8,963 research outputs found
Water property lookup table (sanwat) for use with the two-phase computational code shaft
A lookup table for water thermodynamic and transport properties (SANWAT) has been constructed for use with the two-phase computational code, SHAFT. The table, which uses density and specific internal energy as independent variables, covers the liquid, two-phase, and vapor regions. The liquid properties of water are contained in a separate subtable in order to obtain high accuracy for this nearly incompressible region that is frequently encountered in studies of the characteristics of nuclear-waste repositories
Numerical simulations of mixed states quantum computation
We describe quantum-octave package of functions useful for simulations of
quantum algorithms and protocols. Presented package allows to perform
simulations with mixed states. We present numerical implementation of important
quantum mechanical operations - partial trace and partial transpose. Those
operations are used as building blocks of algorithms for analysis of
entanglement and quantum error correction codes. Simulation of Shor's algorithm
is presented as an example of package capabilities.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, presented at Foundations of Quantum Information,
16th-19th April 2004, Camerino, Ital
Polarized micro-Raman studies of femtosecond laser written stress-induced optical waveguides in diamond
Understanding the physical mechanisms of the refractive index modulation
induced by femtosecond laser writing is crucial for tailoring the properties of
the resulting optical waveguides. In this work we apply polarized Raman
spectroscopy to study the origin of stress-induced waveguides in diamond,
produced by femtosecond laser writing. The change in the refractive index
induced by the femtosecond laser in the crystal is derived from the measured
stress in the waveguides. The results help to explain the waveguide
polarization sensitive guiding mechanism, as well as providing a technique for
their optimization.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Reliable estimation of prediction uncertainty for physico-chemical property models
The predictions of parameteric property models and their uncertainties are
sensitive to systematic errors such as inconsistent reference data, parametric
model assumptions, or inadequate computational methods. Here, we discuss the
calibration of property models in the light of bootstrapping, a sampling method
akin to Bayesian inference that can be employed for identifying systematic
errors and for reliable estimation of the prediction uncertainty. We apply
bootstrapping to assess a linear property model linking the 57Fe Moessbauer
isomer shift to the contact electron density at the iron nucleus for a diverse
set of 44 molecular iron compounds. The contact electron density is calculated
with twelve density functionals across Jacob's ladder (PWLDA, BP86, BLYP, PW91,
PBE, M06-L, TPSS, B3LYP, B3PW91, PBE0, M06, TPSSh). We provide systematic-error
diagnostics and reliable, locally resolved uncertainties for isomer-shift
predictions. Pure and hybrid density functionals yield average prediction
uncertainties of 0.06-0.08 mm/s and 0.04-0.05 mm/s, respectively, the latter
being close to the average experimental uncertainty of 0.02 mm/s. Furthermore,
we show that both model parameters and prediction uncertainty depend
significantly on the composition and number of reference data points.
Accordingly, we suggest that rankings of density functionals based on
performance measures (e.g., the coefficient of correlation, r2, or the
root-mean-square error, RMSE) should not be inferred from a single data set.
This study presents the first statistically rigorous calibration analysis for
theoretical Moessbauer spectroscopy, which is of general applicability for
physico-chemical property models and not restricted to isomer-shift
predictions. We provide the statistically meaningful reference data set MIS39
and a new calibration of the isomer shift based on the PBE0 functional.Comment: 49 pages, 9 figures, 7 table
An evaluation of the stimulants and impediments to innovation within PFI/PPP projects
This paper identifies the theoretical stimulants and impediments associated with the implementation of PFI/PPP (Private Finance Initiative/Public Private Partnership) projects. A current defect of this procurement approach is the unintentional constraint upon the innovations incorporated into the development of PFI projects. A critical evaluation of the published literature has been utilized to synthesize a theoretical model. The paper proposes a theoretical model for the identification of potential innovation stimulants and impediments within this type of procurement. This theoretical model is then utilised to evaluate four previously completed PFI projects. These project case-studies have been examined in detail. The evaluation demonstrates how ineffective current procedures are. The application of this model before project letting could eliminate unintentional constraints and stimulate improved innovation within the process. The implementation of the model could improve the successful delivery of innovation within the entire PFI/PPP procurement process
Resurrecting the alien director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet in Hollywood
This essay examines the critical reception of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Alien Resurrection in the popular Anglo-American press, where the film was often discussed in terms that highlighted the director's status as an 'outsider'. The anxiety that the film elicits among critics, it is argued, is a function of the very abjection that is depicted graphically within the film: a fear of the unclassifiable and of the crossing of boundaries
Integrated waveguides and deterministically positioned nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond created by femtosecond laser writing
Diamond's nitrogen vacancy (NV) center is an optically active defect with
long spin coherence times, showing great potential for both efficient nanoscale
magnetometry and quantum information processing schemes. Recently, both the
formation of buried 3D optical waveguides and high quality single NVs in
diamond were demonstrated using the versatile femtosecond laser-writing
technique. However, until now, combining these technologies has been an
outstanding challenge. In this work, we fabricate laser written photonic
waveguides in quantum grade diamond which are aligned to within micron
resolution to single laser-written NVs, enabling an integrated platform
providing deterministically positioned waveguide-coupled NVs. This fabrication
technology opens the way towards on-chip optical routing of single photons
between NVs and optically integrated spin-based sensing
Large-Scale Fracture Systems Are Permeable Pathways for Fault Activation During Hydraulic Fracturing
Core components of mental health stigma reduction interventions in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review
Aims
To identify and categorise core components of effective stigma reduction interventions in the field of mental health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and compare these components across cultural contexts and between intervention characteristics.
Methods
Seven databases were searched with a strategy including four categories of terms ('stigma’, ‘mental health’, ‘intervention’ and ‘low- and middle-income countries’). Additional methods included citation chaining of all papers identified for inclusion, consultation with experts and hand searching reference lists from other related reviews. Studies on interventions in LMICs aiming to reduce stigma related to mental health with a stigma-related outcome measure were included. All relevant intervention characteristics and components were extracted and a quality assessment was undertaken. A ‘best fit’ framework synthesis was used to organise data, followed by a narrative synthesis.
Results
Fifty-six studies were included in this review, of which four were ineffective and analysed separately. A framework was developed which presents a new categorisation of stigma intervention components based on the included studies. Most interventions utilised multiple methods and of the 52 effective studies educational methods were used most frequently (n = 83), and both social contact (n = 8) and therapeutic methods (n = 3) were used infrequently. Most interventions (n = 42) based their intervention on medical knowledge, but a variety of other themes were addressed. All regions with LMICs were represented, but every region was dominated by studies from one country. Components varied between regions for most categories indicating variation between cultures, but only a minority of studies were developed in the local setting or culturally adapted.
Conclusions
Our study suggests effective mental health stigma reduction interventions in LMICs have increased in quantity and quality over the past five years, and a wide variety of components have been utilised successfully – from creative methods to emphasis on recovery and strength of people with mental illness. Yet there is minimal mention of social contact, despite existing strong evidence for it. There is also a lack of robust research designs, a high number of short-term interventions and follow-up, nominal use of local expertise and the research is limited to a small number of LMICs. More research is needed to address these issues. Some congruity exists in components between cultures, but generally they vary widely. The review gives an in-depth overview of mental health stigma reduction core components, providing researchers in varied resource-poor settings additional knowledge to help with planning mental health stigma reduction interventions
- …