D-branes in Massive IIA and Solitons in Chern-Simons Theory

We investigate D2-branes and D4-branes parallel to D8-branes. The low energy world volume theory on the branes is non-supersymmetric Chern-Simons theory. We identify the fundamental strings as the anyons of the 2+1 Chern-Simons theory and the D0-branes as solitons. The Chern-Simons theory with a boundary is modeled using NS 5-branes with ending D6-branes. The brane set-up provides for a graphical description of anomaly inflow. We also model the 4+1 Chern-Simons theory using branes and conjecture that D4-branes with a boundary describes a supersymmetric version of Kaplan's theory of chiral fermions.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figures, harvmac, epsf, references added, sec 4.2 adde

Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of the Globular Cluster System around NGC 5846

Bimodal globular cluster metallicity distributions have now been seen in a handful of large ellipticals. Here we report the discovery of a bimodal distribution in the dominant group elliptical NGC 5846, using the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2). The two peaks are located at V-I = 0.96 and 1.17, which roughly correspond to metallicities of [Fe/H] = -1.2 and -0.2 respectively. The luminosity functions of the blue and red subpopulations appear to be the same, indicating that luminosity does not correlate with metallicity within an individual galaxy's globular cluster system. Our WFPC2 data cover three pointings allowing us to examine the spatial distribution of globular clusters out to 30 kpc (or 2.5 galaxy effective radii). We find a power law surface density with a very flat slope, and a tendency for globular clusters to align close to the galaxy minor axis. An extrapolation of the surface density profile, out to 50 kpc, gives a specific frequency S_N = 4.3 +/- 1.1. Thus NGC 5846 has a much lower specific frequency than other dominant ellipticals in clusters but is similar to those in groups. The central galaxy regions reveal some filamentary dust features, presumably from a past merger or accretion of a gas-rich galaxy. This dust reaches to the very nucleus and so provides an obvious source of fuel for the radio core. We have searched for proto-globular clusters that may have resulted from the merger/accretion and find none. Finally, we briefly discuss the implications of our results for globular cluster formation mechanisms.Comment: 22 pages, Latex. To be published in the Astronomical Journal. Full paper available at http://www.ucolick.org/~forbes/home.htm

Spectroscopy of a Globular Cluster in the Local Group dIrr NGC 6822

We present low-resolution Keck spectroscopy for the globular cluster H VIII in the Local Group dIrr galaxy NGC 6822. We find the metallicity of the cluster to be [Fe/H]= -1.58 +/- 0.28 and the age of the cluster to be 3-4 Gyr, slightly older than but consistent with previous age estimates. H VIII seems to be more metal-poor than most intermediate-age globular clusters in the Local Group, and appears most similar to the anomalous Small Magellanic Cloud clusters Lindsay 113 and NGC 339.Comment: 5 pages, including 3 figures. Accepted by MNRAS, uses mn2e.cl

A phenomenological study of the experience of lay counsellors working with victims of abuse

Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) at the Faculty of Arts of the University of the WitwatersrandThis research explored the experience of lay counselors that live in a township and work with victims of abuse from the same township. It sought to gain an understanding of how this context impacts on their work with victims of trauma. It used a phenomenological methodology to structure the interviews and the analysis of the experiences described in the interviews. The research found, in the descriptions the counselors gave of their experiences, that they had extreme difficulty working with victims of trauma. Their difficulty appeared to be particularly related to dealing with the graphic content of the descriptions the victims gave of their experiences and the related intense emotions. A major factor related to the particular context that seemed to impact negatively on their ability to work with victims of suma was their own feelings of vulnerability to criminal violence. Another factor that was seen as impacting negatively on their ability to function was the lack of access to supervision and ongoing professional support, as few professionals choose to work within this context. It appeared, however, that they generally were coping with the other aspects of their role as counselors, and saw the work as having benefited them personally, by empowering them. Furthermore they saw the work as having a certain existential significance for them, as they saw themselves working for a better future in South Africa. These two factors appeared to counter some of their negative perceptions around the difficulty of the work. The research was able to identify certain problem areas specific to the context and make certain recommendations for further research into lay counselors working within this context

Correlation of qEEG with PET in schizophrenia

PET relative metabolism was correlated with quantitative EEG in 9 schizophrenic patients. The PET metabolic regions of interest were the frontal lobes, thalamus and basal ganglia, and right and left temporal lobes. Significant positive correlations were seen for the frontal lobes and delta EEG power, and alpha power with subcortical metabolism. The physiologic plausibility of those correlations is discussed with reference to the possible effect of neuroleptic medication