8,209 research outputs found
The Delphi method: methodological issues arising from a study examining factors influencing the publication or non-publication of mental health nursing research
Purpose – The paper describes how the classic Delphi method can be adapted and structured to ensure that specific research questions are clearly addressed.
Design/methodology/approach – As part of a larger mixed method project, a modified Delphi study was undertaken to explore factors influencing publication and non-publication of mental health nursing research.
Findings - This paper reports brief findings from the Delphi study. However, its main focus is the methodological issues arising from the Delphi method.
Implications - The paper argues that the classic Delphi method can be adapted and structured to ensure that specific research questions are able to be clearly answered. The adaptations are pragmatic in approach and in keeping with the general principles underpinning the Delphi method, while successfully addressing the problems of attrition and previous criticism of homogenous panels.
Originality/value - This paper offers some practical solutions to issue arising from undertaking research using the Delphi method
Possible explanation for star-crushing effect in binary neutron star simulations
A possible explanation is suggested for the controversial star-crushing
effect seen in numerical simulations of inspiraling neutron star binaries by
Wilson, Mathews and Marronetti (WMM). An apparently incorrect definition of
momentum density in the momentum constraint equation used by WMM gives rise to
a post-1-Newtonian error in the approximation scheme. We show by means of an
analytic, post-1-Newtonian calculation that this error causes an increase of
the stars' central densities which is of the order of several percent when the
stars are separated by a few stellar radii, in agreement with what is seen in
the simulations.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, uses revetx macros, minor revision
Hyperinsulinism-hyperammonaemia syndrome: novel mutations in the GLUD1 gene and genotype-phenotype correlations
Background: Activating mutations in the GLUD1 gene (which encodes for the intra-mitochondrial enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase, GDH) cause the hyperinsulinism–hyperammonaemia (HI/HA) syndrome. Patients present with HA and leucine-sensitive hypoglycaemia. GDH is regulated by another intra-mitochondrial enzyme sirtuin 4 (SIRT4). Sirt4 knockout mice demonstrate activation of GDH with increased amino acid-stimulated insulin secretion.
Objectives: To study the genotype–phenotype correlations in patients with GLUD1 mutations. To report the phenotype and functional analysis of a novel mutation (P436L) in the GLUD1 gene associated with the absence of HA.
Patients and methods: Twenty patients with HI from 16 families had mutational analysis of the GLUD1 gene in view of HA (n=19) or leucine sensitivity (n=1). Patients negative for a GLUD1 mutation had sequence analysis of the SIRT4 gene. Functional analysis of the novel P436L GLUD1 mutation was performed.
Results: Heterozygous missense mutations were detected in 15 patients with HI/HA, 2 of which are novel (N410D and D451V). In addition, a patient with a normal serum ammonia concentration (21 µmol/l) was heterozygous for a novel missense mutation P436L. Functional analysis of this mutation confirms that it is associated with a loss of GTP inhibition. Seizure disorder was common (43%) in our cohort of patients with a GLUD1 mutation. No mutations in the SIRT4 gene were identified.
Conclusion: Patients with HI due to mutations in the GLUD1 gene may have normal serum ammonia concentrations. Hence, GLUD1 mutational analysis may be indicated in patients with leucine sensitivity; even in the absence of HA. A high frequency of epilepsy (43%) was observed in our patients with GLUD1 mutations
Detection methods for non-Gaussian gravitational wave stochastic backgrounds
We address the issue of finding an optimal detection method for a
discontinuous or intermittent gravitational wave stochastic background. Such a
signal might sound something like popcorn popping. We derive an appropriate
version of the maximum likelihood detection statistic, and compare its
performance to that of the standard cross-correlation statistic both
analytically and with Monte Carlo simulations. The maximum likelihood statistic
performs better than the cross-correlation statistic when the background is
sufficiently non-Gaussian. For both ground and space based detectors, this
results in a gain factor, ranging roughly from 1 to 3, in the minimum
gravitational-wave energy density necessary for detection, depending on the
duty cycle of the background. Our analysis is exploratory, as we assume that
the time structure of the events cannot be resolved, and we assume white,
Gaussian noise in two collocated, aligned detectors. Before this detection
method can be used in practice with real detector data, further work is
required to generalize our analysis to accommodate separated, misaligned
detectors with realistic, colored, non-Gaussian noise.Comment: 25 pages, 12 figures, submitted to physical review D, added revisions
in response to reviewers comment
Hoop conjecture for colliding black holes : non-time-symmetric initial data
The hoop conjecture is well confirmed in momentarily static spaces, but it
has not been investigated systematically for the system with relativistic
motion. To confirm the hoop conjecture for non-time-symmetric initial data, we
consider the initial data of two colliding black holes with momentum and search
an apparent horizon that encloses two black holes. In testing the hoop
conjecture, we use two definitions of gravitational mass : one is the ADM mass
and the other is the quasi-local mass defined by Hawking. Although both
definitions of gravitational mass give fairly consistent picture of the hoop
conjecture, the hoop conjecture with the Hawking mass can judge the existence
of an apparent horizon for wider range of parameters of the initial data
compared to the ADM mass.Comment: 15pages, 4 figure
A Model for the Big Bounce
I motivate a proposal for modeling, at weak string coupling, the ``Big
Bounce" transition from a growing-curvature phase to standard (FRW) cosmology
in terms of a pressure-less dense gas of "string-holes" (SH), string states
lying on the correspondence curve between strings and black holes. During this
phase SH evolve in such a way that temperature and (string-frame) curvature
remain and (a cosmological version of) the holographic entropy bound
remains saturated. This reasoning also appears to imply a new interpretation of
the Hagedorn phase transition in string theory.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure
Transplantation of Encapsulated Dopamine-Secreting Cells as a Treatment for Parkinson's Disease
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