A Proof of Concept for OTFS Resilience in Doubly-Selective Channels by GPU-Enabled Real-Time SDR

Orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS) is a modulation technique which is robust against the disruptive effects of doubly-selective channels. In this paper, we perform an experimental study of OTFS by a real-time software defined radio (SDR) setup. Our SDR consists of a Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) for signal processing programmed using Sionna and TensorFlow, and Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) devices for air interface. We implement a low-latency transceiver structure for OTFS and investigate its performance under various Doppler values. By comparing the performance of OTFS with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), we demonstrate that OTFS is highly robust against the disruptive effects of doubly-selective channels in a real-time experimental setup.Comment: ACCEPTED for 2023 IEEE Global Communications Conference: Wireless Communication

Do Policy Implementation Support Programmes Work? The Case of the Care Act 2014

Context: Policy implementation is an often overlooked stage when policy is introduced. Too often the result is policy failure caused by overly optimistic expectations, implementation in dispersed governance, inadequate collaborative policy-making, and the vagaries of the political cycle. The Care Act 2014 introduced the most significant change in social care law in England for 60 years. Given the complexity of the changes, the Department of Health and Social Care and its key partners introduced an Implementation Support Programme (ISP) to increase the likelihood of smooth implementation. Objective: To assess the impact of the ISP on local implementation of the Care Act and develop a framework for understanding the requirements of a successful ISP. Methods: Analysis was undertaken of the relevant theoretical and conceptual literature in addition to a review of support programmes for other national policies. The empirical study of the impact of the Care Act’s ISP, conducted in six local authorities, focused on three levels of activity that shaped outcomes: national, regional and local. Data were collected through interviews with key stakeholders at each level. Findings: The ISP enjoyed several successes including: helping to secure policy legitimacy, developing stakeholder engagement, sustaining political support, and ensuring the readiness of local implementation agencies. Limitations: The empirical research was confined to six English local authorities which limits drawing general conclusions applicable to the whole country. Implications: Little evidence exists on the value of ISPs. The research goes some way to closing the gap and offers provisional messages on their value to policy-makers and practitioners

Predatory Publishing: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You

Predatory publishers recruit faculty and graduate students to publish in their seemingly high quality journals that frequently lack peer review, charge fees, and have poor reputations. Tenure-track nursing faculty with publishing expectations may be especially vulnerable to the inviting emails received from predatory publishers. Nurse educators should collaborate with their health sciences librarians to identify and implement strategies to combat predatory publishers in nursing education and research

Policy success: What is the role of implementation support programmes?

he policy implementation process is often overlooked when policy is introduced potentially leading to policy failure. This is particularly relevant in complex policy areas where there is a lack of collaborative policy-making and where implementation is in dispersed governance. This paper discusses the findings of a study examining a novel policy implementation support programme developed by the English Department of Health for the Care Act 2014, the most significant changes to the provision of social care for 60 years. Given the complexity of the changes, the Department of Health and its key partners introduced an Implementation Support Programme to increase the likelihood of effective implementation. As part of a suite of research studies, we examined the effectiveness of the implementation support programme in helping local authorities, responsible for social care delivery, implement the key Care Act priorities. We found that the support programme was effective in supporting ‘implementation readiness’ particular in situations where the context and policy itself are complex. We found that while important for the delivery of policy, such support programmes do not necessarily in themselves guarantee successful implementation. However, future evaluations of policy should include examining how the implementation is, or is not supported, in order to fully understand reasons for policy success and failure

Revegetation trials at Sukunka Coal Mine

Revegetation trials were established in 1979 on BP Canada's Sukunka Coal property in the Northeast Coal Block. The trials were designed to test the effects of four levels of fertilizer application on alpine revegetation and to determine the optimum fertilizer treatments for revegetation of subalpine disturbances. The use of native species grown from locally collected seed was also tested in both alpine and subalpine environments. Field assessments were undertaken in August 1980 and 1981. In the alpine the greatest first year response to fertilization was on xeric sites. Heavy first year growth resulted in excessive mulching retarding second year emergence. In the subalpine heavy fertilization resulted in reduced legume establishment, thus, reducing second year cover. Establishment of native species in the alpine was very poor while there was a good establishment in the subalpine. Further assessments are planned as part of BP Canada's ongoing reclamation research program.Non UBCUnreviewedOthe

‘What I really want is academics who want to partner and who care about the outcome’: findings from a mixed-methods study of evidence use in local government in England

Background Local government (LG) is ideally placed to influence the determinants of public health (PH) and reduce inequalities, but opportunities are routinely missed. Aims and objectives The aim of the Local Authority Champions of Research (LACoR) study was to explore ways to embed a culture of evidence use in LG. Methods Five linked work packages were undertaken using mixed methods. In this paper, we report data from semi-structured interviews with UK local authority (LA) staff (n=14). Findings Findings show a changing culture of LG: embedded researchers can enhance connectivity and interaction, build linkages, use levers of influence, and learn alongside LG navigators. Understanding the diverse microcultures of evidence use in LG is critical. Research champions can help to navigate the social, financial, political and regulatory context of LG and academia, influencing change dynamically as opportunities emerge. Discussion Changing organisational subcultures is ambitious and unpredictable given the complexities of, and variability in, local contexts. Cumulative changes appear possible by recognising existing assets, using relational approaches to respond to LG priorities. In-house capacity remains underestimated and underutilised in efforts to embed evidence use in LG decision making. Co-located embedded researchers can use contextually specific knowledge and relationships to enhance evidence use in LG in collaboration with system navigators. Conclusions There is a need for academics to adapt their approach, to take account of the context of LG to achieve meaningful health and social impacts with LG and test the contribution of embedded approaches to wider system change

Night Fantasies de Elliott Carter: estratégias de aprendizagem e performance Elliott Carter's Night Fantasies: learning and performance strategies

Este texto é um relato de minha experiência de aprendizagem e performance da obra Night Fantasies de Elliott Carter. Discuto neste artigo os problemas técnico-pianísticos que encontrei e as estratégias de que lancei mão a fim de superar tais dificuldades, além de algumas questões analíticas e históricas da obra e do compositor que julgo importantes para a performance criteriosa desta peça para piano.<br>In this article, I write about my experience of learning and performing Night Fantasies by Elliott Carter. I discuss the technical problems that I found, as well as the strategies that I made use in order to overcome those difficulties. I also bring some analytical and historical questions about the work and the composer that I find important for a rigorous performance of this piano piec