Applications of Partial Supersymmetry

I examine quantum mechanical Hamiltonians with partial supersymmetry, and explore two main applications. First, I analyze a theory with a logarithmic spectrum, and show how to use partial supersymmetry to reveal the underlying structure of this theory. This method reveals an intriguing equivalence between two formulations of this theory, one of which is one-dimensional, and the other of which is infinite-dimensional. Second, I demonstrate the use of partial supersymmetry as a tool to obtain the asymptotic energy levels in non-relativistic quantum mechanics in an exceptionally easy way. In the end, I discuss possible extensions of this work, including the possible connections between partial supersymmetry and renormalization group arguments.Comment: 11 pages, harvmac, no figures; typo corrected in identifying info on title pag

A BPS Interpretation of Shape Invariance

We show that shape invariance appears when a quantum mechanical model is invariant under a centrally extended superalgebra endowed with an additional symmetry generator, which we dub the shift operator. The familiar mathematical and physical results of shape invariance then arise from the BPS structure associated with this shift operator. The shift operator also ensures that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the energy levels of such a model and the energies of the BPS-saturating states. These findings thus provide a more comprehensive algebraic setting for understanding shape invariance.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures, LaTe

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy

Abstract. Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is a manualized psychosocial group intervention for people with mild to moderate dementia. Because of its broad scientific evidence and cost effectiveness, CST is now used globally. To ensure replicability and quality standards of the intervention in other cultures, Aguirre et al. (2014) developed guidelines for cultural adaptation of CST based on the formative method for adapting psychotherapy (FMAP). Following this community-based approach, we adapted and translated the English CST manual into German, including multiprofessional focus groups, two adaptation cycles, and two pilot CST groups ( n = 13) in different settings representative of the German healthcare system. Effectiveness in both groups was assessed by pre-post comparison of standard scales on cognition, depression, quality of life, and self-efficacy. We were able to replicate previous findings of improved cognition as measured by the ADAS-Cog, with effect sizes in the same range as in previous randomized controlled trials. Additionally, self-efficacy increased in post-test compared to the pre-test, indicating that CST might trigger cognition through positive, self-rewarding activation

Correlation of Radiographic and Pathologic Findings of Dermal Lymphatic Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

No abstract.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78081/1/21232_ftp.pd

Stable periodic waves in coupled Kuramoto-Sivashinsky - Korteweg-de Vries equations

Periodic waves are investigated in a system composed of a Kuramoto-Sivashinsky - Korteweg-de Vries (KS-KdV) equation, which is linearly coupled to an extra linear dissipative equation. The model describes, e.g., a two-layer liquid film flowing down an inclined plane. It has been recently shown that the system supports stable solitary pulses. We demonstrate that a perturbation analysis, based on the balance equation for the field momentum, predicts the existence of stable cnoidal waves (CnWs) in the same system. It is found that the mean value U of the wave field u in the main subsystem, but not the mean value of the extra field, affects the stability of the periodic waves. Three different areas can be distinguished inside the stability region in the parameter plane (L,U), where L is the wave's period. In these areas, stable are, respectively, CnWs with positive velocity, constant solutions, and CnWs with negative velocity. Multistability, i.e., the coexistence of several attractors, including the waves with several maxima per period, appears at large value of L. The analytical predictions are completely confirmed by direct simulations. Stable waves are also found numerically in the limit of vanishing dispersion, when the KS-KdV equation goes over into the KS one.Comment: a latex text file and 16 eps files with figures. Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, in pres

Development of an Evidence-based Extended Programme of Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) for People with Dementia

Psychosocial interventions for dementia have often been developed without a sound theoretical, empirical and clinical basis, and most evaluations of these interventions have had serious methodological limitations. This highlights the need to link intervention development with evaluation and design issues during the early stages of phase 1 or development of an intervention. Best practice is to develop interventions systematically, using the best available evidence and appropriate theory. This study focuses on the developmental stage of the Medical Research Council (MRC) guidelines (2008) to develop an evidence-based Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (MCST) programme for dementia. The intervention was developed based on a mixed methods approach, using evidence obtained from the Cochrane review of Cognitive Stimulation for dementia followed by a Delphi consultation process with key stake-holders. Four techniques were used: (1) Cochrane review of cognitive stimulation for dementia, (2) a consultation with key stake holders using a Delphi Consensus Process (including an expert consensus conference), (3) focus groups with the target population and (4) a Delphi survey. These techniques were used to complete the theoretical preclinical and phase I modelling of the MRC framework for developing the MCST intervention for dementia. It was feasible and effective to use a systematic development process to produce successive modifications of the draft manual for an evidence based maintenance CST programme for dementia. Close involvement of users and carers ensured that the manual was well targeted on the preferences and abilities of people with dementia. The final Maintenance CST programme and manual is currently being tested as part of a large multicentre, randomised controlled trial

Cancer stem cells: Mediators of tumorigenesis and metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BackgroundCancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a subpopulation of cells responsible for tumor growth. Their role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumorigenesis and metastasis remains uncertain.MethodsWound healing and an orthotopic animal model were used to study cells expressing the CSC phenotype (CD44high and aldehyde dehydrogenase [ALDH]+) and assess mobility, tumorigenesis, and metastasis. A prospective collection of 40 patient‐derived primary HNSCC specimens were analyzed for CSC‐proportion compared to clinical variables.ResultsCSCs exhibited significantly faster wound closure and greater tumorigenesis and regional metastasis in vivo than non‐CSCs. In primary patient tumors, size and advanced stage were correlated with elevated proportion of CSCs, however, not with survival.ConclusionHNSCC stem cells mediate tumorigenesis and regional metastasis in vivo. In primary patient tumors, CSC‐proportion was associated with tumor size and stage, but not with metastatic spread or survival. CSC burden alone may only represent a minor variable in understanding CSCs and metastasis. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 317–326, 2015Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110728/1/hed23600.pd

Investigating the timecourse of accessing conversational implicatures during incremental sentence interpretation

Many contextual inferences in utterance interpretation are explained as following from the nature of conversation and the assumption that participants are rational. Recent psycholinguistic research has focussed on certain of these ‘Gricean’ inferences and have revealed that comprehenders can access them in online interpretation. However there have been mixed results as to the time-course of access. Some results show that Gricean inferences can be accessed very rapidly, as rapidly as any other contextually specified information (Sedivy, 2003; Grodner, Klein, Carbery, & Tanenhaus, 2010); while other studies looking at the same kind of inference suggest that access to Gricean inferences are delayed relative to other aspects of semantic interpretation (Huang & Snedeker, 2009; in press). While previous timecourse research has focussed on Gricean inferences that support the online assignment of reference to definite expressions, the study reported here examines the timecourse of access to scalar implicatures, which enrich the meaning of an utterance beyond the semantic interpretation. Even if access to Gricean inference in support of reference assignment may be rapid, it is still unknown whether genuinely enriching scalar implicatures are delayed. Our results indicate that scalar implicatures are accessed as rapidly as other contextual inferences. The implications of our results are discussed in reference to the architecture of language comprehension

Contemporary nursing graduates\u27 transition to practice: A critical review of transition models

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To critically review contemporary transition theories to determine how they apply to the newly qualified graduate registered nurse programmes. BACKGROUND: Graduate nurse transition to employment is the time of significant change which has resulted in high attrition rates. Graduates are often challenged by their expectation of nursing practice and the reality of the role. The transition from hospital-based training to university-based training has resulted in the need for primary employment to commence with graduate/orientation/internship programmes to help support new graduates transition into clinical practice. One transition model, Duchscher\u27s stages of transition theory, utilised three former theories to develop a final model. DESIGN: A narrative critical literature review. METHOD: The theories selected for the review were Kramer\u27s reality shock theory, Benner\u27s novice to expert theory, Bridges transition theory and Duchscher\u27s stages of transition theory. CONCLUSION: Duchscher\u27s stages of transition theory reflects the experiences of registered nursing transition into the workforce directly from university. The application of the theory is effective to guide understanding of the current challenges that new graduate nurse\u27s experience today. There is a need for new graduates to complete their university degree as advanced beginners in order to decrease the experience of transition shock and keep pace with rapidly changing demands of the clinical environment. This may be achieved by increasing ward-based simulation in university education. A theoretical framework can provide a deep understanding of the various stages and processes of transition and enable development of successful programmes. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Both universities and hospitals need to adapt their current practice to align with the needs of new graduates due to large student numbers and ongoing systematic advancements to decrease the attrition rate