Beyond simulation: designing for uncertainty and robust solutions

Simulation is an increasingly essential tool in the design of our environment, but any model is only as good as the initial assumptions on which it is built. This paper aims to outline some of the limits and potential dangers of reliance on simulation, and suggests how to make our models, and our buildings, more robust with respect to the uncertainty we face in design. It argues that the single analyses provided by most simulations display too precise and too narrow a result to be maximally useful in design, and instead a broader description is required, as might be provided by many differing simulations. Increased computing power now allows this in many areas. Suggestions are made for the further development of simulation tools for design, in that these increased resources should be dedicated not simply to the accuracy of single solutions, but to a bigger picture that takes account of a design’s robustness to change, multiple phenomena that cannot be predicted, and the wider range of possible solutions. Methods for doing so, including statistical methods, adaptive modelling, machine learning and pattern recognition algorithms for identifying persistent structures in models, will be identified. We propose a number of avenues for future research and how these fit into design process, particularly in the case of the design of very large buildings

Intellectual property as complex innovation projects component

The materials presented the possibilities development of intellectual property complex innovation projects modern highly effective science-based problems of improving the use of wastes of different industries on a complex enterprise that can provide all its energy needs alone. Some features of the possibilities of solving evidence-based problems of development of mechanisms for identifying syner-gistic processes, their scientific justification improving the use of wastes of different industries on a complex enterprise. The problem of wastes utilization and recycling is present as complex synergetic processes research and analysis of energy- and resource saving process-es for treatment of polymer wastes of various origin. The research focused on the study of issues such as the development of models of waste-modifying polymer. The investigation are focused in researching such problems as selection of scientific based methods of wastes to be utilized or recycled; the development of appropriated process flow sheets and choice of modifications additives and equipment for polymers waste recycling. The choice of appropriate plants with selected energy resources is very important for projects realization

Reducing CLABSI Rates Through Education on Maintaining CVC Dressing Integrity: A Quality Improvement Initiative

BACKGROUND: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a type of hospital-acquired infection (HAI). They arise as a complication from patients having a central venous catheter (CVC) placed. CVCs can provide numerous benefits for patients who require long-term venous access or hemodynamic monitoring. Acquiring a CLABSI can place patients at higher risk for complications, increased length of stay, and mortality. Reducing the risk of infection is imperative for all patients, but especially those who are more vulnerable to opportunistic infections, such as those in critical care units. LOCAL PROBLEM: This quality improvement project took place at a 234-bed, level II trauma center hospital in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. The aim of this quality improvement project was to improve CVC dressing integrity through re-education of the application protocol and subsequently decrease the risk for CLABSIs. METHODS: The Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) framework was utilized to design and carry out this quality improvement project. Based on auditing conducted by the infection prevention team, it was concluded that there was a lack of understanding of the dressing application protocol which may have been contributing to the decreased integrity of the CVC dressings. INTERVENTION: The intervention was centered around re-education for the staff nurses on the unit. Both a pamphlet and an instructional video were developed highlighting key points about the benefits of the CHG dressings in preventing CLABSIs as well as demonstrating the proper steps for dressing application to optimize integrity. The educational materials were disseminated to all nurses on the unit via email. RESULTS: Data was collected via weekly auditing sessions with the infection prevention team utilizing an updated CVC maintenance checklist that was altered to address the needs of this project. The data collection revealed that only a 54% adherence rate for the application protocol was achieved. There were no reported CLABSIs during this period. There was no statistically significant difference between dressings from pre-intervention to post-intervention for either category (“clean/dry”; p = 0.278, “intact”; p = 0.442). CONCLUSIONS: Although the intervention did not meet the specific aim or yield statistically significant results, there are several limitations that may have contributed. Limitations included a lack of acknowledgment and engagement with the educational materials by the nurse, assessment of dressings not placed by nurses on the unit, infrequent auditing sessions, as well as differing sample sizes between pre-intervention and post-intervention. Whilst the specific aim was not met, the infection prevention team and nurses on the unit expressed their encouragement for the project and the hopes to implement in more capacities throughout the hospital. Keywords: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), CHG Tegaderm dressings, infection prevention, dressing integrit

The role of lesser aristocratic women in twelfth-century Yorkshire society — the Rumilly, Arches, and St Quentin Charters

This article argues that lesser aristocratic women were an active part of twelfth-century society and that as landholders and alienators they were able to significantly shape and mould local monastic society, family wealth and relationships, and other secular social networks. The influence women could have on these areas was on the material and physical geography of the land as well as on the social relationships. As landholders, women could and did maintain social networks with the ecclesiastical and secular societies. This was, however, limited by the geographic location of their landholding and thus demonstrates a social world that is defined by localities and regions. The three families of Rumilly, Arches and St Quentin provide cases whereby women’s activities can be evidenced in a range of events and actions. They also demonstrate a level of independence in women’s agency that did not rely on their male kin before land alienations or grants could be made. The available charter evidence for the three families studied is also illustrative of the existing charter material that can be identified for lesser aristocratic women and allows the paper to address twelfth-century women outwith the traditionally studied groups of royal and comital women or religious women

The Influence of Levels of Processing on Spanish-English Bilingual False Memory

In this study we investigated the role of semantic-processing on memory for Spanish-English bilinguals using the DRM paradigm (Deese, 1959; Roediger & McDermott, 1995), a procedure commonly used to elicit false memories. Participants were tested in within-language (i.e., encoding language and recall language match) and across-language (i.e., encoding language and recall language mismatch). The results indicated higher levels of recall for semantic processing in all conditions, however at the cost of higher thematically-related intrusions. These findings are consistent with the “more is less” pattern (Toglia, Neuschatz, & Goodwin, 1999), wherein greater correct recall is accompanied by greater false recall. In addition, the cross-language conditions resulted in higher semantically relevant intrusions and lower recall overall when compared to the within-language conditions, what might be termed “less is less.” Across all conditions non-semantic processing led to fewer false memories leading to overall accuracy exceeding that in the semantic-processing. In addition, greater levels of accuracy were observed in the within-language conditions. The study highlights the effects of semantic-processing on associative memory by exploring linguistic conditions that lead to false memories and provides insight into the procedure involved in transferring information from one language at encoding and another at retrieval and how false memories occur during this transferring process. Spanish-English bilinguals represent more than half of all bilinguals in the United States, and this population continues to increase (Grosjean, 2012). Implications for forensic interviewing (as in avoiding suspect interrogations always being conducted in English) and eyewitness testimony are among the applications that are discussed

Financial resources and organizational culture as determinants for competitive strategy of enterprises

Purpose: The aim of this article is to study the scientific approaches for the formation of a competitive strategy of an enterprise through financial resources and organizational culture. Design/Methodology/Approach: We have approached the research using the method of comparison, the method of abstraction, the induction method, the method of systematization, and the method of grouping. The empirical research is based on regression analysis. Findings: Scientific approaches to the essence of “competitive strategy” are arranged in three directions: the action plan, the production of competitive products, and the management solutions. Formation of a competitive strategy is based on the factors of the internal environment and they have been built on the provision of financial autonomy and the skill of building organizational culture. Practical Implications: An important indicator of the effectiveness of financial resources is the assessment of the company’s competitive potential. We propose the most promising methods for assessing the competitive environment at the tactical and strategic levels. Originality/Value: The advantages of building an effective organizational culture as part of the enterprise’s development strategy are represented by a set of factors, which can be adopted by an enterprise to improve effectiveness.peer-reviewe

Towards Rapid Parameter Estimation on Gravitational Waves from Compact Binaries using Interpolated Waveforms

Accurate parameter estimation of gravitational waves from coalescing compact binary sources is a key requirement for gravitational-wave astronomy. Evaluating the posterior probability density function of the binary's parameters (component masses, sky location, distance, etc.) requires computing millions of waveforms. The computational expense of parameter estimation is dominated by waveform generation and scales linearly with the waveform computational cost. Previous work showed that gravitational waveforms from non-spinning compact binary sources are amenable to a truncated singular value decomposition, which allows them to be reconstructed via interpolation at fixed computational cost. However, the accuracy requirement for parameter estimation is typically higher than for searches, so it is crucial to ascertain that interpolation does not lead to significant errors. Here we provide a proof of principle to show that interpolated waveforms can be used to recover posterior probability density functions with negligible loss in accuracy with respect to non-interpolated waveforms. This technique has the potential to significantly increase the efficiency of parameter estimation.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

Broken symmetry, excitons, gapless modes and topological excitations in Trilayer Quantum Hall systems

We study the interlayer coherent incompressible phase in Trilayer Quantum Hall systems (TLQH) at total filling factor $\nu_{T}=1$ from three approaches: Mutual Composite Fermion (MCF), Composite Boson (CB) and wavefunction approach. Just like in Bilayer Quantum Hall system, CB approach is superior than MCF approach in studying TLQH with broken symmetry. The Hall and Hall drag resistivities are found to be quantized at $h/e^{2}$. Two neutral gapless modes with linear dispersion relations are identified and the ratio of the two velocities is close to $\sqrt{3}$. The novel excitation spectra are classified into two classes: Charge neutral bosonic 2-body bound states and Charge $\pm 1$ fermionic 3-body bound states. In general, there are two 2-body Kosterlize-Thouless (KT) transition temperatures and one 3-body KT transition. The Charge $\pm 1$ 3-body fermionic bound states may be the main dissipation source of transport measurements. The broken symmetry in terms of $SU(3)$ algebra is studied. The structure of excitons and their flowing patterns are given. The coupling between the two Goldstone modes may lead to the broadening in the zero-bias peak in the interlayer correlated tunnelings of the TLQH. Several interesting features unique to TLQH are outlined. Limitations of the CB approach are also pointed out.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, Final version to be published in Phys. Rev.