An observational method for fast stochastic X-ray polarimetry-timing

The upcoming launch of the first space based X-ray polarimeter in $\sim 40$ years will provide powerful new diagnostic information to study accreting compact objects. In particular, analysis of rapid variability of the polarisation degree and angle will provide the opportunity to probe the relativistic motions of material in the strong gravitational fields close to the compact objects, and enable new methods to measure black hole and neutron star parameters. However, polarisation properties are measured in a statistical sense, and a statistically significant polarisation detection requires a fairly long exposure, even for the brightest objects. Therefore, the sub-minute timescales of interest are not accessible using a direct time-resolved analysis of polarisation degree and angle. Phase-folding can be used for coherent pulsations, but not for stochastic variability such as quasi-periodic oscillations. Here, we introduce a Fourier method that enables statistically robust detection of stochastic polarisation variability for arbitrarily short variability timescales. Our method is analogous to commonly used spectral-timing techniques. We find that it should be possible in the near future to detect the quasi-periodic swings in polarisation angle predicted by Lense-Thirring precession of the inner accretion flow. This is contingent on the mean polarisation degree of the source being greater than $\sim 4-5\%$, which is consistent with the best current constraints on Cygnus X-1 from the late 1970s.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

Toward a Phenomenological Pragmatics of Enactive Perception

The enactive approach to perception is generating an extensive amount of interest and debate in the cognitive sciences. One particularly contentious issue has been how best to characterize the perceptual experiences reported by subjects who have mastered the skillful use of a perceptual supplementation (PS) device. This paper argues that this issue cannot be resolved with the use of third-person methodologies alone, but that it requires the development of a phenomenological pragmatics. In particular, it is necessary that the experimenters become skillful in the use of PS devices themselves. The "Enactive Torch" is proposed as an experimental platform which is cheap, non-intrusive and easy to replicate, so as to enable researchers to corroborate reported experiences with their own phenomenology more easily

An extended case study on the phenomenology of sequence-space synesthesia

Investigation of synesthesia phenomenology in adults is needed to constrain accounts of developmental trajectories of this trait. We report an extended phenomenological investigation of sequence-space synesthesia in a single case (AB). We used the Elicitation Interview (EI) method to facilitate repeated exploration of AB's synesthetic experience. During an EI the subject's attention is selectively guided by the interviewer in order to reveal precise details about the experience. Detailed analysis of the resulting 9 h of interview transcripts provided a comprehensive description of AB's synesthetic experience, including several novel observations. For example, we describe a specific spatial reference frame (a "mental room") in which AB's concurrents occur, and which overlays his perception of the real world (the "physical room"). AB is able to switch his attention voluntarily between this mental room and the physical room. Exemplifying the EI method, some of our observations were previously unknown even to AB. For example, AB initially reported to experience concurrents following visual presentation, yet we determined that in the majority of cases the concurrent followed an internal verbalization of the inducer, indicating an auditory component to sequence-space synesthesia. This finding is congruent with typical rehearsal of inducer sequences during development, implicating cross-modal interactions between auditory and visual systems in the genesis of this synesthetic form. To our knowledge, this paper describes the first application of an EI to synesthesia, and the first systematic longitudinal investigation of the first-person experience of synesthesia since the re-emergence of interest in this topic in the 1980's. These descriptions move beyond rudimentary graphical or spatial representations of the synesthetic spatial form, thereby providing new targets for neurobehavioral analysis

Novel Spin and Statistical Properties of Nonabelian Vortices

We study the statistics of vortices which appear in (2+1)--dimensional spontaneously broken gauge theories, where a compact group G breaks to a finite nonabelian subgroup H. Two simple models are presented. In the first, a quantum state which is symmetric under the interchange of a pair of indistinguishable vortices can be transformed into an antisymmetric state after the passage through the system of a third vortex with an appropriate $H$-flux element. Further, there exist states containing two indistinguishable spinless vortices which obey Fermi statistics. These results generalize to loops of nonabelian cosmic string in 3+1 dimensions. In the second model, fractional analogues of the above behaviors occur. Also, composites of vortices in this theory may possess fractional ``Cheshire spin'' which can be changed by passing an additional vortex through the system.Comment: 11 pages, UICHEP-TH/92-15; FERMILAB-PUB-92/233-T; SLAC-PUB-588

Building a Virtual City for the Classroom: Angkor

Histor

What Factors Are Related to Medical Students’ and Doctors’ Attitudes Towards Older Patients?

Background: Studies have sought to determine the possible precursors to medical students’ and doctors’ positive or negative attitudes towards older patients by examining associations with a variety of demographic, educational/training, and job/career factors. A review is now needed to explore the quality of these studies and to synthesize findings. Methods: A systematic review on the worldwide English language literature was conducted. Ten databases were explored (including Medline, PsychInfo and Science Direct) from database inception to December 2015 using a systematic search strategy. Quality was assessed and reported. Results: The search identified 2332 articles; 37 studies met the eligibility criteria. Students’ year in medical school, doctors’ years of practice or seniority, participants’ age and ethnicity did not appear to demonstrate relationships with (positive or negative) attitudes towards older patients. Ten studies reported that female medical students and/or doctors reported significantly more positive attitudes towards older patients than their male counterparts, although 18 studies found no differences. No studies reported more positive attitudes scores for males than females. Interest in working in older patient settings and reporting a high level of intrinsic motivation for choosing medicine as a career were both associated with positive attitudes towards older patients. Eight of 11 studies found more positive attitudes were reported by those who demonstrated higher levels of knowledge about ageing but this apparent relationship is questioned here due to methodological issues identified in the quality assessment stage pertaining to the knowledge measures employed. Reliability and validity of the attitude measures, that were employed, were examined. Conclusions: This article has identified factors associated with medical students’ and doctors’ positive attitudes towards older patients, as well as factors which have been extensively studied but failed to demonstrate meaningful relationships with attitudes. This is the first study to identify that the relationship between attitudes and knowledge about ageing may be a methodological artefact. Future research can build on the relationships identified here and should employ appropriate measures of attitudes with demonstrated reliability and validity

‘Not just a boys' game’: programme evaluation of a multi-agency cricket intervention designed to reduce gender inequity in a city in the east of England

Previous feminist research demonstrates that women’s participation in sport is subject to patriarchal values, which produce and reproduce gender inequity in elite sport (Rowe, D. (2004). Critical Reading: Sport, Culture and Media. Berkshire. McGraw Hill.). Cricket is one sport in which patriarchy remains prevalent. Despite the recent success of the England Women’s cricket team, female participation in elite cricket remains low. The latest Active People Survey suggests the number of women participating in cricket has decreased between 2008 and 2010, further widening the gender gap (Sport England, 2011). This key aim of this study was to evaluate an intervention with the stated aim of reducing gender inequity in cricket in a city in the East of England. The intervention was conducted in conjunction with a multi-agency partnership developed by the authors, including an ECB premier league club, county board and University. A needs assessment highlighted the lack of opportunities for women’s cricket. The intervention therefore targeted women of all cricket abilities, with a view to creating a sustainable women’s team. Project actions included sourcing facilities, staff and equipment, producing advertising material and facilitating partnership work. This study employed a theory-driven programme evaluation to assess the effectiveness of this cricket intervention. Programme evaluation uses programme theory to assess the efficacy of sports development interventions (Rossi et al., 2004, Evaluation: A systematic approach. Sage, London.). In this case, the programme’s theory is founded upon a feminist rationale. Critical success factors have been incorporated. These included assessing sustainable participation rates. Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and participants will be completed to evaluate programme effectiveness