Transverse Fluctuations and Their Effects on the Stable Functioning of Semiconductor Devices

Semiconductor plasma is often found in chaotic unpredictable motion which shows some anomalous behaviors providing multiple challenges to work with the instabilities in a semiconductor device. Experimental studies have shown that these instabilities give rise to fluctuations and azimuthal non-uniformities, which are usually present in the semiconductor. The energy fluctuations have also been observed in some of the cases. In this paper, we have obtained the fluctuations in velocity field by integrating the linearized governing hydrodynamic equations with RungeKutta method of order four (RK4). Then, we have come up with a mathematical formulation, where these fluctuations can be obtained from a KdV family equation with homotopy-assisted symbolic simulation. We have also obtained the relative velocity between the solitary structures for different parameters. Finally, by giving a detailed explanation of the behavior of semiconductor devices, we can study the usefulness of formulating the plasma waves in the various regime, and predict their characteristics theoretically

Deconstructing Weight Management Interventions for Young Adults: Looking Inside the Black Box of the EARLY Consortium Trials.

ObjectiveThe goal of the present study was to deconstruct the 17 treatment arms used in the Early Adult Reduction of weight through LifestYle (EARLY) weight management trials.MethodsIntervention materials were coded to reflect behavioral domains and behavior change techniques (BCTs) within those domains planned for each treatment arm. The analytical hierarchy process was employed to determine an emphasis profile of domains in each intervention.ResultsThe intervention arms used BCTs from all of the 16 domains, with an average of 29.3 BCTs per intervention arm. All 12 of the interventions included BCTs from the six domains of Goals and Planning, Feedback and Monitoring, Social Support, Shaping Knowledge, Natural Consequences, and Comparison of Outcomes; 11 of the 12 interventions shared 15 BCTs in common across those six domains.ConclusionsWeight management interventions are complex. The shared set of BCTs used in the EARLY trials may represent a core intervention that could be studied to determine the required emphases of BCTs and whether additional BCTs add to or detract from efficacy. Deconstructing interventions will aid in reproducibility and understanding of active ingredients

Advances in technologies for propagation and domestication of plants of economic and environmental interest in Argentina

En el Laboratorio de Estudios de la Madera de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina, se implementa el proyecto de desarrollo tecnológico denominado Métodos y tecnologías de propagación y domesticación de plantas para el desarrollo de una bioeconomía local basada en la biodiversidad. El objetivo del mismo es desarrollar, optimizar y adaptar nuevas metodologías y tecnologías de propagación y conservación de recursos genéticos vegetales para la producción de plantas en nuevo escenario de la bioeconomía nacional. La diversidad está en la base de la bioeconomía, y muchas veces el material vegetal para plantar para diferentes fines es escaso. Las especies contempladas en éste proyecto son: Quercus sp.; Polylepis tarapacana; Prosopis alpataco, Eranthemun pulchelum y Heteropteris angustifolia Griseb. En este trabajo se comunican algunos de los avances alcanzados aplicando diferentes enfoques para la producción de plantas de calidad (semillas, cultivo de tejidos in vitro, macropropagación y plantines en contenedores).The Timber Research Laboratory of the Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences of the National University of La Plata (LIMAD), Argentina, implements the technological development project called Methods and technologies of plant propagation and domestication for the development of a local bioeconomy based on biodiversity. Its objective is to develop, optimize and adapt new methodologies and technologies for the propagation and conservation of plant genetic resources for the production of plants in a new scenario of national bioeconomy. Diversity is at the base of bioeconomy, and often planting plant material for different purposes is scarce. The species covered by this project are: Quercus sp. (exotic forest); Polylepis tarapacana (native forest); Prosopis alpataco. (multipurpose native forestry), Eranthemun pulchelum and Heteropteris angustifolia Griseb (ornamental species of great potential and use in green roofs). This work communicates some of the progress made by applying different approaches to the production of quality plants (seeds, in vitro tissue culture, macro propagation and seed container planting).Fil: Sharry, E.S.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Weber, C.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Cellini, M.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, Victoria Lien. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Boeri, P.. Universidad Nacional de Rio Negro. Sede Alto Valle y Valle Medio.; ArgentinaFil: Roussy, L.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Sceglio, P.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Ramilo, D.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Galarco, S.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; Argentin

Solution-focused intervention for sick listed employees with psychological problems or muscle skeletal pain: a randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN39140363]

BACKGROUND: Long-term sick leave has been of concern to politicians and decision-makers in Norway for several years. In the current study we assess the efficacy of a solution-focused follow-up for sick-listed employees. METHODS: Employees on long-term sick leave due to psychological problems or muscle skeletal pain (n = 703) were invited to participate in the project. Following self-recruitment, 103 were randomly allocated to receive solution-focused follow-up (n = 53) or "treatment as usual" (n = 50). The intervention was integrated within the regular follow up of six social security offices and organised as eight weekly solution focused work sessions. Effectiveness was measured by rate of return to work and health related quality of life (SF-36). RESULTS: Intention to treat analysis showed no significant differences between the two groups for any of the outcome measures. Secondary analysis, comparing those who attended at least 50% of the sessions with the control group revealed a significant difference in favour of the active intervention group in the SF-36 subscale of mental health (Effect Size 0.56, p = 0.05). When comparing the subgroup of participants with psychological problems there was a significant difference in mental health in favour of the intervention group (Effect Size 0.71, p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: A voluntary solution-focused intervention offered by social-security offices is no more effective than regular follow up for employees on long-term sick leave due to psychological problems or muscle skeletal pain

Illness beliefs and the sociocultural context of diabetes self-management in British South Asians: a mixed methods study

Background: British South Asians have a higher incidence of diabetes and poorer health outcomes compared to the general UK population. Beliefs about diabetes are known to play an important role in self-management, yet little is known about the sociocultural context in shaping beliefs. This study aimed to explore the influence of sociocultural context on illness beliefs and diabetes self-management in British South Asians. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used. 67 participants recruited using random and purposive sampling, completed a questionnaire measuring illness beliefs, fatalism, health outcomes and demographics; 37 participants completed a social network survey interview and semi-structured interviews. Results were analysed using SPSS and thematic analysis. Results: Quantitative data found certain social network characteristics (emotional and illness work) were related to perceived concern, emotional distress and health outcomes (p < 0.05). After multivariate analysis, emotional work remained a significant predictor of perceived concern and emotional distress related to diabetes (p < 0.05). Analysis of the qualitative data suggest that fatalistic attitudes and beliefs influences self-management practices and alternative food ‘therapies’ are used which are often recommended by social networks. Conclusions: Diabetes-related illness beliefs and self-management appear to be shaped by the sociocultural context. Better understanding of the contextual determinants of behaviour could facilitate the development of culturally appropriate interventions to modify beliefs and support self-management in this population

A review of web-based support systems for students in higher education

Abstract Background Recent evidence suggests that there is an increasing need for accessible and anonymous services to support higher education (HE) students suffering from psychological and/or academic difficulties. Such difficulties can lead to several negative outcomes, including poor academic performance, sub-optimal mental health, reduced study satisfaction, and dropout from study. Currently, universities in the UK lack financial resources and the on-campus mental health services traditionally offered to students are increasingly economically unsustainable. Compounded by the perceived stigma of using such services, mental health providers have been driven to address the escalating needs of students through online services. Methods In this paper, we review online support systems identified through a literature search and a manual search of references in the identified papers. Further systems were identified through web searches, and systems still in development were identified by consultation with researchers in the field. We accessed systems online to extract relevant information, regarding the main difficulties addressed by the systems, the psychological techniques used and any relevant research evidence to support their effectiveness. Conclusion A large number of web-based support systems have been developed to support mental health and wellbeing, although few specifically target HE students. Further research is necessary to establish the effectiveness of such interventions in providing a cost-effective alternative to face-to-face therapy, particularly in certain settings such as HE institutions

Breaking barriers: using the behavior change wheel to develop a tailored intervention to overcome workplace inhibitors to breaking up sitting time

© The Author(s). 2019. Background: The workplace is a prominent domain for excessive sitting. The consequences of increased sitting time include adverse health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease and poor mental wellbeing. There is evidence that breaking up sitting could improve health, however, any such intervention in the workplace would need to be informed by a theoretical evidence-based framework. The aim of this study was to use the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to develop a tailored intervention to break up and reduce workplace sitting in desk-based workers. Methods: The BCW guide was followed for this qualitative, pre-intervention development study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 office workers (26–59years, mean age 40.9 [SD=10.8] years; 68% female) who were purposively recruited from local council offices and a university in the East of England region. The interview questions were developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Transcripts were deductively analysed using the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation – Behaviour) model of behaviour. The Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy Version 1 (BCTv1) was thereafter used to identify possible strategies that could be used to facilitate change in sitting behaviour of office workers in a future intervention. Results: Qualitative analysis using COM-B identified that participants felt that they had the physical Capability to break up their sitting time, however, some lacked the psychological Capability in relation to the knowledge of both guidelines for sitting time and the consequences of excess sitting. Social and physical Opportunity was identified as important, such as a supportive organisational culture (social) and the need for environmental resources (physical). Motivation was highlighted as a core target for intervention, both reflective Motivation, such as beliefs about capability and intention and automatic in terms of overcoming habit through reinforcement. Seven intervention functions and three policy categories from the BCW were identified as relevant. Finally, 39 behaviour change techniques (BCTs) were identified as potential active components for an intervention to break up sitting time in the workplace. Conclusions: The TDF, COM-B model and BCW can be successfully applied through a systematic process to understand the drivers of behaviour of office workers to develop a co-created intervention that can be used to break up and decrease sitting in the workplace. Intervention designers should consider the identified BCW factors and BCTs when developing interventions to reduce and break up workplace sitting

Changing Relationships through Interactions: Preliminary Accounts of Parent-Child Interactions after Undertaking Individual Parent Training

Purpose: Parent and child interaction training has been increasingly investigated over recent years. However, the mechanisms of change within individual training programmes are not well understood. To explore the factors that can facilitate or inhibit meaningful changes in interactions and ultimately relationships, the current study employed semi-structured interviews to obtain first person accounts from parents who had undertaken an individualised parent-training programme. Method: Three participants provided accounts of the training programme and their perceived impact upon interactions with their children were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: The analysis resulted in three themes, which illustrate how participants adjusted their interactional style with their child to varying degrees through enhanced personal awareness, increased understanding of their child’s emotional and interactional needs, and accepting the reciprocity of interactional accountability. Discussion: Changes in interactional style enabled participants to alter their perceptions of their own behaviours, their child’s behaviours, and how they influenced one another through interactions. Recommendations for future research and therapeutic practice are discussed in the context of the findings and the existing evidence base

Exploring Memory Interventions in Depression through Lifelogging Lens

Depression is a major affective disorder with significant socio-economic cost. Distinctive autobiographical memory impairments in depression include overgeneralization, negative-bias, and repetitive negative thinking. Some psychotherapeutic interventions are designed to address these impairments, with insufficient technological support. This paper reports on an analysis of four memory-based interventions proven effective in therapeutic practice for depression, while explores the memory impairments addressed by these interventions. We address these findings into three design implications for digital tools in this space. We suggest supports for enriched positive memory recall, strategically negative memory reappraisal and future episodic imagination