A variational method from the variance of energy

A variational method is studied based on the minimum of energy variance. The method is tested on exactly soluble problems in quantum mechanics, and is shown to be a useful tool whenever the properties of states are more relevant than the eigenvalues. In quantum field theory the method provides a consistent second order extension of the gaussian effective potential.Comment: 5 ps figure

Changing funding realities for charities and social enterprises: responses to the big society agenda and austerity in the East of England

This ESRC/RAKE/ISBE/Barclays funded project led by CEEDR and The Guild explored the changing circumstances in which voluntary and community organisations (VCOs), charities and social enterprises operate in relation to the government’s Big Society agenda. VCOs and charities are expected to move from a grant culture to one of earning income through trading, particularly to deliver public services, thus adopting the social enterprise ‘business’ model. The main research question addressed by this study were: To what extent are charities and social enterprises engaging with and responding to the Big Society and what are the implications of this engagement, or the lack of it? To what extent are VCOs and charities making this transition to public service delivery social enterprises and what is the nature of the processes involved? The qualitative research approach embraced by the study consisted of interviews with organisations operating in the health and social care sector and key stakeholders in the roll out of the Big Society in the East of England

Collaborative user-centred textile design research for healthcare: improving wellbeing and increasing performance

It has been widely acknowledged that collaboration across disciplines is required in order to develop innovative, sustainable textile solutions that address complex societal problems (Kane & Philpott, 2013; Igoe, 2010). Potential to develop life-changing innovations in the field of advanced textiles for medical and healthcare has been identified as a key growth sector within Scotland, with collaborative cross- disciplinary user-focused design approaches recognised as central to developing new concepts that address human needs (Malins et al. 2012). This paper describes three feasibility studies undertaken by the Textiles programme at the University of Dundee between 2012–2014; collaborative design-led research projects that supported local medical and health care companies by providing key expertise in textile design, functional clothing design methodologies and user-centred processes for design-led innovation. Analysis and discussion focuses on understanding the challenges and benefits of collaborative research between academia and local enterprise to textile design innovation, local economy, society, and education

Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories (POST). Volume 1: Formulation manual

A general purpose FORTRAN program for simulating and optimizing point mass trajectories (POST) of aerospace vehicles is described. The equations and the numerical techniques used in the program are documented. Topics discussed include: coordinate systems, planet model, trajectory simulation, auxiliary calculations, and targeting and optimization

Golabi-Ito-Hall syndrome results from a missense mutation in the WW domain of the PQBP1 gene

Background: Golabi, Ito, and Hall reported a family with X linked mental retardation (XLMR), microcephaly, postnatal growth deficiency, and other anomalies, including atrial septal defect, in 1984.Methods: This family was restudied as part of our ongoing study of XLMR, but significant linkage to X chromosome markers could not be found. Extreme short stature and microcephaly as well as other new clinical findings were observed. Mutations in the polyglutamine tract binding protein 1 gene (PQBP1) have recently been reported in four XLMR disorders (Renpenning, Hamel cerebro-palato-cardiac, Sutherland-Haan, and Porteous syndromes) as well as in several other families. The clinical similarity of our family to these patients with mutations in PQBP1, particularly the presence of microcephaly, short stature, and atrial septal defect, prompted examination of this gene.Results: A missense mutation in PQBP1 was identified which changed the conserved tyrosine residue in the WW domain at position 65 to a cysteine (p.Y65C).Conclusions: This is the first missense mutation identified in PQBP1 and the first mutation in the WW domain of the gene. The WW domain has been shown to play an important role in the regulation of transcription by interacting with the PPxY motif found in transcription factors. The p.Y65C mutation may affect the proper functioning of the PQBP1 protein as a transcriptional co-activator

Use of strategies to improve retention in primary care randomised trials: a qualitative study with in-depth interviews

Objective To explore the strategies used to improve retention in primary care randomised trials.<p></p> Design Qualitative in-depth interviews and thematic analysis.<p></p> Participants 29 UK primary care chief and principal investigators, trial managers and research nurses.<p></p> Methods In-depth face-to-face interviews.<p></p> Results Primary care researchers use incentive and communication strategies to improve retention in trials, but were unsure of their effect. Small monetary incentives were used to increase response to postal questionnaires. Non-monetary incentives were used although there was scepticism about the impact of these on retention. Nurses routinely used telephone communication to encourage participants to return for trial follow-up. Trial managers used first class post, shorter questionnaires and improved questionnaire designs with the aim of improving questionnaire response. Interviewees thought an open trial design could lead to biased results and were negative about using behavioural strategies to improve retention. There was consensus among the interviewees that effective communication and rapport with participants, participant altruism, respect for participant's time, flexibility of trial personnel and appointment schedules and trial information improve retention. Interviewees noted particular challenges with retention in mental health trials and those involving teenagers.<p></p> Conclusions The findings of this qualitative study have allowed us to reflect on research practice around retention and highlight a gap between such practice and current evidence. Interviewees describe acting from experience without evidence from the literature, which supports the use of small monetary incentives to improve the questionnaire response. No such evidence exists for non-monetary incentives or first class post, use of which may need reconsideration. An exploration of barriers and facilitators to retention in other research contexts may be justified.<p></p&gt

A real-world mixed methods study of the feasibility, acceptability and impact of an online structured education programme for type 2 diabetes

Background: Structured education for people with type 2 diabetes improves outcomes, but uptake is low globally. In the UK in 2016, only 8.3% of people who were referred to education programmes attended. We have developed an online structured education programme called HeLP-Diabetes: Starting Out; (HDSO), as an alternative to face-to-face courses. An online programme gives people more options for accessing structured education and may help improve overall uptake. // Objectives: The aim was to explore the feasibility and acceptability of delivering an online structured education programme (called HeLP-Diabetes: Starting Out) in routine primary healthcare and its potential impact on self-efficacy and diabetes-related distress. // Methods: HeLP-Diabetes: Starting Out was delivered as part of routine diabetes services in primary healthcare in the United Kingdom, having been commissioned by local Clinical Commissioning Groups. Quantitative data were collected on uptake, use of the programme, demographic characteristics, and self-reported self-efficacy and diabetes-related distress. A sub-sample of people with type 2 diabetes and healthcare professionals were interviewed about acceptability of the programme. // Results: It was feasible to deliver the programme, but completion rates were low: of 791 people with type 2 diabetes registered only 74 (9%) completed it. Completers improved their self-efficacy (change in median score 2.5, p=0.001) and diabetes-related distress (change in median score 6.0, p=0.001). Interview data suggested that the course was acceptable, and that uptake and completion may be related to non-prioritization of structured education. // Conclusions: The study provides evidence of the feasibility and acceptability of online structured education. However, uptake and completion rates were low, limiting potential population impact. Further research is needed to improve completion rates, and to determine the relative effectiveness of online versus face-to-face education

Switching treatments in clinically stable relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients planning for pregnancy

Background: The decision to have children can be complex, particularly for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). A key concern is the use of disease modifying drugs (DMDs) during pregnancy, and how continuing, stopping or switching them may affect the mother and child. In people with active MS, stopping medications puts the mother at risk of relapse and disease rebound. Objectives: Review evidence on the effect of different switching strategies in people with stable relapsing remitting MS (RRMS). Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMCARE, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library up to March 2020. Only papers in English were included and no other limits were applied. Seven articles were included: four cohorts, two case reports and one randomized controlled trial (RCT). Results: Two strategies were found: de-escalating, which was associated with an increased risk of relapses, and switching between first line injectables, with no change in relapse rate observed. Conclusion: Evidence on the effect of switching strategy on disease course in stable RRMS patients planning for pregnancy is scarce, but when switching, current evidence suggests the risk of relapses mirrors known medication efficacy

Evolutionary calculations of phase separation in crystallizing white dwarf stars

We present an exploration of the significance of Carbon/Oxygen phase separation in white dwarf stars in the context of self-consistent evolutionary calculations. Because phase separation can potentially increase the calculated ages of the oldest white dwarfs, it can affect the age of the Galactic disk as derived from the downturn in the white dwarf luminosity function. We find that the largest possible increase in ages due to phase separation is 1.5 Gyr, with a most likely value of approximately 0.6 Gyr, depending on the parameters of our white dwarf models. The most important factors influencing the size of this delay are the total stellar mass, the initial composition profile, and the phase diagram assumed for crystallization. We find a maximum age delay in models with masses of 0.6 solar masses, which is near the peak in the observed white dwarf mass distribution. We find that varying the opacities (via the metallicity) has little effect on the calculated age delays. In the context of Galactic evolution, age estimates for the oldest Galactic globular clusters range from 11.5 to 16 Gyr, and depend on a variety of parameters. In addition, a 4 to 6 Gyr delay is expected between the formation of the globular clusters and that of the Galactic thin disk, while the observed white dwarf luminosity function gives an age estimate for the thin disk of 9.5 +/-1.0 Gyr, without including the effect of phase separation. Using the above numbers, we see that phase separation could add between 0 to 3 Gyr to the white dwarf ages and still be consistent with the overall picture of Galaxy formation. Our calculated maximum value of 1.5 Gyr fits within these bounds, as does our best guess value of 0.6 Gyr.Comment: 13 total pages, 8 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal on May 25, 199