Benchmarks and Controls for Optimization with Quantum Annealing

Quantum annealing (QA) is a metaheuristic specialized for solving optimization problems which uses principles of adiabatic quantum computing, namely the adiabatic theorem. Some devices implement QA using quantum mechanical phenomena. These QA devices do not perfectly adhere to the adiabatic theorem because they are subject to thermal and magnetic noise. Thus, QA devices return statistical solutions with some probability of success where this probability is affected by the level of noise of the system. As these devices improve, it is believed that they will become less noisy and more accurate. However, some tuning strategies may further improve that probability of finding the correct solution and reduce the effects of noise on solution outcome. In this dissertation, these tuning strategies are explored in depth to determine the effect of preprocessing, annealing, and post-processing controls on performance. In particular, these tuning strategies were applied to a real-world NP (nondeterministic polynomial time)-hard optimization problem and portfolio optimization. Although the performance improved very little from tuning the spin reversal transforms, anneal time, and embedding, the results revealed that reverse annealing controls improved the probability of success by an order of magnitude over forward annealing alone. The chain strength experiments revealed that increasing the strength of the intra-chain coupling improves the probability of success until the intra-chain coupling strengths begin to overpower the inter-chain couplings. By taking a closer look at each physical qubit in the embedded chains, the probability for each qubit to be faulty was visualized and was used to develop a post-processing strategy that outperformed the standard, which chooses a logical qubit value from a broken chain. The results of these findings provide a guide for researchers to find the optimal set of controls for their unique real-world optimization problem to determine whether QA provides some benefit over classical computing, lay the groundwork for developing new tuning strategies that could further improve performance, and characterize the current hardware for benchmarking future generations of QA hardware

Turning Passion Into Action: The Intersection of Transformational Coaching and a Counter-Narrative of Black Citizenship

This action research study explored Black middle school students’ interactions with a high-quality civics curriculum that sought to complicate traditional notions of citizenship; provide authentic opportunities for engagement and participation; center student voices; and foster positive, empowered civic identities. The study also examined whether transformational coaching, with an explicit focus on culturally responsive practices, enhanced one social studies teacher’s ability to implement such a curriculum. Critical race theory and social identity theory illuminated how traditional civics education, rooted in white supremacy, excludes and distorts Black citizenship and civic identities; conversely, both theories informed alternative views of citizenship and identity rooted in critical patriotism, community, and activism. Grounded in courageous conversations protocols, students engaged in a series of open classroom discussions about current events, what being a “citizen” means, and how to impact meaningful change. Students also collaborated to identify problems in their communities and designed action plans, which they then implemented, to address their concerns. The combination of a safe space for honest, sometimes contentious, dialogue and opportunities to take meaningful civic action empowered students to develop a counter-narrative of Black citizenship in which they were informed and liberated agents of change. Similarly, the social studies teacher, through her own self-reflection and participation in the transformational coaching cycle, was better equipped to implement high-quality civics instruction for her students. The findings, beyond informing my own practice as a residency coach, may have implications for social studies teachers who hope to incorporate high-quality civics instruction in their classrooms. Further, instructional coaches may look to the study as an example of implementing explicit training in cultural responsiveness in transformational coaching

MACRA and Rural Hospitals

The purpose of this research was to study MACRA (Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act) and to determine how its implementation would financially impact rural hospitals. Although the long-term effects of MACRA have not been able to be studied, MACRA has the prospective to negatively impact rural hospitals financially. MACRA has potential risks and benefits for physicians associated with its two reimbursement payment methods. The estimated negative reimbursements and set reductions to hospital reimbursement have supported the idea that physicians and all healthcare organizations need to be aware and prepared for MACRA

Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act and Rural Hospitals

The cost of health care within the United States has continued to increase, whereas the quality of patient care has generally decreased in some areas. With the continued use of Medicare\u27s former physician reimbursement algorithm, termed sustainable growth rate, national expenditures within the United States have been expected to increase 5.6% annually. To modernize the delivery and financing of care, Congress has introduced the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), which has permanently eliminated and replaced the sustainable growth rate. The purpose of this study was to review MACRA and its implementation to determine how it would financially impact rural hospitals. Two reimbursement pathways have been created for physicians under the MACRA. In addition, the financing and competition among facilities created by the act have been expected to impact physicians and health care organizations. Rural hospitals have been set to receive reduced government reimbursements and have been predicted to compete poorly with larger hospitals and health care corporations. Furthermore, the payment tracks available through the act have been projected to impact solo and small practice physicians negatively

MACRA and Rural Hospitals

Introduction: Every year, the cost of healthcare within the United States has continued to increase while the quality of patient care has decreased. To reconstruct the delivery of care, Congress has introduced the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 which has reinvented Medicare physician reimbursement systems. The purpose of this research was to study the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act and its implementation to determine how it would financially impact rural hospitals. Methodology: The methodology for this study consisted of a qualitative literature review. Twenty-seven research publications were utilized throughout the study. Data limited to the English language from the years 2015 through 2017 were included in the review. Results: Two reimbursement pathways termed Merit-Based Incentive Payment Systems and Alternative Payment Models have been created for physicians under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act. Each reimbursement pathway has rewards and penalties that affect physicians and healthcare organizations financially. In addition to the pathways, financing and competition among facilities created by the act have been expected to impact physicians and healthcare organizations. Discussion/Conclusion: Although the long-term effects of the Medicare Access and Reauthorization Act of 2015 have not been able to be studied, physicians and healthcare organizations such as rural hospitals have been expected to be impacted significantly. Rural hospitals have been set to receive reduced government reimbursements and have been predicted to compete poorly with larger hospitals and corporations. The payment tracks available through the act have been projected to impact solo and small practice physicians negatively; therefore, hospitals have been expected to have to provide support and assistance to local clinicians

Best practices for conducting successful online focus groups

The COVID-19 pandemic required researchers to halt in-person research and modify research methods for a virtual setting. This publication describes the process by which one research team consisting of faculty, staff, and students across a large research institution in the Pacific Northwest successfully pivoted in-person focus groups to an online setting using Zoom. We outline best practices for conducting online focus groups based on a literature review and our firsthand experience. Overall, we found online focus groups to be a cost-effective means for gathering qualitative data that reduced some barriers to participation

Microbial and metabolic succession on common building materials under high humidity conditions.

Despite considerable efforts to characterize the microbial ecology of the built environment, the metabolic mechanisms underpinning microbial colonization and successional dynamics remain unclear, particularly at high moisture conditions. Here, we applied bacterial/viral particle counting, qPCR, amplicon sequencing of the genes encoding 16S and ITS rRNA, and metabolomics to longitudinally characterize the ecological dynamics of four common building materials maintained at high humidity. We varied the natural inoculum provided to each material and wet half of the samples to simulate a potable water leak. Wetted materials had higher growth rates and lower alpha diversity compared to non-wetted materials, and wetting described the majority of the variance in bacterial, fungal, and metabolite structure. Inoculation location was weakly associated with bacterial and fungal beta diversity. Material type influenced bacterial and viral particle abundance and bacterial and metabolic (but not fungal) diversity. Metabolites indicative of microbial activity were identified, and they too differed by material

AutoSyP: A Low-Cost, Low-Power Syringe Pump for Use in Low-Resource Settings

This article describes the design and evaluation of AutoSyP, a low-cost, low-power syringe pump intended to deliver intravenous (IV) infusions in low-resource hospitals. A constant-force spring within the device provides mechanical energy to depress the syringe plunger. As a result, the device can run on rechargeable battery power for 66 hours, a critical feature for low-resource settings where the power grid may be unreliable. The device is designed to be used with 5- to 60-mL syringes and can deliver fluids at flow rates ranging from 3 to 60 mL/hour. The cost of goods to build one AutoSyP device is approximately $500. AutoSyP was tested in a laboratory setting and in a pilot clinical study. Laboratory accuracy was within 4% of the programmed flow rate. The device was used to deliver fluid to 10 healthy adult volunteers and 30 infants requiring IV fluid therapy at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. The device delivered fluid with an average mean flow rate error of −2.3% ± 1.9% for flow rates ranging from 3 to 60 mL/hour. AutoSyP has the potential to improve the accuracy and safety of IV fluid delivery in low-resource settings

Burt Lake Watershed planning project: biological management plan

LimnologyThe Burt Lake Preservation Association wants a management plan to control some of the biological aspects in the Burt Lake watershed. Specifically, the BLPA would like a sustainable sturgeon population, a healthy crayfish population, less invasive plant species, and to understand the signficance of algae growing in Burt Lake. The research team conducted an assessment from June 2016 to August 2016. The assessment encompased a habitat survey for Lake Sturgeon, setting crayfish traps, a plant survey focused on invasive species, and the identification of algae in visible masses. From the assessment it was concluded that the Sturgeon River is the most likely to provide suitable spawing habitat to benefit a sustainable sturgeon pouplation. There is a helathy population of crayfish in Burt Lake, even though the invasive rusty crayfish is present. Curly-leaf pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoil were the only two invasive aquatic plant species found. None of the algae that were identified are invasive or occurring in damaging quantities. Part of the managment plant invluded a list of potential management solutions in order to bring Burt Lake up to the standards of the BLPA.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134684/4/Kelley_LaPlante_Lyons_Barget_Bilich_DesJardins_Nee_Nguyen_2016.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134684/5/Burt Lake Management Plan_2016.pdfDescription of Kelley_LaPlante_Lyons_Barget_Bilich_DesJardins_Nee_Nguyen_2016.pdf : SUPERSEDE

Senior Sway: Using a Mobile Application to Measure Fall Risk

Background and Purpose: The Senior Sway mobile application uses the iPhone/iPad gyroscope to assess postural sway and motion reaction time. Impairment in postural sway and motion reaction time have the potential to increase risk for future falls. Senior Sway thereby has the potential to provide a quick, easy to use, objective measure for predicting falls in older adults. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the Senior Sway mobile application and its associations with fall risk in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Adults older than 62 years were recruited from senior centers and community events. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were used to examine feasibility on the basis of enrollment, time required, satisfaction with application, and association with fall risk. Results and Discussion: Fifty-seven adults were recruited. Use of the Senior Sway mobile application was feasible. Ninety-one percent said that they liked the application and reported length of time of assessment was “just right.” The average Senior Sway score was 64.0 (range: 47.8-84.0), which was signifi cantly associated with the 30-second sit-to-stand test. In addition, the motor reaction time score was associated with the Timed Up and Go. Conclusions: Senior Sway is a promising application to improve identifi cation of adults at risk for falls and need for rehabilitation but warrants further research