Recent integral cross section validation measurements at the ASP facility

This work presents new integral data measured at the ASP 14 MeV neutron irradiation facility at Aldermaston in the UK, which has recently become available for fusion-related work through the CCFE materials programme. Measurements of reaction products from activation experiments using elemental foils were carried out using gamma spectrometry in a high efficiency, high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector and associated digital signal processing hardware. Following irradiation and rapid extraction to the measurement cell, gamma emissions were acquired with both energy and time bins. Integral cross section and half-life data have been derived from these measurements. Selected integral cross section values are presented from the measurement campaigns.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

The impact of an emotionally expressive writing intervention on eating pathology in female students

© 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Introduction: Previous research demonstrating emotional influences on eating and weight suggest that emotionally expressive writing may have a significant impact on reducing risk of eating pathology. This study examined the effects of writing about Intensely Positive Experiences on weight and disordered eating during a naturalistic stressor. Method: Seventy-one female students completed an expressive or a control writing task before a period of exams. Both groups were compared on BMI (kg/m2) and the Eating Disorder Examination – Questionnaire (EDE-Q) before the writing task and at 8-week follow-up. A number of secondary analyses were also examined (to identify potential mediators) including measures of attachment, social rank, self-criticism and self-reassurance, stress and mood. Results: There was a significant effect of intervention on changes in the subscales of the EDE-Q (p = .03). Specifically, expressive writers significantly reduced their dietary restraint while those in the control group did not. There was no significant effect of the intervention on changes in BMI or the other subscales of the EDE-Q (Eating, Weight and Shape Concern). There was also no effect of writing on any of the potential mediators in the secondary analyses. Discussion: Emotionally expressive writing may reduce the risk of dietary restraint in women but these findings should be accepted with caution. It is a simple and light touch intervention that has the potential to be widely applied. However, it remains for future research to replicate these results and to identify the mechanisms of action.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Specialization of the rostral prefrontal cortex for distinct analogy processes

Analogical reasoning is central to learning and abstract thinking. It involves using a more familiar situation (source) to make inferences about a less familiar situation (target). According to the predominant cognitive models, analogical reasoning includes 1) generation of structured mental representations and 2) mapping based on structural similarities between them. This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to specify the role of rostral prefrontal cortex (PFC) in these distinct processes. An experimental paradigm was designed that enabled differentiation between these processes, by temporal separation of the presentation of the source and the target. Within rostral PFC, a lateral subregion was activated by analogy task both during study of the source (before the source could be compared with a target) and when the target appeared. This may suggest that this subregion supports fundamental analogy processes such as generating structured representations of stimuli but is not specific to one particular processing stage. By contrast, a dorsomedial subregion of rostral PFC showed an interaction between task (analogy vs. control) and period (more activated when the target appeared). We propose that this region is involved in comparison or mapping processes. These results add to the growing evidence for functional differentiation between rostral PFC subregions

Similitude requirements and scaling relationships as applied to model testing

The similitude requirements for the most general test conditions are presented. These similitude requirements are considered in relation to the scaling relationships, test technique, test conditions (including supersonic flow), and test objectives. Particular emphasis is placed on satisfying the various similitude requirements for incompressible and compressible flow conditions. For free flying models tests, the test velocities for incompressible flow are scaled from Froude number similitude requirements and those for compressible flow are scaled from Mach number similitude requirements. The limitations of various test techniques are indicated, with emphasis on the free flying model

Solving the electrical control of magnetic coercive field paradox

The ability to tune magnetic properties of solids via electric voltages instead of external magnetic fields is a physics curiosity of great scientific and technological importance. Today, there is strong published experimental evidence of electrical control of magnetic coercive fields in composite multiferroic solids. Unfortunately, the literature indicates highly contradictory results. In some studies, an applied voltage increases the magnetic coercive field and in other studies the applied voltage decreases the coercive field of composite multiferroics. Here, we provide an elegant explanation to this paradox and we demonstrate why all reported results are in fact correct. It is shown that for a given polarity of the applied voltage, the magnetic coercive field depends on the sign of two tensor components of the multiferroic solid: magnetostrictive and piezoelectric coefficient. For a negative applied voltage, the magnetic coercive field decreases when the two material parameters have the same sign and increases when they have opposite signs, respectively. The effect of the material parameters is reversed when the same multiferroic solid is subjected to a positive applied voltage

Level density of a Fermi gas and integer partitions: a Gumbel-like finite-size correction

We investigate the many-body level density of gas of non-interacting fermions. We determine its behavior as a function of the temperature and the number of particles. As the temperature increases, and beyond the usual Sommerfeld expansion that describes the degenerate gas behavior, corrections due to a finite number of particles lead to Gumbel-like contributions. We discuss connections with the partition problem in number theory, extreme value statistics as well as differences with respect to the Bose gas.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, one figure added, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

A Web/Grid Services Approach for Integration of Virtual Clinical & Research Environments

Clinicans have responsibilities for audit and research, often participating in projects with basic scientist colleagues. Our work in a regional teaching hospital setting involves collaboration with the medical school computer services and builds upon work developed in computer science department as part of the Collaborative Orthopaedic Research Environment (CORE) project[1]. This has established a pilot study for proof of concept work. Users are mapped to a personal profile implemented using XML and a service oriented architecture (SOA)[2,3]. This bridges the e-Health and e-Science domains, addressing some of the basic questions of security and uptake

A Qualitative Comparison of Secular and Buddhist-Informed Mental Health Practitioners’ Perceptions of Non-Attachment

Objectives Buddhist non-attachment has been shown to be effective for improving mental health and wellbeing. Non-attachment refers to the ability to engage with phenomena without psychologically clinging to experiences or rejecting them. The present qualitative investigation sought to compare secular and Buddhist-informed counselors’ and psychotherapists’ perceptions of the non-attachment construct, including their views on its relevance for client-therapist practice. Method Two data sets were collected. In Sample 1, semi-structured interviews were administered to nine qualified counselors and psychotherapists with limited prior knowledge of non-attachment or related Buddhist principles. In Sample 2, five Buddhist-informed counselors and psychotherapists completed an open questionnaire. Both data sets were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Results Analysis of the first sample generated four themes concerning participants’ understanding of non-attachment: (1) misunderstanding non-attachment, (2) who non-attachment might be useful for, (3) potential impact on the therapeutic relationship and (4) the importance of experiential understanding on the part of the therapist. The analysis of Sample 2 generated two themes: (1) considerations for assimilating non-attachment, and (2) positive experiences of applying the construct in client-therapist contexts. Conclusions The secular mental health practitioners in Sample 1 recognised the potential utility of non-attachment but harboured some misunderstandings as to its meaning as well as reservations regarding its suitability for all client groups. This was in contrast to Sample 2 participants, who felt that with appropriate therapeutic skill and discernment, non-attachment can be beneficial for a broad range of mental health conditions. Raising awareness of non-attachment amongst secular mental health practitioners is crucial to improving comprehension of the concept and its integration into client-therapist settings