers a solution to this problem. The 3D-Transit system consists of ingestible electromagnetic capsules traceable through a portable extracorporeal receiver while traversing the gut. During sleep monitored by polysomnography, gastrointestinal motility was concurrently investigated using 3D-Transit in nine healthy subjects. Overall, the amplitude of gastric contractions decreased with depth of sleep (light sleep, N2 versus deep sleep, N3; P<0.05). Progression through the small intestine did not change with depth of sleep (Kruskal-Wallis probability =0.1), and there was no association between nocturnal awakenings or arousals and the occurrence of colonic or small intestinal propagating movements. Basal colonic activity was suppressed during both deep sleep (P<0.05) and light sleep (P<0.05) when compared with nocturnal wake periods. In conclusion, the novel ambulatory 3D-Transit system combined with polysomnography allows minimally invasive and completely ambulatory investigation of associations between sleep patterns and gastrointestinal motility
String Junctions and Bound States of Intersecting Branes
We study four-dimensional black hole configurations which result from
wrapping M5-branes on a Calabi-Yau manifold, as well as U-dual realizations.
Our aim is to understand the microscopic degrees of freedom responsible for the
existence of bound states of multiple branes. The details depend on the chosen
U-frame; in some cases, they are massless string junctions. We also identify a
perturbative description in which these states correspond to twisted strings of
intersecting D3-branes at an orbifold singularity. In each case, these are the
preponderant states of the spacetime infrared conformal field theory and
account for the entropy of the blackhole.Comment: 14 pages; 2 figures; uses latex with epsf and hyperref package
Epigenome-wide association study reveals decreased average methylation levels years before breast cancer diagnosis
Interest in the potential of DNA methylation in peripheral blood as a biomarker of cancer risk is increasing. We aimed to assess whether epigenome-wide DNA methylation measured in peripheral blood samples obtained before onset of the disease is associated with increased risk of breast cancer. We report on three independent prospective nested case-control studies from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Italy; n = 162 matched case-control pairs), the Norwegian Women and Cancer study (NOWAC; n = 168 matched pairs), and the Breakthrough Generations Study (BGS; n = 548 matched pairs). We used the Illumina 450k array to measure methylation in the EPIC and NOWAC cohorts. Whole-genome bisulphite sequencing (WGBS) was performed on the BGS cohort using pooled DNA samples, combined to reach 50× coverage across ~16 million CpG sites in the genome including 450k array CpG sites. Mean β values over all probes were calculated as a measurement for epigenome-wide methylation
Dyons in N=4 Supersymmetric Theories and Three-Pronged Strings
We construct and explore BPS states that preserve 1/4 of supersymmetry in N=4
Yang-Mills theories. Such states are also realized as three-pronged strings
ending on D3-branes. We correct the electric part of the BPS equation and
relate its solutions to the unbroken abelian gauge group generators. Generic
1/4-BPS solitons are not spherically symmetric, but consist of two or more
dyonic components held apart by a delicate balance between static
electromagnetic force and scalar Higgs force. The instability previously found
in three-pronged string configurations is due to excessive repulsion by one of
these static forces. We also present an alternate construction of these 1/4-BPS
states from quantum excitations around a magnetic monopole, and build up the
supermultiplet for arbitrary (quantized) electric charge. The degeneracy and
the highest spin of the supermultiplet increase linearly with a relative
electric charge. We conclude with comments.Comment: 33 pages, two figures, LaTex, a footnote added, the figure caption of
Fig.2 expanded, one more referenc
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