Interactions of Two-Dimensionally Confined Electrons with an Adjacent Magnetic Monopole

An electron in the presence of a magnetic monopole cannot form a bound state to the monopole in three dimensions. All states formed are scattering and follow a geodesic trajectory on the surface of a cone. In this thesis I show that confining the electron to two dimensions and placing the monopole above or below said plane allows for bound states to be formed. Classically, utilising Lagrangian mechanics, these are fully bound never forming scattering states without an influx of energy. Quantum mechanically (Solutions to Schrödinger time independent equation) and semi-classically (Bohr- Sommerfeld quantisation, WKB approximation), these states are quasi-bound with finite lifetimes before turning into a scattering state. The minimum charge that can bind an electron to a magnetic monopole is approximately the same strength as 16 Dirac monopoles. The lifetimes of these scattering states is dependent on the electron's energy eigenvalue, the strength of the magnetic monopole, and the distance the monopole is from the plane. Magnetic monopoles can be detected using a SQUID (Superconducting QUantum Interference Device) measuring the quantised jumps in magnetic flux. In this thesis I ask: can they be detected using the Hall effect? With the electrons bound to a plane permeated by the non-uniform magnetic field produced by a magnetic monopole; what will the Hall voltage look like across the plane, and can it be measured? Magnetohydrodynamics is utilised to model the flow of an electron gas by treating it as a fluid that interacts with both magnetic and electrical fields. A single Dirac monopole produces a peak in Hall voltage across the modelled Hall sensor of the order 10−6V. For a monopole found in spin-ice, which is about 1/8000 the magnetic charge of a single Dirac monopole, this voltage is considerably less

Ring the changes: the cult of Saint Edward the Confessor in Kent

Since the discovery of a monumental wall painting of Saint Edward the Confessor enacting the so-called Legend of the Ring on the south wall of the Thomas Becket Chapel, Saint Mary's Church, Faversham, Kent in 1851, little has been done to evaluate its style and composition, nor its meaning for the patron, Robert Dod and his community. Depicting the most famous of Saint Edward's miracles and dating to c. 1307, this Gothic painting depicts King Edward presenting his royal ring to Saint John the Evangelist who is disguised as a pilgrim. The pictorial use of this miracle was somewhat "commonplace" amongst the radius of Westminster Abbey and the court of King Henry III. However, because of scant evidence otherwise, scholarship has often determined that this image, and Edward's cult, was confined to Henry's court and Westminster Abbey, and/or that interest in Saint Edward waned after Henry's death in 1272, albeit with a brief revival during the reign of Richard II. This fourteenth century painting in a parish church in Kent, therefore, challenges these assumptions and has presented an opportunity to shed new light on the cult of Saint Edward the Confessor. In 1874 another monumental painting was discovered in the same chapel: That of a life-sized martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket that was coeval to Saint Edward's and positioned directly opposite it. This is a seemingly "unusual" pairing: A saint king opposite an archbishop murdered by royal knights allegedly on the orders of Henry II. Evidence is presented here for the first time to show that the cults of Saint Edward and Becket were commingled in Kent with a focus on Canterbury Cathedral, Saint Mary's Church, Faversham and the Maison Dieu at Ospringe. Structured across five chapters, this thesis aims to offer fresh perspectives on the enduring popularity of the cult of Saint Edward the Confessor - highlighting East Kent as an additional cult centre - while also exploring its intersections with the cult of Saint Thomas Becket and contributing to broader understandings of the cult of saints

Comparison of unique Dong Tao chickens from Vietnam and Thailand: genetic background and differences for resource management

Background Rare Dong Tao (DT) chickens are a unique and highly productive poultry breed introduced from Vietnam to Thailand ~ 30 years ago. It has a very peculiar appearance, including enormously enlarged feet with reddish scales, and considered local and culturally significant to both countries. Their adaptability and distinct genetic traits have attracted global interest, underscoring their potential for breeding programs and a need for their thorough genetic makeup assessment. Objective To assess the genetic diversity and differentiation within the Dong Tao chicken breed, comparing two populations introduced in Thailand with a native population in Vietnam. Methods Three Dong Tao chicken populations from Thailand and Vietnam—along with 54 other indigenous, local chicken, and red junglefowl populations from Thailand, were analyzed using 28 microsatellite markers. Result High genetic variability and low inbreeding levels were observed in these populations, indicating their effective management despite historical bottlenecks. Genetic similarities between DT-U and DT-HY and indigenous breeds, as well as the closer alignment of DT-L with red junglefowl, highlighted existing introgression and adaptation processes. Two markers, MCW0098 and MCW0216, showed a variation pattern due to potential impact of directional selection, possibly driven by environmental adaptation pressures. These findings emphasize the importance of DT chickens as genetic resources for breeding programs that focus on climate resilience and productivity enhancement. Conclusion Dong Tao chicken shared genetic similarities with indigenous and local chicken breeds, and red junglefowl, with potential influence of directional selection driven by environmental adaptation pressures

Differences in motivational dynamics between experienced cyclists and untrained participants during an incremental endurance exercise task

Purpose: The conflict between the desire to reduce effort during exercise and the performance goal of the exercise task contributes to explaining endurance exercise performance. However, whether the trajectories of these two motivational responses systematically differ across individuals with different characteristics is poorly understood. The present study examined whether changes in desire to reduce effort and performance goal value across moderate, heavy, and severe exercise intensity domains differed between cyclists and untrained, but active participants. Methods: Fifty participants (14 cyclists and 36 untrained) completed an incremental step test on acycle ergometer, in which work rate was increased by 25 W every 4 min until voluntary exhaustion. Desire to reduce effort, performance goal value, and blood lactate concentration (for determination of exercise intensity domains) were measured every 4 min and the data were analysed using multilevel modelling. Results: Desire to reduce effort increased quicker for untrained participants in the moderate exercise intensity domain (b = 1.66, p < .001) and across the whole trial (b = 1.64, p < .001), compared to cyclists (b = .69, and b = 1.14, respectively, both p < .001). Untrained participants reported similar performance goal value at the beginning of the trial (b = 16.02, p < .001), compared to cyclists (b = 17.25, p < .001). Beyond moderate intensities, the performance goal value decreased significantly for the untrained participants (b = − .70, p < .001) but significantly increased for cyclists (b = .45, p = .01). This pattern was also observed when focusing solely on the severe intensity domain (cyclists: b = .90, p < .001; untrained: b = − .84, p < .001). Conclusion: There are distinct differences in the desire to reduce effort and performance goal value between cyclists and untrained athletes. Identifying these systematic differences enhances the credibility of the desire-goal conflict framework in explaining endurance performance and provides insight into the type and timing of interventions that might be successful in improving performance

Club representation in the national team: Effects on identity fusion and intra-vs intergroup attitudes

Identity fusion describes a psychological state in which personal and social identities are deeply aligned, fostering strong bonds with a group and influencing attitudes and behaviors, including in international contexts. However, how fusion to local (relational) and national (extended) groups interacts remains less understood. We investigated this among Turkish soccer fans (N = 379) using an experimental design to test whether local club representation in the national team influences national team fusion and behavioral intentions toward other fans. Fans viewed lineups for an upcoming international match that included either more of their local club's players or their rival's. Participants who saw a lineup dominated by rival players were less fused with the national team. Fusion with the national team was a key predictor of prosocial intentions toward the ingroup (fellow Türkiye fans). Mediation analysis showed that overrepresentation of rival players indirectly reduced ingroup prosociality via national team fusion. Hostility toward the outgroup was significantly associated with fusion to the local team, but not with fusion to the national team, nor with club representation

Review of Global Ayahuasca: Wondrous Visions and Modern, Stanford University Press (Gearin, Alex)

Global Ayahuasca: Wondrous Visions and Modern Worlds is a much-welcomed analysis and synthesis of diverse ways that ayahuasca is experienced in three distinct corners of the world. It is a much needed addition to the ayahuasca and psychedelic literature. Gearin builds upon existing work that documents how the use of ayahuasca is not exclusive to its endemic Amazonia plant origins as both the plants and new rituals have since been naturalized elsewhere. The book blends academic rigor with an engaging self-reflexive style that offers insights into the lived experience of his field sites. He applaudingly steers away from the edge of sensationalism and universalism of psychedelic research as well as from the exceeding abundance of sloppy material published on the internet for the general public. He achieves this by blending ethnographic description with academic research in exploring the diverse ways in which the cultural shaping of wonder is central for ayahuasca participants and practitioners. While the contexts and rituals vary, they all seek to connect with the divine, heal the body/soul, and gain wisdom while blending indigenous traditions with global spiritual currents

Intergroup and intragroup dynamics of communication: Identity validation, trust, and action

A key function of communication is to signify values and norms. In this paper, we tour some of our recent research as well as new evidence on social psychological processes affecting the impacts of group communication and its implications for so-called Intergroup Communication Principles. We contend that communication within and between groups is subjectively interconnected, specifically through the process of subjective group dynamics. These dynamics affect how groups respond to leaders (or groups) that depart from prevailing norms, when these communications initiate a norm shift rather than inviting opprobrium, and whether communication by outgroup members can break down prejudice. Using new evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic, we examine which communications are most trusted in an intergroup hierarchy, showing the critical role of local identity. Finally, we describe field studies demonstrating how group norm communications can promote prosocial environmental behavior. We conclude that group-based communication is likely to be strongly directed toward occupying the center ground of communicative practice that groups’ responses to their members are motivated by the desire to reinforce the validity of the group’s norms, and their receptiveness toward leaders is dependent on the leader’s advancement of the group’s subjective validity

Decentring narratives of (de)globalization and crisis: Uzbekistan’s ‘everyday’ political economy amidst Russia’s war in Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is commonly considered a global crisis, reinforcing deglobalization. However, Uzbekistan’s experience challenges this conventional wisdom, as Uzbekistani actors have renounced both economic decoupling and geopolitical alignment. I employ a critical and constructivist ‘everyday’ International Political Economy (IPE) approach, drawing on 54 fieldwork interviews in Uzbekistan, statistics, and public opinion surveys. I argue that Uzbekistani actors challenge Eurocentric narratives of deglobalization through normative agency at three levels: state, business, and ‘everyday’. I also explore the normative conflict between these three levels in interaction with global (post)colonial capitalism, which I describe as ‘conflictual hybridity’, with a specific focus on the normative power of micro-actors, including labourers and migrants. In a context of ‘double coloniality’ between material/geographical and normative/political Russo-Uzbekistani postcolonial hybridity and Western normative power, I aim to debunk elite-centric geopolitical imaginaries of non-Western agency during crises, or lack thereof, by foregrounding the ‘everyday’ of the Global Majority

What influence do death, dying and bereavement have on philanthropic giving Within hospice care?

Hospice care, for people with life‐limiting or terminal illnesses, is increasingly in demand due to rising death rates and is increasingly reliant on voluntary income due to rising costs. Lack of understanding of the specific drivers and needs of donors to hospices, and widespread misconceptions about hospice services are combined with cultural difficulties in discussing death, dying and bereavement to result in a particularly complex environment for hospice fundraisers. To help navigate that complexity, this paper presents insights on hospice donor motivation and stewardship expectations, based on data from semi‐structured interviews with 10 donors who have experienced a bereavement at one hospice in the UK. It generates three key findings: (1) In memory giving plays a developing role throughout the bereavement journey, providing a distraction for people in the immediate aftermath of their loss, enabling them to maintain a connection with the deceased, but, for some, eventually diminishing as they move on with their lives; (2) Awareness of need, gratitude, reciprocity, and future benefit are key drivers of giving to hospices, such that donors become newly aware of needs met by hospices, appreciative of the care received by departed loved ones, and committed to ensuring that they and others will have future access to hospice services; (3) Affinity and bonds with the hospice, including positive experiences with both frontline care staff and the fundraising team, build and sustain donor loyalty. We conclude that donations by those who have direct experience of the hospice are often a function of the ‘bereavement journey’ and that the extent to which this factor influences giving changes over time and between donors, leading to the recommendation that more bespoke stewardship is needed to best understand and meet the needs of these donors and to maximise the amounts given

Rigorous methodological approaches to address knowledge gaps in exercise, nutrition, immunity, and infection risk research

Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and the associated symptoms can have significant impacts for the general population and athletes (e.g., affecting training, recovery, and performance). Various factors influence the risk of URTI, including physiological stress (i.e., exercise), psychological stress, sleep, travel, nutrition, and pathogen exposure. Traditional research in exercise immunology has relied heavily on ex vivo immune markers, which lack clinical relevance and overlook immune redundancy and robustness. As such, it is unsurprising that interventions affecting these markers do not always align with URTI risk. More recently, evidence has emphasized the importance of in vivo immune markers and clinical outcomes to assess infection risk, and the role of interventions to mitigate this. Traditionally, nutritional exercise immunology research has focused only on mechanisms affecting URTI via immune modulation. However, nutritional interventions may also act via immune-independent mechanisms (e.g., direct antipathogenic mechanisms). For future research, we recommend prioritizing clinically relevant endpoints (validated URTI logs; pathogen screening); using in vivo markers representing the integrated immune response; large sample size; and implementing stringent study controls. Experimental infection challenge models offer controlled investigations of interventions. These approaches will enhance our ability to determine the impact of exercise and nutrition on immunity and URTI outcomes in athletes