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Developing a grid computing system for commercial-off-the-shelf simulation packages
Today simulation is becoming an increasingly
pervasive technology across major business
sectors. Advances in COTS Simulation Packages
and Commercial Simulation Software have made
it easier for users to build models, often of large complex processes. These two factors combined are to be welcomed and when used correctly can be of great benefit to organisations that make use of the technology. However, it is also the case
that users hungry for answers do not always have the time, or possibly the patience, to wait for results from multiple replications and multiple experiments as standard simulation practice would demand. There is therefore a need to support this advance in the use of simulation within today’s business with improved computing technology. Grid computing has been put forward as a potential commercial solution to this requirement. To this end, Saker Solutions and the Distributed Systems Research Group at Brunel University have developed a dedicated Grid Computing System (SakerGrid) to support the deployment of simulation models across a desktop grid of PCs. The paper identifies route taken to solve this challenging issue and suggests where the future may lie for this exciting integration of two effective but underused technologies
Marginal states of the resistive tearing mode with flow in cylindrical geometry
The linear stability of tearing modes in a cylindrical plasma subject to a sub-Alfvénic equilibrium shear flow along the equilibrium magnetic field is considered. The equations in the resistive boundary layer at the rational surface are solved numerically using a Fourier transform combined with a finite-element approach. The behaviour of the growth rate as a function of the flow and the various parameters (including a perpendicular fluid viscosity) is obtained. Marginal stability curves showing the dependence of the familiar matching parameter Δ' with flow and shear are also given
Barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining peer support in kidney care
Introduction
Peer support offers informational, appraisal and emotional support for people with CKD, is recommended in national policy, yet has low engagement levels. This paper reports results of a national survey and qualitative interviews in the UK.
Literature review
A recent narrative review highlighted the barriers and facilitators to peer support uptake among people with CKD however called on further studies to be conducted.
Material and methods
The survey, adapted from a 2012 version, was sent to all 83 UK kidney units. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff, recipients and supporters from two units.
Results
44 units completed the survey, and 10 staff, 7 patients and 2 peer supporters were interviewed. The most common facilitators were promotion with staff and having peer support champions. Barriers included lack of staff time, guidance/information, other projects taking priority and too few supporters.
Discussion
Little progress has been made since 2012; a proportion of units without peer support has increased, with similar barriers identified in 2020. Services could be designed to limit the time needed for their creation and maintenance through having simpler referrals and designating staff liaisons.
Implications for clinical practice
Peer support programmes should have passionate staff and volunteers, involve recipients in the design, recruit an array of supporters and establish evaluations to determine the progress/outcomes. A resource toolkit was developed in response to this project.
Conclusion
Findings from the national survey and qualitative interviews showed that more peer support optimisation and prioritisation is needed to ensure benefits are maximised
A narrative review of peer support barriers and facilitators in kidney care
Introduction
Patients with CKD often experience emotional/mental challenges and benefit from peer support as it provides insight/information from others with the same condition. Previous studies show it is effective in improving health outcomes and aids in treatment decisions.
Literature review
There is low peer support uptake among patients with CKD in the UK and staff do not utilise it fully. Few studies within the UK have focused on peer support barriers/facilitators so this narrative review aimed to understand them from staff and patient perspectives.
Material and methods
A comprehensive search strategy and inclusion/exclusion criteria was applied with a two-step process of article selection employed, using two reviewers. Thematic analysis was applied.
Results
Five articles were included and six themes emerged. Low referrals and difficulty matching were staff barriers; concern regarding the relationship dynamic and the format/delivery were patient barriers. Promotion of the service aided the uptake from staff whilst patients valued inclusivity.
Discussion
Increased promotion of peer support benefits through training/awareness may improve staff referrals and there should be greater exposure nationally. A flexible format is essential to ensure ample opportunity for access.
Implications for clinical practice
Staff training should include peer support details and potential recipients should be empowered to access it in a way which suits their needs. A programme needs passionate individuals involved in the set-up/delivery.
Conclusion
This review highlights the current literature on peer support barriers/facilitators. Further study is needed to evidence which approaches best overcome staff- and patient-barriers
A microcontroller system for investigating the catch effect: Functional electrical stimulation of the common peroneal nerve
Correction of drop foot in hemiplegic gait is achieved by electrical stimulation of the common peroneal nerve with a series of pulses at a fixed frequency. However, during normal gait, the electromyographic signals from the tibialis anterior muscle indicate that muscle force is not constant but varies during the swing phase. The application of double pulses for the correction of drop foot may enhance the gait by generating greater torque at the ankle and thereby increase the efficiency of the stimulation with reduced fatigue. A flexible controller has been designed around the Odstock Drop Foot Stimulator to deliver different profiles of pulses implementing doublets and optimum series. A peripheral interface controller (PIC) microcontroller with some external circuits has been designed and tested to accommodate six profiles. Preliminary results of the measurements from a normal subject seated in a multi-moment chair (an isometric torque measurement device) indicate that profiles containing doublets and optimum spaced pulses look favourable for clinical use
Coupling between magnetic ordering and structural instabilities in perovskite biferroics: A first-principles study
We use first-principles density functional theory-based calculations to
investigate structural instabilities in the high symmetry cubic perovskite
structure of rare-earth (R La, Y, Lu) and Bi-based biferroic chromites,
focusing on and point phonons of states with para-, ferro-, and
antiferromagnetic ordering. We find that (a) the structure with G-type
antiferromagnetic ordering is most stable, (b) the most dominant structural
instabilities in these oxides are the ones associated with rotations of oxygen
octahedra, and (c) structural instabilities involving changes in Cr-O-Cr bond
angle depend sensitively on the changes in magnetic ordering. The dependence of
structural instabilities on magnetic ordering can be understood in terms of how
super-exchange interactions depend on the Cr-O-Cr bond angles and Cr-O bond
lengths. We demonstrate how adequate buckling of Cr-O-Cr chains can favour
ferromagnetism. Born effective charges (BEC) calculated using the Berry phase
expression are found to be anomalously large for the A-cations, indicating
their chemical relevance to ferroelectric distortions.Comment: 8 pages, 13 figure
The valuation tool user guide: monetizing Cradle to Cradle®
This User Guide outlines the object, scope and expected deliverables from the Valuation Tool component of the Cradle to Cradle ® C2C BIZZ project. It describes the compendium of subtools that have been developed comprising: i) overview of funding tools; ii) C2C investment appraisal tool; and iii) C2C value indexing tool. The underpinning methodologies, as well as their inherent strengths and limitations are also described. The C2C BIZZ project as a whole aims specifically to promote and enhance the implementation of C2C methods in business site development within North Western Europe (NWE) (PAD, p.14). It is intended to infuse C2C notions into conventional site development, restructuring and management. The primary focus of the project is on planning, building and managing of business sites with C2C credentials (PAD, p.18) using sites in Lille Metropole (La Lainiere), London (London Sustainable Industries Park) and Luxemburg (Ecoparc Windhof) as experimental fields. C2C BIZZ is not concerned with the internal operations and activities of occupiers or users of the developed site. Accordingly, the scope of the valuation tool is confined to the planning, building and management of C2C sites. The deliverable from this component is a compendium of subtools (see Figure 1 below) that may be used to analyse the financial performance of C2C credentials in business sites to aid the making of a business case for such developments and evaluating the financial incentives for particular C2C site development projects. This entire work is premised on the argument that the wider adoption of C2C principles within the built environment depends on the rate of uptake by the private sector. The private sector, being profit driven, are likely to engage in C2C site development if they are convinced of its capacity to contribute to their business goals which ultimately is a return on their investment. The tool development described in this document attempts to provide a framework for collating an evidence base that can assist in articulating the business case for C2C in business site developments
Развитие МБА в современных условиях (региональный аспект)
Precipitation is an important hydro-meteorological variable, and is a primary driver of the water cycle. In large parts of the world, real-time ground-based observations of precipitation are sparse and satellite-derived precipitation products are the only information source.We used changes in satellite-derived soil moisture (SM) and land surface temperature (LST) to reduce uncertainties in the real-time TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis product (TMPA-RT). The Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model was used to model the response of LST and SM on precipitation, and a particle filter was used to update TMPA-RT. Observations from AMSR-E (LPRM and LSMEM), ASCAT, SMOS and LST from AMSR-E were assimilated to correct TMPA-RT over the continental United States.Assimilation of satellite-based SM observations alone reduced the false detection of precipitation (by 85.4%) and the uncertainty in the retrieved rainfall volumes (5%). However, a higher number of observed rainfall events were not detected after assimilation (34%), compared to the original TMPA-RT (46%). Noise in the retrieved SM changes resulted in a relatively low potential to reduce uncertainties. Assimilation of LST observations alone increased the rainfall detection rate (by 51%), and annual precipitation totals were closer to ground-based precipitation observations. Combined assimilation of both satellite SM and LST, did not significantly reduce the uncertainties compared to the original TMPA-RT, because of the influence of satellite SM over LST. However, in central United States improvements were found after combined assimilation of SM and LST observations. This study shows the potential for reducing the uncertainties in TMPA-RT estimates over sparsely gauged areas
Photometry of SN 2002ic and Implications for the Progenitor Mass-Loss History
We present new pre-maximum and late-time optical photometry of the Type
Ia/IIn supernova 2002ic. These observations are combined with the published
V-band magnitudes of Hamuy et al. (2003) and the VLT spectrophotometry of Wang
et al. (2004) to construct the most extensive light curve to date of this
unusual supernova. The observed flux at late time is significantly higher
relative to the flux at maximum than that of any other observed Type Ia
supernova and continues to fade very slowly a year after explosion. Our
analysis of the light curve suggests that a non-Type Ia supernova component
becomes prominent days after explosion. Modeling of the non-Type Ia
supernova component as heating from the shock interaction of the supernova
ejecta with pre-existing circumstellar material suggests the presence of a
cm gap or trough between the progenitor system and the
surrounding circumstellar material. This gap could be due to significantly
lower mass-loss years prior to explosion or
evacuation of the circumstellar material by a low-density fast wind. The latter
is consistent with observed properties of proto-planetary nebulae and with
models of white-dwarf + asymptotic giant branch star progenitor systems with
the asymptotic giant branch star in the proto-planetary nebula phase.Comment: accepted for publication in Ap
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