Minimal energy control of a nanoelectromechanical memory element

The Pontryagin minimal energy control approach has been applied to minimise the switching energy in a nanoelectromechanical memory system and to characterise global stability of the oscillatory states of the bistable memory element. A comparison of two previously experimentally determined pulse-type control signals with Pontryagin control function has been performed, and the superiority of the Pontryagin approach with regard to power consumption has been demonstrated. An analysis of global stability shows how values of minimal energy can be utilized in order to specify equally stable states

Human response to vibration in residential environments (NANR209), technical report 2: measurement of response

Based on a review of the literature and the best practice guidance available, a social survey questionnaire was developed to measure residents’ self-reported annoyance and to provide data suitable for establishing exposure-response relationships between levels of annoyance and levels of vibration. The development of the questionnaire was influenced by a number of previous studies such as: the social survey questionnaire developed for the NANR172 Pilot Study of this research (Defra, 2007); best practice guidelines for the development of socio-acoustic surveys issued by ICBEN and presented in the current International Standard (Fields et al., 2001; ISO/TS 15666:2003); the Nordtest Method (2001) for the development of socio-vibration surveys, and a peer review of the social survey questionnaire by international experts in the field. In order to avoid influencing responses and reasons for participation in the research, the survey was introduced as a survey of neighbourhood satisfaction. The questionnaire design, through the use of sections, enables new sections to be added to the questionnaire so that specific vibration sources can be investigated in more depth. In addressing the ‘response’ component in the ‘exposure-response’ relationship, the questionnaire was designed to yield interval-level measurement data suitable for analysis with vibration measurement data via two response scales: the five-point semantic and the eleven-point numerical scales. This decision was largely founded upon the ability of the two scales to meet the criteria established by ICBEN (Fields et al., 2001) for socio-acoustic survey design. Detailed procedures were documented, following the field trial of the questionnaire, in terms of the role of the interviewer, the recording of information and the transfer of the data to the relevant database for subsequent analysis and to inform the vibration team responsible for the ‘exposure’ component of this research project

Reducing the Second Victim Phenomenon: Healing Our Healers With Caritas Coaching

Background: The second victim phenomenon is one in which nurses and other healthcare providers use dysfunctional mechanisms, such as anger, projection of blame, or drugs and/or alcohol to cope with serious mistakes in the absence of a healthier means for healing (Wu, 2000). This phenomenon can lead to healthcare professional absenteeism, leaving the job or leaving the profession altogether (Burlison, Quillivan, Scott, Johnson, & Hoffman, 2018). Following the release of an editorial by Dr. Wu (2000), organizational peer support programs have been developed to reduce this phenomenon. These types of peer support programs have been found to counter absenteeism and intentions to turnover (Burlison et al., 2018). Unfortunately, many health care professionals do not have access to these prevention programs due to a paucity of evidence supporting them. Purpose: The second victim phenomenon is not well known among many leaders in healthcare organizations. Further information on how to support the holistic well-being of nurses and other healthcare professionals is essential in increasingly complex health care systems. The main purpose of this manuscript is to provide evidence that supports the need for caring organizational support systems following serious adverse clinical events. Design: Relevant literature about the second victim phenomenon and transpersonal caring were compiled and reviewed. Findings: Recommendations are provided on key elements of programs to prevent the prevalence, symptoms, and impact of the second victim phenomenon on our healthcare professionals, our patients, and our healthcare system. Conclusion: To improve the holistic well-being of health care professionals following a serious adverse event, health care organizations must provide programs to promote their healing

Delirium: A CNL-Led Protocol to Clear Up the Confusion

Project objectives: Delirium is a form of organ failure defined as an acute change in cognition, evidenced by altered consciousness and impaired attention that fluctuates over time, and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare services utilization. In the hospital where this evidence-based practice project took place, there was no formal protocol or guideline for assessing or managing delirium. Therefore, this project focused on improving the practice of identifying patients at risk for developing delirium with the AWOL tool and treating patients with signs and symptoms of delirium found using the Short-CAM assessment. Population and setting: This project took place on a Neuro-Telemetry unit where the average patient age was 50 and above and the main diagnosis seen was some type of cerebral vascular accident. Methods: Using Lewin’s change theory, the CNL-student met with unit staff in small groups and one-on-one to initiate the project and then implemented the change and collected the data by working with staff at the bedside through coaching and role-modeling. Data: Of the ninety-eight patients assessed using the AWOL tool, fifty patients scored as moderate to high risk for developing delirium and four of these fifty patients developed signs and symptoms of delirium as evidenced by the Short-CAM assessment. Two of these four patients received a diagnosis of delirium by the physician and three of these four patients had an extended length of stay. Conclusion: Delirium is one of the most frequent, costly, and disabling conditions experienced by older adults in the acute care setting. This project relates to the CNL competencies in that it facilitates practice change based on the best available evidence in quality, safety, and fiscally responsible outcomes. In order to meet the growing call of the CNL as a guardian of safe patient care, and for policies and protocols for delirium in the acute care setting, the future stages of this project will focus on policy development and lateral integration of EBP delirium care

Reducing the Second Victim Phenomenon: Promoting Healing with Caritas Coaching

Abstract Problem: The second victim phenomenon is one in which healthcare providers use dysfunctional mechanisms, such as anger, projection of blame, or drugs and/or alcohol to cope with serious mistakes in the absence of a healthier means for healing (Wu, 2000). This phenomenon can be caused by adverse events or other personal/professional crises and can lead to healthcare professional absenteeism, leaving the job or leaving the profession altogether (Burlison et al., 2018; Hirschinger et al., 2015). Context: The second victim phenomenon was identified as a problem within this DNP student’s organization and support was obtained for conducting the project. A conceptual framework was designed using Watson’s theory of transpersonal caring science, Conti-O’Hare’s theory of nurse as wounded healer, and Scott’s three-tier interventional model of second victim support. This framework guided the provisions of support to clinical employees following an adverse traumatic clinical event and/or other personal or professional crises. Interventions: This project consisted of the development of a Caritas peer support program wherein Caritas first aid was provided to clinicians following adverse traumatic clinical events or personal/professional crises. Measures: Qualitative and quantitative methods were utilized to collect data through surveys, meetings, and interviews with clinical employees throughout the course of this project. Results: This DNP project utilized authentic transpersonal caring practices to support clinician wellbeing

Near-infrared spectra of Seyfert galaxies and line production mechanisms

New observations are reported of J-band spectra (1.04micron -- 1.4 micron) of three Seyfert 2 galaxies, Mkn 34, Mkn 78 and NGC 5929. In each case the spectral range includes the near-infrared lines of [FeII], [PII], HeI and Pa beta. Each Seyfert galaxy has a known radio jet, and we investigate the infrared line ratios of the nuclear and extended regions of each galaxy compared to the radio structure. In Mkn 34 there is a clear indication of an extranuclear region, probably coincident with a shock induced by the radio jet, in which [FeII] is considerably enhanced, although the nuclear emission is almost certainly the result of photoionization by the continuum of the active nucleus. Similar effects in extranuclear regions are seen in the other objects, in the case of Mkn 78 confirming recent studies by Ramos Almeida et al. A possible detection of extranuclear [PII] emission suggests, if real, that photoionization by the active nucleus is the dominant line excitation mechanism over the whole source, including the regions coincident with the radio jet.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures. Accepted by MNRA

Use of proofs-as-programs to build an anology-based functional program editor

This thesis presents a novel application of the technique known as proofs-as-programs. Proofs-as-programs defines a correspondence between proofs in a constructive logic and functional programs. By using this correspondence, a functional program may be represented directly as the proof of a specification and so the program may be analysed within this proof framework. CʸNTHIA is a program editor for the functional language ML which uses proofs-as-programs to analyse users' programs as they are written. So that the user requires no knowledge of proof theory, the underlying proof representation is completely hidden. The proof framework allows programs written in CʸNTHIA to be checked to be syntactically correct, well-typed, well-defined and terminating. CʸNTHIA also embodies the idea of programming by analogy — rather than starting from scratch, users always begin with an existing function definition. They then apply a sequence of high-level editing commands which transform this starting definition into the one required. These commands preserve correctness and also increase programming efficiency by automating commonly occurring steps. The design and implementation of CʸNTHIA is described and its role as a novice programming environment is investigated. Use by experts is possible but only a sub-set of ML is currently supported. Two major trials of CʸNTHIA have shown that CʸNTHIA is well-suited as a teaching tool. Users of CʸNTHIA make fewer programming errors and the feedback facilities of CʸNTHIA mean that it is easier to track down the source of errors when they do occur

Recoiling Black Holes in Quasars

Recent simulations of merging black holes with spin give recoil velocities from gravitational radiation up to several thousand km/s. A recoiling supermassive black hole can retain the inner part of its accretion disk, providing fuel for a continuing QSO phase lasting millions of years as the hole moves away from the galactic nucleus. One possible observational manifestation of a recoiling accretion disk is in QSO emission lines shifted in velocity from the host galaxy. We have examined QSOs from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey with broad emission lines substantially shifted relative to the narrow lines. We find no convincing evidence for recoiling black holes carrying accretion disks. We place an upper limit on the incidence of recoiling black holes in QSOs of 4% for kicks greater than 500 km/s and 0.35% for kicks greater than 1000 km/s line-of-sight velocity.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, uses emulateapj, Submitted to ApJ Letter

The Yang Lee Edge Singularity on Feynman Diagrams

We investigate the Yang-Lee edge singularity on non-planar random graphs, which we consider as the Feynman Diagrams of various d=0 field theories, in order to determine the value of the edge exponent. We consider the hard dimer model on phi3 and phi4 random graphs to test the universality of the exponent with respect to coordination number, and the Ising model in an external field to test its temperature independence. The results here for generic (``thin'') random graphs provide an interesting counterpoint to the discussion by Staudacher of these models on planar random graphs.Comment: LaTeX, 6 pages + 3 figure

Pharmacology of cognitive enhancers for exposure-based therapy of fear, anxiety and trauma-related disorders

AbstractPathological fear and anxiety are highly debilitating and, despite considerable advances in psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy they remain insufficiently treated in many patients with PTSD, phobias, panic and other anxiety disorders. Increasing preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that pharmacological treatments including cognitive enhancers, when given as adjuncts to psychotherapeutic approaches [cognitive behavioral therapy including extinction-based exposure therapy] enhance treatment efficacy, while using anxiolytics such as benzodiazepines as adjuncts can undermine long-term treatment success. The purpose of this review is to outline the literature showing how pharmacological interventions targeting neurotransmitter systems including serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, histamine, glutamate, GABA, cannabinoids, neuropeptides (oxytocin, neuropeptides Y and S, opioids) and other targets (neurotrophins BDNF and FGF2, glucocorticoids, L-type-calcium channels, epigenetic modifications) as well as their downstream signaling pathways, can augment fear extinction and strengthen extinction memory persistently in preclinical models. Particularly promising approaches are discussed in regard to their effects on specific aspects of fear extinction namely, acquisition, consolidation and retrieval, including long-term protection from return of fear (relapse) phenomena like spontaneous recovery, reinstatement and renewal of fear. We also highlight the promising translational value of the preclinial research and the clinical potential of targeting certain neurochemical systems with, for example d-cycloserine, yohimbine, cortisol, and L-DOPA. The current body of research reveals important new insights into the neurobiology and neurochemistry of fear extinction and holds significant promise for pharmacologically-augmented psychotherapy as an improved approach to treat trauma and anxiety-related disorders in a more efficient and persistent way promoting enhanced symptom remission and recovery