Theoretical and experimental study of the orientational ordering in the field-induced intermediaite phase from the SmC*FI2 phase in chiral smectic liquid crystals

Under an electric field, chiral smectic liquid crystals transit usually to the unwound SmC* phase where the helical structure is completely unrolled. Sometimes the sample transits initially towards an intermediate polar state before the total destruction of the helix. Based on the extension of the H-T model, a theoretical study of these field-induced phase transitions was carried out. Two hypotheses of the dynamics that give rise to the appearance of the intermediate phase have been discussed. The results of a numerical analysis confirm the known experimental results; the intermediate phase has a three-layer periodicity structure

The problem-solving method:Efficacy for learning and motivation in the field of physical education

Background: In pursuit of quality teaching and learning, teachers seek the best method to provide their students with a positive educational atmosphere and the most appropriate learning conditions. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of the problem-solving method vs. the traditional method on motivation and learning during physical education courses. Methods: Fifty-three students (M age 15 ± 0.1 years), in their 1st year of the Tunisian secondary education system, voluntarily participated in this study, and randomly assigned to a control or experimental group. Participants in the control group were taught using the traditional methods, whereas participants in the experimental group were taught using the problem-solving method. Both groups took part in a 10-hour experiment over 5 weeks. To measure students' situational motivation, a questionnaire was used to evaluate intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, external regulation, and amotivation during the first (T0) and the last sessions (T2). Additionally, the degree of students' learning was determined via video analyses, recorded at T0, the fifth (T1), and T2. Results: Motivational dimensions, including identified regulation and intrinsic motivation, were significantly greater (all p < 0.001) in the experimental vs. the control group. The students' motor engagement in learning situations, during which the learner, despite a degree of difficulty performs the motor activity with sufficient success, increased only in the experimental group (p < 0.001). The waiting time in the experimental group decreased significantly at T1 and T2 vs. T0 (all p < 0.001), with lower values recorded in the experimental vs. the control group at the three-time points (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: The problem-solving method is an efficient strategy for motor skills and performance enhancement, as well as motivation development during physical education courses.BackgroundIn pursuit of quality teaching and learning, teachers seek the best method to provide their students with a positive educational atmosphere and the most appropriate learning conditions. ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to compare the effects of the problem-solving method vs. the traditional method on motivation and learning during physical education courses. MethodsFifty-three students (M-age 15 +/- 0.1 years), in their 1st year of the Tunisian secondary education system, voluntarily participated in this study, and randomly assigned to a control or experimental group. Participants in the control group were taught using the traditional methods, whereas participants in the experimental group were taught using the problem-solving method. Both groups took part in a 10-hour experiment over 5 weeks. To measure students' situational motivation, a questionnaire was used to evaluate intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, external regulation, and amotivation during the first (T0) and the last sessions (T2). Additionally, the degree of students' learning was determined via video analyses, recorded at T0, the fifth (T1), and T2. ResultsMotivational dimensions, including identified regulation and intrinsic motivation, were significantly greater (all p < 0.001) in the experimental vs. the control group. The students' motor engagement in learning situations, during which the learner, despite a degree of difficulty performs the motor activity with sufficient success, increased only in the experimental group (p < 0.001). The waiting time in the experimental group decreased significantly at T1 and T2 vs. T0 (all p < 0.001), with lower values recorded in the experimental vs. the control group at the three-time points (all p < 0.001). ConclusionsThe problem-solving method is an efficient strategy for motor skills and performance enhancement, as well as motivation development during physical education courses

Averages of b-hadron Properties at the End of 2005

This article reports world averages for measurements on b-hadron properties obtained by the Heavy Flavor Averaging Group (HFAG) using the available results as of at the end of 2005. In the averaging, the input parameters used in the various analyses are adjusted (rescaled) to common values, and all known correlations are taken into account. The averages include lifetimes, neutral meson mixing parameters, parameters of semileptonic decays, branching fractions of B meson decays to final states with open charm, charmonium and no charm, and measurements related to CP asymmetries

Hardware calibrated learning to compensate heterogeneity in analog RRAM-based Spiking Neural Networks

Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) can unleash the full power of analog Resistive Random Access Memories (RRAMs) based circuits for low power signal processing. Their inherent computational sparsity naturally results in energy efficiency benefits. The main challenge implementing robust SNNs is the intrinsic variability (heterogeneity) of both analog CMOS circuits and RRAM technology. In this work, we assessed the performance and variability of RRAM-based neuromorphic circuits that were designed and fabricated using a 130 nm technology node. Based on these results, we propose a Neuromorphic Hardware Calibrated (NHC) SNN, where the learning circuits are calibrated on the measured data. We show that by taking into account the measured heterogeneity characteristics in the off-chip learning phase, the NHC SNN self-corrects its hardware non-idealities and learns to solve benchmark tasks with high accuracy. This work demonstrates how to cope with the heterogeneity of neurons and synapses for increasing classification accuracy in temporal tasks

Ramadan Observance Is Associated with Impaired Kung-Fu-Specific Decision-Making Skills

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of Ramadan observance (RAM) on decision-making in Kung-Fu athletes. Fourteen male Kung-Fu athletes (mean age = 19 ± 3 years) completed two test sessions: before Ramadan (BR) and at the end of Ramadan (ER). In the afternoon of each session (between 16:00 h and 18:00 h), participants completed: Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Profile of Mood States (POMS), and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Subjects also reported subjective fatigue, alertness, and concentration. Additionally, all participants performed video-based decision-making tasks (i.e., reaction time and decision-making). Results indicated that reaction time decreased by 30% at ER vs. BR (p p p p p < 0.05). In conclusion, Ramadan observance was associated with an adverse effect on sleep and decision making, as well as feelings of fatigue, alertness, and concentration

An inclusive measurement of the photon energy spectrum in b->s gamma decays

We report a fully inclusive measurement of the flavour changing neutral current decay b->s gamma in the energy range 1.8 GeV < E* < 2.8 GeV, covering 95% of the total spectrum. Using 140 fb^-1 we obtain BF(b->s gamma)= 3.55 +/- 0.32 +0.30-0.31 +0.11-0.07, where the errors are statistical, systematic and from theory corrections. We also measure the first and second moments of the photon energy spectrum above 1.8 GeV and obtain = 2.292 +/- 0.026 +/- 0.034 GeV and -^2 = 0.0305 +/- 0.0074 +/- 0.0063 GeV^2, where the errors are statistical and systematic.Comment: RevTex4, 6 pages, Submitted to Phys.Rev.Lett. Replaced: added table of systematic errors. New results take into account radiative J/Psi decay

Averages of bb-hadron, cc-hadron, and τ\tau-lepton properties as of summer 2014

This article reports world averages of measurements of $b$-hadron, $c$-hadron, and $\tau$-lepton properties obtained by the Heavy Flavor Averaging Group (HFAG) using results available through summer 2014. For the averaging, common input parameters used in the various analyses are adjusted (rescaled) to common values, and known correlations are taken into account. The averages include branching fractions, lifetimes, neutral meson mixing parameters, $CP$ violation parameters, parameters of semileptonic decays and CKM matrix elements.Comment: 436 pages, many figures and tables. Online updates available at http://www.slac.stanford.edu/xorg/hfag