4,087 research outputs found
Instability of frozen-in states in synchronous Hebbian neural networks
The full dynamics of a synchronous recurrent neural network model with Ising
binary units and a Hebbian learning rule with a finite self-interaction is
studied in order to determine the stability to synaptic and stochastic noise of
frozen-in states that appear in the absence of both kinds of noise. Both, the
numerical simulation procedure of Eissfeller and Opper and a new alternative
procedure that allows to follow the dynamics over larger time scales have been
used in this work. It is shown that synaptic noise destabilizes the frozen-in
states and yields either retrieval or paramagnetic states for not too large
stochastic noise. The indications are that the same results may follow in the
absence of synaptic noise, for low stochastic noise.Comment: 14 pages and 4 figures; accepted for publication in J. Phys. A: Math.
Ge
Analytic solution of the resolvent equations for heterogeneous random graphs: spectral and localization properties
The spectral and localization properties of heterogeneous random graphs are
determined by the resolvent distributional equations, which have so far
resisted an analytic treatment. We solve analytically the resolvent equations
of random graphs with an arbitrary degree distribution in the high-connectivity
limit, from which we perform a thorough analysis of the impact of degree
fluctuations on the spectral density, the inverse participation ratio, and the
distribution of the local density of states. We show that all eigenvectors are
extended and that the spectral density exhibits a logarithmic or a power-law
divergence when the variance of the degree distribution is large enough. We
elucidate this singular behaviour by showing that the distribution of the local
density of states at the center of the spectrum displays a power-law tail
determined by the variance of the degree distribution. In the regime of weak
degree fluctuations the spectral density has a finite support, which promotes
the stability of large complex systems on random graphs.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure
Mobility patterns of the elderly tourist in Algarve
The present work is part of the Project for Scientific Research and Techno-logical Development "Accessibility for All in Tourism" focuses on modal in-terfaces designed according to the concepts of "Universal Design" and "Age Sensitive Design". In this project 851 surveys were carried out for elderly tourists, who arrived in Algarve (Portugal) through the international Airport of Faro, in the summer of 2018, with a view to understanding their prefer-ences and needs in terms of mobility. It presents the characterization of the senior tourist in Algarve, according to: gender, age, academic qualification, situation in the relation to the profession, nationality, disability and/or disa-bilities that affects mobility and the need to use technical aids to move. It analyses and compares, from the point of view of sustainable mobility, the mobility of the elderly tourist, by gender and age group, in the country where they reside and in the Algarve region. This information is useful for local au-thorities and for transport operators in order to make the mobility of elderly tourists, in Algarve, more sustainable from a social, economic and environ-mental standpoint.The Research Project ACCES4ALL - Accessibility for All in Tourisminfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Spectra of sparse non-Hermitian random matrices: an analytical solution
We present the exact analytical expression for the spectrum of a sparse
non-Hermitian random matrix ensemble, generalizing two classical results in
random-matrix theory: this analytical expression forms a non-Hermitian version
of the Kesten-Mckay law as well as a sparse realization of Girko's elliptic
law. Our exact result opens new perspectives in the study of several physical
problems modelled on sparse random graphs. In this context, we show
analytically that the convergence rate of a transport process on a very sparse
graph depends upon the degree of symmetry of the edges in a non-monotonous way.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, 12 pages supplemental materia
Fisher Waves and Front Roughening in a Two-Species Invasion Model with Preemptive Competition
We study front propagation when an invading species competes with a resident;
we assume nearest-neighbor preemptive competition for resources in an
individual-based, two-dimensional lattice model. The asymptotic front velocity
exhibits power-law dependence on the difference between the two species' clonal
propagation rates (key ecological parameters). The mean-field approximation
behaves similarly, but the power law's exponent slightly differs from the
individual-based model's result. We also study roughening of the front, using
the framework of non-equilibrium interface growth. Our analysis indicates that
initially flat, linear invading fronts exhibit Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ)
roughening in one transverse dimension. Further, this finding implies, and is
also confirmed by simulations, that the temporal correction to the asymptotic
front velocity is of .Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures; Papers on related work can be found at
http://www.rpi.edu/~korniss/Researc
<i>‘What retention’ means to me</i>: the position of the adult learner in student retention
Studies of student retention and progression overwhelmingly appear adopt definitions that place the institution, rather than the student, at the centre. Retention is most often conceived in terms of linear and continuous progress between institutionally identified start and end points.
This paper reports on research that considered data from 38 in-depth interviews conducted with individuals who had characteristics often associated with non-traditional engagement in higher education who between 2006 and 2010 had studied an ‘Introduction to HE’ module at one distance higher education institution, some of whom had progressed to further study at that institution, some of whom had not. The research deployed a life histories approach to seek a finer grained understanding of how individuals conceptualise their own learning journey and experience, in order to reflect on institutional conceptions of student retention.
The findings highlight potential anomalies hidden within institutional retention rates – large proportions of the interview participants who were not ‘retained’ by the institution reported successful progression to and in other learning institutions and environments, both formal and informal. Nearly all described positive perspectives on lifelong learning which were either engendered or improved by the learning undertaken. This attests to the complexity of individuals’ lives and provides clear evidence that institution-centric definitions of retention and progression are insufficient to create truly meaningful understanding of successful individual learning journeys and experiences. It is argued that only through careful consideration of the lived experience of students and a re-conception of measures of retention, will we be able to offer real insight into improving student retention
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