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Less is more: faster maximum clique search by work-avoidance
No full textThe maximum clique (MC) problem is a challenging graph mining problem which, due to its NP-hard nature, can take a substantial amount of execution time. The MC problem is dominated by set intersection operations similar to Maximal Clique Enumeration, however it differs in requiring to find only a clique of maximum size. As such, key to the problem is to demonstrate efficiently that a particular part of the search space does not contain a maximum clique, allowing to skip over major parts of the search space. We present a number of techniques to optimize MC search in light of leaving major parts of the search space unvisited, including (i) an efficient, lazily constructed graph representation; (ii) filtering prior to initiating a detailed search; (iii) efficient early-exit intersection algorithms; (iv) exploiting algorithmic choice. These techniques result in a speedup of up to 38.9× compared to PMC, which is the most comparable algorithm, and a speedup up to 11× over MC-BRB.<br/
Neoadjuvant treatment of rectal cancer: a repeat UK-wide survey after implementation of National Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Guidance
No full textAims: Rectal cancer management has changed significantly in the last decade with the introduction of total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), minimally invasive surgery, brachytherapy, and organ preservation. A national survey of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was carried out in 2020 to support the development of national Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) guidance, published in 2021. We performed a repeat survey in collaboration with the RCR, to inform iterations of the RCR Guidance and establish treatment patterns across the UK to facilitate future research and development. Materials and Methods: A web-based survey was developed and tested by the authors prior to dissemination by the RCR to all UK radiotherapy centres. The repeat survey requested details and strategies of current radiotherapy techniques, including details on setup, doses, organs at risk, peer review, and verification, and asked for the standard management of 5 clinical cases within each multidisciplinary team (MDT) serving that radiotherapy centre. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out. Results: In total, 42 of 60 (70%) of the NHS centres across the UK answered the repeat IMRT rectal survey, which reflected 70 MDTs answering the clinical scenarios questions. 100% of centres that responded are routinely using IMRT, with 95% of centres using it in all patients. Variation in treatment delivery has reduced since the previous survey. The greatest difference is still in the use of simultaneous integrated boost and definition of organs at risk. The management for the clinical cases was widely different, with answers generally equally distributed between 2-4 options. The highest-scoring treatment strategies ranged from 24% to 57%. Conclusion: RCR guidance has helped standardise the delivery of radiotherapy to treat rectal cancer in the UK. The variation in neoadjuvant treatment represents an exciting, evolving time in rectal cancer management. Clinical trials are needed to further homogenise treatment, but a degree of national variation is likely to continue.</p
Adsorption thermodynamics of methane reforming over solid oxide fuel cell anodes
No full textAdsorption kinetics and thermodynamics on nickel base anode materials remain underexplored under reforming conditions when fuelled directly with methane. The kinetics determine how quickly and effectively reactant gases interact on the anode surfaces, affecting the behavior of subsequent electrochemical reactions. However, the complexity of these interactions under operating conditions have led to a limited number of detailed studies in this area. Thus, further investigation into adsorption kinetics could unlock new possibilities for optimizing fuel cell performance. This study examines the adsorption Gibbs free energy of reactants on the anode in solid oxide fuel cell to assess the electrocatalyst activity. Our findings reveal that H2O exhibits more favorable adsorption conditions than CO2 on the catalyst surface, and increased temperature and current density lead to different surface adsorption behaviours. The results show that steam reforming prevents coke formation on the fuel cell anode more effectively than dry reforming. This proposed method can also be used to examine the coke resistance and the performance of anode structures during the investigation and development stages for fuel cell research. The study provides valuable insights into anode performance and offers a foundation for future advancements in SOFC technology.<br/
"It's a wide net and it has holes". A mixed methods case study in universal design for learning framework: strengths and challenges to implementation in a Republic of Ireland post primary
No full textDeterioration mechanisms and physicochemical changes induced by silage environment on ternary and alkali activated binders and concrete
No full textSolidarity and social esteem: the case of unpaid carers during COVID-19 in Northern Ireland
No full textThis paper examines the connections between solidarity and social esteem for unpaid care. Focusing on moral emotions experienced by unpaid carers during the UK’s COVID-19 pandemic, the implications for the social value accorded to care is considered. Analysis focuses on 32 qualitative interviews with 25 family carers in Northern Ireland during 2020 and 2021. Conceiving of solidarity as a norm whose strength and reach can be gauged through emotional experience, the paper argues that unpaid carers’ perceptions of general indifference to caregiving indicate the weakness of democratic solidarity in this neoliberal context, with significant consequences for access to social esteem
Integrated multiomic analyses: an approach to improve understanding of diabetic kidney disease
No full textAimDiabetes is increasing in prevalence worldwide, with a 20% rise in prevalence predicted between 2021 and 2030, bringing an increased burden of complications, such as diabetic kidney disease (DKD). DKD is a leading cause of end-stage kidney disease, with significant impacts on patients, families and healthcare providers. DKD often goes undetected until later stages, due to asymptomatic disease, non-standard presentation or progression, and sub-optimal screening tools and/or provision. Deeper insights are needed to improve DKD diagnosis, facilitating the identification of higher-risk patients. Improved tools to stratify patients based on disease prognosis would facilitate the optimisation of resources and the individualisation of care. This review aimed to identify how multiomic approaches provide an opportunity to understand the complex underlying biology of DKD.MethodsThis review explores how multiomic analyses of DKD are improving our understanding of DKD pathology, and aiding in the identification of novel biomarkers to detect disease earlier or predict trajectories.ResultsEffective multiomic data integration allows novel interactions to be uncovered and empathises the need for harmonised studies and the incorporation of additional data types, such as co-morbidity, environmental and demographic data to understand DKD complexity. This will facilitate a better understanding of kidney health inequalities, such as social-, ethnicity- and sex-related differences in DKD risk, onset and progression.ConclusionMultiomics provides opportunities to uncover how lifetime exposures become molecularly embodied to impact kidney health. Such insights would advance DKD diagnosis and treatment, inform preventative strategies and reduce the global impact of this disease.<br/
Moral trade‐offs reveal foundational representations that predict unique variance in political attitudes
No full textMoral Foundations Theory (MFT) explains variation in moral judgements on the basis of multiple innate, intuitive foundations and has been subject to criticism over recent years. Prior research has tended to rely on explicit self‐report in the Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ). In contrast, we seek to capture intuitive choices between foundations in a novel task – the Moral Foundations Conflict Task (MFCT). Across four studies, responses on this task reflect foundations measured by the MFQ (study 1), are not altered under cognitive load or reduced cognitive control (studies 2a and 2b); and explain unique variance in political orientation and related constructs (study 3). Furthermore, using responses and response times generated on the MFCT, we present a computationally explicit model of foundation‐related intuitive judgements and show that these patterns are consistent with the theoretical claims of MFT. These findings show that the MFCT outperforms the MFQ and can contribute to the understanding of moral value conflicts, furthering debate on the nature of moral values
Maternity care providers’ experiences of work-related serious events (MATES): an international survey
No full textInternationally, many women experience physiological childbirth with positive experiences and good health outcomes for them and their baby. For some, due to health complications and context of childbirth they may experience or be perceived as having had a traumatic birth. Ultimately, whether an individual experiences an event as traumatic or not, is a personal experience. Caring for women who experience their birth as traumatic can be challenging. The risk of exposure to a traumatic birth event(s) as part of maternity care providers (MCPs) work, ranges from 67% to 90%. Thereby to support MCPs to provide quality maternal and newborn care, it is important to explore the impact of work-related events. An anonymised online survey relating to MATernity serious EventS (MATES) was developed utilising validated instruments and hosted on QualtricsXM. Following ethical approval, the questionnaire was disseminated internationally across 33 countries between 1st July and 31st December 2022 via social media and the COST Action DEVOTION (CA18211 www.ca18211.eu) network. In total, 579 MCPs responded with a wide age range and years of experience. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed, including univariate and multivariate linear regression. Data analyses and management were undertaken using SPSS v.20 and two-sided significance tests were applied (α 0.05). The findings suggest that MCPs are exposed to a large variation of serious events and continue to be intensely affected, up to the present day. Events ranged from stillbirth, neonatal death, maternal death, severe or life-threatening maternal or infant incidents and violence and aggression from women or family member. Institutional support for staff is limited, and when available, seldom used. Family and friends were relied on for support, but this does not appear to be associated with MCPs experiencing less secondary traumatic stress. Subsequently MCPs were absence from work through sickness (22%), changed their professional allocation (19%) and seriously considered leaving (42%). Moreover, many reported low to moderate compassion satisfaction and burnout (65–80%). With international scarcity of MCPs, the impact of these events seem to contribute to this shortage. Effective support for MCPs is required if staff are to be recruited and retained.<br/
Assessing self‐reported prolonged grief disorder with “clinical checks”: A proof of principle study
No full textPsychological assessment is commonly conducted using either self‐report measures or clinical interviews; the former are quick and easy to administer, and the latter are more time‐consuming and require training. Self‐report measures have been criticized for producing higher estimates of symptom and disorder presence relative to clinical interviews, with the assumption being that self‐report measures are prone to Type 1 error. Here, we introduce the use of “clinical checks” within an existing self‐report measure. These are brief supplementary questions intended to clarify and confirm initial responses, similar to what occurs in a clinical interview. Clinical checks were developed for the items of the International Grief Questionnaire (IGQ), a self‐report measure of ICD‐11 prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Data were collected as part of a community survey of mental health in Ukraine. Individual symptom endorsements for the IGQ significantly decreased with the use of clinical checks, and the percentage of the sample that met the ICD‐11 diagnostic requirements for PGD fell from 13.6% to 10.2%, representing a 24.8% reduction in cases. The value and potential broader application of clinical checks are discussed