975 research outputs found
Charge-ice dynamics in the negative thermal expansion material Cd(CN)
We use variable-temperature (150--300\,K) single-crystal X-ray diffraction to
re-examine the interplay between structure and dynamics in the ambient phase of
the isotropic negative thermal expansion (NTE) material Cd(CN). We find
strong experimental evidence for the existence of low-energy vibrational modes
that involve off-centering of Cd ions. These modes have the effect of
increasing network packing density---suggesting a mechanism for NTE that is
different to the generally-accepted picture of correlated Cd(C/N) rotation
modes. Strong local correlations in the displacement directions of neighbouring
cadmium centres are evident in the existence of highly-structured diffuse
scattering in the experimental X-ray diffraction patterns. Monte Carlo
simulations suggest these patterns might be interpreted in terms of a basic set
of `ice-rules' that establish a mapping between the dynamics of Cd(CN) and
proton ordering in cubic ice VII.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PR
Recommended from our members
Control of Three-Phase Grid-Connected Microgrids Using Artificial Neural Networks
A microgrid consists of a variety of inverter-interfaced distributed energy resources (DERs). A key issue is how to control DERs within the microgrid and how to connect them to or disconnect them from the microgrid quickly. This paper presents a strategy for controlling inverter-interfaced DERs within a microgrid using an artificial neural network, which implements a dynamic programming algorithm and is trained with a new Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation algorithm. Compared to conventional control methods, our neural network controller exhibits fast response time, low overshoot, and, in general, the best performance. In particular, the neural network controller can quickly connect or disconnect inverter-interfaced DERs without the need for a synchronization controller, efficiently track fast-changing reference commands, tolerate system disturbances, and satisfy control requirements at grid-connected mode, islanding mode, and their transition
Artificial Neural Networks for Control of a Grid-Connected Rectifier/Inverter Under Disturbance, Dynamic and Power Converter Switching Conditions
Three-phase grid-connected converters are widely used in renewable and electric power system applications. Traditionally, grid-connected converters are controlled with standard decoupled d-q vector control mechanisms. However, recent studies indicate that such mechanisms show limitations in their applicability to dynamic systems. This paper investigates how to mitigate such restrictions using a neural network to control a grid-connected rectifier/inverter. The neural network implements a dynamic programming algorithm and is trained by using backpropagation through time. To enhance performance and stability under disturbance, additional strategies are adopted, including the use of integrals of error signals to the network inputs and the introduction of grid disturbance voltage to the outputs of a well-trained network. The performance of the neural-network controller is studied under typical vector control conditions and compared against conventional vector control methods, which demonstrates that the neural vector control strategy proposed in this paper is effective. Even in dynamic and power converter switching environments, the neural vector controller shows strong ability to trace rapidly changing reference commands, tolerate system disturbances, and satisfy control requirements for a faulted power system
Universal amplitude ratios from numerical studies of the three-dimensional O(2) model
We investigate the three-dimensional O(2) model near the critical point by
Monte Carlo simulations and calculate the major universal amplitude ratios of
the model. The ratio U_0=A+/A- is determined directly from the specific heat
data at zero magnetic field. The data do not, however, allow to extract an
accurate estimate for alpha. Instead, we establish a strong correlation of U_0
with the value of alpha used in the fit. This numerical alpha-dependence is
given by A+/A- = 1 -4.20(5) alpha + O(alpha^2). For the special alpha-values
used in other calculations we find full agreement with the corresponding ratio
values, e. g. that of the shuttle experiment with liquid helium. On the
critical isochore we obtain the ratio xi+/xi-_T=0.293(9), and on the critical
line the ratio xi_T^c/xi_L^c=1.957(10) for the amplitudes of the transverse and
longitudinal correlation lengths. These two ratios are independent of the used
alpha or nu-values.Comment: 34 pages, 19 Ps-figures, Latex2e, revised version, to be published in
J. Phys.
Alcohol Use and Trauma Exposure Among Male and Female Veterans Before, During, and After Military Service
Background: The present study examined lifespan and combat-related trauma exposure as predictors of alcohol use among male and female veterans. Posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms were examined as mediators of the effects of trauma exposure on alcohol use.
Methods: Data were examined from 1825 (1450 male, 375 female) veterans and active duty service members who took part in a multi-site research study conducted through the Department of Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (VISN 6 MIRECC).
Results: For both men and women, depressive symptoms significantly mediated the effects of non-combat trauma exposure experienced before, during and after the military, as well as combat-exposure, on alcohol use. With posttraumatic stress symptoms, the models for men and women differed. For men, the effects of non-combat trauma exposure during and after military service, and combat exposure, on alcohol use were mediated by PTSD symptoms; however, for women, PTSD symptoms did not mediate these relationships.
Conclusion: Findings are discussed in the context of potential gender differences in response to trauma such as use of alcohol to cope with traumatic events
Tracing Noble Gas Radionuclides in the Environment
Trace analysis of radionuclides is an essential and versatile tool in modern
science and technology. Due to their ideal geophysical and geochemical
properties, long-lived noble gas radionuclides, in particular, 39Ar (t1/2 = 269
yr), 81Kr (t1/2 = 2.3x10^5 yr) and 85Kr (t1/2 = 10.8 yr), have long been
recognized to have a wide range of important applications in Earth sciences. In
recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of
practical analytical methods, and has led to applications of these isotopes in
the hydrosphere (tracing the flow of groundwater and ocean water). In this
article, we introduce the applications of these isotopes and review three
leading analytical methods: Low-Level Counting (LLC), Accelerator Mass
Spectrometry (AMS) and Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA)
Determination of the Oswestry Disability Index score equivalent to a "satisfactory symptom state" in patients undergoing surgery for degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine-a Spine Tango registry-based study.
BACKGROUND CONTEXT
The achievement of a given change score on a valid outcome instrument is commonly used to indicate whether a clinically relevant change has occurred after spine surgery. However, the achievement of such a change score can be dependent on baseline values and does not necessarily indicate whether the patient is satisfied with the current state. The achievement of an absolute score equivalent to a patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) may be a more stringent measure to indicate treatment success.
PURPOSE
This study aimed to estimate the score on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI, version 2.1a; 0-100) corresponding to a PASS in patients who had undergone surgery for degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine.
STUDY DESIGN/SETTING
This is a cross-sectional study of diagnostic accuracy using follow-up data from an international spine surgery registry.
PATIENT SAMPLE
The sample includes 1,288 patients with degenerative lumbar spine disorders who had undergone elective spine surgery, registered in the EUROSPINE Spine Tango Spine Surgery Registry.
OUTCOME MEASURES
The main outcome measure was the ODI (version 2.1a).
METHODS
Surgical data and data from the ODI and Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI) were included to determine the ODI threshold equivalent to PASS at 1 year (±1.5 months; n=780) and 2 years (±2 months; n=508) postoperatively. The symptom-specific well-being item of the COMI was used as the external criterion in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to determine the ODI threshold equivalent to PASS. Separate sensitivity analyses were performed based on the different definitions of an "acceptable state" and for subgroups of patients. JF is a copyright holder of the ODI.
RESULTS
The ODI threshold for PASS was 22, irrespective of the time of follow-up (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.89 [sensitivity {Se}: 78.3%, specificity {Sp}: 82.1%] and AUC: 0.91 [Se: 80.7%, Sp: 85.6] for the 1- and 2-year follow-ups, respectively). Sensitivity analyses showed that the absolute ODI-22 threshold for the two follow-up time-points were robust. A stricter definition of PASS resulted in lower ODI thresholds, varying from 16 (AUC=0.89; Se: 80.2%, Sp: 82.0%) to 18 (AUC=0.90; Se: 82.4%, Sp: 80.4%) depending on the time of follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS
An ODI score ≤22 indicates the achievement of an acceptable symptom state and can hence be used as a criterion of treatment success alongside the commonly used change score measures. At the individual level, the threshold could be used to indicate whether or not a patient with a lumbar spine disorder is a "responder" after elective surgery
Mobility of thorium ions in liquid xenon
We present a measurement of the Th ion mobility in LXe at 163.0 K and
0.9 bar. The result obtained, 0.2400.011 (stat) 0.011 (syst)
cm/(kV-s), is compared with a popular model of ion transport.Comment: 6.5 pages,
A review of RCTs in four medical journals to assess the use of imputation to overcome missing data in quality of life outcomes
Background: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are perceived as the gold-standard method for evaluating healthcare interventions, and increasingly include quality of life (QoL) measures. The observed results are susceptible to bias if a substantial proportion of outcome data are missing. The review aimed to determine whether imputation was used to deal with missing QoL outcomes. Methods: A random selection of 285 RCTs published during 2005/6 in the British Medical Journal, Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine and Journal of American Medical Association were identified. Results: QoL outcomes were reported in 61 (21%) trials. Six (10%) reported having no missing data, 20 (33%) reported ≤ 10% missing, eleven (18%) 11%–20% missing, and eleven (18%) reported >20% missing. Missingness was unclear in 13 (21%). Missing data were imputed in 19 (31%) of the 61 trials. Imputation was part of the primary analysis in 13 trials, but a sensitivity analysis in six. Last value carried forward was used in 12 trials and multiple imputation in two. Following imputation, the most common analysis method was analysis of covariance (10 trials). Conclusion: The majority of studies did not impute missing data and carried out a complete-case analysis. For those studies that did impute missing data, researchers tended to prefer simpler methods of imputation, despite more sophisticated methods being available.The Health Services Research Unit is funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health Directorate. Shona Fielding is also currently funded by the Chief Scientist Office on a Research Training Fellowship (CZF/1/31)
A review of RCTs in four medical journals to assess the use of imputation to overcome missing data in quality of life outcomes
Peer reviewedPublisher PD
- …