Soluble field theory with a massless gauge invariant limit

It is shown that there exists a soluble four parameter model in (1+1) dimensions all of whose propagators can be determined in terms of the corresponding known propagators of the vector coupling theory. Unlike the latter case, however, the limit of zero bare mass is nonsingular and yields a nontrivial theory with a rigorously unbroken gauge invariance.Comment: 7 pages, revtex, no figure

Unification of the Soluble Two-dimensional vector coupling models

The general theory of a massless fermion coupled to a massive vector meson in two dimensions is formulated and solved to obtain the complete set of Green's functions. Both vector and axial vector couplings are included. In addition to the boson mass and the two coupling constants, a coefficient which denotes a particular current definition is required for a unique specification of the model. The resulting four parameter theory and its solution are shown to reduce in appropriate limits to all the known soluble models, including in particular the Schwinger model and its axial vector variant.Comment: 10 page

PROPEL: implementation of an evidence based pelvic floor muscle training intervention for women with pelvic organ prolapse: a realist evaluation and outcomes study protocol

Abstract Background Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) is estimated to affect 41%–50% of women aged over 40. Findings from the multi-centre randomised controlled “Pelvic Organ Prolapse PhysiotherapY” (POPPY) trial showed that individualised pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) was effective in reducing symptoms of prolapse, improved quality of life and showed clear potential to be cost-effective. However, provision of PFMT for prolapse continues to vary across the UK, with limited numbers of women’s health physiotherapists specialising in its delivery. Implementation of this robust evidence from the POPPY trial will require attention to different models of delivery (e.g. staff skill mix) to fit with differing care environments. Methods A Realist Evaluation (RE) of implementation and outcomes of PFMT delivery in contrasting NHS settings will be conducted using multiple case study sites. Involving substantial local stakeholder engagement will permit a detailed exploration of how local sites make decisions on how to deliver PFMT and how these lead to service change. The RE will track how implementation is working; identify what influences outcomes; and, guided by the RE-AIM framework, will collect robust outcomes data. This will require mixed methods data collection and analysis. Qualitative data will be collected at four time-points across each site to understand local contexts and decisions regarding options for intervention delivery and to monitor implementation, uptake, adherence and outcomes. Patient outcome data will be collected at baseline, six months and one year follow-up for 120 women. Primary outcome will be the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Symptom Score (POP-SS). An economic evaluation will assess the costs and benefits associated with different delivery models taking account of further health care resource use by the women. Cost data will be combined with the primary outcome in a cost effectiveness analysis, and the EQ-5D-5L data in a cost utility analysis for each of the different models of delivery. Discussion Study of the implementation of varying models of service delivery of PFMT across contrasting sites combined with outcomes data and a cost effectiveness analysis will provide insight into the implementation and value of different models of PFMT service delivery and the cost benefits to the NHS in the longer term

Caring for continence in stroke care settings: a qualitative study of patients’ and staff perspectives on the implementation of a new continence care intervention

Objectives: Investigate the perspectives of patients and nursing staff on the implementation of an augmented continence care intervention after stroke. Design: Qualitative data were elicited during semi-structured interviews with patients (n = 15) and staff (14 nurses; nine nursing assistants) and analysed using thematic analysis. Setting: Mixed acute and rehabilitation stroke ward. Participants: Stroke patients and nursing staff that experienced an enhanced continence care intervention. Results: Four themes emerged from patients’ interviews describing: (a) challenges communicating about continence (initiating conversations and information exchange); (b) mixed perceptions of continence care; (c) ambiguity of focus between mobility and continence issues; and (d) inconsistent involvement in continence care decision making. Patients’ perceptions reflected the severity of their urinary incontinence. Staff described changes in: (i) knowledge as a consequence of specialist training; (ii) continence interventions (including the development of nurse-led initiatives to reduce the incidence of unnecessary catheterisation among patients admitted to their ward); (iii) changes in attitude towards continence from containment approaches to continence rehabilitation; and (iv) the challenges of providing continence care within a stroke care context including limitations in access to continence care equipment or products, and institutional attitudes towards continence. Conclusion: Patients (particularly those with severe urinary incontinence) described challenges communicating about and involvement in continence care decisions. In contrast, nurses described improved continence knowledge, attitudes and confidence alongside a shift from containment to rehabilitative approaches. Contextual components including care from point of hospital admission, equipment accessibility and interdisciplinary approaches were perceived as important factors to enhancing continence care

Operator Ordering Problem of the Nonrelativistic Chern-Simons Theory

The operator ordering problem due to the quantization or regularization ambiguity in the Chern-Simons theory exists. However, we show that this can be avoided if we require Galilei covariance of the nonrelativistic Abelian Chern-Simons theory even at the quantum level for the extended sources. The covariance can be recovered only by choosing some particular operator orderings for the generators of the Galilei group depending on the quantization ambiguities of the $gauge-matter$ commutation relation. We show that the desired ordering for the unusual prescription is not the same as the well-known normal ordering but still satisfies all the necessary conditions. Furthermore, we show that the equations of motion can be expressed in a similar form regardless of the regularization ambiguity. This suggests that the different regularization prescriptions do not change the physics. On the other hand, for the case of point sources the regularization prescription is uniquely determined, and only the orderings, which are equivalent to the usual one, are allowed.Comment: 18 page

Supersymmetry and the Chiral Schwinger Model

We have constructed the N=1/2 supersymmetric general Abelian model with asymmetric chiral couplings. This leads to a N=1/2 supersymmetrization of the Schwinger model. We show that the supersymmetric general model is plagued with problems of infrared divergence. Only the supersymmetric chiral Schwinger model is free from such problems and is dynamically equivalent to the chiral Schwinger model because of the peculiar structure of the N=1/2 multiplets.Comment: one 9 pages Latex file, one ps file with one figur

The dynamics of loop formation in a semiflexible polymer

The dynamics of loop formation by linear polymer chains has been a topic of several theoretical/experimental studies. Formation of loops and their opening are key processes in many important biological processes. Loop formation in flexible chains has been extensively studied by many groups. However, in the more realistic case of semiflexible polymers, not much results are available. In a recent study (K. P. Santo and K. L. Sebastian, Phys. Rev. E, \textbf{73}, 031293 (2006)), we investigated opening dynamics of semiflexible loops in the short chain limit and presented results for opening rates as a function of the length of the chain. We presented an approximate model for a semiflexible polymer in the rod limit, based on a semiclassical expansion of the bending energy of the chain. The model provided an easy way to describe the dynamics. In this paper, using this model, we investigate the reverse process, i.e., the loop formation dynamics of a semiflexible polymer chain by describing the process as a diffusion-controlled reaction. We perform a detailed multidimensional analysis of the problem and calculate closing times for a semiflexible chain which leads to results that are physically expected. Such a multidimensional analysis leading to these results does not seem to exist in the literature so far.Comment: 37 pages 4 figure

A Generalized Gauge Invariant Regularization of the Schwinger Model

The Schwinger model is studied with a new one - parameter class of gauge invariant regularizations that generalizes the usual point - splitting or Fujikawa schemes. The spectrum is found to be qualitatively unchanged, except for a limiting value of the regularizing parameter, where free fermions appear in the spectrum.Comment: 16 pages, SINP/TNP/93-1

On the Minimal Model of Anyons

We present new geometric formulations for the fractional spin particle models on the minimal phase spaces. New consistent couplings of the anyon to background fields are constructed. The relationship between our approach and previously developed anyon models is discussed.Comment: 17 pages, LaTex, no figure