143174 research outputs found
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From luck to choice: the Wimbledon ballot and matching markets
No full textEvery year, hundreds of thousands of fans strike lucky in Wimbledon’s public ballot—only to
discover that their “prize” is tickets for a court or day they do not especially want. What if there
were a simple way to let winners swap tickets so that everyone ended up at least as happy as before,
and many much happier? That is exactly the promise of the Top Trading Cycles (TTC) algorithm,
a cornerstone of matching markets theory that shows how mathematics can turn lotteries from luck
alone into genuine choice
Post-TB care in the UK: a national survey of existing practice
No full textBackground
TB survivors experience high mortality and long-term morbidity, contributing substantially to the
global TB burden. In the UK, where TB incidence is rising, the scale of post-TB health needs is
unknown and current guidelines do not recommend follow-up. We conducted the first nationwide
survey of UK TB services to assess approaches to post-TB care.
Methods
We conducted a digital survey between February and May 2025 across NHS TB services in all four
nations, targeting specialist clinicians. The questionnaire captured data on types of post-TB
morbidity encountered and current practice. We analysed descriptively and stratified by caseload.
Results
We received responses from 113 of 135 TB services (84%). Most respondents were lead clinicians
(81%), and nearly all (96%) had encountered post-TB morbidity in their patient populations,
including lung disease (82%), social vulnerabilities (79%), and financial issues (66%). High caseload
services (≥30 cases/year) reported more types of morbidity (mean 4.2 vs 2.9; p<0.001). While end of
treatment symptom screening and chest X-rays are routine (>95%), fewer than half of services
perform assessments for broader post-TB sequelae and comorbidities, or provide direct ongoing
medical care (41%). Most services cited staffing (78%), clinic capacity (70%), and funding (59%) as
challenges to post-TB care.
Conclusions
A high proportion of UK TB clinicians recognise post-TB morbidity among their patient groups. TB
services are introducing elements of post-TB care, but provision is heterogenous and often informal,
with multiple resource-related challenges. Robust UK-specific data, stakeholder engagement, and
clear guidance are needed to support post-TB care pathways
A multi-scale assessment of the flow mechanics of polymer support fluids in granular soils
No full textPolymer fluids present a number of advantages over bentonite-based alternatives for excavation support. Much is still to be learned about the permeation of these non-Newtonian fluids in soils and especially more permeable soils and there is uncertainty around the support forces imparted to the soil. This study develops a numerical framework based on a pore-network modeling approach to quantify the grain drag forces induced by polymer flows in sand packings. The model captures the shear-thinning rheology of polymer fluids and the emergent data reveal the distinct flow dynamics and their influence on grain-scale interactions. The shear-thinning rheology of these fluids amplifies flow heterogeneity, leading to a non-linear relationship between individual grain drag and the total applied pressure gradient if it exceeds a critical threshold. Implications of these fundamental observations for engineering practice are demonstrated through an example application to excavation support during diaphragm wall construction
The magnetic signature of stress in rocks
No full textMagnetic signatures preserved in rocks have long provided insight into Earth’s evolution, revealing processes from plate tectonics to the habitability of Earth. While large impacts are known to impose extreme stresses (>1 GPa) and heat that fundamentally alters magnetic records, lower stresses typical of earthquakes have been considered magnetically undetectable.
2We show that magnetic responses to sub-GPa stresses can be precisely calibrated, enabling three-dimensional paleostress reconstructions in rocks – even stresses of just a few MPa can fully reset magnetic signals without heat or deformation. This newly revealed magnetic
sensitivity to stress opens a powerful, non-destructive pathway to detecting paleostress fields in the elastic crust, offering new opportunities for improving seismic hazard assessment, interpreting impact processes, and re-evaluating magnetic records across Earth and Planetary sciences
Modelling of onchocerciasis-associated skin and ocular disease and the impact of ivermectin treatment
No full textBackground Despite decades of control interventions in sub-Saharan Africa, morbidity associated with Onchocerca volvulus infection still exerts a substantial burden of disease, arising from cutaneous, ocular and neurological manifestations.
Methods We developed and integrated a morbidity sub-model into our previously published individual-based, stochastic transmission model, EPIONCHO-IBM, including both reversible (severe itch, reactive skin disease (RSD)), and irreversible (skin atrophy, depigmentation, hanging groin) cutaneous sequelae, and eye disease (blindness, visual impairment). We modelled the relationship between onchocerciasis skin disease (OSD) and infection prevalence using pre intervention data from northern Nigeria, and between onchocerciasis ocular disease (OOD) and infection intensity using data from the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa. We simulated the impact of ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA) upon OSD and OOD using data from Cameroon, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Sudan and Uganda.
Results Modelled age-specific OSD and OOD prevalence at baseline align well with reported prevalence estimates across the simulated range of endemicity levels but underestimate irreversible OSD in older age groups. Under MDA, we capture trends in infection prevalence, severe itch and irreversible OSD but underestimate reductions in RSDand blindness prevalence.
Conclusions Integrating morbidity outcomes into transmission dynamics modelling will help improve estimates of onchocerciasis disease burden and inform the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of current and alternative interventions
Exploring extended Higgs sectors and the CP Nature of the Higgs Yukawa coupling using tau leptons at the CMS experiment
No full textSince the discovery of the Higgs boson at the LHC, attention has turned to testing its properties and searching for extended Higgs sectors that could reveal new physics. This thesis addresses three complementary topics within the CMS experiment: the study of a compact data format to meet the ever-growing computing needs, a direct search for additional Higgs bosons in the four-tau final state, and a precision measurement of the CP structure of the Higgs–tau Yukawa coupling. First, the development of the compact RAW' data format is described, demonstrating recovered performance in displaced track reconstruction and positioning RAW' as a promising option. Second, a search for additional Higgs bosons in the four-tau final state is performed using the full Run 2 dataset of 137\unit{fb}^{-1} at \sqrt{s}=13\TeV. No excess is observed, and exclusion limits on production reach from \mathcal{O}(190\unit{fb}) at low masses to \mathcal{O}(0.4\unit{fb}) at high masses. Regions of the Type-X 2HDM relevant to the muon anomalous magnetic moment are also excluded. Finally, a measurement of the CP structure of the Higgs–tau Yukawa coupling is performed in the \tauh\tauh channel with Run 3 data, excluding the pure CP-odd hypothesis at . When combined with the Run 2 result, the exclusion improves to with \alpha^{\PH\tau\tau} constrained to , representing the most precise determination to date. This result remains compatible with the SM prediction of a CP-even coupling
'FLAGPOLE': Students' experiences in developing feedback literacy in project-based learning
No full textProject-based learning (PjBL) in groups nurtures the collaborative skills that are important for today’s workforce. By integrating industry-led Agile principles, processes, and project management software tools as authentic cognitive tools, PjBL prepares students for employment by enhancing group work activities, authenticity, communication, and industry connections. This qualitative study investigates higher education (HE) students’ experiences when developing feedback literacy in PjBL, in groups. It examines the experience of undergraduate and placement students, also instructors and graduates working as industry professionals. The literature review reveals two concerns: the PjBL literature lacks exploration in active construction, situated learning, social interaction, and cognitive tools; and feedback literacy literature primarily addresses individual written work, neglecting PjBL group activities. Consequently, the relationship between developing feedback literacy and PjBL remains under-researched, leading to the following research question: how do higher education students experience developing feedback literacy in project-based learning in groups, within situated learning and using cognitive tools? To answer this question, a new framework, Feedback Literacy for Project-Based Learning (FL4PjBL), was created to integrate PjBL and feedback literacy literature and frameworks. Data was collected and analysed from a questionnaire of 171 students, group interviews with 19 students, and interviews with 18 individual students, three university instructors and three industry professionals. The results led to a revised framework called Feedback Literacy for Authentic Group Project Learning Environments (FLAGPOLE) with several categories, including one called ‘feedback fluency’ and several themes such as: “appreciate and recognise feedback from reviewing work in groups”. This study not only contributes empirical evidence on PjBL, developing feedback literacy, and Agile in education; it also provides a framework (FLAGPOLE) for implementing PjBL and developing feedback literacy in groups and workshops. It includes recommendations for using PjBL and feedback literacy to equip students with skills and adaptability for the modern workforce, enhancing their employability.Open Acces
The role of G-quadruplex DNA in the transcriptional reprogramming of drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells
No full textAcquired drug resistance remains a major challenge in the treatment of late-stage ovarian cancer. There are many molecular mechanisms that contribute to the acquisition of resistance, that enable the cancer cells to reduce drug efficacy and evade apoptosis. Of note, epigenetic adaptation plays a crucial role in the development of drug resistance, through mediating changes in the expression of genes implicated in signalling pathways associated with resistance. One emerging epigenetic regulator that has not yet been considered in the context of ovarian cancer drug resistance is the non-canonical DNA structure called G-quadruplexes (G4s). These structures are implicated in transcriptional regulation, either proximally through the enrichment of G4s at oncogene promoters, or distally through the enrichment of G4s at the boundaries of chromatin loops, bringing genomic regulatory elements into proximity. Therefore, it was hypothesised that G4 formation could facilitate epigenetic adaptation, and promote drug resistance, in ovarian cancer. To investigate this, this project employed a multi-layered epigenomics approach in both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant paired ovarian cancer cell lines. The aim was to evaluate the impact of G4 formation on gene expression in the drug-resistant cell lines, relative to changes in chromatin accessibility which is an established regulatory mechanism. It was observed that G4s forming at introns and intergenic regions had a greatly significant transcriptomic impact, compared to a gain in chromatin accessibility at these sites. However, G4s gained in all regions of the drug-resistant cell lines were enriched in pathways associated with acquired drug resistance. Perturbation of the G4s resulted in the significant downregulation of pathways associated with drug resistance and resulted in a partial re-sensitisation to cisplatin. This suggests that G4s are implicated with the epigenetic regulation of drug resistance in ovarian cancer and may represent a valuable therapeutic target to overcome therapy resistance.Open Acces
Proximity induced magnetic anisotropy and trefoil fermiology in monolayer FeCl₂/Bi(111)
No full textInterfaces between magnetic and non-magnetic materials play a crucial role in various magnetic heterostructures. The emergence of 2D van der Waals (vdW) magnets has introduced new opportunities for exploring proximity effects in vdW heterostructures. While the influence of magnetic layers on nearby non-magnetic materials has been widely studied, it remains unclear whether non-magnetic substrates can similarly modulate the intrinsic magnetic properties of 2D magnets, particularly their magnetic anisotropy. In this work, by analyzing X-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectra of an epitaxially grown FeCl2 monolayer on a Bi(111) surface, a reorientation of magnetic anisotropy is observed – from its natural out-of-plane to a predominantly in-plane alignment. This effect vanishes in bilayer FeCl2/Bi(111), where the magnetic anisotropy reverts to its intrinsic out-of-plane orientation, consistent with the layered antiferromagnetic order of bulk FeCl2. Angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy reveals the presence of metallic interface states derived from the Bi surface states, accompanied by charge transfer and emergence of a moiré potential that gives rise to a distinctive trefoil-shaped Fermi surface. These results demonstrate that non-magnetic substrates can exert strong proximity influence on the magnetic and electronic behavior of 2D vdW magnets, offering new strategies for engineering magnetic anisotropy and electronic structure in spintronic heterostructures