23,937 research outputs found
On the classification of quantum W-algebras
In this paper we consider the structure of general quantum W-algebras. We
introduce the notions of deformability, positive-definiteness, and reductivity
of a W-algebra. We show that one can associate a reductive finite Lie algebra
to each reductive W-algebra. The finite Lie algebra is also endowed with a
preferred subalgebra, which gives the conformal weights of the
W-algebra. We extend this to cover W-algebras containing both bosonic and
fermionic fields, and illustrate our ideas with the Poisson bracket algebras of
generalised Drinfeld-Sokolov Hamiltonian systems. We then discuss the
possibilities of classifying deformable W-algebras which fall outside this
class in the context of automorphisms of Lie algebras. In conclusion we list
the cases in which the W-algebra has no weight one fields, and further, those
in which it has only one weight two field.Comment: 28 page
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Pupils or prisoners? Institutional geographies and internal exclusion in UK secondary schools
This is the accepted version of the following article: Barker, J., Alldred, P., Watts, M. and Dodman, H. (2010), Pupils or prisoners? Institutional geographies and internal exclusion in UK secondary schools. Area, 42: 378â386, which has been published in final form at the link below. Copyright © 2010 The Authors.A growing interest in the geographies of schooling has led to an exploration of a variety of school spaces. An increasing number of secondary schools offer internal fixed-term exclusions so that temporary removal from school is not seen as âtime offâ for students. This particular strategy has led to the creation of a new type of space in schools. Drawing upon research undertaken in a London secondary school, this paper explores the geography of these new secluded spaces. We highlight that the configuration of physical space in Seclusion Units and the regulation of spatial practices create highly controlled and segregated spaces of punishment. We explore the powerful transformative effects of these spaces to change students' behaviour, social interaction and attitudes to learning. However, rather than simply creating docile subjects, we recognise that domination is never complete and we explore the extent and the limit of student resistance to the discipline and control of the Seclusion Unit
Dynamics of opinion formation in a small-world network
The dynamical process of opinion formation within a model using a local
majority opinion updating rule is studied numerically in networks with the
small-world geometrical property. The network is one in which shortcuts are
added to randomly chosen pairs of nodes in an underlying regular lattice. The
presence of a small number of shortcuts is found to shorten the time to reach a
consensus significantly. The effects of having shortcuts in a lattice of fixed
spatial dimension are shown to be analogous to that of increasing the spatial
dimension in regular lattices. The shortening of the consensus time is shown to
be related to the shortening of the mean shortest path as shortcuts are added.
Results can also be translated into that of the dynamics of a spin system in a
small-world network.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
Phase transitions in Ising model on a Euclidean network
A one dimensional network on which there are long range bonds at lattice
distances with the probability has been taken
under consideration. We investigate the critical behavior of the Ising model on
such a network where spins interact with these extra neighbours apart from
their nearest neighbours for . It is observed that there is
a finite temperature phase transition in the entire range. For , finite size scaling behaviour of various quantities are consistent with
mean field exponents while for , the exponents depend on
. The results are discussed in the context of earlier observations on
the topology of the underlying network.Comment: 7 pages, revtex4, 7 figures; to appear in Physical Review E, minor
changes mad
Choice of device to view video lectures: an analysis of two independent cohorts of first-year university students
Video lectures and mobile learning devices have become prominent, but little is known about device choices for watching video lectures. The setting for this study, a university that provided perpetual access to personal computers and free tablet devices to all first-year students, provided a unique opportunity to study device choice in a setting where both tablets and personal computers were perpetually available. Weekly video lectures on a first-year module were made from October to April in two independent cohorts of students. YouTube analytics were used to record data on device usage for video lecture views. Tablets were initially used for almost 70% of views. However, tablet usage declined throughout the academic year, and tablets were overtaken by personal computers as the preferred device in the second half of the academic year. Findings suggest that an initial preference for using tablets to view video lectures lasts only a few months
Costs of healthy living for older adults: the need for dynamic measures of health-related poverty to support evidence-informed policy-making and real-time decision-making
Objectives
This study aimed to examine the dynamic properties of the costs of healthy living for older adults and to compare these costs to the timing and levels of Pension Credit for older adults on low incomes.
Study design
This was a longitudinal descriptive study.
Methods
We used monthly inflation data and the concept of a âMinimum Income for Healthy Livingâ (MIHL) to estimate the dynamic changes in MIHL from 2003 to 2022 and compared these costs with Pension Credit levels for older adults on low incomes.
Results
Progress in closing the gap between the MIHL and Pension Credit has been reversed by recent sharp increases in costs. From April 2021 to April 2022, the MIHL for single older adults rose from ÂŁ5.57 per week below to ÂŁ8.29 per week above Pension Credit levels.
Conclusions
There is a need for dynamic measures of health-related poverty to support evidence-informed policy-making and real-time decision-making to mitigate the health impacts on older adults
Watch Out for the Beast: Fear Information and Attentional Bias in Children
Although valenced information about novel animals changes the implicit and explicit fear beliefs of children (Field & Lawson, 2003), how it might lead to anxiety is unknown. One possibility, based on cognitive models of anxiety, is that fear information creates attentional biases similar to those seen in anxiety disorders. Children between 7 and 9 years old were given positive information about 1 novel animal, negative information about another, and no information about the 3rd. A pictorial dot-probe task was used, immediately or with a 24-hr delay, to test for attentional biases to the different animals. The results replicated the finding that fear information changes children's fear beliefs. Regardless of whether there was a delay, children acquired an attentional bias in the left visual field toward the animal about which they held negative beliefs compared to the control animal. These results imply a possible way in which fear information might contribute to acquired fear
Hidden in plain sight: exploring menâs use of complementary and alternative medicine
Despite the increased attention given to the relationship between masculinity and health, the analysis of menâs use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is relatively underdeveloped compared to studies of female use.
Through the thematic synthesis of existing research studies, this paper collates and analyses patterns of, and motivations for, male usage of CAM. We reveal that there are significant levels of male use of CAM which cannot be explained by recourse to general or gendered patterns of health seeking behaviour or health status. Men who use CAM tend to exhibit similar demographic characteristics to female users, but also show patterns of engagement that both reinforce and challenge hegemonic masculinity.
The paper suggests that there remains a need to investigate the nuances and complexities of the motivations behind male usage patterns, and interrogate how these intersect with the performance of masculine selves
Pro-environmental behaviours and attitudes are associated with health, wellbeing and life satisfaction in multiple occupancy households in the UK Household Longitudinal Study
Pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs) and attitudes (PEAs) may influence different domains of health and wellbeing through several mechanisms. The household plays an important role in this relationship; however, there is no previous research on household level PEBs or the PEAs of other household members in relation to health and wellbeing. We used data from 22,427 people in 9344 multiple occupancy households in the UK Household Longitudinal Study. Explanatory variables were household level PEBs, individual PEAs and PEAs of other household members. We used five common physical and mental health and wellbeing outcome measures. Household PEBs were associated with higher life satisfaction. Individual PEAs were associated with lower life satisfaction and worse mental health. PEAs of other household members were associated with higher physical health, mental health and life satisfaction scores for all outcome measures. Findings suggest that âgreenerâ households can produce a âwin-winâ result for the environment and public health
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