Exploring how males who encounter phenomena they identify as ‘Conversion Disorder’/’Functional Neurological Disorder’ experience agency in their lives

This research investigates the way that males who identify with the diagnostic label ‘conversion disorder/functional neurological disorder (CD/FND)’ experience agency in their lives. The historical developments, controversies and complexities around ‘CD/FND’ form the backdrop of this exploration into the lived experience of agency. A sample of eight participants were recruited via social networking sites and charities, and the data was collected through Skype-based interviews and analysed using the qualitative Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. The analysis showed the following five main themes: ‘paradox of control’, ‘living within a dualistic framework’, ‘disconnection from self and others’, ‘engaged in a battle or fight’ and ‘meaning and reality as dependent on other people’. These master themes and their related subordinate themes are presented in light of existing research. The findings highlight the difficulty experienced by participants who identify with a diagnostic label that is at odds with a medicalised approach to understanding and treating illness. The limitations of this study and the potential avenues for future research are also discussed

Playing Games with Quantum Mechanics

We present a perspective on quantum games that focuses on the physical aspects of the quantities that are used to implement a game. If a game is to be played, it has to be played with objects and actions that have some physical existence. We call such games playable. By focusing on the notion of playability for games we can more clearly see the distinction between classical and quantum games and tackle the thorny issue of what it means to quantize a game. The approach we take can more properly be thought of as gaming the quantum rather than quantizing a game and we find that in this perspective we can think of a complete quantum game, for a given set of preferences, as representing a single family of quantum games with many different playable versions. The versions of Quantum Prisoners Dilemma presented in the literature can therefore be thought of specific instances of the single family of Quantum Prisoner's Dilemma with respect to a particular measurement. The conditions for equilibrium are given for playable quantum games both in terms of expected outcomes and a geometric approach. We discuss how any quantum game can be simulated with a classical game played with classical coins as far as the strategy selections and expected outcomes are concerned.Comment: 3 Figure

Securing a Quantum Key Distribution Network Using Secret Sharing

We present a simple new technique to secure quantum key distribution relay networks using secret sharing. Previous techniques have relied on creating distinct physical paths in order to create the shares. We show, however, how this can be achieved on a single physical path by creating distinct logical channels. The technique utilizes a random 'drop-out' scheme to ensure that an attacker must compromise all of the relays on the channel in order to access the key

Extending the Reach of QKD Using Relays

One of the obstacles to deployment of QKD solutions has been the distance limitation. Solutions using relays have been proposed but these rely on link-by-link key establishment. We present a new technique to extend the distance of a quantum key distribution channel using an active relay. Each relay acts as an intercept/resend device and allows the establishment of an end-to-end key. It has been argued that such relays cannot be used to extend the distance, but we show that with a suitable adaptation of the protocol the effective key distribution distance can be increased

Restoration and Adaptive Use of a Historic English Country Estate: A Learning History

Within the field of historic preservation, often a single strategy for preservation is chosen from preservation, restoration, adaptive use or reconstruction. Occasionally it is appropriate to simultaneously implement two or more of those strategies. Adopting multiple strategies requires the involvement of different organizations whose goals and philosophies may clash. Stowe House is an example where restoration and adaptive use have been applied in tandem, forming the partnership of Stowe School, Stowe House Preservation Trust and the English National Trust. In this case forming a symbiotic tripartite partnership has resulted in the long-term survival of the Stowe estate.;The purpose of this study is to examine the restoration, adaptive use and historic site management of Stowe House, Buckingham, England using the narratives of individuals with controlling interest in the historic property. The Learning History Methodology (LHM), with its requisite interview process, was used as a means to record, validate and analyze various perspectives related to the preservation of the house. The completed narrative has the potential to inform future decisions made at Stowe and it may be useful to others undertaking similar restoration projects.;Many English country houses, once home to the elite, have been abandoned since the turn of the twentieth century due to the high expense of upkeep or the lack of heirs. Many have been destroyed, some have become house museums and others have been adaptively-used as schools or for other institutional uses (Martin, 1985). Stowe House, an eighteenth century Neo-classical ducal palace, was historically home to the Temple-Grenville family, prominent political figures during the eighteenth and nineteenth century. The house is surrounded by over 400 acres of landscaped gardens. In 1923 the estate was adaptively used as a private boys\u27 boarding school, called Stowe School (Bevington, 2002). After over six decades of use by young boarders, the property was in need of attention and the school could not afford the repairs.;The English National Trust obtained stewardship of the Gardens in 1989 and the Stowe House Preservation Trust (SHPT) was formed in 1997 to obtain funding and to manage the house restoration and visitor services. A multi-phase restoration process began in 2000, while the building continued to serve the school and receive 5,000 visitors a year. The SHPT, English National Trust and Stowe School each have distinct responsibilities in caring for the property. The complexities arising from this partnership creates a unique case study pertaining to issues surrounding historic site management.;The Learning History Methodology, developed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a case study approach which tells the story of change in an organization (Roth & Kleiner, n.d.). Through interviews, each participant is able to anonymously communicate their own unique experience. The interviews are transcribed by the researcher and then validated by the participants. The researcher then analyzes the validated responses and creates an overarching narrative reflective of the change process as seen through a variety of lenses. In the case of Stowe House, the restoration process is being documented in order to influence future decision-making.;The data is presented in the form of a Learning History document, highlighting the benefits and challenges of the partnership model in operation at Stowe House. The data revealed insight into the dynamics of the partnership; illuminating successful collaborations and areas of conflict between the partners. The Learning History document provides those involved at Stowe and those involved in the field of historic site management a learning document that explains the complicated partnership model and reveals opportunities for more efficient relationships and collaborations