Modeling the effect of variation in sagittal curvature on the force required to produce a follower load in the lumbar spine

Peer reviewedPreprin

Testing for entanglement with periodic coarse-graining

Continuous variables systems find valuable applications in quantum information processing. To deal with an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space, one in general has to handle large numbers of discretized measurements in tasks such as entanglement detection. Here we employ the continuous transverse spatial variables of photon pairs to experimentally demonstrate novel entanglement criteria based on a periodic structure of coarse-grained measurements. The periodization of the measurements allows for an efficient evaluation of entanglement using spatial masks acting as mode analyzers over the entire transverse field distribution of the photons and without the need to reconstruct the probability densities of the conjugate continuous variables. Our experimental results demonstrate the utility of the derived criteria with a success rate in entanglement detection of $\sim60\%$ relative to $7344$ studied cases.Comment: V1: revtex4, 10 pages, 4 figures + supp. material (4 pages, 1 figure) V2: Substantial revisions implemented both in theory and experimental data analysi

Shaping the future assistant/associate practitioner workforce; a Hampshire case study

This case study looks at the two-year full-time-equivalent Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care, initially developed in partnership between University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Southampton Solent University, Hampshire, UK. The aim of this collaborative initiative is to develop healthcare support workers to gain and apply the required knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to care for patients/families/other service users and relatives in complex clinical situations, within the emerging role descriptors of an Assistant/Associate Practitioner (AP), often within a specialist/specified context. Since the initial cohort of students began in January 2012, the foundation degree now has over 100 students/healthcare support workers across the two years and is being delivered in partnership with an increasing number of NHS trusts. This paper will discuss the innovative and unique features of this foundation degree in health and social care, including the collaborative model of its curriculum design, delivery and management

Sex differences in proximal femur shape : findings from a population-based study in adolescents

We are extremely grateful to all the families who took part in this study, the midwives for their help in recruiting them, and the whole ALSPAC team, which includes interviewers, computer and laboratory technicians, clerical workers, research scientists, volunteers, managers, receptionists, and nurses. The UK Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust (ref: 102215/2/13/2) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. MF was supported by a Wellcome Trust PhD studentship (ref: 105504/Z/14/Z). LP works in the Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol which is supported by the Medical Research Council and the University of Bristol (MC_UU_00011/1). Arthritis Research UK project grant (ref: 20244) supported the generation of adult reference statistical shape model. This publication is the work of the authors and MF will serve as guarantor for the contents of this paper. None of the funders had any influence on data collection, analysis, interpretation of the results, or writing of the paper.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Video recording true single-photon double-slit interference

As normally used, no commercially available camera has a low-enough dark noise to directly produce video recordings of double-slit interference at the photon-by-photon level, because readout noise significantly contaminates or overwhelms the signal. In this work, noise levels are significantly reduced by turning on the camera only when the presence of a photon has been heralded by the arrival, at an independent detector, of a time-correlated photon produced via parametric down-conversion. This triggering scheme provides the improvement required for direct video imaging of Young's double-slit experiment with single photons, allowing clarified versions of this foundational demonstration. Further, we introduce variations on this experiment aimed at promoting discussion of the role spatial coherence plays in such a measurement. We also emphasize complementary aspects of single-photon measurement, where imaging yields (transverse) position information, while diffraction yields the transverse momentum, and highlight the roles of transverse position and momentum correlations between down-converted photons, including examples of "ghost" imaging and diffraction. The videos can be accessed at http://sun.iwu.edu/~gspaldin/SinglePhotonVideos.html online.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

Using statistical shape modelling of DXA images to quantify the shape of the proximal femur at ages 14 and 18 years in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children [version 1; referees: 1 approved with reservations]

This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust through a PhD Studentship to MF [105504] and the ALSPAC core programme grant [102215]. The UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome [102215] and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. LP works in a unit that receives support from the UK Medical Research Council and the University of Bristol [ MC_ UU_12013/4 & MC_UU_12013/5]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Impact testing to determine the mechanical properties of articular cartilage in isolation and on bone

The original publication is available at www.springerlink.comNon peer reviewedPostprin

A longitudinal study of muscle rehabilitation in the lower leg after cast removal using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and strength assessment

Acknowledgements We thank the A&E nurses and plaster technicians for identifying suitable patients, the MRI radiographers for performing the scanning, Dr Scott Semple for invaluable help in some of the pilot studies and Mr E. C. Stevenson for constructing the footrest used in the scanner. We are very grateful to the dedicated patients themselves who gave considerable amounts of time to come in for scanning, exercise and assessment during the course of this study.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Patients' internet use in New Zealand for information about medicines: Implications for policy and practice

BACKGROUND: The ubiquitous use of the internet sees patients increasingly look online for information about their medicines. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the use of internet to meet medicine information needs of a sample of New Zealand patients. METHOD: Using a descriptive exploratory approach 60 mental health and general medical adult patients at one large urban were interviewed. These semi-structured interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and coded for inductive thematic analysis. FINDINGS: This study found that the internet is frequently used to meet the medicines information needs of patients. Despite the ease of access to information on the internet patients need guidance to locate credible and trustworthy online resources. CONCLUSIONS: Implications from this study relate to both practice and policy, and include the need for health professionals to have enhanced communication skills as they become information brokers who provide supplementary, reliable sources of patient-centric medicines information. Having a New Zealand specific website that includes an extensive section on medicines is a policy recommendation of this study, as is identifying tools to readily identify patients’ needs and preferences for medicines information