Separating a wavefield by propagation direction

Determining the propagation direction of waves in a wavefield is important in several seismic imaging techniques and applications. This can be achieved using the Poynting vector method, but it performs poorly when waves overlap, returning incorrect wave amplitude and direction. An alternative, the local slowness method, is capable of separating overlapping waves, but suffers from low angular resolution. We describe modifications of these two approaches that improve the ability to extract the wave amplitude propagating in different directions. The primary modification is the addition of a wavefront orientation separation step. We evaluate the original and modified methods' ability to separate six overlapping waves in a constant velocity model and find that the modifications significantly improve the results

A multi-pass one way method to include turning waves and multiples

Conventional one way migration methods exclude turning waves and multiples. We propose an algorithm that uses multiple passes to extend the one way method to efficiently include these wavepaths. A comparison of the images produced by the regular one way algorithm, RTM, and the new method, shows that this new method can significantly improve the image in regions of interest, and in certain situations may even provide more useful information than RTM. The runtime is demonstrated to be in between that of regular one way and RTM, while the physical memory required is considerably lower than that of RTM

Feedback on Academic Essay Writing through pre-Emptive Hints: Moving Towards "Advice for Action"

This paper adopts an “advice for action” approach to feedback in educational practice: addressing how provision of “hints” to participants before they write academic essays can support their understanding and performance in essay-writing tasks. We explored differences in performance by type of hint, and whether there was a transfer of better performance in subsequent essays. Fifty participants were recruited, consisting of eight men and 42 women aged 18-80. Participants were assigned in rotation to four groups, and asked to write two essays. Groups 1 and 3 received hints before Essay 1, whilst Groups 2 and 4 received hints before Essay 2. Groups 1 and 2 received essential hints; Groups 3 and 4 received helpful hints. Essays were marked against set criteria. The results showed that an “advice for action” approach to essay-writing, in the form of hints, can significantly improve writers’ marks. Specifically higher marks were gained for the introduction, conclusion and use of evidence: critical components of “good” academic essays. As the hints given were content-free, this approach has the potential to instantly benefit tutors and students across subject domains and institutions and is informing the development of a technical system that can offer formative feedback as students draft essays

Reverse Time Migration in the presence of known sharp interfaces

We propose using the forward propagated source wave to create synthetic receiver data on the surfaces of the computational domain where real receiver data is not available as a means of exploiting known information about reflector locations in Reverse Time Migration. The inclusion of synthetic boundary data can make true amplitude imaging possible, and reduce the artifacts associated with the inclusion of multiples. Here, we describe the new method, present synthetic examples, and propose an appropriate imaging condition

The relationship between nature connectedness and eudaimonic well-being: A meta-analysis

Nature connectedness relates to an individual’s subjective sense of their relationship with the natural world. A recent meta-analysis has found that people who are more connected to nature also tend to have higher levels of self-reported hedonic well-being; however, no reviews have focussed on nature connection and eudaimonic well-being. This meta-analysis was undertaken to explore the relationship of nature connection with eudaimonic well-being and to test the hypothesis that this relationship is stronger than that of nature connection and hedonic well-being. From 20 samples (n = 4758), a small significant effect size was found for the relationship of nature connection and eudaimonic well-being (r = 0.24); there was no significant difference between this and the effect size (from 30 samples n = 11638) for hedonic well-being (r = 0.20). Of the eudaimonic well-being subscales, personal growth had a moderate effect size which was significantly larger than the effect sizes for autonomy, purpose in life/meaning, self-acceptance, positive relations with others and environmental mastery, but not vitality. Thus, individuals who are more connected to nature tend to have greater eudaimonic well-being, and in particular have higher levels of self-reported personal growth.University of Derb

A cohort study of the recovery of health and wellbeing following colorectal cancer (CREW study): protocol paper

Background: the number of people surviving colorectal cancer has doubled in recent years. While much of the literature suggests that most people return to near pre-diagnosis status following surgery for colorectal cancer, this literature has largely focused on physical side effects. Longitudinal studies in colorectal cancer have either been small scale or taken a narrow focus on recovery after surgery. There is a need for a comprehensive, long-term study exploring all aspects of health and wellbeing in colorectal cancer patients. The aim of this study is to establish the natural history of health and wellbeing in people who have been treated for colorectal cancer. People have different dispositions, supports and resources, likely resulting in individual differences in restoration of health and wellbeing. The protocol described in this paper is of a study which will identify who is most at risk of problems, assess how quickly people return to a state of subjective health and wellbeing, and will measure factors which influence the course of recovery. Methods: this is a prospective, longitudinal cohort study following 1000 people with colorectal cancer over a period of two years, recruiting from 30 NHS cancer treatment centres across the UK. Questionnaires will be administered prior to surgery, and 3, 9, 15 and 24 months after surgery, with the potential to return to this cohort to explore on-going issues related to recovery after cancer. Discussion: outcomes will help inform health care providers about what helps or hinders rapid and effective recovery from cancer, and identify areas for intervention development to aid this process. Once established the cohort can be followed up for longer periods and be approached to participate in related projects as appropriate and subject to funding<br/

Selecting, training and supervising nurses to treat depression in the medically ill: experience and recommendations from the SMaRT Oncology collaborative care trials

ObjectiveCollaborative care programs to treat comorbid depression in the medically ill often have general (nonpsychiatric) nurses care managers. In this paper, we aim to provide practical recommendations for their selection, training and supervision.MethodsBased on more than 10 years of experience of selecting, training and supervising general nurses to deliver a highly effective collaborative care programme called “Depression Care for People with Cancer,” we describe the problems encountered and the solutions adopted to optimize the selection, training and supervision of nurse care managers.ResultsTo select nurses for the role of care manager, we found that role plays enabled us to assess nurses' ability to interact with distressed patients and their capacity for self-reflection better than simple interviews. To train the nurses, we found that a structured program that mirrored the treatment manual and included simulated practice was best. To achieve effective supervision, we found that having sessions led by senior psychiatrists facilitated both constructive feedback to the nurses and effective review of the management of cases.ConclusionsWe recommend that the selection, training and supervision of general nurses use the strategies outlined if they are to maximize the benefit that patients achieve from collaborative care programs

How can we help family carers manage pain medicines for patients with advanced cancer? A systematic review of intervention studies

Background: Family carers play a significant role in managing pain and associated medicines for people with advanced cancer. Research indicates that carers often feel inadequately prepared for the tasks involved, which may impact on carer and patient emotional state as well as the achievement of optimal pain control. However, little is known about effective methods of supporting family carers with cancer pain medicines. Aims: To systematically identify and review studies of interventions to help carers manage medicines for pain in advanced cancer. To identify implications for practice and research.Method: A systematic literature search of databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and AMED) was carried out to identify studies of pain medication management interventions that involved family carers of patients with advanced cancer and reported specific outcomes for family carers. Patient pain outcomes were also sought. Studies were quality appraised; key aspects of study design, interventions and outcomes were compared and a narrative synthesis of findings developed.Results: Eight studies were included; all had significant methodological limitations. The majority reported improvements in family carer knowledge and/or self-efficacy for managing pain medicines; no effect on patient pain outcomes; and no adverse effects. It was not possible to discern any association between particular intervention characteristics and family carer outcomes. Conclusions: Current evidence is limited, but overall suggests face-to-face educational interventions supported by written and/or other resources have potential to improve carers’ knowledge and self-efficacy for pain management. Further research is needed to identify how best to help family carers manage pain medicines for patients with advanced cancer.<br/