Mixing methodologies to enhance the implementation of healthcare operational research

Healthcare Operational Research (OR) has had limited success in achieving a sufficient level of stakeholder acceptance to lead to implementation of results. This research study is aimed at combining OR methodologies to achieve greater acceptance of results for organizational change. Patient flow delays in the Paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin were identified using case studies. Patient flow was modelled using hard OR (simulation) using case study findings, with active stakeholder participation, and enhanced with outcomes research. Outcomes research allowed achieving greater clinical relevance of OR findings. Results from hard OR, particularly for politically sensitive issues, were persuasive but inadequate to result in change. Soft OR (cognitive mapping) was used to identify new issues and enhance results. Consequently, the planned PICU expansion was deferred, and resources focused on improving staffing strategies identified independently from both hard and soft OR. These findings suggest that: (1) Outcomes research can play a unique role to enhance results in healthcare OR. (2) After obtaining a holistic understanding of the system using hard and soft OR, stakeholders are willing to implement results from each independently, supporting the development of a common form of knowledge, which is consistent with Mixed-Mode Modelling. (3) Hard OR, enhanced with outcomes research, with active stakeholder participation, and combined with soft OR, results in greater acceptance and sustained organizational change.     

Acute Triangulations of Flat Mobius Strips

In this paper we investigate the acute triangulations of flat Mobius strips. We find out that we can always triangulate a flat Mobius strip with at most nine acute triangles, and sometimes (but not always) that many triangles are really needed.     

Mode equation and its solution for dielectric waveguide with parabolic cross-section

The mode equation for the dielectric waveguide with parabolic cross-section is derived using both the effective index method and WKB theory, and the expression of the mode propagation constant or effective index is solved directly from this mode equation, so that the mode-propagation properties of this kind of waveguide can be analysed conveniently with comparative accuracy.     

Second order evolution equations with time-dependent subdifferentials

We study an abstract second order nonlinear evolution equation in a real Hilbert space. We consider time-dependent convex functions and their subdifferentials operating on the first derivative of the unknown function. Introducing appropriate assumptions on the convex functions and other data, we prove the existence and uniqueness of a strong solution, and give some applications of the abstract theorem to hyperbolic variational inequalities with time-dependent constraints.      

A side-coupled photonic crystal filter with sidelobe suppression

This paper presents the theoretical model and the optimization method to suppress the sidelobes of side-coupled photonic crystal filters. Numerical verification shows a good agreement between the theoretical method and the finite-difference time-domain simulation, but the theoretic method does not involve the time-consuming computation. The theoretical method also presents a better physical image for choosing the critical parameters, such as the quality factor, phase shift and the number of resonators. Based on the theoretical model, two optimization methods (chirp and cascading) are proposed to deeply suppress the sidelobes. They also show more flexibility in controlling the bandwidth and steepness of the roll-off in the filter. PACS 42.70.Qs     

Analysis of Metabolites in Allantoic Fluid of Chicken Embryo by 900 MHz NMR Spectroscopy

900 MHz ¹H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy was used to analyze metabolites in allantoic fluid of the chicken embryo in the 9th incubation day without any chemical or physical sample separation. The result showed that superhigh spectral dispersion and sensitivity at 900 MHz are useful in directly analyzing a complex mixture, particularly in resolving the overlapped NMR resonances. In this study, we had assigned 61 metabolites and 26 chemical fragments in the allantoic fluid. The relative concentrations of the major metabolites were also measured. Among the assigned metabolites, some were detected by NMR in chicken embryo allantoic fluids for the first time. The biological functions of these compounds were briefly discussed. Authors' address: Maili Liu, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China     

Modelling aesthetic variables in the valuation of paintings: an interval goal programming approach

The economic valuation of works of art is a decisive subject in the general field of valuation. Unlike in other areas of valuation, the explanatory power of the directly observable and quantifiable variables is very low, therefore, aesthetic criteria must be used to obtain valuation models with a greater explanatory power. Frequently, these aesthetic criteria are not always precise, and experts usually express them as an interval of values. This paper describes different valuation models that use the goal programming optimisation method to include explanatory variables of the closing price in the form of intervals of values. We have also modelled the possibility that an expert can determine the relevance of each observation in the formation of the valuation function depending on the degree of precision with which the variables have been defined.     

新超导体MgCNi3的虚晶掺杂研究

用全势线性缀加平面波方法,考虑局域自旋密度近似研究虚晶掺杂MgCNi3的超导电性和磁性.计算了自旋极化能带结构、体弹性模量和它对压力的导数、原子磁矩 m 及其变化率.计算结果表明,对于电子掺杂的Mg1-xAlxCNi3(0≤x≤0.5), 超导电性和磁涨落随掺杂量的增加逐渐减小.空穴掺杂的Mg1-xNaxCNi3,在x＝0.12处出现铁磁相变,超导电性消失.在MgCNi3少量空穴掺杂区域(0≤x<0.12),表现为超导与磁涨落共存的不稳定状态.     

Ⅰ类超晶格势阱中能级分布及电子跃迁规律研究

在研究大量实验曲线的基础上,指出势阱所有能级均有一定的宽度,电子或空穴在各能级中出现的概率符合正态分布,从理论上分析了I类超晶格和双势垒单势阱的发光光谱与吸收光谱·解释了GaAs/Ga1-xAlxAs多量子阱和超晶格吸收光谱吸收边及量子阱变窄时各吸收峰的“蓝移现象”及GaAs/Ga1-xAlxAs双势垒单量子阱样品的电流—电压特性曲线及电导—电压特性曲线的特征和出现的“负阻效应”·     

Study on anti-emission materials for non-emitting grid applications in microwave power tubes

Hafnium and platinum were deposited onto molybdenum grids by ion-beam assisted deposition method. Electron-emission characteristics from molybdenum grids with Hf and Pt films, which were contaminated by active electron-emission substances (Ba, BaO) of the cathode, were measured using analogous diode method. The surfaces of grids were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The results revealed that the reaction between BaO and Hf formed BaHfO₃ compound, which greatly reduced the accumulation of BaO on the surface and accordingly decreased grid emission. In contrast, Ba were formed by the decomposition of BaO on the surface of Pt film under high temperature and re-evaporated from its surface, which reduced the active electron-emission substances on the surface of the grid and effectively restrained grid emission. Their mechanisms for grid-emission suppression are discussed and a good method to develop new grid-coating materials is suggested.