The solution of an open XXZ chain with arbitrary spin revisited

The Bethe ansatz solutions for an open XXZ spin chain with arbitrary spin with N sites and nondiagonal boundary terms are revisited. The anisotropy parameter, for cases considered here, has values \eta = i \pi r/q, where r and q are positive integers with q restricted to odd integers. Numerical results are presented to support the solutions.Comment: 22 pages; v2: references added; Some comments added; revised version with more sections, numerical results and updated reference

Flap-lag dynamics of hingeless helicopter blades at moderate and high advance ratios

Equations for large amplitude coupled flaplag motion of a hingeless elastic helicopter blade in forward flight are derived. Only a torsionally rigid blade exicted by quasi-steady aerodynamic loads is considered. The effects of reversed flow together with some new terms due to forward flight are included. Using Galerkin's method the spatial dependence is eliminated and the equations are linearized about a suitable equilibrium position. The resulting system of equations is solved using multivariable Floquet-Liapunov theory, and the transition matrix at the end of the period is evaluated by two separate methods. Results illustrating the effects of forward flight and various important blade parameters on the stability boundaries are presented

Aeroelastic stability of coupled flap-lag motion of hingeless helicopter blades at arbitrary advance ratios

Equations for large amplitude coupled flap-lag motion of a hingeless elastic helicopter blade in forward flight are derived. Only a torsionally rigid blade excited by quasi-steady aerodynamic loads is considered. The effects of reversed flow together with some new terms due to radial flow are included. Using Galerkin's method the spatial dependence is eliminated and the equations are linearized about a suitable equilibrium position. The resulting system of homogeneous periodic equations is solved using multivariable Floquet-Liapunov theory, and the transition matrix at the end of the period is evaluated by two separate methods. Computational efficiency of the two numerical methods is compared. Results illustrating the effects of forward flight and various important blade parameters on the stability boundaries are presented

Photoplethysmography for Quantitative Assessment of Sympathetic Nerve Activity (SNA) During Cold Stress

The differences in the degree of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) over cutaneous blood vessels, although known to be more prominent in the periphery than the core vasculature, has not been thoroughly investigated quantitatively. Hence, two studies were carried out to investigate the differences in SNA between the periphery and the core during the cold pressor test (CPT) (right-hand immersion in ice water) and cold exposure (whole body exposed to cold air) using photoplethysmography (PPG). Two methods utilizing PPG, namely differential multi-site PTT measurements and low-frequency spectral analysis were explored for quantitative determination of SNA. Each study involved 12 healthy volunteers, and PPG signals were acquired from the right index finger (RIF), left index finger (LIF) (periphery) and the ear canal (core). During CPT, Pulse Transit Time (PTT) was measured to the respective locations and the mean percentage change in PTT during ice immersion at each location was used as an indicator for the extent of SNA. During cold exposure, the low-frequency spectral analysis was performed on the acquired raw PPGs to extract the power of the sympathetic [low-frequency (LF): 0.04–0.15 Hz] and parasympathetic components [high-frequency (HF): 0.15–0.4 Hz]. The ratio of LF/HF components was then used to quantify the differences in the influence of SNA on the peripheral and core circulation. PTT measured from the EC, and the LIF has dropped by 5 and 7%, respectively during ice immersion. The RIF PTT, on the other hand, has dropped significantly (P < 0.05) by 12%. During the cold exposure, the LF/HF power ratio at the finger has increased to 86.4 during the cold exposure from 19.2 at the baseline (statistically significant P = 0.002). While the ear canal LF/HF ratio has decreased to 1.38 during the cold exposure from 1.62 at baseline (P = 0.781). From these observations, it is evident that differential PTT measurements or low-frequency analysis can be used to quantify SNA. The results also demonstrate the effectiveness of the central auto-regulation during both short and long-term stress stimulus as compared to the periphery

Direct and mediated effects of a social-emotional and character development program on adolescent substance use

Mitigating and preventing substance use among adolescents requires approaches that address the multitude of factors that influence this behavior. Such approaches must be tested, not only for evidence of empirical effectiveness, but also to determine the mechanisms by which they are successful. The aims of the present study were twofold: 1) To determine the effectiveness of a school-based social-emotional and character development (SECD) program, Positive Action (PA), in reducing substance use (SU) among a sample of U.S. youth living in a low-income, urban environment, and 2) to test one mechanism by which the program achieves its success. We used longitudinal mediation analysis to test the hypotheses that: 1) students attending PA intervention schools engage in significantly less SU than students attending control schools, 2) students attending PA intervention schools show significantly better change in SECD than students attending control schools, and 3) the effect of the PA intervention on SU is mediated by the change in SECD. Analyses revealed program effects on both SECD and SU, a relationship between SECD and SU, and the effects of PA on SU were completely mediated by changes in SECD. Future research directions and implications for schoolbased social-emotional and character development efforts and substance use prevention are addressed.peer-reviewe

Gender differences in confidence in jury decision making

Men tend to be more overconfident than women in settings typically perceived as masculine (Lichtenstein et al, 1982; as cited in Baldiga, 2014). Women are also more likely to defer to men in mixed-sex group situations than men are to women (Hopcroft, 2009) Deference is correlated with women having lower self-esteem and lower confidence than men, both beginning to show around puberty. In same sex situations, deference is related to social ranking and physical features, but in mixed-sex situations it tends to be sex-based. Propp (1995) found that in mixed-sex groups men tend to verbally contribute more than women, whereas in all male or all female groups contribution is about equal. In situations where there is risk associated with decision making, men tend to answer more confidently than women as women have been found to have high risk aversion than men (Badiga, 2014). Given this, it seems probable that there would be differences in confidence when making jury decisions as a function of gender. This study looked at differences in confidence levels between men and women in a jury setting. Participants were 105 male and 388 female students. There were questions regarding how confident participants were in their decision of guilt versus innocence for each of six crime scenarios. Participants rated their confidence in their decision on a scale from one, not confident at all, to ten, very confident. Results reveal some differences in confidence of decision as a function of gender, especially when the stakes are higher

MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC Drivers\u27 Licenses: Amend Provisions Relating to Motor Vehicles and Traffic so as to Change Certain Provisions Relating to Applications and Fees for Drivers\u27 Licenses; Change Certain Provisions Relating to License Requirement, Surrender of Prior Licenses, and Prohibition of Local Licenses; Change Certain Provisions Relating to Expiration and Renewal of Licenses and Reexamination Requirement; Provide Effective Date; Repeal Conflicting Law

The Act provides for the renewal of drivers\u27 licenses by means other than personal appearance, such as by mail or electronically

MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC Drivers\u27 Licenses: Amend Provisions Relating to Motor Vehicles and Traffic so as to Change Certain Provisions Relating to Applications and Fees for Drivers\u27 Licenses; Change Certain Provisions Relating to License Requirement, Surrender of Prior Licenses, and Prohibition of Local Licenses; Change Certain Provisions Relating to Expiration and Renewal of Licenses and Reexamination Requirement; Provide Effective Date; Repeal Conflicting Law

The Act provides for the renewal of drivers\u27 licenses by means other than personal appearance, such as by mail or electronically