1,538 research outputs found
Development of a low actuation voltage RF MEMS switch
This paper reports on the design of a novel ultra low actuation voltage, low loss radio frequency micro-electro-mechanical system (RF MEMS) capacitive shunt switch. The concept of the switch relies on a mechanically unconstrained armature actuated over a coplanar waveguide using electrostatic forces. The minimum actuation voltage of the switch is <2V, with an isolation of 40dB and insertion loss <0.7dB at 78GHz
Adding a subjective dimension to an ICF-based disability measure for people with multiple sclerosis: development and use of a measure for perception of disabilities
OBJECTIVE: The subjective dimension of disability, the perception of disability, is a dimension missing from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and from health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments. However, it is a highly relevant dimension for clinical practice as perceived disability may identify care needs. We therefore developed a measure for this subjective dimension of disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) and examined the contribution of this dimension to QOL. METHOD: A measure named the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Profile-Disability Perception (MSIP-DP) was developed to reflect a person's perception of disabilities reported using the original MSIP-disability (MSIP-D) items. MS patients (n=530) completed both MSIP sections, the medical outcome study short form questionnaire (SF-36), the World Health Organisation Quality Of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) and questions concerning disease severity. The contribution of disability perception (DP) to QOL in MS was estimated using hierarchical multiple regression analyses after controlling for MS severity. RESULTS: Confirmative factor analysis confirmed the hypothesised disability perception domains that correspond with the related disability domains in the MSIP. DP scales yielded sufficient reliability. DP explained a unique and substantial part of the variance in QOL, particularly the perception of impairments in mental functions. DISCUSSION: Results indicated that the subjective dimension of functioning and health operationalised in the MSIP-DP is a relevant concept in explaining QOL in MS. In clinical practice psychological interventions addressing a patient's perception of disability, particularly of impairments in mental functioning, may contribute to QOL
Activated Transport in the individual Layers that form the =1 Exciton Condensate
We observe the total filling factor =1 quantum Hall state in a
bilayer two-dimensional electron system with virtually no tunnelling. We find
thermally activated transport in the balanced system with a monotonic increase
of the activation energy with decreasing below 1.65. In the
imbalanced system we find activated transport in each of the layers separately,
yet the activation energies show a striking asymmetry around the balance point.
This implies that the gap to charge-excitations in the {\em individual} layers
is substantially different for positive and negative imbalance.Comment: 4 pages. 4 figure
Chandra Observation of NGC 1559: Eight Ultraluminous X-ray Sources Including a Compact Binary Candidate
Despite the 30-year history of ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs) studies,
issues like the majority of their physical natures (i.e., neutron stars,
stellar-mass black holes, or intermediate black holes) as well as the accretion
mechanisms are still under debate. Expanding the ULX sample size in the
literature is clearly a way to help. To this end, we investigated the X-ray
source population, ULXs in particular, in the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1559
using a Chandra observation made in 2016. In this 45-ks exposure, 33 X-ray
point sources were detected within the 2.'7 isophotal radius of the galaxy.
Among them, 8 ULXs were identified with the criterion of the X-ray luminosity
erg s (0.3-7~keV). Both X-ray light curves and spectra of
all the sources were examined. Except for some low-count spectra that only
provide ambiguous spectral fitting results, all the X-ray sources were
basically spectrally hard and therefore likely have non-thermal origins. While
no strong X-ray variability was present in most of the sources owing to the
relatively short exposure of the observation, we found an intriguing ULX, named
X-24, exhibiting a periodicity of 7500s with a detection significance of
2.7. We speculate that it is the orbital period of the system.
Roche-lobe over flow and Roche limit are consistent with the speculation. Thus,
we suggest that X-24 may be the one of the rare compact binary ULXs, and hence,
a good candidate as a stellar-mass black hole.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
Higher prevalence of depressed mood in immigrants’ offspring reflects their social conditions in the host country: The HELIUS study
Diastereoselective Amplification of an Induced-Fit Receptor from a Dynamic Combinatorial Library
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Embedded Agency in Institutional Theory: Problem or Paradox
In “Beyond Constraining and Enabling: Toward New Microfoundations in Institutional Theory” Professor Cardinale (2018) seeks to expose and correct “shortcomings” (p.133) in institutional theory’s conceptualization of structure, agency and their relationship. To this end, he theorizes the “different mechanism[s] through which actors are embedded in structure” (p.134). We agree that institutional theory’s microfoundations merit theoretical attention and development. However, we question the premise that the issue of agency in institutional theory is adequately, or even plausibly, formulated as one of “embeddedness”. We also challenge the relevance of Professor Cardinale’s engagement of Husserl to help solve what we argue to be a phantom problem central to his theory
Broadening the scope on health problems among the chronically neurologically ill with the International Classification of Functioning (ICF)
Purpose. The aim of this study was to determine ICF items indicating health problems for patients with a chronic neurological disorder such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and neuromuscular disease. Method. A Delphi study using three disease-specific panels composed of patients and proxies, medical and non-medical health professionals (N=98). Panels were asked to select items from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) reflecting relevant disease-specific health problems. Items appraised as relevant by the panel members were compared with items in established measures namely: the Minimal Record of Disability (MRD) and the Disability and Impact Profile (DIP). Results. Sixty-eight ICF items were considered to be the most relevant, and belonged to four ICF domains. No significant differences were found between the appraisal of items by patients/proxies and health professionals. Agreement across the disease panels appeared to be (very) strong. Differences between the three disease-specific panels were found for the 'Body Functions and Structures' domain: consensus was reached by extension of the inclusion criteria. The ICF-item selection covers almost all items of the established measures. The largest contrast was shown in the item selection for the 'participation' and 'environmental factors' domains. Conclusions. Selected items indicate a broader scope in studying health problems compared with widely used health status measures in neurology, especially for the ICF domains 'Participation' and 'Environmental Factors'
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