447 research outputs found
Dependence of chaotic behavior on optical properties and electrostatic effects in double beam torsional Casimir actuation
We investigate the influence of Casimir and electrostatic torques on double
beam torsional microelectromechanical systems with materials covering a broad
range of conductivities of more than three orders of magnitude. For the
frictionless autonomous systems, bifurcation and phase space analysis shows
that there is a significant difference between stable and unstable operating
regimes for equal and unequal applied voltages on both sides of the double
torsional system giving rise to heteroclinic and homoclinic orbits,
respectively. For equal applied voltages, only the position of a symmetric
unstable saddle equilibrium point is dependent on the material optical
properties and electrostatic effects, while in any other case there are stable
and unstable equilibrium points are dependent on both factors. For the
periodically driven system, a Melnikov function approach is used to show the
presence of chaotic motion rendering predictions of whether stiction or stable
actuation will take place over long times impossible. Chaotic behavior
introduces significant risk for stiction, and it is more prominent to occur for
the more conductive systems that experience stronger Casimir forces and
torques. Indeed, when unequal voltages are applied, the sensitive dependence of
chaotic motion on electrostatics is more pronounced for the highest
conductivity systems.Comment: 24 pages, 11 figure
Zero tension Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation in (d+1)- Dimensions
The joint probability distribution function (PDF) of the height and its
gradients is derived for a zero tension -dimensional Kardar-Parisi-Zhang
(KPZ) equation. It is proved that the height`s PDF of zero tension KPZ equation
shows lack of positivity after a finite time . The properties of zero
tension KPZ equation and its differences with the case that it possess an
infinitesimal surface tension is discussed. Also potential relation between the
time scale and the singularity time scale of the KPZ
equation with an infinitesimal surface tension is investigated.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figure
Patients and Health Professionals Views on Caring in Diabetes Disease
Background: Diabetes is a common problem with severe complications. The control of diabetes needs a close and honest relationship between patients and health professionals. The views of these two groups might influence the professional relationship.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the views of diabetic patients versus the views of diabetic care professionals on the content of caring.
Patients and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with the content analysis method. The participants consisted of adults who had suffered from diabetes for a minimum of one year, and health care professionals working in diabetes care centers. Fifteen patients and fifteen health professionals participated in the interviews.
Results: The findings present four main themes which are as follows: what caring is and what means to care, the obstacles in providing care, the outcomes of caring, and specialist community-based care as a crucial intervention in diabetes care, the themes were identified and based on the data analysis, It appeared that patients were more outcome centered, while health professionals were more process- centered in the context of caring.
Conclusions: It appeared that patients were more outcome centered, while health professionals were more process -centered in the context of caring
Nonlinear actuation of micromechanical Casimir oscillators with topological insulator materials toward chaotic motion:Sensitivity on magnetization and dielectric properties
We have investigated the dynamical actuation of micro-electromechanical systems under the influence of attractive and repulsive Casimir forces between topological insulator plates as a function of their dielectric function and coating magnetization. The analysis of the Casimir force in the limit of strong and weak magnetization shows that the attractive force, which is produced for plate magnetizations in the same direction, is greater than the repulsive force that is produced for opposite magnetizations. However, both forces remain comparable for intermediate magnetizations. Moreover, for weak magnetization, the attractive force becomes stronger for an increasing dielectric function, while the opposite occurs for the repulsive force. On the other hand, increasing magnetization decreases the influence of the dielectric function on both the repulsive and attractive forces. Furthermore, for conservative systems, bifurcation and phase portrait analysis revealed that increasing magnetization decreases the regime of stable operation for devices with attractive forces, while their operation remains always stable under the presence of repulsive forces. Finally, for non-conservative periodically driven systems, the Melnikov function and Poincaré portrait analysis show that for magnetizations in the same direction leading to strong attractive Casimir forces, chaotic motion toward stiction is highly likely to occur preventing the long-term prediction of actuating dynamics. A remedy for this situation is obtained by the application of any magnetization in opposite directions between the interacting surfaces since the repulsive force makes it possible to prevent stiction
Explanatory Model of Diabetes Management; An Experience From Iran
Background: Managing diabetes requires changes in the patients’ life style and health habits which in turn need the comprehensive understanding of the disease and its impact.
Objectives: To understand the explanatory model of diabetes in Iran, a qualitative study was performed using the grounded theory method.
Patients and Methods: Thirty persons were interviewed: fifteen patients, eleven nurses, three physicians and one dietitian. The semi-structured interviews were transcribed and analyzed in three stages of open, axial and selective coding.
Results: The findings showed that patients’ personality can shape their self-care behavior; however, curing, caring and supporting systems are also necessary. The interactions between personality, curing, caring and supporting systems and society makes the outcome, which is the core variable in the designed explanatory model of diabetes.
Conclusions: This paper reflects an explanatory model of diabetes management. Understanding the factors that affect self-management behavior is important for nurses as key providers in the health care system
Comparing the Effects of Active and Passive Intradialytic Pedaling Exercises on Dialysis Efficacy, Electrolytes, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Blood Pressure and Health-Related Quality of Life
Background: The effect of exercise during hemodialysis has been a controversial issue, however, there are just few studies about the effect of active exercise during hemodialysis.
Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of passive and active intradialytic pedaling exercises on dialysis efficacy, electrolytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood pressure and health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients.
Patients and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 16 hemodialysis patients in Akhavan hemodialysis center in Kashan from April to November 2013. Active or passive intradialytic pedaling exercise was performed using a Mini-Bike for 30 minutes during the first two hours of the dialysis sessions. The quality of life (QOL) was assessed before and after the intervention. Blood pressure was examined at the beginning and then hourly during the dialysis sessions. Dialysis efficacy, levels of phosphorus, calcium, sodium, potassium and Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured at the end of the intervention. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, paired t test, Wilcoxon signed rank and Friedman tests and repeated measure analysis of variancewere used to analyze the data.
Results: No significant changes were observed in serum potassium, phosphorus and calcium levels at the end of the passive exercise program compared to the baseline. However, phosphorus levels were significantly decreased in the active exercise program (P < 0.05). Moreover, the mean diastolic blood pressure was significantly decreased after the passive exercise (P = 0.039). Passive exercise did not significantly change the dialysis efficacy, urea reduction rate, hemoglobin and calcium levels. The mean overall QOL was 63.78 ± 21.15 at the beginning of the study, which was increased to 77.07 ± 21.14 at the end of eight weeks of the intradialytic exercise (P = 0.007).
Conclusions: The passive intradialytic exercise had a positive effect on blood pressure. The active exercise could decrease the serum phosphorus and potassium levels. Moreover, both exercise programs could significantly improve the QOL. Both active and passive intradialytic exercises can have some beneficial effects
Dependence of non-equilibrium Casimir forces on material optical properties toward chaotic motion during device actuation
The sensitivity of nonequilibrium Casimir forces on material optical properties can have strong impact on the actuation of devices. For this purpose, we considered nonequilibrium Casimir interactions between good and poor conductors, for example, gold (Au) and highly doped silicon carbide (SiC), respectively. Indeed, for autonomous conservative systems, the bifurcation and phase portrait analysis have shown that the nonequilibrium Casimir forces can have significant impact on the stable and unstable operating regimes depending on the material optical properties. At a few micrometer separations, for systems with high conductivity materials, an increasing temperature difference between the actuating components can enhance the stable operation range due to the reduction of the Casimir force, while for the poor conductive materials, the opposite takes place. For periodically driven dissipative systems, the Melnikov function and Poincare portrait analysis have shown that for poor conductive systems, the nonequilibrium Casimir forces lead to an increased possibility for chaotic behavior and stiction with an increasing temperature difference between the actuating components. However, for good conducting systems, the thermal contribution to Casimir forces reduces the possibility for chaotic behavior with increasing temperature, as comparison with systems without thermal fluctuations shows. Nevertheless, the positive benefit of good conductors toward increased actuation stability and reduced the chaotic behavior under nonequilibrium conditions can be easily compromised by any voltage application. Therefore, thermal, nonequilibrium Casimir forces can influence the actuation of devices toward unstable and chaotic behavior in strong correlation with their optical properties, and associated conduction state, as well as applied electrostatic potentials
Sensitivity of nonequilibrium Casimir forces on low frequency optical properties toward chaotic motion of microsystems:Drude vs plasma model
Here, we investigate the sensitivity of nonequilibrium Casimir forces to optical properties at low frequencies via the Drude and plasma models and the associated effects on the actuation of microelectromechanical systems. The stability and chaotic motion for both autonomous conservative and nonconservative driven systems were explored assuming good, e.g., Au, and poor, e.g., doped SiC, interacting conductors having large static conductivity differences. For both material systems, we used the Drude and plasma methods to model the optical properties at low frequencies, where measurements are not feasible. In fact, for the conservative actuating system, bifurcation and phase space analysis show that the system motion is strongly influenced by the thermal nonequilibrium effects depending on the modeling of the optical properties at low frequencies, where also the presence of residual electrostatic forces can also drastically alter the actuating state of the system, depending strongly on the material conductivity. For nonconservative systems, the Melnikov function approach is used to explore the presence of chaotic motion rendering predictions of stable actuation or malfunction due to stiction on a long-term time scale rather impossible. In fact, the thermal effects produce the opposite effect for the emerging chaotic behavior for the Au-Au and SiC-SiC systems if the Drude model is used to model the low optical frequencies. However, using the plasma model, only for the poor conducting SiC-SiC system, the chance of chaotic motion is enhanced, while for the good conducting Au-Au system, the chaotic behavior will remain unaffected at relatively short separations (<2 μm)
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