Correlated Spectral and Recurrence Variations of Cygnus X-1

We present results of recurrence analysis of the black hole X-ray binary Cygnus X-1 using combined observations from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer All-sky Monitor and the Japanese Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image aboard the ISS. From the time-dependent windowed recurrence plot (RP), we compute ten recurrence quantities that describe the dynamical behavior of the source and compare them to the spectral state at each point in time. We identify epochs of state changes corresponding to transitions into highly deterministic or highly stochastic dynamical regimes and their correlation to specific spectral states. We compare k-Nearest Neighbors and Random Forest models for various sizes of the time-dependent RP. The spectral state in Cygnus X-1 can be predicted with greater than 95 per cent accuracy for both types of models explored across a range of RP sizes based solely on the recurrence properties. The primary features from the RP that distinguish between spectral states are the determinism, Shannon entropy, and average line length, all of which are systematically higher in the hard state compared to the soft state. Our results suggest that the hard and soft states of Cygnus X-1 exhibit distinct dynamical variability and the time domain alone can be used for spectral state classification.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, 7 tables; Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ

Investigating Non-linear and Stochastic Hard X-ray Variability of Active Galactic Nuclei using Recurrence Analysis

We present results of recurrence analysis of 46 active galactic nuclei (AGN) using light curves from the 157-month catalog of the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) in the 14-150 keV band. We generate recurrence plots and compute recurrence plot metrics for each object. We use the surrogate data method to compare all derived recurrence-based quantities to three sets of stochastic light curves with identical power spectrum, flux distribution, or both, in order to determine the presence of determinism, non-linearity, entropy, and non-stationarity. We compare these quantities with known physical characteristics of each system, such as black hole mass, Eddington ratio, and bolometric luminosity, radio loudness, obscuration, and spectroscopic type. We find that almost all AGN in this sample exhibit substantial higher-order modes of variability than is contained in the power spectrum, with approximately half exhibiting nonlinear or non-stationary behavior. We find that Type 2 AGN are more likely to contain deterministic variability than Type 1 AGN while the same distinction is not found between obscured and unobscured AGN. The complexity of variability among Type 1 AGN is anticorrelated with Eddington ratio, while no relationship is found among Type 2 AGN. The connections between the recurrence properties and AGN class suggest that hard X-ray emission is a probe of distinct accretion processes among classes of AGN, which supports interpretations of changing-look AGN and challenges the traditional unification model that classifies AGN only on viewing angle.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures, 13 table

Successful ageing in an area of deprivation: Part 1—A qualitative exploration of the role of life experiences in good health in old age

Objectives: To determine the life histories and current circumstances of healthy and unhealthy older people who share an ecology marked by relative deprivation and generally poor health. Study design: In-depth interview study with a qualitative analysis. Methods: Matched pairs of healthy and unhealthy ‘agers’ were interviewed face-to-face. Healthy ageing was assessed in terms of hospital morbidity and self-reported health. Study participants consisted of 22 pairs (44 individuals), aged 72–89 years, matched for sex, age and deprivation category, and currently resident in the West of Scotland. All study participants were survivors of the Paisley/Renfrew (MIDSPAN) survey, a longitudinal study commenced in 1972 with continuous recording of morbidity and mortality since. Detailed life histories were obtained which focused on family, residence, employment, leisure and health. This information was supplemented by more focused data on ‘critical incidents’, financial situation and position in social hierarchies. Results: Data provided rich insights into life histories and current circumstances but no differences were found between healthy and unhealthy agers. Conclusions: It is important to understand what differentiates individuals who have lived in circumstances characterized by relative deprivation and poor health, yet have aged healthily. This study collected rich and detailed qualitative data. Yet, no important differences were detected between healthy and unhealthy agers. This is an important negative result as it suggests that the phenomenon of healthy ageing and the factors that promote healthy ageing over a lifetime are so complex that they will require even more detailed studies to disentangle

A psychological resilience briefing intervention for helicopter emergency medical service observers

Objective Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) observers may be at risk of negative psychological effects associated with exposure to traumatic events during shifts. This article describes a quality improvement project for HEMS observers at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance. Methods A psychological resilience briefing intervention (PRBi) was developed and delivered during induction training with 60 HEMS observers. The PRBi aimed to raise awareness of traumatic events that observers may experience and provided basic education on 5 domains, including likely forms of trauma exposure, possible psychological reactions, advice on coping strategies and supporting colleagues, and resources that they could use if required. The intervention was intended to bolster resilience and reduce posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and to encourage adaptive coping styles in observers. Results Observers learned from and valued the PRBi; statistically significant increases were observed in awareness of the 5 domains from pre- to post-delivery, and free-text responses cited a variety of benefits to the observers. There was no indication that the PRBi caused harm. Conclusion The PRBi has now been included in the routine induction of observers at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance and has the potential to be repurposed for use in other settings, including medical schools

Comparative Law Approaches to Media Access to Court Proceedings

A particularly interesting panel, this one examines media access, pretrial publicity, and the presumption of innocence, comparing the laws and practices in the United States to those in several European countries and Canada. The panelists speak to the national laws of continental Europe and case law of the European Court of Human Rights, law and practices in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. Apparent differences emerge in both trial procedures and media actions and expectations in these various countries. Questions/themes/discussion topics Comparing U.S. law to the law of other countries concerning media access to trials, pretrial information that might prejudice a juror, and the presumption of innocence What restrictions on the press do other countries employ to ensure that defendants get a fair trial? What restrictions do other countries employ to ensure that the reputation of innocent defendants are not irreparably damaged in the course of legal proceedings? Should freedom of the press be reexamined under a modern media lens? What are the differences between English law concerning journalist liability and U.S. law as defined by New York Times v. Sullivan? The effect of Naomi Campbell\u27s court case on UK law Difference between jury selection in the U.S. and Canad

Spatial disparities in SMEs productivity in England

Improving productivity is critical to increasing economic growth and prosperity in the long-run and a key objective for UK national, regional and local policy. However, a long tail of low productivity businesses and significant spatial variations in productivity characterise the UK economy. This report presents an analysis of the determinants of Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) labour productivity, with a particular focus on how place and productivity interact. The analysis draws on data from the UK Government’s Longitudinal Small Business Survey (LSBS) for the years 2015 to 2017. It employs a multilevel regression analysis to understand determinants in enterprise labour productivity in different localities and regions and effectively account for the contextual environment. We applied multilevel analysis to capture the nested structure of our data, modelling a fixed-effects part (at firm level or level one) and a random-effects part at Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) level (or level two). This allows for the separation of the role of firms’ determinants from LEP (sub-regional) effects. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to apply multilevel analysis to the productivity of firms located in the UK. Regarding firm-level factors, the results show that microbusinesses and sole traders tend to have lower productivity. In contrast, business capabilities to develop and implement business plans, and obtain external finance, as well as receiving external advice in the previous year, positively contribute to productivity. The sector in which a business operates also matters with health and social work generally associated with lower productivity. Digital capabilities, internal to the SME, as well as some types of network membership contribute to higher productivity. Regarding ownership, after controlling for other factors, the results reveal that family businesses are not more or less productive than non-family ones, but, women-led businesses record significantly lower productivity. At the LEP level, the findings reveal that firms located in LEPs with a more skilled and educated population tend to have higher labour productivity. Improved broadband speeds, in some models, are also associated with higher productivity. Taken together the results give credence, in terms of explaining variations in SME productivity, to industrial organisation theory, the Resource-Based View relating to business capabilities and institutional and network effects. Not surprisingly, our analysis confirms previous findings from the ONS about the regional disparities in the UK, as we find that firms located in London and the South East demonstrate higher labour productivity. However, we find a lack of supporting evidence for agglomeration theories which stress the benefits of urban areas per se in stimulating higher SME productivity, since our analysis shows that firms located in rural areas perform as well as urban firms

Rethinking respite in Australia: a naturalistic effect study of a multicomponent community program to promote respite knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of carers of people with dementia

\u27Rethink Respite\u27 was a prospective, naturalistic cohort study conducted in the Illawarra‐Shoalhaven (NSW, Australia) to improve knowledge, attitudes and uptake of respite strategies in carers of people with dementia. A convenience sample of n = 70 carers were recruited in 2014-15 to establish a baseline for knowledge, attitudes and use of respite for a cohort of carers in the region. Carer perceived need for respite, burden and self‐efficacy were also assessed. A co‐designed multi‐component community‐based intervention was subsequently rolled at in the region from 2015 to 2016. The intervention supported: awareness raising media; carer education sessions; access to web and print respite information resources; and an option to participate in a tailored one‐on‐one in‐home coaching program. At program completion, a follow‐up survey was administered to the cohort, with n = 44/70 responding. All n = 44 respondents reported participation in and exposure to \u27Rethink Respite\u27 media, information and education during the intervention period. Eighteen of the 44 also self‐selected to receive the active tailored coaching support. At follow‐up, few positive results were reported on the assessed carer variables for the cohort over time. However, post hoc sub‐group analyses found those who also self‐selected to receive active support (provided through coaching) (n = 18), showed improvements to their respite knowledge, attitudes and self‐efficacy (p \u3c .05). Intention to use respite, and levels of personal gain from caring in this sub‐group also increased (p \u3c .05). In contrast, carers who only participated in the informational/educational aspects of the program (and did not self‐select to the respite coaching), experienced negative changes over time to their respite beliefs and \u27role captivity\u27. Overall, this pilot study suggests that passive respite information and educational strategies are insufficient, without more active supports (tailored respite coaching) to address observed carer decline over time. Future research should seek to replicate these results using a larger sample and an experimental design