2,885 research outputs found
An electrical probe of the phonon mean-free path spectrum
Most studies of the mean-free path accumulation function (MFPAF) rely on
optical techniques to probe heat transfer at length scales on the order of the
phonon mean-free path. In this paper, we propose and implement a purely
electrical probe of the MFPAF that relies on photo-lithographically defined
heater-thermometer separation to set the length scale. An important advantage
of the proposed technique is its insensitivity to the thermal interfacial
impedance and its compatibility with a large array of temperature-controlled
chambers that lack optical ports. Detailed analysis of the experimental data
based on the enhanced Fourier law (EFL) demonstrates that heat-carrying phonons
in gallium arsenide have a much wider mean-free path spectrum than originally
thought
Evaluation of the Wellspring Model for Improving Nursing Home Quality
Examines how successfully the Wellspring model improved the quality of care for residents of eleven nonprofit nursing homes in Wisconsin. Looks at staff turnover, and evaluates the impact on facilities, employees, residents, and cost
Casimir's energy of a conducting sphere and of a dilute dielectric ball
In this paper we sum over the spherical modes appearing in the expression for
the Casimir energy of a conducting sphere and of a dielectric ball (assuming
the same speed of light inside and outside), before doing the frequency
integration. We derive closed integral expressions that allow the calculations
to be done to all orders, without the use of regularization procedures. The
technique of mode summation using a contour integral is critically examined.Comment: references added; typos fixe
The D/H Ratio in Interstellar Gas Towards G191-B2B
We reinvestigate the question of spatial variation of the local D/H
abundance, using both archival GHRS spectra, and new echelle spectra of
G191-B2B obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) aboard
HST. Our analysis uses stratified line-blanketed non-LTE model atmosphere
calculations to determine the shape of the intrinsic WD Lyman-alpha profile and
estimate the WD photospheric contamination of the interstellar lines. Although
three velocity components were reported previously towards G191-B2B, we detect
only two velocity components. The first component is at V(hel) ~ 8.6 km/s and
the second at V(hel) ~ 19.3 km/s, which we identify with the Local Interstellar
Cloud (LIC). From the STIS data we derive D/H = 1.60(+0.39,-0.27)X10^-5 for the
LIC component, and D/H > 1.26X10^-5 for the 8.6 km/s component (uncertainties
denote 2-sigma or 95% confidence limits). The STIS data provide no evidence for
local or component-to-component variation in the D/H ratio. Despite using two
velocity components for the profile fitting and using a more physically
realistic WD Lyman-alpha profile for G191-B2B, our re-analysis of the GHRS data
indicates a component-to-component variation as well as a variation of the D/H
ratio in the LISM, neither of which are supported by the newer STIS data. We
believe the most probable cause for this difference is the characterization of
the background due to scattered light in the GHRS and STIS spectrographs. The
two-dimensional MAMA detectors of STIS measure both the spatial and wavelength
dependences of scattered light, allowing more accurate scattered light
corrections than was possible with GHRS.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters. 10 pages +
3 figures. (Abstract is abridged.
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Morale is high in acute inpatient psychiatry
Background: Morale on acute psychiatric wards has been considered to be problematic, and is reported to contribute to low quality patient care.
Aim: To assess the relationship of staff morale to patient, service environment, physical environment, patient routines, conflict, containment, staff demographics, and staff group variables.
Method: A multivariate cross sectional study was undertaken collecting data on morale and other variables on 136 acute admission psychiatric wards in England.
Results: Morale was higher than published comparison samples. Length of time in post was correlated with low morale, and qualified nurses had higher emotional exhaustion but also higher personal accomplishment. The level of verbal abuse on a ward was associated with low morale, as was a higher level of social deprivation among patients. Higher levels of order and organisation correlated with better morale.
Conclusions: Clear policies relating to the management of verbal abuse by patients, high levels of order and organisation, and staff rotation and education, may all support high morale. Acute inpatient psychiatry is generally a happy and rewarding work environment, and identified problems are likely to be due to other factors
Implementing the Five-A Model of technical refinement: Key roles of the sport psychologist
There is increasing evidence for the significant contribution provided by sport psychologists within applied coaching environments. However, this rarely considers their skills/knowledge being applied when refining athletes’ already learned and well-established motor skills. Therefore, this paper focuses on how a sport psychologist might assist a coach and athlete to implement long-term permanent and pressure proof refinements. It highlights key contributions at each stage of the Five-A Model—designed to deliver these important outcomes—providing both psychomotor and psychosocial input to the support delivery. By employing these recommendations, sport psychologists can make multiple positive contributions to completion of this challenging task
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Identifying Key Factors Associated with Aggression on Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Wards
Aggressive behaviour is a critical issue for modern acute psychiatric services, not just because of the adverse impact it has on patients and staff, but also because it puts a financial strain on service providers. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of patient violence to other variables: patient characteristics, features of the service and physical environment, patient routines, staff factors, the use of containment methods, and other patient behaviours. A multivariate cross sectional design was utilised. Data were collected for a six month period on 136 acute psychiatric wards in 26 NHS Trusts in England. Multilevel modelling was conducted to ascertain those factors most strongly associated with verbal aggression, aggression toward objects, and physical aggression against others. High levels of aggression were associated with a high proportion of patients formally detained under mental health legislation, high patient turnover, alcohol use by patients, ward doors being locked, and higher staffing numbers (especially qualified nurses). The findings suggest that the imposition of restrictions on patients exacerbates the problem of violence, and that alcohol management strategies may be a productive intervention. Insufficient evidence is available to draw conclusions about the nature of the link between staffing numbers and violence
A Diagrammatic Approach to Crystalline Color Superconductivity
We present a derivation of the gap equation for the crystalline color
superconducting phase of QCD which begins from a one-loop Schwinger-Dyson
equation written using a Nambu-Gorkov propagator modified to describe the
spatially varying condensate. Some aspects of previous variational calculations
become more straightforward when rephrased beginning from a diagrammatic
starting point. This derivation also provides a natural base from which to
generalize the analysis to include quark masses, nontrivial crystal structures,
gluon propagation at asymptotic densities, and nonzero temperature. In this
paper, we analyze the effects of nonzero temperature on the crystalline color
superconducting phase.Comment: 15 pages. 2 eps figure
Mode-by-mode summation for the zero point electromagnetic energy of an infinite cylinder
Using the mode-by-mode summation technique the zero point energy of the
electromagnetic field is calculated for the boundary conditions given on the
surface of an infinite solid cylinder. It is assumed that the dielectric and
magnetic characteristics of the material which makes up the cylinder
and of that which makes up the surroundings obey the relation . With this
assumption all the divergences cancel. The divergences are regulated by making
use of zeta function techniques. Numerical calculations are carried out for a
dilute dielectric cylinder and for a perfectly conducting cylindrical shell.
The Casimir energy in the first case vanishes, and in the second is in complete
agreement with that obtained by DeRaad and Milton who employed a Green's
function technique with an ultraviolet regulator.Comment: REVTeX, 16 pages, no figures and tables; transcription error in
previous version corrected, giving a zero Casimir energy for a tenuous
cylinde
Opening the Crystalline Color Superconductivity Window
Cold dense quark matter is in a crystalline color superconducting phase
wherever pairing occurs between species of quarks with chemical potentials
whose difference \delta\mu lies within an appropriate window. If the
interaction between quarks is modeled as point-like, this window is rather
narrow. We show that when the interaction between quarks is modeled as
single-gluon exchange, the window widens by about a factor of ten at accessible
densities and by much larger factors at higher density. This striking
enhancement reflects the increasingly (1+1)-dimensional nature of the physics
at weaker and weaker coupling. Our results indicate that crystalline color
superconductivity is a generic feature of the phase diagram of cold dense quark
matter, occurring wherever one finds quark matter which is not in the
color-flavor locked phase. If it occurs within the cores of compact stars, a
crystalline color superconducting region may provide a new locus for glitch
phenomena.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure
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