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Outpatient hospital attendances in people with rheumatoid arthritis during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: a cohort study in three nations of the UK
No full textObjectives: We aimed to estimate how rheumatology outpatient hospital attendances have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic and determine demographic characteristics associated with observed changes. Methods: Using three primary and secondary care electronic health record datasets in England (with the approval of NHS England), Scotland, and Wales, we identified people with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) before 01/04/2019. We determined the proportion of people with rheumatology hospital outpatient appointments each month (April 2019-December 2022 (Wales and Scotland), November 2023 (England)) and quantified changes using interrupted time-series analysis. We used logistic regression to determine characteristics associated with having fewer appointments compared with 2019. Results: We identified 145 065, 3,813 and 13 637 people coded with RA in England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic the number of rheumatology outpatient appointments dropped sharply across all nations. In England and Scotland, the percentage of monthly appointments has continued to decline. In Wales, while there was a gradual recovery, rheumatology services have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. In contrast, the number of appointments for other specialties has recovered in all nations. People with no rheumatology outpatient appointments were more often aged over 80, male, and living in rural areas. Ethnic minorities, those living in more deprived, and urban areas had fewer appointments after the start of the pandemic compared with 2019. Conclusion: For the first time, we compared healthcare use across three UK nations and found rheumatology outpatient appointments had not recovered to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, particularly in Scotland and England
Educational attainment of children with self-limited epilepsy with CentroTemporal spikes (SELECTS), other epilepsies, and without epilepsy: A retrospective cohort study
No full textBackground: Children with epilepsy may have poorer educational outcomes—this may not be true for all epilepsy syndromes. We investigate educational attainment of children with Self-Limited Epilepsy with CentroTemporal Spikes (SELECTS) in Wales. Method: A retrospective cohort study using routinely-collected data for children in Wales. We used primary care diagnosis codes to identify children (0–16 years) with SELECTS, other epilepsies, and children without epilepsy (comparators). We linked these records to Key Stage (KS) 2, 3 and 4 (ages 11,14, and 16) national educational test results (2003–2021). We performed logistic regression to analyse attainment (proportion achieving required attainment) in children with SELECTS, other epilepsies, and comparators. Results: At KS 2,3 and 4: 101,92 and 81 children with SELECTS were matched to 299,274 and 243 children with other epilepsies and comparators. A lower proportion of the SELECTS and other epilepsies groups achieved required attainment than the comparators across all key stages.After adjusting for sex, deprivation, year of study and Anti-Seizure Medications (ASM), children with SELECTS had similar achievement to comparators in KS2 and KS3:adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR,[95 %CI]) for achieving requirement:KS2:aOR=0.97[0.87–1.09];KS3:aOR=0.99[0.88–1.10]; but slightly reduced KS4 achievement:aOR=0.89,[0.80–1.00]. Children with other epilepsies were significantly less likely to achieve the requirement than comparators:KS2:aOR=0.79[0.72–0.87], KS3:aOR=0.78[0.71–0.86],KS4:aOR=0.72[0.65–0.80]. Conclusions: There was a trend for poorer educational achievement for children with SELECTS at KS4; this was only borderline statistically significant in the adjusted model. Children with other epilepsies had an increased risk of poorer attainment across all ages when compared to children without epilepsy
Can Large Language Models Reliably Extract Jurisdictional Variations? An Empirical Study on UK Statutory Texts
Full text link‘kernyngli and ful mystili it is spoken’: Reassessing M.N., Gender, and Generativity in Þe Myrrour of Symple Soules
No full textTowards cleaner air: PM2.5 exposure and disparities around childcare providers in England
Full text linkAir pollution poses a significant health risk for young children, particularly in urban and deprived areas. Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during early life may contribute to long-term adverse health outcomes. This study examined changes in PM2.5 concentrations around Early Years Providers (EYPs; childcare providers) in England from 2018 to 2022. We assessed associations between small-area socio-demographic characteristics and exposure levels exceeding the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2021 annual air quality guideline (>5 μg/m3). We integrated data on EYPs locations from Ordnance Survey with annual PM2.5 estimates from DEFRA using Geographic Information Systems and socio-demographic indicators — deprivation, urbanicity, and ethnic composition. A Bayesian spatial regression model with random effects was used to estimate adjusted associations between PM2.5 levels and local population characteristics. The number of EYPs ranged from 15,780 in 2018 to 18,427 in 2019. Mean PM2.5 levels around EYPs changed by 17.8 % over the study period (from 9.4 μg/m3 [SD = 1.8] in 2018 to 7.8 μg/m3 [SD = 1.5] in 2022). However, PM2.5 levels at over 96 % of EYPs remained above the WHO, 2021 annual guideline throughout. Higher PM2.5 concentrations were observed in EYPs located in more deprived, urban, and predominantly non-white communities. Despite recent improvements, PM2.5 levels around most EYPs in England remain above recommended thresholds. Targeted interventions in deprived urban areas are needed to reduce young children's exposure and address environmental health inequalities
Opening reflexive spaces: Maps as an anticipatory tool in expert interviews
No full textThe value of maps in geographical and social-scientific research as tools that afford imaginative aesthetic engagement with research topics has become increasingly recognised. We explore here, for the first time, the value of these affordances for interviewing experts. In particular, the imaginative engagement maps can provide may help unsettle routines of thought, and invite reflexivity towards the assumptions on which expert knowledge may rest. This contribution of maps can be particularly valuable in research where anticipating potential future consequences of societal transformations is a central aim. We examine a case study from South Wales, UK, relating to explorations of socio-technical transitions in the field of energy, and show how the imaginative engagements that maps afford for expert participants can facilitate specific ways of anticipating potential futures that avoid simply extrapolating from what is familiar
Density functional theory calculations of the bandstructure of cubic boron arsenide
No full textA bandgap of cubic boron arsenide (cBAs) is systematically calculated using various approaches in density functional theory (DFT). We explore how basis set, atomic potential, exchange–correlation functional, and spin–orbit coupling influence the bandgap calculations when using Synopsis QuantumATK (QATK), Quantum ESPRESSO, and VASP codes. Our measurements of indirect and direct bandgaps serve as reference values. We found that using a linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) with an ultra basis set, Pseudo-Dojo norm-conserving pseudopotentials, the HSE06 hybrid exchange–correlation functional, and non-collinear spin–orbit coupling (NSOC) in QATK DFT calculations yields indirect and direct bandgaps of 2.03 eV and 3.99 eV, which are very close to our measurements of 2.01 eV and 4.24 eV, and recent experimental results of 2.02 eV and 4.12 eV, respectively. NSOC is critical for accurate bandstructure calculations in relatively wide bandgap materials, and the HSE06 functional and optimised PseudoDojo pseudopotentials play a similar role. Using the more common generalised gradient approximation (GGA) exchange–correlation functional PBE underestimates the indirect and direct bandgaps, with values ranging from 1.13 eV to 1.36 eV and from 3.04 eV to 3.37 eV, respectively, depending on the type of basis set, potential, and spin–orbit coupling used
Beyond the hype: Organisational adoption of Generative AI through the lens of the TOE framework–A mixed methods perspective
No full textIt is widely accepted that the impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has been nothing short of transformational, with tangible impacts on industry, education, healthcare and government. But beyond the headlines, how are organisations actually using GenAI, what are the key challenges experienced by decision makers and has the reality on the ground matched the hype? This study adopts a mixed-methods approach, utilising the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework to reveal greater insights to how organisations are adopting GenAI, the drivers that affect decision making and the key challenges associated with greater use of the technology. This research adopts a mixed method approach incorporating an explorative qualitative step with industry participants followed by a survey of 304 (three hundred and four) decision makers from a cross section of industry sectors from around the world including: North America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia, to gain further insight to the underlying factors that drive GenAI adoption. The research model was validated using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and reveals the intricate and inherent complexities related to greater levels of GenAI adoption. The analysis highlights the critical role of change capacity of the organisation in moderating complexity and staff skills. This research provides valuable and timely insights for senior management and policy makers that are attempting to better understand the interdependencies and perspectives on the key challenges facing organisations looking to deliver greater impact on organisational performance through GenAI
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