3,734 research outputs found
Treatment of obsessive morbid jealousy with cognitive analytic therapy: a mixed-methods quasi-experimental case study
This paper evaluates the effectiveness of 8-sessions of cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) for obsessive morbid jealousy (OMJ). The evaluation method was a mixed-methods A/B with follow-up single-case design. Ideographic jealousy measures were collected throughout baseline (2 sessions), treatment (6 sessions) and follow-up phases (one session) creating a 160-day time series. Nomothetic measures were completed at assessment, end of treatment and at follow-up. A structured qualitative interview was completed. Significant reductions to idiographic jealousy measures occurred during the treatment phase, with these gains maintained over follow-up. The intensity of the jealousy shifted from moderate to mild and this change was attributed to CAT. Methodological issues and future directions for the treatment of OMJ are discussed
Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) in the United Kingdom: A systematic review and metaâanalysis of 10âyears of practiceâbased evidence
Objectives:
Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) is a nationalâlevel dissemination programme for provision of evidenceâbased psychological treatments for anxiety and depression in the United Kingdom. This paper sought to review and metaâanalyse practiceâbased evidence arising from the programme.
Design:
A preâregistered (CRD42018114796) systematic review and metaâanalysis.
Methods:
A random effects metaâanalysis was performed only on the practiceâbased IAPT studies (i.e. excluding the clinical trials). Subgroup analyses examined the potential influence of particular methodologies, treatments, populations, and target conditions. Sensitivity analyses investigated potential sources of heterogeneity and bias.
Results:
The systematic review identified N = 60 studies, with N = 47 studies suitable for metaâanalysis. The primary metaâanalysis showed large preâpost treatment effect sizes for depression (d = 0.87, 95% CI [0.78â0.96], p < .0001) and anxiety (d = 0.88, 95% CI [0.79â0.97], p < .0001), and a moderate effect on functional impairment (d = 0.55, 95% CI [0.48â0.61], p < .0001). The methodological features of studies influenced ESs (e.g., such as whether intentionâtoâtreat or completer analyses were employed).
Conclusions:
Current evidence suggests that IAPT enables access to broadly effective evidenceâbased psychological therapies for large numbers of patients. The limitations of the review and the clinical and methodological implications are discussed.
Practitioner points:
IAPT interventions are associated with large preâpost treatment effect sizes in depression and anxiety measures.
IAPT interventions are associated with moderate treatment effect sizes with regards to work and social adjustment.
A reduction in dropout and also the prevention of postâtreatment relapse via the offer of followâup support are important areas for future development
Extended X-Ray Emission from QSOs
We report Chandra ACIS observations of the fields of 4 QSOs showing strong
extended optical emission-line regions. Two of these show no evidence for
significant extended X-ray emission. The remaining two fields, those of 3C
249.1 and 4C 37.43, show discrete (but resolved) X-ray sources at distances
ranging from ~10 to ~40 kpc from the nucleus. In addition, 4C 37.43 also may
show a region of diffuse X-ray emission extending out to ~65 kpc and centered
on the QSO. It has been suggested that extended emission-line regions such as
these may originate in the cooling of a hot intragroup medium. We do not detect
a general extended medium in any of our fields, and the upper limits we can
place on its presence indicate cooling times of at least a few 10^9 years. The
discrete X-ray emission sources we detect cannot be explained as the X-ray jets
frequently seen associated with radio-loud quasars, nor can they be due to
electron scattering of nuclear emission. The most plausible explanation is that
they result from high-speed shocks from galactic superwinds resulting either
from a starburst in the QSO host galaxy or from the activation of the QSO
itself. Evidence from densities and velocities found from studies of the
extended optical emission around QSOs also supports this interpretation.Comment: Accepted by ApJ. 9 pages including 5 figure
A Kiloparsec-Scale Binary Active Galactic Nucleus Confirmed by the Expanded Very Large Array
We report the confirmation of a kpc-scale binary active galactic nucleus
(AGN) with high-resolution radio images from the Expanded Very Large Array
(EVLA). SDSS J150243.1+111557 is a double-peaked [O III] AGN at z = 0.39
selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Our previous near-infrared adaptive
optics imaging reveals two nuclei separated by 1.4" (7.4 kpc), and our optical
integral-field spectroscopy suggests that they are a type-1--type-2 AGN pair.
However, these data alone cannot rule out the single AGN scenario where the
narrow emission-line region associated with the secondary is photoionized by
the broad-line AGN in the primary. Our new EVLA images at 1.4, 5.0, and 8.5 GHz
show two steep-spectrum compact radio sources spatially coincident with the
optical nuclei. The radio power of the type-2 AGN is an order-of-magnitude in
excess of star-forming galaxies with similar extinction-corrected [O II] 3727
luminosities, indicating that the radio emission is powered by accretion.
Therefore, SDSS J150243.1+111557 is one of the few confirmed kpc-scale binary
AGN systems. Spectral-energy-distribution modeling shows that SDSS
J150243.1+111557 is a merger of two ~10^{11} M_sun galaxies. With both black
hole masses around 10^8 Msun, the AGNs are accreting at ~10 times below the
Eddington limit.Comment: ApJL accepted. 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl
Current Challenges in Autonomous Vehicle Development
The field of autonomous vehicles is a rapidly growing one, with significant interest from both government and industry sectors. Autonomous vehicles represent the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, combining decision-making with real-time control. Autonomous vehicles are desired for use in search and rescue, urban reconnaissance, mine detonation, supply convoys, and more. The general adage is to use robots for anything dull, dirty, dangerous or dumb. While a great deal of research has been done on autonomous systems, there are only a handful of fielded examples incorporating machine autonomy beyond the level of teleoperation, especially in outdoor/complex environments. In an attempt to assess and understand the current state of the art in autonomous vehicle development, a few areas where unsolved problems remain became clear. This paper outlines those areas and provides suggestions for the focus of science and technology research. The first step in evaluating the current state of autonomous vehicle development was to develop a definition of autonomy. A number of autonomy level classification systems were reviewed. The resulting working definitions and classification schemes used by the authors are summarized in the opening sections of the paper. The remainder of the report discusses current approaches and challenges in decision-making and real-time control for autonomous vehicles. Suggested research focus areas for near-, mid-, and long-term development are also presented
Near Infrared Adaptive Optics Imaging of QSO Host Galaxies
We report near-infrared (primarily H-band) adaptive optics (AO) imaging with
the Gemini-N and Subaru Telescopes, of a representative sample of 32 nearby
(z<0.3) QSOs selected from the Palomar-Green (PG) Bright Quasar Survey (BQS),
in order to investigate the properties of the host galaxies. 2D modeling and
visual inspection of the images shows that ~36% of the hosts are ellipticals,
\~39% contain a prominent disk component, and ~25% are of undetermined type.
30% show obvious signs of disturbance. The mean M_H(host) = -24.82 (2.1L_H*),
with a range -23.5 to -26.5 (~0.63 to 10 L_H*). At <L_H*, all hosts have a
dominant disk component, while at >2 L_H* most are ellipticals. "Disturbed"
hosts are found at all M_H(host), while "strongly disturbed" hosts appear to
favor the more luminous hosts. Hosts with prominent disks have less luminous
QSOs, while the most luminous QSOs are almost exclusively in ellipticals or in
mergers (which presumably shortly will be ellipticals). At z<0.13, where our
sample is complete at B-band, we find no clear correlation between M_B(QSO) and
M_H(host). However, at z>0.15, the more luminous QSOs (M_B<-24.7), and 4/5 of
the radio-loud QSOs, have the most luminous H-band hosts (>7L_H*), most of
which are ellipticals. Finally, we find a strong correlation between the
"infrared-excess", L_IR/L_BB, of QSOs with host type and degree of disturbance.
Disturbed and strongly disturbed hosts and hosts with dominant disks have
L_IR/L_BB twice that of non-disturbed and elliptical hosts, respectively. QSOs
with "disturbed" and "strongly-disturbed" hosts are also found to have
morphologies and mid/far-infrared colors that are similar to what is found for
"warm" ultraluminous infrared galaxies, providing further evidence for a
possible evolutionary connection between both classes of objects.Comment: 80 pages, accepted for publication in ApJ Supp
Cost-effectiveness of psychological interventions for children and young people with post-traumatic stress disorder
Background: PTSD in youth may lead to longâlasting psychological implications, educational difficulties and increased healthcare costs. Psychological interventions have been shown to be effective in its management. The objective of this study was to assess the costâeffectiveness of a range of psychological interventions for children and young people with PTSD. /
Methods: A decisionâanalytic model was constructed to compare costs and qualityâadjusted life years (QALYs) of 10 psychological interventions and no treatment for children and young people with PTSD, from the perspective of the National Health Service and personal social services in England. Effectiveness data were derived from a systematic review and network metaâanalysis. Other model input parameters were based on published sources, supplemented by expert opinion. /
Results: Cognitive therapy for PTSD, a form of individual traumaâfocused cognitive behavioural therapy (TFâCBT), appeared to be the most costâeffective intervention for children and young people with PTSD (with a probability of .78 amongst the 11 evaluated options at a costâeffectiveness threshold of ÂŁ20,000/QALY), followed by narrative exposure (another form of individual TFâCBT), play therapy, and other forms of individual TFâCBT. After excluding cognitive therapy from the analysis, narrative exposure appeared to be the most costâeffective option with a .40 probability of being costâeffective amongst the remaining 10 options. EMDR, parent training and group TFâCBT occupied middle costâeffectiveness rankings. Family therapy and supportive counselling were less costâeffective than other active interventions. There was limited evidence for some interventions, in particular cognitive therapy for PTSD and parent training. /
Conclusions: Individual forms of TFâCBT and, to a lesser degree, play therapy appear to be costâeffective in the treatment of children and young people with PTSD. Family therapy and supportive counselling are unlikely to be costâeffective relative to other interventions. There is a need for wellâconducted studies that examine the longâterm clinical and costâeffectiveness of a range of psychological treatments for children and young people with PTSD
States for phase estimation in quantum interferometry
Ramsey interferometry allows the estimation of the phase of rotation
of the pseudospin vector of an ensemble of two-state quantum systems. For
small, the noise-to-signal ratio scales as the spin-squeezing parameter
, with possible for an entangled ensemble. However states with
minimum are not optimal for single-shot measurements of an arbitrary
phase. We define a phase-squeezing parameter, , which is an appropriate
figure-of-merit for this case. We show that (unlike the states that minimize
), the states that minimize can be created by evolving an
unentangled state (coherent spin state) by the well-known 2-axis
counter-twisting Hamiltonian. We analyse these and other states (for example
the maximally entangled state, analogous to the optical "NOON" state ) using several different properties, including ,
, the coefficients in the pseudo angular momentum basis (in the three
primary directions) and the angular Wigner function . Finally
we discuss the experimental options for creating phase squeezed states and
doing single-shot phase estimation.Comment: 8 pages and 5 figure
Radio-Selected Binary Active Galactic Nuclei from the Very Large Array Stripe 82 Survey
Galaxy mergers play an important role in the growth of galaxies and their
supermassive black holes. Simulations suggest that tidal interactions could
enhance black hole accretion, which can be tested by the fraction of binary
active galactic nuclei (AGNs) among galaxy mergers. But determining the
fraction requires a statistical sample of binaries. We have identified
kpc-scale binary AGNs directly from high-resolution radio imaging. Inside the
92 square deg covered by the high-resolution Very Large Array survey of the
Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Stripe 82 field, we identified 22 grade A and
30 grade B candidates of binary radio AGNs with angular separations less than
5" (10 kpc at z = 0.1). Eight of the candidates have optical spectra for both
components from the SDSS spectroscopic surveys and our Keck program. Two grade
B candidates are projected pairs, but the remaining six candidates are all
compelling cases of binary AGNs based on either emission line ratios or the
excess in radio power compared to the H-alpha-traced star formation rate. Only
two of the six binaries were previously discovered by an optical spectroscopic
search. Based on these results, we estimate that ~60% of our binary candidates
would be confirmed once we obtain complete spectroscopic information. We
conclude that wide-area high-resolution radio surveys offer an efficient method
to identify large samples of binary AGNs. These radio-selected binary AGNs
complement binaries identified at other wavelengths and are useful for
understanding the triggering mechanisms of black hole accretion.Comment: ApJ accepte
Mergers in Double-Peaked [O III] Active Galactic Nuclei
As a natural consequence of galaxy mergers, binary active galactic nuclei
(AGNs) should be commonplace. Nevertheless, observational confirmations are
rare, especially for binaries with separations less than ten kpc. Such a system
may show two sets of narrow emission lines in a single spectrum owing to the
orbital motion of the binary. We have obtained high-resolution near-infrared
images of 50 double-peaked [O III] 5007 AGNs with the Keck II laser guide star
adaptive optics system. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey sample is compiled from
the literature and consists of 17 type-1 AGNs between 0.18 < z < 0.56 and 33
type-2 AGNs between 0.03 < z < 0.24. The new images reveal eight type-1 and
eight type-2 sources that are apparently undergoing mergers. These are strong
candidates of kpc-scale binary AGNs, because they show multiple components
separated between 0.6 and 12 kpc and often disturbed morphologies. Because most
of the type-1s are at higher redshifts than the type-2s, the higher merger
fraction of type-1s (47+/-20%) compared to that of type-2s (24+/-10%) can be
attributed to the general evolution of galaxy merger fraction with redshift.
Furthermore, we show that AGN mergers are outliers of the M_BH-sigma relation
because of over-estimated stellar velocity dispersions, illustrating the
importance of removing mergers from the samples defining the M_BH-sigma
relations. Finally, we find that the emission-line properties are
indistinguishable for spatially resolved and unresolved sources, emphasizing
that scenarios involving a single AGN can produce the same double-peaked line
profiles and they account for at least 70% of the double-peaked [O III] AGNs.Comment: ApJ accepted with major revisions, main results unchanged. 7 pages, 5
figures, 1 table, emulateapj styl
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