A semi-open queueing network approach to the analysis of patient flow in healthcare systems

In this paper, we present a modelling framework for patient flow in a healthcare system using semi-open queueing network models, which introduces a total bed constraint, above which new patients will be refused admission. Hence this model provides a realistic representation of a real system. This approach enables us to have access to a range of established methods that deals with queueing network models. We demonstrate the usefulness of the model in the context of a geriatric department and show that hospital managers can use this model to gain better understanding of the dynamics of patient flow and to study potential long-term impacts of policy changes

Experimental investigation of piloted flameholders

Four configurations of piloted flameholders were tested. The range of flame stabilization, flame propagation, pressure oscillation during ignition, and pressure drop of the configurations were determined. Some tests showed a very strong effect of inlet flow velocity profile and flameholder geometry on flame stabilization. These tests led to the following conclusions. (1) The use of a piloted flameholder in the turbofan augmentor may minimize the peak pressure rise during ignition. At the present experimental conditions, delta P/P asterisk over 2 is less than 10 percent; therefore, the use of a piloted flameholder is a good method to realize soft ignition. (2) The geometry of the piloted flameholder and the amount of fuel injected into the flameholder have a strong effect on the pressure oscillation during ignition of the fuel-air mixture in the secondary zone. (3) Compared with the V-gutter flameholder with holes in its wall, the V-gutter flameholder without holes not only has advantages such as simple structure and good rigidity but offers a wide combustion stability limit and a high capability of igniting the fuel-air mixture of the secondary zone

Transient heat generation in a quantum dot under a step-like pulse bias

We study the transient heat generation in a quantum dot system driven by a step-like or a square-shaped pulse bias. We find that a periodically oscillating heat generation arises after adding the sudden bias. One particularly surprising result is that there exists a heat absorption from the zero-temperature phonon subsystem. Thus the phonon population in non-equilibrium can be less than that of the equilibrium electron-phonon system. In addition, we also ascertain the optimal conditions for the operation of a quantum dot with the minimum heat generation.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Characterizing piezoscanner hysteresis and creep using optical levers and a reference nanopositioning stage.

International audienceA method using atomic force microscope (AFM) optical levers and a reference nanopositioning stage has been developed to characterize piezoscanner hysteresis and creep. The piezoscanner is fixed on a closed-loop nanopositioning stage, both of which have the same arrangement on each axis of the three spatial directions inside the AFM-based nanomanipulation system. In order to achieve characterization, the optical lever is used as a displacement sensor to measure the relative movement between the nanopositioning stage and the piezoscanner by lateral tracking a well-defined slope with the tapping mode of the AFM cantilever. This setup can be used to estimate a piezoscanner's voltage input with a reference displacement from the nanopositioning stage. The hysteresis and creep were accurately calibrated by the method presented, which use the current setup of the AFM-based nanomanipulation system without any modification or additional devices

The real cycle class map

The classical cycle class map for a smooth complex variety sends cycles in the Chow ring to cycles in the singular cohomology ring. We study two cycle class maps for smooth real varieties: the map from the I-cohomology ring to singular cohomology induced by the signature, and a new cycle class map defined on the Chow-Witt ring. For both maps, we establish basic compatibility results like compatibility with pullbacks, pushforwards and cup products. As a first application of these general results, we show that both cycle class maps are isomorphisms for cellular varieties