4,668 research outputs found
Impact of edge-removal on the centrality betweenness of the best spreaders
The control of epidemic spreading is essential to avoid potential fatal
consequences and also, to lessen unforeseen socio-economic impact. The need for
effective control is exemplified during the severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS) in 2003, which has inflicted near to a thousand deaths as well as
bankruptcies of airlines and related businesses. In this article, we examine
the efficacy of control strategies on the propagation of infectious diseases
based on removing connections within real world airline network with the
associated economic and social costs taken into account through defining
appropriate quantitative measures. We uncover the surprising results that
removing less busy connections can be far more effective in hindering the
spread of the disease than removing the more popular connections. Since
disconnecting the less popular routes tend to incur less socio-economic cost,
our finding suggests the possibility of trading minimal reduction in
connectivity of an important hub with efficiencies in epidemic control. In
particular, we demonstrate the performance of various local epidemic control
strategies, and show how our approach can predict their cost effectiveness
through the spreading control characteristics.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure
Fast algorithm for scattering from planar arrays of conducting patches
Cataloged from PDF version of article.A direct (noniterative) algorithm for the solution
of the electromagnetic scattering from three-dimensional planar
arrays of conducting patches is developed. For an N-unknown
problem, the computational complexity of this new solution technique
is shown to be O(N2 log2N), which is considerably lower
than the O(N3) computational complexity of the conventional
direct solution techniques. The advantages of the reduction in
the computational complexity is pronounced in the solution of
large electromagnetics problems, such as scattering from large
and finite arrays of patches, synthesis and analysis of finite-sized
frequency selective surfaces (FSS’s), and radiation and scattering
from large phased-array antennas, to name a few
The scattering of a cylindrical invisibility cloak: reduced parameters and optimization
We investigate the scattering of 2D cylindrical invisibility cloaks with
simplified constitutive parameters with the assistance of scattering
coefficients. We show that the scattering of the cloaks originates not only
from the boundary conditions but also from the spatial variation of the
component of permittivity/permeability. According to our formulation, we
propose some restrictions to the invisibility cloak in order to minimize its
scattering after the simplification has taken place. With our theoretical
analysis, it is possible to design a simplified cloak by using some peculiar
composites like photonic crystals (PCs) which mimic an effective refractive
index landscape rather than offering effective constitutives, meanwhile
canceling the scattering from the inner and outer boundaries.Comment: Accepted for J. Phys.
Efficiency of tunable band-gap structures for single-photon emission
The efficiency of recently proposed single-photon emitting sources based on
tunable planar band-gap structures is examined. The analysis is based on the
study of the total and ``radiative'' decay rates, the expectation value of
emitted radiation energy and its collimating cone. It is shown that the scheme
operating in the frequency range near the defect resonance of a defect band-gap
structure is more efficient than the one operating near the band edge of a
perfect band-gap structure.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
How do people with knee osteoarthritis perceive and manage flares? A qualitative study
Background
Acute flares in people with osteoarthritis (OA) are poorly understood. There is uncertainty around the nature of flares, their impact, and how these are managed.
Aim
To explore understandings and experiences of flares in people with knee OA, and to describe self-management and help-seeking strategies.
Design & setting
Qualitative interview study of people with knee OA in England.
Method
Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 15 people with knee OA. Thematic analysis was applied using constant comparison methods.
Results
The following four main themes were identified: experiencing pain; consequences of acute pain; predicting and avoiding acute pain; and response to acute pain. People with OA described minor episodes that were frequent, fleeting, occurred during everyday activity, had minimal impact, and were generally predictable. This contrasted with severe episodes that were infrequent, had greater impact, and were less likely to be predictable. The latter generally led to feelings of low confidence, vulnerability, and of being a burden. The term ‘flare’ was often used to describe the severe events but this was applied inconsistently and some would describe a flare as any increase in pain. Participants used numerous self-management strategies but tended to seek help when these had been exhausted, their symptoms led to emotional distress, disturbed sleep, or pain experience worse than usual. Previous experiences shaped whether people sought help and who they sought help from.
Conclusion
Severe episodes of pain are likely to be synonymous with flares. Developing a common language about flares will allow a shared understanding of these events, early identification, and appropriate management
Experiences of general practice care for self-harm: A qualitative study of young people's perspectives
Background Self-harm is a growing concern and rates of self-harm in young people (aged 12–25 years) presenting to general practice are rising. There is, however, little evidence about young people’s experiences of GP care and on accessing general practice.
Aim To explore the help-seeking behaviours, experiences of GP care, and access to general practice of young people who self-harm.
Design and setting In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with young people aged 16–25 years from England with previous self-harm behaviour.
Method Interviews with 13 young people took place between April and November 2019. Young people were recruited from the community, third-sector organisations, and Twitter. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis with principles of constant comparison. A patient and public involvement advisory group informed recruitment strategies and supported interpretation of findings.
Results Young people described the avenues of help-seeking they employ and reflected on the mixed experiences of seeing GPs that can influence future help-seeking. Preconceptions and a lack of knowledge about accessing general practice were found to be barriers to help-seeking. GPs who attempt to understand the young person and establish relationship-based care can facilitate young people accessing general practice for self-harm.
Conclusion It is important young people are aware of how to access general practice and that GPs listen, understand, and proactively follow-up young people who self-harm. Supporting young people with self-harm behaviour requires continuity of care
Exterior optical cloaking and illusions by using active sources: a boundary element perspective
Recently, it was demonstrated that active sources can be used to cloak any
objects that lie outside the cloaking devices [Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{103},
073901 (2009)]. Here, we propose that active sources can create illusion
effects, so that an object outside the cloaking device can be made to look like
another object. invisibility is a special case in which the concealed object is
transformed to a volume of air. From a boundary element perspective, we show
that active sources can create a nearly "silent" domain which can conceal any
objects inside and at the same time make the whole system look like an illusion
of our choice outside a virtual boundary. The boundary element method gives the
fields and field gradients (which can be related to monopoles and dipoles) on
continuous curves which define the boundary of the active devices. Both the
cloaking and illusion effects are confirmed by numerical simulations
Loss of doctor-to-doctor communication:lessons from the reconfiguration of mental health services in England
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