717 research outputs found
Lyapunov Exponent Pairing for a Thermostatted Hard-Sphere Gas under Shear in the Thermodynamic Limit
We demonstrate why for a sheared gas of hard spheres, described by the SLLOD
equations with an iso-kinetic Gaussian thermostat in between collisions,
deviations of the conjugate pairing rule for the Lyapunov spectrum are to be
expected, employing a previous result that for a large number of particles ,
the iso-kinetic Gaussian thermostat is equivalent to a constant friction
thermostat, up to fluctuations. We also show that these deviations
are at most of the order of the fourth power in the shear rate.Comment: 4 pages, to appear in Rapid Comm., Phys. Rev.
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What do I do now? Intolerance of uncertainty is associated with discrete patterns of anticipatory physiological responding to different contexts
Heightened physiological responses to uncertainty are a common hallmark of anxiety disorders. Many separate studies have examined the relationship between individual differences in intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and physiological responses to uncertainty during different contexts. Despite this there is a scarcity of research examining the extent to which individual differences in IU are related to shared or discrete patterns of anticipatory physiological responding across different contexts. Anticipatory physiological responses to uncertainty were assessed in three different contexts (associative threat learning and extinction, threat uncertainty, decision-making) within the same sample (n = 45). During these tasks, behavioural responses (i.e. reaction times, choices), skin conductance and corrugator supercilli activity were recorded. In addition, self-reported IU and trait anxiety were measured. IU was related to both skin conductance and corrugator supercilii activity for the associative threat learning and extinction context, and decision-making context. However, trait anxiety was related to corrugator supercilii activity during the threat uncertainty context. Ultimately, this research helps us further tease apart the role of IU on different aspects of anticipation (i.e. valence and arousal) across contexts, which will be relevant for future IU-related models of psychopathology
The detection of tethered and rising bubbles using multiple acoustic techniques
There exists a range of acoustic techniques for characterizing bubble populations within liquids. Each technique has limitations, and complete characterization of a population requires the sequential or simultaneous use of several, so that the limitations of each find compensation in the others. Here, nine techniques are deployed using one experimental rig, and compared to determine how accurately and rapidly they can characterize given bubble populations. These are, specifically (i) two stationary bubbles attached to a wire; and (ii) injected, rising bubble
Master equation approach to the conjugate pairing rule of Lyapunov spectra for many-particle thermostatted systems
The master equation approach to Lyapunov spectra for many-particle systems is
applied to non-equilibrium thermostatted systems to discuss the conjugate
pairing rule. We consider iso-kinetic thermostatted systems with a shear flow
sustained by an external restriction, in which particle interactions are
expressed as a Gaussian white randomness. Positive Lyapunov exponents are
calculated by using the Fokker-Planck equation to describe the tangent vector
dynamics. We introduce another Fokker-Planck equation to describe the
time-reversed tangent vector dynamics, which allows us to calculate the
negative Lyapunov exponents. Using the Lyapunov exponents provided by these two
Fokker-Planck equations we show the conjugate pairing rule is satisfied for
thermostatted systems with a shear flow in the thermodynamic limit. We also
give an explicit form to connect the Lyapunov exponents with the
time-correlation of the interaction matrix in a thermostatted system with a
color field.Comment: 10 page
Lyapunov instability for a periodic Lorentz gas thermostated by deterministic scattering
In recent work a deterministic and time-reversible boundary thermostat called
thermostating by deterministic scattering has been introduced for the periodic
Lorentz gas [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 84}, 4268 (2000)]. Here we assess the
nonlinear properties of this new dynamical system by numerically calculating
its Lyapunov exponents. Based on a revised method for computing Lyapunov
exponents, which employs periodic orthonormalization with a constraint, we
present results for the Lyapunov exponents and related quantities in
equilibrium and nonequilibrium. Finally, we check whether we obtain the same
relations between quantities characterizing the microscopic chaotic dynamics
and quantities characterizing macroscopic transport as obtained for
conventional deterministic and time-reversible bulk thermostats.Comment: 18 pages (revtex), 7 figures (postscript
Cost-effectiveness of structured group psychoeducation versus unstructured group support for bipolar disorder: results from a multi-centre pragmatic randomised controlled trial
Background Bipolar disorder (BD) costs the English economy an estimated ÂŁ5.2billion/year, largely through incomplete recovery. This analysis estimated the cost-effectiveness of group psychoeducation (PEd), versus group peer support (PS), for treating BD.
Methods A 96-week pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT), conducted in NHS primary care. The primary analysis compared PEd with PS, using multiple imputed datasets for missing values. An economic model was used to compare PEd with treatment as usual (TAU). The perspective was Health and Personal Social Services.
Results Participants receiving PEd (n=153) used more (costly) health-related resources than PS (n=151) (net cost per person ÂŁ1098 (95% CI, ÂŁ252-ÂŁ1943)), with a quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gain of 0.023 (95% CI, 0.001-0.056). The cost per QALY gained was ÂŁ47,739. PEd may be cost-effective (versus PS) if decision makers are willing to pay at least ÂŁ37,500 per QALY gained. PEd costs ÂŁ10,765 more than PS to avoid one relapse. The economic model indicates that PEd may be cost-effective versus TAU if it reduces the probability of relapse (by 15%) or reduces the probability of and increases time to relapse (by 10%).
Limitations Participants were generally inconsistent in attending treatment sessions and low numbers had complete cost/QALY data. Factors contributing to pervasive uncertainty of the results are discussed.
Conclusions This is the first economic evaluation of PEd versus PS in a pragmatic trial. PEd is associated with a modest improvement in health status and higher costs than PS. There is a high level of uncertainty in the data and results
Developing a framework for the analysis of power through depotentia
Stakeholder participation in tourism policy-making is usually perceived as providing a means of empowerment. However participatory processes drawing upon stakeholders from traditionally empowered backgrounds may provide the means of removing empowerment from stakeholders. Such an outcome would be in contradiction to the claims that participatory processes improve both inclusivity and sustainability. In order to form an understanding of the sources through which empowerment may be removed, an analytical perspective has been developed deriving from LukesĂŻÂżÂœs views of power dating from 1974. This perspective considers the concept of depotentia as the removal of ĂŻÂżÂœpower toĂŻÂżÂœ without speculating upon the underlying intent and also provides for the multidimensionality of power to be examined within a single study. The application of this analytical perspective has been tested upon findings of the government-commissioned report of the Countryside and Community Research Unit in 2005. The survey and report investigated the progress of Local Access Forums in England created in response to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Consideration of the data from this perspective permits the classification of individual sources of depotentia which can each be addressed and potentially enable stakeholder groups to reverse loss of empowerment where it has occurred
Steady shear flow thermodynamics based on a canonical distribution approach
A non-equilibrium steady state thermodynamics to describe shear flows is
developed using a canonical distribution approach. We construct a canonical
distribution for shear flow based on the energy in the moving frame using the
Lagrangian formalism of the classical mechanics. From this distribution we
derive the Evans-Hanley shear flow thermodynamics, which is characterized by
the first law of thermodynamics relating infinitesimal
changes in energy , entropy and shear rate with kinetic
temperature . Our central result is that the coefficient is given by
Helfand's moment for viscosity. This approach leads to thermodynamic stability
conditions for shear flow, one of which is equivalent to the positivity of the
correlation function of . We emphasize the role of the external work
required to sustain the steady shear flow in this approach, and show
theoretically that the ensemble average of its power must be
non-negative. A non-equilibrium entropy, increasing in time, is introduced, so
that the amount of heat based on this entropy is equal to the average of
. Numerical results from non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation
of two-dimensional many-particle systems with soft-core interactions are
presented which support our interpretation.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figure
Fatigue Intervention by Nurses Evaluation - The FINE Trial. A randomised controlled trial of nurse led self-help treatment for patients in primary care with chronic fatigue syndrome: study protocol. [ISRCTN74156610]
Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as ME (CFS/ME), is a condition characterised primarily by severe, disabling fatigue, of unknown origin, which has a poor prognosis and serious personal and economic consequences. Evidence for the effectiveness of any treatment for CFS/ME in primary care, where most patients are seen, is sparse. Recently, a brief, pragmatic treatment for CFS/ME, based on a physiological dysregulation model of the condition, was shown to be successful in improving fatigue and physical functioning in patients in secondary care. The treatment involves providing patients with a readily understandable explanation of their symptoms, from which flows the rationale for a graded rehabilitative plan, developed collaboratively with the therapist. The present trial will test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of pragmatic rehabilitation when delivered by specially trained general nurses in primary care. We selected a client-centred counselling intervention, called supportive listening, as a comparison treatment. Counselling has been shown to be as effective as cognitive behaviour therapy for treating fatigue in primary care, is more readily available, and controls for supportive therapist contact time. Our control condition is treatment as usual by the general practitioner (GP). Methods and design: This study protocol describes the design of an ongoing, single-blind, pragmatic randomized controlled trial of a brief (18 week) self-help treatment, pragmatic rehabilitation, delivered by specially trained nurse-therapists in patients' homes, compared with nurse-therapist delivered supportive listening and treatment as usual by the GP. An economic evaluation, taking a societal viewpoint, is being carried out alongside the clinical trial. Three adult general nurses were trained over a six month period to deliver the two interventions. Patients aged over 18 and fulfilling the Oxford criteria for CFS are assessed at baseline, after the intervention, and again one year later. Primary outcomes are self-reported physical functioning and fatigue at one year, and will be analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. A qualitative study will examine the interventions' mechanisms of change, and also GPs' drivers and barriers towards referral
A multibaker map for shear flow and viscous heating
A consistent description of shear flow and the accompanied viscous heating as
well the associated entropy balance is given in the framework of a
deterministic dynamical system. A laminar shear flow is modeled by a
Hamiltonian multibaker map which drives velocity and temperature fields. In an
appropriate macroscopic limit one recovers the Navier-Stokes and heat
conduction equations along with the associated entropy balance. This indicates
that results of nonequilibrium thermodynamics can be described by means of an
abstract, sufficiently chaotic and mixing dynamics. A thermostating algorithm
can also be incorporated into this framework.Comment: 11 pages; RevTex with multicol+graphicx packages; eps-figure
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