446 research outputs found
A technological approach to the morphofunctional classification of seedlings of 50 Brazilian forest species.
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Using the EngagedMD Multimedia Platform to Improve Informed Consent for Ovulation Induction, Intrauterine Insemination, and In Vitro Fertilization
Objective: To study patient and provider feedback on how a multimedia platform (EngagedMD) helps patients to understand the risks and consequences of in vitro fertilization (IVF), ovulation induction (OI), and intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatments and the impact of the informed consent process.
Design: Prospective survey study.
Setting: IVF units in the United States.
Patient(s): Six-thousand three-hundred and thirty-three patients who viewed the multimedia platform before IVF or OI-IUI treatment at 13 U.S. IVF centers and 128 providers.
Intervention(s): Quantitative survey with 17 questions.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Assessment of the impact of a multimedia platform on patient anxiety, comprehension, and satisfaction and provider/nurse feedback related to the informed consent process.
Result(s): The survey was completed by 3,097 respondents (66% IVF treatment; 34% OI-IUI treatment) and 44 providers. Overall, 93% felt the media platform was intuitive, and 90% and 95% felt it had appropriate duration and detail, respectively. Most agreed/strongly agreed it better prepared them to consent (88%), increased their comfort in pursuing treatment (77%) and increased their satisfaction with their care (83%). Compared with the OI-IUI group, statistically significantly more participants who viewed the IVF media platform strongly agreed that the comprehension questions reinforced key concepts (47% vs. 40%), educated them about treatment risks (55% vs. 44%), helped them ask providers informed questions (45% vs. 36%), and better prepared them to sign consent forms (46% vs. 37%). Overall, 63% of providers felt that the media platform improved patient learning, made patients more accountable, and standardized information dissemination.
Conclusion(s): The EngagedMD media platform improves patient knowledge, satisfaction, and control over medical decision making and better prepares patients to give informed consent. Furthermore, it is well-liked by providers and is easily implemented
Achieving ground state and enhancing entanglement by recovering information
For cavity-assisted optomechanical cooling experiments, it has been shown in
the literature that the cavity bandwidth needs to be smaller than the
mechanical frequency in order to achieve the quantum ground state of the
mechanical oscillator, which is the so-called resolved-sideband or good-cavity
limit. We provide a new but physically equivalent insight into the origin of
such a limit: that is information loss due to a finite cavity bandwidth. With
an optimal feedback control to recover those information, we can surpass the
resolved-sideband limit and achieve the quantum ground state. Interestingly,
recovering those information can also significantly enhance the optomechanical
entanglement. Especially when the environmental temperature is high, the
entanglement will either exist or vanish critically depending on whether
information is recovered or not, which is a vivid example of a quantum eraser.Comment: 9 figures, 18 page
The (co-)occurrence of problematic video gaming, substance use, and psychosocial problems in adolescents
Aims. The current study explored the nature of problematic (addictive) video gaming and the association with game type, psychosocial health, and substance use. Methods. Data were collected using a paper and pencil survey in the classroom setting. Three samples were aggregated to achieve a total sample of 8478 unique adolescents. Scales included measures of game use, game type, the Video game Addiction Test (VAT), depressive mood, negative self-esteem, loneliness, social anxiety, education performance, and use of cannabis, alcohol and nicotine (smoking). Results. Findings confirmed problematic gaming is most common amongst adolescent gamers who play multiplayer online games. Boys (60%) were more likely to play online games than girls (14%) and problematic gamers were more likely to be boys (5%) than girls (1%). High problematic gamers showed higher scores on depressive mood, loneliness, social anxiety, negative self-esteem, and self-reported lower school performance. Nicotine, alcohol, and cannabis using boys were almost twice more likely to report high PVG than non-users. Conclusions. It appears that online gaming in general is not necessarily associated with problems. However, problematic gamers do seem to play online games more often, and a small subgroup of gamers – specifically boys – showed lower psychosocial functioning and lower grades. Moreover, associations with alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use are found. It would appear that problematic gaming is an undesirable problem for a small subgroup of gamers. The findings encourage further exploration of the role of psychoactive substance use in problematic gaming
Change in Terrestrial Human Footprint Drives Continued Loss of Intact Ecosystems
Human pressure mapping is important for understanding humanity's role in shaping Earth's patterns and processes. We provide the latest maps of the terrestrial human footprint and provide an assessment of change in human pressure across Earth. Between 2000 and 2013, 1.9 million km2 of land relatively free of human disturbance became highly modified. Our results show that humanity's footprint is eroding Earth's last intact ecosystems and that greater efforts are urgently needed to retain them
QND measurements for future gravitational-wave detectors
Second-generation interferometric gravitational-wave detectors will be
operating at the Standard Quantum Limit, a sensitivity limitation set by the
trade off between measurement accuracy and quantum back action, which is
governed by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. We review several schemes
that allows the quantum noise of interferometers to surpass the Standard
Quantum Limit significantly over a broad frequency band. Such schemes may be an
important component of the design of third-generation detectors.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, 1 table; In version 2, more tutorial information
on quantum noise in GW interferometer and several new items into Reference
list were adde
The next detectors for gravitational wave astronomy
This paper focuses on the next detectors for gravitational wave astronomy
which will be required after the current ground based detectors have completed
their initial observations, and probably achieved the first direct detection of
gravitational waves. The next detectors will need to have greater sensitivity,
while also enabling the world array of detectors to have improved angular
resolution to allow localisation of signal sources. Sect. 1 of this paper
begins by reviewing proposals for the next ground based detectors, and presents
an analysis of the sensitivity of an 8 km armlength detector, which is proposed
as a safe and cost-effective means to attain a 4-fold improvement in
sensitivity. The scientific benefits of creating a pair of such detectors in
China and Australia is emphasised. Sect. 2 of this paper discusses the high
performance suspension systems for test masses that will be an essential
component for future detectors, while sect. 3 discusses solutions to the
problem of Newtonian noise which arise from fluctuations in gravity gradient
forces acting on test masses. Such gravitational perturbations cannot be
shielded, and set limits to low frequency sensitivity unless measured and
suppressed. Sects. 4 and 5 address critical operational technologies that will
be ongoing issues in future detectors. Sect. 4 addresses the design of thermal
compensation systems needed in all high optical power interferometers operating
at room temperature. Parametric instability control is addressed in sect. 5.
Only recently proven to occur in Advanced LIGO, parametric instability
phenomenon brings both risks and opportunities for future detectors. The path
to future enhancements of detectors will come from quantum measurement
technologies. Sect. 6 focuses on the use of optomechanical devices for
obtaining enhanced sensitivity, while sect. 7 reviews a range of quantum
measurement options
Sensitivity Studies for Third-Generation Gravitational Wave Observatories
Advanced gravitational wave detectors, currently under construction, are
expected to directly observe gravitational wave signals of astrophysical
origin. The Einstein Telescope, a third-generation gravitational wave detector,
has been proposed in order to fully open up the emerging field of gravitational
wave astronomy. In this article we describe sensitivity models for the Einstein
Telescope and investigate potential limits imposed by fundamental noise
sources. A special focus is set on evaluating the frequency band below 10Hz
where a complex mixture of seismic, gravity gradient, suspension thermal and
radiation pressure noise dominates. We develop the most accurate sensitivity
model, referred to as ET-D, for a third-generation detector so far, including
the most relevant fundamental noise contributions.Comment: 13 pages, 7 picture
Scientific Potential of Einstein Telescope
Einstein gravitational-wave Telescope (ET) is a design study funded by the
European Commission to explore the technological challenges of and scientific
benefits from building a third generation gravitational wave detector. The
three-year study, which concluded earlier this year, has formulated the
conceptual design of an observatory that can support the implementation of new
technology for the next two to three decades. The goal of this talk is to
introduce the audience to the overall aims and objectives of the project and to
enumerate ET's potential to influence our understanding of fundamental physics,
astrophysics and cosmology.Comment: Conforms to conference proceedings, several author names correcte
First LIGO search for gravitational wave bursts from cosmic (super)strings
We report on a matched-filter search for gravitational wave bursts from
cosmic string cusps using LIGO data from the fourth science run (S4) which took
place in February and March 2005. No gravitational waves were detected in 14.9
days of data from times when all three LIGO detectors were operating. We
interpret the result in terms of a frequentist upper limit on the rate of
gravitational wave bursts and use the limits on the rate to constrain the
parameter space (string tension, reconnection probability, and loop sizes) of
cosmic string models.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures. Replaced with version submitted to PR
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