Critical point multiplicities and multiplicity fluctuations in heavy ion collisions

An exactly solvable model of nuclear fragmentation is shown to lead to a simple connection between the critical point multiplicity $\langle m \rangle_{c}$ and the critical point exponent $\tau$ recently reported on in the EOS collaboration. The importance of multiplicity fluctuations on critical point behavior is also discussed.Comment: 6 pages (revtex), 1 fig. avail. on request, submitted to Phys. Lett.

Fault Lines and Tiktok: Shifting Perspectives, One Video at a Time

Easy accessibility to social media content equates to increased access to emotional-charged materials. Research investigating the consequences of such emotional exposures on day-to-day lives is growing, with previous works showing high correlations between social media use and emotional modulations of the user. (Christensen, 2018; Mugg, 2005). Tiktok is a popular media platform and is a common tactic to present users with highly emotional content to maintain engagement. (Kin, 2017). A question arises as to the emotional induction rates and effects of such streaming content, as previous work demonstrates that emotion induction is highly associated with physiological arousal (Siedlecka, 2018) and affects cognitive performance (Forgas, 1998). The current study aims to address the current void in literature on Tiktok, investigating consequences of positive or negative viewing experiences on the platform, and how it may influence social perceptions. 34 participants were randomly assigned to the positive or negative induction cohort, and watched a series of videos on the platform. After the induction session, participants read 15 vague scenario passages and were asked to apply fault of no-fault judgement to the protagonists. A higher score indicated a higher rate of fault attribution. Physiological arousal measures of heart rate and skin conductance were collected throughout the video viewing and fault attribution sessions. It is hypothesized that positive Tiktok clip viewing will show fewer fault attribution (lower score), compared to negative viewing, with decreased heart rate and skin conductance levels at judgement moments. Data is currently being analyze. Understanding how external stimuli, like emotionally-charged Tiktok clips, can influence interactions such as fault attribution, is important to understand our continuously changing media landscape and potential consequences in social settings

Classification of the Nuclear Multifragmentation Phase Transition

Using a recently proposed classification scheme for phase transitions in finite systems [Phys.Rev.Lett.{\bf 84},3511 (2000)] we show that within the statistical standard model of nuclear multifragmentation the predicted phase transition is of first order.Comment: 5 pages, 4 eps figures, accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.C (in press

Randomly Broken Nuclei and Disordered Systems

Similarities between models of fragmenting nuclei and disordered systems in condensed matter suggest corresponding methods. Several theoretical models of fragmentation investigated in this fashion show marked differences, indicating possible new methods for distinguishing models using yield data. Applying nuclear methods to disordered systems also yields interesting results.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Framing access to medicines in developing countries: an analysis of media coverage of Canada's Access to Medicines Regime

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In September 2003, the Canadian government committed to developing legislation that would facilitate greater access to affordable medicines for developing countries. Over the course of eight months, the legislation, now known as Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR), went through a controversial policy development process and the newspaper media was one of the major venues in which the policy debates took place. The purpose of this study was to examine how the media framed CAMR to determine how policy goals were conceptualized, which stakeholder interests controlled the public debate and how these variables related to the public policy process.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a qualitative content analysis of newspaper coverage of the CAMR policy and implementation process from 2003-2008. The primary theoretical framework for this study was framing theory. A total of 90 articles from 11 Canadian newspapers were selected for inclusion in our analysis. A team of four researchers coded the articles for themes relating to access to medicines and which stakeholders' voice figured more prominently on each issue. Stakeholders examined included: the research-based industry, the generic industry, civil society, the Canadian government, and developing country representatives.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The most frequently mentioned themes across all documents were the issues of drug affordability, intellectual property, trade agreements and obligations, and development. Issues such as human rights, pharmaceutical innovation, and economic competitiveness got little media representation. Civil society dominated the media contents, followed far behind by the Canadian government, the research-based and generic pharmaceutical industries. Developing country representatives were hardly represented in the media.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Media framing obscured the discussion of some of the underlying policy goals in this case and failed to highlight issues which are now significant barriers to the use of the legislation. Using the media to engage the public in more in-depth exploration of the policy issues at stake may contribute to a more informed policy development process. The media can be an effective channel for those stakeholders with a weaker voice in policy deliberations to raise public attention to particular issues; however, the political and institutional context must be taken into account as it may outweigh media framing effects.</p

Model of multifragmentation, Equation of State and phase transition

We consider a soluble model of multifragmentation which is similar in spirit to many models which have been used to fit intermediate energy heavy ion collision data. We draw a p-V diagram for the model and compare with a p-V diagram obtained from a mean-field theory. We investigate the question of chemical instability in the multifragmentation model. Phase transitions in the model are discussed.Comment: Revtex, 9 pages including 6 figures: some change in the text and Fig.

The transformative potential of reflective diaries for elite English cricketers

The sport of cricket has a history of its players suffering from mental health issues. The psychological study of cricket and, in particular, the attendant demands of participating at an elite level has not previously received rigorous academic attention. This study explored ten elite male cricketers’ experiences of keeping a daily reflective diary for one month during the competitive season. The aim was to assess how valuable qualitative diaries are in this field. Participants were interviewed regarding their appraisal of the methodology as a self‐help tool that could assist coping with performance pressures and wider life challenges. Three outcomes were revealed: first, that diary keeping was an effective opportunity to reflect upon the past and enhance one’s self (both as an individual and a performer); second, that diary keeping acted as a form of release that allowed participants to progress; and third, that diary keeping allowed participants to discover personal patterns of success that increased the likeliness of optimum performance

An investigation of standard thermodynamic quantities as determined via models of nuclear multifragmentation

Both simple and sophisticated models are frequently used in an attempt to understand how real nuclei breakup when subjected to large excitation energies, a process known as nuclear multifragmentation. Many of these models assume equilibriumthermodynamics and produce results often interpreted as evidence of a phase transition. This work examines one class of models and employs standard thermodynamical procedure to explore the possible existence and nature of a phase transition. The role of various terms, e.g. Coulomb and surface energy, is discussed.Comment: 19 two-column format pages with 24 figure