Empathy

After defining empathy, discussing its measurement, and offering an example of empathy in practice, we present the results of an updated meta-analysis of the relation between empathy and psychotherapy outcome. Results indicated that empathy is a moderately strong predictor of therapy outcome: mean weighted r = .31 ( p < .001; 95% confidence interval: .28 –.34), for 59 independent samples and 3599 clients. Although the empathy-outcome relation held equally for different theoretical orientations, there was considerable nonrandom variability. Client and observer perceptions of therapist empathy predicted outcomes better than therapist perceptions of empathic accuracy measures, and the relation was strongest for less experienced therapists. We conclude with practice recommendations, including endorsing the different forms that empathy may take in therapy

Quantum signal transmission through a single-qubit chain

A system of a two-level atom of an impurity (qubit) inserted into a periodic chain coupled to the continuum is studied with the use of the effective non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. Exact solutions are derived for the quasistationary eigenstates, their complex energies, and transport properties. Due to the presence of the qubit, two long-lived states corresponding to the ground and excited states of the qubit emerge outside the Bloch energy band. These states remain essentially localized at the qubit even in the limit of sufficiently strong coupling between the chain and the environment when the super-radiant states are formed. The transmission through the chain is studied as a function of the continuum coupling strength and the chain-qubit coupling; the perfect resonance transmission takes place through isolated resonances at weak and strong continuum coupling, while the transmission is lowered in the intermediate regime.Comment: In this version we added the case of large N and the case when the excitation energy of bare qubit is below the band boundary of the bare chain. The captions to some figures are modified. Some new references are adde

A cost-benefit analysis of pathways to work for new and repeat incapacity benefits claimants

This latest research forms part of a comprehensive independent evaluation of Pathways to Work. The report is based on a cost-benefit analysis conducted by a consortium of researchers from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the Policy Studies Institute. It examines whether the financial benefits from Pathways are larger or smaller than its costs and the generalisability of some of the quantitative findings. The estimates of costs and benefits relate to new and repeat incapacity benefits claimants in the seven original Jobcentre Plus districts. The overall findings provide a favourable impression of the financial benefits of the Pathways to Work for new and repeat incapacity benefits claimants, for the Exchequer and hence, for society as a whole

Topological Aspects of Spin and Statistics in Nonlinear Sigma Models

We study the purely topological restrictions on allowed spin and statistics of topological solitons in nonlinear sigma models. Taking as space the connected $d$-manifold $X$, and considering nonlinear sigma models with the connected manifold $M$ as target space, topological solitons are given by elements of $pi_d(M)$. Any topological soliton $\alpha \in \pi_d(M)$ determines a quotient \Stat_n(X,\alpha) of the group of framed braids on $X$, such that choices of allowed statistics for solitons of type $\alpha$ are given by unitary representations of \Stat_n(X,\alpha) when $n$ solitons are present. In particular, when $M = S^2$, as in the $O(3)$ nonlinear sigma model with Hopf term, and $\alpha \in \pi_2(S^2)$ is a generator, we compute that \Stat_n(\R^2,\alpha) = \Z, while \Stat_n(S^2,\alpha) = \Z_{2n}. It follows that phase $\exp(i\theta)$ for interchanging two solitons of type $\alpha$ on $S^2$ must satisfy the constraint $\theta = k\pi/n$, $k \in \Z$, when $n$ such solitons are present.Comment: 14 page

Research on humanistic-experiential psychotherapies

In this chapter we focus on research published since our previous reviews (Greenberg, Elliott & Lietaer, 1994; Elliott, Greenberg & Lietaer, 2004), which covered research published between 1978 and 2001, plus additional earlier research on humanistic-experiential psychotherapy (HEP) outcome that we have been able to track down. A key element of the chapter is a meta-analysis of nearly 200 HEP outcome studies (through 2008) and a survey of the use of the approach with different client groups. In addition, we offer a meta-synthesis of qualitative research on these therapies (cf. Timulak, 2007), and provide a narrative review of recent quantitative research on change processes in HEPs. We conclude by reviewing and integrating the literature reviewed and discuss policy implications

Planetary geology: Impact processes on asteroids

The fundamental geological and geophysical properties of asteroids were studied by theoretical and simulation studies of their collisional evolution. Numerical simulations incorporating realistic physical models were developed to study the collisional evolution of hypothetical asteroid populations over the age of the solar system. Ideas and models are constrained by the observed distributions of sizes, shapes, and spin rates in the asteroid belt, by properties of Hirayama families, and by experimental studies of cratering and collisional phenomena. It is suggested that many asteroids are gravitationally-bound "rubble piles.' Those that rotate rapidly may have nonspherical quasi-equilibrium shapes, such as ellipsoids or binaries. Through comparison of models with astronomical data, physical properties of these asteroids (including bulk density) are determined, and physical processes that have operated in the solar system in primordial and subsequent epochs are studied

Phobos and deimos: Analysis of surface features, ejecta dynamics and a volatile loss mechanism

The question of whether the crater population on Phobos represents a production population or an equilibrium population is considered. The absolute ages of cratered surfaces are interpreted and analyzed. A computer program was developed to study the dynamics of material ejected from Martian satellites and to investigate the hypothesis that at least some of the extensive set of linear features discovered on the surface of Phobos could be the result of secondary cratering from the Stickney impact. The possibility that Deimos was catastrophically disrupted by a large impact but subsequently reaccreted is considered as well as the probability the Phobos had an impact nearly large enough to disrupt it are also discussed

Why is CPT fundamental?

G. L\"uders and W. Pauli proved the $\mathcal{CPT}$ theorem based on Lagrangian quantum field theory almost half a century ago. R. Jost gave a more general proof based on ``axiomatic'' field theory nearly as long ago. The axiomatic point of view has two advantages over the Lagrangian one. First, the axiomatic point of view makes clear why $\mathcal{CPT}$ is fundamental--because it is intimately related to Lorentz invariance. Secondly, the axiomatic proof gives a simple way to calculate the $\mathcal{CPT}$ transform of any relativistic field without calculating $\mathcal{C}$, $\mathcal{P}$ and $\mathcal{T}$ separately and then multiplying them. The purpose of this pedagogical paper is to ``deaxiomatize'' the $\mathcal{CPT}$ theorem by explaining it in a few simple steps. We use theorems of distribution theory and of several complex variables without proof to make the exposition elementary.Comment: 17 pages, no figure

Commercialization of the land remote sensing system: An examination of mechanisms and issues

In September 1982 the Secretary of Commerce was authorized (by Title II of H.R. 5890 of the 97th Congress) to plan and provide for the management and operation of the civil land remote sensing satellite systems, to provide for user fees, and to plan for the transfer of the ownership and operation of future civil operational land remote sensing satellite systems to the private sector. As part of the planning for transfer, a number of approaches were to be compared including wholly private ownership and operation of the system by an entity competitively selected, mixed government/private ownership and operation, and a legislatively-chartered privately-owned corporation. The results of an analysis and comparison of a limited number of financial and organizational approaches for either transfer of the ownership and operation of the civil operational land remote sensing program to the private sector or government retention are presented

Quantum theory of the low-frequency linear susceptibility of interferometer-type superconducting qubits

We use the density matrix formalism to analyze the interaction of interferometer-type superconducting qubits with a high quality tank circuit, which frequency is well below the gap frequency of a qubit. We start with the ground state characterization of the superconducting flux and charge qubits. Then, by making use of a dressed state approach we describe the qubits' spectroscopy when the qubit is irradiated by a microwave field which is tuned to the gap frequency. The last section of the paper is devoted to continuous monitoring of qubit states by using a DC SQUID in the inductive mode.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures; the title and abstract are slightly changed; several typos are corrected; in order to make our argumentation more clear we added some comments in the introduction and other section