Quantum phase transitions in rotating nuclei

We extend the classical Landau theory for rotating nuclei and show that the backbending in 162Yb, that comes about as a result of the two-quasiparticle alignment, is identified with the second order phase transition. We found that the backbending in 156Dy, caused by the instability of $\gamma$-vibrations in the rotating frame, corresponds to the first order phase transition.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Novel Research Paradigms to Investigate Social Development in Typically Developing Infants and Infants at Elevated Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder

A large body of research has examined social developmental processes in typically developing infants in the first year of life, and more recently in infants at higher familial risk for autism spectrum disorder (infant siblings) in order to uncover early behavioural markers for the disorder, essential for early diagnosis. The social stimuli presented in earlier research were often not representative of social experiences in the real world. For studies focussing exclusively on typical development, the use of inadequate stimuli means that the extent to which they produce findings that generalize to 'real world' social interactions is unclear. For the line of research involving infant siblings, these methodological issues have resulted in an ambiguous pattern of results. To address these issues, this thesis presents novel research methods that more closely approximate the interactive context in which social interaction typically occurs. This was achieved by developing a novel face scanning method - the gaze-contingency eye-tracking paradigm - in which infants could 'interact' with on-screen faces by fixating certain pre-specified regions of the face, providing a more realistic and socially demanding experience. Norms for typical behaviour within this paradigm were established (Chapter 3) and contrasted with behaviour from a sample of infant siblings (Chapter 3 & 4). The findings indicate that infant siblings show reduced social responsiveness relative to typically developing infants in this paradigm. These results were corroborated in an infant-parent free play task (Chapter 5), validating the efficacy of the gaze-contingency paradigm. Finally, infants' ability to follow human conversations as an observer was tested with novel cartoon stimuli providing evidence of early social understanding in typical development (Chapter 6). The novel methods are reviewed in terms of their added value to the field and findings are discussed in relation to their implications for typical and atypical development

Alternative Interpretation of Sharply Rising E0 Strengths in Transitional Regions

It is shown that strong 0+2 -> 0+1 E0 transitions provide a clear signature of phase transitional behavior in finite nuclei. Calculations using the IBA show that these transition strengths exhibit a dramatic and robust increase in spherical-deformed shape transition regions, that this rise matches well the existing data, that the predictions of these E0 transitions remain large in deformed nuclei, and that these properties are intrinsic to the way that collectivity and deformation develop through the phase transitional region in the model, arising from the specific d-boson coherence in the wave functions, and that they do not necessarily require the explicit mixing of normal and intruder configurations from different IBA spaces.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

New supersymmetric quartet of nuclei: 192Os, 193Os, 193Ir, 194Ir

We present evidence of the existence of a new supersymmetric quartet of nuclei in the A=190 mass region. The analysis is based on new experimental information on the odd-odd nucleus 194Ir from transfer and capture reactions. The new data allow the identification of a new supersymmetric quartet, consisting of the 192,193Os and 193,194Ir nuclei. We make explicit predictions fo r193Os, and suggest that its spectroscopic properties be measured in dedicated experiments. Finally, we study correlations between different transfer reactions.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, invited talk at CGS 13, Cologne, Germany, to be published in AIP Conference Proceeding

Effectiveness of an LGBTQ+ E-Learning Module for Social Workers:A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an e-learning training module for improving children's social workers’ knowledge of, and attitudes toward, LGBTQ+ young people. Methods: A pragmatic randomized, CONSORT-compliant controlled trial to compare an intervention group ( N = 304) with a business-as-usual comparison group ( N = 310). After attrition, the analysis included 188 (intervention) and 278 (comparison) participants. The main outcome measures were the Heteronormative Attitudes and Beliefs Scale and a perceived LGBTQ+ knowledge measure, controlling for several covariates. Results: A significant effect of intervention on both outcome measures, using several rigorous analysis approaches and missing data imputation methods. Participants who undertook the training decreased their heteronormative attitudes and beliefs and increased their perceived LGBTQ+ knowledge compared to business as usual. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of an e-learning training intervention in improving knowledge of, and attitudes toward, LGBTQ+ young people. Implications for research, practice, and policy are outlined

Evolution of spectral properties along the O(6)-U(5) transition in the interacting boson model. I. Level dynamics

We investigate the evolution of quantal spectra and the corresponding wave functions along the [O(6)-U(5)]$\supset$O(5) transition of the interacting boson model. The model is integrable in this regime and its ground state passes through a second-order structural phase transition. We show that the whole spectrum as a function of the Hamiltonian control parameter, as well as structures of all excited states, exhibit rather organized and correlated behaviors, that provide deeper insight into the nature of this transitional path.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure

New supersymmetric quartet of nuclei in the A=190 mass region

We present evidence for a new supersymmetric quartet in the A=190 region of the nuclear mass table. New experimental information on transfer and neutron capture reactions to the odd-odd nucleaus 194 Ir strongly suggests the existence of a new supersymmetric quartet, consisting of the 192,193 Os and 193,194 Ir nuclei. We make explicit predictions for the odd-neutron nucleus 193 Os, and suggest that its spectroscopic properties be measured in dedicated experiments.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, updated figures and revised text, Physical Review C, Rapid Communication, in pres

Caucasian Infants’ Attentional Orienting to Own- and Other-Race Faces

Infants show preferential attention toward faces and detect faces embedded within complex naturalistic scenes. Newborn infants are insensitive to race, but rapidly develop differential processing of own- and other-race faces. In the present study, we investigated the development of attentional orienting toward own- and other-race faces embedded within naturalistic scenes. Infants aged six-, nine- and twelve-months did not show differences in the speed of orienting to own- and other race faces, but other-race faces held infants’ visual attention for longer. We also found a clear developmental progression in attentional capture and holding, with older infants orienting to faces faster and fixating them for longer. Results are interpreted within the context of the two-process model of face processing

New supersymmetric quartet of nuclei in the A=190 mass region

We present evidence for a new supersymmetric quartet in the A=190 region of the nuclear mass table. New experimental information on transfer and neutron capture reactions to the odd-odd nucleaus 194 Ir strongly suggests the existence of a new supersymmetric quartet, consisting of the 192,193 Os and 193,194 Ir nuclei. We make explicit predictions for the odd-neutron nucleus 193 Os, and suggest that its spectroscopic properties be measured in dedicated experiments.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, updated figures and revised text, Physical Review C, Rapid Communication, in pres