All-optical binary counter

We experimentally demonstrate an all-optical binary counter composed of four semiconductor optical amplifier based all-optical switching gates. The time-of-flight optical circuit operates with bit-differential delays between the exclusive-OR gate used for modulo-2 binary addition and the AND gate used for binary carry detection. A movie of the counter operating in real time is presented

Modernising public local inquiries: Digest of responses to consultation paper

The consultation paper, Modernising Public Local Inquiries was issued in July 2003.This digest of responses has been prepared for the Scottish Executive by Professor Mark Poustie to help improve access to the detailed responses received.The aim has been to reproduce the essence of the comments fairly, grouping the material by the main stakeholder groups and the consultation questions

Environmental justice in SEPA's environmental protection activities: a report for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency

The purpose of this research project is to explore the extent to which SEPA can take account of environmental justice within its current legislative framework when making licensing decisions or carrying out enforcement activity. As a contextual background to this the project reviews current environmental justice developments in Scotland and selected international developments to assess how these developments will affect the environmental justice agenda in Scotland as well as SEPA's environment protection activities

Letters and networks : analysing Olive Schreiner's epistolary networks.

This thesis analyses letters and other archival material associated with Olive Schreiner (1855-1920) and her network(s) to conceptualise and theorise aspects of "letterness" and networks. Its premise is that such qualitative micro-level analysis of letters and other historical documents can contribute effectively to contemporary thinking about both epistolarity and social networks and their analysis. Using the existing literatures on Schreiner, epistolarity and social network analysis as a starting point, the analysis of letters and other relevant archival material is used to inform the setting of analytical boundaries. Then five examples of Schreiner-related networks – the Lytton to Carpenter letters, the Great War letters to Aletta Jacobs, letters of the Men and Women‟s Club, women‟s letters to Jan Smuts, and letters in the Schreiner-Hemming family collection - are analysed to demonstrate the validity of the premise and to contribute in an innovative and in-depth way to conceptual and theoretical ideas in the field. In doing so, the thesis offers an in-depth analysis of letters and networks in a variety of historical social contexts, identifying key features within each network and exploring whether these are case-specific or generalizable in theoretical terms. This thesis argues that many existing concepts such as those of reciprocity, brokering, bridging, gatekeeping and dyads can be teased out in an analytically helpful way by using letters to reveal the variations and nuances of these concepts in micro-levels interactions. It also considers network size, arguing that existing assessments of this based on frequency of contact, emotional intensity and time since last contact are not in fact particularly important in relation to the analysis of these networks and their epistolary communications. Rather, it is what happens in networks and the letters associated with them, with network members using and deploying their letter-writing in strategic and instrumentally ways. The key arguments made by the thesis concerning letters and networks are: that the size of a network is important but not deterministic; that the balance of reciprocity in letter exchanges and correspondence is highly complex, with this emergent through letter-exchanges, letter content and also enclosures of different kinds; that the purpose of a network and the existence of central figures within it creates propulsions and constraints; that brokering is neither necessarily positive nor always proactive action; that the complex nature of interpersonal ties and how these change over time affects both letters and networks; that letters and their writers can be future-orientated rather than retrospectively focused; and, that this orientation towards the future can influence decisions concerning the retention and archivisation of letters - a fundamental issue in epistolary research - and subsequently what can be gleaned from them concerning networks

Wildlife Crime Penalties Review Group Report

The report was commissioned by the Scottish Government to review the penalty levels available for wildlife crimes in Scotland and those actually imposed by the Courts. It was also commissioned to review alternative penalties. As well as doctrinal research into these issues the work involved empirical research with stakeholders. A series of recommendations were made to the Government including increasing maximum available penalties, harmonising the availability of alternative penalties, requiring the use of impact statements where possible and the introduction of Sentencing Guidelines in this field to increase the transparency and consistency of sentencing for wildlife crimes. Poustie was sole author (which can be confirmed with the SG) and the Review Group acted as a form of peer review panel in relation to the report

Magnetic field induced sum frequency mixing in sodium vapour

A study of magnetic field induced sum frequency mixing (SFM) in sodium vapour was carried out using continuous-wave lasers as the sources of the fundamental radiation. The three-wave mixing nonlinear optical process was resonantly enhanced by tuning the laser frequencies close to single and two-photon resonances in the sodium atoms. The coherent ultraviolet radiation at the sum frequency of the two input laser frequencies was emitted by the coherently driven 3S-4D electric-quadrupole, which was rotated by the transverse magnetic field to allow collinear generation of the sum frequency wave. Two single-frequency dye lasers were used to examine in detail the role of the intermediate 3P atomic states in the coherent two-photon absorption. Resonant single photon transitions were investigated for the first time in a nonlinear optical process in an atomic vapour. High resolution SFM line profiles were obtained which illustrated the complicating contributions of hole-burning, velocity selection, optical pumping, saturation and frequency dependent phase mismatching to the three-wave mixing effect. The use of additional single photon resonant enhancement and control over the refractive index of the sodium vapour showed that large effective nonlinear X(2) susceptibilities were possible in atomic vapours which could exceed those of nonlinear crystals. The variation of SFM power with atomic particle density due to bulk phase mismatching reflected the wavelength dependence of the sodium dispersion with the 3P intermediate state off-resonance. Phase shifts of the focused Gaussian laser beams led to an asymmetric behaviour of the phase matching with respect to the sign of the phase mismatch k. Saturation spectroscopy was utilised for the first time to examine the Zeeman spectra of the sodium 3S-3P D line resonances in a transverse magnetic field. A novel experimental method was used to restrict the detrimental effects of velocity changing collisions on the resolution of the nonlinear laser spectroscopic technique. The possibility of using optical pumping with a transversal, resonant light beam to induce the second-order nonlinearity necessary for second harmonic generation in sodium vapour was experimentally investigated

Parents’ journey through treatment for their child’s obesity: a qualitative study

Background: Treatment for childhood obesity is characterised by patient non-attendance and drop-out, and widespread failure to achieve weight maintenance. Qualitative methods may improve our understanding of patient perceptions and so improve treatment for childhood obesity. Aim: To provide insight into the perceptions of parents of obese children as they ‘journey’ from pre-treatment to end of treatment. Methods: We used purposive sampling and studied 17 parents of children attending 6-month outpatient treatments for obesity (BMI>98th percentile). Parent’s perceptions were explored by in-depth interviews, analysed using Framework methods. Results: Parents were characterised as being unaware of their child’s weight, in denial, or actively seeking treatment. Parents were consistently motivated to enter treatment due to perceived benefits to their child’s self esteem or quality of life, and weight outcomes appeared typically less important. During treatment parents expressed a lack of support for lifestyle changes outside the clinic, and noted that members of the extended family often undermined or failed to support lifestyle changes. Parents generally felt that treatment should have continued beyond six months, and it had provided benefits to their child’s well-being, self esteem, and quality of life, and this is what motivated many to remain engaged with treatment. Discussion: This study may help inform future treatments for childhood obesity by providing insights into the aspects of treatment of greatest importance to parents. Future treatments may need to consider providing greater support to lifestyle changes within the extended family, and may need to focus more on psycho-social outcomes

42.6 Gbit/s fully integrated all-optical XOR gate

We demonstrate an SOA-based all-optical high-speed Mach-Zehnder interferometer exclusive- OR (XOR) gate fabricated in a silica III-V hybrid-integration technology platform.  The device includes integrated time delays for rapid differential operation as well as integrated phase shifters for fine tuning of power splitters and interferometer bias enabling highly optimized XOR gate operation.  XOR functionality is verified through inspection of the output pulse sequence and the carrier-suppressed output spectrum.  A 2.3 dB penalty for a 42.6 Gb/s RZ-OOK signal at a 10-9 bit error rate is observed