University of Bath

About: University of Bath is a education organization based out in Bath, Bath and North East Somerset, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Photonic-crystal fiber. The organization has 15830 authors who have published 39608 publications receiving 1358769 citations. The organization is also known as: Bath University.

Family interventions in the treatment of alcohol and drug problems

Abstract: Alcohol and drug problems affect not only those using these substances but also family members of the substance user. In this review evidence of the negative impacts substance misuse may have upon families are examined, following which family-focused interventions are reviewed. Several family-focused interventions have been developed. They can be broadly grouped into three types: (1) working with family members to promote the entry and engagement of substance misusers into treatment; (2) joint involvement of family members and substance misusing relatives in the treatment of the latter; and (3) interventions responding to the needs of the family members in their own right. The evidence base for each of the three types is reviewed. Despite methodological weaknesses in this area, a number of conclusions can be advanced that support wider use of family focused interventions in routine practice. Future research needs to focus on (1) pragmatic trials that are more representative of routine clinical settings; (2) cost-effectiveness analyses, in terms of treatment costs and the impact of interventions on costs to society; (3) explore treatment process; and (4) make use of qualitative methods. In addition, there is a need to define more clearly the conceptual underpinnings of the family intervention under study.

Nonlinear propagation applied to the improvement of resolution in diagnostic medical ultrasound

Abstract: Medical B-mode scanners operating under conditions typically encountered during clinical work produce ultrasonic wave fields that undergo nonlinear distortion. In general, the resulting harmonic beams are narrower and have lower sidelobe levels than the fundamental beam, making them ideal for imaging purposes. This work demonstrates the feasibility of nonlinear harmonic imaging in medical scanners using a simple broadband imaging arrangement in water. The ultrasonic system comprises a 2.25-MHz circular transducer with a diameter of 38 mm, a membrane hydrophone, also with a diameter of 38 mm, and a polymer lens with a focal length of 262 mm. These components are arranged coaxially giving an imaging geometry similar to that used in many commercial B-scanners, but with a receiver bandwidth sufficient to record the first four harmonics. A series of continuous wave and pulse-echo measurements are performed on a wire phantom to give 1-D transverse pressure profiles and 2-D B-mode images, respectively. The refle...

Improved techniques for modelling fault arcs an faulted EHV transmission systems

Abstract: A realistic simulation of fault arcs is extremely important in the successful design and development of alternative and improved transmission system equipment such as adaptive auto-reclosure and novel protection schemes It is also particularly important in relation to the design of single pole switched systems This paper discusses, in some detail, techniques that have been developed to model fault arcs more realistically than has been achieved hitherto A time dependent dynamic resistance representation of the primary arc is proposed with emphasis on an empirical approach which is used to determine the parameters concerned In particular, significant improvements have been made to the dynamic conducting characteristic of secondary arc models The paper concludes with a presentation of some interesting studies relating to typical 400 kV single circuit and double circuit systems when the new are models are incorporated into the electromagnetic transients program (EMTP)

Studying Board Context, Process and Dynamics: Some Challenges for the Future

Abstract: This paper contributes to the timely debate on research into boards and their effectiveness by focusing on context, process and time, which are crucial to understanding board dynamics. It also explores key principles of board process research, and advocates the need to strengthen its theoretical and methodological foundations in order to challenge the analytically particular assumptions of agency theory. The paper concludes that there is still much more to be researched in this area and encourages work that explores variation in board process and director effectiveness in different organizational contexts, as well as seeking to go beyond the board to address their impact and effectiveness in the broader organizational and external context.