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Surprisingly robust violations of stochastic dominance despite splitting training: A quasi-adversarial collaboration
Get PDFFirst-order stochastic dominance is a core principle in rational decision-making. If lottery A has a higher or equal chance of winning an amount or more compared to lottery B for all x, and a strictly higher chance for at least one , then A should be preferred over B. Previous research suggests that violations of this principle may result from failures in recognizing coalescing equivalence. In Expected Utility Theory (EUT) and Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT), gambles are represented as probability distributions, where probabilities of equivalent events can be combined, ensuring stochastic dominance. In contrast, the Transfer of Attention Exchange (TAX) model represents gambles as trees with branches for each probability and outcome, making it possible for coalescing and stochastic dominance violations to occur. We conducted two experiments designed to train participants in identifying dominance by splitting coalesced gambles. By toggling between displays of coalesced and split forms of the same choice problem, participants were instructed to recognize stochastic dominance. Despite this training, violations of stochastic dominance were only minimally reduced, as if people find it difficult—or even resist—shifting from a trees-with-branches representation (as in the TAX model) to a cognitive recognition of the equivalence among different representations of the same choice problem
"Their locomotive habits": mobility and post-emancipation (dis)order in port cities
No full textThis chapter seeks to re-centre the maritime within interpretations of the post-emancipation era in relation to urban unrest. It does so through a ship-to-shore focus on Barbadian protests in 1872, highlighting how the confluence of people, goods and information – underpinned by maritime rhythms and flows – was crucial to the unfolding of these events. The chapter is attentive to the ‘locomotive habits’, or mobile practices, of the African Caribbean population in the post-emancipation period, but not as they related to plantations or the agricultural complex. Instead, the chapter highlights the ‘connexions’ created by the maritime world (Papers relative to W. Indies). Specifically, it interrogates low-income Barbadians' mobile practices at moments of maritime disruption, arguing that maritime intersections of elite and mass mobility presented particular opportune moments, and that African Caribbean people's speculative steps at such moments tested the post-emancipation regime. At such times, individuals practised an embodied politics, involving localised movements and local knowledge of place, as well as protesting or defiant action
The impact of knitted linked seams on comfort and friction perception
Get PDFFriction from knitted clothing can cause discomfort and skin issues, underscoring the importance of tactile comfort for wearers. Seamless knitted garments are assumed to be comfortable to wear, yet there is little understanding of their tactile comfort in comparison to linked seams – the most common form of knitted garment. This novel study examines the influence of a garments knitted structural architecture on clothing comfort and wearability by investigating skin friction and tactile perception across ten body regions in both male and female participants, using two commonly utilised materials and seam designs: cotton and merino wool with plain and linked seams. The impact of seam design and regional factors on skin friction and tactile perception was analysed, revealing varying levels across tested body regions. Removing seams exposed a greater surface area to skin contact, leading to higher perceived friction levels. As such, structural elements in knitted garments enhance wearer comfort
Route network simplification for transport planning
Get PDFRoute network datasets are fundamental to transport models, serving as both inputs for analysis and outputs for visualization and decision-making. The increasing complexity of route network data from sources like OpenStreetMap allows for more detailed modelling of sustainable transport modes such as walking and cycling. However, this level of detail can introduce challenges for the clear visualization and interpretation of model results. A common problem is the representation of single transport corridors by multiple parallel lines, which can create visual clutter and obscure important patterns in transport flows. The purpose of the work presented in this paper is to provide a basis for computationally efficient analysis and visualization of route networks for strategic transport planning, where intricate geometries, such as parallel or ‘braided’ linestrings, are unhelpful. We present and evaluate two distinct methods for simplifying complex route networks that are intended to be used as a ‘pre-processing’ step to speed up and improve the results of strategic transport network analysis, modelling, and visualization workflows. First, we present skeletonization, an approach that uses ‘thinning’ of rasterized network data to extract a simplified representation of the network. Second, we present a Voronoi-based approach using Voronoi diagrams to identify centrelines. We demonstrate the practical application of these methods using the ‘Simplified network’ layer in the Transport for Scotland-funded Network Planning Tool, a publicly accessible resource at https://www.npt.scot. To support reproducible research, we implement the methods in the open-source parenx Python package, enabling their use alongside other open source tools for transport planning, research, and educational applications
Global policy responses to antimicrobial resistance, 2021–22: a systematic governance analysis of 161 countries and territories
Get PDFBackground
Most countries have endorsed a national action plan (NAP) on antimicrobial resistance. We previously used a governance framework to assess NAPs on antimicrobial resistance available for the period of 2020–21 from 114 countries, finding substantial variation worldwide in the commitment of resources to address an escalating global health challenge. We sought to expand and advance this analysis to include the NAPs of more low-income and middle-income countries, to cover the period of 2021–22, and to examine the strength of NAPs to address antimicrobial resistance.
Methods
In this systematic governance analysis, we searched ten repositories from their inception to April 1, 2023, to identify all publicly retrievable NAPs on antimicrobial resistance, with no language restrictions. Machine learning tools and artificial intelligence were used to translate all native-language NAPs into English. Three researchers independently conducted a detailed content analysis of new and updated NAPs on antimicrobial resistance. 22 057 datapoints were mapped against a governance framework and a numerical system was developed to quantify country scores for 54 indicators, 18 domains, and three governance areas. We applied principal component analysis to construct country scores between 0 and 100. Through Pearson's correlation coefficient, we evaluated the correlation between the country scores and various metrics pertaining to the burden of antibiotic-resistant infections from the IHME GRAM project.
Findings
161 countries and territories were included in this analysis, 47 more than the previous report. Governance scores varied across countries, with Norway achieving the highest score (score of 100) and Djibouti the lowest (score of 0). Generally, higher scores were seen in high-income countries (eg, France, USA, UK, Sweden, and Denmark), whereas lower scores were more common in low-income countries. High-income regions performed well across governance domains, whereas lower scores were seen in other regions (eg, Libya, Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Seychelles). Higher governance scores were significantly associated with a lower burden of antimicrobial resistance-associated disability-adjusted life-years (r=–0·469, p<0·001) and death (r=–0·477, p<0·001). Infection prevention and control (r=–0·532, Bonferroni-adjusted p<0·001), surveillance (r=–0·482, Bonferroni-adjusted p<0·001), and stewardship (r=–0·459, Bonferroni-adjusted p<0·001) were the domains most strongly correlated with a lower burden of drug-resistant infections.
Interpretation
The global response to antimicrobial resistance was greatly affected by the income level of the nation, highlighting global disparities in antimicrobial resistance governance capacity. Lower scores in lower-income regions likely reflect systemic challenges, such as less public health spending and less access clean water and santiation. Implementation tools should be prioritised in the design and execution of NAPs, especially measures that improve infection prevention and control, surveillance systems for antimicrobial use, and stewardship programmes
Barriers and facilitators to increasing physical activity in medium secure mental health settings:An exploration of staff perceptions
Get PDFPurpose The benefits of physical activity for people with severe mental illness (SMI) is widely recognised but for those in medium secure settings there are additional environmental barriers to being active that have not been fully explored. The aim of this study was to explore the perceived barriers and facilitators from the perspective of staff within the medium secure setting. Method Semi-structured focus groups were conducted with qualified and unqualified staff (n = 24) across two UK medium secure NHS settings. Michie's COM-B framework was used to inform the topic guide and the analysis of the data. Results The opportunities to be active in medium secure settings depend not only on access to facilities but also staff availability and willingness to support such activities. When an individualised approach is taken, and staff are skilled and motivated to support such activities then it is possible for people with SMI in medium secure settings to be physically active. Conclusion People with SMI in secure settings have reduced autonomy to increase their own physical activities but it was suggested that with the appropriate opportunities and the motivation of staff their capability to be active could be enhanced
Housing First Feasibility Study:Expansion of Services in Northern Ireland
Get PDFThis feasibility study was commissioned by the NI Housing Executive (hereafter NIHE), and commenced in April 2023. Whilst Housing First has been in place on a relatively small scale in Northern Ireland since 2013, the aims of the study were to look in depth at the feasibility of delivering Housing First across Northern Ireland, alongside developing an evidence base for the current provision and creating a scalable model for further development. The client indicated an underlying rationale for the study was to enable the NIHE to address the challenges associated with housing people with high needs who were experiencing homelessness within the particular context of Northern Ireland. The study specification also included a request to broadly replicate the Housing First Feasibility Study for the Liverpool City Region11 which informed the development of Housing First in Liverpool with a view to this research providing a similar contribution to the expansion of Housing First in Northern Ireland
Red, Amber, Green, rating (RAG) of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) training programmes in Europe – a pilot by OMFS trainers demonstrating a practical route to improve OMFS training
No full textThe European Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) Trainee Forum of the Union of European Medical Specialists (UEMS) used a Delphi process to define Red, Amber, Green, (RAG) criteria within key domains of OMFS training in Europe. The aim of this project was to assess the practicality for OMFS trainers of apply these criteria to their training programmes. The OMFS Section of UEMS shared the tables from the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery paper and asked the head of delegation for each nation with medical OMFS training programme to complete a rating for each domain and return them. The tables were: 1: National Domains of OMFS Training; 2: Training Programme/Rotation; 3: Teaching and Education; 4: Training Placement; 5: Records of Training Progression; 6: External Assessment of Training. The returned tables were transferred onto Excel© and processed with Winstat©. Forms were returned from 24 of the 26 UEMS nations with OMFS training programmes. There was no difficulty in completing the forms. No nation was Green in all domains. Replacing the colours with numerical values, Red=1, Amber=2, Green=3 to allow statistical analysis with a maximum possible score of 100% and a minimum possible score of 33%. Combining the scores from all tables, the scores ranged between 67% to 98% with a mean of 80%. Histograms for each table showed ‘normal’ curves except for external assessment, which was trimodal, with some nations having none, others some, and a few nations comprehensive external assessment. Collecting and publishing the results of RAG rating OMFS training across Europe allows nations, rotations and programmes to identify their strengths and address their weaknesses and may generate improvement
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