420 research outputs found
Identifying Barriers and Facilitators of Successful School-Based Mental Health and Behavioral Programs Delivered in the Context of Urban Poverty: A Qualitative Exploration of Perspectives from Service Providers and Youth
The goal of this study was to identify the barriers and facilitators of successful mental health and/or behavioral programs implemented within inner-city schools. The impetus for this study came from prior meta-analytic research which demonstrated programs being offered within inner-city schools, as a whole, showed very low effect sizes, with many of the programs offered to youth within these settings showing iatrogenic effects. The use of qualitative methods, specifically a phenomenological approach, provided an in-depth understanding of 1) service providers\u27 experience(s) delivering mental health and/or behavioral programs in inner-city schools; and, 2) low-income, urban youths\u27 experience(s) with receiving school-based mental health and/or behavioral programs. The current study\u27s research findings, which provide perspectives from both service providers and youth, was integrated and discussed in the context of: 1) factors that serve as barriers to successful program implementation and/or program outcomes, 2) factors that serve as facilitators of successful program implementation and/or program outcomes,3} impact of the program, 4) recommendations/implications for service providers who deliver programs in these settings, and 5) recommendations/implications for researchers who develop/adapt programs for implementation in these settings. Limitations of the current study and areas for future research were also discussed
Expected Number of Real Zeros of a Random Polynomial With Independent Identically Distributed Symmetric Long-Tailed Coefficients
We show that the expected number of real zeros of the nth degree polynomial with real independent identically distributed coefficients with common characteristic function φ(z) = e-A(ln|1/z|)^-a for 0 \u3c |z| \u3c 1 and φ(0) = 1, φ(z) ≡ 0 for 1 ≦ |z| \u3c ∞, with 1 \u3c a and A ≧ a(a-1), is (a-1)/(a-1/2) log(n) asymptotically as n → ∞
Level crossings and turning points of random hyperbolic polynomials
In this paper, we show that the asymptotic estimate for the expected number of K-level crossings of a random hyperbolic polynomial a1sinhx+a2sinh2x+⋯+ansinhnx, where aj(j=1,2,…,n) are independent normally distributed random variables with mean zero and variance one, is (1/π)logn. This result is true for all K independent of x, provided K≡Kn=O(n). It is also shown that the asymptotic estimate of the expected number of turning points for the random polynomial a1coshx+a2cosh2x+⋯+ancoshnx, with aj(j=1,2,…,n) as before, is also (1/π)logn
Random trigonometric polynomials with nonidentically distributed coefficients
This paper provides asymptotic estimates for the expected number of real zeros of two different forms of random trigonometric polynomials, where the coefficients of polynomials are normally distributed random variables with different means and variances. For the polynomials in the form of a 0 a 1 cos θ a 2 cos 2θ · · · a n cos nθ and a 0 a 1 cos θ b 1 sin θ a 2 cos 2θ b 2 sin 2θ · · · a n cos nθ b n sin nθ, we give a closed form for the above expected value. With some mild assumptions on the coefficients we allow the means and variances of the coefficients to differ from each others. A case of reciprocal random polynomials for both above cases is studied
Statistics of the Number of Zero Crossings : from Random Polynomials to Diffusion Equation
We consider a class of real random polynomials, indexed by an integer d, of
large degree n and focus on the number of real roots of such random
polynomials. The probability that such polynomials have no real root in the
interval [0,1] decays as a power law n^{-\theta(d)} where \theta(d)>0 is the
exponent associated to the decay of the persistence probability for the
diffusion equation with random initial conditions in space dimension d. For n
even, the probability that such polynomials have no root on the full real axis
decays as n^{-2(\theta(d) + \theta(2))}. For d=1, this connection allows for a
physical realization of real random polynomials. We further show that the
probability that such polynomials have exactly k real roots in [0,1] has an
unusual scaling form given by n^{-\tilde \phi(k/\log n)} where \tilde \phi(x)
is a universal large deviation function.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Minor changes. Accepted version in Phys. Rev.
Let
Tracking Target Signal Strengths on a Grid using Sparsity
Multi-target tracking is mainly challenged by the nonlinearity present in the
measurement equation, and the difficulty in fast and accurate data association.
To overcome these challenges, the present paper introduces a grid-based model
in which the state captures target signal strengths on a known spatial grid
(TSSG). This model leads to \emph{linear} state and measurement equations,
which bypass data association and can afford state estimation via
sparsity-aware Kalman filtering (KF). Leveraging the grid-induced sparsity of
the novel model, two types of sparsity-cognizant TSSG-KF trackers are
developed: one effects sparsity through -norm regularization, and the
other invokes sparsity as an extra measurement. Iterative extended KF and
Gauss-Newton algorithms are developed for reduced-complexity tracking, along
with accurate error covariance updates for assessing performance of the
resultant sparsity-aware state estimators. Based on TSSG state estimates, more
informative target position and track estimates can be obtained in a follow-up
step, ensuring that track association and position estimation errors do not
propagate back into TSSG state estimates. The novel TSSG trackers do not
require knowing the number of targets or their signal strengths, and exhibit
considerably lower complexity than the benchmark hidden Markov model filter,
especially for a large number of targets. Numerical simulations demonstrate
that sparsity-cognizant trackers enjoy improved root mean-square error
performance at reduced complexity when compared to their sparsity-agnostic
counterparts.Comment: Submitted to IEEE Trans. on Signal Processin
Condensation of the roots of real random polynomials on the real axis
We introduce a family of real random polynomials of degree n whose
coefficients a_k are symmetric independent Gaussian variables with variance
= e^{-k^\alpha}, indexed by a real \alpha \geq 0. We compute exactly
the mean number of real roots for large n. As \alpha is varied, one finds
three different phases. First, for 0 \leq \alpha \sim
(\frac{2}{\pi}) \log{n}. For 1 < \alpha < 2, there is an intermediate phase
where grows algebraically with a continuously varying exponent,
\sim \frac{2}{\pi} \sqrt{\frac{\alpha-1}{\alpha}} n^{\alpha/2}. And finally for
\alpha > 2, one finds a third phase where \sim n. This family of real
random polynomials thus exhibits a condensation of their roots on the real line
in the sense that, for large n, a finite fraction of their roots /n are
real. This condensation occurs via a localization of the real roots around the
values \pm \exp{[\frac{\alpha}{2}(k+{1/2})^{\alpha-1} ]}, 1 \ll k \leq n.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figure
Design of a single chamber air cathode microbial fuel cell using a stainless steel spiral anode and 3D printing techniques for continuous flow dye decolourisation
Microbial fuel cells (MFC) offer a novel solution in wastewater treatment systems. Their capacity for COD removal and concomitant electricity generation are highly attractive properties for reducing costs & environmental impacts in industry. MFCs require expensive membranes & catalysts such as Nafion and platinum respectively to achieve increased power output, but the cost of these materials is prohibitive for real world applications.
An air breathing, 1 litre-scale spiral anode MFC was designed (Fig. 1) to provide a high electrode surface area to reactor volume ratio using commonly and cheaply available materials such as stainless steel and activated carbon. Non-platinum group metal catalysts (FeAAPyr family) were integrated into a PVDF cathode fabricated using single step phase inversion to improve rate of the oxygen reduction reaction. Anode surface area was maximized by concertina folding and spiral arrangement and its surface was modified using sulphuric acid, heat treatment & carbon black adsorption to provide a more biocompatible surface for biofilms.
The performance characteristics of the designed MFC are currently being investigated. Decolourisation of Acid orange-7 azo dye & COD removal were initially investigated in recirculating batch mode followed by continuous flow configuration with a hydraulic retention time of 36 hours. Optimisation of hydraulic retention times, cathode construction & anode surface modification will present a feasible system for the scale up of microbial fuel cells for industrial use, maximizing COD removal & electricity production
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