113 research outputs found

    Higher order conductivity corrections to the Casimir force

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    The finite conductivity corrections to the Casimir force in two configurations are calculated in the third and fourth orders in relative penetration depth of electromagnetic zero oscillations into the metal. The obtained analytical perturbation results are compared with recent computations. Applications to the modern experiments are discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure

    Coupling climate and economic models in a cost-benefit framework: a convex optimization approach

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    In this paper we present a general method, based on a convex optimisation technique, that facilitates the coupling of climate and economic models in a cost-benefit framework. As a demonstration of the method, we couple an economic growth model Ă  la Ramsey adapted from DICE-99 with an efficient intermediate complexity climate model, C-GOLDSTEIN, which has highly simplified physics, but fully 3-D ocean dynamics. As in DICE-99 we assume that an economic cost is associated with global temperature change: this change is obtained from the climate model which is driven by the GHG concentrations computed from the economic growth path. The work extends a previous paper in which these models were coupled in cost-effectiveness mode. Here we consider the more intricate cost-benefit coupling in which the climate impact is not fixed a priori. We implement the coupled model using an oracle-based optimisation technique. Each model is contained in an oracle which supplies model output and information on its sensitivity to a master program. The algorithm Proximal-ACCPM guarantees the convergence of the procedure under sufficient convexity assumptions. Our results demonstrate the possibility of a consistent, cost-benefit, climate-damage optimisation analysis with a 3-D climate model

    Sexual harassment and abuse in sport: The research context

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    This special issue of the Journal of Sexual Aggression draws on the contributions to a Symposium on ‘Sexual Harassment in Sport – Challenges for Sport Psychology in the New Millennium’, held at the Xth Congress of the International Society for Sport Psychology, Skiathos, Greece from May 28th to June 2nd 2001. The symposium, which was organised by the authors of this editorial, was intended to move forward the international research agenda on sexual harassment and abuse in sport and to examine professional practice issues for sport psychologists. It was clear from the attendance of over 60 delegates at that symposium that international interest in this subject is growing. Further evidence of this came from the attendance of 26 members states – from Azerbaijan to Sweden - at a Council of Europe seminar on The Protection of Children, Young People and Women in Sport, held in Helsinki in September 2001

    Using the past to constrain the future: how the palaeorecord can improve estimates of global warming

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    Climate sensitivity is defined as the change in global mean equilibrium temperature after a doubling of atmospheric CO2 concentration and provides a simple measure of global warming. An early estimate of climate sensitivity, 1.5-4.5{\deg}C, has changed little subsequently, including the latest assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The persistence of such large uncertainties in this simple measure casts doubt on our understanding of the mechanisms of climate change and our ability to predict the response of the climate system to future perturbations. This has motivated continued attempts to constrain the range with climate data, alone or in conjunction with models. The majority of studies use data from the instrumental period (post-1850) but recent work has made use of information about the large climate changes experienced in the geological past. In this review, we first outline approaches that estimate climate sensitivity using instrumental climate observations and then summarise attempts to use the record of climate change on geological timescales. We examine the limitations of these studies and suggest ways in which the power of the palaeoclimate record could be better used to reduce uncertainties in our predictions of climate sensitivity.Comment: The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in Progress in Physical Geography, 31(5), 2007 by SAGE Publications Ltd, All rights reserved. \c{opyright} 2007 Edwards, Crucifix and Harriso

    Effect of a health-improvement pilot programme for older adults delivered by a professional football club: the Burton Albion case study

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    Older adults are a priority within policy designed to facilitate healthy lifestyles through physical activities. Golden Goal is a pilot programme of physical activity-led health improvement for older adults, 55 years and older. Activities were delivered at Burton Albion Football Club. Sessions involved weekly moderate to vigorous intensity exercise sessions including exer-gaming (exercise-orientated video-games), indoor bowls, cricket, new age curling, walking football, and traditional board games and skittles. Secondary analysis of data collected through the original programme evaluation of Golden Goal investigated the impact of the intervention on participants. Older adults completed self-reports for demographics, health screening/complications and quality of life. Attendees, n = 23 males (42.6%) and n = 31 females (57.4%) with a mean age of 69.38 (±5.87) (n = 40), ranging from 55-85 years took part. The mean attendance was 7.73 (±3.12) sessions for all participants, (n = 51). Older adults with two or more health complications (n = 22, 42.3%) attended fewer sessions on average (6.91 ± 3.322) compared to those reporting less than two health complications (8.65 ± 2.694). Self-rated health was higher for women (87.32 ± 9.573) vs. men (80.16 ± 18.557), although this was not statistically significant (U = 223.500, p = 0.350). Results support the potential of football-led health interventions for recruiting older adults, including those reporting health problems. © 2014 © 2014 Taylor & Francis

    Soccer and homosexuality: the conflicts that lie within the affective game of the coach-adolescent athlete relationship

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    Discussions regarding homosexuality within a sports context are mediated by emotional nuances, especially in the world of soccer, where practitioners are required to have attributes such as strength, masculinity and aggressiveness. As a consequence, this work aimed to analyze the symbolic representation of homosexual relationships between adolescent soccer players and their coaches; and, furthermore, to understand the intention behind homoerotic relationships that are established between members of the management team and its players. In this study, researchers used the life history methodology, with participation from three adolescent athletes, ages 14, 15 and 16, and three former athletes, ages 26, 28 and 45, who we called speakers. Based on the collection and analysis of research participants’ testimonies, homosexual relations were found to have occurred between athletes and coaches, or between athletes and other members of the management team, as a part of a “social contract” that is exclusively linked to their professional objectives. These relationships appear to be purely objective; authentic affective links are absent, due apparently to the transient nature of the athletes in these groups. Too, this context is usually marked by the athlete’s physical and emotional vulnerability, and the agreements he makes within this context are accompanied with moral dilemmas, because such adolescents idealize the coach as a paternal archetype.“Futebol e homossexualidade: Os conflitos que se encontram dentro do jogo afetivo da relação treinador-atleta adolescente.” As discussĂ”es a respeito da homossexualidade no contexto esportivo sĂŁo mediadas por nuanças emocionais, especialmente no mundo do futebol que exige de seus praticantes atributos de força, virilidade e agressividade. Por este motivo este trabalho teve como objetivos diagnosticar existĂȘncia de relaçÔes homossexuais entre atletas adolescentes da modalidade de futebol e seus tĂ©cnicos e sua representação simbĂłlica e ainda, compreender a intencionalidade das relaçÔes homoafetivas que se estabelecem entre componentes da equipe diretiva e os jogadores. Esta pesquisa Ă© de natureza qualitativa e a tĂ©cnica adotada foi a “histĂłria de vida” e a participação de trĂȘs atletas adolescentes em atividade, com idade de 14, 15 e 16 anos e trĂȘs ex-atletas profissionais, com idades 26, 28 e 45 anos serviram de base metodolĂłgica. A partir da anĂĄlise e tratamento dos depoimentos verificou-se que ocorreram relaçÔes homossexuais nas categorias de base envolvendo tĂ©cnico e atleta, ou com outros membros da equipe diretiva, como parte dos contratos sociais, ligados exclusivamente a objetivos profissionais. Estas relaçÔes parecem ser puramente objetais, nĂŁo parecendo existir vĂ­nculos afetivos duradouros, aparentemente, devido Ă  natureza transitĂłria de atletas nesses grupos. TambĂ©m, nesses ambientes, muitas vezes marcados pela vulnerabilidade fĂ­sica e emocional dos atletas, os acertos para as relaçÔes homossexuais sĂŁo permeadas por dilemas morais, tendo em vista que os atletas adolescentes idealizam o treinador como o arquĂ©tipo paterno ideal.“El fĂștbol y la homosexualidad: Los conflictos que se encuentran dentro del juego afectivo de la relaciĂłn atleta-entrenador de los adolescentes.” Las discusiones sobre la homosexualidad en contexto deportivo estĂĄn mediadas por matices emocionales, sobre todo en el mundo del fĂștbol que exige a sus jugadores atributos como la fuerza, la virilidad y los jugadores. En este estudio, los investigadores utilizaron la metodologĂ­a de la historia de vida, con la participaciĂłn de tres atletas adolescentes, con 14, 15 y 16 años, y tres ex atletas con 26, 28 y 45 años, que llamamos ‘oradores’. Basado en la recogida y anĂĄlisis de testimonios de participantes en la investigaciĂłn, se encontrĂł que las relaciones homosexuales que se han producido entre los atletas y entrenadores, o entre atletas y otros miembros del equipo de gestiĂłn, son como parte de un “contrato social” que estĂĄ vinculado exclusivamente a sus objetivos profesionales. Estas relaciones parecen ser solamente como un objeto; porque a veces no hay vĂ­nculos afectivos autĂ©nticos, debido aparentemente a la naturaleza transitoria de los atletas en estos grupos. Demasiado, este contexto es generalmente marcado por la vulnerabilidad fĂ­sica y emocional del deportista, y los acuerdos que hace dentro de este contexto se acompañan con dilemas morales, debido a que tales adolescentes idealizan el entrenador como un arquetipo paterno. la agresividad. Por lo tanto, este estudio tuvo como objetivo diagnosticar la existencia de relaciones homosexuales entre adolescentes atletas de fĂștbol y sus entrenadores y la representaciĂłn simbĂłlica de estas relaciones. TambiĂ©n comprender la intencionalidad de las relaciones homoafetivas que se intercambian entre algunos componentes del equipo directivo y(undefined

    Contributions from the Philosophy of Science to the Education of Science Teachers

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