3D wedge filling and 2D random-bond wetting

Fluids adsorbed in 3D wedges are shown to exhibit two types of continuous interfacial unbinding corresponding to critical and tricritical filling respectively. Analytic solution of an effective interfacial model based on the transfer-matrix formalism allows us to obtain the asymptotic probability distribution functions for the interfacial height when criticality and tricriticality are approached. Generalised random walk arguments show that, for systems with short-ranged forces, the critical singularities at these transitions are related to 2D complete and critical wetting with random bond disorder respectively.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Europhysics Letter

Physical education as Olympic education

Introduction In a recent paper (Parry, 1998, p. 64), I argued that the justification of PE activities lies in their capacity to facilitate the development of certain human excellences of a valued kind. Of course, the problem now lies in specifying those ‘human excellences of a valued kind’, and (for anyone) this task leads us into the area of philosophical anthropology. I suggested that the way forward for Physical Education lies in the philosophical anthropology (and the ethical ideals) of Olympism, which provide a specification of a variety of human values and excellences which: •have been attractive to human groups over an impressive span of time and space •have contributed massively to our historically developed conceptions of ourselves •have helped to develop a range of artistic and cultural conceptions that have defined Western culture. •have produced a range of physical activities that have been found universally satisfying and challenging. Although physical activities are widely considered to be pleasurable, their likelihood of gaining wide acceptance lies rather in their intrinsic value, which transcends the simply hedonic or relative good. Their ability to furnish us with pleasurable experiences depends upon our prior recognition in them of opportunities for the development and expression of valued human excellences. They are widely considered to be such opportunities for the expression of valued human excellences because, even when as local instantiations, their object is to challenge our common human propensities and abilities. I claimed that Olympic ideals may be seen not merely as inert ‘ideals’, but living ideas which have the power to remake our notions of sport in education, seeing sport not as mere physical activity but as the cultural and developmental activity of an aspiring, achieving, well-balanced, educated and ethical individual. This paper seeks to make good that claim by trying to develop a case for Physical Education as Olympic Education. I begin by setting out various accounts and conceptions of the Olympic Idea; then I suggest a unifying and organising account of the philosophical anthropology of Olympism; and this is followed by the practical application of that account in two examples of current ethical issues. Finally, I seek to present an account of Physical Education as Olympic Education

Optimal Extraction of Fibre Optic Spectroscopy

We report an optimal extraction methodology, for the reduction of multi-object fibre spectroscopy data, operating in the regime of tightly packed (and hence significantly overlapping) fibre profiles. The routine minimises crosstalk between adjacent fibres and statistically weights the extraction to reduce noise. As an example of the process we use simulations of the numerous modes of operation of the AAOmega fibre spectrograph and observational data from the SPIRAL Integral Field Unit at the Anglo-Australian Telescope.Comment: Accepted for publication in PAS

Correlation function algebra for inhomogeneous fluids

We consider variational (density functional) models of fluids confined in parallel-plate geometries (with walls situated in the planes z=0 and z=L respectively) and focus on the structure of the pair correlation function G(r_1,r_2). We show that for local variational models there exist two non-trivial identities relating both the transverse Fourier transform G(z_\mu, z_\nu;q) and the zeroth moment G_0(z_\mu,z_\nu) at different positions z_1, z_2 and z_3. These relations form an algebra which severely restricts the possible form of the function G_0(z_\mu,z_\nu). For the common situations in which the equilibrium one-body (magnetization/number density) profile m_0(z) exhibits an odd or even reflection symmetry in the z=L/2 plane the algebra simplifies considerably and is used to relate the correlation function to the finite-size excess free-energy \gamma(L). We rederive non-trivial scaling expressions for the finite-size contribution to the free-energy at bulk criticality and for systems where large scale interfacial fluctuations are present. Extensions to non-planar geometries are also considered.Comment: 15 pages, RevTex, 4 eps figures. To appear in J.Phys.Condens.Matte

To what extent do youth-focused prevention programmes reflect evidence-based practices? Findings from an audit of alcohol and other drug prevention programmes in Cape Town, South Africa

Despite considerable effort directed towards youth focused prevention activities in South Africa, little is known about the content of these activities. A major concern is the extent to which substance abuse prevention programmes reflect evidence-based practices (EBPs). This paper reports on the findings from a cross-sectional audit of youth-focused alcohol and other drug prevention programmes conducted in the Cape Town Metropole in 2007. This audit explored the extent to which EBPs are used in prevention programmes and examined possible barriers to their adoption. Key findings suggest that most prevention programmes are not guided by EBP and are implemented in the absence of evidence on their effectiveness. The lack of a national regulatory regime for prevention programmes and limited funding are major barriers to implementing sustainable and effective prevention programmes. Based on these findings, strategies to assist in improving substance abuse prevention services and recommendations for improving service delivery systems are provided. Key Words: Youth, prevention programmes, South Africa, evidence-based practice

Over-the-counter and prescription medicine misuse in Cape Town - findings from specialist treatment centres

Objective. To provide community-level public health surveillance information on over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicine misuse.Methods. A retrospective study of OTC and prescription medicine misuse among 9 063 patients from 23 specialist substance abuse treatment centres in Cape Town, South Africa, between 1998 and 2000.                       Results. OTC and prescription medicine misuse places a burden on health and social services in South Africa. This is evidenced through the constant demand for treatment for OTC/prescription medicine misuse. Benzodiazepines are the class of medicines for which users most often receive treatment, followed by analgesics. Analgesic misuse is most often accounted for by the use of codeine-containing medicines, many of which are available over the counter. Patients using OTC/prescription medicines as their primary drug of abuse are significantly more likely to be female, and aged over 40 years. In contrast, patients using OTC/prescription medicine as an additional drug of abuse tend to be male and over 40 years of age.Conclusions. This study points to the need to develop primary health care protocols for detection, management and referral of patients misusing OTC/prescription drugs and the need to debate the re-scheduling of codeine as a prescription-only substance. The study also points to the need for further community-based research on the nature and extent of OTC/prescription drug misuse among the general population

Localization of staff in a hostile context: An exploratory investigation in Afghanistan

Hostile environments pose a distinct threat to international organizations and their staff and yet they are under researched within the literature on IHRM. Localization of staff may present a means to manage some of the risks and also to provide the resources needed to achieve competitive advantage. Drawing on the resource-based view and institutional theory, we explored resource- and capability-based and institutional influences in relation to the decision of whether to localize professional staff in a hostile environment (Afghanistan). Using in-depth semi-structured interviews with representatives from four organizations in Afghanistan, our investigation identified new influences on localization at the societal and organizational level. These include ongoing security issues as well as influences on localization such as corruption, impartiality and the need for outside experiences as well as perspectives not identified in previous work. In addition, we emphasize the importance of both picking appropriate valuable local human resources and using appropriate internal capabilities to develop and deploy them in such a way to build firm-specific assets which are also rare, inimitable and non-substitutable, thus leading to sustainable competitive advantage