821 research outputs found
Matching small functions using centroid jitter and two beam position monitors
Matching to small beta functions is required to preserve emittance in plasma
accelerators. The plasma wake provides strong focusing fields, which typically
require beta functions on the mm-scale, comparable to those found in the final
focusing of a linear collider. Such beams can be time consuming to
experimentally produce and diagnose. We present a simple, fast, and noninvasive
method to measure Twiss parameters in a linac using two beam position monitors
only, relying on the similarity of the beam phase space and the jitter phase
space. By benchmarking against conventional quadrupole scans, the viability of
this technique was experimentally demonstrated at the FLASHForward
plasma-accelerator facility.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
The restoration of Loch Leven, Scotland, UK
This paper reviews the progress made towards the restoration of Loch Leven, the largest lake in lowland Scotland, over the last 20 years. In particular, the importance of direct regulation and of setting water quality objectives and targets is examined. Various means of engaging with stakeholders and the general public are also considered. Success criteria and catchment management initiatives are described and briefly reviewed
Can quantum fractal fluctuations be observed in an atom-optics kicked rotor experiment?
We investigate the parametric fluctuations in the quantum survival
probability of an open version of the delta-kicked rotor model in the deep
quantum regime. Spectral arguments [Guarneri I and Terraneo M 2001 Phys. Rev. E
vol. 65 015203(R)] predict the existence of parametric fractal fluctuations
owing to the strong dynamical localisation of the eigenstates of the kicked
rotor. We discuss the possibility of observing such dynamically-induced
fractality in the quantum survival probability as a function of the kicking
period for the atom-optics realisation of the kicked rotor. The influence of
the atoms' initial momentum distribution is studied as well as the dependence
of the expected fractal dimension on finite-size effects of the experiment,
such as finite detection windows and short measurement times. Our results show
that clear signatures of fractality could be observed in experiments with cold
atoms subjected to periodically flashed optical lattices, which offer an
excellent control on interaction times and the initial atomic ensemble.Comment: 18 pp, 7 figs., 1 tabl
Staying the Course: Facility and Profession Retention Among Nursing Assistants in Nursing Homes
High turnover rates among nursing assistants (NAs) in nursing homes have costly implications for facility operation and quality, while low rates of NA profession retention can deplete the stock of experienced staff. This study assesses the extent to which the same factors are associated with NAs' intent to leave a particular job versus the NA profession
Learning and digital inclusion: the ELAMP project
The Electronic Learning and Mobility Project (ELAMP) was a nationally funded project by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which ran from 2004 to 2010. The main aim of ELAMP was to improve the education of Traveller children, particularly highly mobile learners. ELAMP focussed upon the use of mobile technology and distance learning to support, enhance and extend young Travellersâ educational and vocational opportunities. This article will reflect upon the learning and technological experiences and opportunities that the ELAMP project provided for Traveller children, young people and their families. In doing so it will critically consider the value of information technology in working with Traveller communities and advancing their educational opportunities. Reviewing ELAMP work will also demonstrate how the use of mobile technology can improve educational outcomes and Traveller familiesâ digital inclusion. Now that the project has ended, this article will question why we are not using what we learnt from ELAMP to move forward
Housing Affordability in a Resource Rich Economy: The Case of Kuwait
This paper seeks to test the impact of new policies introduced to the Kuwaiti housing market to improve affordability. In 2008, the Kuwaiti parliament introduced two policies: a tax on empty lands and the other on forbidding companies to own or develop residential lands or houses. We constructed the housing affordability index and the price-to-income multiplier to measure housing affordability performance. We used observations from 2004 until 2017. We found that affordability has worsened over time regardless of the new policies introduced in 2008. Housing in Kuwait became âseverely unaffordableâ (equivalent to London in the U.K., San Diego in U.S. and Toronto in Canada). Even with its unique condition, as a rich country, small population and availability of white land and other resources, the affordability worsened over time. Introducing new policies without solving the central issue of housing supply challenges seems not worth it. This paper is the first of its kind on the Kuwait housing market, and it provides a valuable foundation for future research on this market and similar markets in the region
National Survey of Sea Lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis KrĂžyer and Caligus elongatus Nordmann) on Fish Farms in Ireland â 2019
Farmed stocks of Atlantic salmon in Ireland are inspected on 14 occasions throughout the year to monitor sea lice levels as part of a national programme. Sea lice are a naturally occurring parasite found on marine fish, including salmonids. They are small ecto-parasitic copepod crustaceans and there are approximately 559 species. The objectives of the National Sea Lice Monitoring Programme are: To provide an objective measurement of infestation levels on farms. To investigate the nature of infestations. To provide management information to drive the implementation of control and management strategies. To facilitate further development and refinement of this strategy. The sea lice control and management strategy has five principal components: Separation of generations. Annual fallowing of sites. Early harvest of two-sea-winter fish. Targeted treatment regimes, including synchronous treatments. Agreed husbandry practices
Determination of Clinical Outcome in Mitral Regurgitation With Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Quantification
BackgroundâSurgery for severe mitral regurgitation is indicated if symptoms or left ventricular dilation or dysfunction occur. However, prognosis is already reduced by this stage, and earlier surgery on asymptomatic patients has been advocated if valve repair is likely, but identifying suitable patients for early surgery is difficult. Quantifying the regurgitation may help, but evidence for its link with outcome is limited. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can accurately quantify mitral regurgitation, and we examined whether this was associated with the future need for surgery. Methods and ResultsâOne hundred nine asymptomatic patients with echocardiographic moderate or severe mitral regurgitation had baseline CMR scans and were followed up for up to 8 years (mean, 2.5±1.9 years). CMR quantification accurately identified patients who progressed to symptoms or other indications for surgery: 91% of subjects with regurgitant volume â€55 mL survived to 5 years without surgery compared with only 21% with regurgitant volume >55 mL (P40%. CMR-derived end-diastolic volume index showed a weaker association with outcome (proportions surviving without surgery at 5 years, 90% for left ventricular end-diastolic volume index <100 mL/m2 versus 48% for â„100 mL/m2) and added little to the discriminatory power of regurgitant fraction/volume alone. ConclusionsâCMR quantification of mitral regurgitation was associated with the development of symptoms or other indications for surgery and showed better discriminatory ability than the reference-standard CMR-derived ventricular volumes. CMR may be able to identify appropriate patients for early surgery, with the potential to change clinical practice, although the clinical benefits of early surgery require confirmation in a clinical trial
Arnol'd Tongues and Quantum Accelerator Modes
The stable periodic orbits of an area-preserving map on the 2-torus, which is
formally a variant of the Standard Map, have been shown to explain the quantum
accelerator modes that were discovered in experiments with laser-cooled atoms.
We show that their parametric dependence exhibits Arnol'd-like tongues and
perform a perturbative analysis of such structures. We thus explain the
arithmetical organisation of the accelerator modes and discuss experimental
implications thereof.Comment: 20 pages, 6 encapsulated postscript figure
Diffusion-weighted MRI to determine response and long-term clinical outcomes in muscle-invasive bladder cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine local treatment response and long-term survival outcomes in patients with localised muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) using diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) analysis. METHODS: Patients with T2-T4aN0-3M0 bladder cancer suitable for NAC were recruited prospectively. DWI was performed prior to NAC and was repeated following NAC completion. Conventional response assessment was performed with cystoscopy and tumour site biopsy. Response was dichotomised into response (15.5% was associated with significant improvement in OS (HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.19-0.86; p=0.0179), bCSS (HR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.08-0.82; p=0.0214), PFS (HR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.05-0.48; p=0.0012), and time to cystectomy (HR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.07-0.47; p=0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative ADC analysis can successfully identify NAC response and improved long-term clinical outcomes. Multi-centre validation to assess reproducibility and repeatability is required before testing within clinical trials to inform MIBC treatment decision making. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: We successfully demonstrated that measured change in DWI can successfully identify NAC response and improved long-term survival outcomes
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