Dipole-Field Contributions to Geometric-Phase-Induced False Electric-Dipole Moment Signals for Particles in Traps

It has been shown in an earlier publication that magnetic field gradients applied to particles in traps can induce Larmor frequency shifts that may falsely be interpreted as electric-dipole moment (EDM) signals. This study has now been extended to include nonuniform magnetic field gradients due to the presence of a local magnetic dipole. It is found that, in the high orbit-frequency regime, the magnitude of the shifts can be enhanced beyond the simple expectation of proportionality to the volume-averaged magnetic-field gradient.Comment: 2 pages, no figure

Gravitationally enhanced depolarization of ultracold neutrons in magnetic-field gradients

Trapped ultracold neutrons (UCN) have for many years been the mainstay of experiments to search for the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron, a critical parameter in constraining scenarios of new physics beyond the Standard Model. Because their energies are so low, UCN preferentially populate the lower region of their physical enclosure, and do not sample uniformly the ambient magnetic field throughout the storage volume. This leads to a substantial increase in the rate of depolarization, as well as to shifts in the measured frequency of the stored neutrons. Consequences for EDM measurements are discussed

Normal mode Rossby waves and their effects on chemical composition in the late summer stratosphere

During past MANTRA campaigns, ground-based measurements of several long-lived chemical species have revealed quasi-periodic fluctuations on time scales of several days. These fluctuations could confound efforts to detect long-term trends from MANTRA, and need to be understood and accounted for. Using the Canadian Middle Atmosphere Model, we investigate the role of dynamical variability in the late summer stratosphere due to normal mode Rossby waves and the impact of this variability on fluctuations in chemical species. Zonal wavenumber 1, westward travelling waves are considered with average periods of 5, 10 and 16 days. Time-lagged correlations between the temperature and nitrous oxide, methane and ozone fields are calculated in order to assess the possible impact of these waves on the chemical species. Using Fourier-wavelet decomposition and correlating the fluctuations between the temperature and chemical fields, we determine that variations in the chemical species are well-correlated with the 5- and 10-day waves between 30 and 60 km, although the nature of the correlations depend strongly on altitude. Interannual variability of the waves is also examined

Needle exchange services in Knowsley: An investigation into the needs and experiences of staff and service users

This work was commissioned by Knowsley Council to inform the development of needle exchange (NEX) services in Knowsley and to ensure that they meet the needs of people who inject drugs (PWID) locally. The views and experiences of both service users and staff from drug services and pharmacies offering needle exchange services in Knowsley were sought regarding the extent to which NEX are meeting the needs of PWID including their perceptions regarding the support available, NEX accessibility and service delivery. Findings are considered in the context of NICE guidelines on the optimal provision of needle and syringe programmes in England

“Once you’ve been there, you’re always recovering”: exploring experiences, outcomes, and benefits of substance misuse recovery

Purpose – Recovery is a central component of UK substance misuse policy, however, relatively little is known about the views and meanings of recovery by those experiencing it. The purpose of this paper is to explore these factors, and understand how service user experiences align to current understandings of “recovery capital”. Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws on qualitative interviews with 32 individuals from six UK recovery communities, including those commissioned by a statutory service (n=8) and a peer-led recovery community (n=24). Findings – Meanings of recovery differed between people in abstinence-based communities and those not; however, all had consistent views on their own recovery outcomes and the benefits they believed recovery brought. All viewed recovery as a process; a continuous journey with no end-point. Internal motivation, peer support, social networks and daily structure were integral to supporting individuals achieve and maintain recovery. Key benefits of recovery reflected recovery capital and included positive relationships, sense of belonging, increased self-worth and confidence, employment and education. Research limitations/implications – This research shows that recovery experiences and outcomes are not centred entirely on the individual but are wider, more holistic. Maintaining recovery involves being connected to themselves and to the wider environment: family, friends, peers and society. Although the recovery capital model has many elements that were discussed by the participants of this research, the discourse they used does not align with the model. To validly measure and quantify recovery outcomes, individuals need to identify with the measures themselves. Practical implications – From policy and commissioning perspectives, these findings suggest benefits of recovery that were viewed by participants as indicators of success: demonstrate elements which support recovery; and highlight key social value outcomes which people attribute to recovery. Social implications – These “softer”, qualitative benefits should be considered by policy-makers, commissioners, statutory and non-statutory services in order to evidence outcomes. However, it should also be recognised that a temporally static approach to assessing recovery may be in contradiction to the meaning and perspectives held by those in recovery communities who conceptualise it as a long term and ongoing process. Originality/value – This paper adds to understandings of experiences and meanings of recovery, with a particular focus on the measurement of outcomes and their meanings, and the role of abstention and continued drug use within the recovery process. © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

The Student Wellbeing Process Questionnaire (Student WPQ)

Recent research has used short questionnaires based on single item versions of psychosocial concepts to assess well-being. This has largely been confined to occupational samples and the present article describes the extension of this process to university students. The Student Well-being Process Questionnaire (Student WPQ) was used to examine predictors of positive well-being, negative mental health and cognitive function. An online survey was used with 478 first and second year undergraduates as participants. Regression analyses showed that positive well-being (e.g. happiness, positive affect and life satisfaction) was predicted by positive personality (high optimism, self-esteem and self-efficacy), high social support and low stressors and low negative coping scores. Negative outcomes (e.g. perceived stress, anxiety and depression) were predicted by high stressor, coping and conscientiousness scores, and low positive personality and social support scores. Cognitive problems were predicted by high stressor and negative coping scores and low positive personality scores. A MANOVA showed that there were no significant interactions between the predictor variables. The best predictor of all outcomes was a combined score including all predictor variables. Overall, the present study shows that the Student WPQ can provide useful information on predictors of different aspects of well-being. Future research can include additional potential predictors and other outcomes to determine whether other factors are significant when established predictors are adjusted for

Quasielastic scattering in the interaction of ultracold neutrons with a liquid wall and application in a reanalysis of the Mambo I neutron-lifetime experiment

We develop a theory of ultracold and very cold neutron scattering on viscoelastic surface waves up to second-order perturbation theory. The results are applied to reanalyze the 1989 neutron-lifetime experiment using ultracold neutron storage in a Fomblin-coated vessel by Mampe et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 63, 593 (1989)]. Inclusion of this theory of the quasielastic scattering process in the data analysis shifts the neutron lifetime value from 887.6 ± 3 to 882.5 ± 2.1 s

Age-dependent association of white matter abnormality with cognition after TIA or minor stroke

ObjectiveTo investigate if the association between MRI-detectable white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and cognitive status reported in previous studies persists at older ages (>80 years), when some white matter abnormality is almost universally reported in clinical practice.MethodsConsecutive eligible patients from a population-based cohort of all TIA/nondisabling stroke (Oxford Vascular Study) underwent multimodal MRI, including fluid-Attenuated inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted imaging, allowing automated measurement of WMH volume, mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) in normal-Appearing white matter using FSL tools. These measures were related to cognitive status (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) at age 6480 vs >80 years.ResultsOf 566 patients (mean [range] age 66.7 [20-102] years), 107 were aged >80 years. WMH volumes and MD/FA were strongly associated with cognitive status in patients aged 6480 years (all p < 0.001 for WMH, MD, and FA) but not in patients aged >80 years (not significant for WMH, MD, and FA), with age interactions for WMH volume (pinteraction = 0.016) and MD (pinteraction = 0.037). Voxel-wise analyses also showed that lower Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores were associated with frontal WMH in patients 6480 years, but not >80 years.ConclusionMRI markers of white matter damage are strongly related to cognition in patients with TIA/minor stroke at younger ages, but not at age >80 years. Clinicians and patients should not overinterpret the significance of these abnormalities at older ages