958 research outputs found

    Dual time scales in simulated annealing of a two-dimensional Ising spin glass

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    We apply a generalized Kibble-Zurek out-of-equilibrium scaling ansatz to simulated annealing when approaching the spin-glass transition at temperature T=0T=0 of the two-dimensional Ising model with random J=Ā±1J= \pm 1 couplings. Analyzing the spin-glass order parameter and the excess energy as functions of the system size and the annealing velocity in Monte Carlo simulations with Metropolis dynamics, we find scaling where the energy relaxes slower than the spin-glass order parameter, i.e., there are two different dynamic exponents. The values of the exponents relating the relaxation time scales to the system length, Ļ„āˆ¼Lz\tau \sim L^z, are z=8.28Ā±0.03z=8.28 \pm 0.03 for the relaxation of the order parameter and z=10.31Ā±0.04z=10.31 \pm 0.04 for the energy relaxation. We argue that the behavior with dual time scales arises as a consequence of the entropy-driven ordering mechanism within droplet theory. We point out that the dynamic exponents found here for Tā†’0T \to 0 simulated annealing are different from the temperature-dependent equilibrium dynamic exponent zeq(T)z_{\rm eq}(T), for which previous studies have found a divergent behavior; zeq(Tā†’0)ā†’āˆžz_{\rm eq}(T\to 0) \to \infty. Thus, our study shows that, within Metropolis dynamics, it is easier to relax the system to one of its degenerate ground states than to migrate at low temperatures between regions of the configuration space surrounding different ground states. In a more general context of optimization, our study provides an example of robust dense-region solutions for which the excess energy (the conventional cost function) may not be the best measure of success.Comment: 13 pages, 16 figure

    Green and is the new black: a grammar of ecocritical readings in african american poetry and envirommental justice law

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    "I begin this paper with two excerpts from African American poetry. The first evokes a past in which blacks were possessions; the second, a future in which they are interplanetary pilgrims. To connect them, Iā€™d like to offer a quote not from verse but from the public discourse of African American environmental justice activist, Van Jones: ā€œIn my neighborhood, you go around talking to people about polar bears, they are not feeling you.ā€...""I begin this paper with two excerpts from African American poetry. The first evokes a past in which blacks were possessions; the second, a future in which they are interplanetary pilgrims. To connect them, Iā€™d like to offer a quote not from verse but from the public discourse of African American environmental justice activist, Van Jones: ā€œIn my neighborhood, you go around talking to people about polar bears, they are not feeling you...

    A Phenomenological Analysis of God Attachment, Romantic Attachment, and Relationship Satisfaction in Christian Couples Completing an Emotionally-Focused Marital Intensive

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    With professional counseling ethics and organizations moving to more spiritual and cultural sensitivity on behalf of their clients, there is limited research on Christian couples in the area of marital intervention. This phenomenological study examined the shared experiences of five Christian couples who participated in a Christian emotionally-focused therapy marital intensive and who reported maintaining relationship satisfaction one year later. The study assessed the effectiveness of this Christian marital counseling intervention; and identified emergent processes and themes that occurred specific to Christian couples in a marital intervention setting; and added to the God attachment and romantic attachment literature through a Christian EFT marital intervention model. I operated as the interviewer for each couple. Results yielded three major themes for the three research questions, several minor themes and a few points of interest. The SHRM was found to be an effective intervention for Christian couples to move to a secure presentation in God and romantic attachment presentation that resulted in relationship satisfaction. The recommendations for future research included conducting a longitudinal quantitative study by operationalizing the outcome themes from this study, conducting a qualitative study with couples who did not achieve relationship satisfaction through SHRM, and conducting a qualitative study with other counselors who have used this model. The outcome model can be used as a diagnostic tool at intake to better individualize each coupleā€™s treatment focus and inform the clinician as to the coupleā€™s attachment presentation in the area of God attachment, romantic attachment, relationship satisfaction and attachment outside the relationship

    Comparative Analysis of The Effects Of Virtual Reality Active Video Game And Controller-Free Active Video Game Play On Physiological Response, Perceived Exertion, And Hedonic Experience

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    Over 60% of US adults are overweight or obese. Sedentary lifestyles are considered major contributors to the high rates and increasing prevalence of obesity. Physical activity is a critical component in shifting from sedentary lifestyles. Studies indicate that less than half of U.S. adults meet the CDC/ACSM physical activity recommendations. Interactive video games can increase PA, but no study has yet assessed physiologic effort, hedonics, and perceived exertion for playing immersive virtual reality (VR) and controller-free screen-based active video games (AVGs), compared to treadmill walking and resting. We ran 25 subjects (9 female, 16 male) in 10-minute sessions of five conditions. Head Mounted Display VR: Oculus (Fruit Ninja and Boxing), Screen-based AVG: Kinect (Fruit Ninja and Boxing), and Treadmill walking at 3 mph. One, six-condition (Rest, Treadmill 3.0, Kinect Boxing, Kinect Fruit Ninja, Oculus Boxing, Oculus Fruit Ninja) repeated-measures ANOVA was used to examine differences in HRmean. Three, five-condition (Treadmill 3.0, Kinect Boxing, Kinect Fruit Ninja, Oculus Boxing, Oculus Fruit Ninja) repeated-measures ANOVA were used to examine differences in HRpeak, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and Hedonics (Liking). Post hoc analyses using pairwise comparisons were used to further assess significant main effects of the condition. A Pearson\u27s product-moment correlation was run to assess the relationship between activity condition HRmean and RPE VR Boxing elicited the greatest physiological effort, producing vigorous-intensity PA. There was no significant difference in average heart rate for the Treadmill, Kinect Fruit Ninja, Kinect Boxing, and VR Fruit Ninja. Thus, the Kinect and VR sport and casual games are comparable to treadmill walking PA levels and qualify as moderate-intensity activity. The VR Fruit Ninja, VR Boxing, Kinect Fruit Ninja were the most enjoyed activities. Despite having the highest Heart rate and the highest self-reported Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), VR Boxing was significantly more enjoyable than Treadmill Walking. There was no statistically significant correlation between Activity Condition HRmean and RPE. Both casual and sports VR and AVG activities are enjoyable activities for adults, stimulating moderate-to-vigorous activity through a traditionally sedentary medium. This research extends previous works in active video gaming effects on physiological cost, perceived exertion and hedonics and fills the gap relating virtual reality active video games. The significance of the research outcomes is that this analysis provides a scientifically validated approach to support the establishment of physical activity level goals and guidelines in the development of active video games as a response and/or remedy to address the sedentary lifestyles that are contributing to American and global obesity

    Healthcare in a Vulnerable Population: Female Inmates in the USA

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    The prison population of the United States is estimated at around 6,410,000 (Maruschak & Minton, 2018). Studies have found that access to healthcare for inmates is subpar with a lack of routine examinations and preventative care and an earlier onset and higher rate of chronic medical conditions than the general population. In addition to the lack of healthcare for all inmates, specific at-risk subpopulations are likely to receive even less healthcare support due to discrimination and ā€œinvisibleā€ illnesses. This research explores the health care and support services available to an underrepresented and vulnerable group of prisoners: Female inmates, pregnant inmates, and transgender inmates. This project also addresses the discriminatory and biased practices and policies that have resulted in a lack of services and programs for these populations. The lasting personal and societal costs of inadequate support are discussed
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