4,385 research outputs found
Heat Conduction in two-dimensional harmonic crystal with disorder
We study the problem of heat conduction in a mass-disordered two-dimensional
harmonic crystal. Using two different stochastic heat baths, we perform
simulations to determine the system size (L) dependence of the heat current
(J). For white noise heat baths we find that J ~ 1/L^a with
while correlated noise heat baths gives . A special case with
correlated disorder is studied analytically and gives a=3/2 which agrees also
with results from exact numerics.Comment: Revised version. 4 pages, 3 figure
Teleportation and Dense Coding with Genuine Multipartite Entanglement
We present an explicit protocol for faithfully teleporting an
arbitrary two-qubit state via a genunie four-qubit entangled state. By
construction, our four-partite state is not reducible to a pair of Bell states.
Its properties are compared and contrasted with those of the four-party GHZ and
W states. We also give a dense coding scheme involving our state
as a shared resource of entanglement. Both and
indicate that our four-qubit state is a likely candidate for the genunine
four-partite analogue to a Bell state.Comment: 9 pages, 0 figur
Are Asians comfortable with discussing death in health valuation studies? A study in multi-ethnic Singapore
BACKGROUND
To characterize ease in discussing death (EID) and its influence on health valuation in a multi-ethnic Asian population and to determine the acceptability of various descriptors of death and "pits"/"all-worst" in health valuation.
METHODS
In-depth interviews (English or mother-tongue) among adult Chinese, Malay and Indian Singaporeans selected to represent both genders and a wide range of ages/educational levels. Subjects rated using 0–10 visual analogue scales (VAS): (1) EID, (2) acceptability of 8 descriptors for death, and (3) appropriateness of "pits" and "all-worst" as descriptors for the worst possible health state. Subjects also valued 3 health states using VAS followed by time trade-off (TTO). The influence of sociocultural variables on EID and these descriptors was studied using univariable analyses and multiple linear regression (MLR). The influence of EID on VAS/TTO utilities with adjustment for sociocultural variables was assessed using MLR.
RESULTS
Subjects (n = 63, 35% Chinese, 32% Malay, median age 44 years) were generally comfortable with discussing death (median EID: 8.0). Only education significantly influenced EID (p = 0.045). EID correlated weakly with VAS/TTO scores (range: VAS: -0.23 to 0.07; TTO: -0.14 to 0.11). All subjects felt "passed away", "departed" and "deceased" were most acceptable (median acceptability: 8.0) while "sudden death" and "immediate death" were least acceptable (median acceptability: 5.0). Subjects clearly preferred "all-worst" to "pits" (63% vs. 19%, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Singaporeans were generally comfortable with discussing death and had clear preferences for several descriptors of death and for "all-worst". EID is unlikely to influence health preference measurement in health valuation studies
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Economic burden of adverse drug reactions and potential for pharmacogenomic testing in Singaporean adults.
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) contribute to hospitalization but data on its economic burden is scant. Pre-emptive pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing can potentially reduce ADRs and its associated costs. The objectives of this study were to quantify the economic burden of ADRs and to estimate the breakeven cost of pre-emptive PGx testing in Singapore. We collected itemized costs for 1000 random non-elective hospitalizations of adults admitted to a tertiary-care general hospital in Singapore. The presence of ADRs at admission and their clinical characteristics were reported previously. The economic burden of ADRs was assessed from two perspectives: (1) Total cost and (2) incremental costs. The breakeven cost of PGx testing was estimated by dividing avoidable hospitalization costs for ADRs due to selected drugs by the number of patients taking those drugs. The total cost of 81 admissions caused by ADRs was US9906 vs. US9884 vs. US114 per patient. These results suggest that future studies designed to directly measure the clinical and cost impact of a pre-emptive genotyping program will help inform clinical practice and health policy decisions
How asynchronous video interviews are used in practice:A study of an Australian‐based AVI vendor
With an archival data set from an Australian-based asynchronous video interview (AVI) vendor, we examined how employers implemented AVI features as a step toward understanding how AVIs can be more optimally designed. The multilevel data contained information about 2,550,105 responses from 627,999 candidates to 52,623 questions, nested within 12,105 interview templates. We found that AVIs were often used for small applicant pools (Mdn = 10 candidates per AVI) and that a majority of the AVIs comprised four to five questions, with candidates typically given 30 seconds to prepare a response, and 2 minutes to record it. Only rarely were candidates permitted to preview questions or re-record responses. Finally, we noted that the settings typically applied were highly consistent with platform's default settings
Endoscopic orbital decompression for Graves' ophthalmopathy
Graves’ disease may occasionally result in significant proptosis that is either cosmetically unacceptable or causes visual loss. This has traditionally been managed surgically by external decompression of the orbital bony skeleton. Trans-nasal endoscopic orbital decompression is emerging as a new minimally-invasive technique, that avoids the need for cutaneous or gingival incisions. Decompression of the medial orbital wall can be performed up to the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus. This can be combined with resection of the medial and posterior portion of the orbital floor (preserving the infra-orbital nerve). This technique produces decompression which is comparable to external techniques. We present a series of 10 endoscopic orbital decompressions with an average improvement of 4.4 mm in orbital proptosis. There was an improvement in visual acuity in all patients with visual impairment. Endoscopic orbital decompression is recommended as an alternative to traditional decompression techniques.Desmond T. H. Wee, A. Simon Carney, Mark Thorpe and Peter J. Wormal
Foreign exchange exposure: Evidence from the U.S. insurance industry
We study the foreign exchange exposure of U.S. insurers. The evidence shows that no systematic difference exists in the currency risk profiles of life and non-life segments within the insurance industry. This suggests that life and non-life insurers have similar risk exposure management strategies arising from similar risk pooling and financial intermediary functions. The empirical results reveal that a sizable proportion of U.S. insurers are exposed to foreign exchange movements against the seven largest U.S. trade partners in insurance services (U.K., Japan, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Germany and Canada). Significant operational and size effects are also documented and we find that the frequency of foreign exchange exposure increases with time horizon
One-dimensional collision carts computer model and its design ideas for productive experiential learning
We develop an Easy Java Simulation (EJS) model for students to experience the
physics of idealized one-dimensional collision carts. The physics model is
described and simulated by both continuous dynamics and discrete transition
during collision. In the field of designing computer simulations, we discuss
briefly three pedagogical considerations such as 1) consistent simulation world
view with pen paper representation, 2) data table, scientific graphs and
symbolic mathematical representations for ease of data collection and multiple
representational visualizations and 3) game for simple concept testing that can
further support learning. We also suggest using physical world setup to be
augmented complimentary with simulation while highlighting three advantages of
real collision carts equipment like tacit 3D experience, random errors in
measurement and conceptual significance of conservation of momentum applied to
just before and after collision. General feedback from the students has been
relatively positive, and we hope teachers will find the simulation useful in
their own classes. 2015 Resources added:
http://iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/interactive-resources/physics/02-newtonian-mechanics/02-dynamics/46-one-dimension-collision-js-model
http://iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/interactive-resources/physics/02-newtonian-mechanics/02-dynamics/195-elastic-collisionComment: 6 pages, 8 figures, 1 table, 1 L. K. Wee, Physics Education 47 (3),
301 (2012); ISSN 0031-912
Enhanced self-field critical current density of nano-composite YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7) thin films grown by pulsed-laser deposition
This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ EPLA, 2008.Enhanced self-field critical current density Jc of novel, high-temperature superconducting thin films is reported. Layers are deposited on (001) MgO substrates by laser ablation of YBa2Cu3O7−δ(Y-123) ceramics containing Y2Ba4CuMOx (M-2411, M=Ag, Nb, Ru, Zr) nano-particles. The Jc of films depends on the secondary-phase content of the ceramic targets, which was varied between 0 and 15 mol%. Composite layers (2 mol% of Ag-2411 and Nb-2411) exhibit Jc values at 77 K of up to 5.1 MA/cm2, which is 3 to 4 times higher than those observed in films deposited from phase pure Y-123 ceramics. Nb-2411 grows epitaxially in the composite layers and the estimated crystallite size is ~10 nm.The Austrian Science Fund, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour, the European Science Foundation and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan
Studies on Silica-Scaled Chrysophytes from Iowa
References in the literature to the silica-scaled chrysophytes of Iowa are few and, since the advent of the electron microscope, identifications of taxa in this group are no longer considered valid without accompanying electron micrographs. Using scanning electron microscopy for critical identifications, eight taxa genera of the Synuraceae are reported here including the first known report of the genus Paraphysomonas from Iowa. From the other two genera, Mallomonas and Synura, only one of the taxa in this paper, Mallomonas pseudocoronata, has been reported from Iowa previously. Mallomonas acaroides var. striatula, M. tonsurata, M. tonsurata var. alpina, M. teilingii, M. pseudocorcnata, Mallomonas sp., Synura petersenii, and Paraphysomonas imperforata are the taxa reported
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