An ϵ\epsilon-expansion for Small-World Networks

I construct a well-defined expansion in $\epsilon=2-d$ for diffusion processes on small-world networks. The technique permits one to calculate the average over disorder of moments of the Green's function, and is used to calculate the average Green's function and fluctuations to first non-leading order in $\epsilon$, giving results which agree with numerics. This technique is also applicable to other problems of diffusion in random media.Comment: 7 pages Europhysics style, 3 figure

Koolmeister, preester, filosoof Jakob Vaarask (1862-1936)

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Service quality in nursing homes. A construct, measurement and performance model to increase client focus.

This thesis is concerned with the quality of care for the elderly in nursing homes, responding to a critical social and demographic imperative. The aim of this study is to provide a service quality construct for nursing homes to increase client focus and satisfaction. The research is underpinned by the service quality literature. It utilises the SERVQUAL construct to explore the nature of service quality in nursing homes through semi-structured interviews with nursing home residents and resident's families. A service quality scale was constructed comprising six dimensions and 27 scale items capturing service delivery in nursing homes. This scale was purified through a survey of residents and family members (n=263). Through exploratory factor analysis, six importance and four experience factors were identified. Regression analysis was used to identify relationships between the factors, service quality and satisfaction. The results indicate that importance does not predict perceived quality, though experience of responsiveness and hospitality and courtesy and personal approach are indicators of service quality. Furthermore, quality emerges as a predictor of satisfaction. From these outcomes, a service quality construct was developed which comprises of service marketing and service quality dimensions. This thesis contributes to the construction of the concept of service quality in nursing homes, its dimensionality and thus the precursors of satisfaction. These have considerable implications for the management of nursing home services.homes, its dimensionality and thus the precursors of satisfaction. These have considerable implications for the management of nursing home services.Sodexo the Netherland

Expression and shedding of endothelial protein C receptor in prostate cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Increasing evidences show that beyond its role in coagulation, endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) interferes with carcinogenesis. Pro-carcinogenic effects of EPCR were linked with a raised generation of activated protein C (aPC) and anti-apoptotic signalling. This study was carried out to analyze the expression, cell surface exposition, and shedding of EPCR in normal and malignant prostate cell lines.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>EPCR expression is up-regulated both at the mRNA and protein levels in invasive prostate DU-145 and PC-3 cells in comparison to normal prostate epithelial cells (PrEC) and less-invasive LNCaP cells. Release of soluble EPCR (sEPCR) is induced by 12-myristate 13-acetate, ionomycin, H₂O₂, and disruptor of lipid rafts in PrEC, DU-145, and PC-3 cells. Furthermore, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), but not interleukin-6 or interferon-γ increase sEPCR release. In LNCaP cells, neither pharmacological agents nor IL-1β or TNF-α result in a significant increase of sEPCR release. The effects of IL-1β and TNF-α on EPCR shedding in DU-145 cells are mediated by MEK/ERK 1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK signalling cascades. In PC-3 cells, however, the MEK/ERK 1/2 pathway is down-regulated and incubation with cytokines did not elevate the phosphorylated ERK-1/2 fraction as in the case of DU-145 cells. Treatment with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA), an activator of metalloproteases, causes a disproportionately large increase of sEPCR release in DU-145 and PC-3 cells, compared to PrEC and LNCaP cells. Finally, an increased release of sEPCR mediated by APMA treatment is shown to be connected with reduced generation of activated protein C indicating the functionality of EPCR in these cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study demonstrates a number of substantial differences in expression and shedding of EPCR in prostate cancer cell lines in comparison with normal cells that may be relevant for understanding the role of this receptor in carcinogenesis.</p

Typical local measurements in generalised probabilistic theories: emergence of quantum bipartite correlations

What singles out quantum mechanics as the fundamental theory of Nature? Here we study local measurements in generalised probabilistic theories (GPTs) and investigate how observational limitations affect the production of correlations. We find that if only a subset of typical local measurements can be made then all the bipartite correlations produced in a GPT can be simulated to a high degree of accuracy by quantum mechanics. Our result makes use of a generalisation of Dvoretzky's theorem for GPTs. The tripartite correlations can go beyond those exhibited by quantum mechanics, however.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure v2: more details in the proof of the main resul

Mitschrift [von Ludwig Kieninger] der Vorlesungen zur Elastizitätslehre [von Professor Albert Bantlin] und Maschinenelemente [von Professor Adolf Ernst]

MITSCHRIFT [VON LUDWIG KIENINGER] DER VORLESUNGEN ZUR ELASTIZITÄTSLEHRE [VON PROFESSOR ALBERT BANTLIN] UND MASCHINENELEMENTE [VON PROFESSOR ADOLF ERNST] Mitschriften und Skripte von Vorlesungen an der Technischen Hochschule und Universität Stuttgart (-) Mitschrift [von Ludwig Kieninger] der Vorlesungen zur Elastizitätslehre [von Professor Albert Bantlin] und Maschinenelemente [von Professor Adolf Ernst] (1897) (1) Einband ( - ) Vorsatz ( - ) [Albert Bantlin:] Elastizitätslehre, Wintersemester 1899/1900 (1) [Grundlagen] (1) Abschnitt I[:] Betrachtungen der Formänderungen in einem beliebigen Punkt eines festen Körpers (15) Abschnitt [II:] Beziehungen zwischen Spannung und Formänderung (25) [Abschnitt III:] Allgemeine Aufgaben der Elastizitätslehre und Weg zur Lösung derselben (37) Kapitel [IV:] (52) Verschiedene Material[i]en wie sie [sich] verhalten bei Längenänderungen (52) Einfache Fälle der Beanspruchung gerader Stäbe durch Normalspannungen (63) Biegung gerader stabförmiger Körper (85) Formänderung und Beanspruchung der Speichen eines belasteten Wagenrades (115) Kapitel [V] (119) Gekrümmte Stäbe (119) Berechnung von Gefäßen (146) Kapitel [VI] (158) Plattenförmige Körper (158) Elliptische Platten (173) Formänderungsarbeit gerader stabförmiger Körper (177) [Kapitel VII:] Geschichtliche Entwicklung der Festigkeitslehre (184) [Adolf Ernst:] Maschinenelemente, Wintersemester 1897/1898 (189) [Ohne Titel: Elastizitäts- und Festigkeitlehre] (189) Maschinenteile[:] Keile, Schrauben, Nieten (207) Schrauben (211) Nieten (220) Räderwerke (227) Kegelräder (229) Riemenbetrieb (230) Berechnung der Dratseiltriebe (240) Zahnräder (245) Kegelräder (251) Stützzapfen (257) Lager [und Wellen] (260) Kupplungen (277) Kurbeln (281) Excenter (283) Lenkstangen (284) Kolben (290) Ventile (298) postscript (299) Einband (302

Stratiform and convective rain classification using machine learning models and micro rain radar

Rain type classification into convective and stratiform is an essential step required to improve quantitative precipitation estimations by remote sensing instruments. Previous studies with Micro Rain Radar (MRR) measurements and subjective rules have been performed to classify rain events. However, automating this process by using machine learning (ML) models provides the advantages of fast and reliable classification with the possibility to classify rain minute by minute. A total of 20,979 min of rain data measured by an MRR at Das in northeast Spain were used to build seven types of ML models for stratiform and convective rain type classification. The proposed classification models use a set of 22 parameters that summarize the reflectivity, the Doppler velocity, and the spectral width (SW) above and below the so-called separation level (SL). This level is defined as the level with the highest increase in Doppler velocity and corresponds with the bright band in stratiform rain. A pre-classification of the rain type for each minute based on the rain microstructure provided by the collocated disdrometer was performed. Our results indicate that complex ML models, particularly tree-based ensembles such as xgboost and random forest which capture the interactions of different features, perform better than simpler models. Applying methods from the field of interpretable ML, we identified reflectivity at the lowest layer and the average spectral width in the layers below SL as the most important features. High reflectivity and low SW values indicate a higher probability of convective rainPostprint (published version