Towards a multidimensional model of creativity: an analysis of six models of creativity and the creative process

Creativity appears repeatedly in the curricula for the Compulsory School and the Upper Secondary School in Sweden, as well as in the course syllabi for Art Education. The purpose of this essay is to achieve a better understanding of the building blocks of creativity, in order to widen the range of tools that can be used in teaching situations. Departing from six established models of understanding creativity, the essay attempts to find some common aspects among the models, which can help teachers to unify and organize the models with the ultimate aim of achieving a wider and more comprehensive understanding of creativity. Close reading is used as the method of analysis and interpretation in order to find common categories among the selected models of creativity. The process of close reading is performed and organized using the structure and concepts of Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA), with an inductive approach. The analysis of the six models of creativity results in the identification and classification of two common themes: flexibility and bird’s eye view, the combination of which can be used as a way to achieve a more comprehensive, complete and thus enhanced model to understand creativity, which can give teachers a wider range of tools to apply creatively in the classroom

Direct interaction between the atomic ensemble and the cavity field

<p><strong>Figure 8.</strong> Direct interaction between the atomic ensemble and the cavity field. The system is off far one-photon resonances but on the Raman resonance.</p> <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p>We show that it is possible to use an atom–cavity reservoir to prepare the two-mode squeezed and entangled states of a hybrid system of an atomic ensemble and an optical field, which do not directly interact with each other. The essential mechanism is based on the combined effect of a two-mode squeezing interaction and a beam–splitter interaction between the system and the reservoir. The reservoir mechanism is important for quantum networking in that it allows an interface between a localized matter-based memory and an optical carrier of quantum information without direct interaction.</p

Double Λ loop of four interlinked parametric interactions

<p><strong>Figure 4.</strong> Double Λ loop of four interlinked parametric interactions. Each of the field reservoirs <em>b</em>_{1, 2} interacts with the noninteracting parts (<em>a</em>, <em>c</em>) of the hybrid system in the Λ configuration, one wing of which is the two-mode squeezing interaction (double solid line with double-ended arrows) and the other is the beam–splitter interaction (dashed line with a single-ended arrow). The two different kinds of interactions interlink alternately.</p> <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p>We show that it is possible to use an atom–cavity reservoir to prepare the two-mode squeezed and entangled states of a hybrid system of an atomic ensemble and an optical field, which do not directly interact with each other. The essential mechanism is based on the combined effect of a two-mode squeezing interaction and a beam–splitter interaction between the system and the reservoir. The reservoir mechanism is important for quantum networking in that it allows an interface between a localized matter-based memory and an optical carrier of quantum information without direct interaction.</p

Three different systems of two noninteracting parts

<p><strong>Figure 1.</strong> Three different systems of two noninteracting parts. A composite reservoir (two grey circular plates) mediates between the two parts of the system. A blue plate stands for a cavity field while a red plate represents an atomic ensemble. A line denotes the system–reservoir interaction. (a) A dual atomic reservoir enters between two cavity fields [<a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/0953-4075/46/18/185501/article#jpb474929bib27" target="_blank">27</a>]. (b) A dual cavity reservoir is used between two atomic ensembles [<a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/0953-4075/46/18/185501/article#jpb474929bib32" target="_blank">32</a>]. (c) An atom–cavity reservoir mediates between an atomic ensemble and a cavity field. The last scheme has not been explored yet and will be addressed in the present work.</p> <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p>We show that it is possible to use an atom–cavity reservoir to prepare the two-mode squeezed and entangled states of a hybrid system of an atomic ensemble and an optical field, which do not directly interact with each other. The essential mechanism is based on the combined effect of a two-mode squeezing interaction and a beam–splitter interaction between the system and the reservoir. The reservoir mechanism is important for quantum networking in that it allows an interface between a localized matter-based memory and an optical carrier of quantum information without direct interaction.</p

Variance 〈(δ<em>X</em>₊)²〉 versus <em>r</em>₁ for the fixed collective phase Φ = 0

<p><strong>Figure 5.</strong> Variance 〈(δ<em>X</em>₊)²〉 versus <em>r</em>₁ for the fixed collective phase Φ = 0. The other parameters are <em>q</em> = (0, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 5, 10). (a) <em>s</em> = 0.5, (b) <em>s</em> = 1, (c) <em>s</em> = 2, and (d) <em>s</em> = 5. The curves for <em>q</em> = (1, 5, 10) can hardly be distinguished. The variance drops below the standard quantum limit 1 in a wide range of parameters. This indicates the existence of the two-mode squeezing and entanglement under loose conditions.</p> <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p>We show that it is possible to use an atom–cavity reservoir to prepare the two-mode squeezed and entangled states of a hybrid system of an atomic ensemble and an optical field, which do not directly interact with each other. The essential mechanism is based on the combined effect of a two-mode squeezing interaction and a beam–splitter interaction between the system and the reservoir. The reservoir mechanism is important for quantum networking in that it allows an interface between a localized matter-based memory and an optical carrier of quantum information without direct interaction.</p

A hybrid system of the atomic ensemble <em>a</em> (red, placed within the ring cavity <em>C</em>₁) and the cavity field <em>c</em> (blue, propagating along the ring cavity <em>C</em>₂)

<p><strong>Figure 2.</strong> A hybrid system of the atomic ensemble <em>a</em> (red, placed within the ring cavity <em>C</em>₁) and the cavity field <em>c</em> (blue, propagating along the ring cavity <em>C</em>₂). The two parts of the hybrid system are not in direct interaction with each other, but coupled to the atom–cavity reservoir. The reservoir consists of the field reservoirs <em>b</em>_{1, 2} (propagating along the two cascaded cavities <em>C</em>_{1, 2}) and the atomic reservoirs <em>N</em>_{1, 2} (placed respectively at the two intersections of the cavities <em>C</em> and <em>C</em>₂).</p> <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p>We show that it is possible to use an atom–cavity reservoir to prepare the two-mode squeezed and entangled states of a hybrid system of an atomic ensemble and an optical field, which do not directly interact with each other. The essential mechanism is based on the combined effect of a two-mode squeezing interaction and a beam–splitter interaction between the system and the reservoir. The reservoir mechanism is important for quantum networking in that it allows an interface between a localized matter-based memory and an optical carrier of quantum information without direct interaction.</p

Blood α-Tocopherol, γ-Tocopherol Levels and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies

<div><p>Background</p><p>Epidemiological studies that have examined the association of blood α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol (the principal bioactive form of vitamin E) levels with the risk of prostate cancer have yielded inconsistent results. In addition, a quantitative assessment of published studies is not available.</p><p>Methods and Findings</p><p>In this meta-analysis, relevant studies were sought by a search of the PubMed and Embase databases for articles published up to October 2013, with no restrictions. Bibliographies from retrieved articles also were scoured to find further eligible studies. Prospective studies that reported adjusted relative risk (RR) estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between blood tocopherol levels and the risk of prostate cancer were included. Nine nested case–control studies involving approximately 370,000 participants from several countries were eligible. The pooled RRs of prostate cancer for the highest versus lowest category of blood α-tocopherol levels were 0.79 (95% CI: 0.68–0.91), and those for γ-tocopherol levels were 0.89 (95% CI: 0.71–1.12), respectively. Significant heterogeneity was present among the studies in terms of blood γ-tocopherol levels (<i>p</i> = 0.008) but not in terms of blood α-tocopherol levels (<i>p</i> = 0.33). The risk of prostate cancer decreased by 21% for every 25-mg/L increase in blood α-tocopherol levels (RR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.69–0.91).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Blood α-tocopherol levels, but not γ-tocopherol levels, were inversely associated with the risk of prostate cancer in this meta-analysis.</p></div

Characteristics of prospective studies on blood α- and γ-tocopherol levels and risk of prostate cancer.

<p>Abbreviations: BMI: body mass index, T:tertile, Q:quartile/quintile, SD: standard deviation. * Derived from the slogan of a campaign, “Give us a CLUE to cancer.”</p

Adjusted relative risks of prostate cancer for the highest vs. lowest categories of blood α- and γ-tocopherol levels.

<p>Adjusted relative risks of prostate cancer for the highest vs. lowest categories of blood α- and γ-tocopherol levels.</p

Methodological quality assessment based on the NOS.^a

a<p>Assessed with the 9-star Newcastle-Ottawa Scale(NOS).</p>b<p>Adequate definition of cases(0,1star).</p>c<p>Consecutive or obviously representative series of cases (0,1).</p>d<p>Selection of controls: Community controls (0,1).</p>e<p>Definition of controls: No history of disease (endpoint) (0,1).</p>f<p>Study controls for the most important factor or any additional factor(0,1,2).</p>g<p>Secure record (eg surgical records) (0,1).</p>h<p>Same method of ascertainment for cases and controls(0,1).</p>i<p>Same non-response rate for both groups(0,1).</p>j<p>Total: minimum equals 1; maximum equals 9 stars.</p