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Weighted predictive modelling estimation of patient acceptable symptom state for Forgotten Joint Score, Oxford Hip Score, and EuroQol Health Index 3 and 12 months after total hip arthroplasty in a United Kingdom cohort
Get PDFPurpose: Patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) enhances interpretation of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). However, very few studies have defined PASS values for widely used PROMs and are based on methods sensitive to distribution of PROM scores or weak correlation. This study utilises a new anchor-based method to estimate PASS thresholds for Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), Oxford Hip Score (OHS) and EuroQol health index (EQ-5D-5L) at 3 and 12 months after primary total hip arthroplasty (PTHA). Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data for PTHAs performed at a high-volume arthroplasty centre in Scotland between April 2021 and March 2023. PROMs were FJS, OHS and EQ-5D-5L. A new weighted predictive modelling method was used to define PASS values. Anchor questions used were surgery-specific satisfaction for the FJS and OHS, and EQ-Visual Analogue Scale for the EQ-5D-5L. Results: A total of 2793 PTHAs were performed, of which 65 to 73% had complete PROMs data. Respective median age and BMI were 69 years and 29.1 kg/m² and 57% were female. The Spearman correlations between anchors and PROMs ranged between 0.35 and 0.54. PASS thresholds (95% CI) at 3 and 12 months respectively were 31.5 (29.5–33.9) and 38.3 (36.5–42.4) for FJS, 31.5 (29.1–32.8) and 36.2 (35.1–36.8) for OHS, 0.814 (0.795–0.822) and 0.867 (0.845–0.875) for EQ-5D-5L. Conclusion: We report new PASS thresholds for FJS, OHS and EQ-5D-5L 3 and 12 months following PTHA. These thresholds reflect the symptom (health) state at which an average Scottish patient considers their outcome acceptable
A strategic roadmap for implementing superconductivity towards zero-emission transport
Get PDFSuperconductivity is an essential technology for reducing carbon emissions and electrifying the transportation sector. Its unique ability to provide higher power density and greater efficiency sets it apart from other technologies. This document outlines a plan for integrating superconducting technology into the transportation sector, identifying major challenges and interim steps to be taken to overcome them. Implementing this plan and securing public and private funds will help transition the transportation sector towards zero-emission aircraft, high-capacity efficient shipping, and widespread use of a superconductivity-liquid hydrogen energy platform for transportation
Gallium oxide-based photodetectors for water quality monitoring
Get PDFWe present an approach to water quality monitoring using gallium oxide (Ga2O3) ultrawide-band-gap semiconductors. Nitrates, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended solid concentrations are three commonly measured water quality parameters that display optical absorption ranging from the deep ultraviolet to the visible region. This broad spectral region poses a challenge for accurate and efficient (simultaneous) measurement of absorption/extinction arising from varying concentrations of these parameters because silicon (Si), the classical detector material, has poor performance across this optical region. To overcome these limitations, we propose the use of ultrawide-band-gap semiconductors to trace changes in optical absorption from varying water compositions by measuring the photocurrent response at different wavelengths. Here, we use α-phase Ga2O3 as a suitable material to measure a broad photocurrent response ranging from 200 to 465 nm. The photocurrent response consisted of three well-defined regions inherently linked to the rich electronic landscape of the material. Region (i) (200–250 nm) corresponds to band-to-band excitation of charge carriers, aligning well with the absorption characteristics of nitrates. Region (ii) (250–350 nm) corresponds to band tail-related transitions, allowing a photocurrent response to dissolved organic carbon concentrations. Finally, we utilize defect-mediated transitions in Region (iii) (350–465 nm) to monitor suspended solid concentrations. It was observed here that the sensitivity of the photocurrent response to the changing water composition strongly depends on the excitation wavelength, where 225, 260, and 465 nm excitation yielded (for our setup) the best results for the monitoring of nitrates, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended solid concentrations, respectively
Uncovering hidden demand flexibility using non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) : a case for Southern Africa – Namibia
No full textThe energy system is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, with increasing integration of emerging energy technologies challenging its capacity. This paper explores operational aspects (demand composition in particular) of the energy system and proposes a data-driven methodology that could enhance active network management by uncovering unseen demand flexibility through characterising energy consumption profiles of key electrical loads. We address the challenges of the lack of curated energy datasets, focusing on the Southern Africa region, specifically Namibia. We also address the challenging very low-frequency non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) problem. Since there was no sub-metering or labelled data for model training, we propose an unsupervised K-means-based methodology, leveraging the user-survey information on appliance wattage and the time the appliance was used to gain granular insights on disaggregated energy consumption patterns, thereby providing appliance-level visibility into which electrical loads can be considered for demand-side response by utilising flexible usage of such loads. To validate our approach, we evaluated the proposed methodology on the public resampled REFIT (UK) dataset, benchmarked against state-of-the-art very low-frequency NILM methods, viz. Graph Signal Processing (GSP), Convolution Neural Network (CNN), Factorial Hidden Markov Model (FHMM), Combinatorial Optimization (CO), Discriminative Disaggregation Sparse Coding (DDSC), and Optimisation-based (OPT) approaches. We demonstrated successful disaggregation of appliances with a duty cycle of 30 minutes or more in REFIT Houses 4 and 8. Upon evaluating several appliances, such as TV, washing machine, and washer-dryer, for REFIT Houses 4 and 8, we achieved match rates as high as 80% and classification accuracies of up to 89%. These results are consistent with state-of-the-art approaches, establishing confidence in our load disaggregation methodology, which we then applied to the unlabelled residential energy dataset from Namibia
Formation of cyclopentanes and cyclopropanes through alkylation of benzylic anions using ethers, thioethers and alcohols as substrates under Grubbs–Stoltz (Et 3 SiH/KO t Bu) conditions
Get PDFReaction of diarylmethanes with the Grubbs–Stoltz reagent (KOtBu + Et3SiH) using THF as solvent led to diarylcyclopentanes through an unprecedented double-alkylation reaction, with four of the carbons of the cyclopentane coming from THF. In like manner, reaction of diarylmethanes with the same reagent in 1,4-dioxane as solvent led to double-alkylation to form diarylcyclopropanes, with two of the cyclopropane carbons coming from 1,4-dioxane. Monoalkylated substrates that were likely intermediates on the dialkylation pathway were subjected to the same conditions, leading to cyclisations to form cyclopentanes and cyclopropanes. The cyclisation chemistry also extended to formation of monoarylcyclopropanes from reaction of the corresponding benzylpotassium reagents with ethers, alcohols, sulfides, sulfoxides and sulfones
How crime-based legal regimes shape sexual harm : sex work, consent and vulnerability
Get PDFCrime-based and carceral legal regimes shape sexual harm by structuring how consent is negotiated, enforced and recognized. Using a social harm framework, this study examines sex work not as an exceptional case but as a critical site for analysing how crime-based governance operates through the interaction of sex work law and sexual violence law to structure vulnerability and access to justice. Drawing on survey data from 483 sex workers and former sex workers and 41 interviews across four legal regimes—criminalization (United States), partial criminalization (Great Britain), legalization (Nevada) and decriminalization (Aotearoa New Zealand)—we analyse negotiations of conditional and dynamic consent. We show that criminalized and partially criminalized regimes do not merely fail to prevent harm; they actively produce it by restricting communication, collective safety and legal redress. Common violations, particularly stealthing and non-payment, are widespread yet routinely misrecognized as legally actionable harm. Decriminalization improves risk management, recognition and access to redress but does not eliminate harm due to enduring limits of crime-based sexual violence law. These findings show how carceral governance narrows legally recognizable harm and shifts responsibility for safety onto individuals
The University as a Metaversity : pedagogical reductions and constructions
No full textThis conceptual paper sets out to consider the Metaversity movement; that is, the creation of educational spaces in the virtual realm of the Metaverse, or the re-creation of physical spaces of education in the virtual environment. Referring to the concept of pedagogical reduction, I suggest that virtual worlds are created and annexed from, but always anchored to, the so-called actual world using this process of reduction: selecting what is to be shown, simplifying it by limiting the boundaries and capabilities of the environment, thus representing the content for them to create a world within a world. Pedagogical virtual worlds use the same process to an educational end. I build on this thesis using contemporary discourse in theory and philosophy of education to argue that, just as the Metaverse is a combination of many metaverses, the educational space of the university is constructed from a series of pedagogical virtual worlds. This leads to discussion on whether Metaversity can be considered an effective alternative to brick-and-mortar institutions, or no alternative at all. The significance of this question lies in the shift to online education over the past 5 years, and the continuing influence of technology on the conceptualisation, delivery, and experience of Higher Education
Gender, violence and nuclear weapons
No full textIn this chapter, we seek to bridge previously separated scholarship on gender violence and nuclear violence. In the first part, we show how these separate academic fields may have distinct conceptual trajectories but also speak to each other in productive ways, most obviously in feminist-informed work on nuclear politics. In the second part, we show how this feminist-informed work illuminates both the material and discursive dimensions of nuclear violence. We reverse our focus in the third and final part to argue that the literature on nuclear violence can push feminist thinking on gender and violence in more expansive and inclusive directions. In making these arguments, we hope to contribute to an ongoing discussion on the intertwining of gender violence and nuclear violence, and how we might end both
What can we learn about academic identity from allied care professions? Messages for the social work academy
Get PDFAcademic identity influences disciplinary contributions and professional development of individuals within those disciplines. Little is known about academic identity within the social work discipline. This paper presents the results of a modified systematic international literature review to investigate academic identity in social work, nursing and allied care professions. Papers (138) were initially retrieved for screening, 40 met the final inclusion criteria for review. Limited social work academic identity literature was identified, with only four papers specifically focused on social work. Results highlighted numerous barriers to establishing a distinct academic identity, with a multitude of challenges in transition from practice to academia and its dual identities of practitioner and scholar. The process of academic socialization requires adequate institutional preparation, collegial support, sense of community and relationality, and not least time. We discuss four key themes from this literature (1) temporality and dynamic nature of developing academic identity in the academy, (2) role of professional work culture and communities of practice, (3) legitimacy, visibility and dichotomies of professional, disciplinary and academic knowledge and skills and (4) strategic imperatives for supporting transitions for the helping professions. The implications for social work academic identity development, social work education and social work knowledge are discussed
Understanding the experiences of children with speech sound disorder in speech and language therapy using emotional mapping
No full textIntroduction: The quality of relationships between speech and language therapists (SLTs) and clients, in this case children with speech sound disorder (SSD) of unknown origin, is a crucial factor for successful intervention. These relationships are affected by how services are configured and what SLTs are asking of the children. The public and patients' views are therefore vital in the evaluation or redesign of services. The aim of the present work was, through public and patient involvement and engagement (PPIE), to gain insight into experiences of young children who had received intervention for SSD. Methods: A total of seven children (seen individually) aged 4- to 7-years-old with SSD took part in four activities. The activities took place in a clinical setting with two qualified SLTs facilitating the interactions, one of whom was previously known to the children. Emotional mapping activities- drawing, using toy figurines, emojis and pictures - facilitated the children in telling us about their experiences of SSD interventions. Results: Children drew, pointed and verbalised who, what, where and when they had intervention and how they felt about it. Children selected ‘happy’ or ‘cool’ emoji to indicate how they felt during therapy. Children commented on environmental factors, such as being taken out of the classroom to see the SLTs, as a positive thing as ‘other children are too noisy’, and said that it is ‘special time’ for them to ‘work on my sounds’. They also mentioned that they ‘liked’ their SLTs and personal factors such as the ‘big bag with a flower on it, that is full of toys’. Conclusions: Children are able to communicate their experiences of speech and language therapy for SSD through emotional mapping activities
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