Rapid Performance Improvement Research Articles

Hydrophobic Organic Hole Transporters for Improved Moisture Resistance in Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells.

Solar cells based on organic-inorganic perovskite semiconductor materials have recently made rapid improvements in performance, with the best cells performing at over 20% efficiency. With such rapid progress, questions such as cost and solar cell stability are becoming increasingly important to address if this new technology is to reach commercial deployment. The moisture sensitivity of commonly used organic-inorganic metal halide perovskites has especially raised concerns. Here, we demonstrate that the hygroscopic lithium salt commonly used as a dopant for the hole transport material in perovskite solar cells makes the top layer of the devices hydrophilic and causes the solar cells to rapidly degrade in the presence of moisture. By using novel, low cost, and hydrophobic hole transporters in conjunction with a doping method incorporating a preoxidized salt of the respective hole transporters, we are able to prepare efficient perovskite solar cells with greatly enhanced water resistance.

熱間押出法による炭素繊維配向制御 Al 基複合材料の作製およびその熱伝導率評価

New heatsink materials having higher thermal conductivities have recently been required due to the recent rapid improvements in performance of the central processing unit, CPU, with increasing heat generation from computer devices. As an alternative material to conventional heatsink materials such as Al and Cu, composites containing carbon fibers have recently been gaining much attentions because of their extremely high thermal conductivity. However, the carbon fiber exhibits high thermal conductivity only in its longitudinal direction. Therefore, it is essential to control the orientation of the carbon fibers in the composite materials. In the present study, hot extrusion of a powder-fiber mixture is applied to realization of unidirectional array of carbon fibers in Al matrix, and the effects of volume fraction of carbon fiber on the thermal conductivity of the carbon fiber oriented Al-based composite have been investigated. It has been demonstrated that the carbon fibers are unidirectionally oriented in the extrusion direction, and consequently, the thermal conductivity in this direction increases with the increase in volume fraction of the carbon fiber. For the composites with more than 30 vol% carbon fiber, the addition of Al-Si alloy powder or the application of the spark plasma sintering, SPS, before extrusion was found to be effective for improving the sinterability of the powder-fiber mixture.

Developmental trajectories for attention and working memory in healthy Japanese school-aged children.

The aim of this study was to investigate the developmental trajectories of attention, short-term memory, and working memory in school-aged children using a 10 min test battery of cognitive function. Participants comprised 144 typically developing children (TDC) aged 7-12 years and 24 healthy adults, divided according to age into seven groups (12 males and 12 females for each age group). Participants were assessed using CogHealth, which is a computer-based measure composed of five tasks. We measured attention, short-term memory, and working memory (WM) with visual stimulation. Each task was analyzed for age-related differences in reaction time and accuracy rate. Attention tasks were faster in stages from the age of 7-10 years. Accuracy rate of short-term memory gradually increased from 12 years of age and suddenly increased and continued to increase at 22 years of age. Accuracy rate of working memory increased until 12 years of age. Correlations were found between the ages and reaction time, and between ages and accuracy rate of the tasks. These results indicate that there were rapid improvements in attention, short-term memory, and WM performance between 7 and 10 years of age followed by gradual improvement until 12 years of age. Increase in short-term memory continued until 22 years of age. In our experience CogHealth was an easy and useful measure for the evaluation of cognitive function in school-age children.

Identification of polymorphisms associated with production traits on chicken (Gallus gallus) chromosome 4.

Genetic selection for production traits has resulted in a rapid improvement in animal performance and development. Previous studies have mapped quantitative trait loci for body weight at 35 and 41 days, and drum and thigh yield, onto chicken chromosome 4. We investigated this region for single nucleotide polymorphisms and their associations with important economic traits. Three positional candidate genes were studied: KLF3 (Krüeppel-like factor 3), SLIT2 (Slit homolog 2), and PPARGC1A (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, coactivator 1 alpha). Fragment sequencing of these genes was conducted in 11 F1 animals, and one polymorphism in each gene was selected and genotyped in an F2 population (N = 276) and a paternal broiler line TT (N = 840). Associations were identified with growth, carcass, and fat traits in the F2 and the paternal line (P < 0.05). Using single markers in both the F2 and the TT line, KLF3 was associated with weight gain (P < 0.05), PPPARGC1A was associated with liver and wing-parts weights and yields (P < 0.05), and SLIT2 was associated with back yield (P < 0.05) and fat traits (P < 0.05). Using multiple markers, KLF3 lost its significance in both populations, and SLIT2 was associated with feed conversion only in the TT population (P < 0.05). The QTLs mapped in the F2 population could be partly explained by PPARGC1A and SLIT2, which were associated with body weight at 35 and 41 days, respectively, and with drum and thigh yield in the same population. The results of this study indicate the importance of these genes for production traits.

Beginner’s Guide to Practice Quality Improvement Using the Model for Improvement

Radiologists in the United States are required to complete the Practice Quality Improvement (PQI) program as part of their Maintenance of Certification by the ABR. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement's (IHI) Model for Improvement (MFI) offers an alternative to the 3-phase approach currently advocated by the ABR. The MFI implicitly assumes that many interventions will need to be tested and refined for any meaningful project, and provides a project management approach that enables rapid assessment and improvement of performance. By collecting data continuously, rather than simply before and after interventions, more interventions can be tested simultaneously and projects can progress more rapidly. In this article, we describe the ABR's 3-phase approach, and introduce the MFI and how it can be employed to affect positive changes. Using a radiology case study, we demonstrate how one can utilize the MFI to enable rapid quality improvement.

A Computer-aided Program Regulating the Presentation of Visual Instructions to Support Activity Performance in Persons with Multiple Disabilities

This study assessed whether a computer-aided program presenting static pictorial instructions or video prompts according to prearranged time intervals would be suitable for teaching six persons with multiple (i.e., intellectual, sensory, and social) disabilities to perform simple daily activities. The program was applied with each participant according to a multiple probe across activities design. The results showed that all participants (i.e., the five using pictorial instructions and the one using video prompts) had a fairly rapid performance improvement with the introduction of the program. A post-intervention probe carried out to verify whether the participants had eventually become capable of performing the activities independent of the instructions showed clear declines in performance. Such declines underlined the enduring relevance of the instructions. These results (a) extend previous evidence on the use of visual instructions and computer-aided programs for supporting their presentation and (b) have clear practical implications for daily contexts.

Book Reviews

Presents a model of a professional sports league that can display unsustainable runs—rapid improvements in a club's performance on the field, ice, or court that require implausibly large shifts in exogenous variables or parameters to fit traditional notions of profit-maximizing behavior—resulting from the presence of multiple equilibria. Discusses introducing unsustainable runs; casual evidence of unsustainable runs; a model of a professional sports league; a professional sports league model with unsustainable runs; unsustainable runs with revenue sharing the salary caps; and some empirical testing. Rockerbie is with the Department of Economics at the University of Lethbridge. Easton is with the Department of Economics at Simon Fraser University.

Rehabilitative Training Promotes Rapid Motor Recovery but Delayed Motor Map Reorganization in a Rat Cortical Ischemic Infarct Model

Background. In preclinical stroke models, improvement in motor performance is associated with reorganization of cortical motor maps. However, the temporal relationship between performance gains and map plasticity is not clear. Objective. This study was designed to assess the effects of rehabilitative training on the temporal dynamics of behavioral and neurophysiological endpoints in a rat model of focal cortical infarct. Methods. Eight days after an ischemic infarct in primary motor cortex, adult rats received either rehabilitative training or were allowed to recover spontaneously. Motor performance and movement quality of the paretic forelimb was assessed on a skilled reach task. Intracortical microstimulation mapping procedures were conducted to assess the topography of spared forelimb representations either at the end of training (post-lesion day 18) or at the end of a 3-week follow-up period (post-lesion day 38). Results. Rats receiving rehabilitative training demonstrated more rapid improvement in motor performance and movement quality during the training period that persisted through the follow-up period. Motor maps in both groups were unusually small on post-lesion day 18. On post-lesion day 38, forelimb motor maps in the rehabilitative training group were significantly enlarged compared with the no-rehab group, and within the range of normal maps. Conclusions. Postinfarct rehabilitative training rapidly improves motor performance and movement quality after an ischemic infarct in motor cortex. However, training-induced motor improvements are not reflected in spared motor maps until substantially later, suggesting that early motor training after stroke can help shape the evolving poststroke neural network.

“Solar tree”: Exploring new form factors of organic solar cells

Organic solar cells have great potential as a clean and renewable solar energy conversion system, due to their low cost materials, ease of production, and lack of harmful emissions. The rapid improvement in organic solar cell performance in recent years has triggered significant interests in developing organic solar cells for commercial applications. Harnessing the unique set of characteristics of organic solar cells, here we demonstrate a new form factor for organic solar cells, a “solar tree” or an electricity-generating artificial tree with organic solar cells as leaves. We first fabricated polymer:fullerene based organic solar cells on flexible plastic substrates that show similar performance to devices on rigid glass substrates using the inverted device structure. Large-area flexible devices were fabricated and cut into palm leaf shapes with an active device area of 6.5 cm2 using a steel rule die. 12 leaf-shaped organic solar cells were then assembled to form a prototype “solar palm tree”. Two different wiring configurations among the devices provided different power delivery modes: a low-voltage, high-current “fan mode” and a high voltage, low-current “LED mode”.

Efficacy assessment of a combined anticholinergic and oxime treatment against topical sarin‐induced miosis and visual impairment in rats

Eye exposure to the organophosphorus (OP) irreversible cholinesterase inhibitor sarin results in long-term miosis and impaired visual function. We have previously shown that tropicamide is better at ameliorating this insult than topical atropine or cyclopentolate. However, to minimize side effects associated with repeated tropicamide applications and high treatment doses, we evaluated the effects of oximes (ChE re-activators) alone and combined with tropicamide at ameliorating OP-induced ocular impairments. Rats were topically exposed to sarin, followed by topical treatment with various oximes alone or in combination with tropicamide. Pupil width and light reflex were measured by an infrared-based digital photograph system, while visual performance was assessed by employing the cueing version of the Morris water maze (MWM). Oxime treatment following sarin ocular exposure induced a slow persistent pupil widening with efficacy in the order of HLö-7 > HI-6 > obidoxime = TMB-4 = MMB-4. In the light reflex test, the ability of the iris to contract following oxime treatment was mostly impaired at 1 h and was back to normal at 4 h following sarin exposure. All oxime treatments ameliorated the sarin-induced visual impairment as tested in the visual task (MWM). The combined topical treatment of tropicamide with an oxime induced a rapid improvement in pupil widening, light reflex and visual performance, and enabled a reduction in tropicamide dose. The use of tropicamide combined with an oxime should be considered as the topical treatment of choice against the toxic effects of ocular OP exposure.

Why Hospital Improvement Efforts Fail: A View From the Front Line

In the 21st century, healthcare executives are facing changes of unprecedented magnitude in virtually every area, affecting their ability to compete. That hindrance brings with it a greater need for rapid and effective organizational change and improvement. Yet changes in the U.S. healthcare delivery system have historically been criticized as slow and less than effective in responding to the changes necessary for rapid performance improvement. To that end, the purpose of this applied research study was to help healthcare executives better understand the barriers to effective organizational change and improvement from the perspective of frontline leaders. Focus groups were conducted with 167 frontline leaders from four community hospitals to explore why hospital change efforts fail. Participants representing 11 different functional areas, including all facets of hospital operations, were asked to identify the primary causes of failure of a recent change initiative at their hospital. A content analysis of the focus group data identified 10 primary barriers to successful hospital change, some of which are ineffective implementation planning and overly aggressive timelines, failure to create project buy-in and ownership, ineffective leadership and lack of trust in upper management, unrealistic improvement plans, and communication breakdowns. Leadership lessons and recommendations based on the research findings are provided.

Design and Analysis of Closed-Loop Decoder Adaptation Algorithms for Brain-Machine Interfaces

Closed-loop decoder adaptation (CLDA) is an emerging paradigm for achieving rapid performance improvements in online brain-machine interface (BMI) operation. Designing an effective CLDA algorithm requires making multiple important decisions, including choosing the timescale of adaptation, selecting which decoder parameters to adapt, crafting the corresponding update rules, and designing CLDA parameters. These design choices, combined with the specific settings of CLDA parameters, will directly affect the algorithm's ability to make decoder parameters converge to values that optimize performance. In this article, we present a general framework for the design and analysis of CLDA algorithms and support our results with experimental data of two monkeys performing a BMI task. First, we analyze and compare existing CLDA algorithms to highlight the importance of four critical design elements: the adaptation timescale, selective parameter adaptation, smooth decoder updates, and intuitive CLDA parameters. Second, we introduce mathematical convergence analysis using measures such as mean-squared error and KL divergence as a useful paradigm for evaluating the convergence properties of a prototype CLDA algorithm before experimental testing. By applying these measures to an existing CLDA algorithm, we demonstrate that our convergence analysis is an effective analytical tool that can ultimately inform and improve the design of CLDA algorithms.

Feeding behaviour and performance of preterm neonates on Paladai feeding

To evaluate the feeding behaviour and performance of preterm neonates receiving feeds by paladai (a small beaked receptacle). We enrolled stable neonates - 10 each in 28-30 weeks [group I] and 31-32 weeks gestation [group II], and offered them paladai feeds. We recorded the feeding sessions on alternate days until they were on full enteral feeds. The outcome variables were (1) feeding behaviour, as assessed by changes in states of wakefulness, oromotor functions and coordination between breathing and swallowing; (2) feeding performance, as assessed by proficiency and efficiency. A total of 47 and 27 sessions were studied in groups I and II, respectively. The median postconceptional age (PCA) at start of paladai feeding was 30 (range, 29-32) and 32 (31-32) weeks in the two groups. The infants accepted paladai feedings in all behavioural states. Incoordination between feeding and breathing was observed in about 25% of the sessions in both the groups. We observed a rapid improvement in feeding performance with experience - the median proficiency improved from 5.5 to 10.1 mL/min and 6.2-11.5 mL/min in groups I and II, respectively. The proficiency of group I infants at a median PCA of 30.9 weeks was higher than that of group II infants at median PCA 31.7 weeks. Stable preterm neonates can be fed with paladai from 30 weeks PCA. The oropharyngeal ability is possibly influenced more by the postnatal experience than by maturity at birth.

The Effect of Feedback Specificity in a Virtual Training Environment

Feedback clearly contributes to performance improvement; however, the most effective ways to provide feedback in virtual training environments has not been established. In the present experiment we investigated the effect of feedback specificity. Participants practiced applying search procedures during multiple search missions in a virtual environment. All conditions received a performance score after each mission. The control group received no additional feedback, whereas the detailed group received feedback at the enabling learning objective level, and the general feedback group received feedback at the terminal learning objective level. The detailed group showed the most rapid performance improvement; however, participants in the general group showed equally rapid acquisition if they consulted supplementary materials two or three times. Those who did not performed no better than the control condition. The results suggest that easily accessible detailed feedback produces faster acquisition, compared to when the same information is less easy to access.

Closed-Loop Decoder Adaptation on Intermediate Time-Scales Facilitates Rapid BMI Performance Improvements Independent of Decoder Initialization Conditions

Closed-loop decoder adaptation (CLDA) shows great promise to improve closed-loop brain-machine interface (BMI) performance. Developing adaptation algorithms capable of rapidly improving performance, independent of initial performance, may be crucial for clinical applications where patients have limited movement and sensory abilities due to motor deficits. Given the subject-decoder interactions inherent in closed-loop BMIs, the decoder adaptation time-scale may be of particular importance when initial performance is limited. Here, we present SmoothBatch, a CLDA algorithm which updates decoder parameters on a 1-2 min time-scale using an exponentially weighted sliding average. The algorithm was experimentally tested with one nonhuman primate performing a center-out reaching BMI task. SmoothBatch was seeded four ways with varying offline decoding power: 1) visual observation of a cursor ( n = 20), 2) ipsilateral arm movements ( n = 8), 3) baseline neural activity ( n = 17), and 4) arbitrary weights ( n = 11). SmoothBatch rapidly improved performance regardless of seeding, with performance improvements from 0.018 ±0.133 successes/min to > 8 successes/min within 13.1 ±5.5 min ( n = 56). After decoder adaptation ceased, the subject maintained high performance. Moreover, performance improvements were paralleled by SmoothBatch convergence, suggesting that CLDA involves a co-adaptation process between the subject and the decoder.

Abstract 264: Voluntary Registry Participation Rapidly Improves Physician Quality Performance: A Single Practice Experience

TITLE Voluntary registry participation rapidly improves physician quality performance: a single practice experience AUTHORS David May, MD 1 , PhD, Samantha Risch, BS 2 , Fran Fiocchi, MPH 2 , William Oetgen, MD, MBA 2 1 Cardiovascular Specialists PA, Dallas, TX 2 The American College of Cardiology, Washington, DC BACKGROUND Registry participation has been used to gain evidence on rare disorders and collect data on a variety of medical conditions and procedures. The use of clinical data registry systems to monitor provider quality is less widespread and the effect of such participation on providers’ quality performance is unknown. The American College of Cardiology’s Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence (PINNACLE) Registry allows a glimpse into the voluntary use of such a registry system for assessing rapid provider performance improvement. We assessed the hypothesis that voluntary registry participation by practicing cardiologists in a busy private practice setting would result in rapid improvements across provider performance metrics. METHODS Cardiovascular Specialists PA (CVS) is a six-physician, single-specialty cardiovascular medicine practice averaging approximately 2160 patient evaluation and management visits per month. The PINNACLE Registry is the first national ambulatory quality improvement (QI) registry in the U.S. Participating practices enroll patients with atrial fibrillation, hypertension, coronary artery disease or heart failure at the point of care, documenting 27 performance metrics. CVS has been participating in the PINNACLE Registry since mid-2009. Quarterly reports detailing practice and individual physician performance relative to the cohort of national PINNACLE Registry participants are provided to CVS physicians. No report review with individual physicians is performed. Comparison of physician performance metrics for the first quarter 2010 and first quarter 2011 were performed with paired-samples t-test. RESULTS There was a significant difference in the scores for provider performance for the first quarter 2010 (Mean = 71.16; SD=26.72) and the first quarter 2011 (Mean = 79.73; SD=25.43); t(27)=2.883, p = 0.008. Large improvements were observed across several metrics including: initial laboratory tests of patients with newly diagnosed HF, documentation of an advance care plan and cardiac rehab patient referral from an outpatient setting. CONCLUSION These results suggest that voluntary registry participation resulted in rapid, statistically significant improvement in global performance metric achievement in a private practice setting. Characters without spaces: 1947

What properties of grid energy storage are most valuable?

While energy storage technologies have existed for decades, fast-ramping grid-level storage is still an immature industry and is experiencing relatively rapid improvements in performance and cost across a variety of technologies. In this innovation cycle, it is important to determine which properties of emerging energy storage technologies are most valuable. Decreased capital cost, increased power capability, and increased efficiency all would improve the value of an energy storage technology and each has cost implications that vary by application, but there has not yet been an investigation of the marginal rate of technical substitution between storage properties. We use engineering-economic models of four emerging fast-ramping energy storage technologies and examine their cost-effectiveness for four realistic current applications. We determine which properties have the greatest effect on cost-of-service by performing an extended sensitivity analysis on the storage properties for combinations of application and storage type. We find that capital cost of storage is consistently important, and identify applications for which power/energy limitations are important. Each combination is different and blanket statements are not always appropriate.

Time Dose Relation of Caffeine Ingestion on Muscular Strength and Endurance Performance

ABSTRACT Background There have been numerous studies and reviews indicating that caffeine ingested before exercise causes rapid and significant improvement in performance, especially in aerobic capacity. Even though caffeine has a half life of 4 to 6 hours that implies high level of caffeine will be in the blood for up to 3 to 4 hours after ingestion, most studies on exercise performance are at 1 hour after ingestion. Objectives To assess the efficacy of 300 mg of caffeine and placebo ingestion at 1 hour, 1 hour 30 minutes, 2 hours, 2 hours 30 minutes, 3 hours in improvement of isometric muscle strength in human quadriceps muscle, cardiorespiratory endurance and to find that which of the duration produce best result. Materials and methods Experimental study with different subject design. Twenty subjects with equal number of boys and girl (age 20-30 years, weight 60-65 kg) were recruited to participate in the study. They were randomly allocated to experimental and placebo group. Pre- and postquadriceps muscle strength and time to exhaustion at 65% of VO2max was recorded. Results The results showed significant improvement (p &lt; 0.001) in strength and endurance at all five durations in experimental group. Results were significant (p &lt; 0.05) when caffeine and placebo groups were compared. The percentage improvement for strength and endurance was higher at 1st and 2nd hours when compared to 3rd hours duration. Conclusion The effects of caffeine are highest till 2 hours of ingestion after that wean off effects are seen. How to cite this article Sandhu JS, Shenoy S, Dutt I. Time Dose Relation of Caffeine Ingestion on Muscular Strength and Endurance Performance. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2012; 46(1):19-23.

Facilitation of functional connectivity in human cortico-subcortical motor circuit underlies rapid performance improvement of well-learned hand motor skill

Facilitation of functional connectivity in human cortico-subcortical motor circuit underlies rapid performance improvement of well-learned hand motor skill

Injectorless quantum cascade lasers

This review focuses on recent progress on injectorless quantum cascade lasers, an increasingly attractive approach in comparison to the “classical” injectorbased concepts. This particularly holds for the wavelength range between 7 and 12 μm, where fundamental vibrational modes of many important molecules exist, so that sensor systems for medical, industrial and military applications highly benefit from these laser sources. The atmospheric transmission window between 8 and 12 μm, with very low damping, also enables free space applications like communication, military countermeasures, and environmental sensors. Injectorless devices operate closer to the original design principle for intersubband lasers as suggested by Suris and Kazarinov [Sov. Phys. Semicond. 5, 707 (1971)]. Therefore, a short description of their features is given in comparison to injectorbased devices. Within recent years, injectorless devices have seen rapid improvement in performance. Best injectorless devices reach threshold current densities of 450 A/cm2 at 300 K, a factor of 1.6 smaller than that for the best injectorbased devices. Their output efficiency has also increased from 2% to more than 7% within the last 2 years, reaching comparable levels and making the injectorless device concept competitive and very attractive for applications.