Quantitative Decoding of Interactions in Tunable Nanomagnet Arrays Using First Order Reversal Curves

To develop a full understanding of interactions in nanomagnet arrays is a persistent challenge, critically impacting their technological acceptance. This paper reports the experimental, numerical and analytical investigation of interactions in arrays of Co nanoellipses using the first-order reversal curve (FORC) technique. A mean-field analysis has revealed the physical mechanisms giving rise to all of the observed features: a shift of the non-interacting FORC-ridge at the low-H$_c$ end off the local coercivity H$_c$ axis; a stretch of the FORC-ridge at the high-H$_c$ end without shifting it off the H$_c$ axis; and a formation of a tilted edge connected to the ridge at the low-H$_c$ end. Changing from flat to Gaussian coercivity distribution produces a negative feature, bends the ridge, and broadens the edge. Finally, nearest neighbor interactions segment the FORC-ridge. These results demonstrate that the FORC approach provides a comprehensive framework to qualitatively and quantitatively decode interactions in nanomagnet arrays.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures. 9 page supplemental material including 3 figure

One for All, All for One: A First Step Towards Universal Access with a Social Robot

The number of worldwide inhabitants suffering from visual or hearing impairments reaches billions according to the World Health Organization, making the need for universal access and inclusion in Intelligent Environments (IE) essential. An adaptive Rock-Paper-Scissors application using a simulation of the social robot Haru is presented. The accessibility of the application which covers three modes - where the user able to see and hear, only to see, or only to hear – was verified through a user-study. A multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures determined that the ratings from the 12 participants differed significantly across the three modes with F(6,6) = 6.823, η2p = .872, p = .017. Results show that users tend to expect applications to be harder to use when suffering from a disability, especially a visual impairment. All modes in the application were deemed acceptable in terms of usability, proving that the multimodality that comes with IE can help in promoting universal access and reducing social exclusion

Additively manufactured polyethylene terephthalate scaffolds for Scapholunate Interosseous Ligament Reconstruction

The regeneration of the ruptured scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL) represents a clinical challenge. Here, we propose the use of a Bone-Ligament-Bone (BLB) 3D-printed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) scaffold for achieving mechanical stabilisation of the scaphoid and lunate following SLIL rupture. The BLB scaffold featured two bone compartments bridged by aligned fibres (ligament compartment) mimicking the architecture of the native tissue. The scaffold presented tensile stiffness in the range of 260+/-38 N/mm and ultimate load of 113+/-13 N, which would support physiological loading. A finite element analysis, using inverse finite element analysis for material property identification, showed an adequate fit between simulation and experimental data. The scaffold was then biofunctionalized using two different methods: injected with a Gelatin Methacryloyl solution containing human mesenchymal stem cell spheroids or seeded with tendon-derived stem cells and placed in a bioreactor to undergo cyclic deformation. The first approach demonstrated high cell viability, as cells migrated out of the spheroid and colonised the interstitial space of the scaffold. These cells adopted an elongated morphology suggesting the internal architecture of the scaffold exerted topographical guidance. The second method demonstrated the high resilience of the scaffold to cyclic deformation and the secretion of a fibroblastic related protein was enhanced by the mechanical stimulation. This process promoted the expression of relevant proteins, such as Tenomodulin, indicating mechanical stimulation may enhance cell differentiation and be useful prior to surgical implantation. In conclusion, the PET scaffold presented several promising characteristics for the immediate mechanical stabilisation of disassociated scaphoid and lunate and, in the longer-term, the regeneration of the ruptured SLIL

Task force on immigration and higher education in Central Massachusetts

In August 2007, the Colleges of Worcester Consortium, Inc. created a task force to examine the issue of immigration and higher education in Central Massachusetts. It has become increasingly clear from recent demographic and economic studies and projections that the population in the northeast, and certainly in Central Massachusetts, is showing minimal growth. There is evidence that a decline in the “native-born” population is caused by significant out-migration due to a number of factors, including the high cost of living, limited career opportunities and a declining birth rate. The limited population growth that is evident is due primarily to the recent influx of immigrants to this area, with the most significant numbers in Worcester coming from Ghana, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Kenya, El Salvador, Albania and Liberia. It is also clear that the area’s economy is becoming more knowledge-based with an increasing percentage of all new jobs requiring some form of postsecondary education. According to the 2007 Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development’s Job Vacancy Survey, 38 percent of current job vacancies in Massachusetts require an associate’s degree or higher. This represents an increase from 30 percent in 2003. Consequently, the level of education that the immigrant population attains is of vital importance to everyone—not only to immigrant students and their families but also to the economic well-being of the entire region. The Task Force was charged with researching the barriers to higher education faced by this new wave of immigrants and suggesting recommendations to address those barriers. The 36-member Task Force was made up of representatives from Consortium member institutions; federal, state and local governments; community and faithbased organizations; the Worcester Public Schools; the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education; and the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition. Meetings were held over six months, during which the Task Force identified three main barriers faced by immigrant communities in accessing higher education, and sub-committees were created to work on each of these. Speakers were invited to present on topics of interest. Two public hearings were held, the first of which was conducted at Worcester State College in October. It attracted community representatives, as well as college and high school faculty and administrators. The second hearing, held at the downtown branch of Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) in December, was attended by immigrants (English for Speakers of Other Languages – ESOL and GED) students as well as QCC staff.Published versio

Resonant Dielectronic and Direct Excitation in Crystal Channels

We have observed dielectronic and direct excitation of H-like S15+ and Ca19+ and He-like Ti20+ ions in silicon channels caused by collision with weakly bound target electrons which behave as a free-electron gas. As in vacuo, relaxation of the doubly excited states can occur radiatively leading to ions of decreased charge, but in a crystal channel collisional effects can cause double ionization. The effects are seen in both the x-ray yields and charge-state fractions, and, in the case of Ti20+, in charge-state x-ray coincidences

La Imagen y la Narrativa como Herramientas para el Abordaje Psicosocial en Escenarios de Violencia. Ciudad de Bogotá, Neiva y Santa Martha.

Este estudio de caso está diseñado con el objetivo de comprender, analizar, evaluar y crear estrategias de abordaje psicosocial en realidades del conflicto armado y violencia en Colombia, los cuales afectan a las personas convirtiéndolas en víctimas y sobrevivientes de todo acto violento. El análisis de la situación que se vive en Colombia nos ha permitido elaborar estrategias para enfrentarnos a la realidad que se vive el país, situación que nos lleva como futuros profesionales en psicología a articular nuestros conocimientos académicos en pro de un acompañamiento psicosocial sustentado en las teorías, metodologías, diagnósticos y estrategias para abordar situaciones de eventos de crisis y traumáticos a las que se ven expuestas las comunidades o personas en situaciones de vulnerabilidad. A partir de los diferentes relatos de las víctimas de la violencia y el conflicto armado expuestos y abordados en el diplomado de profundización acompañamiento psicosocial en escenarios de violencia se eligió el relato de Modesto Pacanyá, como eje central de este trabajo, el cual estuvo marcado por hechos que impactaron la vida y que generaron cambios significativos, obligándolo a ser expuesto a eventos peligrosos para salvaguardar su vida y la de su familia, tuvo que tomar la decisión de desmovilizarse y entregarse a las autoridades con el propósito de retomar su vida junto a su familia y desplazarse a otra ciudad para protegerse de las represarías del grupo criminal, no obstante, se evidencio los impactos psicosociales que tuvo que vivir y la manera resiliente como los enfrento. A partir del análisis del relato de Modesto Pacayá, se procedió a construir de manera argumentativa tres preguntas estratégicas, tres circulares y tres reflexivas con el propósito de realizar un acercamiento psicosocial para indagar a fondo las condiciones de victimización del caso escogido. Por último, se analiza del estudio del caso de Pandurí, reconociendo aquellos emergentes psicosociales latentes después de la incursión y hostigamiento militar hacia la comunidad, evidenciando que el miedo, la crisis de identidad, la inestabilidad emocional y económica, el desarraigo, baja autonomía y las respuestas sintomáticas de no ser intervenidas a tiempo pueden generar limitaciones funcionales, hasta convertirse en una depresión o en un Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático.This case study is designed with the objective to understand, analyze, evaluate and create strategies for a psychosocial approach to the realities of the affects left behind during the armed conflict and violence in Colombia, which affect people, making them victims and survivors of all violent acts. The analysis of the situation in Colombia has allowed us to elaborate strategies to confront the reality of what we see in the country, a situation that leads us as future professionals in psychology to articulate our academic knowledge in favor of a psychosocial accompaniment based on theories, methodologies, diagnostics and strategies to address situations of crisis and traumatic events to which communities of people in situations of vulnerability are exposed to. Based on the different stories told by the victims of violence and armed conflict exposed and addressed in the Continuing Education Certification (CEC) in Psychosocial Accompaniment in Scenarios of Violence, the case study of Modesto Pacayá was chosen as the central axis of this dissertation, marked by events that impacted life and generated significant changes in his life, imposing him to be exposed to dangerous events in order to safeguard his life and that of his family, forcing him to make the decision to demobilize and turn himself in to the authorities in order to resume his life with his family and move to another city to protect himself from the retaliation by the paramilitary group. Based on the analysis of Modesto Pacayá's case study, three strategic questions, three circular and three reflective questions were created with the purpose of facilitating a psychosocial approach to help investigate the extensible conditions of victimization presented in the narrative. The case study of the town Pandurí is analyzed, recognizing those emerging psychosocial latent after the military incursion and harassment towards the community, showing that fear, identity crisis, emotional and economic instability, uprooting, low autonomy and symptomatic responses if not intervened in time can generate functional limitations, becoming depression or showing pathologies related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Comparative analysis of distinct phenotypes in gambling disorder based on gambling preferences

Background: Studies examining gambling preferences have identified the importance of the type of gambling practiced on distinct individual profiles. The objectives were to compare clinical, psychopathological and personality variables between two different groups of individuals with a gambling disorder (strategic and non-strategic gamblers) and to evaluate the statistical prediction capacity of these preferences with respect to the severity of the disorder. Method: A total sample of 2010 treatment-seeking patients with a gambling disorder participated in this stand-alone study. All were recruited from a single Pathological Gambling Unit in Spain (1709 strategic and 301 non-strategic gamblers). The design of the study was cross-sectional and data were collected at the start of treatment. Data was analysed using logistic regression for binary outcomes and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for quantitative responses. Results: There were significant differences in several socio-demographic and clinical variables, as well as in personality traits (novelty seeking and cooperativeness). Multiple regression analysis showed harm avoidance and self-directedness were the main predictors of gambling severity and psychopathology, while age at assessment and age of onset of gambling behaviour were predictive of gambling severity. Strategic gambling (as opposed to non-strategic) was significantly associated with clinical outcomes, but the effect size of the relationships was small. Conclusions: It is possible to identify distinct phenotypes depending on the preference of gambling. While these phenotypes differ in relation to the severity of the gambling disorder, psychopathology and personality traits, they can be useful from a clinical and therapeutic perspective in enabling risk factors to be identified and prevention programs targeting specific individual profiles to be developed