1,670 research outputs found
A note on a third order curvature invariant in static spacetimes
We consider here the third order curvature invariant
in static spacetimes
for which is conformally flat. We evaluate
explicitly the invariant for the -dimensional Majumdar-Papapetrou multi
black-holes solution, confirming that does indeed vanish on the event
horizons of such black-holes. Our calculations show, however, that solely the
vanishing of is not sufficient to locate an event horizon in
non-spherically symmetric spacetimes. We discuss also some tidal effects
associated to the invariant .Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Extra material available at
http://vigo.ime.unicamp.br/in
Creating psychological connections between intervention recipients: development and focus group evaluation of a group singing session for people with aphasia
This is the final version of the article. Available from BMJ Publishing Group via the DOI in this record.Objectives The study sought to identify key design features that could be used to create a new framework for group-based health interventions. We designed and tested the first session of a group intervention for stroke survivors with aphasia which was aimed at nurturing new psychological connections between group members.
Setting The intervention session, a participant focus group and interviews with intervention facilitators were held in a local community music centre in the South West of England.
Participants A convenience sample of 10 community-dwelling people with poststroke aphasia participated in the session. Severity of aphasia was not considered for inclusion.
Intervention Participants took part in a 90-min group singing session which involved singing songs from a specially prepared song book. Musical accompaniment was provided by the facilitators.
Primary and secondary outcome measures Participants and group facilitators reported their experiences of participating in the session, with a focus on activities within the session related to the intervention aims. Researcher observations of the session were also made.
Results Two themes emerged from the analysis, concerning experiences of the session (âdeveloping a sense of group belongingâ) and perceptions of its design and delivery (âcreating the conditions for engagementâ). Participants described an emerging sense of shared social identity as a member of the intervention group and identified fixed (eg, group size, session breaks) and flexible (eg, facilitator responsiveness) features of the session which contributed to this emergence. Facilitator interviews and researcher observations corroborated and expanded participant reports.
Conclusions Engagement with health intervention content may be enhanced in group settings when intervention participants begin to establish positive and meaningful psychological connections with other group members. Understanding and actively nurturing these connections should be a core feature of a general framework for the design and delivery of group interventions.This research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health
Measuring service encounters with the traumatic brain injury population
Functional therapy tasks are frequently cited as being important for the successful carry-over of treatment objectives. Service encounters, such as shopping or enquiring for information on the telephone, are typical community integration activities used with the traumatically brain injured (TBI) population. This paper explores the use of systemic functional linguistics in the measurement of performance in service encounters using Generic Structure Potential (GSP) analysis. Results are presented for GSP analysis of service encounters on the telephone to a bus timetable information service, and the police, for five TBI individuals and five matched controls. Service encounters differed according to the complexity of information requested and the interpersonal, or tenor relationships between participants. Differences were evident between TBI and control interactions in the use of generic structural elements. Variation in generic structure was demonstrated across the two types of service encounter. The potential of GSP to measure the dynamic linguistic patterns in everyday TBT interactions is discussed
The Spectral Signature of Dust Scattering and Polarization in the Near IR to Far UV. I. Optical Depth and Geometry Effects
Spectropolarimetry from the near IR to the far UV of light scattered by dust
provides a valuable diagnostic of the dust composition, grain size distribution
and spatial distribution. To facilitate the use of this diagnostic, we present
detailed calculations of the intensity and polarization spectral signature of
light scattered by optically thin and optically thick dust in various
geometries. The polarized light radiative transfer calculations are carried out
using the adding-doubling method for a plane-parallel slab, and are extended to
an optically thick sphere by integrating over its surface. The calculations are
for the Mathis, Rumple & Nordsieck Galactic dust model, and cover the range
from 1 to 500 \AA. We find that the wavelength dependence of the
scattered light intensity provides a sensitive probe of the optical depth of
the scattering medium, while the polarization wavelength dependence provides a
probe of the grain scattering properties, which is practically independent of
optical depth. We provide a detailed set of predictions, including polarization
maps, which can be used to probe the properties of dust through imaging
spectropolarimetry in the near IR to far UV of various Galactic and
extragalactic objects. In a following paper we use the codes developed here to
provide predictions for the dependence of the intensity and polarization on
grain size distribution and composition.Comment: 29 pages + 21 figures, accepted for the Astrophysical Journal
Supplement February 2000 issue. Some revision, mostly in the introduction and
the conclusions, and a couple of correction
Unveiling extremely veiled T Tauri stars
Photospheric absorption lines in classical T Tauri stars (CTTS) are weak
compared to normal stars. This so-called veiling is normally identified with an
excess continuous emission formed in shock-heated gas at the stellar surface
below the accretion streams. We have selected four stars (RW Aur A, RU Lup, S
CrA NW and S CrA SE) with unusually strong veiling to make a detailed
investigation of veiling versus stellar brightness and emission line strengths
for comparisons to standard accretion models. We have monitored the stars
photometrically and spectroscopically at several epochs. In standard accretion
models a variable accretion rate will lead to a variable excess emission.
Consequently, the stellar brightness should vary accordingly. We find that the
veiling of absorption lines in these stars is strongly variable and usually so
large that it would require the release of several stellar luminosities of
potential energy. At states of very large line dilution, the correspondingly
large veiling factors derived correlate only weakly with brightness. Moreover,
the emission line strengths violate the expected trend of veiling versus line
strength. The veiling can change dramatically in one night, and is not
correlated with the phase of the rotation periods found for two stars. We show
that in at least three of the stars, when the veiling becomes high, the
photospheric lines become filled-in by line emission, which produces large
veiling factors unrelated to changes in any continuous emission from shocked
regions. We also consider to what extent extinction by dust and electron
scattering in the accretion stream may affect veiling measures in CTTS. We
conclude that the degree of veiling cannot be used as a measure of accretion
rates in CTTS with rich emission line spectra.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A Letters. New language-edited version.
(4 pages, 3 figures
Ethical and compliance-competence evaluation: a key element of sound corporate governance
Motivated by the ongoing post-Enron refocusing on corporate governance and the shift by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the UK to promoting compliance- competence within the financial services sector, this paper demonstrates how template analysis can be used as a tool for evaluating compliance-competence. Focusing on the ethical dimension of compliance-competence, we illustrate how this can be subjectively appraised. We propose that this evaluation technique could be utilised as a starting point in informing senior management of corporate governance issues and be used to monitor and demonstrate key compliance and ethical aspects of an institution to external stakeholders and regulators
Women, know your limits: Cultural sexism in academia
Despite the considerable advances of the feminist movement across Western societies, in Universities women are less likely to be promoted, or paid as much as their male colleagues, or even get jobs in the first place. One way in which we can start to reflect on why this might be the case is through hearing the experiences of women academics themselves. Using feminist methodology, this article attempts to unpack and explore just some examples of
âcultural sexismâ which characterise the working lives of many women in British academia.This article uses qualitative methods to describe and make sense of just some of those experiences. In so doing, the argument is also made that the activity of academia is profoundly gendered and this explicit acknowledgement may contribute to our
understanding of the under-representation of women in senior positions
Singing for people with aphasia (SPA): a protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial of a group singing intervention to improve well-being
Introduction: The singing for people with aphasia (SPA) intervention aims to improve quality of life and well-being for people with poststroke aphasia. A definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT) is required to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of SPA. The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility of such a definitive trial and inform its design.
Methods and analysis: A two-group, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled external pilot trial with parallel mixed methods process evaluation and economic evaluation. Forty-eight participants discharged from clinical speech and language therapy will be individually randomised 1:1 to SPA (10 group sessions plus a resource booklet) or control (resource booklet only). Outcome assessment at baseline, 3 and 6 months postrandomisation include: ICEpop CAPability measure for adults, Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life, EQ-5D-5L, modified Reintegration into Normal Living Index, Communication Outcome After Stroke, Very Short Version of the Minnesota Aphasia Test, Service Receipt Inventory and Care Related Quality of Life. Feasibility, acceptability and process outcomes include recruitment and retention rates, with measurement burden and trial experiences being explored in qualitative interviews (15 participants, 2 music facilitators and 2 music champions). Analyses include: descriptive statistics, with 95% CIs where appropriate; qualitative themes; intervention fidelity from videos and session checklists; rehearsal of health economic analysis.
Ethics and dissemination: NHS National Research Ethics Service and the Health Research Authority confirmed approval in April 2017; recruitment commenced in June 2017. Outputs will include: pilot data to inform whether to proceed to a definitive RCT and support a funding application; finalised intervention manual for multicentre replication of SPA; presentations at conferences, public involvement events; internationally recognised peer reviewed journal publications, open access sources and media releases
Utilization of lime for stabilizing soft clay soil of high organic content
This paper presents the results of geotechnical and mineralogical investigations on lime-treated soft clay soil from Idku City, Egypt, where high organic matters of about 14% exist. Lime was added in the order of 1, 3, 5 and 7% by weight and laboratory experiments after 7, 15, 30 and 60 days were conducted including the mineralogical and microstructural examinations, grain size analysis, plasticity limits, unconfined compressive tests, vane shear tests and oedometer tests. The results indicate that soft clay soil of high organic content of 14% can be stabilized satisfactorily with the addition of 7% lime. The results also demonstrate that the changes in the mineralogical contents and soil fabric of high organic lime-treated soft clay improve soil plasticity, strength and compressibility
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