Exploiting Superconvergence Through Smoothness-Increasing Accuracy-Conserving (SIAC) Filtering

There has been much work in the area of superconvergent error analysis for finite element and discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods. The property of superconvergence leads to the question of how to exploit this information in a useful manner, mainly through superconvergence extraction. There are many methods used for superconvergence extraction such as projection, interpolation, patch recovery and B-spline convolution filters. This last method falls under the class of Smoothness-Increasing Accuracy-Conserving (SIAC) filters. It has the advantage of improving both smoothness and accuracy of the approximation. Specifically, for linear hyperbolic equations it can improve the order of accuracy of a DG approximation from k + 1 to 2k + 1, where k is the highest degree polynomial used in the approximation, and can increase the smoothness to k − 1. In this article, we discuss the importance of overcoming the mathematical barriers in making superconvergence extraction techniques useful for applications, specifically focusing on SIAC filtering

SIAC Filtering for Nonlinear Hyperbolic Equations

We present the results of the symmetric and one-sided Smoothness-Increasing Accuracy-Conserving (SIAC) filter applied to a discontinuous Galerkin (DG) approximation for two examples of nonlinear hyperbolic conservation laws. The traditional symmetric SIAC filter relies on having a translation invariant mesh, periodic boundary conditions and linear equations. However, for practical applications that are modelled by nonlinear hyperbolic equations, this is not feasible. Instead we must concentrate on a filter that allows error reduction for nonuniform/unstructured meshes and non-periodic boundary conditions for nonlinear hyperbolic equations. This proceedings is an introductory exploration into the feasibility of these requirements for efficient filtering of nonlinear equations

Holistic Representations of Internal and External Face Features are Used to Support Recognition

Face recognition is impaired when changes are made to external face features (e.g., hairstyle), even when all internal features (i.e., eyes, nose, mouth) remain the same. Eye movement monitoring was used to determine the extent to which altered hairstyles affect processing of face features, thereby shedding light on how internal and external features are stored in memory. Participants studied a series of faces, followed by a recognition test in which novel, repeated, and manipulated (altered hairstyle) faces were presented. Recognition was higher for repeated than manipulated faces. Although eye movement patterns distinguished repeated from novel faces, viewing of manipulated faces was similar to that of novel faces. Internal and external features may be stored together as one unit in memory; consequently, changing even a single feature alters processing of the other features and disrupts recognition

Completing the Recipe for Children\u27s Health: New Variations on Key Ingredients: A Report from the Workshop on June 28, 2007

This paper offers a broad overview of the issues surrounding the social and environmental determinants of children’s health. These issues were explored during a discussion convened by the National Health Policy Forum on June 28, 2007, among a group of individuals concerned about the influences beyond medical care on the health of children. The paper considers the policy and financing tensions that exist across programs and populations that make addressing the full range of influences challenging. It also highlights some of the community-based initiatives that have been successful in providing services to children and families, as described during the workshop. Finally, this meeting report outlines several potential strategies that emerged from the discussion, which could be pursued in order to better coordinate health and social services for children

SCHIP Turns Five: Taking Stock, Moving Ahead

This issue brief notes the five-year anniversary of the effective date of Title XXI of the Social Security Act, the State Children\u27s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). It looks at the successes of the program, as well as some of the obstacles SCHIP will face as it moves from childhood into adolescence and attempts to maintain its effectiveness in providing health coverage to uninsured children and families. The paper explores the critical funding impasse created by the downturns in the economy and the financing structure of the SCHIP statute. It also highlights the emerging issue of program retention and the need to minimize unnecessary disenrollments. Finally, the issue brief considers the prospects for SCHIP\u27s continued success — through bipartisan support in Congress and states\u27 efforts to develop new and improved strategies to maintain and even expand their SCHIP programs in the coming years

Health Insurance Family Style: Public Approaches to Reaching the Uninsured

This issue brief explores existing and potential opportunities to further expand the availability of health coverage for the uninsured and the underinsured, given downturns in the economy and the resulting state budget shortfalls. It also considers the implications of the Health Insurance Flexibility and Accountability (HIFA) initiative announced in August 2001 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Finally, the issue brief describes legislative options for health care reform being debated in Washington, including tax credit incentives, employer-based coverage subsidies and the potential for additional federal funding for public coverage expansions through Medicaid and the State Children\u27s Health Insurance Program

Sailing SCHIP through Troubled Waters

As the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) enters its sixth year of operation, states have continued their commitment to children’s coverage and to reaching out to the uninsured. This issue brief explores the current status of SCHIP in light of fiscal pressures that have been created by the state budget crisis. It highlights some of the key successes in the program thus far and notes several examples of state initiatives to serve particularly vulnerable populations and collect outcomes data and information about access to care