Sequence Of Relations Research Articles

Perfectionism, self-determined motivation, and coping among adolescent athletes

Objectives To investigate the sequence of relations between dimensions of perfectionism, autonomous and controlled motivation, and coping (Study 1) or exerted effort (Study 2) during training. Design Cross-sectional (Study 1), short-term longitudinal (Study 2). Methods In Study 1, participants were 333 Greek adolescent athletes ( M age = 15.59 years, SD = 2.37) from various sports; they were assessed with respect to their dimensions of perfectionism, perceived competence, self-determined motivation, and sport-related coping skills. In Study 2, participants were 63 adolescent athletes ( M age = 14.40 years, SD = 1.58) participating in a three-week summer basketball camp; they first were assessed with respect to their perfectionism, perceived competence, and self-determined motivation and then, for consecutive times after daily training, with respect to their situational self-determined motivation and the effort they invest during training. Results In both studies, structural equation modeling revealed that personal standards were positively related to both autonomous and controlled motivation and that concern over mistakes were uniquely related to controlled motivation. In turn, autonomous motivation, as compared to controlled motivation, was linked with better coping (Study1) and more effort (Study 2). Conclusion Athletes with high personal standards are more likely to report effective coping or to put more effort if they become (or remain) autonomously motivated. In contrast, athletes with concerns over mistakes are more likely to exhibit controlled motivation and, in turn, to report poorer coping skills or to put less effort compared to autonomous motivated athletes.

A note on the Wehrheim-Woodward category

Wehrheim and Woodward have shown how to embed all the canonical relations between symplectic manifolds into a category in which the composition is the usual one when transversality and embedding assumptions are satisfied. A morphism in their category is an equivalence class of composable sequences of canonical relations, with composition given by concatenation. In this note, we show that every such morphism is represented by a sequence consisting of just two relations, one of them a reduction and the other a coreduction.

Closed-form solutions for batch settling height from model settling flux functions

A novel approach for relating suspension batch settling data (settling height vs time) to model settling flux functions is presented. The approach exploits a new closed-form solution relating settling height and time for a very simple functional form of the settling flux. The simple form in question employs a so-called hindered settling factor (a key material property in suspension rheology) that is taken to be a straight-line function of the solids fraction. The closed-form solution for settling height and time has a parametric dependence on the slope and intercept of the above-mentioned (straight line) hindered settling property: thus a functional relationship between batch settling height and suspension material property parameters is established. Moreover by adjusting the slope and intercept parameters, the closed-form solutions for settling height vs time can be matched to batch settling experimental data, and thereby the settling flux can be directly obtained. Unlike classical approaches for determining settling flux functions from batch settling data (i.e. Kynch theory), nowhere does the new approach require data for settling velocity: this gives it an in-built robustness to experimental noise compared to any approach that obtains experimental settling velocities via finite differences of settling heights, since such velocities tend to be far more noisy than the settling heights themselves. In a typical physical system, a straight-line relationship between hindered settling factor and solids volume fraction will only be a reasonable approximation over a very restricted domain of solids fraction. However, over a wider domain, it is possible to approximate the hindered settling factor vs solids fraction dependence via a sequence of straight-line relations, each taken over a narrow interval of solids fraction. A functional form for settling flux is thereby obtained, useful for suspension dewatering calculations and engineering equipment design for suspension/sludge processing. The novel approach for determining settling flux has been applied both to experimental and synthetic batch settling data, and has performed robustly.

Monotone convergence theorems for semi-bounded operators and forms with applications

AbstractLet Hn be a monotone sequence of non-negative self-adjoint operators or relations in a Hilbert space. Then there exists a self-adjoint relation H∞ such that Hn converges to H∞ in the strong resolvent sense. This result and related limit results are explored in detail and new simple proofs are presented. The corresponding statements for monotone sequences of semi-bounded closed forms are established as immediate consequences. Applications and examples, illustrating the general results, include sequences of multiplication operators, Sturm–Liouville operators with increasing potentials, forms associated with Kreĭn–Feller differential operators, singular perturbations of non-negative self-adjoint operators and the characterization of the Friedrichs and Kreĭn–von Neumann extensions of a non-negative operator or relation.

Generalized time-invariant overtaking

We present a new version of the overtaking criterion, which we call generalized time-invariant overtaking. The generalized time-invariant overtaking criterion (on the space of infinite utility streams) is defined by extending proliferating sequences of complete and transitive binary relations defined on finite dimensional spaces. The paper presents a general approach that can be specialized to at least two, extensively researched examples, the utilitarian and the leximin orderings on a finite dimensional Euclidean space.

A generalization of Kakutani’s splitting procedure

In this paper, we will study uniformly distributed sequences of partitions of [0, 1], a concept which has been introduced by Kakutani (Measure Theory 541:369–375, 1976). We will construct new families of u.d. sequences of partitions and study relations with the classical concept of uniformly distributed sequences of points.

Recovery of particle distribution function in four-dimensional phase space from measurements with pepper-pot method

The possibility of recovering the particle distribution function at any point of the four-dimensional transverse phase volume “x, x′, y, y′” using the results of measurements with the pepper-pot method is demonstrated. The proposed method for processing experimental data is based on the assumption that the one-to-one correspondence between holes in the mask and their images on the screen is established. Such a preliminary calibration should be experimentally performed on the measured ion beam. The method of moments is used for the recovery of the distribution function. Using Legendre polynomials for processing experimental results reduces the problem to a sequence of recurrence relations. A numerical simulation of the measurement process demonstrated that the recovery accuracy of the particle distribution function is about ±10%.

Polynomial chaos representation of spatio-temporal random fields from experimental measurements

Two numerical techniques are proposed to construct a polynomial chaos (PC) representation of an arbitrary second-order random vector. In the first approach, a PC representation is constructed by matching a target joint probability density function (pdf) based on sequential conditioning (a sequence of conditional probability relations) in conjunction with the Rosenblatt transformation. In the second approach, the PC representation is obtained by having recourse to the Rosenblatt transformation and simultaneously matching a set of target marginal pdfs and target Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (SRCC) matrix. Both techniques are applied to model an experimental spatio-temporal data set, exhibiting strong non-stationary and non-Gaussian features. The data consists of a set of oceanographic temperature records obtained from a shallow-water acoustics transmission experiment [1]. The measurement data, observed over a finite denumerable subset of the indexing set of the random process, is treated as a collection of observed samples of a second-order random vector that can be treated as a finite-dimensional approximation of the original random field. A set of properly ordered conditional pdfs, that uniquely characterizes the target joint pdf, in the first approach and a set of target marginal pdfs and a target SRCC matrix, in the second approach, are estimated from available experimental data. Digital realizations sampled from the constructed PC representations based on both schemes capture the observed statistical characteristics of the experimental data with sufficient accuracy. The relative advantages and disadvantages of the two proposed techniques are also highlighted.

Mould powder investigations for high speed casting

Mould powders significantly determine the stability of the continuous casting process of steel. The processes leading to melting of mould powder and solidification of mould slag were studied in situ using high temperature X-ray diffraction with additional powder X-ray diffraction and microscopic techniques. It was shown that during heating, a powder shows a specific sequence of phase relations before melting takes place. During cooling and solidification, one or more crystalline phases can be formed. The findings on high temperature properties were confirmed by the analyses of slag rims and slag films, obtained from the Corus thin slab caster. Finally, the in depth characterisation, together with some calculations on mould slag was compared with plant data of the thin slab caster. Results from this work give a better understanding of the mould powder functions at the thin slab caster and are being used to guide mould powder design for the current and even higher casting speeds.

Variable stars in the open cluster NGC 6811

We performed a time-series B, V band CCD photometric observations of the open cluster NGC 6811 to search for variable stars. A total number of 16 variables were detected including nine new ones. They are classified as 12 δ Scuti stars and four unknown type variables. The 12 δ Scuti variables are all very likely members of the cluster. This makes NGC 6811 a very important target for asteroseismology of dwarf Cepheids. In addition, we have carried out an isochrone fitting on the V vs. B– V CMD of the cluster based on theoretical models. It gives an age of log ( t ) = 8.76 ± 0.09 for the cluster with the solar metallicity ( Z = 0.019). The distance modulus and color excess of NGC 6811 are determined to be ( m - M ) V = 10.59 ± 0.09 and E ( B - V ) = 0.12 ± 0.05 , respectively. A preliminary Fourier analysis shows a few very interesting sequences of period-luminosity relations, with the fundamental mode matches the P– L relation defined by previous studies for δ Scuti variables with high precision observations. This also confirms that all the 12 δ Scuti stars observed in this work are highly probable members of NGC 6811.

Preschool children and marital conflict: A constructive view

Effects of marital conflict on children are well documented, but few studies have examined the impact of constructive conflict. This paper examines scenarios of largely constructive marital conflict, and their relations with their preschool children behaviours, in naturalistic situations in the home. Participants were married couples and their preschool child, studied over three years (n = 33 at T1), with children aged about 2 years at the outset. Microanalytic observational coding of marital interactions and children's responses were conducted and contingency analyses were performed. Links were found between parents' relational control strategies and non-verbal affect and children's responses to parents' constructive conflicts. For example, parents' positive affect and children's interfering in conflict scenarios were associated. Children's interference in conflicts was associated with triadic relational sequences, regardless of parents' particular relational control strategies. Findings are discussed in terms of perspectives on understanding children's reactions to constructive conflicts in terms of broader marital and child systems.

Multi-Dimensional Relational Sequence Mining

The issue addressed in this paper concerns the discovery of frequent multi-dimensional patterns from relational sequences. The great variety of applications of sequential pattern mining, such as user profiling, medicine, local weather forecast and bioinformatics, makes this problem one of the central topics in data mining. Nevertheless, sequential information may concern data on multiple dimensions and, hence, the mining of sequential patterns from multi-dimensional information results very important. In a multi-dimensional sequence each event depends on more than one dimension, such as in spatio-temporal sequences where an event may be spatially or temporally related to other events. In literature, the multi-relational data mining approach has been successfully applied to knowledge discovery fromcomplex data. However, there exists no contribution to manage the general case of multi-dimensional data in which, for example, spatial and temporal information may co-exist. This work takes into account the possibility to mine complex patterns, expressed in a first-order language, in which events may occur along different dimensions. Specifically, multidimensional patterns are defined as a set of atomic first-order formulae in which events are explicitly represented by a variable and the relations between events are represented by a set of dimensional predicates. A complete framework and an Inductive Logic Programming algorithm to tackle this problem are presented along with some experiments on artificial and real multi-dimensional sequences proving its effectiveness.

Tutte chromatic identities from the Temperley–Lieb algebra

This paper introduces a conceptual framework, in the context of quantum topology and the algebras underlying it, for analyzing relations obeyed by the chromatic polynomial \chi(Q) of planar graphs. Using it we give new proofs and substantially extend a number of classical results concerning the combinatorics of the chromatic polynomial. In particular, we show that Tutte's golden identity is a consequence of level-rank duality for SO(N) topological quantum field theories and Birman-Murakami-Wenzl algebras. This identity is a remarkable feature of the chromatic polynomial relating \chi({\phi+2}) for any triangulation of the sphere to (\chi({\phi+1}))^2 for the same graph, where \phi denotes the golden ratio. The new viewpoint presented here explains that Tutte's identity is special to these values of the parameter Q. A natural context for analyzing such properties of the chromatic polynomial is provided by the {\em chromatic algebra}, whose Markov trace is the chromatic polynomial of an associated graph. We use it to show that another identity of Tutte's for the chromatic polynomial at Q={\phi}+1 arises from a Jones-Wenzl projector in the Temperley-Lieb algebra. We generalize this identity to each value Q= 2+2\cos(2\pi j/(n+1)) for j< n positive integers. When j=1, these Q are the Beraha numbers, where the existence of such identities was conjectured by Tutte. We present a recursive formula for this sequence of chromatic polynomial relations.

Producing Inequalities: Regional Sequences in Later Prehistoric Southern Spain

This paper presents regional sequences of production, consumption and social relations in southern Spain from the beginning of the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age (c. 5600–1550 BC). The regions studied are southeast Spain, Valencia, the southern Meseta and central/western Andalucia. The details presented for each region and period vary in quality but show how much our knowledge of the archaeological record of southern Spain has changed during the last four decades. Among the surprises are the rapidity of agricultural adoption, the emergence of regional centres of aggregated population in enclosed/fortified settlements of up to 400 hectares in the fourth and third millennia BC, the use of copper objects as instruments of production, rather than as items with a purely symbolic or ‘prestige’ value, large-scale copper production in western Andalucia in the third millennium BC (as opposed to the usual domestic production model), and the inference of societies based on relations of class.

Bare Phrase Structure and Specifier-less Syntax

It is pointed out that “specifiers” render the algorithm of projection overly complex. This consideration lends support to Starke’s (2004) reanalysis of specifiers as phrasal heads that project their own phrases — which makes phrase structure a simple sequence of head-complement relations. It is further pointed out that if head-complement relations are represented using dominance in place of sisterhood, to reflect the essentially asymmetrical nature of Merge (Chomsky 2000), a non-branching (partially linear) phrase structure tree is obtained that very naturally eliminates labels and projections. A simple Spell-Out rule then provides a linear ordering of the terminal elements. The linear tree preserves all the major results of antisymmetry.

High Speed Clinical Data Retrieval System with Event Time Sequence Feature

This paper illustrates a high speed clinical data retrieving system, from 10 years of data of operating hospital information system for the purposes of research, evidence creation, patient safety, etc., even incorporating time sequence of causal relations. Total of 73,709,298 records of 10 years at Hamamatsu University Hospital (as of June 2008) are sent from HIS to retrieval system in HL7 v2.5 format. Hierarchical variable length database is used to install them. A search for "listing patients who were prescribed Pravastatin (Mevalotin and generic drugs, any titer)" took 1.92 seconds. "Pravastatin (any) prescribed and recorded AST >150 within two weeks" took 112.22 seconds. Searching conditions can be set to be more complex, connected by Boolean operator and/or. This system called D*D is in operation at Hamamatsu University Hospital since August 2002. It is used for 48,518 times (monthly average of 703 searches). Neither searching, nor background export of data from HIS caused delay of routine operating CPOE. Search database outside of routine operating CPOE, with daily export of order data in HL7 v2.5 format, is proved to provide excellent search environment without causing trouble. Hierarchical representation gives high-speed search response, especially with time sequence of events.

Relation rule mining

Relationships between objects constitute an important component of domain knowledge and represent an added value to data and knowledge discovery and management. Some existing studies in data mining (including association rule mining) exploit domain knowledge to better conduct tasks in applications such as e-learning and e-commerce. However, general semantic links between objects are either not exploited in the mining process or limited to is–a relations. In this paper we present the basis of a new approach where direct and indirect domain relations between items (basket market analysis) are used to reveal hidden knowledge in item transactions. First, we define the notion of relation association rule as an association that holds between sequences of relations. Such a type of rules is produced from item transactions and existing links among items in a given domain ontology. Then, we define an a priori-based algorithm for relation association rule mining. Finally, we illustrate the potential of our approach for recommendation purposes.

Yoruba politics 1999-2003

This paper examines the politics of ethnic mobilization. It uses as a case study, the political mobilization activities of one of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Yoruba of the Southwest, to chart the sequence of relations between the ethnic group and the Nigerian State between 1999 - 2003. The paper argues that ethnic mobilization is not an anomic response to the disequilibria generated by modernization and definitely not an expression of deep-rooted animosities or difference but a quest for group security and development within a chaotic and often inegalitarian state structure. The weakness of civil society structures and absence of viable democratic structures for societal “voice” has encouraged the rise of ethnic politics, an amalgam of traditional and modernist principles, values and structures, as a means for articulating the demands of society and taking the lead in actualizing such in the face of an unresponsive state. Key words: Ethnic, politics, Nigeria, identity, security, development, opposition.

Abstract Fixed Points of Set-valued Mappings

We defined new concept of complete sequences of equivalence relations on a given abstract set on which no topology is considered, the concept of contraction mappings with respect to these sequences, proved the existence of a fixed point of a multivalued and in particular single valued mappings T on the given abstract set.

What non-linear methods offered to linear problems? The Fokas transform method

In 1750 D’ Alembert demonstrated how a linear partial differential equation can be solved via separation of variables, a method that decomposes a PDE into a set of ODEs. This method was the basis for the development of many branches of contemporary analysis, from function spaces to spectral analysis of operators and the theory of special functions. A condition for the method of separation of variables to work is the existence of a coordinate system that fits the boundary of the fundamental domain and at the same time it separates the PDE. It is remarkable that two and a half centuries later a generalization is introduced that has its origin in the analysis of non-linear integrable equations. In the present work, this promising new transform method is outlined and applied to particular boundary value problems. A crucial part of the method is the introduction of a global relation which, if properly used, can provide the missing boundary data in a very elegant and effective way. We show how this can be used to generate separable solutions of partial differential equations even when no system, that fits the geometry of the fundamental domain, is available. This is shown for the case of the Dirichlet problem for the modified Helmholtz equation in the interior of an equilateral triangle. Furthermore, the connection of the Fokas method to the classical moment problem is investigated. It is shown that, in this case, the global relation is decomposed into a sequence of global relations, directly associated with the Fourier coefficients of the Dirichlet and Neumann boundary values.