1,264 research outputs found
The Complexity of Separating Points in the Plane
We study the following separation problem: given n connected curves and two points s and t in the plane, compute the minimum number of curves one needs to retain so that any path connecting s to t intersects some of the retained curves. We give the first polynomial (O(n3)) time algorithm for the problem, assuming that the curves have reasonable computational properties. The algorithm is based on considering the intersection graph of the curves, defining an appropriate family of closed walks in the intersection graph that satisfies the 3-path-condition, and arguing that a shortest cycle in the family gives an optimal solution. The 3-path-condition has been used mainly in topological graph theory, and thus its use here makes the connection to topology clear. We also show that the generalized version, where several input points are to be separated, is NP-hard for natural families of curves, like segments in two directions or unit circles
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Does evidence-based practice improve patient outcomes
Background
Evidence based practice (EBP) is widely promoted, but does EBP practice produce better patient outcomes? We report a natural experiment when part of the internal medicine service in a hospital was reorganized in 2003 to form an EBP unit, the rest of the service remaining unchanged. The units attended similar patients until 2012 permitting comparisons of outcomes and activity.
Methods
We used routinely collected statistics (2004 11) to compare the two different methods of practice and test whether patients being seen by the EBP unit differed from standard practice (SP) patients. Data were available by doctor and year. To check for differences between the EBP and SP doctors prior to reorganization, we used statistics from 2000 2003. We looked for changes in patient outcomes or activity following reorganization and whether the EBP unit was achieving significantly different results from SP. Data across the periods were combined and tested using Mann-Whitney.
Results
No statistically significant differences in outcomes were detected between the EBP and the SP doctors prior to reorganization.
Following the unit’s establishment, the mortality of patients being treated by EBP doctors compared to their previous performance dropped from 7.4% to 6.3% (P<0.02) and length of stay from 9.15 to 6.01 days (P=0.002). No statistically significant improvements were seen in SP physicians’ performance.
No differences in the proportion of patients admitted or their complexity between the services were detected. Despite this, EBP patients had a clinically significantly lower risk of death 6.27% vs 7.75% (P<0.001) and a shorter length of stay 6.01 vs 8.46 days (P<0.001) than SP patients. Readmission rates were similar: 14.4% (EBP); 14.5% (SP).
EBP doctors attended twice as many patients/doctor as SP doctors.
Conclusion
The EBP unit was associated with better patient outcomes and more efficient performance than achieved by the same physicians previously or by SP concurrently
No-hidden-variables proof for two spin-1/2 particles preselected and postselected in unentangled states
It is a well-known fact that all the statistical predictions of quantum
mechanics on the state of any physical system represented by a two-dimensional
Hilbert space can always be duplicated by a noncontextual hidden-variables
model. In this paper, I show that, in some cases, when we consider an
additional independent (unentangled) two-dimensional system, the quantum
description of the resulting composite system cannot be reproduced using
noncontextual hidden variables. In particular, a no-hidden-variables proof is
presented for two individual spin-1/2 particles preselected in an uncorrelated
state AB and postselected in another uncorrelated state aB, B being the same
state for the second particle in both preselection and postselection.Comment: LaTeX, 8 page
Proposed experiment to test the bounds of quantum correlations
Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequality can give values between the classical
bound, 2, and Tsirelson's bound, 2 \sqrt 2. However, for a given set of local
observables, there are values in this range which no quantum state can attain.
We provide the analytical expression for the corresponding bound for a
parametrization of the local observables introduced by Filipp and Svozil, and
describe how to experimentally trace it using a source of singlet states. Such
an experiment will be useful to identify the origin of the experimental errors
in Bell's inequality-type experiments and could be modified to detect
hypothetical correlations beyond those predicted by quantum mechanics.Comment: REVTeX4, 4 pages, 2 figure
Inequalities that test locality in quantum mechanics
Quantum theory violates Bell's inequality, but not to the maximum extent that
is logically possible. We derive inequalities (generalizations of Cirel'son's
inequality) that quantify the upper bound of the violation, both for the
standard formalism and the formalism of generalized observables (POVMs). These
inequalities are quantum analogues of Bell inequalities, and they can be used
to test the quantum version of locality. We discuss the nature of this kind of
locality. We also go into the relation of our results to an argument by Popescu
and Rohrlich (Found. Phys. 24, 379 (1994)) that there is no general connection
between the existence of Cirel'son's bound and locality.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure; the argument has been made clearer in the revised
version; 1 reference adde
How much larger quantum correlations are than classical ones
Considering as distance between two two-party correlations the minimum number
of half local results one party must toggle in order to turn one correlation
into the other, we show that the volume of the set of physically obtainable
correlations in the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bell scenario is (3 pi/8)^2 = 1.388
larger than the volume of the set of correlations obtainable in local
deterministic or probabilistic hidden-variable theories, but is only 3 pi^2/32
= 0.925 of the volume allowed by arbitrary causal (i.e., no-signaling)
theories.Comment: REVTeX4, 6 page
The potential of drones and sensors to enhance detection of archaeological cropmarks: a comparative study between multi-spectral and thermal imagery
Abstract
This paper presents experimentation carried out at the Roman Republican city of La Caridad (Teruel, Spain), where different tools have been applied to obtain multispectral and thermal aerial images to enhance detection of archaeological cropmarks. Two different drone systems were used: a Mikrokopter designed by Tecnitop SA (Zaragoza, Spain) and an eBee produced by SenseFly Company (Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland). Thus, in this study, we have combined in-house manufacturing with commercial products. Six drone sensors were tested and compared in terms of their ability to identify buried remains in archaeological settlements by means of visual recognition. The sensors have different spectral ranges and spatial resolutions. This paper compares the images captured with different spectral range sensors to test the potential of this technology for archaeological benefits. The method used for the comparison of the tools has been based on direct visual inspection, as in traditional aerial archaeology. Through interpretation of the resulting data, our aim has been to determine which drones and sensors obtained the best results in the visualization of archaeological cropmarks. The experiment in La Caridad therefore demonstrates the benefit of using drones with different sensors to monitor archaeological cropmarks for a more cost-effective assessment, best spatial resolution and digital recording of buried archaeological remains
Colchicine for pericarditis
Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardium, the membranous sac surrounding the heart. Recurrent pericarditis is the most common complication of acute pericarditis, causing severe and disabling chest pains. Recurrent pericarditis affects one in three patients with acute pericarditis within the first 18 months. Colchicine has been suggested to be beneficial in preventing recurrent pericarditis
Kochen-Specker Vectors
We give a constructive and exhaustive definition of Kochen-Specker (KS)
vectors in a Hilbert space of any dimension as well as of all the remaining
vectors of the space. KS vectors are elements of any set of orthonormal states,
i.e., vectors in n-dim Hilbert space, H^n, n>3 to which it is impossible to
assign 1s and 0s in such a way that no two mutually orthogonal vectors from the
set are both assigned 1 and that not all mutually orthogonal vectors are
assigned 0. Our constructive definition of such KS vectors is based on
algorithms that generate MMP diagrams corresponding to blocks of orthogonal
vectors in R^n, on algorithms that single out those diagrams on which algebraic
0-1 states cannot be defined, and on algorithms that solve nonlinear equations
describing the orthogonalities of the vectors by means of statistically
polynomially complex interval analysis and self-teaching programs. The
algorithms are limited neither by the number of dimensions nor by the number of
vectors. To demonstrate the power of the algorithms, all 4-dim KS vector
systems containing up to 24 vectors were generated and described, all 3-dim
vector systems containing up to 30 vectors were scanned, and several general
properties of KS vectors were found.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, title changed, introduction thoroughly
rewritten, n-dim rotation of KS vectors defined, original Kochen-Specker 192
(117) vector system translated into MMP diagram notation with a new graphical
representation, results on Tkadlec's dual diagrams added, several other new
results added, journal version: to be published in J. Phys. A, 38 (2005). Web
page: http://m3k.grad.hr/pavici
An overview of self-administered health literacy instruments
This is the final version. Available from Public Library of Science via the DOI in this record.With the increasing recognition of health literacy as a worldwide research priority, the development and refinement of indices to measure the construct is an important area of inquiry. Furthermore, the proliferation of online resources and research means that there is a growing need for self-administered instruments. We undertook a systematic overview to identify all published self-administered health literacy assessment indices to report their content and considerations associated with their administration. A primary aim of this study was to assist those seeking to employ a self-reported health literacy index to select one that has been developed and validated for an appropriate context, as well as with desired administration characteristics. Systematic searches were carried out in four electronic databases, and studies were included if they reported the development and/or validation of a novel health literacy assessment measure. Data were systematically extracted on key characteristics of the instruments: breadth of construct ("generic" vs. "contentor context- specific" health literacy), whether it was an original instrument or a derivative, country of origin, administration characteristics, age of target population (adult vs. pediatric), and evidence for validity. 35 articles met the inclusion criteria. There were 27 original instruments (27/35; 77.1%) and 8 derivative instruments (8/35; 22.9%). 22 indices measured "general" health literacy (22/35; 62.9%) while the remainder measured condition- or context- specific health literacy (13/35; 37.1%). Most health literacy measures were developed in the United States (22/35; 62.9%), and about half had adequate face, content, and construct validity (16/35; 45.7%). Given the number of measures available for many specific conditions and contexts, and that several have acceptable validity, our findings suggest that the research agenda should shift towards the investigation and elaboration of health literacy as a construct itself, in order for research in health literacy measurement to progress.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR
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