8,269 research outputs found
The de Broglie Wave as a Localized Excitation of the Action Function
The Hamilton-Jacobi equation of relativistic quantum mechanics is revisited.
The equation is shown to permit solutions in the form of breathers
(nondispersive oscillating/spinning solitons), displaying simultaneous
particle-like and wave-like behavior adaptable to the properties of the de
Broglie clock. Within this formalism the de Broglie wave acquires the meaning
of a localized excitation of the classical action function. The problem of
quantization in terms of the breathing action function is discussed.Comment: 11 page
Local dynamics in high-order harmonic generation using Bohmian trajectories
We investigate high-order harmonic generation from a Bohmian-mechanical
perspective, and find that the innermost part of the core, represented by a
single Bohmian trajectory, leads to the main contributions to the high-harmonic
spectra. Using time-frequency analysis, we associate this central Bohmian
trajectory to an ensemble of unbound classical trajectories leaving and
returning to the core, in agreement with the three step model. In the Bohmian
scenario, this physical picture builds up non-locally near the core via the
quantum mechanical phase of the wavefunction. This implies that the flow of the
wavefunction far from the core alters the central Bohmian trajectory. We also
show how this phase degrades in time for the peripheral Bohmian trajectories as
they leave the core region.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures; the manuscript has been considerably extended and
modified with regard to the previous version
A Method for Shortening of the Rat Spine and its Neurologic Consequences
Large laboratory animals are the usual
choice for complex surgical procedures on the
spine and spinal cord, such as shortening of the
spine. It would, however, be advantageous to be
able to use a small inexpensive mammal like the
rat. We describe a procedure which allows
thoracic spondylectomy (T8-T9) to be
performed in the rat with a satisfactory survival
rate (69%). Functional consequences of the
procedure on animals with uninjured spinal
cord were monitored over a period of six
months, at which time histologic examination
was performed. There was a good correlation
between operative trauma, consisting of
mechanical injury to the cord assessed from the
surgical notes, and the duration of postoperative
spinal shock. Animals for which the cord
appeared laminated or deformed at the time of
sacrifice tended to show incomplete functional
recovery. Cord cavitation developed, in most
surviving animals (78%) but did not have a
measurable adverse effect on functional
outcome. In the present study, the cord was not
intentionally injured; however, availability of
this procedure may facilitate the future
development of methods to implement recovery
of function following spinal cord injury
The scattering of small bodies in planetary systems: constraints on the possible orbits of cometary material
The scattering of small bodies by planets is an important dynamical process
in planetary systems. We present an analytical model to describe this process
using the simplifying assumption that each particle's dynamics is dominated by
a single planet at a time. As such the scattering process can be considered as
a series of three body problems during each of which the Tisserand parameter
with respect to the relevant planet is conserved. This constrains the orbital
parameter space into which a particle can be scattered. Such arguments have
previously been applied to the process by which comets are scattered to the
inner Solar System from the Kuiper belt. Our analysis generalises this for an
arbitrary planetary system. For particles scattered from an outer belt directly
along a chain of planets, based on the initial value of the Tisserand
parameter, we find that it is possible to (i) determine which planets can eject
the particles from the system, (ii) define a minimum stellar distance to which
particles can be scattered, and (iii) constrain range of particle inclinations
(and hence the disc height) at different distances. Applying this to the Solar
System, we determine that the planets are close to optimally separated for
scattering particles between them. Concerning warm dust found around stars that
also have Kuiper belt analogues, we show that, if there is to be a dynamical
link between the outer and inner regions, then certain architectures for the
intervening planetary system are incapable of producing the observations.
Furthermore we show that for certain planetary systems, comets can be scattered
from an outer belt, or with fewer constraints, from an Oort cloud analogue,
onto star-grazing orbits, in support of a planetary origin to the metal
pollution and dustiness of some nearby white dwarfs
High-spatial-resolution imaging of thermal emission from debris disks
We have obtained sub-arcsec mid-IR images of a sample of debris disks within
100 pc. For our sample of nineteen A-type debris disk candidates chosen for
their IR excess, we have resolved, for the first time, five sources plus the
previously resolved disk around HD 141569. Two other sources in our sample have
been ruled out as debris disks since the time of sample selection. Three of the
six resolved sources have inferred radii of 1-4 AU (HD 38678, HD 71155, and HD
181869), and one source has an inferred radius ~10-30 AU (HD 141569). Among the
resolved sources with detections of excess IR emission, HD 71155 appears to be
comparable in size (r~2 AU) to the solar system's asteroid belt, thus joining
Zeta Lep (HD 38678, reported previously) to comprise the only two resolved
sources of that class. Two additional sources (HD 95418 and HD 139006) show
spatial extent that implies disk radii of ~1-3 AU, although the excess IR
fluxes are not formally detected with better than 2-sigma significance. For the
unresolved sources, the upper limits on the maximum radii of mid-IR disk
emission are in the range ~1-20 AU, four of which are comparable in radius to
the asteroid belt. We have compared the global color temperatures of the dust
to that expected for the dust in radiative equilibrium at the distances
corresponding to the observed sizes or limits on the sizes. In most cases, the
temperatures estimated via these two methods are comparable, and therefore, we
see a generally consistent picture of the inferred morphology and the global
mid-IR emission. Finally, while our sample size is not statistically
significant, we notice that the older sources (>200 Myr) host much warmer dust
(T > 400 K) than younger sources (in the 10s of Myr).Comment: 46 pages, 12 figure
Quantum vortices and trajectories in particle diffraction
We investigate the phenomenon of the diffraction of charged particles by thin
material targets using the method of the de Broglie-Bohm quantum trajectories.
The particle wave function can be modeled as a sum of two terms
. A thin separator exists between the
domains of prevalence of the ingoing and outgoing wavefunction terms. The
structure of the quantum-mechanical currents in the neighborhood of the
separator implies the formation of an array of \emph{quantum vortices}. The
flow structure around each vortex displays a characteristic pattern called
`nodal point - X point complex'. The X point gives rise to stable and unstable
manifolds. We find the scaling laws characterizing a nodal point-X point
complex by a local perturbation theory around the nodal point. We then analyze
the dynamical role of vortices in the emergence of the diffraction pattern. In
particular, we demonstrate the abrupt deflections, along the direction of the
unstable manifold, of the quantum trajectories approaching an X-point along its
stable manifold. Theoretical results are compared to numerical simulations of
quantum trajectories. We finally calculate the {\it times of flight} of
particles following quantum trajectories from the source to detectors placed at
various scattering angles , and thereby propose an experimental test of
the de Broglie - Bohm formalism.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, accepted by IJB
Validation of the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Brazil
Introduction: The term quality of life has gained increasing importance in the scientific context. This study describes the adaptation of a disease-specific questionnaire developed by Paul Jones et al. in 1991, the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), to the Brazilian language and culture. This questionnaire evaluates the quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and contains three domains (symptoms, activity, and impacts) divided in 76 items. The questionnaire is self-administrated, but it may be read to illiterate persons. Goal: To verify if the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire is a valid tool to measure quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Brazil. Methods: In order to validate the questionnaire in Brazil, it was initially translated into Portuguese and afterwards a back-translation into English, that was compared to the original version. A final Portuguese version was then written. This final version was, then, answered by 30 clinically stable COPD patients, according to the spirometry and oximetry values. Patients answered the questionnaire twice, within a 15 day interval. The length of time the patients took to answer the questionnaire and their doubts were noted. Wilcoxon test was used for the calculation of r probability between every single question between the two days; interclass correlation ratio was calculated to test the trustworthiness and reliability of the questionnaire. Results: Among the 30 participant patients, 10 were female and 20 were male. Mean age was 65.9 years. Most of the patients were found to be in stage 2 (56.7 %) of COPD, according to the American Thoracic Society classification. The interclass correlation ratio for the total score of the questionnaire was a = 0.79 and Wilcoxon p = 0.2110 (not statistically significant). The mean answering time for the two days of interview was, respectively, 11 minutes and 50 seconds and 10 minutes and 31 seconds. As concerns the doubts about the questions, the patients reported difficulties in answering Sections 4 and 5, each one of these questions written in a negative form. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the Brazilian version of the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool to measure quality of life in patients with COPD in Brazil.Introdução: O termo qualidade de vida tem adquirido cada vez mais importância no contexto científico. O presente estudo descreve a adaptação para as língua e cultura brasileiras de um questionário doença-específico desenvolvido por Paul Jones et al. em 1991(1): o Questionário do Hospital Saint George na Doença Respiratória (SGRQ), para a avaliação de qualidade de vida em pacientes portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC). Esse questionário contém três componentes (sintomas, atividade e impactos) divididos em 76 itens. É auto-administrado e pode ser lido para pacientes analfabetos. Objetivo: Verificar se o SGRQ é um instrumento válido para medir qualidade de vida em pacientes portadores de DPOC no Brasil. Métodos: Para a validação deste questionário no Brasil, realizou-se, inicialmente, uma versão da língua inglesa para o português; em seguida, foi realizada a tradução retrógrada (back translation), do português para o inglês, e uma versão final foi aplicada em 30 pacientes com diagnóstico de DPOC, estáveis clinicamente e baseado em critérios de espirometria e oximetria. Os pacientes responderam ao questionário por duas vezes, num intervalo de 15 dias. O tempo de resposta foi cronometrado e as dúvidas apontadas pelos pacientes, anotadas. Foi utilizado o teste estatístico de Wilcoxon para cálculo de probabilidade de r e calculado o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse para testar a fidedignidade e a confiabilidade do questionário. Resultados: Dos 30 pacientes que participaram do estudo, 10 eram do sexo feminino e 20 do masculino. A média de idade foi de 65,9 anos. A maioria dos pacientes encontrava-se no estádio 2 (56,7%) da DPOC, segundo a classificação da American Thoracic Society. O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse para a pontuação total do questionário foi a = 0,79 e o resultado do teste de Wilcoxon p = 0,2110 (não significante estatisticamente). O tempo médio de resposta dos dois dias de entrevista foi, respectivamente, 11 minutos e 50 segundos e 10 minutos e 31 segundos. Em relação às dúvidas, as questões mais freqüentemente referidas foram as das seções 4 e 5, que contêm uma frase cada na forma negativa. Conclusão: Pode-se concluir que a versão brasileira do Questionário do Hospital Saint George na Doença Respiratória (SGRQ) é um instrumento válido e fidedigno para medir qualidade de vida em pacientes portadores de DPOC no Brasil.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaCentro Universitário de UberlândiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Centro de Reabilitação PulmonarUniversity of LondonUNIFESP, EPM, Centro de Reabilitação PulmonarSciEL
Antenatal depression in Sri Lanka: a qualitative study of public health midwives’ views and practices
Background
Almost all pregnant people in Sri Lanka receive antenatal care by public health midwives. While there is strong infrastructure in Sri Lanka for postpartum mental health care, the current practices within antenatal mental health care have not been externally evaluated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the current clinical guidelines and experiences of how public health midwives diagnose and treat antenatal depression.
Methods
We conducted in-depth interviews with 12 public health midwives from four antenatal clinics in the Bope Poddala division in Galle, Sri Lanka and reviewed and extracted information on antenatal depression from clinical guidelines. Data was collected in Sinhala and translated into English. We used applied thematic analysis and worked closely with our local team to ensure data trustworthiness.
Results
Midwives (n = 12) reported varying degrees of knowledge on antenatal depression and did not have standardized diagnosis patterns. However, they were very consistent in their clinical practices, following guidelines for referral and follow-up of case management, building strong rapport. In their practice, midwives continue to face challenges of lack of human resources and high stigma around mental illness. They suggested that that care could be improved with use of a standardized diagnostic tool, and easier access to specialist care. We found the clinical guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of antenatal depression is lacking key details on symptoms for appropriate diagnosis, but it clearly guides on how to navigate treatment.
Conclusions
Public health midwives are following the clinical guideline to refer pregnant women who need intervention for antenatal depression and follow-up for case management. However, there is a need for more specific and context-relevant guidelines, especially for diagnosis of antenatal depression. Formative research is needed to explore intervention strategies to improve antenatal depression management in Sri Lanka.publishedVersio
Professional Development as a Process of Cultural Brokering: Positioning Coaches as Cultural Brokers
Teachers who serve diverse students must navigate two “worlds.” One world is that of standardized curricula and pedagogy and the other is culturally relevant education. To effectively navigate these worlds, teachers need assistance from “cultural brokers” who can help make sense of the tension that emerges when these two educational worlds interact. This study analyzes the work of two Center for Research on Education, Diversity, and Excellence coaches who worked as cultural brokers to help teachers integrate multiple pedagogical models. The results indicate the coaches shifted their strategies depending on teacher preferences, and helped teachers overcome constraints within their classrooms and curricula. Framing coaches as “cultural brokers” may be a useful metaphor for others assisting teachers with navigating the tension that emerges in implementing culturally relevant education
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