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An Efficient Crop-Based Digital Twin Network Leveraging a Novel Texture-Enabled Neural Radiance Field
No full textThe Agricultural Digital Twin Network (ADTN) represents one of the key enabling technologies of Agriculture 4.0. However, the unstructured nature of agricultural scenarios poses significant challenges to the geometric fidelity and scalability of ADTNs, as the morphological diversity and entity uniqueness of crops further reduce the rendering accuracy of virtual entities and increase modeling costs. Existing research lacks low-cost solutions for digital twin generation in unstructured agricultural environments, as implicit-based models struggle to capture global invariant features critical to crop structure and texture. To address these challenges, a crop-based ADTN (CBDTN) framework is designed, which incorporates low-cost image acquisition terminals, edge devices, and cloud platforms, thereby optimizing resource utilization through implicit modeling and minimizing costs in resource constrained scenarios. Furthermore, to improve the accuracy of virtual entity generation, a texture prior feature enabled neural radiance field (TPFNeRF) is proposed, inspired by the human visual system. It emulates the processing mechanism of the visual cortex to extract consistent prior features from multi-view images, thereby providing robust rendering guidance that enhances perceptual fidelity in 3D reconstruction tasks. The experimental results show that the CBDTN with TPFNeRF exhibits superior performance in generating objects with complex textures and structures. In synthetic dataset, it significantly improves reconstruction quality, achieving 6.52 dB PSNR and 4.3% SSIM improvements over the baseline, and delivers overall performance superior to recent methods such as GFB-NeRF and DiSRNeRF. In real-world scenarios, TPFNeRF effectively reconstructs object geometry and color from fixed viewpoints using only 5 MB of model weights, significantly reducing CBDTN deployment costs.</p
Towards reliability risk analysis of offshore wind farm substations for insurance applications
No full textInsurance is essential for offshore wind farms to be
constructed and operated. By 2030, the combined targets and
goals of the European governments promise to install up to 160
GW of wind production, increasing insurers' exposure to risks in
offshore substations and export cables. Over the last 10 years,
most insurance losses in the offshore wind sector have been
linked to issues with the offshore export transmission system,
including export cables and offshore substations. These vital
assets enable electricity transmitted by array cables from
offshore wind turbines to be boosted to higher voltage levels and
sent to the onshore power grid.
Lately, there has been a focus on better understanding the
reliability of offshore wind export cables, but there is limited
understanding of the inherent reliability and associated
insurance risks around offshore substations. These include
environmental hazards, construction challenges, electrical
malfunctions, and structural and mechanical failures. As a
result, construction delays and operational disruptions could
occur, leading to large financial losses and resulting in insurance
claims.
This paper presents a framework for reliability risk analysis
of offshore substations to provide a rigorous approach to risk
management for offshore substations for insurance applications.
The study starts with a comprehensive evaluation of the
literature, identifying typical failure modes, mechanisms and
related risks. These findings are then used to develop a semiquantitative
risk assessment technique by integrating OREDA
data with a risk-ranking methodology. The framework's
application will be illustrated using hypothetical but realistic
insurance loss scenarios where insurance risk is evaluated by
combining qualitative descriptions with numerical evaluations
for severity and probability.
The suggested methodology offers insightful information on
the offshore substation risk environment, enhances offshore
substation resilience, and informs offshore wind insurance
providers and asset owners when evaluating the insurability of
offshore wind assets.</p
Overactive bladder medications and risk of emergency hospital admissions with delirium in adults without dementia: self-controlled case series
No full textAims: We examined whether anticholinergic overactive bladder (OAB) medications are associated with emergency hospital admissions with delirium in adults without dementia. Setting: England’s primary care linked to inpatient records. Methods: The source population comprised 215 293 adults initiating anticholinergic OAB medications (e.g. oxybutynin, solifenacin and tolterodine) during July 2010–December 2019 when aged ≥50 years, without dementia, severe mental illness or Results: The risk of delirium admissions was elevated for the first 1–30 days of prescriptions [IRR 1.54 (95% CI 1.30–1.82) for men, 1.44 (1.22–1.70) for women] and whilst reducing over time for women [1.10 (0.94–1.29) for 91–365 days of prescriptions], it remained elevated for men [1.38 (1.17–1.64)]. There was some evidence of greater delirium IRRs in older men and men initiating higher dosages. In secondary analysis of 502 adults initiating mirabegron (non-anticholinergic beta-3 receptor agonist), the delirium IRRs during the first 1–30 and 31–90 days of prescriptions were 1.15 (0.76–1.75) and 0.72 (0.47–1.09). Conclusion: We observed increased hospital admission rates with delirium for adults without dementia whilst prescribed OAB anticholinergics, but not whilst prescribed mirabegron. Delirium risk remained raised for longer for men and was greater in older men. Alternative management options for OAB in older people should be considered before prescribing anticholinergic medications.</p
Multiple outflows and delayed ejections revealed by early imaging of novae
No full textNovae are thermonuclear eruptions on accreting white dwarfs in interacting binaries. Although most of the accreted envelope is expelled, the mechanism—impulsive ejection, multiple outflows or prolonged winds, or a common-envelope interaction—remains uncertain. GeV γ-ray detections from > 20 Galactic novae establish these eruptions as nearby laboratories for shock physics and particle acceleration, underscoring the need to determine how novae eject their envelopes. Here we report on near-infrared interferometry, supported with multiwavelength observations, of two γ-ray detected novae. The images of the very fast 2021 nova V1674 Her, taken just 2–3 days after discovery, reveal the presence of two perpendicular outflows. The interaction between these outflows likely drives the observed γ-ray emission. Conversely, the images of the very slow 2021 nova V1405 Cas suggest a delay in the ejection of the bulk of the accreted envelope of more than 50 days after the start of eruption, as the nova slowly rises to visible peak and during which the envelope engulfed the system in a common envelope phase. These unprecedented images offer direct observational evidence that the mechanisms driving mass ejection from the surfaces of accreting white dwarfs are not as simple as previously thought, revealing multiple outflows and delayed ejections.</p
The descending modulation of pain
No full textThe brain modulates pain perception through descending pathways that exert bidirectional control over nociceptive inputs and spinal neuronal activity. Whether modulation is facilitatory or inhibitory depends on the coordinated output of the descending pain modulatory system (DPMS), comprising functionally distinct circuits that influence one another. Here, we outline the foundation studies informing our current understanding of mechanisms underpinning the descending modulation of pain. We indicate bold new approaches delivering novel insights regarding somatosensory processing and outline how, in the context of identifying and manipulating functionally relevant pathways encompassed by the DPMS, we can improve knowledge, and treatment, of pain.</p
Recommendations for the Neurophysiological Assessment of Conditioned Pain Modulation: A Systematic Review of Nociceptive Blink Reflex and Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflex Protocols
No full textBackground and Objective: The nociceptive blink reflex (NBR) and nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) are increasingly used as neurophysiological test stimuli to assess conditioned pain modulation (CPM). However, methodological inconsistencies limit reproducibility and cross‐study comparison. This systematic review aimed to evaluate experimental protocols and outcome measures used in CPM studies employing NBR or NWR, and to propose recommendations for standardisation. Databases and Data Treatment: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane and Ovid databases was conducted. Studies were included if they assessed CPM in healthy adults using NBR or NWR. Data were extracted on stimulation parameters, electrode configuration, participant positioning, data acquisition, signal processing and CPM protocols. Sixteen studies met inclusion criteria (6 NBR, 10 NWR). Results: Across studies, stimulation protocols varied in frequency, pulse duration and threshold calibration. Electrode placements and participant positioning were often inconsistently reported. Data acquisition methods differed in sampling rates and filtering, and analysis windows were not always defined. CPM protocols included cold pressor, heat and electrocutaneous stimulation. Outcome measures included both amplitude‐ and threshold‐based metrics. Conclusions: This review highlights significant methodological heterogeneity in reflex‐based CPM research in healthy participants. Standardisation of stimulation parameters, recording techniques, and CPM protocols is needed to enhance comparability and reproducibility across studies. To address this, we provide structured recommendations, based on GRADE classifications, for standardising protocols related to experimental setup, data acquisition and CPM outcome measures for both the NBR and NWR. Significance Statement: Reflex‐based conditioned pain modulation demonstrates methodological inconsistencies, highlighting the need for standardised protocols. With standardised protocols recommended in this review, future efforts should focus on enhancing its reliability, reproducibility and clinical applicability.</p
PINE: Local patch reweighting and mixed independent neural encoder for datacentre workload prediction
No full textDatacentres are key pillars of modern digital services but consume vast amounts of energy and produce significant carbon emissions, largely due to inefficient resource utilisation that results from over-provisioning of computational resources. Obtaining prior knowledge of workload execution profiles can facilitate an optimum provisioning of resources in a way that reduces resource wastage whilst ensuring smooth workload execution. Herein, accurately forecasting the execution profiles of workloads can significantly reduce unnecessary energy consumption. However, achieving a reliable forecast of the execution profiles remains challenging due to the complexity, variability and interdependencies that are inherent in contemporary datacentre workloads. To promote datacentre sustainability, this paper proposes PINE: Local Patch Reweighing and Mixed Independent Neural Encoder, a novel Multilayer Perceptron (MLP)-based Neural Encoder for datacentre workload prediction on heterogeneous datacentre environments. PINE introduces a novel Mixed Independence (MI) architecture to overcome the long-debated Channel Dependence (CD) versus Channel Independence (CI) issue in time series prediction which enhances the model's ability to learn inter-series dependencies. PINE also proposes Graph-based Equitable Resource Matching (GERM) algorithm for equitable pairing of interdependent series which avoids redundancy or imbalance. Finally, PINE provides novel Local Patch Reweighing (LPR) Block to capture local and multi-scale patterns in heterogeneous datacentre workloads. Experiments on real-world datasets from Alibaba and Google Clouds demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed PINE model against state-of-the-art approaches in terms of Mean Squared Error and Mean Absolute Error. The results validate the dependability of the proposed PINE model in contributing to sustainable datacentre operations whilst maintaining performance quality via a proactive management of datacentre workloads, thereby offering a wide range of industrial and environmental benefits.</p
The impact of engaging in yoga for PTSD following Military Sexual Trauma: A Systematic Review An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of women's experience of engaging in yoga following a sexual assault.
No full textSystematic Literature Review:
Objective: Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is suggested to impact roughly 38.4% of servicewomen, and 3.9% of servicemen, often resulting in individuals experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or PSTD symptoms (Hendrix et al, 2023). The interest in, and evidence for yoga as an intervention for PTSD has grown over recent years (Nejadghaderi et al, 2024; Wells et al, 2016) as part of the movement considering Complementary Alternative Medicines (CAMs) integral to holistic mental health care provision. This review aimed to investigate how taking part in yoga interventions for individuals who have experienced MST impacts their PSTD symptomology.
Method: Studies investigating MST related PTSD outcomes for individuals following participation in yoga interventions were obtained from PsychInfo, PsychExtra, PsychArticles, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Emcase, CINAHL and SPORTDISCUS databases and through grey literature searches. The search returned 678 studies, of which five met eligibility criteria. These included studies were assessed for bias, and a narrative synthesis of findings was conducted.
Findings: Overall study quality was variable, with two studies meeting 100% of their methodological quality, two meeting 80%, and one meeting 60%. This limits the validity and reliability of included study findings, which reported clinically significant improvements in PTSD symptomology. Studies provided limited additional evidence regarding impact on other wellbeing and psychosocial outcomes.
Conclusions: This review found encouraging evidence that yoga interventions may reduce PTSD symptoms in women veterans with MST related PTSD. However, methodological limitations such as small samples, reliance on self-report measures and variable intervention designs reduce the strength of these findings. Despite this, high treatment retention suggests yoga may be a more acceptable option that traditional evidence-based therapies. Future research is needed to better understand effectiveness.
Empirical Paper:
Background: Yoga interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder have grown in popularity (Nejadghaderi et al, 2024; Nguyen-Feng, 2019). Whilst some evidence suggests yoga has suitable outcomes for individuals who have experienced sexual trauma, much of this is within small group-based interventions within specific sexual assault services (Nicotera and Connolly, 2020; Silverberg, 2020; Stevens & McLeod, 2019) or based within specific populations (Jackson, 2025). This current study aims to provide greater understanding of the lived experience of engaging with yoga following a sexual trauma as part of the general population.
Method: Three participants who had engaged in yoga following sexual trauma took part in semi-structured interviews, exploring their experiences of sexual assault, engaging in yoga, and trauma symptoms. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) of data provided four group experiential themes.
Findings: Group experiential themes comprised: reclaiming the body, healing through safety and compassion, the sociocultural body, and yoga as a therapeutic companion. Participants described shifts from bodily disconnection to ownership, noticing changes in self-compassion and relational safety. Safe, inclusive, and culturally sensitive environments supported emotional release and boundary renegotiation. Yoga’s adaptability allowed for integration into daily life, complementing other therapeutic approaches and supporting ongoing recovery from sexual trauma.
Clinical Implications: Findings highlight the importance of trauma-informed care that emphasises choice, autonomy, and safety. Self-directed yoga can complement mainstream therapeutic interventions, supporting self-awareness, regulation, and embodied agency. Yoga practitioners should ensure inclusive, culturally sensitive environments, and flexible pathways that honour survivors’ individual needs.</p
“Only connect”: Myth, Media, and Modernity. A Study of (Inter)Medialised Allusions and Binaries of E. M. Forster, D. H. Lawrence, James Joyce, and Samuel Beckett
No full textThis thesis argues that key literary artefacts of the Modernism of the British Isles integrate diverse intermedial elements for specific purposes. Intermediality is used as a lens which, along with close reading and hermeneutic interpretation, allows a methodical analysis of individual systems of intermedial ties characteristic of four renowned modernist writers: E. M. Forster, D. H. Lawrence, James Joyce, and Samuel Beckett. Throughout their oeuvres, these writers refer to various classic works, myth-based patterns, and archetypes, presenting overt and covert instances of textual recycling in the novel as a new literary genre. The thesis explicitly describes the use of intermedial elements such as ekphrases, media-based allusions and references, media integration, and veiled or direct parallelisation with well-known mythological and biblical fables. By re-assessing twelve novels from the perspective of intermediality, this thesis presents a holistic picture of various inter-medial elements employed by modernist writers, whether consciously or as part of a common culture, to reflect political, cultural, social, and economic developments with which they engaged throughout their work and lives. Exploring the hypothesis that intermedial elements are used to build modernist binaries or accentuate conflicts via various media incorporated, copied, or imitated by the literary medium, the thesis concludes that Forster, Lawrence, Joyce, and Beckett often refer to ternaries instead. They use them to structure their texts, accentuate conflicts, and present the characters’ ambivalence, focusing the reader’s attention on the third element, the one in between a classic (often myth-based) thesis–antithesis opposition.</p
Mental health practitioners’ views on assessing suicide risk in the emergency department: navigating a challenging assessment process
No full textBackgroundThe Emergency Department (ED) is a key setting for suicide risk assessments. In the UK, mental health professionals (MHPs) in psychiatry liaison teams assess suicide risk.AimThis study aimed to explore how MHPs in EDs experience and approach the assessment of suicide risk for people presenting for suicidal ideation and/or self-harm.MethodsWe interviewed 22 MHPs from one hospital (England) on their views of conducting psychosocial assessments. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsMHPs described various challenges, summarised in four main areas: the complexity of assessing suicide risk and lack of confidence in some patients/ accounts, the dynamic nature of risk, the impact/barrier of a structured assessment form, and institutional pressures and lack of resources. We identified views and attitudes that delegitimise patients. While such practices at an individual level need to be addressed, we posit this reflects organisational pressures that stifle practitioners’ ability to prioritise therapeutic alliance.ConclusionsIt is unsurprising that MHP experience moral injury that can be manifested as amplify biases and compassion fatigue. This calls for changes to support staff striving to make assessments therapeutic and we recommend both top-down and bottom-up initiatives to improve the experiences of MHPs and their patients.</p