38,358 research outputs found
Teleological Essentialism: Generalized
Natural/social kind essentialism is the view that natural kind categories, both living and non-living natural kinds, as well as social kinds (e.g., race, gender), are essentialized. On this view, artifactual kinds are not essentialized. Our viewâteleological essentialismâis that a broad range of categories are essentialized in terms of teleology, including artifacts. Utilizing the same kinds of experiments typically used to provide evidence of essentialist thinkingâinvolving superficial change (study 1), transformation of insides (study 2) and inferences about offspring (study 3)âwe find support for the view that a broad range of categoriesâliving natural kinds, non-living natural kinds and artifactual kindsâare essentialized in terms of teleology. Study 4 tests a unique prediction of teleological essentialism and also provides evidence that people make inferences about purposes which in turn guide categorization judgments
Learning medical alarms whilst performing other tasks.
Two studies are reported which first observe, and then attempt to replicate, the cognitive demands of intensive care unit (ICU) activity whilst concurrently learning audible alarms. The first study, an observational study in an ICU ward, showed that the alarms are very frequent and co-occur with some activities more than others. The three most frequently observed activities observed in the ICU were drugs (calculation, preparation and administration), patient observation and talking. The cognitive demands of these activities were simulated in a second, laboratory-based experiment in which alarms were learned. The results showed that performance in the alarm task generally improved as participants were exposed to more repetitions of those alarms, but that performance decrements were observed in the secondary tasks, particularly when there were two or three of them. Some confusions between the alarms persisted to the end of the study despite prolonged exposure to the alarms, confusions which were likely caused by both acoustic and verbal labelling similarities. PRACTITIONER SUMMARY: The cognitive demands of working in an ICU were observed and simulated whilst alarms were learned. Alarms should generally avoid sharing similar rhythmic (and other) characteristics. The simulation task described here could be used for testing alarm learning without requiring a clinical environment
Coal-rock interface detector
A coal-rock interface detector is presented which employs a radioactive source and radiation sensor. The source and sensor are separately and independently suspended and positioned against a mine surface of hydraulic pistons, which are biased from an air cushioned source of pressurized hydraulic fluid
Summary of all cycle II.5 shear and boundary layer measurements, aerodynamics
The two measurement systems were used to measure mean velocity and velocity, mass flux, and total temperature fluctuations in the turbulent boundary on the fuselage of a KC-135 aircraft. The boundary layer thickness ranged between about 20 and 30 cm for the range of flight Mach numbers from about 0.25 to 0.85 and Reynolds numbers between 3 and 6 x 10 to the 6th power/m. The adaptation of each system for use in airborne applications is discussed. The data obtained from each system are given and compared with each other and they indicate that the two systems represent viable ones for use in future airborne turbulence experiments
HST and Spitzer point source detection and optical extinction in powerful narrow-line radio galaxies
We present the analysis of infrared HST and Spitzer data for a sample of 13
FRII radio galaxies at 0.03<z<0.11 that are classified as narrow-line radio
galaxies (NLRG). In the context of the unified schemes for active galactic
nuclei (AGN), our direct view of the AGN in NLRG is impeded by a parsec-scale
dusty torus structure. Our high resolution infrared observations provide new
information about the degree of extinction induced by the torus, and the
incidence of obscured AGN in NLRG.
We find that the point-like nucleus detection rate increases from 25 per cent
at 1.025m, to 80 per cent at 2.05m, and to 100 per cent at 8.0m.
This supports the idea that most NLRG host an obscured AGN in their centre. We
estimate the extinction from the obscuring structures using X-ray, near-IR and
mid-IR data. We find that the optical extinction derived from the 9.7m
silicate absorption feature is consistently lower than the extinction derived
using other techniques. This discrepancy challenges the assumption that all the
mid-infrared emission of NLRG is extinguished by a simple screen of dust at
larger radii. This disagreement can be explained in terms of either weakening
of the silicate absorption feature by (i) thermal mid-IR emission from the
narrow-line region, (ii) non-thermal emission from the base of the radio jets,
or (iii) by direct warm dust emission that leaks through a clumpy torus without
suffering major attenuation.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, 8 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA
On the calculation of supersonic, separating, and reattaching flows
A method is developed for solving the laminar and turbulent compressible boundary-layer equations for separating and reattaching flows. Results of this method are compared with experimental data for two laminar and three turbulent boundary-layer, shock-wave interactions. Several Navier-Stokes solutions were obtained for each of the laminar boundary-layer, shock-wave interactions considered. Comparison of these solutions indicates a first-order sensitivity in C sub f to the computational mesh selected in both the viscous and inviscid portions of the flow
Spin Coherence and N ESEEM Effects of Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond with X-band Pulsed ESR
Pulsed ESR experiments are reported for ensembles of negatively-charged
nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV) in diamonds at X-band magnetic fields
(280-400 mT) and low temperatures (2-70 K). The NV centers in synthetic
type IIb diamonds (nitrogen impurity concentration ~ppm) are prepared with
bulk concentrations of cm to cm
by high-energy electron irradiation and subsequent annealing. We find that a
proper post-radiation anneal (1000C for 60 mins) is critically
important to repair the radiation damage and to recover long electron spin
coherence times for NVs. After the annealing, spin coherence times of T~ms at 5~K are achieved, being only limited by C nuclear spectral
diffusion in natural abundance diamonds. At X-band magnetic fields, strong
electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) is observed originating from the
central N nucleus. The ESEEM spectral analysis allows for accurate
determination of the N nuclear hypefine and quadrupole tensors. In
addition, the ESEEM effects from two proximal C sites (second-nearest
neighbor and fourth-nearest neighbor) are resolved and the respective C
hyperfine coupling constants are extracted.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
Teleological Essentialism
Placeholder essentialism is the view that there is a causal essence that holds category members together, though we may not know what the essence is. Sometimes the placeholder can be filled in by scientific essences, such as when we acquire scientific knowledge that the atomic weight of gold is 79. We challenge the view that placeholders are elaborated by scientific essences. On our view, if placeholders are elaborated, they are elaborated Aristotelian essences, a telos. Utilizing the same kinds of experiments used by traditional essentialistsâinvolving superficial change (study 1), transformation of insides (study 2), acquired traits (study 3) and inferences about offspring (study 4)âwe find support for the view that essences are elaborated by a telos. And we find evidence (study 5) that teleological essences may generate category judgments
Vlasov simulation in multiple spatial dimensions
A long-standing challenge encountered in modeling plasma dynamics is
achieving practical Vlasov equation simulation in multiple spatial dimensions
over large length and time scales. While direct multi-dimension Vlasov
simulation methods using adaptive mesh methods [J. W. Banks et al., Physics of
Plasmas 18, no. 5 (2011): 052102; B. I. Cohen et al., November 10, 2010,
http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2010.DPP.NP9.142] have recently shown
promising results, in this paper we present an alternative, the Vlasov Multi
Dimensional (VMD) model, that is specifically designed to take advantage of
solution properties in regimes when plasma waves are confined to a narrow cone,
as may be the case for stimulated Raman scatter in large optic f# laser beams.
Perpendicular grid spacing large compared to a Debye length is then possible
without instability, enabling an order 10 decrease in required computational
resources compared to standard particle in cell (PIC) methods in 2D, with
another reduction of that order in 3D. Further advantage compared to PIC
methods accrues in regimes where particle noise is an issue. VMD and PIC
results in a 2D model of localized Langmuir waves are in qualitative agreement
âI wish Iâd told themâ: a qualitative study examining the unmet psychosexual needs of prostate cancer patients during follow-up after treatment
<b>Objective</b> To gain insight into patients' experiences of follow-up care after treatment for prostate cancer and identify unmet psychosexual needs.<p></p>
<b>Methods</b> Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 35 patients aged 59-82 from three UK regions. Partners were included in 18 interviews. Data were analyzed using constant comparison. <p></p>
<b>Results</b> (1) Psychosexual problems gained importance over time, (2) men felt they were rarely invited to discuss psychosexual side effects within follow-up appointments and lack of rapport with health care professionals made it difficult to raise problems themselves, (3) problems were sometimes concealed or accepted and professionals' attempts to explore potential difficulties were resisted by some, and (4) older patients were too embarrassed to raise psychosexual concerns as they felt they would be considered 'too old' to be worried about the loss of sexual function.<p></p>
<b>Conclusion</b> Men with prostate cancer, even the very elderly, have psychosexual issues for variable times after diagnosis. These are not currently always addressed at the appropriate time for the patient.Practice implications Assessments of psychosexual problems should take place throughout the follow-up period, and not only at the time of initial treatment. Further research examining greater willingness or reluctance to engage with psychosexual interventions may be particularly helpful in designing future intervention
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