1,169 research outputs found
Front propagation into unstable and metastable states in Smectic C* liquid crystals: linear and nonlinear marginal stability analysis
We discuss the front propagation in ferroelectric chiral smectics (SmC*)
subjected to electric and magnetic fields applied parallel to smectic layers.
The reversal of the electric field induces the motion of domain walls or fronts
that propagate into either an unstable or a metastable state. In both regimes,
the front velocity is calculated exactly. Depending on the field, the speed of
a front propagating into the unstable state is given either by the so-called
linear marginal stability velocity or by the nonlinear marginal stability
expression. The cross-over between these two regimes can be tuned by a magnetic
field. The influence of initial conditions on the velocity selection problem
can also be studied in such experiments. SmC therefore offers a unique
opportunity to study different aspects of front propagation in an experimental
system
Understanding parental concerns related to their childâs development and factors influencing their decisions to seek help from health care professionals: Results of a qualitative study.
Background: Early identification of children at risk of developmental delay is crucial to promote healthy development. Assessing parental concerns about development is often part of identification processes. However, we currently do not understand well how and why parents become concerned, and, how and why they access early identification and intervention services. The purpose of this study was to explore parental perceptions about their childâs development, and the factors influencing their reported professional help-seeking behaviours.
Methods: This exploratory study was part of a larger study describing child development in children aged 2-5 in a small Canadian city. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 parents whose children were at risk of developmental delay to examine their perceptions of their childâs development, their use of community services promoting development, and their recommendations to optimize those services.
Results: Four themes were identified: 1) Vision of child development influencing help-seeking behaviours: Natural or Supported?, 2) Internal and external sources contributing to parentsâ level of developmental concern, 3) Using internal resources and struggling to access external resources, and 4) Satisfaction with services accessed and recommendations to access more support. Parentsâ vision of child development along with sources of parental concern appeared to influence the level of concern, enhancing our understanding of how parents become concerned. The level of concern, and parentsâ knowledge and perceived access to resources seemed to influence their decision whether or not to consult health care professionals. Parents provided many suggestions to improve services to promote child development and support families.
Discussion: Results highlight the importance of supporting parents in recognizing if their child is at risk of delay, and increasing awareness of available resources. It appears particularly important to ensure health care professionals and community-based support services are accessible to provide parents with the support they need, especially when they have concerns
Center or Limit Cycle: Renormalization Group as a Probe
Based on our studies done on two-dimensional autonomous systems, forced
non-autonomous systems and time-delayed systems, we propose a unified
methodology - that uses renormalization group theory - for finding out
existence of periodic solutions in a plethora of nonlinear dynamical systems
appearing across disciplines. The technique will be shown to have a non-trivial
ability of classifying the solutions into limit cycles and periodic orbits
surrounding a center. Moreover, the methodology has a definite advantage over
linear stability analysis in analyzing centers
Renormalization Group Theory for Global Asymptotic Analysis
We show with several examples that renormalization group (RG) theory can be
used to understand singular and reductive perturbation methods in a unified
fashion. Amplitude equations describing slow motion dynamics in nonequilibrium
phenomena are RG equations. The renormalized perturbation approach may be
simpler to use than other approaches, because it does not require the use of
asymptotic matching, and yields practically superior approximations.Comment: 13 pages, plain tex + uiucmac.tex (available from babbage.sissa.it),
one PostScript figure appended at end. Or (easier) get compressed postscript
file by anon ftp from gijoe.mrl.uiuc.edu (128.174.119.153), file
/pub/rg_sing_prl.ps.
U-Pb geochronology on zircon and columbite-group minerals of the Cap de Creus pegmatites, NE Spain
The Cap de Creus granitic pegmatites in the eastern Catalan Pyrenees were dated using in situ U-Pb geochronology by laser ablation ICP-MS on zircon and columbite-group minerals (CGM), which are present in the different types of pegmatites from type I (K-feldspar pegmatites, least evolved) to type IV (albite pegmatites, most evolved) and therefore allow dating the different pegmatitic pulses. In a type III pegmatite where zircon and CGM are co-genetically associated in the same sample, both minerals were dated using zircon and tantalite reference materials, respectively, to avoid laser-induced matrix-dependent fractionation. In one sample, xenotime genetically associated with zircon was also dated. Two ages were obtained for type I and three ages for type III pegmatites. Three of these 5 ages range from 296.2 ± 2.5 to 301.9 ± 3.8 Ma and are allocated to the primary magmatic stage of crystallization and therefore to the emplacement event. Two younger ages (290.5 ± 2.5 and 292.9 ± 2.9 Ma) obtained on secondary zircon and xenotime, respectively, are interpreted as late post-solidus hydrothermal remobilization. There is no age difference between type I and type III pegmatites. The mean 299 Ma primary magmatic age allows the main late Carboniferous deformation event to be dated and is also synchronous with other peraluminous and calc-alkaline granites in the Pyrenees. However, the youngest ages around 292 Ma imply that tectonics was still active in Early Permian times in the Cap de Creus area
The Renormalization Group and Singular Perturbations: Multiple-Scales, Boundary Layers and Reductive Perturbation Theory
Perturbative renormalization group theory is developed as a unified tool for
global asymptotic analysis. With numerous examples, we illustrate its
application to ordinary differential equation problems involving multiple
scales, boundary layers with technically difficult asymptotic matching, and WKB
analysis. In contrast to conventional methods, the renormalization group
approach requires neither {\it ad hoc\/} assumptions about the structure of
perturbation series nor the use of asymptotic matching. Our renormalization
group approach provides approximate solutions which are practically superior to
those obtained conventionally, although the latter can be reproduced, if
desired, by appropriate expansion of the renormalization group approximant. We
show that the renormalization group equation may be interpreted as an amplitude
equation, and from this point of view develop reductive perturbation theory for
partial differential equations describing spatially-extended systems near
bifurcation points, deriving both amplitude equations and the center manifold.Comment: 44 pages, 2 Postscript figures, macro \uiucmac.tex available at macro
archives or at ftp://gijoe.mrl.uiuc.edu/pu
Propagation and Structure of Planar Streamer Fronts
Streamers often constitute the first stage of dielectric breakdown in strong
electric fields: a nonlinear ionization wave transforms a non-ionized medium
into a weakly ionized nonequilibrium plasma. New understanding of this old
phenomenon can be gained through modern concepts of (interfacial) pattern
formation. As a first step towards an effective interface description, we
determine the front width, solve the selection problem for planar fronts and
calculate their properties. Our results are in good agreement with many
features of recent three-dimensional numerical simulations.
In the present long paper, you find the physics of the model and the
interfacial approach further explained. As a first ingredient of this approach,
we here analyze planar fronts, their profile and velocity. We encounter a
selection problem, recall some knowledge about such problems and apply it to
planar streamer fronts. We make analytical predictions on the selected front
profile and velocity and confirm them numerically.
(abbreviated abstract)Comment: 23 pages, revtex, 14 ps file
Developing community-driven quality improvement initiatives to enhance chronic disease care in Indigenous communities in Canada : the FORGE AHEAD program protocol
BACKGROUND: Given the dramatic rise and impact of chronic diseases and gaps in care in Indigenous peoples in Canada, a shift from the dominant episodic and responsive healthcare model most common in First Nations communities to one that places emphasis on proactive prevention and chronic disease management is urgently needed. METHODS: The Transformation of Indigenous Primary Healthcare Delivery (FORGE AHEAD) Program partners with 11 First Nations communities across six provinces in Canada to develop and evaluate community-driven quality improvement (QI) initiatives to enhance chronic disease care. FORGE AHEAD is a 5-year research program (2013-2017) that utilizes a pre-post mixed-methods observational design rooted in participatory research principles to work with communities in developing culturally relevant innovations and improved access to available services. This intensive program incorporates a series of 10 inter-related and progressive program activities designed to foster community-driven initiatives with type 2 diabetes mellitus as the action disease. Preparatory activities include a national community profile survey, best practice and policy literature review, and readiness tool development. Community-level intervention activities include community and clinical readiness consultations, development of a diabetes registry and surveillance system, and QI activities. With a focus on capacity building, all community-level activities are driven by trained community members who champion QI initiatives in their community. Program wrap-up activities include readiness tool validation, cost-analysis and process evaluation. In collaboration with Health Canada and the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative, scale-up toolkits will be developed in order to build on lessons-learned, tools and methods, and to fuel sustainability and spread of successful innovations. DISCUSSION: The outcomes of this research program, its related cost and the subsequent policy recommendations, will have the potential to significantly affect future policy decisions pertaining to chronic disease care in First Nations communities in Canada. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current ClinicalTrial.gov protocol ID NCT02234973 . Date of Registration: July 30, 2014
The Speed of Fronts of the Reaction Diffusion Equation
We study the speed of propagation of fronts for the scalar reaction-diffusion
equation \, with . We give a new integral
variational principle for the speed of the fronts joining the state to
. No assumptions are made on the reaction term other than those
needed to guarantee the existence of the front. Therefore our results apply to
the classical case in , to the bistable case and to cases in
which has more than one internal zero in .Comment: 7 pages Revtex, 1 figure not include
Structural Stability and Renormalization Group for Propagating Fronts
A solution to a given equation is structurally stable if it suffers only an
infinitesimal change when the equation (not the solution) is perturbed
infinitesimally. We have found that structural stability can be used as a
velocity selection principle for propagating fronts. We give examples, using
numerical and renormalization group methods.Comment: 14 pages, uiucmac.tex, no figure
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