Interaction of laser-cooled 87^{87}Rb atoms with higher order modes of an optical nanofiber

Optical nanofibres are used to confine light to subwavelength regions and are very promising tools for the development of optical fibre-based quantum networks using cold, neutral atoms. To date, experimental studies on atoms near nanofibres have focussed on fundamental fibre mode interactions. In this work, we demonstrate the integration of a few-mode optical nanofibre into a magneto-optical trap for $^{87}$Rb atoms. The nanofibre, with a waist diameter of $\sim$700 nm, supports both the fundamental and first group of higher order modes and is used for atomic fluorescence and absorption studies. In general, light propagating in higher order fibre modes has a greater evanescent field extension around the waist in comparison with the fundamental mode. By exploiting this behaviour, we demonstrate that the detected signal of fluorescent photons emitted from a cloud of cold atoms centred at the nanofibre waist is larger ($\sim$6 times) when higher order guided modes are considered as compared to the fundamental mode. Absorption of on-resonance, higher order mode probe light by the laser-cooled atoms is also observed. These advances should facilitate the realisation of atom trapping schemes based on higher order mode interference.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

Towards a model of port-based resilience against fisher labour exploitation

Fishers have pronounced vulnerabilities to labour exploitation and modern slavery. Regulatory efforts to mitigate fisher labour exploitation through domestic modern slavery legislation, and through the ratification and implementation of The International Labour Organization's Work in Fishing Convention (C188) have had varying success. This heterogeneity is mainly because the implementation of C188 rests upon ratified states enforcing aligned domestic legislation, and rests also on the supposition that each port state has the resources and capacity to implement these standards within its port networks through enforcement levers and agencies often with varying operational reach and with overlapping jurisdictions. In practice, C188 applies messily and variably in ports. Increasingly ports are cast as fulcrums for addressing labour abuses in fishing, yet policies have struggled to connect together the needs of individual fishers with relevant port structures and services in a meaningful and actionable way. This paper advances a conceptual model for conducting a port-by-port analysis of port communities by appraising site-based assets and dynamics. With this understanding, a port-based and place-specific account of fisher vulnerability and resilience can be constructed. This analysis also considers how regulatory coverage and enforcement can be supplemented by the operationalisation of a multi-factored, multi-scalar consideration of risk determinants. Together this dynamic asset and liability-based model of port resilience can better reflect the variability of port enforcement, capacity, and infrastructure to more effectively assess fisher labour exploitation and identify pathways for improved enforcement

Weaving the Geographies of Harris Tweed: An ethnography of the labour, technologies and branding of life on the loom

Harris Tweed is a cloth defined through its specific geography of production; it is a cloth handwoven by islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides. It is this evocative and romantically imagined craft working that is central to its promotion and appeal, and is central to the branded storytelling of the cloth. Consumers connect to, see and ‘learn’ of who makes it, how and where, in a compelling craft story which frames and roots the cloth to its people, places and craft work practices. Through an ethnographic exploration of life on the loom, this thesis explores the branded origin story of the cloth. Through the voices of those who weave, a hidden polyvocality of work is revealed situated within a complex political and cultural economy too often hidden by the brand; it beholds greater complexity than the brand stories told of it. Using the framework of origination, the thesis enlists the multiple weaving voices of ethnographic fieldwork to voice the hidden stories of the warp and the weft- that of the labour, technologies and branding of Harris Tweed- to explore the tensions and contradictions wrapped up within them. Particular reflection is afforded to the associative and dissociative practices of the presentation of place and craft work within the brand, and the connections and disconnections that exist between the promoted, romantic brand story of Harris Tweed, and the multiple, diverse and problematic stories of the weavers’ working lives on the loom

Weaving the Geographies of Harris Tweed: An ethnography of the labour, technologies and branding of life on the loom

Harris Tweed is a cloth defined through its specific geography of production; it is a cloth handwoven by islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides. It is this evocative and romantically imagined craft working that is central to its promotion and appeal, and is central to the branded storytelling of the cloth. Consumers connect to, see and ‘learn’ of who makes it, how and where, in a compelling craft story which frames and roots the cloth to its people, places and craft work practices. Through an ethnographic exploration of life on the loom, this thesis explores the branded origin story of the cloth. Through the voices of those who weave, a hidden polyvocality of work is revealed situated within a complex political and cultural economy too often hidden by the brand; it beholds greater complexity than the brand stories told of it. Using the framework of origination, the thesis enlists the multiple weaving voices of ethnographic fieldwork to voice the hidden stories of the warp and the weft- that of the labour, technologies and branding of Harris Tweed- to explore the tensions and contradictions wrapped up within them. Particular reflection is afforded to the associative and dissociative practices of the presentation of place and craft work within the brand, and the connections and disconnections that exist between the promoted, romantic brand story of Harris Tweed, and the multiple, diverse and problematic stories of the weavers’ working lives on the loom

Shared reading quality assessment by parental report: preliminary validation of the DialogPR

Abstract Background The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends shared reading beginning as soon as possible after birth to promote healthy development. Shared reading quality can strongly influence outcomes, especially in children from low-SES households. Dialogic reading is a method developed to enhance verbal interactivity and engagement through book sharing, advocated by the AAP and clinic-based programs such as Reach Out and Read. There is no brief, validated, caregiver report measure of dialogic reading or shared reading quality currently available. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 49 healthy mother-child dyads (mean child age 4.5 yrs., SD = 0.6 yrs.) from 2 separate MRI-based studies. The DialogPR was administered by trained research coordinators following MRI, along with the READ subscale of the validated StimQ-P measure of home cognitive environment. The DialogPR consists of eight items developed in consultation with experts in early literacy, based on the PEER/CROWD dialogic reading conceptual model. Estimated reading level is 6th grade. Descriptive statistics were computed at both the item and scale levels. Modern theory Rasch methods were used to analyze all eight DialogPR items along with preliminary estimates of reliability and validity. Results Our combined sample involved 15 boys and 34 girls, and was diverse in terms of age, household income, and maternal education. DialogPR administration time was less than 2 min, with no problems reported. The DialogPR demonstrated strong internal consistency and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.82), and criterion-related validity with the StimQ-P READ (Spearman’s rho coefficient = 0.53). Rasch analysis revealed strong psychometric properties in terms of reliability, variability in item difficulty, and inter-item and item-measure correlations. Conclusions Preliminary evidence suggests that the DialogPR may be an efficient means to assess shared reading quality and dialogic reading via caregiver report for clinical and research purposes, warranting further investigation

Housing interventions and control of injury-related structural deficiencies : a review of the evidence

Subject matter experts systematically reviewed evidence on the effectiveness of housing interventions that affect safety and injury outcomes, such as falls, fire-related injuries, burns, drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, heat-related deaths, and noise-related harm, associated with structural housing deficiencies. Structural deficiencies were defined as those deficiencies for which a builder, landlord, or homeowner would take responsibility (ie, design, construction, installation, repair, monitoring). Three of the 17 interventions reviewed had sufficient evidence for implementation: installed, working smoke alarms; 4-sided isolation pool fencing; and preset safe hot water temperature. Five interventions needed more field evaluation, 8 needed formative research, and 1 was found to be ineffective. This evidence review shows that housing improvements are likely to help reduce burns and scalds, drowning in pools, and fire-related deaths and injuries