Staff Nurse Ratings of Implementation Self-Efficacy for EBP (ISE4EBP) and Organizational EBP Readiness

There is limited research about nurses' confidence in implementing evidence into clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to further test, refine and strengthen the Implementation Self-Efficacy for EBP (ISE4EBP) scale and gain knowledge about staff nurses' perspectives of their confidence in EBP implementation in relation to the work environment as measured by the Context Assessment Index (CAI). We proposed, higher nurses confident in implementing evidence into practice would result in higher levels of implementing evidence-based practices (EBP). Bandura's theory of self-efficacy, which postulates that task-specific self-efficacy predicts performance guided the study. In a sample of 75 registered nurses, the overall average score for the ISE4EBP scale was 63%, indicating moderate confidence in implementation strategies. This study furthered the construct validity of the ISE4EBP scale by demonstrating associations between the ISE4EBP scores with the CAI.No embargoAcademic Major: Nursin

Optimization by decomposition: A step from hierarchic to non-hierarchic systems

A new, non-hierarchic decomposition is formulated for system optimization that uses system analysis, system sensitivity analysis, temporary decoupled optimizations performed in the design subspaces corresponding to the disciplines and subsystems, and a coordination optimization concerned with the redistribution of responsibility for the constraint satisfaction and design trades among the disciplines and subsystems, and a coordination optimization concerned with the redistribution of responsibility for the constraint satisfaction and design trades among the disciplines and subsystems. The approach amounts to a variation of the well-known method of subspace optimization modified so that the analysis of the entire system is eliminated from the subspace optimization and the subspace optimizations may be performed concurrently

Approximate simulation model for analysis and optimization in engineering system design

Computational support of the engineering design process routinely requires mathematical models of behavior to inform designers of the system response to external stimuli. However, designers also need to know the effect of the changes in design variable values on the system behavior. For large engineering systems, the conventional way of evaluating these effects by repetitive simulation of behavior for perturbed variables is impractical because of excessive cost and inadequate accuracy. An alternative is described based on recently developed system sensitivity analysis that is combined with extrapolation to form a model of design. This design model is complementary to the model of behavior and capable of direct simulation of the effects of design variable changes

An integrated computer procedure for sizing composite airframe structures

A computerized algorithm to generate cross-sectional dimensions and fiber orientations for composite airframe structures is described, and its application in a wing structural synthesis is established. The algorithm unifies computations of aeroelastic loads, stresses, and deflections, as well as optimal structural sizing and fiber orientations in an open-ended system of integrated computer programs. A finite-element analysis and a mathematical-optimization technique are discussed

The case for aerodynamic sensitivity analysis

No specific solutions are offered, nor verified by applications, for its subject problem which is sensitivity analysis in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Instead, a plea is made to the CFD community for extending their present capability to include sensitivity analysis. The plea is made from the viewpoint of an aeronautical engineer, not an expert in CFD methods, who needs the sensitivity information when working at the junction of aerodynamics, structures, active controls, and other disciplines whose inputs need to be integrated in aircraft design

Two alternative ways for solving the coordination problem in multilevel optimization

Two techniques for formulating the coupling between levels in multilevel optimization by linear decomposition, proposed as improvements over the original formulation, now several years old, that relied on explicit equality constraints which were shown by application experience as occasionally causing numerical difficulties. The two new techniques represent the coupling without using explicit equality constraints, thus avoiding the above diffuculties and also reducing computational cost of the procedure. The old and new formulations are presented in detail and illustrated by an example of a structural optimization. A generic version of the improved algorithm is also developed for applications to multidisciplinary systems not limited to structures

Aircraft optimization by a system approach: Achievements and trends

Recently emerging methodology for optimal design of aircraft treated as a system of interacting physical phenomena and parts is examined. The methodology is found to coalesce into methods for hierarchic, non-hierarchic, and hybrid systems all dependent on sensitivity analysis. A separate category of methods has also evolved independent of sensitivity analysis, hence suitable for discrete problems. References and numerical applications are cited. Massively parallel computer processing is seen as enabling technology for practical implementation of the methodology

Breaking of Bell inequalities from S4S_4 symmetry: the three orbits case

The recently proposed (Phys. Rev. A90 (2014), 062121 and Phys. Rev. A91 (2015), 052110) group theoretical approach to the problem of breaking the Bell inequalities is applied to $S_4$ group. The Bell inequalities based on the choice of three orbits in the representation space corresponding to standard representation of $S_4$ are derived and their breaking is described. The corresponding nonlocal games are analyzed.Comment: 19 pages, no figure

A technique for locating function roots and for satisfying equality constraints in optimization

A new technique for locating simultaneous roots of a set of functions is described. The technique is based on the property of the Kreisselmeier-Steinhauser function which descends to a minimum at each root location. It is shown that the ensuing algorithm may be merged into any nonlinear programming method for solving optimization problems with equality constraints

Multidisciplinary optimization for engineering systems: Achievements and potential

The currently common sequential design process for engineering systems is likely to lead to suboptimal designs. Recently developed decomposition methods offer an alternative for coming closer to optimum by breaking the large task of system optimization into smaller, concurrently executed and, yet, coupled tasks, identified with engineering disciplines or subsystems. The hierarchic and non-hierarchic decompositions are discussed and illustrated by examples. An organization of a design process centered on the non-hierarchic decomposition is proposed