355 research outputs found
Managing, Controlling and Improving Quality
This book presents an organized approach to quality management, control, and improvement. Because quality problems usually are the outcome of uncontrolled or excessive variability, statistical tools and other analytical methods play an important role in solving these problems. However, these techniques need to be implemented within a management structure that will ensure success. This text focuses on both the management structure and the statistical and analytical tools. It organizes and presents this material according to many years of teaching, research, and professional practice across a wide range of business and industrial setting
Training scholars in dissemination and implementation research for cancer prevention and control: A mentored approach
Abstract Background As the field of D&I (dissemination and implementation) science grows to meet the need for more effective and timely applications of research findings in routine practice, the demand for formalized training programs has increased concurrently. The Mentored Training for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer (MT-DIRC) Program aims to build capacity in the cancer control D&I research workforce, especially among early career researchers. This paper outlines the various components of the program and reports results of systematic evaluations to ascertain its effectiveness. Methods Essential features of the program include selection of early career fellows or more experienced investigators with a focus relevant to cancer control transitioning to a D&I research focus, a 5-day intensive training institute, ongoing peer and senior mentoring, mentored planning and work on a D&I research proposal or project, limited pilot funding, and training and ongoing improvement activities for mentors. The core faculty and staff members of the MT-DIRC program gathered baseline and ongoing evaluation data regarding D&I skill acquisition and mentoring competency through participant surveys and analyzed it by iterative collective reflection. Results A majority (79%) of fellows are female, assistant professors (55%); 59% are in allied health disciplines, and 48% focus on cancer prevention research. Forty-three D&I research competencies were assessed; all improved from baseline to 6 and 18 months. These effects were apparent across beginner, intermediate, and advanced initial D&I competency levels and across the competency domains. Mentoring competency was rated very highly by the fellows––higher than rated by the mentors themselves. The importance of different mentoring activities, as rated by the fellows, was generally congruent with their satisfaction with the activities, with the exception of relatively greater satisfaction with the degree of emotional support and relatively lower satisfaction for skill building and opportunity initially. Conclusions These first years of MT-DIRC demonstrated the program’s ability to attract, engage, and improve fellows’ competencies and skills and implement a multicomponent mentoring program that was well received. This account of the program can serve as a basis for potential replication and evolution of this model in training future D&I science researchers
Magnetic field induced effects in the high source-drain bias current of weakly coupled vertical quantum dot molecules
We report on the basic properties of recently observed magnetic field
resonance, induced time dependent oscillation, and hysteresis effects in the
current flowing through two weakly coupled vertical quantum dots at high
source-drain bias (up to a few tens of mV). These effects bare some similarity
to those reported in the N=2 spin-blockade regime, usually for weak in-plane
magnetic field, of quantum dot molecules and attributed to hyperfine coupling,
except here the measurements are conducted outside of the spin-blockade regime
and the out-of-plane magnetic field is up to ~6 T.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Physica E in EP2DS 17
conference proceeding
Acceleration of ultra-thin electron layer. Analytical treatment compared with 1D-PIC simulation
In this paper, we apply an analytical model [V.V. Kulagin et al., Phys.
Plasmas 14,113101 (2007)] to describe the acceleration of an ultra-thin
electron layer by a schematic single-cycle laser pulse and compare with
one-dimensional particle-in-cell (1D-PIC) simulations. This is in the context
of creating a relativistic mirror for coherent backscattering and supplements
two related papers in this EPJD volume. The model is shown to reproduce the
1D-PIC results almost quantitatively for the short time of a few laser periods
sufficient for the backscattering of ultra-short probe pulses.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to the special issue "Fundamental
Physics with Ultra-High Fields" in The European Physical Journal
Bloch's theory in periodic structures with Rashba's spin-orbit interaction
We consider a two-dimensional electron gas with Rashba's spin-orbit
interaction and two in-plane potentials superimposed along directions
perpendicular to each other. The first of these potentials is assumed to be a
general periodic potential while the second one is totally arbitrary. A general
form for Bloch's amplitude is found and an eigen-value problem for the band
structure of the system is derived. We apply the general result to the two
particular cases in which either the second potential represents a harmonic
in-plane confinement or it is zero. We find that for a harmonic confinement
regions of the Brillouin zone with high polarizations are associated with the
ones of large group velocity.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Lower odds of remission among women with rheumatoid arthritis: A cohort study in the Swiss Clinical Quality Management cohort.
To compare the likelihood of achieving remission between men and women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after starting their first biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD).
This cohort study in the Swiss Clinical Quality Management in Rheumatic Diseases (SCQM) registry included RA patients starting their first b/tsDMARD (1997-31/04/2018). The odds of achieving remission at ≤12-months, defined by disease activity score 28-joints (DAS28) <2.6, were compared between men and women. Secondary analyses were adjusted for age and seropositivity, and we investigated potential mediators or factors that could explain the main findings.
The study included 2839 (76.3%) women and 883 (23.7%) men with RA. Compared to women, men were older at diagnosis and b/tsDMARD start, but had shorter time from diagnosis to b/tsDMARD (3.4 versus 5.0 years, p<0.001), and they had lower DAS28 at b/tsDMARD start. Compared to women, men had 21% increased odds of achieving DAS28-remission, with odds ratio (OR) 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.42. Adjusting for age and seropositivity yielded similar findings (adjusted OR 1.24, 95%CI 1.05-1.46). Analyses of potential mediators suggested that the observed effect may be explained by the shorter disease duration and lower DAS28 at treatment initiation in men versus women.
Men started b/tsDMARD earlier than women, particularly regarding disease duration and disease activity (DAS28), and had higher odds of reaching remission. This highlights the importance of early initiation of second line treatments, and suggests to target an earlier stage of disease in women to match the benefits observed in men
Tunable few electron quantum dots in InAs nanowires
Quantum dots realized in InAs are versatile systems to study the effect of
spin-orbit interaction on the spin coherence, as well as the possibility to
manipulate single spins using an electric field. We present transport
measurements on quantum dots realized in InAs nanowires. Lithographically
defined top-gates are used to locally deplete the nanowire and to form
tunneling barriers. By using three gates, we can form either single quantum
dots, or two quantum dots in series along the nanowire. Measurements of the
stability diagrams for both cases show that this method is suitable for
producing high quality quantum dots in InAs.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Does Gambling-Focused Treatment Affect Mental Health and Quality of Life? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract: Cognitive-behavioral (CB) techniques have received substantial empirical support for reducing gambling disorder symptoms and behavior. What has not been established is whether gambling-focused treatment reduces psychological problems and improves quality of life. Individuals experiencing gambling-related harms report that sustained recovery involves changing both gambling behaviors and psychological problems and building a meaningful life. The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of CB techniques targeting gambling harms on nontargeted outcomes such as psychological problems and quality of life.
Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic article search was conducted to locate published studies of randomized controlled trials of CB techniques targeting gambling harms and reporting nontargeted outcomes. Random effects meta-analysis was used to quantify the effect of CB techniques on nontargeted outcomes. Ten studies representing 797 participants were included. Eight studies reported the effect of CB techniques on anxiety, 8 on depression, 3 on substance use, and 7 on quality of life. CB techniques significantly reduced anxiety (g = -0.44), depression (g = -0.35), gambling frequency (g = -0.30), and gambling intensity (g = -0.36) at posttreatment, but not substance use. CB techniques also significantly improved quality of life (g = 0.39) at posttreatment.
Implications: The targeted reduction of gambling harms may serve as a mechanism of change for reducing psychological problems and improving quality of life. Future studies should employ longitudinal designs to understand the associations between gambling reductions and changes in nontargeted recovery outcomes over time
Coherent Electron-Phonon Coupling in Tailored Quantum Systems
The coupling between a two-level system and its environment leads to
decoherence. Within the context of coherent manipulation of electronic or
quasiparticle states in nanostructures, it is crucial to understand the sources
of decoherence. Here, we study the effect of electron-phonon coupling in a
graphene and an InAs nanowire double quantum dot. Our measurements reveal
oscillations of the double quantum dot current periodic in energy detuning
between the two levels. These periodic peaks are more pronounced in the
nanowire than in graphene, and disappear when the temperature is increased. We
attribute the oscillations to an interference effect between two alternative
inelastic decay paths involving acoustic phonons present in these materials.
This interpretation predicts the oscillations to wash out when temperature is
increased, as observed experimentally.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure
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