972 research outputs found
Constraints on neutron star radii based on chiral effective field theory interactions
We show that microscopic calculations based on chiral effective field theory
interactions constrain the properties of neutron-rich matter below nuclear
densities to a much higher degree than is reflected in commonly used equations
of state. Combined with observed neutron star masses, our results lead to a
radius R = 9.7 - 13.9 km for a 1.4 M_{solar} star, where the theoretical range
is due, in about equal amounts, to uncertainties in many-body forces and to the
extrapolation to high densities.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; NORDITA-2010-4
Question design in nurse-led and GP-led telephone triage for same-day appointment requests: a comparative investigation
Objective: To compare doctors’ and nurses’ communication with patients in primary care telephone triage consultations. Design: Qualitative comparative study of content and form of questions in 51 telephone triage encounters between practitioners (general practitioners (GPs)=29; nurses=22) and patients requesting a same-day appointment in primary care. Audio-recordings of nurse-led calls were synchronised with video recordings of nurse's use of computer decision support software (CDSS) during triage. Setting: 2 GP practices in Devon and Warwickshire, UK. Participants: 4 GPs and 29 patients; and 4 nurses and 22 patients requesting a same-day face-to-face appointment with a GP. Main outcome measure: Form and content of practitioner-initiated questions and patient responses during clinical assessment. Results: A total of 484 question–response sequences were coded (160 GP; 324 N). Despite average call lengths being similar (GP=4 min, 37 s, (SD=1 min, 26 s); N=4 min, 39 s, (SD=2 min, 22 s)), GPs and nurses differed in the average number (GP=5.51, (SD=4.66); N=14.72, (SD=6.42)), content and form of questions asked. A higher frequency of questioning in nurse-led triage was found to be due to nurses’ use of CDSS to guide telephone triage. 89% of nurse questions were oriented to asking patients about their reported symptoms or to wider-information gathering, compared to 54% of GP questions. 43% of GP questions involved eliciting patient concerns or expectations, and obtaining details of medical history, compared to 11% of nurse questions. Nurses using CDSS frequently delivered questions designed as declarative statements requesting confirmation and which typically preferred a ‘no problem’ response. In contrast, GPs asked a higher proportion of interrogative questions designed to request information. Conclusions: Nurses and GPs emphasise different aspects of the clinical assessment process during telephone triage. These different styles of triage have implications for the type of information available following nurse-led or doctor-led triage, and for how patients experience triage
Isospin Asymmetry in Nuclei, Neutron Stars, and Heavy-Ion Collisions
The roles of isospin asymmetry in nuclei and neutron stars are investigated
using a range of potential and field-theoretical models of nucleonic matter.
The parameters of these models are fixed by fitting the properties of
homogeneous bulk matter and closed-shell nuclei. We discuss and unravel the
causes of correlations among the neutron skin thickness in heavy nuclei, the
pressure of beta-equilibrated matter at a density of 0.1 fm, and the
radii of moderate mass neutron stars. The influence of symmetry energy on
observables in heavy-ion collisions is summarized.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures; Proceedings for the 21st Winter Workshop on
Nuclear Dynamics, Breckenridge, Colorado, February 5-12, 2005; To appear in
Heavy Ion Physic
Nuclear symmetry energy and core-crust transition in neutron stars: a critical study
The slope of the nuclear symmetry energy at saturation density is pointed
out as a crucial quantity to determine the mass and width of neutron-star
crusts. This letter clarifies the relation between and the core-crust
transition. We confirm that the transition density is soundly correlated with
despite differences between models, and we propose a clear understanding of
this correlation based on a generalised liquid drop model. Using a large number
of nuclear models, we evaluate the dispersion affecting the correlation between
the transition pressure and . From a detailed analysis it is shown
that this correlation is weak due to a cancellation between different terms.
The correlation between the isovector coefficients and plays
a crucial role in this discussion
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