4,031 research outputs found
SOCIO-SPATIAL DIMENSIONS OF MIGRANT WOMEN’S LIVES IN TBILISI, GEORGIA
This thesis provides an exploration into the experiences and perspectives of Georgian rural women who have migrated to Tbilisi, Georgia. The aim of this paper is to understand the affects of this mobility and migration on Georgian women’s socio-spatial dimensions and what this means for the economic and cultural survival of women in post- Soviet Georgia. Specifically, the research focuses on the spatial availability of family and rural contacts and the use of social safety nets as a coping strategy to aid women in the transition to urban life in Tbilisi. In addition, this paper addresses the role of women in Georgia throughout history and how this has played into the migrants’ decisions to migrate today. Drawing on in-depth interviews of migrant women, migration statistics, feminist migration research, and social capital research, this study builds an understanding of women’s experiences in their migration to the city of Tbilisi and how women manage their linked rural-urban socio-spatial networks
Synthetic Quantum Systems
So far proposed quantum computers use fragile and environmentally sensitive
natural quantum systems. Here we explore the new notion that synthetic quantum
systems suitable for quantum computation may be fabricated from smart
nanostructures using topological excitations of a stochastic neural-type
network that can mimic natural quantum systems. These developments are a
technological application of process physics which is an information theory of
reality in which space and quantum phenomena are emergent, and so indicates the
deep origins of quantum phenomena. Analogous complex stochastic dynamical
systems have recently been proposed within neurobiology to deal with the
emergent complexity of biosystems, particularly the biodynamics of higher brain
function. The reasons for analogous discoveries in fundamental physics and
neurobiology are discussed.Comment: 16 pages, Latex, 1 eps figure fil
Investigating the Efficacy of Attention Bias Modification in Reducing High Spider Fear: The Role of Individual Differences in Initial Bias
Background and objectives: Attention Bias Modification (ABM) targets attention bias (AB) towards threat and is a potential therapeutic intervention for anxiety. The current study investigated whether initial AB (towards or away from spider images) influenced the effectiveness of ABM in spider fear. Methods: AB was assessed with an attentional probe task consisting of spider and neutral images presented simultaneously followed by a probe in spider congruent or spider incongruent locations. Response time (RT) differences between spider and neutral trials > 25 ms was considered 'Bias Toward' threat. RT difference < - 25 ms was considered 'Bias Away' from threat, and a difference between 25 ms and +25 ms was considered 'No Bias'. Participants were categorized into Initial Bias groups using preABM AB scores calculated at the end of the study. 66 participants' (Bias Toward n = 27, Bias Away n = 18, No Bias n = 21) were randomly assigned to ABM-active training designed to reduce or eliminate a bias toward threat and 61 (Bias Toward n = 17, Bias Away n = 18, No Bias n = 26) to ABM-controL Results: ABM-active had the largest impact on those demonstrating an initial Bias Towards spider images in terms of changing AB and reducing Spider Fear Vulnerability, with the Bias Away group experiencing least benefit from ABM. However, all Initial Bias groups benefited equally from active ABM in a Stress Task. Limitations: Participants were high spider fearful but not formally diagnosed with a specific phobia. Therefore, results should be confirmed within a clinical population. Conclusions: Individual differences in Initial Bias may be an important determinant of ABM efficacy
Can a Logarithmically Running Coupling Mimic a String Tension?
It is shown that a Coulomb potential using a running coupling slightly
modified from the perturbative form can produce an interquark potential that
appears nearly linear over a large distance range. Recent high-statistics SU(2)
lattice gauge theory data fit well to this potential without the need for a
linear string-tension term. This calls into question the accuracy of string
tension measurements which are based on the assumption of a constant
coefficient for the Coulomb term. It also opens up the possibility of obtaining
an effectively confining potential from gluon exchange alone.Comment: 13 pages, LaTeX, two figures not included, available from author.
revision - Line lengths fixed so it will tex properl
Timelike self-similar spherically symmetric perfect-fluid models
Einstein's field equations for timelike self-similar spherically symmetric
perfect-fluid models are investigated. The field equations are rewritten as a
first-order system of autonomous differential equations. Dimensionless
variables are chosen in such a way that the number of equations in the coupled
system is reduced as far as possible and so that the reduced phase space
becomes compact and regular. The system is subsequently analysed qualitatively
using the theory of dynamical systems.Comment: 23 pages, 6 eps-figure
Hydrogen atom in phase space. The Kirkwood-Rihaczek representation
We present a phase-space representation of the hydrogen atom using the
Kirkwood-Rikaczek distribution function. This distribution allows us to obtain
analytical results, which is quite unique because an exact analytical form of
the Wigner functions corresponding to the atom states is not known. We show how
the Kirkwood-Rihaczek distribution reflects properties of the hydrogen atom
wave functions in position and momentum representations.Comment: 5 pages (and 5 figures
Feasibility study of the transonic biplane concept for transport aircraft application
Investigations were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of a transonic biplane consisting of a forward-mounted swept-back lower wing, a rear-mounted swept-forward upper wing, and a vertical fin connecting the wings at their tips. This wing arrangement results in significant reductions in induced drag relative to a monoplane designed with the same span, and it allows for a constant-section fuselage shape while closely matching an ideal area distribution curve for M = 0.95 cruise. However, no significant reductions in ramp weight were achieved for the biplane relative to a monoplane with the same mission capability. Flutter analyses of the biplane revealed both symmetric and antisymmetric instabilities that occur well below the required flutter speed. Further studies will be required to determine if acceptable flutter speeds can be achieved through the elimination of the instabilities by passive means or by active controls. Configurations designed for other missions, especially those with lower Mach numbers and lower dynamic pressures, should be examined since the geometries suitable for those design constraints might avoid the weight penalties and flutter instabilities which prevent exploitation of induced drag benefits for the configuration studied
Mesons as qbar-q Bound States from Euclidean 2-Point Correlators in the Bethe-Salpeter Approach
We investigate the 2-point correlation function for the vector current. The
gluons provide dressings for both the quark self energy as well as the vector
vertex function, which are described consistently by the rainbow
Dyson-Schwinger equation and the inhomogeneous ladder Bethe-Salpeter equation.
The form of the gluon propagator at low momenta is modeled by a 2-parameter
ansatz fitting the weak pion decay constant. The quarks are confined in the
sense that the quark propagator does not have a pole at timelike momenta. We
determine the ground state mass in the vector channel from the Euclidean time
Fourier transform of the correlator, which has an exponential falloff at large
times. The ground state mass lies around 590 MeV and is almost independent of
the model form for the gluon propagator. This method allows us to stay in
Euclidean space and to avoid analytic continuation of the quark or gluon
propagators into the timelike region.Comment: 21 pages (REVTEX), 8 Postscript figure
Plant interactions are unimportant in a subarctic-alpine plant community
We investigated whether plant interaction intensity in a subarctic-alpine meadow is important for determining community structure and species abundance. Using two common species as phytometers, we measured interaction intensity using a neighbor removal approach. Eight biotic and abiotic variables known to influence species abundance and community structure were measured, with regression trees used to examine how plant interactions and the biotic and abiotic variables were related to species evenness, richness, and phytometer spatial cover. A range of interactions was present, with both strong competition and facilitation present over small-scale abiotic and biotic gradients. Despite the variation in interaction intensity, it was generally unrelated to either community structure or phytometer cover. In other words, plant interactions were intense in many cases but were not important to community structure. This may be due to the prevalence of clonal species in this system and the influence of previous year's interactions on plant survival and patterns of community structure. These results also suggest how conflicting theories of the role of competition in unproductive environments may be resolved. Our findings suggest that plant interactions may be intense in reducing individual growth, while simultaneously not important in the context of community structure. Plant interactions need to be viewed and tested relative to other factors and stresses to accurately evaluate their importance in plant communities, with continued differentiation between the intensity of plant interactions and their relative importance in communities
Vacuum Condensates in the Global Color Symmetry Model
Based on the quark propagator in the instanton dilute liquid approximation,
we calculate analytically the quark condensate , the mixed quark
gluon condensate $g_{s}$ and the four quark
condensate at the mean field level in the
framework of global color symmetry model. The numerical calculation shows that
the values of these condensates are compatible with the ranges determined by
other nonperturbative approaches. Moreover, we find that for nonlocal four
quark condensate the previous vacuum saturation assumption is not a good
approximation even at the mean field level.Comment: 8 latex pages, no figure, Submitted to Phys. Rev.
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