The bias of DLAs at z ~ 2.3: contraining stellar feedback in shallow potential wells

We discuss the recent Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey measurement of a rather high bias factor for the host galaxies/haloes of Damped Lyman-alpha Absorbers (DLAs), in the context of our previous modelling of the physical properties of DLAs within the $\Lambda$ cold dark matter paradigm. Joint modelling of the column density distribution, the velocity width distribution of associated low ionization metal absorption, and the bias parameter suggests that DLAs are hosted by galaxies with dark matter halo masses in the range $10 < \log M_v < 12$, with a rather sharp cutoff at the lower mass end, corresponding to virial velocities of 35 km/sec. The observed properties of DLAs appear to suggest efficient (stellar) feedback in haloes with masses/virial velocities below the cutoff and a large retained baryon fraction (> 35 %) in haloes above the cutoff.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures. Published in MNRAS, May 21, 2014. 440 (3): 2313-2321. v3: Corrections in light of errata: MNRAS, 454(1), p. 218. Note, in particular, the changes to Figure 5 and the virial velocity cut-of

Higgsing and Superpotential Deformations of ADE Superconformal Theories

We study large classes of renormalization group flows, driven by scalar expectation values or mesonic superpotential terms, away from the conformal fixed points of the 4d supersymmetric gauge theories with $ADE$-type superpotentials. The $a$-maximization procedure allows us to compute the $R$ charges and to check the $a$-theorem conjecture. For a theory obtained by Higgsing the $D_{k+2}$ theory, we use the magnetic dual description proposed by Brodie to determine the parameter region where the resulting theory is at a non-trivial conformal fixed point.Comment: 40 pages, 16 figures, v2: minor corrections, to appear in NP

Functional relations modulate the responsiveness to affordances despite the impact of conflicting stimulus-response mappings

The study investigated how conflicting stimulus-response mappings influenced affordance processing given a manipulation of the functional relations. Participants performed a task involving consistent-inconsistent stimulus-response mappings: Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP). They were instructed to confirm or to deny a relation between words and tool-objects (consistent blocks) or to provide non-conventional responses (inconsistent blocks). The relations between stimuli could functionally match (e.g., Kitchen- Spatula) or not (e.g., Kitchen- Hammer), as well as the spatial relations (e.g., a match or a mismatch between participants' hand response and the tool-object orientation). The results showed faster reaction times (RTs) when functional relations between stimuli matched both in consistent and inconsistent blocks. Differences in RTs and accuracy between consistent and inconsistent blocks were only found when the functional relation between stimuli matched. No modulation of the performance was observed for mismatching functional relations and spatial relations between blocks. These results support the hypothesis that the responsiveness to affordances is strongly modulated by matching functional relations, despite the impact of conflicting stimulus-response mappings

Localized exciton-polariton modes in dye-doped nanospheres: a quantum approach

We model a dye-doped polymeric nanosphere as an ensemble of quantum emitters and use it to investigate the localized exciton-polaritons supported by such a nanosphere. By determining the time evolution of the density matrix of the collective system, we explore how an incident laser field may cause transient optical field enhancement close to the surface of such nanoparticles. Our results provide further evidence that excitonic materials can be used to good effect in nanophotonics.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

Sex Offender Treatment Program: Initial Recidivism Study

This report presents results of a recidivism study of participants in the Sex Offender Treatment Program at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center, Alaska Department of Corrections, from January 1987 to August 1995. The report provides an overview and history of sex offender treatment in Alaska as well as a literature review of other studies and findings on this area of treatment. The Alaska study, which was the first conducted of the treatment program, found that any level of treatment achieved resulted in less recidivism, with the longer the period of treatment, the lower the recidivism. The study also noted the high percentage of Alaska Natives in the program and the history of alcohol and substance abuse presented by many sex offenders. The majority of offenders in the program were guilty of assaulting children. The study discusses the program's cost benefits as well as the implications of its findings for probation and parole.Alaska Department of CorrectionsI. Introduction / II. Sex Offender Treatment in Alaska / III. Literature Review / IV. Methodology / V. Results / VI. Conclusions and Recommendations / VII. Reference

Selling the modern day tribe: The commodification of rave culture

This thesis examines youth and rave culture from the late 1980s to the present. It considers the history as well as the global and local impact of rave. I provide a visual ethnographic study from 1999-2014, based on my work as a commercial photographer of the Perth, Western Australian scene. While critically reflecting on existing subcultural research this thesis adds another dimension – the effect that global corporations have had in reshaping subcultural practices, specifically the commodification of rave culture in the form of the contemporary electronic dance festival. The research incorporates both qualitative and quantitative data to interrogate media coverage on rave culture as well as interviews and first hand experience within the rave scene. I analyse mainstream print and electronic media reporting of rave as a deviant youth subcultural practice linked to the use of the drug ecstasy. I consider the effect this had on rave and it’s rebranding to become known in contemporary times as EDM (electronic dance music). As a result I examine how rave has shifted from a youth subcultural activity to being not only mainstream and commercial, but also owned and controlled by global corporations. My discussion of the conventions of festival/music scenes will demonstrate how rave, which once operated outside ‘acceptable’ boundaries, has become a part of the conventional norm. A unique aspect of this thesis is the inclusion and analysis of my photographs taken over a 15 year period that document the changes that occurred as rave transitioned from a subversive underground scene to corporate run multimillion dollar events. The photographs are also compiled into an accompanying monograph. The monograph allows for an immersive visual experience of non-staged event images and predetermined studio and location photographs. The book offers what words alone cannot fully engage with – a representation of what was and remains a highly visual scene, based on fashion, performance and settings

Random phase approximation and its extension for the quantum O(2) anharmonic oscillator

We apply the random phase approximation (RPA) and its extension called renormalized RPA to the quantum anharmonic oscillator with an O(2) symmetry. We first obtain the equation for the RPA frequencies in the standard and in the renormalized RPA approximations using the equation of motion method. In the case where the ground state has a broken symmetry, we check the existence of a zero frequency in the standard and in the renormalized RPA approximations. Then we use a time-dependent approach where the standard RPA frequencies are obtained as small oscillations around the static solution in the time-dependent Hartree-Bogoliubov equation. We draw a parallel between the two approaches.Comment: 26 pages, Latex file, no figur

Self-employment among the Armed Forces Community

The Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick, QinetiQ and X-Forces Enterprise were commissioned by Forces in Mind Trust to understand what more could be done to support the Armed Forces Community in pursuing self-employment and thereby help to maximise their chances of a successful and sustainable transition. This research seeks to fill the current gap in knowledge and contribute to policy-making and service delivery